"Maloney, Mack - Wingman 03 - The Lucifer Campaign UC" - читать интересную книгу автора (Maloney Mack)

Still, he couldn't be absolutely certain the missile attack was an assassination attempt.

"Okay," Hunter said, knowing it was smart to consider all possibilities. "Do you think this is the

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work of Viktor-or Lucifer, if you prefer?"

"More likely one of his many rotting allies," Heath answered. "Those missiles were probably launched somewhere off Melilla or near the coast of Algeria. Off a boat, I'd say. You might have guessed airplanes, but we don't find many airborne freelancers in these parts. There's a definite shortage of working fighters.

"That's why our Tornados -and your F-16 there - are so valuable."

A junior officer ran up to them. "They got the radio, sir," he said smartly. "The bugger fused together when the missile hit."

"Blast!" Heath said. "I needed that radio to report this and to request more stores. Well, I guess now we'll have to jump in one of the Tors and go tell Command personally."

The flames started to die down. The sun was just peeking over the sand dunes. Already, the cold desert night air was beginning to warm up.

"Let me help," Hunter said. "You'll need an escort. I'll gladly go along."

"Well, that's sporting of you, Hunter," Heath said. "I accept. I know my commanders will want to talk to you anyway."

"Talk?" Hunter asked. "About what?"

Heath looked at him and grinned. "Oh, about this Lucifer," he said. "The war. Maybe some employment."

"Well, I'm not looking for a job," Hunter told him.

Heath let out a hearty laugh. "I must warn you, major," he said. "My commanders can be very persuasive ..."

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Chapter 6

Hunter had never seen the Rock of Gibraltar before. The goddamn thing was four times as big as he'd imagined it to be. It was one of the world's most important crossroads: the tip of Europe, the beginning of Africa. The only entrance to the western end of the Med and traditionally a strategic piece of real estate, Gibraltar was even more vital in the New Order world.

The trip up to the RAF base took only a matter of twenty minutes for the two supersonic jets. Hunter accompanied Heath after quickly jury-rigging two of the F-16's six nose cannons. The British officer told him it would be easier and quicker to fix the rest of his Six Pack along with the Sidewinder launch system at the main Gibraltar base.

They had flown out over the Atlantic and approached from the west. The landing pattern brought them in right next to the big rock. Hunter could see the Brits had put gun and SAM emplacements all over it, as well as some long-range missiles near its peak. A battery of radar dishes was spinning at its absolute summit, and a swarm of helicopters

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looked to be in perpetual orbit around the massive chunk of stone. It was defense in depth. Anyone unfriendly -either floating or flying- who attempted to enter the Med would find themselves at the mercy of the British guns and missiles.

Within minutes, Hunter found himself down and taxiing up to a camouflaged terminal building. Heath had been right when he said jet fighters were in short supply in the area. Hunter saw only a few Tornados, a Sea Harrier jet minus its VTOL Pegasus engine, and an ancient Jaguar. Not surprisingly, a crowd gathered around Hunter's F-16 as soon as he pulled up to his holding station. Next to the Tornados, the jet was the most sophisticated piece of equipment to fly through the base in two years.

Heath joined him as he climbed down from the cockpit and together they walked to the base's command center. Hunter couldn't help but notice the harbor base was buzzing with activity.

"All this is preparation for Lucifer?" Hunter asked Heath.