by Bob Blanton
Chapter 14
A Favor for Fred
Fred knocked on Marc’s door, “Got a minute?” he asked.
“Sure, come on in. What’s up?”
“I have a favor to ask.”
“Shoot.”
“I have a friend, just got out of the Air Force, a good pilot.”
Marc nodded, waiting for Fred to continue.
“His son was slated to go to the academy but was blinded in some high school prank. The kid was, no, is one hell of a pilot. He’s qualified to fly quite a few airplanes, including the Albatross, a Czech supersonic trainer.”
“And you’d like to bring them here?” Marc asked.
“Yeah, it’s just the kid and his old man, wife left years ago. He retired right after the accident to be able to take care of his son.”
“I’m sure we can help the son, but the father’s just out of the military, you don’t think that poses a risk?”
“Not if you fix his son’s eyes,” Fred said. “He lives and breathes for that boy. He was never a rah-rah patriot. I don’t think he’ll be a problem; besides, we’re no threat to the US, just to some rich idiots and people currently in power there.”
“I like your sentiment,” Marc said. “Go get them.”
“You mean, like now?”
“Now, tomorrow, whenever they’re ready,” Marc said. “I trust you, Fred, and we need pilots.”
“Thank you.”
“Not a problem,” Marc said. “Happy to be able to help.”
◆ ◆ ◆
Fred called his friend up that night. “Hey, Kevin, I heard about the kid, how’s he doing?”
“Hi, Fred,” Kevin replied. “He’s doing about as well as could be expected. He’s depressed, but working through it. He’s seeing a counselor and we’re trying to figure out his next steps.”
“That’s why I called. I’m down here in the Cook Islands working for MacKenzie Discoveries. We’re doing some neat stuff with technology and aircraft. We could use a couple of good pilots.”
“I’m afraid Jason’s flying days are over. He barely sees well enough to get around. He even has trouble reading. That idiot prank really messed him up.”
“That’s what I heard, but we have a medical clinic down here that does some amazing things.”
“Fred, I’ve taken him to the best doctors in America, they all say there’s no hope.”
“I hear you, but I want you to trust me. They can fix your son’s eyes.”
“Fred, I can’t take a chance, getting his hopes up. If it doesn’t work, it’ll kill him.”
“Kevin, if they can’t fix his eyes, I promise I’ll never fly again.”
“You’re that sure?”
“Positive. A friend of mine was blind in one eye and had terrible burns on the left side of his body. Now he looks better than he did before the accident, and sees better too.”
“Okay, what do we have to do?”
“Commit to three years down here working for us. Then just pack a bag, and I’ll come get you.”
“Hey, we can fly down there ourselves,” Kevin said.
“Sure you can, but I’m flying a G650 right now; I’ll pick you up at Salem airport whenever you’re ready and have you back here the same night.”
“They’ll let you take that jet just to pick us up?”
“That’s what my boss said. We might wind up picking up some other passengers, but you’re the priority.”
“We can be ready whenever you get here,” Kevin said.
“You good to fly us back?” Fred asked. “I’ll head out now, but after seven hours, I’d need someone to fly us back.”
“I’m not qualified on a G650,” Kevin said.
“That’s okay, I’ll see if I can find a pilot around here who owes me a favor. I’ll see you at McNary Field in about eight hours,” Fred said as he hung up.
“Catie,” Fred said after he called her up on his comm.
“What’s up, Fred?”
“What are you doing for the next sixteen hours?”
“Lots of stuff,” Catie replied. “What do you want me to do?”
“I’ve got to make a flight to Salem, Oregon, and back. Can’t do that without an eight-hour break unless I have a copilot.”
“Where’s Susan?”
“Vacationing in Sydney,” Fred said.
“But I can’t fly alone,” Catie said.
“Strictly saying, that’s true. But over international waters, we can get away with a lot. I’ll certify you flew the big leg in the middle. Unless someone gets real nosy, it will work.”
