Maelstrom: The Downing of Eagle21

By Richard

Battle to Uncover Eagle21’s Secrets
Chief Inspector Hacker has seen it all in his 30 years as a detective for Interpol - but now he has a famous cold case that will try his very soul.

Hacker’s idea of technology is stuck in the 1980’s and he is unsure how to use today’s devices. His foe quickly acts with devastating results.

Faced with an adversary that is both cold and calculating, Hacker finds this killer will not stop at the slaughter hundreds of people to cover his tracks.

Time is running out for Hacker and his team of specialist’s, will they uncover the killer or become the next target?

Intense and exciting twists wait for Hacker as he tries to uncover his nemesis.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Richard
• Release date: Jul 12, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311730374

Richard

Richard L. Young was involved in video and film making for over 20 years at Beech / Raytheon Aircraft. With background in electronic communication Richard started in studio control at local ABC TV station, from there on to Film and Video.Learned to fly at 16, involved in aviation with the Army as a UH1 Huey Crew Chief and later "air to air" photography and formation flying with all Beech Aircraft models.Not enough excitement on the job; volunteered time with local Rose Hill KS. city government for 11 years and as Mayor for 4 years.

Book preview

MAELSTROM:

The Downing of Eagle21

BY

RL Young

~~~

Smashwords Edition

COPYRIGHT

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All Rights Reserved © 2014

Eagle Publishing

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Table of Contents

COPYRIGHT

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER 1

AWACS

CHAPTER 2

KARL: The Briefing

TREVOR: No Flight

CHAPTER 3

KARL: First Suspicions

TREVOR: Travel

KARL: First Research Meeting

CHAPTER 4

TREVOR: On The Road

TREVOR: Car Rental and Cash Problems

TREVOR: The Locals

CHAPTER 5

KARL: Second Research Meeting

TREVOR: The Missing Autopsy

TREVOR: The Accident

CHAPTER 6

KARL: A Mole?

CHAPTER 7

TREVOR: The Mechanics

TREVOR: The Wreckage

CHAPTER 8

KARL: The Messages

TREVOR: The Flight Crew

KARL: Trust Issues

KARL: The Test

CHAPTER 9

KARL: The Motive

KARL: The Call

KARL: Gavin's Escape

CHAPTER 10

KARL: The Rescue

TREVOR: The Train Back

KARL: Real Evidence

CHAPTER 11

TREVOR: On the Train

KARL: The News Is Out

TREVOR: The Crash

CHAPTER 12

KARL: Evacuating the Warehouse

TREVOR: After the Crash

KARL: The Attack

EPILOGUE

KARL: The Proposition

PROLOGUE

For years now, Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) has been mentioned in international intelligence agencies back channels, not as theory, but as something the western governments have been working on; something that would take over the mundane tasks of communication interception and process the information into a neat package for the western heads of state. But as much as such a system would improve security it would also reduce or even completely eliminate the careers of most intelligence gatherers working today.

With the Internet being flooded with viruses and malware, with hacker activity of all kinds, ELINT would have to supersede and eliminate ever-increasing threats capable of compromising the safety and security of the world's elite. But who is to say this would bring us safety? Would this safety come at no cost? And who would be pulling the strings in such a close-knit environment?

The world's intelligence agencies have come together to fight against adversaries spread around the globe. Armed with a shared list of all known terrorist factions they cooperate to prevent future threats from radicals.

At times we might be under the impression they have failed, but they prevail, even through the darkest of days. The fight, the espionage and political intrigue aimed at defeating the world's extremist organizations continues mostly away from the lime light.

The common man is constantly under observation both by our adversaries and our allies alike. We are at war and the invisible force we use to wage it sheds no tears for our fallen, stands to no ovation for our victors, and every day takes away more of our freedom.

It is often those who are sworn to secrecy, who work for the privileged of wealthy countries, who think they are above the manmade laws; find themselves in allegiance with none other than those that want to destroy us.

