Wild Blue Yonder

Turbo laid in his bed, tossing and turning. It woke up Nimble, she got up and trotted over to him to calm him down.

“Turbo. Turrrrbo.”

“No, I don't wanna go to school.” He was still asleep.

“Turbo, get up.”

“But mom, the other foals make fun of me!”

“Turbo, get up!” He shot awake, eyes wide, looking for danger. After seeing none, he went back to his sleepy state.

“Hey Nimb. What's going on?”

“What? Nothing. You were just tossing around.”

“Ah. Thanks.” She reached out her wing to help Turbo up and he took it. Stretching himself out, Turbo let loose a huge yawn. “Does the mess have any of that coffee stuff?” Nimble nodded. Coffee was native to Saddle Arabia, but through exports found its way to Equestria. Before the war, he had never tasted coffee. But after three months in Gryphony, he was addicted to the stuff. Coming out of their room into the main foyer, they found Spangled Stars close to a near dead fire, scribbling furiously on a parchment.

“Morning major! Whatcha doin?” Stars didn't even look up.

“A letter to the missus.” Turbo and Nimble exchanged surprised looks.

“Really, we weren't aware that you had a missus.” Still writing quickly, Major Stars responded.

“I do indeed. We have a couple of fillies at home.” Turbo thought for a moment, then decided that Stars would make a good father.

“Well, good luck with that, Major.

“Thanks, you foals have fun yourselves.” Strolling outside, Turbo took a breath of good, fresh air. The weather was beautiful. Glancing to his side, he decided on something special to do today.

“Hey, Nimb?”

“Yeah?”

“You doing anything today?” She stopped.

“No…why?

“Well, would you like to do something?” Great, wonderful. Ten out of ten best wording. Would speak again. You should be glad she likes your antisocial plot or you would be alone in the world. Nimble smiled.

“Of course I would! When and where?” Turbo breathed in relief.

“Well I was thinking…” Suddenly, the air raid siren came to life, groaning out its monotone sound with growing intensity. “And right on cue, here comes the enemy. Rain check?” Nimble laughed and nodded.

“Quick, to the bomb shelters! No time to get airborne!” Out of the clouds came a horde of gryphon bombers. Ponies were running to and fro, with no sense of order. He spied two earth ponies struggling with a heavy AA gun. He dashed over to them.

“No time for that lads! Get to a shelter!” They abandoned the piece, and the three of them made a mad sprint over to the nearest bomb shelter. The low scream of bombs grew closer. The first pony dove in, and then the second. Finally, Turbo jumped into the shelter, closing the door behind him with his wings. Then came earth shattering booming and shaking, followed by nothing but silence and darkness.

“Alright, who's not dead. Roll call!”

“Ergggg.”

The raid did little damage, just a few holes in the lawn and flattened tents. No ponies were killed and only a few were wounded. But it was enough to rattle Union Jack to the bone. He shut down after the raid, a wreck of paranoia and other things. After he ordered 10,000 anti aviation guns for Ironwood, the brass had enough. Much to everypony’s pleasure, he was sacked. A decision was made not to promote Major Stars, as he was a great warrior, so instead Colonel Jack was replaced by somepony else. One normal, overcast, day at Ironwood, a pegasus landed on the field.

“Wonder who that might be,” Camel asked. Turbo shrugged.

“Probably Jack’s replacement. Knowing the REAF’s infinite wisdom, probably somepony who has never commanded troops before.” Whirlpool laughed.

“I've only been on the front for a few weeks, yet somehow, I know it's true.” The stranger took off his flight suit, and to Turbo’s surprise, it revealed a female form familiar to 6th Flight. A light bulb went on in Turbo’s head.

“Well I'll be! That's Hawker Hurricane from training!” Nimble did a double take, and a look of recognition flashed across her face.

“It appears you're right. Let's go say hi!” Hurricane was standing with Major Stars by the armory, chatting. The two presented themselves to her.

“Major Hurricane?” She turned and saw the veterans she once trained.

“Hey guys. Also it's Colonel Hurricane now. No longer the fresh face draftees you once were, eh?” Turbo shook his head.

