Monday
0130

I heard a beam rifle blast, and the Door opening. I picked up the rifle beside me and galloped for the Atrium.

The Door sealed as quickly as it opened, and silence reigned in the Atrium as I got there.

"Why the fuck did the Door just open without my authority?" Range's thunderous bellow preceded her as she exited Security, and I turned to face her, looking at the ponies on the ground level as she slammed her hooves on the railing.

Gusty spoke up, coming through the entrance to the Door. "There was an... argument. My daughter... Blitz. She left. She said she was going to the Crimson Raiders."

...

"What?" Range turned, glaring at the ponies, and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, before opening them and looking to Gusty. "What happened? Why did she leave?"

"She said that... none of the civilians..." Gusty swallowed. "Understood her. They..." She glanced to the mob below her. "They blamed her for the attack, her and... Firefly's Scouts. She's just a teenager, Colonel, we can't let her-"

"I know, Gusty. But she is a legal adult with the most combat and surface experience in the Stable. We don't have the time or resources to mount a rescue party now. She'll be fine Outside."

"She's still my daughter-"

"And she's an adult now." Gusty opened her mouth to argue, but Range shut her up with a glare, and looked down at the mob of ponies. "Go back to your quarters or find something to do."

Firefly spoke through the radio, coming through Range's Pipbuck. "Range, Firefly. Where are you?"

"Just dealing with another minor disaster. Meet me in my office in five." Range turned, threw another glare at the group of ponies dispersing, and looked to me. "I'll be in Security, Mend."

I nodded mutely, glancing down, and a spot of color drew my attention. I walked over to it.

It was a slightly crushed, yellow-orange feather.

Wings.

...

I blinked back tears as I picked it up carefully.

Damn it, Wings...

I fell to my hooves as the Door slammed behind me, Tawny nuzzling me. "Blitzy?"

"Oh shit..."

"You know the way to the Crimson Raiders base, right?" Tawny looked to me in concern, and I noticed the tip of her ear was missing.

"You're hurt!"

"It's not serious..."

"The tip of your ear is missing!"

She scowled at me, ears folding back. "It's not bleeding any more. I'm okay. Blitzy. We gotta move." She prodded me with the tip of her horn.

I nodded. "Move... right." I got to my hooves, looking at my Pipbuck. "We'll head for FOB Haven. It's the nearest friendly place. We'll resupply there, then head to the Crimson Raiders base."

"Assuming they haven't been attacked, too..."

I frowned, thinking about that. "Yeah."

A hour brisk trot brought us to FOB Haven. The ponies at the gate let us in, and I headed for the Stable Scout station, Tawny behind me.

It appeared Haven had been attacked, and a group of ponies were being marched down the street by three local militiaponies with rifles and shotguns.

Chipped Helm frowned as I trotted into the Scouts station. "Holy shit, what happened to you?" Captain Frost Beat, Haven's Head of Security, was there, too.

I spoke quietly. "The Stable has been attacked."

Chipped shared an uneasy look with Frosty.

"Shit..."

"Yeah." I nodded. "We just fought them off. Casualties, but... Stable is secure."

"Okay..." Chipped bit her lip. "Sit down, take some time to relax?"

I nodded, and the blue unicorn glanced to me as Chipped hurried off.

"What happened here?"

"Well, they attacked Haven... late last evening. We think we've got everyone. It seems Tumbler tried to stage a coup to kill the mayor and put himself in power. Bastard."

"Tumbler?"

"The mayor's former secretary."

"Sounds like a fun pony."

She smirked evilly. "He begged before he died..."

I made a face at her statement. "I've seen far too much death tonight to enjoy anyone's death right now. Is the mayor okay?"

"Nightstick and Tin Wall happened to stumble into the mayor's office at the right time." She nodded. "Dumb shit timed it when Haven was full of traders and Steel Rangers. Wasn't that much of a fight. Got a breach in the northern wall. Some Rangers got a bit carried away with their munitions."

"Good..." I looked over to Tawny. "Tawny?"

She looked back and smirked at me. "Yeah, Blitzy?"

I smiled a little. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm... okay? I think I haven't properly realized what I just did, yet..." She paused, swallowing. "Let's go."

"No, not yet. We need to get some rest first." I turned back to Frosty. "Is there somewhere we can get some rest?"

She considered, glancing to my wings. "I know a place. Sorry, it's... kind of a mess."

I shrugged. "I honestly don't give a fuck, so long it has a bed."

Ten minutes later, Tawny and I were curled up together on a bed. Two hours later, by my Pipbuck, we were woken up by the sun rising, light shining through a hole in the wall across from the bed.

The sunrise was... I had to admit... it was pretty. Shades of pink I hadn't seen outside of worn history texts. Something about it left me uneasy, though...

"Blitzy?" Tawny spoke, shifting against me.

"Yes?"

"Is the sunrise always this pretty?" She pointed outside.

"I don't know... Maybe?" I thought back to the number of sunrises I'd seen in the past couple of weeks... I couldn't remember if I had seen any.

She spoke up, distracting me from my thoughts. "I don't know if I ever want to go back to that hole in the ground again..."

I looked to her curiously, then hugged her, wrapping one of my wings around her. She used her magic to clean a small piece of the window, and we watched the sun rise together.

She nibbled along my ear, and I gasped. "We're still alive..."

"I don't like it."

She sat up slightly and looked to me. "Don't like... what?"

"The sunrise." I pointed at the sunrise with my other wing, the one not wrapped around her. "It feels like something... wrong. I don't know."

"Oh..." She leaned back against me, nibbling again. "We're safe, for a few minutes."

She wrapped a hoof around me, trailing its way down my belly, and I realized what she was getting at... "I don't know if I want to, Tawny..."

"Are you... sure?" She spoke softly, nuzzling my cheek. "We don't know when the next time we get some privacy again... We should celebrate..."

I thought about it for a moment, and decided I did, in fact, want to as her lips traveled down along my neck towards my wings...

A half-hour later, the sun had risen, and we climbed out of bed, getting dressed. Chipped saluted me as I entered the station.

I groaned. "Don't salute me, I'm not..." I shook my head. "Right. We have places to be. Captain Firefly ordered me to go inform the Crimson Raiders of what happened. We need supplies."

A half hour later, burdened with saddlebags full of traveling supplies, we left FOB Haven.

0302

Tawny spoke quietly, looking to me in concern. "Are you sure this was a good idea?"

"No, I'm not. But I'm going with it." I looked to Tawny. "You could probably go home..."

"And, what, break up with you? Not a fucking chance." She shook her head angrily. "I love you, and I'm not going to just abandon you!"

I paused mid-step, looking at her. "Do you... really mean that?"

She paused, looking at me. "I... guess? I mean, I don't know if it's... 'true love, happily ever, into the sunset' love, but... yes? I want you by my side, and I don't want think about a world where you're... not in my life."

Not knowing what to say, I hugged her, wrapping my wings around her. After a bit, she poked her head out of my wings. "Um... I think we should keep moving."

"Bad place to hug..." I nodded. "I don't know if the Stable is safe, either... there still might be infiltrators."

0424

I lead the way up the street to the main gate, letting my rifle hang from sling.

A couple earth ponies in heavy barding stood on the wall, and one of the large-caliber guns overlooking the main gate traversed towards us.

"Who the hell are you, and what do you want?" One of the guards barked at me as several other guards rushed along the wall, weapons up.

Something was up. I shared a look with Tawny, before calling up to them.

"Stable 30 has been attacked. Crimson said he'd talk to us."

"Well, Crimson's not here," another of the guards snarled down at us, "so you can go back to your shitty little hole in the ground while we deal with our own problems."

"Private!" A pegasus dropped to the wall, glaring at the pony who'd spoken, and then she looked down to us. "Blitz, right?"

Major Serenity. Firefly's sister. That's it. I saluted with a wing. "Security Officer Blitz, ma'am."

"Good." She turned, looking back. "Open the gate!" The gate opened, and I walked over, carefully. Serenity was on the other side. "You're gonna have to surrender your weapons. We don't want any more... accidents."

I glanced down to my beam rifle, considering refusing, before decharging and unloading it, tossing the spark battery at Serenity's hooves. "We will surrender our ammo." Tawny dropped the mag on her pistol, racked the slide and tossed her ammo next to my spark battery. A couple of ponies hurried over, looking through our bags, and they let us through after stripping us of our ammo. Serenity was joined by General Azure Luminance, Crimson's second in command, and the two of them lead us through the base.

"I'm glad you surrendered." Serenity smirked. "I would have hated to see what a one-twenty-seven mil did to ponies."

"One-twenty-seven...?" I looked over my shoulder at the large caliber weapon.

"Yeah. We salvaged the main artillery off an old Equestrian Navy destroyer, the HMS Pudding, in exchange for getting it working again. She does runs up and down the coast."

"Oh..." I glanced to a bonfire off to the side of the courtyard. "What happened?" The smell of burning flesh filled the courtyard, and I glanced to Tawny.

She looked uncomfortable, but glanced back to me and nodded determinedly.

Serenity's jaw tightened. "We were attacked. They took Father."

"Stable 30 was attacked, too. They took the Overmare."

Azure spoke quietly from my other side, and I jumped. "I find the timing to be far too much to be a coincidence."

He'd been so quiet, I'd forgotten he was there.

"Well, obviously." I looked from Azure to Serenity. "What's our next move?"

"'Our' next move?" Serenity looked to me. "This is an internal matter, not the Stable's business."

Azure shook his head. "I disagree, Major. The Stable has already been brought into this, and will surely be launching their own search for their leader. It would benefit both parties to work together, at least until we retrieve our leaders."

Serenity considered, before nodding. "Yes, sir."

I thought about that. "I'm not really... part of the Stable any longer. So... I can't speak for them."

Serenity frowned. "What are you doing here, then?"

"Crimson offered me the option to join the Crimson Raiders. I'm taking him up on it." Serenity and Azure shared a look, and I continued. "The Stable's leadership has made me the scapegoat for everything that has gone wrong since we left the Stable, and I'm... not welcome there any longer."

"And you?" He looked to Tawny.

"I'm with her." She glared back at him.

After a moment, Azure smiled. "Consider yourselves probationary Crimson Raiders. We'll discuss this again after Crimson is rescued." He turned, leading the way back to the command center. "The first thing we need to do is establish communications with the Stable and find if they're willing to accept our help in the first place. Major, you're in command of this. Report to me when you get an answer."

Serenity saluted. "Yes, sir." Azure turned as someone - the goat from the settlement that we'd seen attacked during last operation - approached him, and the two of them walked off, surrounded by several aides.

"I have an idea, ma'am..." I waved a wing at her. "I know where there's a MASEBS tower, and Tawny knows how to get into the system.

Tawny smirked "I can use it to boost the ranges of Blitz's broadcaster."

I glanced back to Azure, seeing him and their aides going into one of the buildings. "That goat, he was the pony from the town! Uh... Highlandtownville, right?"

Serenity glanced over her shoulder as Tawny gave me a confused look. "General Matchlock. Yes, we're aware."

I looked to Serenity. "And you're going to explain why he's still around...?"

"Politics, Blitz. He's popular. The word of a group of ponies who are on their second chance doesn't have much weight, especially against one of the founders."

"I thought that the Crimson Raiders didn't do red tape, bureaucratic bullshit?"

