Operation First Light
As Lieutenant Coen stood at his post atop the research outpost’s command tower, looking out over the moonlit jungles of south-eastern Equestria, he wondered what he did to deserve to be stationed at the furthest location a changeling could get from his home hive while still being on the Equus continent. He served Queen Chrysalis well, never questioned orders, pressed forward unflinchingly with his fellow soldiers to claim victory against the ponies of Equestria. Yet here he was, being a glorified babysitter to a bunch of scientists, both fellow changelings as well as pony collaborators. He was well aware of the necessity of the job, what with dangerous beasts and partisans prowling the jungle that the scientists insist on taking samples from. It didn’t mean that he had to enjoy being what had become known as the sweaty crotch of Equestria.
“It’s still quiet Lieutenant,” reported Sergeant Arvin, a veteran soldier of Coen’s old command. The sleek looking changeling was formerly a radio operator, though now the command tower’s chief switchboard operator. Despite, or perhaps because of, the isolation, the compound had a state of the art communications system. Though monitoring it should’ve been more than one soldier’s job. But between the need for 24 hour surveillance and being understaffed meant that a job of six changelings fell into the hooves of Arvin and whatever Private he talked into covering for him while he caught up on some sleep. There was only so much love and Zebrican coffee rations could sustain someone.
Coen nodded. “Keep vigilant. You know to let me know if something is out of place.”
The NCO nodded in return, then paused to squint past his commanding officer. “How about that, sir?” he said gesturing out the window.
Coen turned to look in that direction, beyond the small dock that was the compound’s sole means of resupply. He could make out a couple of lights out past the small inlet that led out into the southern sea. Raising a pair of binoculars to his eyes, he could make out a ship close to the horizon. While the details were hard to make out at this distance, he could tell from the profile of cranes and the superstructure that it was a cargo ship as opposed to a warship. And one in poor shape as well. The ship had a slight list towards the shore and what light was cast by the ship highlighted rust everywhere. A thick cloud of black smoke was pouring from its smokestack obscuring the stars in the sky.
Curious who would have a ship in such condition, Coen tried to look for identifiers for the ship. While the name painted on the bow was obscured by rust, the flag on the mast appeared to be the red, green and black of the Kasa Free State. The minor Griffonian nation was home to a hodgepodge of escaped slaves and criminals trying to run a country. Still, they were a recognized independent state that was neutral politically in the current state of the world. At the very least, the flag wasn’t the sky blue and pink of the remaining Equestrian and allied ships operating from New Mareland or the yellow and orange of the Griffonian Empire, the two biggest threats to the Changeling Hegemony. “It’s just an old Kasain freighter. It’s headed east so it was probably peddling its wares in Stableside and is heading home with whatever scraps we threw to them. Whatever the case, it’s been cleared by the coast guard, otherwise it wouldn’t be in our waters.”
Arvin gestured for the binoculars, which Coen obliged. The Sergeant was the closest thing to a trusted companion he had in the compound and appreciated his second opinion. “We should still keep an eye on it, sir. If only because it looks like it will tip over in the next stiff breeze.”
The pair of them shared a chuckle that was interrupted by a muffled voice coming through the headset Arvin left by the switchboard. With a muttered curse, the Sergeant returned to his post and listened to the message. “I did not copy the start of that, could you say that again?”
After a moment Arvin gave a nod. “I’ll pass it on to the Lieutenant.” He turned to Coen, flipping the mute on the headset. “Sir, Corporal Haydn says that one of the scientists wants to come up here to talk to you personally about a potential security risk.”
Coen suppressed a sigh. On one hoof, the scientists had already made a ton of annoying demands of him and his soldiers that he has no desire or obligation to fulfill. On the other, protocol was that any concerns about security would be heard and recorded, especially as short staffed as he was. Still, there was one potential avenue to ignore the request. “Are they one of ours or one of the collaborators?”
Arvin relayed the message and after a moment responded. “It’s one of ours, sir. Doctor Zelig.”
