Follow TV Tropes

Following

Context Characters / AceCombat5TheUnsungWar

Go To

1%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
2%%
3%% Administrivia/ZeroContextExamples have been commented out per wiki policies.
4%%
5%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
6Following is a list of characters in ''VideoGame/AceCombat5TheUnsungWar''.
7----
8[[foldercontrol]]
9
10!Wardog/[[spoiler:Razgriz]] Squadron
11
12[[folder:The Squadron as a whole]]
13->''[[CurbStompBattle Hrimfaxi, it appears you're up against Razgriz itself out there.]]''
14
15The player's squadron. A group of trainee pilots under the hotheaded yet caring Captain Bartlett, Wardog was present in from the very beginning of the war. After [[MentorOccupationalHazard Bartlett mysteriously disappears over the ocean]] after TakingTheBullet for Nagase, [[PlayerCharacter you, Blaze]], become the leader of the squadron and Wardog is catapulted straight into the war due to [[EnsignNewbie technically being Osea's most experienced pilots]]. They were present for nearly every major offensive in the war, and their inhuman skills lead them to being [[RedBaron branded]] [[TheDreaded "The Demons of Razgriz"]] by the Yuktobanians and [[TrueCompanions the Four Wings of Sand Isle]] by your allies.
16
17[[spoiler: As it turns out, however, the entire war is a farce by the Belkan "Grey Men" to bring about the downfall of both nations. Since you'd end it quickly, the Belkans take pains to eliminate you. [[RuleOfSymbolism Following the demon they were named for]], Wardog [[FakingTheDead fakes being shot down over the ocean]] and becomes reborn as the Razgriz squadron, ending the war and the Belkans' plans for good.]]
18----
19Tropes regarding the player's squadron as a whole:
20
21* AcePilot: Every single one of them. [[PlayerCharacter Blaze]] is of course universally recognized as the best.
22* AppropriatedAppellation: The Yuktobanians tried to paint the Hrimfaxi as the Razgriz. When Wardog sunk it, they called the squadron "The Demons of Razgriz", and the name stuck for everyone. [[spoiler: They eventually become the "Ghosts" of Razgriz, and by the end, the "Heroes" of Razgriz]].
23* BadassCrew: A squadron of at least four pilots, and most likely four more [[GuyInBack RIOs]] considering their preference for F-14 Tomcats. This contrasts against the usual OneManArmy or BashBrothers format of Ace Combat protagonists.
24* DarkIsNotEvil: Wardog Squadron repaints their aircraft in an overall black paint scheme when [[spoiler: they become the [[MeaningfulName Ghosts of Razgriz]]]].
25* EnsignNewbie: None of the Wardogs (except Bartlett and [[spoiler:Swordsman]]) has technically ever completed their flight training. The game's term for such pilots is "nuggets".
26* FamedInStory: By the later stages of the war, the presence of Wardog Squadron in the skies is used to [[HopeBringer rally Osean forces]] and [[TheDreaded terrify Yuktobanian forces]], with some units actually breaking and fleeing when the squadron shows up. [[spoiler: It takes a while for their "Ghosts of Razgriz" paint scheme to get the same notoriety, but once it catches on, ''everyone'' is in awe of it, so much that ''several'' squadrons from both sides defect to them on-sight in the penultimate mission.]]
27* FromNobodyToNightmare: From the Yuktobanian perspective. A squadron that hasn't even finished flight training becomes a living nightmare for the Yuktobanians.
28* TheHunterBecomesTheHunted: After spending much of the first half of the game pursued by mysterious enemies, ambushed by a nigh-invincible nuclear submarine and AWACS-disrupting fighter squadrons, and betrayed by their own government, [[spoiler:Wardog squadron manages to turn the tables and begin taking apart their tormentors after they are reborn as the Razgriz]].
29* InstitutionalAllegianceConcealment: To the public eye, [[spoiler:the Wardog pilots betrayed Osean Federation and were killed in an attempt to escape on December 7, 2010. The fact that they survived, rescued the kidnapped leaders of both Osea and Yuktobania, and prevented two atomic bombings, one doomsday scenario, and a ColonyDrop didn't reach the public until a decade later because the Osean Government consistently denied the existence of the "Ghosts of Razgriz"]].
30** Add to this the fact that [[spoiler: they never flew in military service again after the war, and only a single member (Kei Nagase) would fly in a civilian capacity as an astronaut.]]
31* FunWithAcronyms: The first letters of your wingmen's callsigns spell out "ACES".
32* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: Many people believe that the pilots are indeed Razgriz, or possessed by his spirit. With them following the legend they're named for to the letter [[spoiler: including the death as a villain and revival as a hero]] and instances of inhuman flying in the game [[spoiler: especially their RoaringRampageOfRevenge after Chopper's death]], many fans believe the same.
33* Mystical108: Wardog Squadron is the Osean Air Defense Force, 108th tactical Fighter Wing Detachment. [[FourIsDeath Four Wings of Sand Island]] devastating the enemy. Maybe Namco believes in Significant Numbers?
34* TheParagon: Their reputation, nobility, and mythical status means that just by showing up late in the game [[spoiler:Osean and Yuktobanian troops defect en masse to join their mission in ending the war]].
35* RageBreakingPoint: [[spoiler: Chopper's death]] serves as one for the squadron, as it's about a minute between those responsible [[spoiler:proclaiming the Wardogs aren't so invincible after all]] and [[spoiler:panicking that they're suddenly completely untouchable again]].
36* RedBaron: Collectively, they're known as the "Four Wings of Sand Isle" to allies and the "Demons of Razgriz" to the Yuktobanians. [[spoiler:They later officially become the "Ghosts of Razgriz" after they're designated the President's personal black ops unit]].
37* TechnicalPacifist: ''Everyone'' on the squadron absolutely hates the war and the people that they hurt and kill. They express regret rather than anger when their enemies attack, and feel bad for both sides in the war. They never seek to punish those that they fight either, [[spoiler: with the exception of the enemies that shoot down and kill Chopper]].
38[[/folder]]
39
40[[folder:Blaze]]
41[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/a850cbe3c1547e2dcdb6a91fbe99ec1d_7.jpg]]
42->''I'm telling you, Kid could single-handedly turn the tide of this war. It's almost scary.''
43-->--'''Chopper'''
44
45->''There's no doubt about it! He's the true ace of aces!''
46-->--'''Snow'''
47
48
49The leader of the Wardog squadron after Bartlett goes MIA and the PlayerCharacter of the game. Starting out as just another rookie pilot stationed on Sand Island fresh out of basic, he quickly finds himself embroiled in the first shots fired in the Osean-Yuktobanian War, and ends up taking position as squadron leader when Bartlett is shot down and [[RefusalOfTheCall Nagase refuses the promotion.]] Under his (your) command, Wardog Squadron rises in fame from their exploits, eventually becoming a pillar of morale for the Oseans and [[TheDreaded the bane]] of the Yukes. When Wardog Squadron is framed for treason and reported KIA, Blaze continues to lead the newly christened "Razgriz Squadron" in clandestine missions, unraveling the Belkan conspiracy and sealing his and his teammates in history as the legendary "Ghosts of Razgriz."
50
51----
52* TheAce: Blaze never puts a foot wrong even if you give belligerent answers to questions (like saying no when Bartlett asks if you can hear him). He's also a complete rookie who nonetheless manages to get more kills in his ''first mission'' than the rest of the squadron combined. Wardog squadron look to him as an example of excellence, and ''they're'' the BadassCrew. Blaze is so good, Snow at one point can specifically call Blaze the ''Ace of Aces'', as in the best pilot of his entire generation. No other pilot in the '''entire series''' is ever given that appellation, and its implied that Blaze's skill and kill record top every playable ace in the series.
