Ace Combat: Gryphon Assault

Meanwhile, 180 yards from the beach...

Applejack's unit was facing seven BTRs headed their way.  Spike had already used his Javelin to take one out, and the only other marine in the squad that had Javelins was KIA.  “Well, ah reckon this is it, we'll fight on 'til the last shot!” Applejack said.  Just then, she heard a call on her radio that she prayed she would hear.  “Alpha-Six, this is Warhammer, heard you could use some help down there, call the shot.” the pilot of Warhammer, the Arcadian AC-130U Spooky II gunship, said.

“Roger Warhammer, fire mission danger close, multiple enemy BTRs about 100 yards east of our position!” Applejack said.  “Roger that, we have visual, fire mission coming down, take cover down there!” Warhammer replied.  Seconds later, the BTRs were shredded by several rounds from the gunship's 40mm Bofors cannon, followed by a finishing shot with the 105mm howitzer, which was so close that Applejack's unit felt the shockwave as a sudden wind.

“Whoa, Nelly!  That's some mighty fine shootin' there, Warhammer!” Applejack said.  “Alpha-Six, this is Command, we have an Arcadian Warthog pilot down two clicks south of your position and your unit is the closest one available to assist.” Command said.  “Understood, we're on our way to him now, Alpha-Six out!” Applejack replied.  “Alright, listen up, there's an allied pilot down, and we just got called in to help him out, so we're gonna help git him home!” Applejack announced as she briefed her squad on the change of mission.  “Warhammer, y'all got that?” Applejack asked.  “Roger, we'll cover you all the way to the extraction point, you better get moving, out.” Warhammer replied.  “Roger, we're on our way to get that pilot now, Alpha-Six out!” Applejack replied.

Meanwhile, 15,000 feet AGL...

All of the crew members had their game faces on as the AC-130U Spooky II gunship circled around Applejack’s squad.  Major Johnathan Lopez flew the aircraft with his copilot Captain Evan Jacobs and their navigator, Captain George Owens.  Below the cockpit, TV operator Airman First-Class Bill Grimm sat with fire control officer First Lieutenant Sebastian Mendez.  Finally, in the rear, Senior Airman Jessica Mendez and Airman First-Class Laura Hernandez manned the ammunition, keeping the guns loaded.

“Crew, confirm you have eyes on friendlies.” John said over the intercom.  “We see them, start the clock.” Bill replied after spotting the distinct flashes of allies with infrared strobes on his thermal imaging display.  Seconds later, he spotted several armored vehicles, identified as T-90 tanks and BMP-3 IFVs approaching their position.  “Alpha-Six, be advised, we're seeing multiple enemy armor units approaching your position and are engaging at this time.” John said.  “Roger Warhammer, we're holdin' position!” Applejack’s voice called over the radio.

Bill armed the 105mm howitzer as he brought the lead T-90 into his sights.  A quick squeeze of the trigger sent a 45 pound explosive warhead flying at high velocity into the tank.  “Shot!” Laura called out into the intercom as the cannon fired.  Bill's eyes grew wide with excitement as he watched the tank get engulfed by a fireball from the shell's impact.  Through the fireball, Bill saw the turret get blown clean off and a second explosion from the tank’s ammunition engulfing the BMP behind it.  “Good hits, good hits!” Bill excitedly said into the intercom.

In the back of the plane, the two loaders quickly rammed another shell in, a quick “Gun ready!” call signaling that the howitzer was ready to fire again at any time.  “Get those guys behind the tanks.” the FCO called out.  Bill responded with eight cracks of the 40mm Bofors cannon, two for each BMP.  The first round of each pair ripped its target open, while the second took out the interior, including the occupants.  The two remaining BMPs began unloading their troops instantly.  Bill instinctively switched to the 25mm Gatling gun.  “Time for the Crowd Pleaser!” Bill taunted as he unleashed a one second burst into the mass of gryphons, ripping them to bloody shreds.  A second shot from the 105mm reduced the remaining T-90 to a burning hulk.

