In Canterlot, a meeting of leading Royal Guard Officers took place. These officers, the Captain of the Day Guard, Gift Thicket, a middle-aged Unicorn mare, the Captain of the Night Guard, Night Rain, a Bat Pony stallion, and Shining Armour. Since Flash and Twilight were still on their honeymoon both Dauntless Doo and Chrome Blade attended to represent the Everfree Guard. They sat around a table. Gift Thicket sat at the head, in front of her a cardboard box with ‘Secret’ in red letters.
The door to the meeting room opened and Sir Lionheart walked in. Every-pony in the room stood up, given the status of a Royal Knights, military terms, second only to the Princesses.
Lionheart nodded “Hello every-pony.” He looked to Gift “Alright Thicket, this is your show so I’m going allow you do all the talking.”
She nodded “Thank you Sir Lionheart.” She charged her horn and lifted from the box a small model. Two large wheels with a drum in-between “Well gentle-colts, this is it, the latest idea of the Corps of Royal Magisters. Contains two-thousand pounds of high explosives and will knock out an enemy pillbox no matter how thick in a range of three miles. It’s called the High Explosive Attack Device Propelled by Radio Frequency. Codename HE Ferris.” At the confusion of the others, she rolled her eyes and said, “As in High Explosive Ferris Wheel.”, the other then nodded.
Lionheart narrowed his eyes and asked, “You can home it onto a target with a radio?”
“Yes, allow me to show you.” She put a book before Sir Lionheart and pointed to it “We are here.” She then put a matchbox in front of the model “Enemy pillbox here.” With her magic, she moved the model “We can make it do whatever we want. Go around obstacles turn back on route. It reaches the target and presto! Up it goes.” She sat down with a pleased expression.
Lionheart nodded “Well I’m sorry myself and Captain Armour won’t be at the demonstration next week. Princess Celestia arranged a meeting with us to discuss the status of Captain Sentry now that he’s a Prince by marriage.”
Shining nodded and turned to Thicket “What about security? This thing will be red hot.”
“We’re not going to be using to regular test areas. There’s an abandoned area ten miles from Ponyville. The closest settlement is the so-called Rockville.”
Shining narrowed his eyes “That’s not far from the Pie Family Rock Farm.”, barring Dauntless and Chrome, every-pony turned to him, Shining remained stoic “That’s where Pinkie Pie came from, and her family lives there.”
Thicket nodded “I see, we’ll compensate them for any damages, if any.” She paused “I’m calling the test Operation Half’s Wheel, after the Silver Enlightenment legend of Lady Half, Captain Sentry suggested the name in our correspondence about the arrangements.”
Lionheart spoke up “You’ll need troops to seal off the area.”, Thicket nodded “We’ll be using a mix of Magisters, Signals, First and Fifth Hooves and the Everfree Guard.”
Lionheart turned to Dauntless and Chrome “But these two and their Padre are the only members of the EG, and what about the admin, the fatigues, cookhouse and who going to handle the, latrines?”
“I couldn’t get any pioneers spare so I plan to split the Everfree Guard Reserves into halves. They’ve recently expanded to thirty members, so fifteen will join the Magisters and the First and Fifth, and the other fifteen will do the fatigues.”
Chrome inhaled unsure “Major Fields is not going to like that.”, Dauntless held his head up high “I’ll talk to him, give him plenty of soft soap, butter him up, make him feel important. He definitely has the weakness of pomposity.”
Cold Steel stood before the platoon, a spear in his hoof. “Now every-pony, the Major is very busy so he’s asked me to give a lecture of spear practice, so I shall. Now, there’s no substitute for the spearhead, there is a phrase in the guard during my time “They don’t like it up them.”, I might have mention that to you before.”
Vigil spoke up and shook her head “Many times, many, many times.”
Lucky Clover next to her spoke up “You can say that again.”
Steel scowled “Silence in the ranks, I will not have speaking when I’m speaking.” He returned to address the platoon “Now, a very important item to remember, is to scream, that certainly puts the wind up the enemy and this is performed by taking a deep breath in the lungs,” he inhaled “and,” he wailed for about three seconds, the looked back at the slightly unnerved platoon “Right now, I want you all the scream, you deep breath… and… hold it!” he walked up to Waddle and Zecora standing near the end of the front rank “Now Padre you and Miss Zecora are non-combatant, I don’t think you should take part in this practice, why don’t you put the kettle on?”
