The Ghost of Saturn (Honor of the Fleet Book 1) by Felix R. Savage

Author:Felix R. Savage [Savage, Felix R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aethon Books
Published: 2024-10-22T00:00:00+00:00

[ 34 ]

“But this is huge,” Hektor said with false enthusiasm.

“Isn’t it? Isn’t it?”

Cafferty grimaced. “Boss, don’t forget to tell her about the algae,” he said nervously.

“Of course, of course! Don’t hound me.” Dion bounded over to a row of smaller tanks. “This is our air reprocessing system. It’s an innovative application of algae that eat CO2 and generate oxygen. Algae is already used in habitats on Mars, Phobos, and Deimos, of course. But our system is far more efficient and requires less mass allocation. It could be used on ships!”

This was the project Siegn had vaguely heard of. He tried to imagine the Salinas equipped with a bunch of heavy, bubbling tanks filled with algae, and couldn’t. But of course, the system was really just a cover story for the Airgap factory… and the vision of colonization that it portended.

“The algae generate enough oxygen to feed the methanotropic bacteria, with some left over for us. We still have to import LOX for our fuel needs, but that’ll change once we build our electrolysis plant.”

Hektor put her head on one side. “How do you manage your imports?”

She was going there, despite the fact that they had no way of getting back if they pissed these people off. Siegn slung an anxious glance at Cafferty, but the big man was holding back, waiting for the boss to answer.

“Well, you know, there are ships landing and taking off every single day,” Dion responded easily.

“Yes, but they’re all MCF ships. If they’re carrying your stuff, wouldn’t that be a violation of the Colonization Compact?” Hektor smiled. “I just want to be sure we’re legally in the clear here.”

“Of course, of course.” Dion propped his body against an algae tank and gazed levelly at her. Suddenly he looked every inch the son, or grandson, or great-nephew of two Fleet Secretaries. “I can assure you with complete confidence that Riesenstal will not be able to stand in our way in the long term. He’s just jealous.”

“But under the terms of the Compact⁠—”

“Who said anything about colonization?”

“You did.”

“I said that hypothetically, Airgap insulation could enable the colonization of Titan.” Dion smirked. “I didn’t say that we were actually contemplating any such thing.”

“But your business model⁠—”

“Is flexible. We’d be just as happy to sell PHAs to the UEF. There are a hundred different use scenarios. Packaging, clothing—all the plastics and textiles used on Saturn Station presently have to be shipped from Earth. By sourcing some of those materials locally, you could dramatically reduce your procurement costs!”

“Yes, that is quite an appealing proposal,” Hektor said between her teeth.

“Dad? Dad!”

The high-pitched voice snapped Siegn’s head around.

Two children bounded between the tanks, swaddled in warm parkas.

“Mom said you were in here⁠—”

“Who are they?”

“Why’s she so short?”

Dion drew the children to him. The elder was a girl with long fair braids, the younger a boy. They must have been born in Titan’s low gravity, or spent most of their short lives here, for the girl already came up to Dion’s chest, although she could only be about eight.

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