Steam Punks Guide

7/29/2019 Steam Punks Guide

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A SteamPunks GuideTOTHEApocalypseN 6

p Y 9Y

Margaret KilljoyColin Foran


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Apocalypse. Congratulations Your fierce,unyielding Determination has already put youHead and Shoulders above your Competition. And

your Appreciation of the less subtle Technologiesof Yesteryear shall put you even farther above.Hundreds of Meters above, in fact, if you manageto get yourself a Dirigible!

Consider this Book to be your boon Companionduring the trying Times that lie ahead. No singleTomeno matter how voluminouscould becomplete, of course, but this little Handbookshould aid in keeping you fed, watered, clothed, andprotected from the myriad Hazards of Weather,Human, and Beast.

A courageous Future lies ahead of us. We wavegoodbye, on no uncertain Terms, to the invisibleWorkings of the cyberian World. Our Future lies inan honest Technology, a Technology that is within

our Reach, a Technology that will not abandon us,a Technology that requires not the dark Oils ofsubterranean Caverns.

But if you make it no farther into this Bookthan Page one, leave with this Motto: One whoclings to Modernity will fall with Modernity. Butone who builds water-powered Refrigerators willeat summer Fruits in Autumn.

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CO: Whither & Weather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

CT:e Accumulation, Filtration,and Storage of Water. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

CT:Assessing the Bounty ofNature and Ruin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

C F: Scoundrels, andDefense therefrom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

C F:A brief Introductionto Contagion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

AA: Survival Scenarios. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 0AB:Further Reading. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

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without a healthy Disclaimer. is is ours: Many of theActivities discussed within this Book would be illegal

if practiced within the Borders of a Nation of Law. We

have not provided you with a List of which Activities

are legal or otherwise. Further, the Author of this Book

has never survived the Apocalypse. Further still, much

of this Information is second-hand. is Book may be

considered a mere Introduction, a philosophical Rant,

or an abject waste of Time.

is Document is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported. It was first published in 2007by Strangers In A Tangled Wilderness. www.tangledwilderness.org

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Chapter Onezwhither weather

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nP Decision that a Survivor will need to make is whereto stay; indeed, there are so many Factors to takeinto consideration that the Mind may be boggled.In which case, it is a fine Coincidence that you havethis Guide!

Some factors include: proximity of materialResources, availability of Land for foodAcquirement, Volume and Quality of nearby Water,social Considerations, and Safety from Scoundrelsand Disease.

T L bold One. It is an irrefutable Statement of Purpose.It says to the World: You cannot move us. We areunafraid. We shall rebuild. Alternatively, it may bemaking the Statement: I got stuck here and myCar is out of Petrol.

Resources:e City is the richest of all possibleLocations, filled to overflowing with Metals andTools of all Varieties.

Food:ere is comparatively little Nutrition to behad within the City, and even less Room in whichto grow it. Although these are Hurdles that may be

leapt by the ingenious, your Competition mightindeed prove fierce.

The Metropolis

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Water: ere is no Guarantee that the existingwater Systems will remain viable, and a great dealof Energy will need to be spent acquiring Waterfrom Rain and River. Wells might prove hard todrill in industrialized Cities, as the land is Densewith layers of Pipes and Tunnels.

Social Considerations: For better or worse, therewill be plenty of People around to converse with.

Conflict: It is certain that the urban Survivalistwill need to be quite prepared for armed Conflict.Battle might become a daily Occurrence; it is likely

that no one power Structure will thrive in any givenCity, and the Struggle for Power between Warlordsmight bear heavily on any who remain.

Disease: Unless a great Deal of Education takesplace in a very short Period of Time, a failure in thesewage Systems in a City will bring a great Risk ofPlague.e population Density will make the Issueof Sanitation one of paramount importance.

I W, TLocation from which to survive the Apocalypse.Unless, of course, it is overrun by Refugees fromthe Cities.

Resources: Many small Towns are fully self-sufficient, having Supplies of near every human-made Resource on hand. However, these Suppliesmay be low in Number, and if competing Factions

vie for Control then they may be spread quite thin.

Food: A small Town offers a large Amount of Landon which to grow Crops. Although the farmingInfrastructure will need to transition to non-chemical Methods, Food should not be a concernto overshadow all Others.

Water: It is possible that a small Towns waterSupply, if local, will continue uninterrupted. If thatis not the Case, however, new Wells may be dugimmediately, and Windmills may be constructed

to maintain water Pressure by pumping Water intoTowers.

Social Considerations: Small Towns are the mostlikely of Places to form a cohesive Groupa newGovernment if you will. is, of course, may be anEvent most fortuitous or disastrous.

Conflict: If a small Town divides into two or moreFactions, War may transpire. Even if this does notoccur, a thriving Town would likely become theTarget of any Refugees or Looters.

Disease: Small Populations are at less risk ofDisease, but if a Plague were to come it would befar more destructive to such a small Group.

T L will be tempted to return to Nature and either livethe lonely Life of the SteamPunk Hermit or be partof a small Grouping.

Resources: Any Human-made resources will needto be carried in over many Kilometers, if you arefar enough removed to be safe.

Food: In fertile Areas, staying fed will not be aproblem. In Deserts or perched on dry Plateaus,a lot more Time must be devoted to Hunting,Gathering, and Growing.

Water: A well-chosen Spot in the Wilderness willhave plenty of Access to Water.

Social Considerations: It is here that theSteamPunk of the Wild may suffer the most, and if

you are a Person prone to the Enjoyment of socialInteractions than you may not do well. Alone or insmall Groups, your Company will remain mostlyunchanged for many Years.

Conflict: Woe shall befall any well-stocked Groupthat is discovered, and the Art of Invisibility will beof paramount use to any martial Strategy.

Disease: If care is taken in Sanitation, herbalRemedies are researched, and Nutrition is properlybalanced, then Disease should not be too great a

Fear. However, if a generalized Plague is upon thewhole of Humanity, a small Group might suffer suchAttrition as to leave too few People to survive.

A I C be taken with the Construction of new Abodes than has tradi-tionally been done in our pre-collapse Culture, and a time ofgreat Diversity in Design may well be upon us.

L F -Survival, the Question of Shelter can primarily be solved withexisting Materials. ere are more than enough Houses andother Buildings to provide Homes for every Person alive. ereare several considerations:

Defensibility: What threatens you, and how well can a Buildingprovide Defense?

Shelter: How well will the Building stand up to the Elements,be they natural or r adioactive?

Efficiency: How much Energy will need to be expended in theHeating and Cooling of the Building?

Comfort: Can the interior of Building b e navigated with ease?Is there adequate Privacy for all Inhabitants?

Secrecy: Does your Building blend seamlessly into itsSurroundings? Or will it attract many People, with Intentionsof Peace and War alike? Do you want to be a Beacon, or bepassed over by those who vie for Power?

Some Buildings to consider are: Prisons, with their fierceWalls and defensible Corridors; Warehouses, with theirample Storage facilities and ponderous Heights that wouldprovide Space for a Network of Hammocks and other Beds;High Schools, with their various Resources; Manors, withtheir existing Fences and Ornaments; Skyscrapers, with theirpotential for vertical Gardening and population Density; projectHousing, with its non-showy Incorporation of vertical Spaceand large Courtyards; Mines, ideal for hiding; House-boats andcruise Liners, with their watery Advantages; cargo Containersor truck Trailers, an uncomfortable but unpresumptuousapproach to living; Castles, with their Walls of Stone; and

military Installations, of course, although these might alreadybe fiercely defended by Others.

The Small Towng

Wilderness

a

Shelter

Existing Structures

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O Apoorly they have been applied. A Domicile can be built, given theproper Location and Design, that does not require much, if any,Heating or Cooling.e Name for this Method is passive Solar.

By maximizing Insulation, both Heat and Cold may be moreeffectively trapped. In the northern Hemisphere, a large Bankof south-facing, double-paned glass Windows will provide themaximum amount of Heat in Winterand, properly shaded, will notadd overmuch to the Summers Heat (since the Sun lies higher in theHeavens during the summer Months). e House should therefore

be longer on the east-west Axis than the north-south, to maximize itsexposure to the Sun. ermal Mass is a simple Concept that you ought to familiarize

yourself with: Essentially, thermal Mass is a large quantity of materialsuch as Earth, Masonry, or Waterthat absorbs Heat during the Dayand radiates Heat when the Sun has set. Even oil Barrels filled withWaterperhaps your rainwater Barrelscan be stored inside toserve as thermal Mass.

To help keep your House cool in the balmy nuclear summerHeat, consider installing wing Wallsthat is, short vertical Wallsplaced between adjacent Windows, forcing the Wind to ventilatethrough the Room..

