“Well, we’re not sure about that yet but, yes it is headed our way and will pass very close. Our team is still working on that bit of calculation,” Abby said.
“Yes, yes. We are refining ours as well. Many things to consider. I am sending you our full findings. I talked to Amiée when the initial results started coming in. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t imagining something. Our basic results are nearly the exact same. Size, classification, mass are almost identical. Our speeds are somewhat different. We think it is traveling at closer to 37 kilometers per second. That's considerably faster than what they have but other than that, we are pretty much identical. Doctor Montgomery, thank you for letting us be a part of this incredible find. This is a once in a lifetime discovery and I am just happy that we could be of some assistance.”
“I thank you doctor for all your hard work.”
“I am having the results sent to you. You will receive a fax, email, and a hard copy of everything we did along with the procedures used and how they were performed,” he told her.
“I am most grateful Doctor Kwame.”
Well it was verified from two independent sources. Now it was time to notify the JPL where she knew they would scoff at first and then want credit later. She decided that wasn’t going to happen.
PHOENIX CHANNEL 14 News
Astronomers at the University of Arizona announced at a press conference today that Professor Abigail Montgomery and her team have located an undiscovered large object that has entered our solar system. Doctor Montgomery said that the discovery was made during an attempt to establish if a tenth planet had ever existed. It was during that period of time that they made their discovery.
When asked if she had verification of the existence of such object she sited independent confirmation from Doctor Amiée Laurent, director of the VLT or Very Large Telescope in Chili and from Doctor Kwame, Director of the Isla de La Palma Observatory in the Canary Islands. Both sites confirmed the initial findings of Doctor Montgomery’s team.
When asked about specifics, Doctor Montgomery declined to talk about them until she had met with the JPL director. She will turn over her findings and all documentation to them.
“I will tell you that it is a startling find. Why it wasn’t discovered before is perplexing at this time but it’s there and it’s real,” she said.
USNews Today
A team led by Doctor Abigail Montgomery announced that they have discovered a large object that has entered our solar system. Doctor Montgomery and her team did not release any details but did reveal that their findings have been confirmed by observatories in both Chili and the Canary Islands.
Both observatories acknowledged that they had validated the findings of the University of Arizona team. When pressed for specific details Doctor Montgomery said that she had yet to formally notify the JPL Near Earth Orbit facility and would do so as soon as they had time to organize everything.
Asked what this meant, all Montgomery would say was, ‘Colossal’. When asked if the object was a danger to the Earth she said that they had not made that determination at this time. She would wait until after her meeting with the JPL to give specifics.
“Abby, are you still sure that was the best way to handle this information?” the President of the University asked.
“I do. If I had gone to the JPL immediately the University of Arizona would have been nothing more than a footnote. By getting it out there before they could shove us aside and take credit for our find, we ensured that the University will get full credit.”
“Won’t they frown on what you did?”
“They can frown all they want. They will still try to get most of the credit but they can’t ignore us totally. I intend to keep this in front of the news as this University’s find not some government agency trying to steal our work.”
“Abby, I think you are being a little harsh.”
“Really? Who took most of the credit for DA14? Was Spain even mentioned in the media at all? No. It was JPL this and JPL that but Spain was left out of the picture entirely. John, we’re talking about being able to get huge endowments for our program. Wouldn’t it be nice to not have to worry about money?”
“Well, I can’t argue with that but keep in mind that we do work for the government as well. We can’t afford to alienate them.”
“I appreciate that. Don’t worry John, I’ll go lightly but my team won’t be placed in a minor support role. We found it; we should get credit for it.”
“I don’t disagree. I just know that once you get a bee in your bonnet you can get pretty feisty Abby,” the President said.
“Yes I can,” she replied.
“Just always keep in mind, the University is dependent upon funding from the government. We simply can’t afford to burn bridges.”
“I understand that but at the same time the University deserves the credit and should be the ones that get the accolades. That will bring in additional funding as well I should think.”
“We can hope,” the President replied.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Abby hadn’t even had time to sit down before she was informed that Lance Weldon, Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory was calling for her.
“Doctor Montgomery.”
“Doctor. I’m Lance Weldon with the JPL. I wanted to call you and ask about the startling article I read in the paper this morning. I’m anxious to get the full details,” he said.
“Well, we are putting together a full report to present to your people. We hope to have it finished by tomorrow at the latest,” she said.
She already had the report in front of her but she wasn’t about to let them start shoving immediately.
“We would like to see your preliminary data sooner if that isn’t an inconvenience,” Weldon said.
“I wish I could accommodate you but we simply aren’t ready to release the data. I want to make absolutely sure everything is documented,” she replied.
“Well the thing is, I need to report to the President. I’m sure he is going to have questions for us and I just don’t know what to tell him. Trying to read behind the lines it appears that you are talking about a rather large asteroid that hasn’t been discovered previously,” he prodded.
“Yes. That would be quite accurate. You could certainly tell him that. Of course he may want proof and that is what we are putting together,” Abby told him.
“Yes but the point is, with the preliminary data we would be in a better position to brief him adequately. The President doesn’t like unsubstantiated information.”
“But it is. From two sources.”
“So you indicated.”
“Yes. Yes I did, didn’t I? I appreciate the situation you are in but we will expedite the information as quickly as possible.”
“I see. So you are unwilling to give us any advanced information?”
“Oh heavens no. Not unwilling, unprepared is a more accurate term. Oh and Director Weldon, you will mention that it was the University of Arizona that made the discovery won’t you?”
“I see. I’m sure I will mention it.”
“It would be good if you did. Good day director,” she said and hung up.
She could almost picture it. The director glaring at the phone and muttering something very unflattering about her. He could get as mad as he wanted but it was their data to share when they were ready.