I think I underestimated the forty miles distance, in power armor I could have easily jogged that without tiring in a few hours. The sun was high above me by the time I could clearly see the outskirts of the megacity. Though I could be fooled into thinking there were two suns. As I neared The Crystal Empire the castle became more imposing in how it dominated the megacity that was the empire. I checked my E.F.S while galloping and slid to a stop. I panted and sat on my haunches there was a radio transmission from one of the Wagons. Applebloom was transmitting, though the experience with the Zebra that took Striders radio had left me. Well better not dwell on that, I already felt incredibly isolated and alone. So, with a weary sigh I tuned into the transmission.

“-anypony, this message will repeat. All Applejack’s Rangers this is Star Paladin Heavy Arms, all Rangers are to fallback to the Residential area of the Empire. We have taken the local Police Station in our current location. Coordinates are attached to his transmission, you are forbidden from interacting with the locals, fire only if fired on. Do not trust anypony, this message will-” They’re alive my father and hopefully the others were alive! Thank Celestia and Luna I’m not alone in this foreign land. With renewed hope I resumed my march to the Suburb outside the megacity. The closer I got however the less I wanted to get, even with the prospect of reuniting with my comrades. The sounds of battle became clearer and louder the closer I got. Echoes of gun fire and explosions dissipated into the midday sky when I reached the first houses the green fields abruptly ended to paved road and sidewalks. I pressed myself to a nearby house and took the time to check my E.S.F. I was at least two miles more to the right city section. So careful to avoid the open road, I began my march through long abandoned streets and homes. Some lay in various states of disrepair, curiously enough all the homes I could see were made of crystal. The one’s that hadn’t been blown to bits showed signs of elegance and beauty. Each house shaped like gems of sorts, through the windows I could see the remains of what people left behind.

Curiosity getting the better of me, I peered into a window hopping on my hind legs resting my hooves on a window sill. There were scattered plates on the kitchen floor, the living room had furniture neatly in place but with a sheen of dust on it. Half empty book shelves with books that weren’t rotten after two hundred years of exposure to the elements. That made me frown and hop away from the window. There were no corpses, no skeletons of long dead ponies, hell the battle being fought in the megacity told me there were still enough ponies to wage war in the first place. Just what was this strange land?

Well sitting on my ass wasn’t getting me anywhere, so I returned to carefully moving through the houses, fences and any type of barriers were knocked down or had breaches I could pass through without problems. The closer I got to my objective, the closer the sounds of gunfire got. I didn’t like that, I was already expecting more Zebras were attacking my comrades. I moved faster at the thought forgetting my sore and tired body. At least a mile from my target and I ran into the firefight I had been hearing. More than ever I could hear the exchange of fire arms, high caliber rifles from both sides but no distinct cracks from anti-machine rifles or the heavy weaponry used by a Ranger. This wasn’t a fight between my comrades and the Zebras. Carefully, I moved closer to the fight making sure to stay behind cover and peeking round the houses. A particularly loud explosion made me jump and gallop to a nearby wall. The rest of the building was blown to bits along with everything inside. The firefight was right on top of me, I gave a peek around the wall. Easily thirty meters ahead from my position I could see a partly destroyed building, I couldn’t tell its purpose, but dozens of zebras had garrisoned the building. Assault rifles in their hooves -how did they fire them? -fired at an enemy I couldn’t see from my position. Hiding behind the wall I groaned, whatever they were trying to kill was barely firing back as I couldn’t see many shots impacting the buildings the zebras occupied. A road stretched towards the battle ahead just outside my cover, an alleyway between a coffee shop and a restaurant my only visible means of leaving the battle behind without backtracking. With another quick glance I figured the zebras wouldn’t see me and I dashed to the alleyway. Peering from my new vantage point from the coffee shop I saw what they were firing at. Ponies, from what I could gather earth ponies, they wore green combat armor clinging to their garrisoned building walls for cover. Their helmets held a symbol I couldn’t quite see. I did see a pony with a radio pack he was pressed against the ground. One hoof holding his helmet down the other grabbing the radio receiver. I tuned into the radio and flipped through some channels trying to listen in to no avail. Right guess if they were uniformed and had a radio these weren’t some random armature ponies. They certainly weren’t NCR the colors were off.

