Tuesday 21st January 2014
10:56
MoD Fulwood

With one final cut the doctor snips the last stitch on my arm and removes it from my flesh, I've been left with a long scratch along the surface of my arm but at least it will heal over the next few weeks. Resting his surgical scissors on the medical table he turns to face me, "You're all sorted, Captain. You shouldn't feel any discomfort from your arm as you engage in your regular duties, if you do make sure you come back and see me."

Chaser scoffs from alongside me, "John has never been good at listening to instructions from somepony other then himself."

Chuckling I get up from the chair and lightly slap Chaser across the back of the head, "That's not strictly true. I can listen, I just choose not to."

"Oh, because that makes everything so much better," Chaser replies in a sarcastic tone. As me move to leave the medical centre my eyes briefly flick to my admirer as we see her looking towards us from her desk. Once we're outside Chaser gets a sly grin as we walk, "That Griffin was just checking you out."

"I know."

"You should go over there," Chaser nudges me with his hoof whilst he raises his eyebrow.

Tilting my head I look to him with a blank expression, "Fuck off."

"What's wrong with you? You've got somepony giving you the eye, yet you're not going to act?"

"I took enough of a leap of faith when I first hooked up with a pony, it's gonna take a hell of a lot more to get me to do anything like that with a Griffin." Not to mention the fact that I'm kinda already with somebody else.

"I dunno... I reckon being with a Griffin would be quite the experience."

Chuckling to myself I pat his head, "Of course you'd go in there thinking with only your dick. Besides have you seen their beaks? I have the feeling that if one of them was to give you head it would be fairly uncomfortable."

Chaser shudders slightly as I imagine the image runs through his head, "Now who's thinking with his dick?"

"I'm a guy, of course I go around thinking with my dick. Anyways, how did the operation go?"

Reaching into his fieldpack Chaser takes out a scroll and hands it to me. As I open it up to examine the contents Chaser provides me with a quick summary, "Ten field operative of the Children have been eliminated and another six have been detained. We have recovered another shipment of supplies, however we are still unaware of the destination for all of these supply caravans. Gabrielle is interrogating the prisoners to try and determine some more information for us to act on, in the mean time she has requested that we move to perform security checks at a local dock where they are believe to be transporting supplies from. Since you're back in service I suppose I'll give you command again."

"That's so kind of you, Sergeant, giving up your command to a simple Captain like me." Over the last week since I have been injured I decided to allow Chaser as my second in command to continue on operations with the rest of the team, every other day himself and Gabrielle would go out and intercept supply caravans which we uncovered thanks to the intelligence captured at the supply depot. All of the operations have been a success, we have regularly captured members of the Children of the Motherland who have revealed new leads for us to investigate.

Following my talk with Crimson she was sent back to Equestria the following day, she was transported to Wingstone where she took the train back to Canterlot where she would undergo assessment. Comet's body was also returned to Equestria to allow his family to make preparations for his funeral, we wouldn't be able to attend but I sent word back to Lieutenant Venture that I expected members of the Rangers to be in attendance to give him a military funeral. The rest of the team weren't exactly too thrilled to see Crimson leave, but based on the circumstances I think it was for the best.

Reaching our barracks I head straight inside where I find everyone else preparing all of their kit. Chaser joins alongside me as we enter my room, "The supply caravan is due to pass through a small village to the east in approximately two hours."

"Have we got any transport?"

"Not this time, we will have to hoof it."

As I strap my armour onto my chest I nod to Chaser, "Good thing we've done plenty of tab's then, isn't it?"

"I suppose some use came out of them. But you had those big flying things with blades when you first went to Afghanistan, why did you need to tab if you had those to carry the kit?" Chaser queries as he recalls my memory of my first combat deployment.

"You mean the Chinook?" Chaser nods. "We couldn't rely on them constantly, they aren't exactly cheap and one RPG had the potential to take one down. There are times where it will be impossible to get transport from the ground or air, when that happens you need to be prepared to make your exit with all of your kit on your backs, just like we will be doing now."

