Probe Predators Read Online Free Page A

pain. I hope he can use this experience to rebuild it; however, I need you here giving us all you know to help us do the things necessary to make sure the Union is not caught off guard by a sudden attack.”
    “What do you want?”
    “You must help me understand how those probes function. I hope you brought the data from your study.” Andi reached in a bag and pulled out a data cube. Trip nodded, “I need to know how far out from M87 those probes have to be to start their broadcasts without being distorted by the Galaxy’s gravity.”
    “I’ve looked at that and it appears it’s close to a light year.”
    Trip blew out a breath, “Andi, the imposed border with M87 is a light year. I need a more exact answer than close to a light year. If I’m going to violate that border, I need to make sure there’s a good reason for doing it.”
    “Are you considering crossing it?”
    “I will do whatever needs doing to defend the Union. We have to record that probe’s message and since we don’t have a receiver tuned to it, we’ll have to be close enough to one of them for its pulses to be recorded.”
    “Can’t this ships’ computer figure it out?”
    “That’s the one thing I couldn’t get; the advanced cybernetic defense computer is not something even I could manage to pull off. However, I do have access to one that’s pretty good.” Andi’s eyebrows went up. Trip said, “Moe, you still there?”
    “Yes.”
    Trip looked at Andi, “Please insert your cube into the reader.”
    Andi inserted the cube and the computer’s panel started flashing. Moe said, “Andi, I need more information. The back third of the probe you studied is missing from the data. How much of that space was devoted to the power unit?”
    “I ran an energy scan and determined that most of that area housed the radioactive material to power the probe. The thrusters were only a fifth of the section that was destroyed.”
    “Are you certain about that?”
    “I am.”
    Trip said, “Why is that data so important?”
    “The power available for use by the probe dictates how far out from M87 that it could get its message out without distortion. The smaller the power source, the more distant it has to be from M87. You also have to consider that the probes won’t be broadcasting their messages constantly. They’ll send it once and only then will it self-destruct.”
    “And traveling at the speed of light, we’ll have to be close to where they start sending to record them.”
    “Yesssss….”
    “What?”
    “There is another possibility.”
    “What is that?”
    “We know the exact time those probes launched as well as the time and place they approached the speed of light. You could jump into M87’s border and accelerate to light speed and pace the probes as they move away from the galaxy.”
    “Do you have the probe’s exact location?”
    “Within a couple of hundred thousand miles.”
    “Is that close enough?”
    “Remember, they launched thousands of probes that took more than two minutes to clear the ship and accelerate away. I’m reasonably certain you would be close enough to record at least one of them.”
    “How far inside the border would we have to jump?”
    “Three light weeks and you’ll have to stay on a path directly away from that galaxy until you hear the recording.”
    “Do you think the powers that be in M87 will detect our intrusion?”
    “If they do; that will speak volumes about their intent.”
    Trip sighed, “If they have enough ships to detect one intrusion, they are preparing for war.”
    “And if that’s the case, I suspect they will attempt to attack your ship.”
    “That won’t be easy, Moe.”
    “Oh, why not?”
    “If attacking an object moving at light speed were easy, those probes would have been removed centuries ago.”
    “They’ll have the line on which you accelerate away.”
    “Those probes scattered when they launched; I’ll veer from the line and maintain my speed. Besides, if