I tried a few more channels before giving up, it didn’t matter what anyways the way things looked the Zebras were going to overwhelm them soon. With pursed lips I turned away from them and began walking towards the police station. Only a half mile away from here and I could find safety… away from this battle and leave this ponies to their fates. I mean I had my orders, but they were also conflicting with my oath to help ponies. Though I hated to admit it, I was also very afraid. I was alone and well, I saw what the zebras did to my comrades. What I could do? Strider was the best among us and he…he. I felt my chest tighten and a tear escaped my eye, I left him, orders be damned I left my best friend to die. So, was this the knight I was now? I ducked my head from danger and let what happened to me be repeated? I stopped just on the other end of the alley.

It should have been me.

I knew what would happen, they would all die the Zebras might even taunt them in their lyrical language. I still remembered the voice and it made my knees quake just thinking about it. I really am a coward. I willed my helmet open gasping for air, I was feeling suffocated in my own armor.

“Re-” a voice in my ear came and passed.

I closed my helm and looked to my short burst transmitter. I just passed their channel, shit I quickly willed the channel to a stop and backtracked the channels one by one.

“Sergeant Hoover is down, and we got wounded, we need reinforcements to our location at seven-seven five. Code Bravo, Oscar, Lima. Please were going to die here!’

I felt the pony’s desperate words vibrate through my body. They were going to die, and no one was coming to help them. I felt my panting increase and I moved forward leaving the area only to stop a few steps later. They were going to die, but I had my orders I couldn’t trust them my father said so!

Valiant

Striders voice filled my head and I sat on my haunches tears falling now freely. Oh, Celestia not now! I needed to move out and find my comrades right now was not the time to do this. To show just how much of a coward I am. I slowly brought myself to my hooves, but I couldn’t move I felt my own mind fighting against itself. I failed him, I failed Strider I failed my fellow knights I failed the order and let my comrades die because of my inability to do something. Some small part of me berated me for thinking that. Our attackers were well organized and had weapons to circumvent our armor. Outnumbered and against a prepared enemy the outcome was obvious.

But I lived because I ran like a coward.

I was coward, even something like a Radroach had brought me to a quivering fear as a kid until Strider saved me. I shouldn’t have joined, all I did was watch better ponies than me die in front to let a useless coward like me live. What kind of trade was that? Why would I be allowed to live when I’m so damn useless!

“Please we don’t want to die command, please respond!”

The voice on the radio cracked, I gasped and felt my heart hammer against my chest. No somepony must help them, somepne worthy of this armor. I don’t want to die, I was so afraid of being shot into a bloody gory mess. I wouldn’t see my mother again, no one in Stable 29 I didn’t want that. I wanted to run to my mother and have her hold me. shit, shit, shit why am I so useless!

“Oh, sweet Cadence, they just killed Hopper, they’re moving out of their building. Command answer me!” I could hear the other ponies yell in panic firing their guns.

Just like my comrades

No please don’t do it, but that wasn’t going to stop them was it? Me pissing myself in some alley while the Zebras slaughtered the ponies? That thought brought me a surge of energy. I closed my helmet and activated my weapons system, I still had a good two thousand rounds in my minigun. I galloped back and turned the street as the zebras slowly firing control burst moved on the ponies across the street. They were on their hind legs and wore similar armor to the snow ponies. Opened helmets with a crest on them. However, their skirts were a red tint unlike the white snow zebras. They had no cloth covers and no wrappings around their flanks. Again, their rifles were in their hooves firing controlled burst to keep the defenders down. That wouldn’t save them from me!

“Leave them alone!” I revved up my minigun galloping as fast as my armor carried me and fired. The stream of bullets tore apart the first zebras at the front of the formation. The second one was cut in half as its midsection practically exploded from the rounds ripping through its flesh. I slid to a stop and turned strafing the ground before the zebras. They quickly got over their sock and scrambled back to cover some even dropping their rifles to run on all four hooves. But I was faster, and I cut down most of the advance team into a mess of limbs and guts coloring the pavement a bright red. I galloped in front of the ponies cowering behind their cover. Glancing at my E.F.S there was at least twelve more zebras garrisoned inside their building and counting the seven or more I just turned into puree there had to be at least a platoon in there. the zebras behind cover looked frozen in monetary shock. I gave the building a quick glance and smirked inside my helmet. Those walls were as good as paper to my minigun.

