[Atrocities]

Part X (Approach)

In the late autumn months on the Northern plains of the Victorian Glacier, nightfall marks the end of the day without ever really becoming dark. For nearly all of the autumn months the nighttime seldom becomes darker than that of a bright sunset. The days become very short and the night longer as the season migrates toward the winter months. Within a few weeks this will change and the days will become nonexistent as the daytime sky becomes perpetual darkness. As the season changes, the air becomes colder and the jet stream more turbulent as the warmer surface air, heated by the sun, rises from the ground and mixes with the colder upper air. This mixture of warm and cold air causes areas of unstable air, known as warm air pockets, to form thus generating areas of hazard that if flown into can cause an air borne craft to rapidly loose altitude without warning. For an experienced pilot flying in these conditions is a mild challenge, but for an inexperienced pilot, it can rapidly become a life and death situation.

Captain Richard Hess was busy making routine course correction and minor instrument adjustments, it was his first official flight as a certified pilot and he wanted the ride to be smooth for his boss, General Thomas Christopher and the other passengers that he was fairing, when he encountered a warm air pocket. He had never flown in extreme cold weather conditions before, although he did have training for it, he had never really experienced actual winter conditions. The warm air pocket that he had just passed through was his first, and the experience of loosing a thousand feet of altitude in just under two-point-six seconds made a Lasting impression on the young officer. Even with the inertial dampeners set to full, he knew that the time for casual flight was over; as his job as pilot had just became a whole hell of a lot more complicated. He was busy making his course corrections, when he decided that it would be best to let the passengers know that they were about to fly into some very turbulent air. The air is warmer near the surface, thus less turbulent, and he was in the process of descending when he keyed the internal COM.
“Gentlemen, we are entering into an area of turbulence, and I am descending in order to avoid encountering additional warm air pockets. Our expected arrival time at the site is less than ten minute from now.” He keyed off the COM, and went about flying the small six-man Sky Chariot with as much concentration as he could muster when the General entered the cockpit.

“Richard, you sure you know how to pilot one of these things?” Asked Tom as he eased himself down into the Co-Pilot seat looking a bit nervous but obviously joking.
“I am sorry about that General, these warm air pockets are a bit tricky at times.” Replied Richard. His concentration focused upon flying the Sky Chariot.
“You haven’t flown much practice time in severe cold air environments have you?”
“No sir.”
“Well just to be safe, perhaps I should take over, you know, give you a break.”
Richard chanced a quick look at his boss, a look of ‘hell no’ but with a polite ‘I don’t think so’ appeal to it. Tom could not help but smile at this, as being a pilot himself, he understood that for everything there must be a first time. He held his smile for an extra few seconds to avoid showing his young officer how concerned he was. It was Richard’s first official flight, and Tom did not want his nervousness to show as that would more than likely effect Richard’s confidence, and may even offending the younger officer.
“I guess everyone has to learn sometime.”
“Oh I am learning it sir.” Relied Richard as he made another quick course correction this time only loosing about fifty feet of altitude before powering out of the sudden decent.
“You would have figured sir that by now they could come up with a way to prevent that from happening.” Commented Richard as he banked the small craft slightly to the left on a baring that would bring them back on course toward their destination.
“I hear you Richard, and once we get back, I am personally going to look into it.” Replied Tom as he buckled himself in.
“We should reach the Discovery site in about five minutes or so General.”
“Only if our luck holds out.” Whispered Tom to himself.
“Excuse me sir?” Asked Richard.
“Nothing Rich, I was-“
“Say, where are the barf bags?” Interrupted a calm and cocky officer who had poked his head into the cockpit. Tom looked back over his shoulder at the man, and flashed him a dirty look.
“Arnold, get back there and buckle in.”
“Buckle in sir? Oh right, sorry sir, but Mr. Wilhelm and his aid seem to be getting a bit sick, and I am worried that they might not make it sir.” Commented Sergeant Rudy Arnold with a smile.

Sergeant Rudy Arnold was a long time annoyance who’s company Tom had grown to tolerate over time. He had first met him some eight years before when he was selected for a mission that Tom was in command of. It was routine rescue mission to recover a propionate Senator family who had been kidnapped and were being held for ransom. Although Rudy was a cocky bastard, full of himself, and very arrogant, he had proven that he could get the job done. After the successful rescue he was appointed as aid-decamp to then Military Advisor to the Prime Minister, General Lee Westmore Forman. Over the years Arnold had become an aid to many Generals who have long since come and gone. Most recently he had attached himself to one General Philip Albert Green, the current Military Advisor to the Prime Minister, and from what Tom was able to gather, had become a member of General Green’s inner circle of confidants. No doubt about it, Arnold was very good at his job, that job being *** kissing and brown nosing the brass. Arnold was out for Arnold, and throughout the many times that Tom had had the misfortune of having to deal with him, he had learned that Arnold was only to be trusted lightly. Arnold had a cocky sense of humor that often annoyed Tom to no end. He was, and still is, a sly arrogant, and cunning manipulator that knows how to work any situation to his favor. It was no wonder that he had risen in rank to that of Master Staff Sergeant. Tom had figured that by now, he would have conned his way to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant or would have been given a commission but some misfortunes involving the daughter of a well respected Senator had stalled his career.

