Sons of the Sun

[Guthheimr]

     Erilaz Kromeus walked deep into the territory of the Gropmold mountains that they had subdued. Several weeks later, Kromeus had convinced several key tribal leaders to contribute to this project that was first envisioned by the Gropmold tribe. When Kromeus heard of this, he moved quickly. Upon the carven sides of the Kendovstrunmahhe Mountains, a new facility was built. From the surface there were three large buildings and two rows of metal columns. There was a large, square pool of water and a small well house. A representative of the Gropmold miners stood by and awaited the Erilaz.

     "Welcome," he saluted the Erilaz, "I am told you wish to see the function of the new facility?"

     "Tell me of the process, Chalvik, why are we using alkaline leeching rather than acid leeching? The costs are much more involved with this practice. Or perhaps you know this and you are pocketing the extra funds?" Erilaz Kromeus spoke sternly, but this did not faze Chalvik.

     "There is a significant amount of gyspum near the uranium deposits. The gypsum 'swallows' the acid, alkaline impregnation is the only solution. Come," Chalvik waved Kromeus to a nearby spot on the mountain. As Chalvik explained, there were 21 wells set up in a seven spot pattern. Six injection wells created a hexagonical shape with an extraction well in the center, three such formation were aligned to make the 7 spot with about 15 meters in between the wells, "Each of the wells have been hydraulically tested to 150% of their design operating pressure to ensure no leakage to our aquifers is possible. We have also placed monitor wells along the outside of the well farm to track any movement of mining fluids outside of the mining area. The submersible pumps initially extract native groundwater from the host aquifer prior to the addition of the alkaline soultion and oxygen before injection into the wellfield. The leach liquors pass through the ore to oxidise and dissolve the uranium minerals in situ. The pregnant solution is extracted and sent to the treatment plant where the uranium is recovered with a liquid ion exchange process. " Chalvik took the Erilaz to a building where a small mound of purified uranium sat as yellow dust, "May I ask what are your plans with this?" Chalvik dared to ask after a few minutes of watching Kromeus stare out at the operations.

     Kromeus walked back over the powder and considered it, " A warm light for all Ulfans," With his finger he traced three Hagalaz runes into the sandy mound. 

 

[Guthheimr]

Hroptyr Yrungr admired a location deep within the territory of Snjornest. He wore a wide brimmed hat and a thick cloak that obscured much of his body in the cold forest. By his side traveled a grizzled wolf. The energies of the children of the Jotunn would be key in his future work. He found a suitable location 60 feet long, 30 feet wide and 26 feet high underneath an abandoned temple to Baldr when the Bjart-Los controlled this section of territory years ago. Hroptyr ran his hands down the doorposts of the stave-church and picked the hoarfrost from inside the engravings. He had shipments of 4x6 inch timbers being delivered to him by the daughters of Skadi Other favors he called in supplied him with high purity graphite and Uranium dioxide from the Gropmold. 

 

As construction inevitably progressed, the crude reactor was called Gimle-Vega. It would be encased with a balloon so that the air inside could be replaced by carbon dioxide. A dark gray balloon was created at 25 feet. The top would be secured to the ceiling and three sides to the walls. The remaining side was furled like an awning. Hroptyr would draw a circle on the floor and demand all would leave the presence of the room, his many hired helpers and even the berserkergangr who watched them. Hroptyr would kneel in the room and cut his hand, drawing sacred runes on the floor and calling for blessings from the god of knowledge and sorcery. He gave thanks for the maddening inspirations he had received years ago with Rjistlos (nuetrons). Then the first graphite blocks were laid, with the first layer being entirely graphite. Layers without uranium were alternated with two layers containing uranium, so the uranium was enclosed in graphite. it had no radiation shielding or cooling system, as it was only intended to be operated at very low power. 

