Singularity considerations

Gunsight

'SysOp to Gunsight, respond!'
Thunderous concussions of a heavy-calibre firearm...
'SysOp to Gunsight, you are ordered to stand down. Respond!'
Screams. Sounds of destruction...
'For God's sake stand down! Stand down!'
Heavy breathing.
A brittle silence...

Load...

Tapping allegretto with well-manicured fingernails, Montagu glanced across the broad expanse of mahogany desk at Spike Trent.

'How many biotech' Regulations are there?'

Trent responded immediately. 'Hundreds. Most contradicting each other.'

Eyles grimaced. 'In actuality, there are two: don't do it, and if you must, don't get caught.'

Montagu took up the thread as Eyles fell silent, seemingly studying hand-written notations on a white, multi-purpose wall-board.

'My esteemed colleague is correct. The numerous Regulations are a sop to those worried about genetics and the environment: Frankenstein this, Frankenstein that! However, subtext is all that industry has any interest in.' He raised an eyebrow. 'And government prefers industry to self-regulate without the need for draconian measures...'

Eyles interrupted. 'Draconian equates to costly.'

Montagu paused for a beat. 'Precisely. In government circles 'costly' isn't anyone's favourite flavour. Even the opposition doesn't like 'costly', it tends to scare away potential support, be that the public...'

'Or more importantly, industry.' Eyles interjected; he turned to face Trent, a smile creasing his face, raising the ends of his moustache.

Montagu echoed the smile. 'Or industry. Precisely.'

Feeling at a loss, Trent looked between the two men. The unease he'd felt when the unmarked car picked him up from the training ground hadn't abated. 'You two aren't police; I could recognise Metro by smell!' Trent faltered as Eyles smiled broadly at Montagu. 'So, which of the many layers of authority do you represent?'

Montagu's fingers danced allegrissimo. Picking up a lightpen, Eyles began writing on the whiteboard in a flowing, cursive script. Trent read the emerging name with a growing disbelief.

Rising nimbly to his feet despite his ample frame, Montagu went to stand beside Eyles. 'In this particular instance we have a wide, and evolving, brief. Therefore, we report here.' Eyles tapped the written name for emphasis.

Montagu continued. 'Environmental issues are currently 'above the fold', as they used to say in the newspaper industry, so efforts have to be made... Or at least appear to have been made; climate change, sustainable development, genetic modification. All issues you'll be familiar with. If Government intervenes directly industry may get ansty; there are already zaibatsus threatening to move their interests abroad if certain policy options are enforced.' Montagu sniffed derisively. 'So, Government wants one high-profile, high-impact case exposed. Industry holds up its collective hands in horror! Embarrassment all-round - government can drop the issue; sleight-of-hand and something else can be trumpeted as 'the next big issue' Preferably the public being naughty.'

'And Midnight Imperial is a prime candidate for your particular species of intervention.' Eyles's moustache curled upward once more.

'Power in this country...' Montagu made an airy gesture with his left hand.

'...ebbs and flows.' suggested Eyles, 'sometimes politicians wield the whip, oft-times other interests.'