Freedom Flights: Episode 44. Trying Times. Part 3. Making Headlines.

Freedom Flights: Episode 44. Trying T...

Freedom Flights: Episode 44. Trying Times. Part 3. Making Headlines.

Episode 44 of Freedom Flights is set in April 2025 and has been released in multiple parts, as I created them. Some events foreshadowed in this episode will take a few months to play out, while others may be resolved in the next episode.

I will continue trying to foreshadow future incidents without making my characters react as if they know what will happen later in 2025… although they might fear what could happen, as I do almost daily.

We must never forget the brave people fighting for freedom, with too many losing their lives. Let’s pray Western aid and weapons continue to reach Ukraine, despite unexpected interruptions. Assistance must arrive on time to change their fortunes and prepare for the genuine peace that must come soon.

Links to the previous episodes can be found on my Freedom Flights page via the left-hand sidebar.

Episode 44. Trying Times. Part 3. Making Headlines.

2025

Photo: illustrative. JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP

Saturday, April 12th – Medical Centre, Chayka Field, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine

Éliane Nowicki and Leandra Silveira lifted Marielle Simonova onto the examination bed.

“She collapsed earlier when she heard that a Ukrainian F-16 pilot was killed overnight, and feared it was Andriy, her husband,” said Éliane.

“Her vitals are normal, but I must monitor her thoroughly,” said Doctor Sacha Proulx, after she examined Marielle. “How long has she been unconscious?”

Éliane checked her watch.

“After she cried out ‘Andriy’, she was shaking, so I held her. Others tried to reassure her, and she seemed okay. But 25 minutes later, she fainted… at about 1859.”

“Barely three minutes before the name of another pilot was released,” said Leandra. “But Marielle remained unconscious, showing no apparent symptoms. It seemed wisest to bring her here, rather than risk CPR.”

Sacha studied the med-centre’s instruments.

“I’m hesitant about making a quick diagnosis, but this shows all the signs of vasovagal syncope. Emotional upset led to a sudden drop in blood pressure, causing Marielle to faint. The possible cause could be dehydration, although none of you pilots risk not drinking, now that you have your AIRUS devices. Also, prolonged standing can-“

“Or she’s pregnant,” said Éliane. “Which shouldn’t surprise me, given the times we found Andriy and her in bed.”

They all giggled.

“Despite my warnings,” said Sacha, grinning. “I’ll have to check. I’m guessing the poor pilot wasn’t-“

“My Fedir,” replied Leandra. “Thankfully not.”

Sacha waited for Marielle to awaken before doing more than monitoring her. Eventually, the Frenchwoman was conscious enough to answer enquiries.

“I must have fainted, worried what the 1900 news would report. Now, I feel stupid it wasn’t him… nor Fedir. But I feel for the dead pilot and his family.”

“Despite mixed signs you’re pregnant, I’ll run the test.”

Once Marielle discovered she was, everyone congratulated her.

“However, even if you aren’t prone to vasovagal syncope, I’ll give you this list of symptoms to watch out for,” said Sacha. “I’ll also have to ground you and restrict flying during the pregnancy. G-forces will harm the baby.”

“I must contact Papa Andriy and give him the good news,” said a jubilant Marielle, hugging everyone.

Sunday, April 13th – Squadron Command Centre, Chayka Field, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine

Marielle Simonova and Conchita Gutiérrez listened as Kalyna spoke to Colonel Maksym Bondarenko at Air Command West. The duty Code Talker, Nauja Tall Gull, was available when anything encrypted was sent via Aenoheso Little Hawk.

“As our Dispersed Operations now cover ten locations,” said Kalyna. “Vasy and I appointed our two officers on light duties to coordinate the DOs running. Capitana Conchita Gutiérrez will liaise with the Helicopter air and ground crew, while Capitaine Marielle Simonova will interact with the Fixed Wing personnel. We’ll send encrypted details.”

“Excellent. Can other squadrons, including Captain Andriy Oliynyk’s of course, use your dispersed areas if they notify your officers in advance?”

“Naturally, and our new hangar is equipped to service F-16s now. What news of the cowardly attack on Sumy? Are our medevacs needed?” asked Kalyna.

Russia’s Palm Sunday Massacre – https://cepa.org/article/russias-palm-sunday-massacre/

“It was horrendous. The Russians must have known people would be in Sumy city centre celebrating Palm Sunday, at the start of Holy Week. The first Iskander-M ballistic missile attack was followed minutes later by another, with devastating results-“

“Typical Russian ploy… a double tap, they perfected in Syria”, added Marielle. “Ensuring those who rush to help are targets too.”

