#big data in aviation

[its-vishnu-stuff]

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[jcmarchi]

Think tank calls for AI incident reporting system

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/think-tank-calls-for-ai-incident-reporting-system/

Think tank calls for AI incident reporting system

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The Centre for Long-Term Resilience (CLTR) has called for a comprehensive incident reporting system to urgently address a critical gap in AI regulation plans.

According to the CLTR, AI has a history of failing in unexpected ways, with over 10,000 safety incidents recorded by news outlets in deployed AI systems since 2014. As AI becomes more integrated into society, the frequency and impact of these incidents are likely to increase.

The think tank argues that a well-functioning incident reporting regime is essential for effective AI regulation, drawing parallels with safety-critical industries such as aviation and medicine. This view is supported by a broad consensus of experts, as well as the US and Chinese governments and the European Union.

The report outlines three key benefits of implementing an incident reporting system:

Monitoring real-world AI safety risks to inform regulatory adjustments

Coordinating rapid responses to major incidents and investigating root causes

Identifying early warnings of potential large-scale future harms

Currently, the UK’s AI regulation lacks an effective incident reporting framework. This gap leaves the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) without visibility on various critical incidents, including:

Issues with highly capable foundation models

Incidents from the UK Government’s own AI use in public services

Misuse of AI systems for malicious purposes

Harms caused by AI companions, tutors, and therapists

The CLTR warns that without a proper incident reporting system, DSIT may learn about novel harms through news outlets rather than through established reporting processes.

To address this gap, the think tank recommends three immediate steps for the UK Government:

Government incident reporting system: Establish a system for reporting incidents from AI used in public services. This can be a straightforward extension of the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS) to include public sector AI incidents, feeding into a government body and potentially shared with the public for transparency.

Engage regulators and experts: Commission regulators and consult with experts to identify the most concerning gaps, ensuring effective coverage of priority incidents and understanding stakeholder needs for a functional regime.

Build DSIT capacity: Develop DSIT’s capability to monitor, investigate, and respond to incidents, potentially through a pilot AI incident database. This would form part of DSIT’s central function, initially focusing on the most urgent gaps but eventually expanding to include all reports from UK regulators.

These recommendations aim to enhance the government’s ability to responsibly improve public services, ensure effective coverage of priority incidents, and develop the necessary infrastructure for collecting and responding to AI incident reports.

Veera Siivonen, CCO and Partner at Saidot, commented:

“This report by the Centre for Long-Term Resilience comes at the opportune moment. As the UK hurtles towards a General Election, the next government’s AI policy will be the cornerstone for economic growth. However, this requires precision in navigating the balance between regulation and innovation, providing guardrails without narrowing the industry’s potential for experimentation. While implementing a centralised incident reporting system for AI misuse and malfunctions would be a laudable first step, there are many more steps to climb.

The incoming UK government should provide certainty and understanding for enterprises with clear governance requirements, while monitoring and mitigating the most likely risks. By integrating a variety of AI governance strategies with centralised incident reporting, the UK can harness the economic potential of AI, ensuring that it benefits society while protecting democratic processes and public trust.”

As AI continues to advance and permeate various aspects of society, the implementation of a robust incident reporting system could prove crucial in mitigating risks and ensuring the safe development and deployment of AI technologies.

See also: SoftBank chief: Forget AGI, ASI will be here within 10 years

Want to learn more about AI and big data from industry leaders? Check out AI & Big Data Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. The comprehensive event is co-located with other leading events including Intelligent Automation Conference, BlockX, Digital Transformation Week, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo.

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Tags: ai, artificial intelligence, Centre for Long-Term Resilience, cltr, ethics, government, legal, regulation, safety, Society

[webmethodology]

Find out the impact of big data on the aviation sector. Learn how big data technologies are reshaping the future of aviation, from enhanced safety measures to improved passenger experiences.

[hopefullhearts]

Sickeningly Sweet [Scott Miller x Reader - Twisters]

summary: You are Tyler Owens' childhood best friend and member of his storm chasing crew. A storm outbreak means you and the gang cross paths with Storm Par on more than one occasion, and your sweet southern charm drives Scott crazy (in more than one way).

content warnings: somewhat heated kissing, no use of y/n, light name-calling/teasing, not proofread/bad writing (I have not written a fanfic in forever), bad taste in candy, & i think that is all!

word count: 3.5k

a/n: I have not written or posted on tumblr in SO long but I saw Twisters for the glenn powell craze and left with a scott/david corenswet obsession and these thoughts must come out of my head.

Shoutout to @hederasgarden and @sailor-aviator for leading the charge for the Scott girlies. All of their writings and drabbles inspired me to write this one, so check them out!

If people like this I might do a smutty part 2! I don't mind writing smut I just feel like it's not very good hahaha but let me know what you think!

--

You heavily resented the idea that guys and girls could not just be friends, because you'd be damned if Tyler Owens wasn't the best friend you ever had.

You met on the playground in Kindergarten. A boy pushed you off a swing, Tyler defended your honor, and the rest was history.

Tyler's overprotective streak made you view him like the brother you never had, and that's how your relationship remained. He was family, and that was that.

Tyler had always been interested in tornadoes, more specifically, how to track and predict them. You, on the other hand, hated science, including weather, but you loved the thrill of the chase.

In college, you studied marketing while Tyler studied meteorology. So, when Tyler had the idea to start streaming his storm chases, you were right there with him to help grow his brand.

Tyler knows he would be stupid not to credit you with all his success. You set up his streaming account, you edited all the clips and drone footage to post to his social media after the fact, and you even gave him the idea for the "Tornado Wrangler" nickname.

Now that everything was off the ground, you mostly put together streaming highlights and designed the merch, but you were right there in the backseat for every single chase, soaking up all the thrills.

This particular storm outbreak was expected to be a big one, so the whole crew strapped in for a week of bad weather, cheap motel rooms, and of course, a few run-ins with other chasers, including the guys from Storm Par.

"Storm Par's here." You said, gesturing to the fleet of white vans parked at the gas station you had just pulled up to.

"Of course they are." Tyler sighed. "There's probably going to be a lot of damage done by these storms for them to swoop in on. Just ignore them."

"No, we should be polite." You chastised him. "I'm gonna go say hi. Will you get me a cherry coke please?"

Tyler fought back an eye-roll, but nodded with a smile as you both got out of the car. "Of course."

Like everyone else in the crew, the Storm Par guys got on your last nerve. They were all a bunch of Ivy League grads who thought a more expensive degree made them better than everyone else.

However, being raised by your Mama, the epitome of Southern grace and charm, you always put a smile on your face and treated them with kindness. You even occasionally brought them food or coffee if you ran into them in the aftermath of a storm.

And even though you were blissfully unaware of the fact, this drove Scott absolutely mad.

"Hi Scott, Javi." You said cheerfully to the two boys in charge.

Scott replied with a grunt, but Javi was quick to greet you with genuine enthusiasm. "Hey! How are you?"

"I'm doing well." You nodded, smoothing your hands over your athleisure skirt. "Excited for a good chase today. How about you guys?"

"Us too." Javi nodded. "We're hoping to finally get some solid data collection today."

"Ah." You nodded, unsure what to say. You hated the idea of what they were collecting data for, but Javi seemed like a nice enough guy, and Tyler ripped on them enough for the both of you.

"Something on your mind there, princess?" Scott finally spoke, glancing away from his tablet to look down on you (literally and figuratively).

You rolled your eyes. While you would normally love to be called a princess, it always sounded like an insult coming from Scott, his voice always laced with a touch of venom.

"No, nothing at all." You smiled. "Just wondering if we'll see you guys in the aftermath if there's any damage done?"

"Why? Are you looking to increase your t-shirt sales?"

You bit your tongue, doing your best to hold your composure and not let him get to you.

"Nope, just trying to figure out if we need to make some extra to-go boxes for you guys." You decided to focus your gaze on Javi instead, finding him less intimidating.

Javi opened his mouth to speak, but Scott beat him to the punch. "I think we can find food on our own, thanks."

You took a deep breath, choosing your next words carefully. "Okay, well, the offer always stands if you change your mind."

Javi smiled and nodded. "As much as I want to see a good storm today, let's hope we don't have a ton of damage clean up."

You smiled. You knew he had a heart.

"That's something we both can agree on." You grinned. "Stay safe out there you guys!"

With that, you turned and walked away. Scott watched you go, your hair and skirt blowing side to side in the wind.

"Stay safe out there you guys." Scott mocked you under his breath.

"Yo, you don't always have to be a jerk to her, you know."

Scott gave him an unamused look. "She comes out here with her little boyfriend, selling his t-shirts and shit, and then skips over here like we're the best of friends with her thick southern accent. It's all fake."

"For one, I don't think Owens is her boyfriend." Javi corrected. "And two, I think she's just a genuinely nice person. She always says hello, even when everyone else in their crew ignores us like the plague."

"Whatever." Scott mumbled.

As you reached the truck, you took the ice-cold Coca-Cola bottle from Tyler's outstretched hand.

"Thank you!" You said excitedly, twisting the cap off to take a sip.

"How are dumb and dumber?" Tyler teased.

"Javi was nice." You informed him. "Scott was... there."

"Ah, yes." Tyler laughed. "Word on the street is he's a man of many words."

"Right." You agreed sarcastically. "But, when he does speak to me, he always calls me princess, and it drives me crazy."

"In what way?" Tyler said, failing to hold back a smirk.

It took you a moment to realize what he was implying, but when you did, you were mortified,

"Tyler Owens!" You gasped, your face flushing red with embarrassment.

""I'm just teasing you! You make it too easy." He laughed loudly. "In my defense, he looks like exactly like every boyfriend you've ever had."

Your face got even warmer, because he was exactly right. You had a weakness for tall, muscular, dark-haired men, and you especially loved a man who was a challenge.

"That is...irrelevant." You said, covering your face in your hands out of pure embarrassment.

