Arctic Fire Read Online Free Page B

one-two-zero.”
    “Roger sir.” Packard replied, trying, but not
very hard, to hide his disappointment.
    Madison couldn’t help the smile that filled his
face under his oxygen mask at his wingman’s less than enthusiastic
reply. Poor kid. But the girls would wait for their flyboy, and he
would get at least another ten minutes in the cockpit, which meant
ten minutes less time he’d be flying his desk.
    Less than five minutes later, the disappointment
that had been in Packard’s voice was now replaced with
astonishment. “I was kidding earlier about the UFO, but is that
what I think it is sir?”
    The pair of F-15 Eagles had come up low and
slightly under their target, amazement filling both pilots’
eyes.
    “Are we in the twilight zone sir?” Packard
added.
    “No Lieutenant, that’s the real deal there, an
F-86 Sabre, the great Granddaddy of us all.”
    The wings and fuselage of the Saber were
polished aluminum. Bold, yellow stripes, bordered with black, sat
on each wingtip and a matching yellow diagonal band wrapped around
the rear fuselage, halfway between the cockpit and the tail. The
vertical stabilizer tail section also sported the wide yellow band
with a black lightning bolt coursing through it.
    “That thing must be, what, 60 years old?”
Packard said.
    “Haven’t you learned yet Lieutenant to never
guess a lady’s age?” An unfamiliar voice said over the radio.
“She’s 57 to be exact. Gabriel Pike gentlemen, a pleasure to meet
you.”
    “Likewise Mr. Pike, Colonel Douglas Madison. You
sure have a beautiful bird there.”
    “Thank you sir, she is my pride and joy, the Yankee Clipper .”
    “Mr. Pike, Lieutenant Packard here, I don’t
recognize your marking there.”
    Just behind the cockpit was a logo of a top hat,
the kind like Uncle Sam would wear, sitting inside a ring.
    “That’s the 94 th Pursuit Squadron
isn’t it?” Madison said.
    “Yes it is, you know your history Colonel.” Pike
answered.” It’s my small way of paying tribute to our heroes of the
past.
    “The 94 th ?” Packard asked.
    “Eddie Rickenbacker flew with the 94th in WWI.
You do know who Eddie Rickenbacker was don’t you Lieutenant?”
Madison ribbed.
    “Yes sir, Eddie Rickenbacker was the top
American ace of the War to end all Wars with 26 victories; we were
required to read ancient history at the academy.” Packard
jabbed back.
    The 94 th , also known as the famous
“Hat in the Ring” squadron, was the first operational American
fighter squadron in WWI, stationed at Gengault Aerodrome near Toul,
France in April of 1918, and being the first, they were allowed to
come up with their own insignia. Taking the boxing phrase, throwing
your hat in the ring, which meant you were willing fight, they
choose the symbol of throwing Uncle Sam’s hat into a ring,
signifying that America was ready and willing to fight.
    “Your bird may have been “hip” in its day Mr.
Pike, but it can’t hold a candle to what we fly now.” Packard said,
ending with a smug tone in his voice.
    A smile began to stretch across Pike’s face and
a twinkle of anticipation flashed in his green eyes; he did love a
challenge. “Just because something is old, doesn’t make it useless,
Lieutenant.” Pike snapped on his oxygen mask, took a deep breath
then blew it out slowly. He lowered the flaps a notch, yanked the
stick to the right and did a barrel roll up and over the pair of
F-15s and in less than three seconds had settled in right behind
Packard’s aircraft in perfect firing position.
    “Colonel?” Packard said.
    Madison could hear the surprise and irritation
in his wingman’s voice. “I thought you said you were getting low on
fuel.” Madison replied.
    “I have enough sir.”
    Now he could hear his teeth gnashing, chomping
at the bit. “Well I believe the gauntlet has been thrown down, Mr.
Pike?”
    “Fine by me Colonel.” Pike replied, then thought
for a moment and couldn’t resist. “If the Lieutenant thinks he can
handle