Deception Point Page 57

Whither ar we? Rachel managed, the simple act of trying to peach bringing on a crashing headache.The man massaging her replied, Youre on the medical bedight of a Los Angeles class-On deck some champion c bothed out.Rachel sensed a choppy commotion all virtually her, and she tried to sit up. One of the workforce in blue helped, propping her up, and pulling the blankets up around her. Rachel rubbed her eyeball and power saw someone striding into the room.The newcomer was a powerful African-American man. Handsome and authoritative. His coherent was khaki. At ease, he declared, moving toward Rachel, stopping everyplace her and gazing down at her with strong black eyes. Harold Brown, he said, his voice deep and commanding. Captain of the U.S.S. Charlotte. And you are?U.S.S. Charlotte, Rachel thought. The name seemed vaguely beaten(prenominal). Sexton, she replied. Im Rachel Sexton.The man looked puzzled. He stepped closer, studying her much carefully. Ill be damned. So you are .Rachel felt lost. He k instanters me? Rachel was certain she did not blot the man, although as her eyes dropped from his face to the patch on his chest, she saw the familiar emblem of an eagle clutching an anchor surrounded by the words U.S. NAVY.It now registered why she knew the name Charlotte.Welcome aboard, Ms. Sexton, the sea police captain said. Youve gisted a number of this ships recon reports. I know who you are.But what are you doing in these waters? she stammered.His face dictated somewhat. Frankly, Ms. Sexton, I was about to ask you the same question.Tolland sat up belatedly now, opening his mouth to speak. Rachel silenced him with a firm shake of her head. non here. Not now. She had no doubt the first thing Tolland and Corky would take to talk about was the meteorite and the attack, that this was certainly not a military issue to discuss in front of a Navy torpedo crew. In the world of intelligence, regardless of crisis, CLEARANCE remained king the meteorite s ituation remained highly categorise.I need to speak to NRO director William separateering, she told the captain. In private, and immediately.The captain arched his eyebrows, seemingly unaccustomed to victorious orders on his own ship.I dedicate classified breeding I need to share.The captain studied her a bulky moment. Lets get your body temperature back, and then Ill put you in contact with the NRO director.Its urgent, sir. I- Rachel halt short. Her eyes had just seen a clock on the wall over the pharmaceutical closet. 1951 HOURS.Rachel blinked, staring. Is is that clock right?Youre on a navy vessel, maam. Our clocks are accurate.And is that Eastern epoch?751 P.M. Eastern Standard. Were out of Norfolk.My God she thought, stunned. Its only 751 P.M.? Rachel had the word-painting hours had passed since she passed out. It was not even past eight oclock? The President has not that gone universe about the meteorite I appease bugger remove time to stop him She immediately s lid down off the bed, wrapping the blanket around her. Her legs felt shaky. I need to speak to the President right out-of-door.The captain looked confused. The president of what?Of the United StatesI thought you wanted William Pickering.I dont have time. I need the President.The captain did not move, his huge frame pulley-block her way. My understanding is that the President is about to give a very heavy live kettle of fish conference. I doubt hes taking personal remember calls.Rachel stood as straight as she could on her wobbly legs and fixed her eyes on the captain. Sir, you do not have the clearance for me to explain the situation, but the President is about to make a terrible mistake. I have information he desperately needs to hear. Now. You need to trust me.The captain stared at her a long moment. Frowning, he checked the clock again. nightclub minutes? I cant get you a secure connection to the purity House in that short a time. All I could produce is a radiophone. Unse cured. And wed have to go to antenna depth, which will take a few-Do it Now67The White House telephone plugboard was located on the lower level of the East Wing. Three switchboard actors were always on duty. At the moment, only dickens were seated at the controls. The third actor was at a full sprint toward the apprize Room. In her hand, she carried a cordless phone. Shed tried to patch the call by dint of to the Oval Office, but the President was already en route to the press conference. Shed tried to call his aides on their cellulars, but before televised briefings, all cellular phones in and around the Briefing Room were turned off so as not to interrupt the proceedings.Running a cordless phone directly to the President at a time alike(p) this seemed questionable at best, and yet when the White Houses NRO liaison called claiming she had emergency information that the President must get before passing game live, the operator had precise doubt she needed to jump. The quest ion now was whether she would get there in time.In a small medical office onboard the U.S.S. Charlotte, Rachel Sexton clutched a phone receiver to her ear and waited to talk to the President. Tolland and Corky sat nearby, still looking shaken. Corky had five stitches and a deep bruise on his cheekbone. All three of them had been helped into Thinsulate thermal underwear, heavy navy flight suits, large wool socks, and deck boots. With a hot cup of stale coffee bean in her hand, Rachel was starting to feel almost human again.Whats the holdup? Tolland pressed. Its heptad fifty-sixRachel could not imagine. She had successfully reached one of the White House operators, explained who she was and that this was an emergency. The operator seemed sympathetic, had placed Rachel on hold, and was now, supposedly, making it her top priority to patch Rachel by to the President.Four minutes, Rachel thought. Hurry upClosing her eyes, Rachel tried to gather her thoughts. It had been one hell of a day. Im on a nuclear submarine, she said to herself, discriminating she was damned lucky to be anywhere at all. According to the submarine captain, the Charlotte had been on a routine patrol in the Bering Sea two days ago and had picked up anomalous underwater sounds coming from the Milne tripe Shelf-drilling, jet noise, lots of encrypted radio traffic. They had been redirected and told to lie quietly and listen. An hour or so ago, theyd heard an explosion in the ice shelf and move in to check it out. That was when they heard Rachels SOS call.Three minutes left Tolland sounded hot now as he monitored the clock.Rachel was definitely getting nervous now. What was taking so long? Why hadnt the President taken her call? If Zach Herney went public with the data as it stood-Rachel forced the thought from her mind and shook the receiver. Pick upAs the White House operator dashed toward the order entrance of the Briefing Room, she was met with a gathering throng of staff members. Every one here was talking excitedly, making final preparations. She could see the President twenty yards away waiting at the entrance. The makeup people were still primping. attack through the operator said, trying to get through the crowd. Call for the President. Excuse me. Coming throughLive in two minutes a media coordinator called out.Clutching the phone, the operator shoved her way toward the President. Call for the President she panted. Coming throughA idealistic roadblock stepped into her path. Marjorie Tench. The senior advisers long face grimaced down in disapproval. Whats going on?