The Dawn Protocol

by Mr Ignorable

Rating: everyone
Tags: Dark, Adventure
Length: 7116

Celestia is dead, while there is no evidence to back up the theory. Though, there have been wild allegations of foul play.

The Lunar Movement, a faction headed by Princess Luna herself advocating for the now empty throne, is hammering at Equestria from all sides, openly protesting and calling for reform. The Rising Sun, a zealot group of Celestia worshippers have taken to the streets, openly rioting and confronting any LMrs (Lunar Movement) And the icing on the proverbial cake is a message found in the murdered Sun Monarch's room cryptically referring to something called 'the Dawn Protocol'.

It's a bloodbath. And Commander In Chief Twilight Sparkle is up the creak without a paddle. So it's time to reassemble a group of some of the finest mares and stallions the nation has ever had the honor of dishonorably discharging.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-04-08 02:38:27 UTC

Prologue: Dire situations and Dossiers

Twilight held her face in her hooves as she sighed in deep exhaustion. It had been 3 months since the alleged assassination of Princess Celestia, and all was not going well.

The massive dark oak doors to the office opened.

"Twilight? Bad news."

Twilight looked up and stared at her head of Intelligence. "The LM at it again?" She asked plaintively, there was no need for common courtesy, especially during times like these.

"Protests and riots in Griffon Kingdom. They're backing away from this as fast as they can." Replied Rarity, her beautifully spiraled mane was haggard and spread in all directions, frayed with obvious stress.

"Not even 3 months and she's at it again." Replied Twilight smacking her head lightly against the table. Running a nation had taken a tole on the once vibrant mare. Then again, that was the price to pay. That was the price they all paid.

"That's not it. The Zealots are kicking the shit up as well. They're going wild over the footage leaked to the media. And I've got to say. I don't blame them. Hell the whole countries gone to shit Twilight." Replied Rarity, her prudent and graceful ways had been thrown right out the window as soon as this case broke. It was one of the traits Twilight most admired about her. While most of her friends would shrink in the face of danger, Rarity would be willing to take it head on.

"Frankly I don't see how this could get any better. The LM is gaining steam, and fast. More and more ponies are becoming increasingly wary of the damn Zealots, that's pushing them into the LM's hooves. And The LM is discrediting and slandering our armed forces. Saying they're moving too slow. And their right, Trottingham, Fillydelphia, and Prance have been hit hard in the last couple weeks."

Rarity took a seat opposite of Twilight.

"And that's making the masses more careful and less trusting, ergo, they're heading over to 'the dark side'." Said Rarity with a snarky and tired tone. 'The dark side' was an affectionate nickname coined by Rarity after Luna's dark symbolism.

Twilight whipped a hoof down her face as she sighed heavily. Rarity was right. With less and less ponies backing the now failing Sun Monarch backed state, open bloodshed in the streets and the rioting prompted by the violence played out in a never ending loop.

"What do you suggest doing about it? You know that if we go after the LM it's just going to retaliate. We have no hard evidence linking them to crimes. Most of the madness happening on the ground is due to murders and homicides. And because of those individual acts, the LM takes to the streets."

Rarity had stood up and was now pacing.

"The bullshit thing is we can't nail the Zealots who i'm pretty sure are committing these acts, they move around too much and we haven't heard anything from the teams we sent undercover. They've gone dark Twilight." Rarity was scowling fiercely.

"If we try and move against either side, one is going to slaughter us. That plus parliament is motioning for direct armed forces intervention." She growled fiercely. "I swear Fluttershy better reign in those pampered old crows before this becomes too messy." She sighed.

Twilight closed her eyes and rocked gently for a minute or two. Internally debating which options were available.

"What you do suggest." She asked calmly and quietly.

She heard Rarity stop pacing.

"We need a task force. Something small, something covert. And something deniable. We need ex-soldiers." She stated grimly.

Twilight stopped rocking for a moment.

"And what if this broke? There are only 4 agents which have ever been kicked out of the armed forces. All for different counts ranging from extreme mental illness verging on psychopathic, to friendly fire. These are the literal screwballs and nutjobs Rarity. And your asking me to task them with something of National Importance?" She stated the last part with extreme emphasis.

"Twilight, our forces are frozen. Our overseas assets are dwindling FAST. Any and all action taken by the state is liable to cause some sort of mayhem and havoc. Twilight. Desperate times call for desperate measures."

Rarity slammed her hooves on the mahogany desk. Twilight didn't flinch, but instead met Rarity's gaze evenly.

"Who do you suggest?" She asked. Rarity smiled wryly as she levitated over 4 dossiers.

Twilight inhaled deeply as she took the first one.

"Name. Scootaloo."

