Chapter 41 Dodge and Weave

"The first virtue in a soldier is endurance of fatigue; courage is only the second virtue."- Napoleon Bonaparte

We have the village under surveillance most of the day. From above our winged scouts are watching them progress, first from assaulting our empty trenches, then the friendly fire incident they had when the flanking troops hit them, thinking Silver Spites regulars were us. Sunset was almost laughing himself silly trying to describe it from the clouds.

First, they get hit on one flank, then the other, it takes over half an hour for them to get that sorted out. Then they begin moving north again. One company in front, one following it. The third remained at the location of the trenches.

As I scan the map, I am looking for side roads that are near enough for them to move around us, but we are in the clear for now.

A short time later I hear Sunset over the comms channel, “MG, this is Sunset, MG this is Sunset, the first company coming up the road appears to be raiders, they are five klicks out.”

“Sunset, this is MG, rodger, keep us informed. Do not engage unless ordered.”

“Understand MG, over and out.”

As the sun has moved through the sky with no additional rain, the roads have dried enough that a small dust cloud is being raised in the distance above the road towards us.

As they enter the far side of the village I hear Bailey Bridge call over the all hands comm channel, “Hold your fire, the engineers are falling back from the town right now.”

What the heck? What did Bailey have his troops do? I did not order him to do anything. Then once they are through the lines, I hear him let everyone know they are back to our lines now.

Part of me wants so badly to be at the front lines right now. I really want to see what is happening again, but I can’t always be at the front. I wonder if this is part of why the Major always seemed so irritable. If so, I can understand all too well. I start to check positions on my PipBuck of tagged members of those units, just so I can get an idea.

I am worried a bit as Sutures is still up there with D-troop. I had not thought about her when I assigned positions, I guess it is for the best that way. It means my decisions were made for the proper reasons, but it still is not easy.

The anticipation is starting to really eat at me when I hear an explosion from the direction of the village. Then I begin to hear automatic weapons fire. Over The comms channel, I hear Duke calling me, “Ma’am the hostiles have set off an explosive charge on the door of the church, it seems there was a large number of ferals inside. They are firing at them right now, Request permission to engage at range to add to their confusion.”

I smirk to myself, as I hear another charge go off in the village, “Permission granted, make each shot count.”

I then begin to hear the gunfire pickup in its tempo. I am still listening to the comms when I hear Tenderhoof call out, “Ok all Rangers, this is Ranger 1, they are coming our way boyo’s let them get to the minefield then open fire.”

Suddenly I hear more explosions as the mines begin to explode, adding to it I can hear distinctive sound of grenades going off. Then I hear Sunset again, “MG this is Sunset, the second company is in the village now and beginning to spread out into the buildings,”

Next, I hear Duke over the comms channel, “MG this is Doorkicker 1 we are taking fire from the first line of buildings of the village, request artillery support.”

I look over at Archer and I see a glint in his eye and a smile come over his face and he gives his battery the order to fire. The grin becomes wider as both guns and the mortars begin to fire. I am stunned as I had not realized Nightmare Moon had this kind of range.

“Archer, I did not know she could fire that far,” I yell to him above the din.

He yells back, “We have been working with it. We are lobbing the shells and with those special shells, they will explode right above them at this distance. Goddess help any who are caught without overhead protection.”

I watch as Nightmare Moon’s crew slowly shifts her left to right after every round. Dropping in five-round clips at a time.

We drive those closest to our lines back into the village with its mayhem of gunfire, exploding shells and feral ghouls running wild among the streets. Finally, we slow the artillery fire down and I have Archer prepare to fall back again.

With the reduction in fire they start to overcome their fear of both the ferals and their fear of artillery fire and begin to reform to attack us again. It is at this time I hear, “Sunset this is Sky 4, I repeat Sky 4, they are bringing up that third company through the woods to the east and behind that hill, they are going to try and outflank us. I look at Archer and he nods to me, “Shift the guns, we have new targets at…” I hear him call as I watch another clip of rounds are fired out of the smaller, more rapid firing gun towards the village.

