“Specialists”

STABLEGRAD, NEW MANEBASSA

UPSTAIRS BASEMENT attic OF BEATTLE JUICE BAR

To put things short, I, Lipizzaner-039, Blades-204, and High Hopes woke up in the restaurant’s attic, still finding no sign of Silverblitz and November Flare – for three days since they left to collect somepony named ‘Pan Cake’.  It was hard to put off my worries about November Flare.

Not wanting to risk getting spotted outside in New Manebassa’s streets, all us greenhorns could do was sit in the attic and wait for them, while High Hopes would leave for her shift in Beattlejuice Bar downstairs and then come back up when the day was ending, where we would play games and tell stories.

With the restaurant being closed today, High Hopes was fixing breakfast for the four of us.  Bored out of my wings, I decided to explain to her the classified info of the Greenhorn program to High Hopes. Most ponies would be horrified to learn of the program or they would have been skeptical to believe in such things.  High Hopes wasn’t like most ponies, so I wanted to see her reaction.

High Hopes laughed as she flipped the last of four omelets in a pan over a mini campfire stove. “This Doctor Sparkle must be more loco than me on forty-grams of coco, Destiny…I mean, really? Kidnapped when you were a filly? Apple pie as a reward for a race? Your new last name being Dash-One-One-Seven? And killer bunnies? Man, the galaxy has gotten crazier by the minute…”

“No, High Hopes….it’s all true, even the part where my friends died in augmentation…” I informed.  

Using the pan, High Hopes catapulted the omelet onto Blades’ floating plate. Lipizzaner started to set up the plates and knives, sprinkling salt and pepper on the omelet.

Okay, stop calling Destiny loco; maybe Shirley? Or how about ‘Boss’? Or Dash-one-one-seven? High Hopes thought.  

I’ll admit, I guess I did like the sound of being called boss.

High hopes then said “You sure are loco, too… but I believe don’t believe in all of that augmenting-thingy-part, because last night when we tried hoof wrestling each other I won every time.”

I then replied “Last night, I was going easy on you; I can’t exhort my full strength. Otherwise, any pony near me…tends to get hurt.”

I remembered Strikeout’s ODSSs I had fought three days ago; if it weren’t for two of their deaths, I could have recklessly broken High Hopes’ foreleg.  It was a trade of three lives for one but it seemed worth it.

“Which gets hurt more around you? The badies or the goodies?” High Hopes asked, as we walked to the table.

“The-”

“Or the neutrals who reside in such grey area of morality, their ways must not be questioned?” High Hopes interrupted.  My response was that I didn’t want to talk about it.  

Even when we started to eat, High Hopes kept asking questions like why Lipizzaner was an albino earth pony, and why Blades kept her aqua-green mane in a ponytail.

We all just bear with High Hope’s questions because she is so young.

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Once we were done with breakfast, we heard hoof steps coming up the stairs.  At first I thought it was November Flare and Silverblitz, only to remember that we were still in Insurrectionist territory. There was a chance it could be a patroller.

I then silently directed Blades and Lipizzaner to find cover behind boxes.  Having no weapons, I stanched crowbar and ducked behind a barrel with salmon inside

Lipizzaner then whispered “Where’s High Hopes?”

As the hoof steps came closer, I my eyes darted around the room.  High Hopes had once again mysteriously disappeared. But I could hear her thoughts briefly, as if she was behind me Yay! Let’s begin operation…after I find my things..

“How does she do that?” Blades wondered.

“Stay sharp, guys....” I ordered.

Three ponies entered the attic: an Insurrectionist earth pony soldier, with Silverblitz and November Flare in tow.  They all seemed surprisingly clam, as if expecting us to be here.

“Destiny? Destiny we’re back!” November Flare called out.  I still held my ground, not trusting the presence of an insurrectionist nearby.  But I’m sure this wasn’t a betrayal; It wasn’t like November Flare to turn his back on me.

“Silverblitz…you sure High Hopes is here, today?”  Asked the Innie soldier.

“Of course, Pan Cake…so were the other three….only I don’t understand why they aren’t here, now…”  Silverblitz wondered.

So this was Operative Pan Cake, still in his disguise I assumed.  I signaled for Lipizzaner and Blades to stay put, as I crawled out of cover, holding the crowbar in my mouth.

“Destiny, there you are!” November Flare cried out.

“Why do you have a crowbar in your mouth?” Silverblitz asked.

Dropping the crowbar in my mouth, I replied “I was little cautious of your friend here….” I waved my hoof at the innie soldier.

Silver cocked an eyebrow “Pan Cake? Don’t worry, junior chief petty officer…he’s just in disguise.”

