No Clearance

No Clearance is the seventh mission of the original version of Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere and is the third mission in the UPEO (II) Arc.

Objectives
The player follows Rena Hirose on an unauthorized sortie in search of the X-49 Night Raven after the discovery of a related base in Ghosts of the Past. As soon as both have taken off, they are ordered to return as an anonymous threat is made. Returning to base ends the mission, and the player proceeds to Fragile Cargo instead.

If the player follows Rena, they will encounter four General Resource recon planes in a demilitarised zone. These are the mission's primary targets, and the player is ordered to intercept. Abyssal Dision is present in a F-22C Raptor II, but will not interfere and cannot be targeted, verbally clashing with Rena over who the Night Raven rightfully belongs to.

If the four planes are shot down within 3 minutes and 30 seconds, a squadron of six F/A-18I Hornet ADVs will appear. Destroying them ends the mission, awarding Mission Accomplished. If the player takes longer than 3 minutes and 30 seconds to shoot down the four planes, the mission will end with Mission Over.

Ranks

 * A: Destroy second squadron in under 5 minutes.
 * B: Destroy second squadron in under 6 minutes and 30 seconds.
 * C: Destroy second squadron.
 * D: Second squadron does not appear.

Debriefing
''In light of your role in repelling the General Resource incursion, your violation of command will be exceptionally ignored. However, in regards to the extraoperational action, you must submit a report as soon as possible.''