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Chapter 23 - Ancient Walls

The demon soars through dark skies

Fear and death trail its shadow beneath

Until men united wield a hallowed sabre

In final reckoning, the beast is slain

- Briefing Rom, OFS Kestrel -

- December 9th, 2010 0348 hrs -

Pops walked into the briefing room last and held his hands behind his back, looking at everyone sitting down before him. Having never been inside of a carrier squadron briefing room, sitting in the comfy seats was quite a treat for Nagase and Grimm. Snow was smiling as he sat in his own chair, his actual one, and then proceeded to watch the younger pilots happily.

Joining them was Larry, who sat in a seat closest to the middle aisle so he could be next to Cipher, who was forced to stand since it would be a hassle to try and sit with his injuries. James was at the front of the room with Pops, and when everyone settled in he coughed. The two shared a quick nod and Pops cleared his throat, a step forward bringing him closer to the pilots.

"All right...if there aren't any objections, then I'll take command of this air operation." Pops said before James took center stage.

"We're launching a rescue operation for the President of Osea within the Principality of Belka. The communications intelligence ship, OFS Andromeda, received information that president Harling is being held in Belka."

James turned to the side as the projection screen came on, Pops crossing his arms to watch the world map ping the location and zoom in on the operational area it was located. Larry and Cipher both gulped a little and shivered.

Stier Castle was the only named landmark in the wasteland, and the wasteland of course was the Waldreich Mountains. Both pilots remembered very, very clearly the reason why it made them so apprehensive.

"The location is an old castle positioned on the southern edge of the border zone between Nord Belka and North Ossea. Sea Goblin, our helicopter squadron, will handle the direct rescue effort." James pointed with a finger to the satellite image of the castle, built upon a small drumlin overlooking an icy lake. "After securing the area, the helicopter will descend on the castle and drop our infiltrating rescue squad. It will station keep in the air while the rescue is taking place on the ground and in the castle. Your mission is to provide air support for Sea Goblin's rescue operation and destroy any opposing enemy forces."

Nagase raised a hand, attentive as always. "What about jets?"

"We've captured a Belkan trade ship smuggling fighter jets to Yuktobania. You're free to choose from any on board."

Nagase nodded, satisfied with the answer, and James waited for any more questions. None came, and he turned to Pops to end the briefing.

"If that's all, you're dismissed."

Larry popped up and walked down the aisle to the door, opening it for the others and lastly Cipher, who hobbled out with his one crutch. When they made it to the deck, they spotted the new addition to the Kestrel's small little fleet James mentioned.

The transport ship was moored to the dock right next to the small air base of Kirwin, loaded with containers undoubtedly filled with a single aircraft each. Even from there Pops could see Gründer Industries' company logo painted onto the shipping containers, and he shook his head disdainfully.

"Looks like you two will be flying Sukhois, Grimm, Nagase." Larry said, glancing at them. "Belka manufactures Sukhoi and MiG aircraft primarily, so be sure to pick one that you like."

"Right. Blaze, could - I mean Cipher...could you help Grimm and I out with a crash course?"

"We've never flown Sukhoi aircraft before, so…" Grimm poked his fingers together and Cipher laughed.

"Sure thing guys. Larry, want to help too?"

Larry grinned and agreed, Snow chuckling as he departed to get to his own aircraft that was below deck inside of the Kestrel being prepped as they spoke.

It took a little while for two jets to be taken off the transport ship and rolled out of the shipping containers, but once they were the Kestrel's crew operating the small air base fueled them up and armed them with Osean weaponry. The Su-33s they chose would have to do until more aircraft are shipped to the Kestrel, along with a batch of pilots.

Maxwell had told them that he had requested a squadron of mercenaries from the 6th Air Division to be sent to Kirwin Island under strict secrecy, to prevent any leaks or intrusion. Cipher and Larry were especially excited about this, since they would be able to fly with their former comrades again after fifteen years. After Nagase and Grimm were confident in their ability to pilot the Sukhoi aircraft, Cipher bid them good luck and left with James to join Maxwell at their AWACS aircraft.

