Poison || Jake Seresin - TGM

06 | D is for dangerous

song for the chapter
D is for Dangerous, Arctic Monkeys

"Time is your greatest enemy." Maverick steps forward in front of the group of aviators all sitting in front of him. Behind him, a lot screen showing a timer.

"Phase one of the mission will be a low-level ingress attacking in two-plane teams." As he spoke a graphic of a canyon came up on screen.

"You'll fly along the narrow canyon go your target. Radar guided surface to air missiles defend the area. These SAMs, lethal."

Maverick's voice trails off as Danielle's thoughts take over her head. Flying into the canyon? He's insane.

"On the day, your altitude will be one hundred feet maximum. You exceed this altitude...radar will spot you, and you're dead."

"Jesus." Danielle mumbles, making Rooster turn to look at her. She looks at him and shakes her head looking back up front.

"Your airspeed will be 660 knots, minimum. Time to target, two and a half minutes. That's because fifth generation fighters wait at an airbase nearby. In a head to head with these planes in your F-18s, you're dead."

"That's why you need to get in, hit your target and be gone before these planes even have s chance of catching you. This makes time your greatest adversary."

Maverick had split the group into teams to simulate flying through the canyon. Of course, Danielle and Razor were paired with Hangman.

As the three walked out into the tarmac they were all silent. Hangman was about to speak until Danielle cut him off. Deja vu.

"I'm not talking to you." she says, looking forward.
"Come on, give me one more chance." he says, looking down at her.

Danielle knew she shouldn't trust him, but something in her gut told her she should.
"Why?"

"Because I want to do better."
Danielle laughs "And I should trust you because..?"

"I see the way you look at me."

As soon as she heard those words Danielle stopped walking. She stared forward before quickly turning her head to look up at Hangman.
"What are you talking about?"

"Don't lie to me." He gives a small smile noticing her expression change. Her straight, stone face was now almost anxious. Wide eyes, eyebrows raised.

Danielle took a deep breath. She didn't know what he was talking about. But based off her subconscious reaction, she felt like she did. Her thoughts were all over the place. All she could do was stand there, staring at him.

And he stared back.

God what is wrong with me?

"I'll give you one more chance." she starts walking again, breaking the eye contact they held for so long.

"And I'll make it worth your time."

Back up in the air, Hangman flew ahead of Danielle and Razor, following their navigation system to simulate the canyon they would be flying on the mission. 

So far, it had gone well. Flying around all the turns, trying to make it in the shot time they had on the clock. Though, Hangman wasn't the best at communicating.

There were times he'd speed up without telling Danielle, so she'd have to try to match his pace while still focusing on the route.

"Hangman I can't keep up with you." Danielle says, turning the corners as smoothly as she could. "We're going too fast, we have time to slow down."