"Captain Gore!" Claws Von Griffon shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Yes my lord?" Gore responded.

"Why are my troops being slaughtered by these 'COLTS' as you call them?" Von Griffon asked.

"Sir they are no mere ponies sir. They have been augmented like I have." Gore replied.

"Gore, I want those ponies dead!" Von Griffon growled as he smashed his claw down on his desk.

"I am sorry sir we are trying." Gore said.

"Well try harder, I want some new heads for my collection." Von Griffon ordered.

"Of course sir" Gore said as he walked out. He was determined to wipe the COLTS from existence, along with that cursed Soarin and Skullcrusher who got in his way. He chuckled as he thought of a brilliant diabolical plan to destroy the COLTS once and for all. Meanwhile in Ponyville, Autumn awoke to the smell of eggs and toast, his enhanced sense of smell allowed him to distinguish smells easily. He walked downstairs when he saw a little white filly staring at him.

"Uh hello." Autumn said to the filly. He figured this must be Sweetie Belle, Rarity's little sister. "You must be Sweetie Belle."

"Yeah! How did you know?" She asked as her voice cracked.

"Rarity mentioned you last night." Autumn said. Autumn figured good looks must run in the family, although he did not view Sweetie Belle in any perverted way he could tell she would be a very attractive mare just like her sister when she was older.

"So are you like dating Rarity or something?" Sweetie asked.

"Well no, your sister just let me spend the night while I'm stationed here." Autumn said.

"Oh okay." She said. "I never asked you your name."

"I'm Sergeant Autumn Leaf, Equestrian Marine Corps Fith Brigade, Rock Company, Platoon 'C'." Autumn said remembering not so say he was a COLT.

"What's your cutie mark?" Sweetie asked. Autumn took notice of her blank flank and knew why she asked.

"My cutie mark is a leaf, hence my name." Autumn explained to the filly.

"Sweetie Belle! There you are! Breakfast is ready." Rarity said as she entered the room and shuffled Sweetie into the kitchen. "Are you hungry?"

"Yeah kinda." Autumn said who was actually famished.

"Well with such a large muscular body like yours you must need to eat a lot." Rarity said making Autumn smile a bit, the three ponies sat down to eat. Rarity had made more than enough food to feed the three of them but did not count on Autumn's voracios appetite. Rarity and Sweetie Belle took little lady-like nibbles while Autumn inhaled his food. After breakfast it was time to take Sweetie Belle to school, this was her last day before the two week break for Hearths Warming Eve.

"I can take her to school if you like." Autumn said noticing a rather large order note for dresses that sat on Rarity's table.

"You don't have to do that." Rarity said nervously.

"I saw that large order of dresses you have to make. I won't mind taking her." Autumn said.

"Oh thanks again Autumn, you are quite the gentlecolt." Rarity said.

"No problem, come on Sweetie Belle." Autumn said as he escorted the filly to the Ponyville Schoolhouse where she met her friends and went to class.

"Thanks Mr. Autumn!" Sweetie shouted.

"Have a good day!" Autumn said as he walked away. He was heading back to Rarity's when a beeper went off on his hoof. He knew it meant he had to report to COLTS 0-1 asap. He broke out into a run and headed into the Everfree Forest. Nearby at Fluttershy's cottage, Silent Shadow was receiving the same call to COLTS 0-1. He headed out the door and took one last glance at Fluttershy who was still sleeping. He smiled as he silently snuck out of the cottage and into the forest. He soon ran into Autumn.

"Hey Shadow!" Autumn called as he ran next to him.

"Hi Autumn." Shadow replied.

"Do you know what's going on?" Autumn asked.

"No idea." Shadow responded. "By the way, we owe Solar Blitz fifty bits and Big Mac an apology."

"What do you mean-" Autumn said before realizing what Shadow meant. "No bucking way!"

"I saw Mac with Princess Luna last night, he wasn't making it up." Shadow said.

