The deep subterranean chamber beneath the central plaza echoed with geothermal heat as three steam engines turned in unison.
Ferra stood upon the bronze catwalk, her brass loupe whirring against her left eye as her lantern illuminated the boiler joints.
The timing knot discovered by Vella traveled through the municipal pipes, creeping into the fixtures like an invisible metallic serpent.
"The resonance knot bypassed the northern intake valves completely..." she called down to Hajin through the steam-filled chamber.
"Where is it attempting to anchor?" he asked, stepping across the walkway with his five celestial rings spinning in tight formation.
"It is trying to latch onto the primary coupling between the river engine and the western furnace!"
"Can we sever the coupling before the harmonic completes its rotation?"
"Severing the coupling will cut geothermal power to thirty thousand residential homes across the lower wards!"
