Scott heard the crackle of the com again, but couldn't make anything out
this time. He was getting worried, he had a bad feeling about this.
Something was wrong, terribly wrong.
John heard several more PINGS and then the low groan of a great ship breaking apart. He grabbed for the flashlight and aimed it at the auger hole again. While he was shining the light there, he tried to climb as close to it as he could. He needed to hold the flashlight with his broken arm as he used his good arm to pull him up the side of the slanted floor. Although he was still several feet away, he started screaming, "WE ARE IN THE POD! WE ARE IN THE POD!!"
PING
Jeff walked up to Walt and said, "I think we should start Plan B just in case Plan A doesn't work. Can you send several people up to the nose of TB2 and start digging? Just make sure you stay out of the path of the pod should it break loose."
"No problem, Jeff. What are we looking for?" returned Walt.
"Thunderbird 2 has a set of windows that should be easy to find and break, if they aren't already broken. We should be able to dig a tunnel through the windows into the cockpit area. We could also cut a hole above the dirt line, but both cutters are in use right now, so I would like to start digging. Plan C will be to cut our way in." answered Jeff.
"Boy you guys are good, Plan C already." Walt said under his breath as he walked away.
PING
Walt walked towards the crowd of milling people and told them the plan. He picked five men who grabbed shovels and picks that they brought with them and sent them up the hill to the nose of the great ship. As he was looking up, he noticed light coming from the auger hole. He turned away and followed the other five up the steep hill to the nose.
PING
Walt started the 5 men digging around the nose of TB2. It was easy going at first because the soil had been loosened at impact and most of what was sitting on her nose was that which had fallen from above. He walked back down looking at all the heavy machinery that was not in use and tried to think of what he could use them for right now to hurry up the rescue. He had an idea. It wasn't earth shattering, but may help a bit in the rescue, so he walked over to Jeff who was going over some of TB2 specs with Scott. The Tracys looked up when Walt approached. Scott quietly closed the set of plans that he was holding. Jeff asked, "How's it going Walt?" Walt replied, "I sent 5 men up to start digging around the windows. By the way, is there something inside that thing that would flash?"
PING
Jeff looked at Walt, "What do you mean flash?".
"Well, when I looked up at the bottom of your ship, I saw a light through the hole made by that giant auger." Said Walt. Jeff paled instantly.
"GORDON, BRAINS STOP IMMEDIATELY!!" Jeff yelled into his watch com. "STOP NOW, DO NOT CUT ANY MORE CLAMPS!!! DON'T EVEN FINISH THE ONES YOU ARE WORKING ON!!"
PING
Gordon and Brains looked up simultaneously. They were almost through. In fact the last one that broke, did so with the torch only going ½ through it.
Jeff yelled to Walt, "get the two front end loaders, on the double. Lift the buckets up to the pod, one in front and one in back and support it. Hold it as still as you can."
"Right away Jeff", and Walt was off in a flash. He personally took one of the Cats and he had Jerry take the other. The two machines roared to life and moved into position. Each front end bucket extending up to it's full height. The sharp pronged bottom lip being used to support the pod.
Both Gordon and Brains asked into their coms at the same time, "What's wrong?"
Jeff answered, "The boys are in the pod, or at least one of them is". He took a deep breath when he saw the two cats holding up the pod. "My God, I almost killed my boys." Shaking his head, he said to no one in particular.
Scott took his dad and escorted him to a seat. "Dad, it's ok, we caught it in time. Remember, 'almost' only counts in horseshoes and grenades. Take a deep breath, and let's figure out what the next plan of action should be."
Gordon and Brains unharnessed themselves as soon as they realized the situation and trotted down to Scott and Jeff on the double. Jeff looked up when the two came over and he saw Walt walking over. Walt had locked the cat in the support position. It will remain still like that until the operator releases it. "Walt, I don't know what to say. If you hadn't seen.. If you didn't speak up.." Jeff just shook his head as he sat white faced. Walt also lost all the color to his face as he realized he almost didn't speak up about the light he saw. He walked over to Jeff and his sons (Brains being included as one of his sons). "Jeff, it can still work. The cats are in the center of the pod both front and back. Your two operatives," nodding towards Gordon and Brains, "can still cut away the clamps but instead of falling away, it should just end up resting on the bucket tines of the cats. We can then just lower it gently to the ground. You can then enter through whatever door that pod thing has."
Jeff said, " that sounds like a good idea." Turning to Brains, "what do you think Brains?"
"I-I-I think it is a s-s-sound idea, Mr. Tracy, b-b-but I would like to g-g- get a better communicator to the b-b-boys first. B-b-but we c-c-can't lower it c-c-completely to the g-g-ground because the auger is s-s-sticking out."
"I agree, Brains." Jeff then turned to Walt. "Get that cherry picker over here. Can you get me up to the hole?"
Walt answered, "I will do one better, the best cherry picker in the county is here, I will have him do it."
