- "They are a brave bunch of soldiers. I'll give them that."
- ― Larry Foulke
"Flicker of Hope" is the fifth campaign mission in Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War. The player is tasked with defending airborne troops and destroying ground installations.
Briefing[]
The mountain town of Solis Ortus is located just outside Ustio's capital, Directus. The Allied Forces will deploy airborne troops, comprised primarily of Osea's 101st Airborne Division, over Solis Ortus, in a surprise air and ground attack on the Belkan forces. This operation will play a critical role in Ustio's liberation. Your mission is to provide support for the airborne troops. Destroy Belka's surface-to-air defence network and all interceptor aircraft, securing a safe drop zone for the airborne troops. Be aware of civilians still inside Solis Ortus. Your actions will determine their fate. Good luck.
Objectives[]
The mission's objective is to destroy all enemy anti-air defenses that are marked TGT. Once several of them are destroyed, enemy fighters will appear as TGTs that must be destroyed as well.
The mission is completed when all TGTs are destroyed.
Enemy Lists[]
The following enemy lists are taken from the Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War Perfect Guide Book.[1]
Standard Units[]
| Unit | Points | Count | Difficulty | Other Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
F-16C | 320 | 2×2 | [note 1] | |
|
|
F-16C | 320 | 2+1 | [note 2] | |
|
|
F-16C | 320 | 2 | [note 3] | |
|
|
F-20A | 320 | 2 | Normal (or below) | [note 4] |
| 400 | 2 | Hard (or above) | |||
|
AA GUN | 100 | 12 | ||
|
SAM | 120 | 12 | [note 5] | |
|
TENT S | 150 | 4 | ||
|
|
TENT M | 200 | 3 |
Special Units[]
| AR # | Unit | Points | Campaign Completed |
Minimum Difficulty |
Ace Style | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
038 | A-10A "Fischer" | 860 | Very Easy | [note 6] | ||
|
|
039 | F-16C "Trinker" | 980 | Expert | [note 7] | ||
|
|
040 | F-16XL "Dichter" | 1020 | Very Easy | Mercenary | [note 8] | |
|
|
041 | F-2A "Spieler" | 1080 | Very Easy | Soldier | [note 8] | |
|
|
042 | F-20A "Anwalt" | 820 | Very Easy | Knight | [note 8] | |
|
|
043 | MiG-31 "Schwan" | 1160 | Ace | [note 9] |
S Rank[]
Earning an S rank on this mission requires clearing it in 9 minutes or less.[1] 9 minutes is more than enough time to destroy all of the TGTs. The player should prioritize destroying all AA GUNs and SAMs to keep the transports and paratroopers safe.
Debriefing[]
Operation Varsity succeeded. Ground troops are now en route to Solis Ortus. It won't be long now before Ustio is liberated.
Gallery[]
An A-10A firing an XAGM salvo.
Footnotes[]
- ↑ When these two F-16Cs are shot down, two more will spawn.
- ↑ When these two F-16Cs are shot down, one more will spawn.
- ↑ These F-16Cs will spawn after the player destroys eight or more AA GUNs.
- ↑ These F-20As only spawn after the player destroys eight or more AA GUNs and shoots down the two F-16Cs spawned by that condition.
- ↑ These SAMs do not fire on the player on Very Easy and Easy difficulty.
- ↑ "Fischer" spawns to the west after all non-yellow ground units are destroyed. Unlocks the A-10A's Special color.
- ↑ "Trinker" spawns after the player destroys 16 or more TGTs, as long as no allied transport was shot down.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Dicther", "Spieler", and "Anwalt" spawn after the player shoots down both TGT F-20As.
- ↑ "Schwan" spawns after the player shoots down eight TGT aircraft.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War Perfect Guide Book, pages 062–063.
| Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War Missions | |
|---|---|
| Campaign | |
| Special | |