Tailspin, page 47
“All clear?” I asked.
Malaki checked all sides, as did I. “Blindspot?”
“All clear,” I confirmed.
Apex clicked the timer on, and I waited for five seconds, then I pushed the starter and idle release. N1, the low-pressure spool, pressure hit twelve percent. I eyed the ToT, waiting for the spikes. It needed a bit more throttle, so I rolled it slightly for more power, keeping in the lines, adjusting as needed. My eyes flittered from the ToT to the N1 to reach fifty-eight percent, and then I clicked our idle two positions.
“One minute,” Malaki whispered. She didn’t need to tell me. I flicked comms back to Flight Control, keeping an eye still on ToT, checking the altimeter, and listening to any reports on wind and weather conditions.
N1 up to seventy percent and generator on.
Hydraulics are off and on again. Check for no bumps.
Gauges all checked out in the green.
Smooth, slow roll-up now, watching the ToT and torque, keeping it nice and steady. Watching the N2 making sure it didn’t get too high, and then opening the throttle all the way.
The 99 responded with tremendous energy and it thrilled me. So very much, I thought it would take off on its own.
“You’re good,” Malaki said. “She really has a lot more to give than the Bumbles.”
“What the hell is inside this thing?”
“Twin turboshaft engines.” She laughed. “Pumping out about fifteen hundred kilowatts each. She has much more to carry than a Bumble and weighs double, at least without a full crew.”
“I can feel it,” I said. “Really feel it.”
Hydraulics off, I pulled slightly on the collective, feeling the tug. I really felt it, and I wanted to just go, go for it, but I didn’t.
Last minute checks, and I went through everything. She was really green, everything green, I was green. Fuck, I wanted to get in the air so badly.
Malaki raised her eyebrows, and I raised the collective. Slightly left pedal and cyclic, hold, increase a little more. We were at a nice little hover now, the land before me stretching into the distance.
Perfect.
The blades picked up speed, and the engine settled down a notch, which I was glad of. Malaki passed me a helmet. “You might not need it for comms, but when you’re flying in some of these older helos, they help get you in the mood, ya know?”
“Thanks.” I slipped it on, and the warmth from the inside fur deadened the sounds. It gave me enough pause to run through the rest of preflight protocol. I tapped my wrist to the central panel, and my HUD connected with the helo’s comms. “Flight Control reading. This is Gray. You are clear for final flight checks.”
“Gray, Ice71 here, fixing flight course and checking all systems.”
Checking the flight plan, Apex said. Just, you know…
His checks were red, then green. Good.
I flipped it and connected it to those in the back. “All well?”
“We’re good,” Walter said with a grin himself. “Get us up there.”
“Yes, sir.”
It took nothing to get this old gal into the air in full. FC guided me to a taxi point, then up and out.
I settled her at twelve-thousand feet, banking left so we could sweep back right over the base and into the surrounding lands.
I’d seen Tallis Farm and Shore Farm. But this…even with the massive operation that led up to her, the new wall being built ahead, I took in everything I could.
“That’s where we’re going,” Walter said to Malaki and pointed over her shoulder.
The wall had a patrol walking up and down the outside. We were on the inside line.
Several drones in the air, Apex said.
Their locations were flagged on my HUD and on the helo’s dash. “Friendly,” I said and tapped the screen. There was a more significant blip.
“Also friendly,” Malaki said. “Two teams are watching the wall. They want three.”
“We’re getting what shift?”
“They bumped us,” Walter said, “when Malaki wouldn’t take the helos up. We’re on first thing. We have time to get back, check off, eat, and sleep. Up early and back out. Full rotation, then over the weekend.”
“Sounds good,” I said. “Really good.”
“Think we’ll see any action?” Ren asked.
“I have no idea, but they seemed set on getting another set of eyes out here. I wouldn’t think it would be long before we’re needed for our eyes and your guns.”
We passed behind the other two helos, their guns pointed one way to the wild lands and a cold shiver spread up my spine.
“Let’s hope it’s nothing like last night if we do,” I said to Malaki’s private channel.
“If it is, you can deal with it. You know you can, and so do they.”
She was right. Though it was still as scary as all hell. My temps and gauges were steady as we flew rather lazily back in.
“Autorotation!” Malaki called with no other warning. “Three, two…”
Fuck. She was trying to give me a heart attack.
Engine off.
I dumped the collective, and we dropped. The 99 was like lead and picked up RPM in moments. I slowed our descent, and only when we were close enough to pull back and slow the speed did Malaki nod and flick the power back on safely.
She, however, was shaking her head and laughing.
“What?” I asked, trying my best to keep my hands steady.
“You fucking know what,” she teased. “Take us in.”
It wasn’t long before I carefully lowered us to the ground, signed off with Flight Control, and powered everything off. Our engineers waited, and when we disembarked, they set to their own checks.
Malaki wasn’t for walking away, but the short, stocky SSgt Beck waited for us. He nodded at her. “Proud to have you here, first airman.”
“Duly noted,” she said. “Thank you for accepting us for this mission.”
“I’d have been stupid if I hadn’t. With your record…”
“The others?” she asked, indicating Justin’s helo as it was powering down.