Coen openly sighed. Dr Zelig was one of the more vocal complainants, always asking for an escort outside the buildings to get a smoke. Coen was very aware that the scientist often snuck out on his own to satisfy his needs, and if he died from a beast or bullet, it would be his own damn fault and he could wipe his hooves of him from ignoring orders. Then again, if Zelig did see something out of place on one of his trips outside, it was worth hearing out. “Send him up.”
“Yes, sir!” Arvin complied, relaying his message.
While he waited for the scientist to make his way up the tower stairs, Coen picked up a clipboard and pen to record whatever Zelig had to say, if only so he would have some satisfaction tossing it into the incinerator later.
The door opened sooner than he expected. He turned to see Dr Zelig come flying into the room, landing before him. There was something odd about the landing, but Coen couldn’t put his hoof on it. It was probably because the scientist wasn’t used to flying his fat flank this far. Still, he had to listen to what Zelig had to say. “Well then Doctor, I heard you had some security concerns?”
Zelig gave a nervous look around the command room, then gave a nod. “Yes.” He pointed out the window. “You see that ship out there? There’s something suspicious about it.”
Coen frowned and turned to look out the window. “I saw it but it didn’t- wait.” He saw some movement on the deck. He raised his binoculars to get a better look. He faintly saw a couple of figures moving on the deck, which was kind of odd this time of night, but otherwise what could be so dangerous about a rusty old freighter?
Just as that question came to mind, two sharp claps rang out behind him. He turned just in time to see Sergeant Arvin slumped at his desk with blood pooling beneath him and a suppressed pistol in Dr Zelig’s mouth. Combat instincts took hold as Coen jumped for cover, though as pain tore through his flank, he knew he was too slow.
Coen collapsed as shock overtook him, sickly green blood oozing profusely from his side. He tried to reach for his sidearm, but Zelig leaped across the room in a single bound to land a solid kick to his head.
“The ship’s quite suspicious indeed…” the doctor said around the grip of the gun.
One last shot was the last thing Coen ever knew.
***
“Leadership decapitated, Captain. This spell Beauty Mark whipped up worked like a charm.”
Captain Jaune Caballeria gave a reassuring nod to herself as Altostratus’ voice came over the radio. Beauty Mark’s pedigree was in makeuping and effects for Applewood, she was pretty much the Rarity of the cosmetics world. But she was scooped up by the Neighrego as her work was vital for the disguises the crew needed in order to blend in with any local. While dyes and prosthetics were enough to disguise any of them among any of the pony populations around the world, she had to go above and beyond to slip an operative by as a changeling. “Good work Alto. Your wings didn’t give you away?”
“No problem, Captain,” Altostratus responded. “The illusion kept up. How do changelings even fly with those dinky little wings of theirs?”
Jaune gave a chuckle to herself. There was some concern going into this mission that the illusionary changeling wings the pegasus sported wouldn’t obscure the flapping of his own larger wings. Still, Alto was the best pony for the job. He shared Jaune’s S.M.I.L.E. training during the Great War and his special talent was for mimicry, which extended to languages and accents. He could blend in among any pony population, be it Equestrian, Aquileian or River Federation. And, apparently, changeling as well. “Come meet me at the main research building. We need to find out what they are working on here. I’ll signal our distraction.”
“Right, see you once I take care of this equipment and seal the door.”
Jaune Caballeria acknowledged the sticking to the plan of destroying the one source of communication the changelings had to the outside world, then switched radio channels to the two operatives stationed outside of the compound. “Merry, Chainlink, make some noise.”
“Aye Cap’n, light'n ‘er up,” came the drawl of Merry Law, a former Equestrian Army Ranger. He and Chainlink, the latter being a former Equestrian Marine, were the two main gundogs of the crew. And they made good work on their training as the sound of gunfire erupted from the jungle on the far side of the compound. Searchlights snapped on and turned, hoping to spot her stallions.
