Nightwatch

Chapter 36

Since most of the communications traffic aboard Nightwatch was generated to and from the operations staff. Red was a bit surprised when a High Frequency, satellite-relayed call arrived for the 747’s senior pilot. She connected it directly to the cockpit, and had all but forgotten about the call until Coach contacted her several minutes later and discreetly asked her to meet him in the upper-deck rest area.

After temporarily transferring her duties to Sergeant Schuster, Red excused herself for a rest-room break and headed straight upstairs. Waiting for her in the flight crew’s lounge area was not only Coach, but Commander Cooper as well. Both of them looked worried, and Coach addressed Red in a conspiratorial whisper.

“I don’t suppose it’s possible to trace that call I just received, to determine both its point of origin and its legitimacy?” asked Coach.

“Did you get a breather?” This light remark didn’t break the barest of smiles, and Red added in all seriousness, “Though I’m unable to trace the call’s exact origin, I can tell you that it arrived on a Level One encrypted line, usually reserved for NCA personnel working out of the White House or Executive Office Building.”

“Would that include the Vice President?” Coach queried.

“Most definitely,” Red answered.

Coach looked at Brittany and then back to Red.

“Strange as this might seem, that call supposedly originated from a Secret Service SATCOM unit situated deep in the Missouri Ozarks, with the caller himself none other than Andrew Chapman.”

“That’s wonderful news!” Red exclaimed.

“Does either the Chairman or Captain Richardson know this? FEMA has been going absolutely crazy trying to locate the VP.”

Coach put his right index finger to his lips to remind Red to keep her voice low, and he worriedly shook his head.

“I think it’s wise if we keep this news to ourselves at the moment.”

“But why?” Red countered.

“If the VP’s still alive, that means we have a Presidential successor to swear into office, and that we can finally transfer the reigns of power from Nightwatch.”

“Red,” said Coach, after accepting a solemn nod from Brittany, “I realize I’m taking a chance sharing this with you. But you’ve always been a trusted ally, and both Commander Cooper and I are going to need your unique expertise in a matter of the gravest importance to our nation’s survival. Andrew Chapman just informed me that he too has been the recent victim of an assassination attempt. He swears that the individuals behind this attempt are the same ones who killed the President, and that they’ve taken this extreme course of action in order to take over the United States government.”

“Is it the Russians?” Red questioned.

Coach shook his head that it wasn’t, adding, “Here’s the kicker. Sergeant. The Vice President seems to think that the coup is being orchestrated from this aircraft, and that our esteemed Chairman is the ringleader!”

A look of utter disbelief filled Red’s face, and Brittany quickly chimed in.

“I know just how you’re feeling. Red. Coach shared this with me seconds before you arrived up here, and I’m still stunned.”

“Without us knowing?” Red managed to say, her voice filled with skepticism.

“I have no doubt whatsoever that the man I talked with was Andrew Chapman,” offered Coach.

“We went to high school together, and we had a chance to get reacquainted last summer, when I piloted Air Force Two during his trip to India.”

“And I happen to know the Secret Service agent who originally fielded this SATCOM call on the VP’s behalf,” Brittany revealed.

“Special Agent Vince Kellogg is a personal friend. In fact, his wife, Kelly, is closer to me than my own sister, and I’m even dating Vince’s brother, Thomas. Vince Kellogg is not the type of man who can be easily fooled, and if he says there’s trouble aboard Nightwatch, then we’d better take serious note.”

“Do you think anyone else is involved? Do you think… even Colonel Pritchard?”

Coach tried his best to ease her fears.

“The Colonel might very well be. Red, though Andrew Chapman didn’t mention him by name. At the moment, the only thing we can do is to proceed as if everyone aboard this aircraft is suspect.”

The cabin began shaking in the grasp of a sudden pocket of outside turbulence, and Coach alertly grabbed the nearest handset when the intercom activated with a loud chime.

“Foard here … I felt it. Lucky. Go ahead and hit the seatbelt warning sign. And don’t bother to wake up Major Lassiter.

I’ll be back up there in two shakes of a stick.”

“Did the Vice President mention what his immediate plans were, or suggest what we can do to help rectify the situation?”

asked Brittany as Coach hung up the handset.

“The VP and Special Agent Kellogg were planning to remain incommunicado, investigating the plot from their end,” replied Coach.

“They’re depending upon us to determine the true extent of the Chairman’s involvement.”

“And if he’s indeed the ringleader?” Brittany dared to say.

Yet another pocket of turbulence shook the cabin, and Coach answered while grabbing an overhead handhold.

“We’ll address that when and if we have to. Right now, there are too many unanswered accusations, and we need some solid evidence. I’m going to get back to the flight deck before my associates get suspicious, and I’m relying on the two of you to see what you can come up with back in Operations.”

“What can I do?” Red inquired.

“For starters,” replied Coach, “how about compiling a list of all the Chairman’s outside telephone conversations? He can’t run a successful coup without being in constant contact with his supporters back in the CONUS.”

“That shouldn’t be too difficult to come up with,” said Red.

“I’m going to take a closer look at the Admiral’s tactical log,” said Brittany.

“The strategic considerations in a plot of this magnitude are considerable, and if the Chairman is really attempting a military-backed coup d’etat, it should show up in his SIOP folder.”

“Sounds good for starters, ladies,” said Coach, who momentarily lost his footing when the fuselage canted hard to the right.

“Now I’d better go find us some stable air. Be careful. And remember, trust no one.”