Double Eagle(科幻战争)-第45部分

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“Let’s　try　it　again。”
Lucerna　AB；　07。43
“Commander？　Commander　Eads？”
Jagdea　ran　to　catch　up　with　the　man。　They　were　crossing　a　busy　gantry　walkway　deep　in　the
heart　of　the　base。　Tannoy　announcements　kept　booming　out；　and　personnel　jostled　and　hurried　past。
“Commander　Eads？”　Jagdea　said。
The　man　turned；　his　head　cocked。　“Who’s　calling　my　name？”
She’d　been　told　he　was　blind。　Look　for　the　blind　officer；　several　people　had　said。　“My　apologies；
sir。　I’m　Commander　Jagdea；　Phantine　XX。”
“Are　you　indeed？　And　why　were　you　after　me？”
“I　was　hoping　to　talk　to　you；　sir。　Get　some　advice。”
“About　what？”
“Pilots。　I’m　looking　for　pilots　to　replace　losses　in　my　flight。”
“Then　surely　you　should　be　talking　to　Navy　reserve；”　he　said。
“I　started　there。　Navy　reserve　has　no　one　airworthy。　The　handful　of　able　pilots　who　have　come　in
with　the　evac　have　already　been　assigned　to　Navy　flights。　So　I　asked　the　Munitorum　for　lists　of
airworthy　Commonwealth　pilots　here　on　Lucerna。”
Eads　chuckled。　“You　can’t　do　that。　Navy　doesn’t　take　pilots　from　the　PDF。”
“Because　the　Navy　believes　it　is　an　elite　service　and　chooses　to　draw　only　on　its　own。　I　know。
That’s　what　the　Munitorum　officer　told　me；”　Jagdea　said。　“The　thing　is；　the　Phantine　XX　isn’t　Navy。
It’s　Imperial　Guard。　An　aberration；　but　one　that　permits　me　the　scope　to　recruit　from　the　PDF　if　I
choose。”
Eads　shook　his　head；　amused。　“The　Navy　won’t　like　that。”
“The　Navy　can　lump　it。　The　precedent　is　already　well　established；　thanks　to　a　priest　who—Look
I　won’t　bore　you　with　the　story。　The　point　is；　I　have　the　list　of　Commonwealth　fliers。”　Jagdea　patted
a　fat　folder　under　her　arm。　“I　was　told　you　were　the　man　to　ask　about　recommendations。”
“Can　we　walk　and　talk？”　Eads　asked。　“I’m　due　on　shift　at　Operations　at　eight。”
“Of　course。”
They　moved　away　off　the　gantry　and　along　an　equally　busy　rock…cut　corridor。　Jagdea　noticed
how　even　the　most　hurried…looking　personnel　they　met　respectfully　stood　aside　to　let　Eads　pass。
“You　know　the　men。　You　had　command　at　Theda　North。”
“Before　the　Navy　arrived。　I’m　afraid　I　can’t　read　your　lists。　I　left　my　code…reader　behind　in　the
haste　to　evacuate。　I’m　lost　without　it。”
“I　could　read　out　the　list　to　you；　sir。”
“As　I　said；　my　shift　starts　at　eight。　Maybe　later；　commander。”
“With　respect；　sir；　time　is　very　short。　Is　there　no　one　you　can　think　of？”
The　main　hatch　into　Lucerna　Operations　lay　ahead　of　them。
“Well；　there　is　one。　Good　pilot。　I　know　he’s　here　because　he　came　in　with　me。　And　I　know　for　a
fact　he’s　done　simulation　time　orienting　on　your　machines。”
“That’s　a　good　start。”
“His　name’s　Scalter。　Frans　Scalter。　I　recommend　him　highly。　He　works　Operations　too；　but　he’s
not　on　this　shift。　Someone　can　track　him　down　for　you。”
“Thank　you；　sir。　Can　I　come　and　find　you　later？　Run　through　the　lists？”
“Of　course。”
They’d　reached　the　doorway。　Jagdea　could　hear　the　frantic　chatter　of　the　busy　Operations　floor
beyond　the　hatch。　Juniors　ran　in　and　out　with　data…slates　and　chart　reports。　A　young　man　was
standing　by　the　hatch。　He　seemed　to　be　waiting　for　Eads。　He　looked　somehow　familiar　to　Jagdea。
163
“Good　morning；　Flight；”　he　said　to　Commander　Eads。
“Call　that　a　salute？”　Eads　replied。　“Ready　to　go；　Darrow？”
“Yes；　sir。”
“I’ll　expert　you　later　then；　commander；”　Eads　said　to　Jagdea；　then　allowed　his　junior　to　lead　him
away　into　the　hustle　of　the　Operations　deck。
Lucerna　AB；　08。30
They　stood　on　an　observation　platform　high　amongst　the　island　cliffs。　It　was　a　fine；　clear　morning；
though　the　wind　was　strong　and　tugged　at　their　hair。　A　hundred　metres　below　them；　the　sea　crashed
in　against　the　foot　of　the　pink　crags。
