Connor made a direct approach and stepped between them, eye to eye with Blake. Where before the pudgy colonel had been angrily arguing with Chesterton, he went suddenly calm and indifferent to Connor. He crossed his arms over his chest. Solid and defiant.
For a moment Connor said nothing, allowing his electrified attitude to communicate for him. But Blake was unfazed so Connor spoke, not allowing the colonel's calm to rattle him.
“I'll give you ten minutes to get my family out of this cavern,” Connor whispered, having already made up his mind to use whatever force was necessary to remove them.
“They were brought here for their own protection, Mr. Connor.” Blake's thick jaw jutted forward. “This is a secure military facility, and I was alarmed that your wife might have broken down under the strain of the situation. It was also discovered that she was attempting to do something ... precipitous. It was a logical action to—”
Connor leaned closer. “You're insane, Blake! Insane! Why did you close off communications with that NSA code?”
“For security.”
“For security?” Connor snarled. “Don't you realize that shutting down the Ice Station Communications Center left this entire cavern system without phone lines?” He shook his head. “Because of your little stunt, Blake, we can't even communicate with each other from cavern to cavern!” Connor paused. “You're an idiot, Blake.”
“The United States Army has the potential for utilizing microwave radio communications systems, Mr. Connor. The Ice Station Communications Center was expendable and was locked down for your own protection. From this point on we will utilize radios for—”
Connor shouted, “Radio waves don't carry through solid rock, Blake! Haven't you ever spent any time in combat? Don't you know that your little handheld radios have a range of less than a mile in this place? And there are over forty miles of caverns and passageways! You've compromised the safety of your own men!”
“That is only your opinion, Mr. Connor. And regardless of what you may think, the fact remains that I am now in charge of this facility. I have Executive Orders and a squad of military police.”
“Your military police are in the topside hospital, Blake. Or guarding my men in the warehouse. You're out of manpower.”
“You're mistaken, Mr. Connor. Colonel Chesterton has turned over authority of all his men to me. So I still have three platoons of Army Rangers at my disposal.”
Chesterton was silent. Grim.
“Well,” Connor growled, leaning closer, “you're not in charge of my family, Blake. So turn them loose. Right now.”
“Your family shall remain safely under arrest until—”
“Cut it, Blake!” Connor shouted. “I'm not here to argue with you! I’m here to tell you! I'm taking my family to the surface! And if you try to stop me I'll personally break you in half.”
“You're under arrest, Connor!” Blake shouted, lifting a hand to the soldiers. “Nobody threatens a commanding military official on this—”
Chesterton stepped in. With a vengeance. “That's enough, Blake!” he shouted. “You're way out of line!”
Startled, Blake took a step back but Chesterton followed, staying in his face. “That's right, Blake. You're history! I'm taking back command, and we'll just let the Pentagon and a Senate Intelligence Subcommittee sort this out.”
Blake staggered. “You ... you can't do that!”
Chesterton nodded. “Watch me.”
“But I have an Executive Order!” Blake protested. “You're ... you're a soldier, Chesterton! You're part of the machine!”
“I'm a man, Blake. A colonel in the United States Army. I am not a machine. And as of right now I'm pulling the plug on this Black Ops takeover and your so-called right to command.”
“On what grounds?”
“On the grounds that you have placed civilians who were clearly loyal to their country and operating within international law under unjustified military arrest. You have placed a woman and a small child in extreme physical danger without proper cause or provocation and, by doing so, have demonstrated that you are mentally disabled. So as of this moment in time I, as the senior Army member present, am terminating your authority under Code AR600-20 of Command Regulations. Paragraphs three and four. Read 'em!”
Chesterton stood his ground like stone.
“No!” Blake retorted. “No! You're out of line, Chesterton! You have just now exceeded your authority! I am relieving you of command!” He violently signaled the guards. “Place Mr. Connor and Colonel Chesterton under arrest! Immediately! Put them in irons and take them to the holding area with Dr. Frank and the rest of the science team!”