Ace Combat: Shattered Friendships

Chapters

Operation Crossblade
Downtime: Shortfalls Disguised as Success
Operation Roseluck
Downtime: Ashes to Ashes, Lightning to Dust
Operation Choker One
Downtime: Alcohol and Accusations
Offensive Campaign No. 4101: Operation Round Hammer
Offensive Campaign No. 4101: Operation Costner
Downtime: Reminiscing and Reflecting
Interview One
Operation Varsity
Downtime: The Precipice of Liberty
Operation Constantine
Offensive Campaign No. 4101: Operation Gelnikos

Operation Crossblade

Ace Combat: Shattered Friendships
Operation Crossblade
Author: Draconis187

The dark, cloud covered sky over Valiant Airbase only added to the mood of the pilots as they scrambled to their various jets, having gotten out of the briefing over an hour ago and had finished prepping their aircraft. The Wonderbolts jumped into the cockpits of their JAS 39C Gripens. They were light blue with the same twin sided lightning bolt running down the plane’s length that the pilots wore on their jackets.

Their rudders had a yellow lightning bolt with a pair of white wings along with a number inside the bolt, coloured black to indicate which part of the Wonderbolts Squadron they were a part of. A second symbol was on each of the main wings: a large triangle with two smaller triangles and a diamond visible within due to their differentiating colours: black for the diamond in the centre, blue for the right triangle and a red triangle on the left. On either side of the large triangle were three white stripes of increasing length.

As the eight planes headed for the runway, their eye in the sky was waiting for take off clearance. A Boeing E-767 AWACS, (Airborne Warning and Control System) coloured as black as coal with a white stripe running down the radar system that was attached to the top of the fuselage. The wings had a strip of silver colouring running along the flaps and ailerons. At the pilot’s seat was a dark grey Pegasus with a sky blue mane and tail with light blue streaks known as Thunderlane. A lilac coloured Pegasus known as Flitter sat in the co-pilot seat. Her pale green mane made her headset seem nonexistent as it hid inside.

As Thunderlane adjusted the headset he wore he called out to the control tower. “This is Eagle Eye to Valiant Control Tower, are we cleared for take-off?”

The voice of a mare came over the communications, it had an air of royalty to it but it was hardly surprising since it belonged to Princess Luna. “This is Valiant Control Tower to Eagle Eye, you are cleared for take-off.”

“Roger that.” Thunderlane responded as he turned his head to the Unicorns in the back. “Strap up ladies, we’re taking off!”

In an instant the hum of the Boeing’s twin engines turned to deafening roars as Thunderlane commanded their cooperation with the throttle. As the brake was released, the plane slowly built up speed before taking to the air. On board the AWACS, a purple Alicorn was holding onto her seat for dear life, this being the first time she had ever flown in any aircraft. She always preferred using her own wings.

“You alright back there, Twilight?” Thunderlane chuckled as the AWACS levelled off. Twilight nodded her head slowly in response, causing everypony in the plane to chuckle. “Well, they say the first flight is the hardest so I guess it is smooth flying from here on out.”

Twilight breathed in deeply before turning her attention to her headset in front of her as she began to call out to the only two squadrons at Valiant: The Wonderbolts and The Galm Team.

“Wonderbolt One, are you airborne yet?” Twilight called over the radio channel. She would be giving them assessments of the operation as all the Unicorns check their radars and relay the situation to her so she can relay it to each squadron.

“We were waiting for you to hurry your giant metal ass up there first since there is only one airstrip!” Rainbow Dash, Captain of the Wonderbolts Squadron said with a hint of annoyance in her voice. “You only just got airborne for the love of Celestia’s giant flank!”

“That’s enough about my sister’s flank no matter how large it may appear to be, thank you very much.” Luna called out, monitoring the communications and the radar in the Control Tower with a bunch of Earth Ponies. “Focus on the mission of stopping the bombers and their escorts.”

“Yeah, yeah. I heard all about that in the briefing. I still don’t know why we have this ‘Galm Team’ flying with us.” The cyan Pegasus complained as she lined up on the runway, looking back at the two mercenaries. “Wonderbolt One requesting ready for take-off.”

“The runway’s clear Wonderbolt One, you are clear for take-off.” Luna’s voice responded as the jet shot across the runway before lifting off, the rest of her squadron not far behind.

**** **** **** ****

Earlier that day…

“Would somepony tell me what is going on?” Dash asked as the eight Pegasi (including herself) that made up the Wonderbolts, an Earth Pony, a Unicorn that refused to remove her helmet and three Alicorns sat down in the briefing room. “I hate waiting.”

“We need to make this quick anyway.” A tall white Alicorn with a polychromatic mane and a stylised sun Cutie mark, Princess Celestia began. “As you know, the Griffon Empire invaded a month ago and have been taking over our territory. This was due to the fact that their natural resources had run dry and instead of negotiating trade, they attacked, expanding into the Crystal Empire as well as Equestria.”

“The news has already reported all of this so far sister, it is already common knowledge.” Luna, a dark blue Alicorn with a white crescent moon on top of a black ‘cloud’ for a Cutie Mark objected. Her star-like mane shone brightly in the dark briefing room.

“Correct but this actually brings us to our problem: this is the last operating airfield in Equestria. Our other airbases as far as Appleloosa and Germaney had not responded after we received reports of their attack.” Celestia explained. “There are 4 Bm-335, 6 B-52H along with escort planes consisting of 3 F4-E and F5-E respectively.” Celestia explained as a projector showed the map of the airspace around Valiant Airbase. “They will be coming from the northwest. If so much as one gets past you, we lose and Equestria is doomed.”

“Ok, so no pressure then?” Dash joked as she prodded Spitfire in the side with her elbow.

“I still don’t understand how you got to be my captain.” Spitfire facehoofed as she addressed her superior. “Who are the two mares behind us?” She pointed to the two mercenaries behind them.

“That’s Pinkie Pie.” Twilight explained with her voice heavy with guilt and sadness after seeing her friend after seven years.

“It’s Pinkamena Diane Pie, or ‘Solo Wing Pinkie’. Nothing else.” The flat manned, dull pink pony responded without even looking up at them, more interested in the combat knife in her hooves.

“Sorry, and the other one won’t tell us her name, or remove her helmet so we only know her by her callsign: Cipher. The two of them are being designated as the Galm Team. We are attaching them to the 6th Air Division, 66th Air Force Unit.” Twilight continued to explain. “Any other questions before we begin the operation?”

As she looked around the room, none of the Wonderbolts or the mercenaries responded. “Ok then. Get your planes ready, they will be here in two hours. Operation Crossblade is a go.”

**** **** **** ****

Present time…

As the Galm Team took off into the sky, Cipher went over her instruments and surveyed her surroundings from her cockpit. She had a voice distortion device built into the radio so she could speak but keep her anonymous persona. As her F-15C Eagle flew through the cloudy skies, Galm Two could be seen maintaining her position behind her, on her left.

Cipher’s F-15 was the normal metal colour with dark blue markings on the main wings and the horizontal stabilisers as well as both rudders. Solo Wing’s F-15 had its right wing coloured red, a reminder of how she got her nickname when she flew her plane home with only a single wing. The rest of her plane was the colour of the metal alloy that was used to build it.

“Contact, the first flight of bombers are twenty miles out from the base.” Twilight’s voice rang out on the intercom.

“Roger that Eagle Eye, moving in to engage the bandits.” Dash called out.

“Galm Two, follow all orders from Galm One. Free engagement is prohibited during this operation.” Twilight reminded Pinkamena as she was about to break from Cipher.

“Understood. You hear that Cipher? I’ll await your orders. You are Galm One after all.” Pinkamena called out, addressing the F-15 next to her as it remained dead level at intercept velocity. “You know I heard stories about you. They say that you’ve got what it takes to win. It looks like its snowing, try not to crash everypony. Nopony wants to bail out in a landscape of ice.”

“As if that’ll happen to us!” Dash heartily remarked.

“This is Galm One, Galm Two engage the closest F5-E escort and I’ll take out the other before moving onto the two bombers.” Cipher’s distorted voice rang through Solo Wing’s cockpit but she was still able to hear her leader correctly.

“Roger that.” She responded as the two planes broke formation and went for the escorts.

“Right then, Wonderbolts. Let’s show them what the Equestrian Air Force can do!” Dash cried out over the radio as her group broke formation to engage the other four escort planes.

“I’ve got a tail!” Soarin cried out as an F5-E chased behind him, bullets ricocheting off the left wing as small trails of black smoke began to pour out. “Damn him!”

“I’ve got you Wonderbolt Six!” Dash’s plane flew directly towards Soarin’s own plane, seemingly on a collision course. “Climb now!”

He complied and flew straight up, allowing Dash to get a lock on the attacking F5-E. “Wonderbolt One, Fox 2!”

The missile left its rail and sped off towards the F5-E as Dash banked to the left. The missile collided with the cockpit as it detonated, creating a huge fireball of metal and jet fuel as it fell to the ground like a meteor.

“That’s a kill!” Twilight confirmed as the other unicorns and she kept an eye on the battle from their seats on the AWACS.

“Aw yeah! You ok there Soarin?” Dash called out.

“I’m ok but the wing is losing hydraulic fluid, I need to bug out.” He responded as his plane headed for base.

“Go for it, we can mop up everything here no problem. Drinks are on you tonight though!” Dash laughed as she engaged an F4-E.

As Dash’s laugher rang over the radio, Cipher chased an F5-E. The plane tried to feint banking to the left and Cipher made her plane twitch in response, seemingly falling for the ruse. As the plane banked right, it fell into Cipher’s own trap as her chaingun opened up and ripped through the engine’s casing, causing the plane to ‘bleed’ fuel before igniting, leaving a massive smoke trail behind. Cipher pulled up and banked to attack one of the Bm-335s. It tried to get Cipher to back off with some gunfire from a rear turret.

It seemingly worked for a moment as Cipher pulled up but instead of breaking off completely, she flew upwards with her engines going full blast, climbing higher and higher with each second before pulling a 180° flip while engaging her air brakes and lowering the throttle, bringing the plane close to a stall. The plane shuddered as it began to fall down towards the two Bm-335s. She pressed a button on her cockpit and her display showed a different screen with four missiles, all lit bright green: her XMAA, also known as AIM-120B AMRAAM.

“Galm One, Fox Three, Fox Three!” Cipher’s distorted voice called out as two XMAA missiles fired out from their railings and headed for their targets.

Cipher turned up the throttle on her F-15C and began to level off, after she shot past the space between the two bombers as her missiles collided. The missiles collided in the middle of their fuselages and detonated their bomb bays, the resulting explosion tore their wings off and one had its cockpit eject itself from the rest of the plane as the both of them fell to the ground below.

“Two bombers down, eight are still in operational airspace.” Twilight confirmed as she relayed the current status of the mission to the rest of the planes.

“Roger that, Pinkamena on me. We are going to take them out.” Cipher’s voice rang out over the radio.

“That’s a kill for Wonderbolt Five!” Twilight said over the radio as Blaze shot down an F4-E while another F4-E was being chased by Wonderbolt Two, Spitfire.

“Join you now Cipher, I just need to get this Celestia damned ass!” Pinkamena cried out, trying to gun down the last F5-E.

“What did Luna say about using Celestia’s name?” Twilight protested.

“It must have completely slipped my mind. Now come on. I've got a cupcake for you, I made it myself.” She teased the plane as she achieved lock-on status. “In Hell!!” She shouted as she pressed the trigger, pelting the F5-E with bullets until a round penetrated the fuel tank, causing the plane to detonate.

“Confirmed kill for Galm Two.” Twilight called out.

“This is Wonderbolt Two.” Spitfire’s voice called out over the radio. “Looks like one of the bombers are turning around.”

“Getting cold hooves this far out? It doesn’t make much sense.” Dash said thoughtfully as the F4-E she was chasing got nailed with a sidewinder missile straight up its tailpipe.

“Confirmed kill for Wonderbolt One.” Twilight said as she thought over it before shaking her head. “No use trying to understand it now, we have seven bombers- confirmed kill for Galm One. Five bombers remaining.” She had to correct herself as Cipher fired two more XMAA missiles at the last two Bm-335 bombers, flying straight between them as the missiles collided and flying out of the combined ensuing fireball with nary a scratch.

“Understood, continuing the attack on the bombers. Watch this!” Pinkamena called out as she fired all four of her XMAA payload on four of the five bombers. “Fox Three, Fox Three, Fox Three, Fox Three!!”

Three of the missiles collided with their targets as the fourth flew past harmlessly before running out fuel and plummeting through the cloud cover and into the ground below.

“Damn it! Well it looks like there’s one for each of us Galm One, take your pick.” Galm Two said as she pulled back to make one more pass with her Sidewinders.

“I've got the right one on my side while you take the one on my left.” Cipher replied as she lined up her plane in front of the bomber in question.

“I got you Cipher!” Solo Wing called out as she came up from behind the formation.

Each plane locked on to their respective targets and as the computer on board gave them that divine ringing noise indicating lock-on, they pressed the button on their joysticks. Cipher’s bomber received its missile through the cockpit while Pinkamena’s got its missile shoved into the rear turret.

Cipher’s kill slowed down somewhat as it fell, its wings tearing off as the engines tried to continue forwards. Solo Wing’s kill actually lurched forwards as the shockwave gave it ‘a kick up the tailpipe’. As the two final bombers crashed, Twilight’s voice rang over the radio.

“That’s it everypony, no more hostiles in the area and the fleeing bomber has already left our airspace. Good job, we may just turn this war around for us.” She sounded genuinely surprised instead of happy.

“Right, drinks are on Soarin!” Dash called out with glee as the remaining Wonderbolts got back into formation for the short flight home. “You know Pinks? You and Cipher there are alright… for a couple of mercs.”

“Thanks, you’re not so bad yourself… for a stick in the mud.” Pinkamena retorted as the planes set themselves on the ground one by one. As Pinkie and Cipher were landing, she spoke to her flight leader. “You’ve got some potential Galm One, good work.”

**** **** **** ****

“A toast! To our overall success of Operation Crossblade!” Everypony had a pitcher of Applejack’s Premium Cider as everypony celebrated their victory. The sound of dancing, loud music and the odd chant of some Wonderbolts having a drinking contest ensured that everypony was enjoying themselves.

Everypony, save for one that was still holed up inside in the barracks. Cipher locked her door and placed one of the heavy steel cabinets to block it. She hated anypony coming in to disturb her when she wanted to be alone. The sounds coming from the mess hall were still rather audible as Cipher removed her helmet.

Her dark cerulean mane had various holes in it and yet it refused to fall apart. She unzipped her flight suit, revealing her very dark grey coat. As she walked up to her washbasin in her room, she looked at herself and sighed as her attention was brought to her gnarled horn and moderate harlequin eyes. She had a pair of fangs and dagger-like pupils. She looked down at her hooves and stared at the holes in them. The crown she usually wore on her head was missing.

“A Queen turned mercenary. Oh how the mighty have fallen.” Chrysalis muttered as she spread her tattered bug wings, gently moving them up and down, stretching them due to the fact they weren’t very comfortable in a flight suit.

A small tear fell down her muzzle as she brought her forehoof to brush it away. It ended up rolling through on of the holes in her legs before becoming acquainted with the floor. Her blue-green chitinous plating became completely visible as she finished removing her flight suit.

Her room had a steel frame bed with a mattress that felt as if it were made of concrete with blankets too thin to be of any proper use. The bathroom was a cubicle just large enough for her to fit in if she were at the height of a normal pony. There were three small windows that showed the outside world. It felt like a prison rather than a room for a pilot. But she was nothing more than a mercenary for hire to them so in the end it mattered little.

“Maybe I should… no it’s probably best I don’t join them. I'm best off on my own.” Chrysalis mumbled once more as she turned the glass of her windows to that of a one-way mirror.

There was a knock on her door with Dash’s voice boisterously shouting for the entire base to hear. “Hey, come on Cipher! Let your mane down and live a little! This victory was partly because of you! Well, I was the best one in the air today but you pulled off some half decent manoeuvres yourself!”

Chrysalis gave in to the Pegasus’ demands as she placed her gear back on, changing her body structure to more of a unicorn’s as she finished and placed her helmet on. She removed the cabinet and opened the door large enough for Rainbow to see her ‘face’. She was sure she would be regretting her decision sometime soon.

“Aw yeah! Come on, we never formally introduced you to everypony. This is going to be sweet!” Rainbow exclaimed as she downed the rest of her pitcher’s contents in a single gulp before dragging Cipher to the party.

The party was still going strong by the time 12pm hit. Luna was plastered and still kept going while Twilight had passed out after drinking halfway through her first pitcher of cider. Dash and Spitfire were having a Drunken Darts competition to see who was better when drunk while Soarin and Blaze were snoring loudly. Cipher avoided partaking in any of the beverages offered to her as alcohol and shapeshifting never mix well.

Celestia sat down next to her, making the former Queen rather uneasy until she saw the red in Celestia’s cheeks. The prissy Princess was no less sober than her sister but at least she had some restraint as she refused another pitcher.

“Save the *hic* rest for when we *hic* actually win the war.” Luna said before passing out on top of Twilight’s prone form.

“She may be younger than me but she still can’t hold her alcohol like me.” Celestia muttered loud enough for Cipher to hear. She looked up and saw the Sun Princess wink. “I believe hiring your services was the best decision I made this entire war. Tomorrow we start our counter attack against Griffons. I won’t let Equestria fall to the likes of them.”

Cipher’s disguised voice piped up as she asked. “But Princess, why now? Why would they just attack you before considering negotiations?” She knew she had room to talk, considering her actions years ago that stripped her of her title and position.

“Griffons were never great diplomats. Hit first and never bother with questions.” Celestia explained, swaying slightly from side to side. “They are also the most prideful race in the world. Dragons are just plain greedy while ponies tend to be the most accepting. But Equestria isn't the true target of the Griffons’ campaign.”

This really got Cipher’s attention. “They are actually planning on getting into Saddle Arabia, so we are caught in the middle. The Crystal Empire didn’t fare any better as they are to the north east of Equestria with the Griffon Empire to the west. They were taken out in an attempt to scare Luna and I into submitting but we refused.” Celestia continued, sticking out her tongue.

“So we got invaded and Saddle Arabia is refusing to assist as they believe we antagonised the Griffon Empire. They were just looking for excuses to stay out of the war while innocent ponies suffered.” Celestia sighed. “Now with you and other mercenaries coming in with their own planes over the next few days, we may just push the Griffons back towards their homeland and free Equestria.”

“Thank you for telling me Princess.” Cipher said after she processed this information but Celestia didn’t respond. She looked around and saw she fell asleep while Pinkamena was sat on her own, in a dark corner with six empty pitchers stacked on top of one another while she still had three full ones and a half empty one in her hooves.

Preferring to leave the murderous looking mare to her own devices, Cipher went back to her room. Placing the cabinet in the door’s path once more, she placed a special barrier that refused entry to any creature larger than a fly, other than herself obviously. She basically adapted Shining Armor’s shield spell from all those years ago as she took off her clothing and changed back to her Changeling form.

This war had only just begun and their saviour would be the one they’d least expect.

Downtime: Shortfalls Disguised as Success

Ace Combat: Shattered Friendships
Downtime: Shortcomings Disguised as Success
Author: Draconis187

Pinkamena Diane Pie was standing near the entrance to a balcony overlooking the packed Canterlot plaza below. She stood next to Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy, all of whom – including her – were wearing various beautiful formal dresses as they looked at the three Alicorns in front of them, all wearing their ceremonial armour on top of their dresses while the lavender coloured one addressed the colossal crowd below.

They consisted of Princess Luna, ruler of the night sky and the moon. Princess Celestia, ruler over the day and the sun. The third had only been an Alicorn for a few hours and was visibly nervous. Her address was going well as the crowd cheered for her at certain intervals.

“You think we’ll still be friends?” The bright pink mare with cotton candy styled mane and tail asked her white unicorn friend, whose indigo mane and tail were styled with large curls.

“Of course darling, we’ll always be friends. Twilight still has to come to that party you’re planning for her back in Ponyville, doesn’t she?” Rarity replied with a small grin which made Pinkie Pie give one of her gigantic Cheshire Cat smiles in response.

“Of course she’ll come, she Pinkie Promised!” She said, throwing her hoof up in the air as her friends chuckled.

**** **** **** ****

Pinkamena stirred in her bunk, the sun’s rays trying to shake her from her slumbering state. Why she forgot to put up curtains was a mystery to her but it didn’t matter for the most part since she had a headache the size of an ocean liner crashing into her head with each throb.

“Ugh, how much did I drink this time?” She muttered as she rubbed the back of her neck with her hoof, trying to alleviate a smidgen of the pain but to no effect as it hit her harder than ever as if to mock her attempts.

She slowly got up and off her bunk, her bones creaking here and there, as if voicing their uncooperative motives to her as she forced herself to a standing position before walking to the showers. Her room was devoid of any personal paraphernalia ever since she turned mercenary. The only things she had was her money, her flight suit which somehow found its way to the ceiling, refusing to fall down and her F-15.

“I was so naïve to believe that.” Pinkamena mumbled to herself. As the warm shower water tried to ease her suffering, the only thing it did was disguise the single unknown tear that fell from her face.

**** **** **** ****

Rainbow Dash got up and fell out of her bunk with a resounding thud, her mane in the most bedraggled state known to ponykind. She shook her head before walking to the showers, her bed sheets still holding on to her tightly as she was leaving her room. The Wonderbolts were in a personalized barracks set up especially for them since they were originally assigned to Valiant Airbase before the start of the war.

As Dash got out of her quarters, she bumped into Spitfire who looked at her choice of ‘clothing’. “Planning on sleeping in the showers as well? I heard you can fall asleep anywhere but this is ridiculous.”

Dash looked at her improvised toga and shook it off like a dog shaking itself dry before retorting with a smirk. “Yeah I thought about it but then I had another thought: ‘Won't Spitfire be jealous when she sees that I can sleep wherever I want?’”

Spitfire facehoofed as the both of them hit the showers. The Wonderbolts’ showers had separating shower curtains for privacy since they had mixed genders and harassment was rife before they installed them. There were still some cases of harassment so the stallions felt it was best to have designated showering times for each gender.

“Hey Spitfire…” Rainbow began, rubbing her mane thoroughly with shampoo.

“Yeah Dash?” Spitfire replied as she preened her right wing. Even though they flew aircraft capable of flying at greater speeds and distances than most Pegasi, preening was still mandatory amongst all of the Pegasi.

“What do you think about those mercs?” Dash moved part of the curtain out of the way. She had a prismatic brush just like her mane attached a long cyan handle in her hoof as she stuck her head into Spitfire’s side of the shower.

“Honestly? I think they might just give us a shot here. Sure we would have been able to take on those bombers and escorts no problem on our own but…” Spitfire sighed as she pointed to a dull yellow strand of hair in her mane. “We aren't as young as we used to be or even as sharp as we used to be. Most of the Wonderbolts still consist of the old team even with you and Lightning Dust.”

“Snowflake would have made a decent Wonderbolt but he joined the paratrooper division.” Spitfire commented before letting out a single chuckle. “I hear he’s a drill sergeant now.”

“He can scare anypony with that ‘Yeah!!’ yell of his.” Dash sniggered as Spitfire continued.

“Lightning Dust still doesn’t seem to appreciate the fact that we let her come back, she seemed royally pissed off when I named you my successor.” Spitfire took a small brush laced with a yellow mane dye in her hooves and ran the little brush over the dulling hair strand, making it match the rest of her mane. “There is no denying she is a good pilot, I’ll give her that but until she realises the fact that Wonderbolts work with each other, not against each other, will she become a great pilot. But I digress.”

“I'm not sure what I can say about Cipher. She is rather brutal against her opponents and pulls of manoeuvres that most experienced pilots would be terrified to even think of performing. I mean, stalling your plane just to line it up for a kill? She’s either the most brilliant pilot in the world or the craziest, not sure which is worse.” She said as Dash nodded, absorbing her hero’s words of wisdom that came from years of experience.

“Solo Wing on the other hoof? Well you should know her better than I do. She was one of your best friends after all.” Spitfire remarked before seeing Dash’s sad expression as she shook her head in response.

“I haven’t seen Pinks in six years. We had a falling out with each other and it got to the point where we all just… split. I don’t even know what happened to the others. Applejack is probably still at the farm, working her hooves to the bone for her bits. Twilight, well she was made a princess wasn’t she? Who knows what she has been up to before this mess? The others, I just don’t know.”

Dash hung her head as a few tears began to fall down her muzzle as Spitfire opened the separating curtains and gave her a light embrace. “Losing your friends is hard Dash but we have to carry on. I lost a few friends myself to a variety of causes. The one was test flying a prototype plane that malfunctioned halfway through a combat exercise. The buckle wouldn’t unclip and the seat refused to eject as it spiralled out of control. The largest thing they could find to identify his body… was his wedding ring. The rest…”

**** **** **** ****

Chrysalis got out of her bunk, well rested despite the events of the previous night still hung in the forefront of her mind. She changed herself to a more pony-like form and donned her gear. She went off to her bathing quarters, keeping an eye out for any prying ponies. As she reached her destination, she removed her clothing and disguised herself as she began to shower. She made her mane a dark green while hiding her chitin and bug wings. Her fangs were disguised as ordinary teeth and the holes in her mane, tail and hooves were filled in. Her coat remained the same colour while her pupils became rounded.

To the casual onlooker, she looked like a normal Unicorn taking a shower. She sighed as she had to maintain the illusion as well as clean herself. How it made her Changeling form clean as well, not even Chrysalis had the answer to that.

**** **** **** ****

Twilight woke up to the most peculiar sight as she found herself still inside the mess hall. Luna’s slightly larger form still unmoving as her wings involuntarily twitched from time to time as Twilight tried to get her off her body without waking the Princess of the Night.

She managed to levitate Luna off herself as she rolled across the floor before putting the dark Alicorn a bench nearby. She felt bad about just leaving her there but Luna didn’t seem to notice as she just curled up and continued to snore… rather loudly.

Twilight heard a chuckle behind her and wheeled around exceedingly quickly from shock. Princess Celestia stood just in front of Twilight with her puffy and bloodshot eyes. Her coat had various splotches of alcohol and her crown was missing but was quickly found on a table in one of the corners. In short, Celestia looked like somepony forwent the ugly stick and hit her with the entire ugly tree. She also had the migraine to match.

“Uh, Princess. This is not what it looks like.” Twilight tried to explain but Celestia just chuckled.

“Have no fear Twilight, my sister has been known to sleep in unusual places… and on top of unusual ponies, especially when drinking too much.” Celestia chuckled.

There was an awkward silence between the two before Celestia levitated a small, pocket mirror that was hidden in one of the – still unconscious – pilots’ pockets. Celestia softly chuckled as she saw her face.

“Looks like I drank beyond my limit last night. I must really get a drinking buddy to restrain my habit. Although nopony can really fault us on it, we did successfully defend Valiant Airbase and give the Griffons something to consider. Well, the Wonderbolts and the Galm Team did anyway, how was it seeing your friend Pinkie Pie again Twilight?”

Twilight couldn’t look at her mentor in the eyes as she replied, the pain of the memory of that day still torturing her. “It’s been almost seven years since any of my friends wanted to see me. I'm surprised Dash didn’t use every insult she knew when we crossed paths while we were getting into the planes yesterday.”

Twilight’s voice got heavier as she began to talk about the pink mare. “Pinkie is… not the same anymore. You saw her: her mane was flat and her coat had dulled and she didn’t smile even once at all during the briefing. I don’t remember much of last night’s ‘festivities’ but I do remember that Pinkie sat on her own, drinking an insanely large amount of cider. While Dash went to go and get Cipher to come to the party, I tried to talk to Pinkie.”

“And how did that go?” Celestia’s inquisitive look was met with Twilight’s ‘not good’ face.

“She told me to just walk away without so much as batting an eyelid, she didn’t so much as look at me. I’m surprised somepony could still hold a grudge after so many years.” Twilight responded.

Celestia leaned in close to Twilight and whispered. “You forget: my sister held onto one for a thousand years.”

“Sorry Princess.” Twilight replied as she hung her head in shame. Celestia shook her head with a chuckle.

“It’s alright, everything turned out alright thanks to you and your friends. I think that if you just keep trying, you may just make it through to your friends and turn this all around. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get myself cleaned up… and try to wake Luna up… gently. She is not a morning mare.” With that, Celestia trotted off to her quarters, humming a small tune.

Twilight just turned her head to Luna’s still sleeping form and sighed as she raised a shield. “Please let this be easier than waking up Applejack…”

**** **** **** ****

By the time midday arrived, the Wonderbolts, Cipher, Pinkamena and the three Alicorns were gathered in the briefing room once more. This time though, there was a massive display of smiles as the drunken shenanigans of the previous night were forgotten or - most likely - covered up by the smiles.

“I am glad you were all able to get up and washed everypony.” Celestia smiled as the pilots just responded with embarrassed looks on their faces. “Now, the reason I've called this meeting is to fully debrief you of the operation yesterday and what is going to happen over the next few weeks until we win this war.”

A projector showed a display with multi-coloured arrows with ribbon trails, making various moves and others that ended in big crosses before stopping entirely. It did not take long for the pilots to make the connection to their own manoeuvres from the previous operation to the arrows. Cipher saw her arrow make the same stalling manoeuvre she did before plummeting and removing two red arrows that indicated the actual targets she took down: the bombers.

“Now, since Operation Crossblade was a resounding success, we have shown these Griffons that we are not going to roll over that quickly but they could launch another strike at any time so the tower is going to monitor the surrounding airspace 24/7. We are also going to split up the Wonderbolts into patrols consisting of two planes each.”

Celestia took a deep breath before continuing. “Should any of your patrols find an attacking squadron, do not engage them. Wait for the rest to scramble and meet up before taking any unnecessary risks. We need living pilots, not dead heroes. The next thing I need to inform you all about is actually directed to the mercenaries behind you.”

Pinkamena and Cipher’s ears perked up the moment they were mentioned. “We are getting several more planes coming in along with new pilots and mercenaries. Some A-10As for ground assaults, some F-16Cs for multirole purposes and some Mirage 2000Ds for high speed interceptions along with some highly specific and limited ammunition for them. We can have you fly them as well if you want but I'm afraid you will have to pay for the planes and their respective weapons.”

“No thanks, I like my Eagle.” Pinkamena said as she threw her forehooves behind her head. Cipher in the meantime considered this.

“I won’t mind. Every mission has a specific plane that can perform it better than some others.” Her distorted voice said.

Celestia nodded. “Ok then, I will give you the full shipping manifest after we are done here. Any questions?” The room was silent and nopony raised their hooves. “There are two last things I wish to talk about. First, Luna and I will be leaving before the end of the day to meet with our ground forces and prepare our counter offensive against the Griffon Empire. So Twilight will be in charge until we return. Our next operation will be to get our supply route open to the Crystal Empire.”

“Weren’t they defeated?” Dash piped up, confused.

Celestia nodded with an all-knowing smile. “Yes, but luckily for us there is still a resistance movement trying to liberate it based in the nearby mountain range. The Griffons aren't very good at snow combat since the Griffon Empire tends to be rather humid all year round. Add the fact that it is now winter there and that leads to a situation that favours the Crystal Ponies. We need to get to them and the Round Table.”

“Round Table, what the hay is that?” Dash rubbed her head in confusion.

“It is also called Airspace B7R. The mountains are comprised of a certain rock, infused with a type of naturally occurring, electronic distorting crystal. That means that the chances of a distress signal reaching base is minimal at best, which brings me to the next point: being shot down. We cannot afford to lose as much as one of you, let alone one of your aircraft. That is why I need you to train for ground combat as part of your normal regime. Until the next operation, the base is to be on high alert. Thank you, dismissed.”

At that everypony left the room and went about their daily routines. The Wonderbolts hit the gym, lifting weights, jogging and using the wind tunnel for the aerial equivalent of jogging. Pinkamena on the other hoof was with the troops that defended the base from ground based attacks.

They were a mixture of Earth Ponies, Unicorns and Pegasi that couldn’t become pilots or where afraid of the several ton weighing monsters with jet engines. Pinkamena was sparring with one of the soldiers, another Earth Pony like herself but this one had experience written into every muscle as he dodged and countered each blow and move Pinkamena made.

“Come on, I thought the great Solo Wing would be as good on the ground as she was in the air!” The brown stallion taunted as he basically pirouetted Pinkamena around like a ballerina which made her angry. “Now, now, don’t let your anger consume your actions. If you do…” in a flash of fancy footwork, Pinkamena was on the floor with her own combat knife’s back pressed against her neck, receiving a smile from the soldier. “And you lose sight of everything.”

Pinkamena only smiled as Jack Hammer gave her a helping hoof. “Nice trick, I can see why Celestia wanted us to train with you. You know a lot of hoof-to-hoof combat.”

Jack Hammer only shrugged his shoulders and wiped his black mane out of his blue eyes. “Yeah, we can’t always rely on our weapons missy. You get a steel shell that can get you to and from a battle in complete comfort while we grunts get shot at on the ground wearing some stupid jackets.”

“I know and that’s why you need us to try and keep the pressure off you.” Pinkamena retorted. “We each have highly important jobs to do.”

“I know that, I wasn’t trying to disrespect or belittle you ma’am.” Jack Hammer defended.

“Have any of you seen Cipher?” Pinkamena asked, having noticed the mare was nowhere to be seen ever since they left the debriefing.

“Last I heard, she was in the hangar. She might be talking to Quick Fix and Lug Knut, our chief engineers. They make sure your planes are fuelled and armed. They don’t do it on their own obviously since there are too many planes for two ponies to maintain so they have a small team who help them out.” Jack Hammer explained.

“Ok, I didn’t need to know that much but thanks anyway.” Pinkamena placed her knife in its holder, under her left forehoof by her fourth rib. She trotted of to the hangars with an unusual skip in her step. Maybe it was the refreshing training session, maybe it was still the buzz from the alcohol still lingering in her system or maybe she was starting to like this Cipher.

