Deception Point Page 38

tench stood suddenly, her lanky frame dominating the cramped dummy. With the cig arette suspension from her lips, she walked over to a wall safe, removed a thick manilla paper envelope, returned to the desk, and sat linchpin down.Gabrielle eyed the burgeoning envelope.tench smiled, cradling the envelope in her racing circuit equivalent a poker player holding a proud flush. Her yellowed fingertips flicked at the corner, making an annoying repetitive scratch, as if savoring the anticipation.Gabrielle knew it was just her own guilty con information, but her maiden fears were that the envelope contained or so kind of proof of her sexual indiscretion with the senator. Ridiculous, she thought. The encounter had occurred after hours in Sextons locked senatorial office. Not to mention, if the White House rattling had any evidence, they would take up gone public with it already.They may be suspicious, Gabrielle thought, but they dont have proof.tench crushed out her cigarette. Ms. Ashe, whether or not you are aware, you are caught in the middle of a battle that has been raging behind the scenes in majuscule since 1996.This opening gambit was not at all what Gabrielle expected. I implore your pardon?Tench lit another cigarette. Her spindly lips curled virtually it, and the tip glowed red. What do you know about a bloom called the berth Commercialization Promotions Act?Gabrielle had never heard of it. She shrugged, lost.Really? Tench said. That surprises me. Considering your candidates platform. The set Commercialization Promotions Act was propresent back in 1996 by Senator Walker. The bill, in essence, cites the bankruptcy of NASA to do anything worthwhile since putting a man on the moon. It calls for the privatization of NASA by immediately selling off NASA assets to unavowed aero place companies and allowing the free-market system to explore space more efficiently, thus relieving the burden NASA now places on taxpayers.Gabrielle had heard NASA criti cs counsel privatization as a solution to NASAs woes, but she was not aware the thinker had actually taken the form of an official bill.This commercializedization bill, Tench said, has been presented to relation foursome times now. It is similar to bills that have successfully privatized government industries like uranium production. Congress has passed the space commercialization bill all four times it has seen it. Thankfully, the White House vetoed it on all occasions. Zachary Herney has had to veto it twice.Your organize?My point is that this bill is one Senator Sexton go away surely have a bun in the oven if he becomes president. I have reason to believe Sexton entrust have no qualms about selling off NASA assets to commercial bidders the first chance he gets. In short, your candidate would support privatization over having American tax dollars blood space exploration.To my knowledge, the senator has never commented publicly about his stance on any Space Commercializ ation Promotions Act.True. And yet knowing his politics, I assume you would not be surprised if he supported it.Free-market systems fly the coop to breed efficiency.Ill take that as a yes. Tench stared. Sadly, privatizing NASA is an abominable idea, and in that location are countless reasons why every White House validation since the bills inception has shot it down.Ive heard the arguments against privatizing space, Gabrielle said, and I understand your concerns.Do you? Tench leaned toward her. Which arguments have you heard?Gabrielle shifted uneasily. Well, the standard academic fears mostly-the most common being that if we privatize NASA, our current pursuit of scientific space knowledge would be quickly abandoned in favor of profitable ventures.True. Space science would die in a heartbeat. Instead of spending money to account our reality, private space companies would strip-mine asteroids, build tourist hotels in space, offer commercial satellite launch services. Why would private companies bother studying the origins of our universe when it would cost them billions and show no financial return?They wouldnt, Gabrielle countered. But certainly a National Endowment for Space Science could be founded to fund academic bursters.We already have that system in place. Its called NASA.Gabrielle fell silent.The abandonment of science in favor of profits is a side issue, Tench said. Hardly relevant compared to the utter chaos that would result by permitting the private sector to run free in space. We would have the wild western all over again. We would see pioneers staking claims on the moon and on asteroids and protect those claims with force. Ive heard petitions from companies who want to build neon billboards that blink advertisements in the dark sky. Ive seen petitions from space hotels and tourist attractions whose proposed operations include ejecting their trash into the void of space and creating orbiting trash heaps. In fact, I just read a project yesterday from a company that wants to turn space into a mausoleum by launching the deceased into orbit. Can you imagine our telecommunications satellites colliding with dead bodies? Last week, I had a billionaire CEO in my office who was petitioning to launch a mission to a near-field asteroid, drag it closer to earth, and mine it for precious minerals. I actually had to remind this guy that dragging asteroids into near earth orbit posed potential risks of global catastrophe Ms. Ashe, I can assure you, if this bill passes, the throngs of entrepreneurs rushing into space will not be rocket scientists. They will be entrepreneurs with deep pockets and shallow minds.Persuasive arguments, Gabrielle said, and Im sure the senator would weigh those issues cautiously if he ever found himself in a position to suffrage on the bill. Might I ask what any of this has to do with me?Tenchs heed narrowed over her cigarette. A lot of people stand to cave in a lot of money in space, and the politic al lobby is climbing to remove all restrictions and open the floodgates. The veto power of the office of the President is the only remaining barrier against privatization against comp permite anarchy in space. consequently I commend Zach Herney for vetoing the bill.My fear is that your candidate would not be so prudent if elected.Again, I assume the senator would carefully weigh all the issues if he were ever in a position to pass judgment on the bill.Tench did not look entirely convinced. Do you know how much Senator Sexton spends on media advertising?The question came out of left field. Those types are public domain.More than three million a month.Gabrielle shrugged. If you say so. The figure was close.Thats a lot of money to spend.Hes got a lot of money to spend.Yes, he planned well. Or rather, married well. Tench paused to blow smoke. Its sad about his wife, Katherine. Her finish hit him hard. A tragic sigh followed, clearly feigned. Her death was not all that long ago, was it?Come to your point, or Im leaving.Tench let out a lung-shaking cough and reached for the burgeoning manila folder. She pulled out a gloomy stack of stapled papers and handed them to Gabrielle. Sextons financial records.Gabrielle studied the documents in astonishment. The records went back several years. Although Gabrielle was not privy to the internal workings of Sextons finances, she sensed this data was authentic-banking accounts, credit card accounts, loans, stock assets, real estate assets, debts, capital gains and losses. This is private data. Where did you get this?