first name.
“It’s not going to be easy,” Scanwell said, his brows knitting. “Making energy independence a major campaign issue
will mean the oil interests line up solidly against me. A lot of money there.”
“And power,” Dan agreed.
“You’ve fought against them before,” Jane pointed out. “And won.”
Scanwell grinned forlornly. “Yeah, I squeaked past ’em for governor. But Garrison and his people will work their butts off against me now.”
“Garrison?” Dan asked. Then he realized that of course Garrison of Tricontinental Oil would be against any candidate who threatened his power.
“It’ll be tough, but I’m willing to slug it out with them,” said the governor, “if I can show that we have a practical alternative to importing foreign oil.”
Kinsky offered, “Well, I think we can help you there. Solar power satellites could play a major role in making America independent of overseas oil.”
“That so?” Scanwell asked, looking squarely at Dan.
“Yes, it is, Governor. With power satellites and nuclear plants we—”
“People are scared of nuclear,” the governor objected.
Dan groused, “Yeah, they’d rather have blackouts.”
“Power satellites don’t present any environmental problems,” Kinsky said, trying to bring the conversation back on point. “It’s solar energy. Nobody’s scared of solar energy.”
“But you’re in trouble now,” Scanwell said to Dan.
“Deep trouble,” Dan admitted. “To be perfectly honest, I need all the help I can get, Governor.”
Before Scanwell could reply, Jane said, “The support of a major presidential candidate would help you to raise money, wouldn’t it?”
Dan nodded warily. “Sure, once your campaign gets underway. Problem is, I need help now.”
“And a promise of government funding after Morgan’s elected,” Jane added. “That would be even better in the long run, wouldn’t it?”
“Wellll,” Dan said, drawing out the word, “government funding could be a two-edged sword.”
Scanwell’s brows knit in puzzlement.
Kinsky jumped in, “What Dan means—”
“What I mean is that federal funding will bring all sorts of government oversight and red tape. NASA will want to run the show. Every congressional committee this side of the Moon will want to stick their fingers in.”
Jane looked nettled, but Scanwell broke into a big grin. “You’re completely right But what else could the government do to help you, once I’m elected?”
Hunching forward in his chair, Dan said, “Offer backing for loans. The same way the government did for Lockheed and Chrysler when they were in trouble.”
“That was a long time ago,” Jane said.
“Loan guarantees,” Scanwell mused, glancing at her.
“It won’t cost the taxpayers a cent,” Dan said. “The federal government just guarantees that any loans to Astro Corporation will be backed by the U.S. Treasury. Wall Street will do the rest.”
“Do you think you could raise the capital you need to finish the project?” Jane asked.
“From the private money markets, yes, sure. If the government guarantees the loans.”
“But what, if you fail?” Scanwell asked.
“That’s not the problem,” Dan countered. “The problem is that we need money now. With all due respect, Governor, I can’t wait until your campaign starts. Or until you’re in the White House. I have a payroll to meet and a powersat to put into operation. Right now.”
Scanwell stared into Dan’s eyes for a long silent moment, as if trying to see what was going on in his mind.
“You need funding to tide you over,” he murmured at last.
“’That’s the size of it,” said Dan.
Jane said, “It could bring national media attention to you, Morgan. A bold new idea. A new way to unleash the power of American industry in space. The road to energy independence. It could get you the kind of attention that you need.”
“The oil interests won’t like it,” Scanwell murmured.
“They’ll
“It’s not going to be easy,” Scanwell said, his brows knitting. “Making energy independence a major campaign issue
will mean the oil interests line up solidly against me. A lot of money there.”
“And power,” Dan agreed.
“You’ve fought against them before,” Jane pointed out. “And won.”
Scanwell grinned forlornly. “Yeah, I squeaked past ’em for governor. But Garrison and his people will work their butts off against me now.”
“Garrison?” Dan asked. Then he realized that of course Garrison of Tricontinental Oil would be against any candidate who threatened his power.
“It’ll be tough, but I’m willing to slug it out with them,” said the governor, “if I can show that we have a practical alternative to importing foreign oil.”
Kinsky offered, “Well, I think we can help you there. Solar power satellites could play a major role in making America independent of overseas oil.”
“That so?” Scanwell asked, looking squarely at Dan.
“Yes, it is, Governor. With power satellites and nuclear plants we—”
“People are scared of nuclear,” the governor objected.
Dan groused, “Yeah, they’d rather have blackouts.”
“Power satellites don’t present any environmental problems,” Kinsky said, trying to bring the conversation back on point. “It’s solar energy. Nobody’s scared of solar energy.”
“But you’re in trouble now,” Scanwell said to Dan.
“Deep trouble,” Dan admitted. “To be perfectly honest, I need all the help I can get, Governor.”
Before Scanwell could reply, Jane said, “The support of a major presidential candidate would help you to raise money, wouldn’t it?”
Dan nodded warily. “Sure, once your campaign gets underway. Problem is, I need help now.”
“And a promise of government funding after Morgan’s elected,” Jane added. “That would be even better in the long run, wouldn’t it?”
“Wellll,” Dan said, drawing out the word, “government funding could be a two-edged sword.”
Scanwell’s brows knit in puzzlement.
Kinsky jumped in, “What Dan means—”
“What I mean is that federal funding will bring all sorts of government oversight and red tape. NASA will want to run the show. Every congressional committee this side of the Moon will want to stick their fingers in.”
Jane looked nettled, but Scanwell broke into a big grin. “You’re completely right But what else could the government do to help you, once I’m elected?”
Hunching forward in his chair, Dan said, “Offer backing for loans. The same way the government did for Lockheed and Chrysler when they were in trouble.”
“That was a long time ago,” Jane said.
“Loan guarantees,” Scanwell mused, glancing at her.
“It won’t cost the taxpayers a cent,” Dan said. “The federal government just guarantees that any loans to Astro Corporation will be backed by the U.S. Treasury. Wall Street will do the rest.”
“Do you think you could raise the capital you need to finish the project?” Jane asked.
“From the private money markets, yes, sure. If the government guarantees the loans.”
“But what, if you fail?” Scanwell asked.
“That’s not the problem,” Dan countered. “The problem is that we need money now. With all due respect, Governor, I can’t wait until your campaign starts. Or until you’re in the White House. I have a payroll to meet and a powersat to put into operation. Right now.”
Scanwell stared into Dan’s eyes for a long silent moment, as if trying to see what was going on in his mind.
“You need funding to tide you over,” he murmured at last.
“’That’s the size of it,” said Dan.
Jane said, “It could bring national media attention to you, Morgan. A bold new idea. A new way to unleash the power of American industry in space. The road to energy independence. It could get you the kind of attention that you need.”
“The oil interests won’t like it,” Scanwell murmured.
“They’ll
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