30 August, 2015 1023hrs
Gracemeria Air Force Base, Emmeria

- 3rd Person's p.o.v. -

It was a peaceful day in the city. However, the base was on full alert of some possibilities that happen in their neighbor country, Estovakia.

Gab was making a phone call outside the hangar, talking to someone from the Joint Task Force she was in. She's been here for almost a year, and now become a Captain of a new squadron she owns after promotion. Its name is "Garuda", the 28th Fighter Squadron of the 8th Air Division, which was attached to the Republic of Emmeria Air Force's (REAF), which is currently comprised of only one member: Gab herself. The slots are still open for incoming transfers or new pilots.

Along with her own admittedly new squadron, there was also the 15th Fighter Squadron commanded by Commander Daniel "Windhover" Pollini, with his wingmen Lanner and Saker.

Another squadron, this time part of the Emmerian Navy's 2nd Carrier Air Wing, 2nd Strike Fighter Squadron, was commanded by a Captain Freddie "Avalanche" Durand along with wingmen Blizzard and Serac. They were currently at the air force base while their aircraft carrier is undergoing refit.

Other squadrons were recalled, but Talisman hadn't paid enough attention to the roster since he had only worked with Windhover and Avalanche squadrons. Not just as a squadron, but her friends as well.

Although her new squadron is mostly going to use F-16, Talisman prefers an F-15C since it was more maneuverable than the other, and her dad used it before during the Belkan War.

After making a call from the Joint Task Force, Gab began to call her dad. It took a few seconds of ringing before it picks up.

"Gab?"

"Hey, dad!" Talisman said cheerfully, "Just making a call just to make sure you and your mom are okay."

Her dad, Arthur, known as Cipher a.k.a. 'The Demon Lord', chuckles. "We're fine. Amelia and I are currently shopping for groceries for your small business."

Before this happens, Gab's parents visit her 5 months ago. Both women love baking which makes their business booming. But since her commander instructed all pilots needed at the base after Estovakia had gone silent, Gab leave her small business to her mother.

Talisman can't help but grin, "Looks like my business is booming."

Then her mother began to speak, who is currently collecting some ingredients. "Maybe you should build your bakery, sweetie. More and more customers are coming to buy your desserts."

"Thanks, mom. But being a pilot is my main job so maybe next time." Talisman said.

"You better rethink about it." A beeping sound has been heard from the phone. "Anyway, we're still shopping here, call you soon."

"Okay. I'll call you guys later then."

"Love you, Gab."

"Love you too Dad and Mom." Then the phone hangs up. Gab sighs, she stood for a while before checking the phone contacts. She looks at the number she had on her first few days on Gracemeria.

Pasternak's number.

They rarely see each other in person, but they managed to give a call to each other quite often, and then these two became best friends. However, 3 months ago, she never receives messages or phone calls from Pasternak, nor replied to her as well. When she found out something is happening in Estovakia, she became nervous about what happened to him. Especially him being a pilot who's fighting on an Estovakian civil war that just ended long ago. And it was caused by one thing: Ulysses.

Ulysses alone causes severe damage to the entire nation, damaging a great deal of their infrastructure and devastating their economy. Soon after, the news reported that their nation had fallen into a civil war-one that would last for years.

Eventually, the internal strife was brought to an end when "The Generals" came into power. In hardship, the citizens of Estovakia were convinced that the only way they could recover as a nation was to rely on a military government led by these "Generals".

Talisman curses the new Estovakian government again. Not only are she and her team aren't able to help rebuild their homeland, but they were cut off and never let enter the nation.

"Hey, Talisman!" She looked behind and saw Windhover approaching. He has short dark brown hair, grey eyes, caucasian skin, and has a well-built body hidden under his flight suit. "Glad to find you here."

"Hey, Windhover." Gab smiles. "Is there something you need?"

"I saw you made a phone call, who was it?" He asked.

"Oh, it is just my parents. They're shopping for my small bakery business."

"Huh, maybe next time you should build a bakery business here on the airbase. Who knew a lady like you will get so popular with your sweets."

"What are you now, Avalanche?" Talisman laughs, then it grew louder when Windhover smacks her arm gently with embarrassment.

"Yeah, Yeah." He chuckles. "Anyways, would you like to hang out with us at the eat all you can restaurant nearby? Avalanche will pay for us."

"Damn right I'm in." Talisman grins. "By the way, can you help me fix my plane with me for a while?"

