A/N Here we go, the final few chapters of Ace Combat Zero. The time has come for the epic battle of Belkan Priority One Strategic Airspace B7R, a.k.a the Round Table. The last few members of the legendary "Knights of the Round Table", famous aces that flew those very skies, will meet in a final epic battle that will determine who is superior.
Chapter 20 - The Demon Lord of the Round Table
All held the finite and infinite as unrelated. None could foresee the history of the two would become one.
Six days passed and on December 31st, the last day of the year, the mercenary forces of Ustio were once again called on alongside a portion of the Osean Army for one final mission that concerned not only Ustio and Osea...but the entire Osean Continent.
Cipher and PJ sat down in the silent briefing room and looked up with their brothers in arms at the Base Commander, who was standing solemnly at the front of the room with the briefing system active behind him. They all knew that this might be the very last briefing they'll ever have.
"We have confirmed that the aircraft that attacked our base belonged to the major rebel organization "A World With no Boundaries". This highly organized renegade army is comprised of soldiers from numerous countries, including Osea, Sapin, Ustio, Yuktobania and, of course, Belka. They are believed to possess a massive arsenal of weapons." he started off as the briefing system's global map zoomed in on Belka and focused in on an area including Hoffnung, Sudentor, and part of Nord Belka.
It highlighted a single unit and plotted out a route that passed through the area that contained none other than Area B7R and it led all the way up to a location in Nord Belka known as Mund Valley, a place Cipher was very familiar with.
"The coup forces are gathered at Mund Valley, in northern Belka, where they have confiscated the Avalon Dam facility from the Belkan army. What's worse is we've discovered that this facility houses an experimental weapon known only as "V2". Unfortunately, it took us a long amount of time to uncover this information, due to the facility's location beneath the dam's water."
"Dammit...I never thought Avalon was also a missile launch facility." thought Cipher as he tightened his fists.
"Proceed to Avalon and destroy the V2 weapon. Note that Area B7R blocks your route from Valais Air Force Base to Mund. You will most likely encounter fierce resistance from the coup forces at both B7R and Mund. Remember to be prepared for attacks from land, air or elsewhere when choosing which aircraft to pilot. This mission will succeed upon the destruction of the V2 at the target area, and your safe return to base."
The Base Commander turned to them all and they all stood up, standing at attention. "Now go destroy that weapon and come back in one piece. Anything else is unacceptable. Good luck gentlemen."
Cipher and PJ led the herd out of the briefing room and as one unit they walked out of the main building, their flight helmets under their arms and their minds set on victory.
"Here's the plan everyone." said Cipher when they reached their jets, the mercenaries listening intently as a blanket of clouds set in over the base. "You all will meet up with Allied Forces, and PJ and I will proceed through Area B7R and take out any opposition we meet."
"But you have no idea how many enemies you'll face!" said Crow 2, PJ stepping forward and smirking.
"Relax. You're talking to the Demon Lord of the Round Table and the Galm Team's number two. We'll make it through and see you guys en route to Avalon." he said, Cipher grinning as he pat PJ on the shoulder and looked at everyone else with a hard gaze.
"Any questions? No? Good. Roll out people!" he ordered before he and PJ turned around to go to their jets, the other mercenaries sprinting to theirs.
Liz met Cipher by the front landing wheel of his Morgan and she smiled, Cipher returning the gesture when he reached her.
"You're coming back, right?" she asked, Cipher saying nothing as he embraced and kissed her passionately.
"Of course I will. I will always come back for you." he whispered into her ear before he climbed up and plopped down into the flight seat of his jet and closed the glass canopy.
He waved to Liz as she stepped back and crossed her arms, the ADFX-01's engines powering on with a deafening roar and a rush of air. He glanced over his shoulder and grinned when he spotted PJ with his girlfriend beside his Eagle, the two sharing a hug before he entered his own jet and powered it up. A few seconds later he taxied out onto the runway and got himself ready for the takeoff while waiting for approval from the control tower.
"Your final sortie...Alright, launch preparations complete. Be sure to give Larry a good ass-kicking for me."
"Roger that." replied back Cipher before he zoomed down the runway and took off into the sky, PJ and the other mercenaries following behind him. "I'm coming for you Buddy."
