human
But making a replica of the ship in plastic was less than a two-hour job. The materials were at hand; a special foam plastic is used as insulation from the chill of the lunar substrata. The foam plastic was impregnated with ammonium nitrate and foamed up with pure oxygen; since it is catalyst-setting, that could be done at low temperatures. The outside of the form was covered with metallized plastic, also impregnated with ammonium nitrate. I understand that the thing burned like unconfined gunpowder after it was planted in the path of the Soviet moon-cats and set off. The Soviet vehicles are on their way back to their base now.
gpt
Senator, in spite of our political differences, I want to say that I appreciate a man who can put his country's welfare ahead of his political ambitions.
human
Thank you, Mr. President. That is a compliment I appreciate and accept. But I want you to know that the notion of decoying them away with an inflammable plastic replica was not my idea; it was Matt Fisher's.
gpt
Oh? My compliments to Mr. Fisher. He smiled then. It was obviously forced, but, just as obviously, there was sincerity behind it.
human
I hope the best team wins. But if it does not, I am secure in the knowledge that the second best team is quite competent.
gpt
Thank you again, Mr. President.
human
That's it. We've saved a ship. It can be repaired where it is without a fleet of Soviet moon-cats prowling around and interfering. And we've scotched any attempts at propagandizing that the Soviets may have had in mind. He chuckled.
gpt
I'd like to have seen their faces when that thing started to burn in a vacuum. And I'd like to see the reports that are being flashed back and forth between Moscow and Soviet Moon Base One.
human
I wasn't so much worried about the loss of the disabled ship as the _way_ we'd lose it,
gpt
The Soviets getting it? Cannon asked.
human
We didn't have to worry about that. You heard him say that Thayer was going to destroy it.
gpt
That's exactly what I meant, said Fisher.
human
The way it stands now, the ship will at least be able to limp out of there before anyone in Moscow can figure out what happened and transmit orders back to Luna. He walked back with the glasses and handed one to Fisher.
gpt
Let's have a drink and go to bed. We have to be in Philadelphia tomorrow, and I'm dead tired.
human
That's a pair of us,
gpt
Remember Dewey in '48?
human
Blast 'em With Cannon now appeared on every button worn by those who supported him--who called themselves
gpt
Cannoneers. Their opponents sneeringly referred to them as
human
Cannon fodder, and made jokes about