Of course, the mere fact that the nine heads of state had committed themselves to spending four and a half days together at sea was promising in itself. Surely this would lead to resolutions of problems once deemed unsolvable. A primary topic of discussion was to be the creation of an expanded Law of the Sea treaty. This new agreement would address the controversial subjects of international maritime boundaries, oil and mineral rights, and establish freedom of passage zones in strategic choke points.
Yet another vital area of discussion was the formalization of a forward-thinking nuclear-arms-control agreement, first proposed by the new Russian president. Labeled Global Zero Alert, this unique proposal signaled the next generation in arms control. To further defuse the nuclear hair trigger, and make an accidental nuclear exchange impossible, the Russians desired to actually remove all nuclear warheads from their delivery vehicles. These warheads would be subsequently stored nearby, close enough to act as a deterrent if a crisis should develop, yet far enough away to make an unwanted exchange unlikely.
Vince could only imagine the spirited discussions that this unprecedented proposal would generate. And he could think of no more-perfect setting to initiate these ground breaking talks, than the isolated, luxurious confines of the QE2.
The one logistical area that was proving extremely controversial, and that the USA Today article only touched upon, was the summit’s security arrangements. The idea of having the world’s leaders afloat in the Atlantic for four and a half days was enough to give any security official nightmares. Vince knew that they had met this challenge head-on, and that a viable, multifaceted plan had been put into operation that would all but guarantee the summit’s safe conclusion.
For the past two months, Vince had worked with an international cast of security experts and become an instrumental part of this effort. In seventeen hours, this tireless, often frustrating effort would be put to the ultimate test — the moment when the last world leader boarded the ocean liner and the QE2 set sail.
Anxious to get on with it, Vince listened absently as the flight attendant instructed them to prepare for landing. Minutes later, the 727 hit the runway at La Guardia with barely a jolt. Once they reached the gate area, he was able to exit hastily via the rear ramp way With baggage in hand, he made his way into the terminal and proceeded at once to an adjoining gate, where his next mode of transport awaited him.
He had discovered the water shuttle on a previous visit, and now used it whenever possible. The boat provided a convenient, comfortable way to commute into Manhattan. As an additional bonus, not only was one spared the indignity of having to attempt entering the city by its perpetually packed surface streets, but traveling by water offered a magnificent view of Manhattan’s majestic skyline.
Vince was all too soon enjoying this vista, as the water shuttle left La Guardia’s Marine Terminal and sped down Riker’s Island channel to the East River. The weather was absolutely gorgeous; a deep blue sky, with an occasional puffy cloud, and a temperature in the mid-seventies.
No matter how many times he entered Manhattan in this manner, he could never grow tired of the city’s spectacular presence. Building after magnificent building reached to the sky. He could see the concrete and glass canyons that gave this island the topography that made it unique in all the world. It was a testament to man’s commercial and artistic genius, and Vince couldn’t help but be emotionally stimulated with each passing block.
They passed beneath the Roosevelt Island aerial tramway, and he caught his first view of the United Nations. Several of the G-7 participants had already arrived in town, and were scheduled to address the Security Council that afternoon.
With that stately old dowager the Empire State Building dominating the surrounding skyline, Vince gathered together his belongings as the shuttle turned for the Thirty fourth Street pier. The boat would continue on to Wall Street, yet this was as far as he’d be going.
Scarcely thirty minutes had passed since he had left La Guardia. To be so abruptly transferred right into the heart of this great city was a bit traumatic, and as Vince stepped onto dry land, he halted a moment to get his bearings.
The morning rush hour was in full swing, and FOR Drive, which lined the island’s eastern shore, was a solid, bumper-to-bumper mass of bright yellow taxis, passenger cars, and trucks of all sizes. The persistent roar of this traffic provided the city’s soundtrack, with honking horns and squealing brakes giving additional color to the all encompassing movement. His quiet home in Alexandria seemed thousands of miles distant, and Vince realized that the nation’s capital was nothing but a sleepy, Southern town compared to New York.
He had to walk up to the corner of Second Avenue and Thirty-fourth Street before finding a cab, leaping in the second the previous passenger got out. You could never be too slow in staking your claim to a cab in New York. He then directed the driver to take him to the Passenger Ship Terminal.
“QE2?” queried the driver, his English tinged with Pakistani.
Vince caught the driver’s dark-eyed glance in the rearview mirror and nodded. “She’s the one.”
With that, the cab headed west on Thirty-seventh Street, and then proceeded north on Eleventh Avenue through heavy traffic. As they slowly inched their way uptown, Vince made a mental note to give his brother a call. Vince was worried about his stubborn insistence on getting a chance to defuse the IED (Improvised Explosive Device), to derive concrete evidence of its creator.
His brother’s safety wasn’t his only concern. Thomas was the victim of a traumatic past. His reaction to something as insignificant as the malfunction of Joshua’s parachute toy was a prime example that his wounds had yet to heal completely.
Tragedy first touched down in his brother’s life on the opening night of Operation Urgent Fury. In a manner of speaking, Thomas lost his innocence off the shores of Grenada when several members of his commando unit were killed during a nighttime parachute jump at sea.
Much like the biblical trials of Job, the powers that he had yet to finish with Thomas, as he arrived back home haunted by these deaths.
Barely a year later, buoyed by the news that his wife was expecting their first child, Thomas was again sent plunging into the abyss when he received news that his beloved Maggie had been killed in an automobile accident. The baby was lost as well, and Thomas had to fight to keep hold of his sanity.
After losing another military buddy to a horrible parachute accident in 1985 while training to infiltrate the hijacked cruise ship Achille Lauro, Thomas asked for and received a voluntary discharge from the air force. Vince feared that he’d lose his brother to an alcoholic stupor at that time. He was fortunately able to get Thomas an interview at the Treasury Department. This resulted in a three year stint with the Secret Service, and his current duty at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Here his makeup was once more tested on February 28, 1993, in a fire-scarred field outside Waco, Texas. Yet another close friend was to die in his arms on that fated morning, taken down by a mad prophet’s bullet.
Thomas somehow persevered, Vince thought, and though any lesser man might have been crushed by these events, his brother bravely pushed onward. Having a strong woman like Brittany Cooper in his life now would hopefully signal a change for the better. Love had a way of transforming past hurt into new purpose, and if anyone deserved a fresh start, it was his brother.
Vince had planned to spend an entire day in England with Thomas, roving the countryside together. Because of the crush of family and work, they rarely spent any free time together. Vince had hoped to begin rectifying this situation upon reaching Southampton. The fates — and duty — had willed otherwise though — Vince would have to wait until this trip was over to spend the time with his brother that he deserved and Vince desired.