Operation Harvest

DESERT RAIDERS

5 minutes prior to the surprise...

Ponies.  Wearing clothes.  You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.  Roger wiped the lens of the binoculars several times, but to no avail.  Either the desert heat was playing tricks on his mind or there was a town over there seemingly built by creatures lacking the necessary appendages to actually perform such a task.  Of course, there was always the possibility of Gleyan hallucinatory weapons...   He placed the binoculars back in his pack and turned to the eight men assembled behind him, their orangey-red coloured armour making them hard to spot even at close range in the dusty, arid desert.

'There's a “town” up ahead, now, it could be a Skyrgi trap, so stay fucking alert, and if it is a trap, well, there isn't much we can hide behind, so we'll jump in the nearest building and hole up until the strike team arrives. Got it?’  They all nodded, completely silent.  The squad advanced towards the town, using whatever brush and rock they could find to stay concealed which seemed to work as all the ponies were completely oblivious to them.  There was muttering on the squad comms.

‘Shit’s insane...’

‘...think they have a bar?’

‘...children in the vicinity...’

‘...those eyes...’  Roger noted the multicoloured nature of the ponies, and the tattoos on their flanks.  They all seemed to be pulling their own carts and the majority of males seemed to be wearing wide brimmed hats.  He glanced up at the sun.  It was probably hot for anyone who didn’t have a cooling system built into their armour.  Like the Gleyans.  In terms of the individual soldier, the Gleyans were at a severe disadvantage in so many ways, he almost felt sorry for them.  Almost.  He gestured towards a ditch behind one of the buildings and the entire squad formed up in it keeping low, the fences keeping the hidden.  Now he had a moment to think.  He could just gather some intel on them or he could interact with them, though that might not be such a good idea.  Who knows how they would react?  Although the Anteeist soldiers would prove more than a match for the ponies who were dwarfed by them, they still outnumbered them so if they had guns and got scared there was the possibility of losing a man, and he didn’t want to waste lives needlessly.  There were still Gleyans about, one’s who knew how to fight, and he would need every able bodied man if it came to that.  Fuck it, he was going in.  It’s not like they would be able to put up that much of a fight, right?

The robberies had really messed things up for the people of Appleloosa, but finally, after a week of turmoil and pony-hunts, despite the large amount of light pockets, the town was running smoothly, no problems at all.  Braeburn watched over the townspeople as they went about their lives, filling carts, going to the store, going to work, the normal hustle and bustle of everyday life on the frontier.  He was sure that nothing could go wrong.

‘Sheriff Braeburn, sir!’ shouted a small colt running up to him.  ‘Ms. Rake said that she spotted some critters out in her ditch again.’  Her again?

‘Well wah doesn’t she just get ‘em out herself?’

‘She says there are a lot of them, and that she’d feel safer if a “big, strong stallion” came to help her.’  Oh Celestia, the amount of times she needed him to do something for her...  come to think of it, why the hell did she even have that ditch?

‘Okay, ahm comin.’  He knew the way to her house like the back of his hoof, he could even do it blindfolded if he had to.  As soon as his hoof made contact with the door it swung open, a cream mare unicrorn standing in it’s place wearing a frilly red dress and a (darker) red feather boa.

‘Why hello Braeburn, have you come to check on lil’ ol’ me?’  Braeburn rolled his eyes.

‘You asked me here ‘bout some critters?’

‘Oh yes, follow me.’  She batted her eyes at him then went back inside.  Braeburn hesitated, but then went inside after her.  She led him through the living room to the kitchen.  ‘Right there.’  She pointed at the ditch, (which he could have found himself anyway).  He took a look, but he couldn’t see any- wait.  There was something moving in it.

‘Ms. Rake, I think you should stay in here.’

‘Oh don’t go alone!  Why do ah... accompany you?’  Inching closer to him with every word.

‘Please miss, now is not the time.’

‘At least stay for some tea.’

‘No thank you ma’am, ah have other matters to attend to after this.’

‘Like what?’  He was at a loss for words.  He had literally nothing else to do today.  Truth be told, he just didn’t want to be alone with her.  Who knew what she would try?

