Everything was more or less blurry in the medical bay, the smell of bleach wetted the air like some unlikeable dog needlessly licking your face. The sounds of moaning soldiers were blurred under the anesthetic they had given him. Thunder Clap was amazed he was still alive. After the Changelings bit down on his neck, he thought he was done. He took that one down with some help from the red unicorn he'd come to know as Ephi, but he had no idea how bad his wound was when he was until he was stumbling around like a drunken sailor on new year's.

It wasn't until the smell of freshly fired gun powder and sweat wafted into his nostrils that he felt more comfortable. Silver Bit had come over to check on him. So what if she was four years older than him, that didn't mean he couldn't try his heart out to ham up his injuries. She had no medical training at all but it was nice to have her dab his forehead with the wet cloth and metaphorically kiss his wounds; he wished it wasn't metaphorical. That'd be great.

Thunder Clap would talk to her about his design and a possible merger between the ideas to create some super weapon. It was so nice to have somepony that wasn't Spangle to talk to about mechanical stuff. Silver stayed out of a sense of guilt for him being so young. Thunder liked to imagine that she just had a small crush on him too. She noticed his hardware about half way through the conversation. His right foreleg. She recognized the specific design from The Captain's legs and was amazed that a farmer could afford the replacement.

Eventually the two had rambled on about their life stories for weeks at a time before they run out of things to say by the end of the month. She also went to that fast food colored pony everyday too before coming over to him and after she'd done what needed to be done in the engine room. She'd kiss his forehead and say she was sorry about a million times and converse about his daughter. Thunder was feeling a pang of jealousy towards him as he started getting back on his hoofs. Orion was sentenced to bed rest for the rest of the voyage or when he wound healed enough to walk.

Just as Thunder was about to go over and interrupt, a loud siren blared and a very fast and Arab voice shouted from far down bellow in Arabic. Thunder didn't understand a word from the stallion. But from their deck, another voice shouting in Arabic, shouted back. Thunder limped as Silver ran to the stairs leading to the deck. Silver, obviously far ahead of him, was first onto the deck. Thunder needed a bit more time as he climbed the stairs into a blazing light. It wasn't the sun; the balloon made sure to keep them under a constant blanket of shadows. This was more like a glare off of a bright surface. Thunder Clap made his way to the railing on the left side. He never knew port from starboard so he just went by left and right.

As his eyes adjusted to the light, a sprawling city of low buildings in a lush green landscape following a river to the East Ocean became clear against the glare of the desert far outside the city. Down the shore, bright green foliage and trees stretched back a few miles before dissolving into the desert behind it. Thunder looked along the shore next to this beautiful city and saw large cannons trained on them.

"Captain!" Ephilates shouted crossing the deck. "What's going on?"

"Calm down Lieutenant." Nexus reassured waving him off. "We have everything under control. We do have everything under control right?" Nexus asked the reporter that tagged along.

"We should. They just want to know why we're here and need us to land to verify. A war ship carrying around fifty troops is enough to offset any government."

"He speaks Arabic too?" Thunder thought out loud.

"Apparently." the pony who's bat wings stuck around after she took off her armor replied.

"Hestaria, right?" Thunder asked.

"Yeah. You're… Lightning Clopper right?"

"First off, ewe. And secondly, my name's Thunder Clap."

"Close enough for now. Sergeant First Class huh? Not bad for a kid."

"Hey!"

"Cut the chatter!" Nexus demanded.

"My Arabic isn't very accurate so I can only get us but so far." The reporter added.

"If I get shot down because of you, I will throw you over board." Nexus told him as he turned to the helmswoman. "Start descent. We're going to have to be diplomatic."

"I thought your brand of diplomacy was the aggressive kind?" the reporter asked.

"Remember what I said about those snarky quips."

"Yeah, yeah. Overboard."

The helmswoman shouted down to the hold but was greeted by Silver saying she was already on it. Thunder Clap was fairly surprised how fast she had gotten down there and was working the engines to slow down. Down below, Silver hit a lever that started the slow release of the heated air in the balloon. His ears pop as they go lower. He was too close to the bridge to not hear Nexus talking to everypony up there.

"You sure they won't just kill us on the spot?" The helmswoman asked.

"Not unless they want an international fuck up. This is their capitol city. So long as we don't fire a shot, we'll be guests of peace." Nexus said walking past her to the steps opposite Thunder. "You well to be standing?" He asks looking him over.

"Well enough to walk and shoot, Sir." Thunder says tempted to pull the bandages off of his neck.

"That's all you need. Get your armor on and get to the helm."

"You want me to go with you?"

"You'll be coming with me, Hestaria, Knight, Ephialtes, Silver and I. Is there a problem with that?"

"No, Sir. I'm ready whenever you are."

"Good to hear. Get your gear."

Despite having to make a slight recalibration to his leg, Thunder was ready in less than five minutes. He made a round in the engine room to make sure his replacement didn't make any major miscalculation, which he did, and correct it before getting top side with his gear. His own personal repeating rifle slung over his back, his left saddle bag filled with around one hundred rounds of ammo and the scope in the other with the rest of his usual supplies of food, water and light reading material.

