Edge of Apocalypse Read Free

misgivings.
    "Captain, we received a coded message." The admiral held out a slip of paper for him to read. The text was brief but chilling:
2 KPA jets ambushed and shot down over sovereign Northern territory by overwhelming American occupying air forces. No provocation. No warning. Missiles launched...
    "Why wasn't I told of this immediately?"
    "Because I received it first," enunciated the admiral. The implications were clear. He scanned his men for a hint of betrayal. No one met his gaze.
    The captain wanted to know more. "Is there any more to the message?"
    "The Americans jammed our communications," volunteered the XO. "We haven't been able to reach Pyongyang since."
    "If it's still there." The admiral's statement sent a shiver down the captain's spine.
    "We must turn around and return home immediately to defend our beloved country and leader," said the captain.
    "Isn't that what he sent us here to do?" Again the admiral's words shot a sickening chill through the captain.
    "Admiral, no one is more aware than I of the wisdom of your long experience and knowledge. But I believe we can serve our country and our leader best by returning to join the battle at home...to repel the American invader from our beloved shores."
    "I disagree."
    Everyone on the bridge froze.
    "The message said, 'Missiles launched,'" the admiral barked, making sure his meaning wasn't lost on anyone in the room, especially the captain.
    "The message was interrupted, sir; we can't just leap to conclusions."
    "The interruption wasn't here, Captain; it was in Pyongyang."
    The captain felt a sting of rage, blindsided, as he turned to his XO. The XO blurted out, "I don't know, sir; we cannot confirm one way or the other yet."
    "Then get me a confirmation!"
    "We don't need a confirmation, Captain; we need to act."
    "We are acting, sir."
    "Like cowards with our tails between our legs!" The admiral's words echoed through the bridge.
    "Do you have an order, sir?" Han Suk retorted.
    "Do you need an order, Captain?" The captain remained silent. The admiral quickly turned to the firing officer. "Then here's an order. Proceed to commence prelaunch procedures..."
    "Admiral?" shouted the captain.
    The admiral continued, "I will transmit the nuclear authorization code--"
    "Admiral!" The captain's voice was steadily rising.
    The admiral snapped open a hard plastic stick revealing a coded set of numbers, then turned coldly to the captain. "I need your key, sir."
    The captain stepped back.
    "That is an order, Captain."
    The captain continued to back away.
    The admiral turned to the XO and said, "Give me your firearm." The XO hesitated.
    "Give me your firearm!"
    The XO unholstered his weapon and handed it to the admiral. The admiral raised it and aimed it at the captain's head.
    "Are you going to give me the key now, Captain?"
    "Admiral, I beg you, we don't know what's happened yet..."
    The sound of the gun going off in the closed space was much louder than the admiral had expected. The bullet entered the captain's right cheekbone and exited the back of his skull, spattering the steel panel behind him with blood and brain matter.
    The admiral's hand was shaking as he reached down to retrieve the firing key from around the captain's neck, where he had slumped dead onto the corrugated metal floor.
    No one said a word as the admiral, with the gun still in his trembling hand, passed the bloody key to the XO.
    The admiral stared out at the sea for a moment, then smiled with an air of manufactured confidence. "They'll write stories about us someday." He turned slowly to the XO and nodded. "The ship is yours now, Captain. Make us proud."
    A phone rang in the office of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It was 7:00 at night, but the chairman was still there. He liked to use the early evening hours, when the rest of the staff was gone, to think over the next day's agenda. His secretary had gone, so he picked up the phone. "This is--"
    The voice on the other end of the phone