Larry took off first in his jet fighter, followed by Nagase and Grimm in their Su-33s, and then lastly James and Cipher. The large 767D took the trail position behind Grimm and Nagase when Snow joined them from the Kestrel with his F-14A, and Larry took Cipher's position as point.

"Looking good Larry, it's been a while since I saw that." remarked Cipher with a grin. Larry chuckled, guessing that he was being observed from behind in the 767D's cockpit.

"I thought it was the right time to bring it back." he replied. "Who knows, maybe I'll be recognized."

The morning sun, as it peaked over the horizon, glistened off his jet fighter with a brilliant radiance. He flew an Ustian F-15D/E, a more advanced model of the F-15C that had gotten all the benefits of advanced technology from Ustio, and just like his old jet fifteen years ago, a single wing had been painted blood red.

Grimm was curious about the reasoning for the peculiar paint job, and Larry gladly told him the story behind it. Grimm, Nagase and even Snow were amazed by the history, and when they learned Larry's nickname, it wrapped it up all nice and compact in a little red bow.

"Solo Wing Pixy...ha, that makes perfect sense." chuckled Snow. "Hope you'll be a good flight lead, mister Solo Wing."

"You're talking to the former Galm Two, Snow. I got this."

- Stier Castle, Northwestern Belka -

- 27°01'18"N 230°12'02"E -

- December 9th, 2010 0500 hrs -

The white capped mountains of Waldreich passed by beneath the squadron as they were on approach to Stier Castle, James marking its location on their radar so they wouldn't miss it. Eventually they arrived at a huge lake bordered by a wall of mountains and hills that were black in areas that weren't covered with snow, and upon seeing the landmark Larry sighed.

He hoped that returning here wouldn't affect him too much, but it was almost impossible to block out the bad memories.

"What is it, Pixy?" asked Grimm, referring to Larry's callsign.

"Ah, nothing…"

Cipher could hear their conversation, as could Maxwell, who was helping him out with the instruments of the 767D while James piloted the aircraft. The president could see the dismay and he gave him a pat on the shoulder as he walked by to get some coffee from the break station.

Cipher smiled a little and threw some headphones on to communicate with his old wingman and friends.

"You're not the only one feeling it Larry...I was there too, after all." Cipher chuckled a tiny bit, trying to introduce some humor.

"Wait, is this…" murmured Nagase, who took a closer look at the circular lake.

"Is this what?"

"Fifteen years ago, this area was ground zero for when Belka detonated the seven nukes on their own soil. That lake is a crater from one of the bombs, actually. This whole place used to be so green...now it's a wasteland..."

Nagase, Grimm and Snow were silent. The importance of their mission to rescue the Osean president had dominated their thoughts up until that point, up to Larry's explanation. Now it came back to them, from their repressed memories of 1995 when they were much younger.

The Belkan War had solidified itself in world history as one of the most violent wars, because of the Belkan military's fierce resistance and refusal to give in. They were willing to do anything to prevent victory for the allied forces, Pops' story of refusing the order to drop a nuclear bomb on their own soil was evidence of that. Speaking of that story, coming to the sight of one of the nuclear bomb detonations told them that this event was what his superiors were planning. If Pops hadn't refused, he could have been responsible for the very crater they were passing over.

June 6th was the fateful day, the day when the Waldreich Mountains were confused with the unholy hellfire of atomic annihilation. What is now known as the Seven Pillars of Belka, to prevent the allied forces from pushing into Nord Belka, the military detonated seven nuclear bombs on its own soil. It was a brazen, and utterly astonishing, act of self sacrifice and defiance.

"Over twenty thousand people lost their lives in the blink of an eye…" uttered Larry. "What I saw that day will forever haunt me, 'til the day I die."

"Same here…"

Nagase looked sadly up into the sky, seeing the small outline of the 767D that Cipher spoke to them from. The Osean pilots were humbled before the experience of their friends. Sure, they had gone through the attack on Apito and November City, but nothing could compare to the atrocities of the Belkan War.

"Hey, Solo Wing."

"Hm?"

"You think you can...tell us a little bit 'bout what you saw? On that day?"

Larry and Cipher were surprised at Snow's eagerness to know about such an infamous period. His sincerity was enough to convince Cipher to allow Larry to tell him, and by extension Grimm and Nagase, his point of view during the mission that ended with the nuclear bomb detonations.

