Page 80 of Ranger's Rise

“Pres, VP. You have our back.” Anton smiles big.

VP nods. “We do, Little Brothers. Always.”

“You ready, Brothers? VP is afraid. You’ll have to show him how it’s done.”

Akai smiles. “We got your back, VP.”

Amal laughs. I think he knows Cort is kidding.

We walk with them and I can only imagine what the crew is thinking when they see the kids. Anton is almost four-foot-tall, Amal is four-five and Akai four-seven. They’re all skinny and albinos. The crew is smiling when we get to the doors.

“Commander, Pres, VP.” Canton greets us.

I laugh. “Pres is always first there and I’m just Ross or Ranger.”

Cort throws chin and VP nods. “Canton is Phoenix Two’s Flight Lead. He’s Green Beret from a different team, but was based out of the west coast while I was there. This Flight Crew is mixed Green Beret and Ranger, except Hay-bale, he’s Delta. They work well together.”

“Comm...Ranger, we made a ladder for the trainees. Jester said they had some trouble boarding.” He takes the ladder from his gunner.

I smile while he hooks it up and the As climb it. The rungs are set close. “Thanks, Boss.” Amal makes me laugh.

We get in and I brief the Crew on the boys score in the simulator and their training stats. Everyone is smiling, so I go on. “They shadowed the last flight, so today you are shadowing them. Akai is at engineer, Amal is gunner and Anton is our copilot for this flight. Take positions Trainees and Flight Crew.”

They roger and get cans on.

The copilot kneels by Anton. I step over while the others are getting set. “Stoker is our pilot today, Anton.” He fist-bumps Stoker. “Anton will put a chat on your board. His answers will show there, he has been talking more, but you’ll get everything on the board even if he answers.”

Anton pulls a tablet with a keyboard out of his bag and types then sets the tablet down and keeps the keyboard on his lap. Stoker watches him smiling.

Stoker: “Roger, Boss.”

Hay-bale: “I’m Hay-bale, little partner. Let me know if you have any questions.”

Anton: “Roger, Boss.”

Cort is behind Akai at the computer station right behind us.Amal is sitting with the gunners smiling and talking away as they quiz him on gun stats.

Akai: “Flight plan on boards, Boss.”

Canton: “Flight Crew readied, Stoker.”

Stoker: “Phoenix Two readied for lift-off, Aerial.”

Brinks gives the go and we’re lifting. Anton calls stats out like a little professional. I keep tabs on Amal’s answers and Akai alternating from the Ops feeds to the choppers. They follow the surveillance flight plan and do a good job without anyone stepping in. Stoker asks about the next training. He wants to see them again. This is good. “They have six flights. Gunner position is only needed once and they can’t pilot.”

Stoker: “Roger, Ranger. I wouldn’t mind taking them again. They know the job and Jester said they have their own simulator so they even fly.”

“Today Phoenix One ran Ops and had maintenance and restock. We’ll have to plan training around Ops flights until we have full Flight Crews ready.”

He nods.

Akai: “Boss!” Akai is typing. Cort stands behind him.

Cort: “Get me on with Ops.”

Akai: “Roger, Boss.”

Cort: “Brinks, Aris has a fire at Seren’s house in town. They’re following the car heading toward the village. Is Web there?”