SODIUM:6 Defiance by Stephen Arseneault Read Free Book Online Page A

be passed on through. The static field made use of a reverse spin. While matter with a normal spin would offer the normal interactions that our world of physics described every day, our discovery of virtually no-spin had made not only our shields possible but faster than light travel as well.
    A reverse spin was something our scientists had only toyed with in the labs, not knowing how to bring it back to normal. The static field in the shop was made up of air particles whose electrons were spinning in reverse. The result was a blocking of any physical interaction at all. Nothing of normal spin would pass through or interact. When the field was turned off the particles were returned to their normal state. I had been told repeatedly how simple it was and yet the concept continued to be confusing.
    Further study by Lisa and James revealed a control box that generated the field and magnetic conduits that were used to focus it. After removing the control box and several of the conduits we returned them to the Saxon for further evaluation. In a matter of hours the control box had been hooked to the ships power and the conduits had been used to project a static field in front of us. It was like an invisible wall that could be felt, but not seen.
    Hershen then asked if the control box could be coupled to a power pack. Lisa implied that it could and I gave the order to make it so. After several more hours of fabricating a power coupler the static field was put to a test. I held the box as Hershen pushed the button. Once again the magic invisible wall was projected out in front of us. The time was then taken to place the control box and conduit in a small case that could be easily carried by hand.
    When we once again began our exploration of the Blake Adventure Hershen insisted on carrying our new toy. He reasoned that perhaps some of the Frekkin had remained aboard or that perhaps they had left traps for anyone who followed. He wasn't sure how the static device could be used, but he wanted it with us. I offered no objection.
    Our next adventure took us again through a series of luxurious housing pods followed by another shopping area. This time, I took the effort to look up the control centers on the ship and was rewarded with the main deck only two pods away.
    The main control pod had five decks. The lowest two again housed power and utility facilities while the middle deck had crew housing. The fourth deck was stuffed with offices, meeting rooms and a large business foyer. The fifth deck held the ships bridge with all its controls. We spent the next two days going over the ships systems including environmental, propulsion and defenses.
    The ship had an active skin similar to our Sodium skin where the electron spin was brought to a near halt. The effect was an internal environment that was not affected by inertial forces. The propulsion was by means of an unusual variation of the spin principles. Particles could be accelerated to extreme speeds by alternating spins down a tube at high frequencies.
    The particle would first accelerate towards a normal spin and then be pushed further when the spin was reversed just as it reached it. The particle thrusters could accelerate the Blake Adventure to speeds nearing 600 SOL. The cruise had taken nearly a year to reach its destination with promises of a pristine world full of adventure. It had been an expensive and time consuming trip. The newest Mundari ships could do the run in just over a month. For us it was a little less.
    The ships defenses seemed to be limited to the static field and the protections it offered. So long as you had the power to keep it from being overwhelmed, it was all the defense you would need. And the ship was loaded with power. The reactors were Rubidium and the ships stores held an impressive stockpile. Even though the Blake Adventure had been in standby mode for 3,200 years the Rubidium stocks had been depleted by only half. It was an extremely efficient system.
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