The Speed of Sound Issue No.4

U.S. Pentagon
District of Columbia, U.S.A.
1100 Hours
D.E.F.C.O.N. 5

"Where are they? That's what I want to know! Where in God's name are they?"

"Sir, Waters' team SR-71a stalled en route and fell through the Troposphere. They- crashed in the Red River."

"What? Why don't they tell me anything anymore? Seriously! How could I know they crashed?"

"Sir, we got a reading from their E.D.B.!"

"Find their bird's serial number!"

"We can't find it; his E.D.B. crashed sometime around last night."

"But you said you got a reading-"

"A reading is different than the actual beacon. It's emitted from a satellite 12 hours after it's sent out. It doesn't mean he sent it now. For all we know, they could be past the Mekong into Hue or Khe Sanh by now."

ANNOUNCER: "Power level critical. DEFCON increased to: 6."

"Six? Is that even possible? I thought we only go to 5?"

"DEFCON 6 is a last resort level which implies that America has been intruded. Somewhere in the U.S. there are Communist militants. They could even be inside the Pentagon."

"You mean our security isn't even that good?"

"Yea, that's what I'm trying to say."

"Uh, Sir? There's an Unidentified Object En Route to the Pentagon."

"I wanna' know what kind, how far, and what present they sent us."

"It's an ICBM, serial number 3361."

"How far?"

"About 3000 meters."

"Okay, everyone! Into the shelter! Go, go, go!"

"Move, move, move!"

Channel 12 News
1900 hours
Pentagon Parking Lot J36

"Thanks, Tom. I'm David Walsh reporting for Channel 12 news. We don't have all the facts, but apparently, the Pentagon has been invaded by an unknown assilant. Right now, I'm standing 5 miles outside the Pentagon Blast Zone, where a Nuclear Bomb has been set off. The Pentagon has been reported to be completely demolished. Evac Teams are scoured about the perimeter of the building searching for survivors in the underground vault.Oh, here comes DCPD Chief of Staff, Bill Mandle. Mr. Mandle, can you verify if the president was inside the building at the time of the explosion?"

"We're not sure. We have S&R Teams about the area, looking for HVTs."

"Can you assure America will be safe from further attacks? Do you know the assilant? Mr. Mandle!"

"No further comments. And shut that camera off!"