Operation: Countdown

SHATTERED SKIES
- Operation Countdown
- the largest air battle in all of history

DATE: December 31st, 2004
LOCATION: Riass Space Launch Facility, Comona Islands, Usea
EVENT: The protection of an ISAF recon satellite prior to its launch.
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-ISAF OBJECTIVES
--Protect the rocket and cleanse the area of enemy fighters
-ISAF UNITS INVOLVED
--118th TFW
--Several other ISAF squadrons

-FEAF OBJECTIVES
--Destroy the rocket before it has a chance to launch
-FEAF UNITS INVOLVED
--156th TFW "Aquila" Squadron
--Several other FEAF squadrons
--Long-Ranged Stealth Bomber Unit
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Background Information
In the winter of 2004, as it continued to reclaim ground around the eastern extremities of Usea, ISAF hatched a plan to launch a recon satellite into space in order to provide vital tactical data to its units. This would be done using the Riass Space Launch Facility on the Comona Islands, which ISAF had recently reclaimed from the Erusians.

The presence of Stonehenge made the deployment of recon aircraft to the mainland impossible, so the success of the satellite's launch was crucial to the success of the ISAF war effort. The Erusians understood this just as well as ISAF did, scrambling as many fighters as they could, including the famous 156th Tactical Fighter Wing's "Yellow Squadron," to intercept and destroy the satellite before it had a chance to launch. Anticipating this response and having only one window of opportunity to launch the rocket, ISAF called upon its own air forces to defend the skies above the rocket and secure a successful launch.

By the time ISAF's Ace of Aces, Mobius 1, and his squadron had arrived at the Riass Space Launch Facility, the air battle had already begun. The Yellow Squadron was effortlessly picking off ISAF pilots one by one, and the skies above the facility were tangled with the missiles, bullets and smoke of countless aircraft. Mobius 1 entered the furball at full throttle, taking down as many fighters as he could. With so many aircraft in such a small area, this operation tested the very limits of Mobius 1's abilities. Still, even during all of the commotion, he managed to hit one of the Yellow Squadron's planes -- piloted by their leader, "Yellow 13" -- and damage it. Because of this, the Yellow Squadron retreated northwest, returning to the mainland, and leaving the remaining FEAF forces to defend themselves.

Shortly after the retreat of the Yellow Squadron, the tide of the battle had turned in ISAF's favor. Mobius 1 was now the one to be methodically picking off enemy planes. Suddenly, the AWACS "Sky-Eye," informed the ISAF forces that B-2 Bombers had been detected approaching the base from the west. Mobius 1 immediately returned to his carrier to refuel and reload before chasing after the bombers. Upon returning to the battlefield, Mobius 1 turned west and attacked the bombers, quickly taking all of them down. With two minutes remaining before the satellite's launch, Mobius 1 made his way back to the Riass Space Launch Facility, continuing to take down enemy fighters with his ISAF comrades.

By the time the satellite's rocket entered its final countdown sequence, the skies were mostly clear of FEAF fighters, with only a handful remaining. Soon, the rocket ignited, and the satellite was on its way to the stratosphere. Mobius 1 and his fellow ISAF pilots had succeeded. With the ability to perform recon from space, ISAF could now concentrate on its invasion of the mainland of Usea, beginning with a amphibious beach landing in an area just outside of Stonehenge's range.

Operation: Countdown would eventually come to be recognized as the largest air battle that has ever taken place in all of history, even 40 years later.
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RADIO TRANSMISSIONS:
(most dialouge from shatteredskies.net)