“OK, Alpha-Six, all hostiles neutralized, you're cleared to advance at this time.” John said.  “Roger, we're movin' out now, Alpha-Six out!” Applejack replied as her squad began to move.  Two tense minutes later, a new voice came on the radio.  “Any allied units on this channel, this is Hog Driver, I'm hearing a lot of noise a bit close to here, what's happening?” the voice said.  “Hog Driver, state your position and current status.” John replied.

“I'm fine, just a little shaken from the punch-out, but I'm OK, the enemy hasn't spotted me yet.” the voice replied.  John realized that this was the downed Arcadian A-10 pilot.  “OK, be advised, an Equestrian squad is en-route to rendezvous with you and escort you to the LZ, we will support you the whole way.  Call-sign is 'Alpha-Six'.” John said.  “Roger, I'll try and contact them now.” the pilot, Major Andrew Wall replied.  “Alpha-Six, this is Hog Driver, do you read me?” Andrew asked.  “Yep, loud and clear, we're gonna get ya outta here quick, just hang in there, we'll be there in about a minute.” Applejack replied.

A minute later, Applejack's unit reached the downed pilot, who was glad to see them.  “You alright, sir?” Applejack asked.  “Yeah, I'm glad to see friendly faces again!” Andrew replied.  “Let's go, the gunship will cover us the whole way!” Applejack said as the group got moving, the AC-130 circling above them like a guardian angel.  They eventually reached a small town just east of their position.  “Warhammer, we're moving up the road towards a town to the east!” Applejack reported as they moved in.

“Roger, we see you, Alpha Six!” John replied.  Bill then spotted several gryphons moving out of a large church near the friendly ground unit's position.  “We have armed personnel coming out of the church, request permission to engage.”  Bill was ready to go.  “Crew, you are cleared to engage, but do not fire on the church.” Sebastian replied.  Bill then moved the reticule in front of the enemy troops and fired a burst.  The rounds hit and most of the enemy troops were hit as the survivors ran around in a panic.  “Oh no, you don't!” Bill taunted as he selected the Bofors gun and fired a round.  The last enemy troops were engulfed in the fireball from the blast.

“Yeah, good kill, I see a lot of little pieces down there!” Sebastian exclaimed as he watched the carnage on his own display.  Bill then spotted a UAZ heading towards Applejack's group.  Bill acted fast and popped two rounds in front of the UAZ, blowing it to bis with the second hit.  “Shit, must have been a full tank of gas!” Sebastian exclaimed.  “Warhammer, this is Alpha-Six, be advised, we're passing a large church and continuing towards the main road, keep up the fire, Alpha-Six out!” Applejack said as she led her team and the Arcadian pilot past the small town with the church and towards a highway.   “Copy, crew, engage anything without a flashing strobe light, those are all hostiles.” John ordered.  Bill spotted a large group of hostiles crossing a nearby field.  “Enemies crossing the field!” Bill said as he selected the 105mm and squeezed off a round.  “SHOT!” Jessica called out as she and Laura reloaded the gun as quickly as they could.  “GUN READY!” Jessica called out when the reloading process was finished.  Bill picked off the remaining enemies with the Bofors.

Bill then saw a large highway at the edge of his display.  He also spotted a truck driving down the road.  “Got a moving vehicle here.” Bill said.  Sebastian saw the truck on his display and recognized it as a civilian vehicle.  “Negative, negative, do not engage any vehicles on the main highway, those are civilians.” he ordered.  Bill then spotted Applejack's squad with the Arcadian pilot closing in on the highway as a pair of trucks approached.  “Warhammer, we're commandeerin' civilian transports on the main highway, cover us!” Applejack said as Spike fired several warning shots in front of the trucks to make them stop.

