“I can’t see a damn thing,” Sapphire complained as the troop bay went dark.
A faint glow snuck into the darkness from Celestia’s horn as she levitated her helmet from the bench next to her. The faint yellow glow of her magic bounced off the visors of the other helmeted ponies around her, the pegasi Thunder Bolts each had their muzzles covered by the breather mask, and manes flattened down by the protective flight helmets of the glide troops. Celestia rotated the helmet over, exposing the painted on copy of her cutie mark that set it apart from the other pegasi helmets, along with the special hole and groove cut in the blast shield to fit her large horn. She slid the armored helm over her long horn, and strapped the mask over her mouth.
“Everypony up, we’re at the drop point,” The chariot load master said pushing the large glowing button at the front of the cabin that triggered the door on the opposite side. The back of the massive air bus opened onto a deceptively beautiful scene. The unobstructed stars and glowing moon illuminated the trees below that were accented by faint lights from the sparse farmhouses below.
Celestia strained her muscles to stand as the heavy gear she wore tried to hold her to the bench. She gave a practice flap of her wings before folding them back to keep from pissing off the others she shared the cramped quarters with.
“Alright yall, you know the plan. But we have a secondary objective-“ Sapphire began
“Since when?” One of the Thunder Bolts interrupted.
Sapphire seemed to glare from under her helmet, “Since I spotted that farmhouse we just flew over. Once we set down, we see if we can commandeer the building. Now hurry up and get ready to jump, we have a schedule to keep.”
“Alright, ready? Go!” the load master yelled, as Sapphire disappeared beyond the large open door.
Celestia moved into position at the threshold into the night air beyond, spreading her wings and feeling her feathers rustle against the back draft.
“Alright, go!” the pegasus commanded as Celestia felt her hooves leave the metal floor behind.
The armor and protective gear that kept her coat covered robbed Celestia of the feeling of flight she was growing so accustomed to. She wanted to flap her wings, fly and swoop through the cool night air but began to feel helpless when she couldn’t muster the strength with the heavy pack on her belly and saddle bags on her flank. The Lightning Bolt glide soldiers are elite, because they are the only pegasi Skynavy unit that does not fly. They drop to the ground and fight their way with the enough weaponry to fight their way back to the air, the words of Commander Ironwing rushed through Celestia’s mind, remembering the hours of and days of training that seemed so long ago.
“Sunflower!" one of the Thunder Bolts barked through the radio, "you’re glowing!”
(Zap!)
A bright lance of magical energy from the forest arced past Celestia, and was soon followed by the burnt corpse of a pegasus falling past. Celestia acted quickly, those many morning ambush drills she faced at the hooves of Lollipop finally paying off. Celestia caught a brief glimpse of where the bolt came from, and with a flash of her horn erected a yellow, hemispherical barrier between the descending fliers and the shooter.
A second bolt splashed harmlessly against the barrier, and was followed by silence. That will surprise those fuckers, Celestia thought fantasizing about the surprised unicorn on the ground starring dumbstruck the magical shield from a seemingly defenseless pegasus.
“I saw where the bolt came from, permission to engage?” Celestia asked, already sheathing the release on her heavy pack with magic telepathy in anticipation.
“Permission denied," Sapphire responded, "we’re already one pack down, we can’t afford for you to drop yours. Everypony hurry up and get your hooves on the ground, this mission just got a lot more complicated.”
Celestia was grateful to see the ground coming up to meet her, even if the trees began to block out the beautiful night sky. There was a small break in the woods that the group aimed for. Celestia could see the dark shape of Sapphire landing less than gracefully, and soon prepared to follow. With a heavy thud, Celestia touched her hooves against the grass of the clearing. The heavy pack thrust her forward with added momentum sending her sprawling on her knees. Another thud came from Celestia’s left as one of the Thunder Bolt support troops hit the dirt, followed by a crunching of branches as another soldier landed in an unseen tree.
“Everypony spread out and make sure we’re clear, I don’t want any more surprises like that,” Sapphire commanded as she trotted to the tree line. After a few minutes of securing the area Sapphire designated a set of sentries to keep watch while they dragged their gear out of the open and began tending to the pegasus that broke her wing when she collided with the tree.
“Celestia, what’s the e.t.a on the communication gear?” Sapphire asked as she illuminated a large map with her magic.
“Juph abouth der,” Celestia mumbled with the screwdriver in her mouth, "alright, it’s put together.”
“Great," Sapphire said tuning into the agreed upon frequency, "this is drop zone alpha, do you read bravo?”
