thirty thousand feet as the other two flights flank us several miles away. We keep radio traffic to a minimum always, just when something really must be sent. My radar is off, as we have the always present AWACS to see for us, long range. I am just enjoying the early morning sky at altitude, where I belong.
“Romeo September two, Cent Com. Package delivery request at coordinates; uploading now. Confirm address receipt.”
“Rodger Cent Com, address received. Delivery in route.” The Major acknowledges. “Twelve, you are up. We’ll be in release range in four. This will be a full package delivery.”
“Rodger that two. Full delivery.” I activate my weapons system to ground mode, and arm the two big GPS bombs in the weapons bay. The GPS coordinates have been received, and I upload them into the bomb’s computer. In two minutes I open the weapons bay doors. We have changed course, but I am still right on the Major’s wing as he likes. In just a few minutes he radios me, “Ring the doorbell twelve.”
“Package in route, delivery is imminent.” My bird pops straight up quite a bit, as the weight falls away. I correct quickly and smoothly.
We circle back as we wait for further orders.
“Romeo September two, Cent Com, requesting additional delivery. Confirm.”
“Cent Com, Romeo September two, affirmative, additional delivery in route.”
The Major drops both of his bombs in a moment, and we wait. It hits me then, that I probably just killed some people. That was too easy…it doesn’t seem right. This is for real, people are dying way down there below us, and our guys too. I hope I helped our guys out. As long as their GPS coordinates were accurate, I should have.
“Rodger on deliveries being received Romeo September two. Gratefully so. Good job. Remain on station until relieved, Cent Com out.”
Even though the Major and I are out of bombs, the other two flights with us are fully armed. So we simply cruise through the clouds, in such grace and beauty, yet now I know we are not beautiful birds strictly, we are quite deadly as well. I am officially a killer now. It gives me pause.
We land back in Bagdad just after noon, and the other sortie is already gone. The major and I have data action reports to fill out immediately after our debriefing by Major Hoyt himself. I have to list the exact time, coordinates, altitude, airspeed, and such of when I released my weapons. I submit it with a keystroke, and the Major finishes his report shortly after.
“You did very well today Lieutenant. Just so you know, I received word that our strike took out a rebel position that was chewing our boys up. We saved lives Stephanie, remember that please.”
“Thank you sir. It did sort of hit home you know.” I sigh in relief, and yet with remorse.
“It should. That means you are human Stephanie. I know this war seems quite inhumane, but we did save some of our troops today. That means something Romero! Everything!” He grimaces.
“I can do it again sir.” I nod with a grimace as well.
“Good, let’s save some worthy American lives then Lieutenant.”
“Rodger that sir.”
He takes me to the chow hall with him for lunch and we are joined by the others of our sortie who are already there.
“Hey, did you hear about those two Scottish queer boys, who challenged the Brits’ gayest fellows to a fag-off?” Captain Fielder asks in jest.
“Oh please Captain!” my fellow female pilot, and friend Captain Hanford protests. I already knew she is gay like me, though I have no attraction to her in that way.
“Oh sure, it was a famous match. The Scotts were named Patrick Fitzgerald, and Gerald Fitzpatrick, and they went up against Ben Dover, and Phil McCracken.” He starts laughing, and even Captain Hanford and I also are busting up, it’s so stupid.
“So who won?” Major Hoyt asks all dead pan, his usual demeanor.
“It was a complete blow out, and they all claimed
“Romeo September two, Cent Com. Package delivery request at coordinates; uploading now. Confirm address receipt.”
“Rodger Cent Com, address received. Delivery in route.” The Major acknowledges. “Twelve, you are up. We’ll be in release range in four. This will be a full package delivery.”
“Rodger that two. Full delivery.” I activate my weapons system to ground mode, and arm the two big GPS bombs in the weapons bay. The GPS coordinates have been received, and I upload them into the bomb’s computer. In two minutes I open the weapons bay doors. We have changed course, but I am still right on the Major’s wing as he likes. In just a few minutes he radios me, “Ring the doorbell twelve.”
“Package in route, delivery is imminent.” My bird pops straight up quite a bit, as the weight falls away. I correct quickly and smoothly.
We circle back as we wait for further orders.
“Romeo September two, Cent Com, requesting additional delivery. Confirm.”
“Cent Com, Romeo September two, affirmative, additional delivery in route.”
The Major drops both of his bombs in a moment, and we wait. It hits me then, that I probably just killed some people. That was too easy…it doesn’t seem right. This is for real, people are dying way down there below us, and our guys too. I hope I helped our guys out. As long as their GPS coordinates were accurate, I should have.
“Rodger on deliveries being received Romeo September two. Gratefully so. Good job. Remain on station until relieved, Cent Com out.”
Even though the Major and I are out of bombs, the other two flights with us are fully armed. So we simply cruise through the clouds, in such grace and beauty, yet now I know we are not beautiful birds strictly, we are quite deadly as well. I am officially a killer now. It gives me pause.
We land back in Bagdad just after noon, and the other sortie is already gone. The major and I have data action reports to fill out immediately after our debriefing by Major Hoyt himself. I have to list the exact time, coordinates, altitude, airspeed, and such of when I released my weapons. I submit it with a keystroke, and the Major finishes his report shortly after.
“You did very well today Lieutenant. Just so you know, I received word that our strike took out a rebel position that was chewing our boys up. We saved lives Stephanie, remember that please.”
“Thank you sir. It did sort of hit home you know.” I sigh in relief, and yet with remorse.
“It should. That means you are human Stephanie. I know this war seems quite inhumane, but we did save some of our troops today. That means something Romero! Everything!” He grimaces.
“I can do it again sir.” I nod with a grimace as well.
“Good, let’s save some worthy American lives then Lieutenant.”
“Rodger that sir.”
He takes me to the chow hall with him for lunch and we are joined by the others of our sortie who are already there.
“Hey, did you hear about those two Scottish queer boys, who challenged the Brits’ gayest fellows to a fag-off?” Captain Fielder asks in jest.
“Oh please Captain!” my fellow female pilot, and friend Captain Hanford protests. I already knew she is gay like me, though I have no attraction to her in that way.
“Oh sure, it was a famous match. The Scotts were named Patrick Fitzgerald, and Gerald Fitzpatrick, and they went up against Ben Dover, and Phil McCracken.” He starts laughing, and even Captain Hanford and I also are busting up, it’s so stupid.
“So who won?” Major Hoyt asks all dead pan, his usual demeanor.
“It was a complete blow out, and they all claimed
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