“I hate hoofing it,” Thunder grumbled.

“You think he would learn to just suck it up by now,” Shadow chuckled.

The others joined him. They were almost out of the Foal Mountain Forest, what they named the forest that ran along the southern foot of the range.

“Shadow,” Silent called. “I was thinking about heading first to Stable-Tec headquarters. If it is still standing.”

“As long as you can navigate us there,” Shadow shrugged. “It is a point of interest and will get us a good view of the area. Hopefully.”

They halted on the edge of the forest and looked out on the crumbling metroplex.

“A good way to go with little cover,” Storm pointed out.

“That isn’t a burning fire smoke,” Slice commented. “Somepony has a factory or two up and running. Which can mean nothing good.”

“Lets move out,” Shadow said leading the way. “We need to pick up our pace and find shelter in the ruins. We can do it.”

They pushed on after him, picking up their pace. Farms began to dot the area outside of the city. There was no avoiding them. They just moved on as if they were not there. They found shelter in a collapsed two story building for the night. They were in a suburban area, not far from what would be considered as the city’s official boundary.

“A lot of development happened in the span of the war,” Storm commented. “I read about it, but seeing things, they did not do it justice. We have an drawer with old fashioned quills, ink and decayed paper next to a burned out terminal.”

“Then you can take first watch,” Silent said as they began to lay down strategically.

Shadow was awoken in the morning by Nor’s orders to not move. He listed as voices became louder.

“It was probably Dahlia’s Dragoons. That crusader can be more trouble than she is worth.”

“We need to report them to the Elder. They can’t be scaring ponies and need to look and act like proper Steel Rangers while on patrol. It is counter productive.”

“Lets go. This was a shitty night. I want sleep.”

Nor was the one who poked his head and check if things were clear.

“Now we know a group,” Silent said happily. “Things are moving up!”

“And yet down,” Nor replied. “Those two were in full power armor. I have the feeling that they all wear it.”

“The jury is still officially out, but there is no way we can outright compete with their armor,” Storm warned. “We probably have better weapons, but that is it.”

“We carry armor piercing rounds for a reason,” Thunder added.

“But avoid if we can,” Shadow stated. “And stay mobile if we engage.”

“Perhaps we can actually talk,” Silent said stunning them. “We may be looking at a group that would make a strong ally and dangerous enemy. If they are of any real size.”

“That is a dangerous gamble,” Thunder stated.

“Recon comes with dangerous gamble,” Shadow murmured. “I mean, we have hit three towns, we know two are connected, but we do not know how organized any of them actually are. We are failing there. But this armor doesn’t make it easy to just stroll up and talk.”

“So, what? Ditch the armor and stroll up in rags?” Slice asked.

“We would need some cover, and weapons,” Shadow replied. “Probably one or two without armor as emissaries, but we can’t show wings and have to balance out as powerful enough that you do not want to mess with the two emissaries, yet not too big to scare them off.”

“That is a hard balance,” Silent stated. “We should try. Have to try. But hard.”

“For now, we are here,” Shadow reminded them. “And they seem to have lots of suits. So we need our suits. Talks would need to be done strategically. But we are not going to search those out on our first time into the city.”

They ate a quick breakfast before falling in with Shadow on point. Nor was his navigator, but that quickly became a difficult job. Streets on the map didn’t exist because of rubble. Nor was doing his best to chart the developments on his map.

“Lets cut through here,” Thunder said, pointing to a hole.

It was easy to miss as rubble had fallen all around it, allowing for a small slit to be open. Shadow poked his head through and then continued on.

“Shadow, we are getting close to the center,” Nor informed him. “Stable-Tec is to the north west.”

“West, thanks,” Shadow replied distracted. “It is quiet for a city. Especially for one that we know is active. Keep your eyes peeled.”

They continued on west towards there destination when explosions and gunfire erupted ahead of them. They picked up their pace. They wanted to see who was fighting. Shadow and Nor slipped ahead and into a mostly intact building. They raced up the stares and through holes in the next floor to get to the top. They stayed low and out of site while they scoped things out.

The battle was large and there was no sign of stopping. A dozen of those Steel Rangers were in direct combat with unidentified pony group with a griffin or two in their mix. The Stable-Tec headquarters was within sight and deep within the Steel Rangers control. The vantage point also allowed Shadow to see northern half of Fillydelphia and its walls being erected around the metal roller coaster and factories behind it.