“Good luck with that,” she muttered to herself, confident that the pair would take care of themselves.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Jaune moved in herself. Leaving the real Dr. Zelig bound and gagged hidden in the trees behind her, she teleported a short distance in order to bypass the chain link fence. Despite her name, Jaune’s coat and mane was currently dyed a mottled dark green, another job by Beauty Mark. Paired with her magical aura natively being a dark purple, it meant that it would be difficult for any changeling to see her. And even if they did, well, that’s what the SMG hung at her breast and a few other tricks she had were for.
Jaune moved cautiously in order to avoid being noticed by the guards rushing to reinforce the northern side of the compound. It didn’t take long for her to find the building that housed the main laboratory. Their main mission was to figure out what this research facility was actually researching and disrupt it. How they did that was their own prerogative.
Though it appeared that even with her crew shooting up the compound, there were a pair of guards standing by the door to the laboratory, weapons at the ready. It made sense, the lab was the most vital part of the compound. Jaune could gun them down from where she was, but it would be best to use a method that didn’t involve alerting anyone in the facility to her presence.
“Alto,” she whispered into the radio, “there’s a couple of guards in front of the lab. Mind walking up to them and saying hello?”
“I will once I finish up here, Captain,” he responded. “I got held up by a couple of guards investigating the tower. They’ve been dealt with. I’ll finish jamming the door and I’ll be there in a moment.”
“I’ll be waiting for your signal.”
Within a couple minutes, Jaune saw ‘Dr. Zelig’ approach the building at a brisk trot. One of the guards barked out an order to him in the changeling’s native tongue. Fortunately, both operatives were fluent. “Return to your quarters, Doctor. If you haven’t noticed, the compound is under attack.”
“I am well aware of that, that’s why I need to get in!” Alto snapped back in perfect changeling. “I need to see that my project remains undisturbed!”
The guard snorted as he came towards Alto. “You not getting killed is more important.” As if on cue, a scream of pain came from the far side of the compound. The guard quickly put a hoof on the operative's shoulder. “Come on, I’ll take you back to the barracks.”
Alto gave a snort and a flick of his wing. That was the signal.
In a blink of an eye Jaune had teleported a meter directly over the head of the second guard. In the split second before gravity took hold, her hind legs glowed the same colour as her horn. Then the full force of a kick aided by gravity, magic and the weight of a full grown mare slammed into the guard’s head. The changeling’s exoskeleton caved in and he fell to the ground, never to stand again. Jaune turned towards the other guard, but saw Alto had his hooves around the changeling’s neck. With a snap, the guard met the same fate as his partner.
With the two guards taken out, Jaune cast a lock-pick spell on the door to the lab. While the guards probably had keys on them, the pair of operatives didn’t have the time to spend finding the right one. So within a couple of seconds, there was a click and they were through the door, dragging the bodies behind them out of sight.
Inside was much of what you would expect for a lab. There were counters all around the room covered in chemist’s equipment. Burners, beakers, and stored samples of jungle flora and fauna were everywhere. While she wasn’t too familiar with the anatomy of the wild beasts of Equestria, Jaune could recognize the preserved tail of a manticore anywhere. “Well, it was pretty obvious they were studying what lived here, but to what end?” she wondered aloud. She spied a corner of the room that seemed dedicated to paperwork. “I’m going to do some reading, you take a look around.”
Alto’s wing twitched and they both stared at each other for a moment before they realized that the operative tried to salute with a wing that neither of them could see. The moment was broken by a shared chuckle. Alto then gave a proper salute with his hoof and made his way off to explore. Jaune turned back to the papers, still grinning despite the seriousness of their mission. A bit of levity never hurt.
She shuffled the first few pages of paper in her magic. Most seemed to be charts tracking the ratios of different substances and if they’ve done tests with certain compounds. The substances were in chemical jargon that she had no hope in understanding and the chart gave no clue what the tests actually were. Still, they had experts who would be able to figure this sort of thing out. They went into her saddlebag, then she turned to the next few pages.
