Note: This is going to be my first Ace Combat story I've done and with all the AC5 stories I've read *Coughs*TheAcesofRazgriz,LengendaryAces:TheLegendofRazgriz,andTheRazgriz*Coughs* I sure have big shoes to fill -w-; No sweat... Any ways! I give tanks to pir84lyf, Doran Maya, and Blaze118 for inspiring to write this fanfic. Now for a disclaimer to say that I do not own anything of the Ace Combat franchise or any concept character said in the franchise. Now onto the story!
Prologue: Renton Aryhart is who I am
-Blaze-
When a person is just a kid, they have dreams of what they want to be when they grow up. For some they want to be a construction worker while others want to a businessmen or even a famous surfer or skate boarder. But, for me I've always had a dream of being a pilot. My father was a pilot and he was the person that I would always look up. He'd take me up sometimes for a joy ride around and in the sky I felt free. The more he took me up, the more I fell in love with the sky and I soon had a hardened resolve to become a pilot after my father. Though that dream was nearly shattered with the start of the Belkan war. My father was away on base for who knows what and my younger sister was away down in southern Osea visiting my grand parents leaving myself, my mother, older brother and sister back in our home. But two days after my sister had left for my grand parents home was when it all happened. I was only 7 when Belka started the war but on that day my world was turned upside down and my life was changed for ever. That all happened 15 years ago, and now I'm here to follow in my dads foot steps in becoming a pilot.
Heierlark Air Force Base
September 21, 2010
I sat in the cockpit of a F-5E Tiger waiting in line with three other pilots waiting to taxi off the runway when my instructor hollered over the radio.
"This is Capt. Vixon Braun, to tower. Am I clear for takeoff?"
"This is the tower, You are cleared for take off Capt. Braun." He applied full throttle and I watched his plane shoot down the runway before the next pilot took his spot to take off. Today was the day that would test my skills to the max. This day was the day to see if this batch of trainee pilots will drop or pass to protect the skies of Osea. Today I'm flying with one of few people that I would trust my life with in the sky, Kei Nagase. I've never gotten to fully know Kei in our time on Heierlark, but she was 23 and of Japanese descent and too was going to see if her training was enough to best our instructors. Though from the first day I've seen her on Heierlark, I knew that it was going to be a crush on first sight.
"This is tower to both Edge and Blaze, you're clear for take off." The tower radioed and I nodded as I applied full throttle to my plane. It rocketed down the runway before I gained enough speed to take off. I pulled the stick back steadily and the nose of my plane slowly lifted up until my plane followed it up. With the wheels off the ground, I still felt at home in the sky and a small smile crept up on my face behind the oxygen mask I was wearing. Retracting my gear, I looked behind me to see Kei was following close behind. We both leveled off at 6,000 feet and followed our instructors to the correct destination before the called over the radio.
"All right. Today will be the final test to see if you will pass basic flight training. Filbrik and I will be flying against you two and we will hold nothing back. Survive the next five minutes or shoot us both down will be a victory for yourself. We don't expect anything from our top two students. You are to keep on flying your current heading until you get bounced by us."
"Roger that." Both kei and I said in unison.
"Show us what you're made of!" Both Braun's and Filbrik's plane disappeared into the clouds below and both Kei and I had our eyes pealed for any flicker of a canopy or a blip on our radar. I looked behind us in case when a blip on my radar said there was a target right behind us coming through the clouds.
"Edge, bogy 5 o'clock low!" We both broke formation as one of the instructor's planes broke the clouds surface and went to tail Kei. I was about to roll around to latch onto his tail when the second fighter broke the surface as well and latched onto my own.
"I got you now Aryhart!" I yanked the stick hard hard going into a high-g turn and I grunted slightly under the pressure of the g's before I snapped the stick the opposite direction trying to shake off the instructor from my tail. Cutting the throttle, I pulled back on the stick to bring my plane up, causing more drag and reducing airspeed to get up n the instructors tail. Leveling out, I pushing the throttle again and went on to peruse the instructor. He was pulling many maneuvers to try and shake me from his tail but I staid glued on his tail when the tone of a missile lock hummed in my ears. I quickly snapped my stick to the right and back pulling another high-g turn breaking off my engagement to have the second instructor follow me. I looked back to see if the one I was tailing had turned on me but I was confident as I saw Kei trailing him.
