Ace Combat 6: Garuda's Angel

Chapter Ten: Ragno Fortress

Occupied Gracemeria

Near Gracemeria Castle

Dr. Anders was nearby the castle grounds taking a small break from the wounded in the hospital. In modern times, the castle was a popular park for those wanting a relaxing day away from the city. Ever since Kristen destroyed Aigaion, Estovakia has been sending a near-constant stream of wounded soldiers from the front. Emmerian Military Radio and Gracemeria's Independence Radio went on about Kristen non-stop. She had become a war-hero in every since of the word. He looked around the area. Something imposing was being built in a hurry. Defense towers for the incoming Emmerian Forces.

Suddenly, a man approached him in the distance. "Hey man, do you have the time?" Dr. Anders nodded. "Certainly, let me just get my phone out." He reached in his pants and tried digging the phone out of his pants, that was when he was grabbed by the man, and a small towel forced over his head. Dr. Anders tried struggling, but to no avail. The substance on the towel, he recognized as a strong anesthesia, was making him loose consciousness by the second. He finally lost consciousness before a van drove up toward the man dragging Dr. Anders' unconscious form. The man loaded him inside and the van drove off casually.

Dr. Anders began to come around, his head feeling fuzzy. He could hear voices around him, as his senses began to return, they sounded slow and garbled. Then they began to make more sense.

"... lets deal with one thing at a time Gentlemen, these people are important." A woman's voice stated. Dr. Anders looked toward the woman. She was Emmerian, but another man, close by, was an Estovakian Lieutenant. "Who are you." The woman approached. "We're with the Emmerian Resistance. I'm glad we were able to find you before the Secret Police got orders to find you."

"Secret Police?" Dr. Anders asked as the woman spoke, "My name is Charity Daniels, the leader of this cell. The man behind me is Lieutenant Konstantin Vornov of the Estovakian Security Bureau, he's a member of a resistance group against the Generals in Estovakia." She noted. "There are two more, Zed Walters and his driver, he's out in his mobile radio station somewhere."

Dr. Anders spoke. "I hope whatever it is, that requires me being drugged and kidnapped, is important enough to justify it." Lieutenant Vornov spoke. "Your friend has been making life very... inconvenient for the Generals doctor. They've ordered the Secret Police to round up Major Landsford's family, even lovers. I am glad the resistance found you first."

"How did you find me?" Jason asked. "Lets just say that we have a sympathizer in the hospital. Surprised? Not every Estovakian agrees with the Military Government and their invasion of your nation. There are some of us who believe that, while the Generals have restored our nation, they have disgraced our honour with their warmongering." The Estovakian Lieutenant stated. "Now then, I have to return to the surface and inform central that I saw someone that probably looked like you near the outskirts. It should throw the Secret Police off for a while.

Dr. Anders spoke, "What about Kristen's parents?"

Charity shook her head. "I'm sorry Doctor, but the Secret Police got to them first." Dr. Anders sighed. "Dammit!" She continued, "We think they were taken to Ragno Fortress.." Dr. Anders followed up, "To be used as hostages against my fiancée."

Charity nodded. "We're working up a plan to get you out of the Capital, but it is not easy. We may have to bunker down and hold out until our troops take back the city."


Kristen entered the planning room, where General Roberts, Colonel Daniels, and other officers were talking. "Major Landsford. Allow me to express my condolences for your loss, John was a good man." General Roberts stated." Kristen nodded. "Thank you General."

"Now then, to business. Colonel?" Colonel Daniels spoke, "Our objective is Ragno Fortress. Ten years ago, this fortress was built by our nation as a defensive barrier against Estovakia when the Generals took power after the Ulysses XFO4 calamity. Now it is in Estovakian Hands. We cannot ignore the fortress." Colonel Daniels manipulated the map display. "They have two battallions of troops here, and our current plan involves cutting their power and sending warlock battalion in to seize the Fortress."

Colonel Daniels continued. "We also have reason to believe that the Estovakians are holding political prisoners deep within the base. The fortress itself is only the tip of the iceberg. The Base runs underground along Grageo Canyon. Seizing the fortress will be hard, seizing the underground fortress will be damn near impossible. We're going to take sixty percent casualties from this."

Kristen spoke up. "What are these?" She asked as she manipulated the map screen to display a series of wide tunnels in the canyon. Daniels responded. "Access tunnels for helicopters and heavy lift choppers. Why do you ask Major?" Kristen spoke. "What if we send Yellow Jacket into those tunnels to take control of the Fortress from the inside?"

"It won't work Major, the Stovies will shift security forces to the tunnels with a series of elevators within the shafts. We thought of this already Major, Yellow Jacket will be wiped out." Colonel Daniels noted. Kristen spoke. "Then we send a fighter through the tunnels to take the elevators and control centers out." Daniels spoke. "That's crazy, those tunnels are barely big enough to fly in."

