Shadow blinked his eyes. Everything was blue and fuzzy.

“Careful there. Just keep your eyes closed for a bit.”

“Nor?”

“Yeah, its me. I have been on watch for you… well basically since we dragged you back.”

Shadow tried to sit up but felt the tight grip of restraints along his chest and hooves stopping him. Nor was chuckling.

“It was a good thing we put them on. Relax. Rest. You are safe in Rosemary, in their infirmary. And you have been out almost two weeks. What do you remember?”

Shadow obeyed and thought. “We were going to make a dash out of the city. We had to leave immediately. I was coming into meet you. I locked my wings to glide in at my speed. It was getting harder to flap. You guys were outside, ready to move as soon as I got there.”

“Well, you were more coherent after that,” Nor replied distracted. “But obviously you don’t remember.”

“Anyway,” He said focusing on Shadow. “We were surprised you made it that long. The noise from inside the city… I have no words to describe them.”

“They had guns…”

“That were geared to shoot anything in the air down,” Nor said, softly cutting him off. “We pulled your suit’s recording. It picked up as you got attacked by the Griffin who grabbed you. Anything from the time you were caught, the talk with Nesha, and anything else was corrupted due to the suit’s damage.”

“What did you send for your report?” Shadow groaned in pain.

“Here,” Nor soothed.

Shadow felt the warmth of meds being pushed through an IV into his forehoof.

“That will help calm your pain,” Nor said softly.

“As to the report, we just sent that you were injured and would send a full report soon.”

“How long have I been out?” Shadow asked woozy.

“Almost two weeks. Twelve days to be exact.”

“How did your side go?” Shadow asked slowly.

“Fine enough,” Nor said putting his hoof on Shadow’s. “We can talk about that more a bit later. Nothing of importance.”

“Report,” Shadow stumbled. “How was your mission.”

Nor didn’t fight it. Shadow was in charge and it would calm him down. “We didn’t get anything of real value. We had to deal with a Steel Ranger patrol. I am sure you heard that engagement. We can talk a bit more on those specifics later. Same with some projects we have going on.”

“Just relax and let the Med-X and healing potions work their magic.”

Nor walked out while Shadow slid into medical slumber. Nor found the the others hunkered around their current project. Bombs.

“If one of those goes off...”

“We know, we know,” Thunder said angrily cutting him off. “We have had this conversation multiple times already. They won’t. They still need to be armed. It is high time I actually did my job.”

“I wasn’t going to say we shouldn’t,” Nor replied rolling his eyes. “It just makes me nervous.”

“Shadow?” Slice asked, ending the carbon copy discussion.

“Awake, or was. I used more Med-X to sooth his pain. The restraints were needed. He tried to sit up faster than he should have. He should be pretty well patched up by now. Not enough for this run, but enough to be up soon. A day or two.”

“Enough to launch the day after tomorrow?” Thunder asked as he lined up the steel wire to weld on the makeshift fins to a bomb.

“I believe so,” Nor nodded. “Assuming that, in the morning he is able to not only approve our mission, but check out and approve Slice’s work, learn what Storm has been up to and check out the Hydroponics, just like he normally would. Just not as quickly.”

When Shadow awoke next it was dinner time. Nor wasn’t in the room. He felt well enough and didn’t need anything to manage pain. The agonizing part was the restraints. The lack of freedom, even though he would just be laying here, was agonizing.

“Ah, you are awake,” Nor said walking in with a tray. “Don’t strain yourself.”

Nor lifted the restraint on his hoof and undid it. He did the same for the other hoof.

“Promise me you will take it slow,” Nor asked, his hooves on the chest restraint.

Shadow took a deep breath in and relaxed. Nor was doing all he could to help him. He cared deeply. It was evident in his eyes.

“I promise,” Shadow smiled.

Nor tossed the restraint aside and helped adjust the bed it a more upright position so Shadow could eat.

“We have been keeping busy,” Nor said. “You can check out our projects in the morning if you can. But we need you to rest easy for a bit. You are one tough bastard. A dozen bullet or shrapnel wounds, several three inches deep; but unfortunately, one or two are still floating around inside. Your armor was shredded all around, but it has been repaired. Your books survived and are sitting on your bed. Along with a blue unicorn horn?”

