Dark Star

Dark Star
Don Pendleton

Hidden deep within the U.S. government, one special operations group is America's best chance to combat strategic terror.Covert, uncensored and answering only to the President, the cybernetic and commando teams of Stony Man understand that the impossible can be done, with the right people, the right plan, a little luck–and the courage to attempt what no one else dares.A machine that defies logistics has become a grim reality. A working SS–single-stage-to-orbit rocket, or X-ship–can launch and land anywhere, virtually unseen and unstoppable due to stealth technology and sheer velocity. Now a faceless enemy with a hidden agenda is using X-ships to spread global fire and death like a tidal wave from hell. Facing a crisis of unimagined proportions, Stony Man is once again tasked with the impossible: unmask the masterminds behind the attacks and take them out–fast.

THERE WAS ONLY ONE REASON FOR

THE GUNS TO BE FIRING BLANKS

The teams had to be held in place and kept busy while the Farm traced the signal from the vidcam. Correction—while the Skywalkers traced the signal from the Farm!

Instantly Schwarz whipped out a jamming device to block unfriendly transmissions, but Lyons took more direct action by firing his Colt Python from the hip, the heavy Magnum round shattering the vidcam into a million pieces.

“Rock House, this is the Senator,” Blancanales said urgently into his throat mike. “Abort the trace! Suspects were waiting for us to signal you! Repeat, we’ve been tricked! The X-ships are on the way! Do you copy?”

The only response was the dead crackle of background static.

Dark Star

DON PENDLETON’S

Stony Man

AMERICA’S ULTRA-COVERT INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

www.mirabooks.co.uk (http://www.mirabooks.co.uk)

Special thanks and acknowledgment to Nick Pollotta for his contribution to this work.

DARK STAR

For Sgt. Jason “Scramble” Campbell, U.S. Marine

Corps, 2nd Battalion.

Nice to have you back, buddy.

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

EPILOGUE

PROLOGUE

Compose Island, Brazil

Partially hidden by rising clouds of steam, the huge space shuttle dominated the vast empty expanse of the launch pad. Surrounding the colossal concrete apron was a lush tropical jungle full of wild birds, small monkeys, trip wires, video cameras, proximity sensors and land mines.

“T-minus fifty minutes and counting,” an amplified voice announced over the public-address speakers, the words echoing across the island and startling the flocks of colorful parrots in the nearby coconut trees. For a single moment it almost seemed like a rainbow exploded into existence, then the birds separated, each taking off in a new direction, and it was gone.

Standing alongside the colossal spacecraft, the gantry tower was alive with dozens of scientists, technicians, mechanics and astronauts carefully preparing the billion-dollar vehicle for its maiden flight. In only a little while, a new era would begin for Brazilian space travel.

A large crowd of excited people clustered in front of the Vehicle Assembly Building, watched the complex preparations from behind a line of safety barriers. The cream of Brazilian society was in attendance: politicians, billionaires, scholars, famous athletes and movie stars, along with a small army of new reporters, their digital cameras flashing almost nonstop. This was a very special day for the nation, and everybody wanted to be here for the event.

“T-minus thirty minutes and counting,” the voice loudly announced once more as the technicians on the gantry started disconnecting myriad cables and hoses attached to the shuttle as a prelude to the launch.

More than simply a new class of space vehicle, the monstrously huge Skywalker would be the world’s first armored shuttle, fully capable of being armed to defend Brazilian interests in space or to remove enemy military satellites. The brewing war with Colombia over dwindling natural resources was becoming inevitable, and the Ministry of Defense always took the long view and planned for the future. When the hammer fell, Brazil would be ready to defend itself against any possible invader.

Fully aware that the combination of the Skywalker and the crowd of high-profile notables was a tempting political target for any terrorist group, the Ministry of Defense was taking no chances today and security was tight. Discreetly armed members of the S2 secret police moved through the excited throng, watching intently for anything suspicious. A full battalion of soldiers was situated in the jungle, and floating serenely off the nearby coast was the massive São Paulo, the flight deck of the aircraft carrier full of SuperPuma gunships, and the new AMZ fighter-bombers, their sleek wings bristling with weaponry.