>> I want to get two more teams fielded for the zoomwagon, so that overall the amount of hours covered within their driving range is MUCH better, but the teams each get stable, predictable time off (at least one hard day off plus a flexible one), and there's still time to maintain the zoomwagon.<<
Ideally, yes. We know that they only had one team each for zoomwagon and zipcycle for the Big One, though, and after that everything will be a scramble. Farther west there's more damage to roads, so the zoomwagon's usefulness is limited there. The overall population of the West Coast would plummet, and after the initial casualties from the earthquakes and tsunamis, what's left? Probably construction-type problems as people attempt to clear rubble and rebuild. I'm not sure if that would be more, the same, or less than previous levels of callouts.
>> With that load, they'll need a dedicated mechanic who can handle the machine without wanting to reverse engineer anything or "fix" it to suit themselves. <<
Probably so. Zoomwagons are finicky things, hard to keep running, because they're not standard tech. They require attention after each use, more than a regular ambulance would. More crews could mean more callouts, thus more maintenance.
>> Finding two more speedster drivers may be easier than finding the mechanic. <<
Speedster drivers, plus at least a paramedic and an EMT. The drivers need at least intermediate first aid training, and I expect that EMT or paramedic rank would be preferred, although they could go for EFA instead since an ambulance is supposed to have that too. They have to be either soups, or completely comfortable working with soups and zetetic equipment.
*ponder* You know what I'd look for? A diagnostician. For some fool reason, people tend to view them as inadequate Healers rather than psychics whose Sight has a medical focus. So like cargo teleporters, they're not used to great advantage, except in the Maldives where they're greatly treasured. That's how the teleport hub has free health scans for anyone interested. Anyhow, having someone on an ambulance crew who could do fast, super-accurate assessments would be incredibly valuable. They'd only need EMT skill to provide extra help for a paramedic member; their main purpose would be finding problems for their partner to fix.
Also relating to the Big One, we have Jefferson, who despite his spoiled upbringing is serious about becoming a field doctor. When the Big One hit, he got assigned to a current field doctor as an assistant. After the Big One, most if not all colleges on the West Coast will shut down for some time. Jefferson can either go east for medical school, which he doesn't want to do because his family is staying; or start his training with what amounts to an apprenticeship and pick up the classwork later, which he's much more likely to do. So what will happen to him and the field doctor after the initial casualties peter out? If a speedster could be found, they'd just need a field nurse -- preferably also a soup -- to make the higher-level team. You put that one on duty during peak demand hours when the worst cases are most likely to occur.
I can see how finding a dedicated zoom mechanic would be hard, though, because they have to be at least gizmologist level, and a lot of those tend to focus on inventing rather than maintaining. You'd need someone with good followship skills, almost like a sidekick for the people inventing the gear.
Re: LOVELY!
Ideally, yes. We know that they only had one team each for zoomwagon and zipcycle for the Big One, though, and after that everything will be a scramble. Farther west there's more damage to roads, so the zoomwagon's usefulness is limited there. The overall population of the West Coast would plummet, and after the initial casualties from the earthquakes and tsunamis, what's left? Probably construction-type problems as people attempt to clear rubble and rebuild. I'm not sure if that would be more, the same, or less than previous levels of callouts.
>> With that load, they'll need a dedicated mechanic who can handle the machine without wanting to reverse engineer anything or "fix" it to suit themselves. <<
Probably so. Zoomwagons are finicky things, hard to keep running, because they're not standard tech. They require attention after each use, more than a regular ambulance would. More crews could mean more callouts, thus more maintenance.
>> Finding two more speedster drivers may be easier than finding the mechanic. <<
Speedster drivers, plus at least a paramedic and an EMT. The drivers need at least intermediate first aid training, and I expect that EMT or paramedic rank would be preferred, although they could go for EFA instead since an ambulance is supposed to have that too. They have to be either soups, or completely comfortable working with soups and zetetic equipment.
*ponder* You know what I'd look for? A diagnostician. For some fool reason, people tend to view them as inadequate Healers rather than psychics whose Sight has a medical focus. So like cargo teleporters, they're not used to great advantage, except in the Maldives where they're greatly treasured. That's how the teleport hub has free health scans for anyone interested. Anyhow, having someone on an ambulance crew who could do fast, super-accurate assessments would be incredibly valuable. They'd only need EMT skill to provide extra help for a paramedic member; their main purpose would be finding problems for their partner to fix.
Also relating to the Big One, we have Jefferson, who despite his spoiled upbringing is serious about becoming a field doctor. When the Big One hit, he got assigned to a current field doctor as an assistant. After the Big One, most if not all colleges on the West Coast will shut down for some time. Jefferson can either go east for medical school, which he doesn't want to do because his family is staying; or start his training with what amounts to an apprenticeship and pick up the classwork later, which he's much more likely to do. So what will happen to him and the field doctor after the initial casualties peter out? If a speedster could be found, they'd just need a field nurse -- preferably also a soup -- to make the higher-level team. You put that one on duty during peak demand hours when the worst cases are most likely to occur.
I can see how finding a dedicated zoom mechanic would be hard, though, because they have to be at least gizmologist level, and a lot of those tend to focus on inventing rather than maintaining. You'd need someone with good followship skills, almost like a sidekick for the people inventing the gear.