“Whoever that group in the north is, they have a really good grip and I do not doubt they have the hoof power to take on the Steel Rangers,” Shadow radioed. “Reinforcements for the ponies are arriving from the east. Jump them and it should give us a talking chance with these Steel Rangers.”

“No wings,” Silent ordered. “Thunder, intercept those reinforcements with Storm. Slice and I will hit them from the side. Keep the Novas and the Gatling guns secret.”

Shadow stood up and launched three rockets at the ponies. Nor Bombarded them with grenades. Silent and Slice entered the fight off the side and Shadow began to use his laser rifle. Nor was focusing on keeping heads down and Shadow was using his E.F.S. to target them with pinpoint accuracy.

The Steel Rangers were able to advance. Thunder and Storm jumped the reinforcements and Thunder dispatched them easily. They began to converge with the main battle, but it dissolved before they got there. The few left scurried like the rats they looked like.

Silent emerged with Slice with a strong stance. Thunder and Storm held back out of sight. Shadow and Nor took to over watch duties. Shadow knew guns were trained on them, but stayed cool. The Steel Rangers had not expected company.

Silent waited to be addressed, unsure as to proceed. Neither side wanted to talk first and they stood there for several minuted before a Steel Ranger in full power armor stepped forward.

“I am Paladin River,” He said. “Of the Fillydelphia Contingent of the Steel Rangers. And you?”

“Silent Wind. Me and my friends are not from here. We were sent to reconnect with Equestria. To see how it has fared all these years. Perhaps, mutual relations can be set up.”

“Where exactly are you from?” Paladin Rives asked.

“North. And West,” Silent replied, borrowing from Shadow's background. “We have traveled a long way to here. You are the first group we have found that wasn’t bloodthirsty or out for themselves from the get go. Whoever those others work for is obviously up to no good.”

“Are those wings?” A Steel Ranger asked.

Silent opened his up. Denying would put the Steel Rangers on edge.

“Yes, I am a Pegasus,” He replied.

“Pegasus power armor and some very unique heavy weapons,” Paladin River remarked. “That is something I have only heard about. And only from the war.”

“Where are you from?” He pressed again.

Silent just looked up for a little bit. “We have been sent to reconnect with Equestria.”

“What is it, the Enclave?” Paladin Rivers asked stepping forward a bit.

Silent nodded. “And we are here to try and reconnect with our pony brethren.”

“I thought you cared for nothing but your damned wings!” Paladin Rivers barked.

“Some of us still care,” Silent replied holding his ground and his cool.

It wasn’t easy with the way the Steel Rangers were shifting. Silent was trying to play himself off like he was Shadow. Shadow knew he couldn't do any better without gambling hard by being more assertive to aggressive.

“We fly low and zaggy” Shadow ordered. “If we need to. Thunder can spring from the side while the others retreat. I will dive on them for a strafe and cover. But you have this Silent.”

“I don’t believe you,” Paladin River bluntly pressed.

“I am standing here,” Silent replied. “And we chose you, not them. Is that not enough to warrant a little trust.”

“That doesn’t matter,” Paladin River replied. “You feign care when you do not and worse, you carry around weapons and wear those suits and you do not deserve them. They don’t belong to your kind.”

Slice took a few steps back without thinking.

“Don’t like the odds you entitled bitch?” Paladin River jeered.

“Entitled can be relative,” Slice spat. “I know pegasi who work the clouds all year around and only care for others. They would readily send food if they could. They work for what little they have and are happy about it. They are not entitled. Every society, even yours, has its entitled bitches. You look entitled from my angle, but I am not judging.”

“Slice!” Silent growled. “Back down.”

“What?” Paladin Rivers asked mischievously. “Are you afraid he will do what he wants to do. Kill us all? Or do you deny that? I remember five years ago. I still have the scar from my days as a crusader. Shoot first, ask questions later was their policy, and they lost.”

“Up there,” Slice pointed with his head. He was defensive. “Those two don’t want to shoot at all. Like he said. We are here to establish connections. Personal feelings aside.”

“Fucking moron,” Silent growled at Slice. “Get out of my sight before I shoot you first.”

Slice took off in a panic and Silent turned his side to the Steel Rangers to follow him. He looked like he was going to shoot him, because he was about to.

“He didn’t say you didn’t want to shoot us,” Paladin River pressed.

“Paladin,” Silent said trying to drop the edge from his voice. He was tense and the odds had shifted strongly against him. “I am standing here talking to you for a reason. Peace is better than war. For all. Especially with whatever is brewing in the rest of the city.”

