The ELI Event B007R5LTNS

had a headache, the result of too many Newcastles last night in the hotel bar, and hoped—in vain, he was sure—for a quick and stressless meeting.
    “The subject of this inquiry,” Cardinale began, “is the Air Force project code-named ‘Molly Day.’ It is my duty to inform General Holt, as Commanding Officer of this Air Defense Command installation, and Major, um, Pettis, as senior officer of the project, that the office of the Secretary of Defense has ordered the immediate cessation of all funds for this project.” He held up a hand to forestall Pettis’s imminent objection. “Unless, of course, good cause can be shown for continuation. With that, I surrender the floor to Representative Wise who, I believe, has some numbers for us.”
    The woman nodded curtly and carefully donned a small pair of rimless cheaters. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman.” She cleared her throat and pushed two copies of a thick, bound report across the table to Holt and Pettis, then opened her own copy to a page marked with a ladybug-shaped sticky note. “This is the latest Molly Day report.”
    “Excuse me,” Holt interrupted. “ Molly Day? ”
    Without releasing the woman from his gaze for a second, Pettis answered for her. “An unfortunate nickname for the Molecular Disruptor Array, General. A meaningless, politically-correct anthropomorphism, yet another indicator of civilians’ inability to see things as they are.”
    Holt made a mental note to look up anthro... whatever. “I see. Please continue.”
    Wise adjusted her glasses. “If you’ll note, gentlemen, I quote from page 118.” Holt opened his copy to that page. He noticed that Pettis left his untouched and continued to stare at her as she read.
    “Since its inception in 2006, Project Molly Day has consumed the following resources: 900,000 man-hours, 47,000 hours of computer time, $718,000,000 of equipment, and 12,000 hours of externally contracted analysis. This, in addition to compensation paid as a result of a 2012 incident in which three civilian technicians were killed and seven injured, brings the total cost of the project to well over $2.5 billion. That’s billion. With a B .
    “Total realizable benefits from Project Molly Day over the same time period, calculated in current dollars, are exactly—” she looked pointedly at Holt, avoiding Pettis’s eyes, “zero.”
    Holt looked up from the numbers and saw that Pettis continued to stare back at her relentlessly.
    She shifted uncomfortably and quickly recited her obviously-rehearsed conclusion. “It is the opinion of the Secretary that the project has no significant potential for fiscal return and that it therefore be discontinued immediately. Mr. Chairman?”
    “Thank you, Representative Wise. There you have it, gentlemen,” he said evenly. “The floor is open for questions or comments.”
    Pettis spoke immediately. “I have no questions, but I certainly have some comments.”
    “You have the floor, Major.”
    Pettis rose, silently, gracefully. Holt watched him as he surveyed the faces, and surmised he was reading them for signs of empathy, choosing who to attack and who to befriend. Representative Mitchell was young and green, and had a distinctly sympathetic look about him that Pettis could certainly use to his advantage. The woman was clearly his primary adversary, but was vulnerable to pressure and intimidation—Pettis had already proven that with one steely glare. Cardinale he placed in the same mental classification as himself: noncommittal, tired, just coasting. He would be prone to go with the consensus just to avoid conflict. He was sure Pettis had made these same assessments, and sat back as Pettis took a deep breath and began his assault.
    “Mr. Chairman, Ms. Wise, Mr. Mitchell. With all due respect,” Pettis began—emphasizing due just to make it clear that there was none—“contrary to this report’s findings, Project Molly Day has seen recent and significant progress. For the benefit of new Committee members, I would like to present some background on the project before detailing that progress.” He left the conference table and moved about the room like a debater as he spoke, emphasizing his points with gestures and facial expressions. There was no doubt in Holt’s mind that Pettis was in complete control of both himself and the meeting.
    Pettis spoke quickly and confidently. “When the project was first conceived, light-based weaponry was barely out of its infancy. In