Watching the screen, Brooks tracked the positions of the two approaching fighter jets. He began reading them out to Tim. They’d be in range momentarily.
* * *
The gold was en route, but the globalists had been notified immediately after Krieger and his team left the base.
Now, it was the highest stakes chase of the century.
Krieger stood alongside the captain at the helm of the frigate. They sped across the open seas at nearly eighty miles per hour. Riding on pontoons, this frigate not only evaded radar detection, the technology allowed the vessel to even evade submarine sonar. Designed for long range with the ability to careen through low water levels, it was the perfect vessel for this mission. Krieger had chosen this vessel partly because, of all the stealth vessels, this was the largest.
Krieger would rendezvous with the LCS7 littoral combat ship. Its almost four hundred feet in length would allow it to carry the heaviest cargo of gold while it would only draw 13 feet. Her water jet propulsion allowed her to reach significant speeds on the open water.
Mauricio loudly interrupted Krieger. “Colonel, they’re removing the barricades from the highways. I’m putting out the BOLO word to the commanders.”
Krieger knew many highways in Switzerland that adjoined military air bases were designed to double as extra runways by removing the medians between the lanes so planes could take off. Krieger also knew several of the military bases in Switzerland were actually run by their own version of globalist elites, who had infiltrated almost every country in Europe. Flying supersonic was prohibited in most of Switzerland because of the risk of avalanches and the number of tourists so high up in altitude. Krieger hoped they didn’t break that rule. Every second counted.
Krieger looked over the captain’s shoulder. They were already at full speed. Mauricio was watching the screens. One by one, his team was identifying each major gold transport. This ship had been retrofitted to act as the mobile TOC (Tactical Operations Center) for this mission. Equipped with the latest BFT, a cool little gizmo that allowed them to link up with a satellite and give the locations of friendly and enemy units, maps, and routes.
Krieger asked Mauricio, “How are you coming?”
“We’ve got most,” Mauricio responded.
Krieger let Mauricio focus to work with his team identifying the others. There were several ships of various sorts and a few planes.
Some of the other smaller amounts of gold were still being transported by delivery trucks, retrofitted cement mixers and rail car. A few large turbines on rail cars were actually hollow and filled with gold. Trucks were given multiple check points with people stationed to watch for tails. If any one vehicle believed they were compromised and being followed, they had a dummy extraction point to go to so they didn’t compromise the loads in the other vehicles. If they believed they were free and clear, they would go to their designated location.
C-5M, Super Galaxy is the US Air Force’s (USAF) largest transport plane and could take off with in excess of 350 tons. The General had suggested this one because it allowed for quick loading from the front and rear simultaneously. This was Krieger’s biggest concern. He was focusing on the largest payloads first.
It wasn’t far to the Geneva airport, which could accommodate the goliath plane. Once that gold took off, it would be safe. Krieger would then turn most of his attention to the other loads.
He asked Mauricio, “Have they taken off yet?”
Mauricio’s lips were uncharacteristically tight. “Not yet, but it won’t be long.”
“What about the rivers and the other vehicles?” Krieger asked. “What’s the chatter?”
Mauricio was listening intently to the communications flooding in. Usually succinct and clear with his communications, the only way to explain it to Krieger was by saying, “It’s flooding in so fast we can’t keep up with it.”
Krieger knew he couldn’t do much about it. The mission was in the hands of the commanders now, who were given options, depending on the situation. He wasn’t about to communicate with most of them.
It was time for Krieger to check on the status of the next key component of their getaway plan. Krieger nodded to Mauricio. “Affirmative. Get me Hemmele.”
Chapter 63
“Put him on the speaker,” Dr. Hemmele said. “Colonel, we’re almost ready. We’ve got your location and the others, and we’re preparing. We should be ready in minutes.”
Hemmele and his team were a little ahead of schedule in preparing for their role.
Krieger asked, “So how’s our pilot doing with his end of the mission?”
Suddenly George and Madison realized no one had checked in on Tim and Brooks. The last they’d heard, they were heading east after Sordid. There was no one else to check on them.
“Tim’s after Sordid, the last we heard from him,” said Madison.
The president said to Hemmele, “Can you pull him up on the screen?”
“Affirmative sir,” Hemmele said. “Mauricio, can you give me the identification on his jet?”
Mauricio relayed the information.
Hemmele gave them to Owen and said, “Get him up on screen number four.”
Everyone in the room watched until the screen switched over to show a small dot. Owen took over directing the operator. “Zoom in on them,” She said, “and establish communications.”
“Affirmative sir,” the middle-aged man responded. He started to zoom and said, “Communications will take a minute.”
Owen watched as the man zoomed in so they could all clearly see. What they saw wasn’t good. Tim’s aircraft was being flanked by two fighter jets and they were closing in on him fast, about at the distance to engage.
Owen responded, “Make it quick.”