In response, Pan Cake’s body glowed green and then it melted away to a twisted black body with insect wings, blue bug-like eyes, and a tiny horn.  In his true form, he flashed a smile at me with his fangs.

“So...Pan Cake is a changeling?” I asked.  I remember changelings as the invaders of Canterlot in 2ARL in that book I had loved when I was a filly.  Despite how much I despised their old actions, Mendez had dictated me to hold my personal feelings back if a ‘bad guy’ was going end up helping me.

Silverblitz explained, “Despite being run only by ponies, The Parliament of Naval Intel needed some better infiltrators. While not suited best for direct combat, changelings are perfect for going into innie territory, unless duty call’s me first.”

Pan Cake frowned. “Not even among the best of my kind uses our gifts so recklessly…” the changeling sighed.

November then cuts in “Where are the other girls?”

Blades and Lipizzaner came out slowly, relived to see their friends.  Lipizzaner waved shyly at Pan Cake, a little scared of Changeling’s frightening appearance.

“G’day mates.” Blades greeted.

November replied “Sure is one, Blades!  Not only we found Colonel Watts’s location; I was able to make something that could revolutionize medicine in the UNSCOE.”

When all November Flare got was silence – from our boredom of news about medicine -- he then said “Or….could it be considered a vital edge for us in this mission.” Then he shuffled though his pack to find it.

In his smiling mouth, November Flare presented to us some sort of a leather hexagonal pack with a red heart and the initials ‘M.M.M.’ on it.  We were still bored.

“The silence indicates we are not amused by your invention. Must I express this through rolling my eyes and saying ‘whatever’ rudely?” Silverblitz moaned, sarcastic

Geez…no pony has is interested in medicine these days… November thinks to himself. I kind of felt guilty because when I was younger, I always was interested in whatever he was tinkering, inventing, planning, or presenting.

So I force myself to clear my throat ask “Uh, what is it November?” From the official medical icon of a red heart on the pack, I assumed it was some kind of heath kit.

Finding that somepony was interested, November proudly (but not boastfully) expounded, “I call it a ‘Magical Mystery Medkit’; it instantly rejuvenates a wounded pony back into his or her healthiest state. All you just need to do is step on it.”

“That sounds somewhat interesting and helpful for frontlines assaults,” I noted. “Should we…do a demonstration?”

November shook his head “I wouldn’t recommend it, Destiny, I was only able to make three of these.  If my predictions are correct, Magical Mystery Medkits will completely disappear upon use, even If you aren’t that wounded. I advise caution on where you stepping, even if you have a paper cut.”

I smiled. “November, where do you make all these magical things? You always seemed to craft anything from everything…”

November simply said “I just make do with anything I’ve got. In this case, I used up some of the first aid kits and a few gems I bought along.”  From reading his thoughts again, I can see that he was happy not because of his work but because somepony still found his hobby interesting.

“I bet those two are family, are they not?” Pan Cake whispered, referring to me and November.  Blades and Lipizzaner nodded and explained to the changeling.

“Hey, as anypony seen High Hopes?” Silverblitz asked.

*BLAM* Chug-click!

We all duck behind cover…. And more confetti and steamers fly out toward us.  We saw High Hopes emerging from the darkness, holding her shotgun in her forehooves with a creepy skull mask dangling on a thread along her neck.

“Gunny and my skull mask just wanted to say hi! And we’re ready to join the operation! Whoo!” High Hopes squeaked, giving out her brightest freckled smile. She fire off another confetti round in happiness.

Silverblitz seemed confused. “Uh….High Hopes, I actually I need you to stay here; you are valuable asset by holding this attic for me as a safehouse and organizing necessary intelligence.”

Instead of descending into her depressed state, High Hopes shook her head. “No way, Blitzy I’m going with you! And Destiny is gonna make sure I get to go to Sigma Clopodia and meet Doctor Loco Sparkle!”

Silverblitz turned his head to me narrowing his eyebrows. Destiny, what did you do with my asset? He thought angrily.  This was the first time I saw the stallion in a negative mood.

I simply give a nervous smile before saying “What? It’s not fair that she has to live under innie control just for special operations.  She’s only a kid, Silverblitz. She can’t be herself under innie control…”

That didn’t sway Silverblitz. He replied, “And somehow you managed to keep your morals in the Greenhorn program! You don’t make the calls on my assets, 117.  That’s my job.”

High Hopes was still retaining her positive outlook when she hoofed to Silverblitz saying “I was ready if you were going to deny taking me with you.  Because if you don’t…”

Silverblitz scoffed “Then what? You’ll tell the innies you let into your attic five ponies from the UNSCOE? They’d execute you first.”

