XX A/N XX
I guess I should also state some facts will be changed in canon happenings for the sake of a sense of realism. This chapter is largely a cliff note version of AC5. Also, has anyone realized how fast AC5 takes place? It took ISAF a year to march across Usea. Yuktobania's bigger and Osea marched across that in two months.
UPDATE 2019: Chapter has been updated to be truer to Ace Combat canon lore.
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March 3rd, 2010: Yuktobania finalizes its complete invasion plan for Osea, to be carried out near the end of the year with the intention of occupying the Osean Capital of Oured by January next year. The first stage of the plan has two main goals.
The destruction of the Osean Naval Self Defense Force's 3rd Fleet, responsible for the country's west coast. Special attention is to be given to the three carriers of the fleet: the Kestral, Buzzard, and Vulture.
The neutralization/capture of Sand Island Air Base, a Osean Air Self Defense Force base located in the Ceres Ocean several miles away from the mainland and the closest air base to Yuktobania. Plans are make to capture it to use as a springboard for invading the mainland.
March 16th: Race probes arrive close enough to begin recording images of the Arkbird, ISS, and another set of pictures of the planet surface to send back to the Race Conquest Fleet. The probes are mistaken as the orbital debris around the planet and go unnoticed by the nations on the ground. The images that are relayed back prove extremely shocking to The Race. It is decided that the probes will stay hidden in orbit once they arrive and transmit as much intelligence as possible back while the Conquest Fleet approaches.
May 1st, 2010: With violence escalating, Emmeria ceases its aid to the various Estovakian factions. The Eastern Faction continues to gain ground as it and rival factions join with smaller factions to consolidate their power. Conditions in areas controlled by the Eastern Faction start to improve. A report suggests the Aerial Fleet initiative will be complete by late 2011, although this is considered highly optimistic.
July 7th, 2010: With training complete, all X-02s purchased and delivered are put into Yuktobanian Air Force service. The country also finds some success in manufacturing parts for the ADF-01, although a functional unit isn't expected till December.
September 23th, 2010: During an early morning exercise, the Osean 118th Tactical Fighter Squadron 'Wardog', a training squadron based on Sand Island, is attacked by unmarked Yuktobanian aircraft over the Ceres Ocean. The attack results in deaths on both sides and leaves the squadron with only 4 active pilots, three of them trainees.
September 24th, 2010: A Yuktobanian spy plane enters Osean air space but is hit by Coastal Defense Force SAMs and retreats. Wardog pursues the craft, but is attacked by more unmarked Yuktobanian aircraft. All attacking aircraft are shot down. This and the earlier incident are classified.
September 27th, 2010: Rather than risk more aircraft, Yuktobania dispatches a recon ship equipped with UAVs to scout Sand Island. All are shot down at the cost of one Osean plane and pilot, who is captured. Fearful of losing the element of surprise after so many blunders, Yuktobania declares war against Osea and initiates its First Strike plan.
After a day of fighting, the plan fails to meet any of its goals. Though two dozen surface warships are sunk, Yuktobania fails to destroy any of the 3rd Fleet's carriers at the cost of over 50 of its own aircraft and several ships. A late night raid on Sand Island by stealth bombers fails to eliminate the base. Yuktobanian Generals meet to re-discuss their invasion plan.
September 28th, 2010: As an international effort, the Arkbird and ISS see no conflict. However, all countries quickly pull out following the declaration of war. The partially constructed ISS is left abandoned, and all non-Osean persons are sent back to earth.
September 30th, 2010: Osea decides to move its carriers into its inland sea to protect them from further attack while it begins gradually shifting warships and aircraft to the western side of the country. The Yuktobanian Scinfaxi, already hidden in the inland sea as part of Yuktobania's now defunct invasion plan, launches aircraft and burst missiles, destroying two of the three carriers and even more of Osea's surface fleet.
October 3rd, 2010: Osea decides to weaponize and deploy the Arkbird, now solely an Osean craft, to counter the submarine, as was its original purpose. Yuktobania gets wind of the effort and deploys airborne troops and bombers to the Basset Space Center where the ship is being armed. Despite damaging the center, the Mass Driver survives and a laser system is sent to the Arkbird for use.
October 10th, 2010: With the Scinfaxi in support and most of Osea's 3rd Fleet finally reduced, Yuktobania launches an amphibious assault on Sand Island, now defended by a reinforced Wardog Squadron. After they sink part of the Yuktobanian fleet, the Scinfaxi attempts to eliminate them with burst missiles, but is intercepted by the Arkbird, which later damages the sub and forces it to surface where it is sunk by Wardog. The tattered remains of the Yuktobanian fleet return home.
October 11th-18th, 2010: The drums of war fade as Yuktobania realizes it was lost over 40,000 personnel in only a few days without accomplishing a single objective. With the Arkbird is orbit to dissuade further attacks, and unofficial cease fire takes hold. Osean President Vincent Harling offers peace negotiations to Yuktobania.
Frustrated with this turn of events, the Grey Men meet to discuss their plans. After the opening period, Yuktobania is completely incapable of invading Osea. President Harling's peace offer also gets to them. Determined not to let the war end early, the Grey Men decide to get rid of Harling and push Osea to invade Yuktobania, believing they will bleed themselves dry on the Yuktobanian mainland.
