“We need to talk, now.”

Agent Orange stared up at Jack as he awaited his response; his chitinous features doing little to hide the urgency of the request. Taking a long drag off his cigarette, Jack nodded wordlessly as he gestured for the agent to speak. Fluttering his gossamer wings, Agent Orange beckoned to Jack to follow him. The pair walked for a short while, before turning to enter a seldom used maid closet. The smell of magic laced cleaners and polish assaulted Jack's nose before he slowly exhaled smoke through it.

“Let's hear it.”

Nodding in agreement, Agent Orange hopped up to sit on a chair before speaking. “I apologise for the abruptness of my request, but I believe you may be the only creature in this city I can truly speak to about it.”

Quirking a brow, Jack leaned against the shelves of cleaning supplies and snubbed his burning smoke. “Why not the Princesses?”

“Because this goes very far up, and I do not want to chance it spreading by accident and losing our lead.” The changeling ran a holey hoof across the crest of his head. “After meeting with my surviving agents in the capital, I believe that Chrysalis's operatives have infiltrated Canterlot again, this time with the aid of a noble.”

Perking immediately, and giving the changeling his full, professional attention, Jack locked eyes with Orange. “Do you expect Order’s influence?”

“Without a doubt in my mind, I know he is involved. Our messages never reached the Princesses because they were being intercepted. Up until now, we haven't known where. They're being intercepted in Canterlot. Three of my best operatives are dead as testament to this. With Canterlot's defenses against changelings, they most certainly need help getting in, and Order's forces are nothing if not… persuasive.”

“So it's gotta be somebody up high, huh? It has to be, for them to be getting useful intel.” Jack pondered the issue as he rolled the snubbed smoke idly in his fingers. “Maybe a cabinet member.”

Orange nodded in agreement. “They may have started as an imperial spy, or something like that, but without a doubt they are against us. Whoever it is, likely got in after Discord's attempt to take the crown. They would have been able to slip most of the regulations thanks to the immediate need for replacements to deal with the immense fallout…”

Sighing hard, Jack pinched the bridge of his nose as he gestured ildy with his free hand. “Do we know who? Do you have anything tangible? I'm all for kicking in doors and waterboarding nobility, but all I can see this doing is sending me off on a short trip to a long prison sentence.”

Showing about as much contempt as his chitinous features would allow, Orange shot Jack a stern look of disbelief. “I have read the file on you, Knight Captain. It states you have little care for regulations, and-”

“Orange.” Jack crossed his arms before his chest. “Regulation is one thing. Fraternisation, disobedience, and verbal threats don't equal a fucking crusade against all of the nobility in the capital, on the hunch that one of them is a plant.”

“It is not a hunch!” The changeling operative yelled incredulously, before checking his volume. “Knight Captain, if we don't do something about this, then it may doom the war effort.”

With a tired sigh, Jack held up his hands. “Look, if you are so utterly sure of this, all you need to do is get me proof. Something tangible, something I can hold up in everyone's face when I'm dragging some poor shlub out of his fucking house. I will help you, as much as I can, but you should know that I can't do shit without proof, and I'm not the person to find it. We both know that, for god's sake. I'm on call for the war outside, and I hardly meet the criteria for Spook status anyways.” Standing fully, Jack set his hands on his hips and looked down at Orange. “I'll keep this between us. I'm sure you'll alert Celestia and whatever higher ups you have if it becomes necessary.”

With a great sigh of defeat, Orange broke his eyes away from Jack. “That is all I can truly ask for, even now. But answer me this, Knight Captain. What will you do if this vine of corruption spreads further than one house? One noble? What if it reaches far and wide?”

“Then you'll get your great, bloody crusade, with all the executions you want for the deaths of your operators.” Jack began moving for the door, only to pause once more when Orange spoke.

“And what if Celestia, and Luna, don't listen? What if they do not believe that corruption could spread so far?” The changeling had followed him somewhat, and was now trying to search Jack's eyes as he turned his head to regard the operative.

“Despite my reservations, those two are good people. They trust me, and I trust them. You get me the proof, and they’ll do the right thing.” Jack shook his head before speaking again. “You mentioned Chrysalis, how does she factor into any of this? Last I checked, I murdered her.”

“One of her nobility must have taken over the hive. Likely Xerox, or… no, not possible.” The changeling muttered to himself.

“Or?” Jack paused, and turned toward the agent. “If you have information we can use, tell me.”

After a long moment of consideration, Agent Orange simply nodded. “We have reason to suspect that before her death, Chrysalis was attempting to create a new caste, of human-changeling hybrids. We believed her attempts to all have been failures…”

“Believed?” Jack’s voice sounded concerned, but inside, he already knew the answer to the question. His mind went back to the hive raid, and his altercation with the hybrid human, and the nightmare inducing broodmothers with human features.

