Author Notes: Ace Combat Infinity is set to be released in 2014, date of this is unknown. To my opinion, it will be released in July, the set month of the Ulysses Disaster, (A LONG time from now), but it probably won't be that, as the developments are so far doing pretty good.
This is a romance fanfic. So as you might had guessed, one of the pairings are Rena Cohen and Erich Jager. These two will be come a couple. But, another pairing will be revealed in this chapter, though not obvious. Can you guess it?
As for COFFIN, the suspected computer system during the cutscenes, I placed it as compatible with ENSI equipped aircraft as it was in AC3 (JPN).
Project ZOE is the ZOE aircraft in AC2/ 3DS. As revealed at the "Digital Hollywood" event in Tokyo, a certain aircraft was placed in red colors, hinting the ZOE systems.
Also, the OLDS will be discussed in this chapter, you can check the designs and sketches of it on the Ace Combat Wika.
The release of the trailer, 'Mission Notice', changed the mission names of Eternal Liberation- Defense of Eurasia, Not Tokyo.
Eternal Liberation is the operation name of the CO-OP missions, as a major offensive against enemy forces.
Operation Override is the Tokyo Mission instead, with 5 missions instead: Lost Butterfly, Great Migration, Rescue (Canyon Flight Mission), Stonehenge, and Far Eastern Front (Tokyo Mission). I wished there were more.
The ZOE aircraft in red I mentioned above, is the P-1112, in the new CO-OP mission Whale Hunt (Moby Dick Pursuit II).
Also, the Morgan aircraft (Designated as ADFX-01) was featured at the end of the trailer, with text "UNAVAILABLE", and someone remaking, "I swear I've seen that plane before..." With aircraft warning sounds going off.
And finally, PVP! Aces vs. Aces coming in an later update following release.
ACI is coming VERY SOON! (May 20 for JPN, and May 28 for World, NTSC is May 27)
But, this is a fanfic, so nothing has changed.
Following morning...
The airfield of Rammstein was calm, except for two young adults who are chatting near a QFA-44 locked in a hanger.
"So Rena, how long you've been flying?" Erich asked
"Ever since I was 9. I began to fly with just my thoughts. I could fly with a normal plane sure, but not fully use it as my brother."
"You ever traveled to other areas of the world?"
"You're not using this as an interview are you?"
"Uh… ah…."
Rena smiled, "It's okay, I think this would be good for me to adapt to the social world…. Erich?"
"Yes? You have a question?"
She leaned up to his faced, forcing him to lean back a little, "Do…you ever have a girlfriend?"
"…aha…What… I uh…" He was surprised at her question, "No. I don't."
"Oh…" (Why not? Not that I don't like him having a girlfriend, but still!) "Why not?"
"They don't usually like journalists. Well except for you, who had a boyfriend, right wait… you don't."
She shook her head, "I don't, but…" she blushed and looked away, "I wished I could…."
"Me too." He replied, "It's kinda sad not having someone by your side…." (Maybe Simon's right...)
Rena began to think about her brother's teasing of her liking Erich, Maybe I'm… in l…lov….Love…. No! It can't be!
She began to run to her plane.
"Rena! What are you doing!?" Erich cried after her.
"Oh!" Rena forgot about her companion, "Nothing. Just… uh…checking it that's all."
"Um…okay. I'll wait out here!"
She climbed into the cockpit, to do some thinking.
Erich looked outside of the hanger, where some aircraft are flying over the base...
"Man… Rena is… beautiful… Wha… What am I saying?…. I hope no one heard that."
BOOTING SYSTEM
MAIN CONSOLE LOADING
LOADED
READY!
LIFE SUPPORT: ONLINE
COFFIN SYSTEM: ONLINE
Ah, mistress… welcome back. It's been a while. Are we flying again?
"No… I need to learn more about…Project ZOE."
Miss Cohen… are you sure you want to? This file is incomplete, and thus the information is outdated.
"Yes. I need to know."
Very well.
