We had been expecting it, at least in the back of our minds. Still...simply just expecting it did nothing to prepare us for the comment made by our invisible rival. We stood side by side, aiming our weapons into the empty trench around us and hoping for any sort of sign where this fucking Crimson Dragon might be. After a brief moment, I remembered S.A.T.S was just a thought away and allowed the spell to take effect pausing the world around me for as long as the little meter in my HUD allowed. With my perception artificially bolstered I had time to look around in front of me, the aim-assist computer tracking for targets wherever my eyes looked. There she was, a roughly Equine shaped mass of un-targetable green highlighted in the red tinted world of my low-light vision filter. While I couldn't target the Crimson D as their invisibility cloaks only appeared as anomalies on sensors, I had an amusing 95% chance at hitting Onyx for any body part I targeted.

I deactivated the spell letting time resume as I addressed the strangely non-hostile operative before me. If she had wanted to kill us, I would have felt a sword trying to slice and dice its way through my gorget and Onyx would have gotten an AP round or two into the Kevyarn neck mesh of his Power Armor. These Dragons knew exactly how to take down the toughest prey to walk the warzones and it was all we could do to pray luck was in our favor.

“Alright, you got us assface! Strange move to give away your position...unless you’re just trying to keep me unaware of a behind-from-back attack.” I said, peeking over my shoulder for another peek at S.A.T.S and finding nothing.

“Behind from back...?” The Zebra asked inquisitively, the voice distinctly and very surprisingly male. “Have you further butchered your own language, Equestrian? Regardless, as you can see I am not come here to attack you. I could have done so when your backs were turned to me moments ago.”

“Well, cut the bullshit and tell me what you want then.” I retorted, resisting the urge to shoot him point blank with a 25mm shell and see how he liked the flavor. The Mrk. IV could take the backsplash, he couldn't take it head-on.

“That is...” He responded in a soft tone. "Rather complicated..."

“Ya know wha’ else is complicated?” Onyx challenged, his tri-barreled minigun starting to spin with an ominous whir. “Pickin’ up th’ pieces of yer body when Ah’m done wit’ yer sorry fuckin' hide!”

Several more guns cocked and spun up to speed from the top of the trench walls on both sides as the rest of our Squads had approached our position in perfect silence. For once it was a ten-on-one fight with a cornered Dragon and not the Feral ones they had brought into the fray on several occasions. This kind of Dragon was known for only carrying a sword and a sniper rifle rather than might talons and jaws. Hardly a threat to our superior numbers though the sword was slight pause for caution. There were a few kinks in my armor someone with the know-how and skill could exploit. My front knees for example, between where my pauldrons and bracers were fixed. Just normal Dragon leather and a Kevyarn underbarding; their swords could cut through tougher stuff than that.

“Peace, Equine…” The Zebra said with a tired sigh. “Very well, allow me to further demonstrate my peaceful disposition towards you. One moment.”

He suddenly appeared before us, dressed in the strangest armor I had ever seen beneath his invisibility cloak which draped over his shoulders with its pointed hood pulled down. I had seen a few of these cloaks and their large ruby encrusted brooches before however his armor...well, that was something very new indeed. From what I could see, it was a full-bodied black armored jumpsuit similar to the underbarding myself and other Veteran Rangers wore. However it differed in that it there was no duster with external impact plates but rather had them incorporated into the suit itself. The mesh between the metal or ceramic body plates covering key portions of the body was very reminiscent of Kevyarn too...

Perhaps even more unusual was the Zebra himself. I had seen and fought a fair few over the years but never had I ever seen let alone even heard of a male being a member of the Crimson Dragons. Similar to an Equestrian stallion, his face was a bit stockier and more squared in shape rather than the more gentle curves of female Zebras. The black and white stripes that I could see not covered by armor were neat and comely with bold lines between the contrasting colors. His mane, a ‘mohawk’ style as was traditional for all Zebras, was shorter than a females’ and he had a small set of two golden hoop earrings pierced through his right ear. His eyes though...those were extremely unusual, an icy blue color when most Zebras had some shade of gold, brown or tan. Overall...I was at a loss where to begin analyzing the small mindfuck of information being presented to me. Strange armor, unusual gender choice for a CD and distinctly blue eyes. He definitely was a strange sight, even on a battlefield.