“Friendly ground units are acquiring alternate transport at this time.  Do not engage any vehicles on the highway unless cleared to do so.” Sebastian ordered.  Bill watched as Applejack and her fellow Royal Marines got into the trucks after scaring off the drivers, who fled upon facing loaded automatic weapons.  “I bet that guy's pissed, nice truck!” Bill commented.  “Nah, heh heh, he's scared shitless!” Sebastian replied with a chuckle.  “Warhammer, we're marking the vehicles!” Applejack said.  “Roger, we see the beacons!” Bill replied as he saw the flashing strobes on his display.

Just then, Sebastian saw four ominous blips on his monitor.  His eyes widened with horror as the computer confirmed their identity as MiG-35 fighters.  “WE'VE GOT MIGS!!” he exclaimed as John began evasive action.  “Stardust, this is Warhammer, be advised, we've got bandits headed our way!” John said.  “Copy, bandits are five-zero miles out, allied fighters are en route to intercept, call-sign: Shadow.” Stardust replied.  “Roger, we'll hold out as long as we can!” John replied.  A minute later, one of the MiGs fired an R-73 Archer at the Spooky.

“MISSILE LAUNCH!!” Sebastian exclaimed as he saw the launch on his alert panel next to his main display.  John saw the launch as well on his RWR display and activated the countermeasures as an alarm blared throughout the cockpit and fire control center.  A large volley of decoy flares spewed out the sides and bottom of the gunship as it turned to the right.  The missile zoomed past the AC-130 as it was decoyed by the flares.  “Shadow Flight, this is Warhammer, we are under attack!  Where the hell are you?!” John asked in desperation.  “Warhammer, this is Shadow One, we're on our way, ETA twenty seconds!” Robert replied as he and his fellow pilots blazed towards the endangered gunship at full afterburner.

Robert armed his AIM-9X Sidewinder heat-homing missiles as his flight closed in on the MiGs.  He got in range and got a good tone on the lead MiG.  “I've got good tone...fox two!” he called out at he launched his missile.  The Sidewinder flew up and struck the tail of the MiG, blowing it apart.  “Yeah, got that scumbag!” Angelo exclaimed.  “Three more bandits bearing zero-five-six, Shadow Flight, engage!” Robert ordered as his flight entered the fight.  John saw the Arcadian Super Hornets buzz by just above them.  “Hah-hah, good guys are here!” John said into the intercom to spread the news to the rest of the crew.

“Taking the shot!” Megan called out as she locked onto another MiG and fired a Sidewinder.  The missile flew up and struck the MiG just behind the cockpit, engulfing the fighter in a ball of flame.  “Good kill, Edge!” Angelo exclaimed as he witnessed her kill.  “Bandit on Warhammer's tail, I'm taking it down!” Vidal said as he positioned himself behind the third MiG.  “Fox Two, Fox Two!” he said as he locked on and fired.  The MiG turned to evade but to no avail as the missile blew off its left wing, causing it to spiral uncontrollably as it nosedived towards the ground.

The fourth MiG turned away from the Arcadian fighters and focused on the AC-130 still maneuvering nearby.  This action was a big mistake, for the Akealian pilot's desperate attempt to down the gunship made him extremely open to attack.  The enemy pilot rolled around as he attempted to get into position to engage the AC-130.  “Oh no, you don't, you son of a bitch!” Robert said as he got behind the MiG.  He squeezed the trigger the moment he heard the growling tone in his headphones.  He watched with glee as his missile flew off the rail and into the MiG.  He turned away at full burner to avoid the debris and his flight formed up.

“Stardust, all MiGs destroyed, we're clear!” Robert happily exclaimed as his flight turned west towards the Kestrel.  “Thanks for the help, Shadow, we wouldn't have made it without you guys!” John said as he maneuvered the gunship back into position to support Applejack's unit.  “Alpha-Six, this is Warhammer, sorry it took so long, we got held up by some MiGs.” John said.  “No worries, we're alright so far.” Applejack replied as her unit drove on in the two trucks.

“Heads up, UAV data shows hostiles setting up ambush points along the curved road.” George said.  “Navigation, which one's the curved road?  Over.” John asked.  “Fire control, do you see the water tower?  Over.” George asked.  “TV, confirm you see the water tower.” Sebastian said.  Bill looked around, moving the sensors until he got a water tower next to an intersection between two different roads in his field of view.  “You talking about the, uh, the water tower near the intersection?” Bill asked.  “Uh, roger, that's the one, and next to that water tower is a curved road, do you see that?” George asked.

