- "It's time to let my sins take reign. This is the inevitable fate Ulysses heralded in!"
- ― Ilya Pasternak
Ilya Pasternak was an Estovakian fighter pilot and member of the Strigon Team during the Estovakian Civil War.
Biography
Early life
Pasternak was born in Estovakia in 1979. After the outbreak of the civil war in the country, he joined the Eastern Faction's air force and was drafted into the Strigon Team as Victor Voychek's second-in-command. He was eventually removed from the unit and turned into the squadron leader of the Vampire Team, which eventually overshadowed Strigon in popularity on the battlefield.
During the war, he demonstrated a superior level of ability as a fighter pilot, having a perfect flight record as well as the trust of Voychek and his subordinates. He earned several commendations in the course of the civil war, including the Golden Medal of Marksmanship. By the end of the war, he had earned the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Emmeria-Estovakia War
After the end of the civil war, Pasternak remained in Estovakia after the outbreak of the Emmeria-Estovakia War following Gustav Dvornik's military invasion of Emmeria. Following the destruction of the P-1112 Aigaion and the country's worsening situation in the face of the Emmerian counterstrike campaign, he was eventually recalled into service and brought to Gracemeria to replace Victor Voychek as Strigon's new leader as part of the Estovakian operation to kill Talisman, who had led the Emmerian army into reclaiming most of their territory.
In March 31, 2016, the Emmerian forces, spearheaded by the Garuda Team, commenced Operation: Free Gracemeria in order to retake their capital. While the battle was long & difficult, spanning the entirety of the city, the Emmerians eventually became victorious, and the war apparently had finally ended. However, while everyone thought that their journey to freedom was over, a massive 12-craft Strigon formation, led by Ilya Pasternak himself, who was in control of the experimental CFA-44 Nosferatu, flew into the battle zone to attempt to push back the Emmerian forces.
Ilya, having the opportunity of confronting the top ace of Emmeria, ordered the entire Strigon team to escape Gracemerian airspace, while having a heated argument with wingman Toscha Mijasik. Upon the Strigon team's withdrawal, Ilya made himself known to the Emmerian forces; the real battle was about to begin. Pasternak had the upper hand with a massive swarm of UCAVs & the cutting-edge ADMM micromissile deployment system alongside a radar stealth system, which made him the most dangerous foe Garuda Team had ever faced. Nevertheless, Talisman & Shamrock managed to outsmart the Estovakian ace, while systematically stripping him of his combat capabilities via direct assaults.
After a grueling confrontation, the Nosferatu was critically damaged, and spun out of control. Pasternak, knowing that his life was coming to a close, said his last words before his plane exploded from the skies.
Gallery
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