Independence - An Ace Combat Story

Prologue

Author's note:

Just a short one-shot since I haven't been on here in ages. Happy thanksgiving, everyone :)

October 30th, 1940

Voodoo was heading back to base after a dance above the Round Table. The Twin Wasp radial rumbled along as his P-36 cruised through the sky. Voodoo was a veteran of the Sapinish Civil War having been displaced after the fascists had defeated the monarchy.

Now things were heating up after Belka invaded its neighboring countries of Gebet and Recta. Ustio was also looking for the opportunity to seize its independence because of the unfavorable view the people held toward the Belkan government. With a World War on the horizon...this was another way for Voodoo to make money but also to hopefully put himself on the right side of history.

"Shit...HE 112s..." Voodoo spotted the two planes cruising two thousand feet below him. He dove to boom and zoomed the first bandit, killing the pilot.

<<Raufer man raufer spring ab!>> The Belkan pilot shouted to his dead wingman.

A dogfight then ensued between the Hawk and the Heinkel. Voodoo led the target and the single .50 and .30 caliber nose mounted guns peppered the Heinkel until the wing was finally ripped off, "Should've paid extra for the HEI rounds...wasted more than half my belt on it" Voodoo sighed.

Voodoo landed back at Valais airbase and taxied his P-36 to the ramp. The mercenaries funded by the rebel government were a ragtag group using whatever they could get their hands on from Gladiators and Peashooters to P-39 Airacobras if they had the money to spend.

With Belka upgrading to BF-109s, Voodoo needed an upgrade. With the Ustian rebellion receiving Curtiss Tomahawks and Spitfires, he had found an alternative. Because of his experience flying the P-36 it was the best choice and the bump in performance thanks in part to the V12 would be beneficial.

A few days later, Voodoo's Tomahawk arrived. His mechanic looked the plane over and was rather surprised that he had picked this plane over the Spitfire with its Merlin engine that gave it superior high altitude performance.

"I'm not saying the P-40 is bad, Diego but you're gonna suffer at high altitudes.." Thomas sighed.

"These Curtiss birds are tough, hermano...My P-36 has taken beating after beating and brought me home. Try that with a Zero...plus I know the Hawks really well since the Sapin used them."

"We can always tune the engine...I was an air racer back in Oured before all this started. I used to build engines for some of the fastest air racers out there. And I guess on the bright side you'll be getting a pair of .50 cals rather than just one...and four .30 cals too. That's a nice bump in firepower. You gonna paint a shark's mouth on it too?"

"Sure why not? I bet that'll terrify those dastardly Belkans." Diego joked.