Choices Define
Rated: M
Pairing: Hanson/Aubree
Author: Nightstar Fury
Disclaimer: I do not own HTTYD movies, shorts, or series. Also, don't own any songs I might use. Everything belongs to its original creator.
25; Onward
Hanson couldn't believe how fast the month went by and here he was at 0200 hours at the Riddari Airfield. A plane was being prepared to take them to Afghanistan; the flight was going to be ten hours long so Hanson had his music player ready and the dragons would be traveling cargo in a carrier plane that would follow the one carrying soldiers and gear they were bringing with them. Everyone else was just arriving in their ACU's and long, oval bags over their shoulders along with standard issue M16-A2 on the other shoulder and handgun strapped to the hip. They would get their helmets upon arriving at Bagram, Airfield in Afghanistan. Hanson knew they were tired; he was too because he let the children stay up late so they could spend more time together and he had promised to call them as soon as he landed at the halfway point to Afghanistan.
"How do you deal with the earliness?" Taylor groaned while running his eyes to try and wake up some.
"I just do. Now be quiet," Hanson retorted as they noticed that he wasn't calm with them, who would be when you're leading one hundred soldiers into war and to top it off it was two in the morning. "Lieutenant Hedsen!" he called out. Thatcher hurried in front of Hanson.
"Yes, sir?" Thatcher asked with a salute.
"Did you check everyone in and issue them their guns?" Hanson inquired.
"Yes sir, I did. All soldiers of Alpha and Blast platoons have their issued handgun and M16-A2 rifle," Thatcher replied firmly.
"Excellent. I can always count on you when deployments come around. The rest of you, listen up!" Hanson addressed them, "We are headed to Bagram Airfield, one of the largest military bases in Afghanistan and home to forty thousand soldiers. The flight will be eight hours and forty-five minutes; there will be a two-hour layover in Germany. Be reminded that Afghanistan is four hours and thirty minutes ahead of the Archipelago time. You will assemble on the plane silently, move out." he commanded. Not wanting to upset him, they all did as they were told. It took half an hour to get everyone on board and sitting.
"Bags between your legs, rifles across your lap and against your legs. Make sure the safety is on," Major Belmore ordered once he and Hanson came on. Everyone followed orders and took their seats and adjusted bags and guns as they were told to do. "Troops assembled, Colonel Haddock," the man saluted Hanson.
"Thank you, Gregory," Hanson nodded as the man nodded and took his seat with Thatcher and Vincent. "Alright, this take off is no different than any other plane. You cannot turn on electronics until the pilots say so, just sit tight and relax. Flight time from here to Germany is three hours and forty minutes. I would advise you to get some sleep, it's going to be hectic flying in and trying to adjust to the time zone change," he told them before he banged the wall and it began closing as he took his seat near his friends.
"Also remember that when we land in Germany, we will be one hour ahead of Archipelago time," Vincent told them as they nodded and sat back while the engines were starting up. Hanson glanced at his troops; he knew everyone but ten of them were okay. Those ten were his friends who had never been deployed before; he saw Aubree looking nervous and fiddling with her dog tags. There wasn't much he could tell her, it was war, and they weren't accustomed to it as he was, he wouldn't knock them being nervous.
"Try and get some sleep guys and girls," Hanson told them as he sat back and closed his eyes to relax. It was early morning, and he was exhausted from staying up late and making sure everything was ready for today. Now they had an almost four-hour flight to Germany, and then another four or so hours to Afghanistan. What a great day this was turning out to be, Hanson was awake for a while, listening to the light conversations around him. At some point, Thatcher shut them up mentioning that it was 3:15 in the morning most were sleeping, including Hanson, even though he wasn't quite out yet. After it had quieted down, he knocked right out.
(Germany; 7 am)
Hanson woke up when he felt the jerk of the plane as wheels went down on the runway and the breaks kicked in.
"Hey, did you sleep well?" Gregory asked first as Hanson rubbed his eyes and sat up more.
"Yeah, anyone else sleep?" Hanson inquired as the plane was slowing down and turning slightly.
"Most everyone. We took turns to keep an eye on things, smooth flight as always," Vincent informed him.
"Good to know. Soon as we get off I have to call the kids before Dad takes them to the morning program and goes to work himself," Hanson reminded himself out loud. The plane pulled into the gate and stopped fully while powering down. Hanson unclipped his seatbelt and stood up at the back hatch exit. "Soldiers!" he called out to get their attention. "Bags can go, guns have to stay. Don't wander far from the gate and be back at 8:30 am to board again for take off at 9 am. Understand?" Hanson ordered.
"Yes, sir!" the soldiers replied together.
"This would be a good time to use the restrooms and get yourselves something to eat and call home to let your families know how you're doing. We have another four hours and thirty minutes to go onto Afghanistan, and we should be landing around 4:30 pm Afghan time zone," Hanson enlightened.
"Understood, Colonel Haddock!" they all said once more.
"Good. Then file off and stick to your battle buddy! Unless you're Thatcher, Gregory, Vincent, Ricky, and Ella. You keep an eye on the others," Hanson commanded.
"Got it, Hanson," The five he named off replied to him. Hanson banged the door as two minutes later it began opening, and he walked out and shielded his eyes from the sun.
"Han-Sorry, Lieutenant Colonel Haddock," Sylvia asked, as Hanson looked at her standing with her group of friends, "Where is the plane holding our dragons?"
