Ace Combat: Skies of Deception
Chapter 2:Out Of The Fire
Aubrey Base, Aurelia, October 10th 2020, 19:30 Hours
Eugene Solano was heading to his room after having one of the worst days of his life. Of the five pilots he had met that morning, only Ángel was alive, and just by the skin of his teeth. Ángel was a very kind pilot who never said anything unless he had to, always trying that justice prevailed, and, even when he told him about his past, Eugene still treated him like a friend.
He heard some scratching noises in Ángel's room, and knocked on his door to make him notice his presence.
-Come in!-Ángel said.-Oh, it's you. Hello Eugene.
-Hello, sir!-Eugene responded. He then noticed he was writing something in a piece of paper.-What are you doing?
-First, don't call me "sir". It makes me feel old and grey.-Ángel said, not taking his eyes from the paper.-And second, I'm writing letters to my wingmen's families. It's sad, but someone has to tell them what happened to their loved ones, and I wanted to be that someone.
-Well, that's good of you. I don't think they'll bear any grudge to you.-Eugene said, patting him on the shoulder.-I know that if it had been for you, you would have gone out of your way to save them.
-Of course.-answered Ángel, saddened.-I only hope their families understand that. This war has taken too many lives, and I've already lost too many friends.
Eugene took a look to the letters. Although they all seemed identical, they remarked every good trait of Ángel's wingmen: Rick's cheerfulness, Roy's discipline, Ignacio's wisdom, and Alan's bravery. Ángel was still writing Alan's letter, and he was writing that, despite Alan's misgivings, he was a pilot that Ángel trusted to the very end.
-OK, it's finished!-Ángel said, finishing Alan's letter and saving the letters into their respective envelopes.-Did you want something, Eugene?
-Oh, I almost forgot! I regret to inform that we're out of supplies and that we've lost track of the Gleipnir.-said Eugene, crestfallen.
-Damn, those are bad news. When are we expected to receive any fuel or weapons supplied?- asked Ángel, trying his best not to punch the wall in a fit of rage.
-Within two days, if things go well.-answered Eugene.-If not, we can kiss our country goodbye.
-I see.- said Ángel somberly.-I guess that if we don't move soon, this base and all personnel here will be captured, or worse.
-Maybe not.-said Eugene.-It appears that our last mission dealt a greater deal of damage than expected, and now they are more focused on receiving and storing supplies in Port Patterson and a new base on Puna Plains currently under construction.
-Well, it seems that not all are bad news.-said Ángel.-Let's just hope that our forces can hold on until we receive supplies.
-Let's hope so. Goodbye Ángel.-said Eugene, getting out of Ángel's room.
-Have a good rest, Eugene.-answered Ángel.-I'll take these letters to the base's mail service so they can send them to their families.
After delivering the letters to the mail service, Ángel returned to his room. Sighing, he walked to his bed and climbed to the top bunk. He stared into the ceiling and everyone he knew came to his mind. His family, his girlfriend, his friends, his wingmen, and Navarro. Whenever he thought about the dictator, he was overcome by rage and grudge.
-"Navarro, I don't care about your whereabouts or what are you doing now, but I will make sure that no plan of yours ever comes to fruition, I swear for my wingmen's honor."-he thought.
Then he watched the sky. The sun was setting, and the sky had an eerie orange tone. The snow on the top of the mountains to the south and east reflected the last sunrays, just like the ocean did to the north and west.
-"The sunset. For me, it has the color of blood. It is almost ironic that the same sun that saw my wingmen taking to the skies with me is now a symbol of loss and heartache."-Ángel thought. He then remembered his girlfriend, and, despite his sadness, he could help but smile at her mere thought. She was such a beautiful, kind-hearted and blissful lady. Even when things didn't go well, whenever she was with him, nothing seemed to be wrong.-"If only she was alive, she could help me to overcome this pain."
He then closed his eyes and drifted into a dreamless sleep.
Aubrey Base, Aurelia, October 12th 2020, 16:00 Hours
It had passed two days since that fateful mission. The day before, Ángel had made four gravestones in memory of his wingmen, since the SWBM's blast had destroyed their airplanes and they had found no corpses. He was reading in his room when he heard an XC-01 landing in the base. He hurried to help them to take the supplies, but when he arrived to the airplane, he saw only a handful of missiles, 8 SAAMs, gun ammunition and fuel.
-Is this all you could gather?-Ángel asked to the crew of the cargo plane.
-Sorry, but this is all. We're lucky that no Leasathian fighters bounced on us in our way here.-answered the pilot.-And we spent most of our fuel to get here, so we're now sitting idle here until new orders.
