Skies of Harmony

Chapter 4

Legends

A month has passed since the beginning of the war. Vulcan Sol has now advanced into the northern reaches of Tidas Aurora, having abandoned their first airborne push into the borders of Equestria. Glacial skies were all around the mountainous border of Tidas Aurora and the Empire of Vulcan Sol. Valais Air Force Base was where the ace pilots of Mirage Squadron were stationed. Fluttershy and Thunder Bolt were enjoying the wintry goodness as they built a snowpony just outside the barracks where Firefly, Rainbow, and Sky Buster were staring outside to glance at them while doing miscellaneous tasks to pass the time. Dash was reading the newest Daring Do novel and Sky was busy editing the novel Rainbow had written herself. He glanced over to his girlfriend and smiled.

"You know Rainbow, this place has a lot of nostalgia for me," Sky stated.

"Uh huh..." she kept reading her book. Sky waited for her to finish the chapter before talking again, "Sorry about that, what were you saying?"

"I said that this place brings a lot of memories back to me," Sky paused, "This was where I flew my first sortie... I have a story to tell. Good thing you fell in love with a writer huh?"

"I love fun stories! Lay it on me tough guy," she turned her attention to her red maned lover.

Flashing back, it was a cold and snowy day. Sky Buster had just been employed by the Tidas Aurora security contractor; Universal Protection Foundation, after service as a Royal Canterlot Guard. Assigned to the 6th Air Division, 66th Air Force Unit, his first flight as a mercenary pilot was with his new squadron leader. Sky's flight lead was a grey pegasus, with one wing blue in color. A black tail trailed behind him and his cutie mark was that of a burning flame. Clad in an equally grey, with red trim, battle saddle and red fighter helmet.

"Galm 1, Galm 2, maintain present course," their radar operator back at base was monitoring their mission.

"This is Galm 2 roger that," Sky radioed out to the operator.

"Bearing 315 Vulcan Bombers approaching," the operator gave a quick sitrep.

"Nopony wants to bail out into a mountain of ice. We're counting on you flight leader," Sky turned to his superior.

"All units, prepare to intercept!" their support operative gave the order.

"You'd better have our pay ready and waiting," Sky smirked and glanced over to his flight lead.

"That's only if we make it through this alive," Cipher finally spoke emotionless and professional.

"Be ready to pony up, we'll be back before you know it," Sky radioed out again. Cipher could admire the young stallions cocky attitude and smiled at his confidence. He saw the potential in the young Sky Buster and was ready to show him the ropes of what it meant to be a fighter pony.

"Galm 2, follow orders from Galm 1. Free engagement is prohibited during this engagement."

"Roger. Cipher I'll follow your lead, you're Galm 1 now," Sky paused as they accelerated and picked up speed to intercept the bombers heading towards the very same Valais Air Base, "Cipher, I've heard stories about you. You're an honorable pony Cipher. It's an honor to fly with you."

The rush of the cold wind on their faces crusted their visors with ice. In the distance they could see their targets highlighted in their HUDs. A squadron of Handley Page Type 0 bombers escorted by a flight of Sopwith Camels. All were enchanted to fly faster, carry more payload, and were on par with even the best Tidas Aurora P-40 or B17. But since the beginning of aerial warfare on Realm pegasi were hands down the best fighters in the world. Fully armed and equipped they could reach speeds of high subsonic, far faster than almost everything present at this time. Natural born fliers since their birth, pegasi had ruled the skies for centuries. This wasn't about to change during the First Vulcan Conflict.

“Bandits spotted, 12 o' clock hugging the mountains! Galm 1 engaging,” Cipher tucked his wings and pitched down hard. His silent dive was undetected by the first two bombers with Sky Buster following his lead, “Galm 2! Cover my six from enemy fighters!”

“Roger buddy! I'm staying in the clouds!” Sky was skimming the cloud cover above their prey. From Cipher's four o' clock a flight of experimental Vulcan E.I monoplanes were coming in fast, “Cipher! Three bandits, your four o' clock! I'll get em!”

Sky flipped over and nosed down, thrusting with his wings he gripped the trigger on his hoof and clenched it down, firing an Equestrian made 20mm Friend Mk II rainbow quad cannons. His first kill had the enemy's right wing clipped and was bleeding out a magical haze that enchanted the monoplane fighter. As Sky Buster flew past his first kill his coat was filled with goosebumps and euphoric feelings started to flood his senses. It was at that moment he knew he was in the right place, the bright, blue, and open sky was his home, and he wanted to protect it the way he could have done for his family. This was for his family.

