mreilly.icestation-第67章

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　back　on　his　stick。　The　Silhouette　responded　by　rocking　backwards　in　the　air　and　pointing　itself　up　at　the　wide　hole　in　the　ceiling。　
　〃All　right；　Kirsty；　now！〃　
　Kirsty　jammed　down　on　her　trigger。　
　Immediately　the　Silhouette's　wings　spewed　forth　a　devastating　burst　of　tracer　fire。　The　relentless　wave　of　bullets　disappeared　inside　the　hole　in　the　ceiling　and　assaulted　any　icy　crags　or　outcroppings　that　dared　to　jut　out　of　the　walls　of　the　ice　tunnel。　
　At　that　moment；　Schofield　hit　the　thrusters　and　the　Silhouette　shot　up　into　the　tunnel；　just　as；　behind　it；　the　ceiling　of　the　enormous　cavern　spectacularly　collapsed　in　on　itself。　
　
　The　wing…mounted　guns　of　the　Silhouette　blazed　away；　blasting　at　any　imperfections　in　the　ice　tunnel　as　the　big　black　plane　flew　upward　through　what　had　once　been　the　underwater　ice　tunnel。　
　Schofield　guided　the　sleek　black　plane　up　through　the　tunnel；　shooting　through　puffs　of　white　cloud；　rolling　the　big　plane　onto　its　side　when　the　tunnel　narrowed；　praying　to　God　that　the　tracer　bullets　were　clearing　the　way。　
　Up　and　up　the　Silhouette　went；　blasting　away　at　the　tunnel　in　front　of　it。　Explosions　boomed　out　all　around　the　big　black　plane。　The　sound　of　its　wing…mounted　guns　firing　away　was　deafening。　
　And　then　suddenly　the　tunnel　behind　the　Silhouette　began　to　collapse　at　a　phenomenal　rate。　
　Boom！　Boom！　Boom！　
　Massive　chunks　of　ice　began　to　rain　down　from　the　ceiling　of　the　tunnel　behind　the　speeding　plane。　The　Silhouette　raced　upward　through　the　tunnel；　blasting　away　at　the　walls　of　the　tunnel　in　front　of　it　while　at　the　same　time　outrunning　the　collapsing　tunnel　behind　it。　
　Through　the　cockpit　canopy　it　looked　like　some　kind　of　video…game　thrill　ride。　The　tunnel　swept　past　Schofield　at　phenomenal　speed；　and　occasionally　the　world　nipped　upside…down　as　he　rolled　the　big　plane　to　avoid　falling　chunks　of　ice。　
　Schofield　watched　as　the　barrage　of　tracer　bullets　decimated　the　walls　of　the　tunnel　in　front　of　him；　widening　it；　smoothing　it；　and　then　suddenly…voom！…the　walls　of　the　ice　tunnel　vanished　and　in　a　single；　glorious　instant　he　saw　the　sky　open　up　in　front　of　him。　
　The　Silhouette　burst　out　of　the　iceberg　and　flew　up　into　the　clear　open　sky。　
　
　The　Silhouette　shot　up　into　the　air；　almost　vertical；　and　Schofield　looked　back　over　his　shoulder　and　saw　that　the　ice　shelf　that　had　held　Wilkes　Ice　Station　within　it　was　indeed　no　longer　an　ice　shelf。　It　was　now　an　iceberg。　
　An　absolutely　massive　iceberg。　
　It　had　flipped　over　and　Schofield　saw　the　eroded　underbelly　of　what　had　once　been　the　ice　shelf…the　thin；　icy　stalactites；　the　glistening…wet　mountain　peaks…rising　like　spires　above　the　new　berg。　He　also　saw　the　jagged　black　hole　through　which　the　Silhouette　had　blasted　out　of　the　berg。　
　And　then　suddenly　movement　caught　his　eye：　a　thin　white　object　racing　over　the　ocean；　heading　toward　the　newly　formed　iceberg。　
　The　missile。　
　And　as　the　Silhouette　roared　into　the　sky；　Schofield　watched　in　silent　awe　as　the　nuclear…tipped　missile　slammed　into　the　iceberg　and　burrowed　into　it。　There　was　about　a　three…second　delay　。。。　
　And　then　the　nuclear　device　detonated。　
　
　
　
　Armageddon。　
　The　white…hot　flash　of　the　nuclear　explosion…directly　beneath　the　Silhouette　as　it　shot　up　into　the　sky…was　absolutely　blinding。　
　Solid　cliffs　of　ice　were　turned　instantly　to　powder　as　every　side　of　the　iceberg　containing　Wilkes　Ice　Station　and　the　underground　cavern　blew　out　with　the　blast　wave。　
　The　blast　wave　shot　underwater；　vaporizing　everything　in　its　path；　creating　huge　waves　of　water　that　expanded　out　from　the　coast；　rocking　the　massive　icebergs　that　lined　the　cliffs　as　if　they　were　a　child's　bath　toys。　Truth　be　told；　it　wasn't　a　large　nuclear　blast…three　kilotons；　with　a　blast　radius　of　half　a　kilometer。　But　then　again；　there　really　was　no　such　thing　as　a　small　nuclear　explosion。　
