by Ricky Sides
***
The young woman stood beside her fighter and watched as the forty-two fighters flew east in formation. By rights, she should have been at the head of one of those flights. She had worked her butt off to be the best of the best. While some of the pilots had paid scant attention to some portions of the training, Namid had immersed herself in every single facet of the flight school. She had studied all of the books recommended by her flight instructors with avid interest, while many of the other pilots spent much less time studying the history of dog fighting. Namid had been named top pilot of the graduating class.
Sighing longingly, the twenty-six year old woman brushed her short-cropped black hair into place with her fingertips as she turned and walked toward the Peacekeeper, which had landed near the hangar where the flight trainer fighters were housed. Namid grimaced at the twinge of pain in her right knee as she walked toward the ship. She had been injured in an auto accident as a young teen and the injury had left her with a noticeable limp. However, in the air she was as agile as anyone else was. Some of the other pilots swore that she could make her fighter dance in the sky. Since her name in Native American means dancer she rather liked that observation by her fellow pilots, though she’d never acknowledged it one way or the other.
At her approach, the guard outside the door to the ship greeted her and she said, “I am pilot Namid Caldwell. The council has ordered me to come for a meeting with them as soon as the fighter squadrons left the base.”
“Please go inside,” the guard said in a friendly manner. “They are expecting you,” he said and opened the door for her to enter.
Inside the ship, another guard led Namid back along the hallway past the cabins and turned left into the mess hall. Inside, Namid saw two tables, one of which was occupied by the three council members. The tables were booth style with the tables and the bench seats affixed to the floor. Jim sat in a folding chair at the end of one table. Pete sat on Jim’s left in the bench seat and Tim sat on the opposite bench seat. The three council members rose as Namid entered the room and the guard turned to walk back to his station. Jim introduced himself and then he introduced the other two council members. “Please have a seat,” Jim said gesturing toward the empty folding chair at the end of their table opposite him.
Namid sat down, hoping to get this meeting concluded soon so that she would have a chance to catch up to the squadrons who’d already departed. She was under the impression that the council was going to pitch a mission suggestion to her but that she would have every right to turn down the mission. She had already made her mind up that what she wanted most was to return to Texas where she would be given command of the Texas fighter squadron that would be hers because of her top graduate status.
“First I’d like to thank you for coming to meet with us, Namid. We have examined your records and you performed amazingly well in all aspects of the flight training. Further, you were the only pilot in the graduating class to be rated superb in twenty-four of the twenty-five categories used by the flight instructors to evaluate the pilots. No one else came within five points of that achievement,” Jim pointed out.
Namid nodded modestly saying nothing.
“We asked you to come to this meeting to discuss your next duty assignment. The rumor has no doubt already reached you that the top graduate would get the post he or she desired. That rumor is true,” Jim said and Namid smiled.
Jim was about to proceed with the meeting when Namid stood up and said, “Thank you, sir, in that case I should leave so that I can catch up to my squadron.”
“Sit down pilot and hear us out before you make your decision,” Pete said sternly.
“Yes, sir. No disrespect intended,” replied Namid and she resumed her seat.
“Namid, as you are probably aware, the Peacekeeper travels to all of the hot spots in the country when there is a problem that requires a peacekeeper presence,” Jim said and Namid nodded that she was indeed aware of that fact. “There have been many times when the presence of a fighter would have been advantageous. In addition, there are times when we need additional scouting and reconnaissance. The drones have been a great asset in these reconnaissance missions, but the drones suffer several limitations such as field of vision that a human pilot would not suffer. Therefore, we have decided to assign one fighter to the Peacekeeper. That pilot will fly escort when we go on missions. There will be numerous times when that pilot will have to fly reconnaissance missions and work with the Peacekeeper and her drones to either attack the enemy or defend positions. Since this pilot will need to fly without the benefit of a wingman, we need someone who can work quite well alone and has the mental toughness to handle the missions. Based on your profile, the results of the scoring on your flight schooling, and the recommendation of your flight instructors we have decided that you would be the best candidate for the job.”
Stopping in his presentation of the plan Jim stared her in the eyes and asked, “Now, Namid. Do you still wish to catch the squadrons or do you want to be assigned to the duties that I just outlined?”
Namid had studied the mission reports for the Peacekeeper with deep interest. Almost all peacekeepers did so in order to stay abreast of what was happening in the country. She knew that as an escort to the ship she would see plenty of action. She didn’t hesitate as she said, “I will accept the mission, sir, and thank you for your confidence in me.”
“Then your official base will be Base One, but that’s just a formality. In actuality, we travel all over the United States. Where we go on such missions, you will also go. We will be here in California a while before we return to the base. There are still assets at the Millbrae facility that we have to develop,” Pete said.
“I understand, sir,” Namid responded.
“After we return to Millbrae, I want you to go on your first solo reconnaissance. I’ll brief you before you depart for that mission,” Tim said and then he added, “Welcome to the team.”
“As to your quarters aboard the ship, I’m afraid none are available. You’ll be given a locker in the cargo bay, and at least for now you’ll sleep in the infirmary but the sick or wounded may bump you from that bed from time to time,” Jim explained.
