Reverie 》Bob Floyd

Chapter 13

The mission is a go. The crews are preparing everything they can. And finally,the Dagger teams are ready to depart.

"Dagger 1, up and ready for take off," Maverick radios in. 

And then everyone sounds in. 

Hangman: "Dagger spare, standing by." 

Payback: "Dagger 4, up and ready." 

Phoenix: "Dagger 3 up and ready." 

Rooster: "Dagger 2, up and ready." 

"Support missiles airborne, strike damage ready," a systems control officer says in the control room. "Standing by for launch decision." Warlock looks at Cyclone. The man simply says one thing. 

"Send them." 

☽☆☾   ☽☆☾   ☽☆☾

Too many events happen is such a rapid time frame that when Rooster finally re-engages with the team, Cyclone wants this mission finished. 

"Alright now hit your target and come home," he orders all of his pilots. 

Maverick is almost there, "30 seconds to target, Bob, where's my laser?" 

"Laser is a go," Bob quickly calls to him. 

Meanwhile, Rooster, Payback, and Fanbky are catching up. "Watch your heads," Rooster warns as they come around the bridge. 

"Shit, shit shit," Fnnboy says ducking even with a canopy over him. 

"Payback, you with me?" Rooster calls to his wingman. 

"Right behind you," Payback answers. 

Maverick, Phoenix, and Bob are at the target. "Phoenix stand by for pop up strike," Maverick radios. 

"Dagger 3, in position," she responds, taking a deep breath. 

"Pop up in 3,2,1," Maverick counts down. "You got me that target, Bob?" He asks. 

"Stand by Mav," Bob calls out. "Stand by. Locked on!" 

That's all Maverick needs to hear. "Target acquired, bombs away." 

"We've got impact," Bob calls when the bombs hit the target. "Direct hit! Direct hit!" 

"Dagger 2..." Maverick calls out to Rooster, needing their positioning. 

"Almost there Mav, almost there," Rooster replies. "Fanboy, where's my laser?" 

But there was a problem. "Rooster, there's something wrong with this laser," Fanboy calls out. "Shit, deadeye deadeye deadeye." 

"Guys were out of time, come on Fanboy," Rooster calls out. "Nearly there, nearly there," he responds.  

"Come on Fanboy get on lock," Payback stresses to his WSO. 

But Rooster doesn't care. "We're out of time, I'm dropping blind." 

"I got this," Fnnboy tries again, not wanting to let anyone down. "Bombs away, bombs away," Rooster says, firing his shots. 

"Bullseye, bullseye, bullseye." 

But Maverick knows the trickiest part is about to come. "We're not out of this yet," he warns. 

"Here it comes!" Mav yells. SAMS start firing "Smoke in the air, smoke in the air! Break right Phoenix, break right!" 

"Emergency maneuvers! Here comes another one," Bob yells out. 

"Dagger defending," Maverick deploys flares. 

"Rooster, status?!" Maverick calls out.  

"Oh my god," as Rooster pulls out of Coffin  Corner. "Smoke in the air, smoke in the air!"