They seemed to be letters of collaboration from similar facilities. A letter from Ponyville was expected due to its proximity to the Everfree Forest. Others from the swamps by the Changeling homelands and the Olenian and Chrystal mountains were also not much of a stretch. However, the one that caught her eye was addressed from a town just outside of the Scheißwald, the Griffonian Empire’s rancid cousin of the Everfree. This was news. Either the Empire had a security leak they could drive the Neighrego through, or the Empire was aiding the Changelings under their muzzles. Both could be a danger to the remnants of the Equestrian forces sheltered in New Mareland. At the very least, they were future targets of interest.
As she sifted through a few more sheets of complex chemical formulas, a wave from Alto caught her eye. “Breezies can choose where the wind blows,” he started with his password. He had been out of sight while there were changelings about after all. “Jaune... you might want to see this.”
Jaune knew he found something serious from the fact he used her name rather than her title of Captain. She tucked the rest of the papers into her saddlebag and followed the disguised pegasus to a door that led to a room off the main lab. Seeing the grim look on the other operative’s face, she steeled herself and pushed open the door.
It looked like a hospital ward. There was a changeling nurse on the floor that had already been knocked out and tied up by Alto, but the key feature of the room was a dozen hospital beds, each with a pony strapped down into it by restraints.
“Test subjects,” Alto said with a sneer. “The damn bugs are mixing together whatever weird things they can find in the jungle and injecting them into our ponies just to see what happens.”
Jaune’s stomach churned as she examined them. Most of them appeared to be asleep, but each one was muzzled and had a foreleg shaved, displaying red marks where multiple needles had been used. Each bed had a chart at the foot of it. “‘Subject: Earth Pony mare.” Jaune red off the first bed. “'Dose: 1cc of Compound 545. Effect: causes severe chemical burn near injection site, severe rash localized to the limb. Recommend observation to determine duration of rash, then repeat testing with a greater dosage.'”
They were each like that, in greater horrors. One unicorn was the subject of a potent painkiller with a debate in the notes wondering if they should test pain tolerance or withdrawal symptoms. The next was a pegasus mindlessly struggling against her bonds, deep under the influence of some sort of hallucinogenic, ravings muted by the muzzle. This was followed by an earth pony stallion who was obviously under the effects of some sort of aphrodisiac. His notes included that the lust produced didn’t quite feel the same as natural love, but still was able to sustain a changeling some, followed by sickening speculation on developing it for widespread use among the conquered ponies to aid with love extraction. And at the end of the row there was a dead earth pony whose notes said he died due to an allergic reaction causing multiple organ failures. They were planning on testing the same mixture to see if it was just that one pony was allergic and they left the body to lie there until they would dissect him to figure out which organs failed.
And judging by the stained corner of the room, it would be done in front of the other captives.
“This place needs to be burned to the ground,” Alto growled.
Jaune shook her head. “As much as I would like to see Graphite strafe this place or see the Neighrego shell it into oblivion, we can’t guarantee that we wouldn’t leave any witnesses and expose our cover.” She gazed over the ponies before her. “Let’s save what we can first.”
Alto snorted. “Even if I carry your skinny rump, there is no way Graphite can carry everypony back to the ship.”
“He’ll be fine,” she replied, then set her jaw. “Though we can lighten the load by taking no prisoners.”
“Even the collaborators?” Alto asked in a tone that was more for clarification than any sort of disagreement.
“Coerced or not, they are just as guilty as the changelings for this torture. Just grab what notes you can. You get these ponies moving, I’ll contact the Neighrego.”
Alto gave a nod and turned to rouse and free the victimized ponies. Jaune focused on her own task. “Neighrego, this is Jaune Caballeria.”
“This is Neighrego, I hear you Captain,” came the voice of Music Box, the ship’s Chief Communications Officer.
“Patch me through to Linen.”
“I’m already here Jaune,” came his second in command, Linen Rose. Of course the mare wouldn’t be far from the radio while Jaune was off the ship. It certainly made the relay of orders much smoother.
