Ace Combat
Heart of Melting Blood
Written by: Lone Wolf NEO
Conceived by: Lone Wolf NEO
Author's note: Ace Combat is copyrighted by NAMCO, and Lone Wolf NEO does not own any or all real-life features or whatever facts featured in this story. Some of the characters featured in this story may have been inspired by anime series, but the resemblances are purely coincidental. He does, however, own the copyright to all his original ideas in this fiction. The author would really appreciate it if readers do not plagiarize everything inside this story without his knowledge.
Chapter 19
Courage under Fire
// fight for freedom //
Schwalbe Airbase, Ravenholm Peninsula, People's Republic of Bohemia.
The atmosphere was docile. The airbase was unusually quiet after a hectic Christmas party held by all air and ground crews, and they were worn out most of them simply fell asleep on the floor of the hangar the party was held. Drunken, they were unaware of the coming dawn, nor the fact that they were watched by their superiors who just shook head in amusement. Several mechanics that arrived at the hangar for their working shift gawked at the unconscious crews and could not help but whispering among each other.
It was supposed to be a serene, post-Christmas working day until…
BOOM!
The explosion was so loud it immediately awoke the sleeping crews. "What the hell was that?!" one of the shouted and made haste out of the hangar. The sight of F-22s burnt to pieces greeted the crews as they arrived at the tarmac; without knowing who destroyed the bomber, they scrambled to put out the blaze.
Another explosion shook the airbase. This time it was coming from the main building. Bright fireball lit the dawn sky, followed by a loud bang that surged through the entire area. It originated from the weapon stash and completely destroyed it. Everyone was caught in chaos.
"What the hell is going on?" shouted one crew.
"Who could have attacked our base in the middle of dawn?!" another crew shouted.
"Quick! We must put out the fire before our base's burnt to the ground!" their colleague screamed.
Amidst the confusion, five MiG-29s taxied out of a hangar untouched by the explosion. They headed to the runway and immediately applied their afterburners. Ground Control's command to abort take-off was promptly ignored, as the fighters took off from the airfield.
"Attention all squadrons! We have unidentified planes escaping from Schwalbe Airbase! Intercept all escapees! This is not a drill! I repeat: this is not a drill!"
By the time ten F-15s were dispatched, the escapees had left the airspace and headed west. They were unarmed, and they had no means of engaging the interceptors. With the escapees were secret documents they had stolen from Bohemian Air Force's vault, and their aim was to hand it over to Raider Squadron. They had grown frustrated by their leaders' ambitious plan to make the country the world's leading super power, and were disillusioned by the war they had been fighting along the time.
"This is Magnolia Squadron. You're entering our area of operation. Please identify."
"This is Captain Maxwell of Bohemian Air Force! We're escaping from Schwalbe Airbase and we're en route to Radiance Island! We are unarmed, and Bohemian interceptors are pursuing us! Please provide cover!"
"Roger. We'll be within your visual contact any moments now."
The escapees met up with JAS-39Cs from Magnolia Squadron over the coastline. "We must let Raider Squadron have these documents. The future of our nation depends on them," the escapee uttered. "Magnolia Squadron, we're counting on you."
"Just leave them to us." The Belkan freedom fighters took turn and barricaded the F-15s while the escapees flew away from Ravenholm Peninsula.
"Traitors!" one of the intercepting fighters' pilots screamed. "You shall die for betraying Bohemian will!"
"Not until you walk over our dead body," the Magnolia pilot challenged. "Magnolia Squadron, engage!"
x-x-x-x-x
// fight for justice //
December 26th, 2017. Radiance Island.
Lone Wolf was tired.
The Christmas party sponsored by General Mercury and held in the airbase's main hangar was supposed to be mild and simple. It turned out that the children were invited as well, and all hell broke loose as the little urchins made him their primary 'Santa Claus'. He could not do anything, and so did his wingmen, as the children bombarded him with many questions and requests. Despite his annoyed mood, he had to stay cool or he would certainly ruin the children's wish.
He had always disliked Christmas since he left Waldreich.
