Chapter 48 On Home Ground

“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” ― G.K. Chesterton

Airspace near Whitecloud, Manesville Region: Ginger Snaps

I wake up as the aircraft hits a bit of what I think is turbulence. Then I notice that the vertibuck is moving erratically as it dodges hostile fire. I look out the window and in the fading sunlight, I see the other vertibuck with us doing the same thing. As we fly over White Cloud, I can see the damage to the buildings below as well as to the cloud farm that is above part of it.

I barely have time to notice it when I hear Sunny yell, “Damn, the barn is down at Sumac’s farm.”

To this, I see my husband shake his head and above the noise of the aircraft yell back, “Father and I worked so hard to fill the mow last time we were home.”

Then I hear Epona say, “I saw bodies down there, I bet it was our own family that did it.”

From Sunny, I hear, “Five caps and you are on. I bet those bastard Enclavers did it.”

Then I hear both Tater and Cowlick take the bet with him. We are halfway to Manesville when we see the shadows of three raptors ahead of us. Then I hear Choo, who is connected to the aircrews’ intercoms via a flight helmet yell to us, “Hold on, we are in for a rough ride!” as the aircraft banks nearly sideways shifting us and our equipment. Then we are dodging and jinking as we turn around and head back toward White Cloud. As we make our way, I feel the aircraft jerk several times as it is hit and, in the cockpit, I see several red lights flash. Below us, out the window, I can see small arms fire arching up from both lines in our direction.

Soon we are almost back to White Cloud when we land. As the wheels touch the ground we run out and form a perimeter around the vertibuck. Behind me, I hear the engines whine down. I then see the other aircraft do the same.

Soon the aircraft have both been fully shut down and we are just dragging a net over the top of them when I hear a familiar voice tell me, “Good idea to cover them. The Enclave will hit them if they see them.”

“Thanks, Uncle Republic,” I tell the voice in the darkness of the woods.

I then hear, “Is that you, Ginger?”

I nod my head and call back, “Yeah it is, what has been going on?”

He shakes his head, “Ginger, they caught us with our pants down when they showed up with six raptors full of troops. The militia has been doing what we can along with the parts of the 1st regiment that were not inside when they sealed the stable back up.”

Behind me, I hear Morning Mist say, “All that it is holy, it is bad if they sealed up the stable.” Several of us nod our heads after he says this.

Uncle Republic then asks, “Who are these ponies with you?”

I smile, “Well, you know most of the Repair Ponies already, but the others are two teams we have been working with.”

“Oh, so they are mercenaries too?”

I find myself sighing as I tell him, “Oh, come on unc, you know we are not mercs. We are military contractors.”

He laughs lightly and jokingly tells me, “If you are contractors then build me a porch, will you.”

Behind me, I hear a disgruntled Mort say, “Come on, we need to get moving.”

“Sorry Mort, catching up with family to get the lay of the land.”

He nods his head and grunts. Then Choo asks, “Republic, which way to the nearest military headquarters?

His head leans to one side as he thinks about it and then he tells her, “I figure you mean the regulars. Mollygirl is over that way with her unit. They just got here yesterday.

“Yes, that would be best. Could you take us there?”

He shakes his head and tells her “Sorry Choo, but I can’t leave my picket post. However, if you go about two buckball fields that way,” He points behind us in the direction of between White Cloud and Dairyanne. “That is the main lines there, they should be able to lead you the rest of the way.”

“Thanks, Uncle Rep,” I tell him and give him a quick hug, as does Epona. Then we make our way back to that section of the lines. Once there the militia company leader first tries to recruit us, then has a courier lead us to the headquarters of the 3rd Manesville.

It is just after dark when we arrive at our destination, but when we go inside Ma is not there yet. However, Paper Work sees us and I have to smile as he comes over and first exchanges a hug and kiss with the boss. Then he tells us, “The Colonel should be back any minute.”

When she comes in, she seems to be involved in her thoughts on something as she heads to the map table. Choo leads us over to her and after getting her attention tells Ma, “Colonel, we came as fast as we could. We want to help.”

The rest of our team is behind her, the other two teams are waiting outside. As she hears Choo Choo, she answers, “Thank you. I have a feeling we are going to need it. Choo, I think your sisters are with the Militia. For this, I believe it would be better if you worked with them.” She turns to the rest of us and tells us, “If you want to be scouts, report to Captain Trade Winds. I have a feeling we could really use your skills.”

I nod my head in acknowledgment then I step up and hug her as I tell her, “I am glad to see you are alright ma. We have been worried about you and the family.”

