by David Berko
…
Hypersonic air-breathing war planes flied in v-shaped squadrons, further benefiting from the vector surfing allowed by the laws of physics. Perhaps the theory is no better demonstrated by none other than the migrating Canadian geese.
An AWACS (airborne warning and control system) plane flew higher than everything else in the skies and way out in front of the air armada as it directed the show with an Air Boss and his staff whom carried out their duties in the command and control warfare environment miles above LA.
The radio chatter would have been nightmarish, confusing jumble for any untrained pilot unaccustomed to the theater of war. However, the coalition of FRN security forces and elements of the Texas Airborne Militia all appeared to be flying in unanimity of purpose.
--
Eielson Air Force Base, Fairbanks, Alaska
The last base to launch aircraft in conjunction with Operation Switchblade flew several groups out of the great Alaskan wilderness into Sector 6. Their purpose was to be there to quell any dog fight situations through the employment of the counter attack tactic. If Honolulu or Texas's fighters were completely engaged by tangos, then it was their job to sweep in and be the force that turned the tide in the fight, enabling the slower moving more vulnerable heavy-lift craft to reach the LZ with minimal losses.
…
The air operations center at Eielson was a hornet's nest of activity.
Air traffic control operators directed the elephant walk traffic that clogged the two runways.
An elephant walk essentially was a Minimum Interval strategy used by the military to launch as many planes as quickly as possible. The danger associated with that, however, being the slipstream planes had to fly through as they followed close to the jets that took off directly ahead of them. A slipstream is a fluid moving at the same velocity of the objects that fly through it (i.e. fighter jets).
That's what it is by definition, but what it could potentially do to air traffic was more worrisome. The effect it has on airplanes going through it can be compared to turbulence--only exponentially more powerful and harmful.
Operation Switchblade had so many potential accidents waiting to happen, even before planes got off the ground. Yet the 00:00 hundred hours, zero-dark thirty (night) mission moved along without any hiccups thus far.
--
West Los Angeles, California
Scorpion commandos supposedly manning their anti-air stations scattered across the city seemed to be sleeping on the job.
That wouldn't be entirely accurate however. To their credit, the Central Cyber Corps of FRN created mass chaos and confusion among the ranks of the evil underworld agency. Through a successfully waged cyber warfare campaign, Scorpion only had a handful of operational defenses against incoming aerial threats as a result.
Any vulnerabilities that Scorpion might have had in their information assurance over their electric grid were exposed and taken advantage of by the resourceful cyber warriors of FRN.
However, Scorpion still had backup solar power stored up in DC (direct current) power banks that immediately kicked in to energize various weapons that could defend against hostile threats
This only added one more wrinkle to the whole scenario for the good guys.
Not every conceivable angle could have possibly been planned for or anticipated by the republic's intelligence and military leaders. Especially due to the last minute nature of the operation. And sadly, good men and women would perish as a result.
…
A mobile truck with its payload pointing at the sky suddenly went active. Missiles flared up and sparked profusely before going up for the chase. The advanced interceptors streaked through the inky black night. They had found their prey.
The fighter jets the missiles had their crosshairs on suddenly put out heat decoys that successfully lured Scorpion's interdictory missiles to detonate prematurely, out of range of their targets.
By now the fireworks show seen from the ground by a city with its lights turned out had drawn quite the crowd. The homeless came out of their shanties to watch. Drinkers vacated the bars and clubs to catch a lights show. Hookers broke away from their partners to see what all the commotion was about.
Scorpion commandos scrambled to get a bead on the enemy planes.
Two soldiers operating a THEL laser nest pivoted ninety degrees...radar lock achieved. "Get some!" one of them exclaimed through his face mask. His effort was met with success--first blood. An explosion and a fireball lit the night sky.
More laser nests went live after a concentrated effort to get them back online finally gained traction. Scorpion's defenses were reeling, but not down and out. Operation Switchblade would have an uphill battle to Westover Ventures.
--
The Basement: Honolulu, Hawaii
For the duration of Operation Switchblade the president and the National Security Council would watch the action unfold on a battle management system that provided a feed in real time on the theater of war using the room's displays and holo emitters.
Blue planes were friendlies, red indicated the aggressors (Scorpion).
With only a 5 minute ETA until West LA, the sky was still full of FRN and Texas Airborne Militia units--no sign of Scorpion planes just yet, or even planes being fueled for takeoff for that matter.
Yellow arrows that moved out in front of the aircraft delineated where the air tasking orders would take the air armada from a full force level down to a unit-to-unit basis. The president noticed several planes had to deviate from their plotted courses already.
…
(radio chatter)
"Keep playing that music (slang for jamming),” one Mustafa jet challenged the seventh gen support craft which carried out the electronic warfare deception against the enemy's radar.
