Commander Cole says, “For urban aerial firefighting, the ARTT Bell 205 chopper shoots water from its side-mounted cannon. It can also shoot foam to battle oil fires on off shore oil rigs.
“Our Bell 205 choppers and Jayhawk chopper have heat signature scopes. These scopes allow the pilot to relay to operators in a burning structure where the hottest rooms are. This is your last training phase before you are ready for duty.
“I want you and all operators on board to always be prepared to exit any helicopter immediately on command. That is one of the reasons you have a parachute with your gear. There are eleven radio command codes you will learn for immediate responses. One of them will be for aborting the helicopter.”
Six weeks later, the twelve-man ARTT unit is ready for duty.
11.
Commander Cole responds to a call and says to the ARTT unit, “We got a call from a fire department that needs us. It is a bank vault on fire. It is time to get our feet wet. Let’s get it.”
A bell rings at ARTT station. Commander Cole is cranking up one Bell 205 chopper as three more operators board. The chopper takes off and heads for the bank. Some local bank robber’s climb had set an incendiary device that burned through the ceiling of the building and vault. The incendiary device has started a small fire that is growing. The security guard gets the bank manager to open the vault to investigate the noise. As soon as the vault door opens, smoke and bank robbers pour into the bank with automatic gunfire. Sid, the mastermind of the bank robbery, looks at the innocent people in the bank.
Sid says, “Everyone on the ground!” Then he looks at his subordinates. “Bag up as much unburned money as possible!” Then he radios his chopper pilot standing by. “Land on the roof in five minutes.”
Sirens are now heard; cop cars are out in front of the bank. The bank robbers attempt to climb out the vault with the money to the chopper that has landed, but the flames and smoke are too intense.
The cops know it’s now a hostage standoff, as the chopper left the roof, but don’t have time to negotiate, so they call SWAT and the fire department.
SWAT arrives and quickly prepares to enter the bank shooting. SWAT breaches the front door and is repelled by four automatic weapons from covered positions. Two SWAT members are killed. The SWAT team is temporarily pushed back by the automatic weapons.
The fire department’s Lieutenant Smith calls in an ARTT unit and begins to shoot water into the front door of the bank, but it is not getting to the vault. One ARTT Bell 205 chopper, piloted by Pete, arrives on scene above the bank.
Commander Cole says, “Give me some cover fire with some foam into that hole in the roof until I repel down to it.”
Manning the water cannon, operator Jamie says, “Roger, Commander Cole.” Jamie then opens up on the hole in the roof made by the incendiary device. When Commander Cole repels down to the hole, he detaches a Fit-5 extinguishing device from his leg and throws it down in the hole then commando repels into the vault, shooting his foam gun at the remaining flames. The vault is blanketed white, and only the fire that is poured into the bank is left.
Commander Cole throws another Fit-5 extinguishing device into the bank to take care of the fire that spread from the vault. It gets on the face and eyes of the bank robbers, disorienting them. Immediately, the security guard and other bank customers, covered in white, get control of the bank robbers. The cops see what has happened and come in with guns drawn. The cops brutally take down and cuff the bank robbers after they killed two of the SWAT officers.
SWAT Lieutenant Ken Travis then confronts the local fire department Lieutenant Smith for calling in an ARTT unit. “You got some nerve calling in those flyboys. Our SWAT team had it under control! Those bank robbers killed two of our SWAT team members. Those punk bank robbers should be coming out of that bank in body bags, not handcuffs!”
Lieutenant Smith replies, “You tried it your way by storming the bank with your SWAT team, and you blew it. We could not get to the fire or the victims without getting shot. I called in an ARTT unit because I was not going to let those people in the bank die of smoke inhalation!”
SWAT Lieutenant Ken Travis walks away from fire department Lieutenant Smith and then approaches Commander Cole. He gets toe-to-toe with Commander Cole and points in his face. He says, “You better stay the hell out of my way next time, flyboy, or you just might catch a bullet.”
