NATASHA IVANOFF

THIRTY THOUSAND EMAILS

PART SIX

　

　

Vince could see the missile trail approach his plane. It seemed to be gaining on the F16 Fighting Falcon. So much for outrunning it. ‘Now what?’ he thought



“Hold on your teeth,” Bill announced as he flew straight up, bellied over and descended at an enormous speed. The missile followed like a well trained puppy, Bill deployed an anti-plane heat seeker and destroyed it.

“One down, one to go,” Vince said.

“You think, you’re wrong, two more show on the screen, that’s six.”

“Bill, Bill can you hear me?”

“Yeah Doug, you okay?”

“Kind of . Question? Natasha wants to use the cannon.”

“For God’s sake, let her. Any kills yet?’

“One and you?”

“Same, that leaves four more. Got to go.”

Vince saw two vapor trails winding through the azure sky, zig zaging trying to keep up with the F16,

“Let me at the cannon Bill.”

“Okay, I’ll maneuver for a pass. You’ll have about three seconds. Ready?”

Vince came close to bye-bye land from the G force but held on. “There’s no way I’ll hit anything at this speed,’ he thought but after the pass and one missile exploded, he did a thumbs up to Bill.

“Bill?’

“Yeah Doug, what’s up?”

“Natasha nailed a second one, but it exploded close to the plane and we’re hit with shrapnel in the fore cabin. She’s been injured but waving okay to me. She is one hell of a woman.”

“You better nail the third one Doug and get down under thirty thousand.”

“Got it chief.”

“Vince, we have to end this, we’re going head to head. Aim true buddy.”

With a flat one eighty, Bill’s radar gun site settled in on the last missile and he fired again. The F16, literally catapulted though the fireball and kicked ass toward Doug’s plane. Launching his last heat seeker, Bill yelled at Doug,

“Full power Doug, we don’t want the heat seeker to get confused.”

The last explosion was sweet victory. Bill chased after Doug and they flew side by side. Natasha weakly waved at Vince.

“Doug, head to Denver International. I’ll clear you through and follow.”

“Another problem Bill, I’m having trouble keeping this crate airborne. We’ve got rips everywhere and they‘re getting worse by the minute“

“Okay, okay, Doug. I‘ll fly under and give you some more lift. Drop speed to three fifty, radar shows less than one hundred and fifty miles to landing. Will the air boost help?”

“Yes, but it‘s so dangerous flying on top of each other, do we have other options?“

‘Afraid not Doug, just keep her steady and don’t change power. If you start to dip, I’ll compensate.”

The control tower at Denver gathered around the screen, including the airport manager, eyes fixated on a most unusual sight.

“How close are they flying?” Warren Upright asked.

“Near as I can tell chief, less than six feet apart They‘re traveling slow, about three

hundred or so.”

“What happens when they approach, Frank?”

.”The F16 underneath will shoot out from under at about 100 feet above ground. It’s a hair-raising maneuver. Especially for a heavy attack plane like the 16.“ .

.



:

NATASHA IVANOFF

THIRTY THOUSAND EMAILS

PART FIVE

　

By the time the police arrived with ambulances and military and they finished

their probe, it was four o’clock in the morning. As Vince pulled away in the first Range

Rover, the other two followed closely. A hazy sun had just appeared when they pulled

into McConnell AFB. Met by a bird colonel, Vince and Natasha were given the base

commander’s house to stay in.

“Do you want a cup of coffee, Nat?”

She started to tear up, :“My Father always called me Nat. I loved it. My Mother

hated the nickname because it rhymed with Rat. He passed several years ago from

cancer and I miss him so. Is it fate you called me?”

“Let’s just skip the coffee, we both need a shower.”

“As you say in America, I know how to economize.”

“And how is that?”

“Two people, one shower, saves water.”

“I‘ve always been a champion of economy.”

“I bet you have, you little devil. Okay as long as you wash my back,” Natasha said.

“Consider it done.”

Both had bathrobes on and stared at the tiny show, tree feet by three feet.

“We need to be contortionists, Nat said.”

“Watch me.” Vince entered first and spread himself tight to the tile wall. Natasha

followed spoon type and was barely able to reach the controls. Immense giggling and

laughter erupted as they bathed each other.

