Hostile Situation

Oblivious to the majestic view of the Cascade Mountains beneath him, First Lieutenant Michael 'Sparky' Cooper focused on his instruments and held the stick steady. Refueling an F-15 at 20,000 feet was a delicate task.

"You're topped off, Sir," said the voice of the boom operator in his headset. "Disengaging."

"Roger," Cooper replied. "Thanks for the Kool-Aid."

"We're clear, Sparky," said his weapons systems officer (WSO) as the boom retracted. Seated behind Cooper, Second Lieutenant Dewey 'Big Foot' Thompson could see the refueling process. However, the front-row seat made him nervous, as he had no control over what happened. He trusted Cooper, but he'd never meet the tanker pilot or boom operator. Blind faith was dangerous when flying 500 mph at 20,000 feet.

Both men saluted the face in the rear window of the tanker, and Cooper lowered the fighter slightly, then banked slowly to the right. Thompson released a long sigh of relief as they cleared the tanker's airspace and waited for their wingman to refuel.

"Relax, Bigfoot," Cooper said. "Embrace your inner call sign. You should feel at home in these mountains. We don't get spectacular views like this back home."

Thompson was one of the largest WSO's in the United States Air Force. That, combined with the fact that he seemed unperturbed by ant bites and a freak snowstorm during survival training, had earned him the nickname "Big Foot." The name stuck and became his call sign.

"It sure is a pretty view," the big man agreed. "Seems silly to have us join the Border Patrol just because of a stupid balloon, but I'm not complaining. It gets us in the air, and the mountains back home don't look like this."

Both men belonged to the 4th Fighter Wing housed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina. Typically, they stayed East of the Mississippi. However, the U.S. had just downed a Chinese spy balloon off the East Coast after tracking it across Alaska and parts of the Canadian/U.S. border. Their squadron's current mission was to do security sweeps of the northern border from Idaho to Alaska.

"Don't get too comfy," Cooper said. "We'll be meeting another tanker in a couple of hours. I'd rather not try to make Anchorage on fumes just to so you don't have to see another boom before lunch."

"They got a good mess hall in Anchorage?" asked Thompson.

"Seriously, Big Foot? Have you ever met a mess hall you didn't like?"

"Come to think of it, no."

"That's what I thought," Cooper chuckled.

Moments later, Cooper led the pair of fighters over the Pacific Ocean, keeping Vancouver Island in view on his right. Tiny ships floated on the water's surface, but he paid them little attention. Their mission was to look for anything in the sky that shouldn't be there - not that it ever was.

"Yankee One, this is Mountain. Do you copy?" a voice in Cooper's headset asked. He wondered why Base was contacting him.

"Roger, Mountain. This is Yankee One. We copy loud and clear," the lead pilot replied.

"Be advised there is a developing situation," the voice said. "Change course to the coordinates being sent your way. Over."

"Roger that," Cooper said. "Awaiting coordinates. Over." He then addressed his wingman, "Rebound, prepare to adjust course. Sounds like Mountain has something for us to check out."

"Just my luck!" First Lieutenant Mark 'Rebound' Turner replied. "I was looking forward to checking out Anchorage."

"He means checking out the Anchorage women," Turner's WSO chimed in. "He and Jenny broke up last night. You owe me five bucks, Big Foot."

Turner was notorious for whirlwind relationships that inevitably resulted in him being dumped. The pilot always consoled himself by finding a new fling. This resulted in bets on how long the new relationships would last. It also explained his callsign.

"Enough chitchat," said Cooper. "Let's adjust course and see if we can get more intel from Mountain." As his plane completed its turn over the ocean, he radioed Base. "Mountain, this is Yankee One. We're headed to rendezvous point. Any updates on mission objective? Over."

"Roger. Continue on intercept course to rendezvous point. Once you are over the mainland and have passed Interstate 5, proceed at intercept speed. Avoid populated areas if possible to avoid sonic issues. Over."

"Roger that. Yankee One and Two on intercept course. Over."

The planes crossed the southern tip of Vancouver Island as Cooper asked about their new destination. "Big Foot, where we headed? Northern Idaho?"

"You nailed it!" the WSO replied. "We're going to Priest Lake, Idaho. It's about 30 miles south of Canada. There's some tiny towns in the area, but it's the middle of nowhere."

"Five bucks says we're gonna find another Chinese spy ballon," said Second Lieutenant Manny 'Bookie' Rodriguez, who would make a wager on anything.

