//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: The 3rd Echelon // Story: Splinter Cell // by The philosopher //------------------------------// The princess of the Night elegantly strolled through the hallways of the 2nd Echelon Headquarters. She was approaching the hanger. She could hear the echoes of two arguing ponies at the end of the hall, which troubled her. What would cause an argument? a discrepancy in information? or perhaps a disobedience of orders? Both were unacceptable, in both the 2nd, and especially the 3rd, Echelon. Their voices echoed down the hall, "What is the meaning of this?! She isn't a candidate!" "I couldn't just leave her! And Scootaloo wouldn't either!" "Your orders were clear!" Shouted Stargazer, "Get the candidates and get out! We were not authorized to rescue all the POWs! Just the 3rd Echelon candidates!" The final news had all but burnt the nocturnal princess's ears. What had Rainbow Dash done? As the element of loyalty, she was the last pony Princess Luna had expected to ignore orders. "WHAT HAS SHE DONE?" she screamed as she barged into the hanger, "WHY DO I HEAR THESE ACCUSATIONS OF TREACHERY?" She casted a furious glance at Rainbow Dash, who was trying to stand dignified as she struggled to lock her cringing legs. Then she focused her attention to the cart, the cheap wooden chariot that Rainbow Dash had brought, and saw a white unicorn and a sleeping yellow earth pony. There wasn't supposed to be an earth pony candidate. General Stargazer turned to Luna with pleading eyes and pointed at the earth pony. "What are we going to do with her? She isn't supposed to be here!" No 3rd Echelon members had disobeyed orders, except the ones who were dead, and no agent would ever let the thought of the 3rd Echelon being compromised. The first reaction Luna wished to do was shriek. Shriek and curse. Curse the sky, curse her soldiers, even scream and curse her sister. But instead she closed her eyes and suppress her fury. This wasn't all bad...no....it wasn't all bad....An innocent life has been saved today.... this wasn't bad.... Had she been convincing herself that what had transpired may be fortunate for minutes, or days? She didn't know, and frankly she didn't care. This isn't all bad...no... The Earth Pony's field records- they were just short of Sweetie Belle's records, who's records barely made her eligible to be a 3rd Echelon recruit... It was a stretch, and Luna knew it. The 3rd Echelon needed to be strict. There were no curves, no exceptions. Either a soldier was worthy of being a 3rd Echelon agent, or they weren't. Still... She may still be able to pass as an agent. It was either that or have the pony under constant surveillance less she utters anything about the 3rd Echelon. She may not have seen the headquarters, but there was no doubt she had seen one of their agents, Rainbow Dash. And then there was the concern of whether or not she had seen the technology used by the 3rd Echelon. Not only was it secret, it was illegal. The gears in Luna's head continued to turn. She was just under the cut, and training would be able to transform her into a 3rd Echelon agent...possibly. It would be a shame to have a pony suitable for the 3rd Echelon under blackmail for the rest of her life when she could be a useful asset. Once more, the last thought was a stretch. The Earth pony may have been close to being a suitable member for 3rd Echelon, but the fact is "close to being suitable meant" they weren't suitable, period. Then again, she was close, and close enough to withstand the training...Right? "Your....Majesty?" hesitated General Stargazer. "This...." spoke the Princess with an uneasy voice, "isn't a bad thing...." Rainbow Dash gazed at the midnight princess with an expression of doubt before finally speaking, "Your majesty, I need to speak with you." Luna was grateful for an excuse to leave the fiasco in the hanger, but her mind soon found herself occupied with the news the sky-blue pegasus was about to tell her. "You weren't told to rescue the earth pony," she grunted. "The 'earth pony' is the least of our problems." retorted Rainbow Dash. "The least of our problems? You nearly compromised us Rainbow Dash! What could possibly be worse than this?!" "For one," answered Rainbow Dash, "Our technology getting out of hand." "What are you speaking of?" questioned the lunar diarch. "At the school where Sweetie Belle and Applebloom were being held, I saw a can of magic. Raw magic, the explosive stuff. The same kind of magic we're testing to use for an under-barreled weapon system for the SC-20K, if I'm not mistaken." "then we shall order a squad of Lunar Guards on reconnaissance." Ordered Princess Luna. "Thank you for this vital intelligence." "Yes ma'am," saluted