Read Online Defiant (an Ell Donsaii story #9) by Laurence Dahners - Free Book Online
Authors: Laurence Dahners
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accidentally, or even intentionally, release single-port technology here on earth.”
Fladwami said, “Uh, you told me that the single-ports wouldn’t be dangerous because they are only capable of opening at distances of less than 5 mm or greater than one AU.”
Ell grimaced, “I did say that. I’m sorry but that was not true. At the time I thought it might be safe to release some single-ports of the controlled types you just mentioned. I’ve since concluded that the risks that someone might reverse engineer the single-ports outweighs their benefits.” She sighed, “At present I’m intending that I be the only one to make or use them. I expect that someday, someone else will figure out how to make single-ended ports. Hopefully that person will show similar restraint.”
Fladwami couldn’t believe his ears. “You’re not going to release this technology at all?!”
Donsaii simply shook her head.
Flood narrowed his eyes. “I’m not a techno geek but I’m not sure that any of us have the right to suppress technology.”
“That’s as may be sir. I do have the ability .”
Flood rocked back, “You mean just because you own the technology?”
“Because I’m the only one who knows how to do it,” she said quietly.
“But what about the people who’ve built them for you?”
“I’ve had help building parts of them, for instance the power supply, but no one else actually understands how they work or could reproduce the necessary circuits.”
The four men glanced at one another, Amundsen grinning at the others. He said, “I told you to expect astonishing things from this young lady.”
Flood finally said, “So, you’re saying that even if Congress passed the Blaustein bill requiring you to divulge the technology, you simply would not comply?”
Looking miserably unhappy but very determined, Donsaii said, “That is correct sir.”
For a moment Flood looked like he might explode. Fladwami knew from experience that he had a hard time keeping his temper when he thought his underlings were insubordinate. Fladwami worried that Flood might feel that her proposed refusal to comply with Congress represented a form of defiance. However, Flood took a long breath, blew it out and then said, “OK, well, we’ll have to see how things go.” He looked around at his advisors, “Personally I think I should formally oppose this bill before Congress. How do you feel?”
Blythe said, “I’m ambivalent, but will support whatever you decide.”
Fladwami twisted his lips a moment, then said, “I have a strong dislike for Dr. Ementhal. I hope that has not clouded my judgment, but I wouldn’t want him in charge of a situation like the one at Sigma Draconis either.”
Flood turned to Amundsen, who grinned, “I would, and have, already trusted this young woman with my country, my life and the lives of my children. Therefore I agree with her, we should oppose the Blaustein bill. The important question of what to do next won’t come until Dr. Donsaii is no longer around, which hopefully won’t be for a long, long time…”
***
Ell’s AI said, “You’ve got a call from Vivian.”
“Connect me to her… Hey Vivian, what’s up?”
Vivian sighed, “Warren Newton got back to me. They found a port… well, actually the remains of a port, at that coffee shop that blew up in Manhattan.”
“Could it have been unrelated?”
“You mean, like just a port that was there for some other reason? Seems pretty unlikely. They found it relatively undamaged because it was behind a cabinet where the bomber dropped it. It had been glued into the end of a piece of PVC pipe… we’re not sure why.”
“Maybe to keep the opening from getting blocked when they dropped it back there?”
Ell could hear the shrug in Vivian’s voice, “Yeah, could be. The pipe had some holes drilled in its sides. But Ell, here’s the real problem. It was an electrical port… you know, one of the ones designed only for wires.
Fladwami said, “Uh, you told me that the single-ports wouldn’t be dangerous because they are only capable of opening at distances of less than 5 mm or greater than one AU.”
Ell grimaced, “I did say that. I’m sorry but that was not true. At the time I thought it might be safe to release some single-ports of the controlled types you just mentioned. I’ve since concluded that the risks that someone might reverse engineer the single-ports outweighs their benefits.” She sighed, “At present I’m intending that I be the only one to make or use them. I expect that someday, someone else will figure out how to make single-ended ports. Hopefully that person will show similar restraint.”
Fladwami couldn’t believe his ears. “You’re not going to release this technology at all?!”
Donsaii simply shook her head.
Flood narrowed his eyes. “I’m not a techno geek but I’m not sure that any of us have the right to suppress technology.”
“That’s as may be sir. I do have the ability .”
Flood rocked back, “You mean just because you own the technology?”
“Because I’m the only one who knows how to do it,” she said quietly.
“But what about the people who’ve built them for you?”
“I’ve had help building parts of them, for instance the power supply, but no one else actually understands how they work or could reproduce the necessary circuits.”
The four men glanced at one another, Amundsen grinning at the others. He said, “I told you to expect astonishing things from this young lady.”
Flood finally said, “So, you’re saying that even if Congress passed the Blaustein bill requiring you to divulge the technology, you simply would not comply?”
Looking miserably unhappy but very determined, Donsaii said, “That is correct sir.”
For a moment Flood looked like he might explode. Fladwami knew from experience that he had a hard time keeping his temper when he thought his underlings were insubordinate. Fladwami worried that Flood might feel that her proposed refusal to comply with Congress represented a form of defiance. However, Flood took a long breath, blew it out and then said, “OK, well, we’ll have to see how things go.” He looked around at his advisors, “Personally I think I should formally oppose this bill before Congress. How do you feel?”
Blythe said, “I’m ambivalent, but will support whatever you decide.”
Fladwami twisted his lips a moment, then said, “I have a strong dislike for Dr. Ementhal. I hope that has not clouded my judgment, but I wouldn’t want him in charge of a situation like the one at Sigma Draconis either.”
Flood turned to Amundsen, who grinned, “I would, and have, already trusted this young woman with my country, my life and the lives of my children. Therefore I agree with her, we should oppose the Blaustein bill. The important question of what to do next won’t come until Dr. Donsaii is no longer around, which hopefully won’t be for a long, long time…”
***
Ell’s AI said, “You’ve got a call from Vivian.”
“Connect me to her… Hey Vivian, what’s up?”
Vivian sighed, “Warren Newton got back to me. They found a port… well, actually the remains of a port, at that coffee shop that blew up in Manhattan.”
“Could it have been unrelated?”
“You mean, like just a port that was there for some other reason? Seems pretty unlikely. They found it relatively undamaged because it was behind a cabinet where the bomber dropped it. It had been glued into the end of a piece of PVC pipe… we’re not sure why.”
“Maybe to keep the opening from getting blocked when they dropped it back there?”
Ell could hear the shrug in Vivian’s voice, “Yeah, could be. The pipe had some holes drilled in its sides. But Ell, here’s the real problem. It was an electrical port… you know, one of the ones designed only for wires.
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