Fallout Equestria: Shaping Shadow - Book 5

The battle had taken its toll on the fledgling Equestrian Pegasus Military. Their casualties from the assault on Nellie was forty-six percent, with a death rate of nineteen percent. Injuries would heal but the dead could not come back. Twenty-eight percent of their starting forces had paid the ultimate price for control of the pegasi’s future.

The remaining Enclave troops were about fifteen percent of their numbers, almost all having surrendered rather than die. The Las Pegasus food distribution center had not been cleared of troops, but with the EMP holding Nellie, they surrendered. Their future was currently undetermined, but none of the military officers believed they should be executed. Educated about the real wasteland and hopefully be able to be trusted to join the defense forces, but execution of surrendered soldiers would look bad. General Star Facet was executed since he refused to talk, but he also was a leader, unlike the bulk of the surrendered troops. Enclave splinter groups remained on the run and would be hunted down. For now, they had limited ability to track them, let alone eliminate them. Those groups were surviving below the clouds, in the wasteland, and posed a threat to the EMP and pegasi, as well as the wastelanders.

General Nova was expected to make a full recovery, so was Marble Falls and Cardinal Spitfire. Squad 19 lost another one to their injuries, bringing them down to three members. Golden Dawn had taken a heavy hit, but Ukuzwa had saved her life. Golden Dawn would be plagued for the rest of her life from the extent of her injures. Chocolate had pulled through as well.

Shadow and Arrow had baited the units following them into a kill-zone. They had no way of avoiding the trap once it was sprung. They caught up with the others before they made it back to the line. Simi had broken the Enclave line by the time they got back.

After they returned, Shadow, Arrow, and Dipper were immediately sent to scout various satellite locations on the base to see if they were fortified or not. They were all clear and free. The Enclave had consolidated their forces to stop the EPM. They never had time to organize for a redeployment after Star Facet was captured and their line was broken.

The following three days had been spent cleaning up. They cataloged the dead on both sides, figured out what was left standing after the battle, and learned what supplies were on the base, available for use. Units were sent to secure the other bases and important locations in the cloud cities. Fort Wind’s squad barracks was re-secured and Fort Wind became the main command center. Fort Griffin’s Gate was retaken by three Wonderbolt Squads.

The law enforcement division had the cities under control. Curfews were in place and martial law was the current rule of order. They were keeping the peace as they waited for the Council’s official word and reemergence. They did not claim the name “Enclave”, relying on the name of their division. All Enclave flags had been removed and any icons had been painted over or removed. Their division also removed any patches and insignia that identified them as Enclave, however the uniforms and rank patches stayed for the time being. It was the best they could do. They needed time to redesign those uniforms, which would probably be an adjusted version of what Shadow was wearing that the EPM was good to adopt.

The surviving fleet was mostly shuttling the troops. Deke was given command of the corvettes and began to map potential settlements. It took him close to the ground as he surveyed the wasteland. He was ordered to avoid the settlements and not antagonize anypony.

Shadow met with Misty Thunder at Nellie’s temporary command building, at her request.

“Command Sergeant Major,” Misty Thunder said with a smile. “I know you probably want to stay near your wife as she heals, but we need your team to report to Mareland to prepare for the Council’s return. There are no cloud ships to take you there at the moment, but I have a feeling that you won’t mind winging it. Plus, you won’t mind camping below.”

"It will take some time to wing it," Shadow stated. "When do we need to report in?"

"A week," Misty Thunder said. "You don't have to leave right away, but we need you there in a week. We will get Star Paladin Yellow Quartz a ride soon, but we need your team to help ensure that everything is secure and safe for the council's return."

"I'll report in by then, but I may go silent and do some reconnaissance, in hopes of ferreting out a splinter group and stop them from attacking the Council."

"These are the official orders and your report time," Misty Thunder said, passing Shadow an envelope with paper orders inside. "Feel free to do recon if you wish. Oh, and your uniform, that old one you brought back, is going to be brought to Mareland. That transfer is being sorted out, but we want you in the new uniform. We have ordered a ton for the Equestrian Pegasus Military, in what we are calling Pegasus Blue, which is really just a sky blue, but it will take time to make them. We will rely on Enclave combat equipment, just with new patches, but we are starting to roll out the new dress uniforms to be worn when not on defense duty. We may paint the guns to the pegasus blue to help differentiate us. Combat uniforms in pegasus blue would make easy targets, but we might go that direction. I'm still trying to sort that out. Yellow Quartz is helping and so is Arrow. When she is allowed, Golden Dawn is giving it a look over as well. I am sure you are well informed of her recovery."

