Golden Dawn glided down to land at the incoming flight deck for Nellie Air Force Base. It was mid afternoon, but her Major should still be in her office by the time she could walk there. Check in was fast and she set herself a good trot to make it there on time.

She knocked on the door

“Come,” The Major ordered.

Golden Dawn opened the door and stepped in, saluting.

“Those are some fancy stripes you have,” The Major said before Golden Dawn could announce herself.

Golden Dawn closed the door. She slid off her gear and sat down at the gester of the Major.

“And some fancy ribbons,” The Major added.

“The Colonel over training fixed the oversight in my rank and records. I should have graduated from combat school at least a Corporal. And a Sergeant from my training in EOD and Heavy Weapons. I lacked proper ribbons and devices as well.”

“I guess you should have,” The Major replied nodding.

“And after this training, many of us were promoted to reflect our greater value to the Enclave. Those that didn’t were given proper due in their files for upcoming promotions. I can’t talk about the training, but I have been assured that the Staff Sergeant strips are well deserved.”

“I can not argue with that,” The Major smiled. “However, the 256 is on night rotation right now. Report in with your Lieutenant at the start of the shift. In three days, we will begin open combat training.”

Golden Dawn grinned.

“Now, what is that smile?” The Major asked.

“Nothing special, I have a new toy to try out. I still have my battle saddle, but I was given permission to run field trials on a weapon we covered.”

Golden Dawn opened of the hard case she had been carrying and pulled out the Applesnack Submachine Gun.

“The Applesnack Submachine Gun. Often shorted to Snack gun. Combat range is 75 yards, 100 if I can take a second to breath.”

“You use that free?” The Major asked, picking up her jaw.

Golden Dawn shrugged. “I never had a problem with it. But you need the sling to work it. Again, field trials. I have plenty of loaded magazine, but also was given sufficient training magazines.”

“I look forward to seeing this,” The Major grinned. “Since it is field trials, you are to remove your battle saddle and use this gun at all times while on duty. How hard is it to get ammunition?”

Golden Dawn grinned. “It takes standard 9mm rounds.”

“I am guessing you want some range time?” The Major asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I hadn’t thought about it,” Golden Dawn replied. “But I really should have some.”

“Tomorrow, or the day after. Actually, any time, and with any ammo you need. I will send the orders over.”

“Thank you Ma’am.”

“Now go. You have a shift starting soon and a Lieutenant to confuse.”

“He he,” Golden Dawn chuckled. “I will conduct myself with the utmost integrity, honor, and respect.”

Golden Dawn exited the office with a salute.

She got to her room and took a shower. It felt good to shower after the long flight, especially alone. After that, she pulled the rifle off her battle saddle. She still needed the saddle because the left side had the bag to hold ammunition and medical gear.

Golden Dawn put on her uniform and took the extra five minutes to make sure it was perfect. It was a bit lopsided with the gun removed. She would have to get a new saddle that had bags on both sides for balance and to better carry the ammunition.

Golden Dawn selected her magazines. She ignored the drum magazines she had. They carried more, but she didn’t like the weight compared to the box magazines. The 40 round stick magazines stacked better in her saddlebags.

Golden Dawn and Vengeful Blade were the top two at the training when it came to the use of the weapons. The other combat soldiers were right behind them. All of them were leagues better than the mechanics with one exception. Striker and the other two from his unit were the best non-combat fields on the range.

Golden Dawn had quickly shown real skill with the Snack Gun, which is why she was allowed to field test it. Golden Dawn wanted to carry it, almost pleading for it, and it was granted to her. Nopony else in training wanted to carry one of the rifles, not even the other combat soldiers.

She already missed the others. The Terrifying Tetrad had been the best all around. There was no actual scoring, but they worked together better than any other group and were the quickest to respond. It had been a real pleasure to be working with an intelligent and fun team. She had forgotten how important that was for your job.

When she got out of Officer School, the four of them were going to see where she went and try and link up. At least at the same base.

Golden Dawn checked the time. It was 20 till they started. She aimed to be there by 15 till. Right on time. Especially to check in with her Lieutenant.

Golden Dawn opened the bolt her her gun, slid a magazine in and flipped on the safety. As an extra precaution, every magazine had the first round as a red dummy round. They were on security detail, not in combat. For safety the were forced to cycle the dummy round out before firing.

