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Supercooled liquid nitrogen blasted out in every direction on C…deck； splattering every SAS mando on the surrounding catwalk。
The results were horrifying。
Nitrogen charges are like no other grenade…for the simple fact that they do not have to penetrate the skin of their victims in order to kill them。
The theory behind their effectiveness is based on the special qualities of water…water is the only naturally occurring substance on earth that expands when it is cooled。 When a human body is hit by a burst of supercooled liquid nitrogen； that body bees very cold； very fast。 Blood cells freeze instantly； and being made up of approximately 70％ water； they begin to expand rapidly。 The result： total body hemorrhage。
And when every single blood cell in a human body explodes it makes for a horrifying sight。
The SAS men on C…deck had their faces exposed…and that was where the liquid nitrogen hit them。 So it was in their faces that the supercooled liquid nitrogen took its most devastating effect。 The blood vessels under their facial skin… veins； arteries； capillaries…instantly began to rupture and then suddenly； spontaneously； they began to explode。
Black lesions instantly appeared all over their faces as the blood vessels under their skin exploded。 Their eyes filled with blood； and the soldiers could no longer see。 Blood exploded out from the pores of their skin。
The SAS mandos fell to their knees； screaming。
But they wouldn't scream for long。 Brain death would occur within the next thirty seconds as the blood vessels in their brains froze over and themselves began to hemorrhage。
They would all be dead soon； and it would be agony every second of the way。
From down on E…deck； Trevor Barnaby just stared up at the scene above him。
His whole unit had just been cut down by the blast of the two nitrogen charges。 In fact； nearly the whole of the interior of the station was covered in blue liquid goo。 Hand railings began to crack as the nitrogen froze them。 Even the cable that held up the diving bell was covered with a layer of ice…it； too； began to crack as the supercooled liquid nitrogen made it contract in on itself at an alarming rate。 Even the portholes of the diving bell down in the pool were covered over with the blue poxy。
Barnaby couldn't believe it。
Schofield had just killed twenty of his men with one stone。。。
And now he was the only one left。
Barnaby's mind raced。
All right。 Think。 What is the objective？ The spacecraft is the objective。 Must control the spacecraft。 How do I control the spacecraft？ Wait…
I have men down there with it。
Get to the cavern。
Bamaby's eyes fell on the diving bell。
Yes。。。。
At that moment； on the far side of the diving bell； Barnaby saw Schofield and the little girl break through the thin layer of ice that had formed on the surface of the pool when it had been hit by the spray of liquid nitrogen； saw them start swimming for the far deck。
Barnaby ignored them。 He just grabbed a scuba tank from the ground next to him and dived into the pool； heading for the diving bell。
Schofield lifted Kirsty out of the water and up onto the deck。
〃Are you OK？〃 he said。
〃I got wet again；〃 Kirsty replied sourly。
〃So did I；〃 Schofield said as he spun around and saw Trevor Barnaby swimming frantically for the diving bell。
Schofield looked up at the ice station above him。 It was silent。 There were no more SAS mandos left。 It was only Barnaby now。 And whoever Barnaby had already sent down to the cavern。
〃Get a blanket and stay warm；〃 Schofield said to Kirsty。 〃And don't go upstairs until I e back。〃
〃Where are you going？〃
〃After him〃 Schofield said； pointing at Barnaby。
Trevor Barnaby surfaced inside the diving bell； where he was greeted by the barrel of Schofield's 。45…caliber Desert Eagle automatic pistol。
James Renshaw gripped the pistol with both hands； pointed it at Barnaby's head。 He was holding the gun so tightly； his knuckles were turning white。
〃Don't fucking move； mister；〃 Renshaw said。
Barnaby just looked up at the little man standing inside the diving bell。 The little man was wearing some really old kind of scuba gear； and he was clearly nervous。 Barnaby looked at the gun in Renshaw's hand and he laughed。
Then he brought his own gun up from under the water。
Renshaw pulled the trigger on his Desert Eagle。
Click！
〃Huh？〃 Renshaw said。
〃You have to chamber a round first；〃 Barnaby said as he raised his own pistol at Renshaw。
Renshaw saw what was ing； and with a short squeal he jumped down into the water next to Barnaby…scuba gear and all…and disappeared underwater。
Barnaby climbed up into the diving bell and made straight for the dive controls。 He didn't waste any time。 He blew the ballast tanks immediately。 The diving bell began to descend。
Up on E…deck； Schofield saw the ballast tanks blow。
Shit； he's going down already； he thought as he came to a halt next to one of the rung…ladders。 He had planned to go up to the winch controls on C…deck and stop the diving bell from there…
And then at that moment； there came a monstrous noise from somewhere up above him。
Snap…twangggg！
Schofield looked up just in time to see the cable that held up the diving bell…frozen solid by the liquid nitrogen…contract and crack for the final time。
The frozen cable snapped。
The diving bell submerged。
Schofield's mouth fell open。 Then he ran。
Ran as fast as he could。 Toward the pool。 Because now this would be the last trip the diving bell would be making to the underwater tunnel and it was the only way to get to the cavern and if Barnaby were to get there and the Marines down there were already dead； then the British would have the spaceship and the battle would be lost； and Schofield bad e too fucking far to lose everything now…
Schofield hit the edge of the deck running and dived high into the air； just as the diving bell disappeared under the surface。
After penetrating the water； Schofield shot downward。
And then he swam。 Hard。 With strong； powerful strokes； chasing the descending diving bell。
Now free of its winch cable； the diving bell began to sink fast and Schofield had to use all of his strength to catch it He came close； reached out； and。。。 grabbed the piping that ran around the exterior of the diving bell。
Inside the diving bell； Barnaby holstered his gun and pulled out his detonation unit。
He checked the time。 8：37 p。m。
Then he set the timer on the detonation unit。 He gave himself two hours； enough time to get to the underground cavern。 It was crucial that he be down there when the ring of Tritonal charges surrounding Wilkes Ice Station went off。
Barnaby then pulled his Navistar Global Positioning System transponder from his pocket and hit the transmit button。
Barnaby smiled as he put the GPS transponder back into his pocket。 Despite the loss of his men up in the station； his plan…his original plan…was still on track。
When the eighteen Tritonal charges went off； Wilkes Ice Station would float out to sea on a newly formed iceberg。 Then； thanks to Barnaby's GPS receiver； British rescue for