Five times the past came back to bother them, and once it gave them happiness
Part 3 of The Lies We Told Each Other
Tom, Pete, and Sarah have complex personal histories. Here are five times her past landed the Kazansky-Mitchell family on other people's radar. Some mistakes, some pain, a lot of courage to move on.
Fandoms:
Top Gun (Movies), Law & Order: SVU
Relationships:
Sarah Kazansky/Tom "Iceman" Kazansky/Pete "Maverick" Mitchell
Characters:
Sarah Kazansky, Tom "Iceman" Kazansky, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, Elliot Stabler, Olivia Benson, John Munch, Donald Cragen, Monique Jeffries, Brian Cassidy, Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw, Chester "Hammer" Cain
Additional Tags:
Crossover, 5+1 Things
INDEX: https://palabraspulsares.blogspot.com/p/the-lies-we-told-each-other-3-five.html
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Chapter 2: The
day Mav flew faster than hate
Summary:
October 2000, Mav works on the X-35 test flights at Edwards Air Force Base and faces harassment from officers who see him and think of Duke Mitchell, the traitor.
That morning, Sarah braids his hair.
"I want you to wear something of mine," she says while arranging the locks with setting cream and skillful fingers.
Mav doesn't say anything; he just enjoys her caresses while looking at her through the mirror. He knows she's nervous, and nothing can calm her down until he calls her from Edwards Base. So he keeps quiet and lets her do it.
When she finishes, she leans on his back and hugs him. He turns his head and kisses her on the lips.
"Everything is going to be fine," he assures her.
She pulls away and nods vigorously, trying to convince herself.
Mav regrets being unable to explain that the chances of the X-35 failing today are much lower than on the deck of any aircraft carrier with an F-18. All Navy jets are years old, and they are the fastest-aging combat aircraft. The rapid acceleration of a catapult launch and the controlled crash at the heart of aircraft carrier landing maneuvers create irreparable stress fractures.
Instead, the Lockheed X-35 is entirely new. The prototype's monetary, military, and engineering value means that it has been thoroughly inspected, and its technical specificities discussed, revised, and tested countless times. The X-35 flies. There's no doubt about it. So today will be the first flight, but Mav is not in danger today.
Of course, he won't tell her that he will start to be in danger tomorrow when they begin to carry out genuinely complex maneuvers to test the capabilities of this plane. Although carefully orchestrated, it is during tests to discover the aircraft's limits that anything can hapen.
It's still early morning, but he must arrive at 9:30 a.m. Skunk Works is three hours away. He barely finishes breakfast when the horn of the company car sounds.
"At least you won't leave on the Kawasaki," Sarah sighs and hugs him before letting him go.
He holds back the urge to kiss her because they are on the ground floor, and they have strict rules for that. So he just grabs the suitcase and heads to the door. Before crossing the lintel, he turns to her.
"I love you."
The drive to Antelope Valley is a long one. Lulled by the engine and isolated by the dark windows, Maverick falls asleep again. When the car turns off, his fighter aviator reflexes are activated, and he wakes up in one go without drowsiness. Outside, the sun shines, reflecting on the desert sand.
"Thank you," he says to the driver before getting out of the car and addressing the group bustling around the X-35.
The first to notice him is Ed Beurer, the ensembling manager. He interrupts his conversation with Rezabek, the lead engineer, and waves his arm at him. Rezabek turns around quickly, a frank smile on his face.
"Pete, you're here!"
The pilot makes a mocking face and allows himself to be hugged.
"Yes, Rick, I am here. I remember you promised me a plane two years ago, and I came to see how things were going."
Rezabek laughs but turns away and points towards the hangar door, where the plane already has half its body out.
"How about?"
When he saw the model in Vice Admiral Garcia's office more than two years ago, Pete thought it was what was expected of a modern fighter jet. The lines were elegant, the profile gently curved to avoid air resistance, and the wings not precisely like those of the F-18 but a little thinner. Finally, he gasps in front of the full-scale multifunctional X-35.
The chief engineer notices his reaction, laughs, and shakes his shoulder.
"Do you want to take her for a walk?"
