Book 13: In A Spin     "In A Spin" Part 1

 
In A Spin is a continuation of Tammy's Tales and follows on from Deja Flew. Please note this is a work of fiction and any references to real people, real places or real heavily armed military units are for artistic purposes only!

 
Thursday 8th February 2018
 

Tammy had reached the start of February without any major issues, or fallout from previous endeavours. A call from Captain Marcus Wade had interrupted her civilian existence.

"How are you Lieutenant?"

"I was fine, but now I'm wondering what you have lined up for me, Marcus?"

"I should have you for insubordination?"

"Forget it and loosen up, otherwise my next call will be to Sean along with my resignation."

"Understood Lieutenant, Miss Smart, but as you guessed I do have orders for you, from the Colonel."

"Let me guess, I have to rescue a deposed leader from some far flung land?"

Marcus managed a laugh, albeit restrained. "Not quite, young lady, you have a two week career progression training course."

"Two weeks?"

"The first week is your college half-term, but the second week you're out of university. It's the last two weeks of February. I understand from your tutor that you're fully up to date."

"I'll have to thank him next time I see him. Okay, that's the when, but where is it? Don't think for one moment this means I'm agreeing to it."

"RAF Lossiemouth."

"That's not far, does this mean I could stay at home?"

"I would imagine so?"

"Okay, now what's the course for?"

"That will be in your induction pack, Lieutenant, which should be with you tomorrow."

Tammy put the phone down and checked her diary. The college was only shut for three days during half term week so she didn't have that first week completely free. Not for the first time her senior officers had missed the difference between the English and the Scottish systems, especially where education and law were concerned.

Their contempt for her non-military life went further, Marcus hadn't considered the impact on her business - as usual.

"Bugger!"

"Okay, what's up?"

"Sorry, Joey, but I'm going to have to ask you to scrub the time off you booked."

"At the end of the month?"

"Yes, I'm being sent on a course and I didn't tell him where to shove it."

"That's okay. I was going to spend a few days with mum but one of Dad's family wants to visit her at the same time and they creep me out."

"What are they after?"

"I don't know, mum finally refused to talk to any of that family after the trial. They insisted I was in the wrong and all the allegations were lies."

"Finally?"

"They got to her and kept at her, driving a wedge and pushing me out of her support. That lasted right up until the verdict was announced. Mum wanted to be there but was so hurt she wouldn't be any use to me, that's why I was in court without her on the final day. When that man was sent to Colchester they blamed me for his sins and turned on mum. That was when she truly realised his family had been manipulating her."

"The truth can be a fragile thing."

"Yeah, Tammy, like you ever tell me the truth about what you do?"

"That's a little different."

"Really?"

"Yes Joey, it is. In my case you're not a victim and I aim to keep it that way. The question is, though, why is this guy going to see your mum?"

"I didn't say it was a guy, it's his older sister, Barbara. Apparently they want to make amends and help Dad with his appeal, she says it's mum's responsibility to help."

"That does not sound good at all."

"No, so I'm staying out of the way. Mum won't be happy, but I really don't want to get involved."

"Okay, I fully understand."

"Have you sorted out a card for Maisie?"

"It's not her birthday yet?"

"Tammy, sometimes I wonder where you spent your teenage years? It's the fourteenth next week and the shops are running low on the cards!"

Tammy grabbed her jacket and bag and made a run for the door.

Friday 9th February 2018
 

"Tammy, have you ever had to camp?"

"In a tent?"

"Yes."

"No, why Maisie?"

"It was part of Army training, you are stuck out on the moors and expected to survive for a day or longer."

"On your own?"

"No, normally six plus in basic training."

"I hope you're not considering sending me on one of those schemes?"

"No, but didn't you say that you might need to do observations or intel gathering outside, not protected by having a desk between you and the real world?"

"Yeah, but what's this leading to?"

"You're outside, in the middle of nowhere and you need a wee?"

"Oh. No loo?"

"Exactly."

"Hmmm, drop 'em and squat?"

"And risk getting your camouflaged outfit wet, and smelly? Smell is a dead give-away, especially to guard dogs."

"I'm not keen on wearing a nappy!"

"You wear a liner most of the time and, in case you hadn't noticed, I'm due my period again in a week and a half?"

"Yeah, okay Maisie, point taken but what's your solution? I guess there is one?"

A phone rang, the secure phone, so the cozy kitchen chat after lunch abruptly ended.

Tammy got there first.

"Video call at sixteen hours Zulu. Have laptop connected."

The caller rang off, Tammy repeated the words to her assistant.

"Okay, now what?"

"Now we wait, what were you going to tell me?"

"There's these devices that let a girl pee like a boy and some that store your pee in crystals!"

"I'm not sure whether to be amazed or upset?"

"I'll show you then we can decide which ones to keep in our go bags."

"Yes, Maisie, who's the boss here?"

When the time drew near, Tammy and Maisie carried what they needed downstairs. Fresh coffees in hand, Tammy and Maisie sat down in front of the laptop. Tammy checked her camera's angle and adjusted. A few moments later a tab opened, seemingly on its own then a ten count began. The countdown finished and the tab sectioned into three video screens. One screen held a woman in shadowy light and another held an older man apparently in an office. The third screen remained black.

"Tamara Smart is online, Sir." A woman's voice announced.

Tammy had smiled when she saw Dannigan on the second screen. The smile remained as she greeted him. "Good morning, Sir."

"Afternoon." Dannigan replied gruffly then looked up to his own screen and noted Maisie. "To you as well, Sergeant Staines."

Maisie nodded back. "Sir."

The third screen came up but the figure was concealed by shadows as well. "Online."

"Hello Cousin." Tammy grinned, recognizing Tiffany's voice.

Tiffany answered back. "Hey there."

Kimberly cut in. "Thank you for filing your reports, Ladies. Sergeant Staines, thank you for having a report added, but it wasn't necessary. Continue to file your reports with your country's service. Minus our involvement, of course."

"Yes Ma'am." Maisie replied then muttered. "Like I know who any of you actually are in the first place."

Dannigan was still glancing through papers but responded. "We're the good guys that do bad things to people desperately begging for karma to catch up to them."

"Well put, Uncle." Tammy chuckled. "And I'm still grateful you took on this problem child for a niece."

Tiffany giggled. "Watch out lil' cousin. Cause too many problems and you'll get sent out to deal with a 'logistical matter'. That's his way of saying a narco-cartel is getting more attention than they should."

"I've been behaving." Tammy countered.

Dannigan cleared his throat to get their attention. "Smart, Tammy, we need to debrief you. We're just now getting to you, as always; holidays are fiasco. Rest assured, we hadn't forgotten you."

"Understood, Sir."

"In your own words, go through the the operation, day by day."

Tammy began with how a seemingly random Police incident caused her and Maisie to join the multi-agency operation, expressing a surprise that it had escalated so quickly with resources being deployed with zero notice. Tammy was, however, very aware that she had to be a little circumspect when telling one intelligence agency about another's inner machinations, so left out the names of many of the key players she interacted with, referring purely by job title where necessary.

She'd been talking for fifteen minutes when she recounted receiving her deployment order.

"That's when I met up with Sierra Delta, Sir. We then embarked to Switzerland via my plane, you already have comms records for the flight."

Dannigan seemed to have been reading along, but still watching her on the screen. "Very good. Let's skip ahead. You retrieved the Assault Load-Out. All equipment functioned as expected?"

"Yes Sir, but I was surprised to be fitted with a camera." Tammy admitted.

Kimberly responded. "Any type of hostile engagement is monitored. Hostiles were definitely engaged on that operation. However, due to the nature of the operation; joint cooperation, warranted the body-cams. Your actions, up to a point, were within parameters."

"Up to a point?" Maisie wondered aloud then caught herself. "Sorry."

Tammy shook her head to Maisie. "I left the room with Penny and went downstairs. I was not supposed to do that. I was charged with securing her."

"You had concern for a team-mate that you were unfamiliar with. Yes, you made a mistake and know it. There will be some remedial training planned for you." Dannigan said firmly.

Tammy chose her words carefully. "An opportunity to improve rather than punishment."

"You'll be expected to learn those lessons well." Kimberly stated.

Tiffany encouraged. "You can, you will."

"Become; and remove doubt." Tammy recited. Maisie shook her head as Tammy repeated the mantra.

Dannigan nodded. "Exactly. That said, you did well. Captain, take over."

"Thank you, Uncle, good day." Tammy said then Dannigan's screen went black.

Kimberly did take over. "You've gotten some jump-time in, good. You need range time as well. We'll see what can be done."

"Dive time is a problem. The conditions are horrid." Tammy stated.

Tiffany spoke up. "Get a dry-suit."

"I believe we sent one. If not send me the sizing information and we'll send one. Cold and crappy are to be expected, learn to work in it." Kimberly stated.

Tammy nodded. "Yes Ma'am."

Kimberly went on. "Sergeant Staines."

"Ma'am."

"During the 'working holiday' you'll get some special attention. Additionally, some time with a leading personal trainer for women has been arranged, Bella Falconi." Kimberly stated.

Maisie's eyes almost popped out. "BELLA FALCONI? REALLY?"

"I see you know of her, that's good, you'll be spending four days with her. Make the most of it." Kimberly said.

Maisie seemed to forget the environment she was in and loudly jumped into a state of elation. She could never have guessed she would be getting personal time with such a renowned expert. "I will, thank you Ma'am! Even if I can't put it on my sheet, it still helps."

"Not so fast, young lady. This is a professional arrangement and you will be able to list her program, you'll even get a certificate. It's convenient timing, she'll be guest lecturing for a service and will be in the area at the time. We made her an offer to give you a crash course." Kimberly explained.

Tammy smiled, glad that they were doing that for Maisie. She suspected it was also a means to keep Maisie away and occupied while Tammy would train and be evaluated.

"That covers everything for now. Continue as you have been, with improvements." Kimberly advised.

Tiffany waved. "Take care and get some fun in, lil' cousin."

"I'll try, big cousin." Tammy smiled.

The screens went black then an image of a dolphin appeared, jumping up then disappearing as the tab closed and the computer screen flickered twice. Tammy laughed, knowing it was Krystel's doing; deleting all traces of the contact.

"What was that?" Maisie asked.

Tammy giggled. "Just the old; we were never here, that never happened."

"You mean they erased things from the computer?" Maisie stared at the computer, wondering what had been removed.

Tammy stood up to go refill her cup. "Somebody was on my computer, Love?"

Maisie face-palmed. "For the love of God, you spies and the confusion you do."

"The joy of the self-employed. Who said anything about spies? You just won a styling course in a special competition." Tammy smirked and went upstairs carrying the laptop.

Maise shouted behind her, "yeah, where I was the only entrant!"

The courier arrived at five and Tammy, on this occasion, had time to unlock the shop door ready to sign for the package, she even had ID available in order to avoid a similar delay to the previous occasion. As it was, it was the same courier and he didn't say a word. Tammy quickly secured the shop and returned into the warmer interior.

"Okay, what's in there?"

