//------------------------------// // 20: The Mole in Canterlot // Story: The Jolly Rogers // by lockheed //------------------------------// ~~~~~ 20:00 Hours January 21, 1987 Canterlot ~~~~~ My boot nails clicked on the stone floor that led to the war room of the royal palace. As I approached the war room I nodded to the two marines standing guard by the doors. Stepping inside I saw every general in the air force sitting around the table except for three standing at the end. They all turned to face me and the princesses simply nodded to me and waved a hoof in the direction of the three generals at the end of the table. I took my spot and Princess Celestia stepped over next to us. “As you all know, General Silverwing decided to retire on active duty and he has left the air force without a commander. These four have been selected by my sister and I as the best candidates for General Silverwing’s replacement. We have yet to make a decision but we feel the two best ones for the job are Major Generals Brave and Jones.” “Excuse me for interrupting your highness,” A grey colored stallion said as he stood up “but why not have a four star general replace him? That is the next rank down from Silverwing’s position after all.” “Because after the attacks on Honoluna and Manehattan it’s obvious that the higher ranking generals have lost touch with their inner soldier. Perhaps a trip to the front would do them good.” I saw the two four star generals in the room swallow hard and I tried not to smile. “As I was saying before, we’ve yet to make a decision but we should have one by the end of the week. General Jones, who do you feel should be the successor?” “Well your highness I feel it should be Major General Brave Soldier. Only military officer to be awarded the Medal of Valor during peace time, flies with the pilots under his command on a regular basis, and is the one who headed building bases in the Crystal Empire for our air force. He’s the obvious choice.” “I’m afraid I must object to what Major General Jones is saying your highness. I’m not the officer who organized a plan to launch bombers off an aircraft carrier, I’m not the one who helped build up our aerial fleet into the force it is today, I’m also not the one who lead a raid to rescue nearly four hundred prisoners of war. General Jones is the one who did all those things. I feel he would do a better job than me.” The light blue pegasus next to me said. “I see both your points but I can’t give both of you five stars. My sister and I will consider both of you greatly but only one of the four generals standing before me will get the position. You all may go home. Except for you General Jones. We’d like to speak with you.” I watched as the other generals in the room made their way out and left me alone with the princesses. Looking over at them I saw them wave a hoof for me to sit down. Taking my seat in the closest chair I watched as they produced a folder and slid it over to me. “James, we’re organizing a top secret mission. It is as important as Operation Doolittle but far more dangerous.” Opening the folder I looked at the sheet of paper inside. “Are you serious?” “We want you on the mission James. Operation Arnold is highly dangerous but we feel you would know how best to organize it so that more of our fliers get home.” “Do we have pictures of the target area?” “We do.” Celestia replied and she grabbed black and white photos from a nearby file cabinet. She gave them to me and I flipped through them slowly. “Looks like eighty-eights. Those things can tear a B-17 apart with one shell if they aim right. What about the local fighter protection?” “Our informant in the Griffin Empire stated they have high amounts of ME-109s and more barrel shaped fighters.” “Probably Focke-Wulf 190s. Make sure we don’t have any early model Thunderbolts on this mission. What group is equipped with those?” “The Three Fifty Fifth Fighter Group as a squadron of razorbacks but we’re having Crystal Empire fighters escort the bombers on the first leg. Once they hit their range limit they’ll be relieved by P-38s with the Fifty Fifth Fighter Squadron which will then be relieved by P-51Bs of the Three Thirty Ninth.” “So we’re gonna have to deal with three different fighter covers both ways?” “Yes. And there are still air raids by the griffins on the Crystal Empire so you’ll have to watch for 109s on takeoff and when you’re forming up.” “Great. I know that the Crystal Empire has sent a couple of squadrons of Hampdens to bomb them by night and even a squad of Manchesters to bomb them by day but have you seen the combat report on that daytime raid?” “No.” “They got slaughtered. Of twenty bombers sent out only one made it home and half its crew was killed.” “But they had no