  We investigate the SU(3) Yang Mills theory at small gradient flow time and at
short distances. Lattice spacings down to $a=0.015$ fm are simulated with open
boundary conditions to allow topology to flow in and out. We study the
behaviour of the action density $E(t)$ close to the boundaries, the feasibility
of the small flow-time expansion and the extraction of the $\Lambda$-parameter
from the static force at small distances. For the latter, significant
deviations from the 4-loop perturbative $\beta$-function are visible at
$\alpha\approx 0.2\,$. We still can extrapolate to extract $r_0\Lambda$.
