Chapter Six
Executive Decision
The President went over to the group of scientific advisors
gathered around a table who were arguing bitterly.
"Gentlemen," he asked, "I need a consensus. How
bad will it be? Can we survive if They detonate these warheads?
If we take action against Them can we win?"
The scientists all looked to one of their colleagues, who then
acted as their spokesman.
"Mr. President, we were thinking in the context of a single
warhead being detonated on each ship which would have been a
catastrophe in and of itself. But sixteen hydrogen bombs going
off simultaneously? Sir, the results would be catastrophic. The
top of the mountain would be vaporized, and blown up into the
stratosphere. Tons, billions of tons of water would be radiated
and blown skyward, picked up by the prevailing winds, and carried
across The United States.
Europe and Asia, some places in Africa and South America might
survive for a while, until the high level radiation in the upper
atmosphere settles to Earth but then they, too, will perish.
We are speaking, sir, of total annihilation even if some people
survive the radiation, the dust in the upper atmosphere will blot
out the sun. There won't be a place on Earth that will not be
twenty or thirty degrees below zero."
The man fell silent, and another scientist spoke up. "I'm
deeply concerned, sir, where they have placed these explosions.
Each is in a known area of geological instability. The mountains
the Abraham Lincoln is on is a dormant volcano, that has been
showing signs. Blowing off its top may release a volcanic event
of unknown magnitude that could add tremendously to the
devastation.
SEVERAL such events releasing pressure all over the world at once
might result in the Earth's crust shrinking at an accelerated
rate, causing earthquakes ten hundred times more severe than
would occur naturally. Bridges necessary for evacuations would be
destroyed, deeply prepared shelters rendered useless. These
people know precisely what They're doing. They know exactly where
we're weak and how to get us with the most devastating
effect."
The President looked even more desperate than he had before. One
of the scientists suddenly spoke up. "I strongly disagree,
Mr. President," he put in. "My colleagues are certainly
overestimating the seriousness of the situation. It is well known
that these....er....people, cannot override our computer systems.
I believe this whole situation is a fabrication. They are somehow
deluding the crews of these vessels into believing these
situations are occurring when in reality They have probably,
without realizing it, sat their own vessels on the bottom and are
perfectly capable of leaving any time they want to."
The President looked to Nathaniel Green who shook his head.
"They don't need to control the computers," he
explained. "They simply knock the computers out, and take
over the systems manually or, physically, whatever way you want
to put it. I assure you, Mr. President, this is not an illusion,
it is all too terrible reality."
"That's impossible!" the objecting scientist put in.
"No one could detonate sixteen hydrogen bombs manually AND
simultaneously. It is simply impossible!"
"Impossible for us," Green argued, "but not for
Them."
"Perhaps we should mention the possibility of cascade,"
another scientist put in.
"Cascade?" the President asked.
The scientific spokesman shrugged then answered. "There is a
possibility, Mr. President, a SLIM possibility that that many
warheads going off exactly simultaneously would create so sudden
an implosion around the other warheads, that they, too, would
detonate. That would be, sir, not sixteen hydrogen bombs
exploding in one spot, but sixty-four."
The President walked over to the table, put his hand on it, and
lowered his head. Finally he straightened and walked over to the
heads of the Bureau and the Agency.
"Gentlemen!" he snapped, "You are to send out
orders to all your agents immediately. Operation Northern Light
is canceled. It or no operation LIKE it is to ever be considered
again. Any actions against the individuals involved from this day
forth are to be cleared with Agent Green or his successor. These
individuals are purely the business of his task force, and no one
else's. Anyone attempting to take action against the individuals
shall be considered acting against the interest of The United
States. DO I make myself perfectly clear, gentlemen?"
"Yes, Mr. President!" both chiefs snapped.
"Get Captain Hope back on the phone!" the President
ordered. "I wish to know what's happening out there."
"Yes, Mr. President!" an admiral snapped, and quickly
hurried to obey. "Yes, Mr. President!" he cried,
"Yes sir, immediately!"