Chapter 14 - Almost There

   "We're getting close, aren't we Ben."

   "Yeah, Carp."

   "You with me? We're good."

   "Are you with me, are you still good."

   Joe chuckled.

   "Oh great. This important of a thing? I ask you if you're ready, you don't answer. Then, you ask me the same? And I don't answer you. Wonder what that means."

   "It might mean a lot of things. For my part? Remember. I'm going through with this whether I want to or not. I have no real choice. For me? There's no other way."

   "I might technically have a choice, but... I know I should so bad... its like I don't have a choice."

   Ben was calm, given the state of things.

   "Hmm. So we're much the same, more or less."

   "Different reasons, same result though. The only real difference I see, but it doesn't really matter."

   "What's the difference. Whether it matters or not."

   "Well. Its interesting. If I asked you, what you thought the odds were, that this was a straight out suicide run? I'm betting on a scale of 1 to 100, that you'd say something like 90 or better. Mm."

   "Something like that, I guess. And you?"

   "I think I'm the opposite of whatever you give it. I think there's only a small chance its a suicide run, and a large chance its like I say it is."

   Ben smiled thin.

   "Look at it from my point of view. I heard a voice in my dream? That's not my idea of a 90 percent chance of success."

   "Do you forget the part, that I was just like you when I woke up? But... I told my girl about the prediction in the dream. We were joking about the whole thing. But... when it happened, right on cue? I didn't believe right then and there? But I'm telling you, the odds went right up."

   "I guess you experienced that and the rest. I didn't."

   "You saw me call it. I saw your face, when the prediction was perfect, down to the minute."

   "We both want to do it. We both intend to go through with it. Our reasons? Our... percentage guesses? The fact we're on different wavelengths from start to finish? Immaterial."

   "I agree."

   "As a side note. As long as the cargo isn't considered... secret or whatever? I saw an internal report, on the G rides on the side. You curious?"

   "Sure."

   "Basically, your parents preach how you shouldn't smoke cigarettes and drink beer? But in reality, as long as there's no problems, its just pretending to be trying to put a 100 percent stop to it."

   "Reason?"

   "Its a relatively new technology went half commercial. The more people score a ride, and people hear... how cool it is, the fact they live to tell the tale... it enhances the... its like free advertising. So, if the costs can be brought down in the future and it can be more commercialized over time? It makes people less afraid to use the service. Remember, there's been big accidents and lives lost in the old NASA only space program. Moon shots got fucked before, and no one ever forgot the space shuttle exploding into a ball of fireworks."

   "Good to know."

   "Suppose it don't hurt any. I'm one of the original pilots on this, and? I turned over a lot of my early paychecks for years, in for stock. It was encouraged, the stock was matched with more stock. Later on stock splits doubled my shares each time."

   "Whoa. Partner."

   "I wish. I'm not exactly in possession of enough shares to get invited to sit on the board, or anything else. Trivia though, I just happen to be the leading employee stockholder. Been here forever, employee with the most skin in the game for profits... I really don't get hassled much. You know how there's always one or two employees anywhere, seems to be on a first name basis with everyone? Kinda me, I guess."

   "Wow. This was your life."

   "Yeah. It was. Sad to see it go, along with things like my wife and kid. While its not the biggest factor in my decision? I'm more comfortable with it, as I read the tea leaves. Everyone getting the notion that our run in, seems to shut the black square off? I'm calculating that will be easy to spin positive. Not my department, but from a life in the military and now this? I'm betting the military will be quite happy this puppy shuts down. Guessing that gets my company more brownie points, than it costs them that I do this."

   "That all figures into your decision?"

   "It helps it. Or, I feel better doing it."

   "I mean, I know that thing's no military or security threat? But no one else can be expected to know that."

   Another silence. Joe broke it.

   "It doesn't strike you as odd, that I was able to predict that thing doing exactly what I said it was going to do?"

   "Hell yeah."

   "Well. Going towards your percentage. Think. I know, its crazy my dream talker friend, I ask him to do something he does it. But... happens the next day on cue? That should give you some inkling I might not be as crazy as I seem. And? That we really might be going where I say we're going."

   "Look. If its important to you, that I believe a better percentage? What's the difference. We're going, neither one wants to back out. I'm military. I'm mister practical. I say? Be practical. We both believe in the mission. That's enough."

   "Practical works for me. You give any thoughts to... what if we end up somewhere?"

   "Oh. Rule number one. Military rule drilled into my head. You're on a mission. That's the mission you're on. You don't worry about... shit at home, other shit at work, the next mission, the big picture... none of that shit. You think and do, the mission you're on. Period. No getting sidetracked."

   "Good rule."

   "Seems to be. Our mission? Go into it. Anything that does or does not happen after that's done? I worry about that after, not before or during. One track mind."

   "Good. I like that, too. Any other... rules?"

   "Confidence is king. Everything else being equal, the mission operative that's confident of the outcome? Will strongly tend to complete the mission better."

