A6-04 Conditional Support

"I'll support the experiment," you say, "but with conditions."

Wade's eyebrow rises slightly. For him, this already constitutes enormous surprise — he clearly expected you to refuse.

"What conditions?"

You pick up a sheet of paper from the table — you wrote it last night. You've been thinking about this for a long time.

"First, the experiment must be conducted at the edge of the solar system, far from any inhabited area. No less than ten astronomical units from the nearest Bunker City."

"Agreed."

"Second, before each experiment, all involved personnel must voluntarily sign informed consent forms. No one may be forced to participate."

"Agreed."

"Third — and this is the most important — if the experiment develops uncontrollable conditions, you must terminate immediately. Not continue taking risks, not 'try one more time' — terminate immediately. I will station an independent oversight team at the experiment site, and they will have the authority to halt the experiment at any moment. You cannot override their decision."

Wade falls silent.

You know the third condition is the one he finds most unacceptable. Wade is a man who doesn't accept "halt." His entire philosophy is "advance at all costs" — the opposite of advance isn't failure, it's stopping.

"This is my bottom line," you say. "Without these conditions, I will not support you."

Wade looks at you for a long time. Then he says something that surprises you:

"Fine. I accept."

But his eyes say: I accept your conditions — until the moment they get in my way.

The experiments begin.

The first few years progress smoothly. Wade does abide by the conditions — experiments are conducted at the edge of the solar system far from inhabited areas, all personnel participate voluntarily, and the independent oversight team is present throughout.

But as the experiments deepen, conflict inevitably emerges.

During the seventh full-scale experiment, the curvature engine produces anomalous fluctuations. The oversight team demands a halt. Wade refuses.

"The data shows the anomaly is within controllable parameters," Wade says over the comm channel. "We continue."

"Mr. Wade, the agreement stipulates —"

"I said continue."

The experiment continues. The anomalous fluctuations stabilize after thirty seconds. The experiment succeeds — the curvature drive reaches 40% of light speed.

But the conditions have been broken. Your bottom line has been crossed.

You face a choice: terminate the entire project because Wade violated the conditions? Or tacitly accept his behavior, since the experiments are indeed making progress?