We are sitting just behind a small rolling hill less than 100 meters from the caravan. Most of us are crouching or lying down on our bellies. I can make out the silhouettes of the wagons before us in the dark. My E.F.S. indicating where there are several hostiles walking about. Most are green including a large group all huddled together.

“Ok Sky, you can fall back behind us,” I tell her. Over my PipBuck, I give the first, second, and third squads the command. "When the flares go up use your S.A.T.S. take out the guards first, try to not hit our scouts or the prisoners.”

Over the Battalion channel, I hear the Major. “Make sure to target the lead teams for those wagons. I do not want any escaping.”

Then the flares arch their way up. One on each end of the circled wagon column. Every pony takes their first shot. Suddenly I start to see many more reds appear on my E.F.S. I also can see three of my scouts are in among the prisoners. A little further back I can see the single green marker that must be Trouble He is laying there. Suddenly I see several of the red markers running toward the prisoners when they are only 3 or 4 meters from our scouts, I see gunfire spring from Trouble's location and for each shot one of those reds heading toward the scouts disappears.

“First squad, Third Squad advance. Second squad cover us.” I yell as I go over the top of the slight ridge all of us in skirmisher intervals. From the sides I see others doing the same. I then see gunfire coming out from the wagons in different locations. I watch as our ponies hit the dirt, most are providing covering fire now as the second squad starts to advance. Unfortunately, I hear several cries of “Medic!” which tells me some of our troops have been hit.

As the second troop advances past us, I get up and advance with them. To one side I see Sutures tending to one of those wounded. As I get up and run. Once the second squad is set, I wave my hoof and the other two squads sprint forward past the second squad, leapfrogging them. As they pass, I rejoin them.

When they stop next and set themselves to cover fire, I see next to me Prairie Fire suddenly stand, aim a 40mm grenade launcher and fire it into the closest wagon. It explodes and I see several secondary explosions as their ammo reserve touches off.

As he reloads, I notice his next round is not a high explosive one, but instead, in the light of the flares, through the break top I see that he has loaded an anti-personnel round, making his bopper into a giant shotgun. He is smiling as he does this. I love it when a trooper enjoys his job.

I again jump up and advance with the second squad we are now to the wagons and using them as cover as we battle with those inside. They are surrounded and look to be making a last stand. I see three of my scouts are holding down a red near the prisoners. With one hoof I signal for the others to advance again and I lead the first set through the empty space that was created when the ammo wagon exploded.

By this time most of the hostiles are either dead, wounded, or trying to surrender. I run over with Prairie behind me to the scouts. I find Xavier, Ginger, and Xochitl holding down a rather large buck who has a detonator and that he has one hoof holding the button. He is laughing at them.

“There is nothing you can do to save them now; All I have to do is remove my hoof from the dead pony’s switch and boom.” He laughs as he looks at the explosive collars that most of the prisoners are wearing and the scouts hold his forehooves in place.

The smile disappears when behind me I hear Sutures tell him, “Not anymore, I got it.” Then I notice her horn glowing some, as she holds the switch down. And then Xavier cracks him upside his head as hard as he can with a forehoof.

I call for the engineers to disarm the explosive collars. Then I tell Xavier. “Let’s get some rope and tie him up.”

As the engineers go about their task behind us and the others finish mopping up the others still fighting Trouble approaches me. He sees what we are doing and then asks the fat pony, “So are you the one in charge of the column, or are you just the overseer of the slaves? What’s your name?”

“I am in charge here, I am caravan master Redeemer, just wait till Colonel Bursting Star and Captain Silver Spite catch up with you. You will wish you were dead.” He laughs at us.

I know the second name very well. “That’s ok, he tried to kill me once before, that is why I am here again for him. I will let you tell him that the one that got away, is coming for him, you got me.” I tell him.

He is still laughing at this point, then Trouble looks at me, “Hey LT, feel like having some fun?”

“What do you have in mind Trouble?” I ask.

