Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies

Ace Combat 04 is set in the series' fictional universe of Strangereal, where Earth has entirely different nations, geography, and history. The game's story details the 2003 Continental War, fought between the Federal Republic of Erusea and the Independent State Allied Forces (ISAF) coalition over territory on the continent of Usea. In 1999, an asteroid broke into fragments that impacted Earth, causing widespread devastation and sparking an international financial crisis and refugee crisis. Four years later in 2003, Erusea, struggling with an influx of refugees and heightened international tensions, suddenly launches a massive invasion of the entire continent, including the neutral country of San Salvacion. Erusea also captures an array of anti-asteroid railguns codenamed Stonehenge and repurposes it as a long-range anti-air superweapon. ISAF is formed to fight back, but Erusea's strength and air cover from Stonehenge forces them to retreat to the island of North Point outside Stonehenge's effective range, allowing Erusea to occupy the entire Usean mainland.[6][7]

Players control the game's silent protagonist "Mobius 1", an ISAF fighter pilot who leads ISAF's counterattack. Other characters include AWACS SkyEye, an AEW&C operator who coordinates Mobius 1's deployments; Yellow 13, an Erusean ace pilot who leads Erusea's elite Yellow Squadron; and Yellow 4, Yellow 13's wingman and close friend. Cutscene interludes are narrated by a man from San Salvacion writing a letter to Mobius 1 after the war, recalling his childhood memories of life in San Salvacion's occupied capital.

Mobius 1 and ISAF repel Erusean bombers from destroying ISAF's headquarters,[8] allowing ISAF troops to safely evacuate to North Point.[9] Mobius 1 then takes part in a series of air raids to disable Erusea's "invincible" Aegir Fleet, halting Erusea's attempts to invade North Point by sea.[10] Bolstered by their victories, ISAF planes strike deeper into the continent but take heavy losses to fire from Stonehenge.[11] ISAF then launches a ground invasion of the Usean mainland, establishing a foothold on the continent.[12] Mobius 1 gains a reputation as a promising ace.

Meanwhile, a boy witnesses the death of his immediate family when an Erusean fighter with a yellow-painted "13" tail number shoots down an ISAF aircraft that crashes into the boy's home.[13] The boy is taken in by his uncle, an unemployed alcoholic who lives above a bar in San Salvacion's capital city. The boy describes his experience of the Erusean occupation, earning income by playing music for Erusean soldiers in the bar.[14] There he meets Erusean ace pilot Yellow 13, leader of Erusea's elite Yellow Squadron, and his wingman Yellow 4.[15] Although the boy resents Yellow 13 at first, the captain and the rest of the squadron befriend and adopt the boy as one of their own.[16][17] The boy speaks of Yellow 13's desire to face a worthy opponent[18] and praise for Mobius 1's growing skill.[19]

The ISAF invasion marks a turning point in the war against Erusea, and Yellow Squadron is hounded by logistical issues.[20] The boy discovers that the barkeep and his daughter are agents of the resistance,[21] though the daughter is fond of Yellow 13.[22] The daughter bombs Yellow Squadron's airfield,[23] damaging the aircraft flown by Yellow 13 and Yellow 4.[24] ISAF then launches an attack on Stonehenge in which Mobius 1 disables the railgun array. Yellow Squadron scrambles to defend Stonehenge. In the resulting dogfight, Yellow 4 is shot down by Mobius 1 and fails to eject.[25] Yellow 13 quietly mourns the death of his wingman.[26]

As ISAF forces approach San Salvacion, Yellow 13 catches the barkeep's daughter after she attempts to plant explosive detonators. The boy intervenes, calling Yellow 13 a "fascist pig". Yellow 13 is upset by the boy's words, but allows them to go free.[27] As ISAF liberates San Salvacion's capital,[28] the boy and the barkeep's daughter follow the retreating Erusean forces.[29][30] ISAF forces push through Erusea's final defensive line to the Erusean capital of Farbanti.[31] Mobius 1 spearheads the siege of Farbanti and engages and defeats the remainder of Yellow Squadron, including Yellow 13.[32] The boy and the barkeep's daughter find and bury Yellow 13's handkerchief.[33]

The Erusean leadership surrenders to ISAF. However, a rogue group of Erusean officers take control of Megalith, a superweapon that uses ballistic missiles to shoot down asteroid fragments in orbit, intending to use it to subject Usea to kinetic bombardment as revenge. Mobius 1 leads the newly formed Mobius Squadron into battle against the rogue officers while a special forces unit infiltrates the Megalith facility. As Mobius 1 flies into the missile ports to destroy Megalith's generators, the special forces unit opens Mobius 1's escape route at the last moment. With Megalith destroyed, the squadron celebrates Mobius 1's heroism as they return to base.[34]

Many years after the war, the boy, now grown, reflects on Yellow 13's life and death. He finishes his letter to Mobius 1, stating his belief that the rivalry between the two pilots gave Yellow 13 "an unexpected joy, [...] at the end of that meaningless war."[35]