No turning back now

"Dagger 1, up and ready at catapult one." River announced.

"Dagger spare, standing by." Hangman announces.

"Dagger 4, up and ready."

"Dagger 3, up and ready."

"Dagger 2, up and ready."

River's engine roared, she signaled the crew as she was ready for take off. Then she took off and went off quick, flew up. She looked straight ahead moment then turned to look at the sky. "Goodness." River mumbled

"Dagger 2 away." The woman called out as Cyclone, Warlock , Maverick and Harper along with Hondo stared at the screen. Harper let out a shaky breath and Maverick patted her on the shoulder. "Dagger 3 away." ... "Dagger 4 away."

River looked straight ahead, her nerves were going through the roof at this moment but she knew they all got this. "Comanche, Dagger 1, standby check in?" River called out. She listened closely, "Copy, Daggers descending below radar." River responded as she began to descend her plane as the others followed. She looked back both directions then she looked forward again.

"Daggers now below radar, switching to E2 picture." Harper's mind was all over the place.

"Here we go, enemy territory up ahead out sixty seconds, Dagger 1." River said. "The decision is yours." A woman the radio talked. "Copy." River said as she took a moment, she then looked at Rooster then ahead. "Dagger attack." River responded.

"Tomahawks airborne." "No turning back now." Warlock commented.

River took a shaky breath and then shook her head. "Daggers, assume final formation." River called out as she pulled ahead while Bob and Phoenix pulled in behind her, then Rooster got behind them as Payback and Fanboy got behind Rooster. "Holy shit this happening." River muttered. "Daggers set proceeding to target, two minutes and thirty seconds... three... two... one.. mark." River called out. "Two mark." "Three mark." "Four mark."

Hondo looked at his pocket watch. Harper sighed. "Please let her come home safe, please." She mumbled

"Going in." River said. River looked up and saw them. "First SAM sight overhead." River told everyone. "Looks like we are clear on radar, River." Phoenix said to her. "Let's not take it for granted." River responded. "More SAMS."

"We got two minutes to target." Bob called out. "Copy, we're a few seconds behind, Rooster we gotta move." Payback called out to Rooster.When River didn't hear Rooster respond, her heart dropped. "Come on Rooster." Harper mumbled.

"30 seconds to tomahawk impact on enemy airstrip." Someone called out. "Dagger and commander, we are picking up two bandits." "Damn it." River muttered. "Where the hell they come from?" Cyclone asked. "They're heading away from us, they don't know we're here." Rooster thinks out loud.

"The second those tomahawks hit their base, they're gonna move to defend their target. We've got to get there before they do, increase speed." River calls out, she didn't want to risk intercepting with those bandits.

"I've got you, River, Don't wait for me." Phoenix states. "Impact. Enemy runway is destroyed." River bit her lip then let out a shaky breath, They know their coming now. "Bandits are switching course to defend the target."

"Rooster, where are you?" River asked. "Come on, Rooster! Bandits inbound, we gotta make up time now!" Payback exclaimed which alarmed River, their farther away then she thought. "Shit." River muttered then she saw the bridge. "Hey, Phoenix, heads up!" She warned as she comes to close to the narrow bridge. Phantom rotated 90 degrees and fit perfectly though it.

"Woah!" River heard Bob. She held in her laugh.

"Ma'am. Bandits are two minutes from target. Daggers are one minute from target." River took a breathe. "Guys, we're falling behind, we really gotta move!!" Fanboy exclaims whiling urging Rooster. "If we don't increase our speed right now, those bandits are going to be waiting for us when we reach the target." Payback adds.

"Talk to me dad." River hears Rooster whisper. Her heart dropped, she bit her lip. "Rooster!" She called out. "Come on Roost, you can do it." She heard Harper's voice talking to Rooster. "Don't think, just do." Maverick says to him. "Please.." She muttered.

"Jesus Rooster! Not that fast!" Both Fanboy and Payback exclaimed. River chuckled in relief. "Thank you!" She exclaimed. "Alright let's go." Rooster said. She smiled. "30 seconds to target. Bob check your laser." River ordered. "Laser is a go!" Bob responded.

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

"Phoenix, stand by for popup strike." River said to Phoenix. "Dagger three, in position." Phoenix calls out. "Popping in 3,2,1." River then pulls up,Her breathe staggers as she flips over and under into the mountain.

