The Black Ships Read Online Free PDF Page A

on the screen. Each set of drawings was
followed by a three dimensional rendering. The Admiral was showing them ships –
spaceships. “Essentially, the plan is similar to one of our current carrier
groups. The recommendation is for a series of carriers each with a collection
of escorts. Obviously, launching such vessels from the surface would be
impossible so we would have to get the construction materials into orbit and
assemble everything up there.”
    “Obviously,” the president interjected
dryly. “Charles, do you have any comments about the feasibility of shipping a
fleet’s worth of steel into space?”
    Gray took a sip of his coffee before
setting the mug down. “Sir, our primary bottleneck would be the physical
dimensions of the payloads. We wouldn’t even be able to ship an F-22 into space
in one piece.” He leaned forward, looking directly at the president. “And we’re
talking about building a carrier in space?” He glared down at Kelly. “Do you
realize how much welding would have to be done in space suits? How many
astronauts would be needed for that kind of work?”
    Parnell watched the grin spread on Kelly’s
face. Chuck, you might be a hell of a smart guy, but Tom Kelly makes a
living as a fighter and there’s no way he would walk into this meeting with his
agenda and not have you firmly tied down. The Admiral had something tucked
up his sleeve.
    “Perhaps, Mr. Gray, you could explain the
orbital airship concept that your administration has been holding back for the
last few years?” Kelly leaned on his right elbow, enjoying the look of anger on
Gray’s face.
    Maybe it’s time to reign them in, Parnell mused. Still, there might be more useful information to
shake loose while these two are riled up. Time to poke the fire a bit. “Chuck,
what’s Tom talking about?” he asked, all innocence. “What technology are you
holding back? I thought it was your mandate to expand on any possible advances.”
    Gray bristled. “Mr. President, there are a
few organizations out there advocating the use of airships to get into orbit.
My predecessor had a policy of discouraging private capital from backing the
concept and, frankly, I agree.” He sounded defensive but certain. “The last
seven decades, we have poured Billions into rocket development. Now that
private enterprise has started to step in and pick up the torch, we’re supposed
to simply throw all that away and start over again with a whole new concept?”
His tone was becoming strident. “How the hell are we supposed to get out there
if we can’t pick a method and commit to making it work?”
      Parnell looked back at Kelly. “Tom,
you better have a reason for bringing this up; we don’t have time to sit around
taking pot-shots at each other. Do orbital airships come into the DARPA plan?”
    Kelly nodded, his face now under rigid
control – the sparring was over. “Sir, the plan calls for the construction of
the ships in modules that we fabricate here on the ground. We load them onto
heavy lift airships that would then transit to a way station at forty thousand
meters. The way station then transfers the cargo to a second type of airship
that’s designed to go into low Earth orbit. Orbital assembly would be greatly simplified.”
    Director Perdue cut in. “Admiral, are you
saying that this can’t be done with current launch capabilities?”
    Kelly’s face showed the slightest hint of a
smile. “Mary, that’s exactly what I’m leading up to.” He looked down the table
at Gray. “How much can you put into LEO with those old engines from the
shuttle, Chuck, seventy tons?” His smile grew. “Or as your press release put
it, the equivalent of forty SUV’s?” Gray fumed as the room broke out in
chuckles. “Were you worried that the American public wouldn’t understand?”
Kelly was making sure he kept Gray on the ropes. “Maybe you should throw in a
conversion factor for stadiums full of popcorn ?”
    “And how much did your