“Oh for bucks sake.” I mumbled to myself as lead slung past me.

A single orange laser streaked from my side, cooking the defending bird.

I’d made it down down a single floor before I was spotted. A traitor standing sentry fired too early, allowing me to dodge his red beams and send my own his way.

The griffon that came after him was a bit more accurate, but the fully automatic weapon spat small bullets, barely denting my armor.

Now I crept through the second floor, careful to listen for any hooffalls. Luckily most of the enemy had been drawn away to the battle outside. With the lack of resistance in the building It wasn’t long before I found the stairs to the ground floor.

Venturing farther down, I was immediately greeted with the sight of a filthy pegasus, beaten and bloodied, sleeping in a cell. Looking both ways, the barred rooms stretched.

He must have heard me, opening the eye that wasn’t swollen shut. “Please, no more.” He weakly pleaded.

“No.” I whispered, keeping my anger at those responsible at bay. “I’m here to help. I’m gonna get you all out of here.”

He closed his eye and remained silent. Not sure what to do with him at the moment, I began walking along the cells, glancing in cells and keeping an eye out for enemies.

Cell after cell seemed to be filled with beaten pegasi, some even dead. Loyalists from the Nimbostratus no doubt. I knew there was no way they would all just readily betray the Enclave.

Halting, I stared at a sight behind the bars that was new for me so far. A large, bigger than Quick, dirty white coated, earth pony. He stared back to me with a icy blue gaze.

“Come back for more, feathered-fuck? What took you so long?” His voice was rough, his tone was eager.

“I’m not one of them. I’m here to liberate this place. But intel didn’t say anything about a surface pony being in here?”

He gave me a long look, as if he wasn’t completely sure I was being truthful.

“Why are you in here?” I asked, letting my interest get the best of me.

He looked at me for a second more. “Trespassing.”

“That’s helpful.” I said sarcastically.

He snorted. “You think these flying chickens just have a thing against you flyers? No. They don’t care for any of ponykind. My unit was sent here on a reconnaissance mission. We were ambushed, most of us taken prisoner, now I’m all that's left.” His purple eyes never broke mine.

“Unit?” Then it clicked. “A ranger?”

He remained silent. I don’t blame him. The Enclave weren't too fond of the Steel Rangers. I figured it was because we didn’t like any other ponies, let alone earth ponies, wearing power armor of any kind.

“Listen, I don’t have any trouble with you or your group. Just clear on out of here when this is over with.” I began walking away.

“Feather brain.” I heard him mumble as I continued walking the halls.

Passing more cells, a pit began to form in my gut as I saw the conditions of these ponies only getting worse. Blood was visible in nearly every one. I tried to burn the pit away with anger, but it was a futile effort. I was starting to believe the worst had happened to Rod.

Just as those horrid thoughts began to creep into my mind, I halted, my blood running cold. Inside another dark cell was an unmoving lump of gray, the off-white mane was messy and stained here and there with blood.

I moved closer to the cell. “R-rod?”

Nothing.

“Rod!” Again no response. “ROD!” I shouted, tears brimming in my eyes.

It was then that the pony shifted, struggling to roll himself over to face me. After a few painful second, he was able to toss himself over, hazel eyes staring back at me.

“Sergeant…” His voice was weak, and he was noticeably thinner, his ribs being visible under a stained blanket of skin.

“Rod!” I held myself up against the bars of his cell. “Don’t worry bud, we’re here to get you out!” My head turned every which way, looking for anything to unlock the cell. Looking up, I could see the dirty windows that looked out over the first and second floors.

“I’ll be right back.” I assured Rod as I spread my wings and shot from the ground, stopping myself in front of the semi-transparent glass.

Inside, slumped against a small control panel, was a griffon, silently snoring away. Oblivious to the battle going on outside. The room had to be sound proof.

I flew to my right, skimming along the wall until it opened cut farther in, revealing a door. One of the catwalks from the second floor obviously used to lead here, but it looked as if it was removed long ago.

I took a deep breath, running over a scenario in my head. Another deep breath and I spun in mid air, bucking the door, then spinning back to face the door.

After a few seconds, it opened, the griffon not fully awake. He didn’t get a chance to fully register what was happening, as my rifles turned him to dust.