“Oh,” Waddle said, “I’d like to remain Mr Steel, I’d rather like to do some screaming.”
Zecora nodded “I may not be a Zebra of combat, but I’d like to cry my people’s battle chant if you’re alright with that?”
“Oh, alright then.” He back up to his original place “Here we go every-pony. One big scream and…”, they all in haled.
Porter jumped from his chair as a deafening wailed came from the hall, include in it he made out Zecora call out “Usuthu!”, the Sergeant turned to the Major at the desk, seemingly unaffected as he worked on signing papers “What a terrible noise. What in Celestia’s name is going on out there?”
“Spear practice.” The Major answered.
“Oh, I see, can’t they do it just a little bit more quietly?”
The Major looked up annoyed “Of course that can’t do it quietly, this is action Porter, don’t you remember doing that in the Fifth?”
“Sir, remember I was a transfer from the Royal Corps of Signal, “Swift and Sure” was our motto, “Certa Cito”. While we did have spear training, we were trained to be silent, couldn’t let the enemy know where are communications equipment was set up. Screaming isn’t my style sir.”
The Major rolled his eyes “Even after all these years, sometimes I wonder what exactly is your style Porter.”
There came a knock on the outside door. Porter got up and opened it.
Cipher gave him a parcel “Late post for the Major.”
“Thank you Cipher.” He took it and nodded at the Changeling walked away. Porter looked at the label then gave it to the Major, “It’s from Illustrious Warrior and Gracious Son and Company, Hatters of Saddle Row.”
The Major brightened up “Oh, splendid, thank you Porter, I’ve been waiting for this.” He unwrapped the brown paper and pulled out the newly made peaked cap. He examined it, purple with a dark blue strap and the polished brass cap badge with Princess Twilight’s Crown and scroll work with the phrase in stranded Equestrian ‘Everfree Forever.’, admittedly quite a good motto for the Everfree Guard, he took off his now old Khaki cap and looked at the cap badge on it, the badge of the Fifth Regiment of Hoof.
A stylised grenade, firearms are a recent invention but due to their destructive capabilities are viewed as an absolute last resort, just a ball with a plume of fire from the top, and on the ball an image of the ancient Royal Knight, Sir Earth Worker, the first Earth Pony Royal Knight in his most famous act, slaying a Hydra. Around the image a circlet with the Pony Latin words ‘Quo Fata Vocant’, Sir Earth’s motto, ‘To Where Destiny Calls.’
The Major smiled and stood up, he went to the mirror and put the new cap on. He smiled with pride, his uniform complete. “What do you think of it?”
“What do I think of what?” Porter asked, his eyes focused on pair of papers. The Major glanced back and snapped “My hat of course!”, Porter quickly got out of the chair and spoke “Oh yes, of course,” he joined the Major’s side “Oh yes, indeed, I think it’s awfully nice.”
The Major rolled his eyes and walked back to the desk. He took his old cap off the pile of papers and walked to the door, he could just make out the wail of Caramel, probably going for a charge. The Major put the old hat on the door hook “You know Porter, that hat’s been with me for years, I don’t think I can get rid of it.”
A spearhead thrusted through the door. And through the old hat. Tip just above his head the Major grabbed the hat and pulled it off the spearhead and he shouted, “My hat!” He grabbed the knob of the door and tried to pull it. It wouldn’t move “Open this door at once!”
The spear went back through the door and the Major opened it. He stepped out fuming. He glared at Cold Steel, then to Caramel standing near the door clutching the spear. The rodeo clown gulped “Sorry Major,” he nodded to the stuffed effigy of a Timberwolf lying flat on the floor, Caramel continued “the dummy fell and I couldn’t stop myself in time.”
The Major sighed heavier and brought out his hat “I understand Caramel, but you,” then he looked to Cold Steel “and Steel are going to have to pay for the repairs to my office door, and my old cap.”, Caramel’s eyes widened “Look at the hole! Was you’re head in it?”
The Major groaned “Thankfully it wasn’t, however I’ve had this hat ever since I was a Lieutenant in the Fifth Hoof, it’s very important to me.”
“Sorry Major, I’ll pay you for the repairs don’t worry.”
“Make sure you don’t forget. And in future all Spear Drill shall be done outside.” He returned to the office, he almost slammed the door but because of the hole he stopped part way.
Getting back to the desk the Major sighed, put his old hat in one of the draws and put his new cap on, then he continued with his paperwork.
