An Untimely Situation: A Matt and the General Book

By Harry Katzan Jr.

This novel, as in the previous eleven stories in the series involving Matt and the General, with the assistance of their associates and friends, Matt and the General combine their efforts to solve three major problems that involve the safety of the United States. In this instance, the action takes place completely within the United States, unlike the others that have an international flavor. An Untimely Situation is situated in the beautiful areas of Hilton Head Island and the residential community of Sun City Hilton Head located in the southeast coast of the state of South Carolina.
As in the previous novels, Matt Miller, who has a PhD degree from a prestigious university, uses mathematical thinking and solid logic, along with the organizational ability of General Les Miller, his grandfather, to solve three major problems, recognized by the President of the United States.
In this set of episodes, the action includes a governmental leak, the problems of ransomware, and a terrorist bombing. Throughout, the activity uses the knowledge of General Mark Clark and three important women including Ashley, who is Matt’s wife, Anna, who is the General’s wife, and Ann, who is General Clark’s wife.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Aug 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781663226976

Harry Katzan Jr.

Harry Katzan, Jr. is a professor who has written several books and many papers on computers and service, in addition to some novels. He has been a advisor to the executive board of a major bank and a general consultant on various disciplines. He and his wife have lived in Switzerland where he was a banking consultant and a visiting professor. He is an avid runner and has completed 94 marathons including Boston 13 times and New York 14 times. He holds bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees.

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Copyright © 2021 Harry Katzan Jr.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means,

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except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents,

organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products

of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-6632-2696-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-2698-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-2697-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021915299

iUniverse rev. date: 08/02/2021

For Margaret, as always

INTRODUCTION

T his novel, as in the previous eleven stories in the series involving Matt and the General, with the assistance of their associates and friends, Matt and the General combine their efforts to solve three major problems that involve the safety of the United States. In this instance, the action takes place completely within the United States, unlike the others that have an international flavor. An Untimely Situation is situated in the beautiful areas of Hilton Head Island and the residential community of Sun City Hilton Head located in the southeast coast of the state of South Carolina.

As in the previous novels, Matt Miller, who has a PhD degree from a prestigious university, uses mathematical thinking and solid logic, along with the organizational ability of General Les Miller, his grandfather, to solve three major problems, recognized by the President of the United States.

In this set of episodes, the action includes a governmental leak, the problems of ransomware, and a terrorist bombing. Throughout, the activity uses the knowledge of General Mark Clark and three important women including Ashley, who is Matt’s wife, Anna, who is the General’s wife, and Ann, who is General Clark’s wife.

The scene changes rapidly, but always in the scope of no violence, no sex, and no bad language. The book typifies the conventional beach read in that the subject matter can be read as three separate stories.

This is the twelfth book in the Matt and the General series. The sequence will be interrupted while the author tends to academic pursuits. Nevertheless, expect Matt and the General to return shortly. Enjoy reading the book. You deserve it.

The Author,

July 20, 2021

PROLOGUE

T his book starts off where the previous book in the series, The Terrorist Plot, leaves off.

In Terrorist, the action is centered on Hilton Head Island in beautiful South Carolina. Some terrorists with their families have gained entry to the United States through illegal means in Hilton Head. The Iranian director of the project lives in a separate house, because he requires 5G communication lines that are not available elsewhere. The other workers families, and kids live in separate luxury apartments, and meet regularly in a local coffee house. The essence of this terrorist attack is to crash a large airplane loaded with jet fuel into the White House.

The White House is closely protected against air attacks, so the terrorists develop an ingenious plan. The terrorists need three airplanes to execute the plan, along with an unused area of Pease Air Force base in New Hampshire. Three of the Iranians buy the three planes needed for their operation based in New Hampshire from a plane graveyard in New Mexico. The planes are flown surreptitiously during the night to Pease air base where they are modified to be pilotless aircraft using artificial intelligence methods. The plan is to crash one plane into the Air Traffic control Center in Boston to prevent Boston from passing information on a suspicious aircraft to the Air Traffic Control Center in Washington.

The Washington Air Traffic Center is destroyed as a result of the second pilotless aircraft. This operation leaves Washington unprotected against an incoming terrorist plane loaded with fuel that is highly flammable. It too is pilotless and is supposed to crash into the White House.

Matt figures out the plan and has the three pilotless planes destroyed by American tactical fighter planes, and the White House is saved. It is a major accomplishment and Matt is duly recognized as a hero and is appropriately rewarded by the President of the United States.

The terrorist leader agrees to do spy work for the Americans, after he is apprehended by the police The Iranian workers and their families escape to Iran., and the episode ends with the Air Traffic Control Centers and the White House intact.

The story picks up from there.

CHARACTERS IN THE NOVEL

The General – Les Miller. Former military General and Humanitarian. P-51 pilot and world war 2 hero. Has bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees.

Matthew (Matt) Miller – Professor of Mathematics. Has PhD degree. Grandson of the General. Sophisticated problem solver and strategist.

Ashley Wilson Miller – College friend of Matt Miller. Former Duchess of Bordeaux. Married to Matt Miller. Has Master’s degree and is a Receiver of the National Medal of Freedom.

Marguerite Purgoine - Retired creative writing Professor and an associate of the team. Has PhD degree. Known as Anna for some unknown reason. Wife of the General.

General Clark - Mark Clark. Former Four General and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Appointed to be U.S. Director of Intelligence.

Sir Charles (Buzz) Bunday – P-51 pilot and Army Air Force buddy of Les Miller. Member of the British Security Service. Knight of the United Kingdom.

Ann Clark – Wife of General Clark and associate of the team. Formerly combat colonel in the U.S. Army.

Kenneth Strong – President of the United States.

Elizabeth Strong – Wife of Kenneth Strong and is First Lady of the United States.

Harry Steevens – Expert mathematician and former college friend of Matt Miller. Policeman in Hilton Head.

Adam Benfield – Iranian terrorist leader known as Atalus. Spy for the United States. and lives in Sun City.

George Benson – Associate to the President and Chief of Staff.

Nancy Small – Government statistician and mathematics tutor.

Ryan Small – Married to Nancy Small and former professional football player.

And a few others

CONTENTS

Introduction

Prologue

Characters in