Chrysalis's palace
Changeling Kingdom
May 25 2023
20:02 hours.
"Your highness. Princess Celestia is on the phone. They want our surrender."
Chrysalis looked like she was going to puke.
"Let's get it over with," she replied to the changeling.
"Not yet."
"And what exactly can we do Sombra? All of your ideas have failed. This whole war failed!" She started walking towards the door.
"I'm done listening to you," she said before walking out.
"I'm not done though," he said under his breath. He turned to his aid.
"Are they ready?"
"Yes. They are ready for the first test fire," the aid replied.
"Good. They are cleared to do it."
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North of Dunlap,
Changeling Kingdom
20:15 hours.
Several changelings were busy running checks and typing on computers in a darkened room.
"Begin charging."
"Charging complete."
"Fire when ready."
A huge projectile trailing a beam of light shot from a huge barrel towards a mountain. When it hit it, the whole Northern side of the mountain was blasted away.
"Test a success!" a Changeling yelled.
"Very well. Time to head West. Prepare the gun and missiles for tomorrow."
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Gracemareia AFB
May 26 2013
09:30 hours.
For the first time in ages Garuda got to sleep in in their original barracks. They got up and went to the mess hall. Skylark squadron had returned too, and everyone including Slugger was there.
"Good mornin' pilots!" Slugger said.
"Same to you," replied Maverick.
They sat down and listened to the radio. As promised Vinyl was doing a live feed from in front of the castle. Though the radio station was back under Empire control, the Changelings had trashed it before surrendering, so Equestria sent a mobile station unit with Vinyl.
"... Don't worry about them returning. Our forces have mopped up what's left, and now they're the ones in the prison camp at the airbase instead of ponies. I know a lot of you are wondering about Krunk. Well we didn't find him so either he's hiding or snuck out disguised as a pony."
"Dammit I wanted to meet him," commented Nightshade.
"So what's up for today?" Tornado asked Slugger.
"Not much. you'll be up in the air during tonight's celebrations. You'll be fully armed in case they try something," he replied.
"Aaah a nice relaxing patrol," Heart Throb said.
"We can just goof off," added Stormy.
"Not quite," replied Slugger. "You'll be flying in formation over the city. I'm sure a few simple stunts would be appreciated though."
"That's still better than what we've been doing," replied Kiwi.
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Chrysalis's palace
13:30 hours.
The formal surrender papers had been received from Equestria, and Chrysalis had signed them. The war would finally end with the formal meeting with the Equestrian and Crystal Empire governments.
"Are they ready?" a member of the cabinet asked.
"Yes. Get them out of my sight and to Canterlot," she replied as she handed them over.
"Consider it done," he replied, and he walked out of her chambers.
Not long after exiting her chambers, he met Sombra.
"Is that them?" He asked.
"Yes. What do you want to do with them?" the aid asked.
"Put them in my top desk drawer." and the Changeling went off to Sombra's chambers.
"After this there won't be a country we can't take over," he thought.
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Over Gracemareia
20:00 hours.
The squadron was flying over the Southern part of the city when Sky Eye came on.
"OK Garuda. The celebration has started. From where you're at, fly clockwise around the city, over the various events, then make a couple of passes over the castle."
"Roger Ice," replied Maverick. Soon fireworks were shooting off all over the place.
"We can't get hit by those can we?" Kiwi asked.
"That's why we're flying above 2,000 feet. None of the fireworks will go higher than that," replied Maverick.
"Woohoo I love fireworks!" exclaimed Surprise.
"It's so strange to be flying above our capital again. It's almost like we've never been here," Heart Throb said.
"I'm gonna' miss Krunk though," Black Widow said in an evil voice.
"No comment Venom?" tornado asked. There was no response.
"Nightshade?"
"Earth to Nightshade;" is your radio working?" Maverick asked.
"Yes it's working," she replied.
"Why so quiet? I figured you'd be talking non stop about this?"
"I... don't feel like it."
"What? You aren't coming down with the feather flu are you?" Surprise asked.
"Just before we left, I... got some news," Nightshade said.
"My...My village has been, destroyed."
"WHAT?" yelled Surprise.
"They leveled it."
"What about the residents?" Black Widow asked.
"They don't know.
Nightshade: I don't know what to say, Maverick said .
"My village was the reason I fought. WHAT WAS THE POINT OF FIGHTING WHEN I FAILED?"
"Don't say that! Look at what you contributed. Hell if it wasn't for you we might have been shot down already!" replied Black Widow.
"She's right. How do you know your friend and villagers aren't stil safe?" Kiwi asked. There was silence for a bit.
"After we're done here I'm resigning," Nightshade said.
20 minutes later they finished their patrol by flying over the castle.
"OK let's take it home," Maverick said. "I wish you'd reconsider Nights...." Sky Eye cut him off.
"Sky Eye to Garuda: we're picking up six bandits 70 miles out from the Northeast."
"Are they flying in formation?" Maverick asked.
"Standby.... It looks like... all planes flight profile suggests missiles!"
"WHAAAAAT?" yelled Nightshade.
"I thought we were done with them?" Tornado said.
"Sky Eye get some others in here just in case," Maverick said.
"The closest is Sunfire Squadron, unless Diamondback can get in the air on the double," he replied.
"Roger. We're on them." And the planes sped off.
"Got them on radar," Heart Throb said.
"Lock em' up and fire," replied Maverick. And soon the missiles were on their way.
"Sky Eye to Garuda; six more 40 miles behind them!"
"DAMN! This is going to be hard," replied Tornado. Meanwhile Garuda's first missiles had found their targets, and destroyed all of them.
