Sigma One

by Hutchison, William

  By his gestures, Pat realized immediately Lassiter was all the press had written about him--a pompous, self-confident ass.

  Lassiter unfolded his hands from behind his head and stared up at the ceiling before beginning.

  "Well Mr. Huxley, I suppose you know how I feel about research and development money being spent on defensive weapons."

  He didn't, but he was sure the general would soon tell him.

  "I think it's one god damned waste of money. That's what I think!" Lassiter looked over at the other servicemen to garner their concurrence. Commander Packett and Colonel Anderson smiled in agreement only to have their smiles change to deep concern when he continued.

  "But Mr. Huxley, Pat....I mean...You don't mind if I call you Pat, do you?"

  Pat shook his head.

  "As I was saying, Pat, I may feel like spending money on defenses instead of offense weaponry is a waste of money, but, if SIGMA ONE is able to produce as you've advertised it can, the political consequences of such a success could be phenomenal.”

  Pat didn't understand and spoke up. "What do you mean, general?"

  Lassiter folded his arms arrogantly in front of him.

  "Simple, Pat. If SIGMA ONE works, and I can be the one to make it public, then I stand to gain considerable momentum in the upcoming elections."

  This last comment disturbed both Radcliff and Pat alike. The project had been set up as a secret organization for the joint purposes of protecting its sources of funds and to safeguard its progress from the rest of the world. If the Soviets even suspected the existence of such a project, much less read about it in the press, it just might give them the incentive to work harder to counter U.S. initiatives. That's why it was being held so closely and why what the general said was so disturbing to them both. The consequences of making the project public, as Lassiter was suggesting, was nothing short of treasonous.

  Radcliff was visibly perturbed and beat Pat to the punch, speaking up first. "General Lassiter, may I remind you, you've been sworn to secrecy as all the rest of us have regarding SIGMA ONE. You, more than anyone, should respect the meaning of that. Your political aims are secondary to the project and I personally won't stand for any more of this. Do you understand me?"

  Lassiter rolled his eyes back in their sockets at this admonishment, but when Radcliff saw his words clearly didn't faze the general in the slightest, he added ones that would. "And if you have even the smallest inclination of challenging this position, let me remind you that I have the authority to have you arrested, immediately stripped of your rank and all retirement benefits. You'll end up far worse than Oliver North. The President himself has promised me this. Now do you understand?"

  Sheepishly, Lassiter nodded his head even though he wasn't convinced the senator had any power over him at all. His career goals were far more important to him than the threat of losing his rank, and he wasn't about to let any pork-bellied politician stand in his way. The sheepish smile he gave was for show only, given to make the senator think he'd acquiesced. Hell, he wasn't going to make SIGMA ONE public anyway, not at least until he knew it was successful.

  Radcliff eyed the general. He wasn't convinced he had made himself understood, but he let it drop for the time being. The time he and Pat had with the committee was short. He'd deal with the general later in private.

  Radcliff then moved back around the table, passing behind Lassiter, Packett and Anderson, stopping directly behind the scientist he had skipped earlier.

  "And this, Pat, is Dr. Andrew Salinger, chief scientist at NASA's Advanced Computing Center."

  Salinger looked the part of a mad, escaped German rocket scientist to Pat. To the other members of the committee, he was likely believed to be present to challenge the technical feasibility on which the project was based. No matter, Pat knew Salinger was hand-picked by Radcliff to lend credibility to the project, not to detract from it. They had prearranged this earlier.

  Salinger stood up, ground his cigarette into the ashtray before him and stared over his Benjamin Franklin glasses before beginning to speak.

  "Good morning, Herr Huxley." he said in a thick German accent.

  Pat replied, "Good morning, Doctor."

  Salinger turned to the other members. "Good morning gentlemen, and you Ms. Robinson. Most of you, I don't know and I'm sure you don't know me either or vy I am here. Vell, I will tell you. I'm here at the request of Senator Radcliff. My organization, NASA, like your own, is contributing to SIGMA ONE, but let me make one thing perfectly clear: Vee, too, are feeling the budgetary pinch. Vee, too, could perhaps prefer to have our monies not bled away by parasitic projects such as you think SIGMA ONE is. But, vee, gentlemen and Ms. Robinson, unlike yourselves, see SIGMA ONE's potential, not for its obvious military applications, but for its not-so-obvious application to NASA's long term mission itself."

  The members in the room didn't understand and indicated so by their puzzled looks.

  Salinger continued and provided the explanation. "If SIGMA ONE is able to succeed, vee see a great fallout to our agency as a result. Success of SIGMA ONE would mean the billions of dollars now being spent on defense could become available to further the dwindling space program budget. And vee, gentlemen and lady, have scientific evidence, performed in our own labs which back up Mr. Huxley's claims. In our opinion, the project is highly feasible, and to not continue to support it, you'd be a regrettable mistake."

