Shadow Flight

The Joint Chiefs of Staff, secretary of defense, and director of the CIA stood when the president entered the room, followed by the vice president, secretary of state, and national security adviser.

"Be seated, gentlemen," Jarrett said somberly, then sat down between Bernard Kerchner and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The president adjusted his glasses before addressing the assemblage. "As you know, the skipper of the Wasp has confirmed sixty-one casualties, with four sailors and one marine missing.

"We are embarking on an ominous, challenging struggle with an unpredictable foe-an adversary who will not hesitate to use every weapon available to him, as we have tragically witnessed. You have read the CIA reports and seen the afternoon news. Fidel Castro, for whatever reason, has turned into an Hispanic Ayatollah Khomeini. Secretary Kerchner has just received a report confirming that the submarine was sunk. The flotsam, along with the bodies that surfaced, indicate clearly that the submarine was operated by the Cubans."

Jarrett removed his glasses. "I want to be perfectly clear in regard to my position. I will not tolerate a long, protracted operation. We have to ensure that we use the correct weapons, and enough of them, to accomplish the objective in one or two strikes. The stakes are high and we cannot afford any tactical blunders, or we could find ourselves defending our southern shores."

Jarrett looked around the table, reading the response, before continuing. "We have telegraphed our intentions to Castro, as you well know, so our strike will have to be a maximum effort. I will contact President Ignatyev minutes before the first strike aircraft reach their targets. The Soviets will be on notice not to interfere on behalf of their nationals. If they do become involved, which is a grave possibility, we will not hesitate to destroy them."

The president swallowed a sip of water, glancing around the polished mahogany table. "We will go on global alert five minutes before our first attack aircraft reach Cuban soil." Jarrett replaced his glasses. "Are there any questions, gentlemen?"

The national security adviser cleared his throat. "Mister President, what is your feeling about the B-2? Do you intend to destroy the aircraft, or retrieve it?"

"Brian," the president began slowly, catching the disdainful look on the vice president's face, "we are about to engage Cuba militarily. At this point, we don't have the luxury of recovering the B-2 intact."

The secretary of defense knew, as did the other men in the room, that Brian Gaines had been a disappointment as the national security adviser. Kerchner faced the red-headed attorney. "The airfield — San Julian — where the B-2 is concealed, will be heavily bombed, so that may solve the problem for us."

Jarrett opened his briefing folder, prompting the group to join him. "Bernie," the president said, turning to his defense secretary, "let's look at the entire operation."

"Yes, sir," Kerchner replied, standing to walk to a map of Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico. He picked up an expandable metal pointer. "We intend to use three carriers — Kitty Hawk, America, and Abraham Lincoln, with the Lexington as a spare deck — supplemented by eighteen B-lBs and three attack submarines."

Kerchner pointed to the highly detailed planning chart. "Kitty Hawk and her battle group," he made a small circle with the tipped pointer, "will be located here — about one hundred forty miles northwest of San Julian. Her group will be solely responsible for San Julian and any surface vessels in the vicinity. They will also suppress radar and GCI sites, then provide close air support when the Marines hit the beach."

The secretary of state caught Kerchner's attention. "Yes, Sam."

"At what point will the Marines go ashore?"

Kerchner paused a moment, glancing at the marine commandant. "We will make that decision after the first air strike. We may have to go back in and soften up the area, depending on what kind of resistance Castro puts up. At any rate, Sam, the Marines will have plenty of close air support when they take the beach."

Gardner, chewing on his unlighted pipe, acknowledged the explanation silently.

"Satellite photos," Kerchner continued, "indicate that a number of SAM sites have been installed around San Julian, along with a variety of triple A guns. They also have a number of ZSU-X motorized antiaircraft guns, so we can anticipate heavy fire from around San Julian."

Kerchner looked back at the chart. "America will be here, eighty miles northeast of Havana. Her mission is to attack radar and GCI sites, then clobber the military airfields around Havana, including Mariel, Playa Baracoa, Ciudad Libertad, San Pedro, San Antonio de Los Banos, Managua, and San Jose de Las Lajas. The carrier will also supply air defense for Kitty Hawk, the tanker aircraft, and the Hawkeyes."