53* ButNowIMustGo: While it's fairly common for ''Ace Combat'' protagonists to not be mentioned after their respective games, Blaze gets some scant mention, with a short passage in the ''Aces at War'' story "Green Hills" implying he, like the other Ghosts of Razgriz, left the OADF following the war and subsequently disappeared.
54* TheCaptain: Takes this role after the first two missions. The rank comes later (starts as a 2nd Lieutenant, promoted to 1st Lieutenant for the fifth mission, and then eventually to Captain, along with the rest of the squadron).
55* TheDreaded: Even among Razgriz Squadron, who are already the Dreaded as a group by pretty much anyone opposed to them, Blaze is recognized ''specifically'' by [[spoiler: Hamilton and the rest of the Gray Men]] as being ''the'' wrench in their plans. [[spoiler: For Hamilton, it contributes to his VillainousBreakdown as he begins ranting directly ''at'' Blaze and trying to both sic other planes on him ''and'' attempting to shoot him down himself, which indirectly results in him following Blaze and the rest of Razgriz into the tunnel, [[UnstoppableRage still ranting]], where he ultimately fatally crashes. For the rest of the Gray Men, they're so fanatical that for the most part they don't realize how screwed they are until their final confrontation, and by then it's too late.]]
56-->'''[[spoiler: Grabacr Leader:]]''' [[spoiler:[[OhCrap I]]...I never thought you'd be [[GraceFulLoser this good]]...]]
57* FeaturelessProtagonist: Not completely. You can see parts of Blaze throughout a few cutscenes (not least of which as a photograph of your squadron where nothing but his face is covered), but otherwise he's a self-insert.
58* HeroicMime: You can answer "Yes" or "No" to your allies throughout the game, but you never hear Blaze's actual response. Even InUniverse he has this reputation, with several characters noticing and commenting on his [[TheQuietOne taciturn demeanor]].
59* HeWhoMustNotBeSeen: Almost averted. Blaze is shown in a couple of photographs - in one, his face is covered by another person, and in the other there are several unknown characters with no indication which (if any) of them is him. Some later cutscenes show the entire squadron, though if Blaze's head is even in the frame the view is too far away to actually see what he looks like. And in one of the earliest cutscenes, multiple pilots are seen talking, but the view switches to a front shot of Bartlett ''just'' before it can pan over to show one specific pilot's face. During the missions, the pilot's faces are obscured by their oxygen masks and helmet visors as well, so forget trying to catch a glimpse of him there either.
60** This extends to the second man in two-seater aircraft as well - the Su-34 and A-6 in particular, which have seats aligned more like a car than a plane, doesn't allow you to look very far to the sides in cockpit view, just to prevent you from getting a close look at your co-pilot.
61** There is only [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/acecombat/images/2/2f/Gm302.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110207200825 one]] picture that shows his full body, but thanks to Chopper being a showoff and flexing his arm in ''just'' the wrong position, Blaze's face is obscured. The only thing that can be told for sure about Blaze from the picture is that he's male and that he's about Chopper's height with short cropped dark hair, and white skin.
62* OneManArmy: Somewhat downplayed compared to most other examples in the series, as Blaze is usually one plane in a four-man squadron. Nonetheless, he is responsible for most of the squadron's kills, and is eventually considered this trope by the rest of the unit, with Snow specifically referring to him as being an "Ace of Aces", meaning that even among the most elite pilots Osea has to offer, his skill stands above the rest.
63* OnlyKnownByHisNickname: Like so many player characters in the series who aren't [[VideoGame/AceCombatAssaultHorizon William Bishop]], Blaze doesn't have a given name or a surname. He's referred to exclusively as Blaze and Wardog 1 [[spoiler: later Ragriz 1]].
64* PlayerCharacter: One of two characters ever controlled directly by the player. The other being [[VideoGame/AceCombat04ShatteredSkies Mobius One]] in the bonus [[GaidenGame "Arcade Mode"]].
65* TheQuietOne: Blaze ''does'' talk, even during missions, when you (the player) have the option of saying yes or no to certain questions or statements. The nature of the reply you get from your squad and others indicates that Blaze does say something more than just "Yes" or "No", but it's deliberately ambiguous, and, as mentioned above, at several points other characters will comment upon how taciturn he is, even outside of battle. Despite this, there are also several points that show he ''does'' socialize with his wingmen (for example at one point Chopper will mention Blaze saying he liked a specific song) and the people he meets respect him, so even if he is a man of few words, he's not a typical SilentProtagonist.
66* SpeaksFluentAnimal: At one point, [[TeamPet Kirk]] manages to get on the Squadron's radio and barks into it. Comically, Blaze is given the opportunity to answer Yes or No.
67[[/folder]]
68
69[[folder:Kei "Edge" Nagase]]
70[[quoteright:210:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kei_nagase_1024x768_resized.png]]
71
72->''No, Blaze is leading, I'll protect his six o'clock. And I'm not gonna lose another flight lead.''
73
74-->'''Voiced by''': Creator/WakanaYamazaki (Japanese, [=AC5=]), Creator/SeikoYoshida (Japanese, [=AC7=]), Creator/KarenStrassman (English, [=AC5=]), Creator/JulieAnnTaylor (English, [=AC7=])
75
76
77The most experienced rookie of the Wardog Squadron, and the [[SoleSurvivor sole surviving trainee]] of Osea's first skirmish with Yuktobania. She initially [[RefusalOfTheCall refuses to take command]] after Bartlett is shot down saving her from a missile, instead taking up position as Blaze's NumberTwo and resolves not to lose another flight lead in battle. Outside of battle, she is a quiet, soft-spoken woman who keeps to herself most of the time, but don't let that fool you: On the battlefield, she is a fierce fighter with unstoppable determination, both in the air and on the ground. However, she does consider herself a pacifist, and wishes to see the war between Osea and Yuktobania ended peacefully.
78
79----
80* BadassInDistress: [[spoiler:During the time she is shot down while looking for POW Bartlett and has to be rescued by her squadmates. It doesn't stop her from rescuing the rescue party that crashed looking for her earlier and taking hostage some Yuktobanian soldiers looking for them both.]]
81* BodyguardCrush: Definitely implied to be the case with Blaze. However she is not officially assigned the role of bodyguard, rather she takes it upon herself. No one gets to Blaze while she’s around.
82* TheCameo: [[spoiler:She shows up in the ending of ''VideoGame/AceCombat7SkiesUnknown'' as the astronaut in charge of a space exploration mission of the spaceship ''Pilgrim One''. She thanks Trigger for saving the space elevator so that she could safely dock the ship. It's only implied in Ace Combat 7 that she's THE Kei Nagase from Wardog/Razgriz, but the ''Aces at War'' supplemental book confirms it outright, and that she was covertly recruited to go on a deep space mission to intercept an asteroid that, like Ulysses, was on-course to cause chaos across Strangereal Earth.]]
83* DeclarationOfProtection: After Bartlett is shot down she becomes borderline obsessed with protecting Blaze and reminds everyone about it at least once per mission.
84* DefrostingIceQueen: Of a [[DownplayedTrope downplayed]] variety. While she never is actually cold or rude to anyone who doesn't deserve it, she definitely is one of the more aloof members of the squadron and her decision to be Blaze's wingman was inspired more out of guilt and determination not to lose another flight lead rather than attraction to Blaze. After having a moment of InUniverseCatharsis as noted below, however, her feelings warm up to the point that she's pretty much Blaze's ImpliedLoveInterest.
85* DudeMagnet: Genette is seemingly smitten with her from the opening, Chopper thinks she’s “the prettiest pilot in the airforce”, the crew of Sea Goblin are eager to meet her during her rescue, and even Harling tries flirting with her while she rescues him!