T T AB

with which to construct Houses of a modest Height. Each Tireis packed tight with Dirt and Gravelan exhausting Process, ad-mittedlyand then stacked in an alternating Fashion, much liketraditional Stone or Brick. After the Walls are erected, it is sug-gested that you cover them most thoroughly with Cob or Adobeto protect them from the Elements.

T Ra Home within the Trees. Secrecy, Protection from low-flyingInsectssuch as Mosquitoes, a minimal Impact upon Soiland Wildlife, and a pleasant aesthetic Experience unlike anyother are four that come to Mind quite readily.

When designing your Manor, be certain to consider theRamifications of Permaculture (Chapter ree) and Defense(Chapter Four)!

Passive Solar Design [SEEFIGURE 1-1]

T

Tire Walls

3Tree HousesE

Figure 1-1: basic passive solar Heating and Cooling for the Domicile.


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W N Tprimary Forms. ere is surface Water, rain Water,and ground Water.

S W, ,and, often, the most dangerous of theree. SurfaceWater includes Rivers, Lakes, Ponds, Oceans, andall the assorted standing and running Waters of theWorld.

Surface Water is easily contaminated. In

the Mountainswhere you might logically havedetermined to staythe Runoff from Logging,Mining, and other industrial Processes are likely tohave poisoned any Creek, River, or Lake. In areasmore densely Inhabited, it is the Feces of Humanand Beast that cause the most Worry to a potentialSurvivor. Indeed, there is nary a Brook in our over-inhabited World that would be safe to put yourMouth to.

Such dire Speech aside, surface Water can betreated and serve as an excellent Source of potableWater. Search out rapid, white Water that movesover Rocks as a method of Aeration. Better still,search out the Springs from which Water bubblesforth from Underground. If you have no methodof Filtration, this is perhaps the only surface Water

you can hope to drink from without referring to

Chapter Twozthe Accumulation, Filtration,

n

:and Storage of Water

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Chapter Five (A Brief Introduction to Contagion). Bewary, however. ere are false Springs abounding,from which contaminated Water emerges afterhaving traversed only a short Distance through theEarth.

With surface Water, consult the Charts,Graphs, and Methods [see Figure 2-2] with theutmost Care, for here they apply most strongly. ose who live near the Sea need not despair.Although salted Water is poison to the irsty, itcan be desalinated with the simple process of solarDistillation!

RSPWater, and its acquisition will require a splendidArray of Apparatus that may range from simple tocomplex. A single Millimeter of Rainfall, caughtover one square Meter, will yield you nearly a fullLiter of Water.

Consider, if you will, occupying an abandonedSuburb with a Plethora of your fine Companions.e Systems are already in place to expedite theRainwater collection Process: there are Rainspoutsthat beg to be fed into Barrels and there are Guttersin the Street that, once cleaned, will lead fresh

Water to your waiting water System.If you are constructing a Dwelling of yourown, far from the remnants of civilized Society,then consider building your Roof with Materialssmooth, dense, and non-toxic. Reclaimedaluminum Panels would serve your Purpose, aswould soda Cans cut into Squares and nailedinto place. Mud will also serve, but atch mightattract Pests and Nuisances that may contaminate

your drinking Water.Your storage Containers, be they Barrels of

Wood, Plastic, or Metal, ought be covered at allTimes to eliminate any Fear of Contamination.Every Pipe and possible Point of Entry for thedreaded Mosquito must be kept screened.

Excepting, of course, the Faucet.Snow is also a Form of Rainwater, albeit

frozen, and can be gathered as well. Ten Parts ofSnow will yield one part Water. It is best melted inPlaces other than your Mouth.

T A Groundwater. Firstly, there are the beautifulmechanical Pumps that may be gathered orconstructed to suit your Purposes. Secondly,Groundwater is consistent and most often free ofContamination, having filtered through the veryEarth itself. ere is, however, a major Flaw thatGroundwater carries for our Purposes: it isnotoriously, damnably hard to collect.

But can a ing truly be considered a Flaw if itrequires a percussion Drill to overcome [see Figure2-1]? We fully endorse any Method of Surviv al thatutilizes a Bicycle-driven Auger, as well.

Wells can also be dug by Hand, with Shovels,

rainwater

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groundwaterwFigure 2-2: a Comparisonof various Methods of water

Purification: note that a solidDot is very effective, a Circle

is somewhat eff

ective, and ablank Space is not effective.

Figure 2-1: percussion drilling a Well.


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but we consider this to be a remarkablyuninteresting method, and will merely suggestthat the Sides of the Well be reinforced (perhapswith such recycled Materials as aluminumRoofing or metal Culverts!) and that Gravel isplaced at the Bottom. Great Care must be takento avoid Death, as well.

Choosing where to locate a Well is an importantDecision. e Trick is to dig or drill where the waterTable is both deep and buried under quite little Earth.With these Considerations, your Well will not beunfathomably difficult to build, nor will it dry whenthe Rains and Snowmelt abandon the Land. It is bestto consult hydrological Maps (and topographicalMaps as well!). We suggest stockpiling Maps of yourArea before the Inevitable occurspurchasable inthe United States as the Ground Water Atlas ofthe United States directly from the United StatesGeological Survey (USGS). If you procrastinate thensaid Maps might be recovered from governmentLibraries after the less informed and more violentLooters have made their way through.

W C Pare remarkably negative and frightening

bringing to Mind such Monstrosities as culturalPurification!the Purification of Water is anabsolute Necessity.

P W H-chief, and you will filter out most of the Dirt. is isa good first Step, and it will keep your other waterFilters in good Spirits [seeFigure 2-3].

D R is ascertained to occur when the End comes, wehighly recommend acquiring various commercialwater Filters of the hand-pump Variety, and

multiple replacement Cartridges. ese Filters arelightweight, convenient, and safe.

A F constructed from an empty plastic B ottle, Cotton,and activated Charcoal [see Figure 2-4]. ActivatedCharcoal can be acquired from pet Shops for usein Aquariums or from Pharmacies, as it useful incounteracting many Poisons and Illnesses. It canalso be created, although not with Ease. Charcoal iscreated by baking plant Matter in an Atmospheredevoid of Oxygen. In non-industrialized Countries,like what your Area will become, this is oftenaccomplished by the burying of smoldering Wood.Activated Charcoal, however, is Charcoal thathas been blasted by Steam or another source ofOxygen. Experimentation might find that it canbe readily available as a Byproduct of the steamengine Process.

A S, Wshall settle out Impurities. And Bacteria, deprivedof their Host, shall diefour and twenty Hoursought kill about half their Number. A System ofthree or four storage Tanks may be utilized: keepWater in the First for one Day, the Second the

next, following in this Pattern. Ascertain that themovement from one Container to the next doesnot disturb the settled Impurities, of course!

We do not recommend that you store Waterin any Receptacle that was previously inhabited bytoxic Chemicals.

T Pto Death rather instantaneously by bringing waterto a Boil, excepting high Altitudes, where a longerBoil may prove necessary; add one Minutes Timefor every thousand Meters in Altitude. Strain theWater beforehand. While the Water is boiling,consider adding Herbs or the Needles of Pine to

make an excellent Tea!

Purification

Simple Filtration

Commercial products

home-made carbon filter

storage

boiling

C B E-ness in the Disinfection of Water. It has also beenproven to poison the Body if used absentmindedly.Furthermore, even powdered Bleach has a shelfLife of only ten Years, so it is a stopgap Measure atbest. To apply Bleach, determine the Compositionof your Solution: if it is 1% Chlorine, then apply tenDrops per Liter. 2-6%, use 2 drops. 7-10%, a singleDrop might suffice. If your Water is cloudy, double

your Dose. Let the Water sit for a half Hour andthen smell it. If it smells of Chlorine, then you maydrink it. Otherwise, repeat.

Aspiring Chemists will be excited to attempta second Method, utilizing Iodine. Iodine Tabletshave a poor shelf Life. Iodine Solution is viable,and readily available from first aid Kits. To use thesolution, add eight Drops to one Liter of Waterand let sit for fifteen Minutes. But to make yourown iodine Solution, one need only obtain USPgrade resublimed iodine Crystals, available fromchemical Distributors or school Laboratories.Take a Pinch of the Crystalsup to eight Gramsor soand place them in a vial of approximatelyone hundred milliliters Volume, with clean Water.

Never allow the Crystals to be exposed to Air formore than a single Moment, or they shall sublimeto Gas. Allow this Solution to infuse more fully bywarming it against your Body or in the Sun. enuse this Solution, but not the Crystals, to disinfect

your drinking Water. e Crystals can be reusedthrough hundreds of Cycles.

C E, Sshines most fierce, Water can be cleansed by aCombination of solar Radiation and Heat. FillPET plastic Bottlesidentifiable by a number Oneon their Recycling Codeor glass Bottles withWater. Paint one half black, and place them so they

lie on their Sides on a reflecting Surface, such asaluminum Roofingavailable from Scaffolds in

chemical treatment

solar disinfection

pb

q

z

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Figure 2-3: (top) a simple Method of Filtration.

