atlantis.found-第81部分

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　once　they　had　fallen　into　the　clear　and　opened　their　canopies。　Their　target　landing　site　was　a　large　ice　field　just　outside　the　mining　facility；　whose　broken；　uneven　landscape　offered　them　a　small　degree　of　protection　when　regrouping　after　the　jump。　The　next　part　of　the　plan　was　the　assault　on　the　main　engineering　center　of　the　facility；　where　it　was　hoped　the　doomsday　controls　were　housed。　Expert　military　minds　judged　that　fewer　casualties　would　occur　if　they　landed　and　attacked　from　the　outside　rather　than　landing　in　the　maze　of　buildings；　antennas；　machinery；　and　electrical　equipment。
　　　　　Coordination　was　to　take　place　once　each　unit　was　on　the　ground　and　assembled　for　the　assault。　Any　who　were　injured　upon　landing　would　have　to　suffer　the　cold　and　be　dealt　with　later；　after　the　facility　had　been　secured　and　any　systems　or　equipment　that　were　designed　to　separate　the　ice　shelf　destroyed。
　　　　　Satisfied　that　each　man　knew　what　was　expected　of　him；　Cleary　moved　to　the　rear　of　the　cargo　bay　and　donned　his　parachute　and　rucksack。　Then　he　had　one　of　Sharpsburg's　men　give　him　a　plete　jumpmaster　inspection；　with　emphasis　on　his　oxygen…breathing　equipment　for　the　long　fall。
　　　　　Finally；　he　silhouetted　himself　with　his　back　to　the　closed　cargo　ramp　in　the　floor　and　waved　his　hands　to　get　the　men's　attention。　From　this　point　on；　munication　with　the　entire　assault　team　would　be　conducted　by　hand　and　arm　signals；　which　was　standard　operating　procedure。　The　only　voice　munications　until　the　jump　would　be　between　Cleary；　Sharpsburg；　Jacobs；　Garnet；　and　Stafford　in　the　cockpit。　Once　they　exited　the　aircraft　and　were　under　canopy；　each　man　could　municate　with　individual　Motorola　radios　over　secure　frequencies。
　　　　　〃Pilot；　this　is　the　jumpmaster。〃
　　　　　〃I　read　you；　Major；〃　came　back　Stafford's　voice。　〃Ready　on　the　mark？〃
　　　　　〃Jumpmaster　checks　plete。　Oxygen　prebreathing　is　under　way。〃
　　　　　Cleary　took　an　empty　seat　and　studied　the　men。　So　far；　it　was　going　well；　almost　too　well；　he　thought。　This　is　the　time　when　Murphy's　Law　came　sneaking　around；　and　Cleary　wasn't　about　to　allow　Mr。　Murphy　any　opportunities。　He　was　pleased　to　see　the　men　were　fully　alert　and　primed。
　　　　　They　wore　hoods　under　gray　Gentex　flight　helmets　to　gain　additional　protection　from　the　harsh　subzero　temperatures。　Adidas　Galeforce　yellow…lens　goggles　for　fog　and　overcast　were　attached　to　the　helmets；　resting　up　and　leaving　the　men's　eyes　clearly　visible　to　Cleary　and　the　oxygen　technician　so　they　could　check　for　any　signs　of　hypoxia。　The　heating　units　in　their　thermal　suits　were　activated；　and　each　man　checked　his　buddy　to　make　certain　that　all　equipment　was　properly　organized　and　in　place。　Bungee　cords　and　web　straps　were　strategically　laced　around　each　man's　clothing　and　equipment　to　prevent　them　from　being　torn　away　by　the　great　burst　of　air　expected　upon　their　exit　from　the　ramp。
　　　　　After　they　checked　their　radios　to　confirm　that　each　was　transmitting　and　receiving；　Cleary　stood　up　and　moved　near　the　closed　ramp。　Facing　his　assault　force　again；　he　saw　that　all　the　men　were　giving　him　their　undivided　attention。　Once　again；　he　motioned　to　the　man　nearest　his　left　with　a　thumbs…up　signal。
　
　
