We Are Legion (We Are Bob)

Book 3: Chapter 32: Found

Book 3: Chapter 32: Found

Bill

September 2227

Epsilon Eridani

I stared at the readings, frankly disbelieving. I glanced over at Garfield—his wide eyes and slack jaw said it all.

We’d slapped together a quick prototype, based on the power-core scans from the alien hulk. A small prototype. According to our measurements, this kludged-together rig was outperforming our fusion reactors five to one.

“Well, this explains a lot,” Garfield finally said.

“Mmm. Of course, we’re not just going to rip out all our reactors and replace them with this stuff.”

“Well, no.” Garfield grinned at me. “But a pilot project…”

At that moment, Will popped in.

I motioned Will to a chair and materialized some images. “The two Bobs who volunteered to survey the Delta Pavonis system chanced upon a couple of cargo vessels that had been taken out during the defensive engagement. They must have drifted right through the system. The Others didn’t pick up on it, and the derelicts would have just continued out into the cosmos if those two hadn’t found them.”

Will leaned forward and poked at one of the images. “I think I remember that one, actually. It was almost cut in half.”

I nodded. “That unit is being broken down for materials. The guys are repairing the hole in the other one, and they’ve had the bright idea—genius, actually—of putting mover plates around it instead of trying to figure out the Others’ drive system. Then they’ll fly it back to Earth.”

“You could put fourteen million people in that thing, easily.” Will’s voice was hushed.

I laughed. “You could misplace fourteen million people in that thing.” I made a show of feeling around my pockets. “Dang it, where did I put those colonists…”

Will grinned back at me. “Holy crap on a cracker. Fifteen hundred ships or fifteen hundred trips. Or one gigantic cargo carrier!”