Zone of Endless

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"A red aircraft? I've never seen a paintjob like that before."
― Ulrich Olsen[2]

Zone of Endless[14] (Z.O.E.) is an artificial intelligence developed by Gründer Industries for use in fighter aircraft. While capable of operating as a co-pilot for manned aircraft,[15][16] Z.O.E. is best known for its ability to conduct entirely autonomous flights.[16] The AI's machine learning capabilities allow it to improve its own abilities in real-time by analyzing combat data during battle. Later developments provided the ability for multiple Z.O.E.-equipped aircraft to network with each other.

Zone of Endless was first deployed secretly during the Usean coup d'état against the Usean Allied Forces. Despite being equipped with next-generation technology and aircraft, including the ADF-01 FALKEN, Phoenix defeated all of the Z.O.E. units. Gründer continued improving the AI's flight patterns over the next two decades, including using data from ace pilot Mihaly A. Shilage. Z.O.E. versions using Mihaly's flight data were installed onto drones during the Lighthouse War, including an ADFX-10 and two ADF-11F Ravens that were later destroyed by Trigger.

History

Development

Gründer Industries launched the Zone of Endless project in complete secrecy just after the Belkan War ended in 1995. The Belkan Air Force was crippled after losing so many of its skilled fighter pilots in the war. Due to its low population, Belka found these pilots to be a very precious resource. Thus, the country was forced to adopt unmanned technology while training new pilots for the future.[17] Theodor Sander, a Belkan War veteran who joined Gründer's UAV development program, is believed to have contributed to the Zone of Endless project.[18]

Z.O.E.'s purpose as a pilot replacement AI was realized in one key feature: the ability to learn through consecutive battles. While it is originally based off of the flying style of a human "template" pilot,[19] Z.O.E. can collect information from battles it participates in, analyze the data, and evolve to overcome its own weaknesses.[17] In practice, Z.O.E. will usually continue to fight until it is shot down, but it can optionally retreat after sustaining damage.[2][4][13]

By 1998, Gründer had installed the Z.O.E. program onto five separate aircraft, including their newly-developed ADF-01 FALKEN.[9][10] All of these aircraft were painted in a distinctive crimson finish with no nationality markings, making them appear rogue to both the Allied Forces[2] and the rebels, the latter of whom only determined they were friendly via IFF.[4]

Usean coup d'état

Through unknown circumstances, the five Z.O.E. aircraft arrived on the Usean continent by May 1998. Phoenix first engaged a Z.O.E.-equipped F-14,[1][2] followed shortly by an F/A-18E.[3][4] Phoenix later engaged and shot down an experimental aircraft equipped with Z.O.E.[5][6] When the Usean Allied Forces moved to recapture Saint Ark in September 1998, an advanced Z.O.E. F-15 engaged Phoenix over the capital before Phoenix shot it down.[7][8] The final Z.O.E. aircraft, the ADF-01, attempted to defend Fortress Intolerance during the rebels' last stand. Phoenix shot down the ADF-01, opening a path to attack the fortress.[9][10]

Lighthouse War

At some point before the Lighthouse War, the Z.O.E. project continued development under the lead of Gründer's chief researcher, Doctor Schroeder. The drones initially flew similarly to those seen in the Usean coup d'état, but were deployed in much greater numbers and lacked the trademark crimson livery of the original drones. In addition, Schroeder utilized the skills of Mihaly A. Shilage and an experimental Su-30SM to gather advanced flight data to further strengthen the drones.

