Ishtar Rising Book 1 - Michael A. Martin [13]
“What about using telepresence?” Faulwell said, a skeptical frown creasing his boyish features. “I’d think that techies in a nice, safe orbit could run the equipment remotely just as easily as people on the ground could.”
“Amen,” Corsi said.
“That’s because your respective specialties involve word puzzles and brute force,” Tev interjected testily, addressing both Corsi and Faulwell, “rather than the fluid dynamics of N-class planetary atmospheres.”
Gomez quickly interceded, prompting Gold to wonder what pungent reply Faulwell had been about to deliver to the second officer. “It’s a good question, Bart. But that superheated carbon dioxide ocean that separates us from the planet’s surface makes ship-to-ground communications pretty spotty. Also, the atmosphere is filled with literally millions of tiny, reinforced probes. They’re in constant subspace contact with each other, the ground stations, the satellite network, and Station Ishtar up in orbit. That web of transmissions can create interference problems with high-bandwidth communications as well. But without it, the force-field generators can’t stay ahead of the atmosphere’s chaotic motions.”
Stevens spoke up. “I think somebody had better point out that the superrotational zone—” at the blank looks from Corsi, Lense, Abramowitz, and Faulwell, he quickly added, “—that’s the turbulent atmospheric layer that circles the planet once every four days, can play hob with a transporter beam. Those people at Hesperus Ground Station were lucky they were able to beam out before the atmosphere flooded in and flattened the place.”
“That’s a potential problem, I’ll admit,” said Gomez. “But the project scientists have already provided a lot of good atmospheric data that will help us compensate for that, as well as information on beaming through the gaps in their force-field nodes. When you’re talking about moving an entire planetary atmosphere the way the Ishtar team plans to do it, you can’t afford either comm glitches or transporter foul-ups. So even though it’s dangerous, I’m afraid we’re stuck with the up-close-and-personal approach.”
Looking overwhelmed, Faulwell set his padd on the tabletop and pushed it away as though it were a plate filled with writhing Klingon gagh. “Can somebody please explain to me exactly what we’re getting involved with here? Preferably without all the columns of figures. Any language will do. Even Tellarite.” He glanced playfully at the second officer.
Tev snorted. “Linguists. Perhaps we should have arranged the data into rhyming stanzas for your benefit.”
“All right,” Gomez said, putting up a hand in an apparent effort to encourage Bart and Tev to bury the hatchet. “Remember, this mission is as much about data processing as it is about making brute-force changes to the planet.” She gestured toward Soloman.
“I will help coordinate the data-flow between the probe network and the ground stations on a full test of Ishtar’s hardware and software,” the slight Bynar said, his hands primly folded on the table beside his padd.
“What’s involved,” Gomez continued, “is a complex, planetwide network of surface-deployed devices designed to thin out and cool the Venusian atmosphere. Rather than using slower methods, like giant orbiting ‘parasols,’ Dr. Saadya is using a radically different approach: His plan is to use specially shielded, tandem-operated field generators to create a partially gas-permeable force field. The overall operation will follow a carefully orchestrated meteorological plan. But the field will constantly adjust itself to adapt in real time to observed changes in air pressure, temperature, and velocity as it envelops the entire planet and slowly expands outward toward the sunward side.”
If Stevens repeats that crack about “Venus enlargers” I overheard him make last night, Gold thought, I’m putting him on report.
Stevens merely sat listening attentively, his eyes twinkling with suppressed mischief, as Gomez continued. “The goal is to push the bulk of the atmosphere