A storm was raging outside, with little sign of abating. Admiral Poldan hurried over. "What is it?" "I've got contact with Global Hawk. It's just cleared the shield." "Global Hawk? I thought it was down. Are you sure?" "Yes, sir." The admiral frowned. "What the hell's it been doing? It's nine hours overdue!" "I don't know, sir." "Wouldn't it be out of fuel if it had been in the air all this time?" Poldan asked. "It would be close, sir, but it might be able to stay up this long. It was built for long endurance flights." The pilot was throwing switches. "My contact is weak with the computer. She seems damaged. It's barely moving fast enough to stay airborne." He looked over his shoulder at the admiral. "I recommend we bring her on board. I don't think it can make it back to the mainland. Plus we can download whatever data her imagers picked up." "You can land it on the flight deck?" "Yes, sir." "Do it." The pilot returned his attention to his controls. "I've got it." His hands delicately played with the joystick.
