Page 1 of Ace

Chapter 1

Dex stood on a gravel road just outside Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. He was on the other end, the civilian side, of a short runway. Tall chain-link fences and hefty security stood between him and the planes. If he’d wanted, he could have entered the base. He didn’t want. The pilots were doing practice runs today, and he needed to clear his head before his Top Flight meeting a little later.

The power of the engines, the sound as they circled and lined up for takeoff calmed the thoughts that raced through his brain. And then, as they revved up and tore off straight at him before lifting into the air, his blood started pumping with happy adrenaline-filled memories. His grin grew. The final plane shot past, ruffling his hair. He saluted their group out of habit, already dots in the sky, and then hopped back in his car.

His car raced over back roads, making his way to the old warehouse. Nondescript and not on base. He parked, typed in his code, and entered the building they were leasing for the time being. The owner didn’t even ask why they’d wanted to install the various security measures.

At his desk, Dex pulled out his laptop and opened the file for the first guy he needed to screen this morning. A retired naval pilot. He’d gone through Topgun. He had high marks. Then he’d married, had children, and now he was hoping to join Dex’s team. Dex would probably send him an invitation. But first, a video interview. He dialed him up. The man’s face filled the screen with a young woman in the background ushering toddlers out of the room. Dex smiled.

As soon as he saw Dex, he saluted. “Major Callison. Good to see you, sir.”

Dex shook his head. “No need for saluting, although I appreciate it now and again. We aren’t an organization built on rank.”

“Yes, sir.”

Dex smiled. “You’re at the top of my list, Sean. I want to see you on my team at Top Flight. Do you know why that is?”

“No, sir.”

“You graduated top of your class at Topgun. You are an accomplished pilot. You have an impeccable record, but none of those things are why I pulled your application for an interview.”

Sean’s eyebrows rose.

“I called you in because of that one stunt you pulled your first year.”

His face went white, or maybe Dex imagined it. “Did you think it was erased from your record?”

“I was told… Let me be clear, are we discussing…”

“The Marshmallow.”

He groaned. “That was a name the guys picked…”

Dex held up his hands. “You don’t need to be nervous. Like I said, that move alone was why I called you for an interview. It took nerve. And others might argue against this, but I felt like it was needed in the moment. In a hostile situation, that move could save lives.” He coughed and couldn’t stop his smile. “Arguably.”

“Are you being serious?” Sean’s own smile began to grow.

“I’m totally serious. We are hired to teach military forces all over the world to do what it takes, to respect the planes, and to use them to their maximum capacity. They know the handbook. What they need are pilots who can show them the potential.”

He nodded.

Dex talked to him for about fifteen minutes and then offered him a job.

Sean would sign some paperwork and be ready for a call to his first team, his first assignment to train other pilots.

As Dex closed the drawer, he put his twentieth pilot’s file in with the other new recruits.

They were starting with pilots, but Top Flight could grow to other armed forces, other military skills. Turns out, military training was marketable. On an international scale.

After a few hours interviewing potential hires through video conferencing, Dex took a call from an old Air Force commander. He thought it would be a relaxing social catch up on the man’s family, but after just a moment, he knew he was going to regret the whole conversation.

“You’re drawing attention…”

After a call he wished had ended twenty minutes earlier, Dex slammed down his office phone. He missed the cradle, so he had to pick it up again and place it more carefully on the box. His old commander probably heard all of that.

The man’s warning itched at Dex’s peace of mind. He lifted his arms above his head, stretching against the black t-shirt he wore. The commander’s words echoed in his brain.You’re interfering with our work in the Pacific Islands.

Dex knew full well what the US commanderwasn’tdoing in the Pacific Islands, and that’s why he and his team had been called in. Top Flight could train the newly formed Pacific Oceanic Alliance fighter pilots to defend their own airspace since no one else would. But the commander also said,General West has expressed his concern.

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