//------------------------------// // Operation Dying Snake // Story: The D.S.P.I. // by DungeonMiner //------------------------------// It took a week for Spike to recover. Caramel Crystal kept him up to date best she could, relaying the events since he had left for the dragonlands to the best of her ability. “Silver’s kept the teams on their toes, but there have been more than a few times where he and Miss Silk have, ‘disappeared for a bit’, if you get what I mean.” Spike sighed. A little known fact about the Headless Horse is that she had a bit of a propensity for gossip mongering. She’d argue that it was the whole “accidently made myself immortal” thing that caused her to take a sudden and somewhat extreme interest in other ponies’ lives, but Spike was sure that she always like to run the rumor mill. “Now what I didn’t see coming was that little Amber girl and, what’s his name? Chestnut, I think? Honestly, I never saw it, but the moment I did, I knew they were perfect for each other.” Spike nodded and smiled, listening as a single thought echoes in his mind. “I could have fixed it by now.” As Caramel went on about the various relationships of the stallions and mares in the team, Spike stretched the muscles and the new skin on his back. Say what you will about dragons, but they can hit hard. If it weren’t for the medical facilities of the Department, he would have been laid up for far longer than what he had. He could only imagine that it would make the accusation that was repeating in his brain all the worse. Spike rolled his shoulder, feeling the new skin stretch and tighten. The scales were still new and small, so he’d have to be careful on that side for a bit, befor he’d recover. “Now on Gamma Team,” Caramel began before Spike interrupted. “Caramel, before we talk about Gamma, I need to know what the Covenant’s been up to.” “Oh, them?” She asked from inside her jar while her body sat nearby, typing away as she simultaneously worked on various requisition forms. Her body handed her head a quick note, and she quickly read it off. “The Crystal Empire says they have no new news, the griffons don’t have anything, and Dragon Lord Ember says all is quiet in the dragonlands.” Spike nodded, and went quiet. This was...well it wasn’t unexpected. With their operations in the Dragonlands severely hampered, the Covenant would have to regroup. They’d have to re-plan and re-evaluate for the sudden loss of resources and forces down there. Of course, Spike was counting on them falling back to a hideout that maybe he could track, but sadly it seemed like they scattered like roaches. He wasn’t happy about that, but it couldn’t be helped. He might have to tap his Canterlot contacts for some info. “You haven’t heard a word I said, have you?” Caramel asked him. “Of course I have,” Spike said. “Onyx Gale and Ruby Blitz. They’re together now, you totally didn’t see it coming, but I don’t know why. I saw it the second they saw each other.” “What do you mean you saw it the second they saw each other? It came out of nowhere.” “It was obvious,” Spike scoffed. “It was not,” she answered. Spike smiled and shook his head. ===ᐁ=== Alpha team was summoned to the briefing room, and Spike met them at the table. “I have a mission for you, Alpha team. Nothing intense, I still need to recover a bit, but we’re going to need some fire power.” Silver listened intently, Silk sitting next to him as he processed what the Commander was telling him. The Department had a number of hidden assets in Canterlot, and Spike planned to use them. There were some ground rules. These assets were essentially civilians, and would need protection if Spike’s presence garnered any attention. And then Silk “accidentally” brushed her tail against his thigh and ruined his concentration. A tiny smile graced her lips, as Silver shot her a glare. “We’re not taking the full kit. We don’t need to scare anybody, especially not the assets. So, you’re going to be limited to our smaller crossbows. That includes you, Chestnut, Lemon.” Both ponies nodded. “We leave at 18:30, no later. Am I understood?” “Sir, yes, sir!” the team replied. “Good, move out. Amber, you need to see Caramel when we’re done here. She has something for you.” “She does?” the medic asked, “It’s for you and Chestnut.” “What do you…” she began, before blushing furiously. “Oh!” “Now let’s move. Come on!” Spike called, breaking up the gathered ponies. Alpha Team scattered, leaving Amber and Chestnut to take the rear, blushing all the way to their rooms. ===ᐁ=== The subtrain pulled into the Canterlot station like a giant, silent cat. As it slowed using unseen mechanisms, the doors slowly opened. Alpha Team quickly moved out with Spike at the lead. The ponies wore no