Ace Combat The Knights of Heaven

1st JULY 2015 -

1415hrs

MIRAMAR NATIONAL AIR FORCE BASE- OSEA

It was a late Monday afternoon when Raven "Maverick" Mitchell landed his Grumman F-14D Super Tomcat on the long runaway of Miramar National Air Force Base, an Osean Air Force base located near the border of Osea and Equestria to the south of the country. The recently promoted First Lieutenant taxied his fighter to a 4 large hangers under order by the Air Traffic Controller and eventually by ground crews and powered down his twin General Electric F110 engines parking outside facing the taxiway to the runaway. As he climbed out of his cockpit and did his post flight checks, he watch as 3 Black Hawks carrying the ponies of Equestria that agreed to support Osea during the ongoing Belkan Conflict then he made his main building from the briefing. Along the way Maverick met a cyan pegasus pony with a rainbow mane and tail that just arrived in one of the Black Hawks

"You must be Rainbow Dash." He commented as the pegasus mare turned around and spotted him

"How did you guess?"' Rainbow Dash  smiled at Maverick, her voice cool. She was in his late twenties, with rose-rimed eyes, well known to be the only pegasus pony to perform a Sonic Rainboom and the element of Loyalty "I'm guessing you're here for the same reason as me?"

"'Well that depends if it's just for excitement or a serious cause."

"is it bad to choose both?"

"Then I guess we're both here for the same reason. I hear the pegasi of Equestria are decent fliers."

"Yeah, they say that we pegasi are some of the best fliers." Rainbow Dash smiled and extended her hoof 'you can call me Rainbow if you like."

Maverick shook Rainbow's hoof "The name's Raven Mitchell but you can call me Maverick."

"That's an awesome name Maverick. I heard stories about you, They say you were unstoppable during your times at the Fighter Weapons School." Rainbow grinned

"I didn't realized I was that famous." Maverick smiled

"You are, the cadets at the Wonderbolts Academy are inspired by your calm and aggressive flying skills." The pegasus clapped on the man's shoulder as a gesture of goodwill.

An Osean airman threw open a door to a large but nearby and urgently called them to the briefing room. Maverick and Rainbow were the ;ast to arrive, the room was already occupied by 8 pilotx and pegasi clad in silver flight suits and an older officer, a Lieutenant General  acting as the intelligence officer of the base.

"Maverick, Rainbow." He announced as they entered and took a seat in a loud and calm voice "Welcome to the 10th Air Division."

"Okay listen up! We have a situation in our hands."  the map zoomed in the area of Miramar to the north east of Osea and the icy mountain near the border of Belka "A major squadron of Belkan bombers has crossed our border and is making its way here, to Miramar Air Base. Apparently, they intend to attack our base in an initiative to gain hegemony over the entire Federation of Osea. Miramar is our country's and the Equestrian border's strongest line of defense. If our base falls, no one will be left to stop Belka from taking over North Osea. Your mission is to destroy the squad of bombers and defend our base. Belka's invasion must end here. Dismissed"

Maverick and Rainbow were on there feet and hooves racing towards their planes, both grabbing their flight helmets along the way They saw Osean and Equestrian technicians waiting for them. Maverick's white and black Super Tomcat was ready for launch armed with 4 AIM-9 Sidewinders and 6 AIM-54 Phoenix and standing next to Maverick's plane was a cyan tinted McDonald Douglas F/A-18A Hornet fulled armed with 4 AIM-9 Sidewinders and 4 AIM-7 Sparrows.

"Whoa." Rainbow gasped in awe "is that my plane?"

"it sure is. The Hornet is decent plane to choose" Maverick replied while getting in his cockpit

"This is it, Time to Fly!" Rainbow exclaim in an exciting tone. she started her Hornet's twin General Electric F404 and she began taxiing with Maverick to the runaway.

"Tower this is Maverick permission for both of us to take off." Maverick asked

"Roger Maverick, you cleared for take off." the man in the control tower replied in a calm voice as Maverick and Rainbow lined up to with the white line on the runaway and pressed a button on their control panel. The HUD came to life, green light showing their altitude, speed and attitude. Also, if a target is close enough, a pipper for the cannons.

"Okay Rainbow I've got the lead, follow me north east and let's show the entire base what we're made off." Maverick said in a calm yet excited tone

"You've got it Mav!" Rainbow replied a huge smile formed on her face

They slowly increased the throttle to maximum throttle. Both the Super Tomcat and Hornet roared and began to accelerate down the runaway taking off a few seconds later

"Tower. We've cleared the tower now heading towards the Belkan border." Maverick confirmed

"Roger that. God speed and good luck."

"Maverick, Rainbow your now assigned as the 109th Tactical Fighter Squadron Skyfighters. I say again you're now members of the Skyfighter Squadron."  the base commander proudly announced causing both of them to exchanges excited looks

"I-I-I can't believe it!" shuttered Rainbow after hearing what the base commander had said "We've got a own squadron now."

"Well I guess this is going to be an eventful year for all of us." Maverick replied a huge grinned forming on his face "Rainbow Dash, you're Skyfighter 2, follow my orders at all cost and remember that unauthorized engagements is strictly prohibited during combat."

"Roger that Skyfighter 1." Rainbow saluted not only she was in a newly formed squadron but has a famous airman as her flight lead "Shout at me once your ready."

During the 20 minute flight to the border they formed up with a group of F-15C Eagles and MiG-29s escorting a squadron of F-20 Tigersharks, they've soon realized this mission is not going to easy.