As they watched, Vikki felt a sudden sense of accomplishment.
Something swelled inside her. She clasped hands with Harding and watched. Guards openly brandished weapons now, shoving people away from the laboratory, beating them over the head. Garbled orders emanated from bullhorns.
They had brought the death factory to its knees. The feeling overwhelmed her, the sense of power … of, of righteousness. To think that Dr. Anthony Harding had fought, had won!
And she knew that her life was forever changed.
She finally had a purpose….
Harding pointed to Alpha Base. “They’re stopping traffic again while they open the gate.”
The guards dispersed from the armored personnel carriers and lined the main gate to Alpha Base. The Bronco led the two flatbed trucks onto the complex, moving past four barbed-wire fences. Men trotted into the area and formed up in a block. Once inside, the gates swung shut and traffic began to move. The flatbeds seemed to disappear into the ground.
Harding squinted at a sign near the entrance. “Turn left. The picnic area is down that way.” Approaching Alpha Base, they climbed to the lip of the crater.
Vikki crept passed the main gate complex while Harding took copious notes. “It looks like one of the fences is electrified. And from the signs they’ve got posted, they probably have the place overflowing with sensors.”
Vikki pulled into a grassy area fifty yards from the fences. A sign read, alpha base picnic area p-1. Other cars followed them.
A group of youngsters spilled from the automobiles. The kids wore colored stockings, matching shirts and shorts. A few of the children carried soccer balls. A beleaguered adult yelled shrilly and tried to get the kids to gather around him.
Vikki slumped back in her seat. “Well, what do you think?”
Harding pointed to the flatbed trucks inside the fence. From their vantage point, Alpha Base spread below them, the crater opening up in a giant yawn. The flatbeds stopped before one of the bunkers. A steel door swung slowly open, allowing access, and affording them a quick glimpse inside.
Harding whistled. “Those bunkers look impossible to break into.”
Vikki was silent for a moment as they watched the white canisters being moved from the flatbeds to the bunker. “Are you going back to your original plan of hijacking the convoy?”
“Not with all that security. They’ve got those nukes covered tight.”
“But you just said it’s impossible to break into the bunkers.”
Harding pointed inside the fence. “It is. But look at those security policemen.”
Vikki leaned over the steering wheel. “They’re pretty relaxed.”
“That’s right. Inside the fence, they’re in their own territory. They’re safe, and they know it. They don’t need to be as alert. And this picnic ground — if they let kids from military families up here, you know they think they’re safe.” He reached over and unfastened her seat belt. “Step outside.”
“Huh?”
“Go ahead, get out of the van.”
Vikki frowned, but stepped from the Chevy van and kept the door open. She held a hand up over her eyes and slowly scanned Alpha Base. She nodded to a group of airmen horsing around just inside the fences. Vikki called to Harding: “I wouldn’t think they would be so casual.”
“That’s what’s going to make our chances better. The way to rip off the nuclear weapons is to do it right under their noses. We break into Alpha Base when they least expect it and blow one of the bunkers.”
Vikki looked disgusted. “I’m sure you’re going to waltz up to the gate and ask, ‘Pretty please, can I have one of your nukes?’ Get real, Anthony. Are you going to call this thing off or not?”
Inside the fence one of the security policemen elbowed a buddy and waved at the van.
Harding urged Vikki, “Go ahead and wave back to him. I’ve got a plan how this whole thing will fall together. In fact, you’re the key to how we get onto Alpha Base.”
“I’m not sure if I like what you’re thinking,” Vikki said. “Look at those Neanderthals — slobbering over each other trying to get my attention.”
“Keep waving. After we leave, I’ll fill you in with all the details.”
Vikki forced an insincere smile for the men and waved once more before climbing back in the van. “Let’s get the hell out of here. If I’m sacrificing my body, I want to know how you plan to do it.”
She thought to herself that Harding was getting more difficult to live with; it wasn’t like the days when they were younger.
It had better be one hell of a plan.
Chapter 3
Chief Zolley walked McGriffin to the exit. When they reached the corridor, Chief Zolley shooed the security policeman out, saying, “I’ll see Major McGriffin to the door.”
“Very well, Chief.” The man slung his rifle over his shoulder and headed into the command post area. He eyed Zolley. “Mind if I take a smoke break?”
Zolley waved him on. “Go ahead. This will take a few minutes — I’ve got to brief the major on some additional procedures.”
Once the door slammed and they were alone, Chief Zolley turned to McGriffin. “Anything else I can help you with, sir?”
“I don’t think so. It looks pretty quiet around here.”
“It is. Alpha Base is mostly automated, as far as security goes. It’s got so many gee-whiz bells and whistles it will make your head spin. The guards rely on sensors, electronics and autonomous systems to keep them apprised of what’s going on. As a result, we don’t do anything here except keep the Pentagon in the loop.”
McGriffin nodded. “Chief, I’m reporting for duty at 1800 tonight. I assume you’ll be here to help me learn the ropes?”
“Great, sir. I think you’ll enjoy it. It’s not the real Air Force, but then again, I don’t think you can find the real Air Force anywhere. I’ve assigned myself to your shift for the next month. I wanted to make sure I could help out if you needed me.”
“You already have.” McGriffin firmly shook Zolley’s hand. “I’m looking forward to working with you and your team.”
Chief Zolley cracked a smile. “The pleasure’s all yours, Major.”
McGriffin grasped the door leading to the outside and pressed on. He strode into the brilliant Nevada sunshine.
Helicopters swung out from the base, practicing landings in the desert. Their chopping came as a low beat in the distance. From the front of the command post it seemed as if Wendover AFB were just another lazy western town. The absence of traffic and bustling people gave the base a feeling of mañana. Even Alpha Base’s presence a few miles away could not shake the sanguine atmosphere bubbling in the sunshine.
This might not be so bad, thought McGriffin. I might grow to enjoy this place. Even if I’m not flying.
Dr. Anthony Harding wiped up his enchilada combination plate with a sopapilla. Yellow egg yolk spotted the plate, mixed in with shredded lettuce, refried beans, sour cream, green chile, and salsa. He drained his beer and wiped his mouth before speaking. “Where did you find the apartment?”
Vikki studied him before answering. She’d have to get on him about his table manners — he looked like a slob. And slobs bring attention to themselves. “Second and Main. It’s about thirty minutes from the base. I could have gotten closer, but most of the apartments were real sleaze bags. If I’m going to impress these GI Joes, I thought I should try to find something a little more upscale.”