supply but again, it’s not unlimited.
Flying over the brown fields, we pick out a target and coordinate our circle. It’s basically setting up and turning a consistent circle around a point, either around a force you are defending or the target itself. The gunners in the battle management center identify targets or an area of suppression and place their weapons on it. The type of weapon deployed depends on the target itself. We’ll be using the 105mm howitzer for the buildings. The 40mm and 25mm will be used for targets identified as night runners. We’ll be running at night to try and catch them in the open so we’ll be using thermal imaging for the most part.
I circle over the target we picked out. Craig sits in the co-pilot seat with Bri between us at her usual flight engineer station. Robert is in the back in charge of fire control coordinating the guns and targets. I would have done that task and had Robert up in front flying but he developed a knack for coordinating while we were training. I knew he had tremendous capabilities but he has continually surprised me with the actual extent of them.
I hear Robert on the intercom coordinate for target identification and acquisition and verify the howitzer is up and armed. The heavy projectile is launched downward. A large puff of dust blows skyward as the 105mm impacts the ground and detonates. He’s right on target. I visualize the loaders in back hefting another round from the weapons rack and reloading.
We fire the howitzer at a couple of other targets with the same result. Robert coordinates and brings the 40mm online and we pick another target. The steady chunk of the autocannon begins and I see smaller puffs of dirt launch skyward around the target completely obscuring the area. We practice with the 25mm and I watch as a stream of fire reaches downward and strikes the ground. These are stationary targets and we’ll have to learn to lead any moving ones we encounter but overall, I’m pleased with the results. At least we won’t have to worry about return fire. Maybe I should change that. With regards to what we’ve learned about the increase in night runner abilities, my thinking changes to I hope we won’t have to worry about return fire.
We land and debrief our activities. There’s not much said as we succeeded in putting rounds on target and our confidence is high. I notice Robert has deep sweat marks under his arms and looks drained. I give him a pat on the shoulder and a nicely done. He just looks at me with tired eyes and nods. After commending the rest of the crew, we refill the weapon racks and refuel before heading back.
I tell the group at our meeting that night that we’re ready to begin operations to clear the area the following night. Bannerman fills us in on our status which is basically a recap of the previous days with each day showing further progress on the inner wall, watch towers, water tower, and fortifying the animal buildings. Mines have been laid around a lot of the perimeter and the claymores set around the building. The skylights on the vehicle storage buildings are mostly complete and he has started crews working on erecting an overhang on the perimeter walls. He notes that we will only be able to put the overhang around the inner compound as he doesn’t think we’ll have enough materials to cover the full four miles of wall. Lynn reports that the training for the next group in both phase one and two is coming along nicely and the groups should be finished soon.
I rest for most of the next day along with the crew of the Spooky. We plan to head out tonight. We pour over maps of the area with Frank and make plans for our route and identify buildings to level. There are a lot of strip malls in the area which will require a lot of work for the 105mm howitzer. We draw large circles around the identified gas stations as we will still draw on these for fuel. We’ll especially leave the ones close to us out of the picture as we don’t want to cause a large smoking hole in the ground so close. Also noted is the library but that is outside of the range we are looking to clear, at least for now. The earlier burns have taken care of a majority of the houses and buildings in the area but there are plenty of stores and office buildings that need to be eliminated.
Evening draws close and we ready ourselves for the drive north. We have enough fuel to stay aloft for the night and we do have the aircraft to stay in if we decide to land. I brief the crew that we’ll search for night runners on the prowl before starting on the buildings and walk toward the entrance with the others in tow. The orange glow of the late afternoon streams through the doors. That should indicate I should be walking in rather than out but it feels good to be striking back instead of reacting. Our whole time until now has been a reactionary one and scraping for our very survival. Tonight, we get to hit back. Tonight we get to be on the offensive instead of hunkering down on the defensive. It may be only for tonight but at least we get that. I see Lynn waiting by the door. I nod at the others as they pass by and stop.
“You take care of yourself tonight, fly boy,” she says.
“I will, hon,” I say giving her a long hug.
“You know, there are a lot of folks who want to go onto the roof tonight and watch,” she says after we part.
“What?! Outside at night? I don’t that’s an overly brilliant idea,” I reply.
“I actually don’t think it’s such a bad idea. We’ll be on the roof with easy access back in if something happens. Besides, I think it will help morale to see us taking action. I mean to actually see it rather than hearing about it. There are a few who have lost a lot and I think it will do them good,” she responds.
“I know. I’m sorry,” I say hugging her again.
“Wait, you said ‘we’. Does that mean you?” I ask.
“Of course. You don’t think I’d miss the show,” she says. Her blue eyes shine with her smile. When her eyes shine like that, ‘no’ is not in my vocabulary.
“Do what you think is best,” I say.
She gives me her award winning smile again. “Now get out of here and go get ‘em,” she says giving me a kiss.
We pile into several Humvees and drive the familiar route north. We pile into the aircraft with the sun poised just above the horizon. The shadows of the buildings and aircraft around stretch long across the ramp. The cockpit is cast in the orange glow of the end of the day. We plug in and begin our checks. The throaty roar of the engines echo across the forlorn ramp. I feel both tension and elation.
“Are you ready for this?” I ask over the intercom just prior to taxiing.
“Hell yes, sir,” I hear from many in various intonations.
“Alright, let’s go do this,” I say pushing the throttles up and the gunship begins to move forward. Even the aircraft seems eager.
We lift off with the sun dipping below the mountains to the west. The land becomes a darker blue as night begins to settle in. I can imagine the shrieks beginning to pervade the areas below. The intercom fills with chatter of the crews bringing systems online and our game faces come on.
Robert coordinates with the IR operator. We’ll be using thermal imaging for the night operation to a large degree. Our area of operation is close by so we’ll be ready to begin shortly. I head north to let night deepen more before turning back south. We have the capability to engage two targets simultaneously but we are still a relatively inexperienced crew so we will concentrate on one at a time. Robert has the same maps as I do and knows not to engage targets close to any gas stations. This will be our first experience with moving targets so we’ll need to account for that.
The city appears ahead. I have the display up front set on the target imagery provided from the IR console. There is the Cabela’s building off to the right with multiple white images of people on the roof. Other buildings, strip malls, and gas stations appear on the left. I hear Robert coordinating for the 25mm Gatling gun which we’ll use for the night runners. We’ll switch to the buildings after we scour the area for any night runners on the streets. Robert is coordinating with the low light TV operator and the IR operator to find and identify targets. His voice has tension in it but overall he appears calm. A little anxious but then again who isn’t? Plus, he has a lot to coordinate and I just have to fly.
“Target to the southwest. 135 degrees. Five running along the north-south road east of the strip mall. Guns armed. Ready,” he calls out to the gunner.
“Ready,” I hear the reply.
Looking down on the display, I see five white images running where Robert identified. I bank the aircraft setting up a left hand orbit around the target.
“Cleared,” I hear Robert say.
I look out the left window and watch as a solid stream of red flies out from the aircraft. The seeming river of fire impacts the ground and the red streaks upward from ricochets. I look down at the display and see the running figures fall to the ground and lie motionless.
“Target eliminated,” I hear Robert say.
That’s for Nic motherfuckers, I think watching the five white figures lying motionless on the ground below.