FRIEND:<<Halo Nine, engage!>>
AWACS:<<Mobius One, engage!>>
COMONA:<<Attention all aircraft, this is Comona Base.>>
COMONA:<<This rocket launch is critical! Maintain air superiority until launch is complete.>>
FRIEND:<<Viper Nine, engage!>>
FRIEND:<<Halo Two, engage!>>
FRIEND:<<Yahoo!>>
FRIEND:<<Fox Two!>>
FRIEND:<<Missile alert! Who’s shooting?!>>
FRIEND:<<I’ve taken damage!>>
FRIEND:<<Mobius One, bandit on your tail! Turn hard!>>
FRIEND:<<Mobius One, he’s on your tail.>>
ENEMY:<<Hurry up! I’m getting nailed here!>>
ENEMY:<<Bandit’s right on me!>>
FRIEND:<<Aircraft is damaged! Aircraft is damaged!>>
AWAC:<<Fox Two! Fox Two!>>
AWACS:<<Shack on the target.>>
FRIEND:<<Halo Seven, get him off of me!>>
FRIEND:<<Missile, break!>>
ENEMY:<<Oh no! There’s not enough time!>>
COMONA:<<Attention all personnel, complete final launch checks immediately!>>
ENEMY:<<This is Blue Nine, someone cover me.>>
ENEMY:<<I’ve got a lock on!>>
FRIEND:<<Got him in my sights!>>
ENEMY:<<I’ve got bull’s eye!>>
FRIEND:<<Mobius One shot one down.>>
FRIEND:<<Hard right, now!>>
FRIEND:<<No good, it’s a miss.>>
ENEMY:<>
FRIEND:<<He’s at my six!>>
FRIEND:<<Viper Three was shot down by a Yellow!>>
FRIEND:<<Shots fired, I’m evading.>>
FRIEND:<<Say your prayers.>>
ENEMY:<<Bandit’s right on me!>>
ENEMY:<<It’s not working! I can’t shake it! Eject!>>
ENEMY:<<Damn! It’s no use! I’m hit!>>
ENEMY:<<Alright! Flow to the next target!>>
ENEMY:<<Right behind you, head’s up!>>
ENEMY:<<Fox Two! Fox Two!>>
ENEMY:<<Red Ten, Fox Two!>>
ENEMY:<<Bandit on your tail! Evade!>>
ENEMY:<<Good job!>>
FRIEND:<<Alright!>>
FRIEND:<<They’re already over the launch site.>>
FRIEND:<<Brake, missile!>>
FRIEND:<<One of ours got hit!>>
ENEMY:<<Fox Two! Fox Two!>>
ENEMY:<<Got him on my nose!>>
FRIEND:<<How many did you shoot down?>>
FRIEND:<<Hard left.>>
FRIEND:<<Yahoo!>>
ENEMY:<<How many did Yellow Squadron get?>>
FRIEND:<<Viper Four, get out of there!>>
FRIEND:<<Mobius One shot one down!>>
FRIEND:<<Mobius One shot one down!>>
ENEMY:<<We can’t rely on Yellow Squadron to do everything!>>
ENEMY:<<I’ve taken shrapnel!>>
FRIEND:<<Dammit, he’s on my tail.>>
AWACS:<<Missed!>>
FRIEND:<<High! High!>>
ENEMY:<<One of ours went down!>>
AWACS:<<Fox Two!>>
FRIEND:<<Sanitize my six o’clock, Viper Eleven!>>