Decoy fighters that appeared on Scorpion's Command Post radar created enough havoc that bought a little time and distracted transport erector launchers from firing interceptor missiles at actual targets or THEL lasers from zapping unfortunate aircraft.
"Watch those SAM's (surface to air missiles) on your six," a squadron leader communicated to one of his planes that was painted by the enemy's sights.
Chaff was disbursed by the pilot under duress followed up by corkscrew turn evasive maneuvers. The missiles that were tracking suddenly became very confused and even dizzy by the jet's convoluted flight path until eventually they collided into one another, erupting into one big ball of fire.
"Air boss this is squadron commander Lentz, 20th Fighter Wing, 3rd squadron, Tornado zero-two. Over."
"Copy that, Tornado zero-two. Come in."
"Requesting permission for combat spread before we reach target. Over."
There was a little delay before the assistant to the air boss (the miniboss) answered the squadron commander instead. "Roger, Tornado zero-two."
--
Scorpion Strategic Operations Center: LA, California
"What does the director-general say on the infidels? Certainly he knows," lieutenant commander Yusef Chikowsky angrily demanded of S6's station chief in a sat phone call.
"I haven't been contacted by the Old Man." The station chief furrowed his brow. "In fact, it's strange because I'm being told by an aide as we speak that Howard is en route for the war room."
"Why is that strange?"
"Normally I'd be whom he speaks to before he makes those kinds of arrangements."
Yusef paused to take the information in. "Can you advise me on a small matter?"
"Certainly."
"I've got a " he swore, "of enemy forces in my airspace. Requesting permission to scramble jets. Backup would be good too--maybe even the odds a little bit."
The blunt appeal didn't fall on deaf ears. "I can unilaterally speak for the agency and Sector Six...you have my consent to eradicate the cancer by whatever lethal means that is at your disposal. I am sending out a message to other bases near your position to join the fray." That was all the lieutenant commander needed to
here. "Excellent. Thank you, sir."
--
The Basement: Honolulu, Hawaii
President Alexander Toporvsky had seen enough. It was getting uncomfortably messy. As commander in chief his heart sunk. The lives of the airmen were ultimately in his hands--he was the one all of the orders would be traced back to.
Leaning over, he sought to gain Demsky's attention for a second to communicate something.
The stressed director of intelligence responded, noticing Alexander wished to talk.
"Yes, Mr. President?"
"Do you believe in God?" Alexander threw it out there.
Alfred balked. There wasn't a question mark attached to his reaction as to what his answer was.
"How do you find peace in times such as these? And hope?" the president persisted.
"You don't, sir. But we sure can give it our best and go to our graves if we have to, knowing we hung in there with the most cunning and wily enemy known to man."
Alexander paused to consider the director's words. Could Alfred have been speaking of the devil? It hadn't been any secret to the republic that Scorpion had received many of their powers from unseen forces of evil moving in and through mere men.
"Can I tell you how much I sincerely respect your contributions to the FRN, Alfred? From day one you have shown grit and tenacity unlike anybody I've ever had the privilege of serving alongside."
Demsky straightened up at the kind words. He hadn't expected this. Yet the way his mind worked he wondered if the president was seeking cooperation through cajoling speech. "Mr. President, may I be candid on one small thing?"
"You may...."
"I don't believe the Bible has a place in planning for the end times. There's no way an old book could be useful to us now. We need Texas to join and we need to strengthen our ties with Israel and any other nations willing to take up the battle cry against Scorpion."
"That won't be enough," Alexander stated plainly--his expression communicating he stood behind what he said.
"Very well."
The president didn't know what to make of that response. It troubled him deeply that not only was the mission off to a rocky start, but the rift between Sentinel's top guy and the leader of the Free Republic of North America continued to grow. The future was beginning to get even more uncertain with the passage of time.
--
Epilogue
It was noon on the other side of the world where a tentative peace existed in the Middle East. Meanwhile in the Western Hemisphere Operation Switchblade raged on in the dead of night.
…
Israel
I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them,” says the Lord your God.
Amos 9:14-15
Most of the nations in the Mediterranean region more than dwarfed the little nation in land area, but for what Israel lacked in territory it more than made up for with its economy and recently discovered natural resources (oil and rare earth metals) in the sovereign Jewish state.
Because of its location in between the tropic and temperate zones by the Mediterranean, Israel experienced vast climate changes within its borders. To the south lied the Negev desert, in the north a fertile Jezreel Valley, and the coastline in the west with its semiarid Mediterranean climate.
God blessed everything that Israel did, and despite the "blood and fire" ethos the hostile Islamic nations surrounding her had towards the Jewish people, God preserved and prospered them for a time.