　　　　　In　the　cockpit；　carefully　studying　his　puterized　course　and　the　programmed　target；　Captain　Stafford　was　concentrating　his　mind　and　soul　on　dropping　the　men　waiting　aft　over　the　precise　spot　that　would　give　them　every　chance　of　surviving。　His　primary　concern　was　not　to　send　them　out　ten　seconds　too　early　or　five　seconds　too　late　and　scatter　them　all　over　the　frozen　landscape。　He　disengaged　the　automatic　pilot　and　turned　the　controls　over　to　Brannon　so　his　perspective　and　timing　would　not　be　diverted。　Stafford　switched　to　the　cockpit　inter　and　spoke　through　his　oxygen　mask　to　Brannon。　〃Deviate　one　degree　and　it　will　cost　them。〃
　　　　　〃I'll　put　them　over　the　target；〃　Brannon　said　self…assuredly。　〃But　you　have　to　put　them　on　it。〃
　　　　　〃No　confidence　in　your　aircraft　mander's　navigational　abilities？　Shame　on　you。〃
　　　　　〃A　thousand　pardons；　my　captain。〃
　　　　　〃That's　better；〃　Stafford　said　expansively。　He　switched　to　the　cargo　bay　inter。　〃Major　Cleary；　are　you　ready？〃
　　　　　〃Roger；〃　Cleary　answered　briefly。
　　　　　〃Crew；　are　you　ready？〃
　　　　　The　crewmen；　wearing　harnesses　attached　to　cargo　tie…down　rings　and　portable　oxygen　systems；　were　standing　a　few　feet　forward　of　the　ramp　on　opposite　sides。
　　　　　〃Sergeant　Hendricks　ready；　Captain。〃
　　　　　〃Corporal　Joquin　ready；　sir。〃
　　　　　〃Twenty…minute　warning；　Major；〃　Stafford　announced。　〃Depressurizing　cabin　at　this　time。〃
　　　　　Hendricks　and　Joquin　moved　cautiously　close　to　the　ramp；　carefully　guiding　their　harness　anchor　lines；　following　checklists　and　preparing　for　what　was　about　to　bee　one　of　the　most　unusual　duties　of　their　military　careers。
　　　　　As　the　cabin　depressed；　the　men　could　feel　the　temperature　drop；　even　within　the　protective　confines　of　their　electrically　heated　thermal　jumpsuits。　The　air　hissed　from　the　cargo　bay　as　it　slowly　equalized　with　the　outside　atmosphere。
　　　　　Time　passed　quickly。　And　then　Stafford's　voice　came　over　the　inter。
　　　　　〃Major；　ten…minute　warning。〃
　　　　　〃Roger。〃　There　was　a　pause；　then　Cleary　asked　sarcastically；　〃Can　you　give　us　any　more　heat　back　here？〃
　　　　　〃Didn't　I　tell　you？〃　Stafford　replied。　〃We　need　ice　for　cocktails　after　you　leave。〃
　　　　　For　the　next　two　minutes；　Cleary　went　over　the　infiltration　plan　of　the　mining　facility　in　his　mind。　They　were　bining　the　elements　of　a　high…altitude；　low…canopy　opening　jump　with　a　high…altitude；　high…canopy　opening　jump　to　keep　detection　to　a　minimum。　The　plan　was　for　the　team　to　free…fall　to　25；000　feet；　open　their　canopies；　assemble　in　the　air；　and　fly　to　the　target　landing　zone。
　　　　　Sharpsburg's　Delta　Force　would　exit　first；　closely　followed　by　Jacobs　and　his　SEALS；　and　then　by　Garnet　and　his　Marine　Recon　Team。　Cleary　would　be　the　last　man　to　jump；　in　order　to　have　an　overview　of　his　men　and　be　in　the　most　advantageous　position　to　give　course　corrections。　Sharpsburg　would　be　the　Mother　Hen；　the　term　tagged　to　the　lead　j　camper。　All　of　the　Ducks　in　Line　would　then　follow。　Where　Sharpsburg　went；　so　would　they。
　　　　　〃Six　minutes　to　jump；〃　came　Stafford's　voice；　interrupting　Cleary's　thoughts。
　
　
　　　　　Stafford's　eyes　were　on　the　puter　monitor；　linked　to　a　newly　installed　photo　system　that　revealed　the　ground　in　astonishing　detail　through　the　clouds。　Brannon　handled　the　big　aircraft　as　tenderly　as　if　it　were　a　child；　his　course　rock…steady　on　the　line　that　traveled　across　the　monitor；　with　a　small　circle　depicting　the　jump　target。
　　　　　〃Damn　the　orders！〃　Stafford　suddenly　snorted。　〃Brannon！〃
　　　　　〃Sir？〃