  With this last comment, Salinger lit another cigarette, held it between his index finger and thumb, and took a long slow drag on it, closing his eyes as he did. The smoke encircled his head as he stood there waiting for a reply.

  Colonel Anderson spoke first. "Just a damn minute, Doctor. What's this about evidence you have? And if you do have such evidence, why weren't we informed of its existence earlier. I don't know about the rest of the people in this room, but I have better things to do than to waste time playin' solitaire with a deck of fifty one."

  Salinger replied. "In due time, colonel. In due time. You'll all be able to read our report, but first, vee owe it to Mr. Huxley to hear his briefing. Then, if you are still not convinced, I'm prepared to address your questions.

  Pat decided to speak next, glad that Salinger had added his support, but before he spoke, he looked around the room and calculated his chances of succeeding in getting the committee to continue SIGMA ONE. He first turned his attention to Butterworth, who was seated complacently staring off into space. He didn't appear to be phased by Salinger's announcement. Butterworth was probably undecided, having not yet heard the financial status briefing. Pat hoped he could sway him through quickly going over the figures for SIGMA ONE and glossing over the details which indicated the tremendous overrun they were experiencing.

  Pat next looked at Ms. Robinson who appeared interested in Salinger's comments as indicated from the way she had leaned forward in her chair when he began to speak of the interest NASA had in SIGMA ONE. Even though she seemed interested, Pat knew he couldn't count on her in the final vote. She was too set against the project and only intent on funding one of Green Peace's pet projects. Pat fumed at the idea of canceling SIGMA ONE and buying more rubber life rafts for radical environmentalists. He didn't for a minute buy Robinson's line about working within the establishment. She made it quite clear that the only way she would be supportive was if she were shown hard evidence. Pat had to count on her to vote no.

  Pat looked at Dr. Gandliong and Agent Walker and surmised that these two were probably for continuation; Gandliong having risked his career through misappropriation of aids research funds to support SIGMA ONE, and Walker for the comment he made earlier.

  The three military men were obviously not going to be swayed very easily, if at all. Commander Packett and Colonel Anderson were more interested in furthering their respective service's research and development budgets for which they would get recognition and probably promotions if new weapons systems could be brought on line. General Lassiter, too would probably vote against the proj
ect now that he had been reminded that to vote for it with the intention of making it public would be tantamount to treason. Pat knew Lassiter was too smart to risk that.

  Finally, Pat sized up Salinger. He was a definite yes vote. That made three likely supporters, in Gandliong, Walker and Salinger, and four probably against, in Green Peace, and the three service representatives. This left only Butterworth undecided. The odds didn't look too good. Pat knew he had better give the briefing of his life if he were to salvage any hopes of continuation.

  Hesitantly he began.

  "Gentlemen and Ms. Robinson, I'm here representing the NSF as you all are aware and shortly I will answer any technical questions you have regarding our project's status. First though, I'd like to review with you where we stand."

  Pat was grandstanding a little. He figured a good tactic would be to go over some facts that would remind the members in lofty terms the glorious history of the NSF and of some of its accomplishments and turn the tenor of the meeting to more favorable discussions before addressing the real issues they were there to hear.

  He put the first chart up on the viewgraph projector. It showed the NSF logo, a round circle surrounded by stars. The circle was split in the middle with two vertical blue bars. In the left hand portion inside the circle was a picture of a test tube. On the other side, an outline of the United States flag was shown. Below the circle were the initials NSF emblazoned in bold black gothic letters.

  The logo was generic and nondescript and in no way indicated the type of research that the foundation was conducting. It had been chosen for just this purpose.

  Pat quickly removed this introductory slide and put up the charter of the NSF next: Scientific Investigations to Guard Mankind Against Obliteration by Nuclear Exchange. The purpose of this chart was to remind everyone why SIGMA ONE was started and why it was so important to continue it.

  He let the chart stay on the viewgraph projector while he began to speak. "As you know, our organization--the brainchild of Senator Radcliff and myself over ten years ago--was founded on the principal of finding a way to eliminate the threat of world destruction by nuclear war."

  "At that time, early in the formation of the NSF, our staff was small and each of your organizations was tapped to contribute both manpower and funding. Although our successes throughout the years have largely remained a secret to all but a select few, I can claim the concept of Strategic Defense as a justifiable product of our early research. And even though we have yet to deploy such a system, its very existence is providing a formidable motivation to move the world closer to lasting peace."

  "Other contributions we have made to world peace include the formation of special study groups to address such varied issues as control of nuclear proliferation, counter terrorism, and urban crime. Although these don't specifically deal with the nuclear war problem, I'm sure you all agree that these problems need special attention today, and in each case, United States failure to take a world leadership role in any one of these areas could spell the end of democracy."

  "SIGMA ONE, as you can guess, is the flagship of the NSF. It is our major reason for existence, and it is the success of SIGMA ONE that will eventually lead to benefits far in excess of the funding it is currently receiving from taxes on your organizations." He stopped in mid-sentence and looked squarely at Ms. Robinson and the three military men.

