Desperate Situations

by Holden, Abby

  ***

  Cowboy was frantically searching as Jake stepped up to him. "Problem?"

  "Something heavy and metal. Ghost needs it on top of the chopper."

  "Why?"

  Cowboy shrugged still looking. "My guess is she found something."

  Jake joined the frantic search.

  "Hurry!" Came a yell from the top of the helicopter.

  Jake stepped back to look up at her. "What?"

  "I found a… a…. something attached to the engine. I need to knock it off. Find something, anything I can use to knock it off. Hurry. I can see the trucks approaching." She pointed down the road.

  Jake frowned, climbing the helicopter. As he got near Megan, she pointed. Sure enough there was a small box attached to the metal holding the rotors in their casing. Lop off one rotor and the whole thing would fly like a box of rocks.

  She glanced again at the approaching trucks.

  Jake un-slung his rifle and with the butt, began hitting the box. The first couple of hits it stayed tight. On the fifth hit it broke loose just a bit. He hit it harder, knowing they were running out of time.

  "Again. Harder," Megan coached. She looked over the side. "Cowboy be ready to fire up Death when we jump off. Redline her."

  Jake continued to beat on the small metal box. It was coming loose but not fast enough. Both of them glanced to see that the trucks were now within firing range. And at the same time, Tiny opened fired.

  Jake continued to beat on it. "Get inside. Fly. We need you to get us out of here. Go." He beat on it again.

  "But…"

  "Damn it. Go. You're our best hope. Go." Jake yelled at her, as he beat on the slowly loosening box. A bullet whizzed past them.

  "Keep that box if you can," Megan said as she slid off the helicopter, literally sliding all the way down. She hopped into the cockpit and finished getting ready.

  Cowboy frowned, looking behind him at the trucks now circling the two downed helicopters. Someone in back had armed the other gun and now they were firing from both sides. Not to mention, the military Black Hawk flying overhead was also firing at the trucks.

  Both Megan and Cowboy ignored the warnings and questions of the pilot in Chicken Hawk.

  Megan waited with her thumb on the start button. "Come on, Jake," she whispered.

  "He down." Came from the intercom. Fisher's voice.

  Megan hit the start button and the panel lit up. She gave it full power immediately, which was hard on the engine, but they needed to get out of here. Still, it would take about two minutes before they could even try to get airborne and that was pushing it.

  As she watched, dials fluttered to life and the blades began spinning, she noticed Jake running back from the downed Black Hawk. A bright light came from the cockpit of the crashed chopper, but she didn't have time to speculate on it. She thumbed the intercom. "Is Cupcake in?"

  "He in," Fisher confirmed.

  As soon as the dial hit the right place, she lifted off, backing away at the same time from the location of the trucks and downed helicopter.

  "Here we come Chicken Hawk," Cowboy said, so that the other Black Hawk would know they were going airborne.

  But they were overly heavy. With the armament and crew, plus the wounded and dead from the other helicopter, she was over capacity. The higher altitude and heat didn't help either. She chewed her lip as she could feel the helicopter groaning.

  An explosion blew from the direction of the crashed helicopter, adding to the stress.

  The helicopter seemed to hesitate for a few seconds under the added weight then quickly responded. After several seconds, Megan slowed to catch her breath.

  "What happened down there?" the pilot in Chicken Hawk asked.

  "Sabotage," Cowboy answered him. "We found something attached to the swash plate. I bet the others had similar things."

  Cursing was heard from the military Black Hawk. "Wounded?"

  "We got four wounded, two are critical. And two dead," Cowboy informed him. He looked at Megan. "Who?"

  Megan shrugged. She glanced back toward the crash. The four trucks emptied of men rushing to the wreck. "Damn it."

  "We saved the personnel, Meg. That's a point in our favor," Cowboy said then hit the button for the radio. "We're heading to base with wounded, Chicken Hawk."

  "Do you need an escort, Death?"

  "Negative," Cowboy responded. "Head back and make sure the others are okay. Tell the White Pine crews after they land to check rotors, transmissions, tail rotors and engines, hell, have'em check everything as a precaution. Death out."