“Roger that.” Sebastian replied.  “Track that road to the next village, you, uh, should be able to see another water tower in the village further down that road.” George said.  Bill looked, but could not get the specified area in his view.  “Uh, we're having trouble acquiring the village, how far up the road is it?” Sebastian asked.  “It's approximately, umm, hang on...it's about two clicks along the curved road going away from the highway.” George replied.  “Roger that.” Sebastian replied.  By now, Bill could see the village in question, and numerous enemy troops set up to ambush Applejack's unit, some hidden by the thick forest that surrounded the village.

“We're banking towards the village, stand by to engage ground targets.” John said as he rolled the AC-130U into position.  “We've got hostiles setting up along the curved road.” Bill said as he lined up the reticule for a shot with the howitzer and fired, sending a sharp jolt throughout the aircraft.  “Hostiles preparing to ambush along the curved road, they're partially concealed by the trees!” Sebastian reported.  Sebastian saw the effects of the shot on his display.  “Yeah, good hits on that one!” he said.  Bill then saw a trail of smoke shoot out from a building towards the two vehicles.  “Whoa, someone just fired an RPG!” Bill reported as he sprayed the enemy infantry with the 25mm, taking care to avoid hitting Applejack's unit in the vehicles.

“Roger that, crew, go ahead and take out everything in that village!” Sebastian ordered.  He then spotted a BMP-3 coming out of a nearby barn.  “Armored vehicle right there, right there coming out of the barn!” he said.  Bill blasted the BMP with the howitzer.  “Targets in the village are confirmed as hostile, cleared to engage, smoke 'em!” John ordered.  “Warhammer, we're under attack, we sure could use some help down here!” Applejack said as she and the other driver avoided incoming enemy gunfire and RPGs.  “Crew, track those smoke trails and take them out at the source, clear a path for our guys!” Sebastian ordered.

Bill then spotted several enemy soldiers on the roof of a rectangular U-shaped building on the side of the road.  “Enemies on the roof of the U-shaped building!” Bill reported as he blew them away with the 40mm.  “Uhh, U-shaped building?” Sebastian asked.  “Roger, it's the one with the small square object on the roof, it's the one with the flat roof.” George replied.  Bill sprayed more enemy infantry with the 25mm and pounded more distant hostiles with the 40mm.  “Yeah, direct hits right there.” Sebastian said as he monitored the action on his display.  “Get that guy by the building.” Sebastian ordered as he tracked an enemy soldier by the U-shaped building.  Bill fired a round from the 40mm and the enemy soldier was gone in a flash.  “Yeah, you got him, get back on those other guys.”

“Enemy helicopters inbound!” Sebastian called out.  Bill then spotted four Mi-17 Hip troop transport helicopters attempting to drop reinforcements in.  “Not on my watch!” Bill said as he switched to the 25mm and fired a burst.  One of the enemy helicopters was hit and went down in flames.  Bill adjusted his aim and fired again.  Another enemy helicopter downed.  “Yeah, hit 'em!” Sebastian exclaimed as a third enemy chopper went down.  The fourth went into a hover and Bill hit it with the 40mm.  “Hot damn!” Bill exclaimed as the helicopter crashed after being hit.  “Good shooting, they didn't see that one coming!” Sebastian said.  At this point, Applejack's unit had reach a junkyard which was the designated LZ.  “Warhammer, we've reached the LZ at the junkyard and are leaving the vehicles!” Applejack reported as she and the rest of her unit escorted the pilot into the junkyard.

