“Clear!” I radioed and detonated the bolts Starfire had placed everywhere. I stood tall as the smoke cleared, the Mantis barely clearing the dust cloud. “Weapons free!” I called out to my squad.

Motion sensors said nothing to our rear. All that there is was a group of buildings to either side of the street. The street ran perpendicular to the tracks, so I charged out the port side of the train, into Baby Face's kill-box. Just down the road, I could see the pier and the massive fleet of merchant vessels as far as the eye could see. It was a city on the water.

I didn't hesitate a second longer, neither did my squad. In an instant, Spectacles marked all the hostile hard-points. I unleashed Катюша on the hostile MG teams in the buildings on the left. *Thump* *Thump* *Thump* *Thump* *Thump*
I raised Катюша, initiating an auto-reload. Five seconds until more rockets. The façade crumbled down from the targeted buildings. I shifted right. BaWAAAA!
The 20 mike-mike rotary autocannon was chewing up the other hostile MG teams. It was literally blowing their crews to pieces. With bits of gore, viscera, blood, and severed body parts paving the way to Baby Face, I advanced down the road. My squad stayed near the Mantis's legs, roughly five feet behind me.

A hostile MG nest was in front of me, right in the middle of the road. I just decided to overload the hydraulics. The gun exploded under the Mantis's mighty foot, and half of the gunner was stuck to the Mantis's foot. The other crewman was just a red mist and bits of chum. Crimson was holding up alright; all the fire was on me. My shields read half.

Катюша was ready. I saw no good targets for her, so I held her at the ready. There was roughly a dozen dead behind me, and about five dozen left to make dead to my front, but they were all interspersed to nullify the effectiveness of explosives.

I saw something shifting on one of the ships in harbor. The ship was christened: Dicta Belli. I knew enough Latin from my choir days to know that wasn't a merchant vessel's name. I also remembered that the Zebra language paralleled Latin... Oh, shit...

“Zebras, at sea!” I radioed to my squad.

I moved the Mantis as fast as it could go into a nearby alley way on my left. I was confident the Dicta Belli was taking aim with some naval artillery. Катюша would have to be my answer. Apparently Baby Face did ally with the Zebra Menace. Things were not looking so good for myself, the team, nor Equestria.

“Pizza, toss smoke on Mafia emplacements. I'm going after the Zebra warships in harbor. Keep the squad alive.”

“What about Baby Face?”

“Kill him if he gets in the way. The mission's changed: Zebra forces have already landed on Equestria's mainland. We've been invaded.”

“Roger that, good luck.”

“We make our own luck.”

I marched the Mantis down the alleyway, emerging next to a row of docks that linked back to the fleet of ships in the harbor. How could a harbor get so crowded? The Dicta Belli was aiming at me again. Good, it wasn't targeting my squad.

Maybe I can hop ship-to-ship until I get a good line of sight? That'll have to be the plan for now. I marched the Mantis towards the nearest ship. I saw a bright flash from the bow of the Dicta Belli. Shells incoming.

The Mantis got aboard the first ship just before the shell struck where I was just mere moments before. I aimed at the bow of the Dicta Belli, charging Катюша. *Thump* *Thump* *Thump* *Thump* *Thump*
I saw the rockets streak forth, detonating to great effect against the main guns of the Dicta Belli. Another salvo in the right place might sink her, she was of roughly as much tonnage as the Stormbreaker. The Caesar was a cakewalk, and it outclassed the Dicta Belli greatly, but the Caesar never engaged me in direct fire.

The Zebras returned fire while they let their bow burn. I moved to another merchant vessel, this one had civies aboard. The Zebras didn't seem to care much about the Equestrian natives and fired anyways. Wasn't gonna be able to dodge this one.

My shields dissipated from the impact, but the Mantis recovered quickly. *BaWAAAA* I opened up with the twenty mike-mike. Chunks of the Dicta Belli's metal hull went soaring off. Those shards of of razor-sharp hull plating soared like shrapnel through the air, propelled by the 20 mike-mike and various secondary explosions. Катюша was ready for another salvo, but so were they.

Another volley. This time I moved closer, onto yet another merchant vessel, avoiding the naval artillery. This ship was packed with containers. Their shells struck where I was, ripping open the civy vessel, a few ponies fell overboard.

