Newsgroups: alt.ql.creative Path: cronkite.cisco.com!decwrl!uunet!psinntp!laidbak!tellab5!ricks From: ricks@tellabs.com (Rick Slavens) Subject: Compounding the Problem Message-Id: <1993Aug30.134610.16197@tellab5.tellabs.com> Sender: news@tellab5.tellabs.com (News) Nntp-Posting-Host: tellab1 Organization: Tellabs, Lisle, IL Distribution: usa Date: Mon, 30 Aug 1993 13:46:10 GMT Lines: 92 COMPOUNDING THE PROBLEM (Rick Slavens - August 26, 1993) Sam wondered if he would ever get used to the loss of equilibrium he experienced when he leaped. He closed his eyes and felt himself assume another persons physical sensa- tions. His clothes were rigid and starched, but a perfect fit. Some kind of uniform. He opened his eyes and found himself look- ing across a field at a farm house. Others were with him. No one spoke as they all stared quietly at the farm house. Sam noticed the rifle in his hands and wondered what they could be hunting. "He's coming out," was suddenly whispered throughout the group followed by everyone scurrying to postions. Sam had not decided where to go when a man put his hand on his shoulder and began to speak. "You are the best sharpshooter we've got. But remember, this man is NOT a terrorist. There are alot of confused people in there. You are only to shoot if they open fire or in any way endanger our people." "Oh boy," Sam muttered. Suddenly Al appeared next to Sam. "You are Terry Clarke, an FBI sharpshooter, and this is the Branch Davidian Compound outside of Waco. In exactly 1 minute and ..." Al slapped the handlink, ".. 20 seconds, a religous psycopath with a mes- siah complex is going to come out of the building and deliver a cassete tape to be broadcast on the radio. He has grenades strapped to his body but Ziggy says there is a zero percent chance that this guy will detonate himself." Al dis- gustedly slapped at the handlink while arguing with Ziggy. "Okay Sam, in the original scenario this guy holds out 51 days and eventually torches the entire compound. 107 People die; of those, 13 are shot, and Sam, 28 are children." The man who had talked to Sam earlier now spoke, "Okay Terry, get a bead on him. But remember, only if provoked." Sam found himself raising his rifle, (which was incredibly lightweight for its size), and peered through the scope at the man now walking in the compound. Al continued, "Sam, You are not going to like this but Ziggy says there is a 90% chance that you are here to shoot this guy right now!" "And what if I don't?" Sam did not like this leap at all. He could not recall this moment in history but it reminded him all too much of the Jonestown Massacre. He remembered the disgust and helplessness he had felt at seeing the televi- sion reports of all the dead children. He lined up the cross hairs as Al continued, "If you don't shoot him in the next 3 minutes thousands will lose their lives. Apparently there are two other nuts just like him that are inspired by his courageous holdout. In 1994, 500 die in Virginia; and then in 1995, 3157 people die in Mon- tana when Jerry Faith claims to be the resurrected David Koresh, who happens to be just about to walk back inside if you don't shoot him." "What is the new scenario?" Sam still had his doubts but he steadied his aim as he listened. "Assuming you kill him, Ziggy's best projections are that the people hold out four more days before surrendering peacefully. Terry and the FBI will be the target of intense public outrage, but after the grenades are discovered strapped to Koresh coupled with the stories of abuse and manipulation from the recovering survivors ... " Al very agitatedly slapped the handlink, "... public scrutiny is turned to the next historical outrage. Something called the `Clinton Catastrophe'..........." One shot rang out as the self proclaimed messiah fell to the ground. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX This space for rent. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX