The Cirrus Effect

Table of Contents

Cover Page and Copyright Information

Dedication

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Chapter VIII

Chapter IX

Chapter X

Chapter XI

Chapter XII

Chapter XIII

Chapter XIV

Chapter XV

Chapter XVI

Chapter XVII

Chapter XVIII

Chapter XIX

Chapter XX

Chapter XXI

Chapter XXII

Chapter XXIII

Chapter XXIV

Chapter XXV

Chapter XXVI

Chapter XXVII

Chapter XXVIII

Chapter XXIX

Chapter XXX

About the Author

The Cirrus Effect

KD Michaels

eLectio Publishing

Little Elm, TX

www.eLectioPublishing.com

The Cirrus Effect

By KD Michaels

Copyright 2015 by KD Michaels

Cover Design by eLectio Publishing

ISBN-13: 978-1-63213-169-0

Published by eLectio Publishing, LLC

Little Elm, Texas

http://www.eLectioPublishing.com

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The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to all the encouragers in this world. From parents and grandparents to teachers and mentors. To all those who would help young minds grow forth to develop their full God-given potential. To Dr. Carter, who shepherded a high school sophomore in a class full of seniors. To my wonderful and loving wife, who always offered encouragement and had faith I could do anything.

The Cirrus Effect

Chapter I

This is Robert Magnum, answered the voice on the phone.

Hi, Uncle Bob, this is Joe Magnum!

Why hello there, Joe! he exclaimed recognizing who was calling him. What in the world have you been up to?

I could just picture Uncle Bob, sitting at his desk, cigar in his mouth, talking with his customary three times too loud voice. He was a big, burly man with a deep Brooklyn accent that was as much a part of him as was that cigar. He had come up through the ranks of this power company as I recall him telling the story. From his earliest days as essentially a gopher-laborer, he stayed true to his employer, learned all he could at every job he held and ever so slowly worked his way up the food chain all the way to a vice president position.

Oh, pretty much just the normal academic stuff here at NIT, I responded.

Now that school’s where again? Do I remember right, around Virginia somewhere? he queried again.

Right you are, I acknowledged. It’s the Neuprotel Institute of Technology here in central Virginia.

Uncle Bob continued, And so, how’s the family? I haven’t even talked to your dad in, well, seems like six months or more.

Yes, it’s been awhile. Since the family changed our reunions to every two years seems like we don’t see or hear as much from everybody as we used to – we all miss out on the latest scuttlebutt! I said.

You’re right there, Joe. For sure, he interjected with laughter. So, what makes you call me out of the blue like this, nothing bad I hope?

No, no, nothing like that at all, I answered. Are you still one of the VP’s there or have you moved to the big corner office? I continued.

Oh, I’ve done a lot of things around this place for a lot of years, but I expect realistically this is as high as I can hope to go, he rambled on. Now, don’t get me wrong, that’s not all bad either, not sure I want to deal with all the crap, political and otherwise, that the big guy does. You probably know I’m not a good butt-kisser.

Yep, Uncle Bob. Really though, I think that’s an understatement, I kidded. Say, I called to ask you what likely is just a hypothetical question.

Sure, kid, what’s on your mind? he bellowed.

Well knowing rumors are just that, rumors, here’s one for you. There seems to be some talk circulating that there’s a university somewhere out in the Midwest that may be on the verge of developing some new way to generate electricity. I don’t want you, nor would I ever ask you, to reveal anything that’s classified or any such thing. But you’re also the only one I could think of to whom I could even pose such a question.

Uncle Bob interjected, Interesting, continue, I’m all ears.

That’s just it, I proceeded, thus far it’s only a rumor, and I haven’t been able to get the slightest bit of verification. So, I thought, being a big regional power player like your company is, maybe you had heard something.

Well, now, Joe, even if I had, he continued as I sensed wariness in his voice, why would this be of any interest to you? Or maybe your school has some kind of interest?

