by Bobby Akart
“I think we’re good,” he muttered through the comms.
“You think?” asked Cam, her voice unsure.
“No. I’m positive,” replied Bear. He stood and performed a quick visual inspection through the windows. Suddenly, he wasn’t so sure. “Um, hang tight while I take a look.”
He opened the door panel of the aircraft and slowly lowered himself onto the trunk of the fallen palm tree. After studying the jungle floor, he walked around until he was satisfied.
“It’s a solid landing, guys. That said, I wouldn’t mind makin’ it snappy.”
Cam turned to Gunner. “Did you find the body bag?”
He held up a nylon bag with a zippered closure. His mood was glum, but his intentions were good. He didn’t want to dishonor the memory of Chief Rawlings by leaving his body to be fed upon by the creatures of the jungle. The man was a hero and deserved a proper burial.
Gunner gave Cam a thumbs-up and the two exited the Valor. All three of them carried their sidearms, and Cam, who would handle perimeter security, carried a rifle too.
Bear and Gunner led the way to where the famous astronaut’s body had been left a few days prior. The lush tropical vegetation had begun to grow, already staking its claim on the remains of the Starhopper.
“Some of the body parts that we saw the other day are missing now,” observed Bear.
“I was afraid of that,” said Gunner. “That’s why I wrapped him and placed his body on that piece of the outer shell. I hoped it would minimize the number of animals that could reach him.”
“I’ve got movement!” exclaimed Cam. “Three o’clock, in the trees.”
Gunner pulled his weapon and turned his body to the right, searching for the possible threat. The movement was imperceptible, but there. It was his old friend the anaconda.
“You’ve got good eyes,” said Gunner.
“It’s amazing how well they work when you’re half-scared out of your wits. Every movement sends a shock through my body.”
“I don’t get you, Cam,” said Bear as he waved to Gunner to continue. “You can take on a cartel and wipe the floor with ’em, but this place has you scared.”
“I was okay about the whole thing until the jaguar almost ate us,” she said.
“Jaguar?” asked Gunner as he stepped to the side to avoid several scorpions being consumed by ants.
“Yeah, just another story to tell over beers at the beach,” she replied.
“Good,” interrupted Bear, pointing ahead. “It’s just as we left it.”
Bear picked up the pace and Gunner jogged to catch up with him. While the guys loaded Chief Rawlings’s body into the white, nonporous bag made of heavy-duty plastic, Cam wandered ahead toward the crew module.
“Hey, do you think we should do anything with this part? I mean, is there a flight data recorder or something to bring back?”
Gunner and Bear had made their way back to the ground, each holding an end of the body bag. Gunner replied, “Let’s just leave it. If we can get a message through to Ghost, I’m sure he’ll advise NASA. I suspect hundreds of scientists will descend upon here within hours after his call.”
As they walked back to the Valor, Bear commented about the communications satellites. “You’d think with the thousands of satellites that orbit Earth, we could get patched through to one of them.”
Gunner shook his head. “You should’ve seen it, Bear. The smallest piece of debris would tear through those things. I mean, I get why they had me blast it. The trajectory was heading for a bull’s-eye on our planet. However, the thousands upon thousands of meteors created from the asteroid crushed everything in their path.”
Cam caught up to the guys and joined the conversation. “Satellites, internet, telecommunications, weather prediction. The list of things we’ll have to do without for a while is long.”
“It may not seem that important under the circumstances,” began Gunner, “but during my Earth science studies, I relied a lot on information transmitted back to Earth from satellites. They measure gases in the atmosphere, including ozone and carbon dioxide. They’re also used to measure the energy Earth emits from volcanoes or tectonic plate shifts.”
“Earthquakes, pole shifts, stuff like that, right?” said Bear.
“Exactly,” replied Gunner. “I imagine the world’s governments will focus on reestablishing communications networks. The warning systems I just described will take a back seat.”
