Secret Guardian

Several sighs of relief could be heard throughout the ranks of the team as they set hoof on the paved walkways of the train yard where the train waited for them. Striker and Pinpoint walked onto the bus to check it out before dragging the now rather exhausted rebel commander onto the train with them. It was empty, as was every transport that the Princess had prepared for them, which made things rather easy despite it being a strange feeling. Pinpoint took the prisoner from Striker and moved him towards the center off the bus so that on the off chance he would be dumb enough to try and get out, he would either have to go through Striker and him or the other way would have the rest of the team. Striker had already made his way into a seat at this point and rested his head against the window, so Pinpoint slid into the seat in front of him.

"You going to be alright sir? You don’t look to great." Pinpoint asked as he looked over the stallion. He looked like this one was weighing especially heavy on him.

Striker turned his head slightly to meet his team members eyes, "Same thing as any other time Pinpoint, we went out and did what we had to." He let out a sigh before he continued," That being said, off of the books, I’m going to need a drink when this is over with." He let out a slight hint of a smile which put Pinpoint at ease, an act that despite everything was more then a relief. Pinpoints horn lit up as he pulled something from his rifle bag, it was a small black flash filled with his favorite wheat liquor. Striker couldn’t help but to laugh at the motion, "Are you kidding me Pinpoint? You know we are about to meet up with Princess Celestia right?" Pinpoint let out a nod in response as he raised the flask to his lips. "Your fucking insane, you know that right?" Striker said as he leaned forward to rest his weight on his hooves.

Pinpoint set the container on the table in front of his officer, "Oh come on old timer, how about you live it up a bit?" he said with a lighter tone, "Besides, it will more then take the edge off before we have to go in there and talk to that crazy bitch." Striker couldn’t help but laugh at Pinpoints antics as he picked up the flask and took a drink for himself. His face twisted as the harsh liquid touched his tongue, not anything from the normal when it came to sharing a drink with this stallion. Pinpoint had definitely acquired a taste for the stronger things once he had joined CSSF, however Striker just couldn’t get used to it himself but never once argued that it served its purpose. He took in another hard mouthful of the drink and set it back on the table. Pinpoint picked the drink back up and took a swallow before continuing. " Good to see you doing something fun for once, I really worry about you sometimes. "

Striker looked down to the table for a minute before he let a few words slide from his mouth. " I honestly don’t see why you do worry about me Pin, I have been doing this long enough..."

"Exactly the reason I worry Striker, You have been in this force longer then anyone. Celestia only knows the amount of bloodshed and other twisted shit you have seen in your time." Pinpoint interrupted him.

Striker let out a sigh, "Look Pin, again I will say this , I am fine. Killing your own is by no means an easy task but if it were something that I could not handle I would not have been here this long right?"

Pinpoint nodded and took another drink, he was right, if anyone was prepared mentally for anything like this, it was Striker. There was a certain amount of power behind the stallions words that Pinpoint couldn’t help but to pick up on. The pure brutality of the fact that that those words seemed to roll right off his tongue, to kill ones own? Weird to think about it that way really, Pinpoint had always put his mind at ease by reducing the enemy down to their flaws. However the stallion in front of him claimed to be perfectly fine with what they did. Pinpoint shrugged and let his eyes shut for a while, he knew better, from the look in his officers eyes after each mission he knew that it hurt him. "Well then sir, I think I will take a nap before we get there, assuming you don’t need anything else."

Striker shook his head, "No your quite fine, I need to think of what I’m going to brief the Princess about tonight." With that Pinpoint leaned his head back and let himself rest for a while.

The train pulled into the station just as the sun was making its rise into the sky, the brakes of the transport causing everyone to gather their things and begin the process of moving the prisoner. Two of the largest team members grabbed hold of the ropes that held the rebel and pulled him up and over towards the doors of the train.

Pinpoint made his way to the doorway and stood by Strikers side before looking back at the rest of the team. “ Alright you guys know the drill, escort the prisoner with the guards while the commander and I go speak with the Princess.”

