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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 31, 2021 2:04:21 GMT
Chapter 33
Vladham and Janos Proska spent the same night in a small field at the edge of the woods. The air was brisk, but Proska would not allow a fire to be built. He warned Vladham that there might be forces on the ground that was aligned with the plane that had attacked them during the day. Proska also had them each take turns keeping watch. Proska took the first watch and had a very uncomfortable dream during Vladham's.
Proska dreamt that he was sitting on a tree limb overlooking the small camp where Vladham sat staring out on to the field. He tried to call out to him but all that call out was the cry "Hawka." Then a beautiful woman with short brown hair stepped out of the woods. She was wearing a shirt of chain mail armor, a shield with coat of arms, and a short leather skirt with matching boots and gloves. She carried a scabbard from which she drew a broad sword. Proska again yell to his companion, this time to warn him, but again there was no response from Vladham.
Proska could smell her sweat as well as the distinct aroma of her jingling armor. She raised he sword as if to strike Vladham. Proska dove at her face but she raised her shield up. He barely avoided slamming into the shield. He veered away and downwards. He now clawed at her bare vulnerable legs. She brought her sword down with the flat of the blade coming towards him. Proska flew away seconds before the sword would have struck
Proska now flew into the space between the woman's shield and face. He clawed and pecked at her unprotected face. Blood streamed down the beautiful smelly woman's face. She reached up and grabbed Proska with her shield arm's hand. She threw him toward a nearby tree.
Blackhawk could not gain control of his flight and smashed into the tree. He looked up at the woman and at Vladham. He cried out "Hawka when he saw the young pilot. Vladham was dead. Judging from his shriveled skin; he had been dead for some time.
The woman now spoke to him: "Well Blackhawk, you are every bit the warrior that Malagigi said you would be. I was Valda, a Knight of King Charlemagne and some time companion of Malagigi, and lover to the American Indian Arak. I know Malagigi told you that a war is coming and that you will be the leader of a new breed of knights. Knights that fly; but you also need to know that if you are to do this- some of the men you lead will die because of your decisions."
Blackhawk cried out "Hawka" he had wanted to say no, but that was all that would come out from his beak.
"The decision is yours. Know thousands more people; men women, and children will die if you don't take up your responsibility. The dye will be cast on the day your homeland surrenders. Farewell" she said as she stepped back into the woods and faded away.
Proska woke with a start. He went over to the young Vladham. He was relieved when he saw the lieutenant turn to look at his as he rose. "You have another hour before your watch Captain" Vladham said.
"That's all right Vladham. You get some sleep" said Proska.
As the two waited for Stan and Zeg's return next morning, Vladham asked his captain if he had had any strange dreams in the woods. Yes said Blackhawk, who then said "Why do you ask, Vladham?"
"Because I had a weird dream myself; a female knight of old came to me and said I would be a member of one of the greatest groups of warriors the world has ever known, and that I would not be remembered" said Vladham with a smile.
Blackhawk looked hard at the earnest young baron before asking "What do think of her predictions?"
"I am willing to accept them. I don't want any fame or glory captain. I just want to do my job. I was going to leave the air force went my mandatory enlistment was up later this year. But that attack yesterday told me that Poland will be at war soon and I want to protect my homeland."
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 31, 2021 2:04:33 GMT
Chapter 34
Proska and Vladham saw their companions flying in from the south just after sunup. Both Stan and Zeg were extremely tired as they had had maybe five hours sleep between them after their amorous adventures. They landed without incident.
The four Polish aviators then turned into mechanics by repairing enough of the damage to Vladham's plane to make it flight worthy. The also siphoned enough gas to Vladham and Blackhawk's plane for the trip. The pilot was going to have to baby the plane until they reach Sofia so that a true ground crew work could work on the plane.
Captain Proska announced that he was going to fly Vladham's plane to Sofia since they couldn't be certain that their repairs would hold up. Stan and Zeg looked at each other with questioning looks and then at Proska with disapproving eyes. Proska stared beck at the pair and they turned away.
Vladham was standing behind the trio. "Am I not a good enough pilot Captain?" asked Vladham in a defiant voice.
Proska turned around to look at the youngest man in his wing. Vladham's eye's, face and body language conveyed the same tone as his question. Proska assessed the man before answering. "No Vladham, I would do he same thing if it were Zeg or Stan."
"Captain, I...we are officers in the Polish Air Force and risk is part of what we do. If you do not believe I am competent enough to fly my wounded plane back home I will have no choice but to ask for a transfer" said Vladham.
Proska looked at the young man and the other men in his command before saying to Stan and Zeg "I suppose you're going to tell me the same thing?" Stan shrugged his massive shoulders and Zeg smiled his winning smile before nodding in the affirmative.
"All right, but I will have each of you transferred out of my wing if you ever disobey me again." Blackhawk's tone was angry, but his face belied it as it had kindly warmth to it.
One by one they left the glade and flew into the sky. Vladham went first. He barely had enough power to make it over the trees. He climbed to sixteen thousand feet; he could go no higher. They were in the Balkan Mountains and this spelled trouble.
Blackhawk order Stan and Zeg to fly ahead and find a path through to Sofia. They did, but it was such a convoluted route that their plane two hour flight to eight and their gas tanks were running on fumes when they arrived at Sofia. Proska had Vladham and Stan land first, then Zeg, and lastly his plane, whose motor stopped working just and he touched down due to a lack of fuel.