 

Erilaz Kromeus had secretly sent many of the enslaved and rebellious Gropmolds to Hroptyr to machine the necessary 45,000 graphite blocks enclosing 19,000 pieces of uranium metal and oxide. The graphite was cut into lengths of 16.5 inches with 3.25 inch holes in the blocks for control rods and uranium. A hydraulic press 'borrowed' from the Hasaeti,still flecked with the blood of its previous owners, shaped the uranium oxide into cylinders with rounded ends. Control rods would be manufactured by nailing cadmium sheets to flat wooden strips for the purpose of absorbing nuetrons as Hroptyr found the many years ago when he locked himself in his studies and nearly went mad. A rope would suspend the control rod that, when dropped, would stop the reaction. A nuetron counter was inserted at the fifteenth layer and readings were taken every day. Hroptyr came to the conclusion that the balloon and carbon dioxide would not be necessary after several calculations and consulting the runes. The reactor would have 56 layers and be flatter on top than the bottom. When it was finished, a wooden frame supported the elliptical shaped structure 20 feet high, 6 feet wide at the ends, and 25 feet wide across at the middle. It contained 5.4 tons of uranium metal, 45 tons of uranium oxide, and 360 tons of graphite. All paid either with Mjolnir Mynt, blood, or the persuasion of the Erilaz. 

 

After the construction was completed, there was an assembly of 50 berserkergangr to observe the experiments. Hroptyr had an aid stand by with a bucket of concentrated Cadmium Nitrate which would be thrown upon Gimle-Vega in the event of an emergency. Another aid stood ready to cut the line that would drop the control line. The startup began, and within an hour and a half the Gimle-Vega had reached critical nuetron activity, reaching a self sustaining reaction. Within 4.5 minutes, running on 0.5 watts, the reaction was halted as it passed the preset safety level. Hroptyr slapped his thigh and raised his hands to the sky in the place below the temple and gave glory to Odin. With a successful experiment, the next stage of the plan could be... executed. 

 

Above Hroptyr, the berserkergangr moved to the main area of the temple where the workers were instructed to rededicate the temple to Odin and Thor by cariving and replacing the old iconography. The rapid report of machine guns filled Hroptyr's ears and screams were cut down as quickly as they came. The berserkers killed every last one of the slave. Smoke filled the temple as the floor was baptized with blood and copper. The berserkers roared and beat their chests, " Hjarrandi! Hjarrandi! Hjarrandi!," The berserkers took the corpses and dragged them to an altar in the center of the temple and lit the bodies ablaze, while the masque-of-odin carved byt their dead hands looked on in morbid fascination. The Berserkergangr would support Hroptyr from now on. Odin would bless them with this sacrifice. Thunder quaked in the distance, as though Thor himself beat his anvil in preperatio to the new age of Ulfan innovation.

[Guthheimr]

Inblasin Ein walked around the hunk of metal they had 'recovered' from a particularly industrious member of the Kunagr tribe. The 'boat' was of single hull with an internal ballast and compensating tanks. It has fixed angle shaft planes and movable forward units for dive control. This was a privately built submersible boat, equipped with two bays that launched self propelled torpedoes. Inblasin observed the construction and chuckled, "To think a lone man could build this. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that a son of Odin had the ability to create something like this. But this event shows us only one thing, that we are effectively behind modern standards of naval warfare, and we will be able to catch up faster than I previously thought..." Inblasin left the prototype submarine in the hands of several hired engineers who would work day and night on future developments. He would walk to another drydock, all of which was on a restricted island off the coast of Ulfheimr. Restricted by the lumbering dreadnought boats who swiveled their battery guns to watch for prey. Upon this drydock, was the death of one machine and the birth of another. Inblasin was involved with the design of this new submarine. A dreadnought was being taken apart for every piece of metal and necessary equipment. It was triple the length and displaced 1.5 times more water. It would have double the propulsion speed and a greater ammo capacity. Inblasin was incredibly proud of his work, but he was not foolish enough to believe this would stand the test of other nations. Still they must innovate and they must test. This would be only the first of many designs. 

 

[Guthheimr]

     Eldur Hátalara showed off a gleaming black automatic rifle to the representative from the Erilaz. The berserker held the gun in his hand experimentally while Eldur spoke. 