"Good call, Bookie," said Thompson. "Question is: What happens this time? Do we wait till it gets to the Atlantic or shoot it down now?"

"I say we shoot it now," replied Rodriguez.

"If POTUS determines it should come down on our watch, then you two will get those honors," said Cooper. "For all we know, it could be a high school science project that got lost. Let's get there and assess the situation before we arm the Sidewinders. That was I-5. Time to kick on afterburners."

Eleven minutes later, Cooper reached out to base for whatever information intel he could get. "Mountain, this is Yankee One. We are five minutes out from rendezvous coordinates. Our radar is clear. Do you have any updates for us? Over."

"Roger, Yankee One," came the voice in the headset. "Continue to watch radar and skies. We've been monitoring what appears to be one or two small objects through Canadian airspace that have just crossed into the U.S. Objects are currently about 12 miles northeast of rendezvous point. Report when you have contact and advise what you find. Over."

"Roger, Mountain," Cooper said. "We'll have an update shortly. Over." Then to his men in the air he said, "It's showtime, boys! Let's find what's out there and report to Mountain."

All the men were watching radar, but it was Thompson that found something a couple minutes later. "I got a blip on radar. Hard to tell if it's real or not. It's tiny. Right where Mountain said it would be."

"Great job, Big Foot!" said Cooper. "Keep working it. Bookie, you see anything yet?"

"Affirmative. Something faint just showed up."

"Let's slow down as we approach the rendezvous point, Rebound," Cooper said. "You see anything?"

"Slowing down," Turner confirmed. "No visual yet."

"Lock on first target," Thompson said. "Second target acquired."

"Lock on second target," said Rodriguez.

"Nice work, gentlemen," Cooper said. He then contacted Base. "Mountain, this is Yankee One. We're approaching rendezvous point. We have a lock on two tiny objects but no visual. Request permission to approach for visual contact. Over."

"Permission granted. Proceed with caution. Leave Coms open and begin video stream. Over."

"Roger," Cooper said to base. He left his broadcast open to both base and his team and said, "This is it, boys. Coms open and live streaming. Let's see what we're dealing with."

The F-15s adjusted course slightly. Cooper planned to fly near enough to see the objects without getting too close. Within seconds, a speck appeared on the horizon, then grew as they neared.

"I have a visual now. Rebound do you see this? Are my eyes playing tricks on me?"

"Good thing we're streaming this. Nobody will believe it."

As they flew past the nearest object at a distance of over a mile, Cooper tried to describe what he saw. "Mountain, first object appears to be a hot air balloon shaped like an upside down Humpty Dumpty. Second object appears to be a normal hot air balloon. Over."

"Yankee One, please confirm you said objects are hot air balloons. Over."

"Roger, Mountain. Both objects appear to be hot air balloons."

"Please confirm object elevation," the voice said.

"Both objects currently at 35,000 feet," said Cooper.

"Are there people in the baskets?" asked Base.

"We'll need to get closer," replied Cooper. "We're coming back around for a closer look."

"How can there be hot air balloons at this elevation?" asked Thompson. "Their normal operating range is 1000-3000 feet."

"Spy ballons!" said Rodriguez. "One for each of us, Big Foot!"

Cooper prayed the WSOs were talking on a closed channel. With all the attention the last balloon received, their livestream was likely being watched by the Pentagon and possibly by even POTUS. As his plane made a closer approach, all thoughts of the Pentagon vanished when he saw the smiling figure standing in the basket, waving at them.

How is this possible? Cooper thought. Noone can survive at 35,000. Not without an oxygen mask and much warmer clothing.

"No way!" Thompson yelled.

"Mountain, the first balloon, has one man in the basket," Cooper reported. "The man is not wearing any oxygen gear and was waving at us. Over."

"Sparky!" Turner's voice had a hard edge to it. "The second balloon is closing on you. I don't know how, but it is."

"Return to rendezvous point. Let's see what happens when we head there," replied Cooper. He then said, "Mountain, are you picking up this action on radar and livestream?"

"Yankee One and Two, we started picking up interference on the livestream during your second approach to target," Base replied. "We did not see the basket or occupant. Radar also indicates that both objects are stationary."

"Negative," said Turner. "Second target is moving quickly and in pursuit of Yankee One."

The fighters turned over the lake and faced the balloons. In less than two minutes, both balloons had moved over six miles. Cooper didn't understand how that was possible. Not only that, but both balloons appeared to be twice as large as before.