“You should have left me,” Shadow said, ignoring the question about the horn.

“You have vital intel about Fillydelphia. We had to get you back,” Nor stated.

“Besides,” Nor smiled. “We were not going to let another one of us die without really fighting for it. We all know we let Silent die without fighting for it. Part of the job or not. And the Steel Rangers probably would have caught up with us, but we didn’t try.”

“Thanks,” Shadow smiled.

“Without you we are lost,” Nor replied.

“What have you been up to?” Shadow asked.

“I have mostly been tending you,” Nor said as he set the tray aside. “And keeping watch on the hydroponics. The others have worked on projects. We will go over them again in the morning. For now, lets get you into that chair. To check if you can stand.”

Shadow was shaky, but he held his own as he slowly walked to the chair. Each step was stronger, more sure of himself. His father was right. He could take a bullet in stride and not stop. At least long enough to get medical aid.

“Silent probably would have had you up a week ago,” Nor said as Shadow eased himself into the chair.

“Silent isn’t here,” Shadow sighed. “You are. You got me through. That is what matters.”

“It is getting late,” Nor said looking at the clock. “I am going to head to bed unless you need something else. Don’t stay up too late or stress yourself. Play it safe.”

“I am good for now,” Shadow smiled. “I will head to bed in a bit. I have a team to oversee tomorrow.”

“That is the Shadow I know,” Nor smiled as he walked out.

Shadow stayed in the chair for a while longer before walking over to the wall where several X-rays were hanging up. He had to roll the IV stand with him. He could see a few pieces of metal inside the profile. It would take major surgery to remove them, if they even could.

Shadow was feeling good, but he was definitely still weak and in need of rest. Shadow walked over to the bed and slipped into a peaceful rest.

“How are you?” Nor asked waking him up gently.

“Good enough to start back on my job,” Shadow smiled.

Nor pulled the IV out. Shadow denied Nor’s help getting up. He stood up fine, but He let Nor lead the way.

“Hey!” Storm greeted them when they came into the cafeteria. “Good. We can have quality fresh food. Made from somepony who washes their hooves.”

“Hey!” Slice interjected. “You miss a full scrub one time and every time we eat you hear about it. It was just a tiny bit of oil. Council forbid you remember all the hard work I have been doing.”

Shadow’s laughter was infectious. It was very good for them all to hear it. They didn’t realize how much they missed it.

“Next meal,” Shadow said. “After breakfast, catch me up.”

“Well, we need to start with me,” Slice announced. “Some things depend on it.”

Shadow ate quickly, eager to get back in the swing of things. Slice lead him to the stable door and then the elevator.

“It only goes down on it’s own, for now,” Slice said pointing at the plate on the floor.

It had arms that were brought together and then chains connected to a contraption above to hoist the platform up. Slice flew up and then pulled Shadow up with easy.

“I thinned all the metal. Now it will all retract if forced,” Slice smiled. “With relative ease.”

“And the hoist?” Shadow asked looking at the mechanism.

“I know it is big,” Slice replied. “And it exposes our position, but we can’t afford to not take certain risks. It would have taken us so much faster to bring in that supply drop down if we had this in the first place.”

“I assume you have some form of security measure?” Shadow smiled.

“Nothing devious, yet,” Slice said shaking his head. “I want to give it a real nice jolt of electricity, but haven’t worked all of that out yet. For now, its as simple as unhooking it at the bottom. And having to open the stable door.”

“You are forgetting about the skeletons and shells,” Thunder added.

Shadow looked around at what they meant. Crushed and dirty shotgun shells were scattered about, along with skeletons of ponies, in all different conditions.

“We scoured the area looking for them,” Slice explained. “Many of them were from that Zebra place we burned, but we had to find more from around here. We hope their presence will deter others. Make the prospect less inviting.”

“You certainly did a good job,” Shadow said doing a walking survey. “I think all of this will be a good deterrent and a good set up.”

Shadow stepped onto the platform. It rocked a bit under his weight. “Lets head back down. I hear you have some plans.”

