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                   Equestrian Air Guard                    
                     -by Blake Skies-                      
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      Chapter One: The Two Newest Wonderbolts [Edit]       
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Chapter One: The Two Newest Wonderbolts [Edit]
***Chapter One
The Two Newest Wonderbolts***
Margret Dash exited the cab just outside the entrance to Greenhill’s Air Field. Rucksack slung over her left shoulder, clipboard holding her credentials held in her right hand, sunglasses shading her eyes, and leather fighter jacket covering her torso, the Rainbow haired, tall, medium breast woman walked towards the gate. A security guard stopped her, but when he saw her credentials, he allowed her to enter in. Dash could do little to contain her enthusiasm as she walked across the ramp towards a series of Open hangers where the newest rookies were supposed to gather.
This was the culmination of her entire life’s work. Ever since she was young and watched the old Wonderbolts Air demonstration team, she always wanted to fly with the Equestrian Air Guard. Things looked began to up for her when the Wonderbolts were shifted from Air Demonstration to full time Air Combat squadron, now she could join them and fight if the need arises. Her parents had given her their total support paying for every one of her flight lessons and then finally being able to see her off to Military training.
The training part wasn’t without problems. Dash struggled at first as her brash personality and fearless mentality clashed with the strict rules that came with Military life. Even worse was her natural Rainbow hair, which initially gave her the un-dignifying nickname of “Skittles.” Things seemed to hit rock bottom when she was paired up with a reckless and equally fearless pilot named Alice “Lighting” Dust. Alice nearly got Dash killed twice until Margret finally spoke out.
Because of her speaking out, Alice was removed from training camp and Dash got new respect by her compatriots. That changed things for her and soon she began to excel at training, and even got her new callsign “Rainbow.” When she graduated last year, she left highest in her class and highest. She would’ve gone straight into the Guard had it not been for her best friend suddenly becoming a Princess coupled with Dash’s mom catching a bad fever.
But when her mom got better, Dash tried again and got in first attempt. Now she was walking her way to orientation. As she walked into the hanger, a crowd of eager recruits were there waiting for the field commander to address them. All around them were gleaming new F-95 Reaper fighters. Dash smirked when she saw them, they were the best fighters in the world, and she was the best pilot in the world.
She certainly felt that way as she heard an officer shout, “Okay everyone to your seats, briefing will begin shortly.”
As Dash took her seat, she spotted two of her old classmates also sitting down; Thomas “Thunderlane” Jones and Danielle “Blossomforth” Mgills. Seems like they finally got to this level as well, Dash wasn’t sure what squadrons they had requested to join, but she figured they probably also put down the Wonderbolts as well. Then someone shouted for the group to snap to attention and everyone stood up.
In no time at all, Dash found out why. A two star General had entered the hanger looking over a clipboard which probably held papers containing recruit’s information. Dash recognized him immediately. He was General Michael “Blaze” Johnson, former Squadron Leader of the Wonderbolts and now their commanding officer. To make things even sweeter for the star struck Dash, he had been Wonderbolt Number two when she first saw them as a kid and then Wonderbolt Number one when she became a regular attendant of their shows. He had also been a judge of Cloudsdale’s “Best Young Fliers” competition.
The General walked up to the podium and motioned for the recruits to take a seat. “Welcome to Greenhill Airbase Ladies and Gentlemen, as you probably may or may not know I am General Michael Johnson of the Wonderbolts. I am one of the five Generals stationed here at the base in command of one of the six present here. While you may or may not be answering to me during your stay here at Greenhill I promise you that you will see me and maybe get to know me. But first, welcome you young fliers to the Equestrian Air Guard. I’d also like to congratulate you as your admission to the EAG has given you your first promotion from Recruit to Private First class.” The General greeted, with his thick Manehattan accent.
“Now you may notice that all around you are gleaming new F-95 Reapers. For some of you, these planes in this hanger will be yours, for the rest you’ll be in other hangers.” The General joked, “But all kidding aside these are the aircraft that you have been training your whole lives to operate and fly. These planes are the reason that you have logged the minimum of one thousand, five hundred and twenty hours split between simulation and training aircraft to operate. I’m sure many of you still wonder why we asked you to fly for so long before even seeing one of these planes. Well if your instructors never told you, it is because these aircraft are completely unforgiving.
“If you make a mistake or handle these babies wrong they will bite you. However if you are the pros I hope all of you are, these aircraft will treat you with the same respect you ask of them. But all that darkness aside it is time for the information you all have been waiting for, Squadron Assignments.” The General informed with a smile.
This got a small applause from the group while the rest simply gasped and squealed excitedly. Dash tried to keep herself stoic, but even she was beaming ear to ear. She had put down only one squadron on her request form; they had to give it to her.
The General nodded with a smile, “Well thankfully you won’t have to listen to me rattle off names and make you bored out of your minds. The squadron assignment information is posted on the billboard located right over there.” He pointed to a board near the door he had entered near the far side of the hanger. However no one moved as the General had yet dismissed the group. “However I do have several special assignments to give out. Private Allison Marrow will report to General Kleet Thomas of the 338th. Private Morain Andy, General Carson would like to see you in his office as soon as I am finished. Privates Marissa and Julie Jones please report to AWACS commander Elisa Lee. And will Private Margret Dash please see me shortly. The rest of you are dismissed and Good Luck wherever your careers take you.” The General said looking at his clipboard.
Dash’s heart began to beat with excitement as the crowd got up and began to move. She stayed behind until the crowd had thinned before making her way over to the General. As she approached the man that essentially was her hero for much of her youth, Dash noticed that she began to shake. She steeled herself enough just as she reached the General. General Johnson was discussing something with an officer regarding some information on the clip board when he noticed Dash.
“E….Excuse me General S…Sir,” Dash stuttered as she attempted to salute.
“Ah Private Dash,” The General greeted glancing up from his work, “One moment please.” He continued to work over the sheets of paper before nodding to the lieutenant and giving her the clipboard. Then the General turned to Dash and returned her salute. He stood just a few inches shorter than Dash but was none the less an imposing figure. After he finished saluting, he asked, “Your credentials please.”
Dash nodded and handing him the clipboard she held in her right hand before he began to walk out of the hanger. Dash hung close to the General as he walked out of the hanger and down the ramp towards another that was five buildings down. When Dash figured out the one she was going to, she spotted the Wonderbolts insignia on its doors as well as a big number 5 Painted in blue. However the General made a sharp turn before reaching the hanger doors. He led Dash towards the main buildings which were located behind the Hangers. Once inside, Dash noticed the interior was a plain white with hard oak finishing that resembled the interior of a school.
After walking through an office area, the General opened his office door and motioned for Dash to walk in. Dash took a seat in front from his desk while General Johnson sat behind it. Dash set her rucksack between her legs and placed her sunglasses on her collar.
“Alright before I go over your credentials I have a few questions. My first you said you were born in Cloudsdale but your city of residence is Ponyville is that correct?” He asked getting himself comfortable in the seat.
“Yes Sir, I moved to Ponyville when I was fifteen because I got an offer to work at the weather facility there.” Margret answered.
“And how many years were you in Ponyville?” he asked.
“Five sir,” Dash answered.
The General smiled, “Alright Margret this is the EAG not boot camp, you don’t gotta call me ‘sir’ every five minutes.”
“I’m sorry, force of habit.” She answered.
“Now you did not go straight into the EAG last year when you graduated, do you have a reason you can specify?” he asked.
“My mom got sick and…” Dash started tilting her head, “My best friend got coroneted.”
“I see.” The General nodded. He obviously knew this already, considering he was present at Princess Twilight’s coronation. But Dash was put off as to why he was asking these questions as they were on her credentials. “Alright well let me take a look over your records and credentials.” He said picking up her clipboard, “And excuse my talking, I read better when I do it aloud.”
“No problem sir, I do the same.” Dash blushed.
Then he began to read aloud her records, “Okay let’s see, Margret Firefly Dash: age Twenty one, height six foot two, one ninety seven pounds…you actually put in your breast measurements too?”
Dash nodded, blushing bright red.
The General nodded with raised eyebrows, “Okay…32B…hair rainbow, obviously, Eye color Magenta, skin white. Flight time, one thousand seven hundred and fifty three hours within training camp, two thousand four hundred and one privately. Currently holds Private pilot license with instrument, high performance, multiengine, and sports qualification, not bad. One mother, one father, both reside in Cloudsdale. Skill set, second tier. Eye sight’s thirty one over thirty one non-corrected.
“Now here’s the good part, accomplishments and accolades. Cloudsdale’s Best Young Flyer for the year 2012…oh I remember that competition weren’t you the one who did the sonic boom demonstration?” He asked.
“Yes sir, I remember you were one of the Wonderbolt judges.” Dash answered proudly.
“Obviously you were a good pilot to win my vote.” The General smirked, “Anyway, accomplishments include seven hundred hours above the sound barrier, two altitude records set for Ponyville fliers, and Cloudsdale Speed record 1999, six hundred and two miles per hour. You were what seven the hell was you doing?”
Dash pondered over the question, “It’s a…long story sir.”
Surprisingly, the general nodded. Then he began again, “Okay you fit all the criteria for admission into the Seventh Air wing. But my final question to you is why did you put just them?”
Dash gulped but kept her resolve, “Well General, when I was very young my dad took me to see the Wonderbolts back when they were performers and ever since then it’s been my one dream to join the Wonderbolt squadron. I’ve pushed myself to the brink many times testing, training, and building my abilities just to give myself even the hope of joining the Wonderbolts. I’d be useless to the EAG in any other squadron.”
“A lot of Squadron’s here would benefit from a pilot of your class Private,” The General said.
“If I may boast sir, not like the Wonderbolts,” She said. She wasn’t pushing to usurp Wonderbolt One as Squadron commander; she was just trying to join them.
“So you think that because of your credentials and accolades, as well as personal recommendations from all four of the Princesses in Equestria, that you are the best if not one of the best here at Greenhill probably within the EAG? And because of that you deserve a spot within the Wonderbolt Squadron?” he said surprisingly evenly.
Dash said nothing as she sat there. Mentally she was screaming at herself for her brashness and boldness. If she had kept out the last part maybe the General would consider her to join them. Now it looked like that the General was going to throw her out of the best chance she had.
The General rested within his seat, “You know Margret Dash, its brashness like that that can get a pilot killed in battle. However it’s also brashness, boldness, and self-assurance that can keep another pilot alive, provided he or she can balance that out with a sense of humbleness and evenness. Now both your credentials and your four recommendation latters mentioned you had a brash streak but also stated you were the most loyalist, dependable, and reliable pilot within Equestria. You should know however that I don’t weigh a pilot’s mantel even if they are related to the Royal family.
“That being said, you also should know that a couple of months ago, Two Wonderbolts left the squadron to get married and start a family. A few hours ago I just accepted another pilot into the fold as Wonderbolt Seven, which leaves Wonderbolt Six still empty.” The General told her leaning forward, resting his elbows on his desk, and joined his hands, “I feel that is necessary to fill that seat with a capable pilot. You will report to hanger five and introduce yourself to your new Squadron as well as familiar yourself with your new aircraft.”
Dash’s eyes went wide with excitement as the General smiled. Her dream had come true, she was now a Wonderbolt! She was about to jump up and hug the General when her conscious stopped her. Instead she got to her feet, saluted General Johnson, and said, “Thank you sir, you have no idea what this means to me.”
“I can imagine.” He answered nodding. Dash turned around and was about to leave when the General stopped her, “Oh and Dash. You don’t have to check your brashness at the door; you’ll find that is a Wonderbolt Trademark for them to hold them a little higher than the rest. However I would like it that you balance that pride with a little humility. You’re now a role model, act like it.”
“Yes sir.” Dash nodded and left. With giddiness equal to a school child being released for summer break, Dash moved quickly through the building passing some old friends and classmates who wanted her attention. She simply said hello to them and raced off saying “I’m a Wonderbolt!” Soon Dash exited the building and headed towards Hanger Five. Both of its doors were open and its aircraft were gleaming in whatever sun was shining in. The moment Dash reached the Hanger; she was struck with awe at what she was seeing.
The F-95 Reaper was a magnificent aircraft within its own right. Forward swept wings, canards located near the nose, v-twin tail fins, and small horizontal stabilizers near the rear angled downward, the Aircraft screamed stealth, speed, and power. The canopy was a long, bubble canopy that could allow for clear vision and the twin Ferrari A2116 Engines were purpose built to thrust the aircraft to Mach 6.
The cockpit was built into a slender “turtle neck” shaped front end that was connected to a larger, more brick shaped fuselage that held the engines, intakes, and supported the wings. The neck and nose cone housed the planes X-Radar sensors, GPS computers, fly-by-wire network hub, terrain following radar, as well as a fifty caliber Machine gun on the port side and a 20 mm cannon on the starboard. At the exhaust ports of the engines, horizontal slits were there to not only dampen heat exhaust, but also help vector the thrust
As Dash approached the Reaper with the number six painted on it, she marveled at the traditional Wonderbolt pain scheme. Aquamarine base covered the entirety of the plane. On the belly was a long thunderbolt that ran from the intakes towards the tail of the plane. The top of the plane had a smaller lightning bolt that only went down a third of the way down the back of the plane with two small azure wings spread off the bolt. Dash began to walk around the number six plane. On both sides of the canopy, just under the cockpit, as well as on the two tails was the number six; emblazoned in gold.
Dash took it all in as she examined the plane. As she walked around the plane, her hand ran across the hull. The plane felt warm to the touch, and she felt like she was meeting a friend for the first time. As she walked around, she noticed the three weapon racks on the port side wings. These racks would hold the planes missile armaments and the extra fuel tanks while hard points under the belly would carry the bombs or any long ranged missiles. The Reaper wasn’t just designed for air to air combat, but could also fit roles in Air to ground and air to sea missions. Surprisingly enough, this would denote the aircraft with an F/A marking to denote her attack role. But Celestia felt that F/A-95 was a mouth full and kept it F-95.
When she reached the nose of the plane, Dash was so stunned and in awe that she simply whispered, “Wow.”
“Amazing isn’t it?” a female voice rung through.
Dash spun around to see a tan skinned, short fire red hair, and tall female pilot walking over to her. She was dressed in a Wonderbolts flight suit that matched the plane’s color scheme. Cept the front carried the long lightning bolt that ran from her crotch to her neck. On her wrist cuffs were three thin bolt that ringed the sleeve, which denoted her as a Captain. Above her breast was her name, which read Capt. Rodriguez.
Dash snapped to attention and saluted, “Mam, Private Margret Dash reporting.”
The captain smiled and laughed, “As you were Private, no need to do that with me, now that we’re on the same team. I’m Captain Cassandra Rodriguez, callsign Spitfire, Wonderbolt Number one. But you can call me Cassie on the ground.”
“Oh, hi,” Dash greeted a little embarrassed, “I’m Margret Dash, callsign Rainbow. I’m the new Wonderbolt Six.”
“I know, Blaze just told me,” Cassandra smiled sticking out her hand, “Let me be the second to welcome you to the Seventh air Wing, Wonderbolt Squadron.”
“Oh thank you,” Dash stammered shaking her hand.
“No problem, so you like your new plane?” Spitfire asked after she released her hand.
“Oh yes, she’s beautiful.” Dash answered.
“Wanna try her on?” Spitfire asked.
Dash looked at her with wide eyes. Spitfire laughed as she walked over to the starboard side of the cockpit. She pulled open two hatches and the pulled out the step ladder before motioning to Dash for her to join her. Dash stood there gazing at the moment before walking gingerly over. Then, equally gingerly, she climbed up the short ladder towards the cockpit. When she reached the top, Dash opened up the flip panel to access the cockpit. To make sure no one can steal the Reaper, all aircraft came with thumb ID scanners to verify the aircraft belonged to the pilot or to the chief mechanic.
Dash placed her thumb on the scanner and it registered her validity. By now, she assumed that General Johnson had already approved her as a member since Cassandra knew she was here. That was validated when the computer within the plane said, “Identity confirmed, welcome Margret “Rainbow” Dash.” Right near the scanner, to Dash’s right, her name appeared in black. The Canopy slid open allowing Dash to climb in.
The cockpit was very roomy. Dash sat in a somewhat comfortable ejection seat that was inclined back at a comfortable twenty degrees. As she gripped the flight controls, located at opposite sides of the cockpit but still within comfortable reach, she began to gently work them. The left joysticks was the aircraft’s flight control, which could allow the aircraft to climb, descended, and roll left or right. The right one was a split control system. Unlike the left one, which was moveable in all directions, this one was stationary because it held the weapons control. However this one could move as well, as the stick doubled as the planes throttle.
