Von Neumann’s War

“It’s our plan that Percival will continue to keep its science instruments pointed at Mars with it in the center of the field of view. We’ll use the positions of Phobos and Deimos as part of our GN C knowledge. The positions of the two moons along with star tracker information should give us extremely detailed attitude determination capability. Once Mars is larger than the field of view of the main telescope system we’ll use star trackers for attitude determination and we’ll slew the main telescope objective side-to-side via the AD CS system in order to capture images of various targets outside the field of view. We’ll maintain this operation as long as the probe is in range of Mars. Again, if anybody has any clever and lightweight ideas that can be done quickly to increase mission operations time, please let us know.”

And the briefing went on.

* * *

The meetings lasted from eight-thirty each morning until past midnight each of the three days. By the end of the third day a very detailed spacecraft mission architecture and design were completed. Details of the WBS and the task team leaders were complete and each of the hundred or so attendees of the meeting left with multimillion dollar subcontracts and a list of near impossible action items to be completed by middle of the following week. All said and done, the Neighborhood Watch executive committee — which consisted of the DDNRO, the commanding general of the Redstone Arsenal, the director of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, and the project scientist, Roger — were tired — very tired — but they were also pleased with their progress. The DDNRO had to brief the President by Monday and so the executive committee worked through the weekend developing the presentation for the President’s Daily Brief. Guerrero planned to deliver it in person. Roger planned to take a nap.

Chapter 6

Charlotte could hear her mom’s angry voice through the walls of her room. She tried to surf the Internet and ignore the boisterous argument from downstairs, but it wasn’t helping. It was obvious to Charlotte that it was her dad on the phone — only he could make her mother that angry. Charlotte continued to ignore the heated phone conversation between her parents. To keep her mind off them she visited her usual favorite websites: the Space Telescope Science Institute, the MAPUG site, the SETI League, Kazaa, then the University of Colorado’s Athletic Department. Charlotte had hopes of getting a softball scholarship someday, but she was afraid that if she didn’t grow a few more inches during her junior and senior years in high school she wouldn’t be tall enough to be scholarship competitive. She then clicked through the physics department’s site and gave up. The noise was just too much.

“What do you mean it’s okay to miss a few days of school! Don’t you realize she’s worried about keeping up her grades for a scholarship and that finals are at the end of the month? No, you probably don’t because you never come around, do you?” her mother screamed into the phone. Charlotte could image in her mind’s eye her mother tapping her left foot and resting her right fist on her hip.

Charlotte’s instant messenger dinged at her.

* * *

Hello AstroGirl39, what’s up! The message was from Tina.

Hey DingBat101! My mom and dad are at it again! she typed.

600 miles wasn’t far ’nuf for those 2, huh : ).

* * *

“Damnit, John! You just can’t show up like that and expect her to drop everything just for you. She has a life of her own you know.”

* * *

Yeah, lots a luv between ’em. Charlotte shook her head as she typed.

Yeah, that’s how my parents were just after the divorce. It gets better.

How r u? Charlotte typed.

Got my braces adjusted today, so my mouth hurts. It looks like soup for a few days. Tina replied.

Sorry.

No big. U r lucky you got straight teeth.

Yeah.

Got news on the Michael situation!

Yes? Charlotte typed reluctantly but anxiously.

* * *

“Well, whatever! Just let her make the decision for herself.”

* * *

He asked my older brother if U were INTERESTED in anybody right now. So, R U ;-) ???

Oh My God! What did he tell him?

He said he didn’t think so. I told bro to tell him that U like him.

U did not!

I did.

* * *

“Charlotte! Your father is on the phone for you,” her mother yelled upstairs at her.

* * *

Call U later. Gotta go. B’bye.

* * *