Chapter 66 All or Nothing

“I'm not insane, sir. I have a finely calibrated sense of acceptable risk.” ― John Scalzi, Old Man's War

As the green glowing mushroom-shaped cloud continues to climb into the sky, Archer’s artillery rounds begin to fall at the last spot that the balefire egg launcher was sighted. We pick ourselves up and continue to advance into the ruins of Hereford as ordered, our ranks kept deliberately open. Over the static-filled comms channels, I hear ponies and cows trying to speak over each other.

Finally, I hear Specs call out in an authoritative voice, “Silence on the line NOW!” The lines go silent, “He then calls out, Battalion Commanders report in.”

As I wait for my turn I hear “1^st Battalion is now under command of Captain Chocolate Chunk. Major Star Burst and her staff are now gone. They were the target of the balefire egg.”

I hear the Colonel call out, “Very well, thank you, Captain, good report. Next.”

I then call out, “Major Mollygirl, 2^nd Battalion only light wounds so far, still advancing as planned.”

“Very well. Captain Bridge, move one platoon of your engineers into the line to cover that gap, remember do not bunch up. Stagger lines if needed.”

Next over the radio, I hear, “This is Doctor Treacle, all mares, and cows if you are or may be pregnant take a Rad Away right now. Do not wait, next take a healing potion, this is for your calves and foals health. Then I want you taking Rad Ex as directed. If you do not have any let your medics know so you can be issued them. All others, your medics will give you instructions.”

As I and several others that I can see follow the doctor’s orders, I look around and the scene is surreal. The night time sky beyond the town is still dark, but the green glow from above us still lights the shattered remains of the now third time fought over town.

I see the shadows of troopers running forward from pile to pile. At the ponyhole covers to the sewers, I see some of them stop and fire inside or toss metal apples in them as the advance past them. We are taking fire from both the debris above ground as well as from the sewers.

Suddenly I hear over the radio from the other side of town, “The bastard just popped up again over behind the Cocky Colts, He ducked down without firing, but he has it, watch out.”

As he says this, I see several mortar rounds land in that part of town. Then suddenly I hear over my PipBuck, “EVERYONE DOWN NOW, INCOMING!” All around me cattle and ponies hit the ground and cover their eyes again. This time I have a tall pile of debris between me and the flash so it is not so bright as before, but I still hear the rad meter on my PipBuck ticking faster.

All I can think of is how many of those damn things do they have? Then I call out, “Everypony up!” and we continue the fight.

Over the comm channel, I hear a pony call out. “The Cocky Colts just lost a couple of squads, extend the ranks to cover the hole.” As this is being said I see more artillery rounds landing where the last reported position of the launcher was. This is starting to feel like Equus’s largest game of Wack-O-Molerat.

From the corner of my eye, I see Baily’s engineers coming up with flame throwers and explosive charges. I even see a few of the unicorns that are with them stop, their horns flare as they call out “Watch your eyes, and they weld the ponyhole covers to the frames mounted in the ground.

The balefire launcher operator is seen several more times popping up from the sewers, but is forced back down before he can shoot again. I then notice that each squad is starting to assign a shooter to them. I am shifting from troop to troop as we advance to check with the company commanders. Twice I am forced to take cover and return fire as the raiders try to break out through our lines but we keep driving them back.

I have just arrived at D Troops HQ and am talking to Broken Hills and Triage, when I hear Bullet’s voice call out, “THERE HE IS!” and I hear several shots ring out. I spin to see the target and as I watch the raider with the balefire launcher is still trying to pull it up with him through the ponyhole opening. The launcher end is still pointed downward at an angle and as he is shot I see him accidentally pull the trigger, I hear the spring launch the balefire egg downward into the sewer tunnel and then hear what sounds like a ricochet as it skips like a rock on the water as It makes it's way several hundred yards away and then I hear it detonate.

