Vivie raised an eyebrow, then checked the controls. "We're already powering up for the ascent. We're at 78% right now. We could achieve maximum thrust within about two hours. Once we get going, we're eight hours out." Totally the professional. Calm, collected. None of the crew knew who the men were. "But we can't get too close to Io."
Eilin nodded. The Thor III was one of the most powerful ships ever built, and there was no way she would take it close enough to Io for ISF to come up with some sort of silly regulation and impound the ship, with its revolutionary fusion reactor. That engine, that technology that could lift the vessel out of Jupiter's gravity well with minimal discomfort to human passengers, was Allion's alone.
But they did have the shuttle.
XRZ-25 to Calico Base, request
