Home > Witch Of The Federation VI(5)

Witch Of The Federation VI(5)
Author: Michael Anderle

They need algae, the Morgana pointed out. It’ll mean the conduits last longer and improve eMU performance—and those tiles that convert radiation into electricity.

Algae? She was bewildered.

You heard me. The Teloran sounded peeved. This planet has an overabundance of it. You use it in your catering industries.

Fine. She sighed. Algae it is. We can work on building the world’s food supply while we fix its power and pollution problems, she added. Maybe even look at bulk shipping what we don’t use to colonies that are running short.

I like how you think, the Morgana told her.

Uh-huh… Stephanie frowned. But tiles? What tiles?

There was a company way back in the early twenty-first century that made tiles for creating power directly from radiation.

Why haven’t I heard about that?

Because it’s one of the lost technologies, she told her. I can’t remember if it was a riot, a super-storm, or another nuclear accident, but its people and production vanished and no one thought to try to find the knowledge.

And you know where it is?

It was in one of the learning institutions of NorAm, but my guess is that it was considered a form of national security and was backed up somewhere.

Hmmm. I’ll have BURT help them with the research, Stephanie agreed. We’ve limited their access from here.

And with good cause, the Morgana agreed.

None of the scientists had noticed her distraction, and the babble of a dozen theories mixed with speculation, argument, and justification filled the room.

“Algae,” she shouted, using the Morgana’s tones to be heard above the hubbub, and silence fell.

“Algae?” Trey asked.

“Yup. Find a way to coat the inside of the conduits with it. They’ll last longer and the eMU will flow better—faster even.”

“So we can explode in a more spectacular fashion than before?” Nathan asked cynically.

Stephanie laughed. “Whatever. I take it you guys can figure it out from here?”

That question was met with a chorus of affirmation, and she began to walk to the door. Halfway there, she stopped. “And find a way to store the excess. I’m very sure there’s a food production company that needs it.”

“Magic?” one of the other scientists asked in bewilderment.

“Algae,” Trey replied and grinned. “I think I know someone who can help with that.”

“Send their names to BURT,” she told him. “If you need them, we’ll see if they’re available.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied and looked at Marcus. “We need them.”

The team had already begun to settle into solving the problem, so Stephanie said goodbye to Cynthia and had BURT pull her back to her pod. It took Marcus and Trey several minutes to realize she’d gone.

Marcus stared at Cynthia when she told him, and he scowled and turned to the other man.

“Where in all the worlds did she get algae from? It’s not like they teach that in school.”

“What, that it’s resistant to radiation? That it absorbs it? Or that it’s used in food production?”

“Whatever! ‘E’—all of the above,” he snapped. “One minute, we’re talking basic physics. The next, we’re into algae, and I’m very sure the Meligornians don’t use it in their tech.”

Gemma came to stand beside them as he said it. “I bet they will soon. Earth’s next inter-planetary export industry just got born.”

Before he could respond to that, another screen opened in the center of the display. Its appearance was met by groans of protest, which rapidly stilled as an instruction filled it.

Use this to line the conversion chambers.

“Use what?” Marcus wanted to know.

His question was answered as a series of images filled the screen. It looked like tiles but tiny conduits ran through the layers.

“Is that gold?” Trey asked.

At the same time, Phillip demanded, “Where will we get the materials for that from?”

Marcus shook his head.

“The shit she comes up with,” he muttered and scowled at the screens where half a dozen simulations were running.

Gemma elbowed him in the ribs. “What’s the matter, Doc? Are you jealous or something?”

“Jealous? Why would you think I’m jealous? That girl has touched the power of the cosmos and unraveled curiosities we don’t even know enough to ask about. If I tried the same, I’d be burnt out in seconds.”

“You know,” one of the other scientists began, “we could improve on that design…”

 

 

Chapter Two

 

 

Stephanie emerged from her pod as the scientists began to discuss the possibilities of the tiles and what they could do to make them better. Lars was waiting, a look of concern on his face.

“Oh, good. You made it.”

“Made what?” she asked as she registered Vishlog, Frog, and Marcus behind him. “And why the honor guard?”

“We’ve had a last-minute request from the Navy. They want us to join them for ‘a meeting.’”

“Are we underway?”

“Not to the meeting,” her security head replied. “The captain’s still on the line with the Navy and waiting on your reply.”

“Good.” She looked at her outfit and checked to make sure it was Navy presentable. “Tell her I’m on my way.”

She jogged to the bridge and arrived in time to hear a male voice say, “Surely, as her captain, you have the authority to make that decision for her?”

Anger rolled through her.

“No!” she snapped as she stepped forward. “Captain Rawlins does not have that authority and pressuring her to make a decision is very unprofessional.”

The Navy officer’s jaw dropped and he started to speak, but Stephanie cut him off.

“And no, I will not attend your last-minute meeting. I am already fully booked today.”

“But—” He gaped, then gathered himself. “It’s only a short meeting.”

“Even so, I do not have space in my schedule. As you can see, we are already underway.” She let her voice soften. “I’m truly sorry. I must make the next meeting on the list and I can’t delay.”

“But—”

She sighed impatiently. “Look, is it important?”

“Every Naval meeting is important,” he sputtered.

Stephanie scowled at him. “Does it involve an immediate threat to Earth, Dreth, Meligorn, or somewhere else that you need my immediate intervention on?”

“Well, no….”

“Then can you let me know what it’s about?”

“It’s to discuss matters of Navy cooperation.”

“So a general discussion.”

“Well…”

“Then the answer still stands. No. I have several high priority meetings scheduled for today and much of tomorrow, and a general ‘come by’ isn’t on my list of things to do.”

“But—”

“Goodbye, Lieutenant.”

Stephanie nodded to the communications team and the screen went blank to cut the Naval man off in mid-protest. She nodded to her captain.

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