"BIG BIRD WE ARE HAMMERED SHIT IF WE DO NOT GET SOME TYPE OF SUPPORT!" Gunfire roaring overhead, ears ringing from cannon volleys and the screech of Fighters.

"Hold steady red 1. Help is on the way. E.T.A 10 minutes."

The moans of wounded brothers and sisters. Frustration.

"WE DON'T FUCKING HAVE 10 MINUTES. IF WE DON'T GET HELP ASAP WE ARE FUCKED, FUCKED SIDEWAYS WITH A RAKE DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!?" She screamed into the radio. There was static for a minute.

"Roger. Help is on the way."

Relief.

"ICBM!!!!!!!"

White.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Somewhere in New Mane City

Gasping for air, Scootaloo bolted straight up in her bed. "Fuck." She hissed whipping away sweat and eye sand. Making her way to the bathroom, she turned on the tap and stared at her reflection in the dingy mirror. After several minutes, she shook her head and splashed water onto her face from the pool of water sitting in the sink. Slowly, she made her way back to the bed and fetched her M1911. Striped it to it's basic constructs, cleaned out the firing chamber, magazine, checked the firing pin and hammer, whipped down each and every component, and finally reassembled and reloaded it.

With the satisfying sound of the bullets sliding into place, she turned her attention to her bedside stand. On it was a single note.

Name-Sigmund Miles.

Location-New Mane City Archives and Public Library, 45 and Fetlock Ave.

Mission- Elimination

She picked it up and went over to the kitchen, placing the note on the burner, she let it fry as she memorized the location. "Wetwork." She thought dimly throwing on a leather jacket to hide the weapon.

Had to pay the bills somehow.

====================================

Equestria Central Intelligence- interrogation room 1194. Location, unknown.

Kevlar stood rock solid by the titanium door. The only noise was the annoying hum of the fluorescent overhanging lamps. Even though his face showed professional calm. His insides were telling him to run. Behind the metal door, he head murmuring and the occasional agony wracked scream, and....chuckling.

"Wonder what he's doing back there." Asked his companion, Body Armor.

"I don't know, probably some fucked up shit is what." He replied grumbling. And in fact, he didn't' want to know.

The occasional smatter of spanish spat by the suspect, a Maresican Drug Lord captured in a raid.

"Seriously though, did they really have to call him in?" Asked the still curious azure stallion. Kevlar simply shook his steel grey mane.

"Well, this one's a tough nut I heard." He replied, his eyes never straying from the single spot on the wall.

Another scream.

".....Guess that's why they call him the barber from hell." Muttered Body Armor.

Suddenly, the door flew open and out walked the interrogator, calmly whipping his blood soaked apron and scissors.

"Snips sir." Replied Kevlar swiftly saluting him. Kevlar did the same and walked in the room.

"I must say, I haven't had the....pleasure of working on a pig before. That was most.....invigorating." He said, it the words sounded so wrong coming from the man but Kevlar said nothing.

"OH MY FAUST! WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?" Shouted Body Armor running back out, he was covered in blood from head to toe.

Snips calmly turned around. A cold, sadistic smile on his face.

"I made him squeal."

==========================================

Southeast Stalliongrad. Pулетка Bar.

Pipsqueak took a long drag on his cigar and blew into the dimly lit bar. All around him ponies chattered in Slavic languages. Currently however, he was posing as Michaelov. A Black Market Arms Broker. He was seated in a booth, surrounding him were some of Stalliongrad's worst. High level drug dealers, Gang Leaders, Para-military commanders wanted across Continents. This was a den of sharks if ever there was one.

Sitting at the nook of the booth, directly across from him. Was his prime target.

"Где оружие?"

[Where are the weapons?]

The man's name was Vladislav. Wanted for genocide, murder, money laundering, bribery, rape, tax and law evasion, and lollygagging.

Months of underground co-operation with the CRGO (Covert Royal Guard Ops.) The work was hard, but the payoff would be grande. About 5 grand and amnesty, both of which he needed bad.

"Дайте ему неделю работы он медленно Потому преследований из гос."

[Give it a week, work's been slow cuz of crackdown from the gov.]

Pipsqueak calmly took a sip of his red wine as the man across from him frowned sternly.

Vladislav clicked his tongue and reached for his vodka.

"Вы сделали то же самое обещание на прошлой неделе."

[You made the same promise last week.]

Pipsqueak knew he was playing with fire. Vladislav was most likely beginning to suspect him. And Pipsqueak had seen and heard first hoof what this man did to ponies he suspected.

"Ну на прошлой неделе у нас не было этого сообщения"

[Well last week we didn't have that message]

Vladislav grunted acknowledgment as he lazily took a drag on his vodka. Outside Pipsqueak held his disguise, inside he sighed with relief.

And then Vladislav looked him dead in the eye, his were ablaze with anger.

