Re-railing topic:
[Some time before Talon returned to base...]
After making sure I wasn't followed out of the ship yard, I contact nearby AWACS on an encrypted radio channel.
"Enfield 1-1, requesting vector to homeplate."
"Enfield 1-1, turn to heading 346, contact local support for IFR navigation on Hotel fox channel 109.95"
I work the radio stack and enter the VOR frequency. The course deviation bar in my HSI moves around, and I intercept the flightpath at a 30 degree angle.
I turn on navigation autopilot and check the status my aircraft. All of my stores are jettisoned, one engine is lost, my control surfaces are full of holes, and I'm bingo fuel. An average day for an A-10 Warthog. Good thing I brought drop tanks, because I probably wouldn't be able to make it back otherwise.
I slump back into my seat and let out a sigh. That was stressful, but at least it's all over now. I look forward to having a warm meal and a good night's sleep.
...
I'm on the last leg of the traffic pattern. After contacting the tower and gaining clearance, I pull out my landing gear, brakes, and my flaps ... well, the brakes and flaps would have been pulled out but at some point between the two I sprung a leak and lost hydraulic pressure. What a load of stuff. Even after all the fighting is done, the enemy continues to give me trouble. My control surfaces eventually stop responding to my inputs, and I'm forced to switch to manual. Suddenly, a wind comes blowing my aircraft from the starboard side. Now I have wrestle my stick to make a loving crosswind landing.
Even in my tired and ragged state, I somehow managed to stay on glideslope and stick the landing. Immediately, a crew rushed out of the complex and the aircraft is towed in for maintenance.
I enter the barracks and drop onto my bed. It's good to be back.
