Author Notes:

Well, this is it, my first ever published story. I always wanted to publish one so I can see how bad of a writer I really am, but I usually ended up thinking, "Nah, I already know that I'm a bad writer." But now I feel like I should stop accepting my shortcomings and doing something about it, that is why I decided to publish this, with the hope that others can help me improve myself. As to why I choose Ace Combat 7 as the foundation for my first story, I always love Ace combat ever since the masterpiece that is Ace Combat 3, but I find the story in 7 leaves much to be desired. Please note that english is not my first language, so apologies for any mistakes and if you can be so kind to point them out and help me correct them, I'll be ever grateful. Also, there would be a lot of things in this story that differ from the game, so be warned. Anyway enjoy and remember, Borders is the root of all problems.

Disclaimer: I don't own Ace Combat. We will be playing as a Belkan or AWWNB pilot otherwise.

Pain, pain, pain, that's all I feel right now. I feel like a broken glass, as if I just fell from the very sky. For what feels like days, weeks, or perhaps seconds I lay face up with my eyes closed here among these trees, waiting for the pain to subside. How did this happen, I wonder? Did someone struck me down? Did a wild animal attacked me? Did I maybe fell from a tree because apparently an unsupervised 5 years old with no experience in climbing anything can't properly climb? Well guess none of that matters now, it already happened. After a while the pain finally subsides, enough for me to move a bit and focus myself on something else, namely the sound of crunching branches, the telltale sign that something is moving, approaching from behind me if I were to stand right now. What is it? Is it a hungry predator coming for an easy meal? Well jokes on them, I barely have any juicy meat in me. As it comes closer, I notice that it doesn't walk on four legs, a bipedal monster then. The thing finally stops about a foot away from me, close enough for me to hear its breath, indicating that my end has come.

Well this sucks, surviving a fall only to get mauled by some random animal. The only way this can get any better is if I immediately fall to the waiting jaw of these animals instead to the ground, at least that way I don't have to endure the pain from falling first. Well nothing to do but wait now, the monster has lowered its head since I can feel its breath on my face. It surprisingly feels nice. For some reason a part of me wants to see its face, but decide against it. Hah, dad always said I'm a smart one and surprisingly mature for my age, too bad those won't save me from death. For the longest time I await my untimely end, what's going on? Why it hasn't sinks its teeth yet? What, am I not good enough to eat all of sudden Your Highness? I got dragged out of my musing when it finally does something, something that I didn't predict.

It talks. Surprising.

The thing seems to be saying something but I'm too caught up in my own head to listen. It speaks again and this time I hear it more clearly and I could already tell that I won't forget that voice anytime soon, if I were to survive my current ordeal anyway. It will be the last thing I hear otherwise. Well, there are worst sound that can take the honour I suppose, at least this one is pleasant to hear, surprisingly pleasant in fact. It sounds like what one would expect coming from an angel instead of a monster, maybe anyway, I've never even seen any of those. In any case, it's certainly the most beautiful sound that I ever hear, which doesn't say much considering I haven't even live that long. Again it brings me out of my musing when I feel a finger poking my face, seems like it tries to get my attention, well it succeeded. The shape of the finger indicate that this thing is humanoid and small. It continues to poke me in the face. This is getting annoying. I was about to grab that annoying appendage when I hear it talking again. It asks me.

"Can you hear me?"

I open my eyes.

Fort Grays Air Base, Southeast Usea

15 May 2019

Trigger

"Trigger, wake up! We're under attack!"

I open my eyes to the sight of a figure standing over my sitting form, a familiar figure, a female in her early twenties, an old acquaintance, Brownie I call her. When the last time I saw her? No matter, what matters is how does she ends up here. I seem to remember that I was inside a transport plane and I fell asleep while it was still in midair, perhaps she has gain the ability to fly? Still can't explain how she can get inside though. I take a look at the back of the plane and realise that the rear loading door has opened, I noticed that there seem to be some sort of structure beyond, we've landed then. I shift my attention back to the fuming woman in front of me and blink at her. Realising that I have no intention to move, she shakes me again, more violently this time.

"Dammit Trigger, this isn't the time for one of your damn scanning session! Come on!" she says as she drags me out of the transport. My eyes haven't even adjusted to the light when she stops in front of another figure.