Hey, Uncle Bob, you know us research types, I chuckled aloud to lighten the air of our conversation. If there’s anything new on the horizon, especially where new developing research may be involved, I’d like for NIT to have an opportunity to get in on the ground floor. With all the highly selective buckling down and dough-for-show reductions the government tries to convince us it’s doing, those of us who apply for research grants need to stay on our toes! I exclaimed.

I was trying all I could not to create a suspicion on his behalf that might point back toward me, us or NIT. After I had replied to him in that manner, his voice seemed a bit less anxious.

Yeah, boy, Joe, I can imagine the hoops you guys have to go through to hunt down research money and especially if the government has something to do with it, he calmly replied. But, to get to the root of answering your question, I’ve heard no such rumors at all. A significant part of my responsibilities include searching for sources to power the generation plants we have, I would think if someone had made any significant progress in identifying something new I’d have caught wind of it already.

If there were such a thing being developed, I pressed a bit, do you think your company would be interested or do you get into much research work?

I immediately wondered if I had pressed too far, for his reply this time was much more terse. I would say if someone came up with a new idea, we’d be very interested in getting involved with it. But only if there was a proven benefit, we could identify with which we could associate our brand.

It was time to back off, I could see this was going nowhere.

OK then, Uncle Bob, I pleasantly added. I’ve taken up enough of your time. I appreciate the info and enjoyed the visit. Tell Aunt Betty hello for me, too, if you would.

Hey, Joe, it’s always good to hear from you, he contributed. Not sure if I really gave you any info or not, but it is good to hear from you. Tell your dad and mom hello from us next time you talk to them.

Will do, until next time you take care! I concluded as I hung up the phone.

As I sat back for a moment, I thought back over the call. It was rather weird really, and the sense I got was that he was after more from me than I was from him. I asked myself, Can I trust him? And in my mind I couldn’t give a prompt yes answer. In fact, I had an uneasy feeling about it all. I was glad I had said no more than I did.

On my next walk around the campus, I stopped by each of my colleagues’ offices and told them about the call. Our first attempt at contact with the world outside of our small group was complete. And given what certainly was a less than successful foray, we decided to wait a few days before deciding on our next step. We did adopt a catch phrase for this first effort; it was one I had used when entering each of their offices. I said ‘the canary is in the mine.' At that moment, little did we know the danger that canary was in…

***

I wasn’t keeping track, but it was three to four days after the call to my uncle. I was busily occupied with several things in my office, and the door was open only a couple of inches out to Sandy’s office.

Normally, I wouldn’t think twice about hearing someone come into her office. But this time, for some reason, I alerted to the voice that began talking to her. It was very polite, yet forceful and authoritative.

I’d like to see Dr. Magnum, the voice announced.

Yes, sir, one moment please, and I’ll see if he is here, cordially replied Sandy arising to go to the office door. I believe he’s here, I saw him about thirty minutes ago.

I know he is around, the voice retorted, I have already identified his car in the parking lot.

May I tell him your name? Sandy asked as she reached for the door.

Bruce Rogers, he curtly replied.

And might I ask who you’re with? she continued.

I’ll share that with him, he matter-of-factly announced, just tell him I’m here.

Sandy pushed open the door and stepped into my office.

Dr. Magnum, there is a Bruce Rogers here asking to see you. I asked who he was with and apparently he doesn’t wish to tell me.

Then tell him I’ll be right out.

Exiting, Sandy looked at the man and said, Dr. Magnum will be right out. Might I get you a cup of coffee?

No, he answered gruffly, but thank you anyway.

I opened my door and stepped out into Sandy’s office, immediately asking, Mr. Rogers is it?

Yes, Dr. Magnum, he answered in less than a cordial manner.

Please, come into my office then, I directed. He preceded me, and I closed the door behind us. Take a seat, Mr. Rogers. And you are with…

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, he emphatically replied.

Well, my goodness, what business might bring the FBI to my office? I inquired.

I’ll be straightforward and to the point, he stated boldly.

Oh, but of course, I echoed.

It has come to our attention that some academic institutions are possibly pursuing development of new energy sources. As you might imagine in this day and time, such research efforts can be of critical importance to our nation’s safety and security, he offered as he cast a very wide net. It is of great importance, therefore, that both the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security be made aware of any such type information under development that could have implications for the nation as a whole if it were to fall into the wrong hands.

