NationStates Jolt Archive

This is a continuation of the threads "A Rose By Any Other Name... (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=407084)" and "Allemande to Commence Peaceful Fission Research (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=404518)"

<NEWSFEED>

Source: Allemande Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) World Service
Dateline: March 28th, 2005

At 7:52AM AEST, the United States of Allemande detonated a underwater nuclear device with a yield of approximately 10KT at a depth of 300m below the Pacific floor.

This was the first test of what the government has called a "non-military nuclear explosive". At least eight more tests are expected this year - all to be conducted below the Pacific floor.

A small flotilla of boats carrying protesters observed the test from a safe distance, where they had been relocated by the Allemander Navy after an abortive attempt to stage a "anchor-in" above Ground Zero.

No appreciable surface wave generated by the blast due to its depth beneath the ocean floor.

</NEWSFEED>

"Mr. President, I'm not sure that our efforts to develop the technology needed for large-scale ocean-bottom colonization are going to pay off within our anticipated time frame," said Interior Secretary David Pournelle.

"Why not?" asked President Michael Blum.

"In a word," said Secretary Pournelle, "Pressure. Ocean-bottom colonies have serious problems with the tremendous pressures exerted by the weight of miles of water on ocean-bottom structures."

"I thought that was why we developed nuclear explosives: to be able to burrow out large cavities beneath the ocean floor in which habitats could be constructed," asked the President.

"It was, and we can do that," replied the Interior Secretary. "But these underground areas are still under tremendous pressure and so we need to find a way to cope with that pressure before we can really use them."

"Can we inhabit them?" asked President Blum.

"Yes and no," replied Pournelle. "We can inhabit the cleared areas, but life in such zones would be anything but normal. For example, you can't drink carbonated beverages or eat spicy foods, you have to watch your exertion, and you'd better not have problems with sinuses or migraines."

"So where does that leave us?" said the President, looking miffed.

"We'll need more time," replied Secretary Pournelle, "If only to come up with workarounds."

"If I may, Mr. President," said Energy Secretary Cartier, "On my front things are going better."

"How much better?" asked President Blum.

"Quite a lot," replied Cartier. "Our experiments in nuclear vehicle propulsion look very promising - far better than we had hoped. Likewise, some of the materials research is paying off hansomely. We may have trimmed years off our schedule."

The President eyed the two men in his office. Finally, he said, "It sounds as if you're proposing that we reverse the order of our plans."

"Maybe not quite that, Mr. President," offered Cartier. "But accelerate the one plan and slow down the other. We may still carry out the ocean-bottom colonization effort first, but maybe not as far in advance of our other plans as we had imagined."

Michael Blum rubbed his chin. Finally, he spoke: "I need tangible successes I can offer the voters. Can either of you give me that?"

"I can," said Cartier.

Pournelle shrugged his shoulders. "Not reliably, Mr. President."

President Blum nodded, and then said: "OK, then we modify the schedules of both efforts accordingly."