“Well LT, as a military officer he is responsible, and from what I understand of Red Eyes army, if they screw the pooch like this, they are required to work off the financial losses as slaves.” He tells me with an evil grin.

“Oh, I really like this, Thank you for the suggestion Trouble. Someone gets me some paper and a pen or pencil.” I call out.

After I have a paper and pencil, I write a nice mouth written note.
Gentle Stallions Colonel Bursting Star or Captain Silver Spite,

I am writing this letter to thank you for the supplies, equipment, and former slaves we were able to take. As a fellow officer, I feel that I must inform you that this was easily provided for us as Redeemer had not bothered to set out pickets or watches, even with an enemy column within 5 kilometers.

Silver Spite, we have met once already and you took things from me that I cannot get back. I would like to let you know that I look forward to meeting you again soon, and returning the favor. Until then thank you again.

Sincerely

Lieutenant Mollygirl,
Manesville Co-op Expeditionary Force.

Once I am done writing it, I read it out loud to Redeemer, and then I pin the note to the barding on his side. It is amazing how quickly his demeanor changes.

“For Celestia’s sake, you, you, you cannot leave a note like that. No! They will make me a slave for the rest of my life, please don’t do this.” He begs.

As I smile and walk away, I hear some snickering behind me, and one of the now released slaves giving him a kick in the side as he tells him, “Sucks to be you.”

I then give the order to my squads. Burn any supplies or wagons we cannot take with us. I know the flames and smoke will be a beacon to bring Red Eyes troops here in the growing dawn, “Let’s move it, we're burning daylight here ponies.”

We take several wagons of supplies. Of the fifty slaves, we freed we get twenty new volunteer troopers. We use the weapons and ammo we captured to arm them and any decent barding or equipment to kit them out. They become an auxiliary reserve for us. The rest we point towards their homes and suggest the Co-op if they are interested. Within the hour we are on the way again.

Before Trouble goes back out, he comes over to talk to me as we march. “Hey LT. Sorry for letting those slavers get so close to our scouts before I shot them. I just felt that the kids needed a wakeup call, they need to realize it is real out here.”

“Not a problem Trouble, I understand. I just hope they got the message. We just have to make sure we cover each other’s back.”

Only twenty more kilometers to make before the first bridge. As I look at the map, I notice several small communities that used to be here as well as one large one.

We are ten kilometers down the trail when Sky approaches me. “LT, I just remembered something I forgot to tell you about earlier. Just a little way from here, next to Good Doer. Some friends and I once visited there and while exploring we found an old stable. I do not know if you would be interested in it.” She tells me.

Normally I would have said we do not have time but as that town is the first one, we have on our list for bridges, well, perhaps we can see. “Perhaps Sky, do you think you could find it again?” I ask. She simply nods in reply.

“Ok, let me see if the Major minds. If not, we will check it out.” I tell her. Once I explain to the Major, she tells me, “I have no problems with a quick check, so long as it does not take long. Besides, if it is good enough shape it may make for a good fallback position if we need it.”

With that, I call in Xavier, Trouble as well as the daring duo. Chip and Blackberry are still leading the column on the ground and Choo Choo and the Sergeant are our eyes in the sky, so I feel comfortable with it at this time.
When we arrive at Good Doer, we find a fairly vibrant community. They have built walls around most of the city, and have ponied guard towers in the corners and in various spots around the wall. As we approach, they send out envoys to ask us our intentions.

While the major is talking with them, I see the head of a wagon train approaching to cross over the bridge. It is only ten wagons, but that is enough. Once across the bridge, the Equestrian Rangers surround them and I watch as the combat engineers sprint to the bridge and begin to rig their explosives to it.

The envoys are incensed. “What are you doing?” they demand. “Red Eye will hear of this, you will all be punished. I swear you will!” The Envoy threatens the Major.

At that point Quick Trot laughs back, “Go ahead, and tell Red Eye, are you going to Tartarus to tell him. He was killed over a week ago by the Enclave. Besides, we are not of his army anyways.” She says with a smile.

