He could smell it again. That wheaty smell of home. It remained just on the edge of his senses, teasing him as he slept. As he tossed and turned in his sleep, the door to his room quietly clicked, and began to creep open. A solitary figure stole into his room through the cracked door and slowly began to move toward his bed. Once at the bed, the figure crouched down and reached out toward the man.

Being roused from his shapeless dream by someone shaking his shoulder, Jack blearily cracked an eye. “Whossit?”

“Jak!” Toasty's enthusiastic voice caused him to groan loudly and roll onto his back, which only served as an invite for the girl as she pounced onto the bed and gave him another giddy shake. “Jaaaaak!”

“Whhaaaaaat?” He growled as he grabbed a pillow and pressed it against his face.

“Walks!” Cracking open an eye and moving the pillow, Jack managed a half glare at the young girl as she sat perched on the side of his bed. She cocked her head at him and pouted adorably as she lifted her leash and shook it. “Walkies.”

“Where's Field?” Jack grumbled as he pushed himself up and rubbed sleep from his eyes. “And Pete?”

“Mad and busibusy!” Toast leaned forward and head-butted his chest lightly, earning a grunt from the much larger man. “Pweeeeaaaase?” She gave him her best puppy eyes as she clutched the leash to her chest.

“Okaaaay… just gimme a moment, Toasty, love of God…”

“Yay!” She all but tackled him back into the bed, and hugged him tightly as he groaned in protest. “Wuv you!”

“Uh huh…” Jack patted her head as he sat up in bed and looked around his room. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary to his sleep addled mind.

It took considerably longer to get ready with Toast running laps around him, headbutting and nuzzling at him like an overeager puppy. After a few minutes of letting his brain heat up, Jack finally managed to get fully dressed. Attaching the leash to her collar, Jack whistled to get the small girl to follow along. It took all of three seconds for her to run ahead and strain the leash with her neck. Being forced to give her a gentle yank to curb her enthusiasm, Jack led the girl out to the gardens, where she could roam a little more freely.

Watching as Toast wandered about and gnawed on plants, Jack sank into the solitary bench that looked out across the collection of statues that dominated the garden. One statue in particular drew his attention. The birdshit stained visage of Discord stood where it always did, with it's flock of birds squawking and calling out as they circled the statue’s head. Smirking as he looked at the statue, Jack returned his watch to Toast. The girl was now face down in the grass, rolling about and huffing loudly.

“You know, watching a human walk another is utterly surreal.” Hard Tac sat down next to Jack on the bench and smiled lightly as he held a cup of coffee in his hooves. “Griffons arrived last night, finally.”

Nodding in understanding, Jack continued to watch as Toast frolicked. “Then we start this morning. Get our little command staff together and put on some training clothes.”

“What?” Hard Tac looked struck. “You're gonna make me go through boot camp too?” He didn't sound overly upset, but it was far too early in the morning for Jack to really care.

“I'm joining too. Never ask your men to do something you wouldn't.”

“I know Jack, I'm joking.” The stallion shifted slightly. “So how are you holding up?”

Slowly raising a tired brow, Jack chanced a glance at the captain. “How am I holding up?”

“Yeah, you know, losing Flitter and all that.”

Rolling his eyes as he fished out a cigarette and lit it, Jack looked unhappy about the question. “I didn't lose her Tac, she wasn't mine to lose. Regardless, she only got posted. She's coming back.”

“And when she does, what about Ada?” He glanced down at Toast as she flopped down at the foot of the bench, panting and sweaty.

Clipping the leash back onto her collar, Jack hefted the squirming girl over his shoulder and looked to the stallion beside him. “You're asking a lot of questions way too early in the morning.”

“I'm just saying, Jack. You should put some thought toward it before you dive headlong into it.” The captain got up from the bench and began to follow Jack, just as the light of morning was beginning to crest the horizon. Jack looked out as well, and caught sight of Celestia on her perch; her horn glowing brightly as she raised the sun. Jack looked away and shook his head vehemently as he muttered. Shifting Toast on his shoulder as he walked, Jack pointedly avoided answering Tac.

“Are the volunteers in the new barracks?”

Sighing as his advice was passed over, Tac nodded. “Yeah, ready to go. Why?”

