Ace Combat: Skies of Deception
Chapter 6:False Target
Patterson Base, Aurelia, October 17th 2020, 09:11 Hours
-Really?-asked Ángel.-How many?
-I don't know,-answered the commander.- but there are four groups escorted by fighters, with at least one ace squadron among them. It seems that the An-124 you shot down over Port Patterson was a stranded one.
-I see.-said Ángel.-It seems like I have to hurry.
-Which plane will you choose, Captain Román?-asked the commander.-Since it is an air-to-air mission, the F-14D or the F-15C might be a good choice.
-Well, the F-14D carries Advanced Long range Air-to-Air missiles and is more maneuverable than the F-15C, but it is not as stable or fast as the F-15C.-Ángel pondered, and, after thinking for a bit, he made up his mind.-I think I'll take the F-15C.
-But, Captain, even though we couldn't count how many transports are en route to Santa Elva, we managed to find out that they are flying at high altitude. Do you think that the Eagle can reach them?-said the commander.
-Are you kidding?-retorted the pilot.-Did you hear about a pilot called Larry Foulke, also known as Solo-Wing Pixy?
-Yeah.-said the commander.-Why?
-Well, he managed to land an F-15C that had a wing torn off during a dogfight.-answered Ángel.-If that's not showing how stable that aircraft is, I'm a monkey's uncle.
-OK, you're the boss.-the commander answered, shrugging.-Just be careful. We might have lost this war without you.
-"Ironic."-thought Ángel, as he climbed to the F-15's cockpit.-"Someone that could not protect his loved ones and has no hope at all over his shoulders is saving and bringing hope to this whole nation."
Kingshill, Aurelia, October 17th 2020, 10:30 Hours
Gryphus 1 piloted the F-15C from Patterson Base to Kingshill, half way between Port Patterson and Stand Canyon. It had taken him one hour and fifteen minutes to reach the area since he took off from the base. His plane, armed with XMAAs and SAAMs, along with missiles and guns, was perfect for air-to-air combat, although it was not nearly as good in air-to-ground attacks. The F-15E Strike Eagle was much better in that role, while retaining the air-to-air skills of the F-15C. However, the F-15C could carry some air-to-ground ordnance when required.
Gryphus 1 had made contact with Crux minutes earlier, and now he was tracking a formation of two MiG-21-93 Fishbed escorting three An-124 Condor.
-"Three planes?!"-thought Gryphus 1.-"Each one of those planes can carry a lot of supplies in a fix. Why so many?"
-Something's wrong...-said Crux.-Gryphus 1, does something seem amiss?
-Yes, there are just too many transport aircraft.-answered the pilot.-There are probably some decoy aircraft mixed in whit the formation. Can you confirm which one is the target?
-Unfortunately, no.-answered Crux.-You'll have to find the real one and shoot it down by yourself. Take a good look. Is there anything different, perhaps in the way they fly?
-I don't know. I'll shoot down all the transports if I see the chance, just in case.-answered Gryphus 1.
-I wouldn't advise that.-said Crux.-The target might get away if you don't focus your attacks.
-Understood. Gryphus 1, engaging.-said Gryphus 1, attacking the escorts with XMAA. Both MiG-21s were shot down.
-"I thought you were taking us more seriously!"-thought Gryphus 1.
-Enemy aircraft!-reported one of the transports.-Was there a leak!?
-That's what the decoy aircraft are for. Only one shipment needs to get through.-answered another transport.
-Keep us protected.-ordered another one.-We have precious cargo onboard.
-"A cargo I will never allow to reach its destination."-thought Gryphus 1. He headed to the transports. One of them was flying lower than the other two.
He decided to use missiles and guns to take out the transports at a higher altitude, in a hunch.
-Decoy aircraft hit!-reported a pilot, after two of the three transports were shot down.-There's nothing we can do. Delivering the cargo is the top priority.
Gryphus 1 then switched to SAAM and shot a missile to the last transport. The airplane kept flying after it was hit, but a short burst of guns was enough to shoot it down. He then tracked a handful of planes to the northwest and proceeded to intercept them.
Suddenly, a voice was heard over the radio.
