fanfic_name = The Promise
chapter = 2
author = LTjg_GT_RDF
Rating = AP
Type = Angst
fanfic = THE PROMISE
CHAPTER TWO
When Lisa arrived at the bridge, she was still in her civilian clothes.
“Commander Hayes reporting as ordered, sir.”
“Take your station, Lisa.” Captain Gloval ordered.
“Yes sir. I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to change into my uniform sir.”
“That’s quite alright, commander.”
Lisa went to her station and went through her checks. Pretending as though nothing was going on, Lisa lifted her left arm, secretly hoping that Claudia would notice her engagement ring. As she was lifting her arm to press some buttons on the overhead console, Claudia did glanced over and did noticed the big rock that was attached to a ring that was on her left ring finger. Claudia’s mouth dropped when she saw the size and the colors of the stone.
“Lisa! Is that what I think it is?”
“What Claudia?” Lisa asked trying to act nonchalant about it.
“Oh! Don’t play dumb with me Lisa Hayes! Is that an engagement ring on your finger? Did Rick ask you to marry him?”
Lisa looked at Claudia, trying to put on the best poker face she can but lost it immediately.
“Yes he did asked me to marry him. And I said YES!” Lisa squealed in delight, bouncing on her feet as she held out her hand to let Claudia get a better look at her ring.
By then, the bridge bunnies gathered around to get a good look at Lisa’s engagement ring. The trio gasped when they got a good look at it. The quartet hugged Lisa congratulating her. Behind them, they heard a voice clearing his throat.
“Ahem. Excuse me ladies, but there is a battle going on.”
“Sorry sir.” All the women said in unison going back to their battle stations.
Lisa went back to work snickering with a wide Cheshire cat grin on her face that might be on there permanently if she can help it. Meanwhile at her station, Claudia knowing exactly what Lisa was implying with her snickering and not seeing the humor in it all, was burning green with envy. Very funny Lisa Hayes! Go ahead and gloat! You have your ring before I do. Girlfriend, I’m so jealous of you! Roy Fokker! Where’s MY engagement ring?
Roy, who wasn’t on duty, commandeered a jeep and raced to his office so he can hear how the battle is progressing on the overhead speakers.
“Ok Rick. Don’t do anything stupid. Remember what you were taught in flight school. Keep your wits about you and stay with your wingman. You have too much to come home to.”
On the flight deck, Rick raced to his VT. His crew chief was waiting for him to strap him in and to give him instructions. The crew chief saluted Rick, who returned the salute. “Ok sir. Everything’s ready to go. You’re loaded with fuel. Ordinance has loaded your gun pod and you have Sidewinder and Sparrow missiles on both your pylons. Good hunting and come back safe sir!”
“Thank you Chet.”
The flight officer marshaled Rick into position in front of the jet blast shield. After the jet blast shield came up, the officer signaled to Rick to start engine #1 by bringing up his index finger. Rick toggled the switch. The officer then signaled with his middle finger for Rick to start up engine #2. Then he circled his finger to tell Rick to start up the afterburners. Rick then saluted to signal that he’s ready to go. The flight officer kneeled down and pointed his finger forward. The magnetic catapult flinged Rick’s VT down the runway at over 160 knots in a matter of seconds. Rick grabbed the stick, pitched the nose up 10 degrees and soon he was airborne.
“Skull Squadron is airborne.”
Lisa’s voice came over the tac-net. “Roger Skull Squadron. Go to sector Alfa Tango 3-6-4”
“Sector Alfa Tango 3-6-4. Affirmative.”
Lisa then switched to a private comm line. “Rick, please be careful.”
“Don’t worry Lisa. My squadron’s watching my back. They’ll make sure I come back to you safe.”
Lisa knew that it was worthless trying to say anything else because she on the bridge and he’s in his VT. So she didn’t say anything else to him. But she did pressed two of her fingers to her lips, kissed them and pressed them onto the screen.
Oh Rick. Come back to me safely. Lisa prayed as she folded her hands and she closed her eyes.
It had taken less than a minute for Skull Squadron to see the fireballs of exploding VTs and battlepods. Rick went on the tac net to give final instructions to his pilots.