As they are hitting the ground again, I order both D and E troops to begin to fall back behind the ridge. Once they are behind it, I see them coming in our direction. Slowly falling back. I then order the Belles and the rest of us to begin to fall back again also. Archer finishes his fire mission and limbers the guns and breaks down the mortars and we are all off again, we start off at a trot for a couple of klicks then we slow down again to a walk. Behind us, in the village, we can still hear all Tartarus breaking loose as the booby traps that the engineers set go off and those who had come at our lines hit and then try to clear the minefield slowing them down again.

I am riding in the back of the HQ equipment wagon looking at a map along with Tar and Blueberry Crisp trying to determine our next ambush site as the sun sets and we continue on. As I look at the map, I find a crossroads in a forest that we can use to our advantage. To the north of it is a wide-open glen that goes up a ridge, but to the east comes the woods and brush to within a dozen meters of it. The crossroad behind it goes through five klicks of woods then turns northeast before coming to another crossroad that heads north. I send the Doorkickers to the eastern woods, with the Belles stopping at the top of the ridge. The rest, I have fall back to another crossroads only a couple of more kilometers north.

The Belles set up several heavy full auto AM guns just inside the tree line. They also bring up a couple of rocket launchers that they have with them and have been keeping in reserve. I make sure they know that this is just a quick hit and run, no prolonged engagement. I also remind them to use their S.A.T.S. during the opening shots. After all we need to conserve ammo. Those not on watch are to catch a quick nap. After two hours the watch rotates so everyone can get some rest.

At about three in the morning I am woken up as I hear quietly over my Pipbuck Duke say, “MG this is DK 1, they are beginning to pass us by.”

About ten minutes later I hear a landmine go off from the main road. This is followed by machine-gun fire from the Belles. I hear the communications over the comms channel.

“Belle 1 This is Belle 4 they are going to ground.”

“Roger that Belle 4, use the auto grenade launchers now on those positions.”

Suddenly I hear over twenty grenade explosions, one after another as they sweep the field before them with grenades. Then I hear “Belle 4 Hold the grenade fire for now, here they come.”

Then I hear “All Doorkickers, this is DK 1 Go! Go! Go!” as suddenly, I hear an explosion of gunfire from the eastern woods by the crossroads.⁹

The Doorkickers make a brief charge into the middle of the formation that is still trying to shift from a road march to combat formation. It raises complete havoc with them. Then as suddenly as it began the gunfire stops and my troops are falling back into the woods. Carrying their wounded with them. Just as they begin to reorganize in the glen, Archer hits them with several artillery rounds causing more confusion.

By this time the Doorkickers have already shifted north again and are falling back to meet with the rest of us. The Rangers are in the lead soon followed by the Belles, my HQ and the artillery with the Doorkickers finally catching up with us at a crossroads further to the north and taking the rear guard again.

We are three kilometers north of the ambush site when the sun begins to come over the horizon again. We have already chosen the next site for us to rest. The last two fights only costing us another ten dead and fifteen wounded, but both have bought us and the Civilian column more time.

When we next stop, I hold another officers call. I have an idea that may throw them back a bit again. It should work, but I am still worried.

“Ok, everypony, tonight we are going to stop just north of this hamlet. Sunset, the scouts are going to be used after dark tonight. I want the fliers to watch to see where they stop. Then we will hit them first with the fliers, then with the ground scouts. Blackberry Pie, you, Chip and Blondie will be working with Choo Choo, I want you to hit their headquarters if you can. If not, hit one of their support units, or if a combat unit is sleeping, tear them up using your magic.”

I pause to let that sink in. Then I continue, “The other foot scouts I want to make hit and run attacks on their scouts or pickets they have out. Make the best use of the weapons you have. Also, Blueberry Crisp will be accompanying you and supporting you. If you meet heavy resistance you are to fall back to us immediately. My goal is to harass them and meet at the designated rendezvous point by tomorrow evening.”

From the side I see Bailey Bridge raise a hoof, I nod to him and he continues, “Ma’am, I have had the wounded on the wagons sharpening sticks for punji traps, may we use some along the sides of the road as well as some mines to harass them?”

I hate the idea of leaving unnecessary dangers that could harm innocents normally, but this may help slow them down enough. “Ok, Baily, but simple punji traps only, none of the angled down stakes on the side, these are strictly to slow them down and injure at this point, besides if we come back through here, we won’t want to have to deal with too many of them.”

I look around at everyone, “Are there any further questions or information I need to know?”