Entering the castle, Jack smirked at Tac. “Because it's almost time for Reveille.” Depositing Toast back on her feet, Jack clapped his hands and moved to get her attention. “Come on Toast! Let's go! Let's go girl!” The excitable girl pranced from foot to foot as her full attention was taken up by Jack. “Come on girl, back to the lab!” Jack glanced to Tac for a moment. “See you there.” A second later, he split off at a run, with Toast hot on his heels and squealing with happiness.

Minutes later, Jack tromped into the labs with a thoroughly tuckered out Toast once again slung over his shoulder. Looking up from his work station, Petyr smiled briefly at the sight as Jack waved and carefully dropped Toast onto her bed in the corner. Speaking in Russian, Petyr greeted him quietly. (Good morning Jack. How are you?)

Shrugging as he leaned against the work station and looked out across the labs, Jack quirked a brow at the large white tarp that covered something that seemed very familiar. (Doing fine Petyr. Is that my armour?)

(Yes, we are nearly finished repairs. Just the few final touches on the new radio pack, and you are good.) Petyr tossed a treat toward the panting Toast, who snatched it up and gnawed on it like an animal. Standing, Jack began to walk over toward the covered armour, and Petyr was quick to join him. (I believe Celestia wanted to show this to you personally, it is your reward for the work in the hive.) At Jack's huff of amusement, Petyr smiled and shook his head as he pulled off the tarp. Jack's huff of amusement swiftly turned to a low whistle of attraction. The mottled grey-green ceramic breastplate had been replaced with a shining bulwark of a lightly coloured metal. Spanning across the chest was a stylised sun and moon, with a sword pinned between them. His combat webbing had been replaced, and apparently reinforced. A larger, bulkier comms set sat on the back of the armour and it's antenna stuck up over his head, but would make little difference to his load bearing limit and his movements.

(Oh she's a pretty girl…) Jack traced his hand across the shining bulwark breastplate.

(It's mithril. The princesses assure me it is almost as strong as titanium, and they have also enchanted it, but I couldn't tell you the specifics of that.) Petyr rapped his knuckles off the thick breastplate, causing it to shimmer slightly.

Whistling as he looked over the changes, Jack didn't notice the lab pony approaching until she cleared her throat.

“Excuse me, Knight Sergeant Kessle?” She smiled nervously and adjusted her glasses as Jack turned back toward her. “Hi, I'm Aurora, I've been assigned to your armour system. I'll be your go-to girl when you're on station with the Stalwart Liberty.” The mare was a dull grey unicorn with vibrant purple eyes, and she puffed up proudly from her proclamation.

Smiling lightly, Jack offered a calloused hand to the chirpy tech. The mare looked toward his hand for a moment, before gingerly giving it a shake. “Good to meet you Aurora.” Jack looked toward his armour, causing Aurora to do so as well. “Any questions you have about it? I know my coffin pretty well by now.”

Petyr grimaced at the comparison, while Aurora only looked confused. “Coffin? I don't think anybody could die in this, except from illness or age. You could probably wrestle Cerberus for his favourite chew toy and come out on top.”

Humming with amusement, Jack simply shook his head and tried to keep his mind off of how many Longbows he’d seen die in their mobile coffins. “Like I said, questions?”

“Yes! Sorry, I get side tracked really easily.” Aurora paused as she looked up toward him. “You're a lot taller in person… Sorry! Off track again!” She flipped through her clipboard full of papers and reports as she mumbled softly to herself. “Where-o-where… aha!” She pulled a thick leaflet of papers free and beamed victoriously. “When we were cleaning your armour, we found what Mr Morosov-”

“Morozov.” Petyr corrected.

“Morozov, sorry…” Aurora flushed slightly as she looked over the paperwork again. “Ah, right, umm… Mr Morozov, told us it was your stimulant delivery system.” Jack nodded, and the mare wiped her brow. “We… well, we're confused, and… well, disturbed by what we've found in your delivery system. You know, besides the system being scary on its own…”

“Rapid fire needles in your skull and down your spine doesn't sound like a good idea to you?” Jack teased lightly, causing the mare to pale to a lighter grey.

