[ It's not what he meant, so it doesn't burst a thing - the thought ball is in the air, and he catches it again as soon as McCoy's finished speaking. ]
Viveca's original plan would have essentially been to hand the fate of the Hivawei over to the nearest capable planet, right? If one of the stops on our path winds up being a planet with the ability to travel through space for at least a three-week radius as she described, and they're willing to help, they could take over the Hivawei's transport once we get them that far with the portals. I doubt the Hivawei will start moving until they have somewhere definite to go, but if we find a friendly if not necessarily long-term suitable planet willing to assist in their relocation, we could get them at least that far while the scouting party keeps on looking.
If we do then find somewhere within their travel distance, we can give them the planet location and let them take over. If the world we find is further afield than they can travel, we'll just continue the evacuation effort through the spell's pathway as planned - but from a planet not under imminent threat of destruction by asteroid.
[ A pause. There are a lot of what ifs wrapped up in the idea (there's no guarantee they'll find such a planet, no certainty they'll be able to find a way to talk to its people at the size they'll be when they get there, the list goes on), but it's not so very many more than the trail of variables they already have to navigate. And ultimately, if the option becomes available to them... ]
If we screw the timing or make a mistake with the orb or Degar decides to pull us early, isn't it better to have the Hivawei who want to keep trying gathered in the care of an interplanetary neighbour, rather than leaving them behind?
[ Death or uncertainty. Not the best of choices, but an option they should give the Hivawei determined to live if it becomes available, no? Stephen falls silent here, genuinely waiting for the opinion of a man who has infinitely more business assessing the ins and outs of specifically space travel than he does. ]
no subject
Viveca's original plan would have essentially been to hand the fate of the Hivawei over to the nearest capable planet, right? If one of the stops on our path winds up being a planet with the ability to travel through space for at least a three-week radius as she described, and they're willing to help, they could take over the Hivawei's transport once we get them that far with the portals. I doubt the Hivawei will start moving until they have somewhere definite to go, but if we find a friendly if not necessarily long-term suitable planet willing to assist in their relocation, we could get them at least that far while the scouting party keeps on looking.
If we do then find somewhere within their travel distance, we can give them the planet location and let them take over. If the world we find is further afield than they can travel, we'll just continue the evacuation effort through the spell's pathway as planned - but from a planet not under imminent threat of destruction by asteroid.
[ A pause. There are a lot of what ifs wrapped up in the idea (there's no guarantee they'll find such a planet, no certainty they'll be able to find a way to talk to its people at the size they'll be when they get there, the list goes on), but it's not so very many more than the trail of variables they already have to navigate. And ultimately, if the option becomes available to them... ]
If we screw the timing or make a mistake with the orb or Degar decides to pull us early, isn't it better to have the Hivawei who want to keep trying gathered in the care of an interplanetary neighbour, rather than leaving them behind?
[ Death or uncertainty. Not the best of choices, but an option they should give the Hivawei determined to live if it becomes available, no? Stephen falls silent here, genuinely waiting for the opinion of a man who has infinitely more business assessing the ins and outs of specifically space travel than he does. ]