“Rookie”

November Flare was always there for me, just like old times.  And now I was thrilled that he decided to become part of my squad, Indigo Team.  Because both of our coats had almost the same hue of yellow, we had to lie to others, excluding our superiors and a few close friends, that we were just friends, not family; other ponies would probably be jealous that they were still separated from their kin.

November said that he was contacted into the GREENHORN-II program because of how he saved the fleet in an attempt at retaking New Manebassa. I asked if Raysin knew that he or I was here. I’m glad to find out she wasn’t because if she did, she would freak out and then start ripping her hair out and crying for me….whatever…

Ponies at the complex, trainees, instructors, and guards, would  come to read all my favorite books November bought me, such as The Twenty Old Epics, Colony of Embers, Pony Jack and the Thunder Thief, and an entire set of Daring Doo’s Exploits.  It was my fellow trainees’ only link to outside of complex, without being within a designated location for training (like Ghastly Gulch).  

Even the cranky and stern Mendez didn’t mind November Flare bringing books, but only after he found a copy of All Silent on the Forest Front. Ironically, November wasn’t too fond of that book.

One day, we heard that Lyra had to shut down due to rampancy occurring at the end of her ‘life-span’, like the Discord A.I.  I tried my best to remember that lesson she taught us about the Greenhorns on day one, yet I try so hard, only a little of it comes to mind

I don’t want to talk about my mind reading powers. So far, keeping the secret is easy, but the power it holds is out of my control at times. I didn’t even tell November Flare that it returned. I wanted him to see me as a normal Junior Chief Petty Officer (JCPO).

Oh, I forgot to add that all greenhorns are now promoted to the rank of JCPO, one rank before Mendez. I thought that was interesting.

-----

WEEKS LATER

ABOARD THE FRIGATE The Justice

I can be considered a really young adult, even though I’m smarter and stronger than one.  I’m fit to wield a gun, infiltrate an outpost, or decipher intel like a spec-ops stallion.

Mendez had picked the surviving members of Team Indigo to get involved in a PONI Operation against the insurrectionists on New Manebassa. After years, I and November knew we were going to start avenging Cogneto and New Manebassa’s population today.

As November Flare was on the bridge speaking with officers, Blades and Lipizzaner decided explore the ship, while I kept to myself in the gym.  There was nopony around to have their minds read…it was nice and quiet.  Just like the country side of Ponyville.

Yet even will all the treadmills, the barbells, and various other machines around, it was hard to keep testing my strength. Bored, I just sat on a bench, pulling a dumbbell up and down.  To make a challenge for myself, I picked one that weighed a lot (I didn’t bother to look at the number), but even then, it didn’t feel like it was a challenge enough.

There was a huge observation window in the gym showing me the star shining in space.  I always wondered why Mudd Slinger would ask me what was out there. It was just us; no alien life forms were encountered on any colonized world. It always seemed as if was just the Equestrian species living in the Milky Way.  It was too strange…surely there was something out there we haven’t found yet.  But to the UNSCOE, everypony and everyone was settling on the final frontier, acting as if this was the dead end and resting point.  

Ironically, there are actually no dead ends in space; only endless directions.

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

SOME YEARS AGO

STARGAZING WITH MUDD SLINGER IN THE FIELDS OF CASTLE COMPLEX

“Mudd? Why is your cutie mark a flower?”

“It’s because….wait, you don’t think it’s a girly thing do you, Destiny?”

“No…I think it looks cute…”

“Oh…okay…”

“I see you blushing, Mudd!”

“No, I’m not”

“Yes, you are!”

“No, I’m not!”

“Admit it, you like me saying your cute! Ooooh, you like me.”

“Destiny, please stop...”

“Buy me a ring…then ask me that again.”

“STOP IT!!!”

“Hey, calm down. I was just joking with you.”

“Right…sorry, Destiny….I’m still tense after that simulation with those auto turrets and flamethrowers. Mendez always knows how to drill the word ‘danger’ into our heads. I love you as friend…but, not a coltfriend…”

“It’s okay. Anyways, what does your cutie mark mean?  And why white flower?”

