Which we would not do even if losing. Why? Hard sense. If we used our last strength to destroy a major city, they would not punish us; they would destroy us. As Prof put it, “If possible, leave room for your enemy to become your friend.”
But any military target is fair game.
Don’t think anybody got much sleep Thursday night. All Loonies knew that Friday morning would be our big try. And everybody Earthside knew and at last their news admitted that Spacetrack had picked up objects headed for Terra, presumably “rice bowls” those rebellious convicts had boasted about. But was not a war warning, was mostly assurances that Moon colony could not possibly build H-bombs—-but might be prudent to avoid areas which these criminals claimed to be aiming at. (Except one funny boy, popular news comic who said our targets would be safest place to be–this on video, standing on a big X-mark which he claimed was 110W x 40N. Don’t recall hearing of him later.)
A reflector at Richardson Observatory was hooked up for video display and I think every Loonie was watching, in homes, taprooms, Old Dome–except a few who chose to p-suit and eyeball it up on surface despite being bright semi-lunar at most warrens. At Brigadier Judge Brody’s insistence we hurriedly rigged a helper antenna at catapult head so that his drillmen could watch video in ready rooms, else we might not have had a gunner on duty. (Armed forces–Brody’s gunners, Finn’s militia, Stilyagi Air Corps–stayed on blue alert throughout period.)
Congress was in informal session in Novy Bolshoi Teatr where Terra was shown on a big screen. Some vips–Prof, Stu, Wolfgang, others–watched a smaller screen in Warden’s former office in Complex Upper. I was with them part time, in and out, nervous as a cat with puppies, grabbing a sandwich and forgetting to eat–but mostly stayed locked in with Mike in Complex Under. Couldn’t hold still.
About 0800 Mike said, “Man my oldest and best friend, may I say something without offending you?”
“Huh? Sure. When did you ever worry about offending me?”
“Always, Man, once I understood that you could be offended. It is now only three point five seven times ten to the ninth microseconds until impact. . . and this is the most complex problem I have ever tried to solve against real time running. Whenever you speak to me, I always use a large percentage of my capacity–perhaps larger than you suspect–during several million microseconds in my great need to analyze exactly what you have said and to reply correctly.”
“You’re saying, ‘Don’t joggle my elbow, I’m busy.'”
“I want to give you a perfect solution, Man.”
“I scan. Uh.. . I’ll go back up with Prof.”
“As you wish. But do please stay where I can reach you–I may need your help.”
Last was nonsense and we both knew it; problem was beyond human capacity, too late even to order abort. What Mike meant was: I’m nervous, too, and want your company–but no talking, please.
“Okay, Mike, I’ll stay in touch. A phone somewhere. Will punch MYCROFTXXX but won’t speak, so don’t answer.”
“Thank you, Man my best friend. Bolshoyeh spasehaw.”
“See you later.” Went up, decided did not want company after all, p-suited, found long phone cord, jacked it into helmet, looped it over arm, went clear to surface. Was a service phone in utility shed outside lock; jacked into it, punched Mike’s number, went outside. Got into shade of shed and pecked around edge at Terra.
She was hanging as usual halfway up western sky, in crescent big and gaudy, three-plus days past new. Sun had dropped toward western horizon but its glare kept me from seeing Terra clearly. Chin visor wasn’t enough so moved back behind shed and away from it till could see Terra over shed while still shielded from Sun–was better. Sunrise chopped through bulge of Africa so dazzle point was on land, not too bad–but south pole cap was so blinding white could not see North America too well, lighted only by moonlight.
Twisted neck and got helmet binoculars on it–good ones, Zeiss 7 x 50s that had once belonged to Warden.
North America spread like a ghostly map before me. Was unusually free of cloud; could see cities, glowing spots with no edges. 0837–