Welcome to SixthFleet.Com, the Cyberspace Home of author David E. Meadows. "When Meadows' men set sail, it's sure to be a mission like no other." --W.E.B. Griffin "Rip-snorting, realistic action-adventure from a man who has been there. David Meadows is the real thing," --Stephen Coonts author of numerous bestsellers, including Flight of the Intruder, Saucer, America, and Liberty. "An absorbing, compelling look at America's future place in the world. It's visionary, and scary. Great battle scenes, believable heroes, plus villains you'll love to hate!" -Joe Buff, bestselling author of Straits of Power, Tidal Rip, and Crush Depth. "David E. Meadows is simply the best writer of naval thriller/adventure fiction out there today." --Tom Wilson, acclaimed author of Black Canyon, Desert Fury, Tango Uniform and other best selling military thrillers.

Acknowledgements:

The Sixth Fleet series is completed. I have so many people who supported these efforts by providing technical advice and editorial support. My continued thanks folks such as Major Andy Gillan, USMC; CDR Roger Herbert, U.S. Navy SEAL (with whom I am serving with again here at the Pentagon); Capt (ret) Frank Reifsnyder, USN (who continues to live and enjoy life in England); Col Elliot 'Slick' Katz, USMC (who has spent a lot of time ensuring I understand the Marine Corps way of looking at things and who is a fellow mustang); Col George Fleming, USMC, a fellow Industrial College of the Armed Forces classmate. In fact, my classmates at ICAF sometimes provided technical support even when they failed to realize it. To the News Media class of ICAF 2000 while in Budapest helped me come up with the name for the Hungarian secret agent in the final book of the series (COBRA) while we were partaking of Hungarian food and drink at a local taverna.

Others who also kind enough to encourage, provide technical guidance, or many times just answered questions unique to their professional skills and qualifications: Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg-USA (HOOAH), Paige Kellogg, Ms Sharon Reinke, Mr. Art Horn, LCOL David Nelson who provided key technical suggestions, LCDR Nancy Mendonca (along with David Nelson, another new member of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs), Lt Col Bridgett Larew (My physician who provided medical insight into areas needed for the future series), LCOL Ken Gill (Another Marine Corps contributer, CDR Scott Fish & CDR Joe Beadles (My own personal H-60 helicopter pilots who were a tremendous technical help), Ed Brumit (an old friend and fantastic linguist), John Tegler (for having me on his talk show), Tina Anderson (helping during this series as my Publicist), RADM-ret Tom Stevens (who never failed to remind me that Morse Code was dead) & his wife Sharon Stevens (a dear friend), Mike & Nancy Shank (with whom I grew up in the Navy), Dick O'Neill (head of the Highlands Forum), Bob Gensler (who I spent many hours in the air and on the ground with), Tommy Grunwell (a Vietnam veteran and fellow Elk), Lynn Pribbernow (one of my first fans who has continued to provide his insight and suggestions), and the great wealth of knowledge by members of the VQ alumni, my fellow Naval Security Group Command veterans, and the Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association. And, of course, the comments from the many fans who corresponded via my web site at http://www.geocities.com/igor1610 are much appreciated. My thanks to all of you.

A special thanks to Capt (ret) Frank Reifsnyder, former Commanding Officer of the Nuclear Attack Submarine USS BALTIMORE, who read the first two books and offered both encouragement and editorial advice. And thanks to Ms Sharon Reinke, Mr. Art Horn, and LCOL(ret) David 'Skull' Reidel, USMC, who work in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, for their extraordinary editorial skills in reviewing the four novels for publication clearance. These few were the ones who helped make the Sixth Fleet ready for submission.

Any technical errors or mistakes in the novels are strictly those of the author and not the individuals gratefully acknowledged above. (Of course, the author knows that close friends of these fine, patriotic individuals will make sure that any/every technical error discovered will be pointed out to them, though they are completely innocent in every way.)

And, a lot is owed to Mr. Tom Colgan, senior editor - Berkley Books, who proposed and developed the idea of the Sixth Fleet series. Without him, this series would never have been written.

David E. Meadows / SixthFleet.Com David E. Meadows Washington D.C. E-Mail readermail@SixthFleet.Com