"Hold on, Maisie, let's get into the office first, I have a feeling this will need to go into the safe."

The covering letter was simple enough, she was to report to RAF Lossiemouth ten days later for two weeks, Monday-Saturday, of helicopter training.

"Wow, that looks exciting!"

"No Maisie, this looks like trouble! Have you ever watched a helicopter pilot at work?"

"Er, no, but in the movies they make it look easy!"

"Well, this isn't a film, this is real life, and it'll be a ruddy military chopper, not a civilian one."

"What model?"

Tammy opened up the thick folder that was the main part of the package. "The Puma. That's interesting."

"Why?"

"Two of the choppers that Smart Air operates are Super Pumas, Jim once told me that quite a few of the North Sea air firms run the Super Puma these days."

"So?"

"So I'll get myself a test ride; the rest of this folder can wait."

 
Monday 19th February 0745hrs
 

Tammy touched down at Millfield Airfield, to the East of Inverness, and taxied to the runway apron. It was strange flying her Czech Sport as all of her hours recently had been in the Epic, Jim had assured her that the plane was in perfect condition and she fully trusted the Smart Air maintenance team, and the pilots, with her life.

She'd booked the trip by telephone, but there was no tower to guide her in and Tammy guessed that a night landing wasn't advised. She could see a single vehicle parked next to a hanger but no-one was in sight. Tammy took her phone and called for a cab to collect her before completing her logbook for the flight.

As she stepped down she was met by a middle aged woman who looked her up and down.

"You must be Miss Smart?"

"Correct."

"How long are you going to be here? I'm not available after half-past four and I need to lock the gate."

"Err, as far as I know I'll be gone by four for sure, perhaps a little after?"

"Fine, that's fifty pounds."

Tammy reached into her shoulder bag and pulled out her purse before counting out the notes.

"Cash as requested."

"Good." She started to write in a log. "G-TYMS, is that a personalised one?"

"Err, yes, it was available."

"Hmmm. Here's your receipt. I hope you don't need fuel? We don't have a bowser here today, only on club days."

"No, I had a full tank half an hour ago."

A taxi drove in through the site entrance as Tammy walked away, putting the receipt away. The driver pulled up by her. "Miss Smart?"

"Correct, let's get going."

Ten minutes later she was deposited at the main gate of RAF Lossiemouth. Tammy had opted to wear her khaki uniform and had now put a beret on her hair, as well as an ID that was swinging from her neck.

"Lieutenant Smart." Tammy handed over her orders.

The RAF guard looked her over and Tammy thought she could detect a little displeasure in his voice, Tammy was clearly army but he couldn't see a regiment so erred on the side of caution.

"That's fine. Do you know where you're going?"

"The flight school."

"One hundred metres straight ahead then turn to the right. It's signposted but I might be able to find someone to take you there?"

"Thank you, but I'll manage." Tammy actually had a map and already knew her destination but she didn't have the time to correct the apparent Male Chauvinist Pig.

She reached the door of the flight school the same time as an RAF officer, he opened it for her.

"Thank you."

Her ID was quickly examined. "Lieutenant Smart? I'm Flight Lieutenant Johnson, welcome to Lossiemouth. Have you been here before?"

"No, but one of my planes has; a fake Sonaca was brought in here almost a year ago in a Hercules before heading to Farnborough?"

"Oh, that was you?"

"Yes, someone wanted me dead and it had to look like an accident, preferably over the sea."

"I see, has anyone made a threat on you since?"

"I could give you a list, but they're in a variety of prisons or deceased so I consider myself relatively safe at the moment."

"Good, because it's not a good idea to be looking over your shoulder all the time when learning to fly?"

"Indeed."

"I'm Joe, by the way."

"Tammy."

"Let's get into the classroom."

Tammy had expected to be alone but found half a dozen others sat waiting, she was the only female of the group and the only one not in a blue RAF uniform. Joe walked to the front.

"Good morning everyone, I'm sure you all have your own reasons for wanting to get into an overpowered eggbeater or perhaps your immediate superior insisted you did?"

That covered Tammy's reason for flying there during half term, and apparently the timing was a coincidence, not that Marcus would have looked at it that way.

"Firstly, I fully expect that everyone read the information pack that was sent out, and has signed it?"

Tammy reached into her bag for the folder. She now knew rather too much about the RAF and their SOPs, especially in the event of an emergency. She offered the pull-out signature page to the Flight Lieutenant as he passed her.

"One question before we start, how many of you can fly fixed wing?"

All bar two put their arms up.

"To those who raised your hands, well done, you hopefully know how to plot a course, handle communications, deal with changing weather and fully understand the rules regarding flight. You also know how to keep a plane in the air and how to land it safely. In order to fly a helicopter you should consider any actual flying experience as redundant for the duration of this course.

"In many respects the non-aviators here have an advantage, they won't have to be told, over and over again, that flying a helo is nothing like flying fixed wing. My tolerance is good, better perhaps than it should be, but if anyone tells me that it's different, consider yourself on a warning. Take the piss and you're out, and don't forget to take your ego with you? Understood?"

Tammy had been warned many times that Smart Air's helo pilots were something special and a half hour chopper experience a week earlier, flying with Jim as his second pilot, had rammed that into her. She began to wonder whether flying in had been a good idea, even if it had saved her well over an hour on the road.

"Your folders contain a good physical description of how a standard, or perhaps typical, helicopter behaves in the air, but I also have a short video to reinforce this. Once again, the non-flyers will find this easier."

Tammy watched the video, although she'd already seen an edited version on Youtube; Jim had suggested she immerse herself in as many training videos as possible.

They broke for coffee and Joe took Tammy to one side once they had a mug each.

"I have detailed personnel files for each of the RAF, including psych profiles, but I know almost nothing about you, Tammy?"

"That's fairly common for those I come across."

"You're not special forces though?"

"Strictly speaking, no."

"As far as I can see you don't have a military licence?"

"No, just a private pilot's licence with multi-engine and full avionics."

"So that doesn't explain why you're on this course? Don't take this wrong but I wasn't given a choice."

"That makes both of us, Joe, I have no idea why they decided this was a skill I needed?"

"Even if your father owns a helicopter company?"

Tammy didn't like that, despite his earlier comment, he'd still dug into her history and perhaps her reply was a little sharp? "I'm a part-owner myself!"

"Apologies, so why hadn't you taken private lessons?"

"It wasn't a necessity. If it helps, my father is only now taking lessons to get his PPL. I've had my PPL for nearly a year."

"I see, did the company operate fixed wing?"

"No, my planes are the first ones that have been based with Smart Air."

"A little birdie tells me that you flew over Christmas when civilian ATC was down?"

Tammy looked straight at him and smiled "That little birdie had best not be a Nightingale. I take my privacy very seriously, both personal and operational."

"I see, no, I don't know anything about a nightingale, this was a very senior officer in London who tried to describe you."

"Ah, he didn't sound American did he?"

"Aberdeenshire I think, it doesn't matter and I shouldn't have raised it. Apologies Lieutenant."

"Indeed, apology accepted."

The rest of the morning consisted of a site health and safety briefing including a full emergency plan explanation. This was followed by a quiz, the scores were read out.

"And the highest score goes to Lieutenant Smart, who isn't even in the RAF, or even a full-time soldier?" He tactfully omitted that she was the only non-male. "What's the secret?"

Tammy decided to counter the room full of testosterone. "I part own a helicopter company at Wick Airport plus I've flown into and out of several military and civilian bases over the past twelve months. Fortunately I also had advance sight of the emergency plan, it was in my folder in the annexes."

"It was in everyone's folder, but I guess one or two assumed that the plan for their local airfield would be the same here? Wrong. Tell us, Lieutenant, how often have you flown a helicopter?"

"I have taken the controls once, for about ten minutes total, that's all. I might add that was after I received my orders to report here, up till then I had only been a passenger."

"You mentioned military airports?"

"Yes, I did, but we're not here to examine my fixed wing experience or check my logbook, are we?"

Tammy had a guess at Joe's reasoning for asking those last questions, even after she'd already shut him down. There were at least three MCPs in the room and their egos were huge. They had clearly made an assumption about Tammy and Joe wanted to avoid any animosity.

"Indeed, and I'd like to remind all of you that operational matters from your own units remains there, we take operational security very seriously here."

They broke for lunch and that was taken in a side room off the officers' mess.

Tammy was found by Joe as she finished her dessert.

"We have a problem."

"And?"

"The course is having to be relocated to No. 28 Squadron at RAF Benson, we have been advised of a threat and non-essential personnel have to leave."

"Where is RAF Benson? I'm not familiar with the base?"

"Oxfordshire, it's home to Joint Helicopter Command and has a great training facility."

"Okay, I'll have to refuel at least once on the way, after I fly home for clean knickers?"

"Weren't you staying on base?"

"No, I thought I could fly in."

"When we had notification that you were coming from Thurso we issued orders informing you this was residential, didn't you receive it?"

"No."

"Well, you'll have to resolve your underwear problem with the base stores when you arrive, the Herc leaves in forty five minutes."

"A Hercules to Oxfordshire?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure I can't fly myself?"

"Sorry, that's out of my hands."

Tammy went to her bag and retrieved her phone.

"That won't work, we've blocked phones due to the security alert."

Tammy engaged satellite mode and called Smart Air.

"Can you retrieve my Czech Sport please, it's at Millfield."

"What's going on, Tammy?"

"Sorry Jim, I wish I knew. My spare keys are on the hook."

"Got them, leave it with me, does your father know?"

"Not yet, can you pass the message on please?"

"Understood."

Tammy killed the call, Joe was still stood there.

"Mobile phones are blocked, how did that work?"

"It worked just fine, and it will work just fine when I call my security-cleared fiancée in a minute. What is this security alert?"

"It's an alert and you still haven't explained why your phone works?"

"It was designed to work if the terrestrial networks failed. My managers insisted."

"What's your real role here?"

"What's the security alert?"

"My office, now!"

Tammy lost her phone into her bag and picked up her coffee before leaving the table. She followed the Flight Lieutenant into a building next to the mess, then up a flight of stairs. He held the door open for her.

"Please sit, Miss Smart."

"Fine, but my rank is Lieutenant. I hope this is going to be a two way conversation?"

"That depends."

"In which case I'll have a taxi back to my plane?"

"Just who the hell do you think you are?"

"Right now, Lieutenant Tamara Smart. Sometimes plain old Tammy Smart."

"Your military record showed no basic training, no initial assignment, nothing except you went straight to a special regiment. That reeks of half a story?

"Okay, my rank is an aid, it helps me in my work."

"Which is?"

"Doing whatever is necessary to protect this country. Isn't that your job description too?"

"It's not how I would put it and in your case that's pretty vague. Who do you work for?"

"Myself."

"That is ludicrous. Who, really?"

"Myself, I'm a business woman."

"Who has the same security clearance as myself?"

"I do a lot of business. I'm pretty sure my clearance is higher than yours, to be honest. Now, what is this alert?"

