Timeline

00:36:02

On the control room monitors, the computer-generated undulating field had begun to show spikes. Biting her lip, Kramer watched the spikes grow in higher and wider. She drummed her fingers on the table. Finally, she said, "Okay. Let's fill the tanks at least. Let's see how they do."

"Good," Gordon said, looking relieved. He picked up the radio, began to give orders to the technicians down in the transit room.

On the video monitors, Stern watched as heavy hoses were dragged over to the first of the empty shield tanks. Men climbed up ladders and adjusted the nozzles. "I think this is best," Gordon said. "At least we'll-"

Stern jumped to his feet. "No," he said. "Don't do it."

"What?"

"Don't fill the tanks."

Kramer stared at him. "Why? What can-"

"Don't do it!" Stern said. He was shouting in the small control room. On the screen, technicians were holding water nozzles above the fill aperture. "Tell them to stop! No water whatever in the tank! Not a drop!"

Gordon gave an order on the radio. The technicians looked up in surprise, but they stopped their work, lowered the hoses back to the floor.

"David," Gordon said gently. "I think we have to-"

"No," Stern said. "We don't fill the tanks."

"Why not?"

"Because it'll screw up the glue."

"The glue?"

"Yes," he said. "I know how to strengthen the tanks."

Kramer said, "You do? How?"

Gordon turned to the technicians. "How much time?"

"Thirty-five minutes."

He turned back to Stern. "There's just thirty-five minutes, David. There isn't time to do anything now."

"Yes there is," Stern said. "There's still enough time. If we go like hell."