Impatience

I awoke at 0500 hours as I usually did. I got up and headed to the fitness wing. I always got up early to beat the rush. I did my usual routine, three miles on the trotmill, ten miles in the wind tunnel, fifty wing-ups, and wing pressed two hundred and twenty pounds. Afterwards I hit the showers. Then the chow hall. It was the usual sky slop, oatmeal made from the only grain us pegasi know, sky grain. With an apple and a glass of sky tea. The grain, apple, and tea leaves used to make the tea, all came from the Enclaves sky orchards. so naturally it all tasted like warm or cool piss, but I was used to it. Every one was.

Once I finished up eating it was 0645 and the usual bustle of the ship was picking up. The Victorious would be docking with Thunderhead to refuel and pick up the Pyrocumulus. The Victorious would be flying with the Twister and the Nimbostratus in detail. We would be docking in a few hours and the troops on the Victorious will get six hours liberty. I bet the MPs will have some work to do later, I thought with a chuckle. I personally planned on staying on ship most of the time if not entirely. I wouldn’t have anything to do to begin with.

I was heading back to my bunk to catch up on some reading when I was approached by another stallion. He looked to be about my age, and his coat was a smokey grey. His eyes were a hazel color and his mane was an off white, short with a part in the middle and allowed some to fall back a bit.

“Sergeant Thunder Wing,” He began, “you’ve been requested by Captain Flurry to report to the conference room.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What the fuck does he want?” I’d grown tired of the shit I got from most officers so I assume the worst when ones asking for me.

“He wants you to get acquainted with the rest of the squad.”

That was understandable. “Lead the way, uh…”

He smiled and said, “Corporal Lightning Rod, sir!” He saluted.

I chuckled and replied, “Don’t call me sir, I work for a living. But nice to meet you none the less.” He nodded with a grin and began towards the Logistics wing.

*** *** ***

The conference room had a large oval table in the middle with sixteen seats surrounding it. Three of which were filled. At the head was Captain Flurry.He was a tall white pony with a ridiculously funny pink mane that he kept hidden under a cap. Always had his eyes hidden behind a thick pair of aviators too. I didn’t know him all too well, but from what I did know of him, he wasn’t an asshole and I could tolerate him. The other three ponies were a mystery to me. When you’re stationed on a ship carrying thousands of ponies, it gets hard to remember all of them.

I gave a crisp salute to the captain and he returned it. “At ease sergeant. Now straight to business, “ He clearly had someplace to be. I didn’t know and I didn’t really care. “This is Lance Corporal Misty Haze.” He pointed to the only mare in the group. She was a peach color with a short brown mane that partially hung down over her right eye. “Private Quick Flight,” a very muscular stallion.Bigger than me, and I was larger than your average pegasus. He had a dusk blue coat and a charcoal mane. He had deep green eyes with freckles under them. He had nick in his ear as well. “and you’ve met Corporal Rod. I’ll let you all get acquainted!” He said with a smile as he left the room in a hurry.

I looked back at the squad that was now under my command. They all glanced around each other and at me. It was awkward for us all. I gave a quick glance at their cutie marks. Rod had a telephone, Quick, a pitchfork, and Misty, a mixed drink? Oh well, questions for another time. “So, what are all your positions in the squad?” I asked, deciding to get things rolling. I wasn’t used to leading, but I had faith I could pick it up quickly.

Rod answered first. “I’m the communications expert and a standard rifleman.” I nodded.

Quick was next. “Heavy weapons and explosives.” He had a voice that was deep and had a slight drawl.

Finally everyone looked at Misty. She looked up at me and pushed her mane away from her face before answering. “Reconnaissance expert and squad sniper.” Go figure, the shy one was the one who could kill you from a mile away.

I looked at the three and ultimately decided that I wasn’t completely and utterly fucked, and stuck with some butt fucking retards. That brought a slight smile to my muzzle. “Good to know.” I didn’t exactly know what to do now, again, still new to all this. “Uh, class dismissed?” I said with a stressed grin. Rod and Misty gave a small chuckle, but Quick gave out a thick laugh, as if he thought what I said was genuinely funny.

All three began to exit but Rod spoke up, “Um si-” He stopped himself and started over. “Sergeant. What happened to the lieutenant?” The other two looked at me as well, all three clearly wanting an answer.