Tyler held his hands up in surrender, as you rushed to talk about anything but Scott. "Let's just figure out what storm we're going after, you jerk." You insulted Tyler, but the smile on your face was ear to ear.

Scott watched the interaction from afar, and his chest twisted at your sickeningly sweet smile. Even if you weren't Owens' girlfriend, your closeness was evident. He ignored the burning feeling that was rising within him, not wanting to question why it was there in the first place.

Tornadoes were scary, but trying to understand how he felt about you? Terrifying.

"Alright, boss man, which storm are we chasing?" Javi pulled him out of his thoughts with a hand clapped on his shoulder, and he finally pulled his gaze away from your smile, the sound of your laughter fading into the background.

--

The storm was bad.

It hit a small town of about 3,000 people, and you estimated based on the initial damage scene that it was an EF3 at best, maybe even an EF4.

You were currently handing out anything that might be helpful to families who had been impacted by the tornado - blankets, water, heat lamps. pre-made sandwiches and cookies. You tried to offer them any comfort you could with a smile and hug, but you understood the devastation they felt all too well.

In the early days, you would try to help with the damage cleanup, but Tyler insisted that you stay back at the camper and talk to the families.

At first, you were insulted, and you thought that Tyler was insinuating you weren't strong enough to move heavy tree limbs or pieces of drywall. You finally asked him about it one day, and he laughed.

"Absolutely not!" He insisted. "You just have this energy around you that's calming, and these families need that. Your empathy and kindness are doing much more for them right now than cleaning up a bunch of rubble would."

You had never thought of it like that, but once Tyler pointed it out, it became your mission to be the solace that these families in crisis needed.

"Is there anything else we can do for you, Mrs. Smith?" You asked, rubbing the arms of a middle-aged woman who you had been speaking to for a few minutes now.

"No, thank you." She sniffled. "I really appreciate you guys being here. God bless you."

You smiled, giving her another hug. "Please let us know if there's anything more we can do to help."

She nodded, walking away to join her family, who were staring at the remains of their house.

You pushed back tears, feeling silly that this never got any easier for you, but also focused on being the anchor that these folks needed.

Scott saw you before you saw him. He watched you from afar as you did your work. He watched you force a smile and hold these people as they cried. He also watched you look up to blink back the tears before taking a deep breath and moving on to the next.

And damn if it didn't drive him nuts.

This job is easier when he doesn't get involved with the people impacted. It's easier to pretend not to care. But watching you pour your heart out to strangers, just because it's the right thing to do? It made his heart jump, and that scared him.

Ignoring the people involved and ignoring his feelings for you had become increasingly more difficult with every chase.

"Scott!" You called, approaching him with a styrofoam container in your hand.

He sighed, mentally preparing himself as you literally bounced over to him.

How the hell does someone look this good after taking on a tornado?

"Here." You offered him the container. "It's just a ham and cheese sandwich and a cookie."

"I'm really not hungry." He responded.

"Seriously?" You asked, not buying it. "We've all been chasing since 10 AM and it's nearly 8, you have to be hungry."

Scott shrugged, trying to hold back the things he really wanted to say.

"Fine." You sighed. "We're right over here if you change your mind."

"Yeah, I know princess. It's hard to miss you being the town's savior over there."

Scott watched you visibly retract and he internally screamed as his heart dropped. You probably hated him, but it didn't matter anyway. You were far too sweet for him, so putting a wedge between the two of you seemed to be the smartest way to outrun his feelings.

"Wow." You spoke, your voice much smaller and shakier than usual. "I knew you were sarcastic and maybe even a little mean, but I never thought you were actually cruel. So, thanks, for enlightening me."

And with that, you turned and strutted off. This time, you failed to fight back the tears as you returned to the camper.

And to your horror, Tyler was there, taking a break from clean up for some water.

When Tyler sees you cry, his overprotective streak comes out instantly, and right now you didn't want to be protected, because you were so embarrassed that he finally got to you. You were even more embarrassed that you thought that just maybe, he might be a good person under that scowl and hard facade.

"Hey, hey, hey, are you okay?" Tyler rushed up to meet you.

You nodded, trying to stop sniffling. "I'm fine."

Tyler looked behind you to see Scott watching you closely, with a look that almost mimicked longing, and he quickly put two and two together.

"Let me handle this." He insisted.

You shook your head in protest. "No, Tyler, please, he thinks I'm a waste of time anyways, it's not worth it."

"Trust me, he doesn't," Tyler reassured you. "Let me handle this, and if it goes badly, I'll edit all the stream highlights for the next two weeks, okay?"

"Deal." You nodded.

You truly did trust him more than anyone in your life, so you opted to go inside the camper and dry up your tears while he went to speak to Scott. You would let Tyler handle it, but no way were you going to stand there and watch, looking like a puppy who just got kicked.

"Coming to defend your girlfriend's honor?" Scott said sarcastically, trying to mask any emotion he was feeling.

"Dude, seriously." Tyler glared at him. "If you want her attention being a complete and total asshole is not the way you get it."

"Is that what you think? That I want her 'attention'?" He said, framing the last word in air quotes.

"Yeah, I do." Tyler nodded. "I saw the look you gave her as she walked away."

"Okay, so what?" Scott shrugged. "You might be surprised to know I am human and I didn't mean to make her cry."

"Sure." Tyler nodded. "So, what about all the other times I've caught you staring at her, hm?"

Scott stayed silent, stunned speechless.

"Ah, you thought you were better at hiding it, didn't you?" Tyler said with a smug grin. "Every time we end up at the same gas station, restaurant, bar, or motel, your eyes follow her nearly the whole time. And don't even get me started on the holes you burn into my head when I'm talking to her."

"Alright, fine." Scott snapped angrily. "Here to rub it in my face then?"

Tyler sighed in frustration. "No."

"Then what?"

"I'm going to give you a piece of advice."

"Why?" Scott scoffed. "It's no secret that we aren't friends."

"I know her better than anyone else, do you want my help or not?" Tyler asked, his patience nearing its limit.

Scott didn't protest this time.

"Look, no matter what I think about you, you're pretty much exactly her type," Tyler said, much to Scott's surprise. "So if you want her, apologize and tell her how you feel."

"She's not going to feel the same, and she deserves much better than me." Scott retorted. "C'mon Owens, you know what we do. When she comes floating into these broken towns like a heaven-sent angel, I'm collecting data for the devil."

"That doesn't have to be a permanent problem." Tyler pointed out. "Plus, she likes a challenge, and she's definitely brave enough to think she can fix you."

That cracked a smile from both of them, followed by a moment of silence.

"218." Tyler said.

"What?"

"That's the room she's staying in tonight." Tyler said, starting to walk away. "Apologize."

Scott nodded, beginning to formulate a plan on how the hell he was going to get you to forgive him.

--

You were snug under your blanket in the motel room watching reruns of Modern Family when the knock came.

You sighed and got up, not bothering to check the peephole as you assumed it was just Tyler coming to talk about the day's events.

So when you opened the door to see Scott standing there, you couldn't be more surprised.

"What are you doing here?" You said quietly, nearly breathless at the sight of him.

It wasn't the first time you had seen him outside of that stupid Storm Par white jumpsuit, but it was the first time you had seen him in gray sweatpants and a tight black long-sleeve shirt that clung to his muscles in a way that you could only describe as sinful.

He towered over you, leaning against the frame of the doorway, and you nearly shuddered when you looked up to meet the intense gaze in his eyes.

"I brought you something. As an apology for being an ass earlier today."

"Oh, and what did you bring for all the other times?" You spat back, no longer in the mood to play nice with him.

"I deserve that." He sighed. "Can I come in?"

"Depends." You responded, and he raised an eyebrow. "What did you bring me?"

He handed you a plastic bag, and you opened it to find a Cherry Coke, Sour Patch Kids, and a Honey Bun.

All of your favorites.

"How did you know what I like?" You asked, curious to know if Tyler was behind this.

"You always get some combination of the three at any local gas station." He shrugged.

He remembered because the first time he saw you buy all three he physically rolled his eyes, because, of course, you would buy snacks just as sickeningly sweet as you.

"I didn't know you paid this much attention to me." You said softly.

"Yeah." Scott inhaled a sharp breath. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Can I please come in?"

You opened the door, inviting him in with the gesture. The door shut behind you, and there was a brief moment of silence between you two.

"I'm sorry, for being a jerk today and every other time I'm around you." Scott started, visibly nervous as he ran a hand through his hair. "I wish I had a better explanation for why I've been such an ass."

"Yeah, so let's hear it." You said, hands on your hips. "Because I have been nothing but nice to you, even though I don't like who you work for and what they stand for."

"I know." He nodded. "At first, I thought you were being fake or sarcastic because it was unfathomable to me that you would be nice to us when you have absolutely no reason to be."

You nodded, encouraging him to continue.

"But once I learned more about you, and I realized you were being genuinely nice," Scott took a deep breath, building up all his courage. "It knocked me off my feet."

"What do you mean?" You asked, confused at what he was getting at

"I spend most of my time pretending that I don't care about the people that are devastated by all of this, because it's easier that way. But watching you bear your heart and soul to all of these people, just because you can?" Scott scoffed. "It makes it hard to pretend like I don't care about them, or more importantly, about you."

"You care about me?"

"I do." He nodded. "And I was a jerk to you because I thought it would be easier to make you hate me than it would be to admit that I have feelings for you, when you're far too good for me."

His admission stunned you. You can feel your heart thumping out of your chest as you look into his eyes, which look painstakingly vulnerable.

"I completely understand if you don't feel the same way, but I couldn't outrun these feelings anymore, and I wanted to at least let you know that I'm sorry."

The room fell silent as you processed everything he just told you. Scott was panicking inside, waiting for what felt like years for you to say something, anything.

"Do you know why I was always nice to you?" You asked him. "Because I was hoping that somewhere in there you had a good side. I needed to know that you had a heart before I could admit to myself that I felt drawn to you."

"Do you still? Feel drawn to me?"