When it detonates underground in those concrete tubes its pressure waves are focused down their length As the ground rises about two meters above the detonation point I see the blast fires popping up from the opening in the sewers with all of the ponyhole covers in a three-block radius being thrown straight up into the air. While this is happening, we also see several smaller sympathy explosions, including another balefire explosion from the cover where the raider had fallen back inside. But this is almost anticlimactic to the one very large conventional explosion as what must have been their main ammo dump explodes also.

Needless to say, this throws all of us to the ground. Several of my troopers are injured as they are tossed like ragdolls. I am temporarily deafened by the roar of the explosions and lay there stunned for several minutes. When I get back on my hooves, I see three large areas where the ground collapsed entirely. The largest crater is about one city block in diameter and sinks down five meters. I am stunned and without thinking I take another radaway.

That is when the fighting starts to become truly brutal. The raiders seem to feel they have no other choice, which now, the don’t. It is a fight to the death, to the last breath. As the troopers come closer to them, I watch as every weapon left in both sides’ inventories are brought to bear. What is truly scary is that in desperation, many of the raiders go back into those highly irradiated tunnels.

I am staying a block behind the front lines; I have just dodged back around a corner being chased by rifle rounds when I look up and see the Colonel. His cheek is torn open and is being worked on by Triage as he calls for Captain Sunset on the comms channel. Once Sunset lands the Colonel tells him “Captain, I need one of your fliers to act as a courier to take a message to Straw Boss back in Dead Quiet. Tell him we need his militia’s engineer company of ghouls. Let him know we have had at least four balefire eggs detonate here and that many of the raiders have gone underground.”

Sunset than asks, “Sir, that is no problem, by why not use the radio, it would be faster?

I see the look of slow anger in Chappy’s eyes as he tells him, “Captain, I am not in the habit of letting my officers question me, feel very lucky I am not busting your hide back down to NCO right now. But to answer your question, radio traffic is too iffy right now. I need those ghoul engineers asap.”

“Yes Sir, I will have my fastest flier take the message to him. Sorry if I seemed to be questioning you, sir, I just really did not understand that the comms are that unreliable right now.”

The Colonel nods his head, “Ah right Captain, now get moving. Also, start providing some air support if you can.”

Sunset nods his head, catches himself about to give a salute in the field, and then calls for Firefly on his PipBuck, on the third try he finally gets a reply and I watch as the scout approaches our position as fast as he can. Once he lands, I hear Sunset tell him the message and who to deliver it too. I watch as Firefly blanches a bit when he realizes he will have to go into the ghouls’ part of town, but he does not hesitate. Then he is off as quick as he can make his way towards Manesville and Dead Quiet.

The Colonel then gives the word for us to begin to hold the lines where we are for the time being. We consolidate the lines and begin to dig in. As the sun is rising, I look in the direction of Manesville and see light reflecting off objects in the sky. When they get close enough, I notice that they are sky wagons from one of the supply companies. They are being led to us by Firefly and as the first ones begin to land, I notice the backends of them are filled with ghouls who are kitted out in various equipment.

One of the ghouls, a tough-looking individual who walks with a serious limp and has a scowl on his face comes over towards the Colonel and us. The rest dismount and begin to form a perimeter around the HQ. As he gets close to us I see him notice Bailey and Sunset. He then gets a grin on his face as he goes over and shakes hooves with both of them. They lead him to the Colonel and I listen as they talk.

Sunset introduces the ghoul first, “Colonel, I would like you to meet High Grade, former lieutenant of Equestrian 23^rd Combat Engineers Battalion. The current commander of the Dead Quite Militia.”

Chappy sticks out a hoof, “It is a pleasure to meet you, Captain,” as he says the rank, I notice a raised eyebrow on High Grades face, “Thank you and your troops for coming, especially so quickly.”

“Your welcome Colonel, the Co-op is our home too, it’s the least we can do. Speaking of what we can do, what do you have for us?”

