Meteor Page #5

at a designated distance

from the target.

Can anything go wrong?

Well...

...once the rockets have been launched,

they switch over to their own

internal decision-making systems.

If these systems perform perfectly,

there's no problem.

But if there's a malfunction...

What are the odds?

Mr President, you know

we've neverdone this before.

The odds?

Your guess is as good as mine.

If you fail?

The meteor will hit Earth

two hours later.

Hit It Mr Sherwood..

Get rid of it.

- What is it? What's happened?

- Oh, nothing.

Nothing. I just wondered

if you'd taken time to eat.

Yes, I, uh, had some coffe.

That will only make you nervous.

You will do better with food.

You're absolutely right

Let's go eat. That's a pretty scarf.

Thank you.

How many children do you have?

Two. A boy and a girl.

- How do you know I'm married?

- I asked Mr Sherwood..

He also told me that you

and your wife are... separated?

I'll have a talk with Mr Sherwood..

I hope you don't mind

that I asked him about you.

No. I would have asked Dr Dubov

about you, but my Russian's limited.

- Like some coffe?

- No, thank you.

What else you want to know?

It would be too rude to ask.

Ask what you like.

Why are you and your wife separated?

Nothing specific.

It uh, just happened. It's, uh...

No more talks,

no more interests together.

It's what we here in America

call, uh, "incompatibility".

That's what we call it in Russia.

Yeah. That sounds about right.

- Ever thought of living elsewhere?

- No.

- Not often.

- Sometimes?

Well...

You'd like it here.

We've got everything.

Powercuts, strikes, unemployment,

race riots and a terrific crime rate.

Yamashiro on the Hong Kong monitor

reporting another splinter.

Yes, Clark?

We've just received a transmission

from a TWA jet over the Pacific.

There was an explosion at sea,

heavy enough to knock out two engines.

The plane's heading for Taiwan.

They've reported a tidal wave, 100 feet

high, heading towards Hong Kong.

Radar contact with the wave establishes

height stabilised at 100 feet

Speed is constant 600 miles an hour.

Fifteen minutes before it hits us.

- Can you hear it?

- Yes! Get out of there.

It's no use. Get the big one, Paul.

Get it.

Fifteen minutes from now

the Russian rockets will be launched.

Forty minutes after, our own rockets

will be sent to join them.

They will strike the meteor,

sending it into a harmless orbit

nevermore to menace Earth.

It is Sunday.

Stay in your homes.

Have faith.

There is nothing we can do but wait

We will let you know

when the danger has passed.

Launch director says go.

We've been cleared to launch.

- Clear...

- Roger... Standby for clear release.

Clear. Release on time.

You copy? Clear. Release was on?

- Autopilot light on.

- Thank you.

Thirty seconds and counting.

Twenty-five seconds.

Zero-six-one-four...

Twenty seconds.

Engines start.

Fifteen seconds.

Engines have started.

Ten seconds.

Seven, six, five,

four... three...

Ignition. Blast-off!

No problems.

We are on our way.

Miss Donskaya?

Would you please be good enough to

convey my congratulations to Dr Dubov?

My apologies, Bradley.

I was very wrong.

- If there's anything i can do...

- Thank you.

I'll be in my office ifyou need me.

Hercules

launch minus three minutes.

All stations report on readiness.

Power operating at correct levels.

Engine parameters all OK.

Hercules targeted correctly...

Ground facilities have

conformation Hercules has received

and stored the launch command.

- Yes, Sir Michael?

- I've got some serious news.

- I'd like a word with Dr Bradley.

- Yes, sir.

Dr Bradley?

Sir Michael would like to talk to you.

We've picked up another splinter.

- A big one.

- Direction?

The United States.

- The eastern seaboard.

- You mean us?

- Near enough.

- Due when?

Just about now.

Can you advance Hercules?

No way.

Stand by.

Coming up

on 90 seconds and counting. Stand by.

Mark, 90 seconds.

We wait

We don't fire, and we go out of action.

The Russian rockets aren't enough.

We wait

Clear. Release on time.

Copy?

Clear. Release was on time.

- 55 seconds.

- Thank you.

Auto pilot light on.

Forty seconds and counting.

Thirty seconds and counting.

Twenty seconds.

Seven, six, five,

four...

Ignition.

- God!

- Somebody help me.

Somebody help Manheim.

- You all right?

- I'm all right

But I..I think...

- Let's go.

- Don'tworry.

- Help me, please.

- Take a look

This is Ops Chief Goldstone

reporting to Houston.

Motor burns on all rocket engines

for both satellites appear nominal.

Easton again. The situation is A-1.

All rockets functional.

We'll relay Information.

There's been no contact from New York.

Have you heard?

Nothing from the centre.

The rest of the city's in shambles.

No way.

Dr Bradley, vould you come here, please?

Listen, everybody.

Listen carefully.

The exit from the canteen

has been blocked.

We can get out through the support room.

We'll need flashlights.

You head up the lead.

I'll pick up the stragglers.

Everybody head for the subway tunnel.

Have you got batteries

forthe flashlight?

Here, take this one.

Just take this flashlight.

Come on.

The rest of you stay where you are.

Chanhel five of Peter the Great

indicates number 4 and 7 rockets

have malfunctioned.

Goldstone tracking reports

Peter the Great has lost two.

- How bad is that?

- There's a safety margin of five.

After the rockets join up, they'll

attack the meteor in three waves.

Time to impact 35 minutes, 42 seconds.

- Can we go through?

- Yes.

It's OK butthere's a subway car

blocking the tunnel.

Get the others.

It'll be all right

Harry, the river's breaking through!

Through that car!

Hurry up!

This way, through the car!

Hurry up. Through the car.

Help!

That way!

Come on, come on!

Oh, my God.

It's no use. Get in.

You OK?

Come on.

Come on!

Come on. Fourteen minutes till impact

Fourteen minutes.

Ten degrees.

We're losing one from Hercules.

Time to impact?

Thirteen minutes, 29 seconds.

What was that?

He said one day you will come to Moscow

and you will see a clean subway.

One day I'll take him up on that

How long?

Three minutes.

Two minutes, 50 seconds.

Tracking stations report no more loss.

Keep your fingers crossed.

Helicopters over

the city report tremendous damage.

All local radio and television stations

are not functioning.

Here at WADW in New Jersey, we'll keep

you informed throughout the day.

Any second now.

We're interrupting

our coverage to bring an announcement

just received from Houston.

Three minutes ago at 10.38,

the combined rockets

of the United States and the USSR

struck the meteor, which has

for five days been coming towards us.

The danger is passed.

Quiet down, everybody.

Listen, listen.

With the compliments of the Dodgers.

Dodgers.

Baseball.

Boris J. -jambrob.

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