“What do I get out of this?”
“A bunch of flying hours and the joy of helping out a friend.”
“Too bad we can’t take the Lynx,” Catie said as she texted her father.
“I definitely agree with you there.”
“Daddy says I can go,” Catie said as she read her father’s reply. “When do we leave?”
“When can you be ready?”
“Meet you at the strip in thirty minutes,” Catie said.
◆ ◆ ◆
“Catie, this is my friend, Kevin Clark, and his son, Jason,” Fred said as Kevin and Jason boarded the plane.
“Hi, happy to meet you,” Catie said with a yawn.
“I’m happy to meet you too. By the yawn, I’m guessing you flew most of the way here,” Kevin said.
“Yeah, that way, Fred can fly back. He got six hours of sleep, or so he says.”
“Well, I’ll sit in the cockpit with him and make sure he stays awake,” Kevin said.
“Welcome aboard, we’ll get you settled in,” Jennie said.
“This is our flight steward, Jennie,” Fred said. “She insisted on coming along.”
“Someone has to take care of these two,” Jennie said. “Now come on back and sit down or we’ll miss our takeoff slot.”
“Bags are loaded,” Natalia said as she boarded behind Kevin and Jason. “I’m going to get some sleep.”
“Okay, Nattie,” Catie said. “We’ll try not to wake you.”
“She’s not very friendly,” Jason said as Catie led him back to their seats. She sat them next to each other so they could talk. “Nice jet,” he added as he settled into the leather seats.
“Oh, she’s okay,” Catie defended Natalia. “She just got off of a two-day training session, so she’s really exhausted. She slept most of the way here, but she’s making up for forty-eight hours without sleep.”
After they took off and Jennie had served drinks, Catie turned to Jason. “Fred told me you’re a pilot.”
“I was a pilot,” Jason said with unmistakable bitterness in his voice.
“You don’t think our doctor can fix your eyes?”
“Every doctor we’ve seen has said there’s no hope,” Jason replied.
“Well, I’ll tell you what, she fixed my uncle’s eye, and it was glass,” Catie whispered.
“Don’t joke about it.”
“I’m not--God’s honest truth. He lost his eye in Iraq; got burned on his left side, way worse than you look. He’s our second-best pilot, and the women think he’s gorgeous.”
“Who’s your best pilot? Fred?”
“No,” Catie said. “I am.”
“No way.”
“I beat Fred every time on the simulator,” Catie said. “I even beat my Uncle Blake. Of course, he’s an ace, but I still outfly him whenever we go against each other.”
“I bet that pisses him off.”
“Half and half,” Catie said. “Half, he’s proud of me, half he hates that a thirteen-year-old girl just smoked his ass.”
“You’re just thirteen?”
“Last November,” Catie said. “How old are you?”
“I turned seventeen last month,” Jason said.
“Huh,” Catie said with surprise. “Fred said you were going to the Air Force Academy this year.”
“You just have to be seventeen by July first of your class year.”
“So, you finished high-school a year early.”
“Yeah, skipped the first grade.”
“Nice,” Catie said. “Hey, let me set you up with your new phone and stuff. Then I’m going to need some sleep.”
Catie set Jason up with a comm, had ADI duplicate his phone onto it, and then had him put the earwig in his ear.
“ADI, say hello to Jason,” Catie said.
“Hello, Cer Jason,” ADI said.
“Hi,” Jason said. “Who’s Adi?”
“She’s our tech person,” Catie said. “I’m going to have her show you how to use the comm and stuff while I sleep. I’m not sure how well these specs will work for you, but until you get your new eyes, they might make getting around easier. It takes about two weeks to make new eyes, so this will help you until then. Just put them on and let ADI show you how they work. ADI, Jason is blind in one eye and has lost most of his sight in the other. Can you help him adjust the specs so he can use them?”
“Of course, Cer Catie. Cer Jason, let me know when you have them on.”
