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.He then engaged the SEGdrive.The Icarus had moved for only a second or two, when Nessi stated that itappeared that they had cleared the ice structure in which they had beenencased.Crash ordered a full stop.He ordered Nessi to take another soundingof their surroundings.When he displayed this picture, nothing could whatsoever could be seen, exceptfor a few dim stars and a dark body that was probably the cometary body theyhad just exited.Except for the light emitted by the dim stars, they wereengulfed in total darkness."This cannot be!" Nessi exclaimed.By now DP had observed the same phenomena."OK, Boss, where are we? Really?"he asked skeptically."That is the question of the day, DP," Crash replied pensively."Nessi, seewhether our navigation computer can determine our position relative to earth."Having activated the inertial guidance system, as well as the other variousnavigation sensors, Nessi sat back in his seat and let the computer do itswork.A dull hum permeated the ship as thousands of nano-openings (smalldiscontinuities in the hull) formed, so as to allow the taking of readings.After several minutes, a group of coordinates appeared on the monitor.Threepair of eyes hit the screen at the same time.Nessi understood what thecoordinates meant before Crash and DP did."Sir Crash, we have gone far!""How far, Nessi? How far?" DP asked in an intense tone."Sir Crash, if these coordinates are correct, we have traveled about fivepoint one billion miles.It appears that we are somewhere in the Kuiper belt,Sir Crash!""We couldn't have gone that far, that fast," Crash answered."Check it again,Nessi.There must be some kind of error."Nessi increased the sensitivity of the navigation system and ran anothersensor sweep.The second calculation, although more finally tuned, was almostPage 106 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlidentical to the first.The revelation of this accomplishment staggered Crash.They had traveled fivepoint one billion miles in about ten seconds.Having made a quick mentalcalculation, he gasped, "That's about twenty-two hundred times the speed oflight!"DP reacted first to the revelation."That's pretty damned fast, Boss.We'regoing to get rich at Indy next year!"Crash did not hear a word spoken to him.A thousand times before he thought hehad anticipated the significance of this moment.The momentousness of theactual experience superseded his wildest expectations.He was numb.After what seemed like an eternity, he finally heard voices again.Nessi andDP were talking frantically to each other.Crash interrupted the discussion abruptly, "DP.Nessi.Listen up.We have justbroken the light-speed barrier for the first time.As long as we have beenthis successful, I suggest that we explore its potentialities in much greaterdetail!"Crash's words silenced them.Each of them realized the significance of Crash'sassessment of the situation.Just being excited about this would not get themhome or solve their problems.Having given the assessment thoughtful consideration, DP asked soberly, "Whatdo you have in mind, sir?""Consider this.At two percent power, we obtained a velocity of five hundredmillion miles per second.I think we should up the power levels a little andsee what happens.What would you say about going to Proxima Centauri? Itshould only take a few hours to get there."Skeptical, to say the least, DP asked."Do you think the ship's systems arereliable enough to risk such a bold test so quickly?"Having considered DP's reluctance to continue, Crash realized that DP's pointwas well taken.He then quickly issued new orders to the crew."Nessi, I wantyou to print up all of the SEG drive telemetry.We need to check theintegrity, stability, and strength of all the containment fields.Payparticular attention to any erosion or other wear characteristics to the fieldcoils that might indicate any operational limitations.DP, I want you to run adetailed check on the life support systems to make sure we won't run out ofbreathable air if we decide to make the trip."As it became available, Crash studied the SEG drive telemetry.After carefulstudy, he determined that the basic system functioned flawlessly.DP reportedthat, as long as they had fuel, the life support system could operateindefinitely at the current output levels.After conducting a thoroughinvestigation of the navigation system, Nessi reported that its accuracy wassufficient to get them to a nearby star: one such as Proxima Centauri.However, he informed Crash that traveling much further away from earth wouldrequire a much more sophisticated navigational database."Sir Crash," Nessi pointed out, "if we intend to venture much further fromearth than the nearest of the local stars, we will have to use navigationalbenchmarks that are much more distant than the ones we are currently using.Isuggest that certain quasars would best serve this purpose.They could be usedas stable navigational beacons for travel through out most of the nearbyuniverse.""That sounds reasonable, Nessi," Crash replied."As soon as we get back, makethat your primary objective.Now, gentlemen, after reviewing the telemetry andflight data, I do not see any reason why we should not attempt a quick trip toProxima Centauri.Do either of you have an objection?"DP and Nessi exchanged glances, and then focused on Crash."If you're willingto take the risk, Boss," DP asserted, "so am I.""I be willing too," Nessi stated quickly.Both Crash and DP did a double take after hearing Nessi's statement, but theysaid nothing.They knew he meant well, and knew also that neither of themcould speak any language other than English.Any amusement at his error ontheir part would be more embarrassing than was Nessi's broken English.Page 107 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"All right, then," Crash said, undaunted by the danger."Make ready.We aregoing to go."He powered up the SEG to ten percent and then induced the directionalimbalance to the SEG field that provided the power for locomotion.Slowly, heincreased the power output to twenty five percent.At that moment, the SEGreleased an amount of power never before utilized by mankind.Every second,the SEG core converted approximately eighteen grams of mass into pure energy.That meant that the SEG drive produced approximately four hundred fiftygigawatt-hours of energy per second.All systems seemed to be operating asthey were designed to.The SEG throbbed with power: smooth, harmonic, anddeadly.When Crash realized the staggering amount of energy being generatedand controlled just a few feet away from him, it sobered him.Just thinkingabout it was truly intimidating.Turning to Nessi, he remarked, "Nessi, just think: a few months ago we thoughtthat achieving nuclear fusion was man's greatest possible achievement.Thatgoal pales to insignificance compared to this [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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.He then engaged the SEGdrive.The Icarus had moved for only a second or two, when Nessi stated that itappeared that they had cleared the ice structure in which they had beenencased.Crash ordered a full stop.He ordered Nessi to take another soundingof their surroundings.When he displayed this picture, nothing could whatsoever could be seen, exceptfor a few dim stars and a dark body that was probably the cometary body theyhad just exited.Except for the light emitted by the dim stars, they wereengulfed in total darkness."This cannot be!" Nessi exclaimed.By now DP had observed the same phenomena."OK, Boss, where are we? Really?"he asked skeptically."That is the question of the day, DP," Crash replied pensively."Nessi, seewhether our navigation computer can determine our position relative to earth."Having activated the inertial guidance system, as well as the other variousnavigation sensors, Nessi sat back in his seat and let the computer do itswork.A dull hum permeated the ship as thousands of nano-openings (smalldiscontinuities in the hull) formed, so as to allow the taking of readings.After several minutes, a group of coordinates appeared on the monitor.Threepair of eyes hit the screen at the same time.Nessi understood what thecoordinates meant before Crash and DP did."Sir Crash, we have gone far!""How far, Nessi? How far?" DP asked in an intense tone."Sir Crash, if these coordinates are correct, we have traveled about fivepoint one billion miles.It appears that we are somewhere in the Kuiper belt,Sir Crash!""We couldn't have gone that far, that fast," Crash answered."Check it again,Nessi.There must be some kind of error."Nessi increased the sensitivity of the navigation system and ran anothersensor sweep.The second calculation, although more finally tuned, was almostPage 106 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlidentical to the first.The revelation of this accomplishment staggered Crash.They had traveled fivepoint one billion miles in about ten seconds.Having made a quick mentalcalculation, he gasped, "That's about twenty-two hundred times the speed oflight!"DP reacted first to the revelation."That's pretty damned fast, Boss.We'regoing to get rich at Indy next year!"Crash did not hear a word spoken to him.A thousand times before he thought hehad anticipated the significance of this moment.The momentousness of theactual experience superseded his wildest expectations.He was numb.After what seemed like an eternity, he finally heard voices again.Nessi andDP were talking frantically to each other.Crash interrupted the discussion abruptly, "DP.Nessi.Listen up.We have justbroken the light-speed barrier for the first time.As long as we have beenthis successful, I suggest that we explore its potentialities in much greaterdetail!"Crash's words silenced them.Each of them realized the significance of Crash'sassessment of the situation.Just being excited about this would not get themhome or solve their problems.Having given the assessment thoughtful consideration, DP asked soberly, "Whatdo you have in mind, sir?""Consider this.At two percent power, we obtained a velocity of five hundredmillion miles per second.I think we should up the power levels a little andsee what happens.What would you say about going to Proxima Centauri? Itshould only take a few hours to get there."Skeptical, to say the least, DP asked."Do you think the ship's systems arereliable enough to risk such a bold test so quickly?"Having considered DP's reluctance to continue, Crash realized that DP's pointwas well taken.He then quickly issued new orders to the crew."Nessi, I wantyou to print up all of the SEG drive telemetry.We need to check theintegrity, stability, and strength of all the containment fields.Payparticular attention to any erosion or other wear characteristics to the fieldcoils that might indicate any operational limitations.DP, I want you to run adetailed check on the life support systems to make sure we won't run out ofbreathable air if we decide to make the trip."As it became available, Crash studied the SEG drive telemetry.After carefulstudy, he determined that the basic system functioned flawlessly.DP reportedthat, as long as they had fuel, the life support system could operateindefinitely at the current output levels.After conducting a thoroughinvestigation of the navigation system, Nessi reported that its accuracy wassufficient to get them to a nearby star: one such as Proxima Centauri.However, he informed Crash that traveling much further away from earth wouldrequire a much more sophisticated navigational database."Sir Crash," Nessi pointed out, "if we intend to venture much further fromearth than the nearest of the local stars, we will have to use navigationalbenchmarks that are much more distant than the ones we are currently using.Isuggest that certain quasars would best serve this purpose.They could be usedas stable navigational beacons for travel through out most of the nearbyuniverse.""That sounds reasonable, Nessi," Crash replied."As soon as we get back, makethat your primary objective.Now, gentlemen, after reviewing the telemetry andflight data, I do not see any reason why we should not attempt a quick trip toProxima Centauri.Do either of you have an objection?"DP and Nessi exchanged glances, and then focused on Crash."If you're willingto take the risk, Boss," DP asserted, "so am I.""I be willing too," Nessi stated quickly.Both Crash and DP did a double take after hearing Nessi's statement, but theysaid nothing.They knew he meant well, and knew also that neither of themcould speak any language other than English.Any amusement at his error ontheir part would be more embarrassing than was Nessi's broken English.Page 107 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"All right, then," Crash said, undaunted by the danger."Make ready.We aregoing to go."He powered up the SEG to ten percent and then induced the directionalimbalance to the SEG field that provided the power for locomotion.Slowly, heincreased the power output to twenty five percent.At that moment, the SEGreleased an amount of power never before utilized by mankind.Every second,the SEG core converted approximately eighteen grams of mass into pure energy.That meant that the SEG drive produced approximately four hundred fiftygigawatt-hours of energy per second.All systems seemed to be operating asthey were designed to.The SEG throbbed with power: smooth, harmonic, anddeadly.When Crash realized the staggering amount of energy being generatedand controlled just a few feet away from him, it sobered him.Just thinkingabout it was truly intimidating.Turning to Nessi, he remarked, "Nessi, just think: a few months ago we thoughtthat achieving nuclear fusion was man's greatest possible achievement.Thatgoal pales to insignificance compared to this [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]