As the demon sleeps, man turns on man

His own blood and madness soon cover the earth

From the depths of despair awaken the Razgriz

Its raven wings ablaze in majestic light

_____________________________

16 December, 2010 1237hrs
OFS Kestrel

~ Gab/Blaze's p.o.v. ~

Despite our previous status as enemies, Vikhor was greeted well by the crew and operators of the Kestrel, and the pilot responded to it in kind. Handshakes, head nods and smiles were all around as the Yuke got acquainted with those he would be spending his time with. He even got a chance to meet and talk with President Harling.

I was standing above the deck of an aircraft carrier, feeling the cold breeze sqaying through my body. I raise my arms and check the date and time.

Few more days 'til its Christmas.

I sighed, knowing we can't celebrate with missions like this. I really miss my mom, who's with someone dad knew. Hopefully, this war won't last longer than I expected.

"You seem pretty our of you, today." I turn around seeing dad was standing there, smoking.

I smile, "Nah, its just Christmas is coming soon."

"Too bad we can't celebrate with your mother." He sighed, he is now standing beside her, exhaling the smoke coming from his cigar. "Did Orby check her on her condition today?"

"Orby?"

It took a few seconds before Orby responds, "She's on the bed now, looking at the photo albums of you and your family."

I laugh a bit, when dad saw my smile, he knew that she is fine. He patted my shoulders, "Once this war is over, we get to go home and spend our entire time together with her."

I can't help myself but to cry a bit. My dad throws the cigar to the sea and hugs me tightly. I embrace his warm hug, staying like this for about a minute. Just in time, uncle Larry came.

" Hey, Cipher, Gab. We got a briefing today, ASAP."

"We're coming!" My dad shouted. We soon went to the briefing room with others are there now, including Vikhor, waiting for our arrival.

"So Belkans, again?" I asked.

"Not this time." Pops replied. "We've intercepted another mysterious radio transmission. This time it specifies a location within Yuktobania. It's probably... well, this is just a hunch on my part, but I bet that's where the nuclear weapon sent into Yuktobania is located. And there's another set of numbers. This time it's a radio frequency."

He then turned to SkyEye, who stepped forward. "Your next missions is a reconnaissance flight above a canyon in the northern highlands of Yuktobania, the place described in the unidentified radio transmission. The highlands are completely covered by the Yuktobania air defense system, so the only place to fly is within the canyon itself."

SkyEye turned to the projector screen, where the area and the canyon itself were shown in relatively good detail, enough for all the pilots to see. The canyon is not big enough for pilots to crowded in.

"Fly down the canyon and reach the target area, then once you're there, set your radio channel to the directed frequency and begin gathering information."

SkyEye turned back to them after highlighting their route into the canyon. "You may be engaged by local Yuktobanian forces, and depending on the contents of the transmission, you may also find yourself engaging in other combat as well. You are permitted to fight the enemy as necessary."

My dad stood up in front of us, "Seeing that it requires few pilots on the canyon, we need at least four pilots to send there."

"Which only those who have guts to fly to the canyon of course." Uncle Larry added. Nods coming from the pilots seen, which some of them is not voluntarily going with us.

"I already chose three already." Dad said, "Starting with the three idiots."

Everyone look at him, confused. "Uh... who do you mean by that?" Chopper asked.

Everyone began to look at us when Chris, Vikhor, and I slowly raised our hands. Nagase became curious and asked why, I can't help but to laugh nervously. "We may or may not have a race at the canyon from the past..."

"Which is stupid." Dad said.

"But it was one time and we managed to get out of there safely!" Chris added.

"With few damages on your planes and cost us a lot of money to fix it."

"Better have fun than being stuck at the ground, comrade!" Vikhor replied.

"At least we made out alive, right?" I said sheepishly. Dad sigh and sratch the back of his head, knowing he can't argue with us any further. We trio gave ourselves a high five.

"Alright, we need one more volunteer then we can proceed."

"I'm in." I looked at Nagase, who became confident. "I will never leave our leader on her side."

