#Penny's just happy he won't be sent away on random missions anymore for pissing off another admiral

[indynerdgirl]

How to get Top Gun: Maverick into the Run Verse, A Thought Process

(Because I love both of these so much and I need them to exist together somehow. I hope you don't mind me playing a bit in your sandbox @themonkeycaball! 😆)

First, the overly complicated way:

It's implied canon that in the MCU Stark Industries designed and developed the F-22 Raptor (see screenshot from the first Iron Man movie of said model of the YF-22, the prototype that became the F-22, outside Stark Industries in the scene when Tony goes to SI to give his press conference after being rescued).

In real life, the F-22 was designed by Lockheed Martin. Lockheed also designed & developed the F-35 Lightning II. So it's safe to assume that in the MCU, SI also designed the F-35.

It's also safe to assume, within the context of the Run Verse, that Darcy could have easily worked with Tony on the project (though timelines in the Run Verse might need to be fudged a bit because IRL the F-35 was developed from the early 90s to the early 2000s with the first working prototype flying in 2006).

The F-35 has three variations, one each for the Air Force, Navy, and Marines. And they're now starting to fly the F-35 at TOPGUN.

Between her work at SI, her work with SHIELD, and her (assumed) military connections in general (from working with Tony on Jericho & other projects and Rhodes), she could easily become a military liaison for SI in the future.

As a SI military liaison with knowledge & probably expertise about the F-35, Darcy could end up at TOPGUN as a civilian instructor like Charlie was in the original Top Gun movie (assuming that was ever a real thing at Top Gun).

She happens to be at TOPGUN at the same time as the training for the special mission is happening, she meets Lieutenant Natasha "Phoenix" Trace, they become friends, Phoenix introduces her to everyone else, and now the Top Gun: Maverick crew is in the Run Verse.

Now the much shorter, easier way:

Darcy went to high school with Natasha and they were good enough friends that they stayed in touch after school (mostly through social media but they do call or text each other every once in a while). Darcy happens to be in California when Natasha is called back to TOPGUN so they arrange a meetup at The Hard Deck. The rest of the crew is there as well, Natasha introduces Darcy to everyone, and now the Top Gun: Maverick crew is in the Run Verse.

Bonus - Darcy's reaction to everyone:

Hangman - Can't stand him at first, really wants to punch that smirk off his face.

Rooster - They totally hit it off as friends. Same taste in music and she geeks out with him over his old Bronco.

Bob - Reminds her of Steve and she immediately joins the 'protect Bob at all costs' squad.

Fanboy - Like with Rooster, they totally hit it off as friends. They communicate almost exclusively in pop culture references which confuses everyone else.

Payback - Takes her a bit to figure him out, but when she finds out he also has a love of mechanical engineering they really hit it off as friends.

Coyote - He's a bit aloof at first because he really doesn't know what to make of her whirlwind energy. She eventually wins him over by introducing him to one of his idols, Rhodey.

Maverick - Reminds her of both her dad and Rhodey. Turns out he actually knows Rhodey, they met years ago when Maverick was part of a pilot training swap with the Air Force.