-OK, I'll see what I can do.-said Ángel.-For now, I'll try and help you guys, but I can't take this cargo plane back to the supply base. Furthermore, my old F-4E consumes too much fuel.
Two hours later, the supplies were stored. Ángel was helping the mechanics in maintenance of his plane. Despite its looks, it was a bit damaged due to the high-G turns and the shockwave it had to endure, even though it didn't take the worst of it. Suddenly, he heard rushed footsteps heading to the hangar.
-Ángel!-shouted Eugene, gasping after reaching the hangar.-We've got an intelligence report! Head to the briefing room now!
-OK Eugene!-he answered.-"What could have him so worked up?"-he thought, a bit scared.-"An enemy attack, perhaps?"
Aubrey Base, Aurelia, October 12th 2020, 18:20 Hours
Intelligence suggested that the Puna Plains base, dubbed "Puna Base", was scheduled to be completed within 24 hours. It was on a riverbank on Puna Plains, and served as an auxiliary base where 5 Tu-95s, 2 An-124 "Condors", and a handful of light fighters and attack helicopters waited to be cleared for a final, all-out attack on Aubrey Base.
-Well, we're almost out of supplies, we only have an F-4E for air combat, and our surface-to-air defences are almost out of ammo.-said Ángel.-In other words, we have to take out that base before those bombers take out this base.
-But sir, if we fail, as I said before, we're not only out of luck, but of supplies too.-said Eugene, scared.-And Leasath is going to send troops and supplies to Port Patterson.
-How many missions will I be able to carry on with the fuel and weapons we have left?-asked Ángel, fearing the answer.
-Only one.-answered Eugene.-And, to make matters worse, if you choose to go to Port Patterson before taking out Puna Base, you won't be able to make it back.
-OK, tomorrow, I will pay a "visit" to Puna Base.-said Ángel.-Just save some fuel for the transport plane in case we succeed in taking over that base.
Puna Base, Aurelia, October 13th 2020, 13:00 Hours
Ángel's F-4E was on its way to Puna Base. It was loaded with 8 UGBLs, 8 SAAMs, missiles and gun ammunition He had to be wary of his ammo and not to waste it, so he would save the bombs for the parked bombers and the Semi-active Air to Air Missiles for any incoming fighters. He spotted an AA gun on the riverbank and gunned it before moving on to a SAM vehicle and destroying both it and another AA gun with standard missiles.
-Five more miles to Puna Base.-reported Crux.-Commence attack, Gryphus 1.
-I've got something on radar!-said a soldier of the base.- It's the enemy! It's an attack!
-What kind of enemy!?-asked another soldier.-Air? Land? Argh, everything's in chaos. What's going on?
-Just send up every available pilot.-answered their commander.-We've got to intercept them! It's an enemy fighter!-he said when he saw Gryphus 1's plane.
-What?! Didn't our last attack finish off all remaining Aurelian air power?
-Look for yourself! None of our guys have a Southern Cross!
By then, Gryphus 1 had dropped four bombs over two couples of bombers and he was shooting out SAMs and AA-Guns. The base commander rushed to the control tower and made a call to Port Patterson:
-This is Puna Base! We have an emergency! Come in!
-This is Port Patterson command. What's the situation Puna Base?
-We're taking enemy fire! Request reinforcements immediately! Request reinforcements immediately!
-It'll take some time. We need time to launch. Hold on until reinforcements arrive.
-Hurry up! If they don't get here soon, there'll be nothing left of this base but a pile of rubble.
Gryphus 1 was destroying two Ka-52 with missiles. Meanwhile, a couple of MiG-21-93 took off and tried to engage him. Gryphus 1 turned around and bombed the cargo planes while evading enemy fire.
-Did you see that? They complain if we bomb a city, but if they bomb our planes while they're on the ground, we can't. What a cheap moral these Aurelians have!-said one of the pilots chasing Gryphus 1. Gryphus 1 evaded the first pilot and shot him down with an SAAM. The other fired at him with a QAAM. Despite the speed and accuracy of the missile, Gryphus 1 managed to avoid it.
-Nice try, but now you're out of luck.-said Gryphus 1 shooting another SAAM to the Fishbed. The MiG-21 was shot down before he could tell where he was shot from. Gryphus 1 dropped his last two bombs over a lone Tu-95 on the runway, taking the last bomber out.
-Another fire!-shouted the base commander.-We've been hit here too!
The base commander then ran to his men, who were busy trying to put out the fires.
-Retreat! Abandon the facility! Retreat!-he ordered them.-There's nothing more we can do here. Escape!
-Escape?!-shouted one of the soldiers, trying to be heard over the turmoil.-There aren't any flyable planes left!
-So,-answered the base commander.-you'd better start running!