　But　it　wasn't　over　yet。　
　Suddenly　a　monstrous　black　mushroom　cloud　began　to　form；　shooting　up　into　the　air　at　incredible　speed；　chasing　the　Silhouette　as　it　shot　skyward。　
　Schofield　went　vertical；　tried　to　outrun　the　burgeoning　mushroom　cloud。　The　mushroom　cloud　rushed　upward。　The　Silhouette　screamed　into　the　sky；　its　engines　roaring；　and　just　as　the　mushroom　cloud　began　to　engulf　it　the　cloud　peaked　and　the　Silhouette　shot　up　and　away　to　safety。　
　Schofield　banked　the　plane　sharply　and　headed　out　to　sea。　
　
　The　Silhouette　shot　across　the　ocean；　heading　north。　It　was　dark；　eternal　twilight。　The　gargantuan　mushroom　cloud　had　just　dipped　below　the　horizon　to　the　south　of　the　big　black　plane。　
　Schofield　found　the　autopilot；　engaged　it；　then　went　back　into　the　missile　bay　to　check　on　Gant。　
　〃How　is　she？〃　he　asked　Renshaw。　Gant　was　lying　on　the　floor　of　the　missile　bay；　looking　seriously　pale。　Her　skin　was　clammy；　her　eyes　were　closed。　
　〃She's　lost　a　lot　of　blood；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃We　have　to　get　her　to　a　hospital　fast。〃　
　At　that　moment；　Gant's　eyes　popped　open。　〃Did　we　win？〃　she　asked。　
　Schofield　and　Renshaw　both　looked　down　at　her。　Schofield　smiled。　〃Yes；　Libby；　we　won。　How　are　you　feeling？〃　
　〃Terrible。〃　She　lay　back；　shut　her　eyes　again。　
　Schofield　sighed。　Where　could　he　take　her？　A　ship　would　be　the　best　option；　but　which…　
　The　Wasp。　Romeo　had　said　that　the　USS　Wasp　was　out　here　somewhere。　It　was　Jack　Walsh's　ship。　A　Marine　ship。　It　would　be　safe。　
　Schofield　was　about　to　hurry　back　to　the　cockpit　when　suddenly　he　saw　the　diary　sticking　out　of　Gant's　breast　pocket。　
　He　grabbed　it　and　headed　forward　into　the　cockpit。　
　Once　he　was　seated　in　the　pilot's　chair；　he　keyed　the　Silhouette's　radio。　〃USS　Wasp。　USS　Wasp。　This　is　Scarecrow。　I　repeat；　this　is　Scarecrow。　Do　you　copy？〃　
　There　was　no　reply。　
　He　tried　again。　No　reply。　He　looked　down　at　the　diary　in　his　hands。　It　had　some　looseleaf　sheets　of　paper　folded　inside　it。　Gant　must　have　found　some　documents　and　put　them　in　the　diary。　
　Schofield　grabbed　one　of　the　loose　sheets。　It　read：　
　
　Design　Parameters　for　the　B…7A　Silhouette　
　The　Principal　desires　an　attack　aircraft　with　total　electronic　and　conventional　invisibility；　STOVL　capabilities　through　a　retrograde　thruster　system；　and　multiple…launch　BVR　medium…to…long…range　（200　nm）　air…to…air/　air…to…ground　missile　launch　capabilities　as　expressed　in　the　tender　lodged　by　General　Aeronautics；　Inc。；　and　Entertech　Ltd。　in　response　to　the　Principal's　Invitation　to　Tender　No；　456…771…7A；　dated　2　January　1977。　
　
　Schofield　translated　the　jargon：　STOVL　was　Short…Take…Off/Vertical…Landing；　BVR　stood　for　Beyond　Visual　Range；　which　meant　missiles　that　could　be　fired　at　targets…and　be　expected　to　hit　those　targets…at　extremely　long　range。　〃Electronic　invisibility〃　meant　invisibility　to　radar；　or　stealth。　But　what　the　hell　was　〃conventional　invisibility？〃　
　Schofield　flicked　to　the　next　sheet。　It　looked　like　a　page　out　of　Entertech　Ltd。's　tender。　It　read：　
　
　The　Entertech　Edge　
　The　B…7A　Silhouette　benefits　from　Entertech　Ltd。's　experience　in　the　field　of　electronic　countermeasures。　Invisibility　to　radar…or　〃stealth〃…is　acplished　in　many　ways：　with　radar　absorbent　paint；　minimal　radar　cross…sections；　or　with　a　sharply　angled　fuselage　design　as　was　done　with　the　F…117A　stealth　fighter。　But　conventional　invisibility　is　more　difficult　to　acplish；　and　so　far；　it　has　remained　unattainable。　Until　now。　