86* GoodIsNotSoft: Kei Nagase is a TechnicalPacifist to the point many fans questioned her being a fighter pilot. Despite this, she shows a very fierce side when fighting, and isn't afraid to get violent when a situation calls for it. When she is shot down looking for Bartlett, she ends up capturing the enemy soldiers that were sent after her, [[WildMassGuessing was quite likely literally]] possessed by a demon with the rest of the squadron when [[spoiler:Chopper is killed,]] has a kill count of mooks and EliteMooks that very likely reaches into the hundreds if not ''thousands,'' and beat the hell out of TheMole [[OffscreenMomentOfAwesome offscreen.]]
87* ImpliedLoveInterest: Develops this with Blaze through the game. Even the Razgriz myth and whether the pilots are actually demons is more ambiguous than Nagase's feelings towards you.
88* InUniverseCatharsis: Finally being shot down for real in "Ice Cage" (after Bartlett narrowly saved her from that fate in "Open War" almost two months earlier) really helps Nagase get over the guilt she feels for her CO TakingTheBullet for her.
89* IOweYouMyLife: Towards the missing Bartlett. Later is the same towards Blaze.
90* TheLancer: In "White Noise", it appears like she has to be rescued... but then you discover that she managed to fend exceptionally well for herself without any help. [[SchrodingersGun If you complete the mission in time, that is]].
91* LegacyCharacter: Edge has incarnations that appeared all the way from ''VideoGame/AceCombat2'', where her callsign and rough features are the same (though more emphasis is based on her being TheStoic, and in ''VideoGame/AceCombat3Electrosphere'' (the Japanese version), where in a very specific news broadcast that you can only view in taking a specific path, you can see a person's photograph below Dision's, clearly spelling Kei Nagase, with a very similar face as ''the'' Kei Nagase that we know. ''[[VideoGame/AceCombat04ShatteredSkies Shattered Skies]]'' has a brave airline first officer who tries to control a plane after a spy shot the pilot: Nagase, the very same one from Ace Combat 2.
92* MoreSeniorSubordinate: After Captain Bartlett is shot down, the command promotes Kei Nagase, the most senior surviving cadet in the Wardog Squadron, to its temporary leader (until another officer arrives from the mainland to take charge). Nagase, however, is plagued by SurvivorGuilt and immediately defers command to [[PlayerCharacter Blaze]], who is actually the most ''junior'' member, over even Chopper (who concurs silently). The command lets it slide because they are in the middle of battle, and later makes it permanent when Blaze delivers results.
93* NumberTwo: To Bartlett and later, to Blaze.
94* SilkHidingSteel: Gentle and soft-spoken, often compared to a princess by her comrades, and the most idealistic character in the game. She's also the only trainee to survive the massacre at the beginning of the game. [[spoiler:When she gets shot down, the narrating reporter Genette thinks that she did so deliberately to avoid having to kill any more enemies; after she's rescued, they find out that she captured the enemy soldiers sent to capture ''her'', and he says he has to rethink his image of her.]] Judging from Bartlet's comments at the beginning of the game, she also has a very reckless flying style.
95* TheSmurfettePrinciple: Nagase is the only named female character until the introduction of [[spoiler:Nastasya Obertas]] in mission 25 (out of 27).
96* SoleSurvivor: She's the only trainee to survive the first engagement between Bartlett's training flight and the Yuktobanian incursion squadron. It's implied that the biggest reason she survived is because she took an aggressive stance against the Yuke fighters rather than try to run.
97* UndyingLoyalty: Nagase is extremely devoted to Blaze.
98* WideEyedIdealist: To some extent, the pacifistic Edge also fits this as shown by [[spoiler:her dismay at the conversion of the Arkbird into a superweapon]].
99* [[{{Wingman}} Wingwoman]]: To Blaze.
100[[/folder]]
101
102[[folder:Alvin H. "Chopper" Davenport]]
103[[quoteright:210:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/char_76349_2.jpg]]
104
105->''If he's a captain, then I want him to start trash-talkin' like a captain!''
106
107-->'''Voiced by''': Creator/HideoIshikawa (Japanese), Eddie Frierson (English)
108
109
110The loud-mouthed "nugget" who flew with Captain Bartlett before his disappearance. Afterwards, he continues flying as Wardog 3. An avid fan of Rock-and-Roll and a bit of a motormouth to boot, he and the squadron's [=AWACS=] tend to butt heads over his chattiness. Despite his irreverent attitude towards his superiors, however, he is a boisterous, friendly guy, who always looks out for his friends. As a member of Wardog Squadron, he develops into a skilled fighter pilot, [[spoiler: but he is killed during an air defense mission when his plane's ejection seat fails.]]
111
112----
113* CharacterDevelopment: Chopper starts out just as anti-war as Edge, noting in the second mission that he's glad that your targets are unmanned aircraft. By "Journey Home", however, he seems to have let being nicknamed the "Demons of Razgriz" by the enemy get to him, as [[spoiler:just before he gets hit with a missile]] he actually complains that he's lost count of how many kills he has.
114* HeyYou: As noted in the entry below, he continues to call Blaze "Kid" despite Blaze being his squadron leader. The reason he gives for this is that if Blaze wants to be called Captain, he needs to be as gruff as their previous Captain (Bartlett) was.
115* InsistentTerminology: The only member of Wardog Squadron [[HeyYou who still calls Blaze "Kid"]] after his promotion to flight lead, for the reason given above. Conversely, Thunderhead is the only one who calls him by his name and rank rather than his nickname.
116* MilitaryMaverick: Of all Wardogs, he has the biggest attitude.
117* SitcomArchNemesis: To AWACS Thunderhead, who generally takes his antics with ill humor.
118* StepfordSmiler: In an early mission, he's clearly traumatized by the aftermath of the attack on Port St. Hewlett, including the sight of burning bodies in the water -- some of which are still (briefly) alive. It's possible that he makes light of everything around him as a defense mechanism to keep from breaking down (in other words, "I laugh because if I couldn't, I'd cry"). [[spoiler:This, combined with the stresses of combat and the additional pressure from having to defend himself against false charges of treason, might possibly have led him to ''deliberately'' fail to eject in his last mission]].
119* {{Wingman}}: Your second in the game.
120[[/folder]]
121
122[[folder:Hans "Archer" Grimm]]
123[[quoteright:210:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/char_76345.jpg]]
124
125->''I bet my mom will be glad to see my brother come back home from Yuktobania.''
126
127-->'''Voiced by''': Creator/KenjiNojima (Japanese), Creator/JohnnyYongBosch (English)
128
129
130Blaze's third wingman, who joins the team during an emergency scramble and continues flying as Wardog 4 henceforth. A shy, nervous kid, he nonetheless demonstrates his skill in his first combat sortie, and as a result, he joins the squadron permanently following the mission. Quite possibly the youngest member of the squadron, he shows remarkable intelligence, able to fly and survive a combat sortie despite only having basic flight knowledge and figuring out an enemy's deception tactic just by observation alone. He also has an older brother who is in the Osean army, who he speaks fondly of often.
131
132----
133* TheAce: More than ''anyone else on the team'': while the rest of Wardog, with the exception of Bartlett [[spoiler: and Snow]], start as rookie pilots, Grimm starts as a pilot who hasn't finished ''flight school''. He ends up stealing a jet ''during'' an enemy attack on his home base, gets in the air, and successfully shoots down at least one enemy plane in the ensuing chaos.
134--> '''Grimm''': I'm taking off.\
135'''Chopper''': The ''hell'' you are! You haven't even finished flight school yet!
136* ABirthdayNotABreak: Grimm reveals that his birthday is coming up next week during a [[ActionFilmQuietDramaScene quiet break]] between the two final battles. [[spoiler: Against all [[FatalFamilyPhoto genre conventions]], he survives the end of the game even after pointing this out.]]
