CHAPTER 1

"I'll take the charter flight first thing in the morning," Dominic announced, putting his name on the schedule. "Who wants the stunt at two?"

"I'll take it," String volunteered. "If you can spare the extra person I'd like someone to help with the groundwork and pre-flight though since there's that storm coming on tonight. I'd rather get back to cabin before it lets loose."

"I wish I could. Saint John's got to pick up some spare parts though, and Cait's closing up. We're stretched about as thin as possible."

"I'll help," Le volunteered. "It's Friday so I have all weekend to work on homework, and I think it could be fun."

"It's a serious matter, not just fun and games," Hawke cautioned him. "I'll be depending on you to do a good job."

"I know, but I can handle it. Uncle Dom has been teaching me."

"Ok, if it's alright with your dad, I'll take you." Le seemed to be developing a genuine interest in what they were doing and they could use all the help they could get currently. If he could do the job there was no reason not to let him.

"I'll go ask him now," Le agreed excitedly.

\A/

"The helicopter is all ready," Le announced proudly, "but Michael is here and he wants to talk to you. He said it's really important."

"He can't wait?"

The Amerasian boy shook his head.

"Alright. Get on the radio and tell them I'll be up in a minute, I have to check something first. He continued walking toward the white-suited government official. "You called?"

"I have a job for you."

"If you haven't noticed, we're a little overbooked as it is. Whatever you have is going to have to wait."

"It can't," Michael stated simply.

"Why the hell not? I know you have important things for us to do, but I already put in my time for Uncle Sam. We have lives of our own to deal with too. Even if I was in the mood to get shot at for whatever the Committee is deeming important this week, I'm not sure I could get anyone else away long enough to help me. We're all busy."

"I understand, but by not doing this you could also be putting yourselves in danger."

"Do you want to stop dancing around the issue and tell me what it is you want?"

"There is a group of individuals now going by the name of New World Movement. They aren't in the FIRM's good graces right now, but they don't seem to mind making enemies. Some of the top field agents from around the world have been disappearing, courtesy of Amaya Garcia, their leader. They are turning the agents through brainwashing and using them as their own elite private army. In addition, they have been acquiring vast amounts of armament and plenty of things to use it with. If they find out about Airwolf, there's no doubt it will move to the top of their list of acquisitions, and they'll need a pilot too."

"What makes you think that any of us can stop them?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure if you can. All I know is that you're our best chance. The situation has gotten out of hand, there's no other way to put it. Amaya, the one we believe is behind all of this, has now set up a significant air defense that no one has succeeded in getting through thus far. I'm afraid that if he's left alone much longer he won't stop at defense; eventually they're going to take the offensive."

"So we have Airwolf, I still don't see what makes you think we have a chance at taking out Amaya's stronghold. She has a squadron of highly specialized field operatives and you're planning on fighting them with a family of three or four in a suped-up helicopter. I know she needs to be stopped, but I'm not volunteering for suicide."

"You managed to get Airwolf out of Libya."

Hawke paused, sighing deeply. "But you had inside people and two of them still died."

"If it's any consolation, I'd offer to go with you if I weren't such a liability. The fact of the matter is I'm not as young and not as quick anymore - somewhat due to age, and a lot due to injuries."

"I'll let you know. Right now I have a stunt to fly and I'll have to talk it over with the others before I agree to anything like that."

Michael nodded. "Just remember time is of the essence."

"It always is."

"I'll do whatever I can to help," Michael promised.

"If I go," Hawke reminded, "I haven't agreed to go yet."

"If you go," he amended, knowing as well as anyone the decision was already made. There was no choice.