“Tell Graphite to strap into his passenger rig for extraction. Strip it of its weapons if you have time, we’re bringing home a few more extra bodies than planned.” While the message was relayed to the Neighrego’s resident pilot, Jaune then gave a brief summary of what they found.
“Those bastards!” Linen snarled. “Are you sure you don’t want us to shell the place? Mark has been whining about sitting on his firing solutions for the past half hour,” Linen Rose said.
“No I haven’t!” came the faint, indignant voice of Chief Weapons Officer Mark Gunner, former member of Equestria’s weapons R&D department. And head designer of the 120mm naval gun that was concealed within the Neighrego’s foremost hold.
Jaune could practically hear the eyeroll over the radio. “Anyways, Graphite should be just about to take off. Should I let Dr. Husk know to expect ponies needing medical attention?”
The motherly Doctor Juniper Husk was the Neighrego's Chief Medical Officer. “Yes, and authorize full use of our medical facilities. They deserve the best care we have after what they’ve been through. But we still shouldn’t let them know the full extent of our capabilities, so we need to make sure they stay there.”
“I’ll see it done. See you soon, Jaune. Neighrego, out.”
By the time the conversation was over, Alto had gotten those who could stand on their hooves. He had to reassure a couple of them that he wasn’t really a changeling by prodding them with his obscured wing. However, there was one unicorn that had failed to waken, trapped in some sort of coma. Alto managed to get her onto his back. The hallucinating pegasus seemed to have calmed down by the proximity of another freed pegasus, most likely a friend. There had been one bed empty, perhaps waiting for a new ‘patient’ to fill it. Still, that was ten ponies to protect and those who could walk did so on unsteady hooves, legs atrophied from the time spent immobilized for Celestia knew how long.
“Listen up!” Jaune snapped to the gathered ponies. “I’m going to get all of you out of here, but if I’m to do so, you need to do everything I say. Got it?”
Most of the now escapees nodded, but the couple who didn’t had unfocused looks in their eyes. It was concerning that everypony didn’t have all their wits about them, but hopefully the pony herding instinct would be enough to get to the extraction point. “Our extraction is in a clearing in the jungle to the east of here. Stay close together, help each other and follow Alto here. Keep your heads down, keep moving and you’ll be okay.”
As everypony filed out of the room, Jaune took the time to take the medical sheets at the foot of each bed. She then radioed her operatives outside the compound. “Merry, Chainlink, we’re pulling out. How are you holding out?”
“We’ve a few scritches from bouncing bullets, but nothin’ to be worried about,” Merry reported lazily despite the ongoing firefight. “We’re good t’ go whenever, Cap’n.”
“We’ll make a distraction for you. Once you get the chance, fall back to the extraction point.”
“Gotcha Cap’n. But how's ya gonna cause a distraction that doesn't get ya all shot up?”
Jaune took a moment to take a look around at the available supplies around the lab. “Formaldehyde is flammable, isn’t it?” she said with a grin.
***
Once the guards discovered the fire raging in the laboratory, Jaune and company were already deep in the treeline. It was slow going, but Jaune figured that by the time the guards discovered that they had been infiltrated, they would be so disorganized and injured that they wouldn’t bother giving chase. There was also the cynical thought that they wouldn’t be too concerned about the loss of their prisoners, there were certainly more captured ponies they could use to replace their losses.
Eventually the group came to a clearing where two large, well armed earth ponies were waiting for them. “T’ first hour of Luna’s nigh’,” called the brick maned and pale yellow Merry Law, backed up by the two-toned grey Chainlink having his LMG at the ready.
“Who set’s Celestia’s alarm clock?” Jaune responded, giving her identifier code. Alto gave his own passcode and unclipped the enchanted badge sustaining his illusion, the oily black carapace dissolving to reveal Alto's true white coat and grey-green mane. The pair relaxed slightly at the proof that a changeling hadn’t infiltrated their ranks back, but they still kept their weapons at the ready. There was still a slight risk that the changelings would decide to attack them while they waited for Graphite.