You nodded. Stepping closer to him so that you were nearly face to face.

"Can I kiss you?"

"Please." You nodded desperately, your words barely above a whisper.

His lips were on yours in a flash, and the pure intensity of the kiss nearly knocked you off your feet. It was heated and rough, but somehow gentle and passionate at the same time. His thumb grazed your cheek as he pulled you closer, and every spot his fingers touched made your skin feel like it was on fire. You couldn't get enough of him.

Once he knew you were comfortable, he took the liberty of exploring you more. His tongue slipped into your mouth gently and his teeth caught your bottom lip, causing a small whimper to come from the back of your throat.

Scott groaned at the sound, letting his mind imagine (not for the first time) all of the sounds he could pull from you.

When the two of you finally pulled away for air, he kept you close, his hands ghosting under your chin around your neck, forcing you to meet his eyes.

"You taste just as sweet as I thought you would," Scott said with a smirk.

"Shut up and kiss me again."

[newwritergirl]

Starting over | Part 19

Materlist

Summary: The pilots are finally on their way back home. Y/n can't wait to finally have Bradley and Jake back for good. But a looming shadow is out there to destroy everything, to destroy her.

Trigger warnings: 18+, Minors DNI, attempt SA, violence against women, blood, injuries, throwing up, language

A/N: This chapter is really heavy, please read the warnings!!! Thanks for the support :)

Word Count:4.2k +

Two weeks. It is Monday and Bradley and Jake are gone for two weeks now. Both aviators dearly miss their girlfriend and with not being able to contact her in any way their yearning increased every day they stayed on the carrier. But to be honest, at least they have themselves. Y/n on the other hand was alone. Okay, not really alone, she has Bob and Javy back home but Hangman and Rooster suppose that her nights alone must have been really lonely for the young woman. They just hope that everything is okay back home, that their girlfriend his healthy, physically as well as mentally.

"Lieutenant Commanders, take a seat!" The Commander of the aircraft carrier sits at his small desk in the belly of the big Navy ship.

"First of all I want to thank you for your good work the last two weeks. As you know we are on our way back to the mainland which means that you will leave us." The Commander tells them. They already know that their deployment is finally over and that they will be back home in the next hours. Thank God. Both aviators can't wait to see their girl shortly.

After the last meeting with the commanding officer of the aircraft carrier they start to pack their bags and literally count the last hours on the cramped ship.

---

To say Monday started crazy was an understatement. The whole datacenter of the Navy base had failed and y/n tried her best to keep the damage at bay. She had countless phone calls with It-support members of other Navy bases but even in the late afternoon she knows that she has to stay much longer to get everything back on track.

"You're still here, sunshine?! What happened to make it a short Monday?" Bob says when he steps into her office. He just ended the flight training with Javy and the recruits and had a short talk with Mav. Fortunately the older man told him that he banned Welsh from the base and gave him an arduous task to do at home. Evaluating flight data is the perfect assignment to do from home and to make it even harder to take for Welsh, Mav called him numerous times during the day to check how much he really worked at home. He just hoped he can keep up the charade until the Admiral is back in some days.

"Hey Bobby. What can I say, I wanted to stick to the plan, but then the whole datacenter broke down. I'm still trying to save some lost data. Probably until midnight…" Y/n says with an exhausted sigh. She was more than tired but she can't just leave for the night when she knows that her task is not finished yet.

"Ehm…did you hear something from Jake and Bradley? I mean, did Maverick tell you something?" The young woman looks up from her computer and into the warm eyes of her aviator friend.

"Hey. What's that sad look, sunshine. It's already two weeks. They will be back soon, believe me. Mav just mentioned that there was no message that their deployment will be extended. So I guess you will hear from them in the next days." Bob tries to reassure her. Unfortunately the pilots were not able to contact their friends and family back home to tell them they're on their way back, so it will probably be a huge surprise when they step into the base tomorrow.

"Okay, that's good news, isn't it? They will not be away for more weeks?" Y/n asks hesitantly. She doesn't want to come across too desperate but after the Welsh disaster she is more than ready for her boyfriends to be back home. The feeling of being unsafe and watched just increased over the last days even when she stayed the weekend with Robert.

Bob takes a step around y/n's desk and squeezes her shoulder softly. "No, in that case the Commander of the carrier would've messaged Mav or the Admiral. After all we are short staffed because Nat, Rooster and Hangman are away."

---

Bob left shortly after y/n reassured him that he can leave her alone. She doesn't want keep him any longer at base and she drove herself to work so there's no reason for Bob to stay any longer at work than necessary. Of course she has a bad feeling in the back of her mind but she tries to keep her panic and bad feelings at bay. She is a grown woman, she has to stay strong for God's sake.

The vibration of her mobile which lays beside her on her desk makes her flinch. The last days she didn't receive any anonymous messages but the bad feeling lingers still in her mind. She hesitantly grabs her phone but lets out a sigh of relief when she sees the sender of the message:

Pete Mitchell: Hello y/n, I hope you're already at home and not still at base. Please don't stress yourself over the lost data… Well I have good news, I just got an Email from the Commanding Officer of the USS Harry Truman and told me, that Rooster, Hangman and Phoenix will be back home tomorrow.

She can't believe her eyes and read the text more than three times. Jake and Bradley are coming back tomorrow?

Y/n: Hello Mav, thank you so much. That are really good news. And yes I'm still at base but I'm almost finished with saving the data.

Pete Mitchell: Y/n, please go home. We don't want you overworked or getting sick from the stress. Please go home!

Y/n: Yes Sir! Thank you for the good news. See you tomorrow. Tell Penny I say 'hi'!

Pete Mitchell: Of course. Good night!

They're really coming back. A warm feeling is spreading through her body. The painful feeling of loneliness and missing her boys is finally over. The young woman decides to call it a night to be somewhat rested when Jake and Bradley come back tomorrow. She can't help herself but imagine finally sleeping with them in one of their beds again. Their warm bodies caging her in a blanket of love and warmth. Y/n smiled to herself as she starts to pack her bag and shutting off her computer for the day when a loud bang startles her.

She knows this noise, it's the metal door of the back entrance of the office building. She absolutely hates it when someone bangs the heavy door it always startles her when she's deep in thought during work. But now it's different. It's too late for someone being at the office building, Mav, Javy and Bob are already at home and the Admiral is still at the conference. Her heart starts to beat a bit faster when she thinks about the person who enters the office building that late in the evening. Could it be a recruit who forgot something and just came back? Or it's Bob looking after her and wants to give her a lecture that she's still at work. Y/n hurries and shoves all her stuff in her bag but she lets out a shriek when her office door suddenly opens with a bang, hitting the wall.

Her eyes widen in surprise and fear.

"Hello, darling. I knew you would be here when I checked your home and this pile of junk of a car was not there" The man kicks the door shut and steps closer to her. Y/n stands behind her desk frozen in shock. What is he doing here? He is not supposed to be here.

"Cat got your tongue? You're getting ruder, darling. Not talking to me… bawling your eyes out and playing the damsel in distress for Maverick… You know what happened?"

Welsh rounds the desk, making y/n back away but there's no way she can go, her back is nearly at the wall behind her. The young woman's body starts to shake, she feels like a small animal cornered by her biggest enemy. She looks at the ground not daring to look the man in front her in the eyes.

"ANSWER ME!" Daniel screams and now stands so close to y/n, nearly toe to toe, making her jump. Big hands are shoving her shoulders, her back hitting the wall painfully behind her. Fortunately she can prevent her head from making contact with the wall. She needs a clear head, she needs to form a plan to escape before the man in front of her escalates further. Y/n knows that she has to look up and talk to him. Her ex always escalated when she stayed silent and didn't look at him. She slowly lifts her head. An ugly smile is spreading on Welsh's face when her gaze lands on his face. She can feel her whole body shaking like the temperature fell under the freezing point. The man takes another step closer if this is even possible and grabs y/n's chin painfully in one of his hands, squeezing and lifting her face further. His face is so close to hers that she can smell and feel his hot breath.

"Please…" An almost inaudible plea tumbles out of her mouth. She pinches her eyes shut. This has to be a dream. Maybe she fell asleep at her desk or even at home in one of the boys' beds. This can't be happening to her, not again.

"Oh she actually can talk." Welsh laughs into her face his tight grip on her face never loosening. "So, I like my women polite and 'please' is just the right start."

A tear is making down the way over her cheek. Y/n feels the blood rushing in her ears and her heart painfully hammering in her ribcage. Her body is in escape mode. She needs to flight out of this situation but she feels like she's glued to the spot. Where could she even go? The bigger man in front of her has her in an iron grip and is blocking her way with his whole body caging her against the wall behind her.

"Darling, why the crocodile tears? I know you want it just as much…" He licks over her right cheek, tasting her salty tear.

With all her strength she tries to shove Welsh away from her. Bile is creeping up her throat after she felt his tongue licking over her cheek. She catches him by surprise when she pushes him away and he stumbles a step backwards. But before she can make a beeline to escape his looming shadow he pushes her forcefully against the wall. This time she has no chance to catch herself and her head bangs painfully against the wall, leaving her dazed and with a ringing in her ears. Before she can get her bearings back a big hand is squeezing her throat and keeping her once more in place.

"Always playing hard to get, but at home you're fucking two Navy men." He squeezes a bit harder, his rage clearly audible in his voice. Y/n struggles for breath, scratching at the man's hands which have her in a bruising grasp. So he clearly knows that she is in a relationship with Jake and Bradley. But y/n couldn't care less, in that moment she just tries to fight for her life. When her eyes start to roll back into her head due to oxygen deprivation Welsh loosens his tight grip he has around her throat.

"Oh no, darling. We are not going to sleep." And with a hard slap to her face he brings her back to reality. Her head flies to the side and she instantly feels her cheek bruising and her head ringing. The taste of iron is spreading in her mouth. His loosening hand makes her sputter for air. With painful gasps she tries to get as much oxygen in her lungs. She is not a stranger to pain and no stranger to these situations. The huge amount of pain she already has endured is enough to fill more than only one life. Here she is again, at the hands of a monster with no way to escape.

