Ace Combat: Ranma's War
Disclaimer: Ranma ½ belongs to Rumiko Takahashi; Ace Combat belongs to Namco; Area 88 belongs to Kaoru Shintani; Full Metal Panic belongs to Shoji Gatoh; and Stratos 4 belongs to Bandai Entertainment and Studio Fantasia
Mission 103: Visitors
'On the next day, true to Captain Bartlett's word, we flew off into the early morning lit sky. I was fortunate enough to set my alarm right since I knew no one would wake me at the opportune moment, but I never expected we'd leave this early.'
"How's everything back there, media man?"
"Swell…" 'The truth was I was kind of feeling queasy. The speed we were going; the sudden flip and turns; the world moving around me, it was a strange and new experience for me…I wanted to hurl!'
Capt. Bartlett heard a gurgling, gagging sound from the co-pilot's seat. "Try not looking around too much so that the feeling won't overcome you, and try taking slow deep breaths."
"What's wrong Mr. Cameraman, can't take the pressure?"
'It was that kid, Airman 1st Class Ranma Saotome's voice I heard through my helmet's speaker. Apparently, the kid hasn't lost any love in disliking me, subtle it maybe, but disliking me still.'
"Cut the sarcasm, Saotome, and keep your course steady."
"Sir, I would rather that you refer to me by my callsign: Stallion, with all due respect, sir."
"Oh yeah, how could forget…"
'The Captain almost sounded pleased and candid, like a fatherly figure. I guess the military is just another form of family. They use names other than what they have. They're called callsigns. I do not know the reason behind this, but I suspect it serves as a reflection of the person based on his background, his personality, his history. Captain Bartlett's callsign is Heartbreak One. I think I have an idea how he got that one, while that of Second Lieutenant Nagase is called Edge. Now I know that Ranma's called Stallion, although I'm not sure why's that.'
"Hey, when do we get to have our own callsigns?" piped Ayamo through the air.
"Not until you pass through flight training with flying colors or until I say so. Besides, I might consider the monikers I gave you earlier."
Ayamo shuddered at the thought of being called: Spitfire. "No thank you, sir. I think I could come up with something better."
"Like what?"
"Well, what about, Flare or Blaze…"
"Nah, I think I will still call you Spitfire for good measure."
"Nooooooo! Anything but that!"
Smiles broke out but were not seen by everyone, during this lighthearted moment. Some chuckles were heard as well. An incoming message beeped its way through the communications channel, sobering the mood. "This is AWACS, callsign: "Sky High". We're detecting you on our radar, Wardog Squadron. Please inform us of your mission, course and heading?"
"Roger! Heartbreak One here, we're on a flight patrol, doubling as a flight training. I have five nuggets here and we're heading for sector one, point three, bearing two-eighty."
"Hey, Shizuha, he called us 'nuggets', is that a good thing?"
"He's just saying we're just novices, Ayamo, that's all."
"Oh? Hey!"
"Nagase, tell your charges to shut it!"
"Yes, sir. Ayamo, Shizuha, desist from unnecessary chatter unless told otherwise, understand?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Sorry 'bout that, Sky High."
"Wardog, we're picking up an unidentified bogey, at bearing one, twenty, distance: 20 nautical miles from your position. You're ordered to intercept and investigate. Under no circumstances are you to attack it unless ordered to, over?"
"Copy that, Sky High but can't you send someone else? Like I said, I have mostly trainees with me, over?"
"That's a negative, Wardog. You're the only one closest to the target, proceed as ordered, over?"
"Roger Sky High, Wardog will proceed and intercept target, Heartbreak One out." The Captain quickly switched off the radio. "Dammit! They're doing it to me again, those idiots!"
'Déjà vu' Ranma thought, just like before, they're the ones closest, they're the one expected to investigate, they're the ones risking their necks in the process. Ranam was not sure if could take it, losing more lives, losing friends. Perhaps they won't be lucky this time, perhaps this time they might not return home. 'No, I won't let that happen, not while I'm here and still breathing. I won't lose anyone, not the Captain, not Lieutenant Nagase, not these girls.' Ranma turned to stare at his wingmen situated behind his plane.
"Mikaze are you okay?"
"Huh? Oh I'm fine Karin, and you?"
