C:/AUDIO/HEADSTAFF/GASTERWilliamD/AUDIOlogs/213X/Supplemental/
1 January-March
2 April-June
3 July-September
4 October-December
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C:/AUDIO/HEADSTAFF/GASTERWilliamD/AUDIOlogs/213X/Supplemental/1 January-March
1.1 Core Central Readings
1.2 Core Central Readings Contd
9.1 Temperature Data
9.2 Pressure Data
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12.1 PSI and Temp since 211X
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Supplemental Log, Notes for January 12th, 213X… Dr. W.D. Gaster, lead CORE scientist…
A rise in the CORE's average pressure and temperature readings over the past year have been troubling me for some time. At first, I dismissed it as a normal fluctuation. Then in June, I realized these 'fluctuations' weren't actually fluctuating. The gas buildup and temperature were rising. Not much- merely a half degree every other day and one PSI every two months. Once they rose, they did not fall. They still haven't. I could dismiss this still as a natural rise of the mantle's heat production, but that would be foolish of me to let it go so easily. Besides, I calculated that possibility, including weather effects and long-term global heating and cooling patterns. The total temperature is several degrees above most of my 'worst scenario' natural fluctuation calculations. It's gotten high enough that the normal Stage One pressure and heat release systems can't keep up, so I've had to open Stage Two. While no great emergency, the problem usually subsides within a few days of opening Stage Two. However, it's been open for four weeks now…
The CORE is the largest, most efficient geothermal power plant in the entire world. At average efficiency, it can generate enough electricity to power the entire western hemisphere every day without fail and keep a backup reserve, the only exceptions being minor sector shutdowns for regular maintenance which might take… perhaps one small city off the grid for an hour at most if work is completed in a timely manner. But the reserves prevent such inconsistencies of power delivery, of course. I made sure of that almost the moment I began designing it.
The CORE, despite its size and sheer reach across the world, must still bow to the forces of Mother Nature. So must we all… Nevertheless, whatever's happening below the surface is not a normal phenomenon. Some of the other scientists are discussing that old fear of earthquakes and 'the big one' coming, but it's not tectonics that are causing these slight rises. I have checked the seismometers in the CORE and at every accessible point that monitors this half of the earth, and earthquakes have been regular and so small that no one can feel them. This means the plates are not building up pressure, so it's not a pressure buildup… I don't know what it is, but it's coming from all of the major geothermal pipes at once.
*Several seconds of silence pass by. Gaster seems to be considering something.
There is no reason to be afraid, of course. Any buildups in the CORE itself will be vented. If things grow even slightly unpredictable, I will open up Stage Three, which means half the Core shuts down and every possible exit for heat and pressure will open, right down to the damned maintenance elevator shafts. Because the Core only powers part of our continent and not half the world like it could, this kind of shutdown would not cause any interruption in electricity generation, and it can remain shut down for as long as we need to figure out what's wrong, even decades if it has to. When I addressed the CORE's entire staff, from security and maintenance to the Chief of Supervision, I made sure that they understood that should I detect the slightest hint of danger to even one person due to buildups, I would evacuate the entire CORE and open Stage Three before allowing work to continue. This calmed their fears considerably, but many asked me if I was… worried.
No, I am not. I have implemented every possible safety precaution, even for theoretical events that have never happened and have only the barest thousandth of a percent of a chance to happen. They don't need to be worried and nor do I. I have enough to worry about with my sons. Of course, Sans insists I don't need to… he always says 'Dad, I'm thirty. I've got it handled.' And I'm sure he does. After all, he was a scientist once, like me… he's the most intelligent human being I know, even if he likes to act stupid and lazy just to avoid doing things. And while I still do worry about him, my greatest worry lies with Papyrus. He's twenty, and making his way in the world quite happily, but… he wants to join Undyne in the Royal Guard. It doesn't matter that our country is at peace and no one wants to threaten Asgore... I'm still… scared. Fear… is not something I faced much in my life until I had a family. Then I was scared of everything, even more so when Sans was born, and then when Papyrus was born… But I knew the true meaning of fear when I was told my wife… my Lucida, wasn't coming home. I was petrified for my boys' future. Sans was fifteen and he insisted he'd take care of Papyrus while I worked, and… well, he did, but… I saw every time I looked into his eyes, that he was deeply wounded and depressed. I think he still is. Papyrus was too positive to be hurt so deeply, but he still misses her sometimes… And of course Sans won't take that damned picture of her in her best uniform off the bookshelf…
Perhaps that's why Papyrus wants to be a Royal Guardsman. He wants to be like his mother… Why can't he just be a chef…? He would never make it in any law enforcement or military profession anyhow. He can't bring himself to hurt anyone, ever, not even in defense of someone else, not even for his own sake. He's already come home with broken bones from training, and Undyne can't bring herself to tell him to quit even when he can't hit back in sparring. At least in culinary school he'd only come home with a cut or burn occasionally, and he wouldn't be expected to fight anyone ever… He's been getting so much better at cooking since he started learning from Doggo. Doggo comes across as an impatient and gruff sort, but he's a wonderful teacher and he is nothing but patient with Papyrus.
I don't want my son to be sent to a hospital with a bullet in his chest protecting someone… I'd much rather have to go pick him up from getting stitches for a cut from a paring knife… Well, Sans would probably be the one picking him up. I probably wouldn't even know until the next time I went over to their house and saw the stitches myself.
*Gaster sighs quietly.
How the hell did I even get on this subject on a goddamned note log…? Alphys will never shut up if she hears this…
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