Disclaimer: I do not own Any of the Ace Combat Series

Chapter 5

Some Much Needed Down Time

The set of fighters and one remaining bomber landed in the Tiger Naval runway. Aeric looking straight ahead as his radio blared a little. "Captain Aeric Chambers you are to report to the Base Commanders office ASAP."

The simple alarming sound told him not everything was good to go, this leaving a much needed mark of concern for Aeric. His fist clenched as he turned his plane toward the small hangar. Had something gone wrong, from what he could tell the base had been desimated. The sun was beginning to rise, he was exausted. Couldn't all this wait till the afternoon. Let him get a quick nap? More or less wishful thinking.

"Wooo Ghost sound like you in a world of hurt. Don't piss off the base commander to much. I want to be there when we get those medals for that great bombing run." Duke seemed particularly pleased with this assignment. Then again destroying two enemy planes and two anti air weapons should make anyone happy. "Hey Captain I make sure to mention you dropped twelve enemy fighters and a few of those anti air guns to. You know I hate to forget all those who helped me reach the top."

Aeric had to laugh as he stepped out of the plane, sliding down the ladder. Duke was a good guy, a great friend. Aeric had to admit that having him around made things easier. Walking away as Harris could be seen complaining to one of the mechanics.

Within a few minutes he would be walking into the base commanders office. With the door opening he tensed as he was greeted with a much unexpected suprise.

"Captain! What the hell do you call that display! All you guys did was spray the airfield. You failed to destroy the airfield. You lost several of our bombers! I don't know what to do with you Captain! The higher ups are so irate and talking demoting me! I will be damned if I will let that happen you hear me! All current attacks are going to be instigated by the Murska Air Force Base. You are banned from the skies till this changes! Get out of my sight Captain Chambers!"

Aeric was completely stunned by the Commanders reactiong, finding this to be very unexpected. "I.." Nothing was allowed to even follow, having to accept the commands he saluted quickly. "Sir!" Turning on his heels he walked away shutting the door. The animosity could be felt intensly as he moved away from the base commanders office.

Aeric reached his barracks and collapsed on the bed. His head was throbbing, a drink and a cigarette weren't on his high list of interest. It seemed though the morning would come showing the several soldiers that were on Tiger Naval Base completing drills and other such things. Aeric however was finally dressed down in blue jeans and a black t-shirt, one wouldn't recognize the captain dressed down. Perhaps this was his intentions.

Inside the small bar, an empty beer bottle along with a half full one rested upon the table. The ashtray had a few loose cigarettes in them. Most were either broken or half smoked. Aeric's eyes closed, inhaling a little of the smoke off his currrent cigarette.

"Ghost that you?" The voice of Duke would cast a shadow over Aeric's position. "I wasn't aware that you were allowed to have civilian clothes?"

Aeric blinked looking over to Duke, " Well we can't always be on duty now can we?"

Duke smirked, "Well you got me there Ghost. So how bad did you get your ass chewed off?"

Aeric half smirked finishing off his beer, "I will let you know when Griggs gives it back."

"Damn that bad huh? So what's going to happen?" Duke seemed concerned about what would happen to them.

Aeric shrugged, "Well I don't know about you, but they banned me from the skies. They also handed over the spear head of this war to Murska Air Force Base so we got to get used to being support now." A slightly annoyed thought passing Aeric's mind.

"Wait they can't band you from the sky! That's insane you are ten times the pilot than most of the aces that they talk about at Murska Air Force Base. Thats bull." Duke taking a seat on the chair, looking toward Aeric waving his hand for a beer.

The waitress moving over setting a beer down for Duke looking over to Aeric, "Want a third one Captain?"

Aeric shook his head, "Don't sweat it so much, maybe if I am lucky I can take a trip home. I haven't seen my parents in a year, heard my sister enrolled in college." Eyes shifting over to the waitress, shaking his head, "No thats okay I had more than I need anyway." Setting some money on her tray to cover his two drinks. Reaching over and grabbing another cigarette.

Duke blinked, "Wait you are serious aren't you Captain? We are at war, they won't let us go anywhere." Grabbing his beer, the cap twisted off. "Wait you have a sister? You never said anything about that?"

"I know Duke, it's just wishful thinking. I need a little distraction it's been hell on me the pass few weeks." With the promotion and bad solo mission it's been a lot more hassle than I like."

Duke shook his head, "Don't sweat it so much Ghost. Can't always be a bad day. See if they will let you go home. Give you something to do?"

Aeric shook his head, "I know Duke I think I will."

Seargent Trent would run up to Aeric, "Captain Chambers sir!" Saluting quickly only to see Duke there, " Oh sorry there um First Lieutenant Charlins."

Duke blinked, "Woah ho there kid, just call me Duke, I don't care for this formality crap."

Aeric quirked a brow, "What you need now son, you look scared?"

Trent nodded, "I will try to remember Duke.. Oh Captain Chambers, a member of Ofnir is here to see you he is in the debriefing room. He said come in uniform? Whatever that means."

Duke blinked, "Why would Ofnir be flying so low here?"

Aeric shrugged, but didn't like this at all. Ofnir was an ace group of pilots, even their ranks were classified. He didn't understand that or why they wanted to see him of all people. Getting up and walking away leaving both Trent and Duke as confused as he seemed to be.

Aeric reached the debriefing room, his dark green military uniform on, hat resting on his head. Looking around before noticing someone standing in the distance. "You requested to see me Sir?"

The voice came with a dark tone, yet it wasn't Yuktobonian." So your Captain Chambers, your nothing but a kid." The voice held no respect for the one in front of him.

Aeric growled, "What do you want.." His patience for this man wasn't growing.

