He's a hard-hearted bastard of a day long gone by.
A mix of emotion and laughter in his eye.
A worn out junkie on adrenaline and speed.
A fighter pilot, he's the last of the breed.
IC
【話說天下大勢，分久必合，合久必分。】
"The world under heaven, long divided, must unite; long united, must divide. Such as it has always been." - Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 1, opening lines
A mix of emotion and laughter in his eye.
A worn out junkie on adrenaline and speed.
A fighter pilot, he's the last of the breed.
IC
【話說天下大勢，分久必合，合久必分。】
"The world under heaven, long divided, must unite; long united, must divide. Such as it has always been." - Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 1, opening lines
The mainland is in chaos.
The 2020s began peacefully enough, even as Trump pushed ever harsher restrictions on the People's Republic. The CCP had other options for trade partners, and it found a third world more than willing to accept. Africa, Central America, the Pacific - when America turned its attention inward, China was there to bolster their economies while feeding its own factories - and people. Sure, it was imperialism in all but name, but for a while, it helped.
This turned out to be a grave mistake for the Middle Kingdom, as it soon began to fall into the same traps that had drawn Europe into Africa in the 60s, and America into the Middle East, long since cooled, at the turn of the millennium. The 2030s rolled in like a summer storm. First, Venezuela lashed out against its neighbor Colombia, and the ties of diplomacy forced China to support it in a losing effort. Xi Jinping died as Caracas fell, never to see Colombia swallow two thirds of the nation. His successor was a weak leader, but worse he was frivolous, cruel - sickly. When Mauritania became a caliphate and threatened to do as other caliphates had in the past, it was partly his own recklessness that led to them exploding across the Sahara before a joint effort by Libya, Nigeria, and Algeria managed to stall their advance as the decade ended, and it was further his actions that alienated Niger to the point that many suspect and suspected they might join Mauritania.
His actions, along with issues within China, led to widespread strikes by the migrant workers that had been allowed into China over the past several decades, which quickly evolved into protests, then riots, then uprisings. While these 'Yellow Umbrella Rebellions', named after the uprisings that led to near-limitless autonomy for Hong Kong and Macau decades prior, were all quickly dealt with, new ones appeared almost as soon as old ones were vanquished - seizing control of entire cities or even provinces. As this game of military whack-a-mole progressed, the General Secretary ceded more and more power to these provinces to more efficiently deal with them, all while continuing to increase the grip of China's citizen-monitoring system and pouring more and more into the CCP's coffers. By the time the last of the Yellow Umbrella uprisings were crushed, all but Hebei and Tianjin were largely free of Beijing's direct control.
When he died of a sudden illness in 2040 without any apparent successor, all Hell broke loose. While the military was generally divided among neo-Maoists, Communists of a different color, fascists, a handful of religious men, those who wished to join the Republic of China, and a scant but skilled few with imperial dreams, they were all united in their belief that the CCP had become too corrupt to allow its current leadership to exist. In the west, Xinjiang split in two and broke away, and Tibet (and a part of Qinghai) formally declared themselves as the independent Kingdom of Tibet. From the Potala Palace, its independence has ever since been guaranteed by the full might of the governments of India, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and Thailand. Though Korea continues to reel with the economic hurdles of unification, and Japan continues its purely defensive posturing, these are not empty promises.
The government moved first, attempting to have one of the leaders of the neo-Maoist faction assassinated, a move which failed. In retaliation, he had the President (who at this point was not yet formally the General Secretary) assassinated, then proceeded to install his eldest son as the new General Secretary. He tried, and failed, to convince him and a few loyal (to him) government forces in Beijing to start a purge of the CCP, and even moving a significant portion of the military in northeastern China into Beijing proper did not convince them.
This time, the CCP again made an attempt on the general's life, and this time succeeded. When they spread the video of it across both the global and Chinese internet, they expected the military to be cowed into submission. Instead, they stormed Tienanmen Square and the Imperial City, massacring most of the National People's Congress, the State Council, and the General Secretary's staff. A few escaped along with the General Secretary to the Port of Tianjin, only to find it blockaded by the PLAN. Realizing they had no chance of escape, they surrendered the General Secretary. They then proceeded to sail out into open waters, allowing the Type 95 submarine Long March 22 to torpedo them, with no survivors.
The situation was perfect for a new leader to seize power. A general of the army, codenamed 'Dong Zhuo', who had largely tested his mettle against rebellions in the Shaanxi and southern Gansu provinces. He had Beijing, he had a sizable army and air force (and a respectable portion of the navy loyal to him), and he just so happened to be the first to find the General Secretary and his family.
He moved quickly. He had the General Secretary replaced with his younger, more easily controlled brother, then declared himself Supreme Leader. With that accomplished, he had the former GenSec (and his remaining parents) unpersoned. He has since proceeded to do... largely, whatever he wants, indulging in excesses that would give a late Ming emperor pause, executing dissidents in the street, and using accusations of everything from treason to anti-Communist behavior to steal homes and property for his cronies.
It is now late April, 2042. Himself or through cronies, Dong Zhuo controls most of North and North-Central China, barring Inner Mongolia. So desperate is the desire of the generals to oust Supreme Leader 'Dong Zhou' from power that they have put aside all differences, even allowing the Republic of China to be involved.
It is in this situation that, in an effort to bolster its comparatively small air force, mercenary pilots from around the world are called to Taiwan to assist in the Republic's efforts.
The 2020s began peacefully enough, even as Trump pushed ever harsher restrictions on the People's Republic. The CCP had other options for trade partners, and it found a third world more than willing to accept. Africa, Central America, the Pacific - when America turned its attention inward, China was there to bolster their economies while feeding its own factories - and people. Sure, it was imperialism in all but name, but for a while, it helped.
