mreilly.icestation-第62章

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　Unit　Five。　Schofield　had　met　Romeo　Roach　on　a　couple　of　occasions　before。　He　was　six　years　older　than　Schofield；　a　good　soldier；　and　a　legend　with　the　ladies…　hence　his　call　sign；　Romeo。　
　What　was　more；　he　was　a　Marine。　Schofield　smiled。　He　had　a　Marine　on　the　line。　
　〃Romeo；〃　Schofield　said；　relief　sweeping　over　him。　〃Situation　is　as　follows：　we　are　in　control　of　the　target　objective。　I　repeat；　we　are　in　control　of　the　target　objective。　Heavy　losses　have　been　sustained；　but　the　target　objective　is　ours。〃　The　target　objective；　of　course；　was　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　Schofield　sighed。　〃What　about　you；　Romeo？　Where　are　you？〃　
　〃Scarecrow；　we　are　currently　in　hovercrafts；　in　a　holding　pattern　approximately　one　mile　from　the　target　objective…　〃　
　Schofield's　head　jerked　up。　
　One　mile。。。。　
　But　that　was　right　outside　the　front　door。。。。　
　〃…and　we　are　under　orders　to　hold　here　until　further　instructed。　We　have　strict　instructions　not　to　enter　the　station。〃　
　Schofield　couldn't　believe　it　
　There　were　Marines　outside　Wilkes　Ice　Station；　right　outside　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　Only　one　mile　out　The　first　thing　Schofield　wanted　to　know　was…　
　〃Romeo；　how　long　have　you　been　out　there？〃　
　〃Ah；　about　thirty…eight　minutes　now；　Scarecrow；〃　Romeo's　voice　said。　
　Thirty…eight　minutes；　Schofield　thought　with　disbelief。　A　squad　of　Recon　Marines　had　been　sitting　on　their　asses　outside　Wilkes　for　the　last　half　hour。　
　Suddenly　a　voice　came　over　Schofield's　helmet　inter…　not　over　the　radio　room's　speakers。　It　was　Romeo。　
　〃Scarecrow；　I　gotta　talk　to　you　privately。〃　
　Schofield　clicked　off　the　station's　radio　and　spoke　into　his　helmet　mike。　Romeo　was　using　the　closed…circuit　Marine　channel。　
　〃Romeo；　what　the　fuck　are　you　doing？〃　Schofield　said。　He　couldn't　believe　it。　While　he　had　been　inside　the　station　doing　battle　with　Trevor　Barnaby；　a　whole　unit　of　Marines　had　been　arriving　at　Wilkes　Ice　Station　and　waiting　outside。　
　〃Scarecrow；　it's　a　fucking　circus　out　here。　Marines。　Green　Berets。　Hell；　there's　a　whole　goddamn　platoon　of　Army　Rangers　out　here　patrolling　the　one…mile　perimeter。　National　mand　and　the　Joint　Chiefs　sent　every　unit　they　could　find　to　cover　this　station。　But　the　thing　is；　once　we　got　here；　they　ordered　us　to　wait　until　a　Navy　SEAL　team　arrived。　Scarecrow；　my　orders　are　very　clear：　if　any　one　of　my　men　moves　toward　that　station　before　that　SEAL　team　arrives；　he　is　to　be　fired　upon。〃　
　Schofield　was　stunned。　For　a　moment　he　didn't　say　anything。　
　Suddenly　the　situation　became　clear　to　him。　
　He　was　in　exactly　the　same　position　that　Andrew　Trent　had　been　in　in　Peru。　He　had　got　to　the　station　first　He　had　found　something　inside　it　And　now　they　were　sending　a　SEAL　team…the　most　ruthless；　most　deadly　special　forces　unit　the　United　States　possesses…into　the　station。　
　A　line　from　Andrew　Trent's　e…mail　suddenly　popped　into　Schofield's　head：　
　USMC　PERSONNEL　DEPARTMENT　HAS　YOU　LISTED　AS　DEAD。　
　Schofield　swallowed　deeply　as　the　horror　of　the　realization　hit　him。　
　They　were　sending　in　the　SEALs。　
　They　were　sending　in　the　SEALs　to　kill　him。　
　
　
　SEVENTH　INCURSION　
　16　June　2200　hours　
　
　〃Romeo；　listen　to　me；〃　Schofield　said　quickly。　〃The　ICG　planted　men　in　my　unit。　One　of　my　own　men　began　killing　my　wounded。　That　SEAL　team　they're　sending　in　is　going　to　e　in　here　and　kill　me。　You　have　to　do　something。〃　
　Schofield　felt　a　chill　run　down　his　spine　when　he　realized　that　he　was　saying　to　Romeo　exactly　the　same　thing　that　Andrew　Trent　had　said　to　him　from　that　temple　in　Peru。　
　〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do？〃　Romeo　said。　