“What? The Disciples? Nesha will be taken care of soon enough. We are on the cusps of breaking her little gang. You, however, are more useful as scraps to arm a real soldier!”

Shadow dove as the Paladin opened fire. Thunder sprung out, opening up with rocket launcher and then his GPER. They killed four in their onslaught and the rest dove for cover. Thunder grabbed Silent and Shadow danced around and skipped along the ground, firing.

A Steel Ranger jumped up into his way, forcing a collision. Shadow flicked his hoof knife out and drove it into his neck as he rolled away. They opened fire at where he would take off, but Shadow back flipped out of the entanglement and into the cover of that building.

Explosions ripped into its foundation as grenades and rockets were let lose. Shadow had to slide to cover as bullets ripped through its midsection trying to find him. With no way to head up, Shadow popped a grenade off to make a hole and then crawled to it.

He was free, but over Steel Ranger territory. He dove and twisted against incoming fire. They were poor anti air shots. He got a good look at their territory before he was out of their range.

“Nor? Where are you?” Shadow panted.

“At that… slit!” Nor stammered.

“Situation report?” Shadow asked as he glided towards them.

“Not good,” Thunder replied. “He took several good hits.”

Shadow touched down where they had taken shelter. They pulled Silent’s helmet off.

“Shadow,” He coughed. Blood joined the cough. “I tried, for you. Get back. Forget me. Its over. I would know.”

“We can’t leave your armor,” Shadow replied. It felt really shallow. “Especially with them on the hunt.”

“Here is a potion,” Storm said trying to pass it without spilling it.

“Put it away. Save it,” Silent ordered. “Get back to Rosemary and then get yourselves back above. Those are my orders. Standing orders. Storm, rig my Novasurge and grab the core.”

Storm nodded and put the potion away. They laid Lieutenant Silent Wind on his side and Storm quickly set it to blow. Before he set it, he looked to double check with Silent. There was no life in his eyes anymore. Storm finished and they all ran for their lives.

The sound of the Novasurge battle rifle self destructing shook the earth and sent lightning to the heavens. They didn’t stop running until they had gotten all the way back to the forest. And even then it was only for a short break.

“Core?” Thunder asked in between breaths.

Storm was just as beat as they all were and took a bit to respond. “The magic elements that keep our suits regenerating, the doctor mod thing, and such. Not the E.F.S., that is completely different.”

Thunder nodded and turned to push on. Shadow was last to move. He was making sure they others got going and was pulling up the rear. They didn’t relax until the stable door closed behind them.

“Bed,” Shadow ordered. “I’ll send the message in the morning.”

“I have it all ready to be connected up to the overseer’s terminal,” Storm moaned in pain. “Five minutes and the flip of a switch.”

“Do it,” Shadow nodded as he wandered off to his room to ditch his armor before writing the message.

They passed in the hall and Storm confirmed it was up and running.

Mission 2 Report.

Ventured into Fillydelphia. Returning to give full debrief of situation.

Shadow hit send and stumbled off to bed.

As tired as he was, it was just past noon when he awoke. He groaned out of bed and headed to get food. He prepared a cold meal for the team once he was done eating and headed up to the overseer’s office. Two messages were there.

Not cleared for return. Report findings and continue mission.

Shadow opened the second.

MF/CS > FF

Seasons have changed. Winter has turned to Fall? Keep your head down.

DNR

Shadow opened the intercom and called the team to the office. Once they finally stumbled in, he read the second message and then the first.

“Fuck,” Nor groaned. “That is not the Major.”

“Act like it is,” Storm yawned.

Shadow thought for a minute before typing up a response.

Major Winters Breath, game changing developments we need to discuss face to face. First set of missions below are complete. We need to return to rest, restock and plan further endeavors.

Shadow showed them the message to get their approval. They gave it and he sent it.

Two missions is not enough. And only one of consequence.

“They are shutting us down,” Slice murmured.

Sergeant, I want to message Major Winters Breath, our mission head.

Shadow sent it without getting approval. They were now looking over his shoulder.

I am Lieutenant Honey Bee. The head of recon. Major Winters Breath was reassigned. Report on Fillydelphia.

“In the middle? Without pulling us?” Nor shivered.

“We could not report and give it time,” Slice suggested.

“That would piss him off,” Thunder countered. “It is secure, right?”

“Storm?” Shadow asked before anypony could say anything else.

“Yes Shadow?”

“How did that warning message get here?”

