4
1.
"We need Lady Hawk back, General Colton," Jessica 'Blackbird' Ziffner stood facing General Joseph Colton and Colonel Clayton 'Hawk' Abernathy across Colton's desk. As usual, she wore a flight jumpsuit, her aviation glasses pushed up on top of her head. "Yeah, we can get the jobs we're assigned done, not that we've had more than two since the Westing thing, but it's not the same, sir. Lady Hawk pulled us together, and she's the heart of the team…"
"And if Leatherneck tries taking over one more time, you'll be down a Marine," Johanna 'Spanner' Thierry warned lowly. "Because I will put the jarhead in the infirmary! We have our own way of doing things, General. You know it; you approved it! Who is he to try giving us orders, and try changing how we do our jobs?"
"I'll talk to Leatherneck," Hawk promised. "You were supposed to be working with Flint the last time out, not Leatherneck."
"You know Lady Hawk's counselor in Denver doesn't think she's ready to come back," Colton sighed. "In fact, he's recommending a medical discharge for her."
"You can't let that happen, sir," Amanda 'Angel' Duffy protested. "She needs to get back in the game, or she will never stop questioning herself. Ask Hawk, if you don't believe us. He knows her better than anyone."
"Dr. Malloy reports she is no longer up to the rigors of leadership," Colton had the last report sitting right there on his desk.
"Then he obviously doesn't know Lady Hawk," Martha 'Firecracker' Benjamin snorted. "And she's got him snowed but good! Trust me, General. When we went up to Denver, there was nothing wrong with her command capabilities!"
"I am inclined to agree with the ladies, sir," Hawk said, arms folded across his chest. "If she was as ready to just…give it all up, like she says she is, she'd be actively looking for a way out, not just of OMEGA, but the Army, period. She'd be staying with her mother, instead of telling Mallory to go to hell and packing it up to the cabin like she did."
"What do you suggest, people? The last time I spoke to her, she wanted to know the status of her transfer request," Colton looked up at his junior officer.
"What transfer request?"
"The one I had Snake Eyes 'file' for me. Never did actually read it," Colton's lips twitched. Hawk laughed, and the five women facing him relaxed slightly. "The fact is, until she passes a psych evaluation, I can't order her back. She refuses to go anywhere near Malloy again…"
"Then send Psych Out up to her, sir," Charlene 'Princess' Marcome suggested. "She will talk to Psych, especially if he's right there at the cabin."
"I'll even fly him up," Blackbird nodded. "I've been there, so I know where I'm going."
"The cabin is fairly roomy," Hawk commented, seeing the looks on the women's faces. "It can easily sleep…oh, two dozen people, without resorting to couches or floor space."
"A cabin is that large?" Colton scoffed.
"My uncle always called it the cabin. It is a wooden structure," Hawk shrugged. "He built it before he was married, for hunting trips and business meetings on site, and family getaways. There are bunks in the loft, and four large bedrooms…"
"It might take a day or two to convince her, sir," Firecracker pointed out. "And you wouldn't want Psych to rush the eval."
"No, that wouldn't do at all, would it?" Colton agreed wryly. "OMEGA, go get Lady Hawk. Take Psych Out and a few more Joes, if you think you'll need them," he instructed. "Two copters, no more, ladies."
"Take Flint to handle the second copter," Hawk told them. "He'll love the library up there."
"Thank you, General!" Blackbird saluted sharply, followed by the other four. Then they turned almost as one, and hurried out.
"Three….two…" Hawk counted. Before he could say 'one', there was a loud, multi-voiced shout in the hallway. "Right on cue. I imagine there are at least a dozen Joes out there, who were waiting to hear what happens next. I'll make sure Flint and Psych know it's a ligit trip, General."
"Besides Psych and Flint, and probably Lady Jaye, who do you expect will want in on this?" Colton asked.
"A longer list than you just authorized, sir. I'll keep it down to ten," Hawk promised. "I am sending Spirit, for definite. Shipwreck, or Polly will stow away, regardless…"
"Lady Hawk spoils that bird every chance she gets," Colton chuckled. "Then again, she spoils the dogs, too. As long as it doesn't negatively affect their jobs, I don't mind. But speaking of sending in the troops…make sure they take enough supplies, Hawk. We don't need them eating Lady Hawk out of house and home…although that might convince her to come back sooner…"
"We send Freestyle, that gives them a third copter and more space for supplies," Hawk said. "We would still only be sending two birds, General. Baby belongs to Blackbird, not Joe."
The group in the hallway had started toward the mess hall. It was almost time for lunch, regardless, and there were plans to be made.
"So who all is going? Just you gals?" Shipwreck demanded.
"Me!" Polly squawked. "Miss Lady Hawk!"
"You can't go off without me, bird," Shipwreck stated, tapping her beak lightly.
"I don't know who is going, besides OMEGA…and Flint," Blackbird said. "General Colton told us to take Flint to fly the second copter."
"Which means I am going, too," Lady Jaye said quickly. "He is my field partner, after all."
"That's your excuse, and you're sticking to it, eh Jaye?" Spanner laughed.
"Seriously, how do we decide on whom, and how many?" Princess asked. "We can't take too many. For one thing, the General said 'a few'. And if we show up with an entire platoon, Lady Hawk will shoot every last man and woman… she'll keep the bird and the dogs."
"She can't have all the dogs. Law and Order stay here," Hawk announced from the rear of the group. "Flint, Lady Jaye, Psych, Spirit, Shipwreck…because Polly will go with or without you, 'Wreck… Freestyle…you'll be taking supplies with you, so you'll need the space…Mutt and Junkyard, Gung Ho, Alpine, Bazooka, and Heavy Duty. That's it…"
"Hold up there, Hawk. We gotta talk," Roadblock shook his head. "Sending supplies is just half the job. Who's gonna cook all that corn on the cob?"
"You're volunteering?" Hawk guessed.
"Yes sir."
"Alright…but no more! Lady Hawk is likely to come back just to beat the hell out of me, for letting you all over-run her," Hawk shook his head. "You have today to get ready, you leave in the morning, and you are to come back on Monday."
"Eighteen humans, two dogs and two birds. You and me have a shopping list to write, Roadblock," Freestyle announced.
"Real food, flygirl, let's be clear," Roadblock warned. "Or Lady Hawk's kitchen, I won't let you near!"
"You're preaching to the choir, my friend. Come on!" She dragged him off.