❝good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, these are your saviors speaking❞



𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐑 𝐃𝐄𝐂𝐊, 𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐂𝐄𝐀𝐍. She gazed out, the salt air cooling against her skin against the suns warmth. The pit of dread was back in her stomach. She fiddled with her flight suit zipper, a nervous habit picked up from high school. She'd already said her goodbyes, just in case. Damn this mission for bringing out the pessimist in her.

The team flooded into a room, lining up in order. Anticipation flooded the room as they awaited the decision. Maverick stood at the front, looking at the sea of faces.

"It has been an honor flying with you. Each one of you represents the best of the best. This is a very specific mission, my choice is a reflection of that and nothing more." Maverick stood at the front, looking out at the sea of serious faces. There was a sense of anticipation, somberness, as they awaited the decision. Harper glanced at Hangman, whose expression was unreadable.

"Choose your two foxtrot teams." Cyclones voice pierced the silence, standing beside Maverick.

"Payback and Fanboy." Their jaws tensed, faces set in resolve. "Phoenix and Bob." Harper glanced at the two pairs, whose gaze were focused on the ground. She couldn't imagine what they were feeling, shock, determination, fear.

"And your wingman."

"Rooster."

Harper's shoulders sunk, some of the tension leaving her. She glanced at Rooster, who looked almost surprised, then focused her gaze on the ground.

"The rest of you will stand by on the carrier for any reserved role thats required. Dismissed."

The others flooded out, patting the selected on the back or fist bumping. Harper couldn't help but throw her arms around Phoenix, then immediately froze. She cleared her throat, pulling away and offering Phoenix a reassuring smile, trying to be professional. She patted Bob on the shoulder, fist bumped Payback and Fanboy, and offered Rooster a nod.

"Your target is a clear and present threat." Harper stood with the others under the deck. A small crowd gathered between two planes, focusing on the screen in front of them with Warlock's directions. There wasn't much lights, shadows falling over the faces of others.

"A secret uranium enrichment site under rogue state control. Its an underground bunker, tucked between these two mountains. Your route of ingress is heavily defended by surface-to-air missles backed up by fifth generation fights. Once your F-18 strike team crosses the border, tomahawk missiles from the USS Leyte Gulf will launch a synchronized strike on the enemy's airfield here. This will knock out their runway. But you'll have to contend with any planes already in the air. The moment those tomahawks hit, the enemy will know you're coming."

Harper stared at the people sent: Rooster, Phoenix, Bob, Payback, Fanboy, and Maverick. Each had that same somber look on their face.

"Your time to target will be two minutes and 30 seconds. Any longer than that and you will be exposed to any aircraft hte tomahawks may have missed. This is what you've all been training for." The rumble of engines sounded from above.

"Come home safely."

The wind blew strands of her hair out of her bun. She weaved her way through the bustling deck, past the people getting the planes ready. Radio chatter and the rumble of engines surrounded her. Harper made her way over to Maverick, beside his plane with his helmet in hand.

"I wanted to say, its been an honor sir." She shouted over the sound of engines and radio chatter, looking at the man who had mentored her, at the man she helped at the Hard Deck, who started this whole Set It Up Operation.

"I never got to say thank you." Maverick shouted, a gleam in his eyes. The corner of his eyes crinkled.

"For what?" Harper chuckled, confusion evident in her tone. Maverick smiled and patted her on the shoulder, making his way over to his plane. She turned around, staring at him walking away. Her brows knitted in confusion, puzzled. She turned away and bid the Dagger Squad a good luck or farewell.

The canopies of the planes lowered. It was now or never.

"Dagger One, up and ready on Catapult One." Maverick's voice rang out through the com.

"Dagger Spare standing by." Harper's eyes flickered to Hangman.

"Dagger Four, up and ready." Phoenix and Bob said.

"Dagger Three, up and ready."Payback and Fanboy affirmed.

"Dagger Spare standing by." Harper inhaled, anticipation building up as she sat in the cockpit.

"Dagger Two, up and ready." Rooster.

"Standing by for launch decision."

"Send them." The blaze of heat from the engines filled the tarmac, the sound that cleared her thoughts sent vibrations through the deck, the click as each of them lifted off the runway.

She watched her friends fade into the horizon, towards the mission and their possible death.

"We've got impact! Check, direct hit! Direct hit!" Bob's voice rang out. Harper sighed in relief, slumping against her seat in the cockpit. Miracle number one.

The laser dead eyed, Rooster dropped blind.

"Bulls-eye, bull's-eye, bull's eye!" Miracle number two. Harper smiled brightly, some of the tension lifted.

The planes lifted, heading towards Coffin Corner. Soon, the rushed and stressed voices of the Dagger squad filled the room.

"Smoke in the air!" Flares and explosions filled the air, the planes weaving in an uncoordinated dance trying to dodge missiles. Dives and twists pressed the Gs on the aircraft. Chatter from the radio grew louder and louder. The snowy mountains witnessed the chaos that unfolded, SAMS continuing to fly towards the aircraft's.

"Dagger Two defending." Rooster hit the button on the side of his aircraft, but there was an empty click. The SAMs neared his aircraft, despite the turns to shake them.

"Shit, I'm out of flares!" Rooster's panicked voice rang out.

"Rooster, evade, evade!" Maverick's voice interrupted, a desperate undertone in his voice.

"I can't shake 'em! They're on me! They're on me!" Harper's fists clenched, feeling a sense of dread at Rooster's tone.

