Golden Dawn almost missed her 1500 alarm. A cold shower fixed her, for now. Coffee would come soon. She was first at the cage. Treasured Rose looked like she had a hangover.

“I feel like I drank too much last night,” Treasured Rose groaned. “Except I only had water. I do not touch alcohol.”

“Do you need anything?” Golden Dawn asked.

“I will be fine, the more I wake up,” Treasured Rose replied.

They headed inside. There was a short line.

“Gunmetal?” Golden Dawn called out.

“One sec.” Gunmetal said.

She came to the cage and opened it to let them in.

“What do you need?”

“Just coming to check on you,” Golden Dawn replied. “Although I lost a safety case last night.”

“9mm is in vault A2,” Gunmetal replied pointer her to the right vault. “Grab what you need.”

“How do I sign them out?” Golden Dawn asked.

“Pffft. They are a bit a dozen. Don’t worry about it.”

Golden Dawn shrugged and grabbed several.

“You could use double saddle bags,” Treasured Rose added. “Balance things out.”

“Give me a second,” Gunmetal grunted as she worked a pin loose.

The saddlebags were easy to get signed out.

“Want help?” Golden Dawn asked.

“Yeah,” Gunmetal replied. “I know your skills. I can trust you. You are fast too. Just grab ones that need cleaning.”

“We can get yours cleaned alongside us,” Golden Dawn said to Treasured Rose.

Golden Dawn grabbed one marked for cleaning and brought it back to the cleaning table. It was much nicer than the field kit she had to maintain her rifle. In theory, all of the soldiers were supposed to maintain their weapons. They all had to prove they knew how in Basic Training, and were expected to maintain theirs to near perfection in Combat School. That was in theory only. Few maintained theirs.

“Damn,” Golden Dawn grunted as she tried to open the action. “This bastard is really stuck.”

After another minute, the action slammed open and ejected a case. Gunmetal and Golden Dawn paused and listened as the case settled on the floor. It was a live round.

“Third live one I have found,” Gunmetal growled. “None were marked with even a spent casing in them. That bitch is going to get it from me.”

Gunmetal checked the tag and wrote ‘live round’ on it. Golden Dawn placed the round with the rifle and continued to strip it all the way down for cleaning. The round never fired because the firing pin was broken.

Treasured Rose tried to keep up with Golden Dawn to clean her rifle, but it was not easy. Golden Dawn was very proficient at cleaning the GPER 55-6 rifles.

Things were moving well. Golden Dawn was making a good dent in the logged rifles for cleaning.

“Staff Sergeant,” The Quartermaster called. “I have a pistol coming in for cleaning.”

“Coming,” Gunmetal replied. “And I hate being called Staff Sergeant. Call me Gunmetal.”

“Will do.”

Gunmetal approached the front of the cage.

“I need it done immediately. I go on duty at 1900.”

“Right,” Gunmetal said rolling her eyes. “Give me 20. Name?”

“First Lieutenant Zealous Arrow.”

“Rule number one idiot,” Gunmetal said holing his pistol up. “Never bring a loaded gun into the quartermaster office to be checked in or out!”

Gunmetal dropped the magazine and pulled back the slide to eject the round. She was pissed as she should be. A strip clean didn’t even take her ten minutes to do.

“Don’t be an idiot,” She growled as she gave it back. “Do it again, and you will be dealing with the paperwork side of me. I hate paperwork.”

Gunmetal walked away. “Fucker.”

Lieutenant Zealous Arrow was not happy but couldn't argue with her for his stupidity.

“I see what you two deal with around here,” Gunmetal said to the them.

“And that was our XO,” Treasured Rose stated.

“I feel bad for you,” Gunmetal said as she focused on work.

“That is all I can do,” Golden Dawn announced. “I have to get dinner and then be at my post.”

“Thanks,” Gunmetal grunted. “Big help. Joy to have you. Both of you.”

“That was impressive,” Treasured Rose said as they left. “I had no idea you were that good at cleaning.”

“We all are supposed to be good at it,” Golden Dawn replied. “But, I am on the top when it comes to executing that task. I took really good care of my rifle in Combat School. Basic too, but really in Combat School. I returned mine cleaner than I received it.”

