A large group of officers were gathered in the castle from the lowest lieutenant to highest general. All bore a sash marking themselves as the old officers of Celestia or Luna's old armies. Steelshod had requested their presence to behold their former rulers and make them a deal.

"As I have stated you are not the enemy, there are more than enough of them above and below for us to contend with. Your former leaders are here... Safe and sound as you can see. They support me and all of us hope you will once again bear the banner of Equestria in its defense."

Steelshod smiled inside, with the arrival of Cadence he could not keep these two on display while the third was held hostage, holding the pregnant mare over them as leverage had worked after promising the newborn would be made a whore if they did not play along. Celestia had agreed very quickly but Luna had again put up a fight before eventually relenting.

It was working perfectly. The officers of the Crystal empire that had been to boisterous had been put to death but only after the ranks had been filtered for trouble makers. The rest had rejoined their family, stripped of rank but would soon be offered the same deal. Only a small faction had managed to escape but were so few it did not matter.

"What do you say? Shall you return to your old ranks and stations or will you retire peacefully?"

An older officer stepped forward. "I am well aware how you massacred the first and third battalions near Tall Tale even after they surrendered!"

"I did not such thing. Unfortunately I was forced to hire mercenaries and they disobeyed their orders. Those forces were to be taken prisoner and disarmed not wiped out but their lust and greed for loot got the better of them. Rest assured, today justice will be carried out!"

He beckoned and heads turned save a few as a few mercenaries were drug into the throne room in chains. What none but Steelshod knew was that they were magically gagged and suppressed to be docile.

"As you can see I have the officers in question here."

That was a lie, he had asked the mercenary captains to pick out seven from their ranks that would not be missed and would be glad to be rid of. They had been paid handsomely in return.

"These seven are the ones responsible, the general in command of the forces was unaware of what was happening. Now I do not blame the common soldier for what they have done, they were only following orders. The blame lies on the officers and as such these seven will be punished here and now!"

A tense air filled the room as Steelshod approached the hapless group while a soldier presented him with his two handed claymore.

"I want it known that I take full responsibility for the error made and am not afraid to do what needs to be done. There is no excuse in what happened. Let this be a lesson to those who would commit such crimes!"

Hefting the blade up he brought it down with a swift stroke removing the griffons head sending it rolling on the marble floor. Blood sprayed across the marble finish tainting it red as he moved to the next mercenary and repeated the process.

They watched in tense silence as the executions proceeded, the only sounds were his blade striking and heads falling on the floor before the bodies were let loose, slumping quietly to the ground.

Not all heads however watched his display. Several were turned slightly towards Luna.

Even before he had begun to speak Luna was already playing her plan out, so long as Ponyville stood Steelshod would be forced to occupy his loyal forces with the siege rather than fight Valkardian if he ever came. She prayed he would.

Getting a message to her officers was no small task but Steelshod had made a simple error in organizing their number based on which princess they had served. Standing across from her own officers who had been hand picked for their dedication, intelligence and most of all loyalty it gave her a golden opportunity.

Folding her arms slightly before things began so Steelshod would be unable to see her movements as the other soldiers in the room were too occupied watching the officers gathered she moved her fingers rapidly to get attention.

Eyes had slowly moved towards her and with a few gestures that at first confused them they began to play along. Keeping their eyes on Steelshod so he would not become suspicious of her actions she managed to get Colonel Fleur's attention and hold it while the others covered for her.

A wordless conversation went back and forth as they both spelled out their intentions in short sentences using their fingers. When Steelshod stepped away to carry out the executions and continue his little speech it became easier. Major Night Bane had joined in after a flurry of hand movements they nodded quietly before turning away.

The wheels of Luna's plan were now in motion and with any luck would severely undermine Steelshod buying Valkardian more time for whatever he was planning. Somewhere deep down she knew he was going to come for them but whether it was out of long lost affection or cold logic she did not know.

She prayed it was a bit of both.

"Who will join me? Step forward."

Steelshod had the bodies left there for all to see quietly and playing along her officers pretending to mull the situation over. Celestia's officers were the first to step forward after watching her for a long moment. She only nodded and soon about half of them stepped forward, the rest refused choosing quiet retirement.

Steelshod only smiled at them and wished them well in their new lives while promising those who were old would recieve payment for their many decades of loyal service. It appeased them.

Nodding to them ever so slightly her own began to filter forward promising to reform Luna's army and serve to defend Equestria from all its enemies no matter who they were. Not all did however, many held back pretending to not be interested choosing to retire into obscurity.

