Over 500 Allied Coalition aircraft. 63 warships directly participating in the battle. A thousand marines would be attempting to wrench control of the grounds surrounding the Space Elevator. It was going to be a giant battle, with the radicals believed to be in control of a force of equal size if not bigger. The coalition had cards in their hand to counter the numbers advantage.

Twinkle Islands

Cipher had been about to get into his F-15EX and depart for Selatapura when he noticed an older F-15C approaching the airbase. It landed on the main runway just as a pair of ISAF F-16 Block 60s launched, their single engines roaring in wet mode. Cipher waited for the new arrival to taxi over to the flight line. He saw the red wing which was all he needed to identify the fighter as his old wingman. Cipher made his presence known by standing out in front of his own Eagle. The pilot of the other Eagle saw him and made a turnover to stop right in front of Cipher's pit. The pilot popped open the canopy and out came the man, the myth, the legend, Larry Pixy Foulke.

'Am I late?' He asked as he stepped out and took off his helmet. The past 24 years had been kind to him. Compared to when he had last seen him in 1995, Pixy had only aged up ten or so years.

'We're just getting started.' Cipher replied. Pixy grinned, lugging his helmet over his shoulder.

'I'm glad. You got a restroom around here? I gotta take a piss.' Pixy asked, tapping Cipher's shoulder as he walked past. Cipher turned around, his face posted up in amusement. Glad to see you haven't changed.

ISAF AIRCRAFT

Mobius 1/Mobius: F-22A Raptor

Mobius 2/Yellow: Su-37 Terminator

Galm 1/Cipher: F-15EX Eagle

Galm 2/Pixy: F-15C Eagle


OFS Vulture II

'Raising energy levels, 50, 70, 90, 100. Razor 1, cleared for launch.' The bubble operator at the front of the carrier's forward catapults reported. Lance gave the signal for them to break the catapult link and throw his Super Hornet off the front of the ship and into the air. His aircraft shot forward supported by the catapult and his own engines. As the deflector shield came down, Talon was ushered to the now-available catapult with her F-35C. To her right, Razor 2, Luna, was launched flying an F/A-18E like his squad leader. Talon waited for the catapult to be attached to her aircraft and the deflector shield to be raised again before pushing her engine to mil-power. A weak humming started emanating from the catapult track, an electronic-based EMALS system compared to the older steam-based system.

'Energy goin' up, 50. 80. 100. Panther 1, cleared for launch.' The bubble operator cleared the green haired F-35 pilot. Talon looked down at the deck crew, then over her shoulder, before looking down the deck at the bubble. Talon raised her right arm and saluted. A moment later, the catapult kicked in and Talon was sent down the flight deck roaring with speed. Talon waited until her aircraft was off the deck before grabbing the stick and pulling away for the carrier. Her destination, Selatapura.

VULTURE AIRCRAFT

Panther 1/Talon: F-35C Lightning II

Panther Squadron: F-35C Lightning II

Razor 1/Lance: F/A-18E Super Hornet

Razor 2/Luna: F/A-18E Super Hornet

Razor 3/Dagger: F/A-18E Super Hornet

Razor 4/Titan: F/A-18F Super Hornet

Hammer Squadron: F-35C Lightning II

Hawk Squadron: F-35C Lightning II

Trident Squadron: F-35C Lightning II

Poseidon Squadron: F-14D Super Tomcat


Shilage

The LRSSG, Spare Squadron and Sol Squadron were all prepared for the fight. Blaze, Marcus, Grimm and Mythic walked up to their pool of aircraft in a line all side-by-side. Blaze looked to both sides. Marcus was on his left. Grimm and Mythic were on his right. Up ahead were their aircraft; Blaze's Su-33, Swordsman's F-14D, Grimm's Typhoon FGR.4 and Mythic's Typhoon FGR.4. They all bore the Razgriz scheme. Blaze took a moment to stop his guys and speak before everyone mounted up.

'Whatever happens here, whatever we're up against, watch each other's back. We've all come a long way since the start of the war. No-one gets shot down. Am I clear?' Blaze asked of his wingmen.

'Yes, captain!' All three replied, even Mythic, the one person who hadn't been around when Blaze hadn't been a captain. Blaze smiled.

'Let's get out there and raise hell.' Blaze said, turning around and stepping up into his Su-33M3.

Across the active flightline from him, Trigger and Count were conversing across their individual aircraft while the two were preparing for takeoff.