"OK same story on round two," Maverick announced. Again they locked up the missiles and fired. This time two missed though.
"Widow, Stormy, chase them down."
"Roger Spade," replied Widow. And they turned to go after the missiles.
"All planes: six more... Wait 12 more contacts! Flight profile suggests missiles AND fighters!"
"Dammit that's too many targets!" Heart Throb said.
"Focus on the missiles," replied Maverick.
"Apparently the bastards just want to destroy Gracemareia now," added Black Widow.
The rest of the squadron locked up a few of the missiles and fighters and fired, taking out four missiles and two fighters.
"We're outnumbered! We need help!" Kiwi yelled.
Sunfire is 40 miles out, and Diamondback is firing up their Hornets," replied Sky Eye.
Widow and Stormy had intercepted the two missiles, and were now going after the other two from the 2nd group.
"OK engage the bandits until more missiles show up," announced Maverick. The bandits turned out to be Shindens.
"On your toes everyone. Those are good planes," Nightshade said. She had some flight time in them while in the Legion of Discord.
Maverick had just shot one down when Sky Eye announced six more missiles.
"Dammit. Heartbreaker, Thor, engage the bandits and keep them off of us," Maverick said.
"Will do Spade," replied Heart Throb.
The other six fired another long range shot, but only four missiles were hit.
"Damn! At this rate we're going to run out of ammo. Let's get them Venom. The rest of you cover us," and they went after the missiles that escaped. About the same time Kiwi and Stormy each got a bandit.
"All planes: Six more missiles!"
"Where are they coming from?" Maverick asked.
"They've all come from a point to the Northeast so far," replied Sky Eye.
Maverick and Nightshade had caught up with the missiles and destroyed them, and Tornado took out another Shinden. Then came some good news.
"This is Sunfire One. We are engaging."
"Roger. Welcome to the party," replied Maverick.
Surprise and Sunfire Two got the remaining two bandits. Then Sunfire launched a long range attack on the missiles, bringing all of them down.
"Sky Eye any more?" Maverick asked.
"Negative. Scope is clear. Stay on station though," he replied.
"Why do they want to destroy the place?" Kiwi asked.
"Definitely a scorched earth policy," replied Tornado.
"Hey Spade."
"Yes Nightshade?"
"Guess my retirement is going to have to wait a little longer." Maverick was glad to see her change in heart.
"Diamondback One to Garuda; we're airborne."
"Roger," replied Maverick. Sky Eye who else do you have en-route?"
"We've got two more squadrons en route," replied Ice.
"Contact Equestria and see if they can get their Nosferatu squadron in here. Their ADMM's would be perfect for this," he replied.
"Roger. I'll tell command."
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Tunnel entrance near Gracemareia
train station
21:13 hours.
Moondancer, Chrissy, Ember, and several others came out of the entrance to the tunnels after the all clear alert was given. Also in the tunnel was Kreiko, who didn't come out.
"Why did he stay down there?" Moondancer wondered.
"He's nice mom, but he's been quiet ever since he looked at the laptop in his bag," replied Ember. They went back down to him.
"Is something wrong?" Moondancer asked.
He just looked up, grabbed his bag, and went up. He sat down at the street cafe.
After fumbling with it, he pulled some papers out of the bag, leaving the case with the laptop.
"We found this in the wreckage of a plane just outside town." He handed the stuff to her.Among it was a tattered and burned picture of her and Ember.
"I didn't realize until now that she was your daughter," he said.Moondancer's eyes welled up a bit at the sight of it.
"You must leave this city now," he said.
"Why? We've won," she replied, looking shocked.
"That case contains a mandate. If we were to lose this war, the plan was to level this city, and possibly others with a giant new weapon." Everyone was shocked.
"Isn't there a way to stop them?" she asked.
"Though we have lost this war,as an officer in the Changeling military, I must keep to my sworn duty to protect any secrets or info," he replied before closing the bag.
"No one knew what to say, until Chrissy stepped forward.
"Colonel Kreiko."
The others couldn't believe she knew him.
"Yes. That is me. How did you know?"
Chrissy transformed back into a changeling, getting gasps from everyone except Moondancer.
"First Lieutenant Nertz was my boyfriend. He was one of your students. I met you several years ago at the graduation ceremony".
She continued.
"Ever since this war started, I've been traveling with Moondancer here to get to this city, in hopes of finding Nertz. Along the way; we saved each other's lives a few times, and the life of a changeling pilot."
"Kreiko looked a bit shocked. "So that pilot wasn't making that up," he replied.
"It's obvious you don't want to see harm come to these ponies. Are you going to let your duty to protect an order for a pointless war, come before them?"
He just sat there looking down. After about a minute, he pulled the case out of the bag, opened up the laptop, and booted it up. He brought up the file as the others crowded behind him.
"This is the Lance of Hope. It is the giant floating rail gun us and a few other countries in this area made to destroy the asteroid. We were not able to finish it in time, and after the impacts work was stopped on it. Or so I thought. It turns out Sombra, Chrysalis's second in command,had work continue on it to turn it into the ultimate offensive weapon, including cruise missile launchers, and an airstrip. It's moving towards the Northern coast of this country. Once it reaches this point near Los Alicornes, they will use it to destroy this city, and possibly use it to destroy other places and blackmail other countries."
No one could believe what they were seeing.
"There has to be a way to stop it!" Moondancer said.
"These plans show it's weak points, which are the cooling units. There are four, plus a backup one. I need you to get this information to your air force somehow," he replied.
After a pause, Ember spoke up.
"I have an idea!" She pulled her small radio out of her bag and turned it on. They heard Vinyl Scratch doing her live broadcast not far away.
"Let's go!" Yelled Moondancer.