//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: The Great Escape // Story: A Crystal Revolution // by Stalins Moustache //------------------------------// Emerald impact unloaded and reloaded his rifle for what had seemed to be the hundredth time in the short journey by cart. "You lads know the plan, right?" asked their commander, Iron Bulwark. A stallion who had lead a group of rebels to moderate success in the rising, even managing to evade capture on numerous occasions. "Aye, you've been going on about it since the cart bleedin' left!" came one of Iron Bulwark's original subordinates, a rebel named Crimson Hazard, he sat there with a slightly irritated look on his face, primarily because he was garnished in an Equestrian uniform. Emerald looked down adjusting the many buttons, pockets and ornamentations on his uniform, whilst he hated being forced to wear the uniform of the enemy he would be willing to do a lot worse than sacrifice his pride if it meant any chance of their rebellion succeeding. As the cart drew ever closer to the barracks-turned-prison the rain began to intensify into a full-blown monsoon. He felt a small wet streak of rain caress his chin, looking up he realised that the rain had penetrated the canvas roof of the cart. When at last they arrived at the barracks their plan was set into motion, two stallions would wait beside the cart in case of emergency whilst the others posed as guards in order to carry out their orders. The plan itself was not infallible however and each and every stallion and mare risk a great amount by signing up. Emerald himself was left with his orders, steal a dossier containing information on all of the rebels who had defected during the rising and free Steel Defiance, his old commander and friend. Emerald knew this was not going to be easy however and had already said his goodbyes to his loved ones in case anything were to happen. His squad proceeded into the building and after being checked by the guards they were cleared through. When they came across where the records Equestrian were kept, they had only to convince the guard to let them pass and they would have completed their first objective. "Stop, I need your name and unit!" the guard said in a bored tone. "Hello, I am commander Skye of Celestia's own second Equestrian Fusiliers," Emerald said in an over exaggerated Equestrian accent. However this was enough for the bored turnkey, and after an audible sigh he let them enter where the records were kept. "By Tartarus," Emerald said as he looked around the room, the shelves were stuffed full of leaflets, packets and dossiers all full of information, "we never stood a chance." Emerald then proceeded through the cramped room, moving through the maze of filing cabinets and shelves until he came to what he wanted, the third drawer down on a massive blue filing cabinet, the name plate read 672-Contingency plan Alpha. He drew open the cabinet and was thoroughly surprised that it was almost empty, with the exception of one small file. He grabbed the file, stuffing it haphazardly underneath his coat. He and his men then left but not before their squads sapper, a mare by the name of Burning Inferno left behind a small surprise for the Equestrians in the shape of one of the rare fire crystals, that when left at room temperature for too long will explode in a fiery blaze and immolate almost everything in it's path. As they once more made their way down the Prison's dreary halls they couldn't help but overhear the shots ringing out from the courtyard and the chanting that was coming from the inmates. When they did arrive at the entrance to the courtyard Emerald turned to face his squad. "You all know what to do, Inferno you will give the signal to dump the cache of weapons to the prisoners," she gave a small nod in reply and then he continued "the rest of us will have to drag Steel out, remember to put the bag over his head, the entire mission could depend on it." ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Steel Defiance wriggled his hands around their bindings, from what he could tell, Shining Armour wanted to spare him the firing squad and instead send him to the noose. The bag they had shoved over his head had left him dazed and writhing in pain. However he could still tell he was in a cart, if not for the familiar sound of wheels going over uneven road he would be completely lost. After the cart had departed the Prison he had heard an explosion sound from inside the building. It was followed by the sounding of rifles and machine-guns, once more the cacophony of war sounded out over the Crystal Empire. He had formulated a few theories over how the prisoners managed to pull of such a large scale attack from within the prison, however he was only left more confused when he began to consider all of the different variables and possibilities. After what had been possibly been the longest journey by cart in his life, he was dragged into a building and after hearing the door slam and lock his heart sunk. Finally they ripped the bag off of his head, which sent him spiraling backwards as the light almost burned his eyes. Eventually his eyes managed to adjust to the light, he looked around the familiar room of the upper floor of the Strong Stallion Inn. He then saw crowded around him a column of Rebels with Iron Bulwark and Emerald impact at the head of the group. However they were all dressed in Equestrian uniforms. "What the buck!" Steel Defiance said his head still spinning and his side still in pain. "Happy to see us boss?" Emerald Impact asked in a sarcastic tone, while reaching a hand into the inside of his uniform, "If your not happy to see us, you will be happy to see this." Steel Defiance thumbed through the brown folder, finding inside it not only the names and locations of many Equestrian informers, but also their plan that would crush the rebels once and for all. After rigourously checking almost every detail in the folder Steel Defiance finally looked up. "What resources do we have at our disposal?" he asked in a hopeful tone. "Well, just the weapons we have with us, a single cart and this safehouse," Emerald Impact said a look of despair on his face. "Very well," Steel Defiance then looked up at the men, with an all too familiar look on his face and with a sigh he continued, "I want letters distributed to both the ponies under the employ of the new Equestrian regime and all current rebels who have evaded capture, warning that any and all further collaboration with the forces of oppression is now punishable....by death." " But sir, that m-means-" Iron Bulwark stuttered until he was interrupted by Steel Defiance. "It means we will be the ones having to do it, I know it's almost too much to ask and if any of you have any second second thoughts you may leave, I won't think any less of you if you do," when not a single one of the rebels left, Steel Defiance continued, "No one, good."