Talisman

Talisman (お守り Omamori)  is the flight leader of the Republic of Emmeria Air Force's 28th Tactical Fighter Squadron. A cunning and deadly pilot, he was an indispensable asset that greatly affected the outcome of the Anean Continental War, as well as Emmeria's top ace pilot. He is controlled by Player 1.

Amongst his many accomplishments were the liberation of Gracemeria, the destruction of the Chandelier, the P-1112 Aigaion Aerial Aircraft Carrier, its Estovakian Aerial Fleet & escorts and the WMD Convoy which could have helped to destroy Gracemeria. He also shot down the entire Strigon Team, including their new leader Ilya Pasternak in his CFA-44 Nosferatu. He currently is on duty in the Republic of Emmeria Air Force.

Early Life
Information concerning Talisman's past prior to the Anean Continental War is nearly nonexistent; however, it is known that he served in the REAF under the role of capital defense as the flight leader of the Garuda Squadron ever since 2013.

Anean Continental War
In August 30, 2015, Talisman, alongside dozens of Emmerian aircraft scrambled from Gracemeria AFB in order to protect the capital from the unexpected Estovakian blitzkrieg. After Talisman taxiied from the runway and joined up with the other REAF air contingents, flight commander AWACS Ghost Eye noted that Talisman lacked a wingman. A lone F-16C approached from the rear of the aircraft swarm towards Talisman; it's pilot, Marcus Lampert, was then assigned to fly as Talisman's wingman.

During the battle Talisman managed to shoot down most of the invading forces, including Victor Voychek, the leader of the Strigon Team. However he was forced to retreat due to the Aigaion's onslaught of Nimbus Missiles. Talisman and Shamrock went on to become a pillar of hope for the Emmerian forces, becoming the backbone of their push back to Gracemeria, and a symbol of fear to the Estovakian opposition.

Khesed Island
Two months after the war begins, Talisman was one of the remaining air units tasked with defending Vitoze. After shooting down 10 bombers, and numerous escorts. Several days later, they attacked Estovakian positions at Sipil fields. After driving them out, they headed towards Bartolomeo fortress, the last Estovakian stronghold on the island. Despite all its defenses, as well as the support of two Strigon members, Talisman led the Emmerians to victory.

Push into Anea, and Fall from Grace
On January 26, 2016, Emmerian troops landed on their own soil, bent on taking it back. Talisman helped the Marigold cruiser, both tank battalions, and defeated a swarm of Estovakian reinforcements. Days later, he helped liberated the town of Silvat, killing hundreds of Estovakains in the process, including 4 members of the elite Strigon team. The war was turning into Emmeria's favor.

Weeks later, the Emmerians pushed further inland. Talisman covered Emmerian ground units at Selumna peaks, liberated the town of San Loma, and helped bring down the Aigaion (ending the cruise missile threat), and shooting down most, if not all the members of the Strigon Team. Talisman led the Emmerian forces against the impenetrable Ragno fortress, flying through maintenance tunnels, supporting the tank battalion, and destroying the supply lines, and doing whatever it takes to capture the fortress.

Later, Talisman was sent to the Moloch desert, pressing forwards towards Gracemeria, and the end of the war. After supporting Snake Pit, Hammerhead, Warlock and Quox battalions, he was ordered to retreat from the airspace just, as coincedently, the Strigon team arrives. With his wingman, Shamrock, engaging the Strigon team, Talisman engages as well, and shoots down the enemy squadron. Ghost Eye growls at them, saying that they made a huge mistake, and will be severely punished.

Redemption, and end of the war
Ot March 26, he and Shamrock infiltrated Fort Norton, with the goal of destroying the WMD that the Estovakians had deployed. After destroying the WMD, the two of them attempted to fly home, but were ambushed by a batallion of enemy fighters. After a long and grueling fight, Talisman was saved by the timely arrival of the Emmerian Air Force. After wiping out the battalion, they headed towards Gracemeria.

On March 31, 2016, Talisman helped Emmerian troops take back the capital, killing thousand of Estovakians, and liberating the capital. However, Pasternak arrived, and challenged him to a duel. After a long and bitter battle, Talisman managed to destroy Pasternak.

Cruise missile attack, and destruction of Chandelier
While doing a routine patrol over the liberated city of Gracemeria, he receives word of enemy presence north-east of the city. They quickly turn out to be cruise missiles. Talisman destroys wave after wave after wave of cruise missiles, further complictated by Estovakian stealth fighters attacking. His superior flying skills enable him to deal with the attacks, and shoot down all Estovakian forces in the city.

On April 1, the Emmerian airforce heads out, to destroy the Chandelier. An Estovakian super weapon, built to deal with the Ulysses asteroid. On the way there, they receive Intel from Victor Voychek, a member of the Estovakian Air Force. After a brutal battle, having to destroy the 12 cooling units, defenses, etc. Talisman flies into the loading trench destroying the final cooling unit, similar to how when Mobius 1 took down Megalith. He flies into the barrel, blowing away the core of the cannon. He escapes before the Chandelier collapses on itself. With the war officially over, he heads back to Gracemeria.

Trivia

 * Talisman is an obivious reference to an object of luck. Many times he had it during the Anean Continental War. (Ex. Flying out of the Chandelier right before it explodes, being saved from a battlion of aircraft, etc.)
 * His paint scheme is an unlockable for the F-15E Strike Eagle in Ace Combat: Assault Horizon after completing the Campaign, along with the multiplayer callsign Garuda.
 * Garuda is a reference to a Hindu bird-man-like sky god.
 * Garuda One has been reported to have shot down at least 31 aces during the war, which could be a reference to Ulysses 31, an anime. Which can concur to Ulysses, the very reason to why the war started.