~~~~~
08:57 Hours
February 3, 1987
Canterlot Hospital
~~~~~
I opened my eyes and looked over at the beeping heart monitor next to me.
“Somebody come shut this beeping fucker off!”
I heard something move in against the wall and I looked over to see Thunderstreak sleeping in a chair. A doctor quietly trotted inside and adjusted the volume on the heart monitor.
“Nice to see you’re awake General Jones. We were worried your injuries were worse than they looked. Thankfully we were easily able to use magic to heal them.”
“Well how’d they look?”
He grabbed an x-ray off the wall and gave it to me to see. I looked at the x-ray of my left leg and the bone jutting out of the side. Pulling back the blanket I looked down at my leg and the reddish/pink scar running down the outside of my left leg.
“Is anyone besides my wife here?”
“Your mother-in-law was here earlier.” He said as he looked through a chart on his clipboard. “Took five security guards and all of their tazers to subdue her.”
“Yep. That’s Skytrain. Biggest drunk in Cloudsdale and Manehattan.”
The doctor turned and went out of the room. The click of the door was quiet yet was enough to wake Thunderstreak up. She looked around and I could see drool still at the corner of her mouth.
“Good morning.”
“You son of a bitch. If I wasn’t so tired I’d kill you.”
“Now, now, remember what your counselor said.”
“Fine.” She said as she brushed her brown mane out of her face. I looked around at the bare white walls of the room. On the small table next to the bed there were flowers and cards which I simply ignored for the time being.
“So did the doctor say when I could get out of this hell hole?”
“He said you could leave the day after you woke up.”
“One more question.”
“Yeah?”
“Is the car okay?”
~~~~~
10:00 Hours
February 4, 1987
Canterlot Hospital
~~~~~
I adjusted my cap as we stood at the hospital desk while the nurse filled out the discharge papers. She gave me a copy of the discharge papers and another paper to Thunderstreak.
“What’s this?”
“A list of things your husband did during his time here.”
I looked over at the list in her hooves and smiled.
“I may have done a few bad things here.”
“Set all the alarm clocks in the gift shop to go off at five minute intervals, moved ‘caution wet floor’ sign to carpeted area, when asked if he needed anything by a nurse he proceeded to shout ‘Why can’t you people just leave me alone?’ doctors were called, looked into security camera and used it as a mirror while he picked his nose,” Thunderstreak looked up at me and shook her head before continuing “darted around hospital suspiciously while humming the ‘Pink Panther’ theme, used funnels in maintenance department to practice his ‘Madonna look’, hid in gift shop clothes rack and shouted ‘Pick me! Pick me!’ at customers, and finally went into a broom closet and shouted ‘There’s no toilet paper in here!’.”
“Told you I did a few things while here.” I told her with a smile as we turned and began to walk away to leave.
“What the hell is wrong with you? You didn’t even let me know so I could join in!”
“Sorry dear.”
We walked out the doors of the hospital and were immediately swarmed by reporters. Leading the way to the black Lincoln limousine I hurriedly ushered Thunderstreak into the limo before climbing in next to her. As the limo began to drive away I noticed Celestia and Luna sitting in the seats in front of us.
“Where are we going?”
“We’re taking you to the airport so you can go home.”
“Well actually I managed to get a couple of tickets to the concert at Quicksilver Hall tonight.” I said as they turned around to face me.
“We don’t need you to be out tonight. Especially after what happened this morning.” Celestia replied as she tossed a newspaper at me. Catching it I unrolled it and looked at the headline. “Griffin U-Boat sunk the ocean liner Equestria while she was sailing to the Crystal Empire.”
“So what’s the Navy Department planning to do?” I asked as I read through the information on the sinking.
“They’ve already learned the identity of the sub captain and the location of the sub thanks to the codebooks you found.”
“And?”
“They’re sending Avenger bombers from the Wasp to drop depth charges on it once our destroyers confirm the location.”
“What’s the status of the Neighvada?”
“It’s being updated in Manehattan. Why?”
“Because I want the navy to help in a new operation I’ve been planning after we captured the enigma.”
“What is it?”
~~~~~
19:00 Hours
Quicksilver Hall
Canterlot, Equestria
~~~~~
As I walked into the theater box a few meters above the seats below I looked behind me at Thunderstreak. She gave me a small smile as we took our seats while the Air Force Band finished setting up on stage. When they finally settled down I saw Stardust walk out on stage in his olive colored uniform. His major rank pins gleamed in the stage lights and the crowd applauded as he did a quick bow. He stepped up to a 1930s style spring microphone and quickly the crowd calmed down.