"Ну сделка сделка"

[Well a deal was a deal]

Pipsqueak knew what as coming. Time slowed as Vladislav tried pulling his Makarov from a shoulder holster. Pipsqueak merely sighed and shook his head lightly. "When will they ever learn?" He asked internally as he reacted with lightning speed, firing his Browning Hi-powered from underneath the table, it was angled so the bullet would have a straight shot to the man sitting opposite should he chose to stand.

As soon as he did, the bar exploded. Half of the ponies sitting around the booth began pulling out guns, the other half began desperately scrambling out of their chairs.

"YOU! WHO ARE YOU?!?" Screamed one as he pretty much scaled the side of the booth. Pipsqueak merely sighed as he pulled a flashbang from his coat pocket while simultaneously flipping the table.

"The finest officer to ever be dismissed from her royal service!" He shouted, and everything went white.

==============================================

Somewhere in the Ponynam jungle

"YEAH! GET SOME!" Dinky shouted as the roar of machine gun fire blasted the serene quiet to shreds.

"Hooves! Get back into cover!" Her commander shouted from her mic. Dinky merely ignored him as she continued to light up the gook settlement with her M60.

Her company was currently fulfilling a contract for the Poniese government and eliminating a batch of bandits who had been crossing the border into Zebracon and Muleland. Stealing, maiming, killing, and taking for ransom as well as a whole host of drug work and bookkeeping ops.

Time these suckers payed. Moving from tree to tree, she closed the gap between the now thinning forest, and the hard compact red earth that marked the village border. From the small grass and mud houses, the bandits fired back, the roar of small arms and  machine gun fire ripped through the ground and bushes where her team was currently taking cover.

"Dammit Whooves! Alright! Since Dinks has now so utterly FUBAR'd our operation, GIVE EM HELL!" Shouted the commander from her radio, she had to smile as a roar raised up from the jungle. Instantly hundreds of paramilitary stormed up from the jungle and bum rushed the settlement, probably causing the Bandits to shit bricks.

With the team at her back, she raced across the open ground, directly headrushing the firing bandits. Using her magic to create a shield, she pushed on, smashing through the wooden wall of a hut where 3 of the enemy were hiding. Almost without effort she riddled the first one with bullets, drew a throwing knife and nailed the second one between the eyes, and smacked the 3rd one so hard his skull indented, instantly killing the brain.

With those three dead, she turned her attention to the rest of the village which had gone dark for some odd reason.

And then she heard it.

The telltale whirring of rotor blades.

"SHIT! APACHE!" Someone shouted from outside.

  She dove out of the house seconds before rockets ripped it apart.

"NO SHIT SHERLOCK!" She shouted back, the ground around her being pelted with rockets, mortars, and bullets.

"Ohohoho fuck. This day just keeps getting better and better."

=================================================

Twilight slowly closed the last portfolio as she also closed her eyes.

"So what do you think?" Asked Rarity, hope in her voice.

"I think Equestria's fucked."

Chapter 1: Hidden Agendas

-Static

Greetings my little ponies. If you are watching this, then you know that a most unfortunate fate has befallen me.

-Silence.

In the event of my passing, know this. Long ago, when the land was still in chaos, and Ponykind was in the midst of turmoil and my sister rose up in her revolt, I enacted a protocol that could spell disaster. For our nation here and now.

-Stares straight into camera

I forged a weapon from the elements of Harmony. Something so powerful that it would eradicate all forms of life if ever Discord or Nightmare Moon took power. A weapon that actives as soon as I....pass. I...I am sorry my little ponies. It was a foolish decision, one that I regret to this day. For this weapon is too powerful and too deadly to be dismantled. And it's whereabouts are unknown since I banished it from my memory to keep it from falling into enemy hooves. Know this however.

-pause.

In the direst of situations, the dawning of the sun will herald the end of days. That my little ponies. Is the Dawn Protocol.

Twilight clicked off the small T.V. For a minute she sat in her chair, all around her godrays peeked through the closed curtains. "What the hell did she mean? The sun will herald the end of days?" She slammed her hoof down in frustration.

"And It's been 3 months since her death. What did she mean it would activate as soon as she passed?" She furrowed her eyebrows in concentration.

While it was true that the sun monarch was dead, a bullet in the eye does that.

She reached over and dialed a number.

"Yes Ms. Sparkle?" Asked a voice on the other line.

"Tell Rarity.....mission is a go." She said, she was trusting her gut with this one.

=======================================================

Somewhere within the ECI (Equestria Central Intelligence) base- Canterlot

"F..fuck." Kelvar backed up slowly clutching his torso, a deep puncture oozed blood as he tried desperately crawling back, and away from him.

