The Drunken Pony was not a bad place on the outside, but it did have the reputation of attracting the wrong crowds, which would then lead to situations where at least one pony would be carried out in a body bag. Thankfully, it seemed that Twilight and the others managed to come on a good day.

“Okay,” Twilight said once they were at the entrance. “I have a feeling if we all go inside we’re going to attract too much attention.”

“I think we’re going to attract attention anyway since we’re kinda underage,” Applejack pointed out. “Then again maybe it’ll just be because we’re all mares.”

“Well, if something happens, we don’t want to get caught in the middle of it,” Twilight continued. “Plus we’ll need somepony outside to keep an eye in case any guards show up. Rainbow and Applejack, you’ll come with me, the rest of you stay out here and keep watch.”

“Oh thank Celestia,” Rarity sighed a breath of relief.

Once they went inside, they realized it wasn’t your typical bar. There was a small jazz band playing in the background while most ponies were sitting, enjoying their drinks. They got looks here and there but surprisingly they didn’t pay them much attention.

“So Twilight,” Rainbow said. “How are we gonna find this Marcus if we don’t even know what he looks like?”

“I can simply ask the bartender,” Twilight said matter-of-factly, knowing of course they probably should’ve gotten a description before. “Hello sir,” she said kindly to the bartender who was cleaning a pitcher with a rag. “Do you happen to know a pony by the name of Marcus?”

The bartender stopped and looked at her. “Friends of his or something?” he asked gruffly. “He’s over in the back by the window. There’s usually some lady friend he has with him.”

Twilight then spied him and nodded. “Thank you.” She then motioned Rainbow and Applejack to follow her to the back of the bar, where a white earth pony was enjoying his drink. “Marcus?” she asked.

“Who wants to know?” the earth pony replied. He then looked at them closely. “Well, you’re certainly a trio I’ve never met before. An earth pony with a cowboy hat, a rainbow-maned pegasus, and a unicorn who- well, I guess there’s nothing unique about you.”

“I hope you’re not getting any crazy ideas,” Applejack warned him. The tone in her voice was enough for most ponies to back off.

Marcus smirked. “Nah, too old for you all I’d reckon. Now, I assume you have a good reason for coming here of all places?”

“We heard you have an airship,” Twilight said. “And we need a pilot to take us to the capital city.”

“First of all, it’s not an airship,” Marcus said, who sounded almost offended. “Compared to the ships we have nowadays, an airship is pretty much a balloon and a propeller; and second of all, why in Celestia’s name would you want to go there?”

“We heard the Princess is being held in some research facility and we need to rescue her,” Rainbow said.

“Research…?” He then looked up and smiled. “Basil sent you three, didn’t he?”

“Well, actually there are six of us,” Applejack corrected him.

“Six? Huh… well anyway I had a feeling,” Marcus said. “That crazy coot owes me big time. I’d be asking a price for the trip but I doubt he sent you money, as usual. Alright fine, but I have to warn you, nowadays it isn’t so easy going from city to city. The Empire keeps a close eye on what comes in and what goes out.”

“Supplying the rebellion?” Twilight asked.

“I haven’t personally,” Marcus said. “But yes. Anyway, you three should get going. I have some things to take care of here but the shipyards are just south here. Hanger 18 is where I am so I’ll meet you there.”

Once they left, Marcus finished his drink and got up to leave. “Going somewhere?” a greenish-colored pony said, pointing a small weapon up at Marcus.

“Yes Nirva, I was about to go see your boss,” Marcus said, sitting back down. “Is this why you’re here?”

“Jenov wants his money and I’m here to collect,” Nirva said.

“I don’t have the money,” Marcus said. “It’s on my ship, which is why I’m heading there now, just tell Jenov that-”

“I think we both know that’s not true,” Nirva said.

“Yeah… I guess you’re right…” Marcus said. Suddenly there was a bang, and Nirva laid back in his seat dead. Marcus sighed and got up again, leaving the body there. “Sorry for the mess,” he said, tossing a bit to the bartender.

Once Twilight and the others reached the Shipyards, they saw it was bustling with activity. Ponies coming in and out and many who wanted to leave it seemed. “Things really have changed,” Fluttershy said.

