Resident Pon-Evil (Mission II) - Operation: Phoenix Fire

Chapters

Prologue: Rising Storm
Level 1: A Victory Short Lived
Level 2: Alliances
Level 3: Tactical Launch
Level 4: Armed Forces
Level 5: Manehattan
Level 6: Manehattan - Lighting The Fuse
Level 7: Up In Flames
Journal Of Echo: Part 1
Level 8: Rest & Relaxation
Level 9: New Appleoosa
Level 10: New Appleoosa - Odd Jobs
Level 10.5: Counting Losses
Level 11: Border Patrol
Level 12: Hometown Security
Chapter 13: Dead Or Alive?
Journal Of Echo: Part 2
Author's Note: Aw Snap, Son!

Prologue: Rising Storm

After the fall of Harrow's End, a new force is rising from the ashes. Holding ties to Harrow, the anonymous ponies seek revenge on Harmony's Elements in breaking these ties. As the dust settles, the ashes of defeat begin to smolder back into a blaze.

*Begin Transmission*

There was not a sound. The room was pitch black. In the middle of the room, a light flashed on. An overhanging light was shining over a digital map on a table. Four shrouded figures trotted forward to the table, glaring over the map.

"Is this what's left?" One spoke.

"All that is left," Another said. "Equestria has been overrun by the infected, and the only thing we could find was a large scorched area in front of Town Hall that may represent evidence of living ponies."

"Go on," The first said.

"It is believed that this was caused by an ex-Special Operations Security team of Harrow's End, as well as they are the ponies who exposed Harrow's End for their research and use of the Harrow Virus under the command of Doctor William Buck."

"So these are the ones who bucked off our business?" A third said.

"Yes," the first lowered his voice. "They broke our ties as well as our payment for our research. They are, however, unaware of us."

"Not to mention," the fourth said, "that they had killed Dmitri after he betrayed Harrow's End as well. Is it just me, or is everypony out to betray Harrow's End for ties to the infection?"

"It matters not!" the second said. "We are without work, without pay, and left in the dark to survive with the city in ruin!"

"Enough!" the first yelled. "Whining over our predicament like a group of foals will not solve anything. We will need a plan to get our hooves back to high ground in our work."

Silence filled the room. Although every pony around that table wanted revenge, none had any idea what they would do. They were out of bits, out of resources, and out of options.

Finally, the fourth spoke. "I say we break into the Canterlot Prison, release the Harrow's End officials they captured, and ransom them for what they owe us!"

"Impossible," said the third. "If we release them, they will make a gallop for it, going rogue to rebuild and leaving us alone once again. What if we were to sneak in as admirers of the team, and during their victory banquet, poison them all with Parasprite blood? They would be squirming and foaming at the muzzle, and all we look like is a group of confused tourists. Blame would spread, and we could take matters into our own hooves. We will never look nearly suspicious enough to take the blame."

"Not good enough," said the first. "Their banquet room is private, invited guests only. I do not expect a few strangers will be accepted in because we 'say' that we admire them. As well as Parasprites went extint long ago, and our remaining samples were burned down with the labs after the arrest of Harrow's End's officials. Anypony have a better idea?"

Next spoke the second. "If we could somehow execute Harmony's Elements, they will no longer be a nuisance in our progress. Four heroes die suspiciously, leaving them to look into that while we sneak in to rebuild our research? It is flawless."

"It would seem to be, if you had not forgotten that they are under the protective hoof of Celestia, as they are known as heroes," retorted the first. "If we were to attempt to kill them, we would be crushed under their iron hooves."

"It sounds to me," continued the second, "That you are beginning to turn into a coward. Are you afraid of them so quickly that you cannot even elaborate a plan positively before you are cowering like a foal? You are patheti-" He had nearly finished before the first struck a hoof into the second's chest, then the first slammed his hoof into the back of the second's head, causing him to slam down into the table and breaking his neck. The second fell limp to the floor, blood trickling from his muzzle.

"Any more thoughts on my leadership?" The first asked. When there was no answer, he slammed his hoof onto the table. "Enough thinking! We do not have time. We must initiate Procedure 3..."

"What?" The third said. "No, we cannot. It is too risky and may end up killing us all in the end!"

"We have no choice..." The first said. "We will carry out the plan and finally have our chance. Send the instructions to the demolition teams. We launch our operation as soon as Luna's moon is full." The third and fourth nodded and left the room, but the first stayed. He stared down at the map on the table. "We're coming for you, Harmony's Elements. You sent us into defeat, and now we are coming to send you into the smoldering flames of revenge..." He spat, trotted away from the table, and slammed the door as he left the room back into darkness.

*Transmission Ended*

Level 1: A Victory Short Lived

Harmony's Elements have won the war against Harrow's End. The celebration is over, and they begin to plan out their new lives. But as they attempt to move on, a new face shows up with grave news. As the Elements spring into action, they realize that maybe the nightmare they had fought their way out of may be all but a memory.

*Begin Transmission*

"Good day to you all! We are gathered to recognize three heroes and their accomplice in the downfall of a corporation that has betrayed us. Fighting their way through death and decay, they have exposed Harrow's End as liars and the corporation will be demolished and punished accordingly. I introduce to you, X-Ray, Blade, Chainlink, and Marigold. The three stallions and ex-operatives of Harrow's End who brought out the lies, and Marigold who supported them in the downfall of Dmitri Zernovski as equal of a traitor. Although, sadly, one mare had not made the success of the mission. Her name was Acid, an ex-virologist for Harrow's End. After her daughter was killed in a horde invasion in the hospital morgue, she vowed revenge against Harrow's End. She had saved her team from execution, but sacrificed herself to kill Dmitri in his own explosive vest trigger. The spirits of Acid and her daugher, Shade, now resign among the skies, and will be remembered in memorial by a statue crafted in their honor." Celestia stepped aside. "Mares and Gentle-stallions, I give you Harmony's Elements, the heroes behind the conspiracy of Harrow's End!"

In that moment of cheering, X-Ray looked to the sky. As his light blue eyes scanned the clouds, he spotted something. And for the first time, after years of emotional solitude, X-Ray had done something the rest of the team had never seen him do before.

He smiled.

Blade noticed him, followed by Chainlink and Marigold. As they followed his gaze, a large smile also appeared on the face of Blade, Marigold chuckled, and Chainlink gave a sound of, 'Well, whaddaya know?' .

For what they were looking at were the sparkling celestial spirits of a grey mare with a black mane and an identically colored filly staring down at them from the clouds above.

"Now ain't that somethin'?" Marigold said. "Ah thought those two were gone for good!"

"And now they resign among the clouds to watch over us always," Blade agreed. He raised one hoof in silent salute. "United Under Celestia. Rest peacefully, Acid. You've done Equestria an un-repayable favour with the highest price."

X-Ray raised his hoof. "United... Under Celestia... As we stand here alive for... Her sacrifice..."

Chainlink lifted his armoured hoof. "United Under Celestia. As Equestria escaped that bucking outbreak all because of her. It's amazing to know she is still here."

Marigold lifted her hoof in unison to Harmony's Elements. "United Under Celestia! All for that mare's bravery an' absolutely respectable willingness to protect her team in her final hours. Rest easy, Sugarcube!"

The crowd's cheering began to die down, and Celestia began to speak. "From this moment on, these four will resign here in Canterlot living in royalty. We will never be able to re-pay them for the astounding feat they have conquered here today, nor to re-pay the price of Acid and Shade, as they have lost their lives in the treachery, but given much more to the on-living of us all." She turned to the statue of Acid and her filly. "We stand on our hooves today for their sacrifice, and for that, they will remain a living legend carved in stone!" The crowd broke out in cheers, Harmony's Elements staring on at the statue before them. As the cheering died, Celestia bid them farewell and exited the stage, leaving Luna to address the crowd.

"You may all return to your homes. Remember what has been said today, as this has been implanted into the fabrics of time. Good evening to you all, for we stand alive today! You are dismissed." Luna exited the stage, and the crowd herded out into their homes. The team left the stage as well, heading for their new residency in Canterlot.

Marigold pushed in the door of the cottage, bursting with pride. "Did y'all see that!? Ah've never seen such an amazing thing in mah entire life as a service-mare! C'mon, y'all! How're ya not just fluttering like a Pegasi on cider!?" Marigold fell silent as the team entered, throwing their masks and goggles onto a small table, and collapsing onto couches and chairs. Marigold sighed, seating herself into a chair and placing her head in her hoof. "Alright, what's got y'all's cattle all sick?"

Chainlink was the first to speak. "Is it really worth it that she can be celebrated if she died for our stupidity?" Marigold cocked her head at him, and he went on. "If I hadn't been captured by Dmitri for answering that bucking door, she may still be alive!" He slunked into his chair, tossing his Riot Gun onto the table.

"Acid... Had managed to escape, but we had... Not had enough time with her... It was too soon to lose her, no matter... If and where we have seen her again..." X-Ray said, his respirator rasping with his breath. "What does it matter if she... Cannot fight by our side once more...?"

"And why didn't you just shoot him when he had Chainlink?" Blade asked, his tone harsh but solemn. "You had the chance, and you just kissed him and ran. If it were not for Acid, we'd all be back on the ground, burning among the ashes. Why did you not put a bullet in his blasted head!?"

Marigold sighed, her golden gaze sympathetic. "I could have shot him. I know. But if I didn't run, the C.P.D. would never have arrived. We made the plan that I sneak away and send the flare. They came, snatched me up, and we came to pull you guys out before Mr. Tank-"

"Chanlink," the armoured stallion said in a harsh tone.

Marigold sighed, continuing. "Before Chainlink here nearly charged me down. Every fiber of me screamed to turn back, to buck him down and get y'all out alive. But if I did, our escape would be shot." The team remained silent. "C'mon, y'all. You saw she's still here. Celebrate what you can. We've lost so much already, don't whither in it. Enjoy knowing she did it for you. Not because you failed."

"We know!" Chainlink said, softening his tone. "We know..."

The team all sat silently as reality sank in: They had won, but if it was worth it after all they had lost was questionable. As they all stayed quiet in the moment, there was a knock on the door.

"Go away," Blade said. "We're not taking visitors today."

"Open up!" A mare's voice outside said. "I need to speak to you! I've got terrible news!"

The team all looked at each other. Then X-Ray stood up, and slowly trotted to the door. He placed his hoof on the doorknob, turned, and pushed the door open. "What...-" He was interrupted as a mare dashed in past him, her amber eyes panicked. She was a yellow Alicorn with a dark blue mane, and she was wearing a cap with a logo torn from the front, a large pack on her back, and a toothpick in her front teeth. "Name's Itzel. I heard you guys were the ones who took down Harrow?" Blade nodded at Itzel and looked away, his grey eyes saddened. "I've got bad news. Some morons who worked for Harrow's End aren't too happy that they don't have anypony to pay them anymo-"

"Get to the point..." Chainlink said in a low, irritated tone.

Itzel glared at him, anger in her eyes, and said, "They sabotaged the barriers around the city, and the infection escaped into everywhere from Fillydelphia to Manehattan!"

The team turned their gazes to Itzel, the only sound being her labored breathing. Finally, X-Ray gathered himself back to reality and said, "What...?"

"I'm sure you heard me," Itzel said. "They've gone bucking mad and want revenge for you guys burning down their payment methods!"

The bag on Itzel's back shifted, and a small head peeked out the flap. A small voice sounded from inside, saying, "Momma, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing, TrailBlaze," Itzel said. "Stay in the bag."

"Wait," Blade said. "Who is that?"

"It's my daughter, but we don't have time to-" Itzel started.

"Bring her out," Blade interrupted.

"Why do you-"

"You heard what I said."

Itzel sighed, and flipped open the flap on her bag with her muzzle. "C'mon out, TrailBlaze..." When she finished, a small filly hopped out.

"Who is this?" Blade asked.

"Um..." The filly started, "I-I'm TrailBlaze..." TrailBlaze was a small Alicorn with a tawny coat, deep green eyes, and a dark pink mane.

Blade looked to Itzel. "She's your daughter?" Itzel nodded. Blade thought for a moment, then said, "Take her home. You two need your rest. We will handle this when Celestia's sun rises tomorrow." Itzel began to argue, but Blade stopped her. "I'm not in the mood to argue. Take her home and get some rest. We'll talk tomorrow."

Itzel looked ready to argue, but she stopped and said, "Let's go TrailBlaze. He's right. We need our sleep." TrailBlaze jumped up onto Itzel's shoulder, hanging on by her front legs with her hind legs scrabbling in the air. Itzel nudged her up with her muzzle, and TrailBlaze crawled into the bag as Itzel pulled the flap shut. "G'night, you guys. But tomorrow, be ready to talk." She began to walk for the door, but looked back and said, "I won't be asked to leave twice." She trotted out the door, and X-Ray pushed it shut.

Chainlink slammed one armoured hoof onto the table. "I should've bucking knew that this nightmare wasn't over! We finally get the chance to settle down and enjoy the last bits of our lives, and we're back in it hooves first?" He dropped his head, his purple eyes filled with anger and misery. "Guess we'd better be ready to lose whatever's left..."

"Now, c'mon, Chainlink," Marigold said. "At least this time we know what we're up against. We can easily fix this, right?" Nopony answered. "Right?"

"Save it for the crowd, Marigold..." Blade said. "We don't have time to celebrate what we still have... We're trotting right into another bucking apocalypse. Just when I thought it was over..."

"We should all... Get some sleep..." X-Ray said. "Tomorrow will bring... New things, and we must... Be prepared..."

Chainlink sighed, and the team headed to their quarters for the night. As they all settled into their beds, Blade said, "Did anypony else get reminded of Acid and Shade in those two?" An unarmed grenade flew through the air, striking him in the muzzle. "Ow! I'm just asking!"

"Can it, Recon colt..." Chainlink said, and he took out the lights with another grenade as the team settled into sleep, awaiting the new 'adventure' that awaited them in the morning.

*Transmission Ended*

Level 2: Alliances

After a new character showed up at the door of Harmony's Elements, they discover that the Infection Quarantine has been sabotaged, and the infection has escaped across Equestria. With the Elements left to wallow in the nightmare they had thought they had defeated, they are left to team up with this new stranger, and make plans to venture back into the heart of the unknown.

*Begin Transmission*

"So let me get this straight," Blade said. "You want to team up with us and help against this sabotaged outbreak?" Harmony's Elements had awoken the next morning, and had met with Itzel over their cottage table. Blade was staring her down with a gaze of suspicion. "Why would you want to help us?"

"Well, I..." Itzel started. "I thought it would be great to help a few ponies as famous as you?"

"You aren't in this for publicity," Chainlink said. "Cough it up. Why are you really here?"

Itzel sighed. "I'm an Ex-SpecOps Assassin for Harrow's End. They would hire me to kill anypony they didn't exactly trust. I found guns not enough fun. I turned to bows and blades for my talent." She flipped open a small sideflap from her pack, rolling down to reveal rows of knives and blades. "Harrow heard of me, and decided I 'had some value', they said." She looked away, breifly shivering, and returned her gaze. "I suppose you wanna know why I'm here?"

X-Ray nodded. "Go on..."

"Well, then," Itzel said. "After I'd done some contracts for Harrow, I started realizing they were giving me the raw end of the deal. I demanded more pay. They threw me out and said that if I ever came back, they would cut up TrailBlaze like a cake. I had no choice..." She turned her head to the small head peeking from her pack. "Losing TrailBlaze isn't worth any amount of bits."

"And where'd y'all go from there?" Marigold asked.

"We took to the streets, keeping refuge among the citizens. Then..." She sighed. "Then came the Outbreak. We were left to fend for ourselves, and keeping TrailBlaze alive was my priority. They were somehow attracted to our magic. It seemed like we had nowhere to run and nowere to hide." Her face turned stern. "Then, as we turned to refuge on a rooftop, a representative of Harrow's End offered us refuge for my old job back."

"And how... Did you repay this offer...?" X-Ray asked, his blue eyes examining the Alicorn closely.

Itzel grinned. "I stabbed him right through his spine. He was paralyzed from the neck down, and I rolled him off of the building as a midnight snack for the Infected."

"Sounds pretty far-fetched for somepony who hates Harrow," Marigold said. "Have y'all heard of the evil they've done?"

"Anypony who threatens TrailBlaze is a dead pony to me," Itzel responded. "I don't care how much I look like them, as long as I'm not one of them..."

"Then how did you discover of the sabotage on the containment zone?" Blade asked.

"I was taking refuge on an abandoned hospital building when I saw a group of ponies in armour similar to his-" Itzel pointed her hoof torward Chainlink, "-were setting blinking devices on the containment fences. The light attracted infected, and I thought they were messing with them for fun. That was when the devices exploded, and the infected lumbered out." She looked away. "It was a whole horde of them flooding out... Equestria never stood a chance..."

"Wait..." Chainlink stopped her. "You said, 'Abandoned hospital'." Itzel nodded. "Did you happen to take the elevator down?" Itzel nodded again. "Did it stop on a certain floor?"

"Yeah..." Itzel said. "3rd Floor: Morgue." The team remained silent. "I saw several dead doctors, and the room was bloodstained."

"Did you... See a type of... Message anywhere...?" X-Ray asked.

Itzel slowly nodded. "Yeah..." She said. "It was faded, but I think it said, 'Celestia Save Us'..." X-Ray lowered his head.