It was working and they also understood it meant they might have to kill each and every one of Celestia's officers before it all ended. Luna held back a smile keeping a somber face and even acting a little betrayed which only made Steelshod smile wider. Luna was proud of them no matter what fate awaited them good or bad.

With any luck they would be able to break free in just a few days and prolong the siege of Ponyville and with a little divine intervention... Throw Steelshod's plans into total chaos. They were under orders that no matter what happened to her, no matter how bad it got, keep fighting. If she were found dead by a nameless assassin: Avenge her.

"I call upon you to surrender to your rightful Emperor and Empress! In the name of Steelshod and Celestia lay down your arms!"

"GO TO HELL!"

An arrow shot across the distance at the soldier bearing the white flag but was stopped when his companion raised a shield.

Colonel Bright Lance was very vocal despite having lost half her forces and done little damage to the enemy. They held on anyway simply to spite their enemy knowing they were all doomed to die but had accepted their fate. Shining was becoming terribly fatigued from keeping the shield up even with Twilight's help but they had all agreed that whatever end awaited them was better than surrender.

"Lay down your arms! No help is coming! Princess Cadence is to stand trial for sedition and insurrection! Shining Armor! Lay down your arms and Emperor Steelshod promises to show great brevity towards your wife and may even forgive her actions AND your own!"

"PISS OFF!"

"If you require proof that she is prisoner it shall be provided!"

"Then show her!"

"She is not here yet but will be, lay down your arms!"

"Show me my wife first!"

Bright Lance glared at Shining.

"You can not be serious..."

"I'm not. But executing a pregnant mare is something I doubt he is willing to do. It would turn Equestria against him."

"Mmm... Lets hope you are right. YOU! PISS OFF!"

Another arrow shot out and missed as the party backed away.

"You have little time left! I suggest you take his majesties kind offer before it costs you your lives!"

They left the parapet and headed towards the castle grumbling about what to do. Food was all but exhausted, there were no medical supplies left and the wounded kept piling up. Rainbow Dash was up and about now but had to lean on a spear, Pinkie was a sobbing wreck hiding in the basement.

"They are really going to let us have it now..."

Twilight looked at Bright Lance.

"What do you mean?"

"How many siege engines do they have now?"

"Thirteen."

"How many fire on us at any given time?"

"Ummm...."

"Two."

"Oh. Why?"

*Urg* Bright Lance turned and faced Twilight after they were safely inside. "Because they are TOYING with us!"

"The Colonel is right Twily. They could have taken this town any time they wanted. I bet they could have breached the palisade in the first two hours and swarmed over us if they wanted."

"Well why didn't they?!"

"My guess is that despite their tactical, strategic and numerical superiority they are unwilling to risk the loss of lives it would have taken. Bright Lance put enough spike pits, oil pots and ballista in their way that their first wave would have suffered heavy losses."

"Damn right they would. They had the ladders and planks required at the start of the siege to just run over the wall too. I dont think Steelshod can afford to take even a handful of losses. Yes, I admit we are going to loose but even now we still have enough equipment held back to make they pay for breaching the wall."

"That doubt is probably the only thing keeping them at bay for now. They were very quick to seize the southern rail line though... We are no longer much of a priority since the castle and fortifications sit so far away from the rail lie. With Ponyville abandoned and forced to who knows where so they can not see what is going on..."

Twilight felt like a third wheel during all the planning and fighting, she had done her best to come up with magical solutions but with so much energy required to keep the shield up her idea's were useless.

"So why would they let us "have it" now then?"

"Oh that's simple my dear. Using Cadence as a hostage? It means they are now more certain of their position and no longer need to worry about the likes of us. This little charade they have going is just to get us to throw our hands up to save them the trouble."

"Then why dont we surrender? It would only save lives."

Bright Lance and Shining glared a moment before he put a hand on her shoulder.

"Sometimes its better to die free than live as a slave. I swore an oath to protect Celestia once and then to my wife. I have a gut feeling if we surrender imprisonment will be the least they do to us at this point."

"Your no good to them dead!"

"Twily, we were dead the moment we resisted."

Her ears drooped at the realization that none of them would be allowed to walk away alive now, they had proven themselves to be too stubborn and vocal to be worth keeping. Any attempt to force a surrender was for the enemies sake not their own, it was not worth storming the gates and risking their lives when they could just wait them out.

"Princess, I suggest you have the wounded moved away from the windows and move anything flammable from the rooms themselves."

