The Unorthodox Engineers

‘It’s just that I’m beginning to gain an understanding of Getawehi. It seems that she and I both have the same sort of outwards-facing-interior approach.’

High above them in the uncertain heavens a tiny fire-point denoted the position of the descending Tycho Brahe. Its visual distance belied the muted thunder of its thrusters. Even from the extreme altitude the sound carpeted the land with a pattern of sound which were reflected and amplified by the valley’s throat. With sweat on his brow, and a shielded microphone pressed at his throat, Van Noon was making the critical talkdown. At his side, Jacko, operating both rangefinder and telescope, recited a constant steam of information which served as an informative background to Fritz’s constant monologue.

The Labship, thrusters balancing its fall through the stratosphere, was weaving an erratic course into thicker air. Its point of destination was a mere approximation due to its curious deviations from the geocentric vertical. Everything now depended on the smooth continuance of the radio link with the Tycho Brahe’s pilot, and upon the pilot’s ready acceptance of Fritz’s instructions. In such a manoeuvre the pilot’s word was law. It was his decision to accept or reject advice affecting the safety of his ship, and his replies were routed via a laser link from the ship to the ground.

‘Make ready for touchdown. Central thruster to maximum…’ Van Noon’s voice continued precisely above the wave of sound as the mammoth ship loomed in the air above them. ‘Gently cut back… try for a very soft landing… don’t worry about the angle you’re making… Doing nicely now… only metres to go… Make sure the leg servos are off, and as soon as you feel the ground, cut thrusters.’

‘Are you mad? With the terrain sloping at this angle?’ The pilot’s voice came back with swift dissension.

Van Noon was firm. ‘Do as I say, or you’ve no chance whatever.’

‘Check! I can feel the ground. What about the gyro?’

‘Leave it running.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘I’m sure about nothing on Getawehi. But leave it running. Oh, and one thing more… for Pete’s sake don’t let your engineers dismantle anything. If they do, they’ll never get it re-assembled.’

A blinding hailstorm of dislodged ash soil settled in a broad area to reveal the Tycho Brahe safely planetbound but leaning at a decided angle to the vertical. Open mouthed, everyone waited for her to topple.

Those of Wooley’s team who were able to manoeuvre sleds ‘downhill’ came shooting across the valley, convinced they were on their way to a major catastrophe. Van Noon only smiled slightly to himself and directed Jacko to watch the stability of the Labship’s landing pads, which were buried deeply in the loose Getawehian soil.

As the uncertain gravity altered its angle and continued its slow rotary progress it became apparent that the towering mass of the ship was not going to topple. Jacko reported that the landing assemblies were firmly planted and showed no sign of wanting to tear out and wander, as had those of the first ferry on Getawehi. With an air of uncertainty the great craft moved in a broad arc as the angle at which the ship was leaning followed the migrating highest point of the horizon. Even so, it was nearly half an hour before the shipboard establishment cancelled the state of emergency and could be encouraged to open the hatches and leave the ship.

Characteristically, once the decision had been made, Colonel Nash was first out. He moved thirty paces from the ship, turned and looked dubiously at the huge bulk leaning above him. He winced and then set off downhill at a steady run until he was sure he had put more than a ship’s length between himself and the metal Nemesis. During the course of the run, what had been downhill became across-the-hill and finally began to curve upwards. He stopped then, shaking his head sadly, and walked the rest of the way to Fritz’s control point.

Van Noon wearily laid down the microphone and saluted. ‘Welcome to Getawehi, Colonel!’’

‘It’s an experience I could well have done without,’ said Nash. ‘I must congratulate you on safely conducting our touchdown, but it does raise a few interesting questions.’

‘Like what, sir?’

‘Like how the hell did you do it? Every other craft has either toppled or walked its way to destruction.’

‘Simple,’ said Fritz. ‘I played Getawehi at its own game. If Getawehi wants it that “up” is angled umpteen degrees from the geocentric vertical, then so be it. Let the ship come down out of vertical, and let it stay that way when it’s landed. The thing you mustn’t do is try to fight it. It’s axiomatic that Getawehi is going to have a last word.’

‘But won’t the Tycho Brahe walk?’

‘No, and for the same reason. The leg servos, which are responsive to the geocentric vertical, have been cut out. We’re not trying to use a stiff leg where a bent one is needed.’

‘I’ll take your word for it,’ said Nash heavily. His eyes were still nervously watching the trials of the leaning spaceship. Then he shrugged resignedly. ‘Very well, Fritz! You’ve got the Tycho Brahe down here, hyper-radio transmitters, computers, and all. You’ve demonstrated that the Ixion structure cannot be built— so now let’s hear your plans for an alternative.’

‘First,’ said Fritz, ‘I have to prove a theory. For that I need the computers and a lot of manpower. If I can prove what I suspect is true, I shall then need contact with Terra to verify that Getawehi itself can supply the information that Ixion was intended to collect.’

‘The entire ship’s facilities and the manpower’s yours. All I ask is that we can make a getaway from Getawehi in a reasonably short period of time. Which reminds me, you haven’t yet explained how you managed to acquire such a powerful radio transmitter.’

‘I left the details of that to Jacko Hine. But I don’t think he much likes talking about it either.’

Seven

It took three weeks. Teams ranged over a several hundred mile radius before Fritz could collect and collate the necessary information. For most of this time the shipboard computers on the Tycho Brahe worked continuously, sifting the data from the on-line transducers and from recorders which the sled teams kept bringing in. Piece by piece the pattern which Van Noon had intuitively deduced was verified and described in the mathematical detail which only a high-power computing complex has the ability to construct. From this Van Noon re-drew his simplified models more suited for communication between humans. When he was satisfied, he established a hyper-radio link with Terra. For three days more the ship’s computers chattered to and were interrogated by their counterparts back home, while Van Noon himself argued on a more prosaic level with the Ixion Project design team.

On the last day he gained the point he had been seeking, and called an immediate conference of all senior personnel concerned. When they were seated, he rose and passed the message transcript round the table.

Van noon, Tycho Brahe

We agree all points. The information supplied proves the Ixion entropy concept valid and viable. The project has now been drawn to a successful conclusion. This is a historic moment. Congratulations to all concerned

Ixion control.

After a few minutes Colonel Nash rose uncertainly to his feet.

‘Gentlemen… I’m sure we’re all glad to know that the Ixion concept is viable. And I’m sure we’re all delighted to share in the congratulations for the successful conclusion of the project—especially after it was so nearly a disaster. But I have one important question to ask. Fritz… what the hell is going on?’

Van Noon stood up, grinning broadly. ‘I must apologize, gentlemen, if the last phases of the operation seemed something of a mystery. The trouble was that I leaped to a conclusion about Getawehi which was so unorthodox that I doubt if you’d have given me a second hearing had I attempted to explain. Fortunately, events have proven me right. In case any of you haven’t already reasoned the position for yourselves, I shall now be happy to explain. Of course, the whole key lies in the peculiar nature of Getawehi’s gravity.’

‘You have an idea of what causes the variations?’ Brumas was sharply attentive.

‘Yes. I theorized that the effect was consistent with the presence of orbiting satellites of very considerable