//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Invasion // Story: Ace Combat: The Changeling War // by Lonewolf78 //------------------------------// It had been three years since the end of the war between the New Lunar Republic, Solar Empire, and Legion of Discord. As he planned, Maverick, the "Ace of Spades" returned to the Crystal Empire to assist in re-organizing the country's air force, and train new recruits. The empire rapidly rebuilt under the control of Princess Cadence, and in just two years the air force had been rebuilt. Once again Maverick was the squadron commander of Fighter Squadron 12 or Garuda squadron. Sadly only three of the original members rejoined. The rest had either got out of the military or were killed during Discord's rule. The rest were new recruits that Maverick trained personally. To their East; the Changeling Kingdom had also recovered rapidly from it's years under Discord's control, thanks to the country's vast natural resources. Chrysalis, who replaced her mom as queen after she had been killed by Discord, was aggressive in rebuilding the country's military forces. Their air force, known as the Changeling Kingdom Air Armada, had grown in size and technological advancement to where it compared to the United Equestria Air Force, the new banner for the combined forces of the Republic and Empire. Things were going smoothly until an unforeseen national tragedy occurred three years later. A large asteroid suddenly appeared and drew it's bead on the Griffin Empire and Changeling Kingdom. Seeing it as a threat to the entire region, a summit was held by the four countries to figure out what to do. The Changelings had the technology to create a weapon for use against it but not enough money. Thanks to grants from the Griffin Empire and the other nations work started on a giant rail gun that could destroy it. They had a little over a year to finish it. Unfortunately due to problems, it wasn't able to be finished in time. For the last ditch move, Equestria used the laser weapon on it's huge orbital spaceship known as the Arkbird on it. Though the asteroid was shattered, the remaining pieces fell down on the northern part of the Griffin Empire and the Changeling Kingdom, which took the brunt. One small city was destroyed by a large chunk. Another was destroyed when it was hit by a Tsunami caused by another large chunk falling into the ocean off of their Eastern coast. Thousands of Changelings were killed, cities and infrastructure were heavily damaged, and the economy left in ruins. Aid was received from other nations, but the healing and repair process was still slow. Changelings were beginning to starve, and soon there was unrest. The citizens were starting to see Chrysalis as being weak after this event, and it appeared she might be on the way out. At a meeting with her cabinet, it was decided drastic action would be needed to keep a civilian uprising from happening. Fearing she would be ousted, Chrysalis decided to do the one thing the Changeling Kingdom was still capable of. -------------------------------- Gracemareia Capital of the Crystal Empire May 9, 2023 08:31 hours. "Have fun on your field trip!" A white unicorn with red mane said to a two tone blue earth filly. "I will mommy!" she replied before getting on the bus. She continued to wave until the bus turned the corner and disappeared. She then went back inside the house. A few minutes later the phone rang. "Hello?" "Hey Moondancer it's Medley." "Hey how you doing?" she replied as she sat down on the couch. "Pretty good. The Shadowbolts are on a break for a month so I'm taking it easy," she replied. Medley was the captain of the Shadowbolts, the New Lunar Republic's flight demonstration team which remained together even after Equestria was united. "How's Ember doing?" "She's doing great. The school is having a day long field trip today so she was excited," replied the unicorn. " Their first stop is the bridge, then the museum, the palace, and finally the air base." "Aww she get's to see her daddy at work," Medley replied. Moondancer got up and headed to the kitchen. "Yeah she was so excited about it." "Hopefully I can get up there and visit you guys before the break is over." "Oh that would be great," replied Moonstone. "I know Toola roo....." she was cut of by a pair of jets screaming over the house. "Damn I heard that here," Medley said. "I bet. They must be...." then she heard an explosion. "Was that an explosion?" Medley asked in a shocked voice. "Yes, I'm going to check now," she replied as she headed for the front door. "It might be a crash." Moondancer went outside, and what she saw made her freeze. Several smoke plumes were rising from the city. Jets were flying everywhere. "What's going on?" Medley asked. "I think we're being bombed! There's smoke rising from the city!" she yelled. "WHAT? WHO WOULD BE BOMBING YOU?" the green pegasus yelled over the phone. About that time another jet flew over Moondancer's house. She looked up to see a charcoal and blue Flanker with a green Kanji symbol under it's wing. "IT'S THE CHANGELINGS!" she replied. "Son of a bitch! Why would they be doing this?" "I don't know! But this is ser..." there was a distant explosion and Moondancer's phone went dead. "Medley? Medley?" There was no response. She watched as Crystal Empire planes began engaging the Changelings. Soon some were falling from the sky. Then she saw a fighter approach the bridge and drop