Chapter 30:
Siege

“What the buck are you doing here?” Rainbow asked of the other pegasus. He turned and showed his bandaged wing, the dressings being tinged slightly red.

"Got caught by a griffin, crashed in the city and have been helping the army out with planning and logistics," He replied. “Why the world do you two look like you rolled through mud?”

“Camouflage,” Rainbow simply replied.

"You know her Lieutenant?" the earthpony cut in before Soarin could say anything else.

"She saved my flank at the Cloudsdale young flyers competition a year back. Wonderbolts have had an eye on her for a while, Major," Soarin told the earthpony. "I'll vouch for her any day."

"Will you vouch for whoever she vouches for too?" the Major asked, glancing over at me.

"Hey!" Dash exclaimed, stepping forward in annoyance. "Jack has been on our side since day one and has done tons of stuff to help us out! If it weren't for him you wouldn't even have those fancy rifles." Dash pointed at the mk 1's the two guards that had escorted in were carrying. The three commanders glanced at each other, though mainly at Soarin.

“If she says so,” the pegasus shrugged.

“Alright Captain, I'll bite. I'm Major Steel, why are you here?” the earthpony said.

“I have orders from General Stonehoof along with a dragonfire candle for direct communication,” I told her, pulling the two items from a pouch in my vest and passing them on to the Major. She quickly opened the protective cylinder that held the two items and opened the scroll to read it. “We were sent here to figure out how many griffons there are, how many of you are left, and coordinate a breakout action with an inbound relief force.”

“That'd be the first good news this entire week,” Soarin muttered as the major took the parchment.

“If we can even act on it,” the unicorn stated as she too scanned the parchment. “Captain Aurora by the way.”

I gave her a nod before refocussing my attention on the major. “I've made my estimates of griffon numbers but your numbers are probably going to be more accurate.”

Major Steel nodded. “We'll start communicating with the General immediately. Thank you for this, our options were running awfully short.”

“Happy to help ma'am. My unit specializes in accurate long-range shooting, any places in your defences that have good long vantages of griffin lines?”

“Tenpony tower has a good view of the southern encampment. We've been using it as an observation point to monitor movements and get early warning on attacks,” Soarin provided.

“How far away is it from the griffin lines?” I inquired as I didn't have infinite range.

“Close,” Soarin answered. “They've been trying to take the place from us for a while so they've pushed up to three hundred meters from the base of the tower.”

“Couldn't they just fly in?” I asked as I knew that changed tactics significantly.

“We set up magic suppression fields so the fighting there is a ground game,” Soarin informed me.

“That should be immensely beneficial to us, we'll help defend the place,” I stated as I looked over at the major. “Is that agreeable, Major?”

“You know your unit best, Captain. I'll make sure you're kept in the loop about progress made with the General.”

“Thank you, ma'am. Can you send somepony along to show us the way to the tower?”

“I'll bring them there, I need to go there anyhow,” Soarin stated.

“Of course, I have messages to exchange with the General. The two of you are dismissed.”

Soarin and Aurora saluted the Major, but when I did it the major raised an eyebrow as if I was doing something strange. Eh, whatever, we have work to do.

“Captain Grey, are you familiar with the Royal Guard's rank conventions?” Soarin asked after we'd left the room, a slight smirk on his lips.

“With the way you're looking at me, I'm guessing not entirely. I really only focused on setting up my own unit.”

“Fair enough. The ranks of the royal guard don't match one to one with the army ones. You're equivalent to a Lieutenant-Colonel in their rank structure,” He chuckled. “You're the highest-ranked officer in the pocket.”

I let out a whistle. “So long as nopony pushes any big commands onto me I'm happy, I have no training nor knowledge how to command that many people.”

“Shouldn't worry about it too much with you being a griffin, no offense intended.”

“Ponies wouldn't accept a griffin taking charge when they're fighting other griffins. Fair enough,” I shrugged.

“With a few notable exceptions of course,” Dash smirked as she bumped into my side with her flank and smirked.