I swallowed. “I’m not on terms to discuss that.” I kinda felt bad, not being able to tell them what happened to their commander. I’d want to know too, but I couldn’t disobey the general.

“Please tell us..” Misty quietly spoke.

Quick spoke as well with his deep voice and low drawl. “Id really like to know too.”

I looked at all of them then sighed. If I get caught, oh boy, I’ll be lucky to get the firing squad! I walked over and closed the door after making sure no one was near it. In a hushed tone I told them. “Cloud Crusher was caught with surface drugs on him. He’s being held in the brig, and will most likely get a court martial.”

The three exchanged glances and Rod sighed. “So that’s the ‘Sensitive data’ he was collecting.”

I felt bad. Losing a leader sucks in any way. “I’m sorry.” I quietly gave my condolences to the trio.

Quick gave a snort. “Its fine, he was kind of a tight ass.” The three all began to chuckle at the fact.

I blinked, surprised by how easily they seemed to move on. “Well now that’s settled,” I checked my watch. 1515. We would dock with thunderhead in forty five minutes. “Why don’t you all go get ready for liberty. Enjoy yourselves, tomorrow’s gonna be a long day. Don’t drink too much.” I gave a small chuckle. They all nodded in agreement and went on their way.

It was around 1630 and I was reading in my bunk. Id been working on the same book for over a year. When you devote your whole life to the military you don’t get a lot of down time. The book was Command Authorineigh by Tom Horsey. I was twelve chapters in. There were fifty. Rod, Quick and Misty were all passing by, heading for one of the ships access ports.

They stopped and stood at the end of my bunk. After a few seconds of wondering what the fuck they were doing I looked up from my book. “Uh can I help you?” I asked.

They all had a confused look across their faces. “Um Sergeant, are you ready?” Rod asked.

I set my book down on my chest. “Ready? For what?” I had no clue what they were talking about.
They exchanged glances and Rod replied, “Ready for liberty?” I gave a small chuckle and lifted by book back up. “I don’t do liberty.” I replied as I slightly shook my head.

“What? Who doesn’t do liberty?” Rod questioned, disbelieving.

“I don’t.” I didn’t look up from my book.

Quick snorted, “Well now you do. C’mon, drinks are on me.”

“I‘m reading.” Again, I didn’t look up from my book.

“Well tonight you’re drinking.” Quick was nudging me out of my rack.

“Hey! C’mon fuck off already!” I tried to protest but was ultimately shoved out of my bunk, much to the pleasure of Misty and Rod as I could hear their giggles of joy. I lay there on the cold floor. “Can you shove my blanket and book down?” I asked sincerely.
“Come on sergeant, it’ll be fun!” Ron tried to encourage me. They won’t fucking stop will they? I facehoofed and climbed to my hooves. “Fine. But only for a few drinks.” I stated.

Rod and Quick high hoofed in celebration at the breaking of my will to stay and read. Misty was wearing a short black dress, quite becoming of her I must say. Rod, Quick, and I were wearing the usual apparel, nothing. I never really cared for clothing like most ponies. We made our way to the bow most access hatch and flew out in search of a decent bar.

After a few minutes of flying we found one that didn’t look so bad and decided we’d stop and get a drink. The Bucking Bronco was the name of the joint. We walked inside, found a table and took our seats, except for Quick, who went over to the bar to get our drinks.

“So Sergeant” I looked regarding Rod. “What’s the game plan for tomorrow?” He looked a little nervous. Shit, it was probably the kids, no, all of their first op.

I cleared my throat and began. “Well us and four other squads will be sent as a landing party. Once the eggheads in logistics see a spot on the ground they like, they’ll send us down to make sure there isn’t anything in the area that could cause trouble for the FOB.” Huh, I was surprised I even remembered that shit from the debrief file.

He gave a strained laugh and said, “That doesn’t sound so tough.” Just in time, Quick returned with four beers and four glasses. I picked my beer up, ignoring the glass, and took a pull. I’m sure Rod could use his drink right about now too, poor bastard. I remember the first time I was sent below the cloud cover on patrol. I pissed myself the moment we dipped below it. And that was just a patrol, his first assignment is to invade a foreign country. How fucked up is that?

