Back aboard the Retribution, Hammerheart and the Blood Phoenixes were recovering from the battle that satisfied everyone and eased their annoyances.
"A fitting end for a leader of traitors." said Twilight.
"True, but what game is Skarsend playing?" Applejack asked.
"Bah! He is greedy and honorless scum." said Hoovitus. "He saw his chance to gain power and he took it."
Pinkie looked to Hoovitus. "And the prospect of Skarsend with more power somehow reassures you?" She asked.
Spike appeared onscreen. "Commander Hammerheart, another transmission from Captain Philosophies of the Royal Guard. He has declared Michael Pegalos a renegade. And orders our return to Dolmaska. I have also uncovered additional information about Apothecary Boldo and his expedition aboard the Harbinger of Damnation."
Hammerheart wanted to know more about the Apothecary's mission aboard the damned ship.
"The log entry which played when you activated the logic engine aboard the Harbinger of Damnation was only one of the many in the engine's cogitation archives." Spike explained. "Listen to these additional entries:"
Spike played the second part of the recording. "The Empress has granted us a miracle." Boldo's voice said. "Guarding the corpses of the siblings lost aboard this derelict, we have found a survivor. Unicorn Traytus is restored to the Chapter."
"And this entry, sometime later:" said Spike as he played the third part.
"Napoleon fell today," said Boldo's voice, "killed by another daemon of the dark gods... All our exits have sealed and our beacons have failed... we are trapped... Traytus's magic powers have saved us several times already... but how can he defend against the voices I hear in the darkness? How can any of us?"
"The rest of the log is protected by ancient coding rites," said Spike, "and these are strikingly reminiscent of the rites masking our traitor's identity."
Twilight's eyes grew semi-wide. "And this is the same Traytus..."
"... Who is now Chapter Master and Chief Unicorn of the Blood Phoenixes." Spike finished.
"Empress preserve us." said Twilight.
"What happened to Boldo himself?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"He serves with the Chapter Royal Guard." Spike revealed.
There were corrupted Pony Marines serving in the Royal Guard, and no doubt about it that Boldo was most likely the leader of the hidden traitors.
Hammerheart then had Spike play the transmission from Philosophies after that, and the Captain's voice was broadcasted for them to hear.
"Blood Phoenixes, take heed:" Philosophies warned, "For the grievous sins of refusing Chapter orders, spreading heresy, raising arms against his onetime siblings, and stealing relics, arms and artifacts from the Chapter; Michael Pegalos is hereby declared an enemy of the Chapter and sentenced to death. The renegade Pegalos has fled, absconding with the Battle Barge Stampede of Fury. I, Captain Helios Philosophies, issue this declaration with full authority from Benedict Traytus, Chapter Master of the Blood Phoenixes and Keeper of the Librarium. Knowledge is Power. Guard it well."
The transmission ended, and Goliath was outraged about the events that have unfolded before them.
"This is madness." said Nule. "Michael is no traitor. We must... expose the corruption... among the Royal Guard. We must... go to Dolmaska."
The Retribution made the journey to Dolmaska. When they arrived in half a day, Spike appeared onscreen with more information about the logic engine.
"Commander Hammerheart, the Harbinger of Damnation's logic engine confirms our suspicions." said Spike. "The encoding rites used by our traitor and in Boldo's logs both bear a marked resemblance to those of the Chapter Royal Guard. With a copy of their codes, I could finally identify the traitor."
The Royal Guards' base of operations was stationed at Firebase Angus. It was going to be a tricky mission, for the area was well guarded by siblings of higher authority then Hammerheart's siblings.
"Commander Hammerheart, to finally identify the traitor, we must obtain the transmission codes of the Chapter Royal Guard." said Spike. "To do so, you must penetrate the heart of the Blood Phoenixes firebase and destroy the stronghold of Captain Philosophies. This will trigger an automatic signal from his battle barge, from which I can gain the codes we need. Between us and those codes, stand both the Royal Guard and our own siblings from the Third and Fourth Companies."
"What of their defenses?" Hammerheart asked.
"The entire area is patrolled by our Chapter Siblings." said Spike. "They will fire on us without hesitation. Only stealth and non-lethal attacks can prevent bloodshed. Philosophies has established a perimeter of satellite bases. Field generators and Firagun Sentry Guns are standard issue for such temporary positions."
Rainbow Dash stepped up. "We must find a way to reach that stronghold without killing Blood Phoenixes." She said.
"Some Blood Phoenixes have fallen to Discord." Pinkie pointed out.
"Then we fight and kill those!" said Rainbow Dash. "But to murder one who is simply doing their duty to Chapter and Empress?" She lowered her head and sighed. "We could never recover from such an act."
Hammerheart looked to Applejack. "What are the Royal Guard's orders?"
"Cap'n Philosophies adheres to the Chapter's tactical doctrines." said Applejack. "The Codex calls for a tactical feint when a satellite position is destroyed. Nearby forces fall back to a strong firing line, either drawing their attackers into the teeth of bolter-fire or calling in artillery. If we destroy the field generators we can use this to push through the perimeter without killing Blood Phoenixes."
On the subject of fallen Pony Marines, Goliath remembered the one who is still among the Royal Guard.
"The heretic Apothecary Boldo is nearby, Commander Hammerheart." said Nule. "We cannot leave a servant of Discord... in the Royal Guard. We must confront... and expose him. Or his evil... will continue to infect the Chapter."