Ace Combat: Ashes of War (IC/Closed)

by **South Americanastan** » Sat Jul 24, 2021 5:01 pm

2nd Lt. Nick "Whiteout" Callahan and 2nd Lt. Daniel "Phoenix" Johnson
December 13th, 2015 // Toredo Valley, Emmeria

Nick was late. Very late. About an hour late, by his count, but he was never good at math. That's a lot in civilian life. It's nearly forever in a combat engagement. Though slightly embarrassed, he was distracted by the adrenaline of flying. He had always been an adrenaline junkie, whether it was blowing something up, shooting something, or just doing dangerous things in general, he had always enjoyed the adrenaline from it.

Whiteout: <<Hey, Phoenix! You ready for this shit!>>

Phoenix <<No, I'm not.>>

Whiteout <<Really?>>

Phoenix: <<Nah, I'm just fucking with you. Gun it.>>

Whiteout: <<No need, we're already at Mach 2.>>

Whiteout: <<This is Eagle 5, finally showed up>>

The F-4E begins to fly towards Eagle flight. However, on the way there, they encounter a hostile MiG-21 "Fishbed", patrolling above a vehicle convoy.

Phoenix: <<Fishbed, 9 o'clock!>>

White out turns to face the MiG-21, but the hostile aircraft opens fire with it's autocannon.

Whiteout: <<DIVE! DIVE! DIVE!>>

The F-4E dives under the hostile aircraft before quickly ascending on the other side of it, experiencing up to 10 Gs during it's climb. Dan passes out on the way up, and Nick barely manages to stay conscious.

Whiteout: <<Phoenix, you still up?>>

Whiteout: <<Phoenix, do you copy?>>

Fuck, he's out cold.

Nick continues the maneuver, pulling the aircraft all the way up and continuing into a half loop, before righting the plane. This maneuver results in Whiteout being directly on the MiG's tail.

Whiteout: <<HEY! PHOENIX! WAKE THE FUCK UP, I'M ON HIS SIX!"

Phoenix begins to convulse, the first sign of waking up from G-LOC. Meanwhile, Whiteout fights to maintain his advantageous position. The MiG attempts to out turn the F-4E, but Whiteout turns the opposite way and cuts him off at the end of his turn, and attempts to return to the tail of the opposing aircraft.

Phoenix: <<Where the fuck am I?"

Whiteout: <<You're in an F-4E, and we're dogfighting an MiG-21. That good enough for you?>>

Phoenix: <<Oh... Oh yeah. Oh shit.>>

Phoenix takes a moment to collect himself.

Phoenix: <<Alright, I'm good to go>>

Whiteout continues to maneuver onto the tail of the MiG, and manages to get back on the tail of the MiG following a High-G Split.

Phoenix: <<GUNS! GUNS! GUNS!>>

A hail of gunfire comes from the aircraft's M61A1 Vulcan Autocannon, hitting the fuselage of the MiG-21. One of the rounds pierces through the fuselage of the fishbed, tearing through electronics and armor, before hitting the MiG's internal fuel tank. The MiG begins smoking, and soon enough, the High Explosive Incendiary round causes the fuel to combust. The plane explodes in a display of fire and metal, and what is left of the plane falls to the floor.

Whiteout: <<MiG Down!>>

Phoenix: <<We've got a convoy right below us, bump-up for a bombing run>>

Whiteout <<Roger that, Phoenix>>

The F-4E begins to fly upwards, preparing for a bombing run. They circle the tank convoy before moving in. The plane approaches from the front of the 2-tank, 2-APC convoy, and begins to dive down for a bombing run.

Whiteout: <<Alright, Phoenix, drop the bombs.... NOW! NOW! NOW!>>

The unguided bombs soar through the air, each bomb hitting a different spot on the line. The bombs explode with the force of 240 pounds of TNT. The bombs hit their targets, each destroying one of the tanks or APCs. The aircraft is hit by an array of small-arms fire during it's bombing run, causing minor damage to the fuselage, but not managing to damage any electronic or mechanical components.

Whiteout quickly joins Bravo flight's formation.

Whiteout: <<Too close for comfort, huh Phoenix?>>

Phoenix: <<No shit Sherlock, I spent a quarter minute passed out>>

by **Hastur** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 10:07 am

MISSION 03.5: OPERATION GARM
First Lieutenant Miriam “Rattler” Lochte
December 13th 2015
Toredo Valley, Khesed Island, Emmeria

Miriam began her egress. Flying away from the feud as the hostile MiG-21 reorganized itself from their failed gun run, desperately swinging around to get back on the attack. Too low to effectively take manoeuvres against the plane, Miriam pulled the stick. The mirage began the ascent, seeking to gain what little attitude it could muster before the next assault, one that thankfully never came.

Merlin: << Fox two! >>

Over the shrieking gales, an intense thump rang off. A flash over her shoulder revealed what it was. Miriam only caught the cadaver of the MiG-21 disintegrating into the pale white as the silhouette of an F-5E Tiger fluttered behind, scarcely distinguishable, but she knew who it was.

Merlin: << Don’t worry Rattler, you’re in the clear. >>

Miriam softly grunted, a concise smirk swelling as she maintained her climb back up to a better elevation, not keen on flying so low to the ground for much longer with the fighters lurking around.

Rattler: << That was pretty slick Merlin! Knew my faith was well placed! >>

Mirage now at the optimal height, she began her departure back towards the field. Her concentration flipped between the radar system and blizzard outside. From what she could observe, Eagle and Assassin had delivered energetic performances against their objectives. Very little stood in play anymore, most wiped out by the potent opening. Miriam couldn’t help but enjoy the grasp of satisfaction from within the frigid cockpit.

They had done valuable work so far, all they had to do was keep it up.

AWACS Ghost Eye: <<Ghost Eye here. Projected forces at Blackrock are much lower than expected, less than a quarter. Given the timing, it seems naive to assume they aren’t headed your way. We have to mop up here, Kostroma and Avalanche are inbound but it will be some time before they’re in any position to engage. Prepare for an overwhelming offensive soon.>>

She couldn’t say she hadn’t considered it. Losing the arms industry would incapacitate them way worse than the seizure of the city, so the reinforcements made sense. Miriam's brief ray of pride faded as she focused, her expression solemn as the workload suddenly increased, the next aim appearing.

Anvil: <<General, it’s Duggard. We’ve counted up ordinance and all we’ve got is two Javelin’s left and only one targeter. Everything left in the annexes we either can’t fire or is encased in wet rack ice.>>

Swan Song: <<There’s already a truck on the way with launchers. Air Cover, make sure that truck makes it. Swan Song, Out.>>

Without the anti-tank missiles, the annex would struggle to hold off the blitz of armour encroaching inward, a task left up to someone in her sector.

Rattler: << Assassin 3 moving into assist. >>

Miriam declared, her view straying into the factory’s path. The gauntlet that the lorry would have to break through would be harsh. A plethora of targets nevertheless occupied the airspace, and the armoured scout cars on the ground side still presented a hazard. She could handle the BRDMs with her cannons and rockets, but anything heavier would be a challenge, and she’d need their munitions for the imminent dogfights. She hitched for a note, contemplating options.

Rattler: << Mooncalf, you want to assist? You cover ground side and I will keep the skies clear. Let’s keep them safe.>>

The mirage veered to match its new bearing, soaring above the route of the lorry as it went forward with its frantic dash below. A brief blip sang, a fresh contact appearing on the radar system as it ingressed bearing north, altitude low, traveling in line with the road. A warning that it was more than likely a strike aircraft.

Rattler : << Got one contact coming north at low altitude, proceeding to intercept. >>

With precision, the plane stepped into position. Slowly descending to meet it as the wind vibrated the airframe, Miriam combing for the target within the silvery haze. A drab, vague shape rose out as she locked in on it. The hostile plane flashed past well below, the blob too narrow for the mirage to bear out an angle to strike at the higher altitude, the shape proceeding onward.

Miriam dropped the Mirages speed, the fowl’s engines dimming as she wrenched the stick sidewards; the airplane turning toward the desired angle of attack. Now behind it, the mirage entered a leading pursuit on command, tracing the SU-25’s actions as it scurried for the truck, a narrow circular glow helping to steer her into gun range. The sight aligned with the mark; the SU-25’s engine warmth grew dull for a moment before she pinched the trigger inward.

Rattler: << Guns. >>

The war birds green claws missed, the vivid green round squirting off into the white as the SU-25 produced a vigorous right turn.

Rattler: << Missed the mark! Making another run! >>

She snapped the mirage off swiftly, cursing silently. She didn’t want to overshoot the target as the SU-25 continued its turn before moving itself back onto the attack. Requiring a better position, she slowed carefully to assure she didn’t ice up, swinging into an altered angle, mirage gliding around as the opposition pushed, practically within range to knock the truck out. The quiet glare of the reticule aligned with the shape, she wedged the trigger anew.

Rattler: << Guns. >>

The SU-25 wasn’t as lucky this time. The attempted right turn failed as the bullets cracked through the outline. Smoke billowed from it’s mangled frame as the SU-25 sought to remain upright, powerless to keep its angle. The hostile plane descended for the last time as a parachute mushroomed from the cabin.

Rattler: <<Bandit splashed, climbing back up to top cover. >>

by **Sapim** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 1:27 pm

2nd Lt. Helena “Bono” Martiz
December 13th, 2015 // Toredo Valley, Emmeria

The mission was completely modified, what was for me and my squadron to be a simple ground troop support mission in the largest city on Khesed Island turned into a nightmare with confirmation that the Estovakian army was attacking the last Emmerian munitions factory.

Another big problem for me and like all other squads is the biggest blizzard I've ever seen in my life, I had faced a blizzard before during a family trip, getting close to the munitions factory we changed the radio transmission to listen to the second AWACS frequency of Callsign Snake Pit.

AWACS Snake Pit: <<This is Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems Snake Pit to a new batch of friends. Weather tracking radar either has a flock of geese nesting in it, or Toredo Valley is undergoing one of it's many seasonal blizzards. Hope you folks brought block heaters.>>

I was silent for a moment before I said “Fuck” to myself, the place was literally a polar desert and it made me tense.

AWACS Snake Pit: <<We'll be climbing to observation height, but don't get scared little ducklings, we'll be watching you and providing datalink when we can, you're gonna need it. Oh! Speaking of, I'm patching in Callsign Anvil now.>>

The sound of heavily muffled gunfire can be heard then, followed by some screams, and certainly wind. A much clearer voice cut through the radio:

Anvil: <<This is Anvil to all concerned aircraft. I'm currently holed up in greater Toredo with elements of the 2nd Marines. As of current, Estovakian infantry, armoured, and aerial elements are trying their hardest to uproot us and snuff us out. Visibility is less than 200 meters and we're currently relying on our vehicle's thermal optics and backtracing for spotting and targeting, but the Stovies are having the same issues. As it stands we have two major points of operation in Toredo valley. The storage annex and the munitions factory itself a kilometer down the valley from the former. We'll designate them Alpha and Bravo respectively. I got about a dozen JTACs doing their best with what they have but you're gonna have to do the same thing we're doing, thermals and backtracing. Lieuten- Incoming!>>

The sound of an explosion followed by frantic screams, and what sounded like a scream of pain came through the radio, after thirty seconds it was quite clear what will happen when we hear the voice of the "General".

A thick voice, older and with a tone that cut through the radio waves with an undeniable tone of authority.

Swan Song: <<This is Lieutenant General Harris, I'm embedded with the Marines here. I'll be coordinating from here on, radioman's dead. I certainly hope you're reliable in this situation because we're neck deep in it down here. I'm having runners go out and set up road flares within throwing distance of our lines, and Buttress, the ground element at the factory itself is doing the same. You should be able to see them through the blizzard now.>>

Looking down my squad and I saw the red dots on the layer of cloud and mist.

Swan Song: <<Everything that moves outside of those zones that isn't jacked directly in to datalink is considered hostile, and is to be fucking killed with utmost prejudice. I can hear jet engines periodically flying by that sure as fuck aren't you, so there's likely some blind Stovies flying through the blizzard as well. I can't tell you what they are because none of them are getting even remotely close. Best of luck to you all, try not to stovepipe into the ground. Bellic I need a rifle and a designator! I'll give updates when needed, Swan Song, out.>>

Immediately 1st Lt. Takhmina echoes over the radio giving orders to the squad.

