FIRE ON HIGH

    “Fire On High” is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental. All characters and settings © Tigermark 2003-2018 unless otherwise noted. Request permission before using them, please.

The characters of Anatol Altaisokova and Melinda Altaisokova are my names for characters © Max Blackrabbit. They appear in this story with his permission. The characters of Brandy, Maxwell, Tonya and Zig Zag are also © Max Blackrabbit and appear here with his permission. Events and information relating to Tonya, Anatol, and their family are presented here, but are not to be considered canon to those characters or any other story but this one. ZZ Studios, and all characters associated with ZZ Studios, James Sheppard, and Marvin Badger © James Bruner and appear here with his permission.  Although characters from and events referring to Zig Zag the Story appear here, this story is not canon to that one, and the author will disavow any knowledge of this story. Wanda Vixen © Chris Yost and appears here with his permission. Sabrina Mustidalae © Eric W. Schwartz and appears here with his permission. This story is not canon to Sabrina Online the comic, or Sabrina Online the Story, either. Matt Barstock, Angie Rockwell, Intermountain Charter, The Bitch, and her crew, and Jerry Kitt © Silver Coyote. See their story HERE.  Gail Rutherford © me and is not canon to any other story involving ZZ Studios. Gabrielle Ryder and Jean LeBrun © Aslaug, from her Transitions stories. See them at her site, The Axe Shed, available from the links page. Aramis Dagaz is© his player and appears here with his permission.

Author’s Note: Lewiston, Maine’s airport, identifier KLEW, is actually uncontrolled. That is, it has no control tower. Poetic license was used for this story, so Alex and company talk with a control tower whilst aviating there.

Chapter 113

Just Getting Started

Monday at Kentiger was the calm before the storm. They had a couple of flights each day, but nowhere near the rush coming the next week. Alex was reviewing a revenue report in preparation for the coming tax season. The weekend just over had been scheduled for his Reserve weekend, but that had been delayed a week so the Tigerkahts could get back from a short-notice exercise in Europe. Corrie had agreed to come along, and they were going to go out with Tasha and Jedi Saturday night.

His intercom chimed, and he answered right away.

“Yes Loni?”

“Zig Zag on Line Two for you,” the lynx said smoothly, sounding much less harried than last week.

“Thank you,” Alex replied, turning off the intercom and punching the button for Line Two.

“Hi Zig! How’s it going?” the tiger asked.

“Hi Alex, pretty good actually. James and I are on for Thanksgiving with you. Should be fun! We’ll drive down Wednesday if we can use your spare room, and drive back Friday,” Zig replied.

“Sounds good here. I’ll make sure the sheets are fresh and I have my earplugs,” Alex teased.

“Hey, we don’t have to, oh, quit teasing!” Zig chided playfully.

“Sure,” Alex replied, relaxing into the conversation. “It’ll be great to see you two again. Oh, and be prepared. Of Corrie’s two friends that are coming, one is a fan and the other had never heard of you, or so she claims.”

“Oh? Now that sounds like an interesting day’s conversation. Don’t worry, I’ll take it easy on both of them,” Zig replied, still sounding playful.

“I’m sure you will. They’re both grown femmes, I have no doubt they can handle it,” Alex stated.

“Yeah, yeah. Oop! Got another call coming in. I’ll call later to confirm when we’ll get there. Later Cousin!” The skunkette was now in a rush.

“Sounds fine, later. Love you!” Alex managed to get in before the line disconnected. Corrie had been all for the idea of James and Zig joining them. Now that it looked like it was going to happen, would her friends be ready for it? He decided his next move would be to call the caterer.

#   #   #

Monday morning at Helipro found Billy and Corrie working on scheduling the checkrides and orientation flights for the new pilots. Corrie was going to take Billy and Kathleen up in one of the Jetrangers to explore a bird’s-eye view of the city and area, looking for hazards or unusual features. They hoped to do that around mid-morning.