High hopes shook her head, still smiling. “Nope! I’ll post the adorable feelings you have for Luna on your Skipe page!”  She then pulled out a file, with large letters ‘top-top-secret’ stamped on the front.

“Wait….what?” I wondered aloud.  Princess Luna and Silverblitz?  This had to be joke.

High hopes then thinks They are going think this is joke.  Unless I show them part where Silverblitz and Luna are licking each other’s snouts…aww, it’s so cute when I think about it…wish I had a coltfriend…

Whoa…that was…unexpected…to float into my mind (I wished when this power came back that it had filters). Me, Blades, Lipizzaner and November flare just were paralyzed as Silverblitz panicked and Pan Cake grinned.

“WHAT?! How did you get that file? And you’re saying you have my account password?” Silverblitz yelled

High Hopes giggled “Oh, my audience doesn’t call me ‘The Shipmaster’ without a reason…I’ve got more files of this romance from your PONI colleagues. Also I’m an info broker…but I never was entirely your info broker. This is my proof.”  She waved the file in her hooves and nodded to Pan Cake.

Panicking, Silverblitz turned to the changeling. “You gave her those pictures and my password!?”

Pan Cake nodded gleefully saying, “It was good practice for a PONI operative…and High Hopes also has a full recording of you and Luna wooing each other.”

Desperate to save visuals of his secret relationship, Silverblitz used his magic to try to snatch the file away from High Hopes’s hooves.  

However, the little red pony was ready, for she raised her shotgun. *BLAM* Chug-click! When she fired it, a real-live shotgun round came out and struck Silverblitz’s horn releasing his magical grip.

Expecting confetti, bro? High Hopes taunted, giving out a harmless chuckle “I didn’t install a bottomless clip and multiple firing modes into gunny for nothing!”

“Shotguns don’t have clips; they have shells.” November Flare refuted.

“Here’s what I say to that: Shotguns shells and school bells make great sounds…but a bottomless clip, fired from the hip, holds my ground.” High Hopes sang.

Touché I, November Flare, Blades, and Lipizzaner thought at the same time.

Then, the High Hopes then gave a wide grin Silverblitz. “I’m just that good, Blitzly.  So you are going to take little me on your mission? Or do you want everypony, including Princess Celestia, to see you and Luna smooching?  The most merciful thing Celestia can do is imprison you in the place she banishes you…”

Seeing had he was defeated by his own resource, Silverblitz slowly turned white-hot, his face twisting and scrunching up. Then his mane erupted into fire as he screamed, “BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!”

I later I would come to know both Silverblitz and High Hopes always held surprises for us.

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NEW MANEBASA OCEAN

PHOENIX DROPSHIP

So that was how little red riding hood, or ‘the Shipmaster’, was on board our phoenix which was still carrying the cargo crate on its behind, headed to Watt’s fortress.  

As November Flare continued to glide the dropship smoothly over the sun setting sea, Silverblitz stood amongst us all, clad in a blue bullet-proof Recon vest.  The vest had huge white letting saying “P.O.N.I.” on the chest and the underlayer selves connected to two wrist guards.  Silverblitz donned the diamond-shaped helmet, his eyes displaying seriousness behind the thin green visor. Right where his horn stuck out were the letters ‘S.B.’

Silverblitz cleared his throat “Alright team…this is for the history books…we are going to-”

“- be led by you?” Blades cheekily asked, knowing that Silverblitz was going to say it.

All Silverblitz did was shrug his shoulders, still ready to horse around. “Pretty much…but we’re going into Bulb Watt’s vacation home. Let Pan Cake show you a visual of his fortress.”

Pan Cake got out of his seat and concentrated on bending the visible spectrum of magic with his crooked changeling horn.  Then he projected a three-dimensional hologram of the Fortress. Silverblitz went into detail to explaining the layout of the fort:

“It’s a floating island project.  The flat mainland, which is big as four neighborhoods combined, is sealed around a thick and towering wall.  Scaling above the walls is a tower, located in the center of the mainland – Watts is enjoying his leisure time on the top most level.  There is an airpad that extends from the small mainland by a bridge.  The phoenix will land here, and then at least team beta will attract attention away from team alpha.”

Silverblitz continued without taking a breath or becoming short of it the he started to describe the rest of his plan; half of us would somehow go underwater and infiltrate through some opening then we would make our way to Watts.  Meanwhile, team beta would be handing over the cargo and possibly securing a vehicle for a quick evacuation to the back to the phoenix, which was going to be readied by Pan Cake.

