My Little Warzone: Betrayal Part 1

Chapter Six: Strike

TWO DAYS LATER...

CRAWSON PRISONER OF WAR INTERNMENT FACILITY
TIME: 0700 HOURS

"Alright! Wake up, maggots!" Boomed a voice from outside. The colt was then woken up as a loud banging was heard coming from the door. He knew who it was.

The orange earth-pony looked at the bloodstained sheets where the perfectly innocent Cheerilee he had met earlier was violated by the warden. His immense sadness turned into violent rage, and he walked from the barrack. The young pony had grown somewhat accustomed to the death, and the dying. But he still couldn't take it, and he still had his plan in mind.

He was suddenly stopped from his continuous trot as a soldier blocked his path. The soldier then asked "Verytana greeve mayaka whonoa? Meekana sutris!" What are you doing here? Get back to work!

The colt looked up to him with watery eyes, "I-I'm sorry...I don't speak your language."

The soldier raised a crooked finger towards the work area, the colt nodded before sprinting over there. As the colt ran, he then noticed the warden of the camp-Drahva Derinsoyva-as those soldier had said.

He looked in disgust as he shoved a young filly, probably his age, into a drainage ditch full of some kind of sludge. She crawled out, only to be shoved back in, and have a big, clawed foot hold her head underwater, she came back up seconds later, gasping for air. Derinsoyva let out a cruel chuckle before he noticed the colt.

"Hey...get over here! You're to work, not simply walk around!" The colt nodded solemnly and grabbed a shovel from off the ground, a pair of bony hooves clenching it. He pulled it from the corpse's grip before walking over to the filly.

"Are...are you okay?" asked the colt, the filly replied with a gurgled "Yes," then fell over. She was caught by the earth pony, though, and she looked at him promisingly. Her wings fluttered to get the muck out, and she ran her hoof through her short, purple mane to get whatever also was in there. The colt immediately recognized it.

"S-Scoot? Is that you?!" Asked the colt. Scootaloo nodded very weakly, then asked "A-and is that you? Symphony?" The colt, apparently known as "Symphony" nodded. He ambushed the pegasus with a hug, "I-I thought you were dead...is Sweetie Belle okay too?"

Scootaloo's joyful expression turned to one of remorse and sadness. "I haven't seen her yet...I think it's just you and me." Symphony smiled a little, but it quickly faded.

Derinsoyva walked by, and barked "You're supposed to work, not talk! Now start digging!" The two ponies reared back in fear, then, hastily, started digging a random hole. Symphony began talking again.

"Scoot,"

"Yeah?"

"I got a plan, but I need somepony to help me...I'm going to take that guy out...for good."

Scootaloo looked at her friend with shock. "Y-you can't do that! We'd be killed! I don't want to-" the pegasus was quickly silenced as an orange hoof covered her mouth. "Don't! Those guards might overhear us!" said the earth-pony with a harsh whisper.

Scootaloo nodded, then quietly said "If only Rainbow Dash could help us." They then started digging again, and looked at Derinsoyva shoving another pony into a sludgy ditch. Before putting their heads down, and focusing on their work.

CANTERLOT CASTLE
TIME: 0800 HOURS

Molokus shuffled through the footlocker at the edge of his bed. He pulled his M-15 from the chest, Let's see....rifle...check... thought the Aerisan to himself. He then pulled out a belt, some slender boxes and grenades strung around it, Bandolier strap...check... he thought as he put it in the small satchel on the sheets. He also took out some cans, Let's see....Two C-rations...one E-ration...one K-ration...that should be in the clear... He put the four, small cans into the bag as well.

A knock on the door distracted the general from his digging, he looked up and asked "Who is it?"

A guard walked in, he had a grey coat and a long, jet-black mane, he wasn't holding anything but the armor he was wearing. The Aerisan was irritated by the blatant invasion of privacy. "What do you want?" asked Axis, slightly annoyed.

The guard, slightly nervous, said "The princess wishes to see you..."

"Which one?" responded the old soldier.

"Princess Celestia."

Molokus nodded, he took the large bag and put it in his footlocker, closing it, and locking it. Axisus sighed, and nudged the guard out of the way as he walked through the palace's hall until reaching the throne room.

