We’re good to go. Mission control has set a “go live” date of July 2 and thecountdown has already begun. The skies are expected to be clear and the North-to- North-West gust of wind on launch day isn’t likely to cause any problems. Our flagship software product is on the pad, it is fueled up, it has been checked anddouble-checked and triple-checked for foam-related issues, it has been washed,cleaned, waxed, massaged and given words of inspiration. Life couldn’t be sweeter.The engineers are sitting back, confident of a smooth ascent into the cosmos. Havingspent over three years engaged in careful and systematic engineering, disaster isunlikely.But hey, what is that I hear coming from upstairs? It appears to be an uncalled for stimulus snaking its way through the vents and tightening its grip on the fragile bubble of serenity that surrounds our office space.It sounds like frantic screams mixed with faint yet still audible cries of “WE’RE ALLGONNA DIE!” What’s going on? I decide to investigate. I open the door leading tothe staircase in order to go upstairs and see what all the commotion is about. Nosooner have I put my foot on the first few steps than a body smashes onto the ground behind me. The sound of shattered bones and ruptured organs causes me to make a“What-the-hell” face. The fallen manager slowly rolls onto his back and looks to theheavens. He smiles as he sees what can only be assumed is the tunnel, the light. Hethen turns his head and looks me straight in the eyes. His smile disappears, and withhis last breath utters the words: “Save yourself, comrade”.I carry on walking. A few steps later I’m once again forced to pull a “What-the-hell”face as I witness a butt-naked manager with only a tie and a pair of socks on runninghysterically down the stairs. I carry on walking. Finally, I stand behind the door to the16th floor. I want to open it, but trepidation sets in and I hesitate for a moment. I takea deep breath and turn the knob. The door proves no match for the tornado beingspawn by all the people running around, screaming for their lives; it flies off itshinges and smacks an unsuspecting secretary on the back of her head, killing her instantly.I look around me, dumbstruck. What the hell is going on! I glance to my left and spotan office boy sitting beside a water cooler, shaking his head and wiping his tears. I goup to him, grab him with both hands and shout: “What the hell is going on, man!” Helooks at me with droopy eyes and quietly asks: “You want the truth, or its cousin?”“Of course I want to the truth; just tell me, please, I’m begging you, tell me what’sgoing on here!”“The truth is that everyone is afraid of what might happen after we go live.”“What do you mean! We’ve been working on this thing for two years now; it’s as predictable as a kid in a candy shop and as robust as an East-German…workhorse.”*I duck as a piece of plywood flies past, barely missing my head.“Yeah, well, you say that because you’re an engineer, but these people are not. They