Assault on Cambriol: The Manhattan Trials by Jerry Borrowman

Author:Jerry Borrowman [Borrowman, Jerry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Canyon Press
Published: 2014-04-08T22:00:00+00:00

11– An Ill Wind

Most of the descent to the surface went without incident. As the morning breeze off the ocean found its way up the streets of Manhattan, however, it created some interesting turbulence. Ground control gave the Allegro shuttlecraft its choice of three approaches and naturally Eaves chose the most difficult, directly up Park Avenue from the south. O’Casey hovered over his shoulder as they floated past the Empire State building, two blocks west, then past the Chrysler building, one block east, on Lexington.

At Forty-Ninth street a blast of frigid air hit them from the East River, lifting the starboard side. It was strong enough that it startled Brighton into suggesting a corrective maneuver, but Eaves simply kept his gaze forward and took no action. Everyone there stood nervously, wondering why he didn’t do anything as the shuttle drifted west towards Rockefeller Center. Everyone but O’Casey. He actually smiled.

“Well done, Eaves, you were absolutely correct to ignore that.”

The breeze rolled under the giant ship like a wave and the shuttle settled back onto its original course. Jesik and Brighton said nothing, but mentally took note to never, ever, pilot a shuttlecraft. As they drifted past Trump tower, Eaves applied a slight banking motion to port, which allowed them to pass lazily over the simulated Plaza Hotel. Carter began calling out coordinates for the landing pad, which was on a soccer field south of the main boathouse.

Eaves activated the forward gels, which reacted against the air, then the trees. The ship came to a dead stop over the assigned pad. The breeze from the east was uneven, but with three or four quick maneuvers with the port membranes, he was able to square the ship properly, then reduce the resistance below, allowing the shuttle to settle gently on the pad. Everyone onboard breathed a huge sigh of relief. Eaves had managed his first landing without incident. And in full view of the maximum number of observers, including the crews of nine of their competitors.

O’Casey peered anxiously over Carter’s shoulder as he ran the numbers on the landing.

“One meter off from dead center, to starboard, and off rotation by two-and-a-half meters, aft side trailing.”

Everyone onboard burst into applause. Practically a perfect landing.

“I overcorrected for the east wind,” muttered Eaves muttered as he powered down the systems. He appeared angry, but Carter knew he was as relieved and happy as everyone else.

“It’s just lucky for the two of you that there was no real weather to worry about,” O’Casey said laconically. Then, turning to the shuttle ground crew he issued a quick set of orders for post-docking security and maintenance.

“Great job, everyone. Congratulations, Mr. O’Casey. Your training appears to have paid off,” Jesik commented

“Thank you Captain.”

“Now, I see there’s air transport waiting outside. Let’s all check into our hotel rooms, to shower and then I’ll buy you breakfast at a café I know next to the Helmsley on Fifty-Ninth. After that, we’ll go off to our various receptions to start, ah, consultations with senior command.

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