The Omega Missile

Hurst stood and turned. "We've got a red, level-four serious incident, sir. Omega Missile has been launched without authorization."

"Go through MILSTAR and get ahold of the Omega Missile LCC REACT to determine status and gain positive control," Lowcraft ordered.

"We've tried, sir. Someone's in the control facility, overriding. Omega Missile's MILSTAR link is locked into its LCC and we have no contact with the Omega Missile REACT. Barksdale Air Force Base received a nuclear strike alert that did not originate from any valid source and then was hit by a massive explosion. We believe the explosion was conventional."

"Who's in the Omega Missile LCC?" Lowcraft demanded. "The crew?"

"We don't know, sir."

Lowcraft stepped back as if hit in the chest. "Oh my God," he muttered, heard only by Hill.

"Will someone please tell me what the hell Omega Missile and REACT are?" Hill demanded.

Lowcraft turned to the civilian. "Omega Missile is a special Peacekeeper ICBM. It's the code name for the Emergency Rocket Communication System."

Hill held up his hands. "General, since I don't have a clue what you're talking about, why don't you just pretend I'm some guy in golf shoes and tell me what's happening?"

Lowcraft took a second to collect his thoughts, then spoke. "Omega Missile can communicate through MILSTAR with every nuclear launch platform this country has. Subs, missile launch facilities — it can even scramble strategic bombers and get them in the air.

"The emergency would be if every other normal mode of communication was knocked out. Omega Missile is the last-gasp means by which the National Command Authority can transmit launch codes and target matrices to America's nuclear forces if all other communication means are destroyed."

Hill nodded to indicate he had followed so far. "OK, so this thing has been launched and we don't know why. We can still communicate with all these same places, can't we?"

"Yes."

"Then get on the radio and tell them all to ignore any launch orders from Omega Missile."

Lowcraft ran a nervous hand across his chin as he thought. "It doesn't work that way. The point of all our training is for the crew never to ignore an EAM launch order from a valid source. Omega Missile is a valid source. In fact, it is the ultimate and final valid source. Did you ever read Fail-Safe?"

"Isn't that a movie? Henry Fonda plays the president?"

Lowcraft looked exasperated. "Yes. Just like in the movie, any launch officer will believe Omega Missile before they believe us. They would ignore even a direct order from their commander-in-chief."

"Bullshit," Hill snapped. "If we get the president on the horn, he'll stop this in its tracks."

Lowcraft raised his eyebrows slightly but didn't say anything. His entire demeanor indicated that he knew Hill still didn't understand what was going on, but there was nothing he could do about that now.

Hill leaned close. "Is this all a setup?"

"A setup?" Lowcraft stared at the other man. "I can assure you, Mr. Hill, we are facing a very grave situation right now."

"Don't fuck with me, General," Hill warned. "I don't know what you people are trying to pull, but I will come out on top, I can assure you."

"I don't have a clue what you're talking about," Lowcraft said.

"What about this explosion?" Hill asked, changing the subject. "How many people were killed?"

"So far there are no fatalities," the duty officer said. "The strike warning gave everyone a chance to take cover."

"We have to find out who is behind this," Lowcraft said to Hurst.

Hill wondered if that was one of the astute observations that had helped Lowcraft get appointed chairman. Hill already knew the answer to Lowcraft's question.

Chapter Thirteen

Thorpe rubbed his hands over his sharp, damp features and continued over his closely cropped skull. "Lady, how do you do your job?"

Parker, just finishing her Omega Missile briefing for Thorpe's benefit, reacted as if slapped. "That's a lousy thing to say, especially since you just shoved some guy's nose into his brain."

"He and I were both players and it was face-to-face. Him or me. This Omega Missile thing you're talking about is screwed up."

Parker had stopped. They were less than a quarter mile from the chopper crash site. Her eyes coldly fixed on Thorpe. "At least I can do my job sober."

Thorpe's reaction was swift. He reached over and grabbed the collar of her flight suit and pushed her up against a tree. He put his face into hers, his cold blue eyes fixed on her widening pupils. "I am not drunk. I do not drink on a mission. Never. Do you understand? Do you?"

Parker quickly nodded an agreement, ignoring the fact that the proximity of his breath belied his words.

As quickly as the anger erupted, it dissipated and Thorpe let go.

Parker edged away from him and her voice took on a cool, professional tone. "The system in the payload consists of two parts: a sophisticated computer and a powerful transmitter. The computer can hold all the launch codes, targeting matrices, and authorizations, while the transmitter accesses MILSTAR, a high-tech, frequency-jumping, secure global satellite network by which those codes and matrices are sent. It cannot be aborted by anyone else."

"REACT, the computer that runs everything, was developed to be totally self-sufficient for each nuclear weapon. Whoever has the proper code word has complete control and can't be superseded by anyone else, even if they have their own REACT computer. The real killer is that the Omega Missile REACT controls Omega Missile, which thus can control every other REACT computer in the arsenal."

"I have to assume that Kilten has control of REACT. Therefore, he has his finger on the button of this country's entire nuclear arsenal."

Thorpe was staring at her with a numbed, wounded expression, his mind still scurrying to catch up with all that had happened. "I'm sorry about grabbing you."

Parker shook her head. "Get your head out of your ass, soldier. Did you hear what I just said? This whole planet is on the verge of a meltdown and I really don't give a shit about you or your problems. I don't know how I'm going to stop Kilten, but I'm going to try. Just stay out of my way."

They both tensed as they heard the soft crackling of underbrush. Thorpe wheeled, the muzzle of his MP-5 leading the way. His finger tightened on the trigger.

Parker slapped the barrel of the weapon up. Thorpe cursed and was bringing it back down when he heard the low voice call out,"Dad?" and then he saw Tommy stepping between two bushes.

"Oh, God. Oh, Jesus." Thorpe ran to the boy and scooped him into his arms. Burying Tommy's face in his neck, he returned to Parker, who waited silently. She watched the big man trying to control emotions that weren't meant to be controlled. His shoulders shook and his chest was heaving. If he cried, only the boy felt his tears. Parker knew it was her only chance.

"What's it going to be, Thorpe? Are you with me or are you going to give up like McKenzie? You think you lost the reason for what you do and who you are? Look at your son — doesn't he matter?"

Thorpe looked over Tommy's blond head and met Parker's softening gaze. "I'm sorry."

Parker sighed, scraping the toe of her boot in the dirt, anxious to keep moving. In her mind she could picture the Omega Missile system deployed in space. "I know."

Thorpe slowly put Tommy on the ground. He extended a hand to Parker. "Let's get him back to the chopper and figure out a way to get you into the LCC."

"I was just looking for you, Dad," Tommy said, regaining his composure. "The pilot passed out."