"Sir, here he is," she says. I put a hand over my eyes to get a good look at the man, the Base Commander it seems.

"Thank you Second Lieutenant, rejoin with your squadron and scramble ASAP." She nods and puts a hand over my shoulder before heading for the hangar, I don't bother showing my acknowledgement, she knows me well enough to know that I always do. The Base Commander turns his attention to me.

"Trigger, I would prefer if we've meet under better circumstances, but we don't have the time. So let's assume we've done all the pleasantries and get down to business, this way," he says as he leads me to one of the hangar.

As we walk, the man starts explaining the situation to me and I use the opportunity to scan my surroundings. While the base has suffered some damage if the smokes is anything to go by, the place is still in a relatively good condition considering they got caught unprepared. I take a look at one of the hangar that we pass and see Brownie about to enter an F/A-18F. Odd, where's the WSO? Eh, they're probably around. We finally stop in one of the hangar.

"Well Trigger, here's your ride. You're now officially part of IUN-PKF 508th Tactical Fighter Squadron." He looks a bit pensive before continuing, "Look, I won't lie, we're short on manpower and someone with your set of skills are a godsend for us, but I'm also aware of your reputation so do me a favor, don't cause too much trouble, we're not in the mainland anymore and your stunts might cause more than just a reprimand, alright? And don't worry everyone here already knows about your pet peeve, second lieutenant Hardy is quite clear on that." Heh, typical Brownie, at least now I know that she can do that to anyone. "Now scramble and take out those bombers. Good luck." With that he leaves me to my own device.

I enter the hangar and see my newest ride, an F-16C. I breathe a sigh of relief, seeing Brownie with a two-seater makes me worried that I might share the same fate. Not that I got anything against them, but I prefer to die alone, unless the only other people are my enemies, then please, I insist. I decide to take a good look at the aircraft first. I first notice that the number on the jet is 015, just like my previous ride, and the tail code is FG, Fort Grays, but what catches my attention the most is the emblem, an orange-haired wolf with a revolver in its jaw and the word "Trigger" written on a red ribbon. I've seen that image before, Brownie made it. It seems she wants to make sure everyone knows that I'm an ace. So much for anonymity.

I take another look at the wolf. Now THAT is a reckless gun usage, I need to have a word with Brownie after this. I take a look at the armament, the usual heat seekers and 4AAM. It's no Eagle, but as uncle always said, it doesn't matter what your plane is, what matters is your skill. As I'm enjoying the sight of my fighter, one of the crewman approaches me.

"Umm, sir, are you going to sortie?"

I turn my head and look at him, for some reason he looks like he's just seen a ghost. I turn my gaze to the other crewmen and see that they have the same look on their faces. Is the attack really scares them that much? Doesn't matter. I head back outside and leave to change to my flight suit.

Soon I return wearing my issued flight suit, with the usual Osean flag and my new squadron patch, a patch that I swear I've seen somewhere. Only now I realise the sirens blaring on the base. Had they didn't ordered me to stop the attack, I would've done it anyway just so I can silence that annoying sound. I get on my jet and exit the hangar. Outside, I see that five jets have already standing by for takeoff, four F/A-18F and an F-16C, the Falcon has the same emblem as my suit, so that's my wingman then. I look at the Hornets and see their emblem, it's different from mine but the same with each other. How odd, it seems all of the hornets lack a WSO. Not my problem, that. I see from my cockpit things going on all over the place and people panicking on the radio, they really got caught with their pants down, it seems. I hear the control tower ordering us to takeoff and that we're linked to Sky Keeper, an AWACS probably. As I position my jet for takeoff, the tower hails me.

"Trigger, your call sign is Mage 2. Verify and read back." True enough, the tower doesn't wait for my answer before continuing, "Mage 2, cleared for takeoff. Situation is tight. It's a hell of a welcoming party, but we have faith in you. Good luck." Heh, I take this over an actual party. I hear another voice on the radio.

"Control, do me a favor and get that bird in the air ASAP," the voice says. That voice also orders us to takeoff faster earlier. From the sound of it, he seems like someone who has plenty of actual experience under his belt. The tower hails me again.

"Hear that? Golem squadron and your wingman are airborne. Take off and form up with Mage 1."

I take one long breath before I fasten my mask. Lowering my visor, I take to the sky.

Time to conquer it.