Abstract Of Item: Clockwork Mouse

[kamigoroshi]

Item Details:
Origin: Possibly Melaka or Johor
Item Age: Early 1800's
Length: 140mm
Width: 45mm
Height: 50mm
Weight: 400g

Resembling a toy mouse, this rare, harmless looking object may have actually been a clever sabotage device used during the early days of the Indo-Malaya rebellion. It is speculated that its purpose was to crawl its way through the machinery and disable exhaust vents for Imperial automatons and/or human controlled clankers.

However, due to its size, and the complexity of the clockwork, it is speculated that the device could only work if manually placed within the confines of a machinery where it would home in on the nearest heat source. If so, that would mean saboteurs would still have to get close to the automatons and clanks in order to deploy the device. While such methods would have been rendered in an open battlefield, it is logical to assume that the device was employed under the guise of sneak and run operations and records of it in action, while rare, have been recovered.

It is unsure whether the device was outfitted with a tiny explosive or it served to block the mechanisms that controlled the steam generator vents. As mentioned, very few records have been found regarding the said device especially after the Qing Empire upgraded their automatons and clanks with sealed steam generators (and later on micro-boiler generators) rendering the Clockwork Mouse obsolete. The fact that sabotaged automatons and clanks were destroyed in the process as well made it even harder to pinpoint just how the device worked.

It is largely assumed that the use of the Clockwork Mouse was a significant mark in the Indo-Malaya rebellion against Imperial Qing Dynasty. It is also assumed that its success, however limited lead to more underground/subversive use of steam/clockwork tech rather than open warfare.

"Even a behemoth of a machine can be so humbled by the simple actions of a tiny mouse"
- Unknown Imperial mechanic

Comments

[jhameia]

I googled, and that's the only place where automatons are referred to as clanks. But now you've given me an idea.

[kamigoroshi]

Haha, alright, so I may have taken the term clanks from my favourite Steampunk webcomic (or perhaps the only steampunk webcomic), but I'm pretty sure I've never heard anyone use the term "micro-boiler generator" before. I call dibs on that one!

[jhameia]

I've seen micro-boiler before, somewhere.

If you want another pretty awesome steampunk webcomic, you should check out The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage. Quite up the alley of anyone who digs a TON of historical research in their alternate-history work.

[kamigoroshi]

I actually have read the Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage but it felt too short and not as coherant as Girl Genius. There is another sort of steampunk/fantasy webcomic though with an awesome plot. Not sure if you heard of Gunnerkrig Court. Excellent storytelling with steampunk elements, but it also mixes magic and fantasy as well.

[jhameia]

By necessity Lovelace and Babbage is not as coherent, which is one of the reasons why I like it. GG is drawn as an epic, and has been in development since the 90's (after the Foglios finished Buck Godot, I believe). L&B was supposed to be a one-off project for Ada Lovelace Day last year, and became its own entity from there. Sydney does it as a hobby, hence the sporadic storylines, unlike the Foglios, who are comic writers and artists by profession. I'll have to check out Gunnerkrig Court. Have you seen Virtuoso? It's fairly new, but looks promising.

[geminianeyes]

Gunnerkrig Court is awesome to say the least. :D