I managed to get the Mantis onto a raised platform, one that I assumed was for sky chariots. The view that I got was quite a sight to see.

For miles around, every naval vessel was bearing the flag of Caesar. The only ones that weren't were the merchant vessels that got blockaded in when Caesar came to town. I'm gonna need a bigger gun.

I saw a red smoke grenade streak through the air, landing on the Dicta Belli. Apparently Pizza had a bigger gun. I only hoped that the REN could see it. Pizza came across the radio, “Requesting naval artillery bombardment on RED smoke, danger close. Fire when ready.” Better skedaddle!

I backed the Mantis up, only to find the only boat I could take back to the mainland had already capsized. I really hope this thing's environmentally sealed.

A blanket of explosions sounded behind me, so I went for a swim. The Mantis sank like a stone. My shields were barely recharging, but they were there... even if they were only a slowly growing sliver. I got my bearings and marched towards the shore, the shields would keep the water out.

When I breached the surface I was greeted by the carnage I had made only moments ago. There was also a surprise waiting for me as well: it seems we picked up a few hitchhikers en route.

The Royal Guards were there, the boys I trained way back in Canterlot. What were they doing here? They had basic firearms with them, a few took aim at the Mantis as I marched it out of the water. I opened the top hatch once I was clear of the ocean waters and stood up in the cockpit, my back to the Zebra fleet.

“Well, you boys sure are tardy to the party! Come on, there's still some blood to shed!” I ducked back into the Mantis and headed towards Pizza's waypoint. As slow as the Mantis was, it sure had some fine firepower.

I found Crimson in cover, being pounded by hostile naval fire. “Guardsmen, form a defensive line! Pizza protect the Mantis, I've got a plan!” I bailed out and watched as the Canterlot One Hundred took up more defensive positions and started pestering the Zebra forces.

“Sir, what are you planning?” Pizza asked.

“You'll see. Starfire, I'll need every last bomb you've got.”

“Here you go,” she handed me a bag filled to the brim with various explosives, including C-12. Just what I needed.

I went to the back of the Mantis, selecting a few Hydrogen-3 isotopes from its reactor, leaving enough Hydrogen-2 for normal operation, though I would have to divert power from other systems if I wanted to get it moving again. I ejected the cylinder containing the chosen tritium isotopes.

I laid down the plastiqué from the bag, and molded it around the tritium gas cylinder. Why Hydrogen-3? Because Hydrogen-4 is extremely unstable. The instability introduces more neutrons and energy, which is absorbed by other atoms and makes them just as unstable. The C-12 is just the boot in the pants to start the chain reaction. I inserted a detonator.

Improvised nuke complete. Yield: unknown... probably a helluva lot, I would say maybe a kiloton or three. There wasn't much tritium in the reactor, but it may just be enough. We needed that enemy fleet gone, and I was the delivery system. Just part of the job, I guess. I mean, the Master Chief did something like this during the New Phoenix incident, and he made it out all right... right?

“All Equestrian forces: I have a device that'll wipe out the Zebra fleet. Afterwards, I'd highly suggest you visit a radiologist. Keep me covered,” I shouted across to all of the stowaway guards. I slung the nuke onto my back. An icon appeared in the top right of my HUD: “Nuclear Device Acquired”. Great, Mjolnir was actually designed for this kind of delivery. Fingers crossed.

I rushed out of cover between Zebra salvos. Quite a few hostile machine gunners were still operational. Where was our Navy? I was at a full sprint. Have you ever seen a Spartan at a full sprint? One moment we're there, the next we're gone.

I was headed for one of the piers, hoping to go ship-hopping again. Once their artillery got loaded again, they were slinging their shells my way. I was outrunning their fire, but barely. Each shell ticked a bit off my shields, but they were holding. Shields: ¾ capacity. I kept running.

I jumped onto the first ship, another civy vessel. I needed to get to the heart of the Zebra fleet to detonate this. I leapt onto the next ship to cross my path. This one was Zebra. One of the deckhands tried to tackle me, but Lockheart landed a burst to halt him dead in his tracks, literally.

All of Crimson had my back, plus a company of Royal Guards. I just hope their aim was true and sure. Their support later on would need to be long-range.

I kept leaping from ship to ship, occasionally using my Thruster Pack to bridge the gap. Eventually I made it onto their capital ship. Now this was odd: it was christened the Caesar. I swear I blew it to bits off the Equestrian coast, so what was it doing here, and not in bits? Is it like the Yorktown? Or was it a ghost ship?