“Tell me about it,” Rainbow said. “With all these ships for the military and such, who needs the Wonderbolts?” Little did they know somepony in the background was keeping an eye on them.

“Here, Hanger 18,” Twilight said. This hanger appeared to be empty except for one lone ship and seeing the design of it was enough for them to realize Marcus had not been joking. This ship has no balloon, but it did have a large engine, repulsorlifts, and four forward cannon batteries.

“This?” Rainbow said. “This is our transport? What a piece of junk!”

“Hey!” From behind the ship came another earth pony who had a welding helmet on. Lifting it up, they saw it was a mare. “This ‘piece of junk’ is the fastest ship in all of Equestria, thank you very much.”

“Doesn’t look that fast…” Rainbow muttered before Twilight gave her a glare.

“Ah, I see you’ve all met my co-pilot,” Marcus said, who appeared behind them. “Don’t mind them Jazz, they’re new to all this.”

“Jazz?” Applejack asked, raising an eyebrow.

Jazz sighed. “It’s short for Jasmine,” she said, rolling her eyes slightly. “Anyway, where we going this time Marc?”

“Oh you’re going to love this,” Marcus said. “We’re taking a one-way trip to Vector.”

Jazz stared back at him while taking her helmet off. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Nope!” Marcus said with a smile. “Apparently we’re helping free the Princess!”

“I’m starting to get the feeling they’re not taking this seriously,” Rarity said.

“…This is crazy,” Jazz said. “Why would you even accept such a thing?”

“Because Basil asked me too and he owes me money,” Marcus said simply.

“You realize if we get caught we’ll be charged with treason and possibly executed.”

“Oh what a way to go I guess.”

Jazz sighed. “Well… it’s not the craziest thing we’ve done… yet.” She then looked to the others. “By the way, you’re looking at the Blazin’ Mare. Don’t ask, Marcus named her not me.”

“Oh you’d be surprised,” Marcus said proudly. “Just wait til you get a feel of her. Alright Jazz, you go and get the ship fired up, I need to do a couple tweaks on the weapons system quick. As for you six, get in and get comfy, we’ll be leaving in ten minutes.”

The structure of the Imperial Army was distinguished by race. Most of the basic troops are unicorn, many of the pilots are pegasi; although that is not to say a non-pegasus cannot fly a ship, and the earth ponies made up Ghidious’s top elite force, the stormtroopers. While not as feared as the Death Guard, stormtroopers packed an arsenal that could put the resistance to its knees and that was scary enough. How unfortunate that they were headed towards the Shipyards.

Stormtroopers carried the most up-to-date weaponry, which in these standards were small assault rifles, although they could be seen as “old-fashioned.” The most skilled at recon got themselves a very powerful bolt-action rifle. Very deadly. All in all, you had to have a quick trigger to take on a platoon of them.

The biggest question was how could a pony even wield such a weapon? Truth was they had to use their front hooves to hold and aim, meaning they have to be quick to pull out their guns, which they had strapped to their backs.

As the troops made their way in, they were met quickly by the spy who had been spying on the six ponies who headed towards Hanger 18. “Where did they go?” one of the soldiers asked. The spy said nothing but pointed down the rows. “Hanger 18? Alright troops, check your weapons.”

Marcus was quickly doing a last-minute check on the ship when he heard them coming. “Oh you have got to be kidding me…”

“Stop that ship! Blast them!” Suddenly the entire hanger rang with gunfire as Marcus had to pull out his pistol and take quick shots, some aimed at the soldiers and the others aimed at the emergency override, causing the hanger doors behind them to close. “Jazz get this ship off ground and get us out of here!” He didn’t have to ask twice as the landing ramp closed and soon the ship lifted up and shot towards the sky.

“What’s going on?” Twilight asked once he got to the cockpit area.

“Looks like you and your friends were being tagged,” Marcus said. “Seems the Empire has taken notice of you and want something from you.”

“I guess they put two and two together then,” Applejack said.

“I don’t think that’s the worst of our problems right now,” Jazz said. “We have Imperial cruisers coming in fast.”