As there have been several crucial events concerning Ukraine over the last month, ‘Inception’ picks up from the last outing of the Night Witches in the WEP/IWSG April Challenge.
Watch out for the next episode ‘Shaped Encounters’ due at the end of next week. Perhaps by then some of my Witches will be ready to fly in Ukraine skies again. Finally, my apologies for again running too long to make this episode work.
For those new to this ongoing creation, please note, this present day tale began with my World War II story Feathered Fire, which introduced the Chayka family from Ukraine and appeared in the 2020 IWSG Anthology (No. 5), Voyagers: The Third Ghost.
The current stories open with Part 1, Rainbow Firebreak, for the WEP/IWSG April: Challenge: https://rolandclarke.com/2022/04/20/wep-iwsg-april-challenge-a-hard-rains-a-gonna-fall/.
Part 2, Winged Woes, for the WEP/IWSG June Challenge: https://rolandclarke.com/2022/06/15/wep-iwsg-june-challenge-please-read-the-letter/
Part 3, Moonbeam Magic, for the WEP/IWSG August Challenge: https://rolandclarke.com/2022/08/17/wep-iwsg-august-challenge-moonlight-sonata/
Part 4, Winged Death, for the WEP/IWSG October Challenge: https://rolandclarke.com/2022/10/19/wep-iwsg-october-challenge-thriller/
Part 5, Soul Seeds, for the WEP/IWSG December Challenge: https://rolandclarke.com/2022/12/01/wep-iwsg-december-challenge-first-time-ever/
Part 6, Swords to Ploughshares, to conclude the WEP/IWSG December Challenge and close 2022: https://rolandclarke.com/2022/12/10/swords-to-ploughshares/
Part 7, Winter Resolution https://rolandclarke.com/2023/01/31/wep-iwsg-challenge-resolve/ This extra post leads into this month’s Challenge entry and included a plot event I foreshadowed in Part 6.
Part 8, Winds of Change https://rolandclarke.com/2023/02/15/wep-iwsg-february-challenge-gone-with-the-wind/
Part 9, Precious Relations, https://rolandclarke.com/2023/04/20/wep-iwsg-april-challenge-life-is-beautiful/
Watch out for Part 11, Shaped Encounters, the WEP/IWSG June Challenge due next week.
***
PART 10
Inception
Wednesday April 19th – Dęblin Military Air Base, Lublin Voivodeship, Poland
Mariyka was amazed at the size of the gathering drawn to the hanger used for aircraft maintenance by the Aviation Engineering Training Centre. All the squadron’s chief mechanics had realized the urgency of the situation, as had the flight leaders. The three cadets encouraged some aviation engineering students to attend, and crucially their senior trainer, Master Engineer Krakarth.
He turned to the students, “Our brave guests are inviting us to help them rebuild these three MiG-29s,” he gestured behind him. “They were recovered after a costly night raid near the Kherson front, when six heroic Witches gave their lives for freedom. With their resources and ours, we can ensure Ukraine has three more MiG-29s to drive the Russians out.” He gestured towards Mariyka, “I will let Kapitan Shevchuk take command of this operation.”
Daria, Maja, and Nadzieja each went and stood by a MiG as Mariyka said, “We need three teams made up of our combat trained mechanics. So, Daria with Gold Flight’s Chief mechanic, Larisa Kovalyov. Maja with Sable Flight’s Chief mechanic, Bohdana Shvets. And Nadzieja with Green Flight’s Chief mechanic, Dariya Boyko.”
Mariyka noticed the teams coming together, and added, “plus the best students.” She glanced towards Krakarth, who added, “The University will be pleased to not only supply our facilities, but this will give invaluable experience to all our aviation engineering students, especially as you intend these MiGs to be using NATO tactics and missile systems.”
Mariyka’s chief mechanic Dariya Boyko chuckled, then said, “We’ve learnt a lot about reverse engineering – even in sub-zero temperatures, albeit on Hornets. But adapting a MiG to use JDAMS missiles will be easier.”
