Brad fielded a few more questions, but the last one was a doozy: “Mr. McLanahan,” a very attractive female reporter standing in front, with long jet-black hair, dark eyes, full red lips, a killer body, and a very slight European accent began, “you are very good at giving credit to the others on your team for all the things they have done to contribute to this project . . . but what have you done? Which components have you built? What are you with this project, if I may ask?”
“To tell the truth, I haven’t built any components,” Brad admitted after a long moment of consideration. “I consider myself the scrounger, like the character Flight Lieutenant Hendley in the movie The Great Escape.” The woman blinked in confusion, obviously not knowing whom he was referring to but making a note to find out. “I came up with an idea, found the best students, scientists, and engineers I could find and had them explain the science to me, contributed a few ideas of my own, put them to work, and repeated the process. I get the team whatever they need for their phase of the project: money, assistance, computer or lab time, equipment, parts, software, whatever. I also conduct progress meetings and helped prep the team for our presentation to the school for summer lab space, before our project received funding from Sky Masters Aerospace.”
“So you’re more like a coach or project manager,” the woman said. “You aren’t really the quarterback: you don’t actually pass the ball, but you train the team, get the equipment, and supervise the coaching staff.” She didn’t wait for a response, and Brad didn’t have one to give her in any case. “But you are a freshman student of engineering, are you not?”
“Sophomore student of aerospace engineering, yes.”
“Perhaps you should consider a different field of study?” the woman said. “Business, perhaps, or management?”
“I want to be a test pilot,” Brad said. “Most of the best test-pilot schools in the United States require a degree in the hard sciences, like engineering, computers, math, or physics. I chose aerospace engineering.”
“And are you doing well in it, Mr. McLanahan?”
Brad was a little surprised to find himself being asked so many personal questions—he had prepped to answer technical questions from foreign science and space journalists and bloggers, not answer questions about himself. “I managed to finish my freshman year and start my sophomore year,” he said. “I guess my grades are average. If I need help, and I do, I ask for it. If I don’t understand something, I’ll find someone to explain it to me.” He looked around the lab for any more upraised hands, then turned back to the woman and found her looking directly at him with a slight smile, and he gave her one in return. “If that’s all, folks, thank you for—”
“I have one more surprise announcement that I would like to share with all of you,” Cal Poly president Dr. Marcus Harris said from the back of the room. He stepped up to the lectern next to Brad. “The station manager of Armstrong Space Station, retired Air Force general Kai Raydon, recently spoke with the White House, and has received authorization from the president of the United States to fly two Starfire team leaders to Armstrong Space Station to observe the Starfire test shot.” The reporters broke out in applause.
Harris put an arm around Lane. “I’m sorry, Lane, but you’re too young, but it will happen soon. The flight will be in just one week, and they’ll be aboard Armstrong Space Station for approximately three days. In the case of Brad, Jodie, and Casey, if they accept this offer, they would become the first teenagers in space, and if Jung-bae accepts, he will be only the second Korean to fly in space, and by far the youngest.” More applause, then frantic scribbling.
“The White House said that their preference is a male and female team leader,” Harris went on, “but that’s up to the Starfire team to decide. The selectees will need to pass a comprehensive physical exam, but as we saw last spring with President Phoenix, you seem to just need to be a healthy and courageous person to fly in space—and, I’m proud to say, that includes Casey Huggins, who, if she accepts, will not only be the first female teenager in space but will also be the first paraplegic in space.” The applause was even louder and longer this time.
“I will let the team talk amongst themselves and their parents, and then I’d like to meet with them myself,” Harris said. “But this is an outstanding opportunity and a rare honor for our Mustangs, and we couldn’t be prouder.” More applause, led by Harris, and the press conference broke up.
“Holy crap!” Brad exclaimed when the Starfire team was alone in the lab. “What an opportunity! How should we decide this? Sorry, Lane.”
“No problem,” Lane said. “I get airsick anyway.”
“Who wants to go?”
“You have to go, Brad,” Lane said. “You’re the project leader. We couldn’t have done this without you.”