Another Death, Another Life

Chapter 3: Into the Deep

EDFV Manehattan was not a glamorous airship. When one thinks of Manehattan, one finds themselves thinking of the wondrous city of sophistication, efficiency, and modernity. But when one sees the airship that holds the city as its namesake, on would begin to wonder if they are talking about a different Manehattan or a Manehattan in different times. Because honestly speaking, the thing was rubbish.

Staring at it as we stood at the large concrete landing pad, I saw the dozens upon dozens of multicolored patches that had been sown on its large envelope, contradicting the original grey hue it had. Covered with these patches, I began to wonder why the EDF didn’t just replace the entire canvass instead of conducting crude patch-ups. I then began to consider the thought of its flight worthiness, seeing that the shady repair jobs didn’t make it look like it could fly.

Did they really have to use this specific airship to send troops to the Badlands? Because to me, at least during the first time I saw it, it looked like the airship could barely lift itself, let alone fly with troops in it. Couldn’t they just get another one, one which actually looked safe?

Then again, I was pretty sure they couldn’t. With the current financial situation of the EDF, I was sure that all the airships of they had looked like this.

From what I would learn later, the Aerial Corps of the EDF, the one in charge of maintaining all the airships and other various flying machines, was one of the most underfunded branch in the entire force. Due to the budget cuts that had hit the EDF, because of the lessening threat of the Changelings as one hive after that other gets eradicated, the funds that the service once enjoyed was starting to lessen. Now don’t get me wrong, the EDF still gets a ton of bits to do the job, the only problem is it can only focus on one branch at a time.

With the Tunnel Corps doing the brunt of the fighting, hunting down the Changelings in their own homes, it was only natural for them to get most of the budget. Maintaining various camps and firebases, as well as keeping a large stock of enchanted armor and equipment, it was clear that the Tunnel Corps needed the budget, for it all cost a ton. But with all the bits mostly going to the Tunnel Corps, the other branches were left with nothing but the crumbs that remain. One of these branches was the Aerial Corps, which only had enough bits to barely keep their machines in the air as flying death traps.

Sure, they say that there is nothing safe in the military, but riding in one of these airships was just plain outrageous. It would probably take a disaster, or something close to that, before the Equestrian bureaucracy decide to give more funding to the EDF so that it would improve its Aerial Corps and I just hope that I won’t be involve in that disaster.

Carrying my rucksack as I made my way up the gangway, I could feel the airship bob up and down, as ponies began boarding her large bays. Now I got to say, for all its ugliness and danger, the Manehattan was pretty roomy, with a large room that was able accommodate the entire battalion. Filled with somewhat decent facilities and having enough mattresses, which were surprisingly soft, for all, the holding bay of the Manehattan was pretty luxurious. Better than our barracks, if you ask me.

But luxurious as it may be, it didn’t mean it was safe.

The hull of the bay wasn’t exactly the strongest and, as I stood in there, I could hear it eek and creek. In some areas ponies who trotted by managed to puncture holes through weak areas, earning angry glances from some members of the Manehattan’s crew, as they mutter something about fixing it by adding wooden planks on the hole.

Feeling unsafe inside the airship, I found myself constantly restless as I sat in my mattress, as if I were expecting the floor before me to collapse and drop me of the ground. It was a good thing I had wings to compensate for a sudden drop from the sky, but it still didn’t mean I was completely safe. I had this constant fear that if the floor did collapse and dropped me, one of the pieces of equipment or somepony’s rucksack would fall on my head and knock me out, essentially allowing me to fall to my death.

If I could have flown by myself I would have done it. I thought to myself, but sadly it was against regulation for a pegasus to fly solo without their unit. So instead I had to sit in the airship and wait with the others.

Throughout the entire trip I made sure that I was ready, ready for the probable disaster that might happen. Sure, the vision I had told me that the only disaster that would happen will be in the tunnels, but it was always good to be safe than sorry.

Listening to the loud humming engines of the airship and sitting in my mattress with complete paranoia, I waited as the airship made its way through the skies and to our Forward Operation Base in the Badlands.

Located on top of a large plateau, Forwards Operation Base Commander Hurricane was the dominating site in the flat and dry dessert that surrounded it. Protected by high concrete walls and defended by perimeter outpost, FOB Commander Hurricane was basically a fortress. Placed near three active Changeling tunnels, the FOB was in charge of making sure that no Changeling escapes those holes in the ground and that the EDF would be able to mount attacks against the enemy within.

