“Who the hell is coming to visit you?” growled a voice from beside Ben. He turned to see Jack standing beside him, wrapped in the fluffy white robe with white guest slippers on his feet.
“Did they wake you?” Ben asked.
“I’d recognize the sound of those carriers anywhere.” He looked at Ben. “You do work for the military?”
“No! I mean, I’ve designed something they’re interested in and I was told they wanted to meet me but I wasn’t expecting them so soon. My latest device caught the eye of a Colonel Alexander Hargrave.” Ben said watching the vehicles at the end of his driveway. No movement yet.
“Crap. That blowhard. I’ve heard of him. He’s apparently more of a salesman than a soldier.” He tipped his chin up at the display. “This is one of his shock and awe moves. He wants whatever you’re selling. What do you do?”
“I’m a Mechanical Engineer. I designed a filter for radioactive particles. A very good filter,” Ben said.
“Well, that’s going to make the Army stiff in their kilts,” Jack said with a grin. He gave Ben an appraising look. “You don’t appear very intimidated by the display.”
“I’m not. It seems overly dramatic,” Ben replied.
“Like I said, Hargrave’s a blowhard and I’ve heard his method is to bully people into getting what he wants. I do know he doesn’t have half the authority he pretends to have.” Jack explained.
“Good to know. I don’t like bullies,” Ben said with a scowl.
“You’ll do just fine then. If you don’t mind I’m going to avail myself of that wonderful looking shower.”
“Not at all! Enjoy!” Ben replied with a smile.
Jack moved away as silent as he’d approached. Ben was glad to have him on his side.
He looked back at the trucks just as someone exited the front passenger door to open the rear door for a man, most likely Colonel Hargrave, to step out. He placed his hat on his head and began walking towards the house. The man who opened the door closed it and fell in step behind the Colonel.
Ben turned to see the wide eyed ladies standing in a group behind him. “Do you think I might have the living room to speak with the Colonel in private?” he asked.
“Of course Ben!” Tina said and led the others to the kitchen as Ben made his way to the front door. The doorbell rang and Ben opened the door.
“Hello, can I help you?” Ben said.
The Colonel’s smile slipped just a little. “Colonel Hargrave. Don Blake mentioned I was coming to see you?”
“Ah yes Colonel, please come in,” Ben said and gestured for the men to enter.
They saw the boots lined up against the wall by the door and Ben was in socks so they slipped off their shoes and followed Ben into the living room.
“This is First Lieutenant David Kendricks. He works for me in the Office of the United States Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology. OASA(ALT) for short.”
Ben shook his hand and gestured for the men to take seats on the couch. He sat in his favorite chair across from them.
“Are you the person solely responsible for the design of the filter we saw the test results for?” Hargrave began.
“Yes.”
“Where did you do this work?” the colonel asked.
“Right here. My office is in the basement,” Ben answered.
“You’re an independent contractor?” Hargrave asked, raising his eyebrows.
“Yes, I’m semi-retired. I keep an eye on the engineering boards and when I see a puzzle that intrigues me I do what I can to solve it,” Ben said looking at the intrigued expression on the face of the Colonel’s assistant Kendricks who chose that moment to speak.
“So you’ve designed other devices?” the man said in interest.
“Dozens,” Ben responded, drawing a smile from the man.
Hargrave threw an annoyed glance at his assistant. “Coming back to the filter, you’ve filed for a patent. Our people confirmed this. I suppose if we looked further we would have found patents for these other devices?”
“Yes, though some which I felt had a limited application I sold,” he replied.
“We’ve seen the test results but we haven’t seen the actual device nor seen its specs to prove it does what they claim it can. If it’s legit we would be interested in perhaps purchasing the patent from you.”
“This one isn’t for sale,” Ben said clearly to ensure the man heard him.
“Really? The offer would be financially significant,” Hargrave said with a sly smile.
Ben sighed and looked at the men. He stood as they looked up at him. “Please come with me.”
They were a little surprised but they followed him downstairs to the door of his office. He punched in the code and the door unlocked. He went inside and they followed. The lights came on and Ben flipped another switch to light up all of the display cases. Kendricks made an appreciative noise but Hargrave just frowned at his assistant again.
