Chapter 58 When the Rain Falls

“We sleep peaceably in our beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on our behalf.” George Orwell

Onboard the Baltimare Colt, Lower end of Neighagra Falls: Ginger Snaps

As the sun begins to rise over the mountains, I find myself, my husband, and our dog all leaning on the upper deck railing looking at the rainbow coloration in the mist from the falls. Xochitl has a hoof around me and tells me, “You know my wife that in the old days, many ponies would pay money to come here for their honeymoons.”

I laugh lightly then I tell him, “Are you saying that this is our honeymoon dear?”

“No, I am just telling you an obscure fact that I once read at the library in Manesville. I do find it interesting though that we are getting to see it while being paid.”

We stand like that for a while then I hear Choo Choo tell me, “Ginger, I need you to join me in a meeting with Rust and Flight Plan to verify our plans for this evening.”

I feel myself sigh as the moment I had been sharing with Xochitl ends, and then I tell her, “Coming boss.”

He removes his hoof from around me and tells me, “I will meet you later love.”

As me and Choo head towards the pilothouse, I see him and Katie both begin to head back to the lower decks. I then see Flight Plan heading towards us, once he reaches us, he falls in beside us.

When we reach the pilothouse Rust guides us to the navigator’s chart table, where we begin to discuss our plan for our departure, as well as our expected pickup time.

“Captain, Flight Plan, I plan on our team being dropped off this evening and beginning to get the lay of the land before we hit the broadcast site. If we can capture our target, we will radio in that our party was successful. If not, we will call no joy. We will also let you know when we are ready for a pickup.”

Flight Plan looks at the chart and then asks, “Choo, are we doing a normal drop-off or an air insert?”

I see her think briefly then she answers, “A normal insert as I do not want to risk spreading the team out too much.”

“OK, makes sense to me,” He answers back.

Then Rust asks, “Choo, do you think I should move closer to Whinnyappolis? I mean, just in case things go sideways, or do you want us to wait here?”

I watch as Choo bites her lower lip slightly in contemplation of the question. Finally, she answers, “Rust, whatever is best for you and the Colt. I will leave that decision in your and Flight Plan’s hoofs.”

“OK, sounds good. When do you want to leave Choo?” Rust Asks, and Flight Plan nods his head beside her.

“Tonight, after sunset would be best for us to insert. Flight Plan, you know your capabilities better than I do, when do you want to take off?”

He looks at the chart and answers, “After dinner, about an hour before sunset. That should get you there before midnight.” He pauses then asks, “Do we have any maps of Whinnyappolis?”

“Nothing up to date I am afraid. Why?” Choo answers.

“Well, if possible, I would like to target a landing in a large open area, such as an airfield. But we can play it by ear I guess.”

Both Choo and I nod our heads as Choo tells him, “We can do that. If I remember right, they used to have a good-sized pegasus skyport.” She smiles slightly then says, “There is also the old Mall of Equestria there. I never got there myself, but always wanted to visit it with the grand-foals.”

“Why is that boss?” I ask her and I notice Rust and Flight Plan also paying attention.”

“Well other than it being a huge shopping mall that dwarfed Mega Mart, it also had an indoor amusement park that was run by the Ministry of Morale.”

When she says this, I ask, “Boss, do you think maybe we should check the place out? You know, just in case there are any more of those Surprise Party Kits for us.”

“Perhaps Cookie, perhaps. But we need to remember what our main mission is. That is our priority.”

I nod my head, “Yeah, I get it.”

She turns to me and tells me, “Thank you. I will be along shortly Cookie, please go and let the rest of the team know our plans.”

“Do you want me to wake up the batponies to let them know?”

She pauses briefly then tells me, “Perhaps only the lance corporal, she will know what to do for the rest of them.”

“Will do Choo.”

As I enter our berthing area, I notice Mort’s team has gone to breakfast already. However, off to the side, I see Sunny is playing a game of UNO with Cowlick, Days End, and Double Back. As they play the flying foursome are watching and I hear one of them say to another, “Wow, I never heard that cuss word before.”

Xochitl then tells them, “You are not supposed to cuss. But it sure can bring out the worst in a person.”

As he says this, I hear Double Back say, “Salt, I swear if you give me one more draw four card…”

I find myself lightly laughing, then I tell them, “Ok, after this hoof, stop the game and we all need to grab some breakfast then begin to make our permission preps. We are leaving before sunset tonight.”