And you think somehow I am involved in something of this nature?

Without being too specific, your name came up in a conversation that was monitored by the FBI, he continued. And be aware, we take any such conversations with utmost seriousness. While there was no specific assessment associated with your name, the FBI has found heading off some of these matters before they get out of hand has been a prudent process. That is the reason for my visit. To make you aware the FBI and DHS are on the job and monitoring situations of possible importance to the nation.

Well, quite honestly, I answered, I really don’t have a clue as to what you’re speaking of or as to how I would have come across your radar. I would like to know with whom and where I was having this supposed conversation, I said.

That’s really none of your concern at this point, Dr. Magnum, he flatly stated.

I couldn’t disagree with you more, Mr. Rogers, I fired back. You’re making insinuations I do not appreciate and it would appear firing blindly into a dark night sky.

Let me sum it up for you this way then Dr. Magnum. If you are trying to develop some new technology ‘under the radar’ as one might say, I’d advise you to tread cautiously as new technologies are first and foremost under the purview of the Federal Government through the FBI and DHS, he said.

Really, was all I could incredulously respond. What ever happened to private patent applications as inventors discover new things? I regretted saying that the moment it had cleared my mouth.

It’s a new day that has dawned, Dr. Magnum. The ‘good of the common order’ is now of supreme importance as regards our future and emerging new technologies. Best keep that in the forefront of your mind. Though I doubt we would ever stop such new emerging technologies from development, just remember the government knows best what to do with them on the large scale and needs to be included in their development. Thank you for your time, I’ll see myself out, he stunningly announced as he stood and left my office.

Good-bye, Miss, was all he said in passing Sandy’s desk, hopefully I won’t be back too soon.

That quip sent chills down my spine. I sat there for several seconds as if in shock.

I went to the window and looked out between the barely cracked blinds. Sure enough, I could see the mysterious stranger walking across the front lawn toward a black SUV. I was glued to the window as I watched him get in the SUV and pull out onto the street. It was only then I noticed a second black SUV pull out from behind some trees and fall in line behind him. Another one of those chills went down my spine.

Some minutes later, Sandy came to my door, looked in and asked, Dr. Magnum, are you OK? You have a really strange expression on your face.

Snapping back to reality, I replied, Yes, yes I am. Thanks for checking. Please close the door if you would.

After some forty-five minutes to an hour, I left my office for another campus walk-through. As I passed Sandy’s desk, I said, I’m going out for a short walk, I’ll return soon.

Yes, sir, she answered.

I was off on a walk to see my colleagues. And I was on high alert as I walked, looking for any presence I thought might be watching me. Every black SUV got more than a single look over. I even walked right by several and glanced in to see if they were occupied, but they all seemed to simply be vehicles parked on the campus streets. I had to wonder though, what had just happened?

***

As Dr. G and I walked into Dr. A. J.’s office, I closed the door behind us. He came out from behind his desk and the three of us sat together in a semi-circle.

So, Dr. Joe, what is so all-fired important? asked Dr. G.

I’m hoping I haven’t released an evil genie from the bottle … I replied.

Dr. A. J. interrupted, Oh, this sounds very ominous … maybe.

From the top then, I moved on. I had a phone conversation with my Uncle Bob as we had agreed. I led into the story under the cover of hearing rumors a university out in the Midwest might be doing research on a new type or method of generating electricity. Now I’ll tell you, my ‘alert’ feelers went up rather quickly as I judged his responses during our conversation. He seemed at times agitated at my questions, though when I explained if there was any research money to be had, NIT would like to get in on it, he seemed to relax somewhat. But it was one of his last statements that really bugged me. He said something to the effect that his company would be interested if there were a new idea to hit the table, but … Of course, there’s always a ‘but’ isn’t there? But - he added only if there was a known and proven benefit and something they could hang their name onto. That made me leery enough that I wanted to pursue it no further. I politely ended that conversation and moved on. I thought that would pretty much be the end of it, and that this initial contact was nothing more than a dead end. That’s what I got for thinking as the saying goes. What happened a couple of days later caught me completely off guard and may not have killed the canary in the mine, but it made him mighty sick.