“First off, I earned after my mom told me a secret…”

“A bad secret?”

“No….It’s just that….I can’t tell you. The secret, I mean…any of it.  My mom said so.”

“What was your mom like?”

“…”

“Mudd?”

“My Mommy was beautiful, but….she had no friends except for this stallion that came by every two weeks…and she seemed too busy for me until I did something that got her attention. And then I got my cutie mark.”

“…Oh….Do you miss your mom? I never saw mine; she died in an air wagon accident”

“….I….I don’t know if I miss her; sometimes…I feel that she’s here….but I don’t feel that she….would treat me like your mom would. I still love her….but I don’t know if I miss her”

“What was here name?”

“….that was part of the secret, Destiny.  That’s what white flowers mean; secrets and relationships. And That’s what my cutie mark means.”

“Well that answer my question… but before I go, can I have some of your energy bars?”

“Actually, I saved two for you.”

“See, you do like me, Muddie!”

“Heh…Shut up and eat, Destiny…”

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

“Alight guys…here we are.” announced a male voice from entrance of the gym.  Form his tone it seemed as if he was on the morning after a shore leave.

Coming out of my fillyhood memories, I twist around and witness three ponies, one a pegasus and two earth ponies.

Their names had been tattooed on their on their necks in jet black ink.  The two earth ponies were known as “Shank” and “Flake”. The dark purple pegasus, who seemed to be the leader of the group, had his name, “Strikeout”, underneath another tattoo of a flaming pony skull.

Judging by the other tattoos on their muscular bodies, one could easily identify them as Orbital Drop Shock Steeds, or Hellprancers, out of uniform.

As they assumed themselves to the barbells and weights, they didn’t bother to notice me, which I was glad for; most Hellprancers/ODSSs had gung-ho personalities and were stereotypically displayed as reckless. I know that they probably aren’t all like that, but it’s not worth finding out what kind these were.

“Hey…where’s the other dumbbell that weighs one-eighty?” One of them asked in a droopy voice. I still don’t turn my head around, pretending not to pay attention. I realize then I was probably holding what he was looking for; my dumbbell had the number ‘180’ on it.

“Ask her, Shank.” Another one replied, likely pointing at me. Sweat begins to trickle down, for I didn’t know how they would react to mare like me…

“C’mon, Flakes…Me? You should. You have that thing with mares.” Shank replied

“Dude, look at her. I’ll bet you ten credits she’s probably a civie.” Flakes stated, thinking Military mares are so hard to flirt with; they think it’s an assignment their going to fail at.

“Nuh-uh, Flakes…I’ll talk to her.” A third voice replied.

“Be my guest, Strikeout.” Flakes replied.

Now I start to hear one of their thoughts, most likely from the one they called Strikeout’s: ….Well, she's new…

Instantly I get off of the bench and place the barbell on it.  I can see an exit directly in front of me. If I could just walk out without detection…

“Well, hello there…” Strikeout casually greets.

Bucking Heck; I should have left the gym sooner. I really didn't want to make friends now and answer queations about myself.  Without looking at them, I simply reply “Hi…” as begin to trot to the exit on my fours.

“Where yah going?” one of them asks, most likely Flakes. I turn my head, finding that his cutie mark is of corn flakes.  Shank’s cutie mark was of some barbell, and Strikeout’s was a baseball.

Dat Cutie Mark… I hear Flakes’ thoughts and now I feel more…’offended’ that he is starting at my thigh were my mark of a paintbrush is.

Being a pegasus, Strikeout zipped past me to block the main entrance. He extended his wings so I couldn’t get around him. His purple snout leaned into my face, for he seemed to have never seen mare so young or pretty in years.

“Well, well, well….Yah new here, rookie?” Strikeout wondered.

I transform my face in a stern look, much to his dissatisfaction. I lied, “No….I‘ve been on this ship for a few days. I now have to report to my officer-”

Strikeout scoffed, having no intention of letting pass me for whatever reason. “Officers? Hah! You're just being a coward, Rookie! If you can't even hold a conversion, you probably can't even defend a position!"

