The spaceship motor, comprising antimatter trap, laser-electromagnetic pumps, fire chamber and plasma control, is on the lowest level as the ship boosts, emitting a lethal blue glow of plasma. Above that level are several others containing:
the gyroscopes and other essential equipment;
the reaction-mass tanks;
a three-level cargo hold;
services modules like gym and cuisinator;
rec room and saloon;
private cabins;
command center;
storage lockers, auxiliary lockers and other equipment;
vital apparatus including the magnetohydrodynamic force screen generator.
Falaire says that, without energy for their ships, the Proserpinans would huddle on their asteroid and die in wars like those on Rapa Nui. Why? Why not just retreat to the inner Solar System before the fuel runs out? Even war against the World Federation would be less insane than suicidal wars on Proserpina. But the whole Lunarian species sounds somewhat unbalanced.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
It's obvious! The Proserpinan Lunarians don't want to retreat to the Inner System if it meant becoming impotent and helpless before the cybercosm. They would become so despondent that as time passed they would gradually die out, as happened to the Lunarians of the Moon.
And both I and Mr. Stirling have tried to point out that people will fight and quarrel about anything, no matter how trivial or absurd the proximate "cause" might be. So, it's not just the Lunarians who were "unbalanced," but unmodified humans as well.
Ad astra! Sean
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