Ace Combat: Archangel

by AstartesFanboy

After the Death of Mage 1, Clown, a new pilot First Lieutenant Alan J. Reyes joins Mage Squadron as Triggers new wingman, along with his WSO Second Lieutenant Hannah Scholz. Starting after the 2nd mission and before the 3rd it follows Alan and his journey with Mage Squadron and Trigger from near the beginning of the war to the end. There will be canonical events that are change

2. Chapter 2: The King and the Eagle

Chapter 2: The King and the Eagle

Alan was awoken at 0300 as were all the other pilots to get ready and prepare for takeoff. He got up and went and used the bathroom before going and grabbing his nomex suit and gloves along with his G-suit and other gear. The other pilots were getting up and gearing up, ground crews working on planes to get them ready to fly. Alan was tired but also excited, he was hoping to get back into the sky. He got on his G-suit and his harness, grabbing his mask and some of his extra supplies. Trigger and his WSO exited the barracks and headed towards their F-16, he looked over to Hannah and she was getting her harness on and grabbing her stuff, he waited until she was done then exited the barracks with her. "Guess we're getting back into the air. Been too long." She nodded, she was still thinking about her mother and her family, distracted, and she had been up for a lot of the night because of that. "Yeah, it'll be nice to get back in the air again. It'll help me get my mind off of my family." Alan nodded, he had seen the news and knew her family lived in the city. "Have you heard from them at all?" He asked, hoping she had gotten a call or some form of communication from them." Hannah nodded, putting her helmet on, her mask hanging down by her chin "Yeah I heard from my mom. They're all right, staying in an Erusean refugee camp until fighting dies down in the city. I hope I can talk to them again soon, I wasn't able to speak with anybody but my mom and even that was brief. But it's a good thing they're safe." She sighed, she was happy they were safe but she missed them and was still worried. She hoped flying again would help her focus on other things.

They reached the hangar and Alan made his way around the plane, checking all the weapons making sure they weren't loose and making sure everything was good to go. The loadout they had wa 14 x 6 loadout. With 2 DAIM-A pods, 14 AIM-9X Block iis, and 6 AIM-120Ds. Ground personnel were helping with pre-flight as Alan climbed into the cockpit, Hannah followed shortly after. He taxied out to the runway, mage 1 was waiting on the runway, waiting for the rest of Golem Squadron to take off. Alan closed the cockpit and turned on the electronics, and put his mask on, connecting his harness to the seat. He tested his targeting pod making sure hydraulics were working "Mage 2 ready for final checklist." The ground crew directing him what to check, he waited for the signals before checking left and right flaps/rudders "left flaps left rudder, right flaps right rudder, good rudder. Good hydes, good to go in the back." He gave a thumbs up waiting for his wso to do the same as Mage 1 took off. They were waved ahead by the ground crew and they taxied for takeoff. They waited for ATC clearing them for takeoff "Mage 2 cleared for takeoff" Alan started accelerating gaining speed and increasing power to the engine, they were able to reach a good velocity and they pulled off of the runway, moving to group up with Mage 1 and Golem Squadron. His radio crackled to life and he could hear Knocker's voice coming through the radio "This is Golem one to Mage 1, what's your squadron's posit?" Mage 2 had regrouped with Mage 1, Alan hanging back and to the left of Trigger "This is Mage 1, current posit is 90km south moving to regroup, current speed 550 knots." Trigger maintained current speed as Knocker responded "Roger Mage 1, regroup and maintain formation. Will maintain a speed of 500 knots until regroup." They moved to regroup with Golem squadron and entered formation, speed was increased to 570 knots and had an hour flight ahead of them before they regrouped with the tanker to refuel before moving to the AO.

