//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: Breakout // Story: Ace Combat: The Changeling War // by Lonewolf78 //------------------------------// Chrysalis's Palace May 16 2023 21:10 hours. "WHAT? DAMMIT!" Chrysalis threw a vase, almost hitting the Changeling who came in to tell her about the loss of both Oured and their missile sub. "How could you idiots be so incompetent?" "Your highness we did our best!" he replied in a bit of a panicky voice. "Their forces are stronger than we thought. Namely this one CEAF squadron called Garuda. Plus Equestria used their orbital laser to destroy the missiles and finish it off. Not to mention they also brought in a squadron of planes equipped with lasers to take down the missiles. We did cause them damage including to a few ships." Chrysalis was disgusted. "Guess we should've invaded Equestria also," she replied. "So now what?" "They'll no doubt try to take Manechester, which is well within range of our remaining missile platform. We are re-supplying it with missiles as we speak." Chrysalis sighed. "Very well. Keep me informed. Perhaps send in Druid squadron instead of missiles." "Yes your highness." ---------------------------------- Stalliongrad AFB Equestria May 17 2023 06:35 hours. Nightshade was tossing and turning in her sleep. She was having the same nightmare about her old village getting destroyed by the bomber. She woke up with a jump, and realized she had been dreaming again. "You OK?", asked Tornado, who was walking by her door when she woke up. "Oh yeah. Just a dream," she replied. She tried to doze off until seven, but couldn't, so she went ahead and got up. After the squadron ate breakfast, it was time for the briefing for the day's mission. Slugger and Citrina entered the room. "OK pilots here's the mission. Only now have we discovered Stallionshire and the Blue Mountain army and air force bases are still under our control. A large amount of troops, armor, and aircraft are still held up there, unable to move out because the only pass to the city is heavily occupied by Changeling forces. Recon suggests they may be getting ready to try and take the city as the number of troops at the West end of the pass has increased in the last couple of days. The Changelings were jamming the area, so we couldn't hear any transmissions there until we destroyed the jamming station that was located East of Oured." "Any idea of how many of our troops are there?" Maverick asked. "There's around five thousand, plus around 90 tanks and other armor, and 40 to 50 planes and helicopters, including one of our stealth squadrons," replied Slugger. "Your mission is to destroy the Changeling forces in and around the pass and city. Doing this will free up the troops for the push to Manechester, and give us another air base to use. Though we're not certain, there's still the risk of another missile attack, so be on alert." Slugger then picked up the squadron assignment paper. "Squadron assignments will be Garuda and Diamondback for air defense, Adder, Tornado, NLR Timberwolf and Empire Silver for ground attack." Then Citrina spoke. "This will also be your last sortie from this base. After you return you will be packing up and heading to Oured. It's been a pleasure helping you out." "Aaaaw just when I was getting settled in," Nightshade replied, getting a few giggles from the others. And the squadrons left for the hangars. ------------------------------------ Gracemareia AFB 10:14 hours. Kreiko found himself interrogating another CEAF pilot who had been shot down. "So how many planes are in your squadron?" He asked. "One less than before," the pilot replied. "Yes but how many?" "All I'm gonna' say is, go dance with the angels stink bug!" "Another defiant one eh?" replied Kreiko in a disgusted tone. "You actually figured that out?" cracked the pilot. "Take him away," Kreiko said to the guards. As the pilot was led out, he thought to himself: "The number of CEAF pilots and troops that are this defiant is growing, and it all has to do with a squadron called Garuda, and two pilots. One named the Ace of Spades, and the other... the one who broke out of here. As I figured, she is proving to be a morale booster for the Empire. It's only going to get tougher for us from here on out." --------------------------- North of Manechester 12:45 hours. "Sky Eye to all planes: Commence operation. Garuda and Diamondback: We have six bandits inbound 60 miles out at angels 11." "Roger. Diamondback stay with the others. We'll handle them," replied Maverick. And they sped off. "Not a very big force is it?" Kiwi said. "That's what I was thinking," replied Nightshade. "Just keep your eyes peeled in case another group tries to sneak up or they have stealths." A short time later they were within firing range. "Let's get in close. Save our long range missiles," Maverick said. "That's funner anyway," replied Black Widow. So after dodging the Changeling's missile salvo, they got behind them and the fight began. "J-10's again," Tornado said as he performed a split S and got behind one. The pilot put up a fight, but made a mistake and Tornado rewarded him with a sidewinder. Then Nightshade got behind one and got a gun kill, and immediately had to dodge a missile from a third. Black Widow got behind it took it out. "Damn that was close. Thanks Tempestra." "Anytime", the black unicorn replied. Meanwhile at the pass, the bombing was underway. The huge F/A-29B's of the NLR's Timberwolf squadron led the charge. Dropping their laser guided bombs on bunkers and command and control facilities. The Solar Empire Silver squadron fired their anti radiation missiles at SAMs and anything else emitting radar waves. The warthogs of Tornado squadron dropped clusters on the troops, and Adder's fired Mavericks at armor. Above them Diamondback squadron took care of helicopters while providing cover from any aircraft that might sneak in. "Diamondback Three evade!" yelled Diamondback One as a shoulder fired SAM streaked towards him. A few flares easily threw it off. Back at the air battle, Kiwi got the fourth J-10, and the other two tried to run. Maverick and Heart Throb caught up to them though and used radar guideds to take them out. "Sky Eye to all planes: Scope is clear." "Borrrr-ring", replied Surprise. "There's gotta' be more," added Stormy. Several minutes later Sky Eye came back on. "All planes: Now picking up 14 bandits inbound 53 miles out. Flight profile suggests fighters." "Roger," replied Maverick. "Diamondback we need some help." "We're on the way," Diamondback One replied. "They must have been flying low," Kiwi said. "Yeah, it happens," replied Maverick. 