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APRIL 13TH, 2026.
As the desert sun set upon the New Mexico desert, and a specific volcano caldera in particular, all seemed calm on that fine spring evening.
Until a faint vibration, barely noticeable, caused tiny rocks and pebbles everywhere to shake and rattle.
Deeper underground through tunnels and passageways, we come to find the Great Shaft as an mighty earthquake shakes the entire structure.
Rocks break free from walls and ceilings. Cracks and fissures rend into the supports holding the elevator rails in place, threatening to tear them all loose and free.
But then, it subsides... Dust falls, rock settles... Explorer Restoration Engineers pull themselves out of their hiding places and exhale in relief at the passing of the proverbial storm.
Somewhere in the Great Shaft, a Bahro lets out a reassuring chirp of what's probably "It's Over now" in their own tongue. Others give similar chirps confirming their survival.
The explorers do the same, checking on their own, making sure their teammates are all safe.
Yes, it seems no-one died, nobody was hurt, and yet...
There is a pain and a hurt to be felt upon surveying the initial damage. This, assuredly, would cause yet more delays to the full restoration of the path from the surface to D'ni.
All the while, the sun casts its warm orange glow upon the surface world outside, descending peacefully, and unaware of the events that just happened.
Just another day in D'ni, as some would say.