Heart of Steel: B. Bradshaw

Two: Briefing

Steely woke up the next morning tired as hell. She didn't get much sleep last night as her interactions with Bradley continued replaying in her head. When and how did he get so hot, she was definitely going to have to keep her distance for the sake of her underwear. Steely sat up and scrubbed her hands across her face before she whipped the blanket off her body and padded into her bathroom. A cold shower will do the trick.

Once she had finished getting ready her mood had shifted, she was completely buzzing at the thought of returning to Top Gun. Neil sat in the passenger seat of her Bronco, the sound of traffic filled the space of the car.

"Who do you think is going to be the instructor?" Neil asked, propping his feet on the dashboard before turning to the brunette.

"50 bucks it's Maverick," she smirked, laying out her palm in his direction.

"Cyclone would rather pole dance in a easter bunny costume than let Maverick back as an instructor," Neil scoffed knowing it would never happen. He slapped his hand on her palm solidifying their bet.

"Why are you so sure pretty boy?"

"Do you remember when we were in Top Gun, it was probably our second week there and Shooter asked why Maverick wasn't there teaching because he was "the best pilot out there," Neil mocked his voice "And Cyclone's vein popped out of his forehead and we were grounded from flying the next day?"

"Yes Shooter thought Cyclone was going to smother him in his sleep!" Steely cackled remembering the permanent on-guard state Shooter was in for the rest of their time there.

"I don't think he opened his mouth again until graduation," the two were stuck in a fit of giggles as they pulled into a parking spot at the base.

Steely zipped the top of her flight suit as she entered the training room with Omaha by her side. There were chairs sat in the room with a small walkway between the middle. Steely and Neil took a seat in the row in front of Phoenix and Bob. The two girls struck up a conversation as they waited for more people to arrive.

"Omaha and I made a bet on who's going to be the instructor," Steely added to the conversation.

Phoenix smiled at her and tapped on Bob's shoulder pulling his attention to the brewing bet. It now consisted of $250 and as the clock grew closer to start time each of the pilots sat on the edge of their seats to see who would become $250 richer. Once all the seats were filled and the air was full of chatter two people entered the room.

"Attention on deck!" someone called and everyone rushed to stand. Cyclone and another person entered the room, The mystery man then began to speak.

"Good morning, welcome to your special training detachment. Be seated," the sound of chairs being pushed forward was the only thing heard as all the pilots took their seats.

"I'm Admiral Bates, everyone here is a Top Gun graduate. The elite. The best of the best," Admiral Bates paused. "That was yesterday, the enemy's new 5th generation fighter has leveled the playing field. Details are few but you can be sure that we no longer posses the technological advances. Success, now more than ever comes down to the man or woman in the box."

Steely watched as Hangman turned his head and gave Phoenix and Steely a look. Phoenix brought her middle finger up to the side of her face and Steely had to stop herself from laughing. The admiral continued his speech as he swept his eyes across the room looking at all the pilots in front of him.

"Half of you will make the cut, one of you will be named mission leader. The other half will remain in reserve. Your instructor is a Top Gun graduate with real world experience in every mission aspect you will be excepted to master."

Steely leaned back in her seat and jabbed her elbow into Omahas side. He scrunched up his face and whipped his head back to the sound of the door opening. He groaned quietly as Steely flashed him a victory smirk.

"He is considered to be one of the finest pilots this program has ever produced. What he has to teach you may very well be the difference between life and death. I give you Captain Pete Mitchell, callsign Maverick."

The room shifted into a few different reactions. Steely was happy because she just won the bet. Bob, Omaha, and Phoenix were the opposite, and somewhere in the back of the room a certain pilot could be heard grinding his teeth out of pure frustration.

Once Maverick got to the front of the podium and turned to face the front of the group he found Steely's eyes and gave her a quick wink. Pete was a good friend of her fathers so she was happy for him but she was also a little nervous because as much as she liked Pete Mitchell he was not cut out to be a instructor.

"The F-18 NATOPS contains everything they want you to know about your aircrafts," Maverick tapped the front of his book while gesturing to the men on his left. "I assume you know this book from the inside out?"

A few "hell yeahs!" and "damn straights!" could be heard throughout the room. Maverick smiled before picking up the book and slamming it into a trash can beside him. Steely watched in mild confusion as he tuned to address the room once more.

"So does your enemy, but what the enemy doesn't know is your weaknesses. And I intend to find them. Break them, and push beyond the limits. Today we start with what you think you know. Show me what you are made of."

Steely's face broke out into a excited smile, she grinned up at Omaha. This mission was going to interesting to say the least.