"You really have a thing for pilots, don't you? But these cowards you have at home… now you have a real man here. Did they fuck you here at base? I bet not…" Welsh grabs her painfully strong at her shoulders to maneuver her to her desk but y/n kicks out her legs and smashes her smaller fists into his chest.

"You fucking bitch…" The man gets more furious with the woman fighting back. He tosses her smaller body with so much force that her forehead ends up on the wooden desk with a loud crack and she stays face down on the furniture she worked at only minutes ago. The already lingering pain in her head only increasing with the huge force her head cracked on the wood. A small puddle of blood is already forming under her head. It feels like her head is on fire shrouded in blanket of painful fog. A loud cry is piercing through her office when she feels Welsh's fist connecting to her lower back. She must've blacked out from the pain in her kidney where his punch was placed strategically. He grabs a fistful of her hair when he bends over the small woman laying on the hardwood desk, whispering into her right ear. "I prefer sluts like you six feet under, but I'm really happy that Michael was too dumb to finish what he started. I think you have potential to become a good little pet." His hot breath makes her shudder.

He knows everything of her, he knows her past, her pain and her traumas. And he's using it against her now. His words make her head spin even more and she closes her eyes to ease the severe dizziness. She's sure that she has a concussion and now and also some damage to her lower back and at worst to her damaged kidney too. With a sudden shove he flips y/n on her back and his hand is instantly back around her throat keeping her in place. The young woman is almost certain that she's not going to survive this evening. She sees the pure rage and hate in the eyes of the man towering above her, holding her in the laying position on her desk.

Welsh is satisfied when he sees the blood dripping down y/n's face and her bruised cheek where he slapped her earlier. 

"You know y/n y/ln, the first time I saw your cute ass and beautiful face I just knew that you were a slut." Welsh steps between her legs. With all her strength the woman tries to shut her legs but still dazed and oxygen deprived she can't seem to have the slightest chance against the evil man.

"Such a good body…" Daniel loosens his grip around her throat making her sputter again for air. His hands wander down her body, stroking over arms. The hot touch of his big hands make her shudder. It's nothing compared to the loving touch of her two boyfriends. His touch feels dangerous, painful and absolutely disgusting. His hands stroking up and down her shaking arms, he clearly enjoys y/n's desperate look and the tears streaming down her face. He grabs the collar of her white blouse and with one forceful pull he ribs it open, exposing her heaving chest.

"STOP!" Y/n screams and tries to punch the man with her fist. She can catch him in his face with her fist but unfortunately not strong enough to cause any damage.

Her attempt to fight him makes him only more furious and another hard slap lands on her already bruised face, this time catching her higher near her eye.

"You fucking bitch…" His other fist lands a painful punch on her side. She is sure he cracked some of her ribs. Gasping for breath and whimpering y/n whishes Michael had killed her years ago but images of her boyfriends come to her mind. The countless happy moments, their warm embraces, their strong but not dangerous holds they had on her during the night. She needs to fight. She needs to fight to come back to them. She doesn't want to be a victim and sure as hell she doesn't want Welsh to kill her.

With one of her hands she searches for the heavy paperweight she has on her desk. Jake and Bradley gave it to her last year for her birthday. It's shaped like a plane and made of bronze. Both were so proud that they found that useless thing on a junk market. Her fingertips touch the cold metal figure but she is not close enough to grab it and bring it into her hand. When she hears a zipper being pulled down she looks up and sees Welsh opening his trousers. It's now or never. She stretches her arm a bit ignoring the pain in her back and her ribcage where her ribs are probably broken. But it's still not enough to embrace her chosen weapon with her small hand. With another glimpse at the man towering over her she sees him distracted, fumbling with his crotch and his briefs. She has to act fast otherwise he steals the last spark of dignity from her. With a sudden move she raises one of her legs and kicks as hard as she can, hitting Welsh directly into his crotch. With a loud scream he scrambles back. Distracted from the pain in his private parts y/n is finally able to get the paperweight from her desk. In a daze, like she's observing the whole scenario like a bystander, she pushes herself up from her laying position on her desk and smashes the bronze figure on Daniel's head. With a loud thud he falls to the ground, his hands still holding his crotch. Y/n is out of breath, her lungs painfully squeezing themselves but she has no time to catch her breath she needs to run. She can't wait for Welsh to come to and grabbing her again. The young woman holds her hand to her broken ribs and with her other hand she fists her bag and stumbles in the direction of the closed office door.

---

 The drive home in Bradley's Bronco was a blur for y/n. She doesn't even know how she got to the parking lot and when she recognizes the driveway of their shared home it's more than a miracle that she was really able to get there without crashing the car. The Bronco comes to an abrupt stop, standing in y/n's beloved rose bed in their front yard with one tire. During the whole drive she didn't seem to feel the majority of the pain but now stumbling out of then car she cries out when she strains her back too much. Welsh punched her really heavy into her damaged kidney and now she's certain that at least some of her ribs are broken. Breathing is getting more difficult and her heart doesn't seem to stop racing when she fumbles with the keys to unlock the front door. Tears are blurring her vision, the concussion is making her head swim more and the dizziness makes it nearly impossible to take a steady step into the house when she's finally able to open the door. After locking the door behind her she stumbles into her bedroom, not bothering to turn on the light. It's already dark outside but y/n has no idea what time it is. For how long did Welsh assaulted her? Minutes, hours? Is it still evening or already night? The clock on her night table reads 11:56 pm but the whites spots dancing in front of her eyes make it impossible for her to see properly. Her hands are still shaking badly but she manages to lock her bedroom door. Too afraid that Welsh is looking for her and tries to break into their house. She stumbles further into her bedroom but on the way to her bathroom her knees give out and with a painful thud she falls to the floor. A heart wrenching sob escapes her throat. She still feels Welsh's hands chocking her until she was on the verge of unconsciousness, his hot disgusting touch roaming over her arms before he ripped her blouse. She feels the nausea coming back. Y/n knows she needs to throw up in the next minutes so she crawls the rest of the way into her bathroom and finally empties her stomach into the toilet in front of her. The heaves are painful and it feels like it's ripping her broken ribs apart further. Her heartbeat is painfully hammering in her head.

With a shaking hand she wipes the cold sweat from her forehead. A searing pain makes her hand withdrawal from her head and another loud sob is heard in the bathroom when she sees her bloody hand coming back from her forehead. She's bleeding. Y/n remembers now how hard she banged her head on her desk when Welsh pushed her forcefully. In trance she looks at her trembling bloody hand, pictures of the recent abuse of the evil navy pilot dancing in front of her eyes, tears falling into her lap. Her gaze lands on her ripped blouse and despite the shock she has another reality sinking in: He tried to rape her. He ripped her blouse, he was ready to hurt her further, he already pulled his zipper down, ready to attack.

No longer strong enough to hold her aching body up she lets herself sink onto the cold tiles of the bathroom, weeping breathlessly. The cold tiles which are pressing against her cheek are soothing the pain she feels in her head.

---

Y/n doesn't know how she rested on the cold floor, neither does she know if she passed out or just fell asleep out of exhaustion. She slowly blinks her eyes open and is instantly greeted with pain. Her whole body feels like she is on fire, burning from the inside. She once more is aware of the blood on her hands and her chest. Her head wound must've bled more when she was unconscious.

Y/n sheds her ripped blouse from her shoulders, getting rid of one of the evidences that what happened to her earlier wasn't a painful dream. She looks down at her upper body. Huge hand shaped bruises littering her shoulders and arms. She still feels his disgusting touch so she crawls over to her shower and tries to get into a standing position. The young woman wants to wash away his touch, her blood, she wants to wash away the whole attack.

"J-Jake…Braad…" she whispers to no one. She knows that she needs help, probably medical attention. Y/n needs her boyfriends.

On shaky legs she stumbles into the shower and turns on the water before she slumps down again in too much agony to stay standing any longer. The warm spray of water soothing her tense muscles but the pain stays in her body like a bad omen. When the spray finally hits her head the water is slowly turning crimson, washing away some of the remains of the recent events.

Y/n stays in the shower until the water is slowly turning cold and she starts to shake violently, now from the ice cold water and not only from the shock of the events.

When she finally succeeds to turn off the spray of water she crawls out of the wet shower and wraps herself into her fluffy towel as best as she can.

There she is, laying on the floor shaking like a leaf in her wet underwear in only a towel, slowly slipping into unconsciousness.

---

"Bobby!" Phoenix squeals when she sees her friend in the distance.

"Hey, you're finally home." Robert embraces Nat into a tight hug. Since they're all permanent at the base stationed and instructors for new Navy pilots the Dagger Squad are a very tight knit group and these last two weeks separated once more showed them all how dearly they miss their friends when being apart.

"I wouldn't call this shithole home, Bob." Bradley grumbles but pats Bob's shoulder in a friendly manner.

"Oh come on. This base is homey, the carrier was a shit hole." Nat laughs at Rooster's bad mood and she knows for certain who pissed in his cereals. He wants nothing more than to see y/n and is more than pissed that the trip home took them a bit longer due to bad weather.

Jake squeezes the shoulder of his partner in a reassuring manner. He also can't wait to see y/n, to kiss and hug her as tight as possible.

"Come on Rooster. Let's surprise y/n. She's in her office isn't she?" The blonde aviator asks Bob when all four of them make their way towards the office building.

"I think so, it's…" Robert looks at his watch, "…already 0930. Didn't have the chance to see her today. The crabs were eating our nerves today. You owe us, me and Javy." The younger man chuckles.

@djs8891

@darksparklesficrecs

@nerdgirljen

@abaker74

@crazyunsexycool

@itsarabellebabes

@lyn-js

[theambitiouswoman]

The Best Degrees for High Paying Jobs

I want to preface this with saying that getting a degree that aligns with career options that pay above average salaries does not guarantee than you will actually get those jobs, or those salaries. Several factors like demand, location, your skills, and work experience play a big role. In some cases, advanced degrees can also increase your earning potential.

