//------------------------------//
// Chapter Eight - Iusem 
// Story: Mixed Crusaders 
// by LegacyMine 
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Lieutenant Foggy Night walked along the streets of Iusem. As the youngish looking dark blue unicorn traversed the capital of the Imperial Equestrian Union, he couldn’t help but take a moment to reflect on its magnificence. Though not particularly ornate as capital cities go, at least in comparison to those he had seen in other dimensions, such as Canterlot or Griffinstone assuming they had not yet fallen, Iusem was nonetheless superior. Shining towers of glass and steel reached towards the sky, dominating the landscape as far as the eye could see. Off in the distance, factories churned out products, everything from to consumer goods to weapons and armor, all ready to be shipped wherever it needed to go by the city’s rail network. Iusem was not some beautiful but pointless monument to its leader’s ego like so many other cities he had seen. It was the beating heart of a mighty empire. 

As Foggy Night walked further along the sidewalk many of the other pedestrians, everything from other ponies, zebras, buffalo, and more exotic things besides, all gave him a wide berth, parting around him as prey animals would before a predator. Though annoying, this was not unexpected, as he was wearing his full secret police uniform. Even though the Union Intelligence Department, or UID as they were more commonly called, did not arrest citizens on anonymous tips or for mere speech made in the privacy of their own homes as was known to happen in the Griffin lands, they still had a foul reputation. 

Though as Foggy Night wryly noted, not everyone felt that way. The few Federates who passed him on the sidewalk made no move to make way for him. Instead the bipedal, flat faced creatures walked calmly through the crowded streets as the others pedestrians scrambled to avoid them, seemingly unconcerned by the fear and hatred blatantly displayed on the faces of all who passed by. Even Foggy Night made sure to stay out of their way. 

As he finally neared his destination, the central UID headquarters of Iusem and thus the entire Union, one of the guards at the entrance held up a hoof for him to stop. “Give me papers and prepare to be searched. Any resistance will be met with lethal force.” The chief guard, a zebra sergeant in a standard black UID uniform droned out in a bored fashion, having obviously repeated the same phrase to everyone who passed by. 

Foggy Night promptly handed over his papers to the sergeant who motioned two of his guards to search him. While most of the guards were ponies, Foggy Night noticed a Federate leaning against a wall next to the sergeant. Loosely carrying a heavy submachinegun and wearing the uniform of a private contractor, the mostly hairless ape-like creature stared emotionlessly at Foggy Night, deceptively passive looking. But Foggy Night new better, for he had seen whole cities crushed by armies of beings that looked exactly like this, all wearing the same emotionless mask as the one in front of him. Humanity’s bastard children were not to be underestimated. 

Eventually the sergeant waved Foggy Night through, and he proceeded pass the guards as well as all of the hidden sensors and cameras that he knew were watching him. Moving farther through the base, and dealing with ever increasing security as he went, he reached a bland looking hallway with a single door at the end. All of it utterly unexceptional except for the fully armed and armored security team blocking the entrance. 

As he approached the lead guard, who was as Foggy Night noticed at least a little enviously one of those ponies genetically modified by Federate DNA, the guard gruffly demanded he stop. 

“What business do you have here lieutenant?” The hybrid unicorn growled out through his razor sharp teeth, his un-equine black and yellow eyes seeming to pierce Foggy Night’s very soul. 

Foggy Night, who had at this point in his life, gone through this procedure hundreds of times, gave a crisp salute and levitated his identity papers out of his uniform’s pockets with his magic. “Sir. My name is Lieutenant Foggy Night and I was ordered to come here by Major Crossed Hilt. I don’t know the reason.” 

After spending a minute staring at the Lieutenant’s papers, the hybrid nodded and stepped aside. “Yes, you are expected. Please enter Lieutenant. The Vice-Director is waiting for you now.” 

The Vice-Director was waiting for him? That sure wasn’t usual. Vice-Director Hardstolt, whose authority was second only to Lord Director Poison Pie, did not usually arrange special meetings to speak with mere operatives. Even if they were as good at their jobs as Foggy Night was. 

