Procedural barriers to dedicated-line access, the Technology Minister's soft resistance
In the office of the Minister of the Department of Technology, the cool air from the constant temperature system circulated silently, carrying a faint, Ozone- like smell, characteristic of servers after an overload.
An official letter that had just been circulated through the internal system was quietly floating on the light screen in front of Wanda.
Issuing Authority: Office of the Multiverse Crisis Response Special Envoy
Reason: To fulfill the responsibility of cross-dimensional crisis monitoring, an application is made to access the core data dedicated line of the Department of Technology.
The wording was standard, the reasons were impeccable, and it fully complied with the description of the powers and responsibilities of the newly established position in the Management Committee.
But the words "core data dedicated line" seemed to chill the air in the office even further.
In the Negative Zone Management Committee, the struggle for physical territory is merely the most superficial power game. The real lifeline is data. Whoever controls the data controls the power to define facts and interpret rules.
Wanda stared at the official letter, her face expressionless.
She didn't comment on whether the new Special Envoy was too impatient, nor did she show any sign of being offended. She simply extended her slender fingers and tapped lightly a few times on another light screen in front of her.
An internal management regulation from the Department of Technology was retrieved.
She watched quietly for a few minutes, then connected to the technical director's Internal Communications.
"Minister." The technical director's image appeared on the screen, with the background showing countless Data Stream cascading down in the core server room.
"You saw the application from the Special Envoy's Office." Wanda's voice was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.
"I see, Minister."
"Data security is the Department of Technology's top priority and the cornerstone of the entire Management Committee's ' S.H.I.E.L.D. Protocol.'" Wanda's gaze shifted from the management regulations to the technical director's face. "We cannot allow any unstable, high-risk energy entity to directly access our core network without the most thorough and rigorous assessment."
The technical supervisor remained silent, listening attentively.
"You take the lead in drafting a 'High-Risk Energy Interference Prevention and Safety Test' standard." Wanda spoke slowly, but every word was clear and precise. "We must exhaust all possibilities. From the entropy increase threshold of the energy source itself, to the conceptual contamination it may cause, to the reverse data penetration under extreme pressure... no link can be overlooked."
She paused for a moment.
"Standards must be detailed, and procedures must be comprehensive. This is a technical issue, but also a matter of responsibility. We must be responsible for the overall safety of the Management Committee."
The technical director's eyes flickered slightly, and he immediately understood the deeper meaning.
This is not a purely technical task.
"I understand, Minister. I will immediately organize a team to produce a test plan that meets the highest industry standards and is absolutely flawless."
Communication cut off.
Wanda closed the official document in front of her and began processing the next one, as if the matter she had just dealt with was nothing more than an ordinary daily task.
In less than an hour, a 120-page document, listing 347 main test items and over 1,000 sub-test items, titled "High-Risk Energy Interference Prevention and Security Test V1.0 (Draft)," was posted on the internal collaboration system as the Department of Technology's official response to the Special Envoy's application.
Internal Affairs Inspection Office.
The atmosphere in Acting Director Natasha's office was completely different from that in the Department of Science and Department of Technology. There were no server buzzes, only the rustling sound of paper documents being turned over.
Her gaze was fixed on a process record that had just been synchronized from the system backend.
Application and response.
One forcefully demanded entry, while the other, with a smile, erected a high wall—a wall composed of countless tedious, stringent, and compliant procedures.
Natasha's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile.
She didn't act immediately, but waited patiently for half a day.
Only after she confirmed that Jean Grey's Special Envoy's office had not raised any objections to the incomprehensible testing standards, and that the Stability Maintenance Office had remained silent, did she leisurely pick up the Internal Communicator on the table.
Instead of contacting Wanda, she went directly to the General Affairs Office of the Department of Technology.
"This is Natasha from the Internal Affairs Inspection Office." Her voice carried a professional languor. "The Inspection Office is aware of the progress regarding the Special Envoy's office's dedicated line access request."
The head of general affairs on the other end of the phone felt a jolt of fear.
"To ensure the administrative efficiency of the Management Committee and avoid unnecessary project delays due to cross-departmental coordination issues, I need to meet with the relevant person in charge of the Department of Technology of Science and Technology." Natasha's tone was very polite. "Could you please arrange a time? I'll be there in half an hour to find out the situation."
"Yes, Director Na, I'll report right away."
After hanging up the phone, Natasha stood up and straightened her impeccably tailored black uniform.
What she was going to do wasn't to stand up for Jean Grey, nor was she genuinely concerned with administrative efficiency. She simply wanted to wedge her own nail into the gap between the two millstones.
The power of the Inspection Office can only be fully demonstrated in such friction and buck-passing between departments.
Half an hour later, Natasha appeared in the Department of Technology's meeting room on time.
Wanda did not appear in person; she was received by the technical supervisor.
"Director Na." The technical supervisor handed her a glass of water.
"You're too kind." Natasha didn't sit down, and went straight to the point, "I've reviewed the testing standards; they're very professional and rigorous."
Ensuring data security is our responsibility.
"I understand," Natasha nodded, "But how long will it take to complete all three hundred-plus tests? The Special Envoy's work can't wait, and neither can the Management Committee's strategic planning."
She skillfully elevated a department's application to a strategic level for the entire Management Committee.
The technical supervisor remained unfazed. "Director Na, you also have a technical background, you should understand. When facing a completely new, high-risk energy source with no prior records, any estimate of time is irresponsible. It could be a month, or it could be a year. It depends on the cooperation of the test subjects and the stability of the energy itself."
These words were spoken flawlessly.
Security is a politically correct issue. No one can nitpick about it.
Natasha smiled.
"I certainly understand the complexity of technical work. I'm just reminding you that the Inspection Office will continue to monitor the progress of this matter. I hope the Department of Technology can optimize the process and improve efficiency as much as possible while ensuring safety."
Her words were tactful, but the phrase "continue to pay attention" was already a silent form of pressure.
At that moment, both the technical director and Natasha's Personal Terminal emitted a crisp notification sound.
A top-priority instruction, directly issued by the Director's Office, was forcibly pushed to the terminals of all department heads.
The instruction is very short.
"Effective immediately, all departmental data access, transfer, and approval processes are suspended, and all existing procedures are frozen."
"An hour later, an expanded meeting of the Standing Committee Member will be held in Zero Conference Room of the White Bone Hall to discuss matters related to 'overall defense coordination'."
The technical director's expression changed slightly.
Natasha looked at the commands on the terminal, and the smile on her face slowly faded.
Lynn made her move.
He did not choose to take sides between Wanda and Jean, nor did he support the intervention of the Inspection Office's office.
He used an even more forceful method, directly overturning the chessboard.