Sunny then answers for them, “Ok, sounds good,” he pauses then says, “Draw four Salt.”

From the other side of the compartment, I hear my little sister ask, “So we are doing it tonight?”

I go over to her and explain, “Well we are flying into the area tonight. We will get the lay of the land and find the location of the transmitter. Then once we are sure of its defenses, we will make our move. But no, we will not just fly right in there.”

The fillies all seem disappointed. Then Slip Stream tells them, “Sorta like Fancy Flew and her gang would do while working on a mystery.”

I smile and tell her, “Exactly, except we are going in with barding and weapons, as well as three days of rations and water each.”

Snow Song then asks, “How come so many rations if we are only going to be there a day or so?”

“So, we have extras in case things go sideways or even to trade sometimes.”

Her sister Frost Glitter then asks, “Do our moms carry that much too?”

I nod my head and I hear my husband tell her, “Yes, so do all of the soldiers in the Manesville Brigade when they go into the field.”

As he continues to talk to them, I make my way to the blanketed-off section of our berthing and I find Lance Corporal Morning Star’s hammock. When I get there, I hear her talking in her sleep about Sunny and something about foals. Part of me does not want to wake her from her dream, but I know I have to.

I gently shake her hammock until she seems to be awake and I tell her what Choo has told me to pass on.

She then sleepily tells me, “Thanks Cookie. Wake us up an hour early and we will be ready to go.”

“No Problem Lance. See you in six hours.”

Soon Choo joins us. As she walks in, she sees Frost Glitter and Snow Song playing UNO with Sunny and the others. I see her raise her eyebrow when she sees this and I tell her, “Do not worry Boss remember UNO is for points only, not caps.”

I hear her sigh and suddenly I hear Snow Song say, “Reverse.”

This is followed by her sister telling Sunny, “Draw four!” and Sunny cussing mildly.

“That is why I am worried about them playing that game. You do realize the Changelings use it to elicit higher levels of emotions so they can feed off them, right?”

I smile and shrug, “Eh, they have to eat too, I guess. Besides it is a fun game. I like it better than most card games.”

Choo then tells them, “After this hoof I want Moon and the other fillies to come with me.”

Moon puts down the book she was reading and asks, “What for Granny?”

“I have some more training I want to give you four that pertains to the mission.”

When she says this, I see all four of their ears go up and turn toward her. “I will tell you when we begin.”

Soon the hoof is done for the game the flying foursome follow Choo out. Once they are gone, I hear Sunny say, “Ok, nopony, and I mean No Pony teach those two how to play Dodge City Hold’em. I cannot afford that, and neither can any of you.”

While most of the others nod their heads, I notice Cowlick just sitting there with a grin on his face as I realize, Sunny said nopony, and Cowlick is a bull, not a pony. I find I have to fight the smirk to keep it off of my face as I know what he is thinking.

After lunch, I am once again leaning on the rail of the upper deck when I notice several small boats making their way towards the Colt from around a river bend. Then I notice smoke as if from twin chimneys from further up the river. As they get closer, I begin to see that they are armed. Finally, I hear one of the deckhoofs call out, “Pirates!”

This is followed by five quick blasts of the Colt’s steam whistle as Rust calls us all to action stations. I stop what I am doing and run for the berthing to get my kit. I fight my way through the passageways as I go. When I get there, I need to wait for most of Mort’s team to make their way out before I can go in.

Inside the compartment, it is dark enough I must use the light on my PipBuck to supplement the light coming in through the porthole to see. In the back, the batponies are getting their kits on as are the last few members of our team.

I quickly grab my kit and take it with me to put on once I am at my battle station. I notice that Double Back is doing the same. I do wonder though where all the pegasuses are as I have not seen them since the alarm was sounded.

I reach my station along the deck next to one of the 20mm guns, where Jellybean and I help each other get our kits on the rest of the way. Nearby on my team are Cowlick and Twinks. As I finish kitting up, I hear the metal click of a machinegun cover and Twinks calls out, “Weapon Up Salt.”

I then hear the clack of the charging handle being drawn back and slamming forward as he toggles the reload on his battle saddle and calls out, “Weapon Hot!”

From above us, I see several explosive spells detonate that had been cast by some of the unicorns on the launches that are speeding towards us.

