Red Field sat on his bed.

The DMR lay in his lap and his hooves were smeared with the mud he was scraping off of the weapon. He was looking up, out of the door into the hallway. Full Wing sat at his hooves, cleaning Red Field’s hoofgun.

Neither said anything; the conversation had ended minutes prior. Red Field felt like his body was clenched, like he was stuck in a strange posture. No matter how he sat, he clenched.

Red Field had led the team up the slope and into the patch of woods atop the cliff. They took five minutes to cover the distance Red Field had crawled in two and a half hours. The team agreed the dogs had acted alone and Wildcat and Chesterfield dug a pair of graves. They tore up the bloodied moss in search of an area deep enough. Blackout refused to dig and volunteered to take Fo and Natick to their medic.

Full Wing and Red Field had returned to the base. Locked Breech had told them to clean their gear and get some rest. Neither of them had told him Red Field had gone alone. They’d gotten back and Red Field apologized for leaving Full Wing, who’d in turn told him it was no biggie and he was just glad his partner was fine.

Red Field tapped Full Wing’s shoulder and passed the DMR, still caked with dirt, down to him. Full Wing took the rifle.

“For sure dude.” He said, starting to wipe it. “I got this done.” He lifted the pistol up to Red Field and Red Field set it on the bed beside him. Red Field still looked out into the empty hallway. They heard heavy hoofbeats as somepony climbed the stairs. Blackout appeared in the doorway. He studied Red Field, then Full Wing, then entered.

“Hey.” He matched their mood and walked to his bed. “Good job out there tonight. Probably saved those two idiots.” He snorted. “Though maybe that’s not such a great reward.” Full Wing laughed and Red Field pushed a smile onto his face. Blackout cleared his throat. “So, I’m guessing it was only Red up there.” Both ponies looked at him and Blackout chuckled. “I like you Full Wing. Make sure you ask Chess about how to sneak around. I heard you from up here.”

“Well, it was a good call for Red to make.” Full Wing said. “Just glad he didn’t get hurt.”

“Red made that call? Figured Breech would have radioed it to you.” Blackout pursed his lips and nodded to Red Field. “You got a good instinct.” Red Field didn’t answer. He still clenched inside. They heard more hoofbeats and Locked Breech poked his head into the room.

“Blackout, need you to help the rest of the guys look over the chariot. Looks like it took some fire and I want to make sure it’s still operational.” He saw Full Wing. “Full, why don’t you go with Blackout? Gonna need all the muscle they can get.” Full Wing looked up from the DMR. “Red can clean his own weapons.”

“Yes sir.” Full Wing set the rifle down and followed Blackout out of the room. Locked Breech waited for them to reach the bottom of the stairs before he pulled a chair up to Red Field’s bed.

“Got a spider on your face.” Said Locked Breech. Red Field reached up and wiped away the remnants of the arachnid. Red Field slid his hoof across his blanket, leaving the broken creature in the fibers. “Good work Red. That was a really touchy first assignment, especially with no prep. Midlothian had almost a month of preparation before he took his first shot. And you were alone.” Red Field looked up. “Yeah, I could tell by the way Full Wing looked when he got up there that he didn’t have a hoof in anything.” Locked Breech shrugged. “Given the circumstances, I don’t think it’s appropriate to dock you points for not taking your noisy spotter along.”

“Thank you sir.” The clenching built when Red Field spoke.

“You look pretty shook up.”

“Don’t know sir. Just feel, tight, is all.”

“You were right on top of them. That’s not something snipers usually do.”

“Sorry sir, I entered the woods because I had trouble identifying them and I forgot to wait.”

“I don’t know how the hell we sent you out without night vision.” Locked Breech paused. “Did they say anything after you shot them?”

Red Field’s throat tightened.

“No sir.”

“The first looked like he died instantly. But the one with the gun had crawled a bit.”

“I shot him again.”

“I see.”

“Yes sir.” Red Field had trouble breathing as the clenching crushed his throat. He leaned forward to brace himself.

“You’re eighteen Red?”

“Yes sir.”

“Hell of a job for someone just out of high school.”

“Thank you sir.”

Red Field blinked and a line of heat ran from his right eye. He swallowed and some of the clenching died down. Tears fell from his face into the fibers of his ghillie suit. His nose stung.

