Now they were going to bolt that whole structure, case, superconductor and all, over the ceramic insulating layer. The design, which John Hunt had helped them with, was supposed to sacrifice the missile’s standard outer casing first. It would evaporate almost immediately under the laser’s attack, despite its quarter inch of military grade titanium, before the laser came to bear on the superconducting sheath beneath. This revolutionary alloy was held together with chemical bonds that were unlike any material Martin had ever seen before.

Through mechanisms none of the team entirely understood, the material did not absorb energy in the normal way, and within reason did not react to it. This made it tremendously resistant to heat. The plan was that this layer would take the brunt of the laser attack, shielding the warhead beneath for as long as possible. Apparently the material would be able to survive for about forty-five seconds under the satellites’ concentrated glare. Comparatively, the ceramic below would only survive for a fraction of a second longer once the black shielding was finally ruptured. But the ceramic layer was not part of the defense, it was just there to deflect the heat that even the mysterious alien alloy would emit under the magnificent power of the satellites’ attack. Before it eventually ruptured the superconducting material would become phenomenally hot and the ceramic heat tile would protect the warhead within from that terrific heat.

“OK, Jack, might as well slide the outer shell into place and I’ll get this lower bolt in while I’m down here.” said Martin, breathing heavily as he wielded the big rivet gun.

“OK,” said Jack, heaving under the effort as he pushed the big structure of the outer shield casing over the inner shield. He moved slowly, taking guidance from Martin.

“Good, that’s it, OK, now straighten up, you are coming in a bit from the left.” said Martin as the two touched.

They started to squeeze together, the fit necessarily extremely tight. Slowly but surely the inside of the superconducting shell slid over the smooth white of the ceramic heat shielding. It was a strange sound. The superconductor siphoning off the energy as it slid and muffling any scraping sound. They had learned early that this stuff did not behave like anything they were familiar with.

Martin shook his head as he considered the material. “Weird stuff, this,” he said, careful not to touch it as it slid in. It would not hurt him, but it would deliver all of the friction energy it was generating in a static shock to Martin, such was the perfection of its ability to siphon energy.

“OK, nearly there, slowly does it.” said Martin, watching the two big cones come together from underneath. Jack heaved, pushing against the titanium outer shell. The shell alone cost over $200,000, he thought as he heaved. Not something you wanted to dent.