Fallout Equestria: Shaping Shadow - Book 5

Shadow stood atop the Weather Factory, concealed under Mwokozi’s cloak. He was dressed as Black Widow and watching the movements of the Enclave Soldiers as they guarded the Food Distribution Center. The goal was to cut the head off the snake as Black Widow, and leave the scared soldiers to the military.

It was a very well guarded center. The roof had a dozen guard stations that included medium machine guns. The front door had a markshaft bunker with multiple machine guns and there was little doubt that the back bay was any different.

Black Widow had a challenge ahead, but it was not the worst situation she had faced.

Shadow switched on a StealthBuck under his cloak. Once it was active, he removed the cloak. The StealthBuck was the only device that could cover him as he flew between buildings. Shadow landed beside a ventilation shaft that was as far away from any soldiers as possible. He flipped the cloak on and then drew Kifo Herixleta. The sword glowed red and slowly sliced the grating off. It was caught before it made any noise falling off.

Shadow slipped into the ventilation system, taking the grate with him so it wasn’t spotted. Noticing the missing cover would be harder to catch than noticing the cover laying to the side, discarded. The ventilation system quickly became a crawl and Shadow looked for an out. He found a vent and was able to see enough to time a smooth exit.

Inside the Food Distribution Center, Shadow had to make a plan. His only goal as Black Widow was to kill the senior officer. He had watched the replacement several hours earlier after the Law Enforcement division had arrested General Derringer for endangering the citizens. It was a tough break that the Enclave was still trying to sort out, making it the perfect time to strike.

Shadow found a directory hanging on the wall. He located the head office and made a beeline there. The stairs were empty. The soldiers either used their wings, or were lazy and took the elevator. The door to the office of the head administrator had a window on it. Shadow peaked in and found him sleeping on a cot. He slipped inside and drew the zebra bayonet.

The kill was quick and silent. With the blood of the he wrote his message on the wall,

Black Widow has ascended to judge the Pegasus Race. Equestria needs the Pegasus Race, and the Enclave is blocking the union that is required for all to survive. Their evil is brilliantly on display by their forceful takeover of this center, cutting off their fellow pegasi from the food they need. Black Widow will not let that unjustice go unanswered. The Pegasi deserve better leaders than the power hungry monsters who control the Enclave.

This center will be returned to the hooves of those who it is supposed to serve, the ponies of the clouds. Either by force, or by choice, that is up to you.

Shadow turned his attention to the desk in the room. He cloaked himself in case someone came in, but he was betting on having several hours before the general would be needed. They didn’t like to be disturbed when they were sleeping.

The desk had plans detailing the entire defensive operation. Everything was right there: strength of the numbers, units assigned to the center, the heavy equipment brought in, the entire defensive grid and organization, as well as troop rotations and movements. It had been updated after the others had been taken into custody. Only one extra unit had been sent to reinforce the three that had been lost. The Enclave was stretched thinner than they would ever admit.

Shadow made copies of everything, making sure it all was put back exactly as he found it. He couldn’t tip off anyone that it had been seen, let alone copied. Black Widow didn’t have to plan to take over the center. She just cut down any resistance. But as recon, Shadow had to provide something to his officers about the Food Distribution Center.

Armed with the new information, leaving the center was easier than getting in. Shadow had planned on taking several hours scoping out the defenses of the center, but the information he got was accurate from his initial investigation. There was a good chance it would change after Black Widow’s kill was discovered, but moving the heavy defensive posts and machine gun nests would not be a simple matter. Now, he had to wait it out for several more hours before calling it quits to get a few hours rest back at the safehouse.

Lemon Lime and Light Bomb were asleep when Shadow got back. Shadow settled into bed and slipped into a light sleep. He was awoken by Lemon Lime several hours later. She was smart enough to quietly call to him from the doorway, out of striking range if she spooked him.

“What?” Shadow groaned as he sat up. The sun wasn’t even up yet, although dawn was just beginning to show.

“Did you scope out the Food Distribution Center last night?”

“Yes,” Shadow nodded. “I have their defensive plans as well as other information taken during my recon mission.”

“Well it doesn’t matter now,” Lemon Lime replied with a sly grin. “The soldiers departed an hour ago, back to Mareland. They were spooked. The Law Enforcement officers found General Ironwing with a slit throat and a message written in his blood on the wall. They fear Black Widow.”

“That is a welcomed surprise,” Shadow replied with a smile. “I can’t believe they ran.”

“I can,” Lemon Lime replied. “The rumors are that a team infiltrated Mareland a few mornings back. They don’t know where they are, or who they can trust. Losing two generals in less than a day and a sizable amount of forces locked up, well continuing to hold the center was a big risk. They left the defenses, but took the equipment. I am certain a full investigation will conclude that they took as much food as possible, but that is of little concern.”