"Scott, where's the extra com?" Jeff asked. Scott grinning, "Here dad, I anticipated that you wanted the spare. I will go to the main console, since it has a stronger signal and since John can hear us I will let him know that we are giving him a com that works. How are you going to give it to him?"
"Tell John that I am going to push it through the hole where the auger is."
Scott ran back into TB1 and Jeff climbed aboard the cherry picker.
John sat frozen in fear. "One move and the whole thing could come crashing down with us in here," he thought. He had scrambled back down to Virgil when he didn't hear any more PINGs. All was quiet now. He just sat there holding Virgil's hand. Virgil was last conscience when he moved that tiny bit. His breathing now had a wet sound to it. John was concerned that if his father and brothers do get them out, it won't be in time to help Virgil. He was startled out of his thoughts by Virgil's watch com.
"Thunderbird 2, this is Scott. We know that at least one of you guys is in the pod. Dad is using a cherry picker to get up to the hole that the auger made and he plans to drop another watch com to you through the hole. This should hopefully clear up communications. We aren't going to do anything until we hear from you loud and clear. I hope you are reading all of this. Scott out."
Jeff was almost at the hole. The operator of the cherry picker, skillfully aimed it so that it went along side the dangerous protruding auger. There was quite a bit a space between the auger and TB2's skin. Jeff could fit his whole hand in that space. He called out, "John, can you hear me? Can you see my hand near the auger?"
John yelled, "Yes Dad, I can. If you release the watch right where your hand is now, it will slide almost all the way down to me."
Jeff released the watch then waited.
Jeff's watch came to life seconds later and he saw John's sallow face. He looked terrible. But he was alive! Jeff motioned for the cherry picker to start dropping down now that John as communications. But he continued to talk to John, he needed to know exactly how everyone is.
"John, give me an update, tell me exactly how you and Virgil are and what is your predicament. We need to find an alternative plan to getting you out."
John swallowed hard. No one knew Virgil's condition yet. "Dad, Virgil is pinned under the chassis of the pod. He is in very bad condition. I am not sure he is going to make it. I know his ribs are broken and he is bleeding somewhere. He looks like he broke his cheekbone as well. He wasn't strapped into his seat when Thunderbird 2 went down."
That last sentence brought tears to Jeff's eyes. Scott was on the com too as John was describing Virgil's injuries. He ran around the corner of some rock outcropping and got sick. He saw what TB2 did when the explosion hit, and the thought that Virgil wasn't strapped in sent nauseating pictures through his mind.
The great ship moaned again.
John heard several more PINGS and then the low groan of a great ship breaking apart. He grabbed for the flashlight and aimed it at the auger hole again. While he was shining the light there, he tried to climb as close to it as he could. He needed to hold the flashlight with his broken arm as he used his good arm to pull him up the side of the slanted floor. Although he was still several feet away, he started screaming, "WE ARE IN THE POD! WE ARE IN THE POD!!"
PING
Jeff walked up to Walt and said, "I think we should start Plan B just in case Plan A doesn't work. Can you send several people up to the nose of TB2 and start digging? Just make sure you stay out of the path of the pod should it break loose."
"No problem, Jeff. What are we looking for?" returned Walt.
"Thunderbird 2 has a set of windows that should be easy to find and break, if they aren't already broken. We should be able to dig a tunnel through the windows into the cockpit area. We could also cut a hole above the dirt line, but both cutters are in use right now, so I would like to start digging. Plan C will be to cut our way in." answered Jeff.
"Boy you guys are good, Plan C already." Walt said under his breath as he walked away.
PING
Walt walked towards the crowd of milling people and told them the plan. He picked five men who grabbed shovels and picks that they brought with them and sent them up the hill to the nose of the great ship. As he was looking up, he noticed light coming from the auger hole. He turned away and followed the other five up the steep hill to the nose.
PING
Walt started the 5 men digging around the nose of TB2. It was easy going at first because the soil had been loosened at impact and most of what was sitting on her nose was that which had fallen from above. He walked back down looking at all the heavy machinery that was not in use and tried to think of what he could use them for right now to hurry up the rescue. He had an idea. It wasn't earth shattering, but may help a bit in the rescue, so he walked over to Jeff who was going over some of TB2 specs with Scott. The Tracys looked up when Walt approached. Scott quietly closed the set of plans that he was holding. Jeff asked, "How's it going Walt?" Walt replied, "I sent 5 men up to start digging around the windows. By the way, is there something inside that thing that would flash?"
PING
Jeff looked at Walt, "What do you mean flash?".
"Well, when I looked up at the bottom of your ship, I saw a light through the hole made by that giant auger." Said Walt. Jeff paled instantly.
"GORDON, BRAINS STOP IMMEDIATELY!!" Jeff yelled into his watch com. "STOP NOW, DO NOT CUT ANY MORE CLAMPS!!! DON'T EVEN FINISH THE ONES YOU ARE WORKING ON!!"