Doesn't matter. Bomb armed! I needed to run, fast! I gave it one minute until boom time. The commander of the Zebra fleet trotted out to try to stop me, but Pizza stopped him first with his DMR. That was a hell of a shot, I must say.

I turned to try and head back across the Zebra ships, but they had shifted their formation. They were pulling back, with me aboard... with a nuke. An armed nuke. I looked back at Pizza, his gaze drifted off his scope to look at me, a thousand yards' distant. Too soon, dammit... we just lost Mormon and Richard, and it looked like I was about to see them again. “Not today,” I muttered and ran.

Bomb detonated!

Mjolnir doesn't like salt water, I'll tell you that. And I don't like swimming. Guess you can't win 'em all, huh? I had to walk to shore underwater, and my motion sensor was reading several false positives. ONI should have upgraded Mjolnir after that escapade off of the Yucatan Peninsula; those Spartan-IIs had similar problems.

“Remind me to get some longer fuses...” I said as I emerged from the depths like some Scooby-Doo villain.

“Joe!” The team called out, Pizza being the loudest and most enthusiastic.

I took off my helmet, “Guess the situation has changed quite a bit. Pizza, get the Mantis. Let's RTB and see if we can figure out our next move. I want to know why the Mafia is supporting the Zebras.”

“Glad to see you're still breathing, Joe.”

“Pizza, you know it takes more than that to kill me. I was at Harvest! When I was five!”

We shared a laugh as Crimson formed up, marching back towards our train. The Canterlot One Hundred, battered, bruised, but still in one piece, were still going about their own business, but a few seemed to not be busy. I also had some questions for them.

“Major, I thought we would being doing this op solo, what made you come along with all of your friends?”

“Sir, I just wanted to do what was right. It just didn't feel right to send a single squad against a vastly more formidable force. When I saw you loading up, I figured you were heading into some serious action.”

“What's your name, soldier?”

“Pane. Major Pane. Why do you ask?” Déjà vu, he was on Luna's list.

“Just wanting to know who should be getting the medals.”

“Um... sir?”

“What you did here was far beyond the call of duty. You were never asked to be here, yet you willingly charged into this howling dark so that others wouldn't have to, or so that others wouldn't be as alone doing so. It would be wrong of me to overlook such courage now that the fight is won.”

“Thank you, sir!” he saluted, grinning ear to ear.

“Don't salute me, Major. It can be used by sniper teams to spot officers. That, and pointing. Leaders always point. Save it for non-combat zones.”

“Oh, sorry sir! Won't happen again.”

I continued walking alongside the Mantis. Pizza. Lockheart. Starfire. Spectacles. Fencing. Myself. We're all that is in the Crimson Guard. Damn few...

“Major, how would you like to join an SF team?”

“Would I?! I mean... Yes, I would like that very much, sir.” This guy is gonna be riot.

“Tag along, and don't forget to tell your current outfit you're being reassigned. We don't want any logistical nightmares going on.”

He ran off and did just that. We kept on our advance to the train. The blown-open train car made it easier for Pizza to have the Mantis board. The locomotive was pockmarked with bullet holes of varying calibers. I walked up to the engine, about to tell the conductor to head off as soon as the Major was aboard.

Turns out a .50 BMG round from the local Mafia ricocheted and retired him. Shit. I looked ahead, only to find the tracks ahead blown apart, probably form Zebra Navy artillery. Double shit.

Where was our Navy?

A sky carriage swooped down off to the side of the blown-open train car. Oh, yeah... Equestria has flying boats. The two pegasi towing the carriage quickly opened the passenger doors. Out stepped an oldie... literally, this guy was ancient.

“Nautical! Didn't expect to see you around here. Weren't you near retirement?”

“I re-upped. And who the hell did you think was going to bring the Navy here in the first place?”

“Good point, Admiral. How are things looking in the skies?”

“As clear as the Crystal Empire. Those Zebras can't touch the skies, so much as own 'em. Two things pegasi do very well. And it looks like your ride is rather FUBAR, need a lift?”

“So long as you're offering.” I motioned the team to form up on me.