Figure 2-4: (bottom) a gravity-fed home-made water Filter. If the source of Water isabove the Filter, then Water will flow.


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most Cities. Leave the Bottles in the Sun for sixHours on a sunny Day, or for two consecutivecloudy Days [seeFigure 2-5].

D -condensing of Wateris a very effective Methodto use. In fact, it is the only Method that willremove Salt from Water. It is also a most beautifulProcess, one that can involve much Ingenuityand Contraption [see Figure 2-6]. Its great Flaw,however, is its own Perfection: essential Minerals

are removed from the Water, the absence of whichmay have many detrimental Effects on the Body.

D R, -all Method, which we have saved for last: a two-pronged Attack, the sand Filter.

In rapid sand Filtering, Water is fed Upwardsby the Marvels of Gravity, forcing its Way throughGravel (or ceramic Shards) and Sand [seeFigure 2-7]. is rapid sand Filtering clarifies, but does notpurify, the Water. Your rapid sand Filter needs tobe backwashed near-daily if used often; which is tosay that you must allow Water to flow through it in

the opposite direction.

is will clean your Filter.To purify the Water, it is then run through a slowsand Filter [seeFigure 2-8]. is marvelous Deviceutilizes a Schmutzdeckea strange biofilm Matrixcomposed of Bacteria, Fungi, Protozoa, Rotifera,and Larvae that eat the dangerous Organisms thatmight infect youto make Water potable. is Filmcan take about two Weeks to form, and the Filtershould not be utilized before this Time has elapsed.

As the Seasons change, the Schmutzdecke willthicken excessively. is poses no reat, despitethe Snails, but it does slow the filtration Process.To clean your Filter, drain a few Centimeters ofWater and then scrape off the top Layer of Sand.Wait another two Weeks to get your Schmutzdecke

back.

distillation

sand filters, rapid and slow

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Figure 2-5: (top left) solar Disinfection,with half of the water Bottle paintedblack.

Figure 2-6: (top right) solar Distillation.

Figure 2-8: (lower right) the slow sandFilter.

Figure 2-7: (lower left) the rapid sandFilter. is filter should be placedhigher than the slow Filter so that itmay feed with Gravity.


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Chapter Threeassessingthe Bounty ofT :

Nature Ruin

&W C lift their Noses at the ought of disturbing theprecious Laws of Property, those of us in theworking and middle Classes understand whatTimes most dire may necessitate.

I mean not to mince Words.e greatest sourceof Resources available after a societal Collapse willnot be our dear, over-taxed Earth. It will be ourexisting and immediately antiquated Institutions.Everything will be available. e Following aresimply some Examples of where to look.

TC,- Dinosaur that has wrought its own End, may betaken herein as an excellent Example [seeFigure 3-3]. An Automobile may be stripped of the followingResources, at the very least: the Seats, to serve asFurniture; the Springs from the Shocks, which arean excellent steel Alloy that will feed your Forgeindefinitely; there are Mirrors, of use for grooming,signaling, and optical Contraption; the Windshield,of tempered Glass, that may be used in the Homeor Elsewhere; the Body of the Car can be convertedinto Shelters either makeshift or permanent; theSeatbelts are comprised of Webbing most versatileand durable.

And then there are the Tires. Tires are anindustrialized Nations greatest unnatural Resource.

cars

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Older Tires, those that are not steel-belted, can becut apart to make Sandals. Any Tire will make anexcellent raised bed Planter, or can be stacked tohold Compost.

A Word of Warning: clipped to most Tires aresmall Weights composed of Lead. It is best to wash

your Hands thoroughly after handling Lead.

B G referred to as bullet-resistantGlassis a remarkablyuseful Material for use in the construction of

Defenses, as it can resist most small arms Fire. Itis still unadvised to stand directly behind the Glasswhen it is being fired upon [see Figure 3-1].

Bulletproof Glass can be acquired whereverthe threat of Robbery is considered eminent.Specifically, it can be found in Banks, policeStations, and many Restaurants and convenienceStores in derelict Neighborhoods.

T S T Construction is waiting outside your Doorstep. No, it isnot the Tree in your front Yard. A Motto to remember:not one Tree until every Lamppost is down! e dismantling of unused Buildings is alsoencouraged, for the myriad Supplies and for the increasedland Area within which to construct Gardens.

For thick Columns, might we suggestambulating down to the railroad Tracks andremoving several of their numerous Ties. However,owing to their treatment with Creosote, railroadTies are best left unburned, and are not suggestedfor use in the walling of Gardens.

For raised Beds, the Sort on which you mightopt to sleep, it will be quite easy to accumulate thepacking Pallets that litter our Society in Numbersmost unfathomable.

W -tion Decrease that will follow any apocalyptic Di-

saster, Metal will no longer be a scarce Commodity.Aluminum, lightweight and durable, can be gath-ered readily from the various Signposts and Lamp-posts around town. Steel I-Beams, for construc-tion, are found in most every Building.

Ugly public Sculptures are often built of usefuland beautiful Materials such as Copper or Bronze,and it is highly recommended that the Cityscape beimproved by their immediate removal and re-use.

Scaffolds are often composed of remarkablyuseful support Poles and equally useful corrugatedAluminum. Chain link Fencing may be cut and

shaped into a lightweight Armor effective againstmany slashing Weapons.

For the rural SteamPunk, the crash Barriersthat line curved Roadways are most often built ofSteel.

Gold, suddenly near-useless, can be acquiredin the form of Bullion from Vaultsalthoughthere will most likely be Fools still enamored byits past Valueand can be hammered thin to platethe insides of satellite Dishes for the purpose ofintensifying the Heat of the Sun [see Solar Cooking,later in this very Chapter!].

Why, with all of the Metal sitting on the Surfaceof the Earth, I will be surprised if Humanity needsever mine again.

O N T-,but there are other Fabrics more interesting if youknow where to look.

Huge Swathes of Leather are available asclose to you as the nearest furniture Store, andLeather makes an excellent, hardy addition to anyWardrobe. Whats more, some thicker Leathers canbe stiffened by means of hot water Immersion [see

Figure 3-2] and constructed into Clothing moreprotective. Leather is also available from Outletsand Manufacturers, of course.

Synthetic Fabrics are an excellent alternative

to Cotton in that they, like Wool, retain theirinsulating Properties while wet. eir most serious

bulletproof glass

timber

metals

fabric

Figure 3-1: (top) the Compositionand incorrect Usage of bulletproofGlass.

Figure 3-2: (center) the hardeningof Leather.

Figure 3-3: (bottom) a few of thevarious Resources that you might

plunder from an Automobile.

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Drawback is their Tendency to melt into the Skinwhen exposed to Flame.

Fire-resistant Clothing, however, is availablein so many different Forms. Firefighters, racecarDrivers, and Welders all have specialized Clothingthat you might want to tailor to suit your Needs.

Yarn, to be knit or crocheted with Needle andHook, may be manufactured quite readily frommany different fibers [see Figure 3-4]. Everythingfrom human Hair to the wool Stuffing that fillsfuton Mattresses may be transformed into thewarmest of Clothing.

Bicycle Tubes, removed from their Tires, maybe cut up for thousands of different Applications.ey are remarkably useful for tying various Objectstogether and for strapping Objects to Carts.

E SP Tools and raw Materials is worth far more than afinished Product. We can manufacture ingsourselves to suit our immediate Needs, and engineerDevices most fitting to the Situation at hand.

Welding Supplies will become quite valuablerather quickly, and it will be best to stockpile asmuch Fuel as possible from welding supply Shops.If you set out to scavenge resources from retailStores, then let the Hardware store be your firstStop.

Power Tools can be retrofitted to be poweredby steam Engine, Bicycle, water Wheel, footTreadle, or Windmill [seeFigure 3-6].

E B ousands of Ends. Boats and Rafts have beenbuilt. e Plastic can be used as water Proofing.Partially filled, you have a Lens with which tocollect the Rays of the Sun and create Fire. KeepWater in them. Plastic Bottles can be cut to formScoops, Dishes, and Funnels [see Figure 3-5]. In

fact, the only Drawback of plastic Bottles is thatthey remind us of a Past we hope to forget!

tools

plastic bottles

Figure 3-4: (top) a simple Spindle for thespinning of Yarn.

Figure 3-5: (bottom) various Tools that maybe carved from plastic water Bottles.

Figure 3-6: a Bandsaw powered by foot Treadle.

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S Wastescan be utilized both as insulation and inthe construction of Napalm, and can be gatheredmost readily from the many Packages that may befound amidst our Rubbish.