- Belkan Priority One Strategic Airspace B7R, Belka-Ustio-Osea border -
- 022'53'37"N 234'19'32"E -
- December 31st, 1995 1100 hrs -
Cipher and PJ entered the very edge of Area B7R under dark cloudy skies, the two making their way for the northern edge as fast as they could. It was giving off an ominous feeling to both of them, and they wanted to get out of it as quickly as possible.
"Pass through B7R. It's an awful place, but the fastest shortcut. Maintain current course." said James.
"This place right now gives me the creeps...its just so empty…" said PJ with a shiver, Cipher chuckling lightly as the feeling of dread set in on him as well.
Just like he had suspected though, they had some opposition to take care of.
"Enemy aircraft detected close to B7R. There's no time to change course. Eliminate enemy forces in the Round Table and break through it."
"They have different ID signals than Belka." said PJ as fourteen signatures appeared on their radars and sped straight for them in a double diamond wedge formation.
- SORCERER
Osea Air Force
8th Air Division 32nd Tactical Fighter Squadron
- WIZARD
Osea Air Force
8th Air Division 32nd Tactical Fighter Squadron
The leader of the wolfpack flew a blue and white F-15S/MTD alongside his eight man squadron that formed the Osean 32nd Tactical Fighter Squadron "Sorcerer", the same squadron that shared its designation with its ally, the Wizard Squadron...led by Wizard 1.
"Target confirmed. Sorcerer 1 to all planes. Apply full thrust. Don't even think about heading back."
"This is Wizard 1. The Demon Lord has entered the net."
"This is Wizard 5, roger."
"Let's begin." said Wizard 1 before a group of four F-16XLs broke off from the eight man Sorcerer Squadron and banked hard right, Cipher watching them closely as they did.
"Be careful PJ. These guys are Osean aces, different from Belka's." he said cautiously as they readied themselves for the fight ahead, the enemies finally coming in within range for their HUDs to show their icons.
"The Demon Lord has built himself up quite a name. Let's see if he can live up to it." said Wizard 1 with a smirk while Sorcerer 1 couldn't help but smile at the feeling of adrenaline coursing through his veins.
"I've been waiting for this Demon Lord. Show me what you got!"
"Stop! We're allies of Ustio! Can't you read your IFF?!" yelled out PJ in an attempt to dissuade the enemy Osean squadrons.
"Leave them be PJ." said Cipher for all to hear, the Osean squadrons leaders listening in as their enemy spoke to them. "If they want to fight me, fine. Let them come. I'll kill anyone who stands in the way of me killing Larry."
With that, when the enemy fell upon the two mercenaries, Cipher unleashed his full wrath on the unsuspecting Osean pilots and outmaneuvered them beyond their expectations. He got behind one of the Wizard F-16XLs and shot it down with ease, prompting Wizard 1 to reveal himself and the other three members of his squadron in their YF-23A Black Widow IIs.
"Why must you continue to fight?" questioned PJ as he avoided a missile from Sorcerer 1 and banked right to shoot down one of his wingmen, angering the Osean pilot.
"Clashing greed is the cause of all conflict. Our goal is to put a stop to it." said Wizard 1 as he and one of his wingman attacked Cipher full force.
"As a result of that greed, the battle to realign the borders had moved to the meeting boardroom." followed up Sorcerer 1, his missile alert sirens warning him of PJ's attack and allowing him to quickly maneuver away from the threat.
"Those lines will build a new future." argued PJ.
"Those lines will give birth to new conflict" responded Sorcerer 1.
"What do you mean?" demanded PJ when four Sorcerer aircraft all got on his tail to finish him off, but Cipher swooped in a killed two of them easily with a missile each.
"He's not destroying anything unnecessarily. The Demon Lord's just as good as they say." thought Wizard 1 with a slight grin.
"I'm a resident of the World With no Boundaries, and I will eliminate the false hero." said Sorcerer 1 with the utmost seriousness in his voice, Cipher's jaw muscles clenching in anger.
"That is the worst kind of bullshit I have ever heard in my entire life!" he shouted as he shot down the last two Wizard F-16XLs, dropping their enemy's number once again. "I'm the false hero? If anything you lot are! A world with no boundaries is a fake, and your ideology is a sham! Wars like these are terrible, yes, but it helps the world grow by having it learn from its mistakes and push for a better future!"
