Invasion of Gracemeria (mission)
- "Our nation is under attack by unknown forces. Do whatever you can to fend off the invasion."
- ― AWACS Ghost Eye
"Invasion of Gracemeria"[b] is the first mission of Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation. The player must defend Gracemeria from a sudden Estovakian invasion.
Briefing
Attention all pilots! Our capital city Gracemeria is under attack by unknown aircraft! Damage from the attacks is widespread throughout the city. All planes, scramble and intercept all threats immediately!
Objectives
Initial
Subsequent information is taken from Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation Complete Guide.[1]
Launch Point:
- (1)
- Aerial Defense (Air-to-Air)
Upon spawning and after a cutscene, the player will be thrown into the middle of battle and tasked with destroying all enemies marked as TGTs. These are B-52 bombers and UH-9 helicopters; destroying each target within a certain amount of time spawns multiple new enemies.
There will also be C-17 transports dropping airborne tanks, but they are not marked as mission-important TGTs and can be ignored. The C-17s cross the mission space from northeast to southwest. Predict this route and shoot them at every opportunity; the tanks are second priority, especially as they only drop without downing the C-17s. Shooting the tanks' parachutes can make those ground targets a breeze.
Mission Update
Upon the destruction of all TGTs, a large group of unknown cruise missiles will suddenly detonate around the player, who must evade immediately to avoid destruction. Here is a step by step:
- Predicted impact points are displayed as orange radar circles. Move away immediately to avoid risk of getting caught in the explosion if inside.
- Nimbus flies in from the northeast towards the impact point. Like regular missiles, they're displayed as clusters of fast-moving green lines.
- Nimbus detonates at reaching the impact point. You will take damage if you are within the radar circle around this time.
All remaining enemies from the initial stage will still be present and pose a threat, and the cruise missiles will continue exploding. Eight Strigon Team planes and other reinforcements will enter the airspace around this time.
After a few minutes, AWACS Ghost Eye will order the player to retreat, at which point the time limit shortens drastically. The mission is completed upon crossing the Return Line on the west side of the map.
Enemy Lists
Standard Units
| Section | Unit | Points | Count | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial | 
|
AH-64 | 300 | 3 | |
|
B-52 | 800 | 4 | ||
|
|
B-52 | 800 | 3 | [note 1] | |
|
|
B-52 | 800 | 3 | [note 2] | |
|
|
C-17 | 750 | 16 | ||
|
|
C-17 | 750 | 1 | [note 3] | |
|
|
C-17 | 750 | 1 | [note 4] | |
|
|
F/A-18F | 340 | 4 | [note 5] | |
|
|
F-16C | 320 | 4 | [note 6] | |
|
|
F-14D | 500 | 4 | [note 7] | |
|
|
F-4E | 240 | 16 | ||
|
|
MIR-2000-5 | 400 | 30 | ||
|
|
MIR-2000-5 | 400 | 4 | [note 8] | |
|
|
RAFALE M | 640 | 4 | [note 9] | |
|
|
UH-9 | 300 | 3 | ||
|
|
UH-9 | 300 | 2 | [note 10] | |
|
ABN TANK | 120 | 16 | [note 11] | |
| Mission Update |
|
F/A-18F | 340 | 12 | [note 12] |
|
|
RAFALE M | 640 | 12 | ||
|
|
SU-33 "STRIGON" | 1480 | 8 |
Special Units
| Unit | Points | Minimum Difficulty |
Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
F-22A "PEGAS" | 2000 | Expert | [note 13] |
S Rank
An S rank on this mission requires earning 40,000 points. The rank requirements are as follows:
| Mission Phase | Overall | |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Rank point requirements (with bonus points) | S | 40,000 (2,000) |
| A | 30,000 (1,600) | |
| B | 20,000 (1,300) | |
| C | ≤19,999 (1,000) | |
Targets in the initial stage, especially the C-17s, can cover this point requirement. Due to the majority of targets being airborne, multi-target air missiles (XMA4, ADMM) are most useful. Filling the Allied Support Gauge can help as well.
If the player destroys all TGTs before hitting 40,000 points, they will have very limited time during the Mission Update to do so, with the added difficulty of evading the Nimbus explosions. It is highly recommended to use the 30 minutes provided in the initial stage to achieve the 40,000 goal before proceeding with the mission.
Debriefing
Our military has escaped destruction because of your valiant efforts on the battlefield. But our capital Gracemeria has been temporarily occupied by Estovakian forces, and our central government has been usurped by them as well. The nation of Estovakia had declared war with our country as it simultaneously launched a surprise attack on Gracemeria. In response, the Republic of Emmeria's political council unanimously adopted a resolution of open war against the Federal Republic of Estovakia. Our forces remaining on the Emmerian mainland are still fighting in desperation to protect our country. Once our intelligence has been sorted and confirmed, the Republic of Emmeria's armed forces must immediately regroup and counterattack against the Federal Republic of Estovakia. The beautiful country of Emmeria belongs to us, and only us -- the Emmerian people.
Footnotes
- ↑ Spawns 25 seconds after mission start.
- ↑ Spawns 28 seconds after mission start.
- ↑ If this unit arrives at the western edge of the map or is shot down, it will respawn every 40 seconds. The respawn occurs five times.
- ↑ If this unit arrives at the western edge of the map or is shot down, it will respawn every 50 seconds. The respawn occurs five times.
- ↑ Eliminate all TGTs within 120 seconds of mission start.
- ↑ This unit respawns 20 seconds after being destroyed. The respawn occurs ten times.
- ↑ Hard or higher difficulty only. Respawns thrice on destruction.
- ↑ Spawns 20 seconds after mission start and when you fly above the bay, excluding King's Bridge.
- ↑ Eliminate all reinforcements within 120 seconds of mission start.
- ↑ Spawns 20 seconds after mission start.
- ↑ Dropped at Gracemeria's suburbs by C-17s.
- ↑ Spawn 60 seconds after Nimbus arrival.
- ↑ Shoot down all B-52s and UH-9s (the only units marked as TGTs) in 120 seconds of starting the mission. Then, shoot down the F/A-18Fs within 120 seconds of them appearing. Finally, shoot down two of the Rafale Ms that appear. PEGAS will spawn near the player at high altitude.
References
- ↑ Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation Complete Guide. 22 December 2007. SB Creative. pp. 040–043. ISBN 9784797343236.