"Same I guess? But I don't think it was a good idea for Captain Bartlett to have us skip breakfast…"
'That's Karin for you, always looking out for the next meal…' Mikaze sighed. 'How I wish I were that simpleminded and carefree.' The Honjou girl's mind wandered back a bit further.
Sand Island airfield, a couple of hours ago
"Mikaze, what are you doing? We're about to takeoff."
"Huh? Give me a minute."
Mikaze stared at the safety line on the concrete ground which served as the boundary between the safe area and the parked fighter planes, awaiting for their pilots. For Mikaze Honjou, it represents a crossroads, a point in her life, on whether she would continue on this course, on being a pilot. 'Father, Mother, Big Sister, I don't care what you say, what you think. I don't care of your expectations; and I don't care for the sake of the Honjou name. I'm doing this because I want to; I'm doing this because I've decided!' Mikaze jumped over the line, making the first great leap into her future.
"C'mon Mikaze…"
"Mikaze…"
"Mikaze, you're going to hit Karin!" Ranma's blaring voice brought Mikaze back to the here and now.
"Huh? Oh, shit!" Mikaze's F-5 was less than a meter away from Karin's wing when she finally made the corrections and veered off, returning to formation and avoiding a near mid-air collision.
"Are you alright?" asked a concerned squad leader, Saotome Ranma.
"Yeah I'm fine now."
"What were you thinking?" He suddenly scolded her.
"There were some things on my mind which I finally decided to put aside. I'm sorry, it won't happen again. Sorry 'bout that Karin. Is everything okay with you there?"
"No need to worry Mikaze besides I knew you could do it. However only goes to show that skipping your nutritional intakes can really…"
"Oh that's our Karin." Sighed Mikaze, she then wondered what Karin meant by 'knowing she could do it.'
"What's going on back there, Stallion report?"
"Everything's fine now, sir." assured Airman Saotome.
"Three miles to target," informed 2nd Lieutenant Nagese to the whole squadron.
"Alright everyone, this is it. Keep your eyes peeled, don't depend too much on your radar, the enemy can be shadowing nearby."
All of Wardog Squadron followed in with the advice as they got nearer and nearer with the unidentified flying object.
"One mile to target," This is it, thought Nagase, like Ranma she promised herself not to allow anyone, especially these girls, to become victims in the possible conflict that might ensue.
"I see it," declared Ayamo. "And it's a very big plane." Indeed it was, as Wardog closed in, finer details of the unidentified aircraft can be made out. It was large and quite long, with a wingspan matching its length. Four powerful turboprop engines provided it with lift and thrust. One other distinctive feature was a visible 'bulge', protruding under its fuselage.
"Get ready, we're going to pass it!" Seven fighters zipped passed the propeller aircraft at speeds of more than two-hundred miles per hour.
"Woah! Did you see that? What kind of aircraft you think it is, Shizuha?"
"Judging from its configuration, I'd say it's a Tu-95, "Bear". It's a bomber, Ayamo and it's definitely Rus-made."
"A bomber," wondered Mikaze, a hint of concern etched on her face. "What could it be doing here, so close to Nippon?"
"Nice deduction whiz-kid, however you left out the bulge underneath it. It's unlike any bomb bay compartment I've ever seen before, more like an extension, a device…"
"A surveillance dome," Shizuha deducted, she then sighed in astonishment. "Just like from an AWACS."
"You mean it's a spy plane?" simply said Ranma.
"Whatever it is, we're going to a little word with them. Wardog, follow my lead!" The seven planes made a quick roundabout and matched the speed and course of the Tu-95. "Keep you distance, we don't want scare the poor devils. Stallion, do the honors of greeting our 'visitors'."
"Me? Why me, sir?"
"Well for two reasons. One you're going to have to learn it eventually, as the saying goes: 'there is always a first for everything.
"And the second?"
"BECAUSE I SAY SO! Now stop slacking around and do what you're told, Stallion!"
"Okay, okay, I mean, roger! Sheeh!"
"What's that Stallion?"
"Ah, nothing, sir," Ranma cleared his throat. "Unidentified aircraft you are in violation of Nippon airspace. If you continue on this course, we will be forced take appropriate actions against you, please respond! Hum, how was that?"
"Like I'm convinced," sarcastically griped Hartbreak. "Look Stallion, you could have done better…"
"Oh c'mon sir, I'm doing my best here, give me some slack, will ya!"