fighter protection.” “Fighters cover or not, we’re still looking at a possible blood bath. One bomber is ten ponies. You’re wanting to send one hundred fifty bombers. That’s fifteen hundred fliers. If losses are as good as fifty percent then that’s seven hundred fifty airmen we no longer have towards the war effort. Between the enemy fighters and the flak I’m willing to bet though that we’re looking more at losses as high as seventy to eighty percent.” “Is there no way to bring those losses down?” “Not without better fighter protection. I’ve gotten reports from pilots and crews under my command that fighters are breaking away from the bombers to chase decoys while the real enemy fighter force comes in from any other direction to attack the bombers.” “So what do we do?” “Before they were deployed to the north I gave the pilots of the Three Thirty Second the order to stick to the bombers if they were ever assigned to escort duty. I want red tails on the bombers wings when they’re approaching the target. You can keep those candy cane looking bastards for another time but I want pilots that’ll stick with the bombers on this one.” “I’ll have the message sent through to Lieutenant Colonel Dash. You may go home now if you like.” I stood up and gave a quick nod to them before stepping out into the hallway and reaching into the pocket inside my uniform for a pack of cigarettes. I pulled one out and was about to put the pack away when I heard hoofsteps to my right. Turning to look, I saw Princess Celestia standing next to me. “You mind if I borrow one of those from you?” “You smoke?” I asked as I gave her the pack in my hand. “It takes the edge off. Even royals need a way to deal with stress. Luna drinks and I smoke.” “I never would have taken you to be a smoker.” “That’s why you never judge a book by its cover.” I nodded before bidding her goodnight and making my way to the palace motor pool where my car was waiting. The driver opened the door and I took my spot in the back seat but I looked at the driver as they got in the front seat. “You aren’t my driver.” I said to the mint green unicorn mare in the driver’s seat. “Just got reassigned sir.” She replied and I immediately recognized her voice. “Lyra?” “It’s Staff Sergeant Heartstrings now, sir.” She said as she put the car into reverse for us to leave the garage. “I guess everypony really is pitching in to help the war effort huh?” “Yes sir, we are.” “How’re things in Ponyville?” “So far, so good. They’re building a new base on the other side of Ponyville.” “A new base?” “Joint army/marine base.” “That’s just what we need around town. Equestria’s Misguided Children.” “What?” “E.M.C. The Equestrian Marine Corps. My dad calls them Equestria’s Misguided Children.” “Oh, ok. I have an uncle in the Marine Corps. He’s supposed to be stationed in Ponyville once the base is complete.” “How long until it’s finished?” “A couple weeks.” “What rank is your uncle?” “He’s a gunnery sergeant.” “I had a cousin who was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps.” We turned onto the newly built paved road between Canterlot and Ponyville and I placed my cap onto the seat next to me and loosened my tie. “Miss Heartstrings?” “Yes sir?” “Do you know Colonel Thunderstreak?” “Your wife? I’ve seen her around Ponyville and I had to go to her for my medical.” “When was the last time you saw her?” “A couple days ago when I had to take another human to Ponyville.” “Who was it?” “Some colonel. I can’t remember his name. He was damn good looking though.” “Should you be talking like that in front of a major general?” “Oh, right. Sorry sir.” “It’s fine Lyra. I’m not a man to judge who others go for. I’m the one who knocked up a mare so I’m definitely not one to judge.” “No one needs to judge another anyways in my opinion.” “Too bad the griffins and many others don’t think like you Miss Heartstrings.” I laid my head back against the headrest and quickly fell asleep for the rest of the ride to Ponyville. ~~~~~ 10:25 Hours Ponyville Aerodrome January 22, 1987 ~~~~~ “Look at me.” Thunderstreak said as she sat on the desk in my newly rebuilt office. “What about you?” “I’m getting fat.” She said as she poked gently at her stomach. “You’re beautiful. I don’t care if you gain weight or not. Besides, isn’t that what you’re supposed to do after you get married?” “No! My mom never got fat after her and dad got married.” “To be fair your mom threw up her own body weight every night because she drinks like a fish.” “Yeah she does.” I spun my chair to face the radio in my office and I turned the knob which was the power. The sound of music poured out of its speakers and filled my office. “Can this radio get GNR?” “GNR?” “It’s a radio station in Manehattan I used to listen