Shattered Skies

by The card holder

Harvest

The next month was mostly uneventful. Dash would be sent out on sorties every once in a while, but they amounted to little more than what she called "milk runs". Twilight made sure to keep her friends back in Equestria updated on her status every few days, and was even able to get a couple letters back from Princess Celestia, saying that even though they were worried about her, they had faith she would pull through.

Of course, there had to be a larger sortie at some point, which was why, one day, Twilight once again found herself sitting next to Sunset in the AWACS plane. This time, they were flying out to Rigley Air Base, where a large amount of Erusean bombers were spotted. Wanting to prevent another bombing attack before it even started, fighters were deployed.

Looking out her window, Twilight could see the actually rather small number of planes deployed on this mission. Besides Dash, there were only three other planes, one of which was none other than Mobius 1.

The whole month leading up to this left nothing but questions surrounding his nature. None of the others had seen him outside of his flight suit, so they had no idea what he looked like. Apparently, no one else around the base had, either- or if they did, they weren't talking.

These thoughts swirled around Twilight's head as she got a clear look at his iconic ribbon insignia, before she was shook out of it by SkyEye's voice.

<<Thirty miles to Rigley Air Base. Use the power lines to navigate north. The bombers should be clumped together on the ground. Take them all out!>>

As soon as he was done talking, the four fighters fell out of formation, Dash and Mobius leading the way. Notably, the latter was flying rather close to the ground, while the former was higher in the sky. The remaining two planes took up similar positions behind them.

<<Keep your guard up.>>

As the aircraft traced along the power lines, a building came into view some distance away. Shortly after, a pair of red blips appeared on the radar just ahead of them.

<<Keep an eye on those interceptors!>>

<<Mobius 1 passing over substation.>>

As Mobius launched a single missile into the building, Dash engaged the two fighters head-on.

<<Mobius 1, engage.>>

<<Storm 1, engaging.>>

<<Bogeys closing in on Rigley AB. Scramble at once! This is not a drill, I repeat, this is not a drill! Intercept immediately!>>

<<White 5, this is Rigley Air Base. You're cleared to take off runway 5. Take off as soon as you enter the runway.>>

<<Viper 3, engage!>>

By now, Dash had already taken out one of the planes with a pair of missiles, and the other one was soon following it to the ground.

<<That's two more for me!>>

By now, they had reached the base, where Twilight could see several large planes waiting on the ground, as well as more than a few guns starting to aim towards the advancing planes. Both Mobius and Dash began firing missiles at whatever target was closest, the first run devastating the base, turning several bombers and hangars into smoking wrecks.

<<Enemy facility destroyed!>>

<<Oh no! There's no place to land even if they get off the ground!>>

<<Use the AA guns! Shoot it down!>>

<<This is Rigley we've been attacked! We're currently engaging the enemy!>>

Some more enemy fighters managed to get off the ground, but Mobius was quick to react, taking one out before it even started to climb.

<<Get those planes in the air, now! We're being torn apart!>>

Meanwhile, Dash came in for a second pass at the base, taking out even more bombers. A round from an AA gun hit her wing, but she easily shook it off and returned fire.

<<This is White 1, get him off me!>>

<<Mobius 1, fox two!>>

Another enemy fighter fell to Mobius, which also happened to crash into another plane that was trying to take off, engulfing both in a fireball.

<<Yahoo! Good going!>>

<<This is Rigley. We've taken serious damage from enemy attacks. Requesting->>

The enemy was cut off as one of Dash's missiles hit the control tower, replacing it with static.

<<Almost done here, let's finish this and head on home!>>

Once more, Dash and Mobius started to fly just above the base, launching missiles at any bombers that were left.

<<I'm right behind him.>>

<<Mobius 1, bandit on your tail!>>

Dash fell into pursuit behind the enemy craft, firing a pair of missiles. However, he shook them off, continuing to chase Mobius, who was starting to perform a somersault in order to lose the enemy.

Dash stayed close, waiting for her radar to lock on. <<Come on, come on...>>

The moment she was locked on, Dash fired another pair of missiles.

<<Fox two!>>

Once more, the enemy shook them off, but was soon impacted by another set of missiles. Dash's pursuit gave Mobius an opening to turn the tables on his pursuer. Soon after, he swooped back down over the base, launching missiles at the last two bombers left.

<<Mobius 1 destroyed the target!>>

All at once, the ISAF fighters started to fly back the way they came, free of any enemy pursuits.

<<This is Rigley, our bombers are decimated! Repeat, all our bombers are destroyed!>>

<<SkyEye, this is fighter squadron. Mission complete, we're coming home.>>

<<Hey, Mobius 1, you gotta tell me, you sure you're a rookie? You're flying like you've been doing it for years!>>

<<...>>

<<I'll take that as a yes.>>

The planes flew towards the sunset, the pilots eager to begin turning the tables on the Eruseans. Even Twilight found herself somewhat glad that they were starting to make a comeback, though she attributed that to the fact that they were on her friends' side.

Behind her, Sunset let out a sigh. Twilight took off her headset and turned to her friend. "Is something wrong, Sunset?"

"It's just... I dunno, it just feels like this war's gonna get a lot worse before it gets better, you know?"

Twilight couldn't help but agree, but she tried to hide it. "Don't worry, I have faith in our friends, especially Dash."

"Yeah, you're right, but still... it's just a feeling, you know?"

"I understand, Sunset," Twilight said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "But trust me, I'll do everything I can to make sure all of us survives this. You have my word on that."

Author's Note:

I'm starting to realize that Ace Combat 4 has some of the weakest opening missions in the series.

Comments

[Alexander10]

Yeay. Update

[Johndye]

Since I only played the original games (Especially Ace Combat 2) I can't get any reference without reading the comments

[The card holder]

6813332
...you... did read the story, right?

[forrest yuchnitz]

6814730 not all the chapters yet im on catching up havent had time to read the last 2

[Silentwoodfire]

Interesting and I have never even played the source material