“Raaahhh!!” I yelled my minigun span to life and the familiar buzzing sound was all I could hear as I tore apart the building and zebras in a hail fire of led. Screams followed the sound of stone being pulverized as I strafed the first floor a dust cloud formed impeding vision. I glanced at my E.F.S eight remaining red dots shuffling about. I looked up and the last thing I saw was the muzzle flashes of zebras firing on me. I closed my eyes and ducked my head expecting pain. Instead I just heard their bullets flatten against my armor. Its not the same bullets! I gave a crazed relived smile in my helmet and even dared to laugh, I trained my sights on the second floor and fired. Dust immediately kicked up and the zebras feebly tried hiding behind their walls, their cover was torn asunder and the red dots on my E.S.F began disappearing in a rapid fashion. The walls under the torrent of lead caved and the second floor collapsed into the first with the zebras inside with a massive dust cloud covering the immediate area.

My minigun burning red slowed to a stop walking further into the dust cloud, my helmets rebreather filtered out the dust easily. Two remaining red dots turned green, it could only mean the zebras were disabled. I walked over to the rubble and found a zebra its hind legs missing trying to crawl away. My stomach churned at the sight and I forced the bile back down my throat. The other identical looking zebra helmet off was against some rubble trying to keep its guts from spilling out. With a fire in my chest I took aim and fired. The crawling zebra tore apart as I riddle it’s back before its head burst into chunks. Without stopping I strafed the rubble and cut other in half its top falling forward to fall just a few steps before me. The two green dots disappeared. I killed them all, every zebra killed by an uncaring enemy.

It should have been me.

I closed my eyes feeling tears roll down my face. They’re still dead, this one act of bravery if I could call it that didn’t bring my comrades back. It didn’t bring my best friend back. I sat on my haunches and opened my helmet not caring if I inhaled the dust. The sounds of war once again a distant echo barely audible through my sobs. I’m so sorry everypony, I’m so sorry I couldn’t be a better soldier Strider. I never deserved to have a friend like you.

“Are-are you okay?”

I jumped a little turning startled my gun span once and the ponies before me ducked to the ground scared.

“Sorry please don’t shoot!” The radio pony sat on his haunches holding his hooves up in surrender. I gasped making the minigun lower pointing to the ground.

“I’m sorry I’m friendly you just startled me.” I sniffled and tried to wipe the tears from my face with my metal forearm. It was awkward and cold, and I feel it didn’t do anything but bruise my face from the sudden act.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you, but are you okay?” the radio pony cautiously raised a hoof at me.

“Yes, just…mourning in an inappropriate time is all.” It wasn’t a lie, but it was better I kept the rest to myself. I looked to the Radio Pony he wore the green combat armor with segments of armor on his four legs and the same helmet as the others. The insignia on the helmet I now saw clearly was a sun on a red field. That was familiar, somehow, I couldn’t place my hoof on it though, like I was supposed to know the flag.

“Well, you saved us stranger, now I don’t want look at a gift pony in the muzzle but.” He paused taking a step back from me. “Who are you? Command was utter silence in the radio and didn’t say anything about reinforcements.”

Well that was an uncomfortable question to ask, I wish I hadn’t turned into a blubbering mess I should have just ran for it before they approached me. “I’m…” Screw it honesty was the best policy at this point. “A Ranger,” I tapped my power armor for emphasis. The radio operator’s eyes widen, and a grin spread across his muzzle.

“Finally! I told you guys, we were getting reinforcements from Equestria!” He turned to his comrades who instantly cheered.

Huh? These ponies sent the transmissions? Well not specifically these bunch but whatever faction they belonged to.

“It’s about time, name’s Corporal Trapper, Jaeger Platoon fifth company twelfth Regiment Second Division Roughneck corps fourth Equestrian Army group.” He put his hoof out for me to shake. But I was too dumbfounded to notice, instead I stared at him like he just caught fire and he wasn’t aware of it. This pony and his friends by extension must be mad, Equestrian army as in THE army when there was still an Equestria?

“Hate to sound like a broken record, but are you okay?” He pulled his hoof back to stare at me. “Come back into the grocery store, we got a medic in there give you a once over.” His offer shook me off my momentary stupor and I closed my helmet.

“No, its fine it’s just still in a bit of shell-shock from.” My heart tightened painfully, “an earlier battle with the Zebras we had to move here on foot. But I must go regroup with my unit. Well be reporting to uhm…command as soon we can.” I back peddled and the pony eyed me warily for a moment.

“I uh…think we got some flowing water in the building were in…you want to clean up before you go?” Trapper’s eye sized me up and down. I looked down to finally notice I was covered in blood and, well bits of innards I just wasn’t sure which ones, for the third time today I had to push down the bile in my throat and swallow it hard.