to.” “Well we can certainly see if it can pick it up.” I twisted another knob on the radio and the sound of other stations was babbling as I continued turning the dial. I found the frequencies for the Manehattan radio stations and stopped when Thunderstreak held up her hoof. I stood up and gave her a quick kiss before walking outside into the snow. I stood there and looked up at the grey sky for a few moments as snow fell all around me. Looking down again I walked towards the control tower and listened to the snow crunch under my boots as a civilian DC-4 taxied towards the runway. Opening the door to the control tower I made my way up the spiral staircase where three controllers all sat around looking outside. “Morning boys.” “Morning sir.” “What’s the weather report for today?” “The snow is supposed to get worse from here on out. After this plane takes off we’re shutting the runways down.” “I thought the weather team was supposed to handle this shit.” “They normally would but they’re all pitching in for the war effort so the weather is doing as it pleases. This blizzard is supposed to dump another four feet of snow on us before it’s over.” “That’s just fan-fucking-tastic. All we need is four and a half feet of snow. My youngest kid is only about three and a half feet.” I sat down at the small card table in the middle of the control room and put my feet up on the table. “So what’s with that civilian plane out there? I haven’t seen a civil one out here in weeks.” “It’s some soccer team from the Crystal Empire that had a match here in Ponyville and some other civilians from up there.” One of the controllers replied as he raised his binoculars to look at the four engine prop plane at the far end of the runway. “Gulf Alpha Lima Zulu Uniform; you are cleared for takeoff.” He said into the microphone in front of him. I stood up and watched as the plane throttled up and began rolling down the runway. We watched it begin to bounce as it rolled down the runway but we soon noticed something wrong. “Why isn’t he pulling up?” One of the controllers asked. “If he can’t take off he should have aborted by now.” Another said. The plane’s nose began to slowly rise off the runway which was followed by the main gear but the plane was hardly gaining any altitude as it flew towards the houses on the edge of Ponyville. “Dear Celestia. He’s gonna hit the roofs!” One of the controllers ran for a phone to call the fire department while the rest of us hurried down the stairs. Halfway down, we heard the crash but we continued onwards. We made our way outside and ran towards the pillar of black smoke rising into the sky. As we ran we were joined by nurses and doctors from the base and MPs who would try to keep ponies back from the wreck. I felt my heart pounding in my chest as I ran and I could see emergency crews from Ponyville hurrying towards the crash site. As we arrived at the site we were met by burning wreckage along with dazed and bleeding survivors. We quickly went to work getting the most severely wounded on carts that would take them to the hospital and doing what we could for those that could be treated on site. Fire fighters and a couple MPs pulled others from the wreckage. As I stood up from giving a stallion a shot of morphine I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned around to see Colonel Ambrose in his dress uniform. “How can I help?” “Go and give morphine to any of the injured that haven’t gotten any yet.” “Yes sir.” He took several vials of morphine and hurried off to help the medics as I began helping the nurses load more of the critically injured onto wagons that would carry them to the hospital. I turned around and began digging through the wreckage again when I saw a familiar face amongst the survivors. Hurrying over to the cart I pulled the nurse aside and asked her about the red stallion in his dress uniform. “Apple, Macintosh; has minor scrapes and bruises but he does also have damage to his eyes.” “Would it be alright if I were to ride along with him?” “Are you family?” “I’m his CO.” “Sorry sir. Only family is allowed to ride along.” “Well what if he gives consent for me to ride along?” “Well,” She said as she looked over at the near empty cart “I suppose if he gave us consent we could allow it. I’ll go and ask him.” She trotted away and I saw her say a few words to Big Mac before she gave a wave for me to come over. I made my way over to the cart and sat down next to Mac where his ear turned at the sound of the wood creaking. “James?” “Yeah. How you feeling?” “Been better. Wish I could say I haven’t been worse.” “So what were you doing in town?” “I got a pass from the commander of the base up there. I think I might be more than three days.” “On the upside, you get a break