This is Part Two of Episode 30 of Freedom Flights, which focuses on the rescue mission to Kursk. However, the search for Nadia may take several episodes. Please be patient.
Until a just peace for Ukraine is reached, I will continue to write more episodes, never forgetting the brave people fighting for freedom. Let’s pray Western aid and weapons like F-16s continue to reach the frontlines and in time to change their fortunes in preparing for just peace.
Links to the previous episodes can be found on my Freedom Flights page via the left-hand sidebar.
Episode 30 – Perilous Pursuits
PART 2 – God Speed
Monday, September 2nd – Staging ground, Sumy Oblast, Ukraine
Once the NH90 Caïman landed and its doors slid open, Osinniy greeted Cecilija.
“I never expected to meet again… well, not like this. I heard Ruslan and Albina were recuperating with your squadron. How come?”
“His sister Tamila flies with us. In fact, she’s flying in our fighter escort, which will join us when we leave. First, we need to get your equipment on board. You know we’re using two helicopters, as twenty stretchers are too many for an armed NH90 Caïman?”
Cecilija led the paramedic into the aircraft and showed her the dozen stretchers awaiting equipment and patients.
“This is the normal medevac layout,” she explained as two helicopters arrived outside. “Our Black Hawk normally takes six stretchers, meaning we’re two short of Command’s requirements. We have loaded two extra stretchers, but then there’s the weight problem on the return trip.”
“What about the third helicopter?” asked Osinniy when they returned outside.
“That’s one of our Tigers, an attack craft and extra defence in case we dispense with guns on the Black Hawk and Sierra. It’s one option depending on weight for the return leg.”
Aline joined them as Henrika emerged from the Black Hawk with Dasha.
“We better talk with the Commanding Officer,” said Aline. “Major Svitlana Heclyuk will need to discuss if the plan is unchanged. Of course, it has changed.”
The group met the Major and explained the extra helicopters, the two extra stretchers, and the weight issue.
“Couldn’t you leave any crew members?” asked Svitlana. “Then you could carry guns and dispense with the gunship.”
At this point, Polina and Marusya had walked over. The major registered Polina’s prosthetic foot… as had Osinniy.
“That was the first thought,” said Cecilija. “I’m the gunner and loadmaster on the NH90 Caïman. If you remember our last trip to Poltava, there were only 16 patients, 2 paramedics, equipment, no co-pilot, and no guns to make the weight. We’ve explored the options, and having a gunship is the safest way to protect twenty severely injured soldiers flying out of Kursk.”
“A gunship flown by a pilot with a prosthetic limb is safe?” asked Svitlana.
“One of our finest pilots and an ace goal scorer,” said Marusya.
Osinniy had bent down to inspect Polina’s leg politely.
“This is the best and most sophisticated prosthesis I’ve ever seen. No wonder she’s a brilliant all-rounder.”
*
Once Control cleared them for the dusk take-off, Aline took the lead in the NH90 Caïman, codenamed Sierra, followed by the Black Hawk Hotel piloted by Henrika and then Tiger Bravo with Polina. Her co-pilot, Marusya, was running a radar sweep, supplementing the data that Cecilija was collecting with the NH90 Caïman’s sensors.
A few 100 kilometres southwest in NATO Airspace, one of the two Saab 340 ASC 890s was flying at 6,100 metres and monitoring Ruby Flights’ four Gripen Cs.
“No Russian hostiles approaching your position. In one minute, you will be out of our radar’s range. Switch to Sierra’s detection and your own. Good hunting, Ruby. Over and out.”
Kapitan Adriana Pavlenko switched to night vision and dropped to 30 metres to cross the front line into Kursk. The three other Gripens followed her down.
“Ruby Leader to Sierra. We are closing in on you and ready to deal with Bears or Cubs. Over.”
“Sierra to Ruby. Take flank positions above Hotal Hawk. Follow the R200 to the landing zone west of Sudzha. Over.”
“Understood. Over and out.”
Adriana knew the R200 was the almost straight road from the frontier and an ideal runway for the Gripens if the surface had no bomb craters. All they needed was the night sky to stay clear or someone to put lights on the verges.
*
Sudzha, Kursk Oblast, Russia
Lieutenant Mykhail Moroz watched the seven approaching aircraft in his night vision binoculars. When they were within 1000 metres of the roundabout, he ordered his men to turn on the Marder’s lights, signalling the vehicles alongside the R200 to turn on their lights. Hopefully, the jet pilots would appreciate the runway.
The first required less distance to land than expected and then skillfully used the roundabout to clear the landing zone. It didn’t take the four jets long to land and position themselves on side roads. After refuelling them, volunteer mechanics covered them with camouflage netting before crossing to the helicopter area.
The lights had been killed, except those marking where the helicopters were landing. He leapt off the Marder and met the arrivals gradually gathering near the familiar NH90 Caïman. He was about to greet the crew when a pilot crept up behind him and spun him into a bear hug.
“Polina, nobody told me you were coming.”
“I had to check on my wayward brother. Glad to see you’re living up to your academy promise.”
“As you are, dearest sister.” He paused, noticing her bionic foot. “Even more so if you fly with that-“
“Prosthetic leg,” finished Marusya. “She even scores winning goals with a bicycle kick.”
A medic ran up to him.
“Lieutenant, I took the liberty of assisting the air paramedics in loading the patients.”
