Cardinal Spitfire skipped up the steps of the Squad Barracks. It was quiet inside the Barracks since the ACUs were still being trained for a few more hours until they would be let go for dinner. Cardinal Spitfire had been released from training Unit 0 to prepare for day one of agility training; the after dinner segment where they learned the tricks Shadow had first taught her.

Every member in ACS had to be there. It was now built into the program. ACS students had to pass by earning her personal approval. Cardinal Spitfire also had to make sure the Wonderbolts picked it up so they could train others in her absence. At least Pony Patrol had learned all they needed to from her while at Fort Griffin’s Gate.

After a quick dinner, Cardinal Spitfire headed out the back and began to loosen up. They would start easy with a the simple hoof stands, like Shadow had first taught her and then the ACUs. The trainees needed to learn what it meant to have the blood flowing to their heads and be able to deal with it.

Cardinal Spitfire was getting antsy as they lined up after dinner. It was a relaxed line up so it took time, but they all had a final timed deadline. The Colonels and the Admiral were watching from the top of the Squad Barracks steps, along with a few other higher up officers Cardinal Spitfire didn’t recognize, and didn’t care about.

Cardinal Spitfire didn’t feel like she had a Lieutenant Bar on. She felt like the corporal she was back in their ACS. She was not expecting to feel this way, unprepared to teach because they outranked her.

Cardinal Spitfire took a deep breath in before beginning.

“This is a new segment added to ACS,” She began with a strong command voice. “My husband, Shadow Flare, is an exceptional acrobat. He honed his legendary skills for years. After an unexpected turn of events during the last ACS, when we were training, Shadow led a few nights of these tricks and maneuvers and then it was put into the training regiment for our ACS. It is now an official training to pass ACS, with standards. You have to earn my stamp of approval.”

“This is all work with your hooves, no wings. But it is very beneficial in the air. You have to guess what is coming but be ready to change at a moment’s notice. You have to think agile at all times.”

“Obviously, ground combat will be much easier to apply these tactics. If you are able to out think and out maneuver your opponent, you win. To stay still is to die. It won’t be easy, but I know you can learn.”

“Today we begin with getting you used to blood flowing to your head. We will start with hoofstands. You will be working in pairs to start, but I will demonstrate what it means to go solo.”

Cardinal flipped up into the stand and began to walk down and then back across the line. There were a lot of impressed murmurs and whispers. Some were of doubt that they could do this at all. Cardinal Spitfire dropped back onto her hooves.

Marble Falls came over and they began to work the others through how to properly hold up and support their partner. Most of them caught on quickly. Pony Patrol, Tuff and some others like Arrow and Flags were around to help.

The two of them were some of the few who had learned the acrobatics and decided to help. The others either wanted the break from training, or didn’t care.

By the end, the trainees heads were spinning and many had a headache.

“Wonderful job,” Cardinal Spitfire praised them. “We will continue to master this basic form, but tomorrow night we will begin to add in some other important acrobatics. Dismissed!”

Marble Falls came over laughing. “That went much better than with Filly Fooler. Your ACS didn’t like being instructed by a fellow trainee.”

“I didn’t notice,” Cardinal Spitfire chuckled. “But probably.”

“I am concerned though,” Fountain said. “I don’t think they will have the time to learn it all.”

“They are not learning it to the same degree I taught you,” Cardinal Spitfire chuckled. “You, we, are Wonderbolts. They are not. They will learn a lot, but I won’t push them like you guys. The important thing is them learning to think agile.”

“But, it is shower and bed for me,” Cardinal Spitfire announced. “We have a horrible day ahead of us tomorrow.”

The morning brought the most hated training tactic, the wing weights. Unit 0 had not been introduced to it yet. A lot of ACS units were being put through the exercises on the beautiful morning.

Pony Patrol set up a yellow flag at the quarter mark, along with the standard half mark. Yes, the goal was to make it all the way to the finish, but they were not premier fliers. They were going to start with a more realistic goal.

By the end, Bright Star made to the quarter mark. So did Lavender Star, Diamond Class, Star Chaser, and Sunset Fury. Winter Fire, Orchid Twilight, Bright Storm, Ebony Bolt, Lightning Measure Dark Pyre, Defiant Day, Rare Bloom, and Scarlet Heart made it past the halfway mark.

