Josh “Hot Rod” Burnley, was an LSF agent. Not just any agent, but one of the best the LSF had to offer. He had quickly risen through the ranks, shown great potential in his training period and was an excellent pilot too. At a younger age he lived with his mother, an ex- LSF agent, who quit when she was pregnant with him. Josh never knew his father, killed in action when he was 3 years old; well that’s what the LSF thought anyway. At age 18, he started training at West Point; advanced fighter combat, ship mechanics and tactical battles which gave him a wide variety of skills.
West Point: First Day
“Damn, this is confusing” He muttered to his friend Callum.
“Ha-ha, it’ll be all worth it when it’s over, eh?” He whispered back.
“Burnley, Cortland, are you paying attention? You’ll be here quite a while and we only give you a few days to settle in, so pay attention!” Called the man showing them around.
They were taken to their rooms, Callum and Josh sharing a room, after they had time to pack they looked at each other’s schedules.
“What you got first Cal?”
“Hmm, ship mechanics, fighter and capital ship for the first 4 hours of the day, then some combat training to finish things off”.
“Wow, 4 hours just working out how a ship works? I’ve only got 2 hours of it on fighters, and of course, you know me, advanced combat training, oh yeah and some tactical warfare”.
“Yeah, you and me, top of the class” Callum said, grinning.
“Don’t flatter yourself Cal” Josh replied jokily.
“Whatever”
As the first buzzer went for class they rushed off down some hallways trying to find their first lesson: Ship Mechanics.
“Jeez, how the hell do we get there!? Where’s the map Cal?”
“I thought you had it!”
“Hmm, let’s just open a door and ask for directions”
“Oh, yeah, good idea, just make us look like idiots who can’t find their ways about” he sarcastically announced.
Though it was too late, he’d opened the door.
“3rd door to your left” Shouted the professor.
“Thanks!” Josh yelled back.
“C’mon Cal, let’s go”
They entered the class timidly, taking 2 seats beside each other.
“You’re late lads!” Called the tall, dark haired approaching man.
They both tried to give their explanations at once at the agitated professor.
“Shush! Just… Ah, don’t let it happen again, alright?” he said calmly
“Yes sir, sorry” they instantly replied.
“Now, take a seat, a simple theory lesson for today”
“I wish we came in even later” Josh whispered to his sniggering friend.
After 2 hours of what Josh considered to be the most mind numbing time of his life, he rushed off leaving Callum behind in the same lesson, to his next lesson, Tactical Warfare.
A lesson Josh truly enjoyed, learning about tactics, weaknesses and strengths of different ships and most importantly what to do when in command of a fleet.
“Now, lets take this as an example, lets say you have a Rheinland force attacking Texas, composed of a battleship, 2 cruisers 4 gunboats, 2 bombers and 3 fighters. And you, on the other hand, have 2 battleships, an Assault Battle Cruiser, 1 gunboat, 2 bombers and 4 fighters. These are all the currently available troops you can rally, the only option is to fight, what do you do?”
The instructor saw Josh talking to the person next to him.
“Burnley, you talking?!” He saw Josh shake his head, startled “Good, then answer the question”
“Me, erm, well sir, I would… Only option is to fight, erm, ok, I’d focus all battleship fire on the battleship, then the cruiser.” He paused, saw the instructor nod and carried on “And, focus the Assault Battle Cruiser and the bombers on the gunboats” He took another few seconds to pause “Then put all the fighters on the bombers, then other fighters” Josh replied, anxiously.
“Ha-ha! Amazing! Looks like you have a good mind and some common sense to go with it” The professor said, shocked at Josh’s answer. “Just, one small thing you did wrong, less of the talking please…”
“Yes sir, thank you sir”
“Now, I want a 500 word essay on the weaknesses and strengths of the Guardian - BDR-804 Liberty Very Heavy Fighter, for tomorrow”
The class sighed. And in a matter of seconds the room was emptied. After a lunch break and some time to catch up, Josh and Callum headed to their last lesson of the day, advanced combat training. They headed to the launch pad, delighted to be out of a room for their last lesson.
Now, for this here trainin lesson you will be flyin the Executioner - BDR-337 Liberty Heavy Fighter, we know, not the most up te date o fighters, but Itll give you some decent flyin. Now, pair up and get into yer ships, youll have 4 minutes te get ready for a last man standin trainin fight. Now get ready and get started! GO! Called the instructor.
Josh rushed to their ships, completed pre-launch checks and launched from West Point.
Your ships have been equipped with 2 Advanced Debilators Mk II and 3 Vengeance Mk V guns, a cutter mine and train cruise disruptor, on mah mark! 3, 2, 1, every man and woman for their self! Go, go, go! The instructor called from his ship.