"We do a lot of things. Yes, that's how we like to operate. But we can't always do that. We're not just a band of raiders who do whatever we want to. As I mentioned, you Stable ponies aren't exactly liked, and its really only your word against his."

"Is... someone going to explain what you're talking about?" Tawny looked around, confused.

"The goat who went with General Azure lead a raid on a settlement last Thursday. We watched, but we couldn't help them."

Serenity frowned idly. "He's been a thorn in Father's side for longer than I've been alive. I'd certainly enjoy putting a bullet in his head."

"So... what's the plan, Major?"

"He's probably going to insist we abandon Father. He may well have helped the attackers take him." She shrugged. "Piece of shit."

"The plan to get in communication with the Stable, I mean."

"Ah." Serenity nodded. "Right. Where's this MASEBS tower?"

0600
Monday

My Pipbuck crackled, and I heard a voice I hadn't expected to hear again. "Captain?"

"Blitz? Is that you?"

"Who else, ma'am?" I could hear her smirk through the radio.

"What happened? Where are you? How did you..."

"This is not a discussion I'm having now." She sighed, and the radio broke up momentarily. "- hacked MASEBS tower 69. The Crimson Raiders have been attacked, and the attackers took your father. General Azure suggested that this isn't a coincidence, and that we should work together."

"That's a good idea - tell them we're in. Soon as we're able to get the Stable secured, we'll head over to their base."

"See you then. Blitz, out."

The radio crackled again, then went silent.

Hmm...

I glanced to my Pipbuck, and then to my escort, running a hoof across my muzzle. "Well. Time to get back to work."

Striker nodded. "The Council wants a meeting in five minutes, ma'am."

"Well, they can wait. Tell them I'm busy, they can make it thirty."

0634

I sat the Ironpony against the table, muzzle up, and set my helmet down beside it as I sat down, facing the Council.

Seven seats, six ponies, and the seat in the center... empty.

'Our lives are in your capable hooves, Captain.'

I sighed softly.

"Captain..." Filament began, serious yet... confused? "Before we begin..."

"Yes?" I looked to her, curious at her tone.

"Is that a pastry on your horn?"

...

I looked up, seeing an apple fritter impaled on my horn.

How did that get there?

I levitated it off, taking a bite of it. Some apple dripped out of it, landing on the table.

"Yes, Councilor... yes, it is."

"Now that we have that straightened out..." Hex frowned at me seriously. "What happened?"

I took another bite. "Definitely an apple fritter." It tasted kind of like cordite, and I suspected it was full of other things I really didn't want to know about. "It's stale."

Hex frowned sternly. "Well, now that we have your expert opinion on what makes an excellent apple fritter... What happened, Captain?"

I looked over to her. "We got caught with our pants down. That's what happened."

"That doesn't tell us much. How did they get inside the Stable?"

"I... I don't know - it's too soon to tell. One possible way is they slipped someone inside the Stable during Market day."

"You said the Stable was safe, Captain."

I sighed. "I did."

"You were wrong?"

"I was wrong. I don't know what happened. I don't know who these ponies are, I don't know why they attacked us. I don't know where they took the Overmare, nor do I know why they did."

"How are you so... calm... about this?"

"I'm not sure, damn it!"

"What the hell do you know, then?"

I grinned, forehooves on the table. "I know that we're going to find these ponies and make them regret everything."

"What?"

"Let's go back to how they got in." I nodded, changing tracks and sitting back down, forcing myself to calm down. "Unless there are any secret entrances we don't know about - not likely - they most likely slipped someone in through the Door during Market day. That's how I would plan an attack, at least." I shook my head. "We're getting off topic - mistakes were made. We'll learn from them, and it'll never happen again. We need to find the Overmare. I'll start planning-"

Filament interrupted me, and I stopped talking to let her speak. "I'm sure that will comfort the families of the ponies who died." She frowned, beginning again, softly. "I agree with Councilor Hex. We should close the Door, so this doesn't happen again."

"We can't seal the Door now. You know how well the Stable is doing - how long do we have before important things start breaking down? We need to start moving out now, when we still have the ability to retreat to the Stable, before we're forced Outside by something breaking. We need to establish a settlement on the surface, somewhere we can live. We need allies, and we need hooves on the ground out there to do that."

Filament nodded slowly. "I see your point, Captain..."

"This was bad, I... I know. But we need to think long term - a... a few may have died today, but if we seal the Door and retreat underground, only to be forced out when the water talisman breaks five years from now, we could all die." I glanced around, from Filament, to Hex. "All of us. Wiped out. You. I. Everyone else."

"Surely not everyone would be killed, Captain..." Councilor Inertia frowned, glancing around in mild worry.

"No, of course not. Some of us would probably be enslaved, sold to the slaver empire in Fillydelphia. Surely some, small groups would survive, settling down in other settlements. Doesn't that sound much better than 'completely wiped out'?" I gave Inertia a sweet smile.

"No..."

"Other than attempting to scare us, what is the point of your argument, Captain?" Hex frowned seriously.

"I have to request two things. One, for the Door to remain open, for reasons explained earlier. And two, authorization for an operation to rescue the Overmare."

The Council shared a look and retreated into a corner, speaking quietly.

I glanced to Range, and she shrugged.

The Council returned to their seats, and Hex spoke. "We will authorize the Door to remain open for the short term. Your points are valid. However, you are not authorized to launch a mission to rescue the Overmare. We need to recover. Do you remember what happened after your father left the Stable two decades ago? What would happen to the Stable, if that were to happen again?"

Filament spoke up in a kindly voice. "Just look to your mother, Firefly..." Hex shifted uneasily at that. "We can't afford to risk it."

Idly I wondered what Hex's reaction meant, before setting it aside for later.

"I disagree. We can't afford to not! This is a test, and the Stable can't afford to simply... to bend over and take it! If we are perceived as weak, others won't be so hesitant to attack us, and the next attack might be worse. A diversionary attack from a street gang is one thing... a planned assault by the Steel Rangers is another entirely."

"Or, you could all be killed, leaving the Stable without any capable Security ponies to defend us, like what happened with your father."

"This isn't the same as last time - we aren't alone, and we have a clear, tangible objective." I paused, glancing around. "Beyond that... my father did not intend to return. I do."

"I hope you understand where I'm coming from, when I say I don't think we're confident in your judgment anymore." Hex spoke quietly.

"The Overmare could be anywhere, Captain. She could already be dead, for all we know." Filament shook her head. "We're not questioning your loyalty or dedication to the Stable, but... this could be some fool's errand. It's a massive world out there."

"No. They took the Overmare, instead of just killing her - they wanted her alive for a reason. They're likely somewhere in Baltimare, and having drawn the full ire of the Crimson Raiders, they won't stay hidden forever."

Sheets spoke quietly, glancing to Filament. "I'm sure Overmare Keeper would be pleased to hear that your first thought was to abandon her."

"My duties are to the Stable, Spark." Filament sighed sadly. "No one pony, not even my dear friend Book Keeper, is worth risking the lives of the entire Stable. I'm sure she understands that."

"I understand..." Sheets sighed sadly.

"I agree with you, Filament." Range nodded in agreement, before beginning slowly after a moment. "I suggest... we put it to a vote - this affects the entire Stable. A week from now, if we can't bring the Overmare back by then, we'll put it up to a vote by the Stable's entire population."

The Council shared a look, before retreating into another huddle.

"Could have fuckin' warned me about that, boss." I glanced to Range, speaking quietly. "A vote? We're risking the entire operation to the opinion of a bunch of scared civvies?"

She smirked at me, shrugging. "Only if you can't bring back the Overmare in a week. This is our best shot." I glanced to the Council as Sheets' voice spiked in volume hotly.

"What if she's already dead?"

"Better bring back a good story, then." I frowned at her. "Come on, Fi. The attack was a disgrace, and we need to do something big." She smirked at me. "Your father would tell us something like, "who dares, wins", right? Let's be bold."

I considered, but before I could answer her, the Council broke up and resumed their seats. Councilor Hex began. "Your proposal is acceptable, but with one addition - the vote goes to the population, regardless of whether or not you rescue Overmare Keeper."

Range glanced to me, and nodded. "Very well. We accept your terms."

Filament spoke up. "In the meantime... who shall be the provisional Overmare?"

Range glanced to the Council. "Well, the line of succession leaves me in charge should the Overmare disappear under any unnatural circumstances."

Filament looked back to Range. "Temporarily, until order is restored and a new Overmare is chosen."

"That is correct."

"Colonel Range, I was thinking." Hex rose from her seat smoothly. "You may have noticed this, I'm sure, but every time the Stable is attacked, you end up with far more power at your hooves."

Range sighed tiredly. "That is one way to put it..."

Hex donned a predatory smile as she trotted around the table. "I don't think this is by accident, Colonel."

Range frowned at Hex, wary confusion coloring the edges of her expression. "Pardon?"

"As a young mare, you belonged to a group of highly influential, "up and coming" ponies. Twenty years ago - the Stable is attacked. You go from junior armory officer to Head of Security. Fast forward to today - Head of Security, number two in the chain of command having groomed your best friend's daughter into your personal successor, and the Stable is once again attacked, leaving you in the Overmare's seat." She paused for dramatic effect, glancing around to everyone, before continuing. "Somepony could connect those events into a way that suggests that you were securing power." She pointed a hoof directly at Range. "And finally, to truly cement your power and put someone... favorable towards you in the Overmare's seat... you killed Overmare Lily!"

I glanced to Range, and her eyes got wide at that last pronouncement.

...

Inertia immediately looked to his Pipbuck, browsing through it with an intensely deep expression.

Sheets stared at Hex, awestruck. "What the hell, Emerald?"

Range's look of shock was quickly replaced with one of quiet fury, as she narrowed her eyes at Hex, beginning quietly. "I don't know what noir detective fantasy you think this is, Councilor, but this is the real world. My first task after assuming my position was to dishonorably discharge my best friend since foalhood, who was going through a difficult time."

She rose to her hooves in the wake of the silence that statement produced.

"I raised Firefly as a due of respect to her mother, nothing more. If I thought she was unable to properly perform her duties, she wouldn't be in charge of these duties." She glanced to me, and I winced. "I do not 'enjoy' being the Head of Security, but it is a necessary burden I am uniquely capable of doing." Range looked to the seat at the head of the table, where the Overmare should have sat. "If I wanted to occupy the Overmare's seat, I wouldn't be suggesting we rescue her, now would I?" She paused, glancing to the rest of the Council. "As for your last statement... Overmare Keeper had already been elected by the time Lily died, so murdering her to 'secure the Overmare's seat' doesn't even make any sense."

"I think we've heard enough, Colonel." Filament glared at Hex in shocked fury. "What proof have you of this, Emerald?"

Hex frowned. "Colonel Range was last seen leaving the Atrium around the time the report said Sunset died, and in the months prior to that, Security and Sunset had had several major disagreements, especially in light of Crimson being deemed dead and opening the Door. The case was quickly deemed an accident and closed, almost unreasonably quickly."

"So you have no proof beyond circumstantial evidence." The only sound beyond the deafening silence was Range drinking from her flask.

Hex swallowed, and nodded. "That is correct."

Filament scowled at Hex angrily. "You have gone too far, Emerald!" She turned to Range. "I apologize on behalf of my colleague." She turned back to Hex with a frosty glare, and then closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "We will hold a vote to seal the Door for good once the Overmare is rescued or you return with news of her... demise. Until then, the Stable is in your hooves, Colonel."

