Over the rest of the summer and early fall, Firebombers Incorporated earned the reputation of a mobile, hard-hitting firefighting organization, just as Joe had wanted. Through the course of many fires in California and the West, the name became widely known. Both Federal and the various State firefighting outfits called on FI frequently.
     By the time the official fire season came to an end in the middle of autumn, the firejumpers had been outfitted with their own transports. Five new squadrons of C-130s were added to the ranks, 106th through 110th Lift Squadrons (Parahaulers, Nightriders, Jumpstarters, Cargomasters, and Cannonballers, respectively). The fourth CCC van and its transport became operational, and the maintenance transport was also added, bringing 1st Composite Squadron up to its full complement of nine planes and allowing Joe and his staff to have one CCC van to themselves again.
     Dave had finally made good on his promise to provide a low-level wire-avoidance radar system on the planes. The system, dubbed High-Wire was a resounding success and in tests had detected wires across the path of low-flying aircraft from several hundred yards away, allowing the crews to pull up before colliding with power lines, especially at night.
     Joe had managed to make it to most of the fires his organization engaged. Those he missed, due to company business, he kept on top of by radio. Sales of firefighting products were growing exponentially. The operation was still not self-sufficient, but Joe considered the initial investment to be worthwhile for the promise of the future.
     Joe and his staff planned to tour the western United States in late Fall for the purpose of demonstrating their organization's firefighting prowess. By the time the middle of November arrived, Firebombers Incorporated was putting on a show just outside of Tucson, Arizona.
     Far away, in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles, a brushfire was beginning. Firefighters from all over the area were converging on the blaze, but Santa Ana winds were quickly spreading the fire across the foothills out of control.

     "Joe there's a phone call for you", Zack called from the Fire Boss CCC van. Joe was annoyed at the interruption. The engine companies were just being air -landed and Joe always enjoyed seeing that operation.
     "Hello, this is Joe Talon", he said sharply. It was Henry Luce.
     "Joe, what are you doing over there?", shouted Henry. "Don't you know there's a fire here in L.A.?"
     "Sure, I know there's a fire there", Joe replied testily. "But I've been told to keep my people out of L.A. County until further notice by the officials there".
     Henry was dumbfounded. "What idiot ordered that?", he asked.
     Joe explained the story to Henry, after which Henry seemed to get very angry. "We're pulling in fire companies from as far away as the Canadian border on this one!", he shouted. "Let me talk to those 'gentlemen'. I'll get back to you on this. And get your gear packed, you're to be here as soon as I get it approved, OK?"
     "I think I'll wait to see what develops first", Joe replied noncommittally. "I've dealt with these guys before. I don't even think an emergency will change their minds".
     "We'll see about that!", shouted Henry. Joe heard the phone slam down at the other end, then went back to watching the show. He wondered what kind of hornet's nest Henry could stir up. He was not optimistic, but there was some small possibility Henry's gentle persuasion might just work.
     An hour later, the demonstration was finished. Joe walked over to Abner and Zack. Pieter and the firebombers were just landing behind them.
     "Abner, I want the planes fueled up and the equipment loaded up immediately", said Joe. "Zack, I want your people to stow their gear aboard the transports and have everything ready to move out on a moment's notice".
     "The fire in L.A.?", asked Abner.
     "Yep. I received a call from Henry Luce about an hour ago", replied Joe. "Seems he was a little ticked about our exclusion from the party. I don't think I would want to be in the Supervisors' shoes when he comes calling".
     "We'd better get some food shipped over here quick, then", said Zack. "Jack, can you find out if there's a catering service available? It would be quicker than sending two thousand guys out to restaurants!"
     "Besides that, we'd know where they were", agreed Abner. "No late-comers, no auto accidents on the way out or back".
     Pieter walked up a few minutes later. "What's going on?", he asked.
     "We might be getting a new lease on life in L.A.", replied Joe. "Henry called up and wants us at that foothill fire".
     "What about that restriction from the county?", asked Pieter.
     "Henry is evidently going to bat for us on that", Joe answered. "I've told the guys to get everything in order for a hasty departure, just in case. Go get your guys refueled, Pieter. And tell them to stick around. We've got meals on wheels ordered".
     "Will do!", said Pieter. He trotted back to the firebombers.
     Abner and Zack put out a message over the radio instructing the crews of the new orders. After a small amount of protest, the crews turned to their tasks. Jack was able to find a catering service to bring in lunch and everyone was already chowing down when another call came in for Joe.
     "I had to do a little head-bashing over at city hall and the county building, but I finally got them to rescind the order", said an obviously ecstatic Henry. "So, when can you guys be here?"
     "Well, it just so happens that the guys are finishing up lunch now", said Joe. "We figured to move out as soon as they're briefed, say, about an hour from now?"
     "None too soon for my needs", said Henry. "At least you should have a tail wind with those Santa Anas behind you!"
     "I don't know. I think we'll have headwinds for the first part of the trip. It's been kicking up a little over here from that same high-pressure area. We almost had to cancel the firejumper demonstration because of the gusts".