“We'll need to send some of our stronger flyers to lift the machine aboard. Everypony else, climb aboard.” He motioned us inside the carriage, it was padded with what looked like red velvet. Classy.

I sat in the back, far right, helmet in my lap. Pizza was across from me, the admiral to his immediate right. My left had the Major and Starfire, with Lockheart taking up the last seat right of the Admiral.

“Admiral, how's the war looking from your perspective?”

“It's looking fine, not good, but fine. This was the biggest battle in a couple months, just skirmishes before. And with that kind of bomb you had, this war could be won overnight. I just hope the Ministries don't get in our way before then.”

“Ministries?”

“What, have you been living under a rock?”

“Try a mountain.”

“A mountain? Anyway, the six Ministries were formed a little while ago to aid in the war effort. They are: the Ministry of Peace (MoP), Ministry of Arcane Sciences (MAS), Ministry of Wartime Technology (MWT), Ministry of Morale (MoM), Ministry of Awesome (MAw), and the Ministry of Image (MoI). Each is run by its own ministry mare, each one serving a different role. Honestly it sounds like some sort of clandestine takeover. I'd prefer things how they were.”

“I've got to talk to Luna about these new ministries then, see how they can best be used.”

“Why do want to talk to Luna? I heard Celestia ordered their fruition.”

“Trust me, I know which princess can handle war the best.”

The ride was comfy, nauseous if you ask Pizza, but we made it back to Canterlot without notable incident. Night had fallen by the time of our return, making unloading easier. The Canterlot One Hundred remained in Well-met, routing out any stragglers. They were well-seasoned soldiers.

I guess I should start looking around for more fusile compounds for the Mantis's reactor, but right now we have bigger fish to fry. Like cod, or salmon.

Dinner was served, vegetarian for the squad, the above for Pizza and I. “Alright, Crimson, let's say hello to our newest freedom fighter: Major Pane. This is his first time in SF, so be gentle.”

“Oh, we will,” said Starfire, flicking his nose with her tail while passing by the Major. I'm pretty sure that was some sort of flirting in Equestria, Pane's blushing was evident of that. The brown unicorn was going red.

“Additionally, we still need to fight the war, finish recruiting, and destroy the Marecago outfit. No small task if you ask me, which is why I've called for some assistance.”

“What kind of assistance, sir?” Fencing asked.

“My kind,” Princess Luna said, just having entered the Mess Hall. She was like a shadow of a ghost. The whole except for Lockheart, Pizza and I, jumped. Guess they haven't seen too much action yet.

“Princess Luna! Milady, what brings you here?” Fencing quickly responded, bowing down low.

“War, Fencing. And war is no time for formalities. Joe, I believe you wanted to talk tactics?”

“Yes, Luna. I've caught word of these six new Ministries, I was wondering how they would be aiding the war effort?”

“Each is dedicated towards a field Celestia believes their ministry mare is well adept at. Applejack works with hardware at the MWT, Twilight is with the arcane scientists at the MAS. Rarity is in charge of propaganda and the like at the MoI, Pinkie Pie is in charge of civilian morale at her namesake Ministry. The MoP, headed by Fluttershy, is dedicated towards medicine and other solely peaceful endeavors. The Ministry of Awesome though... it's tough to say for certain what Rainbow Dash has her Ministry doing...”

“I take it that the MAS works with magic?”

“That is correct.”

“Hmm... Then I have one question: how badly do you want to win this war and end this suffering?”

“I want it done and over as soon as possible, but I do not wish to become the villain in this.”

“You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain. And war... War never changes. But warfare does, and that is how winners are made. I believe you received my report on the Well-met detonation?”

“You're not thinking of using those on Zebra population centers, are you?”

“Not without fair warning. My plan is to drop nukes from high altitude onto Zebra military installations, with apt fliers forewarning the strike by three days' time.”

“No, Joe. What your saying is just inequine!”

“Then Plan B is we will send blueprints of UNSC firearms to the MWT, with Covenant and Forerunner weaponry being sent to the MAS. That will get our weaponry up to the formidable level that might just scare the Zebras into a massive secession of hostilities. The Steel Ranger armor will be sent to both the MWT and MoP. The MoP will probably help greatly with armor systems, seeing their intent is to save lives. Espionage handbooks and training manuals will be sent to the MoM and MoI, the latter receiving historic propaganda posters as well. Bioweapon schematics will be sent to the MoP, they will do with them all that is necessary.”