Shadow rode the new elevator down, content to not test his wings yet. Slice flew down and unhooked the elevator. They met up in the overseer’s office.

“We are going for a bombing run,” Thunder announced before any of them had time to sit down.

“Explain,” Shadow asked sitting down behind the desk.

“I am demolitions and explosives,” Thunder reminded them. “It’s time for payback, Thunder style. A raid at night, dropping high explosive bombs on key targets to remind them why you do not fuck with the Inquisitors.”

“Step me through it,” Shadow smiled.

Thunder blinked in shock. “Oh, you have no outright objections with it?”

“Assuming it isn’t a stupid idea that isn’t thought out.”

“Oh no! I thought it out and it is very well planned,” Thunder assured him. “I will be with Nor. My goal is to knock out the factories, while Nor’s main target is the slave cages and the CD-2 25mm City Defense Guns. They called them sky guns. They were designed to protect the city from a dragon raid.”

“We didn’t know they got actually got placed. We knew the design was made very late war. Its just a AD-2 25mm gun, but slightly modified to be deployed on rooftops, not forts and bases where the real dragon defenses were needed.”

“They were not all on top of the highest rooftops,” Shadow stated. “Some had rather limited views of the sky.

“That was their plan,” Thunder grinned. “A dragon or air enemy would come in and see a few. Maybe target one. Before they know it then have half a dozen others able to strike them. A smaller window, but they were for defending the city. It gave them the surprise advantage.”

“Now, the other half of the plan. Storm and Slice will make their bombing run over the Steel Ranger’s territory. They will be bombing indiscriminately since we have no known targets of importance.”

“These are the locations of the CD-2s we know,” Thunder said, pointing them out. “And this here is a factory we were able to confirm is running. We will be bombing at the darkest hour and we will be flying high.”

“I set up our HUDs to adjust for bombs like our grenade launchers,” Storm added.

“And once we are done, we will swing back around and give them cover,” Slice commented.

“Lay out your predicted paths,” Shadow ordered.

Thunder put a clear filter in front of the map with their routes and planned strikes.

“Nor is going to be zigging a lot to hit these CD-2s, along with the slave quarters,” Thunder explained. “Slice and Storm have the easy run. This cone is approved locations to drop bombs. I have the most dangerous run since mine has to be rather straight. I also have to fly lower to make sure I hit my target. We can afford misses elsewhere, but not the factories.”

“Sounds good,” Shadow smiled.

“Wait?” Nor asked disturbed. “You have no problem with us, me, bombing the slaves?”

Shadow shrugged. “We are not trying to kill them or end their lives because they are slaves. We are simply bombing a non renewable or rare resource. This has nothing to do with them being slaves, weak ponies, or anything else. It is just them being a resource.”

“That makes me feel better,” Nor smiled. “A resource bombing, just with bombs packed with 00 buck to shred coats.”

“That explains the extra shotgun shells,” Shadow chuckled. “I mean, I assume that Thunder had several different bombs designed to hit the factories with them.”

“Two special loads,” Thunder smiled. “The high explosive and then the fragmentation which Nor is carrying. General ordinance is 20 pound bombs. Two on each side, then four 10 pounds behind them on their flanks. Bags carry 4 tens on each side. Nor will be carrying 4 20s, two on each side, same with me. The rest of his need to be 10s so he can hit more CD-2s. I will only be carrying 20s, even in my bags.”

“I assume you have tested these weights?” Shadow asked.

“Yes,” Thunder nodded. “The only ones not tested are my two 50s. One on my belly and one on my back. The back will be used to strike the known factory. The belly will be used to strike a factory that I can pick out while in flight. Dangerous, I know.”

“Hence why you want the elevator,” Shadow nodded.

Shadow leaned forward onto the desk. “Do it. Blast those bastards apart. Let them know they are way out of their league and not to mess with us. Nesh Amaranth did try and buy my loyalty. They will rue the day they set themselves against us.”

“Tell us what she said,” Slice asked.

“Right,” Shadow stated annoyed. “The tape was half deteriorated from the fight. Oddly, I didn’t see many stallions. It was mostly mares.”