Alan was looking out the cockpit at the ocean below, He could hear Hannah breathing behind him over the radio. He checked his fuel consumption to make sure it was sustainable and made sure the autopilot was maintaining the correct speed. They continued flying towards their destination, land could be seen rather far away to their east, the coastline was in view so they must be getting relatively close. Knocker's voice crackled to life over the radio "Golem and Mage Squadrons, prepare for mid-flight refueling. Golem squadron on me, Mage Squadron will follow." Golem squadron started refueling, after about 20 minutes they finished and Mage squadron was up next. Trigger refueled first followed by Alan. Alan flew up to the plane before slowing down and attaching the nozzle. He watched his fuel waiting for his tank to be fully filled, he disconnected from the craft and rejoined Golem and Mage squadron's element. Once he regrouped they sped up, maintaining speed at 570 knots. AWACS Skykeeper broke radio silence "All Golem and Mage elements, friendly and enemy targets have been identified on IFF. You are weapons free, currently 200km away from the target area." He closed his channel as golem and mage broke apart into a wider formation.

When they were about 120km away targets started showing clearly on IFF and Alan was able to get a good tone. He confirmed the target was an enemy and armed and AMRAAM. "Hannah, keep an eye out. Let me know if you see anything. I need constant surveillance of the AO." "Hannah nodded, even though Alan couldn't see her "rog." Alan opened the channel to the 2 squadrons "Fox 3" he called before firing an AMRAAM which made its way towards his target. "Fox 3" Trigger called as he fired an AMRAAM as well, towards another target. After roughly 20 seconds he saw the craft he was targeting disappear off of IFF and Radar, they were about 70 km away and black smoke could be seen "Splash 1" Alan called out. The target that trigger fired at had deployed chaff and avoided the missile, they could see 7 opfor jets and 6 blufor jets still engaged, Skeleton Squadron still embroiled. Knocker spoke up "Mage Squadron, rest of Golem squadron, call your targets, dont overextend." He pulled off with his wingman to engage a MiG-35. Trigger and Alan pulled off to intercept 2 fighters, an F/A-18 and an SU-57. "Targeting SU-57" Alan said, turning towards the craft which was currently pursuing Skeleton 4. Skeleton 4s F-16 jinked and popped flares as an R-73 was fired at it, detonating early on the flares as Alan moved to intercept. At around 1.8 Kilometers Alan obtained an IR lock "Fox 2" he fired an AIM-9X and it burned towards the target, the SU-57 turned hard and released flares, the missile stayed on track and made a hard turn to stay with the jet, detonating on the top part of the aircraft sending shrapnel through the top and the cockpit glass, blowing one of its wings off as it fell down to the ground in a ball of fire "splash 2" Alan called before pulling off. Hannah was looking around the sides and rear, she spotted a target behind them and spoke up "Bandit rear moving to engage." Alan looked back and saw him, pulling left as the bandit followed them, Hannah was still looking back as the bandit fired a missile "shit, incoming missile, break." Alan popped flares and pulled hard left, breathing heavily as he pulled the plane. The R73 followed them but detonated on the flares, it detonated close enough that some shrapnel still hit the plane, causing a fuel leak. The bandit stayed behind and Alan executed Jink maneuvers to try and make the bandit overshoot, he was breathing heavier and grunting, his body pressed hard against the seat as the bandit overshot them, attempting a high aspect gunshot as he flew past, cannon shells just missing them. They moved into a split S, both trying to gain advantage. Alan was able to get behind the SU-57 and obtained an IR lock "Fox 2" he said firing a sidewinder, the SU-57 dumped flares and jinked causing the missile to miss, Alan reobtained the IR lock and fired another sidewinder "Fox 2" the missile streaked towards the bandit. The SU dumped flares but the sidewinder hit the plane, it was smoking and barreling towards the ground, parts visibly falling off of it as it tumbled down, He had visual on the parachute and flew past it. "Splash 2" Hannah said over the radio as they pulled away, by now most of the bandits had been destroyed with only 2 remaining, one of the 2 was shot down by Skeleton 2, the second one evaded a missile from an unknown friendly plane. Another missile was flying towards it as the plane flew up into the clouds, the missile followed disappearing with the plane, several seconds later the remnants of the plane came falling out of the clouds, he didn't have visuals on a parachute but the fuselage looked relatively intact so the pilots might have been able to eject.