Oh, oh, go on, Joe! exclaimed A. J.

Yes, please do! added Judith.

You sure you’re ready for this? I queried.

Both nodded their approval.

I had a visit from the FBI, I almost whispered.

No way, Judith offered in a low whisper herself.

Rut roh, A. J. tossed in but was it actually in regards to our idea?

I’m afraid so, I confirmed. The guy was very authoritative and very inquisitive, but in a ‘fishing’ sort of way. I don’t really think he knew anything specific, or at least he wasn’t saying so. But he said a couple of things that rather spooked me.

Such as? asked Judith.

Get this, I continued, he said the ‘good of the common order’is the most important factor in developing new technologies. What first spooked me, well after him showing up at all that is, was when he said that. And he also added I should keep that thought in the forefront of my mind. And then before I could hardly digest those statements came another zinger. That the ‘government knows best’ about how to develop such things. I could see where he was headed and it was nowhere that looked inviting.

I wonder why it was the FBI? queried A. J., Wouldn’t that have to mean he was tipped from something or by someone out of state?

A. J., I thought that exact thing, I answered. If it were local to Virginia, then I’d have expected to see the VBI. So I think you’re right, it originated outside of our state.

Oh, then you mean … Judith asked incredulously.

Yep, I had to have been sold out by dear old Uncle Bob, I responded, my wariness seems in hindsight to have been justified. Being as he’s the only one outside of the three of us who we’ve made mention to, he has got to be the source. I am certainly glad I spoke only in generalities. I think that’s a critically important thing we need to bear in mind as we debate what step to take next. Generalities only until we find a comfort zone where we think we can go further.

Everyone nodded in agreement once more.

All right now, I rambled on, let me tell you the end of the story. As he was leaving, he walked by Sandy’s desk, said good-bye and then added something to the effect that hopefully he wouldn’t have to be back anytime too soon. I tell you that sent a new chill down my spine. But that was just a little chill compared to what I saw next. My window blinds were barely cracked, so I looked out and saw this guy walk across the lawn and get into a black SUV. As that vehicle pulled out into traffic, I was absolutely floored to see a second black SUV pull out. I mean just like a show on TV. So, I waited forty-five minutes or so and came to round up you guys for this meeting.

Seems as we better tread with extreme caution, wouldn’t you agree A. J.? asked Judith.

Absolutely. I think Joe better step back for a little while in case there’s any heat on him – no pun intended! He laughed as he commented.

We all shared a laugh of relief at that comment.

Judith, A. J. continued, it looks as though your former associate back out west may have to be our next contact. That’s what I’d say we do. Joe?

I answered, I agree with A. J., Judith. Are you up to seeing if you can locate him and make contact with him? I know you’ll stay with the generalities and recall what you said to me. Something like ‘be totally non-committal and don’t give up any facts and there shouldn’t be any unnecessary risk of discovery’.

She replied, Let me see what I can do then. Give me a few days and then I’ll let you know when we’re ready to meet again. She stood. Now, you’ll have to excuse me, I’ve got to get back to a few things. The canary was now with Judith.

As I made the return walk back to my office, all manner of thoughts were racing through my mind. It was then I began to reminisce about all that had transpired over the last few weeks. Back to what started the three of us on what we naively and innocently thought was a minor scientific discovery. And now to wondering just what have we created? Indeed, what have we done?

Chapter II

The journey along the road to scientific discovery is often littered with the debris of false hopes, assumptions, dead ends and countless hours of fruitless labor. Yet one of the greatest facets of the human mind is its tenacity to push ever forward despite the obstacles before it. Without this tenacity, many of the advances and improvements of human civilization over the last 700 years might still be waiting to be developed, leaving us in a society which none of us might recognize today. But, by virtue of dogged pursuit of discovery and improvement in the human condition, stunning advances and marvels are discovered. This is the story of the discovery of one such marvel and the journey from vague, undefined concept to practical application. And a story of the struggles ignited among factions of men, some with goodness in their hearts and those who would seek only to hold the advantage of power.

