Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell. Your reputation precedes you.
Thank you, sir.
Wasn't a compliment.
I have to admit I wasn't expecting an invitation back.
Warlock They're called "orders," Maverick.
I'm Vice-Admiral Beau Simpson, I'm the Air Boss. I believe you know Rear Admiral Bates.
Warlock, sir.
Warlock You two have something in common. Cyclone was first in his class back in '88.
Actually, sir, I finished second. Just wanted to manage expectations.
Warlock The target - an underground uranium enrichment plant built in violation of a multilateral NATO treaty. This plant poses a direct threat to our allies in the region. The Pentagon has tasked us with assembling a strike team and taking it out, before it becomes fully operational. The plant sits in an underground bunker at the end of this valley. Said valley is GPS-jammed and protected by a surface-to-air missile array, serving a limited number of fifth-generation fighters, which in turn backed up by a plentiful array of surplus aircraft - even a few old F-14's.
Seems like we're not the only ones holding on to old relics.
Warlock What's your read, Captain?
Well, sir, normally this would be a cakewalk for the F-35 stealth, but the GPS jamming negates that. The surface-to-air threat necessitates a low-level, laser-guided strike, tailor-made for the F-18. I figure four precision bombs, minimum. That makes it four F-18s, flying in pairs. That is one hell of a steep climb outta there, exposing you to all the SAMs. You survive that, it's a dogfight all the way home.
Warlock All scenarios for which you have real-world experience.
Not the same mission, sir. [looks back at the screen displaying the enrichment plant] No, someone's not coming back from this.
Can it be done or not?
How soon before the plant becomes operational?
Warlock Three weeks, maybe less.
Well, it's been a while since I've flown an F-18, and I don't know who I'd trust to fly the other three, but, I'll find a way to make it work.
Warlock I think you misunderstand, Captain.
We don't want you to fly it. We want you to teach it.
Warlock We recalled 12 Top Gun graduates from their squadrons. We want you to narrow that pool down to six. They'll fly the mission.
Is there a problem, Captain?
You know there is, sir.
Yeah. Bradley Bradshaw, AKA "Rooster." Understand you used to fly with his old man. Tragic what happened.
Warlock Captain Mitchell was cleared of any wrongdoing; Goose's death was an accident.
Is that how you see it, Captain? Is that how Goose's son sees it?
With all due respect, sir, I'm not a teacher.
You were a Top Gun instructor before.
That was over 30 years ago, sir; I lasted two months. It's not where I belong.
Well, then let me be perfectly blunt: you were not my first choice. In fact, you weren't even on a list. You are here at the request of Admiral Kazansky. Now, Iceman happens to be a man I deeply admire. And he feels you still have something left to offer the Navy. What that is I can't imagine. You don't have to take this job. But let me be clear: this will be your last post, Captain. You fly for Top Gun, or you don't fly for the Navy ever again.