At just before 1000, the door opened, and Farrah Townsend walked in. Kathleen looked surprised, as the puma feme hadn’t said when she could start work.

“Hi Kath!” She greeted the collie with her usual bright smile. Kath returned the smile, a bit uncertain.

“Hi Farrah. What’s up? Did we forget to give you something?”

“No, no,” Farrah replied. “I just stopped in to see when you needed me to start. I’ve got all my stuff in my car, and I’m apartment hunting today, so I wanted to see when my first day of work would be.”

Kathleen thought a second, and then buzzed Corrie on the intercom.

“Yes Kath?” the lioness replied.

“Corrie, Farrah’s here. She’s apartment hunting and wants to know when we want her to start work.”

“Send her on back, please.” They could hear Corrie’s smile in her voice.

Kathleen nodded. “Go on back. Hers is the desk in the area your last interview was in.”

“Thanks, Kath, talk to you later,” the puma replied as she walked on. She went into the hangar and then on into the lounge area, and on up to Corrie’s desk.

“Hi Corrie!”

“G’day Farrah, have a seat. Glad to see you so eagah to get stahted. You say you’re apahtment hunting?” Corrie inquired. She caught herself wistfully recalling how Ben did this with his new hires from out of town.

“Yep, got any good leads? I flew home and drove back over the weekend, so I’m coming in this morning stone cold.” Farrah tilted her head with an inquiring look. Corrie reached into her purse and pulled out a business card.

“This is the rental agency I’m renting from. Lexington Apahtments and Townhouses. They have some good one and two-bedroom places, or you can take a roommate and get something more upscale. Two of my friends went through them as well.”

“Kewl! Now, is there any part of town I need to avoid?” Farrah asked.

“Downtown is okay, Be wary close to the University. West of the business district can be bad, but the fahther you go, the bettah it gets. Same to the South. East side is mostly okay. Anything outside New Circle Road is fine.” Corrie ticked off on her fingers as she gave the rundown.

“Great! Now, when do I start?” the puma asked with another tilt of her head.

“Let’s give you a couple of days to find a place and settle in. Do you want to do your check ride Friday or Monday? We can do your orientation the same day,” the lioness replied.

“Definitely Friday. I want to get going. How many charters do we have?”

Corrie smiled at the puma’s enthusiasm. “Some, but not until December. As fast as you three are coming on board, we may begin flying in early December.”

Farrah’s usual smile dimmed, and her brow furrowed in a look of concern. “Oh, I didn’t know I’d be so long without a paycheck. I may—”

Corrie held up a paw. “Hold on. We stahted paying you a base salary as of last Friday. Your flight hours will add to that, but we don’t want our pilots stahving if we have a slow period. Don’t worry, all that was figured in when we made the business plan. You’ll get your first paycheck next week the day before Thanksgiving, or it’ll be in your bank account if you direct deposited.”

Farrah’s smile had grown brighter as Corrie explained. “Oh, whew! I know Kath said that during the package briefing, but I thought she meant after we started flying charters. This is so great! I knew this was going to be a great place, thank you!”

“You’re welcome. Anything else?” the lioness asked.

Farrah stood, and Corrie did, too. “Yes,” the puma said. “Are hugs allowed?”

Corrie looked at the femme and saw that she was needing some reassurance.

“In heah, okay. Not in front of the pax. If you hug Billy, his wife might deck you. If you hug my fiancé too long, I might deck you.”

The two femmes shared a friendly hug. Farrah looked at Corrie’s paw.

“Oh, what a pretty ring! Who’s the lucky fur I need to avoid?”

“Alex, big white tigah. He’s Billy’s pahtner over at Kentigah, an executive charter business ovah across the way. He’s rated in choppahs too, so he could be in here from time to time. I was mostly teasing. He’s a really good guy, and wouldn’t evah hug you, or any of you, on his own,” Corrie responded.

“Okay, got it. No hugging the bosses, except you sometimes. Thanks, I needed the hug. It’s been a rough trip. Thanks for the info and help, too,” Farrah stated, looking down demurely.

