“If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, on where you stop your story.”

Orson Welles

Time……….0100hrs

Location…..Eliot, Virginia

“My fellow Americans a few hours ago I ordered the full retreat of all forces of the greater DC area. I know many of you saw this as your government was leaving you all to die. In reality, this was done to reassess our enemies strength. In our capital and then to repel the invaders from our Soil. The very same that men and women of our armed forces bleed these past few years for. I know that many of you want nothing to do with another costly war, but I will not stand by as invaders take the lives of those who’ve elected me as their leader. It is with this I solemnly swear that by daybreak today January,02,2022 will not only mark the end of a great worldwide conflict that had engulfed us these past years but an end of what many of you have called the Invasion of Myths. I now say to all US military in the DC area. Operation Freedom Fighter is a go.”

“You heard the man Jasper kick this bucket into gear and let's kill these fuckers!” Private Dane Min shouted over the intercom of the M5A2 Schwarzkopf Tank.

“I hear that!” Jasper called back as the sound of M126 155mm Howitzers unleash the opening volley of shells targeted on the blocks made by the invading army softening the resistances the Pioneers and Ghost would face. Followed by the iconic “brrt” that would signal a gun run done by A10 Thunderbolts 30 mm GUA-8 Avenger Autocannon.

“Thunder Lane 1-1 to Sky Eye roadblock on I-35 northbound clear. Tell the Joes they're clear to knock on the door over.”

“Copy that Thunder Lane 1-1 new targets are being sent to your nav, happy hunting SkyEye out.”

"Werewolf is Oscar Mike with Casino all marines accounted for and moving along 395 crossing river point 5 over."

"Overlord copies, all orders have been sent all callsigns Operation Freedom Fighter is a go."

"Sounds like things are heating up over in DC," Kelly's voice came over the coms link between her Thomas and Jack.

"That's for sure," Jack replied as the three of them continued their crawl to the point of interest they marked.

"Remeber you two, we need to get in capture the HVT and extract, or we'll be flatted with them when the hammer drops." Thomas reminded them to keep their heads focus.

"Right almost forgot about that part," Jack replied as they made it to tree cover. Looking back over the open marsh they just crossed Jack spotted three large dragons fly overhead towards DC "Thomas you might want to let eagle know that three large lizards are flying towards the capital."

"You already told him," President Becerra said over the coms.

"Right, I forgot that we are under your direct command, sir," Jack said as he looked to Thomas and Kelly. Thomas was shaking his head along with Kelly. Alright, this should be a good spot for you to provide overwatch, Kelly. Jack and I will continue ahead and capture the HVT, and from there we'll link back up at the ex-fill point. Understood?"

"Understood," Kelly replied as she turned to a large willow tree behind her and began to climb its trunk before settling on one of its overreaching branches and pulling out her M110 fitted with a suppressor and loaded with EXACTO rounds. "All set for overwatch Thomas," Kelly said as she began to mark targets she could see when something caught her eye. "Eagle we might need to rethink the leveling I see civilians captives amongst the hostile camp. Counting 20 in total ranging from children to men and women, over."

"This certainly does change things a bit. I'll have the plan for Eliot adjusted accordingly, but for now, your objective doesn't change. I want Solare to capture alive and keep marking civilians, Eagle out."

"You heard the man team plan still stands now let's go find the target and get this over with," Thomas said as he motioned of Jack to follow.

Scanning the area from her perch, Kelly followed Thomas and Jacks markers as they crossed more open marshland towards the camp. Switching her focus back on where she had spotted the civilians from before Kelly felt her heart race as a Griffin walked up to the cage where children were in 10 children in all half boys and the other half girls. With little care, the Griffin opened the cage and plucked a small girl from the cowering bunch. Picking her up by her hair he hoisted her to his eye level. The little girl began to hit her captive with whatever force she could muster into her hands. Increasing the optical power of her scope Kelly could see tears stream down the little girls face. Marking the area Kelly looked for her teammates who were still 500 meters from the camp. Going back to the marked area Kelly's heart seemed to stoped as the griffon's other hand reached up and found purchase around the little girl's neck. Tightening her finger on the trigger Kelly was about ready to fire when Eagles voice came over her earpiece.

"Hold fire Staff Seargent, don't do anything rash." General Mitchel said as the sounds of frantic typing could be heard.

"But sir if I don't it's going to kill her!" Kelly replied getting Thomas attention along with Jack's.

Without a thought, Jack flew his drone that had been holding nearby and zeroed in on what Kelly was looking at. Passing his tablet to Thomas, he could see 15 griffons around where Kelly was looking at. Thomas felt his stomach tighten up as he saw the life of a small child leave her as the griffon choked the child with a smile on his face.

"Captain, proceed with your mission there's nothing we could of don-"

"Bull shit!" Kellys shouted over her mic causing both Jack and Thomas discomfort. "I could have shot him! I could have saved that little girl's life!"

