Ace Combat 7: A New Beginning
Chapter 1: Flashbacks
Disclaimer: All the Ace Combat characters belong to its creators.
A/N: This fanfic was also partially inspired by the Ace Combat fanfiction works of, Knight7572. There might be some similarities with his Ace Combat stories, but I gave him the heads up and he said he was okay with it.
Location: Air force base, Selatapura, Gunther Peninsula, Usea.
Date: December 7th, 2019
Time: 3:17 pm
It's been a few days since the end of the Lighthouse War and a little over a month since the International Space Elevator, a.k.a. Lighthouse, was retaken from the Erusean Radicals by a coalition of Osean and Erusean Conservatives.
At the air force base in Selatapura, Usea, a man with blue eyes, fair skin, and dark-brown hair, was sitting in the open cockpit of his F-22 Raptor reading the special addition of GAZE Magazine regarding the Lighthouse War. The man was none other than Osean Air Defense Force ace pilot, known by various names such as: Three Strikes, Big Shot, and Dumbass. But many call him, Trigger.
The last section of the magazine Trigger was reading was titled, Three Strikes: The Pilot Who Ended the Lighthouse War. The article talked about him from his early life to his time during the war, including his first combat mission; being wrongly convicted of killing former Osean president, Vincent Harling; crossing swords with the legendary Erusean pilot, Mihaly A. Shilage, three times and surviving every time; taking down the second and final Arsenal Bird; and destroying two highly advanced drones that threatened to keep the war going on for an eternity. The article also included an interview with him at the end.
"Stick with me and you'll make it," Trigger read the end of the interview, aloud.
He then closed the magazine before placing it on the plane's dashboard just as he heard a C-17 land on the base's runway.
"Hey, Dumbass," Came a female voice.
Trigger looked to see a woman with short brown hair, hazel eyes, and light-brown skin. It was Avril Mead, a.k.a. the Scrap Queen.
"Oh, hey Avril," Trigger said with a wave.
"What are you doing in that cockpit?" Avril demanded. "Get up out of there."
Trigger got up out of the cockpit, climbed down the ladder, and set foot onto the tarmac.
"I was just reading the special edition of GAZE magazine regarding the Lighthouse War," Trigger answered Avril's question.
"In a cockpit?" Avril asked in disbelief.
"I wanted to be ready in case something happened," Trigger replied.
"Right..." Avril said. She then asked. "So, I take it you just finished reading the article about you in that magazine?"
"You guessed right," Trigger replied.
"I think it was really nice of that Osean reporter, Albert Genette, to interview and write a story about you," Avril commented.
"I think so too," Trigger said with a nod.
"That war was one wild adventure, wasn't it?" Avril asked.
"Yeah," Trigger agreed. He then thought of something and spoke. "Say, Avril? I want to thank you."
"For what?" Avril asked.
"For all that you've done these past few months," Trigger replied. "You working on my plane, putting up with me pushing it beyond its limit, and becoming my girlfriend."
Avril smiled and draped her arms around Trigger's shoulders, "You are welcome, Trigger."
Trigger smiled as he wrapped his arms around Avril before the two shared a kiss.
After breaking the kiss, Trigger and Avril pulled away from each other.
"It's amazing how far we've come," Trigger commented.
Avril nodded, "Yeah, ever since we first met at Zapland."
Location: 444th Air Base, Zapland, Eastern Usea
Date: July 1st, 2019
Time: 6:17 am
Trigger entered hanger number one at the 444th Air Base in Zapland and saw an F-15C Eagle that possessed his personal emblem of the orange-haired wolf with a revolver clutched in its jaws, along with the number of the squadron he was previously assigned to, Mage Squadron, on the twin-tail fins. But what was different was that there were three white lines on each of the tail fins.
"I guess this must be my plane," Trigger thought.
He then walked up to the plane when suddenly…
"Hey," A female voice appeared.
Trigger turned to his right side to see a woman with short brown hair, hazel eyes, and light-brown skin and with her arms crossed.
"Are you the Scrap Queen McKinsey told me to see?" Trigger asked.
"I am," The woman replied. "But my real name's Avril Mead. You must be Trigger."
"I am," Trigger nodded.
"What kind of name is, Trigger, by the way?" Avril asked.
"My real name is Trevor Garcia," Trigger replied. "But a lot of people call me Trigger, since I'm quick with one."
"That's quite the nickname you've got," Avril commented. She then asked. "So, I take it McKinsey sent you here to pick up your plane?"
