Atoms leave the monobloc with randomly different velocities;
they form distinct hydrogen clouds;
drifting apart, the clouds condense into clusters, galaxies and stars;
sometimes, a large star cluster, stars still coalescing within it, has an escape velocity that enables it to cross to another, still nearby, galaxy;
thus, some galaxies contain not only the stellar types that had evolved within them but also other types.
Approaching her target galaxy, the Leonora Christine seeks a well-developed star cluster with a compatible velocity, then a star with the right spectral and velocital properties, and finds that the nearest such star has planets. Instruments and techniques developed in the ship indicate that one of those planet might be suitable so Reymont decides to decelerate immediately rather than to fly past making further observations. This earlier arrival on the planet, which does turn out to be suitable, gives the twenty five couples more time to breed. Only three months, ship's time, have elapsed since the creation of this universe.
4 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I suspect, as well, that everybody on the "Leonora Christine" was suffering from emotional strain and exhaustion, and getting fed up with all this VOYAGING. They wanted a PLANET to live on. That would have encouraged Reymont to look for a suitable, but somewhat younger planet.
Sean
Indeed. I forget: how long were they voyaging (ship's time)?
-kh
Several years.
Thanks, Paul. AFAIK, they were scheduled to take 5 yrs to get to B Vir III, which would have required an overall acceleration of 1.5 Gs. Going 1exp11 ly in 5 yrs requires 10.6 Gs. A big IF: you can maintain high acceleration, you can get most anywhere in s pretty short time...
-kh
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