The Air Force executive jet had just achieved cursing altitude for the ninety minute hop to Andrews Air Force Base. The BAC RJ30 was the first passenger aircraft since the ill-fated Concorde, to fly at supersonic speeds. The RJ30 had a cursing speed of around two-thousand miles an hour, Mk3, and an absolute speed of over five times the speed of sound. The aircraft was made possible by the successful British development of an efficient 'Scram-jet' system that used mainly hydrogen, and a small amount of propellant as its fuel, which gave it a range of anywhere in the world without the need for refuelling. The plane owed more than a passing relationship to the Concord airliner of the mid-twentieth century, but although it was much the same shape, the RJ30 was almost three times its size with the trailing edge of both wings housing thirty thrusters.
In the main cabin the British Prime Minister, relaxed with the other four members of his security committee, as well as Abe Marks, from the MI6 Middle-east Section and Wolf Schneider President of the EU, in addition to the usual retinue of high ranking politicians. Some of the passengers were taking the opportunity to complete work whilst others chatted amicably. Although there was work ahead there was also the prospect of a pleasant time at Camp David whilst President Orwell celebrated with friends. Twenty minutes into the flight the Flight Sergeant appeared from the crew quarters and made directly to PM Matthews, where he whispered something that made the PM's eyes widen. Seconds later the Sergeant disappeared through the door to the cockpit, and the PM rose from his seat stroking his face and chin.
"Gentlemen, the Sergeant has just informed me that we are being forced to take a detour to the south, it seems we have a volcano in mid-Atlantic."
"When did this happen Sir, it's a bit sudden isn't it," commented Sir James.
"It seems CNN are covering it, can you turn the wall screen on to CNN Abe, please?"
Abe, who was sitting closest to the control pad obeyed his PM and the image appeared on the screen. The scene was of a seascape with a plume of black smoke appearing from a small blotch at sea-level, mixed into the lower parts of the smoke plume were angry red flashes with the area around filled with smoking bombs as they fell back to the water, then producing steam.
The CNN anchor-woman was recapping on the story, "Just forty-five minutes ago the small, island you see at the base of the smoke column burst through the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. Ten minutes later the island exploded and commenced spewing lava into the water. .
. ." The passengers watched in awe as the pictures from an oblique satellite continued on the screen and the aircraft banked to the left to assume a new course.
Five minutes later the anchor-woman appeared on camera to read another report, "Reports are coming in from Greece that several eruptions have commenced over the past hour. The series of volcanic eruptions started with an incredible explosion from the Greek Island of Milos, at about one twenty-five, local time. Seven minutes later the volcano of Methana, some thirty-three miles from Athens also erupted. At almost the same time a long extinct caldera, now known as the Gulf of Kalloni, on Lesvos island became active and started turning the sea-water into steam, which is enveloping the south of the island. There are unconfirmed reports that both Vesuvius and mount Etna have started spewing smoke into the atmosphere. More after these messages. . . "
"What the devil is going on," demanded Field Marshal Sir Alan Robinson. No one seemed willing to hazard a guess.
After a few seconds Abe Marks decided it may be safe to remind the small group about the Crete revelations. "You don't think this has something to do with the message of those 'God Tapes' do you Sir," he asked. "What makes you say that Mr Marks," asked Home Secretary Harden, "you're not a Christian are you? "
"No Sir, I'm Jewish, but I thought that would be obvious, Sir, "retorted Abe. "However, to answer your question, and having studied the Christian Bible, it does warn of volcanic activity during the lead up to the final days, and I think you will agree, Sir, this seems to be quite an unique occurrence."
"Poppy-cock," stated Harden, "superstitious nonsense, I have seen nothing to suggest that these, so called, 'God Tapes' have any validity in reality."
"Until six volcanoes decide to erupt at the same time," ventured Sir James, with a little chuckle.
"Did you know that there has been more volcanic and seismic activity in the past forty years than in all of the past five hundred years all together," added Abe Marks. "That's a little bit worrying," commented the PM.