A knock came from the door, “Come in,” he called as Porter looked back.
The door opened and Dauntless Doo walked in. Porter smiled “Oh, good evening Mr Doo.”
Dauntless nodded and turned to the Major, who presently got out of his chair, Dauntless saluted “Good evening sir, Sergeant, I’ve got news from Canterlot.”
“Oh,” the Major said hopefully “you mean we’re going on a training exercise?”
Dauntless shook his head “No, we require the platoon’s services. I’d better explain,” he and the Major sat down as Porter moved to stand behind the Major. The full time Everfree Guard began explaining about Operation Half’s Wheel.
“…And that Major is a brief outline of the test. I don’t want to take up too much of your time, after all you are a very important pony.”
The Major smiled and closed his eyes and brushed off his collar “Oh, I wouldn’t say that I was all that important, would you Porter?”, Porter rolled his eyes and smirked before scratching the back of his neck “No, I don’t think so.”
Dauntless smirked then took a sharp breath and spoke “Well, Major, I’ve told you what the other sections of the EUP Guards are doing during the test, but I haven’t said what you’ll be doing, have I?”
“No,” the Major said, “but I’m very eager to learn.”
“Well to start off, half of the platoon, fifteen will be joining the other sections in guarding the perimeter, while the other half, I don’t know how to put this. You see, there are several things that have to be done, not very pleasant things, and I, that’s to say we,”
The Major held up his hoof “Say no more Doo, you’re trying to tell me that you want us for, special duties, aren’t you?”
Dauntless blinked “Special duties?” he then smiled “Yes, that’s it. I want you for special duties.”
The Major smirked and nodded “You can rely on us.”
Porter spoke up “What exactly are these special duties Dauntless?”, the full-time guard sighed and put his hoof to his forehead “I’d hoped you wouldn’t ask that Sergeant, you see, Captain Thicket couldn’t get any pioneers so…” He explained.
The Major sighed and slumped back in his chair “You could just have told us half of the platoon was need of fatigue duty, instead of worming your way around it. But this mean I must decide which members do it. Miss Zecora and the Padre are non-combatant so they’d have to do fatigues, but that still leave thirteen out of twenty-eight spare.”
“Excuse me sir,” Porter said, “but I have an idea.”
“Yes?”
“Well, when the first Foundling Hospital was opened three-hundred years ago, there was a huge demand from mothers wishing their foals to be taken in, the mothers couldn’t take care of them either being too young, too poor, or just ashamed of having a child out of wedlock. Such demand, that in the early days they had a ballot system, to decide which foals to take, the mother came with their children and put their hooves in a bag to take out a coloured ball, white meant the foal would be taken in, subject to a medical test, red, the child was put on a waiting list, black ball, they wouldn’t take the foal, pure chance. Maybe we should do the same, twenty-eight balls, fifteen white, thirteen black, whoever picks black is on fatigue duty.”
The Major nodded “Not a bad idea. We’ll do it asap.”
Dauntless nodded “I’m sure you’ll get it sorted out.” He got out of his chair “But remember Major, absolute secrecy.” He charged his horn and pulled out a list “Here’s a list of things to bring for the special duties.” He saluted and walked out.
The Major shook his head and muttered “Special duties.”
After getting the bag and the balls sorted out the two command ponies left the Stable Hall to the courtyard.
They turned a corner and too their surprise found Doctor Time Turner standing outside only next to the Troop Transport. The Major trotted up “Turner? Where’s the rest of the platoon?”
Time turned around, smiled and saluted, a whistle hung around his neck “Oh, they’re inside the Three T.” Three T being the nickname of the Everfree Guard Reserves Troop Transport Truck, the doctor continued “I had a thought, what happens if we’re attacked while on the moving in the Transport?”
“It’s possible,” the Major conceded “So you’re working on something to combat potential enemies?”
“Yes sir, now imagine the Truck is moving down the road.”
“Yes?”
Time turned back to the Three T “Okay, enemy on the left. Five rapid.” He blew the whistle.
The platoon called out the timings, “Open, two, three.” A group of slots on the left side of the truck opened. “Out, two, three.” Spears shot out of the slots, then they thrust the spear back and forth five times with the timings “Thrust, two, three.”
“In, two, three. Shut.”, they pulled the spears back in and closed the slots.
Porter chuckled, the Major hummed.
Time the called out another order “Enemy to the front. Five rapid.” He blew the whistle again.