All of this made Lieutenant Night a little worried. He didn’t recall violating any UID regulations or laws, but he wasn’t completely sure. Though he probably wouldn’t be executed for a misunderstanding, the Lieutenant still didn’t relish the thought of being interrogated by Internal Affairs. 

Mustering his courage, Foggy Night pushed open the door and walked inside. The room he entered was small with beige walls and a medium sized metal and plastic table in the center. At the head of the table sat Vice-Director Hardstolt, a hippogriff. One of the unique few creatures that came from a union between two species, and unlike the Federate Hybrids who were the mere result of horrifying genetic splicing, the hippogriff was a true descendant of both griffons and ponies. Even this would not be possible under normal circumstances. But then again, Alicorns always did make their own rules. 

To the left of Harstolt sat an earth pony, a buffalo and a changeling, all wearing uniforms marking them as high ranking UID officers. To his right sat a Federate wearing the blue uniform of the Kand-da’Nost, one of the warring factions that had sprung up after the implosion of the United Federate Autocracy. 

Lieutenant Foggy Night was in the presence of some of the most powerful people in the world. All of whom were here solely to speak with him. 

At that moment he really wished that he had taken his father’s advice to become an architect. 

“Ah, Lieutenant Foggy Night, I’m glad you’re here.” Hardstolt said in a surprisingly soft voice, giving a smile that was unsettlingly close to a smirk. 

“Sit down, we have much to discuss.” And he pointed to a chair placed directly opposite the table to Hardstolt. 

As the Lieutenant seated himself, Hardstolt brought a sheaf of papers from under the table and began to speak. “I realize this meeting is somewhat unorthodox, but I feel the circumstances warrant it. I hope you don’t mind.” 

Not waiting for a response, he continued, “Several hours ago we received an urgent communication from Arch-Magus Dark Star, that three colts who were staying with him were removed from his house by means of a dimensional portal and replaced with counterparts of themselves. The counterparts, three un-augmented fillies, are currently being held in a secure area of this base.” 

At this point Hardstolt’s face hardened and he growled out, “The security of Dark Star’s house was directly overseen by our organization. Only a high ranking member of the UID could have gotten away with this and escaped detection. Someone in this building is a traitor.” 

Panicking, Foggy Night managed to stutter out, “I-I assure you sir, I had nothing to do with-” 

“Yes I know.” Hardstolt interrupted. “We are completely certain that you had nothing to do with this outrage. That’s actually one of the reasons we called you here. Rest assured, if we did have reason to suspect you we would be having a completely different conversation. But for now, Colonel Thunder Hooves will continue your briefing.” 

To his left, the buffalo nodded and gruffly spoke. “This situation could be a major political embarrassment for the UID. Two of the kidnaped colts were relatives of some of the Emperor’s direct subordinates. The other was the first Federate hybrid to ever be created. Losing him could be problematic.”

Pausing, Thunder Hooves leaned forward in his chair and stared intently at Foggy Night. “As you know, this organization has many enemies within our government. Many of them, especially those from Lord Equinox’s faction and the military, would love to have an opportunity to reduce our power.” 

Snarling, the buffalo pounded his hoof on the table. “If they learn of this security breach, the Emperor Helios may be convinced to start favoring Lord Equinox over Lord Poison Pie. He may even,” Thunder Hooves lowered his voice to a whisper, “rescind our monopoly over dimensional travel.” 

As soon as Thunder Hooves had finished, Harstolt slid over a packet of papers to Foggy Night and pronounced, “You have extensive experience in other-dimensional operations, excellent infiltration skills, and more importantly, there is absolutely no chance that you are responsible for the security breach. Since this is a surprisingly rare set of skills, we have chosen you to lead a special operations team, tasked with solving this problem.” 

“Your orders are to travel to this alternate dimension and monitor the colts. While their safety is important your ultimate task it to monitor for signs of the traitor. Everything else is ultimately expendable.” 

“And what about the natives?” Foggy Night asked. 

“Irrelevant.” Then Hardstolt pointed a talon at the door. “You have your orders. Now go and see them through. You will be briefed on all relevant information before you leave.” 

Foggy Night saluted and saw himself out. Though he was still nervous, there was now an undercurrent of excitement to that feeling. 

His future was looking good.