' Crossing the Rubicon ': Map Illustrated (Armageddon's Song) (Volume 5)

The war in Europe has reached its bloody end and the men came home to less than gratitude from the politicians. In the Pacific all eyes are on the Spratly Islands as the Allies combat the Chinese 3rd and 6th Armies. The aftermath in Europe may have left the US and the ANZACs standing alone, or has it? Soldiers have more honour than politicians at the end of the day. 'A flash overhead made them look up sharply through the canopy but there was nothing to see and it was not repeated. The marshal pointed the illuminated wands sharply down the runway of RAAF Pearce and hunkered down in a squat, clear of wings and the ordnance hung off the F16’s hardpoints. The Falcon’s pilots opened the throttles and the two aircraft powered down the tarmac. “Our turn now.” Nikki said, looking at the crouching marshal. He did not rise and the glow of the F16’s engines got further and further away. As they lifted skywards Nikki frowned. “What’s the delay?” Candice asked, puzzled. A cold shiver ran down Nikki’s spine. “Put your mask on Candy!” she hurriedly clipped hers in place and ensured the oxygen was flowing. “What?” “Mask on, do it now!” she ordered. The marshal remained squatting on the edge of the runway, his back to them. Had an aircraft been making an emergency landing he would have signalled them to hold, but he had not moved a muscle. Nikki came off the brakes and the Tomcat turned left onto the runway, but Nikki did not wait for the marshal, she immediately pushed the throttles forward to full military power, the afterburner kicking in. “What about the marshal?” an alarmed Candice exclaimed. “He's dead, Candice.”