"I'll tell everyone to pack their kits for a tab."

"We'll be moving out in five minutes," Chaser nods to me before reentering the main barrack to address everyone. With all of my armour equipped I add my webbing and field pack before making sure it's secured. With my thigh holster fitted and my rifle over my back I make my way to the others and prepare to move.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After an hour and a half of marching we reach our destination further along the southern coast of the Griffin Empire, since the supply caravan was expected to be loaded onto a ship at the docks we made our way to the dockyards and set up at the main entrance to carry out searches of everyone who was due to enter. There were some who were initially agitated to see the Equestrian military carrying out checks within their country but they soon held back their complaints when they were confronted by the guards who regularly watch over the docks.

As we remain at the gate myself and Sunny keep watch from within the guard booth as the others go about carrying out checks on those coming into the dock. As I keep my eyes on a number of caravans Sunny steps up alongside me, "I've been thinking."

Turning my head I look to her, "About what?"

"Well you've been going over all of this military and parade drills with us, yet we don't have a band for the unit or even a song composed about us. Every other unit either has a band or some sort of song composed for parade and ceremonial purposes."

"Where the hell has this suddenly come from? I know you ponies love to break out into song but I wasn't expecting you to complain because we haven't got a marching song."

Sunny shrugs as she watches out the window, "I'm just saying. After all when we returned from the war we marched alongside the bands."

"Yeah, and that song was weirdly similar to one I've marched to back home. Even if we did have a song we haven't exactly got a band to play it for us."

"We don't need a full band, just a drum of some sort and a few words."

Chuckling to myself I lean against the wall, "So you want to give one of us a drum to play as we sing out loud during a march? What the hell are we going to sing, The British Grenadiers? 'Some talk of Alexander, and some of Hercules. Of Hector and Lysander, and such great names as these?' Is that to your liking?"

Sunny scoffs as she shakes her head, "Hardly, we don't even know who they're supposed to be. I just thought having some sort of song could liven things up, raise moral for when we have to go on deployment."

Rolling my eyes I take out my phone, "Are you really wanting a song?" Sunny shrugs once again as she continues to watch the others. Letting out a sigh I look through my phone's songs and try to find a song which could be used in a march, something with simple lyrics and a basic drum beat. Searching through the list I come across one which may work, turning up the volume I begin to play 'Seven Nation Army'.

As the drum beat develops Sunny glances to me as I start quietly singing the words, "I'm gonna fight them off. A seven nation army couldn't hold me back. They're gonna rip it off. Taking their time right behind my back." Stopping I tilt my head towards her as I grin, "Is this acceptable?"

She looks to me in a state of surprise before a small smile creeps on her face, "I'm more surprised by the fact that you can sing."

"Yeah... I'm never joining in on one of your spontaneous song and dance numbers. You should have been at a football match, you'd get loads of guys hating musicals and the like all shouting out and singing as a group. At least this song is pretty basic, you could have a drum playing whilst you all spontaneously sing aloud to it."

She remains silent for a moment as she continues to listen to the lyrics of the second verse. "'From the Queen of England to the hounds of hell?' Well it's certainly covers a wide variety, doesn't it."

"That it does, I think this will do greatly for the Everfree Rangers. That way if you do burst out into song it will at least be a song I like."

"We don't just burst into song."

I look to her with a deadpan expression, "When we were working on the rail line all of you started a song and dance routine, I have Georg and Balbean to back me up on that."

Before Sunny is able to reply Chaser steps inside the guard booth, "John, We've got something."

Pocketing my phone I grasp onto my rifle as I follow him out to the main gate of the dockyard. Upon arrival I can see two Griffins being subdued by Sure Strike and Colbalt and the others keep watch with their rifles at the ready. Stepping up to their carriage I peek inside the open rear door and find a collection of gas canisters which have all been linked together with numerous hoses along with some sort of timer and electrical cables. Oh shit! It's an IED!