Windhover checks her plane inside the hangar, outside seems pretty normal to him. "What's the problem?"

"The missile release is delayed, I need to fix the system." She walks towards her F-15C, then patted the nose of the plane. "And I have to ask the mechanics to make a few adjustments to the nozzle."

"Sure, no problem." He replied. Gab smiles and thanked him. "Alright, let's start working."

•=•=•=•=•=•=•

Gab's parents Arthur and Amelia left the library, which is near the river, after picking some new books to read. Cipher loves reading books ever since his mercenary days.

"You never stop reading books, are you?" Amelia asked.

"You already knew that I always read books since we met." Arthur said, "It was passed on Chris, too."

"Good thing Gab choose to learn how to bake from me," Amelia added.

"At least both of them got my flying skills and became Aces. Beat that." He said with a smug. Amelia pouts and slaps his arms, which her husband laughs hard.

At the sky, a Su-27 flew over Gracemeria. Arthur heard the jet engine sound and saw the plane coming in their direction. His wife looks as well.

"Do you miss flying, Arthur?"

"Yeah." He muttered. "It's just... That's a Su-27."

"What about it?"

He says while starring at the jet, "Gracemeria doesn't have Sukhois."

The jet began to launch a missile, flew its way to the King's bridge, and landed a hit. A lot of people saw the smoke coming from the bridge, and they began to worry and confuse.

"Arthur?" Amelia muttered, holding her husband's arm tightly. He was able to spot more planes coming from a far distance. At his shock, he saw several bombers coming.

"Amelia, we have to go."

"Arthur?"

One bomber began to drop its payload, detonating them to the city.

"Run!" He grabs her hand and they both ran away, followed by the people who went panic and run as fast as they can, as unknown planes begin to attack the city."

•=•=•=•=•=•=•

30 August, 2015
Gracemeria Air Force Base, Emmeria

After Talisman and Windhover worked on their plane, both took a rest, sitting at the hangar door while savoring their water. "Thanks for the help."

"No problem." He said, "At least the view's nice."

Gab laughs a bit and continues to drink. Out of nowhere, they began to hear the jet engine sound from the sky. She stands up and looks above, seeing a fighter jet approaching their way. Her friend followed after her.

"Wierd, we haven't seen someone take off from the runway," Windhover said.

"Orby, can you check what kind of jet it is?"

"Hang on a few seconds." Orby disappears for a short time before she talks back. "Gab, it's a Su-27."

"Su-27?" He caught her words and squinted his eyes to see the jet.

"It is. Why would someone-"

The jet began to burst gunfire at the airbase. Both pilots run and immediately dock to the hangar and cover their heads as bullets sprayed near them. They both immediately stood up.

"What the hell is going on?" Windhover took a deep breath from a near-death experience. Gab didn't respond as she took a breath as well. Then a loud air-raid siren began to blast to the entire airbase.

"Attention all pilots! Our capital city Gracemeria is under attack by unknown aircraft! Damage from the attack is widespread throughout the city! All planes, scramble and intercept all threats immediately!"

The Base Commander repeated the order over and over over the base loudspeakers, like some kind of chant meant to inspire the pilots to get up into the air even quicker than what they were trying to do.

"Let's suit up, now!"

They both sprinted towards the lockers room where all the flight gears are. Stepping in front of her locker, Gab pulled it open, immediately going through the well-honed process of strapping on her flight suit and Glock 17, holstering it in the flight suit's holster as she did. As pilots frantically gear up, they all ask what's on everyone's mind.

"What's going on?!" a pilot asked, confused about the situation.

"Is it an attack?!" another asked.

"Who cares? Get to your planes, on the double!" a gruff voice cut through the loud, confused chatter, prompting the pilots to do what they were told.

All around him, countless technicians, maintenance crews, and pilots were scrambling about their assigned planes, ranging from F-16C Fighting Falcons, F/A-18 Hornets, and its upgraded relative the Super Hornet, and Mirage 2000-5s.

She began to worry about her parents since they were still in the city. She prays that they survive this onslaught. Whoever attack them, Talisman knew that those were Estovakians.

"All planes, scramble and intercept all threats immediately!"

Gab finally reaches her plane, an F-15C Eagle painted in grey-blue along with her squadron insignia stenciled onto its fuselage and tailfin - a white bird emblem.

"Guide us for our journey." Talisman patted the plane, she quickly climbed up the ladder and into the open cockpit, strapping herself in and falling into a well-honed ritual of initiating preflight checks and the startup sequence.

