For the past few weeks, he and his team had been working with the Army on preparing for the testing of some new classified missiles. He hadn't been able to learn much, other than they were highly classified and exceptionally large. It didn't seem to make much sense. His facility was typically used to test smaller weapons, missiles that would only travel a few hundred miles at most.

In the case of larger missiles, these tests were usually conducted on the coast. That way if there was a problem and the rocket had to be destroyed, the debris would fall harmlessly in the ocean.

This week's launches would break that rule. Today was the beginning of a week-long string of missile launches from his facility and it was by far a most unusual project, for more than just a few reasons.

The missiles in question were a design that he hadn't seen before, and the one time he'd questioned the payload, it had been made crystal clear that the specifications he'd been provided were all he required.

Nor had he been made aware of the details regarding where these rockets would be coming down. Based on their size, it was apparent that they'd be traveling a long distance. Typically, he would be involved in the briefings which covered all these details.

Adding to the mystery, was the fact that an Army four-star was running the project.

Colonel Barrett arrived at the gates of the Air Forces facilities' only entrance and presented his ID to an Army Corporal who studied it and looked back at Barrett repeatedly before granting him entrance. It was a far cry from the usual routine when Barrett's normal security personnel knew him and after a cursory glance at his face, would allow him to pass.

Driving into the facility, located deep in the Mohave Desert, he was stunned by the increase in security. Heavily armed US Army personnel seemed to have been posted all over the base and his regular Air Force Security was all but unseen, and those few he did see were more heavily armed than usual.

Barrett pulled into in his reserved parking spot, somewhat surprised it was still available given that the Army had taken over everything else on his base. He walked the short distance to the mobile command trailer, again showing his ID, this time to a young soldier armed with an M4 assault rifle.

It was just after nine and the mobile command trailer was already heating up rapidly under the desert sun. Barrett stood in the control room, and the more he thought about the strange situation, the more uneasy he felt.

The launch countdown was progressing, and there were at least a dozen people packed into the control room. Half were his staff and the other half Army.

Some of his team were making a final visual inspection of the rockets, and they were being escorted the whole time by stone-faced soldiers.