Road Gangs: Ray Part II

The northern streets of Canterlot were busy and congested like the streets of Manehattan, filled with carriages and automobiles desperate to reach their locations on time despite the slow pace of the overall traffic.

Stores were busy with customers, mostly ponies, but an occasional humans would show up browsing for products relevant to their needs. Such things were in short supply due to the human population's recent inclusion to Equestrian society, but availability was predicted to fit the climb by a couple of years.

The experience was deliverance from the hardship they faced in the outer wastelands. A chance to start over with a refreshed outlook and endless opportunities, a chance to connect and communicate on a level that had long dissolved, a chance to coexist in harmony. And above all, a chance of freedom.

Paranoia, however, lingered about the settlers. By permission of Princess Celestia they still slung their weapons across their backs, or holstered on their hips, under the condition that they remained unloaded of their ammunition. Clips and magazines could be carried in pockets or some kind of external carriage, but some secretly bypassed this rule by leaving a round in the chamber.

Rarely did they intimidate the equine demographic as long as the individual had a generally friendly attitude. They embraced the newcomers and sought to welcome them to their land of friendship and opportunity.

Safe. This was a word they could finally utter in their minds as they lived their new lives. For many years they would call themselves fools for ever processing this mythical word, but now that they have found a haven they could trust, they could finally use the word and embrace its meaning. Truly it was the dawn of a brand new era for the human race, and pony kind alike.

The ground quivered as a violent explosion erupted from a nearby department store, sending flaming fragmentation and surrounding vehicles in a clashing disarray. The blast was short-lived, but the chaos that followed lasted for eternity as ponies looked on in shock of the charred bodies and screaming wounded laying scattered about the debris.

Brave humans and ponies scrambled the blazing turmoil to rescue individuals from the mess and outbreaking fires, others unslung and loaded weapons, alert and close to cover in assumption that it had been an external attack.

One particular unicorn pony emerged from the crowd, devilishly grinning upon his bearded face with what could be instantly judged as complete and utter pride at the terrible sight.

"And thus the games begin." He muttered as he turned back for the crowd, his hazel eyes momentarily dissolving into a neon-blue glow until a blink reverted them back to "normal".

Ray and Junkers both stared into silent space as they sat like criminals at the table placed in the exact center of the small room. Thoughts raced at the possible outcome of their actions, what punishment they would receive, and whatnot.

Hearts jolted as the door finally opened, making way for Shining Armor. He gave them no eye contact until he had shut the door and made his way to a seat facing the two humans. There he shook his head with disapproval as he looked upon them.

"Believe it or not," Junkers started, "there is a perfectly logical explanation for our actions."

Shining rolled his eyes. "Don't bother dignifying this, the damage has been done." He paused for a moment and leaned closer before continuing. "You broke five major rules for the Equestrian road system, written by Celestia herself.

First off, you raced on a public road, thereby breaking two major rules in one, which includes speeding. Third, illegally veering from the road and onto corporate property without using a designated turnoff, resulting in number four: damaging property, specifically scraping the paving and specialized truck ramps outside of a local carwash. Finally leading to the fifth, endangering the lives of Equestrian citizens."

Shining reclined back into his seat with a snort. "That poor pony in the truckwalks was nearly traumatized after witnessing that reckless stunt of yours. Anything could've gone wrong. For goodness sake, you two of all people should know better than this! What were you thinking?"

"Oh, now I can explain?" Junkers spoke up in deadpan.

Shining excused his attitude. "Yes, now you can."

"Okay, so, me and Ray were late for an important deadline, which I believe you and the Princess specifically set up for us at REDF's training center. If I remember the rules correctly, being late would result in depromotion of our REDF status, so of course the pressure lead us to a conclusion that certain rules of the road needed to be bent in order to help us reach our goal. The race was my idea. I figure, why not? It's a race against the clock, why not make it interesting?"

Shining blinked unamused. "Is that all?"

"Yessir."

"That is by far the worst defense I've ever heard. Endangering pony lives for a personal little problem like this. And no, your status gets depromoted if you miss a full twenty-four hours, not twenty-four minutes! Forty-eight or extended in case of ailment or emergency."

"It's bullshit is what it is."

"Hey, watch it. Remember who wrote these terms."

Ray attempted to ease the tension, putting his hand out as he spoke up. "I'd like to know what the penalty is for our actions today, and if there is any way we can be granted a second chance."

"Seizure of your vehicles for three-hundred hours and a payment of three-thousand twenty-six bits is the total fine for this particular series of crimes. You have the option of exchanging the payment for one-hundred sixty-eight hours of community service, but this is all non-negotiable."