“It’s called ghosting,” Storm replied. “They sent the message from another terminal to be attached to the next message coming to us. They had to know how to break my encryption. MF or CS must have gotten the information from the Major. I am down here for a reason.”

“Can we do it back to get a better read from my friends?” Shadow asked shaking.

“No,” Storm sighed shaking his head. “I set it up. These two terminals only talk to each other. We could send one, with an accurate address, but it would be stopped at the other side. If we were lucky, it would bounce it back to us or go nowhere. But it would most likely throw an error and blow the entire operation and unveil that we had a secret message sent to us.”

Shadow sighed. “So we have to play it straight and find out our new mission parameters.”

What are is our mission directives Lieutenant?

Shadow was tapping the desk in anticipation.

Once you report on Fillydelphia, I will give you a new mission.

Shadow looked at the others.

Fillydelphia is in ruins and being taken over by a group known as the Disciples who are led by Nesha. Another group, the Steel Rangers, are actively searching and destroying the army. They on the verge of taking the city back. We found both sides locked in a small skirmish and opened fire on what ended up being Nesha’s forces.

After the battle, discussions were made and peace attempted. The Steel Rangers open fire, unprovoked, and we were able to wound or kill five.

Lieutenant Silent Wind: KIA

Food: Low

Medical: Gone

Ammunition: Exhausted

Team Status: Battered, bruised and in need of real rest without watch. Falling out and need real medical attention.

Standing order from Lieutenant Silent Wind: “Get back to Rosemary and then get yourselves back above. Those are my orders. Standing orders. Storm, rig my Novasurge and grab the core.”

Shadow attached the audio recording of the orders and sent the message.

Did you map the city?

Slice kicked a file cabinet in anger and regretted it.

Map of the city can not be sent via terminal. Return us and we can provide an updated map.

“Suggestions?” Shadow asked as he sent it.

Nopony had any.

New Mission: Map Fillydelphia and send via terminal. Clear Fillydelphia.

Shadow's head hit the desk. He was too tired for this.

We do not have the strength to face off against either force. Our numbers are too small. We need to follow Lieutenant Silent Wind’s orders and return to redeploy with better equipment. He fully grasped the situation, hence his orders.

“Alright, we will figure this out,” Nor mumbled. “We are smart enough.”

From the reports you made, you have failed as a recon team. We can’t afford failure. Follow your orders.

“OUR ORDERS WERE OUR DECISIONS!” Slice yelled before fainting from exhaustion.

“Get him awake,” Shadow ordered.

They splashed water onto his face. None of them were happy.

Due to new mission parameters, we need a resupply. Equipment is degrading and being consumed at higher rates than expected. Calculating requirements for three more months below.

Shadow sent it and they began to work on a plan.

“Look,” Shadow sighed. “I know its tough. We are exhausted, emotionally strained and whatever else. I can’t figure that out. What I can, is making sure we survive. This is now a game of survival. We need supplies and we can not trust that another resupply will happened on a timely manner.”

“First,” Thunder yawned. “Explain Fall.”

Shadow nodded his head and explained Autumn Leaf.

“So, our game is not surviving down here,” Nor gulped. “It’s surviving long enough to give them whatever they want to get us back up. I am done. Retired. Once I get back.”

“Is that bad?” Nor asked sheepishly.

“No, it isn’t,” Shadow assured him. “I am going back to an ACU or Scout under Nova until I can test for the Wonderbolts.”

“I am getting on the closest Cloudship and never getting off,” Storm declared.

“I have no place to run to,” Thunder admitted, scared.

“We got you covered,” Shadow smiled. “I can get you onto an ACU. Good dreams all, now lets make them a reality. What do we say our supplies look like?”

CURRENT SUPPLIES:

SPARE AMMO:

7.62mm: 120

Laser: 54

Novasurge: 12

12 gauge: 23

Rockets: OUT

Grenades: OUT

Plastic Explosives: OUT

MEDICAL SUPPLIES:

Health Potions: 2

Bandages: 14

Med-X: 7

RadBlock: 5

Rad-flush: 2

PWT: 3 Tablets

Rad-away: 2

RadSafe: 1

FIELD RATIONS:

2 Unopened Boxes of 24

SUPPLIES NEEDED TO CONTINUE MISSION:

SPARE AMMO:

7.62mm: 40,000

Laser: 40,000

Novasurge: 16,000

12 gauge: 60,000

Rockets: 24,000

Grenades: 40.000

Plastic Explosives: 1,000 Bricks

Components: 500

Pressure Caps: 500

Timers: 500

Switches: 500

MEDICAL SUPPLIES:

Health Potions: 2,000

Bandages: 2,000

Med-X: 2,000

RadBlock: 2,000

Rad-flush: 2,000

PWT: 1,000 Boxes of 24

Rad-away: 2,000

RadSafe: 2,000

FIELD RATIONS:

2,000 Standard Boxes of 24.