Once the plane has started up, she taxis her bird to the runway, on both of her sides, Windhover's F-16 and Avalanche's F/A-18 also taxiing to prepare for takeoff.

Tapping into her onboard radio, Gab could hear the confused mutterings and exclamations of his fellow pilots, and occasionally intercepted enemy communications as well as Gracemeria's own radio station, all of them forming a rough image of what was happening in Gracemeria...

"They took out King's Bridge!"

"Who's even attacking us?"

"What the hell is going on!? Somebody answer me!"

"Jesus..." Talisman muttered. Not knowing if some civilians survive, including her parents, all she can do now is to give them a payback.

As Talisman continued to taxi onto the runway, aligning her plane with the lines on the tarmac road, she continued to hear the reports coming in from Gracemeria's defenders, which were becoming bleaker and bleaker by the minute.

"I want a damage assessment, now!" a male voice said, presumably part of the ground forces.

Another voice answered it, this time it was a bit frantic. "We've taken extensive damage from those bombers and piling up on civilian casualties!"

"Out of all things to be bombed, it has to be over civilians." Gab cursed. With three pilots at the runway making a final check, she called the control tower operator.

"Tower, this is Garuda 1. Requesting permission for takeoff." She said into the mike, activating and calibrating her heads-up-display (HUD) while she was at it.

"Are you ready, Orby?"

"Yes, I am!" Orby said cheerfully. Satisfied with her answer, she snap the mask on and hold the throttle lever.

"Garuda 1, you are cleared for takeoff."

"Roger Tower, Garuda 1 taking off!" Gab called, pushing the throttle to full afterburner. Yanking back on the stick, she felt her entire body flattened to her seat as her F-15 ascends off the runway with two other planes following her.

"All aircraft under airborne command's jurisdiction following takeoff, this is not a drill. I repeat this is not a drill!"

Talisman connects the radio to other squadrons. "Windhover, Avalanche, rush your wingmen now before we regroup with other squadrons."

"Roger that Talisman," replied Avalanche. "Shouldn't be too long now."

"Who would dare to attack our city?" Windhover asked, watching his wingmen taxiing to the runway after Avalanche's wingmen took off.

"Dips on Estovakians," Talisman called.

"You think so?"

"Their economy's been in shambles for years." Avalanche said, "If they are attacking us today, it looks like they've finally snapped."

Once all pilots are in the air, including their E-767, they all flew together towards the city. Not just the Air Force is coming, but also the Emmerian Navy ships, and Emmerian ground forces. Whoever decided to attack their precious city, they will pay the price.

"Airborne Warning and Command System Ghost Eye to all scrambling defense craft." Douglas' voice called over the defense net, callsign 'Ghost Eye'. "The situation has not yet been ascertained. We must implement an emergency reformation. Follow your individual instructions..."

While he was addressing the pilots, Talisman was leaning back in her flight seat, thinking over what kind of strategies she had to employ against the unknown aircraft. If she's facing an enemy Ace squadron, things will get difficult as she is the only one who has the most experience among the Emmerian pilots.

"Garuda 1, this is AWACS Ghost Eye, do you copy?" Ghost Eyes called over.

"Copy, Ghost Eye."

"I've heard you do not have a wingman." Gab rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Let's see here... Shamrock. Shamrock, are you alone too?"

"Yeah, I am." A man's voice called over the radio.

"Very well, as of now, you're Garuda 2."

"Okay."

Looking over her shoulder, Talisman saw another F-16 pulling up beside her. She'd heard that name before, Shamrock. He was one of the new pilots transferred to the base recently, and Talisman had seen him around a few times. He looked like a nice guy, pretty book smart too.

"So I'm Garuda 2," Shamrock said over the comm. "Garuda 1, I've got your back."

"Good to have you, Shamrock," Talisman said, relief evident in her tone. "I thought at first I wasn't going to have any wingman at all. Very bad idea if I do say so myself."

Shamrock laughed over the comm. "I hear you. I've only finished flight school over a few months ago, so I'm still learning the ropes."

Talisman chuckles, "Our best bet to stay alive is to watch each other's back, so stay on my wing Shamrock. The name's Talisman, by the way."

"Roger, Talisman. Good to meet you. I'll be on your wing at all times." Shamrock replied. "No time for introductions now, though. Go ahead, and I'll follow your lead. Never was good with directions anyhow..."

Gab laughed once more. "Roger that, Garuda 2."