“If you trust them, there’s something there. Again, I’d be stupid if I hadn’t.”
“We won’t let you or those men out there down.”
SSgt Beck’s eyes drifted to the others. “Wash off, eat, rest.” He gestured for someone to come over. “Make sure they’re all acquainted with the base properly” Then he waved all of them off. “You two are with me. First Lieutenant Laksa wishes to see you both, Airman Harbor and Silao.” He also waved to our other fireteam and pilots, waiting while Justin and Kadar jogged over. “With me.”
The four of us followed him through the camp, past several tents and lots of men and women who eyed us with curiosity. We took a small truck out into the middle of the base. Where we walked next, there were many more working men and women, species of all kinds, elves, humans, orcs. I had to force myself to not stare at some giant creatures almost as tall and thick as a first block of flats. They were helping move massive stacked pallets of materials. “Cheaper?” I asked Malaki.
She nodded. “Much easier on our resources, even if they cost food and care.”
Ahead of the central tent of the camp was a buzz of activity. I traded glances with Justin. This wasn’t good. This was too much activity. He knew, just like I did and like Malaki had said earlier. The shit was getting real.
Fast. Very, very fast.
SSgt Beck knocked at the door, even though it wasn’t a door, and waited for the call to enter.
I was shocked when we did step inside. Of course, it was busy. Large 3D displays spread before us, several men and women in uniform studying them and talking animatedly. This was the central hub of the whole section of front line. I looked around, then froze. I stared into the very, very young eyes of what could only be First Lieutenant Laksa. I checked the pins on his lapels. He had sharp cheekbones, high brows, and a pointed nose that looked directly at me. Not any of the others. Me.
How young was he? Sixteen? I’d never seen anyone so baby-faced yet serious. He waved us forward and toward the back of the room. Before him on a large table, a 3D plan of the whole front line sat. “Glad to see you finally got off the ground,” he said to Malaki, yet he still stared at me.
“Thank you for the patience, sir.”
“I’m not going to lie to you,” he said and pointed to the table.
“We don’t have time for patience,” Justin said and moved into a better position to view the map.
I did as well. It had some amazing details on it, the land, the wall, the tents, and buildings, creatures, stores. Colored dots moved ever so slowly on it, as I could only presume people worked.
Lieutenant Laksa finally looked away from me and to Justin. “No, no, we don’t. The next few weeks here are critical. We asked for more backup and got two other crews in, but you were the last.”
“I’m sorry,” Malaki said.
“Pftt,” he said. “You’re the finest applicants we’ve had in months. There’s no other reason you’re in this tent now. The front line needs you, and so do I.”
“There have been several attacks,” SSgt Beck added his face grave. “They’re testing us.”
“DP Lunar?” Malaki asked.
“She was lost, and her whole squad was at the end of the last cycle. We didn’t have the means to return the helos until recently.”
“They needed work, but they’re certainly not out of the fight,” Justin added.
“In no small measure, thanks to you.” Beck nodded to Malaki.
“Our engineering team and yours worked well in the end. They needed a reminder that we are people and we’re alive. We’d kinda like to stay that way.”
“So would we,” Laksa said.
“We expect more attacks as we prepare the wall for the last steps. They only have one chance to keep the mages from completing the shield layer formation.”
“Mages?” I asked.
Laksa glanced at me and then at Malaki. “I thought he was MC military, born and raised, right?”
I didn’t even know what MC born was. Oh, shit, M-Corp…I was a dunce.
Malaki shook her head, but her smile lit the room. “Only trained this year.”
Laksa raised his eyebrows at me. “Really, that is interesting. There’s quite a bit of chatter about your DP, FA Canlas. I expected him to have been in the field at least a few years.”
“I’m not a DP,” I said, interjecting, and off his glare realized I spoke out of turn. “Sorry, sir.”
“No need for apologies. No TAP?”
“No, not yet.”
“Fuck,” he swore. “We really need extra eyes, and I mean it.” He moved his attention back to the map. “We’ve been manning it twenty-four-seven, obviously, but the night watch is getting harder. I was told you had the X1 and passed a specific test from DP West’s brother? Was that wrong intel?”
“No, sir,” I said. “It should have been top-secret intel, though.”
Laksa laughed and waved his hand over the map. “Do you see where we are, Airman Korolyov?”
I frowned. “Yes, sir.”
“It doesn’t get much more secret than what goes on out here. I’ll get an updated report on your specs.” He looked at Silao. “How many?”
“Only four branches and eight nodes live, but I’ve only tested with three drones. I’ve not much experience either. Sorry, sir.”
“Rich kids.” Silao lowered his head, face turning pink. “Well, you’re going to get it now. Your CSR is stacked for eight drones, you’ll start with whatever you need, but you’re going to work your way up, fast.”
I didn’t know what to say, but as usual with my life, everything moved at double speed. I had to accept it and roll with it.
“How long till you get upgrades?” SSgt Beck asked, looking directly at me.
“I’m trying, I really am.”
“We’ll help cover your costs,” he said. “Anything extra you need, ask.”