Operator Pete immediately tries to confront the SWAT lieutenant, but Commander Cole puts his hand in front of operator Pete.
Commander Cole says, “Let it be, Pete.”
Operator Pete stands down.
Commander Cole says, “Sorry to disappoint you, Lieutenant Travis, but we are only called here to save lives.”
The SWAT Lieutenant Ken Travis disrespectfully looks Commander Cole’s ARTT uniform over, looking much like a red version of his SWAT uniform, and then walks off mad. Commander Cole then looks at operator Pete with a disappointed look because operator Pete let his emotion escalate the situation. Operator Pete looks down.
Commander Cole approaches fire department Lieutenant Smith. “I hope everyone is okay.”
FD Lieutenant Smith replies, “Everyone is except the two dead SWAT officers and the bank security guard in critical condition. The security guard took a few bullets when he tried to help out in the shootout between the bank robbers and SWAT. It was a bad decision. They should have waited on the negotiator. I’m told the bullets missed his vitals, but he lost a lot of blood waiting for the situation to come under control. They are trying to stabilize him now, but I think he will not make it to the hospital in time.”
“We will take him and stabilize him on the chopper.”
“He is all yours, Commander.”
Commander Cole motions to operator Pete and runs over to the critical security guard about to be loaded onto the ambulance. Commander Cole takes custody of the patient, and operator Pete loads him onto the chopper, as Commander Cole prepares to lift off. Quickly, they lift off, and operator Jamie stabilizes the security guard on board the chopper. They deliver him to the nearest hospital and return to the ARTT station.
12.
Judy Kersh, a business lady, walks to work at the One World Trade Center skyscraper in New York with her little girl. They both pass a terrorist working as a security guard. The security guard is a terrorist leader named Jahari. Jahari surveys the scene for favorable conditions. Jahari calls one of his terrorist team members.
Jahari says, “Alahari, execute the mission now. Remember to ram the west side entrance where the elevators are and detonate bomb. Understood?”
Alahari replies, “Understood.” Alahari slows down his semi-tractor trailer hauling gas and pulls off his normal route. Then he turns toward the One World Trade Center.
Jahari calls his other terrorist team member Omir. “Omir, execute the mission now. Remember to fly in below radar and hit the building in the middle. This time, no one survives. Understood?”
Omir replies, “Understood.” Omir pulls out a pistol and shoots his flight instructor, who was doing a cockpit preflight inspection in the head. He puts the instructor’s body in the back of the plane. Then he taxies the Cessna over to a place near the hanger where he stashed jugs of jet fuel. He loads the jugs onboard and takes off from JFK Airport.
Back at the One World Trade Center, Jahari then walks down to the electrical room. He sabotages the fire alarm and sprinkler system. The other guards notice an indication on their computer that the sprinkler system is down.
Alahari has now entered in New York City with his gas tanker on route toward the One World Trade Center.
Omir’s Cessna is flying just above the water of the Hudson Bay with the skyscraper in sight.
Alahari sees the skyscraper ahead and throws the gas tanker into high gear.
Omir’s Cessna has crossed over land and begins a step climb upward. Then the plane levels off halfway up the side of the One World Trade Center.
Alahari rams the semi into the west entrance and detonates the tanker, causing a huge explosion.
Just then Omir crashes the Cessna into the tower at about the same time. The wings are torn off the plane as it enters an administrative level. The people on the ground are in disbelief. Some panic and run causing more panic.
The administrative level is on fire. Omir exits the helicopter and heads for the elevator to prevent it from being used. Omir’s vest has enough explosives to take out the entire floor as well as ignite the accelerants on the crashed airplane.
Omir locks out the elevator and tries to detonate his vest, but the triggering mechanism won’t work. He tries to fix it.
In the ARTT command center, Commander Cole and the operators on duty see the news of a catastrophe happening in New York City, and that it is believed to be a terrorist attack.
