Chapter 54
Space Launch Complex 3E
Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
Tuesday
8:01 a.m. Pacific Time
11:01 a.m. Eastern Time
“Will this do?” the Space Force contractor technician asked Lieutenant Colonel Frank Alvarez after handing him the modified M4.
They had taken the three-dimensional model of the receiver and adjusted the trigger guard to be much larger and open at the bottom so a space-suit gauntlet finger could fit there. They had also made the safety switch mechanism much larger and all of the hasps and pulls made in a way that would accommodate the gloves. Then they rapidly milled them out of aluminum on a computer numerical control router—CNC—machine. They also 3-D printed new stock and forearm parts as needed. The beauty of the M4, and all AR platforms for that matter, was the interchangeability to make quick and easy changes to the design, caliber, and build.
“Let’s see.” Frank pulled the mockup gloves on and inserted the magazine, loaded a round in the chamber, flipped the safety off, and then raised it to ready. He sighted it in on the target down the makeshift indoor test range and fired several rounds. “Works fine. Need to practice it in an actual suit if there’s time.”
“There won’t be any time for that!” Ginny Banks said from behind them looking at the new weapon as she entered the indoor test range. “A nuke just detonated over Kentucky. The massive EMP affected most of the systems on the Eastern seaboard. Power is out across most of the Eastern United States. The launch has been pushed as far up as possible and still maintaining safety protocols. We’ll launch at midnight tonight.”
“No shit.” Frank just hung his head. “Those crazy bastards are actually doing it.”
“Yes.” Dr. Banks said. “Dr. Grayson predicts they’ll hit either Moscow or Paris next. Maybe northern Africa.”
“Okay, hang on.” Frank turned to the contractor technician. “Thomas, this is awesome. Can you make us, like, twelve of them within the next couple of hours and reassemble the weapons?”
“Yes. I think we can get them done in that kind of time. I’ll get right to work.”
“They have the news feed up in the break area, if you want to see,” Banks said.
“Yeah.” Frank followed her back into the main hall and toward the break area. Several Space Force enlisted and a few of the United Launch Alliance rocket engineers were having coffee and watching the morning newscasts.
“…It is clear from this disturbing video that we just received that a nuclear weapon has detonated somewhere about fifty kilometers above northern Kentucky. There are currently no reported casualties, but the level of devastation to the communications and power grids is still unknown at this time and likely will be for days to weeks. We are expecting the president to address the nation soon…”
* * *
“Somehow, they knew who the astronaut was,” Toby told Frank over the secure VTC between Tampa and Vanderberg. “At the time, as best I can tell, only the Chiefs and their staffers were online on our end. No way to know who on the Russia end was on.”
“We have a mole somewhere, then?” Frank frowned at that. “Somebody at the Chiefs level. Jesus Christ.”
“Brings us back around to our three assassins. Who tipped them off about Watkins? The forensics on the computer at his house shows a link to an IP address leading back to the Pentagon. I don’t like this, Frank,” Toby told him. “You better watch your ass doing whatever it is that you are doing.”
“Yeah. Keep digging, Toby.”
* * *
“It’s not a sword, Kenny,” Mac argued with the Delta Force major. “It’s a very long knife. I’m guessing we might have to stab someone in a suit or something.”
“Why don’t we just shoot them from a long way off?”
“Maybe. But the ISS is designed to withstand micrometeorite impacts that hit faster than any bullet. We’d have to use a shaped charge or uranium-tipped, armor-piercing, high-caliber rounds to shoot through it, maybe. I’m not sure, maybe a fifty cal would do it. This is going to be hand-to-hand,” Mac explained.
“Shit,” Kenny replied with a chuckle. “I hate it when Squids are right. We should see how Dugan and Frank are doing with the rest of the gear.”
“Yeah.”
* * *
“My heart?” Dr. Banks was shouting hysterically. “My heart is fine! I ran a damned marathon four weeks ago.”
“I’m sorry, Dr. Banks,” the flight surgeon tried to calm her down. “I cannot clear you for flight at this time.”
* * *
“These are your flight crew.” General Cates introduced them. “You know Captain Ames. For security purposes, you will refer to her only as ‘Commander’ from here forward. This is your copilot and will be referred to only as ‘Copilot.’ This is your flight engineer and will be referred to as ‘Engineer.’ No names will be briefed further for their protection. Is that understood?”
“Sir,” Frank, Kenny, and Casey said in unison. Mac merely nodded. Warrants were just that way.
“This is Captain Stevens, U.S. Space Force. Not his real name. He has volunteered to replace Dr. Banks and will be your fifth team member,” Cates said.
“Sir, if I may…” Frank started to protest but was shut down.
“There is no discussion, Colonel. Captain Stevens is on your team and that comes from the Chiefs. Moving forward, this mission will be referred to as ‘Hot Eagle One,’” Cates said.
“The commander of the mission will brief you on protocols and procedures and you will not move forward without their permission. We’ve already had one nuclear detonation, ladies and gentlemen. Let’s stop the bastards from doing more.”
“Hoo-ah,” Casey and Kenny said in unison.
“Uhrah,” Frank grunted.
“Hoo-yay!” they finally got out of Mac.
The Space Force members said nothing but nodded and saluted from an attention posture.
“Launch sequence is T-minus seven hours. With built-in holds that will put the launch around twenty-three hundred. We’ll load in at T-minus one hour and forty minutes at a scheduled hold. Final preps and loads on your gear and suits. And start making last actions now. No calls out.”