"That message... Was written by Acid's filly... In her own blood when Harrow's End... Left her for dead..."

"You mean that the statue of 'A Soldier and Her Filly' was her?" X-Ray nodded. "And the mare was your colleague killed by Dmitri? X-Ray... I'm sorry..."

"Save your pity..." X-Ray said. "It will... Fix nothing..."

"We'll need to make a plan on what our next move is," Blade said. "The more we wait, the more the Infection spreads."

Itzel shook her head. "Wait... Does this mean you guys want me on your team?"

Marigold nudged her with one hoof. "Well, 'course! They'd always needed a new teammate! A Service-mare like me ain't enough to fix into a team. Besides, they say y'all remind them of-"

"Marigold!" Chainlink said.

"I remind you of her?" Itzel said to Chainlink.

"No, nothing," the armoured stallion went on. "Yes, you're part of the team. Now can we please get to the plans?"

"Chainlink is right..." X-Ray said. "We are... Wasting time..."

"Excellent!" Marigold said. "Here's what we've rounded up so far..."

*Transmission Ended*

Level 3: Tactical Launch

Harmony's Elements have come acquainted with their new ally, and they begin their plans to counter the Outbreak that has flooded Equestria. Unable to conquer this feat alone, the Elements look to Marigold to make out a new plan of backup to aid the team in the spreading wave of revenge.

*Begin Transmission*

Harmony's Elements, Marigold, and Itzel all stood over a small digital map table in the middle of their small cottage, reveling over their plans. They had been here for several hours, trial and error of plans that would instantly or eventually fail. They had tried everything, from assaulting a nuclear plant that would blow the whole of Equestria into a burnt wasteland (Denied due to the risk of killing the team and possibly Canterlot, and that the explosion may not even reach the whole of the infected), to sending Pegasi teams to air raid the land (Denied due to shortage of able Pegasi and lack of ammunitions to spread for the entire horde).

"Face it, y'all. We're outta feed for our inspiration herd," Marigold said with a sigh. "We've been laying around over a haystack of bad ideas, AND-" She paused at the sound of a low snoring. "-And does anypony mind waking up Chainlink?"

X-Ray gave Chainlink a shove with his hoof, and the armoured stallion collapsed to the floor. Chainlink awoke in a panic, staring around for the threat that awoke him. "Wha-!"

Marigold cut him off. "If you draw another gun on us, you'll be sore outta luck that Daisy ain't here to stop you this time. While y'all were sleeping, our ideas ran dry. Unless you'd like to offer a bucket to the stream?"

Chainlink recovered, clearing his throat. "Sorry, I'm fresh out of ideas."

"You haven't said a thing," Blade said. "How are you, 'Fresh out of ideas' if you haven't given a thing?"

"Cease your arguing..." X-Ray said. "We do not... Have time to turn on everypony... We are wasting valuable time in which we... Will be able to conjure a plan..." He turned to Itzel. "Any thoughts...?"

The yellow Alicorn shrugged. "I've already offered everything I can think of."

"Then we are... Hopeless, yes...?"

"Nonsense!" Marigold said. "Y'all can't just quit 'cause we don't have anything! We just need to dig this waterhole a little deeper. Think about it." The team remained silent. "C'mon, it ain't that hard." Still nopony said a word. Marigold sighed. "We're shooting down our plans 'cause we don't have anypony to back them up! What we need is a force that can push a barge big enough to break the wall!"

"And where exactly would we find this 'barge' of yours?" Blade asked, unconvinced.

"Uh, hello?" Marigold said, sarcastically amused. "Y'all are talkin' to the Liutenant of the Canterlot P.D. who happen to own the biggest arscenal and armed forces this side of Equestria!"

"I'm liking where this is going," Itzel said with a grin.

"All ah've gotta do is get a word in with Command, and we'll have a whole army on our hooves!" Marigold said, amused with herself. "It couldn't be easier if we were to balefire bomb the whole horde!"

"And why couldn't we just do that?" Chainlink asked.

Marigold sighed. " 'Cause unfortunately, our resources for such a weapon have been cut. We don't have the right stuff to build even one. So this is the next best thing."

"But you are... Missing one detail..." X-Ray said. "You are... Only a Liutenant... They will not put their... Whole of defenses into the hooves of... A single mare without good reason..."

Marigold smiled. "Well then," She said. "We'll just have to give 'em a reason. C'mon, y'all. Pack your gear. We've got an army to convince."

The team strolled up to the front entrance of the C.P.D., a large and heavily defended building in the Western side of Canterlot. Marigold trotted up to the armoured bulkhead front door, and pressed a button on a small terminal with a speaker and a small lightbulb, and with a buzz, a stallion's voice sounded through a speaker.

"Code phrase?"

"Colt Echo 72757," Marigold said.

The stallion on the raido remained silent, then said, "State your name and rank."

"Marigold. Liutenant Officer."

The stallion remained silent, then said in a sort of amused tone, "I can't seem to find you on record. You are being requested to leave."

Marigold sighed. "Open the door, Sabre."

The stallion paused. "And how are you going to convince me you can be trusted?"

"Lunch is on me," Marigold said.

"... Fair enough." The stallion laughed, and the lightbulb on the terminal flicked green as the front doors slid open.

"Stallions..." Marigold muttered as she entered, the Elements and Itzel following close after. They followed down a large, white hallway past several offices, some occupied. After stopping at an automatic door, she entered a code on a keypad in another terminal, and the door slid open. They then passed several holding cells, all empty. Marigold led the team to a door at the end of the hall, with no terminal or doorknob, and a tinted window in the upper half. She tapped on the glass, and a clicking sounded from the other side.

"Who is it?" A mare's voice sounded from the other side.

"Put the pistol away, Commander. It's only me," Marigold said.

The mare remained silent, and a buzzing noise came from the door. "Come in," The mare said.

The door slid open, revealing a mare sitting at a desk. She was red with a light grey mane, and dark pink eyes behind a pair of bifocals. She was thin but stocky, and she was wearing a leather holster that she replaced her pistol back into. Her desk was covered in papers with a lamp, a picture frame, and a small copper name card that said, "Commander Cherry".

"I nearly took your head off, Liutenant," The Commander said, returning to her work.

"At your age, ah'm surprised you can even hold that thing," Marigold said with a grin.

"Funny. I assume you are not just here to brag about how you are still young?" The Commander adjusted her glasses.

"Not even remotely. I neeed a favour of you."

Cherry looked up from her work. "I already told you, I am not replacing Sabre with a more reasonable pony."

Marigold laughed. " 'Fraid that's not it, either, Cherry. I need something even bigger."

"I don't like the sound of that..."

"Then you'd best hold onto something." Marigold sighed. "I need you to put me in charge of the Task Forces and full control of the Arscenal to take in with me for support in stopping the Outbreak in it's hooftracks." Cherry stared at Marigold, a blank expression across her face. "I'm serious."

"You're out of your mind is what you are. I cannot just hoof over every gun and pony over to a Liutenant who wants to be a hero. Again. You would need a much higher authority than even me for something that drastic."

Marigold chuckled. "Well, it just so happens that ah may just happen to have this authority." She stepped aside, setting Harmony's Elements into view. "Look familiar?"

But instead of looking to the Elements, Cherry pulled her pistol again and pointed it straight at Itzel. "What the buck is she doing here!?"

Marigold turned to Itzel, then back to Cherry. "Hey, hey, easy there, Sugarcube. She's with us."

"She is a Harrow's End assassin!" Cherry held her aim.

"Put it away, Cherry. She ain't one of them. She wants payback just as much as us," Marigold said calmly.

Cherry held her gaze, but slowly put away her sidearm, then looked straight to the Elements, stopping dead. "Is that... Harmony's Elements?"

"Sure is!" Marigold said. "Is that enough authority for ya?"

Cherry held still, then pressed her hoof onto a small speaker on her desk, and said, "Echo. Get your flank up here, please."

"On my way," A stallion said.

"Who... Is Echo...?" X-Ray asked, but Marigold and the Commander remained silent. About a minute later, the door behind them opened, and a large armoured stallion stepped in with a red-lens gas mask, helmet, and full-body armoured suit similar to Chainlink's.

"No... It can't be..." Blade said. "Chaos?"

"Good to see you too, Blade," Echo said. "But you'd be better off by referring to me as, 'Echo'. My Harrow's End name won't get much out of me anymore."

"I could have sworn to Celestia you were dead? And what about Buck?"

"Dead. Killed in the inferno after I'd made a gallop for it. The real question is what are you doing here?"

"We're here to request full authorization over the C.P.D. armed forces in a counter attack against the outbreak," Chainlink said.

Echo looked to Chainlink, then back to Blade. "And what does this have to do with you?"

"The Quarantine was sabotaged as revenge for us taking down Harrow's End, causing the anonymous posers to lose their payment methods. It's our responsibility to stop them."

"Sounds impossible," Echo said. "That was always your way." He pushed past the Elements and Marigold, standing across from Cherry. "I guess that's why you need me?"

"That's correct," Cherry said. "And you will be helping them in this operation."

"You're letting them go?" Echo said just as Marigold had said, "Y'all are letting us go?"

"Why, yes," Cherry said, amused. "I required a high authority for this operation, and Harmony's Elements fit this requirement. I am approving the mission."

Echo grunted, and turned to Blade. "Fine. I'll be helping you in this operation." He put a hoof on Blade's shoulder. "But you are to follow MY lead, and do EXACTLY what I say, WHEN I say it." He put his hoof down. "Are we clear on this?"

"Of course." Blade nodded. "Sir."

"I'm not your mentor anymore. Call me Echo from here on. We are to leave that behind with Harrow."

"That reminds me..." X-Ray said. "Why have you... Turned away from Harrow as well...?"

Echo looked to X-Ray, then to Cherry, who nodded. He looked back to the Elements and said, "After Buck was killed, I had escaped the facility and found Town Hall burned to the ground. I contacted Harrow for information, and learned of you and your team burning the evidence of the operation. Something felt wrong, and they disconnected me for asking of it. They later responded again, only to say that you had betrayed them, and I would be left on my own in suspicion that I would as well. After the Outbreak, I met Marigold at the station, and she sent me in an evac back here, where I was set into command over their armoury after their previous was killed in the Outbreak on a field operation. I was even the one who sent the Pegasi evac to your team after Marigold carried out the plan of eliminating Zernovski. That was when I had heard the news of Acid..." The team remained silent. "She was a good soldier. It was a shame to lose her, but her sacrifice came with Dmitri's demise, and that is unrepayable. Otherwise, in the current situation, I'll be supporting your team with the arscenal here in Canterlot, as well as your field operations."

"Now hold y'all's cattle for just one moment," Marigold said. "Y'all know each other?"

Blade nodded. "Echo's original name was Chaos, and he had once been my mentor who taught me everything I know to this day. It is an honour to fight by his side once more."

"Save the reunions, Blade," Echo said. "There's no time now. We need to discuss what we will be doing for our operation. Come with me. I'll show you around the armoury." He turned for the door.

"You are dismissed, Marigold," Cherry said. The golden mare nodded, and she followed out after.

"C'mon, y'all," Marigold said. "I'm just itchin' to see all the weapons!" She exited the door, and the team followed out. As the door slid shut, Cherry began to speak.

"Good luck, Elements." She sighed. "You may be our last hope..."

*Transmission Ended*

Level 4: Armed Forces

Harmony's Elements have been allowed access to the armoury of the Canterlot P.D., and are beginning the plan-out process of their armed operation. During their meeting with Commander Cherry, a soldier named Echo is assigned to escort them. During the meeting, Blade recognizes the stallion as Chaos, his former mentor. With the team now with a powerful ally and a whole arscenal at their hooves, the Elements prepare for war.

*Begin Transmission*

As they trotted through the main white halls of the P.D. building, Harmony's Elements, Marigold, and Itzel were all being led by Echo to the armoury. "We're here," he said as they approached a large, plate-metal door. "When we enter, do not touch anything until you're shown where you'll get your weapons, or you might level this whole facility." He pressed a small keypad scanner, and a green light shined over his hoof. A picture of Echo appeared on a small screen, as well as his service information.

Codename: Echo
Rank: Captain
Position: Armory Consultant, Weapons Specialist
Access: Granted

The door slid open, revealing a room full of weapons and armour. Assault rifles, SMGs, Shotguns, Grenade Launchers, and several sets of gadgets and armour lined the walls. Ponies suited in riot gear trotted the room, arming themselves with weapons or simply conversating. A smaller, armoured mare stalked up to Echo.

"These the new guys?" She asked. Echo nodded. "Harmony's Elements, huh? Glad you guys're on our side. Good luck." She trotted away after giving Echo a small hug. Blade chuckled to himself.

"Who was that?" Blade asked teasingly.

"My marefriend..." Echo replied, attempting to keep his voice down.

"Glad to see you're beginning to settle down here."

"And where would your companion happen to be?" When Blade didn't respond, Echo said, "That's what I thought. Let's go. We're gonna be late for breifing." He led the team through the winding crowds and rows of weaponry to a door on the western wall. He pushed it open, and inside were two stallions and a mare in highly-advanced armour conversating at a rectangular table in front of a projector screen. As the Elements entered, they all turned to the team. Their armour sets were black, relative to that of Echo's, but the gas-mask and helmet had been replaced with masks and hoods similar to that of Blade's. One stallion had goggles in the colour red, the other in purple, and the mare's in green. The red-goggled stallion stepped forward straight to Blade.

"Blade!" The stallion said. "How great to see you again!" The stallion clopped one forehoof with Blade's.

"Good to see you too, Dingo," Blade said. "How's the team?"

"Oh, they've been well, mate. Gettin' a little R&R in their free time between missions. They'll be flittered to hear that you're accompanying us on the mission."

"... Flittered, Dingo?"

"Hey. I've got my words."

He led Blade over to the team, greeted the two, and began to conversate.

"Who... Are they...?" X-Ray asked Echo.

"Nova Team. Special Operations, kinda like you guys. They're Blade's old team before he was transferred to Delta Team in Harrow's End. They were never involved with the Corporation." Blade returned back to the Elements with his old team.

"My team will be accompanying us during this mission," Blade said. He pointed to the stallion in purple goggles. "This is Socket, our Technician," he pointed to the red-goggled stallion, "Dingo, our Sniper and Team Leader," he then pointed to the green-goggled mare, "and Cell, our Medic. Dingo, Socket, Cell, this is Chainlink, X-Ray, Marigold, and Itzel."

" 'Ello!" Dingo said with a chuckle.

"Greetings," Socket followed.

"Pleasure to meet you," finished Cell.

"Great to meet y'all!" Marigold greeted.

"Glad you're on our side," said Itzel. X-Ray and Chainlink remained silent. Dingo pulled Blade aside.

" 'Ey, Blade, what's with them?"

"They're not too used to newer members. They'll talk eventually. Give them time. But until then, try not to start conversation too much."

"Fair enough," Dingo said.

"So what are the background stories on these teammates of yours?" Socket asked Blade.

"X-Ray is a former spy, and a veteran of war from the Pony-Zebra Civil War. He is our premier surveillance expert. He had been shot in the neck as a colt, so his speech is disfunctioned. Chainlink is our demolition expert, and was temporarily discharged from the Canterlot Corporation of Engineers after an undisclosed incident. Itzel is an ex-assassin from Harrow's End along with her daughter, TrailBlaze. And I'm sure that you already know Marigold."

"Ah! I almost forgot," Dingo said. "We've heard much about you, Chainlink. You're a real dedicator. So, we've got a little..." He looked back to his team, and Cell nodded. " 'Surprise' for you. Ya got it, Socket?"

"But of course," Socket said. He pulled a large shotgun with a gilded stock off of his back. "A little present we picked up."

"No way...!" Chainlink said. "A Juggernaut?" He ran forward, eyeing the gun. "Where'd you get something like this!?"

Socket shrugged. "Bits? Work?... Charm...?" He chuckled. "Go on. It's yours."

Chainlink took the shotgun in his hooves, examining it carefully. "And the ammo?"

Dingo threw him a large belt pouch. "Dart rounds, Mag 34. Not bad, eh?"

"Awesome," Chainlink said. "I'll deal some damage with this. You guys're lucky to have me here, especially with this. This is amazing."

"Aw, you're welcome," Dingo said.

Itzel trottet next to Marigold and murmured, "Quite the charming bunch, aren't they?"

"Ah'm sure we'll get along well," Marigold replied.

"I'm glad you're appreciating your reunion," Echo said, "But the briefing's about to start. Take your seats. This is important."

Chainlink placed the ammo pouch in his waistbelt and the Juggernaut on his back, and the team all took their places at the table, starting with Cell, Socket, and Dingo, then Blade, Echo, X-Ray, Chainlink, Itzel, and Marigold. The lights dimmed, and the digital screen flashed on. A red mare trotted out onto the stage.