137* NewMeat: Archer is fresh out of basic at the beginning of the campaign. Surprisingly, he goes on to be ''incredibly badass''. Double rare: he keeps his status as new meat, but [[GameplayAndStorySegregation is the best wing on your team in game]].
138* RememberTheNewGuy: He interrupts the fourth mission to announce that he's coming up to support you, and the game intends for this to be a shocking development considering the way everyone reacts to this. It completely fails to be a shocking development because the game forgot to actually hint that he exists before this point. Fortunately, it's early enough in the game that it's not too jarring.
139* ShoutOut: Has a brother in the ground forces, making them Creator/TheBrothersGrimm.
140* SkilledButNaive: Grimm may have a golden arm, but he seeks approval from the rest of the squadron, shows his fear of certain situations more (IE the Scinfaxi and Hrimfaxi), and in general acts less mature than the others.
141* TheSmartGuy: Has a few moments, such as being the first to realize the presence of jamming aircraft in one mission.
142* {{Wingman}}: While obeying your orders, Grimm is technically Chopper's wingman ([[spoiler:and Snow's much later]]).
143[[/folder]]
144
145[[folder:Jack "Heartbreak One" Bartlett]]
146[[quoteright:210:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/char_76344.jpg]]
147
148->''I hate not being able to move in three dimensions. Cramps my style.''
149
150-->'''Voiced by''': Creator/UnshoIshizuka (Japanese), Creator/SteveBlum (English)
151
152
153A VeteranInstructor on Sand Island and the original leader of the Wardog Squadron. A gruff, somewhat cynical man who is a veteran of [[VideoGame/AceCombatZeroTheBelkanWar the Belkan War]], he prefers doing what needs to be done to keep his nuggets alive, rather than follow orders from HQ. This often puts him at odds with the top brass, and as such he's resigned to never rising above the rank of Captain in his military career. Still, he is an effective squadron leader, but he goes MIA early in the game after being shot down and is not heard from again [[spoiler: until the final missions. In the interim, new nugget Blaze must step in to fill his shoes.]]
154
155----
156* TheCameo: He can appear in certain versions of "Mayhem", the tenth mission of ''VideoGame/AceCombatZeroTheBelkanWar''. Though released about a year after 5, Zero chronologically takes place 15 years before it, making this an EarlyBirdCameo chronologically.
157* GratuitousEnglish: His custom callsign is actually supposed to be "The Heartbroken One", referencing [[spoiler:his relationship with the Yuktobanian Major Nastasya Obertas during the Belkan War and their subsequent breakup]].
158* TheLastDJ: He's been stuck at the rank of Captain since the end of the Belkan War fifteen years ago, and notes himself that he'll probably never get that promotion.
159--> '''Bartlett''': Why do they even bother reprimanding me anymore? I know I'm going to be stuck at Captain forever.
160* TheMentor: For a brief period, before he's shot down in the second mission.
161* VeteranInstructor: Fought in the Belkan War prior to the events of the game, where he met Pops.
162* WhenHarryMetSvetlana: His on-and-off romance with the Yuktobanian Recon Major Nastasya. In an inversion of the default trope, it's Bartlett ("one of us", since you fly for Osea) who goes over to the enemy side first, joining up with the loyalist Yuktobanians, while Nastasya (respectively, "one of them") technically stays loyal to Yuktobania, as she leaves the country only after discovering treason in the highest government ranks and freeing the legitimate Prime Minister.
163[[/folder]]
164
165[[folder:Peter "Pops" Beagle]]
166[[quoteright:210:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gm211_resized.png]]
167
168->''Look at that wreckage. I'm surprised they're still makin' them like this.''
169
170-->'''Voiced by''': Creator/ChikaoOhtsuka (Japanese), Creator/BobPapenbrook (English)
171
172
173A.k.a. [[spoiler:Wolfgang "Huckebein" Buchner]]. Wardog Squadron's aging mechanic. Like Bartlett, he is a veteran of the Belkan War 15 years ago, and so he has an experienced, if cynical view of the current ongoing conflict. [[spoiler:He is later revealed to be a former Belkan fighter ace who defected when ordered to nuke a city in his own country during the previous war. With his secret out (and used by [[TheMole Hamilton]] to help frame Wardog Squadron for treason), he flees with Wardog and fakes his death with them, becoming part of the support for the reborn Razgriz Squadron as they work to foil his former comrades' plot of revenge against Osea and Yuktobania.]]
174
175----
176* AlmightyJanitor: He’s not just an old pilot flying freight planes for the maintenance crew on Sand Island, he’s [[spoiler:Huckebein the Raven. A Belkan Ace from the Belkan War.]]
177* ContinuityCameo: He said he was [[spoiler: shot down in the Belkan war, flying a [=MiG=]. In ''VideoGame/AceCombatZeroTheBelkanWar'', you can indeed shoot him down]]. Of course, unless you played 5, you wouldn't know what happens afterwards...
178* ConvenientlyUnverifiableCoverStory: [[spoiler: After they were shot down over the Round Table during the Belkan War, Bartlett vouched for Pops as a member of his squadron, whose headquarters had been destroyed in a bombing raid.]]
179* CoolOldGuy: Has been flying since the Belkan War, and still shows his skill in old age. He's also one of the first people to [[spoiler:figure out TheConspiracy]].
180* DefectorFromDecadence: As explained in his backstory.
181* FightingFingerprint: [[spoiler:As he and the Wardog squadron flee from Sand Island, the leader of the 8492nd squadron notices his flying style, and realizes that he’s actually Huckebein the Raven.]]
182* TheEngineer: His primarly role in the unit is repairing and upgrading the fighter jets.
183%%* TheMentor
184* MissionControl: [[spoiler:He takes over this position from AWACS Thunderhead once you joined Kestrel and formed the Razgriz Squadron, with him giving you briefings and providing you advice and objectives during the late-game missions.]]
185* NonActionGuy: He never fires a shot in this game... which doesn't mean he isn't a 100% certified badass.
186* OldSoldier: He's a former pilot himself, but he's content to stay on the ground and tend to the planes and let the next generation take over in the skies.
187* StillGotIt: [[spoiler:He leads the betrayed Wardog Squadron through the terrain of an island surrounded by a magnetic field to throw off the pursuit of the 8492nd Squadron, and showcases impressive acrobatics in the process.]]
188[[/folder]]
189
190[[folder:AWACS Thunderhead]]
191->''This is Thunderhead. Captain Davenport, how many times do I have to tell you to cut the chatter?''
192
193-->'''Voiced by''': Creator/KirkThornton (English)
194
195
196The Wardog's [[MissionControl AWACS plane.]] Usually unflappable and a stickler for the rules, he becomes Chopper's personal (friendly) nemesis due to the latter's motormouth tendencies. On top of providing intelligence and tactical information for Wardog, he also is in charge of electronic warfare, often fighting to prevent the enemy from jamming Wardog's communcations.
197
198----
199* ActuallyPrettyFunny: During one mission, Chopper starts talking about Thunderhead in his usual derisive but friendly way, and when Thunderhead cuts in to tell him to knock it off, it's obvious he's smiling.
200* BotheringByTheBook: Has a major problem with Chopper's carefree attitude.
201* CallingYourAttacks: Whenever he initiates Electronic Counter-Counter Measures to overcome enemy jamming, he shouts out ''"ECCM! Restore communication link!"'' It's not hard to imagine him hammily pressing a BigRedButton up in the AWACS plane.
202* GoodColorsEvilColors: Played with. [[spoiler:It's a real gut punch to the player to see Thunderhead's name in red after the 8492nd squadron has successfully framed Wardog as traitors, and even if Thunderhead expresses disbelief that Wardog really have turned, his last act is falling for Snow's ruse as he "shoots down the traitors."]]
203* LargeHam: He's much louder and more bombastic in his duties than other AWACS of the series, like ''04''[='=]s Sky Eye or Eagle Eye of ''Zero'', who go for more DangerDeadpan with only short bursts of emotion.