One advanced UCAV prototype, the ADFX-10, was produced in small numbers and served to obtain flight data from both mobility and functionality tests, namely detaching from a RAW-F.[12] One particular ADFX-10 unit in the midst of a test flight was pursued by Cyclops Squadron. Trigger destroyed this drone during Operation Full House, but development of the fighter continued.[11]

The ADFX-10 was finalized as the ADF-11, which was designed to work in conjunction with a RAW-F to form the ADF-11F Raven. Two Raven aircraft—codenamed Hugin and Munin—were the only aircraft to receive the final Z.O.E. data Schroeder gathered.[20] Mihaly's granddaughter, Ionela, later destroyed the drive containing the data.[21] Avril Mead, Tabloid, Georg, Ionela, Ionela's sister Alma, and Schroeder destroyed the rest of the elevator's drone production facility[21] while Princess Rosa Cossette D'Elise sabotaged the space elevator's power production capabilities, cutting power to Erusean UAV factories across the continent.[20]

To circumvent the loss of the data drive, the Ravens attempted to transmit their data through the space elevator, with the intent of sending the information to all drone factories across the continent. Before they could succeed, a coalition of Osean and Erusean forces launched a desperate assault on the space elevator to shoot down both aircraft. Trigger destroyed both of the Ravens and both of the cockpit ADF-11s controlling them before any data was transmitted.[13]

Gameplay

Ace Combat 2

Z.O.E. originally appears as a recurring group of secret named aircraft in Ace Combat 2. The player receives medals for shooting down each Z.O.E. aircraft. The full list of Z.O.E. aircraft, and their ranks, is as follows:

The Z.O.E. aircraft are entirely optional and appear in order; if the player happens to miss one, it will take the place of the next one. For example, if the player doesn't shoot down the Z.O.E. F-14A in "Sledgehammer", the F-14A will then spawn again in "Seagull" instead of the F/A-18E. Therefore, the ADF-01 will only spawn in "Fighter's Honor" if the player shoots down all of the Z.O.E. aircraft in their first appearances.

Furthermore, shooting down the Z.O.E. aircraft that appears in Kingpin (regardless of which one it is) is the only way the player can advance to the final two missions, "Last Resort" and "Fighter's Honor." If the player fails to shoot down the Z.O.E. aircraft in "Kingpin," they will receive the game's "normal" ending.

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy

Campaign

Instead of acting as hidden named aircraft (which the game still features), Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy changed the Z.O.E. aircraft to be integral components of the story and necessary TGTs for the player to shoot down. This makes it impossible for the player to miss any of them, but they will still earn a Z.O.E.-related medal for completing the campaign.

All five Z.O.E. aircraft are capable of performing advanced maneuvers. The F-15 S/MTD and ADF-01 units are also capable of radar jamming that disrupts the player's HUD, creating false targeting boxes like those seen in "Blind Spot" and "8492" in Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War. The ADF-01 is also capable of firing missiles and machine guns backwards until it is severely damaged.

The full list of Z.O.E. aircraft in Legacy is as follows:

The F-14D features Phoenix's emblem on the nose and vertical stabilizer, likely due to a model reuse. In addition, the F-14D, F/A-18E, YF-23, and F-15 S/MTD appear to use the Color Customization skins painted in red (Colors 5, 5, 5, and 6, respectively).

The unused Z.O.E. F-35 as it appeared in a trailer

A Japanese trailer for Assault Horizon Legacy features a Z.O.E. F-35C Lightning II during "Green Bird". This was changed to the YF-23 in the final release of the game.[22]

Extra Missions

Z.O.E. makes two appearances in the game's Extra Missions, which are considered non-canon to the main story.

In "Extra Mission 02," the player must shoot down a Z.O.E. ADF-01 that is attempting to escape through Seals Bridge Ravine. This ADF-01 uses the game's Color 1 for the aircraft instead of Z.O.E.'s crimson red livery. While its main purpose is to escape the ravine, the ADF-01 will still fire missiles and machine guns backwards towards the player.

At first, "Extra Mission 04" is identical to "Fighter's Honor," including the fight against the Z.O.E. ADF-01 without any changes. However, after destroying the ICBM in Fortress Intolerance, the player is ordered to perform a U-turn and escape from the entrance. Once outside, four Z.O.E. ADF-01s engage the player. These aircraft do not have radar jamming or backwards fire, but they are all equipped with Tactical Laser Systems and their models more closely resemble the ADF-01 in Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War. One of the ADF-01s uses the plane's Color 6, while the other three use Color 5; any player customization to those colors will be reflected in the mission.