He extended his wings and flapped hard, vectoring his thrust while maintaining his dexterous and fine tuned wing movements. For most pegasi, the resulting recovery from a mach one nosedive at 500 meters was impossible, but Sky Buster's flying style was unlike anything anyone has ever seen before. His G tolerance and agility could only be bested by some of the more legendary pegasi, like the fabled Mobius One.

“Bandit confirmed down! My first kill! Reengaging!” Sky banked a hard right turn to intercept another E.I monoplane coming right at Cipher. Sky was quick to react, shooting it down with a well timed volley of tracer fire, “Bagged another! How are those bombers?”

“Easy pickings, I've driven off their fighter escort. We should move on to the next squadron!” Cipher gave the signal to form up.

“Yes sir, do you mind if I finish off the escorts you left alive? These are Vulcan fighters after all. We leave them alive they'll just hunt us down the next mission.”

“You heard our operator, free engagement is prohibited. Don't waste your ammo on the flies,” Cipher bounced back the answer.

“Well they're parasitic bot flies if you ask me. Kill all of them after what they did. My whole family, grandparents, uncles, aunts, parents... Brother... All taken from me after their invasion of the commonwealth. Permission to engage limping enemy aircraft sir?”

“Permission denied, however, once we shoot down all these bombers you are free to engage,” Cipher compromised.

“I like that compromise, focus on the mission then swat these assholes. You take the lead buddy!”

“Galm 1, reengaging!” they both flew off to tackle their next targets.

“It was... Amazing... The rush of the cold air, the sounds of war all around me, and my first kill... It made me feel powerful, avenging. I scored three kills that day. Afterwards Cipher and I went on to help win the war for Tidas Aurora and the Republic Sky Realm. We fought many battles and became such good friends. Afterward, one of the dragon mercenaries that was Galm 3 betrayed our squadron and almost had me killed. He managed to clip my wing, but luckily it was just a flesh wound and I parachuted to safety. It was the first and only time I've ever been shot down. I'll never forget what Cipher did, shooting him down to avenge me,” Sky rambled on as the flashback ended, “When the war faded away, he too disappeared. I've never heard or seen him again. I'm still here, still in a war. A war to decide the fate of the free world. What do you think Dashie?”

“I think that should go in a novel. Maybe an autobiography. Can you make your autobiography a novel?”
*
“SUPRISE!” Pinkie Pie slammed the door wide open and added to Dash's comment, “Of course that's going into a story Rainbow! Just look over here and smile! Say hi to all the watchers and readers out there!”

“Um... Hi?” she was reluctant to say hello.

Through another portal comes the ponysonas of both Tanya the Vaporeon from Starfox: Hybrid Ascension and Aurora from Pokemon: Signs of Decay to remove the ever intrusive, yet slightly hilarious antics of Pinkemina Diane Pie. Tanya's OC was a unicorn named Sea Breeze, purple maned with streaks of dark blue with hair folded behind her ears like that of one of Photo Finish's assistants. Her coat was blue in color and she had a long and flowing tail. Aurora was a white pegasus with a short black mane wearing flight goggles and with the same cutie mark as that of Sky Buster. She went by the same name in this universe. The two mares stuffed Pinkie into a large garbage bag and hauled her off beyond the forth wall, beating sounds could be heard off screen. David from Hybrid Ascension had his OC, Thunder, get thrown into the mix as well. He was a yellow pegasus with short wings and a white spiky hairdo and tail. He was wearing shades and a tuxedo and pulled out a device that looked like a pen.

“Ladies I want you to look at the birdie, now,” with a flash the three pegasi who saw Pinkie stood in a trance, the light erasing their short term memory. The Forth Wall Enforcers were gone and there stood Firefly, Sky Buster, and Rainbow Dash without a hint to what just happened. Sky shook his head and looked about.

“Huh, must have derped. You do the same Dash? It felt like time just jumped.”

“Yeah, weird...” She looked about the room as well, nothing was misplaced and the door was closed, “Oh well!”

Miles away in the Manehatten Harbor the White Pheasants were on the flight deck of the TSS Midway overlooking the cityscape of the majestic and grand metropolitan capital of Equestria they were stationed to protect. With the exception of Zak, all of their aircraft were capable of being carrier based. Zak had to exchange his Me 262 for a carrier based version of the He 162 Volksjager with swept forward wings, another prototype of Tidas Aurora fresh from the production line. They sat in their quarters and passed the time listening to the radio.