Junkers gritted his teeth in silent rage, restraining hard not to punch the table as he desired.

"However," Shining continued in a lighter tone, uplifting the two with a ray of hope, "there is a third option available. If you could help us with a little... err... 'problem', you may get that second chance after all."

"What is it?" Ray asked.

Shining took a deep breath before replying. "I understand you and Richard Faust are close friends since the second invasion of Canterlot, correct?"

Ray simply nodded, but Junkers cleared his throat to speak. "He was my squad leader in the Raider division. We go way back. Why?"

Shining spared no hesitation and went straight to the point. "He and a special REDF assault group were intercepted by wasteland radicals about nine thirty-seven last night. Intelligence reports he and a few other survivors in the attack were captured and imprisoned. Problem is, we have no idea where they've been taken."

Both were in shock at the news, but Ray managed to snap out of it and respond. "What? What the hell was he doing in the desert with an REDF squad in the first place?"

"About two-ten PM yesterday we lost contact with the security forces guarding our major oil wells. Apparently they encountered some hostile activity and we haven't heard from them since. We sent in an REDF team with Faust as a human advisor and Second-In-Command to investigate, and we presume the hostiles encountered by Thorne Security are the same ones that intercepted and captured the team."

"But why Faust of all people? He's retired!"

"If you can remember correctly, he is only one of four humans with clearance and authority for this level of REDF service. Agusta is second, but he works intelligence. That leaves you two. Since we couldn't find you, we needed to replace you. Faust was the obvious choice, understand?" Shining leaned closer, furrowing his brow. "Where were you anyway?"

Ray and Junkers took a glance at each other, then back to Shining. It was Ray who decided to answer. "Handlirsch."

"The Changeling Empire? We checked and no one knew where you were. What in the world were you doing over there, and why were you out of contact for so long?"

"Um," Ray trembled in his response, attempting to protect the secrecy of his project with Queen Chrysalis, "I'm afraid I can't disclose that information."

"You better, because withholding vital information from us could be considered treason."

"Look, I've been in friendly relations with the Changelings since the second invasion. They trust me, I trust them. I have the same relations with the Equestrians. Our current political paranoia doesn't apply to our long history together. I'm not smuggling information between governments. I'm no spy. You know me better than that. So unless they hatch a plan to blow us all to kingdom-come, let me retain confidentiality with them. Alright?"

Shining took another deep breath. "Fair enough."

"Now, what are you doing about Faust and how can we help?"

"Please follow me." Shining got out of his seat and lead the three out of the room.

The main office area was a convoluted madhouse with papers flying, landline telephones ringing, and ponies shouting information and orders at each other. Shining Armor could hear sirens outside of the building as he lead Ray and Junkers into the room.

He approached an apprehensive pegasus guardsman holstering a 9mm firing device, who immediately saluted him the moment he entered.

"Lieutenant Nord," he started, returning the salute, "what's going on here?"

"A department store in northern Canterlot blew up, sir. Agusta's boys say the radicals that intercepted the squad might've had something to do with it. We're looking in to it right now."

"When did it happen?"

"About ten, maybe fifteen minutes ago, sir."

"Hey, guys!" a familiar voice called out over the rest of the shouting in the room. They turned to find Agusta on the other side of the room, holding a rolled-up scroll. "This came hot off Celestia's desk! Says Ray and Junk have to go check it out before we move on to Faust!"

"Wait a minute!" Ray shouted in protest. "We don't know how long he's got to last with these hostiles! Why should we delay our plans for what might just be a diversion? Does she even factor these things in?"

Agusta threw the letter on his desk with a groan. "I don't know, just humor her! Alright? Take the trip, then when you come back, meet us in the war room in an hour! I've got things to do." He turned back to the chaos of activity erupting all around him.

"This is bullshit!"

Shining pushed the two through the crowds, towards the exit.

The fires spread about the ruins once a department store had quickly been put out by the fire engines called out onto the site, and many of the bodies of dead and wounded were carried away to a temporary medical tent set up nearby a road block denying access for Canterlot citizens.

Some firefighters helped road crews clear the area of debris, while police and Royal Guardsmen guarded the grounds to let the investigative team sweep the inside of the building for evidence.

Shining Armor pulled up at one of the roadblocks in his marine-blue 1978 Lincoln Continental. The guardsmen recognized him and his passengers and lifted the yellow tape to let him through, allowing him to park next to a sidewalk closest to the disaster site.

