Tkevsa Engine

A new and promising technology is the engine made by the tkevsa of Tokled, which uses small, controlled explosions to convert energy into motion. The energy source is concentrated alcohol that the tkevsa derive from sweet grasses.

Acquisition

The tkevsa have not said how long ago they learned how to make their engine, but islanders first acquired one in 2052 Vol. When they first arrived on Tokled, humans were astonished to meet a species that used machinery to fly. Once they had established reliable communication, the exploratory crew taught the tkevsa how to build a well to reach the thermal energy of their volcano and put it to work. In exchange, the tkevsa gave us one of their engines as well as a sample of the grass and their procedure for creating fuel from it.

Inner workings

The engine is a single chamber with two openings, one for fuel to enter and the other for waste products to exit. A rotating mechanism pushes the fuel through the chamber, first compressing it into a small space against a lightning generator. A spark from the generator ignites the fuel, causing it to explode. The explosion forces the mechanism farther around, allowing the used fuel to expand while moving it away from the spark. As the waste products leave the chamber, fresh fuel is drawn into it. The mechanism then presses it against the spark maker, and the cycle repeats.

Usage

As soon as the exploratory fleet returned to the Cluster Islands, they presented the engine to Mraydor's engineering research fire division. They studied the engine for the better part of a year, but the real test came in 2053 Vol when the Dregs isolated Barkold by sabotaging a conduit during a wind calm. To reach the island quickly, the tkevsa engine was attached to a small boat and made to operate an oar machine. With additional support from water workers, help reached Barkold--a month's grueling row distant--in five days.
Despite the proof of how well they work, the engine and its copies are limited to specialized industrial use. Because of the flammability of the fuel, only certified fire handlers are allowed to use it.

Related Species

• tkevsa