Shadow caught them up to speed from the time he was caught all the way through until the rest was picked up by the camera. He gave them as much word for word as he could with his talk with Nesha.

“So rest up for tomorrow,” Shadow smiled. “ I will make a proper dinner tonight, and then an amazing breakfast. In the mean time, Storm, I hear you have something you have been working on to show me.”

“Not really,” Storm shrugged. “I have some stuff worked out, but after last night, its a huge pile of nothing again.”

“Hydroponics,” Nor pointed out.

“Right,” Shadow chuckled. “I will head out and check on it and see what damage Nor did.”

They laughed and headed their separate ways. The hydroponics was is good shape and more rosemary was being dried.

“Guys,” Shadow called as he served them. “How many Steel Rangers did you kill? I need it for my reports.”

“That would be an even two dozen,” Thunder smiled. “Damn bastards. Backed into our corner, we set up our kill zone and let them walk right into the trap. We slaughtered the lot of them with all of our rockets. And then put armor piercing rounds into each of their mangled heads. Then I brought the building down on them.”

“And then three others too,” Slice chuckled.

“That explains how the noise was so easy to hear,” Shadow chuckled.

He sat down with them to eat.

“I saw that grimace,” Nor stated. “Pain?”

“Yeah,” Shadow groaned a bit. “But shards are still inside me after all.”

“Just keep calm and rest,” Thunder smiled. “We need you at your best. This time, we need to deal with Fillydelphia. For you and Silent.”

“Thanks,” Shadow blushed.

They finished eating and took an early night. Shadow was up first and, as promised, had a hardy breakfast for them. He watched as they pulled their ordinance up the makeshift elevator and then seal the blast doors.

Shadow closed the stable door and walked to the Overseers officer to write his report.

Command Sergeant Major of Reconnaissance Shadow Flare

Second mission into Fillydelphia

Before heading into the city for continuing our mission to map, it was decided we needed to split up. Mapping was important and the primary mission, but secondary was to deal with contacting the other faction inside the area.

Upon first entering the area, we established a meeting location to reassemble. Before light, I was at my first post to watch and map the Disciples’ territory. First Sergeant Storm Eye, Master Sergeant Apple Slice, Sergeant Major Nor’easter and Sergeant Thunder Clap began to map other parts and scrounge for equipment we could use to contact Nesha without risking a face to face meeting.

Around mid day, their team found themselves backed into a corner with two dozen Steel Rangers. Thunder took charge, setting up a kill zone. All 24 were dispatched with rockets and then a armor piercing round through the head. The building was brought down on top of the bodies for extra assurance.

I spent that time observing and mapping the area I could see, including slave labor. Most of the territory was walled off in some manor. I moved to another rooftop to continue my reconnaissance. I was soon jumped by Disciples, including several Griffins.

They wanted to skin me alive. If I was lucky, they would poke my eyeballs out so I didn’t have to watch it happen. The Unicorn mare challenging me never stood a change. I sliced her open and dispatched her in a manor that wasn’t the cleanest, but sent the right message to the others.

I wanted to talk with Nesha, and they were going to lead me there, or perish like she just did. Along the way, intimidation on both sides happened, including a strong contemplation to force me into slavery. They have bomb collars they put on ponies. If they misbehave, they push a button and the problem is solved.

Nesha’s full name is Nesh Amaranth. Nesh is the exact opposite of her personality. The Disciples as a whole are savages who take more than sane enjoyment in the pain of others. They are sadists to the greatest degree. There were troughs filled with blood in places.

The are known as the Disciples because they follow the world’s rules. They say the world is ruled by the fittest. It is they who survived because it is a kill or be killed world. Equestria and beyond is that way. Their strong belief in that philosophy adds numbers to the gang and gives the others a strength to stand together to be the fittest.

Their philosophy of the wasteland is correct. All evidence seen indicates that only the strong survive. And that it is often, kill or be killed.

The Disciples have an affinity to knives, but they still are accustomed to firearms. They should not be approached in hoof to hoof combat. They will win.