Since they had shattered the idea of passing as a unit, the Specialists and Corporals were beginning to run circles around the Sergeants and Senior NCOs. They were not catching up on encouraging each other yet, but Pony Patrol was almost harassing them with the idea.

“Cardinal Spitfire,” The Wonderbolt Colonel called out. “At your earliest convenience, can you see me in Unit Zero, Office 2?”

“Of course,” Cardinal Spitfire replied. “We are almost done with this segment.”

Unit 0 had open rooms and was being used by the visiting senior officers for all sorts of meetings and business aspects. Many had taken up temporary offices as well. Cardinal Spitfire knew they were there for the new chain of command structure, but that was it. She knew at least two more admirals had arrived from other fleets. Her focus was on training, not who was there or why. So long as they stayed out of their way, she didn’t give a shit.

They were still building the designated Wonderbolt housing Unit. Nova was annoyed that he made the wrong choice in construction order. Things were further slowed down as the began to build Wind Hamlet for all the incoming families. Separate Engineers had been moved in to build the Hamlet, but materials were now in shorter supply.

“This is both a pleasure and a heart ache,” The Colonel greeted her. “Command Sergeant Major Shadow Flare’s effects have been delivered to your quarters. I fought for this… right. But the matter is now officially closed. Never to be reopened.”

“It was going to be anyway, but my, insistence, made sure it closed properly. Every family is being notified that their loved one was either killed in action, or is missing in action. And that all personal effects that did not require a security clearance were returned to them.”

“You had to make a few threats, didn’t you?” Cardinal Spitfire asked, a slight smile perking her lips.

“I used my status as a Wonderbolt and my rank,” The Colonel smirked. “And since you are a Wonderbolt, I have clearance to give you some of the finer details. ”

“For the investigation, I never found anything of relevant value or of a classified nature. I assume you already had procured any items, if they existed, well before and that they had no bearing on the case.”

Cardinal Spitfire blushed. “Just a ‘I’m sorry I am dead but I will be back’ letter.”

The Colonel nodded. “That sounds like what the Command Sergeant Major would write. I read enough of his reports.”

“You fought for more than just that though,” Cardinal Spitfire said.

“Yes, I did,” The Colonel smiled, pulling out a box from a drawer. “I fought for the right to present you with a few awards he earned while below. And the reason he received them. That is something only a Pegasus with high clearance can read. Outside of their sealed records, the medals are recorded for viewing with only vague reasons for their awarding.”

“Pony Patrol can read them as well, but outside of that, well its read so that no ears can listen in. The other families will only get the medals with vague reasons for the reason for it.”

“How many are KIA and how many are MIA?” Cardinal Spitfire asked.

“Two are KIA; Lieutenant Silent Wing, who was posthumously promoted to Captain and Sergeant Major Storm Eye. Along with your husband, Sergeant Major Nor’easter, Master Sergeant Thunder Clap and Master Sergeant Apple Slice are unaccounted for. The death of Master Sergeant Storm Eye in Manehatten was the last transmission received.”

“I wish I could let you see the file I have with me for their awards and promotions, but you are not cleared. For now, they stay secure in my desk.”

“Awards,” Cardinal Spitfire said, taking in a deep breath to control her emotions.

The Colonel put a small box on the table and opened it, revealing a burgundy ribbon with a white center and three blue vertical bands in the center. The box had the medal and a separate ribbon for you to slide onto your dress uniform ribbon rack. Full medals were only worn on the most formal of occasions.

“It is a pointless letter stating nothing really, but each member of the reconnaissance team was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Award, some posthumously. I am surprised only one was awarded, but it all happened as an afterthought. I had to submit that award. They all deserve this.

“It is like the Meritorious Service Award you can earn for exceptional service, but it means you earned it in combat. I would be shocked if you did not earn your Meritorious Service Ribbon at least once, its a staple for Wonderbolts because we are the exceptional service. Most of us have multiple stars on our ribbons because we earn it more than once.”

