re_alignment | [Video][Transmitting from the Junk Pile]

Entry tags:

brave police: j-decker | mccrane

[Video][Transmitting from the Junk Pile]

I might have accidentally started the fireworks early.

[The edges of his plating are singed, and just behind him the very flaming carcass of an automobile is roaring in its death throes.]

Energon, it seems, is not a viable replacement for gasoline. [He is grateful he didn't try consuming it before this test, and even more grateful that he managed to start the vehicle from a distance.]

[Since. Ah. It exploded.]

I don't suppose anyone has any suggestions? Or a way to convert us to a different fuel source?

Or some wash-cloths and soap?

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You have?

[Because oh, is he interested in finding something that works right now. He'd like to get back to doing his job, instead of searching for gasoline all day.]

Were any of them successful?

No, I can't say they were. And unfortunately, most of my tests involved checking to see if gasoline could be processed by Cybertronians, rather than the other way around...

[ He grits his teeth. ]

But if you give me a little time I can try reversing my calculations to see if we can somehow dilute energon down enough for you to use?

If it did not work in one direction, I have doubts about it working in the other.

[He appreciates the info, though! Even if it is kind of depressing.]

Energon doesn't seem to have the same combustion properties that gasoline has. I don't believe it burns.

[He looks back at the burning car, which is trying to reject his hypothesis. That had to be burning because of the oil, though, since...]

It just explodes.

Yes, it's got a lot more... energy in it. We'd have to do some extreme dilutions in order to make it work. But what to dilute it with ...

[ He starts muttering to himself, looking off screen as if he's been distracted... which he has. By SCIENCE. ]

[McCrane wishes he could offer a suggestion. He's far from a scientist himself, but he's the closest thing they have, and he wants to know what all those mumbles are about.]

Would alcohol work? That should be something you can synthesize. [It would be terrible for their engines, but it would be better than death.]

Pah. If I could synthesize alcohol, I could synthesize gasoline for you! They're all just different sized chains of hydrocarbons, after all, and given the amount of energon we have, we could easily fuel the reaction. No, the problem here isn't the synthesizing, but with getting the raw materials -- the carbon to work with. [ Siiiigh ] What I wouldn't give for a- a dinosaur or something as a carbon source...

Carbon can be found in non-organic sources. [He remembers that much. It's in some naturally occurring gases, and some forms of stone. There has to be some around, somewhere.]

But finding it or separating it could take too long. [He doesn't know how to do it himself, either. He just knows it can be done.]

...

[Idea!]

We could replace our engines, entirely.

That... [ Ratchet doesn't even know where that would begin. Or, rather... he does, but ... ] I'd have to investigate your make-up more thoroughly, but if we can find the proper parts, then I could try -- yes, that's a possibility. A definite possibility.

[[ ooc: one that depends on you guys, J-Decker cast! I don't want to step on any toes! ]]

Would there be a way to build an engine that runs on multiple fuels?

[Because he worries about returning to earth and being steam-powered, or energon-powered, or whichever.]

((I'll talk with the other two IC and see! McCrane would go for it rather than dying, though.))

I'm not sure... theoretically, if you run on gasoline, then you're a combustion engine, and energon does combust. It just does so, ah, much more energetically than your normal fuel. If I can find a way to dilute it down and damp its reaction to the same levels as your gasoline, then we might not need to alter your engine at all. Energon even burns cleaner, so you'd have much less build-up to worry about.

I would prefer that, also.

[He doesn't really want a major engine overhaul. It's just...a better idea than death.]

We only have a few days with our current supply of gasoline. Getting supplies from Swindle and Drift will prolong that, but we will need a solution soon.

[He sighs.]

I am sorry to foist this on you, Ratchet.

Don't apologize for asking for the means to keep you and your partners healthy and alive.

[ He'd pat you on the shoulder if he were there in person. ]

I'll work this out somehow. It might take a bit of doing, but I will. You have my word.

[[ ooc: you just let me know if/when you want Ratchet to finish designing these mods/install them c: ]]

[[We'll probably need it after the event!]]

I appreciate it. Please do not hesitate to let me know if there is ever anything I can do in return.

[Salute and all.]

[ Ratchet starts to salute back out of habit, realizes what he's doing, then finishes the salute anyway, out of respect. ]

I surely will. I'll contact you when I have something, McCrane.

[ He nods, then cuts his video feed, to get to work. ~*Science awaits*~. ]

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