...

Thank Celestia.

"Thank you, Councilor." The Council exited, sharing glances. Range followed them a minute later.

"You know, Range..." Range paused on the way out, cocking an ear. "Rose's final words to me were, 'our lives are in your capable hooves'. I guess I kind of let her down..."

After a moment of silence, she sighed deeply, glancing back to me. "Lots of ponies died, Firefly. You can't save everyone. Nothing good ever comes from moping about or regret. Quit feeling sorry for yourself and get back to work salvaging what we can from this clusterfuck." She left, and the door sealed behind her.

I sighed.

She's right, of course.

It was 1010 when I realized what today was.

"Oh, shit."

Monday meant Market day, and Market day started ten minutes ago. It took me over twenty minutes to round up a squad, and we exited the Stable at 1045 - forty five minutes late.

There were a few ponies waiting outside the Door, and we lowered our weapons as they made no move to resist. "The Stable is sealed today. I apologize to anypony who this inconveniences, but I'm sure the traders on the surface might have something for you...?"

The ponies grumbled, but a wave of our weapons - including my large and scary-looking Ironpony - quelled any complaints, and the lot headed back towards the surface.

We trailed them, splitting into two four-pony teams as we reached the surface building.

The market was continuing as if nothing had happened. A group of alicorn drones were eying a squad of Steel Rangers. Enamel's caravan was set up in its usual corner. A few ponies looked up as we approached, then went back to their trading and bartering.

Almost as if... nothing of note had happened...

They don't care that our world was... turned upside down last night. That a significant portion of us died.

...

Because they don't know.

How could they?

...

I sighed softly. "We need to change that..."

"Ma'am?" I looked to Striker as he spoke up, giving me a look of confusion.

"The wasteland, Striker." I waved a hoof at the Stable marketplace, full of busy traders and ponies. "The wasteland doesn't know who we are, what has happened. How could they? We need to become part of the wasteland, so that they will help us, when we need it. And we can help them when they need it. That's why we're here." He nodded, still confused, and I turned my attention towards Enamel's caravan.

A couple of ponies were busy repairing one of the sides, which had several new bullet holes. Looking a bit closer, everyone seemed... tense. More than a few were sporting bruises or bandages.

Hm...

I glanced to the Steel Ranger who had approached me, removing their helmet. It was the Senior Paladin I'd encountered at their base. "May I help you, Senior Paladin...?"

He raised an eyebrow at my use of his title. "You seem rather... harried, Scout." He was an earth pony with a small head... or maybe it just seemed that way in his armor. He gave me a look as severe and serious as I expected to come from 'stick up their ass: the army.'

"I have no clue what you're talking about..."

He glanced up to my mane, half of it missing. "Has your Stable been attacked?"

I made a note to get my mane trimmed as I shifted, facing him. "I'm afraid I can neither confirm nor deny that, sir..."

"I ask because other settlements across the region have been attacked, including your pet along the trail, Haven..."

...

I glanced around. "Ah..."

He continued smoothly. "If the Stable were to have been attacked, the Steel Rangers would be willing to offer their assistance..."

I nodded, considering that... "What kind of assistance might that be?"

"Some patrols in the Stable's area, perhaps... heavy firepower, if your ponies encounter something especially dangerous. Your Scouts would be highly feared with the Steel Rangers' backing."

"Why would you do that?"

"In the two weeks since you've left, you've stirred up quite a lot of shit. Given the... success... other Stable 'heroes'," his tone very clearly stated just what he thought about those ponies, "have experienced against various groups on the surface, I've decided that it would be best to maintain a friendly relationship with your Stable."

"So... A mutually beneficial alliance, as I suggested to your Elder?"

"I wouldn't go that far, Scout." He narrowed his eyes slightly. "I've merely noticed that your Stable has had quite an economic effect on the region..." He turned, glancing to the marketplace. "It would help nopony if your Stable were to be destroyed, or to retreat to underground."

Hmm...

Stalling for time to think, I glanced to my Pipbuck.

"This would make the Scouts less welcome in areas where the Steel Rangers aren't the dominant faction, though..."

"That's not incorrect." Somehow he managed to shrug in his power armor. I didn't realize they had that level of articulation.

"Has your leadership..." I hesitated to describe the Elder I had met as 'leadership', "changed his stance on the Stable?"

"That is not your concern, Scout." His scowl returned, a hint of irritation crossing his expression.

I'll take that as a no, then.

"Very well." I nodded. "I accept, on a short-term basis, to see how this will go."

1204

"Range, let's talk..." I closed the door behind me as I settled down facing her, hooves resting on the back of the seat.

"I hate that tone." Range frowned at me. "What is it?"

"Did you kill Overmare Lily?"

She scowled. "Oh, it's going to be another one of those days." She dug through her desk, frowning. "Oh Celestia damn it. Where did it... Never mind." She levitated out a pair of bottles of cider, popping them open and pointing one of them at me. "Nothing said from this point on leaves this room. Got it?"

I nodded. "What's going on, Range?"

"Firefly... I love you, and you're the closest thing to a daughter I'll ever have, but if this surfaces, I'll throw you under the train without a second thought." I nodded again as she set the cider in front of me.

She sighed, leaning back, sipping her cider. "This needs context to fully understand." She leaned forward expectantly, and I looked to her, confused. "Have you ever done a horn lock?"

Ah.

"I have not." I leaned forward, resting my horn against hers, and the world swirled away...

I found myself in a set of Stable quarters, curled up on a couch. Across from me was a red pegasus, about my age. He looked familiar. Almost like...

...

Crimson. I really have to stop meeting him like this.

Even if this is just a memory...

"You said you wanted to talk, Crimson...?" Range leaned forward, extending one blued grey hoof to rest against his shoulder.

He closed his eyes, looking down. I recognized that expression - he was thinking about what he was going to say. "Yes, I did." He sighed, a long pained sigh, before looking Range in the eyes.

Even as just a memory, he was intense.

"I killed Aimpoint. It was not an accident. I murdered her. Before she could kill me."

My view rotated as Range cocked her head. "But... why?"

He threw his forehooves in the air and then rose to his hooves. "I don't fucking know!" He paced in front of the couch. "The Overmare requested us for a live-fire special mission. Who were we to argue? She cleared it with Sixshooter. It's the Overmare, for fuck's sake!" Crimson was... babbling. "So we did what she told us to. Some sort of special training mission. She split us up and told us we were looking for an insurgent. Something. Mind is fuzzy." He paused, narrowing his eyes. "Sure, why not? So we went along with it. I saw Aimpoint. For one moment, I saw the worst enemy I've ever seen. We fired. Aimpoint missed. I did not..."

Range cocked her head the other way, narrowing her eyes at Crimson. "But Aimpoint never misses..."

"No... Aimpoint never misses..." Crimson stopped, mid step, and sat down hard. "She knew. She fucking knew. She had to have known."

"Crimson? You're not making any sense..." Range slid off the couch, carefully trotting over to him as he curled up on his side.

"She was going to kill me, just like I was going to kill her... and at the last moment, she intentionally missed." Range trotted over him, looking down at him as she put her hoof on his shoulder. "She had to have."

Range's voice softened in sympathy. "If you felt she was going to shoot you, you had to stop her. It's just self defense... there was nothing you could have done."

"Like hell! I could have done something." He shot to his hooves and Range stepped back out of his way. "I could have, I don't know... talked her down. Something! I could have just not fucking shot her! Come on, Range, you're not stupid, right?"

"No. I'm not." She paused for a moment, simply fuming at him. "Why did you shoot her? What happened?"

"I don't fuckin' know!" Crimson resumed his pacing as Range settled back down on the couch to watch him and buffed her perfectly manicured hoof against her Stable suit. "I saw her and suddenly my vision went red and I just wanted to fucking murder her. So I shot her." He groaned, letting his head droop.

"I'm no egghead, Crimson, but is it, perhaps, possible that someone used a telepathic attack of some kind?"

"Who could have done it? And why?"

"Who else was there?"

"Well, the Overmare was there."

"She is a unicorn, after all..."

"What?" Crimson momentarily paused his pacing, tossing Range a look of pure contempt. "No, that's stupid. Don't be stupid, Range."

"Who else was there?"

"I don't know about anyone else..."

"Bingo. There's suspect number one." Range nodded. "Who do you know about that would want to kill you or Aimpoint?"

"Range, I don't know anyone who would want to kill either of us... this is crazy. Why would the Overmare want to kill either of us?"

"Ponies who disagree with the Overmare tend to end up dead real quick..." Crimson shook his head, and Range continued hotly. "What about Daisy? The Overmare's opponent in a very close election just 'happens' to run afoul of a malfunctioning door a month after the election? Doesn't that seem a bit... I don't know... sketchy?"

"Range, this is insane..." He resumed pacing back and forth with a wary look.

"Damn it, Crimson, just bear with me here, alright?" Range pointed a hoof at him. "Halfheart. Public disagreement with the Overmare. Crushed in a door the following week. Wires, Bobby Pin, Pop Tab. Same thing - disagreements or arguments, 'fatal accident' a month later."

Crimson paused, frowning at her. "So why would the Overmare want to kill me?"

"What if she wasn't trying to kill you, but... Aimpoint? She said something about the Overmare a few days ago. And she's been spearheading this whole "leave the Stable" business that the Overmare dislikes. Two birds, one stone, right?"

"You know..." He trailed off with a confused look. "When the impossible have been eliminated, whatever remains, however implausible, must be the truth." He took on a thinking expression and continued. "I didn't want to kill her, but I did. Fuzzy memory. Sudden rage. Something fucked with my head." A determined look crossed his face. "Shit. That's not fucking crazy." He dropped to the floor with a look of terror. "That is dangerously not fucking crazy at all."

"Don't get poetic on me, Red." Range glanced up at him with a look of mild annoyance.

"Ah, Range, my uncultured friend." Crimson's pained expression shifted into his smug smirk for a moment. "Do read a book some time."

"Uh huh." Range scowled at him.

"Ah. Uh... I'm sorry..." Crimson rose to his hooves as his smirk quickly faded. "You're a unicorn, you have an excuse to be snooping around the Arcane Science section of the Library. Do some research into telepathic attacks. I know subtle isn't exactly your thing, but try to keep it discreet. Please? I'd rather not have to put a round in your pretty face, too..."

Range let out another grunt, and with that unpleasant sound, the world swirled away again...

"Do you know what you just saw?" Range groaned as she leaned back, rubbing her horn. "Ugh, I'd forgotten what a pain in the flank horn locks were. And what a smug bastard your father was. That was the first and last time he'd apologized to me, though..."

I ran back through the memory of what I'd seen as I moved back to my seat. "You and my father... talking about... Overmare Lily. She... made Crimson kill his partner." I paused, running what I'd just said through my mind again. "Why?"

"Your father... he was close to Aimpoint. Kind of like you and Dash, really." She sighed, rubbing her temples. "No... more. He loved Aimpoint." She leaned back again. "That night changed him. He became... focused. He had a mission."

"Fucking hell..." I glanced to the bottle of cider, before taking a long drink of it.

Range nodded and sipped her drink, levitating out another pair of bottles of cider. "Why did Lily kill Aimpoint?" She sighed. "Aimpoint poked her muzzle in places Lily didn't like." Range sighed, leaning back. "That's what I've pieced together, at least. Fortunately, Lily failed to make sure Aimpoint's Pipbuck databanks were wiped. Aimpoint had been watching her for months and had recorded all of everything in detail on her Pipbuck. Nothing hard enough to arrest her, but enough to make anypony think, 'just maybe, something was up'..."

