human
Mike, how long before we ought to contact the Platform?
gpt
Forty minutes, fifty seconds. Why?
human
There are some rockets in enemy hands which can reach the Platform. They were shipped to launchers ten days ago. You figure what comes next.
gpt
They smash the Platform before we get to it.
human
Uh-uh! said Mike instantly.
gpt
They smash the Platform _when_ we get to it! They smash us both up together. Where'll we be at contact-time, Joe?
human
Over the Indian Ocean, south of the Bay of Bengal, to be exact, said Joe.
gpt
But we'll be moving fast. The worst of it is that it's going to take time to get in the airlock and unload our guided missiles and get them in the Platform's launching-tubes. I'd guess an hour. One bomb should get both of us above the Bay of Bengal, but we won't be set to launch a guided missile in defense until we're nearly over America again.
human
Yeah. Sitting ducks all the way across the Pacific!
gpt
We'll check with the Platform, said Joe.
human
See if you can get them direct, Mike, will you?
gpt
Calling Space Platform! Pelican One calling Space Platform! Come in, Space Platform!... He paused.
human
Calling Space Platform....
gpt
A solid-fuel rocket can start off at ten gravities acceleration, he said quietly,
human
Right! To Joe he said,
gpt
Space Platform on the wire.
human
I've just had word from the Shed, he explained carefully,
gpt
Are you doing anything about them?
human
It paused.
gpt
We've air for only four days. That's no good. It'll be a month before the next ship can be finished and take off. There are four rockets coming up, you say?
human
The voice changed. It spoke away from the microphone.
gpt
Then it returned to Joe.
human
I think, said Joe,
gpt
said the caustic voice,
human
Somebody's fired rockets out from Earth, said Joe carefully.
gpt
They'll curve together where we meet the Platform, and get there just when we do.