[Helen]
"Hello? Anyone there? This is Major Helen White, I'm speaking from the ozone layer, connect me to Senior Officer Han"
[Command Center]
"What is your assigned code Major?"
[Helen]
"OF-3"
[Command Center]
"Confirmed, patching you through to the Senior Han"
[Senior Han]
"What is it Helen?"
[Helen]
"Sir, I'm at the entry point of the solar flare, and the ozone has melted like molten glass. I have pinned the co-ordinates, and sent over the samples as well, please dispatch a team as soon as possible "
[Senior Han]
"Sure, anything else? because i don't think you contacted me directly just to give me an update"
[Helen]
"Yes sir, well we need to be more careful this time around, because i don't think is just any ordinary flare, this seems or more like is a directed attack"
[Senior Han]
"Are you sure? that's a pretty big assumption, because if there is a power out there who hasn't been registered, and is capable of using their ability on such a scale, that's gonna have to be reported to the UNO, this will be a global threat. Which is why I'm asking you again, are you sure of your report MAJOR?"
[Helen]
"YES SIR!"
[Senior Han]
"Alright then Major, get yourself back on the ground and be here in an hour, were gonna need all hands on deck for this batch"
[Helen]
"Understood sir, I will be right there, Major Helen OUT!"
After saying that Helen, tapped the screen and took out the ear piece, turned towards the captain, and said....
[Helen]
"Get us back home, Captain"
[Captain Evans]
"Right away miss, now hold on tight, the ride back is going to be a bit tough yet beautiful!"
Perking her left eyebrow, Helen just tightened her strappers, and gave the signal for dive!
And with that, Captain Evans stopped flapping his wings, and spread them out in an even manner....To generate lift, reducing speed from free fall and begin gliding to control and slow the descent.
[Helen]
"What's going on? I thought we were gonna drop now....."
[Captain Evans]
"Yeah that's not how descend works for living creatures, plus do you have a heat shielding Veil ?"
[Helen]
"Yeah i do, but why?"
[Captain Evans]
"Not for me, it's for you, cause you're not fire proof now are you?"
[Helen]
"Yeah, i mean no.... i mean i do have the shield but no i'm not fire proof"
[Captain Evans]
"Whatever, just turn it on"
[Helen]
"Yeah, sure....uhhh, what shape do we need it to be?"
[Captain Evans]
"Turn it into a half open cocoon from the back, we won't need it behind us as much as in front of us. The heats gonna come from the front so....."
[Helen]
"Alright"
And with that, Helen took out another small button shaped bag, but this time this bag looked like a shiny rock, crested with two thumb sized rubies on both sides of the tiny bag, and when squeezed it released an blueish gel, which automatically was attracted towards the wrist watch Helen was wearing, known as the MFW. An anagram for multi-functional watch...
Once attached to the MFW, the screen extended sideways and provided visual options for the shields look and protective area.....once a shield type is picked the screen folds itself back, the blueish gel extends into the shields figure depicted in the MFW accurately.
Once the shield is deployed it is nearly indestructible, and can only be deactivated by the user...
[Helen]
"I still don't understand, if we're just gonna float then, why do we need the shield? And if we do need the shield then, why are we still gliding??"
[Captain Evans]
"Don't you think, you ask too many questions?"
[Helen]
"Whatever i do, always has a reason, and right now i don't understand why we're still gliding!?"
[Captain Evans]
"Fine, To answer your question, The air density at this altitude is still quite low, and gliding will help manage the descent rate while allowing for a gradual transition to denser air below. Does it make sense now?"
[Helen]
"Ok ok fine, it still doesn't but fine"
This descent continues for 2 minutes for the height of 10 km, from 15-10 maintaining the initial velocity of 50 m/s, with the shield being active, Helen didn't have to deal with harsh winds on her face this time, descending was going a lot more smoother than expected, since their rout had changed and this time around they didn't have to deal with a thunder storm, descending was similar to falling, just slowly. Once they reached the 10 km mark, which was being tracked by Helen through her MFW....from here, it was considered smooth sailing by Captain Evans, because the winds slowed down and made it a pleasant flying experience. Now the Captain had to decrease their velocity by 20, making it 30 m/s by adjusting wing position to increase drag and further slow their descent which is done by slightly angling the wings and body to create more drag, effectively acting like an air brake.