“Me as the pilot?” Pan Cake wondered. “Blitz, I can drive a warthog, but a phoenix? It’s been years since even I ran a simulation!”

“Too bad, Pan Cake – I need featherbrain, his head, and those Magical Mystery Medkits he made. You nearly got caught previous time, so the guards may be looking for a changeling.” Silverblitz said.  “High Hopes, Lipizzaner; can I trust you in charge of handling the cargo?”

Both ponies nodded eagerly.  Silverblitz told them “You’ll be presenting the cargo crate full of cigars and cookies.  Watts probably wants to get his hooves on these desperately now that the deliver for them is three days late…..”

An idea flowed into my head “Hey, Silverblitz? I’ve thought of something that allows us to be taken into Watts’ tower more easily…”

Silverblitz replied “Alight. Shoot.”

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NEW MANEBASSA OCEAN

COLONEL BLUB WATTS’ FORTRESS

When the fortress came into sight, Pan Cake (disguised as an insurrectionist pilot) swerved the Phoenix towards the air pad, where other air vehicles were stationed.

The fortress matched the exact picture that Pan Cake had projected to the team; the air pad extending out of a walled mainland, with a tall tower topped with the red insurrectionist flag in the center.  It looked like an industrialized version of an evil castle. He prayed to Chrysalis that he wouldn’t have to come back here again.

“Air pad control to Phoenix dropship, please state your ID and purpose here.” A voice over the intercom said.  It had a low and gruff growl…something that didn’t belong to a pony…

Having rehearsed what he should say, Pan Cake replied “Phoenix to air pad, this is Dropship Vector-359 and we’re here to give a late delivery to the Colonel - Apologies.”

“Air pad control to Phoenix dropship, you are clear to land on the airpad. Dock in lot 4 and wait for a supervisor to come by before exiting your vehicle, over.”

High Hopes and Lipizzaner quickly got on their anti-UNSCOE marine armor, just to look like soldiers. They practiced putting on serious faces and tried to stand straight as possible on their fours. High hopes persisted in taking her shotgun and wearing her skull mask.

As for me, Blades, Silverblitz and November Flare…we went along with my idea; the four of us hiding in the Cargo crate.  If Watts wanted his Cargo of cigars and to be delivered to him personally, it would probably end up in his quarters. If it didn’t, we would still be inside the base.  

The only down side to my plan was that it was cramped and lightless inside the cargo crate.

“I can't breathe!" November cried

"Ow, my pony tail! Who pulled it!?!” Blades whined

"Move your flank out of the way, Destiny!" Silverblitz hollered

"Me? What about you and your amour show off!? Why do you need it?" I blurted out in the dark.  

“That’s classified.” Silverblitz huffed. If only you knew about the helmet camera that records all my missions.  Apparently, those recordings aren’t for all eyes. And this suit carries all the things a recon operative needs.

“Oh,” I uttered, understanding what Silverblitz’s reasons were.  

“What?” Silverblitz wondered

“I mean…Oh, come on! It’s classified? That’s the best reason for you to come up with?” I replied back, trying to cover it up.  Then I realized that maybe I didn’t need to cover it up.

“Hey, Destiny? Where is my tactical visor?” November wondered pushing aside some cookies and cigars

“lock it down, lads!” Blades hissed “The Phoenix has landed!”

We all are silent all silent right there and then.  After few seconds, the crate suddenly jerks forward and was tossed on a steel surface.

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Lipizzaner and High Hopes stepped forward with cargo as a nervous Pan Cake consulted with dock manager. Lipizzaner was glad that Pan Cake was still able to retain his form as a pilot, despite being filled with anxiety about the mission.

The airpad was surrounded on all sides with water expect for a bridge that stretched into Watt’s fortress on one side.  On the other side, were a beautiful sunset and the endless ripples in the ocean of New Manebassa.

If one could see that wide smile behind High Hope’s skull mask, they would know she wished it could stay like that forever.

“Hey, Lipizzaner? Did you know I can stare at the sun infinitely?” High Hopes stated.

“Won’t your eyes get hurt and you’ll go blind?” Lipizzaner asked.

“Nope.”  High Hopes replied.

Turning around, Lipizzaner gasped at the scope of the fortress’s walls and the tower within; however not much artistic detail was present.  She snapped into a serious face as she saw a group of dog mercenaries strolling in her direction.

Don’t be scared…don’t be scared… she told herself.

