Ishtar Rising Book 1 - Michael A. Martin [21]
Stevens had countered her concerns by noting that the proximity of Venus to Earth was clearly a large part of the reason behind Saadya’s efforts. Fabian’s explanation accounted for why Mars hadn’t been completely terraformed before Venus, if only in an emotional way; Mars was the god of war, and that world had always been called “the angry red planet.” Stevens had argued that the romance of Venus—the goddess of love—probably played an unconscious role in all the decision making.
Of course, it was fairly common knowledge that it had been the discovery of native Martian microbes in the twenty-first century—and not romantic notions of gods and goddesses—that had jumped Venus to the head of the terraforming line. Even I know that, Corsi thought, smiling just a little. Fabe may have the tactical instincts of Garth of Izar and the soul of a poet, but what he doesn’t know about planetology could fill a library.
But whatever her personal feelings and misgivings, Corsi knew she had an assignment to fulfill. After the second test run had failed earlier today, she had decided to watch the next simulation from Ishtar Station’s holodeck, instead of just looking over the data after it was collected. She wasn’t the only da Vinci crew member here either; Fabian, Captain Gold, and Dr. Lense were also present, stationed throughout the room and observing discreetly over various shoulders.
Fabian approached Corsi and spoke in a low tone. “So, what do you think?”
“I think Saadya’s done the best he can with what he’s got,” Corsi admitted. “But I still have to question the need in the first place.” Under her breath, she quietly added, “To tell you the truth, I’m also pretty much at a loss to understand most of the theoretical science they’re using, too. Weapons I know, and I even get the force-field applications they’re using. But this kind of planetary science is way out of my specialty.” She offered a wry smile, and added, “I mean, what do I shoot if something goes wrong?”
Stevens chuckled. “You got me there. But somehow I don’t think weapons fire is going to help much if the atmosphere suddenly decides it doesn’t want to be repositioned.”
Corsi’s eyebrow rose, and she nodded slowly. Something had been nagging at the back of her mind, and it had finally crystallized. Looking across the room, she saw Dr. Saadya and waved him over.
“I have a concern, Doctor,” she said.
“Well, now’s the time to voice it,” he said, obviously feigning an air of conviviality. She could tell he was hiding a tremendous amount of stress. Or attempting to hide it.
“You’re using the linked force fields to push the atmosphere upward, but asymmetrically, correct?”
He nodded. “Yes. Pushing the gases into space on the night side of Venus will not allow them to dissipate. So, we are forcing them to flow toward the sunlit side, where the heat will help burn them off. The overall shape of the combined force fields will be similar to that of a pear.”
“So, the stress from the atmospheric pressure will be greatest on the sunlit side, under the apex of the wide part of the pear?”
Saadya smiled. “Exactly. The strain of the dataloads being carried by the dayside ground stations, atmospheric probes, and force-field relays will also be greatest.”
Corsi nodded slowly. “So, once you start the process, it’s all or nothing, right?”
“That’s what all these simulations are for. If it doesn’t go smoothly, we risk the destruction of some of the surface stations, almost as if the atmosphere were a tidal wave crashing down.” Saadya looked around the room, beaming. His gaze stopped for a moment on the