Many initially wondered how the feel would be with this very interesting design feature. When reports started coming back that it was surprisingly comfortable and ergonomic, the designers stuck with it. On the main control panel were three screens. The center one displayed the planes artificial horizon or attitude/altitude indicator. To its left was the display showing the aircraft’s weapons status, aircraft status, and fuel status. To the far right was the Radar display. All three screens were liquid crystal and designed to provide the pilot with easy readying and information input. There were still switches, toggles, and buttons that still held some vital functions: from aircraft and engine start up, to switching fuel tank and activating cross feed, to switching Radar displays from X-Radar to terrain following, to switching weapons, and finally activating any jamming equipment that might be loaded on.
Dash felt very comfortable within the cockpit, resting her feet upon the rudder pedals. She felt like she was putting on clothing, this plane fit that well. She turned to spitfire and said, “Wow this is amazing.”
“Get used to it quickly kid, you’re gonna be spending a lot of time in this cockpit.” Spitfire nodded, “Come on and climb outta there, I’ll introduce you to the rest of the squadron.” Then Spitfire clambered down.
Dash climbed out of the aircraft and was about to reach towards the canopy to close it when Spitfire told her, “Oh no don’t worry, it closes itself.”
“It does?” Dash asked. She got her answer when the canopy began to slide to a close.
“Yea you only have to close it when you’re inside the plane. But once you leave it closes itself after a moment.” Spitfire explained after Dash climbed down, “Didn’t they teach you that in basic?”
“Yea they did, but it’s been a while since I’ve been there.” Dash answered as Spitfire closed the ladder.
“Huh?” Spitfire asked confused, but she remembered before Maggie could answer, “Oh right you didn’t jump in right away. Come on kid follow me.”
Dash nodded and followed. Cassandra led the rookie pilot out of the hanger and towards the barracks, which were located next to the main building. They soon reached the one denoting the Wonderbolts barracks. When Dash walked in behind Spitfire, she was led into the main living room. a small room with a grey rug, black sofa’s that looked comfy, and one HD TV complete with PlayStation 4 console and cable box. There were four other pilots in the room, two female and two male, who Cassie introduced intern. All wore Wonderbolt Flight suits.
“Hey guys,” Cassandra started when the duo walked in, “This is our newest teammate, and the new Wonderbolt Six. Say hi kid.”
Dash smiled and blushed, “Hello everyone, I’m Private Margret Dash. My callsign is ‘Rainbow.’”
“No guesses as to why,” a silver hair female pilot laughed.
“Alright smart ass since you decided to speak first, you go first.” Cassandra snapped.
The girl rolled her eyes, “Fine, and sorry. My name is First Lieutenant Natasha Reyes, callsign Fleetfoot. I’m Wonderbolt Three.”
One of the boys got up; he had been sitting on a rocking chair on the far side of the room. “My name is First Lieutenant Alex Jamison, Callsign Fire Streak. I’m Wonderbolt Four.” said Alex. Alex looked a little like Cassandra, except his red hair was accented with white streaks rather than yellow.
The second girl, who was on the middle couch playing a video game on the console, paused her game and looked at Dash. She was platinum blonde and carried a warm smile. “I’m Lieutenant Second class Michelle Jackson, callsign Cloud Kicker, and I’m Wonderbolt Five.” She smiled.
Then a tall, blue haired man, who was resting his back on the wall next to Dash, straightened himself out. “Pleasure to meet you I’m Captain Jonathan Sandberg, Callsign Soaring. I’m Wonderbolt two and you can call me Jon.” He said with a warm disposition.
“Jon and Tasha are my two wingmates; considering we have a team of seven it was inevitable we would have a three man team. Uh I think Michelle is Alex’s wingman."
Dash smiled, “Wow it’s really nice to know all of you.”
Then Cassie noticed something, “Wait a moment we’re down one pilot, anybody know where the other newbie is?”
“I think she’s upstairs,” Michelle answered.
“YO ALLIE, GET DOWN HERE!” Tasha shouted.
A distant, and all too familiar voice, shouted back “I’m on my way.”
“She’s up in the rooms, come on we’ll meet her half way.” Cassie motioned. Dash followed her through the living room and into a hallway. When they reached a set of steps, Spitfire took one side and Dash took the other. But there was no need as Wonderbolt Seven was at the top of the short flight.
Dash gasped when she saw her. Standing at the top of the steps was a tall, slender, orange and yellow hair, golden eye pilot Dash recognized. She was the very wingmate Dash got kicked from flight school, Alice “Lightning” Dust. And Alice recognized Dash with shock.
“You!” the two shouted at each other.
“You two know each other?” Cassie asked confused.
“I would say so; she was the one who kicked me out of flight training!” Dust said evenly.
“Mam why is she a Wonderbolt, this woman is reckless and dangerous. Her eagerness nearly got me and ten other pilots killed in training.” Dash accused looking between Cassie and Alice.
“I went back,” Alice said.
“Right, cuz you left a year,” Cassie nodded, “Well kid, Alice tried again last year. The instructors were initially hesitant, but Alice convinced them to give her another chance. During her second go around, she lost her over-competiveness and was more willing to work as a part of a team. She comes with just as much honors as you.”
“That’s right, I changed Skittles.” Dust said with amazing sincerity.
Dash wasn’t convinced as she glared at Alice. Not only was she angry that Alice was in the EAG and a Wonderbolt, but she was enraged that Dust was now her wingmate. However what calmed her down was the fact that now she was Alice’s team leader.
Cassie sensed this and smiled, “Well I’ll let you go find your room kid, I gotta talk with Blaze about our hop tomorrow.” And then Cassie walked away.
The two didn’t move for a moment, both glaring at each other. Dash could see Alice’s sincerity in her eyes, but she still didn’t like it. Finally she began to ascend up the steps, “Just because you got Spitfire’s approval doesn’t mean you got mine Lightning.”
“Oh come off it Skittles I’ve…” Dust started as Dash reached the top step.
“It’s Rainbow now.” Dash snapped, “Call me that again or up in the air and I will personally shoot you out of the sky.”
Dust nodded, “Fair game. Now look I’ve changed, I’m a better person and pilot now. Just give me another chance. Isn’t that what your element signifies, trust?”
“It’s Loyalty,” Dash corrected, “And I’ll give you one chance. Screw it, and I’ll personally see you out of this team.”
“What about the EAG?” Dust joked.
“That’ll depend on how badly you screw it. I’m your team leader now, you will listen to me this time not vice versa.” Dash shot back before walking towards her room.
“Yes Rainbow.” Dust nodded, “And Maggie, I’m sorry for what I put you through. For what it’s worth, you were right, I was reckless.”
Dash stopped, but didn’t acknowledge the comment. After a brief pause, she began walking again towards her room. She soon found it and walked in. It was a simple room, one memory foam bed and one dresser and closet. The closet held her flight suit and jacket. To Dash’s surprise, her rucksack was lying on her bed. Apparently she had forgotten it in the General's room.
As Dash walked into the room the gravity of the situation sunk in and she sat down on the bed. Tears welled in her eyes as she could barely contain herself. A big smile was beaming on her face and Dash never felt happier. Her hands found a telephone, which was resting on the night stand. Quickly, she dialed her home phone number. “Hello Mom?” she asked when the other line answered, “Yea I did. Guess what, I’m a Wonderbolt!”

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               Chapter Two: Baptism by fire                
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Chapter Two: Baptism by fire
**Chapter Two:
Baptism by Fire**
The next morning, Dash’s alarm clock got her up at Six am sharp. The weary rainbow haired woman rose out of bed slowly. Yesterday her parents had been so excited at her admission to the Wonderbolts, they raced over to her. Good thing too as Dash had forgotten to pack a good amount of clothes and bed sheets. Thankfully her parents didn’t stay long, just enough to take her to a celebratory dinner. When they left, Maggie was so emotionally drained that she fell asleep the moment she hit the bed.
This morning, she got out of her bed before making it, shedding her clothes and wrapping herself in a towel, then grabbed her toiletries and a towel before heading towards the shower. The base’s designers forgot to put showers in the officers and recruits rooms, instead deciding to combine them into two showers for each squadron. The ground crews, who stayed in a separate building complex, got the same treatment. Thankfully the two showers were divided by sex so Dash didn’t have to shower with the guys.
She wasn’t shy by any means, as her high school had a similar make up. And she was so tired that morning she didn’t really care. Once she reached the locker room outside the showers, she put her towel and shoes in the locker with her name on it and then walked into the showers with the rest of her toiletries. The whole showers were one room with five shower heads and drains. Dash walked up to one of the heads and placed her shampoo and body wash on a small ledge right in front of her. Then she turned on the shower which thankfully sprayed warm water.
As she began to wash herself, Dash heard the rest of her female squad mate’s walk in. Cassie walked in first, letting her hair down. “Morning kid,” she yawned.
Dash nodded, “Morning Cassie.”
Cassandra took the far shower head while Tasha and Michelle took the two next to her. Then Alice took the one next to Dash, which made Dash a little peeved.
“Morning Rainbow,” Alice nodded.
“Lightning,” Dash hissed as she ran shampoo through her hair.
“Are you two going to remain cynical to each other throughout your tour here?” Cassandra asked sternly.
“No mam,” Rainbow answered. She knew the comment was directed at her, “Sorry Lightning…I’m just tired.”
“Welcome to the club,” Alice smiled.
Dash returned the smile and continued. It wasn’t just that she was tired; she still was a little sore about Lightning actually being a Wonderbolt. There was another thing too; Alice was bigger than Dash, in fact she was the biggest in the shower, and surprisingly natural too. But Dash put that aside, she was just going to have to accept that too.
“Yo Cassie,” Michelle said between applying soap to her body, “What’s the story about today?”
“Command’s got us running on a patrol to the Foal Mountains and Shady Hills. Then back to base. Just to ease in the newbies,” Cassie laughed.
The other two girls shared a laugh at Alice’s and Dash’s expense.
“You think we’ll be seeing anything today?” Tasha asked.
“Why do you say that?” Alice asked her.
“Word is the Wardogs Squadron over by Lord Solaris base ran into a spy plane just outside of Hayseed Swamps.” Tasha answered.
“Really,” Dash asked as she grabbed her soap bar.
“Yea, someone also told me they got jumped by bogies too.” Michelle added.
“Speculation, all of it, and I don’t want you guys to continue. Nothing of this scuttlebutt is confirmed and you two should know better than to listen to rumors.” Cassie said, “Any who wheels up at nine sharp.”
Dash nodded, “Yes mam.”
“See, the kid gets it easily.” Cassie said with a smile, turning to look at Dash, “Not bad kid, little lacking on the chest but not bad.”
Dash blushed, “Doesn’t mean I’m any less awesome.”
“You go girl,” Tasha said. Dash nodded at Tasha with an arrogant smile. She saw that Tasha was flat chested.
Alice giggled, “Well no one can complain about these.”
“Don’t they hurt your back carrying them?” Michelle asked innocently enough.
“Sometimes, but I got used to it.” Alice explained.
Michelle nodded.
Dash shook her head, “If this is what life is going to be like,”
“Oh ease off kid we’re just teasing.” Cassie smiled.
This made the five women laugh as they finished up.
After Dash left the shower, she dried herself off and returned to her room to put on a pair of clothes. Once she had a fitting outfit, Dash made her way to the mess hall for breakfast. Despite most of the barracks being separated according to Squadron, the mess hall was one building. Dash walked with the line through the cafeteria as the servers dished out food. After getting a good breakfast of eggs and bacon, Dash began to look for a table to sit at. She didn’t have to look long.
“Maggie over here!” she heard Jon shout. She looked and saw Jon waving at her. He was sitting with Cassandra, Michelle, Alex, and Tasha.
Smiling, Dash hurried over to their table just as Alice spotted Soarin as well. When the two sat down, they noticed General Johnson was sitting with them. “Good morning you two.” He greeted.
“Good morning sir,” Dash returned.
“Morning, sir,” Alice returned.
“I trust yesterday wasn’t too bad,” He said to Cassandra.
Cassie shook her head, “Some glaring and shouting but nothing bad.”
“Wait you knew?” Dash asked the General.
“Of course I did,” the general answered faking shock, “I know everything.”
Jon and Alex chuckled at that. After that Dash began taking bites of her eggs. “These are good,” she nodded.
“Yea, much better than that shitty boot camp food,” Alice agreed.
General Johnson laughed, “Well command spares no expense in treating their troops well.”
“By the way, when’s briefing?” Cassandra asked.
The general looked at his watch, “Well wheels up at Nine and its seven right now. So…now.” The two looked at each other with some discomfort at this.
“Twenty minutes,” Cassie asked.
The General nodded, “Twenty minutes.”
Ten minutes later, Dash had finished her breakfast and returned to her room. She changed out of her morning civvies and was now putting on a sports bra and panties. Despite the early morning she had missed her morning run and now it was too late to pull one off. She was cursing herself over that, but she accepted that she was just going to have to get up earlier to pull that off.
Once her undergarments were on, Dash opened her closet and pulled out her flight suit. It was exactly the same as the rest of the Bolts, except on both of her hips it had her cutie mark just like her. The white cloud with a red, yellow, and blue lightning bolt matched hers perfectly. As she slid into it and zipped it up, it felt like putting on pure joy. The jumpsuit was comfortable and very practical. After getting a feel for it, Dash began to pocket her essentials. On her left sleeve she put three pens and one pencil, and in her right sleeve pocket she put a small note pad. Then she put strapped her kneeboard to her left thigh, tied up her flight boots, and headed out to the briefing room.
Like the living room, the briefing room had one black couch and grey rug. However the briefing room also had seven folding chairs stacked into three rows of two and one solo one for Cassandra at the front. On the front wall was a pull down screen that was lit by a project hanging from the ceiling in the center of the room. To the wall opposite the entrance door, there was another door that exited out onto the ramp. Dash took her seat in the sixth chair and pulled out her note pad as well as a pen. Alice sat next to her while Michelle and Alex sat in front. The General walked into the room and to the projection screen.
“Good morning pilots, today we got a simple mission for you. Command would want you to patrol the region of space east of the Foal mountains and over Shady hills. We don’t expect anything to surprise you today. However with the recent altercation over Lord Solaris airbase still being investigated, command isn’t taking any chances.” The General briefed, “Your route will start at the base of the mountains and take you over Shady hills. Don’t expect to be airborne for more than five hours. Maintain your squadron teams, and good luck out there. If you run into anything, do not fire upon it unless fired upon. Are there any questions?”
No one raised their hands.
“Very good, Dismissed.” He ordered.
The seven pilots got up and exited the briefing room. Dash and Alice followed the veteran five towards Hanger Five. They walked into the changing rooms built into the right side of the hanger building. Dash walked over to her locker, denoted with a number Six over it, she found her G-suit and her HMD, or Helmet Mounted Display, helmet. The helmet and G-suit had her cutie mark on them as well, confirming they were hers.
A small window looked out on to the hangers and the seven strapped themselves into their suits. Dash looked out and saw the ground crew loading missiles on to her plane. On the wings, the closest hard point to the tip was loaded with three of the small, short ranged, blue colored Aim-21 Blue bird Missile. An two medium ranged Aim-9X Sidewinders loaded onto two rails filled the middle hard point. On the closest hard point was a drop tank to extend the range of the Reaper. Under the planes belly, four long ranged Aim-75 Stinger missiles were loaded.
“They’re arming us for real.” Dash said softly.
“Yes they did, the General did brief us on that.” Alice answered; she wasn’t calling Dash out, as she was just as shocked as Dash was.
Dash steeled herself, she knew Vertania wasn’t going to try anything again and Waldreich was neutral despite their distrust of Equestria. She then said to Alice, “Well then make sure you remember combat training.”
“Make sure you do,” Alice shot back, grabbing her helmet and walking out to the hanger.
Dash was about to respond when she remember that Alice was reminding her that she had been out for about a year. Still she had taken a refresher course and was now a Wonderbolt; things were going to be okay. With that determination and self-assurance, Dash grabbed her helmet and began to walk to her jet. As she did, the hanger was alive as ground crew members finished arming and fueling the Reapers and were now helping the pilots into their planes.
As Dash walked up to hers, her ground crew saluted her. “Welcome to the party Rainbow.” Her chief shouted as Cassandra and Soarin were powering up their jets, “Mah name’s Albert and Ah’ll be helping yer out.”
“I’d shake your hand and introduce myself to your team but I think we gotta hop so I’ll take a rain check.” She shouted back.
“No problem there Miss Dash,” Albert answered as Dash reached the ladder and climbed up.
Placing her helmet on the dashboard, Dash climbed into the cockpit, tied her hair into a flat bun, and put her helmet on before strapping herself in. Albert helped putting on her harness and seatbelts before going over the planes weight. “Alright she’s loaded up with full tanks, fifty one gallons that’s around a hundred and ninety one gallons plus the two tanks which is another hundred gallons between the two of them. You also got a full complement of bullets and missiles that’s another two hundred pounds of equipment.” He explained.
Dash did the math on her knee board note pad, factoring in the planes gross weight to its empty weight. It was simple addition plus the fact she had her checklist booklet on her other knee, something she picked up from the locker in the changing room. When she finished her calculations, she said, “Okay I’m good.”