“Exactly,” replied Maksym. “There are already twenty dead and eighty wounded… all civilians, many on a bus or in cars wrecked by shrapnel. Our medics from the area responded quickly as casualties are expected to rise. We fear there will be other attacks, some in the oblasts across Western Ukraine. Then your helicopters will be needed there.”

“The medevacs are always on standby,” replied Conchita. “With attack copters as support to deal with drones and rockets. Although the increase in Russia’s use of jet-powered drones makes intercepting them tougher.”

Everyone nodded, and Marielle added a crucial observation.

“They’re even a challenge for our fighter jets… and expensive. A single air-to-air missile can cost millions of dollars.”

“That’s why drone research is a growing priority for our defence industry and military,” replied Maksym. “Your squadron has already developed some drone capture and interception devices, including the one fired from modified UB-32 pods on Yak-52B Trainers. There’s an ongoing project developing propeller-driven agricultural aircraft carrying infrared-guided air-to-air missiles under their wings. Somewhat slower than your fighters, but another solution.”

File photo of a Ukrainian Yak-52. (Image via Militaryi)

Kalyna and Vasy chuckled and slapped palms.

“Who remembers the origin of Chayka Air?”

“The Polikarpov U-2 of the original Night Witches?” asked Maksym.

“Not exactly, although the Polikarpov U-2 my grandmother flew in 1944 was slow, and deadly under Witch-power,” replied Kalyna.

“Our first planes in Canada were Kaydet biplanes,” continued Vasy. “Crop dusters, so my grandaunt was an ag pilot like her husband, and my grandparents kept them flying.”

“Have any modern Witches flown a Moravan Z-137 AgroTurbo?” asked Maksym.

“Unlikely,” replied Vasy. “All trained on light aircraft, some turboprop-powered, that we could modify… with our Polish allies.”

Monday, April 21st – Night Witch Command Centre, Dęblin Air Base, Lublin Voivodeship, Poland

Major Lidka Andrysiak and Captain Natalie Kuzmenko were pleased that their initial plans for testing both the 10A Thunderbolt II ‘Warthog’ and the Sukhoi Su-25UBM1 ‘Frogfoot’ were acceptable to their hosts at Dęblin.

“We needed to respect the Easter celebrations and refrain from simulated combat,” said Lidka.

“Even if the Russians flouted their cynical Easter ceasefire,” added Natalie, annoyed. “After Zelenskyy accepted it and called Putin’s bluff by suggesting a 30-day extension.”

“Which Putin ignored,” said Capitana Tamya Echeverría. “Who doesn’t really want peace now?”

“Not our blind President,” replied Lidka. “Ukraine does, and we must help in every way we can.”

Natalie pointed at the Warthog and Frogfoot through the window, parked outside their hangar.

Ukrainian Air Force Sukhoi Su-25 in 2023. Date: 23 March 2023. Source https://armyinform.com.ua/2023/03/23/nashi-su-25-zlitayut-byty-voroga-za-licheni-hvylyny/ Author: Олександр Шульман

“After the Polish team modified the Sukhoi Su-25M1 so fast, we can start tossing glide bombs tomorrow using a low-level approach and steep climb.”

“Do you need any multinational witnesses?” asked Tamya’s twin, Killa, looking at her sister and then the Portuguese, French, and Québécois pilots.

Lidka glanced at the waiting group.

“Maybe choose one from each country to attend with the Polish contingent.”

“We can ensure a variation in expertise then,” said Commandant Raphaëlle Balode. “Until then, we have flight exercises to prepare and maintenance responsibilities.”

As they broke into work groups, Tamya & Killa Echeverría returned to their conversation in Spanish with the Silveira twins.

“When we mentioned flying Super Tucanos in Colombia, you implied both of you flew A-29s in the Força Aérea Portuguesa. Was that in combat?” asked Killa.

A Colombian Air Force A-29B Super Tucano takes off during exercise Red Flag-Rescue 23-1 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AZ. Date: 11 May 2023. Source: 12th Air Force Public Affairs. Author: Tech. Sgt. Rachel Maxwell.

“We both had to be familiarised with them as potential trainers,” replied Leandra. “Although we’re more proficient with F-16s.”

“We know in 2019 a Ukrainian military delegation visited the Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer’s military division in São Paulo and flew the Super Tucano, and since then, Zelenskyy has approached Brazil’s President to obtain the plane for the UAF,” said Tamya. “That seems to have stalled because of Brazil’s neutral stance in this war.”

“Yet the plane would make an ideal drone killer,” added Nilda. “You wondered if we could obtain a Super Tucano from Portugal?”

