//------------------------------// // Mission Log 6: Live Fire // Story: Stolen Minds // by TcogArchitect //------------------------------// Published July 18th, 2013 "Alright, ladies, time for some hardware practice. You probably won't need them very much, but basic knowledge of how to use a gun is going to save you sooner or later. Any questions before we start?" "Yeah. How the hay am I supposed to use one of these while flying? It's big, bulky, and definitely not designed for flight." "You'll be using a different model. This is just for familiarity and identification purposes. That way you'll be able to pick up almost any weapon and figure out how it works fairly quickly. Anything else?" "I don't think so." "Good. Now let's get started." I picked up a weapon from the table next to me, and held it up to give them a good look. "This is a standard-issue M15S2 'Soldier Buddy' Assault Rifle." Dash snickered at the name. "Don't laugh. It got that name for a reason. This gun is powerful enough to punch through a concrete wall from fifty meters, and kill the Emrini behind it. This model has kept more men alive than I can count, and it's been in service for almost thirty-five years. This thing is still around because it's just that good. When equipped with a scope and a long barrel, it can be used as a sniper rifle. Give it a box magazine and a foregrip, it becomes a light machine gun. Put an underbarrel shotgun attachment on it, you can use it for any range you want. This weapon is powerful enough and adaptable enough that it is arguably the best weapon in our entire arsenal. Base magazine size of forty, ammo counter built into the sight rail, bull-pup construction, ambidextrous design, and pulse-fire technology also make it one of the most reliable firearms to date. Now, let's get you set up." I placed two rifles on tables in the firing booths, and next to each one, I placed two full magazines. I picked up the first one again, and motioned for them to follow me over to the third booth. We all grabbed some ear protection off the wall, and I turned to give them a better view of what I was doing. "Now, when loading a firearm of any kind, the first, and most obvious, step is to make sure everything is pointing forward. A lot of magazines aren't designed to be obvious in which direction they're supposed to face, and I've seen more than one person screw up what is a fairly simply task. Once everything is in place, line up the box with the loading track, and slide it into the weapon." I copied the instruction with the magazine I was holding, and heard a soft click as the box locked in place. "The weapon is now loaded, but oftentimes there will be extra room for the magazine or clip to move around in, so to make sure you don't get a jam or misfire, smack the bottom of the box and make sure it's all the way in. Once you do that, pull back the readying handle until it clicks, and force it forward to prepare the first round." Again, I copied the instruction with the weapon I was holding. "The gun is now 'locked and loaded'. The first shot is in the chamber, there is a full magazine attached, and the shot counter on top," I tapped the small screen built into the bottom of the sight, "is reading your ammo count correctly. However, there are two more steps. The first is judging the situation and deciding which fire mode you want, and the second is readying yourself to fire. For the first few tests, we'll be using single-fire only, but later we'll get into the other two modes. Readying yourself, however, is a little more involved. First, you typically don't want to be standing. Standing up makes you far more visible, far less accurate, and more susceptible to recoil. The only time you should be firing a weapon at your full height is when you're moving fast and you want to deter attackers. When you're trying to actually hit something, you should be still, and make yourself as small as you can." I dropped onto one knee, and leveled the weapon against my shoulder. "This is the correct firing position for most situations. Occasionally, you'll be sitting or laying down, but most of your time spent firing will be like this." I switched the gun to semi-automatic. "Now I have the safety off, and the gun is hot. When firing, keep both eyes open. A lot of people will naturally want to shut their off-hand eye, and you probably will, too. You have to force it to stay open. You'll have a better view of your surroundings, and a better idea of how far away your target is. Once you have the front and rear sights of the gun lined up, put your target so that it is visible through the openings in the sights. Don't try to get any sort of fancy shot or cool effect, just aim for the middle. 