Wizard 1 growled at his outburst and increased his efforts to shoot down Cipher, going so far as to disregard his own safety to try and kill him.
"Don't let him leave here alive. Fire at the cockpit!"
"As if I'd let you kill me! There's someone else who I have to kill fist." said Cipher darkly as he avoided every attempt to kill him and continued to shoot down the Osean pilots alongside PJ, who had managed to take down two of the Sorcerer planes.
"A World With no Boundaries aligns itself with no country. We are humanity's ideal army. It's time for a perfect world without restrictions or wars."
"We will carry out the new creation of destruction through the power of righteousness. Territories, peoples, authorities...all will be liberated. This is the new state "A World With no Boundaries" will create. Neither nations nor nationalities have meaning. We will erase these unnecessary borders. The World With No Boundaries will pen a new story. The world will change."
"Yeah, but not like this." remarked Cipher before he shot down Wizard 1 with extreme prejudice, grinning evilly as his aircraft went down in flames alongside his wingmen after PJ got done with them.
"Dammit Bristow...he's going to destroy everything. The Demon Lord's just as good as they say." growled Sorcerer 1 in begrudging respect for his adversary. "All planes, if you're going down, drag him down with you!"
"Out of my way!" snarled Cipher as he laid waste to the traitorous Osean pilots with PJ, their combined might enough to push them back farther and farther.
"This strange feeling...is this his doing?" thought Sorcerer 1 when he looked down at his hands and noticed they were shaking not from adrenaline, but from an entirely new feeling he had never felt before.
At that moment the rest of his wingmen had been shot down by PJ, leaving him open to attack from the Demon Lord himself. He smirked when he heard the missile alert sirens go off and before he got hit he sent a message out to the one he knew would see it.
His head lurched forward when his F-15S/MTD got struck by a missile from Cipher and he was thrown around inside the cockpit when his entire plane split apart into various pieces.
"The King who sleeps in Avalon will become the new hero." he said before he managed to bail out of his aircraft, signalling the end of the fight.
"All enemy planes are down. There's been no change in plans. Stay on course to target destination." informed James after the two mercenaries formed up, PJ letting out a sigh of relief.
"Let's do this Cipher. We've got a mission to complete." he said, determined, as they flew off towards their destination.
All of a sudden a second group of enemies popped up on radar from the same heading Sorcerer and Wizard came from. And just like those two squadrons there were eight fighters in this formation, but this was the only similarity. The ID signature these jets gave off were not of Osea, but of Belka.
"What the...? More enemies?" questioned PJ when the enemy planes got closer and closer.
They were flying in a double-stacked wedge formation with four aircraft in each, their jets none other then the deadly SU-47 Berkut, a forward swept wing fighter aircraft reputed for its insane maneuverability and lethality. They were painted with a dark brown camo coating with yellow and white markings, the Belkan Air Force's roundel present on their wings and vertical stabilizers.
- GAULT
Belkan Air Force
18th Air Division 5th Tactical Fighter Squadron
"Gault 1 to all units. Begin the operation." said the lead pilot, the Belkan fighters spreading apart to engage Cipher and PJ at maximum speed. "Let the victor...be justice."
Cipher's eyes widened when he recognized the man's voice and a scowl quickly developed, his hatred growing exponentially. He knew who this man was because he had met him in his past, back when he was a child.
"Demon Lord of the Round Table, I was hoping to meet you under different circumstances." said Gault 1 as the eight fighters all launched QAAM missiles at the pair, the sky getting filled with their smoke trails as the battle began once again for air superiority.
"You don't have time to play around with them. Hurry and shoot 'em all down."
"There's no meaning in the Round Table anymore. What are you fighting for?" asked PJ to the Gault members, receiving nothing but silence.
"The enemy fighters seem to be highly skilled. Don't allow them to take control of the battle." said James as Cipher dodged a swarm of missiles, four Gault fighters hot on his tail and not letting him have any breathing room.
"What are you doing?! Stop! The war ended long ago!" shouted PJ at the Gault fighters again, their leader speaking up again for the squadron.
"The table is surrounded by politicians who have never placed a foot on the battlefield." he said blankly, Cipher's scowl deepening at the very sound of Gault 1's voice.