I begin to take aim and wait until they are in range of us as I hear the twin 40mm guns on the upper deck begin to fire, followed next by what 20mm guns can be brought to bear on them. I see one of the boats take a direct hit and it begins to slow and get lower in the water as those crew members who are unwounded begin to try to plug the leaks or help their wounded.

I see a barrage of spells being launched at us but this time they hit some magical shields that some of our unicorns and Choo have thrown up. As they hit the shields they spark wildly and the shields glow there. Part of me wants to just shoot, but I know they are not close enough. Then I hear Cowlick open up with his medium MG, and I bring my SIR up into position as I activate SATS and begin to return fire.

*****

Baltimare Colt, North of Neighagra Falls en route towards Whinnyappolis: Xochitl

I am awoken from a nap on my bunk by the steam whistle being blown several times and the yelling from the others in the berthing to get moving we have pirates inbound. I jump out of my rack and begin to toss on my kit as quickly as I can before I run to the weapons locker and grab my rifle.

As I am getting ready, I see Moon and her friends standing there with confused expressions on their faces. I take the time to tell them, “Grab your kits, load your weapons, and go find Choo she should be on the upper deck by the pilothouse, and before you leave, put those lanterns out, we do not want a random shot starting a fire in here.”

As I am heading out, I see the batponies grabbing their kits and I hear the Lance tell them, “We will escort you four, now hurry.”

As I run along the deck to my battle station, Katie is hot on my heels as well. Once there I crouch behind a pile of sandbags that are set up against the old railing. I find myself peering out over them through my scope and I see at least a half dozen ships steam-powered launches speeding towards us. I can see that at least three of them have machineguns mounted. I am taking aim at one that is beyond my range when I notice its horn flare as they casts a spell toward the Colt.

Then I see that a shield spell has been set up as the cast spell hits it and explodes causing the shield to flare up. Then I hear the 40mm guns above us begin to open fire. While it strikes two of them, the other four split up and begin to try and attack us from different sides so we cannot concentrate fire on them. They have just reached long range for me and I am ready to fire when I am distracted by the large steamship, I see coming down the river behind them. Through my scope, I can see that from one of its chimneys, a large red flag with a skull and crossbones flying. I shift my scope slightly and I see several machinegun nests as well as what looks like a large flame thrower.

Yep, river pirates. I should have known things were going too smoothly. I hear the 40mm’s shift fire towards the oncoming ship and I shift aim back at one of the launches that is trying to sneak up on us. As they come, I remember what Father Badger taught me about steam plants and boilers, so I take aim and fire several quick aimed rounds, using my SATS at the boiler that is in the middle of the craft. I feel a darkness come over me as I watch the outer shell of the fire tube boiler rupture at the points of impact and streams of steam begin to shoot out, one of which hits a pony standing next to it, scalding him.

As I watch him fall first to the deck and then wither in agony over the side, I shift my aim to the next pony in line and continue to shoot at them.

I am so concentrated on my targets that I am surprised when I hear the word passed, “All hooves back from the port railing, prepare to repel borders.”

My eyes open wide and I tell Double back and Ember Rose, “Get back quick, they are going to open the steam valves!” As we move, I see those from further back along the next deck up, running to get inside the skin of the ship

My team has all just gotten inside the Colt when I hear the whistle of the steam rushing through pipes along the side, beside me, Katie howls at the high-pitched scream of it. I look along the deck and notice amidships that one of the boats has used a grappling hook to attach itself to the Colt and some of them are just climbing the rail when the 45-psi steam hits them.

We can all hear them scream as they are burned, and then through the porthole on the door, I see several of them fall off the skin of the ship. It is then I notice the Colt has slowed slightly and I begin to hear the steam whistling die out as the steam valve to it is closed.

We run back to our positions and I hit with the smell of boiled meat and fur. I have just gotten back to my position when I hear the 20mm and machineguns from further back on this side open fire again. I look back and see another wave of those dammed steam launches making their way toward us followed by their mothership about a kilometer behind them.

As they get closer, I see something arching through the air followed by an explosion ahead of us and to the starboard side. This is followed closely by a second one that while a bit closer is still a distance away. I do not see any evidence of a cannon firing them so I realize that the pirates must be trying to use mortars on us. I shake my head as I realize how hard that has to be for them to try and hit a moving target.

