secret-space-project

In this chapter, Bard Lane grapples with bureaucratic obstacles threatening the continuation of Project Tempo, a large-scale, secretive space endeavor centered around the massive Beatty One vehicle. He discusses the political and administrative pressures with Sharan Inly, highlighting the project's slow progress and skepticism from external entities. The chapter also introduces Major Tommy Leeber, who tours the Beatty One and learns about its innovative propulsion systems and theoretical physics foundations, particularly the concept of the space-frame and time-frame as developed by Beatty.

In this chapter, Jord Orlan confronts Leesa Kinson about her barrenness and her brother Raul's heretical beliefs that the dream worlds are real and that their world is an artificial structure. Leesa secretly sympathizes with Raul's views and later discusses with him his plan to contact Earth to prevent the destruction of a secret space project called Project Tempo. Raul entrusts Leesa with a map and instructions to investigate the project, highlighting a growing tension between the established order and emerging truths.