The pristine, beautiful alicorn was looking at Molokus with content. The creature grunted, then asked "Yeah?" Celestia's worry turned into sadness. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. Molokus' ears rose from their half-folded position on his neck in confusion. She then managed to speak.

"I'm sorry about your loss, she was a fine soldier in the three years we knew about the Union. I hope you can recover."

Molokus felt lightened by the princess's friendly words. He looked at her, and said "Thank you...I just want one thing, if that's okay with you." Celestia chuckled at the last words, it reminded her of a certain yellow filly. "What is it?" she asked with a smile.

"I wish to stay in Ponyville for a bit...you know...to gather my thoughts on this..." Molokus replied. The alicorn shrugged, then asked "How long?"

"Oh...I don't know...say...a week or two?" suggested the Aerisan.

The general's response was not something the princess was ready for. "But you're still training my...er...your soldiers." she said. "I just stabbed my closest friend in the chest two days ago...can I not work for once?" Axis snapped back. The princess frowned at his behavior, she learned from Gavarixus that Molokus had a tendency to be easily irritable.

"Fine...two weeks...no less...if there's a problem, you're coming back here." Celestia demanded. Molokus shrugged, and with a quick "Thank you," hustled back to his bedroom.

He sorted through whatever else he needed for his trip, then slung his satchel over his shoulder. He opened the wooden double doors of the entrance, and made his way to the Canterlot train station.

When Axis arrived, however, he noticed there was one small problem: He was nearly as tall as the train itself. He poked his head through the most spacious cabin, craned his neck, and saw the ceiling was no more than four feet off the ground.

Molokus sighed in annoyance, then squatted down and crawled through the chamber. He sat in one of the seats, and hung his head low.

Two hours later, he had reached Ponyville train station. He stepped out of the train, stretching his long limbs, then stepped onto the deck and walked out.

He kept walking through the bustling town, shuffling through the farmer's market, and trying to avoid as much confrontation with the curious colts and fillies until he reached the tree-library he knew all too well.

Molokus walked in, there was no light. He stumbled across the floor until he sat down at the small table, a pony-head statue in front of him. He pulled one of the ration-cans out of the bag, it was marked "C", he took off the lid of the ration. He then took out his knife and stabbed the smaller can within it. He peeled the metal off, until he saw a few pieces of meat.

He took one out, muttered to himself "Eat up!" and tossed it into his mouth. He knew how bad it tasted, but after 10 years of eating it, he'd gotten used to it. He took another piece, and before he could toss it into his toothy maw, an ear-shattering screech echoed through the building. He dropped the piece of meat back into his ration-can, and grabbed his knife.

"Who are you?" asked Molokus. All of the sudden, the lights were on and two horrified ponies stared at him. Molokus put the knife back in the sheath on his waist, and asked "Is...is everything alright?"

A pale-yellow hoof pointed towards the meat, "W-...what is that?" asked the mortified pegasus. Molokus looked at the ration, looked back at them, looked back at the ration, then looked back at them again. "Oh....that?" he asked with a finger pointing towards the metal tin.

The horrified ponies nodded. "That's just...another...defenseless...animal...how could you?" asked Fluttershy. Axis facepalmed. He looked at the ponies as if they were the dumbest fillies on the planet. He barred his sharp teeth, and pointed at them, "Why do you think we're given these? Aerisans have been meat-eaters since probably the dawn of time. I mean, it's just rabbit, who's it killing? Besides...the...rabbit..."

Fluttershy fainted, Twilight Sparkle looked at her friend, and said "He's right, Fluttershy. He's a totally different species than us...and they need to eat what their bodies are built for...even if it is a harmless animal..." Molokus frowned.

Taking her attention off the Aerisan's diet, she asked "What are you doing here, anyways?" Axisus was quick to reply. "I'm just on leave for the next two weeks....seeing your...er...friend apparently hates me now...I don't see why I can stay here..."

Twilight smiled, nodded, then said "It's fine with me. Just...don't eat meat around other ponies...especially Fluttershy...But you can head upstairs and unpack your things...we're just hanging out down here."