Chaser can see my look of horror as I turn to him, "John?"

"Get everyone back now! I want a temporary fifty meter cordon around this carriage! Nobody gets near without my say so!" As he begins to move off shouting orders towards the others I take a step back and look back to Silver, "I need you to stick with me, gather every tool you can and I need them all now."

As Silver runs off Sunny moves alongside me and looks inside the carriage, "What is this?"

My eyes lock onto a old kitchen timer you'd expect to see at your grandmother's house alongside a variety of basic electrical cables as they link to a number of canisters and containers inside. "It's a bomb, looks to be chemical."

"A bomb!? John, we haven't got any protective equipment for chemical weapons yet!"

"I know, Sunny. That's why I need you all to move back to safety and ready to fall back in case it goes off."

"What about you?" Sunny asks in a worried tone.

"Well I was counter IED, so I'm gonna try and disarm it." As Silver arrives with a toolbox and bags containing many pieces of equipment I rest a hand on Sunny's neck, "Take those Griffins to the booth and interrogate them. I want to know if this was their target, where these supplies came from and where they're operating from. Go!"

As John removes his hand he moves towards Silver and begins to talk to him, turning on the spot I gallop across the street and make my way back to the guard booth where the two Griffins were taken. Once I reach it I look back over towards the carriage where I can see John resting his rifle along the bags and beginning to strip out of his armour.

Stepping inside the booth I come to a stop alongside Chaser and Colbalt as they stand alongside the restrained Griffins. "We need to find out their base of operations and what their target was."

Chaser tilts his head to me as he runs a hoof along the end of his rifle, "What is John doing?"

"He's trying to disarm it-"

"-He's what!? Has he got a death wish?" Chaser groans as he shakes his head, "That stupid human."

"Well that 'stupid human' is our Captain and friend. We have to do as he says." When I look back to John I watch as he paces around the carriage checking the underside and various opening as he appears to be judging them.

Colbalt lowers his rifle as he glances out the window, "If he's trying to disarm the bomb then why is he just looking at the frame... instead of the gas canisters inside it?"

"I don't know," Chaser replies. "But he worked in bomb disposal, he'll know what he's doing." I watch as he looks toward John with worry before turning his attention back to the Griffins, "Now... what to do with these two?" Holstering his rifle over his back Chaser draws his sword as he slowly steps up to one, "Who was the target?"

The Griffin doesn't respond, he doesn't even look up at Chaser as he speaks. Chaser glares down at the Griffin as I watch his stance stiffen. Bringing his sword forward Chaser rests it along the Griffins throat, "Answer me!"

The Griffin just begins to chuckle as he lifts his head to look at chaser. Why is he laughing? "You ponies are not exactly very threatening, if it wasn't for that human your military would still be in the stone ages."

Chaser momentarily glances back to me before addressing the Griffin, "What's the target!?" No response, I can see that Chaser is getting annoyed with the lack of response. Stepping forward Chaser brings the back of his hoof across the Griffins face.

"Chaser, what are you doing!?" I shout out as I step up to him.

Turning his head back he shrugs to me, "I'm gonna get this shit to talk." As soon as he says this he smacks the Griffin again knocking him to the floor, "Tell me what the target is!"

What are you playing at, Chaser? Colbalt steps up to Chaser, "This isn't the way. John is likely gonna be pissed if he hears about this."

"John won't care if we get what we need." I glance back out the window and step closer to try and see what John is going. He secures a small pack to his waist with a number of tools, I watch as he leans over the side door of the carriage and positions something through the opening. "You're going to talk, one way or another." I wince as I hear Chaser hit him again, I don't exactly want to be a part of this so I keep my focus on John.