Kristen spoke. "That is why it will work Ladies and Gentlemen. Here." She manipulated the screen. "We send Warlock Battallion within the outer range of the Fortress to create a skirmish, our squadrons will cover with Warlock, then I take Shamrock through the tunnels and knock out the elevators within. With our Special Forces in the fortress, they move up to Auxillary Command and override the Fortress' defenses. Warlock will then pin the Estovakians against the Fortress."

"I like it Major." General Roberts stated. "It's risky, but if we succeed, we will have much less casualties than expected, and enough strength left over to head for Gracemeria many weeks ahead of schedule. Another officer spoke, "No! It's too risky General. We'll be putting Warlock Battalion in unnecessary danger if this fails."

General Roberts spoke. "Colonel Lewis, we're all in 'unnecessary danger' right now. This is war, and risks must be made in war for victory. I think Major Landsford can pull it off. It is Crazy, yes, but if we think it's crazy, then the Estovakians will think its crazy, and that is why they will be completely and utterly unprepared for it."

Kristen responded, "Thank you Sir, we won't let you down." She looked at some of the General's subordinates. Most of them weren't happy about this, that they had lost influence with him to some maverick from the air force. She just grinned slightly with the knowledge that she had pissed someone off today other than the Generals.


Charity spoke toward Dr. Anders. "Doctor, come here!" Anders moved over to Charity and another person at a computer. "We've managed to hack past the Stovie's internet blocks, and we're video conferencing with the Emmerian Military." Jason's eyes widened. "Can they get Kristen on there."

Charity spoke, "Yes, it's she's on her way." Kristen's image appeared on the monitor, and a slightly distorted one. "Jason?" Jason moved toward it. "Talisman!" Kristen smiled, "Oh thank god your safe doc." Jason smiled, "How are you love?"

"I'm fine, and I'm glad your fine. I was beginning to think something had happened to you. How is everyone there in Gracemeria?" A technician spoke. "They're doing a server trace, make it quick doctor." Jason nodded. "Kristen, I love you, I want to give you something when you get here..." Kristen spoke. "Save it for when I'm there. It would be awkward if you tried punching through a monitor to put that ring on my finger." She put her hand on the monitor. "I love you too Doc."

Dr. Anders took the ring out and placed it on the screen near her finger. "Stay safe love, don't do anything too rash." Kristen responded. "Why doctor, I would never do anything that would cause you so much worry. I certainly wouldn't preform suicidal maneuvers while fighting an enormous airship and against near impossible odds. If you worry too much Jason, that handsome hair of yours will start graying. Oh, and keep your hands of those nurses." She said with a smile. The first real one she had for weeks. "You're a bad liar Major. We'll have to celebrate your recent promotions when you get back." He said with a smirk. Jason spoke again, "Listen..." Suddenly the technician pulled the cables out of the router and Kristen's image vanished. Jason spoke, "Get her back!" The technician spoke, "They almost had us doctor... I'm sorry..."

Charity spoke, "We'll try again in a few hours Doctor, but this is the best we can do. Even getting past the Stovie's internet blocks is risky." Jason nodded, "I know, but this is the first time in months that I've spoken with her." Charity smiled, "Congratulations, I hope to be there for the reception." Jason smiled, "Something tells me even the Reception will be 'by invitation only', because I think half of the nation will want to attend, and the other half will show up anyway."

"You're welcome doc, and I think we've managed to keep her morale up." Charity responded to which Jason smiled, "Are you kidding? The Generals are going to wish they had never been born when she's done with them"


Two F-15's continued to fly toward Grageo Canyon, in essence, it was a network of canyons carved out over millions of years by the Grageo River. One wrong turn, and someone could easily get lost here. Kristen checked the situation. "Wow, the politicians must be fuming that this fortress, which they spent billions on, somehow managed to get captured by the stovies during the blitz."

Suddenly the Independence Radio came on. "This is Zed Walters with Emmerian Independence radio telling all you stovies out there, don't feel so bad when we come and break your toys. I've got some gold king medals for Garuda Team. Made them myself." Kristen grinned. "Damn. I'm liking this guy more and more. Hey Ghosteye, send him my base address. I want my golden king medal."

"Don't listen to civilian airwaves during a mission." Ghosteye responded with his usual strictness.

Kristen spoke, "Yes mother." Several of the other pilots responded with some chuckles. Ghosteye spoke up, "And no banter during missions, keep focused."

"Alright, listen up guys. Warlock will need our cover for the first part of the mission, then I take Shamrock and we go pop open the base for our spec forces, then we pin the Stovies against the base. "Shamrock, you're with me." She entered Grageo canyon at high speed. Evading the walls as she went.

