Coarse Diamonds

by Darkonshadows


-35-

“Sassy what in the… Opal what did you do?” Questioning her AI about her life choices while she was getting shot at was one Rarity’s worst ideas, especially when her cover was being shot up and she was against armored opponents. Said armored opponents didn’t have any protection against Greta’s plasma rifle, but it was only a matter of time before they were overwhelmed and the people with them were taken. They had been too busy to see what the explosions were about, but Opal had the answer to what was going on outside.

“I had her and Gilda go after the jamming device… unfortunately Sassy might take a month to recover from her injuries. Diagnostics from the med-bed, she willingly wanted to be put into mind you, show that one of the material cannons took out a part of her liver. The internal hemorrhaging is not as bad as it could be.” Opal’s voice sounded particularly upset to hear this news as it came from Rarity’s data pad. “That’s going to take a while to grow back. Plus there was still a chunk of metal in her that’ll be tricky to remove… oh, look out for the guy on the left! Aim ten degrees down and two to the right with your left pistol and fire in within the next three seconds.”

Ducking a round of fire that took away another portion of her cover Rarity leaned out and moved the pistol as indicated and shot. The beam of energy hit an Ahuizotl and went through the leg causing him or her to topple, thus banging their head on the floor of the next car. That Zotl wasn’t getting up anytime soon. Rarity noticed something strange; the gun the Minotaur had been wielding when they had knocked him down was missing and the unconscious body was still there. Only none of the guys opposing them were wielding a plasma cannon, it was would have been a bright and very quick death had they been able to fire it in these enclosed quarters. She and every other person in this particular train car were unarmored and all the energy, plasma and materials flying through the air were more lethal to them than their opponents.

“The EVA really has come a long way Rarity, its magnetism was particularly useful in keeping Sassy attached to the train, the pinpoint puller got her around quickly enough to take out two of the gunships and the breach gel kept her from bleeding out as quickly.” Continuing to watch the struggle from on high, Opal sighed and continued. “She’s still going to need a full suit repair, have it refilled with breach gel and it’s going to take a lot of effort to get the various holes closed up but I believe you can manage it once you’re done with these ruffians Meowstress. In my defense Rarity, I’m able to give you real time tactical data and you already have a cavalry inbound. Trap Bar is sending out three drop ships after the destroyed gunships and injured bodies along the tracks, the fourth one will be dropping off help soon. Gilda has made it back to the Shining Jewel safely with med-bed already working on Sassy’s numerous injuries… huh she almost lost her ability to have children and I’m now horrified that I sent her out there with those gunships. I’m penciling in some personal time with Vera for that one, I really need to make it up to Sassy later for asking her to go into such a deadly situation. I’m receiving news that the Wonder Bolts are personally about to lend you aid, thank goodness they are taking my call seriously. With all the destroyed windows they shouldn’t have any problems doing quick flybys on those guys.”

“Yes, but is there an immediate change to our situation? We’re pinned down in here and our cover is dwindling at a frightful rate. We’re also not wearing body armor like they are.” Rarity watched Greta shoot at the shelf nearby one of the hand symbol wearing aggressors causing it to fall on them, she quickly ducked and several blasts of energy whizzed by her cover where her head had been. “Oh and we’re considerably outnumbered here, Greta is eventually going to run out of ammo and my pistols are not going to be enough to keep them back. That and they are beginning to run out with how much I’ve fired them.”

“Just hold out a little bit longer, their communications are open to me and it appears they are trying to redirect the train. They want to head towards Yakyakistan, but why are they trying to get there of all places?” If Opal was confused about it, then everyone else might as well have been.

“They want to cause an international incident is my guess, the yaks were always a bit isolationist in their ways.” Trap replied calmly cutting in on their communications channel. “This is Admiral Trap Bar to Rarity Belle; hold your position a little longer until we can get some troops on that train to help you and the civvies. The EVA suits you made us will give us an edge in making taking them down, we’re going for capture here. These people know something and I want to know what the plan is if they are trying to destabilize our planets relatively peaceful existence. We’ll give you the gunship parts in trade for not talking about how we dropped the ball on missing an emergency signal that barely got out.”