"You defiantly are one of the top students I've ever had Aryhart, but time's up." Braun sneered over the radio I smirked as I kept on flying.
"It's defiantly been fun sir," the tone of a missile lock on myself rung in my ear, "have you ever seen a Cobra loop performed in one of these Tigers before?" Yanking the stick up, I cut throttle and pulled my air breaks to perform a vertical corkscrew into a loop right above Braun. I could see him looking up at me from his canopy before I fell in behind him obtaining a missile lock and shot him down. I looked over my shoulder to see Kei pull a barrel roll over her attacker and she trailed for a short second before she too shot down her instructor when the control tower finally called in.
"This is the control tower, objective completed in 2 minutes and 18 seconds! That's amazing!" My eyes widened since a regular dogfight like this would take about 4 to 5 minutes, but for us to take out our instructors just over 2 minutes is amazing.
"Jeez, I feel like the two of you could be the new Cipher and Solo Wing Pixy..." Muttered Filbrik and I just smirked at his remark.
"If you only knew Filbrik" I thought before both Edge and I formed up on our instructors tail.
"Alright you two. Lets return to base. You both pass with flying colors." Braun said and we all landed back at Heierlark to be greeted with a mob of young cadets that either had just transferred into the base for training or been with us from the beginning of my own training here. However, little did they knew that before I came here, I was trained by none other than the Cipher. Cipher... No, my dad was the one that saved me from the depression of the war. He taught me to fly and love the sky; for the sky to become a second home for me. He taught me that there's going to be people out there that want to turn it into a place of darkness and I will have to be its guardian. During the war, my dad became the guardian for the sky. Cipher allegedly disappeared after the war but only a selected few know the truth myself included. I smiled knowing that I have my wings now and that I can go up to protect the sky but I took a glance at Kei to see she was smiling some as the cadets surrounded her, but it was only a mask she had put on. Her eyes were filled with sadness and loneliness. We both went our separate ways to change out of our flight suit but Kei was still on my mind as I closed my locker door and I kept on thinking why she had that sad look on her face all the way down to the mess hall. Getting my food, I looked towards some friends that I've made here at Heierlark but then I saw Kei who was sitting all alone picking at her food. I knew that she didn't really get close to anyone but I didn't realize that she didn't have any friends. That's something I had to change for her. Sitting down across from her, I took a fork full of spaghetti and she looked off into the distance away from me before I swallowed and tried to start up a conversation.
"So tell me, what's on your mind?" She just kept on looking away from me with that blank distant stare that I as to familiar with. "If you don't want to tell, then go right head. You know my mother would always read me a story of this princess that nursed this injured dove back to health and then she herself got sick and the dove went on to help her? Just know that I can be the dove for you and you my princess." I could see her crack a smile and I smiled as well.
"There, isn't that better?" She finally looked up to me and I could see some of that loneliness had disappeared. "So tell me princess, what is on your mind?"
"Well... It's just... I've always dreamed to become a pilot and now that I have... What now? I can go flying anytime I want but... What should I do next since I can fly whenever I want? I've never planed ahead for anything because flying was my dream but... What now?" I gave her a soft smile because I knew where she was going.
"My dad was a pilot and he too loved the sky. He was the one that taught me to love the sky but he also taught me something else. He taught me that I had to train to protect the sky." She looked at me a bit confused so I kept on explaining what I meant. "I know that we are currently at peace but what if some country or radical group all of a suddenly attacked? The skies wouldn't be at peace any longer and it's up to myself and my other pilots to protect that peace and take the sky back from the clutches of evil. You're getting where I'm going?" She nodded and her smile grew slightly.
"I've never thought of it like that. Being an angle that is sent to protect the sky." I smiled as well knowing that I've became her friend.