It brought him nothing but sadness and the sentiment of solitude. It brought him nothing but pain and despair. 22 years had passed, and the graphic image of the chapel's destruction kept flashing inside his mind. Nothing in this world could -- and would -- possibly replace what he had lost on the faithful day.
Now he was alone, leaning the Tu-22M3's landing gear, watching at partygoers who were peacefully dozing on the tarmac. He had not fallen asleep since last night, and had no intention of taking a nap (the rice wine was so strong it tautened his tired nerves). He was not drunk as he could tolerate alcohol, although his female wingmen were certainly not.
"I want that cake, too…" mumbled a drunken Henrietta as she talked in her sleep. Lone Wolf stared at the girl and silently cackled. She was persistent to have a taste of the rice wine sponsored by Hibiki's family and she was the first to taste its intoxicating effect. Silly Henrietta, he thought.
"Osoi na, otousama…!"
That was Hibiki. She, too, was drunk, and she looked very different when she was under the influence of alcohol. Her miko dress almost slipped off her shoulder, and she was making weird, funny voices as she mumbled in her sleep.
"I knew I shouldn't have let General Miyamoto sponsor those wines."
Lone Wolf looked up. It was General Mercury, and he was worried over the mess. He stood up and greeted the boss man with a salute. "Did anything come across, General?" he asked.
"Yes, we have, but looking at these drunken foxes…" General Mercury scratched the back of his head and gestured Lone Wolf to follow him out of the hangar. "We have a situation critical. I don't want to talk about it here."
Lone Wolf looked back at the hangar. By now, ground personnel were cleaning up the mess and waking up the sleeping pilots. "I understand. The effect of alcohol might have taken shape by now," he uttered. "So what is it?"
"President Howard is missing from his Office," General Mercury told him. "I thought he took his leave and went to celebrate Christmas with his family at his village, but he left no memo."
"Are you sure?" Lone Wolf asked.
"He's been acting weirdly since Operation Black Water." General Mercury shrugged at the word 'Black Water' before he pressed on. "I don't know what's revolving inside his mind, but I believe he was worried about…"
"Me." Lone Wolf frowned. He realized he was the reason behind the anger of the Congress and politically-inclined officers in the military. He knew everything about it very well, and was not impressed by the degrees of conduct the high-ranking officers gave him.
"I've been talking with my colleagues regarding your uneasy status," General Mercury continued. "They agreed to not mention it, but I'm unsure if the Congress will agree. Politics; don't ask me anything about it, though. I'm no politician."
"I know." Lone Wolf, then, outstretched his arms and shook his head many times. "This is getting too much for me. The Christmas party, the children, the alcohol…"
General Mercury grinned at the complaint. "What are you planning to do?"
Lone Wolf outstretched himself and headed to his barrack. "I should take quick shower. Then I'll fly a CAP mission today."
"I'll make an arrangement of that," General Mercury shouted, and Lone Wolf waved to reply 'okay'. "If it's alright with you to fly alone." He shrugged afterwards and headed back to the hangar; the pilots had woken up and were bedazzled at the surrounding mess.
x-x
Lone Wolf sighed in relief. Here, fifteen thousands feet in the air, was more appealing than it was on sea level. He could forget everything he left back on ground and concentrate on his plane; the Su-30MK was adequately armed for the combat air patrol, as he expected no resistance in the airspace.
"Golden Eye here. Guess you'll be alone up there for today, huh?"
"Raider 1 speaking. At least I don't have to personally take my wingman to her room."
"Which wingman you're talking of, Raider 1? Is it Edge, or Vixen? Or is it both?"
"Cut the chatter, will you? Lone Wolf isn't in the mood of having conversation."
"Is that you, Grandpa?"
The said pilot laughed. Flying his EA-18G Growler, Grandpa met up with Lone Wolf and stayed on his left wing. "I say, Golden Eye, having to look after two of the most splendid women in the airbase surely give us a lot of headache. What do you say, Lone Wolf?"
Lone Wolf laughed. "Now you want to start the chatters. Cut it out!" he growled. "I'm too tired to talk about that party up here."