"I knew it. Celestia as my witness I knew it." He coughed as the blood in his ruptured abdominal began pushing up his diaphragm, blood began oozing into his lungs, and eventually his throat.

"You crazy sun worshiping son of a bitch!" He coughed up blood as the stallion slowly moving towards him smirked slightly.

And the last thing he saw were a pair of scissors, slashing his throat open.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Outside the base, Snips made his way through the gathering crowds. Alarms founded as the security within the building finally found the dead bodies. "Took them long enough." He thought coldly, letting out a little snort of satisfaction. The first one. Oh what was his name? Body Armor! Right, he was the weaker of the two, getting the information out of him was a cinch. The second one though. Oho he was a tough cookie. Too bad he had to die with an open throat.

As he made his way through the now filling streets, he slipped into a back alley.

"Hail brother. Have you the information?" Asked a deep, gravely voice from the shadows. Snips smirked as he pulled out a small portfolio.

"Here is the information brother. Hail her gleaming majesty." He replied as he slipped the sensitive information into waiting hooves.

After he felt the documents lift off his hooves, he took a deep breath as he exited the alleyway. "Oh it always feels good doing double duty." He chuckled mirthlessly.

*Bzzt Bzzt*

He reached down into his bloody apron's pocket and pulled out his cellphone. "Well this is a surprise. Not many ponies know my number." He muttered warily. He always made a point to make as few friends as possible. That way, nopony could identify him as a suspect. His memory would always allude them. The same rule applied to the cellphone.

Clicking it, he put it up to his ear. "Yes, Snips speaking." He said in his most charming voice, a hint of caution in his voice. A slip-up.

"Well well. If it isn't the barber from hell. Up to no good I see?" His eyes widened a fraction. Not many ponies knew who he was, even less knew that nickname. Even fewer knew what he truly did.

"Ah. Rarity dear, it's always such a pleasure." He said, his voice as smooth as a snake's.

"Save it Snips. I know what you did. And if you try anything, I'll have the army and the local police on you. And they still haven't forgotten about the Follier Incident." She rebutted in her most severe tone.

Snips knew he was being black-mailed. "A cardinal virtue for all aspiring spies." He thought wryly quoting an  old friend.

"Alright then. You have my attention....Mrs. Rarity." He replied putting particular emphasis on her title."

He could almost feel her grimace. "Your country needs your help Snips." She said, her tone failing to hide both her exhaustion and her defeat. He smiled.

"What can I do?"

=============================================

Stalliongrad-Pулетка Bar

Pipsqueak leaned against the steetlamp for a moment, savoring the bitter cold of the freezing Stalliongrad air. Across the street, the bar was aflame as firefighters desperately tried combatting the flames to no effect. Smiling at his handiwork, he slipped into the shadow of an adjacent Alleyway as he made his way down, and away from the scene. "Mission Accomplished, scot-free jail pass. Here I come." He chuckled. A bitter breeze chilled him to the bone as soon as he stepped out from the relative protective embrace of the alleyeway and onto the street proper.

"Hated these outer lying cities anyway." He muttered pulling his fur jacket closer. It was time to head back to the palace of Queen Gilda the 5th and claim his reward.

But first.

Pipsqueak walked forward, calmly scanning the empty sidewalks with his peripheral vision for any unwanted shadows or tails. After walking a 1/4 of the block, and satisfied with the fact that there was nopony out and about at 3 in the morning, he made his way to seemingly ordinary news stand. Inside was a single mare, leafing through a newspaper with a cigar firmly held by her teeth.

"Is it done?" She asked, her voice hoarse due to years of cigarette abuse.

"Yup. I've got the Agent." He replied smirking. His primary objective hadn't been Vladislav, no he could have easily tracked him down anytime. It was the bar itself. The Lunar Movement had word that it was being used by the Sun Worshipping Bigots as a headquarters of sorts. Gathering incriminating information about.....the LM's black book.

His actual mission was to destroy the bar, and all the evidence gathered.

"Hmmph." Said the mare behind the counter.

"Good work boy. Your payment." She said, reaching below the counter and sliding across a bulging portfolio. Eyeing it questioningly, he opened it. To reveal it brimming with bits.

He whistled in appreciation. "Wow, Luna must've been worried about this dirty little secret." He joked.

"That's not all." She said and she once again reached behind the counter, pulling out one P.08 Luger along with 5 clips of ammo.

Pipsqueak's eyes went wide as he gingerly took the pistol in his hooves. "Where did you get this?" He asked smiling, he tested out the scope, took out the empty magazine and peered into the empty hole.

"A little something from the Princess herself. Says you earned it. I have to agree." The old mare smiled kindly as he played with the pistol, sliding the mags in and out, trying the firing mechanism (safety on of course) and aiming down the sites.