“How many times have you done this?”

“Never,” Vince answered.

“Oh come on you expect me to believe this? What about a first kiss?”

It was nine in the morning when they settled in bed and Vince just held her tight

and stroked her damp hair till she fell asleep. The jangle of the phone awoke both and

Vince answered the phone.

“Breakfast is coming in fifteen minutes, we better throw some clothes on.”

Natasha threw the sheets off her sculptured frame and crooked her finger toward

Vince,

“Breakfast can wait outside, I have a better idea.”

An hour later Vince opened the front door and slid the tray in. It seemed like a
week since they had eaten and they devoured everything in sight. A polite note
from the base commander suggested dinner at six and they were to be transferred to
Edwards AFB in California. Edwards had dispatched two F16B Fighting Falcons to
McConnell. They were two seat fighter jets, fully armed and had Mack 2 speed capacity at
50,000 feet.
“Boy, they must think you’re platinum. I certainly do.” Vince quipped.
Natasha gave him a special look and he quit teasing.
“We don’t have any clothes to wear to dinner“.
“ We never got our luggage. It was in the Rover they destroyed,” Vince said, “I’ll
call the base and ask.”.
　
He had an intense look as he listened, then broke in a wide grin,
“Guess what Nat?”
“Tell me what I’m going to wear to dinner?”
“There’s a service vehicle pulling up in the driveway. Some of the wives have sent
clothes over for you to try. The PX is also staying open if you need them.”
“That’s really sweet of the ladies to help, I’m sure I’ll find something.”
The base commander drove them to the runway after dinner where their planes
were parked. Vince took one look at the fighters and knew the Air Force was taking every
caution possible. Vince climbed in one fighter, Natasha the other, she felt at home in the
trainer seat up front. Vince on the other hand was apprehensive. .

As the planes catapulted off the runway and did vertical climbs to 50,000 feet,

Vince almost lost his dinner. They flew in formation style, close enough to wave to each

other. An uneventful flight was interrupted as Natasha’s pilot broke silence and talked to

the other plane,

“Do you see them on your screen?”

“Yes, looks like four missiles were launched ten seconds ago. Bill are you

suggesting we outrun them?”

“Yes, stay in touch. Deploy your anti ship missiles immediately. Burn it Joe.”

Vince felt the G’s push him to the back of his seat. Noise split the cabin like a run-

a-way freight train and he came close to blacking out as the plane soared to 53,000 feet at

Mach 2.2. He felt a desperate need for Natasha.







.

NATASHA IVANOFF

THIRTY THOUSAND EMAILS

PART FIVE

　

By the time the police arrived with ambulances and military and they finished

their probe, it was four o’clock in the morning. As Vince pulled away in the first Range

Rover, the other two followed closely. A hazy sun had just appeared when they pulled

into McConnell AFB. Met by a bird colonel, Vince and Natasha were given the base

commander’s house to stay in.

“Do you want a cup of coffee, Nat?”

She started to tear up, :“My Father always called me Nat. I loved it. My Mother

hated the nickname because it rhymed with Rat. He passed several years ago from

cancer and I miss him so. Is it fate you called me?”

“Let’s just skip the coffee, we both need a shower.”

“As you say in America, I know how to economize.”

“And how is that?”

“Two people, one shower, saves water.”

“I‘ve always been a champion of economy.”

“I bet you have, you little devil. Okay as long as you wash my back,” Natasha said.

“Consider it done.”

Both had bathrobes on and stared at the tiny show, tree feet by three feet.

“We need to be contortionists, Nat said.”

“Watch me.” Vince entered first and spread himself tight to the tile wall. Natasha

followed spoon type and was barely able to reach the controls. Immense giggling and

laughter erupted as they bathed each other.

“How many times have you done this?”

“Never,” Vince answered.

“Oh come on you expect me to believe this? What about a first kiss?”

It was nine in the morning when they settled in bed and Vince just held her tight

and stroked her damp hair till she fell asleep. The jangle of the phone awoke both and

Vince answered the phone.

“Breakfast is coming in fifteen minutes, we better throw some clothes on.”

