A Ghost Playing Hangman

six

With the timetable moved up, training moved through the first phase and into two and three fairly quickly. Making the time, dropping the missiles, and not hitting the side of the mountain was near impossible but they said it can be done. Group after group went with little to no success and the frustration was starting to build. The team aspect seemed to be here now, but not even the peppiest person could lift your spirits.

You kept repeating Hangman's words over in your head to let go and not think as much, but it wasn't helping. Nothing you were doing resulted in a complete success. Things went from bad to worse when yourself, Phoenix, and Bob went on your final run through for the day.

You heard Bob mention Maverick flying in the air with us, but you couldn't back off your mission. If it was the real thing, our country would be relying on us to do whatever we needed to do to ensure success. Even if it meant not coming back home. Phoenix told you to keep going and push a little harder, which you agreed with. The group of you made the time needed for the drop, but the missile went wide making it yet another failed attempt. All you could think about was the ice-cold beer that would somehow fix all of your problems later. The group of you kept going to simulate the last part needed until Maverick came out of nowhere.

You heard Phoenix get shot down and pushed your plane to go faster up the steep climb. If you could make it, you would be one of the first to complete phase three and that had to count for something.

You could see where the simulation had you end, but the edges of your vision started to blur. Fighting G-LOC was a losing battle, but the will to keep going through with the assignment was going to be the death of you. Maverick had said something, but your ears couldn't pick up anything other than the high-pitched ringing that seemed to surround you. Just a little further was what you were chanting in your head, but the black edges of your vision started to blend together and there was nothing you could do but give in.

"Ghost pull-up! Ghost!" You jerked in your seat as you heard the chaos that was surrounding you. "Shit!" You pulled up as hard as you could, praying that your plane wouldn't go up in flames on impact. By some unknown miracle, you pulled the massive machine back up and away from the side of the mountain.

"Ghost! Are you good?" Maverick's voice sounded calm, but you knew the older pilot was trying to keep it together for the rest of you.

"Yeah. I'm good." You winced as your voice came out shaky and had to tell yourself to let up some. Your grip on the controls was deathly tight and you could feel some of the adrenaline start to wear off as you made your way back to base.

Trying to control your breathing, you put all your focus on getting yourself back to a state of calm. Easier said than done, but you couldn't let this one mishap get to you. "Bird strike!" You weren't with the others but the voices over the radio had your heart pumping again. "Eject! Eject!" Looking around, you tried to find your teammates in hopes that they could safely eject but found them as soon as the plane crashed into the terrain. "Oh fuck." Through the smoke you couldn't see anything and that feeling of panic was creeping back in.

"I see them. A rescue team is already on their way." You were able to relax a bit at Maverick's statement. This training exercise went from bad to worse and the only thing you wanted was to be back on the ground. Something you thought you would never wish for. Flying was your escape from reality. The one place where you were able to defy all odds and be confident in every move you made. But today felt like a slap in the face. From the panic attack this morning to nearly dying from G-LOC, your mind and body was starting to shut down. Mentally you couldn't take much more.

Walking back into base was a wild experience to say the least. Still coming down from the terror induced flight, seeing concern on people's face was nearly the tipping point of losing your composure. Bradley was the first to you on the tarmac and pulled you in for a tight hug. "Jesus Christ. I didn't think you were going to come out of it in time."