"On the other hand, if the technique works, it won't be a military secret for long," Pemberton pointed out. "We'll want the technique to be as widely disseminated as possible."

"Point," Williams conceded, still looking doubtful. But the chance to test his theories was apparently too strong to resist. "All right," he said, wiping his hands again and pulling a pair of cards from a recorder. "Why don't you go to your fueler and get these loaded up. I'll go to the ship and get the hull stats and join you."

"I'll come with you, Commander," Pemberton added as Pheylan took the cards. "I'm rather curious to see how this works out."

16

Lieutenant Williams alters direction toward the expedition headquarters ship and enters by the starboard midship hatch. Commander Cavanagh and Colonel Pemberton continue toward me. I analyze their expressions again, calculate a probability of 0.93 that there is no urgency in opening communications with them. I therefore wait until they reach the base of the fueler and Commander Cavanagh speaks.

"Got a job for you, Max. Some heavy-duty data extrapolation and chemical-design manipulation. Think you can handle it?"

I note that there is the same moderate level of tension in his voice that I perceived earlier in his expression. "It sounds most interesting, Commander. I'll do my best."

They enter the lift cage. I activate the mechanism, bringing it to the hatch 22.82 seconds later. After 27.44 seconds more they are both again in the control room. Commander Cavanagh spends 1.04 seconds examining the labels on the cards, then chooses one and inserts it into the transfer slot. "Okay, here's the first batch of data. Take a look."

The reader requires 0.23 second to collect all the data and reassemble it into standard format. 0.18 second into the process I note via the fueler's external cameras that Lieutenant Williams has reemerged from the expedition ship and has turned in the fueler's direction. I also note that he is carrying a card in his hand.

The reader finishes its formatting, and I spend an additional 0.04 second sorting and collating the data into my preferred arrangement. I then spend 2.66 seconds examining it. Most interesting to me is the data on the ultrasonic blast profiles of 20.88 minutes earlier, which I now recognize were produced by Lieutenant Williams and his colleagues. My external microphones had detected only limited fragments of the waveforms, which had in turn left me unable to properly analyze and identify them or their source. With this new data in my possession I now have a significantly refined understanding of the microphones' design limitations. "Interesting. Have you the active sensor data as well?"

"Right here."

Commander Cavanagh inserts the second card. As promised, it is the active sensor data from the experiments, recording the complete dynamics of the ceramic wall's structural failure. "What level of extrapolation do you wish, Commander?"

"For now, just look the data over and get a feel for the process. Lieutenant Williams will be bringing you the main challenge."

"I understand."

I perform a brief preliminary examination, studying both the macroscopic and microscopic effects, creating an active first-approximation stress-point map, producing a similar map of molecular energy levels within both the ceramic and the induced crystallization planes, calculating energy-transfer profiles between each of the ultrasound frequencies and the crystallization planes, and extrapolating possible new resonance frequencies based on this analysis.

The examination process requires 3.67 minutes, during which time I also lower the lift cage for Lieutenant Williams and bring him up. "I've performed an initial examination, Commander. Are you ready to provide further data and instructions?"

Lieutenant Williams's expression changes. From the algorithms I calculate a probability of 0.68 that he is not entirely happy. I calculate an additional probability of 0.92 that this emotion relates to the project I am currently working on. "Or should that question be directed toward Lieutenant Williams?"

Lieutenant Williams's lip twitches in a gesture I interpret as mild distaste. "I'm still not sure I like this. But here goes."

He inserts his card into the transfer slot. "I trust Commander Cavanagh has explained that everything we're giving you is privileged military information and not to be divulged to anyone but properly designated Peacekeeper personnel."

"I was not so informed, but I am now." I spend 0.04 second examining the relevant sections of Commonwealth law and Peacekeeper regulations. "I also understand the requirements and limitations your order places on me."

He nods, his expression altering slightly. "I hope so. All right. What I'm giving you now is everything Peacekeeper Command's got on Zhirrzh warship-hull material. The bottom-line questions are, one, can we use the same technique on them that we did on the wall over there; and two, how does the technique have to be modified."

Commander Cavanagh takes a step behind Lieutenant Williams toward the doorway. "And, three, how do we go about using ultrasound against the hulls in space."

Lieutenant Williams again nods. "Right."

Commander Cavanagh takes two more steps, the last one bringing him to a position directly in front of the doorway. "While you're working on that, Max, why don't you put some of the results of your first analysis on the displays. I'm sure Lieutenant Williams would find them interesting."

"Of course."

I choose the microscopic sensor data, the stress-point analysis, and the energy-transfer map and bring them up on three of the control room's displays. Synchronizing their timings, I begin to play them. The reader finishes collecting the incoming data from the card, and I spend 0.03 second again arranging it in a more convenient form.

I begin my analysis, starting with a chemical/structural comparison routine. As I do so, Commander Cavanagh quietly exits the room.

I continue both the presentation and the analysis, studying the faces of the two Peacekeeper officers still in the control room. The algorithms indicate Lieutenant Williams to be intensely absorbed in the presentation, the size of his pupils and his slow blink rate allowing me to calculate a probability of 0.96 that he has both a high degree of interest and an equally high degree of understanding of the material. I similarly compute a probability of 0.78 that Colonel Pemberton has a high degree of interest; however, I also calculate a probability of 0.64 that she has little actual comprehension.

I also compute a probability of 0.93 that neither has noticed Commander Cavanagh has left the control room. Examining the correlation between his actions and his suggestion that I display this data, I estimate a probability of 0.80 that this result was deliberately intended.

The stress-point and energy analyses conclude, and I replace them with false-color schematics created from the meson microscope study of the ceramic. I also continue with my analysis of the Zhirrzh hull-ceramic data, as well as following Commander Cavanagh's movements on my internal monitors as he retraces his path back to the hatchway.

I estimate a probability of 0.80 that he intends to leave the fueler, but that conclusion is proved erroneous. He opens the emergency locker beside the hatchway and extracts a survival pack. I recompute, estimating a probability of 0.60 that he is hungry and seeking a ration bar.

This conclusion is also proved erroneous. From the survival pack he withdraws a flechette pistol.