Dashing into the room, I set upon the control panel, looking at each button frantically. Where was the ‘Unlock everything’ button? My efforts to understand what buttons did what were in vain, as I started hitting every button I could. Lights flipped on and off, sirens engaged then died down, and finally, like a large wrench was dropped onto a steel floor, the resounding clang of the cells unlocking reached my ears. I was out the door and back down to Rods cell in less than three seconds.

Throwing the door aside, I rushed in. “Rod, are you hurt? Rod!” I didn’t want to touch him just yet, in fear that if he was hurt, I would cause him more pain.

He weakly shook his head. That was good enough for me. “Council, this is Victory, what’s the situation outside?”

The burst of a bomb came through my radio, followed quickly by Rains voice. “More birds are coming at us! They must have got the word out, the Pyrocumulus is on its way. You find what you were looking for?”

I looked back down at Rod, he was barely conscious. “Affirmative Council, we’re oscar mike.”

“Council copies Victory, Pyrocumulus is ten- TEN O’ CLOCK HIGH!” I burst from a couple of energy weapons. “Victory, you have at least a platoon of griffons moving into the prison, you need to exfil now!” I could hear the gunfire picking up on his end.

“Copy Council, Victory out.” I looked down at Rod, trying to think of the best way to move him, but my train of thought was broken when the shouts of the enemy reached my ears. They were moving quick.

I leapt from the cell, aiming down the corridor. Sure enough, at least five of them. I opened fire, and at the same time surveyed my surroundings some more. I had enough space to fly, but I didn’t want to leave rod.

One bird was ash, two were burned pretty bad, and more were filling in behind them. Weather fire began to shatter the wall next to me as they found their target. I stepped back into the cell.

“Quick, how copy?” I called over the radio.

“Copy cap’n.”

“Anyway you can get in here and provide some close support?”

“Nope, the airs pretty tight out here, the only thing I could do for ya is bring the roof down.”

“Shit.” I mumbled to myself. “Copy, carry on.”

“Sarge?” I heard a weak voice, barely over the explosions of gunfire outside.

I spun around to face Rod. “Rod, stay still! I’m gonna get you outta here.”

He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could the wall outside exploded, peppering us with bits of concrete.

When I reopened my eyes I was on the ground, and I could taste the distinct flavor of blood. I shakily stood up and glanced around to find Rod. He on his side still, looking up at me, the look of fear evident on his snout. His lips were moving, but all I could hear was a high pitch ringing.

I noticed the shadow that fell on me, and turned to see what it was.

I could make out the silhouette easily, it was a griffon, and behind him the concrete wall had been made a new in flame. He raised his talons, which were far longer than any i had seen before, as he took a step towards me. Why wasn’t I reacting to any of this?

He began to spasm as the ground beneath him turned dark. I watched as he fell to the ground, continuing to spasm. He stopped as a pony stepped on him. This pony was big, clad in a slightly tarnished, gray power armor.

The pony turned to me, his mounted minigun still spooling, his eyes hidden behind thick glass. He looked to his left as another pony trotted up, shoving him.

I’d seen this pony. He had the same armor on, but without the helmet. He was the white pony I saw in the cell earlier. He was yelling something, but I couldn’t hear his words. Why couldn’t I-

My head jerked to the right as he hit me, then to the left as he hit me again.

“Hey feather brain! Wake the buck up! Snap out of it already!” He yelled at me.

“He’s fried. Shoulda just let me waste him.” The other pony said, whom I could tell was a mare now from her voice.

I shook my head. “Shit!” I spun to find Rod, lifting himself from the floor. “Rod!”

“I’m alright Sergeant.” He obviously was not, as he winced with every step he took towards me.

“Hey flyboy, get your flank in gear! If you want to make it out of here you better lend a rifle!” The white pony moved back out into the hallway. “Sheer, keep your mouth shut and your eyes open! Go find Straw and take him to clear us a path out the back.”

The minigun pony nodded and trotted off the way the griffons had come.

“Are you good to move?” asked Rod.

“Yeah sergeant, but flying’s a no-go. They did a number on me.” He looked as if he had a thousand question, and he had good reason to have them. He kept silent, knowing we had to leave this place first.

I nodded and stepped out into the hallway. The griffon that had been looming behind me was hardly recognizable as one of his kind now, the ranger had to have shot him over a hundred time. His talons was in a gauntlet of types, with even larger talons attached to it. I looked down the way he had came.

