the wrong message by dispatching a functioning warship to intercept an alien starship. Out beyond Pluto, it seemed, diplomacy would be its own reward.
With the weapons had gone the targeting computers, both magazines, and the crew bunks. Cold sleep tanks were being installed in what had been the bunkroom. Austria ’s new crew would spend much of the outbound flight in suspended animation, both to extend their limited supply of consumables, and to make the voyage go by more quickly. The ship’s life support system would sustain them for a minimum of five years, but they had only sufficient food stocks to keep eating for two.
“How many crew?” Van Zandt asked after Sadibayan told him about the cold sleep tanks.
“That is still under study. A minimum of four. If the engineers can squeeze a bit more margin out of their calculations, we may send six. For now, the crew consists of yourself, a ship’s engineer, a linguist, and a combination biologist/medical doctor.”
“Do I get to pick the engineer?”
“Sorry, no. By Hobson’s choice, the ship’s engineer will be a young lady by the name of Victoria Bronson. She is the only one who can make the necessary software modifications on the fly.”
“Surely a naval officer could learn what he needs to know.”
“Believe me, Captain. We have looked into this matter extensively. So far as this expedition goes, Miss Bronson is more necessary than you are.”
“What about the other crew members?”
“The ship’s doctor and exobiologist has tentatively been chosen, as well.”
“Who?”
“Actually, I believe she is Dardan Pierce’s personal physician.”
“Damn it, Subminister, cronyism is no way to staff a ship.”
“Actually, Captain, I’m told that she is quite competent. You will be given the opportunity to meet her, of course, and if you find you can’t work with her, then I suppose we can bring the matter up.”
“What are this doctor’s qualifications?” Van Zandt asked. He was becoming less and less enchanted with his new command by the second.
“The problem is political. Pierce demanded that he be allowed to choose a member of the crew other than Miss Bronson. That was his price for allowing us to take over the Starhopper .”
“I’m surprised he didn’t demand to go himself.”
Sadibayan smiled, as though he had just thought of a joke. “Please, Captain, don’t give him any ideas.”
“What about the fourth crewman?”
“That would be the linguist. We are searching for a qualified individual right now. Any suggestions?”
“I’d like the opportunity to review the candidates before any offers are made.”
“Of course, Captain.”
“What about someone to negotiate with the aliens once we get there?”
“Unless we’re allocated another berth, I’m afraid that job will fall to you, Captain Van Zandt. Think you can handle it?”
“I can try. What other modifications are they making to the corvette?”
Sadibayan listed several systems that were being upgraded for the long journey. Among these were Starhopper ’s twin computers that were being installed in the corvette’s Number One hold. A large microwave communications antenna was being anchored to the ship’s hull.
“Why microwave?” Van Zandt asked. “A comm laser is a lot more efficient across that sort of distance.”
“A comm laser looks too much like a weapon. One powerful enough to punch a message from beyond Pluto also would be good at carving on the alien ship.”
“It doesn’t really matter, I suppose,” Van Zandt mused. “We’ll be too far out for two way communications anyway.”
“It isn’t for conversations. We want a continuous broadcast of your approach to the alien.”
“In case they destroy us, you mean.”
Sadibayan nodded. “That would be most unfortunate.”
“I would call it a major tragedy.”
The subminister was unsmiling as he shook his head. “It will only be a major tragedy, Captain, if they destroy you and we don’t
With the weapons had gone the targeting computers, both magazines, and the crew bunks. Cold sleep tanks were being installed in what had been the bunkroom. Austria ’s new crew would spend much of the outbound flight in suspended animation, both to extend their limited supply of consumables, and to make the voyage go by more quickly. The ship’s life support system would sustain them for a minimum of five years, but they had only sufficient food stocks to keep eating for two.
“How many crew?” Van Zandt asked after Sadibayan told him about the cold sleep tanks.
“That is still under study. A minimum of four. If the engineers can squeeze a bit more margin out of their calculations, we may send six. For now, the crew consists of yourself, a ship’s engineer, a linguist, and a combination biologist/medical doctor.”
“Do I get to pick the engineer?”
“Sorry, no. By Hobson’s choice, the ship’s engineer will be a young lady by the name of Victoria Bronson. She is the only one who can make the necessary software modifications on the fly.”
“Surely a naval officer could learn what he needs to know.”
“Believe me, Captain. We have looked into this matter extensively. So far as this expedition goes, Miss Bronson is more necessary than you are.”
“What about the other crew members?”
“The ship’s doctor and exobiologist has tentatively been chosen, as well.”
“Who?”
“Actually, I believe she is Dardan Pierce’s personal physician.”
“Damn it, Subminister, cronyism is no way to staff a ship.”
“Actually, Captain, I’m told that she is quite competent. You will be given the opportunity to meet her, of course, and if you find you can’t work with her, then I suppose we can bring the matter up.”
“What are this doctor’s qualifications?” Van Zandt asked. He was becoming less and less enchanted with his new command by the second.
“The problem is political. Pierce demanded that he be allowed to choose a member of the crew other than Miss Bronson. That was his price for allowing us to take over the Starhopper .”
“I’m surprised he didn’t demand to go himself.”
Sadibayan smiled, as though he had just thought of a joke. “Please, Captain, don’t give him any ideas.”
“What about the fourth crewman?”
“That would be the linguist. We are searching for a qualified individual right now. Any suggestions?”
“I’d like the opportunity to review the candidates before any offers are made.”
“Of course, Captain.”
“What about someone to negotiate with the aliens once we get there?”
“Unless we’re allocated another berth, I’m afraid that job will fall to you, Captain Van Zandt. Think you can handle it?”
“I can try. What other modifications are they making to the corvette?”
Sadibayan listed several systems that were being upgraded for the long journey. Among these were Starhopper ’s twin computers that were being installed in the corvette’s Number One hold. A large microwave communications antenna was being anchored to the ship’s hull.
“Why microwave?” Van Zandt asked. “A comm laser is a lot more efficient across that sort of distance.”
“A comm laser looks too much like a weapon. One powerful enough to punch a message from beyond Pluto also would be good at carving on the alien ship.”
“It doesn’t really matter, I suppose,” Van Zandt mused. “We’ll be too far out for two way communications anyway.”
“It isn’t for conversations. We want a continuous broadcast of your approach to the alien.”
“In case they destroy us, you mean.”
Sadibayan nodded. “That would be most unfortunate.”
“I would call it a major tragedy.”
The subminister was unsmiling as he shook his head. “It will only be a major tragedy, Captain, if they destroy you and we don’t
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