“I wanted to ask about that, actually,” Soarin spoke up. “When this all started the 'Bolts send out a load of recruitment notices for hopefuls we had our eye on to strengthen the unit to wartime numbers. I'm pretty sure we sent one to you too, Dash.”

I looked over at the Rainbow as she looked down at her hooves. “I did... But if I'm going to join the 'Bolts then it'll be on my terms and because I'm the best, not because this stupid war...” She looked up again and a savage smirk formed on her lips. "...and our unit are the better fighters anyhow."

"Oh really now?" Soarin asked, leaning in a little as he narrowed his eyes. "What achievements-"

"If any of try to lay your hooves on Gilda again you'll bucking regret it!" I heard Midnight growl from well away. The three of us sprinted towards where the shout had come from. We found Midnight pushing an earthpony into the concrete while a few others were nursing bloody noses.

“What is going on here?!” Soarin roared as he approached the scene. The earthponies immediately jumped to attention at the sight of the lieutenant. Midnight let go of the one she was pinning too and took position between them and Gilda. “Pick him up and get out of here. We have enough trouble without fighting among our own.”

The group quickly picked up their comrade from the ground and they ran off back to their stations.

“Care to explain?” I stated blankly, very unamused.

“They had problems with Gil, we made it clear that they shouldn't make it a physical thing. They did,” Midnight simply stated. “We didn't start shit, we know better than that.”

“Don't let it happen again,” I warned. “Police your gear, we're taking positions in the front to help defend a vital location.”

“Sir, yes sir,” they all replied and rapidly started prepping, Rainbow and I too speedily got our gear on. Soarin just watched as we worked as a well-oiled machine, strapping on our rifles and forming up.

“Alright, lead on,” I told Soarin as we were done in no time. We passed through the streets that were still being held by the ponies, makeshift barricades dotted the streets and we had to cross various streets under cover as the griffons weren't too far away. Stores, houses and other buildings too had been emptied and makeshift routes assembled by breaking down walls to make more safe passages. I could feel the anti-magic field kick in as we got close to the tower, flying would be out of the question as I felt the magic drain from my wings.

"This place is a fucking mess..." Datura muttered as we took a moment to observe the open square in front of the tower's entrance. The entire area had been heavily barricaded and cartridges were strewn everywhere, even though every type of weapon seemed to be wielded by the defenders. Swords, spears, bows, my rifles, even a few griffon muskets were among the weapons the defenders were holding. On the other end of the barricade a good few bodies were strewn around in what was probably a sort of no man's land, the bodies behind the barricade had been gathered to a single spot and were covered with what looked to be curtains stripped from houses. Even I had to admit the sight was haunting, I had never been in such a dire situation before.

"It'll be all of us if we break," Soarin stated bleakly. "The griffons have been extremely merciless, if they have been taking prisoners it hasn't been many. At least we know where we stand, if it comes down to it everyone of us is gonna be dying where we stand rather than give in."

It didn't take a professional to see Soarin meant every word he'd said as he gazed out over the no-man's land before waving at the ponies that were in wait at the tower entrance, getting a wave back. "We're clear. Go."

The seven of us shot across the open area to the cover the large tower provided, the two guards there immediately on edge as they saw me and Gilda. "Sir?"

"They're ours, private. Is lieutenant Rose up there?" Soarin asked as the two privates let us walk in so we wouldn't be exposed.

"She's dead. Sergeant major Creek is in command, grey earthpony with pale blue hair. Probably up by the lower observation post, sir," The private told Soarin, the bags under his eyes explaining his shortness.

"Thanks," Soarin stated as he showed us the stairwell and we walked up to the eleventh floor where the first post was set up. The windows had been barricaded as a few of them had been shot out entirely but the view was actually still very good. In the distance we could even spot griffons walk around out of the effective range of the pony guns.

"This spot works for me, lieutenant," I told soarin as I tossed my bag down against an inner wall and started unpacking my AWM which had been stored in a bag until now. The ponies that were manning the observation post looked at us with a little confusion and distrust as we raided chairs and tables that hadn't been used yet to make a good firing position.

"I'll come by once I've spoken to the sergeant major," Soarin stated after learning the pony was on the north side of the floor.

