Operation Frigus
Canterlot, Equestria
2300hrs
Just outside of Canterlot, a group of ten pegasi stood awaiting their orders. A motley crew of specially trained Equestrian Special Warfare operatives. Their commanding officer, Spitfire, bore a grim look as they awaited the arrival of Command Chief Ironwing. The snow had drifted up to their gaskins, chilling them each to the bone.
All this meant nothing though as they were sure that wherever they were headed, it would be much, much worse.
“Glad you all could make it.” Ironwing trotted up to them, a pair of Unicorn Royal Guards flanking him. The ten pegasi each lifted a wing in salute and waited for him to follow suit. He too saluted and cleared his throat. “Princess Celestia has given me strict orders to assemble who I believe to be the best of STRYKER, which is why you’re all here this lovely evening. So lets get down to it.”
Command Chief Ironwing tugged a folder out from his saddlebag and motioned for his two escorts to set up the small table they had brought with them.
“Intel shows that there has been a dramatic increase in SFF activity. This indicates that they may be up to something.” The pegasi remained silent. “This is a reconnaissance mission, however, deadly force is authorized if Spitfire here deems it necessary to engage.” Ironwing opened the folder and took out a small map. “This is your AO. Right here.” He pointed to a small structure that had been drawn on the map. “roughly ten kilometers from your LZ is where we believe all SFF activity is centered. There’s a ten hoof high wall surrounding the complex and one gate in. I know you all can fly, but that will get you killed on the way in, they’re expecting pegasi, so tonight, you are Earth ponies until you need to bug out. We need you to get in there, secure any intel you can and destroy the structure.”
The older pegasus looked at the ten in front of him and smiled inside. He had made the mares and stallions who they were today, he was completely confident in their abilities although they had yet to see combat.
“Moving on. You will be flown in by two teams of ERGSOCC’s¹ and deployed ten kilometers from the AO. Take note of the way home because your ride in is a one way ticket, they will not be coming back for you. Any questions?”
Not a sound was heard aside from the wind through rustling the branches of the trees that surrounded them.
“Good. You all have one hour to prepare and you’ll be off. And remember, bring a jacket, it’s gonna get a bit chilly out there.”
~
Equestrian STRYKERs have been outfitted with the latest in Equestrian Technological Advancements. From weaponry like their Close Quarters Hoof Blades and Long Range Crossbows to communications equipment made from simple items that have been enchanted. They’re always properly outfitted for any situation, and it is this superior outfitting that places them at a tactical value above that of common guards and hoof-soldiers.
As such, it should come as no surprise that a pegasus like Spitfire would take extra care to ensure her team hadn’t forgotten anything and that they all knew how to use their equipment properly. So when a communication error arose within her team, she took it as a personal insult and lashed out. One particular instance of this was right after the CMAP Program where the soon-to-be ESPECWAR² Operatives, were performing equipment exercises and training drills.
Spitfire, having been designated Arc Team leader after CMAP and given ‘Cadet Honors’ for her performance, was now leading her team through a training exercise against Colt Team. “Sound off,” she said quietly into the enchanted pin on her lapel.
“Soarin, two.”
“Firefly, three.”
“Fleetfoot, four.”
“...”
“Hornet, sound off,” Spitfire said quietly with a stern tone, “Or so help me Celestia, when I find you, I will make you do wing push ups until I sweat.” Nothing. No reply came from their fifth squad mate. “Soarin, where the buck is Hornet?”
“Spitfire,” Hornet spoke softly just to her right. “Somethin’ wrong?”
“You’re damn right something’s wrong!” She whispered harshly, “Where the buck is your LAPCOMM³?”
“Right here, ma’am.” Hornet pointed to the collar of his fatigues, signifying that he did indeed have his LAPCOMM.
“Why didn’t you sound off?”
“It’s not working, I don’t know what’s wrong with it.”
“Give it here,” Spitfire ordered “You probably broke it or something.” She took the pin and rolled it around in her hooves, nothing seemed wrong with it, the only thing she noticed was that it wasn’t turned on. “You idiot, you didn’t even turn it on,” she said and tossed it back to him. Letting him finagle with the device himself.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. Just buck up and stay frosty.” Spitfire turned back around and began crawling under a bush. Once on the other side, she notified the rest of her squad to follow. “Fan out and keep your eyes open, we have no idea where Squad Colt may be, and if they get the jump on us, your flanks are mine. Copy?”