Form the front, and around the enclosed cad area more slots opened and the spears came out a repeated the same actions. To the Major it looked intimidating.
“Areal enemy overhead. Five rapid.”, whistle blew.
The spears shot out of the roof. The Major hummed, it looked silly.
“Disembark.” Whistle.
The back doors opened and the thirty-strong force filled out in an orderly fashion. Filling into ranks and saluted.
Time Turner smiled turned back to the Major “There you are sir. What did you think?”, the Major remained silent for a moment before saying “You never cease to amaze me Doctor Turner. What do you think Porter?”
“Well, sir, I am rather keen, it’s just I have this sort of, I don’t know, difficulty in showing it.”, the Major nodded “Yes, I understand Porter.” He returned to the Platoon “I’ll simply say well done, some part could do with improvement, but, we certainly have a new edge against any potential threat.” He took a deep breath “Now then, Dauntless Doo has just been with news of a special top secret weapons test and the Platoon is required.”
The platoon’s eyes widened with excitement. The Major sniffed, and cleared his throat “Now I won’t beat around the bush with this, the task asked includes some unpleasant duties,” and he explained.
As expected a good chunk of the Platoon started grumbling. Then the Major spoke about the lottery, then he specifically dressed Zecora and Waddle. Neither of them mind Zecora saying “I do not mind performing such a task. Within reason I will do whatever you ask.”
Time Turner stood to attention “Can I be excused for going sir?”
“Why?”
“There’s an experimental radio broadcast, a friend from my old correspondence course is planning to set up something called the Everfree Broadcasting Company, and Discord’s made the first script, I’d like to listen.”
“That’s not a good reason to be excused Turner, so I’m afraid your request is denied.”
The lottery went on and at the end, the fatigue section included, Cold Steel, Lucky Clover, Time Turner and Vigil. And as an old solider and wanting to keep his good standing among his team the Major decided not to join the patrol section and stay the fatigue group. He did however give the patrol section the instruction, if the officer in commanded of the patrol given them orders which they cannot fulfil, or given them orders contradictory to those initial issued without authorisation, then they were to refer those officers to the Major.
In the cookhouse tent the Major slowly observed the section members asking if they needed anything.
The only one to really complain, Vigil roughly pealed the next potato, finishing she lobbed it into the water pot, and splashing Waddle, Time Turner and Lucky Clover. The Major glared at her “Anymore of that behaviour Vigil and I’ll swap you with one of the latrine attendants, you just lucky Zecora volunteered for it.” He then walked away.
Time nudged Lucky a whispered “Hey Lucky?”
“Yeah Doc?”
“I’m going to nip out in a minute, I’m going to listen to the Goon Show.”
“The what?”
“The Goon Show, it’s that radio broadcast I talked about. Discord’s written it and he’s preforming it with Cipher, they work,” he paused and made an unsure gesture with his hoof “together, you’d be surprised the voices Cipher can do. My friend Twin Ray, his dad Ray Signal invented the radio, is operator and announcers, I promised I’d listen in.”
“How can you? There’s no radio out here.”, Time smirked “That’s what you think. I brought my portal one with, hid in the back of the Three T.”, Lucky grinned “I’d like to listen, Discord’s nonsense would be much more enjoyable if not a part of it.”
“Major?” Cold Steel came in with a shovel on his back “I’ve received some unusual orders about what to do with the shovel.”, the Major frowned, hoping Cold Steel would keep his language clean.
Outside on the testing ground the officers of the Day Guard and Night Guard, the Corps of Royal Magisters and the Corps of Royal Signals, plus engineers of both sections prepared for the test of the HE Ferries.
The weapon itself, composed of two wooden wheels, ten feet in diameter with steel treads a foot-wide with sets of rockets attached to each wheel’s circumference, and both joined by a central drum fitted with the explosive payload.
After the final checks the Magisters and Signals retreated to the control systems behind the officers.
Captain Thicket turned to Moonlight Sceptre standing next to Night Rain, the two being brothers, Moonlight often acted as the ambassador of the Necropolis. Today he didn’t where the Frobisher Suit he wore at the Grand Galloping Gala, instead he wore a neatly fitting black robe with faint silver embroidery. On his hooves, a set of ankle guards.
Thicket spoke “So sorry to keep you waiting Lord Sceptre, but we’re ready to go now.”
“Oh, don’t worry Captain, I’m sure Miss Rarity was understand if I’m late. You say this wheel his powerful enough to blow up the doors of the Necropolis?”, Thicket nodded “Magical protected they may be, but enough force and anything can be broken.”
