emergency-refuge
The 'Basement' serves as a sealed refuge chamber at the Tower's base, intended as a safety measure for emergencies.
1 chapter across 1 book
The Fountains of Paradise (1979)Arthur C. Clarke
In this chapter, the transporter vehicle carrying passengers down the Tower suffers a critical battery fire caused by overcharging and failed fail-safes, forcing an emergency evacuation into the sealed 'Basement' refuge at the Tower's base. Despite surviving the explosion, the passengers face a dire situation with limited life support and rapidly dropping temperatures. Meanwhile, Earth Operations staff monitor the situation via holographic displays and attempt communication, revealing the precariousness of the survivors' condition and the single-minded focus of Professor Sessui on salvaging scientific equipment.