“Alright happy trails,” Albert nodded slapping her right shoulder.
Dash waited until he was down on the ground before beginning start up sequence. Once Albert gave her the all clear, she fired up the engines. The Ferrari A2116 engines roared to life for the first time in their life, sucking in all air they could. Dash gave the throttle a little push to make sure they were operating okay, before throttling back and turning on the cockpit avionics. The ground crew removed the safeties from her weapons as she closed the canopy.
Dash then pushed her mask to her face, “Wonderbolt Six radio check. Check, check, boom?”
“Pow, pow, bam Wonderbolt Six.” Spitfire answered.
Rainbow nodded and gave Albert a thumbs up. Albert then began to move to the nose of the plane to direct Rainbow out. He waved hands to denote the chocks being removed and Rainbow rested on the breaks. Already Spitfire, Soarin, Fleetfoot, and Fire Streak had taxied out of the hanger and towards the runway. Rainbow waited until Cloud Kicker started began to taxi out before she began moving.
Once she did, Albert began to guide her out with the use of his hands and arms, backing up as she moved out. Once she got to the yellow line that ran down the center of the hanger, Albert motioned for her to turn left. Rainbow depressed the left rudder pedal and her Reaper turned left slowly. As she moved down the centerline, she gave Albert a salute to which he returned with one of his own before running outside. As Rainbow taxied out, she followed Cloud Kicker. She then tuned in Greenhill ground just as Cloud Kicker radioed in.
“This is Wonderbolt Five to Greenhill ground checking in.” she said.
“Wonderbolt Five this is ground control cleared to taxi runway two seven via bravo and delta with company squadron.” The ground controller told her.
“Roger, taxi to active via bravo delta, Wonderbolt Five.” Cloud Kicker said easing her plane into a faster taxi to catch up with the others.
Rainbow kept her roll to a crawl as she called in, “Greenhill ground this is Wonderbolt Six checking in.”
“Wonderbolt Six, good morning, this is ground. Cleared to taxi to runway two seven via bravo and delta with company squadron.” The controller responded.
“Roger, taxi to two seven via bravo delta, company insight Wonderbolt Six.” Rainbow responded.
“Ground this is Wonderbolt Seven, checking in.” Lightning said.
Rainbow turned to see Lightning’s Reaper taxiing right behind her. She had improved. Back at training, she’d usually be way ahead by now when she requested clearance. Rainbow smiled as she eased more juice into the engines. As Lightning got her clearance, she too throttled up to join the team.
Soon the seven pilots had taxied over the taxiways and were holding position just off the runway at entrance Delta Five. They were waiting for clearance to take the runway. The moment Dash got there; she switched over to Tower frequency and waited for Spitfire to call in for the team.
“Tower, this is Wonderbolt One, with you at Delta five with company requesting clearance to take off and right downwind.” Spitfire said over the radio.
“Wonderbolt One this is tower, cleared for squadron to take off and depart right downwind departure. Wind Two, two seven at twelve, clear skies to the coast.” The tower controller responded.
“Roger wind’s two, two, seven at twelve, right downwind approved, squadron cleared for takeoff, Wonderbolt one.” Spitfire said, and then she said to the squadron, “In sequence guys.”
Rainbow nodded and clicked her mask twice in response. The first three Wonderbolts of Spitfire’s team took the runway in a V formation before all three throttled down the runway and lifted off.  And then went Fire Streak and Cloud kicker in a pair formation. When it was Rainbow’s and Lightning’s turn, Rainbow took one side of the runway and Lightning the other. The moment they were on the runway and pointed down it, the two pilots pushed their throttles to full and headed off down the runway. Rainbow watched the airspeed indicator come alive, pilot lingo for start moving, and waited until the takeoff speed of one hundred and fifty knots.
When that speed was reached, the Reaper began to rise. Rainbow leaned the joystick back and tilted it to the left while depressing the right pedal to correct for the wind. The noise came up and soon the plane was in the air and flying straight with her other six comrades. After clearing one hundred feet, Rainbow then banked the aircraft right to the base leg, and then after reaching two hundred, she turned right again to join the downwind leg. Lightning followed Rainbow perfectly as the duo followed the Squadron with ease.
After leveling out, Rainbow brought the gear up as the airspeed hit two hundred and twenty knots. General Johnson was right, treat the Reaper well and it will treat you well. Rainbow’s adrenaline was pumping as she linked up with the other five and the squadron formed a V formation.
“Rainbow to Spitfire, Lightning and I are marking your tails.” Rainbow said.
“Good to hear Rainbow,” Spitfire answered, “Wonderbolt one to tower, we’re departing your airspace enroute to Foal Mountain airspace. Good day guys.”
“Safe travels Wonderbolts, see you when you get back.” The tower responded.
The seven pilots then switched over to the Wonderbolt Unicom frequency as the seven began to climb higher.
“Alright team, our cruising altitude is twenty thousand feet. Let’s not waste any time getting up there.” Spitfire ordered.
The seven all gently pitched up and rocketed their planes to full power. Within no time, the Wonderbolts were supersonic and gliding to Twenty thousand feet. Thanks to supercruise technology, the Reapers could cruise and operate above the speed of sound without using afterburners or burning a lot of fuel in the process. When they finally reached altitude, the seven leveled off and eased back on the throttles. Trimming out her planes to cruise evenly, Rainbow found the perfect flight level and eased back in her seat.
For the first time in a long time, she looked out at the world below. With much of the surrounding sky clear, she could see all the way to Cloudsdale and the Capital city of Canterlot. It was a very beautiful sight.
“Hey kid,” Spitfire said, “Enjoying the view?”
“Yes mam,” Rainbow answered.
Lightning laughed, “I’ll bet you are, just remember to keep your eyes locked forward.”
“Got nothing to talk about rookie,” Soarin jumped in, “You gotta do the same.”
Rainbow laughed, “Guess we ain’t getting any help this time Lightning.”
“When are we ever?” Lightning laughed in response.
“Just some rookie hazing guys relax,” Cloud Kicker soothed.
This made the two rookies laugh even harder. Soon the group reached the Foal Mountains and began their patrol.
After about an hour of flight, nothing interesting was happening and the radio was pretty quiet. Rainbow however was enjoying it. Her first sortie with the Wonderbolts was a quiet one. The lands below her and the skies around her were equally peaceful. It was pure bliss. Even the noise cancellers within her headset were calming the roar of the engines. She was about to call it out when she decided not to break the stillness of this flight.
However, all that peace and quiet was shattered when the coms came alive. “ALERT, ALERT, GRADE A ALERT WONDERBOLTS CALL IN!” shouted a voice.
Spitfire switched to the EAG’s main frequency, “This is Wonderbolt One responding what’s going on.”
“Wonderbolts your current mission is an abort, I said again abort your mission!” General Blaze responded, “Head south immediately to Baltimare, the city is under attack by naval and air forces!”
Rainbow’s heart sank when she heard that, as did the rest of the pilots. A strange sense of panic set in within Rainbow’s mind, and she tried to calm it with no avail.
She heard Spitfire take a deep breath, “Do we know who’s behind it.”
“Negative Wonderbolt Leader, head south immediately,” The General ordered.
“Roger that sir,” Spitfire said.
Rainbow took a deep breath to calm her and prepare her for battle.
“Alright guys alert status, put on your masks we’re going in.” Spitfire said.
Rainbow gripped her mask and hooked it on to her helmet, “Please Celestia let this be a false alarm.”
Then, with Lightning starting the roll, the seven planes rolled right and banked south. They rocketed their throttles and raced off to war.
About a half hour later, the pilots were approaching the city. Smoke and contrails could already be seen and sounds from the combat could be heard.
“More enemy planes coming in!”
“They’re Transport planes, they’re carrying paratroopers, and they’re invading the city!”
“Bombers, bombers incoming as well!”
“Get an ambulance over here we got a shit ton of civilian casualties too!”
“Who are these guys?”
Rainbow could hear every call on the radio and could see the battle raging. It made her nervous. Equestria was actually under attack and at war with an unknown enemy. However as they approached, her bravery and loyalty kicked in calming her nerves. Spitfire then signaled over the radio, “This is Wonderbolt One calling AWACS, we’re inbound to the battle zone bearing heading one seven five. We’re supersonic and should be there in a few minutes.”
“This is Airborne Warning and Control System callsign Eagle Eye reporting to Wonderbolt one. I’ll be your commander from here on out. Bogies of unknown origin have launched an attack upon Baltimare and Horseshoe Bay. We’ve got bombers, fighters, and transport planes in this scrum. You are cleared to engage all targets, defend the city!” Eagle Eye called back.
“Roger that, Wonderbolt One to all Wonderbolts you are weapons free. Time to earn our stripes team!” Spitfire said.
“Wonderbolt Two roger engaging,” Soarin said.
“Wonderbolt Three roger engaging.” Fleetfoot responded.
“Wonderbolt Four roger engaging.” Fire Streak agreed.
“Wonderbolt Five engaging,” Cloud Kicker said.
“Wonderbolt Six engaging,” Rainbow responded.
“Wonderbolt Seven engaging,” Lightning responded.
“Roger that, all teams split up and engage. May Celestia smile on us,” Spitfire ordered.
In unison, the seven Wonderbolts detached their now empty drop tanks. With that, Spitfire and her trio climbed out of the formation to engage the bombers. Fire Streak and Cloud Kicker banked left to move on the fighters entering the battle. Rainbow and Lightning banked right to take on the forces already over the city. As they approached, the real scale of the battle hit home. The sky was full of enemy and friendly planes, Dash counted up to nine hundred fighters, bombers, and transport planes total. The enemy planes were denoted with a green box on her helmet display, while friendlies were blue.
“Let’s do this Lightning.” Rainbow said evenly. She was now in total control of her emotions and ready for battle. Her blood was pumping with anger at this faceless enemy’s bold statement to declare war.
“Yea, I’m with you.” Lightning responded. Rainbow could hear the shakiness in her voice, Lightning was nervous. As she should be, they were going to war.
“You okay?” Rainbow asked.
“Yea, just settling my nerves.” Lightning answered, evenness returning to her voice.
“Well just make sure you don’t leave me.” Rainbow told her.
“I ain’t leaving ya Dash, not this time.” Lightning answered.
“Good, now let’s take these fucking bastards out.” Rainbow said switching on her missile tracking. The long ranged Stingers came to live as the radar tracked the planes. Soon the Reapers got close enough so that their X-Radar could detect the aircraft types. The Fighters were MiG-29s and Su-35s while the attackers were Su-32s. The Bombers were the Tu-95 bears, while the transports were An-225s. All these aircraft had been built by the Federation, the southernmost nation on the planet Equis. However they couldn’t be the nation behind the attack as they supplied their weapons to Zebronia, Vertania, and Waldreich.
Undeterred, Rainbow waited until all four missiles got good tones before firing. “Wonderbolt Six Fox-Three!” she shouted as she pressed the firing button. The four missiles under her belly detached from the Reaper and zoomed off to their targets.
“Wonderbolt Seven Fox-Three!” Lightning shouted as she fired her own four.
The eight missiles cut through the air and impacted eight different targets. Within seconds a wing of fighters raced in front of Rainbow chasing another Reaper. Rainbow winged over and slid on their tails as four more Stingers regenerated beneath her. Thanks to Equestrian technology and magic, the Reapers were able to regenerate missiles and bombs they carried allowing them to carry far more weapons. In total Rainbow had fifty Blue Jays, twenty Sidewinders, and ten Stingers not counting the four she fired. The same was true for the rest of the Wonderbolts now engaged in combat.
As Rainbow rolled in on the aggressing planes, she switched her weapons to the short ranged Blue Jays and fired. Two small missiles detached from both wings and rocketed towards two of the MiGs. Both missiles impacted destroying the targets. A vengeful Sukhoi swung in trying to get on Rainbow’s tail, but Lightning bagged him with a Blue Jay. Instantly the duo broke off to engage other craft.
“The City’s going up in flames!” Cloud Kicker shouted.
“Keep it together guys, we gotta defend Baltimare!” Soarin shot back.
“Warning, warning, enemy threat level still high!” Eagle eye reported.
Rainbow and Lightning dodged missiles and gun fire as they engaged a group of bombers moving in on the city. Using their guns, they made mincemeat of the bomber formation before turning on the transports that were already dropping troops. Over the bay, Fire Streak and Cloud Kicker were in the thick of a tight engagement with Sukhois and MiGs. Suddenly huge balls of fire began flying by their cockpits from below. They failed to notice a large fleet moving into the bay.
“Fucking A, they got a navy! They’re bringing in ground troops!” Fire Streak shouted when the ships opened fire on them.
“Attackers take out those ships; clear them before they sink our fleet!” Eagle Eye shouted.
Equestria’s Second fleet was stationed in Baltimare’s Horseshoe Bay, and now was in the sights of the enemy fleet.  Rainbow wanted to help the fleet out, but her battle was over the city trying to clear the skies. Then the radio picked up the enemy calls.
“Fighters clear the way for the troop transports and the naval craft. Sweep the sky of enemy planes.” The Enemy commander ordered.
“Make sure no new group joins this fray!” an enemy pilot shouted.
“Get out of my country!” Rainbow shouted as she fired upon another attacking fighter wing. All around the two of them planes were being blown out of the sky left and right. All of the Wonderbolt pilots had to dodge burning wrecks as well as enemy and friendly fire.
“This is Spitfire to Eagle Eye, another group of Bombers down. Gimmie another target.” Spitfire called in.
Rainbow looked up to see the trio diving in on another group of engaging fighters.
“DASH LOOK OUT!” Lightning screamed.
Rainbow looked just in time to see a MiG-29 diving on her, missiles locked and fired. She snapped to the right just in time and deployed countermeasures. Lightning quickly jumped on the fighter and shot him out of the sky.
“Thanks Lightning.” Rainbow said.
“No problem.” Lightning responded.
Rainbow then rolled back into battle, moving on a stray transport before blasting it out of the sky. More Equestrian F-95s were joining the fray all over the burning Baltimare, but it seemed like they were doing little against this unending force. Just then a new blimp appeared on Radar.
“Attention all Aircraft, I’ve got a soft blimp on Radar approaching the city. A group of Stealth fighters are in bound. And I don’t think they’re friendly.” Eagle Eye said.
Rainbow looked to the east and spotted the aircraft. They were compact fighters, with one engine and one intake at the nose. They had trapezoid wings and two tails. The body was made with sharp angles and ridges that deflected Radar. Rainbow could make out a single cockpit and the greyish color of the planes. But neither her radar nor Rainbow herself could make out what they were.
“I got a visual on them!” she shouted, “Definitely Stealth aircraft of some kind.”
Just then the fighters opened bays underneath them and fired missiles right at the Equestrian planes. Dash watched in horror as one of them made her missile alert alarms go off. She and Lightning instantly broke to the left and deployed countermeasures. It just barely made the missile go off course. As they turned back towards the planes, the mysterious aircraft had already raced into the city and were pecking off the Reapers with ease.
With new found rage, Rainbow pitched up and moved in upon one of those aircraft. She soon discovered as she lined up on their tails, that they lacked the maneuverability of the Reapers. “They may be quick but they ain’t good in turns.” She shouted over the radio. She switched over to her Sidewinders and locked up a tone, “Fox Two Fox two!”
The Sidewinder slid off its rail and fired its rocket. The missile flew at Mach two right up the tail of the mysterious plane causing it to explode right there. “Bulls-eye mother fucker!” Rainbow shouted as it fell. The rest of the Wonderbolts engaged these new craft with marginal success.
Rainbow was right, they weren't as maneuverable as the Reapers, but they were just as deadly. And the pilots who flew them were extremely skilled far beyond even the Wonderbolts skill. Everyone found extreme difficulty trying to get a kill on these aircraft. Soon even Rainbow’s frustration was at a boiling point. A fighter had gotten on her tail and wouldn’t break. Rainbow banked, jinked, and weaved through the sky to dodge his cannon fire.
“Lightning where are you I got a trailer!” Rainbow shouted.
“Stuck in my own fight Dash I’m sorry!” Lightning responded.
Rainbow cursed the sky as she broke into a dive. The mysterious plane hung with her as she dove. She pulled out of her dive just above the city. But the plane stuck with her despite her best efforts to shake him. Finally she had enough. She chopped the throttle and pulled back hard on the stick. The nose shot up as the Reaper instantly went vertical and lost all its airspeed. As the nose went up, Rainbow put some power back in to hold the plane there as the mysterious plane raced by.
When he passed, she lowered the nose and charged after him, “My turn asshole!”
The moment her Sidewinder’s gave her good tone, she fired it and blew the plane out of the sky. Just then another mysterious plane rocketed in guns blazing. But before it could line up on Rainbow, Lightning swooped in and knocked it out of the sky.
“Thanks, it’s about time you showed.” Rainbow thanked.