"Get me eyes on that target, Bob." River calls out. "Dagger three, Stand by River." He calls out. River bit the inside of her cheek waiting. "Stand by!!" River closed her eyes for a moment. "I've got it, captured!!" He exclaims. "Target acquired, bombs away." River replies as she pressed the button launching the missiles. she pulls up starting the high-g climbout, running on pure adrenaline. River kept her breathing steady and remaining calm to keep from blacking out. "Holy shit." River said as she tried to keep herself from passing out.

"We've got impact!" Bob announces, "Hell yeah! Direct hit! Direct hit!" She exclaimed. "Bullseye Bob!" She called. "Dagger two,status?" River calls out. "Almost there River.. Almost there." Rooster responds to her. "Fanboy, where's my laser." Rooster called out. "Rooster, there's something wrong with this laser!!" He exclaims. "Shit.." River muttered.

"Shit! Deadeye! Deadeye! Deadeye!" Fanboy exclaimed. River worries then she hears Rooster dropping in blind. "No time, pull up." Rooster orders. River shook her head. "Bomb away." He calls out. River held her breathe, for a moment until heard him yell out. "Bullseye! Bullseye! Bullseye!" She heard Rooster. She silently celebrating until she realize their in coffin corner. "Here it comes!" She exclaims as she flies into the SAM's Radar.

"Radar warning, Smoke in the air!" Phoenix, break right!" River exclaimed with panic. "This is real, this is real," She mutter. Panic swept in Harper's heart as he heard her sister panic. She looked over, "There's.... here comes another one!!" She exclaimed.

"Shit!" River exclaimed.

"Rooster, Status!" River calls out as she presses the button to release the flares to get rid of the missiles on her tail. "Oh my god.." Everyone is in real Panic, but they know there's no time to panic and they need to get out of there. "Shit shit." River muttered.

"Smoke in the air! Smoke in the air!"

"Break right, Payback. Break right!"

"Breaking right!"

"Status update, Rooster!"

"Deploying counter missiles."

"Negative contact."

"Dagger one defending."

"Talk to me, Bob!"

"Break right, Phoenix, break right!"

"Nine O'clock!"

"River!"

"Rooster, two more on your sixth!"

"Dagger two defending!"

"Payback! Same on your nose!"

"Dagger four defending!"

"Oh my god!"

"Talk to me Bob!"

"Dagger two defending!"

Harper was trying to stay calm but it was hard when there was utter chaos happening.

"Dagger two Defending!" Rooster announces. "Shit! I'm out of flares!" River panics. "Rooster, evade! Evade!" River exclaims. "I can't shake em. They're on me! They're on me!" He calls out. River didn't think or wait. She pulled up flying over Rooster, fighting off the missiles for him. She got hit and let out a gasp. "River!! No!!" Rooster yelled.

"HARPER!!!!" She screamed out.

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

"NO LANA!!! LANA!!!!" Harper screamed as Hondo and Maverick held onto her. Pain hit everyone in the room. "Dagger One is Hit! I Repeat Dagger One is Hit!" Phoenix yells. "No no, she can't be!" Harper exclaimed as she broke down. "Dagger One Status!" Rooster commands. "RIVER!" He calls out. "Did anyone see her?" Rooster asks. "I didn't see a parachute!" Payback yells.

Coyote shook his head trying to process everything. "I'm going after her!" Rooster orders, only to be stopped. "Negative, not until the enemy pathway is cleared." Cyclone interjects.

Hangman sat trying to get himself together after hearing his girlfriend's scream. He knew Harper was beside herself.

"Permission to assist?" Hangman asked. "Negative, we'll send search and rescue." Cyclone responds. "Damn it." Hangman muttered in frustration.

"Are you shitting!" Harper exclaimed. "Harper!" Maverick exclaimed. She grabbed the mic. "Listen up! I might be a seventeen year old who has been bratty. Listen to me I don't fucking care who, One of you all find River... River is all I have, please find and bring my sister home... Please." Harper said as she dropped to ground and sobbed again. Then Coyote took her out of the room.

Hangman shook his head as he heard Harper's sobbing and pleading. Hangman was trying to keep himself together. Rooster looked ahead. He knew he couldn't go back without River.

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