The Chayka majors who were quietly helping allocate crew to MiG teams, nodded to each other, then said in unison, “From the present ‘mutual air denial’, we can achieve Ukrainian air supremacy… when we receive the requested air defence systems and NATO jets.”
“Of course,” said Krakath, “Some of you have managed to source the requisite jets.”
Kalyna and Vasy hurriedly whispered to Mariyka.
“Great plan,” said Mariyka. “But can Chayka Air spare more resources to train Witches?”
“Whatever it takes to drive the enemy out,” said Kalyna. “First fast-jet training for our Polish comrades and anyone who needs it. Then we train as many as we can on an F-16 or the next available NATO-compatible platform…whichever we have permission to train on.”
“Fortunately, as Chayka Air’s qualified trainers, we have the company’s authorization to train on most fourth-generation fighter aircraft. We will double check with our legal expert…my father,” said Vasy, grinning. “When we are totally covered, our hard-acquired two-seater F-16 jet trainer will be flown here.”
“Although most Ukrainian pilots want F-16s, our newest recruits liked the Gripens,” said Vasy, “as did our mechanics, which we told our Swedish contact-“
“-in that message I delivered?” asked Anzhela Havrylyuk. “Gripens would make this squadron more flexible in terms of being able to effectively operate from dispersed locations.”
“Viable solution, but long term,” said Vasy. “We mustn’t forget it though. Join us upstairs if you’re free.”
As the trio were about to leave through the rear hanger door, Kalyna turned to Mariyka.
“We know you and Master Engineer Krakarth have this in hand. Just let us know your MiG-29 rebuild teams later today. Slava Ukrayini.”
When the two Majors and Anzhela left, Mariyka and Krakarth checked they had three balanced teams, without too many experienced engineers on one.
“We ought to record their names. I’ll ask the first three cadets who volunteered, to compile lists, sir.”
“Please call me Anatol. Sir is what the cadets use.”
“Anatol then. Please keep calling me Mariyka.”
A few minutes later, she returned with three rosters, “Real initiative – already done.”
“I’m not surprised. They’re our fastest learners. But the others will soon catch up. Most of them feel threatened by the Russian invasion… and many know people dying on the front. It’s going to be difficult stopping more volunteers… especially when they have Ukrainian ancestry.”
“Like me… you realize I graduated from here. Also, the majors are Canadian-Ukrainians.”
“Explains a lot.”
Mariyka headed for the rear door. “I better deliver these rosters, and report in.”
Once her flight leader had left, Dariya Boyko asked Krakarth, “Master Engineer, are there enough MiG-29 air frames and parts to build another plane for Mariyka? It would be great if we can create a flight of MiG-29s.”
“I’ll investigate that as I suspect there could be, even on another base. We could be starting an invaluable service here.”
**
Credit: Lukasz Glowala/Reuters
Despite the eight-hour time difference between Lublin and Cold Lake, the majors were still finalizing arrangements with Chayka Air. Kalyna was on phone, while Vasy was taking notes,
“Okay, so we’ll expect our two-seater F-16 trainer in five days, with an intelligence gathering stopover in Sweden.” She paused, then continued, “Polish air traffic control will need more than the pilots’ names and serial numbers …at least a secure military call sign when they reach NATO airspace, please.”
“Why the mystery, Kalyna?” asked Anzhela as Mariyka walked in. “We don’t have any pilots we’ve grounded.”
Mariyka handed the MiG repair team lists to Vasy. “Our teams are so keen we’ll have the 29s rebuilt faster than we expected. Anatol… I mean Krakarth, feels we won’t be short of volunteers to fight the Russians soon. But I wonder if enough of us speak sufficient Polish to instruct-“
“-in American cockpits,” added Kalyna.
“Luckily the University’s Foreign Languages Centre,” said Mariyka, “has extensive English Language courses with NATO and related technical jargon.”
“Would they be able to help our Ukrainian pilots who might struggle with NATO-speak on the frontlines?” asked Vasy. “Any Ukrainian troops trained on NATO equipment might expect us to use the same terms and phrases. Tanks work best with infantry and air cover that is operating on the same page.”
