Compromise-Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw-

Chapter Thriteen

"Easy on the incline Femur. If you go too fast you'll G-Lock and then you'll be a liability." I warned one of the new recruits as we practiced a dogfighting maneuver.

"Copy. Sorry Stitch." He apologized, his jet slowing down. I flew in beside him, glancing over. His helmet was black with a white bone across the top, one I assumed was a femur.

"Don't apologize. This is why we practice." I encouraged. "Now I want you to do a swan dive." I added. I seen him nod, before the nose of his jet pointed straight down and he started to do a large spiral down. He pulled up at 1000 feet, leveling out.

"Made that look easy." Hex commented. He was in the air with Track on his left. "Gonna have to watch out for these kids Stitch, they'll take our jobs out from under our noses." He joked with a short chuckle.

"We wouldn't dream of it sir." Track said. I chuckled.

"it's time to head back to base." I said, turning my jet around. Femur came up to my side, before Hex and Track fell in line with us. We flew back with little talk over the comms. Once we were back on the ground, I noticed Admiral Charles Audrey. He ran our base, often assigning my team out. He was a tall man with a round tummy. His once's brown hair was grey and his dark brown eyes always had a tired expression to them.

"We must have an assignment." Hex commented, taking his helmet off as he approached me. Track was behind him. Track was a 24 year old man with long brown hair he had in a Navy grade bun. His eyes were brown and his skin tanned from the copious amount of time we spent in the sun. He was about 5'7", shorter then Hex.

Femur came up beside me, his helmet in his hands. He had short blonde hair, with bright green eyes. He was 26, and about 6'3". The two recruits were opposite in many ways, besides their initial appearance.

"I guess so." I agreed, before leading the men over to the admiral. Approaching, I stood at attention. "Sir." I greeted.

"At ease lieutenants." He said, we all relaxed some. "You have an assignment." He said, I nodded.

"What is it?" I asked.

"You've been requested to join a team at Topgun."

"Requested sir?" Hex asked, sounding confused. We were normally requested by most teams, though it was rare the admiral accepted. Usually we were recruited for a mission or told we had to go. If we left, it meant the admirals had talked and decided it was safer for the team we'd be joining. A request meant the team leader asked and the admirals accepted.

"Yes, Requested by name." Admiral Audrey answered, I furrowed my brows.

"Stitch and hex?" I asked, he shook his head.

"Sadie and Isaac." He clarified. "After a discussion with the other party involved, we decided it was safer to send your whole team, instead of just the two of you." He explained, I nodded.

"Who requested?" I asked.

"A captain Pete Mitchell and lieutenant Bradley Bradshaw. I understand you worked with them during your last mission." The admiral said. I felt my heart jump at the mention of Roosters name. It had been three months since we left, and I hadn't seen any of them since. Phoenix had stayed in contact, but mostly because she had my number. A part of me regretted not giving rooster my number, but I had also enjoyed the time apart, as it helped ground me.

"What is the mission?" I asked.

"They wanted to brief you in person. They're leaving Topgun docks tonight, so you'll meet up with them tomorrow. I'll give you the headings and the six of you will fly out. Leave for 0900." Admiral Audrey explained. I nodded.