There was a rush of shooting everywhere, there where at least 15 ships in the air, flying and zooming around, guns blazing. Josh locked up a target, aimed weapons and opened fire, draining the fighters shields and some of its hull down with a few seconds of shooting. Though it was about to get interesting, Josh had 2 fighters on his tail, launching a multiple mines, turning with engine kill on and firing a cruise disruptor.
Boom you go boys called Josh.
Nice one there Burnley! said the impressed instructor.
Josh, pleased with himself, carried on to his previous target, gunning it down. It was on an inch of hull when Callum swooped in from above, stealing the kill, saluting from his cockpit, laughing.
Ohh, youre going down Cal! he muttered to himself.
Another ship hit a mine right beside him, seeing the explosion right on the side of his cockpit, the blast affecting a small percentage of his shield.
Whew, close one he said as he wiped his forehead. Now, Cal
He locked onto Cals ship, powered up weapons and opened fire, only for another ship to start shooting Callum, with their joint fire they brought his shield and most of his hull down, just as Callum turned to take evasive maneuvers, the other ship decided it would be a better idea to start shooting Josh, not a good idea. Josh launched a mine turned on engine kill, launched a disruptor, but to his disbelief, the mine had blown up in his face, sending another ship down. As some 10 or so minutes went past, more and more ships were destroyed, leaving only 3, Callum, Josh and the 2nd ship who was shooting Callum before. They commenced combat, Josh and the unknown fighter shooting at Callum bringing it down together with heavy fire.
Not bad Josh, a 2 on 1, still a take down Callum said, jokily yet annoyed.
Well, well, looks like were down to our last 2 fighters, you will fly 3k away from each other, then continue fighting on my mark
The pilots did as the instructor said.
Go! the instructor yelled.
Josh engaged his thrusters, opening fire at first sight, the other fighter not shooting until at close range. As a result, Joshs shields were down, as was his energy. He quickly turned to face his opponent, taking his shields and some of his hull with pure determination, himself suffering high damage. On the 3rd and probably his final chance to do some real damage, Josh turned; his shields recharged, like his opponents, taking down his opponents shields, a huge chunk of his hull, leaving a mine behind, just before an explosion. He ejected, shut his eyes tight, and waited for another explosion to be heard, waiting, for his mine to possibly catch his opponents hull at the last second. He waited some seconds, and then, he heard it, the unmistakable sound of a ship exploding.
YES! He clenched his fists pushing his elbows back from within his pod.
Well, ah have te hand it to yeh Burnley, I thought Maverick had you over there, but well, that last second mine was goddamn lucky! Anywho, he gots yeh down first, so he won, but still, nice, quick thinkin with the mine.
Josh went back to his room, discussing with Callum the intensity and fun he felt in that fight for as long as he could, and until Callum had had enough.
Alright, I get it, you almost won said an angry Callum.
I did win, werent you listening?!
Jeez, whatever, you won, you almost won, who cares, Im tired dude, let me get some sleep!
Yeah, sorry, nice flying, good night man
Night
For Josh's first year of west point, most days were almost the same, with simulations in Tactical Warfare, practicals in Ship Mechanics and theory in Advanced Combat for a change. Still, he was enjoying his time there, apart from one thing. Maverick, not only had he beaten him in Advanced Combat training in his first lesson, but in every other lesson after that! Josh really didn't like that, although one day he found out why Maverick was a supirior pilot to him.
It was a night like any other in the grey, boring room that Callum and Josh shared. With 2 beds, 2 tables, to wardrobes and 1 bathroom. Not the greatest of living conditions, but hey, you go with what you've got. There was a quiet tapping noise coming from outside the room, quiet, but hearable. A quiet sliding, more of a hissing sound was made: a door opening, their door.
The young, pale skinned, short and tough looking Tony Maverick, walked silently into the room. Suddenly, a blinding, purple light emerged from his brown eyes, waking Callum and Josh.
"Damn Cal, turn that thing off" said a tired Josh.
He heard a strange noise, Cal wasn't answering, something was wrong, he turned around to so see the short figure standing beside Callum's bed.
"What the hell!? Maverick, Cal, CAL!" he was shocked and blinded by the light "get away from him!"
Josh, seeing the figure not moving jumped on Mavericks back, shouting trying to bring him to the ground, with minimal strugle, the creature which was Tony Maverick, pushed him back. Hearing the screams, many teahers and students had rushed in, the teachers all carrying some form of weaponry, all shooting at the creature. The creature ran, a voice was heard in Josh's head.
"Seek, control, human, dark ones, next"
Seeing Callum shaking, Josh rushed to him, putting his arm around and under his neck, taking him towards the hospital unit.