"Great! Blitz will never let us hear the end of this!" Autumn said as the two ponies arrived at COLTS 0-1. They could see hundreds of recruits frantically running and trying to obey the trainers orders. After going through waves of screaming trainers and sweating recruits. They arrived at the command center where colonel Striper was waiting.

"Glad to see you two got here so fast." Striper said. "We're still waiting on the other three so sit tight."

"Yes sir!" Autumn and Shadow said. In less than five minutes, Big Mac, Solar Blitz, and Deadeye all arrived.

"Now that you're all here, let's get to business!" Striper said as he pulled out an odd looking weapon of some sorts.

"Sir what is that?" Deadeye asked.

"This." Striper said picking up the weapon. "Is an automatic crossbow, it can fire arrows up to several hundred feet! It also had a twenty five round capacity per clip."

"Woah!" Blitz said as he picked it up and aimed it and fired three arrows at a nearby target and almost took off Deadeye's ear.

"Watch your aim you moron!" Deadeye yelled. "I assume there is more to this meeting than weapons testing." Deadeye said as he picked up the new weapon.

"You're right captain." Striper said. "Intel from air recon shows a training camp where the Steel Talons are being trained. If you can cripple the facility it would halt the Steel Talons attack."

"That might be a bit much even for five of us." Deadeye said. Even five COLTS would have trouble taking down a base FULL of Steel Talons.

"Which is why I'm calling in COLTS Alpha and Delta to assist you. Recoil, Earthshock, Waverunner, Duststorm, and Black Soul will be folded into your unit for this mission." Striper said.

"What about the others?" Deadeye asked.

"The other COLTS are currently occupied with guarding important locations and personnel." Striper said. "Stealth is vital on this mission! If you are compromised you are surrounded by supersoldiers as lethal as you are and you will be heavily outnumbered!"

"When do we deploy?" Big Mac asked.

"Twelve hours, we have to wait till it gets dark so get your gear ready and I advise taking those new crossbows." Striper said.

"Aye aye sir!" Deadeye said as the COLTS put on their armor and secured their weapons. Soon the other COLTS arrived at the base.

"Deadeye! How's it going?" Earthshock asked as he walked in.

"Earthshock." Deadeye said as he gave his old squadmate a quick hug.

"Sup uglies." Recoil said as he walked in. The three ponies said hello to each other as Waverunner, Duststorm, and Black Soul took automatic crossbows and headed to the war room.

"You'll be inserted five clicks away from the base on the water so you'll have to swim. After than you will sneak in through an old sewage line and gather as much intel as you can about the place. After that I want you to sabotage the furnace rooms and burn the whole place to the ground." Striper said. "Any questions?"

"What kind of numbers are we looking at?" Autumn asked.

"Well air recon says there may be atleast forty Steel Talons and hundreds of armed guards, not to mention Gore might be there aswell." Striper explained. "Get ready to move out! Operation Valkyrie is green to go"

"YES SIR!" The COLTS said as they headed towards the armory for extra arrows and armor. Striper looked sadly at the COLTS as he remembered what could happen to them. He especially was close to Deadeye and had not yet told Deadeye the truth of what happened to his parents. Deadeye had believed his parents died when he was born but this was far from the truth. It was hard for Striper to do what he did but he had no choice and it was for Deadeye's own sake. Striper had actually been part of a street gang when he was younger and had done many crimes including theft, robbery, and assault. He gang had been the rival of a griffon gang and the two gangs often fought with each other. When he learned he was going to be a father he disappeared for fear that his son would become a target by the griffon gang as an act of revenge. The plan worked but the mare he had married, Marigold, had died at childbirth leaving Deadeye an orphan.

"Make me proud an be safe my son." Striper said as he pulled out a picture of him, Marigold, and Deadeye when Deadeye was still a foal. Striper felt a tear roll down his eye as he felt a sense of pride in his only son's courage and dedication.

XXXXX

"Of course! Why did I not think of that before?" Von Griffon asked.

