Short Fiction · Chapter
Chapter IX explained
The President and his advisors discuss an imminent threat from an unnamed enemy who believes the United States has secretly continued Project Mastodon and is close to achieving time travel.
What happens
The President and his advisors discuss an imminent threat from an unnamed enemy who believes the United States has secretly continued Project Mastodon and is close to achieving time travel. Despite the project being abandoned years ago, the enemy is convinced otherwise and plans a preemptive strike within 30 to 90 days. The possibility of bluffing about having time travel is dismissed as ineffective.
Themes in this chapter
Fear of the Unknown
The enemy's fear of U.S. time travel capabilities drives them to consider a desperate attack, despite the project being abandoned.
Technology and Morality
The abandoned Project Mastodon and the potential for time travel create a moral and strategic dilemma, leading to international brinkmanship.
Characters to notice
- President Adams
President of the United States, grappling with the threat of an imminent attack based on a misunderstanding about Project Mastodon.
- General Leslie Bowers
Mentioned as the old general who protested the cancellation of Project Mastodon; now retired.
- Secretary Cooper
Secretary of state who suggests bluffing about having time travel to buy time.
Key passages
“They lie awake nights. They've become convinced that we're on the verge of traveling in time.”
The enemy is terrified and certain that we are about to achieve time travel.
CIA chief explains the enemy's fear-driven conviction.
“Could we bluff? ... You mean hint that we have time travel?”
Could we pretend we have time travel to gain time?
Secretary of state proposes a bluff strategy.