“No… no, Celestia no, it sounds awful… erm… right. Back on track. We found traces of a strong poison that veterinarians use to euthanize humans, and a full delivery vial, that's forty millilitres or CCs, of another chemical that… it's chemical composition is so utterly… Insane, that we used three separate machines to check our results.” She looked down again. “When we tested a fraction of the formula on a human test subject, the subject flew into a frothing rage, destroying everything in the test chamber, before dying of a massive brain hemorrhage.”

“And?” Jack asked casually; it did little to hide his open distaste for human testing.

“And we… we wanted to know why. Why on Equis would you have these chemicals in your armour? These would kill you!” She had worked herself up at this point, and looked overly distraught.

“Well.” Jack leaned against his armour and scratched at the back of his head. “The poison is actually a medical grade pain killer, morphine. The second is the BZ combat stimulant.”

Frowning heavily, Petyr spoke to clarify. “The 'BZ’ stimulant is the Bezikiner stimulant, which after the war, was outlawed utterly. It causes massive trauma to the whole body, Jack; often one dose is enough to permanently cripple grown men.”

“Yeah,” Jack grinned a little as he looked around. “Guess it's a good thing I got that first dose out of the way, huh Pete? And the second, and the third...” At the Russian's horrified look, Jack turned his attention to the armour tech. “We usually called it Berserker in the field. It's like an anabolic steroid, four different kinds of engineered psychotropics, military grade pain suppressants, and an adrenaline hit all in one convenient shot.”

“And…” Aurora scribbled his words down frantically on the notepad. “You… you take this shot willingly? In combat? And you've survived?”

Tapping his chest, Jack hummed lightly in thought. “Pretty sure I survived. Something about my brain chemistry just lets the drugs work without issues I guess.” He patted his armour. “For when you absolutely, positively, need to rip somebody's skull in half from the top down.” His smile faded slightly as he looked to Aurora. “I need access to more morphine, I'm all out.”

“I… I don't know if my boss will okay that…” Aurora pawed at the floor in discomfort.

“Then tell me where I can get it on my own.” Jack removed his hand from his armour as Aurora looked away.

“I'll talk to my supervisor, okay?” At Jack's nod, she cleared her throat and looked over her shoulder. “Well, I've taken up enough of your time. It was nice meeting you!” Both humans waved her goodbye, and watched as she cantered off. At almost the same moment the mare disappeared, Field appeared from the same door. The stallion looked dog tired and pissed off.

Waving lightly as he prepared to leave, Jack greeted the stallion with Petyr. To their surprise, Field ignored them both and sat heavily at his workstation. “Hey, Field.” Jack called out. “I took Toasty out for some exercise this morning, so make sure she drinks lots of water.”

“Whatever.”

Jack and Petyr shared a look of mild concern between each other, before Jack simply shook his head. “You guys happen to have a megaphone around here?”

“A megaphone? Well... yes, we do, but why would-”

“I have my reasons and they're awesome.” Jack answered quickly, cutting off Petyr. Sighing with mild exasperation, Petyr set off to retrieve the megaphone.

“Please bring it back.”

Waving as he treaded off, Jack swung by his room to quickly snag his PDA and get everything set up. He soon met up with Hard Tac, who was waiting outside of the volunteer barracks. Looking up from his small magazine, Tac lifted a brow. “A megaphone?”

“No time to find a musician.” Jack selected the track from his selection of alarms, and turned the megaphone up. Grinning like a bastard, Jack looked toward the still confused Tac. “It begins.” At that, he started treading toward the door, just as the keening bugle call shook the windows. The door slammed open as Jack strode in, and the volunteers were already reeling and scrambling to get out of bed. The electronic reveille boom loudly, almost drowning out Jack's voice as he bellowed. “COME ON YOU LAZY SACKS, UP AND AT EM, GOGOGOGOGO!!!” He gestured toward the door, and began sending his groggy recruits out to the training field.

It took less than two minutes to have the thirty odd volunteers lined up and standing rigid in the field; all of them held serious expressions. Shutting off the megaphone, Jack marched before the gathered group and took his place before them.

“Good morning volunteers!” He grinned as the unit stood a little straighter, and Ada entered the grounds and began walking toward him. “Now that I have your undivided attention, we can get started.” He began pacing before them. “Now, I know all of you have formal military training, and are likely the best of the best from your respective branches. Problem is, is that each branch does their bullshit differently. So!” Jack came to a stop before Baron. “We're starting with some intense physical training. To gauge where everybody is. We're gonna have a long month ahead of us, so I want you all to work together. Remember, teamwork is the difference between coming home to real food and hot baths, and coming home in a pine box.” He nodded to Ada, who stepped forward.