Voron: <<Enforcer 1 to all Enforcer callisgns. Support ground forces at the storage annex. Don't let the Lieutenant General suffer the same consequences as Quox's battalion commander.>>

With the orders given I turned my aircraft towards the storage annex, my dive attempts failed due to heavy snow and due to my squadron having eliminated most of the units.

Suddenly an SU-25 dubbed to most Strangereal as Frogfoot comes up behind me, I start doing evasive maneuvers in vain when he was about to shoot me I do the cobra maneuver that took him by surprise. That was my time, I switched to the machine gun and got ready to shoot.

Bono: <<Guns.>>

A burst of twenty 30mm cannon shots flew from my Draken and hit Frogfoot tearing off his right wing causing the plane to fall, I could see his smoke falling until I saw a flash on the ground, I don't know if he managed to eject, will that he or she whoever it is has got it.

Bono: <<Enforcer 6, scratch a Froogfoot, over.>>

by **Langenia** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 1:29 pm

2nd Lieutenant Jose "Spectre" Villanueva

It was that time again. Hitman Squadron had been ordered on another combat mission. They were supposed to support ground forces fighting Estovakian troops in the largest city on Khesed Island: Blackrock. Enforcer flight's job was to provide close air support to Warlock Battalion as it pushed northwards and escort Emmerian soldiers stationed in the skyscrapers of Blackrock out of the city. The flight to the city had been quiet, no Stovie fighters surprising them, no Stovie AA guns and surface-to-air missile systems.

Hopefully this time the debriefing won't go so badly, Villanueva thought to himself as his Fitter strike aircraft flew in formation with Enforcer, headed to Blackrock. It hadn't been pleasant. Although Enforcer flight was called MVP and did not receive any of the criticism directed to other flights, it was because according to Colonel Gain, the standard had deteriorated. Also, the strafing of a retreating enemy infantry company by an Enforcer pilot might not have been seen as morally right by others.

It was at this moment that Villanueva was reminded of what he was fighting for, his family back home. These thoughts preoccupied Villanueva on the flight to Blackrock while the Fitter's engine hummed along the way.

Before they arrived at Blackrock, the mission took a turn, one that would provide a wealth of targets for Villanueva.

AWACS Ghost Eye: <<Colonel Cain, Ghost Eye, please switch to command frequency four.>>

Tombstone: <<Toredo Ordinance Factory is under attack. Griffin, Hitman and Snake Pit squadrons, divert to bearing 323 degrees and make full burn, coordinates are 53.08, -132.35. Upon arrival you'll be contacted by callsign Anvil and given an update on the situation. We lose that factory and we lose our arms. For the rest of you, operational parameters haven't changed, we are still a go for Operation Whiplash.>>

Under his flight helmet, Villanueva raised an eyebrow. A mission update, this early? Oh well. Diverting his plane in direction of Toredo Ordinance Factory along with the rest of Enforcer flight, Villanueva mentally prepared himself for something even worse than the previous mission. Voron's voice crackled over the radio.

Voron: <<Enforcer 1 to all Enforcer callisgns. Support ground forces at the storage annex. Don't let the Lieutenant General suffer the same consequences as Quox's battalion commander.>>

Spectre nodded. He was not just a pilot now, he was a reaper. He observed a pair of Estovakian T-72 tanks attempting to attack a friendly position. It was difficult with the storm raging at the moment, but he could just make out a turret on one, and the gun of another. He decided to do something risky, a low-altitude attack with rockets on the tanks, where he could better see them. Activating his laser targeting pod and using to target one of the Stovie tanks, he prepared to fire his rockets from one of his pods. He fired three rockets in quick succession, first damaging the tank, then piercing its armor, then causing a fire in the turret.

He climbed and turned for another pass, repeating the same quick descent. He tracked the other tank with the pod, then fired three S-8 rockets again. The same thing happened to the Stovie tank as the previous one. He climbed again.

<<Spectre: Enforcer 7, scratch two enemy main battle tanks.>>

As he climbed, he saw a dark mass also climbing. He identified it as an Estovakian Fitter, much like the one he was flying himself. It appeared to be climbing after an attack run on friendly forces. He sped up, intent on engaging and shooting down the enemy plane. He'd never had an air-to-air kill before, but had trained in air-to-air combat back in Leasath. Now, after years of training, it was time to use these skills. He locked onto the Fitter and fired an R-60 missile.

<<Spectre: Enforcer 7, Fox Two.>>

For a moment, he thought he would miss. Then it separated a wing from the enemy plane, causing it to fall back down to Earth. He smiled to himself. This would be a moment he would never, ever forget in his life.

<<Spectre: Enforcer 7, Splash One enemy FItter.>>

For reasons he never understood later in his life, he descended again, looking for more Stovie targets through the storm. A truck was headed towards the fight on the ground. Again, he wasn't certain if he would get his target. He dropped an unguided bomb. The OFAB-100-200 general-purpose bomb didn't hit the truck, but fell nearby, making it stop. At least that was one less Stovie vehicle.

<<Spectre: Enforcer 7, scratch one enemy truck.>>

He continued flying through the storm.

by **Beiarusia** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 1:51 pm

Second Lieutenant Marceline “Mooncalf” Faucheux | Second Lieutenant Benjamin “Vigil” Antall
Morning // December 13, 2015 // Toredo Valley, Emmeria

The Su-34 was circling overhead, low-altitude, a dark silhouette lost to the whiteout conditions as Marceline maintained a simple holding pattern until such time that a new engagement presented itself. Close-Air-Support was progressing smoothly in Bravo Sector. Assassin and Eagle had quickly stalled the enemy advance, and although air superiority had yet to be obtained Estovakian aircraft were finding themselves at a severe disadvantage, caught between the proverbial rock-and-a-hard-place against the snowstorm and the sudden Emmerian defensive. Little by little whatever ground the enemy had obtained in their bid to capture the munitions factory was decisively and methodically whittled away.

With no immediate request for CAS in Bravo Sector, Marceline allowed herself the moment to check that all systems were operating at nominal capacity, specifically the flaps, as well as any other external hardware exposed to the below-freezing temperatures. Performance was somewhat sluggish, maybe, hardly noticeable, but the young pilot wasn’t quite sure given their unfamiliarity with the airframe.

“Everything looks green?” she queried aloud as she checked her instrumentation. “Well, turquoise, but you know what I mean.”

“What? Yeah, we’re good. Nothing’s shot us yet anyway. Maybe a little bit of ice, but it’ll clear, just go faster. I’m pulling up the Kh-29 on the pylon and turning on the laser,” Ben responded over the intercom, hands gliding over the instrumentation as he set everything up. “What’re we doing next? I wasn’t paying attention to the radio, Calf,” he asked again, preoccupied with checking their six.

Marceline pulled them into an aileron roll and, satisfied, angled the Sukhoi back towards the munitions factory. It was about this time that the AWACS informed the pilots overhead Toredo Valley of the progress of the retaking of Blackrock, and how in all likelihood enemy reinforcements were inbound. Worse, ground elements in Alpha Sector were running low on ordinance. Supplies from the factory were already enroute to re-provision the marines, but the truck had dangerous ground to traverse.

Rattler: << Mooncalf, you want to assist? You cover ground side and I will keep the skies clear. Let’s keep them safe. >>

Mooncalf: << Copy that. Repositioning. >>

“These marines owe us big time. I want a bottle of Emmerian Wine after this one,” Ben dreamed aloud over the intercom.

“I’d prefer coffee,” Marceline interjected in her usual absentmindedness.

She turned the Sukhoi onto an alternate course, readjusting their heading towards where the Mirage of Rattler had disappeared into the snowstorm somewhere between the factory and the annex. Visibility was too poor to acquire visual contact so they relied on their instruments to guide them.

“I’ll take coffee, but speaking of owing us…” Ben keyed onto the radio as he slewed onto a lone truck driving down the road at blistering speed.

Vigil: << Hey, guy in the truck with an IR-Strobe, we’ve got you on thermals. Might wanna ease it up on the gas on that next turn or you’re gonna flip. Airpower has got your back, so don’t worry about anything other than your shit driving. >>

“Kh-29 is warmed up. Let’s rock,” he chimed over the intercom, sounding particularly chuffed. “Gotta love the hero moments.”

Marceline rolled her eyes, a gesture that would be largely unnoticed if not for the slight tilting of her head.

Mooncalf: << Don’t mind the WSO. Clearing the roads momentarily. Can you update us on your route so we can prioritize? >>

Sully: << We’re gonna be heading south to a bridge about eight-hundred meters down the road we’re on now. It’s got nailed by a shell last week, so that in combination with the snow, and, well… It may not be there at this point. I’ll let you know when we get there. >>

Mooncalf: << Copy that. Will adjust heading as directed. >>

Ben leaned over, knocking on her helmet once jokingly over the console between them. “C’mon, we’re the good guys. We should be allowed to be boisterous once in a while. It helps morale,” he said as he returned back to looking through the T-Pod, tracing the road ahead up and down for any signatures in the way of Sully. “I don’t see anything. He’s in the clear, but I’ll keep an eye out.”

Marceline, for her part, rubbed at the spot that Benjamin had struck, annoyed, before adjusting slightly their bearing. The Sukhoi passed overhead, southbound and following the road as best as its pilot could. Visibility had not improved whatsoever, and at this altitude the roadway might as well not have existed. A slight descent as Rattler splashed another bandit somewhere not too far off.

COMBAT LOG

by **The United Remnants of America** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 1:52 pm

Second Lieutenant Tobias "Frosty" McLeod

Toredo Valley, Khesed Island, Emmeria

12/13/2015 - 09:40

<<Enforcer-1, this is Enforcer-5. I'm flying heavy, so I'm sprinting out to take down one of those tunnels.>>

Frosty was speeding through the valley, keeping his distance from the locations marked Alpha and Bravo, hoping that if he stayed out of the furballs, he could slip through unnoticed just long enough to jam a bomb into the mouth of one of the tunnels. He'd known the area was a more urbanized location and had brought along his bombs just in case he needed to drop buildings, but a tunnel was basically a long underground building, right?

Frosty pushed his throttle up and felt the familiar sensation of being sucked into his seat. His Thunderchief's bomb bay doors opened as he rapidly approached the location, and he readied dropping a 3,000 pound bomb right into the mouth of the tunnel. He smiled to himself as he lowered his altitude and lined up his shot. The mouth of the tunnel was right ahead of him, and he held until the last second before letting the M118 fall out of his bomb bay.

<<Bombs away.>>

The M118 hurtled towards the ground, slamming into the mouth of the tunnel. He lost sight of tunnel as the sudden loss of 3,000 pounds made his plane jump slightly, and he followed the movement, gaining his altitude back and beginning to lean into a wide turn, bleeding off some speed to come back around. Frosty glanced back at the tunnel as he came around, the mouth was lost in dust and debris hanging in the chilly air.

<<Enforcer-5 confirming tunnel destruction. Hey, Voron, tell me if you need something else destroyed.>>

Second Lieutenant Wulf "Sserpent" Hetzenauer

Toredo Valley, Khesed Island, Emmeria

12/13/2015 - 09:42

<<Serpent arriving on-scene at Alpha. Please do not shoot us down by accident, thank you.>>

Wulf and Jyri glanced at each other and smiled. The location had already been pretty heavily scoured by allied attacks, but even just arriving on scene, Wulf noted some movement immediately. A pair of trucks rolling on single-file down a street near the annex. He saw them stop and dismounts gathering around them, seemingly to set up some sort of blockade.

"Serpent to crew, prepare for fire mission."

As the affirmations rolled in from the crew, Wulf banked the Spooky around so his miniguns were angled towards the pair of trucks and the infantry surrounding them. Then he pressed down on his trigger. He felt the vibrations as the trio of M134s opened up, tracer fire lancing down and walking right into the trucks and personnel surrounding them. He held the trigger for ten seconds, long enough to ensure that nothing moved at the checkpoint.

The Spooky leveled out and Wulf and Jyri both started looking for more targets. Together, the two of them noted other infantry units moving around the Annex, as well as some armored vehicles.