A simultaneous “Yes sir” was let out by the stallions behind them as Striker pushed the door open. Striker and Pinpoint were greeted with salutes from the guard force in front of them, in which they promptly returned to put the guards at ease. Their numbers were greater then was typical for when CSSF arrived in Canterlot, but Pinpoint rounded the fact to the package in which they were to hand off.

One guard approached them and asked them with a very official tone, “Will you gentlecolts be requiring any escort to the Princess today?”

Striker quickly shook his head, “Not at all, where would I be able to find her?”

The guard remained still as he spoke, “The Princess is currently waiting for you in the dining hall sir.”

Striker nodded and started walking towards the castle as he called back to the rest of the team. “ Alright, you do what you need to then we will meet up with you before the night is over.” The two stallions began walking towards the castle, it seemed that the area had been blocked off to allow the team to come in without turning any heads. It was nothing abnormal, all part of Celestia's grand plan for secrecy about the force. It was common that the reason for the entire castle to be blocked off was some sort of “royal meeting” that required extra security, and this seemed to keep anyone from asking questions any further about anything regarding it. Of course the press would have their way and question the Princess afterward to find out the meaning of the meeting but Celestia was quite good at coming up with some political bullshit that managed to appease the ever hungry masses.

Pinpoint glanced over to Striker as they walked up the castle steps, “ You don’t think this guy is gonna talk do you?”

A faint smile crossed Strikers lips, “Whatever would make you say something of the sort?”,

“I can see it in your expression sir, almost like you think this whole thing was pointless. We have been together to long for shit like this to slip past me, I can read whats going on and you know it.”

Striker stopped at the entrance to the castle and looked at Pinpoint, “The guy was willing to not walk with us while we had him at gunpoint, so that being said I don't honestly foresee him saying anything even if things get rough during the interrogation.”. With that being said Striker pushed the door open and they made their way into the dining hall. Princess Celestia was there waiting just as the guard had told them, a victorious smile spread across her face. They both knew that she was happy about the capture of the rebel commander but they also knew that she was much to willing to claim this as a victory in the current state of things.

Walking in they both bowed down to her as they approached, “Thank you both for coming, and thank you for such a wonderful job at the tasking that you were given.” She spoke with a comforting tone that had a respectful feel to it.. It was something they had both grown used to, it helped put their minds at ease.

Striker spoke first as they rose, “It was our honor your Highness, besides nothing would have gone as well as this without your intel.” Pinpoint couldn't help but to roll his eyes a bit, flattery was something that Striker was common for using with the Princess' but what always blew Pinpoints mind was why. There was never anything to gain from it but for whatever reason it seemed like some sort of common courtesy for his commanding officer.

Celestia nodded and stepped toward them a bit, “So please do tell me, did everything go well out there?”

“As well as could have gone your Highness,” Striker spoke, “Nothing we couldn't handle all the same.” He took a deep breath and shut his eyes for a moment to try and gather his thoughts. Nothing about these visits were simple for him, as he wished he could just speak what he wanted but was left stumbling every time without properly rehearsing everything before hand. “Well then we are ready to begin with the report if you are ready Princess?”

“Please do commander,” She smiled as she spoke to them, her eyes however conveyed a different picture as she looked Striker over. His blood stained coat seemed to seemed to almost make her uneasy, it always did whenever they walked in with obvious signs of violence painted across them.

Striker cleared his throat and started things from the beginning of the mission. “ Well Princess to start things off everything seemed to be fairly close to how you had briefed, aside from small attempts at concealment. And with the time that we arrived at the location it gave us plenty of opportunity to plot out any plans that needed be for the extraction of the target. Upon nightfall we were able to push in upon elimination of a small guard patrol covering the west border. From that point we didnt have any issue from that point thanks to Pinpoint covering us via the over watch position. We reached our first and only point of enemy contact when we approached the targets tent, which proved to be barely any issue as they seemed to be in a state of confusion for most of the strike. Taking the target from that time was simple, just the matter of persuading him to cooperate was a slight snag but once we were able to get him moving he caused no further problems through transport.”