“We can agree to that!” Two voices sounded out eagerly, both of them of noticeably of griffon quality. A certain diamond flanked pony would have to talk to them about their mutinous behavior in the face of getting some premium scrap, but that would come later. Gilda continued after that. “The boss lady surely doesn’t mind keeping quiet, also I didn’t scratch the Caravel Boutique it’s safe and sound where it belongs.”

“Look can we keep the chatter to a minimum, I am being shot at here after all and I can’t concentrate with all of you talking to me.” A pinging sound and what looked like a high speed bottle cap ricocheted and caught Rarity’s horn slightly causing her to fall daintily out of the line of fire. “That one hit my horn, which really stings I’ll have you know!”

A bright flare filled the train car and that was quickly followed by an explosive blast of energy in the next train car over. The Diamond Dog, Mr. Rich and his daughter all scampered towards the back of the train car while they had a moment to breath. Rarity shut her eyes and prayed that nobody had been directly hit by that plasma cannon blast, she opened them poked her head out and turned to the pony now hold the plasma cannon and looking rather sheepish.

“Whoa, so that’s how you fire this thing…” Trapeze said dumbly as Bernard had his paw on the trigger while Trapeze had aimed the shot as if she were holding a bazooka. It looked a little heavy for her, but she managed to hold it steady for that one shot. “Energy weapons don’t have much kick when they fire do they?”

“When in the hell did you have time to grab that? Also I’m down to five clips here; we’re going to need to buy more ammunition for this rifle. It’s far better deterrent against heavily armed people like these yahoos.” Greta swept out of cover aiming her rifle forward and charged into the next train car to find a bunch of groaning bodies on the floor, she quickly had to duck out of the way of a plasma round as the next train car suddenly opened up and there were more of the golden hand insignia wearing problems. “Four gunships worth of people couldn’t have dropped off more than thirty people at max. What did they do, use the clown car trick to get more than that on this train?”

“Trapeze, Coco, please watch these nice people and our backs for me will you? I’m going to make sure Greta doesn’t push forward too hard or get herself into any trouble.” Rarity leapt out from cover and charged towards the doorway leading to the train car Greta was in while ducking several material rounds and energy blasts that caused her to squeak out in fright. She almost faltered when a round whizzed by her ear and another grazed two of her legs as she took cover. Scratches and light bleeding covered her body, but at least the bright side of all this was that her mane and tail was still quite spotless. “I’m so going to a spa after this, a lady is not supposed to sweat quite like this or be involved in volatile firefights. Opal darling, please start spotting for me and keep an eye on Coco and the car behind me.”

-

“A golden hand symbol…” Chrysalis muttered as the news came in that a train had come under attack, they just received a load of information from an Opal Belle on a train currently being assaulted and Celestia’s response was immediate. She respected Princess Celestia in many ways, almost as much as she respected Luna’s endearing childishness. “Definitely someone who is avoiding changeling infiltration methods, how soon until the Wonder Bolts arrive at the scene? Also a medical unit is warranted concerning the story that they incapacitated some people violently. We’re working on the information as quickly as we can get it.”

“Their ETA is considered five minutes, but I think it’ll take two as they have been craving some action lately. I heard a courageous few civilians are making a hold out and someone has managed to destroy the jamming device, the four rear cars of the train are currently confirmed as currently partially clear with unconscious aggressors.” Celestia kind of liked this Opal Belle for keeping them up to date on the problem at hoof, they were receiving real time orbital data on the train and she was seeing everything that was going on that was mostly focused on a diamond flanked unicorn. That these people managed to land armed troops on a train and set up a jamming device almost without notice was quite telling that something wasn’t quite right and then Admiral Trap Bar’s report came in. “Apparently they are well armed and armored, whoever has been holding them off has been quite lucky to do so for so long… wait I know that pony. It’s a survivor of the Ewesen MOM Assault, also one of the ponies Luna owes a ticket to the gala to. She certainly has quite the knack for getting into danger.”

“You do not know the half of it Bright Goddess.” The pony that had startled the changeling queen and the princess, calmly walked up to them with her lackadaisical attitude. It was none other than Tree Hugger, popping up out of nowhere as is her modus operandi. “I am of the earth, the soil and part of the heartbeat of the worlds that I walk upon. Equus wanted me to deliver a message. ‘I know not who they are for I have no physical eyes, but I hear they are building titans and will spread chaos to weaken the defenders of Canterlot. They will strike when the iron is hot and it burns the one you love. Should they succeed, the balance will be messed up for a time’. Please see that this doesn’t happen.”