FRIEND:<<No use! I can’t get away!>>
FRIEND:<<Say your prayers!>>
FRIEND:<<Radio failure!>>
FRIEND:<<Viper seven he’s on your tail!>>
FRIEND:<<A yellow’s hit and trailing smoke! Whose kill is that?!>>
YELLOW:<<Who was it that shot me?>>
YELLOW:<<See who’s responsible for that shot!>>
YELLOW:<<It’s a ribbon.>>
YELLOW:<<He’s at my six!>>
FRIEND:<<Right beside you!>>
FRIEND:<<Unbelievable!>>
ENEMY:<<I’m right behind him!>>
FRIEND:<<We can’t confirm kills in this furball!>>
ENEMY:<<Red Ten, Fox Two!>>
FRIEND:<<Mobius One shot one down!>>
FRIEND:<<Alright!>>
ENEMY:<<Concentrate on wiping out the enemy fighters!>>
FRIEND:<<Tally ho on a Yellow Squadron formation.>>
FRIEND:<<I’ve lost him!>>
ENEMY:<<Pick off the weak ones first!>>
ENEMY:<<Fox Two!>>
ENEMY:<<Fox Two!>>
FRIEND:<<Omega Eleven was shot down by a Yellow.>>
FRIEND:<<Fox Two!>>
ENEMY:<<One of ours got hit!>>
ENEMY:<<I’m in position. Engaged!>>
FRIEND:<<Yahoo!>>
FRIEND:<>
ENEMY:<<He’s at my six!>>
FRIEND:<<Keep the nuggets out of the fight with the Yellows!>>
FRIEND:<<High! High!>>
ENEMY:<<Dammit! He’s engaging me!>>
FRIEND:<<Multiple groups in all quadrants.>>
ENEMY:<<Don’t let them escape.>>
FRIEND:<<Whoooeee!>>
ENEMY:<<Let’s flank him!>>
AWACS:<<Nice kill!>>
FRIEND:<<Viper Nine was shot down by a Yellow.>>
AWACS:<<Bandit confirmed at vector zero four zero.>>
AWACS:<<Locked on.>>
ENEMY:<<Blue Five, eject!>>
AWACS:<<Bandit confirmed at vector two four zero.>>
ENEMY:<<He’s mine!>>
AWACS:<<Radar lock.>>
ENEMY:<<Fox Two!>>
ENEMY:<<I’ve been hit!>>
ENEMY:<<One of our planes was hit!>>
FRIEND:<<That’s one down!>>
ENEMY:<<I’ve got you, you ain’t getting away!>>
AWACS:<<Nothing but air, heads up!>>
AWACS:<<Missile hit!>>
ENEMY:<<Fox Two!>>
ENEMY:<<Locked on.>>
ENEMY:<<Nice kill.>>
ENEMY:<>
ENEMY:<<He’s behind me.>>
ENEMY:<<Bandit’s right on me!>>
ENEMY:<<Dammit! Bandit on my tail!>>
ENEMY:<<He’s shooting!>>
ENEMY:<<He’s at my six!>>
ENEMY:<<White Two shot down by a bandit!>>
ENEMY:<<Dammit! He’s engaging me!>>
ENEMY:<<Dammit! Bandit on my tail!>>
COMONA:<<Six minutes to launch.>>
ENEMY:<<Bandit at six o’clock. Shake him off!>>
ENEMY:<<I’m on him.>>
ENEMY:<<Fox Two!>>
FRIEND:<<Whoooeee! Got one!>>
FRIEND:<<I’m hit! Bugging out!>>
FRIEND:<<Mobius One shot one down.>>