I began to hear more thoughts from him as his forces me back into the gym: She looks too short to be a sergant but too strong to be a recuirt...only what kind of pony is this?

“That’s Chief Petty Officer to you.” I snapped at Strikeout, giving out my rank. “Now I must get going.”

“Right now, you little cute pony?” Snarled Flake, who was then slapped in the face by Shank.

“Flake, quit the firlting...I want to see how gutsy this rookie is...." ordered Shank.

I twist my head and coming up behind me are the two earth ponies.  The three soldiers began to circle me like sharks in the sea.  Than again...I could probably just spar with them. Beacuse of my augmenations, I judged the fight was even

Grining and my extending my legs, I said "Game on, boys. Three on one....don't let my looks fool you."

The three ponies still circled around me.  Strikeout ignored what I said but an train of thoughts  came from Flakes head. I wished I had mind-reading filters.

Dang…those are some sparkly white hooves....Her eye color reminds me of cookies....So…does have a colt friend? And ex-coltfriend, preferably?

"Hey, do you have a coltfriend?" Flakes finally  asked, only to shirk from a Shank's annoyed glare

If Flakes decided to come too close, then I would give them a piece of my mind.  So I said "Oh, I lost my coltfriend long ago...but in his will, he told me to kick the next pony's flank who asked that-"

I hadn't realized Strikeout started to move behind me silently, trying to get the uper hand. My augmented ears picked it up and upon my training instincts I bring my back legs up and buck Strikeout in the face.

*WHAM!*

Strikeout tumbles toward the bench at force of my enhanced legs.  After that, he falls over the bench in pain.  Strikeout’s hooves were covering his face, as he cried “Agh! What just happned?”

“OhmygoshIamsosorry….” I squealed.  Shank and Flakes were were launghing thier head offs, either at the stunt I pulled off or at my squealing. I bet the squaling made me look like a little girl...

Yet Strikeout recovers more quickly than I anticipated. The buck that I game him in his face causes his blood to start oozing out of his nostrils. But he seemd to giving out a wicked grin.

“Hahah...Good insticts, Rookie. Now pin in her boys!” Strikeout roared.

Before I can respond, Shank implants his hoof on my tail and Flakes leaps onto my back, locking my wings with his tattooed hooves. I was stationery and flightless. Then I realized that this wasn't going to be a smiple fray anymore; the Hellprancers were gonna make it a bloodbath.

Strikeout grips the 180-pound barbell with his hoof and, like a javelin, hurls it at me.

I bob my head to the left as it whooshes past my hair and Flakes, who is still on my back locking my wings. It slams into Shank’s right eye.

“OOWWWWW! Friendly fire, Boss!” Shank roared – although his eye seemed in to be in fine condition.  Stirkeout just laughs.

Now it was my turn.  Shaking my body and my wings faster than a dancing pegasus, I fling Flakes off and send him flying across the room. He crashed right below some heavy weights hanging on the ceiling. Upon impacting them, weights toppled down upon Flakes.

Within milliseconds later, I bucked Shank in the chest, freeing my tail from his hoof.  I heard a faint *pop* that bought the earth pony to his knees, coughing loudly.

But Strikeout was ready. Once his minions were down, he shoved me to the floor and kept me pinned. Some of the blood on his snout dripped down onto mine.  

Strikeout growled “Heh...outta breath yet, rookie?"

*WHAM!*

Quicker than a flash, I send him a quick punch in the face.  Since I was stronger than a normal soldier, the punch was able to roll him off of me.

“No, you old-timer. Are you?” I hissed, my adrenaline pumping quickly.

"A real Hellprancer never runs out of breath - but you're not one." Strikeout starts to get back up

"No...I'm probably better than one." I sneered.

In response, Strikeout wiped some more blood on his messed up face. Now it was just one on one.  He charged for me.

First he thrusts a hoof at me, laughing “Well, you got-”.  I successfully sidestep.

Then he swings his other hoof wildly “-something-” I duck at the last second.

“-that I don't!” Strikeout finishes as he tries to bring down both hooves on me.

