GUNG HO MISSION – CHAPTER 2 – THE MEETING

Kit was in her office looking at the chart of the three people left for the pilot position: Anthon Cray, Brian Fox and Shane McCutcheon. Kit already knew she would have to fight to get Shane for the mission but she was ready for it. All she had to do was convince Steven Jaffe, the CEO of the ISA, and Harry Samchuck, the NASA representative.

She looked at the two men sitting at the opposite end of the conference table. They were glancing through the papers in front of them. Kit took a deep mental breath and decided to take the bull by the horns.

Ok we now have to decide for the pilot position. I want to know who you think is best for the mission.

I have to admit that the results of McCutcheon are very impressive but I also think that she got lucky and isnt ready for this kind of mission as good as she might seem to be. I think Anthon Cray is more qualified and a more secure choice, Steven said thoughtfully as he laid the papers back on the desk. What he didnt say out loud was that Anthon Cray didnt just seem the safer choice because of his larger experience, but also because he indeed wasnt McCutcheon.

I am also very impressed by the performance of McCutcheon. I do think shes as good as she looks but Im not sure shes the best choice either. It would be her first mission and Im not sure its a good thing to choose her. Maybe in real conditions she wont be able to react in the proper way and make a mistake that might prove fatal for the mission. So Im going to go with Stevens choice. Anthon Cray is a safer choice, Harry said with some discomfort. He wasnt so sure Steven was right, but the man had clout and he wasnt jumping at the bit to go against the man.

Kit clasped her hands in front of her as if she was about to say a prayer. She lowered her head to her joined hands and said quietly,

I personally think that Shane McCutcheon IS the best choice we can make. She ruffled through the papers in front of her and pulled out a sheet full of statistics. Steven, have you even taken the time to read her record? she said with a questioning tone in her voice.