I R might be very little Time for leisurely reading in theimmediate Aftermath of Collapse. But regardless,there is a near infinite Wealth of Knowledge

captured for us in the written Word, and it is quiteadvisable to gather a vast Library of instructionalMaterials. Furthermore, when the Scoundrels dieback and the permacultured Gardens bear Fruit,there will be ample Time for the perusal of thefantastical Voyages you may find between the clothCovers of an adventurous Book.

Books are, of course, available most readilyand in vast Numbers at the Libraries of our existingSociety, and it would be well advised to save themfrom the starving Persons Torch. Do not forgetthe collegiate Libraries, which may well be stockedwith rare and important Volumes. e major chain Bookstores, unfortunately,will continue to disappoint, even after the drasticReduction in Price.

I Asorts of Goods are manufactured Locally, becausemanufacturing Plants will be the ideal Locationfrom which to gather Supplies.

L N, their Haste to escape the City, will leave behindeverything from propane-fuelled Barbecues toRefrigerators [seeRoot Cellars, below], from Booksto Timber.

O DNutrition will be met by Foods both local and free.In the meantime, however, it will take quite a bit ofWork to avoid utter Starvation! Read onward forsalient Advice on how best to avoid a Diet basedsolely upon Twinkies and Slim-Jims.

O - SPBrains are quite adept at solving the Dilemmas

that are forthcoming, and it is with this heightenedmental Awareness that we must tackle the Issue ofAgriculture. Traditional Agricultureas utilizedby pre-industrial agrarian Societyis far fromperfect: a Lack of Foresight has caused manyFarms to deplete the very Soil upon which theywere dependent. Whats more, the labor-intensiveStruggle to raise Crops emphasized unfortunateclass and cultural Divisions, as Farmers were leftwith no leisure Time to further their Education. is is not a Trap we plan on recreating. With theapplication of Knowledge to the process of growingFood, the amount of Labor required can be minimizedand the hazardous Effects on the Land can be removedaltogether.is Process is known as Permaculture.

While this Method is too intricate to describe in fullDetail herein, the Fundamentals of it are quite simple.Biomass and Nutrients stay within a closed, waste-less Loop. A Garden is given multiple Tiers, each Tierreinforcing the Other. Houses are incorporated intothis Harmony by their very Structure and Foundation.

You are encouraged to conduct independentResearch into these Principals, so that you mayintertwine the Mechanical and the Organic into a

veritable Eden that will feed you and grant you theTime to pursue your Tinkering.

I A

Soil testing is a free service offered by the State. Yousimply take various Samples of your Soil and mail

them to the Office that provides the Service. iswill tell you all of the terrible Toxins you are goingto ingest. And while Cancer one Day is preferableto Starvation today, there are also Plants one mightgrow to leech the Toxins from the Earth.

O - S soil Quality is to build your own Soil and then plantin raised Beds (one short-term Solution is to raid agarden supply Retailer for Soil). Composting is thecontrolled Decomposition of organic Matter: it isthe transition from food Waste to plant Food. Inshort, it means heaping all of your food Scraps intoa big Pile and letting them Rot.

When composting on a small Scale, non-veganorganic Matterthe Feces of non-herbivorousSpecies, or the Flesh or Dairy of any Animalought be excluded from the Mix, so as to avoid anysoil Contamination.

e trick with Composting is to provide ahealthy Mixture of Carbon and Nitrogen. Carbon

can be found in dried lawn Refusestraw, sticks,leavesand Nitrogen in Foodstuffs and fresh-cutGrasses. In addition, the compost Heap should bekept slightly damp.

A well-built compost Heap breaks downaerobicallywith Bacteria living happily amidstthe Refusewhile a poorly built one does soanaerobically, producing a great deal of Methaneand other foul-smelling Gasses. erefore, it is asimple Matter to use ones Nose to determine howwell-composed your Compost is.

Composting requires great Heat to workquickly, and it might be advisable to add some kindof solar Heat collector, whether Lenses, Mirrors, orGlass [seeFigure 3-7].

When all the Compost has turned a rich Brown,and is crumbly to the Touch, then it is ready to useas Soil.

TUthe following Advice: grow upwards, not outwards.

styrofoam

books

manufacturers

from the home

On Food

permaculture

soil samples

composting

vertical gardening

Figure 3-7: a simple compostBin built of scavengedMaterials, complete withoptional Reflector.

3

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But if a more cutthroat Philosophy prevails ithunting scavenging


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One method would be to circle vertical Polesuch as aSignpostwith Planters; these Planters may be carvedout of water Jugs, plastic Barrels, or even formed ofCeramic, among other Materials [seeFigure 3-8].

Cucumbers and Squash may be trained to growup vertical Trellisesbuilt of re-used pallet Wood,or chain-link Fencing, perhaps!as well as the moretraditional Grapes and Be ans. Tomato Plants, caughtin a Cage, use more vertical Space as well.

Potatoes may be grown inside of Towers ofTire. Each individual Tire is to be packed with

Earth, in the area where the Tube used to be.

esecan be stacked to unfathomable Heights.

A - L,each major City in the united States of Americathis Country being taken as an Examplehasapproximately three Days of Food. WesternizedEconomies are not currently localizedalthoughthey will be shortly enough!and we arecompletely dependant upon Trucks and Trains tofeed Ourselves.

It is perhaps needless to say that the Scavengingduring an apocalyptic Event might be fierce,competitive, and potentially lethal. However,

historical Analysis of post-Hurricane New Orleansindicates that it is also possible that a cooperativeSpirit may take a hold of the Populace, particularlyif the Population is diminished by an Exodus. Inthis best-case Scenario, it will not behoove you tobe the only selfish Person around, and we suggestthat you offer your Help and Expertise.

But if a more cutthroat Philosophy prevails, itwill not do to procrastinate the Gathering of Foods.We highly recommend that while others loot theStores, you raid the Warehouses and Distributorsof bulk, non-perishable Foods.

B Fyou in the Cold of Winter? None, if you do notadequately Preserve them!

G NJars and canning Lids. These can be acquiredfrom many grocery Stores, farm Centers,department Stores, etc. It is easier to can highlyacidic Foods, such as Tomatoes, Fruit, andPickled Vegetables.

T T the Idea that one ought to consider the ethicalRamifications of the Consumption of our fellowAnimals. But that ethical Conundrum can besolved quite readily: when one takes the life of anAnimal, one takes on a Responsibility to ascertainthe Future of that Species.

Ergo, one who hunts the great Elk must alsoascertain that they do not over-hunt the Beast, andmust protect its Habitat from all Intrusion. is isdefensible on a logical Level as well as the ethical:

you are dependent upon the Elk, and a reat to itsPopulation is a threat upon your very Life. is is oneof the many unfortunate Oversights that our currentCulture has made, and it is one that we shall rectify. at aside, there are many Methods of Huntingto choose between. For Weapons appropriate tothe Hunt, refer to Chapter Four.

ose in urban Areas will find themselvesrelying heavily upon the trapping of Birds [see

Figure 3-9], Rats, and Squirrels.If the situation is Dire, you may try leaving out a

tray of Honey where Ants are likely to gather. eseAnts, thus collected, are an excellent if unappetizingSource of Protein. Try frying them first.

E L, Number of edible Plants available. Care must betaken, however, owing to the Poisons that have settledfrom the toxic Air and permeated the urban Earth.

Research what wild Edibles are found in yourArea, but some Examples follow. Dandelions: eatevery bit but the Stem. e Greens are less bitterearly in the Season, and can be steamed, or boiledin two Changes of Water. Acorns: break them opento get the Meat out. Leach out the Tannins byboiling them for two Hours (or putting them in aStream for several Days). Red and white Clover: eatthe Leaves or the Flowersgreat in Salads!

For a rather Brief introduction to medicinalHerbs, refer to Chapter Five.

hunting

gathering

scavenging

Food Preservation

canning

Figure 3-8: an Example of vertical Gardening

Figure 3-9: a Designfor a trap Birdhouse,sized for Sparrows.e Sparrow entersthrough the Door,triggering a well-

balanced Mechanismthat traps him or herin the lower Half of the

House.

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F

A brief and inadequate Summary of the Process


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b e a d adequateSu a yo the ocessis as follows: simmer the empty canning Jarandits associated Lidin a large, covered Pot of Water.Remove the Jar and fill it with your Foods (preparedfrom Recipe). Run a rubber Spatula between theFood and the inside Edge of the Jar, three Timesor so, to force out any Bubbles of Air. Secure theJars by means of the two-part Lids and then placeback into the boiling Waterascertaining that saidWaters depth exceeds the Height of the Jars!forthe prescribed period of time. Remove and store.

T Rtheir Foods in watertight Containers and immersethem, well secured, in running Water.is serves as anatural and effective Refrigeration [seeFigure 3-10].

