It had ended up taking longer than expected to get my uniform on so I found myself rushing down the hallway toward my destination cursing under my breath and hoping I wouldn't be late. Fortunately, I made it to the ready room with a minute to spare and rushed in, my cape swirling behind me. I wasn’t familiar with this particular room but it turned out that, 'ready room', was just a different way of saying conference room, and inside was just another room with a table with chairs around it.
As I took in the room, I dejectedly realized I was the last person to arrive. My team was already seated around the table along with Lieutenant Colonel Amin and Colonel Morales. Wolf Unit was looking sharp in black tactical body suits with various harnesses for weapons or tools. They also wore bolero jackets in a dark navy color with a Wolf Unit patch on the right shoulder and the American Flag on the other. On their left breast was a solid White Star, while on their right was their last name. Fox was the outlier as his uniform was a completely custom tactical armor in the same black and navy colors but without any unit designations. His helmet was sitting on the table in front of him looking menacing.
I quickly took a seat in a chair that was open between Andre and Alessa. “Whoo, well look at you ma chère,” Andre whispered to me as I sat down.
“Alright let's get started,” Colonel Morales announced to the room as soon as I was seated. “I’m aware that Captain Williams has already covered the basics. What I can add is that the decision to send you in was not an easy one, but was one that Secretary McGee ultimately signed off on. The political ramifications are massive not only because this is a high profile attack directly on a member of the US Government but because should you fail this will further destabilize the unrest surrounding Supernormal politics. To put it bluntly, the President wants this handled,” the Colonel finished gravely.
Lieutenant Colonel Amin took a cue from the Colonel and stood up to speak to the room. “I know Captain Williams covered the mission parameters but Major Ziet will go over last minute details,” she said before pressing a button on the table she was holding.
Major Ziet entered the room and walked crisply up the the Lieutenant Colonel who just nodded and handed him the tablet before sitting back down. Major Ziet touched the tablet and a screen built into the wall activated. On the screen was a satellite image of the abandoned base.
“Officially this is Calumet Air Force Station located in the Upper Peninsula. Specifically the Keweenaw Peninsula near the town of Phoenix, Michigan. The station was decommissioned in 1988 and formerly housed the 665th Radar Squadron operating as part of Air Defense Command. The good news is that it’s isolated so there will be minimum risk to civilians. The downside is that it sits at the top of Mount Horace Greeley which is one of the highest elevations in Michigan at 1540 feet above sea level.”
“This means sightlines will not be in your favor and any radar they have will be at an advantage. Staying on the hard deck will be vital to the approach. The site itself is over one hundred acres but the actual footprint of the base is much smaller,” Major Ziet explained while zooming in on the buildings that made up the heart of the base.
“As you can see there are a lot of buildings still standing. Not all of them have power but you will need to be cautious. This area here where one of the radar towers was converted to a cell phone tower is our best guess as to where your hostiles will be located,” he explained while drawing on a circle around the specific building on the tablet that showed up on the screen.
Major Ziet then switched the screen so that a weather map was overlaid over the top of the location. “As you can see the snowstorm has settled into the region bringing with it lake effect snow bands that are expected to last late into the day, thus giving us our window of opportunity. The road leading up the base will be a tight fit for the transport craft, but it will be the only way under these conditions to stay under any radar they might have. Total snowfall is expected to be in the ballpark of a foot so you’re not going to want to walk.”
“Sorry, but what is the transport craft?” Andre asked
“Apologies Sergeant Ricard. The Reconnaissance and Advanced Insertion Drone, aka the RAID., is the VTOL craft that will be your ride. As you will note the word ‘Drone’ is in its name, it is capable of autonomous and remote deployment but under these conditions, It will be crewed by two of the test pilots for the RAID program. It’s armed with twenty-millimeter cannons in addition to a full stealth suite and countermeasures. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get anything else mounted in time. Honestly, it will make more sense once you see it,” the Major said with a smile.
“Are there any questions? No, okay then I’ll finish up. We still believe that they are holed up in the base. Our satellites haven’t shown any traffic in or out since we tracked them. If they had planned to refuel the helicopter or change vehicles the weather turning so quickly seems to have caught them by surprise,” the Major finished with a nod.
“Thank you Major Ziet. Base command will of course continue to monitor the situation and provide any intel we can. Overwatch will be provided by myself or Major Ziet. Please review your mission packets while in the air. Captain Williams you and your team are dismissed and your gear is staged in the hanger,”
“Good luck STAR Team and bring that little boy home,” slipped in Colonel Morales as we left the ready room.
Captain Williams led us to an elevator at the end of the hallway which we took down to the hanger itself. I had never been in this part of the base and was kind of lost for where it was located in relation to the layout of the base outside of understanding we were underground.