"Why?"

"They have only fired on the compound or at the wall. The only reason any windows blew out was from concussion or near misses that were aimed elsewhere. I figure tomorrow or the day after they will aim for the castle itself and try to burn us out. Those giant windows are an easy target and they will be aiming dead center."

"Hmm... Your a genius right? Draw me up a map of all thirteen catapults and mark their trajectories for me. Figure out where they are really aiming and then we can better prepare. If you can figure that out and they do not move them that might give us an edge."

"On drawing this out?"

"I intend to make that bastard pay for every inch in blood! Half my soldiers are dead, wounded or dying so believe me when I say to you I dont give a damn!"

Nodding she began to walk but Rainbow stopped them.

"I am going to try again."

"Not this again. Rainbow you are injured! Stay in bed!"

"I still have my wings! I can fly to get help!"

"You were shot down moments after leaving, you were lucky to have glided back into the shielded area!"

"Yeah well if I go at night-"

"No. I already lost most of my friends and I am not loosing you too!"

"She's right... It might work..."

Twilight turned to her brother with shock written on her face.

"How could you say that after what happened!?"

"Rainbow is right. They have no pegasi in their ranks only unicorns and earth ponies. Going at night would give her a chance, last time she flew straight out and was shot. I cant believe we didn't think of it before. Rainbow, if you flew straight up above the cloud and then veered off you might make it. However, if you get hit again the fall would kill you instantly."

"I'll take the chance."

"Good. But where can you go? Canterlot fell, the refugee camp fell..."

"Surely not all your soldiers are dead or surrendered?" Bright Lance watched him carefully.

"Maybe. I hope not. Alright, fly north and find the camp, sneak in and see what you can find out and if you can find any who fled and regrouped see if they can march south and lift the siege."

"That would take too long, by the time they marched here..."

"Trains... Maybe there is a train they could commandeer and use, you will have to figure it out on your own... Are we agreed then?"

"Agreed." They all nodded and went their separate ways leaving Twilight to return to her study to examine a fire pot that had failed to blow up properly.

Looking over the two runes carved into its surface she understood now how they had managed to bypass the magical shield. Maybe there was a way to augment their own firepots that were being held in reserve with similar runes...

Cadence was bound up and gagged in a cage in the corner while the squad of soldiers sat at a table playing cards. She had the honor of being used to force Ponyville to surrender and if she could pull it off her unborn child's future would look less grim. That and her husband would be safe or so Steelshod promised.

Not one fiber of her being believed he would really honor the deal, instead using her like he had Celestia and Luna, playing one against the other as leverage to prevent rebellion. Closing her eyes she remembered the conversation the three of them had when Steelshod allowed them a small quiet gathering but under the watchful eye of soldiers.

Luna had been vocal about not playing along and holding out, eventually he would slip and civil war would break out giving them a chance at freedom. The soldiers had found this rather hilarious as they watched and listened.

Even she had refused to play along at first until a soldier spoke up about pregnant mares and the future of their offspring. It had the desired effect of making them rather somber about their situation. He had not allowed them to speak to plot against him even if they dared to do it openly but remind them of who controlled their lives and fates.

In the end Celestia said she would side with Steelshod, the safety of her ponies was priority and now that the die had been cast it was their duty as princesses to ensure their peoples future. What applauded them was that somehow Celestia thought that they might be able to reform Steelshod.

Reform him? Was she mad? He was the worst monster she had ever heard of! They had said so as well but Celestia held firm that all can have a change of heart if shown some compassion. She had known his father and he was a very good stallion but in need of understanding, his son was acting out of revenge from the loss of his father and the excuses kept coming.

Luna and stood at that point and asked to be returned to her cell, it was preferable compared to hearing this.

Cadence's eyes snapped open when a soldier walked to the door and peaked out for a moment. Another joined and both went out and the door shut. Leaning so close to the wall she could just make out the sound of a brief scuffle before only the rocking and creaking of the train car could be heard again.

Pharynx watched the train approaching in the distance, its conductor was in no hurry as it slowly steamed down the mountain and into the last set of rough hills. Nodding back at his team they slipped into the tunnel and grabbed onto the ceiling and faced away from the train and waited.

Moments passed and soon the dull grinding of gears and puffing of smoke announced the trains arrival. Everything vibrated slightly as it entered the last tunnel before it would make the final descent to Ponyville, this was their narrow window to carry out the operation.

"Ten, nine, eight..."

