Silo Servers
Once instruments of data collection and population control, fallen server cabinets now provide seats and food-warming surfaces for the gathered survivors.
Story so far
The servers occupy almost an entire floor and consume enough electricity to provoke recurring budget disputes. Their recorded history was wiped during the uprising, officially blamed on rebels, although fire and power loss circulated as alternative explanations. Allison recovered fragments of repeatedly overwritten data and described multiple levels of redundancy. Access became severely restricted; Jahns noted that the servers retained full power during the power holiday, while Bernard Holland described cooling air ducted from Mechanical. Behind their ordinary data-processing equipment, certain cabinets also concealed a communications headset and access to a floor hatch.
Lukas used supplied passcodes to investigate server six, initially without understanding the significance of its data, and later opened several servers. Juliette reported that the other silo's servers were still running. Donald Keene described them as recording residents' work, lifespans, children, diet, and movements; Paul Thurman said they evaluated residents and governed lotteries to shape the population. Donald has further stated that they choose who may reproduce and run simulated wars to select a winner. Meanwhile, Juliette and Raph tore a server tower from its floor screws and toppled it across the hatch.
The arrangement of the servers matches the geographical layout of the silos. A plate bears a three-triangle silo symbol and the number 29. Juliette and the children cut wires, remove mounting bolts, and topple cabinets to clear space for the meeting. Servers 40 and 38 remain powered while lying down and are used to warm canned food. The gathered survivors sit on the fallen cabinets to eat.
Appearance
Large server cabinets arranged in rows, with bundled, labeled wiring. Some cabinets are nearly empty, concealing a headset or access to a floor grate. Their arrangement matches the silo geography; one plate bears a three-triangle symbol and the number 29. Several have been toppled.
Role
The servers process silo data and conceal infrastructure; Donald and Thurman describe a further role in evaluating and controlling populations. Fallen cabinets now serve as seating, and powered servers 40 and 38 warm food.
Relationships
Earlier in this series
Also appears in books you've already read — spoiler-safe to their endings:
- WoolBook 1
Sources — 15 recorded facts, by chapter
- Lukas reports that the supplied passcodes work for his investigation of server six.
- Lukas has not yet found a different kind of data or understood its importance while investigating server six.
- Several servers have been opened as Lukas learns how to access their contents.
- Donald regards the contents of the servers as the last great mystery he wants to investigate.
- Juliette reports that the other silo’s servers are still running.
- Donald says the servers record residents’ work, lifespans, children, diet, and movements.
- Thurman says the servers evaluate residents and determine the lotteries to shape the population.
- Juliette and Raph tear a server tower loose from its floor screws and topple it across the hatch.
- Donald says the servers choose lottery numbers and determine who may reproduce.
- Donald says the servers run simulated wars to select a winner.
- The servers’ arrangement matches the geographical layout of the silos.
- A plate on a server bears a three-triangle silo symbol and the number 29.
- Juliette and the children cut wires, remove mounting bolts, and topple servers for meeting space.
- Servers 40 and 38 remain powered after being laid down and are used to warm canned food.
- The gathered survivors sit on the fallen servers while eating.