“That will be fine, sir,” Namid replied. As far as she was concerned, she would sleep in the cargo bay on the floor just to be a part of this team. Assignment to the flagship of the peacekeepers was a dream assignment that was all but impossible to obtain. Every peacekeeper she knew would give anything for assignment to that post because the crew assigned to the Peacekeeper was at the cutting edge of most of the developments in the peacekeepers.
***
Around mid morning, the flights of forty-two fighters swept near an area in close proximity to Roswell. It was the location where the peacekeeper ship and crew had encountered the UFO researchers. Those researchers were at the scene making their own documentary of the encounter, when the flight passing overhead blocked out the sun for a moment. Flight leader Jeff Brown, who’d just been assigned to Base One, saw the people in the deserted area below and flew down for a closer look to see if they needed assistance. Seeing the movie cameras, he decided that they were just shooting some film. The pilot circled them slowly once and then stopped to hover before shooting skyward while rotating on his axis. Seeing the rest of the flight disappearing in the distance, he shot the throttle wide open. The wind whistling along his fighter shrieked eerily as he zipped out of sight.
“It’s not fair I tell you!” one of the researchers said in frustration. There isn’t one television station broadcasting now and we’ve had not one but two close encounters.”
“Hey, I’ll interview you. We can add that footage to the documentary. Then you can interview me. We can all interview each other. Sooner or later someone will get the stations back on the air, and when that happens we’ll be sitting pretty,” a woman said.
“Hey that’s not a bad idea,” the man stated feeling somewhat better. “And this time I got it all on video!” he sai
d reviewing the footage that he had shot of the fighter that had circled them and the flight passing overhead. He watched it in reverse to see if he’d gotten it all, and then put it on pause when he reached the beginning of the flight entering his viewfinder. The excited man let the woman interview him and he bragged about the wonderful footage that he’d obtained of dozens of UFOs and then he’d happily told the woman it was her turn to be interviewed and clicked the record button on his camera. Four minutes into the interview, he remembered that he had forgotten to reset the tape past the footage of the encounter and he threw his camera down in frustration.
Chapter 24
Namid lifted into the air the morning after her graduation. She considered this her first real mission as a pilot in the peacekeepers. She didn’t count the trip from Millbrae to the California air base as she had flown one of the fighters to the base, nor did she count the flight back to Millbrae from that air base. Both those flights had been more pleasure flights than genuine missions.
Today she had a very specific reconnaissance mission to fly. As she lifted her fighter into the open sky above Millbrae, she felt the exhilarating feeling of freedom that she always experienced when she was flying one of the fighters. However, this time that feeling was intensified as she realized that this time she was lifting her fighter over the city. Before they had always been either trainers or fighters to which she might one day be assigned. This fighter was hers and, if she had her way, it would remain hers for a very long time.
On the ground below, Namid saw Tim watching her as she left for her mission. She liked the man. He had a passion for flying that matched the passion she had. She envied him that he’d been the first to fly one of the fighters. “What an experience that must have been,” she thought. Before they had even climbed into the cockpit of one of the trainers, the pilots had been thoroughly briefed on the handling characteristics of the fighters. Tim had conducted that briefing. As the original test pilot, he had experienced it all for the first time and his enthusiastic telling of the story of that first flight had made them all yearn for the chance to begin flying immediately. He’d even poked fun at himself by admitting that he’d forgotten to free the fighter from the trailer upon which it had been resting. That admission coming from a council member and the vaunted pilot of the Peacekeeper had done wonders for the moral of the other pilots. They all found it much easier to relax and enjoy the learning process because of their exposure to that story.
Easing into the throttle Namid sent the fighter out over the city and then out over the bay. She passed near the San Francisco International Airport and flew on toward Alcatraz Island. Her mission was to check for signs of human presence on the isle and then she was to head west of San Francisco to the Farallon Islands which were situated about twenty-seven miles west of the city. Her mission was to check the isles located there for the possible presence of a small fleet of ships that had of late been raiding the California coastal waters. There were also reports of several vessels disappearing on what should be routine runs between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Her orders were specific. Should she encounter the raiders, she was to take no action, but was to report the matter immediately to the council.
The day was amazingly clear. It had been better than two years since the night of the quakes and the skies seemed clearer to Namid than they had prior to the quakes. She slowed her fighter as she approached the old prison on Alcatraz, but she saw no one, nor did she detect any vessels as she circled the island. Still it was possible that she might have missed something in her first pass. She wanted to be thorough in her performance of the mission so she slowly circled the island two more times. Checking in with the ship she said, “Peacekeeper, this is Namid. The first target is clear. I repeat the first target is clear of hostiles. Proceeding to the secondary location now.”
A few seconds elapsed and Tim’s voice came back to her as he replied, “Roger that, Namid. Be careful and remember you are not to engage alone. Locate and report the presence of any suspect vessels. Peacekeeper out.”
“Understood, sir,” Namid responded and then she concentrated on the flight to the island. Because it was so close, she opted to keep her airspeed at about two hundred miles per hour. Soon she saw the largest of the islands on the horizon and rapidly she drew closer.