In the hangar, Cipher wasn’t speaking to the two chief mechanics. She was going over her Eagle with a fine tooth comb, patching up a small bullet hole after removing said bullet if it hadn’t shot through the wing itself. The next was buffing out the scuff marks from the burns her plane got through those fireballs she flew through. The plane only suffered minor scorch marks but there was no warping of the metal or anything of the sort. If she wanted, the plane could fly out right now. A copy of the manifest Celestia promised to provide her was on top of a workbench near the wall behind the F-15's thrusters.

“You ok up there Cipher?!” Pinkamena shouted over the sound of the machine Cipher was using to get the scorch marks out.

Cipher switched off the machine she was using to buff out the marks before looking down at Pinkamena from the top of the right wing. “I said: you ok up there?” Pinkamena said in a normal tone this time now that the hangar was quiet.

Cipher merely nodded her head before returning to her plane. Pinkamena seemed to get a feeling that she was in no mood to talk. Her old ways of not knowing the meaning of the word ‘no’ showed as walked up and jumped up onto the plane’s back, facing Cipher who switched the device off again.

“What’s wrong Cipher? Not get enough kills? Do you have some form of superiority complex? Feel guilty for killing some Griffons without mercy?” Pinkamena just looked at Cipher’s helmet. “Are you even looking at me? I can't tell with that helmet you insist on wearing.”

Finally Cipher’s distorted voice spoke up. “It’s neither Solo Wing, I like to stay focused on the task at hoof. No plane leaves a battle without some scars but my plane just has a few ‘flesh wounds’ as you may call them. I am merely fixing them so it’s in top condition for the next operation. I like my plane being pristine as the day I got it.”

“Why not just let Quick Fix and Lug Knut fix up your plane? It’s what they are here for.” Pinkamena was slightly confused.

“Being a mercenary, I thought you would understand the reason why. In our line of work, we tend to rely on ourselves and only ourselves. Any wingpony we get is usually only there to make sure we don’t change our minds and switch sides. There is always the fear that somepony might sabotage your plane in order to get more kills than you or to get rid of you.” Cipher calmly replied.

“Yeah, that would be true if we were fighting for a country other than Equestria. But you can trust these ponies… I know I did.” She mumbled the last bit but Cipher’s ears picked it up.

“I… see. The only thing I am concerned with is my wingpony’s ability to follow orders and if she can be there when it is needed. Can I count on you to have my tail when I need it?” Cipher asked, the raised eyebrow she was giving didn’t have an effect since Pinkamena couldn’t see it.

“Of course! I Pin- I promise. ” Cipher was a little interested in what she was going to initially say before she corrected herself but she hopped off the F-15 and walked out of the hangar, lost in thought before Cipher could question her.

“These ponies are severely damaged and it is not physically.” Cipher mused as she continued to fix up her F-15.

Author's Note

This is how this story is going to pan out. An Operation then Downtime between them. It is to add depth to the conflict and the characters.

Operation Roseluck

Ace Combat: Shattered Friendships
Operation Roseluck
Author: Draconis187

It had been a few days since the Wonderbolts and the Galm Team repelled the assault on Valiant Airbase before it returned to any form of normality. During that time, the shipment of new aircraft and weapons flew in, along with a few mercenaries that heard of the successful defence and decided to get in on the glory. Many left as they soon found out that they had to pull their own weight around the base in order to stay.

During those couple of days, Cipher ignored most of the mercenaries that they were introduced to since the Galm Team was to remain a two plane squadron. Beyond her wingpony, she didn’t care for who else arrived. One day, one of the mercenaries bumped - almost literally – into Cipher. She just looked at him through her helmet, seemingly scanning him like a robot.

“Sorry about that miss. I was a million miles away and I must have failed to notice you.” The stallion apologised, his accent sounded as if he came from Stalliongrad. He extended his hoof in apology. “Name’s Everlasting Solace or just Solace, whichever you prefer.”

Cipher didn’t respond to his gesture and continued to gaze at him through her helmet. His grey coat was reminiscent of the ditzy mail courier that came to deliver messages to the base. His mane was pitch black, as if he used tar as hair gel. His eyes were yellow and showed his uncertainty as he shifted uncomfortably under the Changeling’s gaze. Before he could ask anything, Cipher went off to the air hangars to check up the planes she purchased without a word to the stallion.

She walked past one of the hangars and saw the F-16 she received. The plane had its usual colouration of dark grey with a lighter shade near the cockpit area. Alongside the wall of the hangar were three sets of crates containing the special ammunition as Cipher went to inspect them. Inside them were a shipment of several Mk-84 2000lb Unguided Bombs for standard bombing runs; AIM-120B AMRAAM (XMAA) for air targets and finally AGM-88 HARM missiles for taking out ground targets from long range.

The next hangar she went to stored her A-10 Thunderbolt II. It was completely light grey across its entire airframe, underside included. The chaingun that was mounted just under the nose gave it the impression it was smoking a cigarette. The plane’s special ammunition consisted of several rocket pods: the LAU-69 Rocket Pods to be exact; several air-to-ground missiles: AGM-65 Mavericks and the final, third special armament were BLU-73/B Fuel Air Explosive Bombs (or FAEB).

The third plane was rather unique in a sense. The Mirage sported a delta wing design for better manoeuvrability at near and above supersonic speeds. It had a green and beige camouflage colour scheme across its airframe. The three special armaments consisted of Mk-82 500lb Bombs; Paveway II Guided Bombs and AGM-65D Maverick missiles.

Cipher looked at them with shock as she double checked the manifest and the crates. The Mirage was supposed to be a high speed interceptor not a ground pounder! The furious Changeling stomped through the airbase, passing several soldiers and crewmen who tried to greet the mare. She brushed them off as she reached Twilight’s barracks. The guards by the door asked her to wait but her rashness caused her to throw them from their posts with force thanks to her magic.

“What’s this? Oh, it’s you Cipher, uh how can I help?” Twilight looked outside and saw the guards as their shaken expressions said it all. “Come in and tell me what’s wrong.”

Cipher took out her copy of the shipping manifest for the aircraft as well as their weapons and threw it at Twilight’s desk. She picked it up with a curious expression before she spoke. “What’s wrong with the manifest?”

Cipher’s voice distortion unit could not disguise her anger as she raged. “At the debriefing yesterday you said you would be getting a multirole, a ground attack craft and an interceptor! I inspected the planes as well as their weaponry myself and found the Mirage is a ground attack plane and not an air superiority fighter! Care to explain?”

Twilight looked over the manifest as she realised what they said a few days previous and facehoofed herself. “Sorry, we meant for to get the 2000C models. Those are designed for air-to-air combat. We must have made an accidental switch of the designations when we asked for them. I will make sure you are reimbursed for the mishap and you may keep the plane. Now, it’s a good thing you arrived when you did believe it or not.”

“Why is that? Am I in time to watch you preen your wings?” Cipher said callously as she picked up the manifest.

“No. It’s time to brief everypony on the next operation.” Twilight replied, rolling her eyes as Cipher left her barracks and went to the briefing room. Twilight turned to the microphone in front of her, making her voice boom across the airbase as she spoke. “All pilots are to report to the briefing room immediately. I repeat: all pilots are to report to the briefing room immediately.”

Within a few minutes the Wonderbolts, the Galm Team and several mercenaries had arrived at the briefing room and sat down. Pinkamena was looking around the room at the mercenaries, judging and making bets in her mind on how long they would last. The group of pilots were silent as Twilight walked up and started the projector as it lit up with the sun and moon logo of its manufacturer: Celestial Systems Ltd.

“Greetings everypony. Celestia and Luna have found out that one of our major supply lines to the Crystal Empire should be taken if we are to get in contact with them and stand a chance of making a successful counterattack against the Griffon Empire.” Twilight said as a few satellite photos came up on the projector screen.

“Now the Griffon Armoured Corps have secured the three bridges over the Glacial River. Expect SAMs as well as a few fighters in the vicinity to give you some difficulty. This is mainly a ground assault mission and the main priority are the tanks that have entrenched themselves near the bridges. We have outfitted your aircraft with the latest of unicorn magic systems: the Magic Ammunition Replenishing System or M.A.R.S. It allows you to store more ammunition on your aircraft so instead of two air-to-air missiles, you may be able to have up to sixty or so, depending on your aircraft. Any questions?” As Twilight expected, nopony questioned their mission. “Ok then everypony, dismissed.”

The Valiant Airbase seemed to instantly come to life as pilots scrambled to their planes while the ground crew made sure the runway was clear and the pilots’ planes were fully and properly loaded. Pinkamena jumped into her F-15 and was the second plane in line awaiting take-off, just behind the AWACS. Inside the mobile command centre, Twilight was taking a couple of deep breaths as she mentally prepared herself for take-off, much to Thunderlane’s amusement.

Cipher clambered into the cockpit of her A-10 and had made sure she had outfitted the plane with XAGMs. Her screen registered sixty-eight Sidewinder missiles and twenty XAGMs. If anypony could see her face then, they would have seen the face of a very ecstatic Changeling. As she made her way to the runway, she saw the plane that belonged to the pony that collided into her earlier in the week.

His plane was a Su-27 ‘Flanker. A plane was the brain child of several bright sparks from Stalliongrad. Cipher looked at the wings and saw he went with SFFS (Self-Forging Fragmentation Submunitions) weapons alongside the Sidewinders. Mk.20 ‘Rockeye’ SFFS bombs were the equivalent of a shotgun as its area of effect increased the higher it was dropped.

The plane was black with a grey underside while his cockpit’s canopy had 17 hash marks just under it. Cipher gathered it was his number of kills but whether they before the war or during, she wasn’t entirely sure. The stabilisers had the number ‘1138’ in white colouring on them, whatever their relation to the Pegasus in question was, Cipher doubted he would tell anypony.

“This is Vampir 1. Am I clear for take-off?” Solace asked as he lined his plane up after Solo Wing and the AWACS had left.

“You are clear for take-off Vampir 1. Let ‘er rip.” The control tower responded as a cream coloured mare with a moderate raspberry coloured mane had a headset on, talking to the pilots. She ran her hoof over the lighter streak of raspberry she had in her mane as it got in the way and irritated her.

In a few minutes the Wonderbolts were in the air as well as Cipher. The three squadrons got into formation as Twilight called over the radio. “Ok everypony, we should reach the Glacial River in about two hours. There is a K-10 Extender refuelling plane behind us that will ensure we all don’t run out of fuel and drop out of the sky.”

“Good to know. Who exactly are the three chumps that are with us now? I kinda slept through the introductions when they arrived.” Dash asked as she turned her head to see the three Su-27 Flankers, led by Solace.

“If you are referring to me, little pony, I am Everlasting Solace. My flight is known as Vampir, as we will drain the spirit of our enemies with our tenacity and skill.” Solace’s thick accent rang through the radio, which began to make Solo Wing curious.

“That accent… you are from Stalliongrad correct?” Pinkamena asked, ignoring Dash’s ‘chumps’ comment.

“That is correct. Stalliongrad was my home for many a year before I went into the mercenary business. As much as I miss my family, I know that what I do helps to put food on their table.” Solace said. His voice was calm yet there was a hint of sorrow as he recounted his family.

“Yeah yeah, leave the sop story for those that care ok?” A callous voice said. Spitfire sighed as she knew to whom that voice belonged.

“Lightning Dust I suggest you apologise to Solace.” She said, despite being number 2 in the formation, her experience saw her carry more influence than Dash.

“Fine, sorry Vampir 1.” Dust’s voice said rather sharply.

“Don’t worry so much about it. Tell you what Dusty, after we get back I will show you a popular past time from Stalliongrad. Sound good?” Solace’s voice responded, sounding normal as if Dust’s callous attitude did nothing to him.

Lightning Dust didn’t respond as the planes had begun to near the operation’s airspace. Twilight’s voice rang out once more across all the planes’ radios as they all lined up to refuel.

“Once you have refuelled, you may begin with Operation Roseluck. Remember: take out the forces stationed along the river’s three bridges, everything else is secondary.” Twilight said.

“Roger that.” Pinkamena called out over the radio as they reached the operation’s airspace. “Uh Eagle Eye, are those windmills part of the operation?”

Pinkamena got no response from any of the pilots so she didn’t press it. Cipher’s voice came over the radio and addressed the former party mare.

“Galm Two, what is your payload?” She kept it short and sweet as the two of them approached the first bridge.

“Mk.84 2000lb Bombs, why?” Pinkamena replied, unsure where her flight leader was going with this.

“Right, there are two tanks by the bridge and a SAM not too far away. Take out the tanks and I’ll take out the SAM.” Cipher relied as the A-10 picked up speed and broke off.

“Understood.” Pinkamena kept her plane level and steady as she switched to her 2000lb bombs. Her HUD gave her a sight that showed where the bombs would land when she pressed the trigger, it was affectionately known as ‘The Pipper’ as its full name was Predicted Impact Point.

As she lined up the Pipper up with the two tanks, Cipher’s A-10 shot over the bridge at an extremely low altitude, heading for the SAM. The tanks’ commanders nearly soiled themselves as this imposing plane shot towards them, the afterburners at full throttle. Cipher shot over their heads, deafening them as Pinkamena dropped one of her bombs. Cipher switched to her XAGMs and the HUD gave her a lock-on at the SAM as she skimmed over the treeline.

“Lock-on.” Twilight confirmed for Cipher as the Changeling fired a single XAGM at the site. “SAM destroyed.” Twilight sounded happy until she spoke again. “Uh oh, it looks like you’ve stirred up the hornets nest everypony. Bandits at 12, 11 and 9 o’clock.”

“I see them, Fishbeds and Phantoms.” Dash confirmed as she saw her radar spot he MiG-21s and the F4-Es. “Vampir, help out Cipher since you are outfitted for ground strikes, we’ll take out the bandits.”

“Roger. Hear that my little ponies? You and I are going to be bomb buddies.” Vampir chuckled as the three Su-27s joined up with the Galm Team.

“Ok, there are some houses further up that have some SAMs in between the houses. The ponies living there may come back once this war is over so I will take out the SAMs as your bombs would destroy everything.” Cipher said as she flew down to the treeline again, getting ready to aim for the four SAMs that were in the small village. “Solo Wing, take out the stationed forces by the second bridge.”

“Roger that Cipher, I’m gonna go pound them.” Solo Wing sounded rather happy as she sped off towards the second bridge.

“I guess that leaves the third bridge for dear old Vampir then?” Solace jokingly asked as the Galm Team closed in on their targets.

“Yes, you're outfitted with SFFS and there are a lot of scattered tanks there. Just drop them from a high enough altitude to ensure you get them all.” Cipher confirmed as her HUD locked onto the SAMs. “Galm One, firing!”

All four XAGMs flew off their rails and sped off towards the SAMs. What made these air-to-ground missiles special was the fact that they turned at near 60 degree angles before colliding with their target. This was exercised her as the four missiles shot over the houses and collided with their targets, sending shards of metal everywhere and killing or gravely wounding the stationed Griffons nearby.

“Come on!” Dash shouted as she chased a Fishbed around the airspace, the plane was a lot older than her own but the pilot seemed to know what they were doing. “Just a little more… gotcha!

Rainbow fired her gun and it tore through the Fishbed’s right wing, causing it to spin out of control and crash to the ground. “That’s a kill for me!”

“Gah! I’ve got a tail and he won’t get off!” Lightning’s angry voice called out over the radio as an F4-E tried to gun her down. The sound of bullets flying past her could also be heard clearly over the radio, as well as her rage. “Ok, you want a piece? Come and get it!”

Lightning Dust then went full throttle causing the F4 pilot to do the same. She then pulled the plane into a climb, weaving left and right to throw her opponent’s aim so he wouldn’t get a missile lock on her. Gripens have a higher ceiling than F4s but the Griffon ignored the warnings from the plane as it began to stall.

“Gotcha!” Lightning burst out happily as the F4 slowed down and fell towards the ground. “And that’s why it’s called a coffin corner, bitch!”

She turned her plane around and flew straight down towards her attacker. The Griffon was desperately trying to restart the engines and correct herself but the plane began to spin wildly out of control. Lightning lined up her boresight with the falling plane as she kept her plane’s speed brakes up so she wouldn’t fly past it and miss her opportunity.

“Die you motherbucker!!” She shouted as her bullets tore hundreds of holes in the plane before firing a missile at it. The Griffon had no hope of survival as she was torn apart from Lightning’s bullets.

“Lightning Dust that was too extreme!” Pinkamena shouted as Twilight confirmed the reckless mare’s kill. “That plane wouldn’t have been able to get out of that stall. Why did you have to go and fire both bullets and a missile? There is a difference between doing our jobs and plain bloodlust!”

“So what? It’s still a kill for me!” Lightning scoffed as she flew to intercept a MiG.

“Galm One watch out! You’ve got a MiG on your six!” Twilight warned as the MiG in question closed in on Cipher.

Cipher didn’t respond but tried to evade the attacking MiG. The pilot’s rounds scrapped past Cipher’s cockpit and fuselage. The A-10 was built like a flying tank so standard rounds would have to work hard to get through. It also meant her plane could maintain slower speeds as well. This gave Cipher a small advantage as she slowed down and the MiG overshot her and into the path of her 30mm gatling gun… loaded with antitank rounds. Cipher unloaded a hail of rounds on the plane, shredding the plane’s engine like paper before it erupted in a fireball.

“This is Solo Wing, dropping bombs now.” Pinkamena calmly called out as her pipper hovered over the first set of targets by the bridge. “Tanks destroyed.”

“Confirmed, Vampir the rest is up to you.” Twilight called out as her instruments indicated the destruction of another couple of planes. “That’s a kill for Wonderbolts Six, Four and Two.”

“Right on!” Soarin called out as he flew past his kill’s burning plane. “This makes up for the last operation by far.”

“This is Vampir. We are beginning our attack run.” Vampir 1 called out as the three Su-27s flew up high into the air before rocketing towards the ground. “Vampir 1, launching SFFS!”

All three planes dropped their payloads and the multiple mini bombs came down towards their targets, plastering the ground surrounding the bridge with small explosions. Tanks and APCs exploded as the bomblets collided with them or near their locations. The remaining forces tried to fight back but the planes moved too fast for the tanks to get a good lock on them.

“One more time for good measure!” Vampir 1 laughed as the three planes flew back up into the skies before coming down and firing their SFFS for the second and last time.

This time the devastation flattened all but two APCs, which then proceeded to flee the battle. The remaining aircraft consisting of one F4 and a MiG, broke off their attacks and fled as well.

“Good work everypony, this operation is a success. We will be sending supplies to the Crystal Empire immediately and Celestia will make sure to send troops so the route can be guarded at all times.” Twilight said with glee, the pilots could hear her clapping her hooves from her excitement. “It looks like luck was on your side today Solo Wing.”

“Yeah well, I've had my fill of going home without wings.” Pinkamena sighed as she and Cipher got into formation. “Good work there Vampir, I have a feeling that you will be a welcome addition to our motley crew of misfits back at Valiant.”

“Thank you very much my dear. Tell me though: is you flight leader always such a hard case? When we met she didn’t say a word to me.” Solace asked as Vampir flew past the Galm Team.

“That’s who she is I’m afraid. You will have to get used to the fact that she doesn’t speak very often except when it comes to an operation. She really has good tactical skills and I would recommend listening to her requests. You never know, she might open up to you if you give her the chance.” Pinkamena mused as she looked at Galm One.

Cipher chose to ignore them. She knew that they were trying to get her to talk by attempting to play at her emotions. Sadly for them, Changelings can suppress most of their emotions fairly well, except for anger. That emotion is the hardest to control. The group refuelled once more before they set off towards Valiant.

“You know what Spitfire?” Dash said, sounding rather sad as the Wonderbolts flew in a wedge formation.

“What is it Dash?” The former leader responded.

She thought about her response for a minute. “I hate being leader sometimes.”

Spitfire decided to try and comfort the cyan mare. “I know what you mean. The pressure can be a little daunting.”

“Not that, I can handle pressure. It’s having to deal with Lightning Dust that I’m not looking forward to.” Dash responded.

“Hey! I did awesome today, I’ll have you know!” Lightning scoffed as she heard them.

“Dust… we’ll talk on the ground. After the debrief.” Spitfire said, understanding what Dash meant.

“Well at least there’s no all night party to make us feel like we were in a bomb raid this time.” Dash remarked, much to everypony’s agreement.

“There was a party?! Why wasn’t I invited?” Solace asked, now fully invested in this conversation.

“It was three days before you got arrived at Valiant with the rest of Vampir.” Pinkamena replied.

“Oh, damn it!” Solace shouted as the mares laughed at him. “Oh well, I guess that means I need to stick around a bit more to get another chance to drink you ladies under the table.”

The trip back to base was filled with laughter as they all took turns haggling with each other. Vampir 1 tried to outmanoeuvre Solo Wing but he failed as the attempt nearly saw him stall and crash his plane.

“I have heard you also like to perform manoeuvres that would be deemed insane Miss Cipher. I would like to challenge you to an acrobatic contest once we return. We shall use identical aircraft but we shall try to outperform each other. What do you think?” Solace suggested as they were lining up to land.

“Make it a laser dogfight and you have a deal.” Cipher’s disguised voice replied.

Solace grinned from under his helmet. “Deal.”

Author's Note

Operation Two is complete and we have the addition of Everlasting Solace of Vampir Squadron thanks to Spartan-1138. Hope you enjoyed the bombing and the dogfighting. Now it's off to the next Downtime chapter.

Downtime: Ashes to Ashes, Lightning to Dust

Ace Combat: Shattered Friendships
Downtime: Ashes to Ashes, Lightning to Dust
Author: Draconis187

Pinkamena looked around and saw the familiar surroundings of Sugarcube Corner, the bakery she worked at with Carrot Cake and Cup Cake back in Ponyville. Her friends as well as some ponies from around Ponyville stood together, having fun with the various games that were set up for them around the building’s interior. Pinkamena noticed a hot pink coloured mare with a manestyle reminiscent of cotton candy. Pinkie Pie was sat by the door, a huge grin adorning her face while Pinkamena just stared.

The others didn’t seem to share the happy pony’s feelings as they looked at each other nervously. The sun was beginning to set on the day. On the day Pinkie Pie arranged the most daunting and satisfying party of her career. She had spent a week building a basement in the bakery just so she could make a two storey strawberry sponge cake with marzipan decorations of Twilight and the others. It had rice paper shaped and coloured of each of their Cutie Marks along the base’s side. The marzipan figures of the six friends were arranged in a circle, each facing outward. Each layer had a few figures of their accomplishments, from Nightmare Moon to reforming Discord.

She had put her heart and soul into the party, just so she could see Twilight’s happy face. The orange farm worker, Applejack looked to the others before approaching the – still smiling – Pinkie Pie. Pinkamena knew what she was going to say. She remembered this day as she placed a hoof on her chest. This day felt like an old wound that refused to heal.

“Sugarcube? Maybe she got called away. Remember when you got so worried about Rainbow when she when to that Academy?” Applejack said with an uncertain smile.

The hot pink mare didn’t respond but as the sun began to fully set, so did the party pony’s smile. “She promised.”

“Ah know sugarcube, Ah know.” Applejack placed her hoof on Pinkie Pie’s shoulder as the mare began to break down into soft tears.

“She Pinkie Promised…” She said as her coat darkened in colour and her mane slowly deflated like a balloon. The others tried to cheer the mare up as they pulled her in to a hug.

**** **** **** ****

Pinkamena climbed out of her bunk and made her way to the showers as per usual. As she brushed her teeth, she saw the face that was staring back at her in the mirror. It was the face that she had become accustomed to wearing since that day. The look of hopelessness, loss and a broken heart all tied into one expression.

As she walked through the base, she came up to her F-15 and stared at it. Why did she want to do this? Why did she find it so easy to just give up party planning and fly a plane for money? The biggest question she gave herself was: ‘Why do I enjoy this so much?’

As she tried to consider the answers, Jack Hammer came up to her with two other guards. Her mood brightened marginally as he smiled at her.

“You may want to see this, Cipher and Solace are lining up on the runway.” He said with a grin.

“Already?” She asked, surprised. “How long have I been asleep?”

Jack Hammer didn’t reply as the four of them walked towards the briefing room. “Cipher is flying one of Vampir’s Su-27s while Solace is in his. It will be quite interesting to see if she can handle a Stalliongrad plane.”

“Well, she did use an A-10 to great effect in Operation Roseluck and her abilities with her F-15 are quite imposing. Solace is in for a fight if he underestimates her.” Pinkamena responded flatly.

“Yeah, she is some strange kind of pilot. I mean, she never seems to take that helmet off or talk much and when she does speak it’s always with that distorted voice. What is her problem?” He asked Pinkamena as they reached the briefing room.

“I don’t know. We all have our secrets, Jack. Maybe she’s horrifically scarred or maybe she thinks she’s ugly. I don’t know and I don’t want to know. All I care about is that she has my flank when I need it. Why did she pick a Suhkoi of all planes?” Pinkamena responded as she took up a spot in the room. “And where are the Wonderbolts? I thought that Dash would at least be here to watch.”

“They’re busy with the scolding of that Lightning Dust girl. I heard she went too far on an opponent.” Quick Fix responded unexpectedly. “She still thought she did the right thing.”

“She riddled a plane with bullets and then fired a missile at it, scattering the plane and its pilot across the area.” Pinkamena responded flatly.

“That doesn’t sound too bad.” Quick Fix responded, as Jack Hammer nodded in agreement.

“She roped it into chasing her into the coffin corner and attacked it while it was spinning helplessly towards the ground. She didn’t have to do anything, she had already won and yet she still gunned the pilot down without mercy or remorse.” Pinkamena said as the two stallions’ expressions became solemn. “Again, why is Cipher in a Suhkoi-27?”

“I have absolutely no clue. Maybe she likes a challenge?” Lug Knut responded.

He had a welding helmet on his head. His coat was a dark grey while his mane was a deep maroon. The welding helmet had been swivelled up so he could see better. His khaki overalls covered most of his body as well as his Cutie Mark. The same overalls were stained with various oils and lubricants he had used to tune up or repair the planes with.

“I wouldn’t put it past her if that were the case.” Pinkamena responded.

The projector screen that the pilots saw their briefing and debriefing stats on had been slit into four screens, arranged in a square. Two of them showed past the nose end of a Su-27. The other two looked behind the plane, between the twin stabilisers. There was a message above each picture, one was labelled: ‘Cipher_Front’ while the one underneath it said: ‘Cipher_Back’. The type of message was on the two to the left as well, except they had ‘Solace’ in place of ‘Cipher’.

“So we get to see the action like some movie? Too bad I forgot the popcorn.” Pinkamena softly mused under her breath as she heard Twilight’s voice ring through the room.

“Cipher, Solace. The rules of engagement are as follows: this will be a best of three match. We have outfitted your planes with sensors and lasers. The sensors will pick up the lasers and send information on how detrimental the hit is. You will only be using the laser to keep things fair and as difficult as possible. Once the sensors register that the damage is fatal, we will reset for the next match. You will break off and then get a distance of 3000 feet between you before resuming. Is that understood?”

“Roger.” Cipher responded flatly as she started to take slow breaths in preparation for the dogfight.

“I’m ready to start this party when you are!” Solace shouted, his happy attitude earned him a cheer from his wingponies, sitting as close as they could to the screen without getting in anypony’s way.

“Right, break off and get 3000 feet between you.” Twilight said from her position in the control tower. As the radar registered 3012 feet of distance between the pilots, she spoke again. “Begin.”

**** **** **** ****

“Lightning Dust. Wonderbolt number Three. Resident of Cloudsdale before joining the Wonderbolts Academy in Hay of 2001.” Spitfire said as she read Lightning Dust’s file.

Spitfire was standing on Rainbow’s right while Soarin stood on her left. The others, Misty Fly (Wonderbolt Four), Blaze (Wonderbolt Five), Fire Streak (Wonderbolt Seven) and Surprise (Wonderbolt Eight) were standing on the left and right of the room, watching the events in front of them. They were all wearing dark blue suits with their medals adorning them and their rank insignias on their shoulders. They were also wearing dark sunglasses to help hide their expressions.

They were standing in a wide open room. The windows were small and where high above the reach of an Earth Pony. The small curtains were drawn, darkening the room and giving it a dark green tint as the sun tried to peak through the curtains. The three highest ranking Wonderbolts stood on a podium, directly in front of Lightning Dust, which were Spitfire, Soarin and Dash. The sides had benches for observers and the other members of the squadron.

“You have been accused of conduct unbecoming of your squadron and rank. You mercilessly eliminated a target that was already posed no further threat to anypony or the operation. What do you have to say in your defence?” Rainbow Dash said with a commanding voice.

Lightning Dust gave the Squadron a cocky smile as she responded. “I just did my job, just like any of you would do.”

Soarin looked at Dash for a second, shaking his head. “Lightning Dust, even in times of war, there is a code to maintain. If the target cannot fight back, it should be left alone. Squadrons like Galm and Vampir are unrestrained by this as they are mercenaries, only looking for their next pay check rather than fighting for a cause.”

“So?” The light opal Pegasus callously replied.

“We are not going to get through to you, are we?” Rainbow said, just audible enough for the cocky pilot to hear.

“What did you say?” Lightning Dust replied with sarcasm in her voice.

“I said, ‘You’re lucky Lightning Streak isn’t here to see what his daughter had done.’” Rainbow replied, pulling the family card to try and get a response. At the very instant mention of her father, Lightning’s demeanour flipped.

“M-my dad? He- he’d be proud.” She replied but she sounded much less sure of herself.

Spitfire shook her head. “Kid, I knew Lightning Streak. I can tell you this: he would be ashamed of your actions. If there was one thing he prided himself on, it was honour.”

**** **** **** ****

“Woah! You almost had me there Cipher.” Solace taunted as he dodged Cipher’s ‘bullets’.

The Changeling was not giving it her all in this first round. She had been toying with the stallion at best. She only let a few small bursts before letting him veer off. The ‘damage’ had been minimal at best but Cipher was giving him more leeway than she would have under normal circumstances. He went full blast with his afterburners, increasing the distance between them before he circled around.

Solace went for Cipher as she pulled up to avoid his attack. But as she pulled up, he did as well. As the boresight lined up with the plane, Solace fired. The laser hit its mark, setting off various sensors on the plane’s underbelly. Twilight looked at the readings until it registered that the attack would have torn though the plane and ignite the fuel inside.

“That’s one to Solace.” She confirmed as the briefing room erupted in cheers for the leader of Vampir.

All except for three ponies. “What is she up to?” Pinkamena wondered to herself as the two increased the distance between them for the second round. “She should have been able to dodge that with ease.”

“I dunno but she must have a plan.” Lug Knut thought, stroking his chin with a hoof.

The planes came at each other at high speed before Cipher broke off. Solace turned to chase her, manipulating the throttle just so he could stay behind her. She tried to barrel roll, making large circular movements as she did, like a car driving around the roof of a circular tunnel. This kind of manoeuvre would dizzy the pilot that performed it but Cipher didn’t feel a thing as she instantly stopped and dove down.

Solace tried to follow as Cipher used the afterburners and made a beeline for the ground. Solace followed her, firing off a few bursts but Cipher made sure to dodge them by veering left and right. As the two planes began to get dangerously close to the ground, Solace broke off. Cipher’s gamble paid off as she pulled up. She used the momentum she gained from her dive to slingshot her way past Solace.

“Sladkiy Celestia!” Solace shouted as the Su-27 shot past him with a deafening roar.

Cipher pulled hard on the speed breaks as she pulled the pane into an attack dive. A dive she aimed at Solace who banked to the right in an attempt to avoid her attack. She came down after nearly tearing the wings off the plane as she aimed her boresight at Solace. The sensors lit up like a house at Hearth’s Warming Eve.

“That’s a kill for Cipher. One more and we can wrap this up. We have another squadron of mercenaries from across the Hay Ocean coming in.” Twilight said as she saw the time. “They should be twenty minutes out.”

**** **** **** ****

“No, how dare you bring my father into this! He has nothing to do with this little hearing!” Lightning Dust shouted as the sound of cheering reached the room the Wonderbolts had commandeered.

“On the contrary.” Spitfire said, lowering her head so she was looking at Lightning over the top of her glasses. “He’s the one who both inspired and recommended you for the Academy. He told me. He used to talk about how you wanted to be just like him.”

Lightning Dust hung her head. “Listen, Lightning.” Rainbow said, her voice cracking slightly as she took a deep breath. “Because of your reckless and hot tempered behaviour, you have proven to be a liability to the Squadron, the base and Equestria as a whole.”

Lightning began to shake. Rainbow was about to kick her out, just like Spitfire did when she nearly killed Rainbow’s friends by making that twister during their time at the Academy. Being a Wonderbolt was her whole life. Her entire family on her father’s side had been Wonderbolts. She had a reputation to live up to, five generations of accomplished pilots and acrobats. If she got kicked out now, it would be the end of everything.

“But, I know that this means more to you than you care to let on.” Spitfire carried on for Rainbow, who was biting her lip. “That is why we will overlook this incident and give you one last chance. Failure to listen to your teammates, fail to know when to let a target go and you will be permanently suspended. Is that understood?”

Lightning Dust nodded her head slowly as the news sunk in. She was given one last shot to prove she could be a Wonderbolt like her father. “But you will be sitting out on the next operation.” Rainbow said as the group began to leave the room in a single file, leaving only Rainbow and Lightning Dust. “Lightning, you need to learn that your drive to push yourself at the expense of others is self-defeating. It isn’t why any of us became Wonderbolts in the first place.”

Rainbow ran into the briefing room as fast as she could. Solace continued to swear in his native tongue as Cipher stayed on his tail. The ponies were laughing as Solace just managed to get out of Cipher’s crosshairs. Rainbow sat next Pinkamena who barely registered her old friend’s presence.

“So who’s winning?” Rainbow asked as Cipher’s right wing registered a few hits before she managed to get away from Solace.

