Ace A Live/Prologue/Part 2 - Raging Inferno

Part 1
(June 28, 1946 - Near Helsinki, Finland)

(On a routine radar operation, three men were checking their instruments in their mobile radar truck in the outskirts of Helsinki. The mobilization of such units was requested due to recent German air activity following the interception of the four transport planes in Norway.)

Operator 1 - Anything wrong with the gauges?

Operator 2 - Nothing. Just need to check for any interference.

Operator 1 - Okay then Donny. Stan, give me a screw driver.

Operator 3 - Alright. If I ask, please don't try to be a hard-head for Pete's sake. The equipment is quite expensive.

Operator 1 - Fine, fine, fine. I'll do it.

(For a few minutes, the men were inspecting their truck just to be sure it works properly. The second operator was checking the gauges when he heard a signal from the monitor.)

Operator 2 - Uh, guys, you may want to see this.

(The two men rushed to the monitor. What they saw puzzled them. An unusually large amount of blips appeared on the radar.)

Operator 3 - You think those are our guys?

Operator 1 - No I don't think so. We never received a notice for this flight.

(Feeling sure it was an enemy strike force, the first operator phoned the airbase in Helsinki.)

Operator 1 - This is Snowbird...

(Inside the base's headquarters)

Colonel McNealy - ...copy, we'll scramble every available aircraft we got.

Officer - What is the situation, sir?

Colonel McNealy - Snowbird just detected a possible German strike force. Looks like they are heading for Helsinki.

Officer - Should I request the assistance of Sandalphon Squadron?

Colonel McNealy - Please do.

Officer - Yes sir.

(The city's air raid siren went off, alerting people to head for nearby bomb shelters. Nearby settlements also did the same. At the same time, the alarm sounded at the airbase, giving the signal to scramble any available aircraft. Pilots received their orders from the radio while in the air. The planes started engaging the Germans when they reached Helsinki a few minutes later. The officer who was with McNealy at the time requested the presence of the Sandalphon Squadron at the briefing room. The team ran towards the room.)

Junichi - Looks like a raid just pop up out of nowhere!

Erika - Yeah!

Ulrich - Why would they do this? The war ended long ago!

Dominic - It looks like the enemy got hopping-mad about the loss of the transports back in Norway. That's a possible reason.

Junichi - I agree.

(Briefing room)

Officer - This is an emergency sortie, so I'll keep the briefing short. The Germans launched a large-scale offensive on Helsinki. USAAF planes are currently engaging them as we speak. As all of you are probably aware, this was done in retaliation for the loss of the four Me 323s several days ago in Norway. Engage and repel any further attacks. Dismissed!

(The squadron saluted and they rushed to their planes fully loaded with fuel and ammunition.)