"You see my lord it is quite a brilliant plan." Gore said proud of his diabolical plan.

"You sure it will destroy the COLTS?" Von Griffon asked.

"Not only that. It will cripple the ponies military completely and we will defeat them!" Gore said.

"If this plan works, how does General Gore sound to you?" Von Griffon said. Gore's face lit up upon hearing this, he has dreamt of leading the griffon army for years now.

"I would be honored my lord, but it will take some time for this plan to come onto effect." Gore said.

"That is alright, as long as I know the COLTS will be exterminated I don't care how long it takes." Von Griffon said. "But why must this plan wait?"

"Because all of the COLTS must be away from any witnesses. Right now they are in cities and armies in view of the ponies." Gore explained.

"There will be a glorious feast if this works! Soon the ponies will be all ours!" Von Griffon said laughing. Gore smiled to himself for his plan, not only would the COLTS die, they would die hated by the very ones they protected.

XXXXX

Twelve hours later a stealth carriage flew deep inside griffon territory over a large lake. Ten ponies silently jumped out and fell hundreds of feet to the ground. The figures used the gliders on their armor to land in the cold water. They than began the miles of swimming to their target. It was a slow and arduous process due to multiple griffon patrols in the air and water but the ponies made their way to land. They slowly came onto land walking on their hind legs holding up an automatic crossbow. Each cartridge contained twenty-five arrows and each pony carried ten extra cartridges on their belts. The ponies black armor blended in with the darkness of the night making them practically invisible. The leader pony known as Deadeye whispered silently but the ponies enhanced hearing was able to pick up the silent voice.

"COLTS move out." Deadeye said as the ten ponies made their way to the base. Halfway there they encountered a patrol of five griffons. Five ponies aimed their crossbows at the griffons heads and waited for the order to fire.

"Drop em!" Recoil said as the five ponies fired arrows at the griffons heads which killed the beasts silently. The COLTS moved forward and hid the bodies behind bushes so no other griffons would find them and be compromised. After ten minutes of silent trekking, the COLTS arrived outside the base and headed around to find the sewage system they would enter through.

"Alright listen up, Big Mac, Solar Blitz, Waverunner, and Duststorm will come with me and search for the furnaces." Deadeye whispered. "Recoil, Earthshock, Black Soul, Silent Shadow, and Autumn Leaf will search for intel got it?"

"Who put you in charge Deadeye?" Recoil said laughing.

"Funny, now get moving before the grifs realize five of their boys went missing." Deadeye said as the ponies got into their groups. Earthshock and Big Mac used their strength to bend the bars of the sewer silently. After the ponies were inside they bent the bars back into place so it wouldn't look suspicious. Deadeye's group went to the right while the other group headed towards the left. After going through the sewers for a while they saw holes in the wall where they could see inside the base. Big Mac happened to see a griffon holding an automatic crossbow.

"No way! They got em too?" Big Mac thought to himself. He thought the crossbows were made by the ponies but he must have been wrong. They suddenly came into a large clearing where it was pitch black.

"I don't like this." Solar Blitz said as lights flashed on and hundreds of griffons came into the room.

"AMBUSH!" Deadeye screamed as the griffons fired volleys of arrows on the COLTS. The COLTS armor blocked most of the arrows except for an unfortunate Waverunner who was overwhelmed by the volume of fire and was hit in the eye with an arrow that pierced his skull and hit his brain killing instantly. The weakest part of the COLT armor was the two glass visors that covered the eye.

"COLT DOWN! COLT DOWN!" Duststorm yelled as Waverunner fell.

"RETURN FIRE!" Deadeye screamed as the ponies fired back at the griffons. After a fifteen minute arrowfight, the COLTS had killed hundreds of griffons but more were pouring in.

"Ah'm running out of arrows!" Big Mac screamed as he put his last cartridge in his crossbow.

