Chapter 21
While AEGIS was making their push further into the areas formerly conquered, the retreating Gryphons filled our town from the north, south, and west. Some of them had received orders to shore up the defense of the city and began to immediately set up positions all over. Soldiers with missiles climbed up on rooftops and some gun crews set up on the roof of the hospital. I watched with confusion as Meteor Six smoldered at them with silent fury.
As the days went by, the occupying Gryphons began instilling new laws in the city. Food was rationed even more than ever, even gasoline was limited to a single can per household. Stealing ran rampant, and many of those caught were never seen again. What I found the worst was the mandatory blackout each night. It seemed to make the darkness last longer. It was one of these nights that forever changed my perspective about Gryphons.
The barkeep's daughter was out one night and snuck all over the city to plant transmitters around the Gryphon's security areas so they could detonate explosives when they needed to, as well as target designators for allied attack planes.
She was caught.
I heard the whistles while I was sleeping in the top of the bar. Looking out, I saw her running as fast as her hooves could carry her. She stopped at a wall and hid behind it as the military police ran down the street and scanned the skies for her. They passed her by and she began to start down the street to hurry back to the bar to safety. I decided to get down to the street to try and help. She was almost to me when a clawed hand suddenly grabbed her arm and the daughter froze on the spot. Slowly she turned around to see the hand's owner.
Meteor Six crept from the shadows she was hiding in, slowly letting go of the daughter's arm. They stared at each other, and I could've sworn that Six was going to call the guards back and turn her in. I could see in the Gryphon woman's piercing gold eyes that she knew what the filly had done. Six knew that she was the one who planted the bomb on the runway, the bomb that damaged Meteor Eight's fighter, as well as this sudden ponyhunt for her. Six knew this filly from her first day in town. The two had conversed in the bar more than once. The enemy resistance in the town; Six knew that the daughter was with them now.
I couldn't stand by any longer. I burst from my cover and stood as proud as I could. "Get out of our city, you fascist bitch!" I screamed.
Six turned around slowly as the daughter ran to my side. We stared at each other hard for what felt like eternity. Then Six's face twisted into an expression I had never seen before. I had seen anger, happiness, even a solemn silence. But this was one she had never expressed to us before.
Six's face was twisted into one of genuine hurt.
"You really hate us, don't you?" she asked quietly.
Neither of us answered, unable to speak. We just stood and stared. Even when we heard the whistles again, we didn't move. An eternity passed before she looked behind us and said, "Go!", and we ran to the bar and rushed inside. Once the daughter pulled me behind the counter and we peeked to look out the window, we saw Six directing the guards down an alley away from the bar. She didn't look back.
The next day there was no change in her disposition. Six was like her normal self, directing repairs and making her usual complaints to the Squadron Crew Chief. "The poor fuel quality is affecting thrust."
That night, the barkeep's daughter and I looked out into the starry sky about the city, which hung glistening above a dark and silent landscape not of its own choosing. We both knew that once AEGIS got close enough, the resistance would bring the lights back.
"Daddy!"
Amethyst leapt into the air to be caught by an aged Crystal stallion. He did so, all movements belying any sort of age or weariness in his bones as he clutched the young mare to him and spun her around in the gentle snowfall. Rhapsody grinned to herself and elbowed Sprig as they leapt from their cockpits and eyed the spectacle. Mythic came up between them, grinning like a cat, throwing his arms around the mares as they all strode towards the two. Spitfire on the other hoof was already taking wing to the latrines with her mouth covered the second Rhapsody opened the canopy. A Wonderbolt who got airsick; it may have just been her, but it seemed strange.
Shortly after landing and parking, the grizzled old stallion in full dress of the Crystal Empire approached Ghost Wing. He had a rifle slung over his shoulder as he saw the F/A-18C of Amethyst Karat power down and the cockpit open, revealing his young daughter. From what the trio could see and hear, she was giggling madly like a foal on Hearths Warming Eve and had just gotten her wished-for toy and the stallion sounded as if he was the luckiest in the world.
"It's so cute," Sprig murmured.
Mythic huffed. "I could say something really cheesy about this, like the whole 'This is what we're fighting for' crap."
"But it is, isn't it? Family reunited?" Rhapsody offered. This was met by a slug from Mythic.
"Don't start that, Rhapsody. This is the worst place possible to be talking about warm fuzzy feelings. This frozen wasteland could turn me into a Mythicicle."
Rhapsody smirked and eyed Sprig slyly. "Wonder what that would even taste like," she joked.
Sprig turned and her golden eyes surveyed Mythic Dusk mane to hooves as he struck a heroic pose, fists at his waist with one leg hiked up. The Hippogriff snickered and shook her head. "Probably sarcasm with an aftertaste of cheap bourbon." And just as quickly as he had stood proudly, he deflated.
"This 'frozen wasteland', Lieutenant, is my home. It is also the battleground where many have fought and even more have died in centuries past and the present. And should we lose the battle coming soon, it will be seen in the future as more red than white."
Slowly, Mythic turned around to see that same old stallion standing over him, his arms folded behind his back. A worn uniform greeted Mythic's blue eyes, pinned with medals and ribbons; enough to make anypony go blind in decent levels of light. They looked tarnished, but still held some weight to them apparently. Tearing his eyes away as he looked upwards to the figure it all belonged to, his breath caught as a stern visage of a Crystal Imperial Commissar stared him right in the face. Piercing amber eyes, framed by a dark violet coat and topped with a graying blue mane under a peaked cap, sized him up.