“That’ll open us up for more threats from natural disasters.”
Gunner grimaced and looked toward the sky. Like so many others, he took for granted the importance of technology in their lives. From hurricane warnings to volcanic activity, the planet would be more vulnerable until the technology was reinstated.
This thought led him to ask, “Cam, does this dark site in Costa Rica know we’re coming?”
“The Navy lieutenant referred to it as a lily pad, but it’s basically the same thing as the dark sites we’ve used on missions elsewhere. But, to answer your question, um, no. They don’t know we’re coming, so we need to play nice when we get there.”
Chapter 46
Unknown Location
Costa Rica, Central America
It was dark as Bear navigated their aircraft toward the coordinates on the GPS screen. The AV-280’s navigational panel provided a variety of colors and lights that illuminated the concerned look on Bear’s face. Gunner shared the same concern.
“Are you guys sure you got the coordinates correct?” he asked, looking first to Bear and then back to Cam, who sat quietly in the dark.
“Give me a minute,” said Bear. “They call it a dark site for a reason.”
“Not because it’s dark and can’t be seen, goober,” said Cam. “We ran into this in Myanmar, remember?”
“That’s right, Bear,” added Gunner. “It took a while for their radar to identify our code being sent by the transponder. If they’re not expecting us, they may not trust the signal.”
“And not turn on the landing lights,” interjected Cam.
Suddenly, a ring of bright green lights illuminated together with smaller white lights that formed a large H in the center.
“Bingo! It’s a heliport,” said Bear.
He navigated the Valor over the H and quickly brought the tilt-rotor aircraft to an abrupt landing. Ordinarily, a heliport was required to have unobstructed approach and departure paths. This landing area would never have been deemed safe by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Within seconds after they landed and Bear began shutting down the aircraft, the heliport lights were extinguished and the trio was in the dark again.
“Jeez, that’s some welcome,” said Bear until he stopped his thought. They were now surrounded by flashlights attached to automatic weapons pointed at the doors and windows of the Valor.
Gunner unbuckled his harnesses and stood in the cockpit. “You wait here. There’s no need to spend any more time than necessary. I’ll get our fuel and try to see if they have comms to get me through to Fort Belvoir.”
“Sidearm?” Cam suggested.
“No. Either they’ll believe me when I explain what’s going on, or they won’t. One gun would just get me killed if these guys are trigger-happy or on edge.”
Bear left the pilot’s seat and assisted Gunner out of the Valor. The armed security personnel quickly repositioned to have numerous flashlights lighting up the door, with accompanying red dot lasers from their sights trained on Gunner’s chest. He looked down and immediately raised his arms.
Gunner decided to play with the armed security force. He said in a robotic voice. “My name is Major Gunner Fox and I am from outer space. Take me to your leader.”
Cam could be heard giggling in the background as she and Bear exchanged high fives.
“Hands up, smart guy!” shouted one of the men. He stepped forward into the beams of the flashlights. “I’m Captain Don Ruiz. Pal, if you’re not Gunner Fox, I’ll execute you myself.”
“I am, so relax,” said Gunner. He looked down at the red dots wiggling across his chest and torso. “Do you mind telling your people to stand down before somebody’s nervous, sweaty finger lights me up?”
Captain Ruiz gave the order and walked closer to Gunner. He studied his face through the limited light. Gunner remained stoic with his arms raised while the captain slowly walked around Gunner to examine his body. Then he looked toward the Valor. “Major, welcome home. You look a little worse for wear.”
“Yeah, it was a rough ride, an even rougher landing, but it was the inhospitable Colombian drug cartel that caused my face to look like a pizza that fell facedown onto the floor.”
The captain laughed. “We’ve got someone who can look at that for you, sir.” Now that the captain was aware of who Gunner was, his tone of voice and attitude changed.
“That won’t be necessary, Captain. I’d like to make a call back to the States, and my team would appreciate anything you might have to eat or drink besides water and protein bars.”