"Holy shit."

"Plus, Aimpoint was busy... what was that I said, 'spearheading that whole "leave the Stable" business that the Overmare disliked." Range nodded, smiling sweetly. "That's where Crimson got it from. It wasn't his idea. After Aimpoint died, he took her cause and ran with it."

"Why didn't you arrest her?"

Range leaned back with a look of mild curiosity. "What would doing that achieve, Fi?"

"Justice?"

A look of contempt similar to my father's expression crossed her face. "Justice? Nothing the Stable justice system could or would have been able to do would have been justice. I did say that there wasn't anything hard enough to prove anything." Her cruel smirk returned and she leaned over her desk again. "Allow me to show you."

I leaned forward to cross our horns apprehensively, and the world swirled away again...

Range moved through the Stable with silent, almost grim, determination. She passed two security ponies and nodded to them. They nodded back to her, and she trotted through the door into the Overmare's office.

This was and yet was not Book Keeper's office. All of the furniture was in the same place, but it felt clean, almost to the point of sterile, a sharp contrast to Book Keeper's office that felt organized, welcoming and lived in. "Ah, Overmare Lily. I was hoping to catch you before you left."

A pale orange unicorn sat at the Overmare's desk, and she flashed Range a brilliant smile that immediately set me on edge. "Ah, Colonel, I'm no longer the Overmare. Please, call me Sunset." Her elegantly styled mane was a light red, with tasteful pink streaks through it.

"Of course, Sunset." I felt Range's face twist into an equally false attempt at a smile. "Come, let's discuss your future. I have been thinking of retiring, and Security is in need of a mare with just your skills..."

"Really now?" She almost purred. "Give me but a moment." She neatly set the papers she'd been working on aside, turned to lock down her terminal before rising to her hooves and following Range out.

The two guards fell in with Range and Lily as Range lead the way through the Stable to the Atrium. As we reached the stairs to the second level of the Atrium, the guards took positions at the bottom of the stairs.

Range lead Lily over to the edge of the balcony, across from Security, overlooking the first level wrapping her hoof around her neck intimately.

The first level was unusually sparse...

"I just wanted you to know, 'Sunset', that I have the fullest backing of Security for this." Quiet rage filled Range's voice and I felt her face twist into a cruel smile.

"What?" Lily looked to Range, confusion crossing her face before turning to outrage. "I am the Overmare. How dare you!"

"Were!" Range's mouth twisted into a snarl, and she leaned in, muzzle-to-muzzle with Lily. "You were the Overmare. Now you're just a worn-out has-been with a lot of powerful friends. You are an insult to the office of Overmare, and you don't deserve that title."

"I knew you were conspiring-" Lily fell silent, though her mouth continued to move.

Ah... Silencing spell.

"Shut up." Lily continued silently talking, looking around uncomfortably as Range leaned back. "You are guilty of abuse of office, misappropriation, murder by proxy, election tampering, assault, intimidation, conspiracy and racketeering. During your term, you ordered the deaths of over two dozen of your citizens, the ponies I was tasked with protecting. I know that you would allow the Stable to tear itself apart if I were to publicly charge you for your crimes, if it just meant you were on top of it as it came crashing down. I am doing my job of protecting the Stable from you."

Range paused, and Lily continued mouthing frantically. "My only regret is that I can only do this once..." She leaned in. "... you fucking cunt."

Range pushed her over the railing.

Range leaned over, watching her fall, limbs flailing. After a moment, she was engulfed in Range's pale blue magic.

Had Range changed her mind?

Lily rotated face down and fell faster, and landed with a sickening crunch, her neck twisted at an unnatural angle.

Oh.

Range sighed, watching her for a moment as she laid there, smirking. She then turned and trotted off, nodding to the two Security guards, who were waiting at the bottom of the stairs we'd just gone up. "Five minutes."

They nodded back grimly and Range prowled away from the scene of the murder as the world swirled away again...

Range sighed, sipping her drink. "She didn't personally kill anypony, but she arranged for the deaths of almost two dozen ponies who she professionally disagreed with or personally disliked." She paused, eyes closed, a look of pain crossing her face. "Including Aimpoint, who was a dear friend to all of us." She looked back up to me and opened her eyes again. "I didn't have enough solid evidence - she covered her tracks too well. I couldn't arrest her. I couldn't have her exiled. If she had been allowed, she would have let the Stable tear itself apart, for her. I couldn't let her do that."

"So I killed her." She looked back up at me seriously. "Now do you understand why, Firefly?"

"I... um... fuck me sideways." I blinked. "I guess, but... Holy shit, you killed the Overmare?" She nodded primly, opening herself another bottle.

"So..." I considered. "All of Security was in on it? That... must have been a opsec nightmare."

"Good mare." An approving, sly grin crossed Range's muzzle. "No. I knew. The two guards you saw knew. Three others around the Atrium knew. That's it. I told her that to piss her off." She stretched, shaking her bottle a little.

"You seem a bit pleased about it?"

Range considered and shrugged. "Yeah, I guess I am. I did something that made the Stable a better place, but if this got out..." She sighed sadly. "None of the civvies would understand."

"None of the civies would understand..." I nodded soberly. "This is conspiracy, sedition..." I shrugged. "So, what about Book Keeper?"

Range frowned. "Don't forget insurrection and attempting to incite rebellion. Premeditated murder..." She smiled. "I like Book Keeper. Really, I do - she's a fair and intelligent mare, who is everything Lily liked to pretend she was. I haven't seen any evidence of her becoming a threat like Lily did, but I've been keeping my eye on her, all the same..."

"You swore an oath to the Overmare, Range..."

"No, I swore an oath to the Stable. There's a difference."

I closed my eyes, considering that, and nodded, continuing. "Why aren't you backing the Council's attempts to close the door, then?"

"You explained it yourself to the Council. Closing the Door isn't the best solution for the Stable's long-term survival. If I didn't think that was true, we wouldn't be here."

I smirked. "And you like some of the finer things the surface offers?"

"Everypony has their vices after all." She returned the smirk. "Anything else?"

"I think I've heard quite enough about the Stable's skeletons in the closet for at least a week." I rose, yawning, and stretched. "I need to go sleep for at least two shifts."

"Try not to sleep too long, we've got things to do. Speaking of!" She waved a hoof, and I groaned, coming back. "What's our next move? You got a plan?"

"Always." I smirked. "Short version, put a team together, link up with the Crimson Raiders, find Overmare Keeper and get her back. Crimson, too, if he's there."

"That's a rather sparse plan."

"You didn't ask if I had an amazing, groundbreaking, 'plan-that-redefines-plans-for-all-eternity' plan." Range nodded in mild agreement, and I continued. "We don't know where the Overmare is, so we can't go in guns blazing yet."

"This assumes the Overmare is still alive." Range grumbled, downing more of her cider.

"Stop it, Range!" Range jumped and inhaled half of her drink, scowling at me as I slammed my hooves on her desk.

It felt almost satisfying to see her do that, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have.

"We're all operating on the assumption that this isn't some fool's errand, that Overmare Keeper is still alive, and Stable Scout isn't completely fucked. Let's be positive here, boss."

"Yeah..." Range wiped cider off her muzzle as she nodded soberly. "We should probably talk contingencies. Just... just in case."

"You're right... who's the favorite for Overmare?"

"Hex, I think."

"Celestia..."

"Yeah. Other than her?"

Range shrugged. "Copper Filament, maybe?"

"It's almost depressing to think that Hex is the most appealing option." I glanced to Range slyly. "You know... you could run for Overmare."

She groaned, holding a hoof up. "No."

"You'd be better than Hex or Filament."

"Better for who?" She shrugged. "Yeah, alright. It's not off the table."

I sighed, settling back down in my seat. "This could be the end of Stable Scout... dead before it even really started..."

"I just realized..." She tossed me a sly smirk. "The 'demote and transfer' clause wasn't part of the latest agreement over the vote. If this fails, you might not forced to retire. We can sort through the intelligence we have and try this again in the future. This can still work, Firefly."

"If they seal the Door, it wouldn't really matter if she demotes me or not, we'll still be stuck down here with our hooves up our asses. I'd rather be demoted and leave someone else in charge of Operation Baltimare, than remain CFO of 'doing fuck all'."

Range leaned back, waving a hoof in the air. "There is that."

"Right..." I rose to my hooves. "We'll talk in the evening. I need a good shift's sleep."

"Let's make it 2100." Range waved a hoof in my direction as she downed her cider.

1400

Councilor Hex was standing in the Atrium, by the wall of dead. I smiled to her politely as I passed her.

"Behold, Captain." She waved a hoof at the wall. Flowers, mementos and a notebook for writing notes to the dead sat against the wall, below the list of names.

"I'm sorry?" I stopped, turning to look at her. "I lost friends in this attack, just like everypony else." I could feel the muscles in my shoulders tense as my good mood from getting my mane trimmed fled in her presence. "This hurt me just as much as it hurt everypony else."

"Good. This is your fault." She waved a hoof at the list. "They're dead because of you. You and your Celestia-damned father, and your insane fixation on the Outside."

"Crimson made the decision to abandon the Stable for the Outside." I consciously relaxed my shoulders, closing my eyes. "I am nothing like him."

"Really? Look around!" She waved a hoof around at the damage and gore decorating the walls. "This is not a safe Stable. This is a Stable tainted by the Outside. And you've brought it to our home, looking for your father."

"I have explained my reasons why we must do this, again and again..."

"You're taking our family, our children, our siblings out of the Stable, and killing them! Just like your father did."

...

"Councilor... Did you lose someone to Crimson's excursion?"

Councilor Hex stared at me, taken aback for a moment, before nodding curtly, a pained scowl crossing her face. "Stainless Hex. My brother." Her pained expression shifted to one of contempt. "Not that you'd care. Or understand."

I frowned. "Crimson took my mother from me."

"Your mother?" Councilor Hex snorted. "You've been living her with your whole life. Or had that little detail escaped you?"

"I never knew Sapphire. The mare I grew up with was a neglectful alcoholic - nothing like the mare everyone tells me she was before Crimson left." She frowned, shock crossing her face for a moment. "Did you know her?"

"We were friendly." Her expression shifted from wariness to sadness. “I’m… sorry about what happened to her.”

I could tell she was hiding something from me...

I took a step towards her, drawing one of my pistols with my magic and flicking the safety off.

Muzzle to forehead until she tells me what she's hiding.

...

I froze, pistol drawn, suspended above its holster.

"Captain?" Hex looked at me in concern.

I wanted to fight her, to beat her until she told me what she was hiding.

It could be a threat to the Stable's security.

...

Councilor Hex is not a threat to the Stable's security.

Councilor Hex's brows furrowed in confusion and concern. "Are you okay?"

I shook my head sharply to clear my mind.

I very deliberately safed my pistol and returned it to its holster, slipping the strap over the grip.

"I know you're leaving something out, but to be quite fucking honest, I'm too tired to care right now. If you'll excuse me, I was long overdue for some sleep before the attack began. Good afternoon, Councilor." I turned and trotted off, deeper into the Stable.

1420

I strolled into my quarters, glancing around. It looked like it'd been ransacked.

