Autumn Fire - Softcover

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

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Tom served his country for more than 25 years as a member of the Air Force's Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Agency and its predecessor organizations, the Air Intelligence Agency, the Air Force Intelligence Command, and the Electronic Security Command. He has served as an intelligence analyst at various locations, including Japan and Saudi Arabia, and is a veteran of the Persian Gulf War. During Operation DESERT SHIELD, he was selected to brief HRH Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales; the Commanders of British and French in theater forces; and the U.S. Army's VII Corps Commander on the integration of Air Force intelligence capabilities within the Tactical Air Operations Center. During Operation DESERT STORM, he provided time-critical information to the Joint Rescue Coordination Center resulting in the safe extraction of downed allied airborne personnel and the provision of location data to the USCENTCOM targeting cell that culminated in the destruction of 25 strategic targets. He has been an Intelligence Analyst, Senior Intelligence Analyst, and Special Projects Officer, working with varied elements of the intelligence community, including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, NSA, and other Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence managed special activities. Tom has also led analytic teams and the design and implementation of unique intelligence processing and storage systems supporting Air Force operations during Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, and NEW DAWN. He has received the Meritorious Service Medal, three Air Force Commendation Medals, and three Air Force Achievement Medals. In addition to his Masters degree in Computer Systems Management, Tom holds professional certifications from the National Security Agency as an Intelligence Analyst, and the Director of National Intelligence as an Intelligence Community Officer (now the Joint Duty program). He lives near Baltimore.

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Dabir’s hands were caked with dirt and sweat dripped from his forehead, but he reached for the nylon pack and drew the last item from it. The brown canvas pack was unmarked and fitted it into the dirt shelf. The top would not fit squarely, so he scraped at the dirt with his hand and then wedged it in. Another pull of the cylindrical timing fuse on this pack, and he began to shift some of the dirt he removed to make the cabinet back up against the pack, trying to camouflage it as best he could. Looking around again, he could feel time slipping away, and felt he could not tempt fate any longer. Donning the now empty black nylon pack again, he hoisted his rifle and ran back the way he came. Where were they? Amari was growing more and more nervous by the moment. He checked the luminous dial of his watch. Nearly six minutes, and they were not back yet. Suddenly, he heard pounding footsteps and raised the G3. Racing in from the east was Omar. He saw Amari in the shadow of the tank and waved, heading directly toward the hole in the fence. Omar would head to the tree line and wait, covering them against the infidels if needed. Amari glanced down to look at his watch again and heard more footsteps. Dabir rounded the tank and sped past him, saying, “It is done, brother.” A moment later, Jamil raced past, “Done, my brother.” Amari waited until they were through the fence, and headed to the tree line and he looked back toward the tanks and listened intently. No shouts, no demands to halt. Nothing. They had done it. Allah was truly with them this night. Amari ran for the fence, ducked through, and climbed the slight rise to the tree line. All four men were waiting, breathing heavily, the sheen of sweat on their brows. Omar’s pack was nowhere to be seen, and Dabir and Jamil’s were on their backs, but obviously empty. Good.