They were about to go home when he killed them. They’d been napping since it was late. If he’d tried to observe them atop the rocks, they would have never met.

Red Field sobbed.

He had shot them so many times, as if they were going to fight back. They only wanted to kill Fo, for murdering their friend.

“Hurts to go through what you’re feeling, but it’s not wrong, or weak.” Locked Breech said. “Belligerence probably told you something like this might happen.” Red Field was biting his hoof and he nodded. “There’s nothing natural in killing, especially like that.”

They could hear Wildcat and Blackout conversing as they inspected the chariot.

“Did Midlothian cry?” Red Field asked.

“He shot dragon from five hundred meters. He didn’t have to sneak up on a couple of teens in the woods. But Midlothian still talked about any shots that gave him trouble.” Locked Breech put his hoof on Red Field’s shoulder. “The best snipers don’t feel much, but when they do, they talk to their teammates. You stepped up tonight in a way that made me reevaluate your place on this team- you and Full Wing both. I know you and he are new, and we’re not the most welcoming bunch, but we’re brothers in UAT, and we keep each other safe.” Red Field's bruised chest ached so much from the sobbing he could barely breathe. The tears ran down his face in a silent stream. “We’re here for you Red.”

Red Field didn’t answer. He went back to looking out into the hall.

Red Field felt sick the next day. His stomach curdled and he didn’t want to eat. Sunlight shone through the tiny cracks and holes in the wall made by the Molot.

They’d informed command of the shooting and had yet to receive a reply past a commendation. Nopony wanted to do anything and since they’d heard nothing from the dogs, Recon received a replacement for their day off.

Red Field laid on his bed, his stomach knotting and unknotting. The gravel crackled as someone walked to their building.

“Oh, hey, it’s Natick.” Full Wing said, peeking out of the window. “And that God guy.”

Locked Breech rose and walked down the stairs to the door.

“Hello captain.” Said Natick. “I came by to thank your team.”

“Recon, get down here.” Said Locked Breech and the ponies filed out of their room. The sun had risen a few minutes prior and the air was still chilly. Natick’s arm and leg were bandaged, along with the entirety of his right shoulder and he leaned on a crutch.

He saluted them.

“Thank you.” He shook each of their hooves. “I am sorry your first week here has been so tumultuous but as always, the ponies of Equestria uphold their standard of excellence.”

“You’re welcome.” Said Blackout. God stood a step behind him, and cleared his throat after Natick had finished shaking their hooves.

“I need to know how you stitched up Fo.” God said to Wildcat.

“Normal weave and thread, nothing special.” Said Wildcat.

“’Kay, thanks.” Said God, shuffling back to his barracks. Natick shifted his weight and adjusted the crutch in his shoulder.

“The shooters were the dogs from the robbery earlier?” He asked.

“Yes.” Said Locked Breech. “Our sniper took them out, we don’t believe they were working with anyone else given their positions and lack of supplies.”

“Were either of them wearing nametags?” Asked Natick.

“No.” Said Blackout.

“They weren’t wearing nametags?” Asked Natick.

“It was dark out and we didn’t check.” Blackout said. Natick looked at the short, black pony before him.

“I am not asking to be inquisitive, I am asking to determine whether or not they had ties to a larger organization.”

“Those two jackasses were alone. They had one gun, a couple mags and no comms.” Said Wildcat.

“Where are their bodies?” Asked Natick.

“Buried already.” Said Blackout. Natick looked like he wanted to ask the next question in his line of inquiry but thought better of it.

“All right, thank you.” He saluted the ponies again. “And thank you again for saving the lives of myself and Fo. I want to extend his gratitude to you.”

“Of course, anything for an ally.” Locked Breech said.

Natick hobbled across the compound, resting against the ponies’ chariot for a moment, then went into the dogs’ barracks.

“I’m getting really Goddamn sick of those asshholes.” Blackout said as they returned to their room.

“You’re not the only one.” Said Wildcat. “What kind of piece of shit doesn’t try to help his C.O.?” He shook his head. “Better not get hurt with him around.”

Locked Breech checked the receptacle beside the typewriter for messages from Gale Force.

“If we get any messages, let me know.” Locked Breech sat down on his bed and opened his notebook.

“We’re not getting any messages, command doesn’t give a shit about two dumbass diggers getting shot in their own country.” Said Wildcat.