“I understand. I left a great job and boss in Lewiston, Maine to come heah and staht this business, but Billy is bonzah sharp and experienced, and I have a degree in Aviation Business Management to go with me helicopter skills,” Corrie said gently. Farrah’s smile came back at full wattage.

“Then I won’t worry. Thank you again. I’m headed out, see you Friday.”

“See you then. Good Hunting!” Corrie responded.

The puma smiled and walked out. She told Kathleen goodbye on her way, heading for her car and an afternoon of apartment hunting.

#   #   #

Jefferson Mastifson sat in his office, feeling frustrated. His hunt for dessert had ended up unsuccessful, as had his hunt for his first target. He’d even seen two white and striped furs. A long-haired felid and an oddly patterned guinea pig male. He’s stalked them, but neither had ever been in a position for him to approach.

He'd have to refine his method, he mused to himself. Perhaps he was being too particular in his choices. He’d taken the bold step of walking the drug and crime-infested streets of the low end of Atlanta. His attire was both odd enough and decrepit enough to allow him to go unmolested. He imagined about half those who saw him didn’t even know if he was real or just a drug or alcohol induced hallucination. For those looking to score a fix, he didn’t look like a dealer. To those looking for something to pay for their next fix with, his appearance was intentionally shabby enough for him to look like he didn’t have anything of value.

Deciding the next weekend was another chance, he put Atlanta’s hunt down to a learning experience and dove into his work for the week. As he picked up the first file in his in basket, he noticed a helicopter preparing to take off from the helipad down by the new business. He contemplated it for a moment, and then shrugged. Panelli and the lioness, what had her name been? Patterson. Yes, Panelli and Patterson were of no concern to him. With a shrug, he went on with his work.

#   #   #

“Will this have to be done every time?” Billy grumbled as they pushed the blue and silver Jetranger out of the hangar.

“It’ll be easiah once the powah skid get’s here. I’d bet all three of ouah Angels could manage fine without it,” Corrie answered. “If you’re worried about it, hire a marshaller to move the choppahs in and out to the ramp. Then the sheilas can just come out, preflight and hovah-taxi ovah to the helipad. We’ll contact Ground and request permission to taxi and to take the pad just like a runway. Takeoff works the same, too, except we’ll go straight up and contact Departure Control as we angle out. Standard Departure is to the Southeast away from the traffic on the runway. Inbound we’ll approach on the active runway and then stay ovah any ground traffic as we angle from the numbahs ovah to here.”

“Yeah, sure,” Billy mock-groused. The day was clear and cool, wonderful for November. The winds were light, the sun bright, all in all a great day to fly. Billy, Corrie, and Kathleen were going to go up and look around the Lexington area for landmarks, landing spots, and hazards. They got the helicopter out onto the ramp clear of the hangar, and Corrie expertly removed the ground-handling wheels. She stowed them in the aircraft and then went about her preflight. When she was done with that, she got Kathleen settled in one of the back seats with a headset on and plugged in. Billy had flown in helicopters with Ben before and knew the right seat in front was the command seat in an aircraft like this. He settled into the left front seat, got his belts and headset on, and waited for Corrie. Shortly she got in and got her belts and headset on and turned on the main switch.

“Can you both hear me?” she inquired.

“Loud and clear,” Kathleen called from the back.

“Five by,” Billy stated. Corrie went through her prestart checklist and did a passenger safety briefing.

“Good morning and welcome aboard Helipro Local Flight One. We’ll be taking a tour of the city and surrounding countryside. For your safety and comfort, please no smoking. Keep your seatbelt fastened at all times and all loose items secured until aftah takeoff. We don’t anticipate any problems, but in case of an emergency landing, stay in the aircraft until the rotahs have stopped turning. If the door is blocked or jammed, the window can be released and pushed out. Once outside the aircraft, go away from the helicoptah at least a hundred feet. Now, please sit back, relax, enjoy your flight, and thank you for flying with Helipro.”

“You do that well,” Billy smirked.