“Alroight’ you sorry lot! I want three teams of ten, on the double!” She watched like a hawk as the volunteers shuffled around, creating three cohesive groups quickly. “Our target is the base of the mountain, we're taking the road down, and then coming back up twice. First team to pull it off gets to shower for an extra five! If a team finishes and is missing volunteers, that team fails! You must finish with your entire team, or you do not finish at all!” She stood to attention as Jack smiled.

“Alright ladies and gents, select your team leaders. They'll be reporting to me when we finish. You have two minutes!” He grinned as he turned away, and leaned toward Ada. “I'm thinking some team building exercises before we get into weapons and gear. I wanna make sure these guys can work together before we go crazy.”

“Good thinking, luv.” Ada winked at him. “See you on the trail, Jack.” Refraining from any show of closeness, the pair turned from their impromptu leadership huddle to find the teams arguing heatedly.

Sighing to himself, Jack shook his head. “We're screwed.”

“Yep.” Ada smirked at him. “I'll handle the chickens, you take care of the ponies.” Nodding in agreement, the pair launched into dual verbal assaults on the teams that occasionally overlapped each other. The storm of curses and threats cajoled the teams enough that their mutual disliking for each other seemed to vanish, if only on the surface. The yelling continued until they were nearly exiting the castle grounds, in which Jack and Ada took the lead as he called cadence. Ponies in the street watched with curiosity and terror as the mixed unit of military griffons and guardsponies jogged through the streets, led by a pair of bellowing humans.

Flitter shivered heavily as the bitterly cold wind cut through her winter fatigues, but she fought back against chattering her teeth as she marched next to Sergeant Minerva. The company was nearly to Peaks camp, where they would relieve Dog Company. As her squad slowed, Flitter cast a quick glance over her shoulder at the convoy behind her. Several wagon laden with supplies were split up and tucked between squads of marching rangers. One of those carts held the outpost’s brand new radio system.

Shifting again to try and have her parka cover a bit more of her body, Flitter resumed looking forward and idly listening to a talkative private chatter about everything you could do with oranges, and how apples were inferior.

Colonel Glow’s voice broke through the monotony as he flapped in and landed next to her. “Lieutenant, you've got comprehensive training with those new firearms, right?”

Nodding quickly, Flitter gave him her full attention. “Yes sir. I trained with Knight Sergeant Kessle and tested some of the prototypes.”

Clapping her on the back with a wing, Glow grinned. “Good, that makes you the most knowledgeable, uninjured pony on them for over a thousand miles around. Last minute shipment arrived with the new radio equipment, and the 'specialist’ who came with them is being shipped back down the mountain with a broken leg. Can you help out?”

“Of course sir.” Flitter smiled toward him. “I'll do my very best. Thankfully, the rifles are simple to use, so it shouldn't be hard.”

“Excellent!” Colonel Glow beamed with appreciation. “I'll have you go over the shipment when we arrive, Sergeant Minerva can handle getting your colts settled in.”

Nodding in understanding, Flitter cast a brief look over her shoulder at her unit's Sergeant. “I'll go let her know, Colonel. Is that all?”

Shaking his head once, Colonel Glow looked up the mountain trail. “When you've finished that, I'll want to see you in my office.”

“I hope it won't take too long sir, I want to make the right impression on my unit.” Flitter shifted nervously under her pack and heavy uniform.

Smiling a little, the Colonel nodded in understanding. “ I won't take up too much of your time, I promise. Besides, we'll be on station for a month before we get rotated out again, so you'll have plenty of time to get to know your unit. Twenty minutes won't make much of a difference.”

After informing Sergeant Minerva of her assignment, Flitter made a point of leading her unit the rest of the way. Up the twisting mountain road. Only once was the convoy interrupted, and that was to let a heavily burdened merchants cart trundle passed. The griffon merchant nervously eyed the heavy military wagons, but before long she had vanished over the last rise, and the convoy resumed its course through the narrow pass.