   "Sounds good to me. You're my quarterback. A confident quarterback? Let me at 'em, coach."

   Ben flashed him a fairly hearty grin given what was his normal recently.

   "For what its worth? Your confidence? Is... somewhat encouraging. But remember. I win either way. You? Not so much."

   Joe sighed, and chuckled.

   "Christ. I'm like some guy out of the bible. A voice, and they expect me to have faith, and risk my life based on faith in that voice. But, again just like the bible... the voice performs the occasional... miracle."

   "You religious, Joe?"

   "Not huge. You'll next ask if I believe in god. I guess I do, or I'd like there to be one. You'll ask what religion I am? None. I call myself agnostic. I arrived at the conclusion? There might be, there might not be. And if there is? I can't expect to know or understand a damn thing. Can't prove or disprove it. Word games based on dogma, that people preach? I find irritating. But? I won't knock anyone else if they have faith in one religion or another. I mean, I go over someone's house, they wanna pray before we eat? Hey, do your thing. You ask me to lead the food prayer as the guest? I say I'm not good at it."

   "Well practiced speech."

   "I'm not an atheist. I believe I can't know."

   "You have a problem with religion?"

   "Not with religion itself. I think all religions were created by man, and man runs them. Human nature being what it is and all sometimes... there you go. Now. How about you. You religious?"

   "Not huge on it. Not against it. I didn't just do all cargo planes in the military. Now, I was no fighter pilot. But... I had stretches where I piloted what I jokingly called bomb cargo planes. Also? Did a stint with the Warthog. Flies slow and can stay up forever. Carries a big payload, all kinds of stuff. All geared to provide help to the ground forces. You call in for anything I got on the Warthog, and its a lot? I put it on the dot. But? Mostly cargo piloting. When you hear close air support for the ground forces? That's a couple Warthogs. Typically two out of three at a time on a schedule. 4 hour shifts, always 2 overlapping. Grid A-17 wants Air-hog 1 to rain hell? A-17 gets a literal rain-cloud of fireballs."

   "You were a jack of all trades, flying for the military?"

   "Not really. Other than the initial jet trainer requirements? Which is basically a small fighter jet with no armament controls... to let you get used to using jets in the first place, and a sporty jet, which is what any fighter plane basically is. Cargo, big bomb droppers, Warthogs... all bigger slower stuff, with payloads. That's what I specialized in. Which? Makes this right up my career alley. Used to big jet engines, and I'm used to carrying size and weight. You can really whip a small fast nimble fighter jet around. You got some size and weight? You don't rip into maneuvers, you go smooth."

   "And these shuttles?"

   "As an aircraft description. Small for a cargo plane. Way too big for any kind of maneuvering fighter. Designed for a really high ceiling. Huge amount of thrust to weight ratio. Big cargo planes? Like trying to bring a freight train around. This is more like... a double deck school bus, but with a huge engine and someone tried to give it some handling. The huge jets and thrust ratio give the gigantic high operating ceiling. That's to get them up high enough, where we switch to rockets to finish a run up. Saves on trying to use those huge rocket boosters the old space program used."

   "Hybrid."

   "Definitely. Its like a tiny version of the old space shuttle, with huge jet engines, and a place for a little rocket thrust. Game plan is, its cheaper to get a small cargo load most of the way up with just lots of regular fuel. Scram jets burn the stuff, and these scrams are big and there's a lot of them. You get up high enough? Gravity is way lower. We use momentum coming up quick to help, too, the last bit. Once we're up to a certain point, it takes very little rocket to maneuver, or climb gradual. Descent down, is about all glide path, unless I need to maneuver and climb for some reason. Not that I get to demonstrate glide path coming down."

   "That's the rough plane characteristics. Typical supply mission run? Scram jets on high, full after burners, get up quick and hard, use momentum and squeak out that high operating ceiling where it falls flat on its face. Switch to a little rocket now, we're in low G and nearing orbit. You always head for the main supply station. There? We swap out into a smaller version with more rockets, and then proceed to fill a few hop orders. Drops offs and pickups for the run. Buzzing between stations and supply stations."

   "Once you're up in orbit in zero G? It don't take dick to keep moving. A little blast of rocket? You keep all your momentum forever. Now. This is a late night, simple supply run. Not a lot of hops once we switch out for the smaller orbital craft. Idea is, with all that hopping around, and others up there too? We'll be on our run to our target, before anyone could do anything about it. You have no instructions of attack angle or anything. Hit it head on from the side you can see it from. Hell, too easy. Like a Kamikaze run, just horizontal instead of vertical."

   "No security?"

   "What's a security guard on some station going to do, when we're out buzzing around in orbital altitudes. All security? Is geared for access and protecting assets. There ain't a gunship or anything. Its not like restricted airspace around a military base, they'll scramble and escort you away or down, and fire on you if you don't follow commands. What. Some voice on the radio is whining. Tonight, late night run? It'll be regular clothes up, laundry and a few things down. Once I start my run? No one can stop me."

