Ace Combat: Shattered Friendships
Offensive Campaign No. 4101: Operation Gelnikos
Author: Draconis187
Amidst the eternal waves of time. From a ripple of change shall the storm rise. Out of the abyss peer the eyes of a demon. Behold the Razgriz, its wings of black sheath.
The familiar call came out once again for the mercenaries to assemble in the Briefing Room, exactly four days after Operation Choker One. The Galm Team were slightly still agitated about having been used as a meagre distraction but it worked out in the end for all concerned so they agreed to finally bury the hatchet. Their successful dogfight with Indigo apparently reached the ears of the Crystal Empire as well as the occupied Equestrian cities and for the first time since the start of the war… they had hope.
The mercenaries were sat next to each other at their usual seats but something strange was sitting next to them. Cipher and Pinkamena were sat next to each other. The events of the previous operation seemed to bring them closer as wingponies… even if they still basically ignored each other’s presence.
Twilight walked into the room and was just as shocked at the sight before her. Shaking it off, she commenced the briefing, “Everypony, it’s time for us to begin with our first real attack. The combined military forces of Equestria and the Crystal Empire will now be referred to as the ‘Allied Forces’ for simplicity’s sake. The objective of this new joint campaign is to secure a sea transit line for our forces in the air and on the water. We have all called it ‘Offensive Campaign No. 4101.’ What it means for us is that there will be three air missions as we assault the Friendship Canal.”
The pilots gave each other a few mixed looks as Twilight started up the projector, “First is Operation Gelnikos. This is an air-to-air/surface operation. The objective is to wipe out the Griffon air power, port facilities and any surface weapons that pose a threat to the next two operations. Next is Operation Round Hammer. This is a strictly air-to-surface operation. The objective is to wipe out the Griffon’s fleet, port facilities and surface weapons. Lastly is Operation Costner. This is an escort mission that will begin once Gelnikos and Round Hammer have been completed. Costner will have you basically babysitting the fleet as it passes through the canal. Expect heavy air resistance.”
Twilight took a deep breath before continuing, “The Crystal Empire 3rd Fleet will be making the push, alongside their new, state-of-the-art aircraft carrier, ‘Cadence’s Heart’. You mercenaries will have a choice of which one to participate in. Choose carefully which one suits you and your planes. I’ll give you one hour.”
Twilight left the projector running as it went through the various slides of the three operations, from the possible forces they believe is stationed there to the layout of the area. As the mercenaries began to talk amongst themselves, Cipher got up and walked to the front of the room. She cleared her throat and caught everypony’s attention. They all went deathly quiet as if a demon was standing before them, ready to strike.
Cipher pressed a button on the projector and the slide stopped at Round Hammer, “There are three mercenary squadrons so we should take one each so that each has an equal chance of succeeding. Grabcr has two different planes and because of this they can adapt to respond to air and ground threats simultaneously. Therefore I suggest either Round Hammer or Gelnikos. Vampir, your Su-27s are nimble air-superiority fighters and would be best used in Costner. This is also due to the fact that you are the only squadron consisting of more than two planes and that will better the odds of the fleet getting through.”
Solace grinned, “So the mysterious mare is giving orders? This will be interesting.”
Cipher visibly shuddered, “Then Grabcr, Gelnikos or Round Hammer? Pinkamena and I will take the other… if there are no objections?”
Pinkamena shook her head, “You’re my flight leader and I’ll go with your decision.”
Snake and Techno looked at each other and nodded their heads, “We’ll take Round Hammer.”
Cipher nodded and looked at Pinkamena, “That leaves the two of us take Gelnikos.”
Pinkamena got up and walked out of the room without responding. Seconds later she returned with Twilight who was smiling happily. She resumed her position in front of everypony and cleared her throat.
“Thank you for coming to a decision so quickly. We’ll fly out immediately and rendezvous with the fleet. We are going to be launching Operation Gelnikos immediately while the rest will launch from the carrier after each of the operations have been accomplished,” She said, showing a picture of the carrier in question on the screen, “Dash, how are the Wonderbolts going to be handling this operation?”