It is those very people that can use the intelligence they gather at any time they deem appropriate without caring about the consequences and with no regard of retribution.

CHAPTER 1

AWACS

34,000 Feet above the Adriatic Sea

E-3 AWACS 'Sentry' flew high above the Adriatic Sea. The militarized version of a Boeing 707-320B modified with a huge radar dome atop the fuselage. The Mission Commander, Major Allen, was managing air traffic over what used to be Yugoslavia, but now is a melting pot of warring countries. Captain Casteel, a seasoned avionics operative in control of the Airborne Warning and Control System, was working Sector Alpha Nine. He was responsible for the airspace over Bosnia and up till then all was calm in the skies.

A blip appeared on the radar screen, nothing out of the ordinary; there were flights scheduled to enter the fly zone all through that day. But as we now know that blip was anything but ordinary.

Proceeding off course, Eagle21 increased velocity. Captain Casteel's eyes widened and he spoke into his headset.

O my God! Major Allen, we have a problem! he said in a quickened and overly excited tone. Check grid Alpha nine. Eagle21 is off course!

Copy that Captain. Major Allen's reply came through the headset. He was the aircraft operations commander aboard the Sentry. What do we know about the aircraft, over?

Eagle21 is a C-40B Clipper, a military Boeing 737-700 out of Ramstein Airbase Germany. Captain Casteel continued to stare at the radar screen. And it just entered enemy airspace!

He was quickly going from surprised, to shocked, to panicked. "I've tried to radio the crew, but there is no response.

Try harder! I need you to get ahold of them. Major Allen continued Use the standby emergency frequency of 243.0MHZ and tell him to set his com discriminator to off! Feed him the radar data from your scope and find out if he has any countermeasures on board. He's going to need 'em, over.

The radio chat went silent. Finally after a few seconds Casteel's voice filled the room again.

Major Allen, the pilot of Eagle21 has the info and cannot disengage the autopilot from taking him further into enemy territory. His computer shows there was a safe corridor through enemy territory that the autopilot system was following. Over.

No way, captain! He has to get that bird out of there immediately! Major Allen blurted. Do you copy?

It took Captain Casteel a few seconds to respond. But when he came back over the wave, he sounded relieved, The pilot disengaged the autopilot by shutting off all avionics power, then turning on the system without turning on the Auto Pilot computer and regained manual control. Captain Casteel waited for a response. You copy that control?

The blip representing Eagle21 on the radar screen was now at Alpha seven, and making its way toward Alpha six at high velocity.

Then, out of nowhere, another blip popped onto the display.

Shit! Captain Casteel's voice shot back through the headset. "I see a missile launched and tracking Eagle21's position!

Is there a Growler in the area? Over. Major Allen waited for a response, but there was no answer. We need radar jamming right away! Over.

The silence lingered and then Captain Casteel responded, Growler34 is about 200 clicks to the south, over.

Get Growler34 to Eagle21's coordinates at maximum burn ASAP! We don't have much time, Captain. Major Allen said.

Roger that, loud and clear. Captain Casteel replied. Growler34 will take over 5 minutes to get close to Eagle21's location!

Damn it, that's not fast enough, Captain Casteel mumbled under his breath. They'll be blown outta the sky by then.

The nerves were starting to get to him. He hit the com button and spoke rapidly.

Captain, inform Eagle21 to do an emergency full power decent and initiate a maximum G 180 degree turn. Maybe he can lose the missile. He needs to drop from out of the sky like a rock. Advise him to set the radar to train follow at 200 feet, transponder off; and smoke some tree tops.

But none of the evasive maneuvers were having the desired effect; Eagle21's blip sailed through grid Alpha five and four. It crossed into Bravo three at high velocity. Both men watched their radar screens frozen in place, unable to avert their gaze. Seconds turned into minutes as the projectile gained on Captain Higgs and his crew inside Eagle21. Alpha nine, eight, seven,