MISCELLANEOUS:

10 Canteens

10 sets of Recon Double Saddlebags

5 sets of Recon Single Saddlebags

10 Heavy cloaks, matching our armor color and with the Inquisitor’s insignia

10 Light cloaks, matching out armor color and with the Inquisitor’s insignia

1 Field Phone

25 Field Batteries

1 Cloud Terminal Signal Booster

1 Cloud Terminal Receiver

1 Cloud Terminal Unit

“Yeah, that should do it,” Storm chuckled. “Now to back up our use.”

That is more than a supply drop. Denied

Shadow shook his head in frustration.

Either resupply us or allow us to return and prepare a new mission portfolio.

Shadow took a few deep breaths. It was easier to ride into outright battle against the Steel Rangers than dance with death this way.

You have to be kidding me. You used up all of your ammunition?

Shadow smiled. Things shifted to their favor.

Lieutenant Silent Wind was out of ammunition when he fell. We were on the run with little to no ammo left. Getting to Rosemary and setting it up cost us all of the ammo we had. Mission One to Ghastly Gorge wiped out half of our resupply. Toxins are higher than expected and with our medic down we will have to rely on more frequent use of meds to survive. We have all sustained strong injuries from these past six weeks.

Everything requested by my team is what we believe will be required to continue with:

New Mission: Map Fillydelphia and send via terminal. Clear Fillydelphia.

Shadow nodded assuredly to the others who had spread out to other seats in the office.

Resupply granted except for the saddlebags, cloaks, and communication equipment. The com equipment goes against your own orders.

Shadow took a deep breath. Now it was their orders that mattered. He sent the resupply locations and tried to update communications.

New orders, new communication rules and new communication needs. We can not sustain our current equipment for much longer. It has already been repaired twice. Conditions are harsher than expected.

If it worked, they could get leveraged out of this hell hole.

I will reconsider the communications situation. And the other gear will be submitted for review.

It was better than nothing. He tried to poke one final hole.

Personal request before I crash to heal up from Fillydelphia. Please pass on a message to Lieutenant Cardinal Spitfire, my old teammate in ACS. She should be at Fort Griffin’s Gate for training as a Wonderbolt.

Message: Congratulations on reaching your goal.

It was a gamble. But it might work. If it did, then she would know it got through to him.

Lieutenant Honey Bee looked at the message and sighed. If it would get his ass to shut up and forget communication equipment, it would be worth the risk. It was dinner time, so they would probably be in the mess hall.

He got up and made his way there. It was easy to find them. Pony Patrol was not the quietest group at meals. Cardinal Spitfire was on the end so he slipped up and pushed his way onto the bench beside her. Before the squad could give an outburst for his intrusion he held his hoof up.

Marble Falls was glaring at him but he leaned in to Cardinal Spitfire as if she wasn’t.

“I have a personal message for you,” He whispered into her ear.

She just raised her eyebrow.

“Shadow Flare asked me to pass his congratulations on to you for becoming a Wonderbolt.”

“They had no contact other than official reports,” Marble Falls pressed.

Lieutenant Honey Bee rolled his eyes and learned in for them all to hear. He had not wanted any other squadmates to hear. But he was going to play it as calm and cool as he could. Be friendly to them all.

Honey Bee sighed. “Mission two didn’t go as planned for the recon team.”

“They changed up the mission,” He explained. “Their lieutenant is down, and they have set a new mission parameter. That is all I can say. I shouldn’t of passed his message on. I found it harmless enough.”

“Why are they not coming back?” Cardinal Spitfire asked. “They need an officer.”

“Shadow Flare is a Command Sergeant Major,” He whispered back. “His Lieutenant was specialized in a field and Shadow Flare has been running most of the show down there. I tried to recall them, especially with me replacing Major Winters Breath, but even learning that, he wouldn’t.”

“The team is behind him as well,” He continue. “They have some things they want done and have requested a massive resupply. It is taking more supplies than they guessed.”

“Six weeks and they are not coming back?” Marble Falls questioned. “Shadow Flare is good. He works fast. But much more than what you told us obviously happened.Did somepony scramble his brain?”

