OK Flashlight Guru's, I need some help with some concepts for a novel.
This is my first post, and please let me know if this is out of bounds, improper or I am just plain wrong in any of my hypotheticals. And some of this may be politically incorrect, but it is fiction. I understand it will be vetted first, so here goes.
The setting is the US, NA at least, as we know it today. And family, as in the best of our past- family beyond the nuclear -is still paramount, at least to this group. This is a story of, an eccentric father who's preached war/apocalypse, to his 3 sons and daughter, regarding our enemy/ largest creditor. The worst happens, begins with cyber attack and then a couple of LEO satellites disguised as "benign, multi-purpose" explode over CONUS creating an EMP that disables all electronics. Nothing original here.
Assume every character knows, they and theirs, have to get to a safe- centrally located geographically location (Ouachita's, perhaps), and are essentially prepared for such an event by "Pops" over the years. The journey from various locals is the book.
That said, I need input on how everyone would protect and travel to this central point. Pop's gift to all the "kids", is a mid sized, home built Faraday footlocker that contains all the essentials for the journey. Only the electontics in the footlocker survive the EMP. Everything else- grid, transportation, communication is fried, as far as civilians go.
I know this may sound crazy, but the reason I am approaching this forum is because all you guys love light. Not to get to primal on y'all, but light abhors the dark. Thus, the journey, (from prior instructions) take place often at night. And the main characters, being bearers of light, must have it at hand. So light sources are imperative. Assume Pops eccentric anticipation has at least bled over to the children as far as basic survival skills are concerned.
Thus my need for advice: What would, as far a light sources go, have been included for each family in their "box". Some of their journeys will be longer than others, some beginning in urban areas, others more suburban, rural. The travelers range from single to others with newborns- but all must make it "Home" on their own talents, cunning and will. They will scavenge, but must leave bearing primarily the contents of the EMP proof footlocker.
The light sources need to be fit for the endeavor- from practical, offensive or defensive use to energy sources capable of being "recharged" along the way. Potential multi use: Headlight, Picatinny or Weaver mountable, universal pistol mountable, infra-red lens? Must be durable, easy to use, even modify. What would you want if you had to travel through such a post-apocalyptic US with family in tow, at night primarily? What could you use dependably if you were forced to use a portable solar charger? What batteries might be interchangeable or adaptable for multiple uses. Is it even possible?
Everything must be available, at least for the " Survival Box", to any consumer. However, money isn't a consideration in stocking it for persons/ family's journey. And has been kept updated annually, for each, by Pops.
Remember, this is fiction and the family and their surviving the journey homeward the story. What lights would you use to fight the dark that remained?
Please let me know if you feel this is an improper post or where I might find a more appropriate forum. I'm researching and, though fiction, I need up to date, practical info and advice on portable light sources specific to the above theme. I hope I've come to where the experts reside.
Thank you very much, in advance.
John Patton
This is my first post, and please let me know if this is out of bounds, improper or I am just plain wrong in any of my hypotheticals. And some of this may be politically incorrect, but it is fiction. I understand it will be vetted first, so here goes.
The setting is the US, NA at least, as we know it today. And family, as in the best of our past- family beyond the nuclear -is still paramount, at least to this group. This is a story of, an eccentric father who's preached war/apocalypse, to his 3 sons and daughter, regarding our enemy/ largest creditor. The worst happens, begins with cyber attack and then a couple of LEO satellites disguised as "benign, multi-purpose" explode over CONUS creating an EMP that disables all electronics. Nothing original here.
Assume every character knows, they and theirs, have to get to a safe- centrally located geographically location (Ouachita's, perhaps), and are essentially prepared for such an event by "Pops" over the years. The journey from various locals is the book.
That said, I need input on how everyone would protect and travel to this central point. Pop's gift to all the "kids", is a mid sized, home built Faraday footlocker that contains all the essentials for the journey. Only the electontics in the footlocker survive the EMP. Everything else- grid, transportation, communication is fried, as far as civilians go.
I know this may sound crazy, but the reason I am approaching this forum is because all you guys love light. Not to get to primal on y'all, but light abhors the dark. Thus, the journey, (from prior instructions) take place often at night. And the main characters, being bearers of light, must have it at hand. So light sources are imperative. Assume Pops eccentric anticipation has at least bled over to the children as far as basic survival skills are concerned.
Thus my need for advice: What would, as far a light sources go, have been included for each family in their "box". Some of their journeys will be longer than others, some beginning in urban areas, others more suburban, rural. The travelers range from single to others with newborns- but all must make it "Home" on their own talents, cunning and will. They will scavenge, but must leave bearing primarily the contents of the EMP proof footlocker.
The light sources need to be fit for the endeavor- from practical, offensive or defensive use to energy sources capable of being "recharged" along the way. Potential multi use: Headlight, Picatinny or Weaver mountable, universal pistol mountable, infra-red lens? Must be durable, easy to use, even modify. What would you want if you had to travel through such a post-apocalyptic US with family in tow, at night primarily? What could you use dependably if you were forced to use a portable solar charger? What batteries might be interchangeable or adaptable for multiple uses. Is it even possible?
Everything must be available, at least for the " Survival Box", to any consumer. However, money isn't a consideration in stocking it for persons/ family's journey. And has been kept updated annually, for each, by Pops.
Remember, this is fiction and the family and their surviving the journey homeward the story. What lights would you use to fight the dark that remained?
Please let me know if you feel this is an improper post or where I might find a more appropriate forum. I'm researching and, though fiction, I need up to date, practical info and advice on portable light sources specific to the above theme. I hope I've come to where the experts reside.
Thank you very much, in advance.
John Patton