Shortly after President Harwell and his entourage had been safely greeted by an escort of four fighter jets from The Oregon National Guard unit stationed at the Portland International Airport, Major Bates and Captain Scribner were finally given permission from the tower to land their two helicopters at Albany International Airport. Per the orders of the Governor via the White House Chief of Staff, the commanding officer of the local National Guard unit of New York had a squad of troops in position to detain the two flight crews.

During those several minutes of not understanding why they had been kept at bay in a hovering position facing away from the hangar facility, Major Bates heard a strange statement over the headset from a crew member positioned in the rear portion of the craft. The young man had always been a reliable sort, and had played an integral part in assisting jumpers as they prepared to bail out, but what he was conveying in the present moment made no sense at all. He had just added to the mystery of the unusual delay by exclaiming, “Major Bates sir. There are some soldiers on the ground forming up on our six, and they are all pointing their weapons at us!”

With an inquisitive look on his face, Major Bates replied, “Say again.”

After leaning his body further out from the open door for confirmation, the enlisted man replied, “Yes sir. I can see eight men formed into a semi-circle pattern just behind our position, and their weapons are trained on our undercarriage.”

Turning to his co-pilot, Major Bates then said, “I think that the corporal needs some time off.”

After a smile and an agreeable nod, his co-pilot then purely as a victim of curiosity glanced over his right shoulder toward an area behind the two helicopters. Behind the tinted visor of his helmet, his eyes instantly grew larger as he stared in disbelief. Without returning his gaze toward Major Bates, he clicked on his microphone and said, “Sir, I can’t see behind us to confirm the corporals claim, but I can see a group of eight like he described in a position behind Captain Scribner’s bird.”

Now more baffled than before, and thoroughly concerned, Major Bates increased his tone when he questioned, “So first we were told to hold our position, and now there are ground personnel with weapons trained on us. What the hell is going on down there?”

His question would be answered soon enough, but the answer was less than comforting. After landing, powering down, and then completing the post flight checklist, the crews of the two helicopters heard an unusual request. The lieutenant in command of the ground troops said, “Major Bates and Captain Scribner, please step out of the helicopters and place your hands on top of your heads immediately. When instructed by me both of your co-pilots will do the same, and then we will tend to the crew members stationed in the rear compartments.”

Although amazed by the request, with sixteen National Guard troops training their automatic weapons upon them, Major Bates had little recourse but to comply. As soon as the Major stepped down from the helicopter, Captain Scribner followed suit from the other craft. Then with hands on head Major Bates asked, “What’s the problem lieutenant?”

“Sir, I have been ordered by the governor of New York to escort all of you into the hanger. You are to be detained until federal agents can interrogate you.”

“Detained and interrogated, for what purpose lieutenant?”

Removing his sidearm from its holster, the man in charge of the moment replied, “I’m not at liberty to discuss that with you sir, but all of you must come with me.”

Once again understanding that he and the two crews under his command were in no position to resist the young lieutenant and his band of potentially trigger happy soldiers, Major Bates attempted to calm the situation. With a non-threatening tone he asked, “Very well lieutenant, we will come with you to the hangar. But must it be done with all of my men under gunpoint?”

“Those are my orders sir, so that is what I will do.”