“Why is no one else responding if you’re that—” Malaki paused.
“What, desperate?” Laksa asked.
Malaki nodded, and Laksa sat down with a sigh waving a hand over the map. “I’ve been asking internally for the last month. We put that job up on the board this last week because we were getting nowhere.”
“There is no one,” Malaki said, almost whispering.
“Anyone coming in to fly now is getting bumped up the ranks as fast as they can handle it.”
“Or not,” Justin said. “They’re dropping out faster than they can be replaced, too.”
“You’re not kidding,” Malaki said.
“What the fuck is going on?” I asked.
SSgt Beck cast me a glance, about to bite.
“Not military from the ground up,” Malaki said to Laksa.
SSgt Beck waved to the table, and the image shifted. “We’re not the only ones struggling with our jobs. The west is, as well. They have many more active farms than we do here, and more active mutated monsters.”
The map showed West Shamrik’s side. “Different species,” Laksa said. “We get skellies and other creatures off the mountains, but we don’t get diggers.”
“Different helos?” I asked.
“Yes, very different and much bigger again,” Malaki said for me.
The map shifted. There were red areas everywhere. “They’re under heavy fire almost weekly, but they’re surviving, just like we are.”
“For now,” I replied.
“Yes. For now. Rebalancing will become more of a struggle without watching the new recruits coming in. Our job”—the map switched back—“is to make sure we get this wall solid in the next few weeks. That will give us a chance to drop back. The wall will do its job. Our helos here can return to their positions on the west.”
“And if we don’t?” I asked.
“Then we will lose it and have to pull back.”
57
Training, training, training. The weeks were full of it. The weekends were ramping up as work experience, ways for me to continue to make some money even if it wasn’t the best.
It was still early, and not many others were about, the odd other runner I’d nod at as we passed in the streets. The run out this morning was cool and wet like any other day on Ocean Oil Fields, the slapping of other shoes on the pavement different to mine. The dark shifted as the oil training base headed into daytime. I wondered if the sun ever got to shine properly on it, wondered what it would be like when it really did. Right now, all I could see in the buildings windows was drab clouds, and the runnels of the fine rain that soaked them.
I used my sleeve to wipe the rain dripping off my nose. “Frigging rain,” I cursed.
Do you really want to be running in hot weather? Apex asked.
My HUD map lit the street ahead as a left turn. Instead, I kept going.
Feeling defiant? Apex asked.
Tired of the same ole routes, I replied. I feel like I’m getting nowhere, fitness-wise.
You’ve improved in leaps and bounds.
Two side-by-side 3D images of my body lit up, and I had to stop running and run on the spot because I couldn’t see.
Idiot. I laughed at him.
Sorry. But look how far you have come!
I did. I stared at the vast differences in my body, the extra muscle, the weight. I was so much healthier.
Red everywhere. There was a proximity alert.
The sound of running feet drifted in behind me. I swiped the images away from my view and turned to see a hooded figure running directly at me.
I took a slightly defensive stance until they drew closer and lowered their hood.
“Silao?” I asked, confused. “What are you doing out this early?”
“Malaki said you were up and that you ran early. I wanted to talk,” he said, pulling in before me.
“Talk?” I was still confused.
Silao lowered his head. “I’m struggling with the TAP. The connections to more drones.”
“Oh,” I replied. That must suck. I felt for him. “I’m sorry, but what do you think I can do?”
“I need help, and you and Malaki are the best there is.”
“Don’t let Justin hear you say that.” I laughed.
Silao rolled his eyes. “Yeah, you know what I mean, though.”
I nodded and indicated the road. I was cooling off, and I didn’t want that. I needed to keep going.
Get us back on your route.
Now you want to go back, dumbass.
Less of the lip. Just do it. I want to concentrate on Silao, not where I’m going.
Done. Just follow the next couple of roads to the right. You’ll be back on it before you know it.
We started to jog off, and I followed the directions quickly till I knew where I was going without looking. “Tell me what’s going on?” I asked him when it was clear he didn’t want to initiate, even after seeking me out.
He blew a long breath, not because he was out of it. He was as fit as me. We all had to be. It mattered out here. “I don’t seem to be able to see it. Once I force a connection with them, it’s fine, but I just can’t see it at first. Like it’s hiding, doesn’t want me to control it.”
“Maybe it is,” I said. “Maybe they don’t want to do your bidding or anyone’s.”
Silao slowed his jog down. “I think you might be right. You think part of taking control of the drones or anything is you must command them, not mess around with them.”
“You got time today to come to the helo pad?”
I really needed to keep my timetable, but he had me curious. If they needed to be commanded, would I have to do the same? Just because those in Sector One were talking to me didn’t mean they would bend over, right?
Are they sentient? I asked Apex.
There was, of course, no reply.
I knew there was something to them, just like there was something to Apex.
By the time we’d gotten back to our bunks, I had told Silao I’d meet him thirty minutes after I’d had some time to shower and change.
When I was showering off, my HUD pinged. Justin’s tag flashed up.
I answered it cautiously, as always, and not really wanting to while I was getting wet. I paused the shower to save my water and stood all soaped up, dripping.
