Book 2 of the "Songbird" series
Lieutenant Commander Delilah 'Songbird' Mitchell resides in San Diego, California as one of the top instructors at Top Gun based out of NAS North Island. When she is relieved of duty long enough to assist in a top sec...
Delilah entered work the next day already on edge. It had taken her most of the night to calm down from the anxiety she felt last night just so she could get a few hours of sleep before today.
Dalilah was the last of the aviators to arrive, having spent most of her morning passing off tasks and objectives to Minx and a few other instructors. Payback, Fanboy and Hangman took up three of the front row seats, behind them was Bob, Phoenix, Harvard, and Yale. Coyote, Fritz, Omaha, Halo and Rooster take up the last 2 rows and the only open seats are next to Bradley and Hangman. Delilah sighs and drops her books on the table next to Bradley, not wanting to be anywhere near Hangman when her dad walks in.
"Hey Songbird." Bradley greets her as she sits. "You feeling okay?"
"I'm fine."
"Lilah–" Bradley doesn't get to say much else when they're called to attention.
"Attention on deck." All of the pilots rise, standing at attention. Admiral Bates stops at the front of the room.
"Good morning. Welcome to your special training detachment. Be seated. I'm Admiral Bates, NAWDC commander. You're all Top Gun graduates. The elite. The best of the best. Some of you were trained by someone who sits in this very room." Everyone looks around at each other, all noting Hangman's smug look. "That was yesterday. The enemy's new fifth generation fighter has leveled the playing field. Details are few, but you can be sure we no longer possess the technological advantage. Success, now more than ever, comes down to the man or woman in the box." Hangman looks at Delilah and Phoenix, winking at them. Both girls scoff and role their eyes. "Half of you will make the cut. One of you will be named mission leader." Warlock explains, eyeing Delilah. "The other half will remain in reserve."
"Your instructor is a Top Gun graduate with real-world experience in every mission aspect you will be expected to master. His exploits are legendary. And he's considered to be one of the finest pilots this program has ever produced. What he will teach you may very well mean the difference between life and death." Everyone glances behind them and Hangman and Coyote immediately shrink in their seats. Delilah catches a glimpse of Rooster who clearly looks angry and annoyed. "I give you Captain Pete Mitchell. Callsign, Maverick."
"Thank you." Pete nods to Admiral Bates before turning to the pilots. "Good morning." Pete holds up the F-18 flight book. "The F-18 NATOPS. It contains everything they want you to know about your aircraft. I'm assuming you know the book inside and out."
"Damn straight." Hangman shouts, a couple other pilots agreeing.
"Damn right."
"You got it."
Everyone's faces drop when Pete drops the manual into the trash can causing Delilah to laugh lightly. She stops when she sees Cyclone's glare, turning back to the front where she catches Rooster's unchanged attitude
"So does your enemy. But what the enemy doesn't know is your limits. I intend to find them, test them, and push beyond. Today we'll start with what you only think you know. You show me what you're made of." Maverick dismisses the pilot to get into their flight suits.
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