//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: We Meet Again // Story: Ace Combat: The Changeling War // by Lonewolf78 //------------------------------// Gracemareia AFB - Crystal Empire May 14, 2023 04:19 hours. Nightshade pretended to be asleep every time the guard went by. It was obvious he made his round every hour at the same time, so she decided the time to make her exit was now. She waited until she heard the sound of the door to the basement opening, then tried her plan. The first three tries she failed to get her wings behind the pipes. Finally with the guard almost there she made it. The strain on her wings was causing major pain, but she fought it off. Just as she figured the guard looked in and gasped when he didn't see her. He immediately opened the door and stepped in. A loud crack was the only sound made as Nightshade landed squarely on the changeling and broke his neck. She grabbed the body, drug it into the cell, took his gun and knife, and left. It wasn't over yet though. she now had to sneak, and slice her way out of the building. She used every part of her training to take out any guards she came across and get out of the building. "Now how do I get out of here?" she thought. She made her way towards the hangars and soon heard something: The sound of turbines spooling up. She peeked around the corner of a hangar and saw a pair of SU-27's getting ready to leave on patrol. The ground crews had finished their work and had returned to the hangar two down from where she was. She hid behind the hangar as the planes taxied by. Suddenly the one nearest to her stopped, followed shortly by the other. She went up the side of the hangar and hid behind some barrels for a closer look. The pilot jumped out of the cockpit and ran into the hangar. The purple Pegasus peeked in a window just in time to see him run into the bathroom. The hangar was empty, so she went in and stood by the door to the bathroom. It was a long shot, but she would kill him when he came out, take his flight suit and helmet, and sprint to the Flanker, hoping the other pilot couldn't tell in the darkness (the base was blacked out except for the lights in the buildings). It was soon obvious what the pilot's problem was thanks to the noises coming from within. She had to hold in a couple of giggles as it reminded her of the time in the Legion of Discord Air Force when she ate a spiced up burrito one of the pilots brought in just before a mission, and the same thing happened. The moment he stepped out Nightshade snapped his neck, then took his stuff. The suit was tight, but she needed it. At the same time a guard discovered what happened in the main building, and the search for her was under way. "She couldn't have gone very far," the guard said to the others. And sirens began to wail. She sprinted to the plane, jumped in, and closed the canopy. Soon the other pilot spoke over the radio. "They're gonna' have to take your plane to a toxic wasssste facility after thissss," he cracked. She didn't say anything. "You're sssstill mad at me over what happened? SSSSheesh fine then." The two of them then taxied out and took off. She made sure to stay in a spot where it would be hard for him to get a good look at her. She had no idea where they were heading on their patrol, but it was West towards the area that was still under Crystal Empire control. This wasn't good for her though because obviously she couldn't fly in there without getting shot at by everypony. Her only chance was to break off and head to Equestria. The plane was fully loaded with air to air missiles, so she could fight her way out if needed. "Guess I just have to be patient." She looked behind her and saw the first hint of light creeping up to the East. Hopefully it signaled a new beginning for her. ----------------------------- Near the Equestria/Crystal Empire border 06:03 hours. "Raider One to Garuda Squadron, we're coming up on your left." "Roger Raider One," replied Maverick. The B-52's of the CEAF Skylark and Raider Squadrons pulled up alongside the F-15's. "Sky Eye to all planes, you've crossed the fence. We're already picking up seven bandits inbound 45 miles out. Garuda Squadron Fly ahead and intercept them. Take out any SAM sites you find along the way". "Roger SkyEye. Let's go ponies!" Maverick replied, and they hit the afterburners and sped off. "Control to Onfir Three and Four: We have 19 bandits crossing the border from Equestria. Assist Drakeema Squadron. We have Droll Squadron en-route also," the Changeling controller said to the two planes. "You heard him Sweet, let's go," the Changeling pilot said. Nightshade just rocked her wings and they banked and headed for the group.Meanwhile the first Changeling squadron had reached Maverick and them. "Here they