     "The rifle has a gas operated action driven by a short-stroke spring loaded piston above the barrel. The piston system however can be bypassed completely by using a gas plug to allow the firing of grenades. I've allowed an average of 20 rounds, but I think I can fit more in there. I can make it as a heavy or light barrel. It uses 7.6x51 mm ammo, which I am also manufacturing,"

     The berserker had stayed silent for the moment until Eldur was finished talking. To the far end of a hallway, a man was tied to the ceiling. His head lolled back and forth and his eyes flickered; tracks were visible on both arms. The berserker opened fire on the man and sent the clip through the man, who shook in the air and hung limp when he was done. Half his torso was shredded and blood pooled under his body. The berseker went to the very back to observe the bullet marks in the stone behind the dead man. Tracking blood on his boots, he tossed the gun back to Eldur, "what do you call it?"

     "... I call it SOO-33, the Spear of Odin. I can make barrels ranging from 17 to 21 inches. I have several blueprints it's just a matter of -" He was interrupted when the berserker dropped a bag of gold mjolnir mynts onto the table,

     " We want enough SOO's to outfit an army. Please get to work immediately. I will ..." The berserker picked up the althernate designs and began to snap pictures, " Make one of each design so we may test their capabilities."

     Erdur nodded, "I'm not going to ask why you need this, that's not my job,"

     "Smart man,"  the berserker grinned and slapped the man on the back. 

[Guthheimr]

On 9/3/2021 at 2:06 AM, Ulfheimr said:

Hroptyr Yrungr admired a location deep within the territory of Snjornest. He wore a wide brimmed hat and a thick cloak that obscured much of his body in the cold forest. By his side traveled a grizzled wolf. The energies of the children of the Jotunn would be key in his future work. He found a suitable location 60 feet long, 30 feet wide and 26 feet high underneath an abandoned temple to Baldr when the Bjart-Los controlled this section of territory years ago. Hroptyr ran his hands down the doorposts of the stave-church and picked the hoarfrost from inside the engravings. He had shipments of 4x6 inch timbers being delivered to him by the daughters of Skadi Other favors he called in supplied him with high purity graphite and Uranium dioxide from the Gropmold. 

 

As construction inevitably progressed, the crude reactor was called Gimle-Vega. It would be encased with a balloon so that the air inside could be replaced by carbon dioxide. A dark gray balloon was created at 25 feet. The top would be secured to the ceiling and three sides to the walls. The remaining side was furled like an awning. Hroptyr would draw a circle on the floor and demand all would leave the presence of the room, his many hired helpers and even the berserkergangr who watched them. Hroptyr would kneel in the room and cut his hand, drawing sacred runes on the floor and calling for blessings from the god of knowledge and sorcery. He gave thanks for the maddening inspirations he had received years ago with Rjistlos (nuetrons). Then the first graphite blocks were laid, with the first layer being entirely graphite. Layers without uranium were alternated with two layers containing uranium, so the uranium was enclosed in graphite. it had no radiation shielding or cooling system, as it was only intended to be operated at very low power. 

 

Erilaz Kromeus had secretly sent many of the enslaved and rebellious Gropmolds to Hroptyr to machine the necessary 45,000 graphite blocks enclosing 19,000 pieces of uranium metal and oxide. The graphite was cut into lengths of 16.5 inches with 3.25 inch holes in the blocks for control rods and uranium. A hydraulic press 'borrowed' from the Hasaeti,still flecked with the blood of its previous owners, shaped the uranium oxide into cylinders with rounded ends. Control rods would be manufactured by nailing cadmium sheets to flat wooden strips for the purpose of absorbing nuetrons as Hroptyr found the many years ago when he locked himself in his studies and nearly went mad. A rope would suspend the control rod that, when dropped, would stop the reaction. A nuetron counter was inserted at the fifteenth layer and readings were taken every day. Hroptyr came to the conclusion that the balloon and carbon dioxide would not be necessary after several calculations and consulting the runes. The reactor would have 56 layers and be flatter on top than the bottom. When it was finished, a wooden frame supported the elliptical shaped structure 20 feet high, 6 feet wide at the ends, and 25 feet wide across at the middle. It contained 5.4 tons of uranium metal, 45 tons of uranium oxide, and 360 tons of graphite. All paid either with Mjolnir Mynt, blood, or the persuasion of the Erilaz. 