Ben guided them over to the first display case. “In my university years I designed and patented this valve. Far more efficient and safe for use in nuclear power installations. I sold the patent for 4 million dollars and invested it well.” Ben moved over to the next item in the display. “This was a new type of insulator which greatly reduces electric current harmonics. I sold the patent for 10 million. I invested that too.” They moved on. “I began keeping the patents and just licensing them, earning a good income from the fees and investing that.”
He stopped and faced the Colonel. “Money I have. I’m just now starting to find ways to make that money serve a purpose and that feels really good. Finding solutions to these engineering puzzles makes me happy. Spreading the wealth I’m accumulating to improve the lives of those around me and those I work with makes me happy. I’m finally finding a purpose.”
He looked at Kendricks who was looking down the row of cases with something like awe on his face. Ben smiled at his enthusiasm.
“Have- would you considered designing solutions for engineering issues from the Army?” Kendricks asked.
“If a request shows up on the engineering board and it peaks my interest I’ll take a look to see if I can solve it. Have you ever submitted a request there?” Ben asked.
“We can’t post state secrets on a public board!” Hargrave growled, his annoyance with his assistant finally getting the better of him.
“The boards are anonymous to the users and are engineering issues actually state secrets? These boards are currently the only place I look so if I can’t see them I can’t help,” Ben stated calmly.
Kendricks was nodding thoughtfully, ignoring the glare from his superior as his mind worked on this issue.
“Back to the filter. Do you have a physical sample of the device?” Hargrave asked bluntly.
“Maybe. I haven’t checked my mail. I may have received a copy of the filter I ordered from the milling shop. I couldn’t keep the original prototype after it was used in the test chamber so I sent the shop a request to make me a second one for display.” Ben said pointing over his shoulder to the glass cases. “Ah! I do have a picture of me holding the prototype!” Ben held up his phone and the two men stared at the small picture doubtfully. “I could also show you the CAD drawings but I’m not giving out the specs to anyone at the moment. You understand.”
“Do you understand that this device would give the States a significant military advantage over its foes in the event of a nuclear exchange?” Hargrave exclaimed boldly.
Ben looked at the man incredulously. “Do you understand that there wouldn’t be any advantages left after a… did you really call it a nuclear exchange? Once nuclear weapons are used there won’t be a human race to save.”
“A limited exchange of nuclear weapons is entirely survivable!” the Colonel argued.
Ben looked at Kendricks who looked embarrassed and angry but wouldn’t look at either of them. Ben supposed the man had already stepped as far out on the branch as he was willing to go. Attempting to rein in his boss would be too far.
“If you truly believe that nuclear weapons could and should be used in a ‘limited exchange’ then I truly pray you are never promoted to a position which would allow you to try to make your fantasy come true. That’s a Pandora’s Box best left alone.” There was an awkward silence as the Colonel scowled at Ben as his jaw muscles clenched. Ben gestured for them to head back upstairs and they did. Once they re-entered the living room Ben addressed them again.
“After your little disclosure downstairs I’m not sure if there is anything you have to say that I might be interested in listening to,” Ben stated.
“Mr. Shepherd, as a US citizen who invented a device the US Army believes would give us a tactical advantage-”
“Do they?” Ben asked, interrupting the man’s little speech.
“… does who?” Hargrave stumbled, frustrated with the unfamiliar sensation of being questioned so boldly.
“Does the US Army truly believe a filter, a device I believe is best suited for protection in hazardous environments, would give them a tactical advantage? I mean, outside of your unrealistic expectation of limited mutual annihilation? Or is this just more of your own skewed opinion?” Ben said with a frown.
“I AM the US Army!” Hargrave barked angrily.
“No, no you’re not.”
The three men turned to see a grey haired flat top approaching with a grim look on his face.
“Sorry Ben, I couldn’t stand to hear someone bad mouthing an organization I love.” Jack said and Ben nodded.
“Who the hell are you?” Hargrave growled.
“Master Sergeant Jack McGovern, US Army, retired.”
Kendricks had a surprised expression on his face but he nodded to Jack which drew a scowl from his boss who turned to Ben.