Ace Combat: Hooves of Solace

Ace Combat: Hooves of Solace

- Chapter 2: Preemptive Strike-

-Trembling Masses -

- 0521 Hours -

“Scramble the fighters!”

Scootaloo galloped as hard as she could through the veins of the Marigold.  Her squadmates right behind her. Fire and smoke had completely filled the halls of the airship. The anti-air measures from outside made ships rumble at an inconsistent beat. Unicorn repair ponies were rushing in and out of the inferno onboard. Scootaloo reached the entrance to the hanger. The heat warped the door shut.

“It won’t -hmp- budge!” Scootaloo said while pushing herself against the door.

Sky Light yelled, “Get out of the way!” she cracked her neck and readied a spell.

Scootaloo stepped back. The door let out a ear piercing screech and was blown out the doorway, clean off the hinges. The force of the push wedged the broken door into the wall behind it.

Completely phased by the situation at hand, they all rushed into the hanger without giving notice to Sky Light’s magical abilities.

The unicorns present levitated Scootaloo and Regent to the launch pad and quickly prepped them for take off. Much faster then they normally work. In seconds they were all suited up and ready. An explosion outside the ship rumbled the hanger.

“Get the hanger doors open, move it!” a unicorn blurted out.

“Air-raid warning, enemy bombers inbound. Scramble and engage.”

Amidst all the sounds of anti-air cannons and explosions on the ship, a metallic grinding sound came from directly under the main hanger door.

“Oh for- the bucking door won’t open!” Regent yelled.

The grinding started and stopped at even intervals as the unicorn in the control room resorted to jabbing her hoof at the control panel.

“C’mon. C’mon. C’mon!” Regent said impatiently.

“Screw it, Scootaloo fire a missile at the door. If we don’t open it now then we’re finished!” Sky Light yelled.

Scootaloo stared at the door for an instant. “This is happening... really happening” She thought.

“Just do it!” Yelled Regent.

Scootaloo armed her missile. “Everypony brace!” A she yelled.

A deafening bang shook the whole hanger. The air rushed out, cleaning the inside of all the smoke. The hanger door was gone. Scootaloo caught a glimpse of griffons flying past the opening, being chased by anti-air measures.

“5”

“...4”“Don’t get over eager,” Sky Light said.

“...3”

“...2”“Just do what you always do.”

“...1...”

“Launch!”

The Wonderbolts on reconnaissances sped atop the layer of clouds, following their heading to the Marigold. They had just received the S.O.S. message from the Flagship. Along with tens of other request from numerous war ships. However the messages will go ignored by the Wonderbolts as the Marigold was one of Equestria’s most valuable war assets.

“All right everypony listen up,” Rainbow Dash began. “The Marigold’s situation is grim, the pegasi are out numbered 7:1. As soon as we get there we won’t stop for ordinances. We’re going straight to hoof-to-talon combat.”

Soarin’ got excited, “Haha, all right! Finally a challenge.” He said firmly.

A giant grey semi-sphere peered over the clouds. Smoke and puffs from anti-air measures filled the area around it

“Marigold in sight, 60 seconds to way-point.” Said Spitfire.

“I’ve got 3 unknowns coming in fast, they may be bombers.”

“30 seconds and closing.” Spitfire said.

The Wonderbolts were just within earshot of the dogfight. All they could hear was the constant barrage of AA measures.

“Wait... That lightening emblem... Those guys are on our side! It’s the Wonderbolts! The Wonderbolts are here! We’re going to be alright!”

The girffons were now in clear view of the 3 pegasi. “Spitfire engaging!” “Soarin’ engaging!” They each assumed their closest target. Pecking out one griffon after another.

Commander Rivers took over the comms. “Thank Celestia you made it. The Marigold’s hull can’t take much more abuse like this. You must clear the airspace as quickly as possible. Sirin team have already launched and are engaged in combat. You are to coordinate with them to fend of the invaders.”

Soarin’ was slightly annoyed, “Sirin team is doingour job now? Here I thought we stole theirs.”

“Cool yourself Soarin’, I’ll take all the help I can get.” Rainbow Dash said.

“Yeah!” Spitfire blurted out.

“Sirin team this is Rainbow Dash, join our formation and we’ll give you cover.”

“Well, if it isn’t his royal highness Soarin’.” Said Regent.

Soarin’s annoyance soon turned to rage. “What did you say flight filly?” He growled.

“Well I figured sense you guys were so nice as to fill in recon duty for us, we’d give dogfighting a try. You guys call this work? This is practically dancing!” Regent said mockingly.

“Well do you want our cover or not?” Spitfire asked in a more positive tone.

“Count me out” Regent said. “These griffons couldn’t dance their way out of a paper bag.”

“Right... Scootaloo? Do you need cover?” Spitfire asked.

“Follow my lead Regent, join formation with the Wonderbolts.” Scootaloo ordered.

“Aww come on...” Regent whined. “There’s no way I’m anywhere near Soarin’.”

“Chopper...” Scootaloo growled with displeasement.

Regent turned and swooped in next to Scootaloo. “Ugh... right behind you.” He said defeated.  They both banked right and arced them selves below the ship, where the heaviest fighting was taking place. As the lower hull paned into view. They saw the trio of Wonderbolts entering the skirmish as well. The 3 dispersed and bucked 3 griffons right in the back of the head. The 3 griffons froze and dropped like rocks. Scootaloo and Regent joined the formation and followed the Wonderbolt’s lead.

Spitfire issued orders to Sirin team. “Scootaloo, listen closely, Soarin’ and Rainbow will fly ahead of you and chase down the griffons, when those 2 have a griffon cornered, you or Regent fire a missile at them when you can get a clear shot. I’ll watch your six o’clock. Lets do this one griffon at a time.”

