Queen Maureen
Jupiter Compatible
"We hoped to speed development by staying with your general configuration." she said. "It has demonstrated great damage resistance."
"We kept the pilot's couches and flight controls, but have replaced the Interstellar Scanner with a fire control system."
"Beyond our small rocket capacity?"
'Yes." she said. "You were running a standard UDS model A antimissile unit suitable for defense."
'We intend to use our Jupiters for fire support." she said. "So more was needed."
The rest of the desk was different.
Freezing tubes were gone, replaced with a ring of four control stations.
The large control unit at the center had been replaced with a horseshoe position sporting several screens and a miniature navigation dome.
They came to the Pod Bay door.
She clicked the button, the door slid aside i n the normal manner to reveal a packed array of cylinders and conduits.
"This is the Weapon Module." she said" we have a terrawatt pulse laser firing through the new top bubble and the missiles feeding through the door on the bottom."
"That fits tidily" Maureen said.
"thank you" Lithande said.
She addressed the Professor. "Perhaps you wouild like to test the controls.?"
"I will" Professor Robinson said. He crossed to the pilots position.
He considered malingering or even damaging the ship. But it might put Maureen's life in danger. It's not like they hadn't already built one ship.
Professor Robinson was surpirised to see the normal operating system. He smiled as he considered reminding Lithande about the Alpha Control Licesensing fee.
The couches were tuck and rolled with the reptile leather used for upholstery throughout Nilani's domain. They were rather more comfortable than he originals.
'We shall have to purchase some of your couches" The professor smiled as he brought up ship's power.
They spent the rest ofthe afternoon putting the clone Jupiter through pre flight testing.