from the war.” “Well I would like to at least be able to see during my wedding.” “Yeah. Wait, what?” “You didn’t think I wouldn’t eventually propose to Fluttershy did ya?” “Well, I figured you would eventually but this is one hell of a way to start off an engagement.” “Originally she said no but the next morning she told me she’d changed her mind.” “That’s nice. I’m happy for you Mac.” “She also enlisted in the Marine Corps.” I looked over at him in shock with my mouth slightly agape. “Are we talking about the same Fluttershy here? The same pony who’s scared by her own shadow wants to be a marine?” “Eeyup.” “Well that should prove to be interesting. Now, I have a proposition for you.” ~~~~~ 19:50 Hours 1237 N. Main St. Ponyville ~~~~~ Thunderstreak pulled my wool overcoat tighter around herself as we all sat around the fire place. Sabre draped his army overcoat over Brush Stroke as he brought more blankets to everyone. “How long until the power’s back on?” “No clue. So what’s your master plan now that you’re gonna be a dad numbnuts?” I asked him as he sat down next to Brush Stroke. “Have you two even told her parents? And no offence to her but why is she here and not at her house?” “She’s here because the weather is too bad for her to go home and I figured we’d get married.” “Can I speak with you in the kitchen for a moment?” Sabre got up and followed me into the kitchen where I leaned against the counter. “Why?” “Why what?” “Why would you throw away your whole career just for one mare? You had a chance to do something great with your life. You could have been the best damn singer and actor Equestria has ever seen but you went and knocked some girl up.” “What? Are you saying it’s my fault?!” “Well you were the one who stuck your pecker in her so yes I am! You’re my son now and by God I’ll make sure this whole thing never goes public if I have to!” “You don’t think I’m not worried about this too?! I know I had a career ahead of me but I’m willing to be a father who will care for his kid! That’s a hell of a lot more than you’re doing right now!” “Are you saying I’m a bad father just because I’m worried you’ll fuck up your life?!” “Yes I am! It’s my life and it’s about damn time I take control of it! I’m moving out.” “You’ll come crawling back in a week. Don’t think I don’t know that.” “Oh really? Just you watch me. I’ll take care of my family and I’ll do it like a dad should.” “I’d like to see you try.” I walked past him and back into the living room. Sitting down in the chair closest to the fireplace I stared into the dancing flames until a quiet voice made us all look away from the fire. “Doesn’t anyone care what I have to say about this?” The purple mare asked as she looked up at us from under the olive overcoat. “Isn’t anyone concerned how I’m going to fare now that I have a foal growing inside me?” “Now you know how I feel sweetie.” Thunderstreak said as she took a sip of her coco. “What am I going to do? I’m only seventeen and I’m pregnant with the kid of Equestria’s new heart throb. That’s all I’ll be known for now.” “Well, have you ever thought about being an actress or a singer? If what I’ve heard about you is true, you’re an amazing singer. You could always fall back on that.” “I suppose. But who’d come and see me once I got fat?” “Sweetie, trust me when I say it’s worth putting on the weight.” Brush Stroke sighed and pulled the overcoat tighter around herself as Sabre came downstairs with a suitcase. “Alright. I called a friend and he’s gonna bring his Cub over.” Sabre said as he set his suitcase by the door. “Wait, like the airplane?” “Yeah. He’s got skis on it instead of wheels. He’s just going to fly us to your house. Why?” “You know full well I’m scared of flying.” Brush Stroke said as she looked over at Sabre. “You’re a pegasus.” “Yes. And I trust my wings. Not some fabric covered death trap.” “Well that’s all we have for transportation at the moment so it’s either stay here or we fly out of here.” “Well then you can fly out of here. I’m not going in that wreck waiting to happen.” “What?! You’d rather spend the next few days here than with your parents?” “At least your mom seems to know what I’m going through. My mom would probably make me give it up!” “Well that’s good right? Give the kid to an adoption agency.” “You know damn well I meant it in a bad way Sabre. She’d drag me to some clinic as quick as she could.” “And that’s a bad thing?” “Why you,” Brush Stroke hurriedly grabbed for anything she could launch at Sabre “you no good son of a bitch! You don’t care what happens to this foal do you?! You lousy egotistical asshole!” Sabre ducked as she threw a vase in his direction which proceeded to shatter on the wall just above his head. “What the hell did I do?!” “You know