“So you're taking a much more clandestine approach to things since you can't make the least clandestine approach?”

“Pretty much. I estimate that Plan B will take maybe 1000% longer to achieve victory, potentially resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands, if not millions more than necessary. But it is more doable for anyone to do. In all of human history, nukes have only been used in three wars: the Second World War, the Insurrection, and the Human-Covenant War. None of which were pretty. In fact, they're the three most deadly wars on record.”

“Which is why I don't want any unconventional explosives being used in any theater of war.”

“Understood, but do you agree with what I want to do with the Ministries?”

“Yes, but what about the MAw? What do you plan on doing with them?”

“I think some Spec-Ops or other projects would be right up their alley. Also, is there an office for dealing with the mutual interaction of the ministries?”

“Yes, I believe my sister called it the 'Office of Interministry Affairs'.”

“Great! It looks like things will be running smoothly, then. For Crimson, I think we'll stick with handling the bloodiest and purest violence the war will ever bring to this world. We will lurk in the shadows of the battlefield, showing ourselves only to strike with lethal precision. No one will know where we are until it's too late.”

“And how do you plan to operate without others knowing, yet still receiving all the support you require?” Luna inquired.

“Easy: names.”

“What?”

“Have the MoI cover outfits like Crimson quite extensively, making us into the stuff of legends. Personally, I think they should stick with rumors and reports on the front lines, no actual pictures. Just enough to get the boys on the battlefield to know our unit. From there, we'll be able to get everything we need. Aside from that, this unit will have to exist much more substantially in the Equestrian armed forces. For once, we need a larger tactical footprint.”

“Presently the Crimson Guard is listed as Special Forces, which entails a lot of black ink. If you'd like the unit transferred to something less secretive, you can always ask.”

“What are the major outfits in the Equestrian armed forces?”

“There is the Equestrian Heavy Guard, Marine Raiders, the Wonderbolts, and a few others within the existing branches of our military.”

“My vote's for the Heavy Guard, what do you think, Crimson?”

And viola, the Crimson Guard is now part of the Equestrian Heavy Guard, an outfit in the Royal Guard. This meant we would have better access to heavy weapons and armor, as well as hefty transport whenever needed. Personally, I think we would just stick with the in-house productions that Spectacles keeps giving us. His gear is top-notch compared to the native hardware.

Next step: recruiting and retiring.

“COL Lockheart, PVT Fencing, I need you two to head to Fillydelphia. There you'll find three ponies: PVT Footfall, T/5 Keen Eye, and 2LT Cupcake. I need you to recruit them and bring them to the castle. I'll rendezvous with them once I'm done with my duties, then we'll take them down to here for phase two,” I ordered to Crimson.

“We'll get right on it, Joe,” Lockheart responded as the duo walked out of the mess hall.

“Next, I'll need Pizza, Pane, and Starfire to head down to Ponyville to recruit MCPO Daze, SR Heartstrings, and RDML Solace. Luna's recommended their skill set and I believe we need some more folk around here before I can start giving us the bigger missions.”

“Be back in a minute,” Pizza said, leading the rest of his squad out.

“Guess its just you and me, huh, Joe?” Spectacles said.

“Actually we have a mission of our own. What do you know of transmogrification spells and medicine?”

“I studied those spells in passing, but not having a horn and all, I didn't pay much attention. Medicine I have taken significant note of. I saw the designs for Mjolnir's auto-doc and wanted to see if I could make one for the Steel Ranger armor. I'm still working on a design.”

“That's good enough. I want you on standby, I may need some miracle medicine on the fly, in case if there are any side effects. Do you think you could do that?”

“It isn't my profession, but I think I can get it done if need be.”

“Alright, stay here, get any medical gear you need ready and waiting, and wait for my return. Oh, and we'll need a password; you may not recognize me on my return. Let's try: Harvest of Reach's Earth. You got that?”

“Harvest of Reach's Earth, yes I got it. But why that phrase?”

“Three very big battles in my history. Only Pizza knows those fights as well as I do. I'll see you later,” I stood up and started walking out of the room.

“Touchy subject?”

“The first one: I lost my parents. The second one: I lost everything and was too far away to do anything about it. The third one: I was the victor but with no spoils to show for it,” I proceeded out of the HQ, leaving Spectacles behind.