The mercenaries that came up to her and High Hopes were all dogs in their earthy and stone colors. They seemed to have week legs but strong torso’s and arms.  They all had makeshift helmets and had red flags attached to their vests.  Their fully-automatic assault rifles had the safety off.

“Errr…little ponies! I see you have Cargo for master!” The first one greeted his head and paws hovering over Lipizzaner.

“Y-yes. Yes sir! This is for Colonel Blub Watts.” Lipizzaner stated.

“Hmm…you are late, white pony. Very, very late! Why? You make master angry!” The dog growled.

“Why should that matter, Mr. Mercenary? Now that the cargo is here Watts can have all the cigars and cookies, he can much on for an eternity!” High Hopes replied, patting the cargo box.  She looked rather silly to the dog mercs having her skull mask and rusty shotgun by her side.

“Little skull pony says cargo in box. We make sure that its only cargo!” The dog hissed and shoved High Hopes and Lipizzaner out of the way.

The dog pulled out some sort of device that looked like a cross between a laser gun and a video camera, saying “We no want bombs…or spies…or pranks! Master hates pranks!” The dog said.

Lipizzaner sweated, knowing that if that that device, which was likely a scanner, picked up their friends, the mission was going to be busted quickly without getting past Watt’s walls.

High Hopes quickly interjected random a saying, hoping it would buy time. “Hey, Mister! Can you ‘Frog-blast’ a vent core!?”

“Huh?” the Dog wondered.

“What are you doing?” Lipizzaner whispered. What the hay did ‘frog-blasting’ meant?

“I’m doing something, at least!” High Hopes refuted silently before turning back to the dog. “The cake is a prank. Your life is life. Your mama-”

“Huh? Little skull pony is speaking no sense! No cake in box, only cargo!” The dog snarled, ready to scan the box again.

Lipizzaner’s heart stop and the dog’s scanned the cargo from top to bottom. And again, and again…But no signs of detection.

The dog turned to his mercenary comrades “Grrr…this cargo is no prank. Cargo has no spy or bomb! Or no cake! Take it to master Watts, now!”

Two dogs mercs got on either side of the crate and lifted it up, marching across the bridge into the fortress.

Lipizzaner was relived but she wondered how her team was able to avoid detection in the crate. Then she remembered she had other things to do as part of the mission – they had to secure a vehicle for quick departure. She would let Destiny’s team handle things on their end.

“Uh, excuse me mister…” Lipizzaner asked the diamond dog with the scanner.

“Dog - Call me dog, little pony!” The dog replied.

“Okay…but I was wondering if…uh…” Lipizzaner wasn’t quite sure how to say she wanted to get inside of the base.

Luckily High Hopes came along “Oh, we’re just wondering if we could get a tour of the colonel’s grand fortress, while our amigo pilot rests here…unless you aren’t a handsome or smart enough dog…” High Hopes said, batting her eyelashes.

The dog was apparently dumb enough to be swayed easily by the sweet talk. “Yes…yes…little skull pony and little white pony shall come! I, smartly-handsome dog, shall give tour!  But pilot pony must come too! No stay alone on air pad!”

---

The dog started to lead High Hopes, Lipizzaner, and Pan Cake into the fortress.  Apparently the area between the surrounding wall and the central tower was barren of any buildings; just some vehicles and hundreds of thousands dogs marching about.

Lipizzaner could see the cargo crate with Destiny’s team inside heading into the tower.  However the mercenary dog that was leading them was taking them in a separate direction, towards the inside of the wall.

“How are we going to dust off now?” High Hopes wondered.  If nopony was at their phoenix, immediate extraction was impossible.

Pan Cake replied.  “On my recon, I found out that Watts has a private hanger. There he keeps an emergency aircraft.  It’s not only fast – it’s devastating.”

“Excuse me…but how are you good at collecting all this information?” Lipizzaner asked.

Still in his pony pilot disguise, Pan Cake’s eyes flashed green. “I’m a changeling, remember? How great infiltrators were they in 2 ARL?”

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INSIDE WATT’S TOWER

BOTTOMMOST LEVEL

When I woke up still inside of the Cargo Crate, I asked what the hay just happen.  

Turing on his suits flashlight, Silverblitz told me he was able to cast a spell that temporarily ceased our pulses.  I could also see Blades and November also starting to wake up.

“It takes a lot of energy; PONI operatives do it to shut up anypony that could give away their position, without killing them.  In rare cases where the operative himself has to drop dead, these A-grade recon suits-” Silverblitz patted his armor “-cast the same spell on him.”

“Like in case somepony is scanning for infiltrators?” I asked.

“That’s right…now, how do we know if it’s safe to open this hatch? And where did they toss this box?” Silverblitz grunted.

