Frankly, there were plans already in the works for modernizing the
plants.
"No, the real damage has been psychological: the people of Earth and
Mars are terrified. This, undoubtedly, was Zimbardo's major goal in
destroying the plants, and he has achieved it completely and
thoroughly. His demands to us are clear, but it is difficult for us to
perceive what he would achieve, even if we capitulated-which we do not
intend to do."
Robert Nolan could not contain himself any further, and lurched
backward as if he had been struck. "You don't intend to cooperate with
him?" he almost screeched. "But he'll destroy the entire planet if we
don't! There is no way we can detect an asteroid he's made invisible to
radar!"
"Dr. Nolan," responded the President, "we believe that we have a method
which will allow us to locate the asteroid that Zimbardo has directed
toward Earth. We have a very good chance of locating it and destroying
it."
"A chance? Mr. President, you're gambling with the very existence of
life on Earth! If an asteroid forty miles long strikes Earth, it will
not only cause the extinction of every life form on the planet, there
is every likelihood that it will crack the Earth's crust! There will be
no escape! No escape!! Don't you see that we have to cooperate with
Zimbardo? It will be easier to meet his challenge once he has turned
away the asteroid!"
The President responded in gentle tones.
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