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his face.
The Angel Stanislau descended from the radiance and assumed Earthly form beside the cot.  Hanlon s
got someone over at the main gate who wants to talk to you. Says it s urgent.
Colman sat up and rubbed his eyes.  Why didn t he put a call through?
 Regular comm channels are all down, to the ship everywhere. They have been for over an hour,
Stanislau said.  Emergency channels are restricted to priority military traffic. Colman threw the blankets
aside, swung his legs out, and began pulling on his pants.  Strange things happening everywhere,
Stanislau told him, handing him his boots.  Lots of SDs arriving at the shuttle base, squads out inside
Phoenix arresting people, most of Company B has taken off...I don t know what it s all about.
 Is Sirocco around? Colman moved over to the washbasin to rinse his face.
 In the Orderly Room. Hanlon got him up earlier.
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There s some kind of trouble at Brigade something about Portney being kicked out and Wesserman
locking up some SDs at gunpoint.
Colman swiped his face with a towel, tossed the towel to Stanislau, and snatched a shirt from a closet.
 Do me a favor and straighten out this mess, he said. He put on his cap as he walked out the door, and
still buttoning his blouse, hurried away toward the Orderly Room,
The Orderly Room was chaotic as Sirocco, Maddock and Sergeant Armley from First platoon were
trying to put out what looked like a fire of flashing lamps on the emergency companel when Colman stuck
his head round the door less than half a minute later.  What the hell s going on? he asked them.
 Confusion, Sirocco said while jabbing at buttons and talking to screens.  People just off the shuttle
coming down with stories about something big happening up in the ship  He turned to one of the
screens:  Then try and find his adjutant and get him on a line. Then back to Colman:
 I m trying to find someone to confirm the rumors.
 Hanlon wants me at the gate for something, Colman said.  Talk to you in a few minutes.
 Okay. Get back here when you re through.
Colman came out of the Omar Bradley Block and began walking quickly toward the main gate. Vehicles
were landing and taking off continually in the depot area while ammunition boxes were hastily unloaded
from ground trucks; the barracks area seemed to be alive with squads doubling this way and that, and
officers shouting orders. Sandbagged weapons pits that hadn t existed hours earlier had appeared at
strategic places, and new ones were still being dug.
The guard had been doubled at the main gate. Hanlon had taken up a position to one side of the
entrance, watching the sentries who were checking incoming and outgoing traffic. Jay Fallows was
standing just outside, by the wall of the sentry post. Hanlon saw Colman approaching and sauntered
across to meet him.  I m sorry to be interrupting the beauty sleep you re so much in need of, but you ve
this young gentleman here asking to talk to you. Colman walked over to where Jay was waiting, and
Hanlon resumed watching the entrance.
Jay began speaking earnestly and in a low voice.  My father asked me to find you. It s urgent. One of
the people the SDs are looking for is at the house. Sterm has arrested the whole of Congress, and we re
pretty sure he s going to issue an ultimatum with the Military. If they do the Chironians will take out the
whole ship. Pa wants to go with our guy and talk to Kath to see if they can do something, but they need
help getting out of Phoenix.
Colman s face creased into a frown.  Take the ship out with what?
 I don t know, Jay said.  It s a lot to go into now, but we re certain they ve got the capability. It s
really that urgent, Steve. When can you get over?
 Oh, Christ Wearily, Colman brought a hand up to his brow.  Okay. Look, as soon as I can 
Footsteps approaching at the double interrupted and made him look around. It was Sergeant Armley,
from the Orderly Room.
Armley stopped in front of Colman and beckoned Hanlon over.  Sirocco wants you both back right
away, he said breathlessly.  I ll take over at the gate. There s trouble at the shuttle base. Orders have
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come down from the ship to move the Chironians out and seal off the whole place. Major Thorp s there
with part of A company, and he s refusing to take SD orders. We ve been ordered to send two
platoons. Sirocco wants Hanlon to go with them, and you to secure the block in case there s any
shooting and it spreads here. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]