Read The Return of the Manhattan Online
Authors: Lee Ecker
Brad glanced over at Laura who was as pale as a ghost, and visibly shaken, “Sorry, we lost the first round, let’s go back to the Manhattan, and initiate phase II.”
“Brad, how many more lives will be lost before we convince them we are serious? And how long will it take?”
“I don’t know. But, this mission is far too important to stop now! The bigger question might be; how will the death of those interceptor pilots alter the future chain of events in your life? Could one of those pilots be your ancestor? It’s incredible; I can’t believe they would fire on an unarmed aircraft with the red cross emblazoned across the tail. I should have turned around instead of disregarding their orders. Maybe we should have landed at Scott AFB, it would have been much easier.”
“Don’t blame yourself, Brad. The easiest course is not always best. What’s done is done; we can’t change that. At least I don’t think we can.”
Brad began to suspect something else was bothering her, “What’s wrong, your concern is not for our safety is it?”
“No, it’s my father and his crew. This may delay them until it’s too late.”
“I’m sorry. We may have to resort to more drastic measures. Hey, chin up! I’m learning to place a lot of faith in Roger; he’ll take care of your father and the crew.”
“I hope so,” but she didn’t sound convinced.
As soon as they were back aboard, David announced, “Good news! Roger has been refining the computer program that creates the prediction profile. We have more time. He says we will return in about ten years. Roger has seldom been wrong before, and his ideas are sound, although his calculations are sometimes off. By the way, you shouldn’t be too concerned over the loss of those interceptor pilots. Our computer search revealed those same two pilots were lost in a mysterious accident in about the same time frame.”
“Does that mean we can’t change history?”
“It might confirm that we on the Manhattan are no longer the original chicken! But, let’s get started on phase II; Brad, we are going to reconnect you with the president. Your task won’t be any easier, but you have more ammunition. Your first priority hasn’t changed, and that is to convince him, you must reenter the United States, land at Andrews Air Force Base, and speak to him in private.”
The atmosphere was tense inside the Oval Office; the president was furious, taking out his frustrations on his staff. General Williams, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was giving them a brief rundown of the events surrounding the C9 incident. “Sir, we don’t know for sure; I’m sorry to admit, but we think our interceptors shot them down.”
“They did what?”
General Williams squirmed uneasily in his chair, “Sir, according to Miami Center’s tapes, the C9 was ordered to follow the interceptors to Homestead Air Force Base, and refused. They were given the option of turning around, and disregarded that order also.”
“Who authorized you to shoot them down?”
“I had no such authorization. We simply don’t know why they fired!”
“What do you mean; you think they were shot down?”
“We lost both fighters, but have no word on what happened to the C9 after all three aircraft vanished from radar. The Navy responded looking for any evidence of a downed aircraft, but has found nothing.”
“I did approve your plan to escort them to Homestead, and now maybe that’s the end of it. Get back to the Command Post at Scott, and see if you can put a lid on it. I suppose the major networks are already broadcasting the full story.”
“I clamped down on Miami Center, and information has been sketchy for the networks as a result. Since it happened over international waters, it’s easier to keep secret. I don’t know how long we can continue to do so though.”
“Why?”
“Well, it’s too close to Cuba! You know how we broke the news to the world when the Soviets shot down that Korean airliner. We don’t know how much the Cubans were monitoring.”
“That’s just great! Any suggestions?” The silence that followed was interrupted by the president’s intercom. He answered with agitation, “I told you I didn’t want to be disturbed!”
“I’m sorry Mr. President, this is Major Anderson, and I urgently need to talk with you.”
“It’s him!” Surprise and alarm showed on his face as he began ordering his staff, “Get this traced!” He turned back, “Major Anderson, why didn’t you follow those interceptors, and land at Homestead?”
“I’ve already told you this is a matter of national security, and I need the protection of the aircraft as well as an opportunity to speak with you privately.”
“I couldn’t allow that, and now as your Commander in Chief I demand that you tell me where you are, and what the devil is going on!”