“Almost　romantic；”　said　Beqa。　“The　sea　and　the　islands。　My　family　took　me　on　holiday　to　the
Midwinters　when　I　was　young。　Me　and　Eido。　We　stayed　on　Salthaven。　There　are　beaches　there　Eido
loved　it。　That　was　before　the　war　really　took　hold；　obviously。　A　time　when　holidays　were　something
that　people　did。”
“One　day；　I’ll　take　you　on　a　holiday。　I　promise。”　She　smiled　at　Viltry。　“Don’t　make　promises
you　can’t　keep。”
“No；　really。　I　mean　it；　all　I’ve　got　to　do　is　defeat　the　enemy；　and　we　can　have　all　the　holidays　we
want。”　She　shook　her　head；　amused。　“So　you　say　they’ve　found　you　a　job？”　he　said。
“In　munitions　prep。　The　senior　who　assigned　me　seemed　impressed　by　my　skills。　All　those　long
night　shifts　at　the　manufactory　weren’t　a　waste。”
“That’s　good。”
“I　start　this　afternoon。”
“You　haven’t　said　anything　about　the　way　I　look；”　Viltry　said。
“I’m　trying　not　to　think　about　it。　It’s　difficult；　because　you’re　very　handsome　in　that　new
flightsuit；　all　shaved　and　groomed。　You’ve　found　your　squadron；　haven’t　you？”
“No；”　said　Viltry。　“But　I　found　a　Phantine　unit　here　that　needed　a　pilot。　Fighters；　would　you
believe？　That’ll　take　some　re…learning。　It’s　called　the　Phantine　XX。　Umbra　Flight。”　He　showed　her
the　insignia　pins　and　badges　on　his　new　flight　coat。
“Very　nice；”　she　said；　and　looked　away　at　the　sea。
“I　have　to　fly；　Beq。　It’s　what　I　do。　They　need　every　pilot　they　can　get　right　now。　I　would　be
failing　the　Throne　if　I　didn’t　do　this。”
“I　know。”
“And　maybe　when　the　war’s　done　here；　I　can　apply　to　leave　the　service　and　stay　here　with　you。”
Beqa　Mayer　smiled。　“The　war　is　never　done；　Oskar。　If　it　finishes　here；　a　fine　pilot　like　you　will
be　needed　somewhere　else。　They　won’t　let　you　leave。　You’re　a　resource。　They’ll　keep　you　flying
until　the　enemy　finally　claims　you。　Remember　what　I　said　about　promises　you　couldn’t　keep？”
“I’m　sorry；”　he　mumbled。
“It’s　all　right。　Really。　We’ve　had　some　time。　It’s　been　brief；　but　very　sweet。　I　thought　I’d　lost
you　once；　and　the　Emperor　allowed　you　to　come　back。　I　couldn’t　go　through　that　again。　You　fly。　I’ll
be　proud　of　you。　That’s　all　that　needs　to　be　said。”
The　wind　had　picked　up　again。　She　shivered。　“That　blasted　old　coat　of　yours；”　he　snapped。　He
bent　over　his　kit　bag　and　pulled　out　his　ragged　Halo　Flight　jacket。　“Take　this。　It’s　a　bit　battered　and
torn；　I’m　afraid；　but　it’s　got　a　fleece　lining。”
He　put　it　over　her　shoulders；　then　pulled　her　close。
“Thanks；”　she　said；　pressing　against　his　side。　She　rested　her　head　on　his　chest。
“You’re　right；”　he　said；　gazing　at　the　view。　“It　is　almost　romantic。”
There　was　a　boom　like　the　end　of　the　world；　and　eight　Thunderbolts　slammed　up　into　the　air
from　a　hangar　in　the　cliff　beneath　them。　The　throaty　roar　of　the　formation’s　afterburners　shook　their
diaphragms。
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As　the　planes　climbed　away；　they　both　laughed。
“Until　something　like　that　happens；”　Viltry　said。
She　kissed　his　cheek。　“To　hell　with　them。　We　can　make　our　own　romance。　You　go　and　fly；
Oskar。　I’ve　told　the　Emperor　to　protect　you。”
Over　the　Midwinters；　14。10
Umbra　Flight　was　barely　up　when　they　spotted　the　air　battle。　To　the　west；　the　pale　green　sky　was
bright　with　flashes　and　tinged　with　smoke。　And　it　wasn’t　the　only　battle。　Wings　from　Onstadt　were
coming　in　on　a　major　fight　to　the　east；　and　everything　Viper　Atoll　had　was　lofting　against　a
thousand…bomber　wave　heading　out　across　the　Sea　of　Ezra　towards　Limbus。
“Umbra；　rise　to　four　thousand；”　Jagdea　ordered。　She　had　four　machines　with　her：　Marquall；　Van
Tull；　Cordiale　and　Viltry。　Viltry’s　first　flight。　She　had　sensed　his　nerves　as　he’d　run　to　his　bird。
Umbra　Flight　had　already　been　up　twice　that　day。　A　full　flight　sortie　at　09。00　hours　that　had