He sighed and gathered himself for the exposition part of him did not want to tell, but despite his apprehension he went forward and described the event in such vivid detail Nagase shuddered. The sky had been cloudy before the bombs went off, but when they did the clouds had been pushed away to reveal a clear blue sky that turned bright yellow and white from the illumination of the mushroom clouds.

From where Larry was, as he described it, he could see at least three of the second mushroom clouds. Each one was just as terrifying as the closest one, their radiant reds, orange and yellows a swirling inferno that truly was hell on earth. Larry ended his story before he went too in depth with details, and because remembering was starting to mess with his emotions and make it difficult to fly.

Even James was shaken by the depiction of that day through Larry's storytelling, his normally calm demeanor cracking slightly.

It was silent until they left the crater behind, Stier Castle drawing ever closer on their radar. They met up with Sea Goblin, who approached from another vector, and continued as a single unit onward to the castle, where Snow tried to break the ice with some small talk.

"It's been a long time since I've flown i formation…"

Wanting to jump in now too, one of the Sea Goblin marines spoke up. "Hey, what happened to the other guy, the one who used to talk a lot. Chopper, right? What happened to him?"

"He's...not here any more…" replied Nagase sadly.

"Oh...I'm sorry."

"Incoming message from the Kestrel, I'm patching it through." informed James, preventing any more emotions from sparking as he transformed into his Eagle Eye personna.

The radio made a slight garble noise as he connected the pilots to the data link he received from the Kestrel.

"Do you read me? You guys should have sigh of the castle by now."

As Pops spoke they did in fact spot Stier Castle and the lake it watched over. James readily updated their radars wen Cipher and Maxwell detected defensive AA installations in the area meant to protect the castle.

"We see it Pops. There are several AA and SAM installations protecting Stier Castle."

"Right. Take them out so Sea Goblin can commence its descent for an insertion."

"Roger that, Kestrel. Everyone follow me, I may not be Cipher but I was his first wingman after all."

Larry did a sharp barrel roll before soaring down toward the ground to attack the first target he spotted. Nagase, Grimm and Snow were blown away by how quick the mercenary pilot was at identifying targets and going after them with intensity, all while maintaining fluid and skillful aircraft maneuvers like it was second nature.

"He flies like the Belkan pilots we fought in Yuktobania…"

"Well yeah, it helps when you've got Belkan blood pumpin' through your veins."

"You're a Belkan?!" gasped Nagase. Larry laughed at how shocked she was after he destroyed a SAM unit with no difficulty at all.

He gave them a brief explanation about his heritage, how he was born in Belka to a Belkan family and how he attended the Belkan Air Force academy in Dinsmark, only to get kicked out right before graduation and leave to take up the life of a mercenary.

With a push from Cipher, Nagase, Grimm and Snow had to listen as they helped Larry eliminate the defenses for the castle so he didn't do all of the work for them.

"What about you Captain?" asked Grimm. "Are you Belkan too?"

"That's a secret for me to keep." Cipher replied with a snicker.

"You know Cipher, the guys and I back at Valais actually have a bet going on about where you're from."

"Really?" Cipher turned his head a little to look at the cockpit, seeing James glance back at him and nod his head.

"Well damn, what's at it now?"

"So far the pot is up to five hundred dollars, with the big choices being Belkan, Osean, and Ustian." Larry said with a chuckle. "Hell, even you being Yuke or Usean came in too. That last one came up only because of what happened back in 05."

"Ah hell, you told someone? Or was it you James?"

"I did tell someone, sorry." James replied.

"Well who made that bet I was Usean?"

Maxwell raised his hand as he took a sip of his coffee, Cipher giving him a baffled look before he busted out laughing. Ustio's President was even in on the bet about where he came from which made it all the more hilarious.

"How about this, for saving me I'll give you guys a hint. I'm not a Yuke."

Larry wheezed at the reveal and Nagase smiled too at the old friends sharing such light-hearted, jovial discussion in the midst of a mission to rescue the Osean president from his Belkan kidnappers.

"Crow One ain't going to enjoy that."

"Why?"

"He's the one who made the bet that you were a Yuke."