After a few silent seconds Candice’s voice responded from the device, “This is bravo, we hear you alpha we saw the shots you guys took from where we are. Were there any casualties?”
“One, the shooter used a targeting spell, meaning they have proficient military knowledge. How are things on yall’s end?”
“We encountered no resistance, me, Luna, and the Thunder Bolts are ready to move to the rendezvous.”
“Negative," Sapphire replied, "I’m changing the landing zone, this unicorn could be real pain in our flanks, and I don’t want anypony landing that close to the town. I spotted a large homestead south of your position, the coordinates are…”
As Sapphire filled the other team in on the new plan, Celestia got to work unpacking the heavy bags she dropped with. Her saddle bags held ammunition, the regular allotment of grenades and other standard gear. But glide troops weren’t regular soldiers, Celestia took the heavy bag in her teeth, and threw the pack of path finding and demolition gear that burdened her flight, onto her back ready to march.
“Maybe I’m getting too used to flying about”, Celestia commented to herself as the packs kept her wings down.
“Everypony ready?" Sapphire asked as the Thunder Bolts returned from their patrol, "Alright weapons at your side. Corporal will you be ok to fight?”
“Absolutely ma’am,” the injured pegasus with her wings comically splinted and sticking out from her body responded as they began to slog through the dark woods.
--------
Celestia looked out across the dark void of the homestead’s field that separated the dark tree line from the small beacons of light of the farmhouse. From across the opposite side of the field came a small burst of dark blue light. That’s the signal, Celestia thought as she responded with a similar signal from the light of her horn.
“Alright, friendlies coming in,” Celestia said to the pegasi standing guard over their squad’s position in the foliage.
The field filled with dark shapes as the ponies of bravo moved quickly across the empty land to meet their comrades. Celestia swept the horizon looking for any threats that might try to take advantage of the vulnerable state of her sister’s team as they approached. However the pegasi moved quickly enough without their wings to keep from being seen by anypony who might be looking for them.
“I’m glad to see you all made it ok,” Celestia addressed the (relatively) small armored figure.
“I saw the bolts and…" Luna began to say, "we need to investigate this combat unicorn that has made his home here, they have a life to pay for,” she finished angrily.
“That’s exactly the plan," Sapphire interjected, "and that’s why we’re gonna go have a nice civil talk with the farmers on this homestead and have them let us land our soldiers here, and hopefully they will volunteer to give us information on the ponies ‘round these parts.”
“What?" Luna asked quizzical, "what makes you think they will allow that, or help us? Hell, they might shoot at us on sight; this is an insurrection after all. For all we know this farm house could be the base for the rebels, and we’re just gonna knock?”
“We could use a place to treat that pegasus’ wing though,” Candice began.
“Don’t you worry you pretty little head Luna, I know my way ‘round a farm and know that farmers just want peace and quiet. I just need to show them that helping us is a mutual interest,” Sapphire mused as she began her way to the farmhouse.
“You’re going to offer peace and quiet by making their crops into an airstrip?” Celestia asked.
“Eeyup, now you coming? Everypony else set up a perimeter around the farm…just in case.”
(knock knock knock)
Sapphire knocked her hoof on the simple wooden door as Candice, Celestia and Luna caught up to her. The home beyond the doorway was silent, and it was clear that the light they had seen from the air and across the field was coming from a small lamp on the short decorative fence around the building and not the home itself.
“They’re not answering…” Luna tensed in suspicion at the disconcerting silence.
“Well it is…3 am" Sapphire said checking the watch on her fore hoof, "most ponies aren’t out on night missions you know.”
She has always been the one to stay up late…such a night pony, Celestia amused herself as the group waited
Finally after a second and third set of knocking, hoof steps accompanied by the creaking floor echoed within as a voice called out, “Who in their right minds would wake us this early?” asked a very loud and irritated stallion.
“Alright, you’re on Candice,” Sapphire ordered as the door began to be unlocked.
“Me? I-“ Candice was interrupted as the dirt brown buck opened the door.
“What do you want?-” the brown pony stopped in his tracks and took in the sight of the alicorns in front of him. His eyes widened and his jaw slackened as his gaze traveled up to meet Candice’s armored visor above him.
“Oh…hello!" Candice said unsure, "I’m sorry to bother you this late…or early depending on how you look at it, but um, we require your help my earth pony friend.”
The pony in the door starred upwards and seemed to visibly falter once he saw that these giant horned mares also possessed a set of wings.
