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 23
Smoke in the Eyes

"AWACS to Ritter 1. Can you hear?"

"This is Ritter 1. Proceed."

"Commence operation. Your objective is to prevent enemy from approaching rescue team. Head to Tauberg and neutralize all threats. Fly low to avoid detection."

The white Terminator descended to lower altitude. Carefully Lone Wolf navigated the plane across the hostile airspace, dodging radar coverage riddling the area. He could already see the ruins of Excalibur laser tower up ahead, silhouetted by the gloomy sky of Tauberg.

"You're about to approach the detention camp. Ritter 1, can you see it?"

Lone Wolf glanced at the LCD screen, switched to daylight mode. The tell-tale shape of a building, the only one of its kinds in the area, clearly became visible. "Visual sighting of enemy structure confirmed," he reported and slowed the plane down. He spotted an MH-53J parked on a helipad nearby. "I saw a chopper on the helipad. Probably the rescue team."

The radio was intercepted. He heard a voice shouting in panic amidst the static. "This is Crowbar! Are you the reinforcement we had requested? If you are, then get over here and cover us!"

"Crowbar, this is Ritter 1," he replied in Belkan accent; his wing-mates were among the POWs and he did not want to blow his cover. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, we're fine, but we almost didn't make it through! The Bohemians almost set us up! We managed to capture some of the soldiers, though. They're with us here."

"I see."

"Ritter 1, the POWs are with us right now, but we can't leave this area yet. Can you do a favour and provide aerial escort?"

Lone Wolf looked around. There was no sign of enemy planes, but he knew it was just the calm before the storm. "Crowbar, stay in your position until I say it's okay."

"Roger, Ritter 1. We'll wait for further orders."

Lone Wolf glanced at his radar scope. "Speaking of the devil…" Abruptly he made an evasive manoeuvre and dodged two Meteors fired at him. "That was close."

"This is Crowbar. We heard explosion at the outside. Ritter 1, is there anything wrong?"

Lone Wolf climbed high and saw several Typhoons on visual sight. "Nah, I just had some smokes inside my eyes," he uttered and turned his planes toward the enemy.

"We won't allow your fight to continue, Belkan rebels," one of the enemy pilots chided.

"This is AWACS. Ritter 1, we detected enemy formations to the north of your position. Don't let them approach Crowbar."

"Roger. Preparing to engage."

"Go back to where you're supposed to be," the voice continued. "You are helpless against the Bohemian's will."

"I don't think so."

Lone Wolf broke away. Two of the Typhoons chased after him and started firing at his six. He nimbly turned on the dime, applying thrust vectoring as to dodge the attacks and performed tight manoeuvres just hundreds of feet over the ground. He laughed amidst the danger of being shot down; it was the kind of feeling he had never felt before, and his adrenaline was rushing through his body, tingling in excitement.

"He's not like anyone we used to take on," one of the pilots said. "He's relentless!"

"Impossible! I thought we are the best," his buddy replied and fired a missile at Lone Wolf. It missed, and the MDBA missile glided aimlessly into the ground. "Damn it! I missed!"

"You surely don't know how to make a proper shot, do you?" Lone Wolf taunted and made a Kulbit. The white Terminator glided over the pursuing fighters, causing them to overshoot. "Gotcha. Fox 3!" Two of the onboard ASRAAMs glided away from their triple-ejector racks and chased after the planes. One of the missiles hit, and Lone Wolf watched as the pilot ejected from the damaged plane.

"Jones is shot down!" the other Typhoon pilot shouted. He turned around and pursued Lone Wolf again. "Just who the hell are you!? What do you want from us?!"

Lone Wolf again made a thrust-vectored evasion, dodging the plane's Sidewinders altogether. "Who am I? Your worst nightmare? Or your closest enemy? You decide," he chided and fired an R-73. The quick-manoeuvring missile rocketed toward the plane and exploded behind the exhaust. The plane spun uncontrollably toward the ground and crashed; there was parachute sighted.

"He's like nothing we ever encountered!" the rest of the Bohemian pilots exclaimed and disengaged from formation.

"His style… it resembles the demon of the silver moon," one of them uttered.

"It can't be! He was supposed to be dead!" his friend replied. "Then who we are dealing with now? A ghost?"

Lone Wolf silently chuckled. "So what are you going to do now?" he pondered and armed all Meteors. "If you want me, come and get me."

The Meteors fired.

x-x-x-x-x

// 30,000 feet above sea level //

Magnolia Squadron were cruising through the clouds, escorting Air Force One's AWACS. They were outside combat area, away from contact with Lone Wolf. The Magnolias were anxious: AWACS had reported a combat activity over Tauberg, and yet they were prohibited from interfering. The success of the mission depended entirely on Ritter 1, and they could only pray for him to survive the day.

Illiya rested her head against the seat's headrest. She was nervous at Lone Wolf's safety and for many reasons. She was upset for not able to accompany him to Tauberg, and was angry at him for not permitting her to be his wingman. He's so going to have a talk with me after this, that Wolfie, she growled.

"Captain!"

Illiya looked at her port side. Four YF-23As approached the squadron from behind, followed by four F-16XLs at the front. The formation of JAS-39C, Harrier II and E-2C was outnumbered, and all pilots found themselves surrounded by enemy.

"We're ambushed," one of the wingmen interjected.

"It's them," another wingman chided. "The Baron Legions."

"Not at this time," Illiya pondered. "All units prepare to engage."

"Hold you fire," a female voice demanded. "We don't want to provoke confrontation here."

"Who are you? Identify yourself," Illiya replied.

"This is Baron 7 from JG-711," the voice replied. "The name's Triela. Red Baron asked us not to let anyone interfere with the operation."

"What do you think you're doing? You'll only jeopardize the rescue mission," Illiya retorted. "Please disengage."