“Sorry I had to take care of one of my own.” Lightning responded as the two turned back.
Then Fleetfoot came over the radio, “Eagle Eye this is Wonderbolt three. These planes, these ships, they’ve all got Vertainian markings.”
“Are you sure?” Eagle eye responded.
“Yes sir, this force is definitely Vertainian.” Fleetfoot answered.
Rainbow swallowed hard, that meant the pilots of these aircraft were Changelings. Creatures that could change their form to impersonate others to feed off their love. Two years ago they attempted to take over Equestria by impersonating Princess Cadence during her wedding and invading Canterlot. But the real Cadence and Major General Bradley Sparkle, also known as Shining Armor, turned them back.
“Well it seems they’ve abandoned the subtle approach,” Lightning sighed.
Just then a series of massive explosions rocked the city and sky. The explosions were airburst that destroyed any Equestrian plane near it. Rainbow held on for dear life as her Reaper shook violently. Thankfully though, the Reaper remained airborne.
“WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT!” a pilot shouted.
“All Wonderbolts report in!” Eagle eye shouted.
“We’re all airborne.” Spitfire said after taking a quick check of her display.
“What the hell was that attack, it was like a nuclear bomb went off!” Fire Streak shouted.
“I don’t know, but we just lost half our fighting force. I’m picking up cruise missiles inbound, three of them! They’re more of those weapons, everyone get out of their range. I’ve marked their impact points on your radars!”
Rainbow and Lightning pulled hard left to escape a missile explosion that took out half the city and several aircraft. More explosions occurred across Baltimare.
“What the hell AWACS we can’t fight that.” Soarin shouted.
“No we can’t,” Eagle eye said somberly, “Words just come in from Canterlot. By order of Princess Celestia, all forces are to abandon Baltimare.”
“We can’t just leave!” Lightning shouted.
“We have no choice, more enemies are in bound.” Spitfire said just as disappointed, “Wonderbolts Retreat now while we still can.”
Rainbow swore to herself as she and the rest of the Wonderbolts turned north and away from the fallen city.
About an hour later, with barely enough fuel remaining, the Wonderbolts touched down at Greenhill Airbase. The base was now on full alert with every aircraft waiting for scramble orders. Guard now patrolled all of the base and were stationed outside the hangers. The once relaxed feel Greenhill had before the day began, was now long gone.
When Dash shut down her Reaper and opened her canopy, she discovered her legs couldn’t stop shaking. The battle had scared her so much she was shaking. After taking some deep breaths, she took Albert’s hand as he helped her out of the canopy. Pretty soon she went to locker room to put her flight gear back in with the rest of the Wonderbolts. Still dressed in her flight suit, Dash made her way back to the lounge where she and the rest of the Wonderbolts watched the news.
“And we now have confirmed,” The reporter said, “that the force that has invaded Baltimare is indeed part of the Changeling empire of Vertania. At exactly one thirteen today, September Ninth 2013, Princess Celestia issued a declaration of War against the nation of Vertania.”

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         Chapter Three: Annex and Wonderbolt Eight         
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Chapter Three: Annex and Wonderbolt Eight
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.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter Five: Desperate offense, equally Defensive Defense 
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter Five: Desperate offense, equally Defensive Defense
Chapter Four
Desperate offense, equally desperate Defense
After getting a decent night of rest, Dash awoke early to preform her morning run. Much like before she had done it alone, but honestly Maggie didn’t mind as it was beneficial to her. As she got back, she quickly got rid of her clothes and raced to the shower. There she saw Ellen already toweling herself off.
“What time did you wake up?” Maggie asked.
“Oh, good morning Maggie,” Ellen answered with bright red cheeks, “I’ve been up for about ten minutes. I’m sorry is that too early?”
“No, no its fine just…interesting.” Maggie sighed as she walked over to her hamper, “You showered already?”
Ellen nodded, “It’s just I don’t like being exposed in front of strangers.”
Dash laughed, “Why you think we might judge.”
“More like bad past experience.” Ellen answered turning her back to Dash, “See you at breakfast?”
Dash nodded as she pulled off her towel, “Yea, we’re table five remember that.”
Ellen nodded keeping her back to Maggie as she walked out. Then, as Dash was about to walk into the shower, Alice walked in, robe tied around her and towel carrying her shampoo and soap. She looked like she had a very rough night of sleep. “Morning Maggie,” Alice said her voice soft.
“Hey, you okay?” Dash asked walking to her favorite shower head.
“Long night….” Alice answered softly.
“That’s an understatement,” Tasha’s voice came through. She had walked in behind Alice and was already walking into the shower while Alice was getting her robe off, “I heard you crying, you want to take a personal day?”
“No,” Alice answered swiftly walking up towards her shower, “I didn’t expect it to hit me so hard.”
“Good morning everyone,” Michelle said walking in.
“Morning,” was the return greeting from the trio.
“So Alice, you sure you don’t want to…” Tasha began again as she rubbed her loofa with soap.
“I’ll be fine Tasha….” Alice told her running shampoo through her hair.
“I want you to be sure of that.” Cassandra said.
Both Dash and Dust turned around to see Cassie resting on the entrance to the showers looking right at Alice. Alice thought about her answer for a few moments before saying anything. Even Maggie was concerned; Alice was her wingmate and if she wasn’t at 100% things could end in disaster.
“We didn’t part on the greatest of terms,” Alice finally answered before tilting her head back to wash the shampoo out, “I always wanted to apologize to him about what happened, but now it doesn’t look like we will.”
Cassandra nodded before grabbing her stuff and walking through the shower, “Wait a tick, we’re down somebody.”
“She woke up early and finished before I arrived.” Dash told Cassandra.
Cassie seemed a little shocked, “Huh, that right.”
“Yea, she’s just shy around strangers.” Dash explained.
“She did just join up yesterday.” Michelle said.
“Yea give her time, she’ll get used to us.” Alice told the group.
That seemed to quiet down the party as they continued their morning shower.
When Dash and company arrived at breakfast, they came upon a grim sight. Or at least that’s how Cassandra and Tasha saw the morning breakfast. The now eight were sitting at table five, ironically with General Johnson nowhere in sight, enjoying a hardy breakfast of steak and eggs.
“Steak and eggs,” Cassie whispered, “They got something big planned today.”
“Why do you say that?” Ellen asked.
“It’s an old wartime tradition. Before a big battle groups usually get steak and eggs for breakfast.” Jon explained after swallowing some eggs.
“You think they’re gonna send us up for something big?” Dash asked.
“It’s an extreme possibility; generally this type of meal is called ‘Last meal of the condemned.’” Alex finished.
That made Dash’s heart sink. As if this whole week hadn’t been bad enough, now things were getting worse. But no mission briefing was scheduled for today. At least, none that Dash knew of, “So what’s the deal?”
“Once we’re done, suit up and wait I guess.” Cassandra told her.
Dash nodded as she took a bite of her eggs.
“You know, I’m actually quite shocked.” Alice sighed, “After that invasion, Vertania hasn’t done anything else offensively. Most of our defensive tactics have put them on the defense. I figure they might actually try something soon.”
“Like what?” Alex asked, “They’re held up in Baltimare with no way to get out of that city thanks to our efforts. If those shape shifting Vertainian bastards even try to get out, they’ll have us to deal with.”
“Careful Alex,” Jon said softly, “You too Alice. Wishing for combat usually gets it.”
“Soarin, the voice of reason,” Alex described.
“Ever still we have to take this situation very carefully. Fillydelphia and Manehattan are still at risk of invasion if the Vertainians still have their naval force. Worse yet they might just use the Griffin Canal to pass through and hit us from the west.” Jon explained before taking a swig of his coffee.
“You seemed to have thought this over well,” Tasha accused.
“I’m surprised you haven’t, a good fighter always stays one step ahead of his enemy.” Jon continued.
“Alright,” Cassandra said, “I’ll accept a lot of things from you guys, but this grim talk I will not handle. Whatever the Vertainians should or should not do is not up to us, our job is to stop it whatever the cost, wherever the situation arises. Now finish your breakfast so we can get back to lounge to wait for orders.”
The final line made Dash and Michelle laugh at Tasha’s and Jon’s expense. Then she looked over at Ellen. She was just sitting there looking at her plate with a seemingly scared complexion.  “You know,” Dash whispered leaning closer, “The foods better if you eat it.”
Ellen didn’t turn to look at Dash, she just simply nodded.
Maggie put down her fork and turned to her, “What’s up.”
“What if they’re right, what if this is the last meal for the condemned?” Ellen asked back, her voice sounding very uneasy.
Maggie snorted, “It’s just a scary rumor they tell rookies to scare them.”
“But…” Ellen started.
“Derpy,” Maggie soothed, “Don’t worry about it. You’re with the best seven pilots in the EAG. You’re not dying today, and even if we do scramble, Lightning and I aren’t gonna let you burn.”
“You promise?” Ellen asked looking at Maggie.
“I promise.” Maggie assured, “Now finish your breakfast.”
Ellen seemed to perk up as she worked over her food.
As the clock ticked by past ten in the morning, the eight pilots of the Wonderbolts sat within the lounge waiting for combat orders to come through. Scuttlebutt had been running rampant around the base that the EAG brass was planning a massive attack to take back Baltimare with several key strokes. Other reports were circling that Equestrian Spies were uncovering more details on the Burst Missiles. But by ten past ten, Maggie sat on the couch gazing up at the ceiling praying that something would happen.
To say that she was bored was an understatement. By this time four days ago she was getting in the taxi to come to Greenhill, the day later taking off for the patrol mission, and the yesterday launching to attack route 171. Now she was sitting around doing nothing. In fact, none of the Wonderbolts were doing anything. Cassie sat on a recliner, her nose buried in a book she had finished and restarted over an hour ago. Jon and Tasha were playing cards. Alex was strumming a guitar trying to tune it. Alice was teaching Michelle something stupid that Maggie didn’t really care to ask. And Ellen was aimlessly flipping through channels.
Maggie was so unbelievably bored that she actually got excited when she heard someone walking towards the living room. It wasn’t the first time though, as people were walking through the Wonderbolts’ quarters to get to the ramp easier. This time however, it was the General who laughed, “Equestria’s valiant defenders at work.”
Ellen snapped to her feet while the rest of the pilots simply nodded. After a moment of awkwardness, Ellen sat back down. When she did, Cassandra slammed her book shut, “Blaze, please tell me there’s something happening.”
“I can’t answer that fully,” The General answered, “But what I can tell you is report to the briefing room, something big has come down.”
That got every pilots attention. The pilots all got up and began walking to the briefing room. With the addition of Ellen as Wonderbolt Eight, the seating arrangement was shifted a little bit. Maggie now sat with Michelle and Alice sat next to Ellen. That being said, the squadron formations had far from changed. Cassandra was still unsure about putting Alice in charge of Ellen, let alone splitting up the three rookies so early. Plus Michelle still was a second class lieutenant, only first classes and higher could become formation leaders. So Cassandra kept the formations the same and simply added Ellen to Maggie and Alice for the time being.
When the eight had sat down within the briefing room, the General began. “I know you all are anxious to drive the Changelings out of Baltimare, and honestly I can’t say I blame you. But for right now our forces are still diminished from losing the city, worse yet the EAG is down to ten combat ready squadrons. And if that wasn’t bad enough, the threats posed by the burst missiles and the MiG-41s is still high. I know those Sharks aren’t totally up to par with our Reapers, but in the right hands those machines are deadly. We’re still trying to figure out the location of the MiG-41’s primary base within Vertania as well as the launching mechanism for the Burst Missiles.
“So until we can locate both and/or develop a counter, Baltimare’s going to have to stay in Vertainian hands. Thanks to your efforts on route 171 and the Merchant Marines efforts, the forces are effectively held up in Baltimare giving our armies a chance to encircle them. But what I’ve called you all here for is something far more immediate and far more dangerous. At exactly 9:21am, satellites confirmed the launch of thirty Tu-160 Blackjack and fifteen Tu-22M Backfire bombers launching from bases across Vertania. Due to their erratic flight pattern we have no clue as to where they are going to. However they will reach Equestrian Soil within two hours.” General Johnson continued, “Most of the EAG remains on standby, however we have confirmed that if the bombers make a course that will put them on a path to Canterlot or Ponyville, we are to scramble immediately! Wonderbolts your orders are this: remain on Alert Five standby, wait for launch orders, and if they come knockout all bombers before they reach Canterlot, Dismissed.”
With a nod, all eight pilots got up and headed towards the changing room within the hanger. Alert Five Standby means that pilots were to wait within their aircraft for immediate launch. With the speed of Reapers, Canterlot was only two hours away at Mach 4 and the max speed any of those bombers could reach was Mach 2 at best. The Wonderbolts would have plenty of time to start up, take off, and race south to intercept the bombers long before they reached Canterlot. That is if the bombers even got that far. But with the heavy pounding the EAG had taken within the last two battles, the possibility of the bombers slipping through was high.
“Ten squadrons left,” Michelle sighed as she strapped on her G-suit, “I didn’t think the damage was that extensive.”
“Well we lost most of them over Baltimare to those damn Sharks and Burst missiles.” Alice told her.
“Still, only ten left, that’s far too little to mount a proper defense of Equestria.” Ellen agreed.
“Will everyone stop being so down?” Maggie asked, “Those bombers are gonna get what’s coming to them regardless of where they’re going. We may be down but we’re far from out.”
Cassie nodded, “Yea Kid’s right, we still got this no matter what we do.”
“That does beg the question though; Vertania’s still holding a good hand, why are they hedging their bets on this massive attack?” Alex asked.
“Desperation,” Jon answered, “Held up in Baltimare with no foreseeable exit, maybe a strike at our heart will soften us up and give them the opportunity they need.”
“Desperate times call for desperate measures.” Tasha agreed.
As if right on cue, the red phone located right next to Cassandra’s locker rang. All eyes locked on her as she quickly answering it. She didn’t speak as she listened in for orders. After a moment of nail-biting silence, she hung up the phone. “Reports just came in from the Radar station at the coast: the bombers have made an easterly turn and are heading on air route 278.” She explained.
“Right to Canterlot,” Dash exclaimed.
“Exactly,” Cassie nodded grabbing her helmet, “Mount up Wonderbolts!”
Quickly the rest of the pilots grabbed their own helmets and ran out to their planes. The ground crews had already loaded in Reapers will a full complement of missiles. However instead of the Aim-75s being loaded under the planes bellies, they put the more powerful and longer ranged Aim-54 Phoenixes. The Aim-54 was much larger than the Aim-75s as they were designed to go much farther and carry a heavier payload. Because of this, Reapers could carry only Ten missiles in pairs of two. Their size also meant they were less maneuverable than the Stingers, making them a perfect weapon for downing bombers.
Once Dash climbed into her cockpit, Albert helped her buckle in before giving her the planes weight. After finishing the computations, she nodded her head and he patted her helmet as a sign of good luck. At that point, she began to start up her engines. By amazing coincidence, the rest of the Wonderbolts were doing the same. After starting up the plane’s engines and electronics, Rainbow waited her turn to do a radio check. When she found a space, she called it, “Wonderbolt Six Radio check, check, check boom?”
  “Pow, pow, bam Wonderbolt Six.” Spitfire returned.
“Wonderbolt Seven Checking in, chicken, chicken?” Lightning called in.
“Bawk, bawk, Wonderbolt Seven,” Spitfire returned.
“Wonderbolt Eight radio check.” Derpy called.
Silence followed for a minute.
“Can anyone hear me?” Derpy asked again.
“Oh we can Derpy, but its Wonderbolt Tradition to sell it.” Spitfire laughed.
“Huh?” she asked.
“Gotta say something corny with your call in Derpy,” Rainbow explained as she spotted Spitfire beginning to taxi, “Call it a catchphrase.”
“Oh….umm…..Ah hah, Wonderbolt Eight chiming, ding dong mail call!” Derpy said cheerfully.
“That’s new!” Soarin called.
Spitfire’s laughter could be heard. Rainbow was also laughing, she was sure everyone else was as well. Finally Spitfire answered, “Special Delivery Wonderbolt Eight.”
About thirty minutes later, the Wonderbolts were supersonic and racing towards the intercept point. Eagle Eye flew just several miles ahead and above them monitoring the area. “Wonderbolts this is Eagle Eye how you reading?” he called in.
“Loud and clear Eagle Eye,” Spitfire answered, “Wonderbolts are supersonic and racing into the battle zone.”
“I’ve confirmed your entrance to the battle zone! You now are under my command. Bombers on vector 278 confirmed, continue south to intercept at Rambling Rock ridge.” Eagle eye said, “Also guys just a quick note, today’s my birthday!”
“Oh awesome!” Derpy answered, “What do you want as a present?”
“A victory sure would be nice.” Eagle eye answered.
Spitfire laughed, “We’ll be sure to give it to you Eagle Eye.”