  Megan turned the chopper toward home. "All those electronics. Damn it." She shook her head. "What was the explosion?"

  "I dunna. What else could we do, Darlin'?"

  "Nothing. Damn it anyway." She clicked the intercom button. "Cupcake?"

  "Yeah?"

  "Did you keep the box?"

  "Got it right here. Looks to be some sort of remote control device or something. I damaged it pretty good getting it off."

  "That's okay. You did good." She frowned. "Did any of you happen to retrieve any of the GPS stuff or other electronics?"

  There was a chuckle on the intercom―Jake's. "Ghost, let's just say they won't be using any of that from the Black Hawk."

  "What?"

  "Standard operating procedure. Destroy it, if it's down. As you were starting up, I threw a thermite grenade in it. Boom." There was a huge smile on Jake's face, Megan could tell from his voice.

  She chuckled. "I knew there was a reason I kept you around."

  Now general laughter sounded from the back.

  "How are the wounded?"

  "We're doing what we can Ghost," Jake said. "The two critical ones, I don't know… Hand me that, Tiny. Thanks… We're limited here with what we can do for them Ghost. The other two have semi-minor injuries, they'll survive."

  "Do your best, Cupcake." She clicked off the intercom and looked at Cowboy. "We got problems, Kelly." She could feel something through the seat of her pants.

  "What?" He looked around outside then at the gauges. Finally, his eyes got a strange look. "There's a wobble."

  Megan nodded. "Cupcake must've damaged a control tube in getting the device off."

  Cowboy frowned. "What to do?"

  She once more chewed her lips. "I'm flying tree top. That way if we have to put down, we won't fall as far." She shook her head. With a sigh, she hit the intercom button as she headed to ground level. "Okay boys, listen up. We got a problem. There's a shimmy in the rotor system. I think we can make it back. But just in case, we're going to be flying as close to the ground as possible, flying along the road. I want someone manning those guns at all times. I mean cocked and ready to fire. Cupcake, make sure everyone is strapped in, including the wounded, as best you can."

  Cowboy shook his head as he panned the road.

  "This is more than dangerous, guys. If anyone sees anything suspicious, speak up." Megan clicked off. She turned to her co-pilot. "Pray, Cowboy."

  "Darlin', we ain't got a shot in hell of making it along this road. You know this goes right into the heart of al Qaeda country."

  "It's our only shot."

  "Yeah, I know. Luck be a lady tonight."

  "Kiss her for me, Cowboy. A nice, big smack right on the lips," Megan said concentrating on everything. This was extremely dangerous. With all the bends in the roads and the winding through the mountains, they didn't know what lay ahead. Once they cleared the foothills, it'd get easier. But even a frightened bird flying off the ground could cause major problems. Not to mention bad guys being in an opportunistic place taking pot shots at them.

  "Bend up ahead," Cowboy said, pointing.

  Megan nodded and rose into the air a little to fly over the bend instead of around it. Then she immediately went back to car level about four feet off the ground.

  "How's she feeling?"

  "Shaky," Megan said. This was crazy. If it weren't for the wounded and fearing for their lives
if she put down, she'd ditch the aircraft. "How far do we have?"

  "Too far."

  "She'll hold together," Megan said softly. "She'll hold together."

  ***

  Jake tended the wounded with Fisher. Tiny was manning one gun, Bosser the other. Jake did everything he was trained to do, but he knew that unless they got help soon, the pilot of the crashed helicopter would die. Tippy was a good man, and Jake didn't want to see him go, but he didn't tell Megan that. She had enough pressure as it was. It would take all her skill to get them out of this alive.

  He sat down next to Tippy when he felt the helicopter rattle. He looked up at Fisher whose eyes widened in fear. Jake smiled. "Trust the Ghost."

  "I do. Most well. It is…" He waved his hand to the top of the helicopter. "I do not trust."

  Jake smiled, but inside he felt that same way. He could feel them swaying one way and then the other as she negotiated turns. Then they would momentarily rise, then fall back down, as they cleared bends in the road. It felt like an amusement ride. Only, this wasn't amusing.

