Breaking Arrows

Breaking Arrows is the fourtheenth mission in Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies.

Synopsis
ISAF is commencing landing operations in northern Usea, thanks to the recent destruction of the Stonehenge Turret Network. However, Erusea has deployed several salvos of cruise missiles in an attempt to stave off the ISAF landing troops, whose integrity would be greatly compromised were the cruise missiles to reach their destination. The player's objective is to intercept all cruise missiles before they escape the mission area.

Mission Briefing
With Stonehenge out of commission, the landing operations are underway in the northern part of the mainland. In response, the Erusians have launched large numbers of cruise missiles against the ISAF landing forces. Our radar is unable to pick up these missiles that fly at ultra low altitudes. Failure to destroy these missiles will put our troops in danger. Your mission is to shoot and destroy each and every cruise missile.

Mission Script
[MISSION START]


 * AWACS SkyEye: Mobius 1, a wire from the northern landing forces. "We're depending on your efforts." Commence operation. Don't let any escape.

''Mobius One intercepts the first cruise missile salvo and eliminates all missiles. A second salvo approaches from the north-center.'' ''The character catches up with the second wave of cruise missiles. One of the missiles suddenly breaks apart mid-flight into two separate targets.'' The 2nd wave of cruise missiles is eliminated from the mission airspace. Seconds later. a single warhead enters mission airspace, followed by two enemy Raptors. ''The character pursues and destroys the cruise misslile, whoch upon exploding reveals itself as a nuclear missile. The misslile goes off in a massive sky-blue fireball.'' [MISSION END]
 * AWACS SkyEye: (as the missiles approach the center of the map) Target is closing in on the landing site.
 * AWACS SkyEye: More missiles on radar! Shoot them all down!
 * AWACS SkyEye: The target's split into two!
 * AWACS SkyEye: (if a cruise missile wave reaches the center of the map) 60 miles and closing.
 * AWACS SkyEye: Well done!
 * AWACS SkyEye: Mobius 1, another aircraft has been sighted. That's strange. There's only one. The cruise missile is heading south along the glacier. Looks like a regular warhead but keep your distance.
 * AWACS SkyEye: That was a direct hit. What an explosion! Mission complete. The landing forces saw from below, and they extend their thanks.

Mission Debriefing
Goob job! There was no unnecessary loss of landing troops, and the northern coast is now secure.

Trivia

 * Breaking Arrows is infamous amidst the Ace Combat fanbase because of the nuclear warhead. Examination of the debriefing screen reveals that the missile flies in an erratic, zig-zag pattern.
 * There is a secret XB-70 Valkyrie in this mission, spawning at the very start, flying from the northwestern corner of the map eastward in a straight line. If you want to shoot it down, it is highly recommended to wait until the second missile wave, at which point the Valkyrie will be very close to the missiles.
 * The explosion from the nuclear missile is the same explosion effect from the munitions fired from Stonehenge.