After another hour of marching, the convoy finally crested the mountain, and Twin Peaks base came into view. The base was certainly nothing to write home about. Consisting of several hardened structures, and six cylindrical snow covered barracks that lay spread out across the symmetrical compound. Tall stone walls guarded the front, while the mountains girded the back and sides. Lines of barbed wire crisscrossed before the wall, where several indistinguishable soldiers could be seen patrolling. A cry of identity went out as the tip of the convoy reached the compound, and the heavy wooden gates creaked open to allow them entry.

Colonel Glow flew over the convoy, and landed in the compound's courtyard to meet the officer he was replacing. Flitter watched the two stallions chat idly as the convoy trundled into the compound and the gates closed behind them. The unpacking began immediately, seeing all manner of supplies sorted, accounted for, and stored in hardened buildings. Flitter's attention perked when the heavy wooden crates housing the brand new firearms were unloaded from their wagon. Fluttering over, Flitter began reading through the shipping manifest. Her brow slowly raised as she looked over the long list of technical names and designations.

“Everything in order lieutenant?” Colonel Glow asked from behind her, causing her to stiffen slightly.

“Yes, Sir.” Flitter nodded before bringing his attention to the list. “Though I think there's been a clerical mistake. It says here we've received just a little over fifty thousand rounds of seven-six twos, and only a thousand for the fifties.”

Blinking in confusion, Glow looked a little closer. “I have no idea what you're talking about.” The stallion looked utterly confused.

Laughing lightly, Flitter gestured to several of the opened crates. “Okay sir, crash course. These little bullets are for our rifles, we have a lot of those, and we won't be using a lot because our rifles shoot kind of slow. These big bullets are for our HMGs, and we've only got a thousand of them.”

“Okay.” He nodded continuously in understanding before speaking again. “What's an HMG?”

“Heavy machinegun. Sir.”

“What's a machinegun?”

Flitter's mind flicked back to the myriad combat videos she'd watched, and the weapons tests she'd been allowed to observe. The combat videos stuck the hardest, watching infantry getting scythed down by the guttering chatter of the fifty. Licking her lips lightly, Flitter smiled to her Colonel. “I think I'll have to just show everyone all together.”

Nodding in understanding, Colonel Glow clapped her on the back again. “You're the professional here, Flitter. I'll take your word for it. I'll have the boys set up a spot for you. If you're done with the itinerary, meet me in my office.”

“Yes sir, right away sir.” Flitter quickly stowed the itinerary with the crates, and followed the Colonel. He led her into the rearmost building, which turned out to have a large section of its rooms carved into the mountain side. Following the Colonel into the bowels of the mountain, Flitter soon found herself in a small, yet cozy office. Sitting behind a finely stained oak desk, Colonel Glow removed the heaviest of his kit and sank into his chair with a happy groan.

“Take a seat Flitter.” He gestured toward a comfortable looking chair. “Drink?” He offered a decanter of deep amber liquid to her, only to have it turned down.

“No thank you sir, I'm not a fan of drinking anymore.” Flitter removed her heavy coat and hung it from the rack before taking a seat.

Smiling as he poured himself a conservative glass, the Colonel looked toward Flitter. “I try to be as familiar with my officers as possible. So when it's appropriate, I'd appreciate it if you just called me Sunny.” At Flitter's smile and nod, Sunny relaxed into his chair and let out a sigh. “I knew your father very well. He was a damn fine soldier, but more than that he was my friend.”

Looking down for a moment, Flitter managed to hold her smile up and nod. “Thank you.”

“Did they ever tell you how he died?”

With her attentions fully captured, Flitter's head snapped up and her eyes locked onto the Colonel, causing the stallion to be caught by the intensity. “No. I know he died because of bandits.”

Swallowing a light sip of his brandy, Sunny set his glass down and pressed his hooves together on the desk. “The day that Thunder died, we almost lost the compound. A bandit warlord had risen to power, and hit us mid shift change. We weren't expecting them to hit us when we were all here, but the convoy was exhausted, and the defenders were burned out. Two hundred of those bastards fell on us, and the only reason we pulled through was because of your father.” Sunny took another sip as Flitter shifted in her seat. “He held the line, and we killed them to a man.” The Colonel took another swig. “I know it must not be a comfort, knowing that he died a hero, but it's the best I can do.”

Frowning slightly, Flitter looked down and tried to imagine it all in her head. “How did he die?”