The count continued silently in their heads as the train passed blasting them with smoke but none coughed or closed their eyes despite the stinging sensation it left. Counting the cars he watched as the target passed below and then the next and at zero they grabbed onto the top of the train car landing softly.

Motioning forward the group moved forward quickly and split up. Five to the front, five to the rear. Two stayed on top as Pharynx slipped down onto the back ramp of the car and crouched, another was across from him and one knelt above ready to grab whoever came out.

Leaning over he made a soft scratching sound at the base of the door and listened carefully to the voice of another changeling in his mind as they peaked through a window. One soldier stood and walked overlooking out the window but saw nothing and calling another soldier over they both stood at the door.

Pharynx waited a moment and made another scratching noise but a little farther away and waited and soon the door swung open and the two quickly stepped out shutting the door behind them.

In a blink he drove his blade into the chest of the rearmost soldier while the other across from him did the same. From above a changeling snatched the first soldiers body and hoisted them up and away before tossing their corpse off the train and into the night.

Dragging the body back he dropped it off the side of the steps, the door was not locked.

"Ready crossbows."

From both sides of the train they unslung their weapons and notched bolts while the other team had a changeling power up their horn to blow the other door in since it was still locked. A voice from inside called to the missing soldiers and sending out a command the changeling that had peeking in the window reared back and brought their weapon down shattering it.

Heads spun towards the broken window as one door exploded in a green blast while the other flew open. Aiming inside quickly they fired into the cluster of soldiers clustered around the table along the far wall, a few slumped down immediately but two sprung up drawing their weapons.

"Now!"

Dropping their crossbows they surged in from both sides as the survivors fought to get clear of their comrades bodies. Plowing into them one was grabbed around the throat through the open window and heaved backwards slamming him into the wall. Burying his blade in his chest the other managed one fruitless swing before being overcome in a flurry of blades.

"Find the key."

Yanking the bodies away from the table they tore away until one found a gleaming key hidden away under a breastplate, it hung on a chair around the soldiers neck and yanking it free handed it to Pharynx who turned quickly to their prisoner.

Cadence stared at their blood-soaked forms in horror. The last time the changelings had attacked there had been some violence but most was simply to subdue their opponents not kill or harm them. Seeing them dressed now in full armor that only added to their terrifying appearance she tried to push herself farther away in the small cage.

Pharynx snickered as he unlocked the cage and looked at their enemy.

"Don't worry "princess" we are only here to retrieve you. Someone else wants you and we are just the delivery boys."

Grabbing her by the leg as she thrashed he hauled her from the cage and dragged her across the floor and dropped her. Two others grabbed on and began to bind her up quickly.

"Sir, what about the train? Burn it?"

"No. The queen said to kill all the soldiers in the car and bring her alive and unharmed, the train is someone else's problem now. Move!"

His strike team quickly departed carrying Cadence like a basket case with them and onto the roof of the car. Below the doors were shut quietly and signaling the team they buzzed up into the darkness and disappeared.

Cadence shook in terror as they flew on but had quit struggling, someone else wanted her that was not Steelshod nor her husband obviously so who did that leave? What had Chrysalis been offered in exchange for her freedom?

Landing amongst some trees they dropped her quickly in a small clearing and quickly moved away while the taller one waited at her side. Sitting up and choking on the gag he stiffened a moment before reaching down and removing it before returning to attention.

A pair of green glowing slitted eyes she had prayed to never see again emerged from the gloom as a familiar figure sauntered forward.

"What a pleasure to see you again!"

"Why? Who are you working for Chrysalis!?"

"I work for myself, this is all part of a far greater deal! All I have to do is deliver one little pink pastel pony princess and I am free to do whatever I want!"

"So you have a controller now?"

*Tsk* "It is impolite to start a fight with your rescuer. Your soon to be handler has an agreement with my people, one he is willing to forget if I deliver you into his hands. Be grateful he sees you as important or you would be rotting in that cage."

"Thank... You? Why does he want me and who is he?"

"You will find out soon enough. Oh this is so precious... What happened to your horn mm?"

Cadence glared as Chrysalis traced a finger over the stub grinning wickedly

"Sadly for you my dear... He did not see fit to make your horn part of the deal! Oh well... Phalanx, bag her, we have a delivery to make."

"Yes my queen!"

The gag was shoved back in and tied off while a large sack was opened up, they stuffed Cadence in and tied it off and soon were in the air again moving quickly to deliver a terrified Cadence into the clutches of something else.

"Well? How many!?"

