The Sum of All Fears.pdf - Delta Force

***
'As you have probably been told there has been a major explosion in the central
part of my country. I have been told that it was a nuclear explosion and that
the loss of life is severe,' President Narmonov read, with his advisors at his
side.
'About what one would expect,' Narmonov said. 'Send our reply.'
***
'Jesus, that was fast!' the Army colonel on duty remarked and began his
translation. A Marine sergeant typed the English version, which was
automatically linked to Camp David, Fort Ritchie, and the State Department. The
computers printed out hard copy that was sent almost as fast to SAC, NORAD, and
the intelligence agencies via facsimile printer.
AUTHENTICATOR: TIMETABLE TIMETABLE TIMETABLE
REPLY FROM MOSCOW
PRESIDENT FOWLER:
WE HAVE NOTED THE EVENT. PLEASE ACCEPT OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY AND THAT OF
THE
SOVIET PEOPLE. HOW IS SUCH AN ACCIDENT POSSIBLE?
'Accident?' Fowler asked.
'That was awfully fast, Robert,' Elliot observed at once. 'Too damned fast. His
English isn't very good. The message had to be translated, and you take time to
read things like this. Their reply must have been canned – made up in advance .
. . what does that mean?' Liz asked, almost talking to herself, as Fowler
formulated his next message. What's going on here? Who is doing this, and why .
. . ?
PRESIDENT NARMONOV:
I REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT THIS WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT. THERE IS NO AMERICAN
NUCLEAR DEVICE WITHIN A HUNDRED MILES, NOR WERE ANY US WEAPONS IN
TRANSIT IN THE
AREA. THIS WAS A DELIBERATE ACT BY UNKNOWN FORCES.
***
'Well, that's no surprise,' Narmonov said. He congratulated himself for
correctly predicting the first message from America. 'Send the next reply,' he
told the communicator. To his advisers: 'Fowler is an arrogant man, with the
weaknesses of arrogance, but he is no fool. He will be very emotional about
this. We must settle him down, calm him. If he can keep control of himself, his
intelligence will allow him to maintain control of the matter.'
'My President,' said Golovko, who had just arrived in the command center. 'I
think this is a mistake.'
'What do you mean?' Narmonov asked in some surprise.
'It is a mistake to tailor your words to what you think of the man, his
character, and his mental state. People change under stress. The man at the
other end of that telephone line may not be the same man whom you met in Rome.'
The Soviet President dismissed that idea. 'Nonsense. People like that never
change. We have enough of them here. I've been dealing with people like Fowler
all my life.'
***