She nods and tells us, “I have been worried about all of you too. The rest of the family is at Site Paddock. Oh, by the way, Raven got her cutie mark this week.”

When she says that, the first thing both Epona and I ask is “How?”

My husband, beside me, says, “I do have to ask how she got it, Colonel?”

She then tells us that when an Enclave squad attacked the farm, she used her grenade launcher, Badda Boom to first keep them pinned down and then to fight those who were inside the barn. She shrugs and adds, “From what She and Xavier told me earlier, she knocked the barn down on top of those inside.”

When she tells us that, I at first try to fight my laughter, but I fail in my attempt as does Epona.

Besides us Sunny cringes and he tells those he bet with, “I will get you your caps later. I should have known it was family that did that to the barn.”

My beloved on the other hoof simply shakes his head and exasperatedly says, “That is going to take some work to finish tearing down so we can put up another one. And all that lost hay. Father and I put in some serious effort on that during my last visit.”

She nods again, seemingly understanding his frustration. Soon Epona asks, “Ma, do you know if Purchase is with the rest of the family?”

Ma signals yes with her ears as well as a nod and answers, “Xavier said she was last he knew. That was only a couple of hours ago.”

Epona lets out a breath she was holding when she hears this. Then Sunny shyly asks, “Cousin Mollygirl, how is Morning Star doing?”

She answers him, “She was fine when her section took off a little while ago. Ah, Sunny, I need to talk to you privately if you don’t mind. Clan business.”

We all see his eyes go wide a bit and he nods his head. “Ok ma’am,” he tells her.

Then we leave the headquarters tent so Choo can go and find her sisters, and we can find the Scouts captain, while Sunny is talking to Ma.

When we come out Choo gives Mort and Mudwing a quick rundown of what the Colonel said. After this, she takes to the air and flies off into the dark to find her two sisters. As we watch her go, behind us I hear the 3rd Regiment’s scout’s 1st sergeant say, “The captain has sent me to bring you to him if you want to volunteer for the duration of this emergency, as we have permission from the Colonel.”

Mort turns to him first and tells him, “I am Captain Mort of the NCR Rangers Auxiliary Corps, I do believe I speak for all three teams, when I say, lead us to him 1st Sergeant.”

*****

The Front Lines, Manesville Region: Xochitl

We are led by the 1st Sergeant to Captain Trade winds, the CO for the 3rd regiments scouts. He is slightly surprised when he sees us arrive. It does not help that as soon as he sees us, Miney changes into a doppelganger of the captain.

He shakes his head and asks, “What in the Tartarus?”

At which point Mudwing tells Miney, “Knock it off and go back to your normal, normal for you, form.”

He quickly transforms back into the familiar pegasus shape he normally wears.

Mudwing continues, “Sorry about that captain, but that is his sense of humor, part of what got him kicked out of his hive originally.”

He nods his head, “Hive?”

Miney answers for himself, “Yes sir, Me and one other of my comrades here are changelings, sir.”

The captain takes it in stride and then grins maliciously as he tells him, “That could really come in useful for scouting behind their lines. I will have to keep that in mind.” He pauses, then asks, “How long have you been working together.”

Ginger answers for our team, and then Mort and Mudwing do the same. Finally, Mort adds, “Our teams have all worked with the others on different missions. Our latest was in Manehatten, before that Baltimare.”

The captain again nods his head, and then he tells us, “I hate to break up units that have fought together, but we have taken some serious casualties in the scouts since we got back. I will use you all as a spare platoon.” He then asks, “How well do you know the lay of the land here?”

Ginger grins at him and tells him, “Well, my team is not only from here, but myself, and some of the others used to run a radhog hunting business here. We know the ins and outs of the game trails fairly well.”

Again, he grins like a kid getting a gift as he tells us, “OK, that will help a lot.” He then tells us, “Ok, pick who is the platoon leaders and let the Top here know so we can set the chain of command. After that, Top get them a place in the company laager to sleep for a few hours. We begin sending out scouts just before first light.”

After he leaves, we hold a quick vote and Mort is voted our platoon leader, Mudwing our XO and Ginger becomes the top sergeant for us. After this, we are led to a clearing in the woods where the rest of the scouts are resting or standing guard. We do not even bother to take off our kits. Instead, we lay down where we are and soon most of us are asleep.

It seems like a few minutes later I am being shaken awake by Ginger as she tells me, “Let’s get them up and moving, Daylight is coming soon and we want be out of here by then.

After a quick bite of cold rations, I watch as the scouts from the other platoons make their way toward Maneville and the stable.