“It is… possible, that we have reports that she may have been successful in the end. Traditionally, humans have been able to detect changelings, have made poor egg hosts, and we have not been able to disguise ourselves well as humans, but these hybrids, they may be what have infiltrated the capital. They would be able to slip by even the stringent detection Canterlot uses.”

With a quiet sigh, Jack leaned against the door and nodded. “Great. Perfect. So, you’re telling me that not only do we have infiltrators, but ones that are virtually undetectable by traditional means?” At the agents nod, Jack muttered and shook his head. “Perfect. Just, bloody, perfect.” The pair went silent for a long moment, as Jack considered the ramifications. “If we found one of these hybrids, would that help?”

“It may, but not with who has been helping them get into the capital.”

Suddenly, realization struck in Jack’s eyes. “That’s how they’re getting their intel! Humans! The castle is full of human help, and nobody here would hold back about talking near one, because they don’t understand! Fuck!” Jack turned immediately. “We need to warn the Princesses!”

“No! We can't risk it!” Orange moved to intercept Jack.

Pulling open the door, Jack froze in his actions as he found himself looking at three curious human maids. The lead one cocked her head cutely and chirruped in question. With his blood running cold, Jack slowly closed the closet door, and drew his revolver and knife.

Eyes up, Sammy. We’ve got trouble. Jack thought. The hum of power in his knife and silent feeling of approval in his mind did wonders to calm his spirit.

“That was them, wasn’t it?” Agent Orange asked as his horn charged. “How many?”

“Three…” Jack slowly cracked the door, his weapons at the ready. The three maids simply cocked their heads back the other way, and chirruped their curiosity. One of the slight girls in the back stood on her tiptoes to see over the lead maid's shoulder. Jack cautiously eyed the three as he slowly opened the door, and stepped out. With his finger hovering tentatively over the revolver's trigger guard, Jack waved Orange out of the closet. Slipping out behind Jack, Orange’s eyes flicked between the three nervously. As the maids moved, both men tensed, only to watch as the maids walked into the supply closet and began collecting what they needed. Jack and Orange shared a look, before swiftly walking away from the closet.

“Did they feel off to you? I could not tell if they were hybrids.” Orange cast another furtive glance over his shoulder at the supply closet as they walked.

Keeping his eyes ahead, Jack could only shrug as he walked. “Couldn’t say. Maybe. Could be.” Glancing over at the disguised changeling, he shook his head. “I'll keep quiet as well as I can, but you need to find that proof, and fast. You might want to disappear for awhile, unless you want to end up like your operatives.”

With a grunt, Agent Orange nodded. “I think I’ll do just that. I’ll continue to search for proof. When I find it, how should I contact you?”

“In my room. There’s a pistol in a plastic baggie in the water tank of the shitter. Leave me an address and a time and I’ll meet you there.” Jack looked around again, to confirm that there was no humans nearby. “Good luck-” He paused, as he saw that the changeling had disappeared. Sighing in annoyance, Jack rubbed at his facial scars. “He’s a spook alright...” Shaking his head once again, Jack set off to find the princesses, as he thought of how to word the threat so that he wouldn't alert the mole.

A hundred miles away, the Imperial dreadnaught loomed over Neigh York as the newly converted populace marched aboard the landed troopships. One million beings, at Carolus’ control. The griffon smiled to himself as he looked down upon the sprawling equine port city. The conquest of the city had been rather strenuous, or so his generals had told him.

The masks only work so far, there's too many ponies, we need more time. Time, time, time. Carolus scoffed and rolled his eyes as the thought came to mind. His generals had been given the means to capture entire cities without firing a single shot, and yet they still complained. Complaints were all that resided upon his desk in the dreadnaught, in both letters and missives from communications. They all told Carolus of the lack of supplies, their lack of ammunition, their lack of everything. The generals did not see his master plan, but he could not fault them for that shortcoming. They had no way of knowing why he sacrificed them as chaff. It was true, he had sacrificed several units, if only to hide his true intent, and to lull the Equestrians into a false sense of security. They believed they were winning, and thus their efforts had slowed visibly.

They believed him to be an incompetent fool. It would be their last mistake.

“My lord?”

Ada's voice, calling out to him so tentatively and soft sent a ruffle through Carolus’ feathers as he turned his head to regard the house-broken human. “What do you want, Slave? I have told you to not interrupt my ruminations.”

The once prideful woman bowed her head to him. “I am… apologetic… lord. Doctor Forge has informed me… That his work is completed.”

That news was more than enough for Carolus to forget his annoyance at the interruption. “Did he say which project?” He asked snappily, trying to hide his excitement.

