The fallen soldier

Family man part 2 of 3

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"What do you think all this metal is being used for?" Asked the voice.

"I don't know and I don't care. Why do you wanna know anyway?" Responded another voice.

"I just wanna know what I'm risking my life for." The first voice shot back.

At this point you tuned the conversation out, the two oversized birds turned away. Giving you a prefect opportunity to rush forward and hide behind a large pile of metal bars. You took note of the fact that you knew more about what was going on in there than the birds guarding it.

The factory wasn't what you were expecting really, in the middle of nowhere, it has 24/7 protection. Meaning some mean looking guards are always posted around the general area. But breaching the area was simple, you parked the VTOL a good distance away and jogged till you reach the outer layer of trees that surround the factory.

Noting a pattern amongst the guards and all the piles of woods, coal, and metals openly laying around. You were able to sneak past guards and hide behind the wood piles or metal piles, as each was conveniently stacked high enough to hide your crouching self.

Peeking through a hollowed tube of some kind of metal, you could see a distant guard leaning against the wall of a small guard shack. He appeared to be drinking. After taking a quick peak at the surrounding area, you quickly rushed forward and crouched behind another pile of wood.

You were only a couple hundred feet from the entrance of the factory. Of course you couldn't - and wasn't - going to walk in through the front. You were going to try and circle the building in hopes of spotting a ladder or some kind of climbable structure.

But you must admit, this place was pretty well hidden. Although it seems the guards aren't expecting an attack on their own soil, everyone's too calm. Soldiers are drinking on duty and guards have a easy to notice pattern to their patrols. All the more easy for you however.

Once two guards passed by, you snuck past them and proceeded towards the guard shack. You took note of the guard still drinking and slipped past him. The guard shack had a glass panel that covered a large part of the eastern wall. You could hear shuffling from within and assumed it was some from of identification checking building. As it wasn't that far from the factory itself.

The building, or kiosk, has a door at the back. You really didn't want to stay out in the open like this, so you quickly checked the landscapes beyond both of the corners. The closest guards were a about two dozen feet away... And facing the opposite direction. The drinking guard had already disappeared.

Considering it safe enough, you ran straight for the side of the factory. The run took you around seven seconds, and really got your heart pumping.

This feeling. The rush of combat, knowing your life is on the line. This was something you truly missed. Nothing can ever replace it.

You pressed your back against the factory wall and checked your surrounding. Guard patrols circled the entire factory, with multiple checkpoints, mainly separating part of the building. The piles of materials began to slowly dissipate, before completely disappearing towards the back entrance.

Or at least, that's all you could see as you shifted along the factory wall. It's dark color and the shadows provided great cover for you. No guard would notice you as long as no one actually looked.

Out of sight, out of mind.

You watched a group of birds wearing some form of clothing shovel coal into a wheelbarrow before pushing it into a side entrance, you waited patiently and noted the ten-minute break between each supply run. You also noticed a balcony that had a single guard stationed on it. He was manning a searchlight while a crossbow laid dormant against the railings.

He looked like he took his job seriously, amongst other birds. Not everyone was idling about.

You didn't have any cover to hide behind, and shifting to the next wall would only reveal yourself to a stubborn guard who refused to look away. And you couldn't enter through the front or back entrance. Both was far too open to prying eyes, although the front entrance has fewer guards. You considered the front entrance before spotting the guard who was stubbornly facing one direction turn to talk to a passing patrol.

Under the cover of shadows and the faint moonlight, you ran and dove behind the guards kiosk. Barely avoiding the bright light stationed high above the two big doors. You were now at a neutral point of cover.

It had no access to any other cover beside the south entrance and the side doors used to bring in supply's. Realizing it's been 4 minutes since the last run for supply's, you waited for the searchlight to change its direction before darting for the side entrance.

Upon pushing the doors open, you were greeted to the strong and obnoxious smell of a factory at its peak. The temperature drastically increased. Constant banging could also be deciphered along with many other sounds. The air was thick with smog and probably-non-healthy-substances. Sadly, you didn't have any form of air-filtration system on you. And this trench coat only has so many features.