Tom really did not like or dislike him, he merely tolerated him. Arnold was an annoying man, but he was also clever and was cool under fire. These were his only two redeeming qualities as far as Tom was concerned. Although Tom was not happy about being ordered to take him on this mission, he did so. He wanted to try and find out what General Green was up to, and Arnold, although he was a master manipulator, could be easily manipulated himself.

“Have you checked in the overhead compartment?” Asked Richard sarcastically.
“I didn’t need to, this little joy ride you are piloting caused the crap in those compartments to come tumbling out all over us back here.” Responded Arnold in a mocking tone.
“Then look in the base cabinets!” Tom said with authority. “Then buckle yourself in.”
“I doubt buckling in will save us given the way that this kids flies.” Commented Arnold with a wicked smile before ducking back out of the cockpit.
“Sir, we should have left that guy in the flight hanger.”
“Green wanted him to come along, and the Prime Minister agreed.” Tom looked over at Richard who was in the process of activating the landing gear. “But I agree with you Captain, we should have left his *** back in the Capital.”
“I wonder why the General insisted on sending him?”
“To annoy me.”
Richard looked briefly over at Tom and smiled.
“I could always blow the hatch and bank sharply to the right.”
Tom smirked at the thought of seeing Arnold flaying his arms and legs around as he screamed his lungs out on his uncontrolled decent to oblivion.
“Better call us in for landing approval Rich.”
“Right Sir.” Replied Richard as he switches on the COM. “Discovery Base, this is Sky Chariot Pegasus Two-Nine-Zero-Three requesting landing clearance.”
“Sky Chariot Two-Nine-Zero-Three please transmit authorization code now.”
“Authorization Code?” Richard flashed Tom a confused look before transmitting.
“Discovery Base, this is General Tom Christopher transport requesting landing coordinates over.”
“Sky Chariot Two-Nine-Zero-Three, please transmit authorization code.”
Tom could hear what was being said over the cockpit COM, and he was not pleased. No one had mentioned that he would require a code to land. Tom keyed the COM and spoke in an angry voice.
“Discovery Base, this is General Thomas Christopher requesting authorization to land.”
“Please transmit authorization code prior to entering the no fly zone.”
“You require a code, then here it is. Eco-Alpha-Tango-Star-Hector-Ira-Tango, over.”
Richard started to laugh, but noticed that Tom was far from amused and was not in a joking mood.
“Sky Chariot Two-Nine-Zero-Three, that code is not valid. Please transmit the correct code or alter your course away from this area.”
“Sir.” Said Richard a bit alarmed. “We have company.” He was pointing to his scanner at two large blips that had just entered the scanning range of the Sky Chariot and were on an intercept course.
“They don’t look friendly to me sir.”
“God damn him!” Tom said as he clicked the transmit button once again. “Discovery Base, you will clear us for landing immediately, that is a direct order.”
“Sky Chariot Two-Nine-Zero-Three, if you fail to transmit the proper authorization code within thirty seconds, you and your vehicle will be escorted by two Prowler’s to Andover Base and detained. Any attempt to deviate or land will result in hostile action.”
“Arnold get your *** up here!” Yelled Tom over his shoulder as he fumed.
A few seconds later Rudy entered the Cockpit smiling like usual.
“You yelled sir?” He commented smugly.
“Cut the charm, and tell me what our landing authorization code is.”
“Authorization code?”
“Yes, we have about fifteen seconds to transmit one or we’re going to be shot down.”
“Condor One-Five-Zero.” He said without further prompting.
“Discovery Base, authorization code Condor One-Five-Seven over”
“Authorization is valid, landing coordinates have been uploaded to your navigational computer. Welcome to Discovery Base General.”
“Somehow I don’t think we are.” Commented Richard as he validated the landing coordinates and began the landing process.
“Discovery Base inform Captain O’Connor of our arrival and have him meet us at the landing site.”
“Understood. Discovery Base out.”
“Looks like it was a good thing you brought me along after all General.” Commented Arnold politely as he smiled on.