Cyclops Quotes

“For more than forty years the ZMC-2 languished in an abandoned hangar along the runway of a deserted naval air station near Key West, Florida. Then in 1988, the property was sold by the government to a financial conglomerate headed by a wealthy publisher, Raymond LeBaron, who intended to develop it as a resort.
Shortly after arriving from his corporate headquarters in Chicago to inspect the newly purchased naval base, LeBaron stumbled onto the dusty and corroded remains of the ZMC-2 and became intrigued. Charging it off to promotion, he had the old lighter-than air craft reassembled and the engines rebuilt, calling her the Prosperteer after the business magazine that was the base of his financial empire, and emblazoning the name in huge red letters on the side of the envelope.”
― Clive Cussler, Cyclops

“Here is a detailed report from the Walter Reed pathology lab. Their examination was most helpful in giving us a lead for identification."
The President looked at him in surprise. "You identified them?"
"It was the analysis of the borscht paste that opened the door."
"Borscht what?"
"You recall that the Dade County coroner fixed death by hypothermia, or freezing?"
"Yes."
"Well, borscht paste is a godawful food supplement given to Russian cosmonauts. The stomachs of the three corpses were loaded with the stuff."
"You're telling me that Raymond LeBaron and his crew were exchanged for three dead Soviet cosmonauts?"
Emmett nodded. "We were even able to put a name on them through a defector, a former flight surgeon with the Russian space program. He'd examined each of them on several occasions."
"When did he defect?"
"He came over to our side in August of '87."
"A little over two years ago."
"That's correct," Emmett acknowledged. "The names of the cosmonauts found in LeBaron's blimp are Sergei Zochenko, Aleksandr Yudenich, and Ivan Ronsky. Yudenich was a rookie, but Zochenko and Ronsky were both veterans with two space flights apiece.”
― Clive Cussler, Cyclops

“How's that for self-sufficiency?" said Steinmetz. "Chateau Lunar Chardonnay, 1989. Not exactly a premier vintage. Only had enough grapes to make four bottles. Should have allowed the vines in the greenhouses to mature another year, but we got impatient."
"I see you even made your own bottle," observed Hudson.
"Yes, our pilot chemical plant is in full operation now. We've increased our output to where we can process almost two tons of lunar-soil materials into two hundred pounds of a bastard metal or five hundred pounds of glass in fifteen days.”
― Clive Cussler, Cyclops

“Pitt flashed his best politician's smile and said, "I beg your pardon, may I borrow your phone?"
"If you work here, you know that using an unauthorized phone is against agency regulations."
"Then I'm safe," said Pitt. "I don't work here."
"You'll never get an outside line," said old White Hair.
"Watch me."
"Pitt picked up the phone and asked the operator for Martin Brogan's office. In a few seconds Brogan's private secretary came on the line.
"My name is Dirk Pitt. Please inform Mr. Brogan that if I don't get the use of a telephone in one minute I'm going to cause a terrible scene."
"Who is this?"
"I told you.”
― Clive Cussler, Cyclops

“Pitt suddenly remembered something. "I'd like the use of a telephone."
"Sorry, not possible."
"Mind if I ask why?"
"Have you forgotten you're supposed to be dead?" Alice asked matter-of-factly. "One phone call to a friend or a lover and you could blow the entire operation."
"Yes, 'The slip of a lip may sink a ship,'" Pitt said cynically. "Look, I need some information from a total stranger. I'll hand him a phony name."
"Sorry, not possible."
A scratched phonograph record came to Pitt's mind. "Give me a phone or I'll do something nasty."
She looked at him quizzically. "Like what?"
"Go home," he said simply.
"Mr. Brogan's orders. You're not to leave the building until your flight to our camp in San Salvador. He'd have you in a straightjacket before you reached the front door.”
― Clive Cussler, Cyclops

“Laboratory, then waved Hagen”
― Clive Cussler, Cyclops