Defcon One (1989) (29 page)

Copy, Houston, Crawford replied as he moved the orbiter's aerodynamic control surfaces to exercise the emergency hydraulic system.

Hank, this is going to be difficult, Crawford said to the shuttle pilot.

Yeah, looks like you're struggling a bit.

They're stiff as hell, Crawford responded, and there isn't any air resistance at this point.' The pilot rolled the controls in the opposite direction, using a considerable amount of force.

Wait 'til we blast into the lower atmosphere.

Yeah, Culdrew replied, take a gorilla to move 'em.

Crawford entered a code to dump the forward reaction control system propellants overboard, shifting the orbiter's center of gravity for reentry.

Houston, Crawford radioed, then made another entry into the computer.

RCS dump completed.

Copy dump, Houston acknowledged. Our prayers are with you.

Thanks, Crawford responded.

Crawford and Doherty checked the entry attitude a fourth time. The ADI showed no roll, no yaw, and the nose-up pitch now indicated thirty-four degrees. The shuttle, although heavily damaged, was in the ideal position for reentry into the earth's lower atmosphere.

Looks good. Hank, Crawford looked at Doherty. Let's go for it!

Hit it, boss, the mission pilot replied, watching the instrument panel while he read the checklist.

Speedbrake-throttle.

' Auto, Crawford responded, watching the attitude indicator for the slightest deviation.

' Pitch, Doherty continued, monitoring the command pilot's moves.

Auto, Crawford said as he quickly entered more information into the computer, then watched his CRT for the proper response.

Yaw and roll, Doherty challenged.

Auto, Crawford said, as he prepared for atmospheric entry to commence at 400,000 feet.

Columbia, hurtling through space at 17,000 miles per hour, was absorbing the effects of the more dense atmosphere. The shuttle was rapidly heating from the thermal shock of reentry.

Houston, Crawford radioed, pulse pounding in his neck, we're at entry interface, ready for LOS.

Roger, Columbia. Copy ready for loss of signal.

The shuttle was approaching an altitude of 315,000 feet, traveling at 16,700 miles per hour, when the communications blackout began.

Columbia was enveloped by ionized particles during deep atmosphere entry.

Crawford tensely watched the flight instruments. When sensors detected an atmospheric pressure of ten pounds per square foot, the roll thrusters would be turned off. The elevens would then supply roll control, providing the low-pressure emergency hydraulic system could move the flight controls.

Oh, shit! Crawford exclaimed as the orbiter decelerated to 15,000 miles per hour in the lower, denser atmosphere. I don't like this stiff feeling in the controls.

Crawford was intently concentrating on the flight instruments, fixating

on a few. The vibration is beginning to make this very diffic

Watch your roll, boss, Doherty reminded Crawford, noting the right wing had dropped seven degrees.

Got it! Crawford answered, then stared at the RCS pitch thrusters deactivated light. The bright light winked on, startling the shuttle commander.

The elevens now controlled pitch, as well as roll, with limited hydraulic pressure to activate the aerodynamic flight controls.

Columbia was crippled and entering a dangerous transition zone.

Hang on guys! Crawford said as the shuttle, over the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California, neared 230,000 feet of altitude at 14,000 miles an hour.

This would be the time of maximum heating to the orbiter as atmospheric drag dissipated the kinetic energy of the shuttle.

The nose and wing leading edges, heavily covered in thermal protecting tiles, would reach temperatures above 2,800 degrees Fahrenheit.

Maj. Ward Culdrew, sitting in Minh Tran's seat, tightened his straps and keyed his intercom.

Please extinguish all smoking material, and bring your stewardess to an upright position.

Columbia started to buffet, then oscillated in roll and pitch.

I don't like this... Crawford, obviously strained, said over the intercom.

Stay with it, Doherty replied in a tense, low voice.

The shuttle began to yaw, increasing in magnitude, with each roll. The emergency boosted flight controls could not react rapidly enough to stabilize the orbiter.

Crawford fought the controls, breathing heavily. I'm losing it... oh.

God ... I've lost it...

THE AGENTS Dimitri and Wickham stared with terror-filled eyes as the other Russian gunship landed fifty meters from the first helicopter.

The gunner from the first Mi-28 crawled out of the helicopter and cautiously approached the Lada. He carried a handgun and had another weapon slung over his shoulder.

After carefully reconnoitering the stolen vehicle, the gunner returned to confer with the gunship pilot. After two or three minutes, an eternity to the CIA agents, the second helicopter added power and hovered approximately ten meters over the pavement.

The Russian gunner remained close to the first gunship as the second Mi-28 began to circle slowly in the area around the Lada. After two complete circles the second helicopter departed in the direction they had arrived from, following the road.

The first gunship remained stationary as the big rotors wound down.

The huge Isotov turboshafts idled noisily, masking any conversation for a hundred meters.

Dimitri, we've got a break, Wickham whispered. The choppers don't have much range. I'm sure the other bastard went after fuel. When he gets back who knows how long-then this guy will go.

Dimitri nodded his head in understanding, feeling more confident.

Wickham slid next to Dimitri. They know we're in the vicinity. After they're both full of fuel, and, probably, have reinforcements on the way, then they'll begin the hunt in earnest.

Wickham looked around the area, then turned back to his charge. We've got to move now, get as much real estate between us and them as soon as possible.

Dimitri, calming himself, responded positively. Okay, I'm ready.

I'll ... I'll be okay.