　　　　　〃At　the　one…minute　warning；　cut　our　airspeed　to　135　knots　indicated。　I'm　going　to　give　those　guys　every　chance　at　surviving　I　can。　When　Sergeant　Hendricks　reports　that　the　last　man　has　jumped；　ease　the　throttles　to　two　hundred　knots。〃
　　　　　〃Won't　the　Wolfs'　ground　radar　pick　up　our　reduction　in　speed？〃
　　　　　〃Radio　McMurdo　Station　on　an　open　frequency。　Then　say　we're　experiencing　engine　trouble；　will　have　to　reduce　speed　and　arrive　late。〃
　　　　　〃Not　a　bad　cover；〃　Brannon　conceded。　〃If　they're　monitoring　us　on　the　ground；　they'd　have　no　reason　not　to　buy　the　story。〃
　　　　　Brannon　went　on　his　radio　and　announced　the　deception　to　anyone　who　was　listening。　Then　he　gestured　at　the　numerals　flashing　on　the　puter　monitor　indicating　the　approaching　jump　mark。　〃Two　minutes　ing　up。〃
　　　　　Stafford　nodded。　〃Begin　reducing　speed；　very　gradually。　At　one　minute　to　drop；　just　after　I　ring　the　bell；　cut　the　airspeed　to　135。〃
　　　　　Brannon　flexed　his　fingers　like　a　piano　player　and　smiled。　〃I　shall　orchestrate　the　throttles　like　a　concerto。〃
　　　　　Stafford　switched　to　the　cargo　bay　inter。　〃Two　minutes；　Major。　Sergeant　Hendricks；　begin　opening　the　ramp。〃
　　　　　〃Ramp　opening；〃　came　back　Hendricks's　steady　voice。
　　　　　Stafford　turned　to　Brannon。　〃I'll　take　the　controls。　You　handle　the　throttles　so　I　can　concentrate　on　timing　the　drop。〃
　　　　　After　monitoring　the　transmission；　Cleary　stood　up　and　moved　to　the　port　side　of　the　ramp；　keeping　his　back　turned　to　one　side　of　the　fuselage　so　he　had　a　clear　view　of　his　men；　the　jump/caution　lights；　and　the　ramp。　He　raised　and　extended　his　right　arm　in　an　arc；　palm　facing　from　his　side　to　a　perpendicular　position。　This　was　the　mand　to　stand　up。
　　　　　The　men　rose　from　their　seats　and　stood；　checking　their　rip　cords　and　equipment　again；　adjusting　the　heavy　rucksacks　they　wore　to　the　rear　below　their　main　parachute　container。　The　huge　ramp　began　to　creep　open；　allowing　a　great　rush　of　frigid　air　to　sweep　through　the　cargo　bay。
　　　　　The　next　seconds　passed　with　cruel　sluggishness。
　　　　　In　grim　determination；　they　gripped　the　steel　anchor　line　cables　with　gloved　hands　for　support　against　the　immense　whirlwind　they　expected　when　the　ramp　fully　opened；　and　as　guides　as　they　moved　to　the　edge　of　the　ramp　to　execute　their　exit。　Although　they　exchanged　self…assured　glances；　it　was　as　if　they　didn't　see　their　buddies　around　them。　No　words　were　needed　to　describe　what　they　would　experience　once　the　ramp　opened；　and　they　dove　into　air　so　cold　it　was　unimaginable。
　
　
　　　　　In　the　cockpit；　Stafford　turned　to　Brannon。　〃I'll　take　the　controls　now；　so　I　can　concentrate　on　timing。　The　throttles　are　yours。〃
　　　　　Brannon　raised　both　his　hands。　〃She's　all　yours；　Cap。〃
　　　　　〃Cap？　Cap？〃　Stafford　repeated　as　if　in　pain。　〃Can't　you　show　me　at　least　a　smidgen　of　respect？〃　Then　he　switched　the　inter　aft。　〃One　minute　warning；　Major。〃
　
　
　　　　　Cleary　did　not　acknowledge。　He　didn't　have　to。　The　alarm　bell　rang　once。　He　gave　the　next　signal；　right　arm　straight　out　to　his　side　at　shoulder　level；　palm　up；　then　bent　it　at　the　elbow　until　his　hand　touched　his　Gentex　helmet；　giving　the　mand　to　move　to　the　rear；　the　men　in　front　ing　to　a　stop　three　feet　from　the　ramp　hinges。　He　lowered　his　goggles　into　place　and　silently　began　counting　off　the　seconds　until　exit。　Suddenly；　he　sensed　something　out　of　place。　The　aircraft　was　noticeably　slowing。
　　　　　〃Ramp　opened　and　locked；　Captain；〃　Hendricks　informed　Stafford。
　　　　　The　sergeant's　voice　took　Cleary　by　surprise。　He　immediately