Discussions are held about retrieving a stockpile of V-1 Tactical Nukes hidden after the last war, but the Grey Men decide the step isn't necessary yet.
October 22nd, 2010: President Harling departs for neutral North Point for negotiations, and his flight plan is leaked to Yuktobania's military government. Three squadrons are sent to down the transport. By chance though, the plane transporting him is found and escorted by Wardog squadron, who fight off the aggressors.
The plane is forced to make a crash landing however, and Belkan cells in the Osean Military recover him. He is imprisoned in southern Belka and the Vice President and Chiefs of Staff take over Osea, dissatisfied with Harling's peaceful track record, and begin planning a counter attack. As the peace offering was not made publically, the population goes unaware of this.
October 23rd: 2010: By this point, The Race have established a nearly perfect map of national boundaries on the planet. The Circum-Pacific War and Estovakian Civil War are also known to The Race as its analysists go over hours of intercepted combat footage. Seeing the native's military equipment in action (not to mention effective) proves extremely worrying. Furthermore, after witnessing Yuktobania and Osea's powerful manufacturing capability, Atvar begins to seriously considering calling off the conquest.
October 25th, 2010: The Arkbird is damaged by an explosive device planted in a supply ship by Grey Men agents. The blast does not destroy the spacecraft, but does disable the weapon system and its ability to move. Osean military planners decide to put more effort into a conventional war against Yuktobania than repair it. The Grey Men make plans to take over the Arkbird, just in case.
November 1st, 2010: Operation Footprint: Two battalions of Osean Marines land on the hilly Bastok Peninsula in southeastern Yuktobania to establish a beachhead with aid from the Air Force. Though Marine aircraft distinguish themselves, particular notice is given to Wardog squadron, who were largely responsible for destroying Yuktobania's ground fortifications. Osean Divisions are sent to the new beachhead while retreating Yuktobanian forces are shot down trying to flee.
Intending to further inflame tensions, a Grey Men cell in the OADF attacks a Yuktobania civilian complex around the same time, which invites two Yuktobanian terror attack in Osea days later.
The invasion and transfer of forces is noticed by The Race, who are particularly surprised by Osea's successful amphibious assault and use of warships.
November 7th, 2010: A series of protests break out in the countries of the eastern Osean continent. Protests are largest in Ustio and Sapin, upset that Yuktobania, a country that aided them during the Belkan War, has been invaded. Other than voice concerns, the tiny countries cannot do much to dissuade Osea from its warpath.
November 10th: Fearful of the wars enveloping the rest of the world, the FCU organizes a massive military exercise with the other nations of Usea, including Erusea, to ensure the protection of the continent's sovereignty. They are scheduled to take place for the first two weeks of December. At the same time, the IUN's peace keeping mission in re-examined by Usean governments.
November 13th, 2010: Yuktobania orders the Hrimfaxi, sister ship to Scinfaxi, to bombard the Osean Beachhead from the Razgriz Straits north of Anea. Wardog squadron is dispatched the next day and manage to locate and sink the massive warship. Their destructive power, combined with the location of the operation, earn the squadron the nickname 'Demons of Razgriz',
November 14th-26th, 2010: Osean forces drive deep into Yuktobania, intent of quickly capturing the Capital of Cinigrad to end the war. These efforts of largely and publicly aided by Wardog squadron, who have been elevated to a level of fame similar to Usean Ace Mobius 1.
November 19th: In an emergency meeting, the Grey Men meet to discuss Osea's extremely alarming march across Yuktobania. The focus of the meeting is quickly put towards the famous Wardog Squadron or 'Razgriz' as they've come to be known. The Grey Men resolve that Osea cannot win the war, and decide destroying the squadron will go a long ways towards breaking and demoralizing Osea's forces.
In case Osea's gains prove impossible to reverse, it is decided to excavate the hidden V-1s. The same day brings news of the successful takeover of the Arkbird. The Grey Men investigate the possibility of using it to repair the SOLG- an abandoned orbital bombardment weapon Osea had started to develop during the Belkan War- for delivering V-2.
November 21st: Amateur astronomers begin noticing signs of the Race Conquest Fleet, as do some of the smaller governments on the planet. The sightings go largely unnoticed or investigated as the world is gripped by the Circum-Pacific War and the prospect of Osea becoming the planet's sole Superpower.
November 29th, 2010: The Grey Men, through use of cells in both militaries, organize a massive Yuktobanian airstrike on November City, where the Osean leadership will be giving a speech. The area will be patrolled by Wardog squadron and Yuktobania and the Grey Men hope both will be wiped out and cripple Osea's efforts.
Wardog Squadron somehow fight off the massive force at the loss of only one of their members. The Osean leadership escape unharmed and intent on increasing the war effort. The Grey Men meet yet again to discuss the issue.
November 31st, 2010: Slight defensive modifications are made to the Arkbird. The Grey Men now have complete, albeit secret, control of the Mass Driver. Work resumes on the nearly completed SOLG, with supplies sent directly to the station.
December 1st: 2010: On the 127th Emperor Hetto, the Bannership of the Conquest Fleet, Fleetlord Atvar makes a decision and calls together the other Shiplords to announce whether or not an invasion will be carried out. At its current speed, the Fleet is expected to be visible from the planet surface in seven days. Within nine days, they will be able to land troops on the planet.