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rect coordinates； they should land in the middle of a large open space on the ice near the security fence of the mining facility。 The terrain afforded them safe cover and concealment from which they could assemble and conduct a final equipment check prior to moving into the assault position。
He could lightly feel the wind rushing by as his canopy gained airspeed； an indication that he was traveling with predominant winds and not against them。 At 19；000 feet； the cloud layers opened up； revealing the stark white expanse of the frozen Antarctic landscape。 Canopies were strung out in a jagged； stairstep line to his front； with the firefly beams looking like a string of Christmas lights hung above an empty horizon。
Suddenly； he was called by Garnet。 〃Wizard； this is Tin Man。 I am one man short； repeat； one man short； over。〃
Damn！ Cleary thought。 It was going too smoothly； and now Murphy stepped in to remove any false sense of security。
Cleary didn't ask the name of the missing man。 It wasn't necessary。 If he had a malfunction and jettisoned his main canopy； he should be somewhere below the stick of canopies heading toward the assembly area； suspended beneath his reserve canopy。 There was no thought of the man falling to his death。 It rarely ever happened。 Once on the ground； the missing man would have to rely on his skills to survive until a search team could be sent out after the facility was secured。
Cleary's only concern was the man's equipment。 〃Tin Man。 This is Wizard。 What arsenal was the man carrying？〃
〃Wizard； we are missing one plete demolition kit and two LAWS； over。〃
Not good。 The LAW was a Light Antitank Weapon； a powerful； oneshot； throwaway unit that could take out an armored vehicle。 Two men had cross…loaded a LAW each； so there were still two in reserve。 The demolition kit was critical。 It contained thirty pounds of C…4 plastic explosive； detonation cord； and time fuses。 They badly needed the kit if they encountered barricades or fortifications。 Of all the men to lose； （weary cursed； it had to be the one carrying the only demo kit and two LAWS。
So be it。 〃Wizard to all elements。 Target is eight miles out。 Extinguish all firefly lights and maintain maximum radio silence。 Close up the stick as tight as possible。 Wizard； out。〃
They were down to a fifteen…minute canopy flight to the target landing zone。 Cleary checked his watch。 They were still racing the clock； with little time in reserve。 He hoped the missing man was not an omen。 Myriad things could go wrong in the next half hour。 They couldn't afford to lose another man and vital equipment。 The tailwind was pushing them along nicely。 Cleary looked ahead and down； satisfied that the stair…step formation was tight and the new…model canopies were exceeding all expectations for glide and stability。 The plan was to be over the target landing site at 500 feet。
The mining facility was getting closer。 Details of the buildings could be recognized through occasional breaks in the clouds。 Now they were at 8；000 feet altitude and moving into a phase of the operation where they were most vulnerable before they were safely on the ground。
At 7；000 feet； Cleary felt something out of place。 He was losing airspeed。 His canopy began to buck and flutter from a crosswind that had swept in from nowhere。 He intuitively reached up for the toggles nestled on the rear side of the front risers。 These were canopy 〃trim tabs；〃 which increased the canopy's angle of attack to counter the crosswind。
〃Wizard； this is Lion。 We've got one hell of a crosswind。〃
〃Roger； Lion。 I have it at my altitude as well。 All elements； use trim tabs and maintain heading。〃
Cleary looked down and saw the icy landscape moving by； considerably slower than before。 At 2；000 feet； the tailwind thankfully picked up again and the crosswind died off。 He scanned the mining facility for movement or activity。 Everything on the ground appeared normal。 Puffs of white vapor revealed where warm air and exhaust escaped from within the facility's buildings。 It looked deceivingly unthreatening。
At last； Cleary heard the message he was hoping for。
〃Wizard； this is Lion。 I have cleared the security fence and have visual of the target landing zone。 We're almost home。〃
〃Roger that； Lion；〃 Cleary answered with relief。
He watched as the front element of the stick moved slightly to the right。 They were preparing to fly a downwind and base leg of their flight in preparation for turning into the wind and landing。 Sharpsburg； the lead man； turned perpendicular to the direction of flight。 The stick of canopies immediately behind him followed suit； turning on the same imaginary point in the sky as Sharpsburg。
〃Wizard；〃 Lion reported； without bothering to identify himself； 〃five hundred feet and preparing to land。〃
Cleary did not reply。 There was no need。 He watched as the first canopy landed on target and deflated； followed by the second； then the third。 As the men touched down； they jettisoned as much gear as possible and took up a hasty defensive perimeter。
Now at 500 feet； Cleary observed Jacobs's SEAL team mirror the landing of the Delta team。 Next came Garnet and his Marines。 Now directly over the imaginary turning point； he tugged at the left toggle and slid around ninety degrees for one hundred meters； repeating the maneuver until he was facing the wind。 He felt it push into his body； slowing the canopy's forward movement。 Then Cleary brought both toggles to the halfway point and studied the frozen ground and his altimeter collectively。
Two hundred feet came quickly。 The ground was rushing up to meet him。 Past the one…hundred…foot mark； he let up on his toggles； pletely entering free flight。 Then； relying on his expertise and experience； Cleary pulled the toggles all the way down until they reached full extension； and he touched the Antarctic's icebound surface as lightly as if he'd stepped off a curb。
He quickly unbuckled his harness and dropped the parachute system that had carried him safely to his destination。 Then he knelt down and prepared his Spartan Q…99 Eradicator； locking and loading it for immediate use。
Garnet； Sharpsburg； and Jacobs were at his side within thirty seconds。 They coordinated briefly； checking their position and making final preparations for their movement toward the control center of the facility。 After issuing final instructions to Sharpsburg； who would be in charge of the assault team if Cleary was killed or badly wounded； he peered at the facility through his field glasses。 Not seeing any signs of defensive activity； Cleary ordered the teams to move out tactically； with himself in the middle of the patrol。
Loath to die； the wind struggled to stay alive until there was no more strength left in it。 Then it was gone； leaving the sun to transform the last of the windblown ice crystals into sparkling diamond dust。 The dismal gray light gave way to a blue sky that returned as the Snow Cruiser forged relentlessly across the ice shelf。 The mighty machine had proven herself a tough customer。 Engines running faultlessly； wheels churning through the