“They’re neck and neck.” Pinkamena replied flatly. “Cipher’s on her last legs while Solace is as well. Whoever can get one last pass on their opponent will win. How was the hearing?”

Dash lowered her head as she removed the glasses. “I worry about her. Even after all these years, she’s barely changed at all. She still thinks she has something to prove and will stop at nothing to do it.”

“So did you cut her loose?” Pinkamena inquired, not taking her eyes of the screens as Cipher managed to dodge Solace again.

“Nah, we let her off with a warning.” Pinkamena looked at Dash with a cold expression as she said that. She could freeze Tartarus itself with that look. “Look, we can’t afford to really lose any of our numbers right now. I still think she could be a very good pilot if she can get over her insatiable drive.”

“I hope you know what you are doing Dash.” Pinkamena replied as she turned her attention to the screens again as Cipher pulled up into the air, Solace in hot pursuit.

“I hope so too. We did cut her out of the next operation though.” Dash responded as Cipher shut her engines down and came down towards Solace, who dodged the flailing plane.

A few pilots gasped at this display of recklessness. As the plane fell past Solace, Cipher turned the engines back on and fired up the afterburners. She pulled up, using her momentum one more time but she flew in a wide circle, aiming to intercept Solace like a boomerang circling around its target. Solace dived to avoid her and get into an attack position. Cipher pulled on the speed brakes again and pulled the plane into a 180° flip so fast, it should have ripped the wings clean off the fuselage.

As Solace pulled in an attempt to avoid her once more, he fell into her boresight for a second. Unfortunately, a second was she needed as she pulled the trigger and fired. The sensors detected that the bullets would have gone through the cockpit and kill him on the spot.

“And that’s it everypony. Sorry Solace but it looks like Cipher is the better pilot.” Twilight said. “But you did give her a run for her bits though. Now get back on the ground, Grabcr Squadron will be arriving shortly and I want all the pilots to be there to greet them.”

After the two got down on the ground, Solace gave Cipher a hearty hoofshake to show he didn’t have any sore feelings for having lost to her. He even asked to treat her to a drink… which she flatly refused.

“You don’t drink?!” He said, as his face went from shocked to serious. “Challenge accepted!” He raised his hoof into the air with a smile as the pilots went to the airstrip to await the latest addition to the group. While the group cheered for Cipher, Pinkamena was around the corner, observing the mare.

“Not bad, not bad at all.” She mused as she watched Cipher trot off to her barracks, uninterested in meeting more ponies. Pinkamena on the other hoof wanted to see what the fuss was about the next group of pilots but stayed back so she as she found it better to observe from a distance.

“Who do you think we have coming in?” Dash asked Spitfire with near fangirl-like glee. More pilots meant the war would get finished faster and she could get back to leading the Wonderbolts on acrobatic flights rather than combat exercises.

“Don’t know, I haven’t heard anything about them.” Spitfire replied flatly.

“Grabcr Squadron.” Lug Knut said to the suit wearing Wonderbolts. “It’s just a two pony squadron, like the Galm Team.”

“Really?” Dash said, interested in knowing more about the mercenaries that would be flying with them.

“Grabcr 1 flies an F-16XL. You know the one with the cranked delta wing design?” Lug Knut asked, Rainbow nodded her head. “Grabcr 2 on the other hoof flies an YF-23 Black Widow.”

“The one that was made by the same ponies that made the Raptor?” Spitfire inquired. Lug Knut shook his head before continuing.

“No, they were made by two entirely separate manufacturers. I was only told of their aircraft so I could brief the rest of the mechanic staff.” Lug Knut looked down the runway, spotting two little dots in the sky. “Looks like they're nearly here. Clear the runway!”

Everypony scrambled to the end of the runway and waited for the two planes to land. Just as Lug Knut described, there were only two planes: the F-16XL and the YF-23. Their bodies were a deep read while the wings, nose and stabilisers had rather broad, black stripes adorning them.

As the planes landed, Lug Knut and Quick Fix got to work. They directed the pair to a hangar large enough to store both of their craft. As they pilots got out, they removed their helmets. The pilot of the F-16XL was a crimson coloured Pegasus while his mane was red and cream coloured. The pilot of the Black Widow was a grey unicorn with a light blue mane.

“Well, this is a welcome. We should offer our assistance more often don’t you think?” The crimson stallion chuckled as he walked up to the group of pilots.

The Unicorn chuckled and grabbed the hoof of the pony closest to him: Fire Streak. The Unicorn shook his hoof with enough vigour to remind Pinkamena of another particular pony: herself.

“How do you do? Name’s Techno Watt of just Tech or just whatever strikes your fancy.” Techno Watt said as he let go of Fire Streak’s hoof.

“I’m Snake.” The Pegasus said, getting a few smiles from the group.

Rainbow and Spitfire both walked up to the two stallions before Rainbow spoke up. “Welcome to Valiant Air Force Base. I am Rainbow Dash, flight lead of the Wonderbolts Squadron. This here is my second in command, Spitfire.”

The stallions nodded and conferred their greetings as Spitfire took over the conversation. “While the two of you are here, you will be earning your keep by helping out wherever and whenever necessary. If you have any problems with that, you can leave the same way you came.

“I doubt we will be a problem Miss Spitfire.” Snake said with a small smirk on his face. “Tech here is the best mechanic I could ask for and if you need me for something, just ask.”

“That’s good.” Dash said as they all left the hangar.

Solace gave the two stallions a malicious smirk as he raised his hoof into the air. “All our jobs can wait until the morning for tonight we will drink until we can’t drink no more!”

Cipher looked out from her window and observed the two new stallions. Her gnarled horn would have been clearly visible to anypony who looked her way. She fluttered down to the ground with her tattered wings and looked at herself in the mirror.

“You failed one simple thing.”

“Your actions have endangered our entire race!”

“Because of you, we have lost all standing with the other races!”

“Victory was assured and yet you bungled it up!

Chrysalis closed her eyes as she tried to shut out the voices. As she opened her eyes once more, a Unicorn stared back at her. Putting the flight suit back on, she walked out to formally meet the Grabcr Squadron as Solace talked about how he now had competition for the mares’ affections.

Author's Note

Snake courtesy of Cobra 1. He is the last of any OC mercenaries. Please note that 'Sladkiy Celestia' is the phonetic pronunciation of Сладкий Celestia.

Operation Choker One

Ace Combat: Shattered Friendships
Operation Choker One
Author: Draconis187

Focus. Control. Conviction. Resolve. A true ace lacks none of these attributes. Nothing can deter you from the task at hand except your own fears. This is your sky.

It’s been five days since Operation Roseluck and the new Grabcr Squadron were fitting in rather well given the fact that Rainbow Dash reserved some animosity towards mercs. Luckily, Spitfire gave her enough reasons to not get into fights with them, one of which was the fact that they needed them if they wanted to end the war. Dash warmed up to the duo slightly as they shared a few drinks and stories of their exploits over the downtime period.

Soon the call to assemble in the briefing room rang through the base, alerting everypony. The mercenaries and the Wonderbolts Squadron (minus Lightning Dust) were sat in the briefing room, awaiting Twilight to come and give them their new orders. Twilight entered the room and started up the projector.

“Hello everypony, today this mission is only for the Galm Team so I would ask the rest of you to please exit the room.” Twilight deadpanned. The group looked around at Cipher and Pinkamena who just looked back, as confused as they were. “Now, everypony.” Twilight added a bit forcefully.

“Oh, come on! What makes them so special?!” Dash complained but she complied with Twilight’s orders and left the room with the rest of the Wonderbolts, Grabcr and Vampir.

“Well, Cipher is pretty special.” Solace said as he was leaving, earning him a few glances. “Come on, a mare as mysterious as her just makes me want to see who she is even more.”

Snake and Techno just shook their heads as they and the other pilots of Vampir sniggered at Solace. Once it was only the Galm Team and Twilight in the room, she began speaking again. The projector showed various pictures of a mountain range that was in a peculiar shape.

“Right, now listen up. We need the two of you to perform a reconnaissance mission of Airspace B7R.”

“So you want us to go into the Round Table? What for?” Pinkamena spoke up, giving Twilight a scrutinising look.

“We need to assess the strength of the stationed forces there before we launch a full conjoined offensive with the Crystal Empire.” Twilight replied, keeping a blank expression. “You are to suit up and get going in one hour. Be ready.”

Twilight didn’t seem to want to speak any more on the matter which only made Pinkamena more suspicious of the operation. Cipher didn’t respond as she got up and left the room. Pinkamena just shrugged before getting up. “I guess that settles that. I’ll be ready.”

The three squadrons watched the two mares left the room in silence from the mess hall. Dash shot out of the room at high speed and literally bumped into Twilight, who was just exiting the room.

“What the hay Twilight?!” She shouted as recovered before the Alicorn. “What makes them so special that they get a solo mission?”

“Calm down Dash, go get the others. You all have a different mission that can only be done with the Galm Team’s distraction.” Twilight responded as she teleported from under Dash to next to the cyan mare.

Dash’s demeanour flipped as she saluted. “Alright, some action!”

**** **** **** ****

Ten minutes before the hour was over, the Galm Team were already lined up on the runway and waiting for Eagle Eye to take off. Thunderlane looked at Twilight with a noticeable frown as she sat down at her seat.

“Do you think it was a good idea to not tell them everything?” He asked with concern.

Twilight hung her head. “I can’t bear to lie to the two of them, especially Pinkie Pie. But Celestia ordered me to only tell them that so they wouldn’t get angry about being decoys.” She placed her headset on her head and sat by her seat. “Roseluck, keep me informed of the other operation.”

The former florist nodded her head from her seat in the control tower. “You got it. Eagle Eye, you are cleared for takeoff.”

**** **** **** ****

Pinkamena looked at the arid landscape as they were coming in. “This is the Round Table. Dead ponies’ words have no meaning.” What she meant by that, Cipher wasn’t sure.

“Galm Team begin the operation. Get close to the Round Table so we may assess the strength of their forces.” Twilight said as they all entered the area from the southeast. She looked over the transmissions and managed to hack the enemies’ communications. “I got some chatter from the enemy, you’ve been noticed.”

“It’s time to crash the party, right Galm One?” Pinkamena said as she looked at her flight lead.

“Break formation and take them down.” Cipher replied as she banked to the right.

“I copy flight lead.” Pinkamena replied as she banked left.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Is there something wrong with the IFF?” A Griffon pilot asked the rest of his squadron as the pair of F-15s came hurtling towards them. “I’m only reading two aircraft on radar.”

“Don’t they know about the Round Table?” Another Griffon replied as they all changed course to intercept them.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Cipher checked her gauges and dived. Instead of pulling up and using the momentum to gain an advantage in a dogfight, she levelled off near the ground, using the momentum instead to gain ground faster and intercept the Griffon fighters since she was too far away.

She caught up to an F4-E and pulled up. The Griffon piloting the plane barely knew what hit her as Cipher shot past her but not before ripping the underside of her plane apart with bullets. Sadly with Cipher’s tactic revealed, the other F4-E in the pair gave chase.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“All I really need’s a burning plane… from these fiery friends of mine.” Pinkamena softly sang as she chased a MiG-21, firing a few bursts of bullets at it as it tried to dodge her. Twilight could hear the violent parody of the song over the radio and it brought a small tear to her eye. She even got the entire town of Ponyville to join in, happily her cares to the world without worry.

Pinkamena pulled the trigger once more and the MiG’s rear stabiliser got torn apart from the resulting gunfire before it lost control and crashed into the arid climate below. Twilight was confirming the Galm Team’s kills as Cipher took out the F4-E that was chasing her with a missile by slowing down enough for the plane to shoot past and into the sights of her HUD’s targeting system.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Twilight, incoming message from Celestia.” Roseluck’s said over the radio.

“Yes?” Twilight replied curiously.

“’We are beginning the operation, good luck.’ That’s all it said.” Roseluck said flatly.

“Thank you.” Twilight responded before looking back at the displays in front of her. “Come on Galm Team, make us proud.”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“These aren’t rookies.” A griffon remarked as he gave chase to Pinkamena.

“I’m calling it in.” A Griffon replied as she came up behind Cipher.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Cipher looked back and noticed the MiG on her tail. If the Griffon could see her expression, she would’ve seen a malicious grin as Cipher thought of a plan. She gave the afterburners a push, forcing the F-15 to go as fast as the forces of physics would let it as she scanned her radar for Pinkamena.

“Pinkamena… do you feel like a trade?” Cipher asked as she flew directly at Pinkamena.

“Fine with me, this one is more trouble than he’s worth.” Pinkamena responded. “I think I know what you're thinking.”

Cipher turned her plane so the wings were perpendicular to the ground below, the cockpit facing to the right while Pinkamena did the same. At first the chasing MiG and F4-E didn’t realise what was going on… until their cockpits were showered in bullets. The two F-15s passed each other with barely a few inches between them.

The MiG’s pilot was killed instantly as several rounds tore her skull apart while the other was lucky enough to get most of the rounds in his stomach. Sadly the damage to said abdominal area was too extensive to allow him to continue not to mention the howling winds that shot over his head, through the shattered canopy was making it impossible to see or hear. With no other options he ejected.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Confirmed kills Galm Team.” Twilight said while she monitored the communications from the Griffon Squadrons. “It sounds like you’re making an impression on them.”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Ok, shall we wrap this up Galm One?” Pinkamena said who sounded rather happy about killing the last two planes: another MiG-21 and F4-E.

“I got them.” Cipher responded as she switched from her Sidewinders to her XMAA payload. Her HUD locked onto the two planes as they came towards the duo. “Galm One… Fox Three, Fox Three!”

The two medium ranged missiles flew from their railings and flew off to their targets. The normal Sidewinder missile has a lower effective range than the AMRAAM. This gave Cipher a distance advantage over them as they carried QAAM payloads. These were short ranged missiles but were more manoeuvrable than the standard Sidewinder.

The two Griffon pilots veered off their intercept course in order to avoid getting shot down but it was to no avail as one of the missiles made contact with the underside of the MiG, destroying it on impact. The other pilot was just as unlucky as the missile aiming him blew off the right wing, causing him to spin wildly out of control.

“Well, that looks like the end of that. Let’s get back to base.” Pinkamena said as she and Cipher got into formation for the trip back to Valiant.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Wow, they are really qui- oh no.” Twilight’s eyes bulged as she saw the readings of four planes coming in from the northwest. “Galm Team, you’re not out of the Everfree yet, four more bogeys are approaching at high speed. They appear to be a squadron of aces, stand by for more information.”

“Find out who they are now!” Twilight shouted at one of the ponies nearby, causing him to jump but he complied and checked the IFF’s readings through a database of known signatures.

“Indigo.” Was all he said as he pulled out the attacking squadron’s file.

“Cipher, Solo Wing… you are going up against the Indigo Squadron. Four Gripens as far as what you're fighting is concerned, I suggest caution while engaging them. They know how to fight.” Twilight warned as she went through the notes the unicorn gave her.

“Okay. Keep it together Galm One and we’ll fly out of this alive.” Pinkamena reassured as she and Cipher changed course to intercept the Indigo Squadron.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Unlike you mercenaries, I fight for a real cause. The ones who survive are those who fight for their convictions.” Indigo One, said with disdain as his squadron broke formation as Galm did the same.

Cipher locked her sights onto Indigo 3 while Pinkamena went after Indigo 2. Cipher’s bullets whizzed past the ace’s canopy, scratching a part of it at one point before her target barrel rolled and dived towards the ground. Cipher followed, trying to get a lock on the white coloured Gripen. She also noticed the single blue stripe that ran across the side of the plane’s fuselage and engines. The wingtips also bore a single strip while the rear stabiliser had two that intersected each other: one was horizontal while the other ran diagonally, parallel to the angle of the rear stabiliser.

As Cipher tried to pound a few more rounds into the Gripen in front of her, she had forgotten to notice Indigo 1 coming at her from the side, firing several rounds before launching a missile. She fired a flare and broke of her attack as her HUD lit up red with a missile alert.

She cursed silently as she changed course and went after Indigo 4 as he flew past her and into her path. The sky above B7R was chaotic with just the two Squadrons vying for superiority as bullets flew past one another as the Galm Team dynamically switched targets. This was making the two of them highly unpredictable as they all searched for an opening, a break that would turn the tables and secure victory.

The stalemate finally ended after a few minutes as Pinkamena managed to land a single burst of bullets into Indigo 3’s canopy as she flew past it. While the bullets did not do enough to shoot the plane down, they did manage to tear through the pilot’s ribcage and shatter a number of bones while causing internal bleeding. Despite the injuries he would not allow Indigo to be one pilot down and continued to fly for the next minute before the combination of g-forces and the bleeding caused him to black out and crash into the mountainside at half the speed of sound.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“That’s one down.” Twilight confirmed, trying her utmost best to retrain her joy at their success.

“Princess Sparkle?” Roseluck’s voice called out once more, instantly getting Twilight’s attention despite the intense dogfight she was watching. “I have another message from Princess Celestia: ‘Operation is going smoothly, keep it up.’”

“Thank you Roseluck.” Twilight said with a smile. The plan was coming together with such efficiency that she felt like she was about to explode from sheer happiness.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Damn!” Indigo 4 complained as he fired another flare, avoiding the missile fired from Pinkamena. “Indigo 3 is down and this mare doesn’t seem to be giving up any time soon!”

“We shall avenge him by teaching these mercenaries true honour.” Indigo 1 replied as Cipher came into view. “Gotcha.”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Bullets whizzed past Cipher’s canopy, one managed to put a few gashes into the left wing as Cipher banked to avoid more gunfire. She almost threw the plane into a steep dive as Indigo 2 joined in the hunt. Luckily Indigo 4 was still busy trying to lose Pinkamena as she chased him like the gatekeeper of Tartarus would chase an escapee.

Cipher increased the throttle until the afterburners kicked in, propelling her faster towards the ground but also out of range of their guns. She knew that they would use their missiles if she got too far away and then in an instant, she switched the engines off and pulled back on the controls.

The plane pulled off a 180° flip that should have torn the wings off if Cipher hadn’t used her magic to hold the plane together. She switched to her XMAA payload and her HUD locked on as soon as the plane completed the manoeuvre… with Indigo 1 and 2 straight in front of her.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Oh, bu-” It was the only thing Indigo 1 managed to say as he bailed out, the missile just milliseconds from turning him into Kenturkey Fried Griffon.

Indigo 2 was luckier as the missile clipped his wing but it still sent him down to the ground, spinning uncontrollably. Indigo 1 was relieved once he saw the Griffon eject from his plane as it blew up before reaching the ground.

Pinkamena managed to avoid getting pelted with bullets as Indigo 4 managed to turn the tables on her by managing to outmanoeuvre her and she hated it. The bullets shot by her, making her wince as one came straight through the canopy and missed her head by a few inches. This continued to infuriate the pink mare further.

“I’m going to get you for that!” The pink pilot snarled as she pulled the plane into a climb and firing the afterburners. “Follow the pretty pony.”

The two planes continued to climb until both of them neared the coffin corner. Unlike the pilot Lightning Dust managed to dupe, the ace of Indigo knew better and broke off his attack. This was the opening Solo Wing needed. She flipped her plane around and chased the Gripen to a safer altitude, firing a few rounds every few moments to make sure he wasn’t going to pull off any manoeuvres.

Her HUD finally chimed happily as her target was locked on. Pressing down on the trigger, the plane fired off a missile.

“Galm Two, Fox Two!” She cried out happily as the missile flew off and collided with the rear of the Gripen, sending it flying forwards in a fireball. As she flew past, she noticed the pilot managed to bail out like the other two.

“Great work everypony, no other hostiles in the area.” Twilight said as Roseluck’s voice came over the radio again. “Yes, Roseluck?”

“One last message Princess Sparkle. ‘Mission successful, thank you.’” She replied.

“Thank Celestia, they did it.” Twilight responded as she turned her attention to the Galm Team as they got back into formation. “I just received word from Celestia’s strike force. They have made it near the Fortuna Canal thanks to you.”

“So we were just a distraction?” Pinkamena asked, her voice had a hint of disdain in it as she looked at Cipher. The unicorn looked back at her and Pinkamena shook her head. “Whatever.” She looked back at her flight lead with something she thought she lost: respect.

She let out a long whistle as they left the operational space and the events that transpired finally sunk in. “Yo Buddy… still alive?”

She looked at her flight lead who only gave her a nod in response.

**** **** **** ****

The squadrons were in the debriefing room as each operation was being reviewed. The first was the escort mission that Vampir, Grabcr and the Wonderbolts participated in. Their mission went off without a hitch and the fleet that – as it turned out – the Crystal Empire tried to send through managed to get to their destination without being detected thanks to the Galm Team’s distraction. Regardless Rainbow was rather displeased with the lack of action as she had to ‘foalsit’ the fleet.

Her mood deteriorated further as the group were told of Galm Team’s success and the fact that they shot down an ace squadron. Spitfire and the others were rather impressed to say the least.

“I’ve read their file in case we were to ever meet them in the course of this war.” Spitfire said with a small grin. “The leader was a member of Knights, an old order that has no meaning anymore but the virtues they were taught still carried on to today. I guess we won’t fight them at all, can’t say I'm unhappy about it though.”

Twilight nodded. “According to some intel we managed to gather from our intelligence network, they were the closet stationed squadron amongst two others. You could’ve run into the Grun or Rot Squadrons. I guess you were lucky it was not all three at once. Cipher, I asked Celestia to convince the Crystal Ponies to send us a Crystal Fighter-2000 Typhoon and a MiG-29 Fulcrum as a reward for you. They are both rather adept at aerial combat. Think of it as my apology for the Mirage mishap.”

Cipher merely nodded as Twilight returned her gaze to the rest of the room. “Right everypony, the mercs will receive their respective pay at the end of the day at my barracks. Come when I call out your name. Dismissed.”

Solace looked at the Galm Team as he and the others left, leaving the two mares behind. “Time to drink to your good fortune! It takes real skill to take on the Round Table, even more to take down an enemy squadron.” He noticed they hadn’t left the briefing room with them. “We’ll get started so long shall we?”

Techno gave a small chuckle as Solace took the mares’ silence as a ‘yes’. “Are you sure you are not looking for an excuse to drink?” He asked with a smile.

“Maybe.” He said as he returned the smile. “Come on, I want to see you all get wasted since I missed the first celebration.”

Pinkamena was still sitting in her seat, next to Cipher if one could believe it. Pinkamena gave Twilight a rather nasty look, a look she reserved for her enemies.

“Next time Twilight, tell us you're using us as bait. I don’t like being lied to.” She said as she got up.

Twilight shifted uncomfortably. “I-I wanted to… really I did… but Celestia told me-”

“Putting Celestia before your friends… again? Looks like things haven’t changed.” Pinkamena scoffed as she left the room.

“What could I have done?! What do you want from me?!” Twilight wailed. Cipher just looked at her through her helmet as usual and left without a word as the Alicorn cried bitterly.

**** **** **** ****

“Come on, just one… please?” Solace whined as Pinkamena declined for the fifth time. “I heard you could hold your liquor and I wanted to see if the rumours were true.”

“If I agree to one contest, will you leave me be?” Pinkamena asked flatly, getting rather annoyed at the stallion’s request. He nodded his head which caused the pink mare to sigh. “Fine.”

Solace beamed as he grabbed a tankard of some rather hard liquor, mainly cider and vodka. The cider was still a Sweet Apple Acres brand but the vodka was a direct import from Stalliongrad. Solace ordered it with the money he got from Operation Roseluck and was he happy he had an excuse to break it open… not literally.

He sat at one end of the table as Rainbow Dash, Soarin, and Blaze joined in the macho contest which earned a few odd looks. “What? Is this a merc only challenge?” Rainbow asked with a malicious smirk.

“Nah, sure you can handle it though?” Solace asked mockingly as the first round was poured.

The three Wonderbolts returned Solace’s words with a smirk. “Try us.” Their leader taunted.

Author's Note

Well, this op took longer than I thought. I blame Total War and some fics I've read recently. Well, I hope you enjoy the chapter. Oh yes, I will be putting in these philosophical sections in at the top for the Operations from now on so it fits the Ace Combat atmosphere better. **** **** **** **** these are for my scene transitions while the others <----> ---- ---- <----> are for changes in point of view/location but within the self same time frame. If they seem unnecessary I'll remove them and forget them. Up to you my dear readers.

Downtime: Alcohol and Accusations

Ace Combat: Shattered Friendships
Downtime: Alcohol and Accusations
Author: Draconis187

Chrysalis was in her true form in a large, dark, smelly underground tunnel. The blue-green glow of the bioluminescent plant life made the scene look creepier than the situation dictated. Amongst the familiar surroundings Chrysalis was nervous, scared even as she looked around and found many empty caverns. She walked through the winding tunnels, calling for her subjects, calling for anything that would end the lonely scene she found herself in.

“Your Majesty.” A cold, slow voice called out from the one room she had yet to investigate.

She cautiously pushed against the door with a forehoof, opening it slowly and just enough to peek through. The door creaked as she looked through the small opening, looking around the room as much as she could for any signs of an ambush. Sighing deeply with relief, she pushed the door further and walked into the room, her hoofsteps echoing through the room. A U-shaped table stood before her, the arms surrounding her as she gazed at the raised platform at the centre. She gulped as she realised what the room was: the meeting hall of the Five Hives.

“Queen Chrysalis Regalian Thorax the III.” The same voice that called out before spoke once more, sending shivers down the Changeling’s spine. “You have been summoned here by the Leaders of the Five Hives to inform us of what exactly transpired in Canterlot that caused such devastation upon your subjects.”

Chrysalis was unsure of what to say but her mouth began to speak as if she no longer had control of it. “The invasion was a success initially, but thanks to Twilight Sparkle, her brother snapped out of my spell and out of my control. He and the Crystal Princess combined their magic and performed a spell that literally pushed us out of Canterlot. We landed somewhere near Hive 101, near Dodge Junction but we were barely able to move thanks to the injuries we sustained from the fall.”

Chrysalis began to feel tears fall down her face as she continued. “The locals soon found us before most of us could recover and executed us one by one. I was too weak… too weak to stop them from killing my subjects before my eyes. No Queen or King of any Hive should witness the slaughter of their subjects.”

The voice listened as the former Queen spoke. “And how did you escape the scene if you were all being hunted down?”

“I landed furthest away from the massacre and managed to recover enough to flee by the time they reached me.” She stopped as she remembered looking back on the scene as helpless Changelings were mercilessly slaughtered. “Of the five hundred Changelings that participated in the assault… only twenty-five - including me - managed to reach the safety of my family’s Hive.”

“I see. Your incompetence all but destroyed the hive that seven generations strived to build.” The voice said, its voice beginning to grow in volume. “Queen Chrysalis Regalian Thorax the III, for your gross incompetence and sole party responsible for the subsequent near annihilation of the Thoraxion Hive, you are hereby banished and stripped of your title. You are to never return to any of the Five Hives or their subsidiaries else you shall be killed on sight.”

“No! Give me another chance, please!” Chrysalis begged as the room began to rumble, the ceiling had begun to collapse around her.

“The Five Hives are disappointed in you… I am disappointed in you.” The owner of the voice stepped out of the shadows. She looked a lot like Chrysalis except her coat was a lighter shade and her chitin had a yellow/green hue.

Chrysalis looked at the figure’s sad expression with disbelief. “Mother?!”

**** **** **** ****

Chrysalis fell out of bed with a thud. “Mother!” She sighed as the familiar surroundings that made up her room made her feel more at ease. “Just a nightmare, thank the Hive.”

She got up and made sure she hadn’t hurt herself from the fall. Donning her flight suit and helmet, she peeked outside and saw that nopony heard her falling off her bed. In fact, there was nopony else in the barracks at all which was odd since Solace was usually banging on her door to try and catch her with her helmet off by now. Vampir 1 insisted to have his squadron take up residence in Cipher’s barracks despite the Changeling’s protests. Maybe if she did more than vigorous shaking of her head, she may not be putting up with him right now.

**** **** **** ****

“Pinkie, I've just been named Spitfire’s successor!” Dash said to Pinkie Pie with a huge grin that looked out of place for the cyan mare.

Pinkie smiled meekly, her mane still in the flattened state it became a year ago. “I’m happy for you.”

Dash’s smile faltered as she gave Pinkie a hug. “Come on, where’s that Pinkie Pie cheer?! How about a party? That always cheers you up.”

Pinkie shook her head as her smile left her face. “No thanks. I’ll pass.”

“Why not Pinks?” Dash asked, growing concerned for her friend.

“It wouldn’t be the same without her.” Pinkie replied as she walked back into Sugarcube Corner. The Cakes smiled warmly at her and she returned their smile with a meek smile.

‘A year, to the day.’ Pinkie thought as she looked out into the horizon, the sun setting in the distance. ‘Rarity is leaving for Canterlot to open up a boutique with Fancy Pants’ financial backing while Applejack has her hooves full with the farm since she managed to secure more land to expand it. We are losing each other with each passing day. Maybe… maybe it’s time I found something new as well.’

She went to the room she rented from the Cakes and peered inside it with a neutral expression on her face. The many bright colours greeted the mare every day she woke and every time she entered the room. Gummy looked at her, making the dull pink mare stop for a second as she packed up her things.

“Sorry Gummy but you aren’t coming with. Be good to the Cakes for me, okay?” Pinkie petted Gummy as he didn’t move and continued to give her a blank expression. “You're making this harder than it has to be Gummy. I'm sorry but I need to go.”

Making sure she had all the necessities, Pinkie walked down the steps and went to the door. As she was about to exit the bakery, the Cakes saw her and called out to her.

“Pinkie dear, where are you going?” Mrs Cake asked with a worried expression on her face.

“All of my friends have moved on Mrs Cake. There isn’t a reason for me to stay in Ponyville any longer. I think it is best that I moved on as well and I shall no longer go by Pinkie.” She turned to the open door as the amber sky gave way to the moon. “I'm going by the name my parents gave me: my name is Pinkamena Diane Pie.”

**** **** **** ****

Pinkamena stirred from her bed, her head feeling like the aftermath of a precision bombing run. She clambered out of bed, falling as her limbs were sore from the previous day’s operation. After getting ready, she saw Cipher heading to the mess hall and joined her. The scene that greeted her once she entered the mess hall made her smirk devilishly.

“Lightweights, can’t handle your alcohol can you?” She half-laughed vindictively as she saw that Snake and Techno Watt eventually decided to join their contest when Cipher declined for the tenth time and went to her barracks so they’d stop. They were all fast asleep, making odd twitches as some of them snored loudly.

“Looks like they enjoyed themselves.” Twilight smirked as she entered and grabbed some toast. “Who won the contest though?”

Pinkamena got herself some coffee and sat down in a corner. “I did. The last one to fall was Solace. He can really drink. We must have finished about five bottles of vodka alone.”

“I hope you all don’t get alcohol poisoning.” Twilight said fearfully. “We can’t afford to lose anypony before the next operation begins.”

Pinkamena scoffed. “Please, like that will ever happen to me.”

Twilight looked around and noticed Cipher had vanished. “Where’d Cipher go?”

“She doesn’t eat with us. She never eats in here at all, I guess it’s because she’ll have to remove her helmet. She just gets what she wants and vanishes. I would guess she went back to her barracks.” Pinkamena explained as she took a sip of her coffee.

**** **** **** ****

Cipher had teleported herself back to her room like Pinkamena said, carrying a bowl of muesli. She removed her clothing and proceeded to lay down on her bed in her true form, munching on the breakfast before her with a spoon.

“I may not be a Queen anymore but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t watch my figure.” She muttered under her breath, between mouthfuls of the healthy breakfast.

Interestingly Changelings can eat food to survive but require love for functions above sustenance. They need it in order to create new hatchlings and reproduce. It also acts as a magic enhancer to fully grown Changelings, which is the reason why Chrysalis was so powerful back in Canterlot years ago. The amount of love undeveloped Changelings receive before hatching determines their power and status in the Hive. Needless to say, future Queens and Kings receive more than the others.

If they cannot get love directly by impersonating a loved one, they can physically drain it with their fangs, but the practise died out a century ago due to growing suspicions among the local populations and now the fangs only remain to serve as a weapon in close quarters combat.

As Chrysalis rested her spoon on the empty bowl, a loud series of knocks made her give a small shout before tumbling on the floor. Cursing whomever disturbed her while she was at peace with every fibre of her being, she got dressed again and unlocked her door. Solace was stood there with a big grin on his face.

‘May the Hive give me strength to not tear him limb from limb.’ She thought as he continued to smile.

“Good morning Cipher, oh.” He looked and saw the shattered remains of the bowl she had used to eat from strewn across the floor. “I was going to ask if you wanted to get breakfast but I guess that’s out of the question.”

Cipher shook her head slowly which made Solace beam, making her heart sink with fear. “Not a problem? Alright!”

Before Cipher could protest, she was being dragged across the base by her tail, held in Solace’s mouth. He was blissfully unaware of Cipher’s cursing as the guards and maintenance staff looked on with confused expressions. Cipher watched the mess hall doors open before looking at her suit and praising whoever made it. From burning fires that could incinerate you to ponies that don’t know when to give in, this suit was durable enough to survive anything.

“Come on, take that helmet off and let us gaze upon you!” Solace beamed.

The Wonderbolts that had not participated in the drink-off stared at Cipher, as did the rest of Vampir and Pinkamena. She was wondering if Cipher would finally give in to the stallion’s demands. Cipher looked around the room before turning around and leaving without a word. Pinkamena grinned as Solace shrugged it off saying he thought she would do that anyway. Pinkamena had to admire his perseverance though… or was that stubbornness? The line between the two was blurred as far as she knew when it came to that particular stallion.

“Pinkie-” Twilight said but Pinkamena cut her off by giving her a nasty glare. “Pinkamena, what do you plan on doing after this war is over?”

“Find the next one of course.” She replied. “A mercenary goes where the money is and there is money to be made in war.”

“But war is wrong, even if you earn a living from it.” Twilight protested. Pinkamena just gave an unsettling chuckle.