I didn’t agree with the idea of invading another place that hasn’t done shit to us, but I also understood that our people would die off for sure if we didn’t. I came back from my mind and realized the whole table was in an awkward silence. Guess I’d have to be the one to break it...again. “So Misty, “ She quickly looked up from her glass, slightly startled at the sudden mention of her name. “How did a Shy mare like you end up in sniper school? If its alright in me asking.”

She blinked then pushed her mane away from her eye. “Oh well I was selected for it actually. I was top shot in basics, ten out of ten targets hit every time.” I blinked. That was impressive that’s for sure. I averaged an eighty five percent through basics. “So they asked me if I’d like to go to sniper school. I thought it would be fun so I said yes.”

I whistled. “What were you scoring there?” I wasn’t sure what I was expecting now.

She blushed slightly and replied, “Ninety six percent.” My mouth dropped slightly. That was incredible, especially for a mare. Not that I would say that out loud.

“Rod? Communications?” I looked over at him. He looked a lot more relaxed now.

He swallowed what beer he had in his mouth and cleared his throat. “Well, I barely scraped by on my marksmanship in basics so I figured I should do something I’m good at. Long story short, after dabbling around I found communications, which I wasn’t bad at so I settled there.”

I nodded in acknowledgment. “Quick?”

He polished off his beer and set the empty glass down and gave a long deep belch, which received a giggle from Misty and wince from Rod. He began with that deep drawl of his. “Well when we went to the grenade course in basics, I found out how much I loved blowin’ shit up!” That got a good laugh from the three of us. Quick continued, “So I asked the platoon sergeant if there was any special courses I could take in blowin shit up. He had me transferred to a demolition and heavy weapons training outfit.

“We did the sweetest shit there! Grenades, rocket launchers, and we even got to use an old grenade machine gun!” He seemed to really enjoy his explosives. I can relate, I enjoy my rifles just as much. I took a pull of my beer. “What about you sarge?” Quick asked.

I set my drink down. It wasn’t much of a story but I’ll tell it nonetheless. “Nothing special in all honesty. My father was in the military and I wanted to follow in his hoof steps so I enlisted the day I could. Basic rifleman with some SERE and deep reconnaissance training on the side.” I picked my beer back up and took another pull from it, finishing it off. The front door opened and three dark grey pegasi walked in, all three baring the same colors, different eyes and mane styles though.
“Oh great…” Rod said once he had glanced over his shoulder and saw them.

“What?” I asked.

He turned back to face me. “Those are the Stonehearts, three brothers that make up the Three Captains of the Thunderhead guard. They’re not to fond of Neighvarro troops.”

I blinked, the name not ringing any bells. “Why’s that?” I asked.

“Don’t know. I heard its something to do with politics,” He said as he finished off his drink as well.
The next hour passed with casual conversation of what we thought Thunderhead used the massive, heaven bound, Shadowbolt tower for. Everything from research to the smuggling of ground contraband to the skies was thrown out there. We all had a few good laughs at one another throughout it. It was nice, some down time with ponies I could call acquaintances. I never made a lot of friends as a kid, and I didn’t have the time once I enlisted. So this was a welcomed change in pace, even if I was too proud to admit it.

“Hey there hot stuff, what are you doing hanging out with a group of losers like these?” Just hearing the voice I could tell its owner was a smug bastard who needed to be knocked down a couple pegs. We all turned to look at the green eyed Stoneheart standing behind Misty with his two brothers standing a few feet behind him.
She turned her head to look at him a little shocked from the sudden and slurred attempt at a compliment and insult. “Actually they’re my friends.” She said as she shrunk back a little.

“Yeah, so if you’d be so kind as to buzz off, we’d appreciate it.” Quick clearly wasn’t going to take any shit from him.

“Was I addressing you mule?” The green eyed one glared at Quick as he spoke. Quick stood up and got face to face with the Stoneheart, and his brothers took a readying step forward. I gave a soft sigh as I began to see how this night was going to end.
Rod and I stood up at roughly the same time, ready to give Quick a hoof if shit hit the fan. I noticed other troops start standing up and some saying things to one another with scowls on their muzzles.

Oh fuck… There was an uncanny ratio of Neighvarro and Thunderhead troops in this bar. A powder keg, and Quick and Stoneheart were the fuse.

“Quick, don’t do anything too rash now…” Rod tried talking him down.

The other two Stonehearts flanked their brother, Rod and I did the same to Quick. “Yeah why don’t you listen to your little friend over there.” The blue eyed Stoneheart in front of me said with a smug smirk on his lips.