204* LastNameBasis: Thunderhead only ever refers to Chopper as his rank and his last name. [[spoiler:He finally calls him "Chopper" seconds before Chopper's death.]]
205* LockedOutOfTheLoop: [[spoiler:He is among the Osean military personnel who don't become wise to the Belkans' manipulation of the war, and believes their falsehood that the Wardog pilots are traitors.]]
206* MissionControl: Wardog's AWACS unit.
207* MissionControlIsOffItsMeds: There are a couple of "uneventful" missions where it turns out Thunderhead led you straight into a trap, most notably [[spoiler:"8492," where you're ambushed on your return flight after a relatively easy ground attack mission. It's not Thunderhead's fault, though; the whole thing turns out to be a setup by the 8492nd Squadron, to discredit and ultimately destroy you]].
208* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: He only ever calls Chopper by his callsign once, as noted above. There's also one time after the squad sinks the Hrimfaxi, where he once again requests Chopper to can the chatter and is clearly thrown for a loop when Chopper responds as "Razgriz 3".
209* SourOutsideSadInside: [[spoiler: Averted, despite his relationship with Chopper being [[SitcomArchNemesis comical arch-nemeses]], he desperately tried to convince Chopper not to give up before he inevitably crashes. As a brief eulogy, he noted how Chopper "was a model pilot to the very end", which he promptly invited Wardog and other allied squadrons to salute him in his memory.]]
210* WhateverHappenedToTheMouse: Never seen again after [[spoiler: the escape from Sand Isle]].
211[[/folder]]
212
213[[folder:Marcus "Swordsman" Snow]]
214[[quoteright:210:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/snow_resized.png]]
215
216->''Quit screwing around! This is war. The enemy is all over and they're gonna eat you alive!''
217
218-->'''Voiced by''': Creator/KenjiNomura (Japanese), Creator/BeauBillingslea (English)
219
220Leader of the Shorebirds Squadron based on the ''Kestrel'' at the beginning of the game. A no-nonsense pilot who doesn't hesitate and protects his carrier and subordinates with his life if he has to, he nonetheless isn't afraid to give harsh words for those he perceives to be wasting his time or keeping him from doing his job. By the climax of the game, he is the [[SoleSurvivor only surviving pilot]] stationed on the ''Kestrel,'' and as such has been [[ReassignedToAntarctica rotated out of active combat and into reserve]] along with the rest of the ''Kestrel'' battle group.
221
222----
223
224* GoodIsNotNice: He's a bit abrasive at times, but Snow is definitely one of the good guys.
225* LostInTranslation: In the original Japanese version, Snow's rank is "Tai-ai", which translates as "Naval Lieutenant", which is equivalent to a Captain in the Air Force, making him have the same rank as all of Wardog. Because of this equivalency, the English translation erroneously refers to him as a captain, despite still being in the Navy, and assuming Osea uses the same ranking system as the USA, a naval captain is equivalent to an ''air force colonel'', making him outrank everyone. [[spoiler: Despite this, he become the third in the squadron.]]
226* MeaningfulName: His callsign Swordsman [[spoiler: foreshadows him "shooting down" Wardog by way of the Razgriz poem, slaying the "demons" with a hallowed saber to give birth to the heroes.]]
227* OldSoldier: Swordsman's bitter attitude clashes a lot with the nuggets' naive idealism.
228* SixthRanger: Joins Wardog [[spoiler: to replace Chopper]].
229* ScaryBlackMan: He comes in admonishing Nagase for being obsessed with protecting you, and he does have a point. You wouldn't know the "Black Man" part until he joins later on though.
230* SoleSurvivor: [[spoiler: By the time he joins your team, he's the only one who's left of his squadron.]]
231* TokenAdult: Kinda. All the members of Wardog are adults, but Swordsman is Blaze's only wingman who isn't, in essence, a field-promoted trainee.
232* {{Wingman}}: In the end of the game, he thanks Blaze for letting him fly as a wingman again, because after a very long time as a flight lead, he forgot how his own wingmen felt about him.
233[[/folder]]
234
235!Osean Federation
236
237[[folder:Albert Genette]]
238[[quoteright:210:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/genetteheadshot_resized.png]]
239
240->''On a distant island, far away from civilization, the protectors of the peace take to the skies...''
241
242-->'''Voiced by''': Creator/HiroakiHirata (Japanese), Creator/MatthewMercer (English) ([=AC5=]), Peter von Gomm (ACX)
243
244
245A freelance reporter who came to Sand Island to write a story on Jack Bartlett, but ends up with much more than he bargained for. Realizing that he could have found his big break, he begins chronicling the exploits of the "Four Wings of Sand Island," and soon finds himself sucked into their story as they uncover a massive conspiracy to pit two countries against each other, and witnesses firsthand Wardog's evolution into the Demons of Razgriz.
246
247----
248* ActionSurvivor: He's just a civilian reporter with apparently no military background, yet he gets tagged along with many of Wardog Squadron's adventures. The opening scene shows him in the backseat of Bartlett's F-4G while he gets into a dogfight with enemy planes. [[spoiler:Halfway through the game, he gets branded a traitor along with the rest of Wardog members, almost got shot by Perrault and has to escape in Pops' training jet, and has to experience a bailout from the plane mid-escape as well. Later in the game, he also survived Kestrel being sunk by an enemy submarine.]]
249* CharacterNarrator: Although other characters get to narrate some parts, Genette is the main one. He's also the narrator in ''Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception'' as well.
250* IntrepidReporter: He goes along with everything Wardog does, even [[spoiler: coming with them as they leave their country because of the traitors within]]. Due to his strong morals, he doesn't mind a single bit. He retained this status in ''Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception'', [[spoiler:where he obtained classified Leasathian documents and investigate the true cause of the war, and is responsible for exposing the truth that leads to Navarro's downfall and Leasath's loss.]]
251* TagalongReporter: Justified by the fact that his article on the Wardogs is pretty much the only thing he is known for. Plus, [[spoiler:his close association with them would have probably made him a traitor in the command's eyes, too]].
252[[/folder]]
253
254[[folder:Kirk]]
255
256Chopper's dog. He becomes a bit of a mascot for Wardog, and is as every bit a member of the squadron as his human compatriots, to the point of [[spoiler:escaping with Wardog when they are accused of treason.]]
257----
258* RuleOfSymbolism: He is the Wardog Squadron's war dog.
259* TeamPet: Being the mascot and namesake of Wardog, as well as being literally one of the pilots' pets.
260[[/folder]]
261
262[[folder:Orson Perrault]]
263
264[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/latest3_7.png]]
265
266->''Gah, you people are like the plague, you know that?''
267
268-->'''Voiced by''': Creator/DaisukeGori (Japanese), Peter Lurie (English)
269
270
271Commander of the Sand Island Air Base. A hard-nosed, overweight man whose hobbies include glaring at people and occasionally giving dramatic speeches, he serves little purpose to the plot other than occasionally giving Wardog their briefings. [[spoiler: Like everyone else, he falls for Hamilton's lies and is deceived into thinking Wardog are traitors, and [[WhateverHappenedToTheMouse is not seen or mentioned again]] after Wardog makes their escape from Sand Island.]]
272
273----
274* AdiposeRex: [[Administrivia/TropesAreFlexible Embodies the spirit of the trope quite well]], and Genette even referred to him in his narration as "the emperor of [Sand Island] base".
275* FatBastard: As heavyset as he is, he probably should have failed a physical exam (though it's likely he had simply gone to seed since becoming an officer). He never has a kind word to say to anyone and believes whatever nasty things are said about Wardog Squadron.
