Disclaimer: All characters, names, settings etc belong to their respective copyright holders, only much of the convoluted plot, Night Wolf and a few other things are of my own creation (but inspired from many things under copyright, which aren't mine).
Chapter 34
Birmingham met the Brigadier as he walked into Night Wolf.
"Well?"
"Well?" Lethbridge Stewart asked looking at Birmingham, who sighed, seemingly resisting the urge to roll his eyes.
"I looked into Miss Granger's family, no danger there, her immediate family both parents are dentists in outer London. Five have sent through the detailed mark up on their background, no real problems, the full report is on your desk." Birmingham paused.
"And Harry?"
"I spoke with him. He's…" Birmingham paused searching for the right word. Lethbridge Stewart slowed in his stride. "Enthusiastic, I think would be the best word for it Brigadier."
"Good…"
"Seemed to take a load off you know…blowing up a star…how did it go with Geneva?"
"Very gentle Birmingham." Lethbridge Stewart mumbled as they made their way through the hallways of Night Wolf command.
"Well I need to know whether or not I have to start finding some people to charm the dwarf star alloy who are ready and willing to jump on a ship for over a month. Or whether I should start preparing bunkers and bases in case you tell Harry his plan doesn't work and it ends up being a free for all battle some where in the West Midlands." Birmingham said, almost seriously.
"They agreed to the plan Birmingham, you can drop the hysterics." He said pushing open his office door, despite his couple of days spent in Geneva, and despite the fact Birmingham was supposed to hold down the fort whilst he was away, he still had the same amount of paper work.
"I kept it at bay, there wouldn't have been a lot more had I not done some of it." Birmingham held his hands up at the silent look from the Brigadier.
"Very well…since now that you don't have to plan an apocalypse…get Professor Preston for me…" Lethbridge Stewart said as he put his things on his desk before walking back over to the door.
"From the Gibson Research Facility…why?" Birmingham asked.
"I have an idea for Mr Potter…line up a comm. talk some time this afternoon…you can update me on everything over lunch." Lethbridge Stewart walked out of his office, deeply regretting the food he'd eaten on the UN flight from Geneva.
The following day Lethbridge Stewart was working through…more paper work, relating directly and indirectly and in many cases not at all related to Harry's plan.
He looked up as someone knocked on his door before walking in, it was the man in question.
"Ah Harry, come in Birmingham said that you were coming; I just returned from Geneva."
"What did head office have to say?" Harry said slumping into his usual chair that he sat in, or more recently slumped in when he visited him.
"They've given their approval for your plan." Lethbridge Stewart stated calmly, the reaction was immediate, Harry sat up in his chair, staring slightly amazed.
"Really?"
"Considering the amount of civil unrest Voldemort and his followers caused during this and the last conflict. Together with the element which will be uncovered and the relative isolation of the star system, plus your own scans of the system. They have approved your plan and have authorised the use of a rare element, known as 'dwarf star alloy', for use as the portkey inside the sun."
Harry started nodded and then shook his head with a puzzled expression showing he wasn't quite sure what dwarf star alloy actually was.
"It's an mineral as far as we've been able to ascertain, it's extremely heavy and indestructible, according to some sources it's used by certain travellers whose ships jump the lines that divide space."
"That's a little vague."
"Some of our contacts are." Lethbridge Stewart said equally as vaguely.
"So this stuff we're going to build a missile out of it?"
"No, it will be the portkey and it will be encased in a missile which will be fired into the sun, according to those that are working on it, even if the outer elements are stripped away the forward inertia and gravity will carry it on into the sun. When we've got everything worked out you'll be briefed."
Harry nodded and was silent for a moment. Lethbridge Stewart broke the silence after half a minute.
"So you want to join UNIT Harry?"
Harry nodded again without saying anything.
"All the paper work is ready, in fact getting your passports and citizenship aided it, until then you technically didn't exist."
"Really?"