“I just-”

“Sir.” Flitter looked up and locked gazes with the Colonel. “How did he die?”

Sighing softly as he swirled his drink, Sunny relented. “The bandit warlord ran him through. Thunder overloaded his aegis talisman and took the bastard with him.” Sunny huffed weakly with mock amusement. “Didn't even know they could overload, let alone explode like a keg of powder.” Flitter twitched slightly as the mental image of her father being turned to paste filled her mind. As the mare blinked back tears, Sunny winced and leaned forward to put a hoof over hers. “I'm sorry, Flitter.”

Shaking her head, Flitter managed a small smile. “Thank you sir. It means a lot. I just hope I can live up to his shadow.”

Chuckling lightly as he finished his drink, Sunny began rooting through his desk. “I expect you to do better, Lieutenant.” Setting a pair of burnished Lieutenant's bars on the table, Sunny slid them toward her. When Flitter reached out to gingerly take them, Sunny trapped his hoof down with hers. With an utterly serious, stony visage, Sunny spoke. “We don't need anymore heroes to be buried up here, Flitter. There's a graveyard down the mountain full of them, and I'm sick of burying them. So don't you dare get killed on my watch.” He gave her hoof a light squeeze, before releasing her. “They're your father's or were, before he was Colonel. He would have wanted you to have them.”

Looking over the old bars, Flitter cupped them gingerly in her hooves before looking up at Sunny. “I can't promise anything, Sir. I'll do my best, but if it means protecting the company and Equestria, I won't hesitate.”

“Hmm.” Sunny smiled as he leaned back in his chair. “I suppose it was too much to ask Thunder's filly to behave.” He leaned forward again. “Are you absolutely sure, Flitter? Are you ready to do anything for your country? Are you ready to kill for it?”

“I already have.” Flitter answered, and was rewarded by the Colonel being shocked to silence. “And I will do it again in a heartbeat. Evil triumphs when good hesitates. I won't.” Sitting up straight, Flitter gently deposited the bars into her uniform breast pocket. “Is that everything sir? There's a lot I need to do before I unpack my kit.” At Sunny’s nod, Flitter stood and retrieved her heavy jacket. “I look forward to working under you, Sir.”

Leaving the office, Flitter's mind moved away from the thoughts of her father, toward the list of things she had to do before nightfall. The radio set likely needed calibration, and she had the codes for Canterlot in her head. The troops needed a lesson on firearms, she still had to meet her unit properly. And she still needed to unpack. That was all before she even considered getting a bite to eat. Sighing as she set off, Flitter found herself smiling. She had a lot to do, and not a lot of time to do it. It was a challenge she could relish, and attack fully. And attack it she would.

The sound of metal crashing against metal sounded out in the courtyard as Jack circled a wizened griffon. Holding his sabre awkwardly, Jack struggled to fend off the attacks of his trainer.

“Come on you ape, you call that sword fighting!?” Hard Tac jeered from the sidelines as Jack took another glancing blow that caused him to grunt in pain as the training blade zapped him. Chuckling as he sat back, Tac glanced to Ada. Who sat next to him. “And I thought his dancing was bad.”

Shaking her head as Jack took another hit and his trainer continued to chew on him, Ada made a face at Hard Tac. “We haven't used bloody swords in over two hundred fookin’ years mate, it's all cruise missiles and Apaches.” She smirked as Jack yelped at another landed strike. “He's gonna feel that.”

“Yup.” Baron sat down heavily, sheened with minty smelling sweat. The rest of JSOG was finishing up with their regime of training, and were all showing up to watch their fearless leader get his pasty ass handed to him on a platter.

With the crowd around him growing, and his body aching from the continuous landed strikes, Jack's anger began to froth up to the top. Calling a momentary pause, Jack angrily treaded off to set down his lightweight sabre and pick up a considerably heavier bastard sword. His trainer made a face, as if the idea of a heavier weapon was humourous.

“The hell are you doing Jack?” Ada asked nobody in particular as she relaxed in the grass.

“He's getting a bigger stick.” Taven answered as Jack bared his teeth at the griffon and launched into his attack with a roar.

