We bounced down the road to Fallsholt, having dodged a few checkpoints along the way. Jack drove like she did everything else, with calculated precision. We’d been an item once upon a time, back when I was just a young Case Officer, I’d come over to Special Activities Division (as it was still called back then) to follow up with a Paramilitary team on one of my sources they’d run into, when I met Jack, what had followed was a whirlwind six-month romance, she’d pushed me to apply for a transfer to SAD from frontline NCS, I’d jumped at the chance to spend more time with her, and get in on the more hands-on aspect of the job, but with op-tempos being what they were, we’d called it quits. She was still a friend all the same.

“It really is good to see you, Jack, heard you tied the knot?”

“Yeah, about two years back, remember Will?”

“The analyst?”

She blushed, “Yeah, one day out of the blue, he asks me out to lunch. I thought, what the hell? Best decision I ever made.”

“That's amazing; Will is a great guy.”

“Yeah, he is. How about you? Any women in your life?”

“Yeah, actually, nothing serious yet, but there it is.”

She scoffed, “C’mon Zack, you forget I know you, You don’t know how to do casual.”

“Guilty, but a guy can try at least.”

“Well, she’s a lucky woman.”

Goddess I corrected in my head, and I’m the lucky one.

“Here we are.”

Fallsholt was a quiet town in the mountains, not too many Griffons called it home, a perfect place to hide if you needed. We parked the van under an awning next to the local watering hole.

“Come on; the Resistance is waiting,” Jack said, helping Sonia out of the back, with Merrick following close behind. Ed and Taz had been riding in the back for added security. John Russell or “Taz” Was a massively built ex MARSOC dude with an easy smile, cooked a hell of a steak on the grill, and had a wicked sense of humor. Ed Rouen was his exact opposite, quiet, almost reserved, but he’d spent ten years with DEVGRU in their Black Squadron, his unassuming demeanor masking a fierce intelligence, I wouldn’t fuck with him for money. We shook hands as they exited, “Boys.”

“Howdy Zack.”

“Hey, Zack.”

We walked into the bar, a crowd of rough-looking Griffons sat around a large table; they looked up as one when we entered. All eyes were on us, and Merrick, who shifted uneasily at the attention.

“Is this the heir?” One of the Griffons spoke, a nasty scar breaking up the lines of his face. “Have you found him at last?”

I stepped forward, “It is sir, this is Merrick Goldfeather, true heir to the Griffon Throne and your Emperor in exile.”

Chairs scraped the floor as the Griffons pushed them away, taking a knee almost in unison, “Your Majesty, “ They chorused.

Merrick smiled a nervous smile, but his voice was strong when he spoke, “Arise, my kinsmen, we have work to do. It is time to bring freedom back to these lands.”

I’m sure they heard the cheering in the Capitol.

The next few days were filled with planning; I was surprised when Jack told me that most of the Officers in the Griffon high command were loyal to the old government, keeping quiet and waiting for their moment to strike. So we had our “how,” now we needed the “when.” I was able to get word back to Frank using Rabbits radio; we would have air support if we needed it, F-35’s would sneak under the hastily erected radar grid and be at our beck and call. The night before the coup, we sat around the table, Jack, and I, going over the plan.

“I hope this works,” Jack whispered.

“It will Jackie; we’ve got the backing of half the Griffon Army, plus our guys. We managed to dig up the heir to the Throne for God’s sake.” I squeezed her arm, “We’re gonna end this today.”

“It’s gonna be a fucking short one if it doesn’t.”

“Well, then, we’ll give ‘em hell and die knowing we tried. I’m gonna go grab some shuteye, you gonna be okay?”

She smiled up at me as I stood, her green eyes shining in the dim light. “I’m thousands of miles from home, smack in the middle of a war between two races straight out of a fucking fantasy novel, I’m fantastic.”

I laughed all the way up the stairs.

When dawn broke it saw us piling into a couple of trucks, frothier we’d head to the capitol city if Griffonstone, we’d gotten word that loyalist forces were waiting at the city entrance, they’d get us inside, from there the loyalists would consolidate, and we’d march to the Imperial Palace. That was a lot of ground to cover. But I climbed into the cab, sliding an AK-47 behind the seat, a Glock-19 in a holster at the small of my back, it’d be like throwing a snowball at a freight-train if the shit started, but it made me feel better.

The drive was tense, Taz was riding shotgun, staring out the window at the frosty Griffon countryside.

“Is it gonna count if we get blown away on approach?”

I didn’t take my eyes off the winding mountain road as I answered him, “It will, we got this far, didn’t we?”

“Yeah, fuckin’ A we did, bro.” He settled into his seat, seemingly reassured.

I checked the side mirrors, making sure our little convoy was still in one piece. The rest of the drive passing in near silence, one more curve and the massive gates of Griffonstone stood about a mile out. I grabbed for the CB, “Alright guys, got about a mile to go, final approach starts now, get on the stick.”

“Roger,” Jack answered.

We kept rolling, waiting for the ambush, what we found was almost a full regiment of Griffons standing outside the gates, they looked mean as hell and ready for a fight, one of the Griffs, bearing a Colonel’s rank, motioned for me to kill the engine and get out. I hopped down from the truck as he approached.

“Colonel Andrus Redeye of the Seventh Regiment, we serve the heir and true Emperor.”

I breathed a sigh of relief, “Call me, Andrew, I work for the American Government, we have Merrick Goldfeather with us, are your soldiers ready to enter the city?”

He smiled grimly, “Human, I have been ready for five years to see these dogs driven from my country; let us begin.”

