The Manehattan Project

Police Lieutenant Misty Fly, a light grayish olive pegasus mare with sea green eyes, F-cups, and arctic blue hair, led a small group into a nearby shop as they all fired at Nightcrawler gang members. They managed to down two of the five before they made it into the building.

“Anyone hit?!” Misty yelled as she watched the entrance.

Angel Wings shook her head. She was a light tangeloish gray mare with long scarlet-gray and crimson hair, cerulean eyes, and C-cups. “I’m good.”

Meadow Flower, a light grayish rose pegasus mare with two-toned short golden hair, cerulean eyes, and E-cups, sat down in a chair. “I’m fine, too.”

“Great, so far,” Wild Fire answered as she leaned against the wall. She was a pale amber pegasus mare with short black hair, brown eyes, and A-cups.

“How about you, Lightning Streak?” Misty asked, eyeing the cyan pegasus stallion. “Any extra holes in your body?”

Lightning Streak shook his head. “No, ma’am,” he replied. He had spiky golden hair with lighter streaks through it.

Misty nodded. “Good. We’re all still alive. You’re doing well.”

“What happened, ma’am?” Angel Wings asked. “It was just routine training. Then, BOOM! Fire everywhere.”

“That’s what we need to find out, Recruit,” Misty answered as she peeked out onto the street. The enemies were gone. She pulled out her phone and started to run through her contacts. “Chief Silver Masquerade didn’t answer. Assistant Chief Midnight Strike didn’t answer. Captain Wave Chill didn’t answer. Who’s left?”

"If they're all gone," Wild Fire started. "that would mean you're in charge, ma'am."

Misty eyed her before she heard a noise outside. Raising her gun, she fired at a large incoming semi truck. "Shit. Move!" She yelled, running towards the back. Wild Fire went wide-eyed and joined the others as they headed to the back of the store. "Up the stairs to the roof," Misty ordered, before the semi truck crashed through the front of the building. "Dammit!" Misty Fly yelled, running up the stairs after the recruits as the whole building shook.

Blaze and High Winds hid behind their car as bullets shot over their head and hit their cruiser. Blaze leaned out and fired at a Nightcrawler and hit him right between the eyes. As he dropped, another Nightcrawler stepped up with an automatic rifle. Blaze ducked back behind the car as the gang member open fired.

As bullets plastered the car, High Winds noticed more smoke coming from the engine. "Blaze, come quick. It's gonna blow!"

"Shit," the orange mare grunted, both mares staying low as they quickly shuffled away.

They got about three feet away before the car exploded, sending them flying further into the alley. They both let out grunts of pain as they hit the hard ground. Blaze looked up and gasped, holding High Winds down and firing at an approaching gang member. The enemy mare yelled as the bullet hit her shoulder. Blaze quickly finished her off before pulling High Winds behind a nearby dumpster.

"This is going poorly," the grayish mare groaned as she sat against the dumpster.

Blaze nodded and kept her gun aimed down the alley. "Very poorly."

Soarin and Vapor pulled up to see a small group of Nightcrawlers gathered around an alley with a burning cop car at the entrance. "That looks promising," Soarin said as he grabbed the car radio. "Thunderlane, come in. Are you there?"

"I'm here," the other stallion replied. "A large truck just plowed through the front of a building. I'm betting some of ours are inside."

"Be careful," Soarin said worriedly. "We can't lose anyone else."

"Wait..." Thunderlane said suddenly. "I can see someone on the roof. It's Misty Fly. Wasn't she training the recruits?"

Soarin went wide-eyed slightly and eyed Vapor. "Where are you?"

"32nd Street," Thunderlane replied. "Can't miss the truck."

"Copy," Soarin said as he hung up the radio, Vapor giving him a look of confusion.

"What are you..." Vapor began.

Soarin got out of the car and leaned back in. "Slide over. I'll take the gun bag. You go help Thunderlane on 32nd Street."

"Are you serious?" Vapor called out as Soarin headed around back. Sighing in defeat, she slid over to the driver's seat.

She heard the trunk close and saw Soarin pass her by. He gave her a thumbs up and she gave a forced smile. As she backed up to turn around, Soarin set the gun bag down on the sidewalk. Unzipping the bag, he pulled out an automatic rifle they confiscated from one of Dusk's gang members. He then stood up and cocked the gun. Aiming at the group, he hid behind a mailbox and fired at them. When he hit one, the other five all turned to shoot at him.

Blaze lowered her gun slightly when she saw the enemy turn around. Raising an eyebrow, she fired at a couple, taking two more down as Soarin fired at the other three. Two fired back at Soarin, making him duck back behind the mailbox while the third spun around to fire at Blaze. The orange mare ducked down and rolled to the side.

Thunderlane pulled an automatic rifle out of the gun bag and closed the bag. Grabbing the bag, he pulled it out and closed the trunk. Carrying it over to the hole in the building, he dropped it and held his gun. He could hear talking inside from the Nightcrawlers. It sounded like they were coming up with a plan to get the cops on the roof. Taking a deep breath, he leaned out and fired at them. He quickly went wide-eyed and pulled back when he saw how many there were. The nine gang members fired at him as the tenth was shot in the head.