A crowd was there once again crying out loud with cheers of "Blackhawk, Blackhawk". This incident was caught on film and would be seen across the globe as Blackhawk's fame grew.
There was no stage full of dignitaries and Blackhawk would have no formal ball to go to so he rested at the embassy for two days while the ground crew worked on the plane. Zeg introduced Vladham to the two ladies he had met before and they were out having fun in the city while Stan stayed in the embassy until the ambassador's secretary was off duty. He spent his nights away from the complex.
Blackhawk in contrast spent his time at the airport in the hangar to help repairing the plane. The polish government and Cunningham Industries had three teams of ground crews to do maintenance on the world traveling planes of Proska's wing. They flew in long range planes. When Proska left Sofia the ground crew would arrive at the destination three stops away in Riyadh Saudi Arabia.
Proska was also interested in the chief of Cunningham mechanics. He knew that she had had a lot to do with making his designs real. Her name was Mrs. Natalie Reed, he husband was a USMC fighter pilot named Joseph Reed station in Shanghai China. Natalie was looking forward to seeing him when they arrived there.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 31, 2021 2:04:45 GMT
Chapter 35
The Polish Aviators world tour continued through the Near East and the Indian Subcontinent. On through Burma and Siam, the Chinese National's capital city of Lang Chow and even the Communist Chinese controlled city of Sian. They showed off their planes, helped the Polish government and Cunningham Industries make sales. They met and enjoyed the company of many fans and dignitaries as well as several members of the opposite sex. It was a hectic, yet blissful part of their journey and development into becoming the Blackhawks.
Then they came to their last stop on the Eurasian mainland – Shanghai. It was a beautiful international port brutally occupied by the Japanese. The Chinese population suffered, but not as badly as other places in China because Shanghai had a large international community. The Americans even had one of their best marine regiments, the fourth, stationed there as well as four Marine Corp fighters under the command of Captain Joseph Reed.
The Captain was at the airport when they landed and taxied their planes to the awaiting hangers. He was with his wife Natalie and was enjoying her company for the first time in over three years. He was intrigued both by her explanation of the drop tanks and the young heir to Cunningham Industries. He hung in the background as the dignitaries gave their speeches and greeted Proska's team. He wanted to meet with them later.
Janos did what he always did – he sent his team onto the local Polish Embassy or Consulate while he checked the planes. His men would have performed these duties but Proska preferred to see if there were any problems before his men checked their planes the following day. It was a way to see if his men were getting lax.
Natalie Reed was there in her blue overalls. Her frizzy brown hair tied up in a bun. Besides her stood a man Proska did not recognize. Natalie introduced her husband to her employer. Both men took an instant liking to one another. Proska was interested in the situation in China. He had heard bad things about Japanese atrocities from both the National and Communist Chinese. It was the one and thing that both sides could agree on besides wanting to buy his Polish planes or Cunningham drop tanks on credit.
After a bit of polite small talk Proska asked Reed about the Japanese and their occupation. "Brutal is the only word that I have heard that comes close. Some of the infantry men of the Fourth Marines take trips into the countryside and they report some awful things happening out their. They'd be as bad or worse here except for the strong international presence. That unfortunately is going to get smaller as the German's have ordered their people out even as they have stopped giving the Chinese National's military advisors."
Proska frowned he hadn't heard that there were Germans aiding the Chinese and was now less inclined to sell them anything for cash, let alone credit. Proska invited the Reed's to the dinner the Polish Consulate was having that evening. Joe Reed agreed to go, but only if Proska would come with him later to a small American watering bar that was once owned by an American gambler named Bat Lash and was now owned by a famous German aviator. Proska has an innate dislike for the Germans due to his Polish History and was tempted to say no but instead gave diplomatic yes.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 31, 2021 2:04:57 GMT
Chapter 36
The dinner was a boring affair for Proska as various dignitaries talked to him about how they admired him and his men as well as how much the asking price was for the planes and drop tanks. He knew that the men asking the question already knew the answer but and he did not care for this kind of banter. The highlight of the evening for him was seeing Natalie Reed dressed up. She took his breathe away and he had to remind himself that her husband was standing by her side. Even then his blood pressure increased as his heart raced more than just a little bit.
Proska surveyed he room and looked for his men; Zeg was engaged in a conversation with a Eurasian woman while Stan and Vladham were talking to a Japanese captain. Proska went over to them. The Captain introduced himself as Captain Hitsu. Neither man knew it at the time but they would become enemies in the days ahead during the war. Captain Hitsu was already a famous Japanese ace as he had shot down fifteen Chinese planes during their continuing war.
A German Luftwaffe officer walked to them as the talked. He had many decorations on his chest; he was bald and had a scar on the right side of his face. None of the Blackhawks had ever met the man before but Proska instantly recognized him as the man who attacked them over the skies of the Balkan Mountains. "Ah Captain Von Tepp" said Captain Hitsu, "I would like you to meet Captain Janos Proska and his men: Lieutenants Stanislaus Drozdowski and Vladham Merchenko"
Von Tepp sneered as he said "Pleased to meet you."
Proska smiled back at Von Tepp and then back at Captain Hitsu before saying "We have already met. I downed you over Bulgaria" he said to von Tepp with that Proska turned and left the opened mouthed von Tepp even as the other to Blackhawks joined their commander.