"S-sir... I meant no d-disrespect-"
The stallion abruptly laughed heartily at the startled young stallion before him. Mythic was suddenly gripped by the shoulder and shaken. "Ha! I kid Lieutenant! A jest! I do agree this is a wasteland, but a fitting place where many Gryphons will mark their final resting place after a heinous attack on our homes!" He slapped Mythic on the back, right between his wings to accentuate this fact.
"Spine!" he cried as he went face first into the snow.
He took another few steps forward, sizing up Rhapsody fully. Knowing she was meeting a stallion of far further rank, she stood up straight and saluted swiftly. Sprig matched it, though she knew he was not addressing her. "You must be Captain Rhapsody. Wraith." Commissar Karat smiled at the young mare before. He then waved his hand swiftly. "Please, you are my daughter's friend and flight leader. No need to be so formal."
Rhapsody dropped her salute and pulled her helmet closer to her side. "Yes, sir."
The Commissar chuckled and shook his head, wagging a finger. "Any friend of my daughter's is immediately a friend of mine. Onyx will be fine."
"Thff ff bff aff naff, srf," a muffled voice called. They looked downwards to see Mythic still in the snow.
Onyx Karat turned his eyes towards the pegasus stallion and grabbed the back of his flight suit. Picking him up, once again showing the grizzled stallion had nearly no age weary signs to him, he tilted his head and looked at him. "Say something, Lieutenant Dusk?"
"I said 'That's a bad ass name', sir," Mythic replied simply.
"Ah. Thank you." He let go of Mythic's suit, allowing him to fall back into his shaped hole in the snow.
"Owf."
Rhapsody and Amethyst covered their muzzles to suppress laughs. Onyx returned his attention to the sea green mare and stood up straight. "I must say, it is a true honor to meet the famous mare of the AEGIS Air Force. The mare who destroyed Sky Breaker and blew a Meteor out of the sky in the same day. A true victory for our cause."
The pegasus mare rubbed the back of her head, her wings fluttering just a little at the praise she still felt she didn't deserve. Her cheeks darkened from what she could feel, but before she could open her mouth, Onyx held up his gloved hand. "I can tell what you will say. You feel you do not deserve such compliments. You want only to be seen as an ordinary fighter pilot. But what you do is not something ordinary pilots can accomplish. You not only fight the enemy and gain barely a scratch from every engagement, but when you fly, you strike fear into our enemies and hope into our allies. A weapon we thought impregnable, you destroyed it and left nothing behind to be salvaged by our enemies. A squadron believed to be invincible, you proved they are as mortal as any other pilot in the skies. You wield fear against enemies and carry inspiration for our allies.
"Few in all of history can say they have done so. Rhapsody, there is no shame in admitting your skills, nor is it wrong to acknowledge that you are respected and feared. Most of all, as I have taught my own children, accept credit as much as blame. In this case, the former. Humility and modesty are good traits, in moderation of course. Sometimes you just have to accept you're a hero."
When he finished, the blush had faded and Rhapsody smiled, genuinely and exhaled. Maybe she was over thinking herself into a stupor, denying praise and selling herself short. "But be warned: do not let it go to your head too heavily. You hold a great responsibility on your shoulders, Rhapsody. It is a calling few are pushed into and even fewer accept. Should you let it slip by, you will lose it forever. Take it too quickly, and you become arrogant and cocky... and you will be the first to fall in battle. Remember that."
Rhapsody held her smile, though smaller now. Still, she held it. Onyx was clearly a stallion who had seen his share of battles in his career. "I understand, Onyx."
The stallion returned the smile and placed his arm around the pegasus mare and his own daughter. Sprig stood beside her flight lead as the four turned away from the hangars. "Let us not fear the coming battles. Today is a victory, and we shall celebrate it. Even the smallest of triumphs should be praised and welcomed with open arms. Come! Today, we feast on our militaries driest rations and even drier ale!"
"Iff drinff tooff daff!"
"Speak up, Mythic!" Amethyst shouted.
Mythic's grey and black hair shot up from the snow he had caved in, spitting out a virtual snowball. "Ptooy! I said, 'I'll drink to that'!" Groaning, he stood up and brushed himself off, hurrying after his friends.
"Grand! Then come! We drink, we fight, and we make our ancestors proud we carry their names!"
Once the plate landed on the table, Applejack's hand was on it immediately like parasprites on a freshly baked pie. Crisp apple slices were her treat of choice during the long planning she did. Regardless it was with fellow commanders, this was a truly arduous undertaking. Everypony around her had an opinion on the battle plan, and there was always another on the other side of the table who thought it was terrible.
"Ah can't see why we can't agree that carpet bombing the city is a horrible idea!"
The Saddle General angrily thrust his finger at the map, currently decorated with tiny models of AEGIS and Gryphnian emblems of all branches of the military. "It is the surest way to make sure we get the Gryphons and any sympathizers in the city. The civilians would have moved out by then," he stated matter-of-factly.