However, if you want to get a degree to align you with a high paying job, these are the jobs/degrees that typically pay the best salaries.

Medicine: Doctors, Surgeons, Psychiatrists.

Dental: Dentist, Oral surgeons.

Law: Corporate lawyers, IP attorneys, Litigators.

IT and computer science: Engineer, IT Manager, Architect, Data scientist.

Engineers: Computer engineer, Chemical, Aerospace, Electrical.

MBA: CEO, Consultant, Development Manager.

Finance: Finance Manager, Analyst.

Statistics: Research Analyst.

Aviation: Pilot.

Pharmaceutical: Research Scientist, Sales Rep.

Architecture.

Physics: Physicist, Scientist.

Nurse: Anethetist, Nurse Practitioner, Hospital Admin.

Marketing.

[ronsenthal]

Being the nerd I am I was searching for some old maps that depict Easy Company path in the european theatre of war, didn't find any good one as so many cities were missing, just from top of my head (might as well do my own lmao), anyway, I've stumbled upon some nice resources, specialy from Airforce, like literally a guide on how to spot war planes.

So if any writer, design artists or just history/cartography nerds are out there and are interested you can find them on here and here and also this Aviation Atlas and a Guide on How to Identify Warplanes (as we are all excited about MoTA)

Also if you want to explore more data you can use the search engine and filter it to the time period you want to, (e.g I've searched for Europe in the WWII years) or whatever you want, it's such a big collection!!!!

If anyone has any trouble using the website or want to share cool maps or just wanna talk about it my ask box is always open

Have fun :)

[captain-academia]

Quotes from Aerospace Class

a collection of quotes from 8 semesters of aerospace engineering lectures

Spaceflight

“We have 20 chemical components in our rocket fuel. It’s like making a cake!” - Prof. for Rocket Propulsion

“So far everyone is calling it Project Gateway. For PR reasons it is illegal to call it little ISS” - Prof. for Human Spaceflight

“Why breathe?” - Prof. for Aerospace Medicine

“They also built Canadarm2 a little car - because why not?” - Prof. for Human Spaceflight

“And then they tell you: Boy! You are loosing bone mass!” - Prof. for Human Spaceflight

“It’s hard to be a combustion chamber” - Prof. for Rocket Propulsion

about model rocketry: “Never forget: Small boys have small toys and big boys have big toys to play with” - Prof. for Rocket Propulsion

“That’s the Combustion Chamber. You could easily hide in there!” - Prof. for Rocket Propulsion

question in class: "So what happens when there is an impending collision event between two satellites in orbit? Do the operators talk to each other or is it more like a high stakes games of chicken?"

Aviation:

"Now. How to make a small fortune? Easy. You first make a large fortune and then you buy an aircraft." - Prof. for Flight Operations

"An Animometer! It's quite obvious what that does!" - Prof. for Flight Operations "So I had to tell them: Sorry, I am a flight instructor. I would like to help but I don't have time to be your maintenance work slave." - Prof. for Flight Operations

Professor, shows video of an exploding aircraft: “The Pilots ejected safely, but the aircraft was not reusable” - Prof. for Structures and Elements

“Flying while unconscious is a bad idea in the long run” - Prof. for Aerospace Medicine

“I don’t remember what the light signals at airports mean... green is good red is bad and if they are shooting at you you flew into a military air zone” - Prof. for Flight Operations

Science & Theory

You don't care if I named this fluid particle Oscar or Barbara" - Prof. for Fluid Mechanics

"Computers are just annoying bullshit if you're trying to do computer science" - Prof. for Computer Science

Student: asks a question about an electric circuit Professor for Electrical Engineering: "There is no rule. It's just magic"

In an incredibly strong German accent: “I have to tell you a secret. When I was at uni - what like 52 years ago... is that right??? Nobody was using Tensors! And you see... I’m still alive! Tensors are not necessary for a happy life.” - Prof. for Mechanics

Prof. for Mechanics, explaining some formula: “What was that one guy called??” Someone: “Pythagoras?” Prof, delighted: YES!

“Electromagnetically speaking we live in a invisible world” - Prof. for Experimental Physics

"Math ASMR?" whispers “K-Vectorspace!” - Prof. for Linear Algebra

Bonus:

when asked about progress on his research: „There are also Business Guys… and they are really ugly! … YEAH! They don’t open their wallet! But I want [fancy carbon fiber material] for my project.“ - Prof. for Material Science

"They set in motion God and the World to support their cause. And by God I mean money and by World I also mean money" - Prof. for Geospatial Data

“Always google with open eyes” - Prof. for Computer Science

in strong Italian accent: “Guys... Why do you always need motivation? ... Are you depressed?” - Prof. for Basic Mathematics

[beardedmrbean]

WASHINGTON — Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska slammed his hand on a table and yelled at a Democratic colleague Wednesday to voice his anger over a change to legislation that he said would harm his home state.

Sullivan grew uncharacteristically upset during a public meeting of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, where he accused Democratic Chairman Tom Carper’s staff of killing a provision he had advocated for in the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill.

"I’m getting tired of my state being singled out by this staff, Democrat staff, on everything," Sullivan said.

He said that he had pushed for legislative language that would allow Alaska more time to implement an EPA requirement to transition off of standard leaded aviation fuel. Sullivan wanted Alaska to be exempt from the fuel requirement through 2034, instead of the 2030 nationwide exemption.

The FAA reauthorization, which is making its way through the Senate, has become a grab-bag of priorities for senators.

“This goes to safety of my constituents,” Sullivan said, slamming his hand on the table. “And you guys jump in at the last minute, and I’m so goddamn sick of it. Anything that deals with Alaska, you feel it's open season because the radical environmental groups want to shut my state down. It's wrong."

"It's bull---, and I'm really mad about it," he added.

At one point Sullivan said he wanted to question Carper's staff, a move that is not typically allowed.

“Can I ask your staff right now?" Sullivan said.

“No, I think this markup is coming to an end,” Carper, D-Del., responded.

Ben Dietderich, a spokesperson for Sullivan, said in a statement to NBC News that Alaskans rely on air travel in a state where more than 200 communities are not connected by road.

Sullivan had secured the fuel provision "recognizing a state as big and reliant on older aircraft as Alaska could not feasibly implement this mandate in that timeframe," Dietderich said.

He said that "without any data supporting the move, the Democratic staff of Delaware Sen. Tom Carper, Chair of the Environment And Public Works Committee, slashed Alaska’s exemption in half. Once again, doing the bidding of far-left environmental groups, national Democrats are targeting Alaska and endangering the lives of Alaskans. It is shameful."

In response to a request for comment, a spokesperson for Carper told NBC News: “As Chairman of the EPW Committee and a believer in the principle of treating others as they would want to be treated, Senator Carper has always engaged with his Senate colleagues who reach out on issues that impact their constituents. Chairman Carper takes seriously his job of protecting the health of communities across the country and doing so in a way that understands the needs and impacts on the ground.”

[bobgasm]

music tag

thank you @desert-fern and @sailor-aviator for the tags!!

"You can tell a lot about someone by the type of music they listen to. Hit shuffle on your iPod, phone, iTunes, media player etc and write down the first 20 songs. Then pass this on to 10 people. One rule: NO SKIPPING."

six degrees of separation – the script

a-o-k – tai verdes

secrets – one republic

who do you love – the chainsmokers, 5sos

run – shihad

dangerous – big data, joywave

treat people with kindness – harry styles

something’s gotta give – all time low

trouble’s coming – royal blood

every morning – sugar ray

shadow of the day – linkin park

my own worst enemy – lit

dry – rancid eddie

what happened to your band – mcbusted

somebody’s watching me – rockwell

my body – young the giant

slice of heaven – coterie, dave dobbyn

cosby sweater – hilltop hoods

wasted – peking duk

vodka on the rocks – zanko

tagging: @just-in-case-iloveyou @nouis-bum @sorchathered @attapullman

[its-vishnu-stuff]

Aviation Analytics Services – Innodatatics

With the aid of our extensive analytics offerings, unlock the potential of your aviation data. We offer tailored solutions to enhance safety, drive efficiency, and optimize operations for commercial airlines, cargo operators, and private aviation firms. Our advanced analytics utilize state-of-the-art tools such as machine learning and predictive modeling to extract valuable insights from your flight data, maintenance logs, and passenger information. Our services empower you to make well-informed decisions that boost profitability and performance, In the fiercely competitive aviation sector, we are dedicated to assisting you in reaching new heights through our expertise and unwavering commitment to excellence.

[igtsolutions]

Embrace the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) with our cutting-edge solutions. Revolutionize your business operations, drive informed decision-making, and stay ahead in the digital age. Our AI and ML solutions offer advanced analytics, automation, and personalized insights, empowering you to achieve remarkable efficiency and innovation.

[jcmarchi]

The Future of Air Travel with Next-Gen Weather Forecasting - Technology Org

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/the-future-of-air-travel-with-next-gen-weather-forecasting-technology-org/

The Future of Air Travel with Next-Gen Weather Forecasting - Technology Org

In the complex symphony of factors that orchestrate the aviation industry’s operational efficiency, weather plays both a constant and unpredictable role. The challenges of weather-related disruptions are multifaceted, affecting safety, scheduling, fuel consumption, and, critically, the passenger experience.

Air travel. Image credit: Samuel’s Photos via Unsplash, free license

We stand on the brink of a new era in technological innovation, the industry is witnessing a transformative shift. Advances in weather forecasting technology are beginning to offer a promising horizon—a future where airlines navigate not through turbulence, but towards tranquility.

The Impact of Weather on Airline Operations

Weather unpredictability has long been the bane of the airline industry, manifesting in myriad ways that ripple across operations and financial statements. Delays, cancellations, and diversions, often precipitated by adverse weather conditions, are not just inconvenient for passengers; they represent a significant economic burden on airlines. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) estimates that weather is a contributing factor in approximately 70% of all flight delays in the United States, with an annual economic impact running into billions of dollars.