Lieutenant Honey Bee shrugged. “I would show you the communication if I could. But even as a Wonderbolt…”

He looked at Cardinal Spitfire and smiled warmly. “Look dear, I know things have gotten off on a bad start with me around here and that I was harsh the other day with you. Beyond harsh. I had no idea what was happening when I got here and it hasn’t been an easy transition. I am Honey Bee. First Lieutenant, but you can just call me Honey Bee. Honey wouldn’t be appropriate yet.”

Cardinal Spitfire sat there shocked, trying to comprehend if he had just come on to her or not.

“I have to go clean up some of their details,” He said getting up.

“Wait!” Cardinal Spitfire said grabbing his hoof. “Can you tell him: Thank you. May the Wind ever be at your back.”

“Wind ever at what?” He asked.

“It’s an ACU thing,” Cardinal Spitfire smiled. “Thank you. May the wind ever be at your back.”

He nodded and walked off to send the message.

Cardinal Spitfire watched him walk out and turned to the others. “Did he...”

“Just hit on you?” Raspberry Lemonade finished. “Yes.”

Cardinal Spitfire just sat there, trying to wrap her head around it.

“Room 2?” She asked.

They all got up and cleared their trays.

As soon as the door closed Lemon Lime spoke up. “I know I never met him, but knowing you two and hearing about him, there is no way Shadow would have denied returning.”

“Besides, he must be drying for round four,” Fountain grinned.

Cardinal Spitfire glared at her. “He would have pushed to come back. Not for round four. That is the last thing on his mind. His job is first. Get back to see me, yes. Quit, yes. Sex, no.”

“Filly Fooler isn’t that distracted,” Marble Falls chuckled. “But he got our warning. Sounds like it was today with everything else, but he got it.”

She got serious. “Unless they are able to get some form of message out to us or somepony else, we can’t do shit. Lieutenant Honey Bee has them locked in his grasp. I will send a message to Nova and see if we can add some staff to the recon team that could be influenced and leveraged. But that is a long shot. Nova has been hitting a stone wall.”

“So we can’t do anything?” Raspberry Lemonade asked.

Marble Falls shook her head. “This is it right now. But we should send a follow up. That is on your Cardinal.”

Cardinal Spitfire sat at a terminal.

CS > FF

Sorry for the loss. Doing what we can. Informed YOU denied returning. I have your other half. You owe me a fourth and I will wait.

DNR

Is that too… straight?” Cardinal Spitfire asked.

“No,” Marble Falls said reading it. “It should calm him knowing you have it. And nice jab about the fourth.”

She sighed ashamed. “In case his head did actually get scrambled. I’ll wait no matter what.”

“Buck up,” Marble Falls smiled sending the message. “He didn’t,but yes, its okay to have fear strike you at times. It keeps us aware, alert. He was preying on us and our fear that he is already lost. And he doesn’t know what we know. Obviously or he would not have played his cards like he did.”

“I still can’t believe,” Cardinal Spitfire stammered. “What do I do?”

“Have you never denied a guy before?” Cinnamon Swirl asked abhorred.

“If they were interested, I didn’t know,” She shrugged.

“Play it professional and only professional,” Marble Falls instructed her. “Some might say play coy to get information, its not worth it. And Filly Fooler can handle himself, just like you can. And avoid going to Filly Fooler’s room.”

“I haven’t been back since the first night,” She sighed contently. “If I did, I would have missed more mornings.”

They all laughed.

“It is late. Dismissed until the morning,” Marble Falls ordered. “We are working with Wind’s Thunder on more two squad movements.”

Cardinal Spitfire got to her room and found the door open.

“HEY!” She said jumping into the room and bucking the intruder into her closet. Cardinal Spitfire knocked on the door behind her with her rear hoof. It opened.

“I just got to my room and found him inside. I bucked him on instinct,” She explained.

“Well,” The Wonderbolt said with a mouth full of toothpaste.

“Sorry,” he said after he spit it out. “Stay there.”

A minute later half the barrack knew what was going on. He stepped into her room to deal with the intruder.

“Its you, that fucking Lieutenant,” He spat. “What were you doing in her room?”

“I had a question to ask,” He coughed from the floor. “I thought I head her inside.”

“I don’t know what you can do elsewhere, but here,” He growled. “You do not enter a room uninvited. Nor can you ever have a valid reason to do it. At any rank. What was this question?”

“Its not something...”

He forced the Lieutenant back on the ground. “Yeah, you compromised that. And we just became need to know.”

