Shulamit says, "Hoo hoo! Today we will be looking at the fanciest thing we've found so far at Ishbi, the colonial cookpot!"

Shulamit holds aloft a colonial cookpot, allowing the drone hovering around free view of it. "This simple cookpot is a humble-looking device that has been rigged together from preexisting components by a proficient amateur engineer to suit a pleasantly domestic purpose. A messy-looking snarl of copper heating elements presses to one side of the base of a cylindrical aluminum tank that seems to have been some sort of lightweight storage vessel in a former life. Cut-to-order iron mesh has been installed as a grate in the deep cap of the tank's lid, where items meant for steaming could be stored securely. For the purposes of this recreation, the word 'Callisto' has been painted on the front of the cookpot, above and opposite the heating element."

Shulamit says, "We have one on display, hoo hoo. This one we were thinking of doing the researches on. You know, the...touching types."

Shulamit nods its head slowly, looking very wise.

Tuesday says, "Callisto; not a bad name. Sounds like a crafter's mark."

Shulamit says, "So this particular set of cookpots was discovered at Ishbi, an asteroid here in Scatterhome. It is currently mostly hoo...herds of creatures. Good creatures, yes. And little songbirds. And dust! Also yes. Callisto means something, maybe?"

Shulamit ponders the situation.

Shulamit says, "I think it's something to the humans."

Picram says, "Callisto was the location of the only colony Humanity had left back when they were attacked by the Free Fleet if memory serves."

Shulamit says, "Riiiight yes."

Shulamit says, "So written on in memory, perhaps. Akmara touches up the antiquities, I don't do the recreation stuff. Yet. I'm still planning on the party at the park some recreated recreated cookpots!"

Picram says, "I wonder though... this thing looks rather improvised. Did they really not have any... existing cooking utensils for that same purpose?"

Shulamit says, "Well, they were from a prison colony, yes yes? So perhaps they did not have access to the majority of cookware and only the guards would have. But then you need more cookware when you're now on your own, hoo."

Picram says, "I mean the Free Fleet was famous, they surely looted some cookware in the process of achieving that feat."

"Heh heh heh," Shulamit chuckles.

Shulamit says, "Sometimes people forget how important cooking is until they are faced with a hunk of food and no cookware."

Shulamit acknowledges the point with a grave nod of its head.

Picram says, "They had also already wiped out most of the other colonies of Humanity, a process that would have likely included plenty of raiding. They were mercenaries after all."

Shulamit says, "Hoo hoo! You can still join us if you wish, Abigail!"

Shulamit smiles at Abigail, beckoning them closer to the colonial cookpot.

Tuesday says, "Still. Copper's a nice touch; but the thermal conductivity leaves a lot to be desired. Being a salvage jury-rig would explain some things."

Acknowledging Tuesday's point to be true, Shulamit nods its head gravely at them.

Picram says, "Copper is actually quite a decent heat conductor. Which strikes me as something you'd want for a heating element."

Shulamit says, "Copper is plentiful, yes? Hoo. Well. All minerals are, in space ish. It's also easy to work with!"

Tuesday nods.

Picram says, "Do you know how they powered it though? Did they just pass a current through it to let it heat up? That would require an external source of electricity. Or did they just heat up the copper elements with something like an open flame, and let thermal conductivity do the rest?"

Shulamit says, "Replaceable, easy to work with and maintain, can make a lot of them with nearby materials?"

Abigail leans over to Picram and whispers something quietly.

Shulamit tilts its head and utters a thoughtful, "Hrm."

Shulamit says, "We didn't find any sort of...plug, hoo. But coiled makes me think it was energized and not hoo..er..."

Shulamit trails off, confusing itself.

Tuesday nods.

Shulamit says, "If it was a fire underneath the pot, the entire bottom would be copper probably!"

Shulamit wipes the back of its branch end across its brow in relief.

Picram says, "You wouldn't necessarily need a plug. I can demonstrate if you want."