The crowd around him whooped with approval as Jack landed his first hit, glancing across the trainer's shoulder. Pressing forward, Jack began to build momentum, and pressed forward inexorably. The griffon trainer began to backpedal as Jack hammered away at him, using the heavier weapon to his advantage. With a roaring bellow, Jack sent his opponents longsword flying off into the yard. His unit yelled their approval as he stood poised to deliver the final blow. His trainer nodded his mild approval before speaking.

“I suppose such a small weapon won't work for a man such as yourself. Just be careful, Knight Sergeant, you won't be able to bludgeon everything into submission. We'll work further on your technique tomorrow.”

“That's what the exo-skeleton is for, sir.” Jack nodded to his trainer as he huffed and puffed for breath. As the trainer left the field, Jack planted the training sword into the dirt and leaned heavily on it. He was flushed with sweat, and almost every muscle in his body was bulging under the strain of adrenaline. As the others approached, he managed a laugh. “There’s no better workout than getting your ass handed to you, right guys? Right.”

As Jack pulled the sword from the dirt, Ada tossed a fresh towel over his face. “Come on, Knight Sergeant, we're hitting the bathhouse. You smell like wet dog.”

“Thanks, Corporal.” Jack answered breathlessly as he put the weapon away and wiped his brow with the towel. “You know how to raise my morale.”

Winking as the unit set off for the bathhouse, Ada grabbed his wrist and led him onwards. “Come on, up, ya fookin Devil Dog. Let's get you washed.”

Waving her off as he wiped his face clean with the towel, Jack planted his hands on his hips. “I'm gonna stick around and work on my form.”

“You sure Jack?” Ada eyed him critically as he took a long drink of water. “Your trainer's already left, an’ I fookin doubt we're gonna be getting into any sword fights today.”

Nodding as he wiped his brow, Jack picked up the sword again and hefted it over his shoulder. “Problem is, is that the old hawk is right. My form is garbage, and I aim to remedy that.” He gave her a light smile as the others began to leave. “Besides, the dummies are still here, and I've got gas to spare.”

Smirking at her superior, Ada shrugged and conceded the victory to him. “Fine, if’n that's whatcha want Jack. I'll just get Taven or Hardy to scrub my back instead.” She smirked a little bit more as Jack was torn between pouting and scowling.

“That's cheating.”

Smiling openly and sticking her tongue out at him, Ada turned on the balls of her feet and moved to rejoin the others. “Never show up to a fair fight Jack!” As Ada sashayed off to join the others, Jack shook his head and focused on his breathing. Advancing upon the dummies, he readied his training weapon and continued to practice.

It took him hours to stop treating the large sword as a bayonet, and even longer to stop flailing at the dummies with unfocused attacks that relied on raw strength. Pulling up all of the pointers he had been given, and had promptly ignored through frustration, Jack slowed down and began to mold his form. He was so far from competent it hurt him to think about it. When night fell, he dragged himself from the training field; with his limbs feeling as if they'd been cast from solid tungsten and filled with molten lead. Struggling to his room, Jack shouldered the door open and immediately regretted it. Grumbling and weakly rubbing at his throbbing shoulder, he began shedding his training gear, which constituted as weighted ankle and arm bands, and a heavy weighted vest. With the twenty extra kilos dropped from him, Jack sighed happily and rolled his shoulders.

“Hey there, Devil Dog.” Ada's voice sounded from the room, causing him to crack an eye open as he stood in the room, already half undressed. The woman was sitting on the edge of his bed, with a book sitting next to her. She was wearing her JSOG fatigues, which had been pressed and starched recently.

“Hey, Ada.” Jack picked up his training weights and set them down in a pile off to the side. “Need something?” He asked as he slowly plodded over to his bed and sat down next to her.

“Yup.” She set the book aside. “Shirt off.”

Sighing hard, Jack rubbed at his face. “Ada-”

He was interrupted as she prodded him between his ribs and flicked the hem of his soaked shirt. “Up and off Jack.” She hummed lightly in amusement as he grumbled and peeling the soaked garment off. “Good man, now, on yer gut.” As he went to protest loudly, Ada fixed him with a disapproving glance. “My ground game is better than yours. Don't make this hard.”

“Fine, fine. You got me.” Flopping onto his face and cantering himself on the bed, Jack let out a slow groan as he practically deflated into the down filled mattress. “So what's up?” He grunted as Ada threw a leg over his rear and straddled him.