armor, but Mandible did take a disguise. The only thing they wore were the holsters to the smaller, hoof-held pneumatic crossbows that Spike had prepared for them. “Alright, ponies, stay close and keep your socializing to a minimum, remember, you’re dead ponies.” Silver nodded, understanding the orders perfectly. Silk walked up next to him. “This’ll be fun. It’ll be the first time I’ve been to Canterlot since I started working with the Department.” “No fun until we talk to the assets,” Spike said as he led them up to the elevator that had brought them down all those months ago. “Yes, sir,” Silver answered, speaking for the group. “I…” Spike began. “I might let you have a few moments, but only after we complete the mission.” “Then let’s go!” Neon said, taking the charge before suddenly realizing he had no idea where to go. “Easy there,” Spike said. “Just follow.” ===ᐁ=== The streets of Canterlot were alive. Unicorns, Earth ponies, and pegasi all wandered the streets, along with a few brilliantly-colored changelings, those that had followed King Thorax in the reformation. Mandible grimaced at the sight of them, and pearlescent changelings stared back, some able to pick the disguise out in a moment. “Well if it isn’t the walking lollipops,” Mandible grunted. “Easy, there,” Silver warned. “You don’t want them turning you in again.” “Traitors, all of them,” Mandible mumbled. “Come on, ponies. No time to stay and chat,” Spike told them. Brilliant, neon lights marked the streets and buildings, advertising shops, restaurants, theaters and shows. The smooth, paved road was almost soft beneath their hooves, and Spike led them all through the maze concrete, neon, and old, retouched limestone. Spike walked the streets like he owned them. He didn’t even bother checking the street signs as he led them around corners and alleyways. He led them down shortcuts and paths that Silver didn’t know existed, and then before he even realized it, they were in the ritziest part of town. “Uh...Commander?” Silver said as the neon faded to classical wrought iron fences and lampposts. “Who is our first asset?” “She’s a musician,” Spike answered. “She’s been rather successful, and has done a very good job of staying in the public eye, despite her issues.” “Issues?” Neon asked. “You’ll see them, trust me,” Spike offered, before they suddenly stopped before the wrought iron gate of a massive mansion. It sat on the nearby hill, overlooking the street like a massive bird of prey, glaring down from its perch. There was a dark, almost oppressive air that surrounded the house. Yet at the same time, there was also something oddly open about it, like it wanted ponies to come up and enjoy whatever it had to offer. Spike walked up to the old, iron gate, and pushed the small, silver button on the oddly modern panel on the side. A buzzer sounded, and a rough, male voice came over the small speaker. “Can I help you?” “Is the DJ in?” Spike asked. “She’s not taking any more visitors tonight, sir.” “That’s fine,” Spike said, “just let her know that Spike’s here.” There was a long silence on the other side of the speaker before the male voice spoke again. “I’m sorry, was that ‘Spike,’ sir?” “Yes it was.” “I’ll let you in, right away, sir,” it said suddenly. “Thank you very much, be warned, I do have some friends with me.” “Yes, sir.” The gate gave a loud, annoying buzz and Spike pushed the gate open as it unlocked. “Alright, everypony, let’s go, just stay off the grass.” Up they went the long, long pathway, where wild rose bushes flanked them every few feet. Beyond the roses were fields of orchids, carnations, and blood red tulips. Finally, they came upon the massive, oak door that served as the portal to the massive house. And then it opened, and a brown-coated mare smiled as she looked down at the dragon and her party. “Hey, hey! Spike my man! It’s been a while.” “It’s DJ PON3?” Neon asked. “Oh, I feel dirty just being associated with her.” The mare looked down at him. “You have a problem?” “You’re nothing like the original,” Neon said. The mare blinked, before she smiled, and chuckled to herself. “Alright, alright, come on in!” she said, laughing all the way. Spike shook his head, and walked inside as they all moved into the large mansion. “You caught me before I could take a shower, so if you don’t mind, I’m going to take a second.” “It’ll be fine,” Spike said. “In fact, we can come back later and—” “Oh, no, no, no,” the unicorn mare said as she looked at him over her small, red sunglasses. “This is the first time I’ve seen you in fifty years, I’m not letting you go without dinner, at least.” Spike shook his head. “If you insist.” “Wait, fifty years?” Neon asked. “Yo, Waist Coat!” the DJ called. “Yes, Miss?” a voice