"Good evening, soldiers," Commander Cherry said. "As you all know, the Outbreak has spread across Equestria, and the ponies responsible remain at large. They will be our objective in time. For now, our objective is to surpress the Outbreak in key cities, and rescue any survivors along the way. As time advances and cities are put back under our control, we will be able to set up base to support your actions with supplies and soldiers." She pressed the screen, and a large map appeared. She then pressed on a location called, 'Manehattan'. "Our first priority is Manehattan, location of a high-priority military base housing surviving soldiers and ammunitions. We will be attacking here first to clear the Infected and any remaining Harrow's End SpecOps teams. Do your best to keep it quiet. We do not need to attract Infected, but we will use loud force if neccessary." She pressed the square of the town, and it zoomed into a map of the city. She pointed to a large square just Northwest of the center of town. "The military base will be located here. Get to this location, and give the passcode that we will provide to you upon arrival." She pressed a large, open area East of the compound, and large, red, pulsating rings rippled from a centerpoint. "This will be your drop zone. A large corn field that has been decayed and burned in the Outbreak. A Pegasi transit wil drop you over the site, and you will drop from the transit by parachute."

"I hope none've your team are afraid of heights?" Dingo whispered to Blade. Blade shook his head, and the two returned attention to the presentation.

"Once you are there," Cherry pressed her hoof to the screen, and moved her hoof torward the compound square with a red line. She stopped just behind the buildings across the street, and placed a red dot over a small building across from the compound. "Dingo will be placed here for Marksman support. After this, the remaining Nova team will go with Blade North up the street, and the rest of you to the South. Then you will converge onto the street 50 meters from the compound, and make your way inward. Once you regroup, you will enter the compound and take refuge until we can send you evac and supplies to the compound's inhabitants. You will be then brought back here to base for debriefing, intel report, and preparation for your next operation." She tapped the screen twice, and it shut down as the lights flickered on. Nova team and Blade stood to their hooves, and the rest followed. "Nova team, Harmony's Elements, you have your orders. Are we clear on the operation status?" Nova team and Blade gave a salute to the commander, and the others followed the same. "Good. Then the time has come."

"Nova team and Harmony's Elements, commence Operation: Phoenix Fire."

*Transmission Ended*

Level 5: Manehattan

Harmony's Elements have recieved their breifing for their first mission. During their breifing, Blade had been reunited with his old Special Operations team, who were chosen to assist them in their operation. With their team now in place, Harmony's Elements, Marigold, Itzel, Echo, and Nova team set out for their first mission: Manehattan.

*Begin Transmission*

Harmony's Elements and Nova team exited the meeting room, Echo taking the lead.

"Let's move. We're launching in five," he said. He led the team torward the center of the armoury to a large, vacant square in the center. The team all stepped on. Echo tapped his back hoof down twice, and the platform began to descend. The Elements other than Blade slightly stumbled.

"Where's this thing taking us?" Chainlink asked.

"Down," Socket said. Chainlink glared at him, and he said with a chuckle, "It's taking us down to the hangar where the Pegasi team will be flying us to our destination. Satisfying enough?" Chainlink looked away without a word. The elevator continued to descend, landing in a dark room. They stood in silence until Dingo finally spoke.

"Socket, hit the lights..."

"Oh! Yeah! Right," the Technician said. With a loud clanking sound, the lights flickered on across the room. They were in a large hangar, high-tech equipment lining the walls. Transits and terminals, equipment and defense systems. On the far right of the room stood a large transit surrounded by six Pegasi. Echo began to trot for it, leading the team on. As they approached, a mare at the front-right corner spoke.

"About time! We've been standing in the dark for an hour!"

"Stop whining, Bolt," Dingo said, teasingly patting her on the head. "Be a good mare during the flight, and I'll sneak you a few sugarcubes later." Bolt stared him down as he passed, but with a grin on her face.

Echo came around to the front of the transit, releasing the front hatch. Inside on each wall was a bench, one on the left with five parachute packs, and another on the right with four. Echo took the first pack on and took his place. Nova team and Blade took the packs on the right. X-Ray took the next pack by Echo, followed by Chainlink, Itzel, and Marigold. Echo banged his hoof against the wall 3 times, and the hatch sealed. Outside, a loud grinding sound started up.

"Ahh," Cell groaned. "I'm in here every day, and that noise still shudders my ears."

"Y'all think that's bad," Marigold said, "Try livin' with Infected bangin' at your door 24/7." Cell grunted, nodding her agreement. Soon after, the transit was lifted into the air. The Pegasi flew out of the open hangar, and in the direction of their destination.

The skies of Manehattan had gone dark when the Pegasi team flew in. In the darkened sky appeared nine figures, followed by several rectangles of cloth. Echo landed in the cornfield, sliding in on his front knees. Next came Chainlink, X-Ray, Itzel, and Blade with Nova Team in formation. As they all released their parachutes, they regrouped with Echo.

"Where's that golden country-mare of yours?" Dingo asked, and just as he finished, a shape flew by them, dragging across the ground with several sounds of grunting and thumping in the dirt. When it came to a stop, Marigold crawled out from under her parachute, brushing dust off herself and muttering under her breath.

"A'hm gettin' too old for these stunts," she said, returning to the team.

"Aren't you younger than the majority of us here?" Cell asked, and Marigold just shrugged with a grin.

"Ah'm hopin' ah can live as long as y'all with your crazy actions."

"Keep it down," Echo said. "We can't afford to attract every Infected within earshot, and I am sure nopony here knows how far that is. Let's move." He ventured off torward a city in the distance, leading the team on. Manehattan was a towering city, with skyscrapers and buildings raising above the rest. Where they were headed was a small residency and business district, filled with small, square buildings. Echo stopped behind an old, broken down building that was barely still standing.

"Alright, Dingo," Echo said. "Get in there."

"You got it," Dingo said. He entered into the building and disappeared. A few seconds later, his voice came on the radio. "Oh, you guys ain't gonna like this... Socket, I'm patching through a video feed."

Socket paused, then flinched. "Oh, that is not good at all..."

"What is it?" Itzel asked. Socket turned to the wall of the building and pressed a button on his goggles. They projected a P.O.V. image from Dingo.

The street was flooded with Infected, many lumbering about, and a few gathered around small masses on the ground. "Those're SpecOps, I assume," Dingo said. "Looks like we'll be dealin' with them here, too. Any ideas?"

"I think I have one..." Itzel said. "Infected are attracted to blood, right?" Echo nodded. "What if we could injure a few of the SpecOps? The Infected would be all over them."

"I enjoy this plan..." Socket said.

"But what if we... Cannot get the shot...?" X-Ray asked.

"Ya think I'm just sitting up here to watch the fireworks?" Dingo said over the radio. "If ya can't get the shot, I will. We good with that?" Silence. "I'm assumin', 'yes'? Good."

"Let's get moving," Echo said. "Split into your teams and head out."

"Let's go, y'all!" Marigold said. "Ah'm ready to get some savin' done." A grin appeared on her face.

"Wait, before we go," Itzel said as she set down her pack. "TrailBlaze, go with Dingo. I can't take you out there into that." The filly hopped out of the bag, and quickly snuggled Itzel's leg.

"Please come back okay, Momma," TrailBlaze said. Itzel planted a kiss on her forehead and ruflled her mane with one hoof. TrailBlaze squeaked and giggled.

"I will," Itzel said. "I promise." TrailBlaze turned and ran off into the building with Dingo.

"I'll keep an eye on her," Dingo said over the radio. "She'll be good for a lookout or two..."

"You let her shoot that thing, and I'll strangle you with it." Dingo just chuckled.

The teams split into Nova team and Blade, and Harmony's Elements with Marigold, Itzel, and Echo. Nova went right to the North, while Harmony's Elements went left to the South. After about a minute, Echo stopped them.

"We're here. We'll enter through this alley." He slowly trotted through, weapon armed as he dove behind a dumpster. He took a peek out, and signaled for the team to follow. They all trotted out into the middle of the street, and were faced with a wall of Infected. "Get ready. If it moves, kill it. You hit a teammate, it's on you, so watch your fire. Nova Team, signal."

"Nova Team in position," Blade said over the radio. "Dingo?"

"Ready for the shots to fly," Dingo responded. "Let's start this Howdown Throwdown."

Echo turned to the Elements. "Ready?" There was not a word. "Good. On my signal." He pointed his Assault Rifle in the air, and shot out a burst of bullets. Several infected turned their way, and the firefight broke out. The Elements drew their weapons, and Itzel two daggers. Nova team opened fire across the way, and the Infected began to fall in hails of bullets. Itzel threw one dagger into the neck of an Infected, which stumbled and collapsed after knocking over several other Infected. Chainlink threw in a grenade, and the Infected were dismembered in a blow of shrapnel.

"Hold your fire, hold your fire!" Dingo said. "They're dead, they're dead. Ya can get to the base anytime now. Make sure to ring the doorbell when you get there."

The Elements, Echo, Marigold, and Itzel regrouped with Nova team, and they stalked up to the door. "Command," Cell said. "We've reached the base. What is the passcode?"

There was a pause in the radio, and a mare's voice came through. "Delta 323."

"Thanks, Cherry," Cell said, hanging up the radio. "You're up, Echo."

The gas-masked stallion trotted up to the front of the large, square building. He tapped the door twice. A strong voice came through the door. "Pass Code?"

"Delta 323." Echo said.

There was a pause, and the door opened. Before them was a stocky stallion in SpecOps armour.

"SpecOps!" Itzel yelled, and the team drew their weapons, all except for Nova Team and Echo. Echo looked back at the team, and then to the SpecOps stallion.

"I see you're still alive, Flood?" Echo said.

"As much as I'll ever be. Don't act too disappointed. How's my sister?"

"She's been fine. Hasn't taken many missions lately."

The team lowered their weapons. Chainlink was the first to speak.

"You know this guy?"

"An old friend of mine. His sister's my marefriend," Echo said. He turned back to Flood. "Care to let us in?"

"Yeah," Flood said. "Sure." He stepped inside, and Echo followed. The team entered, and just as Marigold was about to enter, an Infected reared up behind her. She screamed and pressed against the wall. Just before it could bite her, a shot rang out, and a bullet went through it's head, killing it instantly.

"Bullseye!" Dingo said over the radio, and TrailBlaze giggled in the background.

Marigold leaned against the wall, gasping and splattered slightly in blood. X-Ray stuck his head back out the door, glanced at the Infected, then back to Marigold. "Do you... Plan to stay here for the... Entire time of the mission...?"

Marigold calmed down, wiping away a spray of blood from her cheek. "Ah'm gettin' too old for this..." She entered into the base with the others and sealed the door, Dingo and TrailBlaze laughing over the radio.

A couple of minutes later, the team found themselves in a base similar to the base that Harmony's Elements and Marigold broke into to retrieve Marigold's Tyrant, Daisy. Flood opened a door into a meeting room, and led the team around a circular table. "Anypony need a drink?" Not a word. "Good. We've been out for days. Now here's the deal." He took a seat at the end of the table. "We're out of supplies. Our soldiers and citizens have been starving out here, and we can't leave here without Infected coming after us. We can't leave until we can either clear the city, or at least attempt to get a supply drop on the landing pad. We plan to stick to the supply drop until we can regain our strength to get through the city. As soon as we can, Evac can be sent without situation. Any questions?"

"How many soldiers do you have here in this base?" Echo asked.

"About 30 SpecOps."

"Civillians?"

"70. 13 foals."

"We'll get the civillians out first. We cannot Evac anything yet, but we can still get the supply drop. How much will you need?

"The absolute largest thing you can afford. We're dying here."

"And how long will you need to rebuild your strength before the takeover?"

"About a week. Can you wait that long.?"

Echo looked back to the team. "Yeah. Sure. We'll signal the supply drop tonight."

"Fair enough. Get yourselves comfortable, we launch tonight."

"Good." Echo stood up, and left, followed by the team.

"That was fast," Itzel said.

"Flood and I don't exchange much conversation. Get ready." Echo kept trotting away.

"And where... Are you going...?" X-Ray asked.

"To go tell Dingo to get his flank in here before he's eaten alive."

Itzell flinched at the thought, and the team went their separate ways, preparing for the drop and to prepare to take back Manehattan.

*Transmission Ended*

Level 6: Manehattan - Lighting The Fuse

After discovering the military outpost base in Manehattan, Harmony's Elements prepare to take back the city. They signal for supplies, round up the army, and prepare to send the Infection across the city their retaliation. As they begin their plans, they discover that it may not be as easy as they anticipated.

*Begin Transmission*

Six Pegasi attached to a secure transit flew through the night sky over Manehattan, the hordes of Infected groaning down below. As they flew along, one of the Pegasi spotted their target.

"There," a mare said, pointing her hoof to an orange flare on a rooftop landing pad. They immediately flew toward it, and began to land.

Dingo, with TrailBlaze at his side, waved his hooves, guiding the team to the landing pad. The transit touched down, followed by the Pegasi. Dingo trotted up to the mare in the front.

"This all you could afford?" Dingo asked.

"This is it," the mare said. "Cherry says that the ponies back at base need to eat, too. We'll have evac out as soon as you can clear the city."

"Thanks, Bolt," Dingo said as he began to trot away. Bolt stopped him with a grunt. "Oh, of course..." Dingo threw her a small bag, which she caught in her hoof and opened. "They're all there. Try not to eat 'em all on the way back. Sugar cubes don't exactly grow on trees." Bolt nodded, and signaled the Pegasi team to release the transit. They detached, and flew away toward Canterlot. Dingo trotted back to TrailBlaze, who eyed him expectantly. Dingo held out his hoof. "Snuck one out for ya." TrailBlaze giggled, took the sugar cube in her mouth, tossed it up, and caught it with a crunch. "Let's head in. The team's waiting." He trotted over to a fire exit on the roof, and pushed it open to let TrailBlaze slip past a large team of SpecOps leading out to secure the supply transit.

A few minutes later, Dingo and TrailBlaze entered a recreational room. Harmony's Elements and Nova team were all seated around a table, playing Canterlot Hold 'Em. Marigold and Itzel had the majority of the betting ammunition, followed by Blade, Socket, Cell, Chainlink, and then X-Ray, who had already folded.

Dingo lingered in the doorway for a few seconds before he said, "So nopony here missed us?" Nopony turned their head as they continued with their game. He bent down to whisper something in TrailBlaze's ear, and she nodded, covering her ears. Dingo drew his sidearm, pointed it to the ceiling, and fired off a shot. The card players were startled, several pulling weapons.

"Dingo!" Socket said. "What the hoof is wrong with you!?"

Dingo chuckled as Commander Cherry's voice came on the loudspeaker. "Dingo, what did I tell you about firing a weapon outside of the range?"

"Yes, Mom," Dingo replied with a chuckle as Cherry hung up. "Now that I have your attention, the shipment's here. We'll be able to feed the ponies in the base and start preparing to take back the city."

"And what of... The sugar cubes...?" X-Ray asked.

"Bolt has 'em. Thanks for smugglin' 'em for me. Cherry would kill me if she found out I stole them."

Cherry's voice came back on the loudspeaker. "Those are coming out of your pay, Dingo."

"What pay? Ya don't pay us!"

"Exactly. So don't state your crimes out loud next time."

"And what about X-Ray? He's the one who stole 'em!"

"He is not mine to command. You are. Now keep it quiet next time, or don't let it happen again." Cherry hung up with a click, and Dingo just grunted.

"Is TrailBlaze okay?" Itzel asked.

"Yeah. She's right 'ere." Dingo said, stepping aside as TrailBlaze uncovered her ears.

Itzel trotted up and looked to Dingo. "She wasn't any trouble, was she?"

"Naw, not at all," Dingo said. "And she's quite the good shot!"

"What?" Itzel asked.

"She's a good shot. Saved Marigold's life, she did."

"She nearly took mah head off!" Marigold said.

"Well, c'mon, it was amusing," Dingo said with a laugh. Itzel returned the laugh sarcastically, then bucked Dingo's sniper from his hooves. She took the rifle and bashed the stock across Dingo's muzzle. He collapsed, gasping in pain.

"I told you you weren't to let her shoot no matter the circumstances, especially for your own amusement!" Dingo coughed as Itzel aimed the rifle to him. TrailBlaze nuzzled her leg.

"It's okay, Momma. I'm not hurt, and neither is Marigold. You don't have to hurt him."

Itzel paused, then threw the rifle down into Dingo's side, causing him to grunt. She knelt down and ruffled TrailBlaze's mane, causing her to jump back, giggling. "Alright, Tibs," She said. Across the table, Marigold snickered, causing Itzel to look up. "Something funny, Marigold?"

Marigold chuckled. "Tibs." She burst out in laughter, followed by Cell, Socket, Dingo, Blade, Chainlink, and half-heartedly by X-Ray. TrailBlaze flapped her wings, jumping up onto the table.

"Hey! I happen to like my nickname!" she said.

"We weren't makin' fun of it, Sugarcube," Marigold said. "We jus' think it's cute!" She chuckled again as the laughter died down. TrailBlaze giggled, blushing a bright pink, luring a, 'D'aaawww' from the mares.

"Well now," Socket said. "With that settled, shall we continue on with our mission? The ponies need food, and soon we will be able to re-take this city."

"Well, ah'm ready!" Marigold said. "Let's get to it. Ah, but first," she laid down her cards, revealing four Aces. "Ah win again!" The rest of the team around the table just groaned.

A week had passed, and the SpecOps were beginning to resemble their full strengths. They now stood in a large auditorium, with Nova Team, Harmony's Elements, Echo, and Commander Cherry's image on a projector screen before them.