lasted　two　hours　and　seen　them　turn　back　a　ninety…plane　bomber　formation　with　me　help　of　three
Lightning　wings　out　of　Tamuda　MAB。　Three　kills—Ranfre；　Del　Ruth　and　Jagdea。　Then　Del　Ruth；
Ranfre　and　Zemmic　had　gone　up　just　before　noon　with　Blansher　as　lead；　and　had　a　short　but
ferocious　duel　with　the　top　cover　of　a　Hell　Talon　formation。　Zemmic　and　Blansher　had　scored　kills；
but　they’d　been　grateful　to　see　the　56th　coming　in　to　help　break　the　wave　up。
All　four　were　now　on　refit　turnaround　and　Blansher　was　spending　time　coaching　Kaminsky。
Blansher　was　patient；　but　he　seemed　to　have　doubts　about　Kaminsky’s　talent。
“He’s　getting　the　basic　layout　of　the　Bolt；　but　he　refuses　to　relax；”　Blansher　had　told　her。
“Maybe　he’s　not　the　best　choice。”
“Stick　with　it；”　Jagdea　had　ordered。
They　could　see　the　hostiles　now。　Sixty　Tormentors　pounding　across　the　sea　towards　the
Northern　Affiliation；　laden　with　bombs。　The　51st　had　already　engaged。
“Any　sign　of　escort？”　Jagdea　voxed。
“Nothing　on　the　scope；”　replied　Cordiale。　“But　you’ve　got　to　assume。”
“Start　assuming；”　she　said。　There　was　also　no　sign　of　the　promised　support　for　them　from
Longstrand。　Jagdea　keyed　the　vox。　“Lucerna　Operations；　this　is　Umbra　Leader。　Confirm　other　units
aloft。”
A　buzzing　crackle。　“Operations；　Umbra　Lead。　Kodiak　Flight　and　Orbis　Flight　show　as　launched。
East　of　you；　seventy　kilometres；　closing　low。　Twenty；　repeat；　twenty　machines。”
“Thank　you；　Operations。　We　have　visual　on　the　enemy。　Closing　to　intercept。”
Jagdea　was　reassured　to　hear　that　the　Phantine　wing　commanded　by　her　friend　Wilhem　Hayyes
was　inbound。　She　switched　on　her　gunsight　and　toggled　her　lascannons　to　active。
“Guns　live；　Umbra。　Come　back。”
“Umbra　Eight；　copy。”　That　was　Marquall。
“Umbra　Three；　four…A。”　And　Van　Tull。
“Umbra　Eleven；　check　and　ready。”　Cordiale。
A　pause。
“Umbra　Four？　Come　back；”　Jagdea　voxed。　“Umbra　Four？　Do　you　copy？　Viltry？　Dammit；
Viltry！”
“Copy　you；　Lead。　This　is　Umbra　Four。　Sorry；　I　just　tried　to　switch　on　my　gunsight　and　appear　to
have　turned　on　the　de…mister　and　the　cockpit　light　instead。”
“Viltry？”
“Just　kidding；　Lead。　Guns　live。　On　your　command。”
Jagdea　smiled。　“Operations；　show　Umbra　as　attacking。　Umbra　Flight…　Attack；　attack；　attack！”
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Viltry　was　nothing　like　as　confident　as　he　sounded。　As　he　nursed　the　throttle；　following　Jagdea’s
shallow　dive；　he　saw　the　lumbering　packs　of　Tormentors　filling　the　sky　ahead。　The　slow；　medium
bombers　were　already　firing　from　their　turret　mounts；　chattering　out　streaks　of　heavy　fire。
Viltry　had　flown　Bolts　before；　but　this　seemed　strange　after　so　many　tours　in　Marauders。　It
wasn’t　the　differences　in　cockpit　layout；　or　the　considerably　greater　agility。　It　was　the　fact　that　he
was　alone　again。　One　man；　one　machine。　No　trained　crew　manning　other　stations。
So　focused。　So　very　concentrated。　It　was　all　down　to　him。
Viltry　decided　he’d　better　enjoy　it。　The　Thunderbolt　certainly　felt　like　a　tiny；　speeding　dart
compared　to　G　for　Greta。　They　sliced　down　into　the　enemy　lines。
He　was　reminded　that　air　tactics　were　now　utterly　different　too。　Ordinarily；　he’d　have　been　the
one　flying　the　heavy　plane　in　formation；　fighting　off　the　interceptors。　Not　the　other　way　round。
Jagdea　and　Van　Tull　went　over　the　formation；　blitzing　fire。　Viltry　followed　them；　seeing
Marquall　and　Cordiale　go　under。
Immediately；　three　enemy　machines　started　to　drop　out　of　line；　making　thick　smoke。　One
suddenly　pitched　down；　violently。　Umbra　came　up　and　around　for　the　second　pass。
“Must　do　better；”　Viltry　said　to　himself。
Cordiale　had　the　lead　on　the　turn　and　prosecuted　the　attack。　His　lascannons　flashed　white。　One
of　the　Tormentors　wavered　for　a　moment　then　blew　up　in　a　h