“Those rifles are dirty,” Treasured Rose gasped. “That takes skill.”

“A vital skill to have,” Golden Dawn chuckled. “It could mean life or death in combat.”

As soon as command was passed off they headed into dispatch. Their Lieutenant came in a minute later with an announcement.

“Squad Three is being moved to Squad One’s roles. I am rotating you out of patrol duty.”

“Like hell you are,” Charged Bolt said. “We are the only squad to know the routes.”

“They can learn them easily,” Lieutenant Zealous Arrow stated. “You will do as you are told.”

“I will not,” Charged Bolt replied. “I am going to call our commanding Captain.”

“No need,” Their Captain said coming out of an office. “And no, you are not getting rotated out. You, Lieutenant, should know better than to take a choice a friend made out on your soldiers. They did their job and he made his choice.”

“Also, Staff Sergeant Golden Dawn and Sergeant Treasured Rose, you two will need to report 1000 in the morning for the trial.”

Golden Dawn took a deep breath in before saluting. “Yes Sir.”

“I didn’t get to set the schedule,” The Captain added. “I know it will be tough.”

“We have been through worse,” Golden Dawn replied. “That is what training was for.”

“Excellent,” The Captain smiled.

“Okay Staff Sergeant,” Charged Bolt said. “Same thing as last night, except you will patrol all night, hopefully.”

Charged Bolt shook his head. “Damn promotion. I’m the Sergeant in this squad. Can I call you Staff? Like I used to call you Specialist.”

“Yes you are the Sergeant in charge,” Golden Dawn smiled. “Please, Staff is a great way to address me. It is less confusing and gives you your full, proper due.”

Charged Bolt smiled at her. “Don’t count yourself out, you have the same rank for a reason. Last night was just a glimpse of that reason.”

Things were going well on patrol. Nothing was happening, as the usual, and it wasn’t a weekend, so regular shifts were not out drinking. Their housing sweep went by as usual. Some more heads poked out, seeing if they were consistently patrolling the area.

“Rover 256,” Dispatch called. “You are needed at the Quartermaster cage.”

“Roger,” Treasured Rose replied.

“Probably just Gunmetal,” Golden Dawn stated. “Doing whatever she is doing.”

They made their way over to the quartermaster cage and the back gate was unlocked. They were the last Rover to arrive.

“Please, remove your hooves from the weapon.”

“I can’t,” Gunmetal hissed. “If I do, this entire thing not only falls apart, but shoot springs, pins and other parts everywhere. I am not going to spend the rest of eternity trying to find those tiny ass springs.”

Golden Dawn chuckled as the approached the gate. “Are you messing with a 1919?”

“Yeah. The tag said doesn’t fire. It was logged in a year ago. I got bored of cleaning the same damn rifles.”

“You know who this is?” Summer asked Golden Dawn.

“Yes,” Golden Dawn chuckled. “This is a pissed off Staff Sergeant Gunmetal. She just transferred here today to be the full time armorer for here. I was in here before we went on duty helping her clean rifles. Everypony wants their rifles cleaned because of the upcoming exercises. And she started backlogged before they starting asking for stuff for the exercises.”

“Need help?” Golden Dawn asked Gunmetal.

“Yeah, my hooves are hurting. I can’t fight these springs much longer.”

Golden Dawn slid up beside Gunmetal and with a few taps had the springs decompressed. Gunmetal pushed the action closed.

“It sounded fine,” Golden Dawn stated.

“I know. I ran a test fire and it didn’t work. But, I get the feeling that some of the others on patrol here were wanting their rifles in for cleaning?”

None of them wanted to admit it.

“I already helped Treasured Rose do her own. In pairs, it will take me no more than an hour, probably 40 minutes. But you will be learning to clean them.”

“We are on duty,” Summer stated.

“Yeah, and if your rifle fails when you need it on duty? You can take the short moment to get them up full speed while the others patrol. Then you switch out. Simple and effective. ”

“You need to,” Treasured Rose said. “She is being kind enough to offer it to you, take it.”