FOB Commander Hurricane, our new home, according to Capt. Seeker, for the next six months. But knowing something they didn’t, thanks to my dream, this place wouldn’t be the home for most, after the horrible events I saw was over.

Let’s just hope that I’m not one of those ponies…

Remembering the dream, I came to a realization that the reason I woke up from it was because I died. Well, I wasn’t really sure if I died, but for some reason I knew I did. It just felt like it. And besides, from what I could remember, death was already looking down at me during that dream. The Changeling Queen already her horn locked into me and was about to fire a burst to kill me, so I just assumed that I died.

But died in the dream or not, I intended not to recreate the events that happened in it. Well sure, so far I have done nothing to prevent it and in retrospect, I think I should have took action the moment I realized that I was given this vision. But I knew that once I go into that tunnel, I was not going to repeat the same events from the dream. For some reason I was given this vision, this vision in my dream, and I made sure to make the most of it from this point on.

But what exactly was I going to do?

Sure, I knew what was ahead of me, but what was I going to do to stop it? It wasn’t like I could tell it to anypony else without having them stare at me as if I were crazy. At most, I would get a scolding from Sgt. Pike, telling me that I was just making up an excuse to not go in the mission.
No, I couldn’t tell anypony, it would just be a waste of time and would also end up branding me as a coward.

So what else could I do?

I wasn’t really that well trained and strong to be able to tactically win the battle alone, even with the little vision I was given. I might be able to survive a little longer, knowing some of the stuff that was going to happen, but I doubted it if I could win in the end, especially with the Changeling Queen in the mix…

Drooping my ears, I sighed in frustration as I knew that I was basically screwed. I can’t ask for anypony’s help, I couldn’t fight; I couldn’t do anything useful to save myself! I might as well run away, at least I had a chance if I do that…

Wait a minute…

“That’s it, I’ll run away!” I screamed, as I shot up my bed, my voice echoing inside the large wooden barracks my platoon was currently sleeping in. With such a loud voice I was sure that I woke up the entire platoon, which I soon learned was true when I heard groans of complaints and ponies mumbled in annoyance.

“Keep it down, will yah!” I heard the pony on the bunk to my right shout, as he threw his pillow towards me, hitting me square on the face.

“Sorry…” I said sheepishly, embarrassed that I woke them all up, but relieved that none of them seem to have understood what I just shouted.

Shifting back into a comfortable position and waiting for everypony to once again fall back to sleep, I soon began contemplating how I was going to escape battle. There were a lot of option, but I knew I had to choose the most practical one.

The first one I thought of was injuring myself to the point that I could not participate in a field operation. Technically, it wasn’t running away…but since I was leaving my unit behind it was like running away to me. So it seemed good enough! But the problem was, how was I supposed to do that? If I try to do it in here, I was sure to attract the attention of everypony. So injuring myself discreetly seemed to be out of the question.

My next option was actually running away, trying to escape the firebase and get as far as way as possible. But that seemed to have more problems than I would like. For starters, how was I supposed to get out of here? Being a heavily guarded FOB, there would be constant sentries and patrols all over the place, so getting out would be really difficult. Second, if I did managed to get out, how was I supposed to get back to civilization. Being in a dessert miles away from the nearest town, I would either die from the lack of nourishment or from a Changeling patrol. No, this plan was also crossed out.

The last option I had was running away while the battle was happening. Once the fight was going on, or just right before it starts, I can hightail it and ran for the exit. Once out, I could say that I got lost in the confusion or retreated once I saw the situation was lost. Sure, this might be easier said than then done, but this was the most plausible plan I had.

Keeping the plan in my thoughts, I settled it all and gave myself a nod. I would run away right before the battle starts. Run away and save my hide. Sure, call me a coward, I don’t care. All I care about is living through this.

Having a plan and knowing what I should do, I let out a tired sigh and closed my eyes. Tomorrow is going to be a long day and I better get as much rest I can.