“Makes sense,” Cardinal Spitfire nodded.

“Now the real stuff. First off, a Purple Heart,” The Colonel said opening up the box with the ribbon and its medal. She slid the official paper across the table for Cardinal Spitfire to read.

This letter hereby awards the Purple Heart to Command Sergeant Major of Reconnaissance Shadow Flare for his actions in the line of duty.

While on a reconnaissance mission below the clouds, the Command Sergeant Major received grave wounds while attempting to establish peaceful relations with a group in the Fillydelphia Ruins. The leader of the group decided peace talks were over and ordered that the Command Sergeant Major be killed.

Command Sergeant Major Shadow Flare fought off dozens of enemies on the ground, in the sky and weapons designed to shoot and kill anything in the sky above Fillydelphia. He received multiple bullet wounds, lacerations and other lethal injuries during his escape.

For his bravery and blood spilled, the Grand Pegasus Enclave presents Command Sergeant Major of Reconnaissance Shadow Flare with the Purple Heart.

The space below had the Enclave’s stamp and the Counsel members had hoof signed it.

“Damn,” Was all Cardinal Spitfire could say.

“It is impressive he survived,” The Colonel stated. “He is a hardy, solid stallion. But here is his second Purple Heart.”

“Second!” Cardinal Spitfire exclaimed. “He walked out of that and got a second?”

“Apparently,” The Colonel chuckled as the paper was slid across the desk.

This letter hereby awards the Purple Heart to Command Sergeant Major of Reconnaissance Shadow Flare for his actions in the line of duty.

While on a reconnaissance mission below the clouds, the Command Sergeant Major received grave wounds while doing reconnaissance in Baltimare, a previously unexplored or mapped location.

While exploring the ruins, the reconnaissance team was beset by a pack of mutated ponies. The team was backed against a wall, unable to maneuver for some time. They were forced to fight every one that came at them in a enclosed area.

During this fight, the Command Sergeant Major took two bullets to the head. The second broke his helmet and forced a large fragment from his helmet into his skull above his left eye. The wound was bound off and the Command Sergeant Major continued to fight.

For his bravery and blood spilled, the Grand Pegasus Enclave presents Command Sergeant Major of Reconnaissance Shadow Flare with the Purple Heart.

Again, it had the Enclave’s seal and their hoof written signatures.

The Colonel opened the next box, revealing a red ribbon with a blue stripe down its center. A bit of white flanked the blue stripe. She put it in line with the other three.

“And now for the really fun ones,” The Colonel said pushing forward another piece of paper.

This letter hereby awards the Bronze Star with Valor to Command Sergeant Major of Reconnaissance Shadow Flare for his actions in the line of duty.

While on a reconnaissance mission below the clouds, the Command Sergeant Major received a bullet to the head, leaving a fragment of his helmet in his skull. This incident occurred as they were mapping out the unexplored metropolitan ruins of Baltimare.

The team was backed into a corner, unable to maneuver out of their position, and facing a new enemy never seen before, called Super Ponies. They fought hard as the ponies pressed against their lines.

Without his helmet or a way to protect his head, only able to see out of one eye from the bandages, no medicine taken, and no aiming assistant for his special weapons, the Command Sergeant Major continued to fight with extreme accuracy until the team was able to escape.

For his bravery and steel heart despite his injuries, the Grand Pegasus Enclave presents Command Sergeant Major of Reconnaissance Shadow Flare with the Bronze Star.

“He has more?” Cardinal Spitfire asked.

The Colonel just nodded, opened a fifth case containing a Silver Star and light blue Ribbon. She slid the paper across the table.

This letter hereby awards the Silver Star to Command Sergeant Major of Reconnaissance Shadow Flare for his actions in the line of duty.

While on a reconnaissance mission below the clouds, the Command Sergeant Major was forced to scope out and map a tightly controlled territory within the Fillydelphia Ruins. The Command Sergeant Major mapped out a large portion of the territory and gained valuable information about the group operating the territory.

After moving to a better location to continue his work, the Command Sergeant Major was discovered and a large number of their forces surprised him. Their initial attempt was to remove his coat while he was alive. After a short fight, the Command Sergeant Major convinced the rest who were alive to arrange a meeting with the leader of the group.