The average Disciple carries a large caliber revolver as the sole firearm. Often with a nasty knife mounted below the barrel. Others carry shotguns or their hoof made rifles. Those rifles are fully automatic and they are producing more in factories. Soon all Disciples will be armed with those hoof made rifles.

The Disciples have more than a hoofhold in Fillydelphia. They can match the Steel Rangers and are expanding. Nesha is putting out a campaign to gain more members. One of the factories is producing well thought out fliers. They will attract plenty of new members with the security they can offer.

I turned down their offer to stay and join them in a role that reflected my position in the Enclave military as the Command Sergeant Major of Reconnaissance. That meant our civil discussion was at an end.

As I made my exit, I received a shotgun blast to the back, heavy buckshot. Another tried to slice and stab me. I was able to block, but the follow up was a poor strike, causing only a painful injury.

A large number of Disciples were outside, waiting. I was shot up immediately. A choppy escape from them was made, but I was not in the clear. Griffins dive bombed me. One was able to latch on with sharpened claws. My armor saved me from them.

The rest of my evasion was marked with peril. I faced more Griffins and other ponies who were able to shoot at me as I flew overhead. There was still a greater threat.

Nesha had a ton of CD-2s that they placed in Fillydelphia for it’s defense. She called them Sky Guns and they had been either restored or kept in good condition over the years. The Disciples are producing fresh ammunition. The CD-2s knocked me out of the sky several times and the explosive rounds gave birth to shrapnel which tore apart my armor.

The CD-2s will give any incoming Cloudships, even Raptors, a solid run. Fillydelphia must be approached from the air with extreme caution.

I faced CD-2s head on and more Griffins in the final stretch. We gave up on evasion, opting to meet up and deal with anypony following us outside of the city. The others had to run from more Steel Rangers and I had angered the other half of the city.

I came in to land with them, locking my wings to alleviate the pain that was mounting as my adrenaline was fading. The last thing I remember was slamming into the ground, unable to catch myself.

I was out cold, healing from my grave wounds for two weeks. I only woke up yesterday. I suffered broken bones, massive internal bleeding, and other fatal injuries.

The Inquisitors fought for my life because I had information about the Disciples that was unable to be obtained again. My armor was damaged, loosing much of the video footage I had taken. Nesha will kill us on sight, without contemplating torture.

Fillydelphia is mapped. The Inquisitors have unlocked the secrets to Fillydelphia and why the final scout mission was ripped to shreds. Our job is done. We need rest and proper medical care.

Our third mission into the skies of Fillydelphia is underway. I am forced to rest while they carry out what must be our final mission to the city. The third mission is a tactical bombing of the city, both against the Disciples and the Steel Rangers. This is being led by Sergeant Thunder Clap. Further information to come on that mission.

Any more missions will require a stronger force. A much stronger force than we have. An army will be needed. I am still a believer that redemption can be found here in Equestria, but Fillydelphia must be destroyed through fire. Burned to ash. Nesha has soiled the ground with their sadistic lifestyle.

We must be given relief and come back for our health and safety. Later when all of our wounds are healed, we can begin further expeditions. We all have to heal and our supplies have taken a toll.

Command Sergeant Major of Reconnaissance Shadow Flare

Shadow sent the message and sighed. The city was mapped. They would be going home soon.

---

Thunder screwed on the last impact fuse as the light faded.

“Are you sure this is safe?” Nor asked concerned.

“Yes,” Thunder said as he helped strap on bombs to Slice. “They won’t arm until the small blades above the fins spin and arm it. That only can happen once you drop them. ”

Nor sighed. “I get it, logically. But its not easy for me to wrap my head around it.”

“It is almost over,” Slice said taking off a bit to check the weight and that the harness was secure.

Nor had to stay calm as they loaded him down with bombs. Then they had to all help Thunder put the 50 pound bombs on.

“For Silent!” Thunder declared. “And Shadow!”

They trotted into a take off and worked their way up in a spiral until they were the proper height. Storm and Slice gave a salute and banked to make their run.

“We have this,” Storm said, mostly to himself.

“Lets blast these mother fucks!” Slice replied, flapping harder.

“On your ten!” Slice said to Storm. “An unused CD-2!”