Red Field had gone on much longer stalks during training. And he hadn’t carried much gear during the short operation. Yet after he forced down a bit of oatmeal and took a shower, his body gave out. Red Field went back to bed, pulled his blankets over his head, and tried to ignore the breeze flowing through the broken window.

He awoke to Blackout shaking him.

“Red, Red get up.” Said Blackout. Red Field pulled off his blankets and rubbed his head. He felt sleepier than he had when he’d laid down. The rest of Recon stood at attention.

Luna and Nacht were in the doorway of their room.

“I put the dogs to sleep with a spell, I’d rather we are not disturbed.” Said Luna, shutting the door behind her.

“Disturbed?” Asked Locked Breech.

“Yes, we have the first target in our investigation.” Luna smiled as Red Field fell in line with the other soldiers. “Good to see you Red Field.”

Luna ordered Nacht to bring a table up from storage as she led them to the assembly room on the ground floor. The five ponies made a semi-circle before her.

“How has the base kept?” She asked.

“It’s kept well.” Locked Breech said. “We’re sorry for not being around to welcome you. We didn’t know you’d be arriving.”

“Oh it’s quite all right, I wasn’t planning on stopping by today, however-” Nacht returned, he carried a white card table folded in half. He set it between Recon and Luna. Red Field hadn’t seen any such table in the furnace room. “Ah, thank you Nacht.”

Luna was in a peculiarly good mood, as if it were her birthday. She pulled a map out of her satchel and unrolled it over the table. The map was identical to the giant map of Mohs Red Field had marked the suspects’ locations on. The map was too large for the table and some of it drooped off the edge. Chesterfield picked up the corner and held it level.

“Oh it’s all right.” Luna said. “Our business is near the center of Mohs.” She looked up at the ponies, expecting one to ask about their “business”. All waited on her and she laughed after a moment. “Our intelligence agency has started processing the leads you acquired. Marshall Law is very meticulous in his data gathering, as I’m sure you know. At first we were somewhat swamped with potential starting points.” She smiled and straightened. “But they found a weak link in the Conspiracy’s roster.” She pulled out another paper and laid it atop the map. The paper listed three businesses. “The changeling.”

“Known locations for it to reside?” Asked Locked Breech.

“Oh no, the changeling is dead. Allow me to explain.” Luna pulled out several more papers; these were photos. “These are images of room in which the Blast occurred.” The first was a picture of a tiny closet, strangely devoid of anything. The room was burned and charred from the explosion, and the severity of the burns showed the explosive had been sitting in the center of the room. “We noticed a few things about the scene.” Luna said. “At first we were impressed with their use of a firebomb rather than conventional explosive. That, coupled with the disguise, and the fact that no one saw the face of the guard who planted it all led us to believe this to be the work of a high level mercenary. But, after a second look, we came to a different conclusion.” She set another photo down- a close-up of the burned wall. “The residue there is phosphorus. Phosphorus is easily sourced in the mines around Mohs, and it doesn’t require a lot of effort to make a bomb out of it.” She shrugged. “We are still not sure what she was doing in the closet, and I doubt we ever will, though some sort of lure is plausible. But if that’s the case, then the choice of firebomb makes much less sense than a concussive explosive.”

“Marble walls would reverberate the concussion.” Said Red Field to himself. He’d started to follow her line of thinking.

Luna heard him and looked up.

“If the fuse didn’t initiate properly, she might have reacted quickly enough to launch a spell to counter firebomb before full ignition, but an equally sized conventional explosive would have made a concussion much too powerful to counter, given the size of the room.”

“So, then, why the firebomb?” Asked Blackout.

“Stupidity.” Said Luna. “They chose a firebomb because of the ease and expediency of acquisition. As for the method of entry to the palace, they made more mistakes. One guard, Praetorian, has been missing since that night. We found his body in his apartment in Cantorlot- without his armor. Whoever impersonated him could have left him alive and made him a suspect. Finally we come to biggest fault of all.” She pointed to herself. “I wasn’t killed.”

A pause came as Recon uncomfortably considered the many reasons for this, many having nothing to do with the stupidity of the changeling.

“I know what you are thinking and you are free to think what you want. However it’s worth noting I could have arranged for an accident for Miss Twilight as well. I also hire better assassins than changelings.” Said Luna.

“We don’t suspect you madam.” Said Locked Breech.

