PROLOGUE

uetendorf, Switzerland

Sunday, October 14, 1500 Hours

***

The witnesses standing at the edge of the field were staring in horrified silence, too stunned to speak. The scene that lay before them was grotesque, a primeval nightmare dredged up from some deep, dark depths of primitive man's collective unconscious. Each witness had a different reaction. One fainted. A second one vomited. A woman was shaking uncontrollably. Another one thought: i am going to have a heart attack! The elderly priest clutched his beads and crossed himself. Help ,e fatehr. Help us all. Protect us against this evil incarnate. We have fully seen the face of Satan. it is the end of the world. Judgment day has come.

Armageddon is here.... Armageddon... Armageddon...

*** *** ***

Sunday, October 14, 2100 Hours

*FLASH MESSAGE*

TOP SECRETE ULTRA

NSA TO TOP DEPUTY DIRECTOR COMSEC

EYES ONLY

SUBJECT: OPERATION DOOMSDAY

MESSAGE: ACTIVATE

NOTIFY NORAD, CIRVIS, GEPAN, DIS, GHG, VSAF, INS

*END OF MESSAGE*

Sunday, October 14, 2115 Hours

*FLASH MESSAGE*

TOP SECRETE ULTRA

NSA TO DEPUTY DIRECTOR NAVAL INTELLIGENCE 17TH DISTRICT

EYES ONLY

SUBJECT: COMMANDER ROBERT BELLAMY

ARRANGE TEMPORARY TRANSFER THIS AGENCY,

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

YOUR CONCURRENCE IN THE ABOVE IS ASSUMED.

*END OF MESSAGE*