Disclaimer: I do not own the Ace Combat Series

Chapter 9

Beginnings of Hardship

The sun peered down on the sand island base, random crews beginning basic exercises. Mechanics and such were tending to planes and basic base maitenance. Aeric had gotten into the gym early enough to be the only one in there. He was just in basic military faigue pants and no shirt. His Yuktobonian dog tags hung from his neck beating against it while he slammed his fist into the large punching bag. Sweat coatingh his forehead like a morning dew. He was exausted spending less time sleeping and more time worrying about his family. That alone wasn't helped by the people on this base who attempted to boss him around because he was the lowest ranked officer on it.

"Oh the baby private working out today is he." Some of the military police on the base made their ways into the gym. "Heard you nearly let one of our guys burn, you Yuktobonian scum really piss me off!" The head mp seemed quite annoyed with Aeric's very presence.

Aeric had slammed his fist into the bag once more, only to hear the base security. Hand wrapping about the top of the bag to steady himself. Forehead pressing against the cool material. "If your guys knew how to fly I wouldn't have to save their sorry asses now would I." Aeric not in the mood to backdown even if they held rank.

"What did you say punk! You trying to say our War Dog Squadron ain't shit!" The man removing a wooden baton pointing it toward Aeric in a threatening manner.

Aeric quirked a brow, picking his glasses off the small table. "Yeah that's exactly what I am saying." Moving to pass the four men.

"You asshole!" The head mp would strike Aeric along the right forearm with the baton. "You think your almighty, but you are flying in enemy territory boy! We don't take real well to smart asses, especially fucking kids!"

Aeric felt the sharp pain bruise through his forearm, resisting any urge to slam fight back. Teeth clenched, the right arm felt numb. Lifting it a little and trying to open and close his fist. "Whatever, I don't care about you or what you have to say." Aeric pushing by them, trying to leave the gym.

With the shove the men would slam into Aeric, one using his wooden baton to pun his throat against the wall. Two other men would hold Aeric's hands against the wall. "You better watch it boy, I don't care what high command wants with you here. But I bet if you went missing or turned up dead no one would give a shit."

Aeric was choked by the wooden baton, throat swallowing a few quick times while searching for air. Each threatening word did little to bother Aeric, if they did they did. If they didn't they wouldn't. Aeric spitting on the man's face, "Go to hell."

"That's it boy!" The man to the side of the head mp would slam there wooden baton into Aeric's stomach. Then doing it a second time until they got the satisfaction of watching Aeric's face turn red.

The first strike caused Aeric to bite his tongue, the second however left most of the air leave his chest. Eyes watering from the sharp feeling of pain, feeling the men release him. Aeric falling on his hands and knees. Beginning to cough hard, saliva leaking from his lips forming pools at his knees. "..."

"That's what I thought you aren't so tough. Stupid kid thats where you belong on the floor." Another quick kick to Aeric's side.

"Hey whats going on here!" The voice of Chopper would cut through the slight bit of chaos.

One of the mp's turnd to Chopper, "Nothing First Lieutenant Davenport. Just helping our newest teamate learn what teamwork is about."

Chopper growled, "Get the hell out of here" Chopper pushing the four men out of the way.

Aeric groaned leaning up to try and get up, swatting away the help from Chopper. "I don't need any help out of pity." Aeric stumbling away and leaning on the wall.

Chopper stepped back, "It's not like that, look kid no one deserves that."

Aeric shook his head, "As I said out of pity."

Chopper would growl lowly, "Look kid stop fighting us every step of the way. I am trying to get to know you. Seems though everytime I do you shove away or say smart ass things."

Aeric sighed, "Yeah well when your a POW you tend to become that way. I am outta here."

Before Chopper could get another set of words out an announcement would come on the intercom. "To War Dog Squadron to report to your planes. There will be an emergency in flight briefing."

Chopper groaned, "Why me. Gahh come on War Dog Five!" Chopper running toward the airplane hangars.