“Well you should.” She said slyly. She turned back to the map. “It seems the changeling simply planted the bomb and lured my sister to that closet. Since the methodology was improvised and not systematic, we believe the Conspiracy to have just picked some changeling and offered it a reward for planting the bomb. The changeling was a tool and not an accomplice. The tool is disposed of after the bombing and the Conspiracy advances into the next stage of their plan.”

“Which is?” Asked Full Wing.

“Getting ahead of yourself soldier." Luna said. "Changelings are stupid, malicious and worthless beings. Lieutenant Chrysalis was about the only one of them who could band them together. Since Chrysalis knew nothing of this particular changeling, the Asymmetrical Warfare Department and Discord both believed that Mohs was probably where ours came from." She pointed to a list of businesses. "Those are the businesses that would hire such creatures, at least overtly. Your operation is going to be picking up the owners of these establishments and bringing them back to Nacht and myself for questioning.”

“Do we think these dogs are part of the Conspiracy?” Asked Wildcat.

“Not likely; meat farmers and café managers don’t usually get involved with treason. But as I’m sure you’ve learned, this country is hardly one for normalcy.” Said Luna.

“Ain’t that the truth.” Said Blackout.

“What’s our timeframe for these captures?” Asked Locked Breech. “Are we going to be running them with any other teams?”

“As soon as possible, and I assumed you’d be capable of handling a few minor kidnappings.” Said Luna. “I can lend you the aid of my associate Nacht if you would like.”

“No, that’s all right.” Said Locked Breech. “Give us the locations and some time to plan.”

“Of course.” Luna said. “Night is probably the best time anyway. You’ll probably have trouble convincing them you’re from the government and you’re there to help.” She slid the list to Red Field. “Any person from here will do as a starting point.” She pointed to the furnace room. “We’ll get everything ready, bring them down there once you have them. Thank you for your help gentleponies.”

“Very good, we’ll let you know when we’re moving.” Said Locked Breech.

“Did you say something was wrong with the furnace?” Luna asked as she and Nacht started down the hall to the basement. Recon waited until the pair had descended out of sight.

“Grab and go?” Asked Blackout.

“Looks that way, let’s get to work.” Said Locked Breech.

Back in their room, Recon began to construct a plan for their first capture. Locked Breech and Blackout discussed their options while the rest of the team geared up for a fast operation. Red Field took a few magazines for his DMR and sat on his cot, pushing them into his vest. He tried to clear his head, and flinched when somepony tapped his shoulder.

“Briefing- and you won’t need that.” Locked Breech said.

The rest of the team sat around the table in the center of the room and Full Wing pushed him a chair.

“We’re taking a guy named Lambchop at 2000.” Said Locked Breech. “He’s got a café in a village called Geode. It’s built into a rock face near the bottom of this mountain. Sounds like a run of the mill mountain village with nothing to hide. Looking at the terrain and considering he’s a café manager, we’re going to run a fast doorkick and just grab him.” Locked Breech picked up the file for Lambchop. “Apparently he’s a pretty normal guy, which is what we’re banking on. I’d really like some better intel than some files from God knows what agency in the Cantorlot bureaucracy, but that’s the setup we’ve got.” He pointed to himself. “I’m going to take point with Red, Full and Wildcat. Blackout and Chess are with the vehicle and are also in charge of getting any locals out of the way. Again, pretty normal town, but this is still a military operation.”

“Are we just grabbing him?” Asked Wildcat. Locked Breech nodded.

“Should just be him; the place closes an hour before we get there. His home is joined to the building. File doesn’t mention a family, though I’d bet he has one so we’ll have to keep that in mind.”

“We’re going in, grabbing him, then flying out.” Blackout said. “Nobody gets hurt.”

Locked Breech tossed his notes onto the map.

“Load up light and assemble out with the chariot. Got it?”

“Got it.” Said the team in unison.

Full Wing tapped Red Field’s shoulder as the other ponies went to their gear.

“Hey dude, do you think I should bring any spotting equipment or no?”

“I don’t think so.” Said Red Field.

“Okay, I’m going to fill that space in my pack with extra ammo.” Said Full Wing. Full Wing knelt by his cot and started to shovel magazines into his pack.

“I don’t think we need that much ammo.” Red Field said.