<<Sicario-1, this is Glory. Serpent and I are noting several armored vehicles remaining at Alpha as well as multiple footmobile targets.>>

by **Shyluz** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 3:06 pm

2LT. Zéphyrine Roux "F.R.O.G." de Saint-Hadrien
13th December, 2015 // Somewhere over Khesed Island, Emmeria

F.R.O.G.: << Assassin-Four, fox-two. >>

The shudder as the Atoll dropped off the rail and lanced towards a Stovie Su-17 was lost in the weather's turbulence, but she didn't bother to confirm the hit. The Estovakian forces had been devastated, caught unprepared for the local conditions and staggered by the speed and brutality of the Emmerian's air elements. A dull flash pierced the wintery veil as Zéphyrine banked hard, already acquiring a new target.

F.R.O.G.: << That's a Sukhoi. >>

She ditched the drop tank, the empty metal container whipping into the blizzard behind her as she zeroed onto a Stovie Fitter as it angled towards Emmerian groundpounders. She locked it with another of her missiles, but held off as the Estovakian popped countermeasures, flares and chaff filling the air near him with shimmering smoke and heat. She smiled, and switched to guns.

F.R.O.G.: << Add a Fitter to my tab! Guns! >>

Green tracers streaked into the evading Fitter as Zéphyrine's MiG chattered, the cannon firing for mere moments. The Fitter was left a flaming heap of scrap falling to the earth, the pilot punching out. F.R.O.G. waved as she shot past the parachuting pilot, a twisted smirk hidden by her helmet as she vectored for another bandit. The Estovakians had lost any semblance of air superiority, the only aircraft of theirs left were meant for strike missions, carrying only the minimal loadout for self-defense.

Merde, this one was braver than the rest. The Stovie knew that he couldn't evade the more agile Fishbed, so he instead chose to engage.

An Aphid streaked towards her, and she cursed. She slammed the Fishbed into a roll, breaking hard and low. The Aphid streaked nearby. Unfortunately it appeared that Stovie surplus was markedly more modern than Aurelian, and the Aphid's proximity fuse detonated, peppering her MiG with shrapnel. She didn't feel any major loss of mobility. Zéphyrine spat one more curse, flicking the burners on.

F.R.O.G.: << Assassin-Four, going for guns. >>

She kept evasive, not letting the Fitter get a good angle on her for guns or another Aphid. She came up at him in an oblique joust, depressing the cannon as the MiG felt as if it was shaking itself apart. Tracers filled the space between the aircraft, and then F.R.O.G. broke hard to the side. The Fitter was less fortunate, the pilot punching out as smoke sputtered out from a dozen holes in the Fitter. Zéffie did a quick check of her fuselage.

F.R.O.G.: << Assassin-Four, add a Fitter to my tally. In other news, I have a couple of holes in my airframe, but remain functional. >>

by **Dayganistan** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 6:56 pm

1st Lt. Takhmina "Voron" Abduloeva
December 13th, 2015 // Toredo Valley, Emmeria

Despite the amount of destruction being brought down upon the Estovakian forces by the mercenaries and the Emmerian Air Force, their offensive had yet to let up. The troops on the ground were running low on anti tank weapons. Resupply was en route, but it would take some time. Intel suggested that Estovakian forces that were supposed to be defending Blackrock would be coming for the munitions factory. However, the friendly aircraft were burning through their air to ground munitions. Takhmina worried they might not have enough to hold off the coming reinforcements and that reinforcements of their own would not arrive in time.

Frosty: <<Enforcer-5 confirming tunnel destruction. Hey, Voron, tell me if you need something else destroyed.>>

The voice of one of her wingmen came through the radio, confirming destruction of a tunnel the Estovakians would possibly use as a reinforcement route. That made their mission somewhat easier.

Voron: <<Frosty, stand by for further tasking from ground troops at this time. I feel like we're going to need every last bomb you can carry in that museum piece.>>

As she gave her orders, the voice of friendly ground troops came through her radio.

Anvil: <<Attention friendly aircraft. This is Anvil 2-3. We have eyes through thermal optics on three times Estovakian T-72s. Requesting close air support. Over.>>

Voron: <<Anvil 2-3 this is Enforcer 1. Can strike your target if you mark with illumination round from grenade launcher or mortar. Over.>>

Anvil: <<Anvil 2-3 copies. Marking target with green flare. Good hunting. Out.>>

Takhmina watched the area around the storage annex for several seconds until a green light streaked through the air from a friendly position, coming to rest approximately 500 meters away.

Voron: <<Anvil 2-3 this is Enforcer 1. Tally target. Danger close, keep your heads down. Pushing.>>

She would repeat her previous procedure for engaging with her guided cluster bombs, putting the Fitter into a dive and lining up her bomb reticle with the green flare. She continued on a slow descent, making slight adjustments until the computerized voice of her aircraft's systems indicated she was within ideal launch parameters. She waited slightly longer after this queue to launch before pressing the weapons release button and releasing her second and last cluster bomb, flying away from the target area at afterburner before circling around to attempt to visually confirm. The explosively formed penetrators would once again find their marks, and circling around Takhmina would be able to spot three smoke columns. She pulled back up to altitude.

Voron: <<Anvil 2-3, I'm confirming destruction of three T-72s.>>

Anvil: <<Copy Enforcer 1. They look destroyed on our end too. Thanks for the assist.>>

Takhmina had done plenty to assist the ground troops so far. But she was still worried it wouldn't be enough. Even as most ground forces had been mopped up around the factory and the aircraft responsible were coming to assist at the annex, there was still the matter of reinforcements. She was still worried they wouldn't be able to stop the attack. She was running low on munitions herself. Surely the friendlies from Blackrock would arrive before the factory is completely overrun. All they had to do was delay the Estovakians, not kill every last one of them. It was still a tough order. She felt the odds were stacked against them but she had to lead by example. She couldn't let them know she was worried about friendlies being overrun and not having enough bombs and missiles to support them.

by **Kassaran** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 7:14 pm

Capt. Romolo 'Beninati' Sciabola, Eagle One
13 Decemmber, 2015 // Toredo Valley, Emmeria

Sciabola: <<Eagle Five, this is Eagle One. Good to see you joined the party. Pull off and hold on the outside until we can give you good cover. Two, on me. Three and Four, post up and wait on Five to rejoin, then break off and secure Alpha ahead of that supply truck. Looks like they're still having quite the fiesta and I'd hate for the General to lose the party favors.>>

There was a brief moment in the air when the Phantom seemed to roll left, but as it gained altitude, it reversed and pulled inverted towards the battlefield. He was southeast of the Factory now, the holding point for egress having been suitable for a moment's respite as the mercenari and his late flight-member had conducted their own attack runs. His search radar showed enough clearance ahead, and he pulled onto target as the Phantom dipped low, the altimeter reading 500 meters as the world outside remained a neverending haze of white snow. The tunnel had been a known location, and a quick talk between Paffuto and the JTACs on the ground had brought up it's location as somewhere beyond the Factory. As he dropped lower, Paffuto called out from the back a fire mission that had just come in.

"Sciabola, APC's, two of them, they're turning towards the truck! if we don't-"

"Just get me the flight plan Paffuto."

Buttress JTAC: <<Eagle One, those BRDM's are moving, I don't think I'll be able to get you good coords for->>

Ahead, the datalink fed the location of the BRDM's moving towards the road, hoping to catch the supply truck as they did. Right-to-left, broadside on and a couple hundred meters lower than the Phantom as Sciabola nosed the beast of war down. The range to the BRDM's rapidly spun lower and lower, the targeting reticle for the cannon coming online. Sciabola didn't even need to say anything as the automatic ranging painnted a small pinprick of green light on the HUD where the rounds would land. Even in the hurtling chaos of the storm around him, he knew the rounds would fly true and Paffuto drew the same conclusion within a moment as the range dropped to less than a kilometer.

Paffuto: <<Guns.>>

In less than a second, the revolving gun in the nose of the Phantom spun up and began spewing it's hatred across the distance. Nearly a hundred 20mm cannon rounds flew across the distance as the burst ended and Sciabola nosed the large craft up and away from the ground. The sight of the BRDM that had been in the lead going up in a flurry of snowy explosions registered as nothing more than faint crackling against the din of the battlefield outside. The first dozen cannon rounds having gone short, but slowly been walked onto target with the gentle nudging of the rudder and pulling back of the stick. By the time the two-and-a-half second long burst had come to an end, the BRDM had come to an abrupt stop in the snow, flames beginning to sputter to life in the cold as the crew hurriedly evacuated their doomed mount.

"Paffuto?"

"Good hits, Rondine and Tasso have the second. Get us to that tunnel."

Sciabola nodded, his helmeted head looking towards the HUD once again. The self-input marker for the tunnel quickly came into focus and Sciabola slowly put the aircraft onto target as the final two JDAMs cued up on their racks. He had only one shot at this, possibly. His eyes watching the snow, looking for any sign of the mountainous edge of the Toredo Valley, he checked the countdown to the drop for the JDAMs. The small, narrow, horizontal line that indicated the drop zone slowly growing closer and closer to the target indicator until finally it fell over it. The craft jolted under the sudden release and sprang up and away, free of the last vestiges of it's air-to-ground munitions.

Paffuto: <<Pickle times two. Rondine will give the BDA.>>

2nd Lt. Marco 'Rondine' Petraglia, Eagle Two
13 December, 2015 // Toredo Valley, Emmeria

Tasso: <<Guns, Guns.>>

The engines roared in anger, the gun slapping out the rounds at six hundred by the second. Two-second-long bursts later and he peeled hard away from the ground as he witnessed the fiery carnage the Phantom's Vulcan had wrought. In the brief glimpse before he had pulled up, he could see the smoke pillar from the first BRDM, now completely abandoned in the fighting, but the second had taken a brief pause, expecting its judgement to have come sooner. Its slow climb back up to speed to try and catch the supply truck leaving the Factory was cut short as the ground before it erupted into explosions from a 20mm cannon, and in the second it had to try and locate the source, it suddenly came under fire from Rondine itself. The rounds flew true, the considerably closer range of the Phantom as it had crossed the 500m mark had given it ample time to barely come into view as the sides of the BRDM blew outwards and shells detonated in their racks.

The Phantom, shaking violently as it experienced the shock of the detonation, cleared the ground with less than a hundred meters to spare by the time it had begun to climb back into the sky. The heavy force of gravity working against its climb as it clawed and fought its way back into a respectable altitude. Ahead, by roughly half a minute, the tunnel had already begun to collapse, but neither Tasso nor Rondine were going to take the chance of it not having been properly struck. His eyes peering at the sky ahead of himself, Rondine waited, his muscles tense and nerves heightened as he waited for the say-so.

"Tass- BDA... now!"

"I'm working it- almost there. It's coming into resolu- now! We're good! Waive off!"

Below them, the mountain rumbled as the tunnel collapsed. The JDAMs had flown true, the sheer velocity at which they'd been released having given them enough speed to not only enter the tunnel, but land a few meters within before detonating. The simultaneous detonations had indeed worked as the General had said, collapsing the whole of the mouth of the tunnel and successfully silencing the threat that it had brought. The factory had to remain, and if knocking out the tunnel ensured that, Rondine would have dropped his own payload. Fortunately, that had not been the case as he slowly brought the aircraft around to follow Sciabola's previous egress route. Watching through the clouds ahead of him as they climbed higher and higher, his radar picked up a second contact ahead of himself. His eyes narrowing momentarily, he recognized the threat for what it was.

Rondine: <<Sciabola! Crank, crank, crank! Tasso!>>

"On it!"

The sidewinders growled on the rack, the seeker heads coming alive and giving their angry report at having been awoken. From the backseat, Tasso frantically began to bring the weapon system to ready status and within a second, the seeker gave an affirmative buzzing as it found what it was looking for in the howling tumult of the blizzard. The lead Phantom had pulled hard to the left, the Fitter on its tail having given chase after having spotted it flying supposedly alone. The close proximity of the Fitter as it had snuck up on Sciabola had meant it had either been lining up for a cannon shot, or had been suffering issues with its weapons, but regardless, it tried to follow the larger aircraft into the turn. It wasn't so much that it was going to struggle to do so, but it had to work that much harder for the shot, and as it tried to maintain its position, its tailpipe had only grown brighter and brighter in the dark depths of the clouds above the battlefield.