“Thy brother, what shall we do today?” Tanya yawned.

“I have not a clue dear sister. Ugh! There it is again!” Mikey turned off the radio as another electronic song came on, Nostalgia by DJ Pon-3, “How can anyone listen to such awful noise! These so called 'wubs' have ruined a perfectly good song.”

“I agree, why do the ponies like this type of music thy brother?”

“Once again, I have not the slightest clue. Mechanical screeching has no place in music. Music has to be flowing, organic, not synthetic and wasted.”

“Maybe it's because of the circumstances of how we are raised dear brother. Maybe in thy other universe somewhere far from this reality we enjoy this type of music and dance to it often. What type of universe would that be brother? I wish to write about it in my next novel. I shall put most forethought into this venture and predict weapons far great in the future. Do you think jets that can hover could work? Wingless and rotorless aircraft?”

“Nay, tis impossible sister.”

“I bloody doubt that chap,” David the Jolteon walks in with his British accent. This was the David native to this universe and he wore steampunk attire with a monocle over his right eye and a suit as well as a spikey white hairstyle, “I predict in the future we'll have the necessary tech for that. But for now let's focus on things that are within our reach brother.”

“How are thine helicopters coming along brother?” Mikey asked.

“Remarkably fair. My Flettner team has made one with dual intermeshing rotors for use as an airborne attack platform. The first few prototypes are in the hangar awaiting combat deployment. Come this way my siblings, I shall show you.”

They followed David into the hangar and were presented with the odd helicopters with intermeshing twin rotors. These were Fl 282s with twin seats for a pilot and gunner. The pilot was armed with rail launched rockets and the gunner had control of an MG-42 as well as experimental X-7 anti tank missiles derived from the X-4 Zak had used in the early stages of the war. David, much like his Hybrid Ascension counterpart, was in charge of building the most intricate and advanced weapons seen on Realm.

“So, whatcha think for a rotorcraft?” David asked.

“Merry... Very merry. Shall they be combat tested soon?” Tanya examined the aircraft.

The alarm sounded in the Midway and they had their answer. The speakers roared to life.

“All hands! Man your battle stations! This is not a drill! Vulcan bombers are approaching Manehatten harbor! Ships have been spotted as well! Prepare for combat!”

“Well there's your answer,” David smiled and shrugged, “To your planes my siblings. I shall oversee the combat tests of the Fl 282s.”

Mikey and Tanya ran to their planes in the far end of the hangar. Ghost and Zak were already there fixing their planes from earlier.

“Howdy partners!” Ghost waved from the cockpit of his Flying Flapjack. He was carrying a gun pod with a modified 35mm antitank cannon for use as a short range air to air shotgun.

“Greetings good friend, let's say we give them a show!” Mikey smiled back as he got into his XP-55 Ascender, armed with two quad fifty caliber pods under each wing, giving him 12 machine guns in total.

“Roger that Mikey. Pheasant 3 ready. Just say the word dude,” Zak gave a thumbs up and patted the side of his plane. He had with him two wing mounted 38mm flak cannons.

“Let us fight in this glorious battle. Thine enemy's blood shall be my paint in the air of war...” Tanya's Shinden roared to life as it was ascended to the flight deck for take off along with the rest of her squadron. Her plane had a high velocity 37mm antitank cannon modified to be used as a long range air to air gun, “This is Pheasant 2! Taking to the skies!”

She lifted off into the sky in unison with her brother, their pusher prop planes in perfect formation advancing towards the enemy fleet. Ghost and Zak were close behind, ready to support.

“Pheasant 1 to all fighters. Enemy fleet approaching Manehatten Harbor. Fighters are to attack bombers and their escorts. Attack aircraft are to engage the surface elements,” Mikey radioed out.

“This is night fighter Oka Nieba! New enemy planes on radar!” the radar plane, a P-61 Black Widow, was providing airborne radar support to the whole squadron of Tidas Aurora planes, “It's a Vulcan formation! Cougar Squadron!”

From the west comes a squadron of aircraft unlike anything Vulcan Sol has used before. These were Vulcan built Suiga fighters, a mismatched cross of a Super Corsair and a Zero.

“Hold on, those aren't the usual Vulcan fighters!” Zak could see these were all metal planes. It was unknown if they were enchanted.

“You're right Zakary, hark! Oka Nieba, does thou confirm magical enchantment on enemy aircraft?”

“Negative, it seems that they were made with Tidas Aurora parts.”

