It's been an honor

Sparrow had a somewhat of a sleepless night, but she did get enough rest that she needed.

"You alright?" She looked over at her father. "Stressed, worry.... all of the above." Sparrow said. Then Wolfman pulled his daughter into a hug. "You'll be fine... I know it." Wolfman assured her.

Then Warlock came up to the two of them. "I don't mean to break a tender moment Wolfman, we need Sparrow." Warlock said. Sparrow nodded which her father nodded then patted her on the shoulder before she walked off with Warlock.

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

"It's been an honor flying with you. Each of you represents the best of the best. Which this mission only few can go, this was a difficult choice to make but this decision was solely based off of who would not only be able to handle the mission but to get the mission done." Maverick explained. Sparrow took a breathe then sighed silently.

"Choose your two foxtrot teams." The Admiral starts, nobody moving a muscle. "Payback and Fanboy, Phoenix and Bob." Maverick starts. Phoenix and Bob looked at each other in response. Payback and Fanboy continued to look forward. "And your two wing men." Maverick looked at Rooster then at Sparrow, which caused the woman's brows to furrow in confusion.

"Rooster and Sparrow." Maverick replied. "The rest of you will stand by on the carrier for any reserve role that's required. Dismissed." Admiral said.

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

They decided time to target would be two minutes and thirty seconds, she was a little relieved but still worried. Sparrow was walking to her plane, she saw Hangman, she was expecting the snarky comment coming but instead he puts a hand on her shoulder. "Give em' hell, Sparrow!" He tells her. She notices a hint of worry in his voice. "Believe me, I will, every one else will as well!" She exclaimed.

She sighed as she then approached Rooster. She noticed her best friend was worried. "Hey.... we got this buddy, your dad would be so proud of you." Sparrow assured him. He looked at her and smiled. "Thanks, I bet your dad is proud and your mom would be." He said to her and she smiled at him. "Yeah, My dad is nervous and thanks, I wish my mom was here." Sparrow said. Then he pulled her into a hug. "Please come home safe, I can't lose my best friend." He said and she nodded. "You too." Sparrow said as she pulled away. She saw Maverick, "You go talk to Maverick." "Yeah and you go talk to lover boy." Rooster said and Sparrow looked at him. "Don't act like we don't know Sparrow." Rooster said as he teased her. He patted her shoulder then walked to Maverick. She approached Fanboy.

He looked at her. "I guess we are both facing danger today." Sparrow said. "Yeah.... you stay safe out there." He tells her. "You too." She said as he pulled her into a hug.

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

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

"Dagger spare, standing by." Hangman announces.

"Dagger 5, up and ready." Sparrow announced.

"Dagger 4, up and ready."

"Dagger 3, up and ready."

"Dagger 2, up and ready."

Sparrow's engine roared, she signaled the crew as she was ready for take off. Then she took off right after Maverick and went off quick, flew up. She looked straight ahead moment then turned to look at the sky. "Would you look at this view.... hey mom." Sparrow said.

"Dagger 2 away." The woman called out as Cyclone, Warlock , Maverick along with Hondo stared at the screen. "Dagger 3 away." ... "Dagger 4 away."

Sparrow 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?" Maverick called out. She listened closely for further instructions from Maverick, "Copy, Daggers descending below radar." Maverick responded as he began to descend his plane as Sparrow and the others followed. He looked back both directions then looked forward again.

"Daggers now below radar, switching to E2 picture."

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

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

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

Hondo looked at his pocket watch. Wolfman sat there, anxiously.

"Going in." Maverick said. Maverick looked up and saw them. "First SAM sight overhead." Maverick told everyone. "Looks like we are clear on radar, Maverick." Phoenix said to him. "Let's not take it for granted." Sparrow 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 Sparrow didn't hear Rooster respond, her heart dropped. "Stay calm back there Roost." Sparrow muttered loud enough for him to hear.

"30 seconds to tomahawk impact on enemy airstrip." Someone called out. "Dagger and commander, we are picking up two bandits." "You got to be shittin me." Sparrow 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." Maverick calls out. Sparrow knew he didn't want them to intercept those bandits

"I've got you, Sparrow and Mav, Don't wait for me." Phoenix states. "Impact. Enemy runway is destroyed." Sparrow bit her lip, They know their coming now. "Bandits are switching course to defend the target."

"Rooster, where are you?" Red asked. "Come on, Rooster! Bandits inbound, we gotta make up time now!" Payback exclaimed which alarmed Sparrow, "He's behind." Sparrow muttered, Then Maverick looked ahead and he saw the bridge. "Hey, Sparrow and Phoenix, heads up!" Maverick warned as he comes to close to the narrow bridge. Maverick rotated 90 degrees and fit perfectly though it.

"Holy!" Sparrow said as she rotated 90 degrees and Phoenix.

"Sir. Bandits are two minutes from target. Daggers are one minute from target." Sparrow 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." Sparrow hears Rooster whisper. Her heart dropped, she bit her lip. "Rooster!" She called out. "Come on kid, you can do it." She heard Maverick's voice talking to Rooster. "Rooster please speed up, please!" She exclaimed her voice croaked as panic set in. "Don't think, just do." Maverick says to him.

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

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

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

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

"We've got impact!" Bob announces, "Hell yeah! Direct hit! Direct hit!" She exclaimed. "Bullseye Bob!" She called. "Great job Sparrow!" Maverick called out. "Dagger two,status?" Sparrow calls out. "Almost there Sparrow.. Almost there." Rooster responds to her. "Fanboy, where's my laser." Rooster called out. "Rooster, there's something wrong with this laser!!" He exclaims. "Gotta be shitting me right now, you got this Fanboy!" Sparrow exclaimed.

"Shit! Deadeye! Deadeye! Deadeye!" Fanboy exclaimed. Sparrow worries then she hears Rooster dropping in blind. "No time, pull up." Rooster orders. Sparrow shook her head. "Bomb away." He calls out. Sparrow 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. "Holy Shit! Here it comes!" She exclaims as she flies into the SAM's Radar.

"Radar warning, Smoke in the air!" Phoenix and Sparrow, break right!" Maverick exclaimed. "This is real, this is real," Sparrow muttered. She looked over, "There's.... here comes another one, Holy shit!!" She exclaimed.

"Rooster, Status!" Sparrow 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. "Damn it!" Sparrow exclaimed.

"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!"

"Sparrow! Break left!"

"Dagger Five defending!"

"Nine O'clock!"

"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!"

"GAH!" Sparrow exclaimed as she defended Maverick. "Shit shit!" Sparrow exclaimed more. Then she saw Rooster had some on his trail.

"Dagger two Defending!" Rooster announces. "Shit! I'm out of flares!" Sparrow panics. "Rooster, evade! Evade!" Sparrow exclaims. "I can't shake em. They're on me! They're on me!" He calls out. Sparrow didn't think or wait. She pulled up flying over Rooster, fighting off the missiles for him. Before she knew her and Maverick got hit.

..........