Tasso: <<Eagle Two, Fox Two!>>

The Sidewinder leapt to life and vanished into the snowy cover of the clouds, the flaring of its rocket motor lost quickly in the vastness of the tempest and in the few moments Rondine watched his radar after, his apprehension grew. The Sidewinder had gone rogue, or maybe been trashed? What if they'd not locked onto an enemy, but a friendly that had tried to simply form up on the lead Phantom. But those fears were quashed by the cold and grim certainty of pilot and WSO as the signal suddenly changed direction, then broke into two, then three signals. The Phantom rolled as it suddenly flashed past the brilliant and flaming ruins of the Fitter, smashed and shredded by the concussive force of the Sidewinder, as tiny as it had been, coupled with it's devastating warhead. Searching for Sciabola, the clouds quickly parted and the hurtling silver and blue shape of the fighter came into focus below, climbing almost straight up as Sciabola attempted to wrestle the controls back into submission.

Sciabola: <<Eagle One, I think I took some hits. Gah- she's fighting me hard. Think it's the right wing. Two, give me a check-up.>>

Leaning against the edge of his canopy as the two aircraft flew past one another, he saw the ragged edges of the aileron on the right wing, holding on by only a few thin strips of metal and perhaps some of the initial control hydraulics. A thin mist had also begun to form in the wake of the wing and as the two aircraft slowly rolled out of their maneuvers and pulled alongside one another, Rondine understood the extent of the damage. An unknown fluid leaked out across the wing, the cannon rounds had penetrated, but not detonated. Sciabola had gotten lucky in his initially shots, but as he continued to fly, it was likely that the either his hydraulics or fuel lines were severely damaged. After a few seconds more of inspection though, the mist dissipated.

Rondine: <<Eagle One, this is Two. Control surfaces on the starboard wing are shot to hell. Had a fluid leak a moment ago, unsure what. It's stopped now. Recommend you peel off and head back.>>

Sciabola: <<Eagle Two, I hear you Lima Charlie. I'll pull back to a safer location, for now. Form up with Three and Five. Griffin One, this is Eagle One. Factory is cleared of hostile ground. Two is Red on JDAMs, Three and Five are Green and I'm tasking them with assisting Alpha. Four has been nonresponsive. It's possible their radio is out or malfunctioning. I took extensive damage to my right wing and don't think I can do another approach. Requesting permission to disengage and head home.>>

by **Herador** » Sun Jul 25, 2021 8:26 pm

2nd Lt's James "Bones" Gorman & Neisha "Dirty" Deeds
Assassin 5
Toredo Valley, Emmeria
December 13th, 2015

"They're up there doing work." Neisha said, respect for Assassin's dogfighters clear in her tone. "F.R.O.G's last kill makes, what, thirteen for us?" She had mostly been talking to herself and narrating events since James had taken up a pattern above Bravo. Watching the burst of flames through the gloom that must have been the last BDRM, James began to shift towards Alpha.

"Neesh, Let Voron know we're on our way."

Dirty: <<Buttress, Assassin 5, be advised we are leaving Bravo. Call us if you need us though, alright? Enforcer 1, Snake Pit, show Assassin 5 moving to engage targets at Alpha. And yes Snake, we got permission from Merlin, promise.>>

"I wouldn't joke around with the AWAC's." James warned. "Never know with those guys, they could switch your IFF to Foe if you annoy them enough."

"Nah, Snake-y-poo is a nice guy, you can hear it in his- Contact, on our twelve and descending. Get us in close for visuals."

Immediately James began to follow Neisha's course directions, bringing them up on the rear of a Fitter. "Neesh, I can't make it out, storms too thick. I think it's a Stovie?" He was leaning forward in his chair and squinting, trying to make out any detail. "Does he just not know we're here or something?"

"Want me to give him a real good hint?" Neisha asked, a malicious tone in her voice and the light on the console for the AIM-9's came on.

"We're too close, gonna have to-" he was cut off when the Fitter, finally realizing it was being tailed, pulled hard left. Unfortunately for them, it gave James a clear view of the Stovie bird on the verticle stabalizer. "He's hostile."

Bones: <<Assassin 5 engaging hostile Fitter.>>

Thanking his lucky stars that it wasn't one of the MiG's, James began to try and work Hector in for a cannon burst on the Fitter. The storm was certainly doing him no favors, but his foe wasn't having a great time either. The two planes danced around each other like fat kids at prom, clumsily fighting both their own frames and the weather, neither ever really getting the advantage. The Fitter pulled high and right as the pilot gave it some gas, but luck had other plans. The turbulence hit the Fitter hard, forcing it down just enough that for a moment it would be in Hector's crosshairs.

Bones: <<Assassin-5-guns-guns-guns.>>

His report was as rapid-fire as the cannons which did their work all too well. He had led too much, there was a lot of wasted 27mm flying out there, but he had stitched the whole bottom right and tearing it's wing off.

Dirty: <<Assassin-5, splash one Fitter.>>

Putting themselves back on course, they arrived over Alpha only to find it in a right state.

"Lord." Neisha mumbled, looking down at the tracers and explosions of the battle raging on the ground. "There must be at least twice as many Stovies here."

"Better get to work then, no?" James said with a grin, as he tipped Hector's nose down and brought them into the fight.

Dirty: <<All callsigns on station at Alpha, be advised, Assassin 5 has arrived in . Try not to plug us full of holes, please?>>

"You shouldn't joke like that over the-"

"James, shut up and blow something up."

Deciding to oblige the nice lady, James went low and slow, scanning for a target. Neisha pointed out a designator beam. Angling the TIALD to help walk him on to the target. A BMP-2 was pulling back into the swirling snow and small hills of the annex's outskirts, sending frantic fire towards Anvil's positions. Too easy. Waiting until Hector got within spitting distance, James held down the trigger, sending a full second burst towards the APC.

Bones: <<Assassin 5, guns.>>

It took the full burst, but eventually the rounds tore through the roof and hit the rear fuel tanks, blowing out the crew compartment and passengers in a small fireball.

Bones: <<Assassin 5, scratch 1 BMP.>>

Pulling high, James and Neisha began to loiter. This wasn't their zone and they weren't going to go hard on their sister flights hunting ground. They pair floated lazily, content in knowing that whatever could hit them from the air was either dead or running scared at this point. The momentary peace was only interrupted by Neisha talking to someone on the ground.

"Assassin 5 copies you Hacksaw, we're overhead. Can you laze the tank?" there was a brief pause. "Copy, I think I have something on my screen. Hunker in, we're coming. James," She said, snapping to him in an instant, giving him quick instructions that, as usual, got him right overhead. The situation looked grim, the Stovie T-72 was hull down in debris and had a clear line of fire on the Marine's position. As the pair watched, waiting for a good angle, a bright burst errupted from the barrel and a tracer flew towards the Marine's position, missing high but close.

"Hacksaw, do you copy? What is your status?" A tense moment passed before Neisha sighed with relief. "Copy Hacksaw, hold on just one more second, we're almost in position."

James finally managed to wrestle Hector against the wind and set their old warhorse on the best path for a good release. "Call it Neesh."

Dirty: <<Assassin 5 to Hacksaw, heads down, Paveway.>>

The pair watched with eyes glued to the TIALD's feed, letting out their breath when the gap between the containers detonated.

"Copy Hacksaw. Everyone on your end ok? Good to hear, call us back anytime." James watched Neisha fist pump in the canopy's reflection. "Popped it like a grape, Hacksaw thinks they're ok."

"Thinks?"

"They were suppressed by a tank James, I think they need a minute to get their shit together, no?"

by **Hastur** » Mon Jul 26, 2021 4:06 am

MISSION 03.5: OPERATION GARM
First Lieutenant Miriam “Rattler” Lochte
December 13th 2015
Toredo Valley, Khesed Island, Emmeria

Vigil: << Hey, guy in the truck with an IR-Strobe, we’ve got you on thermals. Might wanna ease it up on the gas on that next turn or you’re gonna flip. Airpower has got your back, so don’t worry about anything other than your shit driving. >>

Miriam chuckled. She found levity was crucial in demanding situations, kept people from dwelling. The stress the driver was experiencing was no doubt overwhelming, and the gauntlet ahead was nowhere near finished.

Mooncalf: << Don’t mind the WSO. Clearing the roads momentarily. Can you update us on your route so we can prioritize?

>>Sully: << We’re gonna be heading south to a bridge about eight-hundred meters down the road we’re on now. It’s got nailed by a shell last week, so that in combination with the snow, and, well… It may not be there at this point. I’ll let you know when we get there. >>

The damaged bridge would no doubt make things more complex. If it wasn’t there, he’d have to choose a detour, and if it was, he’d have to take it slow, and in this weather, that slow would be a crawl. The longer it took to bring the missiles on station at the annex, the less time the marines would have to prepare themselves for the impending assault.

Rattler: << It’ll be like a walk in the park, don’t fret. The toughest part of all this will be paying off our drinks when you make it through. >>

Miriam joshed serenely as she noted a unique target distinguishing itself on radar. The slight blip approaching from the north, this time altitude high, roughly similar to the fullbacks peak.

Sully: << Yeah, If. >>

The marine slapped back. Nervousness flowed through the transmission as he chattered, the light dot growing closer and closer as the radar scanned rhythmically.

Rattler: << I’ve got a hostile bandit coming in bearing north at high altitude. Looks like he’s trying to intercept you Mooncalf. Gonna chase him off. >>

The mirage shifted, flying off in a flowing motion towards the speck, and sure enough, a construct formed within the white tint. Now descending rather than ascending, like it had been. The lone fitter waltzed in a straightforward path against its target. The ubiquitous plane struggled in the weather, committing itself to the mammoth task of trying to slow the truck down.

Rather comfortably above, Miriam opened her pursuit, leading the plane into a dive as she tracked its movements head on interception. The SU-17 did not outmaneuver, the pilot unaware of the Mirages existence as it commenced its slide into their flight line. The head seeker lock began its hoot, swinging into a steady beep like it had performed many times before, with Miriam releasing the radar lock before letting it fly.

Rattler: << Fox 2. >>

The seeker blew forward, trailing the mark easily within the numb chill, their heat signature standing out amongst the blizzard wall. The SU-17 realised its sin, seeking to elude with scant success, its plunge being greeted with metal churning strike as the missile struck its mark in the upper frame. Blowing the airplane into three distinctive fragments, sprinkling the snow below with lumps of its carcass.

With the target dealt with, Rattler went back on station, the sense of pride resurfacing again as she restored their top cover for the lone truck.

Rattler: << Things clear down there Vigil? I can't see much of anything in this hunk of junk.>>

by **Anowa** » Mon Jul 26, 2021 11:25 am

Cpl. Manuel "Sully" Sullivan, Pte. Michael Morgan and Pte. Hannah "Nelly" O'Neill
0925, December 13th 2015 // Khesed Island, Emmeria

The absolute audacity of the pilot asking for drinks in exchange for keeping him alive was certainly something new to the corporal. Yet again, so was driving in less than 100 meters of visibility. He wasn't a stranger to winter, he grew up near Ferrabia, one of the northnmost cities in Emmeria. But -48 was stretching the limits of his tolerances. His saving grace was that the Corps issued parkas. Although that didn't stop his hands from being white knuckled and freezing below the gloves he wore.

"It's a left here Nelly."

Slowing to a crawl, the driver turned the corner and the headlights were cast on the bridge that had been shelled less than a week ago. The same shell that nearly killed them. Since then they'd crossed the bridge twice. Well, once, it was a toss up whether or not the first time counted since the shell hit it as they were crossing.

The bridge looked worse now, since there was notably less concrete attached to it, and a lot more snow.

Nelly piped up, "I don't think we can cross that, Sully."

Sully simply sighed before reaching for the radio from his center seat. Then he paused, "Morgan, check the ice... and maybe jump on the bridge for that matter."

Morgan looked over and, grumbling to himself, exited the vehicle. Walking the 5 meters to the bridge, he started slowly walking on it. He made it maybe a quarter of the way before there was a mild groaning sound as another chunk of concrete fell off it's remaining rebar anchor. Morgan immediately hauled ass off the bridge and back to the truck.

Stopping and climbing in he said nothing for a moment. "We're gonna have to take the alternate route."

"Fuck." Sully grabbed the radio and keyed it.

Sully: <<This is Corporal Sullivan, the southern route's bridge isn't structurally sound, we're gonna have to take the northern route.>>

Swan Song: << Understood Sullivan, don't bother then it's not viable course of action.>>

Sully: <<Negative, Sir without these launchers the Annex is hosed. I doubt air cover has enough ordinance to cover what's coming.>>

Nelly meanwhile was already heading back the way they came and towards what seemed to be the currently front line on the side of the river they were on.