Cipher and Larry shared another laugh with one another as Snow destroyed a gunboat that left the dock house situated on the coast of the lake below. With that the AA and SAM batteries around Stier Castle were destroyed, and Sea Goblin was able to drop its infiltration squad in the courtyard of the castle.

Two snipers took up a position to watch over the courtyard entrance after they roped down while the main force entered the castle through the front entrance. The helicopter repositioned to a secondary courtyard over the castle and held its position, while the pilots in the air entered a wide holding pattern to wait for any requests.

"So this whole area used to be green?" questioned Snow openly to no one in particular. "It's hard to imagine it like that…"

"Yeah, I understand. But it's true, the whole mountain range used to be beautiful. Rolling green hills, farmland, and cozy little towns like the one down there next to Stier Castle use to be common place. But…"

Larry trailed off, Snow nodding his head since he already knew the reason why everything disappeared and turned white. The nuclear bombs had drastically changed the whole environment of the Waldreich Mountains, the detonations causing the local climate to rapidly cool and create a nuclear winter. Entire mountains were vaporized in an instant, and vast swaths of land were rendered inhospitable to animals or humans because of the fallout.

The respite they had turned brief when enemy ground units, alerted to the infiltration most likely from a survivor either from an AA piece or a SAM unit, started to mobilize and bear down on the castle from all sides.

Enemy tanks and more SAM units, they wanted to take back the castle and kill anyone in their way.

"Enemy round forces mobilizing to the castle." reported James before he performed a pylon turn to fly in a large circle around the castle from high up.

With the signal from James, he gave the radio station to Maxwell and hopped over to the weapons station, activating them and grinning as the aiming reticle for all three weapon systems appeared on screen.

They revealed themselves from the body of the 767D; The first was a GiL30mm cannon, which Cipher wouldn't be using, then a 40mm Bofors, and finally a 105mm railgun that allowed for the aircraft to not be so close to its targets to hit them.

"Wardog, I'll handle the ground targets. Focus on any enemy reinforcements from the air."

"How will you-"

A faint pop came from above when the sound barrier was broken and one of the tanks erupted into flame and smoke. Larry and Snow chuckled when Nagase and Grimm were rendered speechless, and a quick explanation informed them of the 767D's capabilities.

"The stone structures inside this castle are quite impressive." spoke one of the marines as they creeped through the halls of the castle.

"It feels like there's more than just our enemies lurking in this place."

As they continued their search for the president within the bowels of the castle, more reinforcements appeared on radar.

"Multiple hits on radar. Enemy aircraft are inbound." said Maxwell when they were detected on radar, coming from the north.

They must have been scrambled upon hearing news of the attack on the castle, and were now frantically attempting to prevent the rescue of the president from their clutches. James was quick to relay the information to the Sea Goblin helicopter and to hide itself from the jets it flew closer to the castle among the towers, making itself as small as a target as possible.

The enemy jets soon arrived in the area and Snow was baffled when he saw the jets they were flying, the same grey Berkuts the others encountered in Yuktobania.

"Be careful of these jets snow, they're Berkuts. Belkan made, incredibly agile, highly lethal." cautioned Larry. "Stick with me, I'll help you out. Nagase, Grimm, you got this?"

"We remember from Yuktobania, we can handle ourselves."

The four pilots met the Belkan pilots head on, their respective forces clashing over the lake and filled the sky with the roars of their jet engines.

"Looks like they were able to bolster their own forces with funds they got from selling weapons to Osea and Yuktobania…"

Cipher frowned after he returned to his proper station, relieving Maxwell from it with a shoulder tap. As soon as he sat down gunfire came in through the radio from within the castle, followed by shouting and grunts.

"Sea Goblin, is everything okay?"

"We've secured the president and we're getting the hell outta here!"

"Roger that Sea Goblin! Guys, protect the chopper until Sea Goblin has safely boarded it with the president! Don't let a single Belkan jet get near it!"

Inside of the castle the president was being practically manhandled by the marines, since Belkan soldiers were seemingly pouring from the walls and tapestries themselves to try and prevent his rescue. One marine apologized when he roughly pushed the president to the ground behind a table, another covering him as they opened fire on a group of soldiers at the other end of the room.

