Disclaimer: I stake no claim to the Ace Combat Universe.

Story by: Leonardo1123581321

The Osean Times are proud to present an article by distinguished journalist Albert Gennete, who covered the Circum-Pacific Conflict and the Aurelian-Leasath War. As part of the papers 100th anniversary, Albert has worked secretly on an article covering "The War" and the many distinguished ace pilots who served in it.

Ace Combat
Frozen Winds and Burnt Skies

A Generation of Aces

An Article by: Albert Gennete

Reflection

Painful memories arise when one remembers "The War", as it is now called. The first war on a full global scale; it has left its mark everywhere. There are no heroes or villains in any war, since noone's reasons are right or wrong in it. To justify "The War" is to justify all that it evil. As I sit here writing this article, I remind myself how many people gave their lives fighting in it. This article isn't for my gain. Instead I write it in memory of all those who died in its service. I would like to take this moment to remember my dear friends: Eugene 'Crux' Solano, Alvin 'Chopper' Davenport, Marcus 'Swordsman' Snow and Wolfgang 'Pops' Buchner. Each of them died in combat. Alvin was shot down over the Osean city of Novemeber City. Eugene, Marcus and Wolfgang were all killed in 'The Coliseum'.

I started this article in the hopes of finding the one who shot down Marcus, Pops and Eugene. The one called: "Oranos 1", who was responsible for the death of many aces in "The War". Everyone lost something to this war, and to all of them I send my condolences and prayers. This article is for all those who lost a loved one in this forsaken conflict.

Part I

"A Southern King"

Gryphus 1 or "La Cruz del Sur" as he is called in Aurelia, and the hero of the southern hemisphere was one of few aces who survived the war. He is also remembered as one of the survivors of "The Coliseum".

"What is 'The Coliseum'?" I asked him during my trip to Griswall. The former ace gave me a confused look when I asked him, "It's the place where the war's greatest battles were fought. Over 200 aces flew at that one spot."

He went silent for a moment, "25 survived it. Myself included but I was one of 15 who left with our planes damaged."

Coliseum, the sight of conflict during "The War", is a 300 square mile valley near the North Pole. A few years earlier, Yuktobanian scientists discovered a massive reserve of resources at the top of the world during a time when natural resources had been nearly diminished. Coliseum is inhabited by subzero temperatures, dropping close to 95 below zero. Since the region is near unapproachable by foot, countries sent their air power to stake their claim at the natrual resources. Any pilot unfortunate to survive being shot down would either freeze to death or be eaten by the few animals which are able to survive there before conditions could favor a rescue mission. Gryphus 1 began to explain Oranos 1's first appearance.

His eyes are watery. Maybe it's a mix of despair and anger. I explained he didn't have to do the interview if he felt uncomfortable but he persisted. Oranos 1 was an ace pilot who showed no allegiance to any country or alliance during "The War". The only thing any military and political figure remembers of him is how much money countries spent replacing the planes he destroyed. Others remember his rather remarkable kill count. Because of that, he became known as Gladiator. Gryphus 1 explained to me Gladiator's first appearance.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Coliseum
Controlling Faction: Aurelia-Leasath Treaty
Date: May 2035
1605, Aurelian Standard Time

"Gryphus 1, intercept enemy fighters and secure air superiority," Crux cried over the radio. From his Fenrir he could make out the forms of several F-16s, F-35s, F-22s, F-14s and F-15s. There were about 50 of them.

"Copy that," he declared, "Falco 1, watch my six. Fly close and keep any hostiles off me. Let's send these Ustians running home to their mothers!"

"Roger," he answered. Falco Squadron flew behind Gryphus 1 in white YF-23s Along side their formation several F-22s climbed along side: The Aquila squadron. Aquila 3 asked, "Do you think we can take on these many pilots?"

"Of course we can, why couldn't we?" Falco 3 roared from his plane. The battle would be completely one-sided. 50 against 11 isn't very fair to begin with.

"Yeah, we got the Southern Cross! He's worth at least a hundred of these guys!" Falco 5 added. Gryphus 1 could only chuckle at this compliment. He scanned the skies again, "Here come the Leasathians!"

Nine Su-32s, with a Fenrir in the lead, joined the formation, "This is Alect 0 to the Southern Cross. Think we can take them?"

"We'll be fine. Just watch out for their sidewinders and the cannon fire. If you see a plane with a single red wing let me know," Gryphus 1 explained.