“Mares and gentlecolts, thank you for coming this evening. I know the weather hasn’t been the greatest over the last couple of days. The band and I would truly like to thank the man of the hour though.” He pointed a hoof up at our theater box and a light quickly followed where he pointed. I stood and waved to the crowd below as they applauded and quickly waved for them to quiet down. As they did I took my seat again and reached over to grab Thunderstreak’s hoof. She leaned her head against my arm as the band began to play In The Mood and I could hear her quietly humming along to the song.
“Hey honey?”
“Yeah?” She asked as she looked up at me.
“How would you feel about just staying the night here in Canterlot?”
“I wouldn’t mind it. We can go see my grandparents tomorrow too.”
“Good. I like your grandparents. They’re so fun to listen to.”
~~~~~
11:25 Hours
February 5, 1987
Shady Oaks Assisted Living Community
~~~~~
“Albatross! You keep eating them damn candy bars and I’ll shove ‘em up your ass!” The elderly pegasus mare shouted from her spot in the kitchen at the old stallion sitting in the living room in front of a small black and white TV set as he ate another fun sized candy bar.
“The diabetes‘ll kill me before you do you old bat!” He shouted back as I watched them bicker with a small smile on my face.
“I hope you damn well choke on one.” Comet told him as she brought three cups of tea into the living room. I took my cup from her as she sat down on the couch next to me. The tan mare smiled at me which made her wrinkles much more defined. “So James, how’re things going with the war?”
“They’re going about as well as you’d expect a war to go. It’s taking its toll. Even on royalty. Last time I saw Shining Armor he was drinking scotch more than he was eating food. Same with Luna. They’re both starting to get a drinker’s gut.”
Comet looked over at Albatross and sighed. “I know plenty about beer guts.” She took a sip of her tea but put her cup down when the phone rang.
“Don’t worry grandma, I’ll get it.” Thunderstreak told her as she got up and hurried over to the phone. She picked up the receiver and let out a deep sigh a moment later. “James, it’s for you.” Getting up from the couch I took the phone from her and leaned against the kitchen wall.
“Hello?”
“Dora is a go.” A voice said on the other end and I quickly hung up the phone. Grabbing my overcoat off a rack I put it on as Thunderstreak and Comet looked over at me.
“Sorry to rush out like this but they need me at headquarters.”
“We understand dear.” Comet said with a small smile. I hurried down the hallway and out the front door where a black staff car was waiting for me. Climbing into the back I saw Colonel Steiner in a new Royal Military Intelligence Services uniform as well as a female griffin in and R.E.A.F. uniform.
“Here are the photos of the target you asked for.” Steiner said as he pulled a manila envelope from inside his coat. Opening up the envelope I pulled out pictures of the rail gun which was positioned along the coast of Prance.
“What’s the AA cover?”
“A few eighty-eights and twenty millimeters.”
“Fighter cover?”
“The First, Second, Seventh, and Twenty Sixth Fighter Groups are based along or near the coast. You may be looking at a slaughter in the skies if they learn about the raid.”
“So we’ll distract them. Have the boys in intelligence send a ‘secret’ message that we’re going to be bombing St. Neighzaire tonight at midnight. That should get their attention if they’ve begun intercepting our messages.” I looked at the giant rail gun in the photographs again before looking up at the griffin sitting across from me in a rear facing seat. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Commanding General James Jones. You must be the famous Gilda Goldfeather.” I said as I extended my hand towards her. She leaned forward and shook my hand and I noticed her stomach seemed to be bulging a bit. “You are with child?”
“You can tell?” She asked as she leaned back in her seat and I noticed her cheeks were slightly red. She reached down and placed her hand on her stomach. “Only three and a half months along.”
“I don’t even know how it happened. We’re not even the same species.” Steiner said and I looked over at him.
“You two are together?”
“We were to be married on the tenth but, as you can guess, that’s been put on hold.”
“Well my wife is currently five months along so it’s not odd to me for a human to be with another species.”
“You are married to a pony?”
