As a crossover, the stories in the series contains numerous references to Ace Combat series, but also a few others:
Ace Combat: Wings of Unity
Ace Combat related
- Aurora's name is most likely a reference to another superplane from Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere.
- One of the Exile ships is a submarine, capable of firing both burst and cruise missiles. Its name is Scinfaxi.
- When Aurora's allies are revealed, they turn out to be the dragons - pretty much the stories' equivalent of airborne fortresses. Their leader is called Aigaion and the other Drake Generals are named after different airobrne fortresses or warships from the series.
- The EAF wants to fortify Canterlot with a laser turret network called "The Atmos Ring".
- Chapter 8 makes a huge shout out to Ace Combat Infinity with how Spitfire tells Rainbow Dash about the Ulyssess Disaster and its outcome. In addition, the anti-air railgun networks she mentioned are clear references to Chandelier and Megalith.
- Chapter 9 continues it with Gale announcing Operation Eternal Liberation as the joint campaign to drive Exiles away from Equestria.
- Chapter 10a introduces another EAF operator called Heavy Cloud.
- In chapter 10b, the commander of the Stalliongrad Defense Corps uses the codename "Big Bear". Unlike Ivan Stagleishov, he is all good. Furthermore, two pegasi squadrons that he shares with EAF for the battle for Fillydelphia are called Osa (Wasp) and Sova (Owl).
- Lightning Dust's squadron is called "Viper", which may reffer to either a squadron that appeared in the final mission of Ace Combat: Assault Horizon or the character from Ace Combat Infinity.
- Chapter 11b is essentially a ponified combination of "Front Line" from Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War and "Hostile Fleet" from Ace Combat: Assault Horizon, with Princess Celestia playing the role of the Arkbird.
- Chapter 12 introduces us to four, crimson-red, enchanced combat suits for the Reapers which use a special combat program, codenamed "Zeal". This is most likely a reference to Z.O.E. from Ace Combat 2 and its remake, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy.
- Chapter 16, in both title and conflict presented in it, is made after the infamous mission from Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception.
Other references
- Deathwing's name is derived from a certain dragon.
- Same goes for Shockwave, who seems to be a whole character reference to a certain Decepticon.
- Pinkie Pie compares Aurora to GLaDOS in chapter 2.Pinkie Pie: Good thing she’s not a mechanical alicorn from another world who wants to conquer Equestria and exterminate all ponies or use them for some wacky experiments in the name of science.
- When Firebolt shoves Spitfire out of the way and is blasted by Aigaion's flame instead, the dragon growls:Aigaion: Bah! Such heroic nonsense...
- The earth pony leading the Canterlot unit from chapter 8, Night Watch, is most likely a reference to Game of Thrones.
- Probably unintentional, but when Rainbow Dash says a certain line to Lightning Dust in chapter 13, one can't help, but think about Undertale.Rainbow Dash: (to Lightning Dust) You really ARE an idiot.
- Just before he delivers a Groin Attack to Rainbow Dash, Trickster tells her that she is "lower than lower than dirt".
- In the same chapter, a mysterious gray flyer tells Rainbow that "she chose poorly" by deciding to fight the whole Reaper squadron by herself.