I smile. It wasn't a surprise by any means that Edge would be coming along. We began to suit up and hop in to our own planes, then took off with our AWACS. Racing to reach the time before things went south.

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"Ghosts of Razgriz"
16 December, 2010 1503 hrs
Payavlenie Ravine, Yuktobania

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"AWACS SkyEye to Alpha flight, proceed into the canyon and set your radio frequency to 124 megahertz." spoke James when they entered the target area.

I remember that time I get to fly in the canyon, you got to have a good sight and good maneuvering skills to avoid some lands around. Hell, what's worst of all my experience is to fly a freaking business class passenger plane with NO fighter escorts! Back when I was Antares of course. To be honest, I really hate flying those things. Good thing its a one time experience, but still...

"It's true! They've come, fighter jets! I can tell because I'm intercepting enemy alert signals as well, but can you hear this?"

"Who are you? Identify yourself." replied Nagase.

"A great number of students, intellectuals, and even some soldiers are staging a resistance against the military government of Yuktobania. You can call me Alyosha...that's not my real name, of course. I'm so glad you actually came; it's just like how he said you would!"

"He...?"

I was confused by this other person Alyosha, or whoever it could be that was using the cover name, referred to. I held my suspicion to myself as we flew slowly deeper into the canyons.

"We have no time. Let me explain the situation."

•=•=•=•=•=•

We've received contact from an apparent resistance group that seized and captured one of Yuktobania's nuclear weapons. Intelligence believes that it's one of the nukes taken from the mine before we sealed it off on the 12th.

Furthermore, our radar has detected numerous enemy fighters entering the canyon and flying towards the local airspace. The force includes Yuktobanian fighters and armed helicopters. Their mission is most likely to destroy the resistance's hideout. The enemy fighters are spread out throughout the canyon, so we believe that the Yuktobanians still don't have the exact location of the hideout.

Destroy the enemy forces before they can find and wipe out the resistance. As mentioned previously, the local airspace is blanketed by Yuktobania's air defense system. Watch your altitude, and whatever you do, don't fly above the rim of the canyon.

•=•=•=•=•=•

"Yukes do have balls to fly through the canyon, eh?" Mobius 1 chuckles.

"So do we." I said.

"A physics graduate student from Yuktobania Central University is currently dismantling the nuclear bomb so that it can never be detonated again." Alyosha explained.

"Solid copy," Blaze answered as the five fighters approached a T-shaped turn in the canyon. "Alright, here's what we do, we're going to split the formation since this canyon is too narrow for all four of us at the same time. Edge, you and I'll go on the left, boys on the right."

"Roger, Blaze."

"Don't worry, we're always be right!" Chris chirped. I scoffed and Vikhor just laughs.

"This is Sky Eye, the picture has no new contacts present. There're some in the canyon, but they're more towards the north side than where you five are. I'll let you know if something comes up."

"Roger. Let's break up."

We began to split up and take down everything on sight before they spot the resistance. As soon as we rounded the corner, we found a couple helicopters. It was nothing a little gunfire couldn't handle. The targets just hovered in place. They probably didn't see us coming.

"I hate flying in close quarters like this," she muttered into the radio, trying to keep her F-35 steady. The electronic control was too sensitive for this type of mission. Seeing her plane keeping a distance from mine to avoid collisions, I'd say its her first time experiencing this.

"Take it easy Kei," I said from in front of her, seeming to read her mind, "Stay loose and use your peripheral vision to get an idea of where you're at inside the canyon. Just like how you guys did on the tunnel during our escape from Sand Island."

"Right. Thanks, Blaze."

"I only just said some words." I chuckled.

"We're now dismantling the bomb itself." reported Alyosha, being the go between for the pilots and the student. "It's a pretty tiny bomb, maybe a tactical nuke. Hard to believe something like this can wipe out an entire city..."

"Oh I suggest you don't want to find out, comrade." Vikhor said, with missile lock sound on the background.

I spotted a Typhoon closing in from head on, I began fired my missiles and guns. It instantly turn the plane to a massive ball of fire, I break away from it, until I immediately swivel away from the side of the canyon few inches away. I took off the mask and take a deep breath as panic slowly went away from my body.