"Back to business." She suddenly said, whipping the little smile off. Pipsqueak stowed the pistol away as he looked her dead in the eye.

"We've just got word from some inside sources that the Mare is gearing up to go hunt down something called the Dawn Protocol."

Pispqueak raised an eyebrow. "So what does the Princess want me to do about it?" Pipsqueak was more of the wetwork agent. The talker, the distractor, and the good looking one.

"Word's gotten out that the Mare's putting together a group to hunt this thing down. The Princess wants you ta get yourself on that team." She said plaintively.

Pispqueak inhaled deeply and exasperatedly.  "That mare. Never misses a chance to work me to the bone ey?" He joked. This drew a smile from the mare.

Suddenly his phone began ringing. With a questioning glance, he picked it up and clicked it on.

"Pipsqueak speaking. How may I help you?" He asked.

"Been a while pip." Replied an all too familiar voice. Pipsqueak had to smile at the sheer cosmic irony of it all.

"Rarity! What a surprise! So, tell me, does the ECI need some wetwork? Something deniable to keep blood off their  pristine hooves?"

He asked sarcastically.

"Well actually yes. And we need you Pip." She replied. Pipsqueak barked a hard laugh.

"In case you haven't noticed, I'm kind on the run Rare." He replied casually. He knew that name always infuriated the white mare.

"Amnesty, and a reward for your services." She replied. Pipsqueak hmm'd in amusement.

"Always know exactly where to hit em' ey?" He replied. "Alright then. What're we talking?"

"3 grand." She replied hastily. Pipsqueak sucked through his teeth.

"Ah, gonna have to do better than that. See, the big bad birds offered me the same thing. And they're paying a bit more." He replied bidding a silent goodbye to the street vendor and walking towards the grand palace.

"10 grand, amnesty, and anonymity." She replied. By now he had made his way to the steps, and her offer came right as he was about to step inside.

He smiled as he slowly turned and walked down the steps.

"You've got yourself a deal." He said with finality, closing his flip-phone.

==================================================================

South Ponynam Jungle-Location unknown

Dinky sighed as she sat on a rotten log. All around her was the utter destruction brought on by a fire fight. Homes were destroyed, the handiwork of explosives, dead bodies now covered in flies littered the premise.

She sat, sweating as she gazed into the sky, drinking in the peaceful silence the jungle offered. Off to her left, the remnants of the Apache were still ablaze, too far from any vegetation, but still too close for any real comfort. The rotor blades spun, now due more to inertia rather than any power.

Nopony but herself had survived the onslaught and resulting fight. But then again, that's why she was hired by the company commander in the first place.

"WHOOVES! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED OVER THERE?!?" She heard shouting over the radio. Sighing, she reached down and received the incoming transmission from her hoofheld radio.

"Oh nothing, just took a sunday morning stroll and said hi to the natives." She replied sarcastically.

"HOOVES YOU TOOK SOME OF MY BEST MEN! YOU JUMPED THE DAMN GUN AND NOW LOOK WHAT HAPPENED! I SWEAR TO CELESTIA I'LL HAVE YOUR HEAD FOR THIS!"

Dinky stopped paying attention halfway through the tirade.

"Well, better head off I guess." She said to no one in particular as she picked a path and headed off. Better get away while there was still time.

As she walked through the jungle, the radio continued to play the angry captain's message.

"Ah dammit, how do you work this stupid thing?" Dinky cursed as she fiddled with the various knobs and such until finally she heard the blissful jungle silence once again.

"Dinky? Dinky do you read me? Dinky?" Dinky looked down at the infernal radio.

"Ah dammit, I thought I turned this thing off." Picking it up and pressing the receiver again, she pressed the receiver. "Yeah? Waddya want?" She didn't even make and attempt to mask her irritation. A firefight does that to ya.

"Dinky this is Rainbow Dash." Replied the voice on the other end.

Dinky stopped for a minute.

"Well well well, if it isn't General Dash! Glad ya could drop by and visit. Been awefully lonely without ya." She said sardonically. She heard a deep sigh on the other end.

"Look. Rarity asked me to find you. Something about stopping the Dawn Proto-thingy." She heard the plaintive plea in her ex-CO's voice.

"K. So what's yer offer?" She asked, chewing a leaf she had found on a plant.

"All 2 years of your pay?"

"No need for money." She shot back.

"Amnesty and lift of manehunt?"

"Nah, I'm nice and safe out here. 'Sides, I don't mix too well with others." She replied.

"Reinstatement and full perks?"

Dinky grinned.

"Now yer talkin' my language."

============================================================================

"DOWN WITH THE MACHINE! LET THE NIGHT RULE! DOWN WITH THE MACHINE! LET THE NIGHT RULE!" Scootaloo pushed her way through the surging crowd of demonstrators.