"He did," Trigger replied. "He also assigned me to be a mechanic and work with you on airplanes in between sorties me and the other inmates who can fly planes will be taking part in. He needed another mechanic, and I was one during my first two years in the OADF. He also wants you to give me a tour of the base since I'm new to this place."
"Why were you a mechanic before you became a pilot?" Avril asked.
"My mother, who served in the OADF herself, believed that before I become a pilot, I should know airplanes inside and out and know how to take care of them if there are no other mechanics available," Trigger replied.
Avril sighed, "Okay, but if you are going to be working on airplanes with me, you will have to do what I say." She then scowled as she walked closer to Trigger. "And whatever you do, do not test your luck and/or my patience!"
Trigger gulped as he shook his head, "I won't do any of those things."
"Good," Avril said, firmly. "Now, let's begin the tour, shall we? Afterwards, I'll be showing you where you'll be rooming."
"Who's gonna be my roommate?" Trigger asked.
"You're looking at her," Avril replied. "And you get the bottom bunk. Now, follow me."
Trigger nodded, "Affirmative."
With that, Avril walked out of the hanger with Trigger following behind.
Present…
"That was kind of a bitter first meeting," Trigger commented. "But that wasn't as bitter as when you first learned through Tabloid that I covered the Allies' retreat during Operation Two Pairs and didn't tell you."
"I remember that night well," Avril said.
Location: 444th Air Base, Zapland, Eastern Usea
Date: July 14th, 2019
Time: 8:00 pm
Trigger was working on an F/A-18 Super Hornet.
"Trigger!" Came the voice of Avril.
Trigger face turned white as he turned to see Avril walk up to him.
"Yes, Avril?" Trigger asked with a little fear in his voice.
"Is it really true that you covered the Allies' retreat a couple days ago?!" Avril demanded. "I just talked to Tabloid, and he told me you were the one who covered the retreat! And I thought it was Tabloid since he was the last to land! Why didn't you tell me this?!"
Trigger sighed, "Avril, if you should know as to why I didn't tell you, what happened that day reminded me of something that happened during the Circum-Pacific War. My mother got word that her brother was killed covering the Osean forces' retreat after a failed attack on Cruik Fortress in Yuktobania. This left me and her in great shock."
"Your uncle died covering Osean forces retreating from battle?" Avril asked, surprised.
"Yes," Trigger replied.
"You know," Avril spoke as she calmed down. "My father died covering the retreat of Osean forces from the same fortress too. Which attempt did your uncle take part in?"
"He took part in both attempts," Trigger replied. "But he was killed during the second attempt."
"My father was killed during the first attempt," Avril said with a sigh.
Trigger then spoke with sympathy, "Avril, I am so sorry for your loss, and I am so sorry for not telling you anything about the events of, Operation Two Pairs; it just reminded me of the loss of a very important family member; the one who taught me how to shoot and stand up for myself and for those who couldn't when I was just a little boy."
"I'm so sorry for your loss too, Trigger," Avril said, softly, and with sympathy. She then walked up to Trigger and hugged him. "And I'm so sorry for snapping at you as well."
Trigger then returned to hug and calmly said, "Thanks, Avril."
The two then broke the hug before Avril spoke, "Well, Dumbass, I better get back to work and you should do the same."
"Dumbass?" Trigger asked, confused.
Avril smirked, "That's my personal nickname for you, like it or not, for nearly getting yourself killed during, Operation: Two Pairs."
"Might as well accept it," Trigger said while shrugging his shoulders. "Now, to get back to work."
With that, Avril walked back to the hanger she was in earlier as Trigger resumed working on the F-18 he was working on.
Present…
"But that was the start of a great friendship that would later become something more," Trigger said. "From then on, we've gotten to know each other more without you having the urge to burst out at me and me being afraid of you."
Avril gigged, "Yeah."
"We both learned we had family that served in the Osean Air Defense Force, we both have aircraft mechanical and piloting skills, and we both hate Colonel David McKinsey for separating us after we were pardoned," Trigger added.
"And I wonder why the heck that… man did that," Avril said, refraining from using a curse word.
"Because you two were getting too friendly with each other," Came a male voice both Trigger and Avril haven't heard in a while.
Both Trigger and Avril turned towards the source of the voice and saw a man with white hair, brown skin, dark-brown eyes.
"Colonel McKinsey?!" Both Trigger and Avril gasped, recognizing the man.