I block, and then lock, his hooves with my own.  Before he can do anything else, I rammed a hoof into the side of his head.  I never felt better for myslef.

That resulted in him crashing onto the floor with a final grunt.  I waited eagarly for him to get back up again. After a few seconds, I feared I did more than just knock him cold, because Strikeouts eyes were closed and he didn’t move.

I looked to where Flakes was, in the piles of weights that collapsed upon him, breaking his skeleton. One white bone was even sticking out of his coat.

“Uh-oh…”I murmur. This was the price I paid for throwing my strength onto ponies who didn’t know it. And it was my fault I didn’t know it beforehand. I couldn't belive I was this reckless

Still alive, Shank was clutching his cracked ribs as he crawled over to Strikeouts body.  Shank inched down on, and placed a free forehoof behind Strikeout’s head and mane. Went Shank pulled his hoof back, it was covered in blood.

Shank glanced at me in fear and anger. “SonofaCerberus…what are you?”  But I could not tell him I was a Greenhorn. They still ‘didn’t exist’

As if timed to save my flank from more trouble, Chief Cranklin Mendez strode into the room, smoking another foul-smelling sweet apple cigar.

“Corporal,” The chief hissed at Shank “She’s one of the ‘PONI specials’ on the roster.”

“A PONI special? Like…some supersoldier, sir?” The Shank questioned, fearful.

“That’s right; with classified enhancements. I have two more on board and you shouldn’t mess with them.” Mendez warned the ODSS.

“Sir…” I address and saluted.

“I’ll speak with you later, one-seventeen,” Mendez replied, and then turned back to Skank. “Security doesn’t know that this happened, so I’m leaving it to the janitors to clean up your friend’s corpses. You, corporal, will go to medical bay and do not speak of any of this. Or you’ll wish you could die.”

Upon hearing the words ‘corpses’ I and Shank filched.  Scared for his life, Shank limped to the heath room past Mendez. Now it was the Chief’s his turn to get cross at me.

“Sir,” I replied, attempting to keep a straight face.

“You did a fine job defending yourself, One-seventeen.  I hope you know better what it means to waste troops.” Mendez growled, his first sentence being sarcastic.

I was familiar with ‘troops’ referring to people who stood with me, not against like these Hellprancers. “I…don’t understand sir.”

“One seventeen, these soldiers were attacking you. They are the nastiest Hellprancers I’ve seen.” Mendez’s hoof points towards Strikeout’s body and then to Flakes’.  “However, they were Hellprancers all the same; in fact they were going to be aiding with you on this operation. Now we’ll have to do it with three less ponies.”

Mendez then thought Way to go…hero…

I felt guilty for two ODSSs that I killed and that I left one too injured to fight. It was my fault the operation was probably going to be more of a challenge.

Showing some shame on my face, I replied. “I’m sorry, sir.”

“I hope you are,” Mendez growled, leaning into my snout. “While this was a disaster, this was also necessary exercise. You had to compare your strength and reflexes to that of normal soldiers.  Now that you’re headed onto innie territory, I expect you will use that strength only when the time comes.”

“…yes sir.” I replied.

“Clean yourself up, one-seventeen. And check the debriefing for this operation before reporting to hanger B-1. Dismissed,”

--

After Mendez starts walking out the out the gym, I‘m left to clop down to the hallway bathroom, washing away Strikeout’s blood on my snout.

I looked at myself in the mirror. I was quite beautiful, resembling a lot like my sister. But Rasyin wouldn’t be proud of me if she saw me. She’d hate me for killing ponies and being trained to hold a gun….if didn’t already hate myself….why was I doing this? Am I bad pony? Should I have thought better?

“Hush now….” I whispered to myself holding my head in hooves. “Shh….”  I kept trying to tell myself I wasn’t a bad pony and that those Hellprancers wanted to fight….but it’s just doesn’t work

So all I could do was sniff my tears away…

-------

LORE:

After this incident…well, this is many months later, when part of GREENHORN-II program was revealed and declassified. Shank told other Hellprancers/ODSSs about what happened to Strikeout and Flakes.  The hellprancers thought that I was reckless, sensitive, and inimical. In response, the Greenhorns thought that the hellprancers that I had fought were juvenile, hot-headed, and perverted.

