Wolfhound: Secret Heroes

After we got back, we unloaded everyone and everything. When we were done, Allen practically quarantined all of the new people – except for Sarah – into one of the unused barracks. He and Sarah went into his office to radio Celestia and explain what just happened.

Jackson and I went inside with Sarah’s squad and talked with the marksmen. Jackie, Leon, and Amber were guarding outside.

The marksman I was talking to was named Crystal Ranger. He claimed to have sniper training, but preferred to just be an in-the-field marksman. “I grew up with Sarah.” He said. “She’s a great person, and a good leader, too.”

“Nothing more? You two seemed pretty close.”

“We grew up together. I’m not interested in her romantically, if that’s what you’re saying. She's a friend, but I don’t think I’d ever consider her as a romantic companion. Plus, I don't think she's looking for something like that.”

"Oh!" My eyes widened. "I wasn't trying to scope her out, or anything!"

"Eh," Ranger shrugged, "you're fine."

“...So, how’d you all end up deciding to… defect?”

Ranger sighed. “Well, we were on an op, out at the edge of Equestria. We were basically doing a search-and-destroy. Kind of like the Attack on Canterlot, but specific targets. An assassination. Good job there, in Canterlot, by the way.”

I nodded my thanks, and motioned for him to continue.

“Well, we were searching the local governor’s house for him. He was our final target. At one point, I spotted an official document. It pretty much detailed most of our ops the past year. I read it, and I pieced together what we were actually doing. Unfortunately, it was too late to stop our own operation from being a success. We’d gotten all of our targets. When we got back to our base, we scrounged around, trying to trace anything we had on you guys. It wasn’t much. You basically appeared in Canterlot, and decimated our-…their guys.”

“Well, it was pretty much our first op there, yeah. Unless you include taking this base. But back then we were actually under orders.”

“Huh. Anyways, eventually, we figured out your location. It took a whole month, and it was still half guess-work.”

I chuckled. “We do keep a low profile.”

He barked out a laugh, and then resumed. “It was the not checking in that did it. It was around the same time as the Attack, that the replies stopped. Plus, the squads that were sent there never checked back. It was like they went off the map and disappeared. We guessed it was you guys. We broadcasted, and luckily, your commander was listening in.”

“So, you pretty much figured us out, called us, and we picked up?”

“Yep. Good job sneaking in, by the way. Had no clue you were even there, yet.”

I laughed. “Yeah, we’re just careful with our operating.”

He laughed back. “'Careful?' I guess!”

I was warming up to him, and vice versa. Just then, Allen and Sarah barged in.

“Alright,” Sarah said loudly, getting everyone’s attention, “We’re all heading back to Canterlot for debriefing by the Princess herself! Allen here has offered positions in Wolfhound for any that want to join. Otherwise, it’s either the Elite Guard or a civilian life in Cloudsdale or Manehattan. We’re getting on the train to Canterlot in five! Think about your choices, and after the debriefing, confer with either me or Allen.... Yes?”

A hoof had been raised in the back. “What’d you choose?”

“Wolfhound. But don’t let that affect your decision.”

After a few seconds of silence, Allen spoke up. “Dismissed.”

Everyone filed out. The defectors dropped off their gear in the Armory, and then got on the train. Allen and Jackson followed. Everyone else saw them off.

As the train was starting to move, Leon came up to me. Quietly, he said, “Hey, can I talk to you, in a while? In private?”

“Uh, sure.” I replied, curious.

We all continued to watch the train until it had become a dot in the distance, then we all walked back to base.