Exodus by Andy McKell

Author:Andy McKell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Space Colonization
Publisher: Imaginary Friends Lux
Published: 2023-01-31T00:00:00+00:00

14. CHANGES

MIRA SAID, “We’ve already discussed how to refit the sleeperships. It’s not good.”

Pierre nodded. “They can’t be easily converted without major refitting and ripping out half of what’s already in place.” He pulled a face. “We only need navigation engines, so the existing huge fusion ones are redundant. Not to mention sunlight-capture sails, shipwide cryo maintenance systems, cryo pods, cabling and life support…”

He turned his empty mug in his hands and examined it from different angles. He spoke slowly and quietly. “We were thinking, let me tell you. A new design. Start from scratch.”

Pierre continued, ignoring the team’s show of disappointment. “A central spindle containing rows of passenger seats and cargoes. Artificial gravity only when needed and the AD-Higgs isn’t firing.”

Mari joined in. “Around the spindle is a rotating torus, like the station’s rings, providing artificial gravity in flight deck, engineering, crew living quarters, and priority passenger cabins.”

“A torus ship!” Arista blurted out.

“Noooo… Spinship!” Pierre insisted. “It is more marketable and encapsulates science, motion, approximated alliteration. It should be Spinship.”

“Marketable? You’ve taken over from Barry?” Arista said grinning, then immediately regretted the joke.

Mari took over as Pierre’s face fell. “We don’t need massive vessels for such quick trips. They would be smaller and carry fewer people than the sleeperships, but more often. And the spinships would be reusable. Ferries rather than single-use sleepers.” Mari’s voice grew more enthusiastic as their colleagues nodded their understanding.

“And,” added Pierre, regaining his enthusiasm, “untold cost-reduction. Smaller, hence cheaper. Build maybe twenty and the construction yards will be out of business.”

Arista warmed to the concept. “We could also quickly ship out any equipment or resources, human or material, they find they need on arrival. Yes, a ferry!”

Mira and Pierre displayed their initial sketches and plans for the spinships on the wallscreens, talking the others through their thinking.

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