July 19, 2051
Senator Irene Wilkes looked directly at the 40-something red-haired woman sitting at a small oak table about eight feet in front of her. “Dr. Etter, is there anything else you would like to say to the committee before we adjourn to vote?”
Katherine Etter thought for a moment. The seven Prometheus Oversight Committee members sitting at the head table in front of her had asked her only a few questions during the hearing in Washington, and those questions had been relatively easy. The committee was to decide whether to confirm Katherine for the critical project director role of the Top Secret Prometheus Project. I think less is more here, Katherine realized.
“I’d just like to say, Senator, and other members of the committee, I understand the vital importance of this project to the United States, and the entire world,” Katherine began. “I believe my experience leading similar astroscience projects would help ensure its success. I’m honored and excited to be considered by this committee for project director. Thank you.”
“Thank you, Dr. Etter,” Wilkes replied. “I ask that you wait outside the room while we deliberate and vote.”
Katherine nodded toward Wilkes, got up from the table and walked out of the room. After the door had closed behind her, Wilkes looked to her left and right at the other six committee members: NASA Director José de la Cruz, Secretary of Defense Susan Powell, Air Force Chief of Staff James Stewart, Senator Joshua Craig, and Representatives Lattana Sayavong and Jeffrey Bridgewater. “I think we should take a short recess before we vote. Let’s reconvene in 10 minutes,” Wilkes suggested. The committee members nodded, stood up from the long head table and headed toward the refreshments sitting on a credenza along a side wall.
Wilkes approached General Stewart, who was warming up his coffee. “General, could we talk for a minute?” Stewart nodded, and he followed Wilkes to a far corner of the room.
“What can I do for you, Senator?”
“As you know, General, there’s a hearing next Tuesday on funding for the F-36,” Wilkes said quietly. The F-36 was the planned replacement for the Air Force’s main fighter aircraft, the F-35. Wilkes was an influential member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “Given the many critical priorities for the Department of Defense and other budgetary needs, I’m leaning toward denying that funding.” She relished the look of shock on Stewart’s face.
“But, Senator, you’ve always been supportive of Air Force priorities! You know how badly we need to replace the outdated F-35 within the next few years. Is there anything I could say, or do, to change your mind?”
Wilkes paused for a few seconds while she pretended to consider his question. Let him sweat, she thought. Finally she answered, “I hope that you share my concerns about Dr. Etter’s ability to lead Prometheus. If so, I think I can reconsider my position on the F-36.”
Stewart’s brow furrowed. How typical of her, he thought. Etter is a perfect fit. But… we need the F-36. “I understand, Senator,” Stewart said tiredly. “And, I’ll look forward to your vote for the F-36 next week.”
Wilkes smiled—a cold, calculated smile. “As do I, General.” She turned away from Stewart and looked around the room for José de la Cruz. He was talking with Senator Craig; she walked over to them. “Joshua, would you please excuse the director for a moment? There’s something urgent I need to discuss with him.”
“Of course, Irene.” Although Craig and Wilkes were from opposite sides of the aisle, they had served together in the Senate for many years. He headed for the snack tray on the credenza, leaving Wilkes alone with de la Cruz.
“José, I know that you nominated Dr. Etter for project director. But, I must tell you, I have serious misgivings about her qualifications. I would greatly appreciate your voting with me to deny her confirmation.”
Because de la Cruz had worked with Wilkes for many years, he wasn’t surprised by her request—which, he realized, was actually a demand. Wilkes was chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, which managed NASA’s appropriations. And thus he’d been forced to acquiesce to similar “requests” in the past—including many years ago, when she’d enlisted his help to snatch an important NASA contract away from a project Katherine led. That treachery had almost destroyed her career. De la Cruz had tried to make up to Katherine for his deceit by nominating her for Prometheus project director.
“Senator, you know that I believe Dr. Etter is an exceptional candidate. May I ask why you cannot support her confirmation?”
Wilkes’ gray eyes bored into de la Cruz’s. “Although we must consider her failed project many years ago, my reasons are more about her character than her professional qualifications.”
De la Cruz sighed. He knew from experience that opposing her would be risky for himself and NASA’s future projects. “Very well. I will reconsider my vote, Senator.”
“Thank you, José,” Wilkes replied with the same icy smile she’d shown Stewart. That’s three—I need only one more vote. And I know just where to get it. She checked her watch and saw that the committee was to reconvene soon, then she peered across the room and saw Sayavong talking with Bridgewater. They separated, and Sayavong walked over to the credenza to get some water. Wilkes followed her. “Lattana—do you have a moment?”
“Certainly, Senator,” the young Congresswoman replied as she turned toward Wilkes. Sayavong was the first person of Laotian heritage to serve in Congress; she’d taken the oath of office the previous January. Wilkes had supported her election campaign and her nomination to two House committees, and she’d made it clear to the new legislator that she was in her debt.