“The most beautiful one in the world.” I replied as I pulled my wallet from my pocket. Opening it up I showed him a small copy of the family photo to which he gave a small smile. The car continued on through the streets of Canterlot and many ponies barely acknowledged the car as they had grown use to the jeeps and troop trucks moving around the city. We turned up the closed off lane to the place and guards were quick to usher us inside. Walking up the grand staircase of the palace I said hello to the guards who I had come to know during my many visits. As we approached the War Department area of the palace we saw the royal guards gradually being replaced by marines and MPs. Walking under an archway that had the words Department of Defense carved above it on the wall we were met by staffers and intelligence officers who had been monitoring enemy radio messages all morning.
“Sir, enemy is planning to send a U-Boat full of supplies to a changeling island.”
“Send a bomber loaded with depth charges to find it and have Admiral Ironside send the Drum after it. What’s next?”
“A new type of tank has been sighted near the capitol of Prance. Reports say it is nearly twice the size of our Shermans.”
“Have Liberators of the 453rd Bomb Group bomb it. Next.”
“Lieutenant Colonel Rainbow Dash reported her group has had its first pilot to reach ace status.”
Gilda stopped in her tracks and Colonel Steiner and I turned to look at her.
“Is something wrong?” Steiner asked and Gilda looked up at him.
“You remember that old friend I told you about?”
“Yes.”
“That’s her. Lieutenant Colonel Rainbow Dash.” She turned to look at me. “Even Dash is in this?”
“I’m afraid so. But she’s doing very well for herself. Commanding officer of the 332nd all mares fighter group. And just between you, me, and a fence post I think she’s shagging a group captain with the 133rd Volunteer Group up in the Crystal Empire if what I’ve heard is correct.” I told her as we began walking again. “Also, who was the pilot to reach ace?” I asked the young radio operator.
“A First Lieutenant Derpy Hooves sir.”
“Have her awarded the Flying Cross.”
“Yes sir.”
The radio operator hurried away and we turned the corner to enter the restricted area of the War Department. Walking into the room where a couple dozen ponies sat around in front of radio sets and a man in a green air force uniform stood on the small raised part above the rest of the room.
“Any news John?”
“None yet sir.” He said as we joined him on his platform. Looking down at all the radio operators I finally found the one I was looking for.
“Operator thirteen!” The orange mare turned to look at me and removed her headset. “Come here.” She stood up and trotted up to the platform. “Send a message to Ponyville Aerodrome and tell them to plan for an attack on the sub pens at St. Neighzaire at midnight tonight.”
“Yes sir.”
She trotted back to her radio set and began to tap out the message on her telegraph. We stood silent for several minutes after she had finished sending the message but turned to face a commotion to our left. Several operators had begun to write down messages and gave them to runners when they had finished. All at once four runners brought me messages and I read them over.
“Good news. They bought our rouse. All four fighter groups are being deployed to St. Neighzaire Aerodrome.” I said as I set the messages down on the oak wood railing.
“Or they’re bluffing and you’ll be flying into a trap.” Gilda replied. Turning to face her I looked down at her.
“That is a risk I’m willing to take for the safety of Equestria and her allies.”
Stepping down from the platform I walked down the hallway to the Department of the Navy. Stopping in front of the secretary’s desk she looked up and smiled at me.
“Admiral Ironside has been expecting you.” She said and pointed to his office down a small hallway. Walking to the wooden door I knocked before entering. The battleship grey stallion looked up at me and waved his hoof at a chair in front of his desk.
“Please, sit.”
Taking my seat I looked at him across his desk. His white uniform seemed to glow from the light coming through his office window.
“So you want the assistance of one of my battleships for your operation? Why should I allow that?”
“Because it is your duty. To win a war there must be cooperation between branches of the military. Without the assistance of the navy we may be looking at a long battle to destroy the Dora railway gun. We only need one battleship. One of your old dreadnaughts is all we need. We don’t need any of the new ships like the Marauder or even subs like the Catfish. Just an old dreadnaught.”
He smiled and stood up from his chair. I watched as he walked around the desk and then leaned against it.
“Of all the brass in Canterlot, you’re by far the most hardheaded son of a bitch among us. I knew you’d come here. Ask me in person for one of my battleships. I plan on giving you the Neighvada for this mission of yours. I just wanted to prove to myself that you are as hardheaded as we all thought.” He said with a small laugh.
“Well, thank you for your cooperation.”