Molokus smiled, and walked upstairs, slightly shuffling the lavender filly out of the way. He unpacked his satchel, unloading and placing the Fulcrum on the dresser. He heard the ponies talking downstairs, and he decided that it be best if he stays upstairs. Should probably send a letter to Celestia while I'm at it...just to tell her some of the things I forgot to... thought the creature to himself.

He walked up to a small desk, pulling a piece of clear parchment and a quill pen, he dipped it in ink, and began writing.

Princess Celestia,

It’s my first time trying this, might as well give it my best shot at it.

It's been interesting, 30 minutes of staying here and I already got Fluttershy freaking out over me eating a piece of meat. Fucking beautiful. Anyways, there was some things I forgot to tell you about the Union, and it's extremely important:

One, go to the Canterlot Archives, I placed a book in the engineering section titled: Union Aircraft and Avionics Guide. Go to page 320. It's extremely important, it has the weaknesses of the aircraft labeled there, and since the Union has probably begun preparing for it to be sent out on a sortie, we need to get that settled.

Two, I have the plans for the Crawson Prisoner of War Internment Facility in my footlocker, you need to find that, there could be several ponies already there that are getting exterminated by the Union, yes, you read that right, exterminated. Once we find those, we can take the place out and pull out any ponies and Union soldiers that got captured for siding with you.

Three, I understand the dragon migration is coming, and several ponies might want to see that. But, I can already assume that the Union is going to be using flak, SAMs, and Halberds and Seahawks to pick them off like flies. You need to monitor the airspace there or else several innocent lives could be at stake with falling dragons.

I will be returning, like I said, in two weeks. And with the Union on the verge of starting a massive-scale war, I have a feeling I won't get to have those weeks. I'll be staying at your student's library for now. Until then, goodbye.

Sincerely,
Molokus, Axisus J.

Molokus shouted “Spike!” at the top of his lungs, it echoed through the room, and, almost instantly, a terrified, purple-and-green baby dragon stood before him. “Y-yeah?” he asked. Molokus gave him a calm, almost mother-like look.

“Can you send this to the princess?” the creature asked. Spike’s fear contorted into relief, with a simple “Sure!”, he took the rolled up parchment, opened up the small circular window next to the general, and with a puff of green flame, vaporized the parchment into thin air.

“So...now what?” asked the curious dragon. Axis leaned back in the small, wooden chair, and replied “We wait for a response.”

CANTERLOT CASTLE
TIME: 1045 HOURS

Celestia sat silently in the throne room. She looked up at the sky to see the angle of the sun, she looked to the left, then to the right. She sighed, then closed her eyes.

All of the sudden, a piece of parchment floated before her, she opened her eyes, unfurled the paper, and read Molokus’ note.

“It's extremely important, it has the weaknesses of the aircraft labeled there, and since the Union has probably begun preparing for it to be sent out on a sortie, we need to get that settled.”

Her eyes widened, she bit her lip nervously, and continued reading.

“There could be several ponies already there that are getting exterminated by the Union, yes, you read that right, exterminated.”

She gasped, “E-Exterminated?” she muttered to herself. She looked through the rest of the letter, then put to her side. She sprung up from the large chair.

“Where are you going, your highness?” asked one of the guards. “Canterlot Archives, don’t follow me, I’ll be fine alone.” replied the princess. The stallion nodded, and she shoved him out of the way as she darted to the archives.

Once she arrived, she sprinted through the building until she reached an entrance, a sign above it with a gear painted on. She walked through, going through the “A” section until reaching the book.

She nervously flipped through the pages. She began muttering to herself, “Let’s see...F-20 Seahawk...no...F-34 Halberd...no...UH-15 Guardian? No...B-42 Gladiator...no...MQ-90 Dragon...no...V-74 Condor...no...B-95 Goliath...no...”

She flipped through a couple more pages until reaching what Molokus had instructed. “Aha! Here it is... the NC-1 Nightowl...” The alicorn looked through the passage about the aircraft.

Dravinsoyva Aerospace Engineering Corporation NC-1 Nightowl:

Length: 230 ft.
Wingspan: 275 ft.
Maximum Speed: 540 MPH
Cruise Speed: 315 MPH
Stall Speed: 125 MPH

The DAEC NC-1 (Union Air Combat Command designation for “Nuclear-weapon Carrier”) Nightowl is a long range nuclear weapon-carrying aircraft. Its construction began in year 995, and is currently awaiting its first deployment.