The Hippogriff General, Applejack's superior in every way, shook his head and slammed a fist down. "The Gryphons are using the civilian population as living shields! This latest report says they put a SAM battery on the roof of the hospital here. This school here has AA guns at each corner. They're lining up key targets as collateral damage points if the bombs hit. Not to mention, none of the civilians still inside have been allowed to leave. Those that weren't killed during the first days of the war have been barricaded within the city walls."
"If we do any bombing," Applejack added, "it'd need to be strategic. No bunker busters or clusters above the main city. We'd have to keep it to smart bombs."
"Last I checked, Colonel Apple," The Saddle rumbled, "You were a tank commander, not a pilot."
The tent flap opened all of a sudden, revealing the worn, and broken, form of the Crystal Empire's Supreme Commander. The electric blue man, once luscious and full of life, was now thinning and graying in several places. His face and muzzle showed lines of weariness of the constant fighting against Gryphnia, and this was reinforced by his shattered right arm, hanging in a light sling; the best they could afford way out in the tundra. His eyes were wild and red around their blue irises. Crystal Prince Shining Armor staggered in, one of the Crystal medics staying close by as he made his way to the table.
The gathered officers saluted swiftly when he made it and leaned on the table. He nodded for them to relax and stared at the table. "Have we come to an agreement on how to retake Glacier?" he rasped. He gratefully accepted the canteen from Applejack's belt, down half the pure spring water in the canteen.
But before anypony could respond, the Saddle General leaned forward, aiming at the map and moving his finger north and south. "I proposed a full-scale bombing campaign, destroy all areas the Gryphons could be using as strong-points. And I am not so callous as to not propose laser-guided munitions on the hospitals and schools where they've set up anti-air batteries."
"And the armor on the streets? And fighters?"
"Standard air escort for the bombers, and perhaps some of said fighters can be ground-attackers to mop up any armor on the ground. After the air force has done their job, we send in the Colonel," he waved to Applejack, "and her armor battalions in to seal the deal. Simple and very effective."
"What about civilian casualties?" Shining Armor asked, his voice becoming monotone.
"Odds are they are going to be extensive-"
"The odds don't even apply here, sir," Applejack cried. "It's an absolution!"
The Hippogriff nodded in agreement. "We carry out this plan and we're talking about panic and massed hysteria to all of the Crystal Ponies still trapped in Glacier. They'll be caught in the crossfire and go towards the locations that the Gryphons set up as shelters, where they have also set up anti-air weapons, and these are locations our bombs will be hitting. If we do this, there might not be a civilian population left to liberate when it's all over!"
"Key word there, General, is the 'might'," Shining stated plainly. "Those Crystal Ponies have been living in oppression and fear for months now. They're getting scared and desperate, they'd be no worse off if we carry this out than if they were in the past. They're already terrified, this won't be any different." Shining Armor sighed, looking up at the shocked faces of the assembled officers. Even the Saddle Commander expected there to be some resistance. Applejack could see on his pale sandy face that even he was thinking the Crystal Prince would call the plan into question. But here he was, stating –
"We need to take that city if we want to move into Gryphnia and link up with the rest of AEGIS. It's a sacrifice we cannot afford to cast aside."
Applejack stood straight and rigid. "Your Majesty! These ponies – "
"Need to be liberated by any means necessary, and as far as I can see, this is the only surefire way to get us a victory. We will rebuild it when the war is over, and the Gryphons are paying for any damages. Every bit, I don't care if it throws them into a depression, they're rebuilding it with their blood, sweat, and tears." Shining stood up, sizing up the Colonel, who was wisely, though reluctantly, backing down. "Send word to the air force. I want bomber crews getting their orders and the armaments readied. We're taking back Glacier by the end of the week, even if it means they need to bomb it to the stone age."
"They will do no such thing!"
The tent fell utterly silent as the normally sweet feminine voice cut through the air. The Saddle General paled, as did Applejack and the Hippogriff. But none more than the Crystal Prince himself, who froze as it seemed his coat turned whiter than normal. The former farm pony could almost hear the blood in his veins freezing. He swallowed and slowly turned to meet the voice's owner.
She stood with her arms folded, her gown replaced by simpler garments, but not without their own luster, regardless of her surroundings. Her pink coat was still glowing in the light of the tent, multi-colored mane tied back in a tail and a small crystal circlet adorning her head. At her side was a royal saber she had received from her seneschal shortly after taking the throne of the Empire. The entire ensemble suited her frame and complimented her greatly until one looked at her face.
The lovely, beautiful face the continent had grown accustomed to seeing accompanying the word of love and Hearts and Hooves Day was twisted angrily. Her eyes held a sort of fire of their own as she stared down the Prince that was her husband, arms folding tighter as she regarded him with a fury rarely seen.
"Cady-" Shining started.
"Don't you dare 'Cady' me," Princess Cadence hissed violently. "How could you say such a thing like that? Bomb Glacier back to the stone age? 'It's a sacrifice we cannot afford to cast aside?'"
"I was thinking about the war as a whole."
Cadence stepped up closer and seemed to stare down the taller Prince. "That's all I've been hearing out of you. The war. This war is changing you, and you know it. It's all I've heard out of you, it's all I hear about back at the capital. 'War' this, 'fighting' that, 'This is how many of our ponies have died in this attack, your Highness. It was unavoidable.' I'm sick of hearing about it, much worse coming from my husband!"