The next day was judgment day…

Leaving FOB Commander Hurricane at exactly 0400, the platoon made a short fifteen minutes march towards Tunnel 1-3, the largest of the three tunnel complexes in the area. Briefed earlier about our mission, we were told that our job was to map out the unexplored area within, basically reconnaissance in force. Due to the size and complexity of the tunnel system, it was crucial for the EDF to know more about it for future operations. There was a rumor that this tunnel was were the Changeling Queen was hiding in and if that rumor was true, then the EDF would be one step closer to either capturing or eliminating her.

I guess the rumors were true…

With Capt. Seeker leading the platoon for the mission, we made our way inside and followed the glowing markers through the green zones, the areas of the tunnel which had been dubbed safe and clear of Changelings. Protected by sentries and patrolled by a company from another battalion, these green zones were our conquered territory in this underground war.

But once we passed the last sentries and stepped out of the green zone, we soon found ourselves in the red zone, the Changeling infested and hostile area of the tunnel complex. Not really sure where or how deep we were in the tunnel complex, since only the officers and NCO’s knew the platoon’s exact coordinates, the only thing I knew of this area was that death can come from anywhere at any time.

The area we were supposed to explore opened up with a large tunnel. And when I say large, I mean really large! Able to fit a file of five ponies at the same time, it was believed that this tunnel used to be a major artery, probably a main communications tunnel before the EDF suddenly barged in and changed the lives of the Changelings who lived here.

We spent quite a lot of time making our way through this long communications tunnel, marking the path behind us and following the bright light of the lead pony. Following standard procedure, there were always two unicorns at the lead of the column.

The first unicorn was in charge of casting a force field spell to screen the path ahead of us. Although the force spell could only take a dozen or so shots from the Changelings, it gave enough time for us to react to any attack, should it come directly from the front. The second unicorn was in charge of casting a light spell, illuminating the dark tunnel in front. Sure, our enchanted helmets allowed as to see through the dark, but nothing beat actual light in aiding visual recognition. Working together, these two ponies made sure we could clearly see where we were going as well as protect us from the opening salvo of the enemy.

With the pair moving a head of the platoon, and Capt. Seeker not too far behind them, we made good ground and quickly found ourselves at the end of the communications tunnel, where it separated to two smaller tunnels. Slightly smaller and only able to fit a file of two ponies, these tunnels looked a little more cramp and dangerous.

Assigned to the First squad, which was the leading unit in the platoon, I could easily overhear the conversation of our leaders as they figured out which route we should take.

“So, which way should we go? Left or right?” I heard Sgt. Pike’s voice echo within the tunnel, as he and Capt. Seeker assessed the situation and switched glances to both tunnels.

“Hmmm…” Capt. Seeker said. “…I think either tunnel would do. Our job right now is to map out unchartered territory and, well, both tunnels are unchartered territory.”

“So we can basically resolve this with a flip of a coin, eh?” I heard Sgt. Pike’s amused reply.

“Yes, Sergeant, yes we can. But let us spare ourselves the time and go left. If it ends up being a dead end, then we can always turn around and take the other tunnel.”

“Yes, sir.”

Everypony started to become a little bit more nervous once we entered the smaller tunnel. Gripping their weapons tightly and keeping real quiet, the entire platoon moved forward in a nice slow pace, as anxious ponies readied themselves for battle. Despite being hardened veterans, it still surprised me to see that they were all worried at what lay ahead of them. I guess no matter how long you have been fighting, you’ll just never get used to battle.

I myself was quite nervous of what lay ahead, but the feeling I had was considerably less than what I thought I would feel. It was probably because I actually knew what was going to happen and that knowledge might have eased some of my fears. But that didn’t mean it completely suppressed them, since I still felt the chilling feeling of possible and imminent death lurking in me.

“Contact!” The pony at the point shouted, making me stiffen as a halted.

Peering towards the front, I could see the glow of Changeling horns glowing only to be followed by a streak of their beam hurtling towards us. Immediately the unicorn casting the lighting spell stopped, leaving the glow of the enemy fire lighting the tunnel as it hit the shield provided by the other unicorn.

“How’s the shield holding up, Buffer?” Capt. Seeker called out.

Glancing towards the front, I could see more Changelings opening up from the far end of the tunnel, as their shots impacted on the shield in front of us. But giving it a quick inspection, I could tell that it wouldn’t last long, for it was already starting to crack up due to the enemy fire.

“Not too good, Captain.” Buffer said. “I think it can only take a couple more shots before breaking apart.”

