The amount of things going wrong just seems to never end, first Rudolph was captured, and now the Republican's camp has been discovered. It doesn't help that we need to find a piece of ancient Zoidian in a place where their biggest technological achievement seems to be the steam engine. I don't know if my team can take it anymore. However, it helps that the legendary Van Flyheight is here, Van is known as one of the best pilots on Planet Zi. The Colonel is busy interrogating the two ponies that we captured I volunteered to help, but the Colonel knows my reputation with interrogations. I suppose it's just a matter of time until those two crack.
"We have a location were the ponies saw Zoidian markings." Colonel Schubaltz said walking out of the interrogation room, with Fiona.
"Well where is it?" Irvine asks.
"It's an archeological site, about two miles outside of the nearby town. However, we are going to have to move quickly as they will soon be moving any and all finds to the Canterlot museum. That is why Van, Fiona, and Danny will use the Blade Liger to infiltrate the site, and recover any Zoidian technology." The Colonel responds.
"But it's not like they are just going give us the tech." Irvine says.
"Which is exactly why Fiona, who is an Ancient Zoidian, will tell the archeologists that she is reclaiming the technology of her people." The voice of an old man says.
"Ah, Dr. D It's good to see you." Rudolph said walking up next to us.
"Ah, Rudolph it's good to see you, alive. Rosso told me what happened." Dr. D said.
"It's fine Dr. D." Rudolph replies.
"Alright, Danny, Van, Fiona. Get ready, to mobilize." The Colonel said. I grabbed my assault rifle, and met Van and Fiona at the Blade Liger.
"You guys ready?" I ask, as my team approaches.
"Hey, Danny we just wanna say. We hope you come back alive, and if you don't come back alive, who gets your cut of the contracts?" Alex laughs.
"Jess." I say.
"Yes?" Jess responds.
"You get my cut. I-I love you Jessica." I said hugging Jess.
"Oh, Danny. I love you too." Jessica kisses me.
"Ahem! We have a mission to go on, ah what the hell. I love you Fiona!" Van says
"I love you too Van!" Fiona kisses Van.
"Nnnnnnnnnnooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!" Thomas yells at the sky.
" Excuse me, but if you wouldn't mind ending this little love fest, and getting on with the mission!" Dr. D yells at us.
"Fine." Van says as he, Fiona, and I board the Blade Liger and set off for the archeological site.
"So, anyone up for some poker?"
"I'm in." Jess said
"Sure, I am game." Alex, and Maya say at the same time.
----0----
"Excuse me your highness, but the creatures have been sighted near Appaloosa. There are also reports, of a Braeburn Apple, and a Strong Charger have gone missing near where the creatures were sighted." A guard tell Princess Celestia.
"Send Shining Armor, my personal student, her friends, and a detachment of royal guards to Appaloosa." Princess Celestia tells the guard.
"Yes your highness." The guard bows and leaves.
"Excuse me sister." Princess Luna enters the throne room.
"What is it Luna? Cant you see that I am trying to mange a possible war here?" Celestia said.
"It has come to my attention that several artifacts coming from the Appaloosa dig site resemble the machines that the creatures are using." Luna says.
"Really?"
"Yes, really. I managed to take a look at several artifacts before they went on display in the museum." Luna smiles.
----0----
"We are gonna be at the dig site in thirty seconds." Van tells Fiona and I as he pilots the Blade Liger.
"I'm ready." I said loading my rifle.
"Alright this is it!" Van says as we arrive at the dig site, "Alright dismount!" The three of us jump out of the Zoid.
"Everyone on the ground now!" I shout as the ponies that were cleaning up lied down. I then grab on and point my rifle at it. "Where are the artifacts?!"
"Go to hell!" The pony yells.
"Hey Fiona. This one needs some convincing.
"Alright." Fiona walks up to me. "I am Fiona Elisi Linette, one of the last of the Ancient Zoidian people. You are defiling one of my people's sacred places. Return what you have stolen!" Fiona shouts
"T-they aren't here!" The pony says terrified.
"What do you mean they aren't here?" I said tightening my grip on the pony.