"Ma'am... It is not easy with Steelshod spying on us be we were able to spread the word to at least three battalions. It will take time to go down the roster and find every soldier then inform them..."

"I dont care about that, what we need are numbers and quickly."

"What about the Celestial's?"

"Major Night Bane joined a group of them at the old officers club, they are serious about backing Steelshod all the way. There will be no help coming from them."

"How are we to form up our forces and escape the city?"

"Leave that to General Ironshod. He has a plan on getting us all out without raising alarm. We will know by morning if it is going to work, until then keep finding as many as possible!"

"Yes ma'am!"

Colonel Fleur looked around the room at the few officers still present. Most were gathering the former night guard using the old roster and were risking it all to get the formations drawn back up. Luna had been specific, they had two days to get out before the hammer fell on Ponyville. After that it would all be over.

As to how Ironshod planned to sneak out over three thousand soldiers under the careful watch of his forces were beyond them but he had promised it would happen by morning. A few had raised the idea of visiting those of Celestia's old guard to had refused to join and get them but it was too big of a risk.

Instead they had opted that a few old veterans who were too injured to join them would deliver some messages well after they had left and hope for the best. Fleur looked down at the map and tightened her grip till the table shook. One screw up and they would all be put to death if they were lucky.

Letting go and looking out the window of her house she wondered how her daughter was doing. Not a whole lot had changed as Steelshod promised and the nobles were eager to retain their power, swearing loyalty almost from the start. A few had refused and lost their titles but remained in their homes and her daughter just so happened to be living with one of them.

What would Steelshod do to Fancy Pants and Fleur-De-Lis if he came after them? Luna was being used and they all knew their families would be rounded up one way or another to be used against them. There was no choice though, they had to dethrone that bastard somehow.

"Ma'am! Good news!"

A younger officer bounded into the room smiling.

"Seventh battalion is mostly on board with us. Found them still in their camp on the other side of the city!"

"That makes it... Four thousand. Half the surviving forces. Any indication his spies are tailing us?"

"No ma'am, the night guard know all the back streets to use and are reporting his spies have not moved from their posts. No messengers of any kind either."

"Good... The operation ends at four AM and then we dig in and wait."

"What about weapons?"

"I have no idea what the general is planning. It is in his hands."

"Your majesty about what I talked to you about yesterday..."

Steelshod looked over at the older stallion warily as he poked at his food. Ironshod. What an ironic name.

"Yes, yes. You wish to have two battalions of engineers sent to the Crystal Empire to help build their new city."

Ironshod nodded.

"Also I would like to use a couple of the airships to move building materials to help in construction as well."

"My sources tell me that your little army is popping back up overnight..."

He never blinked or showed any sign of his intentions on hearing this.

"Indeed! They are eager to help."

"Planning a little coup are we?"

"No my lord. When Luna had us formed we were made up mostly of city guard and engineers. Protecting and building is what we know best."

"Truly... You do realize that your armor and weapons will remain HERE..."

"Sire this is purely a ponitarian mission. We do not need nor ask for weapons only food, medicine and the building materials we need, tools are also required."

Steelshod leaned back in his seat then handed his tray off to a servant. Dining in your enemies throne room was indeed luxury.

"Consider your wish granted. You will be sent by train and via... "Air ship" to the refugee camp with whatever materials you require. How many are you taking? Two thousand?"

"Yes sire. Two thousand."

"Hm. Very well. When will you leave?"

"Today."

"Today? Thinking rather highly of yourself."

"I have three thousand waiting and if your own pitch in we can be loaded all the faster. I would ask that a regiment goes with the airships."

"No. That will not be necessary. They will only take up space. So be it. You have my leave to carry out your mission."

Steelshod held out his hand and Ironshod approached and knelt before kissing the ring.

"Thank you my lord."

After he had left the emperor turned to an adjutant.

"Send a platoon with him, if he so much as twitches wrong kill him."

A train had been loaded with food and medicine in the largest rush ever beheld, no one was even counting what was being loaded from the emergency granaries and stockpiles Luna had ordered built. What was not known to most however was that hidden in with the boxes and sacks of grain were spear heads and pins nicked from the hidden armory only a few officers knew about.

The shafts were going via airship as part of the "building materials" and marked as tent poles. A few blades had been stuffed into grain sacks while helmets were stuffed into boxes. Armor was the tricky part but Ironshod had figured they would pack them into crates marked "Nails, 25,000 count" and no one would know the difference.