Adjusting the mirror on the end of the pole I take a close look at the inside of the handle of the carriage, underneath the handle I find some form of explosive tubing which is attached to the frame and handle. Okay... if I open this door it will likely detonate the explosive and kill me with it. Reaching into my pack I take out a small pair of clippers as I speak out loud for Silver to hear me, "It's pretty heavily booby trapped. I'm gonna have to get into the carriage from here in order to get to the rear of the canisters."

"Okay," Silver calls back. "Be careful."

"Ah, being careful. Good plan." I would have gone in straight at the rear of the carriage but due to a number of crates and the confined space the risk of potential traps was too high. Leaning in through the window once again I view the explosive more closely and find a thin cable which I believe will activate it once the door has been opened. Bringing my clippers close to the cable I carefully snip it disarming the small explosive, resting my hand underneath the explosive charge I clip the cord which is holding in place allowing me to catch the explosive and remove it as a threat.

Holding the explosive charge out behind me Silver takes it in his magic allowing me to return to the task at hand. Timidly I open the door, with every inch it moves the door lets out a creak sending shivers down my spine. With the door opened wide I climb inside into the small passenger compartment and look around, on the floor between the seats I find a length of red cable which leads through a thin hole at the rear of the compartment towards the canisters.

Moving close to the rear I slowly run my hand along the wooden plate, with a slight push I can feel that the plate is loose and has been used previously to likely prepare the trap. Taking out my bayonet I slip it into the gap and cautiously pry the hatch open an inch, with a small gap I'm able to look around the opening to find that no more booby traps await me. Removing the entire plate I rest it on the floor of the main carriage as I look inside, resting behind the canisters I found earlier I find the red cable linking to a tub of flammable liquid along with the main timer mechanism I saw earlier.

As I stare at the device in front of me a bead of sweat starts to drip from my hairline down my forehead. Lying low on the carriage I run my hand along the red cable as it leads to the crate and what appears to be a detonator linked directly to the timer and gas canisters.

"I'm getting tired of this, bird!" Chaser shouts as he keeps the Griffin pinned to the floor. As I kept watch of John from the window Chaser has continued to assault the Griffin, primarily focusing on gut shots to 'avoid leaving evidence.' I hate seeing him do this... this isn't like Chaser at all.

As Chaser kicks him once more the Griffin releases a pained groan before spitting on the floor. "You ponies... aren't very smart. You fail to see what's in front of you." The Griffin moves his body to look straight up to us with a grin on his face, "Silverwing has unfinished business with your Captain, he's the target."

My eyes widen as I glance back to the carriage where John is. John is the bombs target and he's out there sitting right next to it. Oh buck! Chaser and Colbalt seem to mirror my expression as they quickly move over to me to look outside to try and find John. "Where is he?" Chaser asks. "I don't see him at the back."

Opening the door I step outside of the booth, "He's in the carriage."

"We need to warn him!"

I turn back to Chaser who remains focused on the carriage, "If we distract him now then who will know what will happen. He could make an error and get himself killed."

"And if we sit here doing nothing he will definitely die!"

"You don't know that," Colbalt adds. "He's a trained expert, if he expected that the bomb would detonate he would get out of harms way."

"Well what if it's not running on a timer like he initially thought? What if it's victim operated and he accidentally activates it?"

Scowling I step in front of Chaser, "He's not going to activate it!" As If on queue we hear a sudden thud from within the carriage along with a pained groan coming from John. Fearing for the worst myself and Chaser gallop towards the carriage, "John!" I shout out to him as we run. Stopping in front of the carriage door I shout out again to him, "John!"

Another groan comes from inside. After a few seconds John moves from the rear to the main passenger compartment as he rubs his head, as he looks to us various trails of sweat run down his skin and show a sweat patch on his shirt underneath his neck.. "What? Why are you both here? You're supposed to be outside the cordon."

"You're the target! The bomb is supposed to detonate when you're trying to disarm that."