“Okay guys, I’m going to get some sleep.”
“They’re on,” Jason said.
◆ ◆ ◆
When they landed, Catie jumped out of her seat, pulling Jason behind her. “Come on, I’ll take you to Dr. Metra so she can get started on your new eyes. You’re staying in the same building where I am, so I’ll stay and take you back when she’s done.”
“What about my bags?”
“Your dad or one of the crew will take your bags to your new place.”
They were out of the hatch and on the tarmac, with Natalia rushing to catch up before Fred and Kevin got out of the cockpit.
Kevin watched as Jason hurried after Catie. “How did they get off the plane so fast?”
“He and Catie just rushed to the front and down the stairs as soon as I got it open,” Jennie said.
“Did she help him down the stairs?”
“He didn’t look like he needed help,” Jennie said. “Now Natalia could have used some help. She barely woke up before she was having to rush after them.”
“Would you two slow down,” Natalia hollered.
“Oh, sorry, Nattie.”
“Where are we going?”
“The clinic,” Catie said. “Dr. Metra needs to get a blood sample so she can make him some new eyes.”
“New eyes, we should hurry then,” Natalia said as she picked up her pace. “She can even fix up that face a bit. You’re cute, but you’ll be cuter after she fixes up those burns. Of course, you might want to think about it, I hear the women down here like a man with scars.”
“That is true,” Catie said. “Uncle Blake got way more action on Rarotonga than he ever did in Hawaii.”
“I’m not looking for action, I just want to fly,” Jason blurted out, trying to hide his embarrassment.
“Hey, an Oryx is coming in for a landing,” Catie said, pulling up to a stop.
“Where?” Jason asked
“ADI, highlight the Oryx for Jason.”
“Yes, Cer Catie.”
“Oh, there it is. It looks like a C17,” Jason said.
“It’s based on that design,” Catie said. “We just added bigger engines and supersonic speed.”
“No way that thing can go supersonic.”
“Yep, when you get your eyes, you’ll probably be flying it,” Catie said. “The third one finishes ground testing on Friday. You want to go up in her for the test flight?”
“Could I?”
“Sure, I’m the test pilot for it, so I can bring anyone I want. You can sit in the copilot’s seat if you want. I’ll have the copilot sit in the navigator’s chair.”
“Doesn’t the copilot need to sit in the copilot’s seat?”
“No, they’re just along to read off the instruments and record results. They can do that from the backseat,” Catie said. “I’ll even let you fly her.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Jason said.
“Oh, sure it is. I’ll just have you make a few sweeps, we’ll be over the middle of the ocean, nobody around for miles. But let’s get you to the doctor now.”
◆ ◆ ◆
Jason sat in the copilot’s seat while Catie taxied the Oryx to the end of the runway. Liz was sitting at the navigation station. “Delphi control this is Oryx three, requesting permission for takeoff.”
“Oryx three, Delphi control, skies are clear, you’re cleared for takeoff.”
Catie pushed the throttle forward, and they were airborne moments later.
“Smooth takeoff,” Jason said.
“Thanks, these are nice jets,” Catie said. “You’re going to love flying them.”
Catie did some easy maneuvers as she continued to gain altitude.
“Engines running at thirty percent,” Liz announced. “Your speed is Mach zero-point-nine.”
“Jason, take the controls and do a few slaloms while we’re gaining altitude.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. Do you have your HUD providing instrumentation?”
“Yes.”
“Jason, take over.”
“I have the controls,” Jason said, the excitement in his voice was palpable.
“You have the controls,” Catie echoed back.
Jason’s HUD amplified the view of the flight path and marked the targeted path for him. He just had to adjust the controls to keep the Oryx inside the green path. “This is nice.”
“I’m glad you like it. Do you feel anything in the yoke that shouldn’t be there?”
“No, it’s rock solid.”
“Okay, take her on up to twenty thousand meters.”
