A Private Enterprise

Peace and prosperity lead to a reduction in U. S. military strength. This attracts two evils, a unified drug cartel and the crazed successor to Saddam Hussein. The aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise, is destined for the scrap pile. An ex-fighter pilot turned hi-tech billionaire buys the doomed carrier with plans for restoration as a gaming hotel/cruise ship. Secretly, he re-arms the carrier. His furtive project is safe from major-power intervention; no statesman wants his indiscretions broadcast on the Internet. The Private Enterprise departs San Diego on a 'goodwill cruise', first to Central America and then to the Middle East.