“I’ll go and ask the Centre as soon as you’ve finished with me.”
“Just one thing, but you need to talk to your aunt for the details. There were survivors from the Lviv restaurant bombing. We don’t know more so ask her… and if you have to move there, just ensure you report for duty regularly.”
Mariyka was tempted to run straight to the Zvenigora Restaurant, but her mission to the Foreign Languages Centre was crucial.
It proved well-timed as one of the senior NATO tutors with sufficient authority approved a special program for officers on active duty.
“This program will have its roots in past conflicts, but the innovative use of weapons means I must integrate new terminology into the program, a relatively straightforward task for me. Call it another inception requiring dinner sometime.”
**
Meanwhile, back at the squadron’s office, Vasy and Kalyna had written all the flights on the roster board.
“We need to identify those pilots we’ve already given an advantage in adapting to F-16s through the Western jets they fly in their Flight, and doing the course in Canada,” said Kalyna, “especially where the instrumentation is in English. Or when we were the trainers in charge.”
“I remember all the Gripens were bi-lingual for the RCAF – English and French,” said Vasy. “And we were changing the French instructions to Ukrainian. Looking at all these pilots, I feel the Witches will have an advantage when we start training them on F-16s.”
Kalyna carefully wiped all the obvious names off the board leaving just the cadets.
“Even though the six cadets have been flying Gripens and have that invaluable head start, we should give them extra hours in our F-16… unless we attempt to think long-term with them and create one or two flexible deployment flights. The original Night Witches were able to deploy”
“That would be a lateral approach to encouraging Saab’s renewed interest,” said Anzhela. “And one Maksym and Air Command West could endorse.”
“We’ll update our Swedish contact and see if there’s a positive response,” said Vasy. “As for the three Polish volunteers they’ll start on the MiG-29s when they are rebuilt, but eventually they will need to be trained on our F-16.”
Vasy went back to the board and began writing as she said, “We need a MiG-29 Flight Team, which can grow as more volunteers emerge in the area. These will be the future F-16 pilots, the ones who keep the skies of Ukraine and Poland free after the peace is secured. Some will fly with us as Witches, while others will join the Polish Air Force flying F-16s and F-35s. All we can do is ensure we train them so well, they’re amongst our finest survivors.”
‘Violet Flight (MiG-29): Kapitan Mariyka Shevchuk*, Cadet Daria Jankowski, Cadet Maja Andrysiak, and Cadet Nadzieja Chlebek (4). Chief mechanic: Dariya Boyko* (until Cadet trained for role?)’
Kalyna studied the names. “Clever… Violet blends Polish and Ukrainian colors. Mariyka will be a strong leader with her three enthusiastic cadets. She would choose her faithful chief mechanic. I just wonder how the news from Lviv will impact their lives here though?”
**
Saturday, April 22nd – Zvenigora Restaurant, Dęblin, Lublin Voivodeship, Poland
It had been three long days since Aunt Agnieszka had tearfully embraced Mariyka and told her that her mother Danuta had been killed in the bombing attack on March 4th.
“I always believed our cellar location would protect us. Why didn’t it’?””
Her sister Sabina pulled Mariyka closer to her and their orphaned nephew Tomas’s whose mother Gaja had also died in the raid. His face was streaked with dried tears, but he was being brave.
“Our mothers are together fighting with my father, and St George. One day we’ll join them and his army of saints driving the monster out.”
Sabina smiled. “It’s faith like his that will win this war.” She paused then continued, “You know our mother never gave up… nor Aunt Gaja. When we were buried, they kept digging, creating safe zones with air pockets… until…”
She subsided in choking.
Agnieszka continued. “There was another explosion. The rescuers said a second rocket killed them but cleared a path to your sister and Tomas.”
“We were in a temporary medical shelter for over a month,” said Sabina, “before we were allowed to come here.”
“And you are all three welcome to make this home.”
“Thank you, Aunt Agnieszka.”
Together they all settled into the family routine of Zvenigora Restaurant, tinged with memories, love, and tears.
**
Slava Ukrayini
Writing Wings 