Legend of Oria 1: Initial Contact (14 page)

Oria looked at his watch and then said, “Hey, it's almost a quarter to four.  I'm supposed to go to a symposium tonight at a nearby hotel.”

Karen responded “No way.  Really?  Does it have something to do with Particle Energy Lasers?”

“Yes, it does.  I was at a party last night with some science types.  We were talking about lasers, and one of them had an invitation but was unable to attend.  He ended up giving me his ticket.  So, what's your excuse for going?”

“My boss ordered me to attend it.  He is always interested in anything that may have military implications.  Since he has me on temporary assignment to the Pentagon, I guess I'm his gofer.  I can't wait to get out of here and get back to full time flying.”

“You're kidding, that's another thing we have in common.  I also am a pilot.  Say it's getting late.  Let's walk over to the hotel together.”

“Ok” Karen said dreamily. Karen was thinking that she might have a shot with this new friend.  After all, Oria was both strong looking and cute.

Washington DC - Pentagon:  Symposium on Particle Energy Lasers

The Particle Energy Laser Symposium was located at the
Hilton, only a few blocks from the bookstore.  Oria and Karen left the bookstore together and walked to the Hilton.

During the walk, Oria recalled a previous visit almost 100 years ago.  He
was amazed at the changes Washington had gone through since his last visit.  He was quiet during their walk and Karen noticed that he was deep in thought. 

“Oria, are you still with me, you look like you’re somewhere else.”

Oria snapped back to reality and replied “Sorry, it's been a long time since I was last here and I was just reflecting on all of the changes.”

“I know what you mean, in another year I get to move back to Florida.  It sure feels funny every time I return now for a visit.  There are always new buildings, developments, and less land, yet some things don't seem to change.  Oh, here’s the Hilton.  I guess we made it.  Do you know what room it is supposed to be in?”

“No, we’ll have to ask at the front desk.”

The symposium had already started when Oria and Karen entered the large conference room.  Karen was tense due to their late arrival.  Training drilled into her that it was unseemly for an officer to be late.  Karen wanted to avoid attention and discreetly find a seat at the back of the room.  Oria had other ideas.  He coaxed Karen to the front of the room forcing everyone to see her late arrival.  Oria wanted to be as close to the front as possible.  He didn’t want to miss anything.

The speaker was giving a presentation on a new laser device.  Karen observed that the technology had obvious military implications.  Of course, Dr. Caldwell, the consummate pacifist, was only claiming commercial uses for the technology.  Karen thought the new laser technology had serious potential for weapon systems on spacecraft used by the STAR Hawks operation and potentially as a space based cutting tool.  Both usages would be an anathema to Dr. Caldwell. 

Karen saw similarities between Dr. Caldwell's technology and several Army sponsored chemical-based laser projects.  Dr. Caldwell's laser was also chemical based but had increased optic capabilities and a mechanism to continuously feed the laser chemical fuels.  This combination resulted in a constant and continuous series of explosions.

Dr. Caldwell demonstrated several adjustments to equations used by the control devices to maintain a constant flow to the laser and maintain a continuous beam.  The audience appeared very impressed with Dr. Caldwell's presentation and asked many questions.  One group in the audience from GeoTechnology was very familiar to Karen.  They appeared particularly interested in Dr. Caldwell's presentation since they had lost one of the original Army laser contracts to another contractor.  Karen thought, “Oh boy, I wonder how long it will take them to take a proposal to General Bronson and try to recapture a front spot in the laser weapons race.”

Oria also appeared very interested in Dr. Caldwell's presentation.  Unlike most others in the audience, he saw some basic mistakes in Dr. Caldwell's calculations.  She was missing some key elements that could
multiply the optical power output by over a thousand fold.  Oria also saw where the replacement of the chemical power module with a more capable power source, could take greater advantage of the optics developed by Dr. Caldwell.  Oria raised his hand.

Dr. Caldwell saw a good-looking man with his hand raised in the audience.  She hesitated to call on him since she recalled seeing him walk in with an Air Force Major.  She hated the Air Force and anything to do with the military.  In Dr. Caldwell's thinking, military use of this new technology was evil.  She did not like the military to use her ideas in killing people and furthering the imperialistic views of the United States.  However, Dr. Caldwell relented to the realities of the world and called on Oria.

Oria stood up and spoke in a loud voice “Dr. Caldwell, I am impressed with your work on laser technology.  However, I do have several questions.  In your equations, it looks like you have derived many of your formulas from Einstein’s work containing a flawed description of the relationship between mass, energy, and the speed of light.  Have you considered that there may be a missing factor that when applied to your equations . . .”

Dr. Caldwell quickly interrupted “Sir, with all due respect, it is common knowledge in the field of physics that most of the theories outlined by Einstein have been mathematically proven true” while in her thoughts she added how am I stuck with all the weirdoes.  Maybe it would be fun to ask him and have him demonstrate his ignorance.  She then said aloud “Maybe you would care to join me up here and show me where you think Einstein is wrong.”

Oria rose from his seat and started to walk towards the front of the room.  He ignored Karen’s tugging on his arm and trying to prevent him from making a fool of himself.  Oria thought, “I know most people in here probably think I'm a fool, however, this may be the opportunity required to reveal more advanced technology.”

When Oria reached the front of the room, he said “Thank you Dr. Caldwell.  I know you and your colleagues probably think I'm crazy.  However, I believe you will find the information that I'm going to present quite interesting.  Let’s get started by first outlining on the white board where Einstein's theories are flawed and how the corrected versions of those equations can be used to make improvements to the material just presented by Dr. Caldwell.”