Von Tepp started to draw his pistol but Captain Hitsu grabbed a hold of his arm "Not here, not now. His Imperial Government wants to buy his company's drop tank technology and you will not spoil our chances buy killing that man."
Von Tepp looked at Hitsu and nodded. "Come" he said, 'we still need to talk our government's negotiations for our alliance." Hitsu smiled and added "You are not allowed to attack them over Japanese controlled airspace either Captain."
The dinner and party ended late, but Joseph Reed insisted that Proska join him and his wife in going out for a night cap. They stay in the international section of the city, but it was a much seedier side of the city. Joseph Reed seemed unconcerned but his wife opened up her purse and produced a small .22 caliber pistol 'saying to Proska "You never know." Proska raised an eyebrow as Joe Reed hugged his wife and said "this is one of the reasons why I love her. She can take care of herself."
They arrived at the shady bar. They could see it doubled as a casino when they enter the smoke filled room. It reminded Proska of a bar in the Western movies he had seen in America. They sat down at a table to the left near the back of the room. They could see a back door and Joseph Reed told them to wait here while he went and talked to the bartender.
The bartender went into the back room as Joe returned to the table. "Jan, there's two people I want you to meet. One's an old man and the other's just a kid, but they're both fine men and want to talk to you about the situation here in China."
Two men then did come out of the room. One was a tall, proud occidental with unbelievably sad eyes that spoke of having gone through hell many times with a firm facial expression and deportment that said he was willing to do it again if necessary. The, shorter oriental man did not look like he was yet out of his teens. He wore green and yellow clothes with soft red shoes that resemble slippers. He had jet black hair that was shoulder length and tied into a ponytail. His face showed a grim determination as he approached the trio with his mentor.
The two men sat down and introduced themselves, the older man said "I am Hans von Hammer and this is Prince Liu Huang, but for his safety, and the safety of his family, please call him by the name Chop Chop. I know it is derogatory, but the Japanese are looking for a Harvard educated Chinese prince and spy; not a simple cook"
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 31, 2021 2:05:11 GMT
Chapter 37
Captain Jan Proska of the Polish Army Air Force listened to the others at the table for their arguments against his government's selling the drop tank technology to the Japanese with interest. Under normal circumstances his government would do whatever they liked after he gave them his recommendation. But this situation was different because he was also the heir to Cunningham Industries and as such had a tremendous say in who would be sold the drop tanks. His mother was now the CEO but it was generally believed that she would follow his recommendations.
He knew it and Natalie Reed knew it. She must have told her husband, the US Marine captain and pilot stationed in China. Captain Joseph Reed told Hans von Hammer, and the young Chinese prince who sat in front of him. Proska was told the Chinese prince was a graduate of Harvard, but he didn't look a day over sixteen. He was about to comment on that fact when a group of Japanese soldiers came into the saloon.
They were led by a lieutenant who walked directly over to them. "Are you Hans von Hammer? He asked in heavily accented German as most of the bar's white patrons left.
"Yes" said the famed ace of the Great War stood; "What can I do for you lieutenant?"
"You are to come with me. I have orders to have you and everyone who works here arrested on the charge of espionage" said the lieutenant even as the sound of a loud commotion was coming from the kitchen.
It was then that two more Japanese soldiers came in from there rooms rear entrance with a cook and cook's assistant in tow. The cook's nose looked broken and the assistant's blouse was torn. She was trying unsuccessfully to keep herself covered from the leering soldiers.
"Lieutenant that is no way for any soldier to act against civilians," said von Hammer, who then spoke to the cook in Chinese.
The cook started to say something but a one of the soldiers yelled at him in and hit him in the stomach with the butt of his rifle. The cook fell to his knees.
Von Hammer said in German: "You attack a man's wife and then beat him when he tries to defend her honor? You and your soldiers are not worthy of the title."
Proska could see that the Hammer from Hell was baiting the Japanese officer for some unknown reason. He looked questioningly at the US Marine Captain Joseph Reed who said "So far they've treaded lightly around Occidentals. That's going to change someday, but that's the way it is today."
"So you're taking me to jail Lieutenant?" asked Von Hammer.
"No" said the lieutenant with a frown, "You are to be deported to Germany, but your staff will be dealt with the same way we deal with all Chinese" the lieutenant drew his samurai sword then and spoke to his soldiers who held down the cook in Japanese. It was obvious that the man was going to behead the cook.
That was when the rest of the foreigners except for Proska, von Hammer, and the Reed's ran out of the bar. Proska and the Reed's stood up; ready to fight the soldiers. Proska called out in German to the Lieutenant "You're a coward, a gutless coward without any honor."
The Japanese lieutenant turned to look at the man who spoke. He thought it was the man dressed in the American marine uniform as did not recognize the other man's and the American were full of false bravado. He knew the American would do nothing. Eventually the lieutenant knew that the Japanese Empire would bring the arrogant occidental Americans to their knees. But it wasn't the marine who spoke; it was the man in the strange uniform. He came forward and stood next to the lieutenant, whose arms still hung over the cook, as he said "Your emperor wants something from me lieutenant, something I will refuse to sell him unless you leave right now."
"Who are you to know what the emperor wants? Who are you?"
"I am Captain Jan Proska of the Polish Army Air Corp."
The lieutenant looked at him uncomprehendingly until Natalie Reed said "He's Blackhawk you dope."