FT,and any Person among us who has lived in aBasement knows that the Bowels of the Earth arecold Places indeed. A Basement, if insulated fromthe rest of the House, can often serve as an effectiveRefrigerator of its own.

For a small storage Chest, an old Refrigerator(available from every Home!) will serve quite

handily, as they are remarkably well insulated.Simply remove the electrical Connections andbury it in the Ground, leaving a few Centimetersand the Door above the Soil [see Figure 3-11].

U, Breadth within this Book to adequately covermechanical Refrigeration. But we present twobasic available Versions: one, the Propane-fueledRefrigerators that may be stripped from RVs andconverted to run on other Sources of Heatsuch asthe Sun; two, the Stirling Engine, when run in reverse,produces a refrigeration Effect. With the Stirling

Approach, it is not inconceivable to run a Refrigeratorby Bicycle, water-Wheel, or steam Engine!

immersion

root cellars

mechanical refrigeration

Figure 3-11: a buriedRefrigerator here pro-vides an excellent and

simple cold Storage.

Figure 3-10: theutilization of a running

Brook to keep yourPerishables cold.

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solar cooking4


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Y G Chigh Temperatures. To this end, you should workwith a large black Pot with a matching Lid. Whencooking via solar Heat, do not remove the Lid tostir, as this will allow heat to escape.

All manner of Devices can be built to directthe searing Heat of the Sun into your Pot. First, thegreenhouse Effect: layers of Glass that the Sun canpenetrate in only one Direction. is can be as simpleas a clear plastic Bag placed around your Pot, or ascomplex as a metal Oven with an angled glass Lid.

Reflectors are your friends. Mirrors, brokenCDs, or even recovered Gold can be mounted tostiffMaterials and used to reflect Light and Heatonto your Food. e parabolic Shape of satellite Dishes makes aremarkably powerful Reflector, and can be used tocreate intense Heat for cooking [see Figure 3-12].Do not look directly into the reflected Light! Mount

your satellite Stove onto two rotating Axes so thatit may follow the Sun during the course of the Day.You could even build a System of Clockwork toautomate this Task!

F S,

Smoke, Dehydration, or Pickling. e saltingProcess is mostly used for various Meats andconsists, essentially, of pounding Salt into the Fleshof whatever Creature you may be cutting.

Smoking is useful for Meat, Cheese, and Tofu,and involves keeping your Foods above a smokyFire for many Hours.

Dehydration is a nearly universally useful Process,which is used in the Preservation of Vegetables,Meats, Fruits, and Herbs. Solar Dehydration is ofparticular Interest to the mad Scientist, and can beconstructed quite readily from Materials at hand [see

Figure 3-13]. With solar Dehydration, it is importantto not allow the Fruit to become too hot early in theProcess, else it will not fully dry. To this end, it is bestto avoid direct Sunlight.

other forms of food preservation

Figure 3-12: a satellite Dish hasbeen covered with smooth, reflective

Foil, focusing the Heat of the Sun toa small Point capable of frying.

Figure 3-13: a solar Dehydratorbuilt from Wood or Cardboard. O

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Chapter Fourscoundrels, andT :Defense therefrompT T no Time for Heroics are ignoble Cowards. erewill be Moments that test your Courage, when youwill be given the Opportunity to help your Fellows.And while you need notought notcast your Lotwith the gratuitous Whole of Humanity, if you shyfrom every Conflict then you shall have no Friendsto lend you Aid. ose who would walk quietlypast a Mugging on the Streetor bear mere silentWitness to racist Violencewill find themselves inutter, defenseless Solitude in the new and chaoticWorld.

A B, , excellent, time-proven Companion to the Hunteror Warrior. But for our Purposes, a traditional Bowhas two specific weak-points: one, its utter Lackof Pulleys or other Errata; two, it lacks the Let-off of a compound Bowfor when a compoundBow is drawn, upwards of 80% of the Draw-weightis relieved from the Armwhich allows those ofsmaller Stature to effectively aim the Bow.

While the Construction of an expertly craftedcompound Bow is far too voluminous of a Subjectto cover adequately herein, we can offer a smallamount of Advice: the central Riser of the bowis constructed of a completely rigid Material,commonly Aluminum. e Limbs of the Bow

are constructed of composite Materials, such asFiberglass or pressed and layered Wood. e String

compound bow

3

can be made of thin, plastic-coated steel Cable.Potentially all of these Materials are available in


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Potentially, all of these Materials are available injunk Heaps, abandoned Buildings, etc.

Arguably, it is wisest to simply raid a sportinggoods Store.

STools and Weapons. Longspears can be quite effectivein grouped Combat, or for Hunting. Shortspears aredesired for personal Defense. Here we present youwith a design for a Spear that may, in a matter of

Seconds, be converted from one to the other.

A S Aof Force. A well trained Slinger may throw a good-sized Rock farther than the length of a sportingField!

Slings may be constructed of many Materials.One can build a sling from Cordage and a Scrap ofLeather, or a Sling may be braided. Slings may be of

various Lengths, but 1.2 Meters ought to serve as aBasis from which to veer.

When your intended Target, be it Squirrel orBuilding, is farther than approximately fifty Metersdistant, than it is suggested that one launch Missiles

from the Sling in an underhand Manner, muchlike a Pitcher in the Game of Softball. Conversely,Foes within fifty Meters might be more accuratelypummeled by utilizing an overhand, or Baseball,Approach.

In either case, it is a waste of Energy andAccuracy to allow the Sling more than threehundred and sixty Degrees of Rotation.

F Hof a Brick, then the Staffsling is an appropriatetool. Note that the Staffsling is not inherently moreaccurate than a traditional Sling, nor does it offergreater Range. No, its singlealbeit excellentselling Point is its Ability to throw a Half of a Brick.

break-down spear [SEEFIGURE4-3]

sling [SEEFIGURE4-2]

staffsling [SEEFIGURE4-1]

Figure 4-1: Details of the Constructionand Use of the Staffsling.

Figure 4-3: a Spear capable oftransformation from short tolong.

Figure 4-2: a basic Sling.

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trebuchet [SEE FIGURE 4-4]u


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IPacross rather vast Distances, you would do well tostudy the siege Engine known to the World as theTrebuchet. Although the Range offered by mostTrebuchetsa massive Staffslingis slightly lessthan, say, a Longbow, a Longbow is incapableof launching oil Drums filled with Gasoline andwrapped with burning Wicks.

Since the Lever of the Trebuchet must be aslight and strong as possible, consider the use of

aluminum Lampposts.

W I creation of Gunpowder, nor any other Explosive,within this Book. Let us merely say that the abilityto create black Powder, a relatively simple Form ofGunpowder, is well within the Reach of the well-prepared SteamPunk. And black Powder may bequite useful in the deployment of 19th centuryFirearms, as well as for any Blasting you may find

yourself in Need of accomplishing.

I W,it is best to not run blindly into Battle. You must actstrategically, avoiding more Conflicts than you enter.

I B Strategy of Battle, then let it be Sun Tzus ancientTreatise e Art of War. Although it refersspecifically to the by-gone Wars of China, it is aClassic that applies to near every Conflict, be itinterpersonal or international.

A L, Aof Invisibility will rise in Prominence once more.Although it is, of course, impossible to become

trebuchet [SEEFIGURE4-4]

black powder

On Strategythe art of war

stealthFigure 4-4: a very general Example of the Construction of a Trebuchet.

Figure 4-5: an Example of the Use of Silhouetting todisguise yourself at Night.

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technically invisible, it is often desirable to beeffectively invisibleunseen.

Figure 4-6: a Chart of morse Code.


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It is an important Matter to consider theSilhouette you cast; in dim Light, it can bedisguised in many Wayscrouching or standingin front of Objects being an excellent Example[seeFigure 4-5]. Further, the human Stride is quiteas recognizable as the Silhouette and ought to bedisguised as well.

Remember that black Clothing is often darker atNight than your non-black Surroundings. If Whiteis 0 and 10 is Black, then aim for Tones around 7.

e Patterns and Colors of Clothing ought tobe broken apart as well, as in Camouflage.

But perhaps the best way to become invisibleis to hide in plain Sight; simply do not appearto be out of the Ordinary. You can observe theActions, Manners, and Dress of your Foes fromafarutilizing a Spyglassand then emulate themto walk unchallenged into their Fortress.

O P Tbears is that of Idiot-proofing. Every martial Tool,from the lowly baseball Bat to the mighty Rifle &Scope requires Training to use with Efficiency.

When possible, it is advisable to rely upon

Experts to aid you in your Education. But when itis not, you must experiment on your own. Practice!Practice until you know your Weapon, and thenPractice longer. Practice until your Slingtakenas an Exampleis as natural an Extension of yourArm as a Glove might be.