two bombs. Both hit the center and sent it into the river. "EMBERRRRRRRRR!" --------------------------- Gracemareia AFB 08:47 hours. Alarms were sounding throughout the base. Pilots and crews were scrambling to get planes airborne. "CEAF control to Gracemareia. We are being attacked by the Changeling Kingdom. There are bombings going on all over the country and we have received word of troops beginning to cross the border, with more being air dropped. you have two dozen bandits inbound to you right now. Scramble all aircraft!" Out on the tarmac turbines were spooling up, and soon a parade of planes was heading to the base's two runways. B-52's and F/A-18E's in a two tone blue camouflage headed for one, and white and blue MiG-35's and F-15S/MTD's headed for the other. The fighters lined up in pairs for takeoff. "This is Diamondback squadron ready for takeoff." "Skylark squadron ready for takeoff." "Drakee squadron ready for takeoff." "Garuda squadron ready for takeoff." "Roger all planes you're cleared for takeoff! Drakee squadron. Escort the bombers out of the area then return. "Garuda, Diamondback, bring down those bandits!" The squadron commanders acknowledged, and soon the planes were off. "Sky eye to all planes: The first wave is almost here. There's a second wave of sixteen 30 miles behind them. Our SAM's are active so be careful up there. Garuda one you will take command." "Roger Sky eye," he replied. "Let's go pilots!" "Roger Spade!" replied a pink pegasus. "Woo hoo let's do this!" A white pegasus with yellow mane yelled. "I wasn't expecting my first taste of combat to happen so soon," a yellow earth pony said. "Just remember your training Kiwi and you'll be fine," replied a blue stallion with white mane. "So what the buck is they're problem all of a sudden? We gave them all of that aid and this is how they thank us for it. Pricks," exclaimed a gray pegasus stallion. "I don't know. I'll ask one of them after we shoot them down," replied Maverick. "Hell yeah I agree with that!" cracked a black unicorn. "Well here they are so let's go. All planes engage!" "Ditz engaging!." "Flare engaging." "Thor engaging." "Reaper engaging!" "Tempestra engaging." All of the pilots in the two flights announced they were engaging. "Armada lead to all planes: Engage the fighters, bomb when you can," the Changeling commander said. And soon the opening missile exchange happened. Two Changeling and one Diamondback plane were shot down. "Diamondback five is down!" the commander yelled. "DAMMIT" yelled Maverick. Make em' pay for it," and the fight was on. ----------------------------- Meanwhile at the Crystal Palace ponies were scrambling to grab important items and load them into two Blackhawk choppers that had landed in front of it, and preparing to evacuate themselves. "Have you got everything you want?" a white unicorn asked a pink alicorn. "Oh wait..." The alicorn ran over to a desk and grabbed a picture of her with a purple unicorn off of it. "Yes, let's go," she replied. Soon they were standing next to the literal heart of the empire with other members of the government. "So what do we do about this?" An earth pony asked. "We can't let this fall into Chrysalis's hooves. It could make the changelings unstoppable," the white unicorn replied. "But if we take it, it will affect the entire country!" replied a pegasus. "He's right. If we take it with us ,it would be the same as ripping the heart out of the ponies here, and could have ramifications for Equestria also," the alicorn replied. "As you wish princess," replied the earth pony. They then sprinted for the choppers.The commander of the air force was waiting next to the one they would take. "We can't leave until the number of enemy aircraft is reduced," he said. "Dammit. How many are there?" the unicorn asked. "Over 30. two squadrons are engaging them as we speak," he replied. "We'll wait as long as we can, but may have to take off under fire," he replied. Another member of the joint chiefs of staff ran up to the choppers with the last important items. "Princess Cadence. Where will we be fleeing to?" "Canterlot. Princess Celestia and Luna have already pledged their full support in this war. They have a squadron en route to meet us 30 miles inside our border. Our aircraft will escort us to that point," she replied. -------------------------------- "Garuda Two fox two!" A missile flew off the rail of the Eagle and connected with a Changeling plane. "Confirmed kill!" Sky eye announced. "Mirage 2000's and SU-30's. Keep on your toes," Maverick announced. "Garuda Seven on your six!" Thor yelled. "I dodged it!" he replied as the missile flew past. "I'm on him," replied Tempestra. "Someone get this one off of me!" Reaper yelled. "I'm on it," replied Heartbreaker. She got behind the bandit and hit him with a sidewinder. "Thanks Heart Throb!" he said. "Don't let it happen again," she replied. 