From the bow, I hear Epona’s team firing at some gunboats that are approaching us from the front. As I am looking forward, I see one of the smaller craft has lost steam and is directly ahead of us. I find myself grinning as I see those still alive on it trying to jump overboard right before we hit it and it splits in half, we have just made it about 25 yards past the wreckage when its boiler explodes, throwing a large column of water and debris high into the air.

Soon I see another barrage of spells being thrown from the smaller vessels at us and the protective spell shields of our unicorns flare. From the flight deck, I begin to hear the engines winding up on the Hot Shot as Flight Plan and his crew begin to make a combat takeoff.

This makes me wonder where the damn pegasi are at?

Then the opposing steamship is only a kilometer upriver from us I see a solid steam of flame shoot forward towards us from it as they test the range of their flame thrower. The stream leaves a sooty smoke in the air as it lands only about 250 meters ahead of it.

This draws my attention back to my sector of the Colt's defenses. As I do so I see three more of the launches get close, then suddenly I see a flash of light from one of them and the unicorn and several others on it disappear, only to reappear on the main deck of the Colt.

I realize this only after I hear one of them yelling to the others behind me and as I go to turn a shot barely misses me and I see Katie has grabbed the offending attacker by one of his front legs and is using her weight combined with her jaws to violently shake them.

I switch to SATS and put two shots into their head, but soon we switch to close-in weapons as we go to close-quarters battle drill. Anything that can be used as a weapon and is at hoof is used as we fight for our lives.

As this is going on I lose all attention except for those that are in a three-and-a-half-meter bubble around me. I find myself using my rifle butt as a weapon several times as well as kicking and even biting my enemies.

At one point, I see one of the pirates kick Katie and I hear her yelp as she skids across the deck. Suddenly I feel like I am outside of my body and watching as I charge at him, ears laid back along the side of my neck and my teeth bare. When I get close, I find myself spinning around on one of my forehoofs as I bring my back hooves around and launch a double barrel kick right at his chest. I see him begin to dodge the incoming blows, but he moves the wrong way and my hooves land along the side of his face with a sickening crunch. I hear a muffled scream as they grab their face with both forehooves and roll around on the ground. I move to my dog and check her quickly and I can feel the swelling where she was kicked. There is nothing I can do, but after the fight or when things calm down, I will have Choo or Twinks check her out.

Then my attention is drawn away from her as I hear a cheer go up as the last of the borders has been taken care of. I look up into the sky and I can see the Hot Shot making a strafing run by the pirates’ main ship on one side as it fires back at them.

From the other side, I finally see our fliers, and I am surprised at how many of them are in the air at one time as they zig-zag and dodge the incoming fire while Choo casts spells and the others fire their weapons at those on the deck of the ship.

It is as this is going on that I see the propellant tank for the flame thrower get hit and it shoots across the deck and skips along the water. All I can think is how lucky those pirates were that the fuel tank for it did not get hit. I realize they must be thinking the same thing as I watch them jettison the fuel tank over the side.

I quickly scan for more of the launches but the few I see are sailing away from us as their mothercraft closes to us. I feel us list slightly as Rust puts the rudder hard over and we slide past it on our starboard side. I hear the weapons of both ships fire at each other from one hundred meters away, along with the splintering of wood, the ricochet of bullets off steel and tin plating, and the screams of the wounded.

Then we are past it and we continue north along the river. Before too much longer I see the Hot Shot approach for a landing as we continue moving at full speed. I half expect the captain to slow down, instead, she steers into the middle of the river and keeps the Colt steady as the aircraft comes into land.

Once it has landed, I hear it being tied back down into place as the engines wind down. Before too much longer I see our fliers approaching us as well and making their landings on the upper levels. That is when I notice that Moon Lily and her friends are in the formation and landing too. I then remember I told them to stick with Choo Choo and I face hoof as I realize what I had told them to do.

Soon we go around another bend in the river and we finally stand down from action stations. The whole time Katie has laid next to me. Finally, Ember Rose tells me, “I will go get Twinks for her.”

Twinks looks the worse for wear as she approaches and asks, “What is up Flower?”

I tell her, “Katie got kicked pretty hard, could you check her out?”

She nods her head and quickly checks her. Then she tells me, “She will be ok. Just some good bruises. I have some willow powder from your dad we can use in poultice to help with the soreness and swelling.”