Educate yourself and educate your Friends.Educate the Novices who join your Campandnot just in Matters of War; let Knowledge neverbe a hoarded Commodity, so that no Person isirreplaceable in the Community. Imagine theFrustration if, for example, your only Engineercompetently trained in the Repair of your waterCatchment system were to die in fierce Battle!

training & education

Figure 4-7: an Example of CaesarCipher.

Figure 4-8: an Example of a one-time Pad.

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M C N U.It can be squeezed in a Handshake, rapped ontoprison Walls, or used over long Distances by wayof Mirrors.

Signaling may be accomplished by use of aMirror and a light Sourcetraditionally the Sun,

but Lamps or similar Sources may be used in darkerSituations. Either the Mirror itself is moved toflash Light, or, more commonly, a Hand or Shutteris used to block the Light momentarily, allowing afiner Control. Simple Codes must be devised aheadof Time, and while morse Code can be used, a basicTwo short Flashes means that our Foes are withinthe Walls can be utilized as well.

F S , evidenced by their common usage to communicateacross the Waters between Ships. Although onecan plan simple Phrases, such as Attack, andRetreat, there is an alphabetical System already

prepared called Semaphore. Note that the sameAlphabet has historically been communicatedbetween Towers with mechanical Hands, allowingthe Range of Communication to be significantly

vaster.

T C C Hobby, and it is one that may become crucial to yourDefense. As hand-written Notes will likely be a form

of Communication that you rely heavily upon, it willsuit your Needs to send these Notes in Cipher.

T C C easily broken Code. However, if your Enemies are

moronicor are simply unlikely to take the Timenecessitated to break your Codethen it can bequite effective. Each Letter is simply adjusted up theAlphabet by a certain Number of Places. For Example,a caesar Cipher ten would replace the Letter A withthe Letter K, the Letter B with the Letter L, etc.

O- P C cannot be broken by conventional Means. Whatsmore, they are relatively simple to use. Each personwho will receive or send Messages is given anidentical Copy of the one-time Pada String ofrandom Numbers. Each Letter in the Message tobe coded is translated into a Number: A become

1, B becomes 2, etc. until Z becomes 26. e firstNumber of the Message is added to the Number thatthe first Letter on the one-time Pad corresponds to,and so on until the whole of the Message is therebyencoded. Any Number generated that is larger than26 has 26 subtracted from it.

Messages thus generated can only bedeciphered if your Enemy acquires the one-timePad, and it is standard Practice to burn said Padafter use.

morse code [SEEFIGURE4-6]

semaphore flag signaling [SEEFIGURE4-9]

ciphers

caesar cipher [SEEFIGURE4-7]

one-time pads [SEEFIGURE4-8]

Figure 4-9: a Chart of semaphore flag Signaling.

4

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upon the People of their own Nations; it is ascertain that many Officers will find themselves atOdds with our Survival as it is that some Officers

a different Manner. What are their Goals? Whatare their Motivations? Of whom does their Forceconsist? What manner of Weaponry will they bring

Figure 4-10: theArmament of your


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I Understanding of all the many Antagonists youare likely to find yourself in Contest with. Beloware but a few broad Categories that many of yourpotential Assailants may fall withintake notethat not every Individual within these Groups will

present a reat to your Survival, of course!

T P Category are those who spend a Majority of theirEnergy preparing for and engaging in Conflict.Owing to this Training and Experience, thosewithin military Ranks present both the greatestThreat and Potential, from a defense-orientedPoint of View. Note that this Category mayencompass the Para-military, such as militiaMembers, in addition to the more traditionallyuniformed People.

Open engagement with any well-structuredArmy is ill advised, unless it must transpire out of

survival or ideological Necessity. If War is required,

then it must be undertaken with an Understandingof guerilla Tactics. e modern fighting Force grows increasinglydependant upon high Technology, from laserRange-finders to wireless Communications, fromRadar to air Strikes. And it is this Reliance that will

form the Majority of a SteamPunks Advantageshould any Conflict arise. As their massiveInfrastructure begins to fragment and decay, thesemodern Toys will become increasingly unreliable,and like any hierarchical Institution, it may be slowto adapt. May Chaos be your Ally.

O Cstudy the maintenance of Law and the Rule ofProperty. ese People, while acquainted withViolence, are not quite as well suited to open Conflict.Rather, they are more focused on the sociologicalEffects they may have upon a Population. e Police are remarkably dangerous in that

they are uniquely adapted to enacting Violence

Odds with our Survival as it is that some Officerswill use their Training to best serve our Needs.

One time-honored Strategy for dealing withPolice is to deflect their Anger onto a third Party,preferably one most vile. It is often useful to letConstables believe that you agree with them andrespect their Authority.

Most Police are trained in unarmed Combatfocusing on painful Holds, the use of Handguns,and many disabling Weapons such as Tazers and

bean-bag Rifles. ey are trained to surreptitiouslyinterrogate, and they are trained to determine Lies.Increasingly in many Countries, Police are beingtrained in military Maneuvers, group Tactics, andthe door-to-door Actions required to maintain apolice State. Most Police, however, are nottrainedto act independently of their Superiors, and, like anycentralized Force, a breakdown in Communicationmay paralyze them.

Wthat the vast Majority of People will open their Armsand Hearts with the coming of the Apocalypse,casting their Differences and authoritarian

Ambitions to the Side, it is likely that many Peoplewill instead vie for political Power.

Whether benign or vile, there will likely bemany such competing Voices. Warlords, and theirMinions, may arise from any Number of Fields,particularly those involving Leadership. ExpectPoliticians, Police, gang Leaders, and businessPeople to step forward, offering many differentpolitical Positions. eir Minions will come from every Sector ofSociety, and expect those without military Trainingto be versed in such Matters with all conceivableHaste.

Each individual Faction will need to beconsidered for their own Merits and Drawbacks,

and each Warlord will need to be confronted in

consist? What manner of Weaponry will they bringto bear? Must they be confronted at all? All of theseQuestions must be considered.

REon an individual Basisof the post-apocalypticWorld, the Desperate are those roving Gangs ofcarnivorous, aimless Needy we see depicted sooften in p ost-apocalyptic Fiction.

e Desperate, while not to be underestimated,need not be so ravenously demonized. It is quitelikely that the Majority of People will indeed findthemselves formed into new, miniature Societiesand will not be roaming the Countryside as somestrange, vast, bovine Sea. e simplest Solution for dealing with theDesperate is Nourishment, if Supplies allow. Younever know what Skills a Person may offer to yourSurvival, and sharing will be a Survivalists Traitshortly enough.

Unfortunately, it is possible that the underfedMasses might overwhelm a small SteamPunkCompound, and it would become necessary todefend oneself against them. In this Case, try to keep

crowd control Tactics firmly in mind: untrainedSoldiers act very much as a brainless Herd. Targetany apparent Leaders and encourage a Routoncerunning, a Crowd is very likely to continue to flee.

As a preventative Measure, avoid flaunting anyValuables, or Resources at all. Never draw attentionto your Wealth.

Beset by many Foes

military

law enforcement

warlords & their minions

the desperate

various potentialFoes.

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Chapter Fivea brief Introduction ton :contagionw

L B aLife devoid of Contamination, and it is quite possiblethat we have grown soft therefrom. Dependantupon Antibiotics instead of Antibodies, Sanitationand Health will be of no small Importance in theDecades to come, are we to survive. is Chapter is remarkably incomplete, andproper Care ought be taken by any concernedSteamPunkyou among themto seek out furtherInstruction.

A B Many Hospital may provide, and it is remarkable

from what Maladies you may spring gaily back toyour Feet if you take care of yourself well!

T S, B been, is still an Idea most infantile when broughtunder the rigorous Gaze of the intelligent Scientist.In short, it is unsustainable to flush Nutrients outinto the ocean Waters, even if doing so allows us toflush most Disease as well.

One Solution to this Problem is to compost ourWastes. With the comparatively sterile Urine, thiscan be accomplished simply by urinating onto Soil.By varying your Location, and by not expelling ontoedible Plants, most Complications are avoided.

Wellness

composting toiletsI

But solid human Wastes carry manydangerous Pathogens, and it unwise to use suchMatter as a direct Fertilizer. e Solution is found1


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in composting, and many physical Constructionsmay be utilized [see Figure 5-1]. e Concept isnot as complex as it may seem: at its most basic,

you simply need to collect your solid Wastes tocompost. Note that it is important to noturinateinto the compost Toilet, and it is advisable to cover

your Waste with Sawdust or Ash to keep Odorsand Illnesses at bay.

Further, it is advisable to allow Humanureas

it has been dubbedto sit for at least the Length ofa full Year, allowing ample Time for every Pathogento die. Any other non-traditionally compostablefood Wastes, such as Flesh or Dairy, may also becomposted in the humanure Pile.