Rainbow Dash. The lunar princess departed from the pegasus leaving her troubles about a certain unwanted visitor in the hanger behind as the problematic news Rainbow Dash had told her gnawed at her brain. It seemed like the day was throwing more and more trouble at her. . . . Date: 4/25/28 Location: 2nd Echelon HQ [Location Classified] Objectives: Train as a 3rd Echelon cadet The intel had reached Princess Celestia. A squad of Lunar Guards had been dispatched on a search and rescue mission to retrieve the captured marines, and would be returning the following day to the 2nd Echelon for debriefing, and to monitor the three marines psychological and physical recovery under the course of three months maximum. Of course, Princess Celestia was never told of the 3rd Echelon, or that the three marines were already within the walls of the 2nd Echelon HQ. "The 3rd Echelon?" asked Applebloom skeptically as she, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Bell walked to the lobby of the 2nd Echelon, "Alright, ah'm callin' B-S on this here story." "Call it what you want." retorted Scootaloo, "But last time I checked, Celestia didn't have these... guns. And she never made weird goggle thingies either!" "Still, why keep it secret from the princess?" asked Applebloom. "I don't know! I didn't come up with the damn thing! Ask Princess Luna! She's the one in charge!" answered Scootaloo. "Well you're alot of help..." "Yeah? Well, screw you." "Screw you!" "Screw-" "Girls!" yelled Sweetie Belle, "We are twenty-four year old disciplined marines! Quit acting like you're eight years old! SHUT UP." Scootaloo and Applebloom remained silent until they reached the lobby, half out of closure and half out of fear that Sweetie Belle would yell at them again. The princess of the night stood in the center, waiting patiently for the three mares. "Ladies," she addressed. "Your majesty," they bowed. "Rise, my little ponies. I am here to take you to the 3rd Echelon's headquarters." "Where is the headquarters for the 3rd Echelon?" asked Applebloom, her skepticism replaced by genuine curiosity. Princess Luna smiled at the three candidates with a pompous expression, "Underground." "Why underground?" asked Sweetie Belle. "Simple," answered Luna. "We needed it to be in a place not only where nopony could not find it, but also in a place where nopony would be allowed to trespass. But wouldn't you find it suspicious that a place was off-limits when there was seemingly nothing there? The 3rd Echelon was built beneath the 2nd Echelon because it wouldn't be seen, and because there is a reason for the surrounding area to be off-limits, due to the 2nd Echelon's HQ being here." The four ponies stepped onto a large platform, which slowly began to descend. "Hoooow far underground is it?" asked Scootaloo nervously. "Not too far underground," answered Luna. "In fact, we'll be there in less then a minute. The 2nd Echelon's lobby was fancy, almost like a hotel. With couches and a fountain in the middle. The important rooms monitoring communications were all hidden in the back. The lobby for the 3rd Echelon was a totally different ballpark. It wasn't even a lobby, it was more like a huge computer room. A large enchanted globe floated in the center, revealing footage from different locations all around and even outside Equestria. Around the globe were dozens of unicorns, no doubt scientists from Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns told to work at the "2nd" Echelon. They were studying all sorts of things. Holograms, weapons, gadgets. Of course, through the three marines' eyes, these unicorns were analyzing "thing that shouldn't exist number one", "thing that shouldn't exist number two", and "thing that definitely shouldn't exist number three". It was horrifyingly magnificent, beyond comprehension. "As you can see, the 3rd Echelon finds in success in the one thing Celestia doesn't have." "What would that be?" asked Scootaloo. "Technology. We have mixed engineering and magic to create technology, and that leads to limitless creations." stated the lunar diarch."Celestia may have tampered with the art with the Kevlar vests and radios you and your precious corps have, but the 3rd Echelon truly embraces it." The barracks were filled with hardened soldiers, all doing different thing in different rooms. There were ponies cleaning their weapons in the first room the candidates had entered, There were ponies firing their weapons in a room with targets in them, and in one room there was familiar pegasus was sparring an earth pony. The most disturbing room was the one where a pegasus was strapped to a table, surrounded by surgeons. They injected a needle in her, and he started to flail. She started to wheeze as she