“I broke the rule and passed on a message of congratulations to Cardinal Spitfire from her former squadmate, Shadow Flare. I broke it again and sent her short response. It got to my head that it might have been code. I wanted to clear that up.”

“Why would you break the communication rule?” He pressed, not letting his hoof up at all.

“Mission changed drastically. So I passed on it as a kind gesture for the shit they got hit with. I responded with ‘Thanks’ and then ‘May the wind ever be at you back.’ I have no idea what that means.”

“Idiot!” He exclaimed stepping back. “It is a farewell and good luck saying that the Aerial Combat Units and Wonderbolts use. You should have asked her then instead of sending it.”

“He did,” Cardinal Spitfire growled. “And I told him that. Can I kill him?”

“Sorry, you should have done that instead of bucking him,” He smiled at her. “Although, you did the right thing not knowing who it was. Killing would have been a huge complication, even for a Wonderbolt. Enjoy his pain. It is the most satisfaction you can get. And you should enjoy it. You really gave it to him good. What I expected coming from you.”

“I don’t even know who you are,” Cardinal Spitfire confessed. “And you live right across the hall.”

“They just call me skipper,” He chuckled. “Squad 48. And I only know you because you made a lot of waves making straight out of Basic like you did. That and Pony Patrol isn’t quiet and Falls is a number herself. The only Wonderbolt who is seriously into teaching. She is known to help other Wonderbolt Squads when a problem arises.”

“That makes me feel a bit better,” She chuckled.

“You find him in your room alone again, kill him,” Skipper smiled at her. “If he knows what is good for him, he will run anything else through Falls. Or take some pony with him.”

They all laughed at the change up and let Lieutenant Honey Bee stumble out of the barracks to find help. No Pegasus here would help him.

“Thanks,” Cardinal Spitfire said to them all as she closed the door.

She checked her desk. The Homestead book had not been touched and it was tucked away well. But it occurred to her that it was the only book she owned. She needed more to cover up such an obscure book that would catch anypony’s eye.

Cardinal Spitfire hadn’t read Shadow's words since she had recovered the book. Six weeks had gone by fine. Her hooves were shaking from the loss of adrenaline and uncertainty of the state of things below.

She had no option but to reread it all and curl up with it and cry. She missed him badly. She knew he missed her, but was focusing on survival so he could get back to her.

She felt she was getting soft. She had never actually fought before and she was deadly. Knowing just how much and then the blood lust after was beyond scary. She understood more of what Shadow went through when he verbally ripped the lieutenant apart who was trying to falsely imprison their families for farm work.

Cardinal Spitfire awoke again stiff and late. 0946. She had to pry the book from here heart and put it back on the desk. Breakfast was over and the squad would be doing two squad exercises. They needed her, but by now, the entire fort knew about last night. Skipper and the others would have made sure of it. They would understand her morning absence.

Cardinal Spitfire went to Sunray Swallow Cage to see what books they had.

“Lieutenant,” He greeted her. “I can’t put locks on your door. At least not yet. They were removed several decades after a series of incidences.”

She laughed with him.

“I wasn’t coming in for locks, or a bigger safe,” She smiled. “I do not see the need for locks, ever after last night. And that incident was not between Wonderbolts. Even you guys are Wonderbolts in your own special way.”

“I am here for some books,” She explained.

“Books?” He asked raising his eyebrow. “As in to read?”

“Mhm,” She nodded.

“Library is back here,” He replied, unlocking the cage.

He took her to a vault that didn’t have books.

“Where did we move the books?” He called out.

“Wing 4, Vault 12,” Somepony called back.

“We never have pegasi coming in for books,” He chuckled.

They entered the vault. One wall was a bookshelf filled with all different books. There was another wall with all the different manuals.

“What were you looking for?” He asked her.

“To start, History,” She smiled.

“Let’s see,” He mumbled.

“Case two, shelf three and four,” The same Pegasus yelled.

“I wanted to help her on my own,” He yelled back. “But can you?”

A distracted Pegasus walked in a minute later. His uniform had Sergeant Major stripes. He set the clipboard down and smiled at Cardinal Spitfire.

“Hello Lieutenant, I am Bookworm. If it is a manual or book we have, I know it and have read it. If it isn’t, I can find it and may have read it.”

“A pleasure,” She smiled shaking his hoof.

“I will be back up front,” The Quartermaster said leaving them.