“Don’t say another word, Major. We can help you on all of the above. In fact, we’ve got extra bunks for you and your team to rest. They’re not fancy, but you don’t have to worry about mosquitoes or any other jungle inhabitants that lurk around at night.”
Gunner thought for a moment. He was exhausted and he was certain the others were as well. He’d give anything to sleep in his own home, if it was still there. But if it wasn’t, he’d be able to deal with it better after a good night’s sleep.
“You know, Captain, I don’t think you’ll have to twist our arms. We promise not to be in your way.”
“You’ll not be a bother,” he said. “Truthfully, it’s kind of boring out here. We act as a staging area for drug raids into Panama or Guatemala and to assist CIA efforts to destabilize the government in Nicaragua. At the moment, everyone is a little preoccupied with more important things.”
Gunner turned and addressed Cam, who was leaning through the door in an effort to eavesdrop. “Cam, come on out. We’re gonna rest for the night and get some food. We’ll leave at first light.”
“That’s a good decision, Major. Global positioning satellites have been destroyed, and their relays are sporadic, so you’ll find difficulty relying upon them for navigation. Are you comfortable with visual navigation?”
“Not a problem.”
“Good, then welcome to a place you’ll never see, or speak of, again.”
Gunner laughed as Cam and Bear joined them. “That works for us.”
PART FIVE
May
Chapter 47
Defense Threat Reduction Agency
Fort Belvoir, Virginia
Ghost disconnected the call, leaned back in his chair, and allowed the back of his head to thump the padded headrest. His eyes closed and he let out a sigh. Finally, after a brief moment to reflect on his conversation with Gunner and Cam, he managed a smile. The Jackal, who’d remained vigilant throughout the process, looked like she’d been right alongside Gunner throughout the entire ordeal. Ghost began to wonder if she’d need medical attention. She immediately assuaged his concerns.
“Sir, what he’s been through is extraordinary. I mean, this is the stuff movies are made of.”
Ghost raised his eyebrows and pursed his lips. “Yet it’s just the beginning in many ways. Cuccinelli, this day may go down as my best, or my worst. Perhaps both. But it will certainly be my most memorable.”
The Jackal attempted to bolster his confidence and demeanor. “Sir, I don’t see how this can be viewed as anything but fantastic news. Gunner made it home. He survived the attack on the asteroid and made the perilous journey. Of course, the loss of life of Chief Rawlings and the others is regrettable, but it could’ve been avoided except for the Russians.”
“That’s the problem,” said Ghost. “You know how these things go. At first, there will be a celebration for Gunner, one that he’ll want no part of, I can assure you. Then the investigative teams will descend upon the Darién Gap to pore over every broken palm frond and piece of metal. During that time, some eagle-eyed do-gooder will find a body part that sparks questions of foul play. Suddenly, a hero becomes a suspect as the investigation turns from crash site to crime scene.”
The Jackal nodded. “Sadly, that’s how these things go. What are you going to do?”
“Well, for one thing, I can’t hide Gunner’s return, although I can delay it somewhat. Giving him a day or two to decompress will prevent him from shooting some poor bastard from CNN who ventures onto Dog Island in a canoe with a cameraman.”
The Jackal started laughing. “I can see that happening.”
“Oh, make no mistake, it will. And if he doesn’t shoot the reporter, one of his pit bulls, Cam or Bear, will do it. Trust me, they’re fiercely protective of their friend.”
The Jackal stood and stretched her back. She was tired, but very much alert. “Okay, here I go again, with my FBI hat on. As is always the case, the less said, the better. Neither you nor Gunner should speak to anyone about what happened in space. Make them ask. You can’t get hammered for perjury if you keep your mouth shut.”
“That’s true, but a lie of omission is a lie nonetheless. Isn’t that what Colonel Robinson and our recently departed mission director Mark Foster were guilty of?”
