Mobilize!: Reassembling Forces with the World in Chaos

In Mobilize!, vivid characterization and crackling dialogue carry the story. The U.S Congress, lulled by the near absence of terrorist acts by the scattered remnants of al-Qaeda, votes draconian reductions in the armed forces. After the assassination of US President Downs, incoming President Wyatt calls for massive mobilization. An Islamic fanatic, the self styled Süleyman III, the Modern Magnificent after the sixteenth century Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, introduces il-Dauli, "the Empire", uniting al-Qaeda remnants across southern Asia. He boasts a successful attack on USS Stennis in the Persian Gulf, assassination of the Saudi king, and the capture of Saudi and U.S. Air Force assets. Meanwhile, China threatens Taiwan. Naval Reserve Captain Karl Wilhelm Swenson, Naval Aviator, Boeing test pilot and field office director is ordered to the recommissioning party for USS Boxer. Swenson's son, Harm, defects to Canada to avoid conscription but Canada enacts the draft. Drafted into the Canadian Army and assigned to the NATO Stabilization Force (SFor) in Croatia, he meets the charming Katja Vrbovec. Swenson's daughter Karen is designated Naval Aviator and assigned to a fighter/attack squadron. While Captain Swenson builds Boxer's air detachments and deploys to WestPac to deter a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, Süleyman III sets his throne in ancient Topkapi Palace. In the battle for Taiwan independence Boxer is struck by guided bombs, killing the Phibron5 commander. Commodore Swenson assumes command. Back at Pearl Harbor he is shown a bold plan to snatch Süleyman III from Topkapi palace. ENS Karen Swenson is shot down near Taiwan. She survives but her love interest is killed. Corp. Harm Swenson, wounded in the battle for Sarajevo, is comforted by Katja. While in the Indian Ocean, Rear Admiral Swenson organizes and commands the international occupation of three Somali pirate havens. Several surprises develop in the final chapter.