PONIES IN ARMS-3. MARECENARIES

DATE- CLASSIFIED
TIME- IRRELEVANT

As we all continued to party and the dogs fought over the remains of the former captain my thoughts suddenly went somewhere they hadn’t been in quite some time for some reason. They went to Digger and his team in Manehatten and what they were up to and if they had any luck with the shelter or if they had to do the unthinkable and bomb it. For some reason he just crept into my mind, and I really don't know why or where the thought came from until we were all taken off guard by a train whistle. It had only been like 2 weeks since they all left for Manehatten and for some reason Smoky was coming into the station and in a hurry at that.

"Ruby I have some news that just wouldn’t be able to make it to you by mail due to the recent developments throughout Equestria and the fact that I wanted to give you this news in person. Digger is dead, killed by the Stable Tech ponies that he was going to Manehatten with, I saw them kill him. He was just minding his own business in his bunk when they attacked him, he stood no chance and they beat and threw him off the train, I hit him I tried to stop but I hit him. I had to stop the train to clean him off the front window and to give him a proper funeral, I knew he had a family and I will be going to San Franciscolt after I get done here to tell them. I don't know how to tell them that he is now gone from them but I have to I owe him that at least."

Buckshot looked at him with a fevered look, almost as though he knew Digger and wanted more information as to what had happened and asked him just why he had been killed to which he pointed at me. "As it turns out you conversation the night he took off for Manehatten was overheard, and as you know there is a lot of loyalty to not just the n.l.r but to every Tom, Dick, and Harry out there and the information he gave you is what killed him. Stable Tech has declared a basic state of war on you ponies for what you all know now and have started to actively hunt you all down." Buckshot looked at him and then to me, "What information did Digger give you and how long ago? This could change everything we have all worked for and fought for as well so I just want to know the basics of what you both talked about and whether or not we now need to go to war with Stable Tech."

"We were drunk and some things about Manehatten, Saltlick City, and Shattered Hoof Ridge. I swear that’s all it was, I don't know exactly why that would get a pony killed but obviously Stable Tech has a few skeletons in their closets that they don't want getting out, look I haven’t betrayed any of you and I never will but if this has somehow compromised anything I am sorry ok." Buckshot looked at me and told me that it wasn't what was talked about per say but the fact that we were even talking to each other. As it turned out the ponies of Stable Tech had a no contact arrangement with the n.c.e and I along with Harmony were both in the n.c.e at the time, and the other ponies had taken it as a sign that he was a traitor so they killed him no questions asked. "Kind of harsh don't you think? I mean yes we did talk, but it was really more about a possible job for Stable Tech. They need help in Saltlick City with a shelter they have lost contact with, and he was seeing if he could call on us to help out if necessary nothing really more else."

Buckshot looked over the paperwork that Smoky had collected from Diggers room after he dropped off the ponies in Manehatten, and his eyes turned a fiery red and he looked absolutely angry at what he was looking at. "Smoky are you sure this is all he had in his room and on him at the time? He is missing something I gave him about a year ago and it is not here. It was an id to Shattered Hoof Ridge, in fact it was the only one I was authorized to give away and seeing as he knew the place so well he would come by and do maintenance here and there to keep the place in top condition. I have known Digger ever since the beginning of the first war, in fact even before that we went to school together and he was the only one I trusted with that pass, now it is gone, that is not a good thing seeing as we have a non contact pact with them on Shattered Hoof Ridge, if anything goes wrong they have pretty much told us to buck off and fix it ourselves. Digger however had helped us out of a jam several times in the past ignoring that pact and helping us out anyway. He was always the type to ignore the rules and do what he felt was the right thing to do, and I knew one day it more than likely would get him killed."

"I also have some news on the major if any of you wish to hear it. He is in San Franciscolt as of now holding meetings with the rest of the n.c.e, but I have been so busy telling you about Digger that I haven't said anything yet as to why you are all in n.l.r uniforms, why is that by the way?" I told him the entire story from start t finish and when I got done Smoky looked at me then to his n.c.e stickers on the train and his patch on his shoulder and started tearing them all off and joined us. The train is still going to be used for all, but as of now I have nothing against the n.l.r for any reason what so ever. Of course you know the major will have a few words to say about this right? I mean he pretty much is the n.c.e along with the rest of his group, so when I see him next what should I say to him?" He looked at me with a puzzled look and said he would think of something seeing as he now was in the n.l.r as well.

After we all got done talking we raised a drink to the memory of Digger and Smoky had to take off for San Franciscolt to tell his family the sad news. With that the party atmosphere that had taken us all over was now shot to hell, and one could since that something was about to happen, the only trouble was that none of us knew what it was going to be.