Page 25 of Vapor
His pause has me looking over in time to see him engage again. He’s done that a couple of times now. “You quick, yeah. US military make F35 offer to other country, good not best. F22Raptor better, old, heavy, now, more technology. China have J20 low observable, use jammer, have paint mask shadow, Mach 2 fighter.”
“You took all the best from each and made the Badass jet?”
“Some. Paint mask, Laser ability is Badass technology. Better classify jammer is Alpha-Bit technology. Delta Club use to satellite component, jets, choppers Badass fleet. Alpha-Bit manufacture Nevada same laser part to drone. Scan, enhance GPS, PAVE system, dual laser power fluctuate,” he waves his hand like he’s frustrated, “all system we make better, add more to. We send to all Badass Manufacture US.” He looks straight out the window but I saw annoyance on his face. Maybe the lack of words?
I don’t know what all he said means, but he’s excited and annoyed. I get enough to know they put some major work in to get what they wanted for the new Badass jets. “Wow, does Badass have a lot of manufacturing?”
“West have four. Badass north, south have more people to city, town work not Badass member.” The towns employ civilians. That’s a good way to build what they need in places that need industry.
“Like the innovation company Aaron told us about?”
“Yeah, all over country work to supply Alpha-Bit, Badass product. Boss Copper make help to small town, draw people, money, use old idea new product. Texas cattle, Nebraska corn, coast town fish…”
I laugh. “Using what they’re known for as a theme.”
“Yeah. Pres Falcon give Indian store lease 99-year one dollar they make bread, jewelry to public. Same idea. Drawcivilian money help to Indian self-sufficient. BSC work less to community we help to needs civilian don’t know how to fix.”
They’re smart. “That reminds me of my mom’s, ‘teach a man to fish, you feed him for life,’ lesson. I learned to fish young.”
He’s quiet for a couple of minutes. “Lesson to no hunger?”
I nod. “Yeah, I learned to hunt too. Whatever is around you, grow, hunt, fish, whatever.”
“Alpha-Bit learn grow food, fish, work job to eat. No hunt.”
I smile. “It’s gross and only easy if your hunting little game. As an adult, I don’t hunt for food. I fish once in a while but that’s mostly during vacations.”
Command: “You’re engaging whisper in one, Commander.”
Me: “Roger, Command.” I snap my mask back in place and Alder follows suit. “Mader, do you copy?” I see the team a few kilometers away on my tracking.
Mader: “Roger, Commander. We’ve got a click but will make it.”
Me: I nod. “Lerch, get the drones in position.” He rogers and we hear the whir then see the drones fly by to the biggest building on the mountainside. It looks like the site of an air strike that happened too many years ago for it to be still standing let alone occupied.
Alder: “One control to drone?”
Me: “No, Lerch can override command on them but he takes the shots closest and runs counter surveillance so we don’tlose them. Command has pilots and operators engaged who will follow Lerch’s orders.”
Alder: “Badass use Ops, no command word.” He’s cute.
Me: “Ops it is. Quicker too. Mader, Lerch, I’m three from down.” They roger and red light is flashing all over the place from the drones. Lerch is not playing today.
Command: “Jones, and Brundy are breaching land.”
Me: I yank the yaw and turn fast avoiding a surface to air. “Roger. Engaged.” I shoot the truck avoiding the next shot aimed at me. We bounce between drones and the smaller building like a hummingbird with rapid fire capabilities. “Jones.”
Jones: “I see it. Brundy, set down on the west.”
Me: The Chinook moves air in a way that you feel the vibration to the bone. I drop the little bird down on the north corner so Jones can keep it secure and move fast. My harness is off, gun on my shoulder and gear vest and belt clipped. Nash is bending for Alder who is ready faster than me. “I need a gun stuck to my vest.”
Nash: “The gear is Kevlar. We’re following you, Commander.”
Me: “I forgot to ask why everyone wears Kevlar clothes but they’d make missions safer.”
Nash: He laughs. “Head to toe cover. Badass doesn’t play.” No they don’t.
Me: “On the move, Com–Ops.” I follow the tracking on my helmet into the dilapidated building’s shell.