“I’ll leave the bag in the chariot just in case.” Full Wing laughed anxiously. “Never kidnapped someone before and I’m kinda scared it’s going to go bad.”

They were going on a kidnapping. Red Field tried to shake the word from his mind.

“You want me to grab you some match ammo just in case?” Full Wing asked.

“Yeah, that’d be great.” Red Field said. He packed two extra magazines, then added a third before they left.

They assembled at the chariot within a few minutes. Red Field carried a KKAT. His hoofgun hung at his hip and he carried three smoke grenades. Full Wing lobbed his heavy backpack into the seat beside Red Field and climbed after him.

“We ready?” Locked Breech called back to them.

“Squared away.” Said Chesterfield.

“All right.” Said Blackout as the chariot rose into the air. “Let’s get this done.”

Summer made a lengthy stay in Mohs. Despite the crisp bite to the mountain air, the atmosphere around the chariot clung to the ponies and the setting sun poured gold onto the woods underneath them. They hit an air thermal and the chariot jittered. Red Field closed his eyes. He took a breath, waited three seconds, then sent it out through his nose. He passed the rest of the trip in the same rhythm.

“We’re a minute out.” Red Field opened his eyes to see Blackout looking back at him. “We’re landing in an alleyway. The building’s just on the corner of the block to your right. Breech is leading you guys but make sure you know where we’re at in case you get separated.”

“Understood.” Said Red Field.

“Got it.” Full Wing said. Chesterfield’s head was bowed and he looked up.

“Roger that.” Chesterfield said. The chariot dipped and Red Field’s heart began to beat faster. In through the mouth, wait three seconds, out through the nose. Brick walls rose up on either side of the chariot and they slid down into the alley. Red Field saw less than a meter of clearance on either side.

“Off the front.” Locked Breech said as the dust settled. Red Field stepped around his teammates as he walked to the front of the chariot. The muzzle of his rifle narrowly missed Chesterfield’s leg and Red Field tightened the sling.
Red Field reached the front of the chariot and mantled the nose of the vehicle. He landed beside Locked Breech and Wildcat landed to the right of Red Field. Full Wing straddled the nose of the aircraft and tried to pull his legs over. He fell and nearly landed atop Red Field, who managed to jump away in time. The fall was two meters and Full Wing landed on his shoulder.

“I’m fine.” Said Full Wing as Red Field helped him up.

“This way.” Locked Breech said, moving down the alleyway.

The town had gone to bed. Several more buildings, all made of brick, lined the gravel street. Most looked like stores, and all were darkened. Something stood out to Red Field and he tried to identify what he noticed.

The town had no streetlights.

The sun had crept behind a mountain and the light in the town fell faster and faster. The waning sunset gave only enough light to make the ponies strain to see. Recon team huddled in the alley, waiting to see if anyone had noticed them.

“Café is that way.” Locked Breech pointed down the left side of the street before slipping out of the alley. Red Field followed behind Wildcat, who followed Locked Breech. Above the buildings loomed the tall walls of granite into which the town was chiseled.

The street was empty save for the four ponies and the tiny town was so still the soft plodding of their hooves filled Red Field’s ears. He kept looking from building to building, waiting to spot a dog out for a walk or a smoke.

He bumped into Wildcat, who’d stopped walking.

The café had a patio with some chairs and tables sitting behind a decorative fence. The patio sat before a shop window, behind which were more tables and a counter. “Treat Jar” was painted onto the window in light blue letters.

Locked Breech mantled the short fence and Wildcat followed him. Red Field set his fore hooves atop the gate and pushed himself over. He could feel the thin boards flex with his meager weight and as he landed in the patio, he realized what was about to happen. Red Field was in the process of turning around as Full Wing broke the gate. Full Wing was midway over the gate when the middle boards snapped and he tumbled forward. Red Field could hear the snap echo down the empty street and Full Wing made a thud on the pavers underhoof.

Both Locked Breech and Wildcat looked back. They’d already pressed themselves against either side of the cafe door.

Locked Breech gave a hurried nod to Wildcat.

Wildcat knelt down before the lock and Red Field heard the sound of picks clinking into the lock. Full Wing started to apologize as he and Red Field crept toward the door.

They were bathed in yellow light. Above them, in a window above the café, someone turned on the light and the glow through the curtains illuminated the yard. Red Field and Full Wing crowded against the doorway directly beneath the window.

