As there is still no news for the next Ace Combat installment, this is my fan art of how Ace Combat 8 might be, based on the cover art of Ace Combat 3 Electrosphere, featuring a YF-23 design with a closed cockpit, as with all the other Aircraft featured in Ace Combat 3.

My fan concept story delves into the early years of the Darkness Of Enigma (DOE) Program, a secret project of General Resource in which Rena Hirose was the test subject, where a sole aircraft was designed as a basis for the Opto-Neuron System of Rena. That experimental aircraft was the F-23D Nightingale, and it was only flown by Rena. The plane demonstrated the effectiveness and dangers of the Opto-Neuron System to its Pilot as it went on to classified missions for the field test of the Opto-Neuron System.

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My Concept Story for Ace Combat 8 features Rena Hirose in her early days as a test subject for the Darkness Of Enigma Program, piloting a custom-made plane for herself to test the Opto-Neuron System.

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As she tests the Opto-Neuro System, she is dispatched to different kinds of secret missions.

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During the escort mission, she lost her right rear wing after engaging hostiles trying to shoot down the bomber. Even after losing a rear wing, she managed to land the plane thanks to the engineering of the aircraft and the sophistication of the Opto-Neruon System.

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Taking damage showed the danger of using the Opto-Neuron System, as the damage of losing a wing took a minor toll on Rena's Body. After recovering, she is back on more missions to test the project.

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Her next mission was a bombing mission. She was tasked to destroy a bridge under the cover of night, along with all hostiles in the area.

She safely conducted the mission and when back to base

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She was tasked with another mission; this time, she was carrying LACMs to destroy a convoy.

She successfully finished her mission and went back to base.

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Rena's Story Continues...
This is the end of the ideas I got for how the story unfolds in my Ace Combat 8 Concept.