The geography of the Mund Valley area, near Anfang, supports the theory that glaciation was responsible for the formation of the valley. The wide valley floor and the general 'U' shape of the valley supports this conclusion. The geology of the Mund Valley is a mixture of sedimentary fragments from the glaciation period, and metamorphic rocks that comprise the surrounding mountains. There is no evidence of tectonic or volcanic activity in the surrounding area.
Background Information
The Avalon, or Mund Valley, Dam, was built in the North Belkan Mund Valley, in the early 1990s. The Belkan
Original Avalon site layout
government built the facility under the auspices of a hydroelectric dam, but in reality it was a clandestine missile testing facility. When the reservoir behind the dam was filled, the facility was hidden beneath the waters.
The facility was intended to be a multipurpose facility for construction, testing and launching of the V2 missile. The V2 was an intercontinental ballistic missile with MIRV (Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicle) capability, and armed with seven seperate megaton-capable nuclear warheads. After the destruction of the Excalibur the Belkans ramped up the development of the V2, but were unable to complete the weapon before the end of the Belkan War. The development of the V2 was plagued by material shortages, as more realistic commanders sent their limited supplies to support more short term endeavours. The weapon was only half completed by early June 1995.
On June 6 the war situation had changed drastically. The Belkan detonation of seven V1 nuclear bombs on their own soil shocked the world, and resulted in calls for arms reduction from all sides. Knowing that the war was lost and recognizing that any peace terms would result in the loss of Belka's remaining nuclear weapons, Belka tried to cover its tracks by sealing some of its remaining V1 warheads in Mount Schirm, as well as relocating an experimental bomber from the facility adjacent to it. The Avalon site was abandoned and its reservoir filled to hide the facility and the construction site from view.
The Belkan War (Operation Point Blank)
During the later part of the war, the rebel group known as "A World With No Boundaries" confiscated the facility from the Belkan Army. Lead by Anton "Dr." Kupchenko, who took part in designing the V2, A World With No Boundaries restarted the V2 project. Although it lacked the full industrial might of the Belkan economy, an uneasy peace and lack of oversight by the victorious Allies allowed the group to focus their energies on completion of the weapon. By mid-December 1995 the V2 was nearing operational status.
On Christmas Day, believing their objective was close to completion, "A World With No Boundries" let itself known by deploying a former Belkan superbomber, the XB-0 Hresvelgr to destroy all meaningful resistance. Although the raid was a disaster, resulting in the destruction of the XB-0 and the Espada Squadron, the V2 project was not impacted and development continued on schedule.
On December 30, A World With No Boundaries opened the sluice gates of the Avalon Dam and drained the waters of the reservoir in preparation for the V2 launch set to take place the next day. This immediately got the attention of the Allied command, who prepared a strike group spearheaded by the legendary Galm Team to take care of the insurrection, once and for all.
Galm had to fly through Airspace B7R, however they were ambushed by an elite insurgent squadron, either the 32nd Tactical Fighter Squadron (Sorcerer Squadron on Mercenary or Wizard Squadron on Knight) or the 5th Tactical Fighter Squadron Gault, the latter being commanded by none other than AWWNB commander & founder Anton "Dr." Kupchenko. Although Galm Team defeated the squadron in the Round Table, the delaying tactic succeeded. The attacks in Airspace B7R held off Allied strike plans long enough for AWWNB to conduct final launch preparations at Avalon Dam.
A World With No Boundaries deployed an intensive anti-aircraft battery in the Mund Valley, forcing the strike force to negotiate the narrow terrain and heavy defenses of the canyon. Two planes made it through the gauntlet of the Mund Valley, the rest of the strike force having fallen to the heavy air defenses. Only the two aircraft of the Galm Team successfully negotiated the Mund Valley to arrive over the recently drained reservoir behind Avalon Dam. The V2 missile itself was untouchable, protected by massive silo doors, but the barriers protecting the controls had been opened when the reservoir was drained. AWWNB attempted to close the doors, but Galm Team successfully navigated the torturous path underneath the dam and managed to knock out the controls one by one.
After destruction of the V2's control mechanisms Allied command considered the mission a success. Shortly afterwards AWWNB's final ace, Cipher's old wingman Pixy, appeared at the controls of AWWNB's trump card, the experimental ADFX-02 Morgan. The opening shot of the final engagement destroyed PJ's aircraft and commenced the aerial duel with Cipher. In the middle of the duel between them, Pixy launched the V2 remotely. Once Pixy was shot down and with its control signal lost the V2 exploded harmlessly in the upper atmosphere.
Ten years later in 2005, the Avalon Dam facility appears to be abandoned, as the reservoir is once again filled and the facility submerged. On the bank of the reservoir is a memorial to PJ, who is believed to be dead.
Trivia
It is very likely the Dam is an airbase because there's a runway located at the north of the Dam, to the east of where the V2 itself is hiding. It is possible that Pixy would take-off there.
Avalon Dam in the book Aces At War: A History
Sources
- Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War (the game)
- Official Ace Combat Zero Website by "Project Aces" - http://www.acecombat.jp/ace-zero/top.htm