Sev made a beeline for Rainbow who sat on the edge of the stage looking mortified at the dead griffon. Scorch climbed the stage for Fluttershy. Rainbow didn't respond to the armored commando as he approached. That was until he spoke.

"Solid strike 05." He meant it. She looked at the armored bi-ped slowly tearing her eyes from the dead griff.

"What?"

"it was a good kill." She stared into that blue T in disbelief. "First kills are always special." He said those words with a hint of pride that floored her.

"What?" She repeated eye's searching his helmet for an explanation. He gave her a better one.

"Look at it like this 05. These things were auctioning you and your friends off as slaves." The words sunk in and she slowly looked back at the lump of feathers and fur with a new look of anger. "Seems like a good reason to kill something." She took a breath and looked at him

"Who the hell are."

"I DON'T WANT TO DIE!" Fluttershy screamed, and Rainbow turned to fly to her friend only for Sev to grab her by the tail.

"Hold," Sev growled, and Rainbow looked ready to kick him. But 62 pulled his hands away from the yellow pegasus.

"That good because we're your rescue team." The voice was cheerful compared to the gravel that came out of the red one. "Now hold still don't want to hurt ya when I cut these chains 06." Rainbow held her breath as the other beetle cut the iron off her friend. With a quick and steady hand, Sev grabbed the chain and cut it off her neck. She flinched. When his hand let go of her tail, she stared at him. Her eye's looked unsteady.

"Thanks, you know I didn't mean to right?" She looked at the Griffon again. The clone didn't miss a beat.

"Then make sure you do next time." It was every bit of cold and efficient as the clone who spoke them.

"Sev come on their ponies. They're not meant for this kind of stuff." Scorch urged as he looked over Fluttershy. But like a switch or a challenge maybe there was a spark in Rainbow's eye Scorch couldn't see it but Sev could.

"No. This one's a soldier." a smile spread under his helmet. He looked her at she looked thin. He reached into his ration pocket and pulled out a ration cube. Scorch had the same thought and was trying to pull Fluttershy with the tasteless cube. Rainbow eye'ed the thing in front of her.

"Probably won't taste like much but it's food... like." She raised an eyebrow

"What the hay is that suppose to mean?" she had some of her spunk back.

"It'll keep you alive, and fill your belly." Rainbow's stomach let out a growl, and she gripped the edge of the cube and took it in one quick bite. She started to grimace but realized it really didn't taste like anything. Besides a slightly chalky feel, it took the edge off her hunger. She bobbed her head slightly

"Not bad... not good, but not bad." Sev nodded in agreement. Dash noticed Fluttershy still trembling and jumped onto the stage and pulled her friend into a hug. The scared pegasus buried her face into Dash's chest and cried heavy and loud. Sev and Scorch shared a look.

"You know this reminds me of those Twileks half a year back." Scorch prompted. But before Sev could answer the Griff on the floor suddenly sprung up with a scream of pain Dash jumped away with shy as 07 and 62 put themselves between the two and the bird.

The disoriented griffon tried to walk forward but put the charred stump out and fell writhing in pain as it started to heave and convulse. There was an audible click, and a ring of blue hit the griffon. It laid still but alive. Dash stared wide-eyed as her brain tried to process what she'd just seen. Both commandos turned in sync

"Are you ok?" 62 asked and Fluttershy unburied her face to look at the now still griffon.

"Is he dead?" She asked Sev shook his head

"No the slaver scums still breathing." For a split, second disappointment flashed across the shy pegasus's face. There was a flash of movement from the far corner of the room, and both clones raised their rifles when a pony galloped out. A bolt of blue made the Commandos think the other had fired. Only to realize that flash was Rainbow she had tackled the runner to the ground and now had him pinned with a leg behind his back.

"You! Backstabbing coward!" she yelled before a wet smack as she smashed his face into the crystal floor leaving a red mark on it and what looked like a broken snout. Sev and Scorch approached a bit confused. "This Rat is the one who decided to sell my friends and me." Scorch walked up rifle raised, and Rainbow smashed his face again.

"Hold up we need him to be able to talk 05" he held up a hand earning a glare from Rainbow.

"Maybe he can tell us where the hell he sold your friends too." Scorch reasoned, and she narrowed her eyes but nodded.

"Then I get to smash him?"

"Only if he doesn't play nice." Scorch threatened, and Rainbow smiled. "Start talking now!" Dash ordered, and the unicorn looked at Scorch's helmet who just shook his head.

