Aurelia
From Electrosphere
Location: Southern Tip of the Osean Continent
Nation Capital: Griswall
First Mentioned: Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception
[edit] General Information
Aurelia. A country located in the Southern Hemisphere of the Osean Continent, is a peaceful nation with a pacifistic ideology. However, in 2020, its neighbor to the north, Leasath, invaded it in a swift blitzkrieg. Within 10 days, 95% of Aurelia fell under Leasath control. The reason for the swift fall was later revealed to be the work of the Leasath superweapon, the airborne fortress Gleipnir. Its army shattered, its cities in ruin, all seemed lost for the small country.
[edit] The Over Shadowed Counterattack
A small base in the northwestern part of the country, Aubrey Air Force Base, had not fallen under Leasath control. An attempt was made to change that, with 3 squadrons of B-52s dispatched to level the area. Gryphus Squadron, the local fighter squadron, was dispatched to destroy them. All Leasath forces were destroyed with minimal Aurelian casualties. However, on the return trip, the Gleipnir decloaked from the Puna Plains and launched an SWBM at Gryphus Squadron. All but Gryphus One died. The attack shattered Aurelian morale, but did not discourage them from attaining their goal: Liberate Aurelia. Remaining forces then began a long and brutal operation to retake the country from Leasath. The first obstacle was a Leasath outpost on the Puna Plains. This base housed bombers, in preparation for another attack on Aubrey Base, one that if carried out, would have resulted in the destruction of the only Aurelian stronghold. Gryphus One was dispatched to destroy the base, which he accomplished.
The next phase of the offensive was Port Patterson, a major supply center and Leasath hub. Aurelian Command managed to scrape together a small invasion force and proceeded to take the base. However, Leasath got wind of this, and several battalions of soldiers were inbound. These troops were too much for the small Aurelian ground forces to handle, and Gryphus One assisted them by destroying all landing craft and supporting naval vessels. Subsequently, Port Patterson fell. Aurelia established a foothold there, allowing them to push farther into the country. The next steps were difficult. Leasath forces were mobilizing at Kingshill to retake the port, while the Gleipnir was positioned at Terminus Island to the south, assaulting the Davis Unit trapped at Stand Canyon. Depending on the player's decisions, Port Patterson can be saved or captured by Leasath forces, the Gleipnir can escape from forces or be destroyed, or the Davis Unit can be saved.
Aurelian forces than advanced on Santa Elva, a major city and transportation hub vital to Leasath's control over Aurelia. Due to the threat of the Gleipnir, ground forces held back while Gryphus One and his wingmen assaulted the airborne fortress. During the battle the Gleipnir's DOS, SWBM Launch Ports, and other defenses were completely destroyed.
Gryphus One managed to destroy the Gleipnir, which crashed near Downtown, taking out a bridge in the process. The destruction of the Gleipnir boosted Aurelian morale to an unprecedented level. Plans for the next phase of the war began.
The next target was the Aurelian capital, Griswall. Unfortunately, several obstacles stood in the way. Sachana Air Force Base]], the country's largest airbase and home of the elite anti-air Skylla Unit, a Leasath regiment on the Kalana Steppes preparing to retake Santa Elva, a transport squadron preparing to transport a weapon to Griswall and the Mount Nevera Jammer preventing Aurelia from tracking enemy movements.
Despite their best efforts, Santa Elva came under attack from the Hamlet Unit, a Leasath Biological Special Forces Unit. Despite an unstable delivery device, Gryphus One was able to neutralize the gas and destroy all Leasath fighters. The enemy tank regiment on the Kalana Steppes was also destroyed, but not before putting up fierce resistance. The Skylla Unit escaped Sachana Airbase in order reinforce the Mount Nevera Jammer. Despite danger from ground launched RPGs, Aurelian CH-47 were able to retake the base, adding yet another asset to the war.
The Nevera Jammer was then assaulted, despite the heavy jamming in the area. Gryphus One was able to locate the power stations to the radars SAM defense systems, even though the Skylla Unit attempted to stop him by destroying the metal towers which led him to the stations. Upon destruction of the jammer, Aurelia then assaulted Monte Breeze, a port southwest of Griswall, and the location of a Leasath weapons plant. Several transports were caught hauling M.B.S.Rs out of the area. They were shot down, but it was then revealed that an Aurelian resistance force, the A.L.C. (Aurelian Liberation Corps) was headed to the weapons factories, which Leasath had rigged with explosives. Gryphus One managed to destroy the factories, much to the chagrin of the A.L.C.
The final step was Griswall. The assault on Griswall took planning, as it was protected by the Leasath Air Defense System, the Meson Cannon.
Operation: Gaiuss Tower began on an unknown day in December of 2020, with columns of Aurelian tanks advancing on Gaiuss Tower, the nerve center of Leasath forces. The Meson Cannon inflicted barely any casualties and didn't shoot down any aircraft except for Ninox 2, an Aurelian SU-27 Flanker pilot. Gryphus One destroyed all Meson Cannon batteries and neutralized Leasath forces. Diego Navarro, Leasaths Commander, escaped in a C-17 earlier upon learning Aurelian forces were outside of Griswall. Gaiuss Tower fell and Aurelia was free. However, the war wasn't over yet.
The next morning, Navarro's C-17 was spotted heading for an unknown complex on an island appx. 20 miles south of Leasath. The Aurelian Recon Unit Otus pursuing him were shot down by unidentified stealth aircraft, codenamed FENRIR.
[edit] The End of Deception
Gryphus One was immediately scrambled to quell the threat of this new weapon. However the complex where FENRIR was housed was in a chain of islands housing several Leasath complexes. One island housed the development facility for a weapon for Fenrir.
Gryphus One managed to destroy the development facility, as well as the elite Leasath Alect Squadron. Archelon Fortress was within striking distance.
Gryphus One attacked the island along with the Aquila Squadron. A fierce dogfight erupted between Aurelian forces and the last Leasath fighters. While the battle ensued, an Aurelian amphibious unit landed on the island and took the Electrical Transmitter, the device powering FENRIR's DOS. Gryphus One destroyed the transmitter, nullifying the camouflage. He then proceeded to destroy all FENRIRs and Leasath aircraft. The amphibious force entered the fortress and encountered another FENRIR taking off. Gryphus One entered the fortress and destroyed all FENRIRs inside, as well as a Leasath U-2 Dragon Lady. The fortress then imploded as Gryphus One escaped with seconds to spare. The war was finally over.
Afterwards, Griswall was decorated in the colors of the Christmas season, and everyone forgot the devastating war that happened mere days ago. However, this war set the stage for another war that would occur in 25 years.
Sources
Ace Combat X: The Skies of Deception (the game itself)
