Onboard signal to Terra Defense Command . . . He paused, his mouth opening and closing. I know, it's a tough one, Commodore Guptill said. But, face it, sir, you've got to say the words. Signal: 'It's a trap,' Admiral Clemons said, grimacing. Include battle schematics. That's more like 'It's a Trap!' sir, Guptill said in a gurgly voice. Like a Horvath is saying it. Imagine you have a great big squid- I know, Clemons said. DAMN those movies. Shouldn't you get ready for damage control? Oh, yeah. Knew I was forgetting something.
In this excerpt from "The Hot Gate" by John Ringo, Admiral Clemons finds himself in a difficult situation as he prepares to send an urgent message to Terra Defense Command. Commodore Guptill encourages him to articulate the critical message, which ultimately is revealed to be "It's a trap." Clemons shows frustration, reflecting on the influence of movies on their perceptions and communication during a serious moment. As the conversation progresses, a light-hearted tone emerges with Guptill's humorous interpretation of the phrase, reminiscent of the character Horvath. Despite the gravity of the situation, Clemons acknowledges their need to focus on practical measures, like preparing for damage control, showing a mix of tension and banter in a high-stakes environment.
