29.
Edwards, Colorado
Morning.
Fenton Hardy had been sitting impatiently at the desk of Captain Wilks of Colorado Air Rescue. Mr. Hardy had taken the red eye flight from the east coast when he had taken emergency leave of his assignment he had been working on for the government. Captain Wilks, a thin man of about 60 with grey hair and distinguished look was on the phone.
"I understand. Yes, I appreciate the intel. We need a better triangulation if possible." He said writing on a pad. "I want 6 copters in the air over that area now that we have daylight working for us! Yes, of course. Call me back! Right." He said and hung up his phone. He looked to Fenton Hardy with piercing grey eyes. He took his pad and then took a turned his computer screen so that Mr. Hardy could view it.
"What have we got?" Mr. Hardy asked intently. Wilks pointed to his screen and clicked his mouse to enlarge an area on the map.
"Ok, we have been working with the boys in Air Rescue and getting the data from SARSAT. We have triangulated the beacon to be coming from the center of the following mountain ranges. Burnt Mountain, Wildcat Mountain and Yeckel. As you can understand this is a pretty significant amount of ground to cover. He have launched 6 AR choppers to cover the zone. We should be able to hit the stronger beacon once they are in the area." He said. Fenton hardy looked over the information. He was clearly distressed by the idea of his loved ones in an air crash and no clue as to their well being! He pounded his fist to the desk and looked up.
"I know you all are doing what you can. I know yesterday you were sweeping a wider range and have a better triangulation on it now. But I need to be in on this! I need to be in one of those copters!" he said firmly. Captain Wilks smiled empathetically.
"Sir, I truly understand your desire. And…" He was cut off by Fenton Hardy pointing his finger to him.
"Don't even go there, Captain." He snapped. "If you can't put me in a chopper, I will have no choice to contact certain government personnel who can make it happen. There are no other options!" He said emphatically. Captain Wilks, apparently familiar with Fenton Hardy's reputation and close connection to having worked with the government nodded.
"Alright, Mr. Hardy." He said with equal firmness. "I understand. One moment." He said taking his phone. He dialed out. A moment later he spoke. "I need a long range chopper at E headquarters, and need it now! Fully equipped for AR. Roger." He said and hung up. "The chopper will be here within thirty minutes, Mr. Hardy. We will get you up there and in the search." He said. Fenton Hardy nodded his appreciation.
"Very good." He said. He took out his phone and started making some phone calls to ensure that all bases were covered in the rescue effort. He was confident in the abilities of Colorado Air Rescue. But wanted some insurance.
Golden, Colorado.
Frank and Tiffany had been sleeping in the parking lot of the truck stop off of I-70 and had recently awoke. Frank had not been able to focus on anything except getting to Colorado. The nervousness of thinking the worst had made him unable to drive. Luckily Tiffany had been there to drive straight through from the moment they had heard the news. Frank had been unable to speak for the first three hours since getting the news and the pair leaving Lawrence, Kansas. After which he became almost a continuing chatterbox of speaking out loud and wondering what had happened. He was beyond worried.
They sat pensively in the truck stop lot. Frank was nursing a cup of black coffee. Tiffany was throwing back double energy drinks after the short sleep they got since arriving in the middle of the night. She looks to Frank with concern. So often she had wondered what it was like to be so close to a tragedy and how she would deal with it. She was concerned not only for Frank, but everyone. She thought about Chet and worried for him. She saw Frank take out his phone and dial Joe's number for the hundredth time. She calmly reached over and touched his arm.
"Baby. His phone is probably out of range and has no battery." She said attempting to give a plausible answer as to why Joe didn't answer. Frank looked nervously to her. He sighed and put the phone down.
"Yeah, I know. No cell signals up there." He said looking out the window towards the Rocky Mountains. But I wonder…" He said blinking his eyes in thought. His mind was foggy, but he tried to focus. A moment later he snapped his fingers.
"The transmitter!" He exclaimed. He opened his door and went to the back of the Yukon and rummaged through and found the portable transmitter the Hardys often used to communicate. He brought the unit into the front seat when he returned. Tiffany looked at him dubiously, but gave him a reassuring smile. Frank set up the unit and plugged the radio into the power outlet of the Yukon. Though it was self powered, Frank didn't want to run the battery down.
After turning the unit on he began transmitting.
"F-24 calling any available parties on this frequency, over." He said into the microphone. Static was all that he got in return. Frank repeated the call several times, to no avail. He set the microphone down and put the unit on the floor, leaving it turned on in case a transmission should be returned. He sighed and stared off towards the mountain. Tiffany took another drink and gave Frank a hopeful look. It was important to her that he knew she had her support. Tiffany had her concerns for all. It was almost a strange feeling to her. Selflessness was mostly a foreign concept to her.
"So, what's the plan, babe?" She asked softly. Not wishing to get him nervous. She placed her hand on his. Frank took his other hand and placed it on hers. He appreciated her taking a supportive role to him. He needed it. He had been brought to tears about a dozen times since getting the news. Frank sighed. It was clear he was thinking too much. Tiffany smiled gently.
"Why not call your dad again?" She said. "I will step outside for a smoke." Frank nodded.
"yes, that is a good idea. I will call dad." He said with a half smile. Tiffany ran her hand along his face and smiled to him.
"Ok, babe. I will be back in a minute." She said, then opened the door to step out. The cool air met her face. She appreciated the fresh air, even if it was a bit too chilly for her. It helped wake her up more. She took out a box of Marlboro Reds from her purse and pulled out a cigarette. She lit up and took a deep drag. She looked towards the mountains. She had always regarded them as pretty. But at present they represented an ominous feeling that surged through her when she looked at them. She looked through the window and saw Frank was on the phone and talking. It was good his dad was there to talk him down from his emotional highs and lows.
