Page 104 of Ranger's Rise

Kroger: “Roger, Boss.”

Brinks is all sweaty and takes a headset from Anton.

Cort: “Keep him over there. The Brother didn’t make the shower.”

I swing my head watching Akai and Amal sit. “Akai, you’re with Brinks. Brinks, you’re on assault.”

Cort: “I should have stood on that side.”

I swing my head. “Cort you’re on cover and I’ll drive.”

Cort: “You mixed up the letters.” Him and his new BADASS chopper names.

“Brother, focus. You didn’t want to stand near him. Get your choppers ready to lift-off. Anton, switch flight plans for Brinks and me.

Anton: “Roger, Boss.” His monotone voice says he’s not happy.I smile at him. He wanted assault.

Cort: “Roger, Ranger.” He sounds bored. Jinx and Web are laughing.

“Anton, let the tower know we have a threat from unfriendlies that they are not to engage with. Also, they’re not accepting flights until that jet is out of their airspace.”

Anton: “Roger, Boss.”

I check the board. Dakota will start descending mere minutes after our ETA.“Switch me to Dakota and keep him on.” I hear the click.“Phoenix Aerial to Lightfoot. We will have choppers in place when you start your descent.”

Dakota: “Roger, Phoenix. I will need that cover and fuel to lift-off again. We were not able to make our fuel stop without support.”

Fucking great. “Get a fuel truck readied, Anton. Tell me you have enough to make it, Lightfoot.”

Dakota: “I would, Ranger, but it will be a lie.”

Cort laughs. I look around and hold my mic. “I need an IT Lead that isn’t going to pass the fuck out if he runs out of fuel.”

Laughing comes over my headset. “Falcon on Badass jet, Ranger. They have the Ops room up and are monitoring. Fuel is an issue, but Dakota isn’t a stranger to crazy shit happening. He runs Badass Air. He’ll bring us in.”

“Thank fuck. Thanks, Falcon. Glad you’re almost back, Brother. Lightfoot, your fuel truck is waiting.”

Falcon’s laughing at me. I shrug at Cort’s smile and hold my mic. “How would I know.”

Dakota: “Good to hear, Ranger.”

We get our choppers up and I get a laugh when I tell Driver and Stoker to fly like Cort’s putting them in the dish. They fucking do, so I don’t care if they laugh. My choppers are coming from behind the threats from the south.

“Brinks, make sure you’re over barren land before you engage.” I point to a section that we can drive them to. He nods changing their coordinates. Akai is right with him feeding him information. “Anton...”

Anton: “Roger, Boss. Driving to new coordinates.” He’s already got it up on my screen. I see Bullseye and Atlas have it too.

“Good job, Brother.”

Driver acknowledges the new order. I look at Cort. “You’re cover when they land. We’ll be a few minutes out. If they had two showing, expect at least one more chopper laying low somewhere. Just like the simulator, Brother. Keep them covered.”

Cort: “Got it.” He talks to his Crew making me smile. He’s got it.

Anton: “Boss.”

Driver: “Phoenix Ops, we have a visual on the chopper.”

The plane is in front of them. “Roger, Bullseye. Drive them to the new coordinates. Permission to engage pilot onboards. Atlas, you should have a visual in two. Anton, watch for a chopper coming out of nowhere.”