"Kelly stop," Jack said as he adjusted his earpiece. "You would have made it worse for the others. There's just too many of them to deal with," Jack said as he set his drone on an orbit around the base having it mark all contacts. "The rest of the griffons would have attacked the civilians if we acted."

"Kelly, don't lose your head we need you hear right now. Don't let that little girl's life be what brings you down if anything uses it as a drive to get these birds out of our country." Thomas said as he felt a small tear form and fall along his face. "We still have a job to do and if this all goes well which I know it will. Kids like her won't need to be afraid; this is a war not in Europe not in Russia but in our own home got it."

"Got it, Thomas," Kelly replied somberly.

"Good," Thomas said as he and Jacks returned to their slow slug thought the marsh making as little noise as possible in the mud. "Jack still have that Microdrone with you?" Thomas asked as a plan began to form in his mind.

"Yeah, why?"

"We are going to need it if we want to get the civilians out of here before the bombs drop.”

“What do you have in mind captain,” Scott asked over the comms.

“Depends General on how long you could delay the strike for and set an alternate ex-fill point,” Thomas replied as he kept an eye on the drone fed.

"I'll get to working on that captain but remember capturing the HVT is your top priority. Eagle out."

"Thank you, Thomas," Kelly said softly over the coms.

"Don't thank me yet. We still have to see if my crazy ass plan will work."

"Well if it's like anything you did back in Paris then it should be just fine and who knows there might be another pin in it for us all." Jack joked lightening the overall mood of the team.

"Yeah, like in Paris, just this time Jack don't get spotted," Thomas replied as both he and Jack continued on their trek through the marsh.

"Kelly keep me updated with the location of all known hostiles in the area that you can get without alerting the others. Jack does that drop of yours have hover capability?"

"Yes, it does," Jack replied getting where Thomas was going with all of this.

"Good, so here's the plan."

Location.....Unknown

Time.............Unknown

It was relatively easy getting out of the dungeons without being spotted. The guard pattern was easy to remember and ditching the armor he had nab from the guard in the dungeon made it easier to carry Andine on his back and her rhythmic breathing let him know that she was still alive for now at least.

Taking in his surroundings, Taylor knelt down behind a tall rose bush and set Andine on the soft grass. Being an officer in the JSF gave him a lot of leeway when it came to his command, but all officers were expected to be able to keep up with their subordinates when it came down to PT. Taking in the warmth from the sun's glow Taylor could feel some of his strength return to him as he finally had time to breath in fresh air that was free from the scent of blood, mold, and other bodily fluids that made up the stench of the dungeon. Looking towards the sky enjoying the cloudless day as the sun looked to be setting, Taylor found himself smiling a bit along with a ping of guilt for those he left behind. Signing a bit, Taylor was about to pick up when he was face to face with two guards. The three looked at each other baffled. The two guards, one of them a unicorn and the other with wings stood at 5'10 and 5'9. Acting quickly Taylor tackled the winged one first grabbing her dagger and impaling her head where her spine and brain meant efficiently killing her before she even knew what hit her. Getting off the dead woman Taylor looked to the still stunned guard. Taking in the features of the guard Taylor felt a pang of remorse but swiftly pushed it back. He had just killed what must have been freshly out of their version of boot. A lucky break for him but the other two, a not so fortunate break.

Walking up to the stunned female, who fell to her knees and began to whimper for her fallen comrade Taly knelt down and placed the dagger's edge against her neck. Feeling the woman swallow her saliva as the blade moved against her Adam's apple. Taylor spoke clearly. "If you don't want to end up like your friend there you are going to tell me everything I want to know. If you cooperate, I'll let you live if you don't." Taylor grabbed the woman's head and made her see the bodies lifeless eyes staring up towards the sky.

"We, we just started today." She began to cry, "Heart Song and I just started today. We..We were going to start a herd together with Silver Line and have foals."

"Then tell me where can I find a map of this place?" Taylor asked still keeping the dagger against her neck.

"I....I...." she said in whimpers as tears flowed freely from her eyes. "You can find a map in Commanders Spitfire's office first door to the left when you enter the barracks wing of the castle."

"And wheres that?" Taylor asked.

"It's the same wing that you most probably came from," With tears in her eyes the woman bent over and rested her arms and head on her lover's dead body. Without another word, Taylor plunged the dagger in the same place he did the other woman. Ending her life in an instant. Closing the lifeless eyes of the two dead women, Taylor hid the bodies behind another rose bush and picked up Andine. Cleaning off the blood from the dagger on the grass Taylor made his way back to the dungeon area.

Author's Note

Sorry for such a short update, but with hitting the books for college and what not I kind barely find time to write. Don't worry about me dropping these two stories because I won't I don't like cliffhangers and I'm sure you all would kill me if I did just kill the story without an end. Though a new chapter for Dropped into Equestria is in the works about 6k+ words long should be coming out before Nightmare Night! Till then Drive it like you stole it!