"Hogan, James P - The Genesis Machine p260-end" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hogan James P)

He gazed at the clock set high on the far wall c
Command Floor, its window at the extreme right s
ing the relentless flow of seconds. Uncontrollabli
gers of ice caressed his spine, and nausea rose t
throat. Less than three minutes. Time to get I
back in. He turned and re-entered the Control R Clifford was looking toward the door as he can
as if waiting for Aub to enter. Aub sat down dully
began positioning the BIAC harness.
УAub.Ф CliffordТs voice was barely more than a hiss, yet it carried a strange note of urgency. Aub looked up and noticed the expression of earnestness. Clifford was leaning toward him, while at the same time holding his arm outstretched to keep a key on his panel depressed, thus temporarily cutting off audio and visual contact between the Control Room and the Command Floor below.
УAub, itТs not the way you think,Ф Clifford said, whispering hurriedly. УThere isnТt time to explain now. But it was important that your reactions and SarahТs be absolutely genuine all the way through. Everybody has been under observation here, all the time. I couldnТt risk anyone not acting out his part faithfully.Ф Aub started to shake his head in bewilderment, but just then Clifford glanced at the clock and hushed him with a gesture of his hand.
УWhen the action starts, I want you to do everything I say without any questions. I know how youТve been feeling. But itТs gonna be okay. Trust me.Ф
As if in a trance, Aub nodded mutely, his eyes wide and dazed, his jaw hanging limp. Before he could form any coherent reply, the auxiliary screen came to life above CliffordТs head.
УHello, Control Room. WeТve lost you on the primary channel. Switch to standby while we check for faults.Ф The face of one of the operators below spoke out of the display. Clifford released the key he had been holding.
УSorry, my fault,Ф he advised. УMust have knocked the switch. HowТs that?Ф
The face of the operator glanced off screen for a second.
УThatТs fine. Clearing down standby.Ф One of the two faces now showing disappeared; the other continued to stare at them for a moment and then,
evidently satisfied, turned to attend to other ci Aub began to frame some kind of a question
a new voice came through the speaker above the trol Room doorway. УH-hour minus thirty sec Still no response to ultimatum.Ф
After that there was no time to think of ques
УReport status of weapon delivery system,Ф or
the voice of the operations coordinator from the s visory platform below.
УFire-control sequence primed and ready for I
One Strike,Ф Clifford replied. УAwaiting orders.Ф
УAcknowledged. Stand by.Ф
УStanding by.Ф
General Carlohm, Supreme Commander ol Allied Integrated Command, approached the I dent, still standing by the open-channel console.
УRequest confirmation of present standing or
he said. Sherman nodded.
УNo change.Ф
Carlohm turned to his deputy, who was sta~
behind him.
УConfirm orders to all military forces. All un
maintain a condition of armed alert. Defend as r sary if attacked, but otherwise do not enga~ offensive hostilities.Ф The deputy acknowledged, walked over to a console operator to relay the me out to the global command chain of the Wc armed forces.
Ten seconds.
The eyes in the group of tense, grim faces clus
around the communications unit were all fixed o
President. His gaze was riveted on the screen v
above the operatorТs head, his tongue running m
sciously back and forth across his dry lips. Nothing Zero. Still nothing.
УThe ultimatum has expired,Ф Carlohm rep
000
formally. УI request confirmation of your approval to authorize Phase One.Ф Sherman took a long, deep breath and turned at last away from the empty screen. Absolute silence had descended on all sides.
УProceed, General,Ф he instructed.
Carlohm passed the order to the deputy who conveyed it to the operational coordinator. The coordinator activated the channel that connected him to the Control Room.
УAuthorization to proceed confirmed. Execute Phase One Strike.Ф
УProceeding,Ф Clifford returned. УExecuting Phase One Strike now.Ф
What followed was practically an anticlimax. A second or two later, CliffordТs voice calmly informed them:
УPhase One completed.Ф
There was nothing more to it than that. The information coming in from a thousand tracking points all around and over the world told the story on the displays surrounding them: between the last two times that Clifford had spoken, every ORBS satellite and orbiting antisatellite laser deployed by hostile powers had ceased to exist. The immediate threat of any direct attack on the Western nations had been totally removed. That still left, however, the less immediate but nevertheless formidable threat of submarine, surface- and air-launched missiles. These had to be dealt with next.
The tension began to ease somewhat. The worst was over. The victory was in the bag. In one or two places, amused grins appeared at the thought of the confusion and consternation that would at that moment be breaking out in similar places on the other side of the world.