Commander Cole says, “We only have jurisdiction over our state. Yet no other state has an ARTT unit yet. Those needing to be saved are not going to come to us. So we must go to them. It will break New Jersey State Law for our unit to leave this state to aid another without protocol or authorization from the governor. We got no time for that. Saving lives is our business. I can’t ask any of you to go with me and possibly hurt your careers. I alone will take responsibility for any legal consequences for doing this.”
Feeling inspired by Commander Cole’s willingness to break rules to save lives, operator Judd says, “Oh, you think we are going to let you get all the glory? We are all in.”
All the other operators grin, nodding yes.
Commander Cole says, “Okay, let’s saddle up!”
The ARTT unit goes into action and is quickly up in the air and headed for the terrorist attack in New York City.
Back at the One World Trade Center, the head security guard in charge, Bill Carly, sees the sprinkler system failure indicator.
Security guard Carly says, “It is probably a false indicator. I will check it out.”
Three ARTT choppers approach the airspace around the One World Trade Center in New York City—two ARTT Bell 205s and one ARTT Jayhawk.
FAA air traffic controller Joyce Sims contacts Commander Cole’s helicopter by radio and says, “The aircraft you are flying is in a temporarily restricted airspace. All aircraft is grounded. Please deviate immediately from New York airspace, or fighter jets will be dispatched to shoot you down.”
Commander Cole replies, “I am Commander Cole of the New Jersey Advanced Rescue Tactics Team—ARTT. We are coming to save victims of the terrorist attack at the One World Trade Center. Shoot us down if you will.”
The Homeland Security agent in charge overhears the radio communication and approaches the FAA air traffic controller.
Homeland Security agent Spencer says, “Did he say ARTT?”
FAA air traffic controller Green replies, “Yes, he did.”
Homeland Security agent Spencer remembers hearing the Homeland Security director talk favorably about the new ARTT unit in New Jersey. He says, “Let them through. I know who they are. I vouch for them.”
FAA air traffic controller Green is confused and says, “I don’t have authorization to do that, sir.”
The Homeland Security agent Spencer shows his badge to the FAA air traffic controller.
Homeland Security agent is agitated and says, “I am giving you authorization. I would have called them to help first, but I thought this was out of their jurisdiction.”
FAA air traffic controller Green replies, “Okay, but if granting them access to New York airspace goes bad, then it’s on you.”
Homeland Security agent Spencer replies, “Everything has already gone, bad. goddammit. It can’t get much worse.” He gives the FAA air traffic controller a piercing look.
The FAA air traffic controller radios Commander Cole and says, “ARTT Commander, you are clear to proceed into New York airspace.”
Two ARTT Bell 205 choppers and an ARTT Jayhawk chopper approach the One World Trade Center. Commander Cole is piloting one of the Bell 205 choppers, and operator Pete is on board manning the water cannon. They quickly are coming up on the One World Trade Center. Commander Cole sees the damage.
Operator Pete says, “Are we shooting foam or water, Commander Cole?”
Before Commander Cole can answer, he has a flashback in his mind to when he was with his first brigade with the NYFD and first saw the plane impact damage of Twin Tower 1 on 9/11.
Then Jesse’s NYFD Lieutenant Hoyt stops him from going up in the towers.
NYFD Lieutenant Hoyt says, “Where do you think you are going, rookie? We got enough men up there. Help me feed them hose line.”
Then Commander Cole remembers feeding hose into the building and seeing people hit the ground after they jumped off the tower to escape burning to death.
Commander Cole grips the chopper stick with a glassy eyed stare then he comes out of the flashback.
Operator Pete asks, “Commander, are you all right?”
Commander Cole replies, “I’m fine, Pete, just forgetting a bad memory. Round two, it is. We got accelerants up there, so light it up with foam first. Use up the foam then switch to water.”
Operator Pete replies, “Roger.”
