2100 hours
Mike the Angel smiled grimly to himself . Ensign Vaneski had been right ; Snookums was dangerous -- not only to individuals , but to the whole planet . Snookums , too , was a juvenile delinquent . The _ Brainchild _ lifted from Antarctica at exactly 2100 hours , Greenwich time . For three days the officers and men of the ship had worked as though they were the robots instead of their passenger -- or cargo , depending on your point of view . Supplies were loaded , and the great engine-generators checked and rechecked . The ship was ready to go less than two hours before take-off time .