Chappy then leads him further back to where we have had an old map of Hereford that includes the sewer lines, laid out. He then begins to tell him, “We have our troops positions marked on the map. I have also roughly marked where the craters are. High Grade, at least a hundred of them have fallen back into the sewers for shelter. With that much magical radiation, I can not send any of my troops in. I know you and your people can handle it. I am sorry to have to ask you for help on this.”

I see High Grade nod his head. “Colonel, we can do this. With the amount of radiation, we are seeing coming out of those openings I would not be surprised to find some of the raiders becoming ghouls. What do you want us to do with them?”

Chappy sighs, “Captain, use your best judgement. At least take them prisoner and offer help to them. If they become feral or are hostile, you know what to do.”

High Grade nods his head, then he smiles at the Colonel and says, “Sir you do realize I was only a lieutenant, right?”

Chappy smiles at him and tells him, “Yes, but that was with the Equestrian Army, you are now in the Manesville Militia, that makes a difference. As a company commander, you should have that rank, besides, who else has as much combat experience as you?”

High Grade laughs in that dry crackling way that ghouls do and tells him, “Point made Colonel, now I best get back to my troops and begin to clean up the mess they made.”

With that, he turns and as he walks back towards the front, I hear him blow on a whistle and ghoul troopers hearing it respond and form up, then they begin to advance forward into the radiation laden hell that the rest of us dare not enter.

As High Grade and his troops slide between the positions and head towards the craters, we provide covering fire. I notice several troops advancing along with them until the radiation levels get too high. I watch in the growing daylight as I see the ghouls slide over the sides of the craters. I also see several groups of them begin to go into the pony hole covers. Those in the lead carrying a pistol, sawed-off shotgun, or other close attack weapons.

Behind me, I hear Bailey Bridge say, there go the tunnel rats. I turn to him to ask him what he means and he answers, “that is what they called the ponies who specialized in tunnel warfare back in No Mare’s land,” He smirks a bit as he says “Captain High Grade there taught my engineers and the scouts all about it. If you notice both companies now all carry pistols as well as long arms. We were expecting to have to enter those tunnels. But, well you know with the radiation levels, that just does not seem like such a good idea.”

Shortly after he tells me this, we begin to hear the sounds of combat echoing in the sewer tunnels. I can only imagine what they must be experiencing, both sides. Having experienced mild radiation sickness was bad enough, what the followers of Razor Wire are experiencing I can only imagine.

Over time the gunfire and screams begin to die down. Then I watch as the ghouls of the militia begin to come back out of the holes and craters. I see many of them carrying or assisting the wounded raiders with them. Many of them are already shaking their heads.

As he gets close enough High-Grade motions for me and Bailey to follow him, as he passes, he tells us, “Come with me, you both are going to want to hear this.”

I nod to Broken Hills and tell him I will return in a while. Then I follow High Grade over to Colonel Chappy’s location. As we approach, I see the old warhorse, helmet still on, but his chin strap is undone. He has a magical bandage on the side of his face as well as one on his side that I had not noticed earlier.

When he notices us approaching, I see his eyebrow raise and he asks, “Well Captain, what do you have for me.”

High Grade's expression stays neutral as he reports, “Well I know I lost several troopers going into those tunnels. I will get you their numbers later. Most of the tunnels have been swept clean. We found what was left of that Balefire Egg Launcher, but it is complete junk now. We could not locate any more balefire eggs either. I think you may have seen a sympathy explosion from the one. Either way, it is a Tartarus of a mess down there. What raiders we found still alive will either be dead in a couple of hours from the radiation, or they will become ghouls. The question now is what to do with them?”

I see the look of displeasure the comes over the colonel’s face. “That is a very good question. Especially if they do not want to become civilized.”

“Very true, we had a few down there that had already changed and went feral.” High grade pauses and looks down then continues, “Sir, the ferals will ignore us normally but they will go after normal ponies.”

“I know captain, what makes it worse is we do not know if they will become feral if they turn.”

“Sir, I really wish I could tell you which way to go with this. It is the first time in a long time that we have had to deal with this many potentially changing. But it is nice to know you care about ghoul’s sir. Most don’t.’

