John Simpson

by Def Con One (lit)

  “Todd, do you think they were headed here?”

  “I don’t know. I guess we have to assume that they were coming here or to the missile fields. Either way, it doesn’t sound good.”

  “Okay, as you were. I just got off the phone with federal agents who are attempting to question the surviving suspect. I’ve been told that when they adjusted his bandages, he blurted out, “Watch it, you stupid cocksucker, that hurts!” Now while that might seem a reasonable response to sudden intense pain, the suspect was speaking in Russian. I understand that FBI and CIA are on scene and have taken over interrogation.

  “I will now assume that we were the destination for these men, assuming that they are Russian Special Forces. The only thing we don’t know is exactly what their target was. Even before this last piece of information came to us, I had decided to commence patrol of our silos by helicopter. Security teams will be assigned to each of twenty helicopters with an area of responsibility. Any alarm will require two helicopters to respond to that location. This will put a total of eight security policemen on site within ten to fifteen minutes of the alarm. While that is not an instant response, it is far superior to vehicle response. Major Manchuka, your squadron commander will make the assignments. These patrols will be twenty-four hours a day until further notice. All security policemen will now report for duty in combat fatigues only, regardless of whether or not you are assigned to security response duty or base police.

  “Gentlemen, we have to assume that there is an attack on the horizon and you men are the first line of defense for this base as well as the missiles. I have complete confidence in your training and your loyalty to this country and to the Air Force. Take care of each other and stay safe. That’s all I have for now. Your CO will now take over this briefing.”

  “Atten-hut!”

  The auditorium stood at attention as the general left the stage and went out a back door. Everyone began talking at once and before long the noise volume rose to a level that made any further briefing impossible unless order was called for.

  As the major took the stage, the first sergeant yelled at everyone to sit down and shut up. The room came to order quickly.

  “Thank you, First Sergeant. Okay, this is how we’re gonna do this. Those of you who are assigned to base police will continue those duties unless more men are needed for the field. Base police will, however, be rotated through the helicopters once a month so that you remain familiar with field procedures. We have to remain a very flexible combat force. Men who are on rotation duty for the field will take over the helicopter duty on a regular basis. Your flight sergeants will take care of assigning you to a schedule. Each launch control facility will still need security policemen on site. However, we are going to take care of this a little differently. Each facility will have four men assigned to it for seven days on, three days off. This way, these men will remain on site to provide protection for the facility and the other personnel assigned there. Remember, alarms and routine checks will now be handled by air, so you will not need to leave the facility unless dire circumstances require it. Therefore, make sure the LCF is locked down tight and keep it that way. Any breach of security is to be met with deadly force. Your primary task is to prevent entrance to the underground launch command capsule by hostile forces.

  “I’m sure I don’t have to say it, but you people need to be on your toes. There is a strong possibility that we are going to get hit somewhere unless the FBI finds every one of these Russians who have crossed into this country. The fact that they are here at all will increase tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. They have committed an act of war by sending in what amounts to commandos with a mission to sabotage our missile readiness. If they are this serious about attempting to neutralize our ICBM capabilities, then we must assume they are willing to go to war in order to achieve their objectives. This squadron will see to it that they fail in their mission. No greater responsibility has ever fallen to the security police of any Air Force Base before, including Vietnam and Iraq.

  “That’s all from me. Your flight sergeants will now break you up into your flights and assignments will be made. Good luck and remember your training.”

  As the major left the stage, Sergeant Gray came over to the men of the mid-night base police shift. “None of this will affect our schedule or duties unless a few are pulled off for helicopter duty, or we are rotated once a month. But it does mandate that we ratchet up our level of alertness to the maximum. Since we have a full flight, I’m gonna put two-man cars out starting tonight. No one but me rides alone. The security units assigned to the base here will take care of the high security area, which leaves the rest of the base to us as usual.”

  “Any other changes that you are aware of, Sergeant?” I asked.

  “No. But I’ll talk to the major quickly about putting an M16 in each patrol vehicle, which you will be responsible for nightly. By the time we go on duty in a little over an hour, I will be able to tell you for sure. Get some food, and be on time.”

  The entire flight decided to hit the chow hall immediately and then get back to the barracks to put on gun belts. Everyone ate quickly and in silence. All of us were digesting the information provided to us in the briefing. No one was stupid enough not to believe that the level of danger had gone up dramatically with the news that Russians were in the van.

  After putting on our weapons gear for duty, we headed to the armory, and then to the headquarters for guard mount. At 1755 hours, we began.

  “Okay, as authorized by the major, each unit is to return to the armory once you get your vehicles, and check out an M16 and three clips of ammo. You will put one clip in your weapon, chamber a round, and maintain the weapon in the safety mode. In the morning, you will clear that weapon and turn it in along with your sidearm. Any questions?”

  “Sergeant, what do we do with it when getting out on a call?” asked one of the men.

