Reply to post: Re: Lost at Sea

A floppy filled with software worth thousands of francs: Techie can't take it, customs won't keep it. What to do?

Stoneshop
Flame

Re: Lost at Sea

At DEC there was an internal Notes file named WAR_STORIES, which had several such tales. One in particular that I remember was about a piece of quite secret experimental lab kit at some army base that Had To Be Accounted For Or Else.

OF COURSE it could not be found during one of the regular inventory checks. And not during the very deep and thorough inventory check that immediately followed. So a lot of papers had to be filled out, going up and down the administrative chains as required, and after collecting all the right signatures in the end it was declared destroyed, allowing it to be struck from the inventory.

Shortly after the device reappeared, under a tarp in a nearby storeroom that wasn't part of the secure lab environment.

It was decided by the lab chief that no, they were not going to declare the unit unlost. Not with the even bigger amount of paper movement the entire situation would invite. So the small group of people who had come to know the device was unlost then decided on making the reality to be in line with the device's administrative status, through the combination of night, a pit in a secluded corner of the base, a rather large amount of thermite and an angle grinder (twice, both before and after the thermite)

POST COMMENT House rules

Not a member of The Register? Create a new account here.

  • Enter your comment

  • Add an icon

Anonymous cowards cannot choose their icon