Currently she was traveling down Fetlock Ave, just a couple blocks away from the aforementioned building when the demonstrations had broken out. Now she was just one of many surging bodies just trying to move forward.

"Frikking hippies." She muttered, barely able to hear her own voice over the shouting of others. After the seemingly endless waves upon waves of angry ponies, she finally stumbled upon the sidewalk proper.

The Public Archives stood like a massive Pantheon. The marble column supporting the massive front of the ancient building.  But that's now what caught her eye. What caught her eye was the literal FUCK TON of guards stationed outside. Standard M16's drawn and idling as they warily eyed the crowd of protesters.

"Oh what the hell." She muttered as she stepped up and began walking the restricted steps.

"Hey you! Miss! Stop right there!" One of the armed policemen shouted running up from behind.

"Yeah that's right you stupid fuck, just a little closer." She muttered spitefully in her head. This day was just getting better and better.

As soon as he was in touching distance, she bucked her back legs, catching him across the face. He reared up in shock, she spun 180 and punched him in the kidney, lung, and Larynx in quick succession, crushing the throat and condemning him to death by asphyxiation.

"He's dead! Open fire!" She heard shouting. Acting quickly, she drew her M1911 and shot the shouting guard. The pistol coughed quietly as she let out a quick three-round burst. One  bullet hit him in the lower jaw while the other two sailed through his head, emerging as blood splatters on the other side.

As soon as he went down, three more took his place, crouching as they returned fire in accurate 3-round bursts. Reacting quickly, Scootaloo dove for cover as the world erupted.

The demonstrators flew into a rage at the sudden violence. They surged forward, turning a firefight into a killing floor. The guards panicked and began firing into the crowd.

Scootaloo smiled. "Perfect" She thought as she ducked low and ran into the crowd, using the pandemonium as cover.

As soon as he made her way through security, she slipped through the building and hid behind a nearby pillar, just out of sight.

"C'mon! Get a move on you lot!" She heard orders being given as the remainder of the guards rushed out to assist their brothers. As soon as she heard the hoofsteps recede, she moved into the open.

The whole building was deserted as she made her way through. Evidently the usual employees had been removed from the building as the threat of rioting had escalated. So that hopefully left Scootaloo and her target. The hit notice had been very vague, so she had done some researching of her own. Finding out that Sigmund was actually a local who frequented the library. Or that was what it said on the outside.

Scootaloo, having been part of CLASSIFIED had access to things that most ponies, from mere citizens to high ranking politicians didn't. Including files that were better left unseen.

Sigmund Miles was actually the son of the Griffon Ambassador staying in New Mane city to quote un quote "explore the Equestrian way". So somebody high-up wanted him dead. And she was willing that the same pony would dole out the big bucks.

She passed down hallway after hallway searching for one in particular. She had information on the guy ranging from birth certificates to who he dated. And from the vast spades of knowledge she was able to dig up, she found he was more a history kinda guy. So he was going to be where most history geeks went. The Historical Documentation section.

After walking for about 25 minutes and through a maze of staircases. She found herself at the right address, courtesy of the fact that 'Historical Documentation' was written in all capitals.

"Alright, let's get this done." She muttered, kicking the door in and disturbing one very large griffon.

"What the devil do you think you're doing?!?" He shouted, instantly the 4 guards accompanying him clicked off their safeties and zeroed in on her.

"Oh nothing." She grinned taking out a homemade flashbang. "Just passing through." She said throwing it down. Instantly a loud BANG! Followed by a shrill afternoise disrupted the assembled party, all except Scootaloo who had brought along ear-plugs.

"WHERE THE HELL IS SHE?!?" Asked one covering his eyes in an attempt to get rid of the searing white after image.

Scootaloo didn't even give him the courtesy of the answer as she snapped his neck. Taking out her M1911, she fired 3 carefully aimed shots, each one hitting the remaining three guards in the heads.

The main target however, the griffon, lay groaning on the ground. Scootaloo clucked her tongue as she stood over him.

"And I thought griffons were supposed to be tougher." She said, she held the pistol directly over his head, and was about to fire when the doors on the opposite side of the room burst open, instantly the room was flooded with heavily armed SWAT ponies, all point assault rifles and shotguns at her.

"Oh what the fuck." She said plainly.

"Drop your weapon!" One shouted. she rolled her eyes and obliged.

"What else you want? Want me to drop my panties?" She asked sardonically. Instead of an answer, the swelling sea of guards parted to show the Commander In Chief of Equestria.

"Hello Scootaloo." Said Twilight Sparkle, her eyes hard and steady.

Scootaloo inhaled slowly and deeply.

"Well fuck me running. This day just keeps getting better." She sighed joking sarcastically.

Twilight simply lowered her eyes in a half-lidded stare.