The ship touched down in the water at the edge of the largest port they could find. Thunder came out on deck and was amazed to see the entire crew that wasn't running the engines or steering the damn thing standing in full armor at attention from prow to captain's quarters. At the helm, Nexus stood in his armor, minus the helmet, next to Silver, Ephialtes, Hestaria and White Knight. Thunder didn't hesitate to take his place next to them.

"Took you long enough." Nexus said as a gang plank was brought to the ship.

Thunder Clap knew better than to back argue with Nexus. A few nightmares caused by him were enough to knock him out of that habit.

"Don't get off the ship." the reported told Nexus. "Their delegates will board and assess the threat."

"You better be right about this." Nexus told him as a tall earth pony started to make his way up onto the ship.

Thunder resisted the urge to speak, the silence was killing him. The tall, brown stallion in full compressed leather armor looked over the ship silently and then over the crew out on the deck. He then made his way up to the helm and waited at the stairs. The reporter said a few words in Arabic and bowed, Nexus and the rest of the group following his example.

The stallion replied back after bowing as well. "He wants to know why we're here in a war ship over their land." The reporter told Nexus.

"We're hunting a fugitive from our country and we believe he is here. Tell him he is considered dangerous."

The reporter spoke and the Saddle Arabian replied. "He says, Do you take me for a fool? This is not a ship for tracking on man."

"This man has an army of creatures at his disposal. A crew this size is necessary to ensure his capture."

The reporter parroted it to the Arabian and the stallion replied. "He wants to know the name of the fugitive."

"You know it, tell him."

The reporter said who they were looking for and the Arabian turned away and said something. "He says, If what you say is true, then so long as a shot is not fired on my people, you may proceed into my country." Nexus let out a light sigh through his nostrils. "If you leave an officer here as insurance of your cooperation."

Nexus stopped breathing all together. Thunder wasn't sure if it was surprise or that he was nervous of the idea.

"Is this a custom here?" Nexus asked.

"It is." the reporter replied.

Nexus looked down but didn't budge as he thought. Thunder wasn't sure if Nexus could leave anypony behind willingly. Thunder couldn't stand the silence anymore, he stepped forward and spoke up.

"I'll stay behind."

Nexus' eyes shot up in his direction. If the daggers on his legs weren't sharp enough, the daggers he was looking at him with were more than enough cut his metallic leg.

"Vince, tell our guest I need a moment with my officers." Nexus told the reporter.

Vince told him and the Arabian nodded. Nexus started towards his quarters, motioning for the other five to follow. Everypony from Silver Bit to even the always smart mouthing Hestaria. Nexus locked the door behind them and threw another set of daggers at Thunder.

"Are you out of your mechanical mind!?" Nexus shouted at him. Thunder stood at attention not saying a word. "You have permission to speak freely you little moron."

"You don't need me here." Thunder replied.

"Yes we do! Clover nearly turned us to shrapnel when he messed with the boiler. We need you here as much as anyone else on this ship."

"You don't really need me here Nexus. Silver and her friends can handle my job."

"I can Nexus." Silver butted in.

"You can but you won't. You're our only marksmen. So you're staying!"

"No I'm not. I'm staying here."

"No, he's right, Thunder." Orion said teleporting in.

"Orion!" Silver shouted at him afraid. "You shouldn't be up right now!"

"I'm fine. I'll stay behind to keep them happy." Orion said.

"Cutler-"

"No Nexus, you need him here, not me."

"You're our only way of tracking the changelings to Sombra's hideout. No way I'm letting you stay behind."

"Straight east."

"That's not helpful at all Orion. You and I both know."

"If Sombra's looking for you, then he'll try to drop the ship when you start getting closer."

"Orion that's not going to work."

"He was expecting Chrysalis to kill us but now, without an airship, he's desperate."

"Sombra's not the kind to get desperate. He won't let this deter him. At most he's more ready to drop this ship faster than we can ever be prepared for. We need everything we can get to keep from being taken down."

"You tracked them long before you had me help you."

"Because I had leads."

"Then find leads. You're the leader here; you're the one that can get them over there."

"But you're not going to do anything here but sit on your ass and get fat."

"How's that any different then now? Thanks to that shot I'm out of service condition." Silver looked ashamed. "You did what you had to do Silver. I've done my duty, it's your job to get this ship there and to bring them back home in one piece. It's your job and your duty. Now let me have the last part of mine."

Nexus looked away for a second. "I still have my own nomination Commander." Thunder said.

"Shut it Sergeant." Nexus snapped as he kept thinking. Thunder stood still, waiting for Nexus' decision. "Okay fine. Cutler, you stay behind."

Thunder felt a pang of disappointment when he heard that. Nopony said a word as Nexus lead them out; the Saddle Arabian standing right at the door.

"Well?" Vince asked.

"We'll accept his terms. Orion Cutler will be staying behind as insurance that we won't attack anything not hostile in his country."

Vince parroted what Nexus had said with some difficulty and the Arab nodded in approval. Nexus then stepped aside and let the bright yellow and red unicorn hobble past. He and the Arab walked off of the ship and the massive gins that were pointed at them swiveled their aim towards the sky; more importantly, away from the Lifeline. Nexus shouted to the helm to get them out of there as the gangplank was pulled away from the ship. Orion turned and waved goodbye as the ship started to rise and the drone of the engines started up again.

Author's Notes:

So...Yeah, Orion's staying behind.... What will happen next? Find out on the exiting not-so-conclusion of Dragon BallZ!