'Center mass', as it's called. This will make it so that if your gun is a little off, or the target makes a small movement, or something else comes into play that you didn't foresee, you'll have a much better chance of hitting them anyway. Now put your earplugs in and pay attention." I waited for them to put the hearing protection in, then reset the gun against my shoulder before slowly and carefully taking aim at the target downrange. It was only twenty-five meters away, but I wanted to make a bit of a show to get the point across to do it right. I squeezed the trigger, and the firearm kicked back against my shoulder as the report echoed around the firing room. I put the safety back on, and removed my ear muffs as the target slid forward on the track. I turned towards my trainees, and raised an eyebrow at their shocked faces before Rainbow started talking. "That was really loud!" She practically yelled it, and I motioned for her to lower her voice a little. "Sorry. I just wasn't expecting quite that level of sound! I mean, that was probably the loudest thing I've ever heard, and I've heard the Royal Canterlot Voice. I figured the simulation was just exaggerating the volume a bit to make it easier." By now, they had both taken their earplugs out, and I shook my head. "Actually, the simulation lowers the volume. Most weapons we use are quite a bit louder than that. But getting back on topic, come here and look at the target paper." I stepped aside, and allowed them to get a better look. As I had intended, the bullet hole was directly in the center of the paper, in the middle of the bullseye. "This is what a weapon that is properly handled will do: exactly what you want. I wanted to put a bullet in the middle of the target, and that's where it went. I don't expect either of you to be this good on your first try, but I do expect you to be consistently close by the time we're done here. You ready to try it out yourselves?" I was met with two enthusiastic nods, and I got started setting them up. I was finished with Twilight and half-finished double-checking Rainbow's setup when I noticed Dimitri enter the observation room next door. Once they were both ready and firing, I went through the sound buffer room to join him. "So, commander, you think they'll be ready in time?" He punctuated the statement with a lazy wave in their direction and a raised eyebrow in mine. "Probably. They're motivated, and they've learned pretty quickly so far, but there's still a possibility they won't finish quickly enough." He nodded his concurrence, and we lapsed into silence for minute, watching the two ponies quickly adjust to firing their new weapons. After they had stopped nearly falling over, he spoke again. "Well, as much as I wish I were here because I didn't have anything better to do, I'm afraid I do have a message for you from the captain." This got my attention. "Oh? What did he need? We get a new objective or something?" Dimitri shook his head. "Nothing so exciting. He said to meet him in Containment. Something about another test for the newbies. No idea what he could be testing down there, though. He said he wanted to see you soon, too. Don't worry, I'll stay here and make sure the recruits don't kill themselves. You find out what he needed." I nodded, and took one last look at the others to make sure there wasn't any imminent emergency before taking my leave. When I got there, I found Leeroy looking over the prisoner list before he noticed me. "Kuro. I suppose you're wondering why I called you here?" "Yes, sir. Dimitri said something about another test, but he didn't go into specifics with it. What did you have in mind?" I was genuinely curious about his idea, but the serious look on his face told me I probably wouldn't like it. Sure enough, I didn't. I tried to think of something else, tried to get him to change his plan, but he insisted, and I couldn't fault his logic. We needed to be sure of them, and we couldn't have them holding back when it would mean the deaths of our own soldiers. Once I had accepted the decision, I gave a quick salute, and turned to go back to the firing range. When I arrived, I found Groove and Ron had joined Dimitri in the observation room. I spoke, but it was quiet, and easy to read into. "How are they doing?" They all gave me a worried glance before Dimitri answered. "Better than when you left. I showed them the other two fire modes while you were gone. Rainbow can get almost the whole magazine within the first three rings on full auto, but Twilight seems to prefer the three-round-burst function. What about you? Sounds like the Admiral said something you didn't like. That doesn't happen too often." "No, it doesn't. But it did, so let's get his over with, already. Time for the last test." I pressed the buzzer that would signal Twilight and Rainbow to stop, and once they did, I returned to the firing room. "Alright, ladies. Looks like we're done here. Before you're cleared for combat, though, the