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Authors: David Afsharirad
about one hundred and fifty kilometers per hour. And the planes were only rated for up to two atmospheres of pressure and about eighty degrees. After that, the sulfuric acid chemistry became too hostile. The Laurentide , the main habitat, had a few probes to study the deep atmosphere and its life forms, but none of them would be nearby. They could probably refit something with which to rescue her in a day or two, but by the time the Laurentide was back overhead, she would have descended well past finding.
Duvieusart Inquiry Transcript, page 772
3:30 P.M., CHLOÉ RIVERIN, CHAIR: We now have Monsieur Renaud Lanoix, who leads the Nouvelle Voie party, but who was also the engineering foreman on April sixth. Could you describe for the Inquiry your view of the events of April sixth?
3:30, RENAUD LANOIX, ENGINEERING SUPERVISOR: Thank you, Madame Chairman. At approximately 2 P.M., Mademoiselle Duvieusart radioed, as per procedure, that she had arrived at Plant Six and started her normal inspections and work planning for later technical crews.
3:30, SANDRINE GROGUHÉ, INQUIRY MEMBER: A question, Madame Chair?
3:30, CHLOE RIVERIN, CHAIR: Go ahead.
3:30, SANDRINE GROGUHÉ, INQUIRY MEMBER: Monsieur Lanoix, in a number of reports, the press contends that Mademoiselle Duvieusart was not even supposed to be at Plant Six that day, and that the shifts were changed to draw her there.
3:35, RENAUD LANOIX, ENGINEERING SUPERVISOR: The schedule had been changed a few days earlier. Mademoiselle Duvieusart was put on Plant Six for April sixth.
3:35, SANDRINE GROGUHÉ, INQUIRY MEMBER: Who had access to the schedule—to change it, that is?
3:35, RENAUD LANOIX, ENGINEERING SUPERVISOR: A number of people have access to the schedule. Changing it is a normal part of any week’s work, Madame Groguhé. I have access, as do most of the engineers, including Mademoiselle Duvieusart.
3:35, SANDRINE GROGUHÉ, INQUIRY MEMBER: You don’t have . . .
3:35, FRANÇOIS BEAULIEU, INQUIRY MEMBER: Madame Chair, Monsieur Lanoix is not able to tell his story.
3:35, SANDRINE GROGUHÉ, INQUIRY MEMBER: Monsieur Lanoix has neglected to bring up important details.
3:35, CHLOE RIVERIN, CHAIR: Go ahead, Madame Groguhé, but please be brief.
3:35, SANDRINE GROGUHÉ, INQUIRY MEMBER: Monsieur Lanoix, fine, many people have access to the schedules, but through accounts that identify those making the changes. Who made the changes to the schedule to set up Mademoiselle Duvieusart for the sabotage of her plane?
3:35, RENAUD LANOIX, ENGINEERING SUPERVISOR: We know who accessed the schedule, Madame Groguhé. My lawyers have suggested that I should not reveal what I know here, so as not to interfere with criminal investigations.
3:40, CHLOE RIVERIN, CHAIR: This Inquiry has the authority to compel witnesses, Monsieur, and our legal counsel suggest that the danger to criminal proceedings is minimal as the cat is already out of the bag, and on the top of blog feeds over most of the Solar System.
(REPORTER’S NOTE: In camera consultation between Inquiry counsel and witness counsel.)
3:45, RENAUD LANOIX, ENGINEERING SUPERVISOR: The schedule was changed by an override code from the Bureau du Gouverneur , masked behind a dummy admin account.
3:45, CHLOE RIVERIN, CHAIR: The press, especially the nationaliste press, has made much of this being a séparatiste plot to frame the nationaliste cause. What are your thoughts on that?
3:45, RENAUD LANOIX, ENGINEERING SUPERVISOR: I don’t think that theory holds water. The sabotage was amateurish, that is certain, but Mademoiselle Duvieusart was not supposed to have survived those first few instants to tell us that the repair drone was acting strangely, which allowed us to pull the curtain back on the plot.