“Not a chance. Nimble, Cam and myself are certified killers. I'm one away from ace status.” The news must have surprised her.

“I see. How times change. Can I expect the other 5 you guys trained with on the roster?” FLASH! Their first combat replayed in his mind, the one where Lemon Scented died. “Help me!” Then a small cry, then nothing but silence. Turbo cast his head low.

“No ma'am,” Nimble finally replied. “Lemon died on her first time out, Golden Wings got his wing amputated, and nether of us have spoken to Pitch or Stratus for weeks.”

“Sad. Lieutenant, are you alright?” His head was cast low, and Hurricane noticed.

“Yes ma'am. Just having flashbacks. I crawled through Tartarus to bring Wings back.” He perked up. “Anyway, it's good to have you as our CO, ma'am. We know you'll succeed.” The both saluted. Hurricane smiled then trotted away. They turned around as well and walked around tent stakes and ropes.

“You know we have a good pony for the job.”

“Darn tootin.”

“Wait, you're from the Fillydelphia elite. Where'd you learn ’darn tootin’ from?”

6 days later, Colonel Hurricane was fitting her role perfectly. A hard yet soft mare, she listened to the squadron’s complaints and answered them, yet she wasn't afraid to crack the whip. But today was special. Rumors had found their way from the front to Ironwood. The rumor was a big push was going to happen, hopefully snapping the stalemate. It was supported by the fact that for 5 days, Equestrian artillery had been non stop bombarding the Gryphon lines. The personnel of 4 Squadron had been told a VIP was coming to inspect. The night before, they were told that the VIP was none other than Princess Celestia herself. Early in the morning, 4 Squadron stood out in parade formation, waiting for their ruler to arrive.

“I swear Nimble,” Turbo said, still standing at attention. “If you say that the princess is your mother, I will flip.” She chuckled. Last time a VIP visited Ironwood, she had revealed her past, as the VIP was her father.

“No promises.”

Finally, a chariot landed on the field, and out step Celestia. She had a regal flair and was twice the size of even of Turbo, who was larger than the average pony. She strode up and down the lines, occasionally asking Colonel Hurricane something. Eventually, she stood in the direct middle of the formation.

“My little ponies,” she said with a motherly voice. “Tomorrow marks the day of our big push, crushing the gryphons and ending the war. Nothing of theirs could have survived the bombardment. However, air cover is still needed, that's where you come in. Hopefully in two weeks, you will be home with your families. The eyes of Equestria are on you. This will be the closing chapter of this great crusade to keep your homeland safe from harm." Her voice was rising with passion. "May you fly upon the wings of victory! May the wind always be on your back, and luck on your side.” 4 Squadron saluted in unison. And just like that, she got back on her chariot and left.

“I'm honestly not sure if I should feel inspired, anxious, patriotic, brave or fearful right now.” Turbo patted Whirlpool on the haunch.

“Me too buddy, me too.”

The next day, it was overcast with thick clouds. The whole squadron was out, nopony was spared. As soon as the green flare shot up, the low rumble of artillery in the distance ceased. Must be all perfectly timed, Turbo reflected. Off they went, into the wild blue yonder.

Unfortunately, it was not all perfectly timed. The artillery fire stopped ten minutes early. The bombardment was supposed to stop as soon as the infantry went over the top, at 7:30 precisely. Somepony’s watch must have been wrong, because at 7:20, it stopped. Giving Gryphony ten minutes to prepare. The offensive’s commander, General Flanders Fields, was furious.

“What went wrong?! It was supposed to stop at 7:30!” His adjutant sat next to him in the bunker.

“Shall I give the order to halt the offensive?” Flanders shook his head.

“No. We've wasted too much time and ammunition to halt it.”

“Shall I at least tell the infantry to go over the top now?”

“Capital idea.” He grabbed the field telephone, and dialed up the assembly trench. Nothing answered. “Bugger, comm lines must have been hit by artillery.”

“Then what do we do, sir?” Flanders looked out to the front lines.

“We pray, captain.”

“I found the front, sir.”

“Whirlpool, what did I say about calling me sir?!”