“Thanks, Danger, I appreciate it.”

I then look at the rest of my section and tell them, “Well, we should get back inside and clean our weapons and reload magazines, we still have a mission tonight.”

They all groan at this, and Twinkle Hoofs then tells me, “When we get back to the berthing, I want to check that cut on your cheek. It looks like someone really landed a good one with a rifle butt.”

I shake my head as I do not even remember getting hit there, but after she says it, I begin to feel pain from it. “Huh, I did not even know they landed one on me.”

Once we arrive in our space on the ship, we light the lanterns again and begin to prep for the upcoming raid.

*****

Onboard the Baltimare Colt, En route to Whinnyappolis: Choo Choo

“Captain, I really appreciate your bringing us this much closer to our target,” I tell the rust-colored mare as she adjusts her hat and squints into the distance.

“You’re welcome, but it also lets me sail further up the river than we normally do, so I can see if the clan should send any of our river boats up this way for trade.” She pauses then asks, “Choo, is that smoke in the distance?”

I look out the window toward where the river chart indicates a bend and I nod my head, “It looks like it, possibly from two chimneys.” Then I notice movement low on the water coming at us quickly and I add, “But it looks like we have several small boats coming our way too.”

She then uses a pair of binoculars that hang around her neck to look at them as we hear one of the deck hooves who are on watch cry out, “Pirates!”

She lets go of the binoculars hanging from her neck as she sounds the steam whistle in five quick blasts first yelling out “Action Stations,” which she follows up with “Helmspony, hard right to the center of the river. Signal full speed ahead to the engine room.”

This is followed by the orders being repeated by the pilothouse crew, whose reliefs are arriving as I head out onto the top deck. From the flight deck I can see Flight Plan, who had been prepping the aircraft for our mission later tonight, drop what he is doing and yell to his crew and the flight deck staff, “Drop what you are doing, we need to get this bird airborne.”

Suddenly I see Sunny and Morning Mist running towards me carrying my kit with them. Once they reach me, I quickly put on my webgear, and battlesaddle with my minigun. I then tell them, “We wait until the Hot Shot gets into the air then we support them.”

Suddenly I hear the 40mm guns begin their rapid drumbeat as they start to fire at the inbound assault craft. Before too much longer I hear the 20mm guns begin to join it as they get closer.

As we wait, I see the batponies trotting in our direction followed quickly by the flying foursome, all of who have their full kit on.

I am waiting for the Hot Shot to take off before I give the orders to Sunny and Morning Mist as suddenly, I see several spells being cast at the Colt from the small boats. As I see them coming several of the unicorns from the flight deck run towards the side and cast a shield spell to deflect them. I am in awe as I see the spells explode and the shields flash.

Beside me, my great-granddaughter looks at the flashing spells in awe as well. Behind her, I see the two pegasus sisters have the same expression. Slip Stream on the other hoof looks both frightened and excited if that is possible as she watches it.

“They are trying to board us.” I hear somepony yell.

This is followed by the captain calling out, “All hooves back from the port railing, prepare to repel borders.” She pauses for about thirty seconds and then orders, “Open the anti-borders steam valves.”

This is followed by a hiss that grows to a scream as the steam makes its way through the pipes along the side of the ship and begins to scald those who are near them.

After a few more minutes she orders the valves closed and we continue to fight once again at a distance.

I hear the Hot Shot's motors winding up and feel the wind from its rotors as it takes to the air. I am ready to join them but instead am briefly distracted as I see more spells inbound and both Moon and I cast shield spells to protect the pilot house and chimneys.

Soon after this, I see mortar shells explode in our path as the pirates close. Twice I throw up a shield against incoming spells from the pirates. Then I see the Hot Shot is clear and I signal to one of the bridge crew that I am ready to take off. They wave in confirmation and I turn to Morning Mist and Sunny as I tell them, “Let’s go ponies!” and I leap into the air without looking back as I fly towards the oncoming pirate ship. As we fly, Sunny, Morning Mist, and I are weaving and jinking to throw off the aim of those shooting at us. When we pass one of the steam-powered motor boats, I open fire with my minigun, strafing it and its crew.

