Expedient Launch

            Hues got out of his jeep at the base of the tower and looked back towards the huge aircraft.  He could barely make out the mechanics as they loaded fuel rods into the ports and supply crates into the cargo hold.  If all went well, another ten minutes or so, and the Rear Admiral would be on his way and Hues would similarly be on his way to packing.  But the thought died as Hues was confronted by the flight controller.  He had just run down the seven flights of stairs and was breathing heavily.  It was a moment before the man could speak.

            “Sir, I have Military HQ on the line.  They want to talk to you, they say it’s urgent.”  Hues started to get a suspicion: a tiny voice in the back of his head, and it was saying bad things.  He started up the stairs.

            “Major Hues is it?  This is Colonel Davenport.  Son, do you have a mother-of-all-aircraft sitting on your tarmac?”

            “Uh, that’s an affirmative, sir.  Just landed a little less then ten minutes ago.”

            “And what in the name of Hell’s Flame are you doing with it?”

            “Fueling it, Sir.  It was the Rear Admiral’s request.”

            “Which Rear Admiral, son?”

            “Rear Admiral Donaldson, sir.”

            “Son, Rear Admiral Donaldson died two months ago in the Mativa riots.”  Oh shit.  “You have any security forces there?”

            “Sir!  No sir!  His clearance checked out, sir.  I don’t know what’s going on, sir.  This is a civilian airfield with minor military presence, sir!”  Hues, not even realizing it, had gone straight as a board and sweat was running down his spine.  His mind was blank except for the thought that he was never, ever, leaving Duckett’s Field, unless he was going to an Arctic Zone posting.

            “Well sit tight son, I have three full Cav squads hauling ass to deal with your visitor.  I want you to not allow that plane to leave, at any cost, and keep your lips sealed on this matter.  You get me, son?  And for God’s sake, stop fueling it.”

            “Yes Sir!  It will in no way get off my tarmac, sir!”

            “It sure as hell better not, son,” and the Colonel clicked off the line.

            “Son of a bitch.  What are you going to do, Major?” the flight controller asked breathlessly.

            “Exactly as ordered, numbskull.  Get me the Chief.”

            Several miles away, a lone purple spiral was trailing across the sky.  The fuel warning clicked on and Kella swore.  She had about ten minutes flight time left.  She looked nervously down at her map display again and checked her equations for the seventh time.  Once again, they matched the computer display; Duckett’s Landing was just under five minutes away.  She had followed the Praetorian’s course after she had mopped up the last military Cav, but the fight had drained her mech of most of its fuel reserves, and all of its expendable ammunition.  She needed a place to set down and fuel up before finding her trophy. 

            Kella was still fuming over being left behind.  She had screamed till she was hoarse, but the Praetorian just kept on flying.  With all the engines it boasted, there was no way she was able to keep pace.  Especially since one of the military Cavs had nicked a control surface.  She’d been struggling to maintain altitude the whole way.  Hopefully, Duckett’s wouldn’t have any military presence and she could buy the parts she needed.  A small trifle compared to the treasure waiting at the end of this trip.  Assuming she gets it to the end after all the problems that’s cropped up.

            Kella was about to check her map display for the eighth time when a warning warble sounded over her headset.  She flipped up the radar and pulled up the warning.  The three echelons of enemy Cavs made her gulp.  They were coming in from behind her on the same heading.  They were all headed to Duckett’s.  Three full squadrons of mechs were overkill for one mercenary; her prize had to be at that tiny landing field.  All she had to do now was keep herself ahead of the military and hope she didn’t run out of fuel before she got there.