　〃Tell　them　that　there's　nothing　in　here；〃　Schofield　said。　〃Tell　them　there's　no　spaceship　buried　in　the　ice。　Tell　them　it's　just　an　old　Air　Force　black　project　that　got　left　down　here　for　some　reason。〃　
　〃Uh；　Scarecrow；　I　have　no　information　on　what's　inside　that　station。　I　don't　know　anything　about　spaceships　buried　in　the　ice　or　Air　Force　black　projects。〃　
　〃Well；　that's　what　this　is　all　about；　Romeo。　Listen　to　me。　I　have　fought　French　paratroopers　for　this　station。　I　have　fought　Trevor　Barnaby　and　a　platoon　of　SAS　mandos　for　this　station。　I　do　not　want　to　be　killed　by　a　bunch　of　my　own　psycho　countrymen　after　all　I've　been　through；　you　hear　me！〃　
　〃Just　hold　on　a　second；　Scarecrow。〃　
　There　was　silence　on　the　other　end　of　the　line。　
　After　a　minute；　Romeo　said；　〃Scarecrow；　I　just　consulted　with　the　Army　Ranger　Captain　out　here…guy　named　Brookes；　Arlin　Brookes…and　he　said　that　he　will　shoot　any　of　my　men　who　attempt　to　enter　the　station　before　the　SEAL　team　arrives。　〃　
　Schofield　pulled　out　his　printed　copy　of　Andrew　Trent's　e…mail；　the　list　of　ICG　informers。　His　eyes　fell　on　one　entry：　
　
　BROOKES；　ARMN　F。　A。　RNGRS　CPTN　
　
　Son　of　a　bitch；　Schofield　thought。　It　was　the　same　guy　he　had　run　into　outside　the　temple　in　Peru。　Arlin　F。　Brookes。　ICG　cocksucker。　
　Romeo　said；　〃OK；　Scarecrow。　Listen　up。　I　may　not　be　able　to　e　in；　but　I'll　tell　you　something　I　heard　about　thirty　minutes　ago。　The　Wasp　is　sailing　about　three　hundred　nautical　miles　off　the　coast；　out　in　the　open　sea。　After　we　got　here；　I　got　a　call　from　Jack　Walsh　on　the　Wasp。　About　thirty　minutes　ago；　a　patrol　of　four　Marine　Harriers　shot　down　a　British　VC…10　tanker　plane　about　250　nautical　miles　off　the　coast　after　the　tanker　tried　to　make　a　run　for　it。〃　
　Schofield　was　silent。　
　He　knew　what　Romeo　was　getting　at。　
　Tanker　airplanes　exist　for　one　reason　and　one　reason　only：　to　top　up　the　fuel　on　attack　planes　on　long…distance　missions。　
　If　a　British　tanker　airplane　had　been　shot　down　250　miles　off　the　coast；　then　it　was　a　good　bet　that　somewhere　out　there；　there　was　another　British　plane；　an　attack　plane…a　bomber　or　a　fighter…that　had　been　getting　its　fuel　from　the　tanker。　And　it　probably　had　orders　to…　
　Oh；　no；　Schofield　thought；　realizing。　It　was　Barnaby's　eraser。　
　Like　the　French　team's　eraser；　that　British　fighter　probably　had　orders　to　fire　upon　Wilkes　Ice　Station　if　Trevor　Barnaby　didn't　call　in　within　a　certain　time。　
　Romeo　said；　〃The　Air　Force　has　been　called　in。　They're　sweeping　the　air　over　the　ocean　with　AWACS　birds　and　F…22　fighters。　They're　looking　for　a　rogue　British　fighter　and　they　have　orders　to　shoot　on　sight。〃　
　Schofield　fell　back　into　his　chair。　
　He　frowned；　rubbed　his　forehead。　The　world　was　closing　in　around　him。　
　He　was　trapped。　Totally　and　utterly　trapped。　The　SEALs　would　be　ing　in　soon…whether　or　not　they　realized　there　was　nothing　to　be　gained　from　this　station。　And　even　if　Scho…field　managed　to　evade　them　after　they　stormed　the　station；　there　remained　the　possibility　that　Wilkes　would　be　destroyed　by　an　air…to…ground　missile　from　a　rogue　British　fighter　off　the　coast。　
　There　was　one　option；　though；　he　thought。　
　Go　outside　and　surrender　to　Romeo　before　the　SEALs　arrived。　At　least　that　way；　they　would　stay　alive。　And　if　Schofield　had　learned　nothing　from　this　whole　day；　it　was　that　if　you　stayed　alive；　you　still　had　a　chance。　
　Schofield　keyed　his　helmet　mike。　〃Romeo；　listen…〃　
　〃Oh；　shit；　Scarecrow。　They're　here。〃　
　〃What？〃　
　〃The　SEALs。　They're　here。　They　just　let　them　through　the　outer　perimeter。　Four　hovercrqfts。　They're　ing　toward　the　station　plex　now。〃　
　
　One　mile　out　from　Wilkes　Ice　Station　an　armada　of　hovercrafts　formed　a　long；　unbroken　line。　They　were　arrayed　in　a　semicircle　on　the　landward　side　of　the　station　and　they　were　all　pointed　inward…pointing　in　toward　the　station。　