I then watch as Flight Plan goes along the far side of it from us and begins to have his gunner spray it with their minigun. I yell to the other two to start firing at those on the deck as I begin to use my horn as well as the minigun on my battle saddle from close behind me I hear gunfire and I turn to look and see both Moon and the fillies as well as the batponies flying like we are. I realize it is too late to have them turn back and instead yell, “Someone try to hit that flame thrower.”

With that, I see Sunny fly straight long enough to aim and his shot hits one of the two tanks next to the oversized flame thrower and sends the tank shooting across the deck where it hits two ponies in the legs before it launches itself over the side and skips along the river surface.

I then turn my full attention back on the mission at hoof and begin to cast more spells at the ship, most of which are explosive and lightning spells., which like those against the Colt are most often blocked by shield spells.

Once along the side I can see painted on the side wheel house is the name Dragon’s Horde. As I pass, I also notice the damage that it has taken from the 40mm and 20mm guns as well as from the Hot Shot and us. While not too heavy I can see that they will know they have been in a fight as several small fires and smoke are coming from many spots on the deck and superstructure as well as bodies.

Once past it, we fly about a kilometer before we all spin back around and begin another pass at the Dragon’s Horde from behind.

In the not too far distance I can see the Colt has made a turn that will allow it to pass the pirates from about a hundred meters away. We have just finished our next pass when the Colt is at her closest to them. I can see the gunfire being exchanged as well as bullets bouncing off the steel plate that has been bolted along the sides of the Colt. But it is not all one-sided as I see pieces of the Colt being blown off too and I can see bodies on her as well.

As we pass over the Dragon's Horde, I make sure to spray the Pilothouse and chimneys to cause them to temporarily lose control of their rudder and hopefully cause them to lose the draft for their boilers.

Once past it we fly an elongated route over the land on the east side of the river, away from the pirates, and make our way back to the Colt. We keep an eye behind us as we watch the pirate steamer go aground along the river bank. I radio this to Rust so she knows what is going on as well. We have gone several miles upriver and around a major bend in it when I hear, “Hot Shot, this is the Colt, you are cleared to land.”

“Roger, Colt.”

We fly lazily through the air watching as they land and the aircraft tied down and secured. Then I hear, “RP flight, you are cleared to land.”

“Roger, Colt, we are inbound to land.”

I land closest to the pilothouse with Sunny and Morning Mist. Behind us lands the Flying Foursome who are then followed by Morning Star and her scouts.

Once we have all landed, I hear them begin to talk to each other about what they saw and experienced during the fight. Then I tell them all, “OK, time to clean our weapons and gear, we still have a mission tonight.”

As the others head back down to the berthing compartment, I go to the pilothouse so I can report in with the captain and we can finish making plans for tonight.

Once I am there, I see Rust has her hat kicked back on her head, and a cup of coffee in her hoof as she tells me, “Choo, how about we do the drop-off tomorrow instead? I think both your people and mine need to recover from this little tiff.”

I nod my head and tell her, “Perhaps that is best. How bad is it?”

I hear her sigh, and then she tells me, “Four dead, seven severely wounded.” She pauses then adds, “Most of the dead were from the fighting with the borders. We also need to make several repairs. I am just glad they did not have any artillery on that thing and that I took my brother Rough’s suggestion to put the armor on her.”

I nod my head in agreement just as Flight Plan enters and tells us, “Captain, Choo, I think we need another day before we can take the team into Whinnyappolis, we took several hits that I need to look at and repair.”

Rust and I look at each other, then at him and she tells him, “I do believe we can do that. Thank you for bringing this problem to our attention. So, we will plan on tomorrow night instead.”

He nods his head in agreement, then we begin to look at the map for a place to hole up for the night to perform repairs, as well as a new launch location, one that is even closer to our destination.

The next morning, we are fairly close to Whinnyappolis when Rust puts the bow of the Colt along the river bank and lowers the brow at a small community on the west bank of the river. She has her 2nd mate arrange for our dead to be buried while we are there.

While they were not my team members who were killed, I still went ashore for the burial. As I walk back toward our ship past the small market that they have there, I overhear one of them say, “Did you hear, them say they went against the Dragon’s Horde and survived?”

One of the other locals answers back, “They must have been making it up. Come on, you know that old mule Calico Jack would never let a ship get away from him.”

While I say nothing, I do raise an eyebrow. Beside me Moon Lily quietly sends {(Did you hear that Granny?)}

({Yes Dear, and now we have a name for the captain of that pirate ship. Thank you for being discreet and not asking aloud.)}

She smiles in answer then asks, “Can we go shopping here?”