Keeping one eye on her airspace and another on the sea below, she almost missed the drama unfolding. Below her, two high power speedboats that were circling the sailboat besieged the small boat. Training her camera on the tableau below she activated the system and then reported to the Peacekeeper saying, “Peacekeeper, I have hostiles attacking a sailboat. They are firing at the people on the sailboat. I am sending you the feed,” she said meaning that she was transmitting video.
As she was watching the fighting below she saw one of the men aboard the sailboat take a hit. The man fell into the ocean. “Damn it, they hit one of the men on the sailboat,” Namid said in frustration. Sighing Namid targeted one of the speedboats with her laser. “This is going to be the shortest peacekeeper pilot career in history,” Namid thought as she fired the laser. On the ocean below, the speedboat was struck and it exploded.
“Namid, you have permission to engage the hostiles to save the people on the sailboat,” Tim replied from the Peacekeeper.
“Thank you, sir,” Namid said and immediately she attacked the second speedboat as the men aboard the sailboat sought to rescue the man in the sea. “Scratch two speedboats,” Namid said triumphantly.
“Well done, Namid. Please continue your mission,” Tim said.
“Roger Peacekeeper,” Namid responded and then she killed the video and circled the sailboat twice before continuing her mission. The men aboard waved to her and then they turned their attention to the wounded man and treated the man’s shoulder wound.
Flying on to the largest island Namid saw several more vessels near that isle, but there was no way to know if the vessels were pirates or not. She reported her findings and was ordered to return to base immediately. “Roger, kicking in the throttle,” Namid said as she did just that. She shot past the sailboat so fast that most of the eight men aboard weren’t certain they’d seen her fly past.
The council was waiting to see her in the mess hall when Namid arrived at the ship. Holding her head up high, Namid entered the mess hall and Jim gestured for her to take the same seat that she’d taken just yesterday at the air base. She was under no illusions as to why she was being interviewed in this manner. She’d disobeyed orders and fired on the pirate vessel despite repeated warnings not to engage the enemy alone.
“Welcome back, Lieutenant,” Jim said. “Now would you please explain to the council why you jumped the gun and fired on the pirate speedboat despite orders not to do so?” he asked.
“Sir, with all due respect, the council wasn’t there and I was. I made the decision because the people aboard the sailboat were in imminent danger of being killed by the pirates,” Namid said.
“That was a very good answer, Namid,” Tim responded.
“I agree,” said Pete nodding his head.
“Indeed it is a very good answer,” Jim said with a warm smile. “You see, Namid, this is why we so carefully checked your profile. We needed a pilot who’d know when to act even if that action is contrary to orders. In the field, you’ll often encounter situations when you’ll have to make such decisions. We want a pilot who will act responsibly but above all, we want a pilot who will do the right thing even if that involves going against your standing orders. As leaders, we try to plan for every contingency but we won’t be out in the field with you. You’ll have to make the decisions based on the information available and then live with those decisions.”
“Thank you for understanding,” Namid said and stood as if to leave.
“Sit down pilot,” Pete said frowning. “You haven’t been dismissed yet,” he added.
Namid resumed her seat and Jim asked, “What do you know about cannibalism, Lieutenant?”
“Very li
ttle, sir, and begging your pardon, I am a Sergeant, not a Lieutenant,” Namid countered.
“Not anymore,” Tim said laughing as Pete slid Namid a small black box. “You went and got yourself promoted just as I was getting used to your old rank.”
“I got a promotion for disobeying orders?” Namid asked incredulously.
“No, Lieutenant. You got a promotion for doing the right thing despite the inherent risk in disobeying orders. There isn’t a single crewmember aboard this ship that wouldn’t have done the same thing that you did under the circumstances,” Jim explained and the other two council members nodded their agreement. “You’ll never receive flak from us for disobeying orders, when it was the right thing to do under the circumstances. But if you’re ever wrong, I’ll ground you,” he added a quiet warning and again the other council members nodded their agreement.
“I understand, sir,” Namid responded and then she asked, “You mentioned cannibals?”
“Ahh yes, thank you for reminding me,” Jim said and he turned to Pete who would conduct the briefing.
Standing Pete said, “We don’t know if there is anything to this or not, but there have been rumors that some people in the cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles have turned to cannibalism since the disasters broke down society.” Reaching down to the surface of the table before him he picked up a sheet of paper which had been lying face down on the tabletop and handed it across the table to Namid. “The rumors say that captives are carried out of the city to the secluded spot indicated by the circled area of interest on your map. Your mission is to try to locate the meeting spot. Commander Barnes has one of his men doing something similar in the Los Angeles area. The rumor has it that these cannibals take their victims out to these areas on Saturday nights. You have six hours before you need to leave on the mission. I suggest you get some sleep and then eat a good meal before you leave. You’ll be our eyes on the scene. If it looks to you as if we can approach with ground forces and rescue the victims give us a call. We’ll be ready to leave at a moments notice. But if it looks as if it would be impossible to save the victims then you are to eliminate the cannibals if you are satisfied that they are indeed cannibals and not some harmless druids or moon worshipers or whatever.”