Chapter 146

Happy Birthday

John wanted to redeem himself somewhat. He went out on a personal recon with Jim and Bob. The Terminators would watch over him. They'd been given strict orders from Cameron that a recon was a recon and John was not to deviate from the plan.

They returned to the location they'd hit a few days ago. They would arrive from the back way and observe what was going on there if anything. They'd viewed the latest satellite photos that were taken a few hours before they left. They did not look any different than the ones taken the day after the raid.

John Henry could 'borrow' a satellite from time to time and change its orbit even. This could usually be done without anyone ever knowing. He would send the data from a previous pass in place of the actual data that he received.

John followed Bob up to the crest of a small hill. Jim was behind him.

"There it is." Bob said.

John looked at the collapsed building.

"I don't see anyone looking around the area." John said. "That should be a good thing."

Bob and Jim were not so sure about that.

"They may have come and gone after we left." Jim said.

John had not seen anything detected on the surveillance cameras that they'd left behind.

"We did not pick it up if they did." John said.

Bob pointed out the obvious.

"Unless they were right down there, they would not be seen." Bob said. "We are out of the camera's views too."

John wondered if maybe they shouldn't leave more surveillance equipment behind then. That brought up another danger.

"What about anyone else putting up any surveillance equipment?" John asked. "Maybe someone wanted to see who came back here to check on things."

Bob knew that was a threat and that was why they come in the back way. He did not want to find an ambush waiting for them or have an assault team arrive.

"It would appear that Skynet has written this place off for now." Bob said.

Jim and Bob set up some additional surveillance equipment to watch the other approaches to this location like the one that they'd used. Once they were done with that, they told John it was time to go.

John did not protest or try and expand the mission. They came to place additional cameras and that was what they did.

Cameron took Sarah, Kyle, Derek, Riley and Holly on an excursion. She was aware of Derek's interest in Warbirds. She tracked some of what he followed. For his birthday she scheduled a surprise for all of them. She really wanted to make Derek feel special. She wanted to atone for her 'friction' with Future Derek.

Her relationship with Derek was much better than it was with Future Derek. They'd fought together side by side in his future. The respect was earned on the battlefield. They learned that each of them was a solid fighter and got the job done.

She felt the need to make those who disliked her or hated her change their views. She was not sure why. She felt they'd never given her a fair chance and prejudged her without really knowing her. She wanted her actions to define her, not what people wanted to blame her for.

Cameron watched the Warbird calendar of upcoming events online. The perfect event was in the window for Derek's birthday.

There was a 'Doolittle Raid Reunion' scheduled at a nearby airport. She saw some options available and made the proper arrangements. Cameron knew this would fit the bill and go a long way in the plus factor for her and Derek.

Cameron took the group on a 'private mission' in an SUV. She was not specific as to what was about to happen. It added to the suspense as she drove the group to the location. She was able to keep it a surprise right up until they passed the airport. This was to be a multi part surprise.

They arrived at the airport and parked. There were sixteen B-25 Mitchell bombers parked on the tarmac. Three were fitted with the eight gun nose. The rest were equipped with the glass nose.

Derek and the others looked on in awe. It was an impressive sight. It gave a new perspective to the term 'Heavy Metal'. He thought this was a great event to see and be a part of just to be at the airport.

Riley liked what she saw and how thrilled Derek was. She still wondered about their attire.

"Why did you have us wear these fight suits, Cameron?" Riley asked.

Cameron looked at Riley and then at Derek.

"They are to add some pizzazz to your flight today." Cameron said.

Derek looked back at Cameron. He was unsure of what she meant. Did she just say they were going on a flight today? He wanted to make things clear before he got too excited.

"Are you saying that we're going on a flight today?" Derek asked. "How can we fly?"

The prospect of being able to fly in one of these Warbirds was exhilarating to Derek.

"I rented all the spots available on one of the aircraft." Cameron said.

Derek was very surprised to hear that on several levels.

"You can do that?" Derek asked. "You did that for me?"

Cameron smiled at Derek.

"Yes." Cameron said. "Happy Birthday."

They could all see Derek 'tear up' a little. No one commented on it but they all liked to see his human side was still intact.

There were flights available on most types of Warbirds. Even a lot of the single seat fighters could have a second seat added behind the pilot.

As they looked at the group of parked aircraft, one of the big radial engines started up in the distance and then the second one fired up soon after.

The loud sound and reverberations were felt by the entire group.

"Listen to that." Derek said.

The two big R2600 engines thundered.

"Wait until there are thirty-two of those engines running." Cameron said.

Derek walked over to Cameron and gave her a meaningful hug.

"Cameron, I want to thank you for everything." Derek said. "You always know how to 'touch' someone."

That positive comment made Cameron feel good about herself for a change.

"I try. I like to see everyone happy and feel loved." Cameron said. "Let's do the final check in and get to our Mitchell."

Cameron was happy everyone else was happy, especially Derek.

They checked in and went through a short orientation. Derek would get to sit in the nose and alternate between that and the top turret as well as observe from behind the pilots. Kyle and Sarah would be in the front of the aircraft with him. They would alternate positions. Cameron, Riley and Holly would ride in the rear fuselage. There was a narrow passage way over the bomb bay if any in-flight readjustment was necessary. The plane would fly to a nearby airport for a lunch buffet and mini-air show. The people could then re-position within the aircraft on the flight back.