Soon enough, a very faint beating of wings could be heard, but with the darkness and trees obscuring Jaune’s line of sight, she didn’t see their extraction until it was right above them. Which was just as well, the surviving guards wouldn’t be able to see him either. And what a sight it was.
A few of the escapees cowered as the almost full grown dragon settled down on all fours in the clearing before them. The 15 meters from snout to tail of grey and navy scales was accented by darkly glowing griffon inspired runes on well crafted metal plates. The enchanted armour not only gave Graphite and his passengers protection from gunfire, but also increased his speed and carrying capacity. Tied across his belly was a metal capsule that had some resemblance to a metal backpack. Jaune saw that the chest mounted machine gun mountings were bare. Still, the capsule only had room for eight ponies and even with Alto volunteering to carry Jaune, Graphite still had a dozen ponies to fly with.
Graphite opened the hatch to the capsule by his chest and laid on his stomach to allow easier access and steadied the capsule. In this position, the bulk of his body was shielding the capsule. Jaune waved the escapees towards the ramp, then turned to the dragon’s head. “You think you’ll be able to get back to the ship with everypony?” She asked, concerned about the pilot.
Graphite took an appraising look at the group of gathered ponies. He took a sniff at the air and grinned. “Considering that it appears that some of them chose to lighten themselves at the sight of me, as well as the state they’re in it shouldn’t be too much trouble,” he softly rumbled. “I can trust Merry and Link to not get themselves into trouble by riding on my back, but beyond the eight positions in the passenger compartment, the most secure place would be in my claws. It would still be vulnerable and uncomfortable though,” he conceded.
Jaune looked towards her stallions helping the weakest of the escapees strap into their harnesses. The harnesses were built for ponies and to withstand some maneuvers that Graphite might have to do during a fight, so they had to lie prone while in flight. There were still a few healthier ponies looking nervous at the thought of entering a metal box strapped to the belly of a dragon. Perhaps a couple of them would take the offer. “We need a couple volunteers to ride in his claws. You’ll be a bit more exposed, but I assure you, you’ll be in safe claws.”
A female pegasus in the group glanced between the compartment and the claws and, despite a slightly glazed look in her eyes, waved a hoof eagerly. She was either feeling claustrophobic of the capsule, or excited to have a chance to fly with a dragon. But otherwise, there didn’t seem to be any takers.
“Ok, let me put it another way: who would rather be in a pegasus’ hooves than a dragon’s claws?” Jaune asked, gesturing to the sweating and blood splattered Alto.
The few remaining able bodied ponies exchanged looks between Graphite, Alto and each other before the earth pony stallion, still slightly flushed by the drugs in his system, stepped forward. Jaune gave the stallion a nod in appreciation and then helped the last of the escapees get settled. Once the eight in the capsule were strapped in properly, Graphite helped Merry and Chainlink onto his back. Then the dragon carefully shifted back to put his weight on his hind legs, aware that every move he made would jostle his passengers, and gently picked up the two volunteers and held them close to his chest. He then looked at Jaune. “Ready for takeoff, Captain.”
Jaune nodded. “You take point, we’ll be right behind you. Head east for a while before turning south for the Neighrego to make it look like you’re just another dragon on a migration.”
“Right then.” Graphite took one last look around the clearing, then launched himself into the air. It didn’t take long for him to disappear into the night, his enchanted armour aiding his acceleration.
Alto took to the air himself and hovered over Jaune. He clipped the front of his tactical rig to the back of Jaune’s and wrapped all four of his hooves around Jaune’s barrel. “‘Would you rather fly with the pegasus or the dragon?’” he grumbled as he flew the pair of them into the air. “And you knew that they’d choose Graphite over me. If you weren’t the Captain, I’d be insulted enough to drop you into the ocean.”
