Have You Read the Manual

by Dale Sale

  The Bosun scanned the data Nan had sent. Perfect terrain for an ambush, no cover on the valley floor, plenty on the ridge slopes. Those were some quality strikes to disable both vehicles at once. Whoever planned this knows what they’re doing.

  The ship bucked wildly as he dropped through the clouds. Gus was still a long way out and he didn’t have time for a smooth glide. The temperature readings began nosing toward the red line as Gus hammered the throttles forward. This old gal had definitely seen hard service, and the engines were long past the need for overhaul.

  Annie D complained, “Hey Bosun! You are exceeding my maximum operating parameters. Have you familiarized yourself with my manual? Also, your certification letters are SERIOUSLY out of date.”

  Gus chuckled to himself, So much for polite. Come on, old girl, hang together.

  “Engage emergency overrides of all operational parameters,” said Gus.

  Annie protested, “Acknowledged, but I am entering this in the flight recorder.”

  Commander Grey boomed in Gus’ ears, “Alpha Delta 367, what do you think you are doing? I ordered you to stand down!”

  “Hey there, Hazy, this is your old friend Gusty Joe! Sounds like the team down there needs help faster than you can bring it. Just thought I would lend a hand.” Asshole must be looking to score some brownie points.

  Grey growled, “Bosun Johansson! This situation is under control. Get back to your job, delivery boy. I don’t need you sticking your nose in here. Let the professionals handle this.”

  Gus said, “Sorry, your transmission is garbled Ops.”

  Something doesn’t smell right about this. Nan Stanski is NOT a person to call for help unless it’s absolutely necessary. What game is Grey up too?

  Gus keyed his comm, “Delta Tango, this is the Annie D I need you to hit me back dark, Alpha 349,” Gus transmitted the cryptic call to his friend on the ground to key their private cipher into the comms link.

  Nan answered, “Delta Tango on line.”

  “Delta Tango, how many souls you got to lift out?”

  Nan said, “Eight, six Marines and two VIP.”

  Gus answered, “Do you have any wheels?”

  “Nie, they took out lead and tail vehicles when we got hit. Diplomatic Command Car is OOC.”

  Diplomatic? Nan, who are you babysitting? Gus said, “This whole thing looks like a set up. Who deserves this much attention?”

  “I have the Ambassador’s wife and daughter on goodwill visit to some locals. They were supposed to be doing this by air. Flight troubles at last minute and I get roped into convoy duty.”

  Gus responded, “And it is just a COINCIDENCE that you walk into an ambush?”

  Nan agreed, “Sounds fishy when you say it like that. I agree.”

  “Who would want your passengers badly enough to set this up?”

  Major Webster interrupted, “Might be the warlord Arta Limnos. He has been moving against the Kragus government. He is old though, the ambitious one is his son, Orr.”

  “Hmm, are they a bad bunch?”

  Webster offered, “Probably not worse than the group the Governance is backing now.”

  Gus asked, “What’s Grey’s play in all this?”

  Nan answered, “Not sure, but he seems really intent on being big part of today’s festivities. Rumor has it he needs a big score to cement a promotion.”

  Hazy Grey, always looking for a way to impress your father-in-law. You win, no matter what happens today. Stop the kidnapping, you’re a hero. Broker a deal with the warlord for prisoners, you’re a hero. Install a new government, you’re just in business with different partners. I got a feeling you set this whole thing up. Call me petty, but I love to throw wrenches in your schemes.

  Gus said, “Annie, begin deployment sequence for Guardian Angels.”

  Annie replied, “The manual does not authorize a cold start launch for Mark 2 Guardian Angels unless the vessel is at plus 6000 meters.”

  “Fuck that manual and follow orders,” screamed Gus. “There are gonna be a lot of things not in the manual today.”

  “Of course, SIR,” was Annie’s cold answer.

  Gus didn’t like manuals. Manuals, bah, no creativity and no help when the plan goes down the shitter either. The Bosun gritted his teeth and pulled the ship into a vicious climb that caused every joint in the old bucket to moan. Just as it hit 6000, he stalled it, Gus punched the release to jettison the Angels and completed a wing over. That ain’t in yer manual! Hope nobody checks the flight data recorder though, a fella needs to keep some tricks up his sleeve. The Guardian Angels formed up on the ship as Gus dove toward the ground and accelerated.

  Annie congratulated, “Nicely done.”

  “I’m not totally incompetent. Guardians report!” Gus ordered.

  The drones counted off as G-1, G-2, and G-3 confirmed they were fully functional. One of the drones must have failed to start. Gus ordered G-1 to sprint ahead, and he watched its video feed. The HUD overlay showed the wreckage of two APCs with the command car stuck in the ditch. Three Marines in the trench were keeping the enemy’s heads down. Gus saw they were using a lot of ammo. When they were out, it was game over. The bad guys aren’t even trying to make the grab. I think they are just stalling.

