As much as he dreaded doing so, Deacon brought himself to search the area north of the municipal airfield. When he saw the column of smoke spewing forth from several buildings engulfed by sheets of flames, the Air Force general’s worst nightmare was realized. Turning his eyes away, he struggled to fight back a wave of nausea that was slowly making its way up his throat. Even the thought that this would soon all be over was little comfort to Deacon.

“Roger, Blue Mace Leader,” Deacon managed. “Give me an update.”

“As best as I can determine, we’ve nailed all the A-10s on the ground,” Blue Mace Leader responded. “But I’m not sure of the attack helos. Some were out south of Gowen. They scattered and went to ground as soon as you started your run.”

Deacon surveyed the area as he gently brought his stricken F-16 over a bit, so that he could get a better view. He tried to sort out which pile of burning scrap had once been an A-10 and which ones had been AH-64s. But moving at a speed of over four hundred miles an hour several thousand feet up made this all but impossible. With the sun setting and ground fire stabbing menacingly up at him, Deacon came to the conclusion that there was no way that he could be sure if they had achieved one hundred percent success. Still, he didn’t want to turn his back and fly off with the mission half finished. “Blue Mace Leader—this is Mace One. Do you think we can do anything more here? Over.”

“Other than lose more of our own for nothing,” Blue Mace Leader responded after carefully weighing her response against what she had seen, “that’s a negative.”

“Okay,” Deacon announced. “Break off the attack and head your people to Hill.”

With relief, Blue Mace Leader acknowledged Deacon’s order and passed it on to her squadron. It was only when they had formed up and taken an easterly heading that Blue Mace Leader noted that her commanding officer was missing. “Mace One—this is Blue Mace Leader. Where are you?”

There was a moment’s hesitation before Deacon answered. When he did, there was no mistaking the mental and physical fatigue that had overcome the Air Force brigadier. “I’m south of Boise, Blue Mace Leader. I’m afraid that my aircraft has taken a bit more damage than the flight to Hill would permit.”

Alarmed, Blue Mace Leader ordered her second in command to take over as she brought her own aircraft about, in a sharp turn, and made tracks to find her commander. “Mace One—this is Blue Mace Leader,” she called as soon as she had visual with him. “I’ll notify search and rescue and give them your location as soon as you …”