The Aircraft let out a reactionary jerk as I slowly pulled the stick back.

This is really happening... I thought astounded that I am flying the plane of my dreams.

As I looked out of the right side of the canopy I see my wing pony number 3 just as exited as I was.

"Hey 3, she's a doll ain't she?" I say excitedly over the radio.

"You bet! say I don't know your name pal." My wingpony enthuses over the radio.

"Cloudy Skies partner... Yours is Orange Crisp?" I responded.

"Yeah, just call me Crispy! He responds still in the same cheerful tone.

"Have you gotten your gossip in ladies?! No excessive chat on the radio!" Glory cuts in. "Alright chatty! Lut. Skies! Your the leader of this flight, organize your Squadron!"

He isn't serious is he!? I panic in my own thoughts. Think Skies..... Form them up!

"Alright squadron 3! This is Cloudy Skies, I'm on heading course 83 west with number 3. Squadron report!" I beam with bind confedence.

"This is plane 1 reporting in, acknowledgeing last request!" The first pilot responds.

"Plane 2 checking in! Acknowledging request... forming up."

In less than a minute I spot the flight of two F4Fs forming on my left wing. Ok time to see if we can impress..."

"Carrier flight Squadron 3... This is San Fillycisco Naval Air Base Tower. change course to 134 east, and make a pass over runway 2 at 300 feet."

"San Fillycisco Tower, Acknowledging request, proceeding to lower altitude." I respond after the message passes. "Good news guys, time to make an impression... watch your airspeed indicators and keep tightly in formation."

Like clockwork, we pulled our air speeds down to 200 kilometers per hour and banked left to 134 east. Looking left and right, I noticed how efficient our 4 planes were... Each pilot doing his part to form a successful formation. The scenery of the bay grew increasingly larger as the formations' altitude descended. 700....600.....400.....300 the altimeter displayed as I realized just what we were about to do.

"Ok Squadron 3, hold altitude and formation for pass of the airfield." I calmed the eager stallions of the aircraft.

"Squadron three there are Y6M Zeros approaching at heading 134 West at 5,000 feet. Prepare to engage fighters." Glory calmly responded.

WHAT! YAKS IN THE STATES!? I panicked as my palms started to perspire coldly.

"Your guns are loaded, make me proud." Said Glory, still in a calm tone.

"Squadron three listen up! 2 form on 1, 3 sticks with me! climb to 2,000 feet slowly. Don't let them get a beat on you." I say as nerves stretch every part of my body.

We start the slow climb to 2,000 feet with the weight of responsibility on our shoulders.

"Remember the Yaks can turn, but they have no protection. We have the element of surprise just remember that gentlecolts."

I look over at Crispy and notice a look of intent burning in his face. The Yaks came into view, rapidly getting larger and larger.

"Ok 1 and 2 you will hit them after we make our pass. Fly ahead of us, turn 180 degrees left and climb." With the command in effect, the two sped past us and waited.

The Yaks were in firing range. White body, black nose, and red circles on the wings... It was most definitely a zero. Something seemed off... but I wasn't one to question orders.

Welcome to the States, Yakhole. I pulled the trigger back on the control stick. The wings responded in the form of fire throwing out .30 caliber bullets. Just as I started to open fire, I heard the sound of machine guns from Crispy's plane as well. Tracer rounds ripped through the first of three Yaks. In desperation, the others began to bank off separate ways.

YEAH! I got one! I screamed in my head as the first plane caught fire and spun out of control. Crispy shot up one of the banking planes causing it to smoke, but didn't destroy it. We past the Yaks and I felt a slight moment of regret as I looked over my shoulder at the remaining enemies. My moping was cut short by the sound of the other two F4Fs attacking the leftovers. BOOM! The two Yaks blew up in flames.

"Yeah! That's a fireworks display! Good job gents!" I exclaim over the radio.

"Great job Squadron 3, return to base, and meet me at the debriefing Colts." Said a seemingly impressed Glory.

I gazed my view over the right wing of the aircraft looking at a very relived and exited Crispy. Nodding in approval, I waved at him with my right hoof. He did kind of a relived salute at me and laughed. The sound of two more engines appeared out of no where as 1 and 2 formed on my left side.

"Seems to me that was a success, I will land last once we get to the airfield, everypony who Is not landing will circle the field until I give the order." I ordered as we approached the field.

"Aye Sir." The three ponies called in over the radio

Our flight was at about 2,000 feet and going 200 kph, too fast and too high for landing.

"Keep airspeed, descend to 1,000 feet. 4, land first." Our aircraft descended to 1,000 feet and we began circling the base. As I looked out the canopy I saw Crispy lowering flaps and landing gear. His approach was a little fast, but great for flying this model airplane for the first time. The wheels of his plane made contact with the runway and he slowed down and taxied off the runway. I ordered the rest of the pilots to land and they each had pretty good landings. Now It is my turn.

Ok flaps, 50%. Gear down. Rpm to landing position, throttle back. Canopy open. I aligned my aircraft with the runway and followed the checklist on my knee board. Keep her steady... easy. The F4F began to slow down rapidly as the runway kept increasing in size. Pulling the stick backwards, I fought the slowing plane for control. Three points of contact... I was so close to the ground I could make out wheel marks on the pavement below.

