Chapter 13
TERRIBLE situation. They knew the full demand profile for the commercial market, and it could easily chew up half of the output for any given year. The governmental orders were mainly for the largest possible pods, which were the slowest to produce, and so would definitely eat up the rest of the time. It was utterly nonsensical. So, the only option was to take the direction literally and make it even more nonsensical.
His email to Ben outlined the "guidance" the board had given, and his interpretation. Ben was to cease any and all production which was not filling the commercial market profile, the entire facilities capacity was to be turned towards that end, until the profile was met. At that point, the entire production capacity was to be put to filling the governmental orders, starting with the largest units. Should any spare capacity exist at any point, the normal USSMC-internal orders could be filled as best he saw fit.
He was expecting the call and got it.
'What the actual…'
'I know Ben. I'm sorry.'
'But… Look, I don't care from Actuarial Compliance, this is straight out dumb!'
'I know this, you know this, but this is what is going to happen.'
'But why?'
'Ben, you've seen the memo from the board. You've seen what they are ordering the VPs to do to their Divisions, especially the research-heavy ones like ours. You've felt the effects yourself.'
Ben growled down the phone. 'I am not happy, Grum. Neither are a lot of the staff. They don't see themselves as support technicians, and nor do I.'
'Me either, Ben, but I cannot buck the board on this, you know the position they've put me in. I can only show them their folly. Please believe me that I am trying to get through this with as little harm as possible to all concerned.'
'Because we've been through so much, Grum, I'll believe you. But this kind of thing makes it really difficult.'
'I know, Ben. I wish I could see another way.'
'I'll do it. But there will be fallout.'
'I'm aware, Ben.'
Ben sighed. 'Another thing. Have you seen the news, lately. We're all over it and we don't look good.'
'Nevada?'
'No. USSMC. It's the anti-nuke protests.'
'I didn't know it was any worse.'
'Oh it is. Take a look.'
'I will. Thanks for the heads-up.'
'Sure thing.' Ben hung up and Grum immediately went to try and find what Ben had warned him about.
It was true. The protests had escalated. Not just a few people outside the facilities any more. There had been mass demonstrations, and demands for USSMC to only make and use renewable power.
There was a Steve-a-like from USSMC talking about the technical differences between old nuclear power and the current designs, and inviting anyone who wanted to learn about the difference to find out at USSMC's website.
The worst thing was that there had been a clash between protesters and the police at one of the fourth generation test sites. Protesters had thrown bottles filled with some unknown liquid — but Grum could guess — at cars going in and out of the site. Police had been deployed in riot gear. There had been injuries.
Grum messaged Steve, immediately.
Call me.
Coming to you.
Well, fine, thought Grum. That way I can glare at him.
Steve came into the office and glanced at the screen, wincing. 'Oh, yeah. That.'
'That.'
'It's worse than that, I'm afraid. That is, if you like, the higher-end of normal protests.'
'I do not like.'
'Nevertheless, it does happen, and it is fairly normal, as we discussed. What is less normal, is for the suite of legal proceedings against each of the sites we are involved in, backed by an independent, high-profile, populist politician who is gunning for the presidential ticket. That actually poses a real threat, I'm afraid.'
'How so? What are the suits for?'
'They aim for injunctions to stop all activity at these sites. Specifically ours. Some of the institutional investors are getting nervy about it.'
'So how do we fix it?'
'We don't. It's a right and proper legal challenge. The good news is that the courts will probably side with us. The bad news is that the protests will probably continue throughout. Especially with this candidate stirring things up.'
'What stripe is he?' asked Grum.
'Does it matter?'
That was true enough. Both ends of the political spectrum had an anti-science outlook. On the left they tended towards mysticism, and the appeal to nature. On the right the tendency was to mainstream religiosity, and the appeal to authority based on historical precedent. Both sides had a distressing tendency towards conspiracy theory. 'What is the challenge based on?'
'The challenges — plural — cover a variety of things, they are not identical in any single case, which is pretty clever manoeuvring. If any single case gets shot down, it might knock a hole or two in the other cases, but half a dozen would have to go before others would automatically fail due to prior rulings.'
'Summarise for me. I'm not looking for the precise wording, I'm looking for the ideology.'
'Even then, it's a broad populist appeal. Part big business trampling over our safety, part ecological monster, and part nimbyism. And yes, before you ask, the wording of each is tailored to the dominant political weal of the area.'
'So, it's a stunt, then.'
'Oh, for sure. He couldn't really give a stuff, and will probably drop any suits if he becomes president, but it's a good political move.'
'Where did he get the idea?'
'It's possible he thought it up himself, or one of his team did. Other than that? Could be anywhere. Can't spike the source if we don't know where it is.'
'And are there any other spikes we might counter with? In the public domain?'
'By comparison to the strength of his rhetoric? Not much. We've created quite a few jobs in the areas, but nothing like enough to give us a popular base.'
'So if we can't fix it, and we don't have an effective counter, what do we do while we wait for the courts to decide?'
