engines."
51 "We destroyed its leap crystals," wondered North, "it can't leap
without them. Why is it modifying its remaining star drive engines?"
52 "There are theories," said Morn, "that leap can be accomplished
without crystals, that the field the burning crystals produce can be
created without crystals. If such theories were programmed into that
thing's mechanical brain, it may have solved the necessary equations.
It's the most advanced computer ever built, far superior to anything we
have on board. I think we'd better get together again and go over this,
face to face."
53 In a few minutes Morn, North and Gray Mountain sat in the conference
room of The Son's Pride. "It won't come out again," began Morn, "no
matter WHAT we do, until it's ready to leave system. That means we've
got to go in after it, and we don't stand a prayer close to a planet."
5 4 "Maybe we do," announced North.
55 Morn had been dreading this. He had known for several hours, that
North was cooking up one of his unorthodox, crazy plans. Now, he was
about to spring it.
56 "That thing," North continued, "thinks it's safe by the planet, that
we can't match it. But if we can get in a parallel orbit and don't try
to pull away from the planet, our planetary engines can handle the
gravitational forces.
57 We're at that thing's sensor limits now. It can tell how many ships
are out here, and whether or not we're moving, but it can't tell one
ship from another. There's a cutter out there that's engines are shot,
but its beam tube is still working. I propose I dock up with it, power
the tube from my vessel.
58 Morn and I slip out of sensor range, go around