The midday sun beat down relentlessly. The temperature itself wasn’t bad, somewhere in the low eighties, but walking in the direct sunlight made it feel far hotter than it really was. I was currently walking down a well-used dirt road, along with the rest of the thirteen man patrol. Six of us walked on the right side, six on the left, spaced and staggered, with Colonel Nelson walking in the center, occasionally drifting to talk to one of us. Trees bordered the road on either side, preventing any of us from seeing very far in any direction, except forward and back. Aside from their wonderfully inviting shade, there was the chance that the same trees could be hiding our enemies, a thought that had me uneasy since we’d entered this stretch of road.
We’d been out on this patrol for over an hour, but we’d left just before noon, meaning we’d been doing most of the walking with the sun directly overhead. God damn, if I don’t get a break soon, I’m gonna roast! As if he’d read my mind, Colonel Nelson raised his closed fist, signaling a halt. The entire patrol scattered from the road, taking cover in the trees on their respective sides. Taking a knee in the glorious shade, next to a large tree, I immediately began scanning as far into the woods as I could, and took several large swallows from my camelbak. Not about to let myself get taken by surprise.
A couple minutes after the halt had been called, I heard movement behind me, followed by a hand being placed on my shoulder. “Duran, I’ve got a job for you.”
Glancing back, I saw the colonel and Private Tovey. “What do you need, sir?” I asked, looking forward again.
“There’s a good-sized hill a hundred meters back, on this side, you familiar with it?”
I can see where this is going. I nodded. “Yes sir.” I’d seen it on this, and other patrols through this area.
“Good. I want you to take Tovey, and set up an overwatch position while we’re here. You two will rendezvous with the rest of the patrol as we pass on the way back.”
Yep, saw that coming. “Roger.” I stood and turned, looking to Tovey. He stood about three inches taller than me, and was decked out in the same combat gear I was. Rather than a standard rifle, the private was armed with an M249 SAW, which was probably why he’d been picked. “Let’s go, Tovey.”
We started heading in the direction we’d come from, Colonel Nelson falling in step with us. “Private Tovey also has a radio, when you get up there, make sure to get a comms check with me.” He said.
“Will do, sir.”
As we neared the front of the patrol, the colonel stopped. “One more thing, corporal.”
I stopped and turned to face him. “Sir?”
“Be careful. We’ve had reports of enemy activity near this area. While I don’t foresee them coming out this far…”
“We’ll keep our heads on a swivel.”
“Good man, now get up there.”
Without a word, I spun, and resumed my previous course, Tovey falling in beside me. We stayed just inside the treeline, just in case the enemy was watching. It didn’t take us long to reach the base of the target hill, and we began ascending. The trees on this hill in particular started thinning out near the top, leaving only a sparse grouping at the peak, and a collection of undergrowth. Despite not being as heavily covered, a soldier in the prone would be difficult to see from any angle, which is why we were using it.
Reaching the top of the hill took longer than actually getting to the hill, since it was fairly steep, and the peak rose over the treetops. Once we arrived, Tovey immediately lowered his weapons bipod, and went prone, setting up overlooking where our patrol was. I took a knee inside the group of four trees. It left me a little more exposed, but I would be able to see in every direction with minimal movement and effort.
“Get that radio check, Tovey.” I ordered, as I lifted my weapon and peered through the scope.
“Roger.” There was a pause, then, “Eagle Six, this is Overwatch Two. Radio check, over.”
Reaching up, I spun a ring on my scope, increasing the magnification to nine power. At that magnification, and because I knew where to look, it was easy to see our patrol, even in the trees, though I could only see the guys on the opposite side of the road.
As I looked over them, I dimly heard Colonel Nelson over Tovey’s radio. “Overwatch Two, Eagle Six. Read you lima charlie, over.”
“Roger. Overwatch out. … We’re good, corporal.”
“Good. How’re you doing?”
“Feels good to be off my feet.”
I lowered my weapon, and gave a soft laugh. “Amen to that.” I took minute to give my rifle a quick once over. It was a standard M4 carbine. The only notable things about it were the rail-mounted bipod I’d put on, and the scope. The optic was one of my personal belongings, capable of 3-9 power magnification, mounted with one inch risen, quick-release rings, very durable and very accurate. Since it was being used on government property, I’d had to get permission to use it. It was also the most likely the reason the colonel had decided on me for overwatch.