hyperventilated, and Scootaloo could have sworn she saw drops of blood escape the mare's lips as she coughed. "What's happening to her?" she frantically asked. "Ah yes," Spoke Luna. "She is under augmentations." she saw the concerned look on Scootaloo's face, "There haven't been any fatalities reported, I assure you. The process just doesn't...cooperate with the body well." There was still an uneasy tension lingering among the three marines from the sight of the violent procedure. "Listen, the procedure will be painful, but it is one necessary to survive the 3rd Echelon's training. It is vital you undergo the augmentations, it's why we are here. Do you three wish to join the ranks of the 3rd Echelon?" The Lunar diarch opened the door to a terrifyingly white room, "Then enter." The three mares made no movement, cemented to the floor like statues. Finally, an orange hoof stepped forward. . . . The first shot was sickening. As the clear liquid entered Scootaloo's bloodstream she felt everything become sluggish. Her head swayed with a slight headache, her vision blurred and her hearing dulled. She felt fatigue. "MiSs.....SCoOtaLoo.... HoW...... ArE..... YoU..FEaLiNg.....?" She could barely understand the purple unicorn in the white lab coat. The doctor seemed to recognize Scootaloo's behavior, because she tapped Scootaloo's shoulder reassuringly, "Your...HeArInG..Is.....DuLliNg........It'S..AlriGHt.......ThAts..NATural.........JUst...RElax..." The doctor turned to the other scientists, Scootaloo could barely understand her words as they poured from her mouth like sludge, "ReStRaInTs......" Suddenly she was held to the table by thick ropes at the end of her legs and at her stomach. Her wings were also tied together. The second shot was the only clear thing she could see. The liquid inside was also clear, but had a lining around it that changing to different magnificent colors of all sorts. As the needle breached her skin and the liquid within the small capsule drained, Scootaloo felt as if her arm caught fire. Then, like sharp electricity, the pain darted all around her body. Her headache became unbearable, her lungs were sore, and her legs, dear Celestia her legs! they were on fire! She wanted to swing them, flail them, anything to put the fire out! But the ropes, they were too strong! The burning was unbearable and offered no mercy to the pegasus. She began squirming sporadically like a worm in a futile attempt to relieve herself from the restraints. "Dammit! Celestia dammit! Make it stop!" she screamed, she pleaded, and she sputtered, then coughed crimson blood, and fell silent. . . . The light-gold earth pony could hear her friend's wail from the other side of the wall. Her forehead was a fountain of sweat, for she was next. The door opened ominously slow, and a purple unicorn with a dark purple mane with a light purple and nearly white streak spoke, "Miss Applebloom? Please enter." The first shot was clear with a light-blue tint. It made her feel light-headed, and she felt as if her stomach had been filled with helium. There was a subtle, but ever present ringing filling her ears. "Miss Applebloom..."said the unicorn, You've just been injected with the first drug, it's going to make you feel slightly sick. If you feel light headed, and or have a stomach ache, then you are experiencing the normal side affects. You may even experience a high-pitched ringing noise." What was the mare with the lab coat saying? Applebloom could barely hear her, the ringing was-Gah!- to loud... "Restrain her." ordered the purple coated unicorn. The second syringe invaded Applebloom's body. She felt fire, fire everywhere! her forelegs, her hind limbs, her head....Celestia, her head! Her limbs suddenly felt numb as all the fire assaulted her head. She felt as if her skull was going to violently erupt anyminute now, scattering blood and grey matter across the room. The ringing, it was deafening now! She wanted to rub her temples or even slam her head against the wall. If it would stop the pain, she would do it! "Miss Applebloom, you are going to have to remain-" Buck! The ringing! make it stop! make it bucking stop! Ah'm gonna go bucking deaf!" One hoof escaped the ropes and cradled her head, but instantly Applebloom regretted it. The sides of her head were wet with blood that was leaking from her ears. More blood beginning to stream from her nose. Applebloom screamed in terror, but then suddenly felt tired and fatigue. She tried to make sense out of all that was happening, but couldn't before collapsing on the operating table. . . . What had happened to them? All Sweetie Belle could hear was the tormenting screams of her friends. She was shaking now, frightened of what awaits her behind the white door her fellow