Once they reach the city, Talisman saw several bombers and fighters already over the city. The skylines of Gracemeria were filled with choking plumes of black smoke billowing out from multiple areas. Chunks of buildings were blown off, debris were lying on the once beautiful street and the King's Bridge had collapsed. The symbol of Emmerian pride and wealth was gone.

It was a sorry sight, one which inspired anger and determination in the pilots rather than the despair the enemies were hoping for.

"Garuda Team," Ghost Eye said, "You are authorized to engage any hostile aircraft above Gracemeria."

Gab only clicked her mike as Shamrock replied. "Roger that."

Yanking her stick to the left, Talisman rolled her fighter into a smooth roll as she made her descent, the city limits coming up at her fast. A quick look to his right confirmed that Shamrock had indeed stuck to his win, only separating a few meters away.

"May the Golden King smiles upon us," Shamrock said over the radio.

Gab smiles, "And protect us too."

Once they've reached the city, the enemies detect their arrival and began to engage them. Gab check her HUD and spotted several fighters on their path.

"Shamrock, I got four F-14s and four Mir-2000s at my twelve. Take the four on your right, mine's on left."

A few seconds of silence passed before a reply came, "Roger, I've got tone on four bandits."

"Good." She waited for the radar to get missile lock on four planes. "Talisman, Fox 3!"

Four missiles broke away from her Eagle's wings before rocketing away. Shamrock's called followed as another four missiles streaking off from the distance, they waited until eight explosions occur and that's signal that the missile struck the target.

"Garuda team, splash eight bandits," Talisman called as she break off immediately from incoming enemy F-4E's gunfire.

"That plane is easy to take down." Talisman swiftly made a roll and then loop around the enemy until she was behind their plane. Then immediately launch off the missile and break off as she watched the plane's engine destroyed and fall to the ground like a ball of fire.

"Ghost Eye to Garuda 1, Talisman and Garuda 2, Shamrock."

"This is Garuda 1, we hear you loud and clear."

"We're currently in a state of emergency. Our nation is under attack by unknown forces." Ghost Eyes reported, "Do whatever you can to fend off the invasion."

"Garuda 2, roger that. Garuda 1, you call the shots." Shamrock called, wagging his wings to get Gab's attention. Gab checks her radar and began to highlight a flight of bombers on the eastern district.

"There's a flight of bombers at the east. Take them down with your guns only, don't want to waste missiles at those ugly bastards." Gab said.

Shamrock chuckles, "Roger that, Garuda 2."

They turn their plane around and flew east, spotting a flight of bombers dropping bombs over the city. Gab grits her teeth in anger as she pulls the trigger on one of the bombers with her wingman. The enemy B-52's have no match on their cannons.

Suddenly, a missile warning blasted to Talisman's cockpit as she immediately release the flares and break off before the missile hits her. She checks her radar and saw someone trailing behind her. "This is Talisman, I'm spiked here!"

"Hang on, Talisman!" Shamrock rolls up and inverted. Gab decides to bring the prey to him, so she flew to the side, as the enemy plane behind her exposed to Shamrock's missiles, both hit the mark.

"Shamrock here, I've bagged a kill!"

Gab chuckles with a grin under her mask, "Thanks Shamrock, now why don't you take care of bombers at southern district? I'll provide you top cover."

"Roger. Shamrock, engaging." They went to the next batch of bombers, as a cue Shamrock began to engage them. Orby alerted Gab of incoming enemy F/A-18 is about to line up for a missile shot at her wingman.

"Don't ever try you bastard." She rolled 180 degrees and dive down towards the Hornet as she unleashes a burst of gunfire at the engine. The cannons did the job with an explosion.

"This is Windhover of the 15th Squadron. The enemy is expanding its field of attack. Stay alert."

"Copy that," Talisman replied, "Ghost Eye, how are we looking at those bombers."

"There are few bombers left over the city." Ghost Eye reported. That was just good news, the bad news, however. "The other bombers are over Gracemeria Air Force Base."

Gab's blood ran cold as she heard the last transmission. There was no way they were going to make it in time to protect the base. Her thoughts were confirmed when one of the air traffic controllers radioed in.

"Our runway's been bombed to hell!" he said. "It's useless now!"

"Dammit. We can't resupply with our airbase is being bombed to pieces." Talisman thought. The city has become a battlefield between two opponents. She hopes her parents survive and hide somewhere safe or manages to get out of the city at least.

