Code Name: Total Eclipse

By Gary L. Lucas

Lee Dunway, a hardened CIA undercover agent receives a frantic call from his ex-wife Julie informing him that their young daughter, Gail, has been kidnapped. Julie was warned not to notify the FBI or the police. She believes Lee is Gails best chance to be rescued alive. Lee is pulled into a connecting plot of intrigue and deadly sabotage. America is on the verge of producing cold fusion energy from the Helium-3 isotope that is secretly being mined on the moon. A space shuttle has launched from a top-secret base in Alaska to bring back the first twelve ton load of He-3, which must be left in earth orbit for a later descent. This knowledge has opened the door to a treasonous conspiracy involving members of the U.S. Congress and other high ranking officials called the Centurions. They plan to steal the high valued He-3 while it circles the earth as a means to manipulate world currency markets and finance their goal to form a one world government. Lee and two others must find a way to highjack the He-3 before they do. CODE NAME: TOTAL ECLIPSE is fused together by a bittersweet love story and a perplexing betrayal Lee must come to grips with to simultaneously rescue Gail and stop the Centurions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Nov 21, 2012
• ISBN: 9781466954311

Gary L. Lucas

Gary L. Lucas, Major, U.S. Army (Ret). Gary earned his Bachelor Degree in Professional Aeronautics and Business Management at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. He rose through the Enlisted Ranks, the Warrant Officer Ranks and Commissioned Officer Ranks during his 21 years of active duty. He became a test pilot of airplanes and helicopters and worked on top-secret Aviation Research and Development projects. Gary flew over six hundred and seventy five combat missions during two tours of duty in Vietnam, earning the Air Medal with 26 oak-leaf clusters, and other combat medals as well. After his retirement he worked in the areas of threat analysis and designing electronic security and surveillance systems for industrial clients in Langley, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Greenbelt, Maryland.

Book preview

Code Name

Total Eclipse

– A Novel –

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Gary L. Lucas

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©

Copyright 2012 Gary L. Lucas.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

All of the names of the characters in the book are fictitious, and do not intentionally represent any other persons(s) alive or deceased.

isbn: 978-1-4669-5429-8 (sc)

isbn: 978-1-4669-5430-4 (hc)

isbn: 978-1-4669-5431-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012919755

Trafford rev. 12/18/2012

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Contents

A Government Conspiracy

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

To my beautiful loving wife and best friend

Stephanie S. Lucas

without your productive and tideous assistance

I would still be trying to bring this labor of love to fruition

To my son

Gary W. Lucas

My deepest appreciation and love to you for being the person you are

and for your never ending encouragement

And for their added inspiration, my love goes out to

Tamara

Kaegan

Curran

Shelley

Bill

Tanner

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Gary L. Lucas, Major, U.S. Army (Ret). Gary earned his Bachelor Degree in Professional Aeronautics and Business Management at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. He rose through the Enlisted Ranks, the Warrant Officer Ranks and Commissioned Officer Ranks during his 21 years of active duty. He became a test pilot of airplanes and helicopters and worked on top-secret Aviation Research and Development projects. Gary flew over six hundred and seventy five combat missions during two tours of duty in Vietnam, earning the Air Medal with 26 oak-leaf clusters, and other combat medals as well. After his retirement he worked in the areas of threat analysis and designing electronic security and surveillance systems for industrial clients in Langley, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Greenbelt, Maryland.

A Government Conspiracy

Action / Adventure / Bittersweet Love Story / Subterfuge / Suspense

Chapter 1

Saturday, November 26, 2011

A winter storm had arrived in the villagelike setting of Colorado Springs. The temperature was two degrees below freezing. Gusting winds from the northwest rushed in and spiked to ten miles an hour, creating a harsh windchill. Snowflakes swirled in tornado-like fashion across mountainous slopes, thoroughfares, shopping malls, and school yards. The pristine flakes covered everything, confirming the frigid arrival of the welcomed ski season. To all ski enthusiasts around the area, this was a delightful addition to the joyful atmosphere of a four-day Thanksgiving weekend.

At a nearby hotel acclaimed for its highbrow clientele, two Air Force Academy graduates who had opted for a winter evening wedding were celebrating with an evening reception. Senior cadets and others wished them well before they left to become the first husband-and-wife team to attend the air force flight training program.