“How bad is the case?” Gunmetal asked them.

Golden Dawn finally spoke up. “We have to be at the hearing at 1000.”

“Ouch,” Gunmetal said.

She turned to them and was completely serious. “Do not give them any form of technicality. Do not give them a leg up. Stick with the facts and only the facts. A technicality can mean they are let go. And if it sounds half as bad as the rumors, you do not want a technicality to drop charges. I would know.”

“What did somepegasus get away with doing to you?” Summer asked.

“Oh, no,” Gunmetal chuckled. “Its what I got away with.”

Gunmetal began to work the action and knew something was wrong. She opened the 1919 again.

“I was a stupid Corporal, got drunk and ended up socking an idiot lieutenant. Charges were assaulting a superior officer. It was brought to the attention of the count that we were off base, the lieutenant was not in uniform and didn’t address himself as an officer. I was in uniform.”

“Since I didn’t know it was an officer, and none in my group did either, the charge was dropped. But they never put assault and battery on the initial charges. Or drunk and disorderly conduct. Only assaulting a superior officer.”

“I had no way of knowing he was a superior officer. Therefor, it was dropped with no fallback. I have marks on my record, but no mark for that. And that is when I lost respect for the system. If I could get away, red hoofed, with that; something was wrong.”

“So don’t let the bastard slip away. But don’t panic if you feel like you lost control. That will cost you the case. Just present the facts and only the facts. They will sort that shit out. It is not your place to deal justice. Only to stop the action, make the arrest and give the facts of what you did and what you saw. Nothing less, absolutely nothing more.”

“Thanks for the advice,” Treasured Rose said. “I really appreciate all you are doing for us. I feel more confident knowing how to proceed. I can leave a report like that, but that’s a report. The hot seat is different. And I feel more confident knowing the rest of the groups’ rifles are going to be squared away.”

They set their pattern and the others went to continue roving. Golden Dawn took a second look at the 1919. It was a belt fed medium machine gun. It was a short recoil operated gun. She wasn’t too familiar with them, but Combat School gave her the opportunity to get a look inside one.

“Gunmetal,” Golden Dawn said holding up a spring.

“What is that?” Gunmetal asked.

Golden Dawn showed her where it came from.

“Fucking idiots. That is the wrong spring. No wonder why the damn thing won’t fire. The spring is too powerful. Three or four times. I don’t think we have any in stock here. But now I know what to get.”

“Thanks,” Gunmetal said as she went back to the rifles.

“I only know enough to get by,” Golden Dawn immediately stated to Treasured Rose. “I have only ever looked at one. That spring was a different coil wind than the others. Easy to spot.”

“Still,” Treasured Rose smiled, shaking her head. “You could help her open it up and then pinpoint the wrong spring. You have a really good grasp on your guns.”

“Some,” Golden Dawn corrected her. “Not all. But a decent amount. More than enough to do my job.”

It was a boring, but strained night. Knowing that there would be no sleep after their shift was a stress none of them expected. Especially at the level it was at.

By 0930 all 8 of them were lined up and waiting in dress uniforms. Golden Dawn brought her Snack Gun, but it had a training magazine inserted. The court would want to see it since she had struck the Lieutenant with it.

They were brought into the room by 0945. This was a military trial. Three Generals sat as the judges and jury. General Gemmed Law sat at the head, with General Spring Dust and General Winter Lilly.

Golden Dawn was asked to place her gun on table for the time being. They started with the two teams that had secured the building. They had nothing to report. There was nothing to get out of them. All they did was make sure all exits were blocked and secured, as well as yell at pegasi to stay in their rooms.

The defense counselor put Golden Dawn on the stand first.

“Staff Sergeant, you were recently promoted and skipped several ranks?” He asked.

“No Sir,” Golden Dawn replied.

“Why does your file indicate that in the past six weeks you went from a Specialist to a Staff Sergeant?” Especially the big leap here four weeks ago from Specialist to Sergeant.”

“It was brought to the attention of a Colonel that my records were behind. They were rectified.”

He smirked. “And your promotion from Sergeant to Staff Sergeant. How did you earn that in just a month?”