John looks between us both with a blank expression before a smile surfaces on his face. Chuckling he shakes his head as he climbs out of the carriage holding out a red wire with a silver piece of metal attached to the end alongside a small set of command wires, "Well it's not going to work without this."

We both stare at him with dumbfounded expressions on our face, "But what was that bang and the groan?"

"Oh, I just smacked my head on the frame as I tried crawling backwards through the carriage. It hurt like a bitch."

Chaser raises an eyebrow as he steps to the rear and looks to the canisters, "So it's not going to blow up in our faces?"

"Nope, the timer was just a clever little ruse. The device was victim operated from various points within the carriage, without this bad boy there is no chance of it detonating." As he walks past us he pats us both on the back, "You both forget that I did this for a living. It's the same as any other IED I've dealt with, except for the chemicals, that was new. Now lets get this shit sorted and head back home, shall we?"

Returning to MoD Fulwood I immediately transferred the prisoners to the local guards for interrogation, when I asked Chaser and Sunny how they learnt of the information they weren't exactly clear on how they got him to tell them that I was the target. I'm quite surprised that I was the target, It seems Silverwing has it out for me now. I've got a bone to pick with him myself, that bastard is the reason I lost my SA80.

Leaving my kit in the barracks I grab hold of my shower kit and head towards the showers, after having a nerve racking day of playing with explosives I could do with a shower on account on the strong musk I had developed. Walking towards the shower block I'm waved down by Gabrielle as she walks towards me, "John, how are you? I heard you had quite the adventure without me."

"I reek, hence why I'm heading for the shower. I had to get up close and personal with a gas bomb, it took me back to the old days where life was simple for me." As I continue to walk towards the shower block Gabrielle follows alongside me, "What exactly did you uncover while we were gone?"

"Not much, a few names which we were already aware of. There was one name though which the one prisoner mentioned."

"What's the name?"

"Tirek."

I stop walking to turn to face Gabrielle with a look of confusion on my face. "Tirek? Who or what is that?"

"That's just the thing, we don't know. I've been looking through all of our records and I couldn't find a trace of 'Tirek' as either an individual or a location. Though this isn't the first time this name has cropped up, we found it hidden within the scrolls we recovered from a raided supply wagon. The text was damaged but the name was refereed to in connection with a Lord."

"Lord Tirek?"

Gabrielle nods as we begin to walk again, "It seems that way at the moment. I've sent a request to Balbean for information but it may take time before he replies with the upcoming election."

"I could always ask the Princesses of Equestria when they arrive for the State visit, I'm due to be their escort while they're here to meet the new Prime Minister. By the sound of it though this 'Lord Tirek' could just be some pompous Griffin noble who's funding the Children."

"If anybody is going to know about this name then it would likely be them." Once we reach the men's showers Gabrielle stops as I reach for the door, "You definitely could do with a shower, you weren't lying about smelling."

"Oh, well thank you for your kind words." Leaving her outside I step inside and head straight for the shower. Once I'm underneath the warm water I begin to think over the day. The Children are now resorting to using bombs to reach their targets and apparently I'm one of their targets. Let's just hope they don't do anything during the election, I'll have to tell Gabrielle to make sure they beef up their security for upcoming events. If they also intend to use gas weapons then we could face substantial casualties.

As I get out of the shower and step in front of the sink and mirror I'm met with my next issue, my beard. We didn't have beards in the army since they could interfere with the seals on our respirators, if chemical weapons are a threat then I will need to ensure that nothing could potentially compromise the seal of my mask once I get one made. Grabbing hold of my razor and scissors I begin to cut and shave my beard, after a few minutes I'm met in the mirror with a smooth skinned version of myself. I quite enjoyed having a beard, but some things are more important then my preference of appearance. I know Luna liked the beard though, and at the moment I definitely want some brownie points with her for the state visit.

Picking up my cleaning kit I leave the showers and move to return to the barracks. As I walk one question keeps popping up in my head, one which I will likely be focused on trying to figure out.

Who is 'Lord Tirek?'