"So, finally deciding to think of your own head, Lone Wolf?" Grandpa replied and flew the Growler slightly ahead of Lone Wolf's plane. "Chill out. I don't mean to mock you."
"Yeah, yeah, go ahead. Blah, blah, blah," Lone Wolf mumbled. "I don't want to--"
"Uh-oh. Raider 1, we have bogeys at bearing two three nine, angle one seven two, speed three hundred fifty knots. Please intercept."
"Why in the world?"
There was no time for assessing the situation. The order was clear: engage all oppositions and don't let them come close to Radiance Island. So Lone Wolf pushed the throttle forward and headed to the location, all while Grandpa followed him hundreds of feet behind. He looked at his radar scope and saw five green arrows heading towards him. He armed his Meteor missiles and was ready to open fire.
"Don't shoot!"
He held fire. Is it just his ears playing fool, or are those Bohemian pilots begging for mercy?
"Don't shoot! We're escaping from Ravenholm! Please don't shoot!"
He pushed the radio button. "This is Raider 1. All units identify yourselves and clarify your intention of entering Osean airspace."
"This is Captain Maxwell of 231st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Bohemian Air Force! We are escaping from our country and we're bringing top secret documents of the regime with us! Please hold your fire! We are unarmed, and we don't mean to bring you any harm!"
"This is Golden Eye. Raider 1, shoot down the enemy. They're approaching your position."
"Negative, Golden Eye. I can't shoot them down. They're unarmed."
"Raider 1, please comply and shoot them down. Failure to obey orders are not tolerable. "
The MiG-29s already became visible in his HUD, and Lone Wolf watched as they flew past his and Grandpa's planes. Before he could turn around and follow the escapees, loud buzz shrieked inside his earpiece while his radar was simultaneously riddled with bogeys.
"Raider 1, the enemy is sending reinforcement! Please hold them off!"
"Grandpa, bring the escapees out of here!"
"Don't be so reckless! You're outnumbered!"
"Just do what I say! There's no time! The escapees must arrive at the island alive!" So saying, Lone Wolf applied the afterburner and headed straight to the oncoming fighters. Grandpa had to oblige and met up with the escaping fighters, leading them towards the safety of Radiance Island.
"The demon of the silver moon! It's him!"
"All units watch your back! Don't let him come close!"
The Bohemian fighters broke away from their Big Battle formation as soon as Lone Wolf broke through. Aggressively he chased after the fighters, not giving them any chance of pursuing the escapees. It was a frantic scene: every time the Bohemian fighters headed to Radiance Island Lone Wolf would chase them away, and while Lone Wolf chased after one plane, another would stick on his six, forcing him to disengage. Outnumbered as he was, he could not let them shoot down the escapees. Their survival depended very much on him.
"This is Black Rose Unit of Osean Air Defence Force," a mysterious voice spoke inside Lone Wolf's earpiece. "Raider Squadron, escort the escaping planes until they safely reach Radiance Island. We'll take care of the Bohemians."
Lone Wolf was not sure whether it was meant for him, but as he looked outside the windscreen he saw five F-22s painted in jet black rocketing past his plane and headed straight to the trespassing fighters. He had no time to return to base as the resistance became stiffer than before. Already two F-15s chased him and he had no choice but to stay and fight back.
Lone Wolf felt a violent vibration shaking his plane. He looked at his six and saw smokes coming from one of the engines. "Damn it! I'm hit! What the hell happened?" During the aerial pursues, there was misunderstanding between Black Rose Unit and Golden Eye, and it led to a friendly fire that hit his plane. Now losing altitude, Lone Wolf struggled to keep his plane in control while steering it out of danger. He realized he had to disengage and leave the battlefield, or he would be nothing more than a remainder scattered over the water.
"Raider Squadron, approach the coastline and bail out over it. We'll cover your back."
He obliged. He brought the damaged plane out of the confusion of dogfight and flew straight toward North Osea's northern coastline. He started losing control, and it would be a matter of time before the plane went against his will.