“I received special training in that time span. At the end, I was promoted.”

“What training was this?”

“I am not at liberty to say,” Golden Dawn replied.

“This is a closed hearing. You can say what training it was.”

“I can not,” Golden Dawn smiled. “If you do not know, then you can not find out. If you know, then you already know what it is and why I can not speak of it.

“Who was this Colonel?”

“It was so secret, I never learned his name. Their names were their rank.”

The Captain switched tactics. “You got back from the training the other day. You had never done a night patrol, is that correct?”

“Yes,” Golden Dawn replied.

“So you have a lot to prove with your new rank.”

“No Sir.”

“It is reasonable to say that you may have been a bit overexcited on your first time at this new job.”

“No Sir.”

“It isn’t reasonable or you were not?”

“It is not reasonable to assume that a Staff Sergeant would fall prey to such a rookie mistake and I was not excited to be on this job. I did what I had to do. I was under the authority of Sergeant Treasured Rose.”

“You have bounced around a lot since you came out of training, several months ago.”

Golden Dawn took a deep breath in, calming herself before replying in a manor that was unbecoming. Professionalism was the name of the game. “Irrelevant.”

“I do not think it is irrelevant.”

“You have my file. This courtroom has my file. I do not need to answer that irrelevant question.”

“What is your relationship between you and your commanding officer.”

“That, again, is irrelevant. My commanding officer has no connection to this case.”

“I have it recorded that you have told your commanding officer to earn his salute?”

“Irrelevant. Plus, I question the validity of your source for that record.”

Golden Dawn looked over at Lieutenant Snowflake Strike. He was not happy with her questioning his report or calling his defense’s bluffs.

“Perhaps I should call in Lieutenant Zealous Arrow to confirm that?”

“Perhaps you should,” Golden Dawn smiled. “But even it was confirmed, what would that prove? It is an irrelevant question.”

“I decide what is relevant and what is not,” The Captain declared.

“Then,” Golden Dawn said standing up. “I am done with you trying to discredit my name and Rank. Defamation tactics are below a defense attorney’s skill and I won’t let you slander my name in front of this court. I shall take my leave. You have my report. You need nothing else.”

“Staff Sergeant,” General Winter Lilly said. “Sit down.”

“Yes Sir,” Golden Dawn said complying.

“Captain, you obviously have no questions for the Staff Sergeant. Defense is done questioning the witness. Prosecutor?”

“Yes.” The Prosecuting Captain said standing up. “Thank you.”

“Staff Sergeant,” He said approaching where she sat. “I have your official report here, but please walk me through the situation again.”

“While doing a routine patrol through the housing, I heard a thump. It was a hard thump. One I believed to be of a fall.”

He held his hoof up. “You said routine. But this was your first night patrolling?”

“Yes Sir. Sergeant Treasured Rose can give more information. But the four platoons who are always on rotation with each other are very thorough. That includes patrols through the general quarters to be on hoof for safety reasons. The presence of security is often enough of a deterrent for crime. And it provides us a way to check on the health of anypony inside.”

“Damn it!” Golden Dawn swore. “Fuck. I am sorry. I had Shadow Flare, Filly Fooler, in my Basic Training Barracks. I was good friends with him. I make that mistake every so often.”

“Understandable,” The Prosecutor smiled. “Your record does indicate that. But please, continue.”

“I understood that the four Rovers always work together to better sweep the area and keep tabs on things. Including checking on the housing units at least once a shift. I understand that no other night shift rotation does this.”

“For example. Last night, we all converged on the Quartermaster Cage because somepegasus was inside. It was just the new armorer who was catching up on cleaning orders before the exercises. But they are, we are, there to back each other up.”

At the time of the incident, I was moving through the hallway several paces behind Sergeant Treasure Rose in Building 764 A. It kept us safer so we could not get jumped at once together and it allowed us to hear more.”

“I hear a loud thump in Room 32, strongly knocked, announced myself as security and asked if everything was okay. It sounded like somepegasus fell out of their bed. The Sergeant was immediately by my side, I explained what I heard and pounded on the door, announcing us louder.”