said from behind the team, causing Neon to leap into the air. “Take my guests here to dining room. I’ll be down shortly.” “Yes, Miss,” he answered. “If you will follow me.” Spike followed, and the team came after him, following them all to a large dining room. “Dinner will be served shortly, good sirs,” Waist Coat said. “Would you care for anything in the meantime?” “We’ll be fine. We’re here on business, sadly,” Spike answered. “Of course, sir,” Waist Coat said, before he backed out of the room. “So what’s the DJ’s story?” Neon asked. “What do you think her story is?” Spike asked. “I don’t know, that’s why I’m asking,” Neon told him. Spike just smiled and took a seat. There were a few moments of silence, and the team all took their seats, waiting for the DJ to return. Finally, she returned, and Silver blinked as he saw her. Her electric blue mane hung wet by her face as she wiped her face with a towel, and her coat was now a pristine white. Her cutie mark had even changed, from a vinyl record to a purely black pair of eighth notes. Her sunglasses were hovering in an aura beside her face, and when the towel came down, she smiled, beaming with her blood red eyes and a pair of gleaming fangs. “Spike, my man! It’s been years!” “Just a few,” Spike agreed as the mare walked up to him, giving the dragon a hung once she got close. “How are you doing, Vinyl?” “I’m doing just fine, just fine,” she said. Neon looked like he saw a ghost. And he had seen ghosts. She smiled as she took a seat beside the dragon, just in time for Waist Coat and a number of other servers walked into the room, laden with trays full of food and drink. Waist himself brought the DJ her own tray, where a single blood pack and a straw waited for her. “Thanks, Waist, you’re the man.” “If you say so, Miss.” “Of course I say so,” she said, before raising a hoof for him to bump. Waist raised his hoof, but kept his face perfectly neutral as she bumped it. As dinner was served, Spike turned to his team. “Team, this is Vinyl Scratch, she’s an old friend of mine.” “Really old,” she confirmed with a smile as she stuck her blood pack like a juice box. “She’s been around for a little more than two hundred years, and she’s one of our civilian assets.” “It’s my job to keep my ears to the ground, and let you all know when I hear something going on,” she said, before glancing over at Neon. “You know, when I’m not copying my own work.” Neon shook his head. “I...I never knew…” “Kinda the point of rubbing pounds of makeup into my coat,” she noted. “An immortal DJ would lead to questions,” Spike pointed out. “Questions that don’t need to be answered, if you get what I mean.” “Yeah, but I have to say picking a new identity is a real pain,” she said. “Not to mention all those ponies that want the next DJ PON3 to be an earth pony.” “They’ll just have to be disappointed,” Spike said. “How’s Octavia?” Vinyl sighed. “She’s...she could be doing better.” “Is she having another gothic phase?” “Oh, she swallowed that hook line and sinker,” she said. “She’s always going through a gothic phase, the difference is whether or not she decides to haunt the nearest opera house.” “You’re keeping an eye on her?” Spike asked. “That’s what the roses are for,” she answered. “W-what do you mean by that?” Lemon asked, speaking up for the first time. Vinyl glanced over at Spike. “You haven’t told them?” “It doesn’t come up often enough to teach,” the dragon explained. Vinyl shook her head, before she addressed the demolitions mare. “You can lock a vampire in her coffin for the night by placing a freshly-cut, wild rose on the lid.” Lemon blinked. “What?” “Where do you think the romance stereotype came from?” Vinyl asked. “Man, it’s nice to have someone else explain something for a change,” Spike remarked. “You’re just lazy, is all,” she said. “Maybe,” Spike admitted. “Now, while it’s great catching up, we are here for work.” “Yeah, yeah,” she said. “It’s all business with you. What’s up?” “We’re looking for some ponies called the Crimson Covenant, have you heard of them?” Vinyl winced. “Can’t say I do,” she said, “...but I have heard of somepony trying to get his friends together.” “Where?” Spike asked as his face hardened. “I didn’t get a meeting place, I’m not that good, sadly. I just know that a bunch of ponies are meeting up.” Spike sighed. “Unfortunately that’s all we know as well. It’s making things difficult.” “Sorry about that,” he said. “Don’t worry, you’re not the only civilian asset we have.” “Just the first one you tap,” she answered with a smile. “Well, if your nights are going to be long, then I invite you to stick around long enough to eat - if you can afford the time.” Spike sighed. “We shouldn’t, but...it has been a while.” Vinyl smiled