Sutures raises a hoof and I call on her, “Ma’am we are getting low on healing supplies, magical bandages, as well as other medical materials.”

“Good to know, I had not realized we were getting that short, ok, that means if we can capture some take them. If a pony is killed and we can safely recover any medical materials as well as ammo or rations, do so. That is all for now, Good luck and good hunting; dismissed.” I tell them. I sit and watch them file off to head back to their troops.

I then head over to the scout’s area looking for Ginger and finally find her, “Hi LT, I hear we are going to hit them this time, I am so glad to hear that.”

I look over at Sunset and he simply nods. No matter how worried I am for her, she has to do her duty. “Yes Ginger, that is correct. I just wanted to ask you to please be careful and do not take any unnecessary risk.”

She gives me a big hug, and laughingly tells me, “Ma, it’s a little late to tell me that, otherwise I would still be at Sumac’s.”

I have to smile at that, “Yeah, you are right, but please be as careful as you can. I do worry about you.”

Still smiling she looks back at me and answers calmly with a question, “You worry about me, but what about Xochitl or the rest for that matter?”

I feel like the wind has been knocked out of my sails when she says this, I really do not know what to say to her on this at first.

From the side, I hear Xochitl, “Ginger! You know better than that. How could you even ask her something like that?”

She turns to him and asks, “What, I was just asking?”

I put my head down, the little mare I think of as my daughter has brought home just how others must think of me. Quietly, holding back the pain as best as I can, “Every last one of them Ginger, you are my daughter, or at least I think you are, but they are my herd. I am lead mare and sometimes I have to make choices that I wish I never had to make. I hope and pray that someday you do not have to walk in my hoofprints.” I give her another quick hug then walk away, head down, ears flopped to the side and my tail tucked in. I just hope and pray they all come back safe tonight. Behind me I hear Ginger’s voice call out, “I am sorry Ma, I did not mean to hurt your feelings.” Next to me I hear woofers flying alongside of me, trying to keep me company and cheer me up.

Later in the day, I look at the small hamlet behind us. The locals have taken some shots at our scouts as we approached and identified ourselves. They are extremely upset almost bordering on panic, and tell us to keep away from them and their homes. Unfortunately, they wounded Blackberry Pie with a small hunting rifle round, but it still requires that she use some of our precious medical supplies. They also wounded two troopers from the Rangers. I am just glad the one was wearing his helmet or we would have lost him too.

The sad part is that just a few days ago they most likely would have joined us, or at least welcomed us. It seems that Silver Spites campaign of disinformation is starting to work. I only hope it does not work too well.

As the sun sets, I watch as four groups head out into the growing darkness. While I hope they all come back safe, I also worry about some of the villagers sneaking out to alert Silver Spites troops of our location and of our groups heading out. As they go, I swear I see an enfield with them.

I then go back to the headquarters area to listen to the comms channel and be ready to react as needed. When I get there, Archer meets me. “Mollygirl, have you seen Sutures?” He asks me.

“No, not since earlier why?”

“I think she went out with the teams. She was upset no medics were going out and I can’t find her.”

“Archer, try not to worry, I am sure she will be ok,” I tell him even though I am now worried about her also. Part of me is glad she is with them, but she was not ordered to go and went on her own volition. “The best thing we can do is be ready to support her and the others if they require it, listen to the radio and give fire support if you can,” I tell him with a smile, that I really do not feel.

“OK, I will dear, but I just can’t help but worry about her.”

I put a hoof on his shoulder, “Dear, I am sure she will be ok. She is one of the best medics we have and she is doing something she lives for. We both know she has done raids before; she knows how to handle herself.”

He sighs, puts his head down and looks up at me, “Ok, I will try to stay calm and not worry too much. But it is hard not to.”

“Archer, that is all I ask. I understand, and I would be a liar if I said I was not worrying some also. But we have to take risks in this business, even if we do not want to.”

I sit down next to a table with a map laid out on it. Woofers comes over and lays down next to me and I absentmindedly scratch him between his wings as I look over the map. I focus on our path to the rendezvous point. The map shows it is on the north end of a wide valley. There are several roads all leading to and from it. There is a ridge there, not far south of a bend in the river. Three of the roads meet just east of the river, south of the ridge and combine to cross a bridge. Once across the bridge, the three roads separate again. The river looks to be just under a kilometer wide. Looking at the map, I notice that there are no other points to cross the river for ten kilometers to either side.