"It's a necessary discussion to build a peaceful world." argued PJ, Gault 1's cold voice returning even colder.
"It's a disgusting squabble on who gets the largest share of the pie, and that's why it needs to end."
"What do you mean?" asked PJ.
"It is for that duty that we raised the King." said Gault 1 before he dodged three XLAAs from PJ and performed a half kulbit maneuver, barely missing PJ's plane with a missile by inches.
"That's why we're fighting." he finished before banking right to avoid a missile from Cipher, who was still being chased by half of the ace Belkan squadron.
Cipher dove down into the mountainous land of B7R below to try and shake the four fighters on his tail, their missiles either losing track or slamming into the mountains harmlessly in their pursuit of him. Left, right, up or down, it didn't matter. Every direction he took to try and shake the Belkan aces failed, which was irritating him even more. Out of all the squadrons he had faced thus far, the Gault Squadron takes the cake as being the most aggressive and skilled of the bunch.
"Dammit...these guys are really pissing me off." thought Cipher just as two of the Gault fighters broke off to go left and the other two went right, forming a pincer movement on him.
"Do not look at the enemy. All you need to hear are the orders I give you." ordered Gault 1, the pilots all sounding off their compliances within a second of hearing the command.
"Gault 2, roger."
"Gault 3, roger."
"Gault 4, roger."
"Gault 5, roger."
"Gault 6, roger."
"Gault 7, roger."
"Gault 8, roger."
Cipher twisted upwards as the two Gault groups converged on him, forming back into a four man formation to chase him down. PJ fired two missiles at one of the Gaults over on his side, but the superior mobility of the Berkuts they were flying were enough to dodge the missiles easily.
"Don't be overwhelmed by the enemy's moves." ordered Gault 1 as he moved into a position to attack Cipher, his lock on mark snapping to his plane.
"Warning! You're being tracked on radar!" yelled PJ, Cipher reacting on instinct and dodging right to avoid the volley of QAAMs shot at him.
The fight between the two mercenaries, Sorcerer and Wizard had definitely been a rush, but against Gault it was truly a battle that could only be decided by fate itself. Each side was evenly matched, but the enemy's superior numbers were starting to take its toll on Cipher and PJ, their moves starting to get sloppier with each passing second whereas the Gault pilots remained in perfect unison.
"Whoever breaks formation will be the first shot down. Follow me if you want to survive." said Gault 1 as the fight continued, PJ and Cipher barely staying alive in the deadly match between the lethal SU-47s.
"Gault 3, steer to the right in three seconds. Maintain corner velocity." he ordered again, in exactly three seconds Gault 3 turning sharply to the left, avoiding the missile Cipher fired at him.
That's when he smirked as he performed his signature maneuver, the Devil's Trap, on his bothersome pursuers. He had two Gault fighters tailing him and with the pulling back of the flight stick and quick cut of the engines he turned his plane a full 180 degree and fired a missile at each Berkut, one managing to duck out of the way while the other had its cockpit consumed in fire.
"All planes, fly as usual. Fly by my orders." said Gault 1, not even phased by the loss of one of his squadron's pilots.
Two of the Belkan pilots avoided another volley of XLAAs from Cipher and PJ growled a bit in frustration.
"Dammit, they make it look easy." cursed PJ when his sirens went off again and he had to dodge another missile from a Belkan pilot, their tactics still flawless even though they had lost one of their members.
Cipher chased after one of the Gault fighters and he was about to gain a lock on before the fighter flipped his plane over him to got on his six, Cipher quickly going on the defensive as the Gault fighter started running him down.
"Fox 2!" said PJ as he launched his last two XLAAs and smirked as they hit their mark, the Gault fighter chasing Cipher going up in flames and relieving him somewhat.
"One of our planes is down. I'll cover." said one of the Belkan pilots, now only six remaining, as he took the spot of the fallen pilot and resumed the brutal engagement.
"So this is the Demon Lord. There's something about him…" trailed off Gault 1 as the fight progressed, the man becoming more intrigued with Cipher and as a result contradicted his past order of not looking at the enemy.
The only thing he saw was Cipher from that point on.
"Captain, we can win this." encouraged PJ as he continued to fight, Cipher grinning as he heard those words and fought harder then before.
