Dressed in their finest uniforms, the men and women represented the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the U. S. Air Force Academy, the 50th Space Wing, the 21st Space Wing, the U. S. Space Command, the Army and Air Force Space Commands, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Base, and Fort Carson, the army's "mountain post."
Ten minutes before the Night Watch landed at Peterson AFB, the president was receiving a last-minute briefing from Hartwell Prost.
"Mr. President," Prost said, as he spread his papers on the conference table. "We've received the latest reports."
"Iran and Afghanistan?"
"Yes, sir."
Macklin sipped his coffee. "I'm listening."
"The air strikes are continuing as we speak." Prost donned his glasses. "Coalition aircraft have hit over three dozen air-defense assets in Iran and western Afghanistan, including a number of new SAM batteries — advanced SA-6 sites."
The president placed his cup down. "Any casualties yet?"
"No sir, but a Navy F/A-18 was heavily damaged and the pilot had to eject before he could reach Stennis"
"Is he okay?"
"He's a bit banged up, but he 11 be fine. Ejected one mile from the ship and the helicopter had him out of the water in no time."
"Hats off to those helo guys." Macklin looked at Prost. "Anything on Shayhidi?" There was a hint of rawness in his voice.
"I'm afraid not. Were monitoring his home office in Geneva."
Pete Adair stepped into the room and apologized for interrupting. "Sir, weve had another event, a big one."
The president s shoulders sagged.
"A large containership just exploded and sank in the entrance to the port of Long Beach." SecDef gave President Macklin the latest information while the E-4B made its approach to Runway 35-Right at Colorado Springs.
"How did they do it?" the president asked.
"Nobody knows for sure, but it would be easy to smuggle a huge bomb in a shipping container. Divers will conduct a preliminary investigation before they begin removing the wreckage."
Macklin closed his eyes for a moment. "What the hell else is going to happen?"
Adair wavered. "It s impossible to second-guess this kind of thing."
Prost was disgusted. "Were going to have to inflict real pain."
SecDef nodded. "Sir, we need to find Shayhidi."
"What do you suggest?" The president let his sarcasm show.
They were interrupted when an aide entered, handed Prost a message, and left promptly.
Hartwell smiled and looked at the president. "The Echelon Two analysts just detected Shayhidi."
"Where?"
"Phnom Penh. Made reservations at the Hotel Le Royal."
"Get someone on this, now!"
"Ill take care of it," Prost said. "We re about to land."
The three men fastened their seat belts. A minute later the 747 touched down while the president was discussing widening the war. Macklin confronted Adair. "We re the only superpower, and if we dont start demonstrating that fact to our enemies, no one else is going to respect us. Turn up the heat!"
Located three miles east of the Delaware state capital, Dover AFB is an aerial port that provides timely movement of passengers, cargo, and mail to locations worldwide. The base is home to the 436th Airlift Wing and the 512th Airlift Wing and their scores of huge O5 Galaxies. The 436th is the only combat-ready Galaxy wing capable of employing airdrop and special operations tactics in support of global airlifts.
The C-5, with a maximum gross weight in excess of 830,000 pounds, is the largest cargo aircraft in the U. S. Air Force inventory. A typical long-haul mission would carry a flight crew of fourteen, including a minimum of two pilots, two engineers, two loadmasters, outsized cargo, and 250 to 270 passengers.
Major Blaine Holden, who was about to trade in his gold rank insignia for the silver insignia of a lieutenant colonel, awakened at 3:30 A. M. for his 5:30 A. M. flight from Dover to the al-Udeid Air Base at Qatar. With increased activity over the Middle East, the sprawling desert base was being resupplied on a daily basis.
As the aircraft commander, Holden had the responsibility of transporting 243 support personnel, including technicians, engineers, and their equipment and supplies, to al-Udeid.
With the aircraft near its maximum takeoff weight, Holden taxied to the runway while he went through the challenge-and-response of the pre-takeoff checklist. When the tower cleared them for takeoff, Holden maneuvered the lumbering Galaxy onto the centerline of the runway. A meticulous pilot, Holden handled the flight controls like a gifted concert pianist.
The power came up on the four engines, and the aircraft began accelerating. To the people watching the takeoff, it seemed like an eternity before the nose slowly rose into the air and the heavily laden Galaxy lifted into the morning sky. Next came the landing gear, retracting into the belly of the huge bird. With the speed increasing, the flaps followed as the copilot switched from the tower to Departure Control.
The aircraft was still accelerating and climbing when they crossed the western shoreline of Delaware Bay. The water was smooth as a millpond, and the air was so still Holden felt like he was sitting in his living room.
Abd-al-Azim al-Makki sat patiently inside the cabin of his newly purchased Barr-Craft walk-around fishing boat. The rig was truly a sportsman's dream come true. In addition to the fishing gear, the boat carried two portable Stinger surface-to-air missiles with launchers.
As soon as al-Makki spotted the big Galaxy, he stepped into the cabin and brought both missiles up to the deck. Al-Makki waited for the aircraft to get closer. The morning stillness allowed him to hear the throaty whine of the four engines. He looked around and saw a few boats in the distance. No matter, his mission was at hand and he would carry it out. He stood up, braced himself, and fired the first missile. He tossed the launcher into the bay and grabbed the second Stinger.
He braced again and raised the missile launcher at the same instant his first SAM hit the right outboard engine. Al-Makki fired the second missile, tossed the launcher overboard, and started the twin outboards. It was time to disappear and prepare for his next assignment.
The second missile went ballistic and flew over the plane. The outboard engine was still attached, but the uncontrolled blaze was burning through the wing structure.
Major Holden and his flight deck crew were working feverishly to extinguish the fire. The copilot, Captain Sean Kowlinski, was making a Mayday radio call while Holden tried to nurse the heavy lifter back to Dover. There was a debate about dumping fuel, but the flight crew agreed it could be fatal with fire trailing the length of the plane.
Holden kept the nose slightly below the horizon to keep his airspeed up. He was going to have to make a fast approach or risk pulling the power back on the left outboard engine. They could see the crash trucks racing to the runway. There was absolute fear in the passenger compartment, and the crew was trying to calm everyone.
Major Holden waited as long as he could and then called for the flaps. Next came the landing gear. They were getting close to turning final. Holden was cutting the pattern as close as he dared. Rolling out on short final, he began easing power on the left outboard engine. He kept sliding the throttle back as they slowed.
Carrying extra speed, Holden made a smooth landing while the crash trucks raced after the burning plane. The heavy lifter was quickly evacuated and the engine fire was extinguished. The emergency was a close call, but Holden had lived up to his reputation.
The star-sprinkled Nevada sky was still jet-black when Scott awakened Jackie at 4:45 A. M.
"What is it?" she whispered, turning on the flashlight next to her.