First published
In the city of Cantermane, a secret organization called the "National Espionage Intervention Group Headquarters" or N.E.I.G.H protects and defends the world from international threats aswell as local threats. The stories that recount these events are told by a N.E.I.G.H agent by the name of Iris.
Cantermane, a city that never sleeps. A city full of criminals. Nopony dares to walk these streets alone at night...Nopony except for the agents from the "National Espionage Intervention Group Headquarters" or N.E.I.G.H for short. I am one of those agents...I am Iris, and I protect this city.
The cold brackish air from the Montero dock flows through my mane as I sit behind a small stack of wooden crates, waiting for my target. I've been sitting here for the past three hours, starting to think I was given bad intel. On top of this, I began to freeze, and wished I had brought something warmer to wear rather than my standard issue N.E.I.G.H jacket.
I began rubbing my hooves together trying to keep warm when I heard a group of colts talking just a few yards away. Peering over the stack of wooden crates, I try to make out and identify the group of characters. Scanning over the group, I recognize one of them. That dark blue coat and slicked back gray mane...It was Don Kolt, a renowned kingpin of the underworld, and my target. I was positive it was him when I caught a glimpse of his cutie mark, a sack of bits. Don Kolt is a prime N.E.I.G.H target wanted for countless thefts, pony trafficking, and more. He's been resisting arrest for five months, but tonight I am going to catch him in the act of a black market deal so I can take him in with enough evidence to put him away for a long time, one-thousand moons at the least.
I slow my breath in order to hear the conversation clearer. The Don begins to talk in a low, and calm tone.
"Ahhh, Mr. Blackhoof. It's great to see you. I understand you have something for me?"
The one called Blackhoof gestures to one of his henchponies who presented a metal box to Don Kolt. As he opens it, Blackhoof replys with a scruffy voice.
"Here is dat piece of machinery chu asked for Don."
I look at the box, trying to make out the object but can't see it. Intrigued by it's mysterious contents, I dash back and forth between the shipping crates and cargo containers trying to get closer.
"Finally...The Mechanihoof...It must have taken a great deal of time and resources to find this...This should be enough though."
As I got closer, I saw Don Kolt give Blackhoof a large briefcase. Blackhoof opened it revealing a magnitude of gems worth over six thousand bits. I tried to get closer when i hit a crate, shifting its position.
"What was dat!? Blaze, Lightning Luck, go take a look around!"
"Cloudbuster, Rocky, go with them!"
My breathing becomes heavy as fear sets in. I was prepared to take in the Don but I was not prepared to fight both Blackhoof's henchponies and the Don's. Realizing I need backup, I activate my earpiece and establish a communication link with N.E.I.G.H.
"This is agent Iris, requesting backup. I'm in the Golden Gala district at Montero Dock," I whisper, trying to keep quite.
"Roger that agent Iris. Agents Honey Trot, and Dust Kicker are enroute. Estimated arrival time is ten minutes."
Just as I end communication with N.E.I.G.H one of the henchponies spot my hoof poking out from behind a red cargo crate.
"Hey you! Get out from behind that crate with your hooves up!"
The other henchponies join him, and draw knives from slings around their waists. I slowly come out from behind the container with two hooves in the air, planning my moves carefully.
"Iris! Get down!" A female voice says.
I look up on top of a large container to find nopony else but Honey Trot and Dusk Kicker.
"You sure did take your time!" I exclame, slightly infuriated with their lateness.
Dusk Kicker jumps down from the container and lands on one of the henchponies, while Honey Trot pulls a small object out of her saddle bag.
"Cover your eyes!" Honey Trot yells, tossing the small object.
I quickly covered my eyes as i heard a bang and the screams of the henchponies. I realized what Honey had thrown was a flash-bang grenade. I uncover my eyes to see the henchponies on the ground, and hear more of them galloping over to our location. By now Don Kolt and Blackhoof must have escaped.
"Iris, we gotta get outta here. There is too many of them to take on all at once," Dust says quickly.
With a feeling of failure i agree. The intel I was given did not include how many henchponies would be around here...There is nothing left to do other than retreat and inform the director of the missions current status...
After Dust Kicker, Honey Trot and I arrived at N.E.I.G.H, we took the elevator to go visit the Director on the seventh floor. Arriving there, we entered his office and reported the status of my mission.
"Director Oatsworth...I am sorry to report that...Don Kolt has not been taken into custody...But it is believed he is creating some sort of machine. At the docks, Don Kolt made a deal with a black market dealer by the name of Blackhoof. Nothing more is known about the current situation," I say with a tone of melancholy, hoping the Director isn't mad at me for failing the mission.
"I see...I will have our criminal records department look up our friend Blackhoof and see what information we can find, but until then we need you three to get over in the Liberty district. There has been reports of large scale steel mill, and factory robberies all over the district. Reports claim to have seen a scarlet-red unicorn in the vicinity of multiple thefts. Go and assess the situation and report back to me. Before leaving, go restock your supplies and meet me on the eighth floor," The director says sternly.
The three of us leave the office and restock our saddle bags with supplies. I can't help but wonder if the steel mill robberies are connected to Don Kolt and his "Mechanihoof". As we finish packing up, we take the elevator to the eighth floor to meet with the Director. The elevator stops at the top floor and opens, revealing the beauty of a large piece of machinery siting in the middle of the rooftop.
"This is the 'Heavy Little Compact Transporter' or Helicopter if you will. It is a prototype transportation system that has the capability to take up to four agents all across Cantermane, and farther if needed. It also is very fast. It should get you to the Liberty district within fifteen minutes. The only downside to this baby is the noise. It's a pretty loud machine so their really is no stealth to it but its efficient. Pile in and the agent in the front, under the glass bubble will pilot the Helicopter to your destination. We need the Liberty issue assessed immediately. Good luck!"
The Director taps the side of the Helicopter twice, waving to the pilot. The machine starts up with a loud whirling sound that gets louder as the large blades connected to the top of the machine begin to rotate, getting faster and faster.