Aeric would rush toward the locker room quickly stepping into his aviator uniform, zipping it up and running toward the hangar as well. Watching as Edge, Blaze, and Archer were taking off in their F-16c's. Chopper moving up behind them slowly in his F-16c. That would leave Aeric looking at Pops, "What am I flying? My imagination?"

Pop's shook his head, "No here's what they have for you." Pointing with his left hand there was a parked F-5e Tiger. "They did give you a full payload this time, must be a big mission."

Aeric nodded running over and climbing the ladder, just glad to be in a plane smaller than a large football field. Shifting the newly replaced black helmet, the canopy dropped. The sight of the wire running through it let him know he wasn't going anywhere till he landed. Steering the plane to the runway, Aeric speaking into the radio. "War Dog Five Launching."

The planes would continue their race away from Sand Island, only for the inflight briefing to come into play. The mission was to protect Osean ground forces as they move into Yuktobonian controlled land. To bomb and destroy pillboxes. While trying to avoid destroying Osean ground forces.

"This is Thunderhead to War Dog Five, don't even think about doing what you did yesterday. We have control of your plane from here. We will destroy it with you in it if you decide to not engage."

Aeric shook his head looking as the lands of Yukotbonia became clear. "Roger." It was all Aeric would say.

"This is Archer, did I ever tell you guys I have a brother down there."

"What where?" Chopper's voice echoed through the com.

"It doesn't matter we can't play favorites, I just look up to him he is the reason I joined the air corp."

"Oh okay." Chopper leaving it at that the planes splitting off to begin a quick combing of the beach. "Come on guys keep going don't stop for anything!"

"War Dog Five to Blaze, I will comb the eastern side of the beach."

Blaze would peer over his shoulder watching as Aeric's F-5 plane would fly away. "Roger that War Dog Five."

"You had better watch out for them Ghost." Only Nagase at the moment dared to use his callsign from Yuktobonia. Her patience for him was very little, not trusting him at all.

"This is Armored unit D we get the Yuke's protection. Oh we are so going to get blown away."

"Shut up and keep going, I guarantee that nothing will touch your unit." Aeric's voice burned into the mic while his plane turned, "War Dog Five Fox Two." Two missiles launched from the side of his plane would slam into the coming Pillbox.

"Splash one target good job War Dog Five." Thunderhead giving feedback when nesasary on target destruction.

"Blaze to War Dog Squadron, we have incoming fighters and watch out for SAM's."

"Roger Blaze, Edge moving to engage fighters."

"Chopper Roger."

"Archer Roger."

Aeric noticed the direction of the incoming fighters, they were from Tiger Naval Base. "War Dog Five to Blaze, I refuse to attack the fighters. I will continue Beach combing and watching the armored units."

"What did you say War Dog Five, engage!" Thunderhead stressing the importance of attacking the incoming fighters.

Blaze sighed, "Roger War Dog Five keep covering the ground forces."

"Tsk." The faint sound of Nagase heard on the radio, perhaps that was the sound of her displeasure.

There would be random chatter on the radio from the ground units talking about something they neded to tell someone. To something that meant a little more to Aeric. " Duke to Boxar squadron engage and destroy the enemy units. Avoid the fighters."

Aeric now froze his hand beginning to shake over the joystick. That was his friend, he now knew he couldn't enagge the fighters they were teamates from Tiger Naval Base. The sight of eight planes would come into view.

"Chopper to Blaze we got eight incoming F-14a's. Moving to engage."

"Archer moving to support Chopper."

"Blaze to War Dog Squadron be careful."

Aeric would weave to the side, firing two more missiles into a new pillbox, watching as units b,c,and d moved toward the fortress. They didn't have far to go. Noticing that unit a was lagging behind. His jet flying over there seeing the unit pinned down by a tank and a pillbox. "War Dog Five Fox Three." A set of two gpb's were dropped one slamming into the pillbox the other landing on the tank.

"Splash two targets, nice job War Dog Five."

Everytime that Thunderhead gave appreciation to Aeric it made him more sick. Even as the soldiers sounded glad to have the help and continued moving. Noticing that the eight planes were still fighting with War Dog Squadron. Aeric whispering to himself, come on Duke get out of here."