“My, even the planet itself is being quite the spoilsport on tipping us off. Though the titans are something I’ve not heard of, interesting that the world sees things that I don’t.” Discord popped into the room looking like a pineapple that had a sponge embedded into its backside acting as a tail, the pineapple also had four squid tentacles popping out from it flailing randomly. After a moment of just being stared at, Discord puked up a green starfish and his attitude couldn’t’ have been any fishier. “So… does Soul Judger want to join me on a night out?”

“Hello Balance Keeper, it is quite nice to see that your vibes are flowing well. Fluttershy is open to the idea of a date and will meet you whenever you see fit to appear before her the day of the gala after she is ready and not before. Provide a righteous time to our mutual friend while protecting her and her knight.” Tree Hugger calmly turned around and sauntered out of the room, she stopped one moment before she left entirely. “I have further business to attend to and will now take my leave, blessings to you all and may these coming times never harsh your vibrant energies.”

“Wasn’t that the mare that saved over a thousand lives during Geoptis Stations infestation? If I remember right she was reported as buying a bunch of medical kits, a plasma rifle and ammo for it before riding the last shuttle up to the station before the infestation hit.” Chrysalis had heard of a pacifist doing odd things in the area, but she never thought such a peaceful looking pony could get the drop on her of all beings. She was supposed to be the sneaky one, how the hell did that earth pony get the drop on her and Celestia?

“Yes, I believe it was Tree Hugger. A well known SNUGGLES associate who is quite the interesting pony. She sits at the edge of the threshold of becoming a princess, of nature, peace or earth specifically. She could be one of us at any time she wishes.” There was a concerned frown on the face of Celestia; she tapped a hoof to her chin delicately. “Yet she chooses not to be one, making her all the more deserving for the position. It is such a shame that she answers to a different calling entirely. I would do well to heed her warnings that we are to be attacked by giants; also I’m concerned about what she said of a loved one being burned. I hope that it is not Tirek as to whom she was referencing in the terms of titans.”

“We’ll need to interrogate one of the guys you’re going to capture to find out whose starting this mess or at least get a lead on them. If we can’t get anything from them then your sisters dream stalking ability would surely help. We at least know a symbol to watch out for now.” Chrysalis was taking this situation seriously, but she needed to lighten the mood somewhat. “Hard Throb, front and center! Good job on staying hidden, I commend you.”

A changeling fell from a spot on the wall, losing his camouflage as he did when he smashed face first into the floor, he was a changeling practically covered in bandages and he quickly threw a wobbly salute while his soft yellow eyes winced at something. Yep he needed to stop being so accident prone; Chrysalis could admit that he was good at stealth though.

-

Rarity dove into a position through the door behind another seat and quickly floated her two pistols over the top and started firing blindly at the beings at the other end of the train car. She quickly pulled the two pistols down as fire started striking her cover.

“How do I get myself into these messes?” Rarity muttered, she never did anything to these people and they come in here guns blazing, frightening poor fillies and capturing innocent passengers.

“It’s not how you got into this that you should be asking, it’s how you are going to continue reacting to it boss lady. I’m particularly open with fending for my life for the sake of others, seems like something you’d like.” Greta chirped humorously before a bit scratched her across the face causing her eyes to go predatory, she poked up and fired once and her eyes went back to normal as the sound of a pained yelp could be heard. She had a viciously victorious smile on her beak. “I love it when my predatory instincts kick in like that, make it all that much easier to hit my prey. You know, at the rate things are going I’ll eventually be turned on by every member of our crew as it stands and Vera is not so bad looking if you can keep her in sight. Coco is quite a doll, but I don’t think she’s my type even if she does have hard working going for her.”

“Can you take this a little more seriously; they just marred your perfectly adorable face.” Rarity kept down and checked the charge on her energy pistols, she was running quite low. She poked out and fired several shots causing their opponents to duck back into cover.

“I wonder if Gilda digs battle scars.” Greta pounced across the row into cover in front of Rarity while firing several rounds. “Also I did take that seriously, the guy isn’t standing anymore is he? I mean plasma rounds to unprotected fleshy bits are generally going to be quite freaking painful. Also, who uses hard currency as ammunition?”