Moonlight paused and stifled a grimace, then with a wing he pointed “Tell me, what are those two antennas sticking out of it?”
“They pick up the radio waves to control it. Without a signal, it automatically shuts down.”
Moonlight grinned and nodded “Amazing, what will they think of next?”
In the Three T, Time Turner took of blanket to reveal a jumble of valves wires with a pair of headphones and a diamond shaped antenna. He glanced up at the entrance “Hurry up Lucky, close the door so no-pony can hear.”
Lucky pulled the door shut and joined the doctor, he blinked at the radio “Where’d you get that Doc?”
“Made it myself, didn’t I?”
“You’re a real bag of trick aren’t you Doc? But how can we listen with only one pair of headphones?”
“That’s easy, you put on end to your ear, I’ll put the other to mine.”, they did so, Lucky frowned “I can’t hear anything, you sure it’s working?”
“Well, it has to warn up first.”, after a second or two he gave it a little bash.
Thicket pointed with her stick “Target is that concrete pillbox quarter of a mile away.”, they looked to the building painted in camouflage. She turned around to the operators “Are you ready Sergeant?”
The main operator, a Sergeant of the Royal Signals stood up “Yes ma’am. Ready ma’am.”
Thicket looked to the crowd “Are we all ready?”, they all nodded, Thicket turned back “Right, off you go Sergeant.”
“Right ma’am.”, he flicked switched and tuned the signal. From the speaker, a beeping started, one each second. Beside him Dauntless Doo and Chrome Blade watched.
The rockets on the wheel fired up and the HE Ferries started moving away from the gathered.
Thicket spoke “Single beep, that mean forward. Turn left Sergeant.”
The Signal Sergeant changed the waves being sent and the beeps started coming in pairs.
“That’s two beeps,” Thicket explained “she’s responding. Turn right!”
As the Sergeant changed the signal again the beeping increased to a trio.
Thicket grinned proudly “Splendid that’s three beeps!”, the gather chuckled and tapped their hooves in congratulations.
Suddenly the speaker started playing music and a voice spoke “This is the EBC.”
Discord’s voice then asked, “That scooter up beside the wall, who’s, is it?”
“Mine.” Said the voice of a character who spends his day saying, “Hello there.” To any-pony who will listen, wears a thirty-three-year-old suit, big enough for him to grow into, if he were to grow into a nineteen-legged elephant, and who’s economy drives consist of wearing only one sock. He explained about his ownership “A present from an admirer.”
Discord then asked, “Could you ride into town on it, I need to get this show started.”
“Oh, the scooter isn’t mine, the wall the was present.”, an audience started laughing and Discord spoke again “Well, drive me there on that.”
“Right hold tight!” a weird sound effect started, a sort of whirling and buzzing like the most bizarre engine ever created, it got higher and higher as it faded away and the announcer started talking again “As we wait for the star and guests to arrive I continued my recital of announcements. The EBC is open to the public on Thursdays and Wednesday afternoons, or, on Wednesday afternoons and Thursdays.” The audience started laughing.
Thicket turned around “What’s that? I never heard it before.”, Moonlight spoke “It must be that experimental radio broadcast Rarity was telling me about, Miss Fluttershy’s helped produce it.”
Thicket frown deepened as called “What’s happening Sergeant?”
The Signals tried to sort this out but the Sergeant called back “I’m getting a lot of interference ma’am, I can’t make it out.”
Discord spoke “Thank you. Hello folks, hello folks, it is me folks. Next year folks I hope to give up 1003 permanently.”
The voice matching the stereotypical elder states-pony spoke with disgust “Ungrateful beast, after all 1003 has done for, you discard it like an old boot, I won’t hear it.”
Discord spoke “Let me warn you hairy sir, of the many dangers of keeping on old years after its worn out. Mrs Ray’s husband will now tell you why.”
The announcer, Mr Ray spoke dramatically “I was the year 907 of Celestia’s Reign and here is the orchestra to play it.”
As the music played the Signals managed to get some control back, but the beeps started to come in a different succession. Thicket frowned “That’s not the signal for left or right, what is it?”
“I think it’s the one for return to sender sir.”
Indeed, while the officers and observes occupied themselves with The Goon Show, the HE Ferries turned around and rolled towards them. Thicket turned white “Take cover!”, every-pony tried to hide. Moonlight didn’t “If that thing can blow up the Necropolis doors then the covers not going to do much good.”