Oria wrote and explained using the white board, a series of corrections and revisions to Einstein's theories.  He used the opportunity to present information that was well beyond anything originally envisioned by Einstein.  Dr. Caldwell was utterly amazed at Oria's presentation.  Initially Dr. Caldwell was getting upset that someone upstaged her presentation, but as Oria continued, her scientific curiosity consumed her and she was just as much into the presentation as everyone else in the audience appeared to be. 

Oria developed a strong connection to the audience as he continued to teach basic physics as taught in Azortec grade schools.  Oria knew he was covering more material than what he originally stated he was going to present, but he felt that this audience could raise the interest level of the military.  He was also confident that Karen was intensely interested.

Karen was amazed at the material Oria was going over in his presentation.  Her thoughts were racing.  Getting the material Dr. Caldwell was going over would have made the time she spent worthwhile.  The information Oria was freely presenting was way beyond anything Karen could have envisioned both within domain of the public sector and anything classified as well.  She thought, “Wow, and I just had coffee with this guy.  He is presenting what could probably be the most significant revelation of scientific knowledge since the inception of modern science.”

Oria, continuing with his discussion, walked over to Dr. Caldwell's laser device.  He pulled a piece of material out of his pocket and covered the laser's target.  He then said “Dr. Caldwell, is this the highest setting that your laser fires at?”

Dr. Caldwell quickly replied “Yes, you best be careful with the laser.  It can cut through an armored shield like a knife slicing butter.”

“Thanks for the warning.”

Oria fired the laser as configured by Dr. Caldwell, at the shield.  Nothing happened.  The material placed over the shield protected it from damage.  Dr. Caldwell looked astonished.  Her new laser technology could cut through any known material.  It was starting to sink into her that Oria's entire presentation was totally unknown to anyone in the scientific community.  A chill of fear and anticipation shot through her body.

Oria continued on speaking “Dr. Caldwell and everyone here today, this material kept the armored shield from being cut.  It can just as easily withstand a nuclear blast from the most powerful nuclear device in the U.S. Military, even if you could channel all of that energy through Dr. Caldwell’s laser.  As exciting as that may sound, I'm not going to talk about it today.  The only reason I brought this material here and demonstrated it under fire, was to highlight how making appropriate adjustments to the laser can greatly increase its power.”

While Oria spoke, he adjusted the laser.  He pulled a crystal out of his pocket and used it to replace a crystal in the laser.  He described the adjustments to the audience and made some comments how his crystal was different from Dr. Caldwell's crystal.

When Oria completed all his adjustments to the laser, he said, “In one moment I will fire the laser again.  Only this time . . .” Oria hesitated a moment and then said “let me just show you.”

Oria fired the laser. The armored shield appeared distorted much like a movie presentation of a wormhole.  The distortion suddenly disappeared and there was a hole right through the shield and the material covering the shield. 

Dr. Caldwell exclaimed, “We don't have anything that could have cut a hole like that.  What on Earth, are you showing us?  This is incredible!”

The audience was in an uproar.  People stood up and started to clap.  Several visiting physicists headed towards the stage and Oria.  There was general astonishment at Oria’s presentation.  If it weren’t for the scientific discussion, the scientists would have written off the laser demonstration as a stage show.  However, Oria’s presentation was so compelling that everyone believed it.

The group from GeoTechnology was discussing the military potential of Oria's presentation.  They wanted to move quickly and turn this material into a lucrative defense contract before anyone else could.  Dr. Franklin, GeoTechnology's Directory of Special Projects, told one of his project leads to find out who Oria is and hire him.  Dr
. Franklin then headed towards the stage and Oria along with everyone else in the audience.

Franklin aggressively pushed through the crowd surrounding Oria.  He stuck his hand out to Oria and said “Hello, I'm Peter Franklin with GeoTechnology.  I am quite impressed with your presentation.  We certainly didn't expect to see anything quite so remarkable today.”

Oria seeing the crowd about to inundate him returned the mike to Dr. Caldwell.  Dr. Caldwell, with mike in hand, looked straight at Dr. Franklin and said “Dr. Franklin, please, you can have time after we conclude the symposium to address the young man.  Please would you and everyone else kindly return to your seats?”

Dr
. Caldwell was clearly upset.  She had mixed feelings of resentment against Oria for stealing her show and at the same time excitement for the new technology.   Her mind was racing in an attempt to figure out how to recapture the audience's attention. In the end, she decided that she would be unable to present anything new so her best strategy would be to build on what Oria had already presented.

Once everyone had returned to his or her seats, Dr. Caldwell started speaking again.  “We want to thank the young gentleman for his remarkable presentation.  It's rare when you put on a symposium like this that you actually feel good when someone upstages you with more impressive technology.  However, I think everyone here can agree that the material presented to us today by Oria is a major breakthrough for our studies in the physical sciences.  I can't help but imagine how this technology might benefit medicine, mining, and other commercial activities.  It is my hope that we don't abuse what we have just learned today by making more weapons of mass destruction.  Young man, there are many of us here who would like to know who you are.  Could you stand for a moment and tell us who you are and where you’re from.”

Oria stood up and replied, “Yes sure, but first I must apologize to Dr. Caldwell.  It was not my intention to steal any of her thunder.  She has demonstrated a remarkable understanding of particle energy theory, and applying it to lasers.  In answering your question, I am Oria Stoneax.  I have studied the application of high-energy particle beams and their use in military science.  In some ways, I agree with Dr. Caldwell in a desire to avoid using high technology in weapons systems.  However, I firmly believe the safety of Earth and probably all of mankind depends on non-abusive uses of military technology.”

Dr. Caldwell fumed at Oria's last remarks.  She glared at him and told him “Thank you very much.  Let's get back to the purpose of this symposium.”  Dr. Caldwell started speaking of the application of the new laser technology to medicine and several new mining devices now under prototype.  She continued for another half hour.