Beyond the immediate financial implications, weather disruptions also affect fuel efficiency.

Aircraft may need to carry extra fuel as a precaution against encountering unforeseen weather en route, leading to increased fuel consumption and emissions. Furthermore, the safety risks posed by severe weather cannot be overstated, with turbulence alone being a common cause of injuries to passengers and crew.

The pursuit of more accurate, timely, and actionable weather information has become a priority for airlines. The ability to anticipate and navigate around adverse weather conditions is critical, not only for maintaining schedules and reducing operational costs but also for ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers.

Innovations in Weather Forecasting Technology

In recent years, the evolution of weather forecasting technology has been marked by significant strides, thanks in large part to advancements in computational power, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics. These technologies are enabling meteorologists and tech companies to process vast amounts of data from diverse sources, including satellites, weather stations, and even commercial aircraft, to generate more accurate and granular forecasts than ever before.

The integration of AI and machine learning models, which can identify patterns and predict weather events with a level of precision previously deemed unattainable. These models are continuously refined with new data, enhancing their predictive capabilities over time. For airlines, the implications of these advancements are profound. Accurate forecasts allow for better planning and decision-making, minimizing the impact of weather on operations.

Weather forecasting services tailored to the specific needs of the airline industry represents a game-changing development. These services provide airlines with hyper-localized weather predictions, enabling precise adjustments to flight paths to avoid adverse weather, thereby saving fuel and reducing delays.

A good example of a company leading this charge is Tomorrow.io, a visionary specializing in weather intelligence. By offering detailed weather forecasts that are specifically tailored to the operational needs of airlines, Tomorrow.io exemplifies how specialized weather services can play a pivotal role in enhancing operational efficiency and passenger safety in air travel.

Application of Weather Technology in the Airline Industry

The airline industry’s embrace of advanced weather forecasting technologies is transforming operational strategies in significant ways. By integrating these innovations into their daily operations, airlines are not only enhancing safety and efficiency but also unlocking substantial cost savings.

Route Optimization: One of the most immediate applications is in flight planning and route optimization. With access to real-time, detailed weather data, flight dispatchers can adjust routes to avoid areas of turbulence, storms, or high winds, thereby ensuring smoother flights and reducing fuel consumption. This not only improves passenger comfort but also contributes to sustainability goals by minimizing unnecessary carbon emissions.

Fuel Efficiency and Cost Savings: Accurate weather predictions directly impact fuel efficiency. By precisely forecasting wind patterns and temperatures at different altitudes, airlines can optimize fuel loads, carrying just enough fuel for the journey and contingencies, thereby reducing the weight of the aircraft and saving costs.

Reducing Delays and Cancellations: Improved weather forecasting helps airlines anticipate and mitigate the impact of weather-related disruptions. This proactive approach allows airlines to make early decisions about delays, cancellations, and diversions, significantly improving operational reliability and customer satisfaction.

Enhanced Passenger Communication: Beyond operational improvements, advancements in weather technology also enable airlines to keep passengers better informed about potential delays or disruptions due to adverse weather. This proactive communication can greatly enhance the overall passenger experience, turning potential frustrations into opportunities for positive customer service interactions.

As airlines continue to integrate these advanced weather forecasting tools into their operations, the benefits extend beyond the cockpit and operational centers. Passengers too begin to experience a noticeable difference in their travel experience, marked by fewer delays, smoother flights, and more transparent communication from airlines regarding weather-related schedule changes.

Enhancing Passenger Safety and Comfort

The advancements in weather forecasting technology are not only revolutionizing airline operations but are also significantly enhancing passenger safety and comfort. In an industry where customer satisfaction can be greatly influenced by the travel experience, the ability to manage and mitigate the impacts of weather is invaluable.

Turbulence Avoidance: Turbulence is among the most common concerns for air travelers, potentially causing discomfort and fear. The latest weather prediction tools enable pilots to avoid turbulence more effectively by providing them with accurate, real-time data on weather conditions along their route. This leads to smoother flights and reduces the likelihood of turbulence-induced injuries among passengers and crew.

Improved Decision Making for Safety: Enhanced weather forecasts contribute to safer skies by improving decision-making processes. With access to comprehensive weather data, pilots and ground staff can make informed decisions about departures, landings, and in-flight adjustments to avoid adverse weather conditions, ensuring the highest safety standards are maintained.

Minimizing Disruptions: For passengers, one of the most tangible benefits of improved weather forecasting is the reduction in flight delays and cancellations. By accurately predicting weather patterns well in advance, airlines can adjust schedules proactively, minimizing disruptions to travel plans. This not only saves time for passengers but also reduces the stress and frustration associated with travel delays.

Proactive Passenger Communication: Airlines are now able to use weather forecasting technology to proactively communicate with passengers about potential delays or changes in flight schedules due to weather. This level of transparency and communication helps manage passenger expectations and improves the overall travel experience by reducing uncertainty and anxiety.

The intersection of technology and customer service in this domain underscores a crucial aspect of modern air travel: passenger comfort and safety are paramount. By leveraging the latest in weather forecasting technology, airlines are not just navigating through clearer skies; they are also crafting a more pleasant and reliable journey for their passengers.

The Future in the Clouds

The dawn of advanced weather forecasting technology, spearheaded by innovators like Tomorrow.io, is reshaping the airline industry’s landscape. This isn’t merely an upgrade; it’s a revolution that promises smoother skies ahead. Yet, this bright future is not without its clouds. The integration of AI and big data into meteorology presents a complex dance of potential and challenge, demanding a navigation through privacy concerns, the unpredictability of climate change, and the imperative of universal access.

This technology’s potential to minimize weather-related disruptions, enhance passenger safety, and optimize operations is clear. We’re glimpsing a future where delays are less frequent and the travel experience is markedly improved. However, realizing this vision requires more than technological prowess; it calls for an unprecedented level of collaboration across the industry and a commitment to ensuring these advancements are accessible to all, not just the few.

The journey ahead is charged with promise and pitfalls. As we embrace the advancements in weather forecasting, the industry must also address the shadows they cast. Balancing innovation with ethical considerations, data privacy, and the inclusivity of technological benefits will be key. The skies might be clearer, but the path there requires careful navigation.

[mariacallous]

From €142 million to €1 billion ($1.1 billion) a year. The European Commission is pressing the accelerator on investment in weapons and defense technologies. From a total €590 million invested between 2017 and 2020, Brussels has moved to a €7.3 billion ($7.9 billion) package for the 2021 to 2027 period. This year alone, the European Defense Fund (EDF) has put €1.1 billion on the plate, divided into 34 calls for as many military-related research topics. From developing new drone models to sensors to increase radar capabilities. From systems to counter hypersonic missile attacks to enhancements in the analysis of images collected by satellites. From “smart weapons” to advanced communication technologies. The bidding process opened in late June, and there is time until November 5 to share a slice of the pie—and then a year to deliver the project.

The project for a common defense has distant origins and was formalized in 2015, but it was Russia's invasion of Ukraine that accelerated the European Commission's march to spend on arms, ammunition, and military technology. One only has to scroll through the list of projects vying for 2024 funding to get an idea of what Brussels is looking for. On the plate is €100 million to develop a new long-range, medium-altitude drone equipped with advanced intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and recognition systems (or Istar) and piloted remotely. On a similar project, the European Union has already invested, allocating €98 million of the total €290 million needed to develop a similar aircraft, dubbed Eurodrone, to a consortium consisting of France's Airbus and Dassault Aviation plus Italy's Leonardo. Another €11 million from the EDF goes to the prototype of a small, autonomously guided aerial drone.

Telecommunications and AI

Much of the resources go to strengthening communication and data exchange channels—in order to prevent, for example, someone from taking over the controls of the remotely piloted drone. The EDF allocates €25 million to a 5G network intended for the military sphere, the same amount to prototypes for satellite communications, and €24 million to develop dedicated systems for undersea drones. Information needed to feed algorithms and automatic analysis tools will have to be transferred through these secure channels. One grant awards €45 million for an AI software prototype that would make automated means and operations centers operated by live personnel talk to each other.

According to an article by Anthony King, professor at the University of Exeter, published in the Journal of Global Security Studies, so far in the military, “AI has not been used primarily to produce robotic or autonomous weapon systems. Over the past two decades, the military has sought to leverage big data to generate a richer and deeper understanding of the battlefield by tracking the footprints left in cyberspace by their adversaries. Because there is such a vast amount of digital data in cyberspace, the armed forces have begun to leverage the potential of AI, algorithms, and machine learning to identify patterns and signatures, thereby improving their awareness and so that crucial pieces of information are not missed.”

It's a pattern also pursued by European investments. Already last year, the EDF supported with €4 million a communication model to command swarms of autonomous vehicles, and as much went to strengthening undersea cables, the backbone of the internet and a military target. To make sure the data collected from space “speaks,” and provides a real-time and accurate representation of potential risks, there is a €157 million project, run by Leonardo, Airbus, and ArianeGroup (an aerospace company), to integrate information on a single platform, following in the footsteps of two previous projects. But if we add up all the intelligence programs through sensors, satellites, and other digital sources, the 2023 plan alone has deployed another €70 million on the subject. With another €6 million, the EU also tries to guard against communications blackouts, supporting an Estonian-driven plan for drone navigation technology that works even without satellite signals, relying on real-time analysis of what the machine sees.

New Weapons

The European Defense Fund, however, is also hunting for prototypes of new weapons. There is €25 million for the next generation of armored vehicles, €30 million for the creation of smart and increasingly accurate weapons, and €20 million earmarked for identifying at least four potential solutions for navigating a drone in “non-permissive” environments, which, translated from diplomatic jargon, means areas of war or those characterized by great instability.

