you will agree," Herney said, his voice growing more serious now, "in a perfect world, the ramifications of this discovery would be purely scientific in nature." He paused, leaning forward, his face filling the screen. "Unfortunately, we don't live in a perfect world, and this NASA triumph is going to be a political football the moment I announce it."
"Considering the conclusive proof and who you've recruited for endorsements, I can't imagine how the public or any of your opposition will be able to do anything other than accept this discovery as confirmed fact."
Herney gave an almost sad chuckle. "My political opponents will believe what they see, Rachel. My concerns are that they won't like what they see."
Rachel noted how careful the President was being not to mention her father. He spoke only in terms of "the opposition" or "political opponents." "And you think your opposition will cry conspiracy simply for political reasons?" she asked.
"That is the nature of the game. All anyone needs to do is cast a faint doubt, saying that this discovery is some kind of political fraud concocted by NASA and the White House, and all of a sudden, I'm facing an inquiry. The newspapers forget NASA has found proof of extraterrestrial life, and the media starts focusing on uncovering evidence of a conspiracy. Sadly, any innuendo of conspiracy with respect to this discovery will be bad for science, bad for the White House, bad for NASA, and, quite frankly, bad for the country."
"Which is why you postponed announcing until you had full confirmation and some reputable civilian endorsements."
"My goal is to present this data in so incontrovertible a way that any cynicism is nipped in the bud. I want this discovery celebrated with the untainted dignity it deserves. NASA merits no less."
Rachel's intuition was tingling now. What does he want from me?
"Obviously," he continued, "you're in a unique position to help me. Your experience as an analyst as well as your obvious ties to my opponent give you enormous credibility with respect to this discovery."
Rachel felt a growing disillusionment. He wants to use me... just like Pickering said he would!
"That said," Herney continued, "I would like to ask that you endorse this discovery personally, for the record, as my White House intelligence liaison... and as the daughter of my opponent."
There it was. On the table.
Herney wants me to endorse.
Rachel really had thought Zach Herney was above this kind of spiteful politics. A public endorsement from Rachel would immediately make the meteorite a personal issue for her father, leaving the senator unable to attack the discovery's credibility without attacking the credibility of his own daughter-a death sentence for a "families first" candidate.
"Frankly, sir," Rachel said, looking into the monitor, "I'm stunned you would ask me to do that."
The President looked taken aback. "I thought you would be excited to help out."
"Excited? Sir, my differences with my father aside, this request puts me in an impossible position. I have enough problems with my father without going head-to-head with him in some kind of public death match. Despite my admitted dislike of the man, he is my father, and pitting me against him in a public forum frankly seems beneath you."
"Hold on!" Herney waved his hands in surrender.
"Who said anything about a public forum?"
Rachel paused. "I assume you'd like me to join the administrator of NASA on the podium for the eight o'clock press conference."
Herney's guffaw boomed in the audio speakers. "Rachel, what kind of man do you think I am? Do you really imagine I'd ask someone to stab her father in the back on national television?"
"But, you said-"
"And do you think I would make the NASA administrator share the limelight with the daughter of his arch enemy? Not to burst your bubble, Rachel, but this press conference is a scientific presentation. I'm not sure your knowledge of meteorites, fossils, or ice structures would lend the event much credibility."
Rachel felt herself flush. "But then... what endorsement did you have in mind?"
"One more appropriate to your position."
"Sir?"
"You are my White House intelligence liaison. You brief my staff on issues of national importance."
"You want me to endorse this for your staff?"
Herney still looked amused by the misunderstanding. "Yes, I do. The skepticism I'll face outside the White House is nothing compared to what I'm facing from my staff right now. We're in the midst of a full-scale mutiny here. My credibility in-house is shot. My staff has begged me to cut back NASA funding. I've ignored them, and it's been