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.Hammond shifted gears with something approaching gratitude.“Mr.Kinsey, I’ve got more important things to deal with right now than you.You’re going to be kept in confinement until I decide exactly what to do with you.Now”—he took a deep breath and addressed one of the other officers—“get Bert Samuels up here.”Minutes later, a quivering lieutenant colonel stood before him.“S-sir.”The rest of the room was absolutely silent.No, command was definitely not what it was cracked up to be.Hammond could remember one of his daughters once, in the midst of an impassioned tantrum, calling him a militaristic tyrant who thought he had the power of life and death over everybody around him.Looking at Bert Samuels, George Hammond almost wished it was true.The little lieutenant colonel stood at absolute attention, oscillating almost visibly between sheer terror and smirking glee.Little tattletale, Hammond thought.Oh, all right, so that wasn’t really fair.Little lickspittle toady.You think your “special relationship” with the Joint Chiefs cuts any ice with me?“Mr.Samuels—”Several of the assembled military involuntarily swallowed at the softness of Hammond’s tone.Not one of them missed the deliberate omission of rank.“—would you mind telling me what on earth possessed you to bring a reporter into this complex?“And not just into this complex, but into this facility?”“I-I didn’t,” Samuels stammered.“I mean, I brought him into the complex, but that was at the specific request of Senator Kinsey.His father,” Samuels belatedly added, as if it might make a difference.“He, he took matters into his own hands, and then that major grabbed him, and O’Neill—”Hammond shifted his gaze to target on the line of sweat on Bert Samuels’ brow.“So, Colonel, you and Senator Kinsey thought it would be a great idea to have his son do an investigative report on Cheyenne Mountain?”“It was the senator’s idea,” Samuels said defensively.Reviewing the circumstances seemed to revive the junior officer’s courage.“And this incident is a matter I’m going to have to bring to his attention, sir, since you seem to have a very serious breach of security—”“I’ll bring it to the senator’s attention,” Hammond agreed.“And to the President’s.Your role will be specifically mentioned, I assure you.”Even now the poor airman standing guard at the elevator was being grilled to within an inch of his life, Hammond knew.Kinsey would never have reached the elevator had Morley not grabbed him.That made no difference now; he would have to find a way to soothe an enraged father, already antagonistic to the whole project, as well as justify the facility’s response to the President.“Report, Doctor?”Standing at attention beside Samuels and reeking of distaste, Janet Frasier kept her face impassive.“We have Major Morley in restraints,” she summarized.“The personnel from SG-9 are under care.Five are in critical condition.We haven’t been able to get any information from them at this time.”Hammond raised a hand.“That’s all right, Captain.I’d appreciate it if you’d let me know if anything changes on that front.Dismissed.”Frasier snapped a salute, executed a parade turn, and marched out.Hammond shifted his attention back to the quivering Samuels.“You are not to report anything whatsoever to the senator unless and until I specifically authorize it.I have that authority direct from the President of the United States.Are you clear on that, Colonel?”Samuels shrank into himself.It was almost a shame to send him away, Hammond thought.It was so interesting to watch the man change colors.He would have liked to watch some more, but he needed to pass along the casualty information first.He could always have a whole series of little talks with the man.“Yes, sir,” he gulped.No matter how you cut it, it was a gawdawful mess.And he knew who the senator would take it out on.Hammond had never been so close to losing his own rank in his long and spotless military career, and that realization was the only thing that was keeping him from flaying Samuels alive.He would save that pleasure for later, he promised himself, no matter how this debacle turned out.“You’re dismissed, Colonel.I want you to return to house arrest.You are to have no communication with anyone without my personal authorization.Sergeant, escort the colonel to the holding facility.I’ll be in my office.Notify me immediately of any changes to this situation [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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