“Ok Skull Squadron. Maintain V wing formation. Remember what you learned in flight school. Stay with your wingman and don’t break off unless you have to. Wait until you have a clear shot and call out if you need help.”
“There’s the enemy! Tally ho!”
Seconds late, Skull Squadron entered the fray. The coldness of the upper atmosphere were filled with a confusing light show of streaking missiles and bullets, exploding VTs and battlepods. The tac net was filled with voices shouting “Fox one! Fox two! I’m hit! Batttlepod on your six! Break Left! Break Right! Climb! Climb! Climb! Eject! Damn it! Eject! Punch out!”
Rick broke off when Ben yelled that a battlepod was behind him. Rick put his VT into a vertical climb pulling a tremendous amount of g-force that was putting a severe strain on his body. Several seconds later, he barrel rolled over and was behind the battlepod that was chasing him. He fired a missile that caused the battlepod to explode in a big fireball. Rick flinched when he saw another battlepod explode near him to his right.
“Got him boss!”
“Thanks Max.”
“Commander! Above you on your two!” Ben shouted over the tac-net.
Rick jerked the stick to right and down to try to get away from the chasing battlepod but not soon enough. A line of hot lead hit Rick’s VT beginning from the rear of the aircraft at the engine. It continued towards the front, hitting the lower part of the cockpit. Bullets passed through his legs.
“I’m hit!”
Ben shot down the battlepod that hit Rick with a missile.
“Can you fight on sir?”
“I don’t know Ben. I’m shot up pretty bad!”
“Then you need to go back to the ship boss.” Max suggested.
”I agree.” Miriya chimed in.
“Ok. Cover me then.”
Rick turned his VT around and started going back to the SDF-1. Rick’s vision started to go blurry but he kept his VT on course. Smoke came pouring out of the shot up engine like a horizontal smokestack.
On the bridge of the SDF-1, Lisa flinched and put her hand to her mouth to stifle a scream that wanted to let loose. She just heard Rick scream the words that she dreaded to hear, “I’m hit!”. She was slightly relieved to know that Rick is still alive after being shot at. She then closed her eyes and prayed that Rick would have enough strength left to come back to Prometheus and land without crashing. The rest of the bridge crew prayed along with Lisa.
On the flight deck of the Prometheus, a siren began going off as crews cleared the flight deck as Rick was approaching. Several huge crash nets came up to catch Rick’s VT just in case he misses one of the landing wires. Several crash trucks were off to the side, waiting and ready to put out a fire and pull Rick out just in case he crash lands. All of the crewmembers on the crash trucks were hoping that Rick would be able to land the VT under his own power and not crash.
The Landing Signal Officer on board the flight deck saw Rick coming in. He didn’t liked how low Rick was approaching the flight deck..
“Skull leader. You’re less than a meter away. Call the ball.”
“Roger. Skull leader has the ball.” Rick said weakly.
“Skull leader. Your glide path approach is too low. Pitch your nose up.”
All of the LSOs looked at each other and shook their heads. He’s not going to make it.
“Skull leader! You’re still too low! Pitch your nose up 10 degrees!”
Rick tried to pitch his VT up, but the blood loss made him weak and caused him not to be strong enough to pull the stick up.
The LSO hit the pickle switch that was in his hand. “You’re still too low Skull leader! ABORT LANDING! WAVE OFF! WAVE OFF! WAVE OFF!”
Meanwhile in the cockpit, red lights were flashing, a warning sound was beeping loudly and the electronic voice in his VT started blaring, “Eject! Eject! Eject!”
Rick tried one more time to pull up, but couldn’t because of weakness from the loss of blood The nose of the VT hit the deck with such force that it shook. The virbrations caused the VT to spilt apart like a cracked egg. The rear end of the VT broke off in midair and it skidded down the runway. A crash truck crew was already started foaming down the deck hoping to stop sparks from causing a fire to start. Another crash truck was getting Rick out of the split VT. Lisa seeing everything unfold right before her very eyes on her video monitor ran out of the bridge crying, praying and hoping that Rick was unhurt. No one was stopping her. Roy ran out of the ready room to the jeep so he can get to the flight deck as quick as he can. All the while, cursing at himself for persuading Rick to join the RDF.
State = Continuará/To Be Continue
feedback = Sí/Yes
email = georgemtATearthlink.net