“Copy that Oka! Pheasant 3 is engaging!” Zak folded his wings up and put the throttle to full, making his fighter go dangerously fast and unstable, yet, he was in full control. He pushed his plane to the limit as he approached the enemy formation. He flipped his wings down and extended his combat flaps. He broke the enemy formation with a burst of twin 20mm cannon fire, turning back into the fray. One of the enemy Vulcan pilots whipped around 180 in a controlled stall to fire at Zak, barely missing him as Zak rolled the instant he fired.

“Zakary! We will come to support!” Mikey punched the fuel injector to give his engine the power it needed to accelerate to Zak. All four of the Cougar fighters were distracted by Zak's gung-ho charge.

“Transmitting enemy radio signals now!” Oka Nieba relayed a message.

“So, these are the feared White Pheasants? They're pushovers,” one of the enemy cats scoffed at the White Pheasants, “Your orders are to shoot down the night fighters and jammer aircraft. All unenchanted craft are to engage. All others stay a kilometer away from their jammers. Don't let your planes turn to slugs. Cougar Squad, engage!”

“Copy that Lynx!” the jaguar anthro tipped his wings to his commander and broke away to target the radar and jammer planes.

“Zakary! Engage and destroy those interceptors! Make Haste!” Mikey turned into the fray as scores of enchanted enemy biplanes and canvas aircraft swarmed into the battlefield. Among them he noticed all new all metal aircraft made from alchemy. Since these were made with alchemy, they were incompatible with any magical enchantments. They were fused together cleanly with parts gathered from shot down Tidas Aurora made aircraft.

“I'm on it! Engaging!” He punched his combat flaps down and turned sharply into the Cougar Squadron, trying to get onto their six o clock position. Zak held off from his triggers and approached from below, trying to hide under the line of sight of the new fighters. He was nearly three hundred meters out and lined up for a shot. He squeezed the trigger and a flurry of cannon rounds erupted from his two 20mm cannons.

The enemy Cougar Squadron ace pitched up sharply and cut his throttle, bleeding airspeed and whipping around to catch Zak's vulnerable six o clock position. Mid-flip, Zak saw the Lynx pilot and the markings on the side of his cockpit. He had shot down over twenty planes with this one aircraft alone and more markings on the side caught his eye: three feathered wings with stylized pony heads. This pilot was a Triple Pegasi Killer, noteworthy in skill. In the world of Realm to shoot down a pegasus in combat would make you an instant ace, as even the average pegasus fighter pony could outmatch any propeller driven aircraft of this time. The two fighters broke off to reengage.

“Whoa! Mikey did you see that guy!” Zak radioed out hurriedly.

“Nay, what is thy status?”

“These guys are confirmed Pegasi Killers! Probably one of the best in their nation! Could use some help.”

“Roger my friend! Pheasants two and four! Assist our squad mate.”

“Ay my brother! Engaging!” Tanya pitched up into the sky to hide in the clouds, eying targets like a falcon ready to dive.

“Ten four good buddy! Pheasant four layin' the smackdown!” Ghost came to the aid of the P-61 radar aircraft that was getting shot to pieces by the Cougar aces. The black plane was trailing smoke with one engine on fire, barely keeping aloft, bullet holes and torn metal everywhere.

“Keep that jammer alive! Pegasi from the Manehatten guard are scrambling. Tis only a matter of time,” Mikey directed all other planes to keep a close watch on the damaged craft, making sure the enchantment jamming effect kept up.

“This is Oka Nieba! Our radar is shot out and we are slowly losing altitude! Please, guard us while you can!”

“Ten four! Growla's got cha back Oka!” Ghost came in from a high yo yo and got onto the tail of one of the Cougar fighters. His stream of tracers barely missing the enemy craft, with only a few hitting their mark. The scratched Vulcan fighter broke upwards to counter the diving attack Ghost had performed, “Shucks! Mikey, thatch weave with me!”

“Ay, I will counter maneuver with you, does thou have a visual?” Mikey couldn't see where the Suiga had got to and was in a defensive weaving formation with Ghost, keeping their eyes on a swivel.

“Pounce em!” an intercepted enemy message alerted the Tidas Auroran craft to the actions of their enemies. Mikey and Ghost countered the sideways pincer with both performing a rolling scissors with their two enemies.

“Shit! They came from the sides Mikey!”

“Ay! I bite my thumb at them!” the dual helix of Vulcan and Tidas Auroran aircraft corkscrewed violently, each pilot could see the faces of their enemy as the helix came closer and closer.