I walked into the Castle. The Royal Guards parted to let me through, seeing how I had no weapons. The sun was on its descent across the heavens, but it would still shine bright for a couple of hours. Next I entered the throne room, Celestia was there along with a crowd of politician types. I assumed they were mostly going to be talking about some more ministry matters.

“Joe, can I help you?” Celestia asked.

“I'm looking for your sister, she had a task for me,” I was still somewhat bitter from the memories Spectacles had unknowingly brought back, but I tried to keep them under wraps while talking to the princess.

“She's having breakfast, just head into the kitchen and I'm sure you'll find her.”

“Thank you,” I left. Apparently many of the politicians were rather curious as to who I was, judging by the number of eyes that were watching me leave. Either that or I have a hot ass. I'd prefer the latter... and the Covenant have roasted my behind quite a bit with plasma fire.

In the kitchen, sitting down at one of the tables, I found Princess Luna enjoying some cereal. “Isn't it rather late to be enjoying breakfast? Most folk have dinner around this time.”

“Joe, nice to see you. I don't have what most would call a normal sleep cycle. I woke up just an hour ago, which is actually a bit early by my standards. So what brings you out of you cave fortress?”

“I'm ready to take you up on that transmogrification offer. I've also been curious about the Night Guards as well.” It looked like she had finished up her meal. She moved to place her bowl with the other dirty dishes.

“Then follow me, and what questions did you have about them?” She lead me past the thrones, taking a left to what looked like a landing pad of sorts.

“I wanted to know more about their history, what distinguishes them from the regulars and Royal Guard.”

“Hop on my back, I'll tell you en route.” Her wings were stretched out, ready for takeoff. Me not being one to object, I followed promptly. Surprisingly, she didn't seem hindered at all by carrying a half-ton Spartan on her back. Must be magic, or Skyrim-level carry weights. Probably magic.

The cool air and a setting sun was all that was with us on the flight. We were heading towards the Everfree Forest's Eastern edge.

“The Night Guard was formed by my own volition. Once Nightmare Moon was defeated for the second and last time, Celestia took me back to the Castle to tell me what had happened in the world during my 1000 year absence. Most of the social aspects of thing were completely alien to me, but the military and the technology was all vividly familiar. Those things didn't really change much, seeing as there wasn't a war since my lunar imprisonment.

“One thing that I did notice with the soldiers in the Royal Guard was that a thousand years of peace and non-conflict has diluted their abilities. Most ponies enlist nowadays to get a good chance at seeing Celestia. I took note of this softness and talked about it with my sister.

“She stated that she couldn't fire the weaker members of the Royal Guard because many of their families were dependent upon their income; they were lifers. So I came up with the idea to form another branch of the Royal Guard that I alone would oversee. Thus, the Night Guard was born.

“The only problem was finding the ponies that weren't 'soft' and getting them to enlist. I had a clever idea to solve that problem: find those with nothing, and give them something. The enlistment process is highly selective: I am the only one who can recruit. Normally I plant a subconscious desire to go to the Shades, while giving them a conscious desire to travel. I also make sure to tell them the password to get in.

“The ponies I choose are often criminals and outlaws that have nothing to live for. I convince them to turn over a new leaf, and although the law doesn't care for that, I also give them a new identity if they so choose to accept my offer. This makes the law incapable of affecting them. I normally council them a few nights prior to actually sending them to the Shades, making them doubt their lifestyle is truly one of honor.

“Others that are chosen are either homeless or orphaned, or both. They normally already have a strong sense of virtue, and they tend to be more reliable once enlisted. It is they who disband any malicious thoughts of the criminals by simply making friends with them, after all, it did work well on Nightmare Moon.

“This unique process has spawned a unique devotion, not only to duty but to country and branch of service as well. The first step of their enlistment is the transmogrification, the second is the reformation, and the third is the devotion. I give them a second chance when no one else will, so they tend to be fiercely loyal. That's how I managed to form a new Royal Guard branch that didn't have any soft soldiers in it.”

“Where I'm from, that sense of loyalty is called esprit de corps. It truly is something to behold, or feared if it's what you're up against.”

