The next day, October 2, 2014, 6:00 AM
Robert and Irma woke up with a start and jumped out of their bed when the alarm clock started going off.
There was a good reason for it: they were going to the Miramar Air Show at MCAS Miramar. "This is gonna be so awesome!" Robert said.
"Yeah, I've always wanted to see the Blue Angels!" Irma replied. They quickly slathered on some sunblock and gathered everything they would need for their air show experience.
After a quick breakfast, the two were on the bus headed for Miramar Road. Once they got off, they still had a ways to go, but, after seeing the huge back-up of traffic, they were quickly glad that they decided to walk from the bus stop. "Well, looks like we're walking from here." Irma said.
"Yeah, well, at least we'll be avoiding all this traffic." Robert replied. It was 7:56 when they got close to the Red gate.
There was quite a line when they got to the gate, but they did get in at 8:25. They were amazed by the sight of the various aircraft on display.
"Well, shall we find us a spot?" Robert asked. "Yeah, let's find one, quick while we can." Irma replied.
They found a suitable spot by the eastern end of the grandstands, and set up the blanket they brought with them for this purpose. After their spot was set up, they went off to check out the static displays.
The first aircraft they checked out was the C-130J Super Hercules. "Wow, this is cool!" Irma said as she and Robert were checking out the cargo bay.
After taking a few pictures, the couple checked out the KC-135R Stratotanker. "Damn, I wonder how many aircraft this thing can refuel in one sortie!" Irma said.
"Who knows? It depends on the type of aircraft." Robert replied.
At 8:50, the couple made their way back to their spot for the start of the show. Once they got settled in, the "Shockwave" jet truck was about to start its run. Irma and Robert had their cameras poised, ready to film the event.
The jet truck's engines ignited with a loud roar, creating a large plume of smoke as the truck began to race down the runway, flames shooting out of the smokestacks. "WHOA!" Irma exclaimed as she watched the action.
The truck reached 319 MPH before drag chutes deployed to slow the truck down near the other end of the runway. "That was sick!" Robert said.
"I know, I've never seen anything like that!" Irma replied.
After the jet truck event was the special effects hang glider flight, the Silver Wings wing walking show, the fly-by of several WWII war-birds, including a B-25 Mitchell bomber, a Navy Trainers parade, a T-33 Shooting Star demo and a mock dogfight between a F8-F Bearcat and an A6M Zero.
At 11:00 was a flight by the Horsemen team in two F8-Fs, a spectacular sailplane demo and a flight of the AT-6 Texan "Wardog". At 11:30, the Red Bull helo demo began.
Robert and Irma were astonished by the maneuvers that the Eurocopter BO 105 CBS was performing.
At 12:15 PM, the Army's Golden Knights parachute team performed their show. Irma was mesmerized by the trails of pink smoke that were streaming from each parachutist.
At 12:30, the Marine Air-Ground Task Force demo began with all of the aircraft involved taking off, including C-130Js, KC-130s, F/A-18Cs, CH-53Es, CH-46Es, AV-8Bs .
The show started with a KC-130 tanker refueling a pair of CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters, followed by another KC-130 refueling a pair of F/A-18 Hornets and a pair of AV-8B Harriers as they flew by the crowd.
After that, a flight of UH-1Y Venom helicopters loaded with infantry came in and and hovered over a pre-established LZ as the soldiers roped to the ground from the chopper.
During this event, Five Finger Death Punch's "Bad Company" was blasting over the loudspeakers, a song that Robert and Irma enjoyed, and thought suited the current event in progress.
They watched in awe as the show progressed, including high-speed reconnaissance runs by F-18s, and airstrikes by F-18s and Harriers, and even naval artillery barrages.
Two Super Stallions then came in and landed to drop reinforcements as another UH-1Y flew in and deployed a SPIE rig to extract the friendly infantry squad. "Wow, they really do that?" Irma asked.
"Yep, it's good for getting our guys out of a hot zone in a hurry!" Robert replied.
Just then, an F/A-18D carried out an airstrike against "enemy" positions, followed by a pair of F/A-18C Hornets. As "Crazy Train" began blaring over the loudspeakers,the UH-1Y then lifted off, the troops dangling below on the SPIE rig.
As the Venom flew away, a pair of Harriers flew in and carried out airstrikes on enemy positions, followed by a pair of AH-1Z Viper gunships carrying out strafing runs with their M197 tri-barreled 20mm rotary cannon.
A pair of MV-22 Ospreys flew over as another pair of AH-1Zs carried out their strafing runs. The Ospreys came in and landed to deploy their loads of infantry as a trio of CH-46E Sea Knights, or "Shrubs" flew in to deploy their own troops as the Viper gunships stood by.
