Free Category Five by Philip Donlay Page B

these storms seemed to be in her blood. She quickly activated
Jonah’s
onboard computer and let it run a self-diagnostic test. The small highspeed computer was at the heart of everything
Jonah
could do. Once the airship was inflated, it would quickly ascend within the eye of Helena.
    Lauren was proud of what she’d been able to construct. Inside the unmanned airship sat a miniaturized Doppler radar array. Current Doppler radar units were huge and ungainly. The most portable of them could only be situated on the beds of large trucks, or mounted inside a dome on a four-engine transport plane. Lauren had been able to take tiny components from the radar systems used in guided missiles and adapt them for her lightweight airborne radar.
Jonah
could be maneuvered inside the eye via satellite commands, and for seven days, give them an actual radar signature of the eye wall. All of the data was relayedback through the DMSP satellites to this room. Singularly, or in conjunction with research flights run by NOAA, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, her system would usher in a new era of real-time storm data.
    â€œOkay Lt. Herrera. We’re good at this end. Let’s get
Jonah
in the air.”
    â€œYes ma’am.”
    Thrilled, as if watching a new life being born, Lauren sat and watched as the silver envelope began to inflate. It rose into the air, steadied by the control lines. The airship was powered by two electric ducted-fan propellers. A generator inside provided the power for the radar and the engines. Weight had been critical, so Lauren had used highly flammable hydrogen as the gas to float
Jonah
. As the stored fuel was depleted, the balloon would become lighter. Then they could simply switch over and use the hydrogen as the fuel source for the generator. It solved many of her problems. Like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon,
Jonah
filled and rose majestically above the ship.
    Lauren typed commands to the propulsion system and watched as each of the propellers jumped to life.
    â€œI’ll make one complete sweep of the radar before we cut it loose,” she said to Herrera. She powered up the array and waited for a computer display to her left to show her the Doppler radar image. On cue, a red band began to form on the black screen. Excited beyond belief, Lauren watched as
Jonah
began to transmit data. She studied the return and her smile turned into a frown. She quickly adjusted the parameters. The images switched from red to purple. In less than a minute, the screen showed an angry magenta ring around the ship. It was as if she’d been able to x-ray the engine of the storm. Helena was growing more powerful.
    â€œLt. Herrera. Release the balloon!” Lauren watched as the cables broke away and
Jonah
sailed skyward behind the ship. The internal Global Positioning System would take over and keep
Jonah
centered perfectly in the eye.
    â€œIt’s away!” Herrera reported.
    â€œThank you so much.” Lauren felt a mixture of relief and urgency. “Lt. Herrera. I’d suggest you inform the captain his best way out of the eye is to turn to the southwest. The hurricane is building rapidly. I’m going to try to send this data to the bridge. It might prove be to useful.”
    Lauren looked over at Brent Whitaker, the DIA communications specialist sitting next to her. He reminded her of an actor on one of her mother’s television programs. Brent had a dark complexion and full head of tousled black hair. The only thing that spoiled his movie star looks was a slight potbelly and a scraggly goatee. Lauren knew he’d recently transferred from another project to assist with
Jonah
. She’d been impressed with his work, and how quickly he’d melded into their small group. Brent nodded that he could facilitate the transfer.
    â€œThanks, Dr. McKenna. Glad we could help,” Herrera said quickly; then the transmission was severed.
    Lauren stood from