George looked around the room and processed the complex situation quickly. Just like the special forces teams who embarked on their missions, this group of people needed to know.
George’s deep voice projected with resonating baritone, “I want everyone to listen to this and understand what we’re looking at. The friendly pilot in this plane is one of the most decorated fighter pilots alive. He’s a top gun award winner and has flown one of the most top-secret missions of any pilot alive. His copilot is the man who gave us the intelligence to have a chance to save our country. At this very moment, they’re after that aircraft out front who’s carrying one of the most notorious terrorists of our time. His name is Sordid. He is responsible for an assassination attempt on myself and my family at our mountain house, and he just tried to have the vice president killed.” George took a breath. “Do whatever you can to save these men.”
George glanced at Hemmele, who simply nodded with affirmation. He appreciated the president setting the stage.
In the meantime, they all watched it unfold on the screen.
* * *
Brooks compressed into his seat as Tim banked hard.
Brooks relayed, “They’re almost in distance.”
“Affirmative,” replied Tim, knowing that, today, pilots must rely more than ever on their highly sophisticated radar. Many times, enemies only come into sight in the final moments of battle.
Brooks was watching the screen and the horizon. “Bogie number one at 120 degrees at 78 miles.”
“Affirmative,” Tim replied.
“Bogie closing bearing 110.” Scanning the horizon, Brooks caught his first glimpse. “Second bogie maneuvering bearing 360 at 72 miles... Speed 570, just over fifty miles now. Bogies heading directly at us, at 40 miles now and closing.”
His communication was almost non-stop. “Bogies starboard 210 at 30 miles and eleven thousand feet. Bogies inside twenty miles… Sixteen miles.”
“Roger that,” Tim affirmed. They were in distance to engage.
The first bogie was positioning for a shot. Brooks had no sooner said, “Bank right,” when T
im banked it right, hard. He’d had the same thought, and didn’t want to get flushed out to the second plane.
“Bogie still maneuvering bearing.”
“Got him.” Tim banked a hard right and then, as soon as he saw the first pilot react, he banked left as sharp as the jet could handle.
* * *
Back in Area 51, George and Madison stood side by side watching the screen.
George asked, “What’s the closest location of help?”
Owen replied, “I’m in contact with one of our carriers, but it’ll take fifteen minutes for them to get air support there.”
George shook his head. “This thing will be over in less than three.”
George knew they wouldn’t be there in time, but fighters en route would deter any other adversaries from deciding to join in.
Madison and George exchanged a glance, and watched the dogfight.
* * *
Brooks said what Tim already knew. “We’re heading right towards bogie number two.”
“I’m coming down hard.”
Without another word, Brooks understood that Tim had positioned them so both jets were in front of him. The first jet was maneuvering away from them and the second was coming in fast from the horizon.
Tim knew he had to take out one of the jets before they sandwiched him.
Tim banked right, then left, then right again to stay on the tail of the fighter in front of him. He had closed in, but was running out of distance between him and the second fighter. He had to get a lock.
“Lock him up, lock him up.”
“Affirmative. Almost, almost… got it, fire.”
The missile went away.
Tim held tight. Then, in an instant, the orangish yellow ball of fire accompanied by the explosion verified success.
“Splash one,” Brooks said.
An instant later, Brooks was surprised to see that Tim had kept his trajectory. He was headed right towards bogie number two.
They hadn’t been able to get a lock yet when suddenly Brooks called, “He’s got a lock.”
Instantaneously, the beep sounded and Brooks alerted, “Missile away, he’s fired.” With the missile coming at them, Tim immediately lowered the left aileron and raised the right aileron, banked right and released the flares.
The aerial infrared countermeasures were the best the navy had. The new design with strontium nitrate, potassium perchlorate and magnesium burned with a powerful oxidation mix. They gave off extremely bright orange reddish flames.
The explosion came quicker than Brooks had expected. “That was close.”
“Affirmative.”
Brooks was getting used to Tim’s short remarks. He was beginning to realize Tim was in the moment, concentrating on everything and taking everything in. Brooks knew his job was to feed Tim information. Looking behind them, Brooks saw the bogie bank. “He’s banking left, don’t let him get behind us, bank right.”
Tim banked right hard. The pressure from the Gs on Brooks was significant as they passed by his adversary.
Brooks looked behind. Before he could see the bogie turn, Tim banked left hard.
“Hold on, stay with me,” Tim said. He was pulling as many Gs as he could, and hoping Brooks didn’t black out.
It only lasted a few seconds, and Tim heard Brooks take a few deep breaths and say, “I’m here… barely.”
When the bogie banked, Tim had his side and was closing fast.
“Now let’s finish this,” Tim said.
Following left and right and left, the bogie went skyward and then banked right. Diving down to his right, Tim throttled up as much as he could. “Get it, get it” he urged.
“Locked, fire.”
The ball of fire served notice in the sky that the navy still had the best fighter pilots alive.
