Back in the unnerving black of the blizzard, Shiriki uses an overlay of his topo maps to navigate. The blizzard knocks the light craft to and fro, something that Shiriki feels in the pit of his stomach, even though he can't see much difference, but he finds a jet stream heading north, and the flying smooths out over the fence, and to a small depression about a quarter klick north of the fence. He descends in a slow spiral, sets the drone on guard duty, and jumps directly in the Ares Dragon.
Yes, sir, this is more like it, he thinks, feeling the heft of the thing under his control. Heavier will be good here; the winds won't be able to knock him around as much, the ordnance is more impressive, and he'd be lying if he didn't feel better because this is one step closer to getting back to the SN. He sees the ammo count ticking up on both machine guns, and he fires up the engines. When the ticking stops as the drones go back for another load, he hits the vertical thrust and prepares to feel nothing but the clean and smooth night sky beneath him. Instead, the helicopter pitches starboard. Before the realization dawns on him that one of the loaders is still hooked into the machine gun he eases off the engine, and as the drone loader comes crashing down it brings the aft down with it, crushing the bay doors before the drone pops off with a hollow thud.
Error and warning messages cloud his vision, as if he needed anything to tell him how badly he'd fragged up. The impact takes his breath away as if the dragon had come down directly on top of him. His synapses scream, and his vision cuts out.
His vid feed clicks back on, and he takes a moment to center himself. You're still alive, you old fucker. Now get this thing up before Chante and the rest of the team have to walk home.
He sees one of the loading drones turn to face the craft and hold its position, probably the spider or another aeronautics officer taking interest in what in Dunkelzahn's hoop is happening out on "his" airfield. Or "hers." You gotta stop this fifth world thinking, chummer. He hits the thrusters again, and the Dragon whines in his ears,
<<WARNING: Vehicle damaged. Bay doors inoperable. Return vehicle for repairs>>
Nah, I got places to be. The dragon rises, rights itself, and Shiriki pitches forward, fighting the damaged vehicles port propeller, the blizzard, and his own body, which is threatening to pass out from pain. He eases forward at first, seeing if the engines will hold, and once he's found his bearings he opens up the engine and crosses the threshold of the fence. Checking the feed from his roto-drone he sees that the team hasn't crossed over yet, just as a text comes in from Chante.
<<Moving out. Charges are ready on my end. Are we ready to move or what? Shiriki, what's the extraction point?>>
Shiriki drops a pin on the depression, and comms back.
<<Quarter klick north of the fence. Turrets should be down, and you've got a clear approach north. Advise current status if you need covering fire or a closer pick up>>
