to assault our manned emplacements. Nobody expected that. They expected it to attack our drones. Suppose we grounded its whole air force at the same instant that we launch our attack from the Hub. That would stand a good chance of throwing it completely off balance long enough for us to get into the fusion plant and switch it off. It's worth a try, surely. If it works, we can then evacuate everybody without exposing them to any risks at all. Doesn't that make sense?"
Linsay nodded but continued to wear a puzzled frown.
"Sure, but . . . I'm still not with you. How are we going to ground its air force?"
"By taking away the air!" Krantz said. "What I propose is this—immediately before our assault from the Hub goes in, the ISA ships put a salvo of low-charge missiles into Detroit, Pittsburgh and South Spindle . . . everywhere . . . enough to blow holes into every major section. If the holes are made big enough, it should depressurize the whole of south Janus fast enough to throw Spartacus's fliers completely out of control. Our assault troops go in with suits and make a fast thrust through to the fusion plant. Without any airborne opposition, the support units should be easily able to knock out anything else that tries to get in the way. What do you think?"
"Well, it's ingenious, I'll give you that . . ." Linsay rubbed his chin and stared at the floor as he turned the suggestion over. "It might just work, I guess . . . Can't see any obvious holes in the plan. It'd probably take a while to get organized, though. Coupla hours maybe."
"What are a couple of hours against hundreds of lives?" Krantz asked. He turned toward Dyer. "Ray, how do you feel about it?"
Dyer tried again to sort through the contradictions wrestling each other inside his head but again succeeded only in confusing himself further.
"I don't know," he said. "To me it seems six of one, half a dozen of the other. As you say, maybe it's worth a try."
In the end Krantz's rank decided the issue. Orders went out to suspend the evacuation preparations while Linsay and his staff went to work with the commander of the ISA
Linsay nodded but continued to wear a puzzled frown.
"Sure, but . . . I'm still not with you. How are we going to ground its air force?"
"By taking away the air!" Krantz said. "What I propose is this—immediately before our assault from the Hub goes in, the ISA ships put a salvo of low-charge missiles into Detroit, Pittsburgh and South Spindle . . . everywhere . . . enough to blow holes into every major section. If the holes are made big enough, it should depressurize the whole of south Janus fast enough to throw Spartacus's fliers completely out of control. Our assault troops go in with suits and make a fast thrust through to the fusion plant. Without any airborne opposition, the support units should be easily able to knock out anything else that tries to get in the way. What do you think?"
"Well, it's ingenious, I'll give you that . . ." Linsay rubbed his chin and stared at the floor as he turned the suggestion over. "It might just work, I guess . . . Can't see any obvious holes in the plan. It'd probably take a while to get organized, though. Coupla hours maybe."
"What are a couple of hours against hundreds of lives?" Krantz asked. He turned toward Dyer. "Ray, how do you feel about it?"
Dyer tried again to sort through the contradictions wrestling each other inside his head but again succeeded only in confusing himself further.
"I don't know," he said. "To me it seems six of one, half a dozen of the other. As you say, maybe it's worth a try."
In the end Krantz's rank decided the issue. Orders went out to suspend the evacuation preparations while Linsay and his staff went to work with the commander of the ISA