“Good lord man! You're wetter than me knickers on range day!” Ada quickly hopped off his back and retrieved a towel, only to return quickly and begin drying him off roughly. Once he was dried, Ada pressed her hands into his back and began working the distressed and knotted muscles. “Oh you knotty man.”

Groaning loudly at her antics, Jack settled to glare at the wall. “That's another five laps for that pun.”

“You just like making me sweaty.” Ada's hands slowed when she reached his branded shoulder. He could feel her hesitation as her fingers came to a stop at the edge of the deep brand.

“It looks worse than it is. I still have almost my full range of motion.” He winced involuntarily as she traced the ugly lettering with a finger.

“How many of these were meant for other people, Jack?” Ada asked softly as she traced the network of scars and puckered, tattooed flesh.

“...too many, but some days… not enough. Y’know?”

Taking the light stroke and pat to his side as a sign, Jack rolled onto his back and Ada repositioned on top of him. There was a moment where she traced his chest with her finger and looked down on his with eyes filled with a heavy emotion. He couldn't tell exactly what it was, but he disliked it immediately. “What's a country boy like you doing so far from home?” She asked softly as she slowly laid down next to him and rested her leg across his.

Closing his eyes as she got comfortable and ran her fingers through his shortly cropped hair. “Something needs killing, and a God figured I was the man for the job.” At her confused look, Jack huffed with amusement. “No joke.”

“Chosen by God to lay the hurt down on some cunts, aye?” Ada laughed softly next to him as her hands roamed. “Sounds like the pitch for a bad flick.”

“A God. He's a prick too.” Jack smiled toward her. “Long story, and yes, it fits the b-grade movie bill.” The pair shared a soft laugh as Jack's hands hunted hers down and pinned them in place on his body. Humming happily, Ada threw her leg over his side and pulled herself up so she was once again straddling him. Leaning in, she locked lips with Jack, while freeing her hands and running them through his stubbly hair. Wrapping his arms around her, Jack pulled the feisty brit in and held her close, before letting his own hands wander and pull at her uniform.

Pushing deep into his reserves, Jack found more than enough energy for the workout Ada posed. Unfortunately for Jack, the next day would drag in an ungodly level of agony for him, as his body made a solid attempt at shrivelling up and dying. Despite his current nightly activities he would continue to train and work, in preparation for his unit's first mission. His men and women trained equally hard, meeting his brutal standard and improving upon it until the guard began to look upon them with equal amounts of awe and impressed horror.

Eventually transferring to the Stalwart Liberty, JSOG entered active service, and Jack's trained militia drill Sergeants set about recruiting the first generation of Equestrian militia. Jack wouldn't be seeing the fruits of his labours for months to come, but see them he would.

Flitter's initial start in the Twin Peaks outpost started rocky, with her new squad not expecting high standards from the unassuming mare. That would quickly change when she began training them all in rifle marksmanship, and destroyed every single one of them with her own rifle. With the improved equipment and radio system, the outpost flourished, and was able to send out more coordinated patrols. The local bandits began to feel the intense pressure when Flitter's suggestion for the deployment of snipers passed through the chain of command without a hitch. Friendly casualties dropped to an all time low for the battalion, while confirmed bandit kills leapt through the roof. Merchants on the trail would come to smile when they heard the harsh whip crack of an army Long Engagement Rifle Platform. With the eventual delivery of brand new howitzer systems and an agreement from the griffon monarchy, the thunderous boom of artillery would become an equally welcome sound to travellers who had once spent fortunes on mercenary guards, bandit bribes and road tithes. A new age of safety was dawning for the Twin Peaks pass, and a certain pegasus lieutenant found herself at the forefront of that coming age.

Author's Notes:

Alright! So, for those of you who haven't read the blog post, here's a copy.

Well, as most of you should know by now, when I'm at work, chapters get released fairly quickly. When I'm not, well... Let's just say I'm a lazy sack with a hundred different things he /should/ be doing, and about one thing he actually is.

I'm off work for an unforeseen period of time as of now, and my schooling is coming down the pipe. I can't say for certain that I'll be able to write as quickly as I have for the past few months, if at all on some days. However, Ballad is not going on Hiatus. I am still working on it, albeit at a slower pace.

Now, I know this chapter has done some jumping and time skips, but I did warn you guys. Hopefully it was easy enough to follow.