Operation Free Gracemeria

"Ghost Eye to all planes. We're going to take back Gracemeria today!"

- AWACS Ghost Eye

Operation: Free Gracemeria, also known as the Liberation of Gracemeria is the thirteenth known battle of the Anean Continental War, and marks the liberation of the Emmerian Republic from the Federal Republic of Estovakia's hegemony.

Premise
In the past few months, the Emmerian military managed to retake most of the Anean Continent from Estovakian hegemony, razing every single main enemy installation in their way. Along the road back to Gracemeria they managed to score several victories, such as the destruction of the Estovakian Aerial Fleet and its Aigaion mothership, and even managed to subvert a scorched-earth policy threat to the capital. With nothing able to stop them now, the Emmerian were finally ready to free Emmeria once and for all.

Fires of Liberation
On March 31, 2016, the Emmerians started on the recapturing of their capital, Gracemeria. Approximately 393 Estovakian troops were fighting to protect the territory, while 141 Emmerian troops fought to take back their beloved land. The mission was set into six operations. Operation A was to assist the Steel Gunners in taking back the Gracemeria Air Force Base. Operation B was to assist the Dragon Busters in taking back the capitol building. Operation C was assisting Warlock in taking back the radio station. Operation D was destroying the naval forces with Marigold. Operation E was assisting Windhover with destroying all ESM planes. Operation F was assisting Avalanche in destroying the radar jammer aircraft. This battle became very intense, but eventually, the city was successfully recaptured...or not.

Last Stand
Suddenly, a scene occurs with the Strigon team communicating with each other. Their new leader, Ilya Pasternak, ordered all Strigon team members to retreat and head back to Estovakia. He explains to them that he will handle the Garuda team. Toscha Mijasik refuses this order but eventually gives in. Ilya Pasternak flies into Gracemeria and challenges Garuda One to a fight to see which is truly an Ace. After a long and deadly battle, Pasternak is defeated and Gracemeria is finally in Emmerian hands.

Trivia

 * The Liberation of Gracemeria's music is well recognized by players as one of the best composed pieces in the whole series, as well as the second piece in the entire series to ditch the signature synthesizer elements, second only to the title overture of Ace Combat 5', The Unsung War.