"Cadence please. You're overreacting."
"Am I?" Cadence narrowed her eyes, then frowned deeply before nodding. Her tone turned sad. "I suppose you are right. As your wife, I have been too submissive to your desires to fight alongside your troops." She then stood up straight. "But what you don't seem to realize is that I've been hearing about you. You hardly eat and you don't sleep well, if at all. You're tearing yourself apart, Shining, and that's tearing me apart." Smoothing out her garments, she exhaled through her nose and closed her eyes. "Yet every time I ask you to stay away from the battles, you wave me off. Therefore, if you won't listen to your wife, then you'll listen to your Princess." Shining Armor glared at her, challenging her to say it. Much to his chagrin, she did just that.
"Shining Armor, as Princess of the Crystal Empire, I am hereby relieving you of your frontline duties as Supreme Commander and pulling you back to the capital for your own safety."
Shining hissed at his wife. "I'm positive I didn't hear that right!"
"Then get your hearing checked, Shining. It's done. You're relieved. Go. Home."
Shining's face was beet red now, his nostrils flaring at the mare who he loved, but right now he wanted to strangle. His blue eyes became inflamed in rage at her declaration and blatant disregard for his humiliation in front of his subordinates. She had just spoken to him like he was some new set of boots in basic. He was here to protect these ponies under his charge that the Gryphons were oppressing and wiping out at random. Even if he needed to kill some of his own ponies in the process, he had to force them out of –
He stopped, and just like that, his anger had faded. He turned around and looked at the ponies who occupied the tent. Crystal Ponies who he had given speeches to, visited in the markets, waved hello to in the streets; he knew their faces. These ponies were his subjects. He had grown fond of them; his subjects, his ponies. They loved him and his wife, and the royal couple loved them as well.
He frowned deeply at the thought of what he had just agreed to. He agreed to a mass bombing of a city he needed to liberate. Not just the area, but the Crystal Ponies themselves still trapped in the city. All of them would be caught in the bombing and killed. Shining Armor had wanted to wipe them all out in order to show the Gryphons he wasn't backing down. Yet even here, in the command tent, he was showing a side that the Crystal Ponies had never seen before, and looking at the soldiers around him, they had shown a fear of the Prince.
What had he become? What had this war turned him into? He was no better than the enemy.
She was right. Cadence was right, and he bowed his head to her. "Yes... Your Highness..." He leaned down towards her ear. "Please forgive me."
Cadence nodded and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You are, husband... just go home, please. Rest. You've done more than enough here."
Without another word, Shining left the tent with a sigh. Applejack frowned deeply watching him go. She had been at his wedding, saw how he acted around his wife, even after the failed invasion of Canterlot. He loved her with all his life; seeing him hiss and snarl at her was proof that the fighting on the northern front was taking its toll on all of the troops in the field, and the Crystal Prince as well. She knew not how that stallion's mind worked, but she felt a few weeks from the fighting would do him some good.
"Carpet bombing Glacier?" Cadence snapped suddenly. "Where did that plan come from?" The Saddle General timidly raised his hand. Before it could even be put all the way up, the princess thrust her finger at the tent flap. "You're relieved. Out." The Saddle looked taken aback, as did everyone else before he raised his hands.
"You're majesty; it was a momentary lapse in judgment. I can assure you, I have other plans," he explained.
Or at least tried.
Cadence would hear none of it though. "I've heard about your 'other plans', General. It's amazing how my husband even wanted you this far north. The situation here is much more strenuous than in the southern theatre. The Crystal Empire is still reeling from our last conflict, so our infrastructure is delicate. Carpet bombing a city just to kill the Gryphons is not how I'm going to let this work." Her violet eyes narrowed at the Saddle, who seemed visibly shaken, but nodded his understanding. Retrieving his cap and smoothing his uniform, he removed himself from the tent without another word or look at the rest of the occupants.
The Hippogriff commander and Applejack stood up tall as they regarded the princess when she looked back at the battle map. Much had been added since she last saw reports from the frontlines. AEGIS was making significant gains on the Gryphons. There were more sky blue markings representing the Empire's movements in the north than there were red, marking the Gryphons. Still, there was one location they had to take before they could continue their advance.
Glacier. Cadence had visited the city numerous times during her time as the Crystal Princess. It was a town steep in tradition, but more than willing to embrace the modern cultures they had missed during their thousand-year absence. That town was now shelling out as much information to the AEGIS intelligence community as they could. It was primarily coming from a barkeep in the middle of the Old Towne area. His information was invaluable since the Gryphnian takeover so many months ago. He was befriended by the Gryphon ace pilots that took up most of his business.
"What is our latest report from the barkeep, Commander?" Cadence asked.
The Hippogriff leaned forward and nodded. "According to him, he and his fellow resistance have been doing their best to sabotage the Gryphon's efforts to fully subjugate the city. Still, the response has been more troops, armor, and aircraft. We already know that the Meteor squadron is there, but they've been transferring pilots in and out almost non-stop to shore up other squadrons that have been lacking in experienced aces.
"They were building a freeway here to connect Glacier with the rest of the Empire instead of relying on the back-roads and older highways. The construction was halted when Gryphnia attacked and the Meteor's have been using it as a makeshift hangar and runway. The airport is where the air force is primarily stationed out of, but the Meteor's exclusively use the tunnels on the freeway. The rest of the city varies between parking garages used as armor workshops and rooftops being used as helipads."