　At　that　moment；　however；　four　navy　blue　hovercrafts　broke　through　the　line　and　glided　across　the　ice　plain　toward　the　station。　They　wended　their　way　through　the　outer　buildings　of　the　station　plex；　in　no　apparent　hurry。　
　They　were　the　SEAL　hovercrafts。　
　Inside　the　lead　hovercraft；　the　SEAL　mander　keyed　his　radio。　〃Air　Control；　this　is　SEAL　team；　report；〃　he　said。　〃I　confirm　previous　instructions。　We　will　not　enter　the　station　until　we　are　sure　you　have　the　bogey。〃　
　〃SEAL　team；　this　is　Air　Control。　Stand　by；〃　a　voice　on　the　radio　said。　〃We　are　standing　by　for　a　report　from　our　birds　right　now。〃　
　
　At　that　very　same　moment；　at　a　point　242　nautical　miles　out　from　Wilkes　Ice　Station；　six　F…22　USAF　fighters　rocketed　over　the　Southern　Ocean。　
　The　F…22　is　the　most　advanced　air　superiority　fighter　in　the　world；　the　heir　to　the　throne　of　the　old　F…15　Eagle。　But　while　the　F…22　looks　a　little　like　the　old　F…15　Eagle；　the　F…22　has　one　thing　the　F…15　never　had…stealth。　
　In　the　lead　F…22；　the　squadron　leader　was　listening　to　his　helmet　radio。　When　the　voice　at　the　other　end　finished　speaking；　the　squadron　leader　said；　〃Thanks；　Bigbird；　I　see　him。〃　
　On　his　puterized　display　screen　the　squadron　leader　saw　a　small　blip　heading　west。　A　readout　on　the　screen　read：　
　TARGET　ACQUIRED：　103　NM　WNW　AIRCRAFT　DESIGNATED：　E…2000　
　An　E…2000；　the　squadron　leader　noted。　The　Eurofighter　2000。　A　twin…engine；　highly　maneuverable　pocket　fighter；　the　E…2000　was　a　joint　project　of　the　British；　German；　Spanish；　and　Italian　Air　Forces。　
　On　the　squadron　leader's　screen　the　blip　appeared　to　be　flying　casually；　pletely　unaware　of　the　stealthy　American　fighters　a　hundred　miles　behind　it。　
　〃All　right；　people；　target　has　been　acquired；〃　the　F…22　pilot　said。　〃I　repeat；　target　has　been　acquired。　It's　time　to　rock　and　roll。〃　
　
　Inside　Wilkes　Ice　Station；　Shane　Schofield　didn't　know　what　the　hell　to　do。　
　He　knew　he　couldn't　surrender　to　the　SEALs。　They　were　almost　certainly　ICG。　If　they　got　him；　they　would　kill　him。　
　He　considered　going　down　to　the　cave　and　hiding　down　there…and　if　necessary　holding　the　spaceship　for　ransom…　but　then　he　realized　that　it　was　no　longer　possible　to　get　down　to　the　cave　since　the　diving　bell　had　been　destroyed。　
　Schofield　led　Kirsty　and　Renshaw　out　of　the　radio　room　on　A…deck　and　down　the　rung…ladder　to　the　lower　decks。　
　〃What's　going　on？〃　Renshaw　said。　
　〃We　just　got　screwed；〃　Schofield　said。　His　mind　was　racing。　Their　only　option　now；　he　figured；　was　to　hide　somewhere　inside　the　station　and　hold　out　until　the　SEALs　and　everyone　else　were　gone。。。。　
　And　then　what　are　you　gonna　do？　Schofield　asked　himself。　Walk　home？　
　If　you　stay　alive；　you　still　have　a　chance。　
　Schofield　slid　down　the　rung…ladder；　looked　down　at　the　pool　on　E…deck。　
　And　then　he　saw　something。　
　He　saw　Wendy；　lying　on　the　deck；　happily　dozing　off　to　sleep。　
　Wendy；　he　thought。　
　Something　about　Wendy。。。。　
　
　The　F…22　squadron　leader　spoke　into　his　helmet　mike；　〃Bigbird；　this　is　Blue　Leader。　Maintaining　stealth　mode。　Estimate　target　will　be　in　missile　range　in。。。　twenty　minutes。〃　
　Suddenly　it　hit　Schofield。　
　
　He　spun　to　face　Kirsty。　〃Kirsty；　how　long　can　Wendy　hold　her　breath　for？〃　
　Kirsty　shrugged。　〃Most　male　far　seals　can　hold　their　breath　for　about　an　hour。　But　Wendy's　a　girl；　and　a　lot　smaller；　so　she　can　only　hold　her　breath　for　about　forty　minutes。〃　
　〃Forty　minutes。。。；〃　Schofield　said；　doing　the　calculations　in　his　head。　
　〃What　are　you　thinking？〃　Renshaw　asked。　
　Schofield　said；　〃It　takes　us　roughly　two　hours　to　get　from　the　station　to　the　cave；　right。　One　hour　to　go　down　three　thousand　feet　in　the　diving　bell　and　then　another　hour　or　so　to　go　up　through　the　ice　tunnel。〃　
　〃Yeah；　so　。。。；〃　Renshaw　said。