AWACS opened the channel to the squadrons "No radar contacts were in the clear." Alan sighed and noticed the fuel leak, he was losing fuel at an alarming rate "shit. Hannah we got a fuel leak, we'll be bingo fuel in 15 minutes, let mage 1 know." Hannah opened a line to mage 1 "Mage 1 this is Mage 2. We've got a fuel leak, we'll be bingo fuel in 15 minutes." Mage 1 thought for a second and started to reply when the tone for being painted with radar started going off. Alan and Hannah both got this tone as well before the tone for radar lock and missile inbound started going off. "Shit! Got nothing on radar." He said as he started to break and pop chaff at a regular interval until he was able to get visual on the missile hoping he could break lock before then. After 5 or 6 chaff pops the warning stopped and he stopped releasing chaff. AWACS opened the channel again "large aircraft inbound, stay alert." Alan kept an eye on his radar as he noticed a single target approaching, he had a visual on something about 30 kilometers away but couldn't tell what it was. Suddenly dozens of targets started appearing, he armed the DAIM-A pods as he started getting painted by radar again. The members in Golem squadrons were blowing up the channels as it was confirmed they were drones by AWACS. Trigger had let Golem 1 know that Mage 2 had a fuel link, roughly 10 minutes until bingo fuel by this point. The drones had closed to around 1.5 kilometers, Skeleton squadron had already taken a casualty with skeleton 3 having been shot down. Alan obtained a radar lock and fired a drone missile "Fox 3" the missile flew towards the drone and impacted while he obtained another lock and fired again, breaking off, the second missile turning with the drone and taking it down. "Splash 5" Hannah said over the radio as the drones engaged the different squadrons. The DAIM-A proved highly effective at targeting and destroying drones. Another call came in on a friendly casualty, Skeleton 1 having been shot down, Skeleton 2 took over command. Alan got another lock and fired another DAIM, the drone taking the hit and going down "splash 6" was called, he got the tone for an incoming missile, breaking off and popping chaff avoiding it. Another call came for a destroyed friendly, Skeleton 2 having been shot down. AWACS opened the channel again "Command is ordering a full retreat, Mage and Golem squadrons are to provide cover for Skeleton and Gargoyle Squadron." Alan checked his fuel, if he didnt turn back soon he wouldn't make it back to base. Golem 1 contacted both members of Mage squadron "Mage 2 turn back with Gargoyle 1 and Golem 2." "Affirmative, regrouping with flight to rtb."

Alan had joined the flight of 3 heading back to base when a new contact appeared on his rader. "Gargoyle 1, Mage 2 picking up bogey on radar can either of you veriy?" Hannah asked as they watched the contact get closer "Mage 2 this is Gargoyle 1, can confirm, bogey inbound from the northwest, closing fast." Alan started getting painted with a radar "shit." Alan said, the bogey around 18 kilometers away and still closing. The tone that someone had radar locked him started going off "Gargoyle 1, Golem 2 this is Mage 2 weve been radar locked, incoming Bogey potentially hostile." The incoming craft fired an R-77 from around 15 kilometers and it streaked towards Alan's plane. "Shit incoming missile!" Alan broke off firing chaff at regular intervals moving away from the missile, the bandit obtained another lock on Gargoyle 1 firing another R-77. Gargoyle 1 also broke off popping chaff the R77s fired at both Mage 2 and Gargoyle 1 both detonated early, the SU-30 closed on gargoyle 1 firing an R-73, Gargoyle 1 popped flares but was hit, his plane was engulfed in flame as he went down. The SU-30 turne towards Golem 2s craft, Gargoyle 1s shootdown having been broadcasted over the radio. Alan saw the su-30 going for brownie as he obtained a radar lock and fired an AMRAAM , calling Fox 3, forcing him to break off and pop chaff. The SU-30 turned towards him and fired an R-73, Alan popped flares causing the missile to miss. He was able to go under the bandit's nose 20mm shells flying over his plane as the SU-30 flew past him. He was well past bingo fuel, the afterburner burning lots of fuel. He was able to get an IR tone on the SU-30 firing a sidewinder "Fox 2" was called as it flew towards the bandit. The SU-30 dumped flares causing the missile to dump early. The SU-30 was pushing Alan to his limits, Alan was starting to red out on the next manuever to try and keep the jet off of his tail. He let loose a burst from his cannon, the shells flying past the bandits plane. Alan fired again point blank from around kilometer, this missile also missed but it caused the SU-30 to jink to avoid the missiles, slowing it down and slowing its maneuverability. The SU-30 was able to break away from his nose and tried to get behind Mage 2. The SU30 fired an R-73 and Alan dumped flares and jinked causing it to miss. The SU-30 tried a high aspect gun pass but missed as they tried to maneuver around each other. Alan was able to get a lock and fired a sidewinder. The SU-30 dumped flares and jinked, and the missile detonated early but still caused some damage. The shrapnel from the explosion shredded the rear part of the plane, causing one of the engines to flare out. The aircraft's speed decreased significantly, but Alan had to cut back on his engine power due to low fuel.