I watch as his face flushes, his jaw drops and his ears go back alongside his green head. “Who are you then?”

The Major smiles at me, “You want to tell him or shall I Lieutenant?”

“Oh, I will Ma’am,” I tell her, then I turn to face the envoys, “We are the Manesville Co-op Expeditionary Force. And unless you declare your town as an open one, as you have already let us know you support our enemy, we will knock down your walls and burn it to the ground.” I tell him joyfully.

“Never you cannot take this town, not with the forces I see you have.”

The major smiles again then speaks into her PipBuck, “Archer, bring up the guns. I want canister in Celestia. We will probably be knocking down the wall and ransacking the village. It seems they support slavers here.”

He looks smug at first then he sees the guns being pulled up. I see him get a funny expression on his face, “Where did you find Brahmin with only one head?” he asks as the guns are positioned and I see Archer looking over the open sights.

I laugh lightly, “Oh, they are not Brahmin, they are true cattle. Just one of our many surprises.”

“Sweet mother of Celestia and Luna, Ok, Ok, I declare the town to be open. Please don’t destroy us.”

The Major simply smiles, “I am so glad you decided to see it our way.”

After the Envoys leave Hell’s Belles enter the town proper and I take some of the scouts and Sutures to search the old stable.

Once to the location where Sky says it should be, we have to search for a bit. Finally, we find the entrance tunnel underneath a very large pile of brush. Once we clear the way enough for us to fit, we enter it. Xavier and the foals go first. I follow them with Sky and Sutures.

When we get to the door of the stable itself it is open, however, the lights are all out. We step inside and see painted on one wall Welcome to Stable 4. Below it we see several skeletons wearing stable barding with a large 4 on the back. There are pockmarks in the wall from gunfire and what I believe may be metal apple damage.

We search briefly but find no weapons or anything we can use so we go further inside. We pass the security station first. I check inside and find more dead ponies. While looking I notice that none have their PipBucks still. Also, all of the electronics are missing. I move one of the bodies and under it, I find a revolver. I pick it up and check it, it is an old IF-18 Horseshoe. It is empty but cycles fairly smoothly when I check it out. When I get ready to throw it away, I hear Sutures, “If you don’t want it Mollygirl, I will take it.”

She takes it from my mouth with her magic and as she puts it in her saddlebag, I hear her let out a giggle. She looks at me, “My inventory gave it a name Mollygirl, it is called Hard Buck. I like that.”

“I am glad you like it Sutures, let’s keep going,” I tell all of them. I normally do not get spooked, but seeing a stable, dead like this does it.

We next progress to the Overmare and Overcow’s office. Here the door is simply labeled with both too. This surprises me as from what I have read, most only have an Overmare, and I did not know any other stables had cattle.

As we enter, I can see both of their bodies on the floor. A single shot to the back of each of their heads. Again, all of the electronics have been taken. As we search the room, we find a mouth written diary in Overcows top drawer.

I flip to the last entry in it and begin to read.

I cannot believe this is happening. We have held out for three days now. We have sent radio signals out to all the stables now. We even tried our sister stable 4B over in Manesville with no reply. Scootaloo’s message said we should be able to receive help from them. Where are they? why are they not helping us? For the love of Sweet Cream, Celestia and Luna, I pray help comes.

They have just breached the main entrance. Neither I nor Overmare Twinkle Feet know how they could do this, we changed the password again yesterday. This cannot be happening, I hear them coming, Goddesses bless us. If not may we all meet in greener pastures.

Stable 4B? In Manesville? I wonder if there is another stable, we have not found yet. Better yet, I thought all of the stables were listed with straight numbers why is B added to it? I put the diary in my saddlebags, and we continue to search the stable. We continue to find bodies of its previous inhabitants, but not much to really make us stop and take notice. Finally, in the lower levels, I hear Xavier, “Now this is interesting.”

I go down to the lower level of maintenance to where he is and I see what he has found. I see him picking up a knife in his mouth, and put it in his saddlebags. “What is so interesting about that knife?” I ask him.