  “Good question. On routine calls, secure the M16 in the trunk of your vehicle. On any other call that is out of the ordinary, or one where you are checking on a secure site, one man will carry the weapon. An example of a non-routine call would be any alarm that you are dispatched on. During this time of tension, there will be no training exercises. If you are sent on an alarm call, it is either a false alarm, or real. Consider all alarms as real until told otherwise, and act accordingly. Okay. Hit the road and be alert.”

  Todd patted me on the back when no one was looking and left the station. I took over the desk from the day-shift desk sergeant and began my shift report, noting the addition of automatic weapons in the patrol cars. After Sergeant Gray left the station, I leaned over and retrieved the desk M16 and inspected it. There was a full clip in the weapon, and the safety was on. I made a similar inspection of the shotgun that hung beneath the M16.

  As I looked around my work area, I used the eye of a potential hostile force to judge the weaknesses of the location. It was obvious that the window behind me was the ideal place from which to take out the desk sergeant and, as a result, leave the alarm panel unattended. Anyone who was going to hit the base would surely have been able to review some maps of different locations and might know exactly where the base police desk sergeant was located.

  I got up, closed the window, and dropped and closed the blinds. It wouldn’t stop a bullet, but it would make it harder to hit me on the first shot. At least that way, I might have a chance to defend myself. I turned on the fan for circulation and made a note in the nightly report of this security deficiency.

  If I was honest with myself, I would have to admit to being a little nervous sitting at such a key spot that had alarm monitoring duties of all of the important locations on base. On the mid-night shift, I felt slightly isolated since I was the only person in the entire building. Tonight, it seemed overly quiet, and when the wind picked up I could hear every creak and groan in the building. The phone rang and when I answered I found the wing commander on the phone.

  “Callahan, th
is is General Star. Contact security control and tell them I want one of their armed units patrolling what you guys call ‘Officers’ Row.’ If we get hit, more than likely they’ll quickly find their way here to take out the top command structure of the wing. I want this security in place until further notice. Any questions?”

  “Yes, sir, just one. You want this detail around the clock, or only during the hours of darkness?”

  “Let’s make it from 1800 hours until 0600 hours, nightly.”

  “Yes, sir. I’ll set that in motion at once.”

  I notified security control of the general’s order and advised Sergeant Gray of this new order as well as noted it in my shift report. It made sense that a commando team would attempt to take out the command structure of the wing in order to disrupt the flow of orders. It began to feel as if the base were under siege.

  In spite of the tension, the rest of the night passed without incident. As the sun began its daily climb into the sky, my eyelids grew heavy and I was glad to see my bed in the barracks. Todd went over to breakfast while I went to bed.

  After what seemed to me to be only a couple of minutes, I was awoken by Todd getting into bed with me. I snuggled up to his back as he faced out and fell back asleep after hearing him complain, “I’m too tired to even screw!”

  The next day, we began the routine all over again. After showering and while getting dressed, Todd surprised me with a question I didn’t anticipate.

  “Bryce, do you think we can build a life together? I’m beginning to really care about you and I think you feel the same way about me; or am I mistaken? I know I mentioned that I could probably get us both transferred to the same base next, but I also feel we might make a life together.”

  As I finished buttoning my shirt, I took a moment to reflect on my response. I looked over to Todd and said, “I know that I have feelings for you and that I enjoy being with you. I really have no interest in seeing anybody else, so I think I would be more than happy to try and go the distance with you. As for your looks and other talents, well, I am more than satisfied with those.”

  He walked over and put his arms around me and drew me into a deep kiss. As the kiss continued, my body reacted in a way that said I wanted more than just a kiss. Todd noticed and reached down to give my bulge a squeeze and said, “That will have to wait ’til we’re off in the morning.”

  I sighed and finished dressing while thinking about what Todd had asked me. Could this be the guy I would spend my life with? Before we could discuss it any further, a knock on the door interrupted our privacy.

  “Okay, orders for all mid-night shift personnel to report to headquarters immediately!” yelled the sergeant in charge of quarters. Todd and I looked at each other and grabbed the rest of our gear and headed out the door en route to the armory.

  When we reported as ordered at base police headquarters, we found a rack of M16s awaiting us. One of the buck sergeants from the armory was in charge of the weapons and, as each man reported, he was issued an M16 with an ammo belt. After everyone had a weapon, we assembled in the guard mount room where we were called to attention. Our squadron commanding officer was present and took the floor.