crusaders had stepped through. Her eyes shrunk in fear as the door slowly opened for her. The same purple unicorn with the lab coat walked out, specks of blood tainted her jacket. "Miss Sweetie Belle, please enter." At first Sweetie Belle hesitated, reconsidering her decision to join. But then again, who would drag Applebloom and Scootaloo out of trouble? And Celestia knew sooner or later they would get in trouble. Bravely, the white mare entered the white medical room. Sweetie Belle felt her stomach turn violently with every step she took as she approached the white room. The purple unicorn tried to comfort Sweetie Belle, and assured her that her two friends were in another room while they recovered, and she could join them soon. Sweetie Belle laid on the table, awaiting the first shot. It was light blue, but also clear like water. As the liquid began to course through her veins she felt energetic, excited even! She felt like she could run laps around Canterlot, or do five hundred jumping jacks! Then suddenly her head began to sting. A piercing ring invaded her mind. It was high pitched but also quiet, and yet Sweetie Belle could hear it everywhere. "Doc, why... why is there a ringing noise?"she asked. Don't worry Miss Sweetie Belle, it's only a side affect from the drug you were just injected with. Everything is going to be fine..." promised the mare. The doctor turned to her colleges. She didn't order them to restrain the white unicorn, only requesting a bucket instead. Then, she took the second syringe, which had a liquid that looked like liquid glass. As the needle bored deeper and deeper into her skin, Sweetie Belle began to feel sore. She felt as if she had ran laps around Canterlot, or she had done five hundred jumping jacks. The ringing in her ears increased, but at a lower pitch, like a high humming noise. Then everything seemed so...slow. Her vision began to blur, and her head felt heavy and she couldn't balance it on her shoulders. The doctor began to talk to Sweetie Belle, but her words sounded cloudy and slurred to her. "ThE SeConD DrUg iS GoiNg tO maKe YoU VeRy TiRed.....YoU....MaY...ExPeRieNcE... BluRReD..... ViSiOn...AnD......ClOudEd....HeArInG.........YoU......MaY.......AlsO.....FeEl...........NaUSeOuS....." The doctor handed the bucket to Sweetie Belle. "Doc..." slurred the white unicorn, "I..I-I don't....I don't feel.....I-I feel sick....I...I feel-" She suddenly and violently vomited into the bucket. Sweetie Belle began to breathe heavily, than peered into the bucket. Blood. The bucket was filled with blood. Her blood. She screamed with tears streaming from her face. She was confused, lost. She couldn't comprehend what was happening, but she knew she needed to escape somehow! "MiSs....SwEeTiE..BeLle....PleAsE...TrY...To..ReMaIn..CaLm....!" ordered the doctor. The white unicorn once more upchucked, blood spewing from her mouth and was beginning to leak out of her nose. "Celestia!" Cried the mare, "Oh Celestia! Oh Celestia Celestia Celestia! No more! Please!" she whimpered before being restrained by two of the doctors. Suddenly everything went black, and all was calm. . . . Date: 4/30/28 Location: 3rd Echelon HQ, [Location Classified] Objectives: begin training A dream. A Luna-forsaken dream. A nightmare, that's all it was. It had to be. Scootaloo awoke in a large room aligned with hospital beds with soreness surrounding her body. The flames had long died away, but the pain still remained. On the neighboring bed to her left was an unconscious Applebloom, her forehead wrapped in bandages. To her right was Sweetie Belle, who had awoken far before Scootaloo did. "Hey Scootaloo-" she was cut off by the invading vomit exiting her body, pouring itself into a large pale. "Oh my Celestia. Sweetie Belle, are you alright?" "Yeah," muttered Sweetie Belle, throwing up into the pale once more. She gestured the bucket with her hoof, "I'm just glad it's not blood anymore." "Blood?" repeated Scootaloo. "Yeah. Blood." The purple-maned crusader knocked her head against the pillow of her bed, "What the hell. Just...what the hell." It was only now did Sweetie Belle notice that the crusaders were not the only beings in the room. There were ponies grunting in discomforting pain, or puking, or laying unconscious filling every hospital bed aligning the room. They were in the barracks. A brown earth stallion with a leaf-green mane was the first to acknowledge the trio. Like Applebloom, he had a bandage around his forehead that was tainted in red where it covered his ears. "The hell...." he muttered before facing the crusaders, "Hey...hey...." he greeted groggily, "Do you know where we are?" "We're in the barracks." answered Sweetie Belle "How...how did we get here?" "I don't know. Sorry." "The