Swan Song: <<It's your call Sullivan. Don't waste your life. My command vic is sending data of the route to the AWACS, pilots should have a reading soon.>>

1st Lt. Victoria "Abel" Cain and 2nd Lt. Martin "Wiseass" Greene

Abel: <<That's the route they're taking? What is it with Marines and death wishes?>>

The alternative route was a long pathway of risks. Though as she thought about it, necessary ones. Typically shipments from the Factory to Annex didn't require a full 8x8, usually a box truck. A lot more bridges had a weight capacity for that in the valley, fewer with the added weight of all the snow. the highway bridges were pretty much all there was, and the only other one was near the mouth of the valley.

Wiseass: <<Think they can make it before more stovies show up?>>

Down below, Abel could make out a vast number of headlights winking out as they entered the combat zone. Even more vehicles in the air approaching.

Abel: <<They're already here. I count thirty plus vehicles at the mouth of the valley. At least a dozen aerial vehicles in addition.>>

AWACS Snake Pit: <<Already linking them in.>>

Rusalka-1: <<Colonel Stroika. Your defection has forced our hand. We had hoped to try and get you to return for a proper trial, but we can see your mind has been poisoned. There's no other explanation for your association with these hired guns, these honorless beasts with no nation. Judicar, take the mercenaries out. Heretic, level the ground facilities, it matters little to our war effort.>>

A heavily accented Seianese voice popped on to the comm line.

Shinigami: <<Leave the coward to me. His bounty will be a bonus to my participation in this fight.>>

Rusalka-1: <<Two, Three, go after the Kite and the Pencil. Be cautious, they already took down a Strigon and a Vodnik.>>

Abel's eyes widened as a duo of MiG-29s made a beeline for herself and Wiseass, as the third made straight for Stroika.

The MiG-25s immediately blew in to something approaching Mach 3 as they split two and two and made a beeline for the factory and annex respectively.

The MiG-21 flight was now moving to act as general cover.

A swept wing fighter that she didn't recognize seemed to be heading for Assassin, namely it's number Six.

Wiseass: <<Assassin 6, you've got a 6th Gen on an intercept, go defensive NOW!>>

Abel looked down at the encroaching MiG-29s and for the first time in a while, felt a sense of forboding.

by **Rupudska** » Mon Jul 26, 2021 1:20 pm

2nd Lt. Sonja Cosic "Mudfish"
23 December, 2015 // Khesed Island, Republic of Emmeria // Blizzard

Mudfish was growing more and more convinced that the Emmerians were completely and utterly out of their goddamned minds.

Oh, the mission itself this time was reasonable. Defend a factory against an armored assault. She could do that. She had done that, before, and in a Harrier to boot, so in that, she and the brass were friends, of one mind even.

But in the current weather conditions? Multiple tens of degrees below zero, on either side of the thermometer? If she didn't crash on landing, she was of half a mind to find the largest chunk of ice on her plane and stab the person who greenlit the operation with it. If the Stovies wanted to freeze to death taking a factory, that was their prerogative.

<<Enforcer Two to Assassin, requesting laser on target - T-80s.>>

She was really starting to get tired of having to rely on others for laser targeting. Maybe she'd upgrade, or get something newer. She snorted as her hand moved shakily to the trigger. It'd be a long while before she got a whole new airframe.

She got her answer, either way.

<<Paveway. Paveway.>>

She would have gone after the Armatas. She certainly wanted to go after the Armatas, if only to wipe the no-doubt smug grins off the faces of whoever paid their way into the damn things. She could also have gone after the tunnels, but the Emmerians, in their Infinite Wisdom, had not made them worth the money. Paveways were expensive.

Paveways were also several hundred kilos, and when flying at several hundred knots, the weight alone would've done some damage to the T-80s. As it was, the two bombs did a lot of damage.

by **Vacif** » Tue Jul 27, 2021 12:31 am

OPERATION GARM
2nd Lieutenant Ciara “Tricky” Sharp
December 13th 2015 // Khesed Island, Emmeria

Despite the Phantom’s heater, Tricky was still dressed up as much as she could reasonably manage (which mind you wasn’t much). It was insanely cold at the moment, a cold that even though she was from the mountains, she still didn’t like. There was cold, and then there was this. But combined with the almost lack of any visuals, she was right at home playing by ear. None of the old prop planes used for reenactments had any fancy electronics or heaters for that matter.

On a lighter note, Tricky had been to the region’s hot springs in the past and couldn’t wait to go back some day. She… just wished it wasn’t like this. Just her luck. But maybe, just maybe if they liberated the region fast enough, she could afford to lounge around in the hot springs and the resorts! Eh, who was she kidding.

Tricky figured something would go wrong with their mission, probably half way through. Nothing ever really did go right. However what she wasn’t expecting was for things to go sideways before they even got to the AO.

'They were being sent to defend an ammo factory. An ammo factory. Behind their lines. How did this happen? Did the front line collapse? Was this just how bad things were on the ground? She knew the ground pounders were giving everything they had but what the hell was going on? Was the attrition of officers directly responsible?' Were all questions the swam through Tricky's mind.

“Don’t think too much about it, Tricky, just keep flying. What’s done is done.” McMann’s calm voice came over through the intercom. He was always there to reassure her and keep her head in the game and to make sure she didn’t wander.

As they got in range of objective Bravo, no one wasted any time getting into the action. Her flight swooped in fast and hard with Assassin and swiftly cleared out the hostile armour before McMann could even get a shot, let alone a clear one. Every time they’d pick up a target, it would vanish just as fast. The closest she could get was flying over for a run that would go nowhere. Such was fate of course when you had something like eleven planes operating in the same area. Flying was no problem but fighting was a different matter.

Before long, Sciabola had them rerouted to Alpha to hopefully prevent one of Emmeria’s last flag officers from eating a Stovie HEAT round. Despite not speaking much, if at all this operation, Eagle Four formed up with the rest of the flight towards Alpha, where fewer planes had gone and many more enemies remained.

“Show time.” Tricky said, flatly.

Friendly Infantry: <<“This is Staff Sergeant *Static* I’ve got eyes on a T-72 platoon, east-south-east of the target. Need immediate fire support, we are out of anti-armour munitions!”>>

“Seen.” McMann said hastily.

Tricky: <<Eagle Four, on station Staff. At your disposal.>>

Friendly Infantry: << Reading you Eagle, burn those fuckers! >>

“Warm them up McMann.” Tricky replied coolly. The Man nodded quietly and worked his magic.

Tricky: <<*Static* Four, Pickle. *Static* >>

With a hum, four GBU-38s sailed through the storm towards their targets. The four 500 lb GPS guided bombs punched right through the top hatches of the first two, no amount of 3rd Gen ERA would save them from the blast. A jet of fire exploded from the hull, a beacon in the storm, as the turret was sent careening into the storm. The second would meet a near identical fate, with the last two being struck near the rear. A pair of large explosions boomed out, followed by loud ammo cook off, away from the annex. In all four cases, a spectacular pyrotechnics display.

Friendly Infantry: << Uhhh… well fuck, I didn’t mean it literally but okay! >>

Tricky: <<Ask and you shall receive Staff. Mark the next target at your leisure. >>

There was a pregnant pause as the man on the ground either composed himself or looked for whatever else was still shooting at him and his Marines.

Friendly Infantry: <<Two hostile T-80s, east-north-east, bearing 63 of our position, 500 meters! Target is lased, bur- ehh- take them out!>>

With the help of the FO, the skill of The Man, and a dash of luck, another set of GBUs left their racks. Swayed somewhat by the wind and the rotation of the earth, the deviation wasn’t enough to put the bombs off course as they sailed into the side armour instead of the rear armour. The heavy explosion rocked the earth and the ground. A T-80 was left smoldering while the other lay immobilized, leaning into the crater caused by the explosion. Its track blown apart, turret unmoving, aimed at the earth. The tank was at the very least out of this fight.

Friendly Infantry: << That’s the ball game Eagle Four, they’re dead. Good shit. >>

Tricky: <<You’ve got our frequency if anything else pops up Staff. Good luck down there. >>

When suddenly the new arrivals made their entrance. The enemy movements were sudden, forceful, lacking any hesitation or fear. The flight of Mig-21s began their over watch of their friendlies down below. Having just seen a platoon of their tanks get demolished, a Mig began to paint Tricky.

Tricky: <<*Static*le Four! I've been painted, does anyone see where this guy is?>>

Remembering what she saw in the last mission from the Fitters, she kept a cool head and kept a smooth flight as to not waste her counter measures or fuel before the threat even arrived. She wouldn't be baited into wasting energy but -

CRACK CRACK CRACK CRACK CRACK

A stream of red tracers boomed past her cockpit, her Fishbed pursuer had gone in for guns after closing the distance on her. She involuntarily winced, curling her head into her shoulders. Now it was time to bust out her fancy flying. She gave out a halfhearted, nervous laugh. "Strap in McMann."

OPERATION GARM
2nd Lieutenant Bernard “Witness” Leavit
December 13th 2015 // Khesed Island, Emmeria

Now this was some shit. The entire Emmerian air force was basically dedicated to this one operation in MOUT hell with what looked to be a blizzard coming in the distance according to Snake Pit. What was worse was that the mission had now changed. One of Emmeria’s top officers was not on the ground at risk in an annex holding ammunition. Not exactly an ideal situation. An entire armoured force had somehow snuck through to the back line and now the back line was the front line. Never mind that there was the factory that made the explosives he was using at risk as well.

Well if there was good news, it was that visibility was shit for both sides and Eagle wasn’t messing around today. Witness decided to hang back a bit, he’d engage if things got dangerous but for the most part with ten other planes in the AO, Assassin or Eagle alone could have swept Bravo in one or two passes. With all the comms chatter, he could piece together the situation in the air even if radar was on the fritz and line of sight was nonexistent. He felt for those who’d been shot down, invader or not. He could only hope it was quick if they rode their planes to the end, or that they were hard enough to survive in the blizzard conditions outside. Bernard got the gut feeling though that none would survive. With how things were being handled, he figured he should save his toys. There was always a second wave.

Everyone else had taken most of the big game, but he figured he should at least contribute something. Through his Sniper pod he found the last two scout vehicles at Bravo proper. They weren't exactly large threats, but a KPV would still fuck an infantryman, their cover, or a certain soft skinned 8x8. That and given they were a reconnaissance vic, they were probably relaying all sorts of important intel the follow up force.

Witness: <<Assassin Six, guns, guns.>>

The two vehicles were repositioning after their armoured escorts were utterly ravaged by Assassin 2's attack. Lost in the chaos as vehicles all around them began becoming bon fires in the blizzard. They quickly joined the pile before they could do anymore harm or contribute to the battle.

And as if on cue, they arrived.

AWACS Snake Pit: <<Already linking them in.>>

Rusalka-1: <<Colonel Stroika. Your defection has forced our hand. We had hoped to try and get you to return for a proper trial, but we can see your mind has been poisoned. There's no other explanation for your association with these hired guns, these honorless beasts with no nation. Judicar, take the mercenaries out. Heretic, level the ground facilities, it matters little to our war effort.>>

Witness’ eyebrows furrowed at being called an honourless beast with no nation. Perhaps it could be argued he was honourless, honour alone didn’t win fights, he’d done some underhanded things to win unfair battles. But that was the harsh reality. As for being nationless, he was a proud Aurelian who was here because it was the right thing to do. But what did they mean by that last statement?

“Matters little to our war effort? It’s one of Emmeria’s major arms plants, what did they mean it mattered little?” he mumbled to himself. In his musings he almost missed a critical note.

Shinigami: <<Leave the coward to me. His bounty will be a bonus to my participation in this fight.>>

Witness had a moment to ponder who that coward with the bounty on their head was as he lined up a shot on the oncoming armour column when he heard the last thing he expected.

Wiseass: <<Assassin 6, you've got a 6th Gen on an intercept, go defensive NOW!>>

“What the fuck?!”

‘It was me! The coward was me! Somehow! What? What had I done to get a bounty?’ He had no more time to think.

Witness: <<Assassin Six, going defensive! >>

He didn’t know where the enemy was exactly, what was chasing him, or what they were packing but whatever it was, it was rapidly infringing on his right to live. The RWR spiked hard, his heart beat spiking with it. Witness began to pull an unhealthy amount of Gs as he twisted and turned through the blizzard. The air sounded like it alone would slice him to ribbons. He reached his left hand behind him, dispensing a salvo of chaff. Hoping, praying that the blizzard would help him somehow. The missile overshot him by some miracle, sailing over his cockpit and into the distance. But he wasn't alone in this. The RWR hummed as it told him about the soft lock. He was still alive.The enemy missile had been trashed. But another was going to come soon.