After some talks, attempting to gain peaceful relations, the Command Sergeant Major was given the opportunity to join the group with a handsome reward for joining. The gesture was declined.

With no options left, the group opened fire, forcing the Command Sergeant Major to fight off dozens of them on the ground, the air and with special weapons to take out enemies from the air. He was gravely wounded but pressed on because he had information that could not be obtained again, even by other means.

For his bravery and unyielding work at gaining more understand about the Fillydelphia Ruins, the Grand Pegasus Enclave presents Command Sergeant Major of Reconnaissance Shadow Flare with the Silver Star.

“That marks five,” Cardinal Spitfire stated. “Is there seriously another one?”

The Colonel opened another box and set it in line with the others. Another Silver Star.

This letter hereby awards the Silver Star to Command Sergeant Major of Reconnaissance Shadow Flare for his actions in the line of duty.

While on a reconnaissance mission below the clouds, the Command Sergeant Major led his team into a wartime Zebra installation, known as Kifopiga, far south of the Equestrian Boarder. When they breached it, they unknowingly awoke a battalion of Feral Zebra Ghouls.

It was not long until the reconnaissance team was out of ammunition and forced to fight the savage beasts with combat knives. The fight lasted two days.

During that time, in an effort to conserve ammunition, the Command Sergeant Major took up a Zebra Sword so he could physically cut them down. Taking up the sword forced him to leave his armor behind and don Zebra armor for some protection.

His ammunition sacrifice only lasted so long. The rest of the team eventually took up Zebra Rifles and turned their own weapons against them. The Command Sergeant Major continued to fight with the sword, drawing their attention and allowing the rest of the team to safely kill the distracted enemy ghouls.

For all of their unyielding actions against great odds and making sure that blight was never unleashed upon the wasteland, all five of the team are awarded the Silver Star.

Grand Pegasus Enclave presents Command Sergeant Major of Reconnaissance Shadow Flare with the Silver Star.

“Please tell me this is it,” Cardinal Spitfire panted. “I know he is good, and that the odds were against them, but this is inducing anxiety over what he has done, not his current situation.”

The Colonel chuckled. “That is the last of his medals. These are the star devices for the double medals, to signify that he has two because you don’t wear two. And the V for valor on the Bronze Star.”

Cardinal Spitfire put the small metal devices into one of the boxes.

“The entire team was busy. But their notifications of field promotions were often vague. If Shadow was the one entering the submissions, the promotions and medals were awarded, no questions asked because of his rank. If the others were placing a request for decorations and awards, then it was up to their superiors. All of their requests were vague in some areas, leading to questions they were not going to answer. At least not over messages.”

“Baltimare has been officially sidelined. It is one of the last places the Enclave will go. The recommendations about the dangers there are solid. It will take all we have and more to clear that city. But they are hiding something. It is so strong in it’s warning, yet its one of their vaguest reports ever.”

They both chuckled.

“This Kifopiga sounds interesting,” Cardinal Spitfire said. “There has to be so much more to it than they reported on.”

“They never filed a medal recommendation for that one,” The Colonel stated. “That was awarded to them during a conversation with Lieutenant Honey Bee where more of their struggle was discovered. They did a lot and putting everything into reports is hard. Most of the time, personal actions were left out because there was so much.”

“And, it is pronounced Kifopiga. Ki-foe-pee-gha. The correct pronunciation was passed on during that conversation. Its got some meaning, but I don’t believe they knew what it was.”

“I really want to see this Kifopiga,” Cardinal Spitfire said. “But that will have to wait. I have to train a bunch of pansies.”

“Not yet,” The Colonel chuckled as Cardinal Spitfire got up. “This isn’t an award, but an acknowledgment of the situation.”

The Colonel slid two more boxes across the table. This time they were squares, not rectangles. One had a gold Enclave symbol in it, the other a silver one. But they were upside down in the box.

Cardinal Spitfire picked up the silver one. It wasn’t correct. It was not upside down. The five pointed star was pointing up, not down. But the wings flanking it were flipped down, not up.

