[Green Giant]

THE ATTACK ON ARCHELON FORTRESS
- MISSION 15A: END OF DECEPTION I -

DATE: December 20th, 2020
LOCATION: Daren Straits, Leasath
EVENT: The Fall of Archaelon Fortress and the Destruction of Fenrir.
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-AAF Objectives
--Destroy All Fenrir Aircraft
--Destroy Archaelon Fortress' Shock Cannon
-AAF Units Involved
--Gryphus Squadron (1)
--Aquila Squadron (6)

-LAF Objectives
--Wipe out any Aurelian Forces at all costs, until the Fenrir are complete.
-LAF Units Involved
--Remaining Leasath Air Forces (5)
--Fenrir (4)
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Before The Battle
Aurelian Forces free their nation and go on the offensive after liberating their Capital City, Griswall. The Last of General Diego Caspar Navarro's Leasath Forces take refuge in the nearby Daren Straits and are pursued by the Aurelian Forces. Their Headquarters is confirmed to be at the Archaelon Fortress, located at the end of the Daren Straits. This is also home for the Leasathian super-aircraft Fenrir

Fortunately for Aurelia, the Leasath Elite Alect Squadron was located, intercepted, and destroyed around Daren Straits' circumference before they could have access to Fenrir. This has reduced the difficulty of the potentially tough battle to some extent. However, this action has also come at a cost, as Leasath has finished their work on a special HPM weapon for their superfighters, and have even had enough time to activate the fortress' mounted Shock Cannon, which resembles a ground-variation of the Shock Cannon mounted in the now-destroyed Leasathian airborne fortress, Gleipnir.

The Battle
Seven Aurelian heroes (Aquila 1 to 6 in F-22s, as well as Gryphus 1) head to the battle of their lives over Archaelon fortress. At the start, Aquila 1 is immediately destroyed by the HPM. As they approach they engage several SU-37s and F-15S/MTDs, followed by the Fenrir shortly after. Gryphus 1 and the remaining Aquilas continue to engage the enemy fighters as they keep the Afterburners down to lower the HPMs accuracy as much as possible.

After one Fenrir down, the HPM manages to catch up with Aquila 2, however he succeeds in evading the shot before his fuel tank overheats completely. Leasath sends more and more F-15S/MTD reinforcements.

After a lengthy dogfight, all Fenrir aircraft are shot down. As a final attempt to stop Gryphus 1 and his Aquila wingmen, Leasath troops at the fortress activate the Shock Cannon, forcing the squadron to fly at altitudes below 2000 ft. The Shock Cannon is also guarded with several AA and SAM sites, and later in the battle a few F-22 Raptors join the defending force. In addition, this Shock Cannon has a reduced reload time, unlike the Gleipnir variant.


- Archaelon Fortress' Shock Cannon

Despite all the threats, Gryphus 1 is commanded to destroy the Shock Cannon, as they must destroy all Shockwave related technologies in Leasath possession to prevent its use in the future. With no disappointment, Gryphus 1 dodges the Shock Cannon attacks and succeeds in destroying it completely.

The Aftermath
The Aurelian pilots return to their homeland as the war is finally over. Diego Navarro is nowhere to be found as he flees from Leasath, since now his plot is uncovered. Gryphus 1 returns to his base in Cape Aubrey, commenting on how he "does not like hot weather". He still serves the military there till the present day.






SOURCES
Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception (the game itself)

ACCREDITATION:
Ribbon-Blue - For the format and the first parts of the type-up
Ribbon-Silver

*Original Article by Ribbon-Silver*