During the month that Michael was incapacitated, Helen and
Sandra found they had a lot in common, Helen had supported her, bringing food
and clothes, and a shoulder to cry on. They were both runners, loved pets,
and Helen divulged she always had a crush on Michael. Helen was seven
years younger and had no children yet. She said she was relieved when the
breeding assignments stopped.
They still had over a hundred miles to travel to the
west and Michael hoped they would find Chief Calian so he could warn them of
the impending crisis. They moved out, Michael took off in the flyer,
wanting to scout ahead, racing over the trees along the path the wagon they would
follow, and out into the grassy plains. He saw nothing that would impede their progress,
but he also saw nothing of Chief Calian or his people. After locating his
group, he sat the flyer back down on the wagon and mounted his horse Killer,
for the rest of the day's journey.
It took another three days for them to reach the aircraft
facility's location that GOD had guided him to find. His mission to alert
the other Bunker's would require that he fly thousands of miles, but there was
not a plane in sight. Michael tried to contact GOD on the suits processor
and was immediately rewarded with and answer. Not in words but with
action, giant doors of an underground hanger started creaking open, the two
doors lifting tons of dirt and rocks finally stood straight up revealing a
large aircraft. After the dust settled they moved in to investigate. The
cockpit door retracted revealing two seats for pilots and additional seats for
ten more passengers in the back. Michael climbed into the pilot's seat,
and was immediately greeted by GOD as the display lit up, Michael put on the
helmet/headset. Hi Michael, Im so glad you could make it, your six weeks
late and remember my calculations for this storm is not absolute.
Michael did not bother making excuses, he just asked
how he was to use this plane, they had no way to lift it out of the ground, and
no fuel to put in it if he did. Michael this plane is unique, it has
vertical take off capabilities and is run by a nuclear reactor, once this reactor
is engaged you will have about ten years of use barring any failures.
I will guide you
through the operation of this aircraft while you are in this area, but once you
leave you will only have the airship's computer for guidance. I have programed
all twelve Bunker locations and this location into aircraft's processor. It
will basically fly itself, but you need to practice the manual controls just in
case the autopilot fails, GOD directed. Sandra is now seated in the copilot's
chair, listening with intent. Helen and the rest of the Squad happily took
seats in the rear of the craft, along with the two dogs and the wolf, leaving
only the horses and the wagon on the ground. GOD started the reactor; all
the remaining controls came to life. The giant blades started spinning. The
electric motors turning into a vertical position towards the sky. Fortunately,
the props made little noise that penetrated the cabin, and they lifted straight
up out of the pit. After they reached about a thousand feet, GOD directed
Michael on how to manually operate the craft, since he had operated the smaller
drones manually, the biggest challenge was figuring out the plane's
capabilities. He flew in ever increasing circles using the base as his
center point, increasing their elevation to 5000 feet, when they were out from
the base a hundred miles, Sandra spoke to Michael.
While he had been busy flying, she was exploring the weapon
systems and controls. Look Michael, these are Bomb controls, this one is Missiles,
this is no civilian craft, this is a War Plane. Helen spotted a group of people,
and when they got closer, they saw it was Calian's tribe traveling West.
Setting the craft down a hundred yards away, they exited the plane and waved
the Chief over. Riding with half a dozen braves Chief Calian greeted them,
since it was about noon they decided to talk over lunch. Sharing their
rations, Michael told the chief about the predicted storms and that he and his
people were welcome at Heaven. The chief was not excited by being trapped in a
confined space and said he would consider it. Micheal talked with GOD
about options for these people, his response was they would need to move a
thousand miles south into a mountain range, there they may find caves protect
themselves against the rising water and cold. Eventually your people will need
to head in that direction after the storms pass. Saying their goodbyes and
leaving the rest of their rations with the tribesmen, they loaded up and flew
back to where the plane was found. The giant doors had closed, and the
only thing left to see was the wagon and horses.