Author's Foreward

Hello, one and all!

Sorry for not updating in so long, I toyed with abandoning this, continuing it, etc., but after finding a bit of inspiration (and time ...) I've decided to continue my own personal addition to Project Aces.

Sorry for the short chapter, but hey, something is better than nothing.

As always, I do not own any part of the Ace Combat series, including characters, locations, and events. All rights go to Namco and Project Aces

Port of St. Hewlett, Osean Federation: September 27th, 2010

" All Friendly Aircraft: Protect the Kestrel for us!"

The order from the Port Captain was met by a resounding chorus from the fighter pilots over St. Hewlett, all of them rallying over the Carrier as it began to steam towards the suspension bridge to escape the bombarded bay. The Panthers, invigorated from their first few kills, were hungry for more and knew that there was plenty to feast on. As their F-20As swooped high overhead of the regrouping Osean Fleet, a lone F-14A Tomcat came roaring back to the port from the South, heading towards the West where the Carrier was headed.

" This is Swordsman," responded the experienced naval pilot, his plane's wings swept in for increased speed as he tried to reach the Kestrel, " On my way; that's our ship!"

" Negative!" came an order from on high, causing the Captain Marcus Snow, callsign 'Swordsman', to slow his fighter down, " This is AWACS Thunderhead. Swordsman, remain in the Eastern sector. Protect our territory and continue battle!"

The frustration from Snow was apparent in his voice as he continued to pursue his home on the water.

" But that's my Carrier!"

The AWACS operator, seeking a resolution to the situation, spied it in the other fighter squadrons in the area. While it certainly wouldn't make the pilots of VF Alpha-206 happy, the Osean forces were stretched thin as it was. All they could do was make the best with what they had.

" Wardog," he hailed the three F-5E Tigers, " Provide cover for the Kestrel."

This was the last straw as 'Swordsman' shouted back at their mobile radar operator.

" Damnit, you pigheaded --!" he began, before catching himself, taking a calming breath, and begrudgingly turning his interceptor back towards the docks.

" Alright, I'm counting on you Wardog," he warned the squadron's leader, 'Blaze', " Don't lose our ship!"

" Thunderhead," Peter chimed in, hoping to try and ease some of Snow's frustration, " Panther Squadron will assist Wardog in protecting the Kestrel."

" Roger, Leopard! Take out all bandits on approach to the Carrier!"

" We'll do our best," came the determined reply as the fighters formed up and then dived back into the warzone.

As they flew into the battlefield, each saw that the situation at the docks had only worsened. Wreckage stood where buildings once did, fire was consuming what few structures remained, and the populace was fleeing from their homes in every direction they possibly could.

" What a pitiful sight," Dirk observed as they soared over what remained of St. Hewlett, shaking his head in dismay.

" I hear ya, Cougar," Cassandra said solemnly, averting her eyes from the destruction. To see so many people have their lives changed within the course of only about an hour ...

" Form up, Panthers," Captain Ekken demanded of them, trying to take their minds off of the world below, " We don't look out for the Kestrel, and we're going to be seeing a lot more of this."

They nodded together, though neither could see the action as they pitched their fighters in to chase down the next wave of enemy Intruders.

" Range to bay exit: three miles," a communications officer aboard the Kestrel notified the allied fighters, reassuring them that their job was close to being done, trying to inspire them on such a black day.

" Not much longer, we can do this!" Diego told his fellow Oseans, even as he hunted down another A-6, the attacker plowing into the water under a hail of bullets, its wings being ripped off upon impact. However, the Intruder's wingmate managed to sneak in behind Panther 2 and set himself up on an attack run.

" Enemy Attack! Return Fire!"

" Calm down! Just Calm Down!"

The frigate was assailed by three more Yuktobanian fighters as its anti-air defenses came alive, trying desperately to down the A-6s before they struck the small ship. Once they were close enough, each launched a long missile, dropping to the ocean's surface and racing after OFS Privateer.

" Enemy anti-ship missiles launched!" a panic-stricken voice called out, " Begin Phalanx fire!"

Several thousand rounds a second burst forth from the frigate, whipping the ocean around the explosives, but failing to strike any. A quick recalibration of the anti-missile weaponry allowed the small ship the blow apart two of the projectiles, but many of the bullets went past the Long-range Anti-Ship Missiles, striking several of the buildings along the coast, one of which was an armory. The resulting explosion tore apart three more structures, setting ablaze a previously untouched part of the coast.

" NO! Stop! You're firing on the docks!"

Peter sighed as the ship tried to shift fire once again, took a desperate evasive action which pitched the vessel something fierce towards one side, and was suddenly hit. The fireball that erupted threw several sailors off into the water and pushed the frigate even farther on its side. Their screams were ended suddenly as the vessel capsized, landing on top of them as it sank to the bottom of the bay.

" Dear God ..."

" Focus Panther Three!"

" Leopard ... this is horrible ..."

" Panther Three, bandit sliding behind you!"

" Peter ..."

" God Damnit Cassy!"

Cassandra had slowed her fight, unable to concentrate. She suddenly felt nauseous, the G-forces going straight to her head, ignoring all warnings from her Flight Leader as a MiG-29K began to approach her from her 5 o'clock high. The warning lights and sirens were blaring in her cockpit as she suddenly took off her breath mask, gasping for air.

Meanwhile, Peter had witnessed the bandit try to line up a kill shot on his fellow pilot, and zoomed up to try and stop Cassandra from becoming just another statistic in the Osean Air Force. Just as the Yuke was prepared to unleash a missile, Peter shot his fighter in-between Cassandra and her aggressor. The MiG's guidance system glitched at the new contact appearing so suddenly, causing the missile to go wild.

" Thank you defective weapon manufacturing ..."

Winging back around, Peter switched to guns and came down hard on the Yuke fighter, his cannon chattering all the way. The poor pilot never had a chance as he made a hard bank to his right ... straight into the hail of gunfire, blowing through his stabilizer flaps and engine. The MiG pilot tried to gain altitude, couldn't manage it, and went smoking down into the water.

" Tigress!" he hollered, " Tigress, stay frosty! Do you hear me? Get back in the fight!"

Cassandra shook her head, cleared her eyes. Where was she? Why was her mask off? Slowly she came back from her momentary lapse, slipping her breath mask back over her helmet, feeling the flight stick in her hand. Peter's words rang through her ears as she took a breath, calmed her nerves, and slowly formed up back on Peter's wing, trying to steel herself for the rest of the fight to come.

" I'm ... I'm sorry, Leopard, I -"

" Easy, Tigress," he soothed her knowing that any soldier's first fight was bound to cause some type of nervous breakdown. He had only hoped that it would happen after the fight ...

" Just look alive. Stay alive, you hear?"

" Yes Captain," came the shaky response, Peter knowing that he was pushing her beyond what she was currently capable, but that he also had no choice, " I'll stay alive ..."

Again they descended, back into rocket contrails and bullet tracers, weaving and dodging through the explosions, the sinking ships, the aircraft disintegrating into particles along with their pilots, trying to save whoever they could, to salvage hope ... before there was nothing left to rescue at all.