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Authors: Patrick Shea
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survivors. You have in essence created a think
tank for the sole benefit of survivors and we have to continue that work.”
Jack replied, “Whoa. I never gave a bunker a thought and off the top of my head
I wouldn’t know where to start in finding those capable of carrying on our work
in a bunker. I’ll need some time to think that through.”
“I have given it some thought and I think we should first ask the team leaders
for volunteers. My guess is that there won’t be many volunteers since families
are not included. Once we know who volunteers, we may have to coerce others to
participate, based on needed skills; but that should be a last resort. Just for
the record, I will not participate. As a microbiologist I don’t have a skill
set you can use to prepare survivors, and by volunteering I would simply be
taking a spot that could be better utilized by someone of your choice. Roger
and I will spend whatever time we have with our children and grandkids. Both of
our children and the two grandkids should be at our house later today. I’ll
work until either my family members or I display symptoms and then I’ll play
each day by ear. I’ll want to spend as much time with them as I can.
“On the other hand I think you should volunteer. You’re single with no close
family. More importantly this whole thing has been your idea, and no one has a
better feel for the things that need to be researched and published than you
do. I don’t want an answer right now. Let’s wait to see who volunteers and then
you and I will collectively decide on the names to forward to Secretary Kemper
and then the President. I’ll join you for your afternoon meeting and we’ll
explain the issue to the primary staff at that time. I’ll need responses from
everyone first thing in the morning. We have a ten o’clock meeting with the
Secretary tomorrow morning to make our pitch.”
“Okay, now let’s talk about those you
believe are absolutely critical to the effort and should be added to the bunker
team.”
Jack responded, “I’m not sure if any one person is critical. I’ve tried to keep
multiple people involved in every facet of our work because I know we’ll start
losing staff once the virus reaches DC. But we’ll need at least one of the
high-tech group members, at least one of the public communication and
coordination group and probably two from our research group. I’d add one
generalist to that mix and one pure scientist. That would be six members with
one of them having overall responsibility.”
“That sounds workable to me although we may be shorting ourselves. I’ll think
more about the makeup and let you know this afternoon if I’ve come up with
additional skills I think we’ll need. We only get one shot at this so we need
to be sure. We will probably add some redundancy to your list as well.
Secretary Kemper agrees that this is the most important group of people in
Homeland Security today, and I think the President is about to come to that
conclusion himself. I think a group of ten might be doable for the bunker team,
even though space is at a premium. ”
“Thanks Dr. McCloud, I’ll look forward to our meeting this afternoon.”
A.J. laughed and said, “Jack, you finally jumped over the name protocol barrier
in the last meeting; please don’t backtrack so soon”.
Jack grinned and said, “Okay Doc, I’ll see you later.”
When A.J. was alone she spent some time thinking about Jack Sweeney. She knew
that he would not volunteer to save himself as long is he thought there were
others that were capable. He would not put himself at the top of a list of the
most deserving people, but she would wait until morning and work through that
issue. One way or another she believed Jack Sweeney would lead this team into
the future.
As Jack walked to his office, he thought about what A.J. had said. He could
name four
tank for the sole benefit of survivors and we have to continue that work.”
Jack replied, “Whoa. I never gave a bunker a thought and off the top of my head
I wouldn’t know where to start in finding those capable of carrying on our work
in a bunker. I’ll need some time to think that through.”
“I have given it some thought and I think we should first ask the team leaders
for volunteers. My guess is that there won’t be many volunteers since families
are not included. Once we know who volunteers, we may have to coerce others to
participate, based on needed skills; but that should be a last resort. Just for
the record, I will not participate. As a microbiologist I don’t have a skill
set you can use to prepare survivors, and by volunteering I would simply be
taking a spot that could be better utilized by someone of your choice. Roger
and I will spend whatever time we have with our children and grandkids. Both of
our children and the two grandkids should be at our house later today. I’ll
work until either my family members or I display symptoms and then I’ll play
each day by ear. I’ll want to spend as much time with them as I can.
“On the other hand I think you should volunteer. You’re single with no close
family. More importantly this whole thing has been your idea, and no one has a
better feel for the things that need to be researched and published than you
do. I don’t want an answer right now. Let’s wait to see who volunteers and then
you and I will collectively decide on the names to forward to Secretary Kemper
and then the President. I’ll join you for your afternoon meeting and we’ll
explain the issue to the primary staff at that time. I’ll need responses from
everyone first thing in the morning. We have a ten o’clock meeting with the
Secretary tomorrow morning to make our pitch.”
“Okay, now let’s talk about those you
believe are absolutely critical to the effort and should be added to the bunker
team.”
Jack responded, “I’m not sure if any one person is critical. I’ve tried to keep
multiple people involved in every facet of our work because I know we’ll start
losing staff once the virus reaches DC. But we’ll need at least one of the
high-tech group members, at least one of the public communication and
coordination group and probably two from our research group. I’d add one
generalist to that mix and one pure scientist. That would be six members with
one of them having overall responsibility.”
“That sounds workable to me although we may be shorting ourselves. I’ll think
more about the makeup and let you know this afternoon if I’ve come up with
additional skills I think we’ll need. We only get one shot at this so we need
to be sure. We will probably add some redundancy to your list as well.
Secretary Kemper agrees that this is the most important group of people in
Homeland Security today, and I think the President is about to come to that
conclusion himself. I think a group of ten might be doable for the bunker team,
even though space is at a premium. ”
“Thanks Dr. McCloud, I’ll look forward to our meeting this afternoon.”
A.J. laughed and said, “Jack, you finally jumped over the name protocol barrier
in the last meeting; please don’t backtrack so soon”.
Jack grinned and said, “Okay Doc, I’ll see you later.”
When A.J. was alone she spent some time thinking about Jack Sweeney. She knew
that he would not volunteer to save himself as long is he thought there were
others that were capable. He would not put himself at the top of a list of the
most deserving people, but she would wait until morning and work through that
issue. One way or another she believed Jack Sweeney would lead this team into
the future.
As Jack walked to his office, he thought about what A.J. had said. He could
name four
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