come! MiG-29's!" Tornado yelled as he locked one up. "All planes engage!" Maverick said, and the AMRAAM's flew, taking out three of the bandits. The fight was on. It wasn't long before Maverick got on the tail of one. Despite his best efforts, the Changeling couldn't shake him, and he knocked him out of the sky with a sidewinder. Heart Throb did a downward roll and got behind another, taking it out with her cannon. "Garuda Two, Three, and Four, start attacking the SAMs," Maverick announced. "Roger Spade!" replied Black Widow, and they broke off to start clearing the SAM's. Them and Tornado were the only ones equipped with anti radar missiles. "Let's nail em' you three," "We're on it," replied Tornado. They stuck together and got behind the last two bandits. One split off, but they continued to follow the other. That one tried to get behind them, which they were expecting. "No surprise there Changeling!" Surprise said as she did a short loop and got behind him. In short order both were downed. "Nice job. Let's catch back up with the group," Maverick said, and they sped off. Meanwhile the other group had come across an SA-2 site in the bomber's path. "I'm on it," Heart Throb announced, and she armed her missiles and started descending. Soon the missile had a lock on the radar and he fired. At the same time the SAM site launched two at them. "Evade!" Heart Throb yelled. They banked hard and flew away from the site, then dropped chaff and split, causing the missiles to lose lock. Right afterwards the HARM found the radar and destroyed it, knocking the SAM site offline. "OK let's finish it," Black Widow said, and they turned around, headed back to the site, and strafed it with cannon fire, destroying all of the missiles. "Mind if we join in?" "Welcome back Mav'," Kiwi said, and the squadron took up formation again. "I can't believe they got an SA-2 site set up that fast," Heart Throb said. "They probably had everything ready to go before the invasion," replied Maverick. Soon they got another radar spike. "There's another," Tornado said. "I'm on it," replied Black Widow, and she dived lower. Once she got a lock she fired. "It must be an SA-4 because they haven't fired yet." She continued to fly towards it because if she turned, the operator might know what's up and shut down his radar. Finally one was shot off, and she broke away. The operator did realize what was happening and shut off, but it was too late as the missile was on it's final approach, and still hit the target. "Nice!" Surprise said to her. "Sky eye to Garuda Squadron. You have eight bandits approaching from the East and two from the North." "Oh hell," Tornado said. "Let's get em'. Sky Eye will there be any cover for the bombers?" Maverick asked. "Yes. The Empire's Mist Squadron is near the target area," he replied. "Blade One to control: Which should we go after?" the Changeling asked. "Go after the flight of seven. The rest are obviously bombers and we have a squadron en' route to intercept them," he replied. "Roger." and they headed after Garuda Squadron. "Still silent Sweet?" he asked. Nightshade just grumbled in a low voice. "Crap why so ssserious? It was just a joke. Don't let it impair your judgement," he said. "I can't attack them," she thought. Instead she would use the opportunity to try and make a break for the border. "Let's get it on!" Surprise yelled, and there was another small missile exchange. Only one CK plane got hit though. "Uh oh J-10's. This won't be easy," Tornado said. "Especially once those two other planes show up," added Kiwi. After ten minutes of twisting and turning, Maverick finally managed to shoot one down, but the squadron was doing more defense than offense. "Damn those other two have arrived from the North," Heart Throb announced. "Sweet stay on my tail," Blade One said, and she did. Soon they were both behind Kiwi. "Get them off me!" she yelled. "Almost got her," the Changeling said as he drew a bead. Nightshade had no choice. "Sorry I can't let you do that," she said over the radio. "WHAT? Wait you're not Sweet!" "No shit," she replied, at which point she raked his plane with cannon fire, sending it down. "WHAT THE HELL!?" The commander of the other CK squadron yelled. "HUH?" Said a surprised Kiwi. "Spade did you see that? One Flanker shot down the other!" an excited Surprise yelled into the radio. "Time for some fun," Nightshade said to herself as she rolled in behind a J-10 and took it out with a heat seeker. "Droll One to control, Blade Four has become a loose cannon. What's the order?" the commander asked. "What else shoot him down!" The controller replied. "It's a female not a male," he said back. After a pause the controller said "Whatever still shoot her down!" "Garuda One to Sky Eye. One of the CK planes has just taken out two