Two miracles

Sparrow sat by the window thought about last night, The conversation she had with Fanboy and the thoughts that kept circling her mind.

Well that was interrupted went Maverick and Admiral Bates came through the door then made their way towards the front, everyone had eyes towards the front.

"The uranium enrichment plant will be operational earlier than expected. Raw uranium will be delivered to the plant in ten days' time. As a result, the mission has moved up one week." Admiral Bates explained to everyone. Sparrow and Phoenix looked at each other.

"Sir, no one here has successfully flown a low-level course." Coyote stated. "Nevertheless, you've been ordered to move on." Admiral Bates responded before Maverick took his spot up front.

"We have one week left to focus on phase two; it is the most difficult stage of the mission. It's a pop-up strike with a deep dive requiring nothing less than two consecutive miracles." Maverick said. A simulation appeared on the screen behind Maverick. It showed the inverted dive that two single and two double F-18s would be required to make to reach the target.

"Your target is an impact point less then three meters wide. The two-seat will mark the target with the laser bullseye. This will allow the single to drop a guided bomb into the reactor through an exposed ventilation hatch. This creates the opening the second pair. That's miracle number one. The second team will deliver the kill shot to destroy the target. That's miracle number two. If either team misses the target, the mission is a failure." Maverick explained.

The screen behind Maverick changed to display the required steep climb out of the mountain or as Maverick referred to it as Coffin Corner.

"A climb at that speed will have you pulling at least 8 Gs." Hangman guessed. "Nine, Minimum." Maverick responded. "The stress limit of an F-18 airframe is 7.5 Gs." Rooster noted.

"That is the accepted limit. To survive this mission, you will need to pull beyond that even if it means bending your airframe. You'll be pulling so hard, that you'll weigh close to two thousand pounds. Your skull will feel like it's crushing your spine and your lungs will implode like an elephant sitting on your chest, fighting with everything you have to keep from blacking out and this is where you'll be most vulnerable." Maverick explained. Sparrow bit the inside of her cheek as she stared at the screen.

"Assuming you avoid crashing into this mountain. You'll climb straight into enemy radar while losing all airspeed. Within seconds, you'll be fired upon by enemy SAMs. It'll be a dogfight all the way home." Maverick explained as he pointed to screen.

"This is going to take you and your aircraft to a breaking point." Maverick added. "Sir, is this achievable?" Phoenix asked, this was on Sparrow's mind as well. "The answer to that question will come down to the pilot in the box." Maverick responded to her.

"Pilots, prepare for take for take off. You've been briefed on phase two, time to give it run." Admiral Simpson said to from the back. Everyone headed to the locker room.

...........

"Shit.. shit!" Sparrow said as she parked her plane. Bob and Phoenix were taken to the hospital. "This can't be happening ... damn it!" She exclaimed as she hopped out. "Sparrow!" Hondo exclaimed but she took off running until she ran into someone's arms. It was Fanboy.

"Hey hey.. everything will be alright." Fanboy assured her. "It was scary." Sparrow said as she then wrapped her arms around him and he held onto her. "They are tough, they are fine." Fanboy said. Sparrow hummed.

"Gotta find Rooster." Sparrow said as she took off. "Hey!" Fanboy exclaimed and she turned around. "I was thinking if sometime... me and you can go on a..." Fanboy said but Sparrow finished. "A date?"

He smiled a bit. "Yeah.. date." He said. Sparrow smiled a bit. "I would like that." Sparrow said with a smile.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Fanboy said and Sparrow nodded then went off to find Rooster.

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

Sparrow looked at the window while Rooster sat on the bench. "They'll be fine." Rooster assured her. "I know but I can't help but worry." Sparrow replied. Maverick walked into the room He was in. "Phoenix and Bob are in the hospital, Few scratches and bruises but they'll be fine." Maverick informed Rooster. "That's good." Rooster said. He sniffed. "I've never lost anyone and I don't know if I could handle it." He explained. His voice was strained.

"Well you can rest now... both of you" Maverick said instead. He didn't know how to answer his question. "That's not what I meant." Rooster said couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You think it's so easy huh? You have no one to mourn you, that must be sad. No wife, no kids, no friends." Maverick sighed and said "Go home, get some rest you two." then Sparrow turned to face the two but Sparrow knew that Rooster was about ready to blow a fuse.

"Why did you pull my papers out of the academy!" Rooster yelled at him. Sparrow sighed. "Rooster." Maverick said calmly. "You had no right!" Rooster growled through his teeth.. "You think you know anything about me?" Rooster then asked. Maverick looked at him sternly. "Oh I do." He said to Rooster. "Seeming that lately your anger has done nothing but make me understand why I did it! You aren't ready! I tell you why? You think too much! Don't think! because if you think up there, you're dead, believe me." Maverick explained to him.

Sparrow sighed. "Why did you do it... would you have done it to me?" Sparrow questioned him out of nowhere. He didn't answer her. "I understand you thought you did this to protect him.... but Maverick, you set him back four years... question is would you have done the same to me?" Sparrow questioned. He was silent once again. Sparrow scoffed. "Should I be surprise that you would've done the same to me." Sparrow said before the room filled with Silence before Rooster broke it.

"My dad believe in you, I'm not gonna make the same mistake." Rooster said to him.

Then the door knocked, Maverick went an answered. Sparrow sighed.