Mort then tells us, “Repair Ponies, you have point. My team, you are behind to the left, Mudwing, you are behind us and to the right. When we hit those woods over yonder, I want to go single file on the game trails Epona was telling us about. If we meet resistance, we spread out by teams like I described. Let’s move people.”

As we get ready to move, I shift my NODS down and grin as I think of how much I could have used these hunting these same trails. Then we are off at the trot, slowing to a walk as we enter the woods before us.

It is only a short time later I hear a loud squealing coming from the side of us and I see a pack of radhogs running right at us. Ginger, Epona, Sunny, and I all open fire. Taking out most of the pack

One gets too close to Cowlick and I see him kick out from the side, hitting it in the head and sending it tumbling to the side.

While this is going on, I suddenly hear Double Back yelling in pain as he screams, “The damn thing got me.”

I look over and see a gash across his cheek and blood flowing down from it. Twinks runs up to him, looks it over, flushes it, and applies a bandage.

It is only an hour after dawn when we are approaching a farm that we make our initial contact with the enemy. We fall back some and are told to hold as the 1st of the 3rd battalion comes up to us.

While we wait, Mort tells us, “Dig in.”

We all begin to use what we have with us to scrape out first depressions in the dirt, then foxholes. We scrap the dirt we remove to the side of holes that the enemy is on.

The whole time we are under fire from what must be either pickets or scouts for the Enclave here. While some of us return fire as overwatches, the others continue to dig.

Soon after this, I see an earthpony with a radio pack on his back low crawling toward us. Once fairly close he calls out, “Who’s in charge here?”

Mort waves a hoof at him from his hole and the radiopony makes his way to him. Before too much longer I hear artillery fire begin, followed by a quick barrage of shells landing on the positions of those we are skirmishing with.

Soon I hear what sounds like loud thunder and I see the skyships begin to fire counterbattery at our guns. After a while of cat and mouse between them, the skyships shift their fire and begin to hit our lines.

I cringe inside my foxhole alongside Ginger and Morning Mist as another large explosion lands nearby as we suffer through another bombardment by the big guns on the three remaining Raptors. It has been going on for an hour already and there seems to be no sign of it letting up. Faintly in the distance I can hear someone screaming as my ears ring. I look over and see the terror in the eyes of those with me. Then I realize that the screaming is coming from me. I fight the urge and just hunker down further and try to dig in more.

Suddenly the shelling stops and I hear 1st Sergeant Gung Ho yelling, “Everypony up! UP! Here they come!”

I stand up and look over the lip of my foxhole and I see a group of power-armored pegasi advancing towards us. I queue up my vats for the first one and begin to fire as do those around me. From nearby I can hear someone screaming for the medic.

Nearer, I can hear someone moaning for their mother. But no time to think about that right now. I suddenly duck below the lip of built-up dirt on that side of my burrow as rounds land next to me. As I do, I hear Morning Mist yell in pain.

I pop up and start firing again. This time I catch one of the ones in simple barding rather than power armor with a three-round burst. I can tell when the final shot penetrates their barding as they begin to howl in pain as the magical enchantment from my rifle causes them to burn.

I hit two more with the same results and I can see the resolve start to falter as those in simple barding begin to fall back, by first ones and twos, then whole groups. Around me, my teammates and companions from the recon company continue to fire on them until we hear the captain yell out, “Cease fire. Let the bastards go for now.”

As I look in the direction that they are falling back to I see smoke begin to rise from the grain field they had just advanced through. Behind it, I can see a farmhouse and barn start to go up in flames as well.

The bastards keep burning anything they cannot hold. Off to the south of us, I can hear another big push being put on against our force by Dairyanne and Emerald Grove. That would be the area of the 2nd Battalion.

Soon I hear whistles behind us being blown three times and Mort yelling to us above the din, “Rangers, forward.”

We all climb out of our foxholes and begin to advance again, none of our fliers are in the air, instead, they stay on the ground and fight alongside of us. I find myself moving forward with my head tilted down, looking under the edge of my helmet as if it was rain we were going against, not gunfire. Then I glance to the side and notice I am not the only one.

The entire regiment goes forward on hoof. Finally, we are halfway between Whitecloud and Manesville when we run into such heavy resistance that we can go no further. We again dig in for the night. As we do so, I wonder what tomorrow will bring for us.

Later that night we sit and talk amongst ourselves. Ginger is cuddled up next to me, when Mort comes up to us and tells us, “We need a recon of the area ahead of us. Just probe, no prolonged combat. We need to know what they have in front of us.