My name is Dr. Joe T. Magnum. I am a Professor of Molecular Particles and Theory at the Neuprotel Institute of Technology (NIT) in Virginia. My lifelong goal has been to teach the fundamentals of the particles of matter to inquiring young minds. After some thirty years in the field, I still pursue keeping my mind in tune with the ultimate goals of research. I can truthfully say I enjoy doing what I do today just as much as I did many moons ago with the added benefits of technology aiding in the pace of research and accomplishment.

Another benefit of many years in a specific field is the lifelong friends one develops along the way. Little did I know as my life moved along its journey that I would come to know, love and appreciate some of the greatest minds our Creator ever placed upon the planet. It was these friends who gave me my nickname, calling me Magnum (as in .44 Magnum) or Dr. Joe.

It was while pursuing my doctorate that I met the wonderful Judith Gunterhausen. We both were pursuing the same advanced degree in close, yet distinctly differing fields. After graduation, Dr. G, or Gunter as I often called her, and I went separate ways for a number of years, but still stayed in touch by phone. We would occasionally run into each other at some symposium that would give us time to catch up on each other’s developing families. We became very close friends and professional associates.

About three years after receiving my doctorate, and while I was in my initial research job with the Xulbrek Corporation, I met Dr. A. J. Chandra. He told us that he could explain what the initials A. J. stood for – if we had about ten minutes. He liked to be called simply by his initials and all his friends and co-workers willingly obliged and Dr. A. J. or often just A. J. was how he became known to us. His advanced degrees were both in quantum mechanics, a branch of physics which deals with physical phenomena at microscopic scales. He and I developed, or maybe I should say soon settled into, a regular Thursday night gathering at our favorite watering hole. Over the course of the next few years, we became very close and came to relish deep theoretical discussions over many an adult libation. Now before you think we were nothing but science geeks, we both enjoyed pulling practical jokes on each other. You would be very surprised at some of the antics science geeks can pull in the way of practical jokes. Even a superficial knowledge of chemistry and physics opens the door to weird and wacky possibilities.

I have a friend who has a degree in Aerospace Engineering. He worked a short time for a defense contractor and worked with solid fuel rockets. He tells the story of how samples of the solid fuel were pulled in a tension test as one indicator of their performance. Anyway, there always seemed to be leftover samples which were in the shape of a dog bone. He would get some of these and invite us over. He would bury them in the ground, packing the soil tightly with only one end of the dog bone exposed and then light it with a long match. What followed was a neat light show, especially when done at night. When the bone had burned down to the other big end, the burning above had formed a smaller hole (nozzle) in the soil. It was then the light show really began as more material was burning and trying to get out the same hole. I believe fire went fifteen feet in the air. Whoopee! What fun. But I digress.

It was during my time at Xulbrek that I met the love of my life, Carole. She was really nothing like me and by that I mean not geeky at all. She grew up in a rough and tumble family of four boys and two girls. She was the second child and first girl. Blessed with an abundance of common sense, she was my polar opposite. No one would have ever, in their wildest dreams, dreamt of two such diverse souls finding enough common ground for marriage. Yet we did, and I like to think we complemented each other quite well and would work our fingers to the bone if necessary to stay together. We are the embodiment of opposites attract. Over the course of the next ten years, we were blessed with three children, in the order of daughter-son-daughter.

The Thursday night gatherings that A. J. and I started continued on with other sporadic visitors. The two of us often used our time together as a sounding board to bounce personal issues off each other, and especially so as the challenges of raising children and keeping families together came to both of us. A. J. had met a very outgoing woman named Karen who was a guest at our wedding. He was married to her within eighteen months of our ceremony. They enjoyed the blessings of a pair of twin daughters and later a son. Our families shared dinner at least once a month and tried to take a joint vacation trip once a year, sometimes just the adults and sometimes the entire families.

Not long after the birth of our last daughter, the opportunity came for me to take a professor position at the Neuprotel Institute of Technology