“Alright, just keep it steady for just a little longer.” Capt. Seeker said, before turning his head around. “Long Shot, up in front now!”

Feeling somepony shove aside, I watched as Long Shot quickly made his way towards the front, pushing away ponies before reporting to the
Captain.

“Private, do you think you can chock in three grenades towards where those Changelnigs are?”

“I reckon I can, sir.” Long Shot said, already levitating three grenades strapped towards his armor.

Small yet powerful, grenades were useful and sometimes traitorous weapons inside a tunnel. Either containing high explosives or shrapnel, grenades were basically balls of explosives with a fuse on one end. In some situations, these things were very effective, able to blow up crucial enemy positions. But when used improperly, the power of the explosions could either harm or kill nearby friendlies, bringing its power against its own users.

Back when I was training, grenades were normally issued to unicorns, since they were the only ones able to light the fuse with their magic and toss them properly with their levitations powers. Other pony races tended to have a hard time handling the grenades, due to the fact that it was difficult to hold them between our teeth or grasp them in out hooves. Tossing a grenade was a task that was assigned to the unicorns and unicorns who were adept at the job were usually given the role of grenadiers.

In my squad, Long Shot was the pony who was given the job of grenadier. And now, as the shield in front of us was beginning to break, he was about to show us how good his skills were.

“Everpony hit the dirt; once the shield breaks shots would be flying all over the place!” Sgt. Pike called out. Being the ever obedient new recruit, I immediately hit the called stone floor, only peeking my head so that I could see what was going on.

The definite crack of the shield breaking, similar to the sound of glass breaking, echoed in the tunnel, as green balls of flame flew above out heads. But at the exact moment the shield broke, I could see the emerald colored glow of Long Shot’s magic fly by, as he threw the three lit grenades towards the direction of the enemy.

A few seconds later, the deafening and powerful sounds of three explosions hit the air around me, as the feeling of stone floor beneath me shaking came at the same time. Immediately after the explosions, the sound and sight of enemy fire disappeared, signifying that Long Shot’s throw was right on spot.

“Well, we can be sure that the Changeling’s won’t be attack from this tunnel anytime soon.” Capt. Seeker said, a few minutes later, as he and the rest of First squad inspected the damage of the grenades. Right in front of us lay a rubble of stone, as the power of the blast blew up the ceiling and collapsed the tunnel with heavy stone.

“I’m sorry, Captain…” Long Shot said sheepishly. “…I must have grabbed the HE, instead of the fragmentation grenades.”

Sighing, Capt. Seeker shook his head. “It’s alright Long Shot. At least that’s one less tunnel for us to patrol.” He then faced Sgt. Pike. “Get the platoon to turn around back at the split. I guess we’ll be taking the other tunnel now.

Now this was where I was scared, as in fully scared. Remember when I said I wasn’t really that scared in the first tunnel? Well, the reason that I wasn’t really scared was because I already knew that nothing bad will happen there. But in this one, oh, in this one, I knew that everything bad that could possibly happen will happen.

Just like in the vision, we made our way in a single file, following the same procedures and making our way slowly and wearily. Acting nervous and paranoid, I constantly made sure that I had my SLS was with me, I took one step after the other, following my platoon in.

“Anytime now…” I muttered to myself. “…anytime…” I felt numb, numb and unable to sense the world around me. The chilling feeling was overtaking me and I wanted it to stop. I wanted to get out of here and end this all. But I knew I couldn’t, I knew I was trap. Trapped between the EDF and the Changelings.

“Hey, take it easy, Rookie.” Scarlet called from behind me, making me glance towards her. Funny, I thought, I don’t seem to recall her saying that in my vision.

Now, I could have spent a lot of my time contemplating about that anomaly, but I quickly shrugged it off, knowing that I needed complete concentration. If small changes like that happened, then who knws what else could have changed.

Keeping all my senses at full alert, I kept my ears sharp and listened to my environment. I was waiting for that sound, the sound that I remembered from the vision. The sound that shocked us all at first and caught us completely off guard.

Crack Crack

Looking up at the stone ceiling, I knew that it was here.

The sounds of stone cracking above us alerted me that this was the time. The ambush has been sprung, just like how my vision predicted it.

“Contact, rear!” Somepony called from the end of our column, followed by the sounds of blunder bust firing and ponies grunting out their battle cries.