“The world is full of conflict, some greater than others and eventually they escalate to war. It’s in our nature to disagree with what goes against our beliefs or way of life.” Pinkamena explained. “We can’t fight it, we can only go with it and make a living out of it. In the end, it’s just another job for me.”

With that she got up and left Twilight on her own to think about what Pinkamena said. Looking on at the form of her friend as she vanished out the door, a tear fell from her face.

“Is all this because I didn’t keep one promise?”

“Because you didn’t keep a Pinkie Promise Twi.” Rainbow Dash had finally gotten up and made her way to Twilight, giving her a fright.

“Ahh! Rainbow, don’t sneak up on me like that!” Twilight shouted, causing the mare to flatten her ears and clasp her hooves against them.

“Not so loud! I’ve got a headache the size of Celestia’s backside trying to kill me.” The cyan mare complained.

“Sorry.” Twilight replied, embarrassed. “What does all of this have to do with a Pinkie Promise?”

“I haven’t seen her for six years Twi, she’s not the same mare we used to be friends with anymore.” Rainbow said with a frown as Spitfire joined, carrying a mug of coffee for her and Rainbow. “Thanks. Twilight, you Pinkie Promised to attend the party she was going to throw for you to celebrate you becoming a princess. When you didn’t show, it hurt her… badly.”

“But I only missed one party.” Twilight tried to reason but Rainbow shook her head.

“It’s not the same thing when it comes to Pinkie Pie. You seem to have forgotten how serious she takes those promises.” Rainbow said as she took a sip of the coffee. “Ah, just what the doctor ordered.”

“I’m going to get Soarin back to the barracks. He doesn’t seem to be waking up anytime soon.” Spitfire said to Dash as she downed her coffee. “After that, I’m going to do some drills with the rest of the team.”

“Okay, I’ll try to finish here and meet you in the training area.” Dash replied as Spitfire jumped off her seat and – with the help of the other Wonderbolts – picked up the still sleeping Soarin.

Dash turned her attention back to Twilight. “Now look, I’m not saying that being a princess isn't hard but you have to remember: we were your friends. We saved Equestria several times over together for Celestia’s sake!”

“’Were friends’?” Twilight asked, looking down at her hooves.

“Afraid so. We split up once Pinkie left. I left the Ponyville Weather Team and fully dedicated my time to the Wonderbolts since Spitfire named me her successor. Rarity moved to Canterlot just after Pinkie left. I heard she’s quite successful now. Applejack’s farm has almost doubled in size and as a result her cousin Braeburn and a few other Apples came to Ponyville to help out, but even then she doesn’t have a lot of free time. Then there’s Fluttershy.” Rainbow failed to look Twilight in the eyes at the mention of the yellow mare.

“What happened to her?” Twilight asked, afraid of what the answer could be.

“She left Equestria… as in entirely. She hasn’t made contact with any of us since. I don’t want to think what might have happened to her.” Rainbow looked down at her near empty mug. “Our friendship fell apart without you. This has nothing to do with you being a princess and you know it. Celestia used to find time to visit you like that day with her phoenix. She used to make time for her favourite student. But you failed to so much as even speak to us since that day. We felt that we didn’t mean anything to you anymore and that is what tore us apart.”

Dash didn’t give Twilight a chance to respond as she flew out the mess hall, leaving her still not empty mug on the table. A tear fell down Twilight’s face as the mess hall emptied, leaving her alone.

“So, it’s all my fault. Pinkie lost her cheerful demeanour because I didn’t fulfil my promise. I failed my friends and everything went to Tartarus for them… all because of me.” She said as she degraded into sobs.

**** **** **** ****

Pinkamena saw the Wonderbolts flying around the perimeter of the airbase in formation. Even without their planes, their aerial capabilities are the envy of flight teams across the world. ‘Precision, Dedication, Teamwork.’ These three words make up the Wonderbolts’ motto and for good reason.

Precision: every manoeuvre whether in or out their aircraft must be done perfectly. Any error – however small – can prove to be fatal or embarrassing. Dedication: just being part of the group is never enough, they work hard to become a part of the team and stay there. Teamwork: the old saying ‘there is no I in team’ is taken literal. They don’t just trust their own abilities but also the abilities of their wingponies. If one slacks or needs assistance, the others need to be prepared to make up the difference.

They flew in a wedge formation with Rainbow at the head. To her left were Spitfire, Lightning Dust, Misty Fly and Blaze. Soarin had appeared to have decided against going back to sleep as he was next to Rainbow on her right with Fire Streak and Surprise.

Pinkamena shook her thoughts as she parried Jack Hammer’s right hook. “Keep your thoughts focused missy.” He grinned as he countered Pinkamena’s left jab by wrapping his right forehoof around her left forehoof and kicking her in the side with his right hind leg. “An unfocused fighter is easier to beat, no matter how much better he or she may be.”

“Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.” Pinkamena smirked as she and Jack took a break. She rubbed her side where Jack had kicked her. “That’s a mean kick you got.”

“I used to be in construction before the war. We needed to be in some form of physical shape and being round was not one of them.” Jack Hammer laughed as he gave Pinkamena a small nudge.

**** **** **** ****

Cipher was inside the hangar for her F-15, repairing the holes her plane received from the dogfight with Indigo. Looking at the hole in her canopy she gave a small chuckle. If the bullet was at least an inch more to the left it would have killed her. She was lucky to be alive and she was essentially laughing it off.

“Hiya.” Cipher turned her head around to see Techno Watt looking at her and her plane. “Nice plane, mind if I take a gander at her?”

Cipher thought for a moment before shaking her head. Techno looked around the plane, giving a low whistle as he went. “She sure took a beatin’ didn’t she?”

Cipher merely nodded. “I guess they're right, you don’t like to talk much and that’s fine with me really. The holes can be easily patched up no problem but I think if you tweak the fans’ revs and change the mixing agent, you may get maybe 12% more thrust. Just my opinion.”

Cipher looked at Techno as he just turned around and left without a word. Cipher rubbed her head in confusion at this weird pony but carried on repairing the damage to her plane.

**** **** **** ****

As the evening began to set in, Cipher had finished repairing the damage and made the changes to the engines that Techno recommended. She just hoped it didn’t mean her plane would blow up in mid-flight. If it did, she’d kill him.

The squadrons had met up in the mess hall, getting their evening meals and chatting the night away. The Wonderbolts’ wings were sore and they were exhausted from doing drills the whole day. Jack Hammer was chatting to Pinkamena as she just nodded her head when it seemed necessary but she was paying attention.

Twilight was sat on her own, still feeling sorry for herself as she saw Dash laughing at a joke Soarin made. It got him a glare from Spitfire but they all laughed anyway. Twilight looked and saw Pinkamena had a small discernable smirk on her face. At first it she thought it was a Pinkie Pie smile but the way the rest of her face looked said otherwise, it was more like a cruel, sadistic smile.

As Twilight looked around, she saw that Cipher was not in the room again. She grabbed some rations and left to the barracks once more. The Changeling looked at her plate, disgusted by the quality of the meal before her. Military rations weren’t exactly a five-star course but she was not in a position to complain.

As she dug into her food, there was a knock at her door. She made sure her helmet’s voice distortion device was working properly as she donned the aforementioned helmet.

“Who is it?” She asked, her voice properly distorted as she addressed the guest.

“Cipher? It’s me, Twilight. Can I come in, please?” Cipher unlocked and opened her door, revealing the purple Alicorn. “Sorry for barging in like this, I just needed somepony to talk to.”

Cipher cocked her head at the mare. “Wouldn’t Rainbow Dash or Solo Wing be better options? They are your friends after all.”

Twilight rubbed her left foreleg with her right nervously. “Well, we aren’t exactly on good terms right now.”

Cipher didn’t make a move. “What is it you wish to speak about?”

“Basically everything. I just need somepony who could maybe point me in the right direction.” Twilight replied as she sat in front of Cipher. Cipher merely nodded her head and listened to Twilight tell her about what Dash told her earlier and how she feels that it’s her fault that Pinkamena became a mercenary.

After Twilight finished, Cipher rubbed her chin with her hoof before responding. “So because of a promise you failed to keep, your friends essentially disbanded and went their separate ways?” Twilight nodded. “Have you made any attempts to apologise?”

“Not really. I’ve tried but something keeps coming up.” Twilight replied.

“Then I suggest you start there. I can’t help you any further without you at least trying properly to apologise to your friend.” Cipher said, nudging Twilight towards the door with a magical push.

“You’re right, thanks Cipher. You're a good friend, you know that?” Twilight said with a small grin as she teleported to the mess hall.

“Friend? Yeah right.” Cipher said with a frown as she took her helmet off and continued eating.

Offensive Campaign No. 4101: Operation Round Hammer

Ace Combat: Shattered Friendships
Offensive Campaign No. 4101: Operation Round Hammer
Author: Draconis187

Then nothingness was not, nor existence. There was no air then, nor heavens beyond it. Who covered it? Where was it? In whose keeping? Was there then cosmic water, in depths unfathomed?

“Is everypony clear on the mission objectives?” Twilight said to the two flight groups as they reached Operation Round Hammer’s airspace.

“This is Snake. I copy that Eagle Eye,” Snake said as he and Techno crossed into the operation’s airspace, “You ready over there, Techno?”

“Born ready, Snake,” Techno replied with a smirk under his helmet, “Let’s light ‘em up!”

“Rainbow, is your flight ready?” Twilight asked.

“This is Spectrum One, roger that Eagle Eye. This is going to be awesome!” Rainbow replied, “Sound off everypony!”

“This is Spectrum Two. I am ready,” Misty Fly replied.

“This is Spectrum Three. I copy,” Lightning Dust replied curtly.

“No funny business, Dust. Do I make myself clear?” Rainbow warned.

“No need to worry, Dash. I’ll keep the showboating to a minimum,” Dust replied with slight annoyance. The seeming lack of trust between Dash and her was starting to grate her.

The two flights were flying alongside each other while another Squadron was flying in place of the first Crystal squadron from Gelnikos. The planes were four F-16Cs each with an XMAA loadout. The multi-lock function was going to be invaluable as they provided air support to the other squadrons.

“This is Spectrum One, Grabcr you take out the ships while my flight takes out the port facilities on both sides of the canal. Understood?” Rainbow called out to Grabcr.

“Fine,” Snake replied, “Techno, let’s go say hello.”

“Yo ho ho and a barrel of bullets,” Techno replied cheerfully as he switched to his napalm bombs.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“We have incoming!” A Griffon shouted to his compatriots, “Take them out!”

The Griffons had a few flights in the air in preparation of the attack from the Allied Forces. One flight in particular took a fancy to Grabcr.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Grabcr One you have been locked on,” Twilight announced over the radio.

“I got it,” Snake replied calmly as he noticed his HUD change colours and checked his IFF to see what was trying to take him on.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

His pursuer was an F-5E, Gabel One. He was one half of Gabel Squadron and one third of the Winds of Futuro who defended the canal with their planes and their very lives.

“This is Gabel One, I have the target locked one. Firing,” He said monotonously as he pressed down on the trigger, firing a few rounds towards Snake’s F-16XL.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Miss Sparkle. Here are the files on the Winds of Futuro,” One of the AWACS’ crew said as he handed the Princess a thick dossier of paper.

Twilight wasted no time in tearing into it, “Listen Grabcr. You’re going up against Gabel. They are better pilots than the Postler Squadron that Galm fought earlier on. They are notorious for their dedication to taking down a target.”

Twilight flipped through a page, “Their flight lead has a reputation for following his target all the way to their base. He succeeded in bagging the kill and returned with only minor damage to his plane. Use this to your advantage.”

Snake smiled inwardly, “Roger that Eagle Eye. This is one birdy he is going to regret following.”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

As Gabel One fired at Snake, Techno was lining up to attack perpendicular to the two craft. As he levelled his plane at the same altitude with Snake, he kept his hooves near the trigger. He saw the two as they were about to fly past his position.

If Gabel One noticed Techno, he didn’t show it as Techno’s Black Widow opened fire on his plane. The bullets tore through his body and his plane as indiscriminately as hail.

“Damn him!” Heiko Reik said aloud, clutching his right side as pain wracked his body, “These damn ponies are going down, I swear it!”

Gabel Two came from above, diving towards Techno and waiting for the sweet sound of a missile lock. His HUD beeped slowly as his system tried to lock on. Once the two green boxes intersected, the HUD gave a single, continuous beep and making Fredi Starke grin as he depressed the trigger.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Hello there!” Techno said happily as his plane lit up like it was Hearth’s Warming Day, “Looks like you’re not the only popular one Snake! We are both in demand here!”

“Aren’t we just?” Snake replied as he banked to avoid Heiko’s rain of gunfire.

“Grabcr, are you alright there? Do you need any help?” Rainbow called out as she tore a fuel depot apart with some precision rocket fire.

“No worries here Spectrum,” Snake replied confidently, “We’re just having ourselves a little fun here. We’ll wrap it up now and take out those ships.”

“Understood Grabcr,” Rainbow replied, smiling inwardly.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“I… will… not… lose to a… damned pony!” Heiko said to himself as his body threatened to black out on him with each passing moment.

“Heiko are you alright?” Fredi asked his flight lead, “You seem to be a little shaky over there. Did you take a hit?”

“By the Shards I’m fine!” Heiko snapped angrily, “Just focus on killing those mercs!”

“Understood Gabel One,” Fredi responded, not convinced of his flight lead’s health.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Snake, it looks like your friend is losing steam,” Techno noted as he fired off a flare to evade the missile Gabel Two fired at him, “Must have been the beans you ate.”

“I tell you that stuff goes right through me,” Snake joked back, “Let’s wrap this up now, Techno. There are still some ships that need burning.”

“I got you,” Techno replied.

Techno and Snake changed course until they were heading directly towards each other. As their planes sped across the sky, Techno turned his plane upside down and pushed the controls forward to keep the plane level. Their pursuers proceeded to follow their example as Gabel Two turned upside down, struggling to keep his plane balanced as it tried to dive prematurely.

As the distance closed in, Snake dove while Techno climbed while his plane was still upside down. Gabel didn’t have time to respond fast enough as the planes went in the opposite direction they thought they were going to go.

The two F-5Es collided with incredible force, erupting in flames while shrapnel flew several hundred feet as the remaining metal tried to fuse with each other as it all plummeted towards the water.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“That’s a confirmed kill for the both of you,” Twilight said happily, “Good work Grabcr. Now get to it!”

“You heard the lady, Techno,” Snake commented as he turned his attention to the Griffon Fleet.

“Well, that’s one more down,” Twilight muttered as she grabbed a stamp from across the plane.

She opened the ‘Winds of Futuro’ file and flipped to Gabel’s section in the file. The stamp made a loud thump as it made its impression, leaving the words: ‘Nullified’ on the squadron’s profile. She flipped one last time to see the third and final pair of highly trained fighters: Schakal.

“And one more to go,” She said thoughtfully as she turned her attention back to the operation.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Sir we lost Gabel!” A Griffon shouted to his Commanding Officer, earning a backhanded slap across the beak.

“I can see that you idiot! That’s another flight from the Winds of Futuro we’ve lost now,” The officer replied coldly, “Patch me through to High Command… immediately!”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“This is Spectrum Strike,” Rainbow Dash said over the radio as she circled around a plume of black smoke coming from another successful bombing run, “The right side of the port has been taken out. We are moving on to the left side now.”

“Understood Spectrum Strike,” Twilight responded, “After you deal with the right side, we can wrap this up.”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Snake saw his target: the stationed Griffon Fleet. It consisted of a few cruisers and frigates but there was a single, large battleship smack dab in the middle of the fleet.

Gunfire and missile alerts greeted the pair as Techno flew close to the water, creating a jet powered wake in the water as a result. He powered past a frigate, keeping his plane as close to the ship as possible.

He essentially deafened every Griffon on board and almost capsized the frigate as it rocked sideways. As the ship rocked back in the attempt to right itself, Snake fired a single AGM to sink the ship.

The missile collided with the side of the ship as it rocked backwards. The force pushed the ship past its tipping point, causing it to successfully capsize and render it useless. As the ship tipped over, the hole Snake’s missile made began to fill up with water, condemning the ship to a watery grave.

“Great job Grabcr,” Twilight said as she chalked up the kill to the squadron’s record, “Let’s see if you can sink them all.”

“Here that?” Snake began to joke, “We have to get the whole set.”

“Now where did I put the bottle? Is this like stamp collecting?” Techno replied cheerfully, earning a small laugh from everypony who heard.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“What?” A Griffon said as his superior officer had debriefed him and his squadron, “Sorry, I must be hearing things. You’re saying Gabel lost to a pair of mercenaries?”

“That is correct,” A Griffon clad in a navy blue uniform replied nonchalantly, “You are to clear out the enemy’s air power from Futuro.”

The Griffon rubbed his temples before letting out a sigh, “Fine. Alright you guys, we’re moving out!”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Everypony, we’re finishing up here on the right side of the canal then we’re heading home,” Rainbow called out as another AA met her plane’s rockets.

“Understood Rainbow,” Twilight responded, “Grabcr, you still have the battleship to take care of.”

“Sorry, this one’s giving us some flak, literally,” Snake replied as he veered of his attack again, “Why do they still use that old tech anyway?”

“They still use it all over the world, Grabcr,” Twilight responded matter-of-factly, “They just update the firing mechanisms and tar-”

“It was rhetorical, Eagle Eye,” Snake interjected.

“Sorry,” Twilight replied sheepishly. Her blush was only visible to the crew aboard the AWACS, “Not one word Thunderlane.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” The grey Pegasus replied with a toothy grin.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“They’re coming around again!” One of the Griffons shouted as Grabcr decided to attack simultaneously from two opposite directions.

“Don’t let them get near the ship!” A decorated officer shouted above the last Griffon, “If they sink this battleship we will lose this canal!”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Snake switched to his XAGM loadout once more as his plane flew towards the ship. The ship was too large for a conventional, direct attack as battleships tend to have far thicker armour than most ships, second only to flagships.

His HUD locked on to the ship’s flak cannons but overestimated his timing and shot past the ship as Techno did the same.

“Techno, I’ll take out the flak and you light ‘em up,” Snake said over the radio as he came around for one last pass at the ship to enact his plan.

“Roger that,” Techno replied as he made sure his plane had selected napalm bombs, “Good thing I read: ‘101 ways to cook chicken.’”

Snake barrelled towards the battleship, trying to avoid the ship’s annoying flak guns. The plane’s systems were trying to lock on to their targets but the constant shifting made it rather challenging. Sadly for the Griffons, Snake ate challenges like this as an after dinner mint.

“Just a little more…” He said as the HUD beeped faster, turning to a single continuous beep as four flak guns were targeted, “Got ya!”

He pressed the trigger out of sheer reflex and the missiles flew from their rails and headed towards their targets.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Incoming!” A Griffon shouted as four smoke trails came towards his position.

He took off into the air after abandoning his flak gun. The missile collided with the gun and detonated the ammo cache nearby, creating a shockwave that knocked the surrounding Griffons across the deck and some fell into the ocean.

The process repeated with three other guns, creating four large holes in the ship’s hull. What the Griffons didn’t see was Techno’s Black Widow coming down towards them, aiming two of his napalm bombs for the holes.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Fire in the hole… s!” Techno joked as he pressed down on thee trigger, releasing one bomb before aiming for another, “Happy birthday! Let me help you light your candle!”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

The two bombs screamed as they fell into the holes. The sheer speed from one of the bombs made it go through a section of the lower deck that got comprised from the earlier explosion before detonating. The other hit the inside of the hull at an angle, ricocheting off it and into the captain’s quarters.

The fire spread fast as Griffons ran or flew about trying to take down Grabcr while trying to put out two fires on two different decks. The crew were split apart as they wrestled with noxious smoke, many were suffering symptoms of smoke inhalation while others were trying to get them to safety.

Griffons were shouting for their comrades as another explosion rocked the ship, knocking Griffons off their feet or out of the air as the rocking motion caused them to hit their heads on the ceiling or the ground. A larger explosion ripped a hole the size of a train engine in the hull on the aft side of the ship. The last thing several Griffons in the bow section saw was the ammo cache catching alight.

The next explosion dwarfed the others as a large portion of the battleship erupted in flame and gunpowder. The ship rocked violently backwards before several sections began to take in water. Many Griffons still moving sought to evacuate, pulling as many wounded comrades with them as several were in no flying shape. The battleship groaned as Grabcr began to circle around, watching as the ship began to sink at a slowly increasing pace.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“This is Grabcr, fleet destroyed. I repeat: the fleet has been destroyed,” Snake said as Grabcr got into formation for the return trip to Cadence’s Heart.

“Understood, the fleet is already through the mouth of the canal. Costner will be commencing by the time you land,” Twilight responded.

Twilight sat back in her chair and sighed, “So much death. Celestia told me to expect it but I still wasn’t pre-” Twilight was cut off as the AWACS’ radar picked up something, “Grabcr! We have an incoming squadron headed your way at high speed! We can not authorise you to return at this time until you take them out!”

“Understood Eagle Eye,” Snake replied as Grabcr turned around to intercept, “Looks like we’re not done yet, my friend.”

“Yeah, they really can’t get enough of us can they?” Techno replied grimly as he checked his IFF.

“Somepony get me this squadron’s files!” Twilight shouted as the two squadrons flew to meet each other in the battle that would soon ensue between them, “Now!”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“We’re too late,” Grun One said monotonously as his flight of F/A-18C Hornets, “They’ve sent us a welcome wagon. Let’s greet them shall we?”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Princess Sparkle!” A Pegasus cried out as he handed Twilight a far thicker dossier than the last one, “I’m afraid I have bad news.”

Twilight didn’t wait to hear what the Pegasus had to say as she wrenched the dossier out of his hooves. As she read, her eyes widened in shock, “Uh, oh. Grabcr listen up! The squadron is the 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Grun. They are from the 10th Air Division and one of the infamous Knights of the Round Table. They are known to be a very flexible squadron, proceed with caution.”

“Understood. They’re a little far from B7R aren’t they?” Snake replied, slightly confused.

“Regardless, Snake you should not treat them lightly,” Twilight warned, “These are ace pilots, some of the best the Griffons have to offer.”

“Got it,” Snake replied once more before looking at Techno’s plane, “Looks like Galm doesn’t get to have all the fun, does it?”

The six planes met in a collision of gunfire as the Hornets tried to gun their opponents down. Snake and Techno broke formation to dodge it and retaliated with their own bullets. Any and all support was already too far away to be of use, leaving Grabcr to fend for themselves.

The four Hornets broke off and began to chase Grabcr across the skies. The pair had to fight a fresh group of aces while Grabcr had exerted themselves to a degree over the course of the relatively short operation. Grun Two was chasing Techno as he chased Grun Four.

Grun One seemed to be trying to fly up Snake’s exhaust as he tried to get a lock-on against Grun Three. Snake veered wildly to the right as Grun One got a missile lock and fired without hesitation. The missile missed but Snake lost his target as a result.

Techno had to change priorities as Grun Two fired a few bullets, scrapping past his plane’s wings and almost taking a piece of his canopy with it. The Widow’s low flying profile at least made him a smaller target.

As the dogfight continued, missile alerts screamed at both sides, all of which missed completely while bullets pelted each other but caused minimal damage at best.

“These guys are good!” Snake shouted as he pulled back on his controls, making his plane climb higher into the air, “Now I know why they are Knights of the Round Table.”

Snake’s plane hit the afterburners and climbed as fast as it possibly could with Grun Two and Three hot on his tail. The two Hornets took turns to play about with Snake as he tried to get away in order to turn the situation around even if it was for a brief moment.

Snake saw bullets fly past him as he silently wondered how Galm was able to deal with pilots like these. Playing a gamble he cut all power to the engines and deployed the speed brakes. Grun Two and Three flew past Snake and were about to veer off to get another pass at him but Snake heard the sweet sound of a missile lock from his systems.

With the trigger pressed, the missile flew from its home on Snake’s wing and sped towards Grun Three. The missile hit home, sending green and tan coloured burning metal flying across the sky. With a grin he turned his plane around, aiming for the water below as the engines powered back up.

“That’s one down Grabcr, keep it up!” Twilight exclaimed happily. Just the one kill lifted her spirits considerably.

“Don’t congratulate us yet we still have a long way to go!” Snake replied as he flew towards Techno’s location as Grun One and Four tried to gun down his Black Widow.

Snake fired off a few rounds into Grun Four as Grun One broke off his attack. The bullets made several indentations in the Hornet’s fuselage but Snake didn’t manage to hit the canopy or cause any noticeable damage. What neither pilot knew was that Snake did manage to puncture a small hole in the Hornet’s combustion chamber.

As the two pilots continued to fly, the hole began to gradually expand and the Hornet was slowly losing power. As it was becoming more lethargic in its movements Snake decided to wait for the sound of a missile lock. The HUD soon answered him as two green boxes intersected each other and turned deep crimson.

The missile Snake fired didn’t need to take out Grun Four as the hole became too large and the plane spontaneously detonated, sending shards of metal flying and making the missile fly past harmlessly.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“We lost Three and Four?” Grun One asked himself incredulously, “How can we be losing to two mercenaries?!”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Techno began to chase Grun Two as Snake took on Grun One. Snake was battling as Grun One did a very decent job of keeping his missile lock off his Hornet.

“Let’s wrap this us Techno. There’s one hell of a celebration waiting for us all once this is over,” Snake said as he tried to gun Grun One down but his target slowed down and instead of overshooting the Hornet, Snake pulled up and climbed.

Snake brought his plane around full circle as Grun One and he were flying towards one another once more. Both pilots had a missile lock on the other as they wanted to see just who was going to fire first. The two planes banked in opposite directions but Grun One failed to notice Techno had stopped pursuing Grun Two to take him out.

Techno unloaded a barrage of bullets upon Grun One, tearing the back of the Hornet apart. Ailerons had their control rods broken, the stabilisers were akin to swiss cheese and the Hornet lost almost all control as it plummeted towards the ground.

Grun Two was now outnumbered as Grabcr had been at the start of the dogfight. He didn’t stand a ghost of a chance this time as Techno’s Widow constantly faded from radar and Snake always seemed to be on his tail feathers.

In the end it was Techno who sealed the Griffon’s fate, ploughing a missile into the canopy with the same precision that brought down the battleship.

The AWACS went alight with cheers, Twilight even kissed Thunderlane on the cheek.

“Does this count as treason?” Thunderlane asked with a raised eyebrow.

Twilight said nothing and blushed furiously as she returned to her seat.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

In the Cadence’s Heart, the bridge also flew into cheers as Spectrum Strike had joined the group inside the diminutive room.

Pinkamena rolled her eyes, “That was it? Please, call me when there is a real complication. I’m going back to my Eagle.”

At that moment Cipher appeared in the bridge, looking rather lost as Pinkamena looked bored.

“Mission accomplished,” The sound of Snake’s voice came over the radio, “It’s your turn Solace.”

Solace nodded his head as he, his flight and Hurricane turned to leave, “Got it, we’re leaving now. Captain…”

Barricade gave a curt nod before shouting into a microphone, “Listen up everypony! We are commencing with Operation Costner! Get to your stations, we are leaving immediately!”

Author's Note

Finally part two of three. Nopony was able to remotely guess that the 'complication' Spitfire mentioned was but I didn't give you all something to go on. Sorry for the wait.

Offensive Campaign No. 4101: Operation Costner

Ace Combat: Shattered Friendships
Offensive Campaign No. 4101: Operation Costner
Author: Draconis187

Amidst the blue skies, a link from past to future. The sheltering wings of the protector...The flames of hatred scorch the skies, igniting Gaia's funeral pyre...

The 3rd Fleet ploughed through the calm waters of the canal as Hurricane and Vampir flew close by to provide close air support. As calm as the scene looked, everypony was on edge. The Griffons had not retaliated yet and that was making Barricade nervous as he stood at his post in the bridge.

“Anything?” He asked, his voice was flat but there was a small noticeable shake in it.

One of the Crystal Ponies shook his head, “No, sir. No contacts have made it into radar range.”

Twilight’s voice came in over the bridge’s radio, “Nothing from my end Barricade but keep your guard up. I fear this is just the calm before the storm.”

“On that we can both agree,” Barricade replied monotonously.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

As the fleet made its way unabated, several Griffons were waiting on an airstrip, near their various aircraft for further orders.

“Do you think they’ll send the golden kid after what happened to Grun?” A Griffon pilot asked his winggriffon.

“I don’t know. It’s possible,” The Griffon replied with a shrug of his shoulders.

Before they could continue their discussion, the sirens blared, “Attention all pilots! The Allied fleet have crossed the halfway mark, intercept them immediately!”

“Well,” The Griffon said with a smirk as he donned his helmet, “Let’s go have pony stew.”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Twilight scanned the radar furiously, not even taking one second to so much as even blink. She was not going to allow herself to get caught with her tiara down.

The universe decided to answer Twilight’s call as the radar lit up in three different directions. She blinked twice to make sure it was not some technical malfunction before hollering at the three squadrons.

“Hurricane, Vampir and Sapphire Strike we have inbound hostiles coming from the northeast, northwest as well as southeast,” Twilight checked the three squadron’s positions before continuing, “Vampir you are closest to the southeast group so intercept them. Hurricane, you take the north-westerly ones while Sapphire Strike takes out the northeast group.”

“Understood Eagle Eye, Hurricane on intercept course,” Soarin replied as his trio of fliers changed course.

“I hear ya, Twilight,” Solace replied with a grin, “I hope that ship has good vodka waiting for us when we get back.”

“Well, Berry Punch always said the Crystal Empire knows how to make quality liquor,” Twilight replied with a small smirk.

“Good enough for me,” Vampir One responded cheerfully.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“This is Schakal One. I am moving to intercept the mercenary unit known as ‘Vampir’,” The Mirage 2000D pilot said as his winggriffon kept close by, “The Allies will pay for their insolence.”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Everypony were waiting on the Cadence’s Heart with baited breath until the fleet broke through the canal… everypony except for two.

“Pass me that bulkhead,” Pinkamena requested as the sounds of hammers and power tools rang through the carrier’s lower deck.

Pinkamena and Cipher were busying themselves by repairing her Eagle. Every so often a pony would come up to check up on them, only to get a callous remark from Pinkamena and subsequently scared off. The two mares otherwise worked in absolute silence.

Cipher could have said a thousand words, she could have taken this opportunity to reveal her identity to the only pony that was the closest thing to a friend that she had ever had. She shook her head, clearing her thoughts as she picked up a blowtorch and continued.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Everypony, don’t waste time with the enemy,” Twilight said as she noticed two more attack groups appear on the radar, “We need you to keep the fleet safe.”

“This is Hurricane One,” Soarin replied, “I copy that Eagle Eye, we’ll keep the dogfighting to a minimum.”

“Solace here, will do Eagle Eye,” Solace replied as Schakal got into range, “Vampir Three help out the Crystal Ponies to the west, looks like they could use another set of hooves.”

“Copy that flight lead,” Vampir Three replied, breaking formation and speeding off towards to help intercept a group of F-4Es.

“Vampir Two, take the one on the left,” Solace ordered as he switched to his XMAA loadout, “I’ll take the right one and remember to keep it short.”

“Copy Vampir One,” Vampir Two responded as the pair of fighters broke formation.

Solace dove as Vampir Two banked to his right. Schakal Two followed Solace while Schakal One chased after Vampir Two. Schakal Two positioned himself behind Solace, trying to get missile lock.

“That’s it,” Solace muttered to himself, “Follow the pretty pony.”

Solace pulled back hard on the flight stick and lowered the throttle. His Flanker seemed to drift in the air as it turned more than what it would normally be able to do. As Solace’s view turned from the open sky to the chasing plane, he pressed down on the trigger.

The missile flew and collided with Schakal Two’s right wing. The plane spun wildly as it lost control, careering towards the ground as the pilot used every curse a Griffon knew before ejecting.

“That’s a kill for me!” Solace cried out enthusiastically as he increased the throttle and turned his plane the right way up.

Vampir Two also bagged Schakal One by pulling off a similar ‘air drift’ manoeuvre. Unlike Solace though, Vampir Two peppered the Mirage with bullets. The pilot saw his canopy drenched in his own blood before the plane flew straight into the ground.

“Bandits down!” Solace cried out triumphantly as he and Vampir Two got into formation to intercept another group of fighter/bombers.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Well… that’s the Winds of Futuro dealt with,” Twilight said to herself as she stamped ‘K.I.A.’ on the two pilots’ profiles.

The file she had with her soon flew across the AWACS, landing on a pile of files of the various squadrons that the Allied Forces had taken out since the successful intercept mission at Valiant Airbase.

“We keep this up and the war will be over by Hearth’s Warming,” She muttered under her breath

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Hurricane was having a tougher time as their targets had split up in an attempt to get at the ships. One F4-4E dove out of the dogfighting and made a beeline to the fleet. It appeared to be clear sailing… until Vampir Three came at the F-4E, using the sun to make it difficult for the Phantom to retaliate.

Vampir Three had finished helping out the Crystal Ponies flight, Sapphire Strike and noticed the straggler heading towards the fleet. Vampir Three fired a full salvo of XMAAs – four in total – as well as a pair of Sidewinders. Thanks to the M.A.R.S. all he had to do was wait for his plane to reload as the six missiles collided with the target. The plane was obliterated in a shower of fire and metal.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Pinkamena and Cipher stood back to admire their hard work had borne fruit. Pinkamena’s Eagle was completely repaired and looked better than ever.

Techno Watt had been watching them work together in absolute silence since he had touched down. Usually he’d be checking his Widow and Snake’s F-16XL to see if there had been any significant damage that needed tending to. The moment he had heard from the maintenance staff that Pinkamena had chased them off, he got curious.

“Wow, you did a really good job,” Techno said as he approached the two mares, “Mind if I take a gander to make sure everything is in order? And maybe make a few improvements?”

Pinkamena walked up to Techno and spoke very slowly, “If you touch my plane with so much as a paperclip, your next of kin will be getting what’s left of you in a doggy bag.”