-This is the ground unit. We've secured the downed transports. It looks that the last one you shot down was the real target. We'll carry on from here.
Gryphus 1 recognized that voice. It was one of the soldiers of the Davis Unit. It seemed that they were informed by the commander or Bergman about the operation over Kingshill.
He was approaching the contacts when his missile warning went off. A couple of SAAM flew towards him at high speed. He managed to evade them in time to see two JA-37 Viggen engaging him. One of them made a single mistake and was shot down with a XMAA, while the other fired its guns at him. Gryphus 1 evaded the burst and got to the bandit's tail, shooting another XMAA that hit its mark.
-What are you doing?-asked one of the transport plane's pilot to another one.-Increase your altitude!
-Escape while the enemy is busy with the decoys.-ordered another one.-Can't we fly any higher?
-Heavy cargo will make it difficult for a transport to maintain a steady altitude.-guessed Crux.-Look in the formation for an aircraft with a lower altitude and take it out.
Gryphus 1, however, engaged the three transports. He started to shoot down the ones with a higher altitude.
-Gryphus 1, it looks like that was a decoy.-reported Crux.-Look harder for the real transport.
-Take it easy, Crux.-answered Gryphus 1.-There's still plenty of time to shoot down every transport.
The pilot then turned to the remaining transport. It was on the center of the formation, although at a lower altitude. He fired an SAAM and gunned it, sending it spiraling to the ground.
-Dammit!-shouted a Leasathian pilot.-A shipment's been shot down!
Seconds later, another formation of An-124 was tracked. This time, it was comprised of 4 transports, escorted by 4 MiG-29C, two of which proceeded to engage Gryphus 1 immediately.
-It's the enemy!-reported a Leasathian pilot.-Increase speed and shake him.
-The cargo's too heavy.-complained the pilot of a transport plane.-We can't gain altitude.
Gryphus 1 fired a couple of XMAA to the MiG-29C, but one of them dodged the missile and fired two missiles at him. The missiles were just a few meters away from hitting the Eagle. Gryphus 1 got to the Fulcrum's tail and fired its guns at it, shooting it down. He then headed to the transports, getting the attention of the remaining MiG-29C. However, as soon as they were in range, Gryphus 1 fired two XMAA more, this time successfully shooting down both fighters. He then proceeded to shoot down the transports, focusing on the ones flying at high altitude. This time, he fired two missiles at each plane, firing the gun to finish them off.
-Gryphus 1, please hurry! If you don't hurry, the military supplies...-said Crux, but was promptly interrupted by the pilot:
-CRUX!-shouted Gryphus 1.-The more planes I shoot down here, the less planes I'll have to shoot down later. Just calm down.
The remaining transport plane was shot down with an SAAM and a short burst of guns.
-Another shipment's been hit!-complained a Leasathian pilot.
Gryphus 1 was now tracking not one, but two formations, one comprised of three planes to the west and the other one, comprised of 8 planes, to the southwest. He decided to attack the smaller one first. He got it in range just to find out that it was a lone Il-76 Candid escorted by two MiG-31 Foxhound, that broke away from the transport and fired their XLAA to their enemy. Gryphus 1 evaded the missiles and fired an SAAM to one of the fighters. It wasn't shot down by it, but it took a short burst of guns to shoot the Foxhound down. He then shot down both the remaining MiG-31 and the Il-76 with the same tactic, at the cost of his remaining SAAM. He then rushed to the remaining enemy planes in the area.
-Escort aircraft! Get him off of us!-ordered the pilot of a transport plane.-We lose everything if this plane goes down!
-Roger that!-answered the pilot of an escort plane. The four Su-33 of the escort squadron had a similar paintjob to the Leasathian Navy standard, albeit in a three-tone brown pattern. Armed with XMAA and QAAM, they were a serious threat to any enemy plane, at any range.-Savanna Squadron, engage!
Each one of the Su-33 fired an XMAA to Gryphus 1, but he managed to avoid them. He chose to focus on the transport planes and leave the enemy fighters alone for the time being. He fired his last XMAA salvo to the An-124, severely damaging them. Then he fired the guns to the transports, shooting them down one by one.