"Watch it boy, I could have you permanently clipped from the sky. Anyway, I wanted you here because I need some answers about a certain Major. I think you know who I am talking about."

Aeric's eyes would slant a bit pushing the front of his hat down a little. "No I am afraid I don't. You see you are going to have to be very specific about what you are asking me."

The man would growl, "Don't fuck with me Captain! I am talking about Major Natashya! She was last heard speaking with you. She took some important things from data lab. Then she dissapeared, she is labeled a traitor and will be killed once found. Now as a citicizen of Yuktobonia and a Pilot in this countries air force. I order you to tell me where she went!"

Aeric's eyes widened, Natashya was a lot of things but a traitor no she wouldn't do that. Listening about it Aeric shook his head looking away now. "I don't know anything, we didn't even talk much last I saw her."

The man's hand would shift out of the shadows jerking Aeric off the ground. The man was easily six foot plus. "Listen here boy, we kill traitors and their families. You want to have your mother, father, and sister executed because you protected a traitor!"

Aeric's hands would rise up grasping the man's wrist to keep himself balanced, feet leaving the ground. Then came the threatening words about his family. That was the last straw Aeric could handle, pushing forward with his weight the man and him would crash into the wall. Aeric punching the man in the stomach, lifting his head up with his right hand, about ready to punch him a second time. "No one threatens my family!"

The man was caught off balance by the weight shift only to recieve a painful shot in the stomach. The kid was strong a lot stronger than he looked. The blow causing spit to fly from the man's lips. "Oof!" Head being slowly rose to recieve a second blow. Everything Aeric had said was lost in confusion from being punched earlier.

"Whats going on here! Captain what the hell are you doing!" The sight of the base commander would be visible swinging the door open. "Let that man go now! Are you looking to be court marshalled!"

Aeric turned to see Griggs walking in sigh passing his lips pushing the man back into the wall. "It's. He!"

The man was released falling back against the wall, hearing Aeric about to answer Griggs. "Just a heated argument is all Base Commander nothing to be worried about. Your kid there got some bite to him. Glad to see some soldiers still have some emotion."

Griggs blinked looking to Aeric then back to the man from Ofnir. Hearing him speak about Aeric and him having a simple argument. Shaking his head, "Well whatever happened hurry the hell up, we are about to have a debriefing about Operation Stepping Stone."

Aeric growled but calmed down lifting his hat from the ground, apparently this was a personal matter that the base commander didn't know about or need to know. "What operation sir?"

The man from Ofnir nodded, "I was just leaving, I wish your men well on this mission it will be important that it succeed." The man stopping beside Aeric as he whispered in his ear, "Don't forget what I said boy." With that he would walk out the door shutting it behind him.

The base commander extended his hand for Aeric to sit. Hearing the guy from Ofnir speak about how important this mission was. He knew the justifications of how important this mission was. "Take a seat Captain I will explain it when everyone gets here."

Aeric was moving to take a seat, the Ofnir pilot catching his full attention with those last threatening words. Fist balling up onl to take a seat. The announcement going over the intercoms for all marines to come to the debriefing room.

Within ten to fifteen minutes the room was full of marines, the base commander dimming the lights. "Okay men. This will be a very important mission, this is our stepping stone if you will into Osean territorities We will lead a large amphibious force with several of our hovercrafts which will be launched from our loading ships. They will be escorted by Frigates and Destroyers. Also if you men fail to take the beach, the Scinfaxi will begin attacks with burst missiles and decimate whatever is left of their forces. Though I expect you men to do an excellent job, we are providing sufficient helicopter support. Also as an added bonus, Captain Chambers will fly support in his Tomcat for you men. That is all."

Everybody in the room would stand up and salute Griggs, the mission was set into motion now it was time to go to war. Everyone filing out leaving Aeric to linger a little behind.

Aeric was confused on the matter why was he the only fighter pilot going up. He wasn't that famous? Then again a sick filling hit his stomach, wondering if it had anything to do with Ofnir. Time to question it had passed though. Aeric exiting and moving toward the hangar.

Duke would come running up behind Aeric, "What happened? What's going on.?"

Aeric turned momentarily to face Duke, "I don't know what the hell happened in there. I just got to get in the air. Apparently I am flying support cover for those marines."

Duke blinked, "Wait why didn't the base commander call for us? I mean we are pilots to?"

Aeric shook his head, "Thats what worries me. I don't know. Just, I will see you when I get back." Aeric moving into the lockeroom changing into a flight uniform. His jumpsuit unzipped, when he stepped out seeing Harris eyeing his plane carefully, "Something wrong?"

Harriss looked toward Aeric and shrugged, "Maybe I am just getting old. I thought something was out of place. Heard you got a big mission good luck up there." Harris extending the white helmet to Aeric who was approaching.

Aeric canted his head to look at his plane. Nothing stood out, well at least not to him. "Don't worry so much Harris. I will come back soon." Taking the helmet and putting it on, not in the mood to talk about what happened in the room with Ofnir, or about the mission. His hands clutching the ladder as he climbed up.

Engine within a minute would warm up as the plane moved toward the runway only to turn onto the airstrip.

"This is the control tower, your clear to launch Ghost Happy Hunting!"

"Roger control tower." Aeric looking ahead as the sun had begun to stair down on him. Hitting the afterburners before the plane was sent flying forard, only to lift into the air. Aeric now knowing his direction would begin to fly over the Frigates, Destroyers, and Loading Ships. This mission had to be important. Vaguely knowing anything about the Scinfaxi. What was going to happen next, well within an hour or two Aeric would get his answers. Hoping that the Major knew was she was doing as well.