This chapter is about Captain McNicholl, who is the "Only" opposer to the moon shot. He is not actually the Only opposer, but way more than 99% of the public is in love with the idea that no one listens to him. When he first began his opposition movement, the newspapers wouldn't even publish his article ranting and raging over the idea of shooting a projectile to the moon. They soon began publishing them, but no one read them and everyone continued to follow and support the project. His arguments discuss how impossible to shoot a 20,000 pound bullet at 7 miles per second and that if they did, the bullet would just melt from the heat generated by the combustion of the large amount of gunpowder. Captain does not know about guncotton, nor does he know any of the specifics decided at the three sessions. This information is still private.
During the civil war, which this book began at the end of, the two big fighting forces were not north and south, but the Ironclads and the Cannoners.
The ironclads were focused on armored troops and tanks and close combat and the shooters were focused on the art of pushing bigger projectiles farther. And where Barbican was the leader of the gunners, Captain is the leader of the Ironworkers.