"A Liberian flagged trawler limped into Fraserburgh last night. Once it was in the harbour the crew were all found to be Russian. The vessel was searched, in case of stowaways apparently but no fish was found. A rescue tug is now on the way into our territorial waters to recover it and the Russian Consulate in Glasgow is spitting feathers because the vessel was searched without the Captain's permission."

"Okay a diplomatic incident, even though the search team really did not need permission to board the vessel? This is probably a case of left and right hands not talking to each-other and the Russians taking full advantage of the mess? Where is the rescue tug?"

"Directly in the flight path out of here for our primary reconnaissance flights, about ten miles out. You did know that Lossiemouth is the home of the Quick Reaction Alert Force North?"

"Ah, snappy title but I can see your problem."

"Indeed, so we have ceased all non-essential launches and locked down all communications."

"You can't stay like that?"

"Indeed, but we're waiting for the Royal Navy to assist."

"They helped me out at Christmas, that was Russians too."

"I take it that you are referring to when HMS Monmouth intercepted a boat off Anglesey?"

"Maybe."

"So which agency are you working for?"

"At Christmas, three of them, plus myself. Take your pick. Anyway, I thought I could fly in each day, which is why I don't have any spare knickers with me."

"Sorry about that, we did sent a notification that it was a residential course, shortened to eleven days for those with existing pilot licences."

"I never received anything after the initial pack."

"That's always a problem when non-RAF personnel are involved. That C130 is going to leave without you if you don't get down there."

"I suppose I could just go home?"

"Maybe, Lieutenant Smart, but you won't get on another of our courses if you do. Also, just think about the report your superior will receive, stating that you refused an order?"

Tammy reluctantly agreed and Joe escorted her to the plane, boarding using the tailgate. She wasn't totally surprised at the seating arrangements, having seen the web seating in documentaries and movies from the previous century, but guessed this was not going to be an executive service. An orderly followed her onto the plane and handed her a pair of ear defenders and a handbag sized plastic box in a fetching shade of NATO green.

"You'll need these."

The orderly stepped off the plane and Tammy took a look around the sparsely occupied flight. Apart from the course members there were only three she hadn't seen so far that day and Tammy was the only female. A reduction in light levels, plus a rumble via her shoes, indicated that the tailgate was being lifted. She already had her harness on and decided now was a good time to put the defenders over her ears. A few on the opposite bank of seats didn't appear to have the headphone style of defenders but Tammy could just see blobs of colour, suggesting they were using in-the-ear plugs.

She now took a look inside the plastic container and quickly spotted a wee funnel, a topic Maisie had raised a week or so earlier. Tammy put the cap on the container and took a better look around the plane, in particular for any sign that indicated a toilet given that she hadn't use the loo for several hours. The best she could see was a canvas shrouded area by the cockpit door. She hadn't seen that on the C-130 she rode in for her jump training on the island.

She could feel they were moving but she had no windows to the outside world, a change in noise, even through the ear defenders, indicated they were picking up ground speed and Tammy made an assumption, this was confirmed a few seconds later when the ground noise stopped as the wheels left the runway.

She reached for her bag, tucked under her legs, and retrieved her phone. Her first message was to Joey to update her, with apologies. Tammy had expected being able to check into the office on her way home a few times during the course.

Her next message was to Maisie, with a quick explanation. As Maisie now had a secure phone of her own Tammy used the secure messaging app installed by the security service. The other passengers were watching Tammy tap away but clearly wasn't expecting the phone to have a connection to the outside world.

Joey simply acknowledged the text message whereas Maisie asked if there was anything she could do? Tammy asked that she called Marcus and let him know. She lost her phone into her bag, having muted any notifications, not that she could have heard anything.

She closed her eyes and did her best to get comfortable on the webbing seat. She had no idea how long her eyes had been closed but felt someone walk past so took a look. The guy went behind the canvas screen, obviously for wee. She reached for her phone and found a recent missed call, plus a text message. It was twenty minutes since her message to her fiancee.

Marcus: "Sgt Staines called me, where are you going?"

Tammy: "South. There was a change to my course plans?"

Marcus: "I sent that out on Friday night."

Tammy: "No courier arrived and the post doesn't arrive until late morning, so I went to a residential course with no clean underwear, or clean anything. What was wrong with a phone call?"

Marcus: "You'll cope."

Tammy "I'm quite happy to be put on a charge for telling you, Captain Wade, that I don't think you care one jot about me?"

She gave up with the conversation and locked the phone but kept it in her hand. Tammy looked up and saw several pairs of eyes looking at her. She ignored the audience and went to drop her phone into the open bag but changed her mind as the plane rode over turbulent air. A whine from the engines and she felt the C130 climb before levelling out. A conversation was being attempted on the far side of the compartment, although it was close to shouting given the environment. Tammy's ear defenders weren't one hundred percent effective, but she could do no more, so she closed her eyes.

She woke with a full bladder and wondered whether she could last until they landed? Her phone told her that another hour had passed, she guessed there was at least another hour to go, possibly longer as she had no idea of their airspeed. The main issue was that she couldn't hold her wee that long.

She squirmed in her seat and decided she had no choice. Tammy left her bag on the floor but took the green box with her. Behind the canvas she found a bucket, someone else might call it a comode but to Tammy it was simply a pee bucket and her nose objected. Committing herself to the inevitable Tammy took the simple device out of the box and unzipped her fly. An unwelcome flashback crossed her mind but she got on with the task whilst using one hand to hold herself upright, mentally praying for no turbulence. She wrapped the device in a napkin included and tucked it away in a leg pocket then made herself decent before walking back to her seat, praying that she didn't need to repeat the experience anytime soon.

Once the buckle was engaged she settled to try to doze off again.

A sudden change in engine noise stirred her and Tammy could feel the plane dropping, or at least her stomach did. The Hercules levelled and Tammy wondered if they were anywhere close to their destination. Suddenly she heard the flaps engage followed by the nose sinking, thirty seconds later a hefty bump confirmed her return to terra firma. A touch of reverse thrust killed most of the forward momentum and the plane soon turned off the runway. Now she had no idea where they were.

A clunk was followed by a whine as the tailgate dropped. Her fellow passengers had released their harnesses so Tammy did likewise. They were retrieving sacks from a pallet box whereas she only had a handbag. A minibus dropped them at an accommodation block with printed instructions to reconvene in the training mess in twenty minutes.

It seemed everyone was having to bunk two to a room but she was the sole female on the course so ended up on her own. A number of Tesco carrier bags sat on the lower bunk, a note was on the top.
 

 
Tammy quickly stripped and showered, rinsing out the wee funnel, before putting on the new undies. She had to put the same fatigues back on but hoped to resolve that soon. She just made the RVP feeling a little fresher.

"Welcome to our recently arrived trainees from Lossiemouth. I'm Captain Goody and I am the course co-ordinator. Unfortunately I know nothing about you so could you please give me a thirty second update on why you're here?"

Tammy was clearly going to be last as she was bypassed twice, not a huge surprise given that she was the only female.

"Finally, who the hell are you and why are you here?"

"Lieutenant Tammy Smart. I eat senior officers for lunch, I should add that I'm hungry."

"I've heard that name somewhere before?"

"My nemesis at RAF Wattisham tried to put me into the guard room but he's now doing a stretch in Colchester."

"I'd suggest that you're left alone, but why are you here Lieutenant?"

"Good question, my Colonel decided it would be a good idea but my guess is that it came from somewhere else, I will find out eventually. I do have a PPL and I would have flown myself down here if given the choice, so at least I didn't have to wait around for a flight home."

"That sounds like you're a territorial?"

"No. I work for me and have the convenience of a rank as an irregular regular. It wasn't my idea, but they haven't got rid of me yet, plus they seem to like me in Downing Street and Buck House, no gong yet though."

"I'm concerned that you'll be a liability here, and that causes me a huge issue with safety?"

"I'll be good, I can follow orders and I want to learn! I'm just not going to keep my mouth shut if I see hypocrisy or maltreatment. That's me, I'm knowingly contemptuous apparently, Sir."

"If you are going to blow your mouth off, do it privately, I do not want this course upended by your ego, Lieutenant. Understood?"

"Sir."

They were dismissed with instructions to report at 0800 the following day. Tammy had three offers of evening entertainment, she ignored the first two.

"If you want to get into my knickers, I'm on my way to the stores so they can measure you at the same time?"

Several chuckles were heard, but the offers stopped with that. Tammy could have sworn she heard herself being referred to as a 'frigid bitch', but that wouldn't do any harm at all under the circumstances.



Book 13: In A Spin     "In A Spin" Part 2

 
Please note this is a work of fiction and any references to real people, real places or real heavily armed military units are for artistic purposes only!

 
Monday 19th February 16.45hrs
 

Having disposed of her unwanted admirers, Tammy found her way to the base stores, easily following the signs.

"I'm looking for Kelly?"

"That's me, you must be Tammy. Did the underwear fit?"

"Yes thanks, what do I owe you?"

"That's been taken care of. I guess you need kit for the duration of your course?"

"Yeah, definitely now: at breakfast time I was totally convinced I would be back at home with my fiancée tonight, that's five hundred miles North! I guess I'll have to take two sets of fatigues, a few pairs of socks and half a dozen T's? Plus a kit bag?"

"Those I can manage, but you'll also need two Nomex Flight Suits. I have all the RAF badges but if you wanted anything with army insignia then that would be a problem."

"It's just a badge to me, sorry if that sounds wrong!"

"No pride in your unit?"

"I was allocated to a unit for their convenience. I arrived at Wattisham last April as a civvie when they press-ganged, I mean inducted, me."

"Wattisham, oh, did you hear about that Colonel who was put on the floor last Spring?"

"Yes, he interrupted my lunch and he ripped my designer suit."

"You pulled a weapon on him?"

"Yes, I didn't appreciate being assaulted and I know how to protect myself. How was I to know he was acting like local royalty?"

"Any chance of that here, I could use a gossip warning?"

"No, I left my weapons behind this morning as I didn't think I'd need them, however there's a Captain here who decided to have a go at me and now has bite marks."

"I heard. Where are you normally based?"

"Nowhere, my unit doesn't have a home. I simply report when I receive orders, well, usually. The rest of the time I'm on my own."

"So not real army?"

"Define: real. I do things, but you won't see me mentioned in dispatches. That's real to me, not marching around and farting to order."

Tammy decided she'd said enough, especially as she wasn't hiding behind an alias.

"If I need anything else, that you don't stock on base, where's the best place?"

"There's a large Tesco store near Didcot that I used for the undies etc. It's about fifteen minutes away by car, so I suggest you take a taxi from the gate. Be aware, the guards like to search any shopping and have been known to confiscate things."

"Is that for real?"

"They refer it to your department head and most of the time you'll get it back."

"Damn, what's the reasoning?"

"Choose: base security, morale, potential abuse. One female airman lost her three month contraceptive supply as it was in a non-branded box and the guard decided it looked fake. It took her five days to get them back as it was over a three day weekend. That delay caused a problem she didn't want."

