Fly High and Go Far

ROOSTER-Chapter Eleven: Stealth and Dogfighting

Morning of the mission came around and everyone was high alert as they stood there.  Sammy stood right next to Phoenix and Bob with Rooster to the other side with Fanboy and Payback.

  "Morning everyone," Cyclone announced to the entire group of sailors and aviators standing in the hangar bay.  "Today is the day of the mission we all have been training for.  Our brief will be short.  Get in, get out.  And come home safely, do we understand?" He looked at everyone, eyes settling on Sammy.

  "Yes, sir," everyone spoke in unison.

  "Great.  With team leader being Lieutenant Commander Kazansky, Dagger Two as Lieutenant Bradshaw, Dagger Three with Lieutenants Trace and Floyd, and Dagger Four with Lieutenants Fitch and Garcia, the rest of you are on standby.  You will only launch when we say so.  As for the daggers, you four will launch one after another, only allowing time for the steam from the reactor to build up, which is about thirteen seconds.  Are we all clear on our jobs?"

  "Yes, sir!"

  "Good, let's get to it.  Remember, get in, get out."

  The group of six headed up to the flight deck, ready in their flight suits, flight gear, and everything else they needed for the next hour, heading to their respective plane.  Sammy looked at Phoenix as she and Bob headed to their jet.

  "Just like the good times," Sammy yelled.  Phoenix looked at her friend who smiled at her.

  "Just like the good times."

  Kazansky headed to her plane, saluting the Chief that stood there.  She shook his hand and spoke to him, strictly about business.  After the preliminary was done, she got into her plane and situated herself in the one-seater.  She looked over at her name and smiled upon seeing LDCR replacing the original LT.  Tapping her last name with her hand like usual, she smiled to herself.

  "Thank you, Dad," she told herself, snapping out of it quickly when she saw Rooster come running up to her plane.  She didn't hear a single word he yelled out, as he ran up to her plane, but he stood there, looking up at her.

  "Remember my promise," he yelled up.  Sammy smiled and nodded.

  "Remember mine," she yelled back.  He stood there for a split second before running to his plane.  Sammy flipped a switch and her canopy closed on her.  She placed her face mask on and began to get the plane ready to launch.

  "Dagger One, do you copy?" The tower replied, upon her ready for launch.

  "Dagger One, copy," she replied back.

  "Dagger One, you are clear for takeoff," the controllers replied from the bridge.  Sammy gently pushed her throttle, following the folks on the runway, lining her up with the launch mechanisms.  She looked over at Rooster, who watched his significant other line up first, then at Phoenix and Bob, who held up their thumbs up at her as they waited for launch.  Sammy lined up perfectly and looked ahead.

  "Dagger One, in position," Sammy said into her mic, knowing everyone could hear her from the other cockpits.

  "Dagger One, clear," the tower responded.  "Good luck, ma'am."  And with that, Sammy started up her engines, quickly making sure her wing flaps worked and with a clearance from the runway, she gunned it off.  With a jerk and a jolt off of the carrier, she was airborne.

  "Dagger Two, clear.  Dagger Three, clear.  Dagger Four, clear."

  The group of daggers grouped up with each other, checking in with the E-2 radar patrol plane, before descending towards the ocean.  Sammy stared out to the side, only fifty feet above the water.