"Blaze Fox Two." Blaze's F-16c would shoot down one plane, only to use his vulcan machine gun to cut another down. Over all in Aeric's opinion Blaze was the best pilot out of War Dog Squadron.

"Archer Fox Two, Got him!"

"Chopper Fox Two."

"Splash six targets two left War Dog Squadron." Thunderhead reminding the team their task was half done.

"Where's Nagase Captain?" Archers question floating over to Blaze.

"I don't know! Edge your location!"

"I can get them, just give me a second! I. Argg he's firing!" Edge's communication was cut short.

"Edge!" Chopper, Blaze, and Archer would snap simultaniously on the mic.

"It's okay, I can still fly. I. I don't know where I am right now! I can't get away from these two planes!" Edge wasn't panicing however one could tell stress was high on her mind.

"This is War Dog Five I see you Edge, turn your heading five degrees and afterburn it to the shoreline."

Edge noticed Aeric's insignia on her radar it wasn't far off. "I can't run! They, firing again!" Edge's plane would spin as random vulcan rounds wizzed by her plane.

"Blaze to War Dog Five engage the enemy now damnit!"

Aeric shook his head, "No.. I know one of those pilots I cannot shoot down my friend don't make me!"

"I don't think I can dodge this one!" Edge's plane would barrell roll to the left a missile exploding beside her plane, smoke beginning to fill her cockpit. "Aggh. I.. I am still okay.. My cockpit won't blow. I can't eject!"

"If you don't engage War Dog Five I will destroy your plane now!" Thunderheads voice would cut in before anyone else could get to Aeric.

Aeric would fight with his radio switching the frequency a few times. "War Dog Five to Duke! Please disengage your enemy and return to your base. Please don't make me kill you!"

There would be static heard through the radio before a voice cut in. "Ghost that you!"

Aeric swallowed repeating himself a second time, "Please Duke disengage I don't want to kill you."

"So it's true you are a traitor. I am sad to hear that Ghost, you do what you got to." Duke's plane along with his ally would move in to finish off the damaged F-16c of Nagase's.

"Stop! Damnit!" Aeric's mind flashed with fear for his mother, father, and sister. A missile launched from his F-5 would slam into the ally plane cutting it down. Only for Aeric to squeeze his machine gun trigger. Several rounds ripped into the side of the F-14a's cockpit.

Smoke would spill out of the canopy of the damaged F-14. "Nice shot, I would expect no less from you Ghost."

"Stop talking, just stop it Duke. I just grazed you, come on lets go back. I can get you medical attention. Come on just me and you. Like old times.." Aeric felt like he was spouting nonsense at the moment.

"I would like that Ghost. I didn't believe them when they said you became a traitor. You would never do something like that without good reason. You were a great man Captain Aeric Chambers."

Aeric's plane moved closer to the F-14, using his left wing he stuck it under the F-14's to keep it steady. "Quit talking like this is the end Duke, come on stay with me. I will help you to the base. Just relax and keep your plane level."

"Hehe, sorry Captain I don't think I will be able to comply with your orders."

"Stop it Duke. I don't want to hear that. You hear me soldier. We are going to get through this together. I won't leave you behind.."

"Hey Captain. Let me just say this I am glad you are the one to kill me. I be pissed if some weak Osean pilot cut me down. Thanks for the laughs Captain.. Uhhh." Inside the cockpit of the F-14a Dukes body would collapse back in the seat.

"Duke! No! Damnit All!" Aeric punched his console several times his plane still flying bside his dead friend's." No No No!"

"War Dog Five you are running low on fuel you have to return to base. War Dog Five did you hear me." Thunderhead barking orders for Aeric to back down.

Aeric said nothing his plane still holding his friend up. "I..."

"Ghost... I mean War Dog Five, I am sorry." Nagase speaking slowly, no matter what she said it didn't seem to make this scene any better.

"Duke! I am so sorry!" Aeric's voice would fall into tears as he allowed his friends plane to fall, only for several missiles to be launched their destination the falling F-14a, the loud explosion and ash was only outshined by the tears and outcry of Aeric on the radio.