"Plays havoc whenever a wand user turns up on CCTV during a crime."
"So what…" Harry started questioningly.
"You read and sign this" Lethbrudge Stewart handed Harry a folder of documents. "…and then fill in this" He handed over the desk a second folder of documents which included stardard things such as the UNIT health and death plans, standard information. "Colonel Jones plus other members of the Sorcery department will take you through some other particulars, then you will carry a UNIT Night Wolf rank of Sorcerer."
Harry appeared slightly swamped by the information and seemed to ask the least puzzling question on his mind.
"Colonel Jones?"
"David Jones, he was promoted following…" Lethbridge Stewart trailed off. "All information in time Harry…he's been doing some excellent work out there don't you think?"
Harry just nodded again.
Over the next day or so Harry spent his time reading up on exactly what the forms meant when the said…for instance 'alien possession' and asking the Brigadier various questions.
Over that time the Brigadier watched Harry go through a series of difference emotions ranging from wonder, to worry through to anticipation.
Following that Harry was asked to complete a set of tests, questions and challenges, ranging from the psychological through to the practical. At the end of it he sat before Lethbridge Stewart.
"Harry Potter, you have joined UNIT and been awarded the rank of Sorcerer first class." Lethbridge Stewart said with a smile.
"Thanks…umm General…" Harry said, nervously.
"Harry sit ask your question." The Brigadier said trying to rid Harry of his new found nervousness.
"Right, I've got a friend."
"Hermione Granger." Lethbridge Stewart said immediately, Harry obviously felt his friend would…enjoy working withih UNIT.
"Birmingham told you?" He asked surprised.
"Yes. You think she'd like to work with us?" Lethbridge Stewart asked curious to hear Harry's thinking behind his push for Hermione Granger to joining Night Wolf.
"Yes…but would she have to go through all…" Harry trailed off gesturing the slightly scruffy BDUs he was wearing following one of the final 'run arounds' he'd done earlier in the day.
"That? No…That was my suggestion…" He chuckled, Harry stared hard, yet curiously at him. "We put you through that to help you… You now have the provisional rank of Pilot Officer…"
"Pilot Officer?" Harry said a little disbelievingly.
"You've still got a while until you return to Hogwarts or until Dumbledore's trial concludes, correct?" Lethbridge Stewart asked with a smile, Harry just nodded gently as though he couldn't handle any further surprises.
"Well there's something you might be interested in…" Lethbridge Stewart smiled to Harry's slightly worried expression.
Late the previous day…
"Fiona…"
"Alistair, a call by appointment…" She smiled into the screen staring at him for a moment. "What do you want?" She asked with a smile as she leaned back sipping a mug of something hot.
Lethbridge Stewart smiled.
"Why would I want anything Professor Fiona Preston?"
"Because you asked Birmingham to make an appointment…you look like shit by the way."
"Thank a UN airline meal…" He muttered.
"Try to avoid planes…but you've got all our ships tied up…" She said looking at him through the camera from her own office in Australia.
"Yes…well I noticed that the ASCS Hattah was coming back in for a…"
"She's going for a trial run with the new squad of Thylacines Brigadier as well you know…"
"Let me try a different tact then…"
"Yes…" She stared at him, some how…
"You remember your talk with me about pilots…"
"How we have to re-educate them on the orientation of space based combat and piloting…I remember Brigadier…"
"Well I have a favour to ask."
"A favour Brigadier…" She said amused.
"I have a man, a Pilot Officer…" Lethbridge Stewart went on to request that this Pilot Officer be trained, whilst the Hattah was down unloading supplies and being resupplied with Thylacines.
"And the name of this pilot officer?"
"Harry Potter." He said simply, Professor Preston nodded as she swallowed a mouthful of whatever she was drinking.
"Would this be the same Harry Potter who has plans to destroy a star?"
"He might."