Proska didn't really care for the internationally famous name that Zeg had given him but he did like the look of recognition in the lieutenant's face. The man hesitated for a moment before smiling. He then started his downward stroke with his sword towards the cook's neck.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 31, 2021 2:05:25 GMT
Chapter 38
Blackhawk brought his left forearm to where the Japanese lieutenant's wrists were as he brought his samurai sword down towards the cook's neck. At the same time Blackhawk hit him in his solar plexus with his right. The Japanese were dumbstruck for a moment as their officer fell to the ground with the wind knocked out of him.
The cook's wife had started screaming the moment she believed the Japanese lieutenant was going to kill her husband. Over her crying Von Hammer gave orders to his people, orders he had wanted to give for several years.
The Bartender grabbed a baseball bet from behind the bar and slammed the head of the nearest soldier as the roulette operator produced a set of throwing knives which were being embedded in the surprised Japanese with deadly accuracy. The young Harvard graduated Chinese prince kicked at the knee one of the guard holding the cook; producing a sickening sound as the bone snapped due to his expertise in karate. He followed it through with a deadly stomp on the soldier's neck which crushed his larynx. Von Hammer disposed of the other soldier when he produced a dagger of his own and slit the surprised soldier's throat.
There were still five soldiers left. Natalie pulled her pistol out of her purse but von Hammer but said "No guns, we want to get away before they're missing. Her husband Joe had already tackled two of the soldiers. Two of the remaining three were coming to their friend's aid when the cook rose to his knees and came at them with one of the rifle he picked up. The man who would one day be known as Chop Chop went into the kitchen even as the last Japanese soldier ran out the front door.
Blackhawk aided in taking down the last four soldiers. The lieutenant was just starting to rise to his knees when the brief brutal battle was over. His eyes widen as the white devils left. That is all but the strange Polish aviator who interfered in things that were not his concern. He attempted to draw his pistol as the foreigner approached but he kicked him in the jaw before he could effectively draw it. The gun went sailing out of the lieutenant's reach because he had let go of the gun when the man's foot landed on his jaw.
Blackhawk looked down at the man before speaking in German "I don't care for people who try and oppress other people, people who are who are unmerciful. I'm going to let you live you unhonorable wretch so that your superiors can see how truly miserable you are." With that he turned and walked away never dreaming that the lieutenant would never leave the bar alive. Instead he committed suicide by the samurai rite of Seppuku.
When he exited the bar he saw the young Chinese man dragging the last Japanese soldier back into the side alley by the bar. The soldier was face down and had a hatchet in his back. Blackhawk went to the young man's aid and together they put the soldier in the kitchen.
"What happens now?" he asked the Chinese prince.
"Joe and Natalie hide Hans for the night in the American Zone. You go back to your pilots while the rest of us go into hiding. Listen Blackhawk, when you leave tomorrow, stay on the tarmac longer than you should. We are going get von Hammer and his plane out but we need you to delay the Japanese in their pursuit.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 31, 2021 2:05:37 GMT
Chapter 39
Captain Janos Proska had been impressed by the cool efficiency with which Von Hammer's men had dispatched the Japanese soldiers. He knew though that they would have probably suffered some casualties if he and the Reed's were not there. He suspected Von Hammer would be saddened by the loss of the bar he stayed in since the 1920's but Shanghai was no longer safe for him.
Prince Liu Huang said that the plan now was to get Von Hammer out of Shanghai and to the National Chinese. Once there he would teach the willing Nationalist Chinese how to be fighter pilots. The youngster was quite exuberant when he talked about this because Von Hammer had already agreed to teach him how to fly, and more importantly, how to shoot down Japanese planes.
Blackhawk's men didn't question their captain's late return or the fresh blood splatter on his uniform. They all had new sets of uniforms for every leg of their journey. Blackhawk had worn his old one the previous night. Zeg's raised an eyebrow when he saw it and pointed it out to them, but none of them would question Captain Proska; not out of fear, but rather out of respect for him.
The Polish aviators arrived at the airport with the usual pomp and fanfare. Then they went to their planes and Blackhawk's delaying tactic started. Once he entered his cockpit he pretended he couldn't hear the control tower. He stood up and called for his ground crew.
Natalie Reed came up to him and asked "What's wrong Chief?"
"Nothing, I'm just giving Von Hammer a chance to get away" he responded. Tell the Japanese that my radio is out and Zeg's plane will take the lead. Our realignment should give them just enough time."
Soon three things happened, a confused Zeg put his plane in the lead (he knew Captain Proska always checked his radio before the preflight ceremonies), Blackhawk fell into the second spot, smiling at the conundrum his plan was causing his men; he would apologized to them once they reached their next stop – Tokyo, and lastly two cars and a truck came crashing through the airport into a heavily guarded hangar.
The sounds of explosions and gunfire could be heard. Smoke came out of the hanger followed by a Crimson Red Fokker DR1 Tri-plane. It needed only a short distance to take off and was rising to the sky. Blackhawk could see Von Hammer had a passenger hanging on to his central left wing, Prince Liu Huang.
Von Hammer quickly gained altitude and Blackhawk could hear on his radio that the Japanese were demanding that the Poles take off. Zeg started to even as Von Hammer's plane came back and flew over the airport strafing the entire Japanese squadron of fighter. They were all in flames as he soared towards Nationalist China. Blackhawk smiled as he and his men took off and flew off into the opposite direction
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 31, 2021 2:05:51 GMT
Chapter 40
The Blackhawks reception in Tokyo was chilly. The incident in China, where the Blackhawks seemingly inadvertently aided enemy combatants angered many in the Japanese Army. They had insisted in examining Captain Proska's radio s soon s he had landed. He had maintained radio silence all the way to Japan and had in fact disabled he radio before they had left Shanghai.