“No time, besides.” I tried to sound humorous. “This will make the Zebras turn the other way when they see me.”

Trapper cringed a little, “Guess this is the first time you fought Caesar’s Immortal Legion.”

“They don’t look like immortals to me.” I glanced at the pile of zebra parts round us rather with a dark glare.

“Not in the literal sense, but they fight like they are. They don’t fear death and they have no mercy on the battlefield. If you got wounded…well, you’ll wish you had just died they take you as slaves to the other end of the Empire.” Trapper scuffed the bloody ground with his hoof. That certainly sounded bad. I hesitated for a moment, I needed to go but the question was killing me.

“How long have you been fighting here? In the Empire I mean.” I felt sense of dread at my own words.

“Shit, for years now I think I got moved to this front just four months ago.” Trapper stroked his chin in thought.

Years? Wait MONTHS!?

“M-months?” This was ridiculous, insane even!

“Yeah, what about you what front were you fighting on before you got sent here?” Trapper adjusted his helmet while he raised a brow at me. how did I answer that exactly? I honestly felt an utter and complete loss of words, as to what to say to Trapper.

“That’s classified.” That’s dumb he won’t buy that.

“Ah, come directly from the Ministry huh? Fair enough I know when not to ask a Ministry Ranger questions.” Trapper made a motion over his muzzle like he was closing a zipper

I stand corrected.

“Right well I’ll be seeing you, maybe, take care of yourselves everypony I need to report to my C.O.” With that I galloped away to the alley and just galloped to the fallback point. At this point I didn’t particularly care if I got spotted by Zebras or ponies. I just needed to find my comrades and unload everything I learned. It was nightfall by the time I found the Police Station, it was so damn dark around here I could only rely on the soft light given off by the castle. I couldn’t see the moon from my location, the light of the castle was oddly enough encompassing the moons light. From what I could make out, the police station was in its own compound in the center of town. It was surrounded by long abandoned buildings, with signs I couldn’t make out in the dark. I feared turning on my headlamp and alerting any possible hostiles in the area. I learned my lesson from the snow, just because my E.F.S didn’t register anypony it didn’t mean they weren’t here. The police station was elevated at least four stories high. There were no lights and if my comrades were inside they didn’t want anypony to know it. I stumbled to a building just outside the outer gate of the compound. I peered through the metal gates to the actual building flanked on one side by a parking garage and the other by concrete building probably used for the holding cells.

I sat on my haunches and tried my short-burst radio. “This is Knight Valiant of Wolf Pack squad do you copy Applebloom?” please have somepony answer.

“Valiant? This is Crusader Flag, what’s your location?” Flags voice never sounded so pleasing to my ears.

“I..” my voice cracked, and I swallowed a lump in my throat.

It should have been me.

“I’m at the police station gate, I’m coming in at the front.” There was some static, as I poked my head out to look at the building.

“I got eyes on you, proceed to the front building and keep your headlamp off.” I did as instruct and trotted to the parking lot leading to the station. I stopped at the front door, it was a heavy security door with a keypad outside. The keypad had some wear and tare, but it otherwise looked functional. There was a sound not unlike the one the wagons made when unlocked and the door opened to let me in. I walked inside for the door to close safely behind me, I was surrounded by utter darkness. I almost turned my headlamp on until a voice stopped me.

“Sweet Celestia, what happened to your armor?” the voice probably meant the blood.

“How can you see?” I asked at…nothing I wasn’t sure where to face the voice sounded like it was to my right but when I turned the same voice was to my left.

“Here open up your helmet.” The voice instructed, I did so and felt something slide onto my face. I closed my eyes until it was snugly against my face. Then I felt a hoof tap a switch on whatever they put on my face and the world was lit up with a green light. I blinked the weird feeling of my eyes adjusting to the light before I saw my fellow knights surround me. they all had their helmets open with the devices on their faces.

“Night vision goggles, found a practical stockpile in here.” Flag strode down some stairs smirking, his helmet was open as well and he had replaced one of his weapons on his saddle with a silenced sniper rifle.

“Where’s Strider and the rest of 02?” I didn’t know who asked, but I physically winced at the question.

“Gone, we were ambushed by some Zebras, we were outnumbered.” I looked down shame filling my very being.

“I should report this to the Star Paladin, you should get some rest Valiant.” Flag’s low voice was comforting and understanding.

“I heard 02 returned, I need a full status-” My father stopped, I didn’t see where he came from but when he only saw me, his lips made a grimace and a dark look passed over his eyes.

