“Yes. That looks like one,” Poulengy stated without any embarrassment. He was, after all, the senior general in the entire United States Army with much on his mind. That he didn’t know everything about every piece of equipment in that Army was to be expected. If anything, he used that failing to put soldiers he met at ease. It was his way of showing them that he was a human being like them and that he needed each and every one of them.

Poulengy cranked up the vehicle, shifted into drive, and took off. “I know the way, Scott,” Poulengy said as he navigated around his collection of surprised aides who were still climbing down off the jet.

“Is this going to be a Chief of Staff of the Army to Commanding General of the 4th Armored Division discussion,” Scott asked after they were on their way, “or a Bernie and Scott chat?”

Poulengy waited until he had brought the oversize vehicle to a stop at the entrance to the airfield before he turned to Dixon. He stared at his friend and trusted subordinate. “Scott,” he stated flatly, “as of this morning your son is officially missing in action.”

For several seconds Scott saw and heard nothing. In his mind’s eye he beheld a wide eyed child of two sporting a broad smile as he tottered toward Scott’s outstretched arms. As that image faded, Scott didn’t ask Poulengy what had gone wrong with the extraction of the surviving paratroopers. He didn’t curse the national leadership that had sent Nathan to Idaho. He didn’t even blame himself, for he had, time and again, done everything to dissuade Nathan from pursuing a military career. Instead, Scott’s mind reached out as if trying to capture and hold onto every memory of his son that it could gather.

After letting his friend recoil from his announcement, Poulengy tried to explain. “After what happened to the Air Force yesterday I felt that it would be best if I told you in person. We still have no way of knowing who’s on what side of this issue.”

Slowly Scott turned his head and looked at Poulengy. He didn’t take any note of the apprehension that showed in the senior general’s face as he crept along the broad streets, steering wide to avoid other vehicles that scattered to make way for their Humvee. Only when he felt he could control his voice did he speak. “What happened?”