 

After the construction was completed, there was an assembly of 50 berserkergangr to observe the experiments. Hroptyr had an aid stand by with a bucket of concentrated Cadmium Nitrate which would be thrown upon Gimle-Vega in the event of an emergency. Another aid stood ready to cut the line that would drop the control line. The startup began, and within an hour and a half the Gimle-Vega had reached critical nuetron activity, reaching a self sustaining reaction. Within 4.5 minutes, running on 0.5 watts, the reaction was halted as it passed the preset safety level. Hroptyr slapped his thigh and raised his hands to the sky in the place below the temple and gave glory to Odin. With a successful experiment, the next stage of the plan could be... executed. 

 

Above Hroptyr, the berserkergangr moved to the main area of the temple where the workers were instructed to rededicate the temple to Odin and Thor by cariving and replacing the old iconography. The rapid report of machine guns filled Hroptyr's ears and screams were cut down as quickly as they came. The berserkers killed every last one of the slave. Smoke filled the temple as the floor was baptized with blood and copper. The berserkers roared and beat their chests, " Hjarrandi! Hjarrandi! Hjarrandi!," The berserkers took the corpses and dragged them to an altar in the center of the temple and lit the bodies ablaze, while the masque-of-odin carved byt their dead hands looked on in morbid fascination. The Berserkergangr would support Hroptyr from now on. Odin would bless them with this sacrifice. Thunder quaked in the distance, as though Thor himself beat his anvil in preperatio to the new age of Ulfan innovation.

Further tests were done using the Gimle-Vega nuclear pile up to a wattage of 200, able to power a lightbulb. However, testing was reduced back to 0.5 watts when the menials began to vomit blood. Eventually the operation was terminated and moved to a different location in Snjornest's forest. Gimle-Vega was dismantled and rebuilt into the cubical Gimle-Vega-2 25 feet tall with a base 30 feet square. It was surrounded by 5-foot thick concrete walls lined with lead inside and out, and 6 inches of lead and 50 inches of wood overhead to act as shielding. Additional uranium was used at 52 short tons along with 472 short tons of graphite. The reactor came online and ran at a steady 1.055 k. An additional Gimle-Vega-3 was built alongside this reactor using heavy water as a Rjistlos (nuetron) moderator.  Several experiments were conducted during this time such as the effects of radiation and uranium powder exposure to animals and slaves. Various elements were slated to be studied each month with Rjistlos (neutron) absorption cross-section of elements and compounds

[Guthheimr]

On 9/21/2021 at 5:34 AM, Ulfheimr said:

Inblasin Ein walked around the hunk of metal they had 'recovered' from a particularly industrious member of the Kunagr tribe. The 'boat' was of single hull with an internal ballast and compensating tanks. It has fixed angle shaft planes and movable forward units for dive control. This was a privately built submersible boat, equipped with two bays that launched self propelled torpedoes. Inblasin observed the construction and chuckled, "To think a lone man could build this. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that a son of Odin had the ability to create something like this. But this event shows us only one thing, that we are effectively behind modern standards of naval warfare, and we will be able to catch up faster than I previously thought..." Inblasin left the prototype submarine in the hands of several hired engineers who would work day and night on future developments. He would walk to another drydock, all of which was on a restricted island off the coast of Ulfheimr. Restricted by the lumbering dreadnought boats who swiveled their battery guns to watch for prey. Upon this drydock, was the death of one machine and the birth of another. Inblasin was involved with the design of this new submarine. A dreadnought was being taken apart for every piece of metal and necessary equipment. It was triple the length and displaced 1.5 times more water. It would have double the propulsion speed and a greater ammo capacity. Inblasin was incredibly proud of his work, but he was not foolish enough to believe this would stand the test of other nations. Still they must innovate and they must test. This would be only the first of many designs. 