I am busy examining it when Tar Water and the 1^st sergeant come over and join me. We are all looking at it when I hear Light Weight hum to himself and then he tells me, “Interesting name for that valley, I hope it stays that way,” as he points to it with his hoof. I look at the name and smile to myself, Serenity Valley. That seems like a good name, maybe our luck will begin to change for the better there.

We then begin to discuss how to set up defenses once we get there, as well as where we can put our HQ, artillery, medical and supply area. I find it a good mental exercise and distraction while I wait to find out what is happening to our troops that are making the raids tonight.

I am just thinking of whether we should try and defend the bridge there or not when I start to hear the teams on the comms channels.

“Sky 1 this is Sky 3, we have movement from among the supply wagons. Looks like they have teams going out. Heading towards the engineers.”

“Rodger Sky 3. Keep me informed. Sapper 1, did you hear that?”

‘Sky 1, this is Sapper 1, roger, we need a few more minutes and we will be ready to move towards our next target, please provide cover if needed.”

“Understood Sapper 1, will do. All Sky elements, this is Sky one, hold fire until needed, but be ready to support the engineers.”

I keep examining the map and thinking as I wait and listen to the comms channel. All is quiet for about ten minutes, then I hear “Sky 1, this is Sapper 1, we are falling back, repeat falling back, thanks for covering us.”

“Rodger, Sapper 1, our pleasure,” I hear Sunset reply, then he continues, “All Sky elements this is Sky 1, time to open the ball, let's go, line abreast for a strafing run down the column. After we hit the middle, we break climb to the cloud layer, and reform. Go.”

I continue hearing the attack over the comms channel and lose track of who was calling out.

“To the right, hit that wagon...”

“Watch out full auto AM gun in the trench to the left.”

“Son of Seabiscuit. Lookout here come two griffons and a pegasus…”

“Look out you have one on your tail, swing my way, I will clear him off.”

“Got him, one less griffon.”

“Where the Tartarus did, they get fliers?”

“Bucking raiders, now stop asking questions for now and get to fighting, Sky, lookout!”

“Thanks for the warning,”

“For Celsestia’s sake, I’m hit, where is that medic? I am going down.”

Then I hear Sutures voice, “This is Doc 2, tag me on your PipBuck I am east of the road.”

“Doc2 this is Sky 1, I will be escorting them in to you. All Sky elements provide cover and keep an eye out.”

“This is Doc 2, I see you coming in, you’re on a perfect approach I am lighting my horn land there.”

In the distance, I can now start to hear explosions and gunfire.

I look at the map function on my PipBuck and I see Sutures tag with Sunset and Dullbeak.

Next, I hear Ginger’s voice whisper over the comms channel. “This is Hoofpad 5, I can see the hostiles headquarters ahead, they are unaware we are here yet.”

“Rodger Hoofpad 5, this is Horn2, we are on the way, thanks for making sure the door was open.”

“No problem, I got three pickets with the SIR, and Hoofpad 1 got another two with hoofs. Good luck and good huntin’ Horns. Give ‘em Tartarus, see you all back in camp.”

Shortly thereafter I have Specs approach me, “Ma’am, you need to hear this clear channel radio broadcast that is coming over.”

I trot over to his radio sets, and hear “They are all around us, for Goddess sake, we need a company to the HQ right now.” I listen to the panic in the voice, but I notice the only sound of gunfire is in the distance of the broadcast.

“Be advised we are inbound to assist. Is the Colonel still safe?”

“Yes, he left with a small group shortly before they hit us. Some locals warned him they were coming.” In the background of the broadcast, I can hear gunfire and some explosions.

“Ok, hold the line and we will be there momentarily.”

“My GODDESSES, SHE IS HERE, IT’S LUNA! SHE, SHE JUST TORE APART THREE SOLDIERS WITH HER HORN, NOOO!” Then the broadcast ends. I guess I know where Choo Choo is, and what she is up to.

I get on my PipBuck, “This is MG, all advance forces, Silver Spite has been warned and is on the loose, I repeat he is on the loose, watch out.”