Dash looked to her group who nodded their heads at her, “We will be splitting into three groups with Spitfire, Soarin and I leading each of them. I will be leading Misty Fly and Lightning Dust through Round Hammer under the codename Spectrum Strike. Spitfire and Blaze will be assisting Galm in Gelnikos using the codename Firestorm. Finally Soarin, Surprise and Fire Streak will be helping in Costner as Hurricane.”
Twilight nodded her head and switched the projector off, “Alright then everypony, get ready to sortie in two hours.”
**** **** **** ****
Eagle Eye was lined up on the runway as usual as the pilots finished checking and outfitting their aircraft. Techno’s Black Widow had been outfitted with Mk.77 Napalm bombs while his flight lead went for the XAGM loadout consisting of AGM-65G Mavericks.
Galm went for a mixed loadout, with Cipher handling the bombing as she outfitted her Eagle with Mk.84 2000lb bombs. Pinkamena went with the XMAA loadout so she could clear the skies for her flight lead.
Vampir went for a solely air-to-air loadout, consisting of R-77RVV-AE (AA-12 "Adder") XMAA missiles. The Wonderbolts also varied their loadouts depending on the operation they were participating in. Spectrum Strike went for ARAK 70 rocket launcher pods. Hurricane were utilising an XLAA loadout consisting of MBDA Meteors. Finally Firestorm had outfitted themselves with BK-90 (DWS 39) Glide Bomb Stand-Off dispensers.
Each plane sped past the control tower in fairly quick succession, causing a few ponies to lose their balance and fall onto their flanks due to the shockwave. One dropped their ‘World’s best sister’ mug, smashing it and spilling its contents across the floor. Needless to say, Aloe wasn’t too happy.
**** **** **** ****
Three hours of uneventful flying began to end as the Friendship Canal began to come into view in the horizon. Down below on the water was the Crystal Empire 3rd Fleet. Twilight made last minute checks on all the communication systems as Galm and Firestorm flew on ahead to begin Operation Gelnikos.
“Galm, Firestorm, eliminate all Griffon forces stationed at the port,” Twilight called out.
“Firestorm 1, roger,” Spitfire said over the radio.
“Firestorm 2, understood,” Blaze responded.
“Galm 2, got it,” Pinkamena called out.
“Galm 1, acknowledged,” Cipher said monotonously.
“Firestorm 2, we got a pair of F-20As heading our way. Keep them off Galm at all costs,” Spitfire ordered.
“Understood Firestorm 1. Engaging hostiles,” Blaze responded, breaking formation as the two Gripens went head-to-head against their opponents.
<----> ---- ---- <---->
“They're here already? That’s faster than our estimates but still within the margin of error,” A stationed soldier remarked.
<----> ---- ---- <---->
“There’s the counterattack signal,” A Crystal Pony remarked as his plane moved in to engage, “I've been waiting a long time for this day.”
“Cipher are you getting this? Eagle Eye, my radar is getting disrupted and I can’t see a thing,” Pinkamena called out.
“It appears they're using radar jamming equipment to mess with our systems. I suggest you can locate their facilities and destroy them, your radar should clear up afterwards,” Twilight replied, “They're messing with my radar as well so I can not help you find them. Try looking where the interference is the strongest.”
“Understood Eagle Eye,” Pinkamena responded, “Any ideas Cipher?”
“The interference appears to be concentrated on the canal’s left side. Take out anything that resembles a jammer,” Cipher ordered as she switched to her free-fall bombs.
<----> ---- ---- <---->
Meanwhile the rest of the Wonderbolts as well as Vampir and Grabcr Squadron had landed on the Cadence’s Heart. The Crystal Ponies were very hospitable and thanked the pilots for helping them in their time of need so they can mount the counterattack.
A Crystal Pony wearing a navy blue navy uniform came up to them and greeted them as they got out of their planes, “I am Captain Barricade of the Cadence’s Heart. Welcome, I hope you're ready for today’s operation.”
Solace grinned, “We were born ready, right everypony?”
