To say they were not nervous would have been a total lie but there was something comforting about the rescue. The four of them had pulled on their flight suits and somehow switched modes. They were different people once the autopilot kicked in and, glad for the distraction, they focused on the task at hand.
Emergency services were already on the scene and the rescue helicopters banked out of the way as Thunderbird 2 descended down through the clouds to join in the effort. They were greeted with a barrage of delighted comm. chatter and quickly sank into position.
It was perhaps not as bad as it could have been. Some of the neighbouring villages had suffered minor damage and the city was on standby for emergency evacuation but the main focus was the farmland in the foothills of the Macdonnells. A dry autumn had hardened the ground and sudden heavy rain had not been absorbed into the river systems, instead creating its own new fast flowing path.
The call had perhaps been a little premature and the coastguard helicopters and other services that had flown in to help pluck stranded farmers from the fast-moving flood waters were already winning by the time International Rescue had arrived. But the four of them set to work regardless, ferrying several families to safety. The livestock were another matter and they had seen to their sorrow the many bodies that were floating helplessly. And it had then been too much to see the sheep that struggled to keep their heads above the deepening headwaters.
An unspoken agreement had passed through the flight deck and, with one final scanner sweep, they confirmed that there were no further human victims. Virgil had then guided Two back across the plains and they had swung low to find the livestock.
Ignoring the urgent advice from local rescue teams to 'leave the bloody woollies', they lowered the rescue platform and tethered lines to the sides, hoping to snag and drag the frightened sheep to safety.
Gordon gave his safety harness a tug and sighed in determination as he reached out over the side of the platform and managed to lasso the terrified sheep beneath him. It was strenuous and slow going and the frightened struggling of the snared animals shook the platform violently. He turned and saw through his rain-soaked visor that his father and brother were also having a similar struggle.
Jeff heaved himself back up inside the platform and peered down at the captured livestock. "Okay, Virg. Go gently." He ordered, feeling the drag of the wind increasing as Two slowly moved forward.
The sheep still struggled and bleated helplessly, grouping together as they were pulled through the water. And then their feet found the solid footing of higher ground and they seemed to calm, almost understanding what was happening.
Alan lowered himself down one of the lines and climbed onto the small hill among the sheep. He chatted softly to them as he untied them and frowned as they shied away from the roar of the VTOL engines, almost running straight back into the water.
"Hey!"
Alan spun and saw the small powerboat that was chugging out across the flooded field. He waved a greeting and pointed to the sheep. "These yours?"
"You guys are bloody crazy, mate!" Came the farmer's delighted reply.
Alan shrugged a reply.
The farmer then looked up at the rescue platform and stared in awe at the immense green craft it was suspended from. He shook his head in wonder and turned back to Alan with a grin. "But that's one hell of a good sheepdog."
Alan laughed in delight and grabbed the nearest line to shimmy back up to the platform.
"Thank you!" The farmer called after him and turned to watch his sodden sheep huddled together anxiously.
Gordon leaned over the side of the platform and helped pull his brother aboard. "It's all well and good to drag them to safety." He observed, groaning as he heaved Alan onto the platform. "But they're kinda stranded now."
"No, it's okay." Jeff nodded towards the near horizon. "The rain will pass soon." He entered a command into the central console and the platform began to ascend back into Two's belly.
"Yeah." Alan dusted his soiled flight suit down, succeeding in simply spreading the mud and other stuff he didn't want to think about. "The water should recede soon."
"I guess." Gordon conceded and then suddenly laughed. "Shit, guys! We just spent the past hour rescuing damned sheep!" He shook his head in dismay, "If I wasn't here to see it for myself, I'd never have believed it."
Jeff chuckled in agreement. "Kinda feels good though, doesn't it?"
"It's certainly different." Alan offered, peering down at what little he could see of his uniform, "Not that I'm looking forward to finding out what this stuff might smell of."
Gordon grimaced and edged away from him. "Maybe we ought to dunk you back in there to clean off."