Jaune chuckled. “Hey, you shouldn’t be complaining about carrying my skinny rump. Then again if the changelings spot us flying by, my skinny rump is the only thing between you and the bullets.”
“Best not be spotted then,” he chuckled. Jaune laughed with him.
After flying quite a ways over the dark jungle, Alto did a banking turn and was soon making his way across the southern sea. It didn’t take long for the Neighrego to come into sight, still spewing black smoke and limping along. But just like the rust, it was all an act. The ship had even already removed its list to port by pumping the water out of its specially made ballast tanks.
Jaune could see that Graphite had already landed on the deck of the ship. Crew members and presumably Dr. Husk were already unloading the escapees and ushering them into the ship to be cared for. Alto glided in to land beside the Dragon.
“Well, that was an uneventful flight,” the pegasus said as he unclipped Jaune and stretched his legs.
“Good thing too,” Graphite rumbled. “I doubt I would have made it here with everyone in one piece if someone decided to shoot at me.”
“I’m sure you’d been fine, big guy,” Jaune said, walking up to him and patting him on the arm. “I know you take good care of those in the shadows of your wings.”
At this point the last escapee had been carried out on a stretcher, so Graphite took the moment to stretch. “Thanks for the confidence, Captain. But if you don’t mind, I’ve had my exercise for the week. I’m gonna go take a nap.”
Jaune smiled. “Go, you deserve a rest.”
Graphite gave an appreciative nod and walked over to the hold hatch second from the bow. He casually lifted up the massive hatch and crawled into the hold that he had claimed as his den. Jaune always felt a bit sorry that the only space the Neighrego had for the dragon was barely enough for him to turn around in, especially with his flight gear. But Graphite insisted that he found it cozy and who was she to argue with a dragon?
Jaune herself followed her crew and escapees towards the superstructure of the Neighrego, passing over the two holds the Neighrego had that actually contained the Kasain and Changeling goods they were using for their cover. There were other containers, barrels and debris scattered around the deck, most were just props, though a few held heavy machine guns that could be brought out when needed.
First entering the superstructure of the ship kept most of the same facade as the outside, only with the added smell that would come with a couple dozen ponies living in close proximity to each other for several moons with little concerns for hygiene. Not that this section really had any ponies living in it. Then again, with weapons crews and a full intelligence facility on top of a regular ship crew, the crew numbered over two hundred creatures. The aft most hold of the Neighrego had been converted into crew living and working quarters. And they had warm showers. The medical bay was right on the line of the facade, able to look neglected when inspections came around, but fully stocked to take care of most injuries from operatives coming back from the field.
Jaune checked in with Dr. Husk, not only to get her professional opinion on how well the escapees would recover, but to also reassure the green on purple unicorn that she herself hadn’t been injured during the mission. She could see the Doctor’s aids milling about tending to the escapees as well as the few grazes Merry and Chainlink took during the firefight. “How does it look for everypony’s recovery?”
Doctor Husk sighed. “It’s hard to tell for some of these ponies. For most of them, we hope that it is just a matter of waiting for whatever is in their system to pass out of the body. However, there may be some serious withdrawal symptoms that we need to look out for. Once they get some good meals into them and get their strength back, most of them should be fine. Physically at least.”
Jaune nodded, knowing mentally it would be a whole other issue. She slipped the papers she had collected from the laboratory out of her saddlebags to give to Dr. Husk. “These should help. These sheets also have some potential other targets, so take good care of them. I’ll be headed up to the bridge.”
After receiving thanks from Dr. Husk and the escapees for the rescue, Jaune stepped out of the med bay and made her way down to a maintenance closet. After fiddling with some of the fixtures in it, a hidden door opened up revealing the true heart and soul of the ship. The interior was as clean and modern as the exterior was rusty and degraded. Jaune took a flight of stairs upwards, but not up to the bridge as it appeared on the outside. That was reserved for appearances and nosy harbourmasters. The true bridge was one level down, hidden by a permanent one-way illusion. There were plans to have the bridge hidden in the bowels of the ship, but the scrying tech needed for navigation wasn’t quite at the level necessary to be able to pull that off.
