“The reason I asked you to come in here today is that, as you are aware, there is currently a rising concern about interstellar activity. I have encouraged Derek to try to hasten preparations for the launch of the Eiferman. But I must reluctantly inform you that there is a very good chance the mission will not happen. I’m sorry to tell you this, but I don’t want you to be disappointed. If the project is cancelled, we will pay you twenty percent of the promised amount to compensate for your time and whatever efforts you’ve already put into the operation.”

“That’s very kind of you, Director Zhang, but if there is a cancellation, we can let it go. The effort has cost me nothing.”

His smile suggested the matter was of no real consequence. “We can debate the matter if and when it becomes an issue.” He leaned back in his chair and joined his hands together. “Would you like some tea or coffee?”

Derek let her see that she should accept. “Tea would be good,” Hutch said.

“Coffee for me, thank you,” said Derek.

Zhang passed the requests to a secretary. “We have a matter of substance to consider.” He got up, went over to the window, and looked out at sunlight and treetops. “There is more at stake here than simply getting the Calliope mission out before our more cautious associates can stop it. Our primary concern is the long term. Everything on this mission has to go smoothly. We don’t want any more omega clouds. And we certainly don’t want you going to the Kellerman Cluster and encountering a vicious species or anything else that would provide fuel to the talk shows and scare the voters. I’ll be honest with you. I’m not sure those who think interstellar missions are just asking for trouble don’t have it right. But who knows? A thousand years from now, this will very likely be remembered as a critical moment, not only in the development of spaceflight, but in our overall progress as a species. If anything goes wrong now, it may shut things down for the foreseeable future, and maybe forever.

“Something else to consider: You’ll be getting back here in the middle of a presidential election. President Proctor is very likely to remain in office. And turning out the lights, as the antiflight people like to say, has become a major part of her platform. Screw something up and she’ll come down even harder on us.”

Derek’s eyes narrowed. “Director Zhang, I understand what you’re saying, but it’s irritating to have a deranged politician opposing something so important to the human future for political reasons.”