The elevator opened up into the hanger. It was about what you’d expect when you hear someone say ‘hangar’. It was a big rectangular open space with mechanical bays at the edges and various workstations scattered about with a big metal door on the wall furthest away from us. There was only one craft in the hangar, and it was a hell of a craft.
The RAID really did look like a quad drone mashed together with a helicopter. It had a sleek white body with two drone-like wings that smoothly melted out of the main body to hold the propulsion units. The rear of the craft was a tail with stabilizer fins and what looked like more engines of some kind. It was a large craft and since it was VTOL capable it sat on landing skids instead of wheels. No markings were marred the surface of the craft anywhere that would identify it.
“Whooo, that’s a beauty,” exclaimed Andre as we moved into the hangar. “I might have to get certified to fly that beautiful lady.”
“I have a feeling that’s going to depend on us not denting grandpa’s car and returning it in one piece. Grandpa being Doctor Rokker in this analogy,” I said jokingly.
“I’m going to tell him you said that,” Lieutenant Colonel Amiin said as she joined us.
“Sooo, somebody said something about getting our gear?” I deadpanned in response.
“Over here. We’ll start loading as soon as everyone has checked over their loadout. If anything is missing let me know and we’ll remedy the problem,” said the tall man with dark hair. His eyes held a playfulness to them that made him instantly likable.
“For those of you who are new, this is Captain Zaymon our quartermaster. He goes by the callsign Backpack. If you need something and he can’t get it, it probably doesn’t exist,” Captain Williams said to the team by way of introduction.
“Why thank you, Captain Williams. Now I’ve already planned for your specialties. Sergeant White, I’ve received your medical pack and diagnostic equipment from Dr. Robinson. Please double check that it’s accurate to your specialty. There will also be some additional supplies loaded onto the RAID,” he said pointing to a bench holding specialty gear.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“Thank you,” Wolf Three acknowledged the Quartermaster while making her way to the bench and inspecting her gear.
“Sergeant Spinklemann, the mission brief states that you will be staying onboard the RAID, but I’ve made sure to have your gear prepped as well just in case. You’ll find your communications pack and AR glasses on the bench next to Sergeant White. Your AR glasses are compatible with the RAID’s onboard communication suite so it should be seamless for you to interface with the RAID’s systems.”
“Thanks, sir,” Heidi responded before joining Sergeant White.
Captain Zaymon gave her a wave as she moved off to her gear. “Captain Williams, Chief Brunner, Sergeants Ricard you can grab your communications gear and any additional standard issue gear from the station behind me. Your weapons have already been loaded onto the RAID and are secured in the weapons locker. Cold weather gear has been stowed as well. PMC Walker and Master Sergeant Takahashi I understand that you both already have your gear but if you need anything please let me know,” Captain Zaymon finished before stepping out of their way to stand next to Lieutenant Amin.
The team busied themselves checking over their gear or adding bits and pieces based on personal preference. Fox wandered over at some point to look at what was available as well, but I didn’t need anything extra so I stayed off to the side and observed. Heidi and Alessa came over to stand with me after a bit having finished checking their gear. Heidi had a backpack with her that had a bunch of extra electronics and was now wearing what I assumed were the previously mentioned AR glasses. Alessa had various pouches strapped to her belt that carried the medical red cross symbol.
“Cool glasses,” I quipped to Heidi while we waited for everyone to finish up.
“Yes they are. Would you like to see me use them to hack into your phone?” was her deadpan response.
“Um, no not really,” I responded somewhat bewilderedly.
It must have shown on my face because she put a hand on my shoulder before breaking into a big grin. “I’m just kidding Dani. You give off such amazing little sister energy I can’t help but want to tease you.”
“Thanks. I think?”
The rest of the team had started drifting back toward us when Captain Williams called us to attention.
“Starting now it’s codenames only until the mission is complete,” Lieutenant Colonel Amin told the group. “As a reminder, my codename is Astraea and the Colonel is Jupiter. Now, please perform a systems check on your suit’s onboard processor and then radio check that your communications are functioning for Overwatch.”
“Wolf Leader, radio check,” Captain Williams said as she went first.
“This is Overwatch, I read you 5 by 5,” came the return over the earbud in my ear as Captain Williams checked off. The rest of the team then checked off in order until it was my turn.
“Star, radio check,” I said into the mic pickup in my collar. “This is Overwatch, I read you 5 by 5 Star.”
And just like that, we were ready to go. As I looked around the hangar I noticed almost all the activity had stopped. Astraea led us over to the loading ramp in the back of the RAID where two officers stood with helmets under their arms.
“These two gentlemen will be your pilots for this mission. They are veteran pilots and are part of the RAID program so they are very familiar with the craft and its capabilities. Their callsigns for this mission are Sentinel and Dreamboy,” Astraea introduced us to our pilots with Sentinel being the shorter of the two by a few inches.
