Fool's Gold by Chris Hechtl

Author:Chris Hechtl [Hechtl, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
Amazon: B009HWIWKW
Goodreads: 12480168
Publisher: self
Published: 2011-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Harris smirked as he typed. Irons raised an eyebrow and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Something on your mind Lieutenant?" he asked as he finished digesting the morning reports.

"No sir, just playing with the minefield design," Harris replied then looked up.

"Show me," Irons said coming over. He leaned over the console.

"Ah sure. Okay. What we're doing is setting up nuclear, that is fission warheads in a cone on the least time path from the jump point to Anvil. About three light hours in," Harris said.

"Your theory being they will head for the biggest target then spread out to take the small fry later since they can't get away?" Firefly asked.

Harris nodded. "Right."

"And you think the station's neutrino and radiation leakage will cover for the mines?"

"Exactly," Harris grinned.

"Could work. Fission warheads have little neutrino leakage. We've mixed in a couple fusion warheads but I see you've got them at the center of the field. Just remember each mine is a shaped charge but lacks the punch that it would have in atmosphere,” Firefly explained. Harris looked up confused.

“Each warhead has a series of force generators that shape and guide the detonation along a desired path an instant before they are consumed,” Firefly expanded patiently.

“Like a plasma bottle. Got it,” Harris nodded. “Why does a nuke in atmo have more energy then? he asked.

“You answered it already. The atmosphere itself. When the charge goes off there it's energy propagates outward in the form of light, heat, neutron radiation, and kinetic energy. The heat super heats the air, and the force moves it outward tearing things apart. But in a vacuum you only have some stray molecules or micro bits.”

“Ah, I get it. KEWs on a macro scale,” Harris said, smiling.

“Well, close enough.”

“Where do horse shoes and hand grenades fit in?” Janice asked with a laugh.

“You stay outta this,” Harris mock growled. She smothered a giggle.

The Admiral traced his finger along the map. It rotated so he could see from different perspectives. "Not bad Harris. Keep up the good work." He patted the man on the shoulder then went back to his couch.

"Think it will work Admiral?" Firefly asked over his link.

"It will definitely get their attention if we do this right. We'll have to be in the right position to take advantage of it," he smiled.

"Right. I'm going to shoot a request to Anvil to coat the outer layer with lead based paint and dress the mines up as rocks if possible," Firefly said.

"Good idea. Make it so," Irons waved as he sat.

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