"That one is flying ahead and will stop only for fuel in a location closer to Afghanistan. The dragons will arrive before we do and be taken to the stables off the barracks we use," Hanson replied to her.
"Oh, okay. Just making sure they are okay because I didn't see the plane that was holding them landing with us," Sylvia smiles. No other questions were asked as they all made it off the aircraft and then inside the airport to use the bathrooms, and get something to eat. First thing Hanson did was go to the bathroom, then call his Dad to speak with Hazel and Caleb, fifteen minutes after that he made his way to a coffee and donut shop to get himself breakfast. Hanson said down at the table with Thatch, Vin, Rick, El, and Greg as they started just talking among themselves.
"How are the kids?" Gregory asked while eating a sausage and egg sandwich.
"Both are good, miss me already," Hanson chuckled a bit.
"You'll see them soon, your office at the base always has good reception for wifi and phone calls," Ella reminded.
"No kidding, you assholes always come hang out there to use it," Hanson laughed a little, and his friends did too, then he looked to check on the others. Once again, he saw Aubree looking nervous, so he finished the rest of his coffee and got up to move beside her. Sawyer is the one who let Aubree know Hanson was behind her as Aubree quickly stood and faced him.
"Yes, Lieutenant Colonel Haddock?" Aubree asked.
"As you were, Sergeant," Hanson told her as she relaxed now but continued to face him. "Walk with me a minute?" Aubree nodded to him as they walked off out of earshot. "Talk to me," he said after a moment.
"Um, what about?" Aubree asked a little surprised.
"Come on, Aubs. I'm your best friend, I know when you're nervous by the look on your face and when you're scared and unsure, you fiddle with whatever is around your neck," Hanson reminded as her eyes widened some, then finally, Aubree sighed. So Hanson picked up on her being nervous about the war they were being deployed to, of course, he did, nothing ever got by him.
"Noticed that huh?" Aubree mentioned with a sigh.
"I did. So, talk to me. What's on your mind?" Hanson inquired as they walked together.
"Just nervous about being in Afghanistan I guess. Even with all, we saw on your videos, and what you told us," Aubree looked down some.
"Hey, I know how scary it seems and how nervous you feel, Aubree. Back in 2009, I went on my first one, and I was terrified," Hanson admitted.
"You were?" Aubree glanced over now as Hanson nodded to her. "You don't seem the type to get scared,"
"Well, I was fifteen and being shipped off to Syria for twelve months. I was scared as hell, but you know what my CO told me that I'm going to say to you," Hanson said as Aubree stopped and looked at him again, "Everything is going to be just fine. Stay with your battle buddy, stay on guard, and follow orders. Know that I have your back, soldier,"
"Was Gobber the one to tell you that?" Aubree questioned.
"That he did and I've held onto those words all these years, hoping one day I'd get to pass them along to someone who I was in charge of keeping safe. I carry those words with me on every tour, Aubree, and now I pass them to you. Believe them and trust in me. As long as you do as you're told, everything is going to be okay. I will protect you, Aubs," Hanson smiled to her then put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm more than your commanding officer, I'm also your friend, so you will be safe with me," he added.
"Thank you, Hanson. I feel a little more confident about it now," Aubree told him with a slight smile. "So how will it work when we get there? Sleeping in barracks?" she asked.
"We'll all be very close together. It more like living in an apartment minus the kitchen, fridge, and what not. You'll sleep four to a room with two closets and one mini fridge for drinks, and a small living room like area. There will be bathrooms just like how they were at Fort Riddari, big and split between males and females. Barracks will set up by platoon; Alpha and Blast. Girls on one side, guys across the hall. It's how we stay separate but together too," Hanson explained.
"And still a medwing, chow hall, and stables?" Aubree inquired.
"Yes. Not everyone in our company has a dragon, so you will be placed in a room that has stables off of it, and that is where your dragons will be put," Hanson said. "There will be a main room in the barrack too, a place everyone can hang out, use their computers, make phone calls. It's just like being at home only you're in the middle of a war and occasionally have to go out and fight in it," he chuckled some and Aubree did the same.
"Will you be as busy as you were at For Riddari?" Aubree questioned.
"Probably. Why? You miss me when I'm not around?" Hanson teased.
"Maybe I do, what'cha gonna do about it, Haddock?" Aubree retorted in a joking manner.
"Maybe I find a way to make more time, so you don't have to miss me," Hanson replied laughing a little as Aubree tried not to let the heat rise to her cheeks. Was Hanson saying he would make more time just to see her? Aubree had to mentally slap herself, no, it wasn't possible Hanson was flirting with her. The guy just lost his fiance a few months back, no way he was ready to move on. Aubree had to remind herself of that regularly, Hanson was single, and that gave her hope that maybe she would have another chance to be with him, but also, he was still grieving his fiance, and that would take more than a few months to hear from.
"I should get back with the others. Um, thanks for putting me at ease," Aubree told him.
"Anytime. Go one now; we leave in an hour and thirty minutes," Hanson replied as Aubree headed back to her table while Hanson to his with his friends.
"Little pep talk?" Ricky asked.
"I told her what Gobber told me when I went on my first tour; it's all going to be okay," Hanson replied as he relaxed in his chair. The time ticked on as soon they were doing a roll call and back on the plane to take off. At 9 am, they were heading down the runway, taking to the sky and continuing onward to Afghanistan.