A/N: This is roughly 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 had been 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 an acquisition (threat) radar on ground. At exactly 3:03pm Aviano time, Scott was also 'spiked.' He was locked up by a target-tracking radar, and he was shot down by a SAM missile, had to eject over enemy-territory. For the next six days, Scott ran for his life, was rescued by U.S. Marines and lived to tell the tale. (You can read the full story in the book Basher Five-Two, it's really good and I recommend it.)
Another note before we start, chapters 1 and the beginning of 2 will roughly be the same as the ones in Six Days in Enemy Territory. Enjoy!
Adrenaline pumped through Maverick's blood and veins as he shot up the steep and rocky mountain in front of him. The G-forces (gravity forces) pushed on him, suffocating him and squeezing his lungs, making it hard to breath, but he needed to stay awake. He knew that the moment he reached the tip of the mountain, he would be targeted by the SAM missiles, which was the most dangerous part of the mission. Suddenly, he had skimmed the top of the mounted and shot up through the air. Almost instantly, his threat radar yelled at him, and the alarms blared in his headphones.
Phoenix's jet flew out behind him. Maverick's eyes skimmed the instruments and panels in front of him, reading them with years of experience. "Radar warning! Smoke in the air!" he called out over the comms, glancing out the cockpit window as the missiles launched. "Phoenix, break right!"
But it was too late, she couldn't veer away fast enough, so she resorted to a different tactic. "Emergency jettison, Dagger three defending!" Phoenix responded; her voice was calm yet panicked at the same time as she quickly hit the flare/chaff button.
"There's another one!" Bob yelled as the first missile hit the flare and exploded, brightening the sky with orange fire.
"Dagger one defending!" Maverick shouted, sending flares out from his plane. The SAM missile made contact and exploded. Maverick moved his stick and steered his plane sharply to the right, "Rooster, status?"
Roster was currently climbing up the towering mountain, and the blood was rushing to his head. Payback and Fanboy were right behind him as he shot up into the free sky. Rooster's radar blipped as it was targeted by the missiles and his alarms blared loudly in his ears: the SAM missiles were launched.
He was in open air, completely vulnerable and it suddenly hit him how heavy this mission was. "Oh my goodness."
Rooster veered one way what Payback went the other, forcing the two missiles which were originally only going for Rooster, to split as well. Now both had one missile following them. "Smoke in the air! Some in the air!" Rooster yelled, fear flashing in his eyes.
Fanboy yelled at Payback to turn right, "Veering to the right!" the jet sharply turning.
"Here they come!" Rooster warned as another missile exploded in the air.
"SAM on your nose! Thanks for the save, Rooster!" Payback called out gratefully. He kept glancing around the air above him, then his eyes would dart back to where he was flying.
Another missile was on Rooster's tail and it was getting closer. "Deploying countermeasures," he informed the others, smacking his flare button.
The flares shot out from his plane as he flew in a slight circle, attempting to shake off the SAM. Finally, it collided with one of the flares and was destroyed. "Negative contact." He called.
Unfortunately, Rooster had flown into the sight of another SAM launcher, which had already targeted him. Maverick had noticed and turned sharply to help. "Dagger one, defending." Maverick said.
"Talk to me Bob," Phoenix called back to her WSO.
Bob ducked down in his seat when a missile shot over them, "Required Phoenix. Big white; nine 'o clock, nine 'o clock!"
"Rooster, two more on your six!" Maverick called out over the comes.
The air around them was in a complete state of chaos and destruction. It was loud, blinding and frightening; everyone was trying to survive when there was almost no chance of survival.
Maverick was trying to keep an eye on everyone and also not get killed in the process. He's promised himself earlier that everyone would get home alive. "Payback, SAM on your nose!"
"Dagger four, defending!" Payback called. Fanboy watched the missiles in the air and yelled things at Payback.
"Talk to me Bob," Phoenix called out to her WSO again.