The disassembled shelf caught my eye.

Ah.

Right. I'd done it.

I set the seat upright and settled down in it, sipping my cider with a groan.

I ran my tongue along my teeth, and realized that the burn on the tip of my tongue still hadn't healed.

Huh... that's unusual.

I unplugged my ear blooms, and the radio came out of my Pipbuck's speaker.

"Well, they say no news is good news, right?" Lunar Note paused for a moment, chuckling, before beginning again in a sober tone. "Unfortunately, I have news, and... none of it's good. Several settlements, including the Crimson Raiders' base, have been attacked. Reports coming in have identified the attackers as various members of street gangs. There's something going on... something big. Things are going on all across Equestria, and this apparently includes Baltimare, too. As always, ponies, but even more so today! - keep on your hooves and watch your fire! Coming up next, 'Your Biggest Mistake'..." Lunar trailed off speculatively as soft, sad music began. "Here's a thought. The wasteland could use some more openness and honesty, right? Tell your closest friend your biggest regret. Just... use your discretion." Lunar paused again, taking a deep breath. "If you killed your partner's ex in a fit of jealous rage, don't... don't tell her that... Right? Right. I'm off. Enjoy!"

As Lunar spoke, I levitated out my necklace and the ministry token I'd picked up from the attacker.

The Wonderbolts. The Steel Rangers and the Ministry of Wartime Technology. Ministry of Arcane Sciences. Ministry of Awesome. Finally... the Ministry of Image.

I need... the Ministry of Morale and the Ministry of Peace.

One more in my collection... but I'd rather have the lives of my ponies than this token.

I brushed them off, wiping the blood and sweat off on a clean corner of my Stable barding.

The door to my quarters hissed open, and I looked over to see Dashie there.

"Firefly!" His worried frown turned into a look of relieved happiness, and he rushed to me. "You're okay!"

"I'm... alive." I leaned over to hug him, stringing the tokens back on the necklace and clipping it around my neck. "Councilor Hex accused Range of killing the former Overmare."

"What?" Dashie frowned, confused. "Where the hell did that come from?"

Probably because she actually did.

I shrugged, arranging my face in a carefully confused expression. "I don't know, it's Hex."

"Do you think she did it?"

...

"Why the fuck would you think that?"

Dashie shrugged. "We live in some weird times..."

I nodded. "It's a good thing she did, though... she'd almost convinced the Council to seal the Door."

He shook his head, repeating himself. "We live in some weird fucking times..." He glanced to me. "Celestia! What happened to your mane?"

I glanced over my shoulder, shaking my head, and sighed. "One of the attackers got it. I just had it trimmed."

"It kind of reminds me of Range's."

"Ugh, don't remind me." I groaned, covering my head with my hooves.

"It suits a mare of your... status."

"Oh, Celestia, don't remind me! I know, I'm old."

"You're not old, you're well aged." Dashie snickered. "Like a bottle of fine cider."

I groaned. "Thanks..."

He leaned over to press his hoof on my shoulder. "C'mon Firefly, smile."

"Celestia damn it, Dash, stop trying to cheer me up! Let me be mopey for once!"

He nodded, leaning over to wrap his hooves around me. "Does it... make you happy?"

"No, but it makes me feel better. Eventually. So it's productive."

Dashie nodded, rising to his hooves, head tilted as he looked around. "So... what happened here?"

I glanced around.

Oh, yeah.

I'd trashed my quarters the last time I'd been here. "Maybe the attackers were looking for something?"

Dashie looked skeptical at my answer.

I couldn't blame him.

I shrugged and glanced to the item he'd brought with him - a half-full bottle of Captain Lyra's Spiced Rum.

...

The exact same brand of rum Range preferred.

I looked to him suspiciously. "Where did you get this?"

He returned one of his sly smirks. "Ask me no questions, my dear mare, and I'll tell you no lies."

"You didn't steal it, did you...?" The label was peeling in the same places...

He smirked, swiping the bottle from me, uncapping it and taking a swig. "I didn't say that - you did."

"You stole this from Range's desk?"

"Security regulation number 74-Bravo - it can't be used against you if you don't say it."

"You just made that up!"

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes!"

He snickered and tossed me onto the couch. "Let's be honest - both of us are hiding something here."

I frowned. "I don't know what you're talking about."

He tossed me one of his annoyingly smug smirks. "I find it very unlikely the attackers managed to ransack your quarters, before the Council meeting... while you were in them."

It was one of those smirks he only gives when he's right, and he knows he's right, and he knows I know he's right.

"The wasteland could use some more openness and honesty." He looked confused, opening his mouth, but I cut him off. "Lunar Note said to tell your best friend something you regret." I sighed, closing my eyes, and looked to him, gesturing towards the shelf. "I did it. I was angry about Crescent's death. I... don't know what to do. I left the Stable to save the wasteland, and... all I've done is get ponies killed. The ponies I was charged with protecting, are dead. Because of me."

"Wait, wait..." Dash snickered. "You left the Stable to... 'save the wasteland'? From what? Bad mane cuts?"

"Oh, fuck off!" I pushed him away, stealing the bottle and taking a drink myself. "I tell you my deepest fears, and all you have to do is laugh at it?"

"I... I'm sorry. I wasn't laughing at that." He frowned. "I don't know what to do, either. You're not a quitter, though..."

I glanced to him, eyebrow raised. "Um. No?"

"Sorry, you're just speaking like one." He smirked. "What was Captain Armet's other favorite quote? 'Remember the objective, and all else will fall into place'? Remember what it is that we're doing, and you'll find a way to do anything. Save the wasteland? I fear for any fuckin' Outsiders dumb enough to get in your way." He threw me a confident smirk as he leaned in.

I blinked, nodding slowly. "Yeah... Thank you." I leaned over to hug him.

"Um... speaking of openness and honesty..." I looked up to him, recognizing that tone.

No...

"I think I'm in love with you."

I pushed him away, rising to my hooves. "No, Dashie! We can't... we can't do this. Not... now."

"Celestia damn it, Firefly!" He rose to his hooves, taking the bottle from me as he paced back and forth. "You're right! I can't do this! I almost lost you today! Yesterday! Whenever it was! How many times have you almost died in the past two weeks, or almost gotten us killed?" He spun, bucking a shelf into the wall. "Why can't we be together? Is it just Security? What do you want? Me to leave Security? Because if that's what you need, I'll fucking do it in a heartbeat!"

"I'm sorry..." I curled up on the couch. "I didn't realize..."

"No! Of course not, Firefly! You're always looking at the horizon, ignoring what's right in front of you. Just like the stadium! Do you know what seeing you blow up did to me? I thought you... you'd died!"

I whimpered, glancing to the crumpled shelf he'd bucked into the wall. "How long...?"

"It's... been a while." He stopped pacing, turning to face me. "I realized it when we met your father. Do you remember the first thing he said to me?"

I shook my head, glancing to the floor. "I... don't remember a lot of the finer details that day..."

"'So, Dash, was it? You plannin' to marry my daughter?'" I glanced away from him, back to the shelf as he continued evenly. "You said, 'I don't think that's going to happen', and he responded with, 'What a shame. You keep her safe, anyways, Dash, or you'll regret it'..."

...

I looked up to him in awe. "You can remember all of that? Word-for-word? Every word?"

He nodded, smirking at me. "Only the conversations that change my life."

I blinked, glancing away quickly. "Oh..." I felt my cheeks heating up, and I levitated the bottle over. "We can't."

"That's not a 'no', though..." Dashie curled up on the couch next to me intimately, and I shifted. "Is it, 'we can't', or 'I don't want to'?"

"Range would shit a brick and you know that."

"She can't lose her shit over something she doesn't know about."

I shifted, looking to him seriously, mirroring his smug, obnoxious tone from earlier. "Let's be honest - both of us are pretty shitty liars."

He smirked back to me. "You're not answering the question, though."

"I... I don't know, Dashie." I glanced back towards the shelf. "I need to think. But I... I want you in my life. Please don't leave me..."

"Mare, I think might just be the first straight thing you've told me all day." He grinned brightly and buried his face in my neck.

I nodded and shifted, leaning against him, and took another sip of the bottle, before setting it aside as I sat up, looking at him seriously. "You, sir, are a complete asshole."

He sat up and looked over at me in bewildered shock - ha ha! - and opened his mouth to ask why. I leaned in to shut him up with a rough kiss.

A minute passed - or five, maybe - until I broke the kiss. He smiled at me brightly. "Oh, okay then..."

No smartass comment, nothing, just a happy, pleased glow.

I smirked back at him. "You're kind of okay when you're not being a smartass."

He smirked and opened his mouth. "Only 'okay'?"

I bit him on the neck and he yelped loudly. "Off." I pushed him off me. "Into the bedroom. I've done the couch-sex thing before and it is not fun in the morning."

"RISE AND SHINE, MARE. Oh fucking Celestia, there's two of you. On your hooves, you two." I was awakened from pleasant slumber by Range's loud yell.

I groaned as an offensively bright light forced its way through my eyelids, and I rolled over, curling up in the sheets and burying my face in the pillow and Dashie's hoof. "What is that thing? It's offensive, make it go away." I waved one of my hooves in its direction.

"Ergh. So this is what sex smells like." Ranged sighed sadly. "If it wasn't for the shitstorm it would cause now, I'd discharge both of you."

!

I uncurled, looking to her in shock as she continued. "Oh. So that's where that went. That explains a lot..." Range levitated the bottle off the bedside table, scowling at Dashie. "Dash, if you ever steal so much as a paperclip from my desk again, your mother will find your body in the air vents in little pieces." She turned and trotted out stiffly.

"She's kidding, right?" Dashie looked to me in genuine worry.

"Um..." I wasn't completely sure. "Yes. I'm sure she is."

"That's not very comforting, Firefly..."

"I didn't say that - she did." I crawled to the edge of my bed.

Dashie glared at me with a hurt look.

"You drank all of it?" I groaned again as Range let out a shriek of rage and ducked back into my room. "Do you have any idea how expensive that bottle was?" She scowled at Dashie, throwing the bottle at him. "Little. Pieces, Lieutenant."

Dashie yelped, and one of his hooves pushed me off the bed. "In my defense, I think Firefly drank most of it." I flailed my hooves in Dashie's direction as I fell, and was rewarded by another yelp from him.

"Planning session. Briefing room. 2100." Range scowled at him, hit me with the bottle too, and left.

I pushed myself to my hooves and dug a healing potion out of the bedside table, taking a long drink.

Dashie pushed himself to his hooves, looking to me. "Firefly, I think you're addicted to those."

"I'm not addicted, I can quit..."

...

"...any time I want."

He gave me a significant look.

"Shit."

He nodded tightly, and I groaned, glancing at my Pipbuck to check the time.

2044

"Oh, shit!"

2107

Dashie and I were late to the meeting. Fortunately, the meeting only consisted of myself, Dashie, Cyclone and Range.

"Have a nice shower, you two?" Range glared daggers at us as we came in together, and Cyclone looked to her curiously, which she ignored.

The briefing room was... well, the cleaning crew hadn't made it there yet. There were bandages and strips of Stable suit scattered in the corners, and on the way in, I stepped in a pool of blood.

"We brought food." I settled the box of apple fritters and pot of tea on the table, levitating a pair of seats over. "Let's get to work." I looked to Cyclone. "What do we have, Sergeant?"