Golden Dawn confidently stepped out of her room and went to her post. She arrived on her target time and only a few others were there, ready. She stood at parade rest and ignored the looks she received from the others. They were focusing on the gun and didn’t notice her new stripes.

Lieutenant Zealous Arrow arrived and immediately called them to attention. A minute later the platoon they were relieving marched up. The Lieutenants exchanged command and soldiers filed out to their posts. Golden Dawn approached Lieutenant Zealous Arrow, who was talking with the other Lieutenant. They were in the same cohort together.

Gold Dawn saluted. “Staff Sergeant Golden Dawn reporting for duty after specialized training Sir!”

“Staff Sergeant?” Lieutenant Zealous Arrow asked, annoyed.

“Yes Sir. The Colonel over the training I received noticed several errors in my record, including rank. Those errors were corrected.”

“How was there so many errors that you made it to Staff Sergeant?” Lieutenant Zealous Arrow asked smugly.

“That was not an error Sir. I exited Basic Training as a Specialist. I placed first in Combat School. I should have been promoted to at least Corporal. That was the first oversight. After, I went to Heavy Weapons Training and EOD. By their end I should have been promoted to Sergeant.”

“This specialized training was, unique. There is a reason why it is kept quiet and there is a reason why I needed to attend. By the end, the value I have to the Enclave warranted a promotion to express that. Most in attendance received promotions.”

“That leads into the weapon I have. I am field testing this Applesnack Submachine Gun and have been directed to carry it on duty. It fires from an open bolt position. The safety is on. If we had to go live, I would flip her off safety, pull the trigger, and then cycle the bolt manually to load a live round. All proper safety precautions are taken.”

“This school, was a preparatory school for command?” Lieutenant Zealous Arrow asked.

“No Sir,” Golden Dawn replied with a smile. “It had to do with weapon systems. Hence my field testing this weapon. I love her so much.”

“Staff Sergeant,” Lieutenant Zealous Arrow said with a bit of an edge. “I can not reassign you to a different squad. You will fall in under your superior, Staff Sergeant Charged Bolt. They are on patrol and can be found in the dispatch office.”

“Yes Sir,” Golden Dawn saluted. “Can you point me in the right direction?”

Lieutenant Zealous Arrow rolled his eyes and pointed Golden Dawn to the proper door. From there she found dispatch easily.

“Ah, good to see you back Specialist,” Charged Bolt said. “If you were not aware, in three days we will be undergoing some large scale exercises.”

“I am aware Sir,” Golden Dawn replied. “Thank you.”

“Now, I need you,” Charged Bold said looking up at her. He cocked his head, trying to comprehend the change in stripes.

“Am I being replaced?” He asked confused.

“No Sir,” Golden Dawn smiled. “The training I attended brought to light some oversights on my record, rank being one of them. The promotion from Sergeant to Staff Sergeant has to do with the special knowledge and skills I have acquired during all my trainings. I am still under your command, despite the stripes. Please, treat me as you would any other soldier under your command. Even if that means treating me like a Specialist.”

“Noted Sergeant. Thank you,” Charged Bolt smiled. “You have not done any patrolling here with the 256 yet, so you will be under Sergeant Treasured Rose. She knows this area very well and is our best. The others will follow a designated route, she will keep things lose and unpredictable like a security patrol should be. Rover is what we call them.”

“Sorry,” Charged Bolt said. “I keep thinking you are new.”

“By the actual time logged here, I am,” Golden Dawn chuckled. “They kicked me around a few units and then soon after getting stationed here, off to another special training.”

“Good. We need whatever that special training was. They sent two Scout Teams below not to long ago, looking for a recon team or something that is MIA.”

Golden Dawn felt like she had been kicked in the gut. She couldn’t breath. He body would not inhale. She finally fought through the panic of it all and coughed.

“Sorry, I think I know some, Pegasus on the recon team,” She said to clarify everything.

They relaxed seeing that she was breathing normal again.

“Lets go,” Treasured Rose said pointing with her head. “We need to hit the streets.”

Golden Dawn grabbed the security belt given to her and strapped it on.

They wound a path all through the area. Their squad was the only one from their platoon that was on roving duty. The others squads were at posted stations. All together, this whole area was being secured by four platoons from 8 different companies. There were three other Rover patrol teams.