"I think I'm committed, right?"
Beurer and Rezabek nod proudly and bring him closer to the jet.
Two hours later, Mav has handed over his luggage to the security team, is in his flight suit, and is finishing the final security check. On the runway, two F-18s prepare to take off. They are the control planes, which will accompany him on the flight to Edwards Base to monitor and observe the aircraft's performance and notify of any details that the team on the ground cannot detect through the computers.
"Pete" -Beurer approaches him with a small wrapper.
"What's up, Ed?"
"This is a Lockheed tradition," the man explains as he offers him the package, "take my wallet, my car keys, and the wallets of the rest of the X-35 senior team." You'll give them to us when we meet at Edwards Air Force Base. Okay?"
Mav takes the wrapper, honestly moved.
"Okay."
"Well, I have to go. By land, it is almost forty minutes."
They hug each other.
Mav says goodbye.
Pete feels the adrenaline flowing and sharpening his senses as he begins takeoff maneuvers. As a pilot involved in developing the X-35 since 1998, he has spent countless hours in the simulator. There, he proposed the craziest stunts and the most dangerous atmospheric conditions, but he always knew that any error would only be a report for engineering and programming. That didn't quite prepare him for the feeling of the real X-35 vibrating in his hands.
Already in the air, his escorts are located on each side. Simon Hargreaves is a retired British Royal Navy pilot hired by the company for his experience with Harrier vertical lift and descent maneuvers. Paul "TP" Smith is, like Mav, on loan to Lockheed Martin from the US Air Force.
"Commander Hargreaves, Lieutenant Colonel Smith," he says into the radio and waves to confirm eye contact.
"Commander Mitchell," Hargreaves responds, always sober.
"You look good, Maverick," comes Smith's playful voice. "Don't let it go to your head."
"Don't worry, TP, I'll let you play with my new plane tomorrow."
They both laugh until Hargreaves brings them back to reality.
"We have a schedule to meet, gentlemen."
"Sure," -Mav handles himself and proceeds to report. "Control, takeoff, and stabilization in the air completed without problems. Ready to head to my destination."
"Understood X-35. Everything looks good here. What do the scorts say?"
"No structural damage is detected on the upper and right parts," Hargreaves answers.
"No structural damage is detected in the lower or left parts," -reports Smith.
"Understood F-18 Hargreaves and F-18 Smith. X-35, proceed to destination."
"Understood control. Destination Edwards Air Force Base. ETA: 25 minutes."
Pete stops circling Antelope Valley and heads northeast toward Edwards. He ignores his heartbeat and carefully observes the landscape and control panel. Taped to the weapons console —still useless— is a sticky note listing the basic aerial maneuvers he must complete on the short 30-mile trip.
"Okay, TP, watch and learn," he announces before breaking to the right and sliding under Hargreaves with surprising smoothness.
As they move forward, they take turns and pass each other en route. Nothing excessive, nothing that puts too much strain on the newly released control systems and the fuselage. From the ground, the Edwards control base and the Lockheed convoy follow them in real-time.
After the first ten minutes, even the taciturn Hargreaves relaxes. They managed to take flight more than a month after the Boeing prototype. Still, their performance is already better than the X-32: Rowdy had to suspend basic maneuvers and land because his escorts discovered a minor hydraulic leak on his inaugural flight. What a mess!
After 22 minutes, the X-35 lands at its new home, and shortly after, the escorting F-18s touch down.
Pete stays in the cabin with the excuse of checking the control panel one last time. He feels the adrenaline shock fade through his system, and random tremors begin to run through his body. Wow! He has done something that his father never did, that not even Ice has done: be the first to fly a new, literally unknown plane.
As Sarah fearfully bid him farewell today, he realized one of his quirks. Vance Coffman saw it through his file's overlapping notes of skill and insubordination: Pete "Maverick" Mitchell constantly pushes the limits. It never occurred to him to fear for his life during these years of building the X-35 because what is exciting to a test pilot would be pure terror to most people.
This Tuesday, October 24, 2000, is definitely a good day.
Pete looks outside. Several people have already approached and are waiting for him to get off the plane. After recognizing some faces, he moderates his expectations for the rest of the day.