A pair of F/A-18C carried out an airstrike against enemy positions to support the landing.
As the Sea Knights and Ospreys dusted off, the gunships moved in to support the infantry, the UH-1Y circling above. A Super Stallion flew by with a Humvee slung underneath the fuselage. Once the Humvee was on the ground, the sling rig was released, and the Super Stallion flew away.
A pair of Harriers flew over head carrying out airstrikes as a group of LAV (Light Armored Vehicles) and a pair of M1A2 Abrams tanks rolled in to support the Marine infantry, a group of Humvees behind them.
A pair of F/A-18Cs then flew in, carrying out a massive carpet-bombing-style airstrike, followed by a pair of Harriers, and finally, a single F/A-18D carrying out BDA (Battle Damage Assessment).
The Abrams tanks, Humvees and LAV-25s rolled in for a pass just a few feet from the front of the crowd, which began applauding loudly as the vehicles passed by. The various aircraft involved carried out one last fly-by before landing, marking the end of the demo.
"Wow, that was freakin' AWESOME!" Irma exclaimed. "I know, that was some great action! Imagine if that firepower had been used against Phobos!" Robert replied. They had taken lots of video footage of the event.
Next was the F-16 demo, followed by a demo of the USAF's latest fighter: the F-22 Raptor, ending with the Heritage flight with a P-51D Mustang flying side-by-side in formation with the F-16 and F-22.
After that was the Oracle Challenger flight, followed by the flight of Robert's favorite aircraft, the Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet, AKA "Superbug" and "Rhino".
The F/A-18F demo ended with the Legacy flight with the F/A-18F flying side-by-side in formation with an F8-F Bearcat. Next, at 2:30 PM, was the AV-8B Harrier demo.
In between each performance, they got up to check out the static displays, from the F/A-18F Super Hornet, and the B-52H Stratofortress bomber, to the C-5C Galaxy and the MV-22 Osprey.
"Now, the best of the best, a fitting way to end the show: the Blue Angels!" Robert said as the six famous F/A-18C Hornets started up their F404-400 turbofan engines. The team's C-130, nicknamed "Fat Albert" took off and began a series of spectacular high-speed passes.
After Fat Albert landed, four of the Hornets lined up on the runway and began roaring down the runway.
Robert and Irma watched in awe as the Hornets carried out their daring series of maneuvers that display the pilots' incredible skills and remarkable precision. After a minute, the other two Hornets took off and joined in.
The couple had their cameras rolling as they recorded the incredible routine.
After nearly an hour, the performance was over, leaving the audience, including Irma and Robert, stunned in awe. The end of the Blue Angels performance marked the end of the air show.
Robert and Irma packed up their belongings and began making their way back to the center of town.
"So, where do you wanna eat tonight?" Robert asked. "Well, I'm kinda in the mood for Italian tonight." Irma replied.
"I know just the place." Robert replied with a smile. After two hours, they ended up at the Olive Garden.
They were seated in a booth after a fifteen minute wait. "Wow, this is a really nice-looking place." Irma said.
"Yeah, this is my favorite place to go when I got out for dinner, or sometimes lunch." Robert replied. They both ordered spaghetti marinara with minestrone soup. Irma and Robert each reached for a breadstick and began munching away.
"Wow, these are awesome!" Irma said after she swallowed her first mouthful.
"Yeah, they're the best!" Robert replied. After ten minutes, their orders came and they ate heartily, enjoying every incredible morsel.
"Wow, I'm so full!" Irma said after they had finished. "Yeah, me too!" Robert replied. "Now I see why you went here all the time, the food's incredible!" Irma said. "Yeah, and well worth the price." Robert replied.
Robert paid the check and the two left and stepped outside. At this point, it was 6:45 PM.
Robert decided to take Irma to the Ultra-Zone laser tag arena just across the street. There was small group there, and Irma easily recognized Megan in the group.
"Megan!" she exclaimed as she rushed towards her brand-new friend.
"Irma! Robert!" Megan squealed in equal excitement as she rushed towards Irma and the two wrapped each other in a bear hug.
"I didn't expect to see you guys here! Have you been here before?" Megan asked. "I have, this is Irma's first time here." Robert replied.
Robert then approached the counter and bought a round of game spots for himself and Irma.
After five minutes, the game-masters called in the first-time players into the briefing room. At that moment, everyone but Robert went in.
Robert patiently waited as the others were being briefed on the basics of laser tag. Ten minutes later, the others stepped out and walked towards Robert.
"So, you guys ready?" Robert asked. "Yeah, we got this!" Irma replied enthusiastically.
"Alright, Let's get ready to rock!" Robert replied. Just then, the game-masters called in all players for the next game. Robert and the others went into the briefing room and sat down next to another group for the pregame briefing.
