two rival aviators make it their mission to set up their top gun instructor and his old flame in hopes of them falling in love again. they didn't exactly plan to fall in love either.
set it up au x top gun maverick
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𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐗 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐁𝐎𝐁 𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐎𝐊. And yet, bad things still wrestled their way into the teams lives. Harper gazed at the coffin of Iceman, feeling a sense of disbelief. The Dagger squad lined up beside her, wearing identical suits and white caps.
The sound of shots rang out, the flag folded, Maverick saluting an old friend once he placed the pin on the coffin. Everything seemed a blur. Melodic notes ceased as four planes flew overhead, leaving a trail of smoke in the San Diego horizon sky. Harper's gaze flickered to Iceman's wife Sarah. She clutched the flag, her knuckles white and tears streaking her face.
Harper found herself lingering as the crowd faded, gazing at the scene before her. Maverick stood beside the coffin, his sorrowful gaze fixed on it. She glanced at the Dagger squad, hesitating on the outskirts of the crowd.
She took a place beside Maverick, hesitating. Grief was painted across his expression. "I'm sorry."
Maverick nodded at her, returning to silence. Harper stared at the face of a man she'd heard so much about, but never knew. She saw his family, the people affected by his loss, the grief filling the air and knew Iceman made an impact. To some he was a father, others a guardian angel.
"What was he like?" She uttered, gaze fixed on the picture of Iceman.
Mav chuckled, though grief was apparent in his eyes. "He was the better pilot."
Harper patted his shoulder and left him alone, making her way back to the Dagger squad. The crowd was now a few people, Harper recognized Sarah among them. Rooster led the way, turning away and heading to the parking lot. Others slowly followed. Harper stayed, turning back to look at Penny who was approaching Maverick.
"Good call inviting her, I can't imagine what he's feeling" Harper murmured, her stare turning away from Penny and Maverick to focus on Hangman. He lingered a few inches from her, his eyes shining in the setting sun. She reluctantly walked towards him, falling into step. The Dagger squad were a few feet ahead.
"Wow, I think that's the first compliment you've given me." Hangman remarked. Harper tore her gaze from the San Diego skyline to glare at Hangman. They caught up to the Dagger squad, an awkward silence among them as they walked to the parking lot and away from the grief.
"Ready for tomorrow?" Fanboy cheerfully commented, making everyone groan.
What Harper was not ready for was Cyclone in the place of Maverick. The same sense of dread came back as she stared at the man in front of the room, sharing a look with Phoenix.
"Captain Mitchell is no longer your instructor. And as of today, there are new mission parameters. Time to target is now four minutes." Harpers eyebrows raised as the two minutes changed to four minutes on the screen. Oh god this isn't gonna be good.
"You'll be entering the valley level at reduced speed. Not to exceed 420 knots." Harper's eyebrows raised. Other pilots exchanged looks of disbelief.
"Sir, won't we be giving their planes time to intercept?" Bob questioned.
"Well lieutenant, you'll have a fighting chance against enemy aircraft. What are the odds of surviving a head-on collision with a mountain?" Harper sunk further in her seat.
"You'll be attacking the target from a higher altitude, level with the north wall. Gonna be a little harder to keep your laser on target, but you will avoid the high G climb out."
"We'll be sitting ducks for enemy missiles." Fanboy leaned over to mutter to Payback, exchanging looks of concern.
Suddenly, the monitor came to life, a dot beeping across the screen. Someone was entering the course.
Harper straightened in her seat, leaning forward with interest. What the?
"Maverick to range control. Entering point Alpha. Confirm green range." A smile found its way across Harper's face, mirroring the looks of others. Everybody leaned forward in their seat, anticipation sinking in. Mav always found a way to piss off some authority.
"Uh Maverick, range control, green is confirmed. I don't see an event scheduled for you, sir."
"Well, I'm going anyway."
"Nice." Phoenix muttered, smiling. Harper shook her head in disbelief, her eyes twinkling.
"Setting time to target: two minutes and fifteen seconds."
"That's impossible." Harper muttered. But leave it to Maverick to prove that wrong too.
"Final attack point. Maverick's inbound." A beep signaled the time starting. Harper watched the clock count down, following the plane on the screen.
The team watched in anticipation, clutching their seats, as the dot across the screen neared its way to the target. Harper held her breath as the plane veered over the mountain. Maverick neared the target, bombs away.
She watched the plane across the screen make its way upward. 7 seconds left. Everyone seemed to hold their breath.
5 seconds. Bob, followed by others, rose in his seat. Harper found herself standing up, looking at the screen with wide eyes and filled with newfound hope.
The bomb hit, 0.16 seconds left.
"Bulls-eye! Holy shit!" Fanboy shouted. Harper whooped, not caring if it pierced the silence in the room.
Excitement filled the room, a sense of awe at the mission they felt to be impossible done successfully. A new sense of hope was given in the form of Maverick's rebellious feat.
