"Drone On" is the seventeenth mission of The Home Front.
A salvaged military drone gives Janine an idea. But a lack of sleep and spare wires could lead to disaster. Can she pull it off?
EXERCISES: Seated Leg Raise, Torso Twist, Incline Press Up, Forearm Plank, Inchworm
Cast[]
Plot[]
Electrics
Janine is hard at work and broadcasting from Abel's workshop. You'll need some items for today's workout: two or more tins, two bags with strong handles and a chair. Get yourself warmed up by jogging on the spot. The first exercise is Seated Leg Raises, if you have the space and a chair. Carry on jogging if not. Sit upright in the chair with your feet on the floor then extend one leg horizontally in front of you for a few seconds, then return your foot to the floor. Repeat for 30 seconds, then switch legs. Janine is still hard at work salvaging old wiring.
Bypass the Power Systems
Janine carries on working – she's fixing a military drone found nearby. Next exercise for you is Torso Twists. Put at least one tin in each bag and hold them close to your chest. Rotate from the waist from one side then the other for one minute. Janine has nearly fixed the drone! Doctor Myers is concerned she's been going without sleep to get it finished. She needs to concentrate on the delicate wiring around the battery.
Ready for Launch
Bouts of illness have meant other settlements pleading for supplies. Working in the workshop is keeping Janine calm. Incline Press Ups are the next exercise – use stairs if you have them. Adopt the plank position with your hands on the second or third step and hold each press up for a couple of seconds. If you have no stairs, stand in front of a wall and do push ups against that instead. One minute of these! The drone is ready for launch but doesn't have a lot of fuel. Janine has a plan.
Bit Twitchy
Sam is broadcasting while Janine launches the remote-controlled drone. Planking is up next – adopt the plank position for a minute. The drone is launched! It's drifting over the horde... but not attacking? It's heading towards Naxdale Settlement and losing altitude. Sam's going to check if everything's alright.
Crash in Naxdale
No contact from Janine – she must be busy. Better get on with the next exercise: Inchworming. Stand with feet hip-width apart, then hinge from the hips and put your hands on the floor. Walk your hands forwards into a plank position, keeping your abs engaged. Then reverse that until you're standing again. One minute of these. The drone is down! It's crashed directly into Naxdale Settlement! Let's hope Naxdale don't think we're attacking them. This might be bad.
Watch the Skies
Janine is back on the line – Her plan was never for the drone to attack the horde! She had loaded it with medical supplies. Janine instructs Naxdale to take one eighth of the supplies and to fix the drone so it can fly to other settlements. It will self-destruct if anyone tries to take more than their fair share. Hang tight everyone – help is coming.
Transcript[]
[mechanical work sounds in the background]
JANINE DE LUCA: Ah, is it that time already? No, Mr. Yao, I can do it. I have equipment here. No, you do not need to come down and help. Please continue calibrating the comms. Attention, listeners, Janine De Luca here. I’ve just been informed by Mr. Yao that it is time for today’s workout session. Please take a moment to gather two or more tin cans, two bags, and if possible, a chair for exercises you’ll be doing later on. Ensure the bags have strong handles. Once you’re ready, commence warming up, perhaps by jogging on the spot.
Unfortunately, I’m rather busy attending to a task in Abel’s workshop at present. Under the workshop, to be precise. I’m in a crawl space, stripping out old copper wiring for use elsewhere. Still, I have a portable mic, so we can conduct our workout as planned. In fact, being in a confined space has brought to mind exercises for those locked down with limited room, such as Runner Thirty-One, who is unfortunately trapped within a cottage pantry.
So on to today’s first exercise: seated leg raises. For this, you’ll need one sturdy chair and just enough space to stretch your legs. I believe Thirty-One has that much room in his pantry, along with several thousand legumes. If you don’t have room, continue jogging. Otherwise, sit upright in your chair with your back straight and your hands on the chair on either side of you. Plant your left foot on the floor, then straighten your right leg so it extends in front of you with your hip flexed and your knee straight. Hold the leg there for a few seconds, then lower it.
We will raise and lower your right leg thusly for 30 seconds, then your left for 30 more. And start. That’s it, keep going. 15 seconds down. You’re doing well, everyone. Please ignore my working in the background. Very good. 30 seconds, listeners. Switch to your left leg. That’s it, 15 seconds left, listeners. We are both nearly done. The wiring down here is from defunct pre-apocalypse electrics. There is little left to salvage. And exercise complete, as is my collection operation.
I shall trigger a music break while I emerge from the crawl space. You could continue exercising or relax, listeners. I admit I’ve let Mr. Yao pick out today’s songs, so I imagine something cheerful should be about to play.