"Ah….is he an Australian?" She asked curiously, not that it really mattered, but if it didn't why didn't Lethbridge Stewart send him to the Northern Highlands Facility, which also had some Thylacines…they weren't constructed there, but they still had all the relevant training materials.
Lethbridge Stewart smiled, Fiona raised an eyebrow.
"He has dual citizenship, lives, when he's not finishing school in Victoria."
"I'll give him a go Lethbridge Stewart, as a favour…"
"Thank you Professor."
"No worries, General."
--//
Harry Potter, Sorcerer Pilot Officer, Harry Potter walked through the corridors of the Gibson Desert Research Facility…he wasn't being led, he had been given instructions on how to get to his destination.
He was however being monitored by the facility's security cameras…just in case.
He knocked on a more or less plain door which stated 'Professor Fiona Preston – Facility Commander'.
Fiona Preston looked up as Sorcerer Pilot Officer; Harry Potter walked in.
He was wearing a standard set of Night Wolf BDUs with some sort of jacket over the top which definitely wasn't normal cow leather…nor was it anything that could be described as regular leather.
"Mr Potter." She stood and offered her hand, Potter took it, his handshake was firm, but not tight.
"Professor Preston…thank you for…" He paused as he let go of her hand. "For…allowing me to come…"
"Alistair just explained to you didn't he?"
"Yes…Professor." Fiona looked at Potter…Potter's file noted that he attended Hogwarts which would explain his…odd inflection when addressing a person in command with the prefix of professor.
"Well let me explain in detail…"
--//
Fiona led Mr Potter to the training room, this was as much an experiment as it was a test, she'd made Harry aware of this before they even started, but she also mentioned that he was allowed to have fun with it.
Harry Potter would be put through a compressed training and education regime on how to fly and operate within zero gravity using the Thylacine fighter craft built within her facility.
There had been many problems with the Thylacine project thus far; while the Sorcerers and engineers had worked tirelessly on the systems within the Thylacine the engine systems were too small and the power systems needed for weapons as well as manoeuvrability meant that they could not generate a gravity field, they did however have as many systems to counteract inertia within the craft.
But it didn't eliminate it.
Secondly operating and flying the Thylacine was not…not like flying a plane, given how the Thylacines were constructed, using various pieces of reverse engineered technology, as well as properly treated and inserted pieces of magical wood, plus the unique nature of the engine systems they couldn't be flown like a plane…
That said in some cases they could, but they could do far more.
Then there was the simple previous experience, everyone thus far had piloting experience…that wasn't always a good thing.
Combine all that with the unfamiliarity of zero-gravity and finding a pilot capable of flying the X shaped craft became slightly more difficult…
They had enough pilots for the time being…and some in training…however the acclimatising process and re-education from what they initially believe was...a lengthy process.
If they had to, if the situation arose and UNIT needed to take an extended amount of Thylacines out into space…the Gibson Desert Construction and Research Facility could construct the Thylacines for such endeavour, but providing the pilots, even with smallest amount of training would still take…a while.
The program Harry Potter was in was to discover whether a younger person with little normal flight experience could pilot a Thylacine within a compressed training regime.
The file Lethbridge Stewart had sent indicated that Harry Potter had flow: a broom, a hippogriff and a Thestral.
Only the broom was directly related and might affect the outcome, but it was worth it considering Harry Potter's age and inexperience with the Thylacines.
--//
"So Lt is he ready?" Fiona was walking around outside on the actual ground above her base with Lieutenant Stewart Seager, the man who had been doing the majority of Harry Potter's training over the past two weeks, when she'd seen them they seemed to have a good rapport.
"Honestly…we probably could've put him in one within the first couple of weeks…"
She looked at him.
"While making sure he didn't squeeze the weapons triggers." He added with a smile as he enjoyed the sun and the air.
Working in an underground secret base was good for security, but every so often you had to get out of it and take a breath outside.
Everyone at the facility was cleared to do so…the site was officially a 'secure' meteorology facility, should someone wander close and see people wandering around…that was their cover.
