Equestrian Air Guard

Chapter Three

Annex and Wonderbolt Eight

Dash barely slept that night. The shock of Equestria actually going to war was huge on her psyche. Furthermore she couldn’t shake the memories of the day’s battle. When she finally did sleep, her mind presented her with images of unending conflict all ending with her getting blasted by those dame missiles. Command was now referring to them as Burst Missiles, weapons of immense power that could take out anything within a fifty foot radius.

Information also came in on the mysterious Stealth Aircraft as well. Intelligence confirmed their designation as being MiG-41 Sharks, not built by the Federation but by Vertania themselves. It was a stunning turnaround. Now the Vertainians could go toe to toe with the EAG. When morning finally came, Dash woke up an hour earlier than yesterday and went for a jog around much of the base. Guards were everywhere and would’ve stopped her had she not worn her Wonderbolts’ jacket.

When she got back, she ditched her clothes and took a shower with the rest of her team. Unlike yesterday, it was a quiet shower as no one said a word. Even the mess hall was quite as everyone was still thinking about Baltimare’s fall yesterday. As if adding to the somberness, all of Equestria’s east coast was covered with a thick overcast of clouds. The Vertainians had picked a perfect city to invade. Not only did they have a near direct route to Canterlot, but they also had Horseshoe Bay, the home of the Second Equestrian fleet. The first was stationed in Manehattan, but it wasn’t as big or as powerful as the second, because the second fleet had all three Carriers.

With the Equestrian Navy effectively out of commission, the goal of defending Equestria now fell on the Air Guard and the army. It was a daunting task as through the night the Vertainians brought in thousands of troops and dug in throughout the city. The Wonderbolts were given a reminder of this at the briefing.

“I’m not going to lie to you, yesterday was a bad day.” General Johnson briefed, “Vertania took us completely off guard and now they have one of our cities in their claws. But just because there are changelings on our soil don’t mean we’re gonna let them stay. Attacking the city now is far too risky, our forces are shattered and our army still days away from effective combat readiness. While we can’t drive them out, we can certainly slow them down.

“Orders have come in from Shining himself calling for the Wonderbolts to engage forces along Route 171 extending from Baltimare. This road as many of you know is the only major highway into or out of Baltimare. Take it out and the Vertainians are effectively held up within the city.” The General continued as the pilots took notes, “Your orders are this, take out the three bridges spanning the three lakes known as the blue trifecta as well as attacking any major ground or air force within your way. This is a critical mission, don’t let us down, dismissed.”

The pilots got up and walked out towards the hangers. As they walked into the hanger, the pilots could see bombs being fitted to the hard points under the belly. Dash turned to Alice, “Time for some payback eh?”

Alice smiled, “You bet.”

That sentiment was shared by the other Wonderbolts, who were all itching for some payback. Soon after getting her flight gear on, Dash walked up to her plane to see her ground crew writing messages on the bombs. “Payback messages?” she asked Albert.

“Ah’ll be damned if we don’t send a message ourselves.” Albert told her as he admired his work, “You ready to start up?”

“Born ready,” Dash smiled.

After taking to the air, the seven fighter jets were rocketing towards Route 171. The sky hadn’t improved when they reached the outskirts of Baltimare. When they entered the battle zone from the north, Eagle eye called in. “This is AWACS Eagle eye to the Wonderbolts, the targets are in formation along the highway. Orders stand, take them out at once.” He told the pilots.

“Keep an eye on us up there AWACS,” Fire streak said.

“Okay guys, here is how it’s going to go down; Rainbow and Lightning will bomb the forces in and round the first bridge. Fire Streak and Cloud Kicker have the second bridge. And me and my team have the third. Understand?” Spitfire asked.

“Yes mam.” The team answered.

The Wonderbolts then dispersed in their respective teams to engage the enemy forces. Rainbow rolled in over the road and flew low scanning the area. Her terrain following Radar kept her apprised of her distance to the targets. Lightning hovered just above her, also waiting until they reached the target.

Just then Soarin came over the radio, “Careful gang, they got Anti-air guns fixed and mobile covering their defenses.”

“Confirmed Wonderbolt Two, all planes expect missiles and bullets alike.” Eagle Eye advised.

“Enemy planes spotted over Route 171, all forces scramble and defend this road, we can’t lose it if we want to get to Canterlot!” The Routes defense commander ordered.

“This is Spitfire; we’re beginning our attack run.” Spitfire said.

“Fire Streak here, target’s in site, starting approach,” Fire Streak said.

“Rainbow here, we got the bridge and the tank force insight. Beginning our runs now,” Rainbow said.