　Entertech　Ltd。　has　developed　a　system　whereby　an　electromagnetic　field　is　created　around　a　given　aircraft　creating　conventional　invisibility。　The　electromagnetic　field　distorts　the　molecular　structure　of　the　air　around　the　aircraft；　creating　an　artificial　refraction　of　light　that　renders　that　aircraft　totally　invisible　to　radar　and　even…　
　
　Schofield's　jaw　dropped。　His　eyes　scanned　the　lines　ahead　and　he　found　the　word　he　was　looking　for：　
　
　We　call　it　a　cloaking　device　。。。　
　
　Jesus；　he　thought。　
　A　cloaking　device。　
　A　system　that　rendered　an　aircraft　invisible　not　only　to　radar　but　to　the　naked　eye　as　well。　Every　aviator　knew　that　even　if　you　were　invisible　to　your　enemy's　radar；　you　could　never　escape　someone　seeing　you　directly。　A　billion…dollar　stealth　bomber　can　be　seen　by　a　spotter　out　the　window　of　an　AWACS　plane　forty　miles　away。　
　Schofield's　mind　buzzed。　This　was　revolutionary。　A　cloaking　device　that　distorted　the　air　around　an　airplane；　thus　creating　an　artificial　refraction　of　the　light　around　the　plane；　making　it　invisible　to　the　naked　eye。　The　crazy　thing　was；　it　just　might　work。　
　Schofield　knew　about　refraction。　It　was　most　monly　observed　when　one　looked　into　a　fishbowl。　Light　outside　the　fishbowl　strikes　the　water…which　has　a　greater　density　than　the　air　above　it。　The　greater　density　of　the　water　causes　the　light　to　refract　at　an　angle；　distorting　the　size　and　position　of　the　fish　inside　the　bowl。　
　But　this　was　refraction　of　air；　Schofield　thought。　This　is　artificially　altering　the　density　of　air　with　electricity。　
　There　had　to　be　a　catch。　And　there　was。　
　The　plutonium。　
　This　revolutionary　new　system…this　system　that　could　alter　the　refractive　density　of　air…was　nuclear。　
　Schofield　searched　for　the　relevant　paragraph；　found　it。　As　one　would　expect　from　someone　trying　to　win　a　government　tender；　it　was　carefully　worded：　
　
　It　must　be　appreciated　that　to　effect　the　Silhouette's　cloaking　system　requires　an　enormous　amount　of　self…generated　power。　According　to　tests　run　by　Entertech　Ltd。　and　General　Aeronautics；　Inc。；　to　disrupt　the　molecular　and　electromagnetic　structure　of　the　ambient　air　around　a　moving　aircraft　requires　a　total　of　2。71　gigawatts　of　electromagnetic　energy。　The　only　known　source　of　such　a　quantity　of　energy　is　a　controlled　nuclear　reaction…　
　
　Schofield　whistled　softly　to　himself。　General　Aeronautics　and　Entertech　had　offered　the　U。S。　Air　Force　a　plane　with　a　nuclear　reactor　on　board。　No　wonder　they　built　it　in　Antarctica。　
　He　put　the　documentation　down；　tried　the　radio　again。　
　〃USS　Wasp。　USS　Wasp。　This　is　Scarecrow。　I　repeat；　USS　Wasp；　this　is　Scarecrow。　Please　re…〃　
　〃Unidentified　aircraft　using　the　name　Scarecrow；　this　is　U。S。　Air　Force　fighter　Blue　Leader。　Identify　yourself；〃　a　voice　said　suddenly　over　Schofield's　cockpit　radio。　
　Schofield　looked　at　his　radar　screen。　He　was　now　almost　two　hundred　nautical　miles　from　the　coast　of　Antarctica；　safely　out　over　the　sea。　On　his　radar　screen　he　saw　nothing。　
　Damn　it；　Schofield　thought。　Whoever　this　is；　he's　operating　under　stealth。　
　〃Blue　Leader；　this　is　Lieutenant　Shane　Schofield；　United　States　Marines　Corps。　I　am　flying　an　unmarked　US　Air　Force　prototype　fighter…bomber。　I　mean　you　no　harm。〃　
　Schofield　looked　out　the　canopy　to　his　left。　
　He　saw　six　tiny　dots　on　the　horizon。　
　〃Unidentified　aircraft。　You　are　to　follow　us　under　escort　back　to　the　U。S。　Navy　carrier　Enterprise；　where　you　will　he　debriefed。〃　
　Schofield　said；　〃Blue　Leader；　I　do　not　wish　to　be　taken　under　escort…〃　
　〃Then　you　will　be　fired　upon；　unidentified　aircraft。〃　
　Schofield　bit　his　tongue。　〃Blue　Leader；　identify　yourself。〃　
　〃What？〃　
　〃What　is　your　name；　Blue　Leader？〃　
　〃My　name　is　Captain　John　F。　Yates；　United　States　Air　Force；　and　I　want　you　to　surrender　to　escort　formation　now！〃　
　Yates；　Schofield　tho