It’s built upon the chassis of the Marovo Dynamics YB-58 Angel, with a few modifications including a lengthier fuselage, larger wingspan, the inclusion of two extra engines, and Long-Range Air-to-Surface Radar (LRASR) systems. Its payload bay has also been modified to carry the EGM-50 Demon nuclear cruise missile.

The aircraft, according to reports, is to break history, as the first aircraft capable of carrying and deploying a nuclear warhead mid-flight. It has been nicknamed “Death’s Wings” for its dangerous capabilities.

Princess Celestia gasped, before quickly looking towards the bottom of the page.

However, the aircraft is horribly flawed. The Union Air Force says that the aircraft is required to get within 2,500 miles of the designated target before being able to launch the missile. The LRASR system also requires the aircraft to slow down to near-stall speeds to lock on, making it an easy target for air defence measures.

Unlike the YB-58, compartments for flares, chaffs, and other AA countermeasures have been removed from the fuselage to accommodate the capacity of the payload bay. Meaning the aircraft requires constant escort from fighter aircraft. It also has less protection on the engines, wings, and fuselage to lighten the aircraft due to the amount of fuel and the weight of the single EGM-50 it can carry. Shooting this behemoth down is possible, but as high as a priority it will be in the air, it is very unlikely.

Still unnerved by the last words, Celestia let out a sigh of relief. Looks like we might have a chance after all! she thought to herself with a smile.

She was still curious about the power of this nuclear missile, however. She flipped through the index, Let’s see...Here it is, EGM-50 Demon, page 493... She thought as she went to the page. Her jaw dropped.

Ivorix Munitions Corporation EGM-50 Demon:

Length: 75 ft.
Width: 4 ft.
Weight: 2.5 tons
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.4

Built in 999, the IMC EGM-50 (Union ACC designation for “Electronically-Guided Missile”) Demon cruise missile has been said to be the Union’s deadliest weapon ever built. It has been built to be launched from any missile silo, the Gamarix Romano Uveria (GRU) M-68 Mobile Launch Platform (MLP), and the DAEC NC-1 Nightowl.

Engineers have nicknamed it “The Destroyer of Worlds”. Its 20 foot solid plutonium charge is powerful enough to create a blast radius of 200 square miles.

Celestia gasped, That’s the size of Las Pegasus! she thought.

It also has a radiation spread-out of 100 square miles. Meaning the total radius of an explosion of this superweapon is 300 square miles. Making it possibly the deadliest weapon ever created.

The only possible way it can be shot down is by the Union-developed Saber Missile Defence System, or if an aircraft with mounted guns, such as the F-20 Seahawk, or F-34 Halberd: The only UAF aircraft capable of reaching Mach 2.4+, follows it and shoots it down.

However, like every weapon and vehicle has its flaws, the EGM-50 has them as well:

-The liquid propellant takes a while to start actually burning fast. Requiring the missile to sit in its weapon bay for at least three minutes before being able to launch, exposing it to weapon defence systems.

-The missile must be connected to a radar system. Whether the MLP’s Ground-to-Ground Radar Beam System (GGRBS), the Nightowl’s Long-Range Air-to-Surface Radar (LRASR) system, or the SSL-34 satellite link system attached to the Union’s ballistic missile silos. If there isn’t a connected radar system, the missile will fail to launch.

-The missile has a special sensor that causes the charge to detonate 15 feet above the target. Due to the material the casing the EGM-50 is made out of, if this sensor fails and the missile hits the ground, the odds of the charge detonating are 50-to-1.

It’s an extremely dangerous weapon, and one missile has the capability to wipe out 4 million people. Shooting it down is difficult, regardless of its flaws.

Celestia let out a moan of despair. She closed the book, but it back in its place, and trotted back to her throne room. Once she returned, the exhausted alicorn then levitated a piece of parchment, a quill pen, and a bottle of ink towards her. And she began writing.

Dear General Molokus,

I’ve done the first task that you required, but all I can ask, is this:

What are we to do if the Union has this aircraft and this missile? For all we know, they could be targeting Las Pegasus, and if they manage to bomb there, the entire social order of Equestria will fold into total chaos.

