Ace Combat: Joint Assault
Chapter 3:Red and Black (Alpha)
Tenryu Base, 16 miles southwest of Tokyo, Japan, November 28th 2015, 11:05 Hours; Weather: Sunny, no clouds
Milosz Sulejmani, Daniel Oruma, Faryd Gaviria, Tolya Kiriakov, Marlene Davenport and Hansel Foulke had arrived to the briefing room a minute ago. Frederick Burford briefed the pilots on the current situation.
-We have received intel that the armed force "Valahia" is beginning another attack on Tokyo. At the request of the Seventh Fleet, Martinez Security is to join with the SDF in the defense of Japan. Tokyo is currently under attack from the north and south.-Burford reported, as he showed the data the SDF had sent him.-We will join the SDF operation in the south to hold off the Valahia forces.
-What kind of operations can we expect?-asked Davenport.
-We must fight an air battle over Niijima Island, and halt hostile ground forces at Boso Peninsula.-answered Burford, as he showed the pilots the locations on the screen.-This is going to be a difficult operation. Be ready for it.
-What kind of planes do we have available for rent, Burford?-asked Foulke.
-We have a couple of fighters and a couple of attackers: a MiG-31B Foxhound and an F-15C Eagle, and a Tornado IDS and a Mirage 2000D, respectively.
-I'll be taking the Eagle and the Tornado.-said Foulke.
-Come on! The Mirage 2000D is OK, but the Foxhound? Are you really gonna make me fly that brick?-asked Davenport.
-Don't grieve, Marlene.-said Gaviria.-The Foxhound can fly at Mach 2.5 without problem. And besides, if there is a King of the Interceptors, the Foxhound surely gets the title. The XLAAs and the SAAMs are more than enough to take out either unsuspecting fighters or bombers.
-I don't think the Valahia pilots over Niijima will just fly into the area without being alert.-answered Davenport.-But I'll keep it in mind.
-When are those enemy forces expected to arrive to Japan?-asked Sulejmani.
-By tomorrow in the morning.-answered Burford.-Get a good rest everyone.
The six pilots left the briefing room.
Tenryu Base, 16 miles southwest of Tokyo, Japan, November 28th 2015, 20:55 Hours; Weather: Sunny, no clouds
Marlene Davenport had been training during the afternoon at the base's gym. She had had a shower and she was about to enter her bedroom when she heard someone calling her from behind.
-Hey, Davenport!-said Sulejmani.-I've got some standard missiles I found at the base's arsenal. You interested?
-Sulejmani, if you keep selling weapons like that, before you know it you'll end up in Hell.-answered Davenport.
-Listen, Davenport, mercenaries like you and I spend their lives in Hell's main street.-replied Sulejmani, unfazed.-If I don't end up there, where else will I go?
-You've got a point, I'll give you that.-said Davenport.-So, how much do you want for them?
-That's the spirit!-chimed Sulejmani, clapping his hands.-Just ten credits for fifty of them!
-Woah, that is very cheap! Are you sure they're not defective?-asked Davenport.
-I'll let you know that I've never sold even a single missile that didn't fire!-replied Sulejmani, frowning.
-Well, I do remember some missiles that did hit but didn't explode.-said a voice to their left.
Hansel Foulke came out of his room. Apparently, he had overheard Davenport and Sulejmani's conversation.
-Just mind your own business, Foulke!-said Sulejmani.
Davenport, however, was not very interested on those missiles to begin with.
-Not that I trust Foulke more than you, but I think I'll pass this time, Sulejmani.-she said.
-Wha...?-asked Sulejmani, before turning towards Foulke, angry.-What did I ever do to you to make you ruin one of my sales?
-You should know better than anyone else that we risk our lives everytime we go up there.-replied Foulke.-Faulty equipment can cost us our lives.
He then entered his room, slamming the door behind him.
-I've heard a rumor about him.-said Davenport.-Is it true that he can't sleep with his bedroom lights off?
-Foulke says he fears that if he ever falls asleep in darkness, he will never come back.-answered Sulejmani.
-Are you serious!?-said Davenport.-A rude brute like him scared of the dark!? That's not something you see everyday! Ahahahahahahaha!
-Give him a break!-said Sulejmani.-He's lost twelve wingmen during his years in Martinez Security, and even when he was hired, he seemed broken.
-Well, it's not like he's nice to me, either.-Davenport replied.-I'd rather hang out with you and your wingmen than with him.
After that, both Davenport and Sulejmani entered their respective rooms to have a rest before the sorties of the next day.
Despite her dislike for Foulke, Davenport couldn't get his words out of her head.
