AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘I’ve been working on this project for three years, so excuse me if I drone on and sound obsessive. I discovered an unusual and incredibly rare fuel fusion created by combining those two elements. The result was never seen before levels of anti-grav propulsion that can output a million times more energy than anything we’ve ever known - even better than nuclear power and antimatter. If my theory stands, the drive I’m hoping to design and test with you will be revolutionary. When handled properly, the fusion mix is highly stable and sustainable; very little goes a long way. Elentium can be recycled, and I’m working to do the same for refined xentium. This technology will double the price and demand for xentium, as it will now be used as both a hard alloy in starship hulls and a stable, highly effective, sustainable energy source. However, mishandling could significantly warp the space around ships and even damage entire vessels or planets if not carefully calculated.’
Kage took over for a moment. ‘The Sable Group is investing heavily into this project coz it gives our cruisers the capability to move faster and our corvettes’ long-range strike capabilities. It’ll also make our cargo runs and skips superior in terms of time and reach. Plus help cut costs and double revenue. This will give us a strong advantage from a system-wide security perspective while improving Eden II and Dunia’s shared defence infrastructure. Harlow, more to add?’
She nodded. ‘The Dunian government is a co-sponsor because it’s hoped this new tech will allow for more investment in transport infrastructure, allow our people to find work and opportunity beyond Dunia, which has a limited population capacity and increase our people’s economic and social opportunities. This technology is meant less for war and more for good. That is one of our clear stipulations.’
‘It’s also highly proprietary. It cannot fall into the wrong hands,’ Kage said. ‘This is why this end of Skylab is under the strictest and highest security measures. Mirage, our AI, has this lab locked down and loaded. So anyone trying anything will be found out. You four, Aran and I, are the only authorised personnel allowed inside these four walls. Should you see anyone else hanging around, immediately alert my sec team or find me. You’re also not permitted to bring anyone new into this module unless Harlow or myself have cleared it. Is that crystal?’
The trio of scientists nodded solemnly. The message was unequivocal, and Harlow now saw the fierceness on Kage’s face that Ruben had alluded to. Kage Sable was not a man to be crossed.
‘Now that introductions and the project headlines are out of the way, I’m out,’ announced Kage, rising to his feet. ‘Settle in, team, and I’ll see you later.’
‘The ‘you’ seemed firmly focused on Harlow, and she gave him a cool look designed to discourage his allusions. ‘Later, Kage.’
He grinned and strolled away.
She dragged her eyes away from his departing, ever-sexy backside and focused on her new team.
Soon the four of them were deep in a discussion about combustion chambers, nozzles, densities and xentium.
‘What does it look like?’ Bassam asked in a low voice, which only confirmed her view of him as an introverted, self-conscious genius. Yet his eyes blazed with a passion for his work she found endearing.
Harlow walked over to her desk where a pile of boxes sat that Kage had arranged to be delivered from her lab on Axuma to Eden II. She pulled out a tray of samples and a box of pearls from it and handed them to the group.
‘Xentium, funnily enough, can also be fashioned into jewellery. This form is safe to wear because many of its organic compounds have leached out, leaving a much purer, cleaner, harder form resistant to sheering. It also needs no coating whatsoever for jewellery use. Which makes it a precious and expensive stone.’
The pearls she showed them had a high-shine silver metallic effect running through them and a marble pattern that contrasted the cream velvet cloud texture on the surface. ‘This pearlescent structure looked different depending on the angle one viewed it, from silver tones to stunning creams.’
She handed them a second tray of samples, this time a silvery cream powder in vials.
‘Xentium, though in powdered form, is our key fuel. Elentium, also known as EL14 oxide, also in powder form, is our oxidiser. My research has found that it needs to be mixed in a 45:65 ratio and pumped into the combustion chamber. Once xentium is oxidised, this increases the combustion temperature and density of the propellant, thus, the specific impulse of the vehicle. Both elements are solid powders. The powdered form of both elements allows for a far simpler design with fewer moving parts, plus they’re easily storable and can be ready to operate quickly. Xentium and elentium also have higher densities, creating room for a more compact engine design and hence a smaller ship engine overall with less drag during flight.’
‘The zero need for cryogenic storage means the propellant can be stored for long periods, plus there’s almost zero fuel deterioration. This provides reliability and security, with flexibility in transportation and timings. In addition, this choice means significantly reduced costs, and infrastructure and launch management logistics are greatly simplified.’
‘We must test the mix, characterise and optimise the supply mechanism, and design a two-stage, hybrid, suborbital launch test vehicle. First, though, let’s get started on the schedule. I want you to tear my approach apart as much as you can. I need this to be as feasible as possible.’
She got the team situated at their benches. Time flew as the team lost themselves in planning their testing schedule and interrogating Harlow’s ideas.
At 1800 despite their excitement, Harlow kicked the team out of the lab and sent them home. Then, she settled in to do more editing of her research approach based on the team’s feedback on her plan so far.
Time passed, and a hush settled over the emptying complex. So lost in her work, Harlow barely noticed the sounds of the day fading away.
‘Night owl much, Harlow?’
She looked up to see Kage leaning against the door of her lab.
‘Oh my, what time is it?’ she exclaimed.
‘Late,’ Kage drawled. He meandered into the space, dropping his carry-all to the floor. He approached her desk, planting one power-driven hip on its edge.
She looked up at him slightly in a daze. ‘Damn. I got so caught up in work. The lab is fantastic, thank you. And the team? They’re amazing. And so motivated to help.’
A small smile played on his lips. ‘First day go well then?’
‘Bassam and Sondra got into the testing required to ensure no combustion instabilities in our mix would occur. Dan got tackled planning tests for thrust, dynamic pressure and vibration characterisations and the parameters for measuring the dynamic ignition pressure.’
‘Which is essential for a safe engine launch. Sounds like a resounding first-day success.’
‘It certainly was.’