The battle continues and then I hear Xavier's voice call out, “This is Hoofpad 1, all Hoofpads fall back, we are pulling out.”

This is followed by my hearing Choo Choo’s voice all out over the comms channel, “All Horns elements this is Horn 1, disengage and return to base.”

Then I hear “This is Sapper 1, we are being engaged, by about a company of them have swung behind us. Need support asap.”

I hear Archer call over his PipBuck, “Sapper 1 This is Gunbunny 1, Tag ‘em and I will bag ‘em for you.”

Suddenly I hear the rounds go out from Celestia and the mortars. Seconds later I hear them impact between us and the engineers. This goes on for several minutes, then I hear, “Gunbunny 1 this is Sapper 1, we are disengaged. Thank you.”

“Sapper 1 this is Sky 1, do you want air support?”

“Affirmative Sky 1, they are still here and may try to cut off the remaining elements of the other groups falling back.”

“Rodger that, we are inbound.”

The comms channel is quiet for a bit, then I hear, “Sky 1 This is Sky 3, I have been hit, and need to fall out. I will join the Sapper elements; repeat I will join the Sapper elements.”

“Understood Sky 3, see you back at basecamp.”

A short time after that I hear, “MG 1 This is Sky 1, all elements disengaged, we are returning to basecamp, over.”

I reply back, “Rodger, have all elements check-in at the HQ. Good Show all. I will see you when you get back.”

I look over at Paper Work and Light Weight, one of you wake me when they get back. Tar, why don’t you get some sleep. I am sure you could use it too.”

I spend the next two hours trying to sleep while I await their return. I have finally fallen asleep when I am shaken awake. “LT, they are back. You wanted to meet them.” I hear Paper Work tell me.

“Yeah, yeah, thanks Paper Work. Give me a second,” I tell him, just as he hoofs me a hot cup of tea.

“Really Paper Work, you are a Goddess send. Thank you again.”

“Your welcome Ma’am.” He tells me and walks out of the tent and I hear him tell the others, “Give her a minute, she will be right with you.”

I quickly drink the tea and adjust my uniform as best I can. They deserve for me to show them my respect by looking decent for them also. Then I go to the tent door. I see several of them wearing bandages. All look exhausted. I notice a couple of them are missing, as is Sutures and Ginger. “Come in all of you and sit down. I just want a quick debrief.” As I am saying this, I see Archer slid in the door also.

They all file in and take a seat, the tent is heavily packed with this many in here, but luckily it is large enough for an old Equestrian Army field command staff. To the side, I see Paper Work and Specs both making hot tea and breaking out some rations for those who have just gotten back. I smile and nod to them. I am glad they thought of this.

“OK, first, thank you for everything you’ve done tonight. I am glad to see all of you back here. I was listening to the comms channels ponies, but I know I did not hear everything.”

Bailey Bridge begins, “Ma’am, we got five sets of traps and mines set up on the main road towards here. We had finished the last one when we found that they had a company-sized unit that had cut us off fairly well. If it weren’t for the artillery and air assets, they would have had all of us in my squad, instead of the two they got.”

I see Archer in the back smile, “Glad to have helped Bailey. Good job with the on the fly tags also that helped a lot.”

Bailey then adds, “Ma’am, on my E.F.S., when they got close, it tagged one of them as Silver Spite. Ma’am, he was leading them in the counterstrike.”

“Thanks for letting me know Bailey, it is good to know he is taking us so serious,” I tell him.

Sunset begins next. “LT, we were engaged by at least three griffon and three pegasi. They appear to be mercs or raiders who have attached themselves to Silver Spites forces. I know we wounded at least two of them, but we now have to worry about them having air support and possibly trying to establish air superiority.”

“I heard the initial report of two griffons and one pegasus. I did not hear you say anything about more, I am not happy to hear there are more, but that is now a serious consideration.” I tell him.

“LT, they also are bringing up weapons that are more effective against us fliers. That was the first time I have seen them use the full auto AM’s against us, rather than ground targets. However, we did cause them to scatter during our initial strafing run, and we destroyed several of their ordinance wagons. Both Dull Beak and Serenity were hit. Dull Beak was treated by Sutures, Serenity was given first aid by the sappers and fell back with them.”