"Thanks for the warning. I'm on the implant now plus I have a fiancée who would be very upset if anything happened to me."

"Is he in the military?"

"Sergeant, same regiment as me."

"So you give the orders?"

"Sometimes! Sorry, I'd best go get some food."

Tammy called Maisie once she was back in her room.

"Thanks for sorting it out my knickers and bras."

"I had a go at Captain Wade as he didn't see the issue, and I'll take a risk that I'm on a charge for telling him."

"Go on, what was it?"

"By way of an analogy I suggested he went three days without a razor. I explained that genetics meant we have to have clean underwear daily, if not more frequently. Did you get the liners as well?"

"Yes, thanks, from the NAAFI. From what I can gather the schedule has been re-jigged again and I'll finish next Wednesday or Thursday."

"So back before the end of the week, that's good. I had Joey on the phone earlier asking what was going on as she assumed you'd be available during each day to deal with queries?"

"I can't guarantee anything right now, Maisie. Sorry but I fully expect the course to be changed or moved again, given what's happened so far?"

"Understood Tammy, but I spent a few years in the Army before I met you, remember? I just went with the flow as it was easier than complaining!"

"Indeed, I don't think there's many professions that would accept this level of change? Oh, they issued me with a She Wee before the flight here."

"Okay, I've received the packs that I ordered and they're now in our go bags."

"Thanks."

Tammy's Monday finished after a few telephone kisses were exchanged. A text message, belatedly, arrived from Marcus Wade asking if everything had been sorted. No apology was offered and there was no acknowledgement that others had done the work for him. Tammy didn't have the energy or desire to respond, it was barely eight in the evening but she was officially knackered.

Captain Goody found her at coffee on the second day.

"Lt Smart, I haven't heard anything bad about you, but I am aware that some of the other guys aren't giving you an easy ride?"

"In case you hadn't noticed, I'm not a guy, Captain."

"Just an expression, but I thought you might have reacted to them?"

"I'm tempted, but I didn't want to break any of my nails."

"I see."

"The way it looks to me, Captain, is that you could lead by example? Barrack-banter is one thing, sexual harassment is entirely something else."

That afternoon some of the egos on the expanded course cohort were busted and one charge of insubordination was slapped on one particular know-all ass. Tammy did her best to keep her thoughts to herself as the guards collected the offender. Then it was back to the safety videos and the imminent doom lectures.

On Wednesday the training moved into the Puma simulators and theory started to turn into practice. Naturally some of the students adapted easily and some found issues. Tammy was firmly in the middle, she knew it was difficult, but achieved it a little better than she imagined. That helped her confidence.

By the afternoon, once familiarisation had concluded, various scenarios were programmed into the simulators and Tammy took her first simulator mission flight. They were back in the classroom by five but the debrief took a considerable time. The main lesson Tammy learned was to expected the unexpected.

Between Thursday and Friday all the course participants were tested in the simulator in a forty five minute exercise. The task was to pilot the craft from the simulated base into a forest clearing to deliver personnel, returning them to the start before setting off a second time to collect different personnel from an urban setting.

At ten thirty on Friday morning Tammy had been the last to go into the test and had already heard some of the Male Chauvinists proclaim their superiority. "Yes, you wouldn't believe how narrow the gap was, but I squeezed in and got out!"

The first half of the exercise, into the wooded area, Tammy found fairly straightforward and wondered if this was a proper test of her skills. When Tammy had reached the urban pick up zone, however, she decided that the obvious area was too dangerous so scanned the area for something more suitable. A hundred metres further on, obscured by a tall building, was a public park area. She easily set down there and was safely away without any danger to her craft or passengers. Despite her caution she had one of the lowest exercise times.

The exercise debrief was brutal, those who were deemed safe could move into the real helos. Those who failed the exercise left the course. Captain Goody had something to say before they left.

"Before the exercise you will all have heard me remind you that your primary aim is to get the aircraft in and out safely, that was it. It doesn't matter how often I say this, there's always two or three potential pilots who feel they need to show off, to put themselves, their helos, their passengers, their MISSION at risk. If they can't follow a simple instruction to fly safely, and can't follow instructions without keeping their egos in check, then we don't need them."

The classroom exercise finished early, much earlier than Tammy had anticipated. She grabbed a lunch in the mess and went back to her room to shower and change. She'd heard from Maisie that more snow had arrived in Thurso, but it was almost t-shirt weather outside in her Southerly location.

Tammy repacked her shoulder bag but left her phone out for a moment.

"Can I book a taxi from the gate at RAF Benson to the large Tesco on the outskirts of Didcot? Anytime now please?"

The gate personnel barely gave her a glance as she went through the pedestrian exit to wait for her ride. Her taxi left her waiting for ten minutes but Tammy had received a text confirming the cab's plate number and the ETA so knew she wouldn't be waiting for long. The driver, a lady, dropped her fifteen minutes later outside the store entrance. "Can you pick me up in an hour please?"

Tammy had gained a kit bag from the base stores but once again had to buy something for the clothing she was picking up. She chose a duffle bag since nothing needed to be carefully packed, especially if it was to be tossed around in a Hercules or another aircraft. Tammy tried to remember how often she'd been placed in this situation and how many surplus suitcases she now owned as a result? It wasn't always her fault either, but this one would go on expenses and Captain Marcus Wade would have to sign it off, of that she was certain.

She had pushed a large trolley around the store so she had room for the duffel and her multiple purchases. She restricted the clothing to an absolute minimum but decided she needed one co-ordinated outfit to travel in if she wasn't flying military, for that she went for the utilitarian black look; black trainers, chinos, long sleeved top and a rain proof jacket. A black winter hat from a surplus shelf completed the look. On a whim she picked up a yellow rain proof jacket, just in case she needed to be seen!

Once she was through the checkout there was twenty minutes before her cab was due so Tammy took her trolley into the Costa coffee shop and ordered a small latte. Next she opened the duffle and started to stow the clothing in it.

Tammy felt a hand grab her shoulder and immediately spun up onto her feet. The offending person was wearing an ill-fitting uniform that bore the word 'Security' above the left breast. An ID card said he was called Dave. "What is your problem?"

"You were seen hiding the clothing."

"It's all paid for and you just assaulted me."

"The police are on their way, I'm sure you can explain that to them?"

Tammy had her phone out and quickly used it to get a pic of 'Dave' whilst feigning checking it. Her receipt was in her bag just under her phone.

"I have a receipt, but before you even think of walking away with it; I'm going to photograph it. Then I'll ensure the local newspaper has a copy of that receipt and your name, Dave? My bet is that if I check out the local social media pages then one of the locals will provide me your surname? If you read that as a threat, then good as my solicitor will be naming you in his writ. One thing worth knowing is that this is the first time I've been in this store, I just spent nearly two hundred pounds and all I wanted was a coffee! GET ME THE MANAGER!"

Tammy had firmly raised her voice and there was silence when she stopped talking. Outside a blue flashing light indicated the arrival of the local constabulary. The security idiot retreated to intercept the boys in blue and managed to point at Tammy several times.

"Good afternoon, Miss, would you like to go somewhere quieter?"

"Good afternoon officer, no, I wouldn't. Here's my ID, can I suggest you run it through your database so I can get into my taxi?" Tammy had just seen her driver pull up next to the police vehicle.

She had handed her NATO ID and a copy of her 'Get Out Of Jail Free' letter.

"Stay here."

"For now, I will, but don't be long as my driver won't wait for long."

The officer's female companion took over. "Apparently you have a receipt?"

"I do, and the stupid .... Dave could have simply asked for it. Instead he walked up behind me and grabbed my shoulder. I've been a victim of assault and I've put people in prison for it."

Tammy handed the receipt over, the PC checked the first few items off the receipt and was satisfied. Her oppo returned.

"Sorry Miss Smart, all is in order. One question, are you armed right now?"

"No. If I had been; Dave would have been on the floor with one of my weapons in his neck. Why did you ask?"

"Your police record is locked but there's a note which asks to check if you're armed, that's all."

"Curious, thanks for telling me. Hopefully my cab hasn't gone."

"Did you want to file a complaint?"

"I will, but right now I want to get back to base."

As she spoke the cab pulled away. "Bugger. I don't suppose you can drop me at RAF Benson?"

"Sure, but it'll look like we're taking you away?"

"Let them think that, it'll make the complaint more fun."

The female officer took her bag whilst Tammy transferred the few food items into her shoulder bag. Tammy made a point of grinning malevolently towards Dave and a management type who was stood silently behind him. Tammy's bag was placed in the boot and the door was held open for her to slide onto the rear seat. The male officer got behind the wheel.

"Excuse me Miss Smart, but why wasn't that sorted out before we arrived?"

"To be honest I don't know, but it might relate back to a problem I had in Wick a year ago when someone made an accusation against me, totally malicious like today. My solicitor obtained an apology."

"Perhaps the quiet approach works best?"

"Sometimes, yes, but a big stick works better."

The car moved off and Tammy was dropped at the gate fifteen minutes later, she found her pass in her bag before she reached the security guard.

"Ah, Lieutenant, where have you just been?"

"Tesco."

"Then why the police?"

"They offered to run me back here after my taxi driver quit, that's all."

"What do you have in there?"

"Clothes, nothing that will fit you."

There was a harrumph and Tammy was allowed past. She went straight to her room but stopped inside the door, someone had been in there. The note from Monday had been left face down on the chest of drawers but was now face up.

She put it down to a room inspection, but felt vindicated for having all of her documentation in her shoulder bag.

She sent her solicitor Jeremiah Smith an email and asked him to check with the Tesco at Wick whether they had passed on her name or image to other stores after her incident there? Her phone rang.

"I understand Wiltshire Police accessed your record this afternoon?"

"Hello Marcus, yes I'm fine, thanks for asking."

"Well, what did you do?"

"A jumped up Tesco security idiot interrupted my coffee when I was packing my shopping away. He had already summonsed the police before he even asked to see the receipt. Oh, and he grabbed me."

"Grabbed?"

"It was an assault, the same as when Cooper interrupted me in the canteen."

"Jeez, Tammy, you didn't pull a weapon in Tesco did you?"

"No, I wasn't armed. Believe it or not, I restrained myself. I didn't even touch him."

"Where're your weapons?"

"In the safe at home, I wasn't meant to be away, remember? I figure I'm safe enough inside the base."

"Okay, try to avoid any trips off base?"

"I think I will. Tell me, have you heard anything about Cooper lodging an appeal?"

"No, why?"

"My office assistant is Cooper's daughter. A family member is visiting and it doesn't sound friendly."

"We don't provide close protection officers for admin staff."

Tammy killed the call, Captain Wade hadn't told her anything new. She unpacked the bag and wished she could run the clothing through a wash and dry cycle before putting them away, but that wasn't an option right now.

 
Saturday 24th February 2018
 

It had been another early night for Tammy but she was awake shortly after six and made her way to breakfast soon after. The next table over were on the same course and Tammy learned that she might get airborne later. A lighter breakfast was chosen, and she kept herself to one mug of coffee. Muster was at eight, although everyone was there early.