Shulamit boggles at Picram.

Shulamit urges Picram onwards.

Abigail tilts her head curiously, watching Picram with a curious hazel gaze.

Tuesday ponders the situation.

Picram takes a QPC and some wires from one of its many bags, then attaches some metal clamps to one end of each wire and the other to the QPC. It then looks into the cookpot, trying to mentally untangle the coppery mess inside. A moment later, it attaches the electrodes to two protruding bits of copper. As soon as the second electrode clamps onto the metal, sparks fly and the metal begins to heat up to a dull orange.

"Oooooooooh!" Shulamit says, eyes wide with wonder.

Shulamit says, "Hoo, qpcs. Those are the things the flying metally things sometimes drop and I look at, confused."

Shulamit nods solemnly.

Shulamit looks over the cookpot, determining it's not immediately falling apart from the energy being pushed inside it. "Very nice work Picram!"

Picram says, "Guess that would do for improvised cooking. I'm not sure what they had back in the day, but any power source could have worked. Maybe they even used one borrowed from a weapon."

Acknowledging Picram's point to be true, Shulamit nods its head gravely at it.

Shulamit says, "Gun, or food? Why not...both!"

Tuesday says, "Still curios... Don't see an isolator, but it may have rotted. Yo, Shalamit! Got something to check the volts on the aluminum?"

Shulamit says to Abigail, "I thought they might have made hoo...soup in the pot. What method of cooking do you think?"

Shulamit says, "Hoo? I..."

Shulamit says, "Akmara might, but I do not. Being all...void...y..."

Shulamit trails off, confused as to what a thing to check volts even is.

Abigail ponders the question a moment before shrugging her shoulders. "I...have no idea...haha I've never thought of that."
Tuesday ponders the situation.

Shulamit says, "Could heat up water for soup, could heat up water for steaming. I don't think it's hot enough like a firepit to cook food on the outside like hoo...there's this cooking method with heating up bricks and slapping meats generally onto the walls. I think. I don't know meats so well, hee hoo."

Picram says, "I honestly wouldn't touch it while it's powered. This is a relatively weak QPC, but we don't know how it compares to whatever was used back in the day. Jerry-rigged devices are always a bit on the dangerous side. That and it might be quite hot."
Acknowledging Picram's point to be true, Shulamit nods its head gravely at it.

Shulamit says to Picram, "Could you hoo...remove it for now? We'll pay you for the qpc charge."

Shulamit nods its head slowly, looking very wise.

Shulamit scribbles down some notes with a finger, transferring marks through the air.

Picram carefully removes the electrodes, but leaves the QPC and wires on the table.

Picram says, "Ah, you don't need to pay me for the charges. Any engineer can quickly assemble those nowadays."

Shulamit says, "Hoo, thank you!"

Shulamit says, "Imagine it as the horrible monetary oversight the other citizens have invested in me. Ah hoo! I will accept it back though, and pretend I am corrupt and bribeable."

Shulamit nods solemnly.

Tuesday carefully tests the aluminum with a touch before violently pulling back.

Tuesday says, "Still hot."

Shulamit sniffs at the colonial cookpot, the aroma of heated metal filling the back room. "Metal does have a smell, doesn't it. I wonder if they just ignored it, or if they made sure the food's flavour would overpower it."

Shulamit stares at Tuesday, tilts its head quizzically, rubs its chin thoughtfully, raises its eyebrow and says, "I see..."

Picram says, "We could try to fill it with water and... steam something to see."

Shulamit ponders the situation.

Shulamit says, "Next time, hoo! I'll bring some distilled water and some veggies yes yes?"

Picram says, "Sounds like a plan!"

Shulamit nods solemnly, waiting for the colonial cookpot to cool off enough to place back into storage. It adds a note that reads "Distilled water, veggies, invite Akmara for tastings."

Shulamit reaches up towards the drone recording the proceedings, turning it off.