Witness: <<Assassin Six to Assassin Flight, I’ve been painted, what the hell is this thing?! >>

He addressed his flight, not because he didn’t want help from anyone else, but because they were the closest and because he had a feeling from the earlier message that everyone was about to get very busy.

by **Hastur** » Tue Jul 27, 2021 6:29 am

MISSION 03.5: OPERATION GARM
First Lieutenant Miriam “Rattler” Lochte
December 13th 2015
Toredo Valley, Khesed Island, Emmeria

“Oh, come on.” Miriam fretted as the fresh data broke down the wire, fed in by the eye in the sky, judging them calmly. More targets, a lot more thrust in aggressively. The clamour was a non-stop onslaught. No matter what they conquered in this fight, the odds overcome, there was invariably something tougher waiting to open stage right, standing by for its own moment to shine.

Miriam had grown tired, as had her craft. The bird’s claws grew dull, its ammunition close to depletion. She couldn’t imagine that everyone else was different. The tipping point was sharp. If they failed to get the missiles to the annex, their foes would inundate the positions once the airpower parched up. The build up for that swift Estovakian crescendo mounted, their adversaries fit to take the ultimate flash of triumph for themselves.

She realized they couldn’t allow for it. She and everyone else had sunk too much already. A violent crucible awaited ahead. A coda against their opposition, one which Assassin wouldn’t be able to perform solo.

Sully: <<Negative, Sir without these launchers the Annex is hosed. I doubt air cover has enough ordinance to cover what’s coming.>>

Swan Song: <<It’s your call Sullivan. Don’t waste your life. My command vic is sending data of the route to the AWACS, pilots should have a reading soon.>>

Sully knew, even as the general tried to dissuade him from what looked like a suicide mission. Miriam sobered, drawing the plane lower in altitude, intent on being prepared to cover the ground.

Rattler: << We’ll follow you there, Sully. Got you covered every step of the way no matter what they throw at us.>>

Rattler promised, hoping that it would at least mitigate the hamper of stress laid on him. The passage he had to use would put make the grand prix of rallying to shame, and that was without being fired on. Unfortunately, further bad news broke.

Rusalka-1: <<Colonel Stroika. Your defection has forced our hand. We had hoped to try and get you to return for a proper trial, but we can see your mind has been poisoned. There’s no other explanation for your association with these hired guns, these honorless beasts with no nation. Judicar, take the mercenaries out. Heretic, level the ground facilities, it matters little to our war effort.>>

Shinigami: <<Leave the coward to me. His bounty will be a bonus to my participation in this fight.>>

Rusalka-1: <<Two, Three, go after the Kite and the Pencil. Be cautious, they already took down a Strigon and a Vodnik.>>

It seemed like she had made friends. Miriam sneered as they presumptuously attributed her as an honourless beast, urgency mounting as she checked her radar. A fleet of blips began flowing out to strike targets at will, one of them being herself, a lone blip coming after the kite. A distance away she still had time, the truck took priority.

Rattler: << Assassin 3 to Enforcer and Griffin, listen if we don’t get this truck to the annex, a lot of what we’ve done today is going to be for nought. Can you guys spare some of your flight to assist on the eastern part of the route? We can cover him as he comes in from the west side, but if they get set up well, this hail mary is going to fail. >>

Miriam asked, concern poised in her voice as she noticed signatures on the ground radar, narrow shapes standing out within the gloom. IFVs closing in on the passage, a file of eight. Pulling the stick, she spun the craft thoroughly, gliding around as she tamed the speed to get the strongest angle as she ingressed from their side. Her plane slowly diving onto the targets from a distance.

Rattler: << Rockets.>>

66mm HEAT rockets gushed out from their pod, leaving white trail lines in their wake. Miriam depressed the trigger carefully, trying to stagger her shots meticulously to assure maximum effect. Exploding clouds of dust and snow jolted up as HEAT rockets destroyed the thinly armoured IFVs. The sound of snaps and cracks reverberating as the vehicles cooked off. Four targets prevailed within, hauling back swiftly to get out of the kill zone. But they’d be back, and she didn’t have the rockets to deal with them.

Rattler <<Splashed four targets, four still active. I’m Remington, repeat, Remington. Down you Mooncalf. I’ll linger ground side a little longer, see if there is anything else I can do. Sully, you're going to have to gun it, do not for the love of god slow down.>>

Miriam Informed, flying back around to do one more strafe, but she was sure that the fullback had it handled. Besides, she had further compelling matters. The encroaching pilot coming after her pointedly, and the swept wing flying after one of their own.

Witness: <<Assassin Six to Assassin Flight, I’ve been painted, what the hell is this thing?! >>

Elsewhere in all of this, Witness was in his own waltz of death against a far superior bird. He required support, or he’d be inevitably lost. Again, there it was again, the odds shifting against them. Stress continuing to mount.

Rattler: <<Just hold on!>>

by **Sapim** » Tue Jul 27, 2021 8:15 am

2nd Lt. Helena "Bono" Martiz
December 13th 2015 // Khesed Island, Emmeria

After taking down Froogfoot (SU-25), Helena continued with her mission objective to eliminate the Estovakian forces before destroying the main annex to the munitions factory. The troops on the ground were low on anti-tank weapons, the last communication Bono heard over the radio is that resupply was on its way, but it would take some time.

Intel suggested that the Estovakian forces that were supposed to be defending Blackrock would be coming to the munitions factory. Which in Bono's opinion was not a good sign.

Frosty: <<Enforcer-5 confirming tunnel destruction. Hey, Voron, tell me if you need something else destroyed.>>

This was good news at least for Frosty, Bono and Voron the destruction of this tunnel would greatly delay enemy reinforcements.

Voron: <<Frosty, stand by for further tasking from ground troops at this time. I feel like we're going to need every last bomb you can carry in that museum piece.>>

Anvil: <<Attention friendly aircraft. This is Anvil 2-3. We have eyes through thermal optics on three times Estovakian T-72s. Requesting close air support. Over.>>

Voron: <<Anvil 2-3 this is Enforcer 1. Can strike your target if you mark with illumination round from grenade launcher or mortar. Over.>>

Anvil: <<Anvil 2-3 copies. Marking target with green flare. Good hunting. Out.>>

Bono waits for the action of Anvil and Voron to destroy, she watches the action taken by her squad leader who destroyed three T-72’s

Continuing in search of ground targets when she suddenly encounters two T-72s along with a truck with a group trying to occupy the annex, Bono starts her descent to destroy those targets, she switches to rockets and sees her targets in crosshairs.

Bono: <<Rockets! Rockets! Rockets!>>

It fires fives rockets towards the targets, appearing a large fireball and pieces of tank and truck flying.

Bono: <<Two armored vehicles and One truck destroyed>>

After destroying the armor Bono's cabin fires warning missile coming her way, she immediately makes evasive maneuvers and activates the flare to deflect her missile, she looks focused on the radar and sees two MIG-21s dubbed by the air force as Emmeria and Sapin from Fishbed behind Bono.

Bono: <<Enforcer 6 to all Enforcer, there are two Fishbeds behind me I will try to dodge.>>

Bono makes evasive maneuvers manages to disengage from a Fishbed but the other Fishbed was still behind her she starts to prepare the Cobra maneuver. She finds out on her radio what's going on.

Rusalka-1: <<Colonel Stroika. Your defection has forced our hand. We had hoped to try and get you to return for a proper trial, but we can see your mind has been poisoned. There’s no other explanation for your association with these hired guns, these honorless beasts with no nation. Judicar, take the mercenaries out. Heretic, level the ground facilities, it matters little to our war effort.>>

Shinigami: <<Leave the coward to me. His bounty will be a bonus to my participation in this fight.>>

Rusalka-1: <<Two, Three, go after the Kite and the Pencil. Be cautious, they already took down a Strigon and a Vodnik.>>

Bono will receive a transmission from Rattler directed to her squad and Griffin

Rattler: << Assassin 3 to Enforcer and Griffin, listen if we don’t get this truck to the annex, a lot of what we’ve done today is going to be for nought. Can you guys spare some of your flight to assist on the eastern part of the route? We can cover him as he comes in from the west side, but if they get set up well, this hail mary is going to fail. >>

Bono: <<Enforcer 6 to Assassin 3, Rattler I have a Fishbed behind me after I finish this Fishbed I will continue to escort the truck to the Annex.>>

Bono finally manages to get into Cobra maneuver position and is now ready to take down Fishbed.

Bono: <<Fox two, Guns>>

She fires a missile and fires 30 times with her 30mm cannon and shoots down the MIG.

Judicar 4: << I got hit, Aaaaarrrrgggghhhh ! *Statics*>>

Bono sees the fighter exploding and heads towards the annex to protect the truck.

Bono: <<Enforcer 6, strike a Fishbed>>

by **Kassaran** » Tue Jul 27, 2021 10:36 am

2nd Lt. Annette "Limaf" Middleton, Eagle Three
13 December, 2015 // Toredo Valley, Emmeria

The fighting had been long and hard in the valley. Sciabola had been taking the lead on the first few runs, and after the first pass, she'd determined the radio on the Phantom had been given the go-around by the commo guys. Now, she's been forced to try and fly like a reasonably sane person as Pevensie struggled to fiddle with the circuit breakers and anything else she could get her hands on from the backseat, struggling to get the radio back into working order. Almost ten minutes of following Sciabola in and out of the blizzard later, and the radio crackled to life in Annette's ear. She grimaced at the squealing volume, but in a moment it was settled and she could make out the last bit of Eagle One talking.

The Factory had been nearly wiped clean, and as she thought even that, the hurtling shape of one of the mercenari fighters diving past solved that matter altogether. The situation on the ground was beginning to look dire and it appeared as though there would soon be even more hostiles flooding into the valley, shortly. The only bonus was the sudden arrival of a fifth aircraft to their Flight. The new aircraft was a Phantom, of course, but the pilot had quickly gone flying in, knocking out some of the last remaining targets on the ground at Bravo, and securing a MiG kill while they were at it. No small feat, but also nothing significant given how One and Two had done the same. Then again, between the whiteout conditions and the radio problems, she'd so far been able to accomplish nothing and it wasn't a good feeling that had taken hold in the pit of her stomach.

As the radio finished being calibrated, the situation in the valley went from better, to worse. The targets they'd knocked out had only been a fraction of that which had been projected to arrive, the rest now arriving and several new flights of aircraft entering the air space from the far end. To make matters worse, the supply truck they'd been tasked with guarding had decided the only viable course of action was the one that took him as humanly close as possible to the reinforcements. She grimaced, hearing as Sciabola gave the orders to progress on the Alpha objective and secure it before pulling away. He'd taken some damage in one of the last passes and the Phantom looked like it'd been through the ringer.

Limaf: <<Eagle One, Eagle Three. Radio Check. Comms malfunctioned, corrected in-flight. Sorry for the silence. Turning hot on Alpha.>>

Four had already taken the lead, and following behind after around twenty seconds, Pevensie spoke up from the back.

"We got targets, there's still some tanks left harassing the Annex from the Northwestern approach! Adjust 5, should be on your HUD then."

The large fighter shifted in the air, the wind outside screaming and clawing at the metal skin of the warbird, and after a moment, the targeting diamond appeared. The CCRP having already determined the point of release, she guided it closer onto target.

Limaf <<Eagle Three, in.>>

Pevensie: <<Pickle! Times Four!>>

The Phantom shuddered as four of the twelve JDAMs separated from their racks and fell away into the mists and fog of war. The nose of the Phantom lifted and the aircraft climbed for a moment, the distinctive sound of several thumps indicating the bombs having struck.

"Hold on Netty! BDA coming in from the ground. That's a T-72 out completely, a T-80... and we disabled another T-80! Also, scratch a moto-infantry platoon. Looks like they'd tried to approach from behind the tanks, the two I-"

"That's very nice Matty, but we got to focus, get us more targets."