'I imagine you don't have fond memories of the Space Elevator.' Count mentioned, strapping into the harness of Trigger's old F-15E.

'Well yeah, I did get convicted of murder and sent out to Spare.' Trigger shrugged, closing his Raptor's gold-tinted canopy. 'But hey, I don't regret a thing. Getting to kick ass in the biggest hot zones, flying, you guys, flying with the fucking Razgriz, Avril…'

Count did his signature chuckle. 'Yeah, well, I'm in the same boat there.' Count slammed shut his own canopy and started up his dual engines. 'Stick with Trigger and you'll make it, right?'

Trigger rolled his eyes and grinned. 'Don't jinx anything, will ya?' Before Count could formulate a response, he saw Long Caster and Bandog take off in their shared E-2C Hawkeye AWACS. Trigger pulled away from the flight line and onto the improvised runway to follow. Meanwhile, still in the tunnel was Mihaly talking to the pilots that made up Sol Squadron. Hermann and Roald were in their normal uniforms while Mihaly, Wit and Seymour all had g-suits and helmets on.

'You two'll be doing a good service here today. Keep our refugees safe.' Mihaly was quickly briefing the junior of the four.

'I understand. We'll watch the city while you three are gone.' Hermann, while disappointed that he wouldn't be able to fight in the biggest action of the war, understood his and Roald's purpose here and agreed with it. Mihaly nodded towards him and along with Wit and Seymour departed for his Su-30. The experimental aircraft sitting in the hangar, the X-02S, was not ready for a combat deployment.

'Did you tell the Oseans about the drone production facilities?' Wit asked as he went to his own aircraft. Mihaly put his helmet on over gray hair.

'The Princess is leading a team of Osean soldiers to take and destroy the primary facility. I believe she'll get the job done.'

'I sincerely hope so. If the Radicals maintain steady drone production, I'd hate to see the results.' Seymour commented on the various drone production buildings lying around Erusea. Mihaly pulled himself up to the cockpit and strapped in, flawlessly getting around the startup procedure and moving out to the runway. He had to wait for two LRSSG F-15s to take off before going for it.

Just outside the tunnel, Talisman waited for the trio of Sol aircraft to take off before leading Garuda Team off the flight line. She sat in an F-15E, her feet idling on the pedals. To either side of her were her Belkan escorts in Emmerian F/A-18Fs.

'So, this is it?' Shadow asked, sitting in the Super Hornet to Talisman's right.

'This is it.' Talisman confirmed Shadow's suspicions.

'It's probably been said, but let's make this count eh?' Xeno said. Shadow scoffed.

'It's our job and our purpose. We'd be letting everyone else down if we didn't.' The Belkan ex-squadron leader replied. Talisman saw an opportunity for her squad to depart.

'Garuda, to takeoff positions.' Talisman slipped forward with her wingmates in tow. The three got onto the runway and quickly pressed forward. Soon they were in the air.

LRSSG/GARUDA/SPARE/SOL AIRCRAFT:

Razgriz 1/Blaze: Su-33M3 Enhanced Flanker-D

Razgriz 2/Swordsman: F-14D Super Tomcat

Razgriz 3/Archer: Typhoon FGR.4

Razgriz 4/Mythic: Typhoon FGR.4

Strider 1/Trigger: F-22A Raptor

Strider 2/Jaeger: F-15C Eagle

Strider 3/Lanza: F-15C Eagle

Strider 4/Tailor: F-15C Eagle

Cyclops 1/Count: F-15E Strike Eagle

Cyclops 2/Skald: F-15C Eagle

Cyclops 3/Fencer: F-15C Eagle

Cyclops 4/Huxian: F-15C Eagle

Garuda 1/Talisman: F-15E Strike Eagle

Garuda 2/Shadow: F/A-18F Super Hornet

Garuda 3/Xeno: F/A-18F Super Hornet

Spare 1/Huntsman: F-15E Strike Eagle

Spare 2/Keystone: F-16V Block 72

Spare 3/Taipan: F-15E Strike Eagle

Spare 4/Champ: MiG-35 Fulcrum

Spare 5/Full Band: F-16CJ Block 42

Sol 1/Archange: Su-30SM Flanker

Sol 2/Wit: Su-30M2 Flanker

Sol 3/Seymour: Su-30M2 Flanker

Across the continent, multiple big players were in the air heading for Selatapura. It would be a long flight, and an even longer fight. However, the big aces weren't the only fighters in this formation. The rest of the OADF and the Erusean Air Force had a bone to pick with the radicals.


