21st May
Colonel John Hawker walked across the tarmac towards Starcruiser One.
It was very unusual to receive top level orders to use an experimental aircraft for an operational sortie. It was even more unusual to be unclear about the mission objectives.
He walked up the steps into the ship.
‘Good evening, Colonel Hawker,’ said the guidance computer as the entrance hatch closed.
‘Good evening, Wendy,’ Hawker replied, sitting down in one of the cockpit chairs.
‘What is your target destination?’ Wendy enquired.
Hawker removed the tablet from his pocket and looked again at the message: Further instructions will follow when you have reached the destination.
‘Please set configurations for maximum stealth,’ he said. ‘We need to be invisible to all tracking, including American defences. Then, take us to Gobekli Tepe in Turkey.’