Joeboy

Time….1400hrs
Location...Continental United States, Washington D.C.
Captain Tomas J De’Winter

It’s been quite some time since I’ve gotten leave, now come to think about it? Hell, when was the last time I got to see my kids I don’t think they’ve actually seen me in person for the past what three-four years?

Let’s see today's the 1st of January so that would make it Sammy’s birthday she would be 12 years old.

What would a 12-year-old girl want, wait I can’t forget Mathew either I know his birthday won't be for another week or so, but still I don’t want to leave him out of it either? Mat is 10 he would be easy a few dollars or hell even my old Xbox would do for him, but Sammy would be a different story. Ehh I think I should just get her a bear or something like that granted with everybody still set in war mode. I think finding a toy would be a challenge after all.

Seems like only yesterday I was in Paris. Capturing Alph uplink from the European Enforce corp till the Slams system came back online effectively ensuring US dominance of the sector. Later in the following weeks, the rest of European Union fell followed by Moscow's effectively ending the 9-year war. Leaving the United States the only superpower in the world. Yet even then the energy crisis still lingered, it wasn’t till yesterday that President Becerra announced that a plan was enacted to send drones into the irradiated deserts of the middle east to continue to draw from the oil-rich sands.

Some now call the US as the only real government left after the war. Well, the countries that claimed neutrality still are around, but with many of them allowing the Euros and Russians to defend it’s uplink clusters in the country for example; the commonwealth or the United Kingdom. You tend to be seen as an enemy to all sides of a war. In such a case infrastructure would be taken out to slow the defending army from retaliating rapidly to an uplink crash signaling the beginning of a battle in a sector.

“Joeboy you in there?” I heard the driver say with a heavy Bronx accent as I snapped out of my daydream in time to see my house come into view. It was nothing too lavish or run down, in fact, it looked like any other house in an all-American life Including white picket fence, dog, cat and even a rubber ball on the front lawn, appropriately trimmed. Living in suburbia D.C is going to be a welcomed change from getting my ass shot at.

“Yeah I’m here corporal, and that’s Captain Joeboy to you,” I said back as I looked over the corporal who had just called me by the nickname given to JSF soldiers. Seeing the neatly pressed urban camo BDU he wore compared to my solid gray. His name was stitched into the front left breast of his shirt, while his rank was on his right shoulder.

“Well captain Joeboy,” he said with gratitude laced in his voice as we stopped. “Thanks for your service sir.”

“Don’t thank me,” I said as I grabbed my bag containing my clothes and other miscellaneous things I’d collected from deployment. “Thank them,” I pointed out the window seeing my two kids running towards the Humvee from the porch of my home all the while my wife stood relieved on the porch.

“If that's what you been fighting for Captain Joeboy than don’t let me keep you, sir,” he said with a noticeable grin spread across his lips. “And one more thing.”

“Yes?” I replied as I looked at him before opening the door to the Humvee.

“High speed,” he began to say.

“Low drag,” I finished the JSF motto exiting the humvee then waving the humvee away just before I was assaulted by two reasons to fight.

“Daddy!” they shouted in unison as they latched onto both of my legs, Sammy on my right leg and Matthew on my left.

“Daddy did you bring me something from Europe!” Sammy sang while Matthew just hugged my leg. Looking down to see my daughter I pushed aside her dark brown hair from her face.

“Samantha De’Winter, your father comes home from across the world, and all you ask is a toy?” I heard an angelic voice say grabbing full attention.

“Hey honey I’m home,” I said with a grin while keeping my kids close.

“I can see that Joeboy now get over here so I can actually know my Joeboy is home,” Angie said with traces of seduction in her voice.

“I would love to angel, but at the current moment, I seem to be fighting just for every inch,” I laugh as I tried to move forward but was met with fierce resistance from my two oppressors. Finding no other possible way around my current endeavor, I sauntered over to the front lawn and fell backward into the soft grass. “Ahh, I’m being attacked by two monsters! Someone, anybody, please help me!” I said playfully while my kids stopped assaulting my legs and went to hugging my chest giggling as they pinned me down.

“We got you, dad!” Matthew said with glee as he and Sammy pinned me down with all their might. “We got you!”

“Ahh no! Ahh!” I shouted again playing along with moment but only for a short while before I brought my arms around both Sammy and Matthew. Both of them combined weighed roughly about 120 to 140 pounds. Allowing me to pick them both up with little difficulty.