After the briefing, the group was sorted into their teams. Robert and Irma, along with Megan ended up on the blue team while the other group ended up on the red team. "OK, let's do this!" Megan said as she and the others put on their packs.
The packs had blue lights flashing on their shoulders, back, chest and the attached laser gun.
These were the weak points of the packs, and would shut the pack off for five seconds if hit. The other teams' packs were exactly the same, except for the color of the flashing lights, which were red.
On the game-masters' signal, the two teams entered the arena and the fight began!
The MW2 Navy SEALS spawn theme played in Robert's head as his team entered the dark arena, music blasting from overhead speakers.
Robert's team split up and scattered. Irma and Megan went with Robert as he went towards the red base. "OK, cover me while I hit the base!" Robert ordered as they took up their positions.
As Robert began shooting the base's core, Irma and Megan took up defensive positions, covering the entrances to the base. "Red base under attack!" a female voice blared from the speakers. "Damn, hurry up! They're gonna be comin' at us fast!" Megan warned as the voice blared the warning a second time.
Robert hit the final weak point, resulting in the core's lights shutting off as the sound of an explosion rang out from the speakers within the base. "Red base destroyed." the voice blared as Robert and the others cleared out and rushed towards the upper levels. As they went up, they ended up getting hit.
Robert and the other two in his group used the five seconds that their packs' lights were off to take defensive positions on the upper levels. Once their packs reactivated, they were back in the fight.
"Wow, taking out that base was rather easy!" Irma said. "Yeah, when there's no large group of enemies comin' at you!" Megan replied.
Just then, Megan's pack lights went out as she was hit again. "Dang it, not again!" she exclaimed as she rushed to find cover. Suddenly, the sentinel above them turned on and started shooting green lasers in a wide arc.
"TAKE COVER!" Robert ordered as he and the others rushed to avoid the sentinel's fire. Five seconds later, the sentinel stopped firing and Robert's group got back up. Robert came down and led the group down to the ground level back towards the red base.
This time, Irma prepared to attack as Robert and Megan took up defensive positions. "OK, were in position...do it!" Robert ordered.
Irma immediately began shooting the base's core as Robert and Megan picked off any enemies that got close.
Several seconds later, the familiar alert blared out as Irma completed her attack.
"OK, now let's get to our base so that the rest of our guys can get a shot at it!" Robert suggested as he rushed towards the blue base, Irma and Megan close behind him.
Just then, he heard a different warning that increased the group's drive to get to the base. "Blue base under attack!" the voice blared, causing Robert and his group to pick up the pace.
The lack of a second warning indicated that the enemy's attack failed. After successfully foiling the enemy's attack on their base, the other two team members saw Robert's group approaching and got ready.
"OK, now it's your turn, go get 'em!" Robert said as the other group group headed towards the red base. Robert's group took up defensive positions as they prepared to protect the base.
Robert listened as the familiar warnings blared out, indicating that the group's attack was underway. Over the next five minutes, the second group finished their attacks and rejoined Robert's group. "OK, lets defend this base at all costs!" Robert said.
"To the last shot, we will fight to insure that this base does not fall!" Irma said in a mock dramatic voice as she and the others took up fighting positions.
They fought on for the next two minutes, until an alarm began sounding on everyone's packs and the pattern of the lights' flashing changed.
At the same time, the packs' name displays began flashing the words "GAME OVER". Robert and the others knew, that this indicated that the game had ended.
The teams made their way back into the pack room, its location indicated by a flashing green light above the door.
The group took their packs off and made their way back to the lobby. "Whew, that was incredible!" Megan said.
"Yeah, that sure was one hell of a good time!" Irma added.
"Yeah, we whooped their butts like they were nothing, NOTHING!" Robert added excitedly. Robert and the others looked up at the nearby screen which then displayed the overall results.
On the screen, a somewhat short yellow bar and next to it, a extremely tall blue bar appeared. Next to the bars, the individual player stats and the top three players' names appeared.
"And the winner is...the Blue Team!" the game-master at the counter announced, causing Robert's group to cheer.
"Wow, I'm glad we did this, this was a lot of fun!" Megan said as they left after collecting their scorecards.
"Hmm, maybe I should take Chris and Lilian here sometime, they'll have a blast!" Irma said. "Well, now what?" Irma asked as the couple walked outside. Robert checked his watch, which read "7:29pm". "Well, I'm kinda beat, let's go back to the hotel." Robert replied.
"OK, I'm kinda tired, too." Irma replied as they made their way to the Old Town trolley station. They took a Blue Line train downtown and walked to the hotel.
Once they got into their hotel room, they cuddled up in each other's arms and quickly fell asleep.