"What about anti-air?" Cadence asked.
Applejack spoke up when the Commander looked her way. "Thick, almost impressively so. But most of them we won't be able to impact without significant damage to the structures." She sighed and slid a sheet towards the Princess. Cadence picked it up and read it over, quickly frowning. "Hospitals, schools, banks, even air raid shelters are being laced with SAM sights and AA guns. The air force can hit them since they're in the open, but unless we use precision munitions, there'll be a lot more civvies dead than Gryphons."
Cadence set the paper down, running a hand through her soft, multi-colored mane. "There's no way around it, is there? We have to attack it and just grit our teeth through the collateral damage? Praying we'll be forgiven?"
Applejack frowned deeply, looking towards Rarity who was writing down troop numbers on the other side of the map. It was amazing that the unicorn mare was so silent during the whole discussion. The snow white mare nodded sullenly. "I'm afraid that's correct your majesty," Rarity murmured. "From a more couth standpoint, it's unacceptable. But... from a military standpoint, one I prefer to avoid whenever possible, as the Colonel can attest, going around would destroy the Glacier citizen's morale and hopes of being liberated. And going through would mean millions in damages and dozens of civilian deaths."
"But the last message we received from the barkeep," Applejack added swiftly before Cadence could make her final decision, "was that the resistance was committing to the battle to come. They were going to assist in every way they could. In fact, he said we needed to let him know when we were on the way so they could move with their operations."
"And that is?" The Princess asked calmly.
Applejack could only shrug. "He said it was a plan that the Gryphons would not enjoy at all. He couldn't say more before the Gryphons entered his bar for drinks. So yes, the city will be damaged severely, but we will have insiders working to make it easier for us. The resistance is already committing to the fight and they know that a lot of ponies are going to be killed."
"It is unavoidable your majesty, but it needs to be done, callous as it may sound," the Hippogriff murmured softly.
Cadence rested her chin on her hand as she mulled it all over. She stared at the map hard, particularly at the city of Glacier. It was practically on the edge of the border between the liberated Crystal Empire and that held by Gryphnia still. She knew that if they take the city, they would have a straight shot into the Gryphnian heartland. Time was of the essence here, and with the rest of AEGIS waiting for the Crystal Empire to catch up with their forces, it needed to be happening soon. Sadly, Cadence remembered what her husband said, and though it sank her heart, she agreed this needed to be done, no matter the cost.
With a sigh, the Princess nodded, "You have my approval to carry on with the assault. But I want you to make every effort to avoid civilian casualties. I want precise strikes on Gryphnia's strong-points; smart bombs only, especially for any fighters that can carry them." She then tapped the area where the airport was located. "What about here? Any civilians?"
Applejack shook her head. "Negative, your majesty. Any previous workers have been removed. It's been turned into Glacier's second air force base."
Cadence's face then turned stern. "In that case, you have my approval to level it." With a small smile, she added. "I've been meaning to remodel it anyway. This'll be as good an excuse as any."
The Hippogriff General nodded and smoothed the feathers on his head as he clicked his beak. "I will relay the orders to my officers and the air force."
"Ah'll do the same," Applejack offered. "Mah boys have been itching to get some serious fighting done, and this is as good as any place to start. But don't worry; they'll be on a tight leash."
"Good to hear, you two. And General?" the Hippogriff stood up straight before the Crystal Monarch. "If it's all the same, I'd like to speak with the pilots myself. In fact, there is one in particular I would like to meet face to face."
"Of course, your majesty."
"Check," Mythic called.
Onyx Karat stared at the board, resting his chin on his fist as he stared at the board. Rhapsody, Spitfire, and Sprig watched the ensuing battle at the table from their own. All three mares knew Mythic was vicious at chess, but the Commissar was giving the veteran pilot a run for his bits. They had beaten each other down to four pieces each, both still with their queens intact.
They had gathered a small crowd of pilots and ground crews after Mythic had challenged the ragged and aged Crystal Pony to chess after Amethyst boasted that her father was the Imperial Military's champion for almost a decade. The grey pegasus stallion couldn't resist himself and declared he would take on the Commissar. Many of the Crystals in the room stared in disbelief, but the Commissar took the challenge.
Rhapsody scanned the crowds; it was clear this next move would take some time, so she took the time to look over the faces of the assembled Imperial pilots. They were young, younger than the sea green mare herself when she first got her officer's commission to become a pilot. The Crystals also didn't have the same air power their allies had. She had perused the flight line earlier in the week after they arrived, and she couldn't help but frown. The only thing she could conclude the Imperial Air Corps's inventory as, as gently as possible, questionable.
The Empire was given mere hand-me-down fighters from their allies, since it was such short notice and the Changelings wanted a crack at the Empire as a show of revenge for the embarrassing defeat in their failed attempt to take Canterlot nearly fourteen years ago during the Royal Wedding. Since then, it had been slow going to get the Imperial Royal Air Corps up to modern standards. The only fighters the Crystal Princess and her Prince could spare were a single wing of F/A-18Cs, one of F-16Cs, and one of F-5Es. And of those, there was maybe, out of nearly fifteen pilots, two aces. They were young, inexperienced, and scared.