“Then we no longer will bomb at our leisure!” Storm declared.

Slice and Storm split apart and the bombing begin. Storm took a winding path to Stable-Tec HQ, bombing five abandoned CD-2s. The Steel Rangers would not be able to easily get them working if they even could. Future missions needed those CD-2s out of commission.

Storm dropped both 20s near Stable-Tec HQ. Each one had at least a dozen ponies around, trying to assess what was happening. Many were not in armor and some appeared to be fillies and colts.

Slice was able to target three more CD-2s before he got to Stable-Tec HQ. He left a trail from there to the Bank of Equestria. Quite a few of those bombs landed on groups of ponies. They didn’t see it coming.

Nor slid away from Thunder and pulled his E.F.S. up. Projection paths were put in place on the ground as he looked. Nor looked for the signs of the slave quarters. The cage bars and barrels on fire came into view.

Nor adjusted and dropped the first bomb. It landed next to a crumbling building and blew it’s side open. He dropped two more in between buildings. Ponies flooded out at the noise and Nor shifted his path.

“Sorry,” He whispered as he dropped his bombs.

Those outside the immediate blast were sliced apart by the 00 buck before they could dive for cover. He pulled back around to drop his last two 20s in between buildings to force them to put resources on keeping more resources safe.

Nor took evasive action before any of the guns could be brought to bear upon him. He had to change to his 10 pounders in his bags. The first gun was a miss, but close enough they had dove for cover. They would not be able to get set up again it in time to retaliate.

Guns were on line and pounding away in a vein attempt to hit Nor. They had trouble seeing him, allowing him to easily find and then accurately bomb the rest of his targets. How much damage each hit caused was unable to be ascertained. He had four left and turned his attention elsewhere.

Thunder had free reign since they were targeting Nor.

Thunder had cruised even higher and then dove upon the first target to dump the bomb on his back. He was able to be 100% accurate and place the bomb right at the mouth of a factory for optimal damage. Thunder barely escaped the flames and blast from the bomb as he skimmed the factory’s rooftop.

He didn’t expect the weight to drop him so low, unable to recover to his preferred height. He didn’t try to recover his height as he saw an open, on line factory. Use what he could. He pulled up and dropped the bomb, allowing him to slide it in. It detonated deep inside. Thunder heard the factory’s exterior structure crumble and smiled.

He rolled and dropped two close to another factory. Each time he was able to pull up higher. As Thunder banked around he saw slaves with other raw materials. A 20 ended that. Thunder rolled out and around and dropped two more alongside a warehouse with lights on. The resulting fireball indicated paper products. Thunder had hit the fliers they had produced.

Thunder’s E.F.S. picked up several Griffins taking flight to make chase. He dumped the last of bombs to make evasive maneuvers possible. He quickly came under fire. He rolled and avoided the bullets. Even his ‘poor’ flying skills were more than a match for their shitty accuracy at these speeds.

Nor slid in behind the Griffins and blasted one. They broke chase and Nor came up alongside Thunder. He tossed aside the last 10 he had and began to take evasive maneuvers.

Several CD-2s opened blind fire. Their exploding rounds sent shrapnel into their armor’s shell. The Griffins came back, low and off to their side to avoid the shrapnel. They opened fire again with their hoof made rifles. Nor and Thunder couldn’t always avoid their fire.

“HERE COMES THE CAVALRY!” Slice screamed over their coms as a burst of lead and lasers erupted towards the Griffins.

At least two dropped out of the sky and the others split as Slice and Storm came up and around to join up with them.

“Evasive maneuvers since we can not lead griffins back to Rosemary,” Thunder ordered. “There were more Griffins than I thought.”

“Ha!” Slice laughed. “Well, now their numbers resemble what we estimated.”

---

Shadow felt bad standing at the stable door, armed. It was no way to greet his friends. But there was no way to trust it wasn’t them. Storm hadn’t figured out a camera system yet, only that somepony had opened the hatch.

“Ah, a good Reconnaissance leader,” Thunder said walking in. “Greeting us with a gun in our face.”

“Yeah, I’ll get the cameras working,” Storm said annoyed.