"I would like to, but he said he has personal matter to do firsthand," the voice replied. "By the way, Illiya."

Illiya was startled. "Wait a minute. How did you know my name?

"Red Baron sent his regards. He said he's sorry for not coming home as he had promised last week."

"Red Baron? Coming home?" Then she gasped. "It can't be!"

"All planes," the voice continued, "remain on course until Red Baron gives his signal. Our mission is to prevent anyone from interfering with his operation."

"Roger, Baron 7," the pilots replied.

"As for now…" the voice later chuckled. "What do you say if we pay you a visit next week?"

"From the enemy? Never in a million years," Illiya retorted. "I'd rather die in the battlefield than to accept your invitation."

"Aw, I thought I could befriend some of you," the voice grumbled. "Or perhaps because you don't want to meet Red Baron again?"

"You…"

"Baron 7, he's coming!"

"Already? That was so fast. Alright; it's time."

x-x-x-x-x

The dogfight was fierce. The initial intercept fleet was accompanied by more fighters, and Lone Wolf was outnumbered 10 to 1. Lone Wolf was not intimidated by the numbers; already he shot down quarter of the planes, and the prospect of scoring many kills was making him enthralled.

"Ritter 1! We're ready to leave this area! Please advice!"

Lone Wolf dodged a Sidewinder fired from the pursuing Typhoon. "Crowbar, leave this area immediately! Stay low and don't climb to high altitude! Meet up with Magnolia Squadron once you leave this airspace!"

"What about you, Ritter 1?"

He turned his plane. "I'll keep the busy," he replied and shot down an oncoming Rafalé. "Go!"

"Roger. Please be careful."

The MH-53J took off from the helipad. Hastily it headed south, flying as fast as it could to avoid the aerial battle up above. Several Bohemian fighters spotted the escaping helicopter and chased after it, only to be facing Lone Wolf who then fiercely drove them away from the chopper. He continued fending off the opposition, going back and forth between the planes and the rescue helicopter.

"Warning! Warning! Unknown plane approaching at high speed!"

Lone Wolf was not sure what the AWACS was talking of, but he saw a red arrow on his radar scope entering the airspace in high speed. Was it the dreaded Dragoon Regiment? He could not tell, because he was too busy defending himself from the enemy planes.

The plane later turned around and flew past him. Here Lone Wolf spotted the distinctive black cross painted on the plane's fuselage. He breathed very deeply. It was it.

The very same red F-15S/MTD.

"What the hell is Red Baron doing here?" one Bohemian pilot shouted.

Red Baron. So the mysterious pilot had a name after all, Lone Wolf pondered.

"Our objective is clear! We must shoot down the enemy!" another Bohemian pilot interjected. "Don't let him escape!"

"Attention to all Bohemian pilots, abort your mission and return to base. This is a direct command from the highest office."

"Are you trying to say we must let them live?" yet another pilot demanded. "Madness! This is an outrage!"

"You have failed to comply with the order. Very well."

"Red Baron! What are you trying to do?!"

"Forgive me, but my order is to engage all units."

"Don't shoot!"

It was too late. The F-15S/MTD shot down one of the planes. Confusion ensued, and the air fleet was put in disarray when Red Baron engaged them. Lone Wolf watched in faraway, and was baffled by the "friendly fire" act that was taking place before him.

Yet he could not help feeling awed by Red Baron's flight skill. It was flawless, and the way he fought the planes was as if he was dancing to the best swing music in the world. It was as if Red Baron was showing him the proper way to handle a dogfight.

The onslaught stopped. The rest of the planes escaped and left the airspace. The undamaged F-15S/MTD flew past Lone Wolf again, made a 180-degree turn and approached his left wing. Lone Wolf glanced at the plane, long enough for him to see a tell-tale magnolia flower emblem under the cockpit. It was similar to that he saw on Magnolia Squadron. What was this about?

"Ritter 1, I presume," Red Baron spoke. "Or should I say… Lone Wolf?"

"You know me," Lone Wolf replied. "What do you want?"

Red Baron chuckled. "Nothing much. I just wanted to see your action up close."

"Answer my question, Red Baron," Lone Wolf spoke. "Why are you helping me? We are enemies, and you know I could have shot you down."

He chuckled. Again. Somehow, Red Baron was not treating him as an enemy despite the difference in their reason of fighting the war. "I knew you would say that. Then why you didn't do it?"

"…I…" Lone Wolf was confused. He did not even know the true answer. "…I don't know. There's something about you that prevented me from killing you."

"Ah, I see." Red Baron moved his plane closer, and Lone Wolf could clearly see the pilot's bright red helmet. "I, too, have many questions to ask, but it would be better if I do so the next time."

"You're leaving again," Lone Wolf retorted.

"I understand your emotion, Lone Wolf. I would like to have a vibrant conversation with you over here, but alas," Red Baron uttered, "my… apprentices are awaiting me. We will meet again."

Red Baron threw a salute. Then the F-15S/MTD applied full thrust, and in seconds it climbed high into the sky before disappeared beneath the clouds. Lone Wolf watched and took a very deep breath.

"This is Crowbar! We've safely left the airspace!"

Lone Wolf shook his head. "Ritter 1 to Crowbar, have you rendezvoused with Magnolia Squadron?"

"Yes, we have! They are with us right now! Thanks for the cover up, Ritter 1. We couldn't have made it without your assistance."

"This is AWACS. Ritter 1, are you alright?"

Lone Wolf activated the plane's auto-pilot. He leaned against the ejection seat, opened the breathing mask and gazed into the sky. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me." His mind was not; throughout the return trip he kept thinking of Red Baron, the mysterious pilot of the blood red F-15S/MTD. Somehow, he wanted to know the true reason behind his existence.

Somehow…