The military was grudgingly satisfied and still wanted the drop tanks, but not the Polish planes, which were inferior to the Japanese fighters. Therefore they remained polite at the state dinner. The Japanese pilot assigned to him he warmed up to his Polish opposite when Blackhawk said that the Japanese fighters were the finest planes of their type in the skies today.
"Your comment surprises me Captain Proska. Most Occidental soldiers do not appreciate our men or equipment."
"Then they are fools. Your planes are better than mine or any other European nation's; as for the pilot's skill...let's hope we don't ever find out because that would mean another war" said Proska.
The Japanese officer then dismissed any idea of Proska being a worthy soldier because a military man should relish the idea of combat and war. He changed the subject to the Cunningham Industries drop tanks that made Proska's squadron's trip around the world possible. Here Proska was all smiles and said that the negotiations would have to take place later.
The Japanese officer knew that Proska was the company heir and pressed for an answer. Blackhawk and his men had not felt completely safe in Japan. He had to worry about the ground crew, which would be leaving after he and his wing had left so he stalled the Japanese captain by saying his mother ran the company.
This caught the man by surprise, he couldn't fathom the idea that a woman would or could lead a large company. But he had read the intelligence reports. One of the three ground crew teams of that serviced the Blackhawk's planes was lead by a woman. The other two were lead by men, but surprisingly both of them were led by American minorities.
The captain had spent part of his life in America as a military attaché and knew America's attitude towards woman, Negros, and Mexicans – yet each one of the three ground crews were headed by a representative of these groups. The curious captain asked why once he saw that he would not be able to place any orders for drop tanks with Proska.
Jan did explain that his grandfather had always had an open mind about hiring only the very best people. This worked out very well for his company as there were many bigoted fools who lost out on the best people simply because they would hire only on the basis of skin color or gender. Those companies Proska said were as foolish as the nations that underestimated the power of Japan or the excellence of her equipment based on the fact that she is non-white. Cunningham therefore had many the best and brightest even though the rest of the country wouldn't give them the time of day.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 31, 2021 2:06:03 GMT
Chapter 41
Jan Proska said a prayer of thanks when they had finally left Japanese airspace. Now the most difficult leg in their flying across the world; the Polish Government had flatly rejected the idea asking the Soviet Union if they could be allowed to fly over Russian territory. If they flew to the southern Pacific the space between islands would eventually become too great even with their drop tanks. Therefore they had to fly to northernmost Japan and from there to the American Aleutian Islands.
They also had to find the island where their ground crew was waiting by dead reckoning. Blackhawk had looked at the map and made out for the isle. He had an innate ability. It was similar to a salmon's ability to find the exact river from which it was spawned, but Blackhawk only had to study a map to find the place he was looking for, provided of coarse that the map was accurate. These were because his mother's company provided them.
The Arctic weather can be cruel even in summer. On their way they ran into a rainstorm complete with damaging hail. Their wings were iced up when they tried to fly over the rainclouds, something their planes weren't designed to deal with. They were in jam and all they could do is fly through it.
Stanislaus radioed Proska with even mire disturbing news. "Captain...Jan, the weight of the ice is eating up our gas. We were tight as it was, even with making allowances for the weather up here, but we will be on our last fumes. If we make it at all."
Blackhawk nodded grimly before radioing back "Acknowledged."
He turned to his right and saw Zeg. The red headed seemingly care-free lieutenant smiled back at Proska and gave him the thumbs up sign. Zeg had no doubts they were going to make it. He was ever the optimist. Stanislaus wasn't pessimist as much as he was a realist. Vladham had been a pessimist in earlier days before the mysterious German ship almost shot him down in the Balkan Mountains. Now he was almost as exuberant as Zeg. "Captain...may I suggest we pray as we fly" the youngest pilot said.
Proska said it couldn't hurt and told him to go ahead. "If I join you it will be silently" he added. He could see Zeg roll his eyes even as Stan started the Our Father Prayer. Vladham joined him. Zeg shook his head while Proska murmured his own private prayer.
At last they spotted the islet. They were out of gas. Their engines were sputtering. Quickly they landed one by one quickly, not even giving the lead plane enough leeway to safely get out of the way. They all managed to land safely.
Vladham jumped out of his plane, he went to his knees as soon as his feet touched the earth, and kissed the ground. Zeg leisurely exited his plane and stretched he stifled a laugh at Vladham's reaction to their last flight. Stanislaus exited slowly as he contemplated the gas ratio against the added weight from the ice in his head again and gave out a long whistle as he shook his head. A hundred more yards and they all would have crashed.
Blackhawk was already moving on to his next task: talking Grover Baines, the big tall beefy Negro who ran this ground crew. Baines was an aviation engineering expert who graduate from Grambling University. He had led that school's college football defense for three years. He had been unable to get any jobs except for Cunningham Industries and since they paid better than most comparable companies Grover was very loyal to his employers. That was why he was out here in the middle of nowhere while his wife was home expecting their first child. Together he and Blackhawk went over what the planes needed. They especially talked about how to keep the planes deiced on their next leg.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 31, 2021 2:06:17 GMT
Chapter 42
The Blackhawks took off from that barren Aleutian Island the next day. They flew down the western coast North America until they arrived at Van Couver Canada. After a day's stopover they went to Chicago – home of Cunningham Industries and Jan Proska's mother, as well as the home of the largest Polish population of any city outside of Warsaw. They were welcomed like newly crowned kings. The Polish aviators were wined and dined by Chicago's elite.