"Greetings, Everypony," Cherry said. "As we all know, thanks to Harmony's Elements and Nova Team, you have all received a shipment of supplies and have returned to your full strength. Now you are all ready to venture into the fight to take back Manehattan. When you have succeeded in re-taking the city, Evac will be sent to your base. First civilians, then all of you among the SpecOps soldiers." She sighed, pausing. "But unfortunately, we are unsure if our plan will succeed. If this plan is to somehow fail, the Board Directors of the C.P.D. and Military Operations have come to an agreement. If the plan is somehow to fail, the city will be firebombed to clear the infection, as we will not have time to send Evac..."

"What!?" Blade and the rest of the team turned on the red mare over the monitor. "We never agreed to this! You can't leave us to die!"

"We are not leaving you to die," Cherry continued. "This is simply a last resort. There is a less than 7% chance that this plan will be executed. Your odds are in your favour. We shall begin the operation in 10 minute's count. Good luck Elements, Nova Team, and all of you brave stallions and mares risking your lives in this operation. Good luck, and may Celestia guard you all." The screen flashed to static, and Cherry was gone.

"Well, no pressure. Right, y'all?" Marigold asked halfheartedly.

"I can't believe this," Chainlink said. "Are they really gonna leave us for dead in a nuclear explosion?" He grunted. "Celestia, this is worse than Harrow..."

"But we still... Have a chance..." X-Ray said. "We must... Clear the city to survive... And we have an army at... Our hooves... Do you think that they... Wish for us all to die...? They have no choice..."

"And they sure won't have time to launch that nuke by the time we're done," Itzel added. "I say we get out there and do this. We can show them that nuke'll have to wait for a more desperate measure."

"She's right, ya know," Dingo said. "They're bluffing to pressure us up. They do it all the time. In fact, last time they pulled this, they threatened to assassinate Cherry for being a traitor. She didn't like playing along, but they paid well in the end. Imagine what'll happen if we do this! We're takin' back a whole city!"

A voice came over the loudspeaker, a digital mare's voice. "Mission Launch In: 2... Minutes... Please report to your launch stations."

"You guys heard her," Cell said. "Let's get over to the Emergency Doors." Nova Team, followed by Harmony's Elements, began to trot toward a door at the back end of the base. It was a large, retractable door that would be pulled through a brace, pulling it up and under the ceiling. It was wide enough to fit the crowd of 30 heavily armed SpecOps with easy flow. The SpecOps teams had all lined up behind the door, Nova Team and Harmony's Elements taking up the back. Echo had taken up position to the right of the crowd, barking out an order.

"On my signal!" Echo yelled. "Three! Two! One! Mark!" At his signal, the SpecOps teams charged into the city, weaving their way around buildings and through streets, shooting through crowds of Infected as they launched their way into the fight to reclaim Manehattan. Echo met with the Elements and Nova Team at the back. "They've waited a long time to take back their city. The Infected have a wake-up call coming their way. You guys ready?" Silence from the Teams. "I'll take that as courage, or fear. I'm guessing the latter." He trotted his way out of the base, leading the teams on. "I'm not gonna lie to you all. Those SpecOps are launching a suicide mission. Possibly none of them will make it back. But they've got a mission, and they're going to take a hoof-full of the Infected down with them." He stared off into the distance, gunfire ringing across the alleyways and streets. "I'm gonna hate to tell Flood's sister the bad news..."

"Wait, y'all let Flood go with 'em?" Marigold asked.

"Yeah. He insisted that he be with his soldiers in the final battle." Echo stopped in front of an old Medical Clinic. "She used to work here... She was in charge of examinations. She was always great with foals. A young and scared filly coming in for a Cutie-Pox shot or a large operation, she always knew just how to get them settled into the procedure. Well known among the city. Now just about everypony she was known by is an Infected... She used to cry herself to sleep every night thinking she failed. I was always the one to convince her that there was nothing she could do."

"And that is how... You two became a relationship, I assume...?" X-Ray asked.

"Right. I never was the one to be much of a comforter, but she always had an eye on me. She became a valuable asset since then."

"We never got to know," Chainlink said. "What's her name?"

Echo sighed. "Morning Star." Silence from the team. "Let's keep moving. The teams should be making their way into the heart of the city by now." He trotted on, away from the old Clinic, leading the teams further. They walked in silence for several minutes, before TrailBlaze peeked her head out of Itzel's bag.

"What's that?" She asked, pointing her hoof to the sky. The team directed their gazes, and Echo spoke.

"Oh, Celestia... No..."

"What is it?" Blade asked.

"Do you see that? Up there?" Echo pointed to a moving light in the sky. "I don't think I need to say what that is..."

"The nuclear missile..." X-Ray said half to himself. The team stood in silence as the nuke fell from the sky at what felt like two hoofsteps an hour, before finally it touched down. The city burst into light and flame, buildings and skyscrapers collapsing. Within a minute, the explosion had faded, and the city was left in ash.

"It's over..." Echo said. "The mission is a failure..." He sighed. "C'mon. Let's get back to base so we can get the buck outta here..." He turned without another word, trotting back toward the SpecOps base. As the team followed, nopony spoke another word. That's when they all stopped dead in their hoofsteps.

"No... They wouldn't..." Socket said, fear in his voice. "Impossible! We must get to the base!" The team began to run in fear, for they had spotted another light in the sky.

And it was headed straight for the SpecOps outpost, and getting closer.

"No, no, no, no, NO!" Chainlink yelled as they broke into a full gallop. But they were too late. The missile floated down with a loud roar, and collided with the base. The team was thrown backwards in the explosion, and the area was left engulfed in ash and flame as the SpecOps base had been destroyed, lost in the fabrics of time along with the new ruins of Manehattan. Cherry's voice came on a discarded radio.

"Greetings... It is my great displeasure to announce that the Manehattan recovery mission has failed... The Final Stand operation has been released, and Manehattan now lies in ruin... I apologize to anypony with relatives and friends in the city. We had no other choice, for the Infection had overwhelmed the city. To those of you who live outside this disaster, do not fret, for we will find a way out of this Nightmare. And for those of you who had been in the city upon impact... Rest in peace, for we had no other choice... As fire had rained down where Evil had held the Crown..." The radio signal cut off.

One dead is a Tragedy, but a Thousand dead is a Statistic. - Delta 727

*Transmission Ended*

Level 7: Up In Flames

The first mission to re-take Equestria has failed, as well as leaving Manehattan in a smoldering wasteland. In the nuclear fallout of the city, the military base housing the marefriend of Chaos and a large crowd of civilians had been destroyed in a second explosion. As the wreckage settles, Harmony's Elements and Nova Team return from the ashes and count their losses, attempting to discover what had caused this tragedy to happen: Desperate measures, or another betrayal.

*Begin Transmission*

There was not a sound. The air was a deep red, thick with ash. The street was lined with debris and wreckage from the surrounding buildings. Not a thing stirred.

Until a slight movement came from a nearby alley.

Chaos emerged from his mound of wreckage, coughing and stumbling into the street. As he managed to recover himself, he retrieved his tattered gun, and took a look around.

"Command, this is Echo. Come in," he said into his radio. The only response was static. "Command! This is Echo! Can you hear me!?"

"Give it a rest, Chaos," Blade said as he stumbled out from behind a small alleyway, loosely holding his gun in his hooves. "The signal's been out for hours."

Chaos sighed. "At least you're alive. What about the others?"

They heard a sound of coughing from their right. "Over here!" Chainlink jumped over a small, burnt out carriage wreckage, his Riot Gun missing, but his Juggernaut still hung over his back. "I've got a bad feeling that we've been bucked over. Again!" He grunted as he began to stalk over to his team mates.

"Don't worry about it," Blade replied. "They didn't betray us. Desperate measures were needed. They had no choice."

"Desperate measures, my flank!" Chainlink retorted. "They nearly blew us up!"

"And what were they supposed to do?" Chaos asked. "Sit by and let us all become infected?"

"Then why did they blow up the base?"

The team remained silent. No pony had an answer of why they would kill so many innocent ponies if they were safe.

Chainlink sighed. "That's what I thought. Now where are the others?"

"Right 'ere, y'all!" The team turned to see Marigold stepping out from a collapsed building, followed by Dingo, Itzel, Socket, and finally Cell, supporting X-Ray over her shoulder. As they all entered into the cleared street, Cell set X-Ray down on the pavement. X-Ray attempted to stand.

"Don't move," Cell said. "You're injured." She placed a hoof on X-Ray's right shoulder, but he immediately shook it off.

"Do not...! Touch me..." He said. He stood to his hooves, and returned his assault rifle back to his grasp. "Is everypony... Alive...?"

"Yeah," Echo said. "We're all in one piece." A whimper came from Itzel's bag, and all eyes turned to her. Itzel set down her bag.

"You alright, Tibs?" she said. Soon after, a small head poked out of the flap.

"Momma?" said TrailBlaze's shaky voice. "I-is it over?"

"Yeah. It's over. We're safe." Itzel turned to Cell. "She took a hard hit at the explosion. Can you take a look at her and make sure she's alright?"

Cell trotted over to Itzel, who set down her bag. TrailBlaze crawled out, and began to stretch her wings. But as her wings extended, she flinched in pain. Itzel looked to Cell, her eyes troubled. Cell trotted over to TrailBlaze, crouched, and began to examine TrailBlaze's wing, gently running a hoof from the base, up. Just as Cell touched above the base, TrailBlaze flinched back violently, and she squeaked in pain. Cell sighed, stood up, and looked Itzel in the eyes.

"Her wing is broken." TrailBlaze gasped, but Itzel remained silent. "When we get her back to base, we can get her into medical, but-" Itzel cut her off.

"The injury might be permanent." Itzel sighed, and leaned down to hug her daughter, avoiding her injured wing. "I know..."

TrailBlaze returned the hug, and shakily asked, "D-does this mean I'll never fly again?" Itzel didn't answer.

"Harmony's Elements and Nova Team, come in." A stallion's voice came over Chaos's radio. "This is Canterlot Police Command."

"Command, this is Echo. We hear you."

"Echo, casualty report."

"70 Special Operation soldiers, and about 30 civvies. Possibly several refuged survivors in the city. No members of the team are K.I.A., but we do have injuries in need of treatment in the Medi-Lab. Requesting immediate secure transport."

"And arrangements for a nice, long talk with Commander Traitor..." Chainlink muttered.

"... Copy, Echo," Command said. "We will have a secure transport sent to your location. Are you in a clear area for landing and take-off?"

Chaos looked around at the open street. "Yeah. The team should be able to land and leave fine."

"Good. Launch a signal flare at your location, and find nearby shelter until they arrive. E.T.A., three hours tops."

"Not fast enough, Command," Chaos said. "We need evac as fast as it can reach us. We have wounded who need medical attention. Book it, or wounded'll become an understatement."

"Understood, Echo. The Team is loaded and flying."

"Copy, Command. Echo out." Chaos turned off his radio and turned to the team. "Three hours, tops. We'll be back soon." He pulled a small canister from his belt, and pulled the pin. He rolled it into the center of the street, stopping next to a carriage wheel, and triggering with a glowing cloud of purple smoke. He turned, without a word, toward a hollow wreck of an old office building. "Pack whatever supplies you can salvage. We've got a long night ahead of us..." The rest of the team followed after, entering the hollow husk of the building as the purple smoke continued to rise into the sky.

The bay doors of the hangar at the C.P.D. headquarters slowly slid open, and the secure transport glided in through the open doors. The transport hovered in midair above the landing platform inside, and the Pegasi attached to the transit turned in midair until the front of the transit was facing the bay doors. The transit set down just as the bay doors slid closed. The main hatch of the transit opened, and the team stepped out. First Chaos, followed by Nova Team, Marigold, X-Ray, Itzel, and hastily by Chainlink. Just as Chainlink exited the transit, Bolt stopped him with her hoof on his shoulder.

"Hey," She said. "You alright?"

"Yeah," Chainlink said, shrugging off her hoof. "Fine..." He stalked away after the rest of the team. They all stepped onto the large elevator platform, and it began to lift back to the main floor. As it rose through the dark elevator shaft and slid to the main floor, the floors were no longer crowded with soldiers stalking around to their duties around the base, but instead they lined the walls of the base, standing at attention. As the the elevator stopped, every soldier in the room saluted the team, all raising one hoof to their muzzles, then holding them out to the team. Not one of them spoke, but Chainlink snorted and began to stalk toward the main door to the back offices. Nova Team and Harmony's Elements caught up just as a guard had opened the door for Chainlink, who shoved the guard out of his way. Chaos looked at Blade.

"You think he'll be alright?"

"That depends," Blade replied. "But we should get after him before he takes Cherry's head off and feeds her to the Infected."

At that statement, the team ran down the hall after Chainlink.

Commander Cherry had been sitting at her desk, reviewing some files, when her office door burst open. Chainlink stalked in, his hooves empty of weapons. "Chainlink. Where is the rest of your tea-"

"Shut it!" Chainlink yelled. "You gave the order, didn't you!?"

"What are you-"

"Quit playing the idiot! You gave the order for the missiles, didn't you!?" When Cherry didn't answer, Chainlink said, "You'd best answer me, or you'll be answering to my buckshot in your brain!" Two SpecOps guards entered the room to restrain him, but Cherry raised a hoof to stop them.

Cherry sighed. "Yes," she said. "But all was not lost."

"You killed off an army of SpecOps and a whole baseload of bucking civillians! And you tried to butter us up with an arrival salute like we're bucking heroes!" Chainlink slammed his hoof on Cherry's desk, and the guards took one step forward. "Now would you like to tell me how 'all was not lost'!?"

Cherry looked him straight in the goggles, and laughed.

"What's so bucking funny?"

"Chainlink, we did not kill those civilians. They had been evacuated when you had exited the base, and directed to a safe zone. They have been evacuated back here and taken to a large living quarters in the west side of the base."

Chainlink stayed silent, then asked, "And the SpecOps you blew up?"

"Also in a safe zone outside of the base, about a quarter mile from the blast area. They have re-joined the ranks among the base. The only casualties are the Infected in the city, and minimal possibility of refugees in Manehattan."

"Then why destroy the city if you sent us in to save it?"

"The city was a loss in itself. Reclamations will be necessary in smaller cities that can easily be reclaimed with a smaller force." Cherry looked back down to her files. "Are you satisfied?"

Chainlink stood where he was, then turned and left the room without a word. He stalked past the rest of the team, and headed for the living quarters. As he passed, the team remained silent, until Cell turned to Itzel.

"Come on. Your daughter needs medical attention." Itzel nodded, and the two headed for the medical department. Nova Team and Harmony's Elements headed for the living quarters, but Chaos remained. He stepped into Cherry's office, and the Commander and soldier made wordless eye contact.

"I assume you wish to know if Morning Star and Flood are alive?" Chaos didn't say a word. "They are alive and well, and are waiting for you in the living quarters. If you want to hold a grudge for a while, I don't blame you." Without another word, Chaos left the room, and closed the door behind him.

But when he closed the door, he muttered, "You're lucky I lost my gun in the explosion." He trotted off down the hall, and headed for the living quarters, his mind a mix of relief and hatred he knew was misdirected, and he had hoped would pass in time.

"What weak, inglorious fools we mortals are.
That war must be, or any need of war.
And yet, the better day is coming when the teachings of the lowly Nazarene Shall be the rule of nations--as of beings;
The sword and bayonet shall be preserved, By the fair children of a nobler race, As relics only, of a barbarous past."
- Pvt. Andy May Clarkson (Story: A Hero Of War)

*Transmission Ended*

Journal Of Echo: Part 1

Fall Equinox - 1 Month Since First Contact

I shoulda known that they would try to blow us all up. It's been some time since I met a pony I could trust. Ever since I had mentored Blade, I knew he'd be an honorable stallion. But I'm starting to think that he's losing it. He's barely shown emotion, let alone that revenge means anything to him. Dingo's been saying that he thinks Blade might "Slip from the pouch".

I assume that means Blade's slipping out of his mind ever so slowly.

But he wasn't the only one we're worried about. Chainlink's been pretty ticked since the destruction of Manehattan. Nearly took Cherry's head off. I assume the only thing that stopped him was that either the guards would shoot him on the spot, or he was just glad that he didn't have to know more innocent blood was on his hooves.

X-Ray's been quiet. And I mean more quiet than he usually is. He's hardly said a word, or interacted with anypony. He's been either the most stable or the most unstable of us all. Nopony knows what's going on in his head. When he had been sent to the Infirmary to be searched for injuries, he walked with a limp, but didn't even look as if he was discouraged. Wounds like his could or could not be serious. I heard from the rest that he hasn't shown even the slightest sign of emotion since they saw the "apparition of Acid". I feel like they were just hallucinating from the post-traumatic stress. Acid's dead. They need to learn to move on, but somehow I feel X-Ray had some sort of connection to her.

I didn't think he was the closet-lovebird type.

Marigold's been as upbeat as she was since she arrived. Sarcastic when she sees fit, but serious when the time is right. Revenge means nothing to her, she just wants to kill with the rest of us, and have a bucking good time doing it. I'd say she might get herself killed like that, but she's not the kind of mare that makes mistakes.

Nova Team's been their old selves. Dingo's kinda like Marigold, but he's been prone to a mistake or two. Socket has had his sophistication in check, and has kept up with the technology with the search-and-repair teams. Cell's been quiet, only speaking when necessary. Being the medic, her skills are unquestionable, but she's kinda like X-Ray. She shows next to no emotion whatsoever. She has no known surviving family, although it seems as though many of us lost our families in the outbreak.

And finally, the newest members of our team.