“Leave that to me,” November shuffled a popped up from the stash of cookies and cigars his ionic, modified, but unusual-looking ‘tactical visor’.

-

LORE:

The tactical visor was a prototype UNSCOE helmet’s microphone, earpiece, and left-eye visor taken out and then reconnected. November had modified it to have different vision-modes, like X-ray, Night Vision, and thermal. It also includes a motion tracker, which Silverblitz’s recon helmet lacks

-

Switching his visor mode between thermal and x-ray mode November reported “We’re in some kind of a warehouse…and there are at least five guards here…two at an elevator. They all are dog mercenaries.”

“Dog mercenaries? Why not ponies?” Blades wondered.

“Dogs aren’t bright but they are stronger that ponies. That’s what the colonel was looking for when he was choosing his guard.” Silverblitz replied, popping open the box’s top hatch.

All four of us crawled out and were met with an eerie silence. Crates upon creates were stacked on top of each other in the formation of a dark maze.

Silverblitz pushed a nearby weapons crate forward. I took a sniper rifle, Blades decided to levitate a fully-automatic assault rifle, November was handed a 3-round-burst battle rifle.  Silverblitz already had his suppressed pistol out.

“Remember…stay quiet and let me do the shooting.” Silverblitz warned.

“Because of the suppressor on your gun?” I pointed out.

“That and because I’m in charge.” Silverblitz winked behind his lime-green visor.

----------------

Instead of shooting, we spent most of the time in the warehouse watching Silverblitz magically cloak himself invisible and backstab three out of five patrolling dog guards.  It looked too easy.  To help cover up our tracks, Blades used her own magic to levitate the Dog’s corpses into an empty crate.

“There…now all that leaves is the guards at the elevator…” Blades stated.  All four of us clawed our way to an intersection, with one way leading up to an elevator doors and the two dogs guarding it.

SIiverblitz tossed me and November clean combat knifes. “I want to see you have a try at it, chief petty officer. And you too, featherbrain.”

“Sure thing,” November replied.

“Hay yeah…” I replied eagerly.

Silverblitz used his magic to cloak both of me and November and our weapons.  However, when you’re invisible, it’s hard to know where you are standing.  I almost tripped and wasn’t sure at first which way I holding the knife in my mouth.

Invisible, we crept around a corner in front the guards.  To attract their attention and move them away from the elevator, November knocked down a pile of boxes nearby.  Seeing mess was made, one of the dogs barked an order to his comrade go over and to clean up the mess.

Just as the dog was going to pick up the crate, November Flare shoved the dog down by one knee, and then stabbed him in the throat, instantly.

The other dog was frightened, now that his friend seemed to have died out of thin air and he fired his assault rifle at November’s position, barking loudly. Still invisible, November dodged the bullets a he last second. The lone dog began to proceed cautiously forward.

Holding a knife in my mouth, I crept behind the dog. Then my knife plunged into its neck, and got stuck there.  Worse of all it didn’t kill the diamond dog; it just set him off screaming and firing his assault rife in random directions.  

Now in fear, I flew up to the warehouse ceiling but a bullet went into my blackleg.  I yelped in pain, but the dog’s hollowing was louder.

Fortunately, Blades teleported behind the dog and used her augmented strength to snap its neck.

Silverblitz uncloaked me and November Flare, sternly saying “Everypony to the elevator! Some dog mercs upstairs were bound to have heard those gunshots.”

As all four of us stripped the guards of ammo, we dashed (I limped) into the elevator. Silverblitz thinks Note to self; never give Destiny a chance to assassinate

I would’ve dwelt over how I could have taken down the dog in a better fashion but now I had to keep my mind straight. The primary objective was capturing Watts.

As November wrapped a bandage around my leg wound, Silverblitz pressed the button for top level and away we went.

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WATT’S FORTRESS, CENTRAL TOWER, TOP LEVEL

Watts had one level all to himself. It was huge enough to build a house inside of and was surrounded by mega-large windows.  The level itself was so high, that the only horizon line of the ocean and the sunset could be seen, and the walls of his fortress below were cropped out of the window view.

The interior of the room held many tall statues, exotic artworks, a small bar in the corner, a sealed up jacuzzi imbedded within the floor, and a king sized hay bed where Bulb Watts snored heavily.

We all saw that the level was full of luxurious attractions. But Colonel Bulb Watts himself was an old earth pony stallion who was snoring heavy with an unshaved mouth and a cutie mark of light bulb.  He even slept with his innie beret on.

“Any idea on how we should…take him in without waking him up?” Blades wondered.