PING
Gordon and Brains looked up simultaneously. They were almost through. In fact the last one that broke, did so with the torch only going ½ through it.
Jeff yelled to Walt, "get the two front end loaders, on the double. Lift the buckets up to the pod, one in front and one in back and support it. Hold it as still as you can."
"Right away Jeff", and Walt was off in a flash. He personally took one of the Cats and he had Jerry take the other. The two machines roared to life and moved into position. Each front end bucket extending up to it's full height. The sharp pronged bottom lip being used to support the pod.
Both Gordon and Brains asked into their coms at the same time, "What's wrong?"
Jeff answered, "The boys are in the pod, or at least one of them is". He took a deep breath when he saw the two cats holding up the pod. "My God, I almost killed my boys." Shaking his head, he said to no one in particular.
Scott took his dad and escorted him to a seat. "Dad, it's ok, we caught it in time. Remember, 'almost' only counts in horseshoes and grenades. Take a deep breath, and let's figure out what the next plan of action should be."
Gordon and Brains unharnessed themselves as soon as they realized the situation and trotted down to Scott and Jeff on the double. Jeff looked up when the two came over and he saw Walt walking over. Walt had locked the cat in the support position. It will remain still like that until the operator releases it. "Walt, I don't know what to say. If you hadn't seen.. If you didn't speak up.." Jeff just shook his head as he sat white faced. Walt also lost all the color to his face as he realized he almost didn't speak up about the light he saw. He walked over to Jeff and his sons (Brains being included as one of his sons). "Jeff, it can still work. The cats are in the center of the pod both front and back. Your two operatives," nodding towards Gordon and Brains, "can still cut away the clamps but instead of falling away, it should just end up resting on the bucket tines of the cats. We can then just lower it gently to the ground. You can then enter through whatever door that pod thing has."
Jeff said, " that sounds like a good idea." Turning to Brains, "what do you think Brains?"
"I-I-I think it is a s-s-sound idea, Mr. Tracy, b-b-but I would like to g-g- get a better communicator to the b-b-boys first. B-b-but we c-c-can't lower it c-c-completely to the g-g-ground because the auger is s-s-sticking out."
"I agree, Brains." Jeff then turned to Walt. "Get that cherry picker over here. Can you get me up to the hole?"
Walt answered, "I will do one better, the best cherry picker in the county is here, I will have him do it."
"Scott, where's the extra com?" Jeff asked. Scott grinning, "Here dad, I anticipated that you wanted the spare. I will go to the main console, since it has a stronger signal and since John can hear us I will let him know that we are giving him a com that works. How are you going to give it to him?"
"Tell John that I am going to push it through the hole where the auger is."
Scott ran back into TB1 and Jeff climbed aboard the cherry picker.
John sat frozen in fear. "One move and the whole thing could come crashing down with us in here," he thought. He had scrambled back down to Virgil when he didn't hear any more PINGs. All was quiet now. He just sat there holding Virgil's hand. Virgil was last conscience when he moved that tiny bit. His breathing now had a wet sound to it. John was concerned that if his father and brothers do get them out, it won't be in time to help Virgil. He was startled out of his thoughts by Virgil's watch com.
"Thunderbird 2, this is Scott. We know that at least one of you guys is in the pod. Dad is using a cherry picker to get up to the hole that the auger made and he plans to drop another watch com to you through the hole. This should hopefully clear up communications. We aren't going to do anything until we hear from you loud and clear. I hope you are reading all of this. Scott out."
Jeff was almost at the hole. The operator of the cherry picker, skillfully aimed it so that it went along side the dangerous protruding auger. There was quite a bit a space between the auger and TB2's skin. Jeff could fit his whole hand in that space. He called out, "John, can you hear me? Can you see my hand near the auger?"
John yelled, "Yes Dad, I can. If you release the watch right where your hand is now, it will slide almost all the way down to me."
Jeff released the watch then waited.
Jeff's watch came to life seconds later and he saw John's sallow face. He looked terrible. But he was alive! Jeff motioned for the cherry picker to start dropping down now that John as communications. But he continued to talk to John, he needed to know exactly how everyone is.
"John, give me an update, tell me exactly how you and Virgil are and what is your predicament. We need to find an alternative plan to getting you out."
John swallowed hard. No one knew Virgil's condition yet. "Dad, Virgil is pinned under the chassis of the pod. He is in very bad condition. I am not sure he is going to make it. I know his ribs are broken and he is bleeding somewhere. He looks like he broke his cheekbone as well. He wasn't strapped into his seat when Thunderbird 2 went down."
That last sentence brought tears to Jeff's eyes. Scott was on the com too as John was describing Virgil's injuries. He ran around the corner of some rock outcropping and got sick. He saw what TB2 did when the explosion hit, and the thought that Virgil wasn't strapped in sent nauseating pictures through his mind.
The great ship moaned again.