Itzel and her daughter, TrailBlaze.

Itzel and TrailBlaze are both Alicorns, which is strange, 'cause I don't remember Celestia and Luna having very many relatives past their niece, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Whoever they are, Itzel's a blademaster, and even TrailBlaze has a heart of gold, even though TrailBlaze has recently broken her wing in the explosion of Manehattan. Turns out they had ties to Harrow, too. They survived quite well on their own, but it's not impossible that Harrow is out for their heads. Even though the members of Harrow's leading staff have been locked up, there's no telling if there are any left from Harrow still out there. I'm assuming that they're the ones who sabotaged the barrier, and may be the ones out for our blood, even Itzel's and TrailBlaze.

Bucking shame they got stuck with us.

Well, Harmony's Elements have already killed Dmitri and left Harrow to shame, as well as they've made it this far. Let's hope our luck can last longer than the Infected.

... Celestia forbid we're out first.

~ Chaos

Level 8: Rest & Relaxation

After the bombing in Manehattan, Chainlink had nearly snapped as he had thought that the Canterlot Police Department had betrayed them, just as Harrow's End had. As he busted into Cherry's office, she revealed that the citizens and soldiers of the SpecOps had been sent to secure locations and evacuated, and that the Manehattan recovery was a lost cause. As they begin to settle back into the base, they await orders for their next mission in hopes that this one will not blow up in their faces.

*Begin Transmission*

Chaos shut his journal, staring down at the grey cover. He had been sitting at his desk in the living quarters of the Canterlot Military Department, a small room with a standard bed, dresser, lamp, night table, and work desk, where he now sat. He pulled open a left side drawer and placed the notebook inside, then pushed out his chair, dropped to the floor, and headed for the door.

The door opened into the main C.P.D. living area, occupied with the rest of the team. X-Ray sat in an armchair by a brown, wooden coffee table, cleaning his gun. Chainlink was standing with Blade under a large monitor at the back of the room, showing him how to disarm a mine, with Blade eyeing it with distrust. Marigold and Dingo were conversing next to the exit door on the left wall, and Itzel and Socket were sitting on a couch across from X-Ray, Socket accessing a small laptop computer resting on the arm of the couch.

As Chaos entered the room, he trotted up to a small armchair in front of him at the lower end of the coffee table and climbed on.

"You were... In there for some time..." X-Ray said, not looking up from his Hammer.

"I was busy," Chaos replied simply. X-Ray didn't question further.

There was a bang from the other side of the room, causing everypony to jump and direct their gazes to Chainlink and Blade. The mine had disappeared, only to be replaced by a black blast-zone-shaped shade of ash across the wall, the floor, and the fronts of the two stallions.

Chainlink removed his mask, cleaning ash from the lenses. "I told you to watch the pressure plate!" He scolded Blade. "You're lucky that was a training model, or you would've blown us both to bits!"

Blade removed his own mask, and coughed. "Well, my apologies for not being-"

"Will y'all quit arguin'?" Marigold asked from across the room. "Ya sound like a bunch'a foals."

"The lady's got a point..." Dingo agreed.

Blade began to replace his mask, resetting it with a hsss, letting him disguise his voice before murmuring, "Kiss-up..."

"Do your guys always always act this way?" Itzel asked Socket next to her. Socket just shrugged, focusing on his computer. "Where's Cell and-"

"TrailBlaze?" Chaos asked. Itzel gave a curt nod. "Still in Medical. Cell should be back with her soon."

Moments later, Cell entered from the door on the left, TrailBlaze on her back. When Cell trotted up next to the couch, TrailBlaze hopped off her back, landing next to Itzel on the arm of the couch. Her left wing was wrapped in pink bandages.

"How was she?" Itzel asked.

"Just fine," Cell replied. "They had to put her under for the procedure, but the drugs will be wearing off," she eyed TrailBlaze as she hopped off the couch over Itzel, and landing between her and Socket, "and she seems to be fully conscious."

"What's her condition?"

"It'll take a few months to heal. We need proper technology to replace the damaged nerve, but it was not severed. When we have the proper equipment, she will be flying normally."

Itzel breathed a sigh of relief, and turned to her daughter. "How're you feeling, Tibs?"

"Awesome!" She said. "I've never been put to sleep before. It's kinda like when you sing me a lullaby, but with less singing and more stinging!" She giggled at her pun, giving her bandaged wing a quick flap. "They even let me choose the band-aid color!"

"Be careful," Cell said. "You don't want to split the bandages."

"She's right, Tibs. Listen to Dr. Cell," Itzel said, giving TrailBlaze a peck on the cheek. TrailBlaze giggled, and trotted over to Socket.

"What's that?" She asked, looking at the computer monitor.

"It's called a laptop." Socket pressed a key on the computer, and a small document came up. "See, if I press a certain button on this keyboard, it causes it to come up on this screen."

"How does it work?" TrailBlaze asked, tilting her head.

"It uses technology similar to Blade's hood that causes it to turn him invisible," Socket answered, signaling to the hooded stallion that trotted up next to him, replacing his mask.

"So can the lap-a-ma-jiggy turn invisible?" TrailBlaze tilted her head back upright, and Socket chuckled.

"No, TrailBlaze, it can't turn invisible. But it's something like that."

"So that can only mean one thing..." TrailBlaze turned to Blade. "Blade's a laptop!"

Blade facehoofed his replaced mask, everypony (Except X-Ray) in the room chuckled, and Marigold hopped up to position her head above the back of the couch to look down at TrailBlaze.

" 'At's exactly right, Sugarcube! How'da know?" Blade tried to say something, but X-Ray cut him off.

"Lucky guess..."

Dingo and Chainlink trotted around into the gap between the couch and Chaos's chair. "Somepony should press 'is buttons and see what happens!" Dingo chuckled.

"First of all, I am not a laptop, and-" Blade stopped mid-sentence and looked down. TrailBlaze was poking him in the leg.

"I don't think it's working," She said. Everypony (Except X-Ray again) laughed, and managed to stop just as Commander Cherry's image appeared on the monitor.

"Greetings Nova Team, Harmony's Elements," Cherry said calmly. "Your work in Manehattan has saved many lives, and destroyed a large mass of Infected in the area. Clean-up teams are already moving in, and the city's ruins will soon be quarantined."

"I hope you don't plan to blow them up this time?" Chainlink asked sarcastically.

"Very funny, Chainlink." Cherry adjusted her bifocals. "But your sarcasm is unnecessary. You all saved many lives, and that is a debt unrepayable. Your next mission will, hopefully, be drastically more... Successful. Mission Launch will not be for a few weeks, for you and your team will need time to rest. Good work, Elements." The screen flashed to static, and went black.

" 'Ey!" Dingo said humorously. "What about us?"

"Hoof it, Dingo," Cell said. "Don't act jealous. We are all a team here."

"Eh, don't worry about me." Dingo ran a hoof across the jawline of his mask. "I get plenty attention as it is!" Socket facehoofed, and Cell rolled her eyes under her mask.

"If you all're done admiring yourselves," Chaos got up from his chair, "I'm heading out to-"

"Chaos!" A mare yelled from the doorway at the left, and a SpecOps mare rushed in, embracing Chaos by the neck. Hard.

"-find Morning Star," He finished in a choked voice. Blade chuckled behind him.

"Thank Celestia you're alive! I was worried we lost you in the explosion!" Chaos didn't respond. "Oh! Sorry!" Morning Star giggled slightly, releasing her grip. Chaos took a gasp of air. "Flood and I have been waiting for you in the armory. C'mon, let's meet him there." Chaos rubbed the back of his neck, and the two of them trotted out of the room.

"D'aww, ain't that cute?" Marigold said. "I knew there was a big softie under that hard shell o' his!" She tilted her head slightly, a wistful look on her face.

"Nopony is... Who they appear to be..." X-Ray said, clicking his Hammer Assault Rifle back together. "Even the strongest can be... Affected by gentleness..."

"And apperently," Chainlink started, "Even the ones who like to shut up can prophesize."

"I will assume... That was a compliment..." X-Ray hopped out of his chair.

Itzel stepped off of the couch, TrailBlaze in her bag. "Well, I say we head out after Chaos. All in fair ward?"

"Sure," Dingo replied. "Wha'ever that means!" He trotted for the door, Itzel following.

The Team stood silently for a while, when Socket flipped his laptop closed and set it on the coffee table. "Well, don't just stand there. We have another 'adventure' to prepare for..." He hopped off the couch and followed after the already gone ponies. Blade left after him, and within minutes, the room was empty, all except for X-Ray. He sighed as he said, "Let us hope... Our next mission is not one of suicide..." He exited the room, leaving it in silence.

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable." - Hellen Keller

*Transmission Ended*

Level 9: New Appleoosa

Harmony's Elements and Nova Team have escaped the now ruined Manehattan. Many escaped with only cuts and bruises, while others were not as lucky, as they left with more severe injuries, including TrailBlaze's broken wing. With another mission coming their way, Chainlink is becoming restless, as he is still recovering from the once thought failed mission at Manehattan. Now on their way to the very outskirts of Equestria, their new mission is a little more "old fashioned", as Marigold is soon ecstatic to discover, and as a member of the team finds a lost link from their past long thought gone. Or more so, dead.

*Begin Transmission*

"Welcome back, team," Cherry greeted the Elements and Nova Team in the briefing room. "I understand you have your grudges from the failure of our last mission, but all in all, it was a success." Chainlink grunted, and Cherry disregardingly adjusted her bifocals. "Your new mission will be taking you into the farthest reaches of Equestria." She tapped the presentation screen with one hoof, and a map appeared. The new location was smaller than Manehattan, about the size of a village, with mostly square buildings lined up in two rows down a central street.

"Sweet sister of saloons!" Marigold shouted, jumping up from the table as the others glanced with wary eyes. "Ah know that ol' place!"

"We're sure you do, Marigold," Cherry said. "New Appleoosa."

"Wait... New Appleoosa...?" X-Ray asked. "What became of... The first Appleoosa...?"

Marigold's cheery nature dropped, and she gave a solemn glance at X-Ray. "Ol' Appleoosa was knocked to the ground. Some filly-foolin' militia tore it down fer supplies. Raided it like a starvin' pony to a feed bag."

"Correct," Cherry continued. "New Appleoosa was built several miles south of Manehattan to return the citizens held there, and had been fortified into just short of a military outpost."

"Ah'm sure we won' have to break in this time?" Marigold chuckled. "A few o' the cattle-wranglers around jus' might know me."

"I'm with ya on that one!" Dingo chimed in from next to Marigold. "I might not be the Western type, but meeting a few ponies like us can't hurt."

" 'At's what ah like ta hear!" Marigold patted him on the back. "Good ta see somepony open ta th' Country life! Home, sweet home!"

"Yeah. That's until it's overrun by Infected," Blade said from the end of the table.

"Or blown up again..." Chainlink murmured. Marigold and Dingo immediately went silent.

"Now, if you are done with your opinions, there will be a change in transportation. You will not be traveling by air to New Appleoosa. Severe weather patterns in the area between here and there have prevented flight."

"Then how will we get there?" Socket asked.

"The only way we've got left," Cell answered. "By land."

"You will travel on land in an armored transport propelled by a Pegasi team, and a few guards stationed aboard. It will be risky by land, for we do not know what the Infected are capable of-"

"Stumbling and moaning," Chaos murmured.

Cherry ignored the comment and continued. "-but no problems should arise during your travel. Your mission is to attempt to trade with the citizens of the area. They require your assistance in defenses, medicine, and various other things that you all fit in the category of. In return, they will be giving us much needed technology."

"Will any of it be able to fix TrailBlaze's wing?" Itzel asked.

"Unfortunately, no. They are short on medical supplies as it is. Once the deal has been made, and the technology is in our hooves, you will complete your half of the deal, and return here, where our engineers will relieve you of it, and you will be debriefed. Are there any questions?" Silence. "Excellent. Get moving to the hangar, and good luck."

The teams stood up from the tables and began to leave before Chainlink stopped in the doorway.

"You owe me a new Riot Gun," he said, and slammed the door behind him.

The elevator descended down through the base, and landed in the lower hangar. Chaos stepped off first, followed by Nova Team and Harmony's Elements, with Chainlink at the back. A large, metal transport similar to the aerial transit stood in the middle of the hangar. But instead of a loose transit, it was much larger, able to fit the team and seemingly twenty more, with studded tread wheels at the base, about four armed stallions aboard the top, and the four Pegasi attached to the four top corners.

"Is this supposed to be our transport, or a tank?" Socket asked, eyeing the mobile armor.

Chaos trotted past the side of the transport to the main door, and began to enter a code in the keypad. "I hope you and your team can handle the weight," He said to an armored mare at the front-right corner. "This plus that armor seems a little much."

"Aw, you almost sound worried, Chaos," Bolt said in a robotic voice through her armor. "Sure you can handle hours of being crammed in it?"

"Depends which one you mean," Chaos said back, and Bold gave him a playful shove with her hoof.

The front hatch opened, and the team entered, Chaos at the front, Nova Team in the center, and Harmony's Elements at the back, which still left several feet in front of them from the hatch. Bolt closed the front hatch, and signaled for the other Pegasi to take off. They hovered up into the air, and began to pull forward. The treaded wheels began to turn, and the transport moved off toward New Appleoosa.

"So how's it feel to be on your way home again, Marigold?" Dingo asked across from the golden, riot-armored mare.

"Oh, it ain't mah home. Just an ol' place ah loved to travel to as ah filly. Th' old Appleoosa was Venus's home. Ah hate that she ain't here to see it today." She looked down, a flash of sadness in her eyes, and raised her head back up with a look of amused determination. "But she's watchin' it from above our frettin' little heads, an' it's gonna be great to go back to where ah met 'er."

"New Appleoosa... Was where I had lived for... Many years..." X-Ray said from next to Dingo.

"Really?" Marigold asked. "Ah never saw ya as th' Western type."

"It was never... My permanent home... I had lived there once when I was... Only a colt... And where Harrow drafted me... Into the Corporation..."

"They took you in as only a colt?" Blade asked, a slight hint of anger in his voice.

"It was... My birthday... And the day I was old enough to be..." X-Ray ducked his head. Chainlink chuckled. "Is there... Something funny, Chainlink...?"

"I know what that's like. Thought I was the only one." Chainlink laughed again. "My old stallion nearly shot 'em, if my mom hadn't jumped in the way. He was taken down for murder, by me, to be exact."

"He shot her!?" TrailBlaze gasped from her pack.

"Sure did. I hated both of them anyway. First day they showed me they actually cared. Probably 'cause they wanted to slap me around s'more. So I dragged him off with us, and Harrow said they need more ponies like me. Don't care who they are, just take 'em down if they're the problem." He glanced up, and a few were giving wary looks. He gave a silent chuckle. "Now don't get all worried. That was in Harrow. I ain't gonna betray this team like I did them." He looked back away. "Jeez, you act like I was gonna blow you up or something."

"Betrayl isn't exactly the the most comfortable topic around here. You almost blew me up already," Blade answered.

"Pressure. Plate," Chainlink clarified, and the team all except for X-Ray gave a short laugh. Bolt's voice came over the radio.

"How you guys doing in there? Need some air?"

Chaos pressed a button on the inner wall just below a speaker. "We're doing fine. Just defusing the bomb squad." The team laughed again.

Bolt paused. "Uh, whatever you say? We'll arrive in three hours. Try not to kill each other, kiddies."

"Yes, Mom!" Dingo shouted from the center of the team, and they laughed even harder.

"Don't tempt me, weasel-colt! I'll come in there and beat you like it!" The team laughed even harder, all except for Chainlink and still X-Ray, and the laughter died down as they all noticed.

Chaos pressed the button again. "See you in three hours. Chaos out." He clicked off the radio.

"Well, ah don' know 'bout y'all, but ah'm gonna get some sleep." Marigold spread herself across the bench, and curled up. "If any of y'all wake me 'fore we get there, ah'll hang ya." With a small chuckle, she drifted off.

"That means... You, Dingo..." X-Ray murmured half-heartedly. Dingo chuckled.

"Well, he's tryin' for humor. He'll get there."

"Uh, guys?" Bolt came back on the radio.

Chaos answered. "Here. What's wrong?"

"Command just came on the radio. We've got a problem."

"That doesn't sound good..." Socket murmured.

"What is it?" Chaos asked, and Bolt didn't respond. "Bolt, out with it."

"Uhh..." Bolt paused. "New Appleoosa... Was overrun by Harrow's SpecOps almost a month ago." Bolt flinched as a loud bang sounded and the transit tipped slightly as Chainlink slammed his hoof into the wall, cursing aloud.

A buzz sounded over the speaker inside the transit, and a red light clicked on. Marigold flinched and awoke at the buzz.

"Unh," she groaned. "Wha?"

"We're here," Chaos said.

The transit came to a stop, and Bolt pressed a few buttons on the keypad, opening the hatch. "Welcome to New Castle-Loosa." New Appleoosa had resembled a large, metal-plated fortress. The once bare city was surrounded by a seemingly professional wall of steel plating and scrap. Two spotlight towers stood on either side of a large, two-section plate door, and two guards stood out front. Chaos stepped forward.

"Be careful with them. They might try something funny."

"Yeah," Chainlink agreed sarcastically. "Like hold us for ransom bits."

Chaos began to step forward, but Chainlink shouldered past. "I'll take care of the guards."