  “Men, we’ve been alerted by federal authorities and the Pentagon that plans that pertain to a coordinated attack on this installation have been discovered on one of the dead Russians. We now know for sure that we will be attacked. The Soviet Union has denied any knowledge of the presence of their commandos in this country and alleges that we are using this as provocation to commence a war countdown. Local and state police are out in full force with roadblocks set up on all access points to the base. This should help, but we cannot count on this to prevent commandos from reaching us. Off-duty personnel have been confined to the barracks in order to assist us in discovering anyone roaming around that should not be here. Stop all vehicles that are found on our streets and positively identify the driver and passengers if any, and record that information in your patrol logs. You are to order any personnel encountered who are not on duty to go to their living quarters or barracks and remain there until they are supposed to report for duty. All barracks are to be secured and you will make a check of this while on patrol. If someone comes back to the barracks late, they will have to get the duty sergeant for that barracks to let them in. Further, all base gates will have a patrol team stationed at them throughout the night. You will remain in your vehicles rather than stand watch in the gate houses in order to present less of a target. This means you will be alone at Gate Two and the rear gate, Gate Three. You will be required to check in every thirty minutes with your desk sergeant. If you miss a report time, units will be sent to your location to check on you.

  “You men are the defense forces for this base and are being supplemented by security patrols from the weapons division. Should you encounter hostile forces, you are to shoot to kill. Any questions?”

  No one raised a hand as everyone contemplated what it meant to be a confirmed target for Soviet commandos. When we were dismissed, I told Todd to stay on his toes and headed for the desk. I read the first shift’s report of the day and settled in for what was promising to be a very long night filled with angst on the part of many, including myself. Next I looked up the duress code for the day. The code would change at midnight and I had to make sure that I remembered to switch to the new word. The duress code was the same word for all secured locations. It could be slipped into conversation with another to notify that person that they were under duress and unable to exercise free will. The word in effect until midnight was “snowflake.” If I heard the duress code, I would send units to that location in response.

  As the building emptied out, I began to receive phone calls from various airmen asking questions about the confinement to barracks. I knew this had never occurred before and it was going to take some getting used to on everyone’s part.

  My relative quiet was shattered at 2120 hours by a piercing noise from the alarm panel indicating that an alarm had been tripped. I looked over at the panel and saw that it was the officers’ club cash room. I went into action.

  “Police control to all police units, we have a signal five from the officers’ club, Police Three and Four respond code three.”

  As the units acknowledged the call, I picked up my phone and punched the number “1,” which connected me with Gate One, the main base gate.

  “Airman Wayne,” came the response.

  “Close the gate; we have an alarm at the O club.”

  We both hung up and the main gate, which was the only one open at this time, was closed to all traffic either entering or leaving the base. Since there physically was no actual gate to close, the drivers of the first car in the inbound and outbound lanes were ordered to shut off their engines, which created a barrier to those behind them in traffic.

  My next call was to the Wing Command Post notifying them of the alarm. As I hung up from that call, the dispatched units arrived on scene at the officers’ club and proceeded to implement standard procedures at an alarm site.

  Everything remained silent for a couple of minutes until Police Three notified me that the night manager, who was closing the club early, had accidently triggered the alarm. I notified the main gate to release traffic and informed the Command Post that the alarm was false.

  As blood pressures returned to normal, I made coffee and had my first of many cups of the night. The alarm did nothing but increase the tension that everyone was feeling. Would we be attacked tonight? Would I be able to perform well and prevent serious damage from being done to the base?

  Todd stopped by the desk to bring me a sandwich from the chow hall. Since he’d also brought one for himself, he quickly ate it while I ate mine. We chatted briefly and he was out the door and back on patrol. Sergeant Gray would not have liked to have found him at the desk area, since all patrols were needed on the road.

  The night was passing quietly after the false alarm from the officers’ club, with patrols checking in regularly and repo
rting everything normal. I had once again become engrossed in reviewing my procedures for incidents that could occur, when I noticed that the stationary patrol at Gate Three had not checked in for more than forty-five minutes.

  “Police control to Gate Three.”

  “Police control to Gate Three….”

  There was no response and I dispatched two patrol units to check on the unit assigned to that post. Since it was just after 0100 hours in the morning, I was hoping that they merely fell asleep. The alternative was not acceptable.

  After another three minutes, the first unit arrived at Gate Three and radioed back in a highly agitated voice.

  “Police Five to police control. The Gate Three unit has been hit! Both airmen have been shot and the chain is down on the gate! Please advise!”

  Before I could answer, Sergeant Gray came over the air with orders.

  “Police control, shut down the base, notify command post, and institute hostile action procedures. Also, have the hospital dispatch an ambulance and medics to this location.”

  “Ten-four, Police Three. All units copy?”

  All police and security units acknowledged the situation as I dispatched a police unit to Officers’ Row. I punched in the Gate One number and closed the base for a second time that night and advised the guards what was happening. Next I notified the Wing Command Post that the base was apparently under attack and described the situation at Gate Three.

  Since security control monitored the base police channel, they dispatched its units to various locations that housed nuclear materials to reinforce security on scene. The Wing Command Post was notifying both the wing commander as well as the base commander, so those calls I didn’t have to make. I next dialed the number for the civilian police and advised them of the situation on base and requested that they have any available unit stand by near Gate One in case they were needed on base.