Satisfied the rifle was working order, I looked around over the woods around us. They weren’t very dense, which allowed me to see through portions of the canopy, and allowed the guys back down on the road to see through it a decent distance. That advantage was also a problem, as it allowed the enemy the same thing. Scanning in every direction, and seeing nothing, I was satisfied that we were in the clear for now, but something just didn’t feel right. I kept my guard up.
Several minutes passed in relative silence, before Tovey spoke up. “Corporal.”
“What’s up?” I asked. Using my knee as a pivot, I turned to face the opposite direction, once again raising my rifle to scan through the scope.
As if he could sense my unease, he said, “I can’t place it, but something isn’t right.”
Dialing the magnification down several powers, I searched several openings in the treetops. Nothing. “Yeah… I’m getting that feeling too.” I shifted around as I lowered my M4, swapping the knee I was on for the other. Spinning back to face the direction of the patrol, which was to the east, I noticed Tovey rise to his knees and shift his weapons orientation. He didn’t immediately return prone, and instead did an area scan of his own.
Returning my attention to the east, I scanned the skies. Something caught my eye, and I threw myself to the ground. “Get down!” I hissed at Tovey. The private was prone and behind his SAW in an instant.
“What?”
“Possible contact.” Twisting the magnification power to six, I aimed at the spec I’d seen and looked through the scope. It took a moment to zero in on the object, but as soon as I did, I recognized it instantly. Shit. Flying through the air on a north-south course, was a pegasus. I could just make out its white coat, and the golden armor it wore. Damn it, it’s a Guard. “Contact, pegasus Royal Guard… estimated five hundred meters east. Call it in.”
Tovey didn’t hesitate. “Eagle Six, Overwatch Two.”
There was a pause, then, “Send it.”
“Overwatch has eyes on enemy fliers, five hundred meters east of our location. How copy?”
Another pause. “Good copy, Overwatch. Stand by.”
“Roger, Overwatch standing by.”
I’d kept my scope glued to the target through the chatter, tracking its every move. Fortunately it didn’t alter course.
“Do you see his wingman?” Tovey asked.
The guard banked left, and headed east, toward the distant mountain that held their capital, Canterlot if I remembered correctly. As he did that, I looked over my scope. “Negative I don’t, no wait… Affirmative, there he is.” Squinting, I was able to just make out the faint dot. It was farther east, and probably following the same flight pattern as the other. I almost sighed in relief, but Tovey suddenly swore.
“Shit. Corporal, seven o’clock high.”
Fuck. Turning, I easily spotted another pegasus guard, this one slowly flying west to east. Moving slowly, I crept up on Tovey’s left. He was breathing quick and heavily, probably worried, and I couldn’t blame him. If we got spotted, we’d probably have pegasi all over us before we could make it off the hill. “How the fuck did we not see him till now?”
“I don’t know, Duran… This is bad. If they’re out this far, that means…” He didn’t finish, and didn’t have to.
“I know.” Reaching over, I grabbed the radio mic from its place on his left shoulder. “Eagle Six, Overwatch One.”
As I waited for Nelson to respond, I spotted this guards wingman. The second one was closer to our position than the first of the pair. These two were flying relatively close to each other, about one hundred meters apart. Based on their speed, they were definitely searching for something.
The mic crackled. “Send it, One.”
“Overwatch has eyes on a second patrol, seven o’clock of our position, heading east, over”
“Distance?”
“Wait one.”
Turning, I found them again, now at our eight o’clock. Shit, they’re close! I keyed the mic. “They’ll pass by at about two hundred meters north of us.”
“Roger. Let them pass, then radio us when we’re clear.”
“Roger Six, Overwatch One, out.” I returned the mic to Tovey, then gripped his shoulder. “Relax.” I said, my voice low. “We’ve got good concealment. Just don’t move and they’ll fly right by.” His breathing slowed, but he was still taking deep breaths. “Good, now keep quiet.”