JANINE DE LUCA: Welcome back, everyone. I’m afraid I am far from done with the day’s labors, so you will have to bear with me while I conduct essential work. Abel’s machine shop has been rather cluttered for the last few months. Just before the superhorde, we recovered a crashed military drone from nearby countryside, an extremely advanced attack model. Mr. Yao claims it resembles a predatory bird, though I know few birds of car size. At first I was worried the drone was damaged beyond repair, but I have had ample incentive to work on it of late. Now while I rewire some circuits on the drone’s underside, you’ve a round of torso twists to do.
Use the tin cans and bags you obtained earlier. Place one tin in each bag. Feel free to use more tins for a greater challenge. This ought to be a fine use for all those cans of condensed milk in your pantry, Runner Thirty-One. Of course, you wouldn’t have been trapped by the horde if you hadn’t disobeyed orders to go back for those cans. Now sit holding the weights very close to your chest. Twist from the waist to your left hand side, then twist back to the center, and then twist to the opposite side. Keep alternating twists like this for one minute. And begin.
Very good, 15 seconds complete. For camaraderie purposes, you may wish to know I am removing fused components from the drone. They are of a similar heft to your weights. That’s it, 30 seconds elapsed. Patience is the key, listeners, in exercise and engineering. No matter how many panels need to be pried loose, one must persist. 15 seconds left, nearly done. And exercise complete.
It has been weeks of work, listeners, but I am close to restoring this drone, I know it. Air support in this day and age… it could bring us a major victory against the superhorde. Dr. Myers is concerned that I’ve been going without sleep for the project. For more than a few days, in honesty, but completion is so near. I need only… [components zap] Ah, damn! I need only bypass the power systems. The main battery still holds charge, but its connections are ruined. This wiring is delicate. I must concentrate. More music will follow. Rest or continue pushing yourselves and when I return, with any luck, some progress will have been made.
JANINE DE LUCA: Hello, listeners. You have just missed Mr. Yao, who has been down here on the pretext of delivering unsolicited cocoa. The truth is, weathering the superhorde, trying to plan a counterattack… the pressure has been intense. Bouts of flu and dysentery have other settlements low on medical supplies, beseeching us for aid. Tinkering in here is the closest thing to relaxation I’ve been able to manage. Hopefully you have found our exercises similarly restorative.
Today’s next task: incline press-ups. If you’re confined near stairs, find them. Adopt a press-up position with your hands shoulder-width apart on the second or third step of your stairs and your back straight. Bend your arms to lower your body until your chest is close to the floor, hold there for a count of two, then return to your starting position.
For those of you without stairs, like Thirty-One or Runners Nineteen and Twenty-Two who are trapped in the ale house toilet after a failed romantic escape, try wall press-ups. Stand before a wall with your legs together and your arms straight out with your palms on the wall at shoulder height, shoulder-width apart. Keep your back straight and bend your elbows to bring your nose close to the wall. Hold for two seconds, then return to your starting position.
There will be one minute of press-ups. Begin. 15 seconds down. I believe I am close to finishing the rewiring. 30 seconds down. The drone appears to be coming online. Excellent. 45 seconds down. I imagine wall press-ups are especially useful for Runner Thirteen, who is sheltering in an old police box, to Mr. Yao’s perplexing amusement.
And stop. The drone is ready for launch. With so little fuel, there is no opportunity to test it, but I have a plan in mind. The people need a victory against the horde. To be candid, I feel I need one, too. There will be a music break while I conduct the launch. Recoup or continue doing press-ups. When you hear from me again, we shall find out one way or another whether my efforts here have been in vain.
SAM YAO: Uh, hello? Hello, listeners, are you there? It’s Sam in the comms shack. Janine told me to take over the broadcast while she launches her drone. Apparently, she’s rigged up a remote to steer it, so she’s got to focus on that. [paper rustles] Anyway, she’s given me a list of exercises for you. Next one is… oh, planking. Janine says it’s, uh, an excellent test of patience, inspired by Runner Twelve, who’s stuck in the back of an overturned campervan. She’s been planking to pass the time.
So lie down on your front, supporting your weight on your forearms and tiptoes. Keep your back straight and lock your core. You’re going to hold that pose for 60 seconds. And go. Oh! Got an update from Janine. The drone just launched, and ah, I see it on the cams, rising from the workshop like a big scary robot eagle. 15 seconds down. That’s it, plank like Runner Twelve. Halfway done. Huh, that’s weird, the drone’s just drifting over the horde. I mean, shouldn’t it be, I don’t know, shooting missiles or something? 45 seconds down. Keep your body locked. Imagine you’re that drone soaring through the air like a plank. And done. Good job, everyone!