"Sedate her." She said plainly.

Instantly Scootaloo felt the butt of a gun connect with her head. Searing pain followed by darkness was the last things she saw.

Meanwhile, Twilight had lit a cigarette and was currently smoking as she turned away and walked out.

"This had better work Rarity." She said to no one in particular.

(A/N: Ahaha. No one even bothers reading this.)

Chapter 2: The secret war

(A/N: Short one, but yeah)

"Hey! Pips! Long time no see!"

"Ah it's nice seeing you two Dinky. How's Nam been?"

"It's been good to me Pips, it's been good- speak of which, how'd you know I was in Nam?"

" *chuckle* Because it's the only warzone in this day and age."

Scootaloo heard very vague snatches of conversation as the world spun in vertigo.

"Oh! Is that who I think it is? Snips?! How have you been?"

"Oh I've been fine Pipsqueak, neither here nor there to be exact."

"Oh really? Well I've been underground in 'the motherland'."

"Big deal, I've been torturing and extracting information for the government from ponies you thought were too big to get burned."

With a pounding headache and a resurgence of unpleasant memories from before her little rendezvous with unconsciousness, Scootaloo didn't exactly want to 'hear' this.

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"Ladies! Can we please save the dick-whipping contest for another time?" Everybody present turned to the one who had spoken. Currently, the group of about 6 ponies including Commander in Chief Twilight Sparkle, and Director of ECI, Rarity were holed up in a bunker, waiting for the 'Archives Incident' as the press so delicately put it, to blow over.

The Lunar Movement blasted the sudden intervention of the armed forces saying that "they intervened for their own purposes and not to help the good citizens caught up in the riot" even if the 'good citizens' were the rioters.

"Glad to see you with us agent Scootaloo." Twilight Sparkle calmly eyed the group of the finest, brightest, and belligerent/utterly mad minds available to Equetria.

"I won't bother with introductions since you all know and have worked with each other closely. Just know that this next mission, will call you back to arms, it will make you do things you will not WANT to do. You will face police and all those who stand and uphold the sacred law. I am granting you this ONLY ONCE for the mission. You will receive pardon for any and all crimes committed during the mission. This applies to damaged property and loss of life against ARMED personnel only. Are we clear?" Asked Twilight opening her eyes, or rather her one good eye. The other being covered by an eyepatch.

"Yes ma'am." Saluted Dinky, knocking back a bottle of AppleJack Daniels.

"Crystal Clear." Remarked Pipsqueak casually lighting up a cuban cigar.

"You have my consent." Slightly bowed Snips, his eyes dead and unfeeling.

"Fine." Said Scootaloo, everypony in the room turned to look at her, even amongst her 'friends' there was caution wrought firmly in their eyes.

"Scootaloo, listen, I know you might hate this since you were taken against your will, I need your consent. You will not harm any unarmed civilian personnel. Are we clear?" Twilight leaned forward against the table, on the opposite side, Scootaloo was strapped to a board generously loaned from a mental institution, straight jacket and face mask included.

"C'mon Scoots, it won't be that bad right? I mean how did you survive these last couple years?" Joked Pipsqueak laughing slightly at his own joke.

Everyone in the room knew it was fake because of the harshness of his voice. Even he, who had gone undercover in some of Equestria's toughest places, he who was famous in the spy underground for going and staying in дыре Gulag [the hellhole] for 4 years was scared of this mare.

"I agree to not kill anyone who doesn't hold a gun to my head if that's what your asking." Evenly stated Scootaloo staring at Twilight Sparkle, her gaze unwavering.

For a minute the two mares continued to stare at each other, locked in a game of superiority.

Finally Twilight blinked. "As long as you get it done." She said leaning back.

"No problem" said Scootaloo grunting. For a minute, everypony turned again to look at the deadliest occupant. Rarity slowly reached into her jacket and gripped her Barretta, squeezing the handle in an effort to stay calm.

"There we go." Remarked Scootaloo casually as she broke the 8 locks located at the back of the board holding her in place.

"Now about this jacket." She said grunting a bit, the group heard bones pop as she moved them out of place. The saw as she slipped out of the straight jacket, lowering and finally shimming out of the protective casing.

"Now that, that's done." She took off the mask and flicked her hair.

"What are we doing."

Twilight inhaled deeply, putting the near insurmountable, even by their standards in words the specialists would be able to swallow was going to be no easy feat.

"I assume you all have heard the message broadcast by our now passed Princess?" She began.

"Oh? She died? HAH! Snips! You owe me 50!" Remarked Dinky slapping her knee.

"Dinky this isn't the proper time nor place for such petty bets." He stated not even bothering to look at her.

Dinky however, was not having any of it. She siddled right up next to him.

