stephanieeiche714: Never thought you would review a Ace Combat fanfic. Thanks for the welcome back greeting. :)
Here is chapter 2 everybody
Chapter 2: Aces.
At Redmill Air Force Base at the city of Redmill, which is southeast of Oured, the pilots and crew of the base were starting their busy day once again. It's been two days since the Osean holiday of Memorial Day and Redmill Air Force Base had recently held a ceremony commemorating 25 years since the end of the Belkan War. Unlike the previous year, official invitations were sent out to various air forces from around the world, and the number of foreign aircraft that flew into the base was over 120. This was not limited to allied nations, as several aircraft from nations that were enemies at the time of conflict were also being lined up, and the base had the aura of an air show. Other than the host nation Osea, the countries that participated were Erusea, Yuktobania, Emmeria, Estovakia, Leasath, Aurelia, Ustio, Sapin, Central Usea, and Belka. IUN and former ISAF aircraft joined in as well. The most memorable event during the ceremony was a group of fighter jets assembling on the runway to perform the elephant walk. It was special because the aircraft on display were the aircraft of ace pilots, some of which had faced off against one another at one point in multiple conflicts. Some of the aircraft were replicas while the others were originals from recent wars. The revealing of a classified document pertaining to the Circum-Pacific War brought these aircraft together from all around the world. Once the event was over, only the replicas were sent back to their respective homes while others stayed to participate in large scale joint military exercises with the Osean Air Defense Force, followed by a few days break due to the upcoming Osean Independence Day.
In one barrack, a OADF pilot has just put on his flight suit after waking up to get ready for the exercises. He was a young man who is 27 years old. He had brown hair, fair skin, brown eyes and is wearing his green OADF flight suit. To him, he's just your ordinary Air Force pilot, but to those around him, he is known by his TAC name Trigger. Trigger is the ace pilot who is not only the leader of Strider Squadron and the Long Range Strategic Strike Group, but he is the pilot who is known to both Osean and Erusean pilots as Three Strikes in last year's Lighthouse War. A renowned and feared pilot, Trigger's unique aircraft marking on his F-22 tailfins earned him the nickname "Three Strikes" by those on both sides of the Lighthouse War. His accomplishments include playing a key role in defending Stonehenge, destroying Arsenal Bird Justice, shooting down two ADF-11F Ravens, defeating Mimic Squadron, sinking the Alicorn, and besting Mihaly A. Shilage in a dogfight while the aforementioned Erusean ace was piloting an X-02S Strike Wyvern. He is also known for being falsely accused and trialed for the alleged murder of former Osean President Vincent Harling, which transferred him to the Osean Air Force penal unit. Anyway, Trigger has just arrived at the mess hall to get his morning breakfast when he bumped into his wingman Count.
"Hey, Count. Where's the others?" Trigger asked.
"They're on their way here." Count said. "Can you believe this, Trigger? It's been two days since that ceremony and we actually got to meet the two Ace pilots from wars before ours." Count said.
"I know, right? Many consider me a Ace, but for me, I never thought I would end up meeting the legendary ISAF ace Mobius 1 and the Emmerian Ace Garuda 1. I've always wondered what they looked like and now I've got my answer." Trigger said.
"Tell me about it. You're just like them. Not only a Ace, but you want to keep yourself low from the public like them." Count said.
"Well, I'm not into fame. I may be a war hero, but I'm just an ordinary pilot who just wants to fly, serve for Osea and just be me." Trigger said.
"Yeah, but we rightfully deserve the recognition for our accomplishments in the war. Like how we saved Oured from the Alicorn." Count said.
"Right." Trigger said.
Suddenly, the rest of Strider Squadron arrived at the mess hall.
"Morning gentlemen." Jaeger greeted.
"Morning, Jaeger." Trigger said.
"Morning, Trigger. Count." Húxiān said.
"I see nothing change for you, Húxiān." Count said.
"Nothing always changes, Count. Well good thing the media doesn't know about us or else they would be hounding our asses with questions and all that after that ceremony two days ago." Húxiān said.
"Why? Imagine the popularity you can get." Count said.
"Still being a gloryhound, huh, Count?" Húxiān said.
"You know me." Count said.
"Anyway, any word from Fencer?" Trigger asked.
"He said we are to meet in the briefing room in the next hour. We will expect to see the foreign pilots, including the famous Garuda Team and Mobius 1." Jaeger said.
"Alright then. At least after today, we'll be on break for the Fourth of July." Trigger said.
At another area of the base, a Republic of Emmeria Air Force pilot has just started his day. He was also a young man who is 31 years old. He had black hair, fair skin, blue eyes and is wearing his blue REAF flight suit. He is a known war hero back at his home country of the Republic of Emmeria who is known by his TAC name Talisman. He is the flight leader of the famous Garuda Team who is known for his remarkable flying skills and saving Emmeria. A cunning and deadly pilot, Talisman was an indispensable asset that greatly affected the outcome of the Emmeria-Estovakia War back in 2015-2016. He was renowned for his excellent service record and leadership skills. His accomplishments include destroying the P-1112 Aigaion, the Chandelier railgun, playing a vital role in Operation Free Gracemeria, and shooting down the majority of the infamous Strigon Team of the Estovakian Air Force, as well as their leader Ilya Pasternak, who was piloting a CFA-44 Nosferatu. These accomplishments made Talisman regarded as a national hero to the Emmerian people. Talisman is at Redmill because Emmeria attended the ceremony two days ago after the nation was invited by the Osean government. Talisman's original F-15E Strike Eagle was among the aircraft displayed in the elephant walk formation alongside the aircraft of other nations, including replica Su-33s and a CFA-44 aircraft of their once adversary the Estovakian Air Force's Strigon Team. Among some of his fellow REAF pilots that he fought alongside in the war, this is Talisman's first ever visit to Osea. Ever since joining the REAF 7 years ago, Talisman was only stationed at Gracemeria until the war broke out. Even after the war, Talisman has never visited other nations until now. Before the ceremony, Talisman and some other REAF pilots took the opportunity to explore the city of Redmill as well as visiting Oured, having a good time, but it was back to business once the ceremony was over to participate in the joint exercises. Talisman has just exited out his barrack when he encountered his long time wingman Marcus Lampert, better known as Shamrock.
