There were only three security ingress routes into Zillah, and they changed daily. All flight crews were required to cross a route entry point and then fly a designated ingress track until positive visual contact was made. The S-300 system also employed a powerful target-tracking low-light telescope, normally used in high-radar-jamming environments or when the radar was down, but was used routinely for aircraft identification. While the aircraft stayed on course, the S-300 optronics operator could easily locate and track it. Each aircraft had an identifying infrared- fluorescent code stripe on its nose and sides to aid in long- range identification; the stripes were changed on a random basis, usually once every week.

The commander stood over the primary radar engagement officer and his assistant, frowning at his own confusing thoughts. While the radio operator verified the authentication codes, the radar officers checked the transponder identification codes, which showed up on the radar screen along with the target’s speed, altitude, and call sign. Everything checked okay. So why was he so nervous about this inbound?

“Air defense alert,” the commander said suddenly. He looked at his watch, then made a note in his log. “All units, prepare to repel airborne attackers. This is not an exercise.”

His crew members turned to look at their commander in surprise, then snapped their necks around, frantically checking their indicators and screens for any sign of an intruder, something they missed. There was nothing. But they responded anyway: the deputy pressed a button on his control panel, which sounded a Klaxon throughout the battery that an attack was imminent; reload crews began making preparations to load another four-round missile rack onto the transporter-erector-launchers; and a warning was sent out to all aircraft and all air defense units in the region, warning of an impending attack.

The brigade command phone rang almost immediately: “Lieutenant, what do you have?” the air defense brigade commander asked.

“Inbound Mi-24 attack helicopter, Lion Seven, sir.”

“Does he authenticate?”

“His codes are almost invalid, but as of right now, he has been verified.”

“Any other targets?”

“No, sir”

“Then why did you issue the air defense warning, Lieutenant?”

The commander swallowed but did not otherwise hesitate: “Sir, Lion Seven left his wingman behind, even though he reported another wingman destroyed. All of our aviation units understand the importance of returning to base to be issued up-to-date authentication documents—they must do so unless they are actively engaging the enemy.”

The brigade commander hesitated. The lieutenant was a prior noncommissioned aviation officer, well experienced in both air defense and aviation procedures—at least, the lieutenant hoped the brigade commander remembered.

But it came down to only one thing, which the brigade commander pointed out moments later: “That’s not a violation of procedures or a cause for issuing a general air defense warning. So ... you’re saying you have a hunch, is that it, Lieutenant?”

“Yes, sir.”