The newlyweds were holding hands and kissing as they whispered words of love to each other. Rising steam from the mugs of hot buttered rum on their table fogged a small portion of the giant window next to them. She giggled softly as she drew a heart and an arrow with her finger on the fogged area, and she kissed him again as the ballroom lights dimmed. Flames from the huge dining room fireplace cast a warm hue upon the white stucco ceiling, the sage-colored walls, and the young couple’s faces. The dancing flames highlighted their radiant smiles as they whispered romantic suggestions into each other’s ears.

Most of the cadets, sitting closer to the fireplace, were pointing toward the mammoth dining room windows, noting a break in the clouds, which provided a beautiful view of the snow-covered mountains flanking the hotel. The luminous full moon was a thumb’s width above the mountaintops and seemed close enough to spot the Apollo 11 landing site, one cadet remarked as he lowered his outstretched arm.

This was not an unusual happening for this dynamic city sprawling beneath the highest feature in the area, the fourteen-thousand-foot Pikes Peak. During wintertime, an influx of skiers taking to the many lodges and nearby slopes was an anticipated occurrence. Business owners in this town welcomed winter as the season to be jolly. This was the time of year for increased profits generated by a surge of sales centered on open-air activities.

For Dr. James Hollis, PhD—a world-renowned astrophysicist and the chief operations manager of scientific projects for North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) inside Cheyenne Mountain—tonight would be anything but routine after he attended the wedding and reception of his colleague’s son.

Unknown to the people of this quaint community and the rest of the earth’s population, tonight would be anything but normal. Dr. Hollis and a group of his covert associates would set off a dramatic chain of events that would protect the Constitution and democratic political structure of the United States from a subversive attack. And if successful, their efforts would lessen the chances of the United States from being forced into a widespread nuclear war.

Tragically, if the plan failed, Dr. Hollis would be deemed a traitor and suffer the loss of everything he had worked so hard to accomplish during his professional career. He would be charged with treason and could be imprisoned for a minimum of twenty-five years. He would have shamed his family, and he would likely be deserted by his wife and two children.

At thirty-seven, James Hollis was five years older than his wife, Cindy, whom he had married when he was thirty-one. He was six feet tall and had the toughness of a muscular man, but was slender in appearance. He had curly black hair with traces of gray, a short full beard, and pale green eyes. According to some accounts of his research associates, his extrafirm handshake was one that people remembered to guard against.

Most of his friends had married earlier in life, and the same was true of Cindy’s friends. She had pursued a career in business management during her early years. Cindy was twenty-six when she finally met the man of her dreams, and they exchanged the sacred vows of marriage soon after.

Hours after his friend’s son’s wedding reception, James was standing in front of his bathroom mirror, brushing his teeth before leaving for his drive up Cheyenne Mountain. He suddenly froze as memories of his military combat experiences flashed through his mind. What prompted those kinds of thoughts popping up, he didn’t know. But just as quickly, he smiled as his thoughts turned to happy memories of the night he fell in love with Cindy.

He had almost committed to a military career but was thankful now that he had left active duty and pursued his educational goals. Notably he did complete his ROTC commitment, plus an additional year for attending Ranger and Special Forces training. This required a tour of duty outside the United States. He felt sure that he would not have met Cindy had he stayed in the army. After his discharge, he had pursued a graduate degree, a PhD, and a postdoctoral education. After this, applied research had filled most of his waking hours. His social life was not much of a priority to him. One evening, some fellow researchers at the government complex in Livermore, California, talked him into attending a social dinner at a mutual friend’s house. Reluctantly he agreed, with the stipulation he would leave early to resume his work in one of the labs. Upon arriving at his friend’s home that evening, he chose a glass of red Zinfandel off the silver serving tray carried by a smiling gray-haired gentleman in a tuxedo. Peering around the living room, he saw a fellow research scientist from an adjoining laboratory and proceeded toward him, but an unexpected blow to his right shoulder caused him to spill his wine. He stopped, looked down, and saw substantial stains on his open-collared shirt and the sleeve of his cashmere sport coat. He immediately heard a lovely voice say, I’m sorry—that was clumsy of me. I’ll get a towel and clean the spots before they stain your clothes permanently. She rushed toward the kitchen before he could muster a reply or get more than a passing look at her.

