The Skies Above

A Date in the Unknown

Chapter Fifteen
A Date in the Unknown

APALIA
MONARCH AIR FORCE BASE
INTENSIVE CARE UNIT BEDS #12 AND #13
05:49 AM
1/17/17

After all UCRAF forces extracted after what is now known as 'The Siege of FOB Striker,' five PJs, as well as Ben and Markus, had been sent to the ICU for either observation or treatment. Only one of those five Jumpers were sent for observation, as they were the one that Skyler had watched get shot in the plate carrier.

As of now, both aviators had been resting under the observation of the ICU's staff for last night. The pair had been notified that they'll be off flight duty until the UCRAF can convince the UCRN to get another Super Hornet on base, as well as get a few extra maintainers over to the AFB as well.

For now, the aviators have a lot of time on their hands. Add the fact that they're friends with a unit of PJ's, and god knows what shenanigans they'll get into over the next few days.

Markus: This shit sucks, man.

Ben was in the ICU bed next to the Captain, looking over to him and smiling.

Ben: I wasn't the one who decided to get four SAMs chucked at us... Tried my best, Markus.

A sigh came from the WSO as Ben gave a shrug, accompanied with a smile. After all, there was not much he could really do except call out missile positions and giving suggestions. Though, those suggestions save lives a lot of the time.

A small yelp was heard around the corner, Ben putting the voice to a certain Serval they knew. A few moments later, a nurse, a Grey Fox, came around the corner with Braelynn in tow, a smile on her face and a singular tear in her eye. Skyler's head popped out from around the corner as well, followed by the rest of Unit 2-9.

The members of the eight man unit crowded around the aviators, smiles and hugs being exchanged from all of them. Braelynn walked up to Ben, slowing taking a seat on the foot of his bed. A paw was placed on the Major's knee, followed by a soft smile from him.

Braelynn: So, how'd the strike go?

Ben laughed, knowing what she ment by that.

Ben: It went wonderfully, as you can tell!

The Pilot motioned to himself in the ICU bed, stretching his arms. Before anything else could happened in the room, the nurse spoke up over everyone, notifying them what would come next.

Nurse: Now, before everyone gets too rowdy in here, you PJs have another five minutes before you gotta leave. Ben and Markus will be outta here at ten o'clock. I'll be back in five.

Savannah was the first to respond, looking at the nurse as she walked out.

Savannah: Thank you.

The fox waved as everyone went back to talking to one another. Ben got everyone's attention as soon as the nurse left, letting them know what the aviators situation was at the moment.

Ben: We're gonna be off flight duty's until the Air Force can convince the Navy to ship a Super Hornet over here, along with some maintainers... God knows how long that'll take. We'll be on flight line security and paper pushing duty until then, and off duty for the next few days after we get discharged from this place... And probably have an ungodly amount of paperwork to do.

The mention of paperwork made both the Captain and Staff Sergeant in the room cringe. For Ben and Markus, it's because they're officers. For Savannah, it's because she's a Squad Leader. By the time their cringe fest was over, Markus spoke up, deciding to lighten the mood a little.