‘Uh, I, er, have to, um, help the townsfolk pack carts!’  She looked unconvinced.

‘Well ahm sure they can wait.  You’ve been workin’ all day, a little rest isn’t out of the question.’  She was getting closer again.  He started blushing.

‘I,um,err, I have to go check on the ditch!’  He almost lept out the back door into her garden, glad to be out of that situation, then looked around.  There was the usual cabbage patch to the left and the tool shed next to it.  The ditch was at the far back of the garden.  He could clearly hear scuffling in it and what seemed to be speech.  Probably some children.

‘Wait for me!’ Ms. Rake came outside, holding a (true to her name) rake.  ‘If they give you any trouble, jus’ use this.’  He took the rake from her, holding it with his hoof (magic!) then advanced towards it.

‘I’m going up.  Just keep me covered and we should be fine.’  Roger slung the gun around his arm and climbed up and out.

The two ponies stared in shock as the thing came out of the ditch, evidently unaware of them.  Its hide looked like a fabricy leather, yet very thick.  It had various metal accessories in what seemed to be pockets and pouches, but its face was the most striking thing.  It was completely still and emotionless, metal and lifeless.  Last but not least were the eyes, or rather, eye since there was only one lense stretching across its face, which reflected its surroundings perfectly like a mirror.

‘That ain’t no critter...’  With Braeburn’s remark, the monster grabbed the stick it had  on its back and pointed it straight at him.  He just stared at it, unsure of what it was supposed to do.

They don’t seem to be reacting to the gun.  That can only mean...

‘Men, come on out.  They’re no threat to us.’  The squad clambered out of the hole.

‘How do you know sir?’  Roger stared at the ponies, who seemed to be terrified by them, yet fairly unreactive to the gun.

'I don't think they've ever seen one of these before' Roger waved his rifle in front of the two ponies, who ignored it.  'See? That means they probably don't have any.'  The soldier nodded.

‘Now, anyone know how we’re supposed to act in this kind of situation?’

‘Why do you think its wavin’ that stick aroun’?’ Asked Ms. Rake with a whisper.  Braeburn shrugged.

‘Maybe it’s trying to communicate?’  The creatures conversed among themselves and looked at the ponies now and again.  He felt Ms. Rake’s hooves around his.  He looked at her questioningly.

‘Ahm scared.’  This was one advance that he wasn’t going to get out of.

‘Fine, jus’ stay close.’

‘Oh don’t worry. I will.’

‘I think the female one is scared!’  All heads turned to look at her, and sure enough she had herself wrapped around his hoof.  ‘Just like the crater eh?’ The men started laughing with the exception of Roger who wasn’t particularly amused by his reference.

‘Ignore them, there’s work to be done.  Any ideas on how we can communicate with them?’  Despite having eight brains at his disposal not counting his own, there was only so much that a soldier, born and bred, could think of.  This was the one advantage the Gleyans had.  The conscript would have experience from other areas of work, and while it didn’t really help them if they worked in a grocery store, a xenologist or biochemist would have knowledge that could save his or his squads arses in awkward situations.

‘I suppose we could do the obvious.’  Said one soldier.

‘Oh yeah?  And what’s that?’

‘We could try talking to them.’  Well it was better than nothing.  Roger sighed, then approached the ponies, slowly, kneeling six feet away from them.

'Hello, do you understand what I'm saying?'

‘What’s it saying?’

‘Be damned if ah know,’ responded Braeburn.  There was an echoey voice coming from it, sort of a series of kh’s and grunts.  ‘We should probably- woah.’  Suddenly he felt faint, his head starting to feel a bit heavy.

‘Ah don’ feel too good...’ trailed off Ms. Rake.  Just as she was about to fall, Braeburn caught her.  ‘Oh, my hero!’  She had done it again.  Better learn to be more vigilant.  Looking up at the creatures he could see they were all holding their... claws, he assumed, up to their heads.

‘Hey, sir I feel a bit faint...’  The soldiers started to sway a little, the feeling of nausea even overcoming Roger making him fall to his knees.  Damn this armour’s heavy...  His head started to feel like it was sucking the world around him into it, and he didn’t like it.  The stimulant packs built into the armour kicked in and he was back on his feet.