“The Neighvada has already begun steaming her way north towards her position in the Crystal Channel. Now, I think you’d better run. You’ve got a plane to catch.”
~~~~~
23:00 Hours
February 5, 1987
Shining Armor Aerodrome
~~~~~
“Wardog One, you are cleared for takeoff.” A voice said in my headphones. I slowly pushed the throttles forward and the engines roared in response.
“Callout our speed.” I told the light brown earth pony stallion in the right seat.
“Seventy.”
We roared down the runway and I reached down and adjusted the seat in the B-24 with my left hand. Three pros of the B-24 Liberator over the B-17 was that it had adjustable seats, a larger bomb load, and tricycle landing gear. The down sides of the Liberator was that with the larger bomb load and smaller wing it took longer to get off the ground, caught fire easier, and climbed at a lower rate than the 17. All this I would learn throughout my career. As we rolled down the six thousand foot runway the copilot continued to callout our speed.
“One fifty!” He shouted as we neared the end of the runway. Pulling back on the controls I felt the nose wheel lift and the bomber hit the snow and grass at the end of the runway before the main gear finally began to rise above the ground. The flight engineer flipped the gear handle up and we heard the familiar clunk of the gear entering their bays. As the Liberator slowly began to climb I turned the wheel to the right and looked around for the formation ship. The yellow and red checkered B-24A came into view to our right and moved its way across the windscreen until we were flying behind the climbing bomber. In the distance I could see the darkened outline of the Crystal City and remembered the blackouts in effect for the cities in the area. The blue formation lights on the formation ship were now on and we made sure to keep a safe distance away as we flew to the right and behind of the bomber.
“Wham Bam this is Wardog One. Have a visual and on your tail.”
“Wardog One this is Wham Bam. Roger that. Our engineer has eyes on you. How many boxcars on the train?”
“We have fourteen boxcars on the train and one rowboat in the creek.”
“Roger that. We have eyes on fourteen boxcars. Breaking away.”
The formation ship banked away from our flight and we began to cross the channel at two thousand feet. To our left I could see the second Liberator in the formation and the only lights we had to see to ensure we stayed a safe distance away was the light from the moon. As we cruised over the channel I kept an eye on the special night instruments which had been painted with radium so that we could see them in the dark. To my right I could see the copilot looking over the instruments on his side of the panel and behind me the flight engineer kept a watchful eye out for any signs of trouble. Down below the moon’s reflection seemed to dance on the waves and we dropped down to fifty feet of altitude as we neared the middle of the channel. Ahead of us we could see the cliffs along the coast of Prance and I felt my stomach begin to tie itself in knots at the thought of the giant rail gun and its AA batteries. Shaking my head to get the thoughts away I focused on flying the bomber to the target.
“Get ready to climb.” I told the formation and we began to climb to avoid the cliff faces. Up ahead I could see the glow from the work site around the rail gun. Flying just above the treetops we could see activity on the rear section of the gun. Just as I was about to mention it to the copilot there was a tremendous roar and a flash from the muzzle of the 800mm gun.
“Jesus Christ! All aircraft open bomb bay doors!” The roller-shutter bomb bay doors slid up the sides of the fuselage and the crew readied their guns. We entered the clearing and aimed to fly directly over the gun. Just as we were about to fly over it I pulled the bomb release handle in the cockpit and dropped the armor piercing bombs. Pulling up I knew we had only three seconds before the bombs went off thanks to their time fuses and I could hear the gunners opening fire on the griffin troops on the ground. As we leveled out at hat I thought was a safe altitude I heard the bombs go off in the rear section of the rail gun and the ammo stores go up with them. Just as we were about to celebrate I felt the bomber shake and calls began to come forward from the tail.
“Shrapnel’s hit the hydraulics for my turret!” A panicked cry came from the belly gunner.
“We’ve got a big fuckin’ hole in the left elevator sir!”
“Sir, Lightning can’t feel his legs!”
Looking down at the instrument panel I saw the hydraulic pressure for the gear and the flaps was at zero and the rpms for the two inboard engines were dropping fast.
“Fuck. All crew prepare for a crash-landing!”
Looking around for an empty clearing I finally found one a mile away from a farm house that was just over five miles from the target. Pulling back on the throttles and controls I lowered the airspeed and dropped altitude as we neared the small field. From the tail the panicked cries of the belly gunner were ignored as everyone tried not to think about what would happen.
“General! Please! I don’t want to die!”