'Pretty much nothing. We're already doing what we can in terms of messaging, and in terms of reminding everyone about job creation.'
'We might need to do a better job on that internally. I got the heads up on this from Ben. It sounded like he was worried about it, and I suspect that means his staff are, too. Considering the new direction and what we're having to do to staff, we might be well advised to make sure the people we're letting go aren't joining up with the protests.'
'The only way to do that is how you're doing it. Using "without prejudice" contracts. But I did not know things were that bad internally.'
Grum's eyes widened in surprise. 'Something morale oriented and you were not aware?'
Steve frowned. 'I'm somewhat busy. You are right, though. Current employees should be given the right information. I don't know why it hasn't been done.'
'Probably, Steve — and I'm speaking frankly, here — because the board are trying to teach me a lesson, and all the Divisional heads are too busy trying to make sure that their staff aren't hurt more than the current direction makes necessary.'
'You did not just say that.'
'I bloody did. Look, Steve, it is my firm opinion — based on evidence — that the board are not acting in the company's best interests right now.'
'You really did not say that!' Steve made warding gestures with his hands.
Grum sighed. 'Yes, Steve, I did. Maybe it's that rumour that went round a few years ago about me becoming COO, maybe it's something else, but the board are treating me like a bully treats something he fears. By hurting it. If they get some bruised knuckles along the way, so be it, but they'll heal. I don't know if it's because you've been mired in the governmental business and then in this scandal, but you need to take a look at what has been happening and draw your own conclusions. I've drawn mine and am acting accordingly.'
; 'What are you doing, exactly?'
'Exactly? I'm following their orders. Exactly.'
'Ouch.'
'It's the only way I can find to slow down the depredations and safeguard as many employees as possible, because this thing has the potential to spin out of control. It means I'm causing some damage of my own, of course. I'm being forced into the role of a bully to a bigger bully, and I don't like it.'
'So your opinion is that this is another move on their part?'
'It's… possible. Either that or there is a wider conspiracy. Or there are a bunch of unconnected events which just happen to be causing me headaches.'
'I remember the last time you sent me down this road with Stew. Turned out you had the answer all along.'
'Well, yes, but this time I've told you what I think the answer is, even at the risk of prejudicing your judgement.'
'But you think I'm not as looped-in as I should be?'
'You think that, you just told me.'
'Wouldn't the CEO be doing something if there were really any serious trouble?'
'He might, if he could. The last time I went before the board, there were all kinds of canary feathers around except for Kelvin, Hank and Tabia Barron. There's a commonality, there. I think they have been sidelined. I'm not sure how, but I am sure it's not for the best interests of the company.'
'OK. That I have to investigate. That allegation I will take seriously. But I warn you, if you turn out to have just made a false accusation, I will also make sure that you are removed as a problem.'
'Do you think I don't know that, Steve? Do you really think I don't the risks I have brought on myself by telling you all this?'
'You're playing hardball and you're bringing out the biggest bat you have, right?'
'Right. This is a balls-out moment, Steve.'
Steve guffawed. 'That is a phrase I never thought I'd've heard you say.'
'Now you have.' Grum smiled, only tinged with sourness. 'Please do the best you can. I have to get on and cause more damage to the company in the most damage limiting way I can.'
Steve left, and Grum knew he had just handed in his notice if it turned out he was wrong.
Chapter 14
AS well as the nervous investors, there was other fallout from the bad publicity. Various foreign investors were also dubious about having USSMC involved in their projects. It was only the offer of free IP access that was keeping them in at all, it seemed. In all likelihood, whether the temporary injunctions — which were part of the cases brought against the sites — were granted or not, work would have to cease if there was no funding available.
That left just the profit-making USSMC business centres — primarily the Nevada Antimatter Power Facility — and UMBRA as "normally" operating parts of the business. Everything else was in some kind of holding pattern.
And if that were not bad enough…
State and federal governments were now considering withholding funds until such time as the legal challenges were resolved or dismissed.
Things were devolving fast, and there was only so much damage limitation he could do.
Grum's phone buzzed. It was a message from Hank. It struck Grum, then, that Hank had not been to see him about any of this business. Had not even been in contact since the video link to the orbital. This message did not help.
Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 4. Marcellus to Horatio.
Grum got to his feet. So, something was rotten in the State of Denmark, eh. At least he assumed that's what Hank meant, and not that it was just after twelve.
Grum was walking out of his office to go to Hank's when the floor itself threw him off his feet as a terrible concussive wave passed through him. On his knees, he could feel the residual tremble in the building and he knew what had happened. Only one thing could cause that kind of explosive force in this building, and it was not going to get better.
He turned, on shaky feet, and sprinted to the main observation area of the technology centre.
The main thought running like a band-saw in Grum's brain, even drowning out the potential of mortality for himself, was that today was the tour from the Richard Dean Anderson School – the school to which they had pre-registered Clait – and they were due to finish up in the observation area about now, as usual. It was supposed to be informative and fun.
Now it looked like it might cost some of them their lives.
