Ishtar Rising Book 1 - Michael A. Martin [14]
“Pas was never one for taking the slow road if he could avoid it,” Gold said.
Gomez continued. “The net result is a quick reduction of both the atmospheric pressure and the green-house effect, in the direction of something considerably more Earth-like than what’s there now. The process should knock hundreds of degrees off the planet’s surface temperature virtually overnight.”
“Sounds too good to be true,” Corsi said.
Tev waved his padd before him, and spoke in a throaty rumble. “The theoretical work appears sound. What remains to be proved is whether or not it will work in practice.” Gold wasn’t certain, but he thought he heard grudging admiration in the Tellarite’s tone.
“For all that effort and danger, I still don’t see how it’s going to turn Venus into another Earth,” said Lense. “The planet still takes, what, three months to turn on its axis.”
“One hundred and seventeen days,” said Pattie.
“Whatever. It’s still a problem. Along with the planet’s complete lack of free oxygen, or even a magnetic field. Think of all the radiation-related health hazards that alone will create for anybody trying to live on the surface.”
“TANSTAAFL,” Abramowitz said.
“Excuse me?” said Gold.
“A very ancient homily that every good scientist or engineer ought to remember. ‘There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.’”
“Exactly,” Gomez said, nodding with apparent enthusiasm. “Remember, folks, the initial ‘big blowoff’ we’re assisting with here will only be the first step in a many-years-long process. Adding in the appropriate amounts of nitrogen, oxygen, and surface water will come next, from comets barged down from the Kuiper Belt. Huge surface-mounted impulse engines will be set up to try to speed the planet’s slow, retrograde rotation up to an approximately twenty-four-hour cycle, like that of Earth or Mars.”
Pondering the planet’s bizarre backward spin, Gold wondered what it would be like to live on a world where the sun rose in the west and set in the east. Probably not the place where Rachel and I will want to retire, he thought wryly, warm weather notwithstanding.
Gold listened as Gomez continued: “Using similar techniques, the planet Mercury can be relocated into a lunarlike orbit around Venus, where its tidal effects on the planet’s core should create a radiation-repelling magnetic field. The Federation Council will probably provide increased resources for these later steps once Saadya and his team achieve a successful blowoff.”
“And no doubt Starfleet Command will be persuaded then to schedule a return engagement for the S.C.E.,” Gold said. “And the da Vinci.”
Gomez smiled enthusiastically. “One can only hope.”
A broad grin appeared on Stevens’s face as well. Turning toward Gomez, he said, “You sound like the president of Saadya’s fan club, Commander.”
“Well, it’s hard not to admire what he’s already accomplished all over the quadrant,” Gomez said. Gold wasn’t certain, but he thought she might be blushing. “What he’s about to achieve here—essentially rebuilding Venus into a duplicate of Earth—is nothing short of extraordinary.”
Gold looked around the room, gauging the reactions of his staff. Other than Corsi’s skeptical frown, he saw nothing but nods of agreement and murmurs of assent. Even Tev looked uncharacteristically upbeat.
“That’s it, people,” the captain said, rising to adjourn the meeting. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. I trust that all of you essentially know what you have to do to assist Team Ishtar. Commander Gomez will organize the teams who will report to Dr. Saadya and his staff. Let’s get to work.”
As the crew filed out, Gold thought, And I, as usual, will do what any other good cat-herder would do in my place: do my best to stay out of the way of the technical wizards.
Unless something goes seriously mish-mosh down there.
Chapter
4
The outlines of four humanoids and one wider, smaller mass shimmered for a moment in the air,