Dr. Cavanagh was in her mid-thirties. She had started out as a marine biologist but her sharp intellect had driven her to branch out into different fields since then, and for the last three years she had been earning the respect of her peers at the Marine Institute. She had an excellent speaking voice and a clear, concise way of explaining even the most complex ideas. She also had striking blue eyes that contrasted her red hair, and which she was using to full effect to engage her audience as she talked. She had that rare kind of attractiveness that did not diminish her intellect, but instead served to heighten her outward credibility. She had been a force on the team over the past two months, second only to Captain Hawkson, who, unbeknownst to the rest of the team, she had been seeing for quite some time.

At Neal’s confirmation in her ear, she wrapped up her explanation and guided the audience’s eyes once more to the large screen where they were projecting the compound image from the probe. The image started out blank, then slowly but surely each element of the probe started to return data, the computer running simultaneous algorithms to sort the images into an ever more detailed picture of the tank’s dark bottom.

Meanwhile, Neal was looking at the raw data behind the image as the computer zeroed in on the anomalous shapes it was seeing, determining their exact shape and density with ever-greater certainty. Even given infinite time the machine would never reach 100% certainty, but the margin would gradually decrease by ever-smaller amounts. For their purposes 85% or above had proven more than reasonable and soon the computer made its ‘guesses.’

Neal relayed them to the main screen, and Madeline read them off to the waiting guests, who had each previously been handed the tests’ layouts to compare against. As with the first two tests they were appropriately accurate. Neal and Madeline smiled. Laurie turned to James to shake his hand. As the group started to ask its final questions, they were clearly just going through the motions. The tests had been both impressive, and as close to conclusive as a system’s test could reasonably come. While Neal did not want to invite undue criticism of his team or their work, a part of him still waited hopefully for that elusive question that would force them to go to Plan B. As the group’s questioning continued along ever more banal avenues, it seemed less and less likely, and he was surprised when it eventually came up, not least of which because of who ended up asking it.

“I wonder if I might ask something of the team, Dr. Cavanagh?” asked General Pickler, standing and projecting his formidable voice to the podium.

“Of course, General.” prompted Madeline.