Techno gulped as Pinkamena’s expression said that not only would she carry through with the threat, she’d do it with a smile on her face.

“Uh, sure. Sorry to have disturbed you,” Techno said as he turned around and left without another word but he did mutter under his breath, “Damn, that mare is insane.”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

The skies began to fill with more attackers, this time they came from every direction with only the fleet in their sights. They didn’t care anymore if they were shot down as all they wanted was to stop the Allied Forces before they could get the necessary momentum required to push through to the Crystal Empire.

As the sky became a battlezone filled with the sound of jet engines, gunfire and the sound of exploding missiles and planes, a few managed to slip past and fire a shot at one of the cruisers before Vampir Squadron shot them down.

Three LAGM missiles flew towards the Amethyst Assailant and impacted against the side of the ship. The cruiser took the attack badly as fire spread through the lower decks, causing massive panic and disorder among the ranks.

Crystal Ponies evacuated the wounded to the lifeboats while the healthy ones jumped off into the canal. They swam over to the nearest ship as Pegasi and Unicorn rescuers made their way to the ship to aid in the evacuation.

It didn’t take too long for the ship to finally sink but the death toll of the attack was 56, too many in many ponies’ eyes.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Damn it!” Barricade cursed as he saw the last of the ship sink into the canal’s depths, “Listen up pilots! Not one more ship is being sunk today, do you understand me?!”

“Understood sir!” Sapphire One responded.

The rest of the mare’s flight gave their affirmatives as they steeled their resolve and it began to show as their tactics became far more aggressive.

“Right, let’s wrap up this party everypony!” Solace cried out as a full barrage of XMAAs and Sidewinders flew from his Flanker’s wings, connecting with three separate targets and destroying them with extreme prejudice.

“Oh yeah! Turn and burn!” Vampir Two shouted in glee as he bagged two kills with a barrage of his own, “We’ll have this wrapped up in no time!”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Twilight laid back in her seat with a relieved sigh. If everything continued to progress like they currently were, the fleet won’t have to worry about another loss.

“You alright back there?” Thunderlane asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just that this war is going to give me grey hairs,” Twilight joked.

“Well I guess it comes with your occupation,” Thunderlane replied with a snigger, “Would you rather trade places with one of the other Princesses?”

“N-” Twilight was interrupted as the long range radar lit up like it was Hearth’s Warming, “- what in Equestria?!”

Her eyes shrunk to pinpricks in shock as she gazed at the radar, “Everypony! I read multiple contacts inbound!”

“Where from?” Solace asked.

“Everywhere!” Twilight shouted, “I read at least a dozen squadrons coming in from everywhere! This just may be the Griffons’ last try so make sure that the fleet does not make it through!”

“You got it, Twilight. You heard the mare, let’s get moving,” Solace replied as his squadron split up to deal with several contacts to the east and southeast.

Soon the skies became centre stage for everypony’s attention as the small, loud dots in the sky shot at each other in an attempt to get past or stop them. The ponies on the decks kept their hooves on their AA triggers and kept an eye out for any plane that could be getting too close. They silently refused to themselves to allow the ship they were on to end up like the Assailant.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

As Solace closed the gap between himself and his targets, they turned around and began to flee. Deciding to chase them down, the distance between him and the fleet began to worryingly increase. Sadly Solace was too caught up trying to get a missile lock that he failed to notice four blips appear on the edge of the radar.

Four grey Typhoons with red markings on the nose and part of the canopy section came towards Solace at high speed. Their sights were set on the lone Su-27.

“Solace, it’s a trap! Get out of there!” Twilight shouted as she turned her attention to the others in the AWACS, “Find out who they are right now!”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Solace closed the throttle and banked hard enough to make the pilot near blackout from the resulting g-forces. His Flanker gave off warnings that he was pushing it too hard but they were silenced as he levelled off and made a beeline back to the fleet.

“Time to hunt some wild dogs,” Rot One said with a sneer as his squadron closed in on Solace.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Solace’s plane lit up red as the sound of a missile alert made the hair on the back of his neck stand up on end. He pulled back on the flight stick as hard as he could, the force of the rapid change in angle threatened to tear the stick straight from its socket as the plane violently lurched upwards.

The missile flew past Solace but not before the missile’s fin nipped the right elevator. Luckily the missile did not detonate and it carried on past the Flanker. The damage to the elevator was negligible.

“Well that was too close for comfort,” Solace commented as he levelled his plane off again and carried on across the arid area.

“We’ve got your back, Solace!” Vampir Two shouted as he and Vampir Three locked onto Rot Four and Two and fired off a missile each.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Rot One noticed Vampir Two and Three’s entrance and scowled, “Looks like this rat wasn’t alone. Take them all down.”

“Yes sir,” Each member of Rot replied as the squadron broke formation to engage Vampir.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Princess, I found out who the squadron is! You aren’t going to like it,” One of the technicians said with a worried expression on his face.

“Who?” Twilight asked.

“Rot, ma’am. Rot Squadron, one of the Knights of the Round Table,” The pony replied nervously.

The colour left Twilight’s face as she swallowed hard, “Buck.”

Twilight hung her head a bit and closed her eyes. Many thoughts were running through her head. Why did the Griffons send Grun and now Rot to defend a canal instead of B7R? The Red Swallow had a clear disdain for mercenaries and was still young but his short career was that of a decorated veteran. Did Vampir stand a chance? Would they be able to adapt to the aces and take them down?

Twilight opened her eyes and swung around on her chair to bring her attention to the screens before her, “Vampir, listen up! Those four Typhoons are Rot Squadron. They are one of the Knights of the Round Table.”

“Wow, we are really getting their attention aren’t we?” Solace replied in a surprised tone.

“I just wished that you wouldn’t have to fight them so soon and so far from B7R, Solace,” Twilight responded.

“No problem, Twilight. We’ll take care of them while the others keep the fleet safe,” Solace said reassuringly.

“Good luck Vampir. And one last thing: the leader hates mercenaries,” Twilight warned.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Solace banked hard to the right as his wingponies came in from the west. The three Flankers each set off after a different Typhoon. Vampir may have still been outnumbered but their chances were far better than Galm’s or Grabcr’s since they had three planes and not two.

Vampir Three chased Rot Four with a passion as it tried to dodge his bullets. The Typhoon banked hard to the left with Vampir Three not too far behind. Vampir Two was being targeted by Rot One while Solace tried to get Rot Two and Three off his six.

“I guess this is why they’re aces!” Solace commented as a spray of rounds flew past his canopy, scratching the paint in the process, “Well, it needed a new coat of paint anyway.”

Solace opened up the throttle to maximum, baiting the two Typhoons behind him to do the same. Rot Two followed Solace while Rot Three switched targets.

Solace closed the throttle and pulled back on the controls as hard as he could. Once again his body warned him of the g-forces he was pulling as his vision began to fade slightly as the plane pulled a 360° loop. Rot Two flew straight past Solace and banked hard to the left. Solace’s HUD lit up and rang with the single monotonous chime he loved so much.

“Good…” Solace pulled the trigger, firing the missile and sending Rot Two to shake claws with his maker, “… bye.”

“Target down! Good work Solace!” Twilight shouted happily.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“We just lost Rot Two!” Rot Three shouted angrily as he pelted Vampir Two with bullets, tearing into the right rear rudder of his Flanker.

“Low-life mercenaries!” Rot One snarled as his HUD chimed a missile lock on Vampir Two, “Eat this!”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Vampir Two banked right and pulled off a drifting manoeuvre to try and avoid Rot One’s missile. The missile flew straight past Vampir Two’s canopy, mere inches from the glass before it flew past the plane harmlessly where it would finally run out of fuel and crash to the ground below.

“They’re tearing my rudder apart!” Vampir Two shouted as his plane was becoming a little less responsive.

“I got you Vampir Two!” Solace called out reassuringly as he came down at Rot Three, firing a barrage of bullets as his attack was blocked thanks to the sun behind him.

The rounds pierced the rail of one of Rot Three’s missiles and sent a spark down the electrical line which armed the aforementioned missile. The next few rounds pierced the missile’s casing and detonated it, taking the whole wing off and sending Rot Three spinning out of control.

Vampir Three fired off the last of his XMAAs at Rot Four. The Typhoon dodged the first one as it nearly clipped his right canard. The second missile collided with the left delta wing and the other two added insult to injury as they made sure what was left of him would be sent back in a matchbox.

Rot One was left behind and with Vampir One and Three on his heels, he closed the throttle to allow his pursuers to slingshot past him. It worked as the two Flankers flew straight past but as Rot was about to try and get a lock, the two drifted in opposite directions as Vampir Two came from below.

Vampir Two’s right rudder had fallen off not too long after it had been turned to swiss-cheese but his elevators and ailerons worked perfectly as his rounds hit the passing Typhoon underside, ripping it apart before the fuel got punctured and exploded within milliseconds.

The Typhoon lurched upwards as it spun along the vertical axis. As Vampir made their way back to the fleet, Solace noticed a small dot jettison away from the plane before it finally fell to the ground with a crash.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“We lost Rot?” One of the attacking planes asked in utter bewilderment.

“That’s two ace squadrons in the past few hours sir! And the Winds are also among the casualties,” Another pilot replied.

“Argh, sound the retreat. We’ve lost Futuro,” The pilot replied as he turned his plane around, “This war is far from over and this was just one skirmish.”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Everypony, the planes are turning around! They’re retreating!” Soarin said with a cheer, “Hah! We’ve won! We’ve taken the canal!”

Twilight sat back in her seat and turned her attention to Thunderlane, “Let’s land Thunderlane. It’s been one long day.”

Thunderlane smirked, “Understood ma’am. I fear it’s going to be the first of many.”

“I can’t argue with you there,” Twilight responded as she closed her eyes, “Vampir, Hurricane and Sapphire Strike, time to head to the Cadence’s Heart for some R&R. You’ve all earned it.”

“Oh yeah! Time to drink till Celestia raises the moon!” Solace shouted loudly as Vampir got into formation as they lined up to land on the carrier.

“Celestia doesn’t raise the moon, Solace. Luna does,” Soarin replied.

“That’s the point, Soarin,” Twilight remarked, her body still laid back on the chair.

“Oh, ok. Now I get it,” Soarin replied. He felt like an idiot as the other pilots shared a laugh at his expense.

“Thank you everypony,” Barricade said with a slight tone of happiness in his voice, “Thanks to you, we are now one step closer to freeing the Crystal Empire. Good job.”

**** **** **** ****

The sun had begun to set on the canal as the fleet had already crossed its waters and made its way to the Crystal Empire’s outlaying territories. The wind was cool as it gently breezed across the deck while the various crew members went about their business.

Cipher stood at the end of the catapult system, staring at the wide open waters as the carrier bobbed up and down. Her eyes were closed as she contemplated on the events of earlier that day. The Winds of Futuro, Grun Squadron intercepting Grabcr and Rot ambushing Vampir were her chief concerns.

‘What does all this mean?’ She thought to herself, ‘B7R is miles away from here. Are the Griffons growing that desperate so early into this counterattack? Are they that scared of these ponies?’

She sighed, ‘Whatever has them so riled up is pushing them into making fatal mistakes on their part. This war tipped in the ponies’ favour the moment we repelled the bombing on Valiant.’

She took one last gaze at the see as the sun almost vanished across the horizon, making it appear as if the waters were on fire. Cipher shed a small tear as she recalled a memory of the previous moment she saw such a sight and walked back into the carrier. Whatever the Griffons were going to throw at them… Cipher was confident that she and the mercenaries she flew with would be able to stop them.

Author's Note

Well here's the last of the three part campaign and now we are back to the Downtimes! I will either be doing the next Downtime or the first set of interviews with Grabcr, Vampir, Pinkamena and the three squadrons: Indigo, Grun and Rot. Till the next update, see ya!

Downtime: Reminiscing and Reflecting

Ace Combat: Shattered Friendships
Downtime: Reminiscing and Reflecting
Author: Draconis187

Pinkamena sat in Blinkie’s Manehattan apartment, slowly sipping cocoa as the rain pelted the windows. Pinkamena sighed contentedly as the drink warmed her from the inside. Her flat mane obscured the one side of her face and she made zero effort to change it, feeling little need to do so.

“Thanks, Blinkie. The cocoa is delicious,” Pinkamena said before taking another small sip.

Blinkie gave a small chuckle and smiled, moving the bang of her grey mane behind her ear, “Still not as good as you make it, Pinkie.”

Pinkamena frowned slightly, “I’m not going by that anymore, Blinkie. I told you when I came here. It’s Pinkamena.”

“You’re still Pinkie to Inkie and I,” Blinkie joked, giving her sister a mischievous grin.

Pinkamena ignored it, “How is she?”

“It’s not easy working that farm on your own. We barely managed with Ma and Pa when we were fillies. She’s clearly struggling to make ends meet but she turns down al my attempts to help out,” Blinkie replied sombrely.

Pinkamena softly chuckled, “That’s Inkie for you. She was always as hard to sway as a boulder.”

“Yeah…” Blinkie looked out the window, sat next to Pinkamena on her couch with a mug of her own cocoa in hoof. “Are you sure about leaving your friends behind?”

Pinkamena nodded, “It’s about time I grew up, Blinks. I can’t throw parties and life under somepony else’s roof for the rest of my life. The Cakes were great and all but they have their own problems raising Pound and Pumpkin Cake.”

Blinkie looked at her sister with a sad expression as a flash of lightning lit up the sky, “It was a good run though.”

“Yeah it was,” Pinkamena replied with a small grin, looking down at her mug. Her face reflected off the brown surface as she took another sip. The thunder finally followed the lightning, the shockwave reverberating through the apartment.

“Any idea about what you want to do now? I could always do with an assistant at my office,” Blinkie offered, “It does get a little hectic from time to time and Tartarus knows I need the help.”

Pinkamena shook her head, “I don’t think being a private investigator would suit me, Blinkie. I need to be free, not stuck in four walls, filing paperwork.”

Blinkie chuckled, “There’s the Pinkie I know. Too free for a stick in the mud like me.”

“That isn-” Pinkamena stopped as Blinkie’s hoof shut her mouth for her, covering her mouth.

“I know, Pinkie. I’m just trying to cheer you up,” Blinkie said, removing her hoof.

Pinkamena grinned as she finished her cocoa. Two thoughts went through her mind at that moment. One was how much cocoa it would take to fly her to the moon through the sugar rush and, “You know I was thinking… aircraft.”

**** **** **** ****

Baltimare was sweltering hot as the weather team had overdone the previous week’s rainfall and decided a few good days of sunshine would do the city wonders. Chrysalis hated the smell of the salty air as she walked along the piers.

She hated it but had little choice. She was the only Changeling for miles as the air burned their noses for some odd reason. Chrysalis was tougher than the drones of her hive so the effect was more of a minor case of the sniffles every once in a while. It was still annoying though.

She sat on the edge of the pier, watching ships go by. Her disguise was that of a unicorn, the similar to the one she was using in the present day except her coat was light beige. Ponies walked or flew by, ignoring her as they got in and out of the moored ships as they went about their day to day lives.

Chrysalis lost everything she loved. Her subjects were her life, her purpose and now… it was gone. What was one to do when the thing they were groomed for since birth was suddenly taken from them? How can one pick up the pieces and carry on? Was it possible to have more than one purpose in life?

The unknown scared her somewhat. She tried to think of something, anything that could get her to stop herself from breaking into tears. When nothing came, the waterworks did instead. She was never one for showing her emotions, it showed she was weak but she didn’t care right then. She had nopony to be strong for anymore.

A few tears fell onto the wooden pier as she silently sobbed, getting a few odd looks from passers-by. If she had been in Ponyville, they would have asked what was wrong but in the cities… they didn’t care enough.

They were too busy to give her more than a sympathetic look. The minutes soon turned to hours as she sat there, immobile and sobbing softly.

As the sun set in front of her, a loud noise came into her audio range. Chrysalis’ subconscious chose to make her ignore it, preferring to wallow in self-pity. It wasn’t until the noise became a deafening roar as the source flew overhead, heading towards the sunset at breakneck speed.

She at it and saw a Wonderbolt Gripen flying towards the sunset, as if chasing it away. The fur on her body stood on end as the plane became nothing more than a dark silhouette in the horizon, the roar of the engine dying as the distance increased with each passing second.

It wasn’t until the air show the next day, when she saw the acrobatic moves of the planes as they streaked and crisscrossed the sky… that she smiled. Her new purpose… was looking down at her from the sky on wings of steel.

**** **** **** ****

Pinkamena opened her eyes and looked around. She was in a bunk bed inside the Cadence’s Heart as it made its way with the rest of the Allied Fleet. It had just been a day since Campaign No. 4101 was a success. She laid her head back on her pillow and let out a long sigh.

Her muscles were sore from working on her plane so quickly after touching down. While she usually cared little for it, she was slightly pleased over the fact that Cipher helped her. She couldn’t explain it, she truly considered gutting the maintenance staff if they touched her plane and yet she was fine letting her flight lead assist.

“You’re a hypocrite, Pinkamena,” She berated herself under her breath.

She lay under the thin covers of her bunk for a few minutes before getting up. As she opened her door, she saw Dash walk past her.

“Oh hey, Pinkamena. What’s up?” Dash greeted with a confident grin on her face.

Pinkamena gazed at her for a few seconds and muttered, “You really haven’t changed much, have you?”

“What’s that?” Dash asked as she didn’t hear her former friend.

“Oh, nothing. I’m fine, Dash. Off to get cleaned?” Pinkamena asked.

“Nah, they don’t have my brush here. Twi’s wanting to head back to Valiant as soon as possible,” Dash said, waving her foreleg in the air, “As soon as we’re done having breakfast, we’re gearing up.”

Pinkamena raised an eyebrow, “Really? I thought we were going to use this ship as a springboard into the Crystal Empire.”

Dash shook her head, “Nope. She figured that having us all in one location was dangerous. If we lost the ship, we would lose rather quickly. She figured rather have us stay at Valiant and launch from there with a tanker if we weren’t going to make the trip on our own. It is quite the strategic point after all.”

Pinkamena rolled her eyes, “You just care about your room don’t you?”

Dash looked at her with shock, “Do you think I’m really that shallow?”

“Yes,” Pinkamena deadpanned.

“Fine. Yes, I want my bed and my stuff. Is that so wrong?” Dash said.

Pinkamena gave a rather cruel sounding chuckle, “Same old Dash.”

As Pinkamena went back inside to don her flight suit, Dash walked off down the hall. “I really wish I could say the same about you, Pinks.”

**** **** **** ****

Cipher got up from bed, groaning loudly. Mornings were as bad as Mondays and Monday mornings were worse. Her eyelids fluttered a little as her eyes adjusted to the light. Even after so many years she was still not entirely used to the bright light greeting her when she woke.

Her thoughts wandered to her dream. Why did she think of it and why now of all times? Was her subconscious trying to tell her something or was she just trying to find a reason behind something that could be a pure random event?

She donned her flight suit and helmet after checking her disguise was in order. She opened the door of her solitary room before looking for the mess hall for sustenance.

**** **** **** ****

The mess hall was filled with rowdy conversation as Solace and Techno were joking around with each other. Snake also shared a few laughs with them until Cipher entered the hall. The two mercenary squadrons as well as the rest of the crew eating nearby went silent for a few seconds. It was so quiet they could hear a pin drop.

Cipher surveyed the room through her helmet, her breaths audible to those nearby. Solace looked at them all and laughed heartily.

“Here’s the mare that made this all possible!” He shouted with glee, “Come sit and be merry! Take the helmet off too! Please?”

Cipher groaned at the latest attempt at getting her to remove her helmet. At least he asked nicely, though it didn’t help in the slightest. It was a wonder nopony had tried before to simply remove it. Then again if they tried, they’d get a hoof in the face.

Cipher ignored the stares she got as she walked through the mess hall and collected some food by the kitchen counter, using the her sickly green magic to levitate it next to her. As she walked back towards the way she came in, the Crystal Ponies were murmuring, voicing their varying opinions under their collective breaths.

While Cipher might not have cared for it, her fellow mercenaries did. Some were whispering a few unsavoury comments to his comrades. Solace walked up to one of the maintenance crew members and glared at him.

“So she doesn’t eat with the rest of us, is there something wrong with that?!” He curtly spat.

“W-well… you have to admit it is unusual,” The Crystal Pony replied, shaking a little from how quickly Solace’s mood flipped on its head.

“I found it rather strange myself when I first saw her take food and leave to go to her room but that’s how she operates,” Solace said, breathing heavily as he tried to restrain his anger. A smile soon split across his face, “I’ll find out why when I finally get to see the face under that helmet.”

Snake chuckled, “You’re never going to give that up are you?”

Solace laughed, “Not until I succeed, Snake. Not until I succeed.”

**** **** **** ****

Twilight stood on the deck of the aircraft carrier a little later in the morning, smiling as she spoke with Barricade. The captain chuckled as they spoke, oblivious to the situation the pair of them were in with regards to the war.

“So, you’re all set then to head back?” Barricade said with a small smile.

Twilight nodded, “Thanks for putting up with us for the night and using the carrier, Barricade.”

Barricade laughed and gave Twilight a playful swipe with his hoof, accidentally knocking her off her hooves, “Whoops. I guess I don’t know my own strength.”

Twilight’s mane was messed up a little as she stood up again, “Oh, i-it’s no trouble just… be careful next time. Earth Pony endurance after all.”

“I will. I’m sure we’ll see each other again, Princess Sparkle. Good luck to you and your group,” Barricade said as Eagle Eye was brought up to the carrier’s catapult.

“Preferably when this war is over, at a celebratory feast for us all. Farewell, Barricade. Till next we meet,” Twilight waved as she walked up to the AWACS and boarded.

The crew were all ready and waiting for her to get on before commencing with final pre-flight checks. Thunderlane chuckled as he saw Twilight sit down.

“What is it, Thunderlane?” Twilight said with a sigh.

“Got a crush on the Crystal Pony Captain, Miss Sparkle?” He said with a grin.

Twilight immediately facehoofed, giving herself a black eye in the process, “No Thunderlane. Now get us back to Valiant.”

Thunderlane chuckled and looked forward, “As you wish, Princess.”

Cipher’s F-15 was attached to the catapult once Thunderlane finally got launched off the deck. She gave her plane a final check as it went up the elevator earlier and waited before getting onto the deck. As she received clearance and a goodbye, something struck her as rather peculiar.

The ship’s crew were standing nearby, saluting her. Some too busy to drop everything looked on from their posts, saluting as well. Cipher couldn’t understand it. She played a simple part of three other squadrons and yet they were treating her differently to them. She couldn’t tell if she should be happy or concerned about it.

Soon her Eagle roared to life as she increased the throttle and got slung off the deck of the carrier like a missile. Her body lurched backwards from the sudden increase in speed, making her somewhat squash against her seat before pulling up to cruising altitude.

She was soon joined by Pinkamena, Grabcr, Vampir and the Wonderbolts and began to take formation. Galm took point in front of Eagle Eye, Grabcr flew on Eagle Eye’s starboard side with Vampir on the port side. The Wonderbolts flew in a reverse wedge formation behind the AWACS.

**** **** **** ****

Aloe smiled as the rest of the crew inside Valiant Base Control Tower cheered at the successful return of their charges, even more so due to the fact they suffered no losses. Maintenance crews got ready to assist any repairs needed to be done on the squadrons as their power tools were warmed up and prepped like a racing team’s pit crew, anxious to get to work and gape in awe of whatever battle scars adorned the planes.

The mercenaries and the Wonderbolts broke formation and got in line to land in order: Eagle Eye, the Wonderbolts, Galm, Grabcr and finally Vampir. Tires screeched as the brakes of their planes engaged, kicking up smoke as the planes halted. One by one, the squadrons landed and taxied to their respective hangars. Most were glad to be where they considered being home.

As Cipher parked her Eagle in her hangar, she laid back in her seat and let out a sigh. There was much still to be done in this war and they all knew it. But she knew one thing: the Griffons were now worried and for good reason. Their operations have been highly successful thus far, lifting the spirits of the two supporting nations in their bid to turn the tide of war on its head.

But it was going to cause a problem. The more they succeed in their counter attack, the more desperate the Griffons will get. A desperate opponent can be both dangerous and unpredictable.

The mess hall became the centre point of celebrations once more as Solace opened up his alcohol reserves. Pilots, air traffic controllers, maintenance crews and even Princess Twilight sat around several tables, drinking merrily. Laughter and exaggerated boasting filled the room while a few were not so merry.

Pinkamena continued to sit on her own, combat knife impaled in the table nearby should anypony try something to get her to join the festivities. Her flight lead, Cipher laid on her bed in her own section of the barracks.

The former queen chuckled softly to herself as she wondered what would have happened had she not been exiled. Attack again but more openly? Convince the Griffons to help and cause a war on two fronts?

She shook her head. What happened in the past stays in the past. One couldn’t try to cling onto it and hope the present was nothing more than a bad dream. It didn’t mean she had to like it though.

**** **** **** ****

There were another two ponies that were not in the mess hall at the moment: Grabcr Squadron. Techno and Snake were going over their planes again, making idle chat with each other and a few of the less alcohol inclined maintenance crew.

“I’d hate to eat this Swiss Cheese,” Techno chuckled, trying to diffuse the slight tension in the hangar as he looked at his Black Widow’s bullet holes.

“Techno…” Snake started but he saw his friend sigh deeply.

“I know… We were lucky. Celestia damned lucky,” Techno said, “If we were at the Round Table, things may have gone differently.”

“We’ll replace whatever parts are too far gone and repair what can be saved. They’ll be as good as new,” Quick Fix said with a grin.

“Be good to them but I’ll do my own inspection tomorrow. For now, I still need to rest. That catapult is murder on one’s back,” Techno said with a small smile.

“At least we get paid for this,” Snake said as he and Techno Watt left the hangar. The sound of power tools and the glow of welding rods filled the hangar behind them.

“And praise Celestia for that,” Techno said cheerfully.

**** **** **** ****

Rainbow Dash took off her flight suit. The thing smelt of her sweat, the heat of the flight back as well as the previous day’s operation compounded on her coat’s condition. Good thing she had more than just one suit.

A knock came from Dash’s door. Three quick knocks with one more after a two second delay. She didn’t even look at it as she shifted her gaze across her room, “It’s open.”

Her door opened with a creak and two ponies entered. It was Spitfire and Soarin, out of uniform. The pair of them sat near the door after they entered the room.

Dash could tell it was them by the way they breathed and the way Spitfire knocked. They proposed a code between her and the two a few weeks after Dash was made captain. She was apprehensive for the need to have such a code at first but in the end found it to be useful.

The three quick knocks and the fourth delayed one indicated a casual conversation. Most times it was the pair of them as Soarin and Spitfire were the highest ranking Wonderbolts even before Dash was inaugurated into the captaincy. The truth was that the code was developed when Spitfire was still captain.

Dash’s eyes stopped as she found what she was looking for in her showcase. Next to the picture of herself, Spitfire, Soarin and the Wonderbolts at her inauguration ceremony was the one taken just after Twilight’s coronation. The happy faces of her friends and the Princesses brought a tear to her eye.

“Can I help you two?” Dash said slowly as she picked the picture out of the showcase.

“If this is a bad time, Dash we can come back later,” Spitfire said.

“Nah, it’s fine. What’s eating you?” Dash said with a small smile, picture still in hoof.

“We were just a little worried about you when you just went to the barracks. Usually you’d be with Solace and the others, challenging them to a drinking contest. Is there something wrong?” Soarin said this time, concern written into every line of his furrowed brow.

Dash didn’t respond for a few moments and brought the picture into their view, “This is the Pinkie Pie I knew.”

The pink mare was hard to miss. The smile she had gave off a fair amount of glare from the sunlight from that day. Luckily it was not enough to obscure the subject. There was not one sad face that day, nothing but smiles all around and a bright outlook to the future.

“Happy-go-lucky, random and so hard to make frown it was almost impossible,” Dash said with a frown, “It’s just hard to wrap my head around the fact she’s… not there anymore. You heard her over the radio, she was… sadistic.”

“Dash… heartbreak does things to ponies. Things that we would least expect most of the time,” Spitfire said sombrely, “Most turn to drink or gambling for relief. She found it in… forcing her pain onto others in order to escape it.”

“And her meeting Twilight again made her remember that day. And the promise she broke,” Dash said turning around and placing the picture back.

“I thought if she apologised, she would be forgiven,” Soarin said.

Dash shook her head, “Doubtful that would work anymore. That was the old Pinkie. This newer one is most likely not so forgiving. Let’s go and get that drink. I’ve had enough depressing thoughts for one day.”

**** **** **** ****

Twilight walked through the base after having a small drink. She still had to pay the mercenaries and she would not forgive herself if she failed to complete her task. Then she could go and get thoroughly plastered. The base was mostly quiet, save for the sounds of Grabcr Squadron’s planes being worked on and the noise from the mess hall behind her.

Twilight was running through so many scenarios in her head, trying to figure out a way to talk to Pinkamena. She needed to show her old friend she was sorry for what she did but every scenario ended up with her either being rejected or with Pinkamena’s combat knife lodged into her body somewhere.

“Maybe I’m over-thinking this,” She muttered to herself as she entered Cipher’s section of the barracks, “I’m sure she’ll accept it and we can be friends again like nothing ever happened. That sure sounds like something she’d do. It is random enough.”

Knowing Cipher’s preference for privacy, Twilight slid the mysterious mare’s pay under her door and swiftly left. Her thoughts quickly turned to Cipher. Twilight was not sure what to make of her.

She was a good pilot, of that there was no doubt at all. What did unnerve her was the mare’s constant desire to shut herself off from the rest of the world. Twilight wondered if she wasn’t horribly disfigured and that was the reason she refused to remove the helmet. Perhaps she was simply a social shut-in?

Regardless of Galm’s strange members, Twilight knew that Equestria would need them and the other mercenaries. Now more than ever.

Author's Note

Right, here's the next Downtime. Next shall be the start of the Interview section. It will be more dialogue heavy and from first point perspective.

Interview One

Ace Combat: Shattered Friendships
Interview One
Author: Draconis187

Near a disputed border

*CLICK*

“Thank you for agreeing to this interview, Miss Pie. I know that given your situation with regards to my particular line of questioning could be… difficult for you.”

“No problem, Fine Print. I can spare some time since the border’s been relatively quiet these past few days. Want a cupcake?”

“No thanks…”

My name is Fine Print. I am a Crystal Pony working in the local library. Ten years ago my homeland and our neighbour: Equestria were engulfed in a war that scarred both sides. In our history books it was called the ‘War of the Winds.’ I was just a young colt at the time so I barely understood what was going on at the time.

My parents tried their best to explain to me it was not the ghost of King Sombra that was trying to get revenge from beyond the grave. It was a hard thing to do when bombs were falling around us in one of the outlying districts of the Empire where our family had lived for five generations.

When I finally grew up I went into the library and part timed as a freelance journalist. It wasn’t until recently that certain documents were declassified. The documents of the war had finally been brought into the public eye after ten years of silence. I was amongst the first to get my hooves on them.

As I read, something kept popping up. Two terms to be exact that were used for a single pilot: The Demon Lord and Cipher. All the parts I tried to read about this mare were blacked out, restricting my knowledge about this mysterious mare. She had almost nothing in her records, save for her kill record and her term of service which was a few short months.

So with my nagging curiosity and my voice recorder, I decided I would find out the truth from more reliable sources on both sides of the war. Pinkamena Diane Pie is one such mare.

“It was a cold and snowy day…”

Valiant Airbase
The Snake of the skies

Snake, a Pegasus and flight lead of Grabcr Squadron had settled with flying for Equestria since the end of the war with Techno Watt. They had since lived rather peaceful lives as they help perform at airshows with the Wonderbolts nowadays and raise their families.

*CLICK*

“Thanks again Snake for helping me out with this.”

“It’s alright. What did you want to talk about? It sounded rather important when you sent me that message.”

“Well it is to me. I wanted to know more about a certain pilot during the war ten years ago.”

“Cipher? Yeah… she was a strange mare I’d give her that but her piloting skills were second to none.”

“What was your first impression of her?”

I swear these ponies keep smiling every time I mention her name. What is it about this mare that drives such a reaction from them?

“I wasn’t sure what to think. She never took that helmet of hers off so it was impossible to read her expressions. All I knew was that she was a unicorn.”

“Thanks.”

*CLICK*

Valiant Airbase
Technical issues

*CLICK*

“Your name is Techno Watt, correct?”

“That’s right. What did you want to speak to me about? I hear you’re going all over the base for some odd reason.”

Some odd reason? I was sure I had made my purpose on this base pretty clear when Techno came past after I finished my short interview with Snake.

“I am trying to find out more about Cipher and I was hoping you would share your opinion.”

“Hm… alright. When I first met the mare, I thought she was a bit stuck up. After all we never saw her actual face. Even the Wonderbolts and Pinkamena were seen out of those flight suits but she seemed to live in it. Despite that, she never seemed to act stuck up… more along the lines of isolated. It was a little sad.”

*CLICK*

Valiant Airbase
A Solace Everlasting

*CLICK*

“I hear you are known as Everlasting Solace. You were the lead of Vampir before joining the Equestrian Air Force at the end of the war with Grabcr Squadron.”

“That’s right. Got fed up with flying for looking for the next war and my next paycheck so I stuck around, moved the family close by so now we’re always never too far from each other.”

More grinning but I heard he’s usually quite cheerful so maybe it’s just his disposition.

“That’s good to hear. May I ask about Cipher?”

“Ah… Cipher. I had been trying since I met her to get that helmet off her. She was so mysterious and I just had to know who it was under the helmet.”

“Did you?”

“…”

*CLICK*

Lichtenburg, the Griffon Empire
A Griffon who upholds honour

Dimitri Heinreich was the first of the aces I planned to interview and was the flight lead of Indigo Squadron. They met Galm above B7R before Offensive Campaign No. 4101 began. Dimitri was left in a coma, waking up three months later and had since left the Griffon Air Force.