As they circled the northern district, picking off stray enemy UH-9 Huey helicopters and several airborne tanks still in the air, their radios squawked once more, this time the voice of Gracemeria FM's DJ on the airwaves.

"We interrupt this program for an emergency news report," he said. "Gracemeria is currently under attack by unidentified aircraft... The damage extends throughout the entire capital."

"This is Avalance, we've spotted cargo planes- shit, they're dropping airborne tanks!"

"Where are you now?" Talisman asked.

"At Northeast!"

"Avalanche, shoot those parachutes before they touch the ground, Shamrock, let's help our boys and take down those cargo planes!"

"Copy," Avalanche replied, "Serac, Blizzard, on me!"

"Roger. Talisman, I'll follow your lead."

While the Garuda team made their way to NorthEast, Gab heard Shamrock softly murmurs some words.

"Please be safe." He said with a worried tone from his voice. Talisman can't help but look at his plane.

"He must have family that is currently in this city," Orby said quietly.

"I can't even know whether my parents are alive or not." Gab grumbles. "No time to waste. Time to finish everything off."

As Emmerian pilots fight against invaders, Ghost Eye managed to get an ID on them. As expected, he wasn't pleased with the conclusion. "Ghost Eye to all forces. We've got an ID on the invaders. We're currently engaged with the Estovakian military."

"So Talisman was right," Avalanche said.

Windhover scoffed, "So these bastards think they can just barge into someone's house without even calling first? Rude."

"I say we teach 'em a few manners before we kick 'em out," Shamrock replied. "That'll show them not to mess with us."

Talisman laughs, "Then let's show them what we got!"

With combined forces of the Air Force, Navy, and Army, the Emmerian soldiers slowly push back the Estovakians. The chance to score a victory was growing slimmer and slimmer by the second, and it got to the point that if something wasn't done to flip the cards back in favor of Estovakia, they would soon be run right out of Gracemeria with their tails tucked between their legs.

"The Estovakian threat level is even lower now. Drive them out of Emmeria," announced Ghost Eye, a small grin forming on his face as success was within their grasp.

"You heard the man. Let's wrap this up!"

"Shamrock, I've spotted 3 F-14s at our 10," Gab said, seeing the enemy planes approaching them. "Take them out."

"Roger. Garuda 2, engaging."

"Garuda 1, engaging."

Thrusting their planes in afterburner, engaging the enemy planes from head-on, they launch out their missiles as it trails smokes from the rocket. Two of the F-14s have little time to react as they are both hit by missiles directly to the cockpits and explode in great balls of fire. The third one was able to dodge the missile and perform a barrel roll and loop, now pursuing Shamrock.

He was somehow able to break off from his tail and made a couple of dodges and turns before Shamrock gets a lock on the former predator. "Shamrock, Fox 2! Fox 2!"

Two missiles flare out of his weapon bay and made their way to the enemy, and both destroy the target. Talisman is impressed by how skilled he is despite them having just met each other since the start of the battle.

"The Estovakian threat level is down. We should be able to take them now," reported Ghost Eye to his pilots, Avalanche snickering to himself after shooting down another Estovakian pilot.

"Looks like the Stovies are runnin' out of steam. Had enough boys?" he taunted.

"Don't start yet Avalanche, we don't expect something hiding behind their sleeves," said Talisman. She can's help but gets an uneasy feeling on her body. Ghost Eye never said anything about the enemy reinforcements sending here yet. There are always big surprises coming from the opposite side, and yet they haven't shown it.

"And the pilots here are not that hard to take down." Gab thought to herself, "When are they planning to unleash their trump card?"

•=•=•=•=•=•=•

"Aigaion to Strigon team. We are prepared to launch."

Over the Fuscum Sea, Emerging from the clouds was the giant manta-ray-like flying craft that Estovakians had launched from earlier to commence the attack, its hull glistening in the sunlight.

Approaching low to the water a few miles ahead of the large craft was a twelve flight of black and red Su-33 Flanker, the symbol of a grim reaper standing with his scythe in a shield emblem with a red background shown proudly on their vertical stabilizers.

"Strigon Leader to Aigaion. We will commence mission operations once your delivery is complete." The leader replied. They all bank left and ascend to the sky.

"Attention all aircraft. Targeting drones are in position, we are ready for Nimbus launch." Said the commander of a giant aircraft.

The hexagonal silos on top of the beast began to open up into three triangular doors that folded back and in on themselves, revealing six individual missiles contained inside each silo as warning lights started flashing inside of them.

