The B-4 Soul Jet Bomber banked sharply, the engines roaring over the practice field, as Helena circled the Academy campus. “Alright Gigs, that’s enough showing off. You trying to steal Razor’s call sign?” The voice chuckled through the speaker in her helmet. Helena laughed, “If Razor didn’t already have the name it would have been mine.”

“You’re lucky we didn’t name you ALF. I still think we should have.” Helena laughed at that too and then took the bird straight up before leveling out into a corkscrew. “Major Galloway loved me. He never would have let ya’ll call me that.” The radio comms crackled. =/\=Fleet tower to B-4 T 79. Laursen is that you?=/\=

=/\=This is B-4 T 79, Fleet Tower. This is Laursen.=/\=

The voice on the radio changed from the younger sounding cadet to the deep bass of Cpt Driscoll. =/\=Welcome home Cadet. Now stop showing off and land that plane. There are people here that want to see you.=/\=

Antto ‘ECM’ Nieminen, her co-pilot, laughed in her ear, “Told you to stop showing off.”

=/\=Aye Captain. Permission to land, Fleet Tower control?=/\=

=/\=B-4 T 79 you are cleared to land at your discretion on runway 5. You’ll be taxied to Hanger 15=/\=

=/\=Copy Tower. Laursen out.=/\= The Jet banked in a graceful arc as Helena lined the bird up with the runway and made a smooth quiet landing. They were taxied into the hanger before they slid the cap back. Helena took off the helmet and set it on the panels in front of her. “Told you we had time to kill. We’re still two hours earlier than we had to be.” A ladder was hooked on as she unstrapped out of her seat. She tossed the small duffel she had and Antto’s over the side. “Hey, careful Gigs.” Helena laughed, “Nothing precious in there, ECM.” She descended the ladder and they went over their post flight check. Then Helena grabbed her bag and took off at a job toward the tower. The marine aviator keeping pace beside her.

Helena