Harden was about to make a rather acerbic comment when everyone noticed the picture on the wall screen. CNN were transmitting a real-time feed from medium high orbit satellite looking at the Pacific. Around the ocean were some seven plumes of smoke, clearly seen as black blotches. Someone switched the audio on again as the anchor-woman was continuing her commentary.
". . . people have been killed on Fiji as molten lava burst through the crust of a natural bath. Unconfirmed reports suggest that there are now eleven points of eruption around the Pacific rim, sometimes called the 'Ring of Fire'. Authorities in Iceland have also confirmed that the often active volcano Eyjafjallajökull, has again erupted, together with several other volcanoes in the area. We take you now to Harvard University to get some comments and hopefully some explanations from Doctor Colin Hamby, head of seismic studies. Doctor what is happening here?
"Hi Sue, well, I have to say that I have no idea, we have had no indications that an event of this magnitude was about to happen. We have never considered that an event such as we are seeing now was even possible." "Can we make a guess as to why all these volcanoes are erupting at the same time, Colin?"
"Not really, normally eruptions are not connected in this way, each depends upon the individual magma chamber pressures. magma chambers are normally not connected in any way other than they all accept magma from the mantle and outer core. All we can assume is that there is something unique happening to the core, and I can't say we understand what it might be at this time."
"Thank Doctor Hamby, we have just heard that there are eruptions in New Zealand at Mayor Island in the Bay of Plenty, and along the Tonga string. . . . "
"My God, this could turn into a global emergency," suggested Defence Minister Daniel Grieves.
It took over two hours to make the crossing to Andrew's, and another fifteen minutes to make the seventy mile hop to Camp David, where President Orwell greeted them in person. As expected the topic of conversation was not about national security and Iran, but about the unprecedented eruption events across the globe. The following three days were a mixture of socialising and serious discussion. Agreements were formed about what to do about the perceived threat from the Middle- east and a multi-national action and relief group was set up to manage the latest threat from volcanic activity.
The European contingent were due to fly out at three on Friday afternoon and were sitting in one of the visitor lounges enjoying the real coffee and each other's company, when the head of President Orwell appeared around the door. "Hi guys," the president said in greeting, "before you go I just wanted to have a chat about this anti-Christian feeling that seems to be developing. I believe you have had some similar issues."
"Well, yes we had some problems but we seem to have it under control currently," answered the PM, "I doubt if it could compare with your atomic bomb problems though."
"So, how did you nip the bud, in the UK," asked Orwell. At a nod from the PM Home secretary Harden took the question, "Mr. President, it was quite simple, we used emergency powers to ban all public demonstrations of faith, nothing pertaining to any faith outside of churches, mosques, temples, or whatever. The Christians didn't like it but none of the other faiths tend to evangelise, so they don't really care."
"Not sure that would work here, especially down south in the Bible Belt," Orwell thought out loud, "and the US has many exhibits and museums, like the popular Creation Museum, and the one that the terrorists hit, been there myself."
"The problem is that the Christians are so vocal, especially now we have these God Tapes, they all feel vindicated and want to tell everyone else that they are wrong. That puts people's backs up and sooner or later there is always trouble," explained Harden.
"I take your point Henry," agreed Orwell, "there is also a political issue, as a professing Christian, I rode into this job on the back of the Christian vote. If I put bans in place I just feel like it's a betrayal."
"You haven't got the people responsible yet then," asked the British PM.
"Hell I wish we had, we think we know the group and we have made membership of the US-A illegal, but all that seems to have done is to increase their membership, and we can't arrest them all. We'd need another ten Guantanamo Bays, remember that?"
"I do Jim, but sometimes we need to protect people and bend the rules," stated Matthews.
"That sure is true," agreed the President, "well guys thanks for coming over, I have to get back to the Oval Office straight-way, so keep me posted," he said as he made to leave, then stopped, "Oh yea, just so you know I have dispatched a fifty person geological team to investigate the eruptions, I'll keep you in the loop on that, and we are a little concerned that our super volcano in Yellowstone is about to blow, so we are evacuating the area in Wyoming a hundred miles around the volcano. See you later guys." With that the President of the United States disappeared.