“We need to get in there Cat.” Said Locked Breech.

“Can’t even see what fucking kind of lock it is.” Wildcat said, jiggling the picks. “What kind of locks do they use in this country?”

“Dear?” Everypony froze. The voice of a female dog drifted out of the window. “Did you hear something outside?”

“Hang on.” Said a male voice. They heard the slinging noise of the curtains drawing, then the scrape of the window opening. The café had no awning and the ponies saw the grey underside of a muzzle as the dog looked out the window.

“Hey!” Said the muzzle.

“What is it?” Asked the female dog.

“Somebody just smashed the gate!” The male sounded more unhappy than angry.

“What? Who?”

“I don’t know, I can’t see anyone.” The muzzle turned as the dog surveyed everywhere but beneath him.

“Why would someone do that?” Asked the female.

“I don’t know, maybe it was an accident.” The dog pulled his muzzle in. “I’ll just go have a look.”

“Please, be careful.”

“I’ll be right back, you can watch over me the whole time.” A light came on in a stairwell behind the counter inside.

“Spread out, stay low.” Locked Breech said as he and Wildcat dove away from the door. Red Field and Full Wing dropped to the ground and wriggled their way under a pair of tables as bare paws padded across tile inside the café.
The door clicked and the picks popped out of the lock. Red Field felt the cool draft of air conditioning blow over him as he lay in the dust.

“See anything?” Asked the female dog from the window. The cafe owner stood in the doorway.

“No, looks like somebody just kicked the gate down.” He said. “I don’t understand why someone would do that.”

“Okay come back up.”

“Hang on Katia, I- ow!” The dog jumped back.

“Dear?!” Asked Katia.

“Ah, I just,” The dog lifted his paw and studied the lock pick protruding from his paw. “I think I stepped on a nail.”

Locked Breech rose so quickly even Red Field didn’t have time to react. In an instant, Locked Breech was inside the doorway. He shoved his hoof over the dog’s mouth and pulled him downward. Red Field saw the dog was a scant Scilicite and Locked Breech contained him with a single hoof. The dog’s paws clicked against the tile as Locked Breech pushed him back into the building.

“Dear?” Katia asked.

“Keep quiet, we just need you to answer some questions.” Locked Breech whispered. “We’re taking you somewhere, we don’t want to kill you.” Red Field rose and saw the dog’s face. The dog’s green eyes were wide and he looked from Locked Breech to Red Field. His eyes grew wider as he saw the other ponies hiding on the patio.

“Dear? Are you all right?” Asked the dog above them.

“Okay, let’s move.” Locked Breech pulled the café owner out of the door and Katia looked down as they rushed away from the building.

“Oh my God!” She cried. “Please stop!” Locked Breech pushed the café owner toward the broken gate.

“Cat we’re moving. Red, you and Full watch our backs.” Locked Breech said, kicking down the rest of the gate.

“On it.” Full Wing said, hopping the smashed gate.

“Stop!” Katia cried.

Katia was an equally small Scilicite. Her eyes were an icy blue and she wore a thin nightgown. She was leaned out the window, so far Red Field feared she might fall. Katia looked to her husband, but noticed Red Field’s stillness as the other ponies escaped the patio around him.

“Red! Come on!” Full Wing grabbed him and nearly pulled Red Field off of his hooves.

“We’ll bring him back!” She looked at Red Field. “I promise!” He said, and her mouth closed for an instant, as if he’d convinced her.

He looked back at her as he started to run after Locked Breech and Wildcat. She screamed again and Wildcat shouted for Red Field to move faster.

“We need a fast dustoff.” Locked Breech nearly dragged the café owner as he sprinted. “Double time!” Lights were starting to turn on in the buildings around them and barking began in every direction.

They rounded the corner into the alley.

“Blackout, fast exfil.” Locked Breech decked the canine and lobbed him over the front of the chariot. The dog yelped in terror as Blackout grabbed his shoulders and pulled him in. Full Wing scrambled over the nose of the chariot with one beat of his wings. He caught Red Field’s hoof and swung him up.

“Start you piece of shit.” Said Blackout. The chariot began to rumble as barking and snarls filled the street.