In many Countries, it is currently illegal tocompost using Humanure. Fortunate, then, that alllegal Considerations will soon find themselves invalid!

P -carb Diet of a Scavenger in the post-apocalypticWorld, proper dental Care will be quite Important.

Firstly, it is suggested that Toothpastes andfluoride Rinses be Hoarded. But to supplement

the use of such non-renewable Resources, a simpleToothpaste may be made from three Parts bakingSoda and two part s Water. Mint or Cinnamon maybe added for Taste.

When Toothaches or active Cavities arepresent, use the fluoride Toothpaste, but otherwise,

you may depend on your homemade Variety.

T S Medications will do well to stockpile in advance,and if possible to learn the Chemistry necessary formore complex Distillations. Antibiotics will needto be gathered as well, although their relativelyshort shelf Life will necessitate our Adaptation to

more old-fashioned, herbal Methods.

toothpaste

drugs

Figure 5-1: a relatively basic composting Toilet.

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6

1

A rather great Variety of health Concernsmay be solved through the application of herbalRemedies. Further Research will yield more

l t R lt b t b th t hit ill

Infection. It is best treated via the application ofhazardous chemicals such as Permethrin, and itis advised to acquire these controlled Substancesi di t l ft th A l S P l


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complete Results, but be aware that: white willowBark can be infused into Tea to relieve Aches,Pains, and Fevers; Garlic is a powerful Anti-biotic,Anti-fungal, and Anti-viral; Ginger is useful when

your Stomach has been upset; Echinacea helpsboost your immune System.

T CWorld, and we make no claims to cover themall herein. Instead, we focus on four of the moresocially transmittable and socially awkwardDiseases.

S, S,is an insidious Bacteria that lives upon your Skin,amiably enough, until that Skin is ruptured and theBacteria enters your Bloodstream. Once inside, itmay roam about your Body, bursting forth in theForm of Boils and Sores. Most often, your Bodywill fight it offwith Success. But the Unfortunatewill discover the Bacteria infecting their internal

Organs, and Death may certainly result. Staphis transferable by Touch, and is therefore quitecommunicable. It is advised to use aggressiveherbal Treatments, if Antibiotics are unavailable.

T Mto by Scientists as Sarcoptes Scabiei. Given theopportunity, it will live and breed on and underthe Surface of your Skin. Not only is it a highly-communicable Infestation, but Scabies also takesup to six Weeks to be noticed, and the unfortunateHost is contagious this entire Span.

Untreated, bumpy red Itching will spread overyour Body, and it is quite likely that your furious

scratching will leave you quite prone to other

immediately after the Apocalypse. Some Peoplehave also reported successful Treatment utilizingthe Application of tea tree Oil to less developedInfestations.

Once treated, it is important to avoid Re-infection by keeping all Surfaces and Clothes in animmaculate State for two Weeks.

A IPeople living communally is Lice. e Louse livesamong the Hair of a Human, feasting on the Hostand causing no small Degree of Itching. It looksa bit like a tiny, gray Lobster, and it affixes itsEggscalled Nitsto your Hair with its glue-likeSaliva.

Lice must be controlled for Reasons bothsocial and sanitary, and this may be accomplishedthrough a few Methods: shaving your Head,applying poisonous Shampoos, or meticulouscombing and Nit-picking.

T W

Potable, you may know quite assuredly. Oneparasitic Predator that awaits your unfortunateStomach is Giardia, and woe to those so infected.

You will likely spend your days excreting withgreat Rapidity from either end, and your Stomachwill scream at you in a Tongue most extraordinaryand painful. Symptoms begin within a few Weeksof drinking untreated Water and may last a fewmonths or many Years.

Grapeseed Extract (GSE) features prominentlyin the herbal Treatment of Giardia, but it will takea competent Healer and a several week Regimen tofind yourself Cured.

It is best to always filter your Water.

Illness

staph

scabies

lice

giardia

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Poles. e electrical Cable itself was used in theconstruction of these Weapons, but it also founduse in the Construction of Ziplines that traversedfrom the Rooftops to security Posts along the

A C, SteamPunks set about to catch any Rainwater

water & foodR


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I S , P-tagonists have located themselvesby Intention or Hap-penstancewithin the limits of a minor Metropolis. ishypothetical Situation could unfold, with Variation, per-haps anywhere in the prev iously-civilized World, but weadmit that the knowledge of the Author of this Docu-ment is limited primarily to the previously-united Statesof America.

I S Culture, our well-prepared crew of twenty People movedto occupy the high School of their Area. e Locationwas chosen for many sound Reasons: the School was builtnearly as secure as a Prison, as its previous Role included the

intentional Control of large numbers of rowdy Youth; theSchool was equipped with a Library, scientific Laboratories, aGymnasium, a Kitchen built for feeding Hundreds, and otherAmenities most convenient.e heating Boilers were quicklyadapted to run steam Engines, fed with Scrap, that powered agreat deal of the mechanical Processes in the School.

Upon seeing this impressive Degree of Infrastructure,many People chose to join them. e admittedly weak chain-link Fence was reinforcedby Walls of packed earth Tire (taken from auto Shopsand Junkyards), which were laid like Brick and anchoredto the ground with Rebar (gathered from constructionSites). ese sturdy, thick Walls served as the first Lineof Defense against Neer-do-wells.

Just behind these walls were built Trebuchets and

Catapult, constructed from hewn wooden electrical

from the Rooftops to security Posts along theperimeter Walls.

Unable to secure Electricity to power videoCameras, the clever SteamPunks devised elaborateoptical Networks of Lenses and Mirrors on movingTracks that allowed them to view most Corners oftheir Compound.

Each Individual amongst themof every Age,Gender, and Level of Abilitytrained to Competency

in the use of various Weapons. From Spears built fromKnives and Poles (many outfitted most cleverly withShafts that could unscrew to be half the Length), torepeating Crossbows built in the Schools Woodshop;from compound Bows (both engineered locally andthose scavenged from hunting supply Shops) to basicSlings that allowed their Wielders to stand behind Wallsand rain Rocks and Chemicals upon any besiegingForce, the SteamPunks were prepared for Conflict.

Firearms and Ammunition were also stored,and their dwindling Supply of Cartridges led themto design Rifles to accept the black Powder thatthey created in the schools Laboratories. Cannon,constructed of iron Pipe, were also mounted to theRoof but rarely employed.

Utilizing the ceramics Studio present withinthe School, our Protagonists threw Pots of Clayupon the potters Wheel. ese were then filledwith black Powder, wrapped with oil-soaked Wicks,lit, then catapulted into the Midst of any Foes. e scarce reserves of Petrol were not utilizedin the name of LocomotionBicycles having wonout as a favored Means of Transportationbutinstead were combined with Styrofoam to createa Form of Napalm that filled glass Bottles. esemolotov Cocktails were lobbed by Hand and bymeans of Staffsling upon Antagonists.

It was well and fine that they went throughsuch elaborate Measures, because their urbanLocation led to a great many Conflicts with Police,

Warlords, and roving Gangs of Scavengers.

SteamPunks set about to catch any Rainwaterby means of the Cleaning and Redirecting ofthe Gutters that lined the Roof. Overtime, theyexpanded this useful, labor-saving System toinclude the cement Gutters that lined the nearbyStreets, directing Water to Tanks for Filtration andConsumption. ey also installed a Series of water Wheelsthat utilized the downward Pull of Gravity upon

the Rainwater. ese water Wheels were used tocoil Springs, the stored mechanical Force of whichpowered the Saws and other Equipment in theWorkshops of the School.

Some of the Water was held in a Tower builtatop the School, so that water Pressure could bemaintained in the Kitchen. e bathroom Plumbing,however, was shut offand both Urine and Feces wereutilized in the Fertilization of the Garden. Special Carewas taken with the human Feces, and it was devouredand expelled by Worms in a process of Vermaculturebefore it was allowed upon the Plants.

For Nutrition, the Denizens of the High Schoolwere reliant on a diverse Selection of Foods. Whilethe less-informed Hordes converged upon grocery

Stores and convenience Stores, the SteamPunks rodebike Carts out to the Distributors that lined the edge ofthe City and the massive Warehouses in the industrialDistrict. From these Places they accumulated Storesof dry Goods, but these Stores would not last.

Behind tire Walls and out of the Sight of theRavenous, they planted a Garden that utilized thePrinciples of Permaculture to provide maximumYield with a Minimum of Effort. Fruit and nutTrees, rescued from Nurseries, grew to provide agreat Wealth of Foods. ey ate the vile Meat of Pigeon and Ratthose most effective Scavengersafter attractingand trapping the poor Beasts. ey harvested many of the edible Wilds of

the cityfrom Dandelion to Clover, Blackberry to

AA: S S

Urban

location & defenseV

Prickly Pearalthough they knew that d angerous levelsof Contaminates were to be found in many, particularlyalong major Motorways. Survival makes many strangeDemands.