"So the Ustians hired the Demon Lord and Solo Wing?" Alect 0 asked. Gryphus 1 never answered, he was too busy pulling right to avoid a missile. His onboard defense system declared a missile alert. He scanned the skies again, seeing the same missile turn around and come right back for him. By this time the two groups of planes had met in battle.

Around him, planes were being shot down. In the confusion a F-15 with a single red wing had gotten behind Gryphus 1. His radio began to pick up the enemy communications. He wished he knew why it did that.

"Hey buddy, I'm right behind the lead plane," Gryphus 1 turned sharp to the left, narrowly avoiding cannon fire from this plane.

"This is Falco 4! I can't eject! It's ja-" a YF-23 exploded, its flaming wreckage colliding with an F-22. Both planes went in opposite directions, the balls of fire falling to the Earth below.

"Aquila 2 converge with Aquila 3, we'll catch this guy in the cross fire!"

Gryphus 1 took this moment to realize he had the perfect shot at an F-16. He pulled the trigger, riddling the plane with bullets. The pilot ejected before his plane exploded.

"Good kill!"

"Galm 2, watch my 6. I'm going after 'The Southern Cross'," Gryphus 1's radio was catching the enemy's radio again. He looked behind him, 2 F-15s were closing in on him. The lead F-15 launched two missiles prematurely despite being out of an effective range. The Fenrir's guidance system began to grow fuzzy.

"Falco 1, clear my 6!"

"I got them!" he answered. Falco 1 got behind the two planes, "Fox two!"

Two missiles launched themselves from his plane. The F-15s broke from their pursuit to avoid the missiles and chased after two new targets.

"Thanks!" Gryphus 1 said. As he pulled away from the two missiles, his guidance system cleared up. He fired his cannon again at an F-22. It barrel-rolled and avoided all the shots. Then it pulled up high into the air, Gryphus decreased his speed and followed after it.

"I can't shake him!" the pilot cried. Gryphus 1 let loose a missile. The missile collided with his rudder. The plane spiraled downward, leaving a trail of smoke behind it.

"Oh God! Help me!" the pilot screamed as his plane disappeared beneath the clouds. Something struck the plane, since it exploded into a flower of fire. A blue Gripen-C emerged from the blanket of the clouds. Emblazoned on the tail was a white cloud over a blue sky. Underneath this emblem were the words Oranos 1.

"Gryphus 1, unknown aircraft inbound," Crux said. Gryphus 1 nodded and pulled behind the plane. The plane climbed higher until it joined the massive aerial duel. Gryphus 1 trailed the blue Gripen throughout the entire battle, trying to see what the pilot was aiming for. He tailed it, watching as the pilot excellently shot down 3 F-22s on the Ustian side of the battle.

"Galm 2, I'll take this new guy. Watch for that 'Southern Cross'!" Galm 1 cried from his radio. Gryphus 1 tapped the radio, why do you keep picking up their communications? Gryphus 1 was soon joined by Galm 1 in their pursuit of the Gripen. A single red winged F-15 pulled behind Gryphus 1 again and he was forced to break away from the blue plane. This time, Falco 1 couldn't answer his call for help.

"Gryphus 1! Tell my son I might not get home for a while. Tell him I'll be back before war's end," Falco 1 answered his call. Gryphus scanned the sky for his plane, only to see the Gripen C shoot him down. Falco 1, the idiot, ejected before the ordinance hit the plane. He released the parachute and disappeared below the cloud cover.

"Attention all allied aircraft, Oranos 1 is hostile! I repeat, the blue Gripen-C is hostile!"

"Roger. Alect 4 and 6! Converge on Oranos 1, we'll trap this bastar-" Alect 0's plane collided with the wing of an F-22, both went tumbling to the Earth below. Gryphus 1 pulled hard after Oranos 1 while trying to keep Galm 2 from shooting him down.

"Warning! The enemy is locked on," the Defense System said. Gryphus 1 rolled his eyes and arched upwards into the sun. Galm 2 broke from his pursuit and instead went after Oranos 1. He sighed, "Gryphus 1 to all allied aircraft check in."

"Falco 2 clear."

"Falco 3 cl..." his plane was ripped apart by bullets.

"Falco 5 clear."

"Aquila 3 clear."

"Aquila 4 clear."

"Aquila 6 clear."

"Alect 3 clear."

"Alect 5 clear."

"Alect 6 clear."

"Alect 8 clear."

"Alect 4 clear."