This morning was good, the rest of the day… We'll see.
In any case, no one can take away the satisfaction of the first flight. Pete is sure that Lockheed will win the Joint Strike Fighter program. The X-35 is as smooth to guide as a baby and powerful as a dragon.
He takes a deep breath and finally lift the cabin.
The applause begins when he stands up to reach the descent ladder. At the foot, Beurer is waiting for him.
"What a plane!" -Pete exclaims, unable to contain himself, as he goes down.
His steps are cautious because he knows that the drop in adrenaline can affect his coordination, but his voice does not shake.
"We did it, man, we did it. What a thrill!"
The assembly manager takes him into his arms when Pete hits the ground. Surprised, the pilot remains still for a moment before returning the gesture.
"I'm sorry," says the red-haired giant. "I had to hug you, I had to hug you. It's seven years of our lives in this, Pete."
Mav pats him on the back and gently pulls away. He runs into Rezabek, who also looks ready to cry. Try to lighten the atmosphere.
"You set me up. How can I return to the F-18 now?"
Rick Rezabek nods.
"We arrived in time to see you make the last turn before landing. God, she looked so amazing."
"It felt great," Mav confirms. "It was great, yes. Thanks a lot for the trust."
"Do you think that…?"
"Yes, the plane is ready. It feels perfect."
Rezabek rubs his hands, satisfied.
"We are going to fly on this plane and kick ass every day. That's all there is."
"Not so fast, Rezabek."
Pete involuntarily tenses. He wants to take any of the jets around him and fly far away, but he turns and salutes.
"Rear Admiral Steidle, sir."
Steidle's inquisitive gray eyes linger on Pete for a moment. To those who don't know anything about their previous relationship, it would seem that he is only disdainful towards a commander with no political relevance. Mav can see the same unjustified dislike as always. Because Rear Admiral Steidle doesn't hate Pete Mitchell but the ghost who always accompanies him, Duke Mitchell.
Oblivious to the glances loaded with meaning, to the long and spiteful memory of the Navy, Rick Rezabek smiles proudly.
"I'm not going fast. I'm going at the perfect pace, rear admiral. My team and I have a lot betted on the X-35. This program will end up running from now until the year 2050, long after I retire. The performance of this aircraft will change history."
"Your engineering team has certainly done a commendable job," Steidle admits with a small smile.
"Not just my engineers. Without Mitchell and Smith's recommendations, it would have taken us much longer to detect several problems in the programming." -Steidle's smile turns bitter, but the engineer does not notice. "Also, didn't you see how Pete flew up our plane?"
"Yes, I saw. Ready to take it anywhere, right Maverick?"
Pete can sense the implicit "to take it to our enemies," but it doesn't give him the satisfaction of acknowledging it. Two can play this game.
"I had gas for thirty more minutes. I could have flown to Top Gun at Fallon and greeted Viper."
The rear admiral purses his lips minimally, and Pete knows the dart hit its target. The entire Navy knows that Viper and his father were wingmen and that Commander Metcalf protects him should be evidence that he is not guilty of anything, except that hate knows no reason.
Steidle doesn't have time to respond as Vance Coffman arrives all smiles.
"Commander Mitchell, thank you very much. You have made our dream come true," he turns to the rear admiral without hiding his satisfaction. "My dear Steidle, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule and coming to our first flight."
"Mr. Coffman, I left the program's direction in 1997, but nothing could stop me from seeing it flourish. Boeing and you are really pushing the limit.
The CEO of Lockheed Martin nods diplomatically.
"Major General Hough is over there," he points to one of the F-18s, where a short, broad-shouldered man with brown hair is talking to TP and Hargreaves.
TP's face reflects growing discomfort, and Pete feels the protective impulse to go and interrupt the current Joint Strike Fighter Program Director´s interrogation. Seemingly casually, Rezabek puts a hand on his shoulder.
"I sugest we go to lunch.” Coffman continues.
Steidle raises his eyebrows, and his eyes become mocking.
"Is that appropriate?"
The CEO waves a hand with a dismissive attitude.