Bob looked behind him, twisting in his seat, "One, six o' clock!" he said, the fear evident in his voice.
"Phoenix, bank right!" Maverick commanded them.
Everything was out of control. Alarms were blaring, radars were bleeping, and people were shouting. More hidden Sam missiles were launching every few seconds.
Rooster currently had more missiles behind him. "Dagger two, defending!" He slammed the button down. Nothing. "Shoot! I'm out of flares!" The adrenaline was coursing through his veins, and he couldn't do anything. He was out of flares.
"Rooster!" Maverick called out from the other end of the comms, "Evade, evade!" Maverick tried to look back at Rooster.
"I can't shake them, they're on me!"
Maverick had promised to bring everyone else home alive. He never promised that he himself would come back alive. He knew what he had to do. For Goose. Maverick pulled his stick, bringing his aircraft up and over Rooster's in a Cobra maneuver, at the same time, he hit his flare button.
One missile down.
Maverick braced himself for the impact. And a SAM missile finally found its target. Maverick felt his plane jerk, fold and creak as it was connected, and he felt the heat of burning fire along his back. He was slammed forward from inertia, hitting his head against he canopy. The jet started spiraling down to the hard earth. Maverick felt pain along his skull and hip, then cold darkness and the sensation of falling. Falling. Falling…
Rooster flew in shock. Maverick had taken the missile for him. He was falling, spiraling. "Mav! No!" He choked out.
Phoenix heard the whole thing, she had witnessed it. "Dagger one is hit!" she yelled, watching in horror as the jet fell to the ground, the reality had barely set in. "I repeat; Dagger one is hit! Maverick is down!"
Back on the carrier, which was floating softly out as sea, Cyclone listened to the entire encounter, fingers crossed behind his back. He heard Phoenix yelling, hardly believing what she was saying. Beau glanced at Warlock, his eyes widening slightly. Hando stood not fall off, his heart hammering against his chest. Not Maverick. No, surely not Maverick. Nothing could beat him, right?
"Dagger one, status." Payback called out, taking charge. Pheonix, Rooster and Payback were now flying in a line. "Status!" he called out again, desperation in his voice. "Anyone see him? Does anyone see him?" He was panicked now.
"Dagger one, come in!" Rooster sounded commanding. But desperate.
"I didn't see a parachute." Payback informed the others.
"We have to circle back." Rooster said, eyebrows scrunched together in sorrow and pain.
A calm female voice interrupted them over the comms. "Bandits inbound. Single group hot, recommended Dagger flow south. One minute to intercept."
Cyclone was still deeply concerned, but he had to take care of the team. He had to get them back before anyone else was lost. "Get them back to the carrier, now." He ordered one of the females on the comms. She nodded briskly 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 turned her head a question in her eyes. Cyclone shook his head. "Negative spare."
Hangman clenched his fist, anger and pain crossing his face. He felt so helpless sitting there.
"Launch search and rescue." Warlock suggested.
"Negative." Cyclone interjected, "Not with bandits in the air."
"But sir," Hando said, "Maverick is still out—"
"We're not losing anyone else today." Cyclone started to sound a little frustrated. He was acting like there was no hope for Maverick now. Though it may be true, they still had to at least try.
Hando looked worried and upset.
Cyclone turned back 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 tightly against the hot pain and sting of tears in his eyes.
"Dagger two returning to carrier." Phoenix spoke calmly and sadly. "Acknowledge?"
"Acknowledged."
Thoughts and memories raced through Rooster's mind. He had to do something. He had to! Maverick was still out there. Phoenix turned her attention to Rooster, worried. "Rooster, those bandits are closing." She sighed heavily. "We can't go back."
"Rooster," another voice added. Bob, he was dimly aware of. "He's gone. Maverick's gone."
Rooster started to hyperventilate, scared. Not for himself, for Maverick. "No," he muttered. He and Maverick were just starting to get back on good terms. Maverick was like a dad to him. He was a teacher, a friend. How could he just be…gone?