“They get too close, light them up.” Said Wildcat, aiming over the front of the chariot and down the alley. Red Field drew his sights for only an instant. The chariot jerked upward, filling the chasm between the buildings with dust. Bits of brick pelted Red Field as they ground against a wall. They cleared the alley and Locked Breech banked the chariot to the right. The chariot shot into the sky and the sounds of Geode’s inhabitants faded away.

Within a minute, the sounds of the still night returned as they glided over Mohs.

“So this guy runs a café?” Chesterfield asked. He knelt over the café owner, whose face was pressed to the floor of the chariot. The café owner hadn’t made a sound since they’d taken off. Chesterfield stood, allowing the dog to get up. The Scilicite glanced at the ponies around him.

“Y-yes.” Said the dog. “Please, what’s this about?”

“Get his arms.” Said Locked Breech.

“Please, you don’t need to restrain me.” The dog said. “I’m not going to do anything.”

“’Course you aren’t. These are for your protection.” Wildcat grabbed the dog’s arms and pushed him up against the side of the chariot. He slipped the plastic figure-eight around the dog’s wrists and the zip tie buzzed. “We usually think twice about beating somebody who’s tied up.”

“I can pay you four hundred a month, I’ve had the numbers worked out. No need for convincing.” Said the dog.

“We’re not here to extort you.” Said Locked Breech. “We just need to ask you some questions about your business and they’re important enough that we didn’t want to risk making a scene by dragging you out in broad daylight.”

“I-I would have gone with you without a problem if you’d asked.” The dog said. “We’ve only lived in Geode for a few months. I’m sorry, I know I missed at least one law or something when we set up the place.”

“We’re here to ask you some questions about your employees.” Said Locked Breech.

“My employees?”

“Can you answer a few questions about them?” Locked Breech asked.

“Yes, of course.” Said the dog with a quick nod.

“Sounds like this will be pretty straightforward then.” Said Chesterfield.

They landed at the base and led the dog toward their barracks. They’d only been gone forty minutes. The Gmales’ barracks was still quiet, and Blackout muttered a thanks to Luna for the spell.

They took the café owner to the basement. The blue of the peculiar lights rose up the stairs and as they rounded the last stairwell, Red Field saw Luna. She looked into the drawers of a chest. Nacht stood in the middle of the room doing nothing.

Luna glanced back at them

“Oh, so soon?” She asked. Red Field stared at the pliers Luna held. “No problems?”

“No.” Said Locked Breech. “We made a little noise but no one got hurt and he’s intact.”

“Good.” Luna said. “Nacht, please get our guest a chair.” Luna nodded to the dog. “Lambchop?”

“Y-yes.” Said the café owner. Nacht pulled a folding chair from between two chests. He opened it and set it directly over the drain in the center of the floor. The chair clattered as he set it down. The dog flinched and so did Red Field.

“Have a seat please.” Luna said. The dog didn’t move and Blackout pushed him toward the chair.

“He was very cooperative and it sounds like he’s fine with telling us about his employees.” Locked Breech said, looking at the pliers.

“Yes, that’s correct. I don’t have anything to hide.” Said Lambchop as he didn’t take a seat. Blackout pushed the dog’s arms over the back of the chair and sat him down. “I will tell you anything you want to know about my business.”

“Oh well, that is good to hear.” Said Luna. “Always nice to have cooperation.”

“He-” Began Locked Breech.

“Recon team, take the rest of the night off. We will pursue our next lead in the morning.” Said Luna.

The dog looked to his kidnappers in terror.

“Madam, if I may say.” Locked Breech said slowly, and with a pause to make sure he was speaking in turn. “He was entirely cooperative and we did not find reason to doubt the veracity about anything we asked him about on the flight back.” Luna’s smile grew a bit condescending as he spoke.

“Thank you, Captain Breech, for your service. I trust you will allow me to conduct my interview according to my wishes.”

“Yes madam.” Locked Breech pointed to the stairs. “Let’s get some rest team.” The rest of the ponies turned for the stairs. Red Field had to pull his gaze away from Lambchop. He finally looked away as his rear hoof bumped the bottom stair.

“Tell me, how many employees do you have?” Luna asked as Recon left.

“Three. I told your ponies I can pay four hundred a month.”

Red Field couldn’t sleep. He felt hot, and laid awake staring at the ceiling. He wasn’t sure what kept him awake; he could think of many possibilities. In half an hour, his teammates fell asleep and he laid alone amidst the snores and wheezing.