The wheel rolled passed them. Thicket turned to the Everfree Guards “Doo, Blade, go we have to follow it.”
Dauntless gulped “I’m afraid there’s no transport ma’am. I ordered to puller to come back a dinner time, I didn’t think you’d want them to obverse the test.”
Chrome Blade smacked him on the back of the head “You idiot Doo! We’re too far from anywhere for an Pegasi here to fly, it’s just over three miles to Rockville, and then that’s ten miles for Ponyville.” He turned to Thicket “There’s the transport vehicle of the Reserves.”
“Right,” Thicket nodded “go to Major Fields. Tell him to drive Rockville and warn them, then get the message to Ponyville, if we’re getting a radio signal from Ponyville all the way out here then it’s likely the Wheel will follow it! But we’ll try our best to get it back here!”
“Yes ma’am,” both Everfree Guards said and they ran off.
Vigil sighed as she scarped of the last of the peal her potato “Thank Luna,” she glanced at Waddle “That’s the last.” She dropped it into the pot.
The Major inspected the pair’s work “Those are some of the best pealed potatoes I’ve even seen.”, Porter looked over and nodded “Yes, very good you two.”, the Major glanced back to the tent entrance “Where’ve have Clover and Doctor Turner got to?”
“Major Fields!” came a shout from outside the tent, Chrome Blade rushed in quickly followed by Dauntless Doo. The white Earth Pony frantically spoke “We need you help! It’s escaped!”
“What has?”
“The secret weapon. It’s broken loss and probably on its way to Ponyville! It could blow the town sky high! We have to get to Rockville station and send a warning down the line.”
The Major looked at the ponies’ present “Come on every-pony!”
“Excuse me sir,” Porter said, “we don’t know what it looks like.”
Dauntless spoke up “It looks like a huge wheel and it contains two-thousand pounds of high explosives!”
Cold Steel jumped up “It contains two-thousand pounds of high explosives!” He started jumping out “Don’t Panic! Don’t Panic! Don’t Panic!”, Porter quickly stopped Cold Steel and the Major order every-pony into the Three T.
They opened the back doors and saw Lucky and Time Turner fiddling about with a blanket. As Vigil climbed in she looked thoroughly unimpressed and of course, spoke her mind “Hey! What are you doing skulking in here? Getting out of pealing the totties!”
Lucky asked as the platoon, or half of it at least scrambled in “What’s going on?”
“Ponyville is going to be blown sky high!” she then tapped on Time’s shoulder “If we don’t get to Rockville and get a warning sent.”, Time couldn’t get up fast enough. When building the Three T, he installed a little doorway from the box of the truck to the cab so he fell onto the driver’s seat, with the Major and Sergeant Porter in the passenger seats, and turned the key, the V8 roared into life. He put the Three T into gear and accelerated as fast as he could.
As he turned onto the main road he glanced at the mirror and frowned “Major?”
“Yes, Doctor Turner?”
“What does that secret weapon look like?”
“Doo said it looked like a huge wheel, why do you ask Doctor?”
“Well,” he said looking at the mirror again “it’s looks like it wants to overtake us.”
“What?” the Major exclaimed “Get you’re hoof down it contain two-thousand pounds of explosives!”
Eyes almost popping out of his head, Turner shifted into the highest gear and almost tried to put both hooves on the accelerator pedal.
The Wheel rolled behind the Three T, the sparks and smoke coming from the rocks gave it a hellish and monstrous appearance.
The door to the back opened and Cold Steel pocked his head out “It’s following us Major! Don’t Panic Major! Don’t Panic.”
“Turn left down here Doctor Turner, we’ll lose it.”
“Right sir,” going at speed Turner strained to turn the front wheels.
Three T swerved violently. The Wheel slowed down and the rockets on the left wheel reduced power allowing it to turn. Then it continued forward.
Porter looked at the passenger sidemirror “It’s still following us, it’s quite uncanny.”
Lucky pocked his head out this time as Porter continued “It seems to be attracted be something in the Truck.”, Lucky snorted “Perhaps it’s taken a fancy of the spare wheel.”
The Major glared at him “This is no time for jokes Clover, turn left again Doctor Turner.”
“Right sir.”, this time as they turned off back onto the main road to Rockville the Wheel didn’t turn.
Vigil opened the door with a small “We’ve lost it sir!”