‘Did everyone feel that?’  They all nodded.  From the looks of the ponies it seemed that even they had felt it.  ‘The hell was that anyway?’  There was silence.

‘Um, well it was probably magic of some kind.’  That voice didn’t sound male.

‘Which one of you said that?’  Asked Roger, surveying the men.

‘It was me...’  turning slowly, Roger stared at the two ponies in bewilderment.  The female was pawing at the ground nervously, standing behind the male.

‘You spoke?’  She nodded.  Interesting...  He was quite aware of her speaking the exact same language as before, but somehow he now understood it.  ‘So, why exactly do I understand you?’

‘Mah guess would be a knowledge spell.’  He could guess what that meant, but the bit about it being a spell didn’t seem right.

‘Sorry, did you mean a spell as in, like,  magic?’  She looked at him like he was stupid.

‘Well obviously, what else d’ya think it could be?’  Oh, I don’t know, very advanced technology?

‘Here’s the funny thing, magic doesn’t exist, so how exactly could it have been a spell?’  The two ponies jaws opened then closed a number of times looking very shocked.

‘Ya don’t think magic exists?’ Asked the male.

‘There isn’t any proof for its existence, so yes, I don’t.’  The rake suddenly started to glow a cream colour and lift up into the air.

‘Then how do ya think I’m doin’ this?’ Asked the female looking quite smug.  He had to admit he was quite impressed, though still not convinced.

‘Some form of gravity manipulation device, maybe magnets.’

‘A gravah-what now?’

‘Never mind, the point is, there is no magic.  You’re obviously using some other means to get it done.’  She was about to retort but then thought better of it.  There was no point arguing now.

Crap, where are my manners, ‘My name is Roger Vox, officer of the Anteeist crusader force.’  He stuck his hand out.  Braeburn placed his hoof in his hand and he shook it.

‘Ahm, uh, Braeburn, sheriff of Appleoosa.’  Roger looked around.

‘This town, I’m assuming?’

‘Yes that’s right.’  An authority figure, that was very good.  Friends in high places, as his father used to tell him.  Roger turned to the female.

‘And you are?’  She curtsied.

‘Ahm Ms. Rake, Brie Rake.’

‘Nice to meet you Ms. Rake.’  He pulled a tablet and switched it on, a live satellite feed coming on.  ‘Now, we are...’ he scrolled out and moved along the screen.  It was focusing on the desert they had landed in with grass plains and forest visible to the right of the screen.

‘Here.’ He pressed on the town on the map.  A box opened up and he typed the name into it.  Braeburn and Brie had never seen anything like it, magical or otherwise.

‘If there’s no magic, how does that work?’ She asked.  Now he was looking at her like she was the stupid one.

‘Electricity of course.  Don’t you have electricity?’  She nodded.  Electricity was a fairly new invention and was still in the testing stages.  The hydro-electric dam in Ponyville, for example, was part of a larger experiment to find its uses, though research had been slow.  Not many ponies cared for an alternative to magic because they didn’t need one.  The one thing they did have were electric lamps and lights because nopony wants to have to cast an illumination spell for extended periods of time, and a candle doesn’t always do the job, though these were only in places where there was a source of electricity nearby (again, Ponyville) and even that was limited to the rich.

‘Could ah ask a question?’  Brie asked.

‘You just did.’  Roger put the tablet away.

‘Well, is it okay if I ask where ya’ll come from?  You don’t come from underground do ya?’

‘The underground? what makes you think that?’  She raised her eyebrow.  ‘Oh right, the ditch, no we don’t.  Is there something wrong with the underground?’  her gaze shifted left and right.

‘Well ah hear tell that there’s somethin’ funny goin’ on in the mines.  Cindy said there’s been raiders digging under the town, stealing stuff from neighbours and more importantly the bank.’  Roger’s interest was peaked.  ‘At first ah ignored her, then whadaya know, the bank’s been robbed!  Stole every last bit.’  She looked rather sad.  ‘I was saving up fer somethin’ nice.’  Braeburn also looked partially downtrodden.  Should he?  No he shouldn’t... well maybe this one time.  It was better than surveillance and scouting missions, plus, it would win favour for him and his men.