full well what you did you no good bastard! You tell your dad you’ll take care of us like a father should and then you turn around and do this! We’re trough Sabre! If I never see you again it’ll be too soon!” “Fine!” Sabre grabbed his suitcase and hurried outside before anything else could be hurled at him while Brush Stoke finally broke down into tears. She sat down as Thunderstreak and Typhoon tried calming her down. I got up and stepped outside where Sabre stood watching for the little yellow plane. “What in the hell is wrong with you? That poor girl is going through the biggest problem she’s probably ever going to have to face and you say it’d be good for any of that to happen to your unborn foal. You’re going to be a father now it’s high time you damn well act like one. You’re out of school now so I can’t tell you what to do and I sure as hell don't approve of you getting her pregnant. But as long as you live under my roof you live by my rules. And as of now I’m establishing a new rule that you get your ass back in there and start acting like the stallion you need to be. You understand me?” “Yes sir.” “And if you fuck up on this level again I will personally sign your ass up for the Marine Corps and let some DI straighten you out. Am I crystal clear?” “Yes sir.” “Good. Now get in there and do what you need to do. Even if I am pissed at you for getting yourself into mess. I’ll handle your friend.” He turned around and went inside as the little yellow plane flew overhead in the near zero visibility conditions. Reaching into my pocket I pulled out my flashlight and began using the light to signal the Cub flying overhead. Soon after he banked and lined up with the street where he touched down a few moments later. As he slowed to a stop I ran over and tried to desperately stay on top of the snow. Just as I reached the plane I saw the door fling open and a brown colt around Sabre’s age stick his head out. “Evening Mr. Jones!” “Evening. Change of plans son. Sabre is staying here so you just go on back to your house. Alright?” “Yes sir! Have a good evening sir.” He shut the door on the little Piper and I quickly made my way to the house. Just as I got to the door I heard the little engine on the plane power up and I turned around just in time to see it take off into the blizzard. Turning back around I went inside where everything had calmed down and Sabre sat in the kitchen with Brush Stoke. Sitting down in the chair again I watched the fire dance amongst the logs in the fireplace. “He doing as I told him?” “Yes he is. I don’t know what you said to him but thank you.” “No problem. I don’t want him turning out like my dad.” “Me either. So, where is it the princesses are sending you after this blizzard?” ~~~~~ 21:00 Hours Palace of the Chancellor Gryphus, Griffin Empire ~~~~~ The sound of boot nails clicking on the marble floors echoed through the corridor as a man in a blue Luftwaffe uniform walked towards the war room. As he approached the doors the two guards snapped to attention and extended their right arms. “Heil Hitler!” They shouted in unison. The man in the Luftwaffe uniform gave a quick salute back and the guards hurriedly opened the doors. “Ah, Oberst Steiner! Wir sprachen gerade über Sie.” (Ah, Colonel Steiner! We were just talking about you.) Another man in a Luftwaffe uniform said as everyone looked up at him. “Ich entschuldige mich für die Verspätung Herr General. Ich bin gerade von einem Luftbohrer.” (My apologies for being late Herr General. I just returned from an air drill.) “Es ist in Ordnung Oberst. Mein Führer, das ist der Mann mit der Verteidigung der Gryphus beauftragt." (It is alright colonel. My Fuhrer, this is the man tasked with the defense of Gryphus.) The older man slowly stood up from his chair and walked over to the young Luftwaffe colonel who was now standing at attention. As the older man looked him over he stopped at the Iron Cross on his chest. “Wo hast du dein Kreuz zu bekommen?" (Where did you get your cross?) “Ich wurde während der Schlacht von Stalingrad mein Führer ausgezeichnet." (I was awarded it during the Battle of Stalingrad my Fuhrer.) The old man nodded and patted the Luftwaffe colonel on the shoulder before turning and taking his place at the table in the middle of the room. The colonel looked around at the other humans in the room. “Entschuldigen Sie Herr General, aber wo sind all die Greife?" (Excuse me Herr General, but where are all the griffins?) “Sie sind einfach unsere kleine Marionetten. Wir brauchen sie nicht für alle unsere Pläne." (They’re simply our little puppets. We do not need them for any of our plans.) “Und was sind Ihre Pläne Herr General?" (And what are your plans Herr General?) “Einfach. Sobald wir diese Welt und ihre