“Dispatch was informed and we used the master key to unlock the door. I was first in. I saw two individuals and cycled a live round into my chamber, flipping the safety off. Their lack of a response when there were two of them was enough to warrant going hot.”

“A stallion was by the closet and a mare was tied up on the bed. I kept my gun on the stallion while Sergeant Treasured Rose went to the mare. I can not report on anything that happened with her. The other three Rovers converged on our location, securing the building’s exterior doors and the third team joined us. You should have the dispatch records and that medical was called.”

“We do,” The Prosecutor nodded.

“As standard procedure, Sergeant Summer moved to cuff the stallion for safety purposes only. He resisted, shoving her onto the bed where she collided with the mare. Because he assaulted a security personnel, I made sure he was not capable of continuing to resist while we secured him. I swung the butt stock of my rifle at his head and then his shoulder. The shoulder strike finally put him on the floor. I did not strike a third time. There was no reason to.”

“Staff Sergeant, I am curious about your weapon. It is unlike anything I have heard of and it is free, not locked onto a battle saddle. Can you demonstrate it’s use?”

“Yes Sir,” Golden Dawn said standing up.

Golden Dawn removed the training magazine. She pull the bolt back. She was making sure it was pointed in a safe direction. She showed the Prosecutor that the action was open and that there was no round in the chamber.

“It fires from an open bolt position. The first trigger pull, it released the bolt and closed the action, all while firing. It is a fully automatic submachine gun. I am field testing it and am to use it as my service weapon for now until given orders otherwise.”

Golden Dawn pulled the rifle up and locked it into her shoulder.

“This design allows for a bit to rotate the T-bolt trigger. I can also slip my hoof around just enough to work the trigger with my hoof.”

“What is the name of this weapons?” General Gemmed Law asked.

“This is the Applesnack Submachine Gun. I am currently field testing it.”

“This special training taught you this?”

“Yes Sir.”

“What are the qualifications to carry this weapon.”

“I am well versed in the firearm. There is no direct qualification testing for it as of this time. My skill in the safe operation of this gun qualified me, in their eyes, to field test this weapon.”

Golden Dawn placed the gun back on the table.

“This special training had to do with that weapon?”

“One part of the training was this weapon,” Golden Dawn said as she sat down. “It has a good weight to it, allowing for better control of the recoil and to strike an opponent if it comes to that.

“I do trust you,” General Gemmed Law stated. “But I wish to verify the validity of your claim to training. Can we step into the back and phone up the Colonel who trained you?”

“That is acceptable,” Golden Dawn smiled.

They got up and headed into the deliberation chambers. When the door closed Golden Dawn instructed them to call Camp Bullis. They had to look through the directory for the camp. Only the general number was listed. They each took a phone line so they didn’t have to project it through the loud speaker and risk being heard through the door.

“How can I help you?” CWO4 asked answering the phone.

“This is General Gemmed Law. I am here with General Winter Lilly, General Spring Dust and Staff Sergeant Golden Dawn. We have stepped into the back for this private call. We are at a hearing.”

“What did you do?” CWO4 asked.

“My job on security detail,” Golden Dawn replied. “I am not on trial.”

“We are wishing to speak with the Colonel,” General Gemmed Law said.

“I am Chief Warrant Officer 4, his second. Is that good enough?”

“Yes,” The General replied.

“Staff Sergeant Golden Dawn just finished training at a special, secret training that focuses on weapons from the war and prewar, on both sides. Equaggan War Weapons training. She has been cleared by the Colonel to carry one of the guns, the Applesnack Submachine Gun, on duty and has been supplied with sufficient magazines to carry out her duties. Both live fire and training magazines were provided.”

“You trained her to bash with the butt stock?” General Winter Lilly asked.

CWO4 Laughed heartily. “No, but she was a natural with it unlike any we have ever seen. And a natural with most of the weapons. I am not surprised she executed that flawlessly.”

“That you Sir,” General Gemmed Law said. “We are satisfied. She kept blocking us with need to know orders.”

“Good,” CWO4 said. “Go get them Staff Sergeant.”