“Exactly. Colombia is too far, even with the contacts we used for our Kfirs,” said Killa. “The USA have maybe six, which, talking to our ex-USAF colleagues, are unobtainable.”

For a moment, the Portuguese sisters looked at each other. Eventually, Nilda spoke.

“FAP should be getting a dozen A-29Ns soon. This variation, configured to NATO standards, may be partially assembled in Portugal by OGMA. However, Embraer has a majority stake in OGMA. Whether Brazil would block any attempt to acquire a Super Tucano via Portugal, or the Embraer production line in the USA, would be worth investigating, given that this war is becoming drone-led.”

“Maybe we need to pursue every route, including Chayka Air,” said Tamya.

Suddenly, Lieutenant Noémi Tamm dashed back into the room, in tears and shouting in French.

“Le pape est mort,” and then calmer in Ukrainian, “Pope Francis died two hours ago in Vatican City.”

Everyone was shocked, even the few non-Catholics. Then sadness and reflection spread, as people shared what they knew of him as a compassionate and humble champion of the poor and disadvantaged, the environment, and peaceful coexistence.

“His death was expected, although not on Easter Monday,” said Noemi. “Our Holy Father died only hours after his appearance in St. Peter’s Square, for Easter Sunday celebrations.”

“He’s been ill so much this year,” added Tamya. “Perhaps Our Lord called him at the end of Holy Week for a reason?”

Gradually, the ground crew came upstairs, having heard of Pope Francis’s death from Warrant Officer Adrienne Laine.

“Some of us were blessed to attend the open-air mass our spiritual shepherd held in 2022 at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium,” said Adrienne. “On the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”

“We must never forget,” added Lieutenant Tatiana Ojala. “Pope Francis’ homily addressed the importance of grandparents, although his trip to Canada focused on apologising for our Church’s role in the Canadian Indian residential school system and on reconciliation with the Indigenous peoples.”

As everyone bowed their heads, some Polish friends entered. Among them was Alojzy Ryba and his daughter, Dżesika, who walked over to Killa.

Alojzy embraced Killa, then announced.

“We all presumed you heard the sad news, so we came to invite anyone who wishes to attend a special memorial Mass at the Church of Christ the Merciful, to honour Pope Francis.”

Wednesday, April 30th – Zvenigora Restaurant, Chayka Field, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine

Kalyna & Vasy Chayka sat at the back of the restaurant with Adriana Pavlenko and Nadia Lysenko, trying to decide how to proceed in the light of recent headlines.

“Before Zelenskyy went to South Africa to meet President Cyril Ramaphosa last Wednesday, Trump had paused military aid, denounced Zelenskyy as a ‘dictator’, and accused Ukraine of being responsible for the war,” said Adriana. “Have we reached a turning point in the peace negotiations? Or will Trump backtrack again?”

The others shrugged, but then Vasy replied.

“Moments before Saturday’s funeral of Pope Francis, the mood changed at the meetings in St. Peter’s Basilica. Why? Some say the presence of the other European leaders. Others believe the Pope’s spirit ensured his calls for dialogue were heeded. We need to pray that all guides work to bring peace.”

Trump and Zelensky speak with French President Macron and UK PM Starmer (ANSA)

This time, the others nodded, and Kalyna spoke.

“Trump has now admitted twice that Putin ‘could be tapping me along a little bit’, but he still believes Putin wants to end the war. Yet, Trump still expects concessions from Ukraine. I fear this war will continue until Putin gets what he set out to achieve ten years ago.”

“The US administration is ready to pull out as ‘mediators’ if there is no progress soon,” said Nadia. “If there’s any way we can ensure genuine negotiations, we must pursue all avenues. Trump will still want to benefit at Ukraine’s expense. Didn’t he press Zelenskyy to sign the U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal as soon as possible?”

“That’s what our reliable sources report,” said Vasy. “Ukraine needs strong security guarantees from the US and our other allies. Many of us have military contacts with political ties, so we can indirectly influence some decision-makers. That’s our best recourse… as well as continuing to defend Ukraine in the air.”

“We Ukrainians will never give up,” said Adriana. “Some of you are forging bonds here.” She pointed to a nearby table, where two expectant couples were celebrating their time together, especially Marielle and Andriy.

All four smiled and glanced at the other Witches in the restaurant.

“Will we now see a spate of marriages leading to a pregnancy outbreak?” asked Vasy, chuckling. “Seriously, I feel we may need a creche on this level. Families would be safer here, underground. Maybe, there’s even a role for some menfolk.”

“Where do we start?” queried Adriana, just as Nadia got up and joined Aleks Górski to greet their Polish partners, Brajan Rudawski and Igor Dubicki, who had appeared at the restaurant’s entrance.

***