276* TheNeidermeyer: He never has a kind word to say about Wardog or anyone else under his command, and shows a complete lack of regard for their well-being in the face of possible glory - in contrast to the commander of [=McNealy=] AFB, who only sends Blaze and his three wingmen out to defend the space center because the rest are "just kids", Perrault sends out ''everyone'', regardless of experience, to defend Sand Island, and as a direct result [[spoiler:gets all of them but Blaze, Edge, Chopper and Archer killed]].
277* PetTheDog: He does have a soft spot for Nagase, it seems, as he dispenses with long speeches after [[spoiler:she is shot down and just tells you to bring her back]].
278[[/folder]]
279
280[[folder:Allen C. Hamilton]]
281
282[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/latest2_3.png]]
283
284->[[spoiler:''I'm going to take those Belkan nukes and terrify both sides into ending this foolish war! ''DON'T GET IN MY WAY!''''']]
285
286-->'''Voiced by''': Creator/YasunoriMasutani (Japanese), Creator/CrispinFreeman (English)
287
288
289Vice-commander of Sand Island. Despite having a cool demeanor and rarely interacting with the airmen stationed at Sand Island, he nonetheless remains calm and friendly in his few interactions with them. At first he seems to be a ReasonableAuthorityFigure, putting up with Commander Perrault and even assisting Genette with getting his confiscated camera back and getting him on the Press Corps, but [[spoiler:he turns out to be a traitor late in the game, and a flying ace in his own right.]]
290----
291* DroppedABridgeOnHim: [[spoiler:Ultimately killed not in a dogfight, but by a mook's plane bouncing off a tunnel wall and crashing into him.]]
292* TheMole: [[spoiler:Is eventually revealed to be the Grey Men's inside man on Sand Island.]]
293* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Appears as one, in stark contrast to his boss. [[spoiler: It's all an act.]]
294* UnstoppableRage: [[spoiler:Even if you shoot him down outside of the tunnel complex, he'll still chase you into the tunnel, ranting and raving all the way through.]]
295[[/folder]]
296
297[[folder:Ashley "Grabacr" Bernitz]]
298->''You shall fall to your deaths and lead the way for the [[KillSat SOLG]] as it smashes into the earth!''
299
300Leader of the 8492nd Squadron [[spoiler: and an agent of the Grey Men.]] Originally assigned to the squadron by Osea as part of a joint Osean-Belkan group of fighter aces meant to bolster Osea's military power, [[spoiler:Ashley and the group went rogue and instead began conspiring against Osea, with the ultimate goal of inciting all-out war and devastation to both countries in revenge for Belka's defeat 15 years ago.]]
301----
302* AcePilot: Like a lot [[spoiler:of legendary Belkan aces]], Bernitz was trained by the Kellerman Institution.
303* BetterToDieThanBeKilled: [[spoiler:Take too long to shoot him and his squadron down in the final mission and they will self destruct.]]
304* BigBad: [[spoiler:Although the Grey Men are the ones behind the war, Ashley and his wingmen act as the main antagonists throughout the game. It's his actions that drive the plot forward, with him responsible for kidnapping President Harling, attacking a Yuktobanian college town in order to escalate the war and framing the act on Wardog Squadron, convincing Captain Hamilton into becoming a traitor, ambushing Wardog Squadron over the Vladimir Mountains and tried to shoot them down later over the Ceres Ocean, and finally having two dogfights with Razgriz Squadron in the endgame.]]
305* ContrastingSequelAntagonist: To [[VideoGame/AceCombat04ShatteredSkies Yellow 13]]. Both of them are experienced, highly skilled pilots that serve as TheRival ace to the protagonist. In terms of differences, Thirteen was an honorable soldier who sympathized with the enemy he was fighting against, despised cowardice in battle, and disapproved of Erusea’s tactic of placing anti-air emplacements on hospitals during the liberation of San Salvacion. [[spoiler: Bernitz by contrast is a fanatic Belkan nationalist who absolutely despises Osea for defeating Belka in the previous war, uses subterfuge and other underhanded tactics in his attempts to kill Wardog/Razgriz Squadron, and is fully willing to commit war crimes such as firing on civilians in order to advance the goals of the Grey Men]].
306* GenderBlenderName: He's one of those increasingly-rare male Ashleys.
307* GracefulLoser: [[spoiler:He takes his defeat [[FaceDeathwithDignity stoically]]:]]
308--> ''"I... I never thought you would be this good..."''
309* InstitutionalAllegianceConcealment: ''The 8492nd doesn't exist.'' Officially, that is.
310* OldMaster: A rare pilot example, but according to his file in [[VideoGame/AceCombatZeroTheBelkanWar the prequel]], Bernitz is ''53 years old'' during the events of the game. Most pilots have either give up the mantle or get promoted away from the front lines between 35 and 40, although it wasn't untypical for [[spoiler:Belkan aces like him]] to be active well into their forties, e.g. Dietrich Kellerman and Anton Kupchenko were 45 and 48 during the Belkan War.
311* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler:Grabacr's comes off as rather subdued compared to Ofnir's, though.]]
312--> ''"[[spoiler:You're the ones who built the SOLG to use against us! And now, you're sitting under your own dagger! Taste the irony!"]]''
313[[/folder]]
314
315[[folder:Nicholas A. Andersen]]
316[[quoteright:210:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fl202_resized.png]]
317
318->''I'm just a guy who's fought one losing battle after another.''
319
320-->'''Voiced by''': Creator/TakeshiAono (Japanese), Simon Prescott (English)
321
322Captain of the ''OFS Kestrel'', the largest Osean aircraft carrier. His skill as a captain keeps the ''Kestrel'' virtually unharmed [[spoiler: until the penultimate mission,]] but he continually loses pilots until only Captain Snow is left, and, without a combat-capable squadron, he and his fleet are left in idle away from the frontlines. [[spoiler:This turns out to the ''advantage'' of the now-fugitive Wardog squadron, and the ''Kestrel'' becomes their flagship from which to launch their clandestine operations against the Gray Men.]]
323----
324* TheCaptain: Of the Naval variety, as opposed to a Squadron Captain such as Blaze or Snow.
325* FailureKnight: Despite the fact that the ''Kestrel'' went the entire war without taking any damage from enemy fire, Andersen instead mourned the loss of all its aircraft pilots during the war save Swordsman, and so describes himself to Genette as a man who'd seen one losing battle after another. [[spoiler:Until the penultimate mission "Aces", where the ''Kestrel'' is torpedoed once during the mission briefing, and again as the pilots scramble to launch their aircraft. The carrier sinks, but fortunately, all the Razgriz pilots are airborne, and most of the crew including Andersen seems to have survived.]]
326* FatherNeptune: While he doesn't sport a SeadogBeard, he instead has a mustache.
327* LegendaryInTheSequel: His exploits in the Circum-Pacific War have become famous by the time ''Ace Combat 7'' takes place, particularly when [[spoiler:he scrambled the Razgriz Squadron into the air before his ship sank. This has got to the point where the Osean Navy commissioned another aircraft carrier with the name ''Kestrel'', and another one named after the man himself, which like the original Kestrel before it, is responsible for launching the pilot that would go on to end another war.]]
328* LifeWillKillYou: Anderson eventually passes away of old age some time after the Circum-Pacific War, but by the time of the [[VideoGame/AceCombat7SkiesUnknown Lighthouse War]], his name and exploits are known to Avril, who muses how [[spoiler:his story parallels the present-day situation and how the OFS ''Admiral Andersen'' will end up being the carrier that sends out the planes that will end ''7'''s war]].
329* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Is one of the few higher-ups in the game who realizes the existence of TheConspiracy and works to stop it.
330* ReassignedToAntarctica: While never explicitly stated, the almost complete loss of the ''Kestrel's'' operational combat squadron made the ''Kestrel'' ineffective, so the Osean high command pretty much did this by rotating them out of front lines fighting and leaving them to idle in reserve.