*CLICK*

“Mr. Heinreich, thank you for allocating some time for me to interview you. I know your business can be a little… hectic from time to time.”

“Granted running the family business fills up my calendar but I find I can make time should I need to. You are here as a reporter or something to that effect, yes?”

“Correct. I’ve been interviewing some pilots who had been flying during the war ten years ago. I’m looking for some insight into the mare called Cipher.”

Dimitri just chuckled. Did I say something funny perhaps?

“Back then she was still inexperienced. The Round Table had made easy meals of most pilots but then… she didn’t seem to be like most pilots. I was rather… confused to say the least when my squadron received an intercept mission into B7R. Our stationed forces were having trouble downing two simple mercenaries.

“Of course I decided there and then to end them, put them out of their misery before the war scarred them for life. It was the merciful and noble thing to do. As we fought I found out something about her, she hesitated once before taking the kill, which ended one of my squad mates. It was a sign of weakness, one that could have been easily exploited but I had failed my mission.”

*CLICK*

University of Dinsmark
A pilot that lives by pride

Detlef Fleisher was a young Griffon with great potential during the war. He became their poster boy, a shining symbol for all young pilots and a role model they could aspire to become. Now he works as a historical professor at the University of Dinsmark.

*CLICK*

“Mr. Fleisher, your office is a lot tidier than expected.”

“Haha, not all university professors live like pigs, Mr. Fine Print.”

“May you tell me about your standing on the war? I read you were not shot down in B7R bu-”

“But in the skies above the Futuro Canal? Yes, I was. I faced Vampir Squadron as the Allied Fleet made its way through the Canal after two successful attacks on both sides of the Canal just minutes ago.

“Back then I was bursting with pride. I would have flown into Tartarus for my country if it meant keeping invaders off our soil and out of our skies. That day I received the order to intercept and take down their air power… I became angry.

“I fear my rage had – looking back at that day – clouded my judgement and allowed me to get shot down along with the rest of my squadron. Either way… I was shot down and the Allied Forces defiled Futuro Canal.”

*CLICK*

A diner in Sudentor, the Griffon Empire
The Strategist

Bernard Schmidt was known to have the eyes of an owl during his time as a pilot. He could quickly analyse a situation and create at least two separate strategies to deal with them. He returned to his hometown shortly after the war had ended.

*CLICK*

“Try the meat, they make the best veal in the Empire.”

Do Griffons do this on purpose? Don’t they realise we ponies don’t eat any meat?

“Um… no thanks. I prefer vegetarian.”

“Suit yourself. Let me just finish this and we can start.”

I swear Griffons have no table manners. That… food is going everywhere but into his beak. Please let this interview be short, Crystal Heart willing.

“So, you wanna know about me ten years ago, right? When I flew for the Empire?”

“Yes I do. You were involved in the Allied Forces’ Campaign No. 4101, correct?”

“That’s right. Me and my mates were awaiting orders as usual then finally they came. We got up and caught Grabcr with their knickers down.”

“Your flight recordings have you speaking… differently.”

Could this Bernard be the same one I was looking for? This one looked rather… unnervingly laid back to be a pilot for a former military power, let alone an ace.

“Ah that? I was a bit more… professional back then. Had an image to keep up as an ace of the Griffon Empire. Now, not so much. I had been hoping it was Galm when I had heard it was two mercenaries but when my IFF told me it was not them, my heart kinda sank a bit.

“I wanted to go against the ones that took down Indigo Squadron. I wanted a little payback and to have some fun in the process. As we flew against Grabcr, I noticed that they had some notches under their belts. They weren’t rookies, that much was obvious. So I checked the air currents, their speed, mine and our remaining ammo… figured I could do it.”

*CLICK*

Near a disputed border

*CLICK*

“So... your first impression of Cipher?”

“She had potential. It wasn’t until our first mission into B7R that I realised… I could trust her. She had my six and I had hers. It made it… harder later on in the war when it all turned south.”

*CLICK*

Author's Note

Here's the first of the interviews with the first three aces, the mercs and Pinkamena. I wasn't sure about using the colours but if they are too distracting from who's talking, I'll edit it. The broken set of onomatopoeia at the beginning was intentional.

Operation Varsity

Ace Combat: Shattered Friendships
Operation Varsity
Author: Draconis187

Though I fly through the Valley of Death, I shall fear no Evil. For I am at 80,000 feet and climbing.

The briefing room was quiet as usual as the pilots and mercenaries found their respective seats. The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with Pinkamena’s combat knife as the mare in question sat next to Cipher with a neutral expression adorning her face.

Solace also had a rare, serious expression on his face, everypony in the room did. Twilight’s happy demeanour had been completely replaced by a look of anxiety, fear and hope all rolled into one as she stood in front of the group with the projector.

Pictures of a collection of buildings in the snowy hills near the Crystal Empire flashed as the slides changed from one to the other. There were SAM sites between the town’s buildings and amongst the snowy hills nearby. Pictures of ZSUs and other assorted AA defences flashed past for the pilots to take note.

“This is Solis Ortus. We are to assist in a close air support mission for the Allied Forces as they take it back from the Griffons,” Twilight explained. “Thanks to the success of Campaign No. 4101 the rest of the Allied Forces have been fighting back. We’ve actually been winning.”

The pilots and mercs cheered, save for Pinkamena and Cipher. Twilight ignored it and continued, “What’s more, Saddle Arabia has finally gotten involved. They will be assisting us in further operations on the ground alongside our forces.

“I want Galm to take out the SAMs and AA in the outlying hills and the town itself while the Wonderbolts escorts the 101st and the 122nd Airborne. Grabcr, Vampir, I want you to assist with both but don’t stretch yourselves. If it’s an immediate threat, take it out quickly.”

Snake and Techno nodded their heads, “Got it.”

“So they’re doing the legwork aren’t they? This ‘Airborne?’” Solace asked, addressing Twilight.

Twilight nodded, “Yes. The Airborne consists of mostly Crystal Ponies and Earth Ponies to make up the bulk of the task force since they are more resilient to attack. There are Unicorns and Pegasi as well for support, medical and otherwise. The actual success of the mission depends on them driving out the Griffons stationed in the town.”

“At least we aren’t stuck with babysitting,” Pinkamena commented callously to Cipher who nodded her head in agreement.

“Time to pony up!” Dash shouted, raising her hoof high into the air with a determined look on her face.

The rest of the Wonderbolts cried out in unison with righteous fury burning in their eyes. Cipher could admire their fervour in their duty but she knew they couldn’t afford to get overly confident.

“Suit up ponies. We leave in half an hour,” Twilight said, shutting the projector off and leaving the room to get to the AWACS.

In half an hour on the dot, the thunderous roar of jet engines filled the area as the AWACS led the planes into the sky. Ponies saluted the pilots as they flew off but Cipher noticed many were waving at her..

**** **** **** ****

The squadrons met up with the C-130 Tactical Airlifters, the landscape beginning to turn white as they neared their target. The skies above Solis Ortus began to get a little turbulent as the Allied Forces flew through clouds, maintaining their altitudes in the air as they breached the town’s airspace.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“We have incoming!” A griffon shouted to her comrades. “It’s the Allied Forces with C-130s!”

“Call it in and get to your posts!” One of the officers’ shouted as the Griffons scrambled and got ready to take the Allies down.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Twilight cleared her throat before speaking over the radio, “We’re ten miles out, everypony. Sound off.”

“Galm Two here. I’m ready,” Pinkamena responded flatly.

“Galm One ready,” Cipher deadpanned.

“Wonderbolts ready!” Rainbow said with a cheer.

“Grabcr is ready for the mission,” Snake said.

“This is the 101st! We are ready! Yeaaaah!” A loud voice shouted.

“Snowflake? That you?” Rainbow asked incredulously.

“Yeaaah!” The voice replied.

Rainbow chuckled while Twilight facehoofed, “Yup, that’s Snowflake.”

Twilight groaned at Rainbow and Snowflake’s comments, “Alright. We’ve reached the operation’s airspace. Take your positions.”

“Roger that,” Solace said. “Vampir Squadron is ready to roll.”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Galm broke off from the group and sped across the landscape. Cipher flew close to the ground, the wake of her F-15 tearing up snow and blowing trees backwards as she flew towards the closest SAM. The plane skimmed near the top of the treeline as her HUD registered a lock on.

With a single press of a button, the missile disconnected from her plane and sped towards the SAM. The missile collided with it, creating an inferno as Cipher flew straight past and headed for the next target without a word.

Pinkamena flew higher in the air as she approached the first grouping of civilian buildings. In the middle of them, an AA battery was stationed to help defend it with a SAM several metres away. Pinkamena pulled back on the fight stick and came down towards the ground, perpendicular to the AA.

Her HUD locked onto the AA as her red tipped Eagle sped downwards. She fired the missile and pressed another button to switch targets. Her HUD locked onto the SAM as it did the same. Her entire HUD lit up red as the SAM fired at her.

She banked and pulled on the controls to avoid the missile, deploying chaff and a flare. The missile lost interest with her and exploded harmlessly.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

The Airborne’s C-130s were getting close to the first drop point. Grabcr broke off from the 101st’s plane to assist Pinkamena while Cipher sped along the outside of the area, taking out another SAM from her close proximity to the ground.

Snake and Techno flew towards the SAM with Snake in the lead. The SAM locked onto him first and fired. Snake smiled and jinked to avoid it, deploying countermeasures. Techno locked onto the SAM as they locked onto him but his missiles were already in range. He fired as he pulled up to avoid the incoming missile. His attack had hit home as the SAM exploded with some force.

“First drop point is wide open!” Twilight shouted.

“Get your flanks in to gear ponies!! You gotta jump or you’re of no value to this unit! Anypony showing weakness will be left behind! Use that anger to get fired up and take ‘em out! Understood?! Yeaaah!!” Snowflake shouted. “Go go go go!!”

Ponies began to jump out of the plane. Some extended their own pair of wings, gliding down to the ground while the rest deployed their parachutes.

“We’re the best! We’re the best!” A stallion shouted as he jumped out of the plane.

“Move move move! Don’t stop to think! Just keep moving!” Snowflake shouted before leaping out of the plane. “Yeaaah!!!”

“They’re a brave bunch of soldiers, I’ll give them that.” Pinkamena commented flatly.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Vampir broke off to engage three F-16Cs that were on an intercept course with the C-130s. The trio avoided Vampir’s gunfire as they closed the distance between them. Solace banked to the right as the rest of his squadron broke formation to engage.

Vampir Two chased one of the F-16Cs, banking to the left and the right as his target kept trying to throw him off with some evasive manoeuvres. Bullets flew through the air as Vampir Two attempted to gun down his target.

They collided with the F-16C’s engine, tearing small holes into the combustion chamber. The holes began to leak red hot jet fuel for a few seconds as the holes expanded quickly. In less than 30 seconds later, the plane exploded and Twilight confirmed the kill.

Solace was being chased by the other two F-16Cs as he dodged a pair of missiles by deploying countermeasures. He pulled back on his controls and climbed into the air. As he gained altitude, he pulled back on the throttle and kept pulling the flight stick back.

His plane whined as it turned faster than it should have, getting both into view. With a press of a button, his active loadout switched from his standard missiles to his XMAA loadout. His HUD chimed as it locked onto them and in an instant, he fired.

Two missiles fired from Solace’s Flanker simultaneously and sped toward their targets. The one F-16C jinked hard and the missile detonated on its underside, near the exhaust of the engine. The plane exploded and the cockpit could be seen falling down to the ground, spinning around out of control.

The other F-16C received the missile head on. The tip shattered the cockpit’s glass and killing the pilot as it detonated. Pieces of the aircraft fell down to the ground with various parts burning and smoking.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Cipher flew upwards, following the hill’s curve and shooting upwards, high into the air as the last outlying SAM got torn apart with some well placed gunfire. It left only the defences within the town itself and the ones just on the outskirts to deal with.

“You got company!” Twilight warned as the radar picked up more planes entering its range. “We have four contacts to the east, four to the northwest and three to the north, all heading for the C-130s.”

“Understood, Twi. Come on, Wonderbolts. They are not getting these planes!” Rainbow said with defiance evident in her voice. “We are going to split up into two teams to take out the ones to the east and northwest. Dust, Blaze and Streak, you are coming with me to intercept the ones to the east while Spitfire takes the rest to intercept the ones coming from the northwest.”

“Understood, Wonderbolt One,” Spitfire replied. “You heard the mare!”

The Wonderbolts broke formation and reformed into two smaller wedge formations, on intercept trajectory with their opponents. They all increased their throttle, making their planes’ engines scream loudly as they streaked across the sky.

“We got the northern group, everypony,” Solace informed over the radio.

Vampir sped off towards the group from the north, catching up with the Wonderbolts. The three groups flew side by side until the Wonderbolts turned away in sync towards their respective targets. They soon got close enough for their IFF to register what they were fighting.

The group from the northwest were all F-22s while the one from the east were Typhoons and the one coming in from the north were another group of F-16Cs.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Cipher rolled her plane, flying upside down as she avoided an AA as it fired at her. Bullets flew, scraping her Eagle as she reciprocated with a missile. The AA exploded into fragments of metal as Cipher corrected herself and flew off to her next target.

Pinkamena pressed a switch, changing her selected loadout to her bombs. Her pipper lined up perfectly with an AA gun, and with a single press of the button, one of her bombs were released. The horrid green coloured metal container fell to the ground, whistling through the air before making contact with a ZSU-23-4 AA tank. The self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicle detonated in a fireball, creating a small fire in the process.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Vampir intercepted the Falcons and proceeded to try killing each other in a dogfight. Vampir Three ‘drifted’ through the air as he attempted to get behind one of the Falcons. His body was pressed up against his seat as the G-forces tried to tell him he was pushing too hard.

But it was their signature move to ‘drift’ through the air and they knew the risks of performing it. Vampir Three stopped and corrected his plane, firing a burst of rounds as the F-16C he was attempting to take down rolled to the left.

Vampir Three caught his target’s right wing with a few rounds. A lucky shot broke one of the hydraulics in the aileron, impeding his turning ability. Capitalising on the situation, his HD chimed and he fired a missile. The Falcon was destroyed in a burst of red, orange and blue.

Solace wasted little time and switched his active loadout to his XMAA and fired an entire salvo. All four missiles sped across the sky, leaving a smoking trail as they converged on his target. The plane was utterly obliterated from the air and the M.A.R.S. in his plane reloaded his missiles after a few seconds.

Vampir Two on the other hoof was having a little less luck with his target as the Falcon was chasing him. His HUD screamed with missile alerts and his plane made unpleasant noises as bullets threatened to turn him into Swiss cheese. His plane was running short of flares and chaff as another missile made his HUD go berserk.

“Here comes the cavalry!” Solace said cheerfully as he and Vampir Three came towards Vampir Two from two different angles.

Solace came down from above while Vampir Three came in from Vampir’s right, a few feet under him. His wingponies let loose with their guns, creating two streams of rounds to fly through the air.

The Falcon dodged to the right but got caught in Vampir Three’s gunfire. The nose got torn to shreds as the rounds penetrated the plane, killing the pilot as he got riddled with bullets.

The plane lost control and flew into a nosedive, crashing to the ground. A large pillar of snow and fire erupted from the point of impact, reducing the plane to near nothing but scrap.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Grabcr were dodging missiles from SAM sites and gunfire from AA as they attempted to destroy them. Snake flew at high speed, firing a missile at an AA before banking to avoid an incoming missile. The Griffons were not doing them any favours and were trying to make it as hard as possible.

Techno was having an easier time as the Widow’s radar-reflective nature allowed him to get closer than Snake before his plane got locked on. Snake tore a SAM apart with well placed gunfire, ceasing its ability to retaliate.

AA fire from the remaining emplacements filled the air once more as Galm and Grabcr got close to taking them out again.

“They’re chipping my paint!” Pinkamena shouted angrily. “Do you know how much paint costs?!”

She flew high in the air, coming down towards the offending AA like a rocket. Her pipper lined up with the AA and she dropped both bombs at the same time before pulling up to avoid the incoming rounds. The combined attack created a shockwave that rippled through the town, shattering nearby windows and knocking Griffons out of the air.

Even the 101st near the blast were affected, their ears were ringing fiercely and were knocked off their hooves. Snowflake merely adjusted his helmet, dusted off his protective clothing and charged at the Griffons with his trademark yell.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Cipher tore across the sky, skimming over the tops of Solis Ortus’ buildings, using them for cover from AA as she targeted a SAM a few buildings away. Due to her flying so close to the buildings, the SAM could barely lock onto her until she flew past the last one.

As the SAM tried to lock onto her, she pulled the trigger on her joystick. Her Eagle fired upon the SAM, killing a few unlucky Griffons who were too close to her target. The SAM exploded as a few rounds met with a missile, detonating it and causing a chain reaction, obliterating the rest of the SAM.

Snake barrel rolled, avoiding AA fire as he acted as a decoy for Techno. The Widow fired at the offending AA with a few well placed rounds. His attack brutalised the ZSU’s internal workings and destroyed its radar dish that stood atop the turret, rendering the crew inside blind.

With Techno’s attack done, Snake changed course and flew directly towards the AA. His HUD chimed as the crew inside tried to fire back at him, only for the four guns to jam and seal their fate. Snake fired a single missile at the ZSU and promptly destroyed it, adding it to his squadron’s tally.

Galm and Grabcr continued to systematically destroy the Griffons’ Anti-Air capabilities, clearing the path for the rest of the Airborne despite they did suffer a few losses on the ground but that was out of their hooves.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Dash and her group dispersed and were locked in four separate, simultaneous dogfights. The Typhoon she was chasing was faster and more manoeuvrable but that did not deter her or her squadron. The Wonderbolts were known for many things but one of their most important traits was their ability to work as a team.

As Dash chased her target, Lightning Dust came down towards them from above as she had abandoned her target. Dust’s HUD chimed as her plane locked onto the Typhoon. With a press of the trigger, her plane opened fire as Dash broke off her chase in order to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

The Typhoon had its left side riddled with holes, causing it to spiral wildly out of control. Lightning cheered as she racked up the kill and veered off to avoid the Typhoon she was chasing as it was now chasing her.

Blaze feared he was in danger of going deaf as his plane wailed at him with continuous missile alerts. His Gripen was taking strain as he pulled manoeuvres that would have been better suited for a more advanced plane. He banked hard and corkscrewed in the air.

The Typhoon followed with ease, keeping him in his crosshairs as they circled in the air. As the Typhoon got another lock-on, a missile came at him from Dash and destroying the rear of his plane. The pilot lurched forwards from the shockwave and bashed his beak against his instruments, dazing him as what was left of the plane fell to the ground.

That just left the last two of the group which had decided that it was better to retreat and live to fight another day. The Wonderbolts didn’t chase them, knowing once they turned up their throttles, they couldn’t catch them and choose to fly towards Spitfire’s group instead to lend assistance.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Spitfire had been facing a similar dilemma as her Gripen was getting assaulted by bullets by an F-22. She was a great pilot but a pilot was limited by their plane’s ability as they could only stretch it so far. She felt something as the next burst of rounds flew past her, one passing past her head and colliding with one of her instruments.

She cursed under her breath as she attempted to lose her attacker. Putting her plane into a dive, she flew towards the ground with her attacker hot on her tailpipe.

What the F-22 failed to notice was Misty Fly flying behind him. She looked down towards the plane before her and depressed the trigger on her joystick. The Gripen she was flying shouted as bullets poured out of the plane’s barrel, tearing the elevator and the aileron on the plane’s left side. The F-22 lost control but Misty was not finished. Another burst of bullets tore the plane’s right side, sealing its fate.

Spitfire pulled out of her dive as did Misty Fly. A wordless thank you was exchanged as the planes caught up to each other before banking and flying towards their next targets.

Soarin was having trouble with an F-22 as it tried to avoid his lock-on attempts. As soon as he got a lock-on, the F-22 managed to manoeuvre out of it in some way. He would be lying if he said he was not getting frustrated but he refused to just give up. He pulled the trigger on his joystick and fired several short bursts of bullets at his target.

The F-22 dodged the majority of them and was laughing under his helmet. Whether Soarin could hear him or not was unimportant as a smile of his own began to spread across his face.

The Griffon he had been chasing looked back in surprise when Soarin simply turned away, seemingly losing interest with him. As he turned to look forward once again, his plane lit up with an alert from two different locations. One collided with his cockpit, destroying the plane and the pilot in one fell swoop while the other missile simply flew past the falling wreckage.

Surprise jinked downwards as one of the two remaining F-22s fired at her. The pilot was desperately trying to kill Surprise and failed to realise she was being tailed by Misty Fly. Her HUD went red as Misty locked on and fired. The Griffon jinked hard to the right, avoiding the missile barely and flew directly into Spitfire’s line of fire. She pulled the trigger without hesitation. The plane was quickly destroyed as a hailstorm of rounds pierced its fuselage.

“All hostiles in the area have been eliminated!” Twilight said with a cheer as she checked the radar a few times to confirm it to herself. “Great job, everypony!”

“Was there ever any doubt?” Dash asked rhetorically.

“It’s all up to Snowflake and Iron Will on the ground now,” Twilight said pensively.

“Iron Will?!” Dash shouted incredulously.

“He leads the 122nd while Snowflake leads the 101st. They are the two toughest Airborne Divisions in Equestria,” Twilight replied flatly.

Rainbow whistled, “By Celestia’s great flank…”

Twilight facehoofed, “Rainbow…”

As Twilight was about to reprimand Rainbow for her comment, a loud, booming voice rang over the radio and made all the ponies cringe except for Cipher and Pinkamena. “Iron Will here! The Griffons are retreating as we delivered them a righteous beating!!”

“That is good news, Iron Will. Snowflake, come in. What is the situation on your end?” Twilight inquired as she hailed the white Pegasus.

“Yeaaaah! We’ve cleared them out! Run!!! Fly!! Flee like the cowards you are!! Yeaaaah!” Snowflake shouted loudly, deafening the pilots and the crew of the AWACS.

“… Right… All forces have been cleared from Solis Ortus. Pilots return to base and get ready. Tomorrow… we liberate the Crystal Empire,” Twilight said as the squadrons took their respective formations and returned to Valiant.

Author's Note

I couldn't resist not having Snowflake a.k.a. Roid Rage and Iron Will as cameos. Most likely the only time we will ever see them so I hope you enjoyed this. YEEEAAAHHH!!! Any issues, praise, criticisms are welcome.

Downtime: The Precipice of Liberty

Ace Combat: Shattered Friendships
Downtime: The Precipice of Liberty
Author: Draconis187

The deafening roar of multiple aircraft permeated the air around Valiant Airbase, coupled with the stomping applause and praise of the ground crew that came to greet the pilots.

The planes returned to their respective hangars and the maintenance crews immediately got busy. They had less than twenty-four hours to get the planes back into flying shape. Tools hammered out the dents in the fuselage, holes were patched up – and some magic to bond the patch to the plane so it didn’t look like a flying patchwork quilt of death – and the engines were drained of fuel so they could be worked on without fear of getting burned.

The tension amongst the maintenance crews was thick as they scrutinised every inch of the airframes, looking for damage, imperfections and repairing or replacing anything that was out of place.

Their dedication was fuelled by a single desire to ensure the pilots’ planes were in pristine condition once they left to liberate the Crystal Empire. Bolts – aging or recently used – were taken out and replaced by brand new ones. If anypony hadn’t been watching them work from the start, they would have thought they were building an entirely new plane instead of repairing it.

All save for Galm’s planes. Techno was working on Grabcr’s planes but he was directing the maintenance staff as he worked with them.

Snake mostly observed but he did lend a hoof when it was necessary, “So what’s the prognosis, doc? Think she’ll be ready by tomorrow?”

Techno Watt nodded his head as he came out from under the F-16XL, “She’ll be primed and ready tomorrow. Just need to replace the wheel bearings and check the rudder cables for damage and she’ll be ready.”

Snake smiled, “Perfect.”

Pinkamena and Cipher were working on Pinkamena’s Eagle in their hangar, patching up the holes on the underside of the plane. Cipher levitated the pieces and Pinkamena welded or riveted them on to the body for Cipher to fuse them into the metal shell.

Anti-air fire had left a slew of holes, piercing the engines and her left wing. It was a miracle or sheer dumb luck that the Eagle survived. The damage only served to stand as a testament to the Eagle’s robust construction. A round was wedged between two pipes in the engine and was removed by Cipher’s magic.

The two mares silently worked together, the only sounds coming from their work as the Eagle was slowly returning back to fighting form. Solace and Vampir were celebrating with the Wonderbolts as usual but not even he was touching alcohol. They all needed to be clearheaded for the next day’s sortie.

Twilight was beside herself, torn between sheer joy and agonising anxiety. She was happy that the nightmare of the war was turned on its head but she worried if whether the pilots would be up to the task of liberating the sprawling, enormous city that is the Crystal Empire. She knew they were capable of much and she believed in them but her nagging fears kept gnawing at her mind. It was hypocritical but it was a part of who she was.

If they were not attacking the next day, she would have downed a whole bottle of any available liquor to steady her nerves. She wasn’t a heavy drinker but the events of the war were bad enough to drive her to alcoholism.

The maintenance crews worked well into the night with the control tower running on a skeleton staff to keep an eye on the radar. Pinkamena turned in for the night and left Cipher behind to finish reattaching a fuel line to one of her own Eagle’s engines. It had a long crack running along the side of the pipe, formed from the impact of a bullet that was most likely from AA fire.

Pinkamena passed the mess hall and found Jack Hammer sharing a joke with one of the air-traffic controllers who was not on shift just yet. He waved to Pinkamena as she walked past but she only nodded her head to acknowledge the fact that she saw him as she carried on walking to the barracks.

It took a few minutes for Cipher to double-check her work before sealing the engine back up and riveting it to the rest of the plane. She was sweating under her suit and helmet but refused to remove any part of it, lest others see her face. Changeling or not, Cipher did not want them to ever know of her, even if it meant she would stink to high heaven until she washed up.

She left the hangar and locked it with a special, magic padlock. It was specially designed so that, when closed, completed a magic circuit that negated other external magic to keep others from tampering with it. It was easily broken with the appropriate key. The ones who had a key was the pilot, the maintenance crew and the highest ranking officer of the base, which was Twilight Sparkle.

As Cipher walked to her barracks, she spotted Solace who beamed at her. She mentally facehoofed when Solace made a gesture with both his forelegs, using them to remove an imaginary helmet from his head.

When Cipher shook her head, Solace smirked, “Worth a shot.” He reared onto his hind legs and pointed dramatically to the sky. “I shall see your face on of these says!”

‘You can see my face when I’m a lifeless corpse,’ Cipher thought as she continued to walk to her barracks.

**** **** **** ****

Chrysalis stood on an airfield in Baltimare, staring up at the blue and yellow Gripen that belonged to Wonderbolt Six as the rest all stood parked in a line near the runway. The Gripen’s sleek airframe enraptured her as she continued to look at the plane, taking in every detail about it, from rudder to nose. She saw the disguise she was using reflected in the plane’s well-polished fuselage.

The Gripen was lacking any form of armament, as their squadron had been re-fitted for acrobatic stunts with the rest of its squadron. Missile racks were removed, the gun had been taken too and the port it shot from was covered up by a small piece of metal. It reduced overall weight and that gave it slightly better handling in the air.

“They may not be the best planes one can buy but they are decent multi-role aircraft,” A voice said, startling Chrysalis a little as she turned around. Chrysalis saw it was Spitfire, looking at her with a smirk. “There’s not much need for them in a fighting capacity but instead of collecting dust in the hangars, we fly them in these airshows to keep our skills sharp. But some of our old group got bored and left to become mercenaries…”

“So they went and became mercenaries…” Chrysalis said, contemplating. “That is quite a drastic change in profession.”

“Just two of them left really… Wave Chill and Lightning Streak. I couldn’t believe Lightning Streak would leave his brother Fire Streak behind,” Spitfire said with annoyance. “It’s absolutely deplorable behaviour.”

Chrysalis was unsure of whether to remark about that statement or not. Their problems were not her concern but one of the ponies’ traits was to… care. The mere thought made Chrysalis’ blood go cold and sent a shiver down her spine.

Rather than to risk Spitfire getting suspicious, Chrysalis spoke up, “It is rather peculiar that kin would act in such fashion. Is all well between them? Sometimes problems like that have far deeper, more painful reasons than simply getting bored with one’s occupation.”

“That I’m not too sure. Neither of them spoke all that much about their personal lives,” Spitfire replied unhappily.

Chrysalis disregarded Spitfire’s tone and continued, “So… mercenaries. Do tell me: how does one take up such a profession?”

**** **** **** ****

Pinkamena’s dull pink mane was coated in black oil and her coat smelt of jet fuel. The gun-metal grey F-14D Tomcat she was under had a shattered oil filter and one of the fuel lines were broken in four places with the fragments flying about within the plane, denting it from the inside-out. It was a miracle the thing didn’t explode.

The most damage it had sustained was heavily scorching the engine’s cover. It was beyond help and got sent off for scrap after its dimensions were taken for a new one to be fabricated.

“Pinkamena, how’s that Tomcat looking?!” A burly stallion asked. “It was supposed to go out yesterday!”

Pinkamena had just about had enough of her boss’ callous behaviour and mistreatment of the mares that worked in his hangar, “Just waiting for the replacements, you aging ogre!”

The puce stallion looked as if he was about to throttle Pinkamena but she had a blowtorch nearby and that evil look she was giving him made him wonder if she wouldn’t hesitate to use it on him.

“Fine… get over to the Osprey and help Resonance. I swear Crystal Ponies are as useless as you Earth Ponies,” He ordered callously.

“At least I’m not some stupid unicorn who’s scared to even do levitation! Fillies are braver than you!” She answered back as she walked to the dark green V-22 Osprey.

“Why do you put up with him? You could quit anytime and I doubt he’d object,” Resonance asked. The pale lime Crystal Pony had great skills with power tools and was one of the few ponies Pinkamena didn’t want to let her frustrations out on.

“I wanted to know more about aircraft so I took this mechanic gig,” Pinkamena replied. “Even if Twisted Metal there does make a griffon seem as cuddly as a new-born foal.”

Resonance chuckled softly, “Yeah, he’s not exactly Mr. Personality. He works in Hangar 21.”

**** **** **** ****

“What do you mean you’re leaving?!” Dash asked incredulously at Fluttershy as she sat in the mare’s bedroom.

“Oh… um… I-I’m sorry…” Fluttershy replied as she closed a large leather trunk, filled with assorted, personal items. “I’ve… b-been thinking… since everypony else moved on… maybe it is time I did too…”

“But we’re your friends!” Dash exclaimed, throwing her hooves up into the air in exasperation. “I’m your friend!”

“…I’m sorry…” Fluttershy said as she tried to hide behind the large, pink collection of locks that was her mane.

“Fluttershy… I don’t want to lose you as well…” Dash replied sadly.

Luckily for Dash, she had her glasses over her eyes to shield herself as her aforementioned eyes welled up slightly. Even if she didn’t have them, she would have cared less. Her friends knew she was sensitive… somewhat.

“We’ve already lost Twilight due to her princess-y stuff… and Pinkie’s long gone. Then Rarity left,” Dash said as a tear broke free from the dam and ran down her cheek.

Fluttershy hugged her friend tightly, “I’m sorry, Dash… really…”

When the two mares parted ways, it would have been the last time Dash and Fluttershy saw each other’s faces…

**** **** **** ****

Dash woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, breathing heavily. The dream plagued her often, always leaving her in a depressed state and it messed with her sleeping schedule. Although it was the images of the dream that she

“Why in the wide world of Equestria does that dream keep happening?” She complained softly to the air as she laid her head back down on the pillow. “Should’ve tried harder to keep her in Ponyville, keep our friends together. Some loyal friend I am. Maybe Twi’s up…”

Dash rolled out of bed, her limbs protesting to their forced motions as she landed on the ground. Her joints popped as she stretched them before moving another inch. She opened one of the drawers in her room and took out a piece of paper and tucked it under her wing before walking out.

The halls of the barracks were dimly lit with a few overhanging lights, bathing the paths in a faint yellow glow. The only sounds that Dash heard were the clip-clopping of her hooves and the odd sound of the maintenance staff as they kept working. She had to admire their dedication to their job.

Only two hangars still had the sounds of power tools echoing within, Dash realised that the hangars belonged to her Wonderbolts’ planes. Dash complained under her breath about the distance she had to walk to Twilight’s office, especially at the exceptionally early hour, but as luck would have it, the lights were still on inside, sparing her the trip back to her barracks.

“Least I didn’t come this way for nothing…” Dash mumbled.

Three short and loud knocks of her hoof against the cold steel door rewarded Dash with the sound of Twilight crashing to the floor as she had fallen asleep at her desk once again with the lights still on. She was the Princess of Magic and yet she was unable to figure out a spell that made the lights go out when the occupants in the room had either left or fell asleep.

“Whosthere?” Twilight slurred as she got back up to her hooves. She opened the door slightly, using her hooves, to see Dash in a similar, dishevelled state. “You alright, Rainbow? What are you doing up at this time? It’s not like you.”

“Twi… it’s… I didn’t tell you the whole truth about Fluttershy,” Rainbow said sadly. “With this big operation in a few hours… I really want to get it off my chest. You know, just in case I don’t make it back.”

“Oh… okay. Come in,” Twilight said as she fully opened the door, allowing Rainbow to enter. “You don’t need to worry about not coming back, Rainbow. Nopony can fly like you do.”

“Thanks but I still need to tell you everything I know about what happened to Fluttershy,” Dash said as she walked through the room.

Twilight was too tired to remove all the paperwork from her desk and sat down with Rainbow occupying the leather seat opposite her. Dash sat down and unfurled her wing, allowing the clipping to fall out. She grabbed it and placed it on the table, atop some documents that both were too tired to care about, turning it around so Twilight could read it.

“Flight 201 vanished without a trace near rumoured Windigo territory, 43 ponies unaccounted for and presumed dead. This… you don’t mean?” Twilight asked, looking gobsmacked at Dash.