  Gus said, “Delta Tango, your ride is on the way. How are you holding up down there?”

  Hanlon responded, “Annie D, it’s getting really hot down here and we’re running low.”

  “Rodger Delta Tango, I’m still 5 minutes out.”

  A drone broke into the comm, “Guardian Angel G-1 here boss, I’ve taken ground fire and survivability is compromised. Don’t know how much longer I can stay up.”

  Gus said, “Rodger G-1, land on the ridge opposite the enemy position and prepare to provide fire support.”

  The drone sounded positively ecstatic, “Rodger that Bosun, time to get some payback for those fallen brothers!”

  Gus knew G-1 meant payback for the APCs, not the humans. The coders had been experimenting pretty freely on CI programming lately. Some of them had been throwing in synthetic emotions to increase aggression.

  Gus commed, “Delta Tango, this is Annie D, passing control of fallen Guardian Angel G-1 to you. That should give you a little breathing room.”

  The 2nd Lieutenant sounded less frantic, “Thanks, Annie D, I confirm the link. Glad to have you on my shoulder G-1.”

  G-1 answered, “Glad to be of service Sir.” Gus could see the Angel’s 25mm cannon begin to work the enemy positions across the valley.

  A warning sounded from the console, Now what! thought Gus. Three bandits had popped up over the ridge line and were trying to target lock him. They were headed straight at him.

  Gus heard a transmission come over the clear channel, “Hello my friend in the sky. You should take your Commander’s advice and leave this business. We can come to a mutually profitable arrangement, you will see, business can be very good for all.”

  OH, this day just keeps getting better!

  The voice continued, “I will guarantee your friends come to no harm. All will save face,”

  Gus asked, “Annie D, threat assessment.”

  “There are three tiltrotor gunships closing at 800 kph. Weapons: air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, dual rotary-barrel cannons, door gunners, limited electronic warfare capability. Negligible armor. Threat assessment, maximum.”

  Gus ordered, “Angels G-2 and G-3 engage enemy gunships.”

  The drones spoke as one, “Rodger, payback for G-1! See you in Valhalla, brother.”

  Gus watched the drones streak toward their targets as he banked hard. His hand hovered over-the-counter measures button and sweat stung his eyes. Gus could easily outrun the tiltrotors, but that would leave the Marines exposed if the Guardians didn’t stop them.

  That voice again, “My friend, why do you have to be so stubborn? This arrangement could have been so easy, but you have chosen the difficult road.”

  The gunships opened up with everyth
ing they had as the Angels blazed in. G-2 and G-3 corkscrewed in a double helix ballet with cannon tracers stitching the sky. The drones weren’t being subtle.

  Two locks blinked out as the Angels blazed into their targets. Gus lost visual of the last bandit in the explosions.

  “Warning! Missiles inbound!” Annie advised.

  Gus slammed the countermeasures button. “Chaffe and flares deployed,” the ship’s voice calm. Gus twisted into a tight downward spiral and recovered to head straight at the remaining bandit as the missiles followed the countermeasures.

  Here’s another one the manual says you can’t do.

  Gus was coming straight out of the sun at full throttle. The gunship fired blindly as tracers whizzed past on both sides. He jinked the dropship at the last second and deployed the braking parachute just as the enemy reached him. The fabric engulfed the prop on one wing. Gus smiled slightly as he watched the enemy slam into the ridge top.

  “Delta Tango, this is the Annie D, sorry for the delay. I had to deal with some pests up here, but I’m headed your way now. That LZ is too hot for landing and I am out of bullets, but I think I can get you a ride.”

  The voice taunted Gus again, “Very nice flying my friend, but I am afraid your efforts are in vain. Do not worry, I will not take it out on your friends,”

  ***

  Back on the ground, Spots yelled, “Gunner, we got movement!”

  The enemy was attempting to flank them as a light machine gun opened up on them. The Major had run up to the ditch to help spot.

  “Patterson, covering fire, Major paint that bastard.” Stanski yelled. “Zeta, hedgehog that gun when it gets lit.”

  Zeta commed, “Rodger that.”

  Three deep whomps issued from the APCs back as Zeta fired off the mortars.

  The Marines cheered as all three rounds landed squarely on the LMG position.

  Webster shouted, “Painting flankers now.”

  Zeta answered, “I got em,” and the turret chain gun let out a continuous explosive purr.

  Several of the enemy went down as the rest dove for cover. The hedgehog whomped again several times, trying to loft the mortars over boulders into the enemy position.

  Patterson whacked Major Webster on the shoulder, “Aces!”