“I am here to broker an agreement between myself and your people.” He said simply, slowly unloading his covert black sniper rifle and unbuckling the sword, scabbard and all, from his back and depositing it at my hooves. “You are a Lieutenant Colonel of your military are you not? Unless you have re-designated those silver tree leaves for another rank that I am unaware of. Thus, you should be in command of such faculties required to process my request.”

I nodded slowly, almost unable to speak let alone form cohesive thoughts as the amounts of weird going on was almost too much to comprehend. This was a fucking top-tier Imperial operative. So high up the chain of command the only ones said to wield more power were their infamous Shaman caste and the Great Chief himself. Buck hadn't said anything yet about any outside threats and I was certain our fellows on the trench walls would have an eye on the surrounding terrain. I was as safe as I could be...what was the harm of indulging some curiosity?

“What is your request then?” I asked, looking at him with a critical squint; a motion my helmet translated into a command to zoom-in on his face revealing several scars on his cheeks and poking up from under the collar of his black armor on his neck.

“This War between our nations is pointless.” He said firmly, looking me directly in the eye with an air of authority. “We have allowed ourselves to degrade into savage daemons set on destroying the other in the rivers of blood we have made beneath our very hooves. Whatever our qualms were that began this conflict have long since ceased to matter...all that is left is our mutual hatred of the other. It is because of this I have chosen to abandon mine hatred and see past my own petty conflict with your people. I wish to act as your eyes and ears within my camp in exchange for amnesty and asylum within your country. I have had enough of War for one lifetime and wish to witness ours come to an end in our lifetime.”

“Um...uh...o-one moment please.” I said, a stuttering mess as I muted my external speaker and spoke directly to Onyx through our radio link. This one was gonna need to be crowd-sourced.

“Thoughts?” I asked, wishing for once I could see his expression beneath his steely helm for any sort of nonverbal indicators.

“Ah don’ even know wha’ tah do, let alone thank…” He responded in a bewildered tone, looking back at me. “If he’s fer real then we gotta take th’ offer. Anythin’ we can take tah get these sons of bitches outa Equestria Ah say. Ah Crimson Fucker as ah planted spy fer us would be ah helluva intelligence asset. Let's hear 'em out...Ah've gotta lock on him n' he's dropped his weapons so Ah think it's safe enough fer now.”

I nodded in agreement before looking back towards our would-be defector, deciding to take off my helmet as a show of non-hostility as he had his own head exposed first. That didn't keep me from eyeing his unique sword lying in its sheathe on the ground nearby as I set my helmet down in the dirt. I had yet to see a curved sword be employed by a Crimson Dragon in the field but tonight was a night of many firsts it seemed. Things were getting more interesting by the second...

“Very well…” I said, looking him dead in the eye while I tried my damndest to remember the script I had been taught for the insanely unlikely case I encountered a defector. ”We will...we will deliberate the t...terms? Terms of these pro...proceedings henceforth."

Fuckin' smooth... However, I was strangely rescued from my demonstration of poor memorization habits by the Zebra interrupting me with a look of extreme curiosity and scrutiny.

“Do excuse my interjection but your face is like unto someone I used to know...many, many years ago whilst abiding amongst your people in the earliest days of our conflict.” He said, gesturing slowly to my face with a hoof.

“Oh…?” I asked slowly, looking at him cautiously in the event this was a ploy to catch me off guard. “Is that right...? Who do I look like to you then? Don’t expect you to know many ponies on a first name basis given the hell we’re all living through right now. But please, elucidate me why don't ya?”