Dash slowly nodded her head, “Fluttershy was on that flight… The plane, the two pilots, crew and passengers… all vanished without a trace. There was no wreckage or even a body part. They were worried when the flight didn’t return and only then did they investigate. A lot of good it did, though.

“The official report states they think they flew into an ‘anomaly’ or some cockamamie story like that. But flying through that patch of sea is dangerous and the rumours have been proven to be fact several times now.”

“So she’s… gone?” Twilight asked, her mind trying to wrap itself around the horrifying news despite her brain’s refusal to start up.

With one of the Elements dead it meant that the rest of the Elements were now useless until another Bearer was found. Not only that, but Fluttershy was also a dear friend to both mares. The news made Twilight’s heart sink even lower than when Dash told her why Pinkamena left Ponyville.

‘Again… this is my fault… if only I had taken the time to be with my friends… this never would have happened. Just something else I am going to blame myself for,’ Twilight thought bitterly. ‘Why can’t things go right for once without me messing it up in some way and ruining another’s life?’

As if reading her mind, although it was the miserable expression on her face that gave her away, Dash cleared her throat to bring Twilight back to reality, “It wasn’t your fault. She was talking about it since your coronation. Guess she wanted to find her own path. Or she got tired of that stick-in-the-mud Angel Bunny and decided to get as far away from him as she could.”

Twilight chuckled softly, a small smirk spreading across her face, “Would’ve been about time. He always mistreated her no matter how nice she was to him.”

Rainbow chuckled as well, “Yeah, no matter how much he kicked up a fuss, she’d always bend over backwards and inside out, just to make him happy. Kind of like your relationship with Celestia back when you were not a princess.”

Twilight’s eyes widened, “I don’t mistreat the Princess, Dash. And she does not mistreat me either so you can forget that train of thought right now.”

“No but you would do anything to make her happy, wouldn’t you?” Dash teased.

Twilight smirked a little, “I guess you’re right there. I’ve done some crazy things to try make her happy.”

“Like the time you made the entire town go mad over that rag-doll of yours just because you didn’t have a friendship report to give her,” Rainbow giggled. “I had never seen Mayor Mare act so aggressively over something like that doll.”

Twilight blushed with embarrassment, “I still couldn’t find Smarty Pants after that. I thought it got trampled into nothing.”

Dash began to laugh loudly, “That’s because Big Mac took it! In all the confusion he took it as a sign to make off with the doll!”

“Seriously? What would he want with Smarty Pants?” Twilight asked, confused. “He’s a grown stallion after all. If it was for Apple Bloom I would have understood.”

“Dunno, but I had never seen such a large stallion look so embarrassed with himself in my life! He was the darkest shade of red I had ever seen!” Rainbow chortled as she fell off her seat. “Ow…”

“That’ll teach you to laugh about Applejack’s brother. Just because he liked a doll didn’t mean you had to make fun of him,” Twilight giggled as she looked back at the newspaper clipping. “Do you really think she’s gone?”

“Doubt it. Fluttershy may look all weak and timid but she does know how to look after herself,” Rainbow said as she got back up. “After all, she did make quite a number of trips into the Everfree on her own. I’ve seen it whenever I worked over her house with the weather team. Then there was the dragon she stood up to at the top of that mountain.”

“Dash… I hope you are right,” Twilight said as she picked up the clipping.

Rainbow’s happy expression fell, becoming solemn frighteningly quickly, “Me too, Twi…”

**** **** **** ****

Dash found herself waking up in her bed, safely tucked in like her mother used to when she was a little filly. Sadly it was done too well and she struggled for a good five minutes before getting out. She made a note to tell Twilight to never do that again.

The barracks were abuzz with the sound of the pilots getting into their flight suits after they got washed and the Pegasi preened their wings. The Wonderbolts were muttering a little to each other as they all walked to the briefing room. Grabcr, Galm and Vampir were not far behind and soon all the pilots took their seats.

Pinkamena had a devilish smirk on her face while Solace made the same gesture he performed last night at Cipher. She refused to acknowledge his presence, more focused on Twilight as she inserted a series of slides into the projector.

Twilight cleared her throat as the projector began showing them slides of the Crystal Empire, getting all the pilots’ attention. Several districts within the city were filled with various AA sites, SAMs, tanks, APCs and the odd makeshift barracks for the occupying ground forces.

“This is it ponies. This is what we’ve been fighting for since we started our retaliation,” Twilight said. “The Griffons have occupied the five main districts within the Empire. The Northern District, the Southern District, as well as the East and West Districts are all under their complete control.”

“What’s the fifth district?” Spitfire asked.

“That will be the Central District also known as the Heart District due to it being the location of the Crystal Spire Palace and the Crystal Heart itself if it has not been taken and sold,” Twilight answered. “The objective is to eliminate all their military hardware and we’ll wrestle control back from the Griffons.”

“What’s the point? We take out the forces in the Heart District and then we’ve won,” Pinkamena pointed out. “Take their hold on the capital and they lose morale. Should be enough to make them retreat at best and think twice at worst.”

“Because we still have the enemy’s ground forces in the outer districts that can easily reinforce the Central District without spreading themselves too thinly,” Twilight reasoned. “We are attacking all four outer districts simultaneously so they can not reinforce and entrench in the Central District. Grabcr, you are taking the South District. Vampir will hit the West and Galm will take out the East with the Wonderbolts attacking the Northern District.

“Once the outer districts are dealt with, we move in and attack the Heart District. There are tanks as well as APCs on the ground that may give our ground forces some trouble so do us all a favour and take them out whenever you get a chance.”

Snake smirked, “They’ll never see it coming.”

“Any questions?” Twilight asked.

“So we are attacking the Empire from both land and air?” Pinkamena asked.

“Yes, we are sending in a few platoons of tanks, APCs as well as conventional troops,” Twilight responded. “Minotaurs, Saddle Arabians, Unicorns, Pegasi, Earth Ponies and some Crystal Ponies are what make up our ground troops. Once a path is cleared, they can assist with clearing out the Griffons alongside the populace.”

“How much resistance are we expecting from the air?” Solace asked. “The ground is easy to avoid but chasing aircraft are not so simple.”

“Expect a few Typhoons and MiGs. I believe they’re Fulcrums if our preliminary recon data is anything to go by,” Twilight responded. “The ground forces are going to assault the four districts simultaneously as well. This will ensure they do not escape.”

“So… we’re really doing it?” Rainbow said as she got up. “We’re actually going to assault the Crystal Empire…”

“That’s right,” Twilight said with growing conviction in her voice. “Get to your planes everypony! We leave in two hours! For Equestria and the Crystal Empire!”

Author's Note

Got convinced to do a Downtime before Operation: Constantine. Some more insight into Fluttershy's vanishing act and how the Chrysalis and Pinkamena got into aeronautics.

Operation Constantine

Ace Combat: Shattered Friendships
Operation Constantine
Author: Draconis187

Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward. For there you have been, and there you will always long to return.

Cipher held her breath as she lined up on the tarmac, waiting for Vampir to take off. The reality of the situation was sinking in, it was near: the last push to force the Griffon occupational forces from the Crystal Empire and press the Griffons into a defensive stance. They had red in their ledgers and it was up to the squadrons of Valiant Airbase to wipe them clean, permanently.

“Come on slowpokes!” Dash said with annoyance as she and the rest of the Wonderbolts were waiting for Galm, with Grabcr already in the air with the AWACS. “I’m not getting any younger here!”

“Cool your engines, Dash,” Pinkamena snapped, “If you don’t, I’ll climb out of this plane and make you.”

“Maybe you should! You’re not the Pinkie Pie I used to think was cool,” Dash retaliated, shouting loudly into the radio. “You’re just a sadistic, heartless pony who dares to call herself Pinkie!”

“Enough!” Cipher’s voice said in a single, loud and commanding tone. It demanded no retaliation, only compliance.

The two mares found themselves at a loss for words at Cipher’s outburst for various reasons. She hardly ever spoke to anypony, even Pinkamena for one. And when she did speak it was mostly in a flat, emotionless tone but this time she sounded angry and scolded them like fillies, using a single word.

“Understood, Cipher…” Pinkamena said miserably, just like a filly that had just been caught with her hooves in a cookie jar and sent to bed without supper.

“Whatever,” Dash said in a similar tone. She felt like she was talking to her mother and she hadn’t seen her since she moved to Ponyville many years ago.

Cipher didn’t respond as she looked out onto the runway and saw Vampir Three finally take off. The tower buzzed into her cockpit, “Galm Team, you are cleared for take off.”

“Let’s go give them hell, Buddy,” Pinkamena said as she and Cipher increased the throttle, making their Eagles roar as the brakes were disengaged.

The pair picked up speed in leaps and bounds as the afterburners kicked in, propelling them past the control tower and the group of ponies that had come to watch the Galm Team take off. They were saluted as the planes shot past and took off into the air.

“Good luck,” Aloe muttered under her breath as the Wonderbolts got onto the apron. She spoke once again in a normal, monotonous voice as she regarded the Wonderbolts, “Wonderbolt One and Two, you are cleared for take off…”

**** **** **** ****

The air around the Crystal Empire was still and quiet in preparation for the coming squadrons of aircraft. The streets were empty, save for the sound of marching soldiers and heavy armour in the form of tanks, APCs and self-propelled AA guns. They were on edge since the fall of Solis Ortus as they knew the Empire was next. It was simply a matter of time.

“This is Grabcr One, coming up on the South District,” Snake said over the radio as he and Techno were nearing their combat zone for the first leg of their contribution to the overall operation.

“Wonderbolt One here. Northern District coming up on radar now,” Rainbow said in a flat tone as the Wonderbolts kept a close wedge formation.

“This is Pinkamena, we are about to enter the East District. We got this down, Buddy. The tide is in our favour,” Pinkamena said as she stayed next to Cipher.

“Vampir is almost there and more than ready to help our Crystal Pony friends. They will taste freedom before this day is out!” Solace shouted with confidence.

“Good,” Twilight said over the radio as she kept her eye on the radar, watching the four sets of blips move towards the Crystal Empire from four different directions.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Sirens went off in the city’s outer districts as the planes approached. Griffons got to the controls of various AA batteries and SAM sites. Crystal Ponies watched in fear, through the windows of their homes and watched as one got shot for leaving one of the buildings.

All they needed was a chance to turn the tables and take back their city but with the tanks, guns and other armaments the Griffons brought with them, it was next to impossible.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Galm, you got four Typhoons on an intercept trajectory with you,” Twilight warned as she observed the radar.

“Got it, switching to Sidewinders,” Pinkamena replied as she made the change to her active loadout, “Let’s roll out the red carpet for them, Cipher.”

Cipher increased the throttle and turned her plane, activating the afterburners as her HUD confirmed the four bandits. The Typhoons flew towards Galm in a diamond formation and broke as they got closer, allowing them all to lock onto the Galm Team with their long ranged missiles.

All four squadrons loaded up for ground attacks and only had their standard, multi-purpose missiles to deal with air threats. Cipher banked to the right with Pinkamena banking to the left. The Typhoons formed two pairs to deal with the Galm Team simultaneously.

Beneath them, the AA batteries were just waiting for the Galm Team to get in range of their guns. The only SAM close enough to get a lock-on was hidden between two buildings. The Griffons waited to get a lock-on, one of them ran their tongue along their beak in anticipation, just wanting to take them out of the sky and make a name for himself in the process.

Two of the Typhoons chasing Cipher were trying to read the mare’s tactics as she jinked left and right, pulling g-forces that should have torn her plane in half or at least have squashed the pilot into paste within her own flight suit.

Cipher pulled up into a steep climb, with the two Typhoons in hot pursuit. As they kept going higher, Cipher cut off her engines and applied the speed brakes. Her plane seemed to stop almost instantly as the combined stopping power of gravity, her speed brakes and her – now offline – engines all pooled into stopping her.

The Typhoons were not prepared as Cipher flipped her plane to face them as she came down. They depressed the triggers to their guns but in their haste, had forgotten to line up their planes with Cipher and one got a cockpit full of bullets as a reward while the other had its wings blown off as Cipher fired a Sidewinder at it.

Cipher’s plane wailed at her, emergency sirens went off as her plane was coming up to the ground. She increased the throttle and wrestled with the plane as it sputtered, the ground getting closer with each second. At last a small spark was all it took and one engine fired back up. She increased the throttle further and pulled up, missing the ground by a comfortable margin.

“That’s two kills for Cipher!” Twilight called out over the radio. She kept her eyes on the radar for more bandits with a steely, determined gaze as more blips died out across the ground and air.

Pinkamena was laughing as she saw bullets scrape by her, tearing off some of her paintwork. “For every chip in my paint, you are paying for it with your lives! I am not in a charitable mood right now and you are only making it worse!”

She flew down, close to the ground with the Typhoons in pursuit. The local AA saw this as an opportunity to take her out and opened fire, creating a small stream of bullets, all aiming for her. Pinkamena jinked hard to the right and avoided most of the bullets but still got hit in a few areas, suffering superficial damage in the process.

The two Typhoons did not fare as well as they flew upwards to try and avoid it. The rounds pierced their planes’ fuselages and ripped a hole in the combustion chamber in one of them. This soon became a trail of dark smoke before the hole grew too large in size to allow the Typhoon to fly properly and it was forced to retreat.

The second Typhoon fared better than its compatriot but not by much. The right wing had been torn to shreds, the hydraulics for the ailerons broken and useless while the flap on the right wing came clean off. It soon landed in someone’s back lawn, killing a garden gnome in the process.

The retreating Typhoon had managed to make some headway as it was well on its way to friendlier airspace. But Pinkamena was not about to let the pilot off the hook. She turned her plane to face it and burned air as she tore across the sky towards him.

She kept her eyes on her HUD, ignoring the sporadic AA fire from a few hopeful Griffons. Her HUD lit up and chimed in a tone that made the pink mare grin sadistically. With a single button press, one of the Sidewinders flew from her plane and collided with the plane’s left wing where it connected to the rest of the plane. The explosion tore the plane’s back end apart and sent it flying to the ground in a small shower of parts.

“That’s two kills for Galm Two,” Twilight said as she added the kills to Pinkamena’s growing tally.

“Alright, just the welcome committee on the ground to deal with now, Cipher and then we can head for the Heart District,” Pinkamena said as she switched her active payload to her bombs.

“Try to minimise collateral damage please, Galm Team. We’re here to liberate them, not make things worse than they already are,” Twilight requested.

“Understood,” Cipher said in her usual flat tone. She flew low to the ground, leaving a wake of dust and small debris in her wake as she had her sights locked onto an APC.

Her HUD locked onto the APC as she screamed across the landscape. She pressed the trigger and banked, flying over one of the buildings and shattering the windows with the shockwave and some of the larger debris she carried behind her.

The missile collided with the APC and exploded upon impact, tearing the side of the APC apart. The occupants died from the resulting flames, leaving nothing but charred corpses in its wake. Cipher flew off towards her next target as Pinkamena dove towards hers.

Her pipper hovered over two makeshift barracks and with a smile, she pressed the trigger. One of her 2000lb bombs was released from her plane and whistled as it fell towards its target. The bomb detonated and tore both barracks apart in a large fireball. The shockwave alone was strong enough to rattle the windows of nearby houses a good distance away.

Galm One circled around, keeping out of range of the AA she was planning to take out. She fired one of her missiles at it instead of dropping a more effective bomb as it would’ve allowed her to take it out at a greater distance with impunity. The AA still stood no chance as Cipher’s attack flew true and took it out.

“Galm Team, I am reading only a few more targets in the East District. Keep it up,” Twilight said as she observed the ground radar system, the blips indicating SAMs or AAs quickly disappearing. “Attention all squadrons: our ground forces are beginning to enter the outer districts, assist them wherever possible.”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

At the same time, as Galm had begun their operation in the East District…

“This is Vampir One. We have reached the West District and are beginning our part of the operation,” Solace said as his squadron broke formation.

“Looks like you three have some company heading your way, Vampir,” Twilight warned. “I read two MiG-21s en route to your location.”

“Copy Eagle Eye,” Solace replied. “You heard her, let’s drift circles around them and wrap this up quickly, shall we gentlecolts?”

The two MiGs broke formation and went after Vampir Three and One respectively. Vampir Two was left to be able to hassle the one pursuing his flight lead, scaring the pilot of the MiG with constant missile locks but never pulling the trigger. He didn’t even fire his gun until the MiG looked like it was going to jink away.

Solace dodged a small barrage of rounds as they bounced off his Flanker’s fuselage, making him jink left to avoid the rest. The Fishbed followed but this was what Solace wanted as he turned again and jinked upwards, slowing his plane down as he went so he could turn tighter.

This freed Vampir Two to fire with impunity and he did so, firing a slew of bullets at the Fishbed’s cockpit, shattering the glass and brutalising the pilot within. The plane burned as one of the fuel tanks were pierced, sparking the volatile fuel and igniting it, creating a fireball of steel as it plummeted to the ground below.

The other MiG was turning as hard as it could as it tried to keep up with Vampir Three’s manoeuvres. Vampir Three jinked left, right, climbed steeply only to turn around and dive directly towards the ground with the MiG chasing him as best it could.

Sadly the MiG was not as manoeuvrable as the Flankers that Vampir Squadron flew. The MiG soon found itself in a precarious position as Vampir Three jinked once more, pulling off one of his drifting manoeuvres in the process and finding himself behind the Fishbed.

With the MiG in his crosshairs and his HUD chiming happily, Vampir Three pressed the trigger. His Flanker’s gun opened fire and the rounds tore away at the MiG’s right wing, shredding it like paper. The right wing finally gave way as the pilot tried to jink. The plane spiralled out of control as it went one way while what remained of the wing fell in the opposite direction.

With what could only be seen as a minor distraction dealt with, Vampir moved onto their true objectives: the AA and SAM sites around the West District. Vampir broke into single formations and flew high into the air, switching to their SFFS loadout.

Several self-propelled AA vehicles moved, shifting position as they trained their guns at Vampir but they were slightly out of range. A few operators decided to test fate and fired anyway only for their rounds to fall short by a moderate margin.

Solace’s HUD displayed the pipper as it did with any bomb as he climbed higher into the air. Once he believed he was at an appropriate height, he twisted his plane around, the cockpit facing towards the ground as he pulled back on the joystick and came flying down towards the ground in a near perfect 90° angle to the ground.

“Vampir One, deploying submunitions!” Solace cried out as he pressed the trigger.

One of the bombs was released and Solace pulled back, levelling his plane as he moved on his next target. His SFFS bomb detonated long before it reached the ground, dispensing its explosive payload across the ground. Thanks to the smart electronics, only the bomblets that were near or touched the metal alloy that made up the AA vehicles detonated, taking their targets and their operators to an early grave.

“Consider that a dishonourable discharge!” Solace said with a smile.

Vampir Three flew down one of the streets, dangerously close to the ground as he locked onto a SAM. The operator in control hastily locked onto Vampir Three and fired. Vampir Three jinked upwards, deploying some chaff and a flare to avoid getting hit. The missile flew through the cloud of thin, metallic strips and carried on until it ran out of fuel.

Vampir Two came down on the same SAM from the opposite direction and fired a missile at it. The missile impacted with the SAM and detonated, the resulting explosion ripped the SAM apart and killed the operator instantly. Any nearby Griffons were either charred, dizzy or received concussions from the shockwave.

The West District’s skyline soon had pillars of smoke inhabiting it as Vampir Squadron continued to drop their explosive payloads onto AA guns, SAM sites, as well as a few tanks and APCs. The collateral damage was not as significant as one would expect thanks again to the smart electronics within the SFFS as well as the fact that Vampir used a few missiles too. This however did not stop the bomblets from breaking a few stalls and causing a house to cave in on itself and trap a Crystal Pony for a few minutes until his neighbours rescued him.

“This is Vampir One,” Solace said over the radio, “West District has been cleared of all targets. I repeat: West District has been cleared. Awaiting further orders to push into the Heart District.”

“Understood, Vampir,” Twilight responded. “The other squadrons are wrapping up in their respective Districts. Proceed to the Heart District.”

“You got it, Eagle Eye. Come along, lads. Let’s go bag some more Griffons. Charred Griffon feathers make the best pillows.” Solace said as Vampir Squadron took formation and fired their afterburners, heading for the Heart District.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

While Vampir and Galm were busy in their respective Districts…

“This is Grabcr One. We are beginning our operation in the South District,” Snake said over the radio as he and Techno broke formation.

“Understood Grabcr, good luck,” Twilight replied.

Snake outfitted his plane with an XAGM loadout consisting of AGM-65G Maverick Air-to-Ground missiles. Techno went for a QAAM loadout which were AIM-7 Sparrow missiles, perfect for engaging air targets.

This allowed them to attack both ground and air targets simultaneously even if it made it more difficult on the individual pilot but if one was having trouble, the other would assist if required.

Snake kept his plane level as it flew several hundred metres from the ground, locking onto an AA and a SAM site simultaneously since the XAGM loadout allowed one to lock-on up to four simultaneous targets. Sadly for the operators of both anti-air weapons, their line of fire was blocked by some nearby housing but they thought it worked both ways and were prepared to wait for an opportunity.

Sadly opportunity never came as Snake fired before he banked, searching for his next targets. The missiles sped over the rooftops before pulling a near 90° turn, flying straight down at their targets. The Griffons barely had time to move before the missiles hit home and obliterated their targets in two large fireballs.

Techno on the other hoof was busy flying against an F-5E. Usually this would be no problem for the mercenary but he had another two Tigers on his tail, trying to gun him down as their main guns fired a stream of rounds past the Black Widow.

“Snake, if you’re not too busy, mind lending a hoof? Or a missile?” Techno asked as he jinked to avoid a missile lock coming from both tailing Tigers.

“You got it, Techno. On my way,” Snake said as he banked and switched his loadout to his standard missiles.

Snake increased the throttle, activating the afterburners as he attempted to close the gap between himself and Techno’s pursuers. Techno led the three Tigers towards Snake as they flew towards each other.

The air seemed to calm as the five planes tore across the sky as the nearby anti-air defences were silenced. Snake kept his eyes on his radar as well as his HUD as Techno got closer. The Black Widow Techno flew had almost depleted its stores of flares and chaff as the Tigers kept up their attack, trying to shoot him down with their missiles as Techno was out of gun range.

Snake saw his HUD light up with four boxes: three green ones that were registering the three Tigers and a blue one in front of them, which was Techno’s Widow. He double checked his loadout as his plane targeted one of the three Tigers. Had he loaded his plane with his AIM-7F ‘Sparrow’ Semi-Active Air-to-Air Missiles – or SAAM – he could have taken out all three at a great distance but having gone with his Mavericks instead, he had to rely on his Sidewinders and his gun.

“Techno, on my mark I want you to jink right,” Snake said as he was getting closer, nearing firing range with his missiles.

“Understood, Grabcr One. Awaiting your signal,” Techno replied as he barrel-rolled to avoid another missile as it almost impacted with his stabiliser.

Snake counted slowly in his head as he drew nearer, ‘Three… two aaaaand…’ His HUD lit up and chimed, locking onto one of the Tigers, making Grabcr One shout, “Now!”

Techno jinked hard to the right as soon as Snake shouted. Snake fired at that second towards the locked-on Tiger. The pilot of the Tiger jinked upwards while the others jinked to the right and left. The Sidewinder Snake fired collided with the rear of the plane, connecting with the engine and detonating with force.

The resulting explosion ripped the plane apart into multiple fragments. Thanks to the g-forces the pilot was under as he pulled up, he was unable to pull the ejection lever to save himself and therefore died with the plane.

“Thanks Snake,” Techno said with relief, “I couldn’t get a shot in.”

“No worries, Techno. Take out the one on the right while I take out the other Tiger,” Snake said as he banked after one of the Tigers.

“You got it, Snake,” Techno replied as he turned his plane around and flew towards at the other Tiger.

Snake chased after the Tiger, keeping his throttle down so he would not shoot past his target while trying to fly at a fast enough speed that would not result in a stall. He lined his plane up as best he could but the Tiger barrel-rolled and dove downwards, towards the ground. Snake followed after him, firing a few rounds at it, trying to gun it down.

The Tiger’s pilot felt his plane shake about as the bullets collided with the fuselage, causing several malfunctions as wires and cables were hit and subsequently severed. As the pilot tried to level his plane, his HUD lit up with a red lock-on warning. He yanked hard on the controls, trying to lose the lock but it failed as a Sidewinder collided with front of the plane, destroying it and killing the pilot instantly.

Techno was having a far easier time as the dogfight was now a simple one-on-one. He switched his active loadout to his QAAM and kept his plane comfortably behind the Tiger. The pilot kept trying to throw Techno off as she engaged her afterburners, only to quickly apply her plane’s airbraking system and jinked in an attempt to get behind Techno.

As the Tiger did it again, Techno jinked in the opposite direction. The pilot thought she had tricked him and pulled her plane around to try get behind him but Techno had brought his plane around to face the Tiger head-on. His HUD chimed happily as the Tiger was locked on and Techno wasted no time in firing a missile.

The Quick-Manoeuvre Air-to-Air Missile had the same range as Techno’s Sidewinders except it was able to keep track and chase the target better and could only be used for dogfights. The Tiger jinked hard as it pulled upwards but the missile was both faster and more manoeuvrable, colliding with the Tiger. Luckily the pilot was able to eject in time, a parachute could be seen as the pilot silently cursed Techno as she slowly floated to the ground.

“This is Grabcr One. All targets in the South District have been dealt with, any news on the other Districts?” Snake asked over the radio as he and Techno assumed a formation, flying side-by-side as they flew over the South District, heading for the Heart District.

“You are the second squadron, Grabcr. Vampir is finishing now and the Wonderbolts are almost done,” Twilight responded. “You are cleared to head for the Heart District.”

“Understood, Eagle Eye. We are on our way,” Snake said as he and Techno engaged their afterburners.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Meanwhile, as Grabcr, Vampir and Galm were busy in their respective districts…

“Let’s do this everypony! You know your jobs, Wonderbolts Two, Four, Six and Eight are to take out the ground targets while the rest of us keep their tails safe from anything in the air. You all got that?” Rainbow said over the radio as they flew over the North District.

The rest of her flight all sounded off, understanding the strategy their flight lead wanted to use as they broke off into two separate formations with four heading towards several anti-air emplacements near the train station while the rest of the Wonderbolts flew to intercept four MiG-29 Fulcrums that were patrolling the area around the Northern District.

The Wonderbolts were outfitted with unguided rocket launchers and the four who were to guard against air threats were outfitted with long range air-to-air missiles. Due to the fact they were to minimise collateral damage, they had to be careful when using their rockets.

“We got two SAMs and a tank by the train station, take them out Wonderbolts,” Rainbow said as she switched her active loadout to her XLAA loadout.

“Got it, Wonderbolt One,” Spitfire responded as she led the four planes towards their targets. “Split up and engage at will everypony but keep it precise if you are using your rockets. We still need a functional train station for when this operation is completed.”

Misty Fly, Soarin and Surprise all responded in the same way to voice their understanding of their attack’s parameters. They all split up to take out the three targets, preferring to keep to their standard missiles over their rockets as they did not want to risk a stray rocket damaging the train station.

“Stick together, everypony and take them out from long range. We are not going to waste time playing with them and that includes you, Dust,” Rainbow said as the four Gripens were about to get in range of the Fulcrums.

“Understood, flight lead,” Lightning responded as she activated her XLAA loadout. “And I was looking forward to a good adrenaline rush too…”

“Maybe another time, Lightning Dust but for now we take them out and assist the others on the ground,” Rainbow said in a mildly sad tone as her plane chimed happily. “Got a lock.”

“Locked on,” Lightning called out.

“In my crosshairs,” Blaze said as his plane locked on as well.

“Ready to fire,” Fire Streak called out as the targeting box around one of the Fulcrums turned red and two boxes at 45° to each other overlapped.

“Fire!” Rainbow said as she fired all four of her missiles with the rest of her flight doing the same.

The other three Gripens fired at the other three Fulcrums but kept flying towards them should their targets evade their weapons. The Fulcrums jinked hard and deployed countermeasures to assist evading their small pursuers.

“Fire again, everypony!” Rainbow shouted as her plane’s M.A.R.S. reloaded her plane’s hardpoints.

The four Gripens fired once more, creating sixteen smoke trails once again as they tried to bring the Fulcrums down from long range. This time their attacks made contact and destroyed the Fulcrums, creating a small hailstorm of metal and fire as it all fell to the ground below.

“Sky’s clear! How you all doing at the station, Spitfire?” Rainbow said as the four Gripens kept their formation.

“Railway’s clear, Wonderbolt One. Moving onto the rest of the Northern District now,” Spitfire said as the other four planes engaged other ground based targets near the station, working further into the city.

“Awesome work. Let’s lend them a hoof shall we?” Rainbow said as she was the first to break formation, flying towards one of the self-propelled AA vehicles.

The other three Gripens voiced their confirmations and broke the formation entirely, flying towards different targets on the ground. Lightning got targeted by a SAM and was forced to break off her attack but Soarin strafed the offending SAM, taking it out and making the green tinted mare pout under her helmet.

The sounds of confirmed hits, evading of missiles and the odd shout of anger at an AA battery for scratching their paintwork took over most of the radio chatter as rockets flew from their tubes, some missing and hitting the building behind the target or blowing a hole in the road/ground in front of the target, receiving a few shouts of anger and/or frustration in the process.

“How many more of these bucking SAMs are there?!” Rainbow shouted in frustration as two of her rockets missed a SAM, colliding with a flower shop to the right of it but she still took it out by performing a strafing run before getting to close to the ground and pulling up.

“I am reading tree more SAMs in your district, Dash,” Twilight responded as she checked her radar. “I also have a helicopter taking off not too far from your position. I guess one of the higher ups must be trying to flee.”

“I got him. He’s going nowhere other than to Tartarus,” Lightning said as she switched to her XLAA loadout and locked onto the chopper.

“Lightning, that helicopter is not a priority target. I suggest we leave it alone,” Rainbow said forcibly.

Lightning Dust didn’t respond, choosing to let her plane do the talking as she fired a single missile at the retreating helicopter. Sadly the helicopter didn’t have any countermeasures and was instantly destroyed as the missile collided.

“Celestia damn it, Dust!” Rainbow shouted in anger, “Will you follow orders for once in your life?!”

“Sorry, Wonderbolt One but I couldn’t just let the chopper leave without them realising the consequences of their actions,” Dust responded as she returned her active loadout to her standard weapons.

Lightning could hear Dash sigh through the radio whether it was on purpose or a mistake, Lightning wasn’t sure. “Fine, Lightning… Eagle Eye we are almost finished in here and are getting ready to head for the Heart District.”

“Understood, Wonderbolt One. You are the last ones to finish up, the others are already flying towards the Heart District now,” Twilight said as the AWACS made its way to the Heart District as well.

“Got it, Twi. Move out Wonderbolts,” Dash said as the last SAM was obliterated by a small salvo of rockets.

The Wonderbolts all formed up into one formation and flew together towards the Heart District.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

On the ground in all four districts, chaos had ensued and it stemmed from the attacks the Equestrian Air Force and the mercenaries were doing.

Crystal Ponies came out of their homes while the Griffons were distracted by the aircraft and attacked them with common household items until they managed to steal the Griffons’ firearms. While they mostly fumbled them in their hooves, they made for decent, makeshift clubs.

Even the ground forces assisted in adding to the confusion and mayhem as Allied tanks and APCs drove into the streets, firing at any Griffons that tried to stop halt their advance. Armed ponies got out of the APCs and opened fire while Pegasi flew and attacked any Griffons that tried to fly.

The calmness in the air was a mask to the mayhem below as more fires broke out throughout the four Districts. The sounds of cannon and small-arms fire rang in the streets as the Griffons were continuously pushed back towards the Heart District while a few tried to retreat out of the city. Most got either captured or killed.

A group broke into the church that was within the East District, taking down the Griffons occupying it. A pony grabbed the handle to the main church bell with his teeth. The aging, brass handle was cold and tasted terrible in his mouth but she pulled down with all her might, brining the rope down and making the bell swing.

The birds in the steeple flew off as the large, ornamental bell rang once before swinging to the other side, ringing again as the pony yanked for all she was worth. A stallion joined in, grabbing the rope itself and jumping up as the bell swung after the rope was pulled.

The third member of the group was grinning like he had won the lottery, “That’s it! Ring the bell louder! Let the sounds of this bell symbolise our freedom! Make the whole city hear this sound!”

In the midst of the confusion, one could hear a loud yell containing a single and simple word that rang to the heavens, competing with the church bell, “YEAAAH!!”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Pinkamena turned her head to regard the bell she was hearing through the radio, thanks to the allied ground forces, “Hear that, Buddy? Sounds like the locals found a reason to fight…”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

The Heart District was a crucible of destruction, all centred near the Crystal Spire Palace as whatever remained of the Griffons’ ground forces were systematically wiped out. Galm, Grabcr, Vampir and the Wonderbolts had secured air superiority over the outer districts but the Heart District had barely any aircraft patrolling it, sealing the Griffons’ fate.

Missiles, bombs, rockets and bullets rained from the skies, coming from the four squadrons as non-priority targets were taken out by the mercenaries for good measure as well as the standard targets.

Hastily made, temporary barracks were destroyed as the mercenaries either strafed them or burnt them with their explosive weaponry.

Whenever one of the mercenaries or one of the Wonderbolts were forced to break of their attacks, their wingpony would take out the target in their stead.

As Galm One swung her plane around to strafe a SAM, her radio and everypony else’s radio was interrupted by one of the tank platoons, using an emergency communications line.

“This is the 32nd Armoured Division. We are under attack from two A-10 Warthogs and could use some help,” One of the tank commanders said in a slight panic as an explosion nearby took out one of the tanks.

Cipher’s ears perked at the request and instantly pulled off her attack, increased her Eagle’s throttle all the way to the maximum and engaging the afterburners as a result. While she was unsure why she was responding to the call, a large part of her told her she had to help.

