Ace A Live/Prologue/Part 1 - The Rise of the Aces

Part 1
(May 20, 1946 - Underground headquarters, London, England)

American officer - Is everyone here? Alright, if that's the case, then here is the info regarding yesterday's reconnaissance photos. Some of the remaining German forces that refused to surrender has acquired unknown technology and it appears that they're weaponizing it.

British officer - "Unknown technology"? Haven't we acquired most of those tech and hid them away from the Soviet Union?

American officer - We did; however, this time, it would be dangerous. What's worse is that an impact crater in Norway has a glowing crystal in the middle. We have dispatched some units and scientists to investigate the site as we speak. However, the danger that the Nazis would steal it is quite high.

French officer - What is our strategy for this problem? If we can impede their advance, that would be a big blow to them.

American officer - We are dispatching an elite fighter squadron to join with the task force in order to secure the site. We also sent them to take down any hostiles in Europe that is related to the current situation. As of today, Operation: Halvanhelev will now proceed to the next phase of the operation: the seizure of any adcanced technology the Nazis developed.

Part 2
(June 14, 1946 - Helsinki, Finland)

Officer - To all pilots of the Sandalphon Squadron, proceed to the briefing room at once. I repeat. Proceed to the briefing room at once.

Junichi - (sigh) This has got to be an easy mission today.

Dominic - Yeah, I have to be home by nightfall. I'm going to have a little time at the park.

Junichi - Hey, Dom. Remember your performance back at Berlin a year back?

Dominic - Hmm..oh yeah. I remember the time that a Jerry nearly torn my plane to shreds. It's haunting to me and I hope it won't happen again.

Ulrich - C'mon guys! We have to go.

Junichi and Dominic - Right.

(briefing room)

Briefing officer - Is everyone here? Alright, here are the details. A squadron of four Me 323s are passing through Norwegian airspace in an effort to carry the unknown technology to an undisclosed location. Within their flight path is the impact site of the unknown crystal, which has forced the evacuation of all the townspeople and brought our assigned unit to the area. Guarding the planes are a flight of He 177s recently converted into escort gunships and a number of updated Me 262s for figher escort. The flight path that we recovered shows that the transport group will enter the airspace at 0845 hours on the 15th of June, that is tomorrow. Your mission is to shoot down all four Me 323s so that the unit in the village will pick it up. Good luck.

(The pilots salute as they left to prepare for tomorrow's mission)

Ulrich - Man, I swear I ain't messing this up this time.

Dominic - Don't worry about it. It's not your fault that you nearly got us all killed back in Berlin. They just got clever, that's all.

Ulrich - Thank's for calming me down.

Dominic - You're welcome.

Erika - No doubt about it. This will be a different one compared to last year.

(June 15, 1946 - Over Norway)

Junichi - This is Sandalphon 1. We are approaching the intercept point. All pilots, what's your status?

Dominic - This is Sandalphon 2. All systems are functioning.

Ulrich - This is Sandalphon 3. All systems are good as well.

Erika - This is Sandalphon 4. My plane is functioning properly.

Junichi - Alright, let's go.

American pilot - Is this the Sandalphon Squadron. Alright, now we have some aces to help us. I am Captain James de Lanta. Nice to meet you.

Junichi - Great to see you, James. I'm Captain Junichi Takamiya, the squadron's leader.

James - Look's like you four are confident enough at least. The Gigant's have plenty of firepower to knock out our engines with a few shots.

Junichi - The Swallows too. They're a little more dangerous with their cannons.

James - Now let see some action.

HQ - Enemies detected, bearing 163, altitude 1000. All pilots, stay alert.

James - Roger that control. Proceeding with caution.