“Roger.” Scootaloo said. Rainbow Dash and Soarin’ gave no complaints to Spitfire’s orders. They both rushed out ahead and tailed a griffon. They both came in at the griffon’s left and right. “Scootaloo, Fox 2!”

Her missile blared from under her. It quickly flew out of sight, leaving a thin vapor trial behind, slowly drifting in the wind.

The tiny vapor trail far out in front of Scootaloo met with the griffon. A large puff of smoke and a black vapor trail spiraling downwards is all Scootaloo could see. A moment later she heard a soft bang.

Scootaloo’s fixation on her kill was broken when a griffon roared past her. Narrowly missing the griffon’s sharp talons. Spitfire was right behind it, she dove under the griffon and bucked its beak, shattering it. The griffon’s wings tensed up and it quickly fell through the cloud layer.

“Are you alright?” Spitfire asked.

“I’m fine, just shaken up is all.” Scootaloo replied.

“I can’t believe I let the griffon past me, how’d I miss him?” Spitfire said.

“Regent, Fox 3!” Four missiles launched from Regents suit. Each of them arced around and chased down 4 different griffons. A rapid secession of explosions followed.

“The enemy threat level has been reduced, we should be able to hold out against them.”

“Everyone disperse!” Rainbow yelled. “Spread out your attack.”

“There’s too many of them Scootaloo, use your SP weapons.” Regent said.

“Hey you’re not experienced enough to be giving orders yet Chopper.” Scootaloo said jokingly. She switched to her special weapons and targeted 4 griffons far out in front of her. “Scootaloo, Fox 3!”

Four vapor trials swept through the sky in front of her. The four vapor trails met with their targets, only one of the vapor trails sped past its griffon. The griffon changed its course and flew right toward Scootaloo. Her helmet blared missile alert warnings as the griffon launched a missile at her. Scootaloo turned as fast as possible to avoid the incoming attack. She arced out of the missiles flight path and chased down the griffon. Copying what Spitfire did, she swooped under the griffon and bucked its beak.

The beak shattered like glass. The griffon gave out a gargled cry before tensing up and falling. Scootaloo was again fixated on her kill, watching it plummet though the cloud layer.

“Not bad Scootaloo! You’re a natural fighter.” Regent said.

“There, see that orange one? That’s you target, shoot it down!”

Scootaloo rotated around and checked her surroundings. She spotted 3 griffons closing in from 3 different directions. She was cornered.

 She darted up, flying as fast as she could upward, straight toward one of the griffons. Before it could react, Scootaloo launched a missile at the griffon. It exploded sending the now dead griffon sideways. Scootaloo flew straight through the smoke cloud it left behind and targeted the next griffon, who was right on her tail.

Scootaloo dove to the side as the griffon flew past her, then darted after it. She chased the griffon up higher and higher. The griffon was force to fly downward when it ran out of breath. Scootaloo took that chance to buck in the back of the head. She pushed herself even higher and met the griffon as he was arcing downward.

Scootaloo threw her hind-legs at the back of the griffon’s head and heard a resounding crack. Scootaloo met no resistance as her hooves impacted the griffons neck. The griffon froze and began to fall. The last griffon dived to rescue his fallen friend.

“The enemy threat level is even lower now, drive them out of Equestria!”

The remaining griffons pulled back. From the dozens that attacked, on a hand full were left.

“The griffons are fleeing the combat airspace. Great job everypony.” Sky Light said.

“Where have you been the whole time Sky Light?” Scootaloo asked.

“Oh nowhere, just directing the rest of the battle for you.” Sky Light said with great smugness.

“Hey what about that griffon pecking at your tail, don’t I get any credit for taking care of that for you?” Spitfire asked.

“Not even, I shattered the neck of some griffon closing in on you Spitfire.” Regent rebutted.

“You two have a lot to learn from Scootaloo over here, she doesn’t take help from anypony!” Rainbow Dash said praising.

“All pegasi time to head on home now, try and make it back for supper”

Regent continued with a joke, “Great! I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”

“Be quiet... Chopper.” Spitfire said.

“Oh no... Not you too.” Regent said displeased.

All the pegasi flew around to the back of the air ship where the hanger was. Smoke still poured from the ship’s cracks and holes in the hull. The repair teams will have their work cut out for them. Sirin Team, the Wonderbolts, and several other support squadrons reached the tail of the Marigold.

“What did you guys do to the door!?” Rainbow yelled

- 0839 Hours -

A convoy of armoured chariots rolled into Garuda Air-force Base, the griffon’s front line airfield. Two Apex Predators over watched the chariots from the control tower, leaning against the rails atop of the tower. All the chariots were marked with the label CS-107.

“Conscripts.” Firestorm said darkly. “The invasion has only just begun, why now?” he wondered.

“What ever it takes to win the war.” His wingmate said.

“But we only just broke south, and our forces haven’t even broke sweat.” Replied Firestorm.

His wingmate searched for an explanation, but could not find one. “Yeah well- Hey at least it’s not our asses on the line right?” he said with a nervous laugh.

“No. Not for long,” Firestorm replied while walking away from the guard rails.

Dear REAF Director, Crimson Springs:

I gathered the flight data from the griffons just as you asked. They can easily out maneuver our anti-air guns. Their flight paths are included in the letter. As a result of the  griffon's preemptive strike, we have lost 19 out of the 28 airships patrolling the border, our position here is completely compromised. I have ordered the remaining balloons to create a 50 mile gap between Gryphus and them. It seems as though we have greatly underestimated our enemy.

Sincerely, Commander Autumn Rivers of the Marigold.

Notes: Map

Now believe me when I say I procrastinated the hell out of this chapter... Also check out my friends Ace Combat cross-over directly related to my story. Here