"Roger that," I replied as I adjusted my bipod and placed it in our makeshift positions. "Datura, Gilda, take positions, you two are the shooters with me. the rest of you are spotters."

"Dibs on Edgy as spotter," Gilda immediately stated with a smirk, pushing Cypher over to Datura while taking position herself.

"Heyy!" Datura complained mockingly.

"She has good eye for detail," Gilda smirked as the others took their positions. The unicorn squad leader of the observation team approached as he'd just let us do our thing for a bit but probably wanted to know what we were up to.

"Anything I can help you with... captain?" He straightened up a bit as he found my rank.

"Yes actually, I need to know if you've seen any high-value targets about in the back lines over there?" I asked as I pointed out at the enemy positions. "Higher officers preferably or other figures that seem to be in charge."

"Fairly frequently," sergeant replied. "I can point them out to you if you want?"

"Very much so. Do you have good magnifying glasses?"

"Ones that works well enough," he replied as he levitated over his equipment.

"Perfect. Dash, you're a rifleman too now, go to the north side and get one of the observing ponies there to point out officers there too." I told her. "Grimmfeather, Midnight, join here there."

"Rules of engagement?" Dash asked as she wanted to know what she was allowed to do.

"Use your judgement, if the target looks to be important enough you're free to take it out," I replied, my marefriend throwing a salute before moving off to the north face of the building.

"Cypher, I need you sharp because you're spotting for both of us," he nodded as he understood and got his set of binoculars set up on their little tri-pod. "Alright, can you point us at the higher officers?"

"They usually are most visible in the morning but there's a few that go around all day," The sergeant stated, scanning the area with his binnoculars to see if one was around. We also did so as we started peering through our scopes to the streets where the griffons were walking around. "The griffon in a coat with those small bags and pistol behind the second barricade, he's a regular, makes his rounds almost like clockwork."

"How often?" Cypher asked as he found the offending griffon and started studying him.

"Every four hours," the sergeant replied. "Usually he just stares at griffons and moves on again."

"And when he doesn't?" I asked as I glanced at Cypher who was glaring at the griffon intensely.

"There's been a few times where he stopped and locked eyes with one of the griffons for like a minute before movign on again. Didn't speak from what I could see but just looked like he was gazing into the other guys soul."

"That's because he probably was," Cypher growled. "I think he's a changeling tasked with keeping the mind magic fresh."

"He's a what?!" The sergeant exclaimed but we were already busy with other things.

"Range?" I asked as I was making my estimation.

"I'd say five hundred from up here," Datura answered.

"Looks more like four-fifty to me," Cypher answered in turn as he did more checks. "The wind is low enough to be irrellevant."

"I agree with four fifty," I stated as I set up my scope. the sergeant was just looking at us in amazement as I shouldered my rifle and took aim. Taking controlled breaths I got my heart under control and placed the crosshair directly center of the griffon's body, my claw slowly drifting over the trigger and applying pressure.

Crack!

The bullet hit the griffon not half a second later, convulsing as the bullet shredded internal organs. Just as Cypher had predicted he immediately was engulfed by green fire and left as a bleeding mess of a changeling.

"Motherbucker!" the sergeant exclaimed as he saw it all happen but we were too focussed on looking at the griffons' reactions, Cypher in particular.

"Second barricade, one of the squad leaders on the right. Grey feathers with black tips." Cypher guided us, Datura finding him first.

"Got him in my sights."

"Eliminate him," I simply stated, a second loud crack ringing out throughout the floor.

Another green flash in the crowd.

"There's a griffon dragging off the first changeling!" the sergeant called out as he was looking out over the developing panic. I immediately moved my sight back over and fired a second shot.

A third green flash.

Now activity really started up, two more griffons went over to the changelings but before I could shoot them they managed to get behind cover. Another shot rang out from Dash's side as they probably heard the shooting and wanted to take advantage before the griffons got the news they needed better cover.

"More changelings you can identify?" I asked as I scanned the griffon lines, the birds having all dove as far into cover as they could.