"Holy shit that was so close..." I mumbled to myself. I'm not ready to die yet now this is my second chance of life.

"Blaze. Are you alright?" Nagase asked. I looked around and saw her plane not to far behind.

"Yeah, I'm good." I put on the mask and adjust myself. Never do that again, Gab.

"I just hear another jet engine..." Alyosha said. "Are you managing to keep the enemy outside at bay?"

"Yes." I said. "We have everything under control."

"That's great... we better do our best, too."

I fly slowly this time since helicopters and gunboats are easy targets, the Yuke planes are up to next level, but we can still take them down.

"Razgriz 1 to Mobius 1, how's the situation there?" I asked.

"Went real smooth here." He replied, "But stay alert, we may expect surprises up to their sleeves."

"Roger. Stay at the canyon as usual."

"Wha... it's powering up the trigger circuit!" One of the resistance called out. Panic spreads out to my entire team.

"What?!" Vikhor said. "You mean it's gonna..."

"Oh, no, never mind, it's fine. We shut it off." Alyosha said, bringing relief to the rest of us.

"I almost piss my pants there..." Chris mumbles. I took a deep breath from heart attack. I decided to listen to the enemy's transmission to calm myself, and for entertainment.

HQ to Special Forces." A Yuke said. "Report your status."

"This is Special Forces. There's no one here."

"It's pitch black, give me a night scope."

"Let's start with that cave. Go in on my signal."

"I feel like we're being lured into a trap."

"I don't see anyone here. Have they already escaped?" A Yuke asked.

"Hurry up and find them. We have no idea what they're up to." I wonder where the resistance hide from them anyway? Seems they're jn a good spot where they can't be seen.

"What out! My hand's slipping! It's gonna drop!" A resistance member panicked. Not again! It was filled with silence from the comms, whether they're dead or alive.

"This is SkyEye, what's going on over there?" He asked.

"Uh... we're okay. We caught it just in time. Whew..."

"Oh man.... " I took off my mask again, needed for air circulation. These Yuke resistance either clumsy or they did it on purpose to scare us, cause sure it did feel like.

"Calm down and get it right," my brother grumped, a little angry at the resistance after the whole dropping scare. "We don't need to be blasted into next week because of some mistake."

"Y-Yeah," the man agreed, though all the pilots could hear the resistance fighter shaking even through the radio. If he cut the wrong wire in the wrong sequence, the last thing we would ever see was a flash of white right before we were consumed by the mushroom cloud and vaporized by the shockwave.

"Alpha flight, this is Sky Eye, four unidentified bandits closing in at Mach 2!"

"What now?!" The boys exclaimed.

"To the center of the canyon, now!" We fly back to the path and regroup as four planes appear on my radar. A deep, stern voice came through.

"This is Ofnir Two. You sure it's them?" asked the second Su-35 pilot.

"This is Ofnir One, I said that's what I heard. The ghosts of the 'Demons of Razgriz'."

"You're kidding me. They all sunk to the bottom of the ocean. Didn't the guys from Grabarc tell you that?"

"We'll find out if they're ghosts or not... when we take them on in combat." Ofnir 1 said.

"You heard this, guys?"

"Yeah." My Yuke friend grunted. "Its time to piss them off so bad."

"Nagase, you're ready?" I asked.

"I'm ready, Blaze." Nagase said, sounded a bit confident.

"This is SkyEye." He called, "Alpha team, you are clear to engage."

We began to hit the throttle, tracers shot from our jets as we emerge to the battle against Ofnir. Their planes began to dive to the canyon and made its way towards us.

"Razgriz 1, Fox 2! Fox 2!" I began to launch a pair of missiles at them head on. They were able to dodge it, but I manage to split them up into two. We began to separate and flew different ways. An Su-35 trails behind me and begin to burst out some gunfire, I flipped my plane backwards and now I trail behind them, I fired my first missile, and landed a hit. When second missile is about to release, his ally came and began to fire missiles towards me. I break off immediately and send flares before it struck me.