"Hey, Talisman. Ready for today's exercises?" Shamrock asked.
"Definitely. Still surprised you're still this enthusiastic." Talisman said.
Talisman has every right to say about Shamrock. During the war, Shamrock was hoping to get back to Gracemeria in order to save his family and be reunited with them. However, following Operation Free Gracemeria, he learns that his wife and daughter died during the war. Cursing himself for being unable to protect them, as a result, he vowed to turn in his wings once a combat air patrol over Gracemeria was over. However, due to the new threat in the Estovakian Chandelier railgun, Shamrock remained on active duty. During the assault on the Chandelier, he flew into a heavily defended trench by himself in order to retrieve data for AWACS Ghost Eye. This stunt ended in him being shot down. He tried to keep the plane steady but the damage was too great, forcing him to eject just before impact. He was later picked up by an Emmerian team. The injuries he sustained during his ejection temporarily confine him to a wheelchair. He managed to complete his rehab. Despite that he was gonna turn over his wings and wish his wife and daughter were still with him, he decided to stay with the REAF as he realized that his country needs him and Talisman more than ever should Emmeria enter a war again.
"Well ever since the ceremony, it made me realize how much Emmeria appreciates us to that degree and I'm sure Monica and Jessica would be proud." Shamrock said.
"I'm sure they would. They wouldn't want you to quit after all these years." Talisman said.
"Yeah. Not to mention we got to meet those foreign ace pilots, like that Three Strikes guy." Shamrock said.
"Yeah, Three Strikes is an outstanding pilot. Impressed with his accomplishments in that war of his." Talisman said.
"Right, anyway, we better get to the others. Sure don't want to keep Windhover and Avalanche waiting." Shamrock said.
"I'm sure Stingray and Sky Kid are keeping them busy." Talisman said as he followed Shamrock.
Meanwhile, at one of the hangers of the base, one IUN pilot was inspecting his F-22 Raptor. He was a man who is 40 years old. He had brown hair, fair skin, brown eyes and is wearing his IUN flight suit. His F-22 bears IUN markings, but it's the squadron emblem on the tailfin that shows that he ain't no ordinary pilot. The squadron emblem shows a mobius strip over a globe of Earth. This pilot is known to the world as Mobius 1, the legendary ISAF, now IUN, ace pilot who is renowned for his contributions to defeating the once Federal Republic of Erusea during the Continental War and the rebellious Free Erusea forces across postwar Usea. He continued to do so as part of the IUN peacekeeping forces. However, he didn't see action during last year's Lighthouse War. Despite this, he is admired by his fellow IUN pilots and other foreign pilots around the world, including Talisman and Trigger. This is Mobius 1's first ever visit to Osea, hence his first visit to another country outside the Usean continent. Just like many other foreign pilots, Mobius 1 took the opportunity to explore Osea, mainly the cities of Redmill and Oured while keeping his identity low.
Just like Talisman, Mobius 1 is at Redmill because the IUN attended the ceremony two days ago after the organization was invited by the Osean government, with the IUN sending IUN and former ISAF aircraft. Mobius 1's original ISAF F-4E Phantom II, ISAF F-22 Raptor, and his current IUN F-22 was among the aircraft displayed in the elephant walk formation alongside the aircraft of other nations, including replica Su-37 aircraft of his once adversary, the infamous FEAF Yellow Squadron. Anyway, Mobius 1 was inspecting his F-22 when Omega 11 and Viper 2 joined up with him.
"Even in joint military training, old timer pilots still have to show off." Viper 2 says in annoyance.
"Cut him some slack, Viper 2. After all, he is a legendary Ace." Omega 11 said.
"Yeah, well he's gonna end up influencing those two foreign aces we met at the ceremony." Viper 2 said.
"Those two have earned their rightful place alongside the Aces before them, even those before me, as do their wingmen. Read their records and was impressed with their accomplishments." Mobius 1 said.
"Well I just hope they don't end up like you, Mobius 1." Viper 2 said.
"Hey, at least we didn't see much action during last year's war." Omega 11 said.
"Like he said." Mobius 1 said.
"Whatever. Anyway, the briefing is in the next hour." Viper 2 said.
"Thanks for the heads up." Mobius 1 said.
Afterwards, all IUN pilots go through their usual routine before the joint briefing for the day.
And that's the end of the chapter. So the story takes place after the event at Redmill where Project Aces release that wallpaper of the ace planes doing the elephant walk and was confirmed to be canon. They say Trigger and the LRSSG attended the event. I do also believe the Garuda Team and Mobius 1 were there since their original aircraft were on display. Well, what will happen when the Osean President wakes up to some unexpected news? Stay tune next time in the next chapter.
