Ace Combat: The Conversion Bureau

by Eagle

Buddy

“Due to the extremely aggressive nature of Equestria in the past few days, the Republic of Ustio has agreed to send assistance to our allies at the front. This assistance will come in the form of a mercenary unit paid for by the Ustio government. This unit, the 6th Air Division, will be made up of three units; the 66th Air Force Unit, the 4th Air Force Unit, and the veteran 92nd STFS. The division is to deploy to Heierlark Air Base in Belka immediately to assist.”

Heierlark Air Base, Belka
Briefing room
Operation: Waylay
“Equestrian forces have been advancing on all fronts. One of the more troubling problems we’ve been having is the hit-and-run attacks their Pegasi have been staging. Knowing that we are unable to pass their barrier, they have launched attacks on our air and sea lanes that run between the Osean and Usean continent. They also launch overwhelming attacks on any allied unit that comes close to the barrier. Since they do not require fuel, they have extreme range and present a serious threat. We will launch an operation to draw some of these forces out and engage them on our own terms.”

North east of Belka
September 30th, 2010
13:00 Hours
There was good weather for an ambush in the area over the ocean. There were several clouds from a snow storm covering the area. Just over those clouds, five planes waited for their targets to arrive. Three were F-16Cs. The other two were F-15Cs; one had its wing tips, stabilizers, and rudders painted blue while the other had painted its right wing red.

Galm
Ustio Air Force
6th Air Division, 66th Air Force Unit

“It’s starting to come down,” Galm Two said.

“This is AWACS Eagle Eye to Galm One Cipher and Galm Two Pixy, Scarface has already gone ahead to draw out the enemy. Maintain position with Crow team and await their arrival.”

Crow
Ustio Air Force
6th Air Division, 4th Air Force Unit

“This is Crow Team’s number 3, name’s PJ. I’ll support you any way I can Galm team,” he said. “And by the way, PJ stands for Patrick James.”

“Roger that Crow three,” Pixy replied.

“What do you think going up against a Pegasus is going to be like?”

“I heard they’re frail little bastards, but can move like hell,” Pixy said. “If they’re as tough as they say, I’m gonna have to ask for pay raise.”

“You’re not that scared, are you?” Crow Two teased. “I can see your whole plane shaking.”

“All those too scared to fly should go back to base and wait patiently with their tale between their legs,” Pixy joined in.

“I’m just trying to get an idea of what we’re up against,” PJ replied. “I’d rather not die on my first day on the job. I wanna get home alive.”

“Yea, don’t you have a girl back at base?” Crow one asked, getting an annoyed moan from PJ.

The fighters continued to wait for their targets. They grew more and more anxious with each passing minute.

“Cipher, I’ve heard stories about you…” Pixy was unable to finish before being cut off by the AWACS.

“All planes, large formation incoming!”

Scarface
92nd Special Tactical Fighter Squadron, 6th Air Division

Scarface One, Callsign Phoenix, and his wingman, Callsign Slash, both in SU-35’s, flew towards the large, blue barrier. They as they came closer, they saw a large group moving from the barrier to meet them, a force of some twenty bandits coming to meet them.

“Shoot them down immediately,” their commander said.

“Ready?” Slash asked. “Break now!”

Just as they approached the enemy, the jets broke left and right, turned around, and fled back south.

“Run them down. Don’t let them escape,” the Pegasus commander ordered.

The two planes retreated to low altitude and sped away as fast as they could; all twenty followed, unaware of what awaited them.

“Galm Two to all craft, Enemy at eight o clock low. Looks like our pay has arrived, let’s go.”

The two teams dived through the clouds and pounced on the formation, achieving total surprise. Diving through them, Galm and Crow together bagged seven enemies on their first run. Scarface also turned and re-engaged.

The rest of the attacking formation tried to escape, but had lost coordination as their commander was killed on the first run. Cipher got behind and shot down two, while Pixy bagged two of his own.

Crow team, between the three of them, each got two. Slash attacked another with missiles, but missed on the first try. Repositioning his craft, he fired again and hit his enemy. One got behind him, but Phoenix was watching and shot him down before Slash knew he was there.

The final two turned and flew as fast as their wings could drive them. Cipher, weather it was because he knew they’d return to fight again someday, because he got paid more for each enemy he shot down, or both, he gave chase.
They were fast, but Cipher was faster. Little by little he gained on them. Targeting the one closest to him, he fired a missile and shot him down. He wanted to pursue the second, but he was too far away.

“That wasn’t too bad,” PJ commented.

“It won’t be as easy when they know you’re coming,” said Crow One. “At least this will help deter any more of those hit-and-run tricks they’ve been playing.”

“All enemy units are down or retreating, good work,” Sky Eye said. “All planes, return to base.”

“Cipher, I got a feeling you and me are gonna get along just fine,” Pixy said. “Buddy.”

Everyone at the base was stunned when only one Pegasus returned from a squadron of twenty. What’s more, she seemed to be in shock and had to be carried to the infirmary. When asked about who attacked them she only replied in broken mumbles.

“He was like a…a demon,” she whispered. “Demon.”