"Don't look at me I have orders to bring you to Celestia alive." He pointed at Dash. "She doesn't," he warned Dash had a murderous glint in her eyes

"The griffon was an accident! you won't be." She snarled applying some pressure on his neck Sev gave a thumbs up, and Dash shook her head angrily.

"you don't know what it was like under Him! Under Sombra!" he spoke with a northern accent frantically "It wasn't anything personal I swear I just wanted on his good side I didn't do any of the selling I swear!" he pleaded.

62 stepped in "Did you see who bought 01, 02, and p3?"

"What?"

"The elements of magic, laughter, and Princess Cadence. Who bought them Sleazeball!" Scorch demanded. The unicorn got half way through I don't know before 07 put a pistol bolt an inch from his horn. Scorch jumped and gave his brother a "really" look before kneeling back down. "Do I need to repeat my question?" He asked with more of an edge. The colt was shaking worse now.

"NO. No, I don't know which Element is which!" the pony watched Sev begin to draw his pistol again and cried out "I don't!" 62 sounded like he was going to say something but stopped. Dash stepped in.

"Purple unicorn, pink earth pony, and a fucking Alicorn!" She leaned a bit harder on his neck, and his eyes bulged.

"Ok...OK, the purple one she... Wait! Sombra no! I wasn't gonna tell them GAH!!" he started convulsing violently under Dash. He started bashing his skull on the floor. Dash tried to stop him, but he screamed throwing his head back. The unicorn's eyes rolled back in his skull turning into cloudy crystals with a sickening crack. Dash flew off with a startled yelp. The stallions body crystalized mid blood-curdling scream. Everyone stared at the once living pony statue. Scorch turned to Sev.

"0h Seven may I have a word in private?" he asked and turned on the private coms "What the fuck just happened!" Sev jumped at the sudden volume of his brother.

"Whatever the Solar whore paid you." A deep voice that echoed all around them entered the room. "it wasn't enough." The commandos readied their blasters and swept the room for any threats. The sound of cracking bones and breaking glass made the ponies jump and hide near the clones. Everyone jumped when the dead pony stood up with purple flames for eyes. Scorch shot a blaster bolt it struck the undead in the face and reflected off the crystal. Sev tried again in the chest only for the same. Except the bolt hit 62's shields causing them to flair. Dash let out a war cry and kicked it in the neck. The crystal cracked, and the neck slumped over. Exposing the spinal cord for everyone to see. Dash felt a wave of sickness wash over her. The dark crystals reformed moving the broken bone in place with a series of gut wretching clicks and cracks. Dash started to heave.

"Get some distance and cover your ears!" Scorch commanded before Launching a grenade out of his Anti-Armor attachment. Body parts and crystal shards flew and rained everywhere. The thud of the explosion rattle Dash to her core. The noise even through her hooves made Fluttershy drop quivering. Dash opened her eyes stomach already uneasy to see part of a front leg laying in front of her. The jagged white bone was sticking out of the crystalized flesh. She felt the cold sweat go through her first. Then the Ration cube came back to haunt her.

Sev gave her his version of a sympathetic look before the scattered fragments of the corse sunk into the floor and both Delta's prepared themselves for what was about to happen. Except they weren't ready for six more of the undead crystals to spring from the floor. Fragments of torn apart skeleton and flesh were shared and sprinkled throughout there clear forms. Then all the other corpses started to sink.

"That's not good." Scorch let out.

"Ya think Nirod!" Sev scolded scanning the enemy rich environment for something he could kill at the moment. The doors behind them burst open, and they all turned to see 38 and 40.

"We heard ordinance is everything al... what in blue blazes!!" 38 brought up his rifle to fire, but Scorch stopped him.

"Won't work sir the crystal reflects blaster bolts. You blow one, and the Frag makes more!"

"Evacs looking nice about now Boss." Sev let out unnerved constantly switching targets.

"Agreed Deltas. Grab the elements and our prisoner Extract is back this way." He hooked a thumb the way he and fixer came from they all agreed and split up. Scorch grabbed Rainbow and tossed her towards Boss. Her Flight instinct took over, and she hovered uneasily.

"This way." Fixer urged her, and she flew past him into the hall. Sev went for the griff and hoisted the smallish griffon onto his back awkwardly around his pack. After three steps the Grif started to come to and began trashing unbalancing the Delta pissing him off in the process. He smacked the Griff over the head and grabbed him by the throat to make sure he was focused.

