Sunday, November 10th
"Max, clear to launch the Eagles," Kit transmitted over the intercom.
"Copy clear to launch," replied the burly Loadmaster and Flight Engineer.
Like most BEF members, he was cross trained to handle multiple jobs. Max checked the safety strap attached to his harness one last time before he turned on the low level red lighting and killed the bright halogen lights that lit the cargo bay like day. He grasped the aft ramp lever and pulled it down the center position. Outside, the clamshell doors of the C-5M empennage opened and the massive ramp began to lower. The noise inside the long cargo bay was deafening, as if a thousand angry hornets were circling. Each BEF Eagle had all eight Rotopower engines idling and even at low power, the spinning blades and exhausts created a mini maelstrom inside. Max eyeballed Dare in the left seat of Eagle One. Dare gave him a thumbs-up. Max responded by engaging the track system mounted in the cargo bay floor. All four Eagles moved in unison until Dare's lead aircraft was on the ramp, level and extending out into the darkness. Max formed a signal resembling football goal post with his arms, then lowered his forearms until they were in a level position.
"Here we go. Bull give me rear struts down and locked," Dare said in response to Max's hand signals.
"You got it," he replied as he shifted the mechanical lever down and pushed it in.
The M600/A nacelle struts responded to the hydraulic pressure on the internal bellcranks, and in seconds, the rear struts were completely horizontal. Titanium locking pins slid into place to assure strut rigidity. Kit observed the amber In Transit lights were replaced by green Locked indications that extinguished after five seconds.
"Down and green," Kit stated.
"Down and green confirmed," Dare said as he gave Max another thumbs-up signal.
Max spun his upraised index finger in small circles near his head. Dare took control of the centrally mounted single control stick with his right hand as his left hand eased the four throttles forward. With slight back pressure on the stick, the four nacelles at the end of the wing-like struts tilted upward until they reached the maximum forty-five degree point. A set of parallel louvers at the rectangular back end of the nacelles were computer commanded to a full down position to allow the craft to lift off vertically. Dare adjusted power to near maximum until the green Weight on Wheels light faded.
"We're flying, Boss," Bull said matter-of-factly.
"Roger," Dare said as he focused on the extremely hazardous portion of the launch.
Max snapped a salute that was returned by Bull in the WSO seat. Dare increased the stick back pressure, allowing the louvers to creep ever so slightly forward and inching the Eagle rearward. Three seconds later both men could see the aft edge of the ramp.
"Gear up," commanded Dare.
"Gear coming up," replied Bull as he grasp the small clear acrylic tire on a lever and pulled it out then up to the retract position.
Dare eased back on the throttles, causing the Eagle to sink and separate from Mama Bird. The tiny dark gray craft rocked hard a couple times when it hit turbulent air beneath the Galaxy, then smoothed out as it leveled off one hundred feet beneath the huge ship.
"Gear up and locked, after take off check list complete."
"Roger, checklist complete," replied Dare as he banked left and headed out to a pre- briefed position some five hundred feet from Mama Bird.
"Can I breathe now?" A very nervous Kim Wu asked.
"Sure. You can also quit crushing my hand," replied Tze Yen seated beside her in one of the two rear seats.
Kim sheepishly released his hand, not realizing she had grabbed it instinctively during the launch.
"You guys do this every mission?"
"Yep. Sometimes twice, " he said smiling. "It gets easier. Just wait 'till we dock."
"Joy… Looking forward to it."
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