“Ey' Mikey! Check this out!” Ghost throttled down with his flying flapjack and the craft forced his opponent to overshoot and stall, the circular fighter still kept aloft by it's wing design. Ghost's four fifty caliber guns rending the enemy fighter into submission. The craft has crash landed into the ocean and its pilot survived, “Growla, splash one bandit!”

“Thine fighter can't hold! I'm stalling,” Mikey's fighter was struggling to stay up. The XP-55 had extremely poor stall performance and he needed to gain airspeed.

“Brother! Disengage from your target, I will handle the feline...”

“Tanya! Tanya, where art thou sister?” Mikey looked around, the world still spinning from his rolling scissors.

“Look to the clouds and the heavens above, for our angels will descend...” Tanya dove into the fray with her J7W Shinden. Erupting from the clouds above, she put a good long burst into the wings of the enemy craft, perforating the starboard wing and shearing it right off, “Vio, splash one...”

“Help! Help! I've lost control!” Mikey's fighter had stalled and was in an inverted corkscrew spiraling to the ocean, “I have to bail out! Punching out the propeller blades!”

Mikey pulled the ejection lever to jettison the blades of his pusher prop. He slid his canopy open and cut himself free of the harnesses, still being pushed and shaken in his seat by the falling three ton aircraft.

“Holy shit! He's going down fast! Tanya, do you see a chute?” Zak circled once around his friend's aircraft and tried to go back into the fight.

“Negative! Brother!” Tanya cried out.

“...Please, let thy grace and blessing reach down Arceus. I pray for a miracle to save my life...” Mikey was pinned into his seat by the rush of air and the inertia of his downed fighter.

One of the Vulcan aircraft lined up for a shot on the XP-55, Mikey getting the full impact of fifty caliber shells spiraling up and down the fuselage and wings. The Cougar pilot left over wanted to show no mercy to the Tidas Aurora craft, even when it was spiraling to its death. The wing of the Ascender broke off... The plane rolled uncontrollably and Mikey was thrown out.

“Mikey!” Zak raced to the attacking Cougar squadron ace, it was the Pegasus Killer he saw before. The enemy ace broke off in a climb and once again used the cloud cover to mask his escape. Zak tried to follow, but overshot the propeller plane with his jet going too fast to turn inside the Suiga fighter. He saw the limp body of Mikey flash by his cockpit.

Mikey had been passed out as the G forces of his spiraling craft forced blood to his limbs away from his brain. He regained consciousness and saw himself plummeting to the ground. He righted himself from his uncontrolled free fall and pulled his ripcord: the parachute giving a hard and welcomed jerk upwards as it deployed. He looked around, prying the oxygen mask off his face and he saw the air battle still at large. Sighing in great relief, he thanked his god.

“Thine lord Arceus, hollowed be your name... I thank you...”

“Chute! I see his chute!” Zak pulled right back up and looked behind him to see the domed canvas carrying his friend to safety, “He's alive! Scramble some SAR assets Oka!”

“Oka Nieba, roger that! We've still losing altitude slowly, but we should be able to land. See you back on the ground Pheasants!”

“Thank Arceus and all his blessing bestowed... Brother, art thou okay?”

“Yes my fair sister, all is fine,” Mikey smiled at his sister's Shinden as it flew on by, “Continue with the battle my friends! I shall, how you say, 'hang around.'”

Back in the snowy north of Valais Air Base, Sky Buster and Rainbow Dash were out near the runway surveying the new arrivals coming in. It was a mixed squadron of Tidas Aurora pilots coupled with some Equestrian agents. A flight of Corsairs, Skyraiders, J4M Lukes, and D4Y Judies came in to land in groups of four. They taxied over to their hangars and their pilots hopped out. Some were Pokemorph, others Unicorn or Earth Ponies. Mirage Squadron took notice to the young pilots. They looked to be fresh out of training. Firefly commented.

“Newbies huh? Those nuggets might be able to help if we get them on the right track. Guess they're the ones were suppose to train?”

“Yeah, I was like that once. But better, since I already knew the ropes of flying,” Sky replied.

“Say, didn't you train some of these nuggets before Sky?” Firefly looked over to the red maned stallion.

