My Boyfriend's a Fighter Pilot (And So Am I)

Chapter 5

"Good morning," Warlock said to everyone. "The uranium enrichment plant that is your target will be operational earlier than expected. Raw uranium will be delivered in ten days. As a result, your mission has been moved up one week to avoid contaminating the target valley with radiation." Everyone shifted with unease as we all took in this information.

"Sir, no one here has successfully flown a low-level course," Bob said.

"Nevertheless, you've been ordered to move on. Captain." Warlock said as he moved aside.

"We have one week left to focus on phase two. It's the most difficult stage of the mission." Maverick said as the screen behind him began to change to what he was saying.

"It's a pop-up strike with a steep dive, requiring nothing less than two consecutive miracles. Two pairs of F-18s will fly in a welded wing formation. Teamwork. Precise coordination of these aircraft is essential to both the mission's success and your survival. As you know, the plant rests between two mountains. On the final approach, you'll invert directly into a steep dive. This allows you to maintain the lowest possible altitude and the only possible attack angle. Your target is an impact point less than three meters wide. The two-seat aircraft will paint the target with a laser bullseye. The first pair will breach the reactor by dropping a laser-guided bomb on an exposed ventilation hatch. This will create an opening for the second pair. That's miracle number one." Mav said as everyone began to slightly stress out.

"The second team will deliver the kill shot, and destroy the target. If either team misses the target, the mission is a failure. Egress is a steep high g climb out to avoid hitting this mountain." Mav said as he continued.

"A steep climb at that speed, you're pulling at least eight g's," Hangman said in disbelief.

"Nine, minimum," Mav said as everyone began to whisper.

"The stress limit of the F-18's airframe is seven point five," Rooster said as he studied the animation behind Maverick.

"That's the accepted limit," Mav said as some of us began to shift in our seats. "To survive this mission, you'll pull beyond that, even if it means bending your airframe. You'll be pulling so hard, you'll weigh close to two thousand pounds, your skull crushing your spine, your lungs imploding like an elephant sitting on your chest, fighting with everything you have just to keep from blacking out. This is where you'll be at your most vulnerable. This is coffin corner. Assuming you avoid crashing into this mountain, you'll climb straight up into enemy radar while losing all of your airspeed. Within seconds, you'll be fired upon by enemy SAMs. You've all faced sustained g's before, but this, this is gonna take you and your aircraft to the breaking point." Mav finished as everyone exchanged looks with each other.

"Sir, is this even achievable?" Raven asked. One probably couldn't tell, but since I'd spent enough time around her I knew that she was pretty stressed out just by listening to the plan. Heck, we all were. Deep breaths Anna. I thought as I let out a sigh.

"The answer to that will come down to the pilot in the box," Mav said as he dismissed us to get ready.

"You good Phoe?" Rooster asked as we walked out of the room.

"Uh, yeah," I said, slightly distracted. Rooster didn't say anything, but I could tell that he didn't believe me and was still worried. Rooster, Payback, Fanboy, Halo, Harvard, and I were up first. We took off, following the course on our screens, and began the strenuous flight.

"Popping in three, two, one!" I yelled over the comms as I inverted.

"Halo, got target lock?" I yelled as we flew closer to the box.