"It's come with us or." he jerked the Griffs head towards the corpses moving towards them. "Them." He let out coldly. The Griffons eyes bounced back and forth for a second before staying on Sev's visor. "Good choice now MOVE!" he shouted the griff took flight and soared down the hall Sev on his heels.

Once all of them were through the door 38, and 40 covered the rear as they retreated. Fixer stopped for a second

"62 throw me a Det." Scorch ran in place for a second Fluttershy draped over his shoulder.

"Now?" He asked concerned.

"I want to try something." 40 reasoned. 62 tossed him the requested ordinance. Fixer depressed the timer. The metal orb began a timed whine. The crystal corpses drew near. Fixer timed the fuze praying it didn't det early. Tossing it into the room, it bounced once then hit the body with the fragments of skull in the face. It went off in a white flash vaporizing most of the head. The rest crumbled
"Interesting." Fixer turned and caught up with the other Deltas. He caught up to Delta the yellow horse softy bopping as the clone ran.

"What forget to pack your own Det's?" Fixer could hear the grin through his explosion-prone brother's helmet.

"No, I just knew you packed more than regulation." Scorch focused silently on the hall as he ran telling Fixer he'd won.

The light at the end of the tunnel grew and lucky for all of them there was an angel on red wings. An LA-AT gunship its hall open with a standard trooper beckoning them onboard. Dash and the griffon jumped in followed by Sev and Boss. Scorch jumped, but the extra pony weight made him miss judge. He started to fall back Sev and Rainbow grabbed him and pulled him and Shy onboard. The griffon let out a distressed shriek. Then fell clasping his burnt stump.

"You shot my arm off!" Another pained squeak. "Who the fuck are..." He was cut off by Sev pointing his blaster and stunning him again in the most casual way possible. The ship took off, and Scorch ran to the Cockpit still carrying the pegasus.

"Pilot do we have enough ordnance to level this place?" Scorch asked, and the pilot nodded

"Sir Yes, Sir." The pilot let out grinning under his helmet.

"Do it." Scorch urged But Boss stopped them.

"Delay Demolition order pilot. 40!" Boss looked at Fixer.

"On it Sir transferring tracking signal now."
"I'm guessing Fixer got a tracker on one of our targets GAH!" Scorch jumped when a cyan face popped right up in his visor scaring the Delta.

"Um hello? Your heads are bobbing like your talking, but I can't hear anything." Rainbow asked as Scorch recovered from the start. His jump rustled Fluttershy to stir. She bolted up screaming she looked around frantically. In her panic, she grabbed Scorch's arm and dropped low tossing the fully armored commando over her back. Once Scorch was on his face she twisted his wrist in a joint lock. The rest of Delta squad stared in awe. Sev put his Blaster on his belt and started slow clapping impressed.

"Morning Shy," Dash said nonchalantly. Boss stared at the pegasus as his brain tried to sort how to react to what he'd just seen. He settled on confusion.

"How the Hell did she do that." He asked and looked at Rainbow who was sitting in the cargo netting slightly above them.

"Hey Shy how much does Harry weigh?" she asked, and Fluttershy's mind seemed to go into a sort of Autopilot.

"4,075 lbs He's gotten so big!" She cooed, and Dash looked smug.

"As impressive as that sounds how does that relate to why I'm still on the floor in a hold that would have made Da Won proud," Scorch asked, and Fluttershy eeped and released the Delta.

"He's right Scorch on the ground in pain would have made Won happy." Sev let out with a chuckle.

"Shy can toss him." Dash let out, and each Delta looked at one another without turning their helmets moving.

"Two minutes to intercept Delta squad." the pilot called out, and like Machines, the Deltas turned away and began resupplying. Fluttershy was still in a bit of a daze. Dash whistled to her, and Every Delta froze and looked at her. It was eerie they didn't move just looked at her with those Blue visors.

"Shy... you can stay up here." Once the Deltas knew she didn't have anything for them, they refocused on their task.
Fluttershy began to shake again, and Dash wrapped her wing around her.

"I don't understand whats going on Dash... Are we safe?" Shy pleaded for an answer Dash wasn't sure she could answer. The orange and white one came up, and Fluttershy tried to shrink against the smaller Rainbow. He looked at the Quivering yellow pegasus. She looked scared and thin, but the memory of her Tossing a fully armored Commando contradicted what he saw before his eyes. He shook his head, and she squeaked, and Dash glared at him.