"Hey Shamrock, this is probably the only time we'll be able to do this and not get our asses chewed for it." Kristen stated to which Shamrock responded. "Lets just hope we survive this hot dogging so we can get our asses chewed Talisman." Kristen spoke, "Alright, we're approaching the first tunnel. She fired opened fire toward the tunnels gate and it smashed to pieces, and in the process, the tunnel was opened. Talisman entered the tunnel at full speed. Firing at elevators and control rooms along the way. "C'mon Shamrock, feel the rush." The Estovakians responded on their radio chatter. "What on Earth? They're flying through the tunnels, they must be insane."

Kristen spoke, "Nope, Emmerians just have more balls than stovies." She approached the second tunnel and blew it open. Entering this one, she began to do the same thing inside. "We've got fires in the lower levels!" one of the officers stated. "Lt. Colonel Miyavek, get me a damage report." Kristen smiled, "Boy I am just pissing these people off. If I keep on doing it, they may actually start liking me." Talisman shot out of the second tunnel with Shamrock in tow. He was huffing and breathing, trying to keep his cool. "What's wrong Shamrock, you're sounding like you're going into labor back there." She said as she set her sights on the third tunnel. "Ha ha, very funny Talisman." Shamrock said nervously.

Kristen blew the tunnel open and entered. Flying through it swiftly, she spotted her targets and opened fire. She then heard alarms on the Estovakain Frequencies. "We need another fire crew down here!" Kristen blew off the other gate and she exited. "One more, you alright Shamrock?"

"Yeah... I'll need new pants when I get groundside." Shamrock stated.

Kristen launched a missile toward the last tunnels gate and then proceeded inside it. While she was inside, and taking out targets with her guns. She did a roll in the tunnel. "Whoo hoo!" she stated. "Talisman!" Shamrock stated. "Don't freak me out like that." Kristen smirked, "What? By doing this?" Shamrock responded. "Yes that!" He said as the approached the tunnels exit. "Oh, ok, if you say so brother dearest." She began to spin as she approached the tunnels exit. She fired at the gate and exited the tunnel."Talisman, sometimes you can drive even me insane."

Kristen smiled, "Oh don't be such a worrywart. It's always good to enjoy life every now and then, otherwise it just gets boring. Now lets get back to warlock's position. When the special forces team takes control of the automated defenses, things will get interesting for the Stovies.

Without any warning, the fortress' pillbox towers started firing on the Estovakian Tanks and Atillery outside the base. "This is Linez Battlaion, Cease fire Ragno, Repeat, Cease Fire!"

Ragno's commanding officer came on. "We can't, we've been locked out of all the computers." Kristen spoke, "Warlock, begin your charge, we have them by the ropes. All fighters, provide air support for warlock, we're going to take the base." The base continued to lay a punishing volley of firepower toward the now encircled Estovakian Army. "Garuda, this is warlock, we need you to take out two artillery batteries. On opposite sides of the canyon."

"Understood, Shamrock, you up for some dirty work." Shamrock responded, "Hey, at least you're not making me go through any more tunnels." Kristen spoke. "You take one side of the Canyon, and I'll take the other." Kristen set her sights on the Artillery and began strafing one of the Artillery Batteries. The Battle was proceeding very quickly.


"This is Diane Fielding for OSN News with a Special Report." The Reporter noted.

"Emmerian Forces continue to push east, on all fronts, toward Gracemeria. And Estovakian Forces have shown signs that they no longer have the ability to match the Emmerians in numbers and equipment. Military analysts suggest that the Emmerian armies will be in Gracemeria by the end of this week. If the current trend continues." The reporter noted.

"The most noteworthy victory that the Emmerian forces have accomplished was the seizure of Ragno Fortress. Thus far, the Fortress has prevented any attempt to move east in force by the Emmerians, now the Estovakian Army is on the defensive. However, military analysts suggest that the Estovakians will consider desperation tactics as they loose ground.


Kristen continued to walk through the San Loma base before she entered a room where an elderly man and woman were being treated for injuries. "Mom? Dad?" The man and woman smiled. "Kristen!" The elderly woman stated. She walked toward the two and hugged them in each arm. Both of them put their arms around her.

She then spoke, while holding back tears. "How did you get here?"

"The Special Forces found us, in Ragno Fortress." William Landsford stated. Kristen looked up. "Dad, I don't understand. Ragno Fortress? What on earth were you doing there?" Kristen asked. Her mother, Katherine Landsford looked down. "The Estovakians are now targeting everyone around you honey." William decided to tell her the truth. "You've backed them up against the wall so hard that they're now getting desperate to destroy you."

Kristen spoke, "The last I heard, Jason is now with the Resistance." William spoke again. "Your uncle did not fair so well." Katherine began to sob and William held her. "The secret police gunned him down."

Kristen sat down. "I'd love to get my hands on the son-of-a-bitch that did it." She stated. William spoke, "Honey, no. You focus on what you're doing right now. There's a lot more people in Gracemeria that are getting it harder than us. God, the secret police is having a field day with anyone who happens to have a fighter pilot in their family."

Kristen spoke, "Don't worry, we'll put an end to it."


Author's Note: Expect Updates during the Weekend.