He rounded a corner into one of the short, radial corridors which led directly to the observation lens in time to see a man throw a young girl through one closing blast door as another slammed down in front of him, blocking his path. He was only feet away, but had no way to get to them. A fraction of a second later the rest of the antimatter generators blew. Again Grum was thrown from his feet – this time more violently – his head crashing into a wall.
He smelled blood, smoke, and burning plastic as darkness overcame his sight.
Chapter 15
GRUM woke up surrounded by medical equipment and a rushing busyness. Non-stop sounds of movement caused him to feel both dizzy and nauseated.
Neither feeling was helped by the fuzzy recollection of events, nor the equally fuzzy recognition of Kelvin Goldstein's aide standing at parade rest by the bed.
'What do you want?'
'I am here in several capacities, sir. None of which pertain to any particular desires I might have, save that which is to execute my duty to the best of my ability.'
'My brain hurts already. I do not need that kind of bullshit!'
'I am sorry, sir. I do not want anything, I am doing my job.'
'Thank you. Now, get out.'
'I'm sorry, sir. I am not able to comply with that order.'
'I suppose Kelvin has given you orders to stay here?'
'No, sir. The former CEO has given me no specific orders in this regard. I am, however, following a general order of my position, which has not yet been specifically countermanded.'
Grum paused. This was far too much to deal with. His head ached, and this immediate and present bastard was making it worse. Added to which he was sure he had just missed something important.
'Can you get me something for the headache?'
Mr Grey reached economically to his side and pressed a button. Seconds later a harassed-looking nurse poked her head through the curtain, and frowned first at Grum then at the other.
'Awake is he?' she asked, directing her question to Mr Grey.
'Yes, he bloody well is,' said Grum.
'If you would fetch some analgesic medication, nurse?' said Mr Grey, stoically ignoring Grum's outburst.
'Yes. Sure. Fine. It's not like we've got enough to do.'
She ducked back out again and returned a few seconds later with a couple of pills in a little paper pot. She popped the pot beside the bed and, with a significant glare at each of the men, left the room.
'I believe you should take the medication immediately, sir. I shall pour you a measure of water from the jug.'
'Thanks.'
Grum slowly sat up, trying to keep the top of his head from exploding by sheer will power. He took the pot with the pills and the small beaker of water.
The drugs didn't work. Not immediately in any case, but a measure of a placebo effect kicked in enough that Grum remembered the thing that had been said.
'Former CEO?'
'Yes, sir. I am sorry to tell you that Mr Goldstein was among those missing-presumed-killed in the accident.'
Grum closed his eyes in remembrance, replaying that scene of the man and the little girl.
'How many others?'
'I believe the casualties are currently twenty one fatalities. Three hundred and nine have varying degrees of non-fatal injury.'
'Any children?'
'Yes, sir. Several of the tour group, both children and teachers, were among the casualties.'
'We'll have to do what we can for them. It's our fault.'
'It might not be wise to admit that openly, sir.'
'Fuck that! We screwed up and we're
going to pay! Whoever the new CEO is is going to have that on his conscience, even if I have to stand there and repeatedly stamp it into his head. Who is it, by the way?'
'I cannot say, sir.'
'Don't know?'
'Sir, it is not my place as the CEO's bodyguard to divulge such information, directly, sir.'
Grum blinked. 'If I ask you a single question which does not directly pertain to the identity of the new CEO, but rather to the status of your employment, would you be able to answer me?'
'Certainly, sir. In those circumstances.'
Grum took a deep breath. 'Are you my bodyguard?'
'Yes, sir.'
Grum took in a long breath and blew it out again, a bit raggedly as the pain in his ribs caught him. Well, I did ask. 'Tell me about my wife and son.'
'They are both well, sir. The little boy took no more than a surprise, though I believe your wife had a mild abrasion from being thrown into a desk, sir.'
'Is that it? There's that to be grateful for, at least!'
'Yes, sir. Both the crèche and the Space Division offices are quite far from the central area where the majority of the damage was contained.'
'Thank you. Mr Grey. If you could now please go. I wish to be alone, right now.'
'As you wish, sir. I shall not be far.'
Grum was just getting over the visit from Mr Grey and the unexpected news when there was a knock at his door, followed by it opening and a hand appearing, waggling a familiar mug.
Even in the hospital, for crying out loud, thought Grum. 'Come in, but I have no coffee machine.'
The hand disappeared. There was a rattle and a chink sound of two brittle materials coming into contact, then the hand appeared again, this time waggling a half-full coffee pot.
That tickled Grum, and he chuckled, painfully. 'Oh, don't. Please stop, it hurts.'
'Sorry mate.' The pot disappeared. But Stew did not immediately appear. Instead there was a repetition of the rattle and adjustment sounds, then… Legs. And wheels. Stew wheeled himself into the room and laboured to turn the chair. 'I have no idea how these things work. I mean. I do. It's moments and vectors, applied pressure and forces exerted, but…'
Leaving Earth Vol. 1 (Leaving Earth Omnibus) Page 28