“LT, I have only seen this type of metal once before. Most of my kind are terrified of it. Myself, I dismiss it as superstition, but it is made of Star Metal.”

“Ok, so pretend I do not know anything, what does that mean?”

He laughs at me, “Mollygirl, you really do need to understand that not everyone can know everything. What it means though is that it came from the stars. The metal will not rust, break, or need to be sharpened. In fact, I really need to make a good scabbard for it.”

“Oh, ok, that makes sense,” I tell him. “Perhaps we should head back up from this tomb. By the way, do you have any idea who did this?” I ask.

He stops and thinks for a little bit, “LT with all the electronics gone, all of the inhabitants killed or missing and no enemy dead among the bodies, Either some very high-end raiders, slavers, or most likely, Steel Rangers.”

I nod, that makes sense, let’s get out of here. As we leave the exit tunnel, we recover it. Then I remember the memory orb of Millie, the stable that DJ Pon3 reported as being attacked. I think we found it. I guess we came, just too late. I silently look at the entrance and whisper, “I am sorry we were too late.” Then I turn to follow the others back to town.

I turn around and off to the side I notice Xochitl has stopped in his tracks staring at something. Ginger looks the way he is looking and stops too. I hear Xavier say, “Keep walking, do not look at it. Do as I say, children.”

I follow where their gazes are looking and I see it. It is standing there looking straight at me. A thin earth pony mare, I see her very pale face surrounded by her black mane rising from a worn black robe, her hood blocks most of her face. She tilts her head and I am looking her in the eyes. I hear Xavier call me and as I turn to go, I see it slowly nod its head at me and smile. Suddenly she turns into a large crow and flies away. Behind me, I hear Sutures, “Why are you looking so strangely at a bird LT?”

“UH, no real reason Sutures, let’s just go. We need to catch up with the others.” I tell her, for some reason, I feel like I have had someone walk on my grave. I turn to her and point toward town. “We better get back, who knows what the others are up to.” I look back to where it was and there is no sign of anything having ever been disturbed.

Once back to camp I approach Xavier. “Hey Xavier, what was that back there we saw?”

He looks around very nervously, “Mollygirl, it is best not to talk about such things normally. But I think we saw a spirit. I am not sure what type or what it wanted but do not talk about or to them if you can, and if they do talk to you, under no circumstances try to make a deal with them.”

“I know you said you did not know your family much growing up, so how do you know about spirits?” I ask him.

Still nervous he looks around one more time. “LT, a while back before I came to the Co-op, I was approached in the field I was working, by a Zebra in a robe. She told me about the spirits. She also told me that if I were to run with my family that night that I would find a new home and be safe there but to beware of making deals with the spirits. So, I escaped with Persimmon and Xochitl. Yes, I found a safe home, and now I have left it. Now a spirit has shown itself,” he tells me with a shiver.

At the evening officers call I find out we lost three of our troopers killed and 15 wounded, three seriously from the morning's fight. Those who cannot walk are riding in three of the wagons in the middle of the supply train. We then discuss our usual fare, after which I return to camp.

As I get back to the scouts and 1^st Squad I see Xavier has already fallen asleep. Cuddled up to him are Xochitl, Ginger, and Tweeters. I notice that over on a log is sitting Sunset. Beside him is Woofers, in the darkness I see him slip a bit of his rations to him. Well, it is a step.

I call quietly, “Sergeant Sunset.”

He puts down his rations, stands, and comes to the sound of my voice. “Yes Ma’am, what can I do for you?” He asks.

“Sergeant, tomorrow I would like to send out two sets of scouts for a long-distance search. I want the scouts to try and find alternative routes across the river and around the gap ahead if possible. They will rejoin us the morning after tomorrow,” I show him my PipBuck map and point to a small hamlet called Two Step, “That is our expected camp for that night. Let me know in the morning who you chose so I can approve them.” I tell him.

“Yes, ma’am. Will do.” He replies then heads back to his bedroll.

