Legacies •Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw•

Chapter 15

"Dagger One is hit! I repeat Dagger One is hit!" Phoenix was shouting over the comms, as she watched her mission leader's jet hit the side of the mountain, "Winter is down." Everyone in the comms room was dead silent. Maverick and Iceman were in complete shock, both trying to process what they just heard. "Dagger One, status," Rooster ordered, "status!" But it was complete radio silence on Winter's end. "Anyone see her? Does anyone see her?" Bradley repeated. "Dagger One, come in!"

"I didn't see a parachute," Payback responded. "We have to circle back," Rooster pleaded. "Comanche. Bandits inbound. Single group, hot. Recommend Dagger flow south. One minute till intercept," Comanche informed. Cyclone was silent for a moment, he had to make a choice, risking the rest of the team, or the pilot who chose to sacrifice herself, if she was even still alive, which was unlikely. "Get 'em back to the carrier now," Cyclone ordered. "All Daggers flow to ECP. You have bandits headed for you," the officer informed. Iceman and Maverick's heads both shot up at the command. "Excuse me?" Iceman said. "What about Winter?" Rooster asked in disbelief through the comms. "There's nothing they can do for Winter, not in a goddamn F-18," Cyclone said frustratedly, he hated his command. "Dagger Spare request permission to launch and fly air cover," Hangman's voice rang through the comms as he was preparing his jet to save his friends. Cyclone only shook his head at the request, which led to the officer denying the request.

"Launch search and rescue," Warlock ordered. "Negative. Not with bandits in the air," Cyclone denied. Iceman slammed his fist against the desk, "my kid is still out there!"

"Sir, Winter is still-" Maverick started but Cyclone cut him off, "we are not losing anyone else today. Get 'em home now."

"Dagger, you are not to engage. Repeat, do not engage," the officer informed. Iceman stormed out of the room, unable to stay in there any longer, waiting for everyone else to come home except his daughter.

"Dagger Two, return to the carrier. Acknowledge. Acknowledge," the officer repeated. "Rooster, those bandits are closing. We can't go back," Phoenix said. "Rooster, she's gone. Winter's gone," Bob added. At that moment, all the memories of his best friend flashed through his mind. He had already abandoned her once. Could he do it again?

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Everything felt silent, cold, and dark; Winter slowly opened her eyes, looking around at the unfamiliar surroundings. She pulled her mask off carefully, dropping it beside her. "Why am I still alive?" She breathed out as she sat up. Before she could process anything, she could hear a muffled sound not too far in the distance. Out from the trees appeared a chopper, headed her way, "oh, shit," she mumbled as she quickly got up. She tried to run but tripped from her parachute still being attached. She cursed the parachute as she unhooked it and began to run. The chopper opened fire just as she threw herself over a fallen over a tree trunk and ducked for cover. The firing paused for just a second, and before she knew it the chopper was right in front of her. It was preparing to fire again, but before it could; the helicopter exploded. Winter flinched as it did but quickly stood up, to see a jet fly through the smoke. "Bradley, no, no, no," she whispered in realization. As Bradley, flew through the air, it triggered one of the remaining SAMs, launching a missile at his jet. "No!" She yelled as she watched the missile make contact with the jet, but there was a slight moment of relief when she saw a parachute; so she began to run in the direction it was falling.

"Dagger Two is hit. Dagger Two is hit," the coms officer informed. "Dagger Two come in" they tried but no response. Maverick stood there for a moment in disbelief, he swallowed hard before walking out of the comms room. As he marched on, trying to find his friend, Ice appeared in one of the halls, dressed in his flight suit, helmet in hand. Maverick furrowed his eyebrows, "Ice-"