“What happened to your squad Knight?” I could hear the tightness in his voice.

“Sir, he’s clearly exhausted maybe-” Flag was cut off abruptly and promptly ignored.

“I asked you a question knight, where are your comrades.” My father towered over me, even in power armor I felt like a small child before him.

“D-dead, we were ambushed and…and Strider-” I tried but my father’s voice roared making me jump and shrink down before him.

“You are being questioned for an official statement! Now report to me what happened as is deemed of your rank soldier!” He stomped his hoof hard enough that I heard the tile floor crack.

“Crusader S-Strider he uhm…, our squad was ambushed by zebras. We were outnumbered, and they killed my squad and S-Crusader Strider, Sir.” I stammered through most of that, but my father closed his eyes the anger replaced by something I never seen before. Sadness, he did not wear his helmet and his ears went flat against his head. A labored sigh escaped his lips before he fixed me with as tare. “How did you survive the battle?”

It should have been me.

I opened my mouth, then closed it I could see everypony stare at me and even though they said nothing I could feel they had already judged me for a coward. “I was ordered by Crusader Strider to leave the combat area.” I raised my head feebly looking at my father, “I tried to go back for him, I did, but a Zebra shot him through his hind leg, with an anti-machine rifle he ordered me to go even opened fire on me. I didn’t want to leave but, but what I could by myself?” I closed my eyes tightly willing myself not to cry. Not in front of him or my comrades I couldn’t possibly fall lower than what I already had.

“Everypony return to your stations, at 2400 hours shift sentries. Knight Lemon.” My father turned to the gathered ponies.

The Mare with the welded plates on her helmet stepped up, unlike them she still had her helmet closed.

“Wash Knight Valiant’s armor, he will rest for the night.” My father looked back to me his eyes narrowed before he shook his head. He turned on a dime and went to a door at the far right of the main lobby. Knight Lemon placed a hoof on my shoulder, I couldn’t feel it, but it still brought me some small comfort.

‘I’m sorry about your friend.” I looked to her, the helmet hiding her face from my sight.

“Thank you, but I think Strider made a mistake.” I stood up and almost walked away, “Uhm where are we keeping the armor?” I winced my voice cracked slightly but she didn’t address it or my earlier statement.

“Come on, let me help you I’ll show you where you can sleep afterwards.” She led me to left side of the lobby, we entered a hallway to the far north of the lobby that led us to the garage I had see from outside. Several armors stood on their hind legs open awaiting their operators. We entered through the right side of the garage, the sliding doors firmly closed while the armors lined up against the far end of the north wall. She led me to the end of the line where I exited my armor. Admittedly I now felt naked without it exposed and so very weak. I had the thought to remain inside the armor even if it looked like it just went through a meat grinder.

“Come on, I’ll take you to the makeshift barracks.” Lemon ushered me away and I caught a glimpse of two of our wagons. I didn’t bother asking about the other one, I was too drained from the days events to care at this point. We returned the way we came, and she took me to the second floor. We went up some stairs located at the center of the lobby. The second floor was divided into hallways and she led me to the one on the right of the room to an exercise room. The equipment had been removed and now several mats and mattresses laid in there. Some already occupied by ponies. She led me to a mattress near the center and left me there to attend to my armor. I curled up on the exercise mat I had for a bed and just laid there for a while. With that my body felt the pain of todays fights and emotional damage come back, before I knew it my eyelids closed for a mercifully dreamless sleep.

I awoke when the sun raised, the sounds of battle still echoing far off from our current base of operations. I felt groggy and my body sluggish in catching up with the rest of my brain. I had been drained by yesterdays experience far more than I anticipated. In that state of mind, I sat back on my haunches and tried to find the will to face everpony outside this room. Would they say anything? Give me looks of pity or hate? I couldn’t blame them if they did hate me, I was the coward who allowed his friends to be butchered while I legged it.

I shook my head and smacked my face with my hooves lightly, I couldn’t dwell on it. Not right now I needed my wits about me for whatever mission we were to conduct in this foreign place. With as much resolve as I could come up with. I strode out of the makeshift barracks, the hallway was empty save for the noise of the lobby below me. I made my way out rather awkwardly keeping quiet and looking down. I figured if I just kept quiet and low, nopony would bother with me. I just needed to make it to my armor, inside I felt safer, more at ease and like I was a competent pony. When I made it down stairs a knight spotted me, he frowned though not in a threatening manner. “Star Paladin Heavy Arms requires your presence, he’s in the tactical center down below. Go down the hall right of the stairs and take the stairs to the lowest level.”