“Presently STAR is only cleared to use callsigns due to the RAID program being classified, but I assure you, they are both decorated pilots.”
Dreamboy gave us a big smile before saying, “Welcome aboard the RAID. You’re in for a treat, because once you fly the RAID everything else just fades.”
Sentinel sighed and let out a painful sounding sigh at his fellow pilot. “Please ignore him and come aboard,” Sentinel said while leading us up the ramp.
“I like you garçon de rêve,” I heard Wolf Four say as I walked up the ramp and into the RAID.
The inside of the RAID was pretty spacious all things considered. The pilots sat up front while there were two stations behind them on the sides of the craft. Various storage bins and lockers were placed around the exterior of the cabin, with nine seats arranged three to a row down the center in the passenger cabin. The RAID could still accommodate a small vehicle or equipment behind the seats if needed.
The pilots moved to the front of the craft with Sentinel taking the left pilot seat. He immediately began punching buttons and entering things on a touchscreen panel while Dreamboy turned to address us. “Again welcome aboard, make yourselves at home. You can stow whatever you need to in the storage lockers. The weapons locker and the locker with your winter gear are labeled.”
“Wolf Six I’ve been informed you’ll be running communications on this operation so if you’d please take the Comm station,” Dreamboy said while indicating the station behind his pilot seat on the right side of the craft.
“Wolf Five you can take Ops station on the opposite side unless Wolf Leader you would prefer to set up there?” he asked Captain Williams while indicating an empty station behind Sentinel.
“Thank you for your consideration but Wolf Five is Ops for the mission so he should familiarize himself with the station. Whiskey will be coordinating with him during the OP,” Wolf Leader explained to the pilot.
“You got it,” Dreamboy answered with a smile. “Last thing then before we get this bird in the air. Emergency egress points are marked and I suggest you memorize their locations. There are a few conveniences on this ride, namely a head and a small, and I do mean small, galley. Lastly, there is a med bay recessed into the floor behind the seats in case of wounded, but I very much hope none of y’all need it. Now buckle in and we’ll get this show on the road.”
With his explanation finished Dreamboy took his seat next to Sentinel and started going through their pre-flight procedures. Wolves Five and Six took their positions at the Ops and Comms stations after stowing their gear. Wolf Leader, Wolf Two, and Fox took the first row of seats leaving the rest of us to sit behind them. Wolf Five sat behind Wolf Leader on my far left with Wolf Three taking the seat in the middle next to me behind Wolf Two leaving me behind Fox on the right. From where I was I could see Wolf Six at her station and her hands were flying over the touchscreen with a faint glow coming from her glasses.
I had stowed my cape so I didn’t have to worry about buckling the safety harness around it and was briefly amused by the realization that of everyone here I was the least likely to need it. After getting buckled in, I looked over at my row mates and found Wolf Five almost completely expressionless and calm, while Wolf Three looked nervous.
“Jitters?” I asked her.
“Every time,” was her reply with a half-hearted smile.
“Well I’m happy to know I’m not alone,” I said to her and held up my fist for a fist bump.
She bumped my fist but said, “Yeah, but at least you're bulletproof.”
“Mostly bulletproof,” I said with a wince to the shorter woman.
Suddenly the RAID thrummed as whatever powered the craft came to life. The craft was remarkably silent in the cabin as the rotors spun up. “Preflight checks complete, all systems show green,” Dreamboy said from the co-pilot's seat.
“Acknowledged,” Sentinel replied to his Co-Pilot before speaking over to the comm system. “Overwatch, all systems green. Requesting clearance to launch.”
“RAID, permission granted. Airspace is being cleared along your launch vector. Hold for confirmation once clear of the hanger,” Overwatched replied.
“Roger that, Overwatch,” answered Sentinel to the instructions.
The ramp behind closed with a thunk and then the craft rose from the deck of the hanger. The pilots smoothly pushed the craft forward toward the big doors that were slowly opening. The RAID pushed out past the doors which opened into a shaft. The pilots transitioned the craft to a vertical assent and we slowly emerged from the underground hanger and into the night sky. The hanger had been cleverly disguised under a pond at the back of the complex. I was stunned that it had been there all this time and that I had no idea.
The RAID held its position after exiting the hangar for a few moments before Overwatch broke in, “FAA confirms, airspace is clear.”
“Understood Overwatch. Beginning climb to cruising altitude,” Sentinel replied to the confirmation. Suddenly we were all pressed back into our seats as Sentinel opened up the engines and began the climb to the RAID’s cruising altitude.
“Whoo, I love this part,” exclaimed Dreamboy
The comm came to life a few seconds later with the unexpected voice of Jupiter. “Godspeed STAR and happy hunting.”