Firstborn by Arthur C Clarke

Author:Arthur C Clarke [Clarke, Arthur C]
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780345491589
Publisher: Del Rey
Published: 2008-10-27T18:30:00+00:00

31: OPERATION ORDER

A new draft operation order was transmitted toLiberator from Bella’s office in Washington.

“We’re to shadow the Q-bomb,” Edna said, scanning the order.

“How far?” John Metternes asked.

“All the way to Earth, if we have to.”

“Christ on a bike, that might be twenty months!”

“Libby, can we do it?”

The AI said, “We will be coasting, like the bomb. So propellant and reaction mass won’t be a problem. If the recycling efficiency stays nominal the life shell will be able to sustain crew functions.”

“Nicely put,” John said sourly.

“You’re the engineer,” Edna snapped. “Do you think she’s right?”

“I guess. But what’s the point, Captain? Our weapons are useless.”

“Best to have somebody on point than nobody. Something might turn up. John, Libby, start drawing up a schedule. I’ll go through the draft order, and if we’re sure it’s feasible from a resources point of view we’ll send our revision back to Earth.”

“Bonza tripthis is going to be,” Metternes muttered.

Edna glanced at her softscreen. There was the bomb, silent, gliding ever deeper into the solar system, visible only by the stars it reflected. Edna tried to work out what she was going to say to Thea—how to explain she wasn’t coming home any time soon.

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