“Exactly what I was trying for. Now, the Night Guard is also fiercely independent, their whole facility can operate in complete isolation from the outside world. It is its own completely self-sufficient city built entirely underground. It is actually larger than Ponyville, to put it into perspective. The Night Guard has been known to attack those who near the entrance without giving the correct password, and due to the possibility of Changelings, they are even to attack me if I do not give them the right password.”

“And what is that password, exactly?”

“Nocte est eternum.”

“The night is forever?”

“I see you're well versed in Zebra.”

“It's called Latin where I'm from, a very old language at that, but for some reason forever popular in choirs.”

“It is the same case here, it seems. We're almost at the entrance, prepare for landing.”

We descended down from the 2000 feet we were flying at. Luna set down in a small clearing and continued leading the way through the foliage.

I followed close behind her, remembering that this is where Manticores come from and that I left the Mighty Magnum back at base. Eventually we made it to two Douglas Firs. These were the first Douglas Firs I've ever seen in the Everfree, so I guessed this was the spot.

“What's the password!” Yep, most definitely the spot. The Night Guard was rather good at stealth, I couldn't see this guy on any of my viewing modes: VISR, thermal, night vision, normal vision, or anything! Not even my motion sensor showed him. Promethean Vision might be able spot him, but I had a Thruster Pack.

“Nocte est eternum,” Luna muttered.

It came as a surprise to me to see that a whole platoon had us in their gun sights, only making themselves visible to salute the princess. A whole platoon was within two yards of me, yet they were completely unnoticeable. Damn they were good! Foliage was covering their armor, making it look a bit like a ghillie suit.

A sergeant ushered us towards the unique trees, opening up a previously unnoticeable hatch between the two trunks. Luna went on down, I followed again.

“That was some damn fine stealth back there, not even Active Camouflage is that effective.”

“Only the best get doormare duty, all the others are more combat-oriented.”

“Remind me not to piss you off.”

Luna laughed and we kept walking at a brisk pace through these dark underground caverns. The caves were all twists and turns in a complex that would rival Iwo Jima's cave system.

“There is only one entrance and one exit here. All the tunnels you see are to have ponies get lost if they so choose to trespass. Ponies have gone missing down here before, we still haven't found the first one to take a wrong turn. All of the Night Guard, with their modified vision, can easily see the path to take. New recruits get escorted into the Shades by a Night Guard, so long as they provide the right password. Some unicorns have teleported past them, but they always disappear in these tunnels. The material that lines these walls hinder magical abilities. It was imported from the Griffin Kingdom, which has it in excess.”

“So they teleport in when they know they shouldn't and can't teleport out?”

“Yes.”

“And judging from the dryness and lack of plant life, I take it there is no way to survive for any extended period of time in these tunnels?”

“I think of it as an added measure of security, the Night Guard is supposed to be independent after all.”

“What does the Royal Guard think of the Night Guard?”

“They don't trust the Night Guard, but they don't need to. The Night Guard will trust them if I ordered it. There are notable tensions between the two branches, one being mostly criminals and the other being the ones meant to jail them, but incapable of doing so. Most ponies don't trust the Night Guard all too well, but I know the Night Guard will prove itself. They did do an admirable job at capturing you, after all.”

“That they did,” I didn't even notice that I put my hand over where the ballista ran me through. The memory was vivid, the scar nonexistent.

“And we're here! Beyond this door lies the Shades, a vast and flourishing underground city, completely isolated from the outside world. The locals may be hard on newcomers, but they've all received such treatment before they have inflicted it,” she opened the double-door, and what lay beyond was a metropolis that could challenge Canterlot.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

“Lieutenant, I think your time-scaling is a bit off here. Only a few days passed in your account of these events, yet you explained that months had past according to another. Care to explain?”

“Admiral, it would be pointless for me to include the most moot of details. I take it that not much can be learned from the morning crosswords or thumb-twiddling. As such, sir, I intend to remove such details, sometimes spanning several days, whenever the details would be greatly repeated or irrelevant to my account of the events, sir.”

“Lieutenant, we need your full account of these events, as per protocol, not the abridged version. Can you provide such details?”

“Negative, sir, but you can view my neural implant recordings if you want to see everything I’ve been through, though I was saving them for those ONI eggheads.”

“Admiral, think of it is removing irrelevancies in order to minimize the dilution of valuable data.”

“Fine, doctor. Lieutenant, will you proceed?”

“Are you going to keep on interrupting my story every ten thousand words, sir?”