His thoughts centered on her voice, the beautiful face he had seen for only a second or two, and her sensual perfume. He stood motionless, staring at the kitchen area, waiting for her return. When she rushed back with a cup of tonic water and a hand towel, he scrutinized her dark tan and voluptuous figure snuggled into a black sleeveless dress, her stark green eyes, and her auburn hair. The closer she got, the more excited he became. Bewildered, he felt his heart start beating faster, and his breathing almost stopped.

I’m so sorry, she said and then began wiping the stains.

Now he could smell her perfume again while gazing at her face and alluring eyes. It’s nothing. Please don’t be concerned, he feigned, wanting her to continue.

She scrubbed at the stains and apologized again in her soft voice.

If there is such a thing as love at first sight, this might be what it feels like, he thought. Then he found himself blurting out, Will you have dinner with me tomorrow night?

Startled, she stared into his eyes, slowing her efforts to clean the stains. Well, I don’t mind—if my husband doesn’t.

Oh, I’m sorry, he said, blushing in a boyish fashion.

Hey, I’m just kidding. See, no ring marks, no sparkling diamonds. I’ve never been married. She lowered her left hand, and they both smiled while staring at each other.

Well, then . . . will you . . . have dinner with me?

Well, that depends, she teased him again.

On what?

What’s your name?

His face went blank; then he sat his glass on a table, and then he stuck out both of his large hands and tenderly encompassed her tiny one. Hi, I’m James Hollis.

Hello, James Hollis. I’m Cindy Fields. Glad to meet you. Sorry for the inconvenience.

He was sure he felt the tingle of a low-voltage shock go up his arms when their hands met. As he was staring into her eyes, he felt attracted to her like no other woman before. They married two months later in a church in Connecticut in a wedding hosted by her parents and attended by her family and friends.

James changed his focus, put his toothbrush away, and then went to put on his ski jacket and gloves in readiness to leave. A while later out in the driveway, he heard Cindy call to him. Her call snapped him out of his fixed gaze toward the moon, slipping in and out of sight between periodic breaks in the clouds. Cindy’s four-door Lincoln took up half the double garage, and the other half was still stuffed with furniture and miscellaneous boxes from their move two months earlier. James was relegated to brush the packed snow from the windshield of his classic silver-and-black Corvette, while the engine warmed up in preparation for his drive up the mountain.

Turning toward the front door of their bi-level house, he spotted Cindy and their two small children, Brenda and Donald, ages five and four, respectively. Each child stood behind her and clung to one of her legs, hoping to gain an element of warmth. She used her body to block out the cold night air coming in through the open front door.

Your hot chocolate, Cindy shouted as she held the thermos at arm’s length for him to see.

He walked slowly so as not to fall on the snow-covered walkway while he climbed the three steps to the slippery porch, and then he removed his gloves. He took the thermos from her hand and gave her a quick kiss on the lips and looked into her eyes for a brief moment before speaking.

Wish I could stay home and curl up in front of the fireplace with you, but duty calls, and the bills have to be paid. This crazy schedule won’t last much longer, he promised. He bent down and coaxed each child to come forth, so he could put an arm around them. Give your daddy another kiss, sweetheart, he said to Brenda.

She wrapped both her arms around her dad’s neck and pulled, causing him to lose his balance and nearly fall.

Hold on, kitten, not so hard, he said as her weight continued to pull heavily on his neck as she planted another good-bye kiss on his cheek.

Facing Donald, James pointed with one finger to his other cheek. Right here, big boy, give your dad a big smooch.

Donald’s reply was a resounding loud noise as he placed his wet lips on his dad’s cheek and blew out as strongly as he could while trying to stop laughing at the same time.

I will get even with you tomorrow morning when I come home. I’ll sneak into your bedroom and do the same to you on your tummy when you’re still asleep, he said.

No, I won’t let you. I’ll stay awake all night to stop you.

