Note: This fanfiction will be based off the true story of F-16 U.S. Airforce fighter pilot, Captain Scott O'Grady, (codename: Basher Five-Two) who was on a NATO mission on June 2,1995. He and his wingman(?) Wilbur were flying ovals above Bosnia on a routine flight. First signs of trouble came when Wilber's threat warning system showed a blip on his screen, meaning he'd been 'spiked' by a 'acquisition' (threat) radar on ground. At exactly 3:03pm Aviano time, Scott was 'spiked.' He was locked up by a target-tracking radar, and he was shot down by a SAM missile, and had to eject over enemy-territory. For the next six days, Scott ran for his life, was recused by U.S. Marines, and lived to tell the tale. You can read about his story in the book Basher Five-Two, by Capt. Scott O'Grady with Michael French.
The adrenaline was racing through Maverick's veins as he flew up the steep mountain. The G-forces hit him hard, but he needed to stay awake. The moment he reached the tip of the mountain, Mavrick knew that he would be targeted by SAM missiles, the most dangerous part of the mission. Finally, he reached the top, and shot up through the air. Almost instantly, his threat radar yelled at him, and alarms blared in his headphones.
"Radar warning! Smoke in the air!" he called out over the coms, glancing backwards as the missiles were launched, "Phoenix, break right!"
"Emergency jettison, Dagger three defending!" Phoenix responded, her voice sounded slightly panicked as she hit the remote flare/chaff button.
"There's another one!" Bob yelled at Phoenix as the first missile exploded.
"Dagger one defending!" Maverick spoke, sending flares out. The SAM missile made contact and exploded. Maverick steered his plane to the right, "Rooster, status?"
Rooster was currently climbing up the steep mountain, the blood rushing to his head. Payback and Fanboy were right behind him. Rooter's radar blipped, alarms flaring; the SAM missiles were launched.
Rooster was flying in open air, he saw the missiles, "Oh my goodness."
Rooster and Payback slip apart, one going right the other left. They now each had two missiles following them. "Smoke in the air! Smoke in the air!" Rooster yelled, fear flashing across his face.
Fanboy yelled at Payback to veer right, who responded with "Veering to the right!" the plane turning right.
"Here they come!" Rooster warned, a missile exploded in the air.
"SAM on your nose, Rooster!" Payback called. He kept glancing up and back to where he was flying.
Another missile was following Rooster. "Deploying countermeasures," he said, hitting his flare button.
Flares shot out from his plane as he flew in a slight circle, trying to shake off the SAM, which kept following him. Finally, it hit one of the flares and was destroyed. "Negative contact." He called. It meant that he hadn't been hit.
Apparently, Rooster had flown into the sight of another SAM missile launcher, which then targeted him. Maverick noticed, and veered off to help Rooster, "Dagger one, defending." Maverick said.
"Talk to me Bob," Phoenix called back to her WSO.
Bob was slightly ducking in his seat, "Required Phoenix. Big white; nine o'clock, nine o'clock!"
"Rooster, two more on your six!" Maverick called out. The air was in a state of chaos. Everyone was trying to survive.
"Dagger two, defending." Rooster answered, hitting the button. More flares, one more explosion. Rooster didn't look back to see if he hit it, he kept flying.
Maverick was trying to keep an eye on everyone, and not get killed in the process. He'd promised himself everyone would get back home alive. "Payback, SAM on your nose!"
"Dagger four, defending!" Payback called. Fanboy watched the missiles in the air, yelling things to Payback.
"Talk to me Bob," Phoenix called out again.
Bob looked behind them, "One o'six!" he said, the fear was evident in his voice.
"Phoenix, bank right!" Maverick commanded them.
Missiles were flying everywhere. The sky was in a state of chaos and explosions. Alarms blared; radars bleeped. Everything was out of control. More hidden SAM missiles were launching every few seconds.
Rooster had more missiles on his tail, "Dagger two, defending!" He slammed the button down, nothing. "Shoot! I'm out of flares!" The adrenaline was coursing through his veins, he couldn't do anything. He was out of flares.
"Rooster!" Maverick called from the other end of the comms, "Evade, evade!" Maverick looked back behind him toward where Rooster was flying.
"I can't shake them, they're on me!"
Maverick promised to bring everyone else home alive. He never promised that he himself would come back alive. He knew what he had to do. Maverick pulled his stick, bringing his aircraft up and over Roosters, at the same time he hit his flares button. In that second, Maverick made eye contact with Rooster, whose eyes were widening. One missile down.
Maverick braced himself for impact. The missile finally found its target. Maverick felt his plane hit, and instantly felt the heat of fire along his back. He was pushed forward from inertia, hitting his head against the canopy. The flying started spiraling down to the earth. Maverick felt pain along his skull and hip, then cool darkness. Falling. Falling. Falling…
Rooster was in shock; Maverick had taken the missile for him. He was falling. "Mav! No!"
Phoenix witnessed the whole thing. "Dagger one is hit!" yelled, watching in horror as the plane fell to the ground. "I repeat; Dagger one is hit! Maverick is down!"
Back on the carrier, Cyclone listened to the entire encounter, his fingers were crossed behind his back. He heard Phoenix yelling. Beau glanced at Warlock, his eyes widening slightly. Hondo stood off to the side, his heart was thumbing against his chest. Not Maverick. No, surely not Maverick.
"Dagger one, status." Payback called out. Phoenix, Rooster, and Payback were now flying in a line. "Status!" he called again, "Anyone see him? Does anyone see him?" He was starting to sound panicked now.
"Dagger one, come in!" Rooster sounded commanding. Desperate.
"I didn't see a parachute." Payback said.
"We have to circle back," Rooster's heart was bounding.
A female voice spoke in the comms. "Comanche bandits inbound. Single group hot, recommend dagger flow south. One minute to intercept."
Cyclone was still worried, but he had to take care of his team. He had to get them back. "Get them back to the carrier, now." He ordered one of the females on the comms. She nodded and spoke to the daggers. "All daggers flow to ECP." She ordered, "You have bandits headed for you."
What about Maverick?" asked Rooster.
"Tell him there's nothing he could do for Maverick." Cyclone's voice broke slightly, "Not in a gosh darn F-18."
Another voice came over the comms. "Dagger spare request permission to launch a fly air cover?" Hangman asked.
The female on communications looked at Cyclone. He shook his head. "Negative spare." Hangman clenched his fist, a look of anger crossing his face.
"Launch search and rescue." Warlock suggested.
"Negative." Cyclone interjected, "Not with bandits in air."
"But sir," Hondo said, "Maverick is still out—"
"We're not losing anyone else today." Cyclone sounded a little angry now. He was acting like there was no hope left for Maverick. Hondo looked worried and upset. Cyclone turned to a communicator, "Get them home, now." The communicator nodded, "Dagger, you are not to engage. Repeat, do not engage."
Rooster was breathing heavily. He squeezed his eyes tight. Tears were threatening to fall.
"Dagger two returning to carrier." Phoenix spoke calmly, "Acknowledge."
"Acknowledged." Was the answer.
Thoughts were running through Rooster's mind. He had to do something. He had to! Maverick was still out there. Phoenix turned her attention to Rooster. She was worried about him. "Rooster, those bandits are closing." She sighed heavily, "We can't go back."
"Rooster," another voice added, "He's gone. Maverick's gone."
Rooster was starting to hyperventilate. "No," he muttered. He and Maverick were just starting to get on good terms. Maverick was like a dad to him now. He was a teacher. A friend. How could he just be gone?
