Myriad Universes 02_ Echoes and Refractions - Keith R. A. DeCandido [53]
“Additionally, the ability of the Earth’s agricultural operations to produce a crop yield is practically nonexistent. Even once the storms subside, climate zones will be irrevocably altered, and the lack of direct sunlight will make farming impossible. Global famine is inevitable.
“The global health crisis is exacerbated by the lack of usable power sources in many communities, either due to electromagnetic damage or the lack of solar energy. Furthermore, the saline content of the saturated atmosphere has nearly destroyed the ozone layer; therefore, in a tragic irony, the only energy we are receiving from the sun is in the form of ultraviolet radiation that is harmful to biological life.”
Another round of muffled and whispered voices spread through the chamber, as the delegates wondered just how much worse the news could become. Indeed, Thelin himself would have been utterly demoralized had he not been aware of what Carol Marcus had planned.
Carol’s serious expression brightened with anticipation of what she would next be sharing. “As hopeless as things may seem, rest assured that we believe we have the technology to reverse much, if not all, of the damage to Earth’s ecosystem.”
She hesitated. Her eyes drifted over the crowd assembled before her and settled upon the Klingon ambassador, standing at the rear of the room beneath the windows of the spectator gallery with his arms folded. Nearly everyone in the room knew the reason for his appearance, and the subject at hand would not do much to make him more agreeable.
“By this time,” she continued, “you all are well aware of the controversial research project formerly known as 'Genesis.’ This was the culmination of more than eleven years of research in climate modification. Unfortunately, the project’s ultimate goal-the terraforming of lifeless worlds for potential colonization-has experienced some…setbacks.”
Thelin silently laughed at the understatement. He was amazed that Carol was able to discuss the matter with such composure, given the events that had transpired between her son and the Klingons as a direct result of the unscheduled detonation of the prototype in the Mutara sector.
“However, those failures notwithstanding, we still believe that on a smaller scale the technology is still viable. Our plan is to deploy a low-power Genesis wave with a modified matrix into the upper atmosphere to reduce the ionization and restore the proper balance to the atmospheric layers. The risks are minimal, and with the council’s permission, and assistance from Starfleet, we can begin immediately.”
Carol yielded the podium to Roth but remained standing beside him. The president maintained the optimistic tone of the discussion as he asked the council whether they had any questions. An elderly human man with olive skin held up his hand, and Roth pointed to him. “Yes, the representative from Earth’s Indian subcontinent, er…Doctor Patel, is it?”
“Thank you, Mr. President,” the man responded. “Doctor Marcus, what risks to the Earth’s population are posed by this deployment of the Genesis effect?”
Roth retreated and Carol confidently stepped back up to the podium. “An excellent question, Doctor. Our modified Genesis matrix will contain no metastatic effects-nothing that will alter biological life-forms, and most important, no protomatter. Furthermore, the range of the effect will not extend beyond the upper atmosphere. The risk to the ground-based population is negligible.”
Her questioner seemingly satisfied, Carol once again yielded to Roth. When no further questions were forthcoming, the president immediately asked for a motion to take a verbal vote. The motion was made and seconded, and when the hall erupted in calls of “aye” the resolution was passed without debate.
“And now, the discussion of Genesis brings us to the