  He laid his head back against the headrest and took a deep breath. This was not a good day to die. He knew they'd get back. Megan was flying. She'd get them home safe. He opened his eyes to see Fisher once more staring at him. Jake smiled. He winked and got comfortable. There was nothing else he could do. Their lives and safety were in the hands of a woman pilot. And that's just where he wanted it.

  ***

  "Crap," Megan said softly. They had been flying for some time in silence. Megan was concentrating on the road, Cowboy was doing everything else, navigating, checking radar, and adjusting gauges.

  "What?"

  "She got shakier. We're losing something."

  "We're almost past the mountains, if we can get clear of the foothills we can radio for help."

  "Not until we are well beyond the mountains."

  Cowboy frowned at her.

  "Contacts tell me that al Qaeda has been monitoring radio communications. If we call out too soon, our guys will never get to us in time."

  Cowboy cursed loudly.

  "I'll push her as far as possible before calling," Megan said then thumbed the intercom on. "Guys? How're the wounded?"

  Cupcake's voice came on. "Not good. Tippy's in shock. He's no longer responsive. And Snake isn't much better. The other two will make it." There was a pause. "Ghost, you're doing good."

  Megan gave a half second smile. "Thanks, Cupcake. We'll be leaving the foothills soon. After that it's a straight shot home. Hold'em together back there." She shut off the intercom.

  It was about ten minutes later, and they had just cleared the mountains when Tiny's voice came on. "Ghost, we got company. Left side. Nine o'clock."

  Cowboy immediately looked out his side of the helicopter. "Damn. Trucks. Can't see how many. Heading our way fast on an intercept course."

  Megan cursed softly. "Tiny, get me a count." She clicked off. "Not that it matters. It won't take much to bring us down."

  "Maybe five. It's hard to tell in the dust," Tiny answered.

  Megan chewed her lip. "How close Tiny?"

  "Half mile, maybe."

  Cowboy stared at Megan then glanced back out the windshield. When he looked back, Megan was smiling. "There's a shitty grin on your face, Darlin'. I don't think I'ma gonna like this one."

  Megan chuckled. She slowed down, then turned to face the approaching trucks. "Cowboy, arm missiles."

  "Shit fire, woman, I totally forgot 'em," Cowboy said with a smile appearing on his face. It was mere seconds. "Armed."

  Megan hovered and waited. It wasn't the fuel she was worried about it. It was holding this damn wiggling contraption steady. "How many did you arm?"

  "All of them."

  "Good deal," she said glancing at her co-pilot. "Wait until they start firing at us. I want to be able to spit on them."

  Cowboy keyed the intercom. "Hells bells boys, we gonna have a little weenie roast out front here. Hold on ta ya pants." He let out a yee-haw.

  Both of their eyes were riveted on the quickly approaching trucks.

  "Wait for it," Megan said softly.

  Cowboy grinned.

  Suddenly the trucks stopped. Quickly, they began backing up.

  "Chickens," Cowboy stated.

  Megan smiled. "Do it."

  "Don't mess with the best," Cowboy said and he sent one then another missile toward the group of trucks. Both struck the trucks head on. The Stingers were heat seekers and the engine block was a perfect target.

  "Again."

  Cowboy fired another. This one hit too.

  Megan chuckled as she turned the helicopter homeward again. She clicked on the intercom. "Fly fast and carry a big stick."

  Laughter from the guys in back was heard over the intercom.

  She turned to Cowboy. "Give me another five miles then call for help."

  Cowboy nodded.

  "Hold on, baby. Hold on," Megan pleaded with the helicopter.

  ***

  Megan sat in the cockpit, her head resting back. She didn't move, she didn't even have her eyes open. She just sat there.

  "Are you okay, Chief?"

  Megan finally opened her eyes. She turned her head slightly and pulled the scarf off her face then took off her helmet. She held it in her lap. Only then did she sigh. "Yeah."

  Jake smiled at her. He glanced at Cowboy who looked like he had wet his pants. "Congrats guys. You got us here in one piece."

  Megan nodded and closed her eyes again.

  Cowboy sat up, releasing his seatbelt harness. "How are the wounded?"