The bridge had indeed come into view, along with a good size division of tanks and troop transports. Several mobile AA guns opened fire on the two Reapers as they approached, forcing Rainbow and Lightning to pitch up and out of the fire. The two planes then rolled over and swung in from the west, lighting their engines and rocketing in faster. Rainbow switched her firing system over to bomb ordnance and the reticle appeared.  Once Rainbow lined up the bombing reticle over a tank, she pulled the trigger and released a bomb. Lightning did the same as she lined up another tank. Unlike the missiles, which the Reapers carried a large abundance off; bombs were not as easy to regenerate. As such the Reapers carried less of them, only twelve. So the Wonderbolts had to make every bomb count.

The two bombs sent towards the first group impacted their targets and created two massive fireballs. That sent the troops running as fires broke out.

“Enemy forces engaging our troops at the bridges clear them out of our sky.” The Vertainian commander ordered.

“Good hit Rainbow, let’s circle in and try again.” Lightning said.

Rainbow was more than happy to oblige as she rolled in again. This time lining up a force on the other side of the road, she released another bomb that promptly blew up two tanks. Lightning meanwhile used two of her bombs to knock out the anti-air emplacements giving Rainbow a clearer run. She used it to good advantage, targeting the bridge next. Two well-placed bombs slammed into the bridge blasting it apart.

“First allied defense unit is down!” the commander said, “All units engage the Equestrian air forces!”

Just then Rainbow’s Radar picked up two blimps approaching. “Lightning we got company!”

“Attention all Wonderbolts, enemy fighters in bound. Take them out to secure air superiority.” Eagle Eye commanded.

Rainbow switch her weapons control from bombs to missiles as both she and Lightning pitched out of the bridge battle to engage the fighters. Two wings of four fighters engaged the duo, which was the same all around the zone. They were the same Su-35’s of yesterday.

“They’re not sending their 41s to engage us?” Lightning asked, “I wonder how many of them they actually have.”

“No time for thinking let’s just clear the sky.” Rainbow reminded her.

That steeled the other pilots' resolve as the duo engaged the four fighters who came to meet them. Rainbow lined up good tones on the first plane and fired. Her Blue Jay flew off its rail and struck the Flanker right on its right stabilizer. As her kill spun away, Lightning targeted her own Flanker and peppered him with bullets. Smoke trailed from the aircraft as he turned and headed back to Baltimare.

“This is Otto five,” the pilot said, “My plane’s been shot full of holes I’m pulling back!”

Deciding it is better to let him go, Lightning winged around and took out the third Flanker with a Blue Jay to the cockpit. Rainbow lined up good sights on the final Flanker before basting him out of the sky. “AWACS, Wonderbolt Six here, last Flanker taken out on our end.” Rainbow reported.

“Roger that Wonderbolt Six, continue on target.” Eagle eye said.

“This is Fire Streak, target is destroyed or no factor.” Fire Streak called in.

“What the fuck is this,” The Vertainian commander shouted, “Our Second Defense unit is down! Someone start getting some hits on those fucking planes before they fully take out the third group!”

Lightning then began to race over the north end of bridge before spotting something, “A civilian farm is located at the north end of the operation. Is that part of the operation?”

Rainbow looked towards the farm houses. Indeed she could see cars and tanks present at the farm. But she also saw something that made her hesitant to continue attack. “Those farms belong to the Apple family,” she said softly.

“They may be filled with enemy forces…” Spitfire chimed in after taking out a group of AA’s near the third bridge, “We can’t take that chance of allowing a group to survive.”

Rainbow nodded, “Good point, better to see them burn than in Vertainian hands. Lightning let’s go!”

The two Reapers winged over and tore in on the farm. Once Rainbow and Lightning lined up targets, they released another quartet of bombs. The four bombs slammed into the farm demolishing the buildings, destroying the tanks, and vaporizing or decapitating any changeling on the field. As smoke began to billow up from the destroyed farm, Rainbow banked left to finally knock out the last of the tanks around the first bridge.

With that now behind them, the two green Wonderbolts turned north to regroup with Fire Streak and Cloud Kicker. They themselves were just finishing up their work over of the second bridge and were about to turn north to help Spitfire’s trio. Already most of Route 171 was cratered from the bomb impacts making most of the road impassable already. But the third bridge still stood defiantly over the third lake.

That is until Fleetfoot raced in at near supersonic speeds with her last bomb itching to be dropped. “Wonderbolt three here, pickle, pickle!” she shouted as she released the bomb then pitched up vertical.

The bomb screamed through the air and slammed right through the final support on the bridge. The Bridge swayed and groaned before finally giving up and falling into the lake. A group of Vertainians were still held up on the bridge and fell into the water with it. Soarin and Spitfire used the last of their bombs to blast apart the final opponents.

“You gotta be kidding me, we just lost Route 171!” The Vertainian commander shouted.