Natasha threw the sheets off her sculptured frame and crooked her finger toward

Vince,

“Breakfast can wait outside, I have a better idea.”

An hour later Vince opened the front door and slid the tray in. It seemed like a
week since they had eaten and they devoured everything in sight. A polite note
from the base commander suggested dinner at six and they were to be transferred to
Edwards AFB in California. Edwards had dispatched two F16B Fighting Falcons to
McConnell. They were two seat fighter jets, fully armed and had Mack 2 speed capacity at
50,000 feet.
“Boy, they must think you’re platinum. I certainly do.” Vince quipped.
Natasha gave him a special look and he quit teasing.
“We don’t have any clothes to wear to dinner“.
“ We never got our luggage. It was in the Rover they destroyed,” Vince said, “I’ll
call the base and ask.”.
　
He had an intense look as he listened, then broke in a wide grin,
“Guess what Nat?”
“Tell me what I’m going to wear to dinner?”
“There’s a service vehicle pulling up in the driveway. Some of the wives have sent
clothes over for you to try. The PX is also staying open if you need them.”
“That’s really sweet of the ladies to help, I’m sure I’ll find something.”
The base commander drove them to the runway after dinner where their planes
were parked. Vince took one look at the fighters and knew the Air Force was taking every
caution possible. Vince climbed in one fighter, Natasha the other, she felt at home in the
trainer seat up front. Vince on the other hand was apprehensive. .

As the planes catapulted off the runway and did vertical climbs to 50,000 feet,

Vince almost lost his dinner. They flew in formation style, close enough to wave to each

other. An uneventful flight was interrupted as Natasha’s pilot broke silence and talked to

the other plane,

“Do you see them on your screen?”

“Yes, looks like four missiles were launched ten seconds ago. Bill are you

suggesting we outrun them?”

“Yes, stay in touch. Deploy your anti ship missiles immediately. Burn it Joe.”

Vince felt the G’s push him to the back of his seat. Noise split the cabin like a run-

a-way freight train and he came close to blacking out as the plane soared to 53,000 feet at

Mach 2.2. He felt a desperate need for Natasha.







.

 

　
He had an intense look as he listened, then broke in a wide grin,
“Guess what Nat?”
“Tell me what I’m going to wear to dinner?”
“There’s a service vehicle pulling up in the driveway. Some of the wives have sent
clothes over for you to try. The PX is also staying open if you need them.”
“That’s really sweet of the ladies to help, I’m sure I’ll find something.”
The base commander drove them to the runway after dinner where their planes
were parked. Vince took one look at the fighters and knew the Air Force was taking every
caution possible. Vince climbed in one fighter, Natasha the other, she felt at home in the
trainer seat up front. Vince on the other hand was apprehensive. .

As the planes catapulted off the runway and did vertical climbs to 50,000 feet,

Vince almost lost his dinner. They flew in formation style, close enough to wave to each

other. An uneventful flight was interrupted as Natasha’s pilot broke silence and talked to

the other plane,

“Do you see them on your screen?”

“Yes, looks like four missiles were launched ten seconds ago. Bill are you

suggesting we outrun them?”

“Yes, stay in touch. Deploy your anti ship missiles immediately. Burn it Joe.”

Vince felt the G’s push him to the back of his seat. Noise split the cabin like a run-

a-way freight train and he came close to blacking out as the plane soared to 53,000 feet at

Mach 2.2. He felt a desperate need for Natasha.







.

NATASHA IVANOFF

THIRTY THOUSAND EMAILS

PART FOUR

　

As the four Range Rovers left the airport runway, some reporters jumped in their

cars and tried to follow. But while the gates of the runway area allowed the four FBI

vehicles to slip through, they snapped shut entrapping the gaggle of reporters trying to

give chase. Destination Wichita, McConnell AFB, a hundred and five miles southwest

of Kansas City, seemed safe enough for Natasha and Vince to regain their bearings.

A network of Russian spies who had broken the FBI intelligence system nation

wide, felt otherwise. Twenty miles west of Kansas City, tucked away in a non-descript

large barn, ancient in appearance, a stolen Bell Super Cobra twin engine attack

helicopter had left at the same time as Natasha and Vince’s caravan cleared the airport.