I wasn’t the best with my temper and so far they were running it short. “Why don’t you keep your shit head comments to yourself, bird brain.” I said in a low dangerous voice. The blue eyed one brought his muzzle inches from mine. Good, get pissed. I thought with a mental grin.

He glared daggers at me. “What the fuck are you gonna do about it? Huh you son of a-” I brought my hoof up to meet with his chin, sending him stumbling backwards clutching it with a hoof.

“That.” I replied with a slight scowl. Blood began to drip from his clenched teeth. The other two Stonehearts only took a slight moment more to process what just happened before the purple eyed one yelled “Bastard!” and they both moved to strike me, but not before Quick and Rod intercepted them. In one fluid motion they knocked both of them off their hooves and onto their sides.
Now group by group, the bar became a fight club. Ponies throwing ponies through tables, beating on one another with their hooves, and some just shouting at one another. This was bad, but fun none the less. A smirk spread across my face as another pony came charging at me. I easily hooked my fetlock around his front right leg and placed my other hoof under him and flipped him with ease. The Stoneheart I had hit had gotten back up and grabbed an empty bottle in his mouth and broke the bottom against a table and began to stare me down. I grinned a wicked grin and shouted, “Show me what you got!”

He charged me and I narrowly dodged him, receiving a shallow cut along my cheek. He shouted something but it was muffled due to the bottle neck in his mouth. He charged again but this time I gave a hard flap with my wings and flew up into the air. He ran under me and I dropped back down just as he hit the wall behind me at full speed with a satisfying ‘thump’.

As I smirked at the sight of him laying unconscious on the ground I was tackled from the side by the purple eyed Stoneheart. We rolled to a stop with him standing on top of me. He punched me right in the nose, and again, and again. Finally I delivered a swift kick right between his legs. He gave a yelp and fell to the side, clutching his crotch in pain.

As I stood I felt a warm substance start dripping down my muzzle. I wiped it away with a hoof and brought it down to see a smear on my hoof, the same color as my eyes. “You dick, look what you did!” I said with a slight smirk. My dad always said fighting was no fun. He was wrong.

I looked over to see Quick getting pummeled by the last standing Stoneheart. I quickly began running over, dodging other fighters and tipped tables and chairs. Once I got to the duo I spun around on my front hooves and bucked the Stoneheart right in the ribs, I was rewarded with a crack and a howl of pain from him as he went falling off Quick. I helped him to his hooves.

With a blood smeared muzzle, he smirked and said, “I had him right where I wanted him ya know?”

I rolled my eyes and smirked. “Right. Lets find Rod and bounce before the Mps show up.”

He nodded but then we stopped and looked back at Stoneheart as we heard him. “You fuckers aren’t going ANYWHERE!” He was standing, barely, and taking shallow breaths, proving I broke one if not a few of his ribs. In his mouth was a switch blade. Quick and I could have easily handled him, but we didn’t have to. A chair came down, hard, on his head and he hit the floor, out cold. Rod hovered there for a minute looking at him but quickly snapped back and rushed us to the door.

Once we got outside we found Misty waiting for us with a cigarette in her mouth. She saw us and made a muffled squeak and dropped the cancer stick and put it out under her hoof. “Shall we be off then?” She asked rhetorically. We all nodded and took off for the Victorious.

Once we were on board Quick, Rod, and I said our goodnights to Misty and she headed back to the female troop quarters and us three to the male.

“So how fucked are we for starting that fight sarge?” Quick asked.

I laughed. “Hey, they started it.” Rod and Quick gave a chuckle and I continued. “Not sure. With the operation starting tomorrow they’ll need all the wing power they can get. We will just have to wait and see.”

They nodded and Rod spoke. “I’m glad none of us got hurt.” Quick, with his blood smeared muzzle and I with my bloodied cheek and mouth, exchanged flat looks and continued walking. I checked my watch. 2113.

“Well get yourselves some chow and a shower then hit the rack. I want everyone rested for tomorrow.”
The both nodded and spoke in unison, “Sir, yes sir!” And then walked away. I went straight to the showers. After I got the blood washed out of my coat I got some chow. Same usual ‘food’. Then I hit my rack. I thought to read a bit but decided against it and went to bed. Tomorrow was gonna be a slow day.