"Begin the countdown."

"Booster ignition complete. Launch in five, four, three, two, one...fire!"

With a loud hiss, seven of the large missiles were fired out of a couple of the silos, their smoke trails zooming away from the ship before braking slightly in the air and straightening out their path to begin soaring straight for Gracemeria.

Eventually, the giant missiles caught up with the black and red fighters, who had risen from the water and stuck together in close formation for their entrance into the city from the bay.

"Engage the enemy at will following Nimbus impact." the leader of the Strigon said. "Finish them off!"

•=•=•=•=•=•=•

Orby began to feel something showing up, a lot of them. "Gab! Something's coming from the Northeast!"

Gab became fully alert and scan around the area, in just a few seconds, she saw what Orby just mentioned.

"Cruise missiles incoming!" Talisman yelled at the comms.

"What?! Where?"Avalanche exclaimed. She didn't have time to say anything as the cruise missiles reach the airspace. She switched to air-to-air missiles to destroy incoming cruise missiles before they could hit the ground. Before she marks them, she notices the missile didn't arch downward, but instead it spreads out in the airspace and they did what they were designed. They all exploded at the same time.

Those who were caught in the explosions got their plane damaged, loose control, and explode in mid-air.

"Multiple cruise missiles just detonate in mid-air!"Avalanche reported, watching as his comrades rapidly lost altitude. "Half of our planes just wiped off the radar!"

"Orby, are you seeing this?!" Gab thought as she avoids the explosion of one of the cruise missiles.

"Yeah! They're like burst missiles from Hrimfaxi and Scinfaxi five years ago!" Orby said.

"To think that Estovakians have these weapons in their hands..."

"Multiple cruise missiles incoming!" Ghost Eye warned, seeing another batch of cruise missiles on their way.

Talisman grunted, switching to the Emmerian military frequency. "Everyone listen up! Drop below 2000ft! Evade as much as you can!"

There were calls of skepticism as to her fellow wingmen vented in fear and anger. Luckily, Windhover cut them off with a stern order.

"She's right. They're no ordinary cruise missiles." He said seriously, "You heard the lady, drop below 2000ft and evade like hell if you want to live!"

"Damn it!" Shamrock had cursed, "What about our city? What about Gracemeria?"

"Prioritize on staying alive first!" Talisman ordered as she breaks off sideways from the explosion, grunted from the shockwaves it caused. She pulled her fighter near the King's bridge, or what was left to it.

"A large-scale explosion has occurred in mid-air." Gracemeria's FM DJ announced, "No further details yet. I repeat..."

When Gab thought this is the only trump card Estovakia have, she's wrong. She managed to catch the eye of the incoming large squadron of Su-33 Flanker coming in their direction. Somehow, Ghost Eye reported to the allies first. "Warning! Additional enemy planes have been spotted on radar. You don't want to know how many."

"Ghost Eye, this is Talisman. Mark these twelve fighters as high-risk targets." Talisman said, "I have a feeling they're Estovakian Aces."

"Copy, Garuda 1. Be careful out there, Ghost Eye out."

"All fighter pilots, engage those enemy fighters!" She blasts the plane to the afterburner and approaches the incoming enemy fighters.

"Windhover here, We got your back," Daniel said, trailing off behind the Garuda team.

"Avalance, engaging the enemy as per your order, Garuda 1." Talisman smile and finally face off to the foe.

"This is Strigon 12. Target acquired." A young voice said over the Estovakian net, "Moving to engage."

Just then, another voice followed the first, this one had a deeper and commanding tone to it than the first speaker which painted a picture of a severe man with stony features, meaning the voice belonged to their leader.

"Calling all Strigon planes," the voice said, "Gracemeria shall be ours for the taking."

"Roger." Another voice called in.

"Talisman, Fox 3!" She fired all four missiles at the group of Flankers, but somehow they all break off and swiftly evade them all. With the group split up, she trails behind one of the planes and tries to get a missile lock but the Estovakian pilot made an insane pull, rolls, turns, and such, especially with the help of their maneuverable plane. Gab began to hear cries and fear from her airmen that got shot down by them.

"Shamrock, how are you holding there," Talisman asked a missile warning sound blasted from the cockpit as she releases flares and evades the missile immediately.

"Not looking good! I've been trailing this guy for 30 seconds!" Shamrock replied the missile he launched was missed after the enemy he trailed dodged it. "They have to be Aces!"