Snake and Techno nodded their heads while the Wonderbolts grinned confidently. Barricade shook his head, “I hope those big heads don’t get you into trouble. Make sure your planes are ready, we are launching you the second Gelnikos is completed.”
He turned around and walked up to the bridge to keep an eye on Operation Gelnikos.
<----> ---- ---- <---->
“Galm One, you have a plane on your tail!” Twilight warned as an Su-27 fired off a few rounds, scraping Cipher’s wings.
“I got him Galm One! You just worry about those jammers!” Pinkamena responded, coming to her flight lead’s aid.
<----> ---- ---- <---->
“Postler One, you have an F-15 on your six. It’s Galm’s number two so watch yourself,” The stationed forces’ makeshift control tower warned as Postler 1 heard a missile lock alert.
“I can take care of this. Postler 2, take out Galm Two,” Postler One ordered as Cipher tried to shake him off her tail.
The controller gave a deep sigh, “Watch yourself anyway. They took out Indigo Squadron in B7R.”
“Duly noted,” Postler One deadpanned as Postler Two.
<----> ---- ---- <---->
“Come on, make Pinkamena smile,” Galm Two mumbled to herself as Postler One managed to shake her missile lock.
The Su-27 banked right as Cipher feinted right, giving Pinkamena an opening without having to worry about hitting Cipher in a possible crossfire. The trigger depressed and bullets flew out of the F-15’s main gun. A few slammed into the right horizontal stabiliser, reducing his manoeuvrability somewhat. As they both pulled upwards, another Flanker came towards the duo, firing off a short burst of bullets.
The burst tore a hole through Pinkamena’s red wing and broke the cables for the right aileron. Pinkamena was in a small tight situation as Postler Two came around for another passing attack and she could barely keep on Postler One’s tail.
“Galm Two, Fox Three!” Pinkamena called out as her missile flew from its rail and collided with Postler One, “Well, at least I get a consolation prize.”
<----> ---- ---- <---->
“So much for the infamous Solo Wing Pinkie,” Postler Two remarked as she got a missile lock, “Postler Two, F-”
<----> ---- ---- <---->
Postler Two burst into flame as Firestorm One and Two flew across their flight path, unleashing two lines of bullets as the Flanker was almost torn in half before flames engulfed it.
Pinkamena looked back and saw her two saviours break formation to engage the rest of the air forces, “Thanks for the save Firestorm.”
“Anytime Solo Wing,” Spitfire responded cheerfully, “Now hurry up with things on the ground so we can get started on the rest of the Campaign.”
“This is Cipher, I've found the jamming facilities and am beginning my attack run,” Galm One informed as she switched to her bombs, two out of the four jamming facilities in her sights.
“Galm Team, watch out! There may be SAMs and AA guarding their facilities,” Twilight warned as she continued to survey the battle from the AWACS.
“This isn’t our first party Twilight. We have this in the bag,” Pinkamena bragged as she lined up to take out the remaining two jammers.
“I-I know… I just don’t want to lose any of you,” Twilight responded, her voice beginning to break up slightly.
“We’ll be back before you know it. Galm Two, bomb away!” Pinkamena called out, pressing the trigger and dropping one of her bombs.
<----> ---- ---- <---->
The griffons on the ground looked up and saw the two Eagles flying around. Their honour and duty refused to allow them to leave their posts… even when the whistle of a falling bomb is growing ever louder.
<----> ---- ---- <---->
“Jamming facilities destroyed!” Twilight said, confirming the destruction of all four jammers, “Radar’s all clear now, go get them everypony!”
“Cipher, we have some targets on the other side of the bank. Permission to take them out while you take out the ones here,” Pinkamena requested, as an AA emplacement tried to take her out with a barrage of bullets.
“Granted,” Cipher responded as she fired a missile at a SAM site. The last thing the Griffons saw was a thin metal tube hitting the SAM and detonating the ammunition.
Pinkamena flew off towards the right bank as Cipher lined up her plane with some enemy barracks, dropping a 2000lb metal alarm clock on the Griffons sleeping inside.