“All targets along Route 171 have been destroyed!” Eagle eye confirmed, “Great work Wonderbolts, those Vertainians aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. I’ve just received word the Merchant marine that ships have been sunk along the Delemare River denying the Vertainian navy the use of it. They are effectively held up within the city.”

“Great work Team, the day is ours. Let’s turn tail and head home.” Spitfire smiled.

“Yee haw!” someone cheered. Rainbow figured it was Fire Streak.

After shutting her plane down and heading into the changing room, Dash was feeling much better than she had the day before. In fact the mood among the Wonderbolts was surprisingly good after the day’s operation. Vertania may be on Equestrian soil, but now they were trapped. Now that meant the Equestrian Guard, both Air and Ground, could begin to pick off the Vertainian Military at will.

The threats of those MiG-41’s were still present, and reinforced when they got back into the briefing room.

“I know you all know the good news regarding the entrapment of the Vertainian forces, however I do have some bad news to bring. Today while the Merchant Marines were sinking the ships, the Vertainian air forced launched a full scale attack upon them. MiG-41s were used in abundance and more of our comrades were taken out. I’m sorry to report that Greenhill’s own 88th Air Wing was destroyed in the battle, all hands lost.” The General informed somberly.

Dash felt upset over the loss, but equally thankful that none of her friends were a part of the 88th. She looked over at Alice, who was pale. Maggie’s breath caught her throat; Alice must’ve had friends in the squadron.

“With all that is going, I have to ask you Bolts to keep yourselves at alert status. We don’t know if the Vertainians are planning to strike back and if they are with what. Be ready for any alert signals to go off. Dismissed,” The General finished.

The Seven Wonderbolts got to their feet and began to walk out of the room. Dash waited until they were back in the living room before she approached Alice. “Hey,” She said taking Alice’s shoulder, “You okay?”

Alice whipped a tear from her eye as she turned around. The whole squadron turned to look at Alice, all with worry in their eyes.

Alice coughed, “I’m fine really.”

“Who was it?” Cassie asked.

Alice took a moment as another tear fell, “My ex-boyfriend Tom.”

Silence befell the pilots as they all looked at Alice. Alice however finally lost all strength and began to cry. Dash wrapped her arms around her former enemy and rival turned wingmate, who then began to sob in her shoulder. Jon slammed a fist into the couch as he sat down while Michelle raced over to Alice to hold her as well.

Cassandra’s bottom lip vanished as she bit down on it.

“Fucking Vertainians,” Alex whispered.

“You said it,” Tasha agreed as she sank to the couch.

All the while, Dash held Alice tightly. Two days ago she was ready to kill Alice at the drop of a hat. Today everything was different. Petty rivalries no longer matter, neither did pride, or competitive honor. This was war, and war was a dirty and deadly business. The war had already been two days old, and now it had hit the Wonderbolts.

After Alice calmed down, Dash and Alice decided it be fun to head over to the hangers to either help out the ground crew or watch any of the airbases activities today. When they got to the hanger though, they were in for an interesting shock.

“Hey Maggie, take a look over there.” Alice said pointing to the line of Aircraft, “We got a new Reaper!”

Dash looked at where Alice was pointing. Sure enough there were now eight blue F-95 Reapers within the hanger. Somewhat excited over the new admission of a new member, the duo ran into the hanger and towards the plane. While the Wonderbolts didn’t need a new member, after two missions it had become obvious that the seven ship formation did present its own problems. As they reached the hanger, Dash became aware of this. If they garnished a new Member, that meant she was no long team leader and was now going to have to listen to Michelle. It wasn’t a bad option, since Michelle was a capable pilot. But she had already gotten used to Alice backing her tail.

Then the real surprise made herself known. When Dash walked past Alice’s bird, she spotted a short, bright blonde haired girl looking over the aircraft. She seemed to be just like Maggie was when she first saw her own bird. Yet the sense of wonder wasn’t as pure. Still that didn’t mean they couldn’t be nice.

“Beautiful isn’t she?” Dash said, mimicking Cassie’s first words to her.

The girl turned around and smiled at the duo. But the duo stopped dead in their tracks with surprise on their face. She was a beautiful girl, clean skin and yellowish eyes. Problem was her eyes were walled. Alice could barely keep her mouth closed as she gaped at this. Even Dash was stunned, how the EAG brass could allow a deformed pilot into the fold. Worse yet, allow her to join the Wonderbolts.

“Hi guys!” she shouted waving at them. Her voice was firm and somewhat high pitched, giving her an airhead feel.

But Maggie had to throw her impressions away as the girl ran up and hugged the two of them.

“Oh my gosh your Wonderbolts too? That’s incredible! So am I!” she giggled barely able to contain her excited.