“Lots of practice. Ready?” she replied.

“I am!” Kathleen piped in enthusiastically. Both Corrie and Billy grinned.

“Let’s go then,” Corrie said as she began the engine start checklist.

In a short time, she had the engine up to speed and the rotors at flat pitch. She then called Bluegrass Ground.

“Bluegrass Ground, Novembah Five Two Two Six Chahlie is a Bell Jetrangah on the Helipro Ramp, requesting taxi to Helipad One.”

It took a moment for the controller to figure out what she was talking about.

“Ah, two Six Charlie, cleared to proceed, contact tower on one one niner point one, good day.”

“Two Six Chahlie, copy cleared to the helipad, thank you,” Corrie replied. She lifted into a smooth hover and moved over to the helipad. Before moving over it, she called the tower.

“Bluegrass Towah, Novembah Five Two Two Six Chahlie is a Bell Jetrangah waiting for takeoff at Helipad One.”

The controller there was much more on the ball. “Two Six Charlie, you may take the helipad. You are cleared for takeoff, Southeast departure. No traffic at this time. Winds one four zero at eight gusting twelve. Altimeter two niner five five. Contact Departure Control at one two zero point five seven. Have a good flight.”

“Two Six Chahlie taking the pad and departing Southeast, thank you,” Corrie responded as she deftly moved the helicopter over the center of the helipad.

“Heah we go!” she called on the intercom as she pulled on the collective and they rapidly lifted higher. She angled the nose down and they left hover and picked up speed and altitude as they flew to the Southeast. In a few moments they were at fifteen hundred feet and all of Lexington was splayed out before them.

Corrie’s first comment was, “Coo! Theah’s a lot of antenna towahs around heah. That’ll be my first notation. No operating below fifteen hundred in IMC. Good way to smack a towah. Weah under ATC control from Surface to five thousand over the Western half of the city. The eastern half, it’s from twenty two hundred to five thousand. Look, theah’s the university stadium.”

They circled the city, noting towers, potential landing spots, hospitals and local hotels that might allow landing. They could also see many faces turned up to watch them, as a helicopter flying around Lexington was not as common a sight as in many cities. In all, it took about forty five minutes to see all that Corrie wanted to see. Billy realized it was the first time he’d flown with her. He found her professional, proficient, relaxed, and a quick study. He’d played tour guide to the local area, showing her places furs might want to land, sightseeing locations, and landmarks. Kathleen had sat back and taken notes for Corrie, her tail going a mile a minute the whole time. The collie found she loved this kind of flying.

It was just getting to lunchtime when they settled back to a hover over the helipad. Corrie taxied them off toward Helipro’s ramp.

“Bluegrass Towah, Two Six Chahlie is cleah of the helipad.”

“Copy you clear, Two Six Charlie. Contact Ground on One Two One Point Niner, good day.” The tower responded.

The lioness called and got permission and then hover-taxied for a moment over to Helipro’s ramp. She set down almost exactly where they’d left from.

“Welcome home, and thank you for flying Helipro,” Corrie stated as she shut down the engine. Billy just rolled his eyes, but Kathleen couldn’t contain her enthusiasm.

“That was so COOL! I’d never flown in a helicopter, but that was absolutely the most fun! I hope I get to go again!”

Billy grinned as Corrie finished the shutdown checklist. “I think you’ve created a monster.”

“Nah, but maybe a future aviator of the wild rotah, who knows?” Corrie responded. Kathleen just smiled. They finished up and got out. They secured the blades and put the ground wheels on, and then waited. Corrie had called for a fuel truck to top the aircraft before they put the bird back in the hangar.

As soon as that was done, Alex was supposed to meet Corrie for lunch. All in all, it was shaping up to be a great Monday.

#   #   #

The rest of the week had gone well. Corrie had done Farrah’s check ride and orientation flight on Friday. They were starting to get calls from folks wanting more immediate charters. Farrah declared herself ready, as had Kate, who arrived Thursday and also got her check ride and orientation on Friday. Jaqi would not arrive until the Monday after Thanksgiving, as her superiors at Jenco were holding her to her two-week notice.