“Firestorm One, dropping Stand-off!” Spitfire called out as the SOD flew over a small fuel depot, dropping its payload as it went, “Well, that’s a really beautiful fire if there ever was such a thing.”
“Only you could say something like that,” Blaze commented as he dropped a SOD over a group of stationary trucks, destroying them as he flew past.
“Keep it up everypony and we can get Round Hammer going,” Twilight stated as several ‘blips’ on her radar vanished from view, “They’ll learn what happens when you cross the Allied Forces.”
<----> ---- ---- <---->
“So, how are they doing?” Solace asked Barricade as he entered the bridge of the Cadence’s Heart. Ponies were muttering orders and confirming kills to the forces in the air as they ignored the mercenary.
“So far so good. They should be done soon so I suggest you get ready to take off right now,” Barricade deadpanned as he didn’t look back at Solace.
“Got it. I’ll go tell Grabcr now,” Solace said, slightly disheartened that the captain refused to look at him when he asked a simple question.
<----> ---- ---- <---->
The area around the mouth of the canal was starting to fill up with fire and smoke as Galm and Firestorm proceeded to annihilate SAM sites, AA emplacements and take out a few of the merchant ships stationed at the docks.
“Looks like that’s almost all of them,” Twilight stated as she kept an eye on the radar, “Firestorm, how are you holding up?”
“We’re fine Twilight. A few close calls with a SAM site but nothing we weren’t trained for,” Spitfire responded as she and Blaze chased down an F5-E that tried to attack Galm One.
“Firestorm One, Galm Two has picked up a tail. We should split up,” Blaze suggested as his radar detected a Mirage heading towards Pinkamena.
“Take him out Blaze. I’ll cover Cipher,” Spitfire ordered as her plane got a missile lock, “Firestorm One, Fox Two!”
The missile flew off and collided on the left side of the plane’s fuselage as it banked in an attempt to avoid it. As the plane burst into flame and crashed into the water, Blaze had already set off to help Pinkamena.
“I can’t shake this plane!” Pinkamena complained as her right wing was still refusing to move.
Pinkamena pulled up and flew at a near 90° angle with her assailant following suit. She wrestled with the controls as a burst of rounds pierced the canopy, causing her to cringe.
“Where is my support?!” Pinkamena shouted desperately, her words barley audible as the wind shear drowned most of her voice out.
As the wind howled through the broken canopy, the Mirage’s back half quickly became close friends with a Sidewinder missile, “Thank Celestia! About time Firestorm One!”
“That wasn’t me. I just got here,” Blaze responded as he flew past her.
“Then who-?” Pinkamena muttered but she was interrupted as she noticed a familiar F-15 with blue markings flying by. She chuckled to herself as she shouted over the howling wind, “Thanks Buddy!”
“Galm Team, Firestorm, I’m reading all targets have been eliminated. Operation Gelnikos is a success, I repeat: Operation Gelnikos is a success,” Twilight said as the four planes got into their respective formations for the trip to the aircraft carrier, “Solo Wing, I’m informing the Cadence’s Heart of your plane’s condition. They’ll be ready to repair it once you touch down.”
“Understood,” Pinkamena deadpanned, “The stationed forces aren’t giving us any quarter. Tell the others to expect fierce resistance.”
“Will do Pinkamena,” Twilight responded.
**** **** **** ****
As the four planes were readying to land, the next group - Grabcr and Spectrum Strike - were already taking off to begin with Operation Round Hammer. Misty Fly was the last to take off, clearing the runway as Pinkamena had been opted to go first as her plane was in the poorest condition and needed immediate attention.
“Clear the runway!” Barricade’s voice bellowed, ponies were scrambling to get out of the way in a hurry as the captain’s voice somehow echoed across the deck, “And get those damned mechanics ready!”
Pinkamena’s plane shakily landed on the runway, threatening to topple over as she landed on the front and left wheel first for a few seconds before the right wheel found the tarmac. Cursing as the plane skidded to a halt, the F-15 was then lead to the carrier’s lower depths where a team of mechanics with blowtorches and spare parts were waiting with serious looks on their faces that said: ‘Challenge Accepted’.
