Assassin’s Revenge–A David Slaton Novel
Chapter 76: Seventy-Six
by Larsen, WardIn a high-stakes race against time, Slaton urgently demands Sorensen’s satellite phone to contact CIA headquarters, their only lifeline to disarm a nuclear weapon. After a tense exchange and a near-miss with the phone landing in the lagoon, Slaton successfully connects with CIA Director Thomas Coltrane. He transmits images of the weapon while Sorensen joins him, revealing they have only nine minutes left. The CIA advises against tampering with the wiring, suspecting a booby trap, and directs Slaton to focus on a circular panel on the weapon’s side, which they believe offers their best chance of disabling it.
Slaton and Sorensen scramble to gather tools—a wrench and a bucket of seawater—as the clock ticks down. Slaton removes the panel’s bolts under the CIA’s guidance, despite warnings of potential radioactive exposure. With the cover off, he pours the seawater into the weapon’s chamber, hoping to disrupt its mechanism. Coltrane orders them to evacuate immediately, leaving no time to reassemble the device. The pair flees to the dinghy and races to shore, taking cover behind boulders as the final seconds count down, uncertain whether their efforts will succeed.
The weapon detonates prematurely, resulting in a “fizzle”—a failed nuclear chain reaction. The seawater redirects the explosive force, causing the device to rupture without achieving criticality. While the blast is far less destructive than intended, it still tears apart the boat’s hull, sending it sinking to the lagoon floor. Slaton and Sorensen witness the aftermath from safety: steam vents from the wreckage, and the boat lists violently before settling on the seabed. The scene mirrors historic nuclear test sites, marking the Albatross’s demise as another casualty of atomic experimentation.
Amid the chaos, Slaton and Sorensen share a moment of mutual gratitude, reflecting on their narrow escape and unresolved personal stakes. The chapter closes with the sobering reality of their victory—averted catastrophe, but at the cost of the ship’s destruction and lingering radiation. The incident underscores the precarious nature of their mission and the thin margin between success and disaster, leaving readers with a sense of relief tempered by the lingering dangers of nuclear threats.
FAQs
1. What was the critical step Slaton and Sorensen took to prevent the nuclear weapon from achieving full detonation, and why was this effective?
Answer:
Slaton and Sorensen followed CIA instructions to remove a circular steel panel on the weapon’s side and pour seawater into the exposed chamber. This was effective because the water disrupted the weapon’s intended chain reaction. When the conventional charge detonated, the seawater redirected the force, preventing the uranium masses from colliding to achieve criticality. Instead, the weapon “fizzled,” resulting in only a fraction of its potential explosive yield. The chapter explains that this predetonation caused the device to blow apart at the breech end without achieving a nuclear reaction.2. Analyze the significance of the sat-phone in this chapter. How did its near-loss impact the mission’s urgency?
Answer:
The sat-phone was their sole link to CIA headquarters in Langley, making it vital for receiving disarmament instructions. When Sorensen nearly dropped it into the lagoon, the tense moment underscored their time-sensitive predicament—they had less than 10 minutes to act. The near-miss heightened suspense and emphasized the high stakes: without the phone, Slaton couldn’t transmit images of the weapon or receive guidance. Its recovery allowed them to proceed, but the delay added pressure, as every second counted toward preventing a catastrophic detonation.3. How does the chapter contrast the perspectives of Slaton/Sorensen and CIA Director Coltrane during the disarmament attempt?
Answer:
Slaton and Sorensen, on-site and directly exposed to danger, exhibit urgency and desperation (e.g., Slaton shouting, “Work faster!”). In contrast, Coltrane remains calm, described as having “the coolness of a man who had five thousand miles to spare.” This juxtaposition highlights the tension between field operatives facing imminent peril and remote officials analyzing risks from safety. The difference underscores Slaton’s frustration with bureaucratic delays and the visceral reality of their life-or-death situation.4. What does the term “fizzle” mean in the context of nuclear weapons, and what were the consequences in this case?
Answer:
A “fizzle” refers to a nuclear weapon’s failure to achieve its full chain reaction, resulting in a significantly reduced explosion. Here, the seawater caused the gun-type device to predetonate, releasing less than 0.1% of its potential energy. While the blast was minimized, shrapnel punctured the ship’s hull, sinking the Albatross. The outcome was a best-case scenario: the atoll was spared nuclear devastation, but the boat was destroyed and irradiated, mirrorring the fate of ships in historic nuclear tests like Bikini Atoll.5. Evaluate Sorensen’s and Slaton’s partnership during the crisis. How did their teamwork contribute to the outcome?
Answer:
Their collaboration was efficient and complementary under extreme pressure. Sorensen retrieved the sat-phone and hauled seawater; Slaton dismantled the weapon and communicated with Langley. Mutual trust is evident when Sorensen admits, “I’d like to say thanks—either way,” acknowledging their shared risk. Their quick coordination—dividing tasks (bucket vs. wrench) and physically protecting each other during the blast—was instrumental. The chapter suggests their unspoken bond and professionalism mitigated panic, enabling them to act decisively despite the countdown.
Quotes
1. “‘Stand by? Do you realize—’ / ‘We are aware of the time constraints,’ Coltrane broke in.”
This tense exchange highlights the life-or-death urgency of disarming the nuclear weapon, contrasting Slaton’s on-the-ground panic with Coltrane’s detached bureaucratic response. It underscores the chapter’s central conflict between immediate action and distant analysis.
2. “‘Do you see the circular panel on the right side?’ / ‘A steel cover, the size of a dinner plate. Ten bolts.’”
This technical dialogue represents the critical turning point where the characters transition from panic to purposeful action. The precise description mirrors the story’s blend of high-stakes drama with meticulous procedural detail.
3. “‘If this does work out, I want you to know… I haven’t forgotten my end of the bargain.’ / ‘Good,’ he said. ‘Because neither have I.’”
This loaded exchange reveals deeper character history and unspoken tensions beneath the immediate crisis. The clipped dialogue hints at complex relationships that extend beyond this life-threatening situation.
4. “The scientific term for what occurred was predetonation, more commonly referred to as ‘a fizzle.’ The term is a deceptively bland one for the most inelegant of technical failures: what occurs when a nuclear weapon fails to achieve its intended chain reaction.”
This explanatory passage provides the chapter’s climactic resolution through ironic technical understatement. The contrast between the catastrophic potential and actual outcome delivers both relief and dark humor.
5. “Albatross, like those before her, assumed her final resting place torn, irradiated, and settled crookedly on the white-sand bottom of a distant Pacific atoll.”
The poetic conclusion transforms the ship’s demise into a symbolic endnote, connecting this fictional event to real nuclear history. The lyrical description contrasts beautifully with the preceding technical chaos.