Captain Proska's mother hosted the party at Jan Proska's grandfather's mansion. Blackhawk's men looking for attractive single women with which they could enjoy the evening. Proska had given them a hard glare when he introduced his sister, Connie; it was a glare that screamed off limits to his men. Zeg sighed a whimsical sigh before resuming his search while Stanislaus had immediately went off to find someone else.
Vladham however was smitten the moment he saw her. He spoke ever so briefly with his commanding officer. "Captain, I promise that I will be completely honorable and respectful towards your sister, but I would like your permission to ask her for a dance." Vladham was squirming as he was extremely uncomfortable. Blackhawks glare warmed as he silently gave his young lieutenant permission.
His younger brother Jack Proska came up to him then. Unlike Jan, Jack was almost completely Americanized. He went by the name Jack Cunningham and was recently made the heir to the company once their mother passed away. Jan was glad because he did not want the burden of a large set of factories and the lives of hundreds of families' dependent on what he did. He preferred being a soldier and taking those kinds of risks.
Jack was a year away from his master's degree in business. He planned on going to Poland one last time after graduation in order to put the last of their father's affairs in order. Janos had expressed a desire to be rid of them unless either of his siblings wanted them. Jack did not, neither did Connie, who was now a nurse actively pursuing her own career.
Jack and Jan talked a while before Jack mentioned that he had a letter from a former classmate of his: Chuck Wilson. Janos opened up and read the news from his old friend eagerly
"Dear Bart,
I hear on the radio that you're alive and doing fine. Imagine my surprise last week when I saw my old friend Bart Hawk was flying across he globe with three men under his command.
As for me, I graduated college in Massachusetts, at M.I.T. after our adventure with the gangsters and Ohiyesa Smith. I decided I wanted to learn how to fly. Which I did; I'm currently a crop duster down in Oklahoma. I'm sorry I won't get to see you while you're back in the States.
Yours Truly,
Chuck Wilson
PS: Ohiyesa, fleetfoot and Hank Brown died last year when a influenza epidemic hit Elkhorn. Sorry to be the bearer of this piece of bad news, but as Ohiyesa's son relayed to me: they had good long lives."
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 31, 2021 2:06:32 GMT
Chapter 43
Old man Cunningham had suffered a stroke several years and was now bedridden. His daughter ran the company he had built. His wife had passed away several years earlier and Bartholomew Cunningham was impatiently waiting to join the love of his life. He could hear the loud party going on downstairs and waited impatiently for it to be over because he wanted to see his oldest grandson one last time.
It had been a long, long day for Jan Proska and he really did not want to visit the old man but he knew that the days his grandfather still had on this earth were quickly dwindling. He made the long climb up the stairs and past the large portrait of a blond haired man carrying a long rifle dressed in a buck skin suit with a matching raccoon hat. Blackhawk stared at the portrait for a moment before going on. The man was named Thomas Hawk, he was a hero of the Revolutionary War, a famed Indian fighter, and was his mother's great grandfather.
Bartholomew Cunningham's room was dark. He was propped up by multiple pillows in his four poster bed. He had been reading the paper when his grandson came in. a broad smile came to his lips as soon as he saw Jan. "Come here my boy...let me look at you; the world famous aviator. God your grandmother and father would be proud." Blackhawk's cheeks turned red.
"Don't be embarrassed" admonished the older man. "It is the truth. I need to tell you something Jan. I know that when you where studying here you went by the name of Bart Hawk. I was always proud that you would call yourself Bart."
Jan smiled back at his grandfather. "I hoped you would be. I took the name of Hawk for Grandma, because of the man in the portrait."
The old man coughed and said "Yes, Thomas Hawk also known as Tomahawk. You are a direct descendent of his through his second son Small Eagle. His oldest boy was a hero in his own right, but Small Eagle preferred the simpler life. A life I would have liked you to have."
"Come now Grandpa, no one knows what kind of life I'm going to have."
"You are already world famous Jan. You are a soldier in a country surrounded by historic enemies. I can see you life will be a hard life, a soldier's life. That is why I am having Jack take over the company when your mother retires. It is in my will."
"I am glad Grandpa. Jack has turned into a fine man."
"So have you Blackhawk" said the old man with a smile.
Blackhawk frowned at the mention of the name Blackhawk. "Damn that Zeg for giving me that moniker"
"Why? That is your Indian name" said the old man.
"What?" asked Blackhawk.
I knew your Grandmother by the name of Rosalie, but she had an Indian name – Yellow Fawn. Your grandmother took you out into the woods when we first saw you. She was all by herself and asked the Great Spirit to give you a name. Thus you were first named Blackhawk. It cannot be a coincidence that you are now being called that by men of all nations. Blackhawk is your true name son."