Princess Celestia looked up thoughtfully for a few moments before snapping her attention back to them. “Well then sounds like everything went far better then expected.” She paused for a moment, that uneasy look returning to her eyes, “ That will be all I need as far as what happened gentlemen, your quarters are set up already as usual.”

“Thank you Princess,” Pinpoint said, his tone now much more tired then before they entered the hall. “When can we be expecting word on what we have found out from the rebel?”

“I will be with you come morning, however for now I must go attend to the interrogation to make sure I catch everything.” She replied, her more soothing tone setting back in, almost as if she had already pushed whatever uncomfortable thoughts she had before to the back of her mind. It was that very move that drove Pinpoint insane with thought, her mind worked in a way that he could not grasp. She knew what was going on each time they were sent out, and looked disgusted every time they came back looking like they had fallen into a pool of blood. However without fail each time was exactly the same, it just made Pinpoint wonder if she forced herself to forget it all happened.

“Thank you, your Highness” they both said at once as they bowed before leaving the hall. They stepped outside to see the team already there waiting for them. “Go on ahead, we will find out everything when we wake up.” With that the team went their own ways as the two officers made their way to their quarters.

Pinpoint had already settled down in his room and gotten cleaned up. He never knew what to do from this point, as he was mostly work driven. He found it funny, it had not been thirty minutes that he had been settled down and he was more then ready jump out of the window out of boredom. Shaking his head he let out a slight chuckle at the idea, before pulling his rifle out and setting it up on the bed so that he could clean it up. Just as he had everything set up there was a knock on the door. He walked over slowly to it and let it swing open to see Striker standing there with a grin on his face. “Whats going on sir?” he asked, almost confused not only by the stallions presence but also by the look on his face that was typically saved for when a mission was completely over with.

Striker muscled his way past Pinpoint to get into the room before answering. “Oh drop the formalities Pin, I already told you I needed a drink after all of this.”

Pinpoint couldn't help but laugh, “ Well then it seems early but I'm not really one to argue with a good drink.” He said as he kicked the door closed and fished his flask out of the bag and handing it to Striker. His guest took some time to drink a few gulps before walking over to the rifle laid out on the bed.

“She really is lovely,” Striker said as he ran a hoof over the barrel of the rifle, “It simply looks powerful, quite fitting of you.”

Pinpoint was taken back by what he thought was a compliment, “Well thank you sir, but whats going on? Are you alright?” He knew something was up, Striker was not the type to make small talk such as this, if there was anything he knew how to do it was get to the point.

“I'm fine Pin, just stressed at the moment. Needed some sort of release for it all, so I came to talk to you.”

A smile spread across Pinpoint's face, it was far more simple for the both of them once the action and politics of things were on the back burner. “To be honest I don't see how you could be stressed. Hell, you almost swept the Princess of her hooves with that 'amazing' speech of yours.” Striker shot him a dirty look as he teased his guest. “Whoa there, calm down old timer its not my fault your so damn shaky with your vocal skills. Besides, the fact that you are all about that crazy bitch probably does not help with your nerves.” His horn lit up as he took the flask and took a drink. “And I dont know if your aware of this, but that mare is a bit, well lets say, out of your league.”

Striker couldn't help but let out a sigh as he plopped down onto the ground, “Believe me, I'm well aware that I don't stand a chance with her, but at least let me have my fantasies will you?” His smile got wider as Pinpoint took a nice sitting place in front of him. “Besides if I remember correctly you have a few fantasies of your own little fantasies concerning the newest one. Princess Twilight if I am correct?” He gave a nudge on Pinpoint's shoulder. They went back and forth for some time and before they knew what had happened the early morning had become sundown. Neither complained about the day slipping by them cause neither felt it to be wasted. This is when they were comfortable and at piece with their mind. Everything made sense with a good companion to spend that time with, and it was that very mentality that had kept them going for the last five years. However a few hours later they split ways and Striker made his way back to his room so that they could both get some sleep.

