Freedom Flights: Episode 25 – Irreversible Path – Part 2
This is part 2 of the August episode of Freedom Flights. The next part will continue to cover events in early July when various key events occurred in Europe and the USA. As foreshadowed in the last scene of Episode 24, the monthly movie night will happen.
Until a just peace for Ukraine is reached, I will continue to write more episodes, never forgetting the brave people fighting for freedom. Let’s pray Western aid and weapons like F-16s continue to reach the frontlines and in time to change their fortunes.
Links to the previous episodes can be found on my Freedom Flights page on the left-hand sidebar.
Episode 25 – Irreversible Path
2024
PART 2 – Code Talkers
Sunday, July 7th – Chayka Field, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine
Camo Toyota TacomaThe group for the Chayka inspection tour gathered in the Squadron Command Centre so Kalyna and Vasy could show the group on the map where they needed to inspect. Then they led them down a back corridor and out to a camouflaged Toyota Tacoma truck into which all six piled, with Nadia driving.
“We must show you the earthwork firebreaks the mechanics are building around the standings in the trees, then the farm roads we need to use for fast scrambles… if you can persuade the farmers.”
After inspecting the dispersal sites, they drove the farm roads to confirm that MiG-29s and Gripens could use them. They saw the farmers who agreed to their requirements.
When they drove onto the runway, they heard gunfire and jet engines, yet all they could see were four K9 units training and three horses being exercised.
“A training session with sound effects,” said Andżelika Sówka. “Not that anyone fires guns or flies jets around here… well, that’s what we claim.”
“But if a plane needs to land,” asked Vasy. “What happens?”
As if on cue a klaxon sounded, the horses moved back out of the gallops and the K9 units began patrolling.
Instead of a plane, a mini-bus appeared at the rough western end of the runway.
“Are we expecting anyone?” asked Nadia as she contacted the control tower.
“The mini-bus came down a farm track from the direction of Lutsk,” said control. “Looking for Kapitan Nadia Lysenko.”
“Owls, you’re on full alert until we know more.”
“Agreed,” said Kalyna. “Just don’t reveal all our security assets.” The Sówka sisters climbed out and joined one of their K9 units.
Then she pointed back towards the tower. “Nadia, go back there. We can observe them from up there.”
“But they asked for me. Shouldn’t I go with security?”
“Not until we know what they want. You’re too valuable to lose in a stupid exchange,”
As they drove to the Control Tower, Vasy was trying to speak while Kalyna talked through every scenario from vengeful smugglers to foreign assassins from Nadia’s time with French special forces.
“Maksym Bondarenko told us—”
“To be careful and expect—”
“You asked for these sisters,” came Andżelika’s radio message.
“I’ve been trying to remind Kalyna they were coming to help Nadia with communications,” said Vasy. “Her daughter Aliona made the original enquiries—”
“For First Nation Code Talkers. Let’s meet by Saab’s Mobile Short-Range Air Defence vehicle. We must hear about that as it may be the second most important advance we discuss today and before we all gather in the canteen.”
“Although,” added Mariyka, “The new Zvenigora has been designed as more than a restaurant which shows films. We needed a comfortable meeting and briefing space for the whole squadron… a multi-functional area.”
*
Saab’s Mobile Short-Range Air Defence https://militaryleak.com/2022/09/05/saabs-mshorad-mobile-short-range-air-defence-successfully-demonstrated-with-live-firing/The contrast between the stark utilitarian Saab’s Mobile Short-Range Air Defence vehicle and the bright clothing and cheery faces of the First Nation and Native American code talkers almost left the MSHORAD at a standstill. But Kalyna found the perfect solution.
“Until vehicles can enter the canteen, I suggest our sister from Saab gives us an overview of her charge out here… I’m presuming some Night Owls have had the thorough demo already.” Andżelika nodded. “Okay, but before we proceed may I ask our North American indigenous sisters for the names they prefer to be known by?”
The oldest and possibly the appointed leader said, “I am Nette Little Feather a Paiute/Navajo medicine woman whose grandfather was a code talker.” She nodded to the woman nearest to her.
“I am Nauja Tall Gull, an Inuit huntress.”
“Mahihkan Wolf Sister of the Cree.”
“Call me Tayanita Brave Beaver of the Cherokee.”
“And I’m Nawel Leaping Jaguar, a proud Mapuche from the Chilean Air Force… but not a pilot. Just a nurse hoping to learn from you, Nette.”
Nette put an arm around Nawel and said, “You’ll learn, but first the last member of this group is with Maksym Bondarenko in Dęblin. She’s Aenoheso Little Hawk of the Cheyenne and will send messages from Maksym when it’s classified. But now who is our Saab sister?”
The svelte spectacled blonde smiled and introduced herself.
“I’m Aslög Hellström and I’m one of Saab’s junior technicians on their Mobile Short-Range Air Defence system, MSHORAD for short. I’ve been tasked with demonstrating the system to you as Saab believes the Night Witches are Ukraine’s chief advocates of our Gripen jets and all that entails.”
