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Cherny gave him a frigid glance. Zenobiev materialized behind Aleyev and shoved him roughly back down into his chair. |
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"Welcome to Judgment Day," Aleyev muttered to Kalinin. |
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Cherny frowned at the two Soyuz conspirators. "I want you to listen carefully to what Yadanov and Lykov have to say. It may give you some notion of the degree of your guilt." He turned to Yadanov. "You say, Academician, in your written statement, which I have before me, that the submarine Pravda was to be dismantled but by special order was reassigned to be modified as a GKNT research vessel?" |
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His companion, Lykov, spoke up swiftly. "That is correct, Excellency. But you must realize that the GKNT design team was only carrying out the orders of the navy." |
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Aleyev snorted his derision but said nothing. |
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"No comment, Admiral?" Cherny asked. |
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"None," Aleyev said heavily. "Why not end this farce?" |
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Kalinin thought, In God's name, you old fool, don't be so eager for the neck-shot. |
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"Yet we have searched everywhere and we find no written records of the change, Academicians," Cherny said grimly. "No naval architect's drawings, no signed authorizations, either from the GKNT or from the Bureau of Ships." His tone was frigid. "Pravda might never have existed.'' |
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"That is true, Your Honor. But" |
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"A moment," Cherny said. "I have a question for Admiral Aleyev. I want to know why Captain Kolodin, the admiral's own choice for this peculiar project, was so anxious to get out of Kola that he dispensed completely with the customary sea trials." |
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Yadanov said unctuously, "I know what you are suggesting, Your Honor. But the Design Cadre cannot be held responsible for the loss of the ship. We grieve for the men lost, but the boat put to sea on the verbal orders of Captain Kolodin and a former political officer, Viktor Krasny." |
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