"Maybe I ought to dunk your head - "
"Boys!" Jeff laughed gently, "We'll clean up at home." He then remembered the leave he had granted his housekeepers and sighed as he realised it really would be they that had to clean up. Deciding to keep that little piece of information to himself, he stood and opened the platform gate as they arrived safely back within the hold.
"You three finished fishing?" Came Virgil's amused query over the comm., his voice echoing about the hold.
"Anyone else in danger?" Jeff responded.
"Nope." Virgil chuckled, "And I just got a call from a confused – if grateful – Fire Chief who was again inquiring as to your sanity."
Gordon laughed in delight, "God, you can just see the headlines."
"International Sheep Rescue!" Alan snorted.
Jeff grinned merrily, "Thank you, Thunder-baa-aa-rds!"
The three of them tumbled from the platform in fits of laughter and collapsed on the cargo bay floor.
"Heading home." Virgil announced, sighing as he heard the childish giggling that was their only response. "You've lost it, guys."
"Yeah, we know." Alan managed, pulling off his helmet and wiping his eyes. "But it feels good."
"Whatever." Virgil continued, "Just stay back there and don't get that shit all over my 'Bird."
The three of them studied each other's somewhat soiled flight suits and suddenly even that was funny. The laughter began anew and they stayed cross-legged on the floor as the gentle tremor of powerful engines igniting signalled the return home.
Jeff slowly calmed and smiled merrily at his sons. "God, I needed that."
Alan nodded in agreement, "I'm just glad we're all party to it." He turned to Gordon, "I dread to think what any of you guys would do to me!"
"Yeah!" Gordon enthused and then suddenly grimaced, "But there's still Scott."
"Oh." Alan's smile faltered, "You think he'll find out?"
"He only has to watch TV." Gordon shrugged.
Jeff shook his head and held up his hands in reassurance, "You'll be fine." He watched the pair of them regard him in uncertainty and then recalled all that they had tortured their elder brothers with over the years. "On second thoughts …" He grinned in delight, "You're fucked!"
"You mean 'we' …" Alan corrected.
The smile dropped from Jeff's face. "Oh hell …"
And new laughter erupted. It was over-the-top and slightly hysterical but after all that had happened it was understandable.
"Okay, guys." Came Virgil's slightly bored tone. "Sorry to interrupt the hilarity but Scott's on the comm."
Jeff calmed instantly and clambered to his feet. He frowned in concern and began towards the flight deck.
"I'll patch him through down there." Virgil added.
Jeff sighed and glared up at the seemingly omnipotent voice. He then looked down at his stained uniform and shrugged merrily, changing course towards one of the control panels.
"Scott? Did you find him?"
"Um … yeah."
Jeff's heart sank. There was something in Scott's voice that he did not like the sound of. He waited for Scott to continue, aware of his two sons slowly approaching him.
"Dad, John's gone."
"What?" Alan demanded aghast.
"I don't understand what happened." Scott sighed, "He was here and he's not exactly himself but we talked and … I thought I was getting through."
Jeff closed his eyes and hung his head.
"He called Henry and then just vanished. He left his phone and I tried to trace the call but he's deleted the memory and …"
Gordon gasped, "Without his phone - "
"We can't trace him." Scott agreed quietly.
Jeff sighed and looked back up at the comm. "And Alex?"
"She was shot - "
"Shot?" Alan and Gordon gasped in horror.
"Yeah," Scott sighed, "But she's okay."
Jeff closed his eyes and then nodded slowly, "Does she know where he might be?"
"Pen's with her now." Scott confirmed, "But … I wanted to ask if you think …" Scott groaned in dismay, "God, it seems Red Dawn are based somewhere around here, Dad."
"Pull out!" Jeff ordered in a sudden panic, sensing his sons taking a startled step back from him. "Pull out and get to safety."
"But - "
"NO!" Jeff shouted urgently, "Scott, get the hell out of there!"
Tbc …