Free Blinding Fear by Bruce Roland Page A

attention that you have been telescopically surveying a certain portion of the celestial sphere—Approx. 15 thru 28 degrees declination, 53 thru 55 degrees right ascension—in an attempt to “discover” previously unknown planetary bodies such as asteroids or comets.
    We must now inform you, that pursuant to the terms of the “International Near-Earth Space Objects Convention and Treaty,” that portion of the celestial sphere has been declared “Top Secret-Most Sensitive” and is now “Closed.” You may not, under any circumstance, continue to view, survey or photograph anything within it, nor can you reveal or discuss the classified nature of this area or its contents with any other organization or individual, under penalty of law.
    The Treaty was recently negotiated and ratified by select representatives from 53 of the industrialized nations to ensure that celestial discoveries of planetary importance and impact were released within carefully prescribed limits and conditions. In effect this means private, commercial or governmental astronomers or other astro-physical scientists or technicians are forbidden to release anything to the public about discoveries in portions of the celestial sphere that have been “Closed” unless they have appropriate “Top Secret” security clearances.
    All signatory nations have agreed that within their own international boundaries they will strictly enforce the terms of the treaty and have subsequently codified them into country-specific laws, regulations and protocols as well as criminal penalties.
    Within the United States, individuals who fail to abide by these terms will face severe criminal sanctions as defined by several new laws. Because of the potential, immediate threat to national and international security there will be no further warnings to individuals who have received this letter.
    Failure to strictly follow the terms and conditions of this directive will result in immediate implementation of all appropriate legal penalties. Again, there will be no further warnings!
    Frank stopped long enough to try to come to grips with what he was reading. 53 nations agreeing the sun would rise in the East was as near to impossible as anything he could imagine. To think they could agree to a treaty of this complexity and delicacy was quite simply insane! And that the United States would subordinate its internal policies to such a treaty—ridiculous!
    This letter was in essence saying that many of the cornerstones of western jurisprudence were being abolished in his and other astronomers’ similar situations: due process, innocence until proven guilt, trial by jury, legal representation, presentation of evidence, fair, appropriately timed punishment, all done away with!
    Not a chance!
    He considered for a moment whether to just delete the letter but decided to see what else it contained.
Because of the highly classified nature of the images you have recorded and attempted to release, special software within this e-mail has already uploaded them to a secure location, then deleted them from your hard-drive. In addition, selected portions of your e-mail and contact lists, as well as other appropriate documents have been deleted immediately after they were uploaded to this agencies offices for further examination; this to determine if anyone else within your sphere of professional or social contacts is aware of the images and has in turn attempted to share them with others.
    Finally, you may not reveal or discuss the existence of this e-mail, the existence of the directive it contains or any portion thereof, or the existence of the International Near-Earth Space Objects Convention and Treaty, with anyone else. To do so would be an additional violation of United States law and again subject to immediate and severe legal sanctions.
    Other software has also been downloaded to your computer to ensure your compliance with this directive. Violation of the terms stated above will result in