Disclaimer: I do not own anything involving the Ace Combat series. Though please enjoy this fanfiction I am writing.
Chapter 3
Operation Dry Dock
Every pilot on the Tiger Naval Base sat in a chair remaining silent, yet the room was filled in anticipation. This emergency meeting left all wondering what would happen. Aeric resting in a chair, had set his hat on his lap, waiting for the Base Commander who was running late apparently.
One of the pilots who was sitting to the left of Ghost spoke to him, "Hey Captain congratulations on your promotion. Already moving up, we started out together but I have no where the flight time like you do." The pilot had short red hair and brown eyes. He looked possibly a year or so older than Aeric. " So Ghost whats going on?" Using the call sign as a little of a joke to ease Aeric over to conversate.
Aeric turned a little in his seat looking at the man's name tag and rank. Seargent Marx? Oh yeah it finally set in who this guy was. "Seraph, I am sorry I just couldn't remember you off hand, been busy. Though thank you for the congratulations." Though the words about his flight time made him shake his head. Having spent most his missions flying under enemy radar and without a squad sort of made the new captain out of place among the pilots and new recruit nuggetts they got in. As for what was going on, Aeric could only shrug, "You got me. I am waiting just like everyone else."
With the door swiftly shutting the lights dulling the base commander had appeared. His voice speaking swiftly, "Welcome ladies and gentleman. I asked this meeting to discuss an important mission. We are currently now at war with Osea."
The sudden blunt announcement had the room go completely silent before random whispers were heard. Leaving all anxious. War with Osea? Weren't they allies? This in truth seperated the active soldiers from the ones who just attended base.
Aeric looked down, so they were going to war. That was to be expected, this must have been the bases first combat mission to engage Osean forces.
"Yes thats right. War with Osea, hit the switch Captain Roberts." The base commander waited as a switch was flipped a map popping up on the wall. The base commander pointing to it. " Okay pilots, our target is here. Our sources say its the aircraft carrier Kestrel. We must sink this ship. It will help assist us in our coming fight against them. Severely crippling the naval power of Osea. Any questions?"
The room went silent once more, before Aeric spoke up. "Sir? That is a long way from here? What about fuel? I know even if we coast most the way the planes would never make the return trip?"
"Good question Captain glad you reminded me. Okay guys we will have several refueling planes in the air between here and Osea. Do not worry, our intellegence assured us this will be done without a problem. They will be disguised as Osean Fuel Planes so do not panic if they come into your radar. Now onto the enemy information." The base commander would wait a second as the image changed to a list of enemy fighters. Several outlines of the planes that would be there. "Okay as for enemy information, we are aware that several squadrons will be escorting the Kestrel, though hopefully by our arrival as outlined. We will suprise these fools as they are leaving. Most should be out of fuel. These pilots will almost all likely be flying F-5e's. So our F/A-18c Hornets should be able to handle the Kestrel. We will also launch a few F-5e's as well. So do not worry about support. This mission should be a success, we have our intellegence and our firepower. Do not fail this mission. Operation Dry Dock must succeed. Now get to your planes and make me proud."
The entire group of pilots would stand as they saluted, random loud "Sir!" Echoed in the small room, each pilot leaving the room racing toward the hanggar to begin preperations for a launch.
Aeric would be one of the first lined up on the line. The white F-14a. Raising one of the white tail flaps with a pedal. The sudden flash of green would alert Aeric. His plane rushing forward, only to lift up into the sky.
"Your altitude clearance is approved, happy hunting ghost." The tower would speak kind words to each passing pilot on their mission to destroy the kestrel.
"Ghost. Roger that." Aeric and his plane would dissapear with several Hornets behind it.
"Hey Ghost wait up now. You suppose to be our support." The voice of Duke would extend toward his friend who was in lead point. His Hornet pulling up on his right wing. A wave extended from his cockpit.
Aeric blinked, "I don't want a squad. I am just flying the mission as is Duke." Aeric was confused witnessing two more Hornets slide up in his three o'clock and six o'clock position.
"Tough kid, we need the air support we flying heavy rocks here. So we will fly with you fair enough?" Duke had to laugh as the planes turned in unison the path ahead was supposed to be a smooth one.
"Fine whatever Duke. Carp and Flytrap stay on my wing tips we will fly together." Aeric having to accept a small command role with the other planes.
Each one of the pilots answered, "Sir yes sir!"
The group of three Hornets and a Tomcat would eventually be joined by two dozen more planes all in four man protection. It could be considered a beautiful site for anyone to see.
"Hey Ghost I am beginning to run low on fuel? Where arer those fuel planes?" Duke seemed to be growing impatient with plenty of right. The guage on his plane was not far from glowing orange.
Aeric tilted his head to the planes guages. "It shouldn't be to long we been going a good while. Just keep your eyes on the radar for enemy fighters. I don't like suprises of any sort."
"Roger that Ghost." Duke glancing back to his radar a small bleep beginning to form, then several more. "Sir its the refueling planes!" His excitement would echoe over the radio several other pilots excited this might actually go as planned.
Aeric sighed, "Well lets line up and get some fuel. This be our last break, so anyone who needs the bathroom or wants a candy bar should step out now. I don't wanna hear I gotta go to the bathroom anytime soon." His Tomcat lined up with a fuel hose, slowing his speed only for auto pilot to kick in within a few feet. The time taken to fill the plane was mere seconds. Before he was able to back away, waiting on his three other planes to return to his wing tips.