"You're that sure of his abilities?"
"Yes…" He trailed off.
"But, Lt Seager? Speak freely."
"He's thrown himself into it…too hard…"
"He does have a lot on his mind." She said offhandedly.
The Lt nodded beside her.
"You think it's something more?"
"I won't know until I see him in the air Professor…"
"But?"
"But…I wouldn't press for him to go onto become a Thylacine pilot. He's having fun…but I'm not sure if this is what he wants to do."
"But you think he wants to do something within Night Wolf?"
"Yes…he certainly wants…I think he needs to be working for something…"
"To be doing something…don't we all Seager."
--//
The Australian Space Core Ship Hattah moved swiftly out of a high orbit above the Earth, travelling a relatively short distance out into the solar system close to in relative terms to Jupiter.
"Hattah you have control of thylacines 1 and 2."
"Confirmed Thylacine 1, prepare for launch."
There was a noise of motion as Thylacine 1 and Thylacine 2 were launched out of the forward bay of the ASCS Hattah.
Captain Chris Rogers looked on at the various scanner information as well as a real time visual feed.
"Battle space is up captain." Roberta Williams, the Secondary Systems Coordinator announced.
"Good, bring up the live motion feed on them and get battle analysis on the moves of Thylacine 2 I want a preliminary report on his moves out there."
"Sir."
Outside the ship two X shaped craft sat in space, having successfully exited the ship the pilots of the one person craft sat a short distance away facing each other.
"You ok Harry?"
"Yeah…I'm fine…"
"Good, the weapons systems have been disengaged so you don't have to worry about shooting me…"
Captain Rogers smiled at Seager's comment, when he'd been first learning target practise with the Thylacines there had been a few occasions where the ship had been a victim of friendly fire.
"We're going to go over everything you've learnt so far, basic movement, getting used to the effects from the movement, zero grav manoeuvring, the works, you ready for it."
"I am."
Those two words from Harry Potter made Captain Rogers wonder if Harry had any doubts about anything, the simple assurance of readiness was delivered in such a hard and determined manner…
Captain Rogers pulled down his own control systems and screen and pulled up Harry Potter's file.
He had had some space flight experience with the semi-sentient space and air craft.
It obviously must have had some extreme controls to adjust for what the pilot wanted to do.
It was clear watching Harry Potter attempt to control the Thylacine that he knew what he wanted to do, but couldn't do it, the instinct to do and what he could do were two separate things.
However after an hour of flight Harry Potter had shown an extreme improvement, much faster than almost all the new pilots he'd seen in the Thylacines.
"So how is he Lt. Seager?"
"He's a natural Captain. I said he could stop for a bit or play around with some free time, you're monitoring him?" Came Lt Seager's voice.
"Of course, He's had no proper training?" Captain Rogers asked, aware that they were on an open channel, and if Mr Potter Potter was listening…
"No sir, he's a sorcerer."
"Bring him in Lt. Do you think he's up for a trail run with the training weapons engaged? With the rest of the squad?"
"I'd like to try." Harry Potter's voice came through clear, Captain Rogers smiled to himself.
"Sorcerer Potter." Rogers said simply.
"Harry, how did you…" Lt Seager asked curiously.
"You're the one who told me to maintain radio contact, since you weren't saying anything I scanned through the other channels." Harry Potter stated.
Rogers chuckled lightly to himself, this definitely wasn't going to be a person who would freak under…battle conditions, just from that remark he could feel it.
"Come aboard Harry, let's see how you and the Lt. Go against Alpha squad."
Captain Rogers leaned back in his chair in his quarters and flicked through the scanner information collected on Harry Potter and Lt Seager's initial run today.
Lt Seager was flying one of the newly constructed Thylacines, it was exactly the same as the previous Thylacines except the wood which added to the manoeuvrability had been replaced with a wood with far more potential.