"They were shipped off to Canterlot yesterday. The transporter arrived early."
"Damn it! Fiona do you see anything they miss?" I asked Fiona.
"No, it looks like they got all of it." Fiona says.
"Zi damn it!" I drop the pony. "Alright if any of you get up before one hour has elapsed I will make sure that you don't live to see sunset." I made my way to the Blade Liger with Fiona and Van.
"Jeez, I can see why Irvine likes you." Van says as he mounts the Blade Liger
"Sorry, can't help it. I've been an orphan for almost three years. I have to vent all that anger somehow." I said helping Fiona into the Liger.
"Yeah, I understand the feeling. " Van said as he powered up the Liger.
"Right, I heard about your father. He died protecting two things that you would later come to hate. Shadow, and Raven." I said.
"What!? What do you mean my father died protecting Shadow and Raven?" Van shouted.
"He died protecting them from Prozen and Imperial troops. You know he intended to adopt Raven."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Raven ended up an orphan after Shadow escaped his pod and killed his parents. It was a few days later when your father found Raven cold, alone, and hungry."
"Jeez, I never knew." Van said as he piloted the Liger back into camp. "How did you know?"
"I was going though some Imperial records looking for the rouge unit that attacked, City of wind. Instead I ended up fining Raven's dairy." I said as Van dismounted, the Liger.
"Thanks Danny for telling me that." Van said as Fiona and I dismounted and headed towards the Hammerhead. Entering the main room of the Hammer Head we find a tense game of poker between Dr. D, Rudolph, President Camford, and Jess.
"Hey, we're back." I said interrupting the game.
"Yeah, yeah whatever. Now go away your throwing off my game." Dr. D shrugs us off.
"So, did you find the artifacts?" Colonel Schubaltz ask getting up from a chair with a half empty wine glass in his hand.
"Negative, the ponies moved them to the museum in Canterlot yesterday."
"Damn it. Looks like we have to attack the city." The Colonel says as he gulps down the rest of his wine, "Let's move."
"Actually, Colonel we can't. Massive sandstorms are about to hit, we couldn't travel that far in sandstorm conditions." Dr. D says as he looks up from his cards, stealing a peak at Jess'.
"Why you no good cheater"! Jess yells as she starts strangling Dr. D. I mange to pull her off Dr. D.
"Jess, you can't kill him now. You can kill him when we don't need him anymore. Okay?" I said trying to soothe Jess.
"Okay." Jess calms down and goes to raid the mini-fridge.
"I will call your bluff Madame President." Rudolph says.
"Damn it. You win Rudolph, you can expect the Zoid tech to arrive within a week of us getting back to Zi." President Camford says as says as she stands up and pours herself a bottle of wine, and pours a second one for Rudolph.
"Thank you, Madame President." Rudolph begins to drink.
"I still can't believe that you can drink under-age just because your the Emperor." I say grabbing a bottle of water.
"One of the many perks of being royalty." Rudolph smiles.
"Hey, Jess. Do you know where Maya and Alex are?" I ask turning to Jess.
"I think they went to help secure the Zoids for the sandstorms." Jess replies getting out a soda.
"Gotcha. I am going to go talk to Irvine." I said leaving the Hammer Head, and walking over to Irvine and his Zoid. "Hey Irvine."
"Hey Danny. How have you been?" Irvine asks as he ties down the tarp covering his Zoid.
"Not to bad. Before this all started we just completed a recon contract for the Empire, twenty-five grand payout."
"Twenty-five grand?!" Irvine looks at me.
"Yep, took about three months to complete. It was a lot of doing nothing. Enough about me, how are you, and how is Mom doing?" I ask.
"I'm doing as much as I can with the Guardian Force, so I'm pretty good. As for Mom, she is busier then ever."Irvine smiles as he finishes tying down the tarp. "I already tied down the Red Horn's tarp, Jess tied down the Zaber Fang's tarp, Maya tied down the Godos' tarp, and Alex tied down his Command Wolf's tarp." Irvine said standing up.
"You up for a drink?" I ask Irvine.
"I always am." Irvine said as we headed towards the Hammer Head.