"Did you come in on the plane that landed a minute or two ago?" Trigger asked.
"I did," McKinsey replied, looking sternly at Trigger. "I'm on my way to Oured and we stopped here to refuel. I then saw you two and I thought I'd join in on this little conversation of yours."
"Why are you heading to Oured?" Avril asked.
McKinsey looked at Avril, "Well, Scrap Queen, I've been reassigned to command the air force base just outside Oured. I was expecting a promotion, but they told me I wasn't gonna be promoted. I asked them why and they credited Trigger for Spare Squadron's successes instead of me! I told them prisoners deserve nothing, not even articles about them, but they wouldn't listen!"
"A whole lot of people have Trigger's back now that he's a big hero," Avril pointed out. She then asked. "Now, different subject, why did you send me to Tyler Island instead of taking me with you like you agreed upon?"
"You mean you didn't hear what I said earlier?" McKinsey asked in disbelief. "You and Trigger were getting too friendly with each other." He then turned back to Trigger. "You know, Trigger, I should've thrown you in solitary rather than have you help the Scrap Queen with working on aircraft! Why didn't I throw you in solitary?"
"Well, Colonel, you were in desperate need of mechanics," Trigger pointed out. "I remember you saying that during our first meeting."
Location: 444th Air Base, Zapland, Eastern Usea
Date: July 1st, 2019
Time: 6:05 am
In the main office of the 444th Air Base, Colonel David McKinsey was sitting at his desk and looking at Trigger who was standing in front of him.
"So, Trigger," McKinsey spoke. "Now, you must be wondering why you were sent here instead of going to the military prison outside of Oured." Trigger nodded. "I've been working on a plan to make this base, which has been acting as a decoy for the Eruseans to bomb, look more legit. To do so, I need pilots and that's where you come in." Trigger remained silent as McKinsey continued. "I also need mechanics. I know for a fact that, before you became a pilot, you were an aircraft mechanic during your first two years of service with the OADF."
Trigger nodded, "I was. My mother, who was an Osean fighter pilot, wanted me to know aircraft inside and out before getting into the cockpit."
"It's a good thing she did," McKinsey said. He then scowled. "And I bet right now, she's gotten word that you murdered Harling. And I bet she told your father and that will give him the urge to spank you."
"I was raised without a father," Trigger pointed out. "I don't know why; my mother never told me about him."
"How sad," McKinsey taunted. "Now, back to me needing mechanics. In between missions I am assigning you to work on airplanes with the Scrap Queen."
"Who's the Scrap Queen?" Trigger asked, confused.
McKinsey smirked, "Let's just say that if you anger her, you'll regret the day you were born."
Trigger nodded, "I'll be aware of her."
"You better," McKinsey said. "Another thing, since you are the only other mechanic here aside from the Scrap Queen, I won't be able to throw you in solitary if you disobey orders." He then raised his right index finger. "However, that doesn't mean you can go around disobeying orders on your own free will; I may change my mind. In other words, do not test your luck and/or my patience. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal, sir," Trigger said with a salute.
"Good, now go to hanger number one where you will meet the Scrap Queen and pick up your plane," McKinsey ordered. "Then tell her that I want her to give you a tour of the base. One more thing…"
"Yes, sir?" Trigger asked.
"There will be a briefing at 0817 hours regarding your first mission," McKinsey replied. "Dismissed."
Trigger saluted before he left the office.
Present…
"I recall what I said during our first meeting!" McKinsey said. "But now I regret what I did and didn't do."
"When did you find out that me and Avril were getting friendly with each other?" Trigger asked.
"I overheard the moment you two shared before departing Zapland for Bulgardarest," McKinsey replied.
Location: 444th Air Base, Zapland, Eastern Usea
Date: August 5th, 2019
Time: 10:00 am
Avril was in hanger number one looking at Trigger's plane.
Just then, Trigger came running into the hanger, "Avril!"
Avril gasped as she turned to Trigger, "Trigger, you scared me!"
"I'm sorry," Trigger apologized. "But I've got bad news. McKinsey is going to leave for a frontline assignment instead of going to Tyler Island and me and Count were assigned to be his escorts. So, sadly, I won't be able to go to Tyler Island with you and the rest of the squadron."
Avril walked up to Trigger and spoke, "Actually, I've managed to reach out to former family friends in the OADF after learning McKinsey was planning to leave for a frontline command while leaving Spare Squadron to fend for itself. I blackmailed McKinsey with the info I found, and he agreed to take me with him."
