//------------------------------// // Wings of Chaos // Story: Operation Shield // by GJT_Productions //------------------------------// IN PONYVILLE... "P2, did you get the guard neutralized?" "Yes P1, but I had to use the chloroform because the bribe didn't work." "Just as I thought. It'll have to do, I suppose." "So what's next?" "Take a few firebombs, drop them in the town square. That'll distract the Element Bearers and the Guards currently here. I'll start on those cannons with the disassembly kit. Don't wait for me, head back to Fort Chaos as soon as you think the coast is clear." "Gotcha. See you in an hour or two, hopefully..." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MEANWHILE, IN CANTERLOT... It was rare for a griffon to be seen flying spotlighted over Canterlot. It was rarer still for a Wonderbolt to be putting said griffon through the paces of flying exercises. But nevertheless that was exactly what a few lucky ponies were witnessing at that moment. "That's an amazing performance for someone who was never allowed to fly before." Lieutenant Captain Shining Armor comments to Lieutenant Vesper as the two watch Lead Wingpony Soarin' of the Wonderbolts put Excelsior, a griffon defector given a provisional Guard Upper Class ranking, through a series of basic flight moves. "A natural, I agree sir." Vesper replies, looking leftward at Shining Armor, who had arrived to check on Excelsior's training progress after finishing the Oubliettes and Ogres club meeting. Shining turns to face Wonderbolt Captain Spitfire, standing to his right and with a great deal of fatigue in her expression. To Spitfire's right was Second Lead Wingpony Misty Fly (#3 in the organization), who was sitting on her haunches and balancing a clipboard on her forehooves; a pencil was also being held in her mouth and she was dutifully using it to write on the sheet attached on the clipboard. "What's the matter? I thought you would be happy about this." Shining Armor says to Spitfire. Spitfire gives an annoyed look at Shining Armor as she gives her reply: "If I had not been ordered to train him by Princess Celestia herself, I would not be here watching this. And may I remind you, Lieutenant Captain, you are still speaking to a senior officer!" "Yes ma'am. Sorry ma'am." Shining Armor states, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. Having the Wonderbolts Captain equal in power and authority to the Captain of the Guard was considered by most non-pegasi members of the Royal Guard to be a big mistake, but all attempts to "correct" the situation ran headlong into howling indignation of pegasi who insisted that the Wonderbolts were just as much as part of their legacy as the E.U.P. Guard. "Do you think Excelsior is ready for active duty?" Shining turns to ask Lieutenant Vesper while Soarin' leads Excelsior in a slow descent into the plaza where the others were watching. "Oh yes, absolutely sir." Vesper answers. "Good. We'll put him on formal duty as soon as Fidelitas gets back. I know Aten doesn't like him, and would raise too much stink for the Captain to touch the subject while Fidelitas is gone." Shining Armor affirms. "Feh, I don't blame you for not wanting to involve that pegasus." Captain Spitfire interjects, her face contorting into a scowl. "He's one of the greatest cads ever to serve in the Guard! Why does Celestia even put up with him?" "Are you sure it's not just your past experience talking, Captain?" Shining Armor suggests. "Lieutenant Captain, I have had a very long day and would rather not talk about the subject anymore. Please let's just focus on the topic at hoof." Spitfire replies. "Yes ma'am." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The stormy professional relationship between Captain Spitfire and Lieutenant Captain Aten was a reflection of the decisions made by both ponies after Aten took lead of the "pegasus affirmative action" campaign. Spitfire initially wanted nothing to do with the whole business, but when she and the other Wonderbolts came under criticism for not supporting "true pegasi" she reluctantly declared support for Aten's campaign. Very quickly, it became obvious that this action was a mistake. The criticism that the Wonderbolts got from non-pegasi Equestrians proved far worse than the criticism they got from pegasi, and scattered threats of boycotts of Wonderbolt shows forced Spitfire to recant her support for Aten. This in turn provoked Aten's "faction" to call the Wonderbolts "second-rate pegasi" and demanded Spitfire resign as the leader of the Wonderbolts. During these calls, Aten invoked the old pegasi tradition of "air dueling" for the position of Wonderbolt Captain. Spitfire won the subsequent contest, allowing her to keep her position but at the expense of opening a permanent rift between the Wonderbolts and Aten's supporters. The net result was that Spitfire and the Wonderbolts were left in a precarious neutrality, unwilling to directly denounce Aten's campaign but also unwilling to stand with his opponents. It didn't help that a "spotless" public image so essential for drawing in young pegasi like Rainbow Dash had to be maintained if there was to be any hope for the future. However, Shining Armor's work in helping Luna was slowly nudging Spitfire and the Wonderbolts out of that neutrality. Spitfire thought that, although she agreed that Shining Armor was in his position more because of connections than talent, the excessive criticism of him by Aten and his supporters was both futile and dangerous. The fact this criticism continued after Shining's assignment to help Luna convinced Spitfire that Aten had motives beyond getting rid of Shining, and had pushed her to the point where she was ready to denounce Aten. What Spitfire was unaware of was that there would be a price to pay for taking the stand she was going to take. The "enemy within" had planted one of their own in Wonderbolt ranks, intending to destroy the group from within - Misty Fly was not just #3 within the Wonderbolts, but Agent 8 in the Agents of Chaos. Agent Snake had recently activated her, with the ultimate objective to either take over the organization or tear it apart by tapping the resentment against Shining Armor... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Shining Armor and Vesper moved doubletime to where Soarin' and Excelsior had set down. Soarin' passed by them with a salute as he went to give his report to Spitfire, while Excelsior saluted when Shining Armor and Vesper stopped in front of him. "Very impressive performance. The Lieutenant here has stated you are ready for active duty. You will receive further orders from him when the details have been worked out." Shining Armor says to the griffin. "Yes sir. Thank you sir!" Excelsior gives in deep, rumbling reply, his expression mixing jubilation and tiredness from his recent efforts. "It's really Princess Celestia you should be thanking, Guard. I think Lieutenant Vesper can take it from here." "Yes, sir. Follow me, Guard, we're going back into regular duty." the bat pony Lieutenant states, and with that both the Lieutenant and Excelsior take their leave back to their regular duties. Shining Armor then turns and returns to where Spitfire had been, the Wonderbolt Captain now in conversation with her top two subordinates. The unicorn stallion doesn't have an immediate chance to jump into the conversation, so patiently waits for an opening. When there is a pause, Shining jumps in: "Captain, the Lieutenant and I believe Excelsior is ready for regular duty and won't need any more training." "Very good, very good. If you're done, Lieutenant Captain, I can finish up here." Spitfire replies in a somewhat distracted manner. "Yes, Captain." Shining Armor answers before taking leave to his other duties. "Now where was I...?" Spitfire asks as she turns her attention back to Misty Fly. "The performance report, ma'am." Misty Fly states in deadpan as she looks over the sheet on her clipboard. "Oh yes! Soarin' and I are turning in for the night, Misty. Finish up that report and turn it in at Tight Ship's office." Spitfire orders. "Yes, ma'am." Misty Fly replies as she takes pencil up again in her mouth. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Misty kept writing on the performance report until she saw Spitfire and Soarin' disappear from her peripheral view, then abruptly stopped. She looked all around to make sure nopony else was watching, then slipped into a nook in a wall of the courtyard she was in, carrying the pencil in her mouth and clipboard in the "crook" of one of her forelegs. Once hidden out of sight but still getting moonlight to write with, she flipped over the performance report on the clipboard to reveal a blank sheet underneath which she began writing on. The writing was encoded in the cypher used by the Agents of Chaos, intended for delivery to Agent Snake in the morning, and rendered in plaintext went as follows: "To Agent Snake, Fire Captain is clueless. Will initiate Operation Showpony with Chaos faction in morning. Other Agents must protect operation. - Agent 8" The secret note and performance report complete, Misty Fly too exits the otherwise empty courtyard, the intentions of the Agents of Chaos safely concealed...