It was warm, bright, and yet cold. Private Macintosh had to practically force his eyes open. The sun had been beating on his eyelids, making it uncomfortable to keep his eyes closed. Rapidly blinking, Macintosh attempted to focus on anything he could, but the landscape was barren and flat. He took a deep breath and rolled hid head off of the cool glass window and tried to find someone. Someone he could ask about how long they had been driving, and how much longer they would be. Unfortunately, it seemed as if everybody had dozed off as well, and Mac was alone on the bus. He rubbed his face to shake the sleepy feeling as he settled back in for the rest of the ride. There was no way he would be able to get back to sleep, so he might as well enjoy the peace and quiet.

Outside, the ground was barren. There was nothing but plain grass and weeds for as far as the eye could see. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, so the hot sun shone through, only hindered by the dirt on the outside of the bus window. He combed a hoof through his mane and watched what little scenery there was roll by.

Mac jostled the private sitting next to him as they pulled through the gate at base Furlin. The only differences in scenery were the barbed wire fences and various barracks strewn about the horizon. The bus stopped at the gate to sign in, and the troops on the bus started coming to. After a short stop, the bus rolled ahead until it came to a paved parade square. Lieutenant Wing called the squad out of the bus, and had them form up on the parade square. They were then met by an officer stationed at base Furlin. The officer took a minute to talk to Lieutenant Wing before allowing him to address the squad.

“As it turns out,” Wing began, “because of recent events, base Furlin is short staffed on Non-Commissioned Officers. That fact in mind, some of you will be receiving a promotion in the coming week to make up for the lack. This will depend on your academy record and service thus far. As for now, I'll be walking you to your new barracks. The rest of the Company is already here.”

The Lieutenant called the squad to attention and marched them over to their new barracks to unload. It was the first time they had marched from one location to another on a military base since the beginning of training. Running had been their only mode of transportation until that point.

The new barracks looked exactly the same as the old one. The same tile floor,the same silver barrack boxes, and the same metal beds. Lieutenant Wing had an office at one end of the barracks, and began moving files and folders into it. Macintosh just dropped his duffel bag into the new box and slapped a padlock on it.

“Home, sweet home.” Reelin joked, still with a slight lisp.

“I shot the top bunk.” Splintstitch called out, throwing his bag on the top bunk of the bed Macintosh had chosen. After his bag had stopped bouncing, Splintstitch hopped on after it.

Reelin took the top bunk across from Splintstitch and Macintosh, and Marktime took the lower bunk. Biggs took the bottom bunk of the bed next to them. Before any of them had even unpacked, Marktime took out his deck of cards and dealt a game of President, so all five of them could get in on it. For the next hour or so, the room was filled with all of the troops moving in and getting settled. The sounds of stallions playing cards, laughing, singing and shouting could be heard in the next barracks over.

Lieutenant Wing stepped out of his office just as Reelin shouted, “Looks like I win this round!”

The room fell awkwardly quiet at that point, causing Reelin to blush slightly in embarrassment. Everyone looked on to Lieutenant Wing who carried a clipboard with a list of names and a large envelope. He directed them out on to the parade square where he had them form up, and took his place in front of the squad.

Reading off of the clipboard, Lieutenant Wing began. “Will the following Privates please fall out and come to the front.”

Macintosh hardly paid attention to the list of names because he was a little tired from the bus ride over. He had slept, but it was not a very restful sleep. It was the kind of sleep where he was still slightly conscious. He had never been very good at sleeping on any kind of long trip.

“-and Private Macintosh.” Wing finished.

Macintosh, out of pure habit, came to attention and called out “Sir!”. He marched up to the front and fell in with the rest of the stallions called up, including Splintstitch. There were five others. They all saluted at once and waited to hear what this was all about. He reached into the envelope and pulled something out, Macintosh couldn't tell what it was without looking at it.

The Lieutenant handed whatever it was to the first Private with a congratulatory hoofshake. He moved over to the next stallion, and the next, until he came to Macintosh. Now he knew what it was all about. In the Lieutenant's hoof was a pair of chevrons with a crown on top.

“Congratulations, Master Corporal Macintosh. You've earned this.” He smiled as he handed over the new rank. Macintosh accepted it as well as the hoofshake to follow it.

This was almost too much for the Master Corporal. Only the day before he had received his jump wings, and now a double promotion. He hardly heard the rest of his comrades clapping for him and the others promoted. Splintstitch had received a promotion to Corporal. They all saluted and fell back into the squad.

“From now on, those promoted will be the first and second in command of each squad.” The Lieutenant stated, looking over the crowd. “I had to make the choice quick, but I hope I made it correctly. Do not make me regret promoting you. Dismissed.”

As they finished their dismissal, the promoted stallions were offered hoofshakes from those in their squads. They quickly returned to the barracks' they now called home. Macintosh wanted so much to call Granny and tell her the good news, but was too concerned with sewing his rank on to his uniform. Splintstitch offered to sew it for him, seeing as he was a medic and a unicorn. But M Cpl. Macintosh said no because he felt it wouldn't be right for a squad commander make his second in command do his sewing for him. He did it himself, though it wasn't perfect.

