Bill Yancey

Exploded View Bill Yancey

Building a nuclear weapon is not too difficult if one has the materials. The Cold War, police actions, superpower skirmishes, and outright conventional warfare delivered at least 100 million assault rifles to hot spots throughout the world. Terrorists, legitimate rebels to oppressive regimes, local militias, and individuals confiscated many of those weapons for their own use. Fanatics obtained these weapons through legal and illegal methods. Their ability to re-purpose weapons for their causes is a major problem for lawful governments. In the past, black market arms were limited to hand guns, rocket-propelled grenades, and automatic rifles. Lately, more powerful explosives, handheld anti-aircraft missiles, and biological weapons have found their way to extremists. Today, religious zealots have access to drones, depleted uranium, and other radioactive materials. It's only a matter of time before they find a supplier for weapons-grade uranium or plutonium. Again, building a nuclear weapon is not too difficult if one has the materials. Delivering it to its intended target is a challenge. Stopping it from detonating will be a daunting task once it is delivered. The presence of one or two atomic bombs on board a ship can ruin a tropical cruise. Fred Gretowski and his nephew, Chad, are on a journey to Sydney, Australia, on the largest most luxurious cruise ship ever built. Fred wants to show Chad where he spent R& R from the war in Vietnam before he became a POW. The well publicized maiden voyage of the Hollywood Stars Cruise Line's Marilyn Monroe has given the Islamic State time to plan the ship's hijacking. The preparation for the hijacking is as complex as that for 9/11. Fourteen men, plus some shipboard collaborators, manage to deliver the atomic weapons to the cruise ship while it is at sea. Terrorists bring with them two atomic weapons, AK-47s, pistols, combat knives, a GPS spoofer, computer technology, cutting edge walkie-talkies, and detailed plans on how to control the ship. They are a formidable squad of combat trained jihadis. A ragtag group of passengers and ship's crew take exception to the terrorists' designs. In the balance lies the fate of the ship and 3000 passengers and crew, if not the world.