She paused to brush a loose lock back under her cap and to wipe her glasses.
“My apologies if my spiel sounds learnt… it was the best way to ensure I remembered everything. Anyway, the system’s mobility, especially at short range, is everything if we are to defeat weapons and weapon systems, such as drones or attack helicopters, that are attacking the ground units requiring protection.”
As she ran through the features, she pointed them out to the group.
“The Mobile Firing Unit is based upon the successful RBS 70 NG Sight mounted on Saab’s mature Trackfire servo platform, the Mobile Radar Unit uses the proven Giraffe 1X radar, with command and control capability provided by Saab’s BM4CI. Giraffe 1X covers the entire search volume every second and will detect any air threat, including small, slow, high and low targets.”
“It’s possible to remove the RBS 70 NG Sight from the vehicle and deploy it in a man-portable air defence (MANPAD) configuration to provide additional technical capabilities as the operation requires.”
“The system is truly flexible. If you wanted to hide the vehicle, and deploy the MANPAD, or if RBS 70 NG Sight was needed on top of your control tower for some reason, then it’s adaptable for such differing scenarios.”
“This vehicle offers ballistic protection increasing the survivability of the operation and the crew. Later, I can demonstrate more of the capabilities as required and I will need to train some adaptable technical personnel as Saab couldn’t spare my partn…assistant.”
Aslög leant against the vehicle, seemingly exhausted. However, Estera picked up on her insecurity, so put a comforting arm around her.
“If you want to talk girl to girl later, I’m often in the canteen, or call me.” And she handed her a walkie-talkie.
Kalyna and Vasy thanked Aslög and told her to join them later. They then led everyone else inside.
*
“How will this code talking work?” asked Griffon pilot Captain Xenia Ahlberg. “In both World Wars weren’t the Code Talkers from the same tribes?”
Photograph of Navajo Indian Code Talkers Henry Bake and George Kirk, 12/1943 National Archives Identifier: 593415“Yes,” said Nette Little Feather. “My Navajo grandfather said all his code talker brothers were Navajo, but there were groups from other tribes. But they created codes using their distinct language. The Navajo developed the most complex code, with over 600 terms, yet other tribe members back home didn’t know what this coded vocabulary meant.”
“But you are all different tribes with distinct languages,” said Xenia.
“Which is why we created a unique code,” said Nette. “While we were gathering secretly in Dęblin, we used words from our diverse languages to create a 125-term code which the University’s language school helped us learn along with enough Ukrainian to make ourselves understood.”
“We are already a diverse mix of nationalities and all learning,” said Nadia. “I’m originally Québécois and Canadian Ukrainian, then French but now Ukrainian. So, you’re very welcome here sisters.”
“Good to know I’m not the only one caught between cultures,” said Nawel Leaping Jaguar. “Born Mapuche, encouraged to speak Spanish to survive and then serve Chile. Now learning English and Ukrainian. Can I ask, Does this election in France mean anything now you’re here?”
Nadia went quiet and closed her eyes.
“When I think about my friends especially those I served alongside in the French Air and Space Force and the special forces units, then I worry… especially when Macron talks about French boots on the ground here.” She paused and then continued. “But now the initial results point to weeks of political chaos. I just pray the support for Ukraine continues and we win without their boots.”
“Sorry to ask this,” said Nette. “During Saturday’s exercise can we test our code then, Kalyna… Vasy?”
“We will definitely need you. Tomorrow, we’ll do our preparations… the whole squadron. Tonight, after you are shown your quarters, you’re all invited to a gathering around the fire for a bit of overdue storytelling.”
Once they had made the arrangements, the senior officers and the key Night Owls met in the Squadron Command Centre.
“Although the only unwelcome visitors to our campfire gathering might be mosquitos, we need to be sure there is none of the drone variety,” said Kalyna.
“Although Saab’s MSHORAD can deal with drones,” replied Andżelika, “we have more cost-effective methods. Mariyka’s engineering group has developed a successful drone interceptor, which not only neutralizes the threat—”
“But also makes the captured drone available to turn against the enemy,” added Estera. “Extremely useful if we’re marked by an ORLAN 10, which allows the enemy to target us.”
“Aren’t these the Russian-made drones allowing their artillery to do so much devastation at the front,” asked Aleks. “How many interceptors have we got?”
“Five or six,” replied Estera. “Double that by Saturday. But I’ll ensure Aslög is ready with her Saab trickery.”
“My main concern now is masking heat signatures,” said Kalyna. “Janina Patriksson said something about stealth paint and directing cool air over exhausts. I’ll check on her progress tonight or tomorrow. Guess she’s working late, or she’d be here.”
*
Lieutenant Katia Antonov looked at the bonfire and hoped any suspicious observers realised this was merely a celebration. Burning buildings must be the norm in Ukraine.
Most of the squadron were seated around the campfire to learn about the nose art that had become their emblem.
Elena Schweitzer /Depositphotos.comhttps://meettheslavs.com/firebird
Vasy stood and raised her hands, palms down to settle them.
