Rugged Nova

I got into the Data General scene in the late 1990's, when I received an Eclipse as a gift from a client who no longer needed it. In my search for docs, software, and other information I met some interesting people. One was in the Navy in the 1980's in data processing. He recounted to me: I was visiting a hangar where machines were being warehoused and tested prior to acceptance. I saw a lot of odd tests conducted, shocks, water, fire, smoke, the works, or so I thought. Once when there I saw a Hawk (That was a Data General milspec 'Eagle' - Eclipse 32 bit machine) suspended by chains from the overhead of the hangar. I was mesmerized as two weights were released from two chains on opposite sides of the machine as it was running. The two weights slammed into the sides of the machine at approximately the same time and the results were pretty spectacular. It sounded like someone blew up the Liberty bell, or crashed a VW into a lightpole. The machine continued to function! Most of the things that went on around there were classified to some degree or other and one got used to not asking questions, but as I looked over in bewilderment to my buddy in the group of tester, he said to me darkly "Depth Charges". Jeff