The blowing snow picked up as the big Herc taxied up to the base's single operating hangar. Two men were waiting for the plane, both wearing faded but cleanly pressed pre-war Royal Air Force uniforms. The HC-130 reached its parking station and its pilots began shutting down the plane's major systems. The side door opened quickly enough and three people emerged. Two were members of the Football City Rangers Protection unit. The third was Mike Fitzgerald. The pair of RAF officers walked forward and met Fitz with two handshakes. He introduced himself to the RAF men. and they to him. The senior officer was Major Sandhurst Jerrold. His aide was Lieutenant Patrick Sally. "Sorry, we couldn't arrange for better weather," Jerrold told Fitz. "But I trust you had a good flight?" "Problem free," Fitz replied. He looked around the air base. The wind was up to fifty knots at least, its moaning provided the soundtrack for the bleak desolate spot of land that Britain and Argentina once fought over hi the first, real high tech war.