This turned out to be a grave mistake for the Middle Kingdom, as it soon began to fall into the same traps that had drawn Europe into Africa in the 60s, and America into the Middle East, long since cooled, at the turn of the millennium. The 2030s rolled in like a summer storm. First, Venezuela lashed out against its neighbor Colombia, and the ties of diplomacy forced China to support it in a losing effort. Xi Jinping died as Caracas fell, never to see Colombia swallow two thirds of the nation. His successor was a weak leader, but worse he was frivolous, cruel - sickly. When Mauritania became a caliphate and threatened to do as other caliphates had in the past, it was partly his own recklessness that led to them exploding across the Sahara before a joint effort by Libya, Nigeria, and Algeria managed to stall their advance as the decade ended, and it was further his actions that alienated Niger to the point that many suspect and suspected they might join Mauritania.
His actions, along with issues within China, led to widespread strikes by the migrant workers that had been allowed into China over the past several decades, which quickly evolved into protests, then riots, then uprisings. While these 'Yellow Umbrella Rebellions', named after the uprisings that led to near-limitless autonomy for Hong Kong and Macau decades prior, were all quickly dealt with, new ones appeared almost as soon as old ones were vanquished - seizing control of entire cities or even provinces. As this game of military whack-a-mole progressed, the General Secretary ceded more and more power to these provinces to more efficiently deal with them, all while continuing to increase the grip of China's citizen-monitoring system and pouring more and more into the CCP's coffers. By the time the last of the Yellow Umbrella uprisings were crushed, all but Hebei and Tianjin were largely free of Beijing's direct control.
When he died of a sudden illness in 2040 without any apparent successor, all Hell broke loose. While the military was generally divided among neo-Maoists, Communists of a different color, fascists, a handful of religious men, those who wished to join the Republic of China, and a scant but skilled few with imperial dreams, they were all united in their belief that the CCP had become too corrupt to allow its current leadership to exist. In the west, Xinjiang split in two and broke away, and Tibet (and a part of Qinghai) formally declared themselves as the independent Kingdom of Tibet. From the Potala Palace, its independence has ever since been guaranteed by the full might of the governments of India, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and Thailand. Though Korea continues to reel with the economic hurdles of unification, and Japan continues its purely defensive posturing, these are not empty promises.
The government moved first, attempting to have one of the leaders of the neo-Maoist faction assassinated, a move which failed. In retaliation, he had the President (who at this point was not yet formally the General Secretary) assassinated, then proceeded to install his eldest son as the new General Secretary. He tried, and failed, to convince him and a few loyal (to him) government forces in Beijing to start a purge of the CCP, and even moving a significant portion of the military in northeastern China into Beijing proper did not convince them.
This time, the CCP again made an attempt on the general's life, and this time succeeded. When they spread the video of it across both the global and Chinese internet, they expected the military to be cowed into submission. Instead, they stormed Tienanmen Square and the Imperial City, massacring most of the National People's Congress, the State Council, and the General Secretary's staff. A few escaped along with the General Secretary to the Port of Tianjin, only to find it blockaded by the PLAN. Realizing they had no chance of escape, they surrendered the General Secretary. They then proceeded to sail out into open waters, allowing the Type 95 submarine Long March 22 to torpedo them, with no survivors.
The situation was perfect for a new leader to seize power. A general of the army, codenamed 'Dong Zhuo', who had largely tested his mettle against rebellions in the Shaanxi and southern Gansu provinces. He had Beijing, he had a sizable army and air force (and a respectable portion of the navy loyal to him), and he just so happened to be the first to find the General Secretary and his family.
He moved quickly. He had the General Secretary replaced with his younger, more easily controlled brother, then declared himself Supreme Leader. With that accomplished, he had the former GenSec (and his remaining parents) unpersoned. He has since proceeded to do... largely, whatever he wants, indulging in excesses that would give a late Ming emperor pause, executing dissidents in the street, and using accusations of everything from treason to anti-Communist behavior to steal homes and property for his cronies.
It is now late April, 2042. Himself or through cronies, Dong Zhuo controls most of North and North-Central China, barring Inner Mongolia. So desperate is the desire of the generals to oust Supreme Leader 'Dong Zhou' from power that they have put aside all differences, even allowing the Republic of China to be involved.
It is in this situation that, in an effort to bolster its comparatively small air force, mercenary pilots from around the world are called to Taiwan to assist in the Republic's efforts.
Welcome, brothers in arms, to the 168th Foreign Volunteer Mercenary Squadron (Wild Crane) of the Republic of China Air Force. Due to the small size of both the Republic of China and its military, it (along with manywarlordsfreedom fighters across the collapsing People's Republic of China, have called upon mercenaries both from and out of militaries around the globe to plug whatever gaps in capability they may have. The situation in Mainland China is dire. Dong Zhuo, self-appointed supreme leader of all China, is a vain, lascivious, sadistic tyrant who rules the sizable chunk of China he controls with an iron fist. For the first time in almost a century, forces in the mainland and the Republic of China have set aside their differences to oust a threat to the peace, freedom, and prosperity of the whole of Chinese existence.
This is an Ace Combat RP where you, the players, will participate as a mercenary air squadron. You will be given missions and awarded a paycheck after each sortie, the amount of which is predetermined plus additional bounties granted for each kill (land, sea, or air). This is a realistic take on Ace Combat so act accordingly. Know the limitations of your aircraft. An A-10 is unlikely to be intercepting MiG's at 30,000 ft. This also means a realistic missile/bomb/rocket count. I also ask that one use appropriate jargon to the best of their abilities. However, this is also a cyberpunk RP, so there will be plenty of the exotic weapons characteristic of the games later in the Ace Combat timeline (6, 7, X, and 3, specifically). That means lasers, railguns, drone swarms, multimissile launch pods, cloaking fields, energy barriers, and cockpit-less aircraft. It also means hacking, cybernetic parts, and genetic engineering, but hopefully you won't have to deal with ground combat.
Kills will be allowed for the player to dictate so long as self-moderation is employed. Not every missile/bomb/rocket should find its target, and unlike the games you are not a master Ace with no equal. If this trust is abused then I and my Co-OP will be forced to intervene, something which I hope to avoid.