We’ll see, his dad said as he gave both children another hug. When he stood up straight, Cindy reached out with both hands and pulled on the collar of his jacket until his face was about an inch from hers. She told James quietly that she would keep the children up later than normal so they might sleep in later the next morning. How about you put those sexy lips on my tummy? I’ll keep the bed nice and warm for a cozy get-together before the children awake. Pulling harder on his collar until their lips met, she kissed him aggressively, allowing her tongue to impart the rest of her message.

Before she finished, Brenda and Donald pulled on her legs, insisting they move back inside, away from the freezing weather.

Relaxing her hold on him, James slowly pulled back with his eyes still closed. His aroused libido derived from her titillating message sparked an intimate fantasy. Perhaps I should call in sick and stay home tonight.

Silly, you know you’re indispensable up there inside that old mountain. Go now, she said. She smiled as her children tugged on her to take her inside; then she closed the door.

With a thrilling fantasy still present in his mind’s eye, James cupped a freezing ear, turned, and made his way back to his car.

He slowly backed onto the street, pausing momentarily to look at the bay window at the front of their home. Happily he spotted his beautiful wife and children holding back the living room curtains to wave their good-byes.

I love you, he said aloud while leaning forward and waving back, hoping they could see him. Then he gave two short blasts from the horn as another good-bye as he slowly drove away.

Moments later, his attention was focused on two of the eight armed bodyguards—CIA employees—assigned to guard his family. The agents currently on duty were parked in sport-utility vehicles with dark-tinted windows. He could see that one of the SUVs was parked two houses down from his. Unknown to James or his family, one of those guards had planted wireless surveillance cameras in their backyard and on both sides of the house to spot a potential intruder.

Approximately forty-eight hours earlier, James had been abducted and temporarily detained by CIA covert operatives. That was the first time he met Bernard Whitlock, one of the highest administrators in the CIA. He is responsible for the protection of the United States from any and all activities that could disrupt and possibly destroy the very foundation of its democracy. Whitlock had uncovered that Mr. Tim Benton, the director of the National Security Agency, had turned rogue back in 2010 and was in fact a double agent working with other anti-American groups against our government. Whitlock was the only one that knew that Benton had abandoned his loyalties to the U.S. He had irrefutable evidence that Benton was the leader of a subversive cabal known as the Centurions that planned to infiltrate and control the United Nations Assembly, followed by an overthrow of the U.S. government.

Whitlock wasn’t sure whom he could trust with the evidence he had. Benton had relationships with senior government officials and political figures that sided with him and his objectives, but Whitlock wasn’t sure yet who all of them were. If he approached the wrong person in hopes of bringing Benton down, he would be subject to assassination, and their entire plot could be covered up with no resolution in sight. Benton had access to top-secret information and knew that the United States had acquired the capacity to produce clean cold fusion energy, a new source of energy derived from the helium-3 isotope that the U.S. was secretly mining on the moon. As America’s supply of He-3 increased, the nation’s use of petro fuels would be reduced by 95 percent within a decade. Benton knew that He-3 has an estimated worth of a trillion dollars a ton. He speculated on the fact that whoever controlled the supply of He-3 could control the world’s energy markets and eventually control the world, so he set out to steal the first shipment of He-3 arriving in Earth’s orbit tonight. His ultimate objective is to create a one-world socialist government with a one-world currency. Whitlock could not allow that to happen. He initiated his counter strategy to steal the shipment before Benton could. He needed James to surreptitiously reprogram one of NORAD’S microwave-tracking dishes to send a signal to redirect the inbound space vehicle with its prized cargo of He-3. It was the only sure way to stop the Centurions without delay.

Whitlock had told James that if circumstances warranted, Cindy would be briefed as to why it was necessary to have sentries guarding her and the children. If she demanded such, she and the children would be taken into hiding for their safety.

Whitlock’s concern was that Cindy and the children could be kidnapped and held as hostages. If that happened, he knew James would be coerced into aborting his participation in Whitlock’s complex plans.

James started thinking about the conversation he’d had with Whitlock after their bizarre introduction.

Everything must appear as normal, James. If any of the Centurions suspect a connection between me and you, they will send out their thugs to kill us. Remember, there is no other way to accomplish what we have to do. The final outcome of this mission rests with you. Absolutely no one else has the means or the opportunity to take advantage of the vital timetables involved to stop the Centurions in time. My best bodyguards are protecting your family, mine too. Every possible contingency is included in their plans to guard our families, Whitlock had promised him.

