an air force officer is on the phone. an impatient atherton stands beside him.
some monitors show the bomber climbing while others show the desert target area. it is a mock up of a presidential motorcade. the open cars are filled with test dummies, and are linked together and are being towed slowly across the desert by a tractor.
inside the firing module, the specialist pulls down the target sighting device and puts his hands on the joysticks.
this countdown continues. monitors display the target sight, the pilot's sighting screen of the ground and a camera's view of the bomber.
the crosshairs line up on the sighting monitor.
everyone is riveted to the sighting monitor.
the aerial view of the motorcade remains centered on the sighting monitor.
the group waits expectantly. nothing happens to the target.
people furiously check systems.
the devastated group watches the laser self destruct on the monitor.