Touring Lorem’s Workshop

JP with Lorem and Cindy

Monday, May 20, 1889
Early afternoon

Elizabeth hadn't gotten a chance to introduce her parents to Lorem, as the gnome engineer had been busy with installation of the new security system.

However, now her parents had arrived back at Elizabeth's home and the first place she would take them was to meet Lorem.

Elizabeth had told the gnome about the visit, because after introducing them, the mother would be escorted back to the house while the Duke got to speak with Lorem. Elizabeth would be there as sort of protocol but mostly because she didn't want Lorem uncomfortable, like she might be if left alone with Duke Ellington.

Elizabeth and her parents made their way out the backdoor and to the gnome's workshop. Elizabeth knocked on the door and listened for the familiar unlocking of the locks and door.

As the early afternoon sun bathed the estate in a warm glow, Duke Ellington, his wife, and their daughter Lady Elizabeth made their way through the impeccably manicured gardens towards Lorem’s workshop. Elizabeth had eagerly anticipated introducing her esteemed parents to the talented gnome engineer, but the flurry of activity surrounding the security system installation had delayed their meeting until now.

Lorem was hard at work on the estate’s new surveillance system. The workshop itself emitted a cacophony of curious and peculiar sounds—an amalgamation of whirring gears, rhythmic ticking of clocks, and the occasional hiss of steam escaping from valves. It was a symphony of invention and innovation that never failed to intrigue those who ventured near.

Inside the workshop, Lorem was knee-deep in parts, tools, and schematics, her attire a testament to her dedication to her craft. She wore a simple Victorian-style working girl’s dress, its sturdy fabric adorned with built-in pockets filled with an assortment of gizmos and gadgets—pliers, wrenches, and miniature gauges. Her sleeves were rolled up and she was surrounded by intricately fabricated cogs and gears, a mark of her affinity for all things mechanical.

Focused on her task, Lorem’s uncanny hearing heard the knock at the door and immediately recognized the familiar pattern. With a deft motion, she remotely flipped a switch on her newly installed console, unlocking the workshop’s intricate security locks. As the heavy door swung open, revealing Duke Ellington, his wife, and Elizabeth, Lorem crawled out from under the console, brushing grease from her hands and attempting to straighten her disheveled appearance.

Lorem was so tiny next to everything about the workshop interior; even by gnome standards she was petite. She forgot momentarily that she was still wearing her working goggles, their lenses smudged with oil and grime. With a sheepish smile, Lorem removed them and tucked them into a pocket, revealing her blue eyes bright with curiosity and ingenuity admits her dirty face. “Your Grace, Lady Elizabeth, Dutchess Ellington,” she greeted warmly in a sweet and cute small voice, her accent carrying her German heritage. “Welcome to my workshop. Please forgive the mess—I’m knee-deep in this new surveillance system installation.”

"Father, Mother I would like you to meet Miss Lorem Ipsum, the team engineer." Elizabeth introduced her parents.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Ipsum." The Dutchess said. "I will not be here long, but I did want to meet you. Your workshop seems quite intriguing."

"It is quite a good thing, the mess that is." The Duke commented with a smile. "How I imagined things would be. It means you are working and busy which is good.”

It wasn't long before Harold made an appearance to escort The Dutchess back to the house. "Next time, hopefully our meeting will be a little longer, but I have a few things to attend to." The Dutchess took her leave.

That left The Duke and Elizabeth. Elizabeth remained quiet so her father could speak. "I had heard excellent things about your work, it is why I wanted you on my daughter's team. Could you explain to me about the security system, how it will be set up?" Her father could likely figure it out but he wanted Lorem's description of things.

Lorem nodded respectfully as Harold, the butler, appeared to escort the Duchess back to the house. She smiled warmly at the departing Duchess, acknowledging the briefness of their meeting with a gentle understanding. “Of course, Your Grace. I look forward to our next conversation,” Lorem replied courteously before turning her attention back to Duke Ellington and Lady Elizabeth.

Lorem’s face lit up with enthusiasm as she gestured towards the various components and schematics spread throughout the workshop. “Certainly, Your Grace,” she began, her accent adding a touch of charm to her words. “The SteamGuard Perimeter Security System is designed to provide comprehensive protection through a combination of clockwork precision and steam-powered mechanisms.”

Leading Duke Ellington through the workshop, Lorem pointed out each element of the system with pride and clarity. “Here we have the Mechanical Sensors (MS),” she explained, indicating the taut steel wires anchored by brass posts. “These sensors detect any intrusion along the perimeter. When an intruder crosses the wires, the tension triggers a gear-driven mechanism that initiates the entire security sequence.”

