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“And now you’re proposing to create another arms race, A
“That race is already under way, sir,” A
“Most countries are cooperating, Madam Secretary,” U.S. Space Command General Wiehl said. “With the Shuttle retired, we rely on the Russians almost every month for spacelift to the International Space Station.”
“I know that, General, and it worries me,” A
“They wouldn’t do that, Doctor,” Wiehl said. “ Russia has invested a lot into the ISS, and they usually have one or two cosmonauts aboard. They rely on us as much as we rely on them.” But the sharpness of his rebuttal showed A
“Let’s get back to Dr. Page’s proposal,” Secretary Banderas said, glancing at his watch. “Twenty billion to put forty-eight…you called them ‘garages’? What’s in this ‘garage’?”
“Each weapon platform carries an infrared sensor, a tracking and targeting radar, electro-optical surveillance cameras, maneuvering engines, control and communications systems, and six Trinity kill vehicles-a mix of three antiballistic missile and defensive missiles, and three Mjollnir reentry vehicles,” A
“Why forty-eight of these garages? Can it be done with fewer?”
“The number is based on commercial communications satellite structures that provide continuous global coverage, sir,” A
“So six garages with three antiballistic-missile interceptors-assuming some aren’t used to defend the garages themselves-is just eighteen interceptors able to respond at any moment to an attack,” Wiehl said. “Doesn’t sound like that many.”
“If we’re being attacked by more than eighteen enemy missiles-especially nuclear ones-we have a serious problem that wouldn’t be solved by twice as many interceptors, General,” A
She turned to Secretary Banderas. “Sir, you’ve said it yourself many times: the Air Force has to do more with less; we have to field multi-role systems. The platforms are much more than just for space-based weapons. The sensors on board each platform and the integration of their data with other space assets through Armstrong Space Station will be invaluable to operators around the world. This network will provide real-time infrared, radar, and optical imagery to all users-even the Navy.” She leaned forward and opened her hands. “That’s the way we sell it to Secretary Turner and the White House.”
“This is a benefit for the Navy? That’s how we sell it?”
“The president is an unabashed Navy advocate,” A
Secretary Banderas thought for a moment, then, as A
“I think we’ll have real problems with the land-attack option, sir,” Chief of Staff Huffman said. “Even though these Mjollnir space weapons don’t technically violate any treaties, the whole idea of weapons raining down on top of you from space will spook a lot of people, possibly including the president.”
“Then we’ll downplay the land-attack thing at first,” Banderas said. “The missiles-”
“We call them ‘orbital maneuvering vehicles,’ sir,” A
The secretary of the Air Force nodded approvingly. “I like that,” he said. “Not ‘kill vehicles,’ not ‘missiles’-‘orbital maneuvering vehicles.’ OMVs. Okay, the OMVs are on board for self-protection and for ballistic-missile defense. The land-attack weapons are possible future development spirals. When can I get platforms upstairs, A
“The sensor packages and network integration was completed some time ago-the weapon interfaces have just completed R and D,” A
Banderas nodded. “Excellent. We’ll meet to discuss where the money will come from, but because we’ll pitch this as a naval support system, we might be able to siphon some bucks out of the Navy. So what are you going to call it, A
“I thought of several names, sir,” A
Banderas shook his head and got to his feet. “You learn something new every damn day, I guess,” he said with a smile. He held out a hand to A
“Thank you, sir,” A
“Don’t even go there, A