I know tomorrow is going to be a long day, but we really don’t have a choice. Ginger gets up first and stretches, then she quietly tells the rest of our team, “Kit up, we got some sneaking and peaking to do.”

As we get ourselves ready to go, I notice that Eni and Meanie are getting kitted up too. Once ready we climb out of our positions and begin to make our way forward into the night. All of us but the two Fixers with us are wearing our NODs.

Sometime later as we move through the woods and fields, we have a hard time telling if the flashes of lights are shots being fired or fireflies. This gives me an idea, and I briefly discuss it with Ginger and Twinks.

We soon find a position with two pegasi asleep in it. Instead of my normal way of handling such a situation, I have Twinks quickly cast the anesthetic spell on them both. I then quietly and lightly leave a shallow cut across the one on the right's throat with my family knife, then I leave a note pinned to his chest saying Next time it is real. The other, well I leave him asleep. Perhaps this is wrong of me to play such a psychological game with them, but after seeing some of the ponies I have known dead and their farms burned to the ground. I want payback. May the Goddesses have mercy on my soul.

We then move on beyond that position and sneak up to the next farmhouse. I look inside and I can see the place has been ransacked. I signal to the others that it is clear and I am about to try and enter the house when Ginger signals for me to come back. I have just gotten back to the rest when she tells me, "We are falling back for some rest. Besides, I heard the batponies echolocation a bit ago. I have a feeling we have done enough here.

Soon we are back in our lines. Ginger goes and reports to Mort what we saw. Before they head back to their team, I see the changelings looking at me. Finally, one says, “We understand how you feel. This is like what they did to our village in Baltimare.” The other nods their head. Then the first adds, “Have a good sleep, Flower. It was a pleasure to see how your team operates and gets its hooves really dirty.” He pauses and then asks, “Why didn’t you just kill them?”

This time my grin is feral as I reply, “Because now I have two ponies who are going to be traumatized instead of just one dead and one paranoid to sleep. They will spread the word and it may help to panic more of them.”

The next morning a courier comes and has Mort go back to the Company HQ. After about an hour he returns. He calls for Ginger as well as Mudwing. They talk for a bit and when she returns, she tells us, “At noon, we step off for the next attack. This is a big one, the airmobile units are going in on wing.”

“What does this mean for us?” I ask.

She sighs and tells us, “We go in on hoof. We lead the way and clear any obstacles in our path.” As she says this, she looks at first Morning Mist and then Cowlick and tells them, “If you have any explosives when we hit any obstacles, feel free to use them.”

“Oh, and rumor has it the third battalion for the 3rd regiment has arrived. It seems they came from Harness. So, we might be working with some of those we fought alongside before.”

“That would be nice,” I answer. Then I point towards the sky from the east and I see a large murder of crows flying slowly in our direction. I only say, “I really hope that does not mean what I think it does.”

Ginger finishes taking a drink from her canteen before she replies, “I hope not too, but I have a feeling it does.”

Cowlick asks, “What do you mean?”

Ginger quietly tells him, “Before the worst fights during the expedition, the crows always showed up. As this is the Mareigan’s home as well, I have a feeling she may be involved.”

One of the Fixers then asks, “Who is this Mareigan?”

I chuckle slightly and then answer, “Not sure if it is who, or what?” I pause to collect my thoughts, then continue, “She is the spirit of the land here. I and several others have met her more than once. In fact, she helped to guide us during the Expedition.”

“You zebra types and your belief in spirits,” one of them says waving a hoof dismissively.

I simply shrug and I hear Epona laugh lightly as she chimes in, “Well, several of us ponies have seen her over the years. But as the zebra shamans would say, if you met a spirit, never insult them, or make a deal with them.”

Sarcastically I hear him say, “Ok, I will try to remember that.”

Then I look at my PipBuck and notice the time, “Ginger, we need to start getting ready.”

She moves her ears in acknowledgment and tells us, “Ok, everyone, full battle rattle. We only have half an hour.”

*****

Manesville Airspace, Manesville Region, NCR: Choo Choo

As I fly in the direction of Emerald Grove, and my home. I worry not about the cave but about my family and those I care about. I feel guilty about leaving the team in Ginger’s hooves, but as Mollygirl said, it would be better for me to serve with my sisters.

Soon, I am almost to Emerald Grove when I first feel a tickle in my brain and then hear one of my sisters ({Choo Choo, is that you?})

({Yes, my sister, I have come to work with both of you again.})

I feel the excitement in their thoughts about this prospect. Then one tells me, ({I am letting Sirocco know right now. Blue Star is lighting her horn for you.})

I see a flash of light and I know where they are. Soon I land and we are together again. Both quickly run to me and I feel their wings wrap around me in relief and joy.