“I see things went well,” Shadow smiled as they headed in to remove their gear.

“Well enough,” Thunder replied.

“I will leave you to it and get a meal going,” Shadow said breaking away.

“Debrief after dinner,” Thunder told everypony.

Shadow sat down at the overseer’s computer as the others filed in.

“Success is an understatement,” Thunder smiled. “Storm, then Slice, then Nor report of your individual runs.”

Shadow nodded for them to begin. He was going to type the report as he listened.

Storm started. “My payload was originally targeted around Stable-Tec HQ, but Slice noticed an abandoned CD-2. I don’t know if it worked or not, but I dropped a bomb on it. I also scored hits against three other CD-2s as I wound my way to my main target. I killed a good two dozen by bombs dropped into the streets they were in. They were trying to figure out what was happening.”

“Good catch Slice,” Shadow praised.

“I got three CD-2s,” Slice happily reported. “I dropped my real payload on a trail from Stable Tech to the Bank of Equestria. I scored several hits on groups in the open. Nothing special.”

Nor used the map. “For starters, I will skip to the middle. I missed these three guns. Clear misses. These other four were hits, but maybes. This last one was a direct strike. I know this gun placement was knocked out as the whole building crumbled beneath it.”

Nor took a deep breath. “I struck the first resource location perfectly. My first hit ripped the side of a building opened. The resources flooded… the slaves dashed out and I scoured multiple congruent strikes that slaughtered them. The 00 buck did it’s job perfectly. I saw ponies bend to their claws several hundred feet away and through a dozen others before it hit them.”

“Large numbers were killed or deeply wounded. Of those that are wounded, many will die. Others will of course, heal, but they will never be the same. Cripples and plagued by pain for life.”

“Like me,” Shadow nodded.

“You got healing potions, they won’t,” Nor replied.

“Good hits,” Thunder stated. “Strong hits.”

“Thunder?” Shadow asked. “I have all of this charted in a message so far.”

“I dive bombed my first target,” Thunder began. “I did not expect the weight to keep me down as much as it did. I was barely able to pull out of the dive. Thankfully, I had used my back bomb, 100% on target. I was able to skim along the roof of the factory as it exploded behind me.”

“It did set me up for my next, unexpected target. Right into it’s mouth and down the throat. That dropped the factory’s structure, unknown what the damage to equipment within was. I hit my second target, and blasted several others more as they came up.”

“I am proud to say that I hit at least one warehouse. I believe it was their stash of those fliers. It went up in a glorious pillar of fire. I know I struck a ground team with slaves and raw materials.”

“I can see you really enjoyed it from that smile,” Shadow chuckled to Thunder. “Good hits. But you are not done.”

“No Sir, a team of griffins got on my tale. They couldn’t see that well and I assume the same goes with the CD-2s. Nor?”

“Correct,” Nor nodded. “They were firing blind, but the explosive rounds did cause damage to my suit. And even with Thunder’s clunking in the air, he was fast enough to keep the griffins on their claws in the low light. I broke them apart, downing one.”

“Shortly after I pulled up with Thunder, then they were on us again, same with the guns. That time, they were a lot closer and my armor has tears in it from shrapnel. Griffins came in low and off to our side, opening up with those hoof made guns. Slice and Storm dove on them, ending their attack for sure.”

“We knocked out two,” Storm stated. “At least. Even if they were grazes, we kicked them hard. And at that speed, they would have taken at least a crippling blow for life. Most likely death.”

Shadow asked. “Estimate on the damage to your suits?

“Two, maybe three days,” Thunder nodded. “Nor took the most flack. His armor is torn up nasty. Storm and Slice took no direct damage, but a hole here or there from the flying metal. I got hit a good amount by those Griffins and last set of CD-2s.”

“Very much a success,” Shadow said as he typed the final pieces of the report and sent it.

“How about us?” Nor asked. “Any word from above?”

“None,” Shadow sighed. “And they have the full map.”

“I will double check the cloud terminal,” Storm yawned. “In the morning.”

“Sounds good,” Shadow smiled. “We all need a good night sleep. I sure hope its a malfunction we can easily fix.”

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