"Two missing leaders, no clue where they are, and a tentative alliance with both the Steel Rangers and the Crimson Raiders." He nibbled on one of the pastries.

"That's a short list, Cyclone."

"I assumed you wanted the short version." I poured myself some tea as he elaborated. "King Crimson and Overmare Keeper have been taken, and other major settlements in Baltimare proper have been attacked, though we have no confirmation of their missing leaders, yet. Considering the timing, it's probably not just a coincidence. So, it stands to reason they were probably taken by the same group. General Azure suggested an alliance, which we've all agreed is a good idea."

"Since you're the Stable's resident surface expert, who could have had the ability and desire to do this?"

"Given the evidence we have - bodies and all - it's probably the Star Touched." He frowned and slid a M1500 across the table to me. "No given name, nothing really known about their motives. They've been a recurring problem in Baltimare since the War ended - every couple of decades, they come out of wherever they're hiding, stir up some trouble for a few months, and then disappear again."

"So, they're spooky boogiemares who steal your foals if you don't give them enough candy?" Cyclone chuckled grimly as Dash spoke. "That's a lot of words for not a lot of information, Cyc."

"That's all I have confirmed. Everything else is completely speculation." He paused, digging out another pastry before speaking. "Their raids seem to be hit and run supply gathering, and they tend to target Equestrian settlements over zebra settlements, leaving few survivors. There have been reports of 'shadowy, old striped ghouls with stealth cloaks' stalking zebra settlements, trying to 'tempt the young into joining them with promises of glory', or coming in the night to kidnap foals. It stands to reason that they'd convince a couple of street gangs to attack somewhere as a distraction for their main operation, though there hasn't been any confirmed cases of this happening. I suspect they're part of the zebras that bombed Baltimare on the Last Day."

"What makes you say that?" I dug a pastry out.

Cyclone glanced around with a shrug. "The timeline seems to match up - their attacks started a few short years after the war ended, they seem to have an agenda against Equestrians specifically, and they have some very impressive wartime-era hardware - stealth cloaks generally aren't commonplace equipment."

I wiped the blood off my hoof on a strip of shredded Stable suit. "Seems like a pleasant bunch."

Cyclone nodded grimly. "Yes, except not at all..."

"Anything else?"

"The orchards were attacked last night. Some infiltrators remained, apparently. We think we've weeded them out."

"How bad?"

"About half of the trees were damaged. Fortunately, they didn't get the wheat fields, too."

"Blitz was right..."

"Yes."

"Celestia damn it."

Cyclone nodded slowly.

"Why wasn't I woken up for it?"

"There wasn't anything you could have done, and you needed sleep."

"It could have been a second attack."

Cyclone and Range shared a look, and Range shrugged. "It was my call."

"Finally, we've identified the zebra in the Stable barding who opened the Door."

I raised an eyebrow. "Traitors?"

"No. They were wearing a Pipbuck, but their family has stated that the body is not who they're supposed to be."

"Is it possible the family are infiltrators, too?"

Cyclone shook his head. "No."

"Hrm... that's not terrible. At least we don't have to worry about fighting our own, too." I glanced between the two. "So, I'm guessing we don't know where these 'Star Touched' hide?"

"No." He shook his head grimly. "But I think I might know a guy..."

"Good. We'll head out tomorrow."

Range nodded. "Good."

"Who is 'we'?" Dashie looked around.

"I don't have an answer to that yet. I need volunteers. Might need a draft of some kind."

The door hissed open and Mineral Sands trotted through, pausing in the doorway. "Am I interrupting something?"

"What do you want, Min?"

"I want to request a transfer to Stable Scout." She glanced aside, and I could see her suppressing saying, 'again'.

Wiseass.

"Why?"

"Well... they attacked us. We can't just let them do that."

"What would you do, Min?"

She frowned, thinking about that. "Find 'em, kill 'em. Make 'em pay for what they did to us."

I sighed. "Well, that answer would certainly disqualify you from internal security..."

She blinked, a look of shock crossing her face, before she narrowed her eyes in a look of determination. "Good - I'm not applying for internal security."

"Welcome aboard, Min."

"Wait, what?" She cocked her head, staring at me in confusion. "That's it?"

"Don't make me reconsider my decision."

"Yes, ma'am!" She saluted.

I smirked and rose to my hooves. "Min, we're putting together a mission for tomorrow. Do you know of anyone who might be crazy enough to volunteer?"

"Um... Doctor Mend might...? I don't know, I've been... busy."

"Right." I nodded. "Go find me some volunteers. That's your first task as an official Stable Scout. Go find volunteers for the next mission."

Min saluted again. "Yes, ma'am!" She turned, stepped in a pool of blood, squeaked, and hurried out of the room.

I glanced around. "I'm going to suggest we go to all of the allies we've made. Invite them to a shot to kill the fuck out of these Star Touched."

Everyone nodded grimly.

Range spoke. "Make 'em pay, Fi."

2122

I poked my head into Range's office, and she gave me a serious look. "Yes?"

"I'm sorry about-."

"Save it." She cut me off with a glare, before she continued. "I don't mind the two of you screwing - I think you could have better taste, but that's beside the point - but other ponies will get upset if it looks like we're selectively enforcing the laws. You know why that rule exists." She sighed, changing the topic slightly. "There have been rumors that the only reason Dash is your second in command is because he's screwing you."

"What?" I blinked at that. "That's ridiculous. Dash is my subordinate because he works well with me, not because we're screwing. We weren't even..."

I shut up at Range's glare. "Perception is more important than the truth, Firefly!"

...

Shit.

She's right.

I nodded. "It won't happen again."

"Please, Firefly." She frowned to me. "Make sure the public thinks you're not boning, too." I nodded again, and neither of us moved for a moment. "You may leave now."

"Permission to speak freely?" Range nodded tiredly. "You don't think I have good taste in Dash?"

"No." She narrowed her eyes. "I don't think he's your type."

I narrowed my eyes back at her. "Not my 'type'? What exactly is my 'type'?"

"Honestly? I kind of wish you were a mare-muncher. It'd save you all the trouble of stallions."

I blinked, wincing at unwanted mental images of me sleeping with mares. "I... don't see that happening."

"No, neither do I." She sighed uncomfortably. "And I kind of feel like an asshole for saying that, now."

"Somehow I doubt simply being gay would solve all of my relationship issues..."

She nodded uncomfortably. "I certainly haven't much luck..."

I smirked at her. "So... what is my type, then?"

"Male, very serious, kind of a stick in the mud. Probably not interested in anything more than missionary or cuddling in bed. Not-Dash."

"Oh?" I smirked. "And what do you think Dash's like in bed?"

"Probably into some weird, kinky shit."

"For your information, Dashie is kind of boring in bed. I like a stallion who gets a bit... creative... in the bedroom."

Range's cheeks took on a pink hue, and I grinned. "Okay, I think we've had enough of a heart-to-heart for now. Don't get caught boning Dash again. Dismissed!"

Five minutes after that little heart-to-heart with Range found me dozing off at a table in the Cafe, nursing a steaming tea.

The Cafe looked terrible - bullet holes and wood splinters decorated the ground and furniture. Most of the seats had been set up, with the majority of them pushed along the walls. Next to the table was a bloodstain I had an unfortunate suspicion I knew who it had belonged to...

Dashie approached me with a tired, frustrated expression. "You let my brother fight?"

I shook my head to wake myself and thought back, before tying names to faces.

Rivets.

I nodded sharply. "Yeah, I did!" I sat up, glancing to the blood stain again. "My first thought was to lock him in a closet, but I knew he'd end up in the fight, in the worst possible place, so I let him feel like he was helping while putting him in a position that would probably be safe."

"Well it wasn't safe, he got into the fighting!"

"He disobeyed orders to save the Council's gopher. I'm proud of his initiative, even if he disobeyed orders, and that was bad."

"But it's dangerous!"

I stood up, slamming my hoof on the table. "Of course it was dangerous, it was a fucking warzone!" I leaned across the table, prodding him in the chest. "You don't get to take the moral high ground, Lieutenant Sticky Hooves!" I glanced around as I realized how loudly I'd said that, and sat down, forcing myself to calm down as someone looked at us. I lowered my voice as I continued speaking. "He wants to be like you."

"What?" Dashie looked genuinely confused as he dropped into the seat facing me. "That's a stupid idea. Why would he do that?" A slightly bloodstained bandage sat across a cut on his muzzle.

"Because you're his big brother!"

He blinked. "Oh."

"Yeah. 'Oh'." I glanced to the blood stain again.

He nodded tightly. "Well. Shit." He trotted off, and I continued sipping my tea, looking to the blood stain with another sigh. Sapphire entered the Cafe, noticed me, and threw me an unsteady wave of a hoof, approached me, and sat down in the seat Dashie had just vacated.

"Hello, mother." I smelled cider as she sat down, leaning against the table tiredly. "I thought you said you were going to stop drinking?"

"I said I'd try." She grumbled, throwing me an annoyed look, her eyes taking a moment to focus. "And I didn't expect the Stable to get attacked..."

"Fair... No more after this?"

She groaned, laying her head on the table, one hoof over her eyes. "I can't promise anything. I'll try?"

"That's what you said last time, mother." She nodded tiredly. "I don't know if that's better or worse than promising to stop, and not stopping..."

"S' more genuine."

I propped my head up on one of my forehooves as I nodded tightly. "Here, try this..." I slid my tea over to her.

She looked to me curiously, sitting up slightly, brows furrowed. "What's this?"

"It's mint tea." She gave it a skeptical look. "It's plant leaves steeped in-"

"I... I know what tea is, hon..." She sat up, picking the mug up and sipping it.

Her face crossed several emotions, settling on joy. "This is... actually kind of good. Where did you find out about it?"

...

"He's right here." I grinned, gesturing towards the bloodstain on the floor beside us.

Sapphire glanced over, looked at the bloodstain in mild unease, before looking back to me. "What?"

"My ex, Aura Cinnamon. He introduced it to me." She gave me a blank look. "That's him."

After a moment, her blank look shifted to one of horror, ears folding back. "Oh..."

I nodded, pulling my tea back over and sipping it. "Yep..."

She glanced over to it again and swallowed. "I think I'm going to go get some rest... you should, too." She rose and hugged me. I hugged her back, and she beat a quick retreat.

Fantastic...

"I'm sorry, Aura... We never got to get together like I said we would..." I raised my tea to him, and glanced to the mug.

He paid for my food the last time...

I rose, heading down to the wall.

I dug a half dozen bits out of my barding, leaving them next to the notebook. After a long moment, I picked up the quill, flipping to a new page.

I closed my eyes, bowing my head.

Why couldn't you have just kept your head down...

I glanced over the list, noticing someone had added something to the bottom, in messy writing.

"Firefly's Mane"

...

Joker.

I left the wall, heading towards the stairs to the second level of the Atrium, only to encounter the pony I'd been expecting to run into sometime today.

Unfortunately.

"Yes, Doctor Warding, what can I do for you?"

He scowled at me, blocking the way up the stairs. "You let Mend practice medicine inside the Stable?"

"Yes, I did. Doctor Cerulean," something twitched in Warding's cheek at my calling Cerulean 'doctor,' "was the only doctor we had available during the attack in Security. He saved many lives."

"What of the many other Security ponies who have medical training?"