To help deal with his PTSD Commander Cole then turns on his favorite classic rock radio station playing “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey. Both ARTT Bell 205 choppers start shooting foam at the huge hole made by the plane impact from two different angles. The ARTT Jayhawk chopper repels two operators to the roof—Cy and Chad. They bust open the locked roof door and start looking for victims.
Operator Timmy, from the Jayhawk, is lowered to man the rescue carriage. NYFD Captain Hoyt and his firefighters are tending to the ground floor fire and see the ARTT choppers shooting foam above.
NYFD Captain Hoyt looks up and says, “Who the hell are these guys?”
The ARTT Jayhawk chopper lifts victims off the roof in the rescue carriage.
Commander Cole says, “I’m almost out of foam and water. I’ve spotted a small swimming pool on top of a building east of the One World Trade Center. I’m going to refill my water well.”
Operator Judd says, “Roger. I’m low on water to but can hold down the fire until you get back.”
Commander Cole pulls away from the One World Trade Center and flies toward the swimming pool. The rich old owner of the pool is sitting on a raft, listening to music on his earphones. He suddenly finishes his mixed drink and gets out of the pool to make another drink. Just as he walks into his loft and closes the door, Commander Cole’s Bell 205 chopper flies in and hovers right over the pool. Commander Cole lowers the suction hose into the water and quickly fills his water well. Just as the chopper flies away back toward the One World Trade Center, the rich old man finishes making his mixed drink and turns around to go back outside. He strolls back out on the patio listening to music and drinking his drink. The rich old man sees his raft almost on the bottom of his empty pool. Then he looks at his drink.
Perplexed, the rich old man says, “What the hell?”
The terrorist leader Jahari is enraged at ARTT’s progress. He quickly gets a locked case from the trunk of his car and heads for an adjacent roof to the One World Trade Center. Once there, he unlocks and opens the case. He assembles the small rocket launcher inside. Jahari aims the rocket launcher at the ARTT Bell 205 operator Judd is piloting. Just then Judd stops shooting water and pulls his chopper away from the One World Trad
e Center.
Operator Judd says, “I’m out of foam and water, Commander Cole. I am headed for the Hudson Bay for a refill.”
Commander Cole replies, “Roger. I’m almost back in position.”
Jahari then aims at the other chopper above the skyscraper, still maneuvering back into position, by Commander Cole. Jahari fires his rocket. Commander Cole catches a glimpse of the rocket launching out of the corner of his eyes.
Commander Cole says, “Code 4! Code 4! Abort chopper!”
All occupants of Commander Cole’s Bell 205 chopper jump out and deploy their parachute. Commander Cole barely jumps out in time before the rocket blows up the chopper. All four ARTT members guide their parachute to land on top of the One World Trade Center. All four land safely.
Commander Cole asks, “Is everyone okay?”
All ARTT members nod yes.
Commander Cole says, “Andy and Jay, you help Cy and Chad round up victims to air lift with the Jayhawk. Set up a triage on the roof. Pete, you come with me. We are going to repel down the impact side of the building to get there as soon as possible.”
Pete and Commander Cole repel down the side of the skyscraper to the plane impact site. They both throw an extinguishing device in the hole made by the plane. The devices douse the flames enough for them to repel into the hole the plane made. Commander Cole and Pete assess the scene of the crash. The Cessna devastated the impact floor. The explosion and fire made holes here and there to the floors above and below.
Commander Cole says, “I’m reading high levels of everything bad. Let’s get any survivors off this floor ASAP.”
Operator Pete replies, “Roger.”
Commander Cole detaches the multi-ax from his leg, presses the unlocking button, and flicks the ax head out to regular length as he walks toward some plane wreckage. Then he pries a piece of the wreckage looking for people trapped underneath. Pete is using the foam gun to stabilize the fire on the floor. Commander Cole turns on the megaphone put out by his helmet.
The State Of The ARTT Page 9