The vessel’s captain, Lieutenant Commander Newton Wayne, looked up from the box into the Pentagon representative’s face. “Yes, sir, it is.” His voice sounded as though his brain were trying to catch up with it and hadn’t quite succeeded. “This certainly puts us well ahead of the Russians.”
Captain Lacey returned the look. “How right you are, commander. This means we can convert every ship in the Navy in a tenth the time we had figured.”
Then they both looked at the third man, a civilian.
He nodded complacently. “And at a tenth the cost, gentlemen,” he said mildly. “North American Carbide & Metals can produce these units cheaply, and at a rate that will enable us to convert every ship in the Navy within the year.”
Captain Lacey shot a glance at Lieutenant Commander Wayne. “All this is strictly Top Secret you understand.”
“Yes, sir; I understand,” said Wayne.
“Very well.” He looked back at the civilian. “Are we ready, Mr. Thorn?”
“Anytime you are, captain,” the civilian said.
“Fine. You have your instructions, commander. Carry on.”
“Aye, aye, sir,” said Lieutenant Commander Wayne.