"Good morning everyone. This weekend you're going to get to play in the real thing, but first we need to put that theory about fuel loading, tank balancing and how much extra is being carried into practice."

One of the junior RAF officers asked, "But we have ground crew for much of that?"

"Really? You've flown into jungle clearing just before dark and you need to take off in the morning? Oh, shall we fly a whole team out so you can play at just being a pilot?"

"No, Sir."

"Good, no more stupid questions please."

Behind the classroom, a suitable distance from the building, were a pair of SA330 Pumas. Tammy noticed the anchors.

"Right, these are the real things. It's one thing to go through paper exercises or simulator sessions and quite another to get one of these airborne from cold. Over the next two days that is what you are going to do, initially one of the instructors will be your co-pilot. Lt Smart, you're first up!"

She'd been expecting to be called near last so with a little trepidation went towards the Puma that Captain Goody had indicated.

"I'll be your co-pilot."

"Sir."

"Just relax and follow the instructions."

Tammy pulled on a headset, more out of instinct than training and went through the start-up sequence.

"Stop, you missed something."

Tammy panicked a little and shut everything off.

"You didn't need to do that?"

"Yes, I did."

Second time around she completed the start-up and had the rotors spinning, although not enough for any lift.

"Okay, we have enough chain to lift two metres off, try getting to one metre."

Tammy did as asked and hovered just off the ground but a wobble, caused by the draught from another chained helo. Tammy went to correct the pitch of the aircraft, but hadn't noticed that she'd gained altitude and was now pulling on one chain, whilst a second was slack.

"Okay, ease back on the collective, Lieutenant."

Tammy calmed and complied, focussing on the instruments. The aircraft drifted and she corrected, this went on for another ten minutes.

"Okay, take us back down and go through the closedown sequence. In that order, please."

It had only been twenty minutes from start to finish, but Tammy felt like she'd spent the whole morning in the Puma. She found a coffee and returned to the classroom to revise the startup procedure, by midday everyone had returned.

"That was a good start, over lunch the chains will be extended and we'll have another go."

She found an email from Jeremiah confirming that he would follow up her request on Monday but asked for a detailed report on the new incident, before Tammy had forgotten the detail. That would have to wait until she was free, and wouldn't be easy using a phone.

After lunch they were back in the air, albeit at the end of a four metre anchor. Tammy found this easier, although she hadn't gone anywhere yet.

"Well done Lieutenant, are you sure you hadn't done this before?"

"No, Sir. Is there an issue?"

"With me, not at all, but an officer called to check on your progress and seemed surprised that I had no problems with you. I asked if he knew if you had prior experience with helicopters and he suggested you might have whilst with another agency?"

"I'll be certain to thank the Captain next time I speak to him."

"Which other agency does he refer to?"

"One that is outside the limits of this conversation, Sir, for operational reasons."

"I see, thank you Lieutenant."

On Sunday the tethers were gone, but the students were driven to a remote end of the airbase.

"Pair up, you'll swap around in an hour."

Tammy hadn't been surprised when a young lad had walked over to her. Everything about him screamed girl, to Tammy at least. He was also regularly shunned by the egotistic pilots but sat across the room from her and they'd never spoken before.

"I'm Aircraftman Harrison." The writing on his flightsuit included his name so the introduction was unnecessary. Tammy's flightsuit was missing this embellishment but she didn't feel the need to state something he definitely already knew.

"Hi."

Captain Goody handed out a written plan, it was a low level course with multiple set down points. "Go around twice then swap places and repeat."

That took barely fifteen minutes per pass.

There was a debrief and then they went again. This was the longest Tammy had spent in one day in the front seats of a helicopter.

On Monday the training moved up a notch, although one of the group had been recalled to his unit so they were down to nine, eight from the RAF plus Tammy. The course took them off base and into rural areas. Now it was important, more so than before, to check where other aircraft were operating. The trainees were told they had the advantage of a dedicated ATC in the Benson tower that day, that luxury was to be short-lived as at lunchtime they had to switch to the standard channel.

It was intensive now, by Tuesday Tammy was flying to the Bristol Channel and back, setting down under instruction at Boscombe Down to refuel. At least Tammy didn't have to do the fuelling herself, that was a specialist position, but it gave her a moment to relax.

"Lieutenant Smart?"

"Yes?"

"You have been requested."

"What about Harrison?" She pointed at her co-pilot.

"Just you, Lieutenant, come with me."

"Alright."

Tammy was still wearing her helmet, a personal issue now that she wasn't far from accreditation. Her visor was however in the up position as she followed the junior officer into an office building then up a flight of stairs. He tapped on a door and received a quiet "enter" immediately.

"They are ready for you, Lieutenant."

"Thank you." She pushed the door open.

"Uncle!"

Sean coughed.

"My apologies, Colonel MacTaggart, and ... ?"

"Captain Yarrow, Army Intelligence."

"Good afternoon Captain Yarrow, is this a courtesy call as I have an aircraft and a co-pilot outside?"

"I'd like to debrief you in respect of your activities over the Christmas to New Year period."

"In which case, I respectively decline as I am not operationally free right now."

"I can hold you here until you comply with an order."

Tammy laughed and turned, "Uncle, did Marcus set this up? Promise that I would be available then makes himself scarce?"

"No, Lieutenant, I did, but I did make a promise to another uncle of yours that I would protect you. Captain Yarrow, this goes beyond the briefing I received?"

"Yes, Colonel, I received a specific request that the Lieutenant be investigated for conspiring with foreign nationals in extra-judicial extractions."

"That's a serious charge, Captain, what evidence do you have?"

"This is an evidence gathering exercise, Colonel, and that is best achieved with Lieutenant Smart in our protective custody."

Tammy had retrieved her phone from a pocket and was now pondering what to do.

"Tammy, put it away."

"Yes, Sir." It slipped into a deep pocket, which she secured.

"Good, because you are going to return to your aircraft and safely return it to base, do you understand?"

"Yes, Sir."

"I meanwhile will try to work out who is pulling strings. My apologies for interrupting your training, Lieutenant."

"Not at all, a pleasure as always Colonel." Tammy nodded towards the Captain and left the room, retracing her steps to the fresh air.

The officer was waiting by the bottom door.

"Oh?"

"Let me see, you're surprised I'm leaving? Well, don't be."

Tammy saw him rushing inside as she walked back over the the fuelling point.

"What was all that about, Smart?"

"A misunderstanding, Harrison. Shall we get back?"

Tammy was upset that she'd been set up, even if Sean had also been got at? She tried to put it to one side as any lack of concentration could be fatally disastrous!

When the recruits gathered for their post-flight debrief Captain Goody noted that Tammy was distracted.

"Out with it?"

"I had an odd occurrence on the ground at Boscombe Down, Sir, and it's something that I need to resolve quickly."

"Will it affect your flying?"

"I hope not, Sir, er, no, it will not affect my flying."

"Good, as you all have an evaluation tomorrow."

He turned to the group as a whole. "Reconvene at oh-eight-hundred. Dismissed. Lt Smart, hold a moment?"

Tammy did as asked. "Sir?"

"What happened?"

She explained, whilst not elaborating.

"That still doesn't explain why Army Intelligence would want to interview you?"

"I was involved in an operation two months ago that seemed to upset a few people even though it was sanctioned by the highest relevant authority."

"Let me guess, that authority is written on a Top Secret file that's locked in a filing cabinet in an unmarked building?"

"Something like that."

"I hate off the books operations!"

"Quite, Sir, I'm just a little concerned that if they can't go for me, they'll go for my colonel? I need to kick this upstairs."

"How far up?"

"Westminster."

"That seems to be a little odd for a Lieutenant, in fact it's a breach of protocol if you go outside of your immediate chain of command."

"Under normal circumstances, yes, but the potential fallout is great. We, I, need to know who prompted Army Intelligence to get involved and to sit on that quickly. It's for the best that this Secret Operation remains Secret."

"I'll do my best to prevent any interruption to your final assessment tomorrow but I cannot refuse a direct command from my superior, understood?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Good, go get some food and then a good night's rest."

Tammy stepped into the shower quickly, having dropped her flightsuit on the floor in the bathroom. It would remain there, she decided, until her immediate needs were dealt with.

Once washed Tammy pulled on fresh fatigues for a walk over to the mess. She needed food but was struggling to finish her plate due to tiredness. She ignored the desserts on offer and went back to her room, crashing onto her bunk and ignoring any outstanding tasks.

Worry and fatigue worked together so Tammy drifted in and out of sleep.



Book 13: In A Spin     "In A Spin" Part 3

 
Please note this is a work of fiction and any references to real people, real places or real heavily armed military units are for artistic purposes only!

NB. This chapter contains violence.

 
28th February 2018
 

Tammy gave up sleeping, or at least trying to sleep, at five thirty. She showered and dressed in a fresh flight suit and did her best to look fully awake. She surrendered and went to find coffee, preferably neat and intravenous. She needed a quiet day.

By seven thirty she'd managed some breakfast and had time for a quick wee before reporting for the morning briefing. Previous pairings were offered first, that placed Tammy and Harrison together for the day.

"You'll fly as pilot and co-pilot and an instructor will travel with you in the engineer's seat."

Tammy was elected as pilot for the day, their roles would be reversed the following morning.

They found their aircraft but weren't due to get away until ten so had plenty of time. Her instructor arrived with four unnamed squaddies who were just along for the ride, apparently. She wasn't overly surprised to see Captain Goody with them.

"I have revised flight instructions for you."

"Oh, why?"

"My commander received a request late yesterday to find out what your flight would be today. That was supplied from the course programme."

"Just a request for the information?"

"Correct. I just tried to verify the source this morning but I can't so we'll treat it as a potential breach and we generated these this morning." He handed over a new document.

"I'll have to check the fuel requirements."

"Good."

Harrison had kept quiet so far but waited for the Captain to vacate the cockpit. "What's that all about?"

"I don't know, but keep your eyes on everything."

Tammy went to check on the fuel pumps and found there was a problem moving fuel between the tanks, necessary to trim the aircraft in flight.

"I'm declaring a fault."

"Confirmed, Lieutenant."

"Thanks Harrison. Now lets see if there's a spare?"

Once the fault had been formally lodged with the support team all Tammy could do was wait.

"Didn't you check that pump earlier?"

"Yes, but I didn't fully check it, seeing as this aircraft had already had a full post flight service."

"So what made you look again?"

"A nagging thought. A wonder about what could happen, however unlikely."

"But a faulty fuel pump?"

"Sure, but if I can't circulate the fuel then the aircraft will end up tilted and that's enough to bring it down."

"But it's just a random fault?"

"Possibly."

"Now I'm getting scared."

"Look, did you see the chopper that flew back in just an hour ago? We'll bag it but let the ground crew finish servicing it?"

It was an hour before the spare SA330 Puma was available, although it had actually been fitted for an exercise and weapons had to be disabled.

