[IC] Prelude - Hannah Omdahl
In-character prelude for dcoda. All other players, reading is encouraged but please don't post in this thread.
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Fort Campbell, Kentucky
02 October 2014
2216 hrs local (0316 hrs Zulu)
The roar from Kingfisher's Rolls-Royce turbine winds through a dull grumble to a whisper as you shut down the OH-58D. Lieutenant Colonel Brad Hamilton reaches across the cockpit from the left seat for a first-bump. "Excellent aviating, Hannah," he says, flipping up the night-vision goggles clamped to his helmet. "Post-flight her and we'll call it a night."
You work through the post-flight checklist, conscious of your squadron commander's scrutiny. You may be in the right seat - the command pilot's seat - tonight, but Hamilton is an OH-58D instructor pilot and maintaining your type-qualification in the Kiowa Warrior rests on his opinion. Night flying is tricky at the best of times and this nimble airframe demands a subtly different set of reflexes than your usual UH-60.
Process complete, you turn over Kingfisher to the ground crew, feeling fairly confident in your performance. The women's locker room is empty at this time of night and a long shower is just what your back muscles need after six hours in the -58. Much refreshed and in a clean flight suit, you're on your way out the door when Hamilton's voice interrupts your progress. "Omdahl." You turn to see him wearing an expression of irritation - not at you, you judge quickly and thankfully.
"Sorry to keep you but it looks like I had a schedule fail," he explains. "My office. This shouldn't take too long."
As you enter Hamilton's office, another man rises to greet you. He's wearing a fatigues in a camouflage pattern that it takes you a moment to recognize as British; you can't begin to parse the rank insignia.
"Miss Omdahl, this is Group Captain Mewes of the British Royal Air Force," Hamilton advises you, seating himself behind his desk. "For your information, the group captain rates as a full colonel here and knows his way around the front office of a Chinook. Among others."
Mewes extends his hand. "A pleasure, Chief Warrant. May I congratulate you on your return to flying status? And, ah -" He looks questioningly at Hamilton. "The other, Colonel?"
"Haven't yet." Hamilton rummages through several piles of correspondence on his desk before finding an envelope, which he flips end-over-end toward you. "Just got you back and it looks like I'm probably gonna lose you," he growls.
Under the two senior officers' gaze, you break the envelope's seal and withdraw a single sheet of paper. You scan it once, then again to be sure you haven't mis-read it, then look up at Hamilton.
"Yup," he confirms. "The 160th wants to steal you. And the Pentagon wants you to listen to another option, too." He stands up. "All yours, Group Captain."
As Hamilton shuts the door behind himself, Mewes turns to face you. "Chief, I know you've had a long day, so I'll be as brief as the subject allows. Prefatory disclaimer: this recruiting offer is voluntary and you will not be subject to any official or unofficial stigma if you decline. Going to the Night Stalkers would be quite the line item for your C.V., whereas we are somewhat less glamorous.
"I command a joint intelligence unit reporting directly to the NATO general staff. Our tasking is counterproliferation against technology and information that could inform WMD attacks. We also work emerging technologies and trends with security implications for the alliance's member nations. Without going into codewords you're not yet cleared for, some of those items are in the aerospace realm."
He gestures toward the folded letter in your hand. "We're standing up an additional team for covert intelligence-gathering and we're in need of technically-minded individuals who can handle themselves in the field. We're looking at your academic background for this, though your flight ratings are a definite advantage as well. I realize infantry work isn't your métier, but the Green Platoon pipeline for the 160th should bring you up to speed. Caveat: passing that qualifier is also a go/no-go for us.
"Finally, I will say that my people spend a lot of time in harm's way. We are not officially a ground combat unit but it is an intrinsic part of our actual jobs. So if you come aboard, you should expect to be shot at and you will be expected to shoot back." His gaze flicks to your leg. "I understand you have some experience with that sort of thing but I feel that full disclosure is necessary in this case.
"What else can I say to inform your decision?"