I raised my hoof to thank him, but he turned and left wordlessly, he only tossed me a withering glance as he left to his previous direction. My ears flatten against my head, I resumed my previous method of staying low. I figured this would be how I was to be met from now on, an altogether sickening feeling pooled in my stomach.

It should have been me.

I found my father where I was told, though I was not expecting this. There was a veritable amount of technology down here. When I entered, the room was dimly lit, but various monitors and computers lit up the room in a low green hue. These weren’t like the normal civilian terminals that’s for sure. Heavy duty almost the size of the wall terminals lined the wall to my right. Knights tapped away at the terminals on the left, several smaller terminals on desk had data running along them while knights and a Crusader poured over the data. My father was at forefront of a huge screen, a whole map of the Suburbs spread before him.

Equestrian Citizen Zone

Well, that was interesting, this entire section of Suburbs was meant for Equestrian nationals. Could it be it was meant to house the soldiers from the Fourth Army Group? But if I remembered correctly a whole army Group was at least fifty thousand ponies. Not including whatever machinery, they brought with them. Granted I knew this part of the suburbs was big on its own. Compared to Fetlock it might as well be a city instead of a suburb. Either way, this entire place was abandoned. Inspecting the map closer, I noticed several red dot clusters and yellow clusters in key areas. One of said key areas had a label, Ironshod Weapon Disposal and Storage Site. From the map alone, the facility was massive taking up a good chunk of the screen at the right corner where it wasn’t even the focus of attention. But the several dots were concentrated densely around the site.

“Valiant, come here.” My father’s soft words snapped me from my stupor. I quickly trotted to stand next to him.

“I want you to explain this to me, and I hope you have a good reason for disobeying a Star Paladins direct orders.” My father pointed to a pony manning what looked to be a radio station with several empty terminals next to him. He had a headset on with one hoof holding it while he tapped away at a terminal. An external speaker was hooked up to the radio equipment, the operator pony turned a dial and the speakers came alive.

“That’s right folks, you heard it here first! We have contacted Equestria since the encirclement by the Zebra Legions! This is truly historic folks, though we have yet to receive an official statement from princess Cadence. We do have the words of the stallion who met one of Equestria’s elite a Steel Ranger himself.” I cringed each word like a weight being dropped on my back.

“We were dead, plain and simple I couldn’t reach command after our sergeant and Lieutenant both bit the dust. As a corporal, I was next in the chain of command, I’ll admit I considered surrendering to the striped [censored] but, before I could even commit. This Ranger in armor raises hell! He tore those [censored] a new [censored] with that minigun of his! Should have seen it! There weren’t enough, left of the [censored] to send back home in a box.” That was Trapper, great I should have told him to keep his muzzle shut. But then again, I wasn’t exactly thinking clearly at the time.

“I…” I couldn’t really come up with anything, but my father only held up a hoof to silence me.

“Well there you have it fillies and gentelcolts Equestrias finest won’t and can’t be kept down by the striped menace! With the encirclement broken we can only hope word from Princess Luna reaches us soon! This has been your host, Jack Buck! From Radiant Radio.”

“…” I didn’t know what to say, what could it say? It was true I failed to obey orders, in an emotional moment where I tried to make up for not being able to save my comrades. For failing to save Strider.

It should have been me.

“They were going to die, all of them the Zebras were relentless I fought them father.” My hoof stomped the ground half in indignation for being called out for saving pony lives. Half to try and sound confident when I was sure I sounded like a scared rabbit. “I knew the death that was coming personally.”

“As did we… you weren’t the only ones forced to fight. There’s a reason I said to regroup here, if we were pursued it is a great strategic location and defendable against a Zebra incursion. I mean to save our numbers and things are considerably worst with a whole squad down.” He sighed, and I could hear the frustration in it.

“I do not feel the need to tell you, but we are months away from any reinforcements reaching us here. We must consolidate our forces here. I spent most of my youthful days helping anypony I could. But it was in Manehattan or within the reach of my fellow knights.” My father stomped his hoof and it sounded more like thunder striking in my ears than just a stomp. “But this isn’t a patrol against drugged out raiders or manticores! We are in an active warzone; every loss cripples us. You must remember our oath is to help ponykind. But we can’t save anyone if were dead.” My father moved forward to a terminal toward the center of the room. It looked to be where the commanding officer of this station sat. My father raised to his rear legs and towered over the desk. He motioned for me to come over and look at the terminal there.