"You know, I don't know which I hate most." Junkers started as the three of them exited the vehicle and made their way towards the building. "Radical wasteland nutjobs, or Celestia's warped concept of timing and priority. I swear to god, she's going to give me ulcers one of these days."

"You're young, Junk." Ray said. "You'll live."

"Yeah, but for how long if she keeps jerking us around like this? And how long will will Faust for that matter?"

"You know what?" Shining interrupted rhetorically. "Your remarks are becoming increasingly difficult to forget in my reports to Celestia. You mind cooling it and helping out with the problem at hand here? Or is that asking too much?"

"Fine." Junkers waved his hands in surrender.

"The sooner we find something useful in our investigation, the sooner we can get on with the rescue operation. Stay focused."

They had reached what was left of the structure and proceeded inside. Ray had already come up with an educated theory as to what happened as soon as he saw the damage done to the building. Just the way it appeared seemed disturbingly familiar, like he had read it in a book somewhere.

"Well," he started, "what we have here is the result of a high-explosive incendiary device. My guess is that it was planted somewhere over there." He pointed to the very opposite of the store, at a wall with small hole punched through to another neighboring business.

"So you're saying it wasn't an attack from outside of the building?" Shining asked.

"No, it was strategically placed here in the building. But something doesn't make sense."

"Like what?"

Ray stepped over the debris and looked around the surrounding rubble. "Well, a standard high-explosive device of this magnitude would've leveled the rest of the building, but all it did was collapse the top floor and blow out the front of the store. All of the other walls are fine, but that one in the far end with that tiny little hole."

Ray scrambled over more rubble to make his way to the hole. It was about seven feet in diameter, standing just inches from the floor. Nothing in the neighboring store appeared to be as badly-damaged as in the one Ray stood in, but a charred trail of damaged products suspiciously lined up with the opening as if a meteor had struck through, but dissipated where an impact point would be.

He ran his fingers over the edges of the hole, then raised them up to his nose to smell the resin. "It's home-made." He then proceeded to taste it with a careful lick, then spat it out.

"What?" Shining asked as he and Junkers made there way over to join him.

"Okay, see this?" He pointed at the edges of the opening.

"Yeah?"

"It's blown out like an impact point. Something like a car driving through it, but something obviously hot, like the explosion from the incendiary device."

"Obviously." Junkers replied sarcastically.

"But it doesn't add up. No matter how or where the bomb would've been placed in here, the structure should've collapsed entirely from the force exerted up and outward upon the support construction. But instead, it only blew out that end of the store, and made this small exit point right here. How is that even possible?"

Junkers snapped his fingers in realization. "A directional explosive."

"Yes! See that fire trail there lining up with the hole?"

They nodded.

"A directional explosive of this magnitude works differently than a small-scale anti-personnel device like a Claymore mine. In fact, it's more along the lines of a rocket-launcher. The 'face' of the device is pointed at whatever the target is, forcing the majority of the blast in that particular direction, while the over-pressure escapes the rear of the device like a recoil or backblast. That's most likely what made this sort of damage."

Shining shook his head in puzzlement. "Wait, 'target'. What target?"

"I don't think the bomber had any specifics. He wanted to take out customers and any other individuals caught in the line of fire. But for what reason? That's out of my logical jurisdiction."

"You say that like only one person was responsible for this. You don't think the wasteland radicals had anything to do with this?"

"This is home-made, but the incredibly professional kind of home-made. It was built by someone with a well of patience and expertise."

"How do you know?"

"I tasted the shit. Look, we're dealing with a professional here, not some wasteland marauder. This is in no way connected to the hostiles that took Faust."

"Ray, how do you know? Those hostiles could be another rival military faction like the Raiders for all we know. You're making assumptions."

Ray was beginning to lose his patience. "Hey, look, you dragged me here to give you my analysis of the situation, and I did, when we could be in the Ward right now preparing a rescue mission for my friend!"

"Watch your tone or I will have no choice but to have you arrested. Got it?"

He eased up and leaned along the edge of the opening in the wall.

"Now I'm going to have a talk with the police chief and prepare a report to the Princess. In about thirty minutes we'll be on our way back to REDF headquarters. Don't go anywhere." He walked off, exiting the building.

"Junkers." Ray said after a long and uncomfortable pause.

"Yeah?"

"I'm beginning to suspect the street of dreams has crossed the road of war somewhere down the line."

Junkers snorted. "Not if I can help it."

Ray grinned at his cheesy expression and patted him on the shoulder. "That's the spirit."