//------------------------------//
// Prologue 
// Story: Nightmare Team: New Blade 
// by Ser_Galahad 
//------------------------------//

A knock sounded from the other side of the door causing Princess Luna to look up from the piles of mission debriefs and intelligence reports, particularly the very troubling report that she held in her hand.
"Enter Captain." Luna replied putting down the report file and reaching for her cup of coffee on the other side of the black oak desk. Opening the door the Captain strode in stopping a few paces from the front of the desk. Tucked under his left arm was a manila folder bearing the mark of the Royal Day Guard. He snapped to attention and rendered a crisp salute.
"Good Evening ma'am. Captain Hunter reports."
Not bothering to get out of her chair Princess Luna returned a quick salute. "Take your seat. Be at ease Captain." after he complied Luna continued. "Once again, I feel the need to remind you that you do not need to stand on formality with me. You are the Secondary commander now."
"I'm well aware ma'am but I believe that I will continue until I grow in the new role better." Replied the bat pony captain.
"If you insist." replied a slightly exasperated Luna, "I see you got the file that I submitted to you. So what do you think of her? Will she be a good fit for the team."
Removing the file from under his arm Captain Hunter opened it to the primary profile page looking over it again for possibly the twelfth time.  "I have my reservations about this girl. Is she really the only possibility that you have been able to find so far?" 
Looking over the file, Hunter received a nod from the Princess before moving on. "Twilight Sparkle, Student of Celestia and expected to receive her Officer's Commission here in a few weeks time. She is admittedly one of the strongest unicorns I've seen if we go by pure power level," the captain flipped to the next page describing magical prowess along with a list of mastered spells, "but she is green as the day is long. No combat time to speak of. Only a few full level training missions. How do we go from having the positioned filled by one of the most experienced members in the military to a novice?"
"I know you are still coming to terms with the loss of Captain Nightshade, but you know the unit needs a new Shadow-walker. It can't function properly without one and she is so far the best candidate." Luna replied. Pausing to take a sip from her mug she continued. "I am aware that she is inexperienced but what is a better  way to learn then with on the job training? Besides, you have just as much experience as Nightshade had. I'm sure that you can devise a way to bring her up to speed. "
Grunting a little in confirmation Captain Hunter assented a bit, then pointing to a mission report on the desk. "Ay, I'd be able to train her here at base but our missions don't stop for training. Along with that you know full well that the missions that we take don't exactly come with training wheels."
Looking down at the after action report on her desk Luna answered. "Yes our missions are not by any means easy, but the truly difficult ones are not as common as they were when I formed the unit or when you joined. Besides she would never be infiltrating alone and Wolf is in no way a slouch of an operator."
"Yes but she was never the lead during infiltration missions, that always fell to Nightshade." Captain Hunter countered. 
"No but you are the operations commander now you will be on comms with the team at all times. Just keep Mrs. Sparkle on a short rope and you can walk her through missions until she is fully up to speed." Luna said taking another drag from her cup.
"A short rope is still long enough to hang yourself with if you aren't careful." came the curt reply
"I understand your concerns Captain, but I believe that her abilities are up to the task. Are there any other concerns besides her lack of experience?"
"Just one." Captain hunter replied turning to the psyche profile further into the personnel report. "I don't think she has the mentality to do job. You above anyone else must attest to the emotional and psychological effects that this work can have on a pony. I'm not convinced she has it in her to do what needs to be done."
A shadow flirted across the princesses eyes for a second at the mention of the emotional and mental effects of the job. All Luna could do was let out a low sigh. She placed her coffee cup back down on the desk. With her elbows on the desk she templed her fingers in front of her face then resting her head on them in contemplation. For about a minute Luna stayed silent. Finally she appeased the pony across from her who had been waiting for a response.
"I agree with your assessment on the hazards of the job, but wither or not she is able to handle the job is a question that only she can answer herself."
This time it was Captain Hunter's time to let out a sigh. "I still don't fully agree with bringing the girl this fresh on to the unit, but ultimately it's your call ma'am." Taking one last glance at the dossier in his hand he closed the folder and continued, "Do we want her or not?"
Leaning back in her chair Princess Luna raised a hand to her chin in contemplation. After a moment she gave a slow nod. "Yes, I think we will. Let's see why my sister praises this girl so highly."
"Alright. I'll put the order in to Captain Armor. Would the standard set of orders for 'tactical consultation' work or should I give him something different this time?"
"No, the usual smoke and mirrors should work. It will look a cushy enough position for her first assignment that I'm sure he shan't complain." Princess Luna signed a form and slid it over the desk for Captain Hunter to take and slip into the folder with the rest of the information on Twilight Sparkle.
After reorganizing the file in his hand Captain Hunter looked back up and asked, "Will that be all ma'am?"
"Just one last thing." Igniting her horn Princess Luna levitated the intelligence report  that she had been reading prior to the meeting back in front of her face. "Have you read the latest report the analyse team has put together?"
The Captain grimaced. "Yes ma'am I have, and I must say it's a bit disturbing." 
"Indeed. All the more reason to get the unit back to operational status." Luna lowered the report again. "Let us see if Twilight Sparkle has what it takes to be a Nightmare."