Okay, Whitlock, but if you’re wrong—if any member of my family gets hurt—I’ll track you down and kill you myself, James thought and was careful not to spin out his prized Corvette while going down a small hill.

The emotional pressure on James was taking a toll on him. He was shaking, not from the coldness of the night, but from the awesome fear he felt for his family’s safety and the nagging psychological pressure he felt over carrying out his bargain with Whitlock.

If only I could have explained to Cindy what I’m about to do. She and the kids will be desperate to know where I am when they find out what I’ve done. Surely she will understand why I couldn’t discuss this matter of top-secret importance with anyone. I know she will. James wanted to believe that, but he knew she would be mad as hell.

Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. Worried that he might get caught, he questioned his level of commitment to Whitlock again.

Do I risk losing everything I’ve worked so hard to accomplish over the years? Do I put my family and my career and our future plans at risk? He had to question if he was doing the right thing by exposing his family to the dangers of Whitlock’s plan. Patriotism inspired what he was attempting to do and why it had to be done. But what if Whitlock’s plan is just an elaborate plot to embarrass NORAD and undermine the security of the United States? Is he trying to show the world how easy it is to penetrate the world’s most sophisticated nuclear trigger? Is he trying to besmirch the best technology headquarters in the world for applied space-related projects?

New storm clouds had rolled in during his drive, and fresh powdered snow started falling again. The flakes were big and made it hard to see, but he knew the steep road leading up the mountain was close ahead. He squeezed the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned pale, matching the pasty look on his face.

Do I or don’t I initiate Whitlock’s plan? he said aloud and struck the steering wheel with both hands.

Chapter 2

His shift began at 11:00 p.m. However, because of his secret plans with Whitlock, he had opted to arrive an hour early. He wanted more time to build up his nerve to accomplish his illegal manipulation of NORAD’s equipment, a deed no one working inside NORAD would imagine he would ever do. Because of his management status, no explanation for showing up early would be necessary.

I must take extra care to ensure that everything I’m doing appears normal, he kept thinking as he took a deep breath and tried to stop shaking.

He was one of only five civilian personnel hired by the air force to work inside the NORAD complex. All other personnel were uniformed military people with a unique security clearance to denote them as NORAD-qualified personnel. Each one of them was a highly trained professional, designated career employee, highly motivated, and dedicated to carry out their special assignment.

James had been recruited by the air force because of his renowned knowledge of astrophysics, radio astronomy, and advanced radar systems. His title within the organization was chief operations manager of scientific projects. His primary focus dealt with space vehicle tracking systems and deep-space research projects.

At the time of his recruitment from the Livermore Laboratories in California, he also had been offered a full professorship at MIT. James considered his offer for the position with the air force a challenge that he couldn’t pass up.

He was acutely aware that the NORAD installation had a blank-check budget with Congress. This budget would allow him to purchase all the cutting-edge research equipment for space-related projects he deemed essential. That is what convinced him to accept the position with the air force hierarchy inside NORAD.

One of his top priorities was to enhance the abilities of the United States to track and analyze all man-made objects orbiting our planet. He believed this increased capability was long overdue to maximize the umbrella of protection the United States needed from its potential enemies.

James had been awarded the highest security clearance possible regarding access to advanced space-related projects for the United States and all its allies. There was an air force—customized Falcon jet on standby at all times for his use in case he needed to attend a meeting at home or abroad or if he was needed to observe experiments in a secret laboratory or testing facility anywhere in the world.

When it came to matters of advanced science and space-related research, no one inside the mountain had more authority than Dr. James Hollis. He was one of the world’s foremost astrophysicists.

The low beam lights reflected off the snowflakes as he started the steep climb up the two-lane road toward the main entrance of the NORAD complex. He carefully maneuvered around a sharp right-hand bend, but both the Corvette’s rear wheels suddenly lost traction, causing the car to slide. Already straining to see through the blowing snow, he realized that one of the Corvette’s recessed headlights had mysteriously closed halfway, reducing the effectiveness of that light beam to zilch.

Steering into the skid, he barely managed to keep the car on the road. Damn, I should have taken time to have snow tires installed when I had the oil changed the other day.

