Outrun the Future - G. Cleven

Ch 1

Major John "Bucky" Egan was called into Col. Chick Harding's office for a meeting that was being held far too early in the morning. It wasn't news to anyone that if they didn't have a mission to fly the next day the entire 100th bomb group was out drinking late into the night. Which is why Bucky was sporting a pretty nice hangover, trying his hardest to make it seem like he was paying attention.

"I don't know if you are aware of the air raids that have been happening across England, but a few airfields have taken a hit." Bucky heard the words coming out of his CO's mouth but wasn't understanding why he needed to hear them. Until he said, "One of the bases nearby was hit hard, forcing the fighter pilots to retreat and regroup. Our base is big enough to house some of them and their planes until that base or another is back up and running. I expect nothing but welcoming from you all when they get in this afternoon. We may fly different planes, but we all have the same goal. Am I understood?"

The Major nodded his head and was dismissed shortly after. With news like this he needed to let his boys know. It wasn't every day that fighter pilots and bombers would be bunkmates. Looking at his watch, he knew most of the guys would be down at the mess hall eating breakfast, getting ready for whatever the day might bring.

He was soon proved right as he walked in and saw his best friend Major Gale "Buck" Cleven sitting with a group of pilots. "You will never guess what I was just told?" Bucky sat down in between Buck and Biddick, catching the attention from the table.

"The war is over, and we get to go home?" Biddick smirked as DeMarco scoffed. "I haven't flown enough missions for this war to be over. How am I supposed to have ladies fallin' all over me when I bring back zero medals or scars?" A few chuckles were thrown his way as Bucky shook his head. "I wish it was that easy. No, apparently an air raid took out a fighter base nearby and now our B-17's gets to share a runway with P-51's. I was told to play nice." One of the guys asked when they would be here. "Sometime today. Harding wasn't specific with the time."

Buck chuckled, "Wasn't specific or you weren't listening?" The brunette waved a hand, "Doesn't matter."

***

Afternoon roll around and the boys couldn't keep the smiles off their faces as the P-51's started landing. While they heard stories of the work they do and see them every now and then on missions providing air support, this was a new experience. Many felt like kids seeing a new toy for the first time.

The group wasn't a large one, about ten pilots altogether, but they looked fierce as a group. The base was able to accommodate some of the fighters, but the original group had to be split up between different bases, only to meet back together for missions. It was the quickest solution the higher ups could come up with.

The two Major's drove up to the runway as the last of the planes landed. "We know anything about them?" Buck asked his friend as he assessed the different pilots getting out.

"Nah. Probably cocky sons of bitches though. You know how fighter pilots can get." Buck chuckled, "Cockier than you?"

Bucky shook his head and smirked, "They only wish." His attention was pulled back to the runway as he heard someone ask if one of the pilots was a girl. Clearly, he had to be seeing things as one of the pilots was walking his way, dark brown hair pulled back into a braid. Since when did the US Military let women fly planes into the most dangerous area on the planet?

Buck let out a low whistle, "Wasn't expecting that." Neither of them could take their eyes off the girl as she was joking with one of her fellow fighter pilots. It wasn't until Bucky heard her laugh that his blood ran cold. "I'm going to fucking kill her."