Ressourcen unter unserer Kontrolle machen wir uns auf den Weg zurück nach Hause und wieder aufzubauen unserer tausendjährigen Reich." (Simple. Once we have this world and its resources under our control we make our way back home and rebuild our thousand year Reich.) “Und was passiert mit diesem Planeten, wenn wir unseren Heimatplaneten unter unserer Kontrolle?" (And what happens to this planet when we have our native planet under our control?) “Wir nutzen jede Ressource können wir aus dieser ekelhaften Fels zu bekommen und dann werden wir es aufgeben." (We use every resource we can get from this disgusting rock and then we abandon it.) “Was ist mit den einheimischen Arten? Wenn wir die Ressourcen, was aus ihnen werden?" (What about the native species? If we use up the resources what will become of them?) “Sie sind nicht von Bedeutung, außer zur Verwendung als Sklavenarbeit." (They are of no importance except for use as slave labor.) “Aber sie sind unsere Verbündeten." (But they are our allies.) “Sie sind Dreck. Nun nehmen Sie Ihren Platz. Das Treffen ist zu beginnen." (They are filth. Now take your place. The meeting is about to begin.) The general walked away and the young colonel took his place at the table where maps of the Gryphus area were scattered about. “Jeder ist vorhanden. Lassen Sie die Sitzung beginnen. Zunächst einmal, die Reiter produzieren seit mehr ihrer B-17-Bomber und P-51 Kämpfer, die den ganzen Weg von ihren Basen in der Crystal Reich Gryphus fliegen kann. Dies ist, wo Oberst Steiner kommt in. Unter seinem Kommando haben wir drei Staffeln von Messerschmitts und zwei weitere Staffeln von Focke-Wulf zu Gryphus verteidigen. Nach unseren Agenten in Canterlot der Feind bereitet für einen Angriff auf diesen Industriekomplexen hier, hier und hier." (Everyone is present. Let the meeting begin. First off, the Equestrians have been producing more of their B-17 bombers and P-51 fighters which can fly all the way from their bases in the Crystal Empire to Gryphus. This is where Colonel Steiner comes in. Under his command we have three squadrons of Messerschmitts and two more squadrons of Focke-Wulfs to defend Gryphus. According to our agent in Canterlot the enemy is preparing for an attack on these industrial complexes here, here, and here.) The general pointed to a different point on a map as he stated the targets. “Und was sind sie?" (And what are they?) The Fuhrer asked as he put on his glasses to get a better look. “Einer der Komplexe produziert Motoren für Flugzeuge, dieses ist der Produktion unserer Tiger-Panzer, und die dritte ist die Herstellung von Prototypen unserer Wunderwaffen." (One of the complexes is producing engines for aircraft, this one is producing our Tiger tanks, and the third is manufacturing prototypes of our wonder weapons.) “Welche unserer Wunderwaffen bauen sie?" (Which of our wonder weapons are they building?) “Die Dora ist kurz vor der Fertigstellung und die Maus über halbwegs abgeschlossen." (The Dora is nearing completion and the Mouse is over halfway completed.) "Gut. Holen Sie sich das Dora, seine Position an der Küste entlang und bewegen Sie die Maus in eine andere Einrichtung." (Good. Get the Dora to its position along the coast and move the Mouse to another facility.) “Wir haben bereits begonnen, damit mein Führer. Wir haben auch Informationen, auf die Überschrift und der Höhe der Feind auf sich nähern, damit unsere Luftabwehr bereit, um den Feind vom Himmel zu klopfen. Oberst Steiner Piloten werden nur benötigt, um jede feindliche Bomber, die über unsere AA Feuer bekommt zu bekommen." (We have already begun doing so my Fuhrer. We've also got the information on which heading and altitude the enemy will be approaching on so our anti-aircraft gunners will be ready to knock the enemy from the sky. Colonel Steiner’s pilots are only needed to get any enemy bomber that gets through our AA fire.) “Sehr gut. Meine Herren, ich muss für die Nacht zurückziehen." (Very good. Gentlemen, I must retire for the night.) The Fuhrer slowly walked away, leaving the other men in the room at the table. Colonel Steiner looked around at the others and made sure to avoid eye contact with the SS colonel across from him. The general dismissed them and Steiner hurried out to the Mercedes staff car that was waiting for him. “Where to Herr Colonel?” “Take me home. I need to make a call to someone.” “May I ask who sir?” The griffin in the front seat asked. “You know I disapprove of the Nazis. Correct, sergeant?” “Yes sir. We both do.” “Good man. We have an informant close to the general placed in command of a mission against Gryphus and I feel I need to warn the general.” “Who is the informant sir?” “He’s a major in their air force. A human from the United States of America.”