"These guys are good." I grunted.

"No shit!" Vikhor exclaimed, missile warnings blasted from his cockpit. "And they sure don't sound like Yukes as well!"

"They're probably Belkan aggressors just like Grabacr." Nagase added.

I perform an Immelmman turn, and pursuit to a damaged Ofnir pilot. I keep firing with my cannons until the Su-35 rapidly descend to the ground and crash, not until the pilot ejects. I hissed knowing that the bastard survives.

"Ofnir pilot shot down!" I announced.

"Impossible..." One of the Ofnir perhaps in shocked. "They've Mobius on their side!"

"What the hell? This isn't their territory!" I shook my head when my brother reported he took down another Ofnir.

"Look, the enemy's running down Ofnir!" One of the Yuke soldiers said, watching out battle from below.

"There's only one squadron I know that could shoot down Ofnir..."

"I was just thinking the same thing... Razgriz..."

"You're the Demons of Razgriz?" The presumed Ofnir leader asked. And how this guy enter to our frequency?!

"Yeah. So what? Got a problem?" I mocked them.

"Then we're going to turn this place into a demon's graveyard." Oh I'm going to roast you so bad.

"Excuse me, we already shot two of your comrades. So why go <beep> off and get the <beep> out and go <beep> with your wife you son of a <beep> with your tiny <beep> you <beep>ing <beep>hole!" I shouted. I took a breath then I notice none of my friends are talking. I wonder why.

"Blaze."

"Yes, SkyEye, sir?" I asked innocently.

"For God's sake, watch your language." He scolded. The pilot boys began to laugh hard, and I bet Kei probably shook her head of what I did cause I saw her from the canopy.

Vikhor snorted, "Damn, Blaze. You giving a hard time to this Belkans today."

"They're pissing me off so I give them a piss off sign, too." I said.

"They're probably-SHIT! Igor, evade!" Missile warning sound came from the radio.

"Brother! Talk to me!" I yelled, worried if my brother is still alive or not. Hearing his curse words means he survived.

"I'm fine." He replied, heavy breathings came over the radio. "No more games. Let's take them down."

"Roger. Nagase, Let's do the Thach Weave. I'll be the bait." I ordered.

"Roger, Blaze."

I flew a U-turn and flew over the Ofnir leader upside down, and give him a salute sign before flying through the canyon. I checked my radar and spotted him chasing after me. Good.

I yanked the flight side zigzag, to teast if I can slam him to the wall, but he's Belkan, of course he's able to keep up with me. My plane's system began to yelled a missile warning.

"Edge, anytime now!" I yelled.

"Edge, Fox 3!"

After 5 seconds, I heard a sound of explosion behind me. I turn my plane around, seeing the Ofnir's plane engulf in flames, but the pilot survived somehow.

"Great job, Kei. You really become an great Ace."

Kei giggles, "Thank you, Blaze."

"This is Razgriz 1, status report."

"Just a few seconds. And..." it was a faint sou d until we heard an explosion. "He's down!"

An ominous voice came through, "This isn't over. We'll be back."

Mobius 1 laughs at the threat, "Go tell your mother about your problems before we shoot your asses again!" Rest of us laughed at that, knowing we shouldn't have. After all it might end up that we were the ones getting shot down. Such was war, but it was nice to have a release from the tension of the day.

"All Ofnir fighters shot down." reported Nagase for James. "Looks like the other enemy forces bugged out on us too."

"Finally." I set my plane to autopilot and stretch my arms from pain. We all gathered over the center of canyon.

"Alyosha, this is SkyEye." James asked, "how's the disarmament coming?"

There was a snick and the resistance member sounded very relieved. "That's the last wire! This nuke is disarmed and now we can dispose of it. Did you fend off the enemy forces for us?"

"For now, but at the moment, skies are clear."

"Alright. We're going into the ocean to discard the bomb, piece by piece. Nobody will ever be able to use it as a weapon, so if you can, please protect us until we make it there."

"We will, but what about..."