You may have a maximum of two characters (pilot and co-pilot) if your aircraft has a need for one. Exceptions will be made for aircraft that have more than two (EA-6B Prowler) on an as-needed-basis. NPC's can be controlled by players to a small degree so long as they are not important to the story. Major NPC's will be controlled by OP, Co-OP, or anyone given permission to do so.
As many of you can probably guess, the basic premise of this RP is based on the Three Kingdoms period. However, you will (probably) not be playing as any of the warlords in particular; and even if you are, said warlord will be represented by the entire 168th, not just you.
Here are the planes of note of the world, at least the ones that are 'reputably' for sale via the means through which you obtain planes. Isn't the automation of assembly great? As long as you have the money, you can get just about any plane in the world! Your current price limit is $4.5 million. Variants start at an extra 500 thousand, except for planes that cost less than 1.5 million, in which they cost 250 thousand. The one on top is the least expensive, the next one down costs $100k/$50k more than the first one, the next $150k/$75k more than the first, etc.
Exotic weapons and mods, unlike standard stuff (anything that exists as per December 8, 2019), costs money to purchase for your craft, though if they require reloading, the ammunition for them does not. If you buy a new plane that isn't by the same nation, you will most likely need to buy a new exotic weapon. They are in the spoiler below this one. Fictional planes, from the Ace Combat series, have their nationality in parenthesis after the price.
TIER I
Fighters:Multiroles:
- MiG-31B Foxhound-B ($600,000)
- MiG-31BM - Superior efficiency and radar detection range.
- IAI Nammer ($650,000)
- HAL Tejas ($650,000)
- Chengdu J-10 Firebird ($700,000)
- Panavia Tornado ADV F3 ($700,000)
- Grumman F-14D Super Tomcat ($800,000)
- Atlas Carver ($800,000)
- Mitsubishi F-15J Eagle ($900,000)
- McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle ($900,000)
- Eurofighter Typhoon ($1 million)
Attackers:
- Mitsubishi F-2A Viper Zero ($500,000)
- IAI F-4E Terminator 2020 ($550,000)
- F-4X - While the radar and avionics aren't as advanced as the Terminator 2020, the F-4X features an absolutely beastly engine capable of Mach 3 at high altitude, and avionics/radar of similar capabilities to the F-15C.
- Sukhoi Su-33 Flanker-D ($600,000)
- IAI Lavi ($650,000)
- Panavia Tornado GR4 ($700,000)
- Saab JAS 39C Gripen ($700,000)
- JAS-39E - Better radar and engines, longer range, larger payload
- AIDC F-CK-1C/D Hsiang Sheng ($750,000)
- McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E/F Super Hornet ($750,000)
- EA-18G Growler - Electronic warfare variant.
- McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II ($800,000)
- General Dynamics F-16C Block50+ Fighting Falcon ($850,000)
- Shenyang J-16 ($900,000)
J-16D - Electronic warfare variant
- Sukhoi Su-30 Flanker-C ($900,000)
- McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle ($900,000)
- Dassault Rafale ($1 million)
- Ilyushin Il-102 ($500,000)
- Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II ($700,000)
- General Dynamics F-16XL ($1 million)
- Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot ($1 million)
Su-25TM Frogfoot-C - Improved avionics and air-to-air capability.
TIER II
Fighters:Multiroles:
- Mikoyan MiG-31bis ($1.5 million)
- McDonnell Douglas F-15SE Silent Eagle ($3 million)
- Sukhoi Su-30SM ($3 million)
- Shenyang J-11D Flanker-L ($3 million)
- AIDC F-CK-1 G/H ($3 million)
- Sukhoi Su-47 Firkin ($3 million)
- S-32 Firkin-C - Two-dimensional thrust vectoring with improved avionics.
- Northrop Grumman ASF-14 Tomcat II ($3.5 million)
- Eurofighter EAF-2000C Typhoon ($3.5 million)
- Sukhoi Su-35S Flanker-E ($4 million)
Attackers:
- Mikoyan MiG-31FS ($1.5 million)
- F-16V Viper ($1.5 million)
- Saab JAS-39G Gripen-G ($2 million)
- MBB Lampyridae ($2 million)
- Sukhoi Su-34BM Fullback-C ($2.5 million)
- Sukhoi Su-30SM Flanker-H ($3 million)
- Mikoyan MiG-29K ($3 million)
- Mikoyan MiG-35S ($3 million)
- F-15EX Advanced Eagle ($3.5 million)
- Chengdu J10D Firebird-D ($4 million)
- Eurofighter EAF-2000D Typhoon ($4 million)
- Rafale B/C/MF4 ($4 million)
- Eurofighter ADFX-01 Morgan ($5 million)
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1.44 ($5 million)
- McDonnell Douglas F-15 ACTIVE ($5 million)
- Textron Scorpion ($1.5 million)
- Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine ($1.5 million)
- Mikoyan MiG-31K ($2 million)
- Samsung F/A-24A Apalis ($3 million, Korea)
- Lockheed A/F-117X Nighthawk ($3 million)
- Yakovlev Yak-141 Freestyle ($4 million)
- Fairchild Republic A-10G Wild Weasel ($5 million)
TIER III
Fighters:Multiroles:
- Northrop Grumman YF-23 Black Widow II ($6 million)
- Mitsubishi F-2 Shinshin ($7 million)
- TAI TF-X ($7.5 million)
- McDonnell Douglas XF-36 Kite ($7.5 million)
- Boeing F/A-32 Erne ($6 million)
- Sukhoi Su-57 Felon ($8 million)
- Chengdu J-20 Fault ($8 million)
- Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor ($10 million)
Attackers:
- Yakovlev Yak-43 Flashbulb ($6 million)
- Saab Flygsystem 2020 ($7 million)
- Mitsubishi F-3 Shinden II ($7.5 million)
- KAI KF-X ($7.5 million)
- HAL AMCA ($8 million)
- BAe Replica ($8 million)
- Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II ($8.5 million)
- F-35C - Carrier variant.