“I...her...name eludes my memory…” He admitted slowly, looking down slightly in thought. “She was a filly of a visage much like yourself except two decades your junior...we studied astride each other in school and I had considered her a friend as did my family. Her mother was also welcomed amongst us. We taught them many things of our culture and homeland across the sea...but alas this was before we were all sent home to whence our roots had sprung.”

“Zecuro…?” I asked in a loud tone of surprise, the name faint yet distinct in my memory from the golden years of my childhood innocence.

“Yes?” He asked immediately as if to a commanding officer before relaxing and looking confused. “How came you by my name…?”

“Zecuro, it’s me.” I said with hushed excitement, trying to keep the volume down as we were so close to Camp Fuck-Off. “Athena. I'm the filly you went to school with!”

“Impossible…” He hummed cautiously. “The patterns of destiny do not allow for such coincidence to occur, particularly not in the midst of warring nations. Far too fortuitous for the spirits who walk betwixt this world and those beyond to arrange...”

“Your mother’s name was Xera, your father’s name was Bukiki.” I said excitedly, trying desperately to convince him I was indeed the childhood friend he seemed to remember using whatever information my brain could recall. “I...I was the one who broke your grandpa’s old hunting stick...I don’t remember what you called it. I cried for weeks afterwards? Your mom made me tea every time to calm down made from some weird purple roots you guys grew in the herb garden behind your house.”

“My elder’s Assegai?” He gasped softly in realization. “Atina!” He exclaimed much louder than any of us were comfortable with, a chorus of shushes from my comrades reminding us where we were.

“You two know each other?!” Penny finally said in disbelief from the wall to my left. “Since fucking when?”

“This is Zecuro?” Huckleberry commented from my right. “From what you told me, I thought he was killed during the deportations way back in the late 50s.”

“That’s what I thought too!” I replied, beaming with uncontainable excitement at Zecuro who eyed my Squad and Onyx’s cautiously. “He disappeared before his parents did and they never answered whenever I asked about him so...later on I just started assuming that meant he was dead...holy shit this is crazy!”

"I...I am likewise overwhelmed by this revelation." Zecuro said with a small smile, glancing at my companions with a hint of wariness. "I had detected an unusual radio signal designating this area as a point of interest for the enemy. I...had not anticipated the one I would be requesting asylum by would be you."

“Not to be that asshole but I’m seeing activity near your position.” Buck Beak said in an almost nonchalant tone as if he was reading the scores from the latest hoofball games. “Advise you shitheads get the hell out of there unless you want a bunch of stripes all over your asses. I mean, I'm hella bored up here so I could use some bang, pow, boom to get the old heart goin'. And no! Ya can't fuckin' use that as an excuse to call me 'old' ya hoovsey havin' chucklefucks so don't even start!”

I relayed the information to Zecuro leaving out Buck's extra input as it was downright stupid to give him any excuse to make some real noise and get the party started. My inhibitions towards acting guarded around Zecuro were all but gone as I felt such joy in my Soul that I wanted to flip off the trench walls and squeal in excitement like the filly he remembered. Sadly, just as it wasn't a good idea to stroke Buck's ego by egging him on, it was likewise hardly time to start chatting up the old times like a high-school reunion. Zecuro seemed to be getting similar information from his own sources as he had a hoof to his ear and was concentrating on it as if he were on coms. It was certainly smaller than the usual headsets seen on most Zebra soldiers, nestled so small in the ear I wouldn't have even noticed it had he not brought attention to it. The Crimson Ds certainly got all the neatest toys...and now I had a real chance to look into how their shit really worked if everything went the way I was really beginning to hope it was.

“It seems that my brothers and sisters are commencing a patrol towards our present location.” He said with almost a bitter tone. “I was not the only one to have noticed your radio beacon it seems. I would advise in the future to use an ultra-high frequency as those we are still struggling to intercept with our current radio technology. We best part for the time being. But, we must meet again as soon as possible. Where would be best to allow these proceedings? Now that I am aware of thy identity, I refuse to allow for any other to speak to me on this matter. Time may have driven us apart but this is no mere aberration in our life journeys. To request asylum is to leap with faith into the Void as it is...to leap in thy direction is potentially a blessing I have sought for many a year.”