I nodded, before hopping back into the truck, “Well Taz, it appears we’re not dead yet.”

“Good start.” He chuckled.

The gates slowly opened, the Seventh Legion as our vanguard, we rolled into Griffonstone, even more, troops awaited us, I saw banners from all over the Griffon Army, after a few blocks we killed the engines, I grabbed my AK, looped a mask over my face and climbed out of the truck. Merrick came up from the middle vehicle, and every soldier saluted in almost perfect unison, it was a moving sight, to see the pride restored in their eyes. Merrick looked nervous but resolute, as he motioned them forward, commanders barking orders, there would be time for grand speeches later. We marched together, Rabbit and I shoulder to shoulder with Griffon troops, up the hill towards the palace, someone must’ve gotten the word out, because civvies were lining the streets before too long, cheering the triumphant return of their true ruler.

I kept my eyes on the rooftops, waiting for the shooting to start, but it never did, we marched right to the gates of the Palace, a company of Griffons stood between it and us, armbands marking them as Red sympathizers. We had the grand stare down, my grip tightening on my AK, thumb on the selector lever.

“You are traitors to the Red Griffon Collective! Supporting a known criminal! Disperse now!”

Colonel Redeye answered, “I would lay down your arms; the only traitors here are this that would take up with the same menace that has enslaved their kinsmen, lay down your arms, or die!”

Now guys were mumbling in the back, the sounds of dissent creeping closer, the Red captain looking like he was losing his nerve. I gently flipped my AK to “Fire” Ready for the struggle to kick off when Merrick’s voice rang across the square.

“Griffons! Let there be no more bloodshed between brothers and sisters today; we must wash away this criminal regime and renew the land we all love. I ask you in the name of my uncle, Marcus Goldfeather, to join with us against the true enemy!”

A long moment passed, a cold breeze whipping between the two groups, one of the Griffons on their side reached up and slowly untied his armband, letting it fall to the cobblestone street, “The true Emperor is right brothers! They have used our patriotism against us for too long, I say no more!”

More and more, Griffons tossed their armbands down with cries of assent, until only the Captain remained. His eyes sweeping the crowd, he clearly knew he was beaten, but made no move to relent. Redeye motioned two of his troops forward, they stripped him of his weapons, and he let them, before locking him in chains and leading him to the rear. The newly loyal Griffons opened the gates, and with a cheer, we marched into the Palace. More and more griffons from the garrison joining us.

The Emperor sat on his throne as we entered, loyalist troops fanned out, covering every exit. The Griffon looked us over with a steel gaze, “So you have finally come, Merrick Goldfeather?”

Merrick nodded, “I have, and come for you, Cassius Silverbeak, your tyranny ends today. I see your Russian benefactors have fled, for all their honeyed words while you people starved, they have abandoned you. Do you yield?”

Silverbeak just stared at Merrick, rising from the throne and walking slowly towards us, if his hand twitched toward that sword on his hip, I was gonna drop him like a bad habit. But a smile broke across his face. “I yield Goldfeather.” He drew his sword with his off-hand and laid it on the stone floor, bowing as two soldiers rushed forward, locking manacles around his wrists.

And with that click of metal, the war between Equestria and the Griffon Empire ended. The cheers echoed through the halls that had known only silence and fear for years, and it spilled out into the streets, the people of Griffonstone erupting into celebration as Merrick, adorned in his new crown, walked out onto the balcony overlooking the courtyard. I pulled Jack, Taz, and Ed into a group hug, laughing and cheering right along with them.

The next week was intense, Merrick’s first command as Emperor was to eject the Reds from his country and to disband any organizations loyal to the Russia-Sino Alliance, the next was to redistribute food from the Imperial stores to suffering cities around the Isles. NATO organized supply drops and built a hasty airfield outside the city, the whole thing rivaled the Berlin Airlift in sheer scope, C-5’s that would’ve ferried an invasion force only a few short weeks ago, now brought food by the ton, the Equestrian Navy got involved as well, bringing medical supplies, doctors and aid workers. Rabbit and I stayed on, helping Merrick any way we could, acting as a go-between until a real political infrastructure could be set up.

Once everyone had gotten the idea that the war was well and truly over, a formal peace process was initiated. Exactly one week from when we marched into the Palace, Merrick, Rabbit, and I, along with Sonia and Merrick’s security detail, were on an Air Force C-5 heading for Canterlot to sign a treaty that would secure the alliance between The Empire and Equestria.

I could barely believe it, I’d survived, all the insanity of this war, everything that had come before, and I’d come out breathing. I leaned back in my jump seat, Sonia softly snoring in my lap, this kid had lost everything, and now she was going to live. I gently ruffled her feathers, and she snorted in her sleep, pawing at my hand.

I made my mind up right there. I was going to get out. Once upon a time, all I’d wanted was a chance to get back in the fight, now all I wanted was to live the rest of my life with my family and Tia. It felt right, it felt perfect, and I’m sure wherever Scotty was, he’d be proud.

We touched down a few hours later. I wandered down the ramp with Rabbit.

“Andrew!”

I turned to see Merrick jogging after me, he closed the gap and stuck out his claw, “I haven’t gotten the chance to thank you for everything, but thank you, for rescuing me from myself and helping me save my country.”

I offered my hand, and we shook, “Merrick, it was an honor, you’ve always got friends close by if you need them.”

“And you as well, my friend. Take care.”

With a final smile, I turned and walked down the tarmac after Rabbit, ready for whatever came next.