CHAPTER 16
Fox Troop had laid up in southern Colorado under the cottonwoods of Purgatory Creek when the moon rose in the morning, but the call from NORAD had sent them racing up the highway at top speed. Two-and-a-half hours later Vic Suarez felt great anticipation as his column pulled up to NORAD’s front entry-portal. As promised, Phaeon had left them alone while they traveled. Now, late in the afternoon, it felt good to link up with another U.S. military force.
A group of a half-dozen NORAD brass emerged from the shadows of the tunnel entrance and headed straight for Suarez. He jumped down from his idling tank to greet them, surprised by the Air Force uniforms on the two officers leading the group. Without really thinking about it, he had expected Army fatigues. But soldiers wearing Army green or Marine camo were lower ranks here, as far as he could see.
He came to attention and saluted the Air Force one-star without letting on he was at all surprised. The general snapped a salute back, crisply fanning the visor of his hat. “Welcome to NORAD, Captain Suarez,” he said.
“Thank you, sir.” Suarez kept eyes front, posture erect.
“At ease,” the General said calmly. “We can dispense with formalities. I’m Matt Davis and this is my next-in-command, Colonel Paul MacIlvain.
Suarez shook hands with them. Then General Davis scanned the line of tanks and trucks. “Any trouble on the way up here?”
“Not for the Fox, sir.”
“Fox? Oh, yes, your troop. Well, you’re to be commended for your initiative.” The General stood to his full height as if taking Suarez’s measure. He looked down slightly into Suarez’s eyes, being half-a-head taller. “You understand, don’t you Captain, that yours is the only functional fighting force we’ve got?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good,” said Davis. “I’m sending you straight into the heart of the enemy position in Montana. I want you to get right in their tunnels with them if possible. There’s something inside Sandstone Mountain that’s terribly important to them or they wouldn’t waste time on it. A center of operations like this one, I suspect. Either we go up there and take out their command structure or they’ll come down here and take out ours. We don’t have enough forces to defend this place properly so if it comes to that, we’ve already lost. But I’m worried about your troop’s preparedness. Do you think you can pull off what I’m asking?”
“I can lead my men anywhere, sir. We’re a tight team. Just specify our objectives and the Fox will get it done.”
Davis smiled, liking what he heard. “Yes, I believe you can, and will.”
“Just tell me who my superior officer is, sir.”
Davis hesitated. “Why me, of course.”
“Sir, I thought I would be reporting to Army command, sir.”
Davis leaned close to him and looked him deeply in the eyes. Suarez kept perfectly straight, eyes front.
“You’re worried an old airman like me can’t command tanks, is that it?”
“Sir, I never said—”
“But you’re thinking it.” Davis paused a moment. Then he looked Suarez in the eye again. “You know, Captain, you’re right. A flyboy like me shouldn’t command armor. I’ve shot up enough of it, God knows. Enemy stuff in Desert Storm, but I’ve never driven one of these things.” He pointed at Suarez’s tank.
Colonel MacIlvain leaned close to Davis. “Sir, this mission is too important to leave to a junior officer.”
“Maybe so, Mac, but Suarez has a point. I’ve flown support for tanks but I’ve never been in one.”
“But I have sir, in joint-forces training,” MacIlvain responded. “I’ll advise you.”
Davis eyed MacIlvain for a moment. “You always have the answer, don’t you, Mac? You make me nervous sometimes. But I suppose you’re right. This assignment is too critical to entrust to a captain. Suarez, let’s make it formal. I hereby assign your troop directly to my own supervision. You’ll take your orders from me. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.” Suarez wanted to say he could handle the assignment without being top-heavy with brass but kept the thought to himself, maintaining his self-discipline and subordination. But he didn’t like MacIlvain. There was something oily about his voice. Words snaked out of his mouth too easily.
“That will be all for now,” said Davis. “We’ve got fuel and supplies ready. Prepare your troop to move out within the hour. I want us in Montana by daybreak and that’s a long way. We need surprise and we’ll only have it if we act quickly.”
Davis turned and walked back toward the tunnel entrance with his people, leaving Suarez muttering under his breath, “I hope you know what you’re doing.” He turned at the sound of footsteps behind him. Crom had come from his tank.
“What’s happening?” Crom asked.
Suarez answered resignedly. “I think we just joined the Air Force.”