ARCHIVES
WERNHER NOAH ENTERPRISES
Project Zone Of Endless
Following the start of the automated aircraft factories… the pilots needed for these machines are greatly need. As discussed earlier, many of the regions around Iyuli had been giving volunteers as compensation for Wernher and Noah's contribution. But the aircraft are still being over produced, leading to researchers to make use of control systems as in UAVs. These prototypes were proven successful, but Wernher wanted to enhanced it… so under the supervision of Kacper Cohen...
"My father…."
Yes… your father was ordered to lead his team into researching the A.I. aircraft. And thus, the Zone of Endless project was created. These units can be used in any aircraft. Including large scale bombers… this allows the aircraft to operate without a pilot, and reduce the number of deficiency.
"How many units were built?"
Exact numbers as of now are unknown, but at least 5 aircraft were equipped with the ZOE system. These include the F-4E, the F-16, the A-10A, the F-15C, and the MiG-21bis.
Along with that, the company began designs on Project Shattered Skies, a project to use space-based weaponry.
OLDS….
Yes… the Orbital Laser Defense System… used to shoot down ICBM rockets, but also for space debris… asteroids around the orbit of the Earth are still vast, and could fall into the atmosphere at anytime, which is the reason why the OLDS was created.
Not only that, but backup weapons was used in the same purpose… one was a missile facility in the Indian Ocean, using TLS and ICBMs to intercept any falling fragments. Another was a rail gun, using advanced cruise missiles, based near the Arctic circle.
I can't believe this… there's still weapons of death…
Miss Cohen, if I may?
"Yes, proceed."
A squadron of fighters was also placed in Wernher forces, a squadron of the F-15S/MTDs. It's name was Artemis….
!
Artemis...
"this is Artemis flight of the UNF…."
"I think this will do. Thank you. Commence logoff and shutdown procedures."
Very well, but may I say something, Miss Cohen.
"Sure, what might that be?"
That Erich Jager you been with… he is sure a nice fellow to be with.
"Hey! Why is everyone teasing me on this matter?" Rena asked herself as she climbed out of the cockpit...
…Rena… Always trusts your friends… especially Nagase...
Hanger 2- QFA-44
As soon as Rena climbed out, and came down to the ground, Erich walked up to her, "What did you do in there?"
She just replied, "Just to think of something."
The two of them walk outside of the hanger, and leaned on the door.
"Do you like staying with us?" Rena asked
"I kinda do. Especially since I get to be with you." He responded
"Huh?"
"Uh… did I just said that? Eh…heh… heh…" He got all nervous.
She giggled, and chuckled, and then…. Erich laughed along too.
Then, they see Simon walking toward them
"Simon, how are you?" Rena greeted
He replied, "I'm fine." And he leaned against the hanger door, "I don't know why they keep reprimanding me any more. Everyone knows that I'm going to be stuck at Lieutenant forever... So, Rena, Erich; how are you two doing?"
"We're fine, but I'm kinda sad that I can't fly."
"I know..." And Simon rubbed her head like a puppy, making her blush, "Let's go inside the base. Meet Nagase and the others."
"Okay."
In the crew room, a song was playing, loud enough for everyone to hear.
there's oceans in between us
but that's not very far
Can you take it all away
can you take it all away
well ya shoved it in my face
this pain you gave to me
Can you take it all away
can you take it all away
well ya shoved it in my face
Nagase, Slash, Viper, and Bronco, are all listening to the song, when the the three new guys entered
"Hey, guys." Viper called out
"Man... I love this song. Soothes me." Bronco commented, "I'm gonna sleep well tonight."
"Yeah I like these American songs." Erich commented, "Don't you Rena?"
"Yeah...I like them..."
"I wonder who would be part of the squad now." Bronco wondered, "We need another pilot."
"How about Artyom? He's a good pilot." Simon suggested
"No. He's a Russian Air Force pilot." Viper denied.
"Oh.. Kei, John, remember the time we've faced Stonehenge?" Simon asked
"Yeah, why's that, Reaper?" Slash coldly asked
"Just a thought..."