All of sudden, Watts stirred and began uttering “Huh…Night Roamer…not now…five minutes please…”  We all stopped dead in our tracks and held our breath until Watts continued snoring.

Silverblitz grinned as he began casting the pulse-ceasing spell “Stand back, ponies. It’s time to put Watts into a real sleep…”

After the spell was cast, Watts stopped snoring.  November checked his pulse to make sure it was truly gone…well, for now.   Then we began to ask ourselves how we were going to carry him with us unnoticed.

As for me, I breathed a long breath and wiped sweat away from my forehead. We were all seeing that this operation against the innies was going well; four UNSCOE PONIES made it into Watts’s quarters and were ready to kidnap him.

Right then, alarms rang on the walls and sirens painted the room in red. Over the loud speakers a gruff voice shouted. “ALERT! GUARDS FOUND DEAD IN BASEMENT!  NERBY UNITS, PROTECT MASTER! OTHER UNITS FIND THOSE LITTLE PONIES!”

….I HATE IT when I speak too soon.

“Damn! We’re in tight pickle now!” Blades screamed, floating her assault rifle.

Meanwhile, Watts had begun to stir within on his bed until he was standing up right. It took him a few moments to realize what was happening. In his aging colonel voice he stuttered, “Huh? What? Fellow rebels, are we under attack? Wait…Are you rebels?”

Uh...oh…wrong spell… Silverblitz realized. He covered up the part of his chest plate that read ‘PONI’. He tried to back away from the colonel without looking worried.

“Uh…yeah….” I said, trying to come up with false story “We just came to try to evacuate you silently; there are ponies loose in this place trying to kill you. We’re…uh…”

“Special forces; for your safety, you ought to come with us, colonel.” Blades finished. He’s quite a simpleton for a colonel… she thought.

Watts looked dumbfounded, but he jumped out of bed “How did these sneaky ponies you speak of get past my guard dogs? And where is Night Roamer? She would be with you special forces if you came to evacuate me.”

“Who?” November Flare asked.

“Uh…Guys.” Silverblitz whispered, gesturing to the elevator doors.  Beside them, the vertical line of buttons lit up as the elevator itself was coming up.

Beside me, November glanced at the motion tracker his tactical visor. “I’m reading over ten Dog mercenaries in elevator coming up.”

Behind both of us, Colonel Bulb Watts inquired, “Well than what’s to worry about my guards coming up here? Their just checking that I’m safe, which I am…right?”

When we didn’t answer the Colonel questioned “You ponies are special forces, right?’

Before anyone could give him an explanation, I took out my sniper rifle and swung it lightly at Watt’s head.  The stallion’s beret went flying and landed on one of many statues, while the colonel himself went down.

I checked to make sure he was just knocked out cold – thank Celestia that there was only a broken nose and his pulse was still going. However everypony did see it was a risky move to silence to him, though they didn’t say it aloud.

What was she thinking? Her augmentations could’ve killed him.  Aw well; at least they didn’t… November Flare thought.

To halt the dogs in the elevator coming up, Blades magically forced the elevator doors open.  Then, Silverblitz took one of his knives and threw in at the elevator cable, swiftly cutting it and causing the elevator to plummet downwards. After few moments, a loud crash at the bottom of the dark shaft signaled that it was safe.

“Next time, I want to be the next to have a go with one of your blades.” Blades said.

Silverblitz nodded, “Deal…Somepony contact High Hopes’ team…”

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ELSEWHERE, WATTS FORTRESS

After Pan Cake was able to dispose of their dog escort, his had to stops at sealed exits to either hack the lock or kill guards.

Lipizzaner was a little shocked, but she never hesitated to shoot for her safety. As for high hopes….she was happy covering the enemies in gum and confetti.

As Pan Cake was working on the last lock to Watt’s private hanger, his wrist communicator broke his concentration. Frustrated, he answered it.

“Yes, Blitz?” the changeling moaned.

“Pan! We need evac now!”

“I noticed - the alarms went off outside. How are you holding up?”

“Watts is…taken care of, but the enemy knows where we are now. And…the elevator’s busted. Where’s that evac? Where is Hopes and that other greenhorn?”

Pan Cake rolled his eyes. “I had to tag along with them; we’re safe and sound as long as dogs keep coming to you position.  Just keep holding it; I’m breaking into Watt’s hanger.”

Make it fast, Changeling! Waiting for failure isn’t….OH HORSEAPPLES, INCOMING!

Pan Cake could hear the sound of several pieces of glass shattering and the sound of several huge explosions.  “Blitz? What the heck just happened? Blitz?”

