“Which means we start immediately,” Patrick said. “I’ll go with the king and Dave to Libya and get the base set up; you and Chris will split up and help Jon get our planes airborne with as many weapons and as much fuel as we can carry.”

TONOPAH TEST RANGE, NEVADA
 A SHORT TIME LATER

The Suburban screeched to a halt in front of the security gate, and six men in plain dark business suits hopped out and assembled at the electric gate. The man from the front passenger seat picked up the phone mounted on the fence beside the gate. “Special Agent Willison, FBI, Los Angeles. My office called this morning.” The gate was buzzed open by the guards inside, and the agents rushed in.

They were met inside the guardhouse by a young man who extended his hand to welcome them but was greeted instead by upraised ID cards and stem, intimidating expressions. “I’m Special Agent Larry Willison, FBI,” the lead agent said. “And you are?”

“John Landow, assistant security director of Sky Masters Inc., the prime contractor in this facility.”

“I asked to meet directly with Dr. Masters or General McLanahan. Where are they?”

“They’re both in the lab right now,” Landow said, “but they can meet you as soon as you clear security.”

“I happen to know that General McLanahan is in San Diego,” Willison said angrily, “and Dr. Masters was told to meet us here. Now I want you to call him and have him meet us right outside. I’ve been ordered to consider any more delays as obstructing a federal investigation, and I am authorized to take him, and anyone else who doesn't cooperate fully, into custody.”

“Agent Willison, I assure you, no one is trying to hamper any investigation,” Landow said. Landow was tall, in his early sixties, with bright blue eyes and a ready smile—but when the smile vanished, he looked very mean and serious. “I was informed the general was here—if I’m mistaken, then I apologize. And I promise you, Dr. Masters will be right outside by the time you clear security.”

“What do you mean, ‘clear security’?” one of the other agents asked. “We submitted all of our credentials yesterday. We’re demanding immediate access. That means right now”