Trigger smiled, "That's great!"
The two then embraced in a hug.
After breaking the hug, Avril spoke, "Now, you better kick the tires and light the fires, Dumbass."
"I'll meet you in Bulgardarest," Trigger said before he walked over to his F-15C, climbed up the ladder, and sat down into the cockpit. "That's where we'll be stopping to refuel."
Avril removed the ladder before Trigger started up the engines, closed the canopy, and throttled out of the hanger, unaware that McKinsey was eavesdropping nearby!
Present…
"You were eavesdropping?" Trigger asked in disbelief.
"I happened to have been nearby," McKinsey replied. "And I can't believe you had a habit of turning on an airplane's engines while it was still in an almost enclosed hanger! Why?"
"Because I'm always eager to get into the air," Trigger replied.
McKinsey huffed, "What a lame excuse from the man who killed Harling."
"You still think I killed Harling?" Trigger asked in disbelief.
"I always think people who go to prison are guilty," McKinsey replied. "To me, there's no such thing as a wrongly-convicted person."
"Colonel McKinsey," Came a stern male voice.
McKinsey, Trigger, and Avril looked to see a Caucasian male with gray hair and brown eyes.
"Jack Bartlett?" McKinsey said. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm the new base commander here," Jack Bartlett replied. "And it's General Bartlett."
McKinsey put his hands on his hips, "You know, I thought they'd never promote you, especially after those times you got reprimanded by various officers, including my friend, Orson Perrault."
"Colonel McKinsey, you don't talk to a General that way," Bartlett warned. "Do you understand?"
McKinsey sighed, "Yes, General."
Bartlett shook his head, "I can't believe you still think that Trigger, the best pilot of the Osean Air Defense Force since the Razgriz and the man who ended the Lighthouse War, killed former president Vincent Harling."
"I don't believe in wrongly-convicted people," McKinsey said. "And I think it was a mistake to pardon the convicts. After all, they mutinied against Osea afterward."
"Not Trigger, Count, Avril, and a few others," Bartlett pointed out. "Now, I think your military command post in Oured is waiting for you. So, I recommend you go back to your plane before it leaves without you. And if I catch you here again harassing Trigger, his friends, or anyone else you are in serious trouble. Do I make myself clear?"
McKinsey reluctantly saluted, "Crystal, sir."
"Good," Bartlett said. "Now, move out."
McKinsey reluctantly walked back to his plane while at the same time, Trigger, Avril, and Bartlett turned towards each other.
"Thanks, General Bartlett," Trigger said.
"You're welcome, Trigger," The veteran of both the Belkan and Circum-Pacific wars said in appreciation. He then waved. "Well, I'll catch you two later."
Avril waved, "Okay, Trigger and I will catch you later as well."
General Bartlett then walked away.
Avril soon remembered something and asked Trigger, "Say, Trigger, do you remember our reunion aboard the Admiral Anderson?"
Trigger nodded, "Yes, I do remember."
Location: OFS Admiral Andersen, near Gunther Bay, Usea
Date: October 31st, 2019
Time: 5:00 pm
Avril was walking through the hallways aboard the aircraft carrier, OFS Admiral Andersen, which was named after, Nicholas A. Andersen, the man who captained the aircraft carrier, OFS Kestrel, during the Circum-Pacific War and sent out the Razgriz squadron shortly before the carrier was sunk by a Yuktobanian submarine. It's been a few minutes since arriving on the ship and she was now looking for the hanger below the deck to find any aircraft that can be restored to working order for the Osean-Erusean coalition forces that were battered after two highly advanced drones came in and caused mayhem after the coalition destroyed the final Arsenal Bird.
Just then, Avril came across the hanger and turned on the light, revealing a large number of airplanes of various kinds.
"Jackpot!" Avril thought. She then walked into the hanger and to the back of an F-15C. "This Scrap Queen's got work to do!"
"Do you need a hand, Scrap Queen?" Came a familiar male voice.
Avril turned to see Trigger holding a toolbox in his right hand.
"Trigger!" Avril gasped.
Both Trigger and Avril set down the toolboxes they were each carrying before they ran up to each other and embraced in a hug.
After breaking the hug, Trigger spoke, "I've missed you so much!"
"I've missed you so much too, Trigger!" Avril said.
Trigger took a breath before speaking, "I still can't believe McKinsey sent you to Tyler Island instead of taking you with him."