That’s how this entire rivalry between the Greenhorns and ODSSs began. Anyway back to the present.

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

I arrived at the hangar B-1 right on time, seeing Junior Chief Petty Officer Blades-204 relaxing in a ‘warthog’ while reading one of those ‘Magic for Eggheads’ books, yet I couldn’t discern of what subcategory it was. In my time at the Ponyville Library, there were a hundred volumes of ‘Magic for Eggheads’.  Blades hid it into compartment as she saw me coming towards her.

Unlike chariots that are pulled by ponies, the “warthog” Blades was relaxing in was a machine that ran automatically on an electric motor, with pedals for stopping, reversing, and going. It had green armor plating, and open seats without doors, roofs, or seatbelts. There are only two front seats and a flatbed in the back.  And mounted on the flatbed was a tri-barreled chain gun.

Next to warthog Blades sat in were two ‘Tortoise’ tanks, because they had armor hard as one, and they were equally sluggish.  A ‘tortoise’s’ body was connected to  four covered trends, and it had its main cannon built where it made it look like it was coming from its rear.  Under the long barrel of the canon was sealed canopy for the driver.

Hanging above both vehicles were rows of Phoenix Dropships.  The interior only has cramped cockpit and a loading bay for troopers to sit and wait.  These dropships could carry vehicles and soldier into the heat of any battle. November Flare was known for perfecting the role of a Phoenix pilot

I leap into the warthog’s passenger seat right next to Blades.  She asks me “You holding up alright? Chief said that you wanted to be alone for a while….”

“I’m fine.” I hastily grunted. If Blades didn’t know about what happened in the gym, then I decided to keep it that way. If she did, I wasn’t going to speak of it.

“Alright, Des; kept it to yourself. But do take a gander at this…” Blades hopped out of the warthog. Her horn gave off a sea-foam colored glow. She sealed her eyes, deep in concentration.

Slowly that green glow enveloped around her unicorn body, slowly turning into a transparent, sparkling mold around her.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…Pew!

After five long seconds, she released her magic in the form of an electrical shockwave, shattering the glowing mold around her. The shockwave cause the nearby tortoise-tank to rattle, and caused my warthog to vibrate violently.

“Whoa! How did you do that?” I gasp in awe, clutching the warthog until it’s stopped vibrating.

“It’s a level one armor lock – level three can release an electric magnetic pulse in a radius of eight meters.” Blades replied.  I guess that she was reading the subcategory of ‘offensive powers’ in the ‘For Eggheads’ Book.

I thought about telling Blades about my mind reading powers…but I didn’t want Blades to have friend who knew every secret she didn’t want to give out.  

Well…yeah, Blades did have a friend with mind reading powers (me)….she just didn’t know.

------

After I observed Blades practicing the stunt for a few more times, we both found Chief Mendez and three other ponies with him. Two of them were November Flare and Lipizzaner-039.

The third seemed to be a stranger to us, and tall as an alicorn with a very slim body. He was a unicorn in an unblemished silver coat with horn longer than Blades’s or Mendez’s.  His bent eyebrows arched over his golden irises, which were now looking right at me and Blades.  His mane came in grey-blue with silver streaks.  His cutie mark was a lightning bolt with tips that shined.

Without another word, I and Blades got in line with others, facing Mendez and the marvelous silver newcomer of the group. The newcomer was extremely skinny and tall; almost too skeletal when compared to Mendez’s buff and strong body. The newcomer’s grin hinted slyness and deviousness, while Mendez showed seriousness through his frown.

My power/curse picks up the newcomer’s stream of thoughts: It appears the rest of the crazy doc’s pet project has arrived.

Personally I never thought Halsey Sparkle as crazy – just desperate.  Yeah…she let her son go into a foal-soldier project but she didn’t kill Mudd Slinger. And she didn’t mean to kill the rest of us.

“Greenhorn Team Indigo,” Mendez announces loudly.  Upon hearing that, we all snap into salutes.

