Chapter 4 - Here We Go Again
Lt. Cdr. Wilfredo "Air Spark" Fernandez arrives in Pearl Harbor two days later than his childhood friend. Lt. Cdr. Norman "Dentist" Antonio took an early flight after the announcement of which carrier strike group they will be assigned to. By this time he is already in one of the officer's quarters inside the USS Enterprise CVN-80 which is given the nickname Grey Ghost. It is given to the Ford class aircraft carrier as tribute to the mighty USS Enterprise CV-6. Which coincidentally was called the Grey Ghost. He is now fixing himself and gets ready to fly alongside his former wingman Lt. Emily Winters. The pilot who went M.I.A. in Kiel, Germany.
He gets ready to board his super tomcat when an Osprey appears out of the horizon and is being guided to land on the flight deck of the mighty aircraft carrier.
As soon as it permanently lands on the carrier. One of the flight crew opens the door and his V.I.P. passengers get off the tilt rotor wing aircraft. One of them is Air Spark. He is in his khaki uniform when he stepped out of the rotor wing aircraft. Next were a bunch of new sailors three of which are R.I.O.s or radar intercept officers. The new sailors are one by one welcomed by Admiral Halsey and the other officers. Lt. Cdr. Fernandez is also included by the welcoming committee. Unfortunately Dentist is already on board his aircraft together with his R.I.O. Lt. Edward Sanchez call sign Mooch. He was branded with this call sign since he was always a moocher. And not a contributor especially when he was a high school student. The branding stuck and eventually became his call sign.
Two other Filipino naval aviators became radar intercept officers as well. They are Lt. Emilia Dela Cruz call sign Camelia and Lt. Mark Dela Fuentes call sign Tiger. As soon as the welcoming and introductions are done. Air Spark goes to his quarters. The other officers and crew also head to their respective quarters. After unpacking his things and placing them in a locker. The reckless fighter pilot decides to go to the viewing deck watch his childhood friend takeoff.
His childhood friend and wingman makes a perfect launch. The same goes for Lt. Winters who is Dentist's temporary wingman. While watching the two cats go into the air. Air Spark is unmindful of a person behind him. Thinking that it is an American sailor standing behind him. He asks the stranger what he wants from him.
Air Spark: What do you want sailor?
????: Sir. Kayo po ba si Lt. Cdr. Wilfredo "Air Spark" Fernandez?
Air Spark: *Shit! Kababayan ko pala ito.* Ako nga. Bakit? Anong kailangan mo sa akin?
????: Ako nga pala si Lt. Mark Dela Fuentes. Ako yung tinalagang radar intercept officer mo sir.
Air Spark: Ano call sign mo?
Lt. Fuentes: Tiger po sir. Pinanganak kasi ako sa year of the tiger.
Air Spark: Ah ganun ba. Ito ba ang una mong beses na makasakay sa barko?
Tiger: Opo sir. Unang beses ko pa lang ito.
Air Spark: Siguraduhin mo lang na matibay ang sikmura mo. Ayoko nang R.I.O. na sumusuka sa barko o sa eroplano. Kuha mo?!
Tiger: Yes sir! Kuha ko po.
Air Spark: Buti naman. Maghanda ka na baka mamaya bigla tayo magpatrulya.
Tiger: Yes sir!
After saying those words. A sailor comes out to inform Air Spark that Admiral Halsey has given him the order to takeoff. He goes back to his quarters and changes into his flight so suit. He then carries his helmet and other things then walks out. His R.I.O. does the same thing. When both of them reach the flight deck. They are just in time to see Dentist and Magnolia come in for a landing.
As soon as both cats land Air Spark and his R.I.O. get ready to board their tomcat. Suddenly the skies turn dark which causes widespread confusion all over the ship. Meanwhile in Norfolk, West Virginia. The same phenomenon is also occurring on a decommissioned aircraft carrier. It's the first and only one of its class. And it's the first one to run on nuclear power. It's none other than the USS Enterprise CVN-65. Which is also known as the Big E.
Seconds later a giant vortex appears out of the dark clouds and begins to swallow the Grey Ghost in Pearl Harbor and the Big E in West Virginia. Unfortunately an F-18 super hornet is having trouble landing. The pilot has just come back from a solo sortie and he's having problems landing his plane. The bridge air boss immediately orders the barricade to be set up. As soon as the barricade is raised. The guys and Air Spark are shocked to see the vortex is now swallowing the ship.
A bolt of lightning hits the radar causing it to stop and make a loud ultra high pitched shrieking noise. It's so high that it nearly breaks the eardrums of every man and woman on board the ship. Air Spark immediately pulls his R.I.O. back into the island. He then yells to himself that he is going back in time again. But he doesn't know what era he will be in this time. In his mind all he can think of is daughter Phoebe.
Air Spark: Shit! Here we go again! Phoebe! Forgive me! Daddy might not be able to visit you for a while!
As soon as both vortexes dissolve gradually the two modern day nuclear powered aircraft carriers are now anchored side by side. But the old CVN-65 is suddenly undergoing a shocking transformation. A young girl begins with a robotic arm is slowly taking the place of the retired aircraft carrier. She begins to have riggings appear on her body. And the island of the ship and its anchors begins to form a bow on her right hand.
Meanwhile back at the CVN-80. The knocked out officers and crew slowly wake up and begin to assess the situation. Admiral Halsey goes out of his post and talks to his fellow officers. Air Spark, who has just waken up looks at the guys who are slowly getting up after being completely knocked out by the shrieking sound of the radar. He struggles to maintain his balance while trying to get out of the island. Minutes later Admiral Halsey uses the ship's public address system to call the other officers of the ship.
Admiral Halsey: This is Admiral Halsey speaking! I want all officers and squadron leaders to converge at the flight deck! I repeat! I want all officers and squadron leaders to converge at the flight deck! That's all!
Pretty soon, every officer and squadron leader converge at the flight deck. Admiral Halsey comes out together with his staff. He begins to tell them about what happened to them. The ship's crew begin to wonder why they are not included in the emergency briefing. After the long briefing about what transpired. Admiral Halsey gives the order of placing the entire ship under general quarters. The alarm is immediately sounded all over the ship.
After the general quarters alarm has been sounded. The ship's crew goes to their respective battle stations. Some immediately man the C.I.W.S. While the others man the anti-aircraft and anti ship weapons. While the aircraft support groups quickly arm the fighter jets. E.W.A.C.s are launched immediately to scout the area for possible enemy threats.
Air Spark and his R.I.O. board their tomcat while another pilot and R.I.O. board the other one. Both pilots taxi their planes to the catapults. As soon as both planes are in position. They are given the go ahead signal to launch off the carrier.
The minute they got airborne. Air Spark can only think about the day that he first got transported to another world. It was also the day he met the second girl that he loved. A witch named Charlotte E. Yeager. But the latter opted to stay in her world to help her fellow witches in fighting an alien race called Neuroi. He's no longer surprised if he is going to experience the same thing again. The number of Neuroi aircraft he shot down is painted also on his tomcat. He shot twenty of them thus making Air Spark a quadruple ace.
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