"Me neither," Avril groaned.
"I thought of you every day since we parted ways," Trigger admitted. "I even had fears and nightmares of you getting killed on Tyler Island."
"I too had fears and nightmares of you getting killed too," Avril admitted. "Only by Silage, drones, and/or those Arsenal Birds. Thank goodness you are alive."
"Thank goodness you are alive and well," Trigger said as he blindly took Avril's hands into his own. "And I want you to know that you mean a whole lot to me and, for all that you've done for me, I will always be indebted to you and… I can't imagine life without you." He then noticed his hands holding Avril's and quickly let go. "Sorry about that."
"Trigger, you, Dumbass," Avril said with a mock glare. She then smiled and cupped Trigger's face with both her hands. "It's okay. I want to let you know that you mean a lot to me and, for all that you've done for me, I will always be indebted to you and… I can't imagine life without you either."
"What did I do for you?" Trigger asked.
Avril pulled her hands away, "You helped me out with working on planes, protected me on the ground, and became a very important person in my life, dumbass."
Trigger smiled, "Then I guess you and I were meant to be."
"You know it," Aril cooed.
The two then wrapped their arms around each other and shared a kiss.
After breaking the kiss, Avril's face turned serious, "Now, let's get to work. Where's your plane?"
"It's on the top deck with Count's," Trigger replied.
"Bring your plane down here," Avril said. "I have some things to do with it."
Trigger nodded, "I'll be right back, Scrap Queen."
With that, Trigger ran out of the hanger.
Present…
"It was a great reunion," Avril commented. "But the moment we shared when you came back aboard the carrier after the success of Operation Hush was even better."
"That I remember too," Trigger said with a nod.
Location: OFS Admiral Andersen, near Gunther Bay, Usea
Date: November 1st, 2019
Time: 7:45 am
Avril was on the flight deck near the tower of the Admiral Andersen as, one-by-one, the surviving planes from the Osean-Erusean coalition landed on the deck after the success of Operation: Hush. But Trigger was not among them, yet.
"When will Trigger land?" Avril thought.
She then noticed an F-22 Raptor on final approach with its landing gear and tail hook down.
Realizing who it was, Avril smiled as she watched Trigger touch down on the deck and caught the arresting wire in the process.
"Good thing that F-22 had a tail hook!" One of the crewmembers shouted.
"It's quite a surprise that some non-naval aircraft are equipped for carrier takeoffs and landings!" Another crew member shouted.
Trigger lowered the F-22's tail hook, releasing the cable.
Suddenly, the F-22's engines shut down.
Avril then saw, Trigger, open the canopy while someone ran over to the plane with a ladder and attached it to the plane.
Trigger then got up out of the plane, climbed down the ladder, and set foot on the flight deck as he was surrounded by pilots and carrier crew members giving him a round of cheers of applause.
Avril walked into the crowd and towards Trigger.
Trigger noticed her and held out his arms before he and Avril embraced in a kiss.
After breaking the kiss, Avril asked, "Did you put too much pressure on the engines, again?"
"Yes," Trigger replied. "I also ran out of fuel at the last second."
"I'm so glad you were able to land," Avril said, happily.
"Me too, Avie," Trigger said with a smile. "Me too."
"Avie?" Avril asked, confused.
"Well, since you have a nickname for me, I think I should have one for you," Trigger replied.
Avril soon thought of something and asked, "So, Dumbass, I know I already asked you this before but, what color's the sky up there?"
"Dark blue, Avie," Trigger replied. "Dark blue."
He and Avril then shared another kiss.
Present…
"That was more magical than the first reunion aboard that ship," Avril commented.
Trigger soon thought of something and asked, "Say, Avril, if you are up for it, I could ask Bartlett if we could have tonight off."
"I'm up for a night off tonight," Avril said. She then gave a sultry grin. "And perhaps we could go out to eat at that bistro that has a great view of the space elevator."
Trigger held out his right hand, "Shall we go request permission for the night off, Avie?"
Avril took Trigger's right hand into her left before saying, "Of course, Dumbass."
Suddenly, air raid sirens start going off.
To Be Continued…
A/N: And so, begins my first Ace Combat fanfic.
I decided to try a hand at writing a non-Kim Possible fanfic. I'll still be working on my KP fanfics, but there are some fanfics of other franchises I wanted to try a hand at writing.
I hope you enjoyed part 1.