I hear Chappy sigh, “Captain, I am still getting used to you ghouls, to tell the truth, but when you all helped after the Battle of Manesville, it made me realize how wrong I was, and that you all are still just ponies inside.”

For the first time, I see High Grade actually smile. “Sir, that is all I can ask. You realize we are still equine. Now I will get back to my troops and see what we can do. Have your medics set up a high rad triage area and I will set guards to it.”

“Will do Captain, and again, to you and your troops, thank you.”

As we bring out the prisoner’s we start to separate them. Those who are grateful and seem remorseful we put to one area where High Grade's troops begin to interrogate them. Those who are ready to fight still get put in another. Both of these groups are given Rad-x and Rad-away by the medics in hopes of thwarting the ghoulification process. Finally, those too far gone are set to one side and just watch to see if they come back to life and if so, if they are lucid or feral.

Those who become feral are put down immediately. Those who become ghouls are taken back to Dead Quiet for further processing. A small handful of those remaining, survive the experience without turning ghoul or feral. Those we take back to the infirmary unit of the prisoner of war camp.

While we are winding down things in Hereford, I wonder how things are going for the Second Regiment. We have not heard anything from that direction so hopefully, it went much better for them.

As exhausted as all of us are, we take shifts on catching a couple of hours of shut-eye as well as getting some food and safe water into us. Once we have all the prisoners taken care of, we begin the march back home. The prisoners who can walk do so, but most are in wagons as we slowly make our way back to Manesville and the stable. Of all the combatants Razor Wire had here, less than a hoof full have survived.

As we are on the march Kettle Bell approaches me and asks, “Mollygirl, are our babies going to be ok?”

I sigh as I look at her and tell her, “Honestly I don’t know. I would have said yes until I saw through my hoof earlier. But you may have a hoof up on me and mine. At least yours is half Brahmin. That alone should give you some magical radiation resistance.”

I see some relief in her expression, then she looks at me with worry in hers, “But what about yours and the other mares and cattle.”

I shake my head, “I just don’t know Kettle. I just don’t know.”

She puts a hoof on my shoulder and tells me, “I will be here for you sister.”

I lean into her, “Thanks Kettle, I really appreciate it, know I am with you too.”

As we march, I see several mare and cows all with the same worried expression on their faces. None of us expected this. I laugh sadly to myself and think, who ever does.

During our travels, we get the word from 2^nd Regiment that they have taken their objective and that there were no survivors of the opposing forces.

The 1^st Battalion and artillery marches straight back to the Stable. My battalion escorts the prisoners to the camp along with the Colonel and his staff. Once we are there the camp commander is brought out to talk with the Colonel and me.

I see him looking at the new prisoners. He has concern in his eyes and I do not blame him. Colonel Chappy tells him, “Several members of the Dead Quiet militia will stand guard on the new prisoners. Besides, there really are not many of them left.”

I then look at Work Release and the Colonel, “Gentlestallions, I would like to observe those being taken to medical. Also, Major, I want a few minutes with Razor Wire.”

They both nod their heads and continue along with me. Once we enter the infirmary, I see a smiling Razor Wire in his bed. Then he begins to see the ghouls being brought in behind us. His eyes go wide, and I hear him stutter as he asks, “What, what did you do to them?”

I look him right in the eyes and tell him, “I did nothing, this is all your doing. You wanted all or nothing and you got it. Sadly, for them, so did they. It seems your followers tried to move the Balefire Egg Launcher from Chianina to Hereford,” I move my muzzle and swing my hoof at the prisoners, "This is the result of it. Those who were still in Chianina when our troops arrived are all dead now. I hope your attempt at revenge was worth it. Because we also let every one of your former troops know you are responsible for this mess.”

I see the look of horror come over his face as he realizes what I have said and then I turn and watch as the last of the new prisoners are put in a bed and treatments continued or started. As I walk out the door, I hear Razor Wire screaming in tears, “Why?” over and over.

