Hope | R. Floyd

7

Two miracles

Dove walked in the classroom, she took her seat next to Rooster. "So your father wants to cook us a dinner?" Rooster then asked. She smiled a bit, "He does." She answer. "Maybe before the mission we all should do that." Rooster said and she smiled a bit.

Bob looked back at Dove, "Is your father doing alright?" Bob asked and Dove looked at him. "Yes, why wouldn't he be?" She questioned him, Phoenix looked back at her, "It's just Bob and I saw him talking to Maverick, there was concern written on their faces." Phoenix said, Dove sighed. "I'll ask him about it." Dove replied and they both nodded.

Warlock was in front along with Maverick. "Morning, The Uranium plant that is your target will be operational earlier than expected. Raw Uranium will be delivered to the plant in ten days time. As a result, your mission will be moved up by one week, in order to avoid contaminating the target valley with radiation." Warlock explained. "Well..." Dove muttered in concern

"Sir, no one has successfully flown a low level course." Coyote speaks up. "Nevertheless, you've been ordered to move on. Captain." Warlock steps away, calling Maverick up.

"We have one week to focus on phase two. It's the most difficult stage of the mission. It's a pop-up strike with a deep dive requiring nothing less than two consecutive miracles. Two pairs of F-18s will fly in an welded-wing formation. Teamwork, precise coordination of these aircrafts are essential to the mission's success and your survival." Maverick explained as he turns on the screen which depicts the sharp incline, followed by the steep drop, followed by an even more intense incline that they'll be flying on the mission.

"As you know, the plant rests between two mountains. On final approach, you will invert directly into a steep dive. This allows you to maintain the lowest possible altitude and the only possible attack angle. Your target is an impact point less than three meters wide. The two-seat aircraft will paint the target with laser bullseye. The first pair will breech the reaction by dropping the laser-guided bomb on an exposed ventilation hatch. This will create an opening for the second pair. That's miracle number one." Maverick explained.

"The second team, Will deliver the kill shot and destroy the target. That's miracle number two." He added. Dove and Rooster looked at each other then back at Maverick. "If either team misses the target, the mission is a failure. Egress is a steep high-G climb to avoid hitting this mountain." Maverick finished.

"A steep climb at that speed? You're pulling at least Eight G's." Hangman points out in a concerned tone. "Meaning Nine at Minimum?" Dove questioned and Maverick nodded at her. "The stress limit of the F-18 is 7.5" Rooster states.

"That's the accepted limit. To survive this mission, you will pull beyond that. Even if it means bending your air frame. You'll be pulling so hard, you'll weigh close to 2000 pounds. Your skull crushing your spine. Your lungs imploding like an elephant is sitting on your chest. Fighting everything you have to keep from blacking out and this is where you'll be at your most vulnerable. This is coffin corner. Assuming you avoid crashing into this mountain, You'll climb straight into enemy's radar, while loosing all of your air speed. Within seconds, you'll be fired upon by enemy SAMs. You've all faced sustained G's before but this is going to take you and your aircraft to the breaking point." Maverick explained.

"Sir, is this even achievable?" Dove asked with concern. "The answer to that question will come down to the pilot in the box." Maverick responded and Dove hummed. "Pilots, prepare for take off. You've been briefed on phase two, time to give it a run." Cyclone said to them from the back. Everyone headed to the locker room. 

........................

Dove was in a full panic when it came to Bob and Phoenix. She ran to the hospital immediately after she landed her plane and got out of her gear, the nurse stopped her. "I take it your Lt. Wells?" She asked and Dove nodded. "Lt Trace and Floyd are expecting you." She said as she pointed out their rooms and Dove nodded. "Thank you." Dove said as she went into Phoenix's room first. 

"Oh my goodness, you two gave me a damn heart attack." Dove said as she approached Phoenix and pulled her into a hug. "I am fine, you gave us a heart attack." Phoenix said to Dove. Dove sighed remembering she went into G-LOC earlier. "I am fine, you two are fine, everything's good, are they keeping you all overnight?" Dove asked and Phoenix nodded. "Well better safe then sorry." Dove said and Phoenix nodded.

"You better go check on Floyd in there." Phoenix said. "You sure, I can stay a bit longer?" Dove asked. "No, I'll be fine, I know he wants to make sure you are alright from earlier." Phoenix said. As Dove walked out of the room, "Tell you dad, I said Hi." Phoenix said, Dove looked at her and smiled. "Will do." Dove said as she left the room.

She knocked onto the door of Bob's room, he turned his head to doorway. "Dove..." He muttered as she approached him. He patted the empty spot onto his bed, she took a seat next to him. She laid her head onto his shoulder, they both sighed.

"You both scared me you know." Dove said to him. "Really, because you scared us... Charlotte I was scared you wasn't going to wake up in time." Bob said, she sighed. "It was scary.... I'm sorry, I am just glad you and Phoenix are alright." Dove said.

"You know something, when we get back from the mission, I would like to take you out on a date." Bob said confidently which Dove froze then look at him which caused him to look at her. "I am being serious Charlotte.. I would love to take you out on a date." He said to her. She smiled at him.

"You know what Floyd, I would like that." She said to him which caused him to smile at her.

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