“The next compartment in the Hulk is the rock crusher. This section can actually be fed externally once the ship has been anchored to the lunar surface. Once the rocks are crushed, they will be separated from the actual ore. The ore will then be moved internally to a small smelter where it will be melted down into unrefined blocks of Tritium4. The Tritium4 will then be loaded onto the transports and sent back to earth for further refinement and incorporation into our industrial needs. This would effectively solve our Tritium4 problem, and increase our manufacturing capability exponentially. The weapon systems we’ll be able to build with this essentially unlimited supply of Tritium4 would be incredible.”
General Branson spoke up first, saying, “I’m not a manufacturing expert, but I suspect this ship of yours, the Hulk — it’s going to require a lot of resources that would otherwise go towards our Pershings and Razorbacks?”
“It would require us to suspend production of them for the next six months while we used the synthetic Tritium4 to build out the ship” Rickenbacker replied, deadpan as could be.
Eric Clarke, the Secretary of Defense, decided to break in. “We can stop production of the Pershings and increase production of the older M1A5s, but we cannot stop production of the Razorbacks; they are more important right now than even our tanks. My suggestion is we go ahead with this project Mr. President. The gap in Pershings is going to hurt, but like the Professor said, having an unlimited new supply of Tritium4 would, in the long-run, change the course of the war. The question is — can we protect this ship during takeoff and while it is in route to the Moon and stationed on the lunar surface? Also, can we protect the transport craft that will need to travel to and from the Hulk with the materials we need?”
The President looked to Rickenbacker for the answer.
“We can, if we time our launches and landings to keep the Russian and Chinese ground based lasers from optimal attack trajectories. Given that both countries have been working with directional mirrors on aircraft to increase their laser attack capabilities to go beyond the horizon, this could become a problem. But they are still experimental for the moment. The other thing to remember is that the Hulk will be built with a Tritium4 exterior hull and refractive armor. As long as we know the frequencies their lasers are operating on (which we do), we can modulate the armor frequencies so the laser hits are harmless.” The Professor once again produced another short clip that showed exactly what he had explained and how the entire process would work.
Monty, the President’s Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor, praised their presenter. “I am truly impressed Professor. Every possible question we have asked, you have a ready answer and an illustration to explain it in laymen’s terms.”
Rickenbacker chuckled before responding, “I gave this brief to the others on this team. We came up with a lot of possible questions, and then prepared answers for you.”
“Well gentlemen, not to appear rude, but like I said, we do need an answer on whether to move forward with production immediately.”
“Professor, I am impressed to say the least. Unless anyone has an objection, the project is approved and given top priority above all other projects. With exception to the Razorbacks, the Pershing program will be suspended for the time being until the Hulk is completed. Your AFC LNO will have full authority and support to get production going as quickly as possible, and for all equipment needed to make this project a reality,” the President directed.
“Thank you, Mr. President. This is going to require a lot of manpower; we are looking at close to 140,000 people in all to work on the varying aspects of the project. Our AFC LNO said he can shift people around and make it work though,” the Professor said confidently.
Now that Operation Pegasus had been approved, the Professor continued. The next piece of technology I want to discuss with you is this…
The Professor pulled out a small spool of cabling and passed it to the group. “I would like to draw your attention to this material. This substance is 20 times stronger than steel or any other matter known to man. It is also the material that is going to make the space elevator a reality. If we are able to establish a platform base in high earth orbit, then we can establish a space lift. This elevator will enable us to move great amounts of material to and from Earth; it would be the cornerstone of a permanent base.”
Before going down the rabbit hole the space elevator would be, the President wanted to get back to the new fighter design and low orbit aircraft. “Professor, the space elevator concept is amazing, and I want you to continue to pursue it. However, we have a war we need to win now, so please discuss the EmDrive technology again and how we are going to incorporate it into our current military equipment?” directed the President.
“As you wish Mr. President. Once we had sufficient supplies of Tritium4, we would begin to replace our jet propulsion engines with EmDrive Propulsion. The EmDrive propulsion uses no fuel and runs purely on hydrogen fuel or water. We simply divert more power from the reactor to increase the speed, and likewise decrease the amount of power drawn from the reactor in order to slow it down. This is a propulsion system that will work in the atmosphere, in orbit and in space.
“The idea of fighter aircraft being able to incorporate this technology sounds incredible; how soon we can get a working prototype going?” the President asked warmly.
“The technology is complex, but something that we have the capability to build. I’d like to be optimistic and say we can have it completed in a couple of months, but it may be closer to a year. It really depends on how much of our resources and manpower is put in to it,” said the Professor.
Monty broke into the conversation saying, “Mr. President, the Boeing plant (the one Vice President Kern was visiting when he was nearly assassinated), it could be used. It’s a new plant, and has increased security.”
“Get with the manufacturers and find out if that plant can work. We need to get a working prototype built immediately, and that might be best done at our Skunkworks facility in Nevada. Once the bugs are identified then we can get it into full production,” the President directed.
Eric Clarke, the Secretary of Defense, provided counsel on this subject. “The key to getting this aircraft into production, Mr. President, is going to be not making the structure of it more complicated than it needs to be. We should look at developing two versions: one, a pure drone, and the other a manned aircraft. See which one works the best, and then go in that direction.”
“Make it happen Eric… Please, continue Professor,” asserted the President, not wanting to get too far off course from the presentation.
Trying to remain patient, Rickenbacker continued, “There are a couple more inventions I would like to go over with you as well. Two are something we can use now to help us win the war, and the other is something that will enable the U.S. to not just reach for the stars, but to conquer them.”
General Branson interjected, saying, “Let’s focus on the first couple that can be used immediately; we need to win this war before we can think of anything that could be used in the private sector or to dominate space.” Branson did his best not to come off as abrupt or disrespectful.
“Yes General. The first is, as of two days ago, we successfully tested our first limitless energy reactor. It is essentially cold fusion. This is the Angelic power source I mentioned earlier.”
“That is incredible,” the Secretary of Defense said, knowing that if this type of technology were miniaturized, it could completely change the battlefield.
“Right now the device is about the size of a reactor used in a nuclear powered plant, except that this apparatus could power not just a city, but an entire state. We believe we could build a version about three times as large and power a full quarter of the entire country. But this is only half the story. This new technology also gives us the ability to build a fully functional plasma laser. Not only that, we can miniaturize the weapon to fit on the new aircraft we are going to build,” said the Professor with excitement in his eyes and voice. “The things we will be able to do with this new technology is truly amazing.”