Admiral has one more test for you. Let's go." We cleaned up the spent casings and equipment, then I led them back to Containment. We went in, and were led to one of the interrogation rooms without furniture where, once again, Leeroy was waiting for us. I let Twilight and Rainbow move ahead of me as we entered, and pulled the others off to the side to watch. "I see you finished everything else, ladies. Before we begin, I want to ask you something. Do you think you are ready?" They seemed caught off-guard a little, but after thinking a moment, they both nodded. "Yeah, we're ready. Just wait, we'll be kicking butt in no time once we're down there." Rainbow declared, puffing out her chest and spreading her wings slightly for emphasis. Twilight just nodded again, obviously nervous about the whole situation. "I see. Then let's get on with it. This last test is not a matter of passing or failing. It is a matter of morality and ideals. Whether you do what I ask is entirely up to you, but if you do not, I will not be able to let you assist in the invasion. Also know that what I will ask of you is most certainly not standard protocol. I am only doing this because we do not have time for a full evaluation, and I must know, without doubt, that you are both ready." He keyed the intercom on the wall. "Warden, bring in the two I asked for." He let go of the button, and confirmation of the message came through a moment later. We waited for a minute or so before there was a knock on the door. Ron opened it, and two marines came in with a pair of Emrini minors in restraints. They shoved their charges up against the wall, facing us, and Leeroy nodded for them to leave. They did, and the two prisoners sneered as they saw the ponies. They started talking to each other in their own language, and while most of the others in the room didn't know what they were saying, the Admiral and I could understand their sick, perverted conversation just fine. One of them laughed as the other started taunting us, and I finally decided to shut them up. Suddenly, their twisted jokes seemed a lot less funny to them as I spoke perfectly in the same language they had been using. With the two of them silenced, I returned my attention to the ship's commander as he pulled a pair of old M14 rifles out of a case that was laying on the floor behind him. I could already see that there wasn't a magazine in either one, and I wondered, briefly, how they would be used before I figured it out. He handed one to Rainbow, then the other to Twilight, and returned to his previous position. They looked at the weapons in their hands, then back to him for an explanation. "Your test is simple. I need to know that you'll be effective on the front line, because my men will be down there with you, and I can't have them dying because you hesitated. So, to prove to me that you are indeed ready, I want you to carry out the execution sentence on these two Emrini." Everyone else in the room -Twilight, Rainbow, my subordinates, and even the Emrini- was visibly startled at the order. Twilight started shaking as she looked at the weapon in her hands, while Rainbow simply stood there in shock. In my peripheral vision, I could see my squadmates shifting uncomfortably as they mentally debated whether they should intervene. Finally, Twilight broke the silence in an attempt to delay the inevitable. "How are we supposed to use these? I mean, they're not loaded, and I don't think you want us to beat them to death, right?" She had a worried grin that gave away just how futile she knew the argument was. Sure enough, the Admiral nodded. "There is precisely one bullet loaded into each weapon. You will have one chance to prove to me that you are ready. If you miss, then it will count as 'not ready'. If you choose not to, it wil count as 'not ready'. As I said before, do not be concerned with passing or failing. Whether or not you are ready is your choice, and if you are not, then there will be no repurcussion or punishment. The only decision I make that will be effected by the outcome of this test is whether or not you will be part of the invasion force. If you cannot, and you wish to join later, you will still be allowed to go through normal training procedure. This will not, in any way, effect how anyone on this ship views you. With all of that said, do either of you want to back out now?" Both of them stared at their hands, occasionally glancing at each other, my squadmates and I, or the Emrini. Leeroy waited patiently, and after almost two full minutes, Rainbow finally moved. She reset her grip on the firearm, and widened her stance slightly. "I'll- I'll do it." Her voice cracked a little, but Leeroy nodded, and showed her where to stand. Once she was set up, he looked expectantly at Twilight. She made several starts and stops, obviously having trouble