Appearing suddenly, a snow-removal truck with a massive steel blade plowed through the snow right in front of James, coming at him fast on the same side of the road. Because of the poor visibility, he hadn’t realized that he was on the outside of the turn in the wrong lane. His face flushed and his body stiffened as panic flowed through his veins. The five-ton monster with its steel jaws was about to devour his car with him inside it.

With a reflex action, he pushed hard on the accelerator. The Corvette miraculously bolted sideways just in time to clear the steel plow on the front of the truck but causing the car to veer off the road. His prized possession was stuck in a shallow drainage ditch packed with powdered snow and facing in the opposite direction.

He shut off the engine and sat motionless for a moment, too scared to move. He finally shook his head, took off his gloves, and looked out the driver’s-side window. He spotted the taillights of the truck and then the driver hiking up the road toward him.

The driver stopped near the edge of the ditch and hollered, Hey, you okay? James opened the door and stepped into the ditch to assess any damage and his prospects of getting the car back on the road. As the truck driver stepped closer, James recognized him as one of the grounds and maintenance crew members. On occasion, he had talked to him about Corvettes and road racing.

Hey, Hollis, hey, I’m really sorry. Wow, it looks really stuck. Are you all right, Doc?

Yes, Dale, I’m okay.

Tell you what, Doc, hop in my truck and I’ll take you up to the guard post next to the entrance gates. I’m off the clock at eleven, but I’ll get a tow truck and some help from the motor pool and retrieve your car before I go. I’ll leave your car and keys with the security police. They’ll be waiting for you when the bus brings you out of the mountain in the morning.

Access to Cheyenne Mountain was available only to those who worked there, preapproved VIPs, and high-ranking military personnel. Visitors were always escorted by military police driving oversized golf carts. The tunnel leading inside went almost a half mile into the mountain before reaching the employee and maintenance assembly point. The assembly point was a room the size of a football field. Visitors with a tinge of claustrophobia usually asked for assurance that all the steel and concrete were indeed strong enough to hold back the millions of cubic tons of granite encasing everyone inside. As for James, the psychological effects of being inside the mountain on this night increased his apprehension to perform what Whitlock expects of him. Bottom line, he had no way out of the mountain after he performed his felonious tasks.

Chapter 3

James was too stunned by the harrowing encounter to even acknowledge Dale’s suggestion. He followed Dale, opened the door to the truck, and got into the cab without saying a word.

Moments later, he was focused on his desire to get inside his office, located on a raised platform in the rear of the main operations and communications war room. Once inside, he could view all the information coming in on radar tracking screens and view the various supercomputer analysis monitors. Only then could he decide whether he would go through with the biggest gamble of his life.

He thought back to earlier that evening. Cindy knew James was not allowed to discuss any details concerning his work, but over a late supper she had asked him why he was acting so preoccupied. Trying not to stir her concerns, he made an effort to satisfy her inquiry.

Oh, okay, I apologize . . . just a scientific project I’m working on, math formulas and that kind of stuff.

He wanted to discuss his mission with Cindy when she asked what was on his mind. The strain of keeping his assignment a secret wouldn’t be as intense if he had done so.

A panicky sensation started in his stomach and filled his head with dizziness, almost causing him to vomit. God, I’m risking the loss of my family and my job and maybe being sent to a mental institution into a padded cell.

Trying to calm himself, he focused on why he had agreed to help Whitlock and why he felt that he could trust him with the lives of his family. Working together, they could indeed accomplish their most worthy goals.

If Whitlock’s plan is nothing more than a sophisticated hoax, James knew he would be immortalized as the lunatic that was allowed inside the mountain, and he would destroy any chance of his family’s right to a normal life. Not to mention that he’d have made a mockery of the United States. If his part of the bargain with Whitlock went sour, the worldwide political fallout would be horrendous. Most of the nations that are allied with the United States would run around in circles, looking for a new partner to buddy up with to prop up their national security and economic well-being. If such a disaster did occur, he visualized the headlines. Nut Loose in the Most Powerful War-Making Fortress on Earth. On the flip side, if Whitlock is trustworthy, the headlines may celebrate the grandest advancement for mankind since language, fire, the wheel, and mathematics.

