Pentagon.
In the AAF Air Force Intelligence Research Room, Michael Kelly had summoned NACA Director Claire again.
Kelly's unprecedented seriousness made Claire have a bad premonition.
The intelligence analyst laid out a stack of photos on the table, explaining to Claire what had happened:
"Three hours ago, an RC135 at Okinawa Base accidentally caught the entire process of an H1 type spaceplane being launched into orbit using an airborne launch method.
The Aerospace Development Committee's public announcement was brief, but we captured everything, both photos and videos."
Claire picked up a photo, which showed the Lightning Number just after it had separated from the An-1250, and he knew from the color of the exhaust that the engine of Lightning Number must be hydrogen fuel.