and sucked on her blood pack. Silver sighed, and turned to the plate of steamed vegetables in front of him. Honestly, it would be nice to eat something that wasn’t prepared by the Department’s cook, or Hayburger take out. He picked up his fork, and smiled. And then, just as the first bite was halfway between the plate and his mouth, the entire room shook. The plates rattled, the glasses shook, and plates fell to the ground with a crash. A second later, a thunderous roar echoed through the dining room. Spike was already moving, sprinting to the front of the house with every ounce of his draconic speed. Alpha team was soon to follow, running out to Vinyl’s yard, where they saw the source of sound. A massive plume of smoke rose from Canterlot city, lit by a red-orange light that was hidden by the buildings. “By Celestia…” Spike muttered. Alpha team stared at the massive plume. Silver shook his head, mouth wide open. And then Spike spoke. “Alpha Team, new orders! Move in, help any ponies that need help, and find the source of the explosion. If the Covenant’s not behind this, I’ll eat my crest.” “You heard the Commander!” Silver yelled. “Let’s go!” The team of ponies rushed forward, down the stairs, past the roses, and out onto the paved street. ===ᐁ=== They hit the epicenter of the explosion, staring at the wreckage that was left behind by what could only be a bomb. Carriages were upended, windows blown out, and ponies lay on their sides, bleeding and moaning as shrapnel dug into their flesh. “Medic,” Silver called, “do you have you medkits?” “It’s the one thing I brought!” she said, reaching into a saddle bag. “Head to the wounded, get them up so that the paramedics can get them to a hospital.” Amber was already flying towards them, landing beside the closest, bleeding mare. “Heavy, Scout, start moving the wreckage away, put those muscles to good use, Scout!” Chestnut and Sparky rushed the carriages. “Sniper, get up and call out anything, suspects moving - or ponies buried beneath rubble, we need an eye in the sky.” “You got it,” she answered, before flying straight up into the sky. “Support, Demo, you’re—” “Silver?” a voice called, cutting through the sounds of chaos around them. The ex-guard turned, and his eyes fell on his old Captain, Gleaming Armor. The two shared a long look in the orange glow of the fires that surrounded them, burning with the screams of ponies echoing behind them. He turned back to Lemon and Neon. “Once Medic treats them, do your best to escort the injured back to the paramedics. Carry them if you have to.” “Silver,” the captain called again. “Go!” he said, before turning to the Captain. The Captain looked shocked to see him, with a touch of annoyance hiding in her face. Silver’s face was impassive. “What are you doing here?” the Captain asked, stepping toward him. “Doing our job.” “Your job? This is EUP guard business,” she said, a biting edge returning to her voice as she stepped closer. “We have reason to believe this falls under our jurisdiction, Captain,” Silver replied. “Of course, that doesn’t matter right now, does it?” “You’re right, we have to save the civilians, so get out of the way so we can do that,” she ordered. “With all due respect, Captain, we’re already ahead of you. Pulling my team out right now would only risk more lives.” Gleaming looked back, where Sparky single-handedly lifted a carriage out of the way, only for Amber to fly in, use her spray bandages to seal wounds, autosplints to set bone, and pull them out of the way with Lemon and Neon’s help. “Alright, so you can stay, but if your people keep my people from doing what they need to do, I will put you through hell.” Silver smiled. “I would love to see you try, Captain.” ===ᐁ=== There were three casualties. Three of Celestia’s own citizens had been killed in a bomb attack, and Spike only had to step onto the scene to know that it wasn’t just any bomb. It was a special, crystal-based bomb that ate the lifeforce of the closest five ponies, before transforming every ounce of it into an explosion. Three of them were the casualties that Spike had put into his report. The other two were the shriveled, desiccated remains of a pair of Covenant Cultists, still dressed in their crimson cloaks. Spike made it a point that they didn’t count. It was a declaration. A statement that the Covenant wasn’t afraid of a little collateral damage. It was a warning to back off, to leave the Covenant alone or innocents would be hurt. Spike wasn’t happy about it. He read over the report again, glaring as his eyes read it. This wouldn’t stand. After all, if there was one thing Spike hated, it was when the innocent were dragged into war. “They could have been saved. All you had to do was take it.”