“We got an entire swarm coming up on our six!” I heard somepony cry out.

“There’s too many of them for us to push against!”

“Hey, move it. They’re kind of getting to close for comfort over here!”

I heard Capt. Seeker let out a curse when he heard the fighting towards our rear and after a quick glance towards the distant battle; he made a frustrated shake of his head. “We can’t fight here; we’re too much in a disposition. We need to find a wider place, somewhere where we can mass our power.”

“But, Captain, if we go forward, we’ll just be going and deeper and deeper, further away from our exit point.” Sgt. Pike argued.

“I know, Sergeant, I know.” Capt. Seeker said. “But the enemy has already cut us off. Trying to fight them for our exit would only grind us down. There’s too much of them for us to push off. The only thing we can do is move and hope we find a better place to fight in. So let’s go!”

With that, the platoon made its way once more, with the rear squad trying to slow down the Changelings as we moved. But as we ran through the tunnels, I could tell that the battle there was messy, as cries and grunts of battle echoed within the tunnel walls.

“Here, over here, Captain!” Sgt. Pike shouted as he stood next to a large opening. Staring at it through my visor, I could see a familiar looking cavern through that opening and immediately knew what was going to happen. “There’s a large cavern over here! We can form up the platoon here and hold the swarm with a square formation.” He advised.

“Very good, Sergeant.” Capt. Seeker said. “Alright, 3rd Platoon, fall into the cavern and form a wall. Square formation! You know what I mean, get into formation!”

Already wielding my SLS in my mouth, I galloped towards the cavern and towards Sgt. Pike, who was marking the position for the platoon. Trained to form a square when surrounded, the formation enabled the entire force to cover all flanks, making sure that no one can outflank us. Counting on traninig, discipline, the square formation was said to be a highly effective tactic until a gap forms and the enemy just swarms right into it.

Taking up my place in formation and standing with my SLS ready, I found myself in a familiar position. Shaking from top to bottom, my SLS felt heavy once more as my nervousness and fear created a bad combination within me.

Alright, so far everything happened exactly like the vision. But now it’s time to change it.

Glancing from left to right and using the aide of my enchanted helmet, I desperately tried to look for an exit from this cavern. But no matter where I looked, every exit I seem to find, Changelings just kept on popping out of them, bursting out as the swarm poured in our cavern. If this kept up, then I was sure that I wouldn’t be able to escape this place.

I need an exit, I need an exit!

But there just wasn’t any exit. This cavern was sealed. I could try fighting my way to make an exit, but if an entire platoon couldn’t handle the swarm, how can an inexperienced rookie do it? I’m trapped, just like in the vision. Trapped with no hope.

That thought made my heart beat faster and my fears grow beyond the point it was before. It was hopeless; I wouldn’t be able to escape this place. As if giving up on the plan I felt so proud of only hours earlier, I felt my hopes disappear completely, realizing that I couldn’t change the vision. Whatever happened in it must be fulfilled. How could I have not so it?

I was a fool to think that I could change what was destined for me, a fool to believe that I had a chance to survive, even though I already so my death before me. Maybe if I acted earlier, much earlier, I could have changed it. If I acted before we left Canterlot, I might not be in this situation right now. But my actions were already too late and my plan foolish. If I was given another chance, I would surely do things differently, but it was too late now. I was a goner.

Feeling my jaw become weak, the SLS that I was holding suddenly dropped on the ground, ringing as it hit the stone floor. I made no attempt to pick it back up, as I realized what was the use. Whether I fight back or not, I was just going to die. Might as well die without pulling in more stress to my body.

“Hey, Rookie, aren’t you gonna pick that up?” Scarlett asked, as she stared at me.

Hmm…that’s different, just like the one earlier. I wonder what else-

I felt a stabbing pain hit me, the burning sensation piercing through my body. Looking down to see what had caused it, I saw a smoldering hole that punctured my armor and burnt through my fur and skin. Eyes wide, I felt the painful effects it gave, as total shock went through my body, ultimately closing out the pain.

Falling down on the ground, eyes still wide open; I could see the streaks of green flame fly all over the cavern, as the battle raged on. Then, my vision started to get blurry, turning these streaks of flame to a foggier and foggier sight with each passing second.

Then it was all gone.