O S small Groupnumbering twenty Soulsthat

arose. A short length of railroad Rail was brought upthe Mountain and used as an Anvil. e Springs fromAutomobiles abandoned nearby provided an excellentSteel from which to forge a variety of bladed Weapons,

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Parking Lots and minor Roads were broken up toprovide more room for permaculture Gardens, and theAsphalt was used as fill in their tire Walls.

O SP Matters both of Military and food Acquisition, and thisinfluenced their Aesthetic.

Clothing was functional and hardy, much of itcomposed of patchwork Leathers and Synthetics recoveredfrom Upholstery. Armor was worn as Decoration, andwoven Chains of Nuts and Coins were common. erewas much variation in Style, however, and many of thosewho spent more of their Time engaged in Horticulturalpursuits favored lightweight Cottons with heavy Beltsdesigned to carry Tools both martial and practical.

Although the expansion of both their Defenses andGardens were labor-intensive Practices, there was stillplenty of time for Recreation. Innovation was viewed aswondrous Hobby, and a great many Tinkerers whiled theHours contrapting in the Shop and Laboratory. Many ofthe Days Meals were communal Affairs, and socializingoccupied a great deal of the Days Time.

Without most recorded musical Mediaexceptingthe record, which was often played by Bic ycle, singingand the playing of Music fell out of the Hands of the Fewand into the Hands of most Everyone. Near every Eveningconcluded with the exhibition of various Musicians,playing a variety of Styles. ose with less of a Taste for social Endeavors whiledTime in the vast Librarywhose Contents had beenexpanded greatly by means of scavengingand many alamplit Night was passed in the company of astoundingVolumes.

But Urban life for the Post-Civilized was in no waywithout Turmoil, and Deathfrom Enemies or Illnesswas quite a common occurrence. e Dead were treatedin Accordance with their various Religions.

p g ychose to relocate to the Mountains immediatelyupon the Collapse of polite Society. is particularCollection of SteamPunks was located in the fertiletemperate Zone of the united States.

T P Cwas to be their saving Grace, as they had chosen

a Spot both remote and south-facing uponwhich to survive. As the Warnings descended,they transported oil Barrels full of Rice, Beans,Medicine, and Equipment up to their chosen Sitein the national Forests to bury. eir Escape from the Cities and Suburbswas immediate, having been coordinated well inadvance; they drove their Trucks and other Vehiclesup the long, winding logging Roads and parked justas the Cities began to cry out in desperation. e gathering of Supplies for building was tobe the greatest Challenge to face these newly-ruralSteamPunks, so remotely located were they. But theSoil itself was their greatest Ally.ey gathered Tiresfrom the small Towns nearby and dug an Abode into

the Hillside. Building retaining Walls by packing theTires with excavated Earth, they soon had a smallCabin that, half-buried, was nearly invisible to anywho gazed upon it. e exposed edge was panedwith windshield Glass, and an Overhang was builtto maximize Shade in the Summer and solar Heatin the Winter. is passive solar Heating, combinedwith the astounding Insulation provided by theearthen Berm on three Sides, kept the Cabin cozy inWinter and Summer alike. eir Strategy of Defense relied primarily upontheir remote Location.eir Vehicles, stripped, werehidden well off of the Road, and they encouragedWildness to reclaim their original Route of Entry.

But they did build Arms thatconstructed

primarily for Huntingserved in the Conflicts that

g y p ,and many Nails were formed into Arrowheads.

But the Crux of their Defense lay in theircarefully laid Traps and Ambushes. Well-camouflaged Treehouses were to be found allthroughout their Territory, each a with a Cache ofnon-perishable Food in five-gallon Buckets. It wasfrom these Platforms that the SteamPunks did amajority of their fighting and hunting.

T W Task. During the strenuous first Months, theyrelied quite heavily upon the commercial waterFilters and iodine Tablets they had acquired inadvance, but soon they had rigged a Set of sandFilters into an embankment. Fed by a Diversionfrom the Creek, they never lacked for potableanddelicious!mountain Water.

Being a small Band situated on a great dealof Land, the SteamPunks met most of theirnutritionary Needs through gathering and a smallAmount of hunting. Acorns were collected intolarge burlap Sacks that were tied shut and placed in

swift-running Brooks. Days later, the Acorns werecollected and ground into Flour by the water-wheelMill they had constructed.

Wild Greens were foraged, Berries were pickedand jellied, and Fruits were gathered and dried.

Once a week or so, a D eer or Elk was broughtdown by Bowshot, and as much of the Meat wassmoked and salted as was eaten fresh-cooked.

Small Gardens were constructed and cared for,to supply many of the annual Vegetables that theSteamPunks were accustomed to and were willingto work for: Tomatoes, Lettuces, Eggplant, and thelike.

Although a great Deal of Effort was put intothe gathering of food Stores, the SteamPunks of

the Wild rarely felt that they might go hungry.

society, culture, & fashionlocation & defense

water & food

B mn

TRa small and isolated Group were quite challenging at

society, culture, & fashionA B: F R

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Times. In the Beginning, a huge amount of Energywas exerted on the quelling of Alpha tendencies,so that no single Person held Power over another.Sometimes, romantic Couples would break into afierce Feuding that cast a dark Spell over the entireEncampment for Days.

But when there was Work to be done, mostsocial Problems dissipated quickly, and over Time

everyone grew comfortable with their Fellows.Near every Night brought the Majority together forDiscussion and Entertainment; the Days Matterswere spoken of, the Morrows concerns wereaddressed, and one or another of the Companywould pick up Fiddle or Saw and strike up a Dance.Some told Stories, others told Jokes.

New People filtered slowly in from nearbyTowns, although only upon an Invitation offeredby the Whole of the existing Community. Childrenwere born, and within a Decade their Numbers haddoubled.

Clothing was markedly utilitarian, and muchof it was designed for camouflage and comfort.Aprons, tough Gloves, pocketed Belts, and Hoods

were all common. Many wore no Shoes, even in theWinter. Still, a touch of Fancy was to be found, inthe Bowlers, Necklaces, Pocket-watches, and Lacethat seemed common among all Genders. e Boredom of Isolation was their fiercestEnemy, and many took up Self-education to passthe mountain Hours. Soon, a wonderful variety ofContraptions were growing up all around, althoughnone were intended to alleviate Labor! ere was a water-wheel Refrigerator, a hand-crank Lathe, wooden Bicycles, and Hand-gliders.Competitions between Inventors sprung up andwere taken quite as seriously as one might takeother Sports.

O

Ine Wake Excerpt Booklet 1, Aric McBay. Freelydownloadble from http://www.inthewake.org/excerpt1hi.pdf

Peak Oil Survival, Eric McBay. (An expanded Version ofthe Excerpt!)

e New Complete Book of Self-sufficiency, JohnSeymour.

SD

e Art of War, Sun Tzu. Freely downloadable fromhttp://www.tangledwilderness.org

36 Strategies. Freely downloadable fromhttp://www.tangledwilderness.org

Ecodefense: a field guide to monkey-wrenching, DaveForeman.

Slinging.org, website: http://www.slinging.org/Making Black Powder, website:

http://www.wfvisser.dds.nl/EN/bp_making_EN.html

Trebuchet Mechanics, Donald Siano. Freelydownloadable from http://www.algobeautytreb.com/trebmath35.pdf

W:

W.E.L.L. Technical Briefs, Freely downloadable fromhttp://www.lboro.ac.uk/well/resources/technical-briefs/

technical-briefs.htm

F:

Gaias Garden, Toby Hemenway.Food Not Lawns, Heather C. FloresFeral Forager, Wild Roots Collective. Freely

downloadable from http://anti-politics.net/distro/download/feralforager-olympiascan.pdf

e Humanure Handbook, Joseph Jenkins.How to Grow More Vegetablesan You Everought

Possible On Less Landan You Can Imagine, John

Jeavons.

Ghetto Gardening, Anon. Freely downloadable fromhttp://www.zinelibrary.net

M:

th J f H d S i i g b it htt //


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the Joy of Hand Spinning, website: http://www.joyofhandspinning.com/

A:

Earth-Sheltered Houses, Rob Roy.Comfort in any Climate, Michael Reynolds.

H:

Whereere is No Doctor, David Werner.Whereere is No Dentist, Murray Dickson.Beyond Antibiotics, Michael Schmidt.Our Bodies, Ourselves, Boston Womens Health Book

Collective.US Army Special Forces Medical Handbook, US Army.e Herbalists Way, Nancy & Michael Phillips.

S/P I:

Days of War, Nights of Love, CrimethInc.Consensus Decision Making, website: http://

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consensus_decision-making


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strangers in a tangled wilderness

Documents

Steam Punks Guide