Fort Greys Island

Knocker, Clown, Faun and Goldman. They formed Golem and Mage Squadrons. Two Air Force Super Hornets and two F-16Cs. Not far behind them was Silex Squadron with their six B-2A Spirits, tagging along for when the Arsenal Bird showed its ugly face. Also attending the operation were two Erusean Air Force squadrons, Rigel and Skoll Squadrons. Both were flying Su-35 Super Flankers. Clown and Goldman did a circle around the island's airbase, waiting for Skoll Squadron to join them in the air before they departed for the Space Elevator.

FORT GREYS ISLAND AIRCRAFT:

Golem 1/Knocker: F/A-18F Super Hornet

Golem 2/Faun: F/A-18E Super Hornet

Mage 1/Clown: F-16C Fighting Falcon

Mage 2/Goldman: F-16C Fighting Falcon

Silex Squadron: B-2A Spirit

Skoll Squadron: Su-35S Super Flanker

Rigel Squadron: Su-35S Super Flanker


Fort Grace

Spring Sea, north-west of Tyler Island

The Federation of Central Usea had something to say to the radicals, and it wasn't going to be a polite message. The pride of their fleet was deploying its entire carrier air wing into the battle. The flight deck was a gagglefuck of different kinds of aircraft all waiting for the catapults to be cleared to be released into the skies. Near the front of this gagglefuck was Phantom, leader of Enchanter Squadron. Electronic warfare aircraft were going to be important for the operation to jam ground-based radars for SAM sites. He and his second wingman, Vampire, were on the port side of the ship at Cats 3 and 4. Vampire got kicked off the deck first with Phantom following a second or two behind. A couple of minutes later, his other wingmen, Ghost and Reaper, were also in the air. Enchanter Squadron pressed onwards, turning north-east for the Space Elevator.

FORT GRACE AIRCRAFT

Enchanter Squadron: E/A-18G Growler

Wizard Squadron: E/A-18G Growler

Drake Squadron: F/A-18F Super Hornet

Seawing Squadron: F/A-18E Super Hornet

Lightning Squadron: F-35C Lightning II

Twilight Squadron: F-35C Lightning II

Wendigo Squadron: F/A-18F Super Hornet

Hunter Squadron: F/A-18F Super Hornet

Mako Squadron: F/A-18E Super Hornet

Mansion Squadron: A-6E Intruder

Castle Squadron: A-6E Intruder


God help any force that came into contact with the mixed LRSSG detachment. Three of the best squadrons involved in the war rolled into one strike package, all equipped for air to air. Blaze's Razgriz and Mihaly's Sol were leading the spearhead, with Strider, Cyclops, Spare and Garuda all behind them. The radio was idle. There was nothing to be said. Everyone knew the plan. Blaze was left to his own thoughts, pertaining to Chopper. The only time he had spoken to him was once after they left Tyler Island. He almost felt bad, after everything Chopper had been through Blaze felt like he owned his former number 3 a spot in the assault. Alas, no. Even if Blaze had asked, there was no way Chopper would have been able to fight in the condition that his chassis was in. In that moment, Blaze looked around the formation. Something he had noticed was that the Black Raven, the prototype Su-57 mercenary, was not present among the formation.

'Talisman?' Blaze confronted the Emmerian about this.

'Hmm?' Talisman listened in.

'Where's Raven? The mercenary, or whatever the hell he is.' Blaze asked. From what he heard Raven was a good pilot, and not one that should have been let off on the cusp of the biggest battle of the war.

'He'll be there for the fight.' Talisman reassured him. While Blaze was somewhat doubtful, he gave Talisman the benefit of the doubt and pressed on.


Unintentionally proving Talisman right for the sake of an argument, Raven was already at Selatapura, roughly half an hour ahead of schedule. He hadn't engaged yet, there were way too many fighters to engage head on even with his skillset and technological advantage. What Raven was doing, was doing several high altitude passes over the area scanning for enemy fighters and sending off his findings to the Osean satellite. The radicals were aware of the incoming attack and had mustered everything they had. A hundred manned fighters and a hell of a lot more than that in UCAVs. The Arsenal Bird was out to the north on its normal patrol routine. Satisfied, Raven retreated from the area and dived towards the sea floor heading south-west. He wanted to meet up with a carrier air wing and refuel before heading into the fight.