force of the anti-matter upon itself, but countered by the gravity of the remaining earth core. There was time to formulate a survival plan.
Aboard Air Force One the crew watched as Janine Carver’s transport nudged in to dock. The locks mated with a slight clunk and showed all green to open between the craft.
Crew and staff from Air Force One had assembled all possible useful materiel near the lock. Only those items that could fit through or be broken down to fit. In the world of technology a hand to hand chain passed the items through to the cadets on the transport. While this was going on, Fuller, with an auxiliary oxygen bottle clipped to his belt and a jet-pack on his back, was space walking on the airfoil of Air Force One with a reaction mass transfer hose which he plugged into the under wing valve. The other end was already attached to the Transport fuelling system and simply unwound to accommodate the reaction mass supply tank. The transports suffered no performance disadvantage in carrying apparently superfluous equipment as they had relied primarily on the Skyhook propulsion system. That luxury was now a life saving feature for a large part of the human species.
When Fuller saw that the reaction mass tanks were topped up and the auxiliary tanks filled, he headed back inside the transport via the front air lock and called Carver to save time.
“Commander Carver, do we have any other containers available for reaction mass storage on board the transport?” He was on open channel so was being formal.
“Wait Col. Fuller. I will ask the cadets to look and check if Air Force One has anything we can use. How much mass is left in the tanks?”
“The pilot tells me that they are still half full of jet fuel. I am reluctant to take this inboard due to the volatility, but the benefits far outweigh the risks.” Carver stopped as a voice interrupted in the background. “Col. Fuller, Cadet Hannaford would like a word with you.”
“Go ahead Lt. Hannaford.” Felicity couldn’t stifle her grin of pleasure at Fuller’s use of her rank, even under the gravity of the circumstances.
“Sir, I have been discussing the issue of the reaction mass with Cadet Shaw and how we could preserve it. Cadet Shaw had a great interest in Air Force One, both the current craft and its predecessors and if extremely familiar with the engineering and structure of this craft.”
“I am listening Lt Hannaford. This is a timely intervention on your part. I was just discussing bringing as much reaction mass as we could store, on board.”
“Sir, Cadet Shaw believes we could save all the remaining reaction mass. May I get him to explain his plan directly?”
“Absolutely. Let’s move. The anti-matter clock is ticking.”
“Shaw here Sir. I am working from memory of the schematics of Air Force One. The reaction tanks were placed and designed for fast removal and replacement in case of emergency. Each tank has an internal rigid bladder that can be collapsed when empty but retains a firm shape when extended and even partially filled. We could lift the bladders out and tow them behind us sir. This may give us time to move out of the path of the anti-matter fragmentation. We can consolidate the reaction mass when we are out of danger.”
“Do you know how to remove the bladders Shaw?”
“I studied Air Force One in depth sir. In theory I know. In practice…?”
“Take Hannaford and any others you may need to the rear air lock. I will meet you there in one minute. Make sure you have any tools or equipment you may need.” Fuller turned his attention to Carver. “Janine, what have we got for a tether for the reaction mass bladders?”
She looked thoughtful for a moment. “There is a coupling on the hull just behind the rear air lock you will be using. Our refueling hoses are the only things long enough to do the job, but if we damage them all the reaction mass in the universe is no use to us.”
“All I want to do is impart
Aboard Air Force One the crew watched as Janine Carver’s transport nudged in to dock. The locks mated with a slight clunk and showed all green to open between the craft.
Crew and staff from Air Force One had assembled all possible useful materiel near the lock. Only those items that could fit through or be broken down to fit. In the world of technology a hand to hand chain passed the items through to the cadets on the transport. While this was going on, Fuller, with an auxiliary oxygen bottle clipped to his belt and a jet-pack on his back, was space walking on the airfoil of Air Force One with a reaction mass transfer hose which he plugged into the under wing valve. The other end was already attached to the Transport fuelling system and simply unwound to accommodate the reaction mass supply tank. The transports suffered no performance disadvantage in carrying apparently superfluous equipment as they had relied primarily on the Skyhook propulsion system. That luxury was now a life saving feature for a large part of the human species.
When Fuller saw that the reaction mass tanks were topped up and the auxiliary tanks filled, he headed back inside the transport via the front air lock and called Carver to save time.
“Commander Carver, do we have any other containers available for reaction mass storage on board the transport?” He was on open channel so was being formal.
“Wait Col. Fuller. I will ask the cadets to look and check if Air Force One has anything we can use. How much mass is left in the tanks?”
“The pilot tells me that they are still half full of jet fuel. I am reluctant to take this inboard due to the volatility, but the benefits far outweigh the risks.” Carver stopped as a voice interrupted in the background. “Col. Fuller, Cadet Hannaford would like a word with you.”
“Go ahead Lt. Hannaford.” Felicity couldn’t stifle her grin of pleasure at Fuller’s use of her rank, even under the gravity of the circumstances.
“Sir, I have been discussing the issue of the reaction mass with Cadet Shaw and how we could preserve it. Cadet Shaw had a great interest in Air Force One, both the current craft and its predecessors and if extremely familiar with the engineering and structure of this craft.”
“I am listening Lt Hannaford. This is a timely intervention on your part. I was just discussing bringing as much reaction mass as we could store, on board.”
“Sir, Cadet Shaw believes we could save all the remaining reaction mass. May I get him to explain his plan directly?”
“Absolutely. Let’s move. The anti-matter clock is ticking.”
“Shaw here Sir. I am working from memory of the schematics of Air Force One. The reaction tanks were placed and designed for fast removal and replacement in case of emergency. Each tank has an internal rigid bladder that can be collapsed when empty but retains a firm shape when extended and even partially filled. We could lift the bladders out and tow them behind us sir. This may give us time to move out of the path of the anti-matter fragmentation. We can consolidate the reaction mass when we are out of danger.”
“Do you know how to remove the bladders Shaw?”
“I studied Air Force One in depth sir. In theory I know. In practice…?”
“Take Hannaford and any others you may need to the rear air lock. I will meet you there in one minute. Make sure you have any tools or equipment you may need.” Fuller turned his attention to Carver. “Janine, what have we got for a tether for the reaction mass bladders?”
She looked thoughtful for a moment. “There is a coupling on the hull just behind the rear air lock you will be using. Our refueling hoses are the only things long enough to do the job, but if we damage them all the reaction mass in the universe is no use to us.”
“All I want to do is impart
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