“Apparently someone who’s desperate, you know, since you can’t take it with you if you’re dead and everything.” Dryly commented Rarity as she lunged to cover to Greta’s right. “Whatever are we doing? Why are we even pressing forward, there’s no advantage in doing so.”

“Because these guys ruined what was supposed to be a perfectly quiet trip to Canterlot, not that I’m complaining. A little excitement never hurt.” Pausing to hold her rifle upside down and fire blindly over her head in a random sweep, Greta continued on as she crouched lower when her cover was being pounded by more projectiles. She had incidentally nailed someone with her blind firing. “Too much excitement like what happened to me and Gilda before we met is more problematic. Then there’s the fact that these guys gunships injured one of our crew members, said member who I need remind you has a chronic fear of med-beds and was forced to willingly get into one of her own free will. I cannot imagine the psychological scars she’s going to have from waking up in it, but I would at least like her to know she allowed us to get our pound of flesh out of them. Also that she did a good job in helping us out; get her some get well cards, chocolates, the works. Sassy is our friendly manager and badass samurai. Gilda helped too from what I hear, might need to recalibrate the shield on the Caravel Boutique. That small ship wasn’t meant for ramming into things at top speed, but dang if it isn’t effective.”

“Quite, can you please not get shot again; I’m starting to love having you as a friend… even if you’re a bit flamboyant about your preferences. I personally have nothing against them, but I would actually like to make an honest try for a stallion.” A griffon charged down the center of the car towards their position. Taking the simplest course of action against the charging feathered fiend, Rarity pistol whipped him from a distance with her levitated pistol. The griffon stumbled dizzily into the butt of Greta’s gun flashing forward into his face taking him down before she ducked back down and several rounds of energy singed her feathers. “Do be careful, your feathers are quite delicate dear. I think Gilda likes a well groomed griffon, even a hen such as yourself and that you make the effort makes all the difference.”

“I’m not exactly sure about that, though I do think Gilda likes a more tail kind of girl and self maintenance doesn’t seem to count for much. Certainly went after Rainbow’s enough, always liked grabbing that colorful mess in her beak.” Greta took a round deep in her shoulder and she grunted before crouching deeper into cover and quickly reached out to take up the downed griffons pulse rifle. “You don’t think he’d mind right?”

“Of course not, he’s quite indisposed and I’m sure he’d lend it to you were he awake. Though pulse rifles have been proven to be less lethal than what we’re already using, it does have its uses though.” Rarity pulled the material pistol out of the griffon’s holster. “I’ll just help myself to something as well; he’s not going to be using it any time soon anyway. Yes, he is quite the gentleman to give us his weapons, though the coercion was a bit rough of us to do and very much unladylike in the extreme. Also self maintenance matters if you wish it to matter my dear Greta, I don’t want my friend getting cold talons on me about the gala now and I want you to look your best when we go. ”

“Oh that’s it I’m going in; I can’t handle any more of their girl talk!” A female Ahuizotl charged forward and dodged around the twos fire and leapt for Rarity with grasping hands extended, her dark blue and grey uniform with the golden hand emblem shining in Rarity’s eyes. She never managed to touch Rarity when she was rammed into the wall by a fiery haired mare in uniform, one marked with feathered wings and a lightning bolt that just delivered a flying kick to her skull.

“Did somebody call for the cavalry? Ten points if you can scratch this flank with something!” Spitfire the yellow furred Wonder Bolt with hair like that of a fire shot off towards the next train car avoiding fire with a whoop, while Rarity and Greta slumped down relax. It seemed as if the fighting was over with and minutes later they could see a EVA suited Diamond Dog female fling herself in through the window to look about before she nodded to them and motioned for them to head back.

“Well that’s a load off, do you think they’ll let us keep the weapons we might have procured during duress?” Greta stopped to steal a few weapons. She had compunctions about stealing from good people or at least people she’s friends with, she also didn’t like to break the law and tried to keep the use of her hacking to a minimum unless Gilda thought it was important. Said compunction did not exist when it came to the stealing the weapons her enemies held and had used against her and her friends.

Overall Rarity, Greta, Gilda and Sassy were collectively responsible for four gunships and eighteen of the forty five people that boarded the train. Rarity’s group would be silently dropped off into Canterlot to go about their business and Trap Bar would personally deliver the confiscated weapons to the Shining Jewel as a free favor for them along with the already promised damaged gunship parts. They needed to stock Shining Jewels armory with something and nothing like free weapons with random amounts of ammunition. That was best of the situation.

