RDI Canterlot: Code Blue

“Huh.” Wire Tap rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair. He glanced a Cover Story, who was doing his best to stifle a groan. The pegasus's eyes were glued to his monitor, but Wire Tap could detect a slight twitch under his right eye. Soarin was spinning in a chair in the center of the room, talking aloud. “You know, I passed this building once. Didn’t know it was RDI, though.”

The RDI building was a large one, placed in the middle of Canterlot. The building had a high-security presence, but little markings or signage indicating its purpose. In other words, it was the exact building expected for secret agents.

Soarin stood up from his chair, a bank of large monitors catching his eyes. “Say, what are these for?”

Wire Tap sighed, dropping his pencil from his hoof. “Those are radars, designed to monitor large amounts of magical energy. It helps us detect catastrophes or attacks involving magic.”

Soarin nodded, reading the labels aloud. “Canterlot, Manehattan… Ponyville?” Wire Tap chuckled.

“You’d be amazed at what goes on in that town, Lt.”

“Wire! Cove! What’ve you guys got?” Bon Bon had trotted into the room.

“Wonderbolts sent over the flight plans. Our victim was flying a Class A Eagle Fighter. Or a test model of that, anyways. The rest of the intel is classified, but Captain Spitfire might give us access.” Wire Tap tossed the folder over to Bon Bon.

“Got an ID. The pilot was Corporal Sand Storm. He test piloted a lot for the Wonderbolts on the ground, this was his first major incident. And last, unfortunately.” Bon Bon nodded, putting a file onto her own desk and pulling out the chair.

“Alright. Lt, how many ponies do you think we should look at?” Soarin stopped spinning in his chair and cleared his throat.

“Well… I’d say the chief engineer, the ATC on duty, and the chief of security.”

“Back up, ATC?” questioned Wire Tap.

“Air Traffic Controller, he’s responsible for maintaining radio contact with the plane.”

Bon Bon grabbed a pen. “You got a name?”

“Yeah, think his name was Barrel Roll.”

“Hmph. He’s not useless after all.”

Soarin raised a hoof to his chest. “Hey! I’m offended!”

Bon Bon ignored him. “We’re headed over to the air base. Wire, you and Cove talk with Spitfire. Get the rest of those files. Braeburn and I will interview Barrel Roll.” Wire Tap and Cover Story nodded. The two pulled open drawers under their desks, removing a sleek black pistol. Cover Story gripped the gun in his magic while Wire Tap used his hoofs. Soarin glanced over and noticed that Bon Bon had never removed her gun.

Soarin leaned in to whisper into Wire Tap’s ear. “I thought the other dude was in charge?”

Wire Tap glanced at him, confused. “Huh?”

“Braeburn, I thought he was in charge?” Wire Tap shrugged.

“Never really thought about that.” Soarin frowned.

“So Bon Bon’s in charge? I don’t get it, why are they both ordering you guys around?”

Cover Story laughed. “Well, technically neither of them are ‘in charge.’ All of us have the same rank, Special Agent. The ponies in charge of us are the Special Agent in Charge, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Senior Special Agent, and the Supervisory Special Agent. Right now they’re busy with another case, so they leave us to our own affairs.”

“Huh. Then why do you listen to those two?”

Wire Tap shrugged again. “What can I say? They’re good leaders.”

“Braeburn knows what to say, Bon Bon knows where to look. I’d say they’re both pretty cut out to be leaders.” Cover Story stood up. “Braeburn will join us once he’s done in autopsy.”

Soarin froze. “A-Autopsy?”

“I am afraid I won’t be able to give you much,” Dr. Graves said as he levitated a tray over to the side of the morgue slab.

“At this point, anythin’ would help, Doc,” responded Braeburn.

“Yes, I’m sure it would. Well, our airpony is in excellent physical condition. I observed several bumps and bruises on his body, most likely formed from the crash. On another note, I also found bruising on his hooves.”

Braeburn sighed, removing his hat. “His hooves, huh?” For a moment, Braeburn gazed into the deceased pilot’s face. He imagined the panic he must have felt, resorting to banging on the glass, shouting into a radio that didn’t work, screaming, with nopony to hear him.

“Yes. Most likely an attempt to shatter the glass, though I can’t say that would have helped him much.” Braeburn nodded, replacing his hat. “One more thing. I detected the presence of an unknown substance in our airpony’s body.”

“Drugs?”

“Likely. I am currently awaiting Test Tube’s toxicology report to be certain.” Braeburn scribbled something in his notebook before sticking it in his vest pocket.

“Well, we’re off to the airbase now. Keep me updated if you find anything,” Braeburn said as he trotted out the door. Dr. Graves nodded, levitating a bloody scalpel into the sink.

“Of course. You know… a few years ago, I never would have thought that one-day earth ponies could fly.” The doctor gazed sadly at the corpse in front of him. “I wonder how it felt for you? The transition of adrenaline to panic, the realization that you were doomed… Hm. That is a feeling I would wish upon no one, my friend.”

“This base is a little smaller then I expected it to be, Captain,” remarked Cover Story as he trotted next to Spitfire.

“Well, this isn’t the full base. The majority of the buildings are up in the clouds. We had to get the ground base constructed for the plane hangars and unicorn and earth pony training. Easier than having to invest in cloud walking spells,” Spitfire replied. She nodded as some earth ponies saluted her as they trotted past. “What could I help you with, Agents?”