"Those slavers didn't feed you well did they?" He tried to sound non-threatening, but Fluttershy just stared into his visor and hid in her hair. Boss reached for his helmet and pulled it off with a slight hiss. Fluttershy looked at his scarred face, and he offered a smile his skin was a pale brown his eyes were a sharp blue. "We'll handle proper introductions after we pick up another of your friends. But for right now you both are in safe hands Celestia sent us personally." he laid out two wrapped ration cubs. He turned and replaced his helmet.

"Thank you." it came out tiny, but Boss's trained ears heard her just fine. The lights in the ship went red, and the deltas lined up two on each side of the assault craft.

"HEY! whoever you guys are....Give them hell," Dash shouted, and the Deltas nodded.

"You heard the lady lets go Deltas" Boss jumped over the side and the rest of his squad followed down onto the balcony. The second boots met floor they pelted down the hall sacrificing stealth for speed towards the beacon's location. Soon enough they found the group of Mins. One of the horned bastards did a double take before pointing the commandos out. Sev put a blaster bolt through his eye socket. The Min fell revealing a tired Applejack. She jumped as the body landed in front of her. She recognized the white creatures from the hall and tried to pull away only for the Leader to yank her chain, and two Mins filled the space with bodies and shields. The Delta's opened fire, and the Minotaurs showed enough sense to retreat down the narrow hall.

Boss noticed one of the shields was worn and scarred.
"Focus on primary target Deltas." He pointed and painted the shield on his H.U.D. The blue fury of the D,C's formed a tight grouping a full clip and a room later. The part was glowing red as it started to melt. Sev switched out his blaster for the sniper attachment. Judging the Min's position, his rifle barked the shot tore through the shield then made a beautiful home in the Min behind the shield's frontal lobe. It dropped, and the remaining three had to move to cover the spot weakening the defense altogether. Whatever tactical sense the Minotaurs possessed they used to change course suddenly. Delta rushed to keep up.

Once around the corner, two Mins stopped blocking off the narrow path with there shields. The remaining Taurs and 04 were on a platform that shimmered with lights. The squad stopped, but Fixer didn't

"We're gonna lose the V.I.P sir!"Fixer urged

He fired a grapple shot into the Left Min's face. When the hairy beast recoiled with a howl, it whipped 40 into the air. Using the momentum, he landed on the Min's face. Four pistol shots right to the skull dropped it. Rolling into a sprint one Taur slow to react and the clone put a pistol bolt into its cheek. It doubles over, and Fixer jumped into the circle grabbing 04 around the barrel. Before he could run the leader of the Taurs with a crested helm caught him the pad flared with purple magic, and they all disappeared in a flash.

"Fixer!" the 40 on Boss's visor blinked out showing he was out of range. "Advisor find me 40's signal now!" Boss ordered with a hint of panic.

"Copy Delta lead 40's signal is coming from a different continent, patching through now." With a click 40's breathing came through the speakers in his helmet.

"Whats your status Delta?"

"Green for the moment Sir. Being lead through a stronghold of some sort, I have visual on the V.I.P. If these things are smart, they'll take my gear setting silent beacon now."

"Hang in there Delta were on our way," Boss said with conviction.

"If there dumb I'll be waiting with 04 on a hill next to a burning castle Sir," Fixer promised and Boss chuckled Then stiffened at the sound of rough movement and the 40 grunting till the line died.

"Fir'Fek Deltas back to the dropship now!" Boss turned and pointed Scorch looked back at the pad where 40 had disappeared.

"Were going after Fixer right?" He asked, and Sev cuffed him.

"Of course we are nurod. Right Boss?"

"Affimitive let's move now Delta." Boss barked, and they all hightailed it back to the LA-AT. Once inside Dash raised her head,

"Your back! Did you get..." She counted them. "There's only three of you." She let out sounding grim.

"What happened to the green one? Did they..." Fluttershy couldn't finish the sentence. Boss didn't answer Sev threw out a little disk that stood on four legs. Bright blue light filled the Carrier with a white standard looking trooper.

"Delta squad reporting in," Boss spoke grimly only further worrying the ponies.