{Choo, it is so good to see you again,} Blue Star sends me.

({And both of you as well. I am sorry it has been so long.})

({No need to apologize, we are family, after all, sister. We understand how it is. We even have had your Paper Work out to the farm while you were gone as we consider him your husband, though it is not official.})

({Thank you, that means more to me than you can imagine. He is very special to me.})

Quick Frost then tells me, ({We do understand, but I worry about you with him.})

As we are standing talking like this, I hear another pony clear their throat. Then Sirocco tells us, “I am glad you three are happy to be together again, but could you please talk out loud for the rest of us.”

“Sorry Sir,” I apologize. Then I tell him, “Colonel Mollygirl suggested I fight alongside my sisters for the rest of the battle here.”

He nods his head, “Glad to hear that Choo, now we need to go into my headquarters, I needed to talk to your sisters about what I want tonight. You just upped the ante on what we can do.”

Soon we are in a damaged barn that is across from a destroyed farmhouse. He points to a couple of places on the map and tells us, “The first one, I just want you three to check out. Let us know what is there so we can respond accordingly. That second one; well that one we know has a supply dump for those ponies. I want you three to go in there and have fun. Wreck the place if you can. If not, well scare the tar out of them. Also, be careful the place is guarded by at least a platoon of power armored troops last I heard.”

I find myself grinning alongside my sisters as we get told we are to do what I like to do best. Raise cane and mess with the enemies’ heads if I cannot eliminate them.

Quick Frost, still smiling turns to Sirocco, “When would you like us back?”

“How about by morning, if possible, the big thing is to make sure you are safe while doing it.”

We all three nod our heads and for the first time in years, the three of us are off on a real mission together. This is not like the pegasi tag games where we would go against the other members of the teams from our area. Well, that and there we only tagged each other. This time it is no-holds-barred.

Quick Frost then tells us, ({Let Us go!})

With that, all three of us leap into the air and begin to head towards our first destination. We fly all the way to the river and then follow it up to the waterfront.

As we fly along the river, I see several of the local river patrol boats are either sunk or hiding in the brush along the river. When one of those crew members sees us, I see him wave silently and signal with his ears to go get them.

In reply, I do a quick barrel roll which gets the earth pony to jump up and down with his forehooves in the air.

Soon, further to the south, I start to see several riverboats and barges that are unloading troops and cargo. Above them flying in a holding pattern I see a large dragon. We fly closer and I can tell it is George, she sees us and flies over to meet us.

Once she is close, she asks, “How bad is it?”

I shrug my shoulders as I have not seen fully yet. But Blue Star answers. “It is good to see you again George, but it is not good. They hit White Cloud pretty hard as well as burned our farm and several other buildings near Emerald Grove. We have driven them back, but they keep burning things as they go.”

“Well then, I will just have to fight fire with fire,” George responds.

I then ask, “Where are Tempered and Forged?”

“Oh, Cedar Box and Cannel Coal are watching them for me while I am assigned up here.”

Quick Frost then asks, “Who’s offloading down there?”

“Oh, that is the new fourth battalion from Harness. They are being assigned to something called the 3rd Regiment.”

I smile as I hear this. This is good news. Then I ask, “Who is the battalion commander?”

She grins, “Oh, that would be Lieutenant Colonel Laura Lee.”

I find myself smiling again and shaking my head. “That sounds good George. I hate to say it though we need to get moving. We have a supply dump we still need to hit before morning.”

George nods her head knowingly and tells us, “Ok, well good luck and I can’t wait to see you guys again later.”

“You too George.”

Before we leave Quick Frost adds, “George, just so you know, your cave is safe.”

“Thank you Quick, I hope your home is safe as well.”

I feel a bit of sadness wash over my two sisters as Quick tells her, “Not as well as we would have hoped, but we can rebuild it.”

Quickly George tells them, “Well, you can stay at mine and Choo’s cave again until your home is ready.” Then I see her put her foretalon against the side of her head over her hearing diaphragm followed by her saying, “I have to go, they just called me down so we do not attract too much attention.”