"Whatever you do, don't kill them," Chaos warned. Chainlink gave a passive nod. He trotted up to the first guard.

"State your business," The guard said as the rest of Chainlink's team met up a few feet behind him.

"I'm sure you know bucking well why we're here. Now let us in," Chainlink stared down the SpecOps guard with a look of fire through his goggles, but the guard didn't flinch, and repeated his question. "I swear, if you ask me that one more time before you decide to 'politely' open the gate, I'll shove that rifle of yours where it doesn't belong. Now open the door before you find out who the hoof you're dealing with."

"State. Your-" The guard was cut off as Chainlink swept his front leg under the guard's front hooves, knocking him to the ground as he pinned him and his gun to the dirt. The second guard tried to retaliate, but Blade had already charged him, slamming the guard into the wall with Blade's knife at his throat. The two spotlights flashed on above.

"What's going on down there!" An agitated mare shouted down. Her voice became more urgent as she shouted, "Intruders! Open fire!" Several clicking and chinking noises came from behind the wall, as several squads of SpecOps aimed down their guns, and Nova Team and Harmony's Elements drew their own, all except for Marigold.

"Hold on, y'all! Don'cha recognize me? It's me, Marigold! Now how 'bout y'all let us i-" She was cut off as a single shot ricoched off the ground near her hoof, and she flinched back. "Hey! We're on yer side!"

"Take another step, and we'll blow your head off!" The mare shouted from above.

"I don't think they recognize you, Marigold," Cell said, aiming her gun toward the shot. "Stand back." Marigold gave a reluctant snort, and slowly backed away.

"Release our guards!" The mare demanded. Chainlink looked down at the guard under his armored hooves, and pulled them off slowly, giving the guard one final kick in the neck to get his point across. Blade glanced back, and looked forward to his hostaged guard. He gave the guard a curt shove away from his knife, and returned to his team. "Now drop your weapons!"

"Alright," Dingo yelled up. "Now you're pushin' it!"

"Lay them down, before we lay you down!" Dingo groaned, and the team all dropped their weapons. "All of them!" Blade rolled his eyes under his mask, and threw down his knife.

"There! Now what do you want? A pedicure!?" Chainlink yelled up, but the mare didn't respond. "I said, what do you want!?"

The mare didn't respond, but a stallion yelled down, "Send forward the one with the goggles and respirator!" The team all glanced at X-Ray, whose goggled gaze remained on the top of the wall. He stepped forward through the team, and trotted out into the open as the spotlights shined down on him. The stallion trotted forward to the edge of the wall, and murmured something. He jumped from the wall, and seemed to be attempting suicide. Before he hit the bottom, he spread a set of armored wings from his back, and glided down to the ground. His hooves hit the ground, and he skidded through the dirt, leaving a cloud of dust behind him, and stopping right in front of X-Ray.

The stallion was wearing a light armor suit with a black helmet over his head, and two broken goggle lenses. "Take off your mask." X-Ray hesitated, but calmly removed his goggles and suit from off his head, but kept his mask on, revealing his grey color, green mane, and blue eyes. The stallion chuckled. "I knew it was you." He took off his own helmet. He was a darker shade of grey, with a yellow-green mane, and blueberry eyes. "Remember me, X-Ray?"

"He knows you!?" Blade and Chainlink said, and Marigold saying "He knows ya?" at the exact same time in her Southern accent.

X-Ray looked back and said, "Yes... He does... His name is Lens Cap..." He turned his gaze back to the stallion and said, "Pleasant to see you too... Brother..."

"Sometimes we wonder why we have families. That's when they come back and show you when you need them most of all." - Delta 727

*Transmission Ended*

Level 10: New Appleoosa - Odd Jobs

Harmony's Elements have arrived at New Appleoosa, only to discover that it has been taken over by SpecOps. Upon arrival, they are ambushed by SpecOps at the gate after Chainlink had grown too impatient with the guards in front. After being commanded to throw down their weapons, a new commander had arrived at the top of the gate, and demanded for X-Ray to step forward. X-Ray obeyed, and discovered the commanding pony to be a Pegasus, and more importantly, his brother that was once thought dead.

*Begin Transmission*

"I see you've made some friends since we last met," Lens Cap said, looking around the grounds at X-Ray's team. "You their leader or something?"

"We do not... Have a leader..." X-Ray responded. "Not anymore... To be exact... Your friends here were... Our leaders..."

"You were SpecOps?"

"No," Chainlink replied, trotting up by X-Ray. "The SpecOps worked for them. You ever heard of Harrow-"

Lens Cap cut him off. "Yeah. And I already know you worked for 'em. You and my brother here brought them down. Where's the rest of your team?"

Blade trotted up on the other side of X-Ray. "Here. Acid, the fourth member, is dead. But I'm sure you heard that already."

"Yeah!" Marigold said as she trotted up next to Blade. "An' ah've been kinda like her replacement fer some time, and ah'm sure y'all have seen me 'round these parts before. This is mah home town! But as soon as all've us show up, y'all 're pointin' guns at us."

"The only time I've seen you was back at the victory ceremony that was broadcasting here," Lens Cap replied. "One or two here might know you, but they're probably a walking corpse by now."

"Hey, y'all watch what yer sayin' 'bout mah home town. Ah'me sure they're fine."

"They're not. The town was overrun when we arrived. Just about everypony was dead." Marigold went silent.

"Don't worry about it, Marigold. He did say 'just about'." Blade grabbed his knife, and heard several clicking noises from the wall. "Would you be so kind as to tell your friends to put those away?"

Lens Cap chuckled, and turned around. "Drop 'em. They're on our side." After more sounds of clicking, he turned back to the team. "Yeah. I know who Acid is. Or was, as it be. I used to work for Harrow, like X-Ray. He was dragged off just before he was a stallion, and I volunteered to join with him. I didn't exactly have any choice on that anyway, considering I tried to kill one of the guards taking him." He shook his head to the left, back at New Appleoosa. "That's how I came here. I'm the commanding officer of this entire unit." He turned his gaze to X-Ray. "I assumed you would be in about the same place I am. But it looks to me like you're higher than that. Took down our whole corporation." His voice turned cold. "And left us all out of work."

"Hey, watch it," Chainlink ordered. "They were back-stabbing scumbags. You all know that."

"I could care less what they've done," Lens Cap retorted. "It was how we got paid. How we kept our citizens alive."

"Is that not... Why we are here...?" X-Ray asked. "We are here to... Exchange work for technology that... We need, and you can give..."

Lens Cap paused, then said, "Yeah. You do, and we can. But you'll have to earn it. It's a pretty expensive piece of equipment. If you don't pull your weight around here, we'll be selling it for scrap."

"If you think we are here to take orders from you..." Blade began.

"Hey, relax," Lens Cap stopped him. "Just because we need work doesn't mean I'm turning you guys into slaves. We have things that need to be done, and you guys have the skills to do it. You're right. Harrow's gone, and it's their fault we're in this mess. C'mon in." Lens Cap turned around, replacing his helmet and goggles. "The base is all warmed up for you." He trotted forward, and the gates began to open, sliding into the walls of the base with loud creaking noises. The team hesitated to follow, but X-Ray trotted away to catch up with his brother.

"Guess we can trust 'em," Dingo said. "Let's get in there. I got some friends here too." He trotted after the brothers, and Marigold followed.

"Wait fer me, Sugarcube! Ah'd like to see what's gone on in this ol' place!" They trotted away, and the rest of the team soon followed. The gates creaked shut behind them, and the spotlights flickered off, leaving the foregrounds of New Appleoosa in darkness.

"Welcome to your new 'home away from home', fillies," Lens Cap said, waving his hoof across the old, worn down village in front of him. New Appleoosa had only one dirt road that ran down the middle of two rows of old, wooden buildings, each marked for it's own purpuse. A medical center, a food store, an old saloon and lounge, a produce center, an abandoned livestock pen, a carriage garage, an armory, a few old cottages, and a large steel building at the end labled, 'Command Center'. "I'll have you all divided up to your jobs soon enough, but first I'll get you up to speed on what's going on around here." He stopped and turned to the team. "New Appleoosa was over run a while back, as you heard. Not too many civilians survived, but we saved a few. Some moved into the cottages, but we've got a few others at work, and you'll be meeting them soon. You'll be either surprised or shocked to hear we even found a few unicorns that survived. Although," he leaned around to look at Itzel and TrailBlaze peeking out of her bag, "it looks like you've got a couple of your own."

"Yeah. We've seen it all," Chainlink said impatiently. "Now drop the history lesson and get us workin' so we can get what we came for, whatever it is."

"Easy now, you'll get your jobs," Lens Cap continued. "But first, I need to know your names, and what you do." Chainlink started first.

"Name's Chainlink. Demolition."

"Blade. Stealth and Reconnaissance."

"Shorten that down a little?" Lens Cap asked.

"... Recon."

"Name's Dingo. I'm Nova Team's Sniper."

"Socket. Nova Team's Engineer and Technician."

"Cell. Nova Team Medic."

"Name's Marigold! An ol' native from th' first Appleoosa, an' I used t' work on th' cattle ranches 'n farms. Other'n that, ah know how t' handle a gun."

"I'm Itzel. I don't use guns, so I uses knives and bows."

"I'm TrailBlaze! I don't do much, but I know how to shoot a sniper... Kinda." Dingo grinned under his mask.

"And I assume you're still in surveillance, X-Ray?" Lens Cap asked. X-Ray nodded. "Good. Just thought you guys should know, I'm specialized in something like a mix of surveillance and recon. I'm a spotter for the wall guards, and I know how to handle a rifle if I need to. Now, I'll split you all into your jobs." Lens Cap split the team to be sent to their locations of need: Chainlink, Blade, and Dingo to separate sections of the armory, Socket to the garage, Cell to the medical center, Marigold to the produce center, and Itzel and TrailBlaze to the old saloon, due to none of the soldiers needing knife training without using stealth. "Well, hop to it."

"And what about... Me...?" X-Ray asked. Lens Cap chuckled.

"Well, you're with me at the wall. I've got a job for you there." X-Ray went silent.

The team all parted ways for their stations.

Chainlink, Blade, and Dingo arrived at the armory, splitting ways to their departments. Chainlink entered the explosives and defenses department, where there were several armored ponies working with different kind of equipment in a room full of varying technology. Control panels, sandbags, plexi-glass disarm stations. One armored stallion was working at a control panel, with armor similar to Chainlink's, only thicker with red stripes across the padded shoulders, unlike the others. He trotted up to the stallion, and tapped his shoulder.

"Hey. I'm looking for the head pony here," Chainlink said.

The stallion turned around. "Well, you found him," he said in a rather serious voice. "What's it you need?"

"Lens Cap told me I could help here. Names Chainlink."

"Hm." the stallion paused. "Yeah. Lens Cap told me you'd be here." He held out his hoof. "Name's Shrapnel."

Chainlink pressed his hoof to Shrapnel's, and put it back down. "So what's the deal?"

"We've got a few new recruits that volunteered, and could use your direction. Call 'em in, line 'em up, and get 'em at it. Just make sure they can do anything from place a mine to... Yeah, that'll be enough."

"Yeah, sure... Do they at least know a pressure plate is?"

"Yeah. Why?"

Chainlink grinned. "Just an old mishap from a while back that ain't gonna happen here."

Blade entered into the Stealth department, only to find the room dark. As the light flooded in from the door, it landed on an infected pony in the middle of the room. He reacted immediately, racing forward and slamming it into the wall, the infected groaning in rage. He drew his knife, driving it through the Infected's left temple, and its moaning ceased as it slunked to the floor. He drew his knife back into its holster, as a mare's voice came from behind him.

"Hey! What's the matter with you!?" The mare appeared in a light, grey armor dotted with hex-design patterns and tinted goggles. Three more, all stallions, appeared behind her. All three were holding jagged knives. The mare sheathed hers, and trotted up to Blade and giggled, giving him a light shove. "You might be here to help us, but you don't have to snap on a target like that."

"Er, sorry," Blade replied bluntly. "I'm guessing you've heard who I am already?"

"That's right," the mare said, removing her goggles to show a pair of brown eyes and an outer lining of orange fur. "It's Blade, right? Well, I'm Golden Haze. Most just call me Haze. These guys are Black Hawk, Snapper, and Ink Well." Haze put her goggles back on. "So, a stealth colt, huh?"

"If that's what you want to call it, sure. I was told I'd be here to assist with something?"

"Well, that's true. So let's start with step one: Loosen up a bit. We might be the ones that're here to be quiet, but we're not royalty, so don't act like we'll be pushing you around in here."

"Um... Sure. So what do you need? It already looks like you're good enough without me."

"I'm not sure how you can say that," Haze replied, looking at the carcass at the back wall. "You kinda killed our target. I'm trying to get these guys to toughen up and get close enough to even poke 'em. They can't smell or see us, so show 'em what you've got."

Blade nodded. "Take a seat."

Dingo found his way to the elevator, and hit the button for the roof. About halfway up, which was about one floor, the elevator stopped, and a stallion in black camouflage and thermal goggles stepped in. His mane and head were left uncovered, revealing a long, yellow mane with a white body, and a long rifle strapped over his back. He reached to hit a button for his floor, but pulled his hoof back when he saw the roof access already pushed.

"Headed there too, eh?" Dingo asked. The stallion remained silent as the door closed. "Sooo... Are you part of the snipers too?" Still no answer. Dingo sighed and remained silent until the elevator reached the roof. The door opened to several sand bags aligned along the edge of the concrete roof, looking out into the surrounding fields of the area. Several other ponies in similar armor to the white stallion stood by them, rifles in hoof. Dingo stepped forward, but the other stallion cut him off, stepping out first. He muttered an insult, and stepped out. "Hey, y'all!" He said to the snipers.

"Shh!" A pink mare said to him, and turned back to her rifle.

"Don't worry about her," a young, light-voiced stallion said next to him. "We kinda have to keep our voices down here. You know, 'snipers-at-work'?"

"Yeah, I get it..." Dingo whispered. The stallion from the elevator grabbed a rifle, taking position with the rest. "What's wrong with him?"

"Nothing. He just doesn't talk. Don't even know what he sounds like. Oh, sorry. Forgot you're new here. My name's Laser Sight. Just call me Laser. Sounds cooler."

"Cool. I'm Dingo. Was told by the boss you need me?"

"Sure do." Laser trotted over to the barrier next to the rest. "Get a suppressor on your rifle. We're not here to attract every Infected this side of Canterlot." Dingo grabbed a suppressor from a small cargo crate by the sandbags, but dropped it, causing it to ting against the concrete. Every pony on the roof glared at him. He froze, whispered, "Uh, sorry..." and awkwardly reached down and grabbed it, carefully screwing it onto his barrel. He aimed his rifle down range. "So how do I help?"

"See those targets down there?" Dingo peered through his scope, spotting several marked barrels, crates, and a few infected tied to posts, a few already dead.

"Yeah."

"Point out targets by coordinate, and each sniper'll take it out. Call one or two for yourself, if you want. We need the target practice. A few here are still new."

The pink mare looked back at him. "And were putting bullets through their eyes before you had your cutie mark." She turned back to the range, a grin on her face.

"Easy there, Back Track. Now listen to what Mr. Dingo tells you to do." She elbowed backward into his shoulder, grinning wider.

"Well, then," Dingo said, arming his rifle. "Follow my lead, fillies..."

Socket entered the small garage, which held shelves full of old toolboxes and parts. In the center of the oil-stained room was a large transport, this one attached and run by a large, covered engine. The engine cover was open, and a small, brown pony with two crossed double-edged wrenches was digging around inside.

"Excuse me," Socket said. "Are you the mechanic here?"

The brown pony pulled her head from the engine compartment, holding a wrench similar to her cutie mark in her mouth. She was a unicorn that had a light blond mane and dark purple eyes. She spit the wrench from her mouth, causing it to clang to the floor.

"Oh. Hi," she said. "What's up?"

"My name is Socket. I'm here because Lens Cap said you needed my services?"

"Depends, are you good with this kinda thing?" the unicorn asked.

"Oh, absolutely."

"Then, yeah, I guess I do. The name's Quick Fix." Quick Fix turned back to the engine. Socket stood silently, then trotted up to the open engine, Quick Fix messing around inside.

"Can I ask how I can help?" Socket asked.

Quick Fix waved her hoof over at one of the shelves, not leaning out of the engine department. "Grab me a flathead screw driver?"

Socket trotted over to a toolbox, flicked it open, and grabbed a plastic-handled screwdriver. He brought it back over to Quick Fix, who took it in her magic and levitated it into the engine with her.

"Now get your head in here and be ready to help me out."

"Of course," Socket said politely, and stood up on his hind legs, leaning into the engine.

Cell passed through the glass, automatic doors of the medical center. Inside was a small reception desk with a white, red-maned mare with red eyes behind the desk. "I'm here with orders from Lens Cap," Cell said.

"Oh, good!" the mare at the desk said. "The Doctor is waiting for you. Through there." The mare pointed to a door marked, 'Recovery'.

"Thanks," Cell said simply, and went through the next automatic door. Inside was a small hallway lined with doors, four on each side, and the first door on the left ajar. She pushed it open gently, "I'm looking for the Doctor?" Cell said as she entered.