Captain Goody secured the replacement aircraft. "Any other exercise can wait, I have new recruits arriving this weekend and I need this lot gone by Friday morning!"

It passed Tammy's and Harrison's rigorous checks and Tammy relaxed a little. Finally, just before eleven, they were ready to go. She logged they had enough fuel for the exercise and some spare.

Tammy was determined to do everything by the book but without did not want her actions looking forced. Certainly she had guessed that Goody had requested this ride personally, given that Tammy was the anomaly on the course.

"Okay Lieutenant, you may start when ready."

The pilots went through the start-up, calling the switches and gauges to each-other and before long the rotors were spinning. Tammy requested permission to take off but had to wait for an incoming flight. Finally she lifted and headed for her first way-point.

The weather was good for the first ten minutes but cloud enveloped them as they went over the Chilterns, passing Heathrow Airport with plenty of space. Her destination was RAF High Wycombe.

"Harrison, check for the tower frequency for RAF High Wycombe, please."

Her co-pilot laughed. "A tower? Are you joking?"

"No, what?"

"I forgot, you're army, High Wycombe is a HQ site, there's no airfield anymore, nothing apart from brass and buildings."

"Oh well, check what's nearby, anything that's going to give us trouble."

"Now I know you're joking?"

"No, our instructions say I am to deposit our passengers there, so that's what we'll do."

"Okay, the site has woods to the West and fields to the North, there's two grass areas and a car-park. Looks like subterranean installations too, that'll be the NATO command."

"NATO? Oh, okay."

Tammy approached over the trees and checked for pylons, wires, lighting or any other hazard. She dropped behind one of the office blocks, it wasn't long before the site security arrived.

"What the hell?"

"These are my instructions."

Tammy stayed in her seat whilst Harrison saw to the bemused passengers. It took ten minutes but soon the big door was closed. Harrison returned to her seat and plugged herself in.

"We picked up a new passenger, he's talking to the Captain."

"That's not in the script, but what next?"

"A touch and go at Finstock, in a forest clearing."

"Okay." Tammy checked the aircraft was clear of personnel before hitting the throttle and getting set to lift off.

She was in the air when Captain Goody's voice came over the comm. "Lieutenant, I have instructions to cancel this assessment."

"Why?"

"Because, Tammy dear, you haven't been answering your phone and we can't trust the usual channels of communication. More importantly, you are needed elsewhere!"

"Sir Thomas?"

"Correct."

"Damn, okay, what's up?"

"Thurso."

Tammy turned from her current course and pushed the throttle hard over.

"We'll need fuel in about two hours, to have enough for exit or busk it there on main and reserves? Harrison do the numbers please."

"Lt Smart, what's going on and who is this gentleman?"

"I'll answer in reverse, this gentleman is Sir Thomas Addington, chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee and possibly the most powerful non-political person in Westminster. As for the other question, I don't know. I suggest we maintain radio silence and kill the beacon? Captain Goody?"

"Agreed."

"This is not standard procedure?" Harrison wasn't happy.

"Maybe not but I guess the rules of engagement have changed, Sir Thomas?"

"Correct, Tammy."

"Where is Colonel MacTaggart?"

"In hospital."

"What?"

"He was attacked yesterday at Boscombe Down. Don't worry, his medical issues are precautionary and we have his assailants in custody. It seems there is, or was, an active True Freedom Cell in the Provost and it didn't take much for Army intel to be infiltrated. Our current guess is that young Maisie will be their next target after they failed to grab you."

"Bugger. Harrison, I'll need refuelling options."

"Military or Civilian?"

"I doubt a military refuelling point would be fully compliant so I vote we use the commercial ones. I don't have my cards with me, how good is your credit limit Sir Thomas?"

"Platinum."

"You're buying!"

Harrison suggested a list of fuelling points that left half hour in the tank, it wasn't standard procedure.

"Tees International? I've flown in there a few times and I know where the fuel point is."

"Okay, but I'm still not satisfied this is right? Captain Goody?"

"For now, Sir Thomas is in charge of the mission and Lt Smart is the operational lead, understood, Harrison?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Sir Thomas, has anyone contacted Maisie?"

"Not since yesterday. It seems she went to help your assistant and phoned me when she couldn't reach anyone else in your chain of command."

"What have you heard from my cousins?"

"They are aware."

"Are they sending any resources?"

"The closest available is nine hours away, but they may help another way I'm told. You have permission to do as you must, but to exercise discretion. Are you armed?"

"No, Sir Thomas, I'm not. Haven't the local constabulary been dispatched?"

"Some false intelligence has led them to an address on the far side of Inverness and they will be busy there maybe for a few more hours."

"I thought we had bagged the main players?"

"Indeed but it seems some of the juniors want to get involved and make a name for themselves."

"Any names so far, Sir?"

"Barbara Cooper."

"Damn, Joey's aunt?"

"Correct. She went to Colchester a week ago and a week before that visited Nightingale."

"DAMN HER!"

"Quite."

Tammy was close enough to Tees to request a landing for fuel, she brought the helo straight in and dropped it on the spot.

"Nicely done, Lieutenant."

Tammy was on the ground longer than she wanted but borrowed Sir Thomas' phone to contact home, there was no answer. She tried the office.

"Hello?"

"It's Tammy."

"Ohhhh, help me!"

"What's up?"

"There's four of them, with guns! They're outside, but I don't know for how long. I have the lights off."

"Okay Joey, where's Maisie?"

"I don't know. She left me at lunchtime after checking in with me."

"Did you give her your mum's address?"

"Yes."

"What is it?"

"Torvean Avenue, 212"

"Thanks, I'm on my way but we'll swing past your mum's on the way in."

"Where are you?"

"Near Middlesborough."

"That's hours away!"

"I know, but there's not much choice! Joey, lock yourself in the secure room. There's nothing in there to get you into trouble so take what you need and go inside there. Your phone probably won't work in there, but your safety is more important than anything else. Use the locking bar on the inside, they would need an angle grinder to get through that." Tammy read out the code to open the door.

Joey kept the call open as she went into the secure room but the call broke up as soon as the door was closed. Tammy knew there was a stock of water in the room, so Joey wouldn't dehydrate so long as she found it.

Sir Thomas returned with his card receipt and Tammy returned his phone. "Where in Inverness was that police incident?"

"Redwood Avenue."

"Can you check where that is?"

Tammy did the fuel calculations and determined she had 350 miles available. Getting to Inverness was doable, but if she needed to land would she have enough fuel to take off again? The further she headed North, the airports reduced and access to aviation fuel became rarer. Tammy decided it was worth the risk and would dip into her Smart Air's funds to call a fuel truck to deliver to them on-site if necessary.

Tammy and Harrison had to do a cold start so it took three minutes but finally they were back in the air, albeit under the command of the local ATC for a short while, ensuring their flight was being logged.

Tammy pushed North, very aware that the clock was ticking and she was still two hours from Inverness and had no idea what was happening either there or at any of her properties in Thurso.

"Redwood Avenue is over to the East of the City, it's some distance from Torvean Avenue on the far side of the River Ness."

This was the longest flight Tammy had made in a helicopter as a pilot and she really wanted more than the twenty minute break at Teeside.

She'd been back in the air for half an hour when her encrypted radio lit up.

"Tartan 1, this is Viper 1, do you copy?" A very American voice broke over the channel.

"Who the hell is Tartan One?" Asked Harrison.

"Me!" Tammy snapped then replied, "Viper One, this is Tartan One, go."

"Tartan One, 'not afraid, not alone'. I say again; 'not afraid, not alone'. Can you rendezvous at Nuns Moor Park in Newcastle?"

Tammy checked with Harrison. "ETA Twenty minutes?"

"Affirmative."

"Viper One, two-zero mikes." Tammy called out.

Viper replied. "Inbound, two-zero mikes, roger."

"Okay, Smart, what was that?"

"The Yanks are going to give me a hand."

"Just like that?"

"It's a needs-must situation."

"How do you know this is a genuine call?"

"I'm Tartan One and he said the magic words. okay?"

"This is going to be a hell of a story." Harrison shook her head.

Harrison received an immediate rebuke from the rear of the Puma. "Under no circumstances, Harrison, will you release any information about this flight, this operation. Understood?"

"Sir."

"Good. If I hear any rumours then I'll know where they came from and you'll be scrubbing bogs for the next year."

"Sir."

The Puma touched down away from any members of the public but it was still an immediate attraction to eyes and ears, especially the younger ones. Tammy deliberately kept the rotors turning to keep folk away but within seconds a Boeing Apache streaked in, flared then came down, very close.

"Tartan One, ready for you." Viper called out over the radio and waved for her to come over.

"Sir Thomas?"

"No, I won't fit in there with you. I'll ride back with this crew, happy hunting."

"Are you responsible for the Apache?"

"No, not directly. Your cousin did say they would try to send help, it appears that is it. You had best get going!"

Tammy turned to her instructor. "My apologies Captain, but I request permission to leave the aircraft."

"At least you put it on the ground first before you asked!"

"Who will fly it back?"

"Harrison can, I'll be co-pilot."

"Understood."

"Smart; good flying. I'd say you get a pass, but it isn't down to me alone."

Tammy saluted with a smile. "Sir!"

Tammy removed her helmet, ran across to the American gunship and climbed in through the side door. There was a helmet on the seat and she pulled it on.

"Good morning Viper, I'm Tartan One."

The pilot in the back seat spoke up. "Strap in, we're gone."

Tammy barely connected her harness as the gunship went up and forward, almost standing on its nose, gaining altitude.

"Viper One, on-mission."

A tower called back. "Copy Viper One, proceed On-Mission."

"Hang on Tartan, I'm taking it to the red-line and nap-of-the-earth." The pilot warned.

Tammy checked her straps. "I'm ready."

Tammy watched the instruments and saw the speed climb as the Apache skimmed along the tops of everything. Tammy was impressed as the pilot manoeuvred around or over the terrain at one hundred and seventy-four knots, around two hundred miles per hour. She had noticed an eye-piece on the side of the helmet when she put it on and now snapped it down into place. Immediately flight information, along with camera feed began flowing into her right eye.

"Oh! Wow! All that should keep anybody busy." Tammy commented.

Viper chuckled over the comms. "Welcome aboard an evil grasshopper."

"Are we loaded?"

"Yes Ma'am. Two pods of Hydra, two racks of Hellfires and three hundred rounds of thirty mil dual-purpose for the chaingun. If we need to fight, we can. Are you checked out on gunnery?" Viper asked.

Tammy instinctively shook her head. "No, let's hope we don't have to."

"Then I strongly advise you don't push buttons or squeeze the trigger. The Chaingun is slaved, whatever you look at, is toast." Viper replied.

"Understood, hands off the controls." Tammy said then asked. "Will we have enough fuel?"

Viper answered. "We have to hit Aberdeen, but we can Hot-Fuel there then I have to refuel again near Thurso. After that I can put you anywhere you need to be."

"I wish I could make a call."

"I can go to Whisper-mode, no promises."