"None of them at Security had the level of expertise that Doctor Cerulean has, and all of them were more useful as fighters than healers." I paused. "Prior to last night, had anyone in your department ever treated a gunshot wound?"

"Well, no..." Doctor Warding frowned. "But you are aware of my-"

"Yes, Doctor, I am." I cut him off. "I wouldn't dare to tell you how to attempt to run your department, Doctor - so I won't suggest you're being unreasonable by continuing to punish Doctor Cerulean for a mistake he made before I was born, even a fatal one - but I respectfully demand you stop trying to tell me how to run mine. Doctor Cerulean is a member of Security now - my department - and when a situation calls for it, I will use all tools at my disposal necessary to defend the Stable. Doctor Cerulean was the most experienced medical pony I had, and I am proud of his conduct last night. Excuse me, I have things to tend to." I stepped past him, hurrying up the stairs to Security.

2200

"Nice of you to show up, Captain..." I looked up to see Councilor Inertia leaning against the wall.

"May I help you, Councilor?"

"Why yes, I think you can." He pushed away from the wall, throwing an aside glare at ponies guarding the cells, Skyfault and Rolling Block. "You can inform your ponies to let me in, and you can accompany me to interrogate the prisoners."

...

"I'm sorry...?" He said nothing, simply looking at me expectantly. "Why would I do that?"

"There's no Overmare to override me, after all. So..." He glanced to the guards with an expectant glare.

"Did you forget the meeting this morning? Security has been left in control for the meantime."

"Indeed. I was under the impression you agreed to let the Council in on your plans."

"I did. This has nothing at all to do with keeping you informed of our actions." I paused, glancing to him. "Why would you even want to help with this?"

...

Some part of me suspected it involved power fantasies and beating up tied up ponies.

"On second thought, don't answer that, Councilor. Please leave, before I have you escorted out."

He scowled, but left of his own accord.

Praise the sun.

I drew my pistol, unloading it, and offered it to Skyfault. "If Councilor Inertia comes around here again, you're not to let him into the holding area. If he has any problems with that, direct him to me."

"Captain Firefly's way of making friends and influencing ponies, hrm?" Skyfault took my pistol, tucking it away.

I shrugged. "He's annoying, but I don't think he's a serious threat."

"He doesn't have to be a serious threat, just an opportunistic asshole who shoots you in the back at the worst possible moment."

"Skyfault's way of making friends and influencing ponies, eh?"

He smirked. "Yes, ma'am."

I entered the interview room, settling down at the table in the interrogation room, across from the wastelander. He was an earth pony, dressed in some ragged barding. Some blood had dried down his muzzle, and his mane could use a brush and a trim. "You wanted to talk?"

He nodded. "I do." He paused, and I stayed quiet, letting them talk. "Your Councilor. She... was a good pony. I'm sorry she died."

"Remorse won't bring her or my friends back."

"Yeah..." He glanced to the table. "Hooves... We followed him because he kept us alive, nothing more. He got us the contract, and we couldn't pass it up." The wastelander shook his head. "No choice."

I frowned at him. "There's always a choice."

"That's pretty arrogant, coming from a Stable pony." He glared at me. "Tell that to your family when they're starving, and someone shows up and says they'll give you what you need to survive, in exchange for killing these complete strangers." He shook his head, leaning back. "Fuck off, Stable."

I nodded slowly. "I... can sympathize."

"So. Why are we still alive?" He paused. "Are you... giving us another chance, like... Security?" A hint of hope entered his voice.

"Bodies don't talk." The light in his eyes faded. "But I don't want to kill you. Give me something I can use, and I'll see that you get freed. In the meantime, you'll be fed and treated well. Who sent you?"

He shrugged. "I dunno, mare. Hooves handled the contact. We were just bodies." He frowned. "We got fuckin' played. They never meant to help us. We were just the distraction..." He glanced up to me, sad and mournful.

"If it means anything, I'm sorry it happened this way..." He shrugged again, and I continued. "They took our leader. Do you have anything that could help us find her?"

"They were stripes, I think. I saw one leaving, once. An old one, with a cybernetic leg. He disappeared into the sewers." He frowned. "At least, I think so. Sorry, lady..."

"Which leg?"

"Uh... left hind, I think..."

Sewers. Zebras. Cybernetics. Not much to go on.

"Would any of your ponies know more?"

He shrugged. "You're free to ask 'em. I'unno, honestly."

"Right, thanks."

He began again. "Look, lady, I'm sorry about how... this all turned out."

"So am I." I smiled slowly, ideas forming. "But I think I can find a way for you to make up for this."

"Uh... okay." He gave me a worried look.

"Keep your loyalties together, and I'll see you make it out of this shitshow with all of your pieces in place and your friends alive. I'll be in touch. Tell your ponies to get some rest."

2230

"Hey, Captain!" Exiting to the main Security station, Weld flagged me down from the Armory. "I thought you'd get a kick out of this." I followed him into the Armory. "I found them on one of the... intruders." His expression faltered as he levitated a pair of knives to me.

But they weren't just any knives.

They were elegantly crafted, with a rainbow finish, except for the cutting edge, which was unfinished. The handles were a pair of IF-21 magazines of good quality.

...

"But... why...?" I picked one up, studying the rainbow effect in the light. I flipped it over so the magazine-handle was up, and depressed the follower. It slid back up smoothly. A bit was molded into the steel for a mouth grip - it was probably too wide to drop free, as IF-21 magazines were supposed to.

"Anodized titanium oxide." Coil Spring, the assistant armorer, spoke up. I looked to her, and she continued. "Anodized. It's, um. It's the process used to get that effect on the blade. It looks like this was heat treated, and then had some kind of durability spell cast on it."

"Wow, you could tell that by looking at it? I'm impressed."

"Uh..." She glanced around, and nodded. "Yeah." I could tell she wasn't being entirely truthful, but I didn't care enough to prod her about it.

"I'm abusing my power as CFO to claim those knives." I glanced between the two. "Nobody takes 'em but me."

"Sure thing..." Weld nodded.

"I'm serious, I want 'em." I waved a hoof at him, and he grinned, throwing me a mock salute.

His salute didn't have that cheerful energy Weld always had, however... "How are you ponies holding up?"

He glanced to Springs, and she shrugged, amusement fading fast at the reminder as Weld spoke. "I don't know, Captain... I've been working since... it happened."

"Get some rest." He nodded distractedly, turning away, and I turned to keep in his view, giving him a stern look. "I mean it, Weld. That's an order."

He grumbled quietly. "Alright, I'll get some rest."

I frowned, trotting over to him, prodding him on the shoulder. "In your quarters, I mean." He gave me a blank look. "There have been rumors..."

His blank look changed to one of embarrassment. "That was one time, Captain!"

"I don't want to know about it, Weld." I smiled to him. "But get some rest. You make mistakes when you're tired, and mistakes when dealing with guns can be fatal. Please?"

"Okay, okay." He nodded, a little more seriously. "I'll get some rest."

"Good. When you've gotten some rest, look at the Ironpony." I glanced towards the weapon, hanging from the ceiling. "It had trouble cycling reliably. See if you can figure it out, would you?"

He saluted again. "I'll get right-"

"Weld." He shut up as I pointed a hoof at him. "After you've had some rest. I don't want a pony who hasn't slept in two days working on my weapon."

"Yes, ma'am..."

2345

I closed my eyes as Joker entered my office. "Captain? You wanted to see me?"

"Have a seat, Joker."

He nodded, settling down. "What's up?"

"Did you add anything to the list of casualties?"

He snickered. "Aww. How'd you know?"

"You just told me."

He frowned. "Crap."

I leaned forward, smirking a little. "How long did you practice for it?"

He grinned. "Oh, I dunno... twenty minutes, maybe? I mean, it was true..."

"It's not-" I thought about it for a moment, glancing over my shoulder.

Damn it.

"That's not the point! It was disrespectful."

He sighed, grumbling. "Another write up, Captain?"

...

I bridged my hooves on my desk, leaning forward. "No."

"Ma'am?" He looked at me in confusion.

"Joker, you vandalized the list of ponies who were killed during the attack. There's talk about the attack, and concerns that 'Security can't do their job.' What do you think ponies are going to think when they see that someone vandalized the list of casualties?"

He deflated, frowning, light of understanding visible in eyes. "Mom would have appreciated it..."

I thought back, realizing that Joker's mother had been the head of the Morale department - it was their job to make ponies laugh... and, true to his nickname, that's what Joker did in Security.

"Damn it..." I sighed. "Joker. I, personally, thought it was pretty funny." I paused. "It... it's true. But that's not the important thing right now - it makes Security look weak. We can't keep the Stable safe from attackers, we can't keep things from being vandalized... What can we do?"

"I'm sorry..." Tears dripped onto his suit.

...

Hmm...

"It's a PR stunt."

"Ma'am?"

"As punishment, I'm assigning you to Morale. During the upcoming operation, you will remain home in case of any further attacks, and to keep ponies spirits up."

He nodded, a little confused.

"In the future, Joker, kindly limit your pranks to small groups of ponies or individuals."

Tuesday
0030

"I trust everyone here has read my proposal?" I glanced around to the Council. They all gave various signs of concurrence.

I gave each of the Council a long look. Seven seats, six ponies filling them, with the one in the middle - Diamond Rose's - empty.

To the right, Emerald Hex, the earth pony representative. She had a carefully neutral composed expression, and she quickly looked away as our eyes met. I had left a note on her Pipbuck, informing her that I would attempt to track down her brother's fate.

To Hex's right, Copper Filament, the Maintenance representative. She gave me a polite smile as she met my eyes.

To Filament's right sat Nominal Inertia, the pegasus representative. He scowled at me, refusing to meet my eyes, and looked to the M1500 in his hooves.

To the left of the empty seat, sat Sparking Sheets. She smiled to me in an encouraging manner.

To Sheets' left sat Skectari. He was the zebras' representative, and supposedly unpopular among his constituents. I didn't know him well, other than that he tended to keep his mouth shut in these Outside discussions, at least when Security was present.

To Skectari's left sat Letter Element. She gave me a severe, impassive look. She generally supported Hex and Filament in sealing the Door, and had been close to Sunshine Rays, who was - had been - Joker's mother. She was the representative for the Morale department.

"I have a couple of additions to make. Investigation of the attack has turned several things up. We believe there's a ninety-five percent chance that what happened is that the attackers slipped someone in to the Stable during the last market day. The infiltrator who opened the Door has been identified by their Pipbuck, and their family has stated that the body found is not Orovus."

"How did it happen?"

I considered. "I... don't know. I would guess the most likely solution is that they killed Orovus while he was outside in the Marketplace, assumed their Pipbuck and clothing and slipped past my ponies at the Door when the day ended. The only way to know for sure would be to ask them, and that would be... difficult at this point."

"I see..." Councilor Filament nodded. "And what are you going to do to prevent this from happening again?"

"We'll log everyone who enters and exits with both names and a headcount, issuing Pipbucks - day passes - to everyone who enters. If anyone attempts to stay inside after the Door closes, we'll be able to track them down via their pass. Additionally, if the head count is off, we'll call everyone back. As for this specific occurrence - zebras sneaking in - I will make sure that there are always zebras on Door duty." I paused. "Finally... the Crimson Raiders and the Scouts will track these ponies down, and make sure they'll never threaten us or anyone else ever again. This is not a faction that anypony wants to see around any longer."

Councilor Element spoke. "Why didn't we learn from the last time, Captain?"