I nod my head and we begin to fly north again. Soon we are near Manesville, as I look to the west, I can see the pegasi skyport in Dead Quiet has been leveled. There is wreckage from three raptors on the tarmacs as well as six large craters at the corners of the field and center. I can also make out the remains of hundreds of beings there on the ground as well. I turn and look at the Manesville side of the river and I can see several buildings are on fire including part of the hospital that was rebuilt after the last time we fought with the Enclave. We fly nearer to the base and stable and I can see that while most of the buildings have been destroyed, several are still functional and are being used to house supplies for the enemy now. However, this is not our target right now. Our target is closer to White Cloud and Emerald Grove.

As we fly closer Blue Star sees several skywagons getting ready to land at the supply depot.

({Do you see that? Look they are getting ready to land as if on parade.})

({Easy sisters, let’s do this safely}) Quick Frost tells us. ({We first hit the last in line, then the middle. If they scatter, let them go, we hit the dump. Be ready now.})

Once close enough I watch as Quick Frost disappears and then reappears next to the last skywagon’s lead. She quickly kicks her in the head and I watch the wagon begin to fall from the sky as I swoop in and turn myself invisible as I go into SATS and target that one as well as next two with my minigun. I open fire and watch as two of the three go down and the remaining skywagons scatter. Suddenly there is fire in my general direction from the ground. I brace myself for the fire coming at me but just before the shots reach my location in the sky, Blue Star throws up a shield to block them. While mine is strong, hers is far stronger, made doubly so by the presence of her two sisters with her.

In a vee formation, we fly towards the ground. Suddenly Quick Frost teleports again and lands behind two of the power armored guards and she uses her TK to lift one and hit the other with them. I watch in amazement as I see the power armor of both suits collapse in.

This is my cue and I again turn invisible as I go among their positions. Showing myself only right before the kill. Blue Star had just put her shield in front of me again when I look over and notice that there are boxes of explosives right next to the other supplies.

({Sisters, let us take advantage of their ignorance.})

({What do you have in mind, Choo?})

({I will light the box of explosives on fire with my magic, once it explodes it will take out the other supplies with it.})

({But what about the rest of this stuff?})

({Remember our pyrotechnic spells?}) I tell them mentally as I give them a predator’s smile.

With that, we run through the supply dump, mine and Quick Frost's horns flaring as we set the supplies alight. When any of the surviving guards dare to fire at us, Blue Star shifts her shield in their direction knocking the MEW beams and bullets out of the air.

Soon we have a good portion of the place going. The final thing I light is the explosives box. After this Quick Frost teleports all three of us about 200 feet into the air, once we reappear, I watch as a large explosion occurs, followed by several more. We then make our way through the darkness and back to the headquarters of the Militia.

Once we return, we are met by a very tired-looking Sirocco. Quick Frost approaches him and tells him, “Sir, we have accomplished both of our tasks. The reinforcements we were expecting are offloading several miles downriver but should be here tomorrow at the latest.

“Good, glad to hear that. Now how about that supply dump?”

Blue Frost answers this time, “Sir, we destroyed several skywagons as we fell in at the back of their landing pattern. We then caused moderate to severe casualties among both the guards and the rear echelon troops there. Finally, we left about a quarter to one-half of the supplies there burning.”
He nods his head and with a grim smile tells us, “Very good, now go catch some rest, we jump off at noon for a general assault. All fliers are to go in airborne. I will need you three for it.”

*****

Rainbow Dash Skyport, Hoofington: Ball Lightning

The first night back with my family goes exceedingly well overall. However, when I finally go to bed that night with my wife, as I put my hooves around her, she rolls over and faces away from me.

I then ask her, “Sundancer, my love, is there something wrong? Did I do something?”

In the dark, I feel her head shake slightly and I hear her let out a sigh that I know is not for pleasant reasons.

“Sundancer, what is bothering you?”

This time she pushes my hoof off of her, rolls over, and asks, “You really don’t get it do you?”

“Get what?”

“What you did to me and our kids. Disappearing for five months, letting us think you were dead. Then you waltz right in here and think things are all better now that you are back and that they can just go back to the way things were.”

This gives me pause and I tell her, “I am sorry dear. I was ordered to go on short notice. It was not that I wanted to go. I had to. For both myself and our family. You know what would have happened if I had refused.”

I feel her tense up some when I say this. But she says nothing at first. Then she asks me quietly, “Where in the world did you go Ball, that for five months they could not tell me more than you were or if you were even alive? Damn it Ball, I thought I was a widow. A Goddess damn, pregnant widow with a house full of foals.”

I sigh as I contemplate telling her the truth. Finally, I tell her, “Dear, I did not lie when I told you I went to Baltimare, and after I came back, I went to Manehatten.” I pause, again wondering if I should tell her more. Then I realize if I don’t, I may lose my family. So I begin, “Do you remember those ponies from Manesville and how you overheard us talking about one of them saying they came from another universe?”

