FIPS 6.18 Option 2 Engineering Kickoff

Situation

After Manu at Google did not respond to the relationship reset email sent Sunday, Peter escalated the FIPS proposal to Tissa via Kelly. Tissa authorized CIQ to proceed. Peter then directed Nathan to begin engineering work on Option 2 (faster timing path) while awaiting the Atsec contract. Engineering was held in reserve until external confirmations landed to avoid thrashing.

Reasoning

This is the execution phase of the FIPS-as-leverage strategy crafted Apr 3-6. Peter chose Option 2 because Google has urgent undisclosed timing constraints. The structure preserves commercial leverage — CIQ starts work in good faith but Google cannot use the FIPS kernel in production without a new contract. Initial engineering exposure limited to a few days to minimize risk if no contract materializes.

Additional Context

Continues directly from Apr 4 'Google FIPS 618 as Commercial Leverage' strategy and Apr 6 'GDC Relationship Reset via CTO Email to Manu'. Tissa is the decision-maker at Google who authorized proceeding. Atsec is the FIPS certification lab.

Observed Evidence

Peter told Nathan at 8:42am: 'Probably. We see what Tissa comes back with... we prioritize starting the work on Option 2. We pivot to Option 1 only if Google Compliance says it's ok.' At 7:41am Peter asked Kelly to forward his Manu email to Tissa. Bjorn drafted the message to Tissa at 7:57am. Kelly sent it. Bjorn posted in #department-heads at 10:00am: 'Tissa responded with authorization to proceed.' Peter confirmed at 10:01am: 'ok - we will get moving on it on the engineering side.' Then told Nathan at 10:02am: 'Let's start the work on the engineering side for Option 2.'

Matching Patterns

Confidence Breakdown

Reasoning Depth Analysis