“Who is it Cake?” came another voice from inside the house, this one belonging to a middle aged unicorn mare who trotted up to meet the late night visitors. She quickly skidded to a halt when she saw the four, armed and armored soldiers that paid them a visit.
“Well I’m Candice, this is Sapphire," the alicorn said pointing a hoof to her team mates, "this is Luna and Celestia. We are here on behalf of the Equestria SkyNavy.” Candice removed her helmet and gave the slack jawed ponies a welcoming, if halfhearted smile. “Do you mind if we come in?”
Sapphire didn’t wait for a response and trotted into the humble home, however she followed Candice’s lead of being friendly and removed her helmet, letting her braided mane fall down to her shoulders. “We are here to investigate insurrectionist activities in your community," she starred at the unicorn mare of the house, "a unicorn huh, anymore of you in town?”
“What are you asking my wife?” the angered earth pony asked as he stomped forward to defend his mate.
A brave little pony, Celestia thought as the head of the household seemed to bristle at the intrusive late night questioning.
Sapphire simply smiled, “I apologize, and we don’t suspect your wife or your lovely family. However a unicorn is responsible for the death of one of my soldiers, perhaps you saw the light show? There can’t be a whole lot of you here.”
“He, he killed somepony?” the mare asked.
“Specialist Sunflower, 20 years old,” Sapphire said, tossing the recovered dog tag out of her front pocket.
The unicorn mare looked down at her hooves then met the uncertain gaze from her husband, “I…I know who it is,” she said remorsefully.
“Are you sure you want to do this Lilly?” the buck asked wrapping a foreleg around his wife pulling her into a supportive hug.
“He’s a killer and they would’ve found out eventually,” the unicorn said as tears welled in her eyes.
The alicorns glanced to each other in confused determination. Candice broke the other’s gaze and strode up to the mare that was on the verge of a full sob fest. The red coated alicorn put a delicate hoof on the mare’s shoulder; her white mane draped down and brushed the muzzle of the upward looking unicorn as Candice offered a confiding smile.
“I told him that it was crazy…suicidal, but the damn stubborn…" the orange unicorn stomped her hoof in anger, "there’s only 3 unicorns in town, but only one who hates the Equestrian government enough to enlist a gaggle of other crazies. My brother Peri used to be such a good colt, but after the military he just…hated everything. I used to believe the horse apples he spewed, but this is too far. We moved out here to get away, but that wasn’t enough for him, turned his whole farm into a castle. Now he’s gonna get those stupid friends of his dead too,” she was able to say before breaking down in tears, “Please, please don’t kill him, I can’t…I can’t.”
“We won’t kill him,” Sapphire proclaimed
We won’t? Celestia asked herself silently.
“But-“ Luna began before Sapphire could finish.
“We won’t kill him, but he will spend a very long time in prison. However if we face resistance I can’t say the same for his friends.”
------
Celestia stood at one end of the large farm field and joined the other alicorns at opposite ends as their horns sent beacons of light into the early morning sky.
Celestia’s ear piece crackled as Crystal called down from the sky, “This gunship Charlie, we see your signal and are preparing to land, boy is it-” the signal ended as the copilot of the craft switched the channel off.
Six hours of flying with Crystal, I do not envy that poor pony.
Celestia continued to project the magical strobe from her horn as the buzzing from the three unicorn made fliers filled the dawn air. The tall stalks of young wheat swayed as the ducted props lowered the metal beasts down until their bellies flattened the plants beneath them.Celestia ceased her signaling spell and trotted to meet the others who landed. A large shadow cast by the rising sun landed next to Celestia and let out a throaty sigh.
“Ugh, I should have been with you guys, escort duty was boring,” Cloudsoar complained as he floated off his brightly colored helmet.
“That’s a good thing Cloudsoar,” Celestia corrected.
“Yeah well I could’ve used the adrenalin," he said yawning, "it would at least make me forget about the wing cramps I will be getting. The unicorn pilots only had to keep their levitation up, we’re the ones who have to flap our wings for hours,” he said huffing and stretched his wings as his fellow escort pegasi set down all around the field.
The large door at the rear of each of the craft opened up and ponies dressed in green leaf camouflage and loaded with heavy weapons poured out. It was easy to spot Lollipop as the pink earth pony shouted orders, “Machine gun teams set up on the road, I want the entrance to the farm shut down and the road barricade half a mile up in each direction from where the drive way connects.”