Good. Follow me and stay on your stomach. We're going to crawl to that

tree line, Wickham pointed in the direction, and then cut back across

the road to

Across the road? They... Dimitri stopped, eyes enlarged, expressing his worry about the open road.

Dimitri, they're going to find our footprints by the stream and figure we headed straight across the field. That's natural.

They'll lose our prints in this nibble. If we crawl through this crap, we won't leave any signs. They won't expect us to backtrack and cross the road. Besides, the road curves. We'll just go to a point where we can't see the chopper and then cross.

Got it?

Yes, Dimitri replied, brushing himself off.

Let's go. Real slow and easy, no quick movements, the American coached as the two agents belly-crawled toward the distant tree line.

Wickham struggled after Dimitri, hiding the pain in his arm.

Every shift of his body, using only his left arm, sent a throbbing ache through his shoulder.

After fifteen minutes, punctuated by frequent stops to listen and look around, the two men reached the scraggly tree line.

They stopped and listened again, then crawled to the edge of the small stream. The American led Dimitri across the stream, leaping over the ice and landing on thick, brown winter grass.

Dimitri followed, landing in the same spot.

The agents crouched down and walked to the edge of the road. Wickham spoke quietly to Dimitri. Stay put and I'll check the road.

The American, creeping on his hands and knees, ventured to the edge of the roadway. Standing half-upright, Wickham edged toward the center of the road.

Both men heard the sound at the same instant.

WHOP-WHOPWHOP-WHOP.

Wickham dove back into the sparse shrubbery as the other gunship, flying extremely low, rounded the curve at high speed.

That was close! the American said, catching his breath.

Dimitri, let's go before the other guy gets off the ground.

The agents darted across the bare pavement as the arriving helicopter slowed to a hover. They could hear the engine of the first helicopter begin to develop take-off power.

Come on, Dimitri, Wickham ordered, holding his right shoulder.

Follow me.

Chapter
Thirteen.

The White House Situation Room was in upheaval when the vice president walked into the chaos.

Gentlemen. All conversations stopped, heads turning toward Blaylocke.

The president has landed at Andrews and he is boarding Marine One at this time. I believe it would be prudent for us to await his arrival before we initiate any contact with the Kremlin.

Everyone agreed, standing by their seats until the vice president sat down at the head of the conference table.

Blaylocke surveyed the situation status displays, then turned to the group. Cliff, can you give us an update on Columbia?

The secretary of defense paused momentarily, then addressed the staff.

NASA scientists, along with Doctor Hays, believe the Russians used an antisatellite killer, one of their new ASAT satellites, to hit the space shuttle. How so? asked General Vandermeer.

The source of energy the brilliant light combined with the destruction, points to a laser beam. Nothing else would have the same effect, or the same properties.

Blaylocke interrupted. What about the crew? Can the shuttle make a safe descent, considering the damage it sustained?

Howard half-turned toward the vice president.

Mission Control isn't sure at this point. The crew used emergency extinguishers to put out two small electrical fires. Their hydraulic systems were damaged, too. The commander also reported a slight loss in cabin pressure.

Howard lifted his water glass, sipping two swallows, then continued.

To make matters worse, NASA engineers aren't sure the shuttle has the structural integrity to survive the reentry.' What's the primary reason? Blaylocke asked, weariness showing in her eyes.

They aren't sure if the vertical stabilizer, the tail, will remain intact when they penetrate the lower, denser atmosphere.' The room was totally quiet as Howard continued the brief.

Also, the structural load on the orbiter will be tremendous because of the damage to the cargo-bay doors. The fuselage section, from the middle of the cargo bay to the tail, is extensively damaged. The big question seems to be whether or not the cargo doors will remain locked and provide the strength to keep Columbia in one piece during the high-speed reentry.

General Vandermeer indicated that he had a question. Is it possible to launch one of the other shuttles and rescue the crew in low orbit?

Howard turned to Vandermeer. That really isn't an option, General.

In fact, Columbia should be reentering now. We should know something soon.

Blaylocke thanked the secretary and turned to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Admiral Chambers, will you give us an overview of the global situation to this point?

Yes, ma'am, Chambers replied, spreading three briefing sheets, side by side, on the table.

The Russian bomber groups have entered large holding patterns. There is a constant shuttle of tanker aircraft supplying the bombers. A large number of the escort fighters have returned to coastal bases. We anticipate they'll be returning to the bombers soon.

What about the submarines? Blaylocke asked, looking at her watch.

Their big boomers, at least the ones we've detected, have moved into firing positions. They are well spaced to inflict the maximum damage.

We've got every operable sub stalking them, along with the P-3s, Vikings, and our ASW helicopters.

Chambers reached for a different briefing sheet. Our bombers, including the Stealth aircraft, are cycling on and off station.

Our missile forces, both ground-and submarine-based, are at the ready.

Also, Chambers continued, scanning the third sheet of paper, the activated reserve and guard units are ready for immediate deployment.

Chambers looked up at Blaylocke. Our F-117As, the Stealth fighters, are strategically stationed at NATO bases. We are keeping six airborne around the clock until this crisis is over. The Navy carrier groups are in excellent positions to respond to any hostility. They have over twenty squadrons of Navy and Marine Corps aircraft at coast bases standing by to supplement the air wings on board the carriers.

An aide stepped into the room and announced the arrival of Marine One.

Thank you. Commander, Blaylocke replied, then addressed Chambers.