nurses probably brought us all here." guessed Scootaloo. "That makes sense..." started the earth pony. Suddenly everything turned dark. "Shit! What the hell is going on?!" "What the buck?" "What was that?" "Damn!" The commotion of the awaken had stirred the unconscious. "What's going on?" asked Applebloom, "Celestia damn! My head! Why is it so dark?" "I don't know," replied Scootaloo, "The lights just gave out-" ZAP! A violet bolt had struck an earth pony, a blue mare with a red and purple mane, in the chest. She toppled to the ground like a rag doll. "Oh shit! Somepony's been hit!" "What the hell, are we under attack?!" Commanding officers of all military branches were the only things suppressing the panic. "Keep it together guards!" "Pull it together! Remember, you're a leatherneck!" "I thought the army would have squeezed this chicken shit out of you soldier-" ZAP! The army member was the second soldier to fall. "They got the Warrant officer!" "Keep it together! Find cover!" Then the bloodbath began. The soldiers began knocking over their beds to create cover, but as they did so countless ponies began to fall by the hooves of the unseen attackers. The remaining ponies hid and waited for the right time to attack, but never did. They would die before the opportunity would present itself. They were all being picked off, hunted like animals. "Where the hell are they?" whispered a yellow unicorn mare to her partner. "Dunno...there!" he replied. "Fire!" The mare launched a blue beam at the silhouette, but whatever she had fired at had created a shield out of energy to defend itself. The bolt bounced of and turned its course towards the mare's direction. It collided into her like a train. Her teammate didn't even last ten seconds afterwards. His muzzle was wrapped by a a strong hoof and his body was thrown to the ground beneath his attacker. He struggled against his opponent, but ultimately succumbed to the suffocation. After every twenty seconds or so, there would be a flash of violet, signaling the fall of yet another soldier. Scootaloo turned to her fellow crusaders with a worrisome glance, for she knew what fate would come upon them if they remained in one place. "We need to move. Use the beds at the different rows to move from cover to cover." she ordered. Silently, the Pegasus slipped into the darkness and hid behind the second row of beds before signalling Sweetie Belle and Applebloom to do the same. Before Scootaloo moved to the next cover, she carefully peeked from her cover. The bed ahead of hers was the one the brown earth stallion was hiding behind. "Psst!," she hissed, "Psst!" The stallion looked at her. "We're getting outta here. Come on." whispered Scootaloo The stallion nodded in response. Satisfied, Scootaloo raced to the third row of beds, followed by Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, and the nameless stallion. zig-zaging across the room, the ponies slowly but safely advanced towards their freedom. It was when the four attempted to reach the second row again that things went awry. The green mane-stallion had realized a terrible truth: the enemy was literally right behind them. Instinctively, he bucked at his attackers. His hoof was intercepted by the silhouette skulking the four ponies, and suddenly he felt a second hoof shatter his ribs. He was lifted above the ground, and was pushed over the shoulder of his assailant and hit the marble floor hard. He didn't get back up. The remanding three mares went into overdrive, and sprinted down the hall to escape. It was too late to hide, they could only run. Sweetie Belle felt like whatever was still in her stomach would soon litter the floor, and Applebloom felt like the blood in the veins of her head were painful needles jabbing her brain. Ahead of the two was Scootaloo. Her lungs were burning and her already sore legs screamed from the new abuse. The next thing Scootaloo knew was that she was lying on the floor, dazed. Her friends were surrounded and she was at the mercy of the pegasus that stood over her like a cold statue. He glared mercilessly at her before finally shouting, "Turn the lights back on!" The sudden brightness blinded Scootaloo for a second. When her eyes finally adjusted, she realized the figure standing over her was not a pegasus, but a sarosian. The attack, it was a simulation. And the dead bodies, were just stunned candidates. "We pick the best soldiers for a reason." announced General Stargazer. "So that no matter the situation, our agents will not be intimidated, or frightened, or confused. They will be calm, collective, and strategic. So tell me, cadets, Why the hell was it so easy for four unicorns and three sarosians to beat down all twenty-seven of you dirtbags?!" By then all the