-Leasath soldiers are abandoning the base.-said Crux.
-Affirmative.-answered Gryphus 1.-I can see them from up here. There are six more planes coming in from the south, likely, from Port Patterson. When I take them out, ground forces can take over the base.
Three JA-37 Viggens, other two MiG-21-93s and an Su-25SM armed with air-to-ground ordnance came in from the south. Gryphus was right on postponing the ground troops' advance. If he hadn't, they would have taken serious damage. He shot an SAAM to the Su-25SM first, and, although it tried to evade, it was no use, as Gryphus 1 made sure that the missile kept tracking the attack plane. However, he realized too late that he shouldn't have left the other planes unchecked, as they fired to him. Gryphus 1 managed to avoid all the incoming missiles, but his plane was his by some bullets.
-Damn!-he swore as his plane shuddered. But he knew that he couldn't give up so easily, and his plane was still flying. He shot down the 5 remaining enemy planes with SAAMs within three minutes. The base had a lot of burning debris on the runway and the HQ building and the control tower were destroyed, but Gryphus 1 decided to spare the hangars on a hunch.
-Crux, this is Gryphus 1. Send the ground forces and the cargo plane to Puna Base. I'll land there when it is secured.
-Roger that.-answered Crux.-The mission was a success
Puna Base, Aurelia, October 13th 2020, 13:30 Hours
Ángel had landed his damaged F-4E in Puna Base. It had some bullet holes on its back and near the canopy. He shuddered when he saw how close he had been to die. Despite that, the fact was that the base had a lot of weapons and fuel stored in the hangars, and the fuel reserves were more than enough to allow a steady-paced transfer from Aubrey Base to Puna Base. Ángel had his stuff brought from Aubrey Base via cargo plane. He then bumped into Eugene, who was smiling for the first tome in four days.
-Leaving the warehouses intact was a smart move, Ángel.-he said, looking at the tanks and APCs outside the headquarters.-At least we have backup support for our troops and for us.
-Yeah.-said Ángel.-But sadly, I don't think my F-4E can take a single hit more. So, we're a bit out of luck.
-Not yet. Rick's F-1 Kaizen is still in Aubrey Base
-Really? Well, that attack plane is just as ancient as the F-4E, but we'll just have to take what we can get.
-Yes, but Rick had his F-1 upgraded so it could carry some air-to-air weaponry. So, with luck, you'll be able to get the plane here by tomorrow in the latest.
-I hope so. -said Ángel.-The sooner we take Port Patterson back, the better. Furthermore, if reports are correct, Leasath will send Port Patterson some supply vessels anytime soon, so, given the F-1's air-to-surface capabilities, it will be a great asset for us. However, I hope we can find some recent planes there, because, no matter how upgraded it is, an F-1 won't be able to take out the Gleipnir, and I have quite a bone to pick with that monstrous airplane.
-Sir, please be careful when you face the Gleipnir.-answered Eugene, seeing hatred flowing through Ángel's eyes.-It it takes you out, you will do no favor to your loved ones.
-I know. Have you found out anything interesting about the SWBM?
-Well, it seems that below a certain altitude, its shockwave dissipates.
-That's all I need to hear. If your theory is correct, that monster is doomed.-Ángel said, with a fearsome smile on his face.-Thank you, my friend.
-Not at all; that's what friends are for.-answered Eugene, shaking hands with his friend.-I hope you can avenge our friends.
-Not just our friends, but all innocent victims of this war.
Puna Base, Aurelia, October 13th 2020, 18:30 Hours
Ángel saw an F-1 landing in Puna Base, piloted by a cargo plane pilot who agreed to bring it from Aubrey Base. Despite its age, Ángel had to admit that it was a beautiful plane. Rick had it painted with a two tone grey paintjob with a black radome before the war. Ángel decided to take it for an unarmed test flight. It handled quite smoothly for an attack plane.
-Thank you, Rick. This plane is going to take back Port Patterson for you and the rest of my wingmen, you can hold me to that.-he whispered while landing the plane, around 19:30. He headed to his new room and took his necklace. He stared at the photo. He remembered their first kiss: unexpected and filled with passion and love. He also remembered every moment he spent with her, and how happy he was back then. He then left the necklace in the desk's drawer and fell asleep a couple of hours later.
This is the second chapter. You've seen that I altered the dialogues a bit, but just a bit so that they fit the story. In the next chapter(not the flashback, but the chapter where the Aurelian forces take back Port Patterson) I will introduce something that I would have loved to see in the game. One final thing, sorry for the constant changes in the uploaded episodes, but I constantly find some flaws that I try to correct as soon as possible. Good luck and take care. See you next time