You continued on, walking though a long corridor with loose pieces of coal laying about. They must've fallen off the wheelbarrow as it was pushed through. Upon reaching the end, the hall split into three directions. The one on the left led to a small room full of wheelbarrows. Straight ahead was the factory itself, you could feel heat pouring in through the open hall. The last path had a door and led to a open room.

You chose the right side and pushed the door open.

It was a cafeteria. Somewhat air-conditioned too. Empty tables were everywhere, and a covered counter filled with shitty looking food filled the empty part of the room. No vending machines sadly.

The dark and empty room was unsettling. The air fared no better either. You quietly approached a obvious water dispenser and pulled a cup from its side. You positioned it beneath the tap and pushed a button. Water dispensed into the cup, creating a loud sound all the while.

You released the button and brought the cup up to your lips, downing it all.

You violently coughed it all back up, sadly discovering it was a really strong alcoholic drink.

After finishing your coughing fit, a sense of panic overcame you. That was loud, really loud. Faint clicks of talons meeting floors could be heard, then the cafeteria lights suddenly jumped to life. Realizing what was going to happen next, you rushed and jumped over the food counter. You landed and rolled into a crouch before laying flat on your stomach.

You held your breath and listened as the clicked came into the room. They stopped a few feet from the food counter.

A voice bellowed, "If you're in here Beltingsfur, and I find out you've been drinking the water again! I'll cut your fucking balls off and feed them to my dog!" The room went quiet.

"Beltingsfur?" The voice asked, then the clicks of his talons started again.

You realized he was checking beneath the table, since the clicking would stop over and over again. And when he started heading for the counters little door. You pulled your SAS-24 from its holster and aimed it where you thought his head was.

The clicking stopped and the door started shaking.

"Ah shit." The voice mumbled.

The little door was locked. The bird stayed in place for moment before turning and approaching what you believed to be the 'water' dispenser.

"Something was in here." The voice spoke aloud, probably referring to the puddle on the ground.

Unsure as to what the guard would do. You flipped back over and got onto your knees. You peeked over the counter and watched the armored guard pour himself a cup of 'water' and down it, before repeating the process two more times.

The word 'Hypocrite' flashes through your mind.

He crushed the cup in his talons before throwing it into a trashcan. He then left and the cafeteria lights shut off not long after. The clicking disappeared and you figured it was safe enough. You snatched a loaf of bread and quickly devoured it. All this sneaking is making you hungry.

You glanced into the kitchen, not much to see really. Empty and dark, dishes in a sink, pots hanging over large stoves. And stacks of bread on another counter. Unimpressed, you unlocked the small door separating the counter and cafeteria and pushed it open.

You holstered your SAS-24 and proceeded to leave the room. Another hallway welcomed you. It turned left and only left however, and actually led to a staircase. The second you make the turn, directly on your left is a series of switches that must control the lights.

Odd place for them, but whatever. You slowly went up the stairs and peered beyond them.

Birds were everywhere. Because you just stepped into their barracks.

However, it wasn't that bad, as most of them were sleeping. You simply stepped through the room full of bunk-beds and left through a door at the end.

Now you were in the part of the factory where things were made. The recreational area has ended. You looked at the floor below, birds dressed in odd outfits were shoveling coal into giant furnaces. And the heat REALLY picked up in here. You watched a couple workers wearing masks smith what seemed to be a weird looking barrel.

So it's true then, they actually are making hand-cannons. That's not good. These guys are advancing in ways that Equestria refuses to even touch. Weaponry.

You didn't pay attention to the work going on after that, you took note of all the patrols going around the three different floors. You are currently on the second. You then immediately spotted the obvious room that overlooks everything going on.

Above even the third floor, was a small-ish looking room that had a glass wall with a great view of the work going on below. And a single Griffion stood there, peering through the glass.

"That's him." You thought. It's gotta be him.