“Can you hack this? We are only using about ten percent of this facility. I didn’t dare let anypony else touch this until Strider-” we both flinched at the same time. “Squad 02 arrived, I know you are much better than all of us combined when it comes to hacking into computers.”

I looked over the terminal true enough, it laid untouched with even the sheen of dust the keypad. “I can, let me get my armor I have a hacking module to get this done in a jiffy.” I stepped down and trotted back to the garage. I found my armor where I left it clean and spotless the red trim almost looked shining in the light. I bucked the suits belly and it reared up to allow me entrance. When the suit closed around me, I felt whole again as if removing the armor had taken a piece of me. Not to mention I didn’t feel vulnerable anymore the strength in the armor more than physical at this point. I ran a brief diagnostic on my armor as I returned to the command center and everything read at one-hundred percent, barring the minigun I lost. I propped myself on the table again and slid out the interface tool on my right hoof. In a few moments the module did its work and the terminal unlocked allowing us to see its context.

//CAPTAIN HARDLINE USER#2256

//WELCOME BACK

INTIATE COMMAND

SECURITY LOCKDOWN ACTIVATED: END LOCKDOWN?

“There we go, I can return full operational command here.” I willed the command and after a few moments I could hear the whir of turbines move. The lights of the command center flickered on, and jovial shouts came from outside the command center signified I just restored power to the entire station. I also saw there were three personal entries left behind by this Captain Hardline. I looked to my father, but he had already moved to stand before me giving orders to everypony inside. With a bit of trepidation, I decided to see if the entries could share light into. Well, whatever the hell was happening in the Crystal Empire.

Entry x/xx/xxx: We got our hooves full just here in the E.C.Z. God damn protestors started up again near the Ironshod storage site. Like the ponies working there oversaw the whole damn government. Things looked about ready to get violent, so I sent the Special Respond Unit to keep the peace. Last thing we need is another riot, inviting over Ministry of Morale agents. I hope Jelly understands if I’m home late again.

Entry x/xx/xxx: God damn soldier boys got drunk in a local bar near the E.C.Z border to City 9. These drunken idiots got into an argument with some empire civilians about the princess refusal to bar zebras from entering the empire. Called the locals traitors, then the locals called them murderers and things just spiraled out of control from there. One of them shot and wounded a civilian with his side arm. I’m sending Army High Command a request that nopony off duty should not be allowed to carry a firearm. I don’t need this shit right now, Jelly is just about ready to give birth and I don’t need drunken idiots causing a fuzz in my damn sector. I’ll check with Chime on command’s response later this week.

Entry x/xx/xxx: It’s over, fucking hell this can’t be right I was outside on a smoke break, just trying to get my thoughts in odder. Then I see the tower of the castle light up! Fuck it was like something out of a nightmare, the shield covered everything I could see! I got called down to my post. Command has ordered a full civilian evacuation of the E.C.Z and I need to make sure everypony makes it to City 9 by fucking sundown!? Doesn’t matter if this is it, if this shield was put up to stop what I think is happening. Well then fuck Equestira, fuck the empire and fuck whatever Ministry fuckhead is reading this. I’m taking Jelly and my son and getting us to that Stable in City 5. It’s a long drive but I think we can make it, I’m leaving Lieutenant Stomper in charge. I’ll be setting the security lockdown, I shouldn’t care but I want whoever comes here to never use this station against anypony. Especially if its some zebra asshole.

I neighed disappointed, that was a waste of time I know it was stupid of me to expect some detailed record about what the hell was happening in this megacity. But I suppose a pony could dream, I unplugged myself from the terminal and went to stand by my father. With all the activity going around I finally noticed the -rather dumbly of me-the huge red warning signs that appeared on the map.

[IMMINENT MEGASPELL ATTACK ALL PERSONNEL EVACUATE TO CITY 9 SHELTERS]

“If this was true, there wouldn’t be nearly enough of what’s been left behind here. Either the shield held against a Megaspell attack, or somepony fucked up their intel.” My father swore aloud. Another pony came from outside a knight his helmet off with a worrisome look.

“Sir, with the power back online, the antenna outside is restored to full operation. But it seems we still can’t get a signal out to Stable 29. It must be the shield sir. We can’t do anything with that shield around the city.” The knight bowed his head apologetically.