“Be forewarned Wonderbolts, the Twelfth Air wing has already worked over the bombers. They’re now down to thirty two bombers and around twenty defense aircraft. Those defenders are MiG-41s.” Eagle Eye informed.
“Roger that,” Spitfire said. Then she hooked up her mask to her helmet and called out, “Okay team masks on, we’re approaching Rambling Ridge.”
“Let’s do it,” Soarin said.
“For Equestria,” Rainbow cheered as she hooked up her own mask.
As the eight Wonderbolts broke through a puff of clouds, the bomber formation came into view. Sure enough, escorting the massive bombers were the Stealth MiG-41s Sharks that had gotten the best of the EAG at Baltimare. Rainbow’s complexion went icy as she stared it at them. These planes were making a mockery of the EAG despite their limitations to the mighty F-95s. Now it was time for some Revenge.
“Wonderbolts you are cleared to engage.” Eagle eye called.
“Roger Spitfire engaging.” Spitfire called.
“Soarin engaging!” Soarin said.
“Fleetfoot engaging,” Fleetfoot called out.
“Roger Fire Streak going hot,” Fire Streak said.
“Cloud Kicker going weapons free.” Cloud Kicker called out.
“Rainbow engaging.” Rainbow shouted.
“Lightning engaging.” Lightning said.
“Derpy engaging!” Derpy said. Rainbow was amazed at Derpy’s sudden intensity. It seemed this girl had a fighting spirit after all. Now it was time to see how tough it was. The eight Wonderbolts switched over to their Phoenix missiles. On her HMD, Rainbow could see the other eight target reticules target not only the bombers, but the fighters. Despite the MiGs being stealthy, the Reaper’s X-Radar got a lock onto them. it may not have been clean or clear, but it was enough. Each Wonderbolt locked up two missiles per plane, making sixteen locked targets. When her own two Phoenixes locked up, she pressed the launch button on the trigger.
“Wonderbolts Fox-three, fox Three!” Spitfire called out as all eight released their missiles at once.
The sixteen missiles detached from their eight mother planes and flew towards the approaching crafts. The contrails they left being looked like a tentacle monster reaching out towards its prey. After flying through the air for several moments, nine hit their marks. Six bombers and three Fighters went screaming towards Rambling Ridge below.
“What was that? Where did that attack come from!” a Vertainian pilot shouted.
“Contacts! We have enemy contacts bearing on an intercept course from the north.” A bomber pilot shouted.
“Wonderbolts, your primary target is those bombers. Knock out the fighters when you see a chance but don’t go chasing flies!” Eagle Eye shouted.
Twenty six bombers remained as the Wonderbolts sent another wave of missiles through the formation. The second wave took out four more planes leaving twenty two. By now the Wonderbolts had caught up to the planes and broke formation as they tore through the bomber group. Rainbow kept as much power in as she could as her Reaper blew through the bomber formation at near Mach four. The G’s pressed her into the seat as she pulled back on the stick to spin around.
When she did pull back, she lined up good tones on the lead two bombers and fired. The missiles just so happened to be targeting the last two Backfire’s, striking at the planes’ tail sections. After the explosion took hold, both planes nosed over in a screaming and out of control dive towards the ground. Just then the sound of an explosion caught Rainbow’s attention. She looked to the right to see a Blackjack burst into flames from one of Derpy’s missiles. Both Lightning and Derpy had stayed with Rainbow during the maneuver, and were taking shots at a pair of bombers right next to her.
Just as she turned her head back front, a MiG-41 raced by her noise flying towards Spitfire and her team, who were swooping in from the right. Rainbow snapped hard right, switching her weapons control to guns and pulling the joystick back to get her pipper in front of the MiG-41. The Changeling pilot spotted Rainbow on her tail and snapped left immediately. Rainbow chopped the throttle as she spun left, keeping on the MiGs tail.
The maneuvers the two planes were pulling created a ton of G-forces on the pilots. It was a tough ordeal. “These MiGs are tough, and their pilots are good.”  Rainbow grunted as she pulled through another turn.
“But we’re better!” Lightning shouted, “Fox Two!”
A Blue Jay raced by Rainbow’s canopy enroute to the MiG. The Vertainian spotted it and pitched up deploying flares. The maneuver put her right into Rainbow’s pipper. “In gun range! Firing!” She shouted pressing the trigger. .50 caliber bullets and 20 millimeter slugs flew from her Reaper’s nose and right through the Sharks wing.
“My plane’s full of holes!” The pilot shouted as her wing broke off, “Black five going down!”
Rainbow took a sigh of relief, “Thanks for the assist Lightning.”
“Anytime partner! You see Derpy; I lost sight of her as we pulled after the MiG!” Lightning called.
“I’m above you!” Derpy answered for Rainbow, “You two got a Shark on your tail hang tight I’ll knock it off.”
Rainbow turned around to see Derpy roll in on a MiG-41 that had slid in behind Lightning. Before the Vertainian could even see her, Derpy launched a Blue Jay into him detonating the aircraft. “Good shooting Derpy!” Rainbow said.
“Image vanishing from Radar, kill confirmed!” Eagle Eye said, “Wonderbolt Six through Eight rejoin the others, the bombers are twenty minutes out from Canterlot!”
The trio winged around, lighting their afterburners to reengage the bomber force. The five other Wonderbolts had done a good job knocking the strike force for a loop, downing eight of the Twenty remaining bombers. When Rainbow, Lightning, and Derpy locked on with their phoenixes, they wasted no time cutting loose with fire. All six hit their marks, bringing the total to six bombers left.
“Six bombers remaining! Continue with the assault down all Vertainian aircraft!” Eagle Eye commanded.
“Trying AWACS!” Fire Streak said as he shot up another Shark.
Rainbow and her team rolled in just as Soarin got good tones on two bombers with his last two Phoenixes. “Wonderbolt Two Fox Three!”
The missiles flew straight and true, slamming into two Blackjack bombers and destroying them. Rainbow got good tone on another bomber, but Derpy’s missile quickly flew by and right into the one she was targeting. So she switched to two fighters bearing in and plucked them off with the last of her phoenixes. Three bombers were now left.
“Fucking Wonderbolts!” shouted a Vertainian pilot, “They’ve knocked out our attack force!”
“Three bombers remaining, finish them up quickly Wonderbolts so we can go home!” Eagle Eye called out.
“Big Bird Seven,” said the Vertainian commander listening in on the combat, “You are aware of the backup target right?”
“Roger that, beginning attack run now.” Said one of the Blackjacks.
Just then Rainbow spotted one of the Tu-160’s banking left, changing course. “AWACS, Wonderbolt Six! A bomber’s changed course, new heading…” she started, “…265! That son of bitch is going right for Ponyville!”
Just as she relayed the command orders, the 160 lit its engines and rocketed away at supersonic speed. Not waiting for orders or commands, Rainbow pushed her throttle to maximum speed. Her blood was pumping hotter that it had ever; this Vertainian was targeting her home town! Well not her actual home town, but all of her friends were there. If anything happened to them, Rainbow would never forgive herself nor let the Vertainians live to tell about it. Her phoenix missiles all but spent, all she had were her Blue Jay short ranged missiles.
As her speed increased to Mach 3, the distance between her and the bomber had closed to where she got weapons lock. But so too had the distance between the bomber and Ponyville, as the town was now in sight. Rainbow could also see the bombers bomb bay doors open. Her vision tunneled as she drew to within optimal firing range. The roaring in her ears signifying missile lock grew louder and Rainbow began to scream a rage filled battle cry.
When the tone was good and loud, Rainbow fired. The missile flew from its rail, ignited its rocket, raced to Mach 5.7, and ripped through the starboard wing of the Tu-160. The plane caught fire as it spun towards the ground. Rainbow snapped back to reality as some of the bombs detonated within the bomber. Her first thought was whether or not the bomber would hit Ponyville. Thankfully it was going too fast. The burning bomber flew over Ponyville and impacted a mile outside the town.
Rainbow pulled back on the throttle as the Reaper returned to under the sound barrier. She encircled her kill to not only confirm it, but to admire the attack. Then she flew over the town making sure no one and nothing was hurt. When she sure it wasn’t, she looked for her squadron. Thankfully Derpy and Lightning were streaking in over the town. Then her hearing returned, alerting her to Eagle Eye trying to get her attention.
“Wonderbolt Six respond, how is Ponyville?!” he shouted.
“Eagle Eye this is Ponyville Mayor, we have visual on the downed bomber. Whose kill was that? Be sure to thank him!” The mayor responded.
“Will do,” Eagle eye responded easily.
“Spitfire to Rainbow do you copy?” Spitfire called in.
“Rainbow copies,” Rainbow answered leveling out at five thousand feet to allow Lightning and Derpy to form up.
“All bombers are taken out, regroup with us so we can go home.” Spitfire ordered.
“Roger that Wonderbolt One, inbound to regroup.” Rainbow sighed.
“And Derpy?” Spitfire asked.
“Yes Mam?” Derpy asked back.
“Good work out there today, seems like your walled eyes are a valued asset after all.” Spitfire said proudly.
Derpy giggled, “Thank you mam.”
“This is Captain General Shining Armor of the Royal Guard and Canterlot Command calling Wonderbolts do you hear me okay?” General Sparkle’s voice came through.
“Loud and clear Captain General.” Spitfire answered.
“We have a visual on the downed Vertainian bombers, fabulously done out there. The lives of everyone in Canterlot and Ponyville are in your debt tonight.” He told them.
Rainbow and her trio spotted the five Wonderbolts and climbed to link up with them. Spitfire waited until they formed up before she responded, “That’s very flattering of you sir, but unnecessary. It’s just our job.”
Rainbow relaxed in her seat over these words, they were right on all accounts and made her feel very good about herself. She looked around at her fellow pilots, and though she couldn’t see them through the face shield and oxygen mask, she knew they felt the same thing.
“Roger that Wonderbolts.” Shining armor answered.
Spitfire laughed, “Come on Bolts, let’s head back to base.”
Then the eight pilots banked shallowly the left to head home.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
         Chapter Six: The Battle of Horseshoe Bay          
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter Six: The Battle of Horseshoe Bay
**Chapter Five:
Battle of Horseshoe Bay**
When Dash finally got to bed, it never felt softer. Five days of intense combat had basically worn her out. What was worse was she was sore, and it wasn’t because of being in the Reaper cockpit. The High G maneuvers, second by second adrenaline rush of combat, and constant alertness of having to scramble at a moment’s notice had taken their toll on the poor pilots body. In the past, Maggie usually avoided pain like this by taking naps wherever and whenever she could. Now that she was a part of the EAG in a time of war that was nearly impossible.
So Maggie lay there on her bed, taking in the softness as she tried stretching herself out to relieve the aches and pains. But no matter how much stretching, twisting, and turning she tired, they wouldn’t go away. Margret even took a stroll around her room, but it didn’t work. She was about to give up trying and just deal with it when her room’s phone rang. Before she complained, she glanced at the clock. It was still only eleven pm. So Dash turned on her lamp and picked up the phone, “Hello you’ve reached Wonderbolt Six.”
“Howdy Dash,” a familiar voice answered, “Ah figured Ah’d catch ya before yer went to bed.”
“AJ,” Maggie asked sitting upright in her bed, “How’d you get this number?”
“Mags you remember we got a friend in high places. It wasn’t hard for me.” AJ answered.
Maggie snickered, “I didn’t think Twilight would give it too you so easily.”
“Well she sealed it by saying, ‘If Ah can’t trust ye then Ah can’t trust anyone.’ Besides you know Ah’m the most dependable and reliable person in all’ov Ponyville.” AJ answered.
Dash laughed at that comment, “Well no arguments there, you may be stubborn AJ but you’re defiantly a friend to count on.”
“Well Maggie, forgive me for saying this, but no one’s as stubborn as you. Any who, how are you holding up?” AJ asked.
“I’m doing alright, I’m not dead yet.” Dash said somberly, “Though I’d rather be asking you that question. How’s Ponyville?”
“Little worse for wear, but if not for yer efforts today…” AJ started.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, how’d you know it was me?” Dash asked sounding shocked.
There was silence for a moment. “Did Ah just hear that right? Yer actually asking how’d ah found out about your achievements without you running around boasting about it.”
“Well, yah.” Dash answered.
“Who are you?” AJ laughed.
“I guess your lesson a year ago about humility worked better than you thought cowgirl.” Dash laughed.
The two friends laughed over the phone for a moment before AJ told her the answer, “Well Twilight wasn’t entirely quiet in name dropping you either. Though Ah tell you Diane had a strong feeling it was you just by seeing you fly overhead. Her and that damn ‘Pinkie’ sense.”
Margret chuckled again, “Hey that bomber didn’t hurt anyone did it?”
“Nah, it missed the town by a country mile. In fact that’s why Ah called ya about. Ah just wanted to say thank ye from all’ov us here back in Ponyville.” AJ said warmly.
Dash nodded. It really meant a lot to her that AJ actually said that. Now she felt that all the aches and pains she was complaining about earlier was actually worth it. She was protecting Equestrian lives with her actions. And that felt very good, “No problem AJ. Give my regards to everyone back home.”
“Will do Dash, will do Dash. Hey when this is all over, Ah owe you a mug of cider, on the family.” AJ said.
“I’ll hold you to that AJ, see ya.” Dash said. Then she heard the other end click indicating AJ had hung up. When Dash put down the receiver, she laid her head back onto the pillow before looking up at the ceiling. The warmth feeling of enjoyment filled her as she thought about all the lives at home that she saved today. She finally realized her dream of becoming a Wonderbolt, now she was using that dream to help others. There was no greater feeling than that.
With that in mind, Dash went off to sleep.
After a peaceful night, Maggie awoke the next morning with a smile and a visibly brighter complexion. A note that seemed to pass right over her teammates heads during showers.
Once again Ellen had done her part before them and was notably absent. However Dash herself finished early and headed off to breakfast feeling very good about herself. After getting herself a helping of pancakes and coffee she joined Ellen, Jon, and Alex at the table for breakfast.
“Where are the others?” Alex asked as she sat down.
“I finished early,” Maggie answered, “They’re probably just beginning to towel off. You know how we like to talk.”
Jon snickered, “Not me and Alex; get in and get out fast. Don’t want to spend too much time looking at each other.”
“Damn right,” Alex agreed as he and Jon bumped fists.
Dash didn’t want to let the joke go by, “What’s a matter Alex, jealous of Jon’s package?”
“How do you know you’ve never seen it,” Ellen giggled.
“I have, there’s nothing to be jealous about.” Alex snickered.
“Hey I’m still your senior officer. Show some respect!” Jon said between chewing his eggs.
“I did,” Alex replied after taking a drink of coffee, “I didn’t describe it.”
Both Ellen and Maggie snickered at that comment but said nothing else. It was a good thing too, as Cassandra and the rest of the Wonderbolts walked up. “What’cha guys talking about,” Cassie asked.
“You don’t wanna know,” Alex answered quickly.
“Yea nothing important, just some small talk,” Maggie answered with a grin.
“Well that’s good to hear, cuz I’m still wondering how you finished before most of us when you clearly started at the same time we did?” Cassie asked.
“I know,” Alice added, “I was wondering who it was you were talking to last night.”
“An old friend of mine,” Dash answered evenly, “She wanted to thank me for saving Ponyville yesterday. And I only finished early because no one was talking Cassie, not my fault misses 'never shuts up'.”
That got the squadron laughing at Cassandra’s expense, who simply retorted by sticking out her tongue. The pilots continued to enjoy their breakfast as very little was said. That was until the General showed up with a stone face, “I’m going to have to ask you to wrap that up immediately and suit up.”
“Any clues as to why,” Jon asked.
“Yea, the Vertainians got lucky.” The general told them before raising his voice to talk to the crowd within the mess hall, “That goes for all of you! Finish you meals now and report to your command officers for briefing!”
No one had to be told twice as the crowd rose from their seats and began moving out of the mess hall. Maggie and Alice walked in step with Jon as the trio exited, the rest of the Wonderbolts trailing a few feet behind. “Any ideas Captain strategy,” Alice asked Jon.
“For once you got me.” Jon answered.
About ten minutes later, General Johnson began his briefing. “Alright quiet down and listen up, I’m sure you’re all concerned as to why I brought you here so quickly. It seems the Vertainians aren’t as dumb as we pegged them to be. They picked this invasion time much better than we had thought. For you see every seven years a massive storm cell forms over the Horseshoe River about twelve miles north of the bay. This storm makes it rain a lot in that part of Equestria, which could see the river rise from five to ten feet for a period of three days. Now this wouldn’t be a problem since our Merchant marines expected this and the ships that were sunk block the river to up to fifteen feet.
