27. Cognac #2
As we divided up, I started out with Dax and Void.
It seemed one of the most logical pairings, but we’d find out if it worked.
Savanna stopped in front of one of the simulators, and we climbed in from the top just as you would a normal tank.
Dax went in first and dropped to the lowest seat in the hull as I learned.
Then Void took the loader’s seat to the left of where I’d be sitting in the turret.
“Put on these headsets. I’ll be able to talk to you, but mainly this is how the three of you will communicate.
Void, the tank has an automatic loader, but you’re in charge of running the machine gun up here, and you need to make sure the feed is clear into the gun,” Savanna pointed out.
“Alright, this is going to be messy, and that’s fine.
It’s just a computer program, so you aren’t really getting blown up. ”
“What’s the fun in that?” Void asked.
“You get to do it again and again till you don’t get blown up,” she reasoned. “Okay, I’m gonna close the hatch and get the others set up.”
Once we got rolling, I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun in my life.
It was like playing a video game in real life.
We had the sound effects in our headphones, and the simulator moved and rumbled like it would if you were driving around, helping you become immersed in the setting.
We absolutely fucked it all the way up the first time, but an hour into it, I felt like I was getting the feel for what was going on. Then Savanna called for a switch-up.
Everyone flip-flopped so we didn’t have any of the same people together and went back to it.
This time, I was with Eagle and Magnus. For a minute, I was worried they wouldn’t be able to work together, but I was impressed at how well they communicated.
Even if we didn’t actually have a tank we needed to use, this was a great team-building exercise.
Magnus had been struggling with people he couldn’t control like his brothers, and I felt like this was an awesome way for him to realize Eagle was an asshole.
After another hour, we rotated again, putting me with Jaxson and Alvaro.
Not really knowing the kid at all, it was interesting, to say the least. He didn’t have dominance or confidence in him in any way.
We struggled a lot during the hour we worked together, and I didn’t think someone in the launcher seat would affect us that much, but he wasn’t thinking ahead.
The others always seemed to be ready with the next step or move before we needed them.
I’d also noticed that from their vantage point, they could see things in the environment we couldn’t.
The final round put me with Cameron and Picasso, making me grin at how they communicated with each other.
Picasso yelled and cussed while Cam just responded to everything in a cool, calm manner, giving me the information I needed while Picasso would wack my arm to get my attention as I was inputting the information.
It felt like being on choppy water in a boat that was too small with an experienced captain and a panicked crew member.
After about a half hour, Picasso seemed to mellow out and get his head in the game.
I don’t know what it was about Cam that got under his skin, but it was sure interesting to watch.
After that hour, Savanna called us out of the simulators and clapped her hands. “I’m damn impressed with all of you. While some need a lot more work, there’s a bunch who appear to take to it like a fish to water. If you’ll indulge me, I’d love to put what I think is the ultimate set together.”
We all agreed, curious to see what that might be. When she called them out, part of me was surprised, but on the other hand, I could see the odd mix working.
“Harper as gunner, Dax as driver, and Void as loader. After watching all of you working with others, I truly feel like this is the best match. Care to give it a go?” Savanna asked.
“Fuck yes,” Dax blurted and headed for the nearest simulator we’d been using.
Harper was right behind her, and Void had the biggest smirk on his face as he climbed into that tiny hole.
“Come on, the rest of you can watch in the control room,” Savanna said, leading the way.
The control room had screens all over the place and stations for multiple people to work. Sitting at one of the terminals, she typed in a few things and hit enter. “Your mission is commencing.”
Each of the simulations had it built in where your commanding officer was giving you orders. So we listened to the mission, and my jaw dropped, knowing it was harder than anything else we’d done.
“What the hell kind of level did you put that on?” I asked.
“They’re getting something we’d give about three weeks into the training program. It’s not the hardest shit we can pull, but it’s not easy either. Now hush so we can hear them, that’s the most important part of all of this.”
It was obvious the way Harper and Dax communicated was born from years of friendship.
Sometimes they didn’t even have to finish a sentence before the other was already doing it.
Void kept up a constant stream of information about what he could see—landscape, enemy arsenal, anything that might affect how they maneuvered across the battlefield.
“We got a pond up ahead, but it’s the only way to get where we need to be,” Void informed them.
“It’s fine, keep on course. Our ride can handle a little water,” Harper stated.
I blinked then looked at Savanna—she grinned. “Someone was paying attention in the video. The tank we have you operating is amphibious and can be airdropped since it’s a lightweight tank.”
That had some of the guys arguing in the back about some wrong call one of them made until I twisted around and shushed them.
In the end, they failed the mission, but according to the simulation, they’d made it eighty-five percent of the way through.
When the three of them emerged, they all looked rather put out until Savanna told them what she’d done.
“I knew it,” Dax yelled, pointing her finger at Harper. “See, didn’t I say they were going to really see what we could do?”
“Yes, yes, you did,” Harper said, patting Dax’s shoulder. “Now, as much fun as this has been, and I honestly really mean that, I’m not sure I can keep my eyes open much longer.”
I looked down at my watch and found it was almost one in the morning. “How long does it take to fly to Washington D.C.?”
“About two hours,” Jaxson said with a yawn. “We can probably get about five hours of sleep before we need to take off. Thank God they said nine and not like seven, that would have been brutal.”
“I’ve got bunks set up for you in the next building over,” Savanna shared, turning on her heel. “I’ll be sure to be here in five hours to make sure you’re up and can get out on time. The CIA isn’t an organization you want to keep waiting.”
Opening my mouth, I wanted to ask how she knew, but Ghost gave me a look, and I snapped my jaw shut. It seems I’ll get my answers for that in the morning.