Another €50 million concerns the creation of a new ground drone, equipped with “lethal functions.” What kind? This is best explained in an annex to the Commission's green light for EDF 2024. It says the program is to study a “fully autonomous process of targeting against different targets and solutions for mobility and engagement,” but also to produce an analysis of the “ethical and legal aspects of integrating autonomous combat drones into European armed forces.” With a clarification: “If necessary, research should be included to support recommendations and decisions” on these aspects. As in: Give us material to plead the case.

In the case of smart weapons, on the other hand, the EU calls for greater accuracy of missiles and rockets, but also refers to “loitering munitions,” i.e., suicide drones, which circle a defined area until they locate the target and hit it, bringing it down—a controversial military technology. The EU is also interested in copying the Iron Dome model, Israel's missile shield.

Tanks and Corvettes of the Future

Shortly before opening the new calls for proposals, the Commission also announced the 54 winning projects for the 2023 program. These include Marte, or the Main ARmored Tank of Europe, a program to develop new technologies to be integrated on a tank. Sharing the €20 million in funding is a string of some 40 companies, including the two defense champions from Italy and Germany, Leonardo and Rheinmetall, respectively. Just as much has been received by a similar project, again to upgrade the tank's architecture, which France's Thales is leading instead. From Brussels, €154 million will help fund the approximately €288 million needed to develop the new EU patrol corvette (Epc2), with Italy's Fincantieri among the project leaders. Another €25 million is earmarked for the construction of a prototype self-driving boat, 12 meters long, that rides on hydrofoils (i.e., with the hull out of the water).

Leonardo is spearheading a project to develop counter-aircraft systems for military drones, exploiting sensors, disturbances in telecommunications networks, and other technologies. France's Cilas, on the other hand, is spearheading a program to develop Europe's first laser weapon, backed by €25 million. A prototype electro-magnetic-propelled missile launcher has grossed €4 million, €26 million for an artificial intelligence agent called to autonomously manage protection and counterattack in response to cyber aggression, €80 million for a study on defense from hypersonic weapons. Another €27 million will support the creation of a new missile system with a range of 150 kilometers, €40 million is going to a military cargo ship, and €44 million is allocated for offensive technologies on undersea drones.

Funds and Alliances

But the channels for fueling Europe's military industry are varied. Alongside the EDF is Eudis, a scheme worth €2 billion for the seven-year period that supports the acceleration of startups and small and medium-size enterprises (target: 400 per year). There's also the European Investment Fund (EIF), managed by the European Investment Bank (EIB), which helps fund the defense sphere, particularly when it comes to dual (civilian and military) technologies. Its aim is to act as a key investor, consequently attracting other players willing to share the risk, but until 2027 it has €175 million to spend. The European Security Industry Bank can mobilize another €8 billion, also over the next three years.

Seven deals have already been signed. These include €10 million to Germany's Quantum Systems for vertical-takeoff drones, €30 million to Spain's Skydweller for its solar-powered self-driving aircraft, and €600 million on two space communications programs. Italy's Leonardo also benefited from EIB loans, which provided €260 million for research and development activities in various technological fields.

In recent days, the EIF signed an agreement with the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF), the first multinational sovereign venture capital fund backed by 24 of the 32 countries that are part of the Atlantic Alliance. NIF has a billion euros in the till to provide "friendly" funds for innovative companies in frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence, space, robotics, new materials, and biotechnology. The two vaults have decided to team up to increase investment firepower and accelerate the results of business strategies. NATO has started placing its bets: It has funded four startups, in space, materials, semiconductors, and robotics. Among the beneficiaries is Arx Robotics, based in Oberding, Bavaria. The startup makes autonomously guided defense vehicles that can be used to move up to 500 pounds, conduct surveillance, or act as targets. Its devices are already in use by the armies of Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Switzerland and have also been deployed on the Ukrainian front.

In turn, NATO is scouting startups through Diana, its accelerator program. Last year, it funded 44 of them, in the energy, telecommunications, and surveillance sectors, with a check for €100,000 and six months of incubation in its centers scattered across Europe. It recently launched five new calls for proposals. Companies have until August 9 to submit ideas not only in the three fields already covered in 2023, but also in health, logistics, and critical infrastructure. Special attention will be given to ideas that intersect these areas of interest with applications in space, resilience, and sustainability.

A Growing Industry

The defense industry is experiencing particular growth in Europe, driven by the arms race following the invasion of Ukraine. According to the investment bank Goldman Sachs, defense stocks listed on the continent's stock exchanges have increased in value by an average of 45 percent. The Euro Stock Aerospace & Defense Index, an index of the German stock exchange that brings together major military-related stocks (such as Airbus, Rheinmetall, Leonardo, and Bae), has soared 194 percent since February 2022. The European Defense Agency calculates that in 2022, military spending of the EU's 27 countries averaged 1.5 percent of gross domestic product, totaling €240 billion.

And the EDF paves the way for new technologies to be bought. As the policy document states, the fund will have to ensure that by 2027 the EU can have ready prototypes of combat drones, locally developed command and control programs, interoperable radio systems, and integrations between air defenses and the swarm of Earth-observing satellites. Cloud platforms to store and process collected information, new early-warning systems for missile attacks, and new naval and ground combat assets are also in the works. A boundless research program, divided among hundreds of companies (1,200 were involved at multiple levels in the 157 projects funded between 2021 and 2023), which will now have to go through the scrutiny of the nascent Commission, even more bent on opening the purse when it comes to spending on weapons. It is not just a matter of preparing for war. For a European Union obsessed with migration, drones, surveillance systems, and control, technologies can also be an ally in strengthening border closures.

[starset21]

Sincerely, Yours

Standard disclaimer: I only own my original characters, I've done some research but there will likely be Navy/military inaccuracies, and I do not consent to the posting, translating, or publishing of my work to any 3rd party site, the only place it may be found is on tumblr and Wattpad under @.itswildflower A/N: I hate having to say this but please leave a comment or reblog because I have no idea if people are actually reading this series and if people are liking it. Summary: The big mission

Looking for previous chapters? Sincerely, Yours Masterlist  

Chapter 9:

Cyclone and Warlock stand with the ship’s Officers and Comms Crew. Hondo is there as well, anxiously watching the screens. “Support assets airborne. Strike package ready. Standing by for launch decision.” Cyclone nods. “Send ‘em.” A catapult officer signals with a two-finger wave, as the two jets facing him throttle engines to full. Maverick and Rooster, side-by-side, salute the Officer, then press their heads back against the headrests. The final check crews around each aircraft offer a thumbs-up, one by one, causing the Catapult Officer to crouch, touching the deck to point forward. Maverick and Rooster’s Super Hornets fly across the deck, ripping into the sky. Phoenix and Bob as well as Tempest and Denver are launched a moment later. The four F-18s fly above dark ominous clouds, maintaining their delta formation. “Rough Rider. Dagger, Texaco complete. Comanche, standby check-in,” Maverick says. An air control officer watches streams of data roll in. “Comanche one-one, set. Lightning One, status.” An F-35 pilot monitors his electronic view of the valley. “Lightning One, set. Bravo route is clear.” The four F-18s descend through the clouds to 1000 feet. “Here we go. Enemy territory up ahead. Feet dry in 60 seconds. Comanche, dagger one. Picture.” The air control officer looks at her screens before responding. “Comanche. Picture clean. The decision is yours,” she said. “Copy. Proceeding to Bravo. Dagger attack,” Maverick’s voice came over the channel. “Dagger’s assume attack formation.” They adjusted their formation into their attack order. “Daggers set. Proceeding to target. Two minutes and 30 seconds in three, two, one, Mark.” All four push the button and their clocks start counting down. “Two mark,” came Tempest’s voice. “Three mark,” Rooster called out. “Four mark,” Phoenix called out last. With Mav taking the lead, the Strike Package flies in a staggered formation toward enemy territory. “Tomahawks airborne,” the comms officer informs the team moments before they fly over the heads of the aviators. 

“First SAM site overhead, no movement,” came Denver’s voice over the channel. “Looks like we’re clear on radar, Mav,” Tempest called out. “Let’s not take it for granted,” Mav reminded them. They shoot into an ever-compressing canyon, hauling ass over the broken landscape, snowy trees flashing just beneath. It’s training times ten. The valley walls are tight, and the high speed and sharp turns are resulting in higher Gs. “We got two minutes to target,” Denver tells the team. “Copy,” Tempest responds. “We’re a few seconds behind, Rooster. We got to move,” Phoenix warns. “Thirty seconds to tomahawk impact on the enemy airstrip,” a second comms officer alerts them. Radar beeps before they are updated with new information. “Dagger, Comanche. We’re picking up two bandits. Single group, two contacts.”

“Comanche, what’s their heading?” Tempest asks. “Bull’s-eye 090, 50, tacked southwest,” they were informed. “They’ve headed away from us. They don’t know we’re here,” Rooster called out. “The second those tomahawks hit the air base, those bandits are gonna move to defend the target. We have to get there before they do. Increase speed,” Maverick ordered. “We got you, Mav. Don’t wait for me!” The physical pressure on the team alone is intense, requiring every ounce of concentration, skill, and endurance. Each of the pilots contends with the intensity in their own way. Training was nothing compared to this. They’re all feeling it. “Come on, Rooster. Bandits inbound. We got to make up time now. Let’s turn and burn,” Phoenix tells her partner. “Heads up, Tempest,” Mav calls out. As they turn sideways and pass through a narrow gap under a bridge Denver quietly lets out a “woah.” 