He had to decide now.
He reached for the ejection lever. He pulled it. A sudden acceleration of G-force surged through his body as he was propelled out of the plane (at the same time, the intruding Bohemian fighters had been taken care of and were retreating to the mainland). The plane dived into the sea and crashed, and all that was left was only the pilot who parachuted and descended toward the sandy beach.
He crash-landed and sprained his ankle during the process. He tried crawling up the coast at first before he weakened and slowly passed out. The five black Raptors flew low and assessed the situation, without him noticing.
"Target's down."
"Good; that should silence him for a while. Black Rose Unit, return to base."
"Aye-aye, captain!"
Black Rose Unit banked left and headed back to north, leaving Lone Wolf on the isolated beach.
x-x-x-x-x
// fight for survival //
Slowly he opened his eyes. He found himself lying on a bed, and the strong medicine odour suggested that he was in a hospital -- or not. He looked up and saw no one staring down at him, unlike what used to be when he was in Greenwood Hospital. Where was he now? And more importantly, what happened to him?
"You wake up, Mister Wolfe." He looked to his left and saw a spectacled girl sitting next to him. "You should be lucky to be saved by the townspeople before the soldiers arrived. Who knows what they might do to you if they get a hand on you."
His ears could have been playing trick on him. "Wolfe?" he spoke and slowly rose from his lying position.
"My apology if it startles you." The girl corrected her eyeglasses and proceeded. "My name is Claes, and here is my family's inn. You're safe now."
Lone Wolf stared at the hill. "Where am I?"
"You're in Seedorf," Claes explained. "That's Sea Village in Osean language, in case you didn't know." Lone Wolf stared at her weirdly due to the explanation and Claes giggled. "You've been unconscious for three days. It's December 29th, and there's two more days before New Year."
Lone Wolf shook his head. It hurt so much he could barely think of anything. "I thought I crashed… and the escapees… what happened to them?"
"I heard they barely made it," the girl replied. "I don't know what happened to them after that."
Lone Wolf frowned. That was not good, he pondered. He expected the escapees to survive the odd and deliver the documents to General Mercury or anyone in charge of Raider Squadron. "And I was the one worried over their safety…" he uttered and clenched his fists.
A loud noise caught their attention. Claes approached the window and peeked through the curtains. "Oh, dear. The soldiers are here," she uttered. "They're so persistent in taking you back to your base, aren't they?"
"What really happened?"
Claes looked back at Lone Wolf. "Let's just say I have many contacts inside the air base. So to make long story short," she spoke and corrected her spectacles again, "you're on the Most Wanted list. The CIA, the FBI, the counterterrorism unit, the Secret Service; all are chasing after you."
Lone Wolf was startled. "What are you talking of?" Slowly he got off the bed and approached the window. Carefully, not wanting to be noticed, he looked outside and saw several Osean soldiers questioning the townspeople. He did not get what they were doing, until he saw someone among the soldiers. He was appalled; it was Henrietta!
"Well, you seem to know one of the soldiers, Mister Wolfe," Claes uttered when Lone Wolf spoke the name 'Henrietta'. He quickly left the room before she could continue. She grinned at the reaction and watched at the gathering. "Let's see what he's up to."
Lone Wolf walked out of the inn. He found himself meeting eye-on-eye with the Osean soldiers. They stopped questioning the citizens of Seedorf and turned to him. "Hey, don't you look strangely familiar?" one of the soldiers asked and approached him. "You look just like that pilot we're ordered to apprehend for violating orders and letting the enemy escape."
Lone Wolf pretended he did not know the soldier. "Blasphemy! I think you're looking at the wrong person," he declared in a perfectly imitated Belkan slang. He laughed crazily and pushed the soldier away from him, causing him to crash on his buddies. "What are you Oseans doing in our soil, huh? Looking for runaway pilots again?"
"I'm sorry, sir! We picked up the wrong person," the soldier apologized. "We were ordered by our superior commander to hunt the man named Lone Wolf. He was allegedly disobeying orders and let the escapees approach Radiance Island."