“Glad to hear the later part, but I will have to say I am now concerned about the first. From now on, I want you fliers to be more careful.” I tell him.

Choo Choo speaks up next. “LT, we hit their HQ hard, we began by using a variation of the hormone spell of Blackberry Pies. Instead of making them aggressive we made them fearful. I used my TK as did Blondie for most of it. However, we did have Chip use his magic bullet spell again, it can be quite effective also. We also all used several other spells. I only hope that Luna will forgive me for portraying myself as her once they mistook me for her in a panic. It was funny to hear though.”

I simply smile and nod at that. Leave it to Choo Choo to let someone think she was a goddess because it was funny. “Good Job Choo Choo. That was probably a very effective mind game on them as well.”

“Thank you, ma’am, I hoped you would approve.” She says back to me with a beaming smile and sitting straighter.

Then Xavier begins to speak. “LT, we were able to take out several of their pickets on our way in. Ginger put that silenced carbine to good use from a distance. It allowed me to get in close enough to take out two more by hoof. Once the magic team went in we ended up engaging a squad that had swung behind us. If not for Tweeters alerting us, we would have been surprised. Xochitl and Trouble both got two with carbine and rifle. I got another with my rifle. Ginger got another but was wounded. She is with Sutures at this time.”

My heart drops, my eyes go wide. My goddesses, please no. I try to remain calm before everypony. “OK, if there is nothing else dismissed. Feel free to stay in here and warm up. I will be back shortly.” I tell them as I head to the door at a fast walk. Once outside I break into a full gallop for the medical wagon.

As I get there, Sutures is just coming out. She looks at me and shakes her head. “Mollygirl, easy. She will be ok; it looks a lot worse than it is. Head wounds always look worse than they are because they bleed so much.”

“How bad is it, how was she hurt?” I ask excitedly.

She puts up a hoof, “Slow down dear. Breath, deep in, slowly out. Now as I was saying it looks a lot worse than it could have been. Thank the Goddesses she was wearing a helmet. She was grazed between the ears buy a round. It did not penetrate, but it did knock her out for a bit. They ran her over to me as soon as it happened. Luckily, I was just finishing up with Dull Beak. He took a hit to his side and wing. A few more millimeters to one side and he would have been knocked out of the air.”

As she is giving me all this information, I am trying to slow my breathing. The distraction of the conversation helps to calm me down. “Ok, how many other wounded do we have and how are they?” I ask.

She looks at me sadly, "One more wounded from the sappers. He took a hard hit into his left foreleg. I think he should be alright, but if it gets infected, he is in trouble. The other wounded trooper from the engineers did not make it. He took several hits to his abdomen. One or two I could have dealt with, but as many as he had, there was nothing I could do. He was almost bled out before they even got him to me. I will give his id tag to Paper Work when I am done here. Ginger needs to spend at least tonight here for observation.”

“Thank you so much Suture’s for everything, I appreciate your having gone with the teams. Just, please next time, let me know. If you think a medic should go, then tell me. I do sometimes forget that the teams are ad hoc and do not have medics assigned.”

“Your welcome dear. I will take care of our little mare. Dull Beak should be back at the HQ soon. Let Archer know where I am and why if you could please?” she asks me.

“I will, but can I see her before I head back?”

She nods her head and moves her hoof in a follow-me motion as she turns to go back into the wagon. As I go in, I see Ginger on one of the beds with magic bandages on her head. Blood has started to seep through in a couple of places.

She looks up and sees me. “I’m sorry ma. I messed up and got cocky.”

I put my hoof on her and kiss her on her cheek, “It’s ok, hun, it's ok. I am just glad you were wearing your helmet and are going to be ok,” as I say this, I am fighting back tears. “Take it easy for a couple of days and you should be fine soon.”

“I will ma, I will,” she pauses, “Ma, do you, could you, please, read to me tonight?”

I know it is late and morning will come early and hard, but I can not tell her no. I take out her book and begin to read to her until she falls asleep. Behind me I hear the other wounded trooper, “You did not have to stop ma’am, I was enjoying it too, reminds me of when I was a foal.”

I smile at him, “OK, if you really want me to trooper, I will finish it for you, then we both will need to get some rest.” He smiles and nods, and I read the rest of the story to him.