“However…Once every twenty years the hurricane storm cells from Vertania pass very close to Baltimare in what is called an El Nina. This rainstorm could flood the bay and its connecting river to up to twenty feet for five days. And very rarely do these two weather phenomenon sync up. So rare in fact, that our Commanders didn’t realize this until a weather reporter in Cloudsdale remembered this previously unknown fact.” The General continued, “When these two events sync up, the Horseshoe River can swell to up to thirty feet for a period of seven days. More than enough to allow the Vertainian Navy clearance to send their invasion force up the river. I’m sure you all know the ramifications if that were to happen. Our army is still massing outside of Baltimare to take it back, but if the fleet moves we’ll have no time to move them to defend Canterlot. Now I bet your wondering how soon this event will take place, well it will happen this weekend.”
That sobering fact struck home within the pilots. Ellen’s face turned pale as all the color was drained from it. Maggie didn’t break face but her eyes revealed a burning rage within them. They had been out guessed by the Vertainians for the second time. And now they only had two days to launch a proper offense or prepare a proper defense. Alice was equally enraged and stunned, but she did a poor job of hiding it. She was so mad that she snapped the pencil in her hand.
“That’s right, we got two days left before the rains come. There’s no more time to sit around and wait for the intelligence boys to find out the location of those burst missiles or the sharks.” The General said.
“How could we, after they missed something as big as this.” Tasha said softly.
“All comments aside Wonderbolt Three,” Johnson snapped, “We’re preparing a massive strike upon Horseshoe Bay. Your orders are this, fly into the bay from the west at low altitude to ensure detection avoidance. Once you enter the bay, target these four radar ships indicated on the screen.” The General said, raising a pointer stick to four red dots positioned around the harbor. Once he pointed all four of them out he lowered his pointer, “When you’ve sunk the four ships, that’s when our main strike force will engage. The rest of the EAG will enter from the same ingress route and engage the rest of the navy. You’re role will be to support them in this endeavor. Be forewarned, Horseshoe bay is within range of those Burst Missiles. Thankfully Eagle Eye has determined how to track these weapons from data taken during Baltimare’s fall. Monitor your radar when strikes are inbound. One more thing, the defenses around Baltimare are rock solid and heavy. For the time being, passage over the city is prohibited, we can’t lose any more men and women over there. We’re loading your planes with AGM-84 Harpoon missiles and Type-Five torpedoes fitting under your bellies. You’ll get at least eighteen harpoons thanks to the regeneration magic, unfortunately that trick won’t apply to the torpedoes so you’ll only get two of them. Use them sparingly.”
“Are we going to run into the MiG-41s?” Jon asked.
“That and whatever plane the Vertainians throw against us. They’ll be protecting those ships as fiercely as we want them destroyed. But just remember the Ace’s law and you’ll be fine. Now get out there and destroy the ships. Dismissed,” The General Dismissed.
The pilots all got to their feet, saluted, and left. Dash walked out of the room and onto the ramp, her eyes locked on the changing room and a spring in her step as she walked towards it. Her good feeling was long gone by that point. Canterlot was at threat again, and so to were Ponyville and the rest of Equestria. But she was more pissed over the fact that the intelligence bureau had failed to foresee something as simple as a weather phenomenon. Back when she was in Ponyville, stuff like this would’ve gotten her in serious trouble but would’ve amounted to nothing more than a stern lecture and a slap on the wrist. This was something far different, Equestrian lives were at stake! She couldn’t fathom how no one, not even the Royal Family, could see this coming.
As she continued to rant to herself, Ellen caught up to her and asked, “Wait what is the Ace’s Law?”
“Good question Ellen, I don’t even know what it means,” Alice answered before Dash could speak.
Dash didn’t look back at either of them when she spoke, “The Ace’s will never give up!”
Ellen stopped in her tracks after Dash said that. Then after pondering it for a moment, she resumed walking with the same fierceness as her teammate.
After getting her gear on, Dash headed out to her Reaper. Albert and his crew had just finished prepping the aircraft for her. “Yer ready to take off Miss Dash,” he asked.
“Born fucking ready,” Dash answered as he lowered the step ladder to let her climb up, accessed the cockpit, and climbed in.
“Good to hear Miss Dash, give those fucking shape shifters some for us would ye?” Albert smiled as he climbed up after her.
“Gladly,” Dash said as she began to strap in, “How is she?”
“She’s loaded with full fuel, plus full complement of Blue Jays and Harpoons, the latter of whom give you an extra eleven hundred pounds apiece. Those Torps you got, about another thousand pounds.” Albert told her.
Dash wrote down the weight and did the calculations for weight and balance. When everything checked out, she nodded to Albert, “Alright I’m good.”
“Good luck Miss Dash.” Albert nodded patting her shoulder.
With this due vote of confidence, Dash put on her helmet and began the engine start up sequence. “May Celestia smile upon us,” She said to herself.
“This AWACS Eagle Eye to Wonderbolts, stay at low altitude and fly towards the Vertainian navy.” Eagle eye called in, “You are restricted from flying above one thousand feet, we can’t risk having our surprise attack detected.”
“Roger that AWACS.” Spitfire answered.
She and the seven other Wonderbolts were flying in loose formation down the Horseshoe River, each plane flying level at six hundred and forty feet to avoid detection. The tree line was still a few hundred feet below them, but the way Rainbow was looking at them; you’d think they’d be a lot closer. She wasn’t new to low level flying, but this was the first time she was operating an armed aircraft below one thousand feet. And it was a bit nerve racking.
“I’m getting chills, if our pre-mission data is correct that city’s gonna be brimming with anti-air defenses.” Cloud Kicker lamented.
“Not to mention we still have nothing on those burst missiles.” Rainbow added.
“Still it would be nice to finally kick some Vertainian tail.” Derpy said.
“Hold the chatter commencing communications black out shortly. Maintain radio silence until you take out those Radar boats.” Eagle eye ordered.
“So long Eagle Eye!” Derpy said cheerfully.
“We’ll catch you on the flip side.” Lightning chipped in before the radios went silent.
Rainbow flipped off her radio and the sound of a record vinyl being scratched was heard. She focused on the path ahead of her. The river wasn’t a straight run towards Horseshoe Bay, the river curved and twisted making easy flight impossible. Worse yet precision flight was out of the question with the radio silence. This meant the Wonderbolts were going to have to steer their planes alone and hope their wingmates didn’t slam into each other. The one good thing they had going for them was the Wonderbolts were not going that fast. They were cruising at three hundred knots. As they reached the first of three turns, Rainbow eased the plane over into a shallow right bank to allow the Reaper to cruise through the turn.
As she did, she glanced over at her comrades. Thankfully all of them were easing their planes over quite nicely. Rolling out of the turn, the Wonderbolts began their run towards the next turn. All the while, Rainbow continued scanning the shore line and sky above for any patrols that might spot them. Fortunately none could be seen. The next turn was a left bank. Entering the turn, Rainbow held the throttle back to slide in behind Cloud Kicker and stay in formation. Glancing back only once, she saw Lightning and Derpy preforming the same trick.
Once the eight planes were through the turn, Rainbow added power back in to keep the formation together. She wasn’t sweating, her heart wasn’t pounding, and her breathing was even labored. Rainbow was used to this, and by now she had flown her Reaper enough to anticipate her moves. Rainbow was no longer flying it, she was flying with it. As they approached the third and final turn, Rainbow switched her weapons control online and activated the Torpedo tracker.
It wasn’t a standard device on the Reaper, since the aircraft wasn’t actually meant to carry torpedoes into battle, so the ground crew jury rigged the device from the aircrafts IFR (Instrument Flight Regulations) landing system. Apparently once she got the plane low enough and slow enough, the two bars, one vertical and one horizontal, that usually helped pilots line up centerline on the runway during less than perfect days for landing would line up and allow the torpedo to be deployed. Rainbow wasn’t exactly sure how that was going to work, but the Merchant Marine force had given it their blessings after they sunk their own ships blocking the river.
Soon enough, the turn came and the pilots eased over in a shallow right bank. As they passed through the final turn, the wrecks of the Merchant marine ships were visible. Some of the small fishing vessels, cargo transports, and one warship could be made out through the clear water of the Horseshoe River. As she rolled wings level Rainbow looked back at Lightning, who took a little longer to roll out. She obviously was saying good bye to her ex-lover. Rainbow couldn’t blame her, but right now there was no time for that. If they didn’t succeed, those men and women would’ve died for nothing.
Then the harbor came into view. At least eighty ships were moored within it, Battleships to Carriers, Cruisers and Destroyers, and of course landing craft and river vessels for the invasion. None of them seemed to be on alert as the Wonderbolts glided into the bay. Rainbow smiled to herself as she hooked up her mask, they had no clue they were coming.  Once they entered the harbor, the squadron split up into four teams of two instead of their usual teams. Before they had arrived within the combat zone, Spitfire had divided the initial strike package up into four teams that would attack the four ships. She and Soarin comprised the first team and would hit the north eastern ship. Fleetfoot and Fire Streak made up team two and had the Northwestern ship. Cloud Kicker and Rainbow took up the third team and would hit the south eastern vessel. That left Lightning and Derpy to take the final, south west vessel.
Rainbow stuck close to Cloud Kicker’s Starboard wing as they flew at low level towards the boat. As they drew closer, the two birds lowered their altitude to wave top level. The horizontal bar, that subbed in for altitude level, went to dead even in the middle of Rainbow’s Head’s up display. Soon she began to lower the speed as the horizontal bar crept its way towards the middle of the horizontal bar. It was a balancing act like no other, as if she was trying to balance herself on the edge of a knife with everything working against her.
On her display, she could see her targeting computer register kills on two of the four other boats in quick succession. Then as they were getting closer to their target, Rainbow spotted Spitfire and Soarin claiming their kill. Finally the two bars lined up perfectly. Rainbow put pressure on the left rudder petal to align with the ships stern and pulled the trigger. Cloud Kicker released her torpedo at the same time Rainbow did and the two fish began racing towards the boat. Instantly the two Reapers pulled up and over the Radar boat. Once they cleared it, their torpedoes hit. The boat’s bow blew clean off the ship while the stern erupted in fire. A third explosion happened moments later destroying the last Radar boat.
As they pulled out, Rainbow clicked her radio on and the same vinyl needle scratching sound was heard. Instantly following it was Eagle Eye screaming, “Enemy vessels sunk! All planes begin your attacks now!”
Just then a massive aluminum cloud descended upon the bay. It was the mass of Reapers and attack aircraft that made up most of the remaining Equestrian Air Guard. All the planes were armed with Anti-ship weapons hoping to take out the enemy vessels. Each of the pilots was gunning for a chance to get back at the Vertainians.
“There’s the counter attack signal, I’ve been waiting a long time for this day.” One of them said.
“This an important step if we want to take back Baltimare, failure is not an option.” Another added.
With due haste and furious vengeance, the force descended upon the bay, and the Battle for Horseshoe Bay began.
Rainbow kicked her aircraft over and swung around to reengage. Quickly diving back to wave top level, she saw the entire harbor erupt as anti-aircraft fire filled the sky. Her main goal was getting the second torpedo off of her, and she swooped in on an Ageis Missile Cruiser sending a barrage of missiles skyward. Lining up the crosshairs right on the ship’s bow, Rainbow pulled the trigger and released the fish. Instantly she pushed her throttle to maximum and roared over the vessel.
“This is Wonderbolt Six,” she said through a flurry of radio chatter, “Last torpedo away!” Instantly she switched her weapons control over to the Harpoons and automatically got good tones on a landing craft. She pulled the trigger and a missile went flying towards the boat.
“Enemy planes, all men scramble to defense stations, this is not a drill, repeat this is not a drill!” the Admiral of the fleet shouted, “All aircraft scramble to get airborne immediately!”
“All attacking aircraft, we’ve got fighters inbound from Baltimare International Airport and from those carriers.” Eagle Eye called in.
“Nothing we can do about the airport, but we can take out those carriers!” Spitfire shouted as she tore back into the fray.
All around the harbor, the Equestrian Air Guard strike force dove in from the west. All their guns, missiles, rockets, and torpedoes were gunning for the ships. Down below, the naval guns opened up at anything that flew in the sky and planes on the carriers decks launched the moment they reached the catapults to get airborne. Rainbow recognized these planes as the Sukhois and MiGs that had been a part of the initial engagement over Baltimare. Zooming in from the Northeast were the MiG-41s. As the battle progressed, Lightning and Derpy found it difficult to link up with Rainbow, who was diving and attacking any and all ships within the harbor. But after she blew the island tower off of a Carrier, her pull out allowed the two pilots to link up easier.
“Dash you don’t think you fly a little bit easier?” Lightning shouted as the trio rocketed over the bay.
“With all that’s at stake Lightning, you should keep up!” Derpy answered for Rainbow.
“I agree.” Rainbow said as she rolled inverted and dove back into battle.
“Attention all aircraft, more than thirty percent of Enemy fleet sunk, keep up the pressure they’ll fold soon.” Eagle Eye answered.
“What no outside help?” Fire Streak shouted as he bagged several aircraft.
Rainbow pulled out of her dive and sent a barrage of Harpoons towards a Battleship that was filling the sky with lead. After pulling up to avoid a collision, she spotted a MiG-29 flying past her trying to engage a Reaper from another Squadron. Rainbow quickly winged over and got on the Reapers tail. Derpy and Lightning hung in with her, but stayed a little ways back to allow any would be vengeful craft to jump in before they’d bag him.
Switching her system over to the Blue Jays, Rainbow waited until she got good tone. When that happened, she pulled the trigger and fired a Blue Jay. The missile struck the plane right in the tail section tearing it right off. Rainbow rocketed past her kill as a MiG-41 raced into her crosshairs. She was too close for the Blue Jays to be effective, so Rainbow switched to guns. Once she got her pipper right on the Shark, she squeezed the trigger and sent rounds into the back of the plane. Bullets and Cannon slugs tore through the aircraft, impacting the cockpit and killing the pilot. The plane nosed over and slammed into the sea causing a massive fireball. Rainbow would’ve admired the kill, but gun fire from a nearby boat forced her to climb away. Fire and smoke filled the harbor along with missile trails and gunfire. Oil and flame blanketed the sea as the attack continued.
After ten good minutes of combat, half the fleet was either sunk or burning. “Where’s the god damn Harvenger!” the Admiral shouted.
Rainbow, Lightning, and Derpy were racing out of the bay after knocking out the fighter and boat. Rainbow looked back to admire the combat, “Wonderbolt Six to Eagle eye, the ship are burning nicely.”
“Wonderbolt Six don’t underestimate the Vertainians; they’ll do whatever it takes to protect their fleet!” Eagle Eye said.
“Harvenger to Fleet command, sat-link acquired, stand by for Odo missiles. ETA seven minutes,” Another Vertainian voice came over the Radio.
Just then, Rainbow’s missile alerts began to blare. She looked around and could see no inbound missiles. She looked back at her Radar to see no lines that would indicate missiles on approach. “What the hell is this, my missile alerts are going off!” she shouted.
“Mine too!” called another pilot.
“Hold on! Enemy cruise missiles are in bound to the bay. They’re the burst missiles!” Eagle eye shouted, “I don’t know how their setting off your missile warnings but you’d better head them. Give me a few seconds and I’ll upload impact data’s to you.”
“We don’t have a few minutes!” Spitfire shouted as she and Soarin raced through AA fire trying to take out a MiG-29M.
After a nail-biting minute of radio silence, Eagle Eye came through. “Alright I’ve got the impact points; they’re marked by orange circles on your Radar. Either Exit the circles or stay below two hundred feet to terrain mask!” he shouted.
Rainbow looked at her Radar; seven circles appeared around the bay. And she was in one. Thinking quickly, Rainbow slammed the throttle forward to race out of the circle. Lightning and Derpy were already ahead of her as they had made the same move. Once the trio was safe and clear, Rainbow looked back.
“Missile’s impact in 5….4….3….2….1…Impact now!” Eagle eye called.
Sure enough a silver cruise missile flew into the bay. When it reached the middle of where the orange circle was on the map, it seemed to twinkle and jettison several streaks of light that rained down. It seemed like a twinkling star, or a firework about to go off. Rainbow thought it looked pretty. But within seconds those streaks of light became massive explosions that shook the harbor. Six more of those went off rocking the harbor, but thanks to Eagle Eye’s calculations, no EAG planes were caught in the explosions.
“What the fuck! Harvenger you didn’t get them!” the Admiral called out.
“Stand by more missiles inbound.” The Harvenger called back.
“Confirmed, more missiles on approach, expect seven minutes to missile impact.” Eagle Eye reported.
“Seven minutes? More than enough time come on girls!” Lightning said snap rolling back into combat.
Rainbow couldn’t complain nor did she try to stop Lightning. So she and Derpy mimicked Lightning’s turn and headed back into the battle. The rest of the EAG pilots figured the same thing. Missiles and bullets raced up towards them from the fleet below and from the city. But it did little to deter the pilots as they fired away at the enemy vessels. After another wave of missiles impacted the ships, only seven command ships and five landing craft were left. Most of the Vertainian Navy was either burning or at the bottom of the bay.
