“We might have to, before this is over,” says Hall. Anson looks at him. The baby starts crying again.
Meanwhile, on board an Air Force jet, a pilot is dozing while his oxygen mask disintegrates. The indicators on his instrument panel spin rapidly.
The scene shifts to a US map. The words “CRASH SITE” appear next to a red X mark over southeastern Utah, not far from Piedmont in northwest New Mexico. There is a sound of an aircraft impact.
“They should have dropped the bomb,” says Major Manchek, in front of a large wall map with the same markings as the previous scene.
TITLE: “10:15 A.M.”
“They should have dropped it two days ago, General,” says Manchek to General Sparks. They’re holding a conference in the Wildfire control room.
“This Phantom crashed a good sixty miles beyond the cordoned area,” says Sparks, looking at a map.
“Men on the ground can’t cordon off airspace, Sir,” replies Manchek. “I just don’t understand why the Wildfire team hasn’t beefed about the delay in seven-twelve. It’s been almost twenty-four hours and not a word from them.”
“I don’t think that Piedmont had anything to do with this,” says Sparks.