“Roger that, Alpha-Six.  Crew, friendlies are leaving the vehicles and are continuing on foot and hoof towards the LZ.” John reported.  “Enemy forces in the junkyard.” Bill reported as he spotted enemy troops and a few UAZs on the other side of the junkyard, with additional enemies coming out of a nearby building.  “Roger, go ahead and smoke 'em!” Sebastian ordered.  Bill wasted no time putting rounds on target as he blasted a group of Golden Talon commandos with a burst of the 25mm.  “Man, these guys are going to town!” Sebastian exclaimed as Bill kept blasting away, taking care to not get his fire too close to the friendlies on the ground.

“There's a guy by that car!” Sebastian called out as he watched the action.  Bill spotted the hostile and put a burst on him.  The fight went on until Applejack's unit found themselves surrounded by hostiles in the junkyard.  “Warhammer, we've reached the LZ, but we're takin' fire on all sides!  Requestin' fire support on all sides of the LZ, danger close!” Applejack said loudly over the sounds of gunfire as her unit fought it out with many enemy soldiers.  Bill made a mental note to not use the 40mm or 105mm too close to the junkyard LZ where Applejack's unit was.  “Enemy personnel closing on the LZ from multiple sides, danger close!  Recommend you stick to the twenty-five millimeter in the vicinity of the LZ.” John ordered.

Bill spotted a pair of T-80 tanks and blasted one with the 105mm before pounding the other with the 40mm, eventually blasting the turret apart.  Once he heard the call, “gun ready”, he fired the 105mm again to finish off the other enemy tank.  He saw a pair of BMP-3s approaching.  “Denied!” he taunted as he nailed each of them with a pair of rounds from the 40mm.  “Crew be advised, friendly helicopters entering the area, watch your fire!” John said.  “Copy.” Bill replied.

Bill watched as an Arcadian Special Operations Command (SOCOM) MH-60L Direct Action Penetrator (DAP) transport helicopter of the 116th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) armed with 8 AGM-114K Hellfire II anti-tank missiles and 38 Hydra 70 70mm FFAR with M261 MPSM (Multipurpose Submunition) warheads in twin in two M261 launchers, and a flight of AH-74 Crossbow gunships entered the area, the DAP landing on a nearby field.  Once the DAP was on the ground, a squad of Arcadian Army Rangers poured out and surrounded the helicopter, engaging any enemies that got too close, just as a pair of Equestrian Royal Army SOCOM Mi-24 Hind E transport gunships landed nearby.

“Warhammer, we're moving toward the helicopters now, thanks fer the assist, Alpha-Six out!” Applejack said as her unit got into the Hinds, just as Andrew joined the Rangers in the DAP.  All at once, the helicopter lifted off and headed west towards the coast.  “Man, this is gonna be one helluva highlight reel!” Sebastian exclaimed.  “Yeah, I heard that!” Bill added.  Bill watched as the allied helicopters flew safely out of the danger zone.  “Crew, Hog Driver is secure in heading home, good job, everyone!” George said, pride in his fellow crew members clear in his tone of voice.  “Roger that, returning to base.” John said as he steered the gunship west and put the weapons on SAFE.  The AC-130 flew back out to sea and refueled from an ERAF KC-135R before reaching its home at Riverton AFB.

Meanwhile...

Robert's flight was on the flight deck of the Kestrel rearming and refueling.  Robert and his fellow pilots watched from their cockpits as the action continued on the beach.  Several miles in front of the carrier, the battleship ERNS Luna fired another volley with her main guns.  “Wow, I felt the vibrations on that one!” Vidal said as the deck crew finished attaching the final JDAM to the left wing of his aircraft.  “Yeah, nothing like floating artillery bases to provide fire support.” Angelo replied as the deck crew members detached the refueling hose from his plane.

Over the next five minutes, the resupply process was finished and the F/A-18Es were moved back onto the catapults.  Angelo launched first, followed by Megan, Vidal and finally, Robert.  Here we go! Robert thought as he throttled up to full power.  The plane jolted as the catapult was triggered, launching the Super Hornet back into the air.  As Robert's flight approached the beach, Robert noticed that there was no more action on the beach.  They must have advanced beyond the beach. Robert thought as the flight of four strike fighters crossed the shoreline.