Maverick, Day Two - Contact!

[x-jetstream.livejournal.com]

Alison gets the psychic distress call, and scrambles her team.



Swearing at the sound of Betsy's voice echoing in her mind before being abruptly cut off, Alison's grip on the arms of the co-pilot's chair tightened, the leather of her fingerless gloves creaking slightly in response. Calculations and timing as to their distance to the safe house flashed through her mind, but the results were invariably the same – the landing would slow them down too much. Which meant sending ahead those who could get there quickly on their own down the fast way.

"Jetstream, Juggernaut, you're up. I'll take over piloting," she added, for Haroun's benefit, already leaning forward to engage the co-pilot's controls and to prepare the switch from secondary to primary piloting. "Juggernaut, we'll be chucking you out the cargo doors. Take Colossus with you." They'd never chucked Piotr out on his own at that speed and there was no sense in testing his armor the hard way – Cain would be able to carry him down and take the brunt of the impact just fine.

That only left one thing – sending in the fastest person in once they were out of the plane...

"Jetstream, get to North and Betsy as quickly as possible, get them out. Juggernaut and Colossus will follow and run interference as soon as they get there."

Haroun was already out of the chair and heading down to the release hatch. "Jetstream, confirm." he said over the com. He adjusted his jacket, thought a brief prayer in his head, and then dropped out of the jet. Kicking in his power, he spent a quick second to get oriented and then rocketed off at his top safe speed.

As the jet began to pull up from the shallow dive, Cain smiled and wrapped one arm around Piotr's shoulders. "Easier than fallin' off a log, buddy. Don't think I'm feeling you up or nothing. Just armor up and roll the moment you feel us hit ground."

Any reply Colossus gave was drowned out by the sudden rush of air as the rear cargo hatch opened, the force of gravity coupled with the plane's parabolic dive shooting both big men out the back like an awkward four-legged bomb.

~*~

Haroun leaned against a door, keeping an eye on Maverick and Betsy. He triggered his internal mike and sent out a signal. "Jetstream to Dazzler. Sitrep. Rendez-vous'd with our people, but the wolf is at the door. Awaiting instructions."

Flying high above, settling slowly in a circling pattern while looking for a likely place to land for the pick up once both Betsy and Maverick were clear, Alison held her breath for a moment, tracking Cain and Piotr's movement on the radar.

Still not close enough.

And from the data she was getting, they wouldn't get there on time, unless something happened.

"Jetstream."

A pause, barely perceptible.

"Move in. Delay until Juggernaut and Colossus arrive, then disengage to offer aerial cover."

Haroun nodded, even though Alison couldn't see it. "Understood, Dazzler. Moving to engage. Tell the cavalry to hustle." he said, and then advanced on Omega Red's position.