     "Whatever", said Henry. "Just hurry up will ya? We've got a fire from Heninger Flats in Altadena clear across practically to Azusa. We need all the help we can get! I need to talk to your command staff to decide on a point of attack."
     "You got it", said Joe. "I'll give you Zack next. We'll see you when we see you!"
     Joe handed off the phone to Zack and went to announce the news to the troops. Despite missing a night of relaxation, most of them were excited about the prospect of some action close to home. Zack had already returned to his van by the time Joe was done talking. As the crews finished their lunch, Joe walked over to the Fire Boss CCC van.
     "What did you guys finally come up with for a plan of attack?", Joe asked as he stepped inside.
     "We've come up with two, actually", said Zack. "If the winds are minimal, we'll airdrop the firejumpers into the area we've been allotted above Monrovia. If winds are too high, we'll land at San Bernardino and bus them over to the fire, along with the Cat Team vehicles on our truck transports. There's no other airport that we'd want to land at except Ontario. If we're already clear out at Ontario, we might just as well put down at home. The difference in time to the fire will probably be about fifteen or twenty minutes. If we land them to the west of the fire, we'll have to fight rush-hour traffic to get them there. That pretty well eliminates the other airports big enough to handle us".
     "What about the engine companies?", asked Joe.
     "We'll land them at Talon Aerospace as well. The whole outfit can make their way to the fire as a unit, allowing them to go into action together."
     "I'd like to suggest an alternative to your plan", said Joe. "Instead of putting the engine companies down at Talon Aerospace, I want to do an air-landing at a light-plane airport, like Cable or Brackett".
     "Why? The amount of time we'd gain by being closer to the fire would be minimal and the danger of damage to personnel and equipment, especially in this much wind, would be pretty high. What possible reason could you have for running this high a risk?"
     "Publicity", said Joe firmly. "We took a beating from the press after that little debacle at City Hall. I want everyone to know that we've been called back to bail the city out. I want the press on hand when we land and I want them along with us every step of the way when we go up to the fireline".
     "Much as I'd like to rub the city fathers' collective noses in this, I don't much like the idea of risking our people's necks to salvage our reputation", replied Zack. "If we do this, it's over my objections".
     "I understand", said Joe. "But you've also got to understand this. Those fires we fought this year barely paid for the gas to get us there. The brunt of the cost has fallen on Talon Industries in general and on me in particular. If we don't make a major splash with this fire, projections are that sales of our firefighting products are going to start tapering off. Without that to bolster our finances, I'll probably be forced to disband the organization.
     "Also, consider the fact that all our transport pilots are former military pilots. They've trained to fly through and land in all types of weather. That, coupled with their experience from doing air landings in practice and at fires gives them an edge over any pilots you've ever seen. I'd put these folks up against the best transport pilots in the world any day of the week".
     Zack stared at Joe for a moment, carefully weighing the risks in the light of his statements. Finally, he sighed heavily, shook his head. "OK. Abner, let's air-land them at Brackett Field".
     Abner looked from Zack to Joe and said, "You guys are serious about this? Like Zack said, we are going to be running a pretty high risk with these Santa Anas blowing".
     "I'm confident we can do it", Joe stated. "Are you?"
     "Sure, we can get the equipment in if we use our JATOs to get out again", replied Abner. "I wouldn't want to actually land C-130s there, although we might manage to get off again. Airstrip's too short for that. Assuming the gusts are minimal, it should be fine for touch-and-gos".
     "Good thing the transports didn't use their JATOs today", said Pieter. "I don't suppose you would have wanted to stop by the base to pick any new ones up, would you Joe?"
     "Nope. I want us to get to the fire as fast as possible", Joe replied. "So we're all agreed on the plan? Then get your people briefed. I'll have Jerry call up a charter service so those busses are ready and waiting at Talon Aerospace, in case the winds are too bad to air-drop the firejumpers".

     Less than an hour later, the crews were briefed, transportation arranged for, and the personnel loaded. The airport tower gave Hawk One clearance a few minutes later. As it lumbered down the runway, close to 100 planes were lined up on taxiways awaiting their turn to depart. First Composite Squadron led the air wing out. The refueling tankers followed and behind them came the slower-moving firebombers. Finally, the Lift and Heavy Lift squadrons piled out.
     Joe was looking at the visual display of the Firebombers planes a short while after they had formed up and climbed to altitude. Dave had designed a system for providing aircraft power and a data-link to the Hawkeyes for each CCC van during transit. This allowed the staff to keep in touch just in case there was a change in status at a fire while they were still enroute.
     Joe was looking at the view from Hawk Two's aft-looking cameras and it was breathtaking. He could see all of the planes from lst Composite Squadron and the refueling squadron distinctly, followed by the massed squadrons of firebombers and transports flying in neat 'V' formations. The aircraft became less distinct farther back and finally appeared as mere dots back at the end of the line.
     Despite the fact that they had filed flight plans, radar operators from three states were alarmed to see the armada of aircraft entering their sectors over the next hour. Henry Luce had called ahead to the local airports around Southern California advising them of the incoming aircraft. The skies were already cluttered with air-tankers, helicopters, and spotter aircraft grappling with the brushfires in the hills above L.A.