≫ ──── ≪ • ⭙ • ≫ ──── ≪
The F-14 soars into the air.
Ranger's ESAT on his harness. Ranger thinks a beat and activates it.
---
A new alarm sounds.
"Sir. We're receiving a signal from Ranger's ESAT... But there seems to be a malfunction..."
"Have you lost him?" Warlock asks.
"No, sir. Signal is strong, but..."
"But what?" Cyclone asks confused.
"But... He's supersonic."
Everyone trades confounded looks, confused. Cyclone and Warlock move to look at the screen. Sure enough, a dot representing Ranger is hauling ass toward the sea.
"He's airborne." Warlock states
"In what?" Cyclone asks.
"Sir, overwatch reports an F-14 Tomcat is airborne and on course for our position."
Warlock and Cyclone share a look.
"It can't be..." Warlock mutters
They both look at the dot on the screen. Hondo stifles a knowing smile.
"Maverick..."
"He's still alive." Hondo says.
Warlock almost smiles, until:
"Sir, overwatch is reporting two fifth gen fighters on course to intercept that F 14."
Warlock and Cyclone share a new look this one of grim certainty.
"God help them."
---
Ranger surveys the back seat in frustration, no idea what's what or what to do. There's a big circular RIO display in front of him, but it's dark.
"Ranger. Get us in touch with the boat."
Ranger toggles the radio.
"I'm working on it. Everything's dead back here. What do I do? Talk me through this."
"First, the radio. Throw the UHF two circuit breaker."
Ranger looks.
"There's three hundred breakers back here, anything more specific?"
"I dunno, that was Goose's department."
"Alright, I'll figure it out." He says.
Ranger starts toggling breakers, then sees:
"Mav, five o'clock tally two low."
Maverick looks and, to his horror, sees two fifth gen fighters approaching.
"What do we do?" Ranger asks
"What do you mean what do we do? Those are fifth gen fighters. We're in a fifty year old aircraft."
The planes close into an escort formation.
"Well here they come."
"Just be cool. If they knew who we were, we'd be dead already. Masks on."
They scramble to put on their masks. The lead enemy plane pulls along side.
"Remember, we're on the same team. Just wave and smile. Wave and smile."
YOU ARE READING
Ranger ~ Top Gun Maverick
FanficAn alarm blares in Ranger's cockpit. "Oh shit." Ranger curses. A radar guided missile launcher, it's silhouette familiar to us by now, swivels around and lets fly with a SAM, traveling at MACH 5. Ranger throws flares, tries to evade, but he too is...
