Call Back {Top Gun Maverick - Completed}

18: The Team

Maverick and Bambi stood by two of the aircrafts. The waves crashed against the carrier. It was a familiar sight for both pilots, as they had stood like this once thirty-six years prior.

"Talk to me, Goose," Maverick said. Bambi held her dog tags around her neck.

"Captain Mitchell! Admiral McCain!" Warlock shouted, trying to be heard over the waves. Both of them turned around.

"You’re where you belong," Warlock stated, talking to Maverick before addressing both of them, "Make us proud."

Bambi and Maverick nodded to Warlock as the aircraft elevator started to rise.

"Is my wingman ready?" Regina asked, looking at Maverick.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Maverick took a deep breath and looked back at Regina, "What about you? Is my wingman ready?"

"Yeah, I am," Regina smiled.

《~~○~~》

The entire group of recruits stood, at attention, in a briefing room. Maverick, Bambi, and Cyclone stood in front of them while Warlock and Hondo stood off to the side of the room. Rooster looked over at his sister and at Marilyn.

"It has been an honor flying with you. Each one of you represents the best of the best. This is a very specific mission. My choice is a reflection of that and nothing more," Maverick stated to the group in front of him.

"Choose your two foxtrot teams," Cyclone stated.

"Payback and Fanboy... Phoenix and Bob."

Bob and Natasha glanced at each other while Mickey and Reuben nodded.

"And your wing man," Cyclone said.

"Rooster," Maverick stated, surprising a handful of the pilots.

"Bambi, choose your foxtrot team and your wingman," Cyclone stated, much to the surprise of the remaining people.

"For my foxtrot: Vulture and Marilyn. My wingman: Maneater," Regina stated. Maneater looked down at her feet and closed her eyes. A million thoughts were racing through her head.

"Icarus, as per final request from Iceman, we would like you in the control room as an extra pair of eyes to observe. The rest of you will stand by on the carrier for any reserve role that’s required," Warlock informed, "Dismissed."

Everyone eased out of their stance and stood around each other. Fanboy, Payback, Bob, and Phoenix grave each other fist bumps. They had been chosen together. The group of remaining pilots began congratulating one another. Hennessey and Evelyn hugged each other tightly.

"Drag those assholes to hell and come home, Henne," Evelyn whispered in her best friend's ear, squeezing Hennessey tighter.

"I will, Eve," Hennessey nodded, before she mouthed an 'I love you' to her best friend. Evelyn mouthed it back, before heading towards Bob. Rebecca walked up to Hennessey.

"I know we haven't gotten to talk very much, especially since we found out we have the same father," Rebecca began, "But let's both get home. I want to learn more about my sister."

"Me too," Hennessey responded, reaching for Rebecca’s hand. The woman gave her sister her hand, and squeezed it.

《~~○~~》

Everyone joined the debrief with the rest of the ship.

"Your target is a clear and present threat. A secret uranium enrichment site under rogue state control. It’s an underground bunker, tucked between these two mountains. Your route of ingress is heavily defended by surface-to-air missiles backed up by fifth-generation fighters," Warlock informed, "Once your f-18 strike team crosses the border, tomahawk missiles from the USS Leyte Gulf will launch a synchronized strike on the enemy’s airfield here. This will knock out their runway."