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!"