"Most of you what's the status of your mission 38?" The Advisor asked

"we've recovered 05, and 06. we have the last known location of both 04 and 40...." He stopped as a thought crossed his mind. Except Scorch had the same idea and a lot less mouth control.

"Wonder if he planned that?" Boss glared at him "Shutting up Sir." He let out and fell silent.

"I don't know how the Princess will react to this news." The Advisor shook his helmet grimly.

"I understand this sort of situation seems far too barbaric for this world," Boss spoke his uncertainty. The clone leaned away, nodded once and looked back.

"Sorry Delta lead. It looks like we get to find out now. The Princess want's a full report." The Advisor had something akin to sympathy in his voice. Boss's stance and armor didn't change, but the other Deltas could feel he was beyond unhappy.

"Affirmative patch her through." He let out gruffly. The clone flicked out replaced with a blue-tinted Celestia. Dash and Shy perked up at the Solar diarchy.

"Hello Delta's please tell me your mission was a success." She had a pleading undertone.

"We were too late Ma'am by the time my squad arrived most of the elements had been auctioned off to several unknown buyers." Boss relayed the information with practiced ease. It was when Celestia's eyes unfocused, and she mouthed the word auction did a pit open up in the clones stomach. She looked at Boss, not his armor, not his helmet but the commando underneath. He felt violated as if he wasn't wearing the anything at all exposed before the slowly smoldering eyes of a being who could control the sun like he moved a limb.

"My ponies or the jewelry?" Her voice had an edge he doubted his vibroblade could match. Boss sifted his feet.

"The ponies Ma'am..." She recoiled a look of shock the pain she felt was visible as any wound. She didn't respond so 38 continued as a good soldier. "01, 2, 3 and P3 were sold before."

"STOP!!" Celestia ordered, and Boss stiffened.

"These are not numbers or things these are ponies Delta lead!" She snapped, and the rest of Delta squad slowly moved to stand with 38, but he gave them a look to stop them. Even though the hologram her eyes burned and her hair flicked like flames, "These are not assets to be recovered because they have use!" She roared, and Fluttershy flinched, and Dash rubbed her back softly but the sight of Celestia this way unnerved her as well.

"I need to know you understand that Delta squa....Why is there only three of you?" Her anger melted as she counted the three deltas over and over hoping she was mistaken. "Where is Fixer?" She asked just as concerned that she asked about the Elements it was the most emotion any of the Deltas had ever heard about a missing clone.

"Delta 40 was captured trying to rescue oh... The Element of Honesty."
"Applejack," Celestia interjected eyes narrowing, but Sev stepped in.

"Names were not on the Briefing your Highness." The words were harsh, and Boss turned to reprimand the Commando.

"Lock it down 07!" Boss Barked and Sev took a step back. The Princess sighed

"My apologies Deltas I let my emotions rule me. But!" Boss turned back to the hologram. "Do not forget the same goes for yourselves Deltas whether or not this arrangement is temporary or not. All of you are more than numbers and weapons. To me, you are Boss, Sev, Scorch, and Fixer." This sincerity caught the clones off guard all of them lifted their helmets at the unexpected comment. "I will never ask you put my ponies before your brothers. But please find them and bring them home Deltas." Her face grew harsh, and her eyes had flames "Wipe away those who have done this to my subjects." She growled, and every commando nodded in time

"Yes Ma'am!" They replied a small smile graced the rulers face.

"Good. Now, gentlemen I must talk with my intelligence division about what counts as important information." She turned, but Scorch stopped her.

"Hold on Princess! Don't you want the good news?" He held up a gauntlet in an offering motion, and Celestia looked back.

"Yes, good news would be most welcome."

"While we have no intel on the Elements of magic and Laughter and the other Princess. We have a trace on a white unicorn that matches oh,"

"The Element of Generosity." Boss stepped in,

"Thanks, Boss. Fixer got captured by Honesty's captors, and we have a trace on them we're in route now. We did rescue a Rainbow colored and a yellow colored Pegasus." Celestia's eye brightened

"The Elements of Loyalty and Kindness. Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy. Are they injured?"

"Physically a little roughed up, Mentally they'll live." Sev let out with the hint of a grin. Celestia nodded

"I must go you all will be getting an updated information briefing once I am done having my talk with 25." The line went dead. Boss looked at the now sleeping pegasi cuddled close in the netting.

Author's Note

Ho boy this turned out way longer then expected. Tell me what you think leave a like and a comment. If you leave a Dislike tell me why please