deciding, until she finally took a deep breath and, somewhat shakily, made her way to the spot next to Rainbow. They waited for a moment as everyone put on ear protection, and the Admiral took his place behind them. He took one last glance around to ensure we were ready before calling out his orders. "Ready!" The two ponies shifted their grip as they set the guns' stocks to their shoulders and flicked off the safeties. "Aim!" They lifted the weapons and took up firing stances, putting the muzzles of the weapons to the Emrinis' heads. There was a pause, and I felt everything around me slow down as the tension set off my body's self-defense mechanisms, my brain processing nothing but sight as I waited for an instantaneous eternity. The moment was broken with the final order. "Fire!" The two shots were almost perfectly in unison. A single hole in the head of each Emrini poured blood all over the floor. I saw Rainbow barely hold back her gag reflex, even as Twilight looked about ready to completely give in to hers. Ron and Groove took the M14's, and Dimitri and I guided the ponies out of the room. We took them to the nearest bathroom, and waited while they gathered their wits again. They came back out almost five minutes later, looking utterly miserable. They both collapsed against the wall, heads in their arms, and we waited once more while they came to terms with what had happened. Leeroy found us soon after, and told me that Ron and Groove had already gone down to the lockers to get ready. He also told me that the armor for our newest recruits was already down there and waiting. I checked my watch, and found that we were getting close to ready hour. We roused the girls, and led them to the locker room. Most of the people in the area had already come and gone, but there were still enough to make the newbies nervous. Twilight, in particular, seemed more on-edge than usual. "Something wrong?" I asked as I pulled my armor from my locker. She was stroking what little hair she had at an almost manic tempo, but stopped when I spoke. She looked around, and I followed her sweep to see a number of soldiers -men and women- staring at the two of them with less stealth than they probably thought they had. I cocked my head with as much curiousity as possible, and called them out. "Someone have something to say?" Having been caught, most of them quickly returned to suiting up, and Twilight muttered a quiet thanks as she and Rainbow moved to the lockers Leeroy had told me were theirs. I donned my gear with the practiced ease of the veteran I am, and found both of them struggling to get theirs on. I helped them finish, not failing to notice the way they hid themselves from me any time they thought they were at all exposed, and I quickly concluded that the only reason they had been able to change in front of me before was because they were too worn out to care. Once I was finished with Twilight, I moved on to Rainbow, but paused when the unicorn started talking. "Hey, Kuro. Can I ask you something?" "Sure. Don't know if I'll have an answer you like, though." "What did it feel like when you first killed somepony?" I considered the question, slowly buckling one of Rainbow's gauntlets as I recalled the appropriate memory. It had been a long time ago, before I originally joined the marines. Some dumb fuck tried to mug me with a knife, but a life in the backstreets of Mars makes you cautious of every sound, shadow, and sensation. Bottom line: my knife was bigger. I could still feel the blood running over my hands as the light faded from his eyes. "Like a child. I felt like I had done something unforgivable, like I had broken one of the laws of the universe itself. I didn't want to have anything to do with anything for a while, and I nearly lost the job I was working at at the time because of it. It seemed like something inside me died, and left a hollow, empty space that could never be fixed. Why do you ask?" I finished tightening Rainbow's shoulder plates, and turned around to see Twilight crying silently. "I just wanted to make sure this was normal. I feel horrible. Like I'm a monster that shouldn't exist." She choked back a sob, and I put a hand on her shoulder to try and calm her down. "You'll be alright. And I can assure you that you're not a monster. You've drawn blood, and you have a lot of bad experiences beyond that, but you're no monster, I can guarantee that." She wiped her eyes of tears, and looked at me with a sniffle. "How can you be so sure?" I looked her square in the eyes and told her the truth. "Because monsters don't feel remorse." She seemed surprised by this, and after a moment, I saw a small smile on her lips. She once again suddenly hugged me, but this time I was ready. "Thank you, Kuro. That makes me feel a lot better." "Anytime. Now, let's get going. We've got ponies to save."