Moving to the Steam-Powered Alarms (SPA), Lorem continued, “These intricate steam whistles serve as alarms. When triggered by the Mechanical Sensors, steam pressure builds within the system, and a lever releases the whistle, emitting a deafening alert to notify us of any breach.”

Next, Lorem guided Duke Ellington towards the Clockwork Cameras (CC), brass-framed devices equipped with rotating plates and lenses. “Linked to the Mechanical Sensors, these cameras capture images upon activation,” she elaborated. “The images are transmitted via cog-driven gears and mirrors to the central monitoring hub, allowing us to visually monitor any suspicious activity.”

Lorem proceeded to detail the functionality of the Pneumatic Locks (PL), emphasizing their role in securing entry points with steam-driven bolts, and the Analog Control Panel (ACP), a beautifully crafted brass panel adorned with levers and pressure gauges for manual override and control.

“Communication Devices (CD),” Lorem pointed out next, indicating the telegraphic systems encased in brass housings. “These devices facilitate swift communication and coordination among security personnel, ensuring rapid response to any alerts or incidents.”

Pausing briefly by the Boiler and Steam Generator (BSG) and Backup Steam Power (BSP), Lorem explained, “These robust systems ensure a steady supply of steam to power the entire security network. The Backup Steam Power kicks in automatically in case of primary generator failure, ensuring uninterrupted functionality.”

Throughout the tour, Lorem answered Duke Ellington’s questions with clarity and patience, her passion for her work evident in every explanation. She concluded the tour with a smile, “I trust that SteamGuard will provide your estate with the utmost protection, Your Grace. If you have any further inquiries or suggestions, I am at your service.”

The Duke nodded, "Very impressive, I must say. I can understand why the Baron and my daughter are impressed with your work." He glanced over at Elizabeth who smiled at him. "When do you estimate the system to be fully operational?" The Duke asked Lorem, as his eyes scanned the room.

As the Duke looked about the interior of the workshop, predominantly littered with the security system schematics, prototypes, and components, he would also see mixed with them other projects. Some would include different innovation attempts in transportation, combat gear, accessibility, and other strange contraptions with no apparent rhyme or reason. In addition, there was her modularly constructed living quarters.

Lorem blushed and looked down at his praise. “If all final hookups and tests run smoothly, I estimate it being operational by the end of day tomorrow.” She thought it could be done sooner, but thought it best to add a buffer to account for any unforeseen setbacks.

"Very good." The Duke remarked. "It looks like you have a lot of other interesting projects as well. Could you show me a few of those?" He was obviously very curious in her work.

Lorem nodded and her tiny steps took her about the room as a tour guide. In some instances the project exhibit had its own place, in others she had to retrieve something from where it was being stored, or move the surveillance equipment out of the way.

She started first with the “Die Antwort” steampunk tactical gear. The schematics were much more flushed out then the prototype. She explained that it was still a work in progress, but for her last mission she had fabricated a more simplistic version with only a few augments. She explained how it had a long way to go until she is satisfied after its initial field test on her person.

Next she showed the schematics and illustrations of the Gyrozyklus, a gyroscope vehicle that had the ability to stay upright and traverse multiple types of terrain. There was no prototype, this was still in the brainstorming and preproduction stages. But she did have a small mock-up, much like a toy, showing how it works with its balance, mobility in 360 degrees, and functionality. While she was on mere sketches she showed some illustrations on a submersible vehicle as well as a more covert version of a steamship.

As they moved to the next section, they passed a table where there were the remnants of where she diagnosed and repaired Harold’s silver pocket watch. The tour then arrived at a designated area for the steam powered grenade launchers and their assorted grenades. After unlocking the containers, Lorem showed the Duke the different grenade designs and explained what they could do. There were two working models available, the larger version and the hand cannon version. When they were done she made sure to lock everything back securely.

Finally she showed her personal transport vehicle before returning them back to the center of the workshop, she excluded touring her lodging area. Through the tour she was eager to field any questions he pitched to her. “That is it for the time being, more to come.” She said enthusiastically.

The Duke was grateful for the answers and he was intelligent enough to ask questions.

When the tour concluded, the Duke said. "Well, I am glad to have your expertise on my daughter's team and I believe we should now let you get back to work. Thank you very much for the tour." Feeling they had taken enough of the Gnome's time. "Good afternoon, Miss Ipsum." The Duke and Elizabeth then left Lorem to her work.