Ace Combat XCOM: Enemy Skies

[hYGP]

It has been a terrible week for Long Caster. The hours have dragged until they became days and then minutes and then seconds, and his existence is the crackling nerves heralding the ragged edge of sleep deprivation. He has pulled together dozens of men for the purpose of sacrificing them to gain combat experience. He has written until his hands and his wrists feel like they cannot sustain themselves, and he is nearly certain that the only thing holding his eyes inside his skull is the bags he carries under them.

But when he returns from 24 hours in the air to personally oversee a disastrous mission by any conventional measure, he finds that there is still no bottom to this week.

Osean Air Defense Force urgent communique.

Orders to withdraw from the XCOM project with all Osean assets and redeploy to the Belkan front.

Here and now, he has to decide where his loyalties lay.

What he fights for.

WARNING: THIS VOTE WILL HAVE MAJOR CONSEQUENCES. DELIBERATION AND REVIEW OF GIVEN PERSPECTIVES IS HEAVILY ENCOURAGED. I WILL PROVIDE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS WITHIN SOME BOUNDS.

[] Nation
Long Caster has always been a patriot. This is why he signed up, and why he agreed to go halfway around the world to fight Osea's enemies. This is just fulfilling his duty.

[] Humanity
Six months of the Erusean Civil War and staring down the end of the world has expanded Long Caster's responsibilities. To be a soldier in this new war is to take up arms for the sake of humanity, and Long Caster will not disappoint.

[] Future
Long Caster orders the forces under his command with a goal: to create a better future. The Lighthouse War witnessed sworn enemies fighting together, arm in arm. If six months can do this to such bitter enemies…is there a fundamental difference between humans and the aliens who exhibit such humanity?

 

[hYGP]

"Soldiers, airmen, and all personnel who have chosen to serve with XCOM,

"I should begin with an apology. I am a soldier, not a poet – though I trust that you'll understand.

"I know many of you have received recall orders. Others among you are likely even now being called by your home countries. For some of you, people who you could not even imagine getting the time of day from now begging, cajoling, or even outright threatening you in order to return. I know, because last night I received such an order. I am here to explain why I cannot accept, and why I must ask you to weigh your decisions carefully.

"We few have been called to a common duty. Although we may differ in which country we hail from, the languages we speak, and the lives we have led, we are united here in common purpose. It is our duty to our friends, our families, and our fellow humanity across the globe. It is our duty to the hopes and prayers offered to us – that we defend our families, our friends, our homes, and our hopes for a peaceful future for humanity under a clear sky!

"As now, as ever, this has been our calling and our responsibility – and I am privileged to be fighting for such a worthy cause in such exceptional company.

"Today, our threat is from beyond the stars. While our airspace is occupied by the extraterrestrial threat, we cannot preserve peace or safety for the people we serve. In order to defend our families, our homes, and our fellow humanity, we must dedicate ourselves to defeating this alien menace. I am obligated, then, to remain here as part of my oath to serve our people.

"This commitment to defeat the alien threat will not be an easy task. The aliens are frighteningly well-armed and trained, equipped with technology well beyond our own with no regards to human limits. I understand that such a gap is terrifying – not a night goes by that I do not worry about all these challenges.

"But this does not mean we cannot win. Our battle records have proven as much, time and again. Strider Squadron and Mobius Squadron require no introduction, but even apart from them our branch alone has our two ace wings Salamander and Rigel. On the ground, Lieutenant Arendsen has admirably led our forces to victory when the aliens threatened to overwhelm our forces. On the scientific front, Dr. Vahlen and her team have worked miracles in closing our technological gap, while Dr. Shen and his team has brought the most cutting-edge technology into being standard issue for our airmen and our soldiers. On every front we are pushed to the limit – but on every front we representatives of humanity are pushing back!

"It is our united front that has accomplished this, and it is because of our strength in unity that I believe that we can win this war. Your valor, your dedication to the cause, your duty to your comrades, and your heroic efforts will be the first and most important shield for your homes, your families, and your humanity. The road will be long and the nights will be dark, and yet I have every faith that we will overcome this challenge to humanity.

"So let us give our all together for our common humanity. With luck on our side, we will secure peace for the people we swore to protect.

"Dismissed. Vigilo Confido."

- Commander Long Caster's Vigilo Confido speech​