Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland is the closest air base to Washington State. The 316th Squadron, also known as the DC Air Force, is stationed there and is responsible for the President's daily helicopter security.
Air Force One, the presidential aircraft, belongs to the 89th Airlift Wing.
Immediately upon receiving notification of an aerial threat to DC, two F-16 fighter jets from the 113th Wing of the DC Air National Guard were dispatched to the runway.
It remains unknown where the AC130U took off from or how it managed to evade radar and appear over DC.
But that no longer matters. Within minutes, the White House was under attack, and chaos reigned throughout the city.
The DC Metropolitan Police Department is arguably the most heavily manned police department in the United States, despite having just over 4,000 officers, seemingly a significant number compared to the NYPD's 30,000-plus.
New York City has a population of over 8 million, while DC's population is a mere 700,000.
Besides the Metropolitan Police Department, the District of Columbia is dotted with numerous federal law enforcement agencies. Besides the FBI, whose headquarters are located in the Hoover Building, there are also numerous military and police forces, including the Secret Service and the National Guard.
However, it must be said that this seemingly fantastical attack by the mysterious force struck a blow right at the federal government's weakest point.
Just as no one imagined during 9/11 that a passenger plane would be used to carry out a terrorist attack, no one could have imagined
that the AC-130, a ground-attack aircraft used by large nations to bully smaller nations lacking air superiority, would one day be used to attack the White House. A cacophony of sirens echoed over the District of Columbia, and tourists and passersby stared blankly at the sky, questioning their fate, still unable to comprehend what was happening.
Jack stopped the car and leaned out the window, watching the giant aircraft in the sky make a sharp turn along the Potomac River, seemingly slowly but rapidly passing over the Lincoln Memorial, its fuselage slowly tilting again.
A map shows the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol on a straight line, one to the west and one to the east. The White House lies directly north of this line, and their perpendicular intersection is the Washington Monument, the tallest building in D.C.
The AC-130's weapons are all mounted on the left side of the fuselage. Therefore, when conducting ground attacks on a target, it must circle counterclockwise and tilt the fuselage to achieve a better attack angle, forming a conical fire channel known as a "cone of fire."
The White House was located at the bottom center of this "cone of fire," but it was clear that the enemy had no intention of directly destroying the building. Not only did the 105mm howitzer remain silent, but even the 40mm cannon was rarely used.
After clearing out the Secret Service sniper team on the roof, the AC-130 seemed to lose interest in the White House, continuing to pour fire on the streets and buildings along its path, aiming to create greater chaos.
The Smithsonian, the National Gallery of Art, the National Academy of Sciences, and a host of other federal government buildings were all hit by 40mm shells in the latest wave of attacks, sending plumes of smoke billowing into the air.
Even the D.C. police, despite their ample resources, were thrown into a state of panic by the devastation. For one thing, the sheer number of fires meant the firefighters and ambulances were overwhelmed.
Less than six minutes had passed since the gunships launched their first attack.
"Kate, can you help me plot a safe route?" Jack fretted as the AC-130 flew over the reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial toward Capitol Hill, its fuselage banking slightly.
"Wait, Jack, the Air Force is here," Kate had barely finished her words when several white streaks suddenly appeared in the sky.
The AC-130 unleashed another spectacular wall of fire, a fire-baiting salvo, but this time, the effect was evidently less than impressive.
At least two air-to-air missiles successfully struck the behemoth's tail and belly. As if an invisible hand were pressing down hard from the void, the massive fuselage suddenly plunged downward, its wings barely brushing the spire of the Washington Monument.
However, a startling and dramatic scene unfolded. Although two air-to-air missiles had successfully hit their targets, the Air Force fighter jets, already engaged in a beyond-visual-range attack before they appeared, launched a full four missiles.
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The remaining two air-to-air missiles, pursuing the scattered heat decoys and aluminum foil, slammed into the Washington Monument below the gunship.
Smoke and dust billowed, and explosions roared.
As Jack watched, stunned, the AC130 slowly descended to the ground, trailing a trail of smoke. Its target was the Capitol, perched atop a hill.
Behind it lay the Washington Monument, its upper half shattered, its obelisk tumbling to the ground.
—Flash
back to a few minutes earlier.
"What the hell is going on out there?" FBI Director Jim Womack, who had just arrived at the Capitol but hadn't yet entered the Rotunda, grabbed a panicked officer and demanded in a stern voice.
The Pentagon major, clutching his phone, looked bewildered. Only after Womack repeated the same question several times did he finally jolt awake.
"Sorry, sir, I don't know what's going on. They say there's an AC-130 firing on the White House,"
Director Womack grabbed the man by the collar and yelled, spitting in his face. "Then what are you standing there for? Order an immediate evacuation! Damn it! Don't you know that almost every cabinet secretary and member of both Houses of Representatives is crammed into this damn Capitol right now?"
Before all this happened, Army General Al Kleiman, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was chatting with the Director, was probably one of the few calmer people present. The General
put away his phone and grabbed the Director's wrist, forcing him to loosen his grip on the Major's collar.
"Calm down, Womack! There's an aerial gunship firing recklessly from high above. Any attempt to evacuate is irrational.
You don't think your bulletproof Suboban can stop a 25mm shell from the sky, do you?"
Admiral Al Kleiman said, patting the panicked major on the shoulder and forcing him to look him in the eye. "Direct the ministers and members of Congress to the escape routes, making sure to use the tunnels leading to the fallout shelter."
The major was stunned for a moment before realizing what tunnels Admiral Kleiman was referring to.
Capitol Hill boasts over a dozen underground passages, including pedestrian, vehicular, and even a small subway line for trains.
These tunnels serve a variety of purposes, from large sewers and ancient steam tunnels to even underground shopping malls, complete with shoe stores, post offices, and cafeterias.
Besides serving the Capitol Police and staff responsible for protecting the Capitol, some tunnels are reserved for members of Congress, allowing these distinguished individuals to avoid the harassing media.
The escape route Admiral Kleiman was referring to was an underground passage leading from the Capitol to the Russell Building. In the 1950s, it was designated by the federal government as a fallout shelter to protect against a possible Soviet nuclear attack.
It was also the deepest escape route beneath the Capitol.
"Yes, General!" The major, having regained consciousness, saluted hastily. Just as he was about to leave, a strange howling sound approached from afar, giving him a very ominous feeling.
"What happened?" Director Womack quickly walked to the window to look outside the building, then froze in his tracks.
(End of Chapter)