Over the course of the night, we captured three more supply trains for Red Eyes troops. By morning we have as much as we can carry loaded. I send the scouts out before dawn as usual. This time I send Xavier and the kids ahead as one team, I send Sky and Blackberry as the other. I send Trouble and Chip to check behind us and again the sergeant and Choo Choo are in the air again. All of these are as recommended by Sunset that morning. As they leave, I watch as Tweeters flies off to follow Xavier’s team. Well, Woofers is still here with me.

As we get ready to leave the town, I hear the engineers call out. “Clear the bridge.”

I then see a large force of infantry is crossing the bridge, heading toward us, just as the first charges go off. Many try to turn back others try to run forward; some even try to jump off the bridge into the river. One set of explosives after another detonates in a ripple under the bridge and along it supports, over their screams I can hear the groans of the metal as it tears and drops them all into the river, crushing or drowning most of them. Those still alive the Engineers shoot at.

Finally, we are all ready and we continue the march. Leaving a very bewildered town behind us. For me, there is now added the question of stable 4B in Manesville.

We continue to push on to our next target. As we go, we continue to have the occasional small skirmishes with raiders, and once with a company of Red Eyes army that was trying to rejoin the rest of them. Falling back from the direction of Ponyville, toward Fillydelphia. I am not sure if that means we are making them nervous about being cut off, or if they are trying to get back to Filly to reinforce their troops fighting there.

In the distance, I can see the mountain that Canterlot was built upon. We just need to shoot the gap and we can make it to the third objective on the big river. I wonder what Badger would think knowing one of those bridges he sailed under would be knocked down.

The next two days are spent working our way to the big river. The Hoofstone and several others all flow into it, where it flows down to the ocean near the ruins of Baltimare. We come across several small villages that we pass by, stopping only to ask for information or for water. So far, we have been able to stretch our supplies through captures, but now we are starting to realize that may not be enough.

That afternoon while on the march as I pass through another burned-out crossroads hamlet Trouble comes up to me, “LT, I hate to bring this up, but it is something we all need to consider.”

This worries me a bit, “Ok Trouble, what is it?” I ask.

“Ma’am, it has been two days since we have come across a caravan or supply train, we can take supplies from, with all these troops we need to start looking at supplementing our supplies a bit.”

“If you mean scrounging for food, feel free. I have already encouraged everyone I can to start doing that.”

“No Ma’am, that is only part of it, I know most of the Co-op are vegetarians, but we may need to consider adding some protein to our diets, ya know, start hunting.”

“You mean you think we should start eating meat?” I ask as my stomach lurches at the thought.

“Exactly Ma’am. I don’t like the thought any more than you do, but it is something to think about.”

“Ok, Trouble I will keep it in mind. But after our next stop, we are supposed to rest for a couple of days to let one of our supply caravans catch up. Besides we have only been out a week so far.”

“I understand, but Ma’am, I just want to make sure the command is thinking ahead in case our supply lines get cut instead and we become on our own.” He tells me and then he heads back to the head of the column.

While I know he was good-intentioned, something about his discussion sets me on edge. I hope we do not need to go that extra step that Trouble has proposed, but he is right, that is a consideration. I will have to bring it up to the Major tonight at officers’ call.

That evening before our forward scouts return, we get ready to set up camp. Most have forgotten about Trouble's warning from a few days earlier, myself included. A squad of the Equestrian Rangers goes into a section of the woods first. We begin to hear a series of chirping noises in the trees above them. A kind of rustling back and forth. Then we see one to three-foot long objects dropping on them from above. Most of them make it out of the woods. Using E.F.S. I see a solid red blob in the trees as well as in the long grass below them.

I draw my pistol and shot two of them off of a trooper who has five of them that are a foot to a foot and a half long. They have plunged their mandibles into the exposed parts of the pony and I can see them begin to swell as they suck the blood from the luckless buck before me. Two other troopers assist me. Trouble calling out, “Make sure you get the heads of them fully, we do not want any infections.”