I feel her nod her head, and then she asks, “Why?”

I take a deep breath, then I begin, “Because they were telling the truth. There is, or was one of those portable portals they call a doorway in Baltimare in a Ministry Hub. My love, I went through with Alto, Funnel Cloud, and Air Burst.”

I hear the skepticism in her voice as she asks, “Really? And just what was this world like then?”

So, I begin to tell her what I learned there. When I am done, she asks, “You really expect me to believe that?”

I sigh again, and this time I get up, I turn on the lights in our room, and then I go to my saddlebags. I shift through them until I find what I am looking for. Then I bring them back and place them on the bed. First, she gathers the color photo of my team and Sunny Water's team together, taken at the coronation lunch. She flips it over and notices the words on the back our names along with a date that does not make sense in our world, and the words, Manesville delegation to the coronation of Queen Haven, Coronation lunch, Zepher Heights.

I see her eyes go wide at this. Then she reaches over and picks up the coin gently with her wing tips. She looks at the image struck on it as well as the words Regina Haven. She flips it to the back and reads, The Royal Coronation of Queen Haven, and below it again a date that is the same as that on the photo.

“Where did you get these?”

I smile sadly as I tell her, “My love, I was in another universe. And believe me, it was strange. The first thing is, that no ponies had any magic at all. I mean none of us could fly, except for the royals, from what I was told. As for the unicorns, the ones with the Repair ponies, and Choo Choo could not use their horns. They said they ran into some locals there that could not use theirs either.”

She seems truly stunned by this and I see her move her wings slightly as if imagining not being able to fly. Then she asks quietly, “What was it like there.” So, I tell her what I saw on that side of the doorway. It is several hours later when I finish.

After which I place the coin back into my saddlebag and hide the photo in an old album of pictures that I have. After this, I turn off the lights and when I am in bed again, she rolls over and puts her wings around me without saying a word. I hear her breath in my scent and I do the same to her, and soon we are both asleep again in the hooves of the one we love most.

Come morning, after breakfast, I return to my battalion CO’s office. When I arrive, he asks, “Why didn’t you check in with me last night?”

I feel mortified at the realization that I had failed to do so. “Sir, I am sorry about that, but when I was heading this way, my daughter Lil’ Bit met me and I just got carried away in the excitement and forgot about checking in with you.”

He nods his head. Looks at something on his desk and tells me, “This time Captain, I will give you a break. But understand you are flying through turbulence with me right now. I now have a lieutenant who has proven she can run your company and honestly, I am now more used to working with her than you.”

“I understand sir.”

“Do you Captain?” He asks with a resigned tone of voice.

“I do sir. If you feel she should have the company and that you have another position for me that would be better for the battalion, especially with my, uh, my being occasionally pulled to other duties.”

He puts his wingtip under his chin and nods his head, “I will think that over. I may be able to do just that. I have a slot that may be opening up soon. Until then return to your company.”

I quickly salute, about-face, and depart his office for my company’s HQ. As I walk in, I see my clerk look up and I see his jaw drop. Then he stands and says, “Good Morning Captain.”

“Good morning, Sergeant, could you please have the Lieutenants meet me in my office in an hour.”

I see him gulp, then nod his head as he says, “Yes Sir.”

I then walk into my office and I see 1st lieutenant Bulls Eye at my desk doing paperwork. She does not look up when I enter, so I clear my throat to get her attention. When she looks up, I tell her, “Good to see you fit in so well Bulls Eye.”

She has a startled look on her face at first that shifts to a more neutral expression as she sees me. Then she replies, “Welcome back sir. I had not heard you were returning.”

“Sorry about that. I just got back in town last night. It has been a wild trip, but I did pick up a few things I want to pass on to you and the other officers here that I observed while I was gone.”

“Interesting sir, I look forward to hearing them. Uh, if you would give me some time, I will clear my things out of your office. I hope you understand.”

I flick my ears in understanding. “You are not the only one who thought I was dead, so no problem. I actually feel kind of bad taking the company away from you. But understand that may only be a temporary thing. The Old Stallion likes how you have been running things.”

She seems surprised and asks, “What do you mean sir?”

“This morning he had a hard time giving me back the company. Part of that is that he works well with you and how you operate.”

“Thank you, sir, I had no idea.”

Soon my clerk returns and informs me, “They will be here shortly sir.”

“Thank you, sergeant.”