I need your help on this. Have you seen this “NC-1 Nightowl?” Have you seen them testing this missile? Have you seen anything? Please, help me, I don’t know what I can do if they manage to attack and destroy Las Pegasus. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Princess Celestia

PONYVILLE
TIME: 1110 HOURS

Dammit...how long does this have to take? Thought Molokus to himself.

He was rocking back and forth in the chair, occasionally glancing at Spike, waiting for something to happen. All of the sudden, Spike froze, he opened his mouth, and a puff of flame and a letter flew out.

Molokus caught the parchment, he unfurled the brown paper, and read it. He read it over and over, he then put it down, took the a blank sheet of parchment and a quill pen, and began writing a response.

Princess Celestia,

I have to say...yes...I have seen the Nightowl in the Davidson AFB experimental aircraft hangar. And I’ve found out more and more over the past two weeks or so.

When I was in the High Command Center, I saw the 1000 Census of Equestria. I saw how heavily populated Las Pegasus was, and then it hit me: That must be their target. Whatever you do, put defences in every city: Baltimare, Manehatten, Canterlot, Las Pegasus, everywhere, until we can figure out what their target is.

I’ll try consulting with Gavarixus, but the odds of this are very low. Set up as many defences as possible. The Demon is powerful enough to wipe out 4,000,000 people, ponies, whatever. I’ll do whatever possible to prepare Ponyville for such a strike. But I don’t think this will work, word of the Canterlot Port invasion will spread faster than I, or you, can control. But I swore my loyalty, and I won’t back down.

Sincerely,
Molokus, Axisus J.

Axis rolled the parchment up, and handed it to Spike. he then went to the open window, and breathed a gentle puff of fire towards it, materializing the paper. Molokus said a swift “Thanks.” and began writing again.

Commander Avrato Gavarixus,

I’m sure you remember me. You made me kill one of your men, and you made me kill one of my closest friends. You’re a cold-hearted bastard, I doubt you even feel the slightest bit of remorse. But, I need to talk to you.

I know what you’re trying to do. You don’t have to do what you’re doing. Why would you want to nuke Las Pegasus? I...Oh...dear...Celestia...

You sick, sick son of a bitch. This isn’t about the damn ransom anymore! You’re putting the lives of three million ponies at stake. How could you live with yourself with the fact that you would have murdered so many innocent souls? If you go with this, you’ll be recognized as a terrorist, not a soldier.

You’re really going to kill all these poor creatures until you get 10 billion bits?! You’re just going to waste these ponies just because of something that wasn’t their fault? Don’t you see anything wrong in that?

I defected because you already killed 300 at Canterlot Port. You made me kill Xereva, my student and my closest friend. You made me kill a soldier that was simply following orders. You better fix all this shit you’re causing, or I will personally go to you, and I will end this once and for all.

Goodbye,
Molokus, Axisus J.

Doing what he had with his other two letters. He handed the parchment to Spike. “This doesn’t go to princess Celestia. This goes to Union High Command. So...do whatever you do to change the address or whatever and send it there.” demanded Molokus.

The baby dragon took the letter, went up to that window, and blew the letter out in a plume of flame. Molokus then sighed, and got up from the chair. He walked over to his room and laid down in his bed.

UNION HIGH COMMAND CENTER
TIME: 1142 HOURS

“Is the Nightowl prepared for launch?” asked a figure standing in the center of the room. Standing across from him was another Aerisan, a little bit shorter than he was, he had a scar over his right eye.

“Almost...The NC-1’s LRASR system is getting recalibrated, and the Demon is getting set to be loaded on. In two days, we will be the most feared force on the planet.” responded the soldier with a menacing snicker.

Gavarixus smiled, then said “Good...As the Union Air Force chief-of-staff, the minute that plane takes off, you lead the whole operation. In fact, you’re able to decide where we strike.” The chief-of-staff laughed again, then said. “Oh...I know the perfect place...”

The Aerisan signaled Gavarixus to a multi-colored map of a landform. “The 1000 Equestrian Census...I see...” said the commander. The chief-of-staff pointed his finger to a large blotch of red on the map.

