Missing in Action

Chapter Six

Missing in Action

Chapter Six

Cassidy's P.O.V

The alarm blared through the ship like a wailing banshee accompanied with spinning red lights that were in the hallway. I flung down the magazine I was reading not really caring where it landed. I could put it on the stack on my desk later.

I was quick getting into my flight kit which I'd had laid out on my draws since we'd got here ready for the alarm. I was dressed and had my helmet in my hands heading towards the door with in seconds of first hearing the alarm.

"I'm out first boys!" I yelled as the door to my room closed behind me.

"I'm right on that tail," Henry called from behind me as we ran towards the flight deck.

Even though this was no a real drill, we all knew that Captain Johnson expected us to act as if it was a real emergency. He had a habit of timing us with a stopwatch and the lecturing us if our time was a maximum of ten seconds over our average.

By the time we all got to the flight deck, the crew were ready to receive us. Our planes were in a line with mine first, then Henry's, Ben's on the middle, followed by Peter's and James' was the last. This was our take off order as the boys always insisted on the "ladies first" rule. I just think they said it to know whether or not they're going to get off the runway.

I took the steps to my cockpit two at a time making sure I was in as quickly as possible since I was taking off first. I put my helmet on and secured myself in. The helmet had a built earpiece and microphone which recorded everything that I said whilst in the air. It was there so they can investigate what happened better if I was ever to crash.

I maneuvered my plane into my take off position. I flicked the required switches. Despite what I had said at breakfast, I watched the video control guide, but I was still nervous. I wasn't used to the plane and honestly, it would be a miracle if I did get off the runway.

"Illustrious, this is Falcon Two ready to take off," I said.

Behind me, I could see Henry was in his plane and in his take off position.

"Falcon Two, you have launch," the operator, Commander Drake said from one of the higher decks.

I pushed to full throttle and taxied towards the end of the runway.

"Please lift, please lift," I muttered.

I pulled up into flight on the exact spot that we were supposed to. I sighed in relief.

"Falcon Two, perfect take off," Captain Johnson's voice complemented. I sighed again. Ten more yards and I would have been in the sea.

"Thank you sir," I said as I started flying a large one mile circle radius around the ship as I waited to be joined by the rest of the squadron.

Henry was next. He taxied down the runway, but it didn't look as if he was going fast enough to get off the edge. I clenched my teeth as I watched. He lifted off just as the runway ended.

"Cutting it close Falcon Three," I said as he fell into formation with me.

He didn't reply, but I could tell that he was holding on tightly.

Ben was next. I could tell that his position was slightly off, but I didn't have time to say anything before he bolted forwards. He took off into flight where I had, but wobbled slightly on the way up. He fell into formation still wobbling.

"Are you okay Falcon Four?" I asked.

"Just a little unsteady Falcon Two," he sighed in relief.

Peter crept into his position slowly. He taxied down slowly as well, clearly unsure about what he was doing.