Tim’s voice was distinctly less stressed. “Now let’s get that Sordid.”
They both knew Sordid wasn’t in a fighter jet. They’d now close the distance and either force him down, or bring him down.
* * *
Back in Area 51, Brook’s voice came through the speaker. “Splash two.”
Jubilation filled the room.
Madison and George looked at each other. She hadn’t seen George so happy in weeks.
Then, Madison noticed Dr. Owen had slowly stood up.
Madison had followed Owen’s gaze up to the screen. She wasn’t sure what she was looking at. “What’s that?”
Owen’s tone was panic stricken. “Those are fighter jets heading towards Tim.”
Hemmele leaned forward. “And he can’t see them yet,” he said. “He’s being led right into a trap. He’s heading for Sordid and fighter jets are headed right for him… Six of them.”
Chapter 64
Madison’s executive assistant, Alexus, had come along as part of a supporting detail. She had kept her distance from the action. But as she listened to a message coming through her ear piece, she gasped. She pulled out her large notepad and scanned through several developing stories. The uniformity of the wording in the headlines and suddenness of their appearance confirmed this was another orchestrated narrative from the globalist media.
Her feeling of anxiety intensified as she scrolled.
Alexus had learned about Adam’s history from Gabby. There was no question that Adam had known the risks. Even after brainstorming other options with the entire team, they couldn’t think of any other way to have the world bankers transfer back the money they’d stolen from the United States.
Alexus saw Madison looking over her shoulder. Alexus pointed to her screen, indicating there was something Madison needed to see, and Madison motioned for her to approach.
Madison noticed Alexus’s eyes had filled with tears. Alexus slowly extended her hand and passed the device to Madison. After a few scrolls across the headlines, Madison’s mouth hung open. She looked up and made eye contact with Alexus. They froze for a moment.
Then, turning to her left, Madison said, “Mr. President, you need to see this.”
She handed the large pad to George. He quickly began scrolling.
“Mr. President, all of these stories just broke,” Alexus said. “Notice the similar wording. They’re reporting a terrorist strike at the World Banking Headquarters in London, and they’re saying the vice president is inside and the UN troops are en route to contain it… and protect the vice president.”
George locked eyes with her, then turned to Madison and said, “More like kill him.”
Madison stiffened.
George asked, “Have we heard from the vice president yet?”
“No sir,” Alexus said, “not a word.”
Madison recollected, “The last contact we had was when Adam had just gotten in the presidential Limousine, but he never got to the base.”
Alexus added, “Now the media is reporting that the base is blocked off by UN troops as a precautionary measure.”
George’s eyes widened as he looked at Alexus, and then turned to Madison. “Precautionary measure, or preventive measure to ensure he didn’t get to the base?”
George thought for a moment. “So he got into the Limo and never got to the base, that means he’s somewhere in between, or…” George stopped speaking.
“Or what?” Madison had to ask.
George looked at her. “Or, heaven forbid… they have him.”
George’s eyes went back to the large screens and focused on Tim and The Shadow as they flew right towards almost certain death.
George’s bellow filled the room in a tone Madison hadn’t ever heard. “Hemmele, do something! With all of this technology, there’s got to be something you can do!”
After a brief moment of thought, Hemmele had an idea. As they watched six fighter jets close on Tim and The Shadow, Hemmele said, “Sir, we could take all
the jets down by disabling their electronics. All of their electrical systems will go dead and they’ll drop like rocks out of the sky.”
“Do it!” George commanded.
Hemmele was already barking out orders. The room had to refocus on other equipment to do this.
“We’ve reestablished communications,” Owen said.
Madison quickly set the stage. Speaking to Tim she said, “Captain, you’ve got six bogies headed directly towards you. You should see them on your radar in a moment. We need you to bang a hard-U turn and get the hell out of there now.”
“We’re almost in range,” Tim said. “How much time do we have?”
“Not enough, get out of there.”
In the rear seat, Brooks had the aircraft’s radar in search mode. It began to sweep a radio beam back and forth across the sky. He was watching a square white box. It indicated Sordid’s plane still wasn’t within range. He didn’t see any other bogeys yet. Brooks confirmed the target’s angle, heading, air speed and their closure rate.
Brooks said, “Switching to SAM.”
Tim agreed, “Affirmative.”
The SAM feature allowed the radar to combine both tracking and scanning, so a pilot could track incoming bogies to see the big picture, while keeping sight of the main target.
Brooks checked closing speed. “Thirty seconds.”
Madison interrupted. “Negative, you don’t have enough time. Abort, I repeat, abort the mission.”
Suddenly, Brooks saw white squares appear on the top of the screen.
“We’ve got two bogies… make that three.”
“Tim, abort, we’ll be able to take them down from here,” Madison urged.
Tim knew of the technology that allowed the government to disable the electromechanics of a plane. He knew it had been used before. “Will they be able to eject out of their planes?”
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