The Major sighed in relief “Thank Celestia for that.”, Porter nodded “Looked to me sir it was going to blow at any moment sir.”, Cold Steel pocked his head through the door again “It didn’t half look angry sir.”
The Major glanced at him “Oh, don’t be absurd Steel, how can a machine look angry?”
Time Turner spoke “Well, sometimes designer like to put faces on machines. But I agree the Wheel thing didn’t look angry.”
Porter asked, “What’s going to us if it does blow up sir?”
“That’s not our problem Porter, we’ve been told to get to Rockville station and that’s what we’re going to do. We’ve shaken it off.”
The Three T slowed to take another turn. Time saw the Wheel in front of them, he slammed on the brakes. The Wheel flared up and starting rolled towards them.
Time threw the Truck into reverse. Cold Steel shouted “It’s an ambush! It must have a grudge against us sir!”
As the Three T backed up the Wheel slowed to a stop. The Major gave the order “We’ve got to put it out of action.” The three in the cab climbed out and the Major banged on the side with the order “Right every-pony out!”
The group clambered down and rushed to the front, spears in hoof. The Major pulled out his officer’s weapon, usually a sabre, but Major Fields after his time with Miss Grey, and thankfully now in a letter relation with her, he became interested in Eastern Swordsmanship, so wields a single edged curved blade called a Katana.
“Excuse me sir,” Porter said coming up alongside with his spear, “Do you think this is wise?”, the Major looked at this second-in-command with a determined face “We’ve got to try and immobilise it.”
Vigil whispered, “If you ask me Major, there are forces at work here that we know very little about!”, Porter then reminded every-pony “There’s two-thousand pounds of high explosives in that thing, which we do know about.”
The Major glanced to Zecora “Standby with you First Aid kit and medicine Miss Zecora.”, she nodded. The Major turned to Time “You’d better stay here too Doctor Turner, Mr Doo and Blade as well, if we, go, then you need to go get help.”, the named ponies nodded and fell back.
“Right, slowly forward.”, and gingerly the assembled approached the Wheel. Cold Steel nudged the Major “Permission to speak sir?” He lowered his spear and a thrust it out as far as he could make it go “I’ll immobilise it sir.”, the Major shook his head “Use your head Steel.”
“Rather use the old Spearhead sir.”, the Major rolled his eyes and motioned the platoon to continued.
The Wheel looked perfectly still as they neared one of its wheels. The Major frowned “I don’t like this, it’s too quiet.”
Lucky chirped up “Perhaps it’s sulking.”
Suddenly, the Wheel flared up. Every-pony backed away. Smoke filled the area.
“Keep calm!” the Major called within the cloud.
Vigil screamed and shouted, “Careful with your spears back there!”
Cold Steel called back “I can’t help it! I can’t see where I’m going!”
As the smoke cleared, Dauntless Doo, Chrome Blade, Time Turner and Zecora came running up. The Zebra went to Vigil to check Cold Steel’s spread did not seriously injury her.
The smoke finished clearing and the Wheel no longer stood before them.
Dauntless looked extremely nervous “That was phase two, it’ll go into phase three next.”, Porter raised an eyebrow “What’s phase three?”
“The explosion.”
Cold Steel went off with his “Don’t Panic!” after running about for a bit he said, “We’ve got to stop it Major!”
Chrome scratched his head “Why did it follow us? Is there a radio in the Truck?”
Time Turner eyes widened, and he glanced to Lucky also worried.
The Major spoke up “How do we put it out of action?”
Dauntless explained “There are two aerials on it. One on the top and one on the side, get rid of those and it deactivates.”
Cold Steel automatically spoke up “Permission to speak sir? I’ve got an idea, we could do like Victoria Fens.”, Victoria Fens being an ancient leader of the Earth Pony Tribe who rebel against the Pegasi roughly a thousand years before the founding of Equestria.
The Major frowned “How do you mean?”
“Well, she put knives on her chariot wheels and as they moved round and round she was known to chop the wings off some unlucky Pegasi.”, cringes went through the platoon.
With the Three T at speed they slowly drew close to the Wheel. The Major shouted through the door and they went into action.
“Open, two, three.”, the side slots opened, “Out, two, three.”, the spears came out of all the slots. As they speed passed the Wheels, a few of the spearheads caught the side aerial and it snapped off the Wheel.
Back at the tests site the Signal Sergeant called to Captain Thicket “I’ve made contact ma’am!”, Thicket and the Magister Officers crowded around, the Captain of the Day Guard asked, “Is it a signal?”
