Revisiting 'Fail-Safe' Page #5

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''We shall watch with great interest

while you recall them.

-''If, indeed, that is what you intend doing.''

-I said it was a mistake.

But so far we have been unable

to return these planes.

''Are they being flown by madmen,

Mr. President?''

I wish I could be sure.

My best guess is mechanical failure.

What I can tell you is that it's a mistake.

It is not part of a plan to provoke war.

-This is not part of any general attack.

-''How am I to believe that?''

Because I'm telling you--

''How do I know you don't have hundreds

of planes flying so low...

''...our radar can't pick them up?''

Because I hope to prove to you

that we regard this as a serious mistake...

...and that we take responsibility for it,

and we are trying to correct it.

''Go on.''

You already know.... You have

the same detection devices we do.

You saw that we sent fighters up

to try to catch our bombers.

The fighters had orders

to shoot them down.

''American fighters to shoot down

American bombers?''

-Yes, sir.

-''And who gave that order?''

I did.

Four of those planes have already run out

of fuel and gone into the sea.

This isn't a question of belief,

Mr. Chairman.

Those men are dead already.

''We saw your planes fall into the sea.

''I believe they were making an effort

to do as you ordered.

''I wanted only to hear your explanation.

''And to know who gave the order.

''It is a difficult thing to order men

to their certain death, is it not?''

It is.

''Full retaliation at once. Strike back.

''Full power.

''Mr. President, my advisors are convinced

this so-called 'accident' is a trick.

''They want to strike back at once.

''You realize, in their place

I would probably feel the same.''

But you don't.

''Soviet airspace has not yet been invaded.

''But if it is, we will be forced

to shoot down your bombers.

''And then we will come to a full alert

and prepare all our missiles and planes.''

I understand that, and I hope you will

be able to shoot down our bombers.

But I urge you not to take any steps

that are irrevocable.

I give you my word, sir,

that this is a mistake.

But you must know,

if you start to launch missiles...

...we will have to do the same.

And then there will be very little left

of this world.

''I understand.''

I've arranged a second conference line...

...between our Air Force headquarters

in Omaha and your similar officers...

...in the Soviet Union.

We will give you any information

you request...

...that will help you shoot down

these bombers.

''Mr. President, we are perfectly capable

of defending our country.''

-Mr. Chairman, I would think--

-''We do not need your assistance.''

Sir, of course this is your choice,

but you must know...

...we have new masking techniques.

My experts tell me

that no matter what you do...

...some of our planes

will get through to the target.

''What is the target?''

Moscow.

''I will call you back when I see

how the fighters do.''

You can walk around if you'd like.

No, sir, I'm fine. Thank you.

-How far to their border?

-2 minutes 20, sir.

-Radio still jammed?

-Yes, sir.

All right, here we go.

Lose the horse, lose the buggy.

Attention, Group 6.

We can't penetrate in tight formation.

They'd get two for the price of one.

So, we've got to spread out.

Number 6 in the lead. Flynn?

-Yes, Colonel.

-You're the one with the decoys.

-Use them when we cross the border.

-Roger.

Good luck.

-Project the Soviet border.

-Yes, sir.

Dear God.

Well, Buck...

...we've invaded Russia.

We are now in a technical state of war.

One hour, 38 minutes to target.

Go after the decoys. Go!

-Go after the decoys.

-Wipe out the decoys.

-I just want to see their planes and ours.

-Yes, sir.

-They're still going after the decoys.

-Good.

Get it!

Knock it off!

This isn't some damned football game!

They found one of our planes.

The Soviets have a very slow missile...

...which compensates by having

a greater range than we thought they had.

The slowness made our missile calculate

that they must be decoys...

...so it ignored them

and went after the fighters.

That made the bomber vulnerable.

It's going to get worse

before it gets better.

Yes, Mr. Raskob,

it's going to get much worse.

There goes another one.

That's two bombers gone.

If those Soviet fighters shape up a bit,

maybe there's still hope.

Hope? We lose six bombers,

eighteen good men...

...and you think maybe there's still hope?

Nobody wants to lose those men.

What about the hundreds of millions

of people around the world...

...walking around in total ignorance

that they might be killed.

Think about them, Colonel Cascio,

and hope.

The Chairman is on the line, sir.

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

''Mr. President, there is very little time left.

How should we use this time?''

What luck have you had

in shooting down the bombers?

''Luck? No luck at all.

''We have shot down some of them,

but your decoys have been very successful.

''Many of my experts think

they are not decoys at all...

''...that they are real.

''There is pressure to retaliate.''

Why haven't you?

Why haven't you counter-attacked?

''I am gambling that you are sincere.''

Then you must also gamble that

we can help you shoot down these planes.

Please set up that second line.

We will give you any information

that you need.

''I will give orders to have it set up.''

Fine.

Mr. Chairman, we have been unable

to contact our planes...

...because of a jamming

of the radio frequency.

Are you and your military involved

in jamming the radio signal?

They're arguing again.

''Don't give out the information.

It's too secret. It's a trick.

''The answer is yes, we have done research

on your Fail Safe system.

''We wanted to disrupt

your communications...

''...in case of a true attack.

''When your system failed,

it was interpreted as an attack...

''...and we immediately began

jamming your radios.''

Will you lift the jamming now?

If I can contact the group commander,

maybe I can get him to return.

-''Will he return on your command?''

-There's always a chance.

''I will give the order.''

Very good. Please stay on the line.

General Bogan, put me through to Group 6.

-Sir, we can't get through to Group 6.

-You can now.

What's the group commander's name?

-Grady, sir.

-One hour, 15 minutes to target.

Try Group 6 again.

Colonel Cascio, pick it up.

Turkey 6, this is Ultimate 2.

Can you hear me?

Turkey Six this is Ultimate 2.

Come in. Come in.

-Turkey 6, this is Ultimate 2.

-They've stopped jamming us.

Come in. Turkey 6, this is Ultimate 2.

We are not allowed--

Colonel Grady, this is the President...

...of the United States.

Your mission has been triggered

by a mechanical failure.

It's a mistake. I repeat, it is a mistake.

I am ordering you and your group

to return to base at once.

We are not allowed

to receive tactical alterations--

Colonel, your authorized go code

is CAP 81 1--

I can no longer receive tactical alterations.

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