"I don't think so, Captain. I think we are the only available ship. Have you studied the movements file?"
"Not especially. Why?"
"Well, the Thomas Paine should be the ship-but she's grounded at New Aukland for emergency repairs." j
"I see. There ought to be a standing circum-Venus patrol -there'll have to be, some day." Yancey scratched his chin and looked unhappy.
"How about this, Captain-"
"Yes?"
"If we change course right now we could do it cheaply. Then we could bring her in for atmospheric braking with no further expenditure. Then ease her down with the jet."
"Hmmm-how much margin?" ,
Lieutenant Thurlow got a far-away look in his eyes, while he approximated a fourth-order solution in his head. Captain Yancey joined him in the trance, his lips moving soundlessly.
"Practically none, Captain. After you've steadied in circum, you'd have to dive in and accept atmospheric terminal speed, or close to it, before you blasted."