The whole squadron of planes did laugh and joke about Aeric's comment about the bathroom. So even taking it a little further mumbling about I have no tissue and such. The other three Hornets would refuel and line up on Ghost's wings. "Roger we are ready." Each pilot answered to Aeric letting him know everything was ready to go.
Aeric nodded to the plane on his right and left, before pressing forward his unit moving ahead of the others. Which within thirty or so minutes the port would be in view. "Okay boys and girls. Play time is over, put away your toy guns and bring out the real ones. I only see five aircraft down there. Lets make this quick and clean. Follow me in point and destroy everything along the way. You with me Duke? Carp? Flytrap?"
"Sir yes Sir!" Each pilot answered respectively lowering their planes noses with their captains.
Aeric would glance ahead witnessing they must have been spotted a unit of three planes turning to engage them. "Ignore those three, lets keep going we must sink the Kestrel!" The speed from the lowering planes would let them cut pass the three planes who were left to watch the skill of the four pilots. "Ghost Fox one!" There would be a quick release of one of his missiles the intended target was a stationed SAAM on the Kestrels deck. The quick explosion and rise of fire told the tale of his direct hit. Only to line the deck with several rounds from his vulcan machine gun. "Leave nothing there!"
The three Hornets would engage launching several missiles into the large ship. Only to hover in place to continue their onslaught on the ship itself.
Aeric's Tomcat would fly several feet before doing a quick loop, now upside down, before rolling back to its proper position. Aeric now able to witness several more of the planes appear bombing random targets on shore. Anything that appeared to be useful was bombed. The radio itself though would begin to pick up the enemy commands again. Apparently in close quarters everyone could hear everyone.
"My god the gulf is in flames! We have to protect the Kestel! Can you see it Blaze?" A voice of a female pilot stuck out amongst the random chatter.
" Roger that moving to aid!"Another voice would cast out from the rest. "War Dog Squadron engage!" This was the group that took down several of Aeric's allies in battle earlier.
Aeric shifted his eyes, "Get out of there Carp! Flytrap! Shit!" Aeric watched as two of the F-5e planes swiped by whiping them out as they hovered in place. Duke was the only one who began to run. A Osean Tomcat getting up behind it.
"This is Swordsman. You Yuktobanian scum think you can bomb my carrier and get away with it try this!" Two missiles would be shot toward Duke, with almost malice intent behind them.
"Ghost help! I got two missiles I can't I can't evade them!" Dukes plane would fly by several other ships in the harbor.
"Break right Duke!" Aeric exclaimed as he opened fire with his vulcan machine gun. The loud rattling would echoe inside the planes cockpit. A noise he had long learned to ignore.
Duke would shift and break right hard, his plane avoiding the friendly fire from Ghost. Only to watch as both missiles ignited into smoke. "Great job thanks Ghost!"
Aeric's plane would have already lined up behind Swordsman his teeth gritted as he spoke, "Hurry and dump your payload I will sink this bird!"
"Yes sir! Gotcha!" Duke would have had a chance to readjust his hornet opening fire on the Kestrel once more.
Aeric would begin to chase swordsman around the bay. "Damn this pilot is good!"
"This is Swordsman I got a boegy on my back someone help me! This guy won't let go!" The pilot of the Osean Tomcat seemed concerned for his health at the moment.
" I got your back Swordsman break right I will handle this pilot!" The sight of a F-5e would line up behind Aeric as it was one of the Wardogs squadron members.
"Okay Blaze be careful this guy is good. I am going to break left." Swordsman's plane would break a hard left leaving Aeric who would now have to deal with a pursuing F-5e.
Aeric sneered as he turned his plane into a spin to avoid the random vulcan machine gun fire. During the spin though Aeric was able to notice the skies were becoming less friendly. Where were the planes? Where was the allies? Now noticing to the left, most were crashing into the sea? Were these war dog pilots this good?
" Blaze I am on your six, I got your back lets get this guy!" The female voice from earlier rang through the radio message.
Aeric couldn't help but growl as his plane spun once more, though as he turned upsdie down he pulled a quick upward motion. He felt his plane rattle as he nearly dove into the sea. Though he missed it by mere inches. "Ghost to all remaining Fighters. Retreat, we aren't going to win this." That feeling alone didn't settle well with Aeric.
"This is Duke roger Ghost!" The hornet along with a few stragglers would begin a retreat. It seemed even the long range torpedoes didn't even touch the Kestrel. What a botched mission, this would not go well with high command at the base.
" Did you see that white plane! What a pilot!" Another voice rang over the enemy communications.
" What was his name Chopper, was it Ghost?" The females voice asked a question to the apparent male pilot who posed the question about the white Tomcat.
" I think so. They are retreating Edge lets go. Chopper mount up, we gotta protect the Kestrel." The captain of the group was Blaze apparently.
" Chopper here Roger Blaze moving to escort. God I wish we could have gotten that white plane."
" Edge Roger. Let it go Chopper, he seems more concern with seeing to his nearly destroyed squadron."
"Edge is right Chopper lets go." The three planes from Wardog squadron would fly back to escort the slightly damaged Kestrel to open water it was safe.
Aeric however with the few leftover units. Aeric slamming his fist into the center console. " We should have completed that mission. Grrr I failed!"
"Don't worry Ghost it just happens. Lets just go home and wait on our ass chewing." Dukes sense of humor in the oddest moments could be considered pointless.
"Yeah your right, at least I know that will be a successful mission. All remaining fighters line up on me. We are going home." Several planes would line up on the wings of others following the white Tomcat back toward Tiger Naval Base. Operation Dry Dock was a failure.
