State of Emergency by Sam Fisher Read Free Book Online Page B

there – A, B and C. These will control the
core breach. An extra problem comes from the reactor's
defence system, which will detect any alien presence. After
45 seconds it releases a toxic gas into the chamber. When
this reaches a concentration of 0.400 parts per million, it's
deadly. Once the third device is in place, the system will
shut down and the defence matrix be neutralised. Have
you got that?'
    Pete, Josh, Maiko and Stephanie nodded in unison.
    'Now, just to make it a little more interesting. One of the
pods is real.'
    'What?' Josh asked.
    'Okay, not real real, but active. That is, the gas is real. Real
deadly.' Mark stared at the four. 'Right. We're all cool with
that?'
    They said nothing.
    'I'll take that as a yes.'
    'One question.'
    Mark looked at Maiko.
    'Where will you be?'
    'Tucked up nice and warm in the control room,' Mark
replied, flicking a glance at the box on stilts at the far end.
'The code for the locks is 4321. On my mark . . . Go!'
    Each of the four dashed to a pod, punched in the code and
dived in. The doors swished closed, sealing them inside.
    It was a tight squeeze between the inner and outer skins.
Through the glass they could just see Mark striding towards
the control room. The inner chamber was semi-opaque,
changing colour constantly. Each of them set to work
immediately. The alarm system would be kicking in in little
more than 30 seconds.
    Pete was the first to find the stabiliser marked Device A. He
sized it up and found a catch on the side. It snapped open.
Four small holes appeared and metal feet sprung out. Each
was attached to a sucker pad. There was just enough space to
twist the contraption round. He was about to fit it to the glass
cylinder when, right on cue, the alarm went off.
    The screeching sound reverberated around the hangar,
but it was loudest inside the pods. Each member of the team
had the sound instantly filtered automatically by the nano-processors
in their cochlear implants.
    The clock was now ticking.
    Within ten seconds, all four team members had their first
device locked into place. Mai was the first to the second
device. She crouched down to pick it up. A computerised
voice inside her right ear told her that the toxicity level in
the chamber had now reached 0.100 parts per million. Still
well within safe limits.
    Twenty seconds later, Pete was screwing in the final sucker
on Device B as Josh, Mai and Stephanie each dashed towards
Device C.
    ' Toxicity level 0.250 parts per million ,' the computer voice
announced.
    As Stephanie pulled one of the feet from the slot at the
base of Device C, she began to feel queasy.
    ' Toxicity level 0.325 parts per million .'
    Her fingers opened the catch and she depressed the release
button for the four suckers. 'Damn!' she said aloud. 'What's
happening? Is this a simulation or for real?'
    Her words came through loud in the speaker in the control
room.
    'I've got the live one, haven't I?' she said without missing
a beat, as she tugged again at the last foot to be released on
Device C – it was stuck fast.
    'Steph!' Mark's voice reached her ear. 'You've got the
active chamber. Get your mask on!'
    'Mask? What mask?'
    'The mask – oh, for God's sake!' Mark turned to the
operatives at the console beside him. 'She doesn't have her
helmet. Unlock that door – now!'
    The man nearest him stabbed at the virtual keyboard.
Nothing happened. He hit the same sequence again.
Nothing.
    'What's happening?' Stephanie called through the
communicator.
    'We're opening up the pod, Steph. Don't worry.'
    'It won't open,' the operative said.
    'What?' Mark's mind was racing.
    'Steph,' he said, making a supreme effort to keep his
voice calm. 'We're having a problem opening the door
automatically. I'm coming down to use the manual override.
Can you get the third device up?'
    'I'm trying . . .'
    ' Toxicity level 0.385 parts per million .'
    At that moment, Pete Sherringham burst out of his pod,
followed a moment later by Mai, then Josh. They looked
pleased with