I knew Tovey had only gotten out of basic a year ago, and had never seen combat. I on the other hand had a tour in Afghanistan under my belt, which included several firefights with insurgents. On top of that, I’d been in two engagements here in Equestria.
As Tovey and I lay on the hilltop, I kept my hand on his shoulder, to try and keep him reassured. I don’t know how much time passed, since I didn’t dare move to look at my watch, but it felt like an eternity. Suddenly, I saw one of the flying guards in my peripheral vision. It was still moving slowly, but was now at my eleven o’clock. A minute later, his wingman appeared in my vision, which had me confident enough to turn my head to watch them better. They were both scanning the ground in front of them, what they were looking for, I hadn’t a clue. It very easily could have been our patrol.
Beside me, Tovey let out a deep breath. With those two now in front of us, we’d just dodged a bullet. Just to be sure, I slowly scanned the skies I could see. Aside from the slow flying guards, there was nothing, not even a cloud. How the actual fuck did they get that close without us spotting them sooner? As the pair continued onward, I prayed our guys had taken good cover. By now, some of them down there should be able to see the pegasi overhead.
Once the threat was a good distance away, Tovey whispered, “That was close.”
I just gave a soft grunt in reply. Even though we hadn’t been discovered, something was still felt wrong, and I’d learned to trust that feeling.
The pegasi guards passed over the location where we’d left the patrol, but gave no indication they’d seen anything. Still, that nagging feeling in the back of my mind refused to leave.
I waited a few more minutes just to be safe, then took the mic from Tovey again. “Eagle Six, Overwatch One.”
“Send it.”
“You’re clear to start falling back. Recommend the patrol keeps inside the trees, over.”
“Roger, Overwatch. We’re moving out now. Keep eyes on and alert us if they double back.”
“Roger Six, Overwatch One, out.” Once again returning the mic to Tovey, I brought up my rifle. Through the scope, I could vaguely make out movement well inside the trees where our guys were.
Glancing up, I watched as the two fliers continued on their way, having missed our guys. I was about to relax when Tovey suddenly jerked, and began frantically looking around, his breathing increasing rapidly.
“What’s wrong?” He didn’t answer, and just kept looking around.
“Talk to me, Tovey.” Still nothing.
“Private, what’s wrong wi-“
“We’re being watched!” Tovey interrupted, finally answering me.
That immediately got me looking around as well, my heart-rate jumping up. Even with my scope, I couldn’t see anything, but Tovey's actions now had me on edge. “I don’t see anything.”
“I know they’re watching, I can feel it!”
While I didn’t share that feeling, the unease I felt was stronger than ever, from Tovey’s actions, or something else, I didn’t know. “Calm down, will you? You’re going to hyperventilate.”
He didn’t respond, just kept up his frantic search for whatever he felt was watching. God damn it. Still doing my own search, I was coming up with nothing. “Tovey, there’s nothing out there besides those peg-“ Something glinted through a gap in the treetops near the base of the hill, catching my attention, and stopping me mid-sentence. Reaching up I rotated the magnification to the maximum setting. Focusing in, I strained my eye, looking where I’d seen the glint, then froze. There, just barely discernable in the shadows, was a pony, a Royal Guard.
His fur was gray, but his armor wasn’t the gold we were used to. Instead it was painted in a forest camouflage. The color combinations made him extremely hard to see. The glint I’d seen came off the head of the spear that was encased in a faint blue glow next to him. That could only mean one thing: it was a unicorn. Fuck. Even worse than that, it was highly unlikely that he was alone. Given his current location, and looks, it was obvious what was going on.
Raising my head from behind the scope, I muttered, “It’s an ambush…” I immediately regretted saying it out loud.
Tovey’s head snapped forward, trying to spot the threat, as he whimpered a shaky “What?”
We needed to warn the colonel. “Tovey, get on the radio.” I instructed as I looked to him. “Tell the colonel… Tovey?”
I’d seen guys have breakdowns before, but this was by far the worst. Tovey’s face was completely white. I couldn’t see his eyes, but I didn’t have to. I knew he was terrified.
“Tovey.” Nothing. “Tovey!” Reaching out, I grabbed his shoulder. That turned out to be a mistake. As soon as I touched him, he lost it. With a shriek of terror, he shot to his feet, weapon in hand, and immediately bolted down the hill, heading for the road.
