"After you patch me through to Stony Man," growled Bolan. "I want a status report on Phoenix Force."

"Check. Patching you through now," came Grimaldi's voice.

This Harrier boasted a direct communications linkup to a satellite relay capable of establishing near-instant voice contact with the stateside Stony Man control base.

Stony Man Farm was a rolling 160-acre estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, three thousand miles away.

The "farm" was in reality the command center of the Phoenix program, a covert operation unrecorded in official files, headed by Mack Bolan. The facility was the headquarters of the most formidable security force ever assembled, operating with full government support.

At this moment Hal Brognola, Stony Man's liaison with the White House, and April Rose, the farm's overseer and mission controller, would be monitoring the progress of both Bolan and Grimaldi, and the men of Phoenix Force, who were on their way to rendezvous with the Harrier.

Upcoming was the Executioner's first deep-sea action.

Underwater combat had been a part of Bolan's Stony Man training that he had not had to use until now. The warrior in scuba black was ready with the know-how and the best equipment and weaponry for this mission.

Bolan could not afford to wait for Phoenix Force. The numbers were falling too fast. But at least he would know their ETA, and that could make a difference.

Bolan noted the lengthy pause from the cockpit.

"What is it, Jack?"

"I'm not sure," crackled the pilot's voice. "We seem to have a communications breakdown."

"Did you try the alternate frequencies?"

"Both of 'em. All I get is static."

"Is it us?"

"Negative. Other channels are loud and clear. I can pick up any frequency from anywhere with this baby. But no Stony Man."

"That radar beep. Is it stationary?"