"Do you see it Mikaze?"
"See what, Karin?"
"Its colors."
"The color I only see is its dull grey metal hull."
"No, no, not that one I mean its identifying markings: a red star outlined in yellow, and having a kanjin in the center."
"Hey, Karin's right, those are definitely the markings of the Tsung. No doubt about it," added Shizuka.
"Captain, the rear gun turrets are swiveling into action." Sure enough to Nagase's call to attention, the Bear's rear cannons were taking aim at Wardog Squadron.
"Heads up! Go to evasive maneuvers…" All of Wardog scattered into the four winds as the Tu-95's 'backfiring' guns opened fire.
"Shit!" Ranma could hear the large caliber rounds zipping past his F-5, narrowly grazing it.
"They're shooting! They're shooting at us!"
"Tell us something we don't know, Mikaze! Errraah!" Ayamo made a sudden ninety-degree turn to the left after noticing all concentrated fire switching to her.
"This is Hearbreak One to Sky High! Bogey has proven to be hostile! Repeat bogey has proven to be hostile! Request to fire back, at attacking enemy, over!"
"Negative Wardog, you are to continue evading enemy attacks and wait for further orders!"
"Well, you guys over there better make up your minds, fast! I swear if I lose another pilot…"
"Captain, um, sir…"
"What is it, Space-out?"
"I think you should look at the radar, sir."
"Wardog…"
"I see them, Sky High…" First they were four. Then another four followed the first bringing the total blips on the radar to eight, moving at high speeds on an intercept course with Wardog Squadron.
"Now Sky High, don't tell me we'll be sitting this one through, huh?"
"Wardog you're to continue to evade the enemy and to wait for further orders."
"What are they, nuts! By the time those things get here, we'll be in big trouble!"
'I couldn't agree more with Airman 1st Class Saotome. It didn't take a genius to notice that Command's decision making would get us all killed. It was up to Captain Bartlett now.' Shinjou continued to snap his camera, while trying to hold his bile, taking photos of the drama unfolding here above the clouds; he would occasionally glance toward the Captain's seat – where his face is unseen. The cameraman wondered what demons Captain Bartlett was fighting with at this crucial time.
"Screw everything Sky High! I'm taking charge of the situation, Wardog out!"
"Wardog…" 'When Captain Bartlett shut off the radio I sensed change in the air. I felt that we were going to have a chance through this.'
"Listen up. Regroup and follow me. You nuggets stay close to your squad leaders. We'll forget Smokey for a while and deal with his friends, got it!"
"Roger!"
"Good, we're going to kick some serious butt here!"
Wardog reorganized into a delta formation and headed on straight toward the enemy flight - they were MiG-21s.
"Disengage weapon safety but do not open fire unless I give the order!"
Time seem to slowed down as the seconds ticked away. The gap between them and the enemy diminished gradually. All were tense as all sorts of trail of thoughts went through their minds. For some, this is going to be their first real battle - no simulations, no mocked dog fights, for others, a chance to stare at death a second time around and perhaps redemption.
"Steady…steady now…" Their missile lock-on warning system suddenly went active – a red light flashed from their dash boards and kept on emitting an annoying beeping sound. The MiG's missile targeting systems were zeroing on them.
"Captain," Nagase was her usual concerned self over such predicament but Captain Bartlett knew what to do.
"Increase speed! Full thrust!" They fired their afterburners, closing the gap with the enemy planes even further. "Oh, and whatever happens, maintain formation, got that!"
"They're within gun range! Captain!" Ranma's trigger finger itched for the firing switch, almost fully pressing it.
"Hold it Stallion, wait until I give the signal!"
"Captain," interjected Nagase. "We're going to cut this real close!"
They were only a few hundred meters away when the enemy planes released their barrage of gun fire at them.
"Now! Open fire!" shouted the Captain. Wardog fired back. Rains of aircraft gun rounds showered both sets of planes.
"Woaaaah!" Mikaze could feel a couple of the big bullets puncturing the hull of her F-5.
"Mikaze, you're wavering from formation, keep it steady!" worriedly reminded her squad leader.
"I'm trying!" she almost shrieked as she tried keeping her control stick steady and banishing the temptation of veering off-course, away from the enemy fire.