A few hours later, someone pounded against the front door to the barracks. Red Field had been drifting in and out of a pointless doze and he sat up immediately. The other ponies groaned and cursed as they rolled out of their beds.

“Somebody get that, just tell him to fuck off.” Locked Breech said tiredly.

“I got it.” Said Chesterfield. Red Field saw Chesterfield had been sitting at the table in the middle of the room. Before Chesterfield stood, the door under them opened.

“Yes?” Asked Luna.

“Gah!” Fo said. “Princess Pony!”

“You are?” Luna asked.

“What are you doing here, aren’t you dead?”

“I think you have me confused with somepony else.”

“Oh that’s right.” Fo said slowly. “You’re the night one.”

“I see the pieces are coming together. Is there something you need?”

“Yes.” Fo said. “I was looking for the pony soldier who was here earlier. You know we have an agreement.”

“I am aware of that. What do you need?” Luna said.

“I need him to help me protect a shipment of medical supplies coming down the mountain. It’s very important and I have been injured recently so I need his help.”

“The captain and his team are not available for joint operations.” Luna said. “I can lend you my personal assistant however.”

“I don’t need a personal assistant.” Fo said. “I need soldiers.”

“My assistant is a trained soldier and I can assure you he will perform-”

“I don’t want your secretary,” Said Fo, “I want you to follow your agreement.”

A few seconds passed before Luna spoke again.

“I will lend you my personal assistant for your duties, or I will revoke the agreement and bury you under a magical tree in a magical land where no one will ever find you.” Luna said.

“Do you know who I am?” Fo asked. “I’m someone you can’t scare off Princess.”

“I don’t care who you are, am powerful enough not to worry about the lives of a few aimless diamond dogs patrolling a quiet mountain, and have no need to dispense any more of my military to you. A better question might be, do you know who I am?”

“You can’t just come in here and just take away my little ponies.” Fo said. “The FFS command is going kick you out of this place for breaking our deal.”

“You’re willing to bet your posthumous honor on how much your government will care when they eventually find I’ve killed you for annoying their most powerful ally?” Quiet hoofsteps plodded to the front door. “This is Nacht, he is an experienced soldier and knows these mountains. He can do whatever you needed the UATs to do.”

“I guess he’ll do.” Said Fo after a moment.

“Good.” Luna said. “Where would you like him?”

“Just be by the front gate in half an hour.” Said Fo.

“He’ll be there.” Luna closed the door. Recon team heard Fo turn and walk away from the barracks; he was muttering to himself. “He needs protection for a load of drugs coming down the mountain. Just get it done, I can’t deal with a mess right now. Your duty with the Gmales ends in sixteen hours.”

“Yes madam.” Nacht said.

“I’ll go get the UATs, we might as well move forward on the next target while we’re free of that moron.”

“Do you need him removed?”

“No.” Luna said. “We’ll wait on that. Meet me back here when you’re done.”

The barracks went quiet. Luna’s hoofsteps grew closer and closer as she ascended the stairs and came down the hall toward their room.

“Recon team.” Luna knocked on the door before entering. Everypony yawned and acted as though they’d just awoken. “Sorry to awaken you, but our next target needs to be picked up before the workday.”

“No problem.” Locked Breech said. “We’re ready.”

“Excellent.” Said Luna. “Your target is a dog named Render. He runs a meat farm near the center of the mountain range. You’ll need to capture him before he enters the tunnels to oversee his day to day operations.”

“When does that happen?” Asked Blackout.

“About three hours from now.” Luna said. “The flight should take you half an hour.”

They had no chance of assembling a plan of kidnapping even an obscure businessdog in such a period of time.

“Of course, we’ll get it done.” Said Locked Breech. “You didn’t get any information from the café owner?”

“I’d rather not discuss what we think and do not think we have.” Luna said. “I’ll allow you to ready.” She said before exiting the room.

Recon looked to Locked Breech.

“Does she have any idea how long the prep takes?” Said Wildcat. “Is she serious?”

“She’s serious.” Said Blackout. “Ten to one she’s going to kill everybody in the barracks across from us before we head out.”

“Ten to one that’s a mare who wants us to do our jobs.” Locked Breech stretched his shoulders. “Everypony is working on the plan this time, let’s iron out the screwups we had with the last guy.”

Next Chapter: Chapter 25 Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 53 Minutes