‘If you want, we could go investigate these mines, maybe get a few of your bits back.’  The men all huh-ed in surprise while Braeburn looked pleased.

‘Ya would? That would be a great help.’

‘Yeah, sure, we’ll do it.’

‘We don’t have much we could pay ya with right now, but maybe if you-’

‘No payment necessary, we’ll do it for free.’  The men were even more confused.

‘But sir, why-’

‘I said we’re doing it for free.’

‘That’s very kind of you, but you don’t have to.  It could be dangerous.’  Said Brie.  Now even Roger was laughing.

‘Dangerous she says!’  After a good minute of chuckles and guffaws, Roger wiped a tear from his eye.

‘We’re trained for much worse than this, so I doubt a few raiders half our size will be much of a problem.’  She was inclined to agree.  Roger took the tablet out again.  ‘Just show me where it is on the map and we’ll be all set.’  He looked at it and after a minute of scrutiny pointed to a few hills nor-north west of the town.  It was only seven kilometers away, and when he looked up he could see the tops of them   ‘When we get back we’ll have the money.’  He turned and motioned to the men to move.  They got in line and started hustling to the hills.

‘Sheriff Braeburn!’  The colt came running round the corner in much the same fashion as before.  ‘There’s a cart that’s...  What is that?’  He said, pointing at the Anteeists running off into the distance.

‘Oh, nothing.  Just some friends helpin’ us out.’  The colt stare wide eyed at them.  Braeburn patted him on the back.  ‘Now, what about that cart...’

‘I’m sorry princess, but aren’t we supposed to be checking the list?’  Amax hastened after Luna as she made her way back to the hall.  She stopped right outside the doors and looked at him.

‘Thou art- You are called Lance-Corporal Amax, right?’

‘Just Amax is fine.’

‘Well, Amax, I haven’t been to a party in a thousand years, quite literally, so I am going to go enjoy it.  Besides, it’s your party, you should be attending it.  Also, please, call me Luna.’  She continued on straight through the doors and into the crowd beyond.  Dance music was blasting loudly and many of the ponies were, naturally,  dancing.  Luna went towards the snack bar straight for the punch.

‘Have you ever had punch before Amax?’  He could barely remember.

‘I don’t think so.’  She poured a glass of punch and thrust it in his face.

‘Try some, it’s improved so much since I was last here.’  He took a sip and a smile formed across his face.

‘This, this is good.  Very good.’  She clapped her hooves together in glee.  Grabbing as much as she could, she went off to the royal table.  Amax shrugged and also grabbed a few things; cakes, pastries and sweets and made his way to her.  He sat down next to her and placed the things on the table.  ‘So is there a reason we’re doing this?’  She stayed focused on the pile.

‘Well, I have a lot of catching up to do.  These treats look like a good place to start don’t you think?’  He wasn’t about to argue against eating free food.

‘Well in that case, where should we start.’

‘That’s the spirit!  I’m thinking those fudge cakes over there.’

‘No no, if you truly want to catch up you should start with something simple, that way all the really fancy stuff tastes even better.’  They kept debating over which one to start with before settling for some cupcakes.  High up, in one of the many balconies lining the hall, Celestia watched and smiled.

‘You see the entrance?’

‘Yeah I see it.  It’s completely dar- No wait, there’s light.  Looks like someone’s coming.’  Roger listened to the radio chatter, sitting fairly close to the mines entrance behind a rock.  He was relying on his men to be his eyes.  A faint trotting could be heard getting closer and there was a noticeable change in the brightness of the evening.  A shifty looking unicorn in a tweed hat came out holding a lantern in one hoof.

‘I have a clear shot.’

‘Negative!  Negative, we do this quietly!’

‘Wuzzat?’ The pony held the lantern up towards Roger’s direction.  ‘Who’s there?  Ya’d better come out or there’ll be trouble fer ya!’

‘Sir he’s coming straight for you!’  Roger hugged the cover tighter and stayed completely still.  Just as he expected him to appear over the rock he heard a thwack followed by a very distinct thud and a shatter of glass.  Everything seemed much darker.