Blackhawk sat in stunned silence for several minutes. He was going to ask the old man some more questions but saw that he had drifted off to sleep. Blackhawk did not want to disturb his grandfather and so he went to bed.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 31, 2021 2:06:48 GMT
Chapter 44
Blackhawk did not sleep well that night. It took him three hours to fall into a deep, deep sleep then he had another one of his disturbing dreams. This was the third one, the first one happened just before his father died when he met the ghost of the Medieval Sorcerer Malagigi, then in the middle of the Balkan Mountains when he met the shade of woman dressed as a knight, whose name was Valda. In each of those dreams Jan Proska had been a black hawk. He was himself in this dream.
"Blackhawk, wake up! Come on sonny, I tain't got all night" he dimly heard a deep baritone voice shout at him.
Jan Proska still wasn't used to being called that name and rolled over. The voice then yelled directly in his ear. "I said git up, Goddamit!"
Blackhawk rolled out of bed and on to the floor. He stared in amazement at the owner of the voice – it was Tomahawk. When he rose up from the floor another sight stunned him: his body was still sleeping soundly in bed.
"We need to talk sonny" said the spirit.
Blackhawk did not trust his own voice because the last time he tried to talk to ghosts he could only make the cry hawka. Still he warily asked "What is it you want?"
"Oh it's a simple thing about fighting. Valda told me that you and your men are fine warriors and great knights with your mechanical steeds. That's all well an' good, but you're gonna need to train your men in ranger tactics an' skills" said the shade of Tomahawk.
Blackhawk looked at the spirit and said "How am I going to teach them thing I don't know?"
"That's just it Sonny, you do. Ohiyesa Smith taught you when you stayed with his people. What you learned of his customs ain't as important as what he taught you about camouflage, infiltration and fighting with a knife. You're a soldier son. A unique soldier cause you're going to fight in the air an' on the ground. Teach your men what you know otherwise they'll die right quick. Most of them will live a long time if they know what they're doing. You're going to have long hard life Blackhawk; filled with fighting. I'm sorry son, but it's your destiny.
Blackhawk was silent. He merely nodded as he suddenly felt extremely tired.
"One last thing my boy" said the ghost of Tomahawk, "One other spirit will visit you. On that day the world falls into war agin."
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 31, 2021 2:07:00 GMT
Part 3 The War
Chapter 45
It was an unusually hot for the end of August. Major Jan Proska was at his family's historic lands. His sister Connie and younger brother Jack were there from America. They had not seen him since he and his wing had made their famous crossing of the world. Jan was now in command of a squadron in northern Poland. He was on leave for a short time while his siblings were here.
Jan was displeased with Jack when he told his older brother that he had legally changed his name to Cunningham. He was now the heir apparent to Cunningham Industries and decided to have the company's name as his own. Besides he said that he did not really feel Polish. He said he was an American through and through and to be a truly successful in the upper classes of American society you had to be white, Anglo-Saxon, and Protestant. He was giving religion lip service and hiding his ethnic origins behind a name. When Jan pointed it out Jack would counter by pointing out how their maternal grandmother hid her Indian roots.
Jack was not in Poland to get his brother's approval. He was there to sell the estates. Jan had written their mother and told her that his military duties precluded his ability to look after them now that long time family retainer had died. Jack had no interest in keeping them. Their mother could not take enough time off from the daily running of Cunningham Industries to go to Poland so she sent her younger son and her daughter.
Connie Proska was a nurse. She had a love for travel and was seeing the world. Her occupation guaranteed her steady employment wherever she went and the inheritance she received from her grandfather allowed her not to work whenever she chose to. Jack was insisting that she settle down and marry someone because the life she was leading could and probably would lead to some sort of scandal. He tried to get Jan to back him but the older Proska was too mad with his younger brother to help him; even if he did agree with him.
On August 30th 1939 Janos said goodbye to his younger siblings and drove to his air field unknowing that the Germans were about to unleash their invasion of Poland; which would later be followed by the Soviet Union joining in their own invasion of September 17th, causing Poland to once again disappear from the maps of Europe.
Among the many planners for the invasion were a German Baron who had been embarrassed by Blackhawk and his squadron during their trip around the globe. He was a veteran of the Spanish Civil War and his squadron gained a reputation for unbelievable cruelty. He would bomb unarmed targets, then land just outside and murder all of the dazed population he could find. He was Baron von Tepp, AKA the Butcher. His unit had specific targets the first day in the opening attacks but he reserved an attack on the Proska lands for the second day.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 31, 2021 2:07:11 GMT
Chapter 46
It took all day for Major Proska to arrive back at his airbase. He was tired but checked in with Captain Kazimierc "Zeg" Zegota-Januszajtis before turning in for the night. Zeg had run the squadron quite well in Proska's absence. The Major knew that he was in all probability going to be promoted soon. He hoped that Zeg would get his command once he left.
Officially he commanded the 15th fighter squadron but unofficially his squadron was known as the Blackhawks. It was the most famed unit in the Polish Air Force and only the Elite Polish Cavalry was more renowned. The old guard of the Polish military establishment looked with disfavor on Proska, but he was popular among the people and the younger officers. His upcoming promotion to lieutenant colonel was seen as a way to get him out of the field and behind a desk, where he would eventually resign in disgust. Jan had no illusions as to the motivations of some of his superiors, but there were others who hoped he could help them prod the military into buying more planes; especially now that Russia and German had signed a non aggression pact. Poland was extremely vulnerable.
Blackhawk was asleep within minutes of his shutting the lights off in his small room. He slept very soundly until he had another dream where he was once again a black hawk. He was standing. A cord was tied to his leg; the other end of the cord was tied to spike impaled into a stone floor.
