Skies of Deception (mission)

Skies of Deception is the first campaign mission of Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception.

Briefing
Eugene Solano: ''Um... OK, let's begin the briefing. Operator Eugene Solano. I'll be keeping you up to date. We've got news that an invading Leasath squadron has just taken off from the Puna Plains en route for an attack on our position, Aubrey Base. From their perspective, this attack is the final nail in our collective coffin. After all, this is the only base that hasn't fallen under their control. I guess we can consider ourselves lucky. It looks like the enemy has gotten a little overconfident and sent only a small attack force. Gryphus Squadron, prepare for launch immediately. Fly around the mountains and avoid enemy radar.''

''Oh, I forgot. The enemy squadron consists of mainly bombers supported by several fighters. Please protect this base and destroy the enemy bombers. If everything goes well, we should be able to get the upper hand on the enemy in this area. All right, please prepare for launch. Let's pay back the Leasath forces with at least one defeat. One final thing. During combat my code name will be CRUX. I will keep you up to date on the battle situation, so please pay attention to your radio.''

Objectives
A basic interception operation in the vein of "Sitting Duck", this mission does not pose much difficutly. The F-4E Phantom II does a good job as the player's basic aircraft, and proves more an enough to complete it without great effort.

The player begins with a lone B-52 Stratofortress in front following a pair of B-52s accompanied by two F-1 escorts. The fighters pose little threat if left alone, but provide a score bonus in the post-mission debriefing and thus should be shot down wherever encountered. After the first three bombers are shot down, an F-4E ace will appear in front of Gryphus One - such enemies have worth a large amount of credits, and unlock special colors for one's aircraft when destroyed. The ace, Manta, displays greater intelligence and aggressivity than normal fighters, a common trait shared by all ace aircraft.

When the ace has been destroyed, the player can continue to engage the remaining enemy bombers, always flying in pairs, and their F-1 escorts, along with the similar F-5E Tiger IIs that have appeared. The final group of enemies appears almost above Aubrey Base, and the mission ends in success when all targets have been destroyed. A cutscene introduces the Gleipnir and ends in the destruction of nearly the entire Gryphus Squadron, leading to the second mission, "Out of the Fire":

S Rank
The requirements to achieve an S-rank in this mission are fairly minimal, being the destruction of all enemies on the map. There are no time limits.

Aces

 * F-4E Manta: Appears in front of the player when the first three bombers are shot down.

Debriefing
Eugene Solano: ''The mission was... was a success. The destruction of the enemy bombers will keep an enemy invasion of Aubrey Base at bay. However, we also suffered serious losses. This...there's no way anyone could ever call this mission a success. ...I'm sorry. I couldn't do anything to save them. So that's the weapon Leasath used to take over all of Aurelia in only ten days. Who could have imagined they possessed such destructive power.''