“Las Pegasus...a population of three million in a radius of 153 square miles. Just within the blast radius of the EGM-50. Once that missile hits...we will become the most feared species on the planet. And there isn’t a damn thing that princess Celestia can do about it.” declared the soldier. “Serves the bitch right for slashing my eye...”

Gavarixus recalled that moment, he was standing with him when Celestia walked by. He saluted her, but the chief-of-staff didn’t, she walked up to him, and shook her head disapprovingly. However, her horn had slashed through his right eye by accident.

The commander let out a low, maniacal laugh. “Yes...and Molokus can’t do anything either.” At that moment, the rolled up parchment flew into the room, hitting Gavarixus square in the face.

“Ow!...Dammit, now what the hell is this?” he asked as he unfurled it. Several staff looked at him, as well as the air force chief. Avrato’s was at first triumphant and proud, but now he was filled with raw fury. He looked at the bottom of the note,

Goodbye,
Molokus, Axisus J.

The commander screamed, he balled the parchment up and threw it, it hit a window which it crashed into, leaving a crack-surrounded hole in the floor-to-ceiling glass. “YOU’VE DONE IT NOW, YOU SON OF A BITCH!” the commander roared. Several had ran out of the room.

He went to his desk, he pulled out a piece of paper and a fountain pen and began scribbling.

Captain Molokus,

You son of a bitch. Of course this is about the fucking ransom! And don’t you dare say it wasn’t those ponies’ fault because it sure-as-hell was.

I’m sure you’ve heard about your precious princess sinking the UNS Virtue, right?! Maybe you don’t? Well, look it up. You’re 37 years old, I’m 52, who the hell do you think is going to have more knowledge about what these goddamn “ponies” did to us? I’ve seen so much happen that you couldn’t even think of.

You better say goodbye to your “wonderful” country. Las Pegasus is going to be obliterated, and when it does, the princess’s social order is going to hit rock bottom. There will be nothing you can do, and the Union will become the most feared force on the planet.

I think we might have Ponyville as a little...side project, too...doesn’t that sound wonderful? You’re a traitor, and you’re going to get the bull’s horns for what you’ve done. Goodbye.

Commander Avrato Gavarixus

He took the paper and ran downstairs to the lobby. He saw a marine APC passing by the building, and yelled at the gunner “Tell the driver to stop!” The soldier on the mounted machine gun nodded, he stepped down from the hole he was sticking out of, and moments later, the vehicle stopped.

Gavarixus ran up to the side of the vehicle, and opened up the driver’s door. “Get this to the Ponyville library immediately.” The driver nodded, and with a quick “Yes sir.” closed the door, and drove off in that direction. Avrato began smiling like a madman. “There’s nothing you can do now, Molokus.” the commander said to himself.

PONYVILLE
TIME: 1047 HOURS

Molokus sat quietly in his room. He’s the leader of the Union, how long does it take someone to get a damn letter through? He thought to himself.

The Aerisan sprung up from his bed, and walked downstairs. He saw two ponies sitting at the small table where the horse-head sculpture sat. He looked at them, both looking through their books. Before walking down to select a book of his own.

“Let’s see...physics...anatomy...kid’s books....” the general muttered to himself, quiet enough not to disturb anypony. “Nothing? Do you seriously have nothing good to read?” Molokus asked a little too loudly.

Twilight and Fluttershy looked up from the books they were reading. Twilight gently smiled while Fluttershy glared at him furiously.

“Is there anything you’re looking for?” the librarian asked curiously. “Yeah...are you maybe looking up books on the different kinds of meat you want to try?” the timid pegasus asked rudely.

Molokus glanced at Fluttershy, “There’s nothing you can do about your natural-born diet, Fluttershy...” he replied. “And yes, Twilight...do you have any books that are actually worth reading?” he asked. The unicorn glared at him for a moment, before showing a forced smile, and asking “Well...what do you want to read?”

“Well...I don’t know, to be honest. All I see is books about science, little children’s books, and...the fuc-” Twilight cut him off, “Language, Molokus!” the soldier scoffed at her before continuing “....’Daring Do’? Now what in holy hell is ‘Daring Do’?

Twilight sighed, and said ”It’s a book that might not be for stallions-...I mean...Aerisans like yourself. I don’t really have any books you might like to read...unless, you do like something in particular, that is...”

