We spent the rest of the week practicing diligently. Dusk led the way. For all our combined might, Dusk's pure-bred unicorn nature seemed better suited for this specific task, though we were able to pick up after him quickly. We learned how to nudge against Cindy's 'essence', which was basically the gift itself, pushing it one way and the other in my body before letting her flow back to her usual place.
"That never stops feeling strange," she complained a little. "Can we stop doing it now?"
Dusk nodded lightly. "I think so. We should update everyone else on what's going on."
We agreed, and soon were standing before the officers. One of them, not the woman or our pony friend, leaned forward. "We were hoping you'd come."
Sandra raised a brow. "Why not just call for us if you were waiting?"
"You were obviously working on something. We trust it was relevant?"
Dusk puffed out his chest a little. "Very. What's going on?"
They showed a map of the United States on a flickering projector and with some quick work with a dry-erase marker showed a nice blob in the middle. "The stabilization effort is... stable, for lack of better word. We foresee no further major issues from preventing us from reuniting the United States, minimizing further casualties, and starting the slow path towards complete restoration. In a move that we should have seen coming, many ponies are volunteering for military service, and the combined ranks are proving effective on the field. That is all good news, and not what we're hoping you'll focus on."
Cindy took control of a hand to wave it at them. "So what are you hoping we'll focus on?"
He drew a circle around Mexico. "The hostile agents we mentioned last time didn't idle during this time. They've taken most of Mexico, and the toll on the human population is staggering. We have refugees pouring in across the border, but that's by far the least of our concerns. If we can handle ponies, I think a few illegal immigrants are barely worth noting. The problem is that what chased them here is unlikely to respect that border anymore than they did. This is war, true war. Not a frantic struggle against a hostile feral force, but a methodic engagement with an organized enemy. We're looking at a production capacity dismally close to zero."
He took a breath, his long-winded exposition taking it out of him. "Thank God for the American gun industry. We still have plentiful stores of ammunition and munitions of an encouragingly wide variety. We're going to run out, but not before we get a lot done. Now tell us you've figured something out that might help."
I nodded. "Well, we've learned the source of the 'gift', and what makes some people more than others. We won't bore you with details, but we know how to manipulate it from further than reach, and if we can get anywhere close to their leader, we can shove their power source out of them."
Smith raised a furry brow. "That's good, but they have armies of ponies between us and them. How do you propose to get close to them?"
Sandra raised a hoof. "We could defect, er, at least look like we are. They'll be eager to bring us to their leader if they think they can get another 'S-Class' like Will on their side.'
Smith snorted before raising a fetlock over his snout. "I hate when I make that noise, but my point stands. You're basically committing suicide. The moment you attack, or if they decide you're not genuine, they'll tear you apart. You may neuter their leader, but you'll go down with them."
Cindy shook her head quickly. "I don't think so. I think we can do this. The pony... template... is not a violent one. We can turn them away from this."
The female tapped her pen on the table lightly. "Do we have an idea that doesn't rely on the good nature of our enemies?"
Another officer raised a lone finger. "There is still the nuclear option."
Grunts, and a lone snort, came in reply. "We don't know where the leader is, and I'm not carpet-nuking the entire continent in the hopes of getting lucky before some other desperate combatant returns the favor all over America."
With an abrupt flash, Crystal appeared. "What's u--Oh god I surrender!" She thrust her hooves up as several guns were pointed at her.
Cindy shook herself. "I called her. She has the key to a backup plan if things go sour."
The guns were lowered, and Crystal fell back to all fours, though shaking a little. "So... what's up?"
I got the idea, or thought I did. "I think Cindy wants you to teach us all how to teleport. We're going deep into enemy territory and need an out."
Crystal gave an uncertain nod. "Uh, sure? What do I do? I just think about it and it happens."
Dusk focused a moment before pointing across the room. "Can you teleport back and forth within sight?"
Crystal took a slow breath, getting her heart under control and regaining mastery of herself before she popped across the room, then back again. "Ta da!"
Dusk frowned a little. "That's very complicated. You were very lucky in your natural talents. Can you do it again?"
I turned my senses to see the flow of power as Crystal repeated the trick, marveling at the subtle eddies and patterns that created the teleporting spell. It was complicated, and yet...
Cindy smiled broadly. "I see it! You're skipping through my home world."
"Home world?" Smith raised that brow high.
I put a hand over my face. "Say hello to Cindy, one of the first truly illegal aliens in existence."