“They are insignia, indicating MIA status,” The Colonel explained. “The Silver one is for Shadow Flare. It can be worn on the right breast of his military uniform, opposite of the training device, at all times. Even if he is found, he was MIA.”

“The gold one is for you. Only direct, nuclear family member can wear it, signifying your plight as one who has had to live a time without knowing the fate of their loved one. It is only given out to family members who served, no matter if they are active duty or retired.”

“You also get to wear it with any uniform. That is one of the few dress awards that can be worn on service uniforms. I have enough patches here for your flight suits, your regular service uniform and even one for your flight jacket.”

Cardinal Spitfire sat there shocked. It was the last thing she had expected. She had never heard of it before.

“How many have these?”

“Currently, six others,” The Colonel stated. “Master Sergeant Thunder Claps’ family is in the military. They have a long military history, typical unimpressive service record, but long. His mother is still serving, his father has retired, and his brother is also currently serving. Master Sergeant Nor'easter has family serving as well.They will receive theirs soon.”

“What about the earlier missions below?” Cardinal Spitfire asked.

“We know what happened to them all,” The Colonel stated. “We just couldn’t retrieve their bodies.”

“Wow,” Cardinal Spitfire said shaking her head to take it all in. “How often is this rewarded?”

“Its been almost two centuries,” The Colonel stated. “The Enclave military used it to help ease the pain of their soldier’s who had Equestrian Military family member who were MIA because the clouds were sealed up.”

“It won over a lot of hearts back then. It was a good ploy. It didn’t matter if that family member was a Pegasus or not, just that they were serving when they went MIA. But now I am bringing it back to shine awareness of the sacrifice the reconnaissance team made. More will probably follow soon. They are going to need more teams to go below and touch down.”

“I am going to go put these away,” Cardinal Spitfire said getting up. “And I have some things to think about as I sew on these patches.”

“Good idea,” The Colonel smiled.

Shadow had driven her to wanting to sew on her own patches. She was not the best, but it was more than adequate. She ordered a whole new set of flight suits that were embroidered so she could fly without needing to worry about the patches. She added her flight jacked to the list. She wanted professionals to sew it on. It was special.

Cardinal Spitfire was back out with the others after lunch.

“Uh, I know you are new at sewing,” Raspberry Lemonade said. “But you sewed that Enclave symbol on upside down.”

“No I did not,” Cardinal Spitfire confidently responded. “The star is pointed up, as it should be, but the wings are down. It means I have a direct family member who is, or was, MIA. Shadow gets a silver one for his time being MIA. Assuming he is recovered, he can proudly wear it for his trials.”

“Huh. Interesting,” Marble Falls stated. “Nopony goes MIA, so it makes sense we have never head of it.”

“You have to be active or retired military to receive the family member one. And it is one of the few things for your dress uniform that can be worn on any of your service uniforms, including our flight jackets. But I am leaving that to professionals to stitch on.”

“Outside of me, six others are getting the gold symbol. That is all. Just us a few of us, currently.”

Cardinal Spitfire got playful. “I was given it along with the six medals Shadow earned below. Since I am a Wonderbolt with top security clearance, I was allowed to find out exactly what he did to warrant their award.”

“Can you tell us?” Fountain asked.

“No,” Cardinal Spitfire said coyly. “But Pony Patrol can read the letters.”

“Well then,” Lemon Lime smirked. “We better whip their asses in shape if we want to keep it at four MIA Badges.”

Unit 0 was finally in the air, flying. They had to start small in teams, but they would shape up and be able to handle Squad maneuvers soon enough.

For acrobatics, Cardinal Spitfire had them work with hoofstands for a bit before switch to the all important dive roll. There were a lot of backs smacking into the flight deck. Cardinal Spitfire and the others did what they could, but trial and error was the better teacher.

They all gathered in Cardinal Spitfire’s room to read the awards.

“Damn impressive,” Marble Falls said. “Especially him surviving both Purple Hearts.”

“No spoilers,” Cinnamon Swirl whined. “I haven’t read those yet.”

Marble Falls set down the paper and looked at the medals. Cardinal Spitfire had them on the desk, open for viewing.