Finally, we get all the Chitters off of the survivors of that squad. We have lost three ponies and a cow to them. The rest are badly wounded and are taken to the medical wagons as we move further down the road to search for a better campsite. A few kilometers down the trail we run into the first team of scouts, Chip and Blackberry Pie, they point us to a safe camping spot for the night.

Once we have established camp for the night I start to worry. Where are Xavier and his team? Choo Choo seems to be becoming more nervous. After a while, Sunset comes over. “LT. Permission for me and Choo Choo to go out and find the other team?”

“Permission granted, call me on the PipBuck if you need backup.” I tell him.

As it is getting dark, I see him approaching Choo Choo, “Let’s go.”

“Do not worry Sergeant, I can see very easily in the dark,” She tells him as they take off into the night.

As usual, I wake before dawn. I send out Blackberry Pie and Chip. Ahead on our intended route of march. I talk with the Captain and the Major about my absent scouts and my worries. The major then tells me “Lieutenant, while I do not want this to become a habit, take the 1^st squad of D-troop and find my scouts and return as quickly as possible. I will have a future need for all of you.”

“Yes Ma’am. Two of the scouts are already out front of our route for the day. I will see you at camp tonight at the latest.” I tell her and then I am off.

Once back to D-Troop I call out, “Sergeant Duke, Grab the rest of 1^st Squad and follow me and Trouble. We have a special assignment.”

“Yes Ma’am," He replies and as he walks over toward the rest of 1^st squad I hear him rousting them out and to follow him. 10 minutes later we are on the path that Xavier and his team took, being trailed by the Woofers. As we are trotting out, I look at the squad, “Ok everypony we have two teams of scouts that are missing right now. Keep an eye out.”

“Ma’am, does that include the young ones?” I hear one of the new bucks ask.

“That’s right, they are one of the teams, the other is our flying scouts, they went out to look for them last night.” I hear grumbling at that, it seems they are worried now about the youngsters also.

When we are less than a click from Sunsets location, I get a message on my PipBuck, LT. Stand by. Scouts are prisoners, Choo Choo infiltrating the hostile camp. Will advise.

I immediately message back to him, Rodger, have 1^st squad with me for back up.

We are less than 500 meters from a clump of woods that the road goes through. Hiding in the tall grass watching it. I can hardly make out anyone in them. Suddenly we begin to hear screams, gunfire, and then silence. We are getting ready to charge the woods when over my PipBuck I hear Choo Choo’s voice, “That was fun! Got ‘em back, Sergeant.”

After that, I advance with the 1^st squad till we enter the woods. I see Xavier and the youngsters rifling through the gear of their now-deceased captors. Off to the side, we see the large blue alicorn smiling brightly as she washes the blood off of her coat. She smiles at us as we come up, “Don’t worry LT, it’s not my blood.”

Sunset approaches me, “Thanks for bringing back up LT. I thought we were going to need them. We really need to talk, never get that alicorn angry. They threatened the foals, after that, it was a real train wreck, I never had a chance to do anything. I wanted to look away but I couldn’t.” Behind me, I hear a couple of the troopers gasp and another snicker quietly.

I approach Xavier, I see he has used a healing potion and the wounds he had are now healing. “What happened Xavier?”

“Ma’am, they ambushed us. I felt it was better to surrender as they thought we were a group of civies. I knew you would have our backs," he tells me.

“Who were they?” I ask.

“LT, from what I could tell, they were forward scouts from Silver Spite’s forces. Getting ahead of us was their goal. I overheard; they did not tell us.”

“Interesting, how are you two doing?” I ask Xochitl and Ginger.

Xochitl merely shrugs his shoulders and puts his saddlebags back on, Ginger, on the other hand, is excited, “When they appeared with all their guns Xavier played like he was both of ours dad and we were trying to get to New Appaloosa, they really thought we were just a family traveling. He protected us and said nothing about the expedition. You should have seen Choo Choo, Wow, she can really fight. She did all this by herself. Oh, I almost forgot Auntie Mollygirl, they had a Griffon with them that left this morning. Heading back towards the east. I do not know where it went though.”