The new construction had improved manoeuvrability but not direct power which still came from the omni-directional engines.
The other information related directly to Harry Potter, there was a comparison against his initial moves and reactions against other pilots from their first time in space, now that he could look at a direct comparison the results were…interesting.
Harry Potter was way above most of the pilots they'd had up so far, his adaptation rate was quite high and response time was above what was expected for someone his age…however there was the extra factors, Harry had effectively been fighting for the past few years more so and in a totally different field than that of other pilots they had had in to test plot the thylacines
The following day Captain Rogers was once again in command watching his full squad, plus one manoeuvring with the training weapons active…with them out there with training weapons the ASCS Hattah's weapons were ready, all defensive systems were online and primed and all their scanners were actively scanning the system.
They were also watching the squad and in particular Harry Potter performing a series of manoeuvres…that new pilots generally didn't do.
Harry Potter spun his craft 'up' in a spinning cork screw, Seager watched as the training shots from his squad tore past narrowly missing their target, he quickly spun port and around regaining his aim on Harry's craft.
"He shouldn't have been able to pull that one off…not after a day in flying the Thylacines….should he captain?" Roberta asked as she flicked through the various sets of scanner data at the Captain's request.
"Not unless he's lucky or determined…from what I know of Mr Potter Roberta, probably both."
"So Sorcerer Pilot Officer Potter how was your first training session with Alpha Squad?" Rogers asked glancing out of the small window in the briefing room, it was almost always covered up for structural integrity reasons, but for the Hattah the people in the Gibson Desert had come up with a mix which would hold up against anything…but even so the double blast covers only came off when they weren't flying or in battle…but it was also good that they had a window…just in case they lost all systems…
"It was amazing…hard…made me think on my feet, but I felt totally in control…it was amazing…I said that already didn't I?" Harry said in awe as he walked over to the window, staring out of it for a few moments, staring at the light of Earth.
"Yes…" Rogers chuckled. "Everyone who's been in the Thylacine's has said that some have joked training should start with a piece of paper."
"With what…" Harry started to say.
"Written on it? Forget everything about a plane." Harry nodded thoughtfully and then smiled wistfully.
"The only think I've ridden is a broom…and a hipogryfff…and a thestral…" Harry Potter trailed off as he counted them off.
Rogers nodded.
"And you're the Harry Potter who's come up with this some might say mad plan…" Rogers noted that he did cringe…though more at the the than at the 'mad plan' part.
"You haven't heard anything from the Br…General Lethbridge-Stewart?" Potter seemed slightly worried. Rogers shook his head.
"You were pretty good out there Sorcerer. What are your plans…You're starting your last year of school Lt Seager tells me."
Harry nodded.
"One more year at Hogwarts…"
Rogers vaguely remembered the name from a briefing some time ago.
"That's the wand user's school in the UK right?"
"Yeah. Now I just have to bide my time till my insane plan can be finished…" He said with a slight smile.
"What are your plans after that?" Chris Rogers asked him.
"Well I'm already in UNIT…dunno Captain…maybe spend some time with UNIT on the ground or…" He trailed off again.
"Or?" Chris prompted.
"On a ship…" Harry shrugged
"You could be a great thylacine pilot." Chris offered casually.
"Poaching me already?" Harry chuckled. Rogers smiled and rose from his chair and stood with him by the window.
"Nothing of the sort, you just seems a little…restless."
"I just…I dunno. I think when I've finished all that…" Harry gestured at the planet. "I want to try a few things, the flying was great…perhaps I could pursue it…but I don't want it to be the only thing…I want to see a lot more…try things…"
"With an attitude like that…" Rogers trailed off.
"Like that?" Harry asked.
"You're going to have an interesting time of it Sorcerer Potter." 'Not just blowing up a star…' Rogers thought to himself.
"Probably filled with danger, life threatening situations and people out to kill me and long periods of nothing."
"Why?" Rogers asked suddenly…admittedly there were some things out here that were out to kill them…but that wasn't everything.