As much as she felt intense, she instead felt excitement coming through her body. It has been five years since she faced Ace pilots like them. Ever since the near end of the Circum-Pacific War. Talisman chuckles and holds her mask.

"Say Orby, why don't we show the talent of the former Razgriz?"

Orby chuckles, "Well, I can't stop you from doing it anyway."

She looks around for any possible targets to take, luckily someone brought one. "This is Windhover, I've been spiked by a Flanker!"

His plane is potted at the west side with an enemy Flanker trails behind him. Gab calls him, "Talisman to Windhover, bring that bastard to me and break off immediately when I said so."

"Are you sure? These are Aces we are dealing with!"

"Just trust the process." It took a few seconds before Daniel flew towards Gab with a special delivery. She waited for a perfect time, and with a few hundred meters closer to each other. "Break, now!"

Windhover yanked his F-16 for an immediate dive, grunted from the G-force. As the Flanker was about to follow him, Talisman immediately launched two missiles and flew straight ahead to the Flanker's canopy, explodes into a fireball, and falls to the water.

"Garuda 1, splash one Flanker!" Gab called cheerfully amidst shocked exclamations coming from the airmen. She punched the throttle to max and made a left turn to pursue another Flanker. While the Stovie pilot tries to break her off from him, Talisman unleashes a burst of gunfire at a perfect time. She's able to break off one of the Flanker's wings and begin to fall into a death spiral.

"What's happening here? Two of our planes have been shot down!" the young pilot's voice sounded again.

"They seem to be more skilled than I imagined..." the severe veteran's voice said again, "Especially that pilot in an F-15."

Gab wipe the sweat on her forehead, she didn't realize she's been in the battle for so long. She only has one missile and half gun ammo. "Shamrock, give me a round count."

Shamrock grunted, presumably from the high G's he's hitting from. "I've got 2 missiles and an almost empty gun."

"Shit. We can't resupply with our base destroyed..."Talisman hissed as she avoid incoming enemy missiles. Not only that, more and more pilots are losing because of the enemies. The Emmerian command made a final choice.

"This is Ghost Eye to all planes." Their air wing commander said sternly over the comm. channel. "Air defense command has ordered an evacuation."

Gab paled considerably at those words, and he was certain all the blood had drained out of his face when he heard the next sentence.

"You've been ordered to give up Gracemeria." Ghost Eye said solemnly, but there was an underlying layer of steel in his voice, meaning that his words were not a request.

Stunned silence filled over the comms. Talisman grunted from the decision but somehow agreed to Ghost Eye. More and more men are losing in a battle if they keep this up further.

"Are you out of your mind?!" Windhover yelled angrily, "We can't comply with that order!"

Ghost Eye spoke again, his voice steady and calm. "We are militarily at a huge disadvantage," then his voice turned hard. "Comply with the order and head west."

"This is Avalanche, we're not going anywhere." the navy pilot said fiercely as he grunted, no doubt performing another crushing high-g maneuver.

Gab could almost hear the sigh in frustration from the AWACS's voice, and despite the bleak situation, she couldn't help but smile a bit. He's dealing with patriotic Emmerian pilots. Luckily, she made the right choice in joining the Republic of Emmerian Air Force, any forms of engagement are allowed as long as it doesn't involve casualties or excessive collateral damage.

Somehow, she wants to take down at least one more Flanker before retreating. She flew to one of the Flankers and looking outside the canopy, she gave a two-finger salute and flew off. No doubt the enemy pilot began to trail her from behind.

"Listen! It's only temporary!" Ghost Eye said, half exasperated and half pleading. "The plan is to withdraw, meet up with all remaining forces from each area, then regroup for a counterattack."

There was a small, tense silence as the pilots let the new information sink into their adrenaline-pumped brains, and Ghost Eye continued.

"We can't afford to lose you." He said quietly, and then his voice became stern. "Follow the order."

"This is Garuda 2 to Garuda 1," Shamrock called quietly over the radio, and Jack already knew he was just as upset as the rest of the wing. "We really should get out of here."

"Just give me a minute!" Gab yelled. Shamrock spotted her being trailed by the enemy Ace. The Flanker fires the cannon at her plane, damaging slightly some parts of it. When she flew in a straight line, the pilot took an opportunity to line up for a missile launch.

"Good, that's one less loose end." She forcefully raises the nose upward and decreases the speed at the same time, performing a Cobra on an F-15. And once she back on her speed and now finally is behind the plane, she launches her last missile at the plane and fired her remaining bullets until she is out of ammunition and breaks off.