   "Aren't they worried about being attacked?"

   "Attacked by what, exactly. The smaller orbital shuttles? Designed for that ceiling. No fighter can get close to the ceiling, let alone try anything. We're only vulnerable going up or coming down. There's no need for anything like that up there. The stations? You could deliberately run into one with an orbital craft, you'd be lucky to scratch and dent it. Its a practical joke to "bump" the thick walls near a tower window. Will we show up on radar making our run? Definitely. Will they have my transponder code next to my blip and know its me? Sure will. But, there's nothing they can do about it. If you pull anything? Game plan is to discipline you on the ground, or ground you."

   "Huh. Actually easy."

   "Yeah. We actually want them to know its me and my craft, so we get credit for taking the bogie out. Good luck grounding me or disciplining me on the ground, pack a lunch. You'll be there forever. I'm either dead or MIA for good. Now. Because of our vulnerability going up and coming down? Yeah, there a huge squadron of the latest fighter jets right nearby can scramble in seconds flat. But even they can't come up to orbital ceiling. Once we're up and in the orbital craft? We're home free. You gotta understand. There's never been a restricted airspace up there before. Only we can operate at that ceiling. Honestly? Its basically just... don't you dare fly near that thing. No, once we switch to orbital shuttle and get out? We can't be stopped."

   "I have one mission question."

   "Go."

   "I know for you its if, and for me it when... but if by some off chance we end up where we're going? We're in an orbital only craft. How do we land. Or... are you so sure of a Kamikaze run, that... you didn't worry about that."

   "Based on my ten percent, and your ninety percent? The orbital craft, in event of an emergency? Can glide path down to a somewhat gentle landing."

   "Define somewhat."

   Ben flashed him a huge grin.

   "We'll almost certainly live, and very probably with two arms and two legs unbroken. Might get bumped up good. The odds are really good."

   "Hmm. You're getting me back. At that point? You sound 90 and I sound 10."

   "Hey. Paybacks are a bitch. But seriously? We have to demonstrate we can glide and land decent, to certify for supply pilot duty."

   "...and land... decent."

   Ben laughed. This was his world, and it wasn't scary to him. Just like Joe's world was scary to Ben, but Joe was confident about it.

   "On probation, training coming in? You just take runs up to the main supply station. You switch out, and glide path back down, in one that's loaded and ready to come down. After you're trained on orbital craft? Which ain't hard. You just have to pass the classes on emergency orbital craft gliding down. Then? You demonstrate it a couple times, that you can do it. Finally... you go co-pilot for full pilot probation a little white, then? You pass a couple solo, full missions. Bingo. You go solo after that. We certify every so often. That? Is when my career ends."

   "Why?"

   "Easy. Re-certification is the same process all over again. The physical, no classes except anything new since your last classes. But, the physical? Checking my medical records? I'm going terminal. I'll be grounded, and retired. Between my military benefits, and my stock built up from this, and my retirement and benefits... not a bad early retirement at my age, really. But... I won't get to enjoy it. And? I'll be damned, if the good life I built up for my wife and kid, is going to all go to some... hospice care company. Me? I'm throwing a big old wrench right into the middle of all those gears in that machine."

   "You don't worry that the insurance company will try to cry foul you flew right into restricted airspace, right into something they thought might be dangerous?

   Ben grinned.

   "I read the tea leaves. Widow, with kid. Wife of the brave pilot. That took it upon himself, to somehow shut down the scary black square. That everyone is shitting their pants over. Decorated military pilot. Employee owner in on the ground floor of the station set up. Pilot trainer there. No... if they try screwing my wife and kid? The media will eat them alive. The military is in many ways, like a giant corporation, too. They're going to be very happy that black square disappears, and it looks like we did it. There's an old joke in the military, if you're interested."

   "Sure."

   "You did something very brave, and you got great results. Everyone? Thinks you're some kind of goddamn hero. But? You broke chain of command, you just acted without orders, and against orders. What are we going to do with you. We really should court martial your ass, for not following orders. But, no. We can't do that, you made everyone upstairs happy. Guess we'll just have to promote you."

   Joe understood his line of reasoning. He would be considered a hero, that gave his life without a thought for it, to protect everyone else. You can't kick the man's widow and kid out into the street for it. If the military and the station company thought for one second, that tossing an orbital craft into the garbage bin would make the scary thing in the sky go away? They would have done it a long time ago.

   Joe thought back on Ben's description of landing an orbital craft. Aloud.

   "Land... decent."

   Ben laughed and smiled.

   "Remember mission rule number one. Always? Focus on nothing but the mission."

   "Yeah. You're right."

   Ben chuckled and flashed him an easy grin. The veteran, decorated combat pilot's confidence and magnetic personality type. The man that had most likely, been threatened with court martial before, because he did something smart and heroic. So? He got a promotion instead. For quick thinking and getting results.

   "If we make it that far? Relax, I got this."