  "Same as before. The Army is transporting them to the hospital," Jake said standing outside the cockpit door.

  They had called for help shortly after clearing the mountains because the wobble became worse. Within minutes, several more trucks were following them. The trucks hung back, due to the 'sting' of the helicopter, but they paced the helicopter across the plains as they approached Kabul, apparently hoping that the helicopter would crash. The military radioed back that they were sending out the last running Black Hawk to help them.

  Megan made a decision to keep flying instead of transferring the wounded to the military helicopter. She didn't know if once she landed she'd be able to take off again. The other Black Hawk flew nearby but at a higher altitude, just in case. It also caused the trucks to abandon the chase. As long as she had control over the Pave Hawk, she wanted to bring it home. So she flew directly to the military base, which luckily happened to be on this side of the city.

  It had been tense. The closer they got to the civilized area the worse the aircraft flew. Still she pushed it. After landing just inside the fenced-in military base, she shut down. The wounded were transferred to the military helicopter and it took off immediately.

  Jake exited the back to see the two pilots sitting in the cockpit, laying their heads back in relief. At first, he'd been worried that they'd been hurt, but after opening the cockpit door, he realized they were just relaxing after the harrowing experience.

  "Sure you're okay?" Jake asked both.

  Megan merely nodded.

  Cowboy turned to look into the back of the helicopter to see that the rest of the crew was out and resting on the ground nearby. He held up a finger to wait. "White Pine Tower, this is Death."

  "Go ahead, Death. We've been monitoring your communications. We have land transport on its way to you. It'll be about half an hour until it gets there. How are the wounded?"

  Cowboy relayed the facts as Jake looked closer at Megan.

  "Megan?" Jake asked softly, he glanced back but no one was listening. "What's wrong?"

  Megan sighed and lifted her head wearily. "You need to thank God for looking out for us today. We shouldn't have made it."

  Jake frowned.

  "She broke right as I shut down. Did you hear the big clunk?"

  Jake nodded.

  "Something fell off. Take a look."

  Jake backed up and looked. There was a
tube hanging down near the main column about eight inches from the top. Three of the rotor blades were horizontal, the fourth was at an angle. He took a closer look at the tube, it was broken in two. He swallowed hard.

  "Yeah," Megan said exiting the cockpit. She stepped up to Jake's side. "We got lucky. Damn lucky."

  Jake shook his head as he noticed the other guys were also now looking up at the rotors. Shocked expressions showed on their faces. He suddenly grinned. "Three cheers for the Ghost and Cowboy."

  The others yahooed and whooped.

  Cowboy smiled as he rounded the front of the helicopter. He held up his hand to Megan who high fived him. "I swear Darlin', you play with fire and beat the devil at his own game."

  Jake smiled at Megan who was chuckling.

  ***

  An hour after getting back to base, a knock on the door sounded. Megan rounded the desk, opening it.

  Jake. "You wanted me?" he said with a wry grin.

  Megan frowned. "Come in." She closed the door behind him and noticed the smile fled his face when he saw the person sitting near the desk.

  William Harding.

  "Sit." Megan said as she headed back around the desk. Both of them had been studying the small, black box Jake had beaten off the top of the helicopter.

  Jake took the other seat in the room.

  "You've heard that the other White Pine helicopter, the first one that had trouble, barely made it to the ground outside of Kabul, right?" Megan asked Jake. He nodded. "It too had one of these on its transmission." She pointed at the box. "Like you said, it's some sort of remote device. This one should have gone off as you were beating on it. There was a small amount of explosive in it, probably meant to damage the rotating swash plate, causing us to crash instantly."

  "Why didn't it go off?"

  "Faulty wiring," Bill Harding spoke.

  "Lucky for us, who ever put it together is an amateur." She smiled at Jake. "Still, it might have worked."

  Jake looked at her then Harding. "Why?"

  Megan sat back and stared at Harding.

  He cleared his throat. "My sources say it was in retaliation for stealing Afghanistan artifacts from the al Qaeda group. They knew it was a White Pine employee from the helicopter crew, just not which one. One other box was found on Megan's Chinook. It was also mis-wired. That one malfunctioned and did no damage."