"Yes, I have been keeping track of my friends as they recover," Shadow confirmed. "Marble Falls will be ready to do light duty soon and Cardinal Spitfire is being held against her will so she doesn't hurt herself by jumping back into things too quickly."

"I never ask because they are Wonderbolts, but what happened?" Misty Thunder asked. "Of all of the Wonderbolt Squads, 19 was the one I was least concerned about."

"Well, Marble Falls broke rank and file to do her own mission," Shadow explained. "All she would admit is that if it had worked, she would have ended the Enclave's ability to function. It was high risk because she was most likely going to get caught, which she did. After their orders were carried out, Squad 19 found out that there was a VIP locked up and decided that, since they were not going to fight at Mareland, they should break them out. They too failed, springing a trap set with Marble Falls as the bait, and got captured. They didn't break orders because they had no new ones and it wasn't expressly forbidden. They didn't know it was Marble Falls. It left three of the five surviving members alive. They didn't know about Aegis Shield's sacrifice protecting the council. They are heartbroken over it, but proud of him. Marble Falls is...not handling well the death of two pegasi trying to spring her loose because she ignored her orders."

"It is a serious issue, her breaking her orders," Misty Thunder said with a nod. "She may be court-martialed for it. The Council will deal with her when the time comes, if they decide to pursue it."

"What do you do now, for a court-martial?" Shadow asked. "You can't brand them a dashite and banish them below. That isn't possible now."

"I honestly don't know," Misty Thunder admitted. "We are barely together and have less than a tenth of the Enclave's strength before operation cauterize was launched. Now, on top of everything else, I have to seriously consider Black Widow and what she will try to do. We know basically nothing about her. I'm probably a target, you certainly are, most everypony important who is left is a target, and we can't afford to lose them."

"I was below," Shadow said. "I think we will be safe so long as we actively continue progressing towards unifying the Pegasi with our sister races. Black Widow claimed a lot of lives and took out key Enclave renegades for us. If she wanted or needed us dead for her unity link forging thing she is doing, she would have come for our blood."

"I'm afraid she will go for the Council and we can't afford to lose any of them, even to her," Misty Thunder stated. "I'm sure Gunmetal will fully brief you, but that is a concern of ours and something we need solved. They will help us keep the Pegasi unified as we face these new challenges. Things have to change, but the less we can do as fast as we can do them, the better."

"I agree," Shadow replied with a nod. "I will get going. I don't know the council chambers well, so I need to recon them."

"I trust you," Misty Thunder said. "I know you're not only loyal, but smart and can think strategically. I don't need to micromanage you and your team."

"Understood," Shadow nodded.

Shadow stepped out of the building and went to where his team was bunking. The timeframe for reporting in was exactly what he needed. Misty Thunder didn't know he was Black Widow, but the best place to judge the Councilors would be in the Citadel, where Shadow wasn't going to have to worry about being suspiciously absent. They might even want him in the council chambers to stand guard and offer advice. He could not judge them. Misty Thunder was right, they needed the Council, but Black Widow had to judge them.

Shadow had Simi begin to organize the others for an immediate departure while he went to the clinic. Cardinal Spitfire was sleeping. He did not wake her. She needed the rest. She would understand.

They launched when Shadow got back. After an appropriate distance, when they could not be seen, they dropped to the ground.

"We have business we must attend," Ukuzwa immediately said. "Simi has completed his last ascend."

"What do you mean?" Shadow asked.

"By leading the final battle, he proved he could not be rattled. There is ancient warlord blood in his stripes, but not the type that has caused us strife. A leader and guide who fights as a last resort, which is an ancient and important role of the highest rapport. He must take the sacred oath and be blessed, or else his blood will be suppressed."

Ukuzwa turned to Simi and had him bow all the way down. The oath was in the Zebra tongue. From what Shadow had picked up over the years, it spoke of honor and courage as the servant leader of the tribe. Ukuzwa finished the ritual with a charm that bound his oath to his health.

"I must go judge the Council," Shadow said when Simi stood back up. "After than, I will pass on Kifo Herixleta to you, Simi. A warlord needs a sword."

"The sword is to stay with you," Ukuzwa stated. "The time for it to move not so soon. A new blade will be forged, made for the resurrected warlord. Our tribes have been without a true leader for far too long, we need a blade that can sing a new song."

"Go, finish your mission," Simi said. "We will meet up in five days below New Cloudsdale."

"Agree," Shadow said with a nod. He turned his gaze north towards Trottingham.