“It’s more like a groan ma’am.”, the officers looked to each other confused.
The platoon stood beside the Pie Family Rock Farm. A couple of the members talked with the sisters, Limestone and Marble.
Time Turner checked the engine of the Three T. Dauntless and Chrome made their, running, way to the station, they hoped to find Rainbow Dash, she could get the top aerial off, and if Soarin came visiting her today then he’d be even better.
Vigil shook her head “A fine time to break down Doctor.”, Time glared at her “We’ll I couldn’t help it. A sparkplug’s gone. Anyway, I’ve got an idea of how to get the second aerial off. Once I get the Truck fix Lucky can climb into the back and operate my portal radio.”
The Major blinked and looked at him enraged “Portal radio?”
“Since you didn’t let me off to listen to the EBC broadcast I brought it with me. Me and Clover didn’t get a chance to switch it off, that’s why it’s been following us, I forgot to switch it off, I just lowered the volume and muffled the signal with a blanket when you arrived.”
“Turner.” The Major said sternly “Why didn’t you say something when Chrome Blade asked us?”, Time sighed “I felt such a fool I couldn’t speak. It’s my fault the weapon went haywire, I’ll take reasonability,” he shut the bonnet of Three T and stood straight “And so it’s my job to stop this things before it explodes.”
The Major nodded “Alright Doctor Turner.” He sighed “What do you have in mind?”
“Well, first we need to get Mr Pie to lend us a sharp instrument, a pair of sheers preferably.”, the Major raised an eyebrow “Why would a Rock Farm have sheers?” he glanced down at the Katana “I see what you have in mind, I’ll sort it out, so what do you want me to do?”
Time nodded and explained as he took the towrope out. Porter glanced at the Major “Do you think that’s wise sir?”
“For all we know Porter,” the Major said “even if Rainbow Dash can be found and explained to in time she could still arrive too late. And we don’t know how far the damage from the explosion will go.”
Time nodded and he and Lucky climbed aboard “Good luck sir.”, the Major nodded “You too Doctor, Clover.”, and the Three T sped off. The Major walked over to the Pie family “Miss Marble, is there a tall tree on the roadway?”
Time found the Wheel still on the road and made a three-point turn. With the radio now straight at the Wheel he called to Lucky “Turn the volume up!”
As soon as Lucky did the Wheel flared. Time saw it in the mirror and started the Truck moving and quickly go up to speed.
From the top of the tallest tree on the side of the road Vigil down “Their coming!”
“Right!” The Major called “Lower away!”, the Earth Ponies held the towrope in their mouths and lowly moved forward. The Three T rolled under the tree. the Major, with the rope tied around his waist dangled down with the Katana in both hooves.
The Wheel came closer and closer. The Major took a deep breath. Stared the flaring metal machine down. He swung. The blade cut the aerial clean off.
The Wheel’s rocket stopped. It rolled backwards.
Porter called “Get him down gently!”, they lowered the Major to the ground. Before cheers could start they heard a terrible racket. The Wheel tumbled onto an embankment. Tilted up on one side. The fell onto said side. Cold Steel walked up and sniffed “Major, we’ve killed it.”
Hooves and wings sounded. Rainbow Dash, with Soarin, Dauntless and Chrome, Captain Thicket, Captain Night Rain and Moonlight Spectre, plus some Magisters and Signal all arrived.
Captain Thicket surveyed the Wheel and held her head high “A very promising first test.”, the Major turned to her “I somehow think you and the Magisters still have some work to do on it Captain Thicket.”
“Yeah,” Lucky said, “you’ll have to stop Bluebottle and Eccles from interfering with you for a start.”, Captain Thicket looked to the Major and glared at him “Take that stallion’s name Major Fields.”
A throat cleared and Time Turner walked up “You should add my name to it Major.”, he carried the portable radio on his back, he explained about the mistake he made. “But,” he added “I do have an idea to keep this from happening.”
“Oh?” a Magister asked, “How so?”
“If you constantly change the frequency of both transmitter and receiver than you won’t get any accidental inference or worse, an enemy tuning in and taking control.”, the Magister looked to each other and Captain Thicket nodded “It’s a good pointed, we’ll have to work out something.”, Time Turner grinned “I may have an idea of a system I’ll send it to Magister headquarters.”
Captain Thicket nodded and the teams started to clear up.