Tiffany thought of the many possibilities that existed. But she felt it would be wise to not keep a deep amount of hope. After all, an air crash was something you typically did not walk away from. Especially when you consider it was something that happened in a mountainous area. She looked into the distance at the Rockies. She knew Frank would be wanting to go up there. With hope and faith. Tiffany felt it was best to support him. But she couldn't help but think the trip up for the possibility of rescue would be an inauspicious venture.
Tiffany walked back and forth and stretching her aching body, knowing she would be back in the truck very soon. Knowing that the tenseness of the last six hundred miles she drove was not going to get better soon. With a final deep drag, she finished her smoke and turned towards the Yukon. She noticed Frank was off the phone and opened the door and climbed up into the driver's seat. She looked over to Frank.
"Talk to your dad?" She asked softly. Frank nodded and took a breath. He seemed more composed after his call.
"Yeah. He is at the air rescue base within the mountains. He will be going up in a chopper with one of the search units very soon." He said. Tiffany nodded.
"What's our plan?" She asked. Frank looked over to her.
"Drive. He told us to make our way to Vail, Colorado and wait there. We may be able to get a plane or chopper there, or at least be on standby. I guess dad wants me to keep a focus on the positive and keep thinking the best. He said he would be able to advise later after he has taken his initial run over the area they have a fix on." He said. Frank knew it was best to follow his father's directive. Though he did want a more involved role in the search like his father was taking. He sighed and looked over to Tiffany.
"You know, Tiffany, I really need to say I am glad you are here with me. I know I have been reacting pretty out of sorts. Hell, I don't know how anyone should act. I mean they have to be alive still. They have to be…." He said. His voice trailed off and he looked down. Deep inside Frank knew that statistically he was pursuing the narrow way. He knew the odds were against him. But he couldn't permit himself to give up. His father had just spent the better part of fifteen minutes telling him to not lose hope. His dad had a way of being firm, even in the face of the biggest crisis. Frank knew he had to be the same. He looked to Tiffany in appreciation. No matter what the others may have thought about her, Frank had a place in his life for her. And if, Heaven forbid, the worst was to be realized, he knew he would need her. Tiffany smiled back to him.
"We are going to find them. I know you. It will happen!" She said with perhaps a bit of forced optimism in her voice. Tiffany knew the score, even if Frank didn't. She dreaded the end result. She didn't want to think of Chet and the others having met a tragic end. Hell, she even had been sad at the notion of Callie being on the plane. No one deserved what had happened.
Frank took another deep breath. He forced a half smile. Though it appeared more grim that anything.
"Ok, baby. Let's get to Vail." He said. "You don't mind driving still?" He asked. Tiffany smiled.
"I am fine driving. Whatever you need." She said starting up the Yukon. Frank nodded thankfully. He wasn't yet ready to drive. He was still losing focus and didn't want to be caught off guard on a twisting road. Tiffany soon had them back on westbound I-70. The scenery was beautiful, but it was hard to take it in as anything but treacherous and eerie.
Edwards, Colorado
Colorado Air Rescue.
Captain Wilks was escorting Fenton Hardy out onto the field where a copter was waiting. Wilks gestured to the pilot who was standing outside. He was a middle aged man of average build. He was wearing a dark green flight suit and a black helmet with headset. Wilks gestured to the man.
"Mr. Hardy, this is Captain Stewart. He will pilot the MD 902 you see prepped and ready." He said gesturing to the running aircraft. Fenton Hardy extended his hand. Stewart shook his hand.
"Good to meet you, sir. Captain Wilks has advised you will be with me when we sweep the slopes near the Wildcat range. Let's get you some headgear." He said gesturing toward the aircraft. Fenton Hardy nodded affirmatively. Apparently impressed that Stewart was wanting to get up there without hesitation. Captain Wilks put an arm on Fenton Hardy's back.
"We will be in touch by radio. Stewart in a veteran at this. He will get you out there and cover some ground without wasting time. Good luck, sir!" He said stopping at the point where the rotors were turning. Fenton Hardy nodded and gave a thumbs up sign. He ducked down and followed Stewart to the copter. Stewart gestured for him to take the right hand seat. Fenton Hardy climbed into it while Stewart took the other seat. Stewart gestured for him to buckle his seat belts and don a helmet he offered up. Soon Fenton was ready to go. He switched his audio on so he could easily communicate with Stewart.
"What is our ETA?" He asked. Stewart gestured down to a map on the display. He pointed to an area designated by red lined. Hardy assumed it was the area that Stewart was ordered to cover.
"About an hour to get into range. Then we can do a series of sweeps. We have a unit trained on the signal that will let us know when it grows in strength." Hardy nodded.
"Sounds good!" he said. Stewart took the controls. He spoke into his radio.
"This is Charlie Alpha Romeo 29er. Requesting permission to dispatch to our assigned area. Over." He said. A moment later he gained his clearance and pulled back on his control and the chopper launched up and forward.
Fenton Hardy and Stewart could head the various radio transmissions of associated air traffic. Hardy looked to Stewart.
"How many units are up?" He asked.
"We have fourteen units up for this at the moment, sir." He said. "Don't worry. We are going to find them. As long as we have that ping, we will be able to get a fix within a matter of hours at this point." He said. Hardy nodded. He knew they were doing all they could. He couldn't help but feel a gut wrenching dread of what might happen when they did find the downed aircraft. The high performance rescue copter headed southeasterly.