Survivors were floating in the sea with the oil, fire, debris, and the dead. The sky above became a blood bath as Vertainian planes became easy prey for the EAG. And when the Odo missiles did come, once again they were ineffective against Eagle Eye’s radar reports.
“Enemy threat level has dropped to under ten percent, well done pilots.” Eagle Eye called out.
Rainbow and her team linked up with the rest of the Wonderbolts as they soared over the harbor. Smoke nearly blocked out half of it, but it was a welcome sight. “Looks like it a job well done pilots.” Spitfire said.
Rainbow couldn’t help but pump her fist within the cockpit. Her mask covered the biggest grin she had had since the day she joined the Wonderbolts. Then twelve new blimps appeared on Radar from the East.
“Harvenger this is Dominion One, looks like your attacks were too soon too late. Our invasion fleet has been crushed.” A Vertainian Command pilot said.
“Fucking… Thanks for the report Dominion One; your orders are to get some payback on those pilots. Show them the error in messing with us.” The Harvenger commander responded.
“This is Dominion One roger that.” The pilot said.
The twelve aircraft came into view over the ocean; they were Twelve Black MiG-41 Sharks. Their background color was black, and on their backs they had a blue paint color that was similar to armor. Rainbow got a bad feeling in her stomach as she saw them approach.
“AWACS, what’s the drop on these guys?” Soarin asked.
“Not a clue,” Eagle Eye responded.
“AWACS this is Tango Five of the Kresper Squadron.” An EAG pilot chimed in.
“Go ahead Tango Five.” Eagle Eye responded.
“I remember hearing reports about an Ace Squadron within the Vertainian military, better than the rest of the Air Force. I believe their name was in fact Dominion.” He answered.
The Twelve MiGs were now closer to the main strike force, many had turned to meet them in battle.
“If that’s the case, we’re not going to be able to hold our own against them.” Tango Five added.
“Coward,” Lightning shouted.
“He’s got a point,” Soarin called, “We’re low on fuel and Ammo, it’d be suicide to engage.”
“Agreed, Eagle Eye to all aircraft Disengage and RTB, head West immediately.” Eagle eye called out.
“All Dominion planes; target the Equestrian Air Guard, pair up and take them down. Do not engage them single ship.” The Dominion squad leader called out.
“You heard AWACS team, pull out.” Spitfire said reversing course.
Rainbow took a quick moment to think about it as she watched the Dominion open fire on the EAG planes and take a few out with relative ease. Her ego commanded her to stay, but her common sense convinced her to go. Without hesitation, she banked left and spun the Reaper around. Putting the throttle to maximum, she and the rest of the Wonderbolts pulled out of the battle zone.
“I can’t believe we’re putting our tails to these guys!” Lightning said.
“Lightning,” Rainbow called in, “There will be another day. Right now let’s just get home safely.”
“She’s right, you’re not gonna help my family by flying into your own death.” Derpy answered.
“What about the rest of Baltimare?” Lightning asked.
“Same for that sweetie,” Fleetfoot answered.
Soon enough, the eight Wonderbolts as well as thirty of the rest of the attackers were over the mainland and racing up the coast. The Dominion squadron didn’t peruse them any farther than the coast.
“You’re out of the Danger Zone, Wonderbolts great work.” Eagle Eye called in.
With the mission a success, the Wonderbolts broke back for home.
By the time they got back, Alice was still fuming over the fact that they had left the battle so soon.
“We still could’ve had a shot to take out those Ace’s!” she shouted to Cassandra within the changing room.
“With what weapons huh? What fuel? Alice our job was to protect Canterlot and the rest of Equestria from that naval force and we did. I don’t remember the briefing including dealing a blow to the Vertainian air force just so we can have bragging rights.” Cassandra shot back.
“Does it matter?!” Alice shouted.
“ALRIGHT ENOUGH!” Jon roared, “Alice it’s a damn good thing you listened to command. Our orders were to evacuate after we took out those ships that’s it.”
Alice seemed defeated. And she proved it by turning to Maggie, “Come on Mags, I can bet even you are sore over turning away.”
Maggie had to give that one to her, she was sore they allowed the Dominion Squadron that victory. But Cassandra and Jon were right; combatting them would’ve been a very bad idea. Even the brash young Margret Dash knew when it was time to pull out. And because of that, Maggie said nothing.
Alice looked hurt as she gaped at Dash for not backing her up. Then after biting her lower lip, Alice slammed her helmet into her locker and said, “Thanks for the backup Wingmate!”
With a huff, Alice stormed out. Maggie lowered her head in a defeated sigh; this one wasn’t going to end well. After a moment of silence, she silently rose to her feet and walked out.
Ellen watched her go. And with a lamented sigh she said, “I don’t think Muffins will save this one.
Later on that night, Dash couldn’t sleep. It wasn’t aches and pains this time; it was her fight with Alice. Moreover it was her self-doubt. She was hatting herself for turning tail and bugging out with the best squadron in the Vertainian military staring them down. Her ego wasn’t about to let it die. Moreover, her loyalty towards Alice was making her cringe and regret not stepping to Alice’s side during her feud with Cassandra and Jon. Jon had rushed to Cassie’s defense during the fight, why hadn’t she?
It was gnawing at Dash, eating her from the inside out. So much so she decided to get up and walk down to the living room to watch some TV. But when she got there, a light in the neighboring room had caught her attention. When she walked in, she saw a tall and well-built gentleman helping himself to a drink from a Coffee pot. Dash knocked on the door to get his attention, “Excuse me but I’m not sure you can be here.”
The man turned around and looked at Dash with brown eyes, “Oh I’m sorry did I wake you up? I didn’t think I was being that loud.”
“No you didn’t, I couldn’t sleep anyway.” Dash told him. His voice sounded familiar, very familiar. “Eagle eye?” she asked.
“Brian Allen on the ground, and I guess your Wonderbolt Six, Callsign Rainbow?” he asked with a warm smile.
“Margret Dash,” Maggie introduced walking in.
“The hair gave it away,” Brian nodded, “Well since your still up, would you like some hot chocolate?”
Maggie nodded as Brian pulled out another mug and poured her some, “Come here often?”
“Only when I can’t sleep, my barracks is right next door with the rest of the crew in my Sentry. What about you, I’ve never seen you around here I take it this is your first night?” Brian asked.
“Yea, it is,” Maggie answered taking a sip of the hot chocolate. It wasn’t as good as Mr. and Mrs. Cake’s hot chocolate, but it was good enough.
“Mind if I ask what’s bugging you?” Brian asked.
Dash nodded, “Well Alice, or Wonderbolt Seven, is a little peeved over the fact that we had to turn tail without giving those Dominion planes a piece of our game.”
Brian nodded, “I can see how that must be tough, being Wonderbolts and all.”
“I’m stunned your calm about it,” Maggie smiled, “I figured it be tougher on you having to order us away.”
“I never said it wasn’t. Frankly I’m stunned you guys did pull back. However I can’t blame you. So let me guess, you didn’t rush to her defense when she picked her bone with Spitfire?” Brian asked.
Maggie nodded, “That and I’m a little pissed myself that we can’t go give them a piece of our mind.”  Then she took another drink of the hot chocolate, “But enough about me, what’s keeping you up?”
“Those damn burst missiles.” Brian answered, “The fact that our command team can’t pin down what’s launching them is bugging me.”
Dash nodded for a moment. It seemed the two of them were at a crossroads. “If only you could figure out where they were coming from. I mean you do operate the Radar, you’re bound to have a few charts detailing the missile flight paths.” Maggie said.
Just then an idea struck her. An idea that Brian also got in his head, “You know it wouldn’t be that hard for me to get that information.”
“Put together a couple of maps of the Atlantic Oceans, maybe we could figure out where their coming from.” Maggie continued.
“And then present it to the General in the morning. That’s actually a good idea.” Brian said, “Can you set up some tables while I get the information?”
Maggie nodded with a smile. Brian smiled back and then raced out to get his end of the bargain. Just after he left, Dash then got another idea. If she was going to go back on her hypocrisy of earlier today, she was going to have to apologize and include Alice. Quick as a flash, she raced off to Alice’s room.
Once she got there, Maggie quickly knocked on her door. After a moment Alice didn’t answer. Maggie knocked again this time harder. She could hear someone stir within the room, but that person was taking a long time to move. Maggie pounded again. Finally the door opened and Alice appeared out of it. She was covering her nude body with a bed sheet and part of the door, “What!”
“Get dressed and meet me in the living room I got an idea!” Maggie whispered.
Alice scoffed, “Uh no, it’s late I’m gonna go back to sleep and newsflash I’m still mad at you.”
She was about to go back inside when Dash stopped her, “Look, you were right I did want to go back in and fight those Dominion. And not doing it is really bugging me. But I just got done talking with Brian….”
“Who…?” Alice asked.
“Eagle Eye,” Rainbow clarified, “Anyway, he thinks he’s got a way of tracking the launch point of those missiles. If we’re lucky we might even get some information for the Dominion’s home base. Now please help me!”
Alice stood there looking at Dash for a moment. Then she said, “Can I at least get dressed first.”
Maggie smiled, “Thanks wingmate.”

//-------------------------------------------------------//
           Chapter Seven: The Wonderbolt Gambit            
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter Seven: The Wonderbolt Gambit
Chapter Seven:
The Wonderbolt Gambit
By the time morning came; none of the trio got much sleep. While they slept in turns, it was too little as none of them could shake the fact they were onto something big. Dash had found a small poker table in the crew quarters and brought it and three chairs into living room for them to do their work. Alice was asleep on the couch, as she had done her shift for about two hours. Maggie had slept previously, and Brian before that. It was basically the shift system they had worked all night. Brian’s Radar charts provided decent information, but none of it made sense. Every single missile seemed to be launched from the sea. But instead of being first registered at Sea level, they we’re first detected at thirteen thousand feet. By that point in the morning, they had plotted out the three missile launch paths on three different maps.
“I don’t know what we’re missing,” Brian lamented.
“You got me too,” Maggie agreed.
“It just…it just doesn’t make sense, three different launch points from three random places over the ocean.” Brian grieved, “And each from over thirteen thousand. I know my sentry, if those things were sea launched it would’ve picked them up just after they broke the water.”
“Yea but they weren’t sea launched.” Maggie heard Alice sigh as she rolled out of the couch, “Your charts detect that.”
Maggie rubbed her face; she was tired there was no denying that. The rains over Baltimare weren’t supposed to begin until tomorrow, so there was no telling what command would do today. She and Alice really needed to get to sleep so they can at least by combat ready for tomorrow. Though the system they had was working, she knew they didn’t nap enough. For probably the umpteenth time, she looked at the three charts they mapped out. They told her the same thing they had the past night, nothing.
Then, she noticed something. The three points they had, despite being on three different maps, were in a semi linear route. Not only did she have that, but the initial altitude of the Dominion Squadron was the same altitude as the burst missiles. There had to be a connection. Quickly acting on this thought process; she grabbed the maps and the pen.
“See something?” Alice asked.
“Yes, we forgot to put these on one map.” Maggie explained as she began hunting down the coordinates for the other two points. Once she determined them, things began to become clearer. Two of the points were in a straight line, just inches apart, and Dash marked them X-one and X-two respectively. The third point, which was taken during the fall of Baltimare and named X-three, was slightly above and a few inches back of the first two. Dash calculated the inch differences to the map key. When she got that part done, the total distance between X-one and X-two was three hundred feet. The third was a thousand feet from X-one and one thousand five hundred feet from X-two, drawn slightly above the two points.
“It’s a flight path,” Dash said softly.
“A what?” Brian asked.
Before he could respond to his question, Maggie asked one of her own, “Do you have the charts that registered the first contact of the Dominion squadron?”
Brian looked over his radar charts for a moment before pulling out a sheet of paper, “Yes right here.”
“Hey Dash I know I can read your flight movements by now but I’m not a mind reader and neither is Brian. Can you tell us what it is you see?” Alice asked.
Dash didn’t answer; she was too busy looking for the point of launch for the Dominion squadron. Soon she got it and marked another X along with a 4. It was perpendicular to X-one. Connecting X-one, two and four, Dash could see a flight pattern form. She continued the line towards X-three before circling it around to X-two. The answer came to her and she presented it to the others. “It’s a flight Path!” she said proudly.
Brian and Alice looked at it with awkward faces. “Are you sure?” Alice asked.
“I mean I can see it, but…” Brian agreed hesitantly.
“I know it’s a stretch, but there’s too much coincidence for there to be anything other.” Maggie said proudly, if not tiredly.
Brian leaned back in his seat, “Well the only way we can find out is if we go there and look.”
“And to do that, we’ll need the General’s blessing. And I doubt he’ll give it to us in our condition regardless of our low evidence.” Alice sighed.
At that exact moment, the General walked in and was quite shocked at the trio being awake. “Oh so that’s why you guys haven’t been answering, I was wondering. What are you doing awake?” he asked walking in.
Maggie looked at both Brian and Alice before turning back to the General, “Sir?”
“I was going to tell you that you guys have the morning off, command is certain that the Vertainians aren’t going to try anything today with the rains due.” The General said, “Still haven’t answered my question in regards to why are you awake.”
There was a moment of silence before Maggie answered, “We couldn’t sleep sir, the launch points of those burst missiles were bugging us.”
“Our best intelligence boys are looking into it now.” The General answered walking up to them.
“Yes sir but we have something they don’t,” Maggie lied meekly, “Eagle Eye’s Radar maps.”
Unconvinced, the General looked right at Brian, “Brian I thought you gave your charts to the intelligence bureau?”
Brian gulped, “Yes sir I did, but honestly sir you and I both know how long they take.”
The General nodded, “Well I can’t argue with that, what you found?”
“Well Sir….after a long night of working, we found out that the burst missiles and the Dominion Squadron had been launched from the same altitude: Thirteen thousand, five hundred and twenty feet.” Maggie explained, “After marking the points on initial contact on this map, we discovered that the points link up into a flight path.” To prove her point, she rose up the map and handed it to the General.
He looked at the maps before looking at the three of them, “This is very circumstantial evidence at best. Not only is one of these points outdated by a week, but I’m guessing you guys haven’t gotten much sleep either.”
Maggie kept her focus locked on the General while Alice proved his point by yawning.
“Yea I figured as much.” The General sighed. Maggie could tell he wanted to dismiss it, but he just couldn’t. Either he saw what she did, or he was close to seeing it. Either way, he sighed and said, “Alright I’ll review this work. Right now I want you three to get some rest. Morning bell’s going to be at eleven today, and right now it’s five, so sleep well.”
The three got up and began to move towards their barracks.
“Oh and don’t worry about the table, I’ll have some guys clean it up.” The General called as they all headed to bed.
After taking a good five hour nap, Dash woke up again. This time she felt more mentally cognizant and together. A good shower made her feel even better. She knew that General Johnson would give their work last night a full review before making a full decision. The only thing was, whether or not he’d accept the plan. And that made Maggie nervous.
Her nerves reached a fever pitch when the General summoned both her and Cassie to his office. On the way over, Dash informed Cassandra of her idea and how she got there. Cassie stayed stoic but was intrigued. Finally when they got to Johnson’s office, the duo sat across from him. He was still looking over the documents when they sat down. After an awkward silence, he looked up. “You know Dash. I’ve been looking over your work last night, well yours, Alice’s, and Brian’s; and I have to say from what I can tell you guys are stretching the information quite a bit. And everything is telling me that the Intel boys are gonna say the same.” The General told them, “However I just can’t dismiss it. Even if this was coincidental it’s too good. I’ll admit, there is something out there but hell if you three couldn’t figure it out from a table and an all-nighter I know I can’t.”
Dash kept her face stoic, but inside she was doing backflips. There might be a chance at them going out to take a look.
“But again, I cannot authorize a deployment of our best squadron based on a hunch.” He said standing up and turning around to face the windows.
“So then what would you like us to do General?” Cassandra asked.
The General was silent for a moment and he didn’t turn around. Then he spoke, “Spitfire I’m leaving the decision on you.”
“Sir?” Cassandra asked.
“I can’t authorize this mission, so I’m turning it over to you. Do you think this is warrant to launch an investigation?” he asked.
Maggie looked at Cassie with worried eyes. When the decision fell to General Johnson, she knew she’d won him over by the work they had done. But Cassie was a different story, she only knew of their work by Maggie’s mouth. Worse yet she didn’t review the material. But the Squadron Commander took no time in answering, “Would be worth a shot to put to rest any information. Honestly the threat those missiles put to us as well as that squadron’s threat is pretty high. We won’t be able to safely take back Baltimare without dealing a blow to them. I’d say let’s go for it.”
“There is one thing though,” the General added turning around, “The location they pegged to investigate takes you awfully close to Vertainian Airspace. You could have swarms of planes on you in moments.”
Cassandra scoffed, “Sir the Reapers are Mach Six capable, eight if we push them. If the Vertainians do mobilize fighters we’ll just race out of there, they can’t catch us.”