"That's what my life had been like so far, I doubt it would differ just for a change of location…" Harry muttered.
"Come on let's get you a bunk, I think you'll be up for a bit more training, the General will send word of anyone wanting else to kill you." The captain patted him on the shoulder and led him to the door.
--//
"Will do General Sir you'll have Harry back within the next couple of hours."
"Thank you Captain." The video link broke off.
Rogers was glad that he could actually have a real time conversation with Night Wolf Command whilst in space…although this was the only instance that they could…more or less inside the solar systems and a couple of thousand kilometres outside of it was about the range of their communications.
Any further out and they would need to go to audio, and any distance that required them to engage their hyperspace window generator engines they needed to use a degree of power and it wasn't anything near real time.
Supposedly this was one of the things to be addressed with the Q40 element, communications and guidance beacons allowing for extended bandwidth for communications with Earth.
"So you're leaving us then?" Lt Stewart Seager met Harry on his way to the teleport room, Harry had been with them for the past three weeks training, getting to know the Thylacine systems…everything really.
"Looks like it…seems everything's about to…or is hitting the fan." Harry said hitting the lift button.
"Entering high Earth orbit." The captain's voice came through as they walked into the teleport room.
"Sorcerer Potter, it was interesting having you along."
"Same here captain, it was…brilliant, amazing…I'm still lost for words…" Harry admitted to the air as he took the teleport rock and walked into the area.
"Don't get yourself killed." Rogers said, warning him in the same voice that he'd used to berate him after Harry had (albeit accidentally) flown quite close to Saturn's rings.
"Don't intend to captain." Harry said looking up to the room.
"See ya Stewart." Harry said and turned to face Stewart Seager.
"Good luck with the magic and all Harry." He waved as the teleport made its noise and Harry Potter disappeared out of the ASCS Hattah teleport room…only to reappear a moment later inside Night Wolf Command.
Lethbridge Stewart looked up, Harry must have at least jogged from the teleport room to get here this fast.
"So what's happened Brigadier?" Harry asked as soon as he'd entered.
"I received this, this morning." Lethbridge Stewart handed Harry a note of parchment.
Greyhound Leader.
Harry asked me to inform you when it happened.
The Daily Prophet broke the story of Dumbledore's charges (all of them) today.
The Prophet didn't report how Dumbledore had been fined, or if he was going to be sent to Azkaban or what…
You might want to ask Harry back at this time, as…whatever plan he has may need to step up.
Moony.
"Right…well looks like I should be heading back then Brig…" Harry said after a momentary pause he handed back the letter. "When is good for me to take Remus to the Inferno site?"
Harry had asked him if he could initially take Remus to the Inferno site with Colonel Jones as Remus had clearance…just to explain the finner points of the plan, just in case there was anything that they had all overlooked. They would also be able to discuss the placement of people for the coming battle and how to avoid friendly fire and other such problems.
"Send or drop in with a message Harry and I'll organise it and if he's got the latest of Voldemort's forces." Lethbridge Stewart started, with Voldemort's forces handing back and not attacking in any numbers…possibly because they had removed such a great deal Night Wolf didn't have a clear idea of force numbers.
"I'll ask if they've got numbers." Harry said with a nod. "I should go. Can I drop my stuff from the thylacine training…?" He held up a small backpack.
Lethbridge Stewart nodded, as they walked Harry talked on his past three weeks on the Hattah and various other things
Harry placed his pack in the room that they were using to plan 'The Plan', for the past few weeks everything had been ticking over and the room had only changed in minor ways…mainly from Colonel Jones and his own work into planning movements for the battle.
"Thanks Brigadier." Harry said after making sure he'd emptied his pockets of anything 'problematic'. "Will be in touch." Then he disappeared in a black swirl of air.
--//
This chapter wasn't going to be this long…but this is the way it turned out, mainly because I wasn't sure where I was going to end it.