*Gerrrttttt*

The wheels screeched as I successfully bounced on the runway. Brakes in short amounts, cut throttle. I eased the brakes and pulled the throttle all the way back. The propeller slowed its hum as my plane slowed with it. The only thing that seemed to be out of the ordinary was my blood pressure. My heart had just now started to slow back to a normal pulse as I realized my hooves were really sweaty. I looked around and was relived to have landed safely. Now I must taxi back to the hangar and attend the debriefing.

Once back at the hangar I turned off the engine, completed the post flight checklist, and climbed out of my new plane.

"Hey Mr. Bigshot! Congrats on that flyin'." Biff said as he punched my left hoof.

"Thanks Biff! She's a rush!"

"Come on tell the High Roller somthin' he don't know!"

"I got to get to the debrief, give her a spa treatment for me eh?" I say as I start to trot towards the briefing room. The other pilots in the squadron were either preparing for their flights, or talking about the ones they had just been on. Everypony looked, acted, and felt so alive. It was good to see that we were finally able to start forming bonds over the planes. But come to think of it... I only really knew Crispy and I hoped Glory knew me.... With that realization turning in my mind I opened the door to the briefing room.

"Commander on deck!" Somepony said while all the pilots in the room stood up and saluted me.

What the...? I stammered in my thoughts as I saluted back, caught off guard.

"Listen here." A familiar pony told the entire room. "You are now initiated into your first air combat experience. Please everypony sit." With Glory saying that I found a seat in the front of the room and listened. "Congratulations colts, we may be the best fighter Squadron in the Ponycific yet. Today, under the leadership of Lut. Skies, you successfully shot down three radio controlled Yak drones. These planes were not inhabited, but you did exceedingly well. Skies front and center!"

I scrambled out of my chair and posted at the front of the room.

"This Pony right here... you were lucky to have such a knowledgeable commander today. Not only did Skies utilize the strengths of the F4F, he preyed on the weaknesses of the Y6M. I pray to Celestia that you all show the same exceptional talents of Mr. Skies. Overall as a squadron we have not only achieved our mission for today, we beat the wildcat squadron for the U.S.S. Celestia. Poor Ponies couldn't even shoot down one training plane, let alone a real Y6M. We will be one of the greatest squadrons to ever hit the skies, by the way welcome to Squadron VF-3." Glory took a look around the room. "Get to know each other today, next briefing is after sundown. 7:00 P.M. Dismissed." He said as he walks out of the room with trademark swagger.

The briefing room went silent as Glory walked out of the room. The 30 ponies of VF-3 looked at me with amazement as they silently took in what they just heard the CAG say. Pilots began to slowly strike up conversations with each other to break the silence after the shocking news. What. I'm just another pony. I think as the room slowly takes their attention off me.

"So what do you guys want?" I ask with a cautious tone. One pony stood up and began to introduce himself.

"Hey my name is Donnie Hoofander, I'm number 2." The brown coated stallion said.

" Oh hi, nice to meet you. That was some flying, all I could see when I looked back were your planes cleaning up for us." I say complementing the colt for his valiant attack.

"Yeah, I was rather impressed with your commanding. Having a hammer attack conducted in the blind spot? I don't think It's ever been done before... super ingenious!" Donnie enthused as he takes a respectful look at me. "So yeah, what's it like to be Glory's poster child?"

"Um, I guess it's stressful, I mean I'm not worried. I'm not THAT good, I just did some reading up on Yak planes. That's it. I'm not God" I laugh as Donnie enjoyed the satirical remark as well. "Hey, have you met Crispy yet?"

"No, but you did say his name over the radio did you not?" Donnie asks.

"Yeah, Yeah. He's rather cool. We should all hang out sometime soon at the officer's club, grab a cider." I say casually. "I heard the mare workin' the counter is a real looker."

"Yeah that would be nice, but I've got a baby back in Neighbraska already. If she heard I was lookin' over at somepony else... that would be the end of Donnie Hoofander!" We both laughed at his statement.

"I got one back in Ponyvile, but got to at least see a few mares every now and then to keep from flyin' a rainbow, am I right? You know what they say about navy ponies..." My eyes tear up from laughter as we exchange various stories about our Marefriends and exes.

"Hey you want to head over to the post office, I'm expecting a few letters from my folks." Donnie asks as he looks at the clock on the wall.

"Yeah I'm looking for two myself, let's go." I say as I walk out of the now noisy briefing room with my new friend.

I gaze across the airfield at the three massive ships in the harbor. The Ponytown... The Celestia... and The Horneght. all sitting there, almost ready for war. Each loaded down with anti-aircraft guns, supplies, and soon planes. Their wooden flight decks have their corresponding number on them, virtually the only distinguishing factor between the identical ships. The sun had started to set in the sky, revealing a very serene setting. Sunlight beamed across the water, reflecting the slow color changing sky. I took a moment to appreciate the beauty of pony engineering, as well as the natural beauty that surrounded me.

"That looks amazing.." I say to Donnie as we near the base's post office.

"Yeah, too bad the next time we will see all of us together is when we start destroying Yaks."

"Too bad... Too bad..."

Author's Note

Here It is folks... the next chapter! If you are enjoying, give me some feedback below!

Stay chilly- LambofGod