I ran through a few possible places in the trenches that were closer to home but decided Outpost Charlie-Horse made the most sense. It was isolated from all but the fringe patrols and they were always looking for trained snipers to occupy it so I would have no problem getting myself appointed to the spot. Hell, maybe Hucks too since she was a Two-Star Marksmare herself and definitely could qualify instantly for the post. If they had any objection to it then they could just simply glance at the silver oak leaves on my lapels to know why I wasn’t somepony to fuck around with. That or the golden crosshairs with three gold stars painted onto my breastplate beneath the batch number on my neck guard. A Tri-Star Marksmare award wasn’t something they just gave away after all. Besides...who even wanted the most boring post in all the Southern Front? Nopony. That’s why there were hardly volunteers to the post. Everyone was more or less forced to go when their time came around. Even the Five Squads on occasion thanks to the lottery system of names. There was going to be no issue getting the place to ourselves and for once it's dreadfully boring nature was going to become a benefit.

“Outpost Charlie-Horse.” I said, pointing towards the northwest where the lone watchtower stood. “You know where it is I assume? Probably have the entire South memorized with how long the Empire has been digging in here.”

He nodded with a sly smile and responded, “Indeed...I was amongst the first to prod its threat potential when it was first established nine years hence. I found it to be nothing more than a mere lookout and not a target of any particular strategic value to the Empire worth destroying. Thus why it has been left untouched aside from a raid or two in order to remind the occupants of their omnipresent danger. Merely a passing distraction for mild amusement at best.”

“So we have you to thank for that outpost being so unbearably fucking boring??” The Canterlot mare finally spoke up. “I do not know if I should thank you or curse you…I have more hours logged into that forsaken structure than my Power Armor...”

“Cut the chatter and look alive people.” I commanded, looking back towards Zecuro who was retrieving the discarded magazine from his sniper rifle. “Alright, perfect. Let’s meet there tomorrow night then, around the same time that we are now. Think you can make that?”

He chuckled softly as he slowly drew the hood of his cloak over his head, his form vanishing from sight the second it rested on his mane. Their invisibility magic was truly a spectacle for the eyes, even for a Unicorn like me. Not that I was even remotely gifted with anything above advanced telekinesis...Studies of the Arcane had been a hell of a slog to get through in high school and college alike.

“As you should well know...there are certain perks that accompany elevated rank. I will meet you as requested my friend, Atina. Until we meet again, may warm sands guide thy path and benevolent stars light thy journey.”

I nodded my head and offered his sword to him, taking a second to marvel over its unique design before he took it gently and slipped it under his cloak hiding it from view. Unlike all other Zebra made swords I had seen, which were straight bladed with double edges, his gently curved along the length of the blade and featured only a single cutting edge. I was hardly an expert in swords as they were a weapon of a previous age but seeing as they were really only larger, deadlier combat knives...I could appreciate the idea. It was an absolutely beautiful, exotic piece that was certainly not made by Zebras but someone even more foreign to me. After all they both cut, stab, block and attack with a sharpened edge and point...only difference really was how far away from the fucker you could be when ya cut them a new one. I was going to have to ask about it when we met again as he had my curiosity at first but most certainly now had my excited and undivided attention.

I saluted towards where he was last seen standing before hearing his almost imperceptible hoofsteps galloping down the trench and into the distance. The silence that followed was intense as everyone seemed to still be dumbstruck with just how much info had been exchanged in so short a time. With a quick practiced motion, I slapped my helmet back onto my head and nodded towards the North from whence we had all come. both our Squads present, the patrol had technically been abandoned for the last twenty or so minutes and any Pegusi on a patrol of their own would be bound to notice our absence from the patrol path. Onyx attached the mystery device to the magnetic strips running along his back just behind the mounts of his weapons and plodded along beside me. His armor made considerably more noise than myself in my comparatively silent Ranger gear even with the rattling of the grenades across my breast that swung and clacked together as I galloped beside him. On top of sticking out like a sore horn on thermals, the T-45 was the opposite of the word 'subtle' and whatever was the doubly opposite of 'covert'. That was what the Semi-Powered Armor series like the T-35s or 38s were more suited for anyway. The 45s had brawn in spades.