"In here!" Came a stallion's voice. A dark yellow stallion with a brown, neatly kept mane with a pair of glasses and lab coat on was standing at the bedside of a copper-colored, pitch white-maned stallion in a front leg cast. "Lay still. You'll be released in a few days."

"Aw, c'mon, Doc," the injured stallion said. "I should be back on my hooves right now."

"No, you shouldn't be," the Doctor responded. "Now rest," he grinned. "Doctor's orders."

The stallion grunted his agreement and laid back down. The Doctor trotted up to Cell, adjusting his glasses back to his blue eyes. "Hello there. I understand Lens Cap has you here to help me?" Cell nodded. "Well, excellent. I could use it. My name is Doctor Olive Branch. And you?"

"Cell."

"Cell... How interesting. Perhaps you can help me with mister reckless over here..."

"Hey, I heard that, Doc," the stallion said with a grin.

"Oh, hush," Olive Branch said. "Come. I need you to test something." He trotted over to the stallion on the bed, and Cell followed. "I need you to examine his leg, make sure his healing is functioning."

Cell trotted forward, lifting the stallions leg. "Hey there, miss," the stallion said. "You didn't come in here just to flirt with me, did'ya?"

Cell rolled her eyes behind her green goggles. "What did he injure?"

"A few fractures spread around in his leg. I won't go into the 'scientific' details. It gives our patient here a headache..."

Cell ran her hoof just above the cast, pressing gently. The stallion grunted in pain. "He's healing," Cell confirmed.

"Excellent," Olive Branch said. "Then the surgery was a success. We haven't been as effective with less equipment than we would like."

The stallion grimaced. "Or anesthesia, on that point..." The stallion glanced back at Cell, pretending to toughen up. "But I've had worse than a few needles in my bones."

"Now, now, Scrap Metal," Olive Branch warned. "You're here to heal, not as you say, 'speed date'." Scrap Metal gave one last curt nod, and laid back down. "Thank you for your help, Cell. Now, we have a few more patients I could use help with."

Marigold stepped into the cool, damp atmosphere of the glass greenhouse, also known as the Produce Center. Inside, the air was thick with mist from sprinklers, and lining the floor were rows of tables covered in produce. Some were still growing in plant trays, while others were freshly picked and carefully placed inside wooden bins. And the produce consisted of just about everything that could be grown. Grasses, daisies, tomatoes, carrots, and so on. Marigold found herself gazing around the produce, her mouth watering. She had never seen so much food of such quality for months! She was broken from her trance by a hoof holding out a small baby carrot to her.

"Here, try one," a soft mare's voice said. Marigold turned to see a mare with a blond body and a blue mane with matching blue eyes. On her flank was a cutie mark of a basket of blueberries.

"Well thank ya!" Marigold replied. "Don' mind if ah do!" She tilted her head down, and took the carrot in her mouth. She grinned as she chewed, and the mare in front of her smiled. When she had finished the carrot, Marigold noticed a small filly next to the mare, with a matching body color, but a lighter blue mane and eyes, and no cutie mark. "Well, hello there!" Marigold said to the filly.

"Hello," the filly said politely.

"Oh, pardon me," the gardening mare said. "Where are my manners? My name is Spring Harvest, and this is my daughter, Blue Belle."

"Well, what fine names y'all have! Ah'm Marigold." She held out her hoof. Spring placed her hoof with Marigold's, and set it back.

"So Lens Cap says you used to be a farmer, hm?"

"Ah guess so!"

"Oh, good. We would love your help here. There's so many mouths to feed, we could use the help."

"Ah'd be delighted!"

"It'd be very appreciated. Blue Belle, go and tend the apples, would you please?" Blue Belle scampered off toward the apple orchids. "And you can help me get a few baskets of beets?"

"Sounds good t' me!" Marigold grabbed a small, woven basket from next to one of the tables. Spring did the same. They trotted over to a table sprouting with plants growing with the purple vegetables. The two began picking, filling their baskets.

"So I hear you're not here all by yourself, Marigold?" Spring asked.

"Oh, not in th' slightest," Marigold responded. "We got plenty o' us 'round here now. I ain't the only one put to work. It'll be good for 'em."

"Well, good." Spring picked another beet. "There's quite a few of us that need help around here. I'm just glad to have another mare to talk to that isn't Quick Fix, our mechanic. She's not much for gardening."

"That ain't th' only thing good 'bout us bein' here. Turns out one o' us is Lens Cap's brother!"

"Oh? I didn't know he had any living relatives."

"They didn't seem too thrilled. No huggin', no cryin', just a bland ol' greeting. Now from X-Ray, ah can kinda understand. But Lens Cap, ah'm sure he actually is one fer expressin' bout 'is family."

"Give them time. I'm sure they'll be better soon enough."

"Ah sure hope so. X-Ray needs th' company o' a brother right 'bout now."

Itzel found herself in the old saloon, sitting in a booth with TrailBlaze next to her, still in her bag. A waitress had served them both waters, and they found themselves staring at them, but no thirst came to them. So they sat quietly at the table. Soon after, a stallion covered in black armor similar to the snipers, only removed from his head and part of his back, revealing white wings, a white body, and light green mane and eyes, came and sat across from them at the booth.

"I'm not here for a date," Itzel said, not looking up from her drink.

"Good, neither am I," the stallion replied. "I'm here 'cause I saw you comin' into town with all those others. Heard you were a blademaster."

"Who's asking?" Itzel looked up at the white stallion.

"Winter Mint," the stallion said. "It just so happens I've a bit of an eye with a blade too." He pulled a small, pointed knife from a belt on his waist, cast it across the room, nailing into a dartboard put up on a post, just to the right of the bullseye. Itzel looked at it, impressed, then glanced at Trailblaze, both of them grinning.

"Oh, yeah?" Itzel said, drawing one of her own knives, tossing it across the room, and landing an inch inside the bullseye. A direct hit. Winter grinned.

"You've got quite an aim. What's your name?"

Itzel looked him in the eye with a gaze as sharp as her aim. "Itzel." TrailBlaze hopped up and put her front hooves on the table. "I'm TrailBlaze!"

"Ah, you have a daughter. You two look alot alike." Winter glanced at TrailBlaze's cast-covered wing. "Ouch. What happened there?"

"She was injured in a fall. Don't have the equipment to fix it yet."

"I'm sorry to hear that," he stood up, trotted to the dart board, and pulled out the knives. "You're Alicorns. Did Celestia herself teach you your aim?"

"No," Itzel replied. "I taught myself."

"Interesting." Winter trotted back to the table, sheathed his own knife, and gave Itzel hers. She gladly took it, and sheathed it with the rest, showing the rows of others. "That's quite the pointers you've got there. Do they work on the corpses?"

"One in the eye, and they're done. I can handle one or two at a time, but a crowd's a problem." Itzel grinned. "That's why I've got plenty of guns to back me up."

"Good to hear." Winter pulled another knife from his belt. "Care for a game?"

Itzel drew her own knife. "You're on."

"Welcome to The Wall, X-Ray," Lens Cap said. The two brothers were trotting through the corridors lined through the walls. The outer side was riddled with holes big enough for a gun to fit in, and easy to see out of, but not in to.

"And this is where... We will be working...?" X-Ray asked.

"It is. I just wanted to bring you here to have a talk first." Lens Cap looked around to make sure no pony was looking. "About what happened... I'm sorry it ended like it did." X-Ray went silent. "I know you don't like to talk about it, but it wasn't supposed to be the way it was."

"You and I both... Thought the other was dead..." X-Ray replied.

"But we're here now." Lens Cap placed a hoof on X-Ray's shoulder. "We're gonna hold out here, and we'll get out of this mess. None of your friends need to know." He put his hoof down. "Be careful out there."

"Same to you..."

"Alright, now down to business, let's get to work..." The two trotted away further into the wall, heading to begin their jobs as brothers once more.

"We can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air, but only for one second without hope." - Anonymous

*Transmission Ended*

Special Commendations To: QuickFix Pony

http://www.facebook.com/matthew.q.kun?fref=ts

Level 10.5: Counting Losses

As Harmony's Elements become settled into New Appleoosa, the anonymous ponies that had released the Infected across Equestria now reunite to discuss the ongoing situation of the retaking of the cities, and the possibility that their plan may be failing.

*Begin Transmission*

The overhanding light above the table glimmered on once more, and a light flooded the room as a door opened, revealing the outlines of three ponies in its glare. The three trotted inside and took their places at the table. Their deceased partner had his body removed from the room, and the blood cleared. They began counting over the situation.

"I thought you said that this plan would be foolproof!" One pony said.

"What is to say it's failing?" replied the second. "We've managed to break them down and separate them, and it is only a matter of time until it spreads just below the reaches of Canterlot. They can't hide up there forever."

"Yes, they can!" the third shouted. 'They have food, guns, and nearly every surviving member of Equestria that are not currently camped out in the ruins of the city! And they have already nuked Manehattan! Who knows what they will do if they discover where we're operating from!?"

"Silence!" shouted the first. "We will get nowhere with mindless assumptions and keeping the idea that one destroyed city means the end of us! They have weapons, yes, but we have an army of the dead. They are currently in New Appleoosa, which is nothing short of an armored fortress. Our spies say they are looking for a type of equipment that the base leader Lens Cap has in possession. We have do find out what it is, and find it before they do!"

"But we don't even know what it is," the third said.

"Which is why it is even more dangerous. We must discover what it is they are trying to get, and get it before they have the chance to use it. It could be a biochemical weapon that could wipe out the Infected, or it could be a saddlebag. Celestia only knows! But if they have it somewhere like behind the walls of New Appleoosa, then it poses a threat."

"And what do you propose we do to get it?" The second asked.

"it's simple," the first answered. "We walk in the back door and take it." The other two went silent. "No arguments? Then we're agreed."

"That," the third continued, "Or the fact you would kill one of us on the first word of our retalia-" The third was cut off by the click of a pistol. The first had pulled his pistol and aimed it across the table at the third. "... I rest my case. Now put it away so I can order the teams to move in for the equipment." The first hesitated, then lowered his sidearm back to its holster. "Thank you. I think one death of us is enough. Now, in order to retrieve this equipment, we will have to sneak around undetected. The walls are constantly patrolled, and highly equipped. The only way to fix that is to draw their attention. And I've got an excellent, although risky, idea on how to do just that..."

The other two leaned in, and the first encouraged him on with, "Go on..."

*Transmission Ended

Level 11: Border Patrol

After arriving in New Appleoosa, the team all found ways to join in where they were needed in exchange for the equipment Lens Cap, head leader of the New Appleoosa base and X-Ray's brother, had for them in trade. After they each met the leaders or owners of the services they could provide, it became a mutual thought that they had finally found a sanctuary in the wasteland. But that would soon change, as their unknown enemy hidden in the shadows has come out into the light for revenge, and come to ruin the peace in the barricaded town for good.

*Begin Transmission*

Only hours after the Elements arrived in New Appleoosa, the sun began to set just as the travelers were seen heading into the main building at the end of the street. After crowding into a small elevator, which took two trips to get them all, they finally arrived on the top floor of the compound. The top floor consisted of nothing more than white walls, a tile floor, a long dead plant on either side of the elevator exit, a few tattered wood chairs, and a single door about 25 feet away from the elevator with a bronze plate engraved, "Captain's Quarters".

"That where he said he'd be, X-Ray?" Chainlink asked. X-Ray said nothing. Only made his way out of the crowd of ponies, trotted up to the door, and tapped on it with his hoof three times. The name panel on the door suddenly slid to the right, leaving only a rectangle of black, and X-Ray backed up to let whoever was inside see him. The panel slid back shut, a click sounded from the other side, and the door creaked open just enough to let X-Ray in. After slipping through the door, it immediately slammed back shut.

After a long pause, Marigold said, "Well, ain't that jus' a fine howdy-do?"

"Better than having a gun at our muzzles," Blade replied. Chainlink grunted in agreement.

Dingo stepped out of the group. "Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm not gonna stand here all day." He trotted up to one of the chairs, and climbed into it, leaning his head back against the wall. After a long moment of silence, the rest joined him, taking seats in the remaining chairs and on the floor, listening to the muffled voices coming from the other side of the closed door.

---

After about an hour of waiting, the door finally opened. All eyes and attention went to it, but all they saw was an open door. After a long pause and before any of them could speak, X-Ray and Lens Cap stepped out side by side.

"It's about time!" Itzel stood up off the floor. "Were you having a foal in there or something?" TrailBlaze giggled inside her bag.

"Very funny," Lens Cap retorted. "Now if you're done with the sarcasm, we might have a problem."

"Oh, fantastic..." Chainlink groaned. "As if we haven't had our share of those."

"Agreed..." X-Ray looked over at his brother. "Should I... Explain...?"

"I'll do it," Lens Cap responded. "No offense, but I'd be a lot faster." A few ponies chuckled, and Lens Cap shot them a sharp look. "Our town guards have seen a few living ponies sneaking around the outer walls, running with tails between their legs when our spotlights even got near them. We thought they were just scavengers, but as far as we remember-"

X-Ray cut in. "Scavengers... Do not carry silenced weapons..."

"Exactly," Lens Cap finished.

"So why have none of your guards blown their manes from their necks?" Cell asked.

Lens Cap didn't even glance at her. "We don't shoot unless they pose a direct threat."

"Silenced weapons sounds like they could belong to a militia, or something much bigger. An organized government, perhaps?" Socket offered.

All of the ponies started murmuring at once. X-Ray and Lens Cap said nothing until Lens Cap pulled out a small pistol and fired it toward the ceiling. A few in the group gasped or screamed, and then the room went silent.

Except for Marigold, who was absolutely ticked.

"Wha's th' matter with y'all!? It's bad enough without this hoofer shootin' at us!" She shoved a hoof against Dingo's shoulder.

"Calm down, it's a blank." Lens Cap held up the pistol, which turned out to be made out of plastic. "We put gunpowder in these, and shoot them at the wall to get the infected to move out of the way of the gate so we can come in or out. Or in this case, to silence a room full of blabbermouths. Now if you'll let me continue, you're probably wondering why I brought you all in here to hear about this." He held up a hoof to silence Chainlink, who nearly tried to make a smart comment. "It's because I want every last one of you on the wall by moon rise." Several of the team started to argue, but Lens Cap fired the pistol again. "This isn't up for discussion."

"But there is... One exception..." X-Ray asked. Lens Cap paused, then shrugged. "The filly... Should not be required to stay..."

Itzel spoke up. "Yeah, TrailBlaze shouldn't have to do something she isn't needed for. Let her stay with Harvest."

"Fine," Lens Cap agreed. "She can stay behind, but I won't be hearing any excuses from the rest of you. Report to the front desk downstairs." Lens Cap scanned the crowd. "Hold on, wasn't there one more of you when you arrived?"

"Chaos," Blade said. "He came to this building when he got here. Trotted away when you started assigning places. I'll get him when I find him."

"Do whatever you have to do," Lens Cap said. "Just make sure he's accounted for."

"Well what're we waitin' for?" Marigold spoke up. "That ol' lug'll find 'is own way back! Le's get out there already!"

Dingo put a hoof on her shoulder. "Simmer down there, lil lady. We've all been cooped up for a while. You'll get plenty of time out there." Marigold just kept smiling.

"Don't have too much fun out there," Lens Cap cut in. "Remember, you're out there to keep watch on anything outside the gate. We need all eyes out there after spotting the suspected mercenaries out there."

"Mercenaries, huh?" A deep voice came from the door behind the ponies. They all turned to see Chaos standing there. He calmly shouldered his way through the crowd to stand in front of Lens Cap and X-Ray. "What makes you think they're mercenaries, and not scavengers?"

Before Lens Cap could respond, X-Ray spoke up. "Scavengers don't carry... Silenced weapons..."

Lens Cap spoke next. "We think they might be hired guns from some kind of organized government."

"Hm..." Chaos paused for a moment, then chuckled, lowering his head slightly. "Well, that's buckin' great..."

"What?" Blade asked. "What're you thinking?

Chaos raised his head. "You're not gonna like what I'm thinking."

Chainlink stepped forward, his voice hard. "Spit it out."

Chaos didn't even glance at him. "They're definitely organized government. In fact, they've already got a name for themselves."

"Yeah?" Chainlink asked. "And what's that, smart flank?"

Now, Chaos finally turned to look at Chainlink.

"Harrow's End."

---

"When there is no peril in the fight, there is no glory in the triumph." - A. Alvarez

*Transmission Ended*

Just a little heads up for you guys. As of the release of this chapter, the epilogues of the characters stated at the end of the first story (Operation: Equestrian Downfall) have been altered. All of them are still the same, except that their deaths have been revoked. They still received their promotions and all that, but their deaths are not yet known. I decided that if I'm gonna have sequels, it's just too soon to make up deaths. So how do they die? DO they die? You don't know anymore...!

Level 12: Hometown Security

Harmony's Elements have traveled to New Appleoosa to trade work for an unknown technology unit, and have been assigned to patrol the outer wall of the city after unknown armed ponies were seen traversing the border of the city. At first, they assumed they were only scavengers, or worst case scenario, mercenaries. But after Chaos had found out about the lone ponies, he had pieced together that they were not scavengers. They were part of a reorganized government that had already been long destroyed. Or so they had thought...

*Begin Transmission*

The room was silent for several seconds, until Chainlink finally started chuckling.

"I gotta tell ya, Chaos," he said. "You really know how to tick me off."

