Evangelion Air Force

Ch3: Tomcat VS Raptor

Previously...

Up in the control tower, Commander Travis was staring on at the two down on the apron, his eyes narrowed as he looked at Braedey and Misato, his eyes focused on the brunette boy below. He must see this boy fly, and whether he'd like it or not, he won't take no or an unsatisfactory approach for an answer.

"Doctor." Travis barked, Ritsuko walking up to him. "Get the F-14 and its pilot ready for takeoff. Time to see how he performs against the F-22." He orders to Ritsuko.

"Sir, that's a very unwise suggestion to do so." Ritsuko interjected. "The pilot of the F-14 has barely gotten out of medical after the first flight, and we aren't even sure if him flying at such extremes would be beneficial."

"You are to get the F-14 pilot and the plane ready for flight first thing tomorrow against the F-22, and I don't want any excuses." Commander Travis ordered to Ritsuko firmly before he began to walk away to leave the control tower.

Ritsuko sighed to herself. "This is a situation we've gotten ourselves into. Find a way to help Braedey not black out at the controls, and make sure he's at 100%." Maya walked up with some cups of coffee for her and Ritsuko. "Thanks, Maya. This takes my mind off things."

"What do to wish for us to do?" Maya asked softly.

Ritsuko stood there for a moment as she looks out the window to see Ritsuko and Braedey watching the F-22 fly about and continue with its aerial manoeuvres and flight movements. The faux-blonde doctor then had a thought come to mind. "Maya, I need you to go to both Technical and Engineering, and see to it they get to work on those prototype projects. I think it should work for Braedey and assist with dealing with the G-forces..."

~*~*~

"What?! I've got to fly against Nick and his plane?!"

Misato could only sigh to herself and shake her head in disbelief over what Ritsuko Akagi had just informed to Braedey. They were called over to the F-14 Tomcat hangar after Nick Jupiter had come back from his flight in his F-22 Raptor jet, and the faux-blonde doctor just told Braedey that tomorrow, he's to fly his plane against Nick's in a training exercise (though she was told by Commander Travis that it be a dogfight).

"Ritsuko, this is a very bad idea." Misato stated bluntly.

"I know it is, but the higher-ups wish to see the F-14 in the air again." Ritsuko countered back. "Unfortunately, that means you'll have to go faster than you did before on your first flight, Braedey."

"But Dr. Ritsuko, I'm in an F-14. Nick has an F-22. I'm to fly against a Fifth-Generation Fighter while I'm in a Third-Gen Fighter." Braedey pointed out. "That doesn't seem very fair at all, and especially given the fact that Nick has more flight experience than me." He added in for emphasis.

"We know. But we can't change the order." Ritsuko stated calmly. "At 0900 hours tomorrow morning, you and Nick will be in the air and commence the training. We'll be watching from the ground and evaluate your progress during the exercise. If anything goes wrong, we'll implement the Autopilot RTB system and get both planes down on the ground as soon as possible before anyone gets hurt."

Braedey still felt uncomfortable and uncertain about this whole situation. A flight against an F-22 in his plane sounds downright dangerous, plus the fact Nick has more flight experience than he does, and on top of that, he can handle the forces better than Braedey.

"I know this sounds scary to you, Braedey. But right now, we don't have much of a choice in saying no." Ritsuko said to him softly and calmly, placing her hand on his shoulder.