In a split second, Maverick pulled up his aircraft. His plane cascaded over Roosters, flares releasing to form a shield. Explosions sounded in the air, an aftermath of smoke. Rooster shouted as he watched Mav take the blow, the tail of his aircraft catching on fire.

"Mav, no!" Rooster yelled. Maverick's fiery aircraft descended towards the mountains, disppearing from view.

"Dagger one is hit! I repeat, Dagger One is hit! Maverick is down" Phoenix shouted through the radio. Harper's eyes widened, a sinking feeling in her chest. Maverick was gone. Shock filled her, grief on the overhead.

"Dagger One, come in!" The remaining planes followed eachother, weaving through the mountains. Rooster attempted to reach Maverick, to sight him, but it was no use.

"I didn't see a parachute." Payback sighed. Grief hit Harper, blinking back tears.

"We have to circle back." Rooster insisted, but it was too late.

"Comanche. Bandits inbound. Single group, hot. Recommend Dagger flow south. One minute to intercept."

"Get them back to the carrier." Cyclone ordered in the blue lit room.

"All Daggers flow to ECP. You have bandits headed for you." The order sounded through the coms.

"What about Maverick?" Rooster protested.

"Tell him theres nothing he can do for Maverick, not in a godamn F-18." Cyclone sighed. Harper's jaw clenched in determination.

"Dagger Spare request permission to launch and fly air cover." Hangman's voice sounded over the radio. The woman turned to Cyclone, who shook his head.

"Negative, Spare." Hangman threw his radio away. Harper cursed in anger.

"Launch Search and Rescue." Warlock insisted beside Cyclone.

"Negative, not with bandits in the air." Cyclone responded.

"But sir, Maverick is still out there!" Hondo protested.

"We are not losing anyone else today." With Cyclones words, the hope for Maverick was lost. Cyclone turned to the woman. "Get them home now."

"Dagger, you are not to engage. Repeat, do not engage."

"Dagger Two, return to carrier. Acknowledge." Rooster's breath came in short gasps, his mind torn between the decision he was about to make. "Acknowledge."

"Rooster, those bandits are closing. We can't go back." Phoenix stated, regret in her tone.

"Rooster, hes gone." Bob mumbled. Rooster blinked, eyebrows furrowing. "Maverick's gone."

Rooster stayed silent, breathing heavily. His wandering eyes fixed on what laid ahead. He knew what he had to do. And Harper knew, once Rooster went radio silent, what he was about to do.

The helicopter's guns locked on a snow covered Maverick. Maverick looked up, preparing for his death.

Suddenly, the helicopter exploded in a ball of fire in smoke, crumpling to the snow covered ground. The rush of air sounded as a plane flew by, catching Maverick's gaze.

"Oh, no, no." Maverick's eyes locked on Rooster. The SAMs released from their hold, a warning alarm beeping on Rooster's screen.

Maverick watched in horror as Rooster's aircraft was hit by the SAM, a trail of smoke in the air. His aircraft descended towards the forest.

"Dagger Two is hit. Dagger Two is hit" Harper gasped softly, grief filling her. Her heart was racing, thoughts empty, taken by the shock.

They were gone.

A dot flickered on the monitor.

"Sir, we're receiving a signal from Rooster's ESAT. But there seems to be a malfunction" A sign of hope.

"He's airborne." Warlock announced in surprise.

"In what?" Cyclone's brows furrowed.

"Sir, Overwatch reports an F-14 Tomcat is airborne and on course for our position."

"It cant be, it can't be." Warlock muttered in shock. Recognition and surprise crossed Cyclone's face.

"Maverick." And just like that, hope overtook the grief. Harper's eyes widened in shock, a sinking realization that they could be alive, that they could make it home. In the blue lit room, Cyclone, Warlock, and Hondo stood watching the monitor, watching as Maverick and Rooster neared the carrier.

Harper waited and waited, oblivious to what their journey entailed. In the air, Rooster and Maverick engaged and fought for their life.

The flares and ammo ran out. Their desperate fight was already coming to an end, gunshots littered their aircraft.

"Rooster, theres no other way." Maverick pulled the joystick towards him, sending the F-14 towards the sun.

The sun was setting, golden light reflecting off the ocean surface. The Tomcat flew towards the sky, their enemy closing on them.

"Rooster, pull the handle! Eject!" Mav urged. The target lock beep rang out, signaling the enemy had them. This was it.

Rooster desperately pulled on the handles but it was no use. "It's not working!" He yelled in panic.

The two accepted their fate as they flew towards the sky, the target lock signaling their journey was about to be over.

"I'm sorry Goose." Mav whispered. The enemy locked on them. They braced themselves for the impact.

An explosion sounded behind them, fire in the air. Their heads whipped around to see the fifth generation fighter destroyed.

Two planes emerged out of the smoke.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. These are your saviors speaking." Smiles erupted on Maverick and Roosters' faces, relief in their eyes.

"Please fasten your seat belts, return your tray tables to their locked and upright positions and prepare for landing." Harper added, a smile making its way to her face. Mav and Rooster smiled as Hangman and Harper's planes surfaced next to them.

"Hey Hangman, you look good." Rooster quipped, earning a groan from Harper.

"I am good Rooster, I'm very good."

"Good to see you Sunny." Rooster smiled.

"Just had to boost his ego didn't you?" Harper scolded Rooster, but she was smiling. Her smile widened at the nod and thumbs up from Maverick.

"I'll see you back on deck." Hangman's plane broke away from the two. Harper gave the two one last smile and followed Hangman.