The woman's sharp features quivered. Even now, her strong will thrashed against order's control. Carolus knew she was growing weaker every day for it. “Morozov. Your… Bodyguard.”

His interest suddenly lost, Carolus gave her a wave off. “Inform Doctor Forge that he is to not bother me with such mundane things. I only care for the next line of Progeny, and the vessel for our Lord. He can keep his children to himself, I have no need for them save for my Grand Army.”

“Do the progeny scare you?” Ada asked, her tone retaking the old sly smugness that he loathed her for.

Shock struck Carolus as he whirled on his talons and stalked toward the woman, wrapping his claws around her neck as she gasped to speak. “Do not tempt me, human, for I will kill you where you stand if you ever-”

“It’s so much easier to threaten those who can’t fight back, isn't it?.” Ada spoke once again, though this time, her voice came from behind Carolus, and most definitely not from the choking woman before him. Releasing Ada’s throat, Carolus sneered as he fought to keep his composure.

“Darneil.” Turning, Carolus found himself face to face with a carbon copy of Ada, this one leaning on his desk and cleaning her nails with his letter opener. “You had best have news for me.”

A slow inhuman grin spread across the woman’s features as green flames licked across her skin, and black chitin broke through. Carolus slowly looked up as the changeling hybrid approached, and grew to his natural height. The twisted black, chitinous human features of the hybrid sent a chill down Carolus’ spine, as if he were looking upon an abomination. Darneil simply smiled again, showing off rows of razor sharp teeth. “Carolus, is that really any way to speak to your equal?” The hybrid lifted a hand, and trailed a wickedly sharp talon down the side of Carolus’ features.

Slapping the talon away, Carolus snarled at Darneil. “You are not my equal. The lord favours me, and me alone.” Straightening himself out, and avoiding looking up at the towering changeling, Carolus walked to his desk and fixed his papers. “Speak your intentions. Now.”

With a humorless chuckle that riled Carolus’ feathers, Darneil gestured with both hands as he leaned against the wall. “My people are in place, and nobody suspects a thing. You’re making this war far harder than it should be.”

Shooting a hot glare at the changeling, Carolus sat down at his desk and sat back in his chair. “Do the princesses suspect our next move?”

“No, I don’t see how they could.”

Shaking his head, Carolus gestured Ada over with a snap of a talon. “Good. Ada, inform the captain to set course for Hunter’s Perch. I want First battalion to move on their objective. And I want you, my dear, to go with them. You understand your mission?”

The woman slowly nodded. “To capture or kill Knight Captain Jack Kessle.”

“Good. Be gone!” Carolus shooed the woman away while Darneil smirked.

“If it weren’t for the control, she’d have ripped your throat out by now. Especially considering your… urges.”

Standing from his chair, Carolus leaned across his desk and glared up at Darneil’s slitted blue eyes. “You know nothing of me-”

“Please, Carolus, spare me the theatrics. I know you’re forcing yourself upon the human, and honestly, I don’t care. She’s hardly an attractive specimen, I can’t imagine why you bother, save to torture the spirit trapped inside her.” Darneil leaned close to Carolus, to the point where their faces nearly touched. “I know more about you than you think. Remember our agreement, Carolus. What was done to my hive demands vengeance upon the transgressor. I expect your plan to work. Otherwise, I will take matters into my own hands, whether you like it or not.”

“You’d put this entire war in jeopardy for your petty revenge scheme?” Carolus sneered hard at the hybrid, who in turn narrowed his eyes.

“This war is a farce. It’s only purpose is to bloat your ego. Were it not for that, there would be no opposition to our lord rising.” Darneil gestured to the window. “You’ve bid your time long enough, Carolus. Your stalling only gives the Equestrians more time to gather themselves against us. Your generals should be kept on a shorter leash. They talk, far too much.” Turning away from the enraged Carolus, Darneil walked toward the bulkhead door. “Keep your end of the bargain, and I shall keep mine.” Without another word, the hybrid left Carolus’ observatory, and vanished.

Growling at the air, Carolus leaned back in his chair and sneered. “Filthy mutant. I’m not to waste a precious resource, and Jack Kessle, is far more precious than you and your rejects.” With his claws digging furrows into his fine desk, Carolus shook his head and calmed himself. “Steady. We only require him to obtain the Chaos Core… Once we have what we need, he and his imperfect ilk will be destroyed.”

Standing, Carolus approaches his window, and looked out to the distance toward Canterlot. Out there was his lord’s greatest enemies, all gathered in one place, and the key to his spreading across space. A small smile spread across Carolus’ features in turn as he envisioned it, and allowed his mind to daydream.

The pieces were falling into place, and his opponent was doing exactly what he wanted.

Author's Notes:

Short Chapter in advance of a big one!