Molokus looked at her for a moment, and said “Yeah...I can assume you have at least some books written by Aerisans...” Twilight scowled at the seemingly-prejudiced remark, then asked “Like?”

“Do you have ‘Mayvana Gronaoa’, by Gravonix Mayona?” The lavender unicorn tried piecing together what he just said. She asked “Translation, please?”

Molokus sighed in frustration, “‘The Man in the Mist’. It’s a book about a spy that was sent into southern Verivana to retrieve an encryption key for a nuclear bomb. He slowly stalked through the jungles of Makiana, and was so silent and so camouflaged, they say he was pretty much...well...a man in the mist. I heard it’s based on a true story of an agent of the Union Bureau of Espionage.”

Twilight didn’t bother asking where those places were. “Did he eat meat, too?” asked Fluttershy. Molokus frowned Not yet... he thought, Just wait...

Moments later, a heavy, repeated thump was heard from the door. Before any of them had a chance to respond, the door was kicked down and four heavily armed soldiers ran in.

They looked around for a moment, first at the two fillies, then at the general, two of the marines pointed their rifles at him. “Stand down.” said the one at the front. The two riflemen dropped their stance. And glared at Molokus.

“Captain-” the soldier in front was cut off “General,” Molokus said. The marine sighed, then continued “Fine...General Axisus Jerovix Molokus. Commander Gavarixus had sent you this.” He handed Molokus the paper. He nodded, and the marines walked out of the building.

Moments later, five loud “BUMPS!” followed as two windows were shattered and three bullets penetrated the side of the tree. Molokus heard the engine start up, and then fading away as the metal behemoth drove off.

He read through the note. Twilight looked at him nervously, and Fluttershy stopped glaring as Molokus’ eyes shot open in terror. “We need to get to town hall...now.”

Molokus and the two fillies ran through the streets of Ponyville until reaching the building. They burst through the double doors and down the hall, but were stopped by a pony donning a pair of square, plastic-framed glasses.

“The mayor is busy right now! She can’t be talked to!” she declared. Without even saying anything, Axis shoved the paper in her face. Her eyes, too, widened in terror, she then choked “Follow me.”

They walked down the hall, Molokus started talking to Twilight. “So...where are the others?

“The others?” the purple librarian asked.

“Yeah, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, where are they all?”

“Oh...” Twilight asked, nervously scraping her hoof across the tile flooring.

“What?” Axis asked.

“I don’t know how to break it to you...but here it goes.” Twilight said.

“Sweetie Belle died in the hospital, Rarity got so upset that she slit her wrists and tried killing herself. Applejack, whose family, including herself, had become homeless because four soldiers with flamethrowers burned all the apple trees at Sweet Apple Acres down, which they had to sell because they had no apples to sell for Cider Season, which is coming up next month.”

She drew a breath, and finished. “She walked into Rarity’s boutique and found her, she took her to the hospital because she had already lost a lot of blood. Then she went to Rainbow Dash’s house to stay there, she’s been trying to take care of Applejack’s family since. And Pinkie Pie...ever since we’ve heard of the Canterlot Port invasion, everypony’s been a bit paranoid. But Pinkie’s been inside for the past two days. I don’t blame her, either.”

Molokus paused for a moment, letting all of her words soak in. “R-Rarity’s in the hospital?” he asked. The princess’s student nodded sullenly. “Dear Celestia...” he mumbled to himself.

They eventually had reached the mayor’s office, they walked in and saw the pony. The mayor didn’t look how she usually is. Her russet-brown coat and grey mane was ruffled. In her hooves was a bottle with a golden liquid inside.

“W-...what do you w-want?” asked the aging mare. “How did you get your hooves on that, Miss Mayor?” asked Twilight Sparkle, pointing towards the bottle. “Th-this? This has been in Town Hall’s c-cellar for centuries...it’s a-aged q-quite well...” she replied as she took another swig from it.

“But...why would you find hitting the bottle a necessary way to fix this?” asked Molokus, “What’s the issue anyways?”

Mayor Mare sighed, she looked at them despairingly. “E-ever since that issue of The Ponyville Express g-got out. Ponyville’s been in a-absolute chaos. Everypony’s s-so paranoid and barely a-anyone’s doing any w-work because they’re t-too afraid of being bombed by the Union.”

