reverse thrust. The aircraft responds with a reluctant, nose down attitude. Coming to the first taxiway onto the ramp, I come on the radio and say, “Lynn, standby. On my way. Pull your people in when I say and ready your people to exit ten at a time.”
“Roger that,” Lynn says and relays the info to Drescoll on the roof above her.
Pulling off the runway at high speed onto the taxiway at about midfield with the landing and taxi lights on, I see a multitude of creatures on the ramp and around the tower; many of them scaling the stair superstructure and close to the top. Bodies fall from the stairs only to be replaced by a multitude of others. I continue across the ramp slowing down slightly; a plan already coming to mind.
“Lynn, I’m going to clear your path for moments at a time, be ready for my signal.”
“Jack, we’ll be ready,” Lynn replies.
I drive the 130 directly at the tower with the kids all looking in askance as to what I am planning. The heads of the creatures turn in my direction, pausing in their assault of the tower to stare at the new intrusion into their environment. Whipping across the ramp, I pull close to the tower and turn a 180 in place coming to a stop.
“Robert, I’m going to the back and ready the ramp. I’ll plug into the intercom in back. When I signal, hold the brakes and rev up to full power. Hold onto those brakes tightly. Nic, you’re with me.”
Unplugging and unstrapping, I head to the rear along the aisle. Reaching the back, I plug into the intercom to hear Robert’s heavy breathing. “Robert, how do you read?” I ask.
“I hear you,” he says in slightly exhilarated voice.
“Lowering the ramp,” I say.
The ramp descends revealing the ramp outside by slow increments. As it reaches the tarmac, I see the horde of creatures encompassing the tower and the strobe flashes from the top as the soldiers attempt to fend them off.
“Okay, Robert, tell the tower to pull in and prepare their first ten.”
As the soldiers all rush into the tower I tell Robert, “Power up now.”
I hear the engines begin their throaty roar as they are brought up to max. The thrust powers the wind to hurricane force levels to the rear. At first, it just propels the creatures on the outside and railings forward and then it lifts them from their feet. As the power increases, they are thrust away from and over the fence beyond. Many of them become pinned against the far chain link fence as the wind from the propellers pushes them to and then almost through it. The stair structure is swept clean of the creatures.
“Tell them to go now!” I shout into the intercom to Robert.
I see several soldiers in fatigues emerge from the tower and tell Robert to bring the throttle back to half. The soldiers fight their way down the stairs against the wind and drop the final ten feet to the ground. The wind whips their fatigues as they come to rest against the containers supporting the tower.
“Power back now Robert.”
The vibration of the aircraft decreases as Roberts draws the power back. I see the soldiers recover and begin running toward the aircraft. As far as the extension cord of the intercom allows, I walk down the ramp to cover the soldiers’ extraction, covering the sides as they head over the now downed fence, across the small distance of the ramp, and up into the aircraft. As they pass by, I grab four and point them to cover the sides of the aircraft; two to each side of the ramp and advise them not to step out from behind the aircraft.
I then tell Robert, “Power up again and tell them to ready the next ten.”
The wind and vibrations increase as the engines increase their thrust and wind velocity to the rear; the wind catches the creatures just recovering from the last hurricane force and throws them against the fence once again. Those not caught in the fence are blown into the desert beyond.
I call on the intercom over the sound of the engines, “Tell them to send the next ten and power back to half.”
As the next ten soldiers make their way down the stairs, I see the ones placed on the edges of the ramp open up. A quick glance and, in the glare of the landing lights, I see several creatures on the pavement at the wingtips. Bringing my own M-4 up, I sight and fire single bursts but without effect toward the creatures attempting to close. The rounds of the other soldiers are also not having any telling effect.
Sidling to the soldiers by the ramps, I yell into each their ears, “The engine thrust is causing your rounds to be blown to the rear. Compensate but don’t hit the engines.”
They all look at me and then center on their sights once again. “Robert, ask them how many more,” I call.
“They said 6 more,” he responds several moments later
“Okay, tell them to get ready.”
After telling Robert to power back, the ten drop to the ground, scramble over the fence, cross the intervening space and race up the ramp past me into the aircraft. I look over to see Nic on the opposite side of the ramp motioning with her hands; urging the soldiers up the ramp and into the aircraft.
“Okay, bud, once more. Throttle up.”
I feel and hear the engines as they increase their thrust. The creatures are still pinned against the fence on the far side of the tower and the ones circling the wings are being blown backward as they venture behind the giant props, their bodies skip and bounce across the ramp like rag dolls. Some drop to the ramp as a few rounds find their marks through the hurricane winds; their bodies skipping along with the rest of them.
Once the ramp is clear of bodies, I jump on the intercom and direct Robert to tell the remaining soldiers in the tower to exit. I see them exit the doors above and race down the metal fire stairs. As they near the ground, I tell Robert to cut back on the throttles to allow them to make it to the aircraft. As the engines wind rapidly down, the creatures on the fence fall to the ground and scramble to their feet in a disoriented state.
The remaining soldiers drop the final ten feet one after the other and run across the ramp toward the safety of the aircraft.
“Keep it steady bud, I’ll be right up,” I tell Robert before unhooking from the intercom.
Coiling the cord extension up as the ramp closes completely, I look around at the soldiers in the rear of the aircraft and lining the aisle along the left side, most of them are leaning forward with their hands on their knees panting from the close call and run across the ramp. I stop by the supplies lashed to the cargo deck to reach in and extract an item from the boxes, sliding it into the leg pocket of my flight suit. I spot Lynn standing near the now closed ramp.
“Sergeant Connell, a word with you in private,” I say catching her eye.
A voice sounds from almost directly behind me, “Captain. Check with me first before calling out one of my soldiers!”
I turn my head over my shoulder to see a soldier standing there with a subdued rank of major velcroed to the front of his fatigues. “And who are you?” I say in return.
“Major Bannerman and you will address me with respect, Captain. So it is sir or Major to you,” Bannerman answers.
“Well, Bannerman, I just flew half way across the world to pick your ass up out of a fire and apparently in the nick of time from what I saw,” I say turning completely around to face him.
“I am the ranking officer here so that places me in charge of this outfit, Captain,” he says placing his hands on his rather round hips and glares at me with a challenge.
The soldiers around who can hear our conversation are all finding very interesting things on the ground in front of them to look at but their ears are glued to the words being exchanged. Nic looks at me with an amused smile knowing how this conversation is going to go and what’s coming next but curious as to how it is going to be received.
“Not on this aircraft it doesn’t. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have more pressing business to take care of,” I say turning back towards Lynn.
I notice Nic’s smile and there are small smiles played across the faces of some of the soldiers who continue to find their interest directed at anything but this development. I hear Bannerman start to say something but falls silent as I turn and walk over to Lynn.
Standing before her, I reach out and we hug each other tightly. “I’m so glad you are okay. I love you,” we