“God fucking damn it!” I jumped to my feet, unsure of what to do. The radio had run off with Tovey. Without that, I couldn’t warn the colonel. What I could do, was stay here, and use the advantage the hill gave to support the others, but I couldn’t just leave Tovey by himself.
Before I made a decision, the forest below erupted with the sounds and lights of a fight, drawing my attention. The crack of gunfire came in varying bursts, the longer bursts clearly from the crew-served machine guns. The lights were from muzzle flashes, magic blasts, and the damned bubble shields from the unicorns. Looking back to where I’d seen Tovey, and seeing nothing but trees, I made my decision.
Turning to the fight, I raised my M4 to my shoulder, flicked the safety, and opened fire. After a half-dozen rounds, all of which had hit one of the bubbles, I was rewarded with a volley of magic bolts being launched in my direction. Fortunately, every shot went high or low. Dodging left anyway, I dropped to a knee, and emptied the rest of the magazine as fast as I could. I dropped the spent magazine, shoving it in the drop-pouch on my left hip, grabbed a new mag, and slapped it into my weapon. More bolts of magic arched up to me, and I dropped into the prone as I hit the bolt-release, the bolts going high, or impacting the ground around me.
From my vantage point, I could see the way the fight was unfolding. There was a ‘U’ shape of bubble shields between me and what would be the location of the patrol, the curve closest to me. As I watched, the open end slowly started to close around into an oblong circle. Shit, they’re surrounded! Moving to a new position several meters to my right, I rose back to my knee, flipped my M4 to ‘burst’, and opened up on the nearest bubble.
From prior engagements, we knew that the shields the unicorns made would stop bullets, but each impact weakened the shield in return. The ponies had learned quickly to counter our wearing down their shields by rotating casters. Even as I emptied my second magazine, the shield, which was some shade of yellow, flickered. I couldn’t have done that with just one magazine, so someone else was shooting that one as well. Before it collapsed, a blue shield appeared in the same area. As soon as it did, the yellow one vanished.
Dropping down to reload again, I heard an explosion. Someone must have thrown a grenade, and the result was immediately obvious. The two bubbles closest to the blast vanished instantly, leaving gap that was no doubt being exploited. Yes! They’ve got an opening! I cheered my comrades accomplishment as I finished reloading. My jubilation was cut short as more colorful magic bolts peppered the ground in front of me. Figuring I was pushing my luck, I fell back, crawling to the cluster of trees before I rising to my feet.
A look showed that the circle of shields was now moving slowly down the road, no doubt pursuing the retreating patrol. That also meant I was about to be cut off from my friends. As I realized this, something told me to look up. When I did, a wave of dread went through me. The skies were no longer clear. They were full of armored pegasi, and two of them were coming right for me.
“Oh, shit…” Lifting my rifle, I tried to sight in on the lead pony, but the scope was still at maximum magnification, and as soon as I moved, the pair banked and turned right, spoiling any shot I might have had. Setting my weapon back to ‘semi’, I fired two rounds anyway, to show them I meant business, before I cranked the scope down to 4x, and started to double-time it off the hill. I only made it four steps, before I had to throw myself to the ground to avoid yet another magic barrage. God damn. I’ve got to be overdrafting at the bank of luck.
Rolling to my feet once again, I made to start back down the hill, when a golden-armored pegasus appeared in front of me, hovering, brandishing a spear, and blocked my path. Instinct took over, and my M4 came up. Just as the barrel aligned in his general area, the pegasus gave a powerful beat of his wings and launched himself to the right. Turning, I tried to track him, but he kept accelerating. I let him go, and instead started firing at the swarm of fliers that were still closing in. Six rounds later, I turned, only to see a wall of bubbles that was slowly starting to wrap around the west side of the hill as well.
I’m so fucked. It felt like a lead weight had settled in my gut. There was no way I could rejoin my group. As bolts of magic began streaking toward me, and no other options, I turned and ran as fast as I could across the top of the hill. Firing upwards, to keep the pegasi at bay, I tore across the top of the hill, determined to make it down the south face before I was completely encircled.