Brad replied with calculated reckless anger and contempt, “What would you do if I told you? Send more interceptors to finish what they started! You have jeopardized the lives of far too many people who are trying to help us, and now you have committed one of the most despicable acts imaginable. You ordered the shooting down of an unarmed aircraft with the international symbol of the hospital red cross, and you demand to know what’s going on! I’ll tell you what’s going on! You have sent two innocent pilots to their death. At what point will you see reason, and meet with me. That’s all I ask!”
“Major Anderson, calm down, I didn’t order your aircraft shot down, and you are way out of line! You disobeyed a lawful order and those pilots had no other choice!” He turned to his aides. “Have you got this call traced?”
“No, Sir; we can’t trace it beyond this room!”
“Major Anderson, what do you have in mind?” He didn’t know what else to do or say, except to keep him talking in hopes that further trace action might help.
Brad forced himself to speak with a calm and restrained voice, “All right Mr. President, for now I accept the fact that you didn’t order us shot down. I am planning to land at Andrews, and will do so with your cooperation tomorrow morning at 1000 hours. I’d like the aircraft hangered, and guarded until after I meet with you.”
“I’d rather you landed at Homestead, and then we will talk about it.” This was a compromise he hoped would be accepted.
“Mr. President, I can’t do that. I wish I could, and I’m sorry, but I can’t explain.”
“Okay, land at Andrews, and then we’ll talk.” The phone went dead in his ears before he could continue; he turned to his staff, “He will try again tomorrow at ten. Let’s get together on another plan.”
Early in the morning, the C9 launched over the Atlantic two hundred miles east of the Delaware coastline. As they approached the FIR (New York Flight Information Region) Brad checked in, “New York Center, this is Air Evac six eight one requesting entry clearance at point Champ.” They were 150 miles east of the ADIZ (Air Defense Identification Zone) expecting to be delayed at least that long in getting a clearance to proceed.
“Air Evac six eight one, we have no flight plan on you. State your destination and type aircraft.”
“New York Center, our destination is Andrews Air Force Base and we are an Air Force Charlie nine alpha. Contact Andrews Air Force Base for our flight plan and authorization.”
“Roger, squawk code six eight one two, and standby east of Lynus.
“Roger, we will hold east of point Lynus.”
They didn’t have long to wait before two more F15 fighters appeared on their radar coming from the southwest. “Laura, let’s get the shield back on and see what’s up.”
“Okay, it’s on.”
“Air Evac six eight one, Washington Center, contact Bearcat one two on three three five point eight.”
“Roger, Air Evac six eight one.” Brad tuned in the UHF radio, “Bearcat one two, Air Evac six eight one.”
“Air Evac six eight one, this is Bearcat one two flight, we have been instructed to escort you to a landing at Langley Air Force Base. Follow us please.”
“Unable Bearcat, we are landing at Andrews.”
This time the fighters didn’t wait, but began firing their cannons directly at the C9. Promptly, the Manhattan crew flipped the switch, and the C9 vanished from sight.
Brad turned to Laura, “I guess this means phase three.”
Back aboard the Manhattan, David sadly commented, “I had a hunch that wouldn’t work. But, the next phase should convince him. By the way, Roger has informed us we have about thirty days to spare to return safely within the parameters as planned.”
“I’m glad to hear that, Dad.” Laura hugged him tightly.
That evening at 8:03 Eastern Standard Time, every television satellite channel broadcasting to the nation instantaneously went blank for thirty seconds, with the sound replaced by a steady high-pitched tone. Immediately following, a broadcast emanating from the Manhattan began as a picture of the C9 filled the screen. “We interrupt this program to bring you this special news bulletin.”
“This United States Air Force C9 aeromedical airlift aircraft was reported missing three weeks ago. The C9 is no longer missing, but the crew experienced a strange encounter that could best be described as one out of the ‘Twilight zone.’ Yesterday, just before noon, the scene you now see occurred off the east coast of Florida as the crew attempted to return to Andrews Air Force Base.”