A dozen dead griffons lay scattered, and an intense battle could be heard going on further in. The large white ranger was waiting on us. We made our way down the hall, weapons ready.

“Thanks, by the way. For the save.” I said without looking at him, checking my EFS.

He snorted, “I could say the same.”

“Captain Thunder, by the way.”

He sighed, obviously not caring to become too acquainted with somepony of the Enclave. “Paladin Steel Plow.”

I didn’t really understand Ranger ranks, but I didn’t care enough to ask.

“Wait, did you say, Captain?” Rod asked quizzically from behind us.

I turned back towards him. “Yeah Rod. I’ll fill you in later.” He didn’t have a problem with that. At least not one he voiced. “So, Paladin, how many men do you have?”

“Three including me. Sheer and Straw. The rest of my platoon was killed before our capture.” He didn’t have an ounce of sorrow in his voice.

“I’m sorry for you loss.”

“They died fighting, that’s all that matters.”

Better to go down swinging than pinned beneath a rock, shot like an animal, I thought.

“LOOK OUT!” Rod shouted.

I snapped to the right, instinctively biting down, however I wasn’t fast enough. The griffon had his talons around my neck, his momentum tossing me against the wall. He screamed in my face as he tried his damnedest to strangle me. He didn’t notice the scorpion-like tail rising up next to us. I doubt he felt it skewer his skull.

I casually dropped to all fours and took my spot next to Plow. “Shall we carry on?” I motioned forward.

“Well there’s something my armor can’t do.” He mumbled as we pushed on.

Griffon and pony bodies littered the halls, some were former prisoners, just trying to escape as the griffons slaughtered anypony they saw. Poor bastards. The sounds of battle no longer echoed in the prison, only outside.

We turned down a final hallway to see two power-armored ponies directing sickly looking prisoners out of the building. Paladin Plow turned to me. “Well flyboy, this is goodbye. were gonna take these ponies back to equestria, especially before anymore of you feathered freaks show up.”

I understood. Steel Rangers and the Enclave didn’t have the best political relations. “Good luck Paladin.” He gave me a nod and left to rejoin his rangers.

I turned to Rod once more. “Let's bug out, the Pyrocumulus should be here any minute.” He nodded and we backtracked until we came upon a side hallway we had passed.

Proceeding down, we made a series of turns that led us to a large hole in the building. The battle outside was in full swing, with ponies and griffons flying above. The large raptor, Pyrocumlus, was just arriving.

I watched as red beamed from the ship, seeking to fry any flyer designated as an enemy. Bombing chariots and vertabucks began pouring from hangars. Immediately, the griffon forces began retreating, though the traitors stuck around to die with what little honor they thought they had.

“Council, Victory. We’re done inside and awaiting transport.”

“Council copies. The enemies runnin’, regroup with your team. A vertabuck is on its way.”

I didn’t reply to him. “Quick, Misty, front of the building standing in a hole in the wall, regroup.” I received two ‘copies’.

In less than twenty seconds the two had landed nearby and were approaching. I took note of the vertabuck making a beeline for us. Rod hobbled to stand next to me. The moment Quick and Misty saw him they broke into a full gallop. I could have sworn Rod even worked up the energy to smile.

“Rod! I knew ya were still kickin’!” Quick exclaimed as he scooped Rod up into a hug.

“Ouch! Easy!” Rod exclaimed.

“Oh!” He quickly set him down. “Sorry bud, didn’t mean to hurt ya’.”

“It’ fine.”

“‘Im so happy to see you’re safe Rod.” Misty gave him a gingerly hug.

I smiled at the scene. I caught the motion of the vertabucks doors open. “Quick, Misty, help him to the bird.”

They were both eager to get him to safety.

As they walked off I called over the radio. “Council, Victory. How copy?”

“I copy.” It was easier to hear him now, without having to strain over the sound of battle and both of us breathing heavily.

“I just wanted to say thanks. It means a lot.”

“Don’t think anything of it. The council may not think anything of just one trooper, but us grunts know the value of life. I’ll see you around Victory. Council over and out.”

I couldn’t have agreed more. As I took my seat and the vertabucks doors swung closed, I smiled at Rod. He was a little banged up, but he wasn’t dead. And that did us all good. He looked over at me and smiled back. I couldn’t imagine how happy he must have been to be safe.

Author's Note

Well, I thought I posted this two weeks ago. Turns out I'm just an idiot.