Tammy shook her head. "I left my phone in my other flight suit, like a damned fool."

"Can't help with that. We'll get there. Whoever it is, they need to hang tough. There's a old Colt under your seat cushion. If you need it, take it, but melt it down when you're done. Otherwise ignore that I said it."

Tammy felt under the cushion and retrieved the pistol. "Is this a forty-five?"

"Yes ma'am. I was Third of the Seventeenth Air-Cav and we have our traditions. Stetsons, spurs and ol' forty-fives."

Tammy had to smile. "I have begun to develop an appreciation for those."

"Pay attention, I'll give you some OJT." Viper said.

From then on, Tammy raptly listened as the pilot walked her through the combat systems. This wasn't On The Job Training, it was a crash course in gunship armaments. The focus was the use of the chin-mounted chaingun. As they flew over water to Aberdeen, Tammy was finally allowed fire off ten rounds in the single fire mode. The rocket pods and missiles would have to wait. Instead, he familiarized her with the flight controls and allowed her to fly in on the approach to Aberdeen. Inside the controlled airspace, Viper took over and brought the gunship down just in front of the fuel point and rolled forward to Hot-Fuel. The rotors stayed engaged and at rpm while a pair of men refuelled. When Tammy saw one man pull the line away and the other salute, she returned it.

"Ground is clear." Tammy called to the pilot.

"Copy." Viper answered then checked the tower as they rolled away from the line.

A controller called back. "Viper One, cleared for priority take off."

Tammy almost giggled as the gunship sped forward on its wheel-gear and took off much like a plane then felt the g-forces as the Apache climbed at full combat speed. Viper even performed a double barrel-roll at three hundred feet.

"Remember Tartan; you will be screwed when you run out of cyclic, collective AND good ideas." Viper quipped mid-roll.

Tammy grunted from the forces. "NOTED!"

Daring manoeuvre passed, Viper informed her. "We'll hit Inverness in about two-zero mikes. Take flight controls when we get close and go where you need. We won't have time to mess around, at these speeds we're drinking fuel."

All too soon the Apache was approaching Inverness from the Southwest. Tammy had to think and look around to get her bearings and remembered the basic layout of the city.

"I know where to go, controls please." Tammy asked.

Viper answered. "Take the controls, she's all yours. Switching to gunnery controls."

Tammy had to loop around twice to find the street she wanted.

"Can we use the video to read addresses?" Tammy asked.

Viper answered. "Standby. Got one, sweeping. Give me the number."

"Two-one-two."

"Track South, we're over the four-hundreds. We can land in this park if you need. I'll keep the meter running."

Tammy banked and moved southerly until he called out.

"Target. The blue door. Going to thermal. Nothing. No joy."

Tammy swore. "Bloody bastards. They took her! Wait, who's that?"

A woman had come out of the adjacent house and was waving frantically.

"Set us down here, screw the traffic. She wants us for something." Viper instructed

Tammy landed and opened the side screen of the cockpit then waved the woman to come forward but to keep her head down. The young woman ran up and held out her phone.

"Are you Tammy?" She asked in a shout.

Tammy nodded. "Yes."

"Joey said you were coming, but she didn't say this! Some men with guns took Carol 10 minutes ago and are making for Thurso. They're in a grey van, look!"

Tammy looked to the phone and was shown three pictures. The photo of the van's back was most useful, it included the plate. she read it over the comm for Viper to note along with description.

"Blast, here comes police! Get back, we're going after them. Don't tell my name." Tammy yelled then closed the canopy.

The woman ran for her house and went inside. Tammy took off and vectored Northwest. Soon the gunship was up to speed and streaking for the A9, Scotland's longest road.

Viper asked. "How much of a lead do they have?"

"Ten minutes, possibly a few more. My guess is that they should be heading for the Kessock Bridge. If we can catch them on the A9 on the far side of the bridge there should plenty of room to work." Tammy answered.

"Pray it isn't grey van day on the highway. We just want the one."

"Please, God. Just a bit of luck my way?" Tammy muttered.

Viper had heard over the hot-mic. "Better to ask Lozen."

"Lozen?"

"Lozen was a Chiricahua Apache war maiden. Sister to the great war chief Victorio. So said; she had magic powers to learn the movements of her enemies. Since you're riding in an Apache, ask for her blessing." Viper mused.

"I'll take all the help I can get!" Tammy replied then looked ahead. "Lozen; I have enemies to hunt. Give the blessing of War Maiden to Thistle Maiden. Grant your luck in battle to me."

As the words finished, it felt like an invisible hand gripped the throttle over Tammy's and rolled it over to increase speed.

"Thanks for the story, Viper. You guys sure do love your helicopters."

Viper chuckled. "Not really. I'm a Chiricahua Apache. Lozen was a great aunt of mine. She was real and only lost once. When Geronimo, himself, surrendered. Hey. Check dead-ahead. What's that look like to you?

Tammy looked down to the roadway and stared in amazement. "That's, A GREY VAN!"

"Zooming in." Viper said then read off the plate number. "BINGO! Master-arms; off. We're hot on the gun! I'll orbit in front of them, you take out the engine."

The Apache over flew the vehicle and came around to face them. Through the monocle Tammy focused her sight to the front grill, stroked the trigger once and felt the shot. The bonnet blew open and fire erupted out the front of the van then it swerved back and forth, stopping on an exit slip. The gunship hovered in front of the disabled van as other traffic slowed to take in the extraordinary sight.

Viper called over the loudspeaker. "COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP, OR WE'LL CUT YOU IN HALF!"

Two men leaped out from the side door and raised rifles to shoot.

"Drop 'em both Tartan." Viper said calmly.

Tammy brought the gun to sight, triggered off another round and one of the gunmen exploded. The other threw his rifle down and dropped to his knees, yelling to the others inside. Three more came out and threw their rifles and pistols down. Joey's mother, Carol, came out slowly.

"Lady, back away. Back away!" Viper instructed.

Carol slowly backed away with her hands up as well.

"The rest of you, on your knees. Lay face down. Lady, turn around and keep walking." Viper called out.

In the distance, flashing blue lights could be seen approaching. Tammy kept them in a hover but orbited round to face the side of the group and van. When the first Police car met Carol, it stopped then tucked her into the rear seat. The other cars continued to rush to the van.

"Time to go. You have flight controls." Viper told Tammy.

Tammy turned and cranked the throttle over. "Copy that!"

The gunship roared out of the area, heading North-East for Thurso. Tammy pushed the Apache out over the sea and approached the town from the North.

"Is there a way to sneak up on them?" Tammy asked.

Viper replied. "Going to 'whisper mode'."

The engine noise went from loud to the sound of paper caught in a fan's blades as they flew over and dropped into an empty building plot just above the harbour.

"If those bastards are in my office, let's try scaring them out. It's the top floor of the building." Tammy suggested, having pointed it out on their way down.

Viper grinned. "I can do that."

"If I don't get back to you just go to the airport, ask for Jim of SmartAir and tell him Tammy said to refuel you." Tammy said.

Viper gave her a thumb's up. Tammy reached under the seat for the pistol, pulled off her borrowed helmet, bailed out and closed the canopy as slickly as she could manage. As soon as Tammy was clear Viper lifted off, the Apache had been on the ground for barely over thirty seconds but was already back up and following Tammy's movements.

Tammy positioned herself close to the ajar office street door, pressed against the wall, then signalled the aircraft, hoping Viper could still see her. As the pilot moved the Apache, confirming Tammy's signal, she directed the helo to the window above her head. The Apache orbited around and settled at roof level over the building but then dropped down in front of the office's rear window. The whisper mode was turned off and the roar of the turbines could be heard again. The glass started to shake and Tammy guessed he now had the attention of whoever was in the building.

"I have you assholes on thermal. You can stay an' eat a pair of Hellfires or run like scalded dogs." Viper called out over the loudspeakers.

Knowing rifles or pistols would have no effect, other than to anger the pilot, the gunmen gave up trying to break into the secure room and ran for the door.

Tammy was waiting, borrowed pistol in hand, outside the door. She could hear the men coming down the stairs, arguing over how things went so wrong as to have a helicopter gunship show up and their real quarry nowhere to be found. The door burst open and Tammy let the first go past, but swung the pistol at the face of the second. The full force blow caught the man off guard and dropped him to the pavement.

"GIVE UP, YOU'RE MINE NOW!" Tammy ordered, holding the pistol to the third man's face.

Before they could counter, she grabbed him and pulled the stunned man to shield herself. "Drop your weapons and lay on the ground!"

Slowly they dropped their weapons and knelt down with their hands up then laid face down.

"You guys, go around back!" A voice over a loudspeaker called out.

A minute later, Sarah's backdoor burst open and out came the Frasier duo along with Ian Brown.

"TAMMY?" Ian started then saw the four men on the pavement and weapons close to them. "Hang on to that one! Lads, stitch up the rest!"

As fast as they could the three officers began cuffing the men. The Apache hovered into view. Tammy pushed her man down and planted her boot on his shoulder. Ian came over and took over.

"We've got this lot. Make yourself scarce." Ian ordered.

Tammy ran inside and opened the secure room. "Joey! It's safe, but I have to run!"

"What about Mum?" Joey asked, rushing out.

"She's safe too. I have to go!"

Tammy ran down the stairs and almost bowled Sarah over.

"TAMMY!" Sarah yelped.

Tammy shook her head. "I can't talk!"

Sarah pointed to the helicopter overhead. "What in the Hell is THAT?"

"An evil grasshopper. It's come to abduct me. BYE!" Tammy answered then waved to the gunship to withdraw and pick her up.

At the intersection the helicopter simply landed for her. Tammy climbed back inside and strapped herself in then pulled on the helmet.

"Let me have the controls, I can get us to the airport." Tammy stated.

Viper acknowledged. "You have control. Get us there fast."

Tammy lifted off and headed immediately for the airport, calling for Smart Air to arrange the fuel truck. With the priority clearance, Tammy was on the ground fast. Jim had ridden over with the fuel truck and gawked.

"Please tell me this isn't joining the fleet, your father will have a litter of kittens!"

Tammy shook her head. "It isn't. I need your phone, please!"

Jim handed her his cellphone and Tammy dialled Maisie's number. Luckily it was answered.

"Jim?" Maisie asked.

"No. It's me, are you alright?" Tammy interrupted.

Maisie exhaled loudly. "I'm fine, the van broke down in a no service area."

"Joey and her mum are both safe. I'm at the airport right now about to leave. I left my phone in my other flight suit. Call the Colonel and Sir Thomas tell them I'm on my way back. I love you." Tammy said then rang off.

Viper came back from using the restroom in the hangar. "Thanks."

"I need to do the same then I'll be right with you...er, Captain Redknife."

The American Captain winked at her. "Told you I'm an Apache."

Tammy shook her head and laughed as she ran for the hangar and the loo. After doing her business, she walked back and saw Jim on his phone.

"Yes sir, here she is now." Jim said then held out the phone. "A Colonel MacTaggart for you. Tell me you didn't steal this aircraft."

