The Return of the Manhattan

by Lee Ecker

  The first test flight was planned for daybreak, far out over the Atlantic. To reduce the chance of being spotted, the Manhattan would run interference for them making the aircraft undetectable on radar, and invisible to the naked-eye.

  After launching on the tractor beam, the Manhattan crew released their hold, leaving them in level flight just above stall speed. As Brad pushed the throttles forward, he felt powerful acceleration forces pushing him back into his seat as if he were back in a fighter aircraft lighting afterburners, without the thunderous roar. The aircraft accelerated rapidly from near stall to redline in a matter of seconds. He started to ease back on the throttles, but they were already coming back on their own as Laura laughed, “Surprised you! They are programmed to prevent exceeding redline speeds unless overridden. I guess you knew that from the simulator, but it really is different in the aircraft no matter how good the simulation is.”

  After a couple of hours putting the aircraft through its paces in several test maneuvers, he was ecstatic, “Laura, this thing really flies great; we probably won’t even need any more test flights. It’s so amazing considering, I can hardly tell the difference between what I’m experiencing now compared to what I saw and felt in the simulator.”

  “That may be, but my father will not release us until you’ve made at least a couple of takeoffs and landings, and we can’t do that over the ocean.”

  “Isn’t your father concerned that we might prang it on one of those landings?”

  Laura laughed again, “He’s seen you fly, but then, you forget the tractor beam!”

  “Would you like to fly?”

  She responded enthusiastically, “I thought you’d never ask! It’s great to be out here feeling free as a bird after being cooped up in the Manhattan those many months. Let me see what this bird can do!”

  It didn’t take long for Brad to see she was an expert pilot as she entered a shallow climb, and began a slow barrel roll which she completed precisely on the exact heading she started, and with an imperceptible change in the rate of climb. She pointed the nose almost straight up pushing the throttles full forward. The aircraft responded beautifully, continuing to accelerate in the climb until reaching 30,000 feet where she began releasing back pressure and easing the power back, allowing the aircraft to level smoothly at 37,000 feet.

  “We could play with this thing all day, but we’d better get these required checks completed. Go ahead and fly, you’re doing a superb job. Where’d you learn to fly anyway?”

  “I learned in a simulator on board a spaceship on a long voyage way beyond our solar system. After we returned to earth when I was about 11 years old, my friend who I considered my real mom taught me on a piper cub. She was a former astronaut who insisted I learn to fly the right way. She knew I would be on this mission and she wanted me well prepared. Actually, we obtained this very aircraft from the Air Force Museum and I got the chance to fly it. It seems strange though since at that time this aircraft did not have the engine pods installed. Maybe it was modified again later.”

  The heat shimmered off the desert, making distant objects almost fade out of sight as the early morning temperatures had already exceeded the ninety-degree mark. The modified Nightingale had taken to the skies shortly after dawn, this time using the Rogers Dry Lake bed as their runway. Brad picked the spot thinking there would be little traffic if they stayed far enough from the main runway at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. With the Manhattan close by, keeping them separated from other traffic and invisible to the naked eye, they each made several takeoffs and landings, testing the flight characteristics in each of the normal and abnormal configurations. The only visible trace of their presence was an occasional cloud of dust that may have puzzled an experienced observer, had one been watching as they touched down on the dry lake bed. The modifications worked perfectly as the aircraft was rock-steady throughout the touchdown and landing. Brad marveled as their short-field landings stopped the aircraft in less than 1,000 feet and with minimum braking, and their takeoffs were completed in about the same distance. Laura remarked, “Our engineers say the landings with such a light aircraft are much improved because of the zero thrust you can set on these hummers, and, of course, the center line thrust.”

  “They sure are a great improvement. I think even my grandmother could have flown this baby.”

  “Maybe my grandmother will.”

  CHAPTER 26

  David ordered the Manhattan positioned over the mid-Atlantic in preparation for the launch of the C9 for the historic return to Andrews Air Force Base. David and Roger watched intently, as Brad and Laura planned their strategy occasionally interjecting a suggestion. They planned to reenter the United States from the mid-Atlantic off the coast of Puerto Rico, approximating the flight path the C9s flew on a weekly scheduled basis, land at Andrews Air Force Base, conceal the aircraft, and meet with President Dugan. They wanted no surprises, yet they desired maximum control over the situation to give them a chance to get off to a flying start. They decided Brad should make two calls, one to the president, and the other to the Scott AFB command post. Brad had no illusions about his ability to cut through the red tape and talk to the president, but David assured him it was a piece of cake. Their plan was a calculated risk, but the fewer people knowing about the return flight, the better their odds of success. He thought they should have bluffed their way into landing at Scott, but they needed access to the president, and David convinced him it would be better to land at Andrews and get through to the president as soon as possible.

  Their first call bypassed White House protocol, and connected Brad directly to the president’s interphone. The buzzer sounded on the president’s desk, and he picked it up, expecting his secretary’s voice on the other end, answering casually, “Yes.”

