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“The navy reacted as soon as we were directed to,” the admiral said. “But Heard Island is one of the most remote spots on the face of the Earth, and we don’t spend a great deal of time patrolling the bottom of the world. The USS Albany was the closest operational vessel at the time and it was over four thousand miles away.”
An aide rushed into the room and handed Culver a note.
“I guess it doesn’t matter,” Culver said. “Our early warning network has picked up a neutrino wave in the southern hemisphere. We don’t have a location, but I’m pretty sure we can guess where it’s coming from.”
“So Thero isn’t going to give us ninety minutes,” the President said. “Talk about jumping the gun.”
VP Sandecker spoke next. “We’d better inform the Australian prime minister. Tell him doomsday is coming early.”
Pitt watched the proceedings stoically until the buzz of his intercom interrupted. It was Ms. Conry from communications.
“I have an incoming radio call for you, Dirk.”
Pitt pressed the talk button. “Now is not a good time.”
“It’s Kurt Austin,” she replied. “He’s calling on a shortwave band. The signal is very weak.”
“Put him through,” Pitt said without hesitation.
A distorted squeal of static and shortwave frequency interference came through the line seconds later.
“Kurt?” Pitt asked. “Can you hear me?”
More static, and then finally Kurt’s voice.
“Barely,” he said. “We’re on Heard Island. We found Thero’s base of operations. It’s underground. Near the front of the Winston Glacier.”
“We know,” Pitt said. “Hiram managed to figure out your signal and Paul and Gamay bluffed the MV Rama into surrendering. What’s your situation?”
The sound wavered again, punctuated by bursts of interference. “We’ve managed to start a small uprising and we’ve taken over half the station, but Thero and his men have walled themselves off on a higher level. We can’t get to them.”
“The NSA sensor grid is picking up neutrino emissions,” Pitt said. “We believe Thero is charging his weapon now. Can you confirm that?”
“Not exactly, but it would explain the lighting issues we’ve been having,” Kurt said. “You’re going to have to hit this place hard to knock it out. We’re at least a hundred feet below the surface.”
“We can’t get any ordinance on-site in time,” Pitt said. “You’re going to have to stop it from there.”
The silence and distortion returned.
“Kurt? Do you read me?”
“Loud and clear,” Kurt said. “I’ll see what we can do.”
The static ended abruptly as Kurt cut the line.
* * *
Silence pervaded the radio room on Heard Island.
“No help coming,” Kurt said. “It’s up to us.”
“So what’s the plan?” Joe asked.
Kurt looked at Gregorovich. “Any idea what happened to that box of fireworks you brought from Moscow?”
“Thero’s people took it with Hayley.”
“Then we’d better get to that control room,” Kurt said.
