Long Day
"Long Day" is the sixth campaign mission in Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown. As a new member of Spare Squadron, the player must assist regular Osean forces in neutralizing an Erusean desert base.
Briefing
Your mission is to atone for your crimes by attracting the enemy's attention. First, I want you to head from the base to the desert region of Roca Roja to the northwest. And then second you'll attack the large Erusean base there. We've been unable to verify that base's ability to deal with fighters. You will attack and provoke the enemy into revealing their AA strategy. Get them to fire at you as much as you can. That way we can confirm where they're firing from. Then, it's a case of sending in our regular force to clean them out. For this mission, we've prepared a frontline base that can be used for ammo replenishment and aircraft repairs. However, this is not for you guys. Only the regular force has permission to use it. Even if you run out of ammo, don't forget that you're just decoys. You stay out there as targets for the enemy.
Objectives
The player needs to attack enemy bases located in three locations across the map. The mission's score requirement depends on the player's selected difficulty:
- Easy: 11,000
- Normal: 17,000
- Hard: 20,000
- Ace: 24,000
The player must surpass the point threshold within fifteen minutes to complete the mission.
A Return Line is located to the east. During the briefing, Colonel McKinsey states that Spare Squadron is not allowed to make use of it, however AWACS Bandog lifts this restriction shortly after the mission begins and the player can access it for resupplying at any time during the mission.
The first enemy base is an airbase located in the southeastern portion of the combat area, lightly guarded by several AA guns on the ground. Four enemy fighters will line up on the runaway and attempt to take off in pairs of two and engage the player; it is possible to destroy them as they take off and avoid prolonged combat. Three Tu-160s will taxi from the apron to the runway and attempt to take off as well. Once they get airborne, the Tu-160s attempt to flee the airspace, however letting them escape will not affect the mission.
The second enemy base is a supply base located directly north of the air base within a massive rock formation, protected by a large number of SAMs, helicopters, and AA guns. The terrain will make the usage of multi-lock air to ground missiles tricky as the missiles will often try to lock on to targets behind the rock formations. Three Harriers will take off vertically and engage the player as they approach. However, they are relatively slow and easy to take down.
The third enemy base is a larger, densely-packed supply base divided into two sections by a hill located on the northwestern portion of the combat zone. It is defended by a large number of AA guns, SAMs, as well as numerous enemy aircraft. Additionally, four Gripen Es are parked in a tunnel connecting the two base sections; they will become active after a certain period of time and take off to engage. The player can fly through the tunnels and destroy them before they can do so.
When around seven minutes remain until the time runs out, a large squadron of MQ-99s will spawn and begin to attack. If sufficient damage has been inflicted to the enemy bases, other enemy aircraft will periodically arrive to keep the player occupied. The player must survive and continue to earn points until the timer reaches zero to complete the mission.
Medal
In order to get the medal "First Try," the player must destroy at least 50 ground targets over the course of the mission without using the Return Line.
Enemy Lists
Standard Units
| Unit | Points | Count | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
F-16C | 400 | 14 | |
|
|
TU-160 | 1,200 | 3 | [note 1] |
|
|
AH-64D | 200 | 4 | |
|
|
AV-8B | 320 | 3 | |
|
|
CH-47 | 200 | 4 | |
|
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GRIPEN E | 500 | 4 | [note 2] |
|
|
MIG-21 | 220 | 16 | |
|
|
F-4E | 220 | 18 | |
|
|
MQ-99 | 350 | 21 | |
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MIR-2000-5 | 550 | 4 | |
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|
F-2A | 300 | 2 | |
|
GROUND TARGETS | 17,470 | 125 |
Special Unit
| Unit | Points | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
F-14D "KITTEN" | 1,300 | [note 3] |
Debriefing
You lost planes, but the mission succeeded. However, some of you crossed the return line for supplies and for repairs. This will result in solitary. Take them.
S Rank
Score 27,000 or more from destroying targets in the mission. Once reached, AWACS Bandog will compliment Spare Squadron for doing "a hell of a job".
Trivia
- If the player flies through the tunnel at the western base, a unique conversation between AWACS Bandog and a Spare Squadron pilot will take place.
Gallery
Footnotes
- ↑ The bombers will attempt to take off and fly towards the return line.
- ↑ These aircraft first appear inside the tunnel on the westernmost base. Although they do not appear on radar and are not targetable initially, they can still be destroyed inside the tunnel. If left alone after approaching the westernmost base, the Gripens will eventually will take off and appear on radar.
- ↑ The player must have completed this mission at least once, and must be playing on Normal difficulty or higher. Fly through the tunnel in the westernmost base. KITTEN spawns in the southwest corner.