“I was hoping it wouldn’t come down to that, alright gather everypony on the lobby even the ones in sentry duty. I need to address them.” My father turned to me. “Go find Crusader Flag, tell him I want him back here. He should be on the rooftop on sentry duty.”

I nodded and made my way out of the command center. All around me ponies were gathering around the lobby, knights in armor pushed the desks in the lobby out of the way to make more space. I climbed the stairs two at a time to reach the rooftop, I passed several ponies who I told to go down as my father instructed. I promptly ignored any looks they gave and just kept my head on the task at hand. I found the less idle time I had the easier it became not to deal with my grief. I didn’t need grief impeding my judgement again. Though admittedly I still felt good about saving those ponies even if it was a clear violation of the orders given to me, and I could not ignore standing orders just because the Star Paladin was my father. I needed to be better than that, be the example not the exception. I reached the rooftop and sure enough I found Flag in his armor overlooking the horizon sniper rifle on his battle saddle. I promptly told the other ponies there working on the transmission tower to return to the lobby and they silently did so I also noticed the third cart was up here hooked up to the tower.

“Flag” shit “I mean Crusader Flag.” He turned to me and opened his helmet cracking a laugh.

“I never cared much for protocol, did your dad ever tell you that?” He smirked giving me a sideways glance. But, no my dad really didn’t talk about anypony other than Strider but…I guess that might change in the future. I myself felt like shit just thinking of his name the shame filling me almost crippling.

It should have been me.

“No, but he did just send me to tell you he needs you in the command center.” I wiped all thoughts of my friend from my mind less I cry in front of Flag.

“Ah, guess I should go then, look kid.” He paused before me and he looked at a loss of words for a moment. “Strider wasn’t your fault, by the sound of things. He made a call and he decided your life over his.”

It should have been me.

“Flag.” He held up a hoof stopping me.

“When you’re in command of a team of ponies, the view you have of your own worth changes. From experience. Mine and your dad’s kid, you will always find that the lives of your fellow ponies somehow seems immensely more important than your own. Weather this pony is he best survives or weather you probably weren’t didn’t come into question. Strider thought he could save you, even if he couldn’t save anypony else. So, don’t go feeling sorry yourself.” Flag put a heavily armored hoof on my shoulder with a clank. “Don’t make him be wrong, because it was right of him to save you kid. He thought it was right and if you don’t value your own life. You might as well be pissing on his corpse.” Flag gave my shoulder a light tap and walked around me leaving me in place. I kept my helmet closed keeping my face hidden from view, but when I couldn’t hear his hoof-falls anymore. I opened my helmet and let the tears leak out onto the ground.

It should have been me.

“Brothers…and sisters.” My father gave a half chuckle, he was atop the stair addressing the entire platoon. Or what was left of it, it had come to my attention the gathered squads were missing members of their own. I wasn’t the only who suffered the loss of friends it seemed. The gathered platoon shared the monetary laugh as well.

“It has become clear, we cannot reach Stable 29, even with the use of the transmitter antenna here. So, our objective is clear the shield is interfering with our transmission, and we cannot allow this.” My father stomped his hoof once, several members muttered their approval.

“I was given a mission, we all were, to find out who sent the distress message and to inform our Elder of what we found here and what we discovered. I intend to finish that mission, because I will not go empty handed back to the families of the ponies I lost today. I will not go back with my tail between my legs without so much as a damn key chain.” My father stepped down the ladders each step strong and powerful like he was a general rousing an entire army before an important battle. “Are you with me soldiers?” he didn’t need to raise his voice everypony cheered loudly for him.

“Outstanding! I want everypony rested up and geared up by 0600 on the dot tomorrow! Were heading out loaded up and taking that shield down. Were going to show these Zebra bastards how real soldiers wage war. Sempre Invcita!”

“Sempre Invicta!” my brethren and sisters yelled with determination. I felt a surge of my own go up my spine. This was my chance, this is where I was going to make up for my cowardice this is where I make sure that Strider was right.

It should have been me.

Level Up: 2

Perks: Computer Whizz: Ponies say you make love to terminals, each keystroke is masterful and each hack successful. You are the computers master, the computer that’s locked is just another naughty terminal that needs your hooves attentions…you technophile.

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Author's Notes:

Whoo-hoo, i’m particularly fond of this chapter, still looking for a proofreader by the way. So I do apologize if I missed some mistakes here. Again, I edit the chapters myself, but i’m not the grammar nazi god I wish i was at times. Still, please enjoy drop a comment and let me know your thoughts on the story!