"You should smile more often Kei. You look nice with one-" I stopped myself as I realized that I said my own thought out loud and I quickly stuffed my mouth with some of the food I had before I could say anything more. My face was turning red from what I said and I glanced at Kei's to see her cheeks were flushed as well.
"AGH! Renton, you idiot! How could you let something like that slip out of your mouth!?"
"Y-You think so?" I looked up at Kei surprised and I nodded my head and that smile returned slightly and I just chuckled slightly.
"You do Kei." We continued to eat through dinner and we both talked about how we both flew and how we could improve in our flying when we both left the cafeteria Kei was called to the commanders office for who knows what and I just went back to my room tog et some sleep for the next day. The very next day, I went around to find Kei again to only find out that she was all ready shipped out to another base as a pilot and my heart sank slightly. I wish I could have talked to her more than that single hour we had. I've even got my own orders to be shipped to this base on an island right off of the coast of Wester Osea. I was assigned to the 108th Tactical Fighter Squadron, also referred to as Wardog Squadron, that was located on Sand Island Air Base and I smiled.
"So I did get assigned to him I see... He must have pulled some strings for me to be assigned here." I thought and I smiled as I packed my clothing and belonging before boarding the C-130 that was dropping off the different trainees at different bases and I was the last drop off for the flight. It was all ready kind of late when I first boarded the plane and I knew with all the stops and I knew when I finally land, it will be early morning. I got as comfortable as I could in the seat before I dozed off into an irritating sleep.
Sand Island Air Base
September 23, 2010
I was jolted awake when the plane finally landed and I looked sleepily at my watch to find it was 7 in the morning. I yawned and stretched before looking around me to find I was the last person on the plane. Unbuckling from my seat, the landing hatch finally opened and I smiled as I saw a person that I haven't in a long time.
"Well I'll be damned if it isn't uncle Bartlett." He gave me one of his stern glares that even now keeps me on edge.
"Cut the uncle business Aryhart. You either address me as Capt. Bartlett or as Sir. You got that?"
"Oh... Sorry about that sir." His glare lightened up and he smiled at me.
"Still, to you your mother and myself my sister, would be proud of how far you came. And you can only address me as uncle whenever we are alone. No one knows that you and I are related and I would like to keep it that way."
"Of course sir."
"Now that you are here, the room you're assigned to will be room 202. Go throw your stuff into it and check into the base commander. He wants to meet you then meet me down at the hanger." I saluted him with a small smile before leaving to find my room. I went into the barracks to find my room to find it was at the end of the hallway.
"198, 199, 200, 201, 202!" I looked at the door before entering it. It was nice and clean and it had a nice smell to it. Seeing how the bottom bunk was used even more than the top one, I chose the top one. I sat on the couch looking around to see what the room I'm going to be living in for most of my time here would be like when I got up again to go find the base commander. Walking to the main office, I followed the hall way before I came to a door labeled Perrault. Walking in, I could see this short fat guy who looked like he couldn't even pass the physical exam or even fit inside the cockpit. He scowled at me and I could all ready tell he's going to be an ass.
"So, you're the new recruit that was just shipped in?"
"Yes sir, I am."
"2nd Lt. Renton Aryhart is it?" "Yes sir."
"From what I've heard, you were one of Captain Braun's best pilots he has had. But you're on my base now so I don't care if you're the best pilot in base, a hotshot pilot, or even the god damn president! You're under my own control and I expect that you follow orders!"
"... Yes sir."
"I thought I told command that I didn't want anymore fresh pilots to be transferred here for me to baby sit. We don't need any more god damn pilots here and I have no idea why they just sent another one!"
"Note to self: Thank grandpa later for this." I thought as Perrault continued to rant on about how he didn't like me and I knew we both weren't going to get along well in the future when dismissed me from his office. Staying to Bartlett's word, I went down to the hangers to find Bartlett and this older man who was balding working on the F-5E's.
"Aaaahh, Renton, there you are. What do you think of our base commander?" Bartlett asked and I rolled my eyes.
"He's a total ass."
"Well, I could have seen that coming. It seems like he's got a poll so far up his ass, I don't even think it's possible to pull it out." The three of us shared a laugh when he cleared his throat to get back onto business. "Anyways, I would like you to meet the bases mechanic, Pops."
