As President Barack Obama and former Vice President Dick Cheney debate national security issues in recent speeches, a crack team of science fiction writers advised politicos at the 2009 Homeland Security Science & Technology Stakeholders Conference.

According to the Washington Post, novelist and engineer Arlan Andrews (pictured) founded the Sigma group to have science fiction writers provide "imaginative services" to other groups, including the Army, the Department of Energy, and NATO. One recent event was lead by novelist Greg Bear.

Here's more from the article: "Science fiction writers tend to know a lot about science. And the ranks of federal and commercial R&D departments are stuffed with sci-fi fanatics. The cost to taxpayers is minimal. The writers call this 'science fiction in the national interest,' and they consult pro bono." (Via Ron Charles)