Chapter 21 - Aircraft Without a Pilot
The control tower attempted to contact the incoming aircraft.
There was no response.
According to its registration, the plane was an empty cargo jet traveling from a coastal testing facility. Its flight plan had been approved through a private aviation company that did not officially exist.
Radar showed the aircraft descending toward Westbridge.
“No pilot communication,” a controller reported. “No manual course corrections.”
Martin studied the data feed.
“It’s flying itself.”
Samuel shook his head.
“Modern aircraft can follow programmed routes, but this is different. The prototype engine is controlling speed, altitude, and direction independently.”
Ethan looked at the four signals.
“Why send it here?”
“To collect something,” Samuel replied.
Victor glanced toward the underground vault.
“The original Project 417 evidence?”
“No. Vincent could have destroyed that years ago.”
Samuel opened one of the encrypted drives found beneath the transport platform. Most files were locked, but one directory contained photographs of Ethan.
Ethan at school.
Ethan walking with his aunt.
Ethan repairing old machines in the garage.
Someone had watched him for years.
Martin’s face tightened.
“They want the boy.”
Samuel immediately closed the file.
The control tower reported that the aircraft had ignored its assigned runway. It was descending toward an abandoned military strip on the northern edge of the airport.
That strip had no active terminal.
Only an old research hangar.
Samuel moved toward the passage.
“We need to reach it before the aircraft lands.”
Ethan picked up his toolbox.
“You’re staying here,” Samuel said.
“I repaired the first engine.”
“And nearly died several times.”
“The prototype works differently from anything your engineers understand.”
Samuel looked at his son.
For years, he had remained hidden to protect Ethan. Now the very knowledge Ethan had inherited had made him valuable to the enemy.
Victor interrupted.
“He should come.”
Samuel turned sharply.
“No.”
“Vincent knows Ethan can recognize mechanical patterns faster than trained engineers. That is why he watched him.”
Ethan faced his father.
“You taught me to listen to machines.”
Samuel’s expression softened, but fear remained in his eyes.
A message appeared on the surviving monitor.
BRING ETHAN TO HANGAR NINE.
Below it was a live image of Director Crane.
He was tied to a chair inside the abandoned research hangar.
Behind him stood Dr. Evelyn Mercer.
She looked directly into the camera.
“Samuel,” she said, “bring your son, or Harold Crane becomes the first demonstration.”
The image changed.
May you like
A prototype engine spun behind Crane without any aircraft attached to it.
Its power level began rising.