Pops stuck his hand out to shake and I grasped it firmly.
"I trust that you keep all the planes in perfect conditions?"
"The day that I keep a plane that isn't in its finest conditioned, tuned perfectly, and whipped down of all grease is the day when I'll be laying in a coffin my boy. These planes and my children and I keep them all in great condition." He patted the nose of the current F-5E he was working on and he looked at me. "Tell me, do you like going by your call sign or by your real name?"
"My call sign is Blaze but I don't really care what you call me to be honest." I shrugged and he looked back at the fighter patting it once more.
"Well Blaze, this fighter here is going to yours. She flies well and I can assure you, I keep her in better shape than the ones back in Heierlark." I looked down the line of all the fighters to see all of them were F-5E's except that one F-4 Phantom at the end. All of them were loaded with the standard munition load out and that interested me.
"Why all the fighters fully loaded? Isn't it protocol to keep all munitions stored in the ammo dump until it's needed?"
"That's correct but we've got a journalist here to cover us and we're going to take a hop in the jets real soon." Bartlett checked his watch and then looked towards the door to the hanger. "In fact, some of the pilots should be here to check up for their planes."
"And am I late captain?" I turned my head to the all to familiar voice and I came eye to eye with- Well I'll be damned, it's Kei Nagase from Heierlark.
"What are you doing here Princess?" She was as astonished as I was and she walked up to me before jabbing her hand into my side.
"I was going to ask you the same thing."
"You two know each other?" Bartlett looked between the two of us bringing his hand up to his chin.
"I knew her back when we were training back at Heierlark." He grunted in reply when this new guy came strolling in.
"So the lovely Nagase knew the new nugget from Heierlark eh?" A man with this goofy ass sideburns came strolling in with his flight suit on and looked me over. "You sure have an interesting pick in men Nagase."
She jabbed him in the side and he pleaded for mercy and both Bartlett and I shook out heads in disbelief.
"Oh, where are my manes. Names Alvin Davenport, call sign Chopper. Please, just call me Chopper." He stuck his hand out and I took it.
"Renton Aryhart, call sign, Blaze. You can call me Blaze." Pops had already went back to work on the fighter when I left to get my own flight suit on along with my boots. I grabbed my gloves and helmet before making it back out to the hanger. The rest of the trainee pilots along with two other instructors and the journalist were there.
"All right everyone! Gennette here is here to take photos of yourselves as if you were going into combat! I expect nothing less from all of you and if I think you're slacking in this flight, I will personally beat your ass when we land!" I could feel the tension rise around some of the recruits and I smiled.
"You're even a hard ass as an instructor Uncle? I guess once a hard ass, always a hard ass." i chuckled slightly at the thought before we all quickly made out ways to our panes. Gennette took the seat behind Bartlett in the F-4 while we all started our engines. My own plane and Kei's were on opposite sides of the hanger so I never got to see the number on her plane which I would come to regret later. We all started to start up our engines as we strapped in and people were all ready taxiing onto the run way. I started my own engine to get a good whirl as the turbine started to spin up when a small explosion shook my plane. My head snapped around to see smoke billowing out one of the engines and I quickly shut them down. Popping the canopy I looked back as Pops ran over to see what was happening.
"Jesus! What the hell happened this time!" He yelled as he looked at the plane. "I swear, there was nothing wrong with it when I did my checks earlier!"
"This is Blaze to Heartbreak One. I'm experiencing engine problems so I won't be able to make it up this hop."
"Aaawwww, really? I was hoping that I would get to see what made you such a great pilot... Oh well, I guess I will have to see another time... Lets jest get on with this normal day and give this guy the photo's he wanted." Though little did we all know was that this day wasn't going to turn out as normal as we all thought.
And this ends the prologue! I'm sorry if the air combat scenes are a bit bland. I'm still trying to get used to writing that and I'm going to need to do some more research into some of the more advance fighter tactics. I know how to do them... I just don't know the technical terms for them -w- Anyways, please review to see what you think!