"It's quite alright...just make sure you're careful too!" replied the president with a chuckle.

"On your right, your right!"

"Got him!"

They eliminated the threat and the president returned to his feet, scurrying down the hallway with the marines to a large banquet hall where they immediately had to take cover when bullets flew by them. The president was pushed to his knees again as the marines took cover behind anything that was close, taking shots at the Belkans on the other end of the huge table.

"Geez, a gunfight with only a banquet table between us." joked a marine. "And they didn't even prepare dinner for us."

"How rude. Whoa, shit!"

A bullet ricocheted off a marine's helmet, and when it made the man fall onto his back, the president was there checking to make sure he was okay. The marine assured he was fine and got back up, joining the fight with his compatriots again.

All of a sudden the glass ceiling above them shattered when a Belkan soldier, on his way down from being shot, pulled the trigger and fired skyward through it. A marine covered the president as the razor sharp glass fragments fell all over them and the dining table. Once the raining shards came to a stop, they finished off the rest of the enemy soldiers and moved on.

They left the dining hall behind and scrambled down another long hallway flanked by a wall of windows that oversaw the courtyard of the castle, before eventually arriving outside at an open section with one of the huge outside walls blocking their path.

The soldiers had to take cover behind broken or still standing statues and other structures when Belkan soldiers swarmed their position, firing on them from multiple angles.

"We have to blow this wall to get out of here!"

"The explosives we brought with us can't take this whole thing down!"

The marine covering the president growled before he grabbed his radio and held the transmitter button down to shout, "This is Sea Goblin. We've run into enemy fire from multiple positions in the castle, we're pinned down over here. Break it down for us!"

"Where's the president?"

"He's right here beside me."

Nagase let out a sigh of relief and she reaffirmed herself of their mission, veering off from the air engagement to take up the task of freeing the marines from trouble. Eagle Eye marked the area of the wall she needed to destroy with a single missile and she locked on.

The marines and the president braced themselves when Nagase called out the strike, and a moment later the wall exploded into the courtyard like a shotgun. Belkan soldiers were knocked flat on their backs from the shockwave, or they were injured by the lethal chunks of debris that came with it.

With the wall gone, they could finally escape. Covering fire ensued as the helicopter lowered itself down next to the hole, and the marines hustled their way to it with the president in their midst.

"Sea Goblin, we'll take on the enemy planes. Leave the airspace immediately." Nagase ordered as she destroyed one of the Berkuts.

The chopper booked it from the castle under the cover of their allies after picking up everyone else, and the Belkans couldn't do anything about it. They couldn't even get close thanks to Larry and Snow stopping them, and if they got past, Nagase and Grimm ended their chances right then and there.

"Grimm, behind you! Fox two!"

"Thank you Nagase!" exclaimed Grimm when she shot down the fighter tailing him.

"Is that you?"

Nagase turned her gaze to the fleeing Sea Goblin helicopter, the voice they heard from so long ago instantly recognizable as the president's, their Mr. Cargo.

"The lady with the pretty voice? Are you there, too?"

"Yes, sir." she replied, smiling.

"I'm right above you Mr. President. Or should I call you Mr. Cargo?" asked Cipher with a chuckle, receiving one from the president as well.

"So Andersen's realized what's going on behind the scenes too, right?" he asked.

A marine close by set his rifle down and was leaning over to check on him before he was stopped by the president, who told him to check the man next to him who had taken a bullet to the shoulder to protect him.

Eventually Sea Goblin got far enough away, and since they had sustained plenty of losses, the Belkans gave up the fight and made a hasty retreat from the airspace. With them now gone, Larry and the rest formed up around the helicopter for the return trip back to the Kestrel.

"Thank you, everyone." said the president, thanking them all. "I appreciate your efforts. And I suppose I owe you another one."

"Not at all, the slate is clean sir. It's good to have you back."

^^^^Debriefing Message^^^^

Mission accomplished. President Harling was safely retrieved. The president is showing some signs of fatigue, but in general, his condition is good.

- OFS Kestrel, Kirwin Island -

- December 9th, 2010 1860 hrs -

When they got word that the president was with Andersen on the bridge of the Kestrel, Grimm and Nagase bolted as fast as they could. They wanted to see the man they had rescued for the second time now, the first under his alias "Mr. Cargo"., and now, as President Harding. They arrived in the doorway, breathing a little hard, and stopped when they saw the man himself.