Entrepreneurial minded businessmen saw Israel as an opportunity for numerous tech start-up companies-- numbering more than any other nation in the world. What's more, the land was extremely eco-conscious, meeting all of its energy needs by harnessing the massive solar loads found in the desert.
Israel was not only an economic power to be reckoned with, but its military commanded the respect of the international community. Throughout its history since 1948 the little nation fended off many adversaries against all odds. God's hand of protection could certainly be seen in shielding His chosen people from the worldly onslaught. No, fire and brimstone hadn't been called down from heaven to intervene against Israel's numerous enemies since the ancient days of the Old Testament, yet it was God's providence that could be seen through the nation's meteoric resurgence to relevance once again in a modern day and age.
--
Tel Aviv, Israel
Thirteen-year-old Azriel Markov was fresh off of his bar mitzvah. He felt like a man--completely in control of his own destiny. Everything in life was lining up as it should, nothing caught him by surprise. Until that morning.
Early that Wednesday morning a quorum (ten) of men met at a local synagogue to pray in Hebrew (aka Shacharit) and to discuss end times eschatology. Azriel for the first time in his life was allowed to join with his elders in such an orthodox practice. He couldn't have been more excited, particularly for the discussion that came after prayer.
A circle of devout Jewish men in their suits and kippahs (head coverings) met at the front of the sanctuary. The rabbi bowed his head to lead off the service. The elderly spiritual leader's long gray beard touched his white robe with its tzitzit knotted fringe swaying every time he shifted his weight.
The half an hour long prayer service was divided into four segments (better known as rungs). In the first section, the prayer leader recognized God as almighty and reigning over everything. Sequentially, praise was bestowed upon God who ruled over everything.
"'May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you,'" the rabbi prayed.
All throughout the service, the kaddish was recited. This is a way the Jewish men magnified God's name through premeditated liturgy.
"May His great Name grow exalted and sanctified….”
(Everyone) "Amen."
"...in the world that He created as He willed."
"May He give reign to His kingship in your lifetime and your days, and in the lifetimes of the entire Family of Israel, swiftly and soon. Now say: Amen. May His great Name be blessed forever and ever. Blessed, praised, glorified, exalted, extolled, mighty, upraised, and lauded be the Name of the Holy One."
(Everyone) "Blessed is He."
…
After the last words were said in summation to the prayer, the elder lifted up his eyes and met the gaze of the rest of the men who looked at him eagerly for what would come next. Rabbi Raphael got a twinkle in his eyes, yet his face gave away nothing else.
What spoke volumes though was what he had hidden under his robe. When the rabbi reached in to grab it, everyone immediately tensed. An audible gasp escaped the lips of three of the men when a New Testament Bible was revealed at last. (The Jews didn't believe in the inspiration of the New Testament.)
"You are free to go your own separate ways if you don't wish to hear me teach out of the last book in Scriptures," Raphael said with firm conviction.
The man standing closest to him on his right was the most offended by what was going on. "We have only the Torah and the rabbinical writings, rabbi," he said rather hotly.
"True, our fathers and forefathers have passed down a rich heritage," Raphael was careful to say...looking to establish common ground before willingly breaking with tradition without valid reasons he could defend. "Men, there's already a priesthood being equipped to carry out its duty in the third temple built for the age to come. What do we know of these things from what the Holy Scriptures say?"
Azriel Markov had been closely following the man he greatly admired. He knew what he had been taught on the end of days. His voice looked for a note of authority as he started out. "Elijah will be the forerunner of a renewed kingdom in Israel. Messiah will sit on the throne and defeat all our enemies."
"Ah--" the rabbi kindly smiled before offering his own
interpretation from the book he still held, "--you are right about the kingdom. However, the Messiah from the line of David, He is Jesus, son of Mary...Son of God."
Then the shouting began. Tempers flared. In Jewish culture, Jesus was only considered to be the son of Joseph and not part of divinity. Therefore Raphael just said a blasphemy in their eyes.
The room seemed to sway in Azriel's eyes. There was something strange happening inside him. It was like a still small voice called his name. He didn't know what to do.
At the mention of Jesus' name is when it all started to take place for the young man. For whatever reason the story of Samuel from the Bible played out in his mind. Was God seeking to have an audience with...him?
Possibly.
Azriel quieted the men's angry voices and removed everything else that was a distraction. He felt inclined to answer the call and learn more. Closing his eyes with palms upturned, the Jewish lad replied, Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.
Azriel, my salvation is for the Jews first, then the Gentiles. Believe in my Son, Jesus, and His saving work on the cross. Come, follow me and be my disciple. Share in my sorrows...follow in my footsteps.
This was all surreal and amazing at the same time. Miracles really did happen.
Azriel, the Spirit continued to say, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.