Read Wandering Engineer 6: Pirates Bane for Free Online

form a concave form. That form nagged at him a little. The AI
projected moving arrows simulating field strength lines. The swirling pattern
looked chaotic and complex, but with an underlying order to it since the lines
formed loops and swirls.
    “Which is why, in that application, the field strength is
strongest at the nodes but not in the center of the field. Engineers have
compensated for years by ramping up the power. But if you go too high...”
    Irons nodded. “You burn out the nodes,” he said, wiping crumbs
off his mouth. “Gotcha.”
    “Exactly. So, in this application, what we've done...”
    “I helped,” Sprite replied smugly.
    “What we've done is create a flattened spherical shape. The edges
have an energy bleed off issue however, and are thin. The shield is strongest
at its center where the nodes are. Also, Admiral for this to work you would
have to keep your arm flexed in a fixed position for the shield to function
properly. Any movement and it would throw the triangle out of alignment and the
field would destabilize.”
    “All right,” the Admiral nodded. The AI projected the field
simulation on his HUD. He watched it form a radial field as his avatar raised
its arm. Field lines were projected. From the shape it was an old fashioned
round shield, slightly convex in shape. That opened all sorts of interesting
possibilities in his mind.
    “Are you factoring in radial magnetic fields from, oh, for
example a radio speaker transducer?”
    “That's what got us on this path Admiral. But this is a
simulation. There is no guarantee it will work. It could even do damage to
you.”
    “A possibility? To the nodes?”
    “To the nodes and to you if things don't work out. Which is why
Defender has forbidden we attempt it.”
    “Hmm...” Irons grumbled. “So, could we replicate this outside of
me? With nodes on a test jig?”
    “Possible, but not now. Not with current power reserves and not
with possible field interactions with the ship.”
    The Admiral made a face. “All right,” he said, scrubbing his face
with a napkin. “So, that's out. Nice diversion of time,” he exhaled noisily.
    “Not completely Admiral. The research has opened a few avenues to
explore,” Sprite said, sounding excited.
    “You mean the lens effect?” the Admiral replied.
    Sprite opened her mouth and then closed it. “You would figure it
out,” she grumbled.
    “I have my moments,” he replied.
    “Sometimes,” the AI teased. He snorted as he policed his dishes
and then exited the room. His feet were nearly tangled by a purring bundle of fur.
He paused long enough to scoop up the little monster. The cub settled in his
arms, purring and nuzzling him.
    “I'm for bed you little monster. Tomorrow is another day. So, go
play. I think Proteus and Sprite have some things to think about.”
    “Definitely,” Sprite replied with a nod.
    <----*----*----*---->
    The next morning the Admiral got his coffee and idly stroked a
finger down a cub's spine while he read the shift report. Nothing had happened
in his downtime, which was to be expected. What was of note was the AI were
quiet. Usually Sprite would say good morning. Defender he could understand,
that AI had never been one for small talk. Nor Proteus. But even Phoenix was
quiet.
    He turned, resting his rump against the counter top and crossing
his arms as he looked at the cubs. Blaze had given up getting tokens of
affection from him in order to taunt and torment her sibling, who was sitting
under the table. The little brat was looking up, ready to grab a dangling paw,
but the sibling had the height advantage.
    “Better give it up,” the Admiral murmured. “She has the high
ground.” He snorted when the little minx switched to attacking her sister's
tail from below. That got Blaze to jerk and then twist around.
    “Actually, we found something. Several somethings,” Sprite
replied.
    “You mean grav lens applications?” the Admiral queried with a
slight smile.
    Sprite