-"What did he mean when he said that he remembered some missiles that didn't explode? Was he just messing with Sulejmain, or was it about something else?"-she thought.
Suddenly, she heard Foulke shouting as if he was in agony.
-"What the fuck!? What is wrong with him!?"-Davenport mused.
Unbeknownst to her, Foulke was having a terrible nightmare.
He was dreaming about his wingmen's deaths and how they screamed for help in vain. The shouts rang in his head continuously, and he was seeing their faces fading and reappearing time and time again.
Foulke woke up covered in sweat and panting.
-"This has to end soon! It must!"-he thought, as he panted.
Tenryu Base, 16 miles southwest of Tokyo, Japan, November 29th 2015, 08:00 Hours; Weather: Sunny, no clouds
Sulejmani, Oruma, Gaviria, Kiriakov, Davenport and Foulke were in the briefing room for a final briefing before the mission on the Izu Islands and the Boso Peninsula.
-The Valahia have started their attack on Japan today, approaching from both the north and the south. We will engage the enemy air units over the Izu Islands, in cooperation with the JASDF.-said Burford.-Regardless of our own efforts, we'll be overwhelmed by sheer numbers without the SDF forces.
-Excuse me, Burford.-said Foulke.-But when the Valahia attacked Tokyo on November 15th, we engaged eighty-eight bandits on our own.
-We were engaging F-4Es, MiG-21-93s, F-16As and MiG-29As.-replied Sulejmani.-My guess is that the Valahia might have upgraded their arsenal.
-That's correct.-answered Burford.-There have been reports that the Valahia have acquired Mirage 2000Ds, Tornado IDSs, Su-33s and F-14Ds.
-Just perfect!-complained Davenport.-My Foxhound is going to be a sitting duck for the Flankers and Tomcats.
-Not if you take them out first.-answered Foulke.
-Foulke, the Tomcats are famous for being capable of launching long-range missiles, and the Flankers are very maneuverable.-said Davenport.-The Foxhound is not very maneuverable, and that will make me an easy picking for enemy bandits.
-You're not alone, you know.-said Foulke.-If they get on your tail, they'll be sitting ducks.
-I guess that they will be as good as yours.-said Davenport.-What I wonder is if you'll be able to take them out before they fry me.
-We'll be launching in ninety minutes.-said Burford.-Check your planes before you take off.
The six pilots headed out of the briefing room and into the hangars. Marlene checked her MiG-31B Foxhound, which had a grey paintjob with a dark grey radome and tail tips, and black upper and lower nose stripes. IT also had the Antares squadron emblem and Martinez Security roundels. Marlene was not pleased with its size, since she knew the Foxhound was not cut out for dogfighting. However, her confidence grew when she saw the Foxhound's weapons: SAAMs and XLAAs.
-"Seems like Foulke was not messing with me, after all. That's nice of him."-Davenport thought, as she climbed into the cockpit.
Meanwhile, Hansel Foulke got inside the F-15C Eagle's cockpit. The plane had the standard Mod Eagle two-tone blueish grey paintjob. The only difference was that, along with the Antares squadron emblem and Martinez Security roundels, it had Hansel Foulke's trademark twelve skulls on the right side of its nose.
At 9:30, the six pilots left Tenryu Base and headed for the Izu Island.
Izu Islands, Japan, November 29th 2015, 11:00 Hours; Weather: Sunny, few clouds
The Rigel and Antares squadrons were five miles north of the Izu Islands. Thanks to the F-15C and the MiG-31's speed, the Rigel squadron was behind the Antares squadron.
-Self-Defense Force, can you hear me?-said Canopus, contacting the Self-Defense Forces squadron dispatched in the area.-This is Burford, from the M42 squadron of Martinez Security.
-This is Clover 1, Major Tsuzuki of the Central Air Defense Force.-replied Clover 1, an F-2A Viper Zero pilot.-Our squad has engaged the hostiles. We'd appreciate your help.
-Rigel squadron, Antares squadron, you all heard the man.-said Canopus.-When you reach the combat zone, you are to immediately engage hostiles and provide backup.
-First the Seventh Fleet, and now the Self-Defense Force. Looks like everyone needs our help now.-wondered Rigel 2.
-They don't need our help.-answered Rigel 1, coldly.-We just don't get counted in their casualty reports.
-Really? What a way to appreciate our effort!-complained Antares 2.
-Let me sugar-coat it for you, Antares 2. This is the way we mercenaries are treated: like expendable blue collars that do the UN's dirty work.-chastised Antares 1.-The sooner you deal with it, the better for you.