<<<<Mission Update>>>>
AWACS:<<Skyeye here. B2 bombers approaching from the west.>>
AWACS:<<Intercept them before they reach the launch site.>>
FRIEND:<<Negative contact. Nothing on my radar.>>
AWACS:<<Look harder! The B2s are difficult to detect on radar, they’re stealth.>>
ENEMY:<<I’m on his tail,>>
FRIEND:<<Whoooeee!>>
AWACS:<<Bandit at six o’clock!>>
BOMBER:<<What’s going on? Enemy fighters are still a factor!>>
BOMBER:<<Just concentrate on your duties.>>
BOMBER:<<Target confirmed. Entering bombing pattern.>>
COMONA:<<Five minutes to launch.>>
ENEMY:<>
ENEMY:<<Bandit’s right on me!>>
AWACS:<<Bandit shot down!>>
FRIEND:<<Aircraft is damaged! Aircraft is damaged!>>
ENEMY:<<Bandit on your tail! Evade!>>
ENEMY:<<Blue Ten, watch your tail! Your tail!>>
ENEMY:<<I’ve got a lock on!>>
ENEMY:<<He’s shooting!>>
FRIEND:<<Don’t fly in a straight line.>>
FRIEND:<<Unbelievable.>>
FRIEND:<<I’ve lost him!>>
AWACS:<<Bandit shot down!>>
ENEMY:<<Red Seven, bandit’s on my tail!>>
FRIEND:<<Pull up! Pull up!>>
ENEMY:<<It’s not working, get out of there!>>
COMONA:<<Four minutes to launch.>>
FRIEND:<<Which way to break?>>
ENEMY:<<I’m on him.>>
ENEMY:<<That’s a kill.>>
FRIEND:<<Take out as many as possible.>>
FRIEND:<<Yahoo!>>
FRIEND:<<I’ve got him cornered.>>
ENEMY:<<Drag him this way.>>
FRIEND:<<This is the biggest furball I’ve seen so far.>>
ENEMY:<<That’s a kill.>>
FRIEND:<<Fox Two!>>
ENEMY:<<Dammit! It’s no use, I’m hit!>>
ENEMY:<<Sanitize the area before the bombers arrive.>>
FRIEND:<<Rapier Four, get out of there! You’ve got two bandits on your tail!>>
ENEMY:<<One of ours went down!>>
FRIEND:<<Got him in my sights!>>
ENEMY:<<Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! I’ve been hit! Eject!>>
FRIEND:<<Missed!>>
ENEMY:<<Right behind you, head’s up!>>
FRIEND:<<This one’s mine!>>
FRIEND:<<There! Over there!>>
ENEMY:<<Don’t let him escape!>>
FRIEND:<<High! High!>>
FRIEND:<<Whoooeee!>>
COMONA:<<Three minutes to launch.>>
AWACS:<<Missile shot trashed.>>
ENEMY:<<I’m out of ammo! Winchester!>>
FRIEND:<<Got him!>>
FRIEND:<<This is bad, we’re surrounded.>>
FRIEND:<<Negative, negative!>>
FRIEND:<<Right on the money!>>
ENEMY:<<It’s not working, get out of there!>>
ENEMY:<<That was one of ours!>>
ENEMY:<<Pursuing bandit!>>
ENEMY:<<Bandit on your tail, evade!>>
AWACS:<<Splash one! Splash One!>>
FRIEND:<<Target destroyed by Mobius One!>>
AWACS:<<Radar lock.>>
AWACS:<<B-2 shot down!>>
AWACS:<<Fox Two!>>
FRIEND:<<Target is neutralized.>>
FRIEND:<<Yahoo! Good goin’!>>
FRIEND:<<Good job, Mobius One.>>
COMONA:<<Two minutes to launch.>>
AWACS:<<All bombers confirmed shot down. Now sanitize the area of all enemy fighters.>>
ENEMY:<<Fox Two!>>
ENEMY:<<Bandit’s right on me!>>
ENEMY:<<Bandit on your tail, evade!>>
FRIEND:<<Fox Two! Fox Two!>>
ENEMY:<<Dammit! He’s engaging me!>>
AWACS:<<Twelve o’clock!>>
ENEMY:<<I’m right behind him!>>
COMONA:<<Final launch checks complete. Launch in sixty seconds.>>
ENEMY:<<I’m out of ammo! Winchester!>>
FRIEND:<<Don’t let your flying get sloppy!>>
FRIEND:<<Right on the money!>>
FRIEND:<<Whoooeee!>>
FRIEND:<>
FRIEND:<<He’s still glommed on!>>
FRIEND:<<Die you S.O.B.!>>
FRIEND:<<Alright! This one’s mine!>>
FRIEND:<<Alright, I’ve got him cornered.>>
ENEMY:<<We’re hit! Eject, eject!>>
ENEMY:<<I’m right behind him!>>
COMONA:<<Thirty seconds to launch.>>
FRIEND:<<Try not to fly in a straight line.>>
FRIEND:<<Fast drop!>>
FRIEND:<<Thanks for the save!>>
AWACS:<<Splash one! Splash one!>>
FRIEND:<<Now!>>
FRIEND:<<High! High!>>
COMONA:<<Fifteen seconds to launch. All ISAF aircraft and vehicles flow to safe area.>>
COMONA:<<10, 9, 8, 7, 6, start ignition.>>
FRIEND:<<alright!>>
COMONA:<<3,2,1, ignition.>>
COMONA:<<Liftoff!>>
FRIEND:<<Whoa! Yeah!>>
FRIEND:<<Alright!>>
COMONA:<<All systems are in the green.>>
ENEMY:<<Dammit, it’s no use, I’m hit!>>
FRIEND:<<Alright, I’ve got him cornered.>>
FRIEND:<<Still okay!>>
AWACS:<<Nice kill!>>
ENEMY:<<I’m evading!>>

COMONA:<<Rocket has reached 40,000 feet.It is now immune to enemy action.>>
COMONA:<<Thanks to you, the launch was a success.>>
COMONA:<<Yayyy! (applause)>>
<<<<Mission Accomplished>>>>
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Sources
ShatteredSkies.net
Ace Combat 4: Shattered Skies (the game itself)