He was chatting with Andersen, standing right across from him with a cup of coffee in his hands to warm him up. Andersen had given him one of his trench coats to wear, and he looked great in it.

Apparently he spent his days confined in the old castle looking at the seven ground zero craters right out his window, which served as the border between the two countries of Nord Belka and North Osea.

Maxwell was there too, and he shook hands with the Osean president one last time before bidding his farewell. His job was finished, and he was thankful to have participated in such an important rescue, of which Harling was thankful for to the Ustian president for assisting with. The two would become close friends.

As Maxwell walked by Nagase and Grimm, Harling noticed them and smiled, pausing Andersen in order to turn his attention to the two pilots. He saluted them, not as a president, but as a fellow man whose life they had saved. What they were talking about, Harling and Andersen, was news of the war over in Yuktobania. In the end, the Osean Army couldn't take the Yuktobanian capital, and the war had begun to get bogged down.

For Belka, who challenged the war to battle but were crushed by the twin powers of Osea and Yuktobania, there could be no sweeter revenge. They had created the hatred between the two countries, hoping that the war would eventually exhaust them both.

The military officials on both sides were playing right into their hands.

"I can't believe there were this many people in my own country who wished to wage war…" muttered Harling, running a hand through his hair. "Perhaps I was too naive to believe in world peace…"

"Please, don't say that. You weren't naive at all, sir." He brought his gaze up to Nagase, the one who had spoken. She had a proud and determined expression, truly believing what she said with all her heart.

"We all still believe in you and your wish for peace, one hundred percent."

"She's right, you know."

Harling looked past Nagase, and she turned around with Grimm to watch Cipher walk his way into the bridge with Larry at his side. When he and Harling looked eye to eye, Cipher raised himself up off his crutch and gave him a salute.

"I was the flight lead for Wardog Squadron sir, when we assisted in your emergency landing. By then I went by Blaze, but now it's Cipher."

"Cipher? Don't don't mean-"

"Cipher, Galm Team's number one of the Ustio Air Force 6th Air Division, 66th Tactical Fighter Squadron, sir."

"Larry Foulke, Galm Team's number two."

Larry held his grin as he too saluted Harling, and completely baffled he wasn't sure what to do at first. Cipher chuckled and explained the whole story in bullet points to the president, which helped him greatly to understand the situation. Once that was out of the way, Harling enjoyed a wonderful conversation with Cipher, Larry, and the other pilots in the bridge, and all the while Andersen merely observed with a smile and an occasional sip of coffee.

- December 10th, 2010 0900 hrs -

The intelligence vessel continued to intercept the Yuktobanian Army's communications without them finding out anything of it. One message, from Air Force Traffic Control, contained a string of mysterious numbers. Latitude, longitude, a date and time, and one more set of numbers.

When shown a the paper slip with the message on it, the president had the answer.

"Well how about that," said Harling, baffled. "These are the number of votes I won in my presidential elections. This is from the first time I won, and here's the number from the election two years ago. This message was meant for me!"

The coordinates marked a location within Nord Belkan territory, and the date was tomorrow. With only a day's work of preparation ahead of them, a decision was made to give the Wardog pilots, which now ceremoniously included Snow, a whole new makeover. The squadron from Sand Island became the president's personal air fleet, even as the official reports continued to state they were shot down and killed.

Cipher, who was still injured and incapable of flying, Nagase, Snow, and Grimm stood at attention in front of Harling. Larry and Pops stood a few steps and to the right behind the president as their friends stood at attention, receiving their new official designation from Harling himself.

With help from Ustio one last time, they received a fresh batch of F-14D Super Tomcats that were loaded with new, state of the art Ustian tech that put it on par with a jet like the F-22A Raptor. All of its parameters had been boosted, making it even more lethal then before. And to top it all off, they received a new paint job personally from Pops and those on the carrier who helped him.

Pitch black bodies, blood red tail and rudder wings tips, and a new squadron symbol bearing the visage of the mythical demon itself. Their new name?

The Razgriz Air Command Squadron.