11 minutes in to the battle, a total of six Changeling aircraft had been shot down. The 2nd wave of planes was fast approaching. "Sky Eye to all planes: the second wave of the attack is almost here. Flight profile suggests bombers," he said. "Roger. Thor, Reaper, you two intercept them. Diamondback send a couple also," Maverick announced. "Roger Spade, Reaper replied, and they split off. Soon Maverick was behind a bandit, and got a gun kill. Followed by Heart Throb and Tempestra. Then Kiwi got one. "I did it! My first kill!" she yelled. "Pat yourself on the back later. This isn't over," Tempestra replied. "One bandit approaching the bridge!" A Diamondback pilot announced. "I'm on it," Ditz replied. But before she could get there it dropped it's two bombs and destroyed the center of it. "They took out the bridge!" a pilot yelled. "Son of a bitch!" yelled Heart Throb. "That's it I've had it with them," snarled Tempestra. She dived on a bandit and shot at the canopy, killing the pilot and sending the plane down. "Take it easy Widow," Maverick said. Thor and the others had the second group of planes in range. "We've got six TU-160's and 6 transports escorted by four F-15's," Thor announced. "Focus on the bombers and transports." "Roger Thor," replied a Diamondback plane. "Keep them away from the strike force!" A Changeling yelled. Reaper shot down a transport, but before he could get another the rest dropped their load. "Thor to Sky Eye the transports have dropped troops and tanks to the North of the city!" "Roger, focus on the bombers, we've got army helicopters en-route to them," he replied. The Changelings failed to keep them away, and one by one the bombers were shot down, followed by the fighters and transports. "Good job ponies," Sky Eye said. "Now get back to the other battle." "We're on the way," Thor replied. "Sky Eye this is Drakee squadron, we have escorted the bombers out of the area and are returning," the flight leader said. "Roger. Head back to Gracemareia and rejoin the battle," the AWACS controller replied. ------------------------- In the sky near Prairie City, Gracemareia 09:45 hours "We've taken heavy losses at Gracemareia," a Changeling said to a dark figure. "Very well. Commence missile launch and send in Druid squadron," the figure replied. "Yes sir." Soon several hatches began opening on top of a huge stingray shaped airship. Then several aircraft launched out of the belly of it. "This is Druid One, we're off," the squadron leader said. "Roger Druid One. Wait for the missiles to hit then mop up what's left," the controller replied. "Ready for launch," a Changeling said to the commander. "Commence." Soon six missiles flew out of the hatches and went on their way. --------------------------- A short time later the squadron had returned, and the Changelings were now far outnumbered. "The number of enemy planes has dropped. Let's get out of here!" the air force commander said. Shining Armor jumped into the chopper with Cadence and a few others and soon they were off, flying almost at street level. "Sky Eye to Drakee squadron: We need half of you to escort the football to the South. You'll meet up with Equestria aircraft who will take over. The rest of you continue to keep the enemy occupied." "Roger," replied the Drakee commander. Ditz took out another Mirage, leaving only 6 Changeling planes left. "Woo hoo I win again!" she yelled. "Rack em' up Surprise!" replied Thor. "HA! how do like that you piece of shit bugs?" Heart Throb yelled. THe number had dropped to three when Sky Eye came on. "All planes we have six cruise missiles inbound from the East!" "What? Where did they come from?" "We're not sure but be ready for them," he replied. "Roger.Squadrons split up and hang at 3,000 and 9,000 feet. Let's see if we can hit them," Maverick announced. Him and his squadron climbed up, except for Garuda Seven who was engaging a bandit. The missiles arrived before all of the planes were in position. They split apart and there were several huge explosions. "What the hell was that!?" Kiwi yelled. Maverick knew because he had seen them before. "Burst missiles! Everypony get above 5,000 feet!" he yelled. "Garuda Seven respond!" There was no answer. The rest of Drakee squadron has been wiped out! I've lost four!" The Diamondback commander yelled. "How did they get those! I thought the Lunar Republic was the only owner," Thor said. "There's such a thing a espionage you know," replied Heart Throb. "Sky Eye to all planes. We now have 15 bandits inbound from the East along with more missiles." "Damn we're outnumbered again!" yelled Reaper. "So what? we were before," Maverick said. Then they heard an unbelievable statement on the radio. "All planes this is Sky Eye. We're being ordered to give up Gracemareia." "WHAT!?" Surprise yelled. "Have you gone mad Ice Crystal? We can't do that!" Thor exclaimed. "We're at a militarily disadvantage right now. We have to regroup," replied Sky Eye. "So where are we going to go?" Reaper asked. "We're evacuating to three locations. Sibley is still under our control, and will soon be protected by the United Equestria Air Force. And we have been authorized to use Marestrom and Stalliongrad air Force Bases in the Solar Empire. You will head South to Stalliongrad." "There's no way I'm leaving my country," snapped Tempestra. "It's only temporarily. We're gonna' reassemble our forces, then launch a counterattack, hopefully with the aid of Equestria's air forces," Ice Crystal replied. "Come on guys. We don't have a choice," Maverick reluctantly said. "Roger, Spade," Surprise said weakly. "Did the princess and them make it out?" Maverick asked. "Yes. They're on there way to Canterlot," Ice replied. "What about the Crystal Heart?" Heart Throb asked. "They had no choice but to leave it. Hopefully they won't haul it back to the Changeling Kingdom." "This is bullshit," Thor said. "There's nothing we can do Tornado so don't dwell on it too much," replied Maverick. And the planes flew on to the safety of Equestrian airspace.