Final Mission: A Breath Away

By J. Judson Lacko

Our modern world seems to never be without conflict or threats of war. Technology is constantly coming up with new ways to destroy mankind. So it is that the three brothers of this saga once again become involved in espionage dealing with a United States new fighter/spy plane and attempts by foreign powers to obtain top-secret data about the new aircraft. Old adversaries confront one another once more as Special Warfare Forces gear up for action.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 17, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543435825

J. Judson Lacko

The author was raised in Munhall, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; graduated from Munhall High School in 1961; served in the US Air Force for four years in electronics (1962–1966); received medical technology certification from additional Air Force training; graduated from Point Park College with a BS in science and medical technology; had EMT/paramedic training, serving in the field and teaching and evaluating; has been an EMT and paramedic for fourteen years; taught in medical/technical schools and two universities for thirty years; was first emergency services coordinator in Greene County (1979–1980); was supervisor in Pathology Department for fifteen years at Montefiore Hospital; and authored the book A Breath Away: Life’s Final Chapter (June 30, 2015).

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Copyright © 2017 by J. Judson Lacko.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 07/17/2017

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Contents

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter 1: Opening

Chapter 2: The Aurora Project

Chapter 3: A New Operations Center

Chapter 4: Jack Logan’s New Assignment

Chapter 5: A New Threat

Chapter 6: Changes on Aurora Designs

Chapter 7: Meanwhile, Somewhere in the Southern End of the Indian Ocean…….

Chapter 8: Disaster Strikes

Chapter 9: Radiation Exposure

Chapter 10: Sabotage on Aurora

Chapter 11: Testing of the New Navigation System

Chapter 12: Sanctioned…

Chapter 13: Spec-Ops Team 1 Stands Down

Chapter 14: Down Range

Chapter 15: Reunited

Epilogue

Dedication

Special dedication of this book is to Anthony Gigliotti, a colleague, a mentor, and a loyal friend for the past 30+ years.

This book is also dedicated to my wife, Sally, my son, Judson Denny, and my daughter Melissa Sue. It is so dedicated due to the courage of men that are portrayed that has allowed my wife and children to live their lives in a free society. They have seen what is required of men of valor, such as their uncles, John and Paul, who endured the horrors of the Viet Nam war, and the aftermath of returning home.

I also dedicate this final book of the ‘A Breath Away ‘trilogy to those who were and are a part of the Special Operations units that help clear the path and partake in rescue and extraction operations. To all of those who have served in the United States Armed Forces, I pay tribute in my own humble way, and quote Sir Winston Churchill – This truly is your finest hour. •••••••••••• Joseph Judson Lacko, SSgt. USAF (now retired)

Prologue

The following is the third book in a fictional trilogy. The period covered is approximately from the 1990’s until 2014. Seventy years ago, Russia and the United States were the main players in what was called The Cold War. Spies, counterspies, cells, Communist Block, NATO, and many other names were associated with that era. Eventually, Russian states within Russia, dissolved the Soviet Union, and became independent states. The world, in the meantime, evolved into a new form of intimidation and coercion. These groups began to emerge as radical terrorists, who would use forms of guerrilla warfare to disrupt governments and threaten the peace. It was this kind of action that prompted the United States to adapt to a new kind of warfare.

Though there were blocks of nations which helped stem the tide of these types of hit-and-run attacks, there was no clear front that they were fighting on. The intelligence community greatly increased in size to combat threats around the world. Special operation units were formed to take out those who would destroy the peace, being careful not to cross a line that would bring on WWIII.

This book describes two acts of ‘technical’ warfare, and how they were resolved. Always keep in mind that as hostilities increased, more and more technology continued to advance, especially in the forms of weapons and surveillance. This fictional account presents the technologic possibilities.

Chapter 1

Opening

Oklahoma Western Flight 54 from Pittsburgh International Airport touched down on the tarmac at 6:35 PM local time at Tucson International Airport, and taxied to gate 17 which connected the incoming flights to the air terminal. Elise had slept off and on for most of the three-and-a-half-hour flight. She was trying to understand why she and Chris had to meet again, now, well into their lives. ¹

As she rose from her seat and gathered her coat to disembark, she still felt in her heart they would eventually be together, but had no idea when this might occur. She was with her husband Bill now, was a surgical nurse with a promising career, a mother of a son, Jason, and a daughter, Cassy. Chris was married to Jessie, was working in a major hospital medical laboratory and was involved with Emergency Medical services. He, too, had a son, Joseph, and a daughter, Kimberly. What she did not know was that Chris was still a consultant for the top-secret government defense project, The Four Apostles. She had no idea at this point that this project would once again affect her life.

Elise deplaned and headed for the baggage retrieval area. She was unaware someone from her past was walking behind her, watching her. This person had boarded the plane behind her and sat in her row by the window on the opposite side of the plane. Elise picked up her baggage and headed for the parking garage. She had left her car in the terminal parking garage when she flew to Pittsburgh to visit her mother who was suffering from congestive heart failure. Bill was on 24/7 call at the research center, and she didn’t want to have to wait for him to pick her up at the airport if he was working and couldn’t get to the airport right away. The shadowy figure that had been following Elise watched as she located her parked car, placed the key in the lock and opened the driver’s side door. Elise opened the left back door and placed her luggage and coat in the back seat and closed the door. She slid into the driver’s seat, closed the driver’s side door placing the key