soldiers could control their bodies again, and had realized what was really happening. They realized that it was all a test, and that they miserably failed. Of course, one reason they failed was because of the augmentations. Loud noises became hammer blows to the head, and disorientation was common. Furthermore, most of the ponies had their energy sapped from them thanks to the augmentations as well. It was why every time they performed this stimulation everpony would get "killed" the first time. "This. Is. Unacceptable." shouted Stargazer, "You all better step up your game if you be a part of the 3rd Echelon." . . . Date: 5/01/28 Location: 3rd Echelon HQ, [Location Classified] Objective: N/A It had been one week since the ambushed in the barracks-which had been the first exercise of "hell week" as the drill sergeant had called it, one week of back braking physical exercises and mumbled curses-when all twenty seven cadets had stepped into a large, circular room. The room was like that of a college classroom, with rows descending towards the center like a vortex. In the center was a unicorn, no doubt a graduate of Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. He began the lecture with a single question. "How many of you...ever pretended they were Princess Celestia or...maybe an Alicorn king when you were children?" The class chuckled at both the odd question and the sight of a few ponies raising their hooves as a way to say yes, not realizing the question was hypothetical. "Then you all know that an alicorn...." explained the proffesor, "Is a unique pony that bridges the three types of ponies together. About a week ago, you all underwent special augmentations. These augmentations were designed for one purpose. To turn every 3rd Echelon field agent into an Alicorn." The words echoed in every cadet's ear. An Alicorn? Impossible! Unbelievable! Unnatural. "Don't get too excited, none of you are gonna sprout wings or horns." informed the professor. "You are all now what we at the 3rd-echelon call a pseudo-Alicorn, or 'artificial Alicorn'. You are all still anchored to your original genes. That means if you aren't an earth pony, for example, you have inherited the strength of an earth pony, too an extent, and a...rather unique and newfound ability, which you will be informed of later, as well. You cannot raise agriculture like an earth pony. If you aren't a unicorn, you have inherited a weak form of telekinesis. This is the only spell at your disposal. And finally, if you are not a Pegasus, you have gained the ability to walk on clouds as well as the ability to absorb shock from a fall. Like the earth pony's strength, this is only to a certain extent. And don't jump off cliffs or anything. You. Can't. Fly. Understood?" To say the three months of training were the longest three months in Equestria for Scootaloo. Even if the physical training was Tartarus, but still, it was a familiar process to Scootaloo. The technology, the weapons and the gadgets, they were alien to her. But her training had ended, and the wespons and tools of the 3rd Echelon had long since been integrated into her life. The boot camp had became barracks, and the cadets true soldiers. She carefully dissasembled the pistol, an FN Five-seveN, her Five-seveN, although she would never call it hers. She still didn't like seeing such a bizarre instrument in front of her. Finishing her dissection, she gingerly reassembled the weapon. Beside her was Applebloom, who was cleaning the barrel of her own pistol, and beside her was Sweetie Belle, who was attending to something far more sinister. It was at least ten times larger and more massive than the pistol and was a midnight black. "Celestia damn, that there is one big gun," commented Applebloom. "Yeah," replied Sweetie Belle, "The S.C-20K is supposed to be too heavy for pseudo-alicorns. You need to be a unicorn to levitate it." "You know," said Scootaloo, "What would happen if we left." "Whady'ya mean?" asked Applebloom. "I dunno. Lets go see Canterlot." "Can we do that?" asked Applebloom. Scootaloo shrugged her shoulders. "I guess. Rainbow's been in the 3rd Echelon for years apparently, and we've seen her in Ponyville all the time." "We've got permission to leave the base for the weekend." reminded Sweetie Belle, "I say we make good use of it. Lets go out to eat something." Going out to eat seemed like a splendid idea. Finally, the three mares could hold onto a peaceful moment, a silent, serene moment, in life. Peace was a state of mind that the three crusaders could almost never have. "I'm worried," confessed Scootaloo. " 'Bout what?" asked Applebloom. "What we've pulled ourselves into. I mean, what if we get killed out there, on some mission?" "It ain't much of a difference