He dug his hand back into his flight suit pocket and was able to grab the eye drops again. Unscrewing the cap with both hands under the table, Wu placed the container in his left hand, looked around to see Liu over at the food, and squirted. He put a few seconds of the clear and tasteless liquid into Liu’s water, then cup. The container was nearly empty, so he put the cap back on, and placed back in his pocket. Done.
After eating, they made their way to the airport and into the hangar where the jet was getting prepped for their flight. Wu put his gear under the wing, as he always had, and was going to walk inside to talk with the Chief Engineer, Chief of Maintenance, and check the weather. Upon entering, though, there was an unexpected visitor inside the Maintenance offices, hunched over the counter with a crowd standing around him in silence. Chen was here early.
Andrew, Lurch and Ford were all awake as they flew over the Sea of Okhotsk, near the Kamchatka Peninsula and Kuril Island. Still at flight level 500, they were making great time and were just over an hour out from the drop zone.
“Hey, we’ll have to get on 100 percent oxygen in a bit… flush the nitro out,” Lurch announced to them. Nods came back.
The moving map display depicted them perfectly on the navigation map in the cabin, and the primary one the crew was using up front had excellent resolution and clarity. Ford looked outside at the terrain off the right wing to ensure it matched, and it was difficult to tell from the declining daylight and altitude.
Ford sat down in one of the Captain’s Chairs, reviewing his four step process in his pre-flight meditation. He started a seven-second inhale through his nose, held it for eight-seconds, and then exhaled for eight-seconds. He did this for a few minutes, which helped clear his mind of distractions. Ford’s thinking was also positive, concentrating on his breathing, going through the mental rehearsal of opening up the ramp, scooting down, jumping off, descending, and landing. He did this multiple times, and this generated positive energy, wiping out any negative thoughts that perhaps may have lurked prior. Ford also repeated ‘I can do this… I can do this,’ continuing the cycle, like he did before every flight, and relied on it as his secret to his success.
Ford pulled over his parachute backpack to his lap, checking out the primary and secondary chutes visually. He looked them over to make sure they were packed correctly, ensuring there were no tears in the material when he loaded them into the jet hours ago. Turning to his weapons, Ford decided to insert the magazines, ensuring they were on safe, but did not put a round in the chamber. Chief Tosca from SEAL Team 8 showed him how to strap the HK416 rifle to his upper leg so it would not interfere with the aerodynamics of his wing suit, and also showed him how to stow the handgun. He hoped he would not have to use either of them, but at least he was prepared.
He glanced over at the Gulfstream moving map screen again, and saw how much distance they traveled since he last looked just moments ago. They must have a heck of a tailwind at their current altitude because their ground speed was impressive. Better continue to get ready, he thought, as there was only one chance to get this right.
Ford took off the white business shirt he was wearing, and folded it neatly to pack for the pilots to carry out of the jet. Next were his dark suit pants, and put them in the same place. Out came the olive drab slight suit, size 46R, complete with Velcro and pockets, but no name tag or squadron patches, and he slid into it. He then reached into his leg pocket and placed the Class 4 hand-held laser, and zipped it up tight. Next was his smart phone, and he started to type out a note to Emily, but decided against it so there were no messages going through the foreign cell towers and servers. He had no idea if the Wi-Fi on the jet went to foreign or friendly satellites, and wasn’t going to start asking questions this late in the game. It would be ok on the ground, but no need to announce his arrival to anyone. Last part of the suit up process was the wing suit, which fit him as perfectly as the jump he did the other day, and put it on over his olive flight suit.
Lurch turned around from the left seat to see where Ford was, and yelled for him to come forward.
“Yeah, what’s up?” Ford asked after coming up front to the pilots.
“Stevens, we have a fucking problem,” Lurch said, getting his attention immediately.
“Captain Lee,” Chen said, in his booming voice. “Lee. You do not look good. You look sick again. Maybe I should get one of the other two pilots to train up.”
Wu’s knees felt weak just hearing him say it. He knew he looked terrible, felt rotten, but needed this flight. One more flight to go, he thought. “Sir, hello. I am just fine. Just watching my weight, exercising regularly. Losing some fat, sir. Top shape,” Wu replied, attempting to downplay. He even smiled at the General.
“No. I have the flight surgeon coming here to take a look at you. I want him to see you before you fly. TODAY.”
There was no getting out of this one. The doctor from Aviation Medicine that handled all the pilots was most likely already present in the area. Wu would have to think long and hard how to pull this one off so he could fly. “Yes, sir. Of course.”
The General’s Aide approached Wu, and told him the doctor was in the building behind the hangar, only about a ten minute walk. They had a temporary exam room all set up for physicals today, and the Aviation Medicine team had physicals lined up for the day. Wu knew his thyroid and glands in his neck were as big as a golf ball, and once that doctor touched him, it was all over. He needed some type of a distraction.
“Which doctor is it today?” Wu asked Lieutenant Bai Keung, the Aide.
“Doctor Xi Kong is here, sir. He is in that building back there, room 147, a temporary clinic,” Bai replied.
Wu took his time walking over there. Motherf’er. He thought about how to get out of this one. How about detaining the doctor in some capacity? Nah, that would not work. He had to think. Think! What were some options? Wu slowly reviewed a number of ideas as he walked more slowly than usual towards the building. Perhaps tell him there was a terrible accident with his wife or kids? That won’t work either….there would be a paper trail upon his departure, and get caught in a lie. Need something clean… no trail. Wait! How about a building fire?
“Good day, Captain Lee,” said the nurse that traveled with Doctor Kong.
“Hello. Nice to see you,” Wu replied.
The doctor was reviewing some charts and standing at a counter located at the entrance to the building. He was wearing a long white lab coat, glasses, and was about 55 years old with grey, balding hair. “Captain Lee, sir, I have been expecting you,” Doctor Xi commented.
“Hello Doctor, Lieutenant Keung just asked me to come find you. Scheduled for a physical today I understand?” Wu asked. Wu saw just what he was looking for on the counter of the makeshift clinic, about two feet from him. A pack of cigarettes and a lighter were sitting there, unattended. A perfect grab, Wu said to himself.
“Yes, you go that way. Nurse will take care of you,” Doctor Kong said, showing him the way by pointing with his arm.
Wu set his notebook down on the counter for a moment, and with his bottom hand, he lifted up the lighter and the notebook together. It was perfect timing because one of the medical supply personnel came right in from outside to grab his cigarettes. As Wu walked away, he noticed the young orderly was searching the floor and counter area for his lost lighter. Got it, Wu said under his breath.