- F-35B - Jumpjet variant
- Yakovlev Yak-201 Falconet ($9 million)
- Shenyang J-31 Fouler ($9 million)
- Mikoyan LMFS ($9 million)
- Erusair XFA-27 Phoenix ($10 million, Brazil)
- Northrop Grumman X-02 Wyvern ($10 million)
- Albastu-Electrice CFA-44 Nosferatu ($10 million, Romania)
- Boeing A-12 Avenger II ($8.5 million)
- Lockheed Martin F/B-22 Strike Raptor ($10 million)
TIER IV
Fighters:Multiroles:
- Boeing F/A-32D Erne ($11 million)
- Boeing F-15 2040C ($11 million)
- Mikoyan MiG-41 Flintlock ($13 million)
- Mitsubishi F-2C Shinshin ($15 million)
- Sukhoi Su-57BM Felon-E ($17 million)
- Chengdu J-20C Fault-C ($17 million)
- Lockheed Martin F-22D Super Raptor ($18 million)
- Neucom R-102 Delphinus-B ($18 million)
- Grunder ADF-01 Falken ($20 million, Germany)
Attackers:
- Yakovlev Yak-201BS Falconet-D ($11 million)
- Boeing F-15 2040E ($11 million)
- Saab F2020-C ($13 million)
- Shenyang J-31D Fouler-D ($14 million)
- BAe Replica Mk IV ($15 million)
- Lockheed Martin F-35D Chain Lightning ($16.5 million)
- F-35F - Carrier variant.
- F-35E - Jumpjet variant
- Neucom R-101 Delphinus-A ($18 million, Japan)
- Northrop Grumman X-02S Wildcat II ($20 million)
- General Dynamics F-16ZL Sakerfalcon ($11 million)
- Yakovlev Yak-141bis Freestyle-D ($12 million)
- Boeing A-12C Avenger II ($15 million)
- Lockheed Martin F/B-22D Strike Raptor ($18 million)
- Neucom R-201 Asteroza ($20 million, Japan)
- Grunder ADA-01B Adler ($20 million, Germany)
TIER V
Fighters:Multiroles:
- Lockheed Martin XR-45 Caliburn ($45 million)
- Boeing FFR-41MR Mave ($60 million)
- Sukhoi Su-70 Okhotnik ($65 million)
- Shenyang J-XX ($65 million)
- General Dynamics XFA-36 Game ($75 million)
Attackers:
- Eurofighter FFR-31 Sylph ($30 million)
- Boeing F/A-XX ($35 million)
- BAe Tempest ($40 million)
- Neucom R-103 Delphinus-C ($50 million, Japan)
- Dassault FCAS ($55 million)
- Embraer-FAdeA XFA-33 Fenrir ($75 million, Brazil/Argentina/Colombia)
- Grunder ADF-11 Raven ($100 million, Germany)
- Neucom R-302 Fregata ($30 million, Japan)
- Grunder ADA-01D Adler ($50 million, Germany)
- Neucom R-211 Orcinus ($65 million, Japan)
- Boeing A-66 Dauntless II ($85 million)
Big ol' dang ol' world map
Big ol' dang ol' map of East Asia. The huge red splotch is the area currently controlled by Dong Zhuo.
Great Powers:Middle Powers:
- Brazil: Many times in the past, Brazil has come close to Great Power status only for it to slip away as its economy, ever dependent on one thing or another, suffered a catastrophic depression. That was not the case in the 2020s, as the economic boom from assisting Colombia in defeating Venezuela, coupled with the diversification of its economy, seems to have finally set Brazil on course for prosperity.
- France: Despite numerous threats to make good on threats that it would threaten to tear itself apart, the Fifth Republic has held firm and held strong. For the first time in almost two centuries, it's now the biggest military power in Western Europe, eclipsing the UK as it recovers from a Brexit that cost it Northern Ireland. Interventions across the Frankosphere has continued to hone l'Hexagone's blade.
- Germany: Recovering from the years of Merkel, when the Bundeswehr was the laughing stock of Europe, was a long and hard road, but Germany has certainly made it, thanks in part to the upstart company Grunder. Established as a manufacturer of lasers and military parts in the early 2020s, it rapidly expanded to both military and commercial aircraft. But it's the invention of COFFIN that really put it on the map, and the income from that has brought the Luftwaffe up to strengths not seen since it fought against a Communist Russia.
- India: While it didn't quite make it by 2020, the expansion of its Navy and Air Forces throughout the decade, along with slow but steady buildup of something resembling infrastructure, were enough to make India the newest of the Great Powers. Backed up by a population approaching two billion and the largest intact military on Earth, should China fail to reunite India is poised to take its place as the supreme power of the Eastern Hemisphere. Perhaps a part of its growth is the vast explosion of the value of thorium, of which India has nearly half the global supply.
- Italy: Least of the Great Powers even now, Italy is more than content to stay that way. Even with French power and Britain's control of Gibraltar, Italy continues to dominate the Mediterranean, and it is partly with Italian help that Mauritania has been prevented from getting anywhere near the Mediterranean coast.
- Japan: With the repealing of Article 9 as the situation in China began to deteriorate, there were fears in East Asia that Japan was heading back towards imperialism. Even as its military modernized and expanded, these proved to be quite unfounded, as while the Japanese were willing to dispel with having a military that did not exist on paper, they were quite content to continue having a military that was largely defensive. What few activities they have been up to since have largely involved assisting the UN in Africa, and steering any wayward Chinese aircraft away from Japanese airspace.
- Russia: It is highly ironic that the Bear, besides the Dragon, is the one considered most likely to next fall from Great Power status. As modern as its military is, as large as it is, most recent endeavors by Russia have been less than stellar - assisting a few independence movements in eastern Europe and the southern Caucasus have cost it economically, to the point that its previous, rather liberal, administration offered Kaliningrad to the Germans. Stranger still, they accepted. The obvious and recent downside of this has been a rather spectacular upsurge in hard-right conservatism in Russia, eclipsing that of even the late Putin era.