“Well si-, Turbo, you said I'm not your commander until we are in the skies.”

“Fine.”

Coming over the front line, they looked down and saw massive amounts of ponies in a large trench, all battle ready.

“I feel like we will be witnessing history. For better or for worse.”

A whistle blew on the ground, and right on cue, thousands of ponies crawled out of the trenches, surging forward.

“Go get the bastards!”

“Cam, please. Keep the intercom clear.” Suddenly, the ponies on the ground started dropping. “What the?” Then the sound reached them. The sound of a hundred machine guns opening fire. Turbo felt sick to his stomach. “Oh Celestia.” The infantry was getting slaughtered without mercy. Hundreds were being hit at once. Immediately, everypony started panicking.

“Oh no!”

“Whatdowedo?!”

“How can we help?!”

“Whatdowedo?!”

“Everypony! Shut up!” Silence was back. “Keep your cool. It pains me to say this, but we provide air cover only. Strafing the gryphon trenches that are full of machine guns is not a good idea. Just stay over the front lines.”

“Yes sir,” the all mumbled, still unable to avert their eyes from the train wreck below.

“Think logically.” Whirlpool was on the intercom. His voice was not normal, obviously he was quite shaken. “They have the survivors pinned down. They should send in artillery or air power. Since their artillery was probably all destroyed, it will likely be air power.” So keep your eyes open. They began searching the skies, looking for enemies.

“There!” Diving out of the sun was a gaggle of gryphons, going straight down. They waited out of sight until they dived past. Once they were below, 4 Squadron descended on them. It was easy pickings. Turbo personally sent one down. Pulling up just over the front, he got a taste of what the infantry was dealing with. The air was thick with bullets. Standing up for more than 5 seconds was certain death. Climbing back into the clouds, he avoided the bullets and found calm. Unfortunately, finding calm meant losing your flight.

“Hey guys, I appear to be lost.” He heard laughs.

“Don't worry, we'll come up to you.” Rejoined by his ponies, they found that all the gryphons were gone. Not just in the sky. They had abandoned their frontline trenches, but they did their damage and had many more lines of fortifications. Landing on clouds, they waited for any sign. Advance, retreat, it didn't matter. As long as they got some sort of signal from Ironwood. Spangled Stars landed on the cloud 6th Flight occupied.

“A counterattack is mounting, we’re gonna strafe them.” The time by then was 12:38, 5 hours after the assault started. Although exhausted, Turbo saluted.

“We'll give them a taste of Tartarus, sir.” Stars flew off, and Turbo gathered his ponies. “C’mon guys. One more job to do. They are about to counterattack, and we are going to deter them. Questions?”

“Yes sir. When are we going back to base?”

“Seriously Cam? You know better than to ask easily answerable questions!” They dived out of their cloud cover and headed for the ground. And there they were. Probably a whole brigade. “Crap. Fire and bounce!” Everypony let off a few bursts and took evasive action. Flak came thick and heavy.

“Watch yourselves, these gunners are on a mission!” Coming around for another pass, the gryphons were huddled down to avoid their fire. It didn't work out like they wanted it to. Flying slowly in, maximizing their time over the enemy, 6th Flight used half their magic on the grunts.

“Alright, RTB.” A sigh of relief came from the intercom. They were heading back, assuming nopony succumbed to exhaustion.

Fortunately, nopony did. Coming back to Ironwood, Whirlpool was still shaken by the slaughter on the ground. Once they came to a stop, he puked.

“You okay?” He nodded, and then puked again. 4 Squadron had ponies missing, apparently a whole flight got shot down. “Who were they?” Turbo asked to Nimble.

“5th Flight.” Turbo sighed. 5th flight had been Stratus’ and Pitch’s flight. Two more friends, two more deaths. Come, no time to mourn them, we are probably going up again. Right on cue, Hurricane came out of the command center.

“All of 4 Squadron had 30 minutes to rest. High command requested more air cover for the push.” 6th flight looked at each other, concerned. Finally, Turbo threw his hooves up in defeat.

“I guess there truly is no rest for the weary.” He looked forebodingly towards the front, knowing that Death was not finished this day.