Yeah, there’s still no bombs or missiles from our drone. It’s uh, oh, it’s losing altitude, drifting east toward Naxdale Settlement. Yeah, they’ve always been a bit twitchy over there. They keep claiming some mysterious beast is looting their stores. I mean, everyone knows it’s just rats. Anyway, I’d better check in with Janine, make sure everything’s okay. You guys know the drill, keep exercising or relax in the break and I’ll be right back.
SAM YAO: Hey, folks! Me again. Couldn’t get ahold of Janine. She must be busy steering the drone. Well, I guess we should just get on with our exercises. Uh, the next one is inch worming. According to Janine, it’s Runner Thirty-One’s favorite, even if he only has enough space to halfway do it in his pantry. Janine says it’s the kind of bracing challenge that patience sometimes earns. Right.
So stand up straight, feet hip-width apart, then slowly bend forward, putting your hands on the floor in front of your feet as near as you can get them to your toes. Walk your hands forward, keeping your abs engaged, until your back is completely straight, then reverse it. Walk your arms back to your feet and stand up straight again. And well, just keep doing that over and over again for one minute. Ready? And go.
Hmm. Uh, you’ve done 15 seconds. Oh, that drone is getting really low. It’s banking. Oh my God, it’s going down!. Uh… uh, sorry, listeners. Um, yeah, you’re halfway done. I’m just a bit distracted here. The drone’s careered right into the middle of Naxdale Settlement. Uh, I’m checking nearby cams. This can’t be good. Uh, yeah, 15 seconds left, guys. Looks like the locals in Naxdale are surrounding our crashed drone. They look really agitated. Uh, good job, everyone. That’s one minute.
Listen, I’m gonna raise Janine, find out what’s happening. You just… hang in there. Janine’s been slaving over that thing for weeks. If it’s some kind of dud, she’ll be devastated. Oh God, I hope Naxdale don’t think we’re attacking them. Okay, this could be bad, but don’t panic. I’m just… just going to put on some relaxing music for you to cool down to while we get this straightened out. Oh boy.
JANINE DE LUCA: Hello, listeners. I apologize for alarming you and Mr. Yao. All is well, I simply chose to focus on implementing my plan before explaining it. Lost time is lost health in this case. The drone was never meant to fight the horde, you see. We lack the ammunition for that. No, the drone is packed with medical supplies. I gutted its weapons systems to make room. I have piloted the drone to our nearby neighbors.
And to those listening from Naxdale, you are entitled to 1/8th of its contents. The drone’s landing gear is permanently jammed, hence today’s crash. You will use spare parts aboard to repair any landing damage and I will pilot it to the next nearest settlement, where this process will repeat. The drone has enough fuel to deliver to every settlement for miles. You will all get the supplies you need. And if anyone tries to take more than their share, well, the drone has a self-destruct.
We could not beat the horde with one damaged drone, listeners, but sometimes the key to victory is redefining your success conditions. No settlement near Abel will run out of key supplies. That is worth a little lost sleep, I fancy. Alas, we are out of time for today’s exercise session. Naxdale, I will be in touch to help prepare the drone.
And everyone else, please do watch the skies. I promise when you need Abel Township, we will be there. That goes doubly for Runner Thirty-One and all the other runners out there in tight spaces. One day soon, we will be coming to rescue you, no matter what it takes, I swear. This is Janine De Luca, signing off for now.
Codex[]
Letter[]
Hi Five,
It's Sam again! I just wanted to check in and see how you were doing. I hope you're holding up okay, and aren't too sore after that workout. Janine can really put us through our paces, huh?
I have to admit, I still feel a little silly for freaking out earlier about the drone crashing into Naxdale. The thought of accidentally starting a conflict with another settlement was genuinely pretty worrying, ESPECIALLY considering how strained things have felt lately. Being cut off from everyone has been tough, and I think sometimes, it can be easy to forget that people out there are struggling just like we are. It feels extra important that we look after our community right now, even if we can't necessarily see each other in person. She'd probably self-combust rather than ever take a compliment, but... I'm really proud of Janine for working so hard to help like that. It's comforting to know our township is in good hands.
Anyway, I better go check on her and make sure she's actually eating and getting some rest. Take care, Five! Feel free to reach out if you fancy a chat - I'm usually around on this frequency, or on ROFFLENET, and it's always nice to hear from you.
Stay safe,
Sam
Supplies[]
The following supplies can be found in this mission.
(List may be incomplete.)
Baseball Bat
Board game
Candles
Cricket bat
Dress
First Aid Kit
Flashlight
Football
Laptop
Makeup
Mobile Phone
Overcoat
Pain Meds
Shirt
Sports Bra
Trainers
Underwear
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