- United Kingdom: Not since the Napoleonic era perhaps have the Royal Armed Forces played second fiddle to those of their eternal enemy across the Channel, but here we are. Leaving the EU had the effects expected by both ends of the political spectrum, and only recently has the British economy reobtained stability, even if that stability is largely dependent on the United States and the rest of the Commonwealth. Scotland has again recently voted for independence, and again decided against it by a very narrow margin. Crime, likewise, has finally lessened, though it had less to do with loosening restrictions on self-defense and slowed immigration than it did a total overhaul of the British police system.
- United States: With China collapsing, America has once again become the sole true superpower of the world, though whether that is still true is a bit of a mystery. Certainly America has the military might to police the world, but nearly three decades of that has resulted in a wholly disillusioned nation. The past few administrations have pulled back on American military actions around the world, and the country as a whole has grown more isolationist with every passing day. Still, it fields one of the largest non-African forces against Mauritania, and its East Pacific forces are greatly interested in China's current situation. Of further note is the annexation of Cuba, which happened shortly after its own government collapsed in 2034. North Cuba, South Cuba, and Isla de la Juventud were made states all within a week of each other, becoming the 53rd, 54th, and 55th state, respectively.
- Argentina: While no longer (officially) trying to claim the Falklands, the right-wing slant of Argentina's current political culture makes it clear that's not out of the question. It, along with the other powers of South America, were greatly involved in putting Venezuela down when its socialist government engaged in the old socialist tradition of imperialism.
- Australia: With the growth in desire for uranium over the 21st century, and the discovery of ever more resources, Australia has had plenty of income over the past several decades. That, coupled with the expansion of massive solar farms across the Outback, means that Australian wallets have become plenty full.
- Austria-Hungary: While not a country per se, it is more so than the EU is, and the countries that make up the 'Central Europe Alliance' as it is formally called make decisions jointly enough that they may as well be one. Formed in the 2020s as a metaphorical wall against refugees perceived as abusing Europe's kindness, such a measure eventually proved unnecessary as the influx of immigrants tapered off as the Syrian Civil War, the minor Turkish-Greek War (which saw Turkey ejected from NATO), and the Kurdish Independence War came to an end. Still, much like the EU it is a part of, Austria-Hungary seems to be more than the sum of its parts.
- Botswana: Without the shadow of AIDS hanging over it, Botswana has continued its meteoritic rise to being one of the most prosperous nations in Africa. Two minor regional conflicts have helped it turn its attention to the military - first, the Fourth Congo War that saw parts of the Congo break away, and then the Zimbabwean Civil War in the late 2030s that saw the deposition of the ZANU. The biggest boon, and the cause of the latter war, came during the twilight years of the old ANC's dominance over South Africa. When it attempted the same land reforms Zimbabwe had in the 1990s with force, many white South Africans moved north. Botswana and Mozambique, as they had before, welcomed them with open arms. Zimbabwe did not.
- Canada: Much like Australia, the Great White North (which is much less 'white' than it once was) has benefited greatly from the explosion of the value of uranium and thorium, both of which Canada has in large amounts. Western Canada continued its steady march into conservatism, but overall the situation in Canada has been quite stable. Proportionate to the size of its military, Canada is one of the largest providers of UN aid globally.
- Colombia: In the past few years since Colombia seized most of Venezuela's land (and a good half of the oil), Colombia has done well to rebuild its damaged new territory into something of its own image. While once such a huge influx of new oil money would be a watershed, the number of fossil fuel-dependent vehicles has grown smaller with each passing year, especially in the first world. Not to say Colombia is doing poorly, only that if it intends to be a Great Power, it will have to look elsewhere for easy money.
- Egypt: As the largest economy in North Africa (especially with its entire competition at war, not that Egypt isn't involving itself), it makes sense for Egypt to be a major player, and it provides much of the heavy hitting in the northern and eastern theatres of the campaign against Mauritania. After the assassination of el-Sisi in 2027, who had spent much of the previous years becoming more dictatorial, there was a brief bout of instability, but Egypt has since recovered. Its main problem since then has been continued economic inequality and the consequences of that.
- Ethiopia: Ethiopia shocked the world in the mid 2030s when it swept into Eritrea, citing gross human rights violations, and proceeded to annex it, swiftly crushing any and all resistance. It has not been idle since, building up a navy to assist operations in the Red Sea and all around the Horn of Africa to patrol for pirates, and tanks and planes to deal with threats from both Somalia and South Sudan.
- Indonesia: The loss of Aceh to a peaceful separatist movement seems to have had little, if any, impact on the growth of Indonesia. Remarkably, no other sectarian efforts in the country have had anywhere near the level of success, and what experience the Indonesian military has comes from service to the UN.
- Iran: While relations have calmed down in relation to both Russia and the United States, and the levels of freedom in the country have returned to pre-Revolutionary levels (mostly), Iran remains firmly independent in its world view. In the Islamic world, it has largely supplanted Saudi Arabia as the dominant power, which may be part of why relations with the West have warmed, as Iran has more to offer than oil and Mecca.
- Israel: Several regime changes, one after the other, in the 2020s nearly led to political chaos in the State of Israel, and the government nearly turned on itself as the wheels-within-wheels networks factions within the Mossad wove for themselves began to unravel. However, the ship of state has weathered the storm, and Israel has once again become the dominant power of the Levant and west-central Middle East, with a Mossad on a much shorter leash and more amicable relations with its neighbor across the West Bank.
- Korea: When the Kim dynasty imploded in 2024, Korea swooped in to assist its neighbors to the north before China could react, and paid dearly for it. While its military remains potent (and Korea continues to control its nuclear stockpile), economically it is a shadow of its former self as it continues to wrestle with the sheer magnitude of how far behind the North is.