The heater in the truck was inoperative. James was shivering and wished he had put on a heavier coat. He remained silent as the truck slowly climbed the zigzagging two miles up the steep grade toward the first group of gate guards. Dale periodically glanced at him and wondered what a man of his stature might be thinking about at that moment. He felt guilty knowing he’d been driving the snowplow faster than he should when he almost broadsided Hollis.

He was unable to withstand the nervous tension any longer. Uh, Dr. Hollis, I’m really sorry I caused you to run your car off the road, and then waited for a reply, wondering how Hollis intended to handle the incident. When no reply came, he continued. Doc, I have a wife and three kids to support. If I lost my job, we would be in a financial hurt. As he spoke, he looked back and forth between Hollis and the road ahead many times.

Still lost in his own thoughts, James became vaguely aware of Dale’s voice. My wife couldn’t take it if I lost my job. My kids would go hungry, he thought he heard Dale say as he applied the brakes and rolled to a stop in front of the last guard shack.

Oh . . . uh . . . don’t worry, James answered as he sought the door handle, opened the door, and carefully stepped down. It was just as much my fault. Let’s both be thankful neither of us got hurt. I’m for letting sleeping dogs lie. Enjoy your Thanksgiving leftovers, and give my best regards to your family.

Gee whiz, Doc, I’m really grateful, thank you.

James closed the door and pulled his jacket hood over his head and put his hands into his coat pockets after he realized that he had left his gloves in his car.

I wonder how Dale and his family will react to what I’m about to do on this cold and dreary night should I become the subject of the headline news instead of the good guy he makes me out to be, he wondered.

Moments later, he was sitting in a shuttle bus heading toward the tunnel that led to the assembly point. Once at the assembly point, he would be met with the usual security checks. Whitlock hasn’t called me. He said, no call, our mission is a go—maybe?

When he heard the hydraulic-operated giant steel door close, locking him inside the NORAD operations room, his heart rate accelerated. He went toward his office and mulled over the details of the conversation that he had with Whitlock about He-3, and how it would change the ways of the world forever. Whitlock told him that He-3 will eradicate carbon based global warming, and America would quickly become debt-free with the advent of He-3 to boost economic growth, eventually leading to an invigorated global economy.

He was amazed that a marble-size pellet of the stuff would run the family automobile at highway speeds for a decade or more.

Paramount on his mind, he was still trying to garner the nerve to commit 100 percent to take the biggest risk he would ever take in his lifetime.

He knew it was a far-flung leap of faith to trust Whitlock to such a risky degree. As he reflected on his agreement with Whitlock, he kept coming to the same conclusion, without a shadow of a doubt he did trust his old army buddy Lee Dunway, Whitlock’s protégé. Lee’s impeccable character traits overshadow his bold courageous attitude about living on the edge of intense adrenalin rushes. I know in the depths of my soul that Lee wouldn’t agree to be a pivotal figure in Whitlock’s plan to stop the Centurions unless he knew there was no other way. Being totally honest, the major problem for me is, I’m a family man now, not a field soldier. Whitlock and Lee regularly put their lives on the line, it comes with their job. They are more willing to handle those kinds of life-threatening situations that the three of us will be facing.

Chapter 4

December 1, 2002

First Lieutenant Lee Dunway was traveling cross-country after completing his army parachute training, Ranger School, and then Special Forces training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was en route to Camp Roberts, California, for autonomous covert operations training before his departure to Iraq and then onto Afghanistan.

He was exhausted from driving all night, staring over the hood of his muscle car, a 1967 Shelby Ford Mustang. Considered collectable to car enthusiasts, it was British racing green with two white stripes on the hood. He looked in his rearview mirror and noticed the pinkish glow of a new day emerging over the tops of the Arizona hills.

During the last seven hours, he had mostly focused on the painted broken lines on the highway as the Mustang’s engine hummed its distinctive melody. He also kept track of the last star in the handle of the Big Dipper slipping over the horizon. He kept an eye on his wristwatch while monitoring the disappearance of that star so he would know what time to expect sunrise the next day at his destination. Sunup tomorrow would be the start of his much-desired climb on what the local Indians call the Tower of Light, a tall, narrow butte near Sedona, Arizona.

Lee noticed the vast array of Saguaro cactus, with their