Billy and Corrie conferred and saw no reason not to start regular charter operations by the first week of December, when they already had calls for a dozen flights. “Billy’s Angels” were fast getting a lot of word of mouth notice. Now it was Friday afternoon, and Corrie and Alex were going to fly in Stripes One to Norfolk for his drill weekend at Langley, and dinner with Natasha Shannon and Jon Foertch.

 The lioness drove down to Kentiger to meet up with Alex. She walked in and found him already out in the reception area.

“Hi Luv, hi Loni,” she greeted them as she walked up to Alex for a hello kiss and hug.

“Hi Love, ready to go?” he responded as they embraced, and he kissed her.

“Hi Corrie, have a nice weekend you two,” Loni returned.

“Yes, and you know it,” the lioness answered them both. Alex grinned at the lynx.

“I hope to. See you Monday, Loni.”

The lynx waved as they walked out to the locker room and got their flight gear on. They each had an overnight bag as well when they walked out to Stripes One. The lapine crew chief who’d been with Alex in Milwaukee helped them get settled and do engine start and control checks. Soon, they were ready to go, and Alex called for taxi clearance.

“Bluegrass Ground, November Charlie Four Niner Niner Sierra Tango is a Tee Thirty Eight on the Bluegrass Aviation ramp, requesting taxi for Runway Four.”

The controller’s reply was swift. “Niner Sierra Tango, hold for passing traffic on Taxiway Delta, a Piper Seminole.”

They looked over and saw a familiar aircraft taxiing by. The pilot of said aircraft glared at them smugly and then focused back on his aircraft’s movements. They ended up following the Rottweiler to the runway and waiting patiently as he took his time doing final checks and taking off. Then they were cleared onto the runway.

“Niner Sierra Tango, Bluegrass Tower, you are cleared onto Runway Four. Winds three four zero at ten, gusting twenty. Altimeter three zero zero eight.”

Alex moved them onto the runway and called for takeoff. “Bluegrass Tower, Niner Sierra Tango waiting for takeoff on Runway Four.”

“Niner Sierra Tango, you are cleared for takeoff. Contact Departure Control on one two zero point five seven, safe flight.”

“Niner Sierra Tango, rolling!” Alex called as they launched for Virginia.

The takeoff was smooth, and as they climbed out, they noted Mastifson’s Seminole had turned Westward. With a shrug, Alex promptly forgot about the Rottweiler and focused back on his flying.

#   #   #

Aramis looked over the report that had just come in detailing the activities of Jefferson Mastifson the Third over the past week. He’d left Saturday morning and gone to Atlanta, checked into a hotel, and spent the afternoon in his room according to his card activity and cell phone pings. He’d then gone bar-hopping, apparently struck out, and went back to his hotel for the rest of the night. All typical and normal for his past routine. Sunday, he’d flown back to Lexington and driven home.

The felid agent decided to go with a hunch and check the Atlanta Police blotter for Saturday night. The search engine on the computer gave him an address for the info. He clicked it and was confronted with a fifty-five page .pdf file. With a resigned sigh and nothing else to do until the end of day, Aramis began slogging through the minutia of the Atlanta P.D’s Saturday night.

Two hours later, Aramis felt like his eyes were about to cross. There was radio traffic for everything from routine traffic stops to two probable homicides. Both those had been shootings with a suspect in custody. One particular call caught his attention, mostly for its novelty. Two furs the reporting officer described as “old winos” had sworn they’d seen the Shadow. Aramis had to look up the reference. A character from an old radio show.

The felid chuckled at the hallucinations too much drink induced. He continued on through the pages but found nothing out of the norm. With a deep breath, he shut down his computer and prepared to go home. In the back of his mind, something about the report of the Shadow wouldn’t go away. He decided to let it sit over the weekend and pick it back up on Monday.

 

End of Chapter 113

 

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