Robert Smith - The Planner

The fire fighters started on their final journey.

* * * *

Ed Balinger was the air traffic controller handling Flight 93. He was sending out the warning to all aircraft in flight in his patch. The warning read “Hijackings! Beware of cockpit intrusion” to all of the pilots in his domain. Pilots responded via the ACARS messaging system to acknowledge the message. Flight 93 responded with “Hi, Ed. Confirmed.”

* * * *

Purple and Planner re-entered the Command Room.

Bates had already sat down and had a smirk on his face, barely looking at his checklist, he said genially, “Time for the 93 switch?”

Orange responded, “93 is at Cleveland with old-175 following behind. All ready to go. Just waiting for your say-so.”

Planner said, “Ok, switch. Old-175 needs to stay in a holding pattern for 20 minutes before switching its transponder back on and requesting to land. So are you going to manage 93 down, Bates?”

Bates returned a sarcastic smile. Orange turned back to his console.

Indigo muttered, “This is the big one. It’ll take about 30 minutes to unfold the storyline.”

Magenta said, “Synchronising with crash point. Note that we’ve slipped about 15 minutes. Drone 93 taken over. Old-93 will be vectored to our position.”

Orange stated, “Old-77 and chase plane vectored to our position.”

Nicholas stated, “Delaying inceptors off the coast, but the E.T.A. in Washington is 0-8-40; I’ve instructed them to chase a phantom. 164But we have another problem! Another E4-B is due to take off. They’ll be up in half an hour, flying from Washington. Once that goes up, we’ll be spotted for sure as they link into the AWACS radar feed. They may have already connected up.”

“Were we aware of that? A second E-4B?” asked Planner concerned.

“It’s news to me. Frankly I hadn’t considered two KneeCaps to be operational and certainly not one flying out of Washington,” said Nicholas clearly bemused.

“Thanks,” said Planner. Planner looked over to Bates who was looking intently at his computer monitor. Planner was sure that Bates would have heard that exchange. He tapped his forehead just for a second before hesitantly issuing a new order, “Captain Ochre, er… send this message to Air Force One…”

“Yes, Sir,” said Ochre in good military style.

Planner said, “Message to read Angel is Next 165. Supply today’s code reference for authentication.”

“Yes, Sir. Which set of codes; Secret, Top Secret?” said Ochre, puzzled.

“Use Top Secret Atomic 166. Also, Bates, tell the ground crews to generate some rumors too that Camp David has been hit and the White House is in flames. Make sure it’s untraceable,” Planner added.

Bates turned towards to Planner wide eyed. “Ok,” he said after a momentary pause.

“That’s a warning, right?” said Indigo to Planner. “Angel is Air Force One.”

“There seems to be… er… some alternative scenarios, that we just need to nip in the bud,” replied Planner cautiously.

Purple nodded firmly.

Bates said sarcastically, “This all seems rather superfluous, Planner.”

Planner replied to Bates testily, “I’m just making sure this Big Event 167isn’t like the last one.”

The Police had closed a few of the roads leading up to the Pentagon, causing more than the usual traffic chaos on the South Washington Boulevard, the VA-27. It had delayed April Gallop’s return to work; her first day back after maternity leave. She carried her baby in the car seat into the office. April entered in the Pentagon South Entrance lobby and into the security area and offered her security pass to a Security Guard.

April said, “I need to take my baby to the nursery.”

The Security Guard seemed blase, “That’s ok. You can proceed straight to your office.”

“You’re letting me and baby through? It is a secure area, you know,” queried April.

The Security Guard did not make eye contact, “It’s ok,” he said.

April raised her eyebrows but was happy enough to have her baby with her.

* * * *

In the Pentagon’s operations room on the other side of building, 168Veep Dick Cheney and military staff were watching events unfold on a large projected map. A TV set was displaying the news in one corner. Most people in the room were on the phone except the Vice-President. Norman Minetta, Transport Minister, entered the Operations Room with his political aide.

Naval Officer David Cohrane was standing close to the Vice-President and announced, “Target is 50 miles out.”

There was hushed stillness in the room, an expectation of something else was going to happen.

Norman Minetta whispered to his aide, “Where’s Rumsfeld?”

The aide shrugged.

* * * *

Laura Bush and Senator Edward Kennedy were on the steps of the Russell Building, a short distance away from the White House and Capitol to give a TV press conference. 169These two buildings would be considered by most commentators to be high on the list of potential terrorist targets; however, this did not seem to concern the security staff looking after the First Lady and the veteran senator.

* * * *

Cohrane announced, “Target is 30 miles out.”

* * * *

April Gallop finally reached her desk near in the E ring, near the outer western edge of the Pentagon. She bantered with fellow E-Ring office workers who were happily fussing over her baby.

* * * *

Cohrane announced, “Target is 10 miles out.” Hesitating, he turned to the Vice President, “Do the orders still stand?”

Chaney snapped his around to Cohrane and snapped, “Of course the orders still stand! Have you heard anything to the contrary?”

On a radar screen, the target is seen to overfly the Pentagon, Minetta’s aide breathes out in relief, but then he saw the target start a huge circular descending turn: corkscrewing down to the Pentagon. The aide whispered to Minetta. “Gawd, can an airliner do that?”

* * * *

On radar, the aircraft could be tracked. Unbelievably, it pulled out of the dive, and after the high-g, 270 degree corkscrew turn had aligned itself perfectly to aim directly at the Pentagon. 170It flew at the limits of speed possible for a Boeing 757, beyond anything that has been achieved before or since, at such low altitudes; low over housing estates, golf courses and, surprisingly (and inexplicably), lower than at antenna aerial at a nearby military base in its direct path. And in an action seemingly modelled from a Hollywood movie 171, also apparently knocked over 5 lampposts along the highway next to Pentagon. 172

* * * *

April Gallop and the other E ring office workers were unaware of the impeding disaster. April’s finger hovered over her computer’s power button.

As-if caused by April’s button push, there was a huge explosion, flying debris, noise, shock waves and fireball. It was followed by blackness, dust clouds, collapsing material, the rage of fire. From the blasting white noise of the explosion specific noises could be detected: rubbles, raging fire, screams, cries of agony.

In the dark, smoky gloom a frantic glow appeared. It was a man on-fire; he was running and yelling. He crashed into column and collapsed. He did not survive.

April groaned and removed dust and debris from on top of her. She was covered with cuts and grazes, twisted aching limbs, but in one piece. April stirred and sat up, ears ringing but deaf to the noise. She cleared debris from her eyes then looked around increasingly panic-stricken.

Sunlight started to radiate through the smoke as it cleared. There was a 20 foot diameter hole in the outer wall. Behind her, fire and smoke, April called out. The ringing in her ears diminished and she heard her baby.