“In 1944 my grandmother Vasy, then twelve, told her partisan comrades about Zharptica, the Firebird’s origin. It’s our emblem and you will discover why tonight. First grandmother Vasy’s tale.”
She smiled. “According to folklore, the Firebird is very rare, with plumage blazing red, orange, and yellow like the flames of a flickering fire. When removed, the feathers continue to glow. That is why some people try catching Zharptica.”
She paused and studied her spellbound audience.
“Once upon a time, thousands of years ago, a meek and gentle orphan girl named Maryushka lived in a small village. People came from everywhere to buy her needlecraft. Many merchants asked her to move and work for them.”
Vasy changed her voice to sound like her heroine and held out her hands. “‘I will sell my embroidery to anyone who finds my work beautiful, but I will never leave this village where I was born.”
“One day, the evil sorcerer Kaschei the Immortal heard of Maryushka’s beautiful needlework. He turned himself into a handsome young man and visited her. Upon seeing her skill, he became angry. A mere mortal could not produce finer work than he owned.”
She switched her voice again, making it sound deeper and darker. “‘I will make you Queen of this realm if you will embroider for me alone.’”
“‘I’m grateful and humbled by your offer. But I must decline. I never want to leave this village. I am sorry.’”
“This wound to Kaschei’s pride sparked his magic.”
Vasy drew invisible threads in the air.
“The evil sorcerer turned Maryushka into a flaming bird. Zharptica. He became a great black Falcon and picked her up in his claws.”
Vasy flapped her arms like a bird as her words flew across the gathering.
“He stole Firebird Maryushka away from her village. To leave a memory of herself with her people forever, she shed her feathers onto the land below. As the last feather fell, she died in the falcon’s talons.”
Vasy’s head dropped onto her chest. Silent and still as the crowd gasped. Then, she raised her head and continued.
“To this day, the glowing feathers are magic and remain bright. However, they show their rainbow colours only to those who love beauty and seek to make beauty for others. Together we can create the Firebird’s world.”
She paused.
“However, my grandmother was unaware that her sister, Kalyna… yes my cousin’s grandmother, one of the original Night Witches, had painted the Zharptica on her Polikarpov U-2 biplane. I’ll let Kalyna finish our family story.”
Her cousin hesitated and then stood.
“The war brought the sisters together and fate placed them in Kalyna’s Zharptica on a night raid during which they were hit. They survived and flew to Estonia, where they met a Swedish intelligence officer. Evading capture by the Nazis, they helped him back to Sweden, and he promised to help them. First, he ensured they settled in Canada. Second, he had their precious Zharptica sent to Canada, and today their Polikarpov U-2 hangs in the main hanger of Chayka Air. Last Christmas, Kapitan Maryna Sobol and Lieutenant Katia Antonov saw the nose art and asked us if it could be our squadron emblem as well as art on all of Sabre Flight—”
“That’s not all,” said a tall Nordic blonde standing behind the cousins. “My mother is Överste Alfhild Falkborg, the Colonel in the Swedish Air Force who assists with your Gripen requirements and your dealings with SAAB. And all through their grandmothers helping Alfhild’s grandfather escape the Nazis.”
The cousins turned to face their god-daughter.
“How did you get here Carita?” asked Kalyna. “The last time Vasy and I saw you we had left you on the Dęblin runway with your mother and Maksym… no doubt after your next article for Swedish Aero-News.”
“Exactly and I came here with them. Your code-talkers are fascinating. And before you tell me the story can’t be used until their task is finished—”
“More likely when we win this war.”
“I hope the other scribblers here know that… and how secret this base is.”
“They signed non-disclosure agreements,” said Vasy. “Just as you will.”
Everybody gradually dispersed, most to eat then sleep, some of the Night Owls to run their nightly security details and one flight of MiG-29s went on patrol under the watchful protection of Delta and Echo Tigers.
In the Control Tower Warrant Officer Kang Eun-Ji was on duty watching for any incoming traffic, though none was expected until Saturday.
Maksym checked in from Dęblin using the secure chat from Aenoheso Little Hawk to her Code Talking sister Nawel Leaping Jaguar who confirmed the night patrol was out but if there was more to report someone would be in touch.
“It makes a change not to be hearing of attacks all over Ukraine,” said Estera from the doorway, “But I fear when the Russians give us a quieter night, somewhere pays a terrible price next time. To be sure I’m going to check out our Saab system.”
She hurried downstairs and slipped through the shadows to the MSHORAD vehicle. She tapped lightly on the door, hoping Aslög would guess it was her.
The door opened and she was swept in.
“I wondered if you were ever going to come. Watching the skies gets boring hour upon hour… although I can put the auto-alert on if you want to…”
“Switch it on, please.”
Estera waited while Aslög set everything to auto, locked the door and dimmed the main light.
“I sense this is serious,” said Estera and removed her jacket. “That’s just for starters. Your move.”
Aslög embraced her and their kiss was the next move.
**
FCA 2,593 words
Slava Ukrayini