But now the question is how one gets up there. You figured the entrance would be on the third floor. So you started looking for a ladder or another staircase. Expect the only ladder was being guarded by two guards who wasn't going anywhere any time soon.

Time to put this new coat to use.

You brought your left wrist up and pressed the largest gem on the sleeve. Your body flickered before turning invisible, the line of gems on your sleeve began to quickly lose its glow. After getting a running start, you jumped off the railing and grabbed the third floors... Floor. And hauled yourself up and over the railing again.

You hid in a small room that was close by and disengaged your cloaking. You looked at the gems on your sleeve and smile nervously when you saw that three out of the twelve gems still had a glow to them.

You peered out into the factory again and waited until a one bird patrol walked by the door. You nearly out the bird into a sleeper hold, but weighed its size and mass against yours. You came to the conclusion that it wouldn't turn out very well.

You let the bird pass, and as you did, you located the stairs that led to the foreman's office. It was also guarded by guards who looked meaner than the last pair that's guarded the ladder.

So now you had the basic layout of the factory. Floor one was where all the smelting happened, it also had the cafeteria. The second floor was barracks for guards and workers, and it's where the hand-cannons are made. And then the third floor was mainly security.

You couldn't just sneak up to the foreman's office however. You needed a distraction. And the guard on the balcony is what first came to mind. But you can't reach him without cloaking again, and your coat doesn't have enough juice for the trip and back.

Then you remembered the little magic filled 'battery' tubes in you coat. You pulled one out from its pocket and held it firmly in your hand, you brought your gem covered wrist up and pressed the tube into the largest gem.

As expected, the tube lost most of its glow, but the gems in the coat refilled to the max. The tube actually had some left still, so you slid it back into its pocket. Refilled and confident, you peeked out again and found the door that led to the balcony.

You cloaked again and quickly approached it, the door was unlocked and happily obliged to your wishes to open it. The guard standing out there turned to ask something.

"Yeah, what you wa-"

And then you whopped him in the face with your metal arm and threw him over the railing. You didn't waste any time in grabbing his crossbow and running for your safe room. You kept the crossbow beneath the railings cover so no-one saw a floating weapon.

Upon reaching the safety of your room, you patiently watched and waited as cries broke out amongst the factory.

"ANOTHER ONE FELL OFF THE BALCONY AGAIN!" Yelled a voice from the lowest floor.

One of the guards watching the stairs slumped over and left for the balcony, he must've decided to take over for the now dead bird. The other one, the one who walked around and didn't watch the stairs, headed for the ladder and disappeared onto the second floor. Leaving the one bird all alone.

He straightened his posture and stared ahead with a stoic expression. You a slinked out of the room and crouched beneath the railing. You followed it until you reached a position with a good view of the birds head.

You brought up the crossbow you stole and positioned it on the railing. You took careful aimed and pulled the trigger. The recoil was incredibly strong and the bolt went right through the birds expensive looking helmet.

And you mean right through.

The bird dropped dead instantly, you quickly ditched the crossbow and dragged the birds body back to the safe room. The process was long and annoying, but hiding the body assured safety for the moment. Afterwards, you went up the stairs leading to the foreman's office and placed your hand on the doorknob. You don't know what you're going to do next, this situation can go so many different ways.

You really want to interrogate him, but what if he manages to call for help? He probably has letters connecting anyone to the situation at hand, so you could kill him and not lose anything. What if you kidnapped him instead? You could pull off a extraction and remotely call in your VTOL to fly you and your new friend out of here! But then everyone will know what you ride in and the entire nation will go into a panic. Making robbing their bank a lot harder.

But this bird is helping invent something that can potentially kill thousands. And it'll eventually develop to automatic firearms.

Whatever happens next, killing or sparing this bird will be the beginning of a new era for Griffonia. And the choice is all yours.

Taking a deep breath, you push the door open, your hand resting on your SAS-24.

Author's Notes:

Don't worry, I'm not gonna make you wait a month again.

Point out mistakes and all that goody goodness.