Another "Secret mission" is planned, and Captain Steelwing's one goal is to protect the Princess protege and avoid getting killed, so he plots ways to get out of it, but his schemes always land him back in the to his previous mission. Steelwing is joined by his batman Private Baldrick (Earth Pony) and idealistic twit Lieutenant Bright "Sky" Skies (Pegasus Pony). General Melchett rallies his troops from Canterlot, a thirty-five miles from Ponyville, where he is aided and abetted by his assistant, Captain Shoeshine, pencil-pusher supreme and Steelwing's nemesis.