“I bet you are all wondering why you are here. And why you are taking a fieldtrip to New Manebassa. You’re all here because you are deemed the best of the best of the UNSCOE. You are to be deployed there scince you must succeed where the many have failed.  This will be the most lethal strike that we shall buck the innies with. Silverblitz will debrief you on the operation.”

As Mendez glared at Silverblitz, I hear from his thoughts DO NOT take your time Silverblitz...

So ‘Silverblitz’ was the silver unicorn next to the chief.  His voice sounded pretty…nerdy? It was hard to describe. It was neither friendly nor hostile, but more cross between relaxed and thrilled.

“Ahem…” Silverblitz began, towering over us by full a head “I, for one, hijacked back a Phoenix Dropship the innies used for trading.  The cargo is for the insurrectionist Colonel Blub Watts. The Colonel is on New Manebassa, spending a vacation somewhere on the planet.”

We saw that lowered on crane behind us was the phoenix dropship Silverblitz spoke of.  It was painted in red graffiti and skulls and insurrectionist slogans. Once on the floor, two work ponies in the hanger started to hook a massive cargo crate to the back of the phoenix, partly blocking the loading bay.

Silverblitz continued, sticking his head up “This operation is simple by standards of mine, so listen up! The number one thing you should know is that we are going to be led by me, and for the most part only me...”

“Seriously?” Blades moaned.

Behind Silverblitz, Mendez thought: Get to the bottom damn line!

“…We’ll find Watts’s location via two info brokers on New Manebassa. Then we capture Watts, and leave the insurrection without a great leader for a while.” Silverblitz explained further.

This was found to be a slight disappointment among us all; we would be removing vital figure but the planet would still be under Insurrectionists control.

“What would removing the colonel do?” November Flare wondered, in a scene of curiosity. “I know he’s a high rank but he’s just one stallion. Not meaning to argue, sir.”

Silverblitz snootily responded “For you information, Lieutenant November Flare, Colonel Watts is the best officer of the insurrection. He’s also running as candidate for co-minister of their military forces.  Watts is a devil to the UNSCOE, as he is a saint for innies – we remove him, then the odds turn in our favor.”

“Couldn’t they just replace Watts?” I asked.

Silverblitz shrugged “They won’t…the officer and politicians would complete for months on taking Watt’s position once he’s gone. However, the innies won’t find another leader like him in a while."

“So are just going to capture somepony without hurting anypony else?” Lipizzaner asked. It sickened the rest of the greenhorns to find out that the albino earth pony even had a heart for ponies of the insurrection, or ‘overtaxed colonists’ as she entitled them.  We couldn’t tease Lipizzaner much about it, since she could cry easily and because she was a friend from the start.

Silverblitz shook his head “Nope….Although, we're doing this disguised  as a casual armed escort for a cargo,  I can guarantee that direct action is necessary on every single op I run.”

Lipizzaner frowned;  she was always up for peace talks.

“With all due respect, how come you are in change? We’re team of chaps who can read each other minds, trust each other when death is near, but you…you’re somepony new.” Blades questioned.

I bit my lip when Blade’s said ‘read each other’s mind’, because (in a literal sense) I was the only one who could.

“Well, why you aren’t you in charge, Greenhorn-204” Silverblitz snorted, saying Blades’s number. “What can you – all of you - do that I can’t?” Lend me your weak reasons, you fools!, He taunted in his head.

“Take down a Manticore and a wave of killer bunnies.” I proclaimed.

“Deliver a havoc nuke to an enemy ship and beat you in cards.” November Flare added

“Dual-wield LMGs without a slip.” Blades stated

“Assist in taking down the Manticore…with motivational support from far away.” Lipizzaner squeaked, anxious.

Silverblitz paused as if taken aback, and then he laughed.  “Oh please, I took down two ursas majors with only my horn’s magic! And can you do this?”

Silverblitz’s body went invisible. There were some shimmers in the air before they faded out, leaving no trace of him.  Invisibility…I had to admit that was a handy spell.