Forty miles out of Kansas City, the helicopter took up position above the highway

to Wichita, approximately 400 feet above ground, waiting for its prey. Armed with 5 inch

Zuni rockets and a 20 mm M197 Gatling gun, the Cobra took full use of the moonlight

and dropped down to firing range. .

Inside the third Range Rover,

“What kind of weapons does this British beast carry?” Vince said

The driver answered,

“Mounted to an arm that extends from the rear of the Range Rover, we carry a

M240 machine gun. Are you familiar with it?”

“Yes, Yes.” Vince and Natasha both answered.

“My name’s Robert,” the driver said, are you worried about an attack?”

“I’m always cautious,” Vince said.

“I am trained as a killing machine,” Natasha answered. “How quickly can the

M240 be operative?”

The driver turned to Vince, “About 45 seconds, are you both former Seals?”

“Might as well think that.” Vince hugged Natasha around her shoulder.:

The highway opened up to wheat fields on both sides, the light from a full moon,

gleamed off the black Range Rovers. Vince leaned up and talked to the driver,

“We’re the third vehicle in this caravan, we need to be last, signal behind you and

have him move up.”

Vince somehow either heard the helicopter above them or sensed danger. Either

way, the caravan changed places..

“Now drop back another hundred feet.”

“Can you tell me why?”

“Never mind, do it.”

With the last sentence, the noise of the attacking Cobra became louder. The third

vehicle in the caravan disappeared in an instant h a fury of fire from a direct hit of two

Zuni rockets. Vince climbed over the back seat,

“Move it, I’m going to take the wheel. He swerved off the highway nd looked for

cover in the wheat field. The other two vehicles went in opposite directions. Vince

realized a second Range Rover was dead meat and prayed it wasn‘t his. They screeched

to a halt and deployed the .M240.

“Do you want the first round, Natasha?”

. “No, I’ll feed, you fire.”

The sound of the Super Cobra increased and Vice with a range of 880 yards had

only a moment to save a second Range Rover. He saw the copter hover for a few

seconds to fire two more Zuni’s. At that moment Vince fired about three hundred rounds

at the Cobra. They had made a fatal decision to hover and fire. The copter exploded in a

mass ball of fire. The Zuni’s plowed through an acre of wheat and exploded about two

hundred feet from one of the Rovers.

Out of his peripheral vision, Vince saw the pilot miraculously ,leap from the

copter and hit the ground a safe distance away. He was still on fire and managed to roll

through the wheat and put the fire out. Natasha sprinted across the field to see what

information she might squeeze out of the dying pilot.

Natasha drew closer, the pilot managed to pull his pistol out. Instead of firing at

Natasha, he placed his own gun to his ear and pulled the trigger. So much for

information. He was burned so badly, she hesitated to be sure he was dead and then

walked back to Vince. The other Rovers circled Vince and Natasha as the FBI chief,

Brian McCloud stepped out,

“The two of you saved all of us from certain death. Will you escort to Mc

Connell, we’ll follow.”





..

NATASHA IVANOFF

THIRTY THOUSAND EMAILS.

PART THREE

　

　

　

The flight cabin hummed with activity with Natasha broadcasting “Mayday, Mayday,” and Vince filling her in on what went on in the rear of the plane. Finally an answer from the Kansas City Airport,

“What‘s wrong?:”

Natasha handed the phone to Vince,

“We had an attempted hijacking here but it was thwarted.”

“Any medical emergency?”

“Yes, both pilots are dead. two federal agents shot, three agents dead along with six dead hijackers.”

“Sounds like a war, let me connect to the airport manager, but I’ll continue. What about plane condition and who’s flying it?”

Natasha quickly jumped in.,

“I am Natasha Ivanoff. I have a multi engine active license.”

‘Plane condition please?

“Windows blown out, oxygen masks on. Request permission to lower altitude.”

“I have you, see new coordinates, Drop slowly to 18,000 feet and switch auto pilot back on. We’re clearing you in, approximately 45 minutes.”