“Thanks, Ginger. I appreciate it.”

Suddenly Trouble comes over from one of the bodies, “Hey LT, you might want to see this.”

He has a map of the area with some markings on it, as well as a written message,

Sergeant Red Dirt,

Thank you for alerting me to the dust trail of the column. I will be bringing up MY forces shortly. I have a brief bit of work to do first, then we will support you fully. As for the prisoners you have taken, I will interrogate them when I get there. If they are civilians, they are slaves and you will get a bounty for them.

Captain Silver Spite

It seems we got them out of there just in time. We finish checking the bodies and recovering any equipment we can use then we are off again to meet back up with the column.

We rejoin the column as they take their midday break. I find the Major first and let her know we have returned. After that, I find Broken Dreams. “Sir we're back. Sorry about taking so long.”

“No problem Lieutenant. I was in contact with your other set of scouts. So far, they are reporting a clear path halfway to Two Step. They are currently looking for a good place to camp for the night and then will lead us there. Grab some rations and some water, we move out in 20 minutes.”

That night there are several fires set up to cook on. Most of us are sitting around them talking. I am sitting with my scouts and most of 1^st Squad when Sunset tells us all about watching Choo Choo in action.

“I never saw anything like it. I had just told her to wait until the LT caught up with us. Then I hear one of them bastards telling the others, that he was tired of just sitting there, get one of the foals lets see if we can make the stripes talk by beating them this time.” He pauses, takes a bite of his soup, and then continues. “Well at that point Choo Choo here disappears, the next thing I know the buck who had grabbed Ginger, goes flying through the air like he was bucked and hits a tree with his head. After that, I see two more picked up and watch as they smash together so hard that their heads actually broke the others. One of them goes and grabs Xochitl, drawing a knife, She reappeared and I swear her horn glowed and the knife goes flying into another of the soldiers then I watched her drive her head into the other buck, as he reared up to strike, she lunged at his neck and bite a chunk out of his throat. The last five go to fire their guns at her and I swear one of them is screaming as he is twisted and sprays the other four with his SMG and then he is lifted into the air and thrown against the ground several times. The whole time she was smiling. It was like a train wreck; you want to look away but can’t.”

All of the new troopers just sit there listening in fascination. I see Woodrow looking at the big friendly blue mare with a new appreciation. Duke just shakes his head with a smile. Off to the side, I hear Pearl chuckle lightly. “Oh, that is a good nickname, Sorry but that one should stick.”

After that, I listen to the soldiers tell stories and talk to each other. I have Ginger leaning on one side and have to smile at Xochitl snuggled up next to her sleeping. Xavier just smiles and enjoys the conversation with the others. I do notice though that when talking to Choo Choo they have all started to refer to her as Train Wreck.

Once everyone starts to settle down for the night. I help Xavier take the foals to their bedrolls. Both enfields lay with them tonight. As I head for mine Choo Choo approaches me. Speaking softly, she tells “Mollygirl, I am sorry to bother you.”

“It is no problem Choo Choo, what can I do for you?”

“Mollygirl, why do they keep calling me train wreck? It feels like they are trying to tease me. Part of me wants to be upset,” she tells me.

“Choo Choo, it is a nickname. They are not teasing you; it is a way of showing they like you. Sort of like them calling Sunset Sergeant Feathers, or Xavier Stripes, or even Dusty’s deceased husband Buddy, Chance.”

In the darkness, I can see her pause and think. Then she nods, “Ok, sort of like them calling you LT. Instead of Lieutenant all the time?”

“Exactly Choo Choo, exactly. By the way, good job today. Now go get some rest ok.” I tell her.

“Ok, Thank you LT. I appreciate it.” I then watch her wander off into the darkness. I then lay down and fight for sleep myself as I listen to the quiet noises of the camp. The watches making their rounds and then being relieved. I begin to wonder what the next day may bring just before drifting off myself.