- Malaysia: With a sizable Chinese minority and a competitive industrial and economic sector, it only makes sense for the Malay kingdom to be interested in the crisis in China. Already well on its path to becoming a 'developed' nation by the early 2020s, by 2040 Malaysia has flowered to one of the strongest economies in Southeast Asia. Even if nobody will still fly on their airlines.
- Nigeria: The largest by population, economy, and military in Africa, when Boko Haram collapsed in the early 2020s and took much of the nation's Islamic extremism with it, many Nigerians believed their problems would be over. For a while, they were correct - Nigeria improved its infrastructure, modernized its military, made sweeping QOL reforms to economy and education, and excised corruption throughout the government. HDI soared, and the good times continued all the way up until Mauritania exploded into Mali. Nigeria was called to defend, and found itself sucked into a war that continues to span most of the western half of the Sahara.
- Pakistan: Pakistan's rivalry with India may not have gotten worse since the nation became recognized as a true Great Power, but it certainly hasn't gotten any better. China's collapse has not helped matters for the country, leaving Iran as its only true ally, and Iran has drifted closer to the West than Pakistan has.
- Philippines: As the nation distanced itself from the West and leaned towards the East under Duerte, the declining fortunes of both Russia and China were expected to reverse the growth of its economy. This has not been the case, as the Philippines recently passed Singapore as the third-largest economy in Southeast Asia. While its military has largely stayed out of the China crisis, it has built it up nonetheless - just in case.
- Poland: Much like Austria-Hungary to the south, Poland's biggest rival today is Russia. Unlike Austria-Hungary, Polish interests have been outwards, a trend continued ever since their entry into NATO. After the US, they continue to be the largest contributor per capita to NATO and UN deployments, though with America's increased reclusiveness the gap has steadily shrunk.
- Saudi Arabia: The Sick Man of the Middle East, as the world has turned away from oil, the Sauds realized too late that diversification would be key to Arabia's dominance of the region. Their status as a Middle Power, and their dominance over the peninsula, is more out of geopolitical inertia than anything else. They remain dominant simply because the UAE has no interest in expanding its borders beyond the annexation of Socotra over two decades ago, and they see no reason to expand into the vast sands of the Arabian interior, which grows more worthless by the day as fewer and fewer vehicles run on oil.
- South Africa: When the ANC finally made good on their threats to seize white-held farms by force, which resulted in nearly the entire white farmer population of South Africa leaving the country to nations to the north, many thought it would be the end for South Africa, or at least the ANC. However, since it happened within weeks of elections, the opposite happened. The ANC fell from grace, their replacements in power swiftly changing plans for improving the lot of black farmers in the country, and it seems to have worked. The old ANC fell apart within the year, and the new ANC, while the largest in the opposition, has yet to come anywhere close to the level of trust or control the old ANC once enjoyed.
- Spain: While far from the global powerhouse that France or even Italy are, Spain is no slouch, either. After the US and Italy, Spain provides the third-most military assistance from outside of Africa to the forces fighting against Mauritania; with Japan's help mostly consisting of aid, Article 9 repealed or not. Of particular note is the Spanish Navy's involvement in harassing what passes for the Mauritanian Navy.
- Sweden: Despite hints that it was leaning towards it earlier in the century, Sweden has remained its staunchly neutral self, even as the storm of politics raged around it. While other nations have stuck closer to their alliances, Sweden has remained firmly in the UN's camp, and its most recent military deployments have all been to Africa, in all theatres - Zimbabwe, the Congo, Somalia, and Mauritania.
- Turkey: Erdogan's later years in office proved disastrous for Turkey. Attempts to crush Kurdish independence backfired spectacularly, and subsequent aggression towards Greece nearly cost them Istanbul and did cost them most of Thrace. It has recovered since, but any hopes of being the sole regional power of the western Middle East have long vanished.
- UAE: If any country is most likely to reclaim Arabia's status as the supreme power of the Arab world, the UAE is it. It diversified its economy first, it modernized its military first, it expanded freedoms first - though make no mistake, the Emirates is still a federation of monarchies first and constitutional second. Its navy is most notable as the leader in most anti-piracy raids throughout the Horn of Africa, usually backed up by its own air force and those of the Saudis and Ethiopia.
- Vietnam: It is perhaps ironic that Vietnam is the most vocal supporter of America in the world, but a few years of war compares little to decades of suppression under the French, and centuries under China. Vietnam has by far the most powerful military in Indochina, and arguably in all of Southeast Asia. It is very much involved in the China crisis, though whether that is simply to support American efforts or to ensure China is the one under another nation's thumb for once is anyone's guess.
⑨. Have fun, and as always, stay frosty.
- Thou shalt obey OP, my word is law.
- Co-OP, to be determined, his word is also law.
- Oh, just make decent posts. I've long since passed the need to care about post length, so long as you don't spam one-liners.
- No godmodding. Simple as that.
- Three strikes and you get shot down.
- If you are inactive for a week or more, please TG me before replying with your current character. I may ask you to create a new one. Or just pester me on Discord.
- Keep it PG-13.
- I expect a certain amount of research to be done on the plane you're selecting. Know what you're buying, and know what it is and is not capable of.
- Every time you reference Top Gun, I get a quarter. From you.
Everything in grey in the character app is optional.