Limaf: <<Griffin One, this is Three. Just foot-mobiles and no-factors on Alpha. Pushing to the valley mouth. Four, Five, stay on me, let's plow the road!>>

by **South Americanastan** » Tue Jul 27, 2021 11:39 am

2nd Lieutenant Nick "Whiteout" Callahan & 2nd Lieutenant Daniel "Phoenix" Johnson
December 13th, 2015 // Toredo Valley, Emmeria

Sciabola: <<Eagle Five, this is Eagle One. Good to see you joined the party. Pull off and hold on the outside until we can give you good cover. Two, on me. Three and Four, post up and wait on Five to rejoin, then break off and secure Alpha ahead of that supply truck. Looks like they're still having quite the fiesta and I'd hate for the General to lose the party favors.>>

Whiteout: <<Wilco, headed towards Alpha. Stovies seem just as happy to see us show up. Estoviakian forces are flooding everything into Alpha right now.>>

Whiteout's F-4E begins moving towards Alpha, the afterburners of the planes creating a mirage effect behind it. The plane hits Mach 2 relatively quickly, in only about 30 seconds. Phoenix peers out the cockpit, which is uncharacteristically cold.

"4 Mi-24VPs, on our right!"

Whiteout's plane decelerates before making a sharp right turn towards the group of transport helicopters. The helicopters, unaware of the presence of Whiteout, continue flying towards their destination. The F-4E's M61A1 Vulcan Autocannon lets out a burst into one, piercing through the helicopter's rotor and sending it spiraling to the ground.

Phoenix: <<Guns Guns Guns>>

Whiteout: <<Super Hind down!>>

Whiteout makes a turn towards another helicopter, which is now attempting to leave the area. In their haste, the Estovakians have forgotten to fire their weapons, and the F-4E launches an AIM-9L Sidewinder missile at the Mi-24VP.

Phoenix: <<Eagle Two, Fox Two!>>

The missile soars through the air, locking on to and hitting the side of the aircraft's transport bay. The explosion rips the transport bay in half, and Estovakian soldiers soar through the air to their deaths.

Whiteout: <<Another Hind down!>>

The F-4E then turns it's sights to another two helicopters, which are attempting to fire at the plane with it's nose guns and rockets. The rockets miss wildly, but the miniguns manage to score some hits.

Whiteout: <<Shit, I'm painted!>>

An AIM-7E Sparrow fly off the hardpoints of Whiteout's aircraft. The missile soar through the air, picking up the signature of the Mi-24VP Super Hind helicopters. The first missile flies into the cockpit of one of the Super Hinds, exploding and killing the pilot and copilot. The helicopter falls out of the sky, and hits the ground hard, killing the men inside. Whiteout launches another missile at the other helicopter. The helicopter attempts to evade by flying upwards, but the missile adjusts it's course. The AIM-7E hits the bottom of the helicopter, exploding on impact. The explosion leaves a massive hole in the bottom of the aircraft, and causing the aircraft to fall out of the sky.

Whiteout: <<That's another two Mi-24 Super Hinds down, path to Alpha should be clear.>>

by **Parcia** » Tue Jul 27, 2021 3:22 pm

The Aprentice challenges the Master.
Dragon / Misha
Kassed Island airspace

Rusalka-1: <<Colonel Stroika. Your defection has forced our hand. We had hoped to try and get you to return for a proper trial, but we can see your mind has been poisoned. There’s no other explanation for your association with these hired guns, these honorless beasts with no nation. Judicar, take the mercenaries out. Heretic, level the ground facilities, it matters little to our war effort.>>

Dragon: <<Commander Aleksandrovich...I will only ask you this once. Reconsider your actions. Take a look at what this war has caused for us all. Devastation, Death, the destruction of innocent lives. You swore an oath, as did I, as did Luitenant Radomere, to defend our nation from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Please, Please, Please Dušan, you were there at Gledina with me, you saw what we did there. Please turn and disengage, I beg of you."

As sincere is words were, he knew realistically speaking Dušan was likely dead set on carrying out his orders, and Nicholai dreaded his likely actions as he maneuvered his bird in to a level position skimming the top edge of the snow storm, keying up his guns while Misha began to prepare her self for the fight ahead.

They had an exceptional Pilot bearing down on them in a equally capable bird. The only real advantage they had was that her Father had taught Dušan everything he knew...just not everything her Father knew.

by **Ubaria** » Tue Jul 27, 2021 6:08 pm

_{December 13th
0940 Hours - Local Time
Dana Fischer
Toredo Valley, Republic of Emmeria}

Splotches of dissolving snow drew hundreds of running rivulets up and over the Draken's ice glimmered canopy, the frost nipping at the edges of the perspex hood. Despite being built to hunt Yuktobanian bombers in the frigid conditions of the Arctic north, the Nordenn Saab was beginning to feel the effects of what the Emmerian weather had to offer, unsurprising given it's age and perhaps relatively inexperienced pilot. Dana peered forward intensely, scouting for anything that wasn't a blasted white maelstrom of snow and cloud, yet the blizzard refused to yield. What more, her radio had began to flicker and falter in the adverse conditions, the outer ariels signal being degraded by the formation of ice, similar to her radar which was all but useless in the intense conditions.

Purely reliant on her navigation computer and avionics, Dana guided the Draken through the veil towards their objective at Blackrock, though lacking communications she discerned the battle had started by the sound of distant rumbling gunfire and explosions rolling off the valley walls. With caution, she began to bleed altitude, pushing down through the layers of white until the ground made itself apparent, though made it no easier to navigate. Like an Eagle hunting for a rabbit, Dana scoured for anything that looked remotely like a vehicle against the snow blanketed ground, though found nothing but trees and rocks, she was about to pull around when the flash of something lit up the murk in the not too far distance.

"Oh i see you"

For a moment they looked like simple black rectangular blocks against a more natural webwork of leaf bare trees and bushes, though upon closer inspection they appeared to be vehicles, tanks to be exact, and they didn't look Emmerian. The plane slowed as Dana reigned in the throttle, allowing her to better aim her 1000lb bomb. As she popped up from the terrain, one tank became an assortment of several vehicles, crawling through the snow to escape the open field they had found themselves caught in. Several tanks peeled off, perhaps hearing the encroaching death in the snow clogged skies above. The Draken reached it's crest and lurched down on the tanks from above, Dana jostled around to ensure the bomb release pipper was more or less near a group of tanks before she hit the weapon's release, a single 1000lb bomb peeled away from the underside of the craft and screamed down with just as much velocity, the launching aircraft climbing away before it was caught in the blast of it's own weapon.

<< Bombs away >>

A monumental explosion rocked the area, a T-72 was caught in a blossoming fireball that threw out several chunks of ground and snow.

Speeding overhead, Dana had little time to observe the effects of her work as she disappeared into the snowy mists once more.

Sirin
Armament
1x 30mm ADEN cannon (100 Rounds)
2x Rb-24 (AiM-9)
1x 1000lb Bomb
24x 135mm HEAT Rocket

Kills
1x T-72

by **Beiarusia** » Wed Jul 28, 2021 12:29 pm

Second Lieutenant Marceline “Mooncalf” Faucheux | Second Lieutenant Benjamin “Vigil” Antall
Morning // December 13, 2015 // Toredo Valley, Emmeria

Rattler: << Things clear down there Vigil? I can’t see much of anything in this hunk of junk. >>

It was hard to tell given the dense sleet of snow. Marceline could hardly make out the lights of the truck she’d volunteered to protect, much less the road and bridge. Without the instrumentation she was effectively flying blind as enthralling as that was given the precariousness of the situation.

Benjamin was slowly slewing the T-Pod up the road towards the bridge, checking it, and was slightly taken aback at the sight of it. He had good news and bad news so keyed the radio with an audible sigh. The bridge was damaged, and judging by the fresh holes in the ice below it was still a target. Still, there was enough room for Sully’s truck, miraculously, otherwise they’d have to try the ice and no one, especially Benjamin, wanted to watch that nailbiter of a crossing. But before he could say that Sully should try and go for the bridge they’d already made a choice to go around another way.

And what another way it was.

Abel: << They’re already here. I count thirty plus vehicles at the mouth of the valley. At least a dozen aerial vehicles in addition. >>

AWACS Snake Pit: << Already linking them in. >>

Vigil: << Eh… not that it matters anymore, Sully took a different way. Screw the bridge I guess, but… >>

The Sukhoi passed overhead the ruined bridge, pulling up and away into a lazy Immelman so as to be facing the opposite direction now towards the valley. Benjamin slewed the T-Pod camera towards the Stovie lines. Already he could see a lot of black silhouettes across the area, and their RWR was noting that they were getting spotted by new contacts coming in, some that the RWR couldn’t compute as any type of aircraft. Benjamin couldn’t help but to have his enthusiasm be turned off at this, even more-so as Assassin 6 was told to go evasive.

Wiseass: << Assassin 6, you’ve got a 6th Gen on an intercept, do defensive NOW! >>

Vigil: << Fuckin’ A, gen sixes? Who’d we piss off so badly? I dunno whether to take this as a compliment to our effectiveness or an insult. Either way, I see those ground forces coming in. Assassin, just a suggestion, but let’s mop up before they get here so we can make sure Sully makes it. >>

Benjamin then looked over to Marceline. “I’ve got their location marked via Pod; let’s take that heading and bomb up and down their convoy. Don’t wanna activate their laser warning systems, so we’re gonna have to CCIP it then use the Kh-29, finally.”

The WSO sounded annoyed near the end after being denied its use again and again. He stopped to look to the radar and RWR, noting the incoming aircraft around them that were already entering the AO. Thankfully they weren’t being bothered with the help of the fighters. They’d be an issue, but MArceline could deal with it, he was sure of it.

He looked back to Marceline, almost as an afterthought. “This is gonna take us right into the beehive, but it’s the best way to knock them out before they even get here, you okay with that, Calf?”

Marceline simply nodded as she pulled into a more direct intercept with the valley. “My brother fared against worse. This much is child’s play.”

The Sukhoi sped north and into the valley’s western half, trailing behind the Mirage of Rattler and witnessing the blossom of fire that erupted from the Belkan’s rockets as they tore into the convoy. Ignoring the chatter on the radio, and the insult of being referred to as an “honorless beast with no nation,” Marceline adjusted her heading so as to intercept a majority of the inbound hostiles.

Rattler: << Splashed four targets, four still active. I’m Remington, repeat, Remington. Down you Mooncalf. I’ll linger ground side a little longer, see if there’s anything else I can do. >>

Mooncalf: << Understood. Engaging now. >>

Aware of their limited munitions, Marceline angled down towards the IFV’s that had survived the initial assault, aligning the targeting pip as best she could and unleashing a quick burst of the cannon. The first BMP-2 survived with only a disabled track, rendering it effectively dead-in-the-water. The second was less fortunate and was shredded by the 30mm autocannon. The final two IFV’s escaped due to simply being off to one side and unaligned with the others.

Lower in elevation now, Marceline leveled the aircraft and continued onward, flying parallel with the road and towards the next set of vehicles that had, by now, slowed in an effort to disperse their ranks in light of the attack. They weren’t fast enough, and as Marceline pitched upwards the targeting pip fell onto the Estovakian tanks. Six 250kg bombs fell from their racks, peppering the roadway as the Sukhoi pulled up into a climb as the blasts rocked the earth below. Rolling into a Split-S, Marceline came back around to release her final two bombs to finish off what remained of the small unit before leveling and circling back around to reacquire new targets.

Mooncalf: << Four tanks knocked out. Winchester on freefall munitions. Repositioning to clear roadway. >>

COMBAT LOG

by **Sapim** » Thu Jul 29, 2021 2:41 pm

2nd Lt. Helena "Bono" Martiz
13 December, 2015 // Toredo Valley, Emmeria

"Shit", said Bono when he realized his fuel had only 2 hours of fuel. This was not a good sign for her, Bono begins to analyze the situation and she notices the truck with the supplies she notices that she has three missiles, seven rockets and one hundred 30mm bullets left.

She chooses specific targets to eliminate and notify the squad that she is out of ammo and fuel. Bono sees two T-80's and begins to prepare to fire.

Bono: <<Enforcer 6, Rockets.>>

She fires three rockets at one of the T-80's located in the annex and it explodes as the rockets were fired from above. Then it will come 360° towards the other T-80 and prepare to fire.

Bono: <<Enforcer 6, Rockets.>>

The three more hits the other T-80 that explodes in the same way as the first, further ahead she sees two groups of infantry and changes to machine gun, she makes a dive with her Draken and shoots.