"Bah, eating at the Happy Bottom Riding Club is almost a must when visiting Edwards Base. Come on! Florence Barnes III awaits us with her famous lamb in basil."
Steidle nods, and they both walk off to find Hough at a leisurely pace. When they finally leave the area in a jeep, Mav feels his entire body relax.
"Will you ever tell us why half of the Navy's brass hate you?” -asks Beurer, who remained silent while his bosses maneuvered the always thorny issue of his pilot advisor.
"No."
"Well, it was worth trying. By the way, my wallet?"
Truth to his word, Rezabek's team has the Lockheed X-35 back in the sky the next day. A series of carefully orchestrated maneuvers test the capabilities enabled by its novel manufacturing and software. Pete alternates on flights with Paul "TP" Smith, who gives the Air Force´s perspective.
Fighter aircraft needs are different for the Marines, Navy, and Air Force, which was one of the major problems of the Joint Strike Fighter program. The Navy wanted the new jet to be twin-engine. The Marine Corps and Air Force wanted a single engine because it was much more affordable and reduced the weight. The critical difference is that you fly over the ocean in the Navy. If your only engine fails... well. Rear Admiral Steidle convinced the Navy to accept one-engine designs after the Joint Strike Fighter increased its specification requirements for engine reliability.
On the other hand, a Navy jet must achieve flight capability in the short space of an aircraft carrier's takeoff deck, which measures only 100 meters. Of course, they push you with a catapult, but the acceleration cannot fail when the big blue awaits you at the end of the track.
The X-35 tests are excellent, and the Boeing team loses its advantage daily.
Although the X-32´s first flight was on September 18, what everyone is talking about is that shortly after takeoff a minor hydraulic leak was discovered, and the inaugural flight was shortened to twenty minutes from the planned thirty or forty minutes. Commander Phil "Rowdy" Yates is one of the Navy's best, he's no magician. Other problems, small and large, have plagued the X-32's testing period. Although Boeing's public relations department does its best, the facts do not support them.
Instead, TP and Mav alternate testing the X-35 daily, and things are going great. Pete still feels the new plane is a docile dragon, but TP prefers another metaphor.
"Mav, I swear this has never happened to me. Just an incredible, constant amount of acceleration, right through your back," he told him dreamily after his first flight. “The feeling that I had a stallion in my hands that was ready to go anywhere, anywhere I wanted.”
Pete patted TP on the shoulder to wake him from his post-flight reverie.
"I hope your official report is less poetic," he mocked.
Of course, Pete misses his family, but the phone is a good resource. He calls home every afternoon when the children have returned from school. Sarah puts him on speaker on the dining room phone, and they talk while they have a snack. He listens to them with the kitchen noises in the background, and they tell him about the day's adventures as if he were there. He can only share a little of what he does with the X-35. It is a military secret. But does tell them anecdotes about his worldwide missions in the PG version, which satisfies them.
Since he was told the start date of the tests, he knew that he would miss Ice's monthly visit, and he accepted the idea. He consoles himself, thinking that at least Sarah and Ice will accompany Sam, Jake, and Sean on the Halloween tour. Brad is not going this year. He says he is sixteen and "too old" to go trick-or-treating. He was invited to a theme party at the home of another student from his high school.
In conclusion, if it were only for the tests with the X-35 and the management of homesickness, Mav would be fine. The problem is that he not only has to interact with the Lockheed Martin technical team but also with the representatives of the Joint Strike Fighter who observe the process.
Mav knows he has matured a lot since his years in Top Gun, but probably not since that summer of 1986 has his performance been studied with such attention and ill will. It's not just Rear Admiral Steidle. It's also the attitude of aviator John "Goat" Brotemarkle, NASA engineer Sam Wilson, and one of the representatives of the defense department, Paul Kaminski. Wilson and Kaminski are retired Navy aviators, which qualifies them for the job and prejudices them against Pete.
They are small things but constant.
When he lands, they never congratulated him on his performance.
When he presents reports, they always question his opinions and analysis.
When they meet in the base dining room, they sit nearby to chat politely with TP and ignore Mav.