I continue to talk with Bulls Eye about the company and I have to grin at her surprise when I tell her, “You know Bulls, I am really glad they talked you into stepping up from an NCO into the officers' corps. I think we need your kind of experience on this side too now and again.”

She blushes slightly and looks uncomfortable, then she tells me, “Sir that does mean a lot to me. Especially how most officers feel that the NCOs have no business being commissioned.”

I sigh and then I tell her, “Bulls Eye, at one time I might have gone along with them because I didn’t know better. But I will let you in on a little secret. That bunch they call the Manesville Brigade; you know part of the NCR Regulars that were on our tails at Manehatten and that we are currently fighting in the Manesville region, all their regimental commanders came up the ranks from enlisted. One of the things I have seen is how they think about things and handle them.”

She tilts her head and then asks, “Sir, your opinion is not being affected by your having been captured by them and then a prisoner, is it?”

I shake my head, “No, at least not much. But I have seen them in action at a distance, and seen how effective they are. Who knows Bulls Eye, if you stay in long enough you may end up in charge of a battalion of your own even.”

She smiles, “While I thank you for that sir, eventually I would like to settle down and have a foal or two. I just have to wait until the time is right is all.”

“Funnel Cloud?”

She nods her head, “Yeah. I thought he was dead for a while when he was missing for so long. But to be honest sir, it made me realize how much I like him. If it was not for the difference in ranks and the chain of command, I would probably be trying to date him.”

I smile at this and nod my head, “Yeah, I understand Lieutenant. Perhaps sometime my wife and I could have both of you over for dinner. You know, since she is friends with him and all, and I would like to treat my lieutenants to a home-cooked meal now and again.”

She raises an eyebrow and asks, “You would really do that Sir?”

I nod my head, “Yes, I would. I have known Funnel for a while now as she has also, so I will discuss it with her to see if she is okay with it.”

“Sounds good sir.”

While we wait, I talk with her about what I saw in both Baltimare and Manehatten, and how I feel some of it could pertain to us, especially if we were to get deployed.

We are still talking when my other two lieutenants arrive. Neither seems bothered by my return. Both salute me and give a quick report about their platoons. When done I tell them, “Thank you, I am glad you have all done so well in my absence. Lieutenant Blotter, when we are done here, I would like to talk to you more about your investigation of missing supplies. You were right to bring it up.” I pause and turn to the rest of them, “Over the last couple of months I have had the experience of seeing our soldiers performing occupation duty in two different locations. While I was there, there were several things that I noticed that I would like to tell you about in case we ever get such an assignment.”

2nd Lieutenant Sky Blossom, excitedly asks, “Sir, do you really think we will get deployed?”

I hold up a forehoof to calm her down as I tell her, “No, not really, but just in case. This information could also be used when dealing with the locals from Hoofington if need be, as well.”

I see the dejected look on Sky Blossom's face as she looks down and then back up. “Sorry Sir, I was just hoping as I know what it could mean for our careers.”

I nod my head, “Blossom, Later I would like to talk with you and perhaps we can come up with some additional ways to help you with your career.”

She smiles shyly at that and answers, “Yes sir, I would appreciate that.”

“Ok, good, so here is what I saw when I first arrived in Baltimare…”

*****

Once again it is that time for me to wrap up my show and for DJ Pon3 at the top of the hour. You have been listening to me, Solar Eclipse.

As a reminder, if you are in the Manesville Region, keep your heads down and shelter in place. Help is on the way. The NCR and the Alliance have not forgotten you.

For those listeners closer, I would like to remind you that the NCR has set up several recruiting stations in the Manehatten, Baltimare, and Hackamore regions. If you want to help serve Ponykind and rebuild the Wastelands into a better place, talk to your local recruiters about what you can do, and what they can do for you.

Ok, times up and I need to go, but for the last song of tonight’s show, here is I’m a Bad Man.

Author's Note

Once again during this war, the NCR has been put back on the defensive, but this time it is on the Repair ponies home ground. For those who might question why I mentioned the radhog pack attacking them, it is because all too often we forget about the wildlife that is in the area that may unintentionally attack soldiers there.

The scene with Xochitl and the two Enclave troopers in the foxhole is loosely based upon a story told to me by my step-grandfather from his time in WW2. He was working with allied soldiers who would do just that but with no anesthetic spell. They would leave one sleeping and one dead, and for just the reasons I stated. I had the Repair Ponies use the spell so that it could go the way it did, as I felt that it fit Xochitl's personality better.

For those who would like to listen to this chapter's dedication song, the YouTube link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYcMzEV-z9I