"Shit," Thunderlane muttered as bullets shot passed him and hit the edge of the building.

When the bullets stopped, one of the Nightcrawlers spoke up. "Give up now, cop!" He called. "We'll make it quick!"

"And, if I say go fuck yourselves?!" Thunderlane called.

"Then, we make it slow," the stallion replied.

Thunderlane leaned out and fired again as the gang members flipped over tables and used them for cover. Thunderlane manage to take two more out before the other seven fired at him. He leaned back behind cover again and closed his eyes. "Shit shit shit... You got this, Thunder," he told himself. "I have the guns." He then looked down at the gun bag. He then knew he had to keep some for the recruits. Ejecting his mag, he checked the ammo. "Half empty," he muttered, putting it back in and cocking the gun.

He was about to step out again when another cop car pulled up and skidded to a stop, the car turning 180-degrees as the window rolled down. Vapor held her gun out and fired at two of the Nightcrawlers. She managed to hit them both in the head before the other five returning to their cover.

"Come on, Thunder!" Vapor called as she got out of her car, gun aimed at the gang members. "We can take 'em!"`

The stallion nodded and stepped out, firing at the gang members. He ran into the building and took cover behind a tipped over table. Vapor took cover outside as they could hear the gang members arguing with each other.

Soarin fired at the Nightcrawlers as Blaze slipped closer to the burning car. She got her gun ready before she ran around the right side and dove towards the street, firing at the stallion who had fired at her. She made him flinch in fear before she tackled him to the ground. The other two turned to her as she rolled on her side so the others ended up shooting their own. Blaze then held her gun up and fired at them, hitting them both in the head. As they dropped, she threw the corpse of the third off her and shot him in the head just to be sure. Breathing heavily, she stood up as Soarin came out from behind the mailbox.

"Who's with you?" The stallion asked.

"Just me and High Winds," Blaze replied.

Soarin nodded and looked at their car. "Come with me. We need to help Thunderlane and Misty protect the recruits."

Blaze nodded and holstered her gun. "Windy was hurt a little when the car exploded," she said, before heading back for the other cop.

Soarin followed her into the alley, shielding his eyes from the fire. "We can probably take their car. Is she okay to walk?"

High Winds grabbed the top of the dumpster and stumbled to her feet. "I should be fine."

Blaze rolled her eyes and put an arm around her friend. "Don't be ridiculous."

Soarin smiled and exhaled with relief. "Two to our three make five. Still need more to stand up to Dusk."

Vapor eyed Thunderlane. "We don't have time for this. Grab a grenade from the bag and toss it in." She then reached around and fired her gun inside the building. "Quickly."

The stallion nodded and dove for the bag, pushing the weapons aside, he grabbed a hand grenade. Pulling the pin, he went to lean out and throw it when a bullet shot past his face. He pulled back quickly as the grenade fell from his hand. It rolled a couple feet away and sat there. Him and Vapor both stared at it. The stallion let out a sigh and dove for it. As he did, one of the Nightcrawlers popped out from behind cover and aimed at him. Thunderlane grabbed the grenade and went to throw it. When the Nightcrawler was about to fire, Vapor leaned out and shot him in the head. Thunderlane tossed the grenade into the building just in time for it go off.

Misty and the recruits felt the roof shake when the explosion went off. "What the hell is going on down there?" She asked.

Soarin, Blaze, and High Winds pulled up in a civilian car to see the aftermath. The three left the car and ran into the building to see Thunderlane and Vapor surrounded by blood, guts, and decimated corpses.

"I don't... think anyone survived," Thunderlane observed.

Soarin smiled and walked up to Vapor. "Good job. Now, shall we check on the others?"

Vapor smiled and nodded. "Yes. Let's."

Soarin and the other four headed into the back and went up the stairs that led to the roof. The white stallion reached a fist out and knocked twice on the rooftop door. “We come in peace!” He called out.

The door opened a crack as Soarin waved hello. It opened the rest of the way as Misty let out a sigh and holstered her gun. “Officers,” she greeted. “Cadet.”

“Lieutenant,” Soarin replied. “How are the others?”

“Fine,” Misty answered. “Absolutely fine. Now, can someone tell me what the fuck just happened?!”

Soarin stepped past her onto the roof, glancing at the recruits before looking at Misty again. “Most of our cops are dead. Lured into a trap by Dusk.”

“Shit…” the lieutenant muttered. “Who did we lose? I tried contacting the others but no one answered.”

Soarin sighed and leaned against the door frame. “Silver, Midnight, and Wave Chill all died in the explosion.”

Misty went wide-eyed and rubbed her forehead. “Double shit.”

“We’re mounting an attack against Dusk,” Soarin explained. “We have enough weapons for everyone here and I got Dusk’s location from Eris.”

“Eris?” Misty asked. “That chaotic monstrosity?”

Soarin shrugged. “She’s kinda cute. But, last time she gave me a location, Dusk found out and set up the trap. We need to be ready for anything.”

Misty sighed and nodded. “Alright. What’s the plan?"