The reason behind doing this is very simple, As the Captain descends into denser air, he can use aerodynamic forces more effectively to slow down.Gliding gradually towards their 5km mark, Helen and Captain started sight seeing, because the sight in front of them was a mighty majestic one, the ocean beneath them glistening like a vast accumulation of sapphires, just as blue as the sky and just as shiny as the stars in the night sky, yet out in the open wide spread covering the entirety of the globe, a sight straight out of a dreamland.....who wouldn't stare at it in complete bliss and yet both the Captain and Helen had to let of that moment, because they had just approached their 2km mark, once the captain noticed he actively decreased their velocity from 30 m/s to 20 m/s by transitioning to a more controlled flapping and more intensive gliding action, using a combination of flapping and gliding to modulate speed and direction, ensuring a controlled descent.The reason being at this altitude, the air density is high enough to allow for effective wing thrust controlled flapping helps to further reduce speed and maintain stability.
It has almost been 5 whole minutes since they started from the stratosphere and it will take more 5 minutes to reach ground level, so approximately 10-11 minutes...
During this entire time of descent, neither of them spoke a single word, making the entre ride more and more awkward for Captain Evans, because you see, the Captain has what we call a golden retriever personality, and these types always need interaction of some kind may it be any kind, but they need it....And in this moment, the Captain was suffering from a lack of attention and interaction, turning into a hyperactive puppy who's been tied to a post not letting him play in the ground/garden!And Helen could sense this tension within the captain, since she was literally strapped to him, but she was a introverted person, who didn't know what to do in situations like this, all she was used to was giving out orders or following them, which one of the primary reasons why she was in the military in the first place!
Now the as time passed these minutes felt like hours for them both, while both of them tried their best to make the other comfortable with themself, their attempts failed miserably and just when both of them were about to say something the MFW stopped them by the signaling their, ground level mark, which will take them 3 minutes and 20 seconds to get to.Now the distance was only 2 km to the surface and so, Captain decreased their speed from 20 m/s to 10 m/s by Increasing the frequency of flapping while maintaining a wide wingspan for maximum control. Performing gradual, controlled maneuvers to approach the ground at a safe angle and speed.
The final part of the descent requires precise control to ensure a safe landing. The Captain aimed to reduce speed to a safe level for touchdown.Descending at the speed of 10m/s from the height of 2 km, approximately took them about 200 seconds, which surmounts to an total of 3 minutes and 20 seconds.
Even now both Helen and Captain Evans were silently gliding, trying to act as comfortable as possible, but neither was fooling either one of them....they both were completely aware of how awkward the other one was with them....i mean, come on, how comfortable can one be being strapped to someone's chest and vise-versa! It's bound to get awkward at some point especially if both parties are stuck with each other in an inescapable situation such being in 2KM HIGH IN THE SKY!Anyway, once both of them landed in the same spot, as they had taken off from, the Captain let out a loud sigh of relief because of the pain relief he just experienced the toll of carrying a person to the stratosphere and back was quite a toll!
[Helen]
"Thank you, for your help, i know it's no easy feat to carry a person to the stratosphere and back from there, so thank you! and I'll make sure to remember this favor Captain Evans"
[Captain Evans]
"Right....your welcome? i don't know what to say right now, actually just make sure to mention this in from of Senior Han that'll be more than enough...."
[Helen]
"Alright you got it! now let's get out of here!"
[Captain Evans]
"Sure! Just gimme a second...."
And with that, captain started to let out a long and deep breath like he's been holding it in for a long time, and as his breath left his lungs so did his wings leave his back, turning back into the green mist they once were disappearing back into nothingness, just as they were before their flight.
After the wings had completely disappeared, Captain pulled his shirt towards himself, and plucked out another pouch but this it was blue in colour....
[Helen]
"What does this one do?"
[Captain Evans]
"It allows me to regain my vigor and strength, flying is a very exhausting process and it takes a lot of calories especially to fly with another person...."
[Helen]
"So it's like a pre-workout you just take it after a flight?"
[Captain Evans]
"Well....yeah basically, but it's nothing like a pre-workout"
[Helen]
"Yea, i don't care, it get's you back on your feet, and that's all i wanna know right now....so it's cool"
[Captain Evans]
"Uhh....okay?"
With that exchange, they both got ready to head back downstairs.....
As they both got back to the ground floor, back into all the gore and rubble, Helen was approached by a trooper asking to speak to her....
[Troop]
"Ma'am your car is here to pick you up...."
[Helen]
Nodded...."
Alright then ill be on my way captain, it was nice working with you again"
[Captain Evans]
"Right, the pleasure was mine ma'am"
And with that they both split their ways, going back to their usual duties....which were, the Captain being a captain and Helen back to her post at the Facility.