I put my head down and head back to the Stable. Sometimes the cost can be too much. Especially when it is all or nothing, and I repeat to myself quietly, “Why?”

I head from there to the stable. Before going to my stall, I stop first at the armory and turn in my weapons and kit, then I stop at the medical bay. I am stunned as I see over a dozen mares and cows all waiting to be seen. Each is taken in turn to the back and seen by the medical staff.

While sitting there waiting I accidentally fall asleep. It is then I have that dream again of a little mare I do not know yet, but who also feels familiar. The little mare crawls up on my chest. I put my forehooves around her and she tells me. “Don’t worry Ma. The healing spells and other meds right way protected us. We are ok.”

In the dream, I kiss her on her forelock and tell her, “I love you little one, I am so sorry I have not been a better mother.”

I feel her snuggle her muzzle into my coat and she tells me, “You are doing fine ma, what other choices have you had.”

“I know little one, but I want the best for you and your siblings,” I tell her as I stroke my hoof through her mane.

She smiles up at me and tells me, “We know, all of my siblings are so looking forward to coming home soon. Let our pappa’s and mamma’s all know that for us, please.”

As I lay there dreaming, I feel another young mare crawl up onto my lap and cuddle me. It is Ginger. In the dream, she looks at her future sister and tells her, “Thank you for letting me know. I got her for now.”

I watch as they exchange a hug and then they both cuddle me as I go back to sleep.

When I awake one of the medics is giving me a brief shake and tells me, “Major if we knew you were out here you would have been at the front of the line.”

As I open my eyes, I see first the medic and then I see Ginger curled up to me. She sleepily opens her eyes and tells me, “I hope you are not mad Ma, but Mills told me you needed us both.”

I smile at her and give her a slight squeeze as I tell her, “No dear, I am not mad, but I am curious as to how you got into the stable.”

She smiles widely at me and answers, “Ma, what kind of scout would I be if I could not sneak into this place now.”

“Good point dear, now I need to get up to be examined,” I tell her.

Once I am up and I follow the medic inside the medical bay for an exam, Ginger right next to me.

The medic looks at Ginger than me with a questioning expression, and before I can answer Ginger tells her, “Don’t bother asking. I am not leaving my mother this time.”

While the medic is performing the exam, I get several messages on my PipBuck from both Badger and Archer asking where I am. It seems they are almost panicking. I send a quick reply and tell them.

Archer is the first to arrive, followed a while later by Badger. Both have been worried about me, especially after word got out of what happened at Hereford.

They both keep me company along with Ginger during the exams. Again I get an all-clear on my foal’s health, but I am still worried. As we are leaving medical, Badger tells us, “I have to stay again, so Archer, Ginger take care of her for me.”

I stop them all, “Actually as it is so late, I am going to stay in the stable tonight. I will be home tonight though.” I turn to Archer and ask, “Archer, could you take our daughter home for us. Badger, I will have you escort me to my stall.”

“Of course, love, I would be glad too,” Archer tells me as he kneels down for Ginger to climb on his back.

As Ginger gets on him, she smiles at me and tells me, “We all love you mom, even Mills.”

As she says this, I notice the look on both Archer's and Badger's faces. Ginger then tells them “Papa Badger, Mills is just what I call your daughter Wind Mill. By the way, she and the others told ma that they cannot wait to get here and be with us soon.”

I watch as both of their eyes go wide. I see Archer gulp and Badger sit hard after she says this. Badger then asks “Ginger, how do you know this?”

She smiles at him and tells him, “Papa Badger, Mills let me know in my dream tonight that Ma needed me. She also talked with us for a bit before Ma got woken up.”

I see Badger looks somewhat disquieted, Archer on the other hoof is nonplused and just smiles at Badger and tells him, “Brother after the expedition I learned not to question the ways of souls and spirits. Just accept that our foals have said hello and are excited to meet us.”