‘Problem solved.’  Roger peeked over the rock and saw Sefrin, the machine gunner standing over the pony, sword in hand.

‘You killed him?’

‘Course not.  Smacked him across the back of the head.’  He nodded and the squad emerged from their hiding places.

‘Since you seem to be so keen on getting into the action, Sefrin find a vantage point and watch the entrance, the rest of you on me.’  He grumbled as he sheathed his sword, making his way to higher ground.  The squad went into the mines, weapons raised, with Roger at the lead.

The heavy footfalls of the Anteeist soldiers echoed throughout the mines and accompanying caverns.  Every so often a soldier would trip over a rock and curse to himself before continuing onwards.

‘These mines are like a bloody labyrinth!  Someone could get lost in here,’ Said the one at the back.

‘Keep it down, they’ll hear us!’ Said the one at the front.

‘What, you think they can’t hear us coming?  We’re as loud as a Khlyton in a blood rage.’  There was a scuffling from further down causing every soldier to stop and stand still.  Roger listened as hard as he could and was rewarded with the sound of two ponies (he presumed) speaking.

‘...don’t think so.’

‘Well who else could that be thundering down the... Oh no.’

‘What is it?’

‘I think we’ve been found out.’

‘What makes you think that?’  There was silence.

‘Hey Malcolm, ya there!?’ The shout permeated through the air, ringing in their ears.  The soldiers looked around at each other wondering what to do.

‘Hey Fryll,’ said one of the Anteeists.

‘Yeah?’ Fryll responded, raising his weapon.

‘You imitate the major all the time!  Try that other ponies accent!’  Although they couldn’t see it under the helmet, he had a look of horror on his face while Major Vox glared at him.

‘Maaalcoooolm!’ The shout came again.  Fryll removed his helmet and wiped the hair on his face back over his head, then, getting into a stance, he called back at them.

‘I’m, uh, Ahm here!  Just coming,’ *cough, ‘ah mean comin’ back from mah patrol.’  There was more silence.

‘Oh okay.  You got someone with ya?’  They called out.  He looked to the Major who shook his head.

‘No ahm alone.’

‘Right.’  They continued onwards, more quietly this time.

‘Wait a minute.’  They froze again.

‘What is it Marcus?’

‘That weren’t no Equestrian.’  Shit.

‘What do you- oh. Ooooh.’  There was the sound of galloping.  ‘Everyone get ready we’ve been found!’  Roger sighed.  This was going to be harder now that they’d lost the element of surprise.

‘Okay men, no point being quiet about things, proceed in your usual fashion.’  They hustled down the mine and came into a large cave filled with mining equipment, mine carts and rails leading off to different caves, though only one path wasn’t blocked off.  In the middle of the ‘room’ the bits were piled (rather conveniently) in a single minecart, the light from the soldiers head-torches glinting off of it. ‘Find something to hide behind...’  The squad members hid behind whatever they could, while Roger himself went towards the cart, reaching out for it...

‘Dontcha touch that cart!’  He looked around but couldn’t see anyone.  He reached out again.  ‘Ah said, don’t touch that cart!’  The voice echoed off of the mines walls, making it almost impossible to pinpoint its source.

‘May I ask why?’ He said out loud.  There was muttering.

‘Cos it’s ours!’

‘That’s funny, cos I remember the townspeople specifically saying that they had been robbed,’ He surveyed his surroundings for anything living, ‘and that it had been a few raiders from this very mine.’

‘Don’t know no raiders here.  Sorry.’

‘Hmm... I remember them saying that they were a bunch of pussies who were too cowardly to-’

‘Now hold up one second.  They said WHAT!?’  Roger smiled.

‘They said you were too chicken shit and dumb-fucked and ended up getting yourself hold up in a mine.  Your trapped, so come out or shut your mouths, the whining is annoying.’  He wasn’t sure but he thought he could hear the sound of something boiling.

‘WELL YOU CAN GO TELL THOSE BASTARDS TO EAT SHIT AND DIE!  IF THEY WANT THEIR BITS THEY’RE GONNA HAVE TO GET IT THEMSELVES!  WE AIN’T NEVER GIVIN’ UP, Calling us pussies, the nerve...’  There was a whole load of muttering from the back of the cave.  They talked the talk, but he doubted they would put up that much resistance.  He looked at the money.  Scratch that, maybe they would.