“Mhmm. They're a pain in the cutie mark sometimes, but most are eager to learn and I like that about them. Those planes are new, last time I flew for TA they only had Hellcats and Zeros. Now they give the new guys these brand new aircraft? Guess they might not be too bad after all. I also noticed their flight style, confident and controlled for the most part, although a few of them had a touchy landing. Once we get these guys some training runs we'll test their extremes. Hold on, the transports are landing now,” Sky looked to the end of the runway and an Fw 200 Condor transport plane landed. The large four engined craft pulled up into the empty hangar next to their barracks and powered down.

The rest of Mirage Squadron followed the craft as the back door swung open, a Swanna Pokemorph holding it open as two ponies trotted out of the plane. The first pony was a pegasus mare, with pale blue coat and a flowing, long, and puffy brown mane stripped with one long strip of yellow. Her tail followed the same pattern as her mane. She wore a jet black long sleeved shirt and a pair of khaki cargo pants held up by a utility belt that held all sorts of magical spy gadgets. Her partner followed: a white earth pony stallion with ridiculously attractive eyebrows steps forth, mane and tail a light-medium shade of blue. He was also wearing the same outfit as the pegasus mare.

“Holy Sweet Celestia! Kim is that you?” Sky smiled and greeted the mare, “Welcome to Valais Air Base! In the sweet province of Ustio, Tidas Aurora!”

“Ugh, it's fucking freezing here. You guys got any pancakes and hot cocoa? Antony ate all the spicy taco sauce in his pockets during the flight.”

“Yeah, I think we have some hot cocoa. I'd like you to meet my assigned unit; the 179th Tactical Pegasus Squadron. Everypony, this is Kim. She and I worked together during the first Vulcan Conflict. She's a spy and special forces agent of Tidas Aurora. Kim, this is Firefly, Thunderbolt, Medley, Cloud Kicker, Fluttershy, and the one and only-”

“Rainbow Dash! At your service ma'am!”

“The-Rainbow Dash?” Kim stuttered, “Oh-h my y-yes. All the yes!”

“Um, Kim,” Antony poked her, but she was as frozen as the outside of the now closed hangar.

“Yeah, she can get all fan-girly like that,” Sky shook her slightly and Kim bolted over the Rainbow.

“I've heard so many stories about you! Like how you did that sonic rainboom to save your friend's life! Or how about passing the Wonderbolts Academy and becoming an ace flier! I once heard you took on four griffins by yourself and won, is that true?” her wings fluttered.

“Whoa whoa, easy there Kim,” Antony stepped in, “I'm sure we can all get caught up when we get settled, but need I remind you that a war is going on?”

“Besides, that fight between those four griffins I saved Rainbow from that,” Firefly spoke out.

“And Fluttershy! You tamed Discord! Oh sweet Celestia, I want to meet him personally. How is he after the whole incident?”

“Umm... He mostly lounges around Canterlot Castle and comes for visits sometimes. I can tell you his pranks are way more harmless now that Pinkie Pie is involved. Yay!” Fluttershy smiled, a small squee heard in the background.

“Let's get to somewhere a bit warmer. We've got an empty room in the barracks you two can bunk in. Only one bed though, sorry,” Sky pointed over to the long rectangular building to the right of the hangar.

“You're joking right?...” Kim shot a glance at Sky.

“Yeah! I'm just fuckin' round with you. There's a bunk bed,” Sky chuckled a bit.

“Same old Sky Buster, still an asshole,” Kim rolled her eyes and walked with the rest of the group into the now blizzard heavy terrain. Snowfall was heavy and the group was freezing. The chill of the air was short lived as they all piled into the barracks for the night.

“So what brings you to this frozen wasteland KP?” Sky walked her down the hallway to the room at the end of the building.

“Equestria MI6 sent us over here to investigate a possible superweapon being built in the north at Mount Schirm. The only reason why I'm telling you this is because command hand picked your squadron to help with the recon mission.”

“But, there are nine of us. Not much of a convert recon mission with all of us in the air like that.”

“I wasn't done Sky, they hand picked you and Rainbow Dash for this assignment. You got our plane ready?”

“Yeah, it's here. I was wondering why there was a de Havilland Mosquito in the reserve hangar when all this airbase had were pegasi. Photo-recon variant and low radar cross section. Great aircraft for a stealth mission.”

“Exactly, Antony and I are going up at the ass crack of dawn. You better read up on this briefing,” Kim handed a folder to Sky Buster. He took it in his mouth and tucked it on his back.

“Will do! Nice to work with you again KP.”

“Yeah, same. Well, good night. Sortie first thing in the morning,” Kim closed the door to her room and Sky Buster walked off to his quarters, eying the contents of the briefing.

“Fighter escort huh? That I can do.”