"Allegedly? Oh, really?" His eyes glanced at Henrietta, who looked surprised at his presence in Seedorf. "And would you kindly tell us what is she doing here?" he asked and pointed to Henrietta.
"She insisted to follow us, even when she had to leave the airbase," the soldier explained.
Lone Wolf made a devious laughter and covered half of his face with his palm. "Oh… even she goes AWOL and looks for her precious squad leader." Henrietta frowned at the word precious, and Lone Wolf could clearly see the facial expression. "I see. You are pricking on our nerves. You always are."
The soldier was perplexed. "Sir? Are you alright?"
"You Osean dogs who know nothing but blindfolded loyalty!" Inexplicably Lone Wolf pulled Henrietta toward him and strangled her. "Unlike you, we still consider ourselves as Belkans! We shall never bow to anyone else, even if it means to pay with our very life!"
"Sir, please calm down!" one of the soldiers pleaded. "We don't know what business you have with us, but please calm down! We don't want to hurt you or anyone else here."
"To hell with that!" They were falling to the drama, he thought, and he just had to act a little bit longer. (although he had no idea of what he was doing in the first place). "We never believe in people like you! You and your false promises! Don't ever think you can forget what you had done to us 22 years ago!"
By now the crowd was growing bigger. The roadside drama had gained the attention of the small town, and everybody had now gathered to watch the ongoing event. Lone Wolf realized he was gaining the advantage, and he had to use every opportunity to end the cat-and-mouse game.
"I'm very sorry, dogs, but that AWOL pilot is not here. You may leave" Lone Wolf spoke and tightened his grip on Henrietta's arm, "but this girl stays. That said, you must promise not to report this to your superior commander."
"No!" Henrietta tried fleeing his grip, yet he was physically stronger and she was overpowered in no time. "Please let me go! You don't have to go this far! I beg of you, sir!"
Lone Wolf squinted. "And you, lady, do you think all Belkans are evil tyrants who love nothing but war? Do you?" He left Henrietta speechless and turned to the awaiting soldiers. "I want you to leave this town! And don't ever come back here! You don't belong here!"
"Yeah! You heard what he said!" one of the crowds shouted.
"You don't belong here! All Oseans can go to hell!" another person yelled.
Before long, the crowd were jeering and booing the soldiers. Some even took another step and tossed groceries at them. The soldiers, being overwhelmed and mobbed by vegetables and fruits, could not do anything to react and had to retreat. The crowd chased them till the entrance door to the town; only when reinforcement from Osean military polices interfered did they leave the soldiers. Lone Wolf seized the opportunity from the chaos and dragged Henrietta into the inn, leaving the soldiers to the townspeople. Henrietta was struggling to flee, yet Lone Wolf did not want to let go off him and allow her to return to the soldiers. He knew the risk he would have to face should she was allowed to do so.
"That was a spectacular display, Mister Wolfe," Claes spoke as Lone Wolf walked back into the room. "Although I was surprised when she was inexplicably involved."
"I had to," Lone Wolf replied, even as Henrietta finally got away from him. "Otherwise, they'd continue their restless pursue on this alleged runaway."
Claes smiled and tipped her eyeglasses as a sign of acknowledgement. "Well, if that was what you planned." She, then, turned her attention to the bewildered, if not somewhat jealous-looking, Henrietta. "Before you start having misconception regarding Mister Wolfe and I, allow me to explain." She swayed her hair over her shoulder and took seat on the bed. "Mister Wolfe was shot down near this town and was brought here by my father. I am here to help him escaping the CIA and Secret Service."
"You mean…" Henrietta looked back and forward between Claes and Lone Wolf, the latter shrugged silly. "The man just now is… Lone Wolf?!"
"What? Who do you think I am? A drunken Belkan?" Henrietta answered with a tight embrace that caused him to lose balance as she crashed onto him. "Hey! Hey! Just because I crashed doesn't mean you have to worry over me."