After I am done, I return the book to Ginger’s Saddlebags and begin to leave the wagon. I am stopped by Sutures, “Thank you for doing that, it reminded me of why I love you so much,” she tells me and gives me a tight hug. Then she kisses me and tells me goodnight as I head out of the wagon and back to the HQ for the rest of the night.

On my way back to the HQ I come across Archer. “Hey dear, how is she?” he asks me.

I answer in a tired but relieved voice. “Ginger is going to be ok. She was grazed by a shot into her helmet. It knocked her unconscious though so Sutures wants to keep her for observation tonight. By the way, our Sutures told me to tell you she loves you too and is sorry she cannot be with you right now because of taking care of the wounded.”

I hear him sigh, I am not sure if it is in frustration or relief. “Ok, good, I am glad to hear Ginger will be ok. As for our Sutures, I can understand that. I just wanted to spend some time with her tonight too.”

“Well, I hope you would not mind spending time with me instead,” I tell him light-heartedly, but inside I am slightly nervous that maybe he has changed his mind about me, especially after how I hurt Sutures at Targhee.

In the dark, I can barely see him smile, “I would like that too if you don’t mind. I had kind of hoped to be selfish and have both of you with me is all.”

I feel a big feeling of relief when he says that, “It would be my pleasure too Archer.” I pause for a bit then I admit to him, “Archer, I hope you don’t mind me telling you this, but part of me was afraid you would not want me anymore.”

He stops and puts a hoof around my shoulder. “I guess I am not the only one who has those worries. Dear, it would not have been a case of not wanting you, but you do still have Badger and Magpie. Sutures, only has me and you for sure right now. She is a wonderful mare, just like you and I would not want to see either of you hurt or feeling unloved if I can help it. So even if I did not want to, I would stick with her if forced to make a choice. But that is not because I don’t want you, remember that, I will always want you too,” he tells me as he shifts and brings my lips to his.

He may not know it, but I really needed to hear that tonight. That he would still want me no matter what. My mouth opens as we kiss and I am putty in his hooves. When the kiss ends, we finish walking back to the HQ, it is still crowded inside, but at least it is warm still, most of those inside have gone to sleep already. Archer and I find a spot and go lay down. We talk quietly in the dark until we both drift off to sleep.

It is still dark outside when I am woken up next. In the distance, I can hear gunfire and screaming. I run outside followed by the others and through my binoculars, I can see the hamlet is being attacked. I truly want to help them, even if some of them betrayed us. As I go to give the orders, Archer stops me. “LT, it smells like a trap, I would recommend against it.” On my other side Tar has come up along with Sunset and Duke. All concur we do nothing to help.

I then give the order. “Prepare to move out. They are already occupied. Let’s put some distance between them and us.”

Just as I say it Sunset calls out for the scouts. I watch as the few wagons we have are harnessed with their teams and the couple of tents we had set up are dropped and thrown into them. The other equipment having already been placed in them.

“Sunset, I want two fliers to keep an eye behind us. The others can go out front. Also put the ground scouts out in front also. I would recommend putting the unicorns and Choo Choo in their normal sections for now, but have them ready to be called if necessary.”

“Yes Ma’am. Just so you know Dull Beak is still recovering from his wounds yesterday, he is on light duty, so I will have him ride for at least part of today, same with Ginger.” He tells me.

As we are talking, I can hear Kettle Bell ordering her troop to prepare to fall back, but stand ready until the column moves. Then I see the Rangers pulling out and heading north again followed by the wagons, the artillery and then the Door Kickers. I am right behind the D-troop and as I leave our campsite, I give the orders to Kettle Bell to begin her withdrawal. We are already two kilometers away when we hear the camps sites get hit once again. Again, we averted getting hit unprepared.

As we march north, I begin to walk alongside the column again to get a feel for how everypony is holding up. As I walk past the Door Kickers, I hear Dusty, “Come on pick up your hooves, what are you a bunch of lazy mules.”

“Hey Corporal, I resent that, I am not lazy.” I hear Woodrow call back to her and then he brays a laugh at her.

“Ok, you’re the exception then Woody.” She laughs back. As I look over, I see that Pearl is next to him again and it almost seems like old times.

Then Dusty sees me, “Hey LT, did you get enough sleep last night?”

