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May 16, 2011    Operation Foretold

It’s 3 AM at the White House, May 16, 2011. The red phone rings in the President’s quarters. On the secure line is Edward Lyons, the Secretary of Defense, with a national security issue that cannot wait until morning.

The President is awakened by his staff and takes the call.

The urgency and agitation in Secretary Lyons’ tone are immediately evident. 

“Mr. President, I apologize for waking you, but we were just informed that a helicopter was found three days ago in a cave in Afghanistan. Our scientists undertook an intensive study of the aircraft and using carbon dating, have determined it to be five-thousand-years-old.” 

The President scoffs, “That’s impossible! You woke me at 3 AM for this?”

“No, sir! It is one of ours, and it’s from an aircraft carrier called the USS John McCain.” 

Seriously annoyed at this point, the President, in a biting tone snaps, “A five-thousand-year-old helicopter?” 

“Well, sir, I should note that we don’t have an aircraft carrier by the name of USS John McCain, either. But even more distressing is that it was determined the helicopter was manufactured in the future . . . ten years from now. Documentation in the aircraft shows it is dated 2021. When checking with Lockheed, it was found that, based upon DOD and forecast Foreign Military Sales needs, the serial number is not even slated to be used until 2020 or 2021.” 

The President’s expression morphs into an unusual cacophony of secondary emotions, including fear as he grasps the reality of the discovery. His face is now grave. He asks the Secretary to arrange for a meeting at 9 AM and to limit attendance to only those with a documented “need to know” status.

Lyons tells the President he will do so and will prepare a briefing outlining all the details and options for the way ahead. The President slowly returns the phone to its cradle. He knows sleep will be impossible now.

Lyons hangs up his phone, hands trembling. His recent appointment replaced Gregg Wicketts who, after serving three years, resigned to take a private sector position in the information technology arena. Now, Edward wonders what Gregg would do in this situation. But he has little time to consider anything but his first priority—preparing the morning briefing for the President. He and his staff are scrambling for background information about the portentous discovery.

Precious time passes too quickly, but Edward finally has the morning briefing in hand. He shuffles through the newly printed pages and begins to review the report.

Background

The aircraft, tentatively identified as an HH-60W, also known as the Jolly Green II, is a versatile aircraft designed for combat search and rescue. Developed by Lockheed Martin, it incorporates several advancements and improvements that enhance performance, survivability, and mission effectiveness.

One of the key capabilities of the HH-60W is to operate in hostile, challenging, and changing environments. Equipped with advanced avionics and sensors, its design facilitates navigation and operation in low-light conditions, adverse weather, and congested airspace. The helicopter features cutting-edge communication systems to assist in real-time situational awareness.

The HH-60W is designed with a robust and durable airframe able to withstand high-stress situations and provide increased survivability for both crew and passengers. The design includes advanced armor protection, crash-worthy seating, and ballistic tolerance to enhance crew safety and enhance the helicopter’s ability to endure hostile fire. An airborne laser will provide a state-of-the-art munitions package. 

Powered by twin 1900 horsepower GE-701D engines, the helicopter has increased power and improved fuel efficiency allowing it to operate over longer distances and at higher altitudes, expanding its operational range and capability to reach remote locations quickly.

The HH-60W also has improved hover capability, enabling it to conduct precision operations, such as hoisting and rescuing personnel in tight and confined spaces.

It incorporates comprehensive electro-optical/infrared sensors, and a forward-looking infrared system, which provides the crew with real-time information about the operational environment. These sensors aid in locating and identifying potential threats, as well as detecting and tracking survivors or downed aircraft in distress.

Depending upon the mission, it will be capable of carrying up to three ultra-light aircraft in a scaled-down, unassembled configuration allowing deployment by parachute. The ultra-lights will be flight-ready in only forty minutes and equipped with the spare parts most vulnerable to damage or failure during typical special tactics missions. Perhaps most importantly, each will be capable of flying, if necessary, using only alcohol as a fuel source. 

Intelligence Briefing

The helicopter in the cave was at first thought to be a Vimana, an ancient flying machine documented in several 4^th-century BC Indian texts, such as the Samara Sutradhara.

The craft was described in a text called the Ramayana, a Sanskrit epic from ancient India (one of the two important epics of Hinduism, the other being the Mahābhārata). “Vimana was a double-deck, circular vessel with portholes and a dome. It flew with the ’speed of the wind’ and gave forth a ’melodious sound.’” The passages went on to explain that entire flight manuals were found which detailed construction, take-off, normal and forced landings, and even collisions with birds.

In the Vymaanika-Shaastra (the science of aeronautics), written by Maharishi Bhardwaj in the 20^th-century, information was found concerning steering, protection from storms, lightning, and instruction on how to switch the drive to some other form of energy. Propulsion was through the use of an alcohol-based yellowish-white liquid.

The Mahabharata, one of two Sanskrit epic texts composed around 400 BCE (Before Common Era), contained the first references to flying machines known as Vimanas. Unlike the metaphorical descriptions in the Rigveda (an ancient Indian collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns), Vimanas were portrayed as being technologically advanced and capable of actual flight.