At first, TP wanted to include him in the conversations, and realizing how belligerent the discussion sessions were, he tried to intervene, but Pete talked him out of it halfway through the second week at the base.
"I don't understand why you let them treat you like that, Mav," the pilot complained one afternoon when they were alone in the showers.
TP drops his towel as he starts to get dressed. They are sitting on benches in front of the lookers. Mav smiles as he brushes his freshly washed hair, only wearing a towel around his hips.
"Because it's not important, TP. They don't hate me. They hate an idea: Duke Mitchell's brat in the air. Nothing you say will make them see me differently. Coffman betted hard by choosing me for this project. It's not worth risking the X-35 for a couple of discourtesies."
"It's not rudeness," TP contradicts as he puts on his shirt, "it's abuse. Yesterday. You did the cobra maneuver without a mistake, and none of those who have ever been close to performing it said anything. They just huffed and made notes on their clipboards. Even Rowdy told you how good he looked. And he's supposed to want you to lose!"
Mav smiles at the memory. He ties his hair with a leather strip at the nape of his neck.
"Did it really look pretty?"
"Oh! You can't imagine. The PBC team was filming your movement on the radar screen and in the sky with their mouths open. I heard them whispering about winning an Emmy at your expense."
Pete nods, satisfied, and gets up to get the clothes out of his locker.
"That's the important thing."
"Yes," TP concedes, "but not the only important thing."
"You're right, but it's not reasonable for you to get on bad terms with an official from the defense department and another from NASA. You are young, and this assignment should boost your career TP. Don't make enemies by association. I will always fly with a ghost by my side. There is nothing you can do about it. So the next time Wilson and Kaminski talk to you, be a good soldier and smile.
TP makes a contemptuous face.
"I'm not sure who wins. They are not great conversationalists."
So, things have continued peacefully for three weeks, during which the X-35 met the certification schedule established by the Joint Strike Fighter program. Combat maneuvers, adaptability to short and long runways, aiming, radar, and even an extra one: aerial refueling certification. That was TP's turn since the X-35 uses the Air Force refueling system. It worked like a charm.
But there is something that continues to elude them: supersonic flight. Like aerial refueling, the Joint Strike Fighter does not require a demonstration of supersonic flight. But with only three more test flights left of its X-35, the entire Lockheed Martin team wants to hear the boom. Honestly, Mav wants to do it, too. He wants to see the faces of everyone who wants to see him away from his precious experimental plane when he steps out of the cockpit after breaking the sound barrier.
The flight is planned for the afternoon. Pete has a light lunch and meets with the rest of the team in the hangar. While Rezabek goes over the exercise instructions, he realizes he feels relaxed and safe.
He has braided his hair like Sarah taught him. His hair is reaching the middle of his back now -he stopped cutting it since he joined the reserves in April 1998 - and is one of the elements that distinguishes him in the base and that most bothers some of his detractors. They mutter about regulatory haircuts and martial appearances. But Ice and Sarah love playing with Mav's hair, in and out of the bedroom, so Mav will only cut it when he absolutely has to, in July of next year. Combing his hair the way his wife taught him and his husband liked is his way of keeping them in this exercise that, like the inaugural flight, has no comparison.
"Well, we have reached 0.98 match several times already. Today, we are going for the 1.5 match," -he looks seriously at his pilot. "Only 1.5, Mitchell. Have I been clear?"
He furrows his eyebrows with an innocent expression.
"When have I accelerated without reason?"
The whole team laughs around him.
During the pre-flight check, Steidle and Brotemarkle approach with their usual expressions of restrained displeasure.
"Ready to break the sound barrier, Mitchell?" -the rear admiral questions in a blasé tone.
Maverick is tempted to respond with something arrogant, to rub it in his face that his beloved Rowdy is riding the obviously losing horse, but years of family life have taught him to be discreet. So, deflect he must.
"You know the Lockheed Martin team, sir, they are overachivers. It's an emotional victory more than anything else."
"Yes, you need an emotional victory in the air because on the ground…" -Goat spits.
The entire team falls silent. Pete gets up from where he was checking the X-35's landing gear and slowly turns towards the officers. He just can't believe Brotemarkle would lose his composure like that in public. Judging by the murderous look Steidle gives him, the rear admiral is not happy either.