For the next few weeks, the stallions continued drills and training under the command of their CO and the new squad commanders. Topnotch was sore that he hadn't been promoted, though he didn't say it out loud. He kept his aggression bottled up. The marches were replaced with running again, so they would stay in shape. It was almost as if they had never left training. The days were boring and droning, until that warm day near the end of summer. The slow transition to fall had already begun and there were hints in the air. The trees had not begun to turn yet, but there was a chill in the air. It was light, but unmistakable. The troops had been there only few weeks, and there they stood. Like on the day they had arrived, they stood silently on the parade square, the entire 761 Airborne. Lieutenant CogWing stood as he so often had, before them with a clipboard in his hooves. He was preparing to give an announcement.

“Gentlemen.” He cleared his throat. “I am here to inform you that I have received out first mission orders.” He paused. “We are moving out for our first mission tomorrow night. Under cover of darkness and by the light of the full moon, we are to drop into the Zebra Republic. It has come to the military's attention that Koren will not surrender for anything less than the storming of his capital. So, our mission is to drop to a small village a few miles away from the capital and make our way from there. The heavy anti-air guns in the capital make it nearly impossible to mount an airdrop there. Hopefully, with your training and no small amount of luck, we will reach the capital and General Koren within a week from tomorrow, and will be able to finish this war before it really gets rolling.” Lieutenant Wing removed his beret. “I will not be able to accompany you. However, there are some Airborne officers that will be dropping in with you. You will have their experience and expertise to rely on. I hope... I pray... That you will all return to Equestria within a few weeks.” He replaced his beret on his head and saluted the squads formed up before him. “Thank you for your service. Give 'em hell 761!”

The parade square erupted into cheers and shouts and the troops chanting “761” to the cadence they had the night before. This was it, they were going to make their mark on the world, and in history. They moved out tomorrow, and if they returned, they would not be the same ever again. They set out to make the world a better place, and defend their homeland. Macintosh wasn't sure he was ready. He had done all of his training, and done it well. But this was war. He had to lead the stallions behind him into open combat, not knowing if he or any of them would even come back. But the cheers and chanting gave him hope. It gave him courage. If these stallions were going to go feet first into Hell, than he would go along with them. He was no coward. He was no sellout. He was a proud Soldier of 761 Airborne Company, and he would prove it.

That night in the barracks, he found it hard to sleep, like he had when he had forgotten to call Granny and Applejack back on the first Sunday of training. However, this time, it was more than that. He decided that he would call them in the morning to tell them where he was going, and why. He would have called that day, but he needed to find the words. He didn't just want to pick up the phone and say “Hey Granny, I'm going to war tomorrow.” Macintosh needed to be delicate. He needed to say it correctly. Macintosh spent most of the night running through several possible phone calls home, how they would go. Would they be happy? Proud? Surprised? Scared? Would they cry?

There were too many variables, and he could hardly think straight by about midnight. He knew no one else would be sleeping, but he didn't want to talk to anyone in case some of them could sleep. He finally dozed off with worry and fear on his mind, and it didn't sit well.

There he was, dropping feet first into the unknown country. He heard gunshots already in the distance as the local police force noticed the great flying machines overhead. It was just like in the propaganda films, the Zebras were savages. Teeth bared, guns blazing, eyes red as fire, they came charging into the field where 761 dropped like flies. To the Zebras, it was like shooting fish in a barrel since the parachutists couldn't fire back. It was too difficult for them to aim while still having to attempt to control where they fell. Macintosh heard gunshots closer now as he neared the ground. He could already see where stallions had hit the ground and met with their grim fate all at once.

Mac tucked and rolled onto the ground and unhooked his harness from his parachute. As soon as he was free, he took out his pistol and began to defend the other parachutists above him. But there were so many of them. The Zebras were like ants, swarming out of anywhere and everywhere. He saw one in the distance charging at him. The distance closed in what seemed like seconds, and Mac failed to land a single shot on the monochromatic creature.

The Zebra tackled him to the ground, knocking his gun away and holding a knife to his throat. Macintosh felt true fear at that point.

“How's your sister doing?” The Zebra hissed through clenched teeth. “And Granny?”

Macintosh felt more scared than he had before and just as the knife was closing in on his neck-

“Help!” Macintosh shouted as he sat up in bed. He was so startled that he hit his head off of the bunk above him and fell back, cradling his head in his hooves. No harm done, he looked around him. The room was still and quiet as the sun was seen just peaking over the horizon and illuminating the windows.

As he pulled his shaking hooves off of his head, he assessed the situation. Only a dream? It was so realistic, he thought. His heart pounded in his chest and his mane was soaked in sweat.

“Just a dream.” Macintosh told himself as he turned over and lay still. “Just a dream.”

Author's Note

Well, that was a long one. A lot happened, but I think it flows alright. If there are any comments or questions, please ask.
-Cog out.