"But I am!" Henrietta cried and repeatedly beat him. "How could you make me worried? You're my flight leader, please!" The girl broke into tears and wept on his chest, zealously clinging onto him. Lone Wolf just patted her back, whispering "I'm sorry" to her ears while gently cuddling her.
"So what are you planning to do?" Claes asked.
Lone Wolf stared at Claes. Then back at Henrietta. He shrugged afterwards and looked at his self. "I don't know. Maybe I should consider putting on the sheep's clothing."
Claes grinned. "Allow me to help."
x-x
Lone Wolf leaned against the wall. He was waiting for Henrietta outside the inn, and he felt awkward. He looked strange in the formal outfit: it comprised of black trousers and white shirt, complete with briefcase, leather shoes and coat. He had no idea of where Claes got the idea of such disguise, and he was not really enjoying it. "At least, give me a better disguise. A trench coat is fine, too."
The door opened. Henrietta walked out of the inn, accompanied by a grinning Claes, and she looked nervous. He noticed that compared to him, Henrietta's appearance was as striking as him, if not more formal and polite-looking. She was donning elite schoolgirls' uniform, and she looked awfully like one even when she didn't have to wear such dress. It, combined with Henrietta's timid nature made Lone Wolf wonder, "and where did she put her Amati violin, by the way?"
"Lone Wolf, I feel so strange…" Henrietta complained. "Why would I have to wear schoolgirl uniform like this? It's… so uncomfortable."
Lone Wolf shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Ask Claes; she was the one who came up with the idea."
Claes giggled. "Sure, the combination is eccentric, but people will not have the chance to recognize both of you in these disguises." She called Henrietta and gave her what looked like a violin case. "Before I forget, here's your violin. Someone in the airbase delivered it to me and asked me to give it to you."
"My violin…" She took the violin case and possessively embraced it between her arms. "Thank you for bringing this to me… but how did you know…"
Claes corrected her eyeglasses and pointed her finger to the ceiling. "Let's just say I'm just one of many people who heartily support Raider Squadron. Shall we, Henrietta?" She, then, turned to Lone Wolf and grinned. "I would like to inform you that due to current situation, both of you are strictly forbidden from using your real names. For time being, you must resort on forged identities." So saying Claes handed over two passports to Lone Wolf and asked him to verify the documents.
"Mister Wolfe, you'll be Giuseppe Johansen while Henrietta will be your little sister Elsa," Claes spoke. "I won't consider listening to any objection, though, because it's been decided."
Lone Wolf just nodded and gave one of the passports to Henrietta. "You're very helpful toward us, Claes, though you're weird. Where did you acquire this knowledge? And why did you call me Mister Wolfe?"
Claes slyly grinned. "I can't answer the first question, Mister Wolfe… or should I say, Mister Johansen. For the second question, Mister Johansen," she addressed him with the name, "you should know that you aren't alone in this matter."
Henrietta was perplexed. "Eh?"
"Well, I guess both of you should get going," Claes uttered. "Where to go, it's up to you. I bid you farewell and good luck."
Lone Wolf nodded. "Thanks for… whatever things you did to us." He looked down at Henrietta who was staring up at him in intrigue. "Shall we go, Elsa?"
Henrietta blushed. Despite the unfamiliar name, she started liking it. "Yes… Giuseppe."
They walked away from the inn, waved goodbye to Claes and headed to the railway station. Lone Wolf took a last glance at the mysterious spectacled girl before he decided to look forward and walk on.
"Say, Lon… Giuseppe," Henrietta said, all nervous while calling him with the name, "where should we go? We can't go back to the island, and we can't go to Osea either. If what Miss Claes said is true… we might be hunted by the CIA by now."
'Giuseppe' looked up at the sky. Then at 'Elsa', as he sported a convincing smile. "Let's take a train to Greenwood. We should be able to reach the city before New Year. Besides, I promised to take you for a walk around Greenwood, didn't I?"
'Elsa' shook her head. "I don't remember anything about it," and here she shyly smiled. "But I'd like to."
He grinned. This, he thought, would mark the beginning of his travel -- and fight -- for survival. His fight for truth and justice, with courage under reckless fire from all directions.