 One of the most famous episodes is the “Ascent of Arjuna” or “Arjuna’s Celestial Journey.” According to the story, the warrior prince Arjuna undertakes a celestial journey to the heavens, guided by Lord Konagamana, his celestial father. During this journey, Arjuna witnesses various celestial realms, encounters divine beings, and travels in a Vimana. The craft is described as a magnificent flying chariot that carried Arjuna through the skies. 

The Vimana mentioned in the Mahabharata are often depicted as having extraordinary features. They are said to have possessed the ability to travel at great speeds, maneuvering through the air effortlessly, and having celestial or divine attributes. They are described as being adorned with elements of fire (possibly lighting systems or airborne lasers), powerful engines, and controlled by skilled, celestial pilots.

The Vimana in the Mahabharata serve as symbols of power, transcendence, and the interaction between mortals and celestial beings.

In the Sanskrit, Samarangana Sutradhara (translated as ‘controller of the battlefield’) is the following passage: 

“Strong and durable must be the body of the Vimana, like a great flying bird of light material. Inside, one must put the soma (alcohol) engine with its heating apparatus. A man sitting inside may travel a great distance in the sky by means of the power latent in the liquid which sets the driving whirlwind in motion. The movements of the Vimana are such that it can vertically ascend, vertically descend, and move slanting forward and backward . . .” 

. . . very much like a helicopter . . ..

The briefing was scheduled for 8:30 AM, encrypted and labeled Ultra Top Secret SCI, (Sensitive Compartmented Information) before being forwarded to the White House National Security Advisor, Jerry Hokkenen, a former fighter pilot and retired Air Force General.

A run-through was made before 9 AM to ensure all who had been read in were in agreement with both content, options, and recommendations for the President. After the initial dry run without the President, Hokkenen was the first to speak. 

“I can’t believe we don’t have more intel about this helicopter! How in the hell did it end up in an Afghani cave? And what’s crazy to me is it won’t even be built until 2021! That’s ten years from now! How can we be certain about these dates? Do we know who could have flown it? If we know, do we tell him or stop him from flying it?”

Air Force Chief Scientist, Dr. Geno Ermenio, responded. 

“Sir, the labs at Wright-Patt (Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio) have worked around the clock for the past three days to ensure all the numbers added up correctly, especially the carbon-14 dating documenting the five-thousand-year-old helicopter airframe.”

“Dr. Ermenio, I hope to God we don’t screw this up—and we must maintain absolute iron-proof security. I’m going to need your help to guarantee we do this—and it won’t be easy.”

At that moment, the President entered and looked around the room. He appeared to be counting the number of people present. No one spoke or greeted him. Silence permeated the secure Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF), known as the President’s personal “skiff.” Most people who worked in the White House didn’t know it even existed, much less its actual location.

The President didn’t speak but simply nodded toward General Hokkenen to start the briefing.

Only eight people were present. It would become one the most closely guarded secrets in the history of the United States, code-named Operation Foretold for obvious reasons. All members of the discovery and scientific teams involved in the incident were told never to repeat any of the details under threat of significant fines and even imprisonment. To make the point perfectly clear, each was required to undergo forty hours of debriefing annually and advised as to why any partial release of the information could be of grave damage, not only to the United States but to the global community as well. 

Immediately after the briefing, the President left for the Oval Office. Everyone was completely stunned at the information shared in the briefing. Dr. Ermenio was the first to speak.

“General Hokkenen, I’ve got some thirty-year-old scotch in my briefcase. Would you like to try some of it?”

The General looked at Dr. Ermenio and said, “Call me Jerry.” 

“Certainly, General. I’ll call you Jerry if you call me Geno. Where do you think we can find some glasses?”

They both saw a hutch containing several crystal glasses embossed with the Presidential Seal.

“I don’t think the President will mind if we borrow a few of his cocktail glasses, especially after what he’s heard this morning.” 

“Yes, sir. I think you’re right—I don’t think he will mind.” 

At that moment, completely unannounced, the President walked back into the room, picked up the glasses, and walked over to Dr. Ermenio. 

“I’m going to join you—my head is still spinning,” the President said. “You know, I’ve never had thirty-year-old scotch before. Gentlemen, I can’t tell you how important it is that this information is not leaked or compromised in any way.” He paused for a moment. “Most people think that I don’t drink at all.” 

Everyone present knew exactly what the President was really saying.

The President was reluctant to provide overall knowledge of the incident to any other people. All information dispersal was kept to an absolute minimum and compartmented to ensure absolute secrecy. The helicopter was labeled as an archaeological relic and encased in a protective metal wrapping to prevent the slightest possibility of identification. It was flown to a restricted holding area in Nevada with instructions to maintain the highest level of security and no further investigative action would be taken unless requested and notified by the White House.

Rumors began to develop—many alleging it was some type of alien aircraft or possibly an ancient Indian flying machine. Those with overall knowledge of the incident considered this to be a good cover story and did nothing to discourage its dissemination on a national or international basis.