Chapter 27 - THE GHOST PROTOCOL IN MOTION
Within thirty minutes of the intercept, the carrier strike group had re-established internal cohesion. The cruisers *Antietam* and *Chancellorsville* had closed to within five miles, forming a defensive ring around the wounded flagship, their Aegis combat systems now operating on local optical networks established by Avery’s covert algorithms.
In the Admiral’s private war room behind the bridge, the air was thick with the smell of stale coffee and burnt electronics.
On the table lay the micro-drive recovered from Major Jonathan Vance’s vest, alongside Avery’s personal satellite datapad.
Vance stood by the window, staring out into the dark storm. "My brother died twenty years ago thinking his son was a patriot," the Admiral said, his voice heavy with grief. "To find out Jonathan was Sterling’s executioner..."
"Sterling is a master at finding broken men and giving them a false purpose," Avery said, her hands flying over the keyboard of her ruggedized laptop. "He did it to Jonathan. He did it to Commander Harrison on the parade ground in Coronado. Harrison thought he was putting an insubordinate female officer in her place; he had no idea he was being used as a test to see if my classified cover could be broken in public."
"Harrison was a pawn," Vance agreed grimly. "What did you find on that drive?"
Avery rotated the laptop toward the Admiral.
The screen displayed a three-dimensional flight path of a modified Boeing E-4B Advanced Airborne Command Post—the military aircraft known as the *Doomsday Plane.*
"Sterling’s aircraft took off from Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska six hours ago," Avery explained, pointing to the red trajectory line. "It’s operating under the transponder of a civilian cargo flight, currently holding a racetrack pattern over the Northern Marianas. He’s running the entire communications blackout from that plane."
"He has full nuclear command authority while in the air," Vance said, horrified. "As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, if he issues an emergency action message claiming the carrier was attacked, the President will have less than ten minutes to verify it."
"Then we have eight minutes to take that plane down," Avery said.
Vance looked at her, stunned. "Take it down? Avery, that’s an E-4B! It has an armored electronic shield, counter-missile suites, and two F-22 Raptors escorting it at forty thousand feet. You can't shoot it down with a carrier fighter!"
"I don't intend to shoot it down," Avery replied, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a silver USB drive that had remained pinned to the lining of her uniform since Coronado. "I intend to board it."
Vance blinked, unable to comprehend what she had just said. "Board an aircraft in mid-flight? That’s impossible. That’s suicide."
"It’s Ghost Protocol Seven," Avery said calmly. "During the Cold War, the CIA designed a system for aerial hostage rescue from hijacked command aircraft. It uses a high-altitude specialized transport craft fitted with an umbilical docking ring. The Lincoln’s lower hangar bay has an unmarked C-2 Greyhound transport that was delivered last night under classified manifest."
"That C-2 was marked for engine overhaul," Vance muttered.
"It wasn't for an engine overhaul," Avery said with a ghost of a smile. "It was modified by my unit three months ago. It’s equipped with scramjet boosters and a carbon-composite docking collar. It can match the E-4B’s airspeed and altitude for ninety seconds—just enough time to breach the upper crew escape hatch."
"And who is going to fly that transport?" Vance asked.
"I am," Avery said, standing up and checking the magazine of her SIG Sauer. "And Master Chief Cross."
"Avery, if you fail, you won't just die—you’ll be branded a traitor who attacked the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs," Vance warned, his voice cracking with emotion.
Avery walked to the war room door, her hand resting on the handle. She looked back at the Admiral, her expression unreadable, calm, and terrifyingly resolute.
May you like
"They already tried to take my career on the parade field in Coronado, Admiral," she said. "They already tried to erase my name. The only thing left for them to take is my life. Let them come and try."
***