  “Mr. President, this is Major Brad Anderson; may I speak with you?”

  “Major who? How’d you get on this line?”

  “I’m Major Brad Anderson, the aircraft commander from the C9 medical evacuation aircraft that disappeared a few weeks ago.”

  “You’re who?” Brad had his attention. “Is this some kind of joke?”

  “No, Sir! We will be arriving at Andrews Air Force Base just about three weeks late.”

  “What happened?” he demanded.

  “I’m sorry, I can’t discuss it over the phone, and there is more I need to talk to you about privately.”

  “Have you been hijacked? Is somebody coercing you to make this call?” He sounded concerned.

  “No Sir! That’s not it, but I’m not at liberty to say why or where I’ve been. It won’t do any good for you to ask any more questions at—“

  “Ridiculous! I’m the president, I demand to know! Where are you?”

  “With your permission, I will be arriving at Andrews at 1400 hours this afternoon. For national security reasons, we must hangar the C9 and keep it from public view.”

  “That may be difficult considering. Hold on a minute.” Brad waited patiently, overhearing the president giving orders to his secretary, “Major Anderson, what you are telling me is impossible, I won’t deal with terrorists, or insubordinate military officers.”

  “Sir, I can’t explain over the telephone, but I assure you, I’m not dealing with terrorists; I insist and I must have your cooperation. For national security reasons I must see you, in person, alone, before I can say more.”

  “I’m sorry, I can’t accept those arrangements,” he stated, stalling for time. “I think you should start by telling me the whole story.”

  “I’d like to. Believe me I would, but I can’t. All I can say is the future of our civilization hangs in the balance. The people I’m working with will stop at nothing short of complete success for this mission, and I know you will be one hundred percent behind us as soon as we have an opportunity to speak with you!”

  “I can’t see you under those conditions. I can�
��t even be sure of your identity!”

  “I will speak with the duty officer at the Scott Air Force Base Command Post and with your permission, they can make those arrangements. They will also verify my identity. I’ll be in touch—good-bye sir.” He disconnected without giving the president a chance to say any more.

  Brad turned around, “He didn’t believe me. I’m afraid I wasn’t very convincing.”

  “That’s to be expected. If we don’t succeed at first, we’ll try again. Let’s hope your friends at the command post will listen, and we can get through to the President that way.”

  At Scott Air Force Base, the same NCO who had been on duty the morning the aircraft disappeared answered, “Good morning, Scott Command Post, Sergeant Walter, may I help you, Sir?”

  “Morning, Sergeant Walter, this is Major Anderson.”

  “Major who?” Her amazement was evident. “What are you doing on the phone? You’re dead! We already had a memorial service for you! Are you a ghost?”

  She kept rambling on until Brad broke in, “Hold on! You know who I am, and you know I’m alive. I waited until I knew you were working this morning; I wanted you to be the first one I talked with,” Brad added to humor her a little, and hopefully settle her down.

  “Where are you? What happened? Is everybody okay?” When he hesitated and didn’t speak for a minute, she turned to the officer on duty, “Sir, I think you better handle this!”

  The duty officer, sensing her confusion, picked up the phone, “This is Major Sparks, may I help you?”

  “Bob, this is Brad. I’m glad you’re on duty today.” Major Robert Sparks was an old friend of Brad’s; they had been buddies in Vietnam. “I know this may be a shock to you… Sorry about that, but we’re on our way home!”

  Major Sparks hesitated a moment before responding joyfully, “It’s good to hear your voice, Brad! Best news I’ve heard all year, but you’ve lost me! What happened? Where are you?”

  “We’ve been through a fantastic experience best described as one out of the twilight zone; maybe someday I can tell you all about it. I’m more excited than I’ve ever been before in my entire life. I’m really sorry I couldn’t get back to you sooner, but you’re the one I need to talk with. You know my voice, and I know I can count on you.”

  “Sure, but you know you’ve already turned this base upside down. You don’t know how many friends you have until the worst happens. I don’t know if we can take any more.”

  “I know, and I’m sorry about all the fuss. We are okay, and will be arriving at Andrews in a few hours. I talked with President Dugan, but I couldn’t convince him. I told him I would be calling here; I’ll bet you will be getting some high-level calls pretty darn quick!”

  “I don’t doubt that for a minute. Did you know he was here at Scott for your memorial?”

  “Yes, I’ve been watching the news! At least he is aware of everything that has happened up to this point, and that should make him easier to deal with. Listen, unless your recorder is down, you should be getting all this on tape, so please don’t interrupt until I finish. I can’t give you many details, but I do need your help.”

  “Sure, Brad, the recorder is working fine, go ahead.”

  “I don’t know if you will be questioned about it, but if you think it might be important, we could go through the identify verification procedures?”

  “No, that’s not necessary, I know who you are. We don’t have that information here anyway. I would have to go through the squadron to get your file.”

