DEADLY DILEMMA by Dan Stratman (free ebook reader for iphone TXT) 📕

shrieked in terror as their dying helicopter corkscrewed down into a deep ravine, miles from the nearest road. It exploded in a blinding orange ball of flames.

The second attack helicopter flew to the ravine and hovered over the twisted, smoldering wreckage. The barrel of its Gatling gun tilted down. A hail of bullets rained down on the charred bodies, guaranteeing there would be no survivors.

Chapter Twenty

Cyndi took the sturdy red metal box out of her backpack and slipped it into a slot on the shelf above the launch console. She tossed her backpack into the empty cabinet under the console.

The REACT console had two missileer stations, separated by a large worktable. Duplicate sets of computer monitors, keyboards, switches, and buttons filled the space. A digital clock mounted between the stations counted off every second of every hour, making shifts feel even longer.

Crew members sat eight feet apart in high-back chairs like the ones used by captains on aircraft carriers. The distance between them made it impossible for one person to reach the four most important switches. Those switches controlled more destructive firepower than a hundred floating naval bases.

The effort needed to launch a nuke was minimal. The commander inserted the key from the red box into the designated slot with her right hand. Her left rested on a rotating switch. The deputy controlled two identical rotating switches on his side. On the commander’s order, all four would be turned simultaneously. A simple turn of the wrist would unleash 475 kilotons of devastation.

Safeguards built into the system prevented a rogue crew from launching a missile by themselves. Software programmed into the console scrutinized any launch command before executing it by validating it against orders from higher command authorities. If it passed, the missile flew.

“I want everything operating 100 percent before we go to strategic alert status,” Cyndi said. “I’ll test the communications systems; you run the LCC subsystems test checklist.”

“It’s only ten o’clock. What’s the rush?” Lance asked. “Why don’t we eat first?”

“You know the drill. No errors, no mistakes, no exceptions. Your stomach can wait.” Cyndi picked up a red phone on her side of the console. “Command post, comm check from site Alpha One.” She plugged the opposite ear with her finger, squinted, and leaned forward as she strained to listen. “Say again?” She shook her head. “No. This is site Alpha One, not Echo One.” She listened more keenly. “I can’t understand a thing you’re saying. I’ll try the commercial line.” Cyndi hung up. “Lowest-bidder piece of junk,” she grumbled.

She went over to a wall-mounted phone near the blast door. Bell Telephone was stamped on the plastic handset. Cyndi tapped in a phone number on the keypad then waited.

“Warren Air Force Base operator. How can I help you?”

“This is LCC Alpha One. Connect me to the command post.”

“Hold, please.”

She covered the mouthpiece with her hand and shook her head. “This is ridiculous.” After a few seconds she pulled her hand away. “This is Captain Stafford. The direct line at Alpha One is malfunctioning. We are in place. LCC is secure.” She listened for a moment then said, “Roger that. And send out a maintenance crew to fix our comm systems.” She hung up and sat back down in a huff. “Have you run the checklist yet?”

“On it,” Lance said quickly.

He pulled a four-inch-thick binder from the shelf above his workstation. Every one of the hundreds of pages in the new checklist was tucked into plastic sleeves to protect them from the eventual wear that was to come from being used 24/7/365/forever.

He flipped it open. “LCC subsystems test checklist. Page three dash one one five.”

Methodically, he went line-by-line through the checklist with his finger.

“Lamp test.” Lance pressed a button. The panel lit up like an overdecorated Christmas tree.

Every switch, button, and bulb on the console would need to be working correctly before the LCC would be deemed fit to control nuclear missiles. Five pages later, he came to the last item on the checklist.

“Backup generator.” Lance flipped a switch, but nothing happened. “Come on.” He tried it again. Nothing.

“What’s the problem?”

“The backup generator isn’t responding.”

“Try the alternate circuit.”

Lance tried a different switch. “Nothing.”

“I’m not going to take the site off alert status on its first day.” Cyndi got up and walked over behind his chair. She scanned his panel. “Test the generator again.”

Lance threw his hands up. “I already did. It’s not working.”

Cyndi put a hand on his headrest, leaned forward, and pointed. “Try it again.”

Lance looked back with frustration. “I’ve been at this for two years. I think I know what I’m doing, Captain.”

Cyndi reached down and pressed the test button herself. Her breasts were now resting on Lance’s shoulders.

He tensed up. “I don’t think I’m comfortable with this.” Lance pushed away from the console and stood up. He turned to face Cyndi.

She straightened up and stepped back. “Is that so, Lieutenant? And exactly what are you going to do about it?”

“This!”

Lance cupped his hand around the back of her neck, pulled Cyndi close, and planted a passionate, powerful kiss on her lips.

Chapter Twenty-One

Cyndi recoiled from Lance and wiped her lips with the back of her hand. She spread her feet apart to distribute her weight.

Lance swallowed hard, prepared for what was about to come his way.

Instead of knocking him unconscious, Cyndi smiled and said, “What took you so long?”

Lance let out a big sigh of relief. “I wanted to make sure we were all alone. Complete discretion, like you want.”

“Now that we are…” She slid down the zipper on her flight suit, revealing a racy, pink Victoria’s Secret bra and panties under her military issue uniform.

Lance reached out and slid her flight suit off each shoulder, baring her shapely and toned upper body. He leaned in for a kiss, confident he wouldn’t be risking his life this time with his show of affection.

When their lips parted, Cyndi took his hand and led Lance over to the bunk. She pulled the curtains back. “How about we