Wire Tap spoke up. “We need access to the files of the Class A Eagle Fighters.” Spitfire scoffed.

“Yeah? Good luck with that. Even I don’t understand those schematics. Trust me, I doubt they’d help you out much.”

“They would still help in our case, captain. At this point, we’re looking for evidence of sabotage. It’s hard to find anything when we don’t know what the plane’s supposed to look like.”

Spitfire sighed. “Yeah, I see that. I can get you some instruction manuals and flight plans… hell, I could even give you the pony who wrote them. He’s an old friend of mine, I’ll have him send you guys whatever you need.”

Wire Tap nodded. “Thank you, Captain. Also, can you think of anypony in the crew who would want to sabotage the test?” Spitfire shrugged.

“I don’t know, all the recruits are supposed to be vetted by the Equestrian Air Force. I didn’t have a hoof in that.” The Wonderbolts captain scoffed. “I do know that some of the pegasi are getting antsy. Think the earth ponies are intruding on their territory and what not. Anything else I can help you with?”

Cover Story shook his head. “That’s all for now, Captain. We’ll shout if we need you.”

Spitfire nodded and spread her wings, flying off towards the clouds. Wire Tap sighed. “Just the pegasi, huh? That doesn’t narrow down our suspect list much.”

Cover Story shrugged. “Hey, it’s better than nothing. Come on, let’s go find the others.”

The hangar was filled with movement. Ponies of all types were scurrying about, carrying tools and shouting to each other. Braeburn and Bon Bon stood by the entrance, listening as a sky blue pegasus spoke to them. The pegasus was dressed in a field uniform, wearing a bright orange vest and white helmet, with a clipboard tucked underneath her wing.

“This is where the magic happens, so to speak. The planes are kept in here for maintenance and check-ups if they’re not out for testing or flight. This hangar houses the Eagle Fighters.” Braeburn nodded, scribbling something in his notepad.

“An’ how often do you fly them?”

“Yesterday was the first time, actually.” Bon Bon frowned.

“Who has access to this hangar?” The pegasus shrugged.

“A few ponies. I’m in here a lot, and so are the other engineers. The pilots like to stop by sometimes, too. If you’ll excuse me, I have to finish maintenance on the Griffin Fighters before they take off in an hour.”

“We’ll call if we need you. Thank you, Chief Wing Span.” The pegasus nodded and left the hangar. Bon Bon ran a hoof along the cockpit of a parked plane.
“Wonder what it’s like to fly?” Braeburn chuckled.

“Ah wouldn’t know. What ah do know is that our suspect list hasn’t been narrowed down, at all.” Braeburn sighed, something catching his eye.

“Hey, we got security cameras in here. Ah’ll drop by the security offices an’ get the tapes.” Bon Bon nodded, and the cowpony strode out of the hangar. Bon Bon sighed, marveling the beast of metal that sat in front of her.

It was amazing how technology was changing Equestria. A decade ago, the ideas of earth ponies flying would be laughable. The pegasi owned the sky, and there was no question about it. But now, it seemed that with enough skill, an earth pony could outmaneuver a pegasus in their own territory. “Hey, Bon. Spitfire said she’d send over some a pony to look at our wreck.” Bon Bon was pulled from her thoughts by Cover Story’s voice. “Interview Barrel Roll yet?”

“Nope. He hasn’t reported for work today, Lt. Soarin is trying to find him right… now.” Bon Bon narrowed her eyes at the back of the hangar. A pegasus was shuffling near the rear. Her eyes shifted around, and she shifted her weight constantly. She was fidgeting with a wrench in her hooves when she looked up.

“What’s up, Bon?” For a moment, the agent and the pegasus locked eyes. Then, the wrench fell from the pegasus’s hooves with a clatter, and the pegasus sprinted out the rear door. Bon Bon drew her pistol, cursing.

“We’ve got a runner! Yellow pegasus, out the rear door!” Bon Bon barked. In a flash, she was running after the pegasus, Cover Story right behind her, and Wire Tap rushing out the main doors to flank around.

“Cowpony, we’ve got a suspect on the run. Headed out the rear entrance of hanger 4,” Cover Story reported into his radio.

“Copy!” Bon Bon pushed open the door, catching the pegasus out of the corner of her eye.

“Freeze! Royal Agents!” she commanded. The pegasus spread her wings, beating them frantically.

“Stop that mare!” Cover Story drew his pistol, but Bon Bon stuck out her hoof. Like a bullet, Wire Tap shot out, tackling the pegasus in mid-air. The two pegasi went crashing onto the hangar roof.

As Wire Tap made contact with the pegasi, he heard her grunt in surprise. Wire Tap took the brunt of the fall, the other pegasi ending up on top of him. She reacted quickly, scrambling to her hooves and spreading her wings. Wire Tap reached for his gun, but the roof’s access door flew open.

Braeburn ran through, gun in hoof. “If you wanna keep yer wings, ah wouldn’t try it!” barked Braeburn. The pegasus hesitated, her eyes darting between the two agents. She began to tuck her wings in, hanging her head in defeat.

“Get on the ground, hooves on your head.” Wire Tap holstered his weapon and pulled out a pair of zip cuffs. Bon Bon and Cover Story trotted through the door.

“Why’d she run?” Inquired Cover Story.

“Don’t know, but she’d better have a damn good reason.”