“Yes Sir,” Golden Dawn replied before they hung up.

They filed back into the room and all took their seats.

“We are satisfied with her training for the weapon,” Gemmed Law stated.

“Staff Sergeant,” The Prosecutor said getting back up. “What were your thoughts entering the room?”

“My thoughts are irrational and have no bearing on the case,” Golden Dawn replied. “You have my report on the facts. My thoughts are not facts.”

“Let me phrase that properly. You were acting. What was your first plan of action from what you knew?”

“That we had a fall. A fall means were would have to provide immediate medical care, either a contusion or for a laceration, depending on the fall.”

“And after, you saw two pegasi, what was your plan of action?”

“My plan of action was to separate. At that moment, all that mattered was making sure both were safe and unharmed.”

“No thoughts of their actions being consensual or non-consensual?”

“I put myself in their position. If it was consensual, I would want security to make sure that it was. Separate and sort things out. Embarrassing, but the only logical way to proceed. Outside of that, I am no judge.”

“And when Sergeant Summer was thrown?”

“Make sure he could not assault any of us,” Golden Dawn replied coldly, without hesitation. “He proved to be a threat to everypegasus in the room, and to the whole building for it.”

“Do you know the Lieutenant?”

“No Sir?”

“Have you ever heard his name?”

“No Sir. Wait. I should restate that. I can not confirm that I have or have not heard his name. I can confirm I have not heard his name in a way that connected it to the individual. I entered the room not knowing who anypegasus was and with no biases.”

“When did you learn their identities?”

“I learned the identity of Lieutenant Snowflake Strike in the emergency room after some time had passed. I was informed by our Major. But I still do not know the name of the mare. Night shift has kept me isolated and I was busy with other work until my shift last night. It was all focus, work. No time for idle gossip.”

“Thank you,” The Prosecutor said. “That is all I have for now.”

Golden Dawn had to wait with the others and fight off sleep. Treasured Rose was clean, with just the facts, so was Summer. Summer’s partner never entered the room and had no observations to give.

They were released at 1442. Their normal wake up time.

Golden Dawn yawned. “I don’t think I should do range time today. I am too tired.”

“At least tonight was our last one on,” Summer yawned. “Due to the exercises. Sucks to be our replacements.”

“I am tired, but I also am really intrigued about the results of the hearing.”

“What were the official charges?” Summer asked. “You guys went to the hospital, I did not.”

Treasured Rose looked around. They were clear from any listening ears. “I was with the Major when they were given. Rape, Sexual Assault, Unlawful Entry, Trespassing, Assault And Battery, Failure To Comply With Security Officers and Assaulting Security Officers. He can’t get out of the last two.”

It was suggested that they run some PT to wake up. As a group, they made it through the rest of the day and evening. Coffee was a must.

The morning had them in the Major’s office before anything could be started.

“Thank you all for coming,” She smiled. “The verdict is not public yet, and will be quiet due too it’s sensitive nature. But I was told to inform you that First Lieutenant Snowflake Strike is no longer a Lieutenant of any rank. He was before a court-martial board. He has been dishonorably discharged for his actions. Along with other appropriate actions that the court took.”

“Staff Sergeant Golden Dawn and Sergeant Treasured Ruby, be ready for some heavy actions against you. Do not be afraid to give me a call if Lieutenant Zealous Arrow oversteps his boundaries. He will probably blame you two, especially the Staff Sergeant, for his best friend’s actions since you two caught him in the act.”

“Now, none of this gets spoken about until after the announcement has been made. And even then, discretion is wise. Public doesn’t mean it was announced to the world.”

“We are so happy to hear that,” Treasured Rose yawned. “But, I am still tired from no sleep yesterday. I will be up and ready to go for the exercises tomorrow morning.”

“We start in an hour,” Golden Dawn told Treasured Rose.

“Shit,” Treasured Rose swore. “I’ll make it.”

“I believe you can,” The Major smiled. “You are all dismissed. Go finish getting ready for the exercises.”

Next Chapter: Chapter 71 - Aerial Combat Medic School Estimated time remaining: 10 Hours, 46 Minutes