Independent State Allied Forces

INDEPENDENT STATES ALLIED FORCES

- Official ISAF military flag.

The ISAF before 2004:
Formed in 2003 out of the ashes of the Continental-National Economic Alliance, the ISAF became an organization meant to construct a closer relationship between member states. In the beginning, 11 states were members, but in the future a further five states would join. The ISAF’s purpose, as defined by an official description, is to “promote stability, defense and peace across the Usean Continent”.

– A post-war ISAF recruiting poster featuring the ISAF’s 118th Fighter Squadron.

Though not an actual part of the FCU, the ISAF is an individually-based fighting force that only in extreme situations has FCU military support. Although designed with the threat of Erusean invasion in mind, the ISAF’s purpose is versatile and flexible, able to meet any situation that arises.

The Usean Continental War:
When the war started, ISAF forces took heavy losses for the first two years before being pushed back to North Point. The elite Erusean military was assaulting the virtually untested ISAF forces, taking very few losses with the help of the Erusean rail gun battery, Stonehenge. With the Stonehenge on their side, ISAF air forces could do nearly nothing against their enemies.

Soon, the ISAF’s general headquarters itself was being targeted, and it seemed the ISAF had lost. The ISAF’s 118th fighter wing was the ISAF’s last line of defense. Mobius One, a young rookie pilot, single-handily saved ISAF’s GHQ from Erusean bomber attack.

ISAF’s air forces, led by Mobius One and the 118th, began to push Erusea’s elite troops back west towards Erusean territory. After several large-scale ground battles like Operation: Bunker Shot, the ISAF’s ground forces were chalking up victory after victory against Erusea, with the Air Force leading the way. Soon, the war had moved from ISAF’s front doorstep to Erusea’s capitol itself, Farbanti.

-The ISAF’s 118th “Mobius” Squadron"

On September 19th, 2005, ISAF air, ground and naval forces fought against the best troops Erusea had to offer. Once again, Mobius One and the 118th Fighter Squadron paved the way for the ISAF forces. Despite being outnumbered, ISAF forces took out Erusea’s High Command and most of the top officers, along with the elite 156th Tactical Fighter Wing, the Aquila, or “Yellow”, Squadron.

With Farbanti occupied, the war was almost over. However, a massive anti-meteorite / ICBM base that had been under development during most of the war, code-named “Megalith”, had been completed. With the nuclear threat hanging over their heads, ISAF prepared for what would be the last battle of the war.

The Battle of Megalith:
ISAF chose their elite 118th Fighter Squadron “Mobius” to lead the attack. A massive air-to-air battle ensued, ending with the complete destruction of the new Yellow Squadron. Finally, Mobius One flew into the heart of Megalith itself, and took out multiple ICBMs, when all the while meteorites fell into the ocean. ISAF had triumphed over Erusea, and a new government took over. Peace reigned once again.

Operation: Katina:
One year after the decisive battle of Megalith, a group of young Erusean officers began a Erusean independence movement called “Free Erusea”. The group captured a large stockpile of weapons, aircraft, and possible even a small fleet from a facility on the Erusean coast. They then attacked ISAF locations scattered across the USEA continent, setting up fortified locations at White Valley Bay.

In response, the ISAF called its top ace, Mobius One, back into service to quell the uprising. Previously, an ISAF analysis team found the combat capability of Mobius One greater than even an entire ISAF squadron. The entire ISAF force of Operation: Katina was a single F-22A Raptor, flown by Mobius One, and an E-767 AWACS, call sign “Sky Eye”.

Mobius One destroyed the Free Erusean forces, including six prototype X-02 “Wyvern” aircraft the FEAF had somehow managed to get a hold of, presumably flown by the FEAF’s top pilots.

Aftermath:
ISAF forces are still in existence, probably still maintaining stability on the USEA continent. The elite 118th Fighter Squadron “Mobius” is also probably still flying, though whether or not Mobius One is still in the ISAF is questionable.

SOURCES:
Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies
Official Ace Combat 04 Website

ACCREDITATION:
Ribbon-Gold for the Original Article
Ribbon-Blue for additional Info

*Original Article by Ribbon-Grey*