Rhapsody could only imagine their feelings. The planes were hand-me-downs from the last continental war against the most modern weapons to date. It was after the catastrophe of the first Sky Breaker attack that shattered all but three or four Imperial Air Corps wings. While before the attack they had over a hundred, after, they numbered only fifteen. Equestria, Hibern, and Saddle Arabia gave what planes they could on such short notice given that the Gryphons were pushing north hard due to no friendly air support.
These kids she had been around for over a week now; Rhapsody had gotten to know them well enough. They knew basic dogfighting tactics, air striking maneuvers as well, but had never learned how to refuel in the air. They were all so much younger than she, the youngest she saw was a little past his eighteenth winter. His name was Aquamarine, callsign Ice Pick. He flew one of the few Fighting Falcons left in the Empire's inventory. The second she had gotten to know better was the leader of the single wing of Hornets. Tanzanite was twenty and from what Rhapsody gathered, the most level headed pilot in the Empire. He and his wing were the only ones in the Imperial Air Corps who knew how to take-off and land from a carrier.
"Not anymore," Onyx suddenly declared. Rhapsody focused back on the battle of chess before her. The move had cost the old Commissar one of his bishops, but his King was now guarded by his lone knight and queen. Mythic was baring down on the grizzled soldier before Onyx shoved his queen forward three spaces, striking Mythic's rook. "Check."
Murmurs went through the group gathered. The battle was at a complete stalemate once more. It was then that the intercom blared. "All wing leaders report to the briefing room immediately. The operation is approved and we are moving out." Rhapsody set her soda down and waved goodbye to everyone. Sprig raised her glass to her as the sea green mare and seven others headed into and down the hall.
The last thing she heard was a shout of victory and clapping.
"It's a night attack on the city. Our armor is already moving out with the infantry," the Hippogriff General explained. "You all will be cruising at subsonic, so as not to draw too much attention, until given the go ahead to fly to the city and begin operations." He then pulled down the screen and the projector hummed to life.
It showed a triangular layout of the city of Glacier, a town Rhapsody had heard about would be a massive boost in morale for the Crystals, who had been hurt the most during the conflict. "Your primary targets will be the Old Towne area here in the south part, the airport to the east, and the Government Complex in the north. Her Majesty, the Crystal Princess, has granted full usage of arms at the airport and the Government Complex. The Old Towne is majorly neighborhoods and apartments. A lot of civilian targets there, including hospitals, shelters, and schools; all of which have been equipped with AA positions and SAM sites."
"Then how are we supposed to neutralize them, sir, without civilian collateral damage?" a pegasus pilot asked after raising his hand. Rhapsody recognized him as one of the strike fighter pilots who landed two days ago leading a wing of Nighthawk stealth fighters.
The General aimed his switch at the pilot. "Excellent question. Her Majesty has ordered strictly precision bombs in the Old Towne district. This does not apply for the other two districts; those are weapons free on all targets."
"Could the Gryphons have moved the civilians to the other districts knowing we'd use our more destructive weapons on those other two locations?" she heard Aquamarine ask swiftly.
The General shook his head. "The city's resistance movement has assured that ninety percent of the civilian population that won't be aiding us in the invasion will be in the Old Towne area. Which brings me to my next point." He gestured to the unicorn who waved her horn at the projector which turned to a slide showing the city with an area lit up in red.
"This is the primary power station for the entire city. The resistance leader has informed us that they will be taking the station within two hours. Once it's taken, Colonel Applejack of the 2nd Equestrian Dragoons will charge from the north and assault the Government Complex. Commissar Karat who left just minutes ago will be leading his own forces from the east into the Old Towne area. The air force will be striking the airport and take out as many parked planes in sight," the General continued. "The Gryphons have enforced a city-wide blackout since the takeover. Several of the resistance fighters worked at the power plant and will be turning everything on when it's taken over.
"Your next order of business is to strike every target that IFF declares is hostile. The leader also informed us he and his fighters will do what they can to disable the AA positions in the Old Towne district, but we are allowed to strike anyway in case they don't make it." He nodded at the unicorn again, and she switched it off. "I don't want anyone getting heroic on me out there. There is still a sizable Gryphon force there and they will be fighting to the last feather to hold the city and halt our advance for reinforcements. But if this attack fails – "
"It won't."
The wing leaders assembled turned to the door, spying the figure just inside the room. Everypony immediately shot to their hooves and saluted. Rhapsody was sitting in the aisle as the Crystal Princess herself strode down in front of her. "At ease, pilots." The pink alicorn mare took a short glance to the sea green mare before moving to the front. "I apologize for my interruption, General."
The Hippogriff General bowed his head. "Please, Your Majesty, you are welcome to interject at any time."
The Crystal Princess nodded and moved to the front of the room and gave the wing leaders the kindest smile she could muster. "I know you're in a hurry to take off and liberate the city, but I wanted to make one last announcement, and I will make it brief." The Princess folded her hands behind her back, her tail shifting in uneasiness. "I know there are good pilots in this room, and some who have barely seen action. But I want you all to take comfort in knowing that we have veteran pilots from the other theatres here to shore up and bolster our numbers and morale. And with that said, I am placing field command of the air battle to Captain Rhapsody, callsign Wraith."
