Shadow Flight

Truesdell showed a tinge of embarrassment. "I apologize, Bernie. I didn't mean to question anyone's competency. It just appears as if the skies over Cuba are going to be very crowded."

"No offense taken, sir," Kerchner responded, glancing at the Joint Chiefs. "And you're right, we will have a large number of aircraft in and off the targets in a compressed period of time. We want to hit Castro hard and be gone in seconds.

"The B-1 s," Kerchner continued, "will be escorted to and from the targets by their own fighters. The F-15s and -16s will tank over the Gulf — from two KC-10s — and fly cover all the way in and out, recovering at Homestead Air Force Base."

Truesdell nodded his understanding.

"Any questions, gentlemen?" Kerchner asked, returning to his seat.

The secretary of state turned to the president. "Sir, I would like one clarification, concerning logistics."

"Certainly, Sam," Jarrett responded, closing his briefing folder.

"When are you leaving for 'kneecap'?" Gardner asked, referring to the National Emergency Airborne Command Post (NEACP). Jarrett and the secretary of defense had agreed that it would be best to have the president airborne, ready for any contingency.

The president leaned back, reopened his folder, then looked at Kerchner. "Bernie, let's cover our command, control, and communications plans."

"Yes, sir," Kerchner replied, turning to the "c-cubed" page in his folder. "The president will board the crown helo at five in the morning and be airborne in kneecap at five-thirty. The vice president will leave after this meeting for Raven Rock. He will be in the communications loop at Site R at five-fifteen in the morning."

Kerchner looked at the secretary of state. "Sam, you'll be driven to Mount Weather later this evening. I'll remain here, along with the Joint Chiefs. However, we'll have another kneecap standing by at Andrews, if needed."

The discussion was over. "Well, gentlemen," the president said in a firm tone, "I must excuse myself." Jarrett stood, remaining in place until the men followed a second later.

"Before I leave," the president said as he grasped his briefing folder, "I want to express my appreciation for all your fine work. America has a long and proud history of being the de facto leader of the free world. Now, we have the responsibility to defend our nation and people. We must face a fundamental fact. To remain a free nation, we may have to sacrifice more lives in order to preserve our future, and the future of our children."

Jarrett walked out of the room as the remaining men looked at each other, concern etched on their faces.

DIAMOND 103

Commander Doug Karns slowed the battered Tomcat in preparation for a controllability check. He had sent the second section of F-14s back to Kitty Hawk. He checked the horizon, then watched the airspeed indicator-215… 210… 205… The F-14's right wing dropped sharply.

"Oh, shit!" Karns said over the intercom, slamming the throttles into afterburner. The Tomcat accelerated quickly through 230 knots as he leveled the wings again. "On speed is two-oh-five."

Karns's new radar intercept officer, Lt. (jg) Dean "Scurvy" Ricketts, keyed his intercom. "Skipper, you want to dump some gas-lighten us up a tad?"

"I'm in the process," Karns answered, flipping the fuel dump switch. Jet fuel streamed back from the fighter as Karns switched from approach control to Key West tower. "Navy Key West tower, Diamond One Oh Three with you on a wide, modified right base."

"Roger, Diamond One Zero Three," the tower chief replied, apprised of the inbound emergency aircraft. "Cleared straight in, runway seven, wind one-one-zero at twelve. We have the equipment standing by."

"Thanks," Karns radioed, then talked to his wingman. "Two, go ahead and land, in case I crater the runway."

"Copy, skipper," the pilot responded, lowering his flaps and landing gear.

"Key tower," Karns called, rolling into a shallow turn, "Diamond Two is going to land first."

The tower controller looked down at the fire trucks, then keyed his radio. "Diamond Two cleared to land. Roll out to the end of the runway."

The wingman clicked his mike twice as he slowed the Tomcat to his on-speed angle of attack.

Karns completed two wide 360-degree turns, streaming white vapor trails of jet fuel, as he briefed his radar intercept officer. "Scurve, if we don't grab the wire, I'll go burner and we'll come around for another crack at it."

"Ah… skipper," Ricketts ventured, "think we should stop dump?"

"Oh, shit," Karns replied, snapping off the fuel dump switch. He had 1,400 pounds left — enough for two passes. "Scurve, you want to go ahead and jump out? I'm having a hell of a day."

"Naw," Ricketts responded, looking down at the ocean, "I didn't bring my bathing suit."