  “Okay, this is important. We are not in difficulty, and everyone is in excellent physical condition, including Dana Higgins, our urgent patient. I need you to keep this secret. Nobody, I mean nobody, except those absolutely necessary! Talk it over with Colonel Brandt, he will understand. I know this line is not secure, but nothing is perfect. If all goes as planned, we will arrive at Andrews at 1400 today, and we need to hangar the aircraft immediately to keep it from the public’s view. More importantly, I urgently need to speak to President Dugan privately. Those are the things I’ve already tried to convey to him, so far without success. Do you understand all that?”

  “I understand, and I wouldn’t have believed you either if I didn’t know you so well, but why?”

  “It’s a matter of national security, and I need your cooperation on this. There is no danger to anyone; I have not been hijacked, and these are not terrorist’s demands. But, I need you to understand that the aircraft must be hangered, and guarded so that no one can enter it without my knowledge. I also need a flight plan filed. If you will file a standard six eighty-one flight plan from Rosy Rhoads that will more than suffice.”

  “That’s a big order Brad, I’m not sure we can do all that.”

  “Bob, I’m counting on you. I’ll be ready to pick up that flight plan in less than an hour.”

  CHAPTER 27

  Laura spent a few minutes with her father while Brad went to the aircraft to complete the preflight inspection, and assist Dr. Baker boarding his crewmembers and patients. David was acting his role making sure Laura understood how little time they had if they were going to be able to return to their time, but to Laura it was all too real. He had a hard time keeping a straight face as he allowed Laura to join Brad in the C9.

  The strongbox containing the top-secret plans for the time machine was stowed in the forward cargo compartment. The rest of the storage areas were filled with spare engines, parts, and the equipment Laura needed for the introduction of the new engines. She had a wealth of technical information stored in the massive memory banks of her computer which she carried with her in a small attaché case. David insisted that she keep back up files stored with the other equipment in the forward storage compartment, even though from his perspective, he didn’t think she would need them since their portable computers were 100 percent reliable.

  As they passed several miles to the north of Puerto Rico, Brad descended to 17,500 feet, turned on the transponder to the VFR code 2100, and attempted contact with Miami Air Route Control Center, convinced all arrangements were completed. “Miami Center, Air Evac six eight one.”

  “Air Evac six eight one, this is Miami Center, go ahead.” was the immediate reply.

  “Miami, Air Evac six eight one, four zero miles southeast of Grand Turk at one seven thousand five hundred feet heading three two zero. Request clearance to Andrews Air Force Base.”

  “Cleared to Andrews Air Force Base, direct Grand Turk, as filed, climb and maintain flight level three five zero. Squawk six eight one one.”

  “Roger, cleared to Andrews, direct Grand Turk, as filed, climbing to flight level three five zero, squawking six eight one one.”

  “Report Grand Turk to Miami Radio on one three five point one five.”

  “Roger Miami.”

  Brad pushed the throttles forward slightly and eased the nose up as they began their climb, flipped on the autopilot, and began to relax. “Easy as pie, no problems here, we’ll arrive at Andrews right on schedule.”

  Brad observed Laura closely sitting silently, trancelike, morosely, berating herself for something beyond her control. But even her sullen disposition could not detract him from the love he felt or his resolve for his life with her. He needed to take her mind off her father, “Laura, how about checking making sure we arrive over the outer marker on approach to Andrews at exactly 1353; we want to make our arrival as close to the time I gave the president as possible.”

  Laura spent a few minutes toying with the computer and connecting the auto throttles that would control the proper speed to arrive on time. Unable to concentrate more than a short time, she sat in silence a few minutes before confiding, “Brad, I’m afraid.” She lost a little more of her assurance and composure. “I hope Dad can make it back okay. I don’t know how things will turn out. I feel so out of place, and so alone.”

  He wanted to hold her as he rea
ched across the console, taking her hand to reassure her, “Don’t worry, I’ll be with you every step of the way; you can’t drive me away. You’re not alone, and your father will be fine. You’ve got to believe that, and since there is no way you’ll ever know for sure, you should only think the best. I know he will have no regrets; he made a major contribution to our civilization’s survival. Remember him that way. You’ll do fine; hang in there.”

  “Thanks! I’ll try not to embarrass you!”

  “You couldn’t; it’ll probably be just the opposite. By the way, we are entering the United States in the normal way on this flight plan, and the customs agents will probably want to meet us. We’ll just have to fake it. Do you have customs in your time?”

  “No! And that’s no longer my time!”

  “Good, now snap out of it and let’s get on with our business. You’ve sulked long enough!” He relentlessly continued, “It’s a good thing your father can’t see you now. Your father had a great deal of faith in you. Have a little in him!”

  “Yes, Sir, Major Anderson!” She responded angrily.

  “Well, that’s better! I thought for a minute you had given up. Let’s get back to work.”

  “Here we are swinging the Tacan at Grand Turk,” she announced.

  “Thanks; go ahead and give them a call.” He flipped the VHF radio to 135.15 for her.

  “Miami Radio, Air Evac six eight one, Grand Turk, flight level three five zero.”

  “Roger, Air Evac six eight one, radar contact.”