As they walked to their aircraft, Derek looked at each of the three B-25 Mitchells that were fitted with the eight gun nose as they passed by. He knew that one of them was the plane that had saved his patrol in the future. He did not know which one. He gently touched each one and silently thanked it. There were donation receptacles set up for each aircraft. He took all of the money out of his wallet and divided it among the three aircraft. Cameron saw that and made a mental note of that. These three aircraft meant something personal to Derek.

They climbed on board their aircraft. The ground crew stood by with a fire extinguisher near each engine. One prop rotated several revolutions to clear the cylinders. That was followed by the start of the engine. It was deafening. They all wore headphones to dampen the thunderous noise and to be able to communicate. Derek slipped his headphones off to the side to take in the sound and feel the vibrations. The other prop began spin and soon the engine started in a giant puff of grey smoke and a throaty roar.

All around them the other planes began to start up. Exhaust smoke and thunder filled the air.

The aircraft formed up into groups two and taxied for takeoff. There were two runways. The planes took off thirty seconds apart on the parallel runways.

Once they were airborne, they formed up into flights of four. Derek thought from the ground it must look like an 'aluminum overcast' to see the sixteen planes in formation. There was more to come.

Soon after the planes were in formation several fighters joined the group. Above them off to the right a dark blue plane with 'bent wings' closed up. Derek knew it was a Corsair. The big R2800 that powered it gave it a major speed advantage over them. Two silver P-51 Mustangs flew up above off to the left in the distance over another bomber flight.

Derek smiled even wider as the P-40 they'd seen at the air museum previously closed up with the Corsair. The giant number on the side and the tiger with the little wings were all boldly on display as was the brightly painted shark's mouth on the massive intake below the prop.

This was the best birthday ever for Derek. He loved Cameron so much for this. Cameron was the greatest - THE GREATEST.

The flight took them out over the Pacific Ocean. They passed by most of the Channel Islands. They flew up the coast to Morro Bay and cut inland to San Luis Obispo. From there they continued over the Coast Range mountains into the Central Valley. The planes all touched down at the Warbird friendly airport at Madera. That is where the small air show was to take place.

After lunch and the mini-air show, the highlight was a green razorback P-47 Thunderbolt. It was a big aircraft with the same power plant as the Corsair. It was equipped with something extra, a turbocharger. It was fast at altitude but heavy on the ground.

One of the workers asked Derek if he knew how much runway it took for a P-47 to take off.

Derek had done his homework. He knew the 'standard' answer.

"ALL of it." Derek replied and it did.

Riley and Holly rode with Derek up front, while Kyle and Sarah rode with Cameron in the back on the return trip.

Derek asked Cameron if she wanted to ride up front. Cameron informed him she'd actually flown several of these aircraft herself beforehand as she researched this project. She falsified the documents and license with fake qualifications. On one of those flights the starboard engine began to lose oil pressure and started to overheat. The pilot said they needed to set it down as it was a real Bitch to fly on one engine. She said it was no problem for her. She'd done it before….

The pilot on that flight saw that Cameron could handle the plane better and easier than he could so he continued to let her fly. It was almost as if there was nothing wrong with the plane with her flying. He was amazed.

Cameron kept the crew at ease by relaying the story of 'Tondelayo' to them. On a mission in 1943, 'Tondelayo' a B-25D lost an engine due to enemy action. That was followed by an epic battle that lasted longer than an hour that entailed dozens of enemy fighters trying to shoot it down. During the withdrawal the turret gunner was credited with five victories, plus four others where the enemy fighters crashed into the sea as they attempted to attack the bomber. 'Tondelayo' maneuvered wildly and skimming the surface of the water. This cause the enemy pilots to misjudge their attacks. 'Tondelayo' successfully returned to base on one engine with heavy damage. It was repaired and continued to serve.

On their flight back Cameron cleared a special song to play with the pilots. 'Birthday' by 'The Beatles', played for Derek and everyone else in their headsets. It made everyone's day.

Kyle was able to see how much this pleased Derek. He needed to say something to Cameron about it.

"Cameron, I really appreciate what you did for Derek today." Kyle told her. "You're the best. I really love you too for this."

Kyle had slowly watched all the joy and happiness drain from his brother's life. Now, here in the past, Cameron helped a lot to bring some of that joy and happiness back. It all helped to bring his brother 'back'. Cameron 'gave' him back his brother. In his book, Cameron was the best.

Everybody loved Cameron, except - Cameron.

Cameron only saw her self as 'not good enough'.

Cameron spent any time alone crying.

It seemed any more; she spent most of her time alone.

Derek's birthday allowed Cameron to reflect on another birthday. The thoughts were not very pleasant. She did not feel what 'happened' was her fault.

Happy Birthday

Today is the day to celebrate
The wonderful day of your birth
You are loved and cherished
To many you have great worth

You are full of loving life
Happy and never depressing
To all whose life you touch
You are a joyful blessing

Each new birthday seems to
Come faster than the last
May all good will and happiness
Each new year the last surpass

To you my sweet love
Today and every day
With the best of wishes
Happy Birthday

These words to you
I was going to say
Then everything – changed
And ruined your Birthday

I AM SORRY

Nobody