“Climbing to twenty thousand meters,” Jason called off.
“Speed Mach one-point-two; engines at fifty percent; altitude fifteen thousand meters,” Liz read off
“Speed, Mach two-point-four,” Liz continued to mark their climb, “engines sixty-five percent, altitude twenty thousand meters.”
“Go ahead and crank her up,” Catie said, “we want to get to thirty thousand meters.”
“Are you kidding, how can this plane fly that high?”
“Special design,” Catie said. “We’ll give you a detailed briefing later. Now push her.”
Jason pushed the throttle all the way forward.
“Speed now Mach five; engines at seventy-five percent,” Liz read off. “approaching twenty-eight thousand meters.
“Speed Mach six-point-four; engines at eighty percent; altitude twenty-nine thousand meters.
“Speed Mach six-point-five; engines at eighty-five percent; altitude thirty thousand meters.”
“We’re here,” Catie announced.
“Where?” Jason asked.
“The edge of space. To go any higher, we have to add fuel and go into orbit.”
“You’re not telling me this thing can reach space!”
“Sure, it can. Wait until your next flight, we’ll make sure that one goes all the way up.”
“Now I know you’re pulling my leg,” Jason said.
“If you don’t believe me, ask your father,” Catie said. “I think he’s scheduled for a full flight this afternoon.”
“How’s our hull temperature?” Catie asked.
“We’re holding steady at five C,” Liz read off.
“Why is it so cold?” Jason asked.
“Reentry,” Catie said. “The hull is designed to bleed off the temperature and feed the power back into the engines. We’re not fighting any air resistance, so it’s stabilized at five C. Just warm enough to avoid any ice buildup. When you’re slowing down from Mach ten, the hull is really absorbing a lot of friction energy even up here.”
“I’ll talk to my dad,” Jason said skeptically.
“I have control,” Catie announced.
“You have control,” Jason said as he released the yoke and sat back in his seat.
“Let’s go home.”
That night Jason texted Catie, ‘Wow, you were
telling the truth. Dad said he loves flying in space.’
Chapter 15
Board Meeting – July 22nd
“The meeting will come to order,” Marc said. “What’s our food situation?”
“We met with the rabbi and the imam,” Samantha said. “Catie explained how we grow the meat. They only asked that we move any pork products to a separate building, and have them come in once a week to inspect.”
“They didn’t have a problem with our growing meat?”
“Surprisingly no,” Sam said. “They were very impressed with the process and said they would need to think about how that impacted their prohibitions on certain meat products.”
“Very progressive,” Marc said. “Good job, you two.” Catie smiled at the compliment. “Anything else?”
“Yes, Australia reciprocated on the certification of the Lynx. So, Sydney is now on the dinner destination list.”
“Great,” Marc said. “Still working on my certification. Fred says two months.”
“Nice,” Samantha said.
“Blake, construction update.”
“Sure. The runway here on Delphi City has been extended, we have the extra eight hundred meters, which makes all of our pilots happy. The new airport will be ready to start handling flights next week.”
“Yeah!”
“About time, I’m tired of those night takeoffs and landings,” Samantha said.
“Well, at least you’re not having to make them,” Liz said. “But I will be happy that on my nights off, I won’t get awakened by an Oryx landing eight hundred meters from my bedroom.”
“Kal, security?”
“Our candidates started training last week,” Kal said. “Early reports are good.”
“Anything else?”
“No, just the standard training stuff.”
“Fred, how’s production going?”
“We’re finally on top of the curve for batteries and fuel cells,” Fred said with obvious pride. “The first batch of matrices are done, so we started up the Oryx production again. We’ll have the fourth one out by the end of the week. We’re set up to deliver them one per week. Once we get to our goal of eight, we can start making orbit-capable Lynxes.”
“Excellent. When are we going to start making Foxes?”
“Three weeks,” Liz said. “By then we’ll have finished the space station’s hub, and we can afford to divert capacity.”