?

What word(s) can you use for a machine that would be an equivalent of something like self-analysis, or self-examination. A word that would mean the machine is checking itself for problems. The two mentioned seemed to work only for humans. I need something for a very complex machine.

They say that the first sentence of a book is often what makes the difference between reading it or tossing it.

With that in mind, which of the two sentences catches up your attention the most? (sci-fi)

1- The module hissed and spat more sparks in the tiny cabin, scorching my skin on contact.

or

2- Mesmerized by its beauty, I found myself staring at the sky with its only sun.

Thank you for any input.

For the last few years they were only invading our wooden swing. I just ignored them and stayed away from both them AND the swing. They were not that many either, about 3 or 4, just enough to notice but still easy to avoid. This year they are about a dozen and now they are starting to invade our deck too, leaving us not many other places to go sit if we want to stay away from them. When we sit on the deck they fly and 'pretend' to hit us then go back and hover in front of us for a bit, then do it again. They already bored many holds under our wooden swing, can they end up destroying things? What is the best way to make them go?

I am writing a book, or at least trying, and I am kind of stuck with some details, so I am turning to you all for some inputs.

Not to waste too much of your time with the story line I will go to directly to the point.

Let's say the setting is in California and after a series of ongoing earthquakes, they fear the big One is just around the corner. About 6 to 7 thousands of kids ranging from babies to young adults need to be evacuated. What would the army use to do it? And how long do you think it would take? (They are all gathered at the same place in some kind of large park/wild life area or something, not in a housing area.)

The story is Science-fiction but in nowadays, not in the future.

(Please don't tell me they would leave them there, even if they would, because this will not help me with the story)

Thanks for your time