San Salvacion resistance
The San Salvacion resistance, referred to as simply the Resistance, was a civilian resistance group within San Salvacion. The Resistance was formed in the early 2000s to combat the hegemony of the Federal Republic of Erusea prior to and during the Continental War.[1]
History
Formation
When Erusea launched its invasion of San Salvacion in August 2003, the peaceful country was caught off-guard and completely overrun by the Erusean blitz attack. Despite the ISAF's efforts to liberate the capital, the Eruseans repulsed the attacks, and the city remained until their control. As the ISAF retreated, and the frontlines shifted to the east, Erusea tightened its grip on San Salvacion: gasoline was rationed, communications technologies were restricted,[2] and mandatory curfews and blackouts were instituted.[3] Local law enforcement officers disappeared and were replaced by Erusean MPs.[2]
Recognizing their nation did not stand a chance against the Erusean occupiers without the ISAF's military power, a group of San Salvacion citizens organized a resistance movement to undermine Erusea's hegemony.[1] Although details are scarce, it is believed that the Resistance consisted of numerous "cells" scattered throughout San Salvacion. (It is also possible that other resistance groups existed within other Erusean-occupied territories.) These cells communicated with one another and the ISAF via contraband data transceivers.[4]
Initially, the Resistance's primary mission was to gather and relay intelligence to the ISAF in the east. But when ISAF's communiques stopped being received, the Resistance realized it had to take a more active role if it was to free the San Salvacion people from Erusean tyranny.[2] The Resistance began disrupting the Eruseans' operations by sabotaging their supplies and military vehicles. Resistance operatives, such as the Sky Kid barkeeper's daughter, performed dangerous nighttime missions to plant explosives at Erusean checkpoints and installations around the capital.[3]
Despite several small victories, the Resistance was under constant threat from the Erusean secret police,[2] which worked to identify and eliminate ISAF sympathizers or any citizens who spoke out against the new order.
Yellow Squadron
By January 2005, almost a year and a half after the start of the war, ISAF had scored major victories in the east and mounted a massive counteroffensive. Following the ISAF's retaking of Istas Fortress and the liberation of Los Canas, the Resistance stepped up its efforts to disrupt Erusea's military operations. By the end of March, ISAF was within striking distance of Stonehenge, the weapon which had brought war upon San Salvacion.[5]
On April 2, 2005—the day of ISAF's second raid on Stonehenge—the Resistance detonated a bomb on Yellow Squadron's runway outside the city. The explosive successfully destroyed the squadron's supply reserves and crippled Yellow 4's aircraft. The resulting damage delayed Yellow Squadron's response time long enough for ISAF fighters to destroy the superweapon.[6]
Although the exact details surrounding the April 2 bombing remain unknown, it is believed that the Resistance had informed the ISAF that Yellow Squadron, which was responsible for safeguarding the railgun facility, was stationed in the capital. It is possible that ISAF coordinated the attack with the Resistance in order to give the ISAF squadrons an advantage when attacking the railgun site.
Emancipation
By July, San Salvacion was inundated with Erusean forces retreating from the east. As the capital filled with enemy reinforcements, equipment and supplies, the Resistance worked to sabotage and disrupt the Erusean defenses with laser-tripwire explosive devices.[3]
As the Allies neared the city, ISAF intelligence presumably contacted the Resistance with plans to liberate the capital. On July 10, at 0000hrs, Resistance operatives gained control of the city's power grid and ended the blackouts which had darkened the capital for nearly two years. With the city streets illuminated, ISAF ground forces and fighter squadrons swarmed the capital and forced the Erusean occupiers to retreat.[7] It is unknown whether Resistance members actively participated in the urban combat that led to the capital's liberation.
Following the Eruseans' surrender, Resistance members and ISAF ground units combed the city, rounding up the remaining Erusean soldiers. By morning, the city streets were flooded with Resistance members and civilians alike singing the "Hymn of Liberty" and celebrating their reclaimed freedom.[8]
Trivia
- The image of Resistance fighters holding an Erusean at gunpoint directly mirrors a photograph of French Resistance fighters holding a German at gunpoint after the liberation of France in World War II.[9]
- The members of the Resistance remained secret and most of them said nothing to their families. This made it highly difficult for Erusean soldiers to track down the members.[10]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Interlude 02, Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Interlude 09, Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies.
- ↑ Interlude 05, Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies.
- ↑ Stonehenge Offensive, Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies.
- ↑ Interlude 07, Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies.
- ↑ Emancipation, Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies.
- ↑ Interlude 10, Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies.
- ↑ French Resistance fighters with a captured German paratrooper after the liberation of France, 1944. Reddit. Published on April 5, 2017. Retrieved on April 21, 2017.
- ↑ Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies - Official Guide Book, page 16.