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“What’s wrong? You screw something up?” Cory asked.
“No, sir. You asked what our mission is today. We’re going to Firebase Five to get the bodies and the injured crew member that went down yesterday,” Ben explained. So the major has informed his crew, Cory noted.
“Yeah, I heard. We’re flying C&C for you,” Cory said apologetically.
“Wish I was, sir. He tells us that place is too hot, and yet he wants to go up there and get them out. I have a bad feeling about this one, sir.” So did Cory.
“Come on, get out and let’s go talk to the Ops officer, Captain Curran.
He’s my copilot today.” Cory motioned Lieutenant Hodges out of the aircraft, and together they walked over to Cory’s aircraft.
“Hey, John, is there any way you can talk the major out of the mission?” Cory asked, approaching the aircraft.
“Is there a problem?” Captain Curran asked, putting his Zane Grey book down and sitting up.
“Yeah, there’s a problem. He tells us not to go into that place, but now he’s going there, after one aircraft has been shot down and medevac can’t get a guy out. What is he thinking?” Cory asked a bit overzealously. “John, you’ve got to talk to him about this. He declared it too hot for us, and yet he’s going up there with a brand-new copilot. Hell, Lieutenant Hodges here’s been in-country all of a month,” Cory added.
“I’ve been all over this with him, most of last night in fact. He ran it by Battalion, and Colonel Shelton finally approved the mission. He feels responsible for those guys. Someone has to try to get the remains of that crew out of there, and he’s not going to send someone else. He won’t ask someone to do something he wouldn’t do. He’s been through this before and figures he has the best chance to pull it off. The MACV advisor has laid on gunships to cover him going in and coming out. Medevac didn’t have any gun support when he went in, so he had no protection. He’ll be fine,” Captain Curran concluded a bit forcefully. Fine my ass, he was really thinking.
Captain Curran looked over at Ben. He could see the insecure look on the young officer’s face. In fact, he could see the look on everyone’s face. Standing up, he moved to his seat in the aircraft and began gathering his stuff. “Tell you what. Lieutenant Hodges, you fly with Captain Cory today and I’ll fly with the CO. I’ll talk to him about this once he’s in the aircraft and see if I can get him to abort this plan. Let’s get your gear and swap seats.” With that, they both walked over the CO’s aircraft.
Returning, Ben placed his equipment in the right seat. “Do you think the CO will be pissed with me?” he asked Cory.
“I doubt it. Captain Curran will cover for you with some bullshit excuse about why you two exchanged aircraft. Probably blame me for an excuse to get away from me.”
“So what’s our mission for today?” Ben asked.
“We’ll fly C&C for the major and then a resupply mission.” Cory looked up and saw the advisor approaching. “Here comes the details now,” Cory added.
“Hope it’s not a resupply to Firebase Five,” Ben mumbled. So do I, thought Cory.
“Captain, are you ready?” the advisor asked, handing Cory a map, which Cory spread out on the cabin floor.
“Yes, sir,” Cory responded. Ben came up on the other side of the advisor, examining the map.
“We have an aircraft down on Firebase Five and we’re going to provide navigation for the aircraft that’s going in to get the crew out. I believe your CO is the pilot on that aircraft, is he not?” Cory and Ben exchanged looks.
“Yes, sir, he is,” was all Cory could say. Cory didn’t notice that Major Adams was standing behind him.
“Any questions, Captain?” the major asked, looking at Cory and then Ben. He didn’t look happy, but he did look determined.
“Sir, what frequency do you want to use, and what is your route going to be?” Cory said. Ben was attempting to become invisible.
“Let’s use company UHF, and I’ll get the guns up on it,” the major indicated, turning to observe the four AH-1G gunships that had just landed at the refuel point. Each carried four nineteen-round rocket pods as well as two miniguns in the nose turrets with six thousand rounds for each gun.
Turning back to the map, the major pulled out a grease pencil. “I studied the route last night and think the best approach up there is go in low along this route and pop up over the top. That way they won’t see me coming, and if they do, only those that I fly over will get a shot at me. What do you think, Captain?” Major Adams concluded. Cory was a bit surprised that the major had asked his opinion.
“Sounds good to me, sir. If you went in high, every one of those little mothers would be waiting for you. I can navigate for you, and if I stay high over the firebase, maybe I’ll have their attention and they’ll be looking at me instead of looking for you. My rotor and engine noise might mask yours,” Cory responded. But what he was thinking was Sir, you’re going to get the piss shot out of your aircraft.
“Okay, sir, I just need call signs for the guns and we’ll get going. I’ll contact you on company UHF when I see you coming off the runway,” Cory said, folding the map into a manageable size for the cockpit. Cory was interrupted by a pig squealing as it was waiting to be loaded on the major’s aircraft for a resupply of food and ammo. Going to this place, I’d be squealing too, Ben was thinking.
“Sir, are you resupplying the firebase too?” Cory asked.
“Might as well. No point going in empty,” Major Adams answered.
“Sir, with all due respect, you want to get in and out fast. You don’t want to be sitting there on the firebase while they dick-dance getting the resupply off and everyone loaded. Leave that shit here for another trip when things quiet down.”
“I appreciate your concern, Dan, but it’ll be okay. Resupply out one side and wounded loaded on the other simultaneously,” Major Adams said, gripping Cory’s bicep. “But thanks. We’ll be off as soon as the gunships finish refueling,” Major Adams indicated and turned towards Lieutenant Hodges. “Are you okay, Lieutenant Hodges?” Major Adams asked, placing his hand on Ben’s shoulder.