She looked behind and saw the damaged Flanker still flying, but smoking and slowly losing altitude. What she didn't know is she took down the leader of the Strigon team.

"Strigon Leader is hit!" the younger pilot, Strigon 12, said frantically. "Are you alright sir?!"

"Damn it! My plane has taken quite a hit." Strigon Leader said, grunted as he kept up his plane from falling "I don't think I can fly like this. Gracemeria is now under our control. All planes return to base. Strigon 2, I'm leaving you in charge."

"Roger, Lt. Colonel Voychek." The voice from the start of the battle said. "I'll take command from here. I hope you make it, sir."

Talisman regroups with the other pilots "Everyone, follow Ghost Eye's orders, as much as I want to fight, with this condition, we can't. I'm sorry."

There was a moment of silence. Windhover sighed, giving up from the conflict. "This is Windhover, disengaging from the airspace."

The rest of the Emmerian pilots finally turn around and head west. "I can't believe we're leaving Gracemeria behind to the enemy..." Avalance said somberly.

"We're coming back for it, Avalance. Count on it." Gab said.

He sighed, "Hope you're right, Talisman. Avalanche out."

Gab glanced at the city one last time before leaving, she prays that her parents survive.

"I promise we'll be back for you." Gab heard her wingman say quietly, "Just a little longer."

And so, with Gracemeria slowly growing further away behind them, the remnants of the REAF withdrew to the west, unsure of what awaited them in the days to come.

•=•=•=•=•=•=•

"Our military has escaped destruction because of your valiant efforts on the battlefield. But our capital Gracemeria has been temporarily occupied by Estovakian forces, and our central government has been usurped by them as well. The nation of Estovakia had declared war with our country as it simultaneously launched a surprise attack on Gracemeria. In response, the Republic of Emmeria's political council unanimously adopted a resolution of open war against the Federal Republic of Estovakia. Our forces remaining on the Emmerian mainland are still fighting in desperation to protect our country. Once our intelligence has been sorted and confirmed, the Republic of Emmeria's armed forces must immediately regroup and counterattack against the Federal Republic of Estovakia. The beautiful country of Emmeria belongs to us, and only us -- the Emmerian people."

•=•=•=•=•=•=•

As Emmerian pilots are flying towards Khesed, Gab turns off the radio and sets her plane on autopilot. She forgot to bring her phone before taking off, and without knowing her parents' condition, she have to use some magic.

"Orby, can you connect the line to one of my parents' phones? See if you can call them."

"I'll try." With Orby doing her job, Gab patiently waits for answers, taking deep breaths. It took a short while until someone answer her call.

"Hello?"

"Dad!"

"Gab? Is that you?" Arthur asked.

"Where's mom? Where are you now?" Gab asked frantically.

"Calm down, Gab. Your mom is with me." He replied, "We aren't able to leave out of the city so we are currently hiding somewhere safe."

"Oh thank God." Gab felt relief now that she can hear their voices and knew that they were still alive.

"Is that a jet engine?"

"Uhh... Yes." She answered.

"So you calling me while you're on the plane?"

"Actually... I ask Orby to link up to your phone." She sighed heavily, "We're heading to the Khesed island to regroup with other surviving soldiers. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It happens to me like that before when I was in Belkan War." Cipher said. "Just make sure you made it to the end of the war alive."

Talisman smiles sadly, "Yeah. Yeah, I will."

"Good. We have to help other people with us first. I'll see you soon, Gab."

"See you soon, Dad. And stay alive as well." And then the line's off. She leaned back to her seat as her tears pour out of her eyes. Even if she knew that they were still alive, there's no guarantee if they made it out to the end of the war or not. Then, she finally made an idea.

"Orby. I have a mission for you."

"Anything I can follow from you." She replied.

It was a short silence until Gab speaks up, "From now on, you will stay with my parents. Protect them and follow them until the war is over."

"Are you sure, Gab? I don't want to leave you here."

She shook her head and smiled. "I can handle this, plus I have some friends with me. I want you to guard my parents, I cannot lose them."

Orby wished she never leave her friend, they had always been together for many years. But if that's what she wanted to, she will follow it. "Alright. I'm heading now to your parents. Be safe out there, Gab."

She nodded and finally, Orby vanished. She looked at the sky, seeing a single shooting star-like trail head over to the east. Now without worrying about her parents' safety, she can focus on taking back their homeland. And they will do what it takes to bring back Gracemeria.