fandomhigh | Flight & Flying [Friday, June 8, 2nd period]

Anakin was leaning against the reconfigured flight simulator when the flight students arrived, absolutely no trace of an smile--or any emotion at all, really--on his face.

"The first battle in my home galaxy in a conflict that eventually became known as the Clone Wars," he said, walking over to the television from his room and pushing a few buttons. A three-dimension projection of a world rotated in front of them, "took place on a world called Naboo." He was very proud of the way his voice didn't shake. "Today we're going to complete an entire military mission. Naboo was being slowly starved to death by a blockade set up by the Trade Federation's control ships and its army of droids." His expression hardened. "Though we didn't know it at the time, the Senator of this planet was using his home as bait to set himself up as Chancellor and gain power over the Republic. We won the battle, but lost the war."

Anakin gestured to the projection. "Working in pairs, your job will be to take off from the planet's surface, fight past the enemy's droid fighters and destroy the control ship." On the projection, the target glowed red. "The only way to destroy the ship is to blow it from the inside--its shields are too powerful for the starfighter's torpedoes to take out from space." He put his hands behind his back and paced. "You're up against a deadline as well. On the surface there's a battle taking place: your people--including the fourteen-year-old queen of the planet--against a droid army that doesn't get tired." He turned away before a profile shot of the leader in question came up on the projector. "Taking out the control ship also powers down those droids. Take too long to blow it up and you won't have a reason to go back to the planet: the enemy will have won through battle what they had been trying to achieve through blockade."

He pointed at the simulator. "You'll be flying the Naboo N-1 Starfighter," he said. "They're a little more sensitive than the F-16 from last week, and more elegant than the X-Wing, but without the engine power. And remember that once you break atmosphere, you won't be fighting gravity any longer so you don't have to yank on the controls quite as hard. The droid starfighters are faster than you are--and there are a lot of them--but they're also fairly stupid. Watch for them and the laser cannons on the control ship--and watch for each other--and you'll do fine.

"This battle was real. This exercise can be accomplished. I will not accept failure from any of you on this." He tossed two deeply silly-looking helmets into the flight simulator. "These helmets are equipped with comm units that will allow you to talk to each other."

He waved them towards the simulator. "Begin."

All That I Am - Rob Thomas

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"Seems like a really bad day," Gavin said offhandedly. "I'm good with proving him wrong, though."

Luke strapped into one of the cockpits and put on the helmet, then made a face. "These are really stupid looking," he complained. "Can you hear me?"

Gavin made a face when he put the helmet on and, after hearing Luke in his ear, said, "Yeah. Nice voice."

"I'm thinking of trying out for the radio," Luke deadpanned. "Okay, I'm showing everything in the green. How about you?"

"I'd listen to you every night before I went to sleep," Gavin quipped back. "In the green. Looks good."

"Let's go blow up a donut, then," Luke said, blasting off for space.

"Right behind you," Gavin said, powering up the fighter and following Luke.

The droid ships, of course, were waiting for them. "On my count, break hard starboard," Luke said, "I'll go port, we'll scoop 'em all up in between us."

"Three, two, one, break!"

Luke pushed hard against the rudder, switched his weapons over to laser fire and began making a hole through the seemingly endless waves of droid ships between them and the giant donut.

"Got it," Gavin muttered. At Luke's shout, Gavin broke hard starboard, yanking the controls and gritting his teeth.

When he leveled out, he flipped his weapons over and started picking off the droid ships.

Luke smiled at Gavin's technique even as he was busy with his own group of fighters.

"You fly like Biggs did," he said.

"Don't make me blush while I'm flying," Gavin said, amused and finger still flicking over the weapons button.

Luke chuckled as he looped easily over a ship coming up his tail and shot it into oblivion before starting a run towards the command ship.

He was very, very good at what he did, even if it never really occurred to him to boast about it.

"Right behind you," Gavin said, taking out another droid ship before swinging in just behind and to Luke's left.

Luke shot down a few more ships, then took out a quad gun that had been getting a little too accurate for his comfort before dropping behind Gavin. "Skywalkers always get to take the big shots," he said. "I think it's time the Darklighters get a chance."

"You sure?" Gavin asked, craning his neck to look at Luke.

Luke gave him a big smile in return. "I'm sure."

"Thanks," Gavin said before pushing the ship forward and sweeping towards the command ship. "Everything look clear?"

You're all clear, kid, now let's blow this thing and go home...

Luke grinned at the memory as he swept out to protect Gavin's flank. "Blow this thing and go home," he said.

"As good as done," Gavin said, barreling forward before flicking off two shots. "Go in go in go in."

When the shots connected dead on, Gavin gave a sharp laugh before turning the ship around. "Got it!"

"Yeah, you did," Luke said, grinning as the command ship exploded behind them. "It's practically a Death Star."

Well, no, but Luke was being nice.

"Not really," Gavin said, still smiling, "but thanks for saying so."

Flight & Flying [Friday, June 8, 2nd period]

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