“Guys, we’re falling behind. We really gotta move,” Bob calls out. “If we don’t increase our speed right now, those bandits are gonna be waiting for us when we reach the target,” Phoenix tells Rooster. A quiet “Talk to me, Dad,” came from Rooster. “Come on, kid, you can do it. Don’t think, just do,” Maverick encouraged. Bradley took a deep breath and he hit the throttle. “Jesus, Rooster, not that fast!” Bob exclaims. “Damn, Rooster, take it easy,” Phoenix chimes in, throttling up to pursue. “Thirty seconds to target. Denver, check your laser,” Mav ordered. “Air-to-ground check complete. Laser code verified, 1688. Laser is a go!” Denver exclaimed. “Tempest, stand by for pop-up strike,” Mav said. “Dagger three in position,” she replied. “Popping in three, two, one,” Maverick counted down before both pilots pulled back on their sticks. “Get me eyes on that target, Denver,” Mav ordered. “Dagger three. Stand by, Mav.” His system beeped. “I’ve got it. Captured!” he responded. “Target acquired, bombs away.” Maverick and Tempest wrench their jets into a body-smashing climb - excessive Gs. Only this time it’s for keeps as a mountain face is coming up fast. For a few moments, the only sound over the comms was grunting as they climbed. “We’ve got impact! Check, direct hit! Direct hit!” Denver calls out before grunting. “Dagger two, status,” Mav asks when it's a little easier to breathe. “Almost there, Mav. Almost there. Bob, where’s my laser?” Bob’s eyes frantically dart over his screens. “Rooster, there’s something wrong with this laser! Shit! Deadeye, deadeye, deadeye!” Bob called out. “Come on, guys, we’re running out of time. Get it online!” Rooster replied. “Nearly there! Nearly there!” he replies his hands flying over the controls and trying to fix the problem. “There’s no time. I’m dropping blind,” Rooster says after a moment. “Rooster, I got this!” Bob yells. “No time. Pull up,” Rooster orders. “Wait!” Phoenix tries. “Great balls of fire,” Rooster mutters as he drops his payload. “Bullseye!” They’re informed by overwatch. “We’re not out of this yet. Here it comes,” Maverick warns and suddenly the first two jets are climbing into the clear blue sky. The first array comes automatically to life, swivels, and fires. “Radar warning! Smoke in the air. Tempest, break right!” Denver yells. “Emergency jettison. Dagger three defending,” Tempest declares as she dodges the incoming missiles. “Here comes another one!” Denver warns. “Dagger one defending.” Maverick shoots off flares. “Rooster, status,” Mav asks. “Oh, my god,” Rooster murmurs as they crest over the mountain to see Mav and Tempest dodging missiles and trying to get low to the ground. “Smoke in the air! Smoke in the air! Break right, Phoenix!” Bob yells. “Breaking right,” she replies, doing as she was told. “Oh, my god, here they come!” Bob exclaims. “Sam on your six, Rooster!” he warns. “Deploying countermeasures. Negative contact.” The comms channel was a mess, the aviators doing their best to avoid being shot out of the sky. Sounds of the aviators fill the room back on the command deck. The breathing hard, the shouting, straining, and cursing. It’s hell. 

“Dagger one defending.” 

“Talk to me, Bob.”

“Break right, Phoenix!”

“Break right! Mav!”

“Nine o’clock! Tempest, Nine o’clock!”

“Rooster, two more on your six.”

“Dagger two, defending.”

“Phoenix, Sam on your nose.” 

“Dagger four defending.”

“Rooster, tally, seven o’clock!”

“Talk to me, Bob!”

“On our six!”

“Dagger two defending.”

“Denver!”

“Tempest Break Right!” 

“I see it!”

“Dagger two defending. Shit, I’m out of flares!”

“Rooster, evade, evade!”

“I can’t shake ’em! They’re on me! They’re on me!” 

An F-18 fills his sight picture. 

“MAVERICK, NO!”

Maverick releases flares, but he’s too late. And he knows it. The missile slams into Maverick’s engine. A fireball shreds the splintering rear of the jet. “Dagger one is hit! I repeat, dagger one is hit!” Tempest calls it in, doing her best to keep her voice from wavering. “Maverick is down.” The remaining jets dive into the valley and below the SAM’s and their radar. The arrays go still. “Dagger one, status,” Rooster calls out, waiting a moment. “Status! Anyone see him? Does anyone see him? Dagger one, come in!” Rooster exclaims again. “I didn’t see a parachute,” Tempest says softly. “We have to circle back!” Rooster yells. “Comanche. Bandits inbound. Single group, hot. Recommend dagger flow south. One minute to intercept. All daggers flow to ECP. You have bandits headed for you.” Phoenix and Tempest look at each other as they fly side by side, their eyes sad from the loss of their mentor. “What about Maverick!” Rooster tries. “Dagger spare request permission to launch and fly air cover,” Hangman’s voice comes over the radio. “Negative, spare.” Jake nearly punches his dash in frustration. 

“Dagger, you are not to engage. Repeat, do not engage. Dagger two, return to the carrier. Acknowledge. Acknowledge,” the comms officer relays their orders. “Rooster, those bandits are closing. We can’t go back,” Phoenix tries to reason. “Rooster, he’s gone. Maverick’s gone,” Bob says solemnly. Bradley takes a moment staring up into the blue vastness of the sky. “Screw it.” A deep breath later and he’s turning back, leaving Phoenix and Tempest. “Dagger two is hit. Dagger two is hit,” Phoenix relays just as the radar shows the command deck his jet has gone offline. “Dagger two, come in. Dagger two, do you copy? Dagger two, come in.” The remaining aviators wait to hear their friend’s voice in vain. When no response is given Ria’s chest hurt, and not from the G’s this time. Phoenix looked over at Tempest as she pulled up beside her jet. “Don’t you leave me too,” she says quietly. Elliot reached a gloved hand through the small gap in the metal separating their seats and squeezed her shoulder. “It’s not just me in this jet. I have to get Eli home,” is all she says, turning her eyes to the horizon and doing her best to prevent her voice from shaking and tears from lining her eyes. On Tempest’s wing, Phoenix follows her back to the ship, circling overhead as Tempest traps and taxis into her jet's space, running through all the shutdown procedures. “Rooster’s ESAT is online and supersonic. Overwatch reports an f-14 tomcat is airborne and on course for our position.” It was Maverick. The sounds of a jet launching reach their ears and they watch as Jake’s jet screams off the carrier and climbs in altitude. 

“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, this is your savior speaking. Please fasten your seatbelts, return your tray tables to their upright and locked position, and prepare for landing,” Jake’s voice comes through the radio after several very tense minutes. “Hey, Hangman... you look good,” Bradley replies and Ria breathes a sigh of relief. “I am good, Rooster. I’m very good.” The four mission aviators already on deck are given the all-clear to depart their jets. Tired and sweaty the four aviators embrace each other tightly. Maverick and Rooster watch as Hangman’s F-18 circles back, doing a hotshot twirl of the wings. A victory roll.

All eyes are on the horizon as two planes are inbound. All of the pilots watch from Vulture’s Row, the balcony platform with the best view of the entire flight deck. Cyclone, Warlock, and Hondo have moved up to the Primary Flight Control room. “Get Hangman down first. Maverick may burn the deck,” Cyclone orders. Hondo without a word, runs from the command center. Hondo emerges on the deck where the crew is awaiting Hangman’s arrival. Emergency crews are standing by. “The minute Hangman touches down, pull the trip wires and have the barricade stanchions ready.” The crew just stares at him. “HE DOESN’T HAVE A GODDAMN TAILHOOK!” Hondo yells. The crew realizes and scrambles. It’s organized chaos once again. Cyclone, Warlock, and several officers stand in the PFC with binoculars, watching as Hangman’s super hornet comes in for a landing. His tail hook snagging the arrest cable, his plane jerking to a stop.

The Deck Crew rushes in to clear the way for Maverick. A ballet of precise emergency response. Hundreds of sailors work to remove Trap-Wires and raise Barricade Stanchions, lift up a 15-foot-high nylon barricade, stretching a massive net across the width of the landing deck. The F-14 circles overhead. “Rough Rider, Ghostrider here. We are requesting a tower fly-by.” Cyclone and Warlock share a look. “Is this a joke?” Cyclone asks. “Rough Rider, I say again-” Cyclone has the radio now. “Ghostrider, this is Cyclone. Put that bird on the deck now.” 

“-odswor- -strider- -adio” 

“Does he even want to land?” Cyclone asked Warlock. “He asked permission. That’s progress,” the other man replies. Cyclone sighs, nods begrudgingly to the Comm Tech who, despite everything, has to grin a little as he relays orders. “Ghostrider, pattern is clear, you are cleared for flyby.” Maverick raises a brow. “Huh. That’s a first.” Rooster knocks his helmet repeatedly on the canopy. “Why did I bother saving your ass?” Maverick blazes by the tower at high speed, rocking the tower. Cyclone shakes his head as several of the aviators on Vulture’s Row cheer. The battered Tomcat comes around, lining up with the runway before it smashes down, sliding across the deck on its nose, showering sparks and spewing smoke, until it slams into the nylon net, ripping it forward before snapping to a violent halt. Finally. Safe home. The emergency crews rush the jet as Mav and Rooster climb out. They check themselves and each other before climbing down. Sailors swarm them. Maverick gazes up to Vultures Row, spying Cyclone and Warlock. Cyclone gives him a simple, grateful nod.

“Chalked yourself another kill,” Bradley muses as Jake walks up to him, offering him a hand. “That makes two,” Jake smiles as they shake hands. “Maverick has five. Makes him an ace,” Phoenix steps in, finally pushing through the crowd of sailors that had rushed to congratulate them. Jake’s smile fades just a little bit. “Still impressive all things considering,” Ria’s voice rings out as she pushes out from behind Natasha, a small smile on her face as she gives Bradley a tight hug. As she pulls away she smacks his shoulder. “Don’t do that again!” Bradley groaned, rubbing his shoulder. “Wasn’t planning on it.” Ria gives him a stern look before turning her attention to Jake. She marches over to him and pulls him down by the flight vest and kisses him soundly. Whistles sound all around them as she pulled away but Jake didn’t let her go far. He pulled her back into another deep kiss. Cheers and more whistles followed. “I love you,” he murmured when he pulled back. “I love you!” she replied quietly just for him. Jake smiled wide and held her close to him.

Filled with jubilant sailors, the whole ship celebrates the mission’s return.