The aircraft was a sight, speeding along the highway only 30 feet off the ground. Much of the vibrations had gotten increasingly worse, and Doug was struggling to keep the helicopter flying straight. The tail rotor shaft was vibrating so much it made their teeth rattle in their skull. None of the vehicles that had come across were operational. Just a few multi car crashes, some burned out husks and a few vehicles lying in ditches that would take way too long to pull out even if they had the means to do so.
During the flight, Priest had found a map in the helicopter and was tracking their progress as best he could. By his calculations, they were getting close to Muncie Indiana and had discussed this should be a suitable place to find other transportation. They had agreed to do a flyby of the Delaware County Regional Airport to see about acquiring another helicopter. They flew within sight of the airport and took in the scene. The raging fires were not there, the littering of bodies and debris were absent, and no chaos was clear among the tranquil scene. Doug and Priest just looked at each other in amazement.
“There is no destruction, no anarchy, no infected that we can see. It is calm down there.” Priest surmised. “It doesn’t give me a warm and fuzzy.” They came closer to the airport where the rest of the team could now take in the view. Priest was surveying the area, “Ok, with the lack of obvious trouble visible, but do not let your guard down…. same tactics, same training, HUA?”
They responded, “HUA.”
Allison looked confused, “HUA?”
Shaw turned to her, “Yeah, HUA. H-U-A. It stands for hear, understand and acknowledge. In the military, it’s a question and a response.”
“Oh,” she said. “I get it. Hua, Sir,” she proclaimed. Priest snickered.
Doc scrunched his face, “He’s not an officer, he’s not a sir. He is a Sargent. He works for a living.”
“Ok, I’m confused. I talked to Captain Webb back at the terminal. So, he doesn’t work? Are you saying he is lazy?” Allison questioned. Doc did a face plant into his hand.
Priest spoke, “Yeah, that’s correct. He’s a lazy piece of shit and doesn’t know his ass from a hole in the ground.”
“Why do you follow him, if he doesn’t know what he is doing?” She said with a serious look on her face.
“Well, we felt sorry for him because no one else wanted him,” Priest continued.
“Well, that was nice of you,” Allison with actual sympathy in her voice. Everyone giggled, rolled their eyes or shook their head.
Doug performed a few fly byes but no other aircraft was out on the flight line. “There may be something parked in one of the two hangars.” The airport was a small local airport, but there were two small hangers, two maintenance and support buildings, along with a small diner attached to the terminal.
“How is she handling?” Priest looked at Doug.
“To be honest, my arms and legs are like jelly trying to hold this pig as straight. I won’t be able to hold it much longer.”
“Ok, set it down in the middle of the flight line. That is give us enough distance to react to anything threatening.”
Doug nodded and brought the aircraft down while spinning it a few times to clear the area before setting it down.
“Ok, team deploy. Doug, keep it running in case the shit hits the fan. Allison, you stay in here, we may be hauling ass back here.” She nodded hesitantly.
Priest exited the helicopter, “Ok, on me.” Priest took point followed by Doc and then Shaw. They strode quietly to the left of the two hangars. The pedestrian door was to the left of the enormous hangar doors. Both of the hangar doors were closed.
Priest tried the door, and it was unlocked. He nodded to Doc and Shaw. Shaw was ready to breach and with that M48 was ready to inflict some serious damage. They breached the door and found a few small luggage carrying carts. All three exited and stalked over to the office area where a figure stepped out. Immediately they trained their guns on the figure.
The figure spit on the ground, “What ya’ll doing here, pointing those damn things in my face?” A man about 65 years old was standing there staring at them. He was wearing old work boots, jeans, a flannel shirt, suspenders, and an old faded Indiana University ball cap that hiked up and toward the back of his head. He sounded like he was from down south as opposed to Indiana.
“Sorry, Sir,” Priest spoke up as they lowered their rifles. “What are you doing here?”
“I work here, what the hell are you boys doing here?”
He was a cantankerous old shit, Priest thought. “Sir, are you aware of what is going on out there?”
“Yep, at least what I understand about it. Everybody else skedaddled. That’s why all the aircraft are gone.”
“Why haven’t you left yet?”
“Well,” he spit, “I really don’t have any other place to go, and besides, I ain’t messin’ with all that shit with evacuating and whatnot. Being shoved in a shelter with a hundred other people, I can’t stand. No, thank you. So, I guess you boys are heading out too?”
“Yes, sir. Trying to make our way back to Fort Campbell,” Doc answered.
“Yep, you got a little way to go. So why you here? Need fuel or something?”