‘Good, we’ll need his level head. Put him back on.’
‘Yes, boss?’ Sam asked.
‘Keep her in International waters Sam. If anyone calls asking for me tell them you haven’t heard from me. Very important. You can refuel in Hawaii. I’m heading there now and I’ll organise more provisions to be ready at Pier 19 so you can get out of there quickly. Set your course for Brisbane Australia. We’ll keep in touch by sat-phone and Sam. Er, expect the worst. Good luck!’
‘Roger that, see y’ in Aussie, out!’
Nick felt better knowing all was well on board, now he could get on with the task ahead. So much to do and he felt so helpless. He decided not to call his brother until he arrived on the Gold Coast. He did not wish Brian a similar fate as Laura’s. He hoped they could see the Prime Minister immediately.
As Nick was thinking, Graham was making his own plans. For the first time in his life he was glad he had no family. That was one of the reasons why Angela had divorced him. Like any normal woman she had wanted children and a father who would spend time with his family. He was not a family man, the airline was and always will be his life. He knew already what it was he had to do.
Back at Mt. Rockwell General Worth was setting up his plans to eliminate the President. He didn’t like the word assassinate. Military personnel did not assassinate, unless it was in one of the worn torn countries such as Bosnia, Palestine and the like. No, this plan need to be foolproof.
He decided he would not tell Douglas and Anderson, he didn’t trust them at all, even though he had enough evidence to bury the pair of them. He had a man on the street, one who owed him some favours and one who would not pose a threat after the event.
Once the inundation begins the President will be prepared to fly to Mt Rockwell in Marine One. He will not arrive. Peterson will be installed as President and will declare a state of emergency and military rule. He will also empower Worth with his three more stars putting him on equal footing with General Cooper. All of Peterson’s direction from then on will be controlled by Worth who will orchestrate the recovery program and become the hero he had always dreamed of being.
Chapter Eighteen
The tall verdant peak of Diamond Head on Oahu Island rising out of the bluest sea greeted Nick, it’s volcanic hewn crest pushing high into the sky; some partly obscured by low cloud. Graham cruised the big 797 over Pearl Harbour, the scene of that great disaster in 1941. Immortalised by the long gleaming white memorial straddling the Arizona battleship where she sank, the profile of her hull with the turrets of the ship still visible lay in the shallow waters of the harbour. The large Pacific Fleet naval base now boasted carrier groups, cruisers with Navilon hoods, escort destroyers and supply ships of every description. Tugs plied the waterway around Ford Island, busily assisting ships to anchor and depart. The jet glided gently down to the Honolulu International airport passing Hickam Air Force base where eight huge C530 U.S.A.F. cargo planes were lined up being tended by fuel tankers and service trolley trains. It had been a relatively short and comfortable flight and the big aircraft handled beautifully. As they taxied into the terminal Nick decided the five hour flight in this super jet to Australia wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Graham gave Nick the key to his apartment and left him at the airport, eager to put his plan into action. His first stop was to a business broker he knew well, whose mouth dropped open when Graham asked him to buy as many Vetos as he could find. The American branch of Aussair comprised four 777s, one executive Citation 111, two Lear 35’s and a Falcon 20. The two fast 797s used on the Australian run were leased from Boeing, Emu 711 being the latest addition to the fleet.
‘It’s not every day someone walks in and wants to buy a number of Vetos.’ The broker remarked, it was all he could do to resist rubbing his hands together. His buyer commission could be enormous. ‘I have an office on the mainland, I can source some there, but I’m telling you buddy, it won’t be a simple matter, you’re talking big money here.’
‘Don’t worry about the money. Just do it.’
The broker smiled.
‘You can contact Jim Heynes at my office. He has my authority to negotiate any deals.’ Graham handed the broker a card and left him standing open-mouthed behind his desk.
His next stop was back to the airport to see Jim at the office and fill him in. He had known Jim since the beginning of his marriage to Angela. A good friend and a sharp business manager, Graham had no qualms about leaving him in charge. Jim had spent most of his life in the US Air Force and was now almost sixty with a sharp mind. However, despite the age difference, they shared a camaraderie not easily achieved in the cut-throat airline industry.
Graham’s chest filled with a pang of pride and a lump lodged in his throat as he pushed his way through the big glass door engraved with the Aussair logo. Like most major airports around the world, Honolulu International was right on the waterfront at Keehi Lagoon, and the long earthen and concrete ramparts of Los Angeles had been duplicated here, but he knew they would not hold back the rising ocean. He fought back the emotions that threatened to spill from his eyes as his receptionist greeted him warmly. A colourful vase of orange and yellow frangipani on her desk sparkled with silver droplets of water. A mandatory part of the office decor, they complimented the huge orange hibiscus she wore pinned against her great bush of black crinkly hair. A cool breath of air slightly scented by the frangipani caressed his nostrils as he flashed her one of his biggest smiles.
‘Morning wahine. Jim In?’ He said without stopping as he made directly to Jim’s office before she could answer.
He found Jim at his desk in the ultra modern office of glass and steel furniture. He was on the phone but immediately cut the call short when he looked up to see Graham, flushed-faced, standing at his door. Foregoing the usual greetings Graham announced abruptly, ‘I’m putting you in charge here Jim, I’m leaving for Australia in the morning and I won’t be back.’
Jim rose from his seat. ‘What?’
Graham waved him to sit. ‘Sit down mate, I’ve got something to tell you and you’re not going to like it.’ Graham went on to explain what Nick had told him adding that he had instructed his broker to buy Vetos.
Jim blinked several times while his brain processed Graham’s words. ‘How, who?’
Graham held up his hand. ‘I’ve got it straight from the horses mouth, Nick. I don’t know how we’re going to pull this together, once the press are told every Veto on earth will be requisitioned by the army. Can you contact my broker and arrange to take delivery urgently of any Veto he comes up with?’
Jim scratched his temples. ‘Whoa! How am I going to pay for them?’
‘Write a cheque. You’ve got four days max. The bank will be okay.’
The reality sank into both their brains. Jim sighed. ‘What do you want me to tell everyone? What about the pilots? How will I answer their questions? What will they be doing?’
‘For starters, you’ll need to find Veto pilots. Say nothing to our pilots yet.’
‘Wait on Graham, I can’t do that. What about their families? Are you crazy enough to think they’re going to come to work once this is announced, they’ll be fleeing to higher ground with everyone else.’
‘I know. The minute I leave this office I want you to get your family up into the hills and set up a Veto base somewhere. Carry on business as usual here while you can. Except, in four days time I want you to get our Aussie pilots ready and schedule all our planes out for Australia. After that no international flights will be permitted. There’ll be no flights coming in from Australia. You don’t have to do this Jim. You could leave right now and fly somewhere safe and I wouldn’t blame you. I know I can rely on you, we’ve been through some rough times together.’