Badger gets back to his hooves and approaches Archer, He gives a brief hug and a kiss to Ginger’s forelock and then tells her, “Well if you talk to them again before they come, tell them that all their family is excited to see them too.”

As he says this, I feel my foal move in my belly and I have to smile. Then Badger tells Archer, “It is getting late, head on home for the night, I will take care of our Mollygirl and tuck her in.”

Archer smiles at this and heads for the stable entrance as Badger leads me to my stall. Once we reach it, I open the door and see Windy is already inside sleeping. Badger leads me to my bed and he tucks me in. Before he goes, he kisses me ever so gently and then he puts a hoof on my stomach and I hear him whisper to our foal inside. As he talks, I feel her shift and move toward his hoof. I can see by the expression on his face he can feel her moving toward him. Finally, he kisses our unborn foal and then me. He tells me good night and to sleep well and he quietly leaves.

I quickly fall asleep again and when I awake there is a light shining in my stall. In its glow, I can see Windy has woken up also. I look toward it and see her; she has returned to talk to us again. A smile comes over my face and I cannot help but feel cheered at seeing her again.

She comes up between us and begins to speak, “Hello my daughters, you have done good work. I am sorry I could not visit sooner tonight, but I had the unborn to tend to first.”

Both of us nod at this. “It is good to see you again Mareigan,” I tell her. Windy seems to find her voice and greets her also.

The Mareigan shifts her head so she can smile at both of us. “You two did well,” then she shifts her head to Windy and tells her, “Let George know she did really well also. I was most impressed with how she handled herself.”

This gets me to raise an eyebrow and I look at Windy for an answer. She looks at me and simply says, “You were not the only ones to have to face a balefire egg launcher. George gave them Balefire first at our target.”

With that, my eyes go wide. Windy Continues, “She used her fire as soon as we came into land and she saw the launcher. After that, they all went down quickly.”

I see the Mareigan nod knowingly. “Balefire for Balefire, a most interesting exchange I will have to say. It even prevented the egg from arming somehow,” She says with a hoof under her chin.

As I lay there, I put a hoof out to her sleepily say, “Thank you Mareigan for the visit. I do miss our chats.”

I see her smile and she places a hoof first on my stomach then she removes it and she does the same to Windy. Then she kisses Windy on her forelock and repeats it with me. She smiles at us and tells us “Sleep well my little ponies, sleep well.” I begin to fall asleep and the light dims as once again The Mareigan departs.

Come morning when we wake to the morning revile on the stable PA system Windy and I both look at each other and smile. I feel the most rested I have in weeks, which is saying something considering the low amount of sleep I have gotten the past couple of days.

Then Windy looks over at me and tells me, “Mollygirl, I don’t think I will ever look at crows the same way again. I swear that they swarmed their dead.”

I nod my head, “Yeah, I saw that at the valley a couple of times. I don’t think it ever gets easier, but better theirs than ours. Especially when the bet is for all or nothing.”

At this, we both get up and begin our day again as usual.

Dear DJ Pon3,

Long time listener, first-time requester, Today was a rough one for us in the Co-op. I have not seen its likes since No Mares Land. It was a tragedy for both sides and one I pray to never see again. The one song that comes to mind that seems to fit this day so well is It’s a Mistake. If you could please play it, I would appreciate it.

Thank you

Machine Shed
Trooper, Dead Quite Militia

This was an interesting chapter for me to write. I have personally talked to those who saw the real nuclear test, as well as watched footage of them. I tried to scale it down to a portable small level charge like we would see from FoE in the form of the Balefire Egg launcher. For those wondering how they could have gotten their hooves on one, well, I do have a logical explanation that will reveal itself in time.

To Kkat, I would like to again extend my thanks for creating this world of FoE. I also would like to thank all those others who have since added to it and continue to do so.

For those who would like to listen to this chapters dedication song, the YouTube link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0AxrOUJ62E&list=PLm1mZ-i2f2Qgx015f4P-lgmZPM-ex35pZ&index=20