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𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕝𝕚𝕖 𝕙𝕒𝕤 𝕒 𝕕𝕒𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕖𝕣

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San Diego, California

Fightertown U.S.A

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"Captain Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell." Bo Simpson states to none other than the man himself who's standing right in front of him. "Your reputation proceeds you." His tone is anything but enthusiastic and admiring.

"Thank you, sir." Maverick speaks hesitantly.

"Wasn't a compliment." Bo dryly clears up with a straight face. "I'm Admiral Bo Simpson. I'm Air Boss. I believe you know Admiral Bates." He introduces himself before looking to the older man sitting to his left. Bates nods.

"Warlock, sir." Maverick nods to him. "Must admit I wasn't expecting an invitation back."

Warlock has an amused expression on his face. "They're called orders, Maverick." The older man tells him. Maverick smiles at the correction. "You two have something in common." Warlock continues. "Cyclone here was first in his class back in '88." He gestures to Bo who's taking a sip of his coffee.

"Actually, sir, I finished second." Maverick grins. "Just want to manage expectations." He adds proudly. Bo looks anything but impressed, causing Maverick's smirk to fade.

"The target..." Warlock speaks up again, moving back on track he taps the tablet in front of him to pull up blue prints on the projector screen. "Is an unsanctioned uranium enrichment plant built in violation of a multilateral NATO treaty." The blue prints move around, giving a 3D visual. "The uranium produced there represents a direct threat to our allies in the region. The Pentagon has tasked us with assembling a strike team and taking it out before it becomes fully operational." Maverick glances at them over his shoulder, his expression and demeanor fully serious now. "The plant sits in an underground bunker at the end of this valley. Said valley is GPS-jammed and defended by and extensive surface-to-air missile array serving a limited number of fifth-generation fighters, which in turn are backed up by a plentiful reserve of surplus aircraft. Even a few old F-14s."

"Seems like we're not the only ones holding on to old relics." Cyclone takes a jab towards Maverick,  to which Maverick smiles to himself.

"What's your read, Captain?" Warlock asks.

Maverick takes a moment before answering. "Well, sir, normally this would be a cakewalk for the F-35's stealth, but the GPS-jamming negates that." He examines the valley on the screen. "And a surface-to-air threat necessitates a low-level laser-guided strike tailor-made for the F-18." He makes a circular motion with his finger. "I figure, two, three precision bombs, minimum." Warlock turns to Cyclone as Maverick continues talking. "Makes it four aircraft flying in pairs, maybe even a fifth. That is one hell of a steep climb out of there." He glances back at the two gentlemen before focusing back on the board. "Exposing you to all the surface-to-air missiles. You survive that," He pauses, "It's a dogfight all the way home." His expression pains.

"All requirements for which you have real-world experience." Warlock comments.

Maverick looks at him. "Not in the same mission, sir." He rejects, respectfully. He smiles in awe at the screen before it fades. "No. No, someone's not coming back from this." He stares, lost in thought.

"Can it be done or not?" Cyclone interjects firmly.

"How soon before the plant becomes operational?" Maverick checks.

"Three weeks. Maybe less." Warlock tells him.

Maverick blinks, a twinkle shining in his eye. "Well, it's been a while since I've flown an F-18, and..." He tuns to fully face them, "I'm not sure who I'd trust to fly the other three. But I'll find a way to make it work."

Cyclone eyes quickly shift over to Warlock who speaks up. "I think you misunderstand, Captain."

"Sir?" Maverick looks at him questioningly.

"We don't want you to fly it. We want you to teach it." Cyclone clears up.

Maverick's eyes widen a bit. "Teach, sir?" He is completely thrown off now.

"We've recalled fourteen TOPGUN graduates from their squadrons." Cyclone points at the screen for Warlock to change it. Fourteen faces appear on the screen with their callsigns, including Lightning. "We want you to narrow that pool down to seven. They'll fly the mission." Maverick shifts back at the screen, doing a double take at not one, but two pilots. The first being Lightning, Lennox Blackwood.

"Blackwood?" Maverick breathes out.

"Ah, yes." Cyclone says, clicking on her profile. "Lennox Blackwood, aka 'Lightning.' I believe her mother was your TOPGUN Instructor?"

Maverick stares at the young woman. "I-uh, uh, yes, sir." He sputters out. Warlock and Cyclone share a look. "Charlie has a daughter?" He mumbles to himself. He can't help but look at her in awe. He can tell the resemblance between them, but isn't quite able to make out who else she looks like. He swallows, this gnawing feeling cementing itself in the pit of his stomach. Was this why she never called? Never wrote? Never... anything.

"Funny enough, Lightning also graduated number two of her class, Captain." Warlock interrupts his struggling thoughts.

Cyclone rolls his eyes. "Aren't they quite the pair" He mutters causing Warlock to chuckle as he turns the screen back to show all fourteen faces again.

Maverick blinks, staring at another pilot this time. His jaw ticks.

"Is there a problem, Captain?" Cyclone asks.

"You know there is, sir."

Cyclone regards hesitantly as he taps on the tablet screen. "Yeah. Bradley Bradshaw, aka 'Rooster.'
I understand you used to fly with his old man."
Bradley's picture and profile becomes full screen just as Lennox's was moments ago. "What was his call sign?"

" Goose' sir." Maverick answers quietly.

"Tragic what happened." Cyclone picks at the opened-wound.

"Captain Mitchell was cleared of any wrongdoing." Warlock intervenes. "Goose's death was an accident."

Maverick nods smally.

"Is that how you see it, Captain? Is that how Goose's son sees it?" Cyclone questions.

"With all due respect, sir, I'm not a teacher." Maverick ignores him, declining the offer.

"You were a TOPGUN instructor before." Cyclone points out.

"That was almost 30 years ago. I lasted two months." Maverick retorts. "It's not where I belong."

"Then let me perfectly blunt." Cyclone clips, trying a different approach. "You were not my first choice. In fact, you weren't even on the list." Maverick appears confused once again. "You are here at the request of Admiral Kazansky." Cyclone reveals. "Now, Iceman happens to be a man I deeply admire, and he seems to think that you have something left to offer the Navy. What that is, I can't imagine." He shakes his head, genuinely puzzled. "You don't have to take this job. But let me be clear: This will be your last post, Captain. You fly for TOPGUN, or you don't fly for the Navy ever again."

Maverick's face and shoulders drop. He glances back at Lightning and Rooster, unsure of what he should do.

✈︎ ✈︎ ✈︎

𝟶ʙᴜᴛᴛᴇʀʙɪsᴄᴜɪᴛ𝟽 sᴘᴇᴀᴋs!

(original author's note) Helloooo!! Sorry this chapter doesn't have any Lennox in it, but since it's about her, and important, that's why it's here. There will be chapters/scenes where she may not present, but she is mentioned and/or discussed. Just to let y'all know :)

(original author's note) Hope y'all enjoyed <3 I am SO freakin excited for the next chapter omg!! Let me know what you think and what you thought about Maverick's reaction to Lightning....

Hello, helloooo... in 2025!! I honestly LOVE this chapter soo much, & this scene really. I love that we get to see Maverick a little vulnerable AND HIS REACTION TO LENNOX BEING CHARLIE'S DAUGHTERRRR, OMFGGG?!!!