331[[/folder]]
332
333[[folder:Vincent Harling]]
334[[quoteright:210:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/osea_diplomacy_resized.png]]
335
336->''And this path shall go on, as long as the blaze of fire that shines through the darkness is not extinguished.''
337
338-->'''Voiced by''': Creator/HideyukiTanaka (Japanese), Creator/RobertBuchholz (English)
339
340President of the Osean Federation. After his plane is forced down due to an unfortunate case of friendly fire, he is [[spoiler:presumably]] rescued by the 8492nd Squadron and disappears soon after, just before the war escalates. [[spoiler:It turns out he was kidnapped by the 8492nd (actually a Belkan aggressor squadron under the command of the "Grey Men") to prevent him from holding peace talks with Yuktobania. After being rescued from captivity by Razgriz, he makes good on his promise and strikes a peace accord with the (also kidnapped and rescued) Yuktobanian Prime Minister Nikanor.]]
341
342He returns in ''VideoGame/AceCombat7SkiesUnknown'', no longer president but still serving an active role in politics. Despite no longer leading Osea, he continues to pursue his goals of global peace, proposing and funding the construction of a massive SpaceElevator nicknamed the "Lighthouse" to help unite the Usean continent, which is still facing international strife and instability from the Ulysses Impact and [[VideoGame/AceCombat04ShatteredSkies resulting Usean Continental War]]. Unfortunately, many Usean countries, Erusea most prominently, see the Lighthouse as an foreign interference, and tensions over it end up sparking a second war in Usea. Harling ends up trapped at the elevator when Erusea attacks during an inspection; [[spoiler: Osea and the IUN-PKF launch an operation to rescue him, but the mission fails and Harling is killed. Despite this, however, his legacy lives on in the form of the Lighthouse, the intent of which fuels speculation as to Harling's motives for building it and ultimately helps contribute to ending the war and uniting the Usean continent at last.]]
343
344----
345* BackForTheDead: [[spoiler:He comes back in ''VideoGame/AceCombat7SkiesUnknown'' but is alive for all of four missions before he is killed. However, his brainchild the space elevator, and his legacy regarding it is a major driving point of the game's plot.]]
346* BigGood: Is genuinely trying to work for peace between Osea and Yuktobania [[spoiler: and by the latter part of the game, one of the keys to it]].
347* EscortMission: He's the focus of one early in the game. [[spoiler:He's also the Macguffin for another later on]].
348* OurPresidentsAreDifferent: Walks the line between President Personable and [[spoiler:President Target]]. Later in the game he borders on [[spoiler:President Action when he and a marine unit are forced to go into the capital of Osea in order to expose the Belkan plot]].
349* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Harling is an [[NiceGuy all-around pleasant man]] who seeks a peaceful coexistence with Yuktobania and tries his best to broker an end of hostilities between the two countries. [[spoiler:Too bad he is kidnapped early in the game.]]
350* SuddenSequelDeathSyndrome: [[spoiler:He reappears in ''VideoGame/AceCombat7SkiesUnknown'' as a former-president well after his term is over, but still a Very Important Person, politically influential, warmly-regarded within in Osea, and one of the big names behind the newly-constructed SpaceElevator. Unfortunately, his transport is shot down during a rescue operation to get him out from behind Erusean lines.]]
351[[/folder]]
352
353[[folder:Sea Goblin]]
354->''Don't worry. We'll take your princess back to base safely.''
355
356An Osean special operations team stationed on the ''Kestrel.'' Their first appearance is when Wardog supports them as they liberate a POW camp, they show up in the subsequent mission to rescue a shot-down Nagase. At some point after this, they were rotated out of service with the ''Kestrel'' battle group due to the ''Kestrel'' losing most of their aircraft in battle, essentially leaving them stuck in reserve. [[spoiler:As fate would have it, however, they meet up again with Wardog when they pluck the squadron-in-exile from the seas, and join them in stopping the Belkan conspiracy.]]
357
358----
359* BackForTheDead:[[spoiler: Much like Harling above. A Sea Goblin unit is the team dispatched to rescue Harling from the Lighthouse, but they're almost immediately wiped out upon landing. It isn't clear whether they are the same team that worked with Razgriz, or a new team entirely.]]
360* BigDamnHeroes: Fulfills this role no less than four times in the plot, including [[spoiler:twice for the Wardogs themselves]]. They're at the receiving end of one in turn in the last mission they appear in, where you have to create a BulletholeDoor for their dramatic escape.
361* ChivalrousPervert: One of the members basically asks the Wardogs "Is she hot?" during Kei's rescue mission, to which Chopper replies indignantly "Why don't you rescue her and see for yourself?" In a later mission, one who's probably the same guy tries to flirt with her over the comm.
362* EscortMission: They rely on the aces to wipe out enemy fighters and AA in their way to secure the landing zone for their ground-based heroics.
363* HeroOfAnotherStory: You occasionally hear snippets of radio chatter alluding to their heroics during the missions when you're providing their top cover, but you never get to directly witness any of it since their missions involve lots of close-quarters combat indoors.
364[[/folder]]
365
366!Union of Yuktobanian Republics
367
368[[folder:Seryozha Viktorovich Nikanor]]
369
370[[quoteright:287:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/latest1.png]]
371
372-->'''Voiced by''': Creator/MasashiEbara (Japanese), Creator/PaulStPeter (English)
373
374Prime Minister of Yuktobania.
375
376----
377* EmbarrassingFirstName: This was [[GratuitousRussian probably unintentional]], but "Seryozha" is a diminutive form of the Russian name "Sergey". The former is to the latter approximately as "Bobby" is to "Robert" in English.
378* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: An in-universe magazine reveals him as the implementor of "glasnost" policies. This, combined with his positive attitude to cooperation with Osea, basically makes him the Strangereal counterpart to UsefulNotes/MikhailGorbachev.
379* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Much like Harling, he would rather Osea and Yuktobania coexist than be at war. [[spoiler:Too bad he is kidnapped early in the game. And once he's rescued, the first group of his own military he tries to talk to immediately labels him a traitor and tries to kill him.]]
380[[/folder]]
381
382[[folder:Alyosha]]
383
384-->'''Voiced by''': Creator/DaveWittenberg (English)
385
386A cell leader of the Yuktobanian anti-war resistance.
387
388----
389* LaResistance: A member of one.
390* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: "Alyosha" is an alias, and his real name is never given.
391* OnlyOneName: "Alyosha" is a diminutive form of "Alexey".
392* RebelLeader: Leads a resistance unit in Yuktobanian territory.
393[[/folder]]
394
395[[folder:Nastasya Vasilievna Obertas]]
396
397-->'''Voiced by''': Creator/MisaWatanabe (Japanese) Creator/WendeeLee (English)
398
399Yuktobanian Recon Major and Bartlett's ex-"lady friend".
400
401----
402* CasualDangerDialogue: During her escape from Yuktobania during an air raid, she seems to actually enjoy the danger.
403* CoolShades: She is first seen in a cutscene wearing large shades, which are probably an old habit from her job as a spy and adds to her general mysteriousness.
404* NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent: With the exception of one line ("Just 'Major'" when Genette asks what to call her), she never speaks with an accent like Nikanor or Oka Nieba.
405* OldFlame: For Bartlett.
406* WhenHarryMetSvetlana: Her on-and-off romance with Bartlett. See Bartlett's entry for details.
407[[/folder]]
408
409[[folder:Michael "Ofnir" Heimeroth]]
410->''We will regain the pride we lost [[VideoGame/AceCombatZeroTheBelkanWar fifteen years ago!]]''
411
412Leader of the Ofnir Squadron, [[spoiler:the 8492nd's Yuktobanian counterpart. Like Grabacr, Heimeroth is an agent of the Grey Men]].