Seeing their Federation counterparts uncompromising in their course and action, the Tsung fighters scattered to avoid possible collision. Captain Bartletts bluff worked.
"Now's our chance, Edge, Stallion take your squads and break formation! Take out the enemy planes one at a time, I'll cover the both of you!"
Wardog broke into three separate groups – Ranma and Nagase with their respective wingmen, and Captain Bartlett who went solo and immediately locked on a Tsung MiG.
"I got him in my sights!"
"Ayamo, get back into formation!" Ayamo was too enthralled to listen to Nagase's order. Her focus was on the enemy MiG on her targeting scope that she never noticed her F-5 moving slightly ahead of Nagase.
"Gotcha!" The MiG flipped and turned to the right at the last second of Ayamo's stream of fire. "What!" The escaping enemy aircraft suddenly exploded into a fiery ball of combustion and smoke, destroyed by a missile launched from Shizuka's plane.
"Hey, that was mine, Shizuha!"
"I'm sorry, but you had your chance, Ayamo!" But deep down inside of Shizuka, her heart was pounding fast, her body quivering with excitement and, mortification. For Shizuha Doi had made her first confirmed kill – something which she would never take lightly. These girls – these children, have had their first taste of blood. Things will never be the same for them, thought Nagase as she watched the flaming wreck of the downed Tsung fighter plunging to the great Sea of Nippon below.
Both sides continued, executing, their complicated dance of aerial acrobatics in the open sky, trying to out do the other in order to survive this dangerous game of cat and mouse. Heartbreak One manages to mow down his quarry, while the rest of the Tsung fighters tried to regroup into pairs and re-coordinate their attack. Ranma's squad tailed a lone MiG-21 like a pack of wolves in close pursuit of their prey. The enemy aircraft was in gun range while their missiles were lock-on to it. They have a clear shot, Ranma thought but he didn't give the order to fire. This was his chance, to prove to himself for what he has trained for, to avenge those whom he couldn't save, but why was he now hesitant?
"Ranma! Ranma! He's practically right in front of us! What are your orders!" Mikaze's voice roused him back and then he noticed it.
"Captain…these planes, they are not from before...And their movements are quite predictable…"
"Yeah I noticed that too. But they're not amateurs either."
"But…"
"Stallion, get your act together! You've got people to protect now, they're counting on you!"
Of course he has people to protect, now! Mikaze, Karin, and the rest, they're all that matter at the present. And he must do whatever it takes to ensure that.
"Fire!" All three F-5s fired their guns. The hounded MiG never stood a chance as it was caught in the triple gunfire barrage. It shattered and exploded into many pieces in mid air.
"Captain, you have two bandits at your six, closing fast," said Nagase. The two MiGs tried to shake down the Captain's F-4 with their own guns while attempting to acquire target lock with their missiles. Nagase's group moved in to assist the Captain.
"This one is going to be mine!" Ayamo's all prepped up for the kill as she locked on one of the MiG-21s; she launches one of her missiles but luck or fate, if not skill, was not with her. The MiG manages to evade but the act causes the two enemy planes to break formation. Nagase sees her chance and finishes off Ayamo's elusive target with her F-5's missile. The other Tsung fighter breaks off, fleeing fast. Captain Bartlett takes the opportunity and quickly doubles back to pursue the escaping aircraft - it too eventually meets an untimely end. Only three MiG-21s remained, one them already locked on a missile with Mikaze's plane. Warning sounds flashed all around Mikaze as she stared in horror of the unmistakable high speed blip on her radar, closing in fast.
"A missile, a missile has lock-on on me! What do I do? WHAT DO I DO?"
"Evade it, try evading it Mikaze!"
Mikaze broke out of Ranma's squad, speeding up and desperately weaving and turning, trying to avoid the incoming guided projectile. Seeing one of their targets separating from its pack, the three MiGs quickly converged on that one F-5, hoping to finish it off before worrying of the rest of its compatriots. Ranma and Karin changed course to help their beleaguered squad member.
"It's still coming! I don't think I can shake it!"
Ranma's intention of encouraging Honjou was interrupted by Karin's interjection. "Yes you can, Mikaze keep your plane steady and when I say so, make a quick break to the left at the last second. I'll guide you, when."
"What!"
