Three Stars And Hooting Star

 

The People Of The Wind.

The Terran Meteor, Hooting Star, crewed by two human beings and one, much smaller, Cynthian is designed for:

high acceleration, both STL and FTL;

accurate nuclear torpedo placement;

minimal comfort.

The Avalonian torpedo launcher, Three Stars, crewed by five Ythrians regularly oxygenating blood by flapping wings is necessarily larger but therefore carries greater firepower.

 

Inside Three Stars:

 

"Vodan took feet off perch and hung in his harness. He spread his wings. Slowly he beat them, pumping his blood full of oxygen, his body full of strength and swiftness. It tingled, it sang. He heard a rustling aft as his four crewfolk did likewise. Stars gleamed above and around him." (VIII, p. 528)

 

Sight of space is psychologically essential. Again, sometimes, these guys do not sit but perch although they are not birds even though human beings joining choths are said to "go bird."

Two fleets are about to clash above Avalon.