“Well, if you are looking for history, then you will want the History of the Enclave for Wonderbolts, Fifth Edition. All three volumes. It doesn’t pull any punches and starts pre-war with the long Wonderbolt history and even covers the Shadowbolts during the war. Its updated regularly, but it hasn’t undergone a big update in, oh, sixty some odd years. Its due for a new edition update.”

“Wow,” Cardinal Spitfires said as she marveled looking at the table of contents. “What do you have in regards to military strategy and philosophy?”

Bookworm smiled at her. “World History of Warfare by Timothy Hay, Warrior Politics: Why Leadership Demands a Raceless Ethos by Feather Lane, Equestrian Armies and the Conduct of Warfare by Straw, Hidden Hooves: Unlocking the Secrets of Traditional Martial Arts Forms by Star. That also has a good section on what we know from the Zebra Arts.”

Cardinal Spitfire stood there holding a stack of books.

“You are just getting started, aren’t you?” She laughed.

“If you want to do things properly,” He chuckled as he gave her another book. “On Equestria, by Plum Tart. Military Ethics, by Coal Mining. Warfare, State and Society of Pre-Equestria by Date Palm. The Basics of Rifle Shooting by the Ministry of Wartime Technology. The New Weapons of Equestria Encyclopedia by the Ministry of Wartime Technology.”

“Which ones of these are from the war and before?” Cardinal Spitfire asked.

Bookworm thought for a moment. “Warrior Politics, Hidden Hooves, Military Ethics, Basics of Rifle Shooting, and the Weapons Encyclopedia. The others were written after by pegasi in fancy schools and such. Obviously, they stay in academics and within the higher end of the military.”

“Well,” Cardinal Spitfire said, setting them down. “I am afraid to ask about teaching books…”

“Right,” Bookworm chuckled. “You are with Marble Falls. Books can only teach you so much, but I have some handy.”

He rifled through some of the disorganized boxes along the other wall.

“Ah!” He exclaimed. “Pony Personalities And Guiding Students To Be Their Best by Professor Fleetfoot. Not sure why she went by professor. She was an amazing Equestria Wonderbolt and a lot like you. It was once said about her that, ‘What she lacks in size, she makes up in speed.’ But we do not know what happened to them allwhen the war began and they were disbanded.”

“Rainbow Dash wasn’t a Wonderbolt when the war broke out. She was fast, and good and would have given a bit more time, but we do not have records of which Wonderbolts did what. Many of them may have decided to not join the Shadowbolts because she wasn’t a Wonderbolt before.”

Cardinal Spitfire looked at the stack of books.

“I guess its a good thing I brought my saddlebags,” She chuckled. “How much is this going to cost me?”

“You are the only one coming in for books,” He smiled. “Outside of the History of the Enclave for Wonderbolts, they are all first edition prints and they are at least half a century old. They are just sitting here, waiting for somepegasus to love them and take them home. The history textbook costs 20 bits to make. That is all you owe.”

“Thanks,” Cardinal Spitfire smiled sheepishly. “This is a special gift.”

“You deserve them,” Bookworm replied helping her load them into her bags. “Like I said, they have been waiting for some love and attention. And I know you will put them to good use teaching as well.”

“Oh!” He exclaimed. “You are missing something fun to read.”

He came back a minute later with two books. Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone and Daring Do and the Griffon's Goblet.

“Pre-war, but good reads. And she is a Pegasus.”

Cardinal Spitfire thank them all again and departed with bags brimming.

“There you are!” Marble Falls called out. “We have been wondering when you would show up.”

“Sorry,” Cardinal Spitfire sputtered. She had forgotten everything else for the day.

“Doing a little shopping?” Raspberry Lemonade asked grinning.

“The whole fort knows about last night,” Cinnamon Swirl poked. “It was old news by breakfast.”

Cardinal Spitfire sighed. “Yeah, it got my mind elsewhere. I woke up really late, and last night sparked a need for a book on a topic, which…”

Cardinal Spitfire laughed. “Quartermaster Bookworm had more than a few suggestions. He took very good care of me.”

They quietly followed her to her room where she set her bags on her bed.

“I didn’t like what I saw after last night,” Cardinal Spitfire sighed. “Too barren. Too obvious.”

Cardinal Spitfire looked at her now filled desk and laughed. “Now its the opposite.”

“You have a lot of reading to do,” Marble Falls chuckled. “But some books were a great idea. Come on, after lunch, its back in the air.”

Next Chapter: Chapter 38 - Rest and Relaxation Estimated time remaining: 10 Hours, 14 Minutes