Drone Launch Lift
The cramped drone lift serves as a hiding place and escape route, but a buckled storage bin jams its door during departure.
Story so far
The launch lift carries drones to a sloping launch bay, where a tracked attachment guides them toward doors opening onto the surface. Its corrugated access door can be raised with a red handle, and the drones’ wings barely fit. Activating the lift normally prevents the door from opening; Donald previously held it in place with a crate while its motor strained.
Charlotte later made the cramped metal container a hiding place, putting bedding inside despite its being too low for her to sit upright. Its floor betrays movement with noise, and she grew hot enough to sweat while sheltering there. Donald said the ascent took twenty minutes and recommended holding the door with an empty storage bin. During the escape, a plastic bin wedges the door open and prevents ascent; its buckled lid keeps it from being pushed outward.
Appearance
A low metal lift compartment reached through a corrugated access door, with a red opening handle, a small latch release, and a noisy floor. The launch route leads to a sloped, tracked bay.
Role
A drone transport mechanism repurposed as Charlotte’s shelter and as a route toward the surface.
Relationships
Sources — 18 recorded facts, by chapter
- The launch lift is behind a waist-high garage door wide enough to accommodate the drones’ wingspan.
- Pulling a red handle raises the launch lift’s corrugated door into the wall.
- The cavity beyond the lift door extends more than twelve feet.
- Activating the lift normally prevents its door from opening.
- Donald holds the lift in place with a crate while its motor strains.
- The lift opens into a sloping launch bay with a tracked attachment for guiding a drone.
- Doors at the upper end of the launch slope open onto the surface.
- The drone’s wings barely fit into the launch lift.
- The launch system pulls the drone from the lift onto a sloped ramp.
- The drone lift has a nearly invisible, knee-high door painted the same color as the wall.
- Charlotte places her bedding inside the drone lift.
- The drone lift is a metal container too low for Charlotte to sit upright in.
- Charlotte becomes hot enough to sweat while sheltering in the drone lift.
- The drone lift has a metal door with a small latch release and a floor that makes noise when people shift their weight.
- Donald says the drone lift takes twenty minutes to reach the top.
- Donald recommends jamming the drone lift door with an empty storage bin.
- A plastic bin wedges the drone lift door open and prevents the lift from ascending.
- The bin’s buckled lid prevents it from being pushed outward.