Pinpoint was woken up by a rough knock on the door,which only took him a moment to fling the door open. There was Striker at the door yet again, “Whats going on?” he asked while yawning.

“The Princess has requested us in the planning room.” He said. Pinpoint could tell by his voice that something had gone exactly as they knew it would. They quickly made their way down to the planning room, both much to tired and crummy feeling from the after math of the long day of drinking to say much before they got there.

The Princess was once again waiting for them as they entered, however her expression was not so welcoming this time around. “Well then it would appear that we have a problem with our interrogation gentlemen.” she said with a growl to her voice.

“Let me guess your Highness, he wont talk?” Pinpoint let the words slide from his mouth before he even realized what had happened. And he knew it was a mistake from the look on both the Princess' and his commanding officers face.

“Well you would be right lieutenant, but from the sounds of it you doubted he would in the first place.” She snapped back at him, her voice loud enough to echo off the walls. Pinpoints's eyes widened as the aftermath of his mistake unfolded in front of him. “So unless you have any more smart ass remarks to add in I will continue.” She growled down at him. All he could do at this point was shake his head and stand there. He was caught off guard by not only a sense of fear but his whole body was thrown off by the intense feeling of embarrassment. He never did anything like that, but clearly he needed to give the liquor more time to clear before he let loose another shit storm. “Very well then,” she continued “It would seem that since our dear rebel in there refuses to comply with our offers and any form of harm to him does not generate the response we need, we have decided a much more drastic measure.”

Striker's eyebrows raised in confusion, “What do you mean Princess?” Everything about her tone was strange. They had seen her lost in the passion of war planning, and that fury did not compare to what he was hearing now. There was something twisted about it all.

She glared at him, “ I mean we will be capturing the rebels brother and using him as persuasion.”

The very response caused the two officers to look at each other with shocked expressions. The idea was enough to cause doubt in their minds, Pinpoint could only imagine what she had in mind for persuading the rebel as far as his family was concerned. “Your Highness, what exactly are you planning?” he asked, his voice sounding much more solid at this point. The situation had found a way to sober him up fairly quickly.

Her voice reverted back to its previous commanding growl as she answered, “I am willing to do just about anything at this point lieutenant. My kingdom is at risk, if darker moves need be made then so be it.”

“Princess, if word of this gets out the public view of you will be thrown out the window. A move like this will only give this rebellion further grounds to stand on and a lot more support.” Striker cut in. Pinpoint noted that he had also somehow kicked the previous stumble in his voice under the current pressure. He was right, something like this was political suicide and if even the slightest word got out the press would swarm anything relentlessly.

The Princess let out a heavy sigh, more and more distress crawling into her voice as they went on. “ I'm well aware of the potential consequences captain,” Her head sank to the floor as she sat down “Look just let me handle the politics in this. You and your team do whatever it is that you must.”

Pinpoint was amazed and what was unfolding in this room tonight. On top of the Princess actually letting her emotions and stresses get to her, it seemed to be bringing her down far enough for her to completely drop her regal bearings. She had never sat down during something like this, after all this was Princess Celestia, the very mare that would never even be caught fidgeting while talking to her officers. The next two hours were spent with them discussing a attack plan in which to pull the target out. After everything was said and done the two officers respectfully bowed and made their way's back to their rooms. Pinpoint found himself relieved to find out that the rebels brother was not a common civilian as was his original understanding of things. Maybe the Princess hadn’t completely lost it after all he thought, even though the consequences of threatening ones family leverage still sat on a very shaky fence. He pushed the thoughts to the side, after all the Princess was more then capable of handling something like this, he needed to focus on what he had in front of him in the coming day.