Chapter Two
Ripley was fine as long as they were fighting the fire. The MHA crew quickly shifted their patterns for the Aircrane’s slower flying speed but massive capabilities. She could feel the Incident Commander-Air Henderson—safer to think of him that way rather than Major Mark Henderson—learning as well. Her Aircrane rapidly took the “heavy” role. Wherever the ICA needed the hardest punch, he sent in Ripley and her crew.
She liked that he called them by name. It was usually “Tanker 753, Coverage 4, 100 percent drop” and a set of grid coordinates. She’d expected a retired major to be an over-controlling military officer type. Instead Henderson used her first name from the very first call and simply gave her the coordinates. He let her choose the coverage and drop, assuming that she j