“Yes, sir, and neither civilian nor military justice will ever convict or punish Colonel Robinson of anything.”
“Gunner Fox might,” added Ghost.
“True, but he’s the one who deserves to administer the appropriate sentence. He was the one who suffered because of the wrongdoing.”
“Cuccinelli, you heard his description of what happened aboard the Starhopper. He’s capable of doing that and more to Robinson.”
“Yes, but nobody will ever know it was him if we keep the truth among our core group.”
Ghost smiled at the young FBI agent. He promised to think of a way to keep her around. She was more than a computer specialist. Her analytical mind could be applied to virtually any operation he put a team through.
He took a breath and leaned onto his desk with both elbows. He tapped his fingers on the phone next to him. Traditional telephone landlines, especially those maintained by the military, remained open and functioning. He’d need to call Washington first. The Pentagon was back to full operations now that the asteroid threat had ceased. Today, the president and his staff would be returning to the White House to begin the arduous task of helping its citizens and rebuilding the damage.
“I’m screwed either way,” bemoaned Ghost. “If I tell the truth, I betray Gunner and what he’s accomplished. If I disclose what happened aboard that spacecraft, I set off a diplomatic firestorm with the Russians, who are at this very moment stalking our East Coast with nuclear-armed subs. If I engage in a cover-up, when it comes out, all of us will face the scrutiny of congressional hearings and the media.”
Cuccinelli sat back down and interrupted him. “Sir, you’re making the assumption that someone will find evidence that raises the specter of foul play. May I remind you that the Starhopper crashed back to Earth four days ago. During that time frame, Major Fox reports that the jungle wildlife has eaten most of the remains, and the decay of other evidence has accelerated due to the environmental conditions. I’ve been involved in crime scene investigations as part of my training when I was getting started with the bureau. Under the best of circumstances, a corpse has rotted so badly by the fourth day that it is very difficult for forensic experts to identify a cause of death. Keep in mind, the initial teams assigned to this crash site are scientists who are untrained in forensics. Even if they find any parts, they’ll most likely handle them improperly.”
Ghost breathed a sigh of relief. The Jackal was right and he simply needed to stick to the story. “You know what, I agree. What happened in the Starhopper needs to remain in space, or buried in the jungle. This is a moment to celebrate a hero’s triumphant return.”
He took a deep breath and reached fo
r the phone.
Chapter 48
Over the Gulf of Mexico
Bear cruised at five thousand feet above the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico at a cruising speed of three hundred miles per hour. It was almost noon when the white sand beaches of the Florida Panhandle came into view. As the minutes passed, the trio’s level of chatter increased.
“I have to admit, I’m a little nervous,” said Cam.
“About the scrutiny we’ll face?” asked Gunner.
“Nah, I can run and hide from that, although you can’t, mister space cowboy superhero.”
“Stop that, Cam,” Gunner ordered playfully. “You know that all I wanna do is grab a beer at The Tap Room and throw down a dozen on the half shell.”
“Two, Major,” added Bear.
“Each, right, big guy,” said Gunner, who bumped fists with his pilot.
“I’m afraid to see the damage, especially to Dog Island,” continued Cam. “What if it was wiped out by a tsunami like we feared?”
Nobody spoke for a moment, during which time Bear furrowed his brow while he studied his instruments. “Um, you know, guys, I’m not sure we have the fuel to make it all the way to Maxwell. I don’t want to have to ditch this beauty somewhere in South Alabama.”
Cam leaned forward from the seats immediately behind the bulkhead. “Doesn’t our flight path take us directly over Tyndall? Just drop us down there and let the Air Force worry about it.”
“Guys!” exclaimed Gunner. “Have you both forgotten about our cargo? The drug money?”
“Oh, sweet Jesus,” said Bear. “We can’t go back to Maxwell or any other federal installation unless we want a one-way ticket to Leavenworth.” The United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas, was a frequent destination of military personnel who committed serious crimes.