  Webster grinned back, “A little more exciting than shaking hands and drinking tea, hey? You got this? I need to check on the kid.” She turned the scope over and crouch ran back to the command car.

  Weber jerked open the door, “Come on kid, our ride is almost here. Get your bucket on!”

  Gunner Stanski was back on the comm, “Gus, at this point we will take a donkey cart and three bicycles. Whatever you are going to do, make it fast, I can see plume of dust on road headed our way.”

  Gus radioed, “OK, prepping the drop.”

  Gus said to the ship, “Annie, prepare for cargo bay skid drop,”

  Annie replied, “Bosun, I must once again warn you; that maneuver is not authorized on this airframe.”

  “Just do it and I promise you a hand wash.”

  The ship almost sighed, “Very well, cargo bay door and landing gear lowering. Standing by for skid drop. Oh, I expect an interior detailing also,” Gus rolled his eyes.

  He lined the ship up with the road and came in low at just above stall. Just as he cleared the bombed-out APCs he shouted, “Drop!” and flared the ship.

  The wide-eyed Marines in the ditch hit the ground. Hot engine blast washed over and they saw a chute jerk the skid out of the cargo bay. It bounced to a stop just beyond the wrecked APC. Engines roaring and now minus her cargo, the Annie D shot into the sky. The leathernecks sprang from the ditch to prep the buggy, Zeta laid it on with the turret gun to keep the enemy’s head down. Gunner Stanski, Hanlon, the Major and her daughter sprinted to the buggy.

  The buggy’s engine fired up just as the turret gun ran dry. “I’m coming,” Zeta yelled as she squirmed from under APC-1.

  Major Webster stopped Nan from climbing into the driver’s seat, “Sorry, I’m driving this time Gunner, last time you ran us in the ditch. Besides who is gonna use that,” the Major jerked a thumb at the heavy machine gun turret ring on the roof.

  The Gunner smiled broadly and mounted the buggy, “Aye, Aye Major.” Yeah, I’m liking her more every minute.

  They loaded fast and sped away from the site. Two Marines lead the way on the cycles. The dust clouds behind them were close.

  Nan pivoted the gun rearward. “Keep going Major, I’ll slow em down a little.” The heavy machine gun began to rattle as Nan let out a war cry, “You want some of this? Come on asshole!”

  Hanlon grabbed the radio, “Delta Tango, calling Annie D, thanks for the ride Gus, but our friends aren’t stopping. Come on Bosun, you must have one last trick up your sleeve?”

  “G-1 this is Annie D can you provide support?” Gus called the fallen Angel.

  G-1 replied, “Sorry Boss, my magazine is empty, and engines are offline. Why don’t you ask Angel G-4?”

  Gus replied, “G-4? G-4 failed to initiate at launch.”

  Annie answered, “Guardian Angel G-4 is currently performing overwatch and awaiting instruction. Recently revised protocol requires one Guardian Angel unit to remain in Avenging Angel overwatch during any engagement. You would know this Sir if you bothered to read the manual.”

  Gus grinned, “Oh, you sweet, sweet old girl, you ARE gonna get that hand wash! What exactly is ‘Avenging Angel’?”

  “Avenging Angel is a last resort strike capability. It consists of a miniaturized high yield thermobaric weapon; approximately 1 kiloton equivalent, built into the body of the Guardian. It should be highly effective against the enemy force pursuing Delta Tango 01,” Annie D replied.

  “Delta Tango 01, this is Annie D, cover your ears boys and girls, ole Gusty Joe is calling the thunder down. Annie D initiate Avenging Angel.”

  Hanlon shouted and pulled her pant leg. “Gunner, you’d better get your head down, something big is about to happen.”

  The shipped asked, “Guardian Angel G-4, do you copy?”

  “Affirmative, G-4 confirms Avenging Angel. See you in Valhalla brothers.” Gus watched the Angel scream by as its nose cannon opened up on the enemy column to allow the assault buggy time to clear the blast radius.

  G-1 piped in, “Enemy converging on my position, initiating no-capture protocol. See you in Valhalla brothers.”

  APC-1, Baby, chimed in, “Enemy converging on me as well. See you in Valhalla brothers.”

  A lump swelled up in Gus’ throat as he saw two small explosions rise, followed by a large one on the pursuing column.

  See you in Valhalla brothers.

  Gus waved as Commander Grey and his Special Operations formation flew past him on the way to the scene. “Nice of you fellas to finally show up. Think I’ll head to the barn and finish my delivery. You professionals can handle this.”

  ***

  Assault Dropship 367 glistened wet in the hot sun on the tarmac of Kragus Base. Gus tossed his sponge into a bucket of soapy water and stood back to admire her. He scooped an icy can from another bucket. She had a few more scratches and dings after the day’s events, but she looked perfect to him.