"Mountain, targets are on the move and appear to have grown in size," Cooper said. "Request to designate as hostile targets."

"Negative," came the reply. "Objects have not moved in 15 minutes. Talk to me, Sparky. What's going on?"

Cooper was confused. How could base not see what he saw? Jamming could interfere with the video feed, but what about the false radar readings?

He tried describing what had happened again. "Mountain, on second pass, we saw a man in the balloon's basket. Then second target began following me. Both targets are currently 6 miles from rendezvous point and appear to have grown in size. I understand this all sounds crazy, but this is what has happened. Over."

While Cooper waited for a response, he watched Humpty Dumpty. Something was happening. "You guys seeing this?" he asked the guys in the air with him.

"Something's up with Humpty's waistline," Turner said.

A small bulge was forming lengthwise around the widest part of the balloon. The bulge became a tear in the fabric, then the balloon opened like a jewelry box, revealing a slightly smaller balloon inside. It floated up and, once clear, the bigger balloon closed itself up again, having lost no altitude during the process.

"This must be a circus balloon," Rodriguez said. "Either that or we're being punked by the Air Force. Whatever it is, it ain't right."

"Yankee One," came the voice from base. "What's your status?"

As Cooper did his best to explain what they had just seen, the slightly smaller Humpty Dumpty opened up, revealing another balloon. Cooper tried to explain this as well. By the time he had explained the appearance of the two new balloons, it had happened two more times. Five Humpty Dumpty hot air balloons, each with a passenger, were now chasing the planes around the lake at 35,000 feet in the air.

"I was wrong," lamented Rodriguez. "It's not the Chinese. These are Russian. It's just like those nesting dolls."

"Russian circus ballons?" chuckled Thompson.

Base was fuming. They still only saw two stationary objects that hadn't moved in almost 20 minutes. They thought the fighters were playing some kind of practical joke. "Yankee One and Two, be advised we have scrambled additional resources to get eyes on what's going on. Is there anything else you'd like to tell us about the situation there?"

"Sounds great, Mountain," Cooper replied. "This is a hostile situation. We started with two targets and are currently at six. We appreciate the backup."

He knew Base would not like his reply, but crazy as his story sounded, he wasn't backing down from the truth. Maybe Base would believe the story once others confirmed it. Besides, the way things were going, additional fire power could come in handy.

Alarms went off in the cockpit. The balloons had fired on them.

"Incoming!" Thompson said. "Looks like we got about 40 missiles of some sort headed our way."

Moving on instinct, both pilots headed away from the missiles while remaining in relative proximity to one another so they could support each other if needed.

"What kind of missiles are those?" asked Copper.

"Nothing our computer has seen before," said Thomson. "Whatever they are, they're fast. This isn't good."

"We're in trouble," Rodriguez said. "We got at least 20 of these on our tail. Flares aren't fooling them. We gotta bail."

The next thing Cooper heard were several were several explosions.

"Yankee One," said the voice from Base. "What's your situation."

"No time to talk," replied Cooper. "Yankee Two is down and we're in trouble."

Normally, Cooper should look for parachutes to see if either man had bailed out and survived, but right now, he needed to make sure he and his MSO stayed alive.

"Sparky, it's not good," said Thompson. "They took most of the missiles, but we've got at least 12 after us. Countermeasures are ineffective. We've gotta bail in the next 10 seconds if we want to survive."

Cooper hated the idea of bailing out of a perfectly good plane, but he knew that based on what he'd just witnessed, they were dead if they didn't. "Let's do it!" he told his MSO. Just before he pulled the eject handle, he told Base, "Mountain, Yankee One is bailing out. Over."

Once the canopy disappeared, the wind forced Cooper's body into his chair. Half a second later, his entire chair launched from the cockpit. When the chair began its descent, he looked up to watch for his parachute to open. As the chute opened, he could tell something wasn't right.

Instead of forming a large, safety orange dome, his parachute took the shape of an upside down Humpty Dumpty...

*****

"What's that?" Thompson's voice come over his headset. "It sounded like you started to scream. Thankfully, the mic cut out to protect the electronics - and my hearing. You didn't doze off again, did you? You know I don't trust the autopilot."

"I'm fine," Cooper said, as he checked his surroundings. "I sneezed, that's all." He was back in his F-15 with Big Foot in the seat behind him. He must have nodded off.

That's right. They had a started a new mission earlier that day. What was it again? He checked the screens for their destination and mission info. Destination: Anchorage. Mission: Border Patrol.