"You think I'd make something like this up?" Chaos asked. "If they were scavengers, what would they be doing wandering around the wall of a random city that we just happen to be in? And where did they get guns at all, let alone silenced? There are no armories or gun stores anywhere in Equestria they could've raided for them, and unless Canterlot's been sending soldiers that act like they'd be shot if they were seen, I doubt they came from there either. So unless there's some other group of ponies with access to weapons just below the Canterlot guard, then Harrow's End is all that's left."

Chainlink just shook his head. "Lemme tell you something. If Harrow's End WAS still out there, then they'd be a wreck. There's nopony left to keep them in line. So unless Canterlot's been hiding something from us, which would mean I'd have to cut that Cherry mare's throat with her own badge, there ain't a Harrow's End left out there. End of story." Chaos tried to speak again, but Chainlink cut him off. "I said. End. Of. Story."

"Now, y'all hold on," Marigold spoke up, stepping to the front of the crowd, between Chaos and Chainlink. "We ain't endin' anything yet. They might er might not be our dear ol' friends at Harrow. But that ain't the problem right now. We ain't here fer Harrow. We're here fer that machine."

"We'll keep looking into it," Blade cut in. "But for now, we've got a job to do. Let's get it done so we can get the machine and leave."

"That's another problem I've got with this," Chainlink said. "What's this 'machine' that we're going through all this for? Or are you gonna tell me it's-"

"Classified," Chaos finished.

"Oh, so you get to know what it is?" Chainlink threw back. "What does Canterlot really have to hide from us? A bomb, so they can almost kill us, like back in Manehattan?"

"Whatever it is, it's not something you need to be putting your muzzle in," Chaos replied. "You're being paranoid."

"Yeah? Well, last time in Manehattan, all we got was, 'there's a certain percent on whether or not we're gonna blow you apart'!" Chainlink pushed past Marigold to step right up to Chaos. "Y'hear that? They had a PERCENT. Clearly they're thinking, 'Maybe if we give them some kinda reassurance, they won't suspect a thing'! And when we get back, they try to sugarcoat it. So yeah, I don't trust Canterlot. Shoot me for it, if they don't first."

"Enough!" Lens Cap raised his voice, silencing the room. "You're here to help New Appleoosa. Whatever you're so worried about, it can wait until you're done here. Now all of you get out there, and help the guards on the wall, so we can ship you outta here already!"

Chaos just stared at Chainlink for a minute, then turned away and shouldered his way though the crowd, leaving the room and closing the door behind him.

"I meant all of you," Lens Cap said firmly.

One by one, they all began to leave. Starting with Itzel, followed by Nova team, Marigold, Blade, and finally Chainlink, after muttering a few crude statements under his breath. X-Ray almost left last, but Lens Cap stopped him.

"Wait," Lens Cap held up one hoof to stop him. "There's something we need to talk about." He trotted to the door, closed it, locked it, and pushed the small sliding hatch over to look through the hole, checking to see if anypony had lingered back to listen in. Then, he slid it shut, and turned back to X-Ray. "I know that telling you the other day that what happened wasn't your fault didn't help. But it's better that you move on from it. You've got a new team now that you need to be thinking about."

"I am not thinking about... The incident..." X-Ray replied.

"Nice try, X-Ray, but I've known you my entire life." Lens Cap trotted away from the door to stand back next to X-Ray. "Your team might not be able to tell what you're thinking, but I can read you like a book. What happened was not on you. It was the mission, and you did what you could."

"Then how was I... The only survivor...?" X-Ray asked. "They trusted me... And I was the only pony to... Come home alive..."

"Don't talk like that." Lens Cap put a hoof on X-Ray's shoulder. "You led them in with them knowing perfectly well what they were getting in to. They trusted you to lead them to completing the mission. They all died as heroes, but it's because of you that they were heroes."

"I am not a foal..." X-Ray replied. "Their lives were... My responsibility... But now, Harmony's Elements are... My new priority... Now, if you will excuse me..." He turned around for the door.

Lens Cap paused, then stopped him. "Wait. There's one more thing you should know, but don't tell anyone I told you this."

X-Ray stopped. "I'm listening..."

Lens Cap took a deep breath. "You deserve to know what the machine is that Canterlot is so desperate to get from us."

About 30 minutes later, X-Ray finally exited the main building, barely surprised to find the rest of the team waiting outside for him by the wall. Silently, he trotted over, only to be met by questioning looks.

"What took ya so long in there?" Marigold asked.

"Lens Cap... Wanted to talk..." X-Ray replied. " I need to get to my post... On top of the wall..." He began to trot away through the crowd.

"Hold it," Blade said. "What'd he want to talk about for so long?"

X-Ray stopped. "It was nothing..."

"You don't talk about nothing for half an hour," Blade said. "Now just spit it ou-"

"It is none of your concern!" X-Ray shouted, followed by labored breathing. Silence fell over the crowd. Not once, no matter how long any of them had known him, had any of them heard X-Ray raise his voice. Harmony's Elements had secretly thought that if he did, he'd blow a vocal cord.

After a while, X-Ray sighed. "I... I'm sorry... I did not mean to..." X-Ray felt something wrap around his leg. He looked down to see TrailBlaze hugging his leg.

"Don't be mad, X-Ray," she said. "They're sorry for asking. All better?" X-Ray just grunted, gently pulling away his hoof. TrailBlaze carefully let go, smiling up at him before trotting away back to Itzel, crawling into her bag.

Trying to think of something else to say, X-Ray looked around the crowd of ponies around him, only to notice that one of them was missing. "Where is Chainlink...?"

"We thought he was with you," Itzel said in a monotone voice. "Never saw him come out."

"What...!?" X-Ray asked with a sense of alarm in his voice. "Why was he-"

A voice raised from behind them. "I knew I couldn't trust that little bucker!" Chainlink shouldered his way through the crowd to stand in front of X-Ray. "So that's what you were hiding, huh!?" He shoved a hoof against X-Ray's chest. "We've known you all this time, but you can't even tell us what you've had locked up!? And to think we could trust you!"

Chaos finally cut in. "That's enough, Chainlink! What're you talking about?"

"What am I talking about?" Chainlink turned on Chaos. "You're asking me what I'm talking about? How do we know you're not hiding it too!? Buck, who's to say all of you aren't a bunch'a back-stabbing traitors!?"

"Chainlink, we ain't got th' slighted idea what yer talkin' about!" Marigold spoke up. "Whadda they got in lockup yer so mad about?"

"Lockup? Lockup!?" Chainlink yelled. "Y'know that 'technology' they've hid from us since we got here? Well it just so happens, it's not 'technology' at all! It's-" Chainlink was suddenly cut off.

The conversation ended when the wall exploded, crumbling down on top of them.

X-Ray's vision finally began to come back. It faded in and out continuously, his brain trying to come back to consciousness. He picked up several bits of sounds and images.

Fire.

Rubble.

Screaming.

Gunfire. And worst of all...

Infected ponies.

X-Ray tried to look around, his mind in a panicked blur. His vision goggles were gone, and his gun was missing. He finally sat up, his suit torn in several places, some with bleeding cuts underneath. He pulled off his head cover. His green mane was ruffled, and his grey face was marked with blood, sweat, and dirt. His whole body hurt, and his ears were ringing, but he barely noticed as he took in the scene around him.

The ground was covered in broken pieces of the wall. There were small fires all around him. He heard ponies, screaming and firing weapons, in the distance. The air was thick with smoke and dust. He saw what he thought were ponies stumbling past him. And they were.

And all of them were infected.

He tried to get up, but fell back to the ground. Suddenly, something hooked under his leg, and put him on his hooves. He tried to look around for the source, but all he heard was a faint voice whisper, "Run, or you'll die..." And they were gone.

He tried to find the source of the voice, but couldn't find anything, and he thought he was hallucinating. His brain was throbbing in his skull, and he had trouble distinguishing so much as his left hoof from his right. He shook his head to clear his thoughts, drew his knife and his sidearm pistol, being the only weapons he had left on him, and ran towards the gunfire, trying to keep his weapons in hoof while galloping at the same time. He stumbled from the pain in his body, but he galloped on. He shoved any infected in his way, and finally managed to make out a a large group of living ponies at the main gate. Hundreds of civilians were running out past them, and several other unidentified ponies were killing infected ponies running toward them. His face turned solid, and he started to gallop toward them.

His escape was cut short when he was suddenly tackled. He hit the ground hard, groaning from the pain of the impact on his injuries. He heard a loud, decayed groaning in his ear. He tried to shove the infected pony off of him, but he could only just barely keep the infected from biting him.

Suddenly, a spray of warm blood landed on his face, and the groaning stopped. He turned his head to his right, only to see a once brown, yellow-maned, decaying stallion hanging over him. His jaw was hanging open, and his eyes were pitch white. But only one of the eyes were still there. The other was torn apart by the tip of a knife pointing out from it. The knife slid back in to the infected's head, and the corpse was thrown off, only to reveal the scratched up face of Itzel standing over him, pulling him back to his hooves. Through the ringing in his ears, he heard her yell at him to run toward the main gate, but it sounded like she was thousands of miles away.

Before X-Ray could respond, Itzel hooked one leg under his and began pulling him toward the gate. X-Ray forced himself to walk, but his vision faded in and out. Frame by frame, he could see them getting closer and closer to the gate. Several armed guards in armored suits were leading civilians out of the city, and soon, a few were rushing their way over to help him and Itzel. He felt a guard hook his other leg, the two ponies carrying him by his front legs toward the gate, the guard firing with an assault rifle in his free leg, and Itzel slashing out with her knife.

X-Ray slipped in and out of consciousness, as several images flashed before his eyes.

Approaching the gate.

Pushing through the crowd of armed guards.

An open, armored transit unit in front of him.

The transit door closing.

Darkness.

And yet, as he blacked out, for only the second time since he'd been a soldier, he had a smile on his face.

"When we spoke, I heard you, but I didn't listen. And now, when there's nothing left to say, I can't hear you anymore, but I still listen." - Rainbow Dash (Dream of Me)

*Transmission Ended*

Chapter 13: Dead Or Alive?

After a horde of infected ponies attacked the city of New Appleoosa, Harmony's Elements and the rest of the team return to a safe distance to figure out what caused it, and to build the next step of their plan. But what they don't know is that there's more to it than an infected attack, and that one of them knows something that will turn Harmony's Elements' world around in a way they never thought possible.

*Begin Transmission*

The light was blinding. He couldn't move. He felt a hard table underneath him, and a thin blanket over him. He heard a heartbeat monitor, and felt that his armor and suit were gone, and an oxygen mask was placed over his muzzle instead of his respirator.

X-Ray shielded his eyes from the light, and carefully sat up. He found himself in the recovery room of Canterlot's military station hospital. Somepony placed a hoof on his shoulder.

"You need to rest," a young mare's voice said. A light blue mare with a pink mane and dark pink eyes was looking down at him with worry. She was wearing a nurse's hat, and had a clipboard in one hoof. "You've been injured. Don't worry, it's nothing serious. A few of your joints were damaged and you have several lacerations and bruises, but you'll recover. How are you feeling?" X-ray couldn't respond, so the nurse just nodded. "Try to get some sleep. You need it." The nurse adjusted X-Ray's I.V., checked his pulse and blood pressure on the monitor, and left.

As soon as she did, Harmony's Elements, Marigold, and Itzel entered the room. Chaos and Nova team were nowhere to be seen. X-Ray just laid there, closing his eyes, too weak to respond.

"He's gonna be okay, right?" Marigold asked to nopony in particular.

"He'd better be," Chainlink said. "I ain't done with him yet."

"Will you give it a rest already?" Blade spoke up. "He nearly died out there. And he's still part of the Elements."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Chainlink sighed. "I've had a chance to simmer over since the city, but I still ain't happy about what he's been keeping from us."

"What was it, by the way?" Itzel asked. "We never got to find out."

"You might wanna hold onto something," Chainlink warned. "It wasn't any kinda technology. They were live ponies."

"Live ponies?" Marigold asked. "What fer?"

"Test subjects," Chainlink said. "Apparently, they wanted to try to make a cure for the infection, and needed live ponies to test on. So they took all the deadbeats and were gonna start experimenting. Canterlot wanted us to get the ponies from them, and bring them to safety in exchange for our work and some of Canterlot's money and protection." He grunted. "See how much that helped 'em?"

"So where are those ponies?" Blade asked.

"Dead," Chainlink said in monotone. "Never survived the attack."

"I dunno about this," Itzel murmured. "Lens Cap doesn't seem like the kind of pony that would do something like that. And I don't think it's X-Ray's fault either. He was just protecting his family. It didn't matter what Lens Cap was doing, X-Ray wasn't gonna rat out his own brother."

"Well, he shoulda said something to us," Chainlink said. "Then I wouldn't have flipped a lid as bad as I did back there."

"Yeah," Blade replied. "You would've just shot Lens Cap instead."

Chainlink tried to retort, but Marigold cut them off. "Y'all quiet! He's wakin' up."

X-Ray lifted his head, supporting himself up with one foreleg. He could barely open his eyes, and just kept staring down at the ground.

"Hey there, fella," Marigold said softly. "How ya feelin'?"

X-Ray didn't answer the question. He just lowered the oxygen mask, and his breathing became labored. His words were faint and dry as he spoke.

"Itzel... Marigold..."

"What'cha need?" Itzel asked.

X-Ray didn't open his eyes. "Leave... Now..."

Marigold and Itzel just stared on for a moment, then eventually left, closing the door behind them.

"What's this about?" Blade asked.

"I... Didn't want to... Give them... False hope..."

"Whaddaya mean, 'false hope'?" Chainlink asked.

"I... Might be... Wrong... But..."

"What?" Blade pushed him to keep talking. "What is it?"

"Back in... New Appleoosa..." He placed the oxygen mask to his muzzle, taking a deep breath. "I was... Too weak to... Stand... And something... Helped me up... I thought I was... Hallucinating... But I heard... A voice tell me to... Run or die..."

"Were you hallicinating, you think?" Blade asked.

"No... It was... Too real... But... It was... Impossible..."

"What?" Chainlink asked. "What's impossible about it?"

"I... I knew... The voice..."

"Who was it, X-Ray?" Blade asked. "Who'd you hear?"

"I... Have something to... Tell you two... But you cannot... Tell anypony... Else..."

"I know you're sick and all, but just spit it out already!" Chainlink moved right up to him, and so did Blade. "What do you need to tell us?"

X-Ray looked up at him, his light blue eyes were dilated, his overall figure looked like he would shatter like glass at any moment. After taking another puff of his oxygen, he stared them both straight in the eyes, and only managed to murmur a few more words before he slipped back into sleep.

"Acid... Is still alive..."

---

"It isn't always necessary to achieve great things. Sometimes, just surviving is a great achievement."
Unknown

*Transmission... Interrupted*

Journal Of Echo: Part 2

Winter Solstice: 2 Months Since First Contact

It's been a while since I've been able to write another entry. Past month's been busy. Hasn't been too happy either. Everyone suspects Canterlot of betraying us, Harrow's End has made a reappearance, and New Appleoosa's been destroyed, all because of us.

I've been taking some time by myself to do some research. Commander Cherry's been really upset with two failed missions in a row, and how many "good ponies" she's had to lose just to protect us. Sure, they saved alot of lives in New Appleoosa, but she never bothered to say it was for them. She was only thinking about if we lived.

Not because she cares about us, but because she still needs us to liberate what's left of Equestria. Touching.

X-Ray was nearly killed in New Appleoosa. And Itzel risked her life to save him. X-Ray's in recovery under strict watch, and he's not happy about it.

Blade's taken a back-seat for a while, but he isn't looking too good either. I don't think he's happy with what's happened in the past month. At least he's still alive. At least we all are.

But Chainlink's the worst of them all. He's been pushed to his limits. He's half ready to kill off half of the ponies we work for. And now, he's starting to turn on his own team. We'll be keeping sharp eyes on him for a while.

But, in all this, I did find out something interesting. I caught Marigold and Itzel leaving recovery where X-Ray was. I managed to hear a few interesting things. X-Ray's been hiding something from us.

The Acid mare might still be alive.

It sounded like X-Ray didn't want the rest of us knowing. I'm gonna be keeping it a secret for now. It's none of my business, nor is it the business of Itzel and Marigold. Nova team didn't even know them. Best to let them tell us when they're ready. Until then, we've got alot of work ahead of us.

Father Time, don't wait up for me.

~Chaos

Author's Note: Aw Snap, Son!

OHHHHH, SNAAAP!!!

That's right, fillies and gentlecolts, the clever mare lives! What's a good story without a plot-destroying twist!? Now, just when you thought you'd get to see what happens next, I'm pulling a little bit of a sidewinder.

I'm gonna be taking a bit of a break from the story of Harmony's Elements.

I'm taking a step off of the beaten path with a story that'll let you see what the outbreak looked like in the eyes of an average civilian. Because it gets kinda boring having the same thing for 3 stories in a row...

So, I decided to do the normal thing and leave it off at a huge cliffhanger while you enjoy something almost completely apart from it, and let you sit there and ponder if X-Ray's right or not.

Is Acid still alive? Is X-Ray just losing his mind? Is Chainlink really over his involvement in the experiments in New Appleoosa? And can this story get any more intense?

You'll just have to find out...

With love,

And explosions,

And zombies,

~Delta 727