 

Inblasin Ein observed that the new submarine was shorter than the one they had recovered from the Kunagr tribe and disassembled. But this one contained a diesel engine and electric motors. More efficient interior design allowed for a complement of 17 men compared to the previous ten. It was armed with 4 torpedo shafts and 2 47mm howitzers. Inblasin smiled on the inside when the launched torpedoes found their mark on the empty cargo ship. The craft buckled in the center as if it was made of rubber and cracked in two when the white foam exploded through the center of the ship. Inblasin gave orders for 4 more subs of this type to be made as training vessels for future submarine teams. They were still a long way off from matching the technological prowess of other nations. 

 

[Guthheimr]

     Hroptyr Yrungr escorted the Erilaz Kromeus to the site of a great cooling tower in Ulfheinr, "This is the first building of its kind. We have worked hard and tirelessly to this achievement. The water in the primary coolant loop is heated by thermal conduction through the fuel cladding as the nuclear fuel in the reactor pressure vessel undergoes a fission chain reaction, which produces heat. The heated primary coolant is injected into the steam generator, a heat exchanger with hundreds or thousands of tiny tubes through which it passes. Heat is transported through the tubes' walls to the lower-pressure secondary coolant on the sheet side of the exchanger, which evaporates into pressured steam. To avoid the secondary coolant from becoming radioactive, heat is transferred without mixing the two fluids. U-tubes and single pass heat exchangers are two popular steam generator configurations."

     Kromeus listens and asks, "Water is the only cooling feature of this?"

     "Truly a marvel of simplicity is it not? For fuel, The enriched uranium dioxide powder is next burned in a high-temperature sintering furnace to produce hard, ceramic enriched uranium dioxide pellets. The cylindrical pellets are then encased in a corrosion-resistant zirconium metal alloy called Zircaloy and backfilled with helium to help with heat conduction and leak detection. Because of its mechanical qualities and low absorption cross section, zircaloy was chosen. The completed fuel rods are bundled into fuel assemblies, known as fuel bundles, which are subsequently utilized to construct the reactor's core. A normal PWR has 200 to 300 rods per fuel assembly, and a big reactor would have 150–250 such assemblies, totaling 80–100 tons of uranium. At the moment we are l9ooking into methods to re-use the spent fuel in either a new type of reactor, or possibly reprocess it somehow."

     "This will herald a new age of independence for Ulfheimr"

 

[Iverica]

OOC:

 

Here's a teachable moment on how not to do a tech dev RP. Simply put, this is lacking for a few reasons:

 

1. Tech Dev RP for something as critical as Nuclear Energy should present convincing and context-relevant challenges. Different countries may experience different challenges to overcome. This one is RPd in a way that assumes that tech development is a linear path of discovery and R&D while neglecting other factors.

2. Other factors include testing, the history of the technology, and the availability of resources. This RP seems to assume that development happens in a vacuum with little attention on the truly difficult part of nuclear development: enriching fissile material or acquiring their components through trade. Among other things, no communication with the wider community on where Nuclear tech came from. Viking ISIS Amish land just realised the fission process after a spiritual experience, probably.

3. A Tech Development RP is not adding narrative components with a re-telling/description of the fission process and PWR details. A Tech Dev RPer should brainstorm what Wikipedia and internet articles lack. What makes your project different? What is the historical context? Issues encountered by your scientists? Etc. Etc. Anyone can look up fission and PWRs. To deserve NE, try to showcase research skills and imaginatively apply these as realistically as possible.

 

I know Ulf is gone but I've found out that some people (understandably) find this and think it's canon RP. It's not. At least not the nuclear part. There hasn't been any acceptable dev RP for this. Ulf doesn't have a working reactor.

 

I'm being very critical here because of how this ignored any process. No advice was sought from staff on this nor was this done with much respect to Eurth principles.