“I was curious as to how you intend to vote,” Wilkes asked innocently.
Sayavong smiled, “To confirm, definitely. I’m very impressed by Dr. Etter’s qualifications and also how she answered the committee’s questions.”
Wilkes’ look of faux innocence changed to a frown. “I see. Well, I have serious concerns about Dr. Etter. And I trust you will take that into consideration when deciding how to vote.” Wilkes smiled—a thin, dangerous smile. “And also, I hope you’ll remember how helpful I was to you during the election, and lobbying for you on those two choice committee assignments.”
“Yes, I do remember, Senator. And I greatly appreciated your help.” I know where you’re going with this, Sayavong thought glumly. And I know you could make life very difficult for me, if you chose to do so. But, I wonder why she’s against Dr. Etter’s confirmation? She seems an ideal candidate. Sayavong wracked her memory for some hint as to Wilkes’ objection. Nothing came to mind. Except… there was one thing in Dr. Etter’s personal profile. Sayavong had ignored it—it wasn’t relevant. But, what about Wilkes? Could THAT be behind her rejection of Dr. Etter? Sayavong stared at Wilkes in disbelief… at least, she wanted to not believe her suspicion.
“It’s time to reconvene for the vote,” Wilkes said. “I know you’ll do the right thing, Lattana.” Wilkes swiveled on her heel and returned to the center seat of the head table. The other committee members took their seats, also. “This vote is whether to confirm Dr. Katherine Etter as project director for Prometheus.” Let’s get the Yes votes out of the way first. She turned to Secretary Powell. “Madam Secretary, how do you vote?”
“I vote Yes,” Powell replied.
“Thank you. Senator Craig?”
“I also vote Yes.”
“And, Representative Bridgewater?” Wilkes continued.
“Yes, Senator,” the Congressman replied.
No surprises there, Wilkes thought. I wasn’t going to sway them, anyway. Now let’s finish this. “General Stewart?”
The Air Force Chief of Staff looked down at the table as he thought for a moment, then he looked up and stared straight ahead. “No,” he said quietly. The faces of Powell, Craig, and Bridgewater erupted into surprise—even shock.
“Thank you, General. And, Director de la Cruz?”
“I… I also vote No,” Cruz said reluctantly.
“Thank you, Director.” Wilkes surveyed the committee members with her eyes. As chair, she would normally vote last. But she reveled in forcing Sayavong to make the deciding vote to deny Katherine Etter the confirmation. “It may come as no surprise that I also vote No. Thus, it’s up to you, Representative Sayavong.” She turned to the Congresswoman with an expectant stare.
Sayavong looked up at her fellow committee members and cleared her throat. “You know that my family emigrated to the United States from Laos when I was nine years old, and I became a citizen six years ago. Along with my election to Congress last November, it was one of the happiest days of my life. I’m so grateful, and proud, to be a citizen of the United States of America—the land of freedom, and opportunity, for all.” She paused, then looked at Wilkes with a sorrowful but determined expression. “That is why, Senator Wilkes, what you’re attempting to do here today is so wrong. You would deny a highly qualified candidate the directorship of a project that’s of vital importance to the future of our nation, and indeed that of the entire world. And you’re doing so not because of a problem with her qualifications, but because you happen to have a personal issue with her—one that in no way would impact her ability to lead Prometheus. It is bigotry, plain and simple. I cannot abide by it.” No matter what the personal consequences might be… She stood up and continued to look directly at Wilkes. “And so, Senator—I will ‘do the right thing.’ And the right thing is to vote to confirm Dr. Katherine Etter for Prometheus project director.” As she sat back down, the eyes of everyone on the committee were fixed on her. After a long pause, General Stewart smiled, nodded at Sayavong, and looked at Wilkes.
“Senator Wilkes, I would like to change my vote to Yes.” Wilkes’ face reddened as she struggled to maintain her composure, but she said nothing.
“I also wish to change my vote to Yes,” de la Cruz said quietly. Then he stood up and looked at Wilkes. “That makes the vote 6-1 in favor of confirmation—unless you would like to change your vote, Senator?” Wilkes’ face had turned an even deeper shade of red; she shook her head once. “In that case, I would like to inform Dr. Etter of our decision, if there is no objection.” No one spoke against his request.
Wilkes seethed as de la Cruz left the head table and walked toward the door. That crewed Europa mission that’s so important to you, and NASA—I think you’ll have to wait for that for a while, José—maybe a long while! She turned to glare at Stewart. I’ll remember this, General. I can’t wait for next week’s hearing on the F-36. Then she stared contemptuously at Sayavong. Your political life, and your life in general, just got a lot more complicated, my dear.