Blackhawk was trapped. He didn't panic because he knew that this was a dream. He looked around to see whose spirit who was there. The one who was going to communicate with him; as he turned around he saw the American Indian in deer skin pants. He had long straight black hair and his chest was bare. He carried an ax and a tomahawk at the waist of his pants. He said nothing. He just stared at Blackhawk long and hard. He then nodded in agreement with something unseen.
"I am Arak" he said finally, "Your days of war and battle begin today." His face was sad. He took the tomahawk and threw it towards the spike. The cord was cut and Blackhawk awoke in a start.
He ordered his men to assemble even as he got dressed. His mechanics were told to have the twelve planes that made up his squadron ready for takeoff within the hour. They were to be loaded with fuel and ammunition. He tried to tell his commanders that the German was coming, but they a scoffed at him even as they had scoffed at the Polish Intelligence office, who also told them that an attack was coming. Blackhawk ordered his squadron to take to the skies where they met the Germans.
The Blackhawks were the only squadron not caught flatfooted. They soundly defeated the German fighters and bombers that were assigned to attack their airfield in the opening day. The Second World War started that day and the Blackhawk Squadron was the only unit that had a victory on the 1st of September 1939.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 31, 2021 2:07:23 GMT
Chapter 47
Jack Cunningham was terrified at the horror of war and incredibly angry at first with his younger sister Connie. She was a nurse and set up the family homestead as a makeshift hospital by the second day of the war over her brother's protestations. She told Jack that he could run off to safety but she was going to attend to their people.
That was the problem, Jack could leave his ancestral home and the people the Proska's had taken care of for years without a second thought. He was completely Americanized and gave no thought about Poland; but Jack would never leave his baby sister in the middle of a war zone. The thought never crossed his mind because he knew what his mother would think. Therefore he was spending his money for scarce medicine and bandages even while begging his sister to leave.
Jack stayed, and as he did his anger turned into admiration for his younger sister. She was completely giving of herself. Jack helped her all he could, begrudgingly at first, but by the second week he helped wholeheartedly. He was still afraid. He had insisted on buying a large white tarp that he personally painted a huge red cross in the middle of to let any German planes know that he and his sister were in a hospital. He kept his American passport on him at all times. He and the people at the make-shift hospital heard how Polish forces were being driven back by the Nazis. He held out hope until September 17th, the day the Soviets invaded from the east. Poland was doomed. He knew it. So did Connie, but she insisted that they had to stay and help the wounded. So they stayed as Poland died.
Luftwaffe Captain Baron von Tepp was quite upset because the plans he had had for the Proska's Estates had to be delayed day after day. But now finally he had clearance to strike at the heart of Blackhawk. Blackhawk and his squadron were responsible for holding up the German time table for victory. German fighters were ordered to engage with the Blackhawk Squadron on sight no matter what their other orders were. Von Tepp suggested the destruction of Blackhawk's home might cause the squadron commander to make a mistake and be eliminated.
The Butcher had a portion his squadron of fighter-bombers strafed the make-shift hospital while others bombed the nearby village. They faced no opposition, no enemy aircraft or anti-aircraft fire. The Butcher had the remaining planes bombs the hospital. He then landed in a nearby field along with half of his men. Each of them carried a machine-pistol 40, a small machine gun, along with a Lugar pistol and a knife. They rushed in and started shooting anyone still alive.
Jack had been dazed after the dreaded attack had finally come. He stood in awe as the planes bombed the hospital. Somehow, someway he did not have a scratch on him after the attack. He remembered his sister as he came to and went running into his father's ruined ancestral home. He found no one alive inside. Connie's body was a misshapen wreck. He could see that she tried to protect one of her patient's a small boy by lying on top of him. Both were dead. He was weeping when he saw the planes land.
Jack grabbed a bed sheet to use as a white flag of surrender. There might be other survivors he realized and he had to try and protect them. He also took out his passport to show that he was an American citizen as he believed that this fact might help him. Jack Cunningham went out waving the sheet wildly.
"Do not shoot we surrender" Jack shout desperately in German. "There are only wounded and civilians here."
The Butcher smiled at his men. "Shoot that fool in the kneecaps" he said softly.
Jack saw the smile and felt reassured that perhaps he could save some of the people here around the house. The Germans even lowered their guns. "I'm...oh God" he said as they raised them again and fired at him. He felt the bones in his legs shatter and collapsed to the ground.
The Butcher ordered his men to kill all the other survivors. This man had an accent which he could quite place until he saw Jack's passport lying on the ground. He saw the young man's picture and the name Jack Cunningham. Von Tepp knew that Cunningham was the name of Blackhawk's maternal family tree. The man beneath his feet must be his brother.
Once the killing was over Von Tepp woke Jack. He did so by stomping on Jack's shattered legs. The Butcher laughed at Jack moans. He squatted next to Jack as he said "You are going to die Proska, slowly and painfully. You are bleeding to death. But I want you to know, I want your brother to know that it was the Butcher who killed you."
The Butcher started to rise. Jack tried desperately to grab the man with his right hand – to hurt him but the Butcher was too fast. Von Tepp turned to leave and took a step and started walking away. He stopped; turned again to face Jack he fired the full clip of his machine-pistol 40 into Jack's right arm. He laughed as he and his men left the Proska Estate.
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