- Code: Select all
[floatright][size=200][background=black][color=#FFBF00](SURNAME, INITIALS)[/color][/background][/size][/floatright]
[floatleft][box](Image go here, optional, you can also use Appearance below instead if you want, recommend a pic less than 800 pixels tall)[/box][/floatleft][blocktext][b]+++Name:[/b] (Include nicknames and titles)
[b]+++Age (18 at youngest):[/b]
[b]+++Sex/Gender:[/b]
[color=grey][b]+++Sexual Orientation:[/b][/color]
[b]+++Appearance:[/b] (Mostly optional if you have a picture, but put in height and weight regardless)
[b]+++Identifying Marks:[/b] (Mostly optional if you have a picture, but describe anything hidden in the image, like tattoos)
[color=grey][b]+++Augmentations:[/b][/color]
[b]+++Rank (O-1 or O-2):[/b] (Republic of China has two O-1 ranks)
[b]+++Call sign:[/b]
[b]+++Aircraft:[/b]
[color=grey][b]+++Aircraft Appearance:[/b][/color]
[color=grey][b]+++Emblem:[/b][/color]
[color=grey][b]+++Modifications[/b][/color]
[color=grey][b]+++Exotic Weapons:[/b][/color]
[b]+++Funds:[/b]
[b]+++Psychological Analysis:[/b] (personality)
[b]+++Weaknesses:[/b]
[color=grey][b]+++Likes/Dislikes:[/b][/color]
[color=grey][b]+++Interests:[/b][/color]
[b]+++Fears:[/b]
[b]+++Nationality:[/b]
[color=grey][b]+++Ethnicity:[/b][/color]
[color=grey][b]+++Languages Spoken:[/b][/color]
[b]+++Religion:[/b]
[b]+++Birthplace:[/b]
[b]+++Permanent Residence:[/b]
[color=grey][b]+++Criminal History:[/b][/color] (If any)
[b]+++Skills:[/b] (Don't go overboard)
[b]+++Bio:[/b]
[b]+++Why You're Fighting:[/b]
[b]+++RP Example:[/b] (Members of WoF, who have been invited via Discord, or who were in Ace Combat: Broken Line do not need to provide this)
[b][color=#FFB300]DONG-ZHOU-IS-A-FAT-FUCK[/color] (DO NOT REMOVE)[/b][/blocktext]
Upgrades will be available for older aircraft (newer planes can be upgraded as well with increased costs) with the goal of keeping low-Tier planes competitive for longer against more advance, stronger foes. There is no strict system to follow when upgrading (official stats to consider) and this will simply be for RP purposes. Note, however, that an upgraded plane should perform better than stock aircraft of the same Tier, but will still be outclassed to some degree by those in the next Tier. No, strapping a set of pulse laser pods to a Super Tomcat will not make it better than a Raptor. The SOLE exception to this is COFFIN Mk. II and above, which automatically bumps your plane up one full Tier. Note that some planes already have COFFIN; most planes in Tier IV and above have COFFIN Mk II.
Wehrner and Noah, the primary supplier to mercenary squadrons in the Republic of China, has an office and storefront on the base the 168th will be using, as well as several dozen throughout East Asia. This system is subject to change as needed.
HARDWARE
- Engine Efficiency
($200,000 + $25,000 per additional engine + $25,000 x Tier)
Minor upgrade to improve both fuel efficiency and engine responsiveness without sacrificing speed or performance.
- Engine Upgrade
($200,000 + $50,000 per additional engine + $100,000 x Tier)
The engine is completely rebuilt from the ground up, granting a boost to maximum speed and performance. Stability issues may arise, however, for airframes that cannot handle the additional output. Caution is warranted.
- Cloaking System
($2,000,000 + $150,000 x Tier x 2)
A wide-ranging suite of holoprojectors and cameras designed to hide an aircraft across the visual spectrum and along parts of most radar bands. Puts a substantial drain on an aircraft's electrical system, so most are designed to shut off automatically when weapons are fired or if the plane is hit.
- COFFIN Mk I
(50% of airplane's purchase price + $500,000 x Tier)
COnnection For Flight INterface Mark I. Replaces the cockpit glass with additional armor and a set of cameras around the airframe and OLED screens, providing a seamless view above and below the cockpit. Allows 360-degree view for visual sensors as well.
- COFFIN Mk II
(75% of airplane's purchase price + $750,000 x Tier x 2)
An electro-neuron synaptic interface is installed in the cockpit and the entire cockpit is replaced to suit it, as most physical dials are no longer needed. A neural interface connects to the pilot, usually via interfaces around the wrists, allowing the plane to be controlled by thought. The interface also connects to the body's senses, allowing the pilot to 'see' a seamless 360-degree view of the plane's surroundings.
- COFFIN Mk III
(Airplane total value INCLUDING UPGRADES + $1,500,000 x Tier x 5)
Essentially Mk II taken further, instead of a 'control by thought' system as in Mk II, the Mk III system connects to the brain directly, via an interface at the back of the neck. Beyond this, it also uses (mandatory) pilot augments and the plane's own computers (which require overhaul on older airframes) to accelerate the pilot's thought and reaction speed far beyond that of a normal human's as well as that of most drones. However, there is the natural risk of brain damage from connecting one's mind so deeply to an airplane. Not to mention the mental effects of it.
SOFTWARE
- Conversion
($200,000 + $50,000 x Tier)
The computer system is completely reworked to allow for the usage of non-native weapons (American to Russian, for example). This is a trade off, and to again use native weapons the package must be repurchased.
- Radar Improvement
($600,000 + $100,000 x Tier x 2)
Extensive upgrades to the plane's radar system allows for improved tracking of both ground and aerial targets.
- Re-Type
($1,000,000 + $250,000 x Tier x 1.5)
Extensive software upgrades allows for the plane to better fill an additional role. Fighters gain improved anti-ground while attackers gain improved anti-air capabilities, thus making them closer to multi-role jets to some extent. Native multirole planes can instead specialize as either a fighter or attacker.
- Tracking
($1,000,000 + $100,000 x Tier)
Radar can now track and lock onto additional targets simultaneously with no penalty.
SURVIVAL
- Airframe Durability
($500,000 + $100,000 x Tier)
The internal structure is strengthened to better withstand enemy attacks. Planes can potentially survive direct missile strikes though this hypothesis should not be tested in-field.
- Countermeasures Upgrade
($800,000 + $75,000 x Tier)
Flares burn hotter and chaff is more reflective. Countermeasures have a better chance overall of fooling enemy missiles.
WEAPONS
- Hardpoint Increase I
($1,500,000 + $200,000 x Tier x 2)
Two additional hardpoints are added to the plane if possible. Weight limits still apply.