Vince quickly entered the main cabin and made an announcement. A doctor approached him,

“These agents won’t last an hour, how soon can we land?”

“Forty five minutes according to Kansas City. Are you sure the other three agents are gone.?

“Unfortunately yes but one hijacker is still alive.”

“For God’s sake, keep him that way.”

“All I can do is try.”

As the plane approached the airport, ground control briefed Natasha on the landing procedure. She responded calmly as he ran her through all the instruments, length of runway and wind direction. The plane made a dead approach and at two thousand feet, the auto pilot switched off. All traffic had been diverted, emergency equipment stood by.

Wheels touched the runway once, airborne, touched a second time, airborne for a moment and then the plane settled to the runway. Natasha flew a plane four times the size of any she had any experience with. She reversed pitch, used the engines for brakes, swerved once slightly on the runway and then eased to a perfect stop close to the end of the runway with only 120 feet to spare.

Emergency equipment, medical ambulances waited as the door opened. Swat teams entered first, then medical. The landing was broadcast with a live feed to Fox News as well as major networks. So much for cover for Vince and Natasha, as they remained on the plane while the agents and one hijacker were attended to. Natasha hesitated in front of the main cabin and waved to the grateful passengers as they exited next..

Two FBI agents entered the plane,

“Miss Ivanoff, Mr. Donahue, please stay on the plane with us for a moment. A request from the state department, it’s for your own safely. We need to get you away from the reporters who are here. You’re going to be national news and heroes. Unfortunately, according to the state department, we are to take you immediately to McConnell Air Force Base for security purposes.”

“How about some identification from you.”

The agents showed their papers to Vince. As the plane emptied, the bodies still remained. Four more agents entered the plane door and circled the couple as they descended the steps to waiting cars, four of which had their engines running.

The chief of then Kansas City FBI introduced himself,

“Brian McCloud,” he said. “after what you’ve been through, we’re taking extreme caution in traveling to Wichita.”.









.

.

NATASHA IVANOV

THIRTY THOUSAND EMAILS

PART TWO

　

Natasha held Vince close in the plane rest room,

“Our being together has been arranged by the Joint Chief Of Staff, and the Secretary Of State, high level stuff“.

“You mean we‘re dealing with the Russians? Pardon me for asking.”

“I understand the confusion, you see I’m a double agent working directly for the State Department.”

“Why did you need to put yourself in mortal danger?”

“Vince, thank you for being protective. I know you’re a retired Navy Seal with a brilliant record, but I’ll tell you why. I’m the one that hacked the Democratic National Committee.”

“Did you do that to gain more trust?”

“Exactly, but not completely. For over a year, I’ve been building a cyber juggernaut aimed at America, under direct orders from Putin.”

“Did you leave some vital parts out?”

“You’re catching on quick but my cover’s about to be blown and that’s why you’re here, to protect me while I finish my work.

“But I’m by myself, you know.”

“There are six men aboard this flight to help you. All have proven their worth.. Now we need to get out of here. I’m turning the scanner off. Make some noise and try to put some passion in it.”

Between the moans and the slams against the walls, both Vince and Natasha were laughing like school kids wondering what the plane’s passengers were thinking. With his tie at 30degrees, his shirt stuffed halfway in his pants and his hair all messed, Vince left first and calmly walked back to his seat, with 150 sets of eyes glued on him. Natasha followed with the same experience.

“Now make this look good,” she said as she cuddled, bit Vince on the ear and ran her hands all over him. Hw responded gladly until they heard an angry voice,

“I’m the last one to knock love,” the stewardess said, “but you two are causing so much disturbance on this plane, the captain has suggested if you don’t stop, you’re going to be handcuffed and ride in the baggage department, Savvy?“

“Is it air conditioned?”

“Mr. Donahue, that’s not at all funny.”