"I'm going to the hanger." And he walked out of the room.
"You okay, Nagase?" Viper asked
"I'm fine..." She quietly replied
Rena sat next to her, looking at her reading a book, "Whatca reading?"
"A Blue Dove for the Princess. A story of the Razgriz demon."
"Oh I've read that book! Erich you want to read it?"
"Uh...maybe next time." Erich politely replied.
All of a sudden, alarms began blaring
"Aww... man... an air raid! You got to be kidding me!" Bronco complained
BGM: Briefing IV (Ace Combat Zero OST)
Briefing
Ridgebacks Squadron
This is an emergency! Enemy aircraft have been sighted attacking Rammstein Air Base. Sortie at once!
Defense
September 30, 2019
Rammstein Air Base
Time: 2050 (Local)
Mission Clear Objective:
Defend airbase
2nd Lieutenant Kei 'Edge' Nagase
Ridgeback Squadron
"Scramble the air units! Ridgeback Squadron is on the tarmac! Get them up in the air!"
"Fencer, get going!" I shouted
"The plane in front of me isn't going! Bone Arrow 5, get moving!"
"Enemy planes incoming!" Viper yelled
I look to my right, and see A-10As strafing us...
A plane in front of me explodes...
"No!... We've lost Bone 5! Bone 6 is incombat-effective! Ridgebacks go! Before we lose the runway! Go now!" The radio crackled
...
"What about Rena and Simon?" I asked
"Forget them." Slash replied, "Don't care about those pirates!"
Viper then reassured me, "They're fine. They won't be fighting though. They're still grounded."
No...Rena... Simon...
"Now! First wave is passing by!"
"Edge! Scramble! Emergency launch, hurry!"
CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF
My pushed my throttle to the max...
140...
170! I pulled on the stick, and my plane flew toward the sky...
"Ridgebacks! Altitude restrictions canceled!"
Mission Start
"This is Goodfellow! Ridgebacks, defend the base!"
"Viper to Edge, we have enemy forces inbound from the East!"
"Edge, roger."
I turned my plane to see many planes inbound.
"Firing!" I fired my 6 XMAAs, at the 20 planes, taking 6 down.
The rest zoomed past my angel... and attacked the other planes...
Slash's fighter all of a sudden took down 5 more planes. Fencer and Axeman both scored a kill.
The Pirate...no... privateers are doing good too.
Soon enough... all of the first wave of enemy fighters are shot down.
"This is Captain Ford, replacement leader of Bone Arrow Squadron, is the airspace secured?"
"Negative! We are under air attack!" The airbase responded
"I trust you'll keep the base safe?" They asked us
"Roger that." Slash responded
"Good."
"Let's go!" Slash ordered, "That means you too Nagase. Now that the pirates Reaper is grounded, you should be able to win this battle."
...
"Kei. You're doing great. Keep going." Simon... "You're becoming like me."
I... don't know what to say...
"Ignore him Nagase." Slash responded
...
I looked back at the base...still in one piece. That's when I see something moving... Two planes... Grey... Blue...white...
Simon...Rena...
They took off. They're joining the fight!
"This is Reaper, the base commander gave us permission to fight."
"Kei, I hope we can just fly." Rena dreamed, "No fighting. Just flying together in peace time."
...Just fly...
"Me too."
"Look at the hanger!" Fencer shouted, "Who's flying that Flanker!?"
I looked at a Su-35, coming out of a hanger, taxing to a runway.
"This is Sokov. VVS just transferred me to the squadron. I'm taking off!"
"This is Viper, roger. We'll cover you as you take off."
"Roger."
Mission Update
"Hey Reaper, your cousin is coming up. Are we gonna just sit and watch?" Viper joked
"You kidding, right? Let's go help him!" Rena replied, "Kei, will you help?"
I respond, "Yeah. Let's go!"
We head over to defend Sokov. I look at my radar, and see 14 radar contacts. I armed my missiles, and fired. 5 went down. One went on my tail.
"I'll get him!" Simon reported
"I'm fine." I responded. I can't have him as my shining knight in armor.
I pulled my throttle to hover, and pulled the stick to elevate... my plane raised... the the enemy zoomed into my gunsight.
I fired my cannons... ripping off the wings of that fighter.
"Edge, target down!"
"...guess I don't need to protect every one..." Simon whispered.
I turned my head, and see his raptor, flying in the dusk sky. Dancing, with the angels...
"Kei!" I see Rena flew up beside me, "You okay?"
"I'm fine." I replied, "We still got a fight to finish."
"Right, sorry."
"System checks.. okay..." Sokov checked, "Engine's good. Ejection system's good."
I see him on the runway, preparing to take off.
"This is Sokov to Reaper, Edge. Can you see me?"
Simon replied, "I can see you, you're clear."
I also responded, "Copy, I see you too."
"Roger. Takeoff position...engines full power!"
The airfield was trying to stop him, "Stop! Come back!... No! Let him go."
I see the Flanker now in the sky, "This is Captain Artyom Sokov, Callsign 'Falco'. Command, this is 'Falco', I'll be joining Bone Arrow Squadron. Designation 'Bone Arrow 2.'"
"Roger that. Viper, you know what to do." Goodfellow responded
I see Sokov, Rena, and Simon forming a formation with me, with Reaper as flight leader, and me as his wingman.
"Nagase, you'll be my wingman?" Simon asked
I thought about it, "Well... I not so sure about that..."
"This is Captain Ford, I'm arriving at the airbase. What's the status of Bone Arrow Squadron?"
The base commander responded, "Bone Arrow 5 and 6 are dead! Captain Sokov of the Russian Air Force also just transferred in as Bone Arrow 2."
"I see... I'm out of fuel. I need clearance to land."
"Negative! We're under air attack! You can't land..."
"All aircraft, cover my landing."
Simon snapped at this, "What... are you nuts!?"
I looked at the radar... 10 aircraft closing in from Fords direction, "Enemy planes approaching..."
"Second Lieutenant Cohen, is that you?"
"... yes sir..."
"I'll be sure to rip off your wings after I lan...zzzzz..."
I looked towards Ford... his plane shot with bullets... the plane engulfed in flames.
Goodfellow tried to contact him, "Ford. Captain, respond!"
"The Captain's going down! He's been shot down!" Viper exclaimed
"Third wave approaching! Ridgebacks! Bone Arrow! We need assistance!" The base commander cried out
"And I thought he was tough and angry." Bronco remarked
"That's because we disobeyed his orders." Sokov reminded
"Right."
"This is Slash to all allied aircraft, defend the airbase."
"This is Reaper, I see 2 more flights of aircraft coming in from the East. Looks like they're fighters, MiG-31s."
"I got this." Sokov replied, and he broke off to engage them.
"Artyom!" Rena called out to him, "He's gonna get himself killed!" She broke off to assist.
"Great... looks like the Reaper's family isn't so great after all." Slash commented
"HEY!" Reaper snapped, "What's that supposed to mean!?" And he broke off to engage, leaving Viper, Bronco, and my squadron to engage the remaining fighters...
Should I help them, or help the others?
Simon, or John?
Face 10 F-18s, or 8 MiG-31s?
Is this some kind of life decision? Who should I follow... Simon treated me like a friend, Slash treated me as if I'm... expendable...
"Nagase?" Viper contacted me, "Switch to 118.04 MHz."
"Huh?" I was dumbfounded
"That's Simon's and Rena's frequency. They told me to give it to you."
Their frequency. Why would they give it to me?
118... point 04 megahertz...
"..z. ... Sokov you idiot! You can't just plunge into the fray!... You do all the time kid... That's because I had a good plane, and good skills... I got the same thing as you, but Rena has the better plane." I can hear Simon and Artyom argue.
"Um... guys... we all are good in flying." Rena reasoned, "Even your wingmen."
"You're right." Simon apologized, "I'm sorry Rena. I can get very emotional."
"It's okay... it's just like in Africa."
"And the canyon."
I remember the canyon. Where Simon was attacked by Rena... and fell prey to her superior plane...
He saved me...
"Enemy 31 to the left!" Sokov alerted
"I see him!" Rena responded, "Engaging!"
"Reaper, you got one on your tail!"
"I see him! I'm gonna shake him off somehow!"
Rena shot down the Foxhound. Sokov, also took three down. But the remaining MiGs are on Simon.
"You got four on your tail!" Bronco exclaimed
Cohen replied, "You think I don't know that!? I can't shake them! Speed... 200... I could attempt a Kulbit...BANG! Oh...crud! I took a hit... Stick's sluggish... I need some help here!"
This is my chance! I sped towards them... and fired my cannons... I fired all of my missiles at the four bogeys... 6 missiles took down three of them, while the 2 standards miss. My cannons continued to fire... and it hit the wing of the MiG... it ripped off... and the plane began to roll uncontrollably down towards the ground...
"Huh? Who..." Simon stuttered.
I flew up to his left wing... and see him in the cockpit.
"Kei? You... saved me... Wow... Thank you..."
I smiled..."Hey, now we're even..."
"This is the base commander, the enemy forces are retreating! Thank you for protecting our base..."
"This is Goodfellow. We now have a possible location on the enemy forces... Report to the briefing room as soon as you touched down."
"As I was saying... thank you for protecting our base."
"Edge, begin landing checks. You're clear to land."
CLEARED FOR LANDING
I approached the runway... and activated the vertical flight mode...
Speed steadily reached 150...
Altitude slowly decreased... 200...150...100...60...30...
Touchdown!
"Perfect, Edge! Standby, and prepare for next sortie."
Debrief
This is for Ridgebacks Squadron. Thanks to your efforts, Rammstein Air Base is safe. You are to continue service with the Bone Arrow squadron. 'Single Line' the team of both squadrons, have been shown to be a huge impact on enemy forces, and a large boost of morale to our forces. Your payment has been immediately transferred.
Bone Arrow squadron, has lost their new recruits, as well as their new squadron leader. Captain Artyom Sokov of the VVS has been approved to transfer into Arrows and Bone Arrows as Bone 2. Also, Rena Cohen, has shown signs of courage, and loyalty to the UNF, but most importantly, her family. She is then to be instated as Bone Arrow 5, and as "Reaper's" wingman.
The enemy forces had been found heading in the direction of North Africa. You are to head there immediately... as soon as you are repaired and rearmed...
Emergency Transmission from Command...
OLDS sighted changing orbit. Possible control from surface.
I waited in the hanger as the crew repaired my F-3 Shinden II... named after the J7W Shinden... the prototype aircraft in WWII...
"Kei..." Simon walked up to me...
"Simon..."
"I... I just wanted to thank you... for saving me..."
"It's not big deal... you saved me in Iyuli... "
"Okay guys! Your planes are ready!" the crew chief informed, "Time to go!"
"Wanna continue this later?" I asked
"Sure... how about in the air?.." He responded
"That would be nice..."
Did you figured out the other pairing? It should be obvious...
If you don't know about the frequency, here's the reference: 118.04 -Ace Combat.04- 118th Tactical Fighter Wing
Perhaps there are more single-player missions, just as a teaser, so they won't spoil the rest.
The F-3 is a great fighter...multirole... something like that. I hope to get the model kit of it, which is also the Ridgebacks Edition. It's 3,600 Yen... so...yeah... and I want to get another model kit: the Santa Cruz from Toaru Hikuushi e no Tsuioku (known as The Princess and the Pilot in English countries).
If you don't know, this is based off of AC5's First Flight... with differences of course...
Also, if you didn't already seen it, but the 'Digital Hollywood' performances of "ISAF", "The Journey Home", and "Zero" are now available on PSN. You can also watch on UWSP JasonChan's ACI channel.
For super weapons, I had included the super weapons from Ace Combat 4, 5 (Similar), 6, and Zero. Can you guess them? Only some of them are used.
I'll see you next time Aces!