Nerve Center

Brea

“We’re falling back,” said Zen.

“Are you sure you have live contacts?” Bree asked. “There’s no way he could outaccelerate us.”

“He is.”

“You’re positive it’s Hawkmother?”

“Stay on this course.”

“Gal Leader.”

Dreamland Commander’s Office

7 March, 1135

DOG HAD JUST STARTED TO THINK ABOUT GOING IN search of lunch when his phone buzzed.

“Bastian,” he barked as he brought the receiver to his ear. “Urgent transmission for you, Colonel,” said Ax. “Tower on the line.”

“Punch it through,” said Bastian. He braced himself for the inevitable bad news. In the half second it took for Gibbs to punch the button and make the co

“Colonel, Major Stockard thinks he’s found Hawkmother. They’re trailing them south of here,” blurted the controller.

“What?”

“Hawkmother—there’s been an attack.”

“Okay. All right, I need this line—wait,” he said quickly. “What other planes do we have in the air?”

“None at this time, sir. Satellite window reopens in ten minutes. Raven’s due up at 1500.”

“They don’t have clearance to take off until I give it to you directly, do you understand?”

“Yes, sir,” said the controller.

Bastian jumped to his feet and slammed down the phone. They’d outfit Raven and he’d go after them.

“Ax, tell Da

Madeira Hotel

Pôrto Velho, Brazil

7 March, 1435 local (1035 Dreamland)

WHEN GENERAL HERULE ENTERED THE ROOM TO BEGIN the meeting, Minerva felt astoundingly light-headed, barely able to believe she had lived to see this day. The general’s personal bodyguard—wearing freshly adopted purple berets and matching epaulets as insignia—marched smartly into the hotel ballroom, flanking the doors. Their freshly polished boots reflected the sparkling chandeliers; the thick-paneled walls behind them showed off the sharp green of their khaki uniforms. Herule strode to the row of conference tables that had been set up in the exact center of the elaborate inlaid wood floor, standing at perfect attention. The sleepy town had been chosen as the site for the meeting because it was far from the capital; the hotel, finished only a few months before, because it could be easily secured. But in that moment it seemed to Minerva that there could not have been a more perfect and grand setting; the general filled the room with an air of majesty and power.

The incumbent President, mouth drawn and eyes baggy, entered from the side door not far from where Minerva stood. He’d made the long trip from Brasilia to this regional outpost just south of the Amazon by car; his body seemed to have absorbed every dirt and dust particle along the way. When he glanced toward her, she saw not the hate she expected, nor anger, but simply sadness and fatigue. His expression shook her, and as the leaders of Congress entered, she worried that she had been tricked somehow, trapped here while Madrone was far away. There were no admirals, no one, in fact, from the Navy.

Had they managed to obtain the upper hand again?

Her guards were with the plane. She was defenseless.

The general began dictating the terms of the President’s “retirement,” speaking with so little enthusiasm that Lanzas began to wonder if this was in fact a charade. Had she somehow been tricked again?

Madrone would meet his doom in America. What would she do then?

She steeled herself against them, stiffened her muscles. She would face them bravely.

“Colonel Lanzas,” said General Herule. “Thank you for coming on such short notice.”

She looked into his face. Herule flinched.

Betrayal. The bastard!

Minerva felt her heart fall into the pit of her stomach. Despairing, she cursed herself for being so foolish to rely on the two-faced bastard.

Then she managed a long breath, put her head back and her shoulders flat, determined to meet destiny with dignity.

“Colonel Lanzas shall be my Defense Minister,” Herule told the others. “She is well suited, both through training and her family.”

“Agreed,” said Findaro, the head of the Army. A Congressman nodded near his side. “It is a wise choice.”

“She will deal with the Americans,” added Herule. Now his eyes held hers for a moment.

Lifted from the depths of despair, Minerva felt almost sexual elation. She had won after all.

Madrone was responsible. Madrone—her dark self. She regretted letting him go, even though she knew it was better to be rid of him.

The rest of the appointments, the rest of the meeting, passed quickly. Minerva gathered herself as the others started to get up.

“Well done, my dear,” said General Herule, taking her hand and kissing it. “You almost seemed surprised.”

“And you as solicitous as ever,” she told him.

Herule laughed—then pulled her into a bear hug.

“We ca

Minerva eased her hand down toward the general’s groin and squeezed gently. The table and chairs made it impossible for the others to see—but if they did, so much the better.

“We won’t have any trouble, my dear,” she whispered.

Herule released her, his face a little flushed. “I will arrange a meeting with the admirals.”

“I’ll arrange it,” she told him. “In a few days. They will come to me. In the meantime, I must get back quickly.”

“Yes,” said the general. “No complications.”

“Of course.”

Aboard Hawkmother

Over the Gulf of Mexico

7 March, 1540 local (1340 Dreamland)

MADRONE SENSED THEY WERE AFTER HIM EVEN THOUGH the threat scope was clear. He felt them trail him out of Arizona, down the eastern Sierra Madres. They might be too far for the radar and too smart to use the radio, but he knew they were there nonetheless.

Fear prickled along the back of his head, like an electrical current arcing from the spider.

He welcomed it; it made it easy to focus.

The bastards made their move as the Boeing crossed over the southwestern Caribbean. Two planes came for him at high speed, tickling the 777’s identifier. As they came on, he told Gerrias and Mayo to hold their course.

He pulled Hawk One and Hawk Two closer to the 777, nearly touching the big plane’s wing. They would be invisible to the interceptors’ radar, but not their eyes.

If the enemy approached within visual distance, he would kill them.

“Brazilian Air 43, please identify your aircraft type and specify your cargo,” said an American voice.

Gerrias answered as they had rehearsed—a benign cargo flight carrying medical supplies. The flight would appear on the international registries, synching with their IDs.

There were two planes, F- l 6’s.

He would roll out from under Hawkmother as they approached. The only possible attack would be head-on.