‘It just so happens that we’re here to get it for them, so if it’s all the same to you I will be taking this money back to its owners.  Dzak, get the cart.’  Dzak stood up and went to the cart and started pushing it back the way they had come.

‘I’m warnin’ you, don’t take that cart!’  The voice sounded a little hesitant.  Roger scoffed.

‘Ignore him, he’s no threat.’

‘Y-you asked for it.’  Roger turned to see what amusing feat they would attempt, but instead of the charge he was expecting, a bolt of green whizzed right past his head and into Dzak who shook uncontrollably and fell to the floor, twitching.  Almost instantly all the soldiers dived into cover.  Bolts started flying above their heads randomly dissipating into the walls and equipment with a fizzing sound.  Fryll called out to Dzak, ‘Hey Dzak, you okay?’  No response.  ‘Come on Dzak, wake up.’  He lay there, still as ever.  Fryll picked up a rock and dashed it at his helmet.  ‘Dzak, get up!’  Again, nothing.  Fryll’s face turned from panic to rage, and he cocked his rifle.  ‘Those fuckers asked for it!  Light ‘em up!’  Despite not getting the okay from the Major, the soldiers -rather unhappy about a fellow squad member being killed by a few cowardly bandits-  all rose and fired fully automatically at the ponies, who stopped firing the beams as soon as the first bullet impacted with the wall.  Chunks of stone and debris flew up and dust lingered in the air, creating a smoke screen of sorts.  The screams of the ponies weren’t heard under the thunderous cracks of the assault rilfes, and a grenade who no one seemed to remember throwing exploded.  After what seemed like forever, they stopped firing and reloaded, but this time waited for their major.

‘You shouldn’t have done that Fryll.’  Fryll looked just as determined.

‘I’m sorry sir, but they got Dzak!’  He wasn’t actually telling Fryll off for his actions.  He shared his sentimentality's; no alien was going to kill one of his own without some kind of retaliation.

‘You’re lucky I was going to give the order anyway.’  There was groaning from the direction of the ponies, which all the soldiers reacted to, lifting their weapons.  ‘Hold!,’ shouted Roger, lifting his arm to signal them not to do anything.

‘Help, me...’  Oh here we go again.  Just like those civilians in the crater.  Fryll walked up to the source of the voice, a pony wearing yet another wide brimmed hat, his stomach a mess.

‘Shut up.’ BANG.  The pony’s brains splattered across the floor, his face a mess.  Looking around, they could see at least a dozen ponies lying about, bullet holes riddled in all of them.   A few of them were still alive, all of whom were brought to an abrupt end by the soldiers.  Roger looked around for the weapons they could have been using, but thbere was nothing there.  The dust hadn’t fully cleared, and so they still couldn’t see further into the mine which is why it came as a surprise when a pony bolted out of the shadows and straight out towards the entrance.  They were going to pursue him, but he waved them off.

‘Sefrin will take care of him.’  As they walked back with the cart in tow and Dzak’s body on it, there were a few short cracks followed by a long one which caused a few of the soldiers to jump.  Fryll walked along side the cart, unable to look at his friend.

‘We fought in three campaigns you know, me and him, we were invincible.  No Skyrgi could put a bullet in us or a shell on us, and here he is, killed by a few pussy-arse bandits.  He always thought he would go out fighting someday, but like this...’ He fell silent again.

*cough *cough

‘...feel like shit man...’  Everyone turned wide eyed to Dzak.  He set his head upright, eyes adjusting to the light shining in down from the entrance.  ‘Why are you all looking at me like that?  And how did I get in this cart?’

‘Your alive!?’

‘But how!?’  He looked quite confused.

‘Of course I’m alive, why would I be dead?’

‘You got shot!’  He thought back to the incident.

‘Oh yeah.  Forgot about that.  I was having the loveliest dream you know, grass n’ trees, quaint houses, a large castle, some other stuff.’  Roger looked around at the squad members back at Dzak.

‘Hey Fryll.’

