Hameeda Nashashibi, a Saudi-born dissident and fervent follower of Saeed Shayhidi, guided the 56,000-pound cargo version of the twin turboprop toward Runway 24 at Bowerman, an airport with no control tower. The veteran airliner-cum-cargo-tramp was loaded with jet fuel, high explosives, steel beams, and nineteen drums of fuel oil. Having accumulated a total of 29,968 flying hours, the rugged Convair was making its farewell flight. Nashashibi lowered the flaps and landing gear and then said a prayer for guidance and focus.
Nashashibi had been the second woman to attend the Salman Pak terrorist training camp near Baghdad. Along with eight male members of Saeed Shayhidi's terrorist network, she had trained to be a pilot at the secluded Sabzehar School of Aviation in Syria. After her initial training, Khaliq Farkas personally made arrangements for Nashashibi to receive intensive Convair 580 training in South Africa. Now the young woman who despised America was at the controls of a powerful weapon.
Near the approach end of Runway 24, she added power, turned off the transponder, and raised the landing gear and flaps. Remaining low and gaining speed, the 580 flew over the uncontrolled airport and made a gentle right turn to fly north along the scenic Washington coastline. She worked diligently to set maximum power so she could concentrate on flying the tired cargo airplane.
The Convair 580 thundered over Copalis Beach, Pacific Beach, and Cape Elizabeth and then continued to hug the coast to Elephant Rock. Nashashibi made another easy right turn to skirt up the west side of the Olympic Mountains. She cleared the top of Mount Olympus by thirty feet, banked to the right again, and eased the nose down. With the big Allison turboprops screaming at full power, Nashashibi fixated on her target and continued to trim the airplane as it rapidly accelerated.
Located on the east bank of the Hood Canal thirteen miles north of Bremerton, Washington, Bangor Naval Submarine Base is the home port for a squadron of Trident submarines. The base is 155 nautical miles from the Pacific Ocean, which requires a slow and potentially hazardous trip through the Strait of Juan de Fuca to reach open water. The 560-foot Ohio-class boomers are an extremely important part of the nations nuclear deterrent triad — land, sea, and air.
Petty Officer Second Class Carlos Navarro was kneeling on the broad hull of the USS Nevada SSBN 733 repairing a connection that provided shore-to-submarine electrical power. In the picturesque background west of the strategic base, the Olympic Mountains rose high above the calm water and lush trees.
On the aft section of the mighty hull, close to the waterline, a bevy of sea lions nonchalantly sunned themselves on the deck. Over the many years, the playful sea lions and their plentiful offspring had learned that the U. S. Navy was a kind and benevolent innkeeper. A good share of the large-eared seals even had their favorite submarine and reluctantly migrated to other boomers when their boat went to sea.
Carlos Navarro did not so much hear the deep-throated sound as sense something strange. He looked around, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary; no obvious threat loomed. When some of the lounging sea lions began skittering into the water, Navarro stopped and concentrated again, this time on the sound.
He glanced behind him at the Olympic Mountains and froze. Practically scraping the trees on the gently sloping hills, a Convair 580 was roaring at full power and descending at an unbelievable speed. Navarro could see the airplane was headed straight for the USS Nevada. Astonished, he stared at the Convair for a moment before his mind reacted.
Navarro jumped into the cold water on the side of the hull away from the oncoming airplane and began thrashing through the water in an attempt to evade the aircraft. The remaining sea lions made a hasty departure and dove beneath the surface.
To the startled bystanders on the pier, the Convair looked like it was going to plunge into the water 200 yards away. When the planes nose abruptly snapped up to a level position, the paralyzed sailors turned and ran for their lives. The 580 s huge propellers were kicking up spray as it bulls-eyed Nevada's sail, known on prenuclear submarines as the conning tower, and exploded in dramatic fashion.
Flaming wreckage and thousands of parts showered USS Alaska SSBN 732 and its many crew members. The damage was catastrophic. The USS Nevada was destroyed, sinking in only eight minutes. Carlos Navarro and eleven other sailors died in the initial explosion.
Chapter 18
Aboard the E-4B Night Watch, President Macklins primary physician had just completed a mini physical on the commander in chief. U. S. Navy Captain Royal Fortenberry was jotting a note in Macklins medical chart while the president dressed. Dr. Fortenberry, who had earned the reputation of being a worrier, placed his pen down and turned to Macklin.
"Mr. President, may I speak frankly?"
"Certainly, R. F. Find something wrong?"
Fortenberry closed the medical jacket. "No, you re in great shape, but Fm concerned about the effects of being encapsulated in a pressurized environment for an extended period of time." He explained the possible effects of deep vein leg thrombosis.
The president thought it over for a moment. "I dont see that I have much choice at present, all things considered."
"What about Cheyenne Mountain?"
"You re really concerned, arent you?"
"Yes." Fortenberry removed his glasses. "Lack of proper exercise, poor sleeping pattern, and being inside this pressurized environment are not good. The mountain would be better for your health, not to mention the well-being of your staff."
"Fll think about it." Macklin slipped into his lightweight jacket. "Thanks, Doc."
"You bet."
When Macklin entered the conference room he knew something was wrong when he saw the look on Pete Adair's face. Hartwell Prost and Les Chalmers's expressions mirrored the SecDef.
"What now?" the president asked, taking his chair.
Adair spoke first. "We just received the news a few minutes ago." He explained the disastrous circumstances surrounding the terrorist attack at the Bangor naval base.
Macklin was incredulous. "It doesn't make sense. How could this have happened at a Trident submarine base?"
Adair was on the defensive. "Sir, we dont know yet. The plane came in undetected until the last few seconds. It happened before anyone could react."
"Dammit!" Macklin exclaimed. "We have to get a handle on this. Its beyond ridiculous."
"Yes, sir," Adair said. He turned to General Chalmers.
While they were conferring, Prost gained the presidents attention. "Sir," he said in soft voice, "we have an update, good news, on the destruction of Shayhidi's assets."
Macklins features remained impassive. "Let's have it."
"Another two tankers have been disabled, including his new supertanker Cape Bender. They'll be out of commission for the better part of a year."
"Great news."
"There's more, much more. The cargo ships Emily Martelli and Isabella Estrada have gone to the bottom. The Martelli crew suffered three casualties and four seriously injured."
"We knew that could eventually happen." The president leaned back. "Sinking ships with innocent civilians on board is not something any of us are proud of."
"Least of all the sub crews," Prost said.
Macklin glanced at the detailed physical world chart on the wall. "What about the rest of Shayhidi's fleet?"