Pinned Down

This mission has no corresponding operation page since it is not considered part of Strangereal canon.
For the canon variant of this mission, see Rolling Thunder.

Pinned Down
Campaign mission 05B Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception
Mission Order
Previous	The Midnight Sun False Target Captive City
Alternate	Rolling Thunder
Next	False Target Captive City Standoff in the Skies I
Mission Details
Focus	Mixed
Objectives	Ensure the safety of the allied forces for the allotted time.
Time Limit	8 minutes
Character	Gryphus One

"...Are you our backup? Wow, that's a pretty small squadron..."

― Davis Unit Leader

Pinned Down is a campaign mission in Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception. This mission becomes available if the player completes The Midnight Sun, which removes the threat of the Gleipnir's Shock Wave Ballistic Missiles. The player must defend the Davis Unit from enemy forces.

Briefing

Eugene Solano: Allied ground forces are stranded at Stand Canyon. They are members of the Davis Unit who were en route to an assault on Santa Elva when they were cut off from the main force. The troops have already been surrounded by enemy forces and are taking heavy fire. There's no time to lose.

With the threat of a long range enemy attack passed, an allied air unit was deployed for rescue, but it doesn't look like the troops can hold out much longer. Try to hold back enemy forces until the rescue unit arrives. I believe it's our duty to protect the Davis Unit.

Objectives

The goal of the mission is to defend the Davis Unit from enemy tanks, helicopters, and A-10A Thunderbolt II. Damage suffered by the Davis Unit is displayed on the Multi-Purpose Gauge; if the gauge is filled up, the mission will end in failure. The mission will be completed once eight minutes have elapsed.

The initial wave of enemies attacking the Davis Unit consists of tanks and helicopters. The bridges in the canyon can be destroyed to block tanks from reaching their targets, but doing so also causes more helicopters to spawn instead. Otherwise the enemy will continue to send in tanks throughout the mission.

Once three minutes have passed, enemy air reinforcement arrives at the scene. The initial wave of aircraft only attack the player's aircraft, but shooting down any three of them will cause A-10As to spawn, which will attack the Davis Unit.

Enemy Lists

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S Rank

The Davis Unit's casualty must remain below 25%. Leaving all bridges intact will prevent more helicopters from spawning, and A-10As will not spawn as long as the player shoots down no more than two enemy aircraft (excluding helicopters and named aircraft "GARUDA"). By manipulating the enemy units' spawning pattern, only tanks will continue to spawn throughout the mission, which are slower to reach their intended targets than their aerial counterparts.

Debriefing

Eugene Solano: It appears that a rescue unit has successfully extract the stranded Davis Unit. Although the unit has suffered terrible losses, thankfully they've been saved from complete annihilation. Several aircraft parts have been discovered in the ruins of the enemy base. Head over to the hangar when you've got a chance.