of their own. Looks like a loose cannon situation." "What the hell's going on Mav?" Heart Throb asked. "I don't know but it's left them disorganized. Now's our chance!" he replied. And he was right. Soon Kiwi shot down one with a sidewinder, followed by Black Widow getting a gun kill on the squadron leader. Maverick dropped in behind a J-10 that was on Nightshade's tail. "I don't think so," she said. She hit the brakes and went into a Cobra, then rotated down to escape it. "Th-that move..." he thought as he got a lock on the changeling who was stunned by the move.A radar guided took him down. Surprise used the AIM-9X Sidewinder's side looking capability to lock onto a bandit that was peeling away from her to the left. Black Widow got the last one with a Sidewinder too, leaving just Nightshade's Flanker. Heart Throb got behind her, but she did the same maneuver and got away, but it put her behind Surprise. She immediately shut down her targeting system and peeled off. "Hey guys. That 27 shut off it's radar and broke off of me," she announced. "I'll just fly straight and slow." "Sky Eye to Garuda squadron: Are you still engaging the remaining bandit?" "Not exactly," Maverick replied. "There's something about it." Now the whole squadron was behind her. "What now Spade?" Tornado asked. "Lemme see," and he set his radio to the international call on frequency. "Attention Changeling aircraft. This is Brigadier General Maverick of the Crystal Empire Air Force. Do you copy?" Nightshade's heart almost flew out her mouth. "Maverick!?" Now she didn't know what to do. Soon she was flanked by him and Surprise, and she got a good look at the aircraft markings. Those of her old squadron. "What do I do?" She knew what the ramifications were with Maverick. If anymore of the original squadron members were there she might be dead before she hits the ground. Maverick repeated his message. "Well what choice do I have?" she thought, and she replied. "Yes I copy." Changeling what is your intentions over?" "I'm... not a Changeling." Suddenly Maverick was overwhelmed with the same feeling. "It...It can't be..." "Then what are you?" Kiwi asked. "A Pegasus." "Yeah, maybe when you change into one," replied Tornado. Nightshade recognized him. "You mean you don't recognize the voice, Tornado?" "Hold on a second! How do you know who he is? Are you psychic?" Surprise yelled. "NIGHTSHADE?" "Hi Spade." Maverick was at a loss for words. "THE Nightshade? As in the one who got booted out of this squadron and joined the LoD Air Force?" Heart Throb asked with a rising anger in her voice. "long time no hear Heartbreaker," she replied. Immediately she got behind Nightshade for a shot, but Maverick cut in front of her. "Maverick what the fuck?" she snapped. "Before we shoot her down let's find out what's going on," he replied. "So what's going on Nightshade?" "I was the leader of a small resistance group in the village of Kurain when the Changelings invaded, and we had to fight them off. All but me and one other were killed, and I had to cover the evacuation of the villagers to a safe haven we had. I pulled them away as best as I could, but they caught me." She continued. "They sent me to the prison camp they have set up at the Gracemareia base. I killed several guards and stole this plane to get out of here." "You expect us to believe that?" Tornado said. "I didn't think you ejected," added Maverick. "Where were you all this time?" "I've been living at that village, which was near where you shot me down," she replied. "Why are you fleeing the country?" Kiwi asked. "I want to go to Equestria so I can join someone's army or air force and get back into the fighting. There's a chance they've found the rest of the villagers, including a friend I thought was dead. I don't want to see this country suffer again. " Heart Throb was disgusted. "Unbelievable. You betray our country by joining the LoD and now you want to rejoin? Maverick get out of the way so I can shoot her." "Hey I've put all of that behind me!" Nightshade replied with a bit of rise in her voice. I'm sorry for what I did. " "Spade. My plane ejected me at almost the last second. I was severely injured by the ejection, and I might not have made it if a unicorn from that village hadn't found me and taken me in. While I was laying in that bed recovering, I thought about what you said during the dogfight. And what I did finally started to sink in." It sounded like her voice was starting to break as she continued. "Then I found out Sundance, my friend who I thought was killed in the explosion, had survived and was living there. We met and I wound up telling her what I did. She forgave me. And soon the rest of the village found out also and they didn't hold it against me either. After that all of my hate for you