The General nodded, “Very well, I’ll have the ground crew load you guys up with full air-to-air missiles. Go out there and find out what’s out there. If its Vertainian, destroy it, dismissed.”
The two pilots nodded, saluted, and left. The moment Dash walked out of the General’s office, she squealed, “I can’t believe he said yes.”
“Easy Kid, we don’t know what we’re going to run into. I think it’s best to save the squealing until after we land.” Cassandra told her.
“I know I know, but still this day just got twenty percent cooler.” Dash smiled.
Cassandra laughed, “Well I’ll be, the kid’s got a catchphrase.”
“Yea, just haven’t found a good time to use it.” Dash smiled.
Cassandra nodded, “Good noggin kid. Come on let’s get suited up.”
By three pm, the eight Wonderbolts were airborne and over the southern Atlantic ocean heading East. The target search coordinates were still twenty miles away and whatever was out there was well out of sight. Big, puffy, white clouds filled the sky around them thanks to the massive weather system occurring several miles off the coast of Hayseed swamps. This weather system was planning on going north towards Horseshoe bay to fill the bay. However that trip wasn’t until tomorrow, so it simply hung out there providing clouds for the Wonderbolts to hide behind.
The Squadron also hadn’t taken a direct route to get to their location, as the other storm over the Horseshoe River as well as Baltimare being a no fly zone had forced them to fly over the water for most of their flight. Rainbow was a little nervous that they might’ve gone off course, but Eagle Eye had kept them on track so that was quickly dampened.
Now there was only looking for whatever was out there.
“So what exactly are we looking for again?” Fire Streak asked.
“Yeah, we’re loaded to the gill Blue Jays, Sidewinders, Sparrows, and Stingers so obviously it’s something big.” Fleetfoot added.
Fleetfoot wasn’t kidding when she said ‘Loaded to the gill.’ Today the Wonderbolts were hauling not only their complement of Blue Jays, Sidewinders, and Stingers, but also at least twenty Aim-7 Sparrow missiles. In total they had just over one hundred missiles each plane, enough to bring down an Aerial convoy.
“Honestly,” Eagle eye answered, “We don’t know. We assume it’s the carrier of those burst missiles the shape shifters call Odo’s and the carrier of the Dominion Squadron. But what’s out there….hang on…”
Rainbow looked around to see if she could spot anything, but nothing could be seen. Then she glanced at her long range X-Radar.  Two massive black circles appeared.
“Hey guys.” Derpy called in, “I’ve got Radar outage.”
“That’s not outage Wonderbolt Eight,” Eagle eye answered, “Those are jammers.”
“What the hell could be producing a jamming signal that strong?” Soarin asked.
“Or that big,” Spitfire included.
“Maybe the Radar coverage is incomplete?” Cloud Kicker asked innocently.
“No those are Jammers,” Rainbow answered, “And Eagle Eye; they’re right along out flight path.”
“Confirmed,” Eagle Eye agreed, “Wonderbolts you are cleared to investigate; if it had Vertainian markings, shoot it.”
“Roger that!” Spitfire answered.
Rainbow beamed as she hooked up her oxygen mask. Soon all eight pilots eased power into their engines and raced towards the Jamming circles. They burst through a puff of clouds, and then another, and another as they drew closer. Just then a radio transmission came through.
“Dominion One to Harvenger,” Dominion One called out, “Patrol complete returning to base.”
“Roger that Dominion one you are cleared to land, caution turbulence and jet wash.” The Harvenger responded.
“Well looks like we found the base for the Dominion team.” Lightning said.
“Yea and this time we ain’t turning back.” Rainbow beamed.
Just then they burst through another puff of clouds and came upon their target.
“Is the distance to our target correct…..” Soarin began checking his Radar, and then he looked up, “HOLY SHIT!”
Fire Streak looked forward, “Holy shit that fucker is huge!”
“What is that?!” Cloud Kicker cried.
“It’s landing those MiGs!” Lightning shouted.
“It looks like a raven!” Rainbow exclaimed.
They were all looking at a massive black bird. With a wingspan of five hundred and fifty two feet, length of three hundred and seven feet, and what looked like a height of eighty eight feet, massive was an understatement. Enclosed in twelve black pods running through the massive wings were the engines, grouped six to a wing. The body of the aircraft was like a large, rounded box with two trapezoid openings in the front and rear. These openings led to a runway, as long as the bird and as wide as a two lane road, running down the middle of the craft. On the tip of the plane was a bulge that appeared to house the missiles. There were two tails, positioned apart from each other at the tips of the rear horizontal stabilizers.
Rainbow could see a small slit of glass indicating a cockpit about forty feet up from the top of the front trapezoid. She could also see anti-aircraft defense turrets all around the plane. Worse yet, this massive bird had massive escorts. Four other manta-ray shaped planes were around the big Harvenger but not as big. In fact all four of them looked like they could fit on this bird. The two inner ones seemed to be the Jammers, but Rainbow had no idea what the other two were.
“That must be the Harvenger,” Derpy said.
“AWACS we found what it was you guys were looking for: five massive aircrafts.” Spitfire called in.
“Confirmed, Wonderbolts cleared to engage, take that thing out of our skies!” Eagle Eye called out.
Rainbow switched on her missile guidance systems and automatically her display lit up with squares and diamonds indicating targets. The targets were all along the massive Harvenger as well as along the birds escort. Thinking quickly, Rainbow switched over to her Aim-75 and locked up four targets. The other seven did the same as they drew to within optimal firing range. Despite the radar maps being jammed, the X-Radar and missile guidance systems were unaffected. The missiles may not be as accurate as they usually are, but they’d be good enough.
Once they got good tones, all eight Wonderbolts fired at once into the formation of aircraft. Some of the missiles struck the Harvenger, knocking out a few defense guns and missile ports. Some punctured holes in the fuselage. Others nailed the aircraft’s wings damaging the engines. But somehow that plane was still fling. Other missiles slammed into the defense craft; one actually blew right through one of the jammer planes knocking out part of the jamming. However none of the Stingers downed any of the big planes. After their missile impacts, the Wonderbolts tore past the formation before pitching back around and engaging.
“What the hell! We’re under attack! Man your battle stations everyone the Equestrians have found us. Dominion Squadron, cancel landing clearance and engage those fighters! Vipers knock out those planes with your missiles and guns!” Harvenger Command called out, “Vertainian Command this is Harvenger we’re under attack! Scramble all fighters!”
“I got Radar tracking for half the battle zone. And a positive ID on those other two craft. They’re missile platforms; you’ll be in for a world of hurt if you don’t take them out!” Eagle eye called.
“Roger that, Fleet and Fire take the left one. Derpy and Lightning the right. Rainbow you and Cloud move on those fighters. Soarin and I will deal with the final Jammer.” Spitfire called out.
No one responded as the flow of battle quickly called them back in. The Wonderbolts split into the groups Spitfire wanted them too. Just as they went back into the fray, the Defense guns on the Harvenger and the duel Vipers opened up on the planes. But the Wonderbolts cruised through the fire, returning some of their own. Rainbow watched as Derpy’s missiles struck the engines of her Viper while Lightning took out a row of defense turrets with her guns. But she couldn’t watch them for long, as the Harvenger raced towards her. Quickly she rolled underneath the massive bird to attack the launching Dominion planes. Cloud Kicker kicked right and flew along the starboard side of the Harvenger.
MiG-41s were launching out of the mouth and turning to engage the Wonderbolts taking out the Harvenger’s defense force. But both Rainbow and Cloud Kicker lined up a spread of Stingers on them. With due haste, they opened fire knocking out three and making four turn to evade. Still above the sound barrier, Rainbow raced past the bow and tore after a Shark that flew further out.
“Who are these guys!” shouted the Harvenger Commander.
“They’re the Wonderbolts, repeat the EAG’s seventh air wing is attacking us!” a Dominion pilot answered.
“Launch everything we got! Get rid of them!” The Commander said.
Rainbow lined up a good tone with her Sidewinder and fired. The missile went right up the plane’s engine and detonated taking the plane and pilot with it. As she spotted another plane trying to turn back into the force, she rolled in after it. But then her missile warnings went off. Acting on instinct, she fired her Sidewinder blindly and then pitched up. Her air speed instantly bled off as flairs and chaff fell from her Reaper, the back of her plane began to slide. The attacking Shark roared by her, and as it did, she peppered him with bullets. Her aircraft then fish tailed as she swung it around to re-engage.
Cloud Kicker barrel rolled over a wing of two Dominion Craft before locking missiles and taking them both out. Rainbow switched her command back to Blue Jays and fired on another Dominion craft. As the missiles hit, Derpy and Lightning’s target exploded in a massive fire ball.
“AWACS, one Viper down!” Lightning called.
Just then fire from the second Viper ceased. “Same goes with the other one AWACS!” Fire streak called.
“Good job, the Enemy’s on the ropes. Keep up the pressure!” Eagle Eye called out.
“You incompetent bugs!” the Harvenger commander shouted, “They’ve taken out the Vipers! Dominion Squadron, what’s taking so long, take them out!”
“We’re trying sir,” a Dominion pilot called, “But these pilots are….” His transmission was cut short by Rainbow’s bullets shattering the cockpit.
Rainbow then looped around and fired on his wingmate before banking back into the combat zone. Smoke, both black and grey, now filled the sky around the Harvenger, which was banking right to try to get back to Vertainian Airspace. The second radar jammer was then blasted out of the sky by Spitfire and Soarin. Rainbow swung in on the Harvenger, seeing an opportunity in its bank. She lined up Stinger missiles on four of the engines on the right wing and fired. The missiles went right into the engine cells and detonated. Quickly switching to her Sidewinders, she fired two more missiles into the last two engines before pulling out.
The Harvenger began to slide to the starboard as its nose dropped. “Recover now!” the Harvenger commander bellowed.
Just then Cloud Kicker knocked out the last of the Dominion planes. “AWACS, Dominion planes destroyed.”
“The Dominion has been whipped out! How is this possible?!” the Commander screamed as the Harvenger slowly rolled wings level. Soarin helped it by knocking out the engines on the port side. The Wonderbolts all began to plug away at the massive Harvenger as fire and smoke began to bellow from it.
“Launch the Odo Missiles, fire up the backup rockets! We will not be taken out this easily!” The Commander bellowed.
Just then hexagons on the roof of Harvenger opened up and six missiles were launched from it.
“Harvenger launching Burst missiles,” Eagle eye shouted, “WONDERBOLTS THEY’RE HEADING YOUR WAY!”
Rainbow banked right as her missile alerts began to blare and six orange circles appeared on the Radar chart. She just managed to clear the attack zone when the missiles detonated. Amazingly the damaged Harvenger was unharmed by its own attack. Rainbow didn’t have time to figure it out. She was acting on pure instinct as she raced in with Lightning and Derpy to take out the launchers. Using the last of their Stingers, the trio blasted away the missile launchers.
But that was done after three more rounds were fired away. Quickly slamming the throttle forward, Rainbow flew her Reaper right out of the battle zone. Derpy and Lightning followed suit just as the second round detonated. Panting at the extreme rush of adrenaline, Rainbow looked back to see two sets of engines right at the stern of the craft light up and push the Harvenger. But just as it built up speed, Fleetfoot tore in with Guns blaring and took out both Engines. Now the Harvenger began to dive shallowly as its speed was dying off.
“Impossible, DAMMIT HOW CAN THIS BE?!” The Harvenger commander shouted in anger.
“Wonderbolts, the Harvenger is on its last legs. Take out the command bridge and this will all be over.” Eagle Eye called.
“I’m on it!” Derpy shouted eagerly. She pitched over and tore towards the bridge of the Harvenger. Lightning and Rainbow followed, but held back to give Derpy her due. As she flew in front of the dying bird, she lined up the last of her Sparrow missiles right at the bridge of the bird. “This is Wonderbolt Eight, Fox One Fox One!” she shouted as she pressed the button. Two Sparrow missiles flew from their rail and right towards the bridge of the Harvenger. The commander didn’t have time to call for help as the missiles impacted. The explosion tore through the bird and continued all the way to the stern of the massive craft.
Now dead, the once mighty Harvenger began to nose over in a dive as explosions tore its insides apart. With little energy left, the massive craft slammed into the Atlantic Ocean and exploded. The fire ball reached several hundred feet before turning to black smoke. The Wonderbolts all formed up and looked down at their kill.
“May you rest in pieces,” Fleetfoot said softly, “Never to harm anyone ever again.”
“Image faded from Radar kill confirmed.” Eagle eye called out.
“Two threats knocked out for the price of one.” Rainbow said, “We did well today.”
“I hate to rain on the parade, but swarms of enemy craft are approaching your position at high speeds. Wonderbolts I recommend you vacate the battle zone immediately.” Eagle Eye called.
“Quite right AWACS, let’s go team!” Spitfire said.
In rapid succession, the eight F-95 Reapers throttled up until they roared out of the area at Mach 6.
*                 *                *
When the Wonderbolts got back, their ground crew had filled the hanger and were applauding them as they approached. Dash slid her cockpit back and pumped her fist at the cheering crew as she pulled in.
Once she reached her spot, she angled her Reaper to allow her crew to push it in tail first as she shut the engines down. Albert was too ecstatic over their victory to wait for her to stop and quickly climbed up shouting, “Good Hunting Kid!”
Maggie laughed, “Thank you Albert, it was an awesome experience.”
“I’ll bet it was.” He said helping her unstrap.
“By the way thanks for the checkup, this plane did very well. I owe you another.” Dash smiled.
“Think nothing of it honey, I treat all my ladies correct.” Albert smiled.
Maggie laughed, “Well she thanks you just as much.”
Later on, after getting her gear off and heading back into the lounge, Maggie and the other Bolts treated themselves to a celebration with some champagne. After toasting too many different topics, the General walked in with Brian in tow. Cassandra poured them both a class and said, “Well sir, looks like the rookies gambit paid off.”
“Yes it did Spitfire that it did.” General smiled, “You can’t believe how many calls of congratulations I’ve been getting over your accomplishment today. But I’d like to take one last moment to congratulate the woman who got the final hit, to Ellen!”
“To Ellen!” the crowd cheered.
Ellen blushed as she giggled, “Awe thank you guys, that means a lot. But hey cheers go to Alice, Maggie, and Brian for figuring out where that monster was. If it wasn’t for them that monster still be alive!”
Another round of applause followed. Maggie laughed at this; she was feeling very good with herself over this. And for good reason. She and her squadron just changed the course of the war. The balance of power was now on the Side of Equestria.
After the celebration died down, the General spoke. “I also have some news to give. The Royal guard, Equestrian Guard, EAG, and our close allies from the Crystal Empire have massed enough forces outside of Baltimare to take back the city. The D-day has been set on Monday, when the storms die down enough and conditions will be right for us to engage. Captain General Shining Armor has personally requested that the Wonderbolts lead the charge for the Air Guard.” He told them.
Silence fell among the group. It wasn’t a somber silence; it was just a normal silence as the pilots let it all sink in. Dash’s pride increased after hearing those words. They were ready to take back Baltimare. Even Ellen’s cheerful demeanor increased. The Vertainian days on their land were numbered.
“To the Wonderbolts!” Cassandra toasted.
“To the Wonderbolts,” they all said raising their glasses.
After they all took a long drink in their glasses, Johnson smiled. “I’d also like to say that thanks to this time table, you all have the weekend off. Have a fun time.”

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                       Introduction                        
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Introduction
Introduction
Equestria…a land of peace and a land of prosperity, where anyone can make a living and everyone can be somebody. The land is lush, plentiful, and its people enjoy unending peace and joy. But little do they know that the peace they enjoy is fragile and fluid. To the west of Equestria are the lands of Vertania, home of the Changeling Empire, and to the north the Mountains of the Griffon Oligarchy in the region of Waldreich. These two nations and their mighty strength have been a constant annoyance to the peace of Equestria.
In turn, Equestria’s distinguished leader Princess Celestia Eques formed the Equestrian Guard. This military force made out of the Equestrian Military Elites is the toughest forces on the planet. The Air Guard branch is considered the highest of these elites, made up of airmen and women with the highest efficiency ratings and impeccable skills. To benefit this, these pilots fly the best airplane in the world. The F-95 Reaper, a forward swept winged fighter with Stealth and Mach Six capability. This air supremacy fighter holds many records and is the primary aircraft of the Equestrian Guard combined with impressive heat-sealing, radar guidance, and sound tracking missiles that can recharge allowing for one Aircraft to take on twenty easily.
Thankfully, these weapons and the Equestrian Air Guard have never been used in combat. But that doesn’t mean the men and women of the Equestrian Air Guard aren’t vigil in their watch. They keep their eyes open, ears to the sky, watching, waiting, and wondering when the winds of war will come to Equestria.
On a sun soaked airstrip near Neighagra falls, the future of the Air Guard arrives for their first day on the job…