The famers and their family of 2 colts and one filly watched with mixed reactions as the military rolled onto their property. The father continued to comfort his wife as the foals looked on in awe. The filly had grown quite attached to Luna in her time there, a fact that amused Celestia and annoyed her sister to no end.
The filly tugged at Luna’s tail to get her attention, “hey can I try on one of your helmets?” the little turquoise unicorn asked.
“No,” Luna sighed, unable to contain her growing irritability.
“Pleaaaase,” the filly begged.
“No…and leave before I gobble you up!” she teased, hoping to scare the foal away.
“You can’t do that-“
Before Luna could respond, Sapphire floated her helmet over to the foal and asked her to go show it to her brothers who looked on from a safe distance.
Lollipop approached the group, “Can’t say it was what I would have done Sapphire, but a local friendly might be helpful.”
“The farmers have been very helpful; they let us set up a command center and field hospital in their barn. They even gave us leads on the location of the insurrectionists,’ Sapphire said defending her decision, ‘some of the Thunder Bolt fliers are reconnoitering the area. With any luck we will have the major players captured by sun down.”
“Any contact with the main town?”
“Negative, we came under fire while landing and I don’t think it would be a good idea to march down Main Street with the possibility of civilians getting caught in the crossfire.”
Lollipop raised an eyebrow and smiled, “good call Sergeant, I would like to get out of here before these humble folk,’ Lollipop began to mock, ‘have the battle roll onto their farm.”
---------
Celestia looked at the farmhouse that stood like a bastion in the middle of the empty plot. The foliage around the tree line cast concealing shadows over Celestia’s white coat as she floated a pair of binoculars to get a better look at the enemy “stronghold”. It appeared that the ponies inside expected company, boarding up and barricading the farm home and even building a makeshift fortification around the house that hadn’t been completed in time. They placed snipers around the whole area, one had even managed to shoot and kill a pair of pegasi scouts.
Nothing here makes sense, how did they prepare themselves so quick, and how did the unicorn know the Thunder Bolts were landing? Celestia gave herself time to think as she watched the home from a distance, I guess if they watched the skies 27/7, but that seems completely paranoid, then again sane ponies don’t hoard weapons and turn their farm into a compound.
A small glint flashed from the barricaded window set into the slanted roof as the sun reflected off the enemy sniper scope. Celestia broke from her inner dialog and prepared to act.
(Bang)
The shot rang out through the farm, startling a flock of birds who took flight from the nearby tree tops. The cedar shingles on the roof were misted with a cloud of crimson as the bullet tore through the window killing the sniper inside.
Good shot Crystal,” came Sapphire’s voice over the radio as she complimented their sniper’s aim.
“I might not be able to shoot from the clouds anymore, but the forest works just as well. By the way, Celestia, I saw the other sniper’s position near you. I need to move," she stated as she began to pant into Celestia’s ear bud, signal she was indeed running to a new spot, "he’s dug in some sort of make shift bunker, in the tree line, north of the shed.”
Celestia scanned the area roughly 50 feet away from where she was prone but couldn’t see anything from this distance through the thick forest cover. She had to trust that Crystal’s eyes were working their magic again, “alright, I’m on my way,” she said as she high crawled through the brush.
Sure enough, a short distance away the concrete bunker sat buried in small berm that lay at the base of a small hill. However Crystal’s eyes couldn’t see the whole picture from her vantage point, the sniper nest was indeed there, but up on the hill was a second bunker. The over watching fortification lacked the sturdy concrete design, and instead was a simple hole dug into the crest of the mound and buffeted by sand bags.
(pop, pop pop)
A cacophony of rifle fire rained down from the hillside fortification. Celestia didn’t see the sniper’s defenders until they shot, but that didn’t make her careless. She had feared that the hill may be used to get the upper hoof on her, just didn’t plan it would be such a well-defended attacker. The tree Celestia hid her large form behind splintered with each impact.
I can’t teleport them out from behind cover, I could blind them and rush them but they could still shoot. And then what? Celestia mulled over the options in her head before settling on one plan that would work. Celestia gulped in dread as she thought about her next steps …but you have to do it, it’s the only way.
Celestia flared her horn and disappeared from behind her cover. With a bright flash she teleported next the opening in the hill, and threw herself onto the dirt to stay out of her aggressor’s firing arc. The pony taking shots from inside the bunker couldn’t react in time, and paid dearly. Celestia charged her magic again, but this time sent a billowing plume of flame into the opening.The screams from within the hillside, the smell, the rolling flame, all of those would haunt Celestia’s dreams for weeks.