"Now ah know ye ain't a man o' yer word but if ye don't pay up right here I maight have to EHEM. Break a few things." She said gently tapping his chest.

Scootaloo merely shook her head with a wry grin. Pipsqueak stifled. When Dinky meant buisness, she meant business. Often a time, Dinky put loan sharks to shame at how she punished those who didn't pay her back.

"Fine then." Calmly replied Snips reaching into his jacket and pulling out a 50.

"Thank ye kindly." She replied with a cheshire grin, storing it in her own jacket.

"Can we get back to the task at hoof if you don't mind?" Asked Rarity careful to keep a neutral voice.

"Ye...um..sorry bout that boss." Diny blushed. Scootaloo scoffed.

"Your task, is to investigate the mysterious message and solve the mystery of 'The Dawn Protocol' left behind by Celestia. Any and all means will be at your disposal.

Dinky smiled. "Well that don't sound too bad." She chirped happily. Scootaloo who had been puffing on a cigar looked up.

"What's the catch?" She asked, Twilight tilted her head.

"There are no strings attached if that's what your asking." She said calmly. Scootaloo started laughing gently.

"Twilight, the last time you sent me in, I was a Colonel in the front lines of a bloody war with Zebracons. Don't try this." She said.

Twilight began speaking but again was interrupted.

"Now, during my absence, I kept tabs on everything that's been going on, world wise that is. And I know for a fact that there are some big FUCKING strings attached."

She puffed again.

"A couple wekks back, I received word that ponies working under the LM had broken into both the Canterlot Archives, not open to the public mind you, and the Philydelphian Bureau of Classified Information, a Bureau that technically doesn't exist."

She stopped for a moment.

"Why would a movement bent on the removal of the current governmental regime be breaking into places that held information and no political or strategic markings of any kind? Simple. They were looking for information. And not just any information. Hidden information. And of all the documents stolen, there's a pattern. All documents, books, files, portfolios, all have the words Dawn in their respective titles."

She stopped and stared at Twilight who was having a very hard time hiding her surprise. Rarity as well.

"You can bet your ass their looking for this thing, which brings me to my next point. The Lunar Movement is hellbent on removing you and discrediting your efforts in any and all projects or interventions overseas and at home. If you do anything, and I repeat, ANYTHING. They will be on your ass faster than Stallions at the nearest Strip Club after 'Free BJ Tuesdays'."

Twilight heard chuckling.

"That means you need a small, undetectable, mobile, and deniable task force to get slip through the ever watchful gaze of those night loving bastards.

You need a ghost arm, something easily controllable, yet easily abortable." She finished her cigar and stomped it under hoof.

"And since we're dealing with something related to the Sun lady, we're most probably gonna be dealing with the Zealots since they're freaking everywhere in the underground these days. So"

She turned and looked at her fellow soldiers, and then at the stunned commanders.

"How did you?" Began Rarity, quickly being silenced by a  hoof to the shoulder by Twilight.

"It's why we got her Rare." She said in a resigned voice.

"The others already have incentives to participate. So now the choice is up to you." Twilight gazed evenly at Scootaloo who had started on another cigar.

"Look, I know we might be at odds over certain things, but this is for the good of the country. If the government falls apart with a looming crisis, there will be hell to pay." Said Twilight trying to persuade the unreadable mare.

"At odds is a civil way of putting it. Twilight I have reveled in the idea of killing you. Especially for what you did at the Grandam Resurgence. Since I entered this room, I could have killed you 4 ways while I was strapped up, 72 ways when I had my body free, and about 104 ways with all body parts free."

She paused before continuing.

"I couldn't give two flying fucks about what you or the nation care about. You can all burn in hell for all I care." She turned to face Dinky.

"But I made a promise a long time ago to an old friend." She turned to Snips and Pipsqueak as well.

"And I intend to honor that promise. Count me in." She said smiling.

Internally Twilight sighed in relief, with the world's most dangerous rouges on Equestria's side, there might stand a chance of the country coming out unscathed from the bloody hell it was in.

Outside however, she was still stone cold.

"Good. Your mission starts tomorrow, head out to Britail, there our allies will debrief you. We found a lead ladies and gentlemen, it is an old tome located out in the countryside, early writing on the tomb walls make a mention of 'The Dawn Protocol'. Flight leaves at 7 A.M sharp. That is all."

And with that, Rarity and Twilight left, leaving the team to it's own devices.

"Well! Might as well head off for the night! Might wanna catch some beauty sleep." Yawned Pipsqueak as he headed for his room in the underground.

"I agree. Goodnight ladies." Snips bowed and left.

Dinky and Scootaloo had other ideas however.

As Scootaloo lit up yet another cigar, Dinky turned away from her.

"So  Grandam ey?" She started.

Scootaloo smirked.