had popped up from the deck and were partially screening the raging
afterburner fire spewing out of the Hornet’s tailpipes. They could see
the dark figure of the catapult officer standing near the Hornet’s
nose, the other technicians carefully clear of the red line delineating
the flight deck area.
As they watched, the overhead ceiling panels resonated with the harsh
roar of the fighter’s engine. The sound built, then climbed an extra
notch, rattling monitors, computers, and bulkheads alike. Finally,
when it seemed impossible that the noise could get any louder, the
Hornet started moving, slowly at first, then quickly accelerating to
minimum airspeed of 135 knots. The catapult dragged the fighter down
the flight deck to the bow, spewing a trail of steam behind it.
Finally they heard the gentle thump, always too soft, that signified
the shuttle had reached the end of its run.
The Hornet disappeared from view for a moment as it lost altitude at
the end of the carrier. It reappeared immediately, barely climbing as
it struggled to remain airborne. As soon as it reached three hundred
feet, it banked away from the carrier in a sharp right-hand turn.
“I always feel better having CAP on station,” the admiral said. “If I
know the Cubans, they’re going to blame this on us and put up a full
combat spread. If they do, we’ll be ready for them.”
0500 Local (+5 GMT) ‘ Southern Command Watch Center, Miami “You’ve got
the feed from LINK?” the watch officer asked.
The operations specialist nodded. “Jefferson just launched CAP. Two
Hornets, on station in approximately ten minutes.”
The watch officer nodded. He reached for the telephone, Whatever was
going on down in the Caribbean was far above his pay grade. As much as
he hated waking the admiral up, he disliked taking sole responsibility
for it even more.
0800 Local (+5 GMT) Coalition for Cuban Liberty, Miami fl, Jorge Leyta
watched the crowd surge and eddy around him.
The protest was taking shape without any effort on his part will only
help us, even if he does not wish to. The people, you see,” he said,
gesturing to the growing throng, “they know. Only the Coalition has
taken action real action and made sacrifices. Aguillar merely postures
and talks. If he had his way, Cuba would become the fifty-first
state.” He glanced sideways, noting how his words settled his aide’s
thoughts. It was always so when he put his mind to it. That’s why
leadership of the community was rightfully his, not his rival’s. “And
the Americans, they have shot down a peaceful civilian aircraft. They
killed my brother! Where now is this wonderful ‘normalization’ that
Aguillar wants?”
His aide turned his head sharply toward Leyta. “How sure are we? Can
we be certain? The news reports say it was the Cuban government that
shot down our aircraft.”
Leyta’s mouth curled into an ugly arc. “And you believe what you hear
on the news?” He shook his head. “No, there is no doubt in my mind.
My brother” his voice caught for a moment; he drew in a deep breath and
shivered slightly before it steadied” knew the risk he was taking. He
is a hero, a martyr to our cause. And I will make certain that this
government understands just how badly they have fucked up this time.”
From the back of the crowd, Aguillar studied the swaggering man on the
makeshift podium. How much did Leyta really understand about what had
happened? Not much, not if this demonstration was any indication.
Leyta had never understood political realities, never been able to
accept that Cuba must-must-turn to America for support and security.
He heard a high-pitched squeal as the television van to his right
started its engine, the fan belt complaining loudly. The vehicle
ground into gear, then edged slowly forward, parting the massive
Hispanic crowd like the bow of a ship through water.
“Senor Aguillar, any comments?”
Aguillar turned toward the microphone availing demandingly to his
left.
“Senor Leyta has my deepest condolences on the tragic loss of his
brother,” he began smoothly. “It is right that our community should
turn out to mourn such a tragic” and unnecessary “loss of life.”