Silverblitz coughed on the other end “Apparently…the dog guards outside are aiming rocket launchers at our level of the tower.  It looks like they want to try to coax us out.”

Hovering next to Pan Cake, Lipizzaner seemed worried listing intently to every word.  Pan Cake then simply replied “Don’t worry….just hold your position, out.”

“Yeah….don’t worry about the rockets…or the tower possibly collapsing” Silverblitz sarcastically breathed before another explosion ended their communication.

“Are my friends, alright?” Lipizzaner wondered.

“They won’t be if I can’t get this lock to open!” Pan Cake hissed fiercely. Then just gave up. “Dammit! You would need a specific pass card to get through this door.”

“Like this one?” High Hopes chirped, waved in front of Pan Cake’s eyes a pass card.

Pan Cake was surprised “How did you get this…”

Behind her skull mask, the young High Hopes beamed “Being a really young info broker, I do a lot of things that other ponies don’t think I do…”

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TOWER TOP LEVEL

*Krapow!* Went my sniper rifle from the top level, from the shatter observation window.  Beside me, November acted as my spotter, with targets being highlighted on his visor. Luckily for us the dogs weren’t as great with long-range accuracy as they were with brute strength.

The piercing sniper round that I had fired landed a headshot on a dog with a rocket.  When I reloaded my heart briefly stopped, seeing how far down it was from the top level of the tower to the base.

“Two down, eighteen to go!” November reported, pointing to the other rocket-wielding guards briefly.  I reloaded my sniper rifle and kept raining down death upon then. Thanks to augmentations even my accuracy was unparalleled. After a while, the 3-burst sound of November’s battle rifle also joins the choir of my sniper-fire and rocket exploding around us.

--

The dogs saw that they couldn’t keep sending out troops with rocket launchers to get snipped by me and November.  Even if it weren’t for us, they could, they were risking bringing down the tower with their rockets, thus killing Watts in the process.  And even if Watts was possibly dead, bringing down the tower would kill most of the dogs around it. So they started to retreated back into the fortress walls, trying to formulate another plan.

As I reloaded, November Flare contacted Pan Cakes via a microphone close to his tactical visor “Team beta…the guards have retreated back into the walls.  However, they may be closer to you position now more than ever.”

“Noted – we’re in the private hanger and have secured transport. It’s going to take some time to start the Vulture up but my team will get on it. Over.”Pan Cake responded

“November what’s a Vulture?” I asked.  Being a pilot, November knew every single thing in the UNSCOE fleet that could fly off the ground.

“Oh, it’s a prototype six-pony gunship...” November began but Blades called us over

“Oi, mates! Something is coming up from the lift shaft.”  Blades noted, hearing a faint clanging coming from within the closed elevator shaft.

“I’m pretty sure we already took care of that, Blades.” Silverblitz snorted.  But he still hefted his suppressed pistol at the elevator doors. Blades levitated her assault rifle, and November and I did the same with our guns.

Without a warning the doors went flying from a sudden explosion within the shaft. Silverblitz teleported out of the way, as Blades magically halted the incoming doors.

Striding slowly out of the smoking elevator shaft was a black earth pony with a crimson and blonde mane, red eyes.  And trailing behind her were other dog guards…and all of them were pissed off.

The black pony had an entirely robotic left leg.  Wrapped around her other hoof was device with a barrel and small cans around it marked with ‘FOR M7057 FLAMETHROWERS ONLY’ labels. Her red skull cutie mark was oddly familiar…

“You….” I hissed at the black pony “It’s you! You're...that pony…” I was speechless, for this pony was the same mare who ordered the death of my brother twelve years ago on this world.

“My name is Lieutenant Night Roamer…veteran rebel, earner of over 200 medals…and currently, Heroine of New Manebassa.” The black pony introduced herself.

November Flare growled “So you were the one who broadcasted the invasion over our network and ordered-”

“My big-brother-best-buddy-for-eternity’s death!” I screamed. Then I realized what I just referred to Cogneto by his old nickname, because now everypony felt like laughing at me, except for November who felt sorry.

Silverblitz seemed confused Wait…what are a we talking about now?

Blades tried to hold in her laughter Big-brother-who-now?

Felling embarrassed, I turn my attention away from my friends and then back to Night Roamer, who chuckled darkly “Well, little pony…if its revenge you searched, then its revenge you shall get.”

Night Roamer gave a sharp whistle, sending more guard dogs, all armed with assault rifles, to come crawling up the shaft.  With her robotic hand, she pulled out a magnum from behind.

“Weapons Free!” Silverblitz chanted.