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.Breen sent two men ahead to check the route, to see if there was some way toget around the wreckage.There was, but they would have to go back down themountain and around the base.According to the topographic map, that wouldtake them twice as long.They would be moving around in daylight.Breen decided to try to complete the mission.The mountain was steep in their present location, so they backtracked a halfmile to a point where the map said they could walk down.Breen double-timedthe unit, keeping the wedge formation as they descended.They slowed as theyreached the base of the foothills, partly to conserve energy and partly towatch for shepherds or fanners who might be up early.Unfortunately, they werestopped by something they did not anticipate: the hogs found the mobile Scudfor which the F-15E had been searching.It was sitting under an outcropping ofrock, about three hundred yards below them.The tractor was hidden beneath acamouflage tarp.Iraqi soldiers were busy covering it with brush beforesunrise.Breen halted the unit.The men did not carry explosives, but they had M9 9 mmside arms and a single M249 light machine gun.They also had surprise.Thehogs could probably take the Scud then slag it with fire in the fueltank.However, the Iraqis might have time to call in backup.If the Marineswere hunted, that could doom the primary mission, not to mention the teamitself.Reluctantly, Breen decided to continue with the original plan.However, hePage 152 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmldid break radio silence to call in the location of the Scud.Centcom agreed tohold off an attack until the hogs had time to get out of the area.Unfortunately, it did not work out that way.The Iraqis had intercepted theirsignal.The Scud commander had no idea what had been said, but he had a goodidea why it was said.He decided to relocate and called for air cover.A joint dogfight, ground skirmish was not something Centcom wanted.It hadthe potential of becoming a flashpoint for the war before the coalition had achance to put all its assets in place.Instead, the hogs were ordered tocontinue.The Scud would be dealt with by a mechanized army unit that wasalready in Iraq.The small tank group, nicknamed the Jolly Rodgers after theircommander, was being prepositioned to help the 2ndBrigade move against theIraqi 29thMechanized Brigade s security zone.They had the satellite uplinkand artillery range that would enable them to target and take out the Scud.Breen and his hogs moved on to their target.Everything went well until thereturn trip.The Marines reached the cave early in the afternoon and hunkereddown until sunset.Then they moved to the communications tower, spliced in thesatellite interceptor, and went back along the original route.They had tocircle wide around the still-smouldering wreckage of the Su-7, but the Iraqisdid not see them.Unfortunately, a sudden sandstorm had grounded the Apache fleet.The hogs hadtwo choices.They could stay in the foothills and wait for as long as it tookfor flying conditions to improve, or they could hitch a ride back with a tankthat was going to lead part of the charge into Iraq as the hidden JollyRodgers advance team picked off advancing Iraqi armor.Breen did not want to ride back with army personnel, but it had been anarduous trek, they were very low on supplies, and there was no telling howlong the sandstorm would last.He put the safety of his team above pride.TheMarines agreed to a nearby rendezvous point and left after sunset.Theyconnected at midnight, forty-eight hours after jumping into Iraq.The man who drove the hogs back was then-Colonel Mike Rodgers.The Marinesrode on the outside of the M1A1 Abrams.The trip took six hours, and it wasthe bumpiest, dustiest journey Breen had ever experienced.The men alternatelysat and lay belly down on the rear of the turret or on the forward armor, overthe fuel tank.They each had a canteen and foil-wrapped turkey jerky tosustain them.Even worse than the ride, though, was the fact that ColonelRodgers was an absolute gentleman.He did not rag on the Marines for acceptinga lift from the army.In fact, he commended the hogs for sticking to theirplanned objective instead of going for the trophy Scud. You saved a lot of lives, was Rodgers s final comment.When they reached the staging area in Saudi Arabia, a Marine troop transporttruck was waiting to take them to their own home base.Colonel Rodgers walkedthem to the vehicle. I ll see you when this is over, Rodgers said, saluting the Marine and thenclasping his hand. Where can I reach you? Pendleton, Breen said.He grinned as his men climbed into the truck. I llprobably be with the base chiropractor getting my back realigned. It was then that Rodgers took his one and only jab at the Marines. Yousemperfi guys are proud of your sea legs.I ve always found a strong army assto be much more valuable. Page 153 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html We ll have to test that one day, Breen said. What about you? Where are yougoing? I ve been overseas half my life.I d like to find something stateside. Let me know where that is, Breen told him. When we get together, dinner son me. Not dinner, Rodgers told him. Never dinner.I m like Don Corleone.I hold out for favors. You ve got it, Breen replied.The men did get together after the war, right after Rodgers had accepted adeputy directorship at the newly formed Op-Center.They had a great night onthe town in Washington with one of Rodgers s new coworkers, BobHerbert.Op-Center picked up the tab.Rodgers never called in his chit.Until now.The voice mail message did not tell Breen what Rodgers needed, only that hemight require intelligence-gathering support in nearby San Diego.Whatever itwas, Mike Rodgers would get it.And when this little adventure was all over,General Breen would provide Rodgers with something he had been waiting fifteenyears to give him: a high-speed ride on the bumpiest, wettest motorized rubberraft he could find.THIRTY-FIVEWashington, B.C.Tuesday, 5:43 p.m.At this moment, Alexander Hood s bedroom was more technologically capablethan the bulk of Op-Center.That thought demoralized Paul Hood, though it wasnot as if they were starting from zero.The exception was the Tank.Hood was there now.He was not helping to get thefacility marginally operational.He was not helping the search-and-disposeteam from Andrews look for other explosives.He was taking calls fromofficials and from friends.The president had called, followed by a chat withSenator Debenport.The senator asked if Hood thought the USF wasresponsible.Hood told him that possibility was being investigated.Debenportinformed him that the CIOC was going to provide him with emergencyreconstruction funds.Hood was appreciative, even though he knew why Debenportwas getting him the money.He spoke briefly with a reporter from the Washington Post, the only interviewhe gave, and with his occasional date Daphne Connors.Now Hood was talkingwith Sharon.His former wife had heard about an explosion from a friend at thePentagon.She called to make sure Paul was all right. We lost one man and most of our electronics, Hood said. I m sorry.Will you be able to get the facility running again? That s being assessed now, Hood told her. With enough money, though,anything can be fixed. He hesitated
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