Page 106 of Ranger's Rise
Anton: “Yeah, Boss. I got this.”
I bump his fist. I hear Dakota say the truck needs to go to them and I laugh. He’s out of fuel, but not worried. The jet floats down and skims the runway then sets down. Perfect fucking landing.The Flight Crews cheer.
Cort: “That was beautiful to see.” His voice has awe in it.
I nod. “It was, Brother, get your choppers over there. It won’t take long to refuel.”
Cort: “Gladly, Ranger.” He talks to Amal getting clearance and moves his choppers.
“Anton, Akai, position choppers at the four corners. Inform the towers no flights are entering and watch what surveillance has coming in.”
I get my roger and watch the plane as Diablo and Admiral set down. Cort talks to the Flight Crews.
Dakota: “Lightfoot to Ranger. I thank you, Brother, for the quick thinking and covering our ass. Send the bill for fuel and Prez will handle it.”
Cort hits my arm swinging his head no. “It’s covered, Lightfoot. We’re glad we are able to help.”
Dakota: “Let Cort know if I had my chopper, I would have run straight at them and fired missiles too. He can run Ops for me any time I am close.”
“I’ll pass it along, Brother. I’m glad you made it and thank you again for getting them here safely.”
Dakota: “I am out, Phoenix Ops. Jessie, we should have a drink with our new Brothers.”
Jessie: “I’m not staying, Dakota. Our kids were just in a fucking chopper battle at home. I’m going home to see our wife and kids. It’s been too fucking long.”
The Ops screen changes to an Op room. The President of Territories is smiling. “Brothers. You don’t need that. I have Brantley shutting Dakota’s mic down.”
I laugh. Cort throws him chin so I do. “We’ll keep them covered from here until we release your boards.” He pauses and we wait.
“Brothers, on that plane, I have blood and Brothers that came up with me. Thank you for keeping them safe. Without you, we had no survivors as the outcome. You can probably imagine how I felt letting you handle Ops for them. I am so fucking glad I did. We didn’t pick up the choppers coming from the west until after you pointed it out. Our lesson is to believe in Badass and the Brothers that got us to where we are. I will not forget this one, Brothers. You ran it perfect and made us all proud today.”
That couldn’t have been easy, but we have experience and knowledge coming out our ears, just not many Ops under our belt.
“The FBI will take care of the aircraft that’s down. They have a military escort waiting for the plane to lift-off. You have two Bs on this flight, but the next Op is delayed. Your position and ours has been identified and puts us on defending our territories.”
Web moves in between Cort and me. “But the kids.”
The President nods. “I understand your frustration, Web. We need to be safe ourselves in order to keep kids safe. We need to do that right now. You just had a plane and three choppers that were a threat to us and you. If we can’t keep us safe, we have no chance of keeping the kids safe. I’m not saying we stop. We’re slowing it down. The FBI may be able to help, but for Badass here and there, it would be safer to take a defensive position. My family is huge, Brother. I need them safe, so do you.”
Web nods. “Thank you. Cort would say the same thing. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
The President smiles at him then turns his eyes to Cort. “Cort, expect blowback from this. You have the know-how, the choppers and Badass running deep in everyone we watched today. Use them. Call if you need us and we’ll be watching your back.”
The Cloud Brother hits his arm. “We like Ranger on your Aerial, Brother. He didn’t miss a fucking thing.” He smiles. “Dakota does too. He wants to have a drink with him.”
We laugh. “Keep being fuckin’ Badass, Brothers.”
The feed goes off and Falcon walking a bunch of kids to the choppers shows on the screen.
Brinks: “Two Bs, that’s a few more than two.”
Cort: “Ask Falcon how many he brought.” He holds his ear.
I look at Kroger. “Anything I need?”
Kroger: “No, Boss. I’ll keep watch until they’re down. The guy was right, you ran it perfect. The crews will be proud tonight, Boss.”
I throw him chin and look at the board. “Anton, get flight plans set for B.A.D.A.S. and S. to come home. Let the tower know they’re open for business five minutes after the plane lifts off.”
