The atmosphere inside Airwolf was tense as they headed for the clinic where they believed Moffett was being held. Each of the four pilots was focused on the mission ahead.
Hawke could feel the familiar zing of adrenaline, the rush of exhilaration through his veins and the nerves crowding into his stomach. He kept his breathing even; kept his muscles relaxed despite the tension; his grip on the stick steady. He tried not to anticipate the trap that they were flying into; they were going to have to stay sharp and think on their feet if they were going to avoid actually getting trapped.
Caitlin listed off the targets being identified by the forward scan. Anti-aircraft guns on towers at each corner of the roof; two tanks at either entrance; guard patrols circling the clinic on the ground and the Thor missile system.
She frowned and checked her scan again. 'Hawke, I'm hardly picking up any life signs from within the clinic. All are concentrated onto the third floor.'
'They're guarding Moffett?' Mike suggested.
'Maybe.' Hawke muttered. 'Let's take her in and find out.' He swung Airwolf onto a direct course.
Caitlin deployed the weapons and held her breath.
They screamed over the heads of the patrol vehicle and took out the first anti-aircraft gun with a barrage of ammo from the chain-guns. Mortar and concrete rained down from the roof of the clinic. Airwolf evaded the gun-fire as she looped back around and took out a second gun, and with a missile took out the third diagonally opposite.
'Thor missiles deployed.' Caitlin said. Saint John wondered at her calmness.
Hawke pulled the stick back, hit the turbos and climbed; Caitlin called out their altitude and the position of the two high altitude missiles on their tail. Hawke dived suddenly into the path of the oncoming missiles. Caitlin released a sunburst and the first Thor missile exploded. The heat of the explosion attracted the second and Hawke fired a missile; it hit it head on.
Two down; two to go.
Caitlin gave him the position of the low altitude missiles now closing on their position. He continued the dive and fired another missile, taking out the third Thor missile.
Three down: one to go
'Ten seconds to impact.' Caitlin noted. 'We have anti-aircraft fire heading our way.'
Hawke slipped the visor down; targeted the last anti-aircraft gun. He manoeuvred Airwolf through the stream of ammo; keeping her rotors safe.
'Five seconds to impact.'
He lined up his shot.
'Four seconds. Three.'
Mike closed his eyes and prayed. Saint John held his breath, tried to ignore how close the clinic roof was getting.
'Two.'
Hawke fired three missiles into the gun and yanked back on the stick hard. Flames licked Airwolf's nose and her belly as she pulled away. Hawke hit the turbos and they shot up just as the Thor missile hit the roof.
All missiles destroyed.
Mike slowly opened one eye. 'We're alive?' He asked amazed.
'Yeah.' Saint John breathed out. He glanced over at his brother. 'Nice flying.'
'Time to drop you off.' Hawke said, circling Airwolf back. The rotors whipped the flames and smoke creating a screen for Mike and Saint John to exit. They dropped from the hovering helicopter onto the roof; their automatic guns already in their hands. They ran in a crouched position to the roof door. Hawke moved Airwolf away; they had a distraction job to do now.
A missile exploded in the sky next to them and Caitlin gave him the target; a tank. It went up in a ball of flames with an air-to-surface missile. Hawke dived and flew over a guard patrol car shooting at them. A flick of his thumb ignited the turbos and the vehicle blew over with the rush of pressurised air. He climbed and let go of the turbo speed, slowing in order to make the turn to go back.
'Uh-oh.'
Hawke froze at the quietly uttered words from the back of the cockpit. 'What?' He snapped impatiently.
'Someone is trying to access Airwolf's computer.' Caitlin viewed her monitor with horror, her fingers flying over the keyboard.
'Moffett.' Hawke spat the name out. 'Stop him.'
'I'm trying.' Caitlin retorted. 'He's too quick.'
'Shut us down.' Hawke ordered. 'We'll fly her cold.'
Caitlin punched a button. 'Negative function. I can't switch her off.'
Hawke felt the controls seize and then change in his hands. 'What the hell…' He turned to look at Caitlin who was staring helplessly at the console in front of her. Her worried eyes met his.
'Airwolf has control.' She confirmed.
