The Cosmic Computer · Chapter
The Meeting at the Academy explained
Conn and Rodney Maxwell attend a large meeting at the Academy to present Conn's findings about abandoned Federation installations and to discuss the search for Merlin.
What happens
Conn and Rodney Maxwell attend a large meeting at the Academy to present Conn's findings about abandoned Federation installations and to discuss the search for Merlin. Conn skillfully navigates skepticism from Wade Lucas, who storms out in disgust. The group decides to form a prospecting company, Litchfield Exploration & Salvage, to secretly fund the search for Merlin while publicly focusing on salvage operations. Plans are made to clean up Litchfield as a cover for training workers.
Themes in this chapter
Myth vs. Reality
The debate over Merlin's existence pits rational skepticism (Lucas) against fervent belief, with Conn manipulating the narrative to serve his goals.
Deception and Leadership
Conn and Rodney plan to use the salvage company as a cover for their true objective, masking their preparations from the Planetary Government and Federation.
Economic Decline and Revival
The meeting focuses on exploiting abandoned Federation resources to revive Litchfield's economy, with a cleanup project to employ drifters.
Characters to notice
- Conn Maxwell
Presents his findings about Federation installations and defends the existence of Merlin, using rhetoric to sway the crowd.
- Rodney Maxwell
Proposes forming a company to finance the search for Merlin, using Conn's information as capital.
- Wade Lucas
Vehemently argues against the belief in Merlin, quotes Thomas Paine, and storms out of the meeting in disgust.
- Kurt Fawzi
Acts as a reception committee member and later supports the cleanup plan as mayor.
- Judge Ledue
Presides over the meeting at Conn's suggestion, smoothing over tensions between Fawzi and Kellton.
- Colonel Klem Zareff
Supports Conn's argument about intelligence lag, referencing his Alliance Army experience.
Key passages
“A computer can only process the data that’s been taped into it.”
Computers are limited by the information they are given.
Conn uses this argument to explain why Merlin might have misjudged the Alliance attack.
“To argue with those who have renounced the use and authority of reason is as futile as to administer medicine to the dead.”
It is pointless to debate with people who reject reason.
Wade Lucas quotes Thomas Paine to dismiss the believers in Merlin.
“What’s legality to the Federation? They fought a criminally illegal war of aggression against my people.”
The Federation ignores legality when it suits them.
Colonel Zareff warns that the Federation might seize Merlin despite legal protections.