-Somebody shoot him down already!-ordered one of the transport planes' pilot after the three with the higher altitude were shot down, but it was futile. Gryphus 1 shot down the enemy transport immediately after.
-Enemy shipments destroyed.-reported Crux.-Good job, Gryphus 1!
-Not at all, Crux. But I have four bandits on my tail.-said Gryphus 1.
-Our comrades' deaths will not be in vain, scum!-quipped Savanna 1.-All units, kill him!
-Roger.-answered his wingmen, firing at him.
Gryphus 1 evaded their attacks. He got on the tail of one of the Su-33 and fired two missiles, but none of them hit the plane. The Su-33 used its maneuvering advantage to get to his tail and fire, hitting Gryphus 1 on the right wing.
-DAMN!-groaned Gryphus 1.
-Gotcha, bastard!-the Leasathian pilot boasted.-Time to finish you off.
Gryphus 1, however, evaded him again and fired his guns. This time, the bullets hit the Flanker's engines, making them explode.
-One of ours went down!-reported one of the pilots of the Savanna Squadron.
-Crap!-complained Savanna 1.-All units, surround him and shoot him down if you have a chance.
-Roger.-said the two remaining pilots.
Gryphus 1 saw the three Su-33 circling around him. He recognized that technique immediately: a "mauling". If he chased a single plane, he would have another one in a perfect position for it to fire at him and shoot him down. So he decided to go for the extreme: he changed course and flew head-on towards one of the planes, firing the gun. The Flanker was hit directly and fell to the ground, giving Gryphus 1 a chance to escape the circle. The Su-33 saw this and chased him, but Gryphus 1 turned around and fired two missiles to one of the two planes left, shooting it down, while the other fired its guns at him. He was hit again on the right wing, and the damaged wing broke in half.
-CRAP! Not again!-complained Gryphus 1, seeing his F-15C's right wing torn off.
-Take that, you son of a bitch!-groaned Savanna 1, the last Leasathian pilot left in the area.
Both Gryphus 1 and Savanna 1 turned around, trying to shoot the other one down. Evading his enemy's missiles and bullets, Gryphus 1 managed to shoot the Su-33 down.
-Well done, sir...er, I mean, Gryphus 1-cheered Crux.
-Thanks, Crux, but I lost my right wing in the dogfight.-replied Gryphus 1.-I'm returning the base.
Patterson Base, Aurelia, October 17th 2020, 12:00 Hours
Ángel Román landed his damaged F-15C. Eugene Solano and Alejandro Bergman had arrived some minutes before.
-My my, it seems like we have a "Solo-Wing" right before us.-said Bergman, sneering.-I never though an F-15C could take so much damage.
-I've seen worst.-shrugged Román.-I still find it hard to believe I could make it to this base when we captured Port Patterson. My F-1 was almost shot down.
-Still, now you're one of three pilots that managed to fly this aircraft with such degree of damage.-replied Solano.
-Along with the Demon Lord of the Round Table and Solo-Wing Pixy, aka Galm 1 and Galm 2, right?-said Román.
-You bet, man.-answered Bergman.
-Let's have a meal now.-said Ángel.-I'm starving after all this flying.
Patterson Base, Aurelia, October 17th 2020, 17:00 Hours
After having some food and a short nap, Ángel was helping the mechanics with the repairs on his F-15C. Suddenly, Eugene entered the hangar, with a broad smile on his face.
-Hey Eugene, why so happy?-said Ángel.
-I've got good news.-Eugene answered.-Some units of the Aurelian Navy are heading to Port Patterson as we speak. We're finally having some support!
-Fantastic!-replied Ángel, going down the ladder and heading to his friend.-They can't come at any better time. As soon as they get some supplies, we'll conduct a rescue operation.
-You mean...?-Eugene started to say, but Ángel answered him right away:
-Yes, we're heading to Terminus Island to rescue the Aurelian scientist secluded there.
Sixth chapter. Sorry for the delays, but I've been a bit out of the loop these last days. If you wonder, I think that Cipher could have taken a little damage when fighting the Morgan over Avalon Dam in Ace Combat Zero, but not enough to take him down. He's the Demon Lord, after all. Next chapter, as you might have guessed, is "Ice Bound", after another flashback, though. Good luck and take care. See you next time