Removing my headset I focused on setting the bomber down. We dropped down from below treetop height and into the clearing. The tail just below the tail gunner’s turret began to drag and the calls from the ball gunner became more excited until they suddenly ended and I could hear the ball turret being crushed under the bomber. As the tail continued to drag I heard a loud cracking and the nose suddenly dropped and dug into the frozen ground. As snow and dirt poured through the broken nose windows the bomber slowed and the flight engineer opened up the emergency hatch in the top of the cockpit. Unbuckling from my seat I got up and climbed out of the emergency hatch as the bomber came to a stop. The left wing had dropped and we began to run down the wing when I looked back. The tail section had broken away and lay over a hundred feet behind the nose section. The tail gunner and right waist gunner both dragged the left waist gunner along by the straps of his flight suit and we all hurried towards the farm house as fast as we could. In the distance we could hear dogs barking and orders being shouted in Germane. Pushing through brush and tree limbs we eventually broke through and the farm house was only a few hundred feet away.
“You boys stay here.” I told them as I jogged up to the door. Knocking on the door I waited a few seconds until a tired looking blue pegasus stallion opened the door.
“English? Can you understand me?”
“Yes, yes, get in before the Gestapo catches you!” He scolded in a loud whisper. I waved for the crew to follow me and they dragged the wounded gunner along behind them. As we entered the small house I noticed a red pegasus mare on the steps leading to the upstairs. We hurried over and dragged the now unconscious gunner upstairs. Halfway up the steps we heard a pounding at the door and double-timed it up the creaking steps. We set the wounded stallion down on the floor and the remaining five of us all produced our side arms. Sneaking down the steps we peeked around the corner and saw two griffins in black SS uniforms flanking a tall blonde man in a major’s uniform.
"Wir wissen das du sie irgendwo versteckst! Wo sind die Piloten?!" (We know you’re hiding them somewhere! Where are the pilots?!) He shouted as he kicked stallion who was now lying on the floor.
“I don’t know.” The stallion gasped out.
"Lügen!" (Lies!) The Gestapo officer shouted as he kicked the stallion again. "Wo sind sie?!" (Where are they?!)
At that the five of us aimed around our cover at the black shirted men. Squeezing the trigger I heard the loud bang from the gun which was followed by the four others firing at the griffins and the Gestapo major. Firing again I saw the right side of the major’s head open up with a spray of blood, brain matter, and bits of skull. The only remaining griffin, though severely wounded, opened fire in our direction with his MP 40. His magazine was empty a few moments later and we seized the opportunity before he could reload. The tail gunner fired his revolver and the bullet traveled through the side of the SS sergeant’s neck and into the wall behind him. The griffin grabbed at his neck as blood spurted out onto the floor and the nearby table. He collapsed and we hurried over to pull the weapons off of the corpses. Taking the dead major’s Luger pistol I bent down and helped the stallion to his hooves.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, yes. It’s not the first time I’ve been beaten by the SS, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.” He said as he sat down at the blood stained table. The mare brought over seven cups of coffee which was just hot water with a ground up coffee bean in each cup.
“I apologize for the weak coffee. We get very little of it here so we try to conserve our rations.” She said as she set the small tin cups down and I noticed her ribs were visible.
“When is the last time you’ve eaten?” I asked her when she sat down next to her husband.
“Three days ago.” She replied before taking a sip of her coffee.
“Can pegasi eat fish?” I asked as I turned to face her and her husband.
“We can but most of the channel is frozen and the griffins patrol along the coast. They would notice us.”
“Don’t you worry about that.” I told them as I looked down at the dead Gestapo major. “I can make sure you folks get some food.”
~~~~~
01:12 Hours
February 6, 1987
One Hundred Yards off the Coast of Prance
~~~~~
The pitch black water was visible through the hole in the ice and I looked down at the black uniform I had donned.
“You look weird as tartarus sir.” The tail gunner said as he brought a cup of warm water out to me.
“I know. I don’t like being in this damn thing.” I told him as I took the cup from him. He sat down and I noticed a blue wool blanket wrapped around him. Taking a sip of the water I looked at the middle aged yellow earth pony. “You know I’ve always wondered something.”
“What is it?”
“Why is it some ponies have fur over their hooves and some don’t?”
