Author's Note: I recommend re-reading the previous chapter "Postcards from the Edge" before getting too deep into this one.
Miss Sparkle,
Attached please find the excerpts you requested from the mission logs of your abortive archeological expedition to Saddle Arabia. As these are the Night Guard forces’ CrystalCom transmission records, the expedition itself is referred to herein as “Operation Dusk Endeavour.” I must remind you that the following excerpts are classified material and that they are not to be distributed. You have been granted access to them by special permission of Princess Luna, or “Night Mother” as her callsign indicates.
Sincerely,
Musty Tome
Archivist, History/Military/Political materials
Royal Canterlot Library
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[BEGIN EXCERPT]
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FROM: NIGHT MOTHER
TO: CMDR HEAVY GORGET, FCOM/OP DUSK ENDEAVOUR
SAY AGAIN, COMMANDER. LAST TRANSMISSION UNCLEAR. RESTATE MISSION STATUS.
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FROM: CMDR HEAVY GORGET, FCOM/OP DUSK ENDEAVOUR
TO: NIGHT MOTHER
TS IS DOWN, REPEAT, TS IS DOWN. SOME KIND OF ANTI-MAGIC EXPLOSION. TS’S ARABIAN ESCORT UNDER ATTACK. MULTIPLE HOSTILES POURING OUT OF THE RUINS AND SURROUNDING TERRAIN. STANDBY FOR SITREP.
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FROM: NIGHT MOTHER
TO: CMDR HEAVY GORGET, FCOM/OP DUSK ENDEAVOUR
ASSESS AND REPORT IMMEDIATELY, COMMANDER. ARE SADDLE ARABIAN FORCES ABLE TO MAINTAIN LOCAL CONTROL?
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FROM: CMDR HEAVY GORGET, FCOM/OP DUSK ENDEAVOUR
TO: NIGHT MOTHER
NEGATIVE. LOCAL FORCES TAKEN COMPLETELY BY SURPRISE. THEY’RE REGROUPING AND ATTEMPTING TO HOLD POSITION BUT ARE OUTNUMBERED BADLY. ESTIMATE COMPLETE COLLAPSE OF SADDLE ARABIAN ESCORT FORCES IMMINENT.
WE FAILED, NIGHT MOTHER. NEVER SAW IT COMING.
REQUEST PERMISSION TO BREAK COVER AND ENGAGE.
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FROM: NIGHT MOTHER
TO: CMDR HEAVY GORGET, FCOM/OP DUSK ENDEAVOUR
APOLOGIZE LATER, COMMANDER.
PERMISSION GRANTED. ENGAGE HOSTILES AT WILL.
NEW MISSION PRIORITY IS RECOVERY OF TS. ALL OTHER CONSIDERATIONS SECONDARY.
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FROM: CMDR HEAVY GORGET, FCOM/OP DUSK ENDEAVOUR
TO: @DUSK ENDEAVOUR; NIGHT MOTHER
ALL UNITS, ALERT CONDITION DYNAMITE. WE ARE R.O.E. RED, WEAPONS FREE. RECOVER AND PROTECT TS AT ALL COSTS. ENGAGE, ENGAGE, ENGAGE.
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[REDACTED]
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FROM: NIGHT MOTHER
TO: CMDR HEAVY GORGET, FCOM/OP DUSK ENDEAVOUR
COMMANDER, REPORT MISSION STATUS.
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[REDACTED]
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FROM: NIGHT MOTHER
TO: CMDR HEAVY GORGET, FCOM/OP DUSK ENDEAVOUR
REPEAT. COMMANDER, REPORT MISSION STATUS. HAVE YOU RECOVERED TS? CAN YOU DISENGAGE AND FALL BACK?
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FROM: CMDR HEAVY GORGET, FCOM/OP DUSK ENDEAVOUR
TO: NIGHT MOTHER
NEGATIVE, NIGHT MOTHER. TS RECOVERED BUT STILL UNCONSCIOUS. HOSTILES JUST KEEP COMING. HAVE ASSUMED DEFENSIVE POSITION IN THE RUINS BUT WE CANNOT HOLD.
NIGHT GUARD FORCES AT FIFTY PERCENT AND FALLING. AIR ASSETS DEPLETED. REQUEST FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.
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FROM: NIGHT MOTHER
TO: CMDR HEAVY GORGET, FCOM/OP DUSK ENDEAVOUR
HOLD THY POSITION. REINFORCEMENTS INBOUND, ETA NINE MINUTES.
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FROM: CMDR HEAVY GORGET, FCOM/OP DUSK ENDEAVOUR
TO: NIGHT MOTHER
SAY AGAIN - NINE MINUTES? REPEAT, NEAREST KNOWN ADDL EQUESTRIAN FORCES EST 12 HRS OUT PER CINC NGF ARABIA SECTOR. UNABLE TO AWAIT REINFORCEMENTS. WHAT FORCES ARE YOU SENDING?
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FROM: NIGHT MOTHER
TO: CMDR HEAVY GORGET, FCOM/OP DUSK ENDEAVOUR
HOLD THE LINE. RELIEF FORCE INBOUND, ETA SIX MINUTES.
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FROM: SGT FALLINGWATER, ACTING FCOM/OP DUSK ENDEAVOUR
TO: NIGHT MOTHER
CMDR GORGET AND OTHER OFFICERS ARE ALL KIA. TS STILL UNCONSCIOUS. WE’RE OUT OF TIME. I’M SORRY, PRINCESS.
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FROM: NIGHT MOTHER
TO: SGT FALLINGWATER, ACTING FCOM/OP DUSK ENDEAVOUR
STAND FAST. RELIEF FORCE INBOUND, ETA THREE MINUTES.
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FROM: SGT FALLINGWATER, ACTING FCOM/OP DUSK ENDEAVOUR
TO: NIGHT MOTHER
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, RELIEF FORCE? WE’RE ALONE OUT HERE! LAST THING WE NEED IS A BLUE ON BLUE INCIDENT. WHAT REINFORCEMENTS ARE YOU SENDING?
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FROM: SGT FALLINGWATER, ACTING FCOM/OP DUSK ENDEAVOUR
TO: NIGHT MOTHER
PRINCESS, WHO’S ON THE WAY? THERE’S ONLY FIVE OF US LEFT AND WE’RE BLASTING ANYTHING COMING THROUGH THE DOOR. WE CAN’T AFFORD FRIENDLY FIRE. FOR THE LOVE OF CELESTIA, WHO ARE WE WAITING FOR? WHO’S COMING??
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FROM: SGT FALLINGWATER, ACTING FCOM/OP DUSK ENDEAVOUR
TO: NIGHT MOTHER
REPEAT, NIGHT MOTHER, WHO IN ALL FLAMING TARTARUS IS INBOUND?!?
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FROM: NIGHT MOTHER
TO: SGT FALLINGWATER, ACTING FCOM/OP DUSK ENDEAVOUR
I AM.