Other games

Z.O.E.'s "Ace of Aces" appearance in Ace Combat: Joint Assault

Z.O.E.'s crimson red livery has been featured in other Ace Combat games as an unlockable livery, usually for the ADF-01 FALKEN.

Ace Combat Infinity featured the Z.O.E. livery on multiple Special Aircraft:

Infinity also held a "Z.O.E. PROJECT" Online Co-Op Missions Ranking Tournament where players could earn the Z.O.E. livery as skins for the F-15 S/MTD, the F-14D, and for the first time, the F/A-18F Super Hornet and F-22A Raptor (replacing the F/A-18E and YF-22 from Ace Combat 2). The tournament also featured related emblems and nicknames for players to use, including "Evolving Combat AI" and "Self - Propagating".

In addition, Z.O.E. appears as an enemy unit in the bonus missions for Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception ("Operation X") and Ace Combat: Joint Assault ("Operation X" and "Ace of Aces").

Galleries

AC2

  • F-14A Z.O.E. Captain
    F-14A Z.O.E. Captain
  • F/A-18E Z.O.E. Major
    F/A-18E Z.O.E. Major
  • YF-22 Z.O.E. Colonel
    YF-22 Z.O.E. Colonel
  • F-15S Z.O.E. General
    F-15S Z.O.E. General
  • ADF-01 Z.O.E. Commander
    ADF-01 Z.O.E. Commander

ACAHL

  • AHL Zone of Endless.png
  • Z.O.E. F-14D
    Z.O.E. F-14D
  • Z.O.E. F/A-18E
    Z.O.E. F/A-18E
  • Z.O.E. YF-23
    Z.O.E. YF-23
  • Z.O.E. F-15 S/MTD
    Z.O.E. F-15 S/MTD
  • Z.O.E. ADF-01
    Z.O.E. ADF-01
  • The nose of the Z.O.E. ADF-01
    The nose of the Z.O.E. ADF-01
  • The Z.O.E. ADF-01 in front of Fortress Intolerance
    The Z.O.E. ADF-01 in front of Fortress Intolerance

AC7

  • ADFX-10 with the "Z.O.E." emblem faintly in the center of the airframe
    ADFX-10 with the "Z.O.E." emblem faintly in the center of the airframe
  • ADFX-10
    ADFX-10
  • ADF-11
    ADF-11
  • ADF-11F Raven "Munin"
    ADF-11F Raven "Munin"
  • ADF-11F Raven "Hugin"
    ADF-11F Raven "Hugin"
  • ADF-11F Raven
    ADF-11F Raven
  • The ADF-11F Raven in the traditional Z.O.E. red paint scheme
    The ADF-11F Raven in the traditional Z.O.E. red paint scheme
  • ADF-11F with the Z.O.E. emblem
    ADF-11F with the Z.O.E. emblem
  • Z.O.E. YF-23 livery in Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
    Z.O.E. YF-23 livery in Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Mission 09: "Sledgehammer", Ace Combat 2.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Mission 07: "Midnight Assassin", Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Mission 14: "Seagull", Ace Combat 2.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Mission 12: "Seagull", Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Mission 16: "Power Play", Ace Combat 2.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Mission 14: "Green Bird", Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Mission 28: "Kingpin", Ace Combat 2.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Mission 21: "Kingpin", Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Mission 30: "Fighter's Honor", Ace Combat 2.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Mission 23: "Fighter's Honor", Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Mission 10: "Transfer Orders", Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Kotobukiya 1/144 ADFX-10F model kit instructions manual". Hobby Search. Retrieved on March 27, 2020.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Mission 20: "Dark Blue", Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.
  14. ↑ Zone of Endless medal, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy.
  15. ↑ ADF-01 FALKEN hangar description, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Aces At War: A History 2019, page 49.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Aces At War: A History, page 66.
  18. ↑ Ace Combat Zero Assault Records, #124 - Theodor Sander.
  19. ↑ Cutscene 04: "Salty Lake", Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Mission 19: "Lighthouse", Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Cutscene 14: "The UAV Factory", Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.
  22. ↑ エースコンバット 3D クロスランブル　本告PV. YouTube. Uploaded on December 21, 2011.
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