I wake up at my normal time and again I prepare to send out scouts. Today I am only sending one larger team ahead of us. I send out Trouble along with Xavier’s team, Chip, Blackberry pie, and Sky. All are armed today as I expect us to be arriving at Two Step to rest and refit for a couple of days before we cross the river and blow the bridge. I have Sunset and Choo Choo fly above the column periodically. I want them to rest their wings a bit after the last couple of days. If we see anything suspicious then I will have them check it out.

It is midafternoon when I get a message from Sunset reporting a column of dust behind us and another, several Kilometers away to the east, heading in our direction. I pass this on to the Major who dismisses the column behind us as most likely being just our relief supply column. However, we both are concerned about the easterly one.

As we approach Two Step, we begin to look for defensive positions. We Move the Artillery, the supply train, and E-troop across the bridge and begin to dig in. Half of the engineers are planting minefields while the other half rig the bridge for demolition. As we are digging in, I send Sunset and Choo Choo to investigate. They are chased off by a flight of Griffons but not before seeing at least two companies of infantry heading our direction.

The Major leaves most of the artillery across the river, but brings Nightmare Moon back across at the report of the Griffons. All the new recruits are leaning against the front edge of their fox holes. I can see the dust across the front approaching us as the enemy started to charge our positions. Where were their Griffons?

Overhead I see Sunset, but I can not see Choo Choo. When Suddenly I see two Griffon dive at Sunset. He dives toward the ground as fast as he can, both Griffons on his tail shooting at him as he jinks back and forth. Suddenly I see one of the Griffons look like it has been hit from the side hard. It crumbles and falls from the air. Out of nowhere I suddenly see gunfire spring at the other one driving it off.

Choo Choo reappears and the missing two Griffons are after her. She flies towards the village behind us. Maneuvering as much as she can, but increasing the distance slowly. Suddenly I hear Nightmare Moon open fire. And I watch as both of the enemy fliers after her are hit and fall to the ground. I look back and see several members of Hell’s Belles running over and capturing the wounded griffons.

The last remaining griffon flying back to his forces with Sunset chasing him. The griffon diving for the deck and hiding in some woods just before Sunset can get him. I call over my PipBuck, “Sergeant Sunset, return to base.”

I watch him fly back and he lands next to me. We are soon joined by Choo Choo. Again, she is smiling. Leave it to her to have fun with this. I can feel the rumble through the grounds of hundreds of hoofs heading our way. When I peek over the top edge of my hole, I see them coming. They are screaming and coming in one big wave. I look to my left and right at the holes where the rest of D-Troop and my scouts are hunkered down. I call out, “Hold your fire until ordered.”

From across the river, I hear Celestia open up and suddenly I watch as both artillery and mortar shells start to hit the charging foes. Then they begin to hit the minefields. The charge breaks and they begin to fall back to a tree line in the distance being followed by artillery fire the entire way. After a few minutes with no targets in sight, the artillery ceases fire.

At first, we feel elation, then we realize, they will be back, and soon enough, we will not all be able to cross over the bridge; besides we are supposed to meet the supply caravan here. I can hear the cries of the wounded and dying foes. Some of our medics begin to head out to help them and are shot at. Enough is enough, the Major calls over the PipBucks, “All medics are ordered to stand down and stay with our troops. If they want to shoot at help, then they shall receive none.”

With that, we begin to improve our positions and settle back for their next attempt. A couple of hours later we see another cloud of dust coming our way. We can feel that tremble of hooves again. In the distance, I can see them begin to charge at us again. At least so far, they do not have artillery, I think to myself as they charge at us once again. I then call out, “1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd Squad, use S.A.T.S to target your first shots, hold your fire until they are in range.”

Dear DJ Pon3, we are into our second week on the march and have passed through several towns and villages. Could you please play Bad Company for those of us in the Co-op Expeditionary Force?

Thank you
Trooper Trouble
Manesville Militia/CEF Scout

4/22/2020: I just noticed I had failed to post this chapter. My apologies to those who have read ahead and now see it.