“Uh…” Maggie stammered at first. Then she came to her senses, “Yea…uh…yea hi welcome to the Wonderbolts, I’m Margret Dash and this is Alice Dust.”

Alice shook her head to snap her out of her shock, “Uh…’Rainbow’ and ‘Lightning’ respectively.”

“And you are?” Dash asked.

“I’m Ellen, Ellen Hooves.” Ellen introduced, “Just joined the Equestrian Air Guard today. General Johnson approved my requests this morning.”

“He did didn’t he.” Dash said flatly, “So you’re Wonderbolt Eight now?”

Ellen nodded.

“What’s your callsign?” Maggie asked.

The smile on Ellen’s face vanished as she became embarrassed. She stammered as she tried to talk, “Um….well…most of the guys called me ‘Derpy.’”

“No guesses as to why.” Alice let slip. Instantly she wanted to take it back but it was too late.

Ellen looked at Alice crossly, “Hey, I can fly just as good as you.” Maggie wanted to slap Alice for the comment, but it would’ve been a hypocritical move as she was thinking the same thing. With equal sternness, Ellen handed her clipboard to Margret, “Here…my credentials.”

Maggie took the clipboard, turned around, and took several steps away as she began to read. Alice hung over her, literally clinging to Dash’s shoulder reading as well. It got annoying. “Will you get off,” Dash whispered pushing Alice off, “Jeeze you’re like a five year old kid.” Alice stammered but didn’t find any words to use. With her wingmate quite, Maggie continued to look over Ellen’s record.

It was quite impressive despite her disability. So much so that Maggie nodded impressively. She handed it to Alice who did a quick over check, “Wow this girl’s as good as you.”

Dash gave a disapproving look.

“Oh come on you know that was funny. But still she’s good. It’s just…those eyes…how can she hope to operate a Reaper with them.” Alice said softly.

“Well the General thinks she’ll benefit us, and besides let’s give her a chance.” Maggie said.

Taking a deep sigh, Alice agreed and the duo turned back towards Ellen. Despite her discontent earlier, Ellen was standing in the same spot she had been, looking around the hanger with wonder similar to a kid in a candy store.

“Well Ellen, looks like you got the stuff on paper.” Alice said.

Ellen giggled at her new teammate’s approval.

“Come on Derpy, we’ll introduce you to the team.” Maggie said.

Once inside, Maggie found the rest of the squadron and promptly introduced Ellen to the group. After initial reactions similar to Maggie’s and Alice’s, the General walked in to calm the crowd.

“Ah I see you’ve met the newest recruit.” He told them, “Good I hate introducing people. Anyway she’s our new squadron mate and taking the position of Wonderbolt Eight. I know you all have noticed Ellen’s….unique feature but take comfort that the best doctors within the EAG have cleared her for duty. Treat her well Bolts, as only you can.”

And then the General left. Ellen, with a warm smile on her face, took a seat with Michelle and Dash on the center couch, while the rest of the squadron spread themselves out on the other couches.

After a moment of extremely awkward silence, Alex asked the question on everyone’s mind. “Okay Elephant in the room,” he said clapping his hands, “I’ll say it: Miss Hooves how’d that happen?”

“Alex!” Jon snapped.

“Thank you for asking it!” Alice whispered.

“Oh you people,” Cassandra sighed resting her face in her hands.

“No, no it’s a perfectly normal question, I’m not ashamed about It.” Ellen said, “I got it during a bicycle accident when I was a toddler. Stupid me I wasn’t watching where I was going and I slammed face first into a brick wall.”

“I take it that wasn’t the only damage you got,” Tasha asked.

“Well it does take me a little bit longer to finish exams and process certain information. Also I do have a little color blindness but I’ve always had that. I used to have a sever speech impediment, but I grew out of it.” Ellen answered.

“And they cleared you for flying with color blindness?” Dash asked.

“Only red and green when they’re together, it looks purple to me.” Ellen answered.

Dash nodded.

“So, where you from,” Michelle asked.

Ellen took a moment, “Well my current residence was Ponyville…”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, you’re from Ponyville!” Dash interrupted, “So am I.”

“For real,” Ellen asked.

“Yeah, how come I never saw you?” Dash asked.

“Well I was the town’s mailwoman for a time.” Ellen answered, “Before I joined the EAG.”

“Where were you before that?” Cassandra asked.

Ellen’s expression became somber and sad, “Baltimare. I have family there.”

For the second time today, a deep and heavy silence took over the Wonderbolts. The Squadron all looked around at each other before anyone said a word. It was Michelle who spoke first, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, we’re gonna take that city back. I know it.” Ellen said with remarkable strength.

Cassandra nodded, “Or Die trying.”

The whole squadron nodded at this. With Ellen’s arrival, a new sense of determination set in.