* * *
Saxon, Halloran, and Philips watched the newscast from a set in Saxon’s office at the university. A youngish reporter with perfect hair and complexion interviewed Helen Norden. But they were more curious about the reporter than about what Norden had to say. Halloran stared at the TV screen. “What would you say? Is that reporter male or female?”
“I can’t tell,” said Philips. “The way he or she is dressed kind of hides it and you sure can’t tell from the voice. But I think the face probably looks feminine.”
“What ever happened to the good old days?” asked Halloran. “I liked it better when the men looked like men and the women looked like women.”
Saxon frowned at the TV screen. “Yeah. Me too. But right now I’m trying to hear what the old dame has to say.”
“So then, you’re proposing a change in the organization at ETCC?” asked the reporter.
“That’s right,” said Norden. She smiled and adjusted her pose for the camera. “It has become painfully obvious that the two-part commission just isn’t working. What we need is a better reporting scheme, so that we remain focused on our primary objectives—and also that the technical people will be motivated better. Their lack of accomplishment is appalling when you consider the resources they’ve gone through!”
“But isn’t it generally considered that you can’t buy scientific breakthroughs? Aren’t they usually the result of tedious effort?” The reporter smiled for the camera this time.
“Effort! Yes, that’s the key!” said Norden. “If you think about what we’ve accomplished, you get that picture! Even without solid support from the technical subcommittee, we’ve managed to learn much about the aliens. But we have gleaned so much from so little input! Just think what we could accomplish if the technicians reported directly to me. That would be motivation!”
The men stared at the TV screen. “You don’t think... “ Halloran didn’t finish the question.
“No,” said Saxon. “Rogers would never let that happen. He’s onto the old girl. He knows she’s a fraud.”
“Yeah, I believe that,” said Philips. “But Rogers only has a few months left before he’s out, and who knows who’s going to win in November!”
Halloran just shook his head for a minute. Then he spoke. “Maybe we have to get out of this. If we all resigned, there would be nothing to keep us from working together privately, is there? Maybe you could get us on at the university.”
“That’s an idea,” said Saxon. The interview was over so he turned the television off. “I was already working on this at the university before this commission business got started.”
“But you were working with federal grants, weren’t you?” asked Philips. “What’s to keep them from cutting off the funds? Whoever pays, controls, you know.”
“That’s a valid point,” said Saxon. “Right now, though, I’d recommend no action at all. Maybe Norden is just making noise and nothing will come of it, and we don’t know what will happen in November.
19
June 5, 2112
Reports were coming in to Kingman headquarters from all over the world. From the landing site in the European Federation came word that a few of the agents who had been captured had escaped and that the European states now were unanimous in considering aliens as enemies. They were not in agreement, however, as they considered plans to deal with the aliens.
There were different reports from Australia and Siberia. The aliens had landed in the Australian outback and were far from population centers. Moreover, the rugged land seemed to keep the aliens confined to the area where their rocket fleet stood. Still, the presence of the alien fleet frightened most Australians and concerned the Australian government greatly. According to unnamed sources in the government, Australia would likely start on a campaign of rearmament.
The situation was somewhat different in Siberia. The aliens had been sighted leaving their rocket ships and had spread over a fairly large area, including two major cities that had fallen victim to the cloud of toxic fumes at the landing. However, the famine and fierce Siberian sandstorms had driven the aliens back inside their rockets. Surviving Siberians were asking for assistance from the rest of the world in dealing with the alien presence.
“So, does any of that change our mission in any way?” asked Marilee.
“No. It does confirm our decision to treat this in a military fashion,” said Ed.
Then a uniformed young man entered the room. “Beg your pardon, sir. There’s a call from the president for you.”
“Private?”
“Yes sir. I’m Private Brady.”
“No, no. That’s not what I mean. Is it a private call?”
“I don’t think so, sir, but they didn’t say.”
“That’s fine, then. I’ll take the call in the conference room and Lt. Sharp will join me. Also, I’d like you to get Everett Lane in there.”
“Yes sir!” The young soldier trotted off to find Lane, and Ed and Marilee went to the conference room. Lane met them at the door.
Inside the room, they sat at one side of the conference table, facing the wallscreen. Ed switched it on, and President Litton, larger than life, looked down at them. “Good morning, Ms. President,” said Ed. “Everett Lane and Lt. Sharp are present here, too. Is that okay?”
“Good morning, Ed. And good morning to Everett and Lt. Sharp. You’re quite welcome to stay for the call. I want to make this brief, but there are a couple of things to cover.
“First, I’d like to fill you in on rearmament. The program is going faster than we’d originally expected. It seems there was a large quantity of weapons stored that were supposed to have been destroyed after the Government-of-Nations treaty was ratified. We have learned that some of our old generals and admirals just didn’t trust GON.”
“That’s great, Ms. President!” said Ed. “Lane just about has the army recruitment plan working. We’ll be ready for battle before you know it!”
“I wish that were true but I’m not so sure,” said Litton. “There are problems developing—domestic problems, I’m talking about.”
“Uh, what kind of domestic problems, Ms. President?”
“Protests. Lack of public support. That sort of thing.”
“You’re kidding! In the midst of the greatest threat the world has ever seen, there are protests! About what?”
“I wouldn’t joke about such a serious subject. Your former colleague at AABC, Arlene Sisk, has started a campaign to protest our handling of alien contact. She has a fairly sizable following convinced that the aliens are poor frightened immigrants who came in peace and were met with aggression. There were protest rallies in just about every major city yesterday, and more are starting today. Tilson is in on it, too.”
“But... She reports to you, Ms. President! Why don’t you just order her to stop?”
“I could do that, and I probably will. But I’ve been a politician a long time, Ed. I know when a problem is not going to go away, and this is one of those times. But just remember that nothing changes your mission. I’m still president and you still lead the army and we have to do what we have to do. Just be aware that we don’t have all that much support and we probably won’t get good press.”
“I’ll remember that. Now how soon can we have some weapons out here?”
“They’re being loaded today, mostly laser guns and that sort of thing. Small weapons were easier to hide, you know.”
Everett Lane broke into the conversation. “Everett Lane here, Ms. President. I have an idea, if you’d like to hear it.”
“Certainly, Lane. Go right ahead.”
“I think if Sisk and Tilson were down here, we might be able to talk some sense into them. I think if they had a little more direct contact with the aliens, they’d realize what we’re up against.”
“Hmm. That’s an interesting thought, Lane. What do you think, Ed?”
“Tilson maybe, but let’s leave Arlene Sisk out of it. I’d hate to see her get hurt.?
??
“Why, Ed Halloran!” President Litton’s face broke into a smile. “Somebody told me you were sweet on Ms. Sisk! And it’s true!”
“No, no, no! That’s not it at all!” Ed felt his face getting warm. “It’s just that we don’t get along at all and she’d do something dangerous just to spite me! You know what I mean!”
“Indeed!” Litton was still smiling when her face faded from the wallscreen.
Ed turned to Lane. “That was a bad idea. That was a very bad idea!”
“Sorry,” said Lane.