Silverlight reappeared behind us, with a grin of gleaming white teeth

He asked “And which one of you ever became a PONI recon operative? None!”  A member of PONI’s reconnaissance? That explained why he was in charge. Only he wasn’t done explaining.

*Poof*

Sliverblitz teleported fireworks behind him, magically setting their fuses alight. We braced ourselves for an indoor fireworks show inside the small hanger.

“Crikey! Fireworks inside?! He’s mad!” Blades hissed in my ear.

“So bow down, and bow low...before the loathed and lovely legend, Silverblitz!” He chanted.

Upon saying his name, the fireworks went off in dazzling display of explosion, as he brought up his hooves, swinging in glory. Steaming pieces and smoke rained down, causing my team and Mendez to cough and try to swipe them away.

“He puts a lot of value in his introductions...” November Flare whispered to Lipizzaner.

When Silverblitz’s firework show ended, he asked “Any question, you soldiers under my supreme command?” he asked, continuously grinning.

“I have one, Operative Silverblitz…” Chief Mendez whispered quietly, then he turned to his drill-sergeant voice “….can you and your team JUST START THE DAMNED OPERTION!?”

So we all entered the phoenix dropship, sitting in the loading bay, except for November. He would pilot the dropship to New Manebassa, so he got the cockpit. Before the phoenix’s troop bay closed, I took some contents out of cargo crate to see what we would be delivering to the Colonel. It turned out to be cookies and lots of Sweet Apple Cigars.

-----

Once I the Phoenix was in space, I nudged Blades’s shoulder and brought Silverblitz and Lipizzaner together.  I whispered “This is what Watts ordered on his vacation.” And I hold out a pack of Sweet Apple Cigars and some cookies.

“Pipes and a biscuit, eh Destiny? Must be special vacation Watts is having there.” Blades magically lights the tip of my cigar and then lights her own.  But Blades lowers her brows as she thinks I wish I had such a vacation..

November came out of the cockpit to grab some cookies. He didn’t like to see me smoking.  When he left without saying a word I felt a little – only a little – shameful of what I was doing; He was trying to keep me safe now that he was a part of my team and I was committing myself to an unhealthy hobby. Despite smelling bad, the cigars were addicting. I threw mine away before taking a cookie.

“Is it sunny at New Manebassa?” Lipizzaner questioned Silverblitz. She had taken a cookie since she turned down a cigar.

A jolting thought from Lipizzaner crosses my mind: I wish I could tell everypony I was raised there before my family moved to Sigma Clopoida….but I don’t want to tell anypony that. Maybe not now…

Sliverblitz answered “Yeah; but the water hasn’t been fine since the innies took over; they set up a tyranny, listen to propaganda all day, and just sit there a do nothing. What a waste of a habitable world.”

“Does taking over New Manebassa count as doing nothing?” I start up.  Blades’s face signaled me to calm down in front of this egotistical officer.

Relaxed, Silverlight smoked a bit of his levitating cigar before replying. “Innies do nothing unless they’ve got something to motivate them in the first place. How much do you know about Colonel Watts?”

“No; other than he’s the target.” I shrugged. I never realized that you had to know so much about a targeted pony before you captured him.

November replied over from cockpit, “Watts is no ordinary target, one-one-seven; he’s a perpetrator to the UNSCOE.”

I didn’t care whether I was called by name or number; but now being a Junior Chief Petty Officer, November figured he might as well treat me like one.  I’m thankful he stopped calling me Lil’ Des’

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LORE: United Rebel Front Colonel Blub Watts was formerly a UNSCOE Army Major.  After two divorces and assaulting a Griffon who was a news reporter, his reputation was hammed greatly.  Watts became the first officer to publicly defect to innies, swearing war against Celestia and the UNSCOE, in hopes of the return of a good reputation.  After the Siege of New Manebassa, Every inner colony had tightened up their defenses and security, because the only reason why the Innies would come out of hiding and attack in long time of silence was because of Watts; because of a traitor.

MORE LORE:

Watts’s cutie mark is lightbulb. Ironically, he’s not bright – He was a light bulb replacer.