Galm One was the next to land, followed by Firestorm as they landed less than two minutes later. As their planes were placed below deck, the Crystal Ponies were cheering for the pilots at their success. To them, it all fell to the others to complete their jobs. Solace and Hurricane joined in the cheers just to be polite and to support their fellow pilots.
**** **** **** ****
Spitfire walked past the cheering crowds after securing her plane below the ship’s deck to find out that Cipher had already left her plane and was helping Pinkamena fix her plane which had suffered far more extensive damage than the former Wonderbolt captain had originally thought. How it was still able to fly to the carrier was a miracle in itself. Pinkamena’s Eagle seemed to be a very durable aircraft and a testament to the plane’s - as a whole - survivability record.
“How are you girls holding up back here?” Spitfire asked as Cipher switched off the blowtorch that was sat next to her.
Pinkamena groaned and let out a disapproving sigh, “Not well. I swear they need to make these planes out of tougher stuff. The metal it’s made up of now is not cutting it and the higher ups are insisting on making us go into the toughest hotspots in this theatre.”
Spitfire looked around and noticed that the team of mechanics were nowhere to be found, “What happened to the ponies that were supposed to be helping you fix your plane?”
Pinkamena smirked, “I told them that if they so much as touched my plane they would end up as a confectionary treat.”
Spitfire’s eyes bulged slightly, “Uh-huh. Why?”
“It was funny… to me anyway,” Pinkamena explained as she gave a small giggle, “Watching a group of ponies tripping over themselves as they tried to run away was positively hilarious.”
“Cipher, you’ve been awfully quiet. Why are you helping Pinkamena?” Spitfire asked as Cipher pulled out the broken cabling with her magic.
Cipher shrugged her shoulders and carried on inserting new cabling into the hole in the plane’s wing. The ‘unicorn’ then walked up to the canopy and pulled on the flight stick.
Pinkamena watched the new cabling do their job as the aileron tilted upwards, “It works. She didn’t say anything when I asked her the same thing. She just ignored me and proceeded to assist the repairs without a word so I decided to not press the issue. How is Round Hammer going?”
Spitfire shifted uncomfortably, “Well, there has been… a complication.”
Pinkamena’s eyes bulged and her evil-looking smile returned in earnest, “Ooh, please do tell.”
“It’s best you see,” Spitfire responded, “Would you like to come along Cipher?”
Cipher looked at her for a few seconds before silently shaking her head. Pinkamena shrugged, “Suit yourself.”
As the pair left, Cipher turned her attention to the plane. She wanted to help with the repairs so she could better understand the inner mechanisms of the F-15. She saw a few electrical wires running through the plane but luckily the bullets missed them. The damage to the canopy was also easily rectified as she levitated a new canopy onto the plane’s back before removing the currently damaged one from the plane. She looked around and saw the Crystal Ponies were eying her intently as she worked.
They didn’t know of the Changeling’s past, nor did they know who she really was but she could feel as if they knew something she didn’t and it was unsettling. They went about checking their assortment of aircraft and handing one another documents all while passing a few glances at her as the canopy clicked into place. Suddenly being alone on a ship surrounded by ponies that are giving her an irritatingly disturbed feeling forced Cipher to stop what she did and go off in search of the bridge.
**** **** **** ****
Finding the bridge was an easy task after a Crystal Pony pointed her in the right direction. The large room was filled with the remaining Wonderbolts, Vampir and Pinkamena. They looked at the radar as the communications came from all sides of the room.
“Mission accomplished,” The sound of Snake’s voice came over the radio, “It’s your turn Solace.”
Solace nodded his head as he, his flight and Hurricane turned to leave, “Got it, we’re leaving now. Captain…”
Barricade gave a curt nod before shouting into a microphone, “Listen up everypony! We are commencing with Operation Costner! Get to your stations, we are leaving immediately!”
The carrier and the surrounding ships sprang into life as ponies ran across the decks, desperately trying to get to their various stations as quickly as possible. Operation Costner had begun…