With a burst of adrenaline and some quick thinking he managed to draw in another Gault fighter on his tail and just like before he shot him down by enacting his Devil's Trap maneuver once again. As the pilot went down with his plane without a single word, Gault 1 watched it careen towards the earth.
"Gault 2, carry on." said Gault 1 without any remorse in his voice as his wingman's plane exploded, the fire and molten metal becoming his tomb.
The fight started to progressively switch over to Galm's favor, PJ shooting down another Gault fighter to bring the total count down to four fighters and leveling the playing field a little more.
"Another plane is down. Revise flight pattern." said one of the Gault pilots, the four remaining gathering together into a squadron that attacked Cipher and PJ en masse with a barrage of missiles.
"He's flying in unpredictable patterns." said Gault 1 in a somewhat surprised tone, the pilot becoming silent for a few seconds when another Gault fighter was shot down, the remaining pilots, Gault 4 and Gault 7, thinking he had been shot down.
"Gault 1, awaiting your orders. Please respond." said Gault 7, the two pilots waiting to hear the sound of their leader.
"Enemy forces have suffered considerable damage. Galm Team, you're almost there." informed James, Cipher and PJ quickly going to attack the remaining Gault fighters, who had confirmed Gault 1 was indeed still alive.
"Demon Lord, what is it you hope to achieve on the battlefield?" asked Gault 1, Cipher not responding as he proceeded to avoid an attack, double back and shoot down Gault 4, leaving Gault 7 and Gault 1 on even terms, two versus two.
"Fly according to the orders." ordered Gault 1 to his only remaining wingman, his most loyal one at that.
"Roger Gault 1, I shall fly to your words." responded Gault 7 as the two took on Galm head to head, Gault 7 engaging PJ while Cipher dueled Gault 1 to the death.
They exchanged positions for a short while before the mercenaries gained the upper hand once again, pushing the two Belkan fighters back more and more. It was at this point Cipher's scowl turned into an evil grin as he watched Gault 1 pull back with his wingman to assert the situation and adapt to it accordingly.
"It's been such a long time...and now I finally get to kill you for all that you've done…Kupchenko." he said darkly, PJ glancing over at Cipher and wondering what he was talking about while Gault 1 seemed surprised at the threat.
"Oh? So the Demon Lord knows me? How intriguing." he replied, Cipher's mad grin only growing in size.
"But of course, considering you were the one to raise me…"
"Cipher? What are you talking about?" asked PJ out of nervousness when the two aces went at each other once again, with Gault 7 surprisingly staying back and observing his flight leader.
"Raised you? What are you going on about Demon Lord?" inquired the Belkan pilot, Cipher laughing before he sucked in a breath and returned to his cold, calm and collected attitude.
"You don't remember me doctor? You don't remember the children your people kidnapped all those years ago? How I was the first one to be taken and made a part of your sick and twisted project?! Do you?!" snarled Cipher as he riddled Gault 1's jet with bullet holes, the Belkan's eyes widening when he referred to him as doctor and how he knew so much about him.
"You...you can't be…"
"Cipher!" shouted PJ in terror, his feeling mixed about what he should do.
"Oh I am, Kupchenko. I was the one that got away, remember?"
"You...you bastard…" growled Kupchenko before Cipher further damaged his aircraft, Gault 7 finally intervening in the fight only for the mercenary to ruthlessly shoot him down.
"And now that I have you right where I want you...I'm going to enjoy watching you burn in hell!" said Cipher viciously as he fired a pair of missiles straight into Gault 1's plane, its metal frame going up in flames as a devastating explosion ripped it to pieces.
The cockpit flew away from the rest of the shattered body in a trail of smoke and Cipher watched with a mad look in his eye. After a few seconds of watching the inferno encompassing the falling wreck he remembered that PJ was there with him and he looked back at the young pilot, seeing him keep his distance from him out of fear.
"PJ-"
"Who are you?" he asked, James quickly intervening to prevent anything else bad from occurring.
"PJ, listen to me. It's a long story, but while we're on our way to Avalon, we can explain." he said to reassure PJ, who doubted the idea at first before he finally rejoined Cipher and flew out of B7R with him.
The end was approaching fast.