Antares 2 didn't bother to reply.
-ASDF damage reports will be displayed on your MPG.-said Canopus, as an MPG with the label "JASDF" appeared in the upper right corner of the pilots' HUDs.-Do not let that gauge fall to zero.
Antares 1 hit the burners and fired a couple of standard missiles to an Su-33 that had strayed too far from the main group of bandits. The Su-33, which had a black, grey and white paintjob, was hit and shot down before it could evade. An F-14D with a two-tone brown and green camo counter-attacked with a couple of missiles, but Antares 1 evaded the attack and used his guns to shoot down the fighter.
Antares 2, meanwhile, headed for the main group of bandits, where a group of MiG-29As, F-16As, Su-33s and F-14Ds were engaging the Japanese F-2As. When she hit the burners, Antares 2 felt as if she was glued to her seat. Even at 9000 feet, the MiG-31 flew at Mach 2. Despite her initial misgivings, she had to admit that the MiG-31 was extremely fast. With a volley of XLAAs, she shot down two MiG-29As and two Su-33s. Unfortunately, after her pass, she was targeted by two F-16As and two F-14Ds, which fired on her immediately. She broke as hard as she could to evade, dodging the missiles by inches.
Before the enemy fighters on Antares 2's tail could attack again, Antares 1 fired a volley of XMAAs on them, shooting them down.
Antares 2 switched to SAAMs and turned around to attack a couple of Su-33s that were engaging an F-2A. One of them managed to dodge her attack, but Antares 2 fired her guns on the evading fighter, shooting it down with ease. Meanwhile, Antares 1 fired his SAAMs on a couple of F-14Ds, which evaded the missiles, only to fall prey to the F-15C's guns.
The F-2As were shooting down the rest of the group, with Rigel squadron joining in shortly after. Between the JASDF and Martinez Security's planes, five minutes after the PMC pilots entered the fray, a total of 8 F-14Ds, 8 Su-33s, 12 F-16As and 12 MiG-29As were shot down.
-All hostiles in the region have been eliminated.-reported Clover 1.-Martinez, thank you for your support.
-Just glad you guys are safe.-answered Canopus.-But it looks like we still have some work to do together.
-Let me guess.-said Antares 1.-More bandits approaching, right?
-More enemy reinforcements!?-asked Clover 2, flabbergasted.
A group of sixteen F-16As and MiG-29As were approaching from the south.
-Hostile reinforcements closing in from the south.-reported Canopus.-Engage them with everything we've got!
-Leave them to us.-replied Antares 1.-Let's go, Antares 2!
-Alright, alright.-Antares 2 sighed. She them murmured.-You slave driver...
Antares 1 and Antares 2 attacked the bandits with their last remaining XMAAs and XLAAs. Half of the bandits were shot down, with four more falling prey to the SAAMs the Antares squadron fired, leaving only a couple of MiG-29As and a couple of F-16As. Antares 1 attacked the MiG-29As, shooting one with missiles and gunning the other one down. Antares 2, meanwhile, fired a couple of missiles on an F-16A and shot the other one down with her guns.
-Hostiles reinforcements have appeared in the southern end of Niijima.-reported Clover 1.
Four Su-33s and four F-14Ds were entering the area from the south. Antares 1 attacked the F-14Ds, firing a couple of missiles on one of them and shooting another one with guns. Antares 2 did the same to a couple of Su-33s. The six remaining bandits were attacked and shot down by the SDF F-2As when they tried to counter attack.
-All hostiles have been eliminated.-reported Canopus.-Excellent work!
-Allow me to offer my gratitude as well.-said Clover 1.-To all pilots from Martinez, we are most grateful for your support.
-However, we can't rest now.-said Canopus.-Antares 1, Antares 2, head back to base immediately. We have an emergency mission over Boso Peninsula.
-Are the Valahia forces attacking the SDF already?-asked Antares 2.
-They are expected to reach Japanese territory at 14:55.-said Canopus.-And, judging by the size of their forces, the JGSDF will be overwhelmed if they don't get help soon.
-I was expecting you would say that.-said Antares 1.-This is gonna cost you extra.
Third chapter. I'm a bit sad that I got only a fave, a follow, two reviews and 151 views since I published the first chapter of Joint Assault. Please, if there is something you don't like in the fic, just tell me by PM or commenting the fic. Regarding this mission, it is a breeze if you have a high-spec fighter. Even the sluggish MiG-31 makes this mission look easy. Also, as you might have guessed by the end of this chapter, the next one will be Red and Black Bravo. Good luck and take care. See you next time
