Crucible of a Species Read Online Free PDF

aft compartment is for consignment only. We’ve already lifted if you look out through the bulkhead on your port side. She’s a very smooth ride.”
    The professor was obviously shocked to hear they were off the ground and sat back looking even more upset. Janet spent a few minutes watching the passing clouds, this was just like the simulator but without the takeoff jolts. There was that slight tingle the instructors said she would feel when the drives fired but otherwise no sensation of motion, a perfect liftoff. The broad, hazy arc of the Earth’s horizon was already visible.
    A while later Janet was startled from her reading by a final approach notice. The overhead showed a pinpoint of light above the horizon slowly transforming into a bright disk. The ISA Skyport and in it my first posting and what a posting it will be! The Argos has technology that makes even this shuttle look ‘old hat’.
    It isn’t as though I didn’t work for it. Everybody and his brother tried for this slot after command announced they would berth one midshipman for the cruise. Not just any cruise either but humanity’s first voyage to another star. Tau Ceti, the mysterious expedition and destination requested by the Asteri in return for their help. Professor Nordstrom in Civil Science is right, this is a significant expenditure of our limited resources. However, it’s to a star that we know has an Earth-like planet. Lord knows what adventures lie ahead.
    A sudden shuffling distracted her. It was only the professor, fidgeting around, Maybe I should see if he remembers me?
    “Professor? Can I be of assistance?”
    The Professor jumped as though struck by an electric shock. He turned and stared at her without any recognition in his eyes, “I’m sorry, ah Miss?”
    “You are Professor John Bockheit. My name is Janet Derek. We met at the IG Conference last year.”
    Bockheit glared silently for a moment. She clearly recalled the drawn face with the crooked lip-line as well as his nervous habit of not looking directly at you when talking, “I’m sorry Miss. I’ve never met you. You have the wrong person. Now, please leave me alone. I have work I need do.”
    Well that’s a nice how-do-you-do! Janet thought as she turned back to gazing outside. The sky had transformed into a velvety black and stars burned bright without their atmospheric twinkle. Her thoughts ran over the schedule she had detailed for her first assignment, confident the Lieutenant would approve it.
    This is the greatest day of my life. Well, maybe not. Perhaps that day is just ninety-six short hours away when the Argos leaves dock with me in Engineering.
    What is wrong with the professor? Why is he fooling with his belt? Janet thought as she noticed him shuffling in his seat. She watched him a few seconds before recognizing the end-clasp and small patterns of circuitry across the inside of the metallic-looking but flexible belt. That’s not a simple belt …. It’s a Bolerian Coil!
    They used a Bolerian Coil to jump-start the first Gravitonic Drive. This one is like the design we used in the gravity control project in our second year physics lab, Wave Concepts course.
    I don’t see a power source or a controller. Hah, good thing! If he were to activate it, the coil would generate a second oscillating magnetic field. Normally just creating the field wouldn’t matter but if he starts it here inside an active Gravitonic Drive, the reaction would rip every atom of the shuttle field apart creating a power release about the size of a small atomic blast.
    A chilling thought entered Janet’s mind, No! He’s not going to set it off here on the shuttle! Both the Skyport and the Argos have active drive fields. His objective must be the Skyport itself. He’s on an Earth First mission to destroy the Skyport! What should… Wait! I’ve a few minutes before we dock. I’ll get the chief to help.
    Janet’s hands trembled as she set her tablet aside and removed her seat belt. She