Marie-Claude wiped the drizzle of acid from her faceplate. Her oxygen display had yellowed. Only a few hours of oxygen left. And she continued descending. She hung in a rain of sulfuric acid, fifty-eight
Duvieusart Inquiry Transcript, page 772
3:30 P.M., CHLOÉ RIVERIN, CHAIR: We now have Monsieur Renaud Lanoix, who leads the Nouvelle Voie party, but who was also the engineering foreman on April sixth. Could you describe for the Inquiry your view of the events of April sixth?
3:30, RENAUD LANOIX, ENGINEERING SUPERVISOR: Thank you, Madame Chairman. At approximately 2 P.M., Mademoiselle Duvieusart radioed, as per procedure, that she had arrived at Plant Six and started her normal inspections and work planning for later technical crews.
3:30, SANDRINE GROGUHÉ, INQUIRY MEMBER: A question, Madame Chair?
3:30, CHLOE RIVERIN, CHAIR: Go ahead.
3:30, SANDRINE GROGUHÉ, INQUIRY MEMBER: Monsieur Lanoix, in a number of reports, the press contends that Mademoiselle Duvieusart was not even supposed to be at Plant Six that day, and that the shifts were changed to draw her there.
3:35, RENAUD LANOIX, ENGINEERING SUPERVISOR: The schedule had been changed a few days earlier. Mademoiselle Duvieusart was put on Plant Six for April sixth.
3:35, SANDRINE GROGUHÉ, INQUIRY MEMBER: Who had access to the schedule—to change it, that is?
3:35, RENAUD LANOIX, ENGINEERING SUPERVISOR: A number of people have access to the schedule. Changing it is a normal part of any week’s work, Madame Groguhé. I have access, as do most of the engineers, including Mademoiselle Duvieusart.
3:35, SANDRINE GROGUHÉ, INQUIRY MEMBER: You don’t have . . .
3:35, FRANÇOIS BEAULIEU, INQUIRY MEMBER: Madame Chair, Monsieur Lanoix is not able to tell his story.
3:35, SANDRINE GROGUHÉ, INQUIRY MEMBER: Monsieur Lanoix has neglected to bring up important details.
3:35, CHLOE RIVERIN, CHAIR: Go ahead, Madame Groguhé, but please be brief.
3:35, SANDRINE GROGUHÉ, INQUIRY MEMBER: Monsieur Lanoix, fine, many people have access to the schedules, but through accounts that identify those making the changes. Who made the changes to the schedule to set up Mademoiselle Duvieusart for the sabotage of her plane?
3:35, RENAUD LANOIX, ENGINEERING SUPERVISOR: We know who accessed the schedule, Madame Groguhé. My lawyers have suggested that I should not reveal what I know here, so as not to interfere with criminal investigations.
3:40, CHLOE RIVERIN, CHAIR: This Inquiry has the authority to compel witnesses, Monsieur, and our legal counsel suggest that the danger to criminal proceedings is minimal as the cat is already out of the bag, and on the top of blog feeds over most of the Solar System.
(REPORTER’S NOTE: In camera consultation between Inquiry counsel and witness counsel.)
3:45, RENAUD LANOIX, ENGINEERING SUPERVISOR: The schedule was changed by an override code from the Bureau du Gouverneur , masked behind a dummy admin account.
3:45, CHLOE RIVERIN, CHAIR: The press, especially the nationaliste press, has made much of this being a séparatiste plot to frame the nationaliste cause. What are your thoughts on that?
3:45, RENAUD LANOIX, ENGINEERING SUPERVISOR: I don’t think that theory holds water. The sabotage was amateurish, that is certain, but Mademoiselle Duvieusart was not supposed to have survived those first few instants to tell us that the repair drone was acting strangely, which allowed us to pull the curtain back on the plot.
Marie-Claude wiped the drizzle of acid from her faceplate. Her oxygen display had yellowed. Only a few hours of oxygen left. And she continued descending. She hung in a rain of sulfuric acid, fifty-eight
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