Rhapsody's pupils shrank as she broke formation and stared at the Princess, her coat running pale and her blood icy. Princess Cadence caught her eye and smiled with a nod. Murmurs and whispers floated about the room as the gathered Crystal pilots saw her and recognized her almost immediately.
"That's the Ghost? Thought she was a stallion."
"No way. The grace in the flying? Had to be a mare."
"But I'm a Major! I should be leading this."
"You're not the Ghost. She's outclassing you simply by standing there."
"I'm with her. We can't lose this battle with her in the sky."
Rhapsody couldn't speak, but before she could even form a coherent sentence, Princess Cadence lifted her hand and waved swiftly. "With that said you should all hurry to your planes. We have a battle to win. Mother Mare's speed to you all."
Dismissed, the pilots hurried out of the room. They left Rhapsody standing and watching, but soon she had shrugged and grabbed her helmet before heading out of the room. "Captain, a moment? I know you need to go, but I want to say something."
Rhapsody held her tongue before taking a deep breath and turning. The Princess stood mere feet from her, her hands still behind her back. They regarded each other intently, sizing each other up as they simply were standing in the aisle between the chairs. "How can I help, Your Majesty?"
Cadence sighed and looked behind her. Rhapsody followed her eyes where a couple pilots had stopped and were peeking around the corner and through the doorway. Eyes stared intently at the two staring at each other. The General cleared his throat and jerked his beak to the flight-line. The young Crystal pilots squeaked and hurried out. Cadence cleared her throat before looking back at Rhapsody. "I'm going to be blunt. Those pilots are all I could spare. The rest are defending the capital and other areas around the Empire. They are young, inexperienced, and above all, they're scared. I humbly requested you be transferred here not just to provide expertise, but as a tool for morale."
"Because fighting alongside Ghost Wing would inspire them to try harder," Rhapsody added.
Cadence nodded swiftly. "Not just Ghost Wing, but the Ghost herself. There will be major battles in the future, and because they are not as experienced as other AEGIS pilots, and I fear they will be grounded for it. I want you to boost these pilots in their bravery and their skill. I want to show the rest of the world that we may have been gone for over a thousand years, but we are not lacking in fight. They need to prove themselves to the world, and I want you to help them."
"I believe they would do fine without me," Rhapsody tried to explain.
"No," Cadence said plainly, catching the younger mare off-guard. "They wouldn't. They're scared, and more than one has been grounded permanently because they fled or ejected before the battle even started." The Princess's hands were suddenly on the younger mare's shoulders. "I need you to help them, Rhapsody. Empower them to never give up and to go down with a fire in their blood. I need you to turn these terrified colts and fillies into aerial warriors. You're the only mare I know who could do that."
Rhapsody swallowed as the words poured over her and she was forced to mull over them. Leading the Sky Breaker charge was one thing; it was a complex task made simple, and she was leading incredibly skilled pilots to boot. It was a small battle compared to this; liberate a whole city complete with squadrons of enemy fighters, columns of tanks, platoons of infantry, and more fury than the Mother Mare.
Liberate a city with more Gryphons than the southern front.
With a full squadron of green pilots.
And thousands of civilians at stake.
She grimaced as she regarded it all. She would've hoped to at least have the Wonderbolts, or one of her wings from the 14th with her, but she wasn't getting that. She was getting rookies who looked to her for promise and survival. She was facing an enemy that was relentless and was going to do anything they wanted to keep Glacier in their talons. Rhapsody almost started to sweat as the sudden realization hit her firmly in the breast. How was she even going to survive this? How were any of those pilots going to –
You wield fear against our enemies and inspire our allies. You have power to give them courage and bravery for any battle. Onyx popped into her mind, grinning at her. Sometimes you just have to accept that you're a hero.
A confident grin suddenly coursed Rhapsody's muzzle as she looked into the eyes of the Crystal Princess. Her coat returned to its healthy sea green, her pupils regained their previous luster, and her blood ran fiery hot. The Princess seemed to catch this and a smile coursed her lips as well. Standing up straight, Rhapsody stood before the Princess and then placed her hand on her heart. "I promise, Your Majesty. I will not fail you." She bowed her head to the Princess of Love.
Cadence smiled at the mare. "I know you won't Captain. Good luck to you all." Rhapsody suddenly went rigid as a kiss was placed on her forehead. "Go with my blessing, Captain. Fly to victory."
Standing back up straight, Rhapsody smiled and saluted the Princess. It was returned swiftly, and with a fresh boost of confidence, she turned and hurried to join her squadron.
"Go on! Get in there!"
The elderly stallion was thrown into the back of the truck, howling in pain and clutching his hip. Though cuffed, three Crystal Ponies carefully helped him inside as the tailgate was closed. The guard who threw him in banged the side of the truck twice and it drove off down the road. He and his military police partner watched the truck leave before turning around and returning to their patrol. Rifles in talons, they switched their flashlights back on.
"That was risky. Full house search in the dead of night, AEGIS could've seen those lights," the first guard stated.
The second guard huffed and shined his light down an alley, scaring a cat back behind its trashcan, hissing. "Unavoidable rookie. They were resistance fighters. They were lucky we didn't blow their heads off in the street. Zlatograd is a hundred miles from here and I bet some of them are gonna die on the trip."