“Well for me it’s because I’ve worked so hard I’ve just worn it off.” He said as he looked at one hoof and brushed his red mane off his forehead with the other. “There was this one farm I used to go and work at in Ponyville for a month or so every few years. Mrs. Smith was the owner and boy her daughter was a looker. That’s why I lost most of the fur on my hooves; from working on their apple farm. Not that me and her daughter didn’t have a few rolls in the hay too though.” He said with a small chuckle.
“I know Granny Smith. Nice lady. Her grandkids are amazing.”
“She’s got grandkids? She never told me.” He asked as he looked up at me with his orange eyes.
“Yeah. Her oldest is with the Ninety First Bomb Group. Captain Macintosh Apple.”
“He’s-he’s a pilot?”
“Yep. And the middle one, she’s been trying to enlist to ferry bombers.”
“There’s a girl?”
“Two. Applebloom is eight and a half. She goes to school with my youngest son.” I told him as I reeled in a seemingly half frozen fish and set it next to the half of an oil drum I was sitting on. Dropping the hook down into the water again I took another sip from my tin cup and looked up at the moon overhead. “Luna sure did make it pretty tonight.” I said as the thousands of stars in the sky twinkled like tiny gems. He looked up and nodded in agreement.
“She sure did sir. She sure did.”
~~~~~
03:30 Hours
February 6, 1987
Gannet Family Farm along the Coast of Prance
~~~~~
Walking through the front door I immediately removed the black uniform jacket and sat down at the table with the night’s catch.
“There you go. Ten fish. That should serve you two plenty.” I said as the pegasus mare covered her mouth and began to cry. “What’s the matter? Do you need more? Cause I can go get more if you need it.”
“No. This is plenty. It’s just that not even our neighbors, who were the friendliest ponies we’ve ever met, helped us when the griffins invaded our country a couple of months ago.”
“You said ‘were’. What happened to them?”
“The SS took them away for being earth ponies.” She said as her husband placed all but one fish in the ice box and set the remaining one on the stove. Putting on my olive uniform I let the crew go to sleep on beds made of bales of straw from the barn. Setting a chair by the door I kept my pistol at my side the rest of the night, ignoring the homeowners’ constant persisting that I get some sleep. As dawn broke over the coast I heard a rooster crow in the distance, followed by the sound of a rifle. Grinning at the commotion from down the road I heard something move to my right and turned to see the flight engineer rolling over in his sleep. As I looked at the crew I heard a noise and glanced over at the stairs in time to see the stallion of the household coming down the stairs.
“Morning Mr. Gannet.”
“Good morning general.” He said as he grabbed a tin cup from the cupboard.
“Do you have any way to get a message out of here?”
“Funny you should ask that. Our neighbors to the north are part of the resistance and saw your plane go down in the clearing. They snuck over while you were out fishing and they’ve been working to get a rescue party for you.”
“Tell them thanks from me.” I said as the distant sound of helicopters could barely be heard. Getting up I kicked the straw bales the crew was sleeping on and hurried upstairs to bring down the injured gunner. As I reached the bottom of the steps I could hear the familiar sound of two Hueys now overhead. Opening the farmhouse door I was met by two olive colored helicopters with large red crosses on the sides. “Move, move, move!” The air crew rushed out to the helicopters and I placed the wounded gunner in the second helicopter. Running up to the second helicopter I was about to climb in but stopped and turned to face the house. In the door way the mare and stallion stood watching and I hurried over to them.
“Come with us!” I shouted over the sound of the engines and rotors.
“There won’t be enough room!”
“Bull! I’ll stand on the skids if I have to so you two can get out of here!”
“Fine! Let me grab something!” Mrs. Gannet shouted and galloped back upstairs. She returned a moment later with a photo album. “Let’s go!” She yelled and rushed out to the lead helicopter. Her husband and I followed and we all found our seats and were soon in the air over the coast. In the distance smoke was still rising from the destroyed rail gun and the Neighvada continued to shell it for good measure.
“Sir! Urgent message from Canterlot!” The copilot shouted and handed me a hoof written note.
To Commanding General Jones
By order of Princess Luna marshal law has been declared in the city of Canterlot. Due to this your presence has been demanded at Air Force Headquarters.
~Rear Admiral Harvard
“Lieutenant! What happened!?”
“Canterlot was bombed by long range griffin bombers! Initial reports say there’s been heavy damage to the palace! I’m afraid Celestia has been fatally wounded!”