Roman settled into the cockpit of his fighter, a fresh wave of adrenaline pulsing through him as he tapped the control panel in front of him. The sight of the dashboard, glimmering and waiting for him to unleash its potential, filled him with a mix of excitement and trepidation. While he had studied everything Caltin had taught him in theory, the reality of flying was something entirely different.
"Okay, just like a 'Defender'." he muttered to himself, recalling Caltin's words as he fumbled with the throttle and yolk controls. The cockpit was snug around him, a comforting embrace of metal and circuits that hummed with latent power. Forest green and obsidian black, the color scheme suited the ship's sleek design. He eyed the displays blinking to life, a cascade of diagnostics updating in real-time.
"Time to see what this baby can do."
His fingers danced across the controls as he mimicked Caltin's actions, encouraged by the instructor's reassuring voice echoing through the comms. With each startup system he activated, a rush of satisfaction coursed through him, the fighter was responding to him, acknowledging his commands.
"Alright," Roman whispered almost reverently, before glancing at the comms panel displaying Caltin's cascading commands,
"let's do this."
He watched, anxiously, as the other cockpit canopies lifted one by one, revealing his fellow students' eager expressions. They had all been excited to join this rendezvous and to take flight, but Roman felt that thrill intensifying in his chest. Was he ready? Could he handle what lay ahead?
With a steady breath, he pulled back gently on the throttle, the fighter responding instantly. It lifted off the ground, and the Padawan felt the familiar rush of lifting off, almost as if he was buoyed by invisible wings. The cockpit vibrated lightly as he maneuvered the ship, taking time to adjust controls and familiarize himself with the immediate surroundings of the hangar bay.
When Master Caltin announced,
"let's try something a little different," Roman felt a surge of confidence. He pivoted slightly, watching Caltin lead the way, his fighter a beacon, and decided it was time to experiment. He flicked a switch, adjusting the engines, and nudged the yolk to the right. Instinctively, he began to weave in and out of the clouds, feeling the ship respond with a grace that mirrored his thoughts.