My Little Pony: The Phantom Hero

[Mother Base-Command Platform]
[Dusk]

Snake looked over 9 coffins, the remains of the lost members of Gem Team. Draping each one was a black flag with the Diamond Dogs logo in silver. He sighed before turning to address the rest of Diamond Dogs, who were standing at attention, with the 3 surviving members in front.

"Today, we mourn the passing of 9 brothers and sisters, but we do not miss them. We do not miss them because as long as they are remembered, they remain with us. Who among you has the strength to carry their memory with us?"

Everyone gathered shouted an affirmation.

"Then let us carry them into battle with us, until the last battle has been waged," Snake said before turning to face the caskets again, "it has been an honor, you were true Diamond Dogs." Snake saluted, followed swiftly by everyone else, save for one who started playing a trumpet.

As the notes played, Snake used his free hand to press a button. With a clatter, the caskets lowered into the deck before a metal cover slid over them, sealing shut as the last note rang out.

[The Next Day]

Sunset sat in the mess hall poking at her lunch. While she hadn't met any of the people who had died, the fact that they had ate at her. Based on how quiet the mess was, she wasn't the only one. So deep in thought was she that she didn't even notice someone else walk up to the table.

"Mind if I join you?"

Sunset started, then turned to see a fire-haired woman standing next to her, tray in hand, "No problem."

She sat down before speaking again, "Sorry I haven't had a chance to yet, but thanks for saving our asses."

"Excuse me?"

"With the minefield thing. I thought that we were finished with that tank shelling us, but when you pointed out that spot to lay the C4, I think Fleetfoot actually cried."

Sunset sat confused for a second before snapping her fingers, "Oh yeah, Gem-5 right?"

Gem-5 chuckled, "Well if that's how you know me it's no wonder you don't know me, name's Spitfire, pleased to meet you, Command."

"I guess I deserved that, name's Sunset," Sunset said before digging into her mac & cheese, for some reason she was feeling hungry again.

"Anyway, I didn't just come here to say thanks," Spitfire said before placing something on the table, "the others and I thought you should have this."

Sunset looked at the object, it was a steel pin in the shape of the DD logo, with a small diamond set in the eye and the name 'Stormfeather' instead of 'Diamond Dogs', "What's this?"

"Stormy's Diamond," Spitfire said, "you know that they were cremated right? Well, some of the ashes of each one were turned into diamonds, Boss let us decide who got them."

Sunset's eyes widened, "No way, I don't deserve this."

"If it weren't for you, all of Gem team would have bought it," Spitfire said as her eyes turned towards a pin on her own jacket, with the name 'White Lightning', "I owe you my life, we all do."

Sunset bowed her head, "But I couldn't save everyone."

"You saved everyone you could, I was there, and the only reason I'm alive is cause White pushed me clear," Spitfire said before standing up, "at least think about it."

Sunset made a noncommittal grunt before Spitfire walked off. Sunset stared at the pin, while the feeling in her stomach made her wonder if someone else gave her another by dropping it in her mac & cheese when she wasn't looking.

Snake was in the control room, overseeing the launch of their first tactical satellite. In addition to being an eye in the sky, it also served as a focus for their teleportation network, ensuring that things Fultoned out were more likely to land safely on Mother Base, and that Mother Base could send resupply kits and similar resources to teams in the field. Unfortunately they currently couldn't send people to mission zones with it, yet.

Hearing the door open, Snake turned to see Sunset walk in and take her station, determined look in her eye, and a gleaming Diamond on her chest, "Solar panels successfully deployed, video feed incoming."

"Excellent," Snake said as it came up on the main monitor.

"I think this might be the compound that the rebels who attacked us staged out of," Coco said as she used her console to zoom in on a compound that was bustling with armed troops. Coco then brought up a detail shot of one of the jeeps, which had the same logo that was on the uniforms of the rebels who attacked Rarity's mine.

"Contact whoever's in charge of that region and set up a contract," Snake said as he studied the images, "I'd prefer to get paid when we avenge our family."

"Yes sir!"