"Hold em off! Just hold em off!" Deadeye ordered praying that the other COLTS would come help. Two minutes later all the arrows had been fired and the COLTS had use swords to fight now. Ten Steel Talons flew in and began attacking the ponies. Deadeye was the best trained soldier on both sides in the room so he killed two Steel Talons in minutes. Solar Blitz was using his speed to slash at the griffons body in an attempt to disable it and it was working until the griffon kicked Blitz causing the pony to fly forward into a wall. Big Mac saw this and ran to help but was tackled by a ST(A/N. I got tired of writing out Steel Talon so I'm using ST to refer to them now). Big Mac got up and went to punch the ST but the griffon caught his blow and kicked the pony in the gut. Big Mac pulled out his sword and began fence with the griffon, the fight was ending in a stalemate but the ST began to push Big Mac back due to the increasing amounts of griffon reinforcements. Duststorm was in a corner and was about to finish off a badly wounded ST.

"Take this grif-AHH!" Duststorm screamed as a sword impaled his stomach, the sword slid up nearly cutting the pony in half.

"NO!" Big Mac screamed as the griffon who killed Duststorm threw the dead pony to the ground.

"I thought you COLTS were supposed to be tough." The ponies recognized the voice as Captain Gore's.

"GORE!" Deadeye yelled.

"Time to finish you pests once and for all" Gore said as he gave the order to fire. All the griffons raised their weapons. The COLTS knew they were finished, even their bodies couldn't handle the hundreds of arrows about to be fired at them. The griffons who were about to fire suddenly fell down dead, Solar Blitz turned and was the other COLTS team shooting down the griffons.

"AH!" Gore screamed as an arrow hit him in the thigh causing him to back off. Soon the hundreds of griffons in the room were all dead.

"Lets go!" Earthshock said.

"BIG MAC! BLACK SOUL! GRAB THOSE TWO AND LET'S GO!" Deadeye ordered as Big Mac and Black Soul picked up the dead COLTS bodies. The ponies all sprinted for dear life out of the base. As they exited the facility, an arrow struck Deadeye in the eye.

"AHH!" Deadeye screamed as his vision in his left eye went dark and tumbled down a hill.

"CAPTAIN!" Autumn cried as he ran to help Deadeye.

"It'll heal! Keep moving!" Deadeye yelled as the ponies continued to run till the griffons stopped following them.

"How long till we get to the closest garrison?" Shadow asked.

"Eastern front, a days run at our speed." Recoil said.

"OW! These bucking grifs!" Deadeye said as he pulled the arrow out of his eye. Blood and pus spurted out of where his eye was punctured and it hurt like hell pulling that arrow out. It would take days for that injury to heal and for him to see again but it would eventually heal and that's all that mattered.

"They knew we were there." Big Mac thought. "HOW DID THEY KNOW WE WERE THERE!?"

"Deadeye, who did we lose?" Earthshock asked.

"Waverunner and Duststorm. I'm sorry friend." Deadeye said. Earthshock felt rage build up, Waverunner and Duststorm were both under his command and he had become close with both of them. His body began to quiver and his eyes shrunk to a small size as he felt himself losing control. He began to think abnormal violent thoughts towards everypony around him. He growled as the urge to kill and torture rose.

"Earthshock?" Recoil asked. Earthshock was about to lose himself before he snapped back to reality.

"Nothing!" Earthshock said as the ponies made their trek back to pony territory. Earthshock did not know what happened to him but he didn't like it.

"What was that about?" Black Soul asked with insult in his tone.

"Shut up Black Soul!" Recoil said. Recoil, in truth, did not like Black Soul at all, he was undisciplined, a smart-alec, and a plain heartless jerk. Overhead, Captain Gore watched the scene unfold.

"I almost had him snap and kill the others! Oh well after my plan is put into action they will all die anyway." Gore thought to himself as he flew away chuckling.

Woah woah woah! Colonel Striper is Deadeye's... dad? I didn't even see that coming and I'm the damn author! R&R