Pinkamena didn’t miss a beat as she noticed her flight lead’s instant change in targets and turned around, flying as fast as her plane would allow to catch up to Cipher with a knowing smile on her face. “You’re a bleeding heart, Cipher.”

“You take out the right one, I’ll take out the left. Take them out quickly,” Cipher responded as she changed her active loadout to her standard missiles.

“You got it, Buddy,” Pinkamena answered as she made sure she was using her standard missiles.

The A-10s noticed the approaching Eagles and banked to leave the area at full throttle. Sadly A-10s were nowhere as fast as Eagles and Galm caught up to the cowardly pilots with minimal effort. The A-10s banked but it was rendered a hopeless tactic as the Eagles locked onto the Warthogs and fired as they flew towards them at high speed.

The Galm team fired two missiles each at their respective targets and flew straight past them, their planes’ engines roaring with the afterburners still at full blast. The missiles easily hit home against their slower, less manoeuvrable targets. One A-10 lost a wing and spun wildly out of control until it met the ground and annihilated a pony’s poor cabbage stand.

The other Warthog was completely destroyed as the missiles collided with it and ignited the fuel. Nothing but a hailstorm of metal fragments and fire fell to the ground. Both pilots had ejected in time and slowly came back to the ground, only to be captured by the Allied forces.

“This is Eagle Eye. All stationed forces are retreating from the city, or have been neutralised. Good work, everypony!” Twilight shouted in glee, barely able to stay in her seat from the sheer joy of the situation. “Let’s head home!”

“Drinks all around!” Vampir One cheered as Vampir Squadron took formation.

The respective squadrons all began to form up with Galm being the furthest away but they were in no rush. The sounds of the church bell still rang loudly through the city as ponies cheered. Some took notice of Galm’s assistance of the tanks and seemed to be looking up at Cipher’s Eagle with admiration as she flew by.

Cipher sadly could not see it but she could very faintly feel the collective emotions from the citizens. She could sense all the signs that pointed to them feeling hope for the first time in ages, a joy that resonated all the way to the Crystal Heart. The Heart began to spin at high speed before firing a beam of light up through the Spire Castle and out the very tip, forming ribbons of many bright and beautiful colours. The ribbons reached out into the horizon, far beyond even the pilots’ higher perspective.

“Hear that, Buddy?” Pinkamena said with a genuine, rare smile as one of the ground forces radioed in, enabling the pilots to hear the cheers, the cries of joy echo in their helmets. “That’s what freedom sounds like.”

Cipher felt a sense of pride within herself, a feeling she was not too accustomed to. She banked a little, flying past the Spire Castle and seeing the crowd gathered at the base, cheering. It made her smile a little to feel that much joy coming from those she felt would shun her the moment she ever revealed her true identity.

Galm Two levelled off, flying on Cipher’s right as they flew to regroup with the rest of the squadrons. Twilight laid back in her seat, taking her headset off with her magic as she sighed, “Thank Celestia…”

“Looks like everything went without a hitch didn’t it, Princess?” Thunderlane commented as he looked back at Twilight.

“Don’t go jinxing it, Thunderlane. Murphy’s Law wo-” Twilight was cut off as the radar pinged, indicating two new contacts. Twilight grumbled as she placed her headset back on, “Remind me to teach you what not to say before, during and after an operation… or ever for that matter.”

Thunderlane merely grinned sheepishly as he returned his attention to the controls. Twilight cleared her throat as she looked at the radar, “Galm, we have two bandits moving in at high speed. You are the closest to them s-”

“So you want us to intercept them?” Pinkamena interrupted as Cipher already broke formation, heading towards the new enemies.

Twilight sighed, “Am I that predictable?”

“Kinda but I guessed you would send us,” Pinkamena replied.

“Why?” Twilight asked in confusion.

“Because we usually wind up in these situations either on purpose or by accident,” Pinkamena answered. “Not that I mind, we manage to pull it off in the end but it’s just our luck that this happens.”

“Sorry, Solo Wing…” Twilight said sadly.

“Like I said, I don’t care. Let’s give them hell, Cipher,” Pinkamena said as she joined Cipher’s side before she and Cipher broke formation.

Twilight turned to the other ponies in the AWACS, “I want to know who the latecomers are, yesterday!”

The crew began to frantically try to identify the bandits.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

The two planes flew towards Galm with their afterburners at full blast, tearing clear across the sky as their radio was filled with retreat orders from the ground forces.

“This is Gelb One. Looks like we’re too late,” The pilot of an Su-37 Terminator by the name of Orbert Jager said as he and Gelb Two broke formation, speeding towards Galm.

“Let’s take them out,” Gelb Two – whose name was Rainer Altman – replied as he switched his active loadout to QAAM.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Galm One dove, with Gelb Two giving chase as Pinkamena simply flew head-on towards Gelb One, firing a few rounds before jinking right. The rounds sadly missed their target entirely. Jager returned the favour, firing a small burst of rounds at Pinkamena as he gave chase.

“I got a tail and I am fairly happy with my own thank you very much,” Pinkamena grumpily commented as she evaded a missile lock.

“Get ready to switch targets,” Cipher said as she jinked, avoiding a small burst of bullets from Altman in the process as she flew towards Pinkamena.

“Gotcha, Cipher. Just give the word,” Pinkamena replied as she few towards her flight lead.

The two Eagles flew towards each other and turned their planes at 180°, with their cockpits facing away from each other. The two Eagles flew dangerously close to each other, nearly scraping each other’s air intakes and engines as they passed by.

Gelb broke off their chase, not wanting to collide with their winggriffon or Galm. They banked in opposite directions, with Cipher and Pinkamena in hot pursuit this time. Pinkamena was behind Altman’s Terminator with Cipher firing a few rounds at Jager.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Anypony got anything yet?!” Twilight shouted with slight anger.

“Afraid not yet, Princess,” One of the ponies replied as he continued to search through several files.

“We should go help them!” Rainbow shouted as she and the other three squadrons turned around and sped off to assist Galm.

“No,” Twilight said forcibly, “You get in the middle of this and you may just get them killed anyway. Nopony is to interfere… not until there is a victor…”

“And if Galm loses?” Soarin asked. There was a slight pause that made an eerie chill run down everyone’s spine before Twilight spoke again.

“Let’s pray that doesn’t happen,” Twilight answered sombrely.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Cipher fired another small burst of rounds, only for Gelb One to avoid it yet again by jinking hard to the right. Her HUD was barely managing a missile lock before Jager out-manoeuvred her in his Terminator.

“Gelb Two, let’s give Galm a taste of their own medicine,” Jager said as he flew towards Gelb Two.

“Understood, sir,” Altman responded as he did the same, flying towards Gelb One.

The manoeuvre was slightly different to Galm’s as they banked and flew almost parallel to each other, with Galm trying their hardest to keep up. Jager flew on the right with Altman on the right. Gelb One lowered the throttle and jinked left with Gelb Two increasing his throttle and jinking right. The two planes’ paths intersected as they flew past each other in opposite directions.

Galm however didn’t miss a beat, switching targets once again with Cipher trying to get a lock on Altman this time. She took a deep breath and decided enough was enough. She began to fire a burst of bullets every time Gelb Two got so much as close to her crosshairs.

Her HUD barely rang for a second but she fired a missile anyway, making Gelb Two’s plane give the pilot the customary, standard red warning. But Gelb Squadron had a trick up their proverbial sleeve and with the press of a button, Gelb Two’s active loadout changed to his QAAM.

Cipher banked right, following Gelb Two but all of a sudden her HUD lit up red as a missile flew towards her from Gelb Two. She jinked as hard as she could, deploying countermeasures to aid her evasion. Cipher turned her head as she watched the missile fly past her, her mouth wide open but still hidden under her helmet.

‘Did that plane just fire… backwards?!’ Cipher thought in pure confusion. ‘Since when was that possible?!’

“Pinkamena, caution. It appears they can fire their missiles in reverse,” Cipher warned as she gritted her teeth, focusing her ire at Gelb Two who fired another missile at her, making her barrel-roll out of the way and deploying countermeasures again.

“Kind of figured that out already, Cipher,” Pinkamena answered with slight anger in her voice as she fired a small burst of bullets at Gelb One who had just fired a missile at her. “Buck you, griffon!”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“If only we arrived sooner,” Gelb One said sadly as he evaded Pinkamena’s attack.

“I just can’t shake this one!” Gelb Two shouted as he dodged yet another missile from Cipher. His cockpit was filled with the sound of constant missile alerts. “Just what kind of pilot is she?!”

Cipher kept firing missiles at Gelb Two at every opportunity she got, getting a slight warning from her M.A.R.S. as she was starting to get low on missiles. She knew it was slowly getting to Gelb Two as he tried to get away from her. Gelb Two could feel his hands shake very slightly on his controls as he jinked to the right with Cipher in tow.

The mare was glaring daggers at her target as she fired another burst of bullets at the Su-37 Terminator, barely grazing the fuselage. Gelb Two looked back at his radar as he barrel-rolled and dove towards the ground. Cipher turned her plane hard and followed, her Eagle locking onto Gelb Two and firing two missiles.

“Damnit!” Gelb Two shouted as he deployed countermeasures and pulled up.

Cipher though wasn’t finished as she fired another short burst of bullets, this time making contact and tearing a small hole in the right stabiliser as she and Altman levelled off somewhat. Gelb Two flinched, ducking his head reflexively as he heard the rounds pierce his cockpit from behind and fearing they would hit his head.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Gelb Two’s momentary flinch gave Cipher an opening as her HUD showed a lock on, accompanied with the same sweet chime that made Cipher smirk almost evilly under her helmet.

“Galm One, Fox Two, Fox Two!” She cried out, releasing two Sidewinders from her plane as she pressed the trigger hard, firing a full on barrage of rounds at Gelb Two.

The missiles ploughed through the Terminator’s wings as they detonated with force. The bullets Cipher fired shredded her target’s engines, making them break apart as the fuel reacted badly to the increased area to combust.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“I’m hit!” Gelb Two shouted as he wrestled with his plane and finding his controls to be of little use as his plane was now wingless and making a beeline to the ground.

“Bail out. That’s an order,” Jager said quickly.

“Roger and good luck,” Altman answered as he slammed his back against his seat, making sure his head was straight with the rest of his body, he pulled the ejection handles that sat between his legs.

The canopy ejected from the plane as Gelb Two was successfully ejected from his plane. What remained of his aircraft flew into the dirt with a smash, creating a small crater. Gelb Two cursed under his breath as he saw Cipher change course and fly towards his flight lead.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“That’s a kill for Galm One!” Twilight said happily as a dossier was placed nearby. She glared daggers at the pony that levitated it to her. “You’re a little late, don’t you think?”

The stallion’s ears turned, moving backwards as he cringed a little in fear. “S-sorry, Princess.”

Twilight sighed, “Well, better late than never I guess…” Twilight opened the dossier and began to read it. After a few moments, she placed it back down, “I doubt Galm actually needs to know who they’re fighting though. They’re already doing a great job. Everything we have here is pretty much useless but I’ll inform them during the debriefing.”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Pinkamena was nearly seething with rage as Gelb One fired another missile at her while she was the one chasing him, “I swear if he does this one more time, I am so going to make sure he dies in flames!”

Pinkamena rolled as she evaded the missile and tried to get back behind Jager’s Terminator. She didn’t manage as Jager had jinked upwards, easing on the throttle and getting behind her instead. He pressed the trigger on his controls and fired a burst of bullets at her.

Pinkamena’s Eagle was pelted with more rounds, a lucky round colliding with one of her rear stabilisers and wedging itself inside, cutting its range of motion. If Pinkamena was angry before, she was now at a state of blistering fury that could only be matched by a supernova. Or Twilight whenever she passed her threshold but Pinkamena’s mane and tail didn’t burst into flames.

She pulled back on her controls and increased her throttle, climbing high into the air. Jager followed with surprising ease, firing another burst of bullets as he tried to get a missile lock on her. Pinkamena stopped as her plane was climbing at a steep 80° degrees. She then twisted her plane and dove, her afterburners going at full blast.

Again, Gelb One followed with intent to finish her. Cipher on the other hoof was close by, trying to find a way to get into the dogfight as she fired a small burst of rounds at Jager before breaking from her attack. Cipher’s interference forced Gelb One to break off lest he suffer a crippling malfunction from the side-attack.

This gave Pinkamena her opening as she closed the throttle and pulled up hard, trying to turn on a proverbial dime. Jager soon found himself in Pinkamena’s crosshairs. The pink mare instinctively found herself not only firing her main gun but also a pair of Sidewinders as well as she cackled, increasing her throttle so she wouldn’t stall.

“Burn in Tartarus, motherbucker!!” Pinkamena shouted, laughing insanely at the top of her lungs as every fibre of her being wanted nothing more than to see her target burn.

The bullets tore through the Su-37’s cockpit, critically injuring Jager. As he tried to eject, the new pain that wracked through his body made his claws shake as he gripped the handles. As he pulled, Pinkamena’s missiles made contact. His vision was quickly consumed by fire and smoke as his plane was blown into shrapnel, taking his body with it.

Pinkamena sighed as she and Cipher took formation, calming down somewhat to a more manageable level. “Thanks for the assist, Buddy.”

“Operation complete. Great job, everypony and fantastic job, Galm Team. You showed them who’s boss,” Twilight praised as she heaved a sigh of relief.

“Yeah, well I didn’t plan on walking back to base,” Pinkamena said sadly.

“We did it! The Crystal Empire is free again!” Rainbow Dash cheered, getting similar shouts of joy from the rest of her squadron.

“Now we push into the Hydrian Line,” Snake said.

Twilight nodded her head, “Correct, Snake. Our jobs only keep getting harder.”

“Don’t it just?” Solace remarked with a grin as Vampir flew in a tight column formation.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Below the planes as they flew off, the entire city was filled with cries of triumph and mourning. Lives of both citizens and the Allies own forces were lost but it was a price worth paying in the eyes to those who gave their lives. Crystal Ponies were giving the soldiers gifts of every kind but even the soldiers looked to the skies as Galm flew past, finally exiting the city alongside the rest.

Needless to say, Galm – Cipher in particular – had made an impression on everypony’s mind.

Author's Note

Looking up at this.... daayum.... Longest chapter ever for this fic and I doubt it will be the last to ever reach this length. THe reason that it was so long is because this kind of operation is not something that could easily be put into just under 4k and quite frankly works better this way. Up to you though if you liked all four squadrons getting the spotlight.

Offensive Campaign No. 4101: Operation Gelnikos

Ace Combat: Shattered Friendships
Offensive Campaign No. 4101: Operation Gelnikos
Author: Draconis187

Amidst the eternal waves of time. From a ripple of change shall the storm rise. Out of the abyss peer the eyes of a demon. Behold the Razgriz, its wings of black sheath.

The familiar call came out once again for the mercenaries to assemble in the Briefing Room, exactly four days after Operation Choker One. The Galm Team were slightly still agitated about having been used as a meagre distraction but it worked out in the end for all concerned so they agreed to finally bury the hatchet. Their successful dogfight with Indigo apparently reached the ears of the Crystal Empire as well as the occupied Equestrian cities and for the first time since the start of the war… they had hope.

The mercenaries were sat next to each other at their usual seats but something strange was sitting next to them. Cipher and Pinkamena were sat next to each other. The events of the previous operation seemed to bring them closer as wingponies… even if they still basically ignored each other’s presence.

Twilight walked into the room and was just as shocked at the sight before her. Shaking it off, she commenced the briefing, “Everypony, it’s time for us to begin with our first real attack. The combined military forces of Equestria and the Crystal Empire will now be referred to as the ‘Allied Forces’ for simplicity’s sake. The objective of this new joint campaign is to secure a sea transit line for our forces in the air and on the water. We have all called it ‘Offensive Campaign No. 4101.’ What it means for us is that there will be three air missions as we assault the Friendship Canal.”

The pilots gave each other a few mixed looks as Twilight started up the projector, “First is Operation Gelnikos. This is an air-to-air/surface operation. The objective is to wipe out the Griffon air power, port facilities and any surface weapons that pose a threat to the next two operations. Next is Operation Round Hammer. This is a strictly air-to-surface operation. The objective is to wipe out the Griffon’s fleet, port facilities and surface weapons. Lastly is Operation Costner. This is an escort mission that will begin once Gelnikos and Round Hammer have been completed. Costner will have you basically babysitting the fleet as it passes through the canal. Expect heavy air resistance.”

Twilight took a deep breath before continuing, “The Crystal Empire 3rd Fleet will be making the push, alongside their new, state-of-the-art aircraft carrier, ‘Cadence’s Heart’. You mercenaries will have a choice of which one to participate in. Choose carefully which one suits you and your planes. I’ll give you one hour.”

Twilight left the projector running as it went through the various slides of the three operations, from the possible forces they believe is stationed there to the layout of the area. As the mercenaries began to talk amongst themselves, Cipher got up and walked to the front of the room. She cleared her throat and caught everypony’s attention. They all went deathly quiet as if a demon was standing before them, ready to strike.

Cipher pressed a button on the projector and the slide stopped at Round Hammer, “There are three mercenary squadrons so we should take one each so that each has an equal chance of succeeding. Grabcr has two different planes and because of this they can adapt to respond to air and ground threats simultaneously. Therefore I suggest either Round Hammer or Gelnikos. Vampir, your Su-27s are nimble air-superiority fighters and would be best used in Costner. This is also due to the fact that you are the only squadron consisting of more than two planes and that will better the odds of the fleet getting through.”

Solace grinned, “So the mysterious mare is giving orders? This will be interesting.”

Cipher visibly shuddered, “Then Grabcr, Gelnikos or Round Hammer? Pinkamena and I will take the other… if there are no objections?”

Pinkamena shook her head, “You’re my flight leader and I’ll go with your decision.”

Snake and Techno looked at each other and nodded their heads, “We’ll take Round Hammer.”

Cipher nodded and looked at Pinkamena, “That leaves the two of us take Gelnikos.”

Pinkamena got up and walked out of the room without responding. Seconds later she returned with Twilight who was smiling happily. She resumed her position in front of everypony and cleared her throat.

“Thank you for coming to a decision so quickly. We’ll fly out immediately and rendezvous with the fleet. We are going to be launching Operation Gelnikos immediately while the rest will launch from the carrier after each of the operations have been accomplished,” She said, showing a picture of the carrier in question on the screen, “Dash, how are the Wonderbolts going to be handling this operation?”

Dash looked to her group who nodded their heads at her, “We will be splitting into three groups with Spitfire, Soarin and I leading each of them. I will be leading Misty Fly and Lightning Dust through Round Hammer under the codename Spectrum Strike. Spitfire and Blaze will be assisting Galm in Gelnikos using the codename Firestorm. Finally Soarin, Surprise and Fire Streak will be helping in Costner as Hurricane.”

Twilight nodded her head and switched the projector off, “Alright then everypony, get ready to sortie in two hours.”

**** **** **** ****

Eagle Eye was lined up on the runway as usual as the pilots finished checking and outfitting their aircraft. Techno’s Black Widow had been outfitted with Mk.77 Napalm bombs while his flight lead went for the XAGM loadout consisting of AGM-65G Mavericks.

Galm went for a mixed loadout, with Cipher handling the bombing as she outfitted her Eagle with Mk.84 2000lb bombs. Pinkamena went with the XMAA loadout so she could clear the skies for her flight lead.

Vampir went for a solely air-to-air loadout, consisting of R-77RVV-AE (AA-12 "Adder") XMAA missiles. The Wonderbolts also varied their loadouts depending on the operation they were participating in. Spectrum Strike went for ARAK 70 rocket launcher pods. Hurricane were utilising an XLAA loadout consisting of MBDA Meteors. Finally Firestorm had outfitted themselves with BK-90 (DWS 39) Glide Bomb Stand-Off dispensers.

Each plane sped past the control tower in fairly quick succession, causing a few ponies to lose their balance and fall onto their flanks due to the shockwave. One dropped their ‘World’s best sister’ mug, smashing it and spilling its contents across the floor. Needless to say, Aloe wasn’t too happy.

**** **** **** ****

Three hours of uneventful flying began to end as the Friendship Canal began to come into view in the horizon. Down below on the water was the Crystal Empire 3rd Fleet. Twilight made last minute checks on all the communication systems as Galm and Firestorm flew on ahead to begin Operation Gelnikos.

“Galm, Firestorm, eliminate all Griffon forces stationed at the port,” Twilight called out.

“Firestorm 1, roger,” Spitfire said over the radio.

“Firestorm 2, understood,” Blaze responded.

“Galm 2, got it,” Pinkamena called out.

“Galm 1, acknowledged,” Cipher said monotonously.

“Firestorm 2, we got a pair of F-20As heading our way. Keep them off Galm at all costs,” Spitfire ordered.

“Understood Firestorm 1. Engaging hostiles,” Blaze responded, breaking formation as the two Gripens went head-to-head against their opponents.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“They're here already? That’s faster than our estimates but still within the margin of error,” A stationed soldier remarked.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“There’s the counterattack signal,” A Crystal Pony remarked as his plane moved in to engage, “I've been waiting a long time for this day.”

“Cipher are you getting this? Eagle Eye, my radar is getting disrupted and I can’t see a thing,” Pinkamena called out.

“It appears they're using radar jamming equipment to mess with our systems. I suggest you can locate their facilities and destroy them, your radar should clear up afterwards,” Twilight replied, “They're messing with my radar as well so I can not help you find them. Try looking where the interference is the strongest.”

“Understood Eagle Eye,” Pinkamena responded, “Any ideas Cipher?”

“The interference appears to be concentrated on the canal’s left side. Take out anything that resembles a jammer,” Cipher ordered as she switched to her free-fall bombs.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Meanwhile the rest of the Wonderbolts as well as Vampir and Grabcr Squadron had landed on the Cadence’s Heart. The Crystal Ponies were very hospitable and thanked the pilots for helping them in their time of need so they can mount the counterattack.

A Crystal Pony wearing a navy blue navy uniform came up to them and greeted them as they got out of their planes, “I am Captain Barricade of the Cadence’s Heart. Welcome, I hope you're ready for today’s operation.”

Solace grinned, “We were born ready, right everypony?”

Snake and Techno nodded their heads while the Wonderbolts grinned confidently. Barricade shook his head, “I hope those big heads don’t get you into trouble. Make sure your planes are ready, we are launching you the second Gelnikos is completed.”

He turned around and walked up to the bridge to keep an eye on Operation Gelnikos.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Galm One, you have a plane on your tail!” Twilight warned as an Su-27 fired off a few rounds, scraping Cipher’s wings.

“I got him Galm One! You just worry about those jammers!” Pinkamena responded, coming to her flight lead’s aid.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Postler One, you have an F-15 on your six. It’s Galm’s number two so watch yourself,” The stationed forces’ makeshift control tower warned as Postler 1 heard a missile lock alert.

“I can take care of this. Postler 2, take out Galm Two,” Postler One ordered as Cipher tried to shake him off her tail.

The controller gave a deep sigh, “Watch yourself anyway. They took out Indigo Squadron in B7R.”

“Duly noted,” Postler One deadpanned as Postler Two.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Come on, make Pinkamena smile,” Galm Two mumbled to herself as Postler One managed to shake her missile lock.

The Su-27 banked right as Cipher feinted right, giving Pinkamena an opening without having to worry about hitting Cipher in a possible crossfire. The trigger depressed and bullets flew out of the F-15’s main gun. A few slammed into the right horizontal stabiliser, reducing his manoeuvrability somewhat. As they both pulled upwards, another Flanker came towards the duo, firing off a short burst of bullets.

The burst tore a hole through Pinkamena’s red wing and broke the cables for the right aileron. Pinkamena was in a small tight situation as Postler Two came around for another passing attack and she could barely keep on Postler One’s tail.

“Galm Two, Fox Three!” Pinkamena called out as her missile flew from its rail and collided with Postler One, “Well, at least I get a consolation prize.”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“So much for the infamous Solo Wing Pinkie,” Postler Two remarked as she got a missile lock, “Postler Two, F-”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

Postler Two burst into flame as Firestorm One and Two flew across their flight path, unleashing two lines of bullets as the Flanker was almost torn in half before flames engulfed it.

Pinkamena looked back and saw her two saviours break formation to engage the rest of the air forces, “Thanks for the save Firestorm.”

“Anytime Solo Wing,” Spitfire responded cheerfully, “Now hurry up with things on the ground so we can get started on the rest of the Campaign.”

“This is Cipher, I've found the jamming facilities and am beginning my attack run,” Galm One informed as she switched to her bombs, two out of the four jamming facilities in her sights.

“Galm Team, watch out! There may be SAMs and AA guarding their facilities,” Twilight warned as she continued to survey the battle from the AWACS.

“This isn’t our first party Twilight. We have this in the bag,” Pinkamena bragged as she lined up to take out the remaining two jammers.

“I-I know… I just don’t want to lose any of you,” Twilight responded, her voice beginning to break up slightly.

“We’ll be back before you know it. Galm Two, bomb away!” Pinkamena called out, pressing the trigger and dropping one of her bombs.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

The griffons on the ground looked up and saw the two Eagles flying around. Their honour and duty refused to allow them to leave their posts… even when the whistle of a falling bomb is growing ever louder.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“Jamming facilities destroyed!” Twilight said, confirming the destruction of all four jammers, “Radar’s all clear now, go get them everypony!”

“Cipher, we have some targets on the other side of the bank. Permission to take them out while you take out the ones here,” Pinkamena requested, as an AA emplacement tried to take her out with a barrage of bullets.

“Granted,” Cipher responded as she fired a missile at a SAM site. The last thing the Griffons saw was a thin metal tube hitting the SAM and detonating the ammunition.

Pinkamena flew off towards the right bank as Cipher lined up her plane with some enemy barracks, dropping a 2000lb metal alarm clock on the Griffons sleeping inside.

“Firestorm One, dropping Stand-off!” Spitfire called out as the SOD flew over a small fuel depot, dropping its payload as it went, “Well, that’s a really beautiful fire if there ever was such a thing.”

“Only you could say something like that,” Blaze commented as he dropped a SOD over a group of stationary trucks, destroying them as he flew past.

“Keep it up everypony and we can get Round Hammer going,” Twilight stated as several ‘blips’ on her radar vanished from view, “They’ll learn what happens when you cross the Allied Forces.”

<----> ---- ---- <---->

“So, how are they doing?” Solace asked Barricade as he entered the bridge of the Cadence’s Heart. Ponies were muttering orders and confirming kills to the forces in the air as they ignored the mercenary.

“So far so good. They should be done soon so I suggest you get ready to take off right now,” Barricade deadpanned as he didn’t look back at Solace.

“Got it. I’ll go tell Grabcr now,” Solace said, slightly disheartened that the captain refused to look at him when he asked a simple question.

<----> ---- ---- <---->

The area around the mouth of the canal was starting to fill up with fire and smoke as Galm and Firestorm proceeded to annihilate SAM sites, AA emplacements and take out a few of the merchant ships stationed at the docks.

“Looks like that’s almost all of them,” Twilight stated as she kept an eye on the radar, “Firestorm, how are you holding up?”

“We’re fine Twilight. A few close calls with a SAM site but nothing we weren’t trained for,” Spitfire responded as she and Blaze chased down an F5-E that tried to attack Galm One.

“Firestorm One, Galm Two has picked up a tail. We should split up,” Blaze suggested as his radar detected a Mirage heading towards Pinkamena.

“Take him out Blaze. I’ll cover Cipher,” Spitfire ordered as her plane got a missile lock, “Firestorm One, Fox Two!”

The missile flew off and collided on the left side of the plane’s fuselage as it banked in an attempt to avoid it. As the plane burst into flame and crashed into the water, Blaze had already set off to help Pinkamena.

“I can’t shake this plane!” Pinkamena complained as her right wing was still refusing to move.

Pinkamena pulled up and flew at a near 90° angle with her assailant following suit. She wrestled with the controls as a burst of rounds pierced the canopy, causing her to cringe.

“Where is my support?!” Pinkamena shouted desperately, her words barley audible as the wind shear drowned most of her voice out.

As the wind howled through the broken canopy, the Mirage’s back half quickly became close friends with a Sidewinder missile, “Thank Celestia! About time Firestorm One!”

“That wasn’t me. I just got here,” Blaze responded as he flew past her.

“Then who-?” Pinkamena muttered but she was interrupted as she noticed a familiar F-15 with blue markings flying by. She chuckled to herself as she shouted over the howling wind, “Thanks Buddy!”

“Galm Team, Firestorm, I’m reading all targets have been eliminated. Operation Gelnikos is a success, I repeat: Operation Gelnikos is a success,” Twilight said as the four planes got into their respective formations for the trip to the aircraft carrier, “Solo Wing, I’m informing the Cadence’s Heart of your plane’s condition. They’ll be ready to repair it once you touch down.”

“Understood,” Pinkamena deadpanned, “The stationed forces aren’t giving us any quarter. Tell the others to expect fierce resistance.”

“Will do Pinkamena,” Twilight responded.

**** **** **** ****

As the four planes were readying to land, the next group - Grabcr and Spectrum Strike - were already taking off to begin with Operation Round Hammer. Misty Fly was the last to take off, clearing the runway as Pinkamena had been opted to go first as her plane was in the poorest condition and needed immediate attention.

“Clear the runway!” Barricade’s voice bellowed, ponies were scrambling to get out of the way in a hurry as the captain’s voice somehow echoed across the deck, “And get those damned mechanics ready!”

Pinkamena’s plane shakily landed on the runway, threatening to topple over as she landed on the front and left wheel first for a few seconds before the right wheel found the tarmac. Cursing as the plane skidded to a halt, the F-15 was then lead to the carrier’s lower depths where a team of mechanics with blowtorches and spare parts were waiting with serious looks on their faces that said: ‘Challenge Accepted’.

Galm One was the next to land, followed by Firestorm as they landed less than two minutes later. As their planes were placed below deck, the Crystal Ponies were cheering for the pilots at their success. To them, it all fell to the others to complete their jobs. Solace and Hurricane joined in the cheers just to be polite and to support their fellow pilots.

**** **** **** ****

Spitfire walked past the cheering crowds after securing her plane below the ship’s deck to find out that Cipher had already left her plane and was helping Pinkamena fix her plane which had suffered far more extensive damage than the former Wonderbolt captain had originally thought. How it was still able to fly to the carrier was a miracle in itself. Pinkamena’s Eagle seemed to be a very durable aircraft and a testament to the plane’s - as a whole - survivability record.

“How are you girls holding up back here?” Spitfire asked as Cipher switched off the blowtorch that was sat next to her.

Pinkamena groaned and let out a disapproving sigh, “Not well. I swear they need to make these planes out of tougher stuff. The metal it’s made up of now is not cutting it and the higher ups are insisting on making us go into the toughest hotspots in this theatre.”

Spitfire looked around and noticed that the team of mechanics were nowhere to be found, “What happened to the ponies that were supposed to be helping you fix your plane?”

Pinkamena smirked, “I told them that if they so much as touched my plane they would end up as a confectionary treat.”

Spitfire’s eyes bulged slightly, “Uh-huh. Why?”

“It was funny… to me anyway,” Pinkamena explained as she gave a small giggle, “Watching a group of ponies tripping over themselves as they tried to run away was positively hilarious.”

“Cipher, you’ve been awfully quiet. Why are you helping Pinkamena?” Spitfire asked as Cipher pulled out the broken cabling with her magic.

Cipher shrugged her shoulders and carried on inserting new cabling into the hole in the plane’s wing. The ‘unicorn’ then walked up to the canopy and pulled on the flight stick.

Pinkamena watched the new cabling do their job as the aileron tilted upwards, “It works. She didn’t say anything when I asked her the same thing. She just ignored me and proceeded to assist the repairs without a word so I decided to not press the issue. How is Round Hammer going?”

Spitfire shifted uncomfortably, “Well, there has been… a complication.”

Pinkamena’s eyes bulged and her evil-looking smile returned in earnest, “Ooh, please do tell.”

“It’s best you see,” Spitfire responded, “Would you like to come along Cipher?”

Cipher looked at her for a few seconds before silently shaking her head. Pinkamena shrugged, “Suit yourself.”

As the pair left, Cipher turned her attention to the plane. She wanted to help with the repairs so she could better understand the inner mechanisms of the F-15. She saw a few electrical wires running through the plane but luckily the bullets missed them. The damage to the canopy was also easily rectified as she levitated a new canopy onto the plane’s back before removing the currently damaged one from the plane. She looked around and saw the Crystal Ponies were eying her intently as she worked.

They didn’t know of the Changeling’s past, nor did they know who she really was but she could feel as if they knew something she didn’t and it was unsettling. They went about checking their assortment of aircraft and handing one another documents all while passing a few glances at her as the canopy clicked into place. Suddenly being alone on a ship surrounded by ponies that are giving her an irritatingly disturbed feeling forced Cipher to stop what she did and go off in search of the bridge.

**** **** **** ****

Finding the bridge was an easy task after a Crystal Pony pointed her in the right direction. The large room was filled with the remaining Wonderbolts, Vampir and Pinkamena. They looked at the radar as the communications came from all sides of the room.

“Mission accomplished,” The sound of Snake’s voice came over the radio, “It’s your turn Solace.”

Solace nodded his head as he, his flight and Hurricane turned to leave, “Got it, we’re leaving now. Captain…”

Barricade gave a curt nod before shouting into a microphone, “Listen up everypony! We are commencing with Operation Costner! Get to your stations, we are leaving immediately!”

The carrier and the surrounding ships sprang into life as ponies ran across the decks, desperately trying to get to their various stations as quickly as possible. Operation Costner had begun…

Author's Note

Sorry for the delay in my update for this story. This is the first part in a three part operation. I will be doing the same thing with the next three part campaign. Postler is one of the three squadrons that make up the Winds of Futuro. Any theories as to what happened in Operation Round Hammer that made Spitfire uneasy? The one who guesses correctly gets an internet cookie.