Bono: <<Guns.>>

She fired 45 shots from her 30mm cannon at the infantry killing an entire unit and forcing the other to request retreat which she decides not to fire on this fleeing unit. Now with just three missiles, one rocket and 55 30mm bullets she sends her message to the Enforcer Squadron.

Bono: <<Enforcer 6 to Enforcer 1, Voron my fuel only lasts 2 hours I will stay until the end of fuel I ask if I fall for lack of fuel call the rescue.>>

by **Anowa** » Thu Jul 29, 2021 7:21 pm

1st Lt. Victoria "Abel" Cain and 2nd Lt. Martin "Wiseass" Greene
0935, December 13th 2015 // Khesed Island, Emmeria

This wouldn't be the hardest fight of Abel's career, she could tell by the way they prepared to merge into a dogfight. No BVRs, which meant they were loded for comparative short range and likely air to ground. Given the disparity between the Fulcrum and the Draken, things wouldn't be too hard if they devolved in to a proper turn fight.

An AIM-9 launched off the rail towards Rusalka-2. The tango above the clouds had started, and Rusalka-2 dumped flares and juked, standard enough, but it swiftly lunged back in to an intercept trajectory as Abel moved to joust.

Tracers erupted from both vehicles as they went head on. The older Draken took a few blows, one of them cracking the canopy of the craft with a glancing blow as holes ended up being punched in the leading wing structures. The Fulcrum had an HE shell impact the intake on the left engine, although any damage to the engine proper had yet to be seen.

Both aircraft broke off the joust with a dive into a reverse split S, the Fulcrum deploying it's air brake and cutting throttle hopefully to get behind the Draken. Abel however pulled back hard on the stick, doing what amounted to a vertical cobra and the plane moved horizontal. Borderline uncontrollable, the trigger was depressed as the gunsights lined up along the fulcrum that was now leveling out.

A few more round found their mark once more biting holes in to the back of the Fulcrum. The left engine, now directly damaged, flamed out in a spectacular display as debris flew out the back.

Having dumped almost all of their speed, and at risk of flat spinning, the Draken went to full afterburn and nosed down. The Fulcrum continued in a loop to come down behind the Draken. And the Fulcrum was back on it's intercept. Having lost and engine, all non vital ordinance was unceremoniously dumped. Leaving the Fulcrum with just the gun and the ammo he had left.

Tracers began flying past Abel's cockpit as the resounding vibrations of a few glancing blows forced her into the speed bleeding defensive posture. A rolling scissor disguised as vaguely random trajectory was quickly set up, and the opposing pilot bit the hook, only realizing too late what he'd found himself in. Regardless, his exit when he realized would put him in a disadvantage. The Fulcrum did the better option of outright pulling out of the roll, allowing him to gain energy as the pursuer had to turn and pursue at a further distance. Though the error he made was doing this while only capable of using one engine.

Catching up quickly, Abel pressured the Estovakian as the defensive roles were swapped. Rounds found their mark, and one of the vertical stabilizers was chopped apart. With asymmetry on two fronts, both thrust and aerodynamics, the Fulcrum pulled into their own Cobra.

Abel, in turn, emptied the proverbial magazine. But not the expected one. A large burst of 135mm rockets flew true, and turned the Fulcrum in to glitter and broken dreams. Bursting in to flame as it's two man crew punched out.

Abel: <<Abel, Splash one Fulcrum.>>

With part of her job done, Abel's eyes turned down looking for her wingman. What was called out over the radio shook her to her core.

<<Lion-5 Mayday! Mayday!>>

Wiseass' F-104 was a whole different story. The Starfighter was not designed for turning, it was designed for a boom and zoom, except the MiG-29 could accelerate faster and turn better.

The only advantage Wiseass had at this moment was his brain, and that was only a maybe. He still devised a plan, well... more of a gamble.

The man dove his plane in it's absolutely putrid turning circle downwards into the blizzard. It was a pitiful sight when the plane lazily responded to all defensive inputs outside of rolls. More than a few cannon rounds from the Fulcrum found their mark in non vital components. Diving made the vehicle accelerate until they were in the blizzard proper, and Wiseass began to level out.

As he was doing so, a final round found it's mark. Plan set, time to act.

In the low visibility, the man cut his engine and started to pitch nose down even further. Switching to the IDS, the man called out.

Wiseass: <<Lion-5 Mayday! Mayday!>>

Leveling out, he saw the outline below of the river bed, and primed the remaining missiles on his craft.

Wiseass: <Ejection seat isn't fucking working, Goddammit! I've primed it three fucking times an->>

Abel watched as a fireball below shone through the blizzard.

AWACS Snake Pit: <<Lion-5 radar contact lost...>>

The MiG-29 was now climbing out of the blizzard and approaching the Logi Truck's route. Abel dove much to her airframe's protest, in an attempt to pick it off if the other's failed. IR lock gained, IFFs of friendlies closing, but a part of her wanted nothing more than to avenge a lost friend.

Though to her shock, surprise, and anger welling up to a fucking breaking point. A pencil broke the cloud layer, and tracer ripped from it, and in to the Fulcrum, all but shredding it to pieces. Abel pulled up alongside the F-104 with murder on her mind. he eyes were drawn to his now empty hard points, and the man was visibly flipping switches in his cockpit, first came radio, evidently.

Wiseass: <<Hi. I'm Martin Greene. Welcome to Jackass.>>

Abel: <<When we land you're a fucking dead man.>>

Wiseass: <<Eh, more like chewed out, I've been chewed out before.>>

Abel: <<If you can get to the Colonel's office before I beat you with a fucking hammer. You sniveling sack of fu->>

AWACS Snake Pit: <<Lion-5, I will have to note this down in my AAR that you violated at least three separate international laws regarding aviation conduct. As well as perfidy.>> Wiseass remained silent.<<Lion-5, return to base. Now. Limaf, escort him home.>>

The F-104 broke off south, with one of Eagle's F-4Es following.

Abel, in an effort to work off steam, entered the blizzard and began scanning for targets. A quartet of targets were found, in the form of Hinds in a relatively close formation. Tailing them, she reduced speed, and silently, she plucked away with her remaining ordinance. Three AIM-9s found their target, and the remaining shells of her cannon ripped in to the last, causing it to autorotate in about the worst conditions for such an event.

Abel: <<Lion-2. Winchester. I'm RTB.>>

She was definitely going to commit assault and battery when she landed.

Below, Sullivan's truck was still making good progress as it passed by the wrecks of the BRDMs previously at the Factory gates.

Elsewhere, the ground forces at the Annex were now starting to exchange fire. As tracers from small arms, as well as contrails from ATGMs and explosive shells and armor impacts shone through the darkness of the blizzard.

by **Sapim** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 8:04 am

2nd Lt. Helena "Bono" Martiz
0935, December 13th 2015 // Toredo Valley, Emmeria

After notifying Enforcer 1, Bono prepares for her last possible attack since he's out of ammo, “the attachment is almost clean” she said to herself when she saw that she only had four infantry formations.

Bono: <<Rocket, Guns.>>

Bono fires his last rocket at the four infantries and fires 5 times with the Draken's 30mm cannon at infantry formations killing some soldiers, also wounding some in the process and forcing them to flee the annex.

Bono: <<Enforcer 6 to Snake Pit, Annex Clear>>

She looks up and notices two Antonov AN-12s with the Estovakian flag above her, immediately she pulls her plane up, the Antonov crew starts doing evasive maneuvers when they notice that Bono is behind them.

She looks around and sees that there are still 3 missiles with her, Bono realizes she has to do some action quickly before the fuel runs out which is now reduced to 0158 and counting, she decides to go to Antonov on the right and accelerates her fighter until she reaches nine miles.

Bono: <<Enforcer 6, Fox 2>>

It fires a missile in the direction of the Antonov that hits it by the tail and it immediately begins to free fall, exploding on impact to the ground. Bono will turn his Draken 180° and head towards the other Antonov, reaching up to nine miles when his missile is already in range.

Bono: <<Enforcer 6, Fox 2>>

It fires the missile that hits the right wing of the Antonov that starts to rotate towards the ground exploding in the fall. Bono sees again that now she only has 1 missile and 50 30mm bullets left she looks for other targets she a group of four MI-24s approaching the Annex coming from Valley Mouth East and goes towards them she looks at the fuel log and note that you only have 0040?. Something was wrong the fuel was running out too quickly she starts analyzing the side of her fighter and notices bullet holes in her Draken and the fuel leaking.

Bono: <<Holy shit, it's leaking.>>

Helena said with the radio on without her noticing, no one understood what she had said but someone must have looked at her fighter and understood why she will say that. With fuel running out quickly due to the leak Helena runs as fast as possible and takes aim at one of the MI's-24s.

Bono: <<Enforcer 6, Fox 2>>

Her last missile hits the MI-24 which explodes due to the missile. It will quickly come to the other MI's-24s who try to flee, but they are too slow and become easy prey for Bono.

Bono: <<Guns>>

She spends all her ammo on two MI's that she manages to knock down and damage others who manage to escape.

Bono: <<Enforcer 6 to Enforcer 1, Voron my fuel is at the end going back to Base.>>

by **Dayganistan** » Fri Jul 30, 2021 10:16 am

1st Lt. Takhmina "Voron" Abduloeva
December 13th, 2015 // Toredo Valley, Emmeria

Following her previous attack run, Takhmina pulled back up above the cloud layer to await further close air support tasking from ground forces. Flying around blindly in a storm trying to hunt targets without any sort of FLIR wasn't a risk she was willing to take, not when the ground forces needed her and the other aircraft in the area to survive. However, an Estovakian transmission over an open frequency would soon present her an opportunity to hunt for new targets of opportunity in the skies rather than on the ground.

Rusalka-1: <<Colonel Stroika. Your defection has forced our hand. We had hoped to try and get you to return for a proper trial, but we can see your mind has been poisoned. There’s no other explanation for your association with these hired guns, these honorless beasts with no nation. Judicar, take the mercenaries out. Heretic, level the ground facilities, it matters little to our war effort.>>

She would likely be at an altitude to take out what she would assume to be bombers. She would spot these bombers soon enough, although based on their speed and shape they were not exactly what she was expecting. MiG-25s, one of the variants modified to be able to carry bombs. Would she and the others be able to take them out before they could reach the target area? Regardless, she increased her throttle to its maximum setting and put her Fitter on an intercept course for the Foxbats.

Voron: <<Enforcer 1 has visual on four high speed bandits, Foxbat-B. Someone needs to help me engage these things or we're going to lose the factory.>>

The Foxbat would need to reduce its speed in order to drop its bombs, but even if it was doing so it would still be supersonic for quite some time. Takhmina could have tried for a head on engagement with air to air missiles, but with the reduced range her missiles could lock aircraft from the frontal aspect she wouldn't have the reaction time to release a missile at these speeds. If the Foxbats were equipped with air to air missiles for self defence they would have much the same issue. Her current advantage in a head on fight was that she had guns and the Foxbat did not. She attempted to line up her shot and fired a burst as her Fitter and the hostile Foxbat approached at supersonic speeds only for her rounds to miss. She flew past the Foxbat and pulled into the vertical in an attempt to reengage with a top attack, but the Foxbat had the same idea. The more powerful engines of the Foxbat would allow it to gain more altitude at a faster speed. The Foxbat was soon at a higher altitude and flying the opposite direction it had came, making a very wide turn to try to get back on attack heading. Takhmina was able to get a missile lock on the Foxbat.

Voron: <<Fox two.>>

The missile failed to track properly. But with the Foxbat in its wide turning circle it was Takhmina's chance to strike. She leveled off her aircraft and again pinned the throttle to try to gain ground on the bandit while it was in its turn. Her Fitter, in terms of maneuverability, was a thoroughbred dogfighter by comparison to the interceptor turned tactical bomber she was chasing and she was able to maneuver her aircraft onto the Foxbat's 6 o'clock. With a much more positive tone she launched another missile and repeated her fox two call on the radio. There wasn't much the bandit could do as the missile closed. The proximity fuse exploded, showering the Foxbat with shrapnel and causing one of the engines to trail black smoke. She fired another burst of canon fire which would disable its other engine and put a hole in the Foxbat's left wing. The Foxbat was now rapidly losing altitude and control authority. Fire from the engine would soon start spreading to the rest of the Foxbat.

Voron: <<Splash one Foxbat. Enforcer 1 is dry on air to air missiles.>>

Ace Combat: Ashes of War (IC/Closed)

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