The picture changed, showing the entire sequence of the C9 being intercepted by the two F15 Eagle fighters. The images, clearly and dramatically showed the missile being fired from the lead F15, and both fighters destroyed while flying through the fireball—the explosion of the missile occurring long before reaching the DC9. The voice continued,
“These two fighters and their pilots, under the knowledge, if not under the direct orders of President Dugan, were lost while firing a missile at an unarmed hospital aircraft, with the red cross clearly visible on the tail. Why? Ask President Daniel Dugan. Again this morning the same aircraft was fired upon by two more fighters as depicted here.”
The screen showed the two F15 fighters firing cannon shots, and the C9 disappearing from sight.
“This morning, the fighters fired without warning after President Dugan gave his assurance that he did not give the order for the aircraft to be shot down. We must ask: Why? I say, ask President Dugan!”
The screen went blank and after twenty seconds of steady tone, the regular programming resumed.
President Dugan’s anger became a scalding fury as he shouted, “Why? Who prepared that damn broadcast? Why? I’ll have someone’s head for this! General Williams, I specifically gave you orders to escort that aircraft to Langley, not shoot it down!”
“Sir, I don’t know why they fired, except the C9 crew must have refused to follow the fighters. Obviously, someone disobeyed orders!”
“That broadcast reported the aircraft was fired upon without warning!”
“I have no way of knowing if that’s correct. Maybe they heard of yesterday’s disaster, and wanted to be sure they succeeded.”
“I told you; I specifically gave orders not to shoot it down! I want to know who changed those orders!”
The buzzer sounded on the president’s desk, “Yes, what is it?”
His secretary in the outer office nervously replied, “Sir, the switchboard is lit up like a Christmas tree, and Senator North is here demanding to see you.”
“Send him in—“
Senator North of Illinois, Chairman of the Armed Forces Committee barged in demanding, “What the hell is going on around here? You of all people, after what I heard you say at Scott Air Force Base a couple of weeks ago. You damn well better have a good explanation!”
“Calm down, John, I’m as baffled as you are, and I sure as hell didn’t order that aircraft shot down.”
“Then why are all the major networks broadcasting that story?”
“John, yes, I knew what happened yesterday morning, and yes I spoke with Major Anderson last night, but I swear to God I had nothing to do with it being shot down. General Williams, here, better have some answers.”
General Williams began hesitatingly, “As far as we know, the aircraft was fired upon yesterday simply because the crew would not follow the interceptor’s orders to follow them to Homestead Air Force Base. Today’s, I don’t know. Maybe—“
The buzzer interrupted them again. “What is it now?” the president demanded into the intercom.
“Mr. President, this is Major Anderson and—“
The president interrupted, “What the hell was that broadcast all about? I never heard of such nonsense! Why didn’t you land at Langley as ordered?”
“Sir, I think we have been through all this; it seems I can’t trust your word! I’ll ask you again, why did you have those interceptors fire at us today?”
“Major Anderson, I regret that you were fired upon, but you’ve got to believe me, I didn’t order it.”
“We hold you directly responsible, and unless I miss my guess, the entire nation will after tonight.”
President Dugan was getting uptight, “I hope you know the chaos you’ve caused! How did you accomplish that little charade?”
“Sir, how did I connect myself to your telephone? How did I prevent them from shooting us down? Where am I? You keep asking those questions; I want to tell you, but I will only do so in private for reasons of national security. If you don’t believe national security is at stake, then go outside and see what kind of riots are already going on in the streets of Washington.”
“All right, I believe you, now what do you want?” The president spoke as though defeated.
“I want the same thing I’ve been asking for these past three days. If you think I should trust you to guarantee our safety, I will land at Andrews tomorrow. Will you allow us?”
“Yes, land at Andrews, and I will personally send fighters to escort you.”
“All right, we’ll be ready. Good night, Sir.”
The president turned to General Williams, “These are my strict orders, send some fighters up to escort that damn C9 to Andrews, and under no circumstances allow them to shoot at the aircraft. I repeat under no circumstances. I’m holding you personally responsible.”
Senator North quietly asked, “You really don’t know what’s going on, do you?”
“No, Senator, I don’t, but I’m sure as hell going to find out.”