"I didn't." Tammy giggled then answered the call. "Sir."

"I won't waste time, Smart. Did you round up the ones in Thurso?"

"The locals have them, alive. One is bruised, but all four alive. Ian Brown has them in custody." Tammy stated.

The big Scot replied. "Good. They'll be collected tonight. The ones that took Cooper are already in transit, nice work."

"And you, Uncle, are you alright?" Tammy asked.

Sean grumbled. "One got a lucky bash to m' head with something, but it didn't help either one of them. Have your ride drop you off at Glasgow, transport will be waiting to return you to base. We'll see you in the morning."

"Can you arrange for Barbara Cooper to join us? I'd like a few minutes alone."

Sean chuckled. "Why not. However, you must promise me that she'll come out the room alive and usable."

"I here and now promise," Tammy vowed then finished with menace. "She will be."

"Aye. So be it. In the morning then." MacTaggart ended the call.

Tammy handed Jim his phone. "Thanks Jim. I'll be back soon."

Tammy climbed back into the Apache and soon took off, heading south. She was dropped off at Glasgow airport.

"Thanks for everything Captain." Tammy said climbing out to meet him on the ground.

Redknife nodded. "You're welcome Tartan."

"Please, call me Tammy. Tammy Smart." Tammy smiled.

Redknife held out his hand. "Jeb Redknife."

"Jeb, it has been a pleasure. Perhaps I could send you a nice Scotch?" Tammy offered.

Jeb shook his head. "Pass on that. I don't drink."

Tammy thought then brightened. "A better thought. A Sgian Dubh. It's the traditional dagger Scotsmen wear. My gift to you."

"A knife for a knife. I like that." Jeb chuckled. "I accept."

Tammy wrote down his information and tucked it into her breast pocket. "I'll make sure the information about it is in the box."

Jeb crouched down and unbuckled his spurs then edged closer to Tammy to put her right boot on his knee and strapped the spur on.

"You earned these today." Jeb said then swapped her feet to buckle on the other spur and stood up to salute her. "AirCav."

Tammy understood this was a significant thing. She was being recognized as one of their own.

"Thank you for the honour, Captain. I'll wear them with pride!" Tammy said and saluted.

The crewman from the C-130 called out for her to board.

Jeb nodded to the plane. "You got your boots on, pick up your saddle and move out."

Tammy saluted again and boarded the plane.

********

Tammy drew stares as she left the RAF Benson canteen. The spurs were drawing attention, but she could care less. They were her's now. She had barely gotten sleep as the plane dropped her off after midnight. First thing that morning, she received instructions to join Sean MacTaggart after her breakfast in an unmarked building set aside from the rest of the site.

Marcus Wade greeted her outside the door. "Nice spurs."

"Thank you." Tammy replied then saluted him. "Captain."

Wade followed Tammy inside. Sean MacTaggart and Sir Thomas waited inside with a woman seated at a table.

"Lieutenant Smart; Staff Sergeant Barbara Cooper.." Sean began to say

Tammy strolled over to the table and slammed a punch to the woman's face, taking her out of the chair and to the floor.

"And she's off." Wade remarked.

"Good morning, Cooper. I want you to understand that you have my undivided attention." Tammy kicked the woman with her steel-capped boots. "My full and undivided attention!"

MacTaggart crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall. He was curious as to how far Tammy would go, before needing Wade to pull her away.

Tammy remained next to the woman but made no further effort to inflict pain, Every time Cooper looked to get back onto her feet her eyes met Tammy's and the idea was abandoned.

After a few minutes Sir Thomas asked. "Lieutenant? Aren't you going to question her?"

Tammy looked over. "She's still on the floor, plus I'm not trained to interrogate, Sir Thomas."

Tammy forced her boot against the woman's side.

"I believe she's expressing her displeasure, sir." Wade commented

"Granted but someone will have to write this up and it shouldn't be all fiction."

Tammy moved as if she was going to attack the woman gain. Cooper on the other hand scurried to get out of reach. "GET HER OFF! WHAT DO YOU WANT?"

"I want you screaming." Tammy replied and moved back into range.

Cooper tried to kick out, but Tammy snagged her foot then spun her over and bent her knee.

"STOP! YOU'RE BREAKING MY LEG, CRAZY BITCH!" Cooper screeched.

"Don't tempt me."

MacTaggart nodded to Marcus. "Wade."

Marcus went over and pried Tammy off, whispering. "Back off a bit."

MacTaggart then walked over and leaned down into Cooper's face. "I'm trained to question. You can talk or I'll turn her loose and walk out. Choose."

"I'll tell you everything." Barbara Cooper groaned.

"In the chair." MacTaggart said to Tammy.

Tammy dragged her up and shoved her back on the chair, but stayed hovering over her shoulder as MacTaggart questioned her.

After half an hour, she ran out of information to give. Sir Thomas opened a folder and set a photograph on the table.

"After informing him of your actions, your brother hung himself in his cell last night. You, yourself, are being charged with multiple violations of military justice and that will include treasonable action." Sir Thomas informed "Your family has been informed already that it's unlikely they will see you again."

Tammy was all but breathing down the woman's neck. "Let's just put it on the BBC and post a notice in the London Gazette, that should really make the name Cooper famous."

Barbara begged. "Please, don't? The children had nothing to do it."

"Since when does fair matter to any of you? After what you did to Joey and Carol? You and that bastard will be lucky to be buried in secret so your graves won't be desecrated. I say let them burn." Tammy snarled.

Barbara sagged in the chair. "I'll confess to everything. All of it. The rest of the family will agree to silence and no more harassment."

Sir Thomas nodded to Tammy who then said. "Firstly she accepts dishonourable discharge with malice. Next that family signs a letter to accept terms and you have a deal, Cooper. Not another peep of trouble, or I'll come back to see you in whatever personal hellhole you'll be in."

Sir Thomas led the three of them out.

"That was rather brutal." Sir Thomas remarked.

Tammy sighed. "Needs must, Sir."

"Quite. I have to finish sorting this mess out." Sir Thomas turned and left.

Tammy watched him round the corner then grasped her hand. "Damn, that hurts!"

Wade shook his head. "It looks like it. Best go ice that hand or you won't do anything with it."

"What about you?" Tammy asked Sean.

Sean rolled his eyes. "Moderate concussion, they gave me a clean bill last night so I'll be fine. Go ice th' hand. You have a final flight tomorrow. Do it right and y' pass."

Tammy nodded then fixed the pair. "Please start checking with me before you book things. I have school and business. My business is vital to me. It isn't just a front. It's life. Real life, not some cover."

MacTaggart nodded. "It's good cover, young lady but we hear you. Off y' go Smart. Find an icepack and do some study."

Tammy found Captain Goody after collecting a coffee.

"I wasn't expecting you back?"

"Sorry, Sir, but I haven't been signed off yet."

"Ah, no. I've sent Harrison out today with one of the easily bruised egos seeing as you weren't available."

"Is she, I mean he off the ground yet?"

"Yes. For Harrison this is just a formality after yesterday's flight back from Newcastle. I hope he can manage the stress today though? How was your flight yesterday?"

"Challenging."

"You were just along for the ride?"

"No, I flew it, around the highlands operationally."

"I'd best get your licence backdated then."

"In which case I don't need to do any more?"

"Correct, well done Lieutenant."

"Thank you Sir."

"We have a supply flight back to Lossiemouth in an hour if you want a ride?"

"Sounds good, another Hercules?"

"Yes, but you can ride up front."

Tammy had started the day in khaki but quickly showered and dressed into her new black outfit, she would be a passenger not crew for this return flight, even if the look was upset by the necessary lanyard between her breasts. She'd put her phone on charge the previous night after finding it on the bedside table so now had a full battery, although any calls could wait a few minutes. Into a duffel went a freshly laundered flight suit, complete with her embroidered name. She finished clearing the locker, wardrobe and drawers then exited, before heading for the terminal with her two bags.

She found the plane and was looking at the crates being loaded into the back.

"Interested?"

Tammy spun around.

"Yes, too small for a road vehicle but the packing tells me it isn't oil or consumables. Drones?"

"Correct, to help their perimeter security."

"Ah, the Russian tug?"

"Indeed. Are you our passenger?"

"Lieutenant Tammy Smart reporting for a ride."

"Load up."

Tammy turned to pick up her kit bag and duffle but saw someone running over.

"Tammy? I have your wings!"

"Wings? I didn't need any more liners?"

Kelly reached her. "No, RAF Wings, you qualified so you get wings. You'll have to sew them on yourself, though. One for each flight suit, plus a few spares."

"Thanks, Kelly."

"Oh, I heard Tesco sacked the security guard."

"You heard?"

"Difficult to keep that kind of story down. The Police went back and spoke to the manager apparently."

"Oh, I never knew."

"Well, just in case you need it, his name was Dave Trethgarwyn."

"Trethgarwyn, damn."

"You know the family."

"Yes, and it kind of makes sense now."

"Oh, so it was personal?"

"Very."

A shout called Tammy to board the aircraft, another five minutes and they were taxiing. Tammy made a quick call to Jim at Smart Air once she had her ETA.

---

Tammy decided she'd get indoors and shower first, since on a Thursday Maisie usually worked until tea-time. Her car had been left at Wick Airport, inside a Smart Air hanger, so had been waiting ready for her when she arrived back by chopper, courtesy of the RAF and Jim, apparently wings do make all the difference.

She drove into Thurso but, instead of driving around the back, left it in the street a few doors away from the shop frontage, intending to park it behind Maisie's van later.

Tammy used her keys to enter through the shop and then into the inner accommodation. She made it one step before being floored.

"Oh, Tammy? Sorry!" Maisie started to cry. "I thought someone was breaking in."

Tammy pulled herself up, unfortunately she'd landed on her right hand and it was still complaining about the right hook that morning. Maisie wrapped herself around the girl. "Sorry, sorry."

Tammy reached for a tissue then dried Maisie's eyes. "I was trying to surprise you, I guess I failed?"

"Or I passed?"

"Come on, I need a shower, an aspirin and some ice. What are you doing back here?"

"My van is in the garage so I cancelled today's appointments. Come on, I could do with a shower myself and then you can tell me all about your training course."

***

They sat in the kitchen with hot chocolates as the slow cooker dealt with the evening meal. Tammy spotted an open envelope on the windowsill.

"What's that?"

"It's from the Glasgow Infirmary, I went there on Monday for tests and a procedure."

"You never said?"

"You weren't answering your phone, plus I didn't want to alarm you."

"But?"

"Tammy, I'm a big girl now, I can manage."

"So what was the test?"

"They extracted some of my eggs, it was arranged last week."

"Oh. On your own?"

"Joey went with me."

"So what did they say?"

"You don't hear anything on the day, they write to you. It arrived this morning, read."

Tammy retrieved the envelope and read the letter, scanning to the relevant part.

"We can confirm that both the eggs and spermatozoa samples are viable."
 
 
---- fin ----
 

Tammy returns soon.

 
Now available on Kindle Testing Times for Tammy