"Hannah contact Mage 1, tell him we drove off the enemy bandit, and that were below bingo fuel we'll need a mid air refueling to make it back to base." Hannah opened the channel to mage 1 and told him the details, after a couple seconds they got a response back "Roger Mage 2. Stay in formation with Golem 2, you'll be able to rendezvous with the KC-46A on the way back to base." Alan regrouped with Golem 2, the SU-30 was long gone by now. "Golem 2 this is Mage 2. What's your status?" Hannah asked over the radio, Alan was watching his fuel and radar, the fighting had ended with the drones, the allied squadrons having pulled back. "Mage 2 this is Golem 2, status is unchanged. Continuing to RTB." They maintained their flight, by the time they reached the Pegasus for refueling Alan was running on fumes. He was able to refuel and continued back to base. Golem 2 landed first followed by Mage 2. Jet fuel was leaking onto the airfield as the ground crew rushed to clean it up and stop the leakage, the engine was quickly shut down and the tank drained as the airfield was cleaned. Alan's jet was taxied off towards the hangars for repairs after they had dismounted. Alan had gone over to the barracks and started to strip his gear. He took off his G and nomex suit, wiping his face off with a towel to get the sweat off and drinking water. He was exhausted as the adrenaline started to wear off as Hannah came in after him. "Shit, wonder how many planes we lost." He said finishing up the bottle putting it off to the side. Hannah started taking off her gear and sat down next to him "no idea, at least we didn't die." She said. Alan chuckled "yeah, damn we almost died didn't we. Well, guess its not our time to die yet." He laughed, grabbing another bottle of water opening it. Brownie was sitting on the other side of the barracks. She was drinking some water and looking down at the floor. Hannah looked over at her "hope Brownies' ok." She said. Alan got up and started walking over to her and sat down next to her "Hey Brownie you good?" He asked. She looked up and nodded "Yeah… Yeah I'm fine. Just realizing how close I was to dying today, hell, I had been hit already and had watched Gargoyle 1 fall to earth in a ball of fire. Don't know why I wasn't targeted, but I'm just thinking about how that could've been me." Alan nodded "Yeah, that is true, it could have very well been you. But there's no point in dwelling on the past, you could've died or had to eject but you didn't." She nodded again, " Yeah, that's true, it's just the closest I've actually come to dying." Alan got up "Well, we're all going to die someday, only a matter of time." She nodded before drinking some more water and taking out her phone. Alan walked back and sat down next to Hannah "She's fine." He said. Hannah nodded and took out her phone seeing if she had any calls or any news about her family as they waited for the rest of Mage and Golem squadron to return along with whoever else was still flying.