“One down, two to go,” Shadow said.

“Two down,” Lemon Lime corrected. “The ACUs secured Twin Clouds’ facility yesterday as well. They are on their way here.”

“Are there any other military establishments in New Cloudsdale that need to be dealt with?” Shadow asked.

“None,” Lemon Lime replied. “New Cloudsdale may be surrounded by the various bases that make up Mareland Joint Operation Base, but it is free from soldiers. No battles should happen in its streets or in the skies above it. The biggest danger is an errant naval shell.”

“How would a navel shell miss by that much?” Shadow asked.

“Two ways,” Lemon Lime explained. “First, the shell is fired right after the ship is hit and moved from an explosion, meaning the cannon and targeting system are no longer in sync. The second is if a ship breaks apart before a follow up shell hits it, and that shell flies through without being set off. I trust the Navy, on both sides, to mitigate those chances to the point that it can’t happen.

“Still, the battle at Nellie will be in more open skies. The airbase is distinctly separate from Las Pegasus. Here, they are side by side, so whatever fleet arrives here, it will be fought close to the city.”

“Well, that means my attention will be turned to scouting the bases. What about you two?”

“We will be assisting with the take over and security of the FDC. When the time comes for the battle, that is not something I have an answer for. We need to keep the FDC free and in the wings of the citizens.”

“Any idea where I should start then?” Shadow asked.

“Rumor has it that something was caught, and it’s being held at Neighvarro. You never left Fort Wind. Neighvarro is the main army base. It is where the combat school is, and where you should have been sent after basic training, except not only are you a really good flier, they happened to have an aerial combat school that lined up with your basic training. Of course, they timed that course in case there were any good fliers, which paid off immensely.”

“What do I need to know?” Shadow asked.

“Its heavy army mentality. Burn the wasteland. And they hate you. You didn’t do well with the special training, for the crowd control, and that is the heartland for it.”

“So what, another Fort Wind, but larger? Including the combat training areas.”

“Like four times that, but force it all together, tighter. A lot tighter. Like a city, all designed around the control and killing of ponies. It would have eaten you alive, in ways the Wasteland didn’t and couldn’t. Down there, you didn’t have to conform, there you would have had to conform to what they made you. And that is the reason you not only survived, but excel in recon. You are not a soldier like they are.

“So if you go, be careful. I recommend dropping rank, like all the way. Fresh boots who can be excused, after a lot of yelling, for making mistakes.”

“Be afraid,” Shadow nodded.

“That would help,” Lemon Lime nodded. “Although, you will need more than rank. I’m not sure which units are there. Without a unit patch, you will stand out. Actually, on second thought, your dress uniform, they won’t be wearing them. It will all be combat gear.”

“So don’t go in uniform,” Shadow nodded.

“Not and expect to live.”

“How important is looking into this captive?” Shadow asked. He was concerned about his Zebra team and if they got caught.

“I hear you brought back an exotic team,” Lemon Lime stated. “And that the nature of your friends, they are something that we would have heard if they got caught. And as I said, there is that rumor that a team infiltrated Mareland. Now, whether or not those are the same, well I don’t think they are. The rumors are more hush, of a personal state.”

“A Wonderbolt?” Shadow asked.

“How they got caught, no idea, however, I do feel like Wonderbolt wouldn’t be enough to keep it as hush as it is at this time, when we are going to war. A Wonderbolt getting caught...it should be big news. Like, they would be flaunting it, but not. It’s personal.”

“I should find out what is so personal,” Shadow said. “Because there is a good chance, they are on our side.”

“Never discount them locking up one of their own they hate,” Lemon Lime reminded him. “Especially since they can get away with it at the moment. But yes, you probably should. You, or…”

“If it is an ally, me,” Shadow replied.

“Good point and good luck. This is the type of stuff that I never did well with as a Wonerbolt. Hence why I moved to the Law Enforcement field. Or rather, created my association there. It was complicated. I found something and was allowed to do what was necessary to ensure the Wonderbolts were in the loop.”

“I think I understand,” Shadow replied. “I got a pretty decent look at the Wonderbolts. After all, I live in the barracks at Fort Wind, with my wife.”

“Right,” Lemon Lime chuckled. “I forgot you would be living there. Makes sense. It’s a nice place.”

“For a military base, yeah, for where I lived in the Zebra Lands, well they took care of me. It ended up pretty nice. And while my family’s farm wasn’t the nicest, well my sister’s place is new and nice and I know we could get that room set up real nice to live the last of our years out.”