InterstellarNet: Origins Read Free Page A

so,” Paul Ricard concluded, “our role is to package and control the Lalande information, in a manner respectful of the various cultural sensitivities.” He looked for approval to the woman glowering from front-and-center in the musty, overcrowded meeting room. “After a short break, I propose to discuss process concepts for that mission.”
    Red team’s leader had spoken for twenty minutes, in all that time conveying no more than had been in his summation. All viewpoints are equally valid.
    Such vapidity, alas, was what Dean expected from a PR flack—even one with a prestigious UN title. The sullen ambassador could not have helped.
    So why am I here? Dean wondered. He cleared his throat.
    “Dr. Matthews, have you something to add?”
    “Yes, actually. I don’t think our charter, as you’ve spelled it out, is entirely realistic.”
    “And why is that?” Ricard sniffed.
    When the session had opened with brief introductions, Dean had wondered anew why he was there. He had a Ph.D. in physics, while no one else admitted to any background in a physical science. So give them the benefit of the doubt. They might honestly not understand.
    Dean said, “Because we don’t have a monopoly on ET information.” (The media reps suddenly sat a bit straighter. The newsies had been quiet, as if from some misapprehension that task-force membership guaranteed them exclusive insights.) “If we withhold or spin any findings, we’ll discredit the whole task force.”
    “I question the premise,” Ricard said. “We have brought into the task force the leadership of every major radio-astronomy observatory. Surely we can rely upon their cooperation in the responsible release of discoveries.”
    Irrelevant even if it were true, Dean thought. “In days, universities worldwide will be monitoring ET directly. They can easily build an adequate receiver from arrays of commercial satellite dishes. They know exactly where to point the antennas and the frequency to which to tune. And they will all be racing to post observations and interpretations to the ’net.”
    Unhappy looks were traded across the room while Ricard found his voice. “How sure are you about this?”
    “Very,” Dean said. “I’m on leave of absence from a satcom company, one of many such firms. Any of a dozen people from my former staff could do this.”
    “Dr. Matthews?” asked Amreesh Shah, a psychologist from the behavioral-response group. “What would you propose?”
    “Publish our observations, completely and without editing,” Dean answered. “Clearly mark as commentary or opinion any ‘adjustments’ we may choose to make.” Not that we should make any.
    “We won’t have a monopoly on the signal, but we do have resources far beyond those of other listeners. If our postings are prompt and objective, our interpretations insightful, we become the preferred source of ET data. If we hold back, however well-intentioned our reasons, the best we can hope for is marginalization by other news sources. At worst, who knows what motives will be ascribed to us? There’s no shortage of people who see conspiracies all around.”
    Shah nodded. “Distrust is the result the task force can least afford.”
    That was one point everyone in the committee could agree upon.
From the SETI Conspiracy chat room:
Suspect_Everyone: Does it strike anyone else as suspicious that the UN is orchestrating the Lalande investigation?
UFO_believer: Absolutely! And who’s behind this “International Academy of Astronautics?”
42_is_true: I would sure like to see the ET message text from a reliable source, not the US government, and *certainly* not the UN.
Suspect_Everyone: Does it strike anyone else as suspicious that it’s suddenly very hard to buy satellite dishes?
    “Whatever is so fascinating?” Bridget Satterswaithe asked. She plopped her carryon bag onto a spare seat at Dean’s table.
    Dean shut his laptop. He had been surprised but happy to discover the island’s