, although at idle one deck above, surrounded him. He heard the familiar “thunk” as the catapult was placed in tension. That was followed by the increased engine reverberation as the aircraft props changed pitch at full power for launch.
Are they really going to shoot these guys? he wondered.
They are going to have a tough time getting back aboard in these conditions.He made a right turn, then a left, as he continued aft to the ready room. He had to cover his ears as the familiar, yet annoying, din from the jet blast deflector pumps and the aircraft at full power pounded into his brain. A thud above and behind signaled the firing of the catapult, and the swift movement of the shuttle made a zziiiiipp sound as it moved forward pulling the E-2 with it. The sound of the E-2 engines also faded away at the instant a THUNK was felt forward on the bow: the sound of the catapult slamming into the water brake as it flung the Hummer into the air.
Just then a loud CLACK, CLACK, CLACK passed from inside the ship on his right side as the shuttle roared along the track. It stopped with a booming THUNK that rattled the ship’s frames. This was followed by a faint whistle sound as the S-3 tanker was launched off the waist. They’re gonna do it. Wilson smiled and shook his head as he stepped over a knee-knocker.
Halfway to the ready room he steadied himself as the ship took a starboard roll. Right after it stopped, the grim-faced Deputy CAG and his Operations Officer, whom he knew as “Bucket,” passed him in a hurry.
“Sir,” Wilson said. The DCAG passed with a barely audible acknowledgement and turned outboard toward the island ladder, shoulders hunched and head down.
As he trailed his boss, Bucket raised his eyebrows at Wilson to convey his thoughts: I don’t know what’s going on.
Wilson wondered where they were headed. The bridge? The tower? Who knows where? He walked past the S-3 and helo ready rooms, pushing off a bulkhead to steady himself as the ship took a roll. It’s getting worse.
When he entered the ready room, Wilson’s eyes were drawn to the Skipper, who was conducting his brief in the front of the ready room. Olive, two Buccaneer pilots and two aircrew from the Sea Owls listened intently. If Cajun Lassiter was concerned about the conditions his squadron pilots — and he — would face that night, he didn’t show it. Too professional for that. But Wilson knew he would brief the aircrew on every contingency and would further brief Olive on pitching deck LSO calls and other heavy weather techniques he had picked up over 17 years of carrier flying.
