 Why does the army get involved with the situation?
The government took up a lot of his time using him as the symbol of the Ideal Scientist to help recruit Science and Engineering Cadets. For the past seven years Macklin—who was the Advanced Studies Department of Firestone University—had been involved in devising a faster-than-light drive to help the Army reach Pluto and eventually the nearer stars. "That is, the constriction of blood vessels in the telencephalon section of the frontal lobes. A colony of virus in the brain cells will relax the cerebral vessels—and only the cerebral vessels—so that the cerebrospinal fluid doesn't create pressure in the cavities of the brain." Conscientious objectors from the Army." Unless we can produce quick, conclusive and dramatic proof of our studies we can get no more financial backing.
 Macklin is a valuable asset to them, and they don't want something to happen to his intellect.
 Macklin is a valuable asset to them, and they don't want something to happen to his intellect.  The army is investigating Mitchell and Ferris because they gave unauthorized medical assistance.  Mrs. Macklin called them in to help.  They want to see the results of Ferris and Mitchell's trial.