disappeared. I saw what happened to this country under Discord's control, I don't want it repeated under Chrysalis." "What a crock of shit," Black widow said. "Fine. If that's how it is.." she pulled up and ahead slightly. "Go ahead and shoot me down. Shoot my canopy so you know I'm dead." "Heart Throb and Black Widow started to fly up. "ANY OF YOU DO IT WITHOUT MY SAY AND I'LL COURT MARSHALL YOU MYSELF!" screamed Maverick. "What the fuck is wrong with you Mav?" snapped Tornado. "I believe in forgiveness and giving ponies a second chance unlike you guys!" he replied. Nightshade couldn't believe what Maverick said to his squadron. "Spade you don't have to..." He cut her off. "No I do." He switched back to the main radio channel. "Garuda One to Sky Eye. How is the bombing going?" "The bombers are almost done with their runs, and Mist squadron has the Changeling squadron down to their last two planes," he replied. "Good. We're going to be escorting a... resistance fighter who stole a Changeling plane back to Stalliongrad. Make sure they know," "Oh, OK. I wondered what was going on," sky Eye replied. "Get in behind me Nightshade," Maverick said. "I'm getting behind you just in case," added Heart Throb, and she got behind Nightshade, boxing her in. "So am I going to be able to join again?" she asked. "That's for our brass to decide," he replied. " You did save our flanks a bit so I'll try and help as much as possible. And I'm sure intelligence will find that prisoner camp interesting." For the first time since getting captured she felt at ease. "Thanks Spade." And they headed for home. ------------------ Bloodstone Pass Crystal Empire 08:12 hours. The mountain pass was a scene of chaos and destruction. One group of bombers flew straight down the road, covering a five mile stretch with bombs. The other group bombed the rest of the Changeling Army that was still at the staging area at the start of the pass. Above them the Solar Empire's Mist squadron had decimated the Changeling Fulcrums. "Mist Two fox two!" A Sidewinder shot off the Gripen's rail and hit the MiG in the left engine, blowing it off. "Aww yeah splash one! Where's the other?" Mist Two asked. "He's running!" replied Mist Seven. "He's not getting away." The squadron commander dived in behind him. "Get him Sheba!" No amount of maneuvering could shake her off his tail, and he went down in flames. "Mist One to Sky Eye: All aircraft downed." Raider One to Sky Eye we are done with our runs." "Roger. Great job! Return to base. Mist escort the bombers back to Equestria airspace. Garuda is escorting a defector or something," he replied. "Roger Sky Eye." "What do you think that escort is about Tavi?" Mist Two asked. "I don't know Vinyl but I'll definitely find out," she replied. ---------------------- Gracemareia AFB 08:31 hours. Kreiko had only been in his office for a half hour when Blue Wing came in. "Sir we found some info about this Nightshade." "What is it?" Kreiko replied with a blank face. "We couldn't find any official records, but we found this." And he handed him a book with pages marked. Kreiko read it aloud. "Deceit and Discord. The story of the war between the Empire and the Republic." He turned to the last bookmark. "Turns out she was originally with the Crystal Empire Air Force. She was kicked out after an incident during the war with the Griffins they had. She then joined the Legion of Discord Air Force, and was subsequently shot down and presumed dead," described Blue Wing. "Impressive work," he replied. "It doesn't matter now though." "Why sir?" "She broke out last night, killing seven guards." Blue Wing's jaw almost hit the floor. "Have you found her yet?" "No. It looks like...." Suddenly another Changeling busted though the door. "SIR we know where she went!" "where?" "We just found a dead pilot in the bathroom of hangar one. Blade Four. Looks like she went on patrol with Blade Three in his plane...." and he was interrupted by a third Changeling who handed him a paper, which made his jaw drop. "And it looks like she just took out Blade Three, and assisted a CEAF squadron in their takedown of Droll squadron, then left with them. And a major bombing operation by the Empire just decimated our forces heading through Bloodstone Pass." The look on Blue Wing's face seemed to indicate his brain had blue screened. Kreiko looked down at his coffee cup for a bit before speaking again. "Yep. I was right. And I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of her. Thanks for the info. You're all dismissed," he said, and the others left. He started thinking about it. "She has the heart of a Ursa Major. Individuals like her can change a war. If she is re-accepted by those she betrayed,she could be a huge morale booster for the Empire, and we will be in trouble."