"Don't be surprised, but our ship... it's a submarine. There's nothing we can't get our hands on. I told you, we have a lot of allies." I flipped my plane upside down to scan around the area. And he's right, they do have a submarine.

"Sadly, this isn't a Typhoon-class. But this will do." I thought.

""All right! But who told you that we'd definitely be coming for you?" questioned Nagase, asking the question that Chris, Vikhor and I were wondering ourselves.

"I don't know his name...but he left a message with us here for your captain; I'll read it." Alyosha fumbled with a piece of paper on his end, based on the sound. "It says, 'Hey Kid, I hear you're a helluva squad captain now!' Do you get it?"

Wait a second. Only two people referred to me as 'Kid' and one of them was in the Kestrel with them. That left...

"Yes! Perfectly!" Nagase said with joy. I began to laugh happily, knowing that our old flight instructor is still alive. I can't believe it!

"Who is it?" Vikhor asked, totally lost.

"Our old flight lead." I answered as we egressed from the canyon. "Remember the story about Captain Jack Bartlett?"

"Wait, I've heard that name...Wasn't he some ace from the Belkan War?" My brother asked.

"Yeah. Heartbreak 1."

"I have heard of him! He was supposed to be a big hotshot in an F-14!"

"That's the one." Edge told the Mobius pilot with pride. Oh, I can't wait to tell my family about this!

•=•=•=•=•=•

Mission accomplished. The information we obtained as well as the physical damage we caused dealt a significant blow to the enemy.

Judging by our analysis of the information, there appears to be a highly organized resistance force acting against the Yuktobanian military regime. It is likely the nuclear weapon which Yuktobania acquired was safely dismantled by the resistance.

•=•=•=•=•=•

~ Cipher's p.o.v. ~

I was having a conversation with President Harling and Pops at the mess hall, with Chopper amd Grimm having their own conversation. Reports from SkyEye that a group of Yuktobanian resistance defused the nuke and Ofnir arrived at the scene but defeated ny the Alpha flight. We heard the jet engines from outside, knowing that they made it back alive.

"Any news about the Arkbird?" Harling asked.

"No sir, we still receive no message about the Arkbird. Which means it's still offline." Pops answered.

I crossed my arms and lean on the wall, "Even so, if the Belkans might have the Arkbird, then we do must something about it."

The president sigh, "As much as I want to destroy the Arkbird, its up to Captain Nagase for her decision whether to destroy it or not."

I slowly nodded. Gab told me about Nagase's love on the bird of peace, and how much she love to see the stars above the Earth. My thoughts were cut off when a loud footsteps heard from the hallway as it gets closer, then my daughter arrived, with a huge smile on her face.

"Dad! Pops!" She rushed towards us, taking deep breaths first. "Man, you're not gonna believe it!"

The Belkan ace chuckled. "What won't I believe?"

"Captain Bartlett's alive!" Pops' jaw dropped, including myself. Chopper spits out his drink and Grimm jumped out of his seat when the news brought to us.

"Say WHAT?!" Chopper exclaimed.

"Its true! He even send us a message saying 'Hey Kid, I hear you're a helluva squad captain now!' And the only two person who called me Kid are Chopper and captain!" She explain, her smile didn't disappear, "can't believe he is alive!"

Pops' face darkened as his senses caught up with his feelings. "It could be a trap. We know the Gray men are on to us. If they somehow infiltrated the resistance, they could set us up."

"How?" Edge asked.

"I don't know. Maybe lure us out into the old B7R airspace and ambush us with both Ofnir and Grabacr."

"But it was Yuke college students told us about it!"

"I agree to Pops, actually." Vikhor said.

Blaze scoffed, "50 bucks if the captain still alive." Oh no.

"Deal." They clasped their hands in agreement. I shook my head and chuckled. They really never change until now.

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Thank you for reaching 3k views! I didn't expect quite people reading ace combat fics until this day.

And also, Happy New Year, Aces!!!

☆;:*:;☆;:*:;☆"Happy New Year"☆;:*:;☆;:*:;☆

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