The rest of the patrol went completely smooth with no sign of any Zebra activity to be found. Occasionally we would pass a pile of corpses here and there filled with members from both sides of the day's fight that had yet to be M.O.P'd up. We all walked in stunned silence, even Buck who usually liked to fill silence with more of himself than was ever needed. Towards the end, Onyx turned towards me looking between my face and our Camp. I had a feeling about what he was going to say...

“Hey Crete, I got th’ feelin’ we shouldn’t report anythin abou’ tonight.” He said in a hushed tone. “Ah mean, yer th’ rankin’ officer here but...Ah got this here feelin’ tha’ we shouldn’t tell nopony about yer friend Zecuro or this here Balefire thingy. Dunno if he was just playin' games wit' ya 'er what but he seemed tah be genuine tah me...”

I looked at everypony around me who all glanced back in my direction silently; the meaning was conveyed clearly. None of us felt right about telling command about Zecuro and not just for the fact they’d be furious for letting him go when we had the chance to Bag-n’-Tag him. Being privy to a portion of the madness infecting the General, it seemed we all had a silent agreement that Zecuro would not be treated fairly or given the chance to prove anything. The fact he turned out to be a personal friend of mine seemed to have subdued everyone and what he had said about the pointless nature of the War only seemed to exacerbate the silent gnawing growing in our minds. I personally felt that if he was coming willingly, which seemed to be the case, then I was going to give him the benefit of the doubt and see if our past friendship truly was stronger than his ties to the Empire. I was still hesitant given his position as a Crimson Dragon...but the Zecuro I remembered was honorable and dependable. Traits instilled in him by both his father and grandfather who came from a long line of warriors tracing all the way into their ancient tribal days; or so their familial tapestry told. If any Zebra was to retain their honor...I was going to bet my bits (and life it seemed) on Zecuro. Perhaps it was suicidal...but my gut wasn't sensing any danger coming from him directly. And...I couldn't get what he had said about destiny bringing us back together out of my head. I was wary...but I felt this was right.

“You guys know this is insanely illegal right?” Buck Beak commented as he landed next to us for the last quarter-mile of the walk back to Camp. “Yes? So everyone here knows they’re being fucking stupid dangerous with their lives?”

We looked at him in confusion as he was the last person I expected to get lectured on safety and legality but he immediately followed up with, “Fuck yeah! Finally all of you bitches are joining in on my anarchist fun! My corrupting influence has devoured you all! Welcome to hell, dicks n' pussies of Alpha! I'll be your pilot, Bitch McFabtits, for the duration of your voyage.”

“Dunno about ‘corrupting influence’ Buck.” Huckleberry giggled. “We’ve all kind of helped each other into this dumpster fire of a dirty ass gutter we all call home.”

“Ya know, you’s freaks are pretty chill in my book.” The Manehattenite chimed in. “You’s not so bad fer a buncha Nad Pads. Ain't somethin' I says often so don't you's go fuckin' up ya hear?”

“Indeed. I suppose I was wrong to assume you Rangers were all a rabble of incompetent delinquents.” The Canterlot mare said with a hint of remorse in her voice. "I am not so petty as to not acknowledge my own flawed prejudices."

“Well, you girls are all pretty nifty yourselves in my book.” Penny replied happily as Camp finally came close enough to embrace. “I hope we get to work together again sometime.”

“Oh yew can count on it!” Onyx said with a laugh.

Next Chapter: Chapter Nineteen: Moving is a Bitch Estimated time remaining: 23 Hours, 39 Minutes