Ranma's thoughts echoed Mikaze's and wondered - since when did Karin become the 'know-it-all' in aerial dogfights, was there something she knew that she not telling them?
"No time…you have to believe in me, Mikaze," pleaded Karin.
"But the MiGs,"
"Got it covered," answered Ranma as he gun strafed and prematurely launched a missile at the three Tsung fighters, distracting their focus from Mikaze.
Mikaze's heart rate was racing. She had only a few seconds before the enemy's missile contacted with her. Then she decided.
"Alright, let's do it, Karin." Throwing her fears and doubts aside, Mikaze steadied her F-5 and tensed herself for Karin's signal.
"Now, break left!"
Mikaze pushed the stick really hard to the left, guiding her aircraft to flip in that direction at the last second when the missile nearly grazed her fuselage, it flew passed her, losing its target acquisition and spin aimlessly away.
"You did it Mikaze!" Karin exclaimed.
"I did it…I did it!" Mikaze's jubilation was short lived as gunfire strafed her aircraft and her missile warning was in affect again. "There still at it with me!"
"Oh no you don't!" Ranma was getting sick and tired of this and could only do what was necessary. He shot down one of the MiGs harrying Mikaze.
"Need a hand Stallion?" Captain Bartlett and Nagase finally joined in the fray, dispatching the remaining enemy fighters, only Wardog remained flying the skies afterwards and were all accounted for.
"It ain't over yet, there's still Smokey we have to catch up with!" Wardog almost forgot of the Tu-95 and so determined its last known coordinates and made pursuit. It didn't take long for them to find the elusive Bear which hasn't deviated from its original course. Wardog kept its distance this time less they come within range of the Bear's cannons.
"Tsung Bear recon plane," Captain Bartlett tried to establish contact. "You've ignored our warning of continuing on your course and continue to trespass Nippon Airspace; furthermore you've opened fire on Federation Air Force aircrafts without provocation. Oh if you're wondering of your friends, we've taken care of them. Desist your hostilities and accompany us to our air base. Lower your landing gears if you understand."
After a few moments of silence it gave its violent answer. The Tu-95 explodes – bursting into a huge fiery ball, pieces of it streak out, into smoking trails, in all directions. Its smoldering hulk – all that remained – made a final decent back to earth.
"What happened, did someone shoot it down?" asked Shizuha.
"Hey don't look at me, I had my trigger finger off the stick." Ayamo was quick to defend herself on any accusations.
"They must have had a self-destruct device onboard and activated it. Killing themselves rather than be captured." Captain Bartlett added his two-cents on matter, but nothing can be certain on what really happened.
"Death before dishonor, I guess," Shizuha added.
"Heh, I didn't realize such things still exist in these modern times." Captain Bartlett thought back, during the days of the Great War, when Nipponese pilots would commit such suicide actions to avoid capture and to take as many enemy casualties in the process.
A beeping blip appeared on Mikaze's radar scope. "Hey I've got a friendly signature on my radar…It's Sky High!"
"Oh boy I'm really going to get it this time."
"What do you mean Captain; you've just saved our lives. I'm sure they'll give you credit for that at least."
"I hope you're right Stallion, but knowing them they would chew my head off rather than toss me a bone for my troubles." Captain Bartlett peeked through his rear view mirror. "Hey Cameraman are you still with us?"
"I think I'm going to get sick…"
"Can you hold it for a little longer, we're almost there." Captain Bartlett looked at each and every member of Wardog. He can't help but be proud of them, not because they're good pilots, far from it they still had a long ways to go. But because they've somehow survived this deadly encounter without a hitch and he hopes they'll survive more encounters in the days to come. He has no doubts in his mind that this was just a prelude to something big – like the calm of a storm as it billows and gains strength in the distant horizon. But for now all he cares is getting back home.
"Wardog lets get back to Sand Island!"
"Karin, I never thanked you back then and so thanks for saving my life, I owe you one, but tell me that just was amazing, knowing when to avoid that incoming missile – its pure precession genius."
"Yeah, Karin that was awesome, how did you do that?" joined in Ranma.
"Huh, what are you two talking about?"
Both Ranma and Mikaze remained quiet - puzzled on whether Karin was pulling one on them by feinting innocence. They kept it just at that. As for Karin, fear began to creep in her eyes, coming to a self-realization of ghosts from her past coming to haunt her once again.