They approached another Rover.

“Any news Summer?” Treasured Rose asked.

“Yeah, we were told somepegasus was seen carrying a new weapon. A free one, not locked onto a battle saddle. No idea who or what weapon.”

“That would be me,” Golden Dawn said.

She slid the gun off her back and into a ready position.

“Its a field test,” Golden Dawn explained. “A submachine gun.”

“What is up?” another Pegasus asked. He was followed by three others.

“Gang’s all here,” Treasured Rose said. “Outside of the field test Staff Sergeant Golden Dawn is doing with the special gun, any actual news?”

“So, you are the special mare who got to go to some secret training,” A stallion said.

Golden Dawn just held up the gun in response.

“Meet anypegasus special?” Summer asked.

“They all are special,” Golden Dawn chuckled. “All picked from various groups for various reasons to learn the same stuff. But I had to shoot down the stallion in our group who was sweet on me. And I mean group as in our little cohort, the Terrifying Tetrad. It was a shock to all three of them to find out I don’t swing that way.”

“Never would have pinned you for that either,” Treasured Roses said looking Golden Dawn up and down. “Looks can be deceiving. Especially when they can kick your ass to the wasteland and back with out breaking a sweat.”

They all laughed.

“Meet back here at 2145 for the walk through,” one of the others said as they broke off.

“Walk through?” Golden Dawn asked Treasured Rose.

“Yeah, around that time we make sure that there are no domestic problems by doing a walk through by all the housing in our zone.”

“I have not heard or seen that. I usually am up at that time.”

“Its just our group,” Treasured Rose replied. “None of the others are that smart. Any time something happens, it is while we are off duty. It isn’t planned, but it sure feels that way sometimes.”

The base was significantly different at night. It was a good thing Golden Dawn was paired up with Treasure Rose. The shadows seemed alive, but Treasured Rose knew them like the back of her hoof. If something was off, she could tell at a glance.

“So,” Treasured Rose said breaking the silence. “You don’t swing that way. I want to hear about having to shoot down your close friend. I don’t get much action. Pegasi read me as dangerous and don’t even want to talk.”

“Uggh,” Golden Dawn groaned. “I know. It is nice to know I am noticed. But, yeah. I picked up on things way to late. Halfway through the other mare, Gunmetal, had to pound it into my head that he was hitting on me. Striker is his name. A Lieutenant, runs as a mechanic who is heading up a major overhaul on AC units at his post.”

“It wasn’t too bad. I addressed it as soon as we were free for the evening. It was barracks again, so no real private place to talk. His bed was across the room from mine and Gunmetal’s, so we talked there. It was over pretty quick and our friendship didn’t slip, not even down a peg.”

“Telling somepegasus you are not into stallions is a lot easier to take than saying they are not your type. I guess it’s less humiliating since it has nothing to do with who you are as an individual.”

“That sounds right,” Treasured Rose replied as she scanned the area. “I wouldn’t mind having to turn down a mare or two if it means somepegasus is actually interested in what they see.”

They continued on their patrol. They spoke to different regular patrols who stayed on a designated path and timing, and every so often they would stop at a stationary post. They met up with the other Rovers at the designated time.

They began to walk through the buildings. They were standard housing, not for families. Private rooms on either side with a center isle. One big unit made it better for climate control and it saved on materials. Each Rover team worked through a building. They spread out, hoping that the distance in between would allow them to catch something.

Golden Dawn heard a thump at the door on her right. She was security, so it wasn’t prying.

Golden Dawn knocked loudly on the door. “Security. Is everything alright in there? I heard a fall.”

Treasured Rose was quickly by her side and Golden Dawn knocked again, but harder.

“This is Security! Is everything alright in there! I heard a fall!”

A few heads poked out of other doors but there was no response from inside.

“This is why it is good being the Rover, and not standard patrol,” Treasured Rose smiled as she held up a set of keys.

“Dispatch,” Treasured Rosed radioed. “Potential fall reported at Building 764 A, Room 32. Breaching Door.”

“Understood,” Dispatch replied.

Treasured Rose inserted the master key and turned the knob. Golden Dawn was first in, breaching like they had been taught. The only difference was her rifle was relaxed. It didn’t stay that way as she found herself staring at a stallion and a mare who was wrapped up and gagged. The Mare was sobbing, frightened. The safety had been flicked off and Golden Dawn had cycled a live round into the chamber.