Molokus looked at her with a calm expression. “Well...if that isn’t bad...look at this.” he handed her the parchment, and she looked at it, mortified. “Oh...Oh my...I-is there anything we can do about it?” the drunk mayor asked.

“I’m afraid the only thing we can do is prepare the town for some kind of nuclear strike. We need to build shelters, and evacuate everyone.” Molokus responded solemnly.

“V-very well....You can g-go outside to speak to t-them, but controlling any kind of m-mob will be difficult to control...good luck...” the mayor declared.

Molokus said a hasty “Thank you,” and ran outside, Fluttershy and Twilight following.

The cerulean creature ran out to the deck of the building. He stepped down, Twilight started declaring “Can I have your attention please! Please, it’s really important!”

Nopony listened to her, Molokus looked around, and roared “LISTEN!”

Everyone stopped, they looked at the three standing in front of the building. Molokus spoke up again “Look, I need everyone to listen very, very carefully. The Union might be preparing for a nuclear strike on Ponyville, and I-”

He didn’t even have the chance to finish before the crowd broke into a panic.

Twilight tried saying “Now everypony, calm down! It’s going to be okay!”, but her statements came to no avail as the panic seemed to grow. Fluttershy slow crept backwards, and Twilight tried to calm everyone down, but it was no use. All of the sudden, Axis roared again.

“EVERYBODY SHUT THE FUCK UP!”

Everypony stopped, and looked at him. He noticed that several were cowering in fear, his anger diminished into solemnity and he began speaking.

“I need everybo-...everypony to listen very carefully. We don’t know if they’re going to attack us or not. But I need your cooperation. Now, we need to fortify Ponyville, and we need to build shelters. Is everyone with me?”

The ponies sullenly and silently nodded. Molokus grunted and looked at Twilight. He spoke very softly “I need you to round everyone up, and keep them within the perimeter of Ponyville. Get everyone within a 25 mile circle around the city. Can you get that done?”

Several shouted “Yes!”, and the general smiled.

Those next three days went by very smoothly, but also very haphazardly. Several ponies skipped out on assigned jobs from their paranoia. Several ponies tried getting their work done as fast as they could, worried they would be attacked on the job before they could see their families. Molokus felt bad about this, but they had to prepare, otherwise Ponyville could be completely destroyed.

Twilight Sparkle also realized this, and she decided to talk to Molokus. She walked into her library after a hard day of helping everypony with preparations, and found Molokus looking around nervously.

“Axis?” the filly asked. Axisus shot a glance at her, and asked “What?”

She was quick to reply. “Well...do you think there’s any way any of us can help?”

Molokus started looking at her dumbfoundedly, “As in, you and your friends?”

“Yeah!”

The blue creature sat down, pondering the idea. “Wait...I have an idea...but it’s a very, very dangerous task...and it involves your friend, Rainbow Dash.” he said. Twilight was curious about it, and said “Rainbow’s cocky enough to try anything...that’s how she is, tell me what you need her to do, I’m sure she can do it!”

“Your friend might be our only hope of keeping the Nightowl from destroying Las Pegasus.”

The lavender filly’s eyes shot open with fright. “Axis, are you insane?! She could get killed!” He shook his head slowly, and said “Twilight...at this point, we might not have a choice...”

“But...but...but-”

“‘But’ nothing, she may be our only hope. You said she can fly pretty well, no?”

“Well, yeah, but...”

“The NC-1 has to slow down to about 140 knots to launch the missile, if she can place this...” Molokus went upstairs, a few minutes later, he walked back downstairs, in his hands was a small, tan box, a smaller, black one on top. He placed it on the reading table.

“Axis...what is that?” Twilight asked, confused.

“Type 45 plastic explosive, a well placed charge can tear the Nightowl in half.”

“I’m not sure if this is completely safe...”

Molokus closed the argument, “It’s either risking one life, or risking three million. Your call.”

Twilight nodded, “Fine...but you’re fully responsible if she gets hurt.”

“I understand.”

Molokus sat down, looking at the explosive with a discerning eye. “We need to get to Rainbow Dash’s house, it’s only a matter of time before the Nightowl takes off.” he declared.