When Jaune stepped onto the bridge, Linen spotted her and with a “Captain on bridge”, every eye in the room was on her, each pony with a hoof up in a salute. Jaune took a moment to appreciate each of the talented ponies that had come under her command. Chief Communications Officer Music Box, Chief Weapons Officer Mark Gunner, Helmspony Stoney Shore and Executive Officer Linen Rose. She was proud of these ponies.
“As you were,” Jaune dismissed them, then took her seat in her command chair that looked over the bridge. “Stoney, let’s get underway. We have a rendezvous with HMNMS Starfall to make. We have ponies that need to be back on friendly soil and in need of medical attention.”
“Aye Captain,” Stoney Shore replied, then made his own order over the ship’s system. “Handler, fire up those magic engines of yours.”
The Neighrego’s chief engineer’s sigh was audible over the channel. “They’re advanced magnetohydrodyna-”
Stoney cut him off. “I don’t care if they’re powered by Celestia’s royal flatulence, get us out of here!”
The grumbling in response was lighthearted. Banter between the helmspony and chief engineer was commonplace. Handler was quite proud of his engines and it didn’t take long for the Neighrego to get up to speeds that should have been impossible for a ship her size. The acceleration would have shaken her apart if she was in as poor a shape that her facade had indicated.
After a couple of minutes, Jaune sighed a breath of relief and allowed herself to relax into her chair. The mission was a success, they had gotten away with the Changelings none the wiser. She smiled and opened up an open channel to the whole ship.
“After all this time puttering around the shores of Griffonia making connections and being on loan for the OHS, it’s great to finally strike back at the Changelings,” Jaune said. The OHS was River Republic’s Office of Harmonic Services, the special agency of Equestria’s greatest ally on the Griffonian continent. “What we’ve done here is small, but an important first step if we are to reclaim our home. For the Princesses! For Equestria!”
The entire ship echoed her cheer, she even swore she heard a deep bellow from Graphite ring through the hull.
Once everyone settled back to their stations, Jaune left her seat and left the control centre to go to her captain’s quarters. She could use a good meal and a hot shower to wash the dye out of her coat. However, Linen caught up with her in the hallway. “Jaune, a moment please.”
Jaune paused. “Sure, what’s on your mind? Did something happen on the ship while I was on mission?”
Linen shook her head. “It’s not that. It’s just…” she hesitated. “Did we make a difference? Did what we just do matter?”
“I think there are a few ponies who would say that what we did mattered quite a bit,” Jaune responded, tilting her head towards the med bay.
Linen gave a small smile. “I suppose so.” She gave a sigh. “What I really mean is, how are a few rescued ponies and a bunch of chemistry papers going to help reclaim Equestria? We’re supposed to be the best, but if all we do is smash and grabs and being an errand colt for the OHS, what can we accomplish?”
Jaune sighed herself. “Some of that is for the Princesses to decide. I know we were given the freedom to choose missions for ourselves, but ultimately we are still a tool in their arsenal. They have their eyes on the bigger picture. Everything we do works towards the liberation of Equestria.” She smiled. “No matter how small it may seem.”
Linen gave a subdued nod and smiled. “That’s why you’re the Captain and I’m your trusty second opinion. Perhaps our next mission will be a bit more exciting.”
Jaune grinned. “I bet you ten bits that you’ll regret those words.” Her grin grew melancholy. “And I promise that one day the Neighrego will be sailing into Manehatten harbor in broad daylight to the cheer of thousands of ponies. We will succeed.”
“I’ll hold you to that then,” Linen said. She then teasingly bumped rumps with Jaune. “Now get yourself washed up, you’re looking a little green there.”
The laugh felt good.
***
Another dawn came. It always did. For it was the Princess’s will.
One day the dawn will come with Celestia, Luna and all of ponykind united behind her. To see the sun rise over Equestria again.