Mykhail followed the medic to the NH90 Caïman, where Osinniy, Cecilija, and Aline were checking the patients and equipment with another paramedic. He counted the fourteen stretchers, which were all full.
“How many more in the other helicopters?
“Six in the Black Hawk,” said Cecilija. “The third helicopter is the gunship flown by your sister and her co-pilot.”
“They can’t take any more wounded without being overweight,” said Osinniy. “Leaving any crew behind makes no sense.”
Dasha coughed. “Except me. I’m Dasha Isakova, the operative who needs to find Kapitan Nadia Lukyan, who was left last trip. But we can’t leave anyone else.”
“Okay,” said Mykhail. “Let’s check the Black Hawk.
Dasha, Cecilija, Aline, Osinniy, and the medic followed him to the second medevac. Henrika and her co-pilot, Beitris, had ensured their two paramedics had all six patients settled.
One paramedic turned to Osinniy.
“We’ve discussed our patients and have compiled notes on the most urgent cases for our arrival at Poltava Regional Hospital, whom we will warn when in safer airspace. We’re ready to leave when you are.”
“A good move, informing the hospital ahead of arriving. We both need to warn Poltava. Can we all leave soon, Lieutenant?”
“Immediately I receive clearance,” said Mykhail, climbing out of the Black Hawk.
Outside, Polina was waiting with Tamila Medved, who introduced herself to Osinniy.
“I’m Ruslan’s sister, and although you didn’t treat him in flight, you gave his partner, Albina, a life-saving transfusion. Many thanks, as they’re a great couple.”
“It was Cecilija’s blood… a team effort. Send the couple my congratulations and blessings.”
Air raid sirens blared across Sudzha, and people hurried to the shelters.
“It’s another attack launched from Khalino air base to the northeast,” said Mykhail as he directed his troops to aid the helicopters to leave. He turned to Aline. “If your three copters can take off now and follow the R200 into Ukraine, our artillery will buy you time.”
As Tamila ran back to the Gripens, she shouted, “We’ll surprise these Russians. They believe UAF aircraft won’t operate in Kursk. Too dangerous.”
He followed her.
“Beware, these Sukhoi Su-30SM are super agile. They regularly drop KAB glide bombs towards the city, ignoring that they’re killing their own people. Strike fast and dart away.’
The other Gripens were lined up facing southwest down the road home. Tamila was climbing into her jet when Dasha shouted.
“Listen for Ailes de Phénix.”
She nodded, knowing the words were important and must be remembered by every Night Witch. In the far distance, the three helicopters were disappearing towards the border pursued by drones.
Then, the flight took off one by one, and it was her turn. As they banked to the west, she radioed Adriana on the squadron’s scrambled frequency.
“Ruby Leader, the Russian attack is by Sukhoi Su-30SMs from the northeast, carrying KAB glide bombs, range 25 miles so vulnerable to surprise ambush. Meadow, over.”
“Agreed, Meadow. Ruby Flight, grasscutter approach. Intercept each Orc before the bomb drops. Use all four Meteors, then break southwards at Mach 2, hedgehopping. Over and out.”
The flight skirted Sudzha, heading north as low as possible before heading east on an intercept course.
“Ruby Flight. Orcs are attempting to scan our unfamiliar IDs. Now they’re changing heading to investigate. Prepare to fire Meteors when in range. If they fire first, activate countermeasures.”
Fortunately, the Russians were confused long enough for all four Gripens to fire their missiles. But then the enemy launched their own missiles, so the Gripens activated countermeasures.
“Break south. Oxen and Polar follow Meadow through city defences.”
Tamila knew Mykhail would ensure his forces didn’t target Gripens, only Sukhoi Su-30SMs. But she had to repeat the operative’s message.
“Dasha told me we must all ‘Listen for Ailes de Phénix’. Perhaps when they come back.”
Nobody answered, so she kept heading southwest. Behind her, she heard a distant explosion. Adriana? Had someone mistaken a Gripen for an Orc?
“Ruby Flight. Callsigns, please? Rain here, over.”
“Oxen, over.”
“Polar, over.”
Tamila was relieved and said, “Meadow, over.”
“Rain, thanks. Keep heading home. Over and out.”
The flight kept heading to the border. Suddenly, a voice called on the radio.
“Mykhail here. You destroyed one Sukhoi Su-30, but drones have been launched from the Khalino air base. God speed.”
**
Tuesday, September 3rd – Front Line, Sumy Oblast, Ukraine
Aline crossed out of Kursk Oblast, and Cecilija confirmed that Polina and Marusya had destroyed the pursuing drones with Tiger Bravo’s armaments. Aleks radioed ahead to Poltava, giving their ETA, but their response shocked her.
“We’re dealing with a major emergency, which is swamping all hospital resources. You’ll need to find another facility.”
Cecilija waved Osinniy over.
“What happened?” asked Aleks.
“Two Russian missiles hit our military communications institute with devastating results. Dozens of injured are being pulled from the rubble. Dead too. Sorry, we can’t help your injured anymore.”
Osinniy dropped her head.
“Poltava is far from the war’s frontlines. This is crazy.” She looked at the digital map. “We could try Pryluky in Chernihiv Oblast.”
Slava Ukrayini
MPA 1,697 words
Ukraine military faces questions as the country mourns Poltava dead: https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/sep/06/drones-russia-poltava-airstrikes
The Invisible Battles of Ukrainian Military Medics | Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVxY5ihyVnA
Ukrainian medics are helped by Repower NGO:
Writing Wings 