The Godzilla Paper
Last semester I completed a unit called “Computer Facilities Security” which, among other things, covers the survivability of a site undergoing natural or man made disaster. This includes such areas as the redunance and durability of power, water, communications infrastructure of a city or installation, the ability of its medical facilities to cope with the increased load during a disaster.
Our group paper for this unit was to situate a government data center in a facility of political and civil unrest with an ongoing history of violent activity. Slightly tongue in cheek, our group located our fictional installation on the edge of the Gaza Strip: thanks to google earth we were able to do all the surveying needed.
The co-ordinator for the unit remarked that he had been trying to think of more interesting scenarios for the assignments, and I lightheartedly suggested mitigation strategies for a Godzilla attack.
I wasn’t serious when I first suggested it, but thinking a bit further I think it would make for an amusing write and hopefully an entertaining read, so I’ve decided to do it. I read with great enjoyment the Zombie survival Guide by Max Brooks, and my paper would be a heck of a lot shorter than that (say 3000 words or so, depending on my mood), so I think its a goer.
Shortly after I’ve decided to go ahead with the paper, I’m down at my favorite local bookshop talking to the guy behind the counter. I’m purchasing my usual eclectic range of tomes: the fact that I’m a security student comes up and I mention the idea for the godzilla paper.
He gets excited and rushes off for a moment, producing from the shelves a copy of Daikaiju! Giant Monster Tales. It turns out his name is Robin Pen and he is the co-editor of said volume, along with Robert Hood who he refers me to as a source for any and all information on giant monsters which may be needed in aid of this paper. Also, the interesting possibility that since the third volume of the series is on its way to the press and they are always looking for new material, there is a distinct possibility that a well written paper focusing on a godzilla attack may find its way into a future edition.
I think I will title the paper something along the lines of: Kaijū encounters: Analysis and Mitigation Strategies for Seaboard Population Centers.
