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The reason was that, faster than any Solarian ship, radio signals had reached McLaurin, and he, and most of the staff of the IP service had been moved to the Lunar Bank. Buck Kendall had extended an invitation in this "unexpected emergency." It so happened that Buck Kendall's invitation got there before any description of the Strangers, or their actions had arrived.
"I suppose I'll have to try again." "I should think you'd use tungsten for that. If you do have a slight leak, that would handle the heat." "No, it would hold it. Silver is a better conductor of heat. But the darned thing won't work." "Your other scheme has." Faragaut laughed. "I came out principally for some signatures. IP wants one hundred thousand tons of mercury.
But Jupiter offered the greatest possibilities for quick settlement, a base from which they could more easily operate, a base for fuels, for the heavy elements they would need Fifteen million miles from Jupiter they slowed below the speed of light and the IP stations observed them.
I can't test the machine because I haven't their ray to test it against." "What can we do to test it?" "The only thing I can see is to call for volunteers and send out a six-man cruiser. If the ship's too small, they may not destroy it with the big crumbler rays. If it's too large and the machine didn't work we'd lose too much." Twelve hours later, the IP men at the Lunar Bank fort were lined up.
Then try it in a tungsten-beryllium pot. No matter how you polish that tungsten-beryllium, the stuff WILL radiate heat. That's why an IP ship is always so blamed cold. You know the passenger ships use polished aluminum outer walls.
There were three IP stations on the planet itself, but they were vastly hindered by the thick, almost ultra-violet-proof atmosphere of Jupiter. Their rays were weak. And the magnetic fields of the Mirans were unaffected. Only their atomic bombs were hindered by the heavier gravity that pulled the rocks back in place faster than the bombs could throw them out.
They were practiced by this time, and this IP station had only seven five-foot beams. In half an hour that station fell, and its sister station on Deimos followed. Three wounded ships returned to Jupiter, and ten new ships came out. The attack on Mars itself was started. Mars was a different proposition.
It was a glorious treasure gold and silver plate, jewels and beautiful armor, along with a pile of old parchments which Mr. Roscoe said were worth more than all the rest put together, for they were the title-deeds of great estates. "And now," cried Beale, "let's 'ave a cheer for Lord Arden. Long may 'e enjoy 'is find, says I! 'Ip, 'ip, 'ooray!" The cheers went up, given with a good heart.
He ordered that all IP stations save these two be deserted, and all mercury fuel reserves be moved to Deenmor and Mars Center. The Mirans could not land on the North Western section of Mars, nor in the South Central region.
Any new defense ideas?" "Plenty. Did you get any further appropriations from the IP Appropriations Board?" McLaurin looked sour. "No. The dear taxpayers might object, and those thickheaded, clogged rockets on the Board can't see your data on the Stranger.
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