“Wings up! Don’t move!” Golden Dawn ordered.

“Dispatch!” Treasured Rose radioed. “We need emergency medical teams here now and all Rovers to this building for lock down.”

The others were there within a minute. Two posted up at each entrance and Summer and her partner met them at their door. There were a lot of orders for ponies to stay inside their room.

With back up, Treasured Rose slowly approached the mare and undid her gag. Her screams were deafening and made Golden Dawn’s mane stand on end.

“Summer?” Golden Dawn asked. “Can you cuff him. I haven’t exactly been taught how.”

Summer laughed at the irony and forced the Stallion against the wall and had him cuffed in seconds.

“You can’t forget the wings,” Summer grinned.

The Stallion took that second of her distraction to throw his shoulder into Summer and toss her onto the bed. Summer collided with the mare on the bed.

Golden Dawn immediately reacted with the butt stock of her gun. As he recovered from tossing Summer she drove it into his face, above his left eye. The gun’s weight gashed open his forehead. Golden Dawn needed him to stay down and followed through with a second strike his his left shoulder. She felt the rifle push against the bone and the snap as bone lost and the rifle continued. He was left groaning on the floor.

“This is a live round in the chamber,” Golden Dawn warned. “Move and I get to add live fire on duty to the field test report. As well as an autopsy to see how the ballistics played out.”

Summer was helped off the bed and they finished untying the mare. She was quickly wrapped in some clean towels. The spare blankets were in the closet, which was blocked by the stallion. A blanket was quickly retrieved from a nearby room.

“Three minutes,” Treasured Rose groaned. “Where is that medical team? Golden Dawn, can you give dispatch an update.”

“Dispatch, this is Staff Sergeant Golden Dawn. We entered the room to find a mare tied and gagged. It appeared to be against her will. A stallion was also in the room. When we went to cuff him, he resisted and is currently on the floor where he belongs. We will need a medical team for him as well.”

“Understood Staff Sergeant. The building has been declared secured by the other teams and our Major is being woken up.”

“I do not want that job,” Golden Dawn replied without thinking.

Dispatch chuckled. “She doesn’t shoot the messenger. Thankfully.”

“Dispatch, make sure she is directed to the hospital. That is where both of them will be headed, as soon as medical gets here. There won’t be any time to stop.”

“Understood. She will meet you there.”

“ETA on medical, we are getting close to five minutes.”

“Only that they are in route to you. Two teams were sent out at the same time.”

“Thank you.”

It took another uncomfortable two minutes for the medical teams to arrive. They immediately got the mare on a stretcher and off to the Emergency Room. Before they could take the stallion in, they had to bind his wings. They were not gentle.

Summer and her partner had accompanied the mare. Golden Dawn and Treasured Rose were escorting the stallion. One of the other Rover teams came in to seal the room off and survey the place for any immediate evidence.

When they touched down at the Emergency room, the security there was keeping Lieutenant Zealous Arrow back. It was the Major’s orders.

“Ah!” The Major said as they came out of the triage center. “I just spoke with her. Well, I did all the speaking. And this is the other individual?”

“Yes Ma’am,” Golden Dawn nodded. “He decided to resist his wings being bound. I don’t think I told you how much this gun weighs. It is hefty.”

“A pity,” The Major said. “Another pity that the first day back and your assigned duties ended up with this.”

“I know, its going to be boring from here on out,” Golden Dawn smiled.

The medical staff was dealing with the Stallion’s head wound and preparing to deal with his shoulder. They stepped out of the way.

“It is a shame,” The Major whispered. “That is First Lieutenant Snowflake Strike. Lieutenant Zealous Arrow’s best friend.”

“I’m fucked,” Golden Dawn smirked.

“It is a really good thing that you are a Staff Sergeant and that Sergeant Treasured Rose is a highly acclaimed Rover. It puts weight into your report.”

“You have a nasty report to write,” Treasured Rose stated. “Just stick with the facts and only those on the report.”

“I am going to go see if she will talk,” The Major said.

“I will come too,” Treasured Rose added. “I was first by her side. That may help.”