13 minutes later Diamondback had caught up with Garuda, and both were within missile range. "BVR this time," Maverick said. All of Garuda and four of Diamondback locked them up and fired. It looked like it would be good, but all of the bandits managed to dodge them. "DAMN," He yelled. "All planes engage at close range!" And the squadrons made a head on encounter with them, and the fight was on. "SU-33's. That's new," Tornado said. "I wonder if the druid on the nose means anything?" Heart Throb said. "Those are carrier based. The Changelings don't have a carrier," replied Surprise. "Maybe they got a deal on them. The LoD had a few," added Nightshade. It was soon apparent this dogfight wasn't going to be like the others. "This squadron is good. Keep on your toes," Maverick said after he tried to get behind one, only to get thrown off by a air brake move. Nightshade tried to lose one by doing a cobra, but the Changeling did it also, so she dived and kept trying to lose him. "Damn you're worse than a blowfly." She sped into a dive, hit the brakes, and did a somersault while firing her cannon like Maverick did to her. It worked, and she got the kill, but she briefly lost control due to the weaker mobility of the SU-27. "Stealing my moves eh?" Maverick said. "It's the most sincere form of flattery," she replied. Maverick then managed to get behind one long enough to get a heat seeker locked on. The 33 was agile, but not enough to throw off the "X" sidewinder. Then there was a radio call. "This is Diamondback One, I need some help." The commander of the Changeling squadron was on his tail. "Hang on we're coming," replied Tornado, and him and Stormy went after them. But after getting behind him Stormy had to break off to lose another. Before Tornado could do anything the commander fired his cannon, shredding the rear of Diamondback One's plane. "I'm hit! I'm losing control!" "Get out!" Yelled Diamondback Two, who was still tied up with another Changeling. And he ejected. "Cocksucker!" Yelled Tornado as he fired a radar guided and a sidewinder. The commander dodged the radar guided, but couldn't react in time for the sidewinder, and got hit, destroying his plane. "The commander is down!" A changeling yelled. "This is Druid Two I'm taking over," replied the commander's wing Changeling. Meanwhile Kiwi and Surprise had pulled the one off of stormy and took him out. The Diamondbacks seemed to be a little disorganized after losing their commander, constantly making mistakes. "Pull it together or you guys will join him," Maverick said. The message seemed to work, and Diamondback Five got one with a gun kill. "Somepony get this one off of me," Black Widow announced. "I'm on him," replied Nightshade. she dived behind him for a lock, yet he continued to try and get a lock on Widow. Neither could due to the amount of twisting and turning. "On my mark do a cobra," Nightshade said to her, and Tempestra got ready. "NOW!" Widow did the cobra, which threw off the Changeling enough for her to get a gun kill. Maverick then found himself behind the commander's wing Changeling, who was now the squadron commander. "Damn he's good," the Changeling thought as he tried to shake him. He succeeded by pulling a back flip. "Not gonna' work," Maverick said as he hit the breaks and did a sharp split S and dived under him. Once again Maverick was on his tail. Maverick fired a Sidewinder, but he dodged it. "Niccccce try pony," the Changeling said to himself. He pulled another cobra to get behind him again, but Maverick was ready. He hit his breaks and fired his cannon, striking it dead center. The plane lost both of it's engines and tumbled straight down. "Now Druid Two is down!" another Changeling yelled. "Control what do we do?" "Retreat!" the controller replied, and the squadron hit the afterburners and headed back towards the East. "Oh no you don't!" Black Widow said as she fired a pair of radar guides at one. The pilot dodged the first, but not the second. The rest were now too far ahead to mess with chasing. "WOOHOO we win again!" yelled Surprise. "Sky Eye to Garuda and Diamondback: Nice job! Your replacement squadrons are almost here so you can return to base." "What's the status of Diamondback One Ice?" Maverick asked. "Search and rescue is already out. We did pick up his beacon," he replied. "How's the battle on the ground?" asked Nightshade. "We've already taken out over half of their troops. The next squadrons will finish the job." "Sweet," she replied. 21 minutes later their relief had arrived, and they headed back to Stalliongrad for the last time. ------------------------ Chrysalis's palace 17:45 hours. "YOU'VE GOTTA BE SHITTING ME? Dammit we should've used the missiles!" screamed Chrysalis. "How the hell could Druid squadron get that beat up?" "It was that Garuda squadron again. They took out six of the seven including the commander," replied her aid. "Get the squadron rebuilt. I'll get another commander," she said. "I suggest Colonel Silver," a dark voice said. "And if he fails, I'll take over." "Sir are you sure?" the aid asked. "Yes. I know how to deal with pests like that squadron." " Good. Nice to see you're willing to get your hooves dirty in this war. It was your idea after all," replied Chrysalis. ------------------------- Stalliongrad AFB 17:48 hours. The CEAF squadrons had finished packing up their gear and belongings, and had loaded them into two C-5's along with some aircraft support equipment they bought while there. "Thanks for the home Citrina," Slugger said as he shook her hoof. "Anytime. It's gonna' be a little boring around here now," she replied. "Hopefully your next home after Oured is Gracemareia." "Don't worry. It will be," replied Maverick. "See ya!" yelled Surprise. And with that the squadrons got into their planes and took off for their new home.