Torpedoman Second Class “Willy” Wosniak brought the det’s portable hardened laptop computer into the high bay from the rear workshop. Zeke Donovan, a first class boatswain’s mate like Ash, pulled the detachment’s response “bread truck” out of the high bay and connected one of the det’s pickups to the trailer for the F470. Bailey and Martin also emerged from the workshop bringing the toolsets they expected to use on this operation. Ash checked and re-checked the equipment to ensure it would remain secure in the inflatable after they kicked it out the back of the airplane and as it dropped through the atmosphere.
Forty minutes later Detachment Norfolk drove onto the flight line at Norfolk Naval Air Station. All other flights were re-routed to Oceana NAS in Virginia Beach to clear the way for the C-2 cargo plane that waited for the EOD team.
The C-2 was a small twin-engine prop plane that was used to ferry cargo aboard aircraft carriers. The standby flight crew was called in on Lieutenant Commander January’s request. They spent the last hour configuring the aircraft for the para-drop. The pilot and co-pilot were in their seats, and the engines were already turning, drowning out all other sound. The two aircrewmen wordlessly helped the EOD Techs lift the raft from the trailer and walk it up the ramp to the rear of the aircraft. Ash recognized the tall one. They had trained with Det Norfolk and knew what to expect.
An officer drove out toward them in a staff car. January seemed to recognize him and walked over to greet him.
Probably the command duty officer from the DESRON, Ash surmised.
Chief Billings set about checking everything for the jump. In the aircraft, as the jumpmaster, he was God. He controlled this aspect of the mission and even had authority over the OIC.
January climbed up the ramp and sat in the canvas seat next to Ash. Willy was already leaning over to his left, sleeping on a flight bag. The tall aircrewman pushed a button to close the ramp as the C-2 taxied down the runway. Then, one by one, each of the members of Det Norfolk went to sleep.
Suddenly, Ash woke up. He was hot. He opened his eyes and was immediately blinded by the sun coming through the window of the C-2. It was setting lower in the sky but had not yet touched the horizon.
He shifted to the other side of the aircraft.
Judy was probably cooking dinner for one. By now she would know that he was not coming back tonight. He did not have time to call her before the Techs left NAS Norfolk.
Ash looked at the other det members, all sleeping. It was a way to deal with the stress, a few moments of meditation to relax the body and mind. That way they were more prepared to handle the physical and mental tasks ahead.
He closed his eyes and tried to sleep some more. As he dozed, Ash wondered how many times he had flown in military aircraft. He knew his takeoffs far outnumbered his landings.
Heck, he figured I’ve probably jumped out of this very bird twenty times.
All of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal recruiting media touted dive and jump pay as an incentive, though it was not necessary. Most Techs love to dive, hate to jump, and want to do both whenever possible. It’s not about the pay, it’s about the rush. Besides, diving and jumping are both easy, but they only get the Techs to the problem. That’s when the real fun begins.
Ash recalled something that a crusty old EOD Tech said when Ash was still a Basic Tech at EOD Mobile Unit Three in San Diego. There was a massive beach party where SEALs, EOD Techs, Seabees, and all manner of unwanted sailors were present. A harem of beautiful, nearly naked women graced the frogs’ presence as always. SEAL groupies. The senior chief on Ash’s detachment was wooing one of them. He captivated her with his underwater exploits.
“So is it dangerous?” she asked, oozing awe.
“Sure babe, I mean being a Navy EOD Tech is a lot like being a brain surgeon except if you fuck up, the patient explodes…. oh, and we do it underwater.”
The senior chief got laid that night.
Ash woke again when Willy kicked him in the foot. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. He watched Willy going around waking the rest of the det up. For a moment he forgot what they were doing in the C2. He remembered when he looked forward and saw the lieutenant and Billings in the front of the aircraft talking; probably reviewing the plan for the jump.
Everything started to go like clockwork. Wordlessly, each man donned a wetsuit, his parachute, and any other gear they were jumping with. Each strapped flexible swim fins to his shins to be used after entering the water. Ash looked out the window beside his seat and noticed the ship on the horizon. Fortunately the seas appeared relatively calm.
Billings lined them all up on the port side of the aircraft. The tall aircrewman checked his safety harness and pressed the ramp button again. The ramp opened allowing some air circulation in the plane.
The first thing out of the aircraft was the boat. Billings and the aircrewman released all the cargo straps keeping it on the deck. Billings checked its parachute once more and gave the aircrewman the “thumbs up.” The crewman talked into his mike for a second and pointed at the light to the right of the ramp.
When the light turned green, the two men pushed on the boat. It slid out the opening in the plane’s tail.
The light turned red again and the C2 banked coming around for a second pass.
Billings was all business now, quickly giving them all commands via hand signals. Willy was first in line; behind him was De Napoli, followed by Ash, January, Martin, Bailey, and Zeke. Billings would jump last.
As the jumpmaster, Billings made one last final check on each man. He walked down the line tapping each piece of gear on each jumper top to bottom.
Protec helmet, goggles, chute, reserve, fins, knife, flare.
He inspected each chute closely without disturbing it, ensuring there were no outward telltale signs of it not being packed properly or that it was disturbed during their flight.
It was time. The light fixture on the left side of the plane changed from red to green again.
Willy stepped up to the ramp. Billings slapped him on the ass and shouted, “Go!”
As De Napoli shuffled forward, Ash followed right behind him.
Billings looked to see Willy’s chute just starting to deploy. He then slapped the senior chief on the back.
“Go!”
Ash could feel his heart pumping in his chest. He reminded himself not to hold his breath. He kept his eyes forward, seeing Willy’s chute fully open as De Napoli’s began to bloom.
“Go!”
Ash kept his body upright as he made two steps down the ramp. The third step was air. He tucked his head into his chin, slammed his feet together and brought his hands to the reserve pack on his front. He focused on his wetsuit booties waiting for the pull of the harness as his chute opened. It came violently; Ash felt the straps digging into his crotch and thighs and around his shoulders. The chute opened in seconds and slowed his descent. Ash looked up now to check the risers, the lines supporting him under the canopy. Then he inspected the canopy itself, ensuring that it was filled completely with air and that he was not slipping.
When all seemed as expected, Ash looked around and enjoyed the ride. First he looked to the USS Normandy. He could make out the helo just aft of the flight deck. It was black and still smoking. The deck around it appeared scorched. From Ash’s position, it looked like a bug that had been stepped on. He noticed that De Napoli already descended further than Willy due to his weight. He also noticed the wake from a small boat near the Normandy. The ship must have deployed a chase boat to ensure the jumpers’ safety.