PROLOGUE
… Call started…
“Is your line secure?”
“Yes. I followed the instructions.”
“Good. I understand congratulations are in order. Making it through all of that training must not have been easy.”
“No, it wasn’t. Two Celestia-damned years. But it’ll be worth it.”
“Of course it will. You understand your orders?”
“Yes.”
“You understand the importance of subtlety?”
“Yes.”
“And you understand that, if you do anything wrong, it won’t work?”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Good. More detailed orders will arrive for you sometime tomorrow. Read them, memorize them, then burn them. I don’t want your house-sitter catching wind of what we’re trying to do.”
“Will do.”
“You’ll be giving your life for something important. You should be honored.”
“I am. Truly, I am.”
“Good. And if you do fail, the instructions will include backup plans, but… Well, plan A is the one most likely to work. So please, for all that is good in this world, don’t screw it up.”
“I won’t.”
“If you do, and none of the backup plans work… If you return to Equestria, and she is still alive… There will be nowhere you can hide from us. Nothing you can do to keep us away.”
“It won’t come to that.”
“See that it doesn’t. By next week, we’ll have some equipment for you. You will disassemble them and disguise them among your personal items. Keep them well-hidden, disassemble them again when they’re not in use. Understand?”
“Yes.”
“Good. One final thing: we’re sending a cyanide capsule with you, in case you get found out. Don’t let them interrogate you. The Captain is… notoriously good at interrogations.”
“I understand.”
“Good. That is all. I’ll call again after the equipment reaches you, and we’ll go over some final things. Best of luck to you.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Call ended.