Golden Dawn crossed over to the curtain that hid the Lieutenant and entered. She stood off to the side. She was in the way a bit, but it was her job to watch over him. She realized that the safety was off. Golden Dawn flipped it on, but for now was going to keep the gun ready.

A few hours later, the Major allowed regular security to take charge of the Lieutenant. The investigator had arrived and talked with everypegasus except for Golden Dawn. She gave her report from start to finish. Every move she made and every thing she saw. Nothing she supposed. No per-drawn up conclusions. Only the facts.

Their shift had been over for an hour when they were let go. Once they were outside of the hospital and well clear; Golden Dawn unloaded her gun and inserted a fresh magazine. She picked up the live round and pocketed it.

“I guess I need a new safety round,” Golden Dawn stated. “Mine is back in the room.”

“It is a good reason to need a new on,” Treasured Rose pointed out. “It can be embarrassing to have to get a new one issued.

She was giddy from the adrenaline cost.

“You made it seem like you have never had an incident happen on your watch,” Golden Dawn stated. “Yet the Major said you have a very good reputation.”

“Yeah, because I help a lot of pegasi. Its late, they are coming home. A bit to much to drink. Had to call medical in a few times for ones passed out. That sort of thing. No real crime. Not like this. And he threw Summer with his shoulder. That isn’t easy to do.”

“But your rifle proved quite useful.”

“Yeah, it was. I have open range time and unlimited ammunition, what time do you usually wake back up?”

“On this schedule, we get off at 0700, so usually 1500.”

“Not much time before we are back on at 1900,” Golden Dawn replied.

“Yeah, well tonight is our last night since we are doing those exercises. So tomorrow afternoon?”

“Sounds like a plan. Lets check out and get food.”

They dropped off and signed back in the patrol gear. They had to mark that a set of restraints had been transferred to the hospital security.

“Lets get breakfast,” Treasured Rose yawned.

They meandered over to the closest mess hall. It was pretty quite since it was on the tail end of breakfast.

“Finally arrived,” A Pegasus called out.

Golden Dawn knew the voice by couldn't place it.

“Forget what I look like already?”

“Gunmetal?” Golden Dawn stuttered. “How are you here?”

“Eh, I enjoyed your company so much, I looked at a transfer. Easy enough since the Quartermaster doesn’t have a qualified gunsmith. That spot has been open for a while. Even easier to transfer because of the promotion. A new Staff Sergeant threw things out of balance.”

“How did you get here so fast? I got in late yesterday.”

“Cloudship,” Gunmetal shrugged. “Plus, you are a relaxed flier. I didn’t know I was accepted until I got back to my post.”

“We never exactly discussed where you were posted,” Golden Dawn stated.

“The Overcast just docked here last night,” Gunmetal chuckled. “Making that a nice and easy transfer.”

“Of course,” Golden Dawn chuckled. “But, this is Treasured Rose. We are in the same squad together. And same patrol team.”

“And tore it up last night from the gossip,” Gunmetal chuckled as she joined them at the table.

“We did our job,” Treasured Rose shrugged. “But it is great meeting you.”

“And that is all it has to be,” Gunmetal replied annoyed. “I really need to check in with the Quartermaster. I know with the exercises coming that she will be loaded down with even more weapons checking in. Idiots.”

“Well, if you have the time, we are going to the range tomorrow afternoon,” Golden Dawn said.

“I will be working all night,” Gunmetal shrugged. “We will see. Like I said, they have been lacking a qualified gunsmith for a while now.”

Gunmetal departed to get to work.

“She is something,” Treasured Rose chuckled. “And the dowel?”

“She has always had something in her mouth like that, but they had to upgrade it to a sturdy dowel in Basic Training. Their instructor didn’t like her face without one. Its an old habit.”

“Cool,” Treasured Rose shrugged. “Although now I feel bad. My rifle could use some oil. It didn’t cycle well last night.”

“1600, we can meet up at the cage. She can talk and work. Hopefully we can get some from her.”

“Sounds good,” Treasured Rose said as she stood up. “Lets get some sleep. It was a really difficult night last night.”

Golden Dawn finished the last few bites and was out the door. Sleeping during normal waking hours wasn’t easy. That is why they rotated every few weeks.

Next Chapter: Chapter 70 - Hearing Estimated time remaining: 11 Hours, 6 Minutes