“Maybe one thing. I think it’s minor, at least at this point. Some of the math types are making a stink because I didn’t follow their recommendations to the letter.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem, Karl. Those kinds of things are your call, after all.”
“Oh, I know. And it’s probably not a big deal. I do worry a bit about Rob, though. That they might try to influence him to push me on this.”
“On a technical issue? Rob’s not a scientist or engineer.”
“Don’t I know it. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t weigh in where he doesn’t have specific expertise, though, Gerard. As you well know.”
Laporte sighed.
“Yes, that’s true enough. Do you want me to do anything? Talk to him?”
“No, I don’t think so. Not unless it comes loose. I think I have it in hand for the moment. There’s another part of this, though, Gerard.”
“What’s that, Karl?”
“If anything goes wrong with the probe test – and I mean anything. Any variation from expectations – these guys are all going to come crawling out of the woodwork saying ‘We told you so.’”
Laporte laughed.
“That always happens, Karl. Nothing new there.”
“No, but that’s the point where I might need some support. Because I think they’ll come after me.”
“You personally? That won’t go anywhere in the House, Karl. In a big complicated project, there’s always things that can go wrong, and they usually do. That’s why one experiments, after all. To find out.”
“Thanks, Gerard. I appreciate it. I don’t mind busting my butt to get something done, but I’d just as soon skip the hanging when it’s over.”
Laporte laughed.
“Not happening, Karl. Trust me.”
All the other tests had been performed, and now was the big moment. The hyperspace probe was out on the apron of the warehouse, technicians scurrying around it making final checks.
Five pilings behind the probe secured it from moving forward, with half a dozen chains from each piling to the frame of the craft. It was pointed away from the city and the manufacturing district, to the southwest. If it did break free, it would make a hell of a mess downrange somewhere, but it was all open country in that direction.
A siren sounded.
“Clear the range. Five minutes until test.”
In the control room attached to the warehouse, the countdown was punctuated with queries and replies as they ran down their checklist.
“Software download.”
“Complete.”
“Software checksum.”
“Verified.”
“Fuel level.”
“Five percent.”
“Oxygen level.”
“Five percent.”
It went on and on. They were not going to run a full fuel load for two good reasons. One, if the whole thing blew up, it would minimize the damage, and two, if the probe broke free and disappeared downrange, it would limit how far it could go.
At the same time, they needed five percent to make sure their fuel flow measurements were accurate, because there would be no acceleration pushing the fuel to the back of the rockets’ tanks.
Ultimately, they got to the end of the checklist and began the onboard computer running. They noted the computer’s actions as they occurred.
“Fuel pumps running.”
“Fuel pressure nominal.”
“Fuel flow initiated.”
“Computer is in final countdown. Ignition in three. Two. One. Ignition.”
Outside on the ramp, fuel and oxygen vapors began leaking from the rocket nozzles, then ignited with a Whoof! The fuel flow increased, and then the rocket nozzles focused, generating long, blue-white jets.
The probe strained at the chains holding it back, but the chains held. The thunder of the rockets reverberated out over the shuttleport and to the city beyond. For fifteen seconds the rockets thundered, then shut down abruptly.
The test was successful.
The probe was ready to go.
Failure
On the morning of Thursday, May thirty-first, Chen JieMin found a message requesting he stop in to see Chen Zufu on his way to work.
When he was shown into Chen Zufu’s tearoom, both Chen Zufu and Chen Zumu awaited him.
“Good morning, Chen Zufu. Chen Zumu.”
“Good morning, JieMin. Please, be seated.”
“Thank you, Chen Zufu.”
JieMin sat. ChaoPing did not appear with a teapot, as it was not yet time for morning tea. JieMin also knew ChaoPing had not started work yet this morning.
“The hyperspace probe test is tomorrow.”
“Yes, Chen Zufu. So I am told.”
“And is it still running Dr. Huenemann’s flight profile, JieMin?”
“Yes, Chen Zufu. So I am told.”
“And you expect what to happen, then, JieMin?”
“The probe will transition into hyperspace and never be seen again, Chen Zufu.”
“And you are sure of this, JieMin?”
JieMin shrugged.
“I could always be wrong, Chen Zufu.”
“But you don’t think you are, JieMin.”
“No, Chen Zufu.”
MinChao nodded.
“If the probe fails as you expect, and if the government were to abandon the hyperspace probe project, and if someone were to purchase the defunct project, could you run the project, JieMin?”
“The person running the project right now is Mikhail Borovsky, Chen Zufu. He could run the project.”
“He would not be an impediment, JieMin?”
“No, Chen Zufu. He is an excellent project manager who delivers what his boss expects of him.”
“And if you were his boss, JieMin?”
“He would do as I expected of him, Chen Zufu. That is, he would follow orders on policy matters.”
MinChao nodded. He looked to Jessica, then back.
“Very well, JieMin. That is all this morning.”
“Yes, Chen Zufu.”
June first was a beautiful day, like most days in Arcadia City. The hyperspace probe test team waited for the morning shower to drift through before they started operations.
When the rain had passed, they used a shuttleport tow tractor to pull the hyperspace probe out of the warehouse and onto the nearby shuttlepad. Technicians swarmed the device, checking everything. Then the fuel and oxygen trucks filled the tanks to one hundred percent.
The launch crew were standing by in
