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He's running too close to the danger point in feeding reactant to the chambers, using D-18 rate of feed and D-9 is standard." "What about the other ships, sir?" asked Tom. "Do they all have safety factors?" Strong shrugged his shoulders. "They all specify standard reaction rates without actually using figures," he said. "But I'm certain that their feeders are being tuned up for maximum output.
"Power deck," Connel called into the intercom, "check in!" "Power deck, aye!" reported Barret. "Radar deck, check in!" "Radar deck, aye!" Professor Hemmingwell acknowledged in a thin voice. "Feed reactant!" Connel ordered. "Reactant feeding at D-9 rate," said Barret after a split-second pause. "Energize cooling pumps!" "Cooling pumps, aye!" "Cut in take-off gyros!" "Gyros on," repeated Barret.
"Feed reactant at D-9 rate!" ordered Tom. And far below on the power deck, Astro began to feed the reactant energy into the firing chambers. Hardy looked at Strong and nodded in appreciation of the cadets' smooth efficient work. They strapped themselves into acceleration cushions and watched the red second hand of the astral chronometer sweep around, and then heard Tom counting off the seconds.
They were dressed in the mode of merchant space officers, wearing high-peaked hats, trim jackets, and trousers of a different color. Strong stood up to greet them. "Welcome, gentlemen. Please be seated. We will begin the meeting as soon as all the pilots are here." Roger nudged Astro and whispered, "What's the big deal about a D-18 rate and a D-9 rate? Why is that so important?"
"It has to do with the pumps," replied the power-deck cadet. "They cool the reactant fuel to keep it from getting too hot and wildcatting. At a D-9 rate the reactant is hot enough to create power for normal flight. Feeding at a D-18 rate is fine too, but you need pumps to cool the motors, and pumps that could do the job would be too big."
He checked the electric timing device in front of him that ticked off the seconds, as a red hand crawled around to zero, and when it swept down to the thirty-second mark, Tom pulled the microphone to his lips again. "Control deck to power deck. Check in!" "Power deck, aye?" "Energize the cooling pumps!" "Cooling pumps, aye!" repeated Astro. "Feed reactant!" "Reactant at D-9 rate."
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