"My wife is on the ground, indeed. Do you have anything to say about the late Carole, Lieutenant Brotemarkle?"
Goat has the nerve to answer him.
"God save Carole because only He knows what she saw in you. On the other hand, as a parent, you must not be doing very well. I heard that Bradley Bradshaw didn't apply to the Naval Academy."
Oh! Oh really? He can't contain his laughter.
"If my son decides to follow his own path in life, Goat, instead of imitating me with a zombie, I think I did very well. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go fly." He arches his eyebrows and runs the tip of his tongue over his upper lip. "I will fly so fast that you won't be able to hear me when I get to your side. Then you'll know everything I can break."
Just as he expected, his flirtatious gesture provokes surprise and fear in Brotemarkle. The big man steps back as his face turns red. Steidle sighs and looks up at the sky. It seems like he wants to hit Brotemarkle over the head with his plastic clipboard.
The team's laughter accompanies Mav even after he boards the plane and closes the cabin because he can hear the laughter in flight control through the radio.
"Mav, I love you!" -the tower guard technician almost shouts at him.
"I swear," TP interrupts on the radio. "I thought Goat would have a heart attack and we would lose today's exercise."
"Please, it wasn't that bad. Let's be professional." -How is Pete the one calling for calm? "Control, do I have a free runway?"
"Wait a minute, Mav. I have the PBS team on the other line."
"The TV team?" -he knows they've been filming everything for a documentary about the approval process for the new fighter jet, but what do they have to do with this?
"Yes, they're asking who wants copies of the video of your uh... pass with Goat a few minutes ago before deleting it because, of course, that won't appear on TV."
"This is serious?"
"Very serious, Mav," -confirms TP. "Rowdy and I just secured our copies. You really got under the idiot's skin. Do you want a copy? Why am I asking? Of course, you want a copy! Do your thing with match 1.5. I'll take care of that."
Rowdy is with TP?! Now, this is delirious. Rowdy is the test pilot of the Boeing X-32. They are not supposed to have any contact!
"Okay, control here. Secured video. Commander Pete Mitchell, ready?"
"Commander Pete Mitchell, I request a runway for test flight number twenty-five of the experimental aircraft X-35."
"Understood Commander Mitchell. Runway free. Have a good flight."
After so many maneuvers, endurance tests, discussions about the X-35, and -Pete can admit it to himself- harassment, having an objective that will also be a gift for the team feels good. They have worked here almost 30 days, 7 days a week, 12 hours a day, and seeing nice things in the sky is good. Right?
However, the truth is that Maverick forgets all that when he turns on the afterburner to get the extra impulse and go supersonic. When he reaches match 1.5, he doesn't think about the numerous Navy officers who incessantly tell him this is not his place.
He thinks in Ice, Sarah, Brad, Jake, Sam and Sean, in Goose, Carole, Ray and Walter.
Maverick Mitchell breaks the sound barrier cradled by the love of his family.
Of course, the X-35's fuselage keeps it alive, but... we're talking about feelings.
How does the story end?
In January 2001, to demonstrate the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) capability of the X-35, Simon Hargreaves took off in less than 150 m, went supersonic, and landed vertically. As a result, on August 26, 2001, the Joint Strike Fighter program awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to develop and demonstrate the system for its experimental X-35 aircraft, renamed the F-35.
But this won't be the last time Mitchell helps develop experimental aircraft or participates in debates about the future of aerial combat. As early as the Fall of 2001, the government was talking about reducing the number of F-35 aircraft it would buy and spending more on unmanned combat aerial vehicles, a line of development led by Rear Admiral Chester "Hammer" Cain. And who is one of the leading builders of unmanned combat aerial vehicles? Boeing.
Notes:The history of the development of the F-35 as it occurred in this universe:
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_X-35
"Battle of the X-Planes". PBS documentary, February 4, 2003
Transcript: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/transcripts/3004_xplanes.html
INDEX: https://palabraspulsares.blogspot.com/p/the-lies-we-told-each-other-3-five.html
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