"Good morning," Warlock begins standing at the front of the hanger. "The uranium enrichment plant will be operational earlier than we thought. Raw uranium will be delivered to the plant in 10 days time. As a result, your mission has been moved up one week in order to avoid contaminating the target valley with radiation."

All the aviators look at each other in disbelief and slight nerves. Nadia begins bouncing her leg up and down.

"Sir, no one has successfully flown a low-level course," Coyote explains.

"Nevertheless, you've been ordered to move on," Warlock continues. "Captain," he calls Maverick up to the podium.

"We have one week left to focus on Phase Two," Maverick begins solemnly. "It's the most difficult stage of the mission."

Gesturing to the screen behind him, he continues. "It's a pop-up strike with a deep dive requiring nothing less than two consecutive miracles."

Looking around the room, the faces all read nerves, but not scared. Now Nadia had started to chew on her fingernail.

"Two pairs of F-18s will fly in a column formation. Teamwork and precise coordination of these aircraft are essential to the mission success and your survival." The screen begins to show the path that needs to be flown.

"As you know, the plant rests between two mountains. On a final approach, you'll invert directly into a steep dive. This allows you to maintain the lowest altitude and the only possible attack angle," he continues as the screen zooms in to show the target.

"Your target is an impact point less than three meters wide. The two seat aircraft paint the target with a laser bullseye. The first pair will reach the reactor by dropping a bomb on an exposed ventilation hatch. This will create an opening for the second pair. That's miracle number one." He holds up his pointer finger.

All the pilots look at him in disbelief, not quite believing what they are hearing.

"The second team will deliver the kill shot and destroy the target. That's miracle number two. If either team misses the target," he pauses to make sure they know the severity of his next words. "The mission is a failure. Egress is a steep, high-G climb out to avoid hitting this mountain."

Doing the math in his head, Hangman chimes in. "A steep climb at that speed, you're pulling at least 8Gs."

"9 minimum," Maverick corrects him.

Rooster also points out an important point. "The stress limit of f-18s airframe is 7.5."

Needing to stress the importance of this plan, Maverick contests back, "That's the accepted limit. To survive this mission, you'll pull beyond that, even if it means bending your airframe."

Cyclone doesn't look happy at that statement. Warlock simply looks like he's accepted this fact.

Nadia scrambled to make notes on checking and ensuring all the aircrafts were up to their highest and best standards. If they were really about to stress these machines past their limit, her team needed to be ready and prepared for any and all fixes needed.

"You'll be pulling so hard you'll weigh close to 2000 pounds, your skull crushing your spine, your lungs imploding like an elephant sitting on your chest. Fight it with everything you have just to keep from blacking out." Maverick pauses, preparing to give out even more near impossible news.

"And this is where you'll be at your most vulnerable. This is Coffin Corner," he warns them all.

Continuing on as if he hadn't just dropped multiple figurative bombs on the group, "assuming you avoid crashing into this mountain, you'll climb straight up into enemy radar while loosing all of your airspeed. Within seconds, you'll be fired upon by enemy SAMS."

Gesturing to the simulation on screen, "you've all faced sustained Gs before, but this, this is gonna take you and your aircraft to the breaking point."

Everyone kind of looks too stunned to react. Taking in all of this information, finally having the full mission set in front of them. It's daunting and scary. This is different from any mission they've ever done before.

Phoenix is the first to break out of her shock. "Sir, is this even achievable?"

"The answer to that question will come down to the pilot in the box," he replies.

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After the first day of trials with these new parameters, Nadia's day was, unfortunately, not over.

She had to go back to the mechanic hanger to finish up some other work as well as prepare her team.

But Ivy took the opportunity to talk with her friend. She was updated on the mission and just how dangerous it was going to be. Ivy was less than thrilled, especially with her boyfriend and brother, both options to fly it.

To distract her thoughts, she focused on a different topic she was desperate to bring up.

“So, what do you think of Fanboy? Is he a good fit for my brother? Keeping him safe and watching his back?” Ivy figured if she disguised the initial questions as worry for her brother, Nadia wouldn't be suspicious. At least, not right away.

Nadia was under the belly of a plane, but she could clearly hear her friend. “He's good at what he does. And he and Reu get on like a house on fire. I don't see any reason to worry.”

Well, that didn't give Ivy any answers. “But like, him as a person. What do you think?”

She notches an eyebrow before answering. “He's a good guy. Great personality, nowhere near as arrogant as some of the others. Pretty down to earth, if you ask me, despite what he does for a living. He's a good friend.”

Nadia goes back to work as Ivy huffs. She's not quite sure how to get the answers she wants without bluntly asking the question. But she knows Nadia will laugh it off if she does.

(Ugh! Why must her best friend be so oblivious!)

They go on working for a few more minutes before Ivy just asks. She can't figure out another way to do it.

“Do you like Mickey?”

Nadia, not expecting the sudden question, drops her wrench. “What? Of course I do. I literally just said he's a good friend.”

Ivy shakes her head as she walks towards Nadia. “No. Do you like like him?”

Nadia scoffs at the idea. “What are we, twelve? Who says ‘like like’ anymore?”

Ivy's mouth drops open. She gasps before pointing at her friend, eyes wide. “You're deflecting! You won't answer me, which means yes! You totally like him!”

Nadia's own eyes widen as she looks around to make sure no one can hear their conversation. Luckily, it's too loud for anyone close by. “No, no, I don't! I just stated a fact.”

But Ivy wasn't buying it. “I know what you look like and say when you flirt. And you two were 100% flirting all day yesterday. You can't deny that!”

And Nadia couldn't. She had been flirting with Mickey at the beach yesterday. He was cute and funny and sweet. Quite honestly, he was probably everything Nadia was looking for in a guy.

But it didn't mean anything.

“OK, so maybe I was flirting.” Ivy celebrates, but Nadia cuts it short by adding, “but you know nothing can happen right now.”

Ivy tilts her head in silent question.

Nadia sighs, putting down her tools. “You and I both know how dangerous this mission is. We already have Lex and Reuben to worry about. I can't handle another person, too.”

But from the tone of her voice, she already was. And Ivy could see it too.

“That doesn't mean you aren't already, Dia. Regardless of any potential romantic feelings you may have for Mickey, you said it yourself. He's a good friend. Which means you're already going to be worrying about it. So why not give it a chance?”

Nadia looks away from her friend, pursing her lips. She takes a deep breath, reigning in her emotions.

“Because maybe it just might hurt less if something does go wrong.”

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Word count: 1,349

Oof. Sorry to end on such a down note. But Nadia’s fears are valid with how dangerous this is. She's allowed to want to protect her heart.

But with Ivy now knowing she does like Mickey, there is no stopping the ultimate matchmaking team.

Unfortunately, next chapter will also be emotionally heavy, so get some tissues prepped.

Love you all, see you next chapter. Bye guys!!