"No, they'll have noticed the targets were all one of them and are trying to blend in," Cypher replied as he really tried hard to find more members of his own species. Three more shots came from Dash's side in the meanwhile as we held our fire while lacking proper targets. "That said, taking out a few changelings will damage their control abilities significantly."

"Alright stick to observation then, let's see if we can't pick out a few more before the General's force get here," I told the two of my people. "I'm going to see what Dash picked off."

“Roger, we'll hold the fort,” Datura replied as they kept their observations up. The team of observation ponies was looking at us in awe as they'd just witnessed us picking off three changelings one after another. I found Dash on the north end sitting in a similar setup as we'd made on the east side, Soarin and the sergeant major looking along in equal shock as the observers on our side.

“Don't have any contacts in sight,” Midnight reported, “They've bugged out.”

“What did you see?” I asked as Dash unshouldered her rifle.

“Group of four griffons on the rooftop over there,” Dash pointed at a rooftop a good distance away.

“Eight hundred?” I guessed.

“Seven eighty,” Dash confirmed. “I gave one a bit of extra ventilation for his brain, turns out he was a changeling though. Gilda got another one good but we didn't see that one go down fully.”

“Checks out, we got three as well. Cypher picked two of them out pretty much instantly," I told her. "They'll probably get a lot more careful now so I'll be observing them with the others to see if we can find more of them among the griffons."

"Sounds like a plan, we'll start observing too then," Dash stated. "Free to engage if we think that we've found one?"

"Naturally," I replied as she gave a quick salute and set herself up to sit for a good while. I then turned my attention to Soarin and sergeant major Creek. "Anything of note my people should know for staying up here?"

"The anti-magic field is about to be refreshed, it disorientates ponies and is usually a signal for the griffons to try another push," the sergeant major stated, the nauseating feeling that the field was giving off spiking suddenly along with a stinging headache. Dash took it the worst out of all ponies as she had to throw up from the sudden lurch in the field... the screech from the east side of the floor was way more concerning though.

"Was that Lovebug?" Gilda asked as she seemed to be the least affected.

"Don't know... go find out," I groaned as I clutched my head and grimaced, Gilda running over to the place from where the scream had come from.

"Some ponies have bad reactions to being in the field," the sergeant major stated as he got his bearings pretty quickly. "If your people can't take it they are better off leaving the area."

"Cypher isn't a pony," I grimaced as I stumbled after Gilda to our first position, Soaring and the sergeant major in tow. the changeling had dropped his disguise and was twitching on the ground, hissing in pain.

"He's ceasing up," Gilda grimaced. as she really didn't know what to do.

"He's dead, no way to get him out of the anti-magic field in time from up here," the sergeant major said while shaking his head. "Seen a few ponies go out like this too."

"I am not letting him die!" I growled back at the pony as although I hated his assessment, he was probably right about not being able to get Cypher out fast enough conventionally.

Conventionally.

The only way out would be flying, which was impossible in the field without sufficient magic and control... That's why I reached for the sword Luna had given that was attached to my backpack and pulled it out. Luna's knowledge of magic flowed through my system immediately and allowed me to push every bit of my magic into my wings. The feeling made me sick to my core but I couldn't afford the weakness right now, Cypher would not have long if I hesitated.

"I'll be back after getting him out."

Sword in one claw and Cypher under the other and I jumped from the tower, my wings grabbing the wind well enough to stay in the air as I sped for the edge of the bubble. Cypher was foaming from the mouth as I swore he was looking at me in desparation. What had taken a good amount of time to walk through now only took a minute to fly out of. The knowledge of magic quickly started to overpower me again as we left the suppression field but I'd already dropped to a roof and dropped the sword while tending to Cypher. The changeling stopped ceasing and was out like a light, his breathing seemed to be calm and rhythmic.

"Way too close a call," I muttered as I picked him up and placed him on my back, hopefully Queen Alvearium had one of her own among the ponies here in Manehattan as I really would be needing the help with Cypher.

Author's Note

Slooowly picking up some things again, need to finish some projects so I don't feel like I have a thousand things to d.

Also, work is fun: