A/N: Wolfgang Schmidt is Scarface 1, Lara Nagase is Scarface 2, Günter Heimoroth is Scarface 3, Lorianna Cantor is Scarface 4, and David Klinsmann is Scarface 5. Just a preemptive solution to confusion.
"Alright Scarface squadron. I'm going to make a couple of things clear. Firstly, you will stop referring to each other by your first names during sortie." Our new Commanding officer griped as we sat in our seats. "You are fighting for the mainland now and you will fight like a real military force."
We sat here in this room with no window. The Darnet City airbase was a lot cleaner than the one back at the island. It actually smelt decent compared to the jungle. The two skyscrapers were still smoking after the raid.
"Cut it base commander." A voice came out of nowhere but it turned out to be... a female Sotoan. "I'm pretty sure that even you are grateful for what they have done. Granted that they haven't hit any areas that are vital to the rebels. I am Commander Naja by the way. Last fall, a madman by the name of Le Monde was fought near the Kwangzu river delta and from what Intel we can gather is that we are dealing with the remnants of Le Monde's followers."
So this Le Monde took advantage of the collapse of the Soviet Union? That seems about right, after the fall of that alliance, many servicemen joined blood thirsty warlords to see who could run or scare the post-Soviet governments that now exist. "So." I spoke up, "So Commander Naja, did you ever face Le Monde in combat?"
"I did. He escaped unfortunately. The rest..." She glanced at my nametag, "…is classified." She paused before a projector was cut on by the base commander and showed a map of the Sotoan mainland. "Now there are three areas of interest, one is in a canyon, one is in the middle of a desert, and the other is near a quarry that the rebels are using to build up their resource pool. We have decided to split you all up for the time being."
The first thing I did was look over at Lara and Günter. Both of their jaws dropped. Günter turned his head slightly away. Erich (or David) closed his eyes and Lorianna's went pale as a ghost.
"You are all a bunch of… talented pilots to say the least." She then turned to the base commander that stood beside a projector. "Alright time, time for the briefing."
"Yes ma'am." He then turned that lights off and turned on a computer projector. Then a large map appeared on the wall of Sotoa, Kaluga, Romney, Valga, and the southern part of Europa. In the far top-left corner of the map was an inland sea that connected west Yuktobania to the outside world. Our location was marked by a large blue dot right beside Darnet City in the southern cape of Sotoa. Three red spots then appeared on several areas on the map.
"Alright, Phase One: The canyon. There is a large installation inside the canyon which is providing the terrorists with valuable Intel. There are RAH-66 Comanche's inside the ravine, in other words: be careful. Only one pilot will be dispatched on that mission."
"I'll take it." I said as I rose my hand up."
"You sure Wolfgang?" Lara asked.
"Yeah, Wolfgang, I would do it." David added,
"I respect you all and thank you for your concern for me. But trust me, I can do this." I replied. Though I might have sounded crazy.
"Ok settles Phase One. Now to Phase Two. We have discovered a weak link in the Terrorists oil distribution network. There is an oil refinery connected to four derricks in the middle of the Great Sotoan Desert. However the location of these derricks are unknown due to the area's constant sandstorms. So you are going to have to follow the pipeline to the derricks. We do know the location of the main refinery though. Now who is going here…?" She then paused and looked at Günter and Lara. "You two. What are your names?
"I'm Günter Heimoroth." Günter spoke as the then added, "Your sending me into the desert aren't you? I hate the desert! Please don't send me there... After being stationed in Futuro Canal. I have had it with deserts in general!" He sounded quite angry not angry as in mad but sad.
"Calm down Günter!" I said, "If you have this fear of deserts, now it's the time to get over it!"
"Right, it's an order. I'll go…."
"I'm glad that's over." Then she looked at Lara. "What's your name?"
"Lara Nagase." It looked like Naja was embracing for another outburst. But Lara remained calm and collected. "I'll take care of you Günter. We are going on the sortie in pairs. Right Naja?"
"Yeah except for Wolfgang, there's not enough room in the ravine for two pilots." Naja continued to talk, "That leaves the quarry for…" She then glanced at David and Lorianna.
"David."
"And Lorianna."
"Good will be briefing you all according to team. I do however wish luck to you all as a whole."
July 15, 1995
Darnet City, Sotoa
The briefing room was empty unless you count Naja and me. For once I was able to get a good glance at her. She had a couple of scars on her hands and one small one on the top of her right eye. Her eyes were as brown as mud. Her hair was long and tied into a ponytail and she wore a tan uniform. "I've waited a while to meet the squad leader that has proven his and his squadron's worth in battle… Captain."
"What is that supposed to mean Commander Naja?" I replied, honestly what is she going at?
"I wasn't lying when I said we are dealing with Le Monde's remnant army. But here's my question to you: can I trust you."
She moved closer to me, in a very slow manner. "Naja?" I muttered.
"So I can tell you have been through a lot. You were in the Belkan Air force?"
"Ja, I was." I didn't think I sounded too comfortable.
"Did you ever met anyone by the name of Wolfgang 'Hucklebein' Buchner?" she queried, how did she know Pops?
"Yes I knew him." I then quieted myself and sounded threatened, "Are you accusing me of something?"
"No I am not, Captain Schmidt. And don't feel threatened by me. I am more of an ally then an enemy, by any means. You see before the Belkan War, I was part of a top secret organization known as 'Strike'. Strike's goal was to stop wars before they happened. Granted we failed once or twice but we were damn good at what we did. As I was saying, Buchner was an operative operating in Belka and he was only a semi-active member. Information on his involvement with us is scarce and/or classified. He was a great man, Wolfgang. Now back to the story. At the end of our last campaign in Lake Dama, Yuktobania; Strike just disappeared without a trace."
That was surprising, why would a highly important Special Forces unit, Osean for that matter, just disappear without a trace?
"Now what does this all have to do with me?" I replied, now I'm intrigued by what she is telling me.
"Upon my arrival at this military base, I wanted to learn a bit about each member of this mercenary squadron. All of you are quite interesting; Three Belkans, one Osean, and one Erusean. May I ask; why did you defect?"
That was a good question. Maybe it was a spur of the moment thing? Or did my pride over Excalibur compel me to leave? Or perhaps my 'being a traitor to the nation and needed to be made an example of' ideals from Henri or Waldermar. More importantly maybe I saw Pops as being a father figure and felt the need to come to his aid while he defected. It felt like forever before I answered, "My government betrayed me."
"So, why do you fight?" she asked, "I fight to avenge Sotoa. Granted Colonel Le Monde is dead. But now we have his goons that decided to avenge him and pull this stunt."
"Why did they target Romney, Valga, and Kaluga?" I asked, I didn't get why they would target those other countries.
"You see when the Soviet Union collapsed, a large group of warlords, Special Forces, and criminals started to compete for control of the ex-soviet states. If you were to fly over the see over the Sea of Karinoskov to the north east portion of the map, there are about 17 ships that are disabled. Perfect example of the chaos that ensured after who usurped control and all."
"I never thought that all of that stuff happened. All I remember was the failed coup against Yeltnovich's government. Though all us Belkans were concerned was rebuilding our military and infrastructure." I answered.
"There are still some Yuktobanian commanders that we have reason to believe that are still loyal to the coup forces that tried to take control of Yuktobania several years ago. Though we don't have any confirmation, but why else would these forces have access to Yuktobanian weaponry?"
"Good point Naja." I replied, "Could it be that some of the ex-soviet stockpiles are getting sacked?"
"True, and for the past couple of days we have been monitoring the flagship of the Karinoskov fleet; the YNS Admiral Tsanev which was being refitted at Okchabirsk during the uprising of the Karinoskov fleet."
So a Yuktobanian Fleet Admiral rose up against the main government also? That's a surprise unless one of those warlords she's been telling me about decided to steal the fleet. Which would be very hard to do? Perhaps they were all moth-balled until an absolute state of war was declared and they could beef up their forces in a short amount of time? That would've made more sense seeing how they were at a state of military readiness but could afford to leave their western parameter with a quarter of the fleet and send the other three quarters to a naval base on the east coast of Yuktobania.
"So this fleet, why hasn't Yuktobania fix them up?" I asked, surely the fleet protecting Yuktobania's western frontier had to be in... well to make a bad pun, Ship-Shape.
"They have other priorities. That's all I can say. Like selling off aircraft to other countries like Erusea and Belka. Like those Migs and your squadron's SU-37s? They are all Yuke made. The Yuke government needed money after the collapse of the Soviet Union." She then took a quick glance at her watch, "We have to continue this chat later on Captain Schmidt. You have a mission to go on."
"Ok."
"This conversation is between you and me." She concluded, "That was a nice chat Captain."
"Thanks." We then both got up and gave a salute. I guess it's time for Günter and Lara to be briefed. I guess I'll be on my way to the ravine.
"And Captain Schmidt." She called,
I turned around with my hand holding the door knob. "Yes?"
"Here's one piece of evidence that is hard to miss."
"And what is that, Commander Naja?"
"Those enemies you have been engaged with, they have all been using Osean made weapons along with Yuktobanian made weapons. Like the F-15 Eagle and Mig-31."
"Yeah good point. Wish me luck on my lone wolf mission."
A /N: My other story Ace Strike is basically the prologue to this one.