  "Ms. Robinson, SIGMA ONE will not stop the current destruction of whales immediately. It will however, free resources which can be spent on repopulating the oceans of the world when funding of nuclear weaponry no longer nets to drain our economy."

  "Dr. Gandliong, SIGMA ONE will not stop the spread of aids. It will, however, allow more research dollars to become available in the future as its successes are realized."

  "General Lassiter, Colonel Anderson, and Commander Packett, SIGMA ONE won't stop conventional wars. That's not its purpose. But it will allow our conventional military forces to be made far superior to any army, navy or air force on earth as other research projects are spun off from the basic principles of thought programming. No longer will we need to send our sons and daughters to their deaths. Using thought programming and combining it with robotics, we can stop any enemy without loss of life."

  Pat flipped four charts in rapid succession to emphasize what he had just said. Each chart provided a picture of the utopia SIGMA ONE promised.

  The first, shown for Ms. Robinson, showed schools of California Gray Whales spouting and cavorting in the calm blue waters of the Catalina channel. The beautiful Wrigley Casino and Zane Grey's home could be seen above the peaceful Avalon harbor. A graph at the bottom of the chart which plotted whale population estimates as a function of time indicated a stop to the downward trend of whale numbers in the 1999 to 2009 time frame showing the effects of dollars that would be poured into Green Peace from deep cuts in offensive nuclear forces.

  The second slide showed a slow to the exponential rise in the numbers of aids cases in the same timeframe as research began to accelerate to find a cure for the deadly disease.

  The third and fourth slides depicted artist renditions of new futuristic assault weapon, smaller automated aircraft carriers, and new supersonic remotely piloted tactical attack aircraft.

  These last pictures were meant to whet the appetites of his military antagonists and the artwork on each of them was incredible in detail, bringing tears to the eyes of the military men seated at the end of the table and making Robinson and Gandliong impressed by the potential benefits to their causes as well.

  General Lassiter was the first to speak after Pat's over-obvious appeal to their hot buttons.

  "That's all very well indeed Mr. Huxley, but all these prospects of world peace depend on SIGMA ONE's success. And it's the viability of the project we're here to judge--not the potential future benefits it might bring if it works. So if you could please get to the meat of the matter we would appreciate it."

  The other members nodded in concurrence. They had seen through Pat's intended smokescreen as well.

  "Very well, General, as you wish, "Pat said reluctantly. He then put up his next set of slides which described the theoretical basis for SIGMA ONE, using the same ones he had shown Radcliff earlier in the week.

  When he was finished, the committee members were impressed with the technical details, each one of which was backed up by additional comments and verification provided by Salinger in his inimitable German-English accent.

  The committee members may have been impressed, but they were still not convinced.

  Pat finished with a chart showing a computer program written, he said while Dr. Jackowitz, his newest star (aka O'Shaunnesey) was linking with the computer. Of course, the program was not written by O'Shaunessey and certainly not without the use of a keyboard, but Pat had to show it anyway. He hoped, but didn't expect, it would make any difference. Pat ended his presentation with a budgetary summary which, through carefully constructed bar charts and pie charts, attempted to hide the true nature of the project's overrun. Through the entire presentation, Pat directed all his comments at Butterworth, who sat stolidly and expressionless. Pat couldn't tell if Butterworth believed him or not, but the truth became patently obvious right after Pat put up his last slide and paused waiting for his reply.

  Butterworth wedged himself out of his chair again and stood up.

  "Mr. Huxley!" he said matter-of-factly. "No matter how pretty the graphics, or flowery the words you use to describe the many successes your organization has made over the years, it still can't hide the fact that your project is being miserably financially mismanaged!"

  Butterworth was sweating now and his sophomoric voice quavered slightly. He was just not used to speaking up in public and would have preferred to have had the charts delivered to him and not have to show up at this meeting at all. Then, in his leisure, he could have reviewed the financial statements and issued a report instead of being put on the spot to provide his assessments publicly.

  When Butterworth
finished he remained standing and waited for a reply from Pat.

  Pat said nothing. His sham was uncovered and he felt beaten. He had relied on his ability to cover over the financial data and sway Butterworth and, in turn, win his vote. He felt sick to his stomach.

  Each committee member sat as silently as he, waiting for his reaction to Butterworth's accusation.

  He offered none. Instead, Pat stepped slowly away from the podium and sat down to await the verdict.

  Suddenly, the silence was broken as Agent Walker briskly shoved his chair back from the table and got up from his seat.

  Walker strode toward the podium and when he arrived, he looked directly into Pat's eyes. He appeared to know what Pat was feeling and reached out and put his hand on Pat's shoulder.

  He then began to address the assembly while still looking down at Pat. "Mr. Huxley, these hearings are never easy. It's obvious you sincerely believe in SIGMA ONE and your dream of world peace is inspiring. Your progress, too, seems to be accelerating if we can believe the statement you made about achieving limited thought programming with Dr. Jackowitz."