"Crux, we can't secure air superiority with these odds," Gryphus 1 explained, "We need to pull out!"

"Give me a minute," Crux said. A Su-32 burst into flames along side Gryphus 1's plane, "We don't have a minute."

"Hold on," Crux continued. Gryphus arced right and shot down two F-35s with cannon fire, "Just give us the damn clearance!"

"My hands are tied, sir."

There were a few minutes of silence during which Alect 4, Aquila 3 and Falco 2 were shot down. Gryphus 1 took his revenge by shooting down 10 of the enemy planes but was interrupted from shooting down his eleventh by Crux, "Okay, you have clearance. Abort the mission."

"Understood," The Aurelia-Leasath Treaty planes broke from the fight and changed their heading to the Aurelian air base. The Ustians, however, were not willing to allow survivors, "Kill them all!"

Whoever said this was blown to pieces when the forgotten Gripen appeared from the sky, Galm squadron still tailing him. Gryphus 1 turned his plane around, "I'm going to distract their pursuing force. All aircraft maintain current bearing."

"Understood," they chimed in unison.

Gryphus 1 pulled hard left and faced the oncoming planes. After a quick tally, he counted 23 planes, mostly F-35s and F-14s. He checked his missile reserve and counted 2 missiles left. His guns had more than enough ammo though. Gryphus 1 let loose some cannon fire and managed to shoot down a F-14. It tumbled from the enemy formation and collided with an F-22. Both planes disappeared in a ball of flames.

"What, the Southern Cross is taking us on by himself?" one of the enemy planes called.

"That idiot has got to be crazy!" another said.

"Don't get cocky. This guy shot down the mega weapon Gleipnir!"

"So? He's one pilot. Besides, we have the Demon Lord."

Gryphus 1 increased the speed of his plane. By now, every enemy plane had locked on to him and fired two missiles. He swirved, dived, and arched out of the way of as many as he could, but some of them went off close to his plane.

"Warning! Left wing not responding! Eject now!" The Defense System called.

"SHUT UP!" Gryphus 1 cried at the computer. He fought to keep the plane in the air, but his plane only fell lower and lower.

"Alright, we got him!" one of the pilots called.

Gryphus 1 swore. He turned his plane around. There was no more point in staying, if he couldn't keep his plane in the air.

"Shoot him down!" someone ordered. Gryphus looked behind him to see 'Solo Wing' right behind him.

"Warning! The Enemy is Locked On," The Defense System stated. Gryphus 1 closed his eyes. This was it. The alarm went off loudly. He was going to get killed. Dammit! He thought. He tried to swerve out of the way, but the plane refused to respond. He was going to die.

"I got your back buddy!" Alect 5 cried. From out of the blue, Alect 5 zoomed by and fired several missiles at 'Solo Wing'. The F-15 broke away from the chase and pulled back.

"What's going on Alect 5? I ordered you to return to base!" Gryphus 1 said.

"What no thank you? And here I thought I should save you from being shot down. You owe me one."

Gryphus 1 rolled his eyes, "We need to retreat now. Enemy presence is too great."

"Roger." The two planes returned back to the Air Base.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

As Gryphus 1 finished his story, I found myself in shock. Having covered the Aurelia-Leasath War, I knew just how good the Southern Cross really was. To know someone had overpowered him and forced him to retreat came as a real surprise for me. He said Falco 1 never returned, even though he had promised his son he would. It was his duty to tell the families of the shot down pilots the fate of their loved ones. He said, "What hurt me the most was having to see the families who brought the little kids. Kids who would soon learn they would never see their mother or father or brother or sister ever again."

I ended the conversation there and thanked him for the interview. He told me he knew I was searching for Oranos 1, who would be the highlight of this article. He advised me to give up since no one had ever seen where Oranos 1's plane came from. It always disappeared as it left the Coliseum. Apparently, I wasn't the first reporter who tried to track him down. Several had attempted during the 'War'. Some destroyed themselves in their search. Others were driven into insanity. I left his apartment shortly afterwards.

According to the documentation the Aurelian Government released after the war: Aurelia and Leasath soon created Gryphus Squadron. They consisted of the 11 surviving aces of that battle which lost them 'The Coliseum'. Shortly after Aurelia-Leasath lost that valuable piece of territory, it fell into the hands of the Triple Alliance, whose member nations were Ustio, Belka and Sapin. Knowing who came into possession of Coliseum next, I headed for Directus, the capital of Ustio, in the hopes of finding the next ace on my list.