from bein' in the Marines." Applebloom pointed out. And she was right. Weren't they all risking their lives every day they were on duty? Perhaps death just seemed more apparent after the sapphire mountains. "Ah'm worried too," said Applebloom, "but ah've been worried since 2020-" "Ohmigosh! Sweetie Belle! Scootaloo! Applebloom!" The three mares twisted their heads towards a familiar blue mare with a purple mane. "Morning Breeze...is that you?" asked Sweetie Belle. The mare sprinted to her long-lost squad mates and hugged them as she greeted them. "Are you all okay?" asked Breeze. "I heard about what happened...about the market... what happened to you three? How did you girls get out of there?" "We were rescued," explained Sweetie Belle, "by Lunar Guards. Can...we leave it as that? I don't want to talk about what happened in the empire...." "I understand," said Morning Breeze; she had been told that her squad mates, her friends, had been under therapyto relieve themselves of any possible trauma caused by the event. "It was nice seeing you though," said Scootaloo. "Hey listen, Sweetie, Apple, and I were going out to dinner. If you want, you could join us." "That would be nice." smiled Morning Breeze. The four mares had eaten dinner at a nearby diner. It was simple, comfortable, and friendly. It was one of the very few restaurants in Canterlot that wasn't fancy, but rather had an atmosphere one would expect in a restaurant in Ponyville. "How are the rest of the squad?" asked Scootaloo. "They're fine...Hidden Treasure, Landslide and Parasol... The news about Beret and Stormcloud hit them really hard ... but for the most part...we've moved on..." Morning Breeze insisted wit and her gaze traveled to the floor. "We still m-miss them...w-we all do..." she focused her eyes onto the three crusaders. "Do you want to pay them a visit? They miss you three too, you know. It would do them well to see you all again." "Maybe another time." promised Scootaloo. "I'm just too tired to tired right now." "Same here." added Sweetie Belle. "It is pretty late," said Applebloom. "But we should see them soon," "I guess you're right..." said Morning Breeze, disappointed. The waiter had approached the table with the tab. "Here," offered Morning Breeze. "Let me pay." "For four ponies? Don't be ridiculous," replied Scootaloo. "Yeah, let us pay." smiled Applebloom. "No, no, I insist." said Morning Breeze. "Then at least let us split the bill with you," said Sweetie Belle. "Fine," said Morning Breeze, paying her share. "It was nice catching up with you three. Seriously, please visit us soon. If you can't go in the barracks, then we'll all come to you, okay?" "Alright," smiled Scootaloo. "Great." smiled Morning Breeze, "See you all soon then," For a while the three mares just watched where their friend had disappeared, but eventually turned away and walked back to the barracks of the 3rd Echelon. No longer a pack of three, but a family of ten- with two brothers missing and five that worried siblings that wondered where three of their sisters were. . . . Uploading _Data_: 3rd_Echelon_Field_Intelligence: Uploading_File: Pseudo-Alicorn Description: While most special forces units conventionally recruit only unicorns, the 3rd Echelon sought to be more dynamic then to be limited by the usefulness of just one species. The development of the pseudo-alicorn augmentations were made for the soul purpose of making the 3rd-echelons a versatile weapon, regardless of their race. The augmentations are extremely limited- Doctor Bastion Yorsets, the creator of the serums that produce the augmentations, describes it as, "Not giving you the abilities of all three races, rather only a taste of the abilities of the two species you aren't." The procedures are infamous among the 3rd-Echelon members for the violent side affects which are theorized to be the body attempting to fight off the invading genes. Uploading_File: SC-20K M.A.W.S. Manufacturer: FN Herstal Cartridge: 5.56x45mm Description: The SC-20K was designed at Princess Luna's request to increase the firepower of the 3rd Echelon. The weapon's large calibre was, clearly, too large to fit within the pistol grip and was moved behind it at the stock. The weapon can be fitted with a silencer and a telescope capable of 1.6x magnification. A weapon system designed to fire raw magic is currently being tested to be an under-barreled application to further increase the lethality of the weapon. The SC-20K's single drawback is it's weight, which makes it impossible to carry for a pony unless said pony is a unicorn (pseudo-alicorns that are not unicorns cannot carry this weapon). A prototype weapon, called the XC-3000, is currently being designed by Herstal as a lighter variant of the SC-20K.