- Hardpoint Increase II
($2,500,000 + $300,000 x Tier x 3)
Two additional hardpoints are added to the plane if possible. Requires Hardpoint Increase I. Weight limits still apply.
- Missile Combat Upgrade
($750,000 + 150,000 x Tier)
Missiles acquire faster lock-on and are more capable in combat.
- Missile Reconfigure
($1,250,000 + 250,000 x Tier)
Standard missiles can be used effectively against both aerial and ground targets at the cost of a severe range penalty. Range is decreased by 50%. Specialized and long-range missiles are unaffected.
EXOTICS
- Pulse Laser
($750,000 + $25,000 x Tier)
A directed-energy weapon that fires laser pulses in short bursts, capable of tremendous damage to anything not specifically armored against lasers. It can fire at great speeds and, like all lasers, suffers no effects from wind or gravity. Comes built-in on ADF-11 Raven and at a discount of 15% on all Grunder and Sukhoi aircraft.
- Tactical Laser
($1,000,000 + $75,000 x Tier)
A directed-energy weapon that fires a laser beam in a continuous burst for up to several seconds, depending on model. The beam is capable of tremendous damage, but one must take care not to hit things one doesn't intend to with it. Comes built-in on ADF-01 FALKEN and at a discount of 15% on all Grunder and Mikoyan aircraft.
- Light Electromagnetic Launcher
($600,000 + $50,000 x Tier)
A rail gun that uses electromagnetism to fire bullets at high speeds, causing immense damage. As it is unguided, its accuracy depends on the pilot.
- Heavy Electromagnetic Launcher
($1,250,000 + $100,000 x Tier)
A rail gun with a longer barrel and a larger projectile, designed to destroy particularly hard-to-penetrate targets at a cost of weight. As it is unguided, its accuracy depends on the pilot. Comes at a 25% discount on both Wyvern versions and the Nosferatu.
- MIRV
($250,000 + $25,000 x Tier, minimum Tier of III)
An air-to-air missile with multiple warheads that detach after a certain distance, allowing it to either lock onto multiple targets, or more easily defeat infrared countermeasures. This comes at a cost of destructive power, naturally.
- Multi Launch System
($500,000 + $50,000 x Tier)
A small pod containing up to six short-range missiles capable of locking onto several air or ground targets at once, with the main downside being size and weight. Comes at a 15% discount on all Sukhoi and Erusair aircraft.
- Aerial Launch System
($1,000,000 + $75,000 x Tier, minimum Tier of II)
A large pod containing several short-range missiles capable of locking onto several air or ground targets at once, with a maximum of 12 as that is the capacity of the pod. Comes at a 25% discount on the Nosferatu.
- Heavy Laser
($5,000,000 + $1,000,000 x Tier x 2, minimum Tier of III)
An extremely large and powerful laser capable of enormous destruction. It is advisable not to use it if you have any doubts about the health of your aircraft's electronics, or at night.
- Weapon UAV
($1,000,000 + $75,000 x Tier, minimum Tier of III)
A drone controlled by either the co-pilot, computer systems on board, or both, capable of attacking targets for you with built-in pulse lasers.
- Barrier Pod
($1,000,000 + $100,000 x Tier x 2)
A fuselage-mounted pod that extends a barrier around the aircraft, capable of withstanding a fair amount of anti-aircraft fire or up to a medium-sized air-to-air missile. Once. Newer versions can recharge themselves through the plane's electronic system without needing to land.
* 10% reimbursement for disassembly or 50% buyback during aircraft trade-in.
* Upgrades lost due to destruction of aircraft will not be replaced or refunded.
* Quality Assurance Guaranteed!
This is how much your kills are worth. Note that this may change as needed, and that special circumstances may arise that do not follow the set bounty list. Keep track of your kills. OP and Co-OP will double check if things don't seem to add up, but we'd like a bit of self sufficiency.
AIRCRAFT:
- Fighter (F#)
$50,000 x Tier Level
- Bomber (B)
$125,000
- Strategic Bomber (SB)
$200,000
- Gunship (GS)
$200,000
- Reconnaissance (R)
$150,000
- Helicopter, Attack (HA)
$25,000
- Helicopter, Cargo (HC)
$12,500
- Light/Medium Cargo (CAL)
$25,000
- Heavy Cargo (CAH)
$35,000
- Tanker (AT)
$12,500
- Command (AWACS)
$250,000
- Unarmed Drone (UAV)
$25,000
- Kamikaze Drone (UKAV)
$45,000
- Barrier Drone (UBV)
$75,000
- Drone Carrier (ADV)
$600,000
- Airborne Fortress (ACL)
$300,000
- Heavy Airborne Fortress (ACV)
$750,000
- ACE (ACE-F#)
$50,000 x Tier Level + $125,000
GROUND:
- Vehicle (G)
$12,500
- Light Armor (APC)
$25,000
- Tank, Light (TL)
$37,500
- Tank (T)
$50,000
- Artillery (A)
$75,000
- Artillery, Heavy (AH)
$100,000
- Artillery, Rocket (AR)
$125,000
- Anti-Air (AA)
$37,500
- Anti-Air, Flak (AAF)
$50,000
- Surface-to-Air-Missile (SAM)
$75,000
- Surface-to-Air Missile, Heavy (SAM-H)
$100,000
- Cargo (C)
$25,000
- Structure, Light (SL)
$10,000
- Structure, Heavy (SH)
$40,000
- Structure, Super Heavy (SX)
$75,000
NAVAL
- Cargo (N)
$25,000
- Light (NL)
$50,000
- Frigate (NF)
$75,000
- Destroyer (ND)
$100,000
- Cruiser (NC)
$200,000
- Arsenal Ship (BB)
$300,000
- Aircraft Carrier (CV)
$500,000
- Submarine (SSN)
$150,000
- Missile Submarine (SSG)
$250,000
- Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSB)
$500,000
- Submersible Aircraft Carrier (SSV)
$600,000
