Fire Arrow by Franklin Allen Leib

Author:Franklin Allen Leib [Franklin Allen Leib]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction/Thrillers
ISBN: 9781640191556
Publisher: New Word City, Inc.
Published: 2018-05-18T16:00:00+00:00

Washington, 0245 GMT (2145 Local)

The large-screen computer display in the front of the White House situation room showed an outline of Western Europe, the Mediterranean, and Africa north of the equator. Different-colored arrowheads showed the position and direction of the various units; the Sixth Fleet thirty miles off the Libyan coast, the air force transports carrying the Airborne passing south of Sardinia en route to their orbit area east of the fleet, and the B-52 carrying the SEALs flying slowly east across southern Algeria. A light point in central England began to glow and pulse.

“What’s that?” asked the President, pointing.

“That means the Air Force is about to launch the F-111s, Mr. President,” answered Admiral Daniels.

“Shit!”

Heads turned toward the source of the expletive outburst, loud in the quiet room. “Mr. President, Admiral, we have a problem,” said the Secretary of State, rising from his console and walking hurriedly across the room.

“What is it, Henry?” said the President.

“That was the French Ambassador. The French government has denied us permission to overfly France.”

“Jesus!” said the President. “How in the hell can they do that?”

“Their position is that since there is no evidence of official Libyan involvement, Libya should not be attacked. Apparently the Libyan Ambassador has convinced them that Colonel Baruni is doing everything he can to gain control of the hostages.”

“But surely they understand we’re only attacking in order to free our hostages!”

“They do, Mr. President, and they wish us well, but they do not wish to be associated with bombing raids on two Libyan air bases far from Uqba ben Nafi.”

The President looked a question at Admiral Daniels. The Chief of Naval Operations nodded. “That’s the One-Elevens’ mission, Mr. President.”

“Do we need to attack those bases? Really need to?” asked the President.

“If we don’t, sir, the Libyans will be able to launch massive air attacks on our fleet, and maybe penetrate the Combat Air Patrol and disrupt the assault and extraction itself.” Admiral Daniels tapped his computer console, and a new display came up, showing the Libyan air bases at Benghazi and Tobruk, with symbols denoting aircraft on the ground. “Our best intelligence is that both these bases have more fighter and attack aircraft on the ground than usual; we presume they have been redeployed from Uqba ben Nafi.”

“So what can we do? Fly our F-111s around, through the Straits of Gibraltar?” There was an edge of sarcasm in the President’s voice.

“That is, in fact, what the French suggest,” said the Secretary of State softly.

“That isn’t possible!” the President thundered, pounding his console. “Is it?”

General Vaughn broke away from his air force staff officers, all of whom were shaking their heads, and walked to the President’s table. “Theoretically, it is, Mr. President. We would have to refuel them twice en route. The problem is we simply do not have nearly enough time, even if we had such an operation already planned, which we don’t.”

“So where does that leave us, gentlemen?” the President’s voice was tight with frustration and fatigue.

“We can cancel and set it up tomorrow, with in-flight refueling,” said General Vaughn.

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