Soldiers raced in columns like ants hauling supplies on their backs while others pushed wheelbarrows or pulled wagons. Colonel Fleur however had the most important job of all: making certain the ballista parts were loaded without tipping off Steelshod's soldiers who kept a very close eye on them.

They were not fools and used similar machines and knew what the parts looked like but she had the idea of hiding a few inside piles of grain sacks stacked on top of sliding planks. To the outside eye it appeared the system allowed them to just yank the great heap aboard without having to toss the sacks on one at a time. In reality a partially constructed ballista was being loaded into a train car or airship.

Catapults had been left out of the plan, too hard to move and would take up precious space. They were taking only a fraction of what they could in way of siege engines not that they had access to very many either. Take too much and the enemy would notice, too little with the same result.

By one o'clock the train had departed carrying two battalions in sealed cargo carriers. No doubt to keep them from seeing Ponyville in the distance before the train turned farther north. Even now it was hard to keep quiet what was happening since the town could be seen from here.

So far the story was rebels were holding the village hostage and Steelshod was waiting them out and even Celestia had pleaded for their surrender to no avail. It was a good cover but they planned to make one hell of a bang making it obvious it was all a lie.

"Ma'am? Time to go."

Fleur nodded to her lieutenant and they walked towards the warehouse. Ironshod was about to begin the hardest part of the charade, sneaking out two more battalions in broad daylight while the enemy walked with them.

Two airships were already under way and the last two were their ticket out. A great switch was about to be made inside the warehouse as ponies who had been masquerading as soldiers earlier now loaded crates packed with soldiers. Many would escape tonight via flying off into the dark and hopefully bypass the gryphon mercenaries.

The other one thousand, three hundred and twenty-two were stuck gambling. Part of keeping up the rapid pace of movement was to allow family members dressed as soldiers to cover for them while real soldiers trickled onto the airships that left earlier and now the remainder had to make the best of it.

So far everything was working and the added chaos of the movement helped them as the hours wore on. Steelshod's soldiers never checked a single crate or pile of grain. None even checked the airship and any that got close almost got run over by wagons and carts in the stampede.

Making one last check she slipped into the box with the others and it was nailed shut quickly before a yell sounded out and the wagon was off. They did not even check the warehouse anymore after the first hour.

Despite the diminishing number of ponies running around no alarms were raised either as part of the ruse was calling off most for "lunch" since there was so little left to load. Grinding and a hard thump jarred their teeth announcing they were safely packed onto the ship. Once they were well out the soldiers who had snuck on earlier would pop the boxes open and let them out.

Fleur sighed as the airship's cargo door was slammed shut a while later and the magical engines fired off driving them forward with a heavy lurch that sent everything sliding.

It was a mad plan to say the least. Commandeer the airships en route and land them within half a day's march yet out of sight from Canterlot. The train would be jumped along the way and its occupants freed then it was a race to get everything prepared for the second phase.

The four airships would be used to drop supplies directly into the besieged fortress with the full expectation they would be destroyed in the process. With any luck one low pass would allow them to kick out as much as possible and even if it splattered across the ground at least it would arrive.

Meanwhile half the formation would fight their way in from the neighboring forest and with any luck would break through the line despite being out numbered. Doing this at night would be a big help but the risk was great. Elsewhere Ironshod would be waging his own private war against the rail lines, breaking them up and causing as much chaos as could be sown.

Eventually his aim was to get to the refugee camp and liberate it hoping the soldiers there would join him. They had brought enough weapons to arm their own but little else. Hopefully they would not be opposed to looting their enemies bodies for weapons.

Ironshod sat at the table with his officers and quietly played a game of bridge, they had all taken note of the platoon that joined them at the last minute in the neighboring car that was attached also at the last minute. Ten were crammed in with them and other supplies but they ignored them and the sealed, covered windows.

Every one of them knew why the soldiers were there so they played their card game keeping score on a piece of paper. Only two kept watch over them while the rest played their own card game, while the two were hawk's they were bored stiff.

Magic was out of the question, the enemy was largely immune, all each of them had was a small dagger they had hidden under their uniforms before boarding and that would not be enough.

Lazily looking at the major beside him he leaned back to stretch and dropped one hand into his lap. Picking the seat closest to the wall had been on purpose and having them take the smallest table was also purposeful.

Reaching over carefully he traced letters out on the majors leg then across to a captain that was jammed in beside him. The message spread quickly and the two unicorn officers started at him before nodding gently.

When the time came their magic might not work on the enemy but that did not stop them from blowing up the train car while shielding their little table.