The first guard nodded his agreement and shined his light to a few houses. One door opened and the stallion stepped out, asking for an explanation to the commotion. The gryphon MP raised his rifle and aimed. "Get your sorry tail back inside!" The stallion started and hurried back in, door slamming shut. "Speaking of which, did we ever catch that pony that set those charges?"
His companion shook his head. "Nope. Just got a vague description of the features. Juvenile and quick on her hooves."
"Oh yeah, that doesn't narrow it down to half the f-"
The second guard stopped him and jerked his beak down the way. One of the houses had its lights on. During a mandatory blackout. Lights on in the city gave enemy forces a focus point to where to drop their bombs. But the dumbfounding fact was that it was on at all. The power station was supposed to be under their control. At this hour, the power station was shut down.
"Echo team four to Static base," the first guard called on his radio to the soldiers guarding the power station. "We're at grid four-seven-zero and there's a house with power. What's going on?" He paused and waited. Silence answered him for a full five seconds before he called again. "Echo team four to Static base, how copy, over?"
His fellow guard shook his head and gestured to the house. "Forget it. They've been having troubles with the radios for a couple days now. Come on." Together, the two Gryphons marched to the house. Once on the front step of the quaint house with decorative flower pots, they took action. With little preamble, the first began banging his fist on the door. "SHUT THE LIGHTS OFF NOW OR WE'LL SHUT THEM OFF FOR YOU!" he screamed.
"Sarge?" The first guard looked to the second, and then to where he was pointing. There was another house with their lights on. And not just on the first floor; it looked as if they had even turned on their Hearths Warming lights on as well. Every object that gave light was on. "I'll go check them out." He made it five feet from the house before he stopped in the street.
And his eyes widened.
These two houses were not the only ones. All along the street the houses began turning their lights on, and not just a couple. Within seconds the entire road had lit up; street lamps, household lamps, candles, even flashlights tied to gutters, anything that gave off any sort of illumination, were all turning on and shining bright into the night sky. It was bright enough to be daylight yet it was only one in the morning. The two Gryphons stared hard at the road. And then the next sounds caught their attention.
Gun fire.
Air raid sirens.
Screams of soldiers in the distance.
Taking wing, the two MPs got above the roofs of the neighborhood and stared around. They could only gawk in awe as the lights across the city, no matter how bright or dim, were switched on. The blackout was gone, replaced by a light show never seen before. The entire Old Towne district had their power back on. They looked north and could see the Government Complex's high-rise buildings turning on every light on every floor. Searchlights scanned the sky. The airport lit up the hills surrounding it. Streaks of tracers from the AA guns were fired into the air.
"This is Static Base to all Gryphnian troops in Glacier! The resistance has taken the power station! The lights are coming on all over the city! Repeat, the lights are turning back on! Radar is picking up AEGIS forces just outside the city! SOMEONE CALL REINFORCEMENTS!"
Applejack pulled down her binoculars with the biggest grin she'd worn since the war started.
Glacier's lights were brighter than ever since the takeover.
Jumping back into her tank, she grabbed her radio and yelled, "All forces charge! We take back Glacier today! Repeat, all forces CHARGE!"
The five battalions of armor and infantry burst from their cover, shouts of victory and fire erupting from their combined throats. The forces from the north charged the Government Complex.
Commissar Karat glared through his binoculars and grinned manically. Promptly throwing them aside, he grabbed his sword and turned to the Crystal Ponies behind him, raising the saber high. "Today is a good day to die, comrades! We will retake our home, and show the world we have not lost any of our edge, nor our anger, nor our fury! With bullets, with fists, with bayonets, this city and its citizens will be free once more! For the Empire! For our Crystal Princess! CHARGE!"
Five hundred strong, the Commissar led his troops charging down the hill into the Old Towne district.
Explosions already were dotting the city streets and the clouds above. Flak guns fired endlessly into the sky above to try and strike any enemy aircraft. AA guns fired as well, sending streams of hot led into the early morning sky. SAMs scanned the air for anything that wasn't Gryphnian and firing their massive missiles into the air.
Not far beyond the battlefield, thirty AEGIS fighters were at full throttle. Rhapsody had caught sight of a massive glow in the distance and, after adjusting her course, the incredible amount of fighters she led followed closely. Once over the mountain, they were graced with the view of the city of Glacier. Once an awe-striking sight of the skyline, it was now being torn apart by both sides trying to take it and hold.
The airport had lit up and fighters were launching. The Old Towne area was in flames as Rhapsody could see the Commissar's men fighting madly into the area. Up ahead, she spied the Colonel's huge battalions of tanks and infantry pushing into the city from all angles. The entire city was a warzone all of its own.
"This is it," Rhapsody called to the fighters she had been given command of. "I want all of you to do your best. We are taking back this city today! Drive the Gryphons out once and for all, and show them we're not going to give in to their bullying!" Pushing forward, she could've sworn she heard the Tomcat roar its fury as she throttled up, wings folded back. Her ears bent back and her tail clung to her leg. This was going to be a massive fight, but she would make sure this city was liberated or she'd die trying.
"This is Imperial AWACS Magic to all aircraft! We've got a large number of enemy fighters heading your way, Ghost Lead." Sure enough, Rhapsody spied the enemy fighters gunning for them.
"Roger that, Magic! ALL WINGS, ENGAGE!"