“Copy that.”
“Loud an clear.”
“...”
“Dammit Hornet, turn your LAPCOMM on!”
*SHHHK* “Solid copy ma’am.”
Having gotten there issue done and and over with, Arc Squad set about completing their assignment. Locate Squad Colt and ‘neutralize’ them.
~
Spitfire could feel the temperature drop as they neared the neared the Arctic region. The fur on her withers rose as it dawned on her that they were finally being deployed. She didn’t have time to revel in her emotions, however, as a crack of static came through her earpiece followed by the voice of the ERGSOCC flight team leader.
“ETA five minutes. How copy?”
“10-4 Shadow 1. How’s your team?”
“Smiles and giggles Ma’am. Ready up, we’ll be landing shortly.”
“You heard him. Double check your gear and double check your flight buddies. I don’t want any screw-ups here tonight.”
She listened as her squad rustled around checking their gear and hoped that Squad Bingo was doing the same. She was counting on them to be perfect and synchronized in their efforts. Like all squad leaders, she knew not to doubt her team, but there would always be that small fear that somehow, something might happen and put them all in jeopardy.
landing safely and quietly, they all stepped out of their crafts one by one, and fanned out to scan their surroundings. They waited until the ERGSOCCs had flown out of the area before they even considered moving. Even then, they remained still for nearly ten minutes. Nothing showed up, so Spitfire got them all up and moved off toward the objective. She sent Firefly out ahead with a long range crossbow to map out their route and ensure that they wouldn’t have any nasty surprises along the way. She had Thunderceptor lag behind to watch their flanks and make sure nothing snuck up on them. Everything, it seemed, was working like clockwork. They had no hiccups the entire time they moved.
They trotted quietly through the snow, concealed by the multitude of trees surrounding them. As they came to a clearing, they caught a small glint of light coming from within a small building. Spitfire motioned for their Cartographer to come up and detail her on their current whereabouts. She found that they were on the edge of a small forest to the East of their objective, which meant they had walked an extra three kilometers out of the way.
“No sign of hostiles in the structure,” Firefly reported over her LAPCOMM.
“Solid copy Firefly, keep your eyes on target. We don’t wanna miss anything.”
“You got it. Firefly out.” Another hiss of static and the line went silent. It was imperative that they keep chit chat to a minimum, lest an emergency arise.
“SkyKnight, Thunderceptor, you two flank left and set up overwatch on that hill to the south.” Spitfire ordered calmly, not even bothering to look at the two.
“Aye ma’am,” SkyKnight replied.
“You got it,” sounded Thunderceptor.
“Mustang, Hellcat, you two fly up to the edge of the treeline to the North. Keep your eyes on the road and notify me if anybody comes in to crash our party. Corsair, you link up with Firefly and keep the perimeter secure. You so much as see a rabbit headed our way, take it out.”
“10-4.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“On my way.”
“Soarin, take point, Fleetfoot and Hornet, on me. Lets move.” With that, the four ponies quickly galloped to the wall and awaited an overwatch report.
“You got two armed Clydes at the gate. One patrolling along the wall.”
“Take em out Thunder.”
“Check.”
Thunderceptor loaded a bolt into his crossbow and waited for Skyknight to do the same. When he was cocked and ready he spoke up. “Alright buddy, you take the one on the right, I’ve got left. We shoot when their friend rounds the corner.”
“Got it.” The duo laid down and watched through their scopes as the Clyde patrolling the wall slowly walked along the barrier then rounded the corner.
*FFT* *FFT*
“Splash two. You are clear to proceed.”
“Copy that. Moving.” Spitfire stood up and silently, behind Soarin, moved up toward the entrance. She watched as he slid underneath the gate and waited for him to open it up for them. As soon as it was clear, she, Hornet and Fleetfoot slipped into the compound.
______________________________________________________________________________
¹ ERGSOCC - Equestrian Royal Guard Special Operations Combatant-Craft
² ESPECWAR - Equestrian SPECial WARfare
³ LAPCOMM - LAPel COMMunications Device