Quote:“We took it upon ourselves to restore NASA to it's rightful place in the vanguard of space exploration,” Mal replied. “If that meant flaunting a law signed in a blind panic, so be it. The American people may not think much of Fen, but they respect NASA. More to the point, us Fen respect NASA. Everything that organization did in the fifty years before handwavium inspired the men and women who went out into space and built the coalition of nations that exists today. Your distinguished colleagues decided to dishonor their achievements and sacrifices in the name of fear, and the Soviet Air Force chose to give them back what they earned.”

blackaeronaut Wrote:Heh. Nice. Shall we also redo the email thread? I promise that Ben will behave better.

Quote:Shall we also redo the email thread? I promise that Ben will behave better.

Quote:“I packed a jumpsuit in case of emergencies. Besides,” Sora said with a shrug, “it wouldn't be the first time I've had to do repair work in formalwear.”

Quote:“You’re… you’re the Orbiter?”

“I suppose I am the Orbiter,” Dev said. “After all, I’ve got a rudder, and ailerons, and engines.” She paused. “Wait one, I don’t have engines. Some filthy bugger’s gone and stolen my engines!” Console lights flashed and buzzers buzzed as Endeavour looked wrathful.

“No, wait! Wait!” Max said desperately. “Your engines weren’t stolen, they’re in another bay for processing! The engine team was going to reintegrate them tomorrow!”

The buzzing and flashing ceased. “Reintegrate them, huh?” she said.

“Yes!”

“Hm,” Dev hmm’d. “Well, then I suppose I can forgive you. After all, a shuttle without engines is just an expensive museum exhibit, yeah?”

Quote:Mal shook his head. “Okay, okay,” he said, conceding the argument. “So, what kind of gossip have you got?”

Mary sighed. “Your antics have a lot of people in an uproar. TSAB's flacks have been all over the place drumming up support for something; I think they want to confiscate the shuttles and impose a penalty on Fenspace. Your old buddy Caldwell's already testified twice before the committee. He's the one who really got the wind in Kellerman's sails about you.”

“Is that where it broke, or has dear Stephen been selling me as the next best thing to Josef Stalin?”

“More Stalin, less hard info,” Mary said. “Lots of 'I knew he was dangerous' and other bullshit. I think Kellerman figured out most of it on his own, digging into NASA books after the shuttles flew. Kellerman's claiming he has evidence of a wider conspiracy and wants 'punitive measures,' unquote.” She paused. “I don't suppose you'll tell me what really happened, right?”

“Oh, I will,” Mal said. “As soon as you're nice and safely retired from public office.” Mary scowled. “Seriously,” he added hastily. “It's better for everybody involved that you don't know the whole story.”

“Fine, keep your secrets,” Mary grumbled.

“It's for the best. Anything else?”

“Buckaroo Banzai's got one of his guys, what's-his-name, Jack the Sophist-”

“Philosopher Bob,” Mal corrected.

“Yeah, him. He's been shoring up support in the pro-Fen caucuses in advance of your arrival. Chris Marsden's been spotted in town too; reassuring his favorite donatees that he's still patriotic and has no idea what the Communist menace is up to. The President hasn't taken sides yet, but you can bet he will before this is over.” She eyed Mal. “When you kick over a hornet's nest, you really kick, don't you?”

“It's a kind of magic,” Mal said.

Quote:Eljay's normally jovial face darkened into a hooded glare better suited to a Severus Snape cosplayer than a master puppeteer as the junior Senator from New Hampshire took his seat on the panel.

"Don't do anything stupid, VF," *foo* warned.

The heavyset man's face reddened and his shoulders shook in suppressed fury.

"'It's not petty powermongering, Mister Goddard,'" he quoted. "'It's justice. Or at least that's how the papers will see it.'" He seethed for a few moments and then, shaking as the adrenaline wore off, sat down. "This is Mal's show, *foo*. I'll let him handle it. But that toadying sycophantic fearmonger will not enjoy a second term in office if I have anything to say about it."

M Fnord Wrote:Last bit of the rewrite stuff

Quote:From: Mal Fnord
To: Noah Scott
Date: 21 Mar 2014
Subj: Advertisement (forgive me, Ernest)

MAN WANTED to take on hazardous purchase. White elephants incl. support staff, dangerous & untested machines, long hours, profitability & return on investment doubtful. Honor, glory and recognition in case of success.

Don’t be a schmuck. Take the offer when it comes. --M

Quote:From: Noah Scott
To: Mal Fnord
Date: 21 Mar 2014
Subj: Re: Advertisement (forgive me, Ernest)

> Don’t be a schmuck. Take the offer when it comes. --M

You want me to throw money at a problem. Isn't that part of how I got into trouble with the Convention back in 2009?

But, considering what you talked about with Congress last week, I think I know what the problem is... and wild elephants couldn't keep me from throwing money at that. Especially considering I've already placed an offer.

--NS

M Fnord Wrote:And on the subject of new material... BA, you up to writing a little thing about Annika meeting Queen Serenity about the RR's concerns? Doesn't have to be long, just enough to outline the argument & set up the fallout.

Quote:Jess stepped forward, brushing past a startled Gina. Dainty hands grabbed the front of Ben’s shirt as the small blue-haired girl pulled him up and across the desk. “YOU BRAINLESS SCUMBAG,” she roared in his face, “I SENT YOU A TELEGRAM!”

M Fnord Wrote:Gondor has no context. Gondor needs no context:

Quote:Jess stepped forward, brushing past a startled Gina. Dainty hands grabbed the front of Ben’s shirt as the small blue-haired girl pulled him up and across the desk. “YOU BRAINLESS SCUMBAG,” she roared in his face, “I SENT YOU A TELEGRAM!”

Quote:“Rumi,” he said as the pair exited the White House. “Call ahead and tell the kids to tear everything down and get the bags packed. We’re on the first plane home.” He paused. “And get some of those towels, too,” he added. “Spoils of war.”

“I take it the meeting didn’t go as planned?” Rumi said.

“On the contrary,” Mal replied. “The meeting went exactly as planned.”