“I have never seen most of these,” Marble Falls stated. “I did get the Defense Meritorious Service Award for my mission, and the regular Bronze Star, but the rest I have only heard about. The teams below received some of these, typically posthumously. But I have never see any because these are combat ribbons. And Nova never wears his dress uniform, so any chances of him having some are locked away.”

“They are nice and shiny,” Fountain observed.

“I plan on keeping them that way,” Cardinal Spitfire stated. “Even after he returns. I probably will be the one making sure they shine because he won’t want anything to do with them.”

“I don’t know,” Raspberry Lemonade said. “This Kehfepega sounds like something he would gladly wear it for.”

“I agree,” Marble Falls said. “I know he is not prideful and he doesn’t much care for awards or being singled out for personal achievements, but these sound different. I could see him gladly wearing these with pride.”

“I wonder who died,” Cinnamon Swirl said finishing up.

“That would be Lieutenant Silent Wind,” Cardinal Spitfire said. “And then Sergeant Major Storm Eye. His death was the last transmission they received.”

The whole conversation was burned into her memory. Word for word. Action for action. Feeling for feeling.

“The Lieutenant, he was posthumously promoted to Captain.”

“I wish I could read his file,” Raspberry Lemonade said.

“I know. But it’s in the Colonel’s temporary office in Unit 0. In a drawer.”

“Then let’s go!” Raspberry Lemonade smirked.

“Wait,” Marble Falls said. “Hold on. Are you saying that we sneak into Unit 0, unlock her office in Unit 0 and then break into her desk to read classified information about the awards given to the rest of the team?”

“Yes,” Raspberry Lemonade said with a nod.

“Okay,” Marble Falls shrugged. “Lead the way.”

They headed out of the building and Raspberry Lemonade began to stalk around.

“There is no reason to be stealthy,” Cardinal Spitfire said. “We are not doing anything wrong. Yet.”

“Good point,” Raspberry Lemonade chuckled.

The lights were out in that part of the Unit, but each desk had their own lamp. Raspberry Lemonade had trouble unlocking the door, so she passed off the lock pick set to Fountain, who also had trouble. Marble fall twisted the doorknob and it opened. It wasn’t locked to begin with. Neither was the desk. Both should have been.

The file held more than the awards and decorations of the team. It held the major reports from their actions below. Many of their reports did leave questions they should have been able to answer.

The light flipped on and they jumped, caught red hoofed.

“Yeah,” The Colonel said, leaning against the door frame. “Like I told Cardinal Spitfire, their reports lack some things. They knew how to handle a Lieutenant that wasn’t for them. I am so glad you picked up on what I said, because it is all I can let you see. Logically, that should have never been with me. But you deserved some more closure after the incident.”

“The Lieutenant definitely hid messages, but even with our best Wonderbolts on it, we couldn’t figure out what he did. We ran out of time.”

“You did your absolute best,” Marble Falls replied. “Thanks. Its good to get a little closure on what they were doing.”

“Its late and you have trainees to worry about,” The Colonel said, waving them out.

When they were out of sight, the Colonel picked up the files and dropped them into the steel trashcan. She pulled out a lighter and disposed of such sensitive material in the best way possible. Like she had said, she wasn’t really supposed to have them with her.

In the morning, it was Cardinal Spitfire’s turn to warm Unit 0 up. She decided to lead them through the 2x2, as a group. Time mattered, but they were supposed to be moving in their squads. Their slowest time when Deke ran them through it had improved by over a minute. A very good improvement.

“Cardinal Spitfire,” Marble Falls said coming over. “Arrow is heading off to do some tight exercises with Olive Pit. You know his performance in Basic Training, I want you to oversee this session. I understand that later today, she will be moving into Aerial Combat against another Unit.”

“Right,” Cardinal Spitfire nodded. “I will keep close eye on his skill. A very close eye.”

Marble Falls shook her head. “You can fuck with him all you want, so long as you don’t throw him off his game.”

“YES!” Cardinal Spitfire exclaimed as she dashed off to find Unit 17.

Next Chapter: Chapter 76 - From Bars Back To Stripes Estimated time remaining: 8 Hours, 59 Minutes