They settled from their antics and although Vince was dying for more information, he knew he couldn’t discuss it now with Natasha. His mind ran at full speed.. ’Why Fox News and why me?’ he thought. ‘This kind of skullduggery can’t be revealed to the public, even to Fox News. There has to be more to this than she’s telling me. And why am I totally captured? Do I miss the action I was trained for?‘

His mind snapped back to attention with the first shot. And the second shot brought all the Adrenalin pumping. Three men, obviously hijackers ran through first class. One spoke in broken English,

“Stay in your seat or you‘ll die”

Two of them shot the lock off the pilots door, entered and gunfire erupted immediately. More gunfire rang out in the business class. The third gunman was distracted for a moment and Vince moved like a panther, delivered a killing blow to the highjack’s neck, took his gun and cautiously crept to the open cabin door. One of the hijackers in the cabin looked up and was greeted by a bullet between his eyes from Vince’s gun. The second burst through the cabin door, firing his weapon. Vince dropped him with one shot.

Meanwhile, in the rear area, firing had ceased. Vince entered the flight deck, both pilots were dead, the plane had reverted to automatic pilot. Running to the rear, death was everywhere. One man stood, Victor leveled his pistol,

“Raise them,” he said.

The man did so,

‘I’m a federal marshal, there are six of us, the other five are down as well as three

hijackers.”

. The stewardesses checked all eight men, the hijackers were dead, three of the agents also, and two wounded.

“Who is flying the plane,” the marshal asked, “the automatic pilot is not on, I can tell.”

Vince ran through the aisle to the flight deck, the captain had been moved from his seat. In his place, Natasha sat, flying the plane.



“My God, do you know how to do this?”

“I am a licensed pilot, multiple engine but I’m not familiar with this large a plane.”







. .

NATASHA IVANOV

THIRTY THOUSAND EMAILS

　

　

　

Dead on his feet, Vince had covered both political conventions for Fox News. He settled back in his international. flight from Philadelphia to Australia, with a stop in Los Angeles and one in Hawaii. The seat was empty next to him and it surprised him because the flight was full. His first class ticket was courtesy of Fox and they gave him twenty grand as a bonus and three weeks off.

The plane‘s engines came to a roar but then settled down as the cabin door reopened and a vision entered. She was twenty five at the most, auburn hair with a figure to kill for. He checked her outfit, it was a habit of his and he guessed about eight grand worth with a two thousand dollar purse. His extra seat was the only one left and she slipped into it with a cultured smile, busied herself with her purse and note book.

He thought, ‘I’m captured’, but when she crossed her pins he knew heaven just watching her.

“Do you like what you see?”

He turned beet red and then a shade deeper if possible. Gathering his wit, he answered,

“That’s the most gorgeous suit I’ve ever seen on a woman.”

“I recognize you, Vincent ……”

“Vince Donahue at your service, and you?”

“Natasha Ivanov, I live in Washington and work at the Russian Embassy.”

“Are there any more girls in Russia that look anything like you.”

“Word game, can you answer your own question using one word.?”

“Hardly. It’s a good one when you need it.”

The stewardess leaned over in a scoop neck and asked, “Drinks?”

Vince looked at her pair and then at Natasha as if telecommunicating, “Two double vodka’s straight.”

“Amazing” she said, “do you read minds too?”

“I might if I care to. Were you at the convention?”

“Oh yes, I’m a specialist in cyber security and biometric identification.

“How’d you get in that field?”

“I was an exchange student a few yeas ago and went to MIT with a full scholarship and received my doctorate last year.”

“Good Lord, at your age?”

“I’m older than you think.”

“Is there anything else you want to tell me?”

“One thing, it’s no accident I’m sitting next to you.”

“But………”

She leaned over and kissed him, deep and slow,

“’I’m headed to the restroom in the rear. Wait one minute, knock four times.”

He watched her slip down the aisle, counted to sixty and followed her. As he squeezed in next to her, he could smell her hair, he stood so close. His heart pounded with excitement as he looked into her eyes searching……

“Two good to be true?” she asked.

“Yes, what’s a foot?”

She put her forefinger to her lips, Opened her purse and pulled out a small electronic box and pushed a hidden button,

“All electronic activity has ceased within five feet of this box. Are you wearing a Rolex?”

“No, too flashy.”

“Then look at you watch.”

His second hand had ceased to work. His cell phone died and the light went out.

Even the battery emergency light failed to go on.

“It’s pitch black isn’t it? We can talk quietly now, no security risk,” Natasha said..

{Sorry…. To Be Continued.]







.