“Ah hahaha,” both Sammy and Matthew laugh while I began to counterattack with my signature tickle attack.

“That's cheating daddy!” Sammy called out as she tried to squirm her way out of my arms but was not match for my iron like grip.

“You can’t escape me!” I called out.

“What’s all noise about...Wait is that? Martha come out quick we have a Joeboy home!” the sound of an elderly man's voice shouting caused me to look towards the source.

“Is that you Old man?” I shouted back to him before I got up from the pile and righted myself so I could clearly see him. “Mr. and Mrs. Taylor how are you two!” I said as I walked over the picket fence that separated both of our lawns.

“Good to see you back home Thomas,” Mrs. Taylor said as she rushed out of her home wielding a rolling pin that looked to be covered in flour.

“As spry as ever Mrs.Taylor how you manage to keep moving about at your age is beyond me,” I said with a laugh as Mrs. Taylor hit me with the rolling to my shoulder.

“You keep that up mister there will be no cookies for you!” She said with a smile. “Anyways dear it’s good to have you back in the neighborhood and stateside.

“It's good to be back, that's for sure,” I replied while looking over the couple. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor had known me since I was a kid back in Texas. They were kind to me when and well they are almost like a second family to me. I remember back after I had finished my JSF training and was assigned to the 35th Airborne my parents were against me joining the armed forces and well disowned me for it but, the Taylors they took me in like family. It was even weirder when I found out that they were the parents of Col. Jordan Taylor, the commanding officer of the 35th. Of course, we made rules. When on leave we're like brothers rank is left on base, and we act like brothers, but when we are deployed, we are the Joeboys rank and all.

“Anyways Thomas, have you’ve seen or heard anything about Taylor I hope he’s okay. Wasn’t he supposed to be on the plane with you and the others?” Mrs. Taylor asked while Mr. Taylor looked out to the road.

“I don’t know, JT doesn't tell me anything about his off time, heck last thing he told me was to go take an uplink and hold.”

“Where was that at,” Mr.Taylor asked.

“Paris,” I replied.

“So the 35th was in charge of capturing Paris?” Mr. Taylor replied. “I really wished you and Angie would have been able to see Paris before the war it was beautiful and the air was clean. Now I can just imagine the damage done to the building and streets.”

“Oh, Jack don’t do that to the boy, he’s home and should be taking care of his family right Thomas,” Mrs. Taylor said as she gave me a wink.

“That he does Martha,” Angie piped up causing Mr. Taylor to laugh.

“Well don't let's keep you two,” Mr. Taylor spoke with a knowing grin.

“It was good talking to you two again,” I said as I shook both Taylor's hands
____________________________________________________________________________
Location…. Canterlot Castle War room

Time...1400hrs

“Sister I the armies are ready on our word.” A tall and slender female spoke as she stood next to another woman. Both women were looking over a map depicting a land called District of Columbia. The area was small compared to the nation under their rule.

“Have your thestrals completed their interrogation of the human prisoner?”

“Yes but, all he keeps repeating is his name rank and place of birth.”

“I see well, is the portal ready?”

“It will be momentary, just remembered that portal will not close. Once open it will stay open sister.”

“Luna it almost sounds like you have second thoughts of this.”

“I do not have such things, but I don't like entering a war without proper intelligence of the enemies abilities. A war of spies must be won before a war of might is fought. Celestia, have you forgotten that?” Luna said while she ensured her sword was appropriately placed on her hip.

“I have not forgotten sister but now is the best time while our armies are ready and primed for war. After all the Griffins have agreed to aid us in this campaign along with the dragons. With this alliance, we should overwhelm any defenses they may have.” Celestia replied while she turned and looked at her sister and smiled. “After all the element's have agreed to join us for this endeavor.”

“Have they now? I thought they each gave up the sword to live quietly.” Luna replied as she looked over her own armor. It was of iron painted black as she preferred to strike at night with cobalt accents and a magnificent moon painted along her shoulder guards.

“They have, but with the promise of new lands and sights, they took to it,” Celestia replied.

“I see they always did like travels,” Luna said.

“Princesses the portal is ready and waiting on your word.” A guard's men dressed in silver armor said as he bowed in front of the princesses. Both luna and Celestia nodded to each other.

“Sister shall we lead the armies too. Victory?” Luna asked with a grin.

“Yes, we shall,” Celestia replied. Looking over to the guard Celestia spoke. “Send the first wave through."