The worse of it were all the injuries, whoever these golden hand guys were they were quite vicious to a little filly when they practically shot her wings off. Practically because the wings were still attached to some sinew, the legs were at least salvageable but that poor Pegasus’s wings were shredded. That filly was the one Diamond Tiara spoke of. It wasn’t the only injury as multiple passengers were permanently crippled before Rarity and Greta started taking action and now they were to be seen to by the medical unit that was waiting for them at the train station.

-

The train had been attacked by terrorists, who were going to be quite tightlipped about the full plan and Chrysalis was going to lead the interrogation. Said changeling queen walked into the room with a live beaver, a can of spray paint, a lighter, a rubber hoof glove, cheap dental floss, a bowling ball, a recording of the ‘Happy Happy Joy Joy’ song that loops endlessly on her data pad, the worst magazine Chrysalis could think of that was an exceedingly dry periodical and a tape dispenser.

-

“They are surprisingly tough and resilient; I didn’t think that one guy would even survive what I did with the beaver.” As Chrysalis trotted out of the room, she looked to Celestia and Luna’s horrified faces. “What, you said to go all out. Couldn’t get a word out of them, so it’s now your turn Luna. See what you can get from their dreams; make them nightmares of me if you have to.”

“How did you even get the beaver to… and more than once…” Started off Celestia who shook her head, she sighed and shook her head again. She wanted to question it, but she thought better of it and would erase the sight of how cruel Chrysalis could be with rather mundane items and a beaver. She would never look at tape dispensers the same way ever again. “No, I can’t be lenient with them. They harmed my innocent little ponies and people, they chose to cause pain and suffering. I’m almost regretting unleashing you upon them Chrysalis… almost. I’m more surprised that they didn’t crack after what you did to them.”

“I’m back on the information gathering then, remind Cadence that we have an appointment together tomorrow.” With that Chrysalis flipped her mane and started to walk off. One of the guards that had witnessed everything Chrysalis did silently dragged a garbage can over to his compatriots where they all promptly lost their stomach contents. “At least pry the name of their organization from them Luna, I know you can do it.”

“Ma’am, princess… If I didn’t know they absolutely deserved it, all of that could have been labeled a war crime without there actually having being a war present.” The guards were now officially terrified of Chrysalis and breaking any laws now, in fact enforcing the laws Celestia laid down was their bread and butter for the rest of their lives. They were scared straight and would become citizens of the highest quality, just so long as they are not left alone in a room with Chrysalis.

“I am well aware of that… however I thought she could achieve her goals as she is quite good at getting information though I personally detest the act of violent interrogation.” Celestia might have detested it, but Chrysalis certainly didn’t. She wasn’t above letting Chrysalis have her way to come out of this smelling like roses. Though the brutality of it was a bit sickening, at least it wasn’t lethal; well it didn’t seem lethal at a glance. Her worry about her loved one being hurt kind of tossed morals out the window, nobody would hurt Luna or Twilight if she had anything to say about it. “Soft interrogation didn’t work, so I had Chrysalis come in to show them I mean business. I didn’t think she would go that far, then again the terrorists probably shouldn’t have injured those changeling passengers.”

“I would have talked the minute she grabbed the spray paint. I mean the beaver was really hard to watch, but the spray paint really sells it until she gets to the tape dispenser. It was a like a train wreck, I just couldn’t look away out of morbid curiosity.” One of the wide eyed guards was shivering until Celestia rested a wing over him and coddled him, slowly calming him down. “I don’t think anything else will haunt my nightmares from now on. Happy… happy…”

Celestia comforted her guard even further with slow gentle petting; the poor fellow was crying as his mind had almost snapped just watching the events that had unfolded.

“I am in agreement with them, that was … mildly disturbing.” Despite saying she was disturbed Luna seemed perfectly fine, then again she had seen the worst nightmares of ponies and this wasn’t even on her list of the top ten worst atrocities she’s ever seen committed. Said list has stealing the last slice of cake with her name on it and not giving the adorable mail mare a muffin, so it was a little bit biased. She thought better of voicing her thoughts as seeing the torture implemented by Chrysalis as absolutely kinky; she didn’t want to worry her sister.