"It was a different situation, then, and a different time."

"We were still attacked. Ponies still died. How is that different?"

"Different insertion method. Different objective, different sort of attack."

Councilor Sheets spoke up, glancing over to Councilor Element. "I don't think that pointing hooves and placing blame is helpful right now, Element. We've already agreed to authorize this mission."

"Thank you, Councilor. Does anyone have any questions about the mission?"

The Council looked around, and Councilor Filament spoke. "Your plan is to... what, precisely? Convince all of the major groups in Baltimare to back you, based on...?" She trailed off.

"Correct, that is the basic plan. Assuming the Star Touched are as big of a threat as Cyclone says they are - and given that he's been around for all two hundred years of their reign, I don't think that's a bold assumption - I think everyone would be thrilled to have a chance to kill them."

"What are you expecting from them? An army?"

I shook my head. "Probably not. Many of the prisoners we took agreed to join us."

The Council looked shocked, or confused at that. Councilor Skectari looked shocked, and Councilor Inertia furious.

"Keeping them prisoners requires feeding them, and after the attack on the orchards, food isn't something we have an excess of. It also diverts Security ponies from more useful tasks to guard them, making sure they don't escape, so on and so forth. Considering that I don't believe anyone here thinks the solution is to line them up against a wall and shoot them..." I trailed off, glancing around the Council.

All of them looked disgusted... except for Councilor Inertia.

Of course. He looked tempted.

Councilor Sheets spoke up. "No..."

Councilor Filament frowned. "That you even considered that is disturbing, Captain."

"Precisely. That is my job, ma'am." I glanced around to the Council, drank some water, and then continued. "This solves all of our problems. It gives us more troops, ponies who can be... more expendable. It gets them out of the Stable's holding cells. It lets us release them, provided they don't turn on us, and they'll be more inclined to like the Stable, the settlement that showed them mercy when they expected nothing but death."

Councilor Filament nodded. "That is... um." She frowned. "Yes. Go on." She shared a wary look with Councilor Inertia.

"As we've discussed, the Crimson Raiders offered to work with us to rescue both of our leaders. Beyond that, the Steel Rangers have offered some support of their own. Beyond that, no, I don't expect an army from Baltimare... but there's a lot more that can be provided for assistance than ponies with guns, ma'am..."

"Very well, Captain." Councilor Filament looked to Councilor Hex. "Emerald? Do you have anything to say?"

Councilor Hex shook her head lightly, as if she'd not been paying attention, before shaking her head more confidently and clearing her throat. "I have nothing to add, other than that I have the fullest confidence in Captain Firefly's skills, and I wish her good luck."

"Thank you, Councilor." I nodded to her. "I'd also like to suggest a draft, calling up the former Security ponies to round out Security's numbers at the very least."

The Council glanced around, sharing looks, and Councilor Filament spoke. "That sounds like a fine idea."

Range glanced around. "I think that wraps about everything..."

Councilor Hex nodded, and Councilor Filament spoke. "Yes..."

0104

I exited my office, pausing in the doorway to groan and stretch, when Cast Collage approached me with a worried look.

"What's up, Cast?" I looked to him closely.

"Can we talk?"

I gestured into my office. "Sure. What's up?" I settled down behind my desk, and he settled down facing me.

"I have a problem..."

"Yes?"

Spit it out, Collage...

"There's this mare I know, and... she's my friend. How do I make it more...?"

Collage trailed off, expecting me to get his point without actually saying what he wanted.

...

I levitated a M1500 off my desk, one that had the Security logo painted on the back. "Collage, do you know what this is?"

He looked to me, confused. "It's a Pipbuck...?"

"Yes. It's a Pipbuck containing my to-do list, all of the things I have to deal with. Do you know where your problems rank on this?" He opened his mouth to answer, and I cut him off. "They're not on the list. Your dick problems aren't my problems, Collage. I'm your boss, not your wingmare, and I have enough problems with ponies banging their coworkers."

"I didn't mention names, how did you..." Collage frowned, leaning forwards.

"You like Ivory. You're not very discrete about it. She's a clever mare, I'm sure she's figured it out."

He frowned, speaking slowly. "...what do you mean, 'enough problems with ponies banging their coworkers'...?" His frown turned to a sly smirk.

"That's really none of your business." I glanced to my desk, brushing some dust off the corner with my magic, then back up to Collage. "If you have a serious problem, someone giving you trouble, concerns if you want a transfer, something you're worried about, I'm always here to listen. But if you're just looking for someone to help you bang your coworker, go talk to someone else."

"So, who else is banging their coworkers, Captain?" Collage smirked mischievously.

I frowned, feeling my cheeks flush at his question, and shifted, glad my coat hid that. "That is between the two of them and nopony else."

Collage smirked. "Oh, okay..." He leaned back in his chair on two legs slowly, crossing his hind hooves on my desk.

"Do you have a question I can actually answer?"

"Would those two be you and Dash?" His hooves knocked one of my Pipbucks onto the floor.

"No." I picked up the Pipbuck. "Go to sleep. We've got a busy week ahead of us." I rose to my hooves, groaning.

"Ah. I see..." His smirk reminded me of Dashie's - obnoxiously smug, except with none of the gentle teasing Dashie always had.

"Please leave. I'd like to get some sleep and you're stopping me from doing that."

"Oh, alright..." He groaned, slowly pulling his hooves off my desk, knocking over a cup of quills in the process.

...

Damn it...

I picked up the quills and looked at him for a moment. He smirked at me, chair still leaning backwards.

I swung one of my hooves, kicking the chair out from under him. He squealed as he fell backwards to the floor, and I towered over him. "Get the fuck out of my office, Collage."

Leaving Security, I encountered Councilor Hex. I smiled to her politely as I walked past her, and she stopped.

"Captain, wait." I glanced back to her. "I would like to... apologize for my behavior in the past week. I've been somewhat unreasonable to you."

'Somewhat unreasonable.'

That was true, but I couldn't think of a diplomatic way to say so, so I simply nodded.

"This 'leaving the Stable' business has brought up some... unpleasant memories." She sighed, pausing for a moment nervously, taking a step closer. "Could I ask a... favor from you? To look into Lily Sunset's death? Please?"

I frowned, thinking about that.

I could tell her the truth - Range did murder her.

But that would... that might just destroy Security as I know it. Range would probably be exiled. The Scouts would be shut down.

But did Range do the right thing...?

She did murder the elected Overmare...

...

But... everything I've fought for up to now would be destroyed.

I can't.

"I have a lot on my plate presently, Councilor. Too much to even consider reopening an open-and-shut natural causes case. I'm sorry, but I can't."

"Thank you, anyways, Captain..."

Time unknown
Location unknown

The crimson pegasus groaned as he came to, looking around.

He found himself in a small room - a containment cell - hanging by his hooves from the ceiling, his wings bound across his flanks.

A purple unicorn hung across from him, her blue, striped mane in a style that had been elegant at one point, before it'd been dragged through the mud and city streets. A couple of other ponies hung around them. A yellow unicorn, her mane in a loose bun. Across from him, a lavender earth pony with somepony being flayed for a cutie mark.

The purple unicorn opened her eyes, looking to the pegasus in confusion.

The pegasus flashed her a charming smile. "Ah! You must be the Stable's new Overmare. I'm Crimson Nimbus, leader of the Crimson Raiders. It's a pleasure."

"Oh. It's you." Book Keeper scowled at him. "Hello, Crimson."

"I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, ma'am. You know me, yet I don't know you." Crimson looked to her in confusion.

"Book Keeper."

"Ahh, I remember you! You've grown." He paused, glancing around at their cell. "So, I don't suppose you know where we are, do you?"

The unicorn glared at Crimson for another moment, before mentally admitting that the pegasus had a point. She shook her head. "No, I don't."

He glanced up from her maroon eyes to the suppression ring around her horn. "Could you use your magic to free us?"

Keeper frowned, closing her eyes, brows furrowed in concentration for a long moment, before she shook her head. "I can't."

Crimson sighed lightly, turning his attention to the other ponies. The other unicorn spoke, glaring at him. "Raider. What kind of a scheme are you pulling?"

"You're... Insecure Resident, from the hospital, correct?" She nodded, scowling at him. "I'm not pulling anything, I assure you."

The lavender earth pony looked to Crimson with a suspicious frown. "You seem far too at ease here, Crimson."

"Hello, Splinter." Crimson nodded grimly. "Presently, there is nothing that we can do but stay alive, and I'm quite sure my daughters are busy looking for us at this exact moment."

"Do you know who did it?"

"Not at the moment. I'm sure we'll meet our captors soon enough." He narrowed his eyes angrily. "You know... I'm starting to think that flaying somepony is the solution." He gave Splinter a sly smirk.

Splinter gave Crimson a mirthful grin in return. "It usually is."

Keeper and Resident shared an uncomfortable look - Resident unpleasantly familiar with the concept of flaying, Keeper not specifically, but getting the subtext.

"It certainly leaves a more lasting impression than simply shooting them and burning the bodies..."

"Ah, but the trick is to keep them alive while you do it."

Crimson nodded.

To the great relief of the unicorns present, the door to the cell opened, and their captors entered.

Crimson turned to them as best he could, suspended from the ceiling by his hooves, and calmly addressed the first one inside. "If you could release the four of us, I can assure you that we will spare the lives of you and your families..."

Their captor approached him with a look of contempt, one of his hooves 'thunk'ing compared to the 'clop' of the rest of his hooves as he walked past him. "We'll see how long that bravado lasts after your wings have been plucked, Equestrian."

"Are you sure? Everypony deserves a second chance, after all." Crimson shifted, glancing at the leader. "You know who I represent..." A band of zebras, some ghouls and others still living, followed the first one in, some taking up guard positions, others studying the prisoners and talking amongst each other in a language unfamiliar to the ponies present.

"We are not Equestrians!" He spun, kicking Crimson in the face with the cybernetic hind leg. "We are not ponies." He spat the word, as if it were an insult. "We do not murder innocents!"

Crimson grunted as he was kicked. "Your funeral, then."

Book Keeper glared at him. "Don't murder innocents, my flank! You attacked a memorial celebration and murdered dozens of ponies!"

"That was one death. One death per pony. Not hundreds. Your kind has the blood of thousands of zebras, hundreds of deaths over and over, on your hooves." The prisoners shared a look. "Your kind toyed with us at the end of the war. After every battle, megaspells and munitions would rain from the sky, reviving those who had not yet died. Your kind would pick up their weapons and continue gunning us down. Almost as if it were... sport. We had nothing."

The prisoners shared a confused look.

He left as his zebras continued studying the prisoners, poking around and speaking in their language, and then left.

For a minute, there was nothing but the sound of everyone breathing and slowly blood dripping from Crimson's muzzle.

Crimson broke the ice. "My daughters better hurry the fuck up."

Everyone glanced to Crimson, and Resident spoke. "You're worried?"

"Not worried. Pissed. I need to go find and murder that stripe before he hurts anyone else. He's fuckin' crazy."

Author's Notes:

So... that happened.

Splinter belongs to Almanac, author of the fantastic story Letters to Celestia, following an earth pony from Stable 101 as he finds his place in the wasteland a couple of decades prior to Stable Scout and Kkat's story, shown through the eyes of lovable asshole Tome Tale. Splinter is a recurring character. Spoilers: she survives the events of LtC.

You should check it out!