I smile, “Yep, sure did, I think I got a whole two hours this time. How about you?”

“Sure, did LT, got a whopping four this time. You should have let us know we were getting to sleep in.” she jokes back.

“Remember Dusty, every day in the CEF is a holiday, every payday a fortune and every meal a banquet,” I call back to her, and receive a number of laughs in reply.

I continue to hear them joking as I pass by them and quick trot toward the wagons and the Rangers. As I pass the few wagons and artillery I am greeted by Archer and Kicker both. Archer taps a hoof on the Caisson seat next to him. “Sorry Archer, I will stop and chat on my way back,” I tell him and continue on towards the Rangers.

It is when I get to the Rangers that I hear grumbling, I hear one saying before they realize I am there, “Why all this running. We should stop and just fight it out.”

I hear another, “Yeah at least that way we would not die tired.”

From a third I hear, “I can’t wait to get payback for what they did to us at Targhee, that and all their lies. Enough is enough, when is she going to just let us fight it out.”

Then they notice me, so I answer back. “We have orders to make a stand at Serenity Valley. The CDF is supposed to meet us there. My goal is to make it there and dig in by tonight, then you will get your fight and we can get payback. Remember Sergeant Nugget was a very good friend of mine too. I want to pay them back as much as all of you.”

From a bit further ahead, I hear one of the other troopers call out, “Hey LT, you want to hear our new song? We call it the March of the CEF.”

“Sure, let’s hear it troopers.” I call back, and they begin to sing as they march,

Celestia Bless and Luna defend,

The fight will continue until our end

We march and we fight and we trot some more,

Cause that is what we are all here for.

Give us a target, give us a goal, tell us what we are fighting for

Lead and guide us and show us the way,

and we will claim victory at the end of the day.

Like fighters in hooficuffs we jab and we weave,

We dodge and we dive and continue to deceive.

Just when they think they’ll leave us in disgrace,

We turn and we buck them right into their face.

Give us a target, give us a goal, tell us what we are fighting for.

Lead and guide us and show us the way,

and we will claim victory at the end of the day.

From Manesville we left over five hundred pons strong.

At Prairie Garden we found out how much they did wrong.

At Good Doer we went and put egg on their face.

At Two Step twice over their blood used to christen the place.

Give us a target, give us a goal, tell us what we are fighting for.

Lead and guide us and show us the way,

and we will claim victory at the end of the day.

At New Gallop we sat back and watched the fight,

To us it was such an interesting sight.

The locals they used some old archanotech,

And truly showed Silver Spite a pain in his neck.

Give us a target, give us a goal, tell us what we are fighting for.

Lead and guide us and show us the way,

and we will claim victory at the end of the day.

At Targhee we fought them with everything in sight.

We showed them there what we could do in a fight.

With buildings still burning and others blown down,

We left them in what was once still a town.

Give us a target, give us a goal, tell us what we are fighting for.

Lead and guide us and show us the way,

and we will claim victory at the end of the day.

Celestia Bless and Luna defend,

The fight will continue until our end.

We march and we fight and we trot some more,

Cause that is what we are all here for.

“Very good troopers, I like it, thank you for sharing it with me today, now we just have to add a few more verses and then go home.” I tell them, “But first we get our payback.”

I then see Tenderhoof smiling at me, “We will do that LT, just show us the way Ma’am.”

I smile back, “Will do Tenderhoof, now on to Serenity Valley.”

Dear DJ Pon3, I normally don’t do this, but lately, it has been a rough one for all of us. Me and my engineers particularly, but for the whole CEF in general. We have been chased and lied about, while we may have done what needed to be done, we did not start it. Lately, one song seems to fit for us, could you please play Blaze Of Glory for all of us Combat Engineers with the CEF.

Thank You

Sincerely

Bailey Bridge, Cadet, CEF Engineers

Thank you to Kkat for creating this universe of FoE. I would also like to thank all those authors who have built upon her foundation and shown us how much more can be added to it.
I hope you are all enjoying the story still. We are now closer to Manesville, but still, have a ways to go. Like boxers in a match, we see Silver Spites forces and the CEF trying to outmaneuver each other to try and get a good shot in.

For those who would like to listen to this chapter's dedication song, the Youtube link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLCcJH1SaXc