L Modesitt - Empress of Eternity

"It?s good to see you, Maertyn," offered Daelaz Cuivot, the Assistant Minister for Transportation Research. "Is it as cold as they say up there?"

"Colder…especially when the icebergs are calving and they drift south. Or when the deep winter winds blow." Maertyn set the portfolio he would not need in front of the empty chair at the foot of the table, the space always reserved for the one doing the briefing, but he did not seat himself, knowing what would come next.

As he expected, the side door from the minister?s suite opened, and Hlaansk stepped into the room, nodded to all those at the table, and seated himself at the end with his back to the west window, darkened to reduce the light and glare coming into the room. Then he looked toward Maertyn. "If you would begin, Lord Maertyn?"

"Thank you, Minister." Maertyn paused for a moment, then raised his voice. "For those of you who have not read the initial precis of the project and for those of you who have been so inundated by the demands of your own responsibilities that your recollections may have blurred, I?ll summarize the rationale for the project. Analysis of current and historic temperature reports and scattered observations over more than a century before systematic reporting indicated that the temperature around the midcontinent canal was never as extreme as in the adjoining areas. More intriguing was the fact that the surface temperature of the stone never varied regardless of the intensity of solar radiation or the lack of such during the depth of winter…"

From there Maertyn went on to describe his initial baseline research, which included localized directed laser and high-energy bombardment of the stone in contained areas, as well as temperature and pressure reductions in the air or in other substances in direct contact with the stone. "…not only was the surface totally unmarred by these, but there was never any variation in surface temperature, even for milliseconds. After confirming these facts, the project moved into the second phase…the investigation of possible control and temperature stabilization methodologies…"

After speaking technically, and slightly elliptically, several minutes more, he finished quickly. "…and that is where the project stands at this moment." Maertyn inclined his head. "I?ll be happy to take any questions." He wasn?t all that pleased to take questions, suspecting what might well be coming, but there wasn?t any help for that.

Vergena Stett, the Deputy Assistant Minister for Research Applications, whom Maertyn recalled as an anal nitpicking scientocrat, smiled brightly and said, "As I understand it, Deputy Assistant Minister, your original proposal was to determine whether the specific properties of the midcontinent canal did in fact retard or eliminate the purported advancement of glaciation and, if that could be demonstrated, whether there was any way to replicate that effect. Is that a fair statement of the goals of your research?"

"That was what I offered a few minutes ago. Your restatement is a fair summary,"

Maertyn admitted.

"That?s all you have to say?"

Hlaansk frowned, but did not speak.

"Those were essentially the goals I advanced."

"I may be missing a critical point here, Deputy Assistant Minister," persisted Stett, "but if the point of the research is to find ways to duplicate the effect of the midcontinent canal, why has the focus of your research shifted from that to the purported control systems, when, so far as you have indicated, there is no linkage between the control systems in the station and the properties of the canal itself?"

"I apologize, Deputy Assistant Minister Stett. I had thought the linkage was explicit. By the fact that the material comprising the station is the same material comprising the canal and by the fact that it responds to human intent, and only to a limited human intent, it appears highly likely that the same control mechanisms apply to both. Since the material cannot be moved or manipulated-except through those controls-it would appear that the key to duplicating and using the properties of the canal lies in mastering the control systems."

"How likely is your research to discover the basis of the system?" That question came from Alaser Fancoyn, the Assistant Minister for Protective Services Research.

Maertyn allowed a wry smile to cross his face. "If I knew the answer to that question, Assistant Minister, we?d be more into application than research. So far as I?ve been able to determine, no earlier research has actually separated human touch from human intent. That is promising. That?s all I can say at this point."

A flurry of questions followed.

"Assuming you indeed discover the basis of this so-called effect, wouldn?t the wide-scale implementation have disturbing environmental effects?"

"Aren?t you concerned that, if you are successful, you may change the properties of the canal and create other difficulties, either geologically or climatically?"

"Your description of your next steps was sketchy at best, to say the least. Could you give a more detailed description of how you plan to proceed from here?"

"Have you been able to measure or discern any radiation or form of signaling from within the canal structure or the station that suggests how the station measures, as you call it, "intent??"

"While your findings are certainly the most detailed involving the canal, and indeed fascinating, are the goals of this project not rather fanciful and far-reaching?"

"Do you honestly believe this is a worthwhile expenditure of Unity funds at a time of financial hardship?"

After another twenty-five minutes, Minister Hlaansk rose. "I think we?re seeing rephrasing of questions that Deputy Assistant Minister Maertyn has already addressed. I thank all of you for coming and for your insightful questions."

As the others rose to leave, Hlaansk gave a quick sharp look to Maertyn that indicated he was to wait until the others had departed.

As he stood nodding and smiling as the room emptied, Maertyn considered the briefing. He?d managed to avoid making any major errors-he thought. More than a few of the pointed questions had come from Stett, and there hadn?t been what Maertyn could have called a scientific consistency behind any of them, but a political agenda that suggested they had been drafted almost more by someone working for the Ministry of Environment…or the Ministry of Protective Services.

Once he was alone in the conference room with the Minister of Science, Hlaansk nodded.

"Very well handled, Maertyn."

"Thank you, sir."

"There is one other matter I wished to discuss with you."

"Yes, sir?"

"Since you are already here in Caelaarn, I?ve requested that Josef tour the other science universities, especially the two in Occidenta, and those in Galawon as well. You?ll be acting Assistant Minister for Environment Research in his absence. That shouldn?t hamper your research, since it?s not as though that equipment you requested will reach the station immediately, either. I also must say that it was truly a shame Josef couldn?t have been here to view your presentation. Quite masterful, I might add, especially in dealing with the environmentally slanted inquiries. I understand your concern about your wife, but I?m certain that, under the circumstances, she won?t begrudge us your expertise for another few weeks."

"I?m most certain that she will understand, sir. She?s always been most supportive."

"And you, I know, have done far, far more than anyone could ever ask, even of the most devoted husband, in her cause." Hlaansk offered a warm and sympathetic smile.

"I?ve always done what I thought best, sir, for her, and for the Ministry, and the Unity," replied Maertyn.

Hlaansk nodded. "I?m certain that you have, and I look forward to your oversight of Environment Research in the next few weeks and any recommendations you might make for improvement. It?s always good to have a different perspective." Another smile followed. "We?ll have to have lunch sometime next week." With that, the minister left through the side door into his suite.