413
414----
415* {{Arrogant|KungFuGuy}} AcePilot: His AWACS warns him to avoid flying into a narrow canyon with the Razgriz Squadron still lurking there. His reaction: "No obstacles to our flight observed." He is likewise dismissive of the Razgriz, boasting that he'll turn their battleground into "a demon's graveyard."
416* BetterToDieThanBeKilled: [[spoiler:Take too long to shoot him and his squadron down in the final mission and they will self destruct.]]
417* ContinuityCameo: Can be encountered in [[VideoGame/AceCombatZeroTheBelkanWar the next game]] as [[spoiler: an enemy ace]].
418* InstitutionalAllegianceConcealment: Like the 8492nd in Osea, the Ofnir Squadron doesn't officially exist in the Yuktobanian military.
419* VillainousBreakdown: Michael and the rest of Ofnir Squadron suffer a huge one in the final mission.
420--> '''''"RISE, MY FALLEN BROTHERS, RISE UP WITH THE POWER OF YOUR HATRED!"'''''
421--> '''''"DON'T THINK [[SoreLoser YOU'VE WON!]] [[WeWillMeetAgain THIS ISN'T OVER YET!]]"'''''
422[[/folder]]
423
424[[folder:AWACS Oka Nieba]]
425->''LA, LA, LA, LA! [[IncomingHam Listen to our beautiful voice!]]''
426
427-->'''Voiced by''': Creator/PaulStPeter (English)
428
429
430A Yuktobanian AWACS who appears late in the game.
431
432----
433* ContinuityNod: "Oka Nieba" is Polish for "[[VideoGame/AceCombat04ShatteredSkies Sky Eye]]".
434* LargeHam: In contrast to Thunderhead, he's as energetic as they come. [[EstablishingCharacterMoment The very first thing he does is]] [[IncomingHam announce his presence by off-key singing]].
435* MissionControl: Primarily taking over this role from Pops for the final two missions.
436[[/folder]]
437
438!Others
439
440[[folder:The Grey Men]]
441A sinister conspiracy of [[spoiler:rich Belkan nationalists who orchestrated the entire war to get revenge on the countries that defeated Belka 15 years ago]].
442
443----
444* FormerRegimePersonnel: Formerly members of [[spoiler:the Belkan military industrial complex, wanting to take revenge on Osea and Yuktobania and reestablish Belka again]].
445* LetsYouAndHimFight: [[spoiler:Their method of getting revenge on Osea and Yuktobania, achieved by conducting {{False Flag Operation}}s to provoke the two superpowers into waging war against each other.]]
446* MyCountryRightOrWrong: Specifically for [[spoiler: Belka]].
447%%* NebulousCriminalConspiracy
448[[/folder]]
449
450[[folder:Gründer Industries]]
451Formerly the South Belka Munitions Factory. Manufactures weapons and warplanes for the Osean Self Defense Forces. [[spoiler:Has also been supplying arms to the Yuktobanians as well, and is controlled by the Grey Men]].
452
453----
454* ArmsDealer: [[spoiler:Of the decidedly amoral variety]].
455* GreaterScopeVillain: Mentioned only tangentially in this game. ''Zero'' made the company responsible for the [[spoiler:ADFX-01 and ADFX-02 Morgan]]. ''VideoGame/AceCombat6FiresOfLiberation'' features an ace who used Gründer's blueprints for the [[spoiler:XB-0]] to create the [[spoiler:P-1112 Aigaion]]. ''VideoGame/AceCombatAssaultHorizonLegacy'', a remake of the second game that retcons ''VideoGame/AceCombat2'' into the Strangereal universe, also makes it responsible for the production of the [[spoiler:Z.O.E. and ADF-01 FALKEN]]. And ''again'' in ''VideoGame/AceCombat7SkiesUnknown'', [[spoiler:where they are responsible for the AI technology that they sold to the Eruseans, heavily implied to be a new version of Z.O.E., which they then used to create an advanced [=UAV=] army and leads to the Lighthouse War. Said technology is also implied to pave the way for the rise in AI development in ''VideoGame/AceCombat3Electrosphere'' as well.]] Thus, Gründer has become an indirect enemy in many entries in the franchise.
456* KarmaHoudiniWarranty: [[spoiler: Osea finally shuts down Gründer following the de-classification of all records related to the Circum-Pacific War.]]
457* MeaningfulName: Gründer means founder. Considering that it's responsible for many conflicts in the franchise, this is pretty appropriate.
458[[/folder]]
459
460[[folder:Razgriz]]
461[[quoteright:210:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/razgriz_close_up_resized.png]]
462
463->''When history witnesses a great change, Razgriz reveals itself, first as a dark demon. As a demon, it uses its power to rain death upon the land, and then it dies. However, after a period of slumber, Razgriz returns... [[spoiler:this time as a great hero.]]''
464
465The mythological demon mentioned in ''[[ShowWithinAShow A Blue Dove for the Princess]]''. Speculation abounds whether or not it is actually present in some form in the game. The Wardog Squadron's members are branded "The Demons of Razgriz" after they sink the Hrimfaxi. Later in the game [[spoiler: after they get shot down fleeing from Sand Island, they take Razgriz' name for themselves]].
466
467----
468* AmbiguousGender: Is only referred by "it" though appears in an androgynous-looking human form in "The Blue Dove And The Princess".
469* AllThereInTheManual: "The Blue Dove And The Princess", the book Nagase has which describes Razgriz' legend, can be found in artbooks.
470* ButNowIMustGo: After Razgriz returns as a hero, it tends to disappear shortly after.
471* DarkIsEvil: A black winged demon that brings death [[spoiler: at first. It becomes [[DarkisnotEvil much nicer]] [[BackFromTheDead after it revives]]]].
472* EvilRedhead: As it appears in a human form in "The Blue Dove And The Princess" and the Razgriz Squadron Emblem.
473* HeelFaceTurn: As the legend goes, Razgriz starts off as an evil being that spreads death and suffering before ultimately dying, only to eventually resurrect as a force of good.
474* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: Common Wild Mass Guesses by the fandom include that members of Wardog Squadron actually are possessed by Razgriz at various points (particularly after [[spoiler:Chopper's death]], when they go absolutely ''berserk'' on the Yuke planes still left in the sky), or that Blaze ''is'' Razgriz, which itself is supported by the fact that he completely disappeared after the war.[[note]]As opposed to the other three Ghosts; Nagase went on to pilot ''Pilgrim One,'' Grimm had a family to return to, and Snow joined a salvage company and later assisted Anderson in locating the wreckage of the ''Kestrel.''[[/note]]
475* OurDemonsAreDifferent: A demon that goes berserk, dies, and then [[spoiler: becomes [[HeelFaceTurn a hero]]]].
476* RedHerring: Early in the game, the characters discuss the prophecy in reference to the Yuktobanian superweapon ''Scinfaxi'', especially after it's sunk... and its sister ship ''Hrimfaxi'' appears, apparently fulfilling the second half of the prophecy. Then Wardog Squadron sinks it, too, whereupon the Yuktobanians start referring to ''them'' as "the Demons of Razgriz."
477* RuleOfSymbolism: The story of Razgriz parallels that of Wardog Squadron during the war, which is made explicit once [[spoiler:they adopt the name "the Ghosts of Razgriz" for themselves officially]].
478* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Maybe. "ラーズグリーズ" ''is'' exactly how you'd spell "Ráðgríðr", a valkyrie attested in the ''[[Myth/NorseMythology Grímnismál & Nafnaþulur]]'', in kana syllablry. This has led to all sorts of fandom debate about whether the spelling in the released game is right, whether it was meant to be "Rathgrith" or similar (since Japanese lacks a true "th" syllable and must substitute ズ for it), and how much of a connection the player is meant to draw between the entity described in the game and the real-world myth.
479[[/folder]]

Top