I came to understand relativistic effects start to greatly increase above .5C and become extremely problematic as the velocity of matter moves past .7C or .8C. The 50-year assumption allows for a maximum of .8C. Beyond that velocity, it seems unlikely the energy cost curve can be overcome; too steep. That’s all wrapped up in the E = MC2 equation.
By my way of thinking, the equation seemed to show that as mass increases, size increases, and as a result more energy would be needed to push something like a ship. I ran that conjecture past Rock. His explanation gave me a headache, of course. He talked about the changes that would take place as observed by someone on the ship approaching light speed, and how the observation would be different if someone was observing remotely.
The increase in mass is more a function of energy, with the change in the size (okay, change in mass) of a ship not exactly a factor. That energy requirement would increase asymptotically as velocity increased. Asymptotically? See what I mean about getting a headache? I said I thought asymptomatic-whatever was more of a medical thing. He then said asymptotically is the adverb of asymptote. At that point I started rummaging for a Tylenol.
***
*COMMUNAL: Here’s a spotlight on Viz. You may have noticed she often seems to get a headache. In fact, she hardly ever gets a headache, or any other aches for that matter. She uses such talk as a metaphor when she it a little irritated. That one has a lot of depth to her.
***
Rock scowled a little and said to think of it this way. The mass curve was more exponential than logarithmic. That’s not so hard to grasp. Why didn’t he say that in the first place? More incremental energy would be required at higher velocities. The mass curve steepens for sure at .5C and takes off fast after .7C or .8C. Isn’t that what I said in the first place?
Anyway, it would become very difficult to travel at velocities more than .7C or .8C. Of course, our science guys were amazed the bugs could travel at .5C. We had to consider the possibility that the Empire had access to faster ships. Somewhere along the way, at some planning session, they decided to use 50 years for strategic planning models. They assumed a maximum velocity of .8C. Like I said, beyond that, the mass curve was considered too steep to climb. Clear as swamp mud?
As I look over at Para and the twins, they all look kind of glassy-eyed too. It feels like a hundred years have been poured into the last week. We really have been through a lot. I suppose reality is starting to hit home. This whole thing has only just started. We’re moving toward an interstellar war. A good bit of the war effort could fall on us, Shockwave, a few kids and a grandad with some unique abilities.
Hold on. A shift. The mood in the room has changed. The government and military folk look a little nervous. These are smart people. I wonder why it has taken so long to understand. Even if we destroy this portal, the enemy will merely come back and try again. The next time they will be sneakier about it. They will set up their base a little further out. Be a little quieter. Utilize a better invasion strategy. Then they will come at us ... hard. We will need to be decisive as to what we do next. They will never leave us alone.
Mr. T finished up. “We will reconvene Monday, September 18th, 09:00. Study the information in the folios you will receive as you exit the conference room. Share it with your colleagues the information in the folio. Say nothing about our instantaneous travel capability. Bring back some good ideas. We’ll call an end to the meeting, 11:43. Thank you ladies and gentlemen.”
From the briefing packet, the consensus is Mars Base was a staging area for their ships. True, most of their ships were based there. But Darkside is the primary base. This invasion isn’t over. Not by a long shot.
BY THE DARKSIDE OF THE MOON. THE BIG PICTURE.
Chapter Six.
September 17th. I’ll give a weekend wrap up. Ms. Findley really knew how to cheer us up after that long meeting on Friday. It was lunchtime when the meeting finally ended. She had some awesome hamburgers, fries, and milkshakes set up in the lunchroom. I don’t think that’s an office manager’s job. Isn’t she great?
We took the weekend off from work. All of us went home and told our folks we had a short break between assignments. We spent some real quality time with our families. Then I was talked into going surfing. Yeah, I’ll write a little more about that in a minute. We caught a decent movie and dinner with the folks. Some of us attended church. I slept in till almost noon on Saturday. That felt good!
On Saturday, I got up and had a quick breakfast. Well, it was noon, so I guess it was lunch. It made me feel a little guilty having all that leisure time. An alert message keeps screaming in my head; we should be hitting Darkside by now. I hate this. We’re either running as fast as we can. Or, sitting on our hands. It did feel good to catch up on some sleep though. Para wasn’t around when I got up. I wondered where she had gone, as my s-loop chimed.
***
SURFING WITH ROCK AND ROLL
Rock called just after breakfast/lunch with what I took to be a birthday surprise. “Let’s go surfing.”
I explained in my most practical voice. “We don’t surf ... dude.”
He wasn’t having any of that.
