"You mean that you're going to fumble your way through this investigation?"
"We do not consider a cut-and-try program as fumbling," said Walt Franks.
"I am beginning to believe that your research department has not the ability to reduce your problems to a precise science," said Kingman coldly.
"Name me a precise science," snapped Channing, "or even a precise art!"
"The legal trade is as precise as any. Everything we do is done according to legal precedent."
"I see. And when there is no precedent?"
"Then we all decide upon the proper course, and establish a precedent."
"But I've got to show you a complete circuit before you'll permit me to go ahead?"
"That's not all. Your program must not include reproducing these tubes either in miniature or in full size—or larger. Give me your requirements and I shall request Terran Electric to perform the fabrication."
"Look, Kingman, Venus Equilateral has facilities to build as good a tube as Terran Electric. I might even say better, since our business includes the use, maintenance, and development of radio tubes; your tubes are not too different from ours. Plus the fact that we can whack out six in one day, whilst it will take seventy-three hours to get 'em here after they're built on Terra."