//------------------------------//
// Chapter Ten 
// Story: War For Equestria 
// by Nighthawk154780 
//------------------------------//

Throughout the day, Nighthawk and Comet were gearing up into some new Equestrian grade battle armor. Comet smiled examining the new silver plated armor and was even more impressed that he had a couple of blue and white stripes across the chest plate and a new visor that provided a battle display and scanner. Nighthawk’s armor was similar in design but had red and yellow stripes. He checked the adjustments and smiled opening a case and saw a sharp cavalry rapier and scabbard.
Comet walked up, adjusting his own rapier and smiled. “Nice.”
“My father delivered on a promise several years back. He told me once I graduate, it will all be mine.” Nighthawk stated, grabbing the blade.
The two galloped over to see the squad and slowed down hearing a pony call out. “Eyes forward!”
Nighthawk and Comet walked over and looked at the team they assembled. He raised an eyebrow seeing the squad and noticed two more squads. “Comet, did we ask for a platoon?”
Comet smirked. “Well, it shouldn’t be an issue. Depends on how skilled they are.”
One pony stepped forward. “Sirs, we are the best of Ponyville.”
Nighthawk smiled, approaching the pony. “Really? And who might you be?”
“Sergeant Merryweather. First squad leader.”
Nighthawk looked at the second squad. “Do you agree with your brother, sergeant?”
A female unicorn nodded. “Yes sir!”
Comet raised an eyebrow seeing cadets and privates in the pegasus squad. “Who’s the squad leader here?”
The squad was quiet before hearing a female pegasus fly in and land directly in between the squad and Comet. She snapped to attention and threw a salute. “Ensign Sunshine Breeze at your service sir.”
Nighthawk raised an eyebrow walking towards her, but Comet blinked, feeling time slow to a mere halt as he was mesmerized by Sunshine’s diamond blue eyes, her stunning mane and soft, yellow coat that shimmered with her gold armor. She gave a slow attractive blink before Nighthawk broke Comet out of his phase talking down Sunshine. “So, you wanna act sly and show off, ensign?”
“Of course not sir. Why would I be that way with my troops?”
He raised an eyebrow getting up to her face. “Commissioned?”
“Field commission, sir. Got a problem with that?”
Nighthawk smirked. “Depends on what you do next.” He paced around leaving Comet glancing at Sunshine. “Listen up. I’m not going to sugar coat this. You all know about the queen. And you all are aware of the princess's position. I ask you all to clear your minds and focus on catching the traitor who would kill the queen of an empire who believes in friendship. This is no act of friendship.”
Nighthawk glanced at Comet, letting him provide the orders. “Right. Simple orders. Find him and kill him. Understood!”
The platoon gave a mighty, “YES SIR!” 
Nighthawk pulled up a map using his magic. “Last reports show our killer hid away in the forest. Comet and I will lead squad one and two in a ground search while field commissioned ensign, Sunshine, leads the search from the air. Questions?”
Sunshine smirked mentally laughing at the joke and liking Nighthawk’s sly comments hearing the platoon say no.
Nighthawk smiled. “Gear up!”
Inside the command center Sunny Blaze walked down cracking his neck, walking down the stairs while an officer shouted. “OFFICER ON DECK!”
The group of workers popped to attention as Sunny smirked. “At ease. Is our platoon moving?”
“Moving now sir.”
Sunny smiled. “Good, let's hope these officers are the best like my annoying cousin say they are. We’re on the clock kids! Let’s get to work!”
The platoon started their search and was keeping quiet. Nighthawk’s squad was looking through bushes while Comet and his squad kept moving forward and a private spoke up. “Sir…negative scans.”
Comet nodded. “I see that. Brother?”
“Negative.” Nighthawk replied. “Ensign Breeze?”
“Nothing, something seems to be scrambling our sensors.”
Nighthawk raised an eyebrow hearing some bird's chirp. “Strange…”
Sunny was watching the screen noticing the glitches and listening to the transmissions. “Somepony talk to me.”
Nighthawk looked around listening to the critters before he quickly heard and saw a blast of magic fly past him and the squad panicked, raising their weapons. Nighthawk froze and took a breath. As well as the command center who was watching. “Stand by! Anyone hit?” Nighthawk shouted.
Comet called out over comm. “Nighthawk. You okay?”
“Shut up. Aerial squad. Talk to me.”
Sunshine checked her visor. “Scans show one weak life sign.”
Nighthawk stepped closer, raising his visor and approached the area of the blast seeing a young earth pony with a burn wound in her chest, panting heavily. “General, can we get a med-evac?”
Sunny turned around and saw a pony nod. “Stay with her we’ll get a crew.”
“Comet, report.”
“Still here brother. Pushing forward.” As soon as he said that he heard a twig snap and both him and his squad started firing concussive blasts of magic while others were experimenting with some new weapons that followed a rapid fire of magic.
Comet raised a hoof and drew his blade walking closer. “Sunshine…any…”
His sentence was cut short as a blast of magic shot out of the bushes and Comet ducked, and a cadet was knocked back. The squad followed as Comet fired back.
Nighthawk perked up, hearing the fire and looked at a trooper. “You with her. The rest, with me!”
Sunshine turned around trying to look for the attacker and looked at the squad. “Break off switch to thermals.”
Sunny was pacing around. “Give me some eyes, I wanted it up yesterday!”
Comet and the squads were dodging the dark blasts while Sunshine noticed a mass hiding nearing him. “Ensign, dead ahead!”
Comet smirked and powered up his horn firing a blast of magic strong enough to knock the pony back but in a split second a magic burst appeared as if the attacker teleported away before the hit. Sunshine blinked, looking around again and saw nothing. Even Sunny was surprised. “Damnit someone give me something!”
Sunshine looked at her troops. “Anything?”
Suddenly a blast of magic struck one of the troop’s wings and fell below. Catching Nighthawk’s eye he slid to a stop and Comet looked up. “SUNSHINE!”
Sunshine was ready to move but was caught off guard seeing a cloaked unicorn appear right in front of her powering up his horn. Sunshine’s eyes widened, catching the color of its dark red and black aura. Time seemed to have slowed as Sunshine’s wings flapped backwards to get away, but in that split second Nighthawk appeared and screamed powering up his horn and fired a quick shot at the unicorn, hitting it and making it teleport back to the ground.
Nighthawk appeared and drew his sword. In a swift motion he readied an attack stance as the unicorn drew an Equestrian marine’s longsword prepared to fight.
Nighthawk panted in his mask and smirked, raising his blade up in the air while Comet lit up his horn. “TAKE EM!”
The platoon fired their weapons as the unicorn made a shield and ran at the team ready to kill them all, but the lead officer wanted nothing of it and set himself up for a rear kick knocking the pony into the jaw. Upon turning around Comet drew his blade and Nighthawk followed spinning his and the three got into a sword fight.
After a few minutes of dodging, strikes and thrusts. Nighthawk spun his blade kicking the unicorn’s blade up in the air and Comet stabbed the unicorn in the side as Nighthawk finished with a magical blast to its chest knocking it to the ground.
The two unicorns raised their visors and kept their blades out and stepped forward towards the wounded unicorn. He tilted his head seeing the face of the attacker and he just looked like a typical teenager. He was heavily panting as Comet raised his blade. “Did you kill her?”
The unicorn winced and looked at Nighthawk, his eyes portraying a deadly message. “L…long…live…the empire…” He gave his last breath as Nighthawk’s heart rate skipped a beat hearing the message and he blinked, not sure how to react.