‘Yes sir?’

‘Did you check his heartbeat?’  He laughed.

‘Well of cou- Oh yeah.  Um, no...’  Roger nodded.

‘Maybe next time you should think before you decide to kill a dozen of the indigenous species on this planet, potentially straining our relations with them.’  Fryll started shifting left to right, a nervous habit of his.

‘But sir, you were-’ Roger shot a glare at him.  He didn’t want him pointing out his mistakes, especially when they were hypothetical ones.  They emerged from the mine, the sun setting in the west, giving the whole place a gloomy feel.

‘We’ll just have to burn the bodies.  Call up the base and get a civilian disposal unit on the job.  Oh, and call for a dropship, because there is no way we are moving that much money in a single run.’  Fryll nodded and radioed the base using his short range walkie.  Meanwhile, Roger walked up to the escapee unicorn that was now lying on the floor bleeding.  The blood stained his coat, making it hard to make out his colour, in fact there was so much blood it probably wasn’t just his, and his stomach was in ribbons thanks to the explosive nature of Sefrin’s machine guns bullets.  He could see pure terror in his eyes, the pupils dilated and darting madly left and right as if trying to find a way out.  He had seen this before many times, and not just in soldiers and criminals...

‘Where were the weapons you were using, huh?  You hiding them pony?’  The pony retched out blood on his boots, though Roger didn’t really care.  He’d been knee deep in blood both figuratively and literally.

‘I don’t know... any weapons...’  Roger leaned down, bringing his face closer to the ponies who tryed to crawl away, but his smashed ribs and broken bones wouldn’t let him.

‘Come on dipshit, we know you shot our friend with something, now where is it?’  The pony thought as hard as he could, straining himself.

‘Uh, do you mean the... green shots?’  Roger raised his hands.

‘There we go, where are they?’  The pony slowly moved his hoof to his head, the sound of bones cracking causing him to flinch a little.  At first Roger wasn’t sure what the hell the pony was doing, but then he realised.  It was his horn, just like Brie at the town.  Magic did exist after all.  Then the pony did something unexpected.  He hugged Roger (his leg to be more precise).  Roger looked down at him, an eyebrow raised.

‘Please... it hurts... can you help me?  Please?’  The pony stared straight into his eyes.  It was at this point that Roger realised the ponies age.  He was no Equine expert, but those eyes seemed a bit young.  Roger sighed and spoke more softly.

‘I’m sorry but there’s nothing I can do for you.  We don’t have the equipment to help you here, and we won’t be able to get you back in time.’  Roger signalled the medic to come over to them.  ‘Give him something for the pain.’  The medic looked him over then pulled out a small syringe and jabbed it in him, injecting the painkiller into the blood still circulating in his system.  That seemed to do the trick as the pony seemed less tense.  Roger pulled out his pistol and checked his clip: every bullet was in there.  He looked down at the pony.  ‘I’m sorry.’ He said.  The unicorn nodded and closed his eyes, a single tear falling down the side of his cheek.  Roger put the gun to the boys forehead and pulled the trigger.

When he looked up he saw the entire squad gathered around him, watching the scene.  They seemed pretty indifferent.  Dzak went first.

‘What was with all that drama sir?  All you had to do was kill him.’  Roger shook his head.

‘He was child, Dzak.’  Sefrin was taken aback.

‘But sir,’ he started. ‘You had no problem with kids when we were in the-’

THWACK

In one quick motion Roger had gotten up, pulled the helmet off of his head and pistol whipped him across the face.

‘You piece of shit. If you even DARE to mention that massacre infront of me again I'll rip your fucking guts straight from your chest. DO YOU FUCKING UNDERSTAND ME?!'  The soldier clutched at his bleeding nose and nodded.  Roger pushed the helmet into his free hand and started walking off in no particular direction.  ‘And get me a drink, I’ve run out of water.’

(Author's notes:  With the holidays coming up, I'm going to attempt to start publishing chapters weekly.  There should [hopefully] be updates every weekend on either Friday, Saturday or Sunday, that way if I don't have it ready on Friday it won't be a case of I'm late, it will be a case of it'll come tomorrow or on Sunday.)