The Perseid Collapse Read Online Free PDF Page A

sir. Petty Officer Clark, start making calls to the Integrated Missile Defense command. Get me anyone that knows what’s going on. Numbers are on the card,” said the chief.
    He stood up from his chair and turned to the half-dozen sailors hovering near the hatch. “The rest of you get out of here!”
    Two minutes later, Chief Jeffries and Fire Controlman Ben Clark watched the AEGIS display in horror as Gravely ’s missiles disappeared one by one over central Virginia. Gravely ’s fire control system acquired and tracked the target for nine seconds before it vanished in the vicinity of Richmond, Virginia.
    “That wasn’t a missile, sir,” said the chief.
    “What are you saying, Chief? Hold on, Captain,” said the lieutenant, covering the phone’s mouthpiece.
    “Radar cross section was ninety-six thousand,” he said, his voice trailing off in disbelief.
    He still couldn’t process his emotions. Everything had happened too fast. Repeating the radar cross section brought a single emotion to the surface. Fear. His family lived ten miles from here, in the direction of Richmond. His vision narrowed, and he barely heard the lieutenant’s reply.
    “Meters? That can’t be right,” said the officer, walking toward the AEGIS console. He glanced at the data over the chief’s shoulder and shook his head.
    “We have to get IMD on the line, Chief!” yelled Lieutenant Mosely.
    “Captain, Chief Jeffries just confirmed that the target had a radar cross section over ninety thousand. Something has to be wrong. That would put the diameter over three hundred meters!”
    Jeffries waited for the lieutenant to continue, but heard nothing. He looked up at the officer, who pressed his ear against the receiver and squinted.
    “Captain? Can you hear me? Chief, I think my call—”
    He was interrupted by a complete and sudden darkness. The Combat Information Center went dead for a second before bulkhead-mounted, battery-powered LED “battle lanterns” started to provide illumination. The eerie silence continued.
    “Shore power’s out. We should get power from one of the generators in a few seconds,” said the lieutenant.
    Ten seconds elapsed, yielding no change to the eerie silence.
    “I think we lost more than shore power,” said the chief, starting to get out of his seat to help Petty Officer Clark with the communications console.
    Before he reached Clark, the entire ship slid laterally, knocking everyone inside to the metal grated deck. A severe rumbling enveloped CIC for several seconds, followed by silence. Jeffries grabbed onto Clark’s seat and began to pull himself to his feet when a panicked voice filled the darkened space.
    “CDO, they need you on the quarterdeck!”
    Chief Jeffries stood up and walked with Lieutenant Mosely toward the hatch, but stopped when the metal beneath his feet shuddered again. Once the ship settled, he unsheathed a powerful LED flashlight from his belt and illuminated the doorway, finding a wide-eyed Hispanic woman in dark blue Gravely sweatpants and a white T-shirt. She wore an expression of terror.
    “What happened?” asked Mosely.
    “Norfolk Naval Base is on fire—and the ship broke free of the pier.”
    Chief Jeffries stared at her with disbelief. All he could think about was his wife and two teenagers.
     

Chapter 6
    EVENT 00:00 Hours
    Jewell Island, Maine
    Alex buried his head in the sleeping bag.
    Now what?
    He peeked out of the bag, expecting to find Kate standing over him with a flashlight. It wouldn’t be the first time.The island reflected a rich, sunset-orange hue. Long shadows extended from the trees and clumps of rocks along the granite walls. A strange tingling sensation enveloped him.
    Lightning!
    He rolled out of the hammock, still encased in the sleeping bag, striking the fiberglass deck. He ripped frantically at the zipper, unable to get out of the polyester body bag. A glimpse of the sky eased his panic. The sky bristled with stars, hardly a meteorological