I think briefly and shrug my wing as I tell her, “I think we should have time as the crew is still loading wood for the boilers.”

As we browse, I find myself listening to several conversations. Some of the locals think it is funny that a pegasus filly is wearing a fake horn and thinks I am her grandmother.

When I hear this, I look at Moon Lily and I can see her irritation so I send to her, ({Let them think that, Moon. It may make them underestimate us. Besides, they might get upset if we try to tell them the truth and they do not want to believe it.”

I hear her sigh and see her nod her head. Then she asks, “Granny, can I get this knife, I really, really like it.”

I smile and answer, “Yes dear, I think that would be a good idea.” Then I dicker with the merchant. Once done we return to the Colt and before too much longer, we are underway again.

Later that evening, while we are getting ready to load up, I stop and tell the captain what I heard about the other ship and its captain. She smiles at the information and then tells me, “Well, I am glad to have a name to go with the ship. I reckon we might see it again Choo. Now you and your people be careful out there and I will talk more to you when you get back.”

I then catch up to my people and we load up on the Hot Shot. Once we are airborne, I look out the rear hatch that is still closing and watch the Colt as it gets smaller behind us, as the rest of the team begins to make itself comfortable. Next stop Whinnyappolis and our goal.

*****

Rainbow Dash Skyport, Hoofington, GPE Territory: Ball Lightning

I wake up hearing one of the foals crying. I look at my PipBuck and I see the time is 2:00 in the morning. I know I should wake Sundancer so she can take care of him, but I just cannot bring myself to do so as I know she is exhausted as well. So, I force myself to get up and I find it is Air Burst who is crying. I quickly check to make sure he doesn’t need to be changed and realize he is hungry so I carry him by the nap of his neck to our room and set him next to my wife and I shift her hind leg so he can eat.

Once he has finished, I carry him back to his bed and I check on his brother Lightning Burst, who is still sleeping hard. I find myself smiling as I look at my two sons. I am almost amused as when I was younger, I never imagined actually being a father. Now I have a whole house full of children, both adopted and my own. As I crawl back into bed, I feel my wife shift and I fall back to sleep holding her.

Come morning we begin our normal routine as I get up and get ready for work. Savannah is already in the kitchen making breakfast for everyone. Today it is bacon and eggs. I know she prefers meat, and to be honest, the rest of us do like it from time to time. We just can’t have it every meal.

“Morning Savannah,” I tell her as I enter the room.

She turns to me, “Morning Dad. Breakfast should be ready in a few minutes. Coffee is already done; I have a feeling you need it today.”

“That obvious?”

She shakes her head, “No Dad, just I heard both you and Mom get up a couple of times with the little ones last night.”

I smile as I fix myself a cup of the hot caffeinated beverage. “Thanks, dear, I appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome, now go sit at the table and I will bring it into you.”

As I am sitting down, I hear the rest of the herd coming to breakfast as well. Well except for my wife as I begin to hear the foals crying out again and I know they are probably hungry, so she will feed them up there before she comes downstairs.

I am just finishing my breakfast when she finally comes down carrying both foals, one on her back, the other in her mouth.

She takes them both to a fenced-off section of our living room, then returns to the table and sits down. As she sits Savannah tells her, “I got your breakfast still warming Mom. Give me a minute and I will get it.”

Scout then asks, “Do you want some coffee too Mom?”

“Yes, please,” she tiredly responds.

I continue to talk to her as she eats her breakfast and I finish my coffee. Once done I kiss her on her cheek and tell her, “I need to get going to work. I will see you tonight dear.”

He smiles at me and tells me, “Thank you, have a good day and I will see you tonight.”

I say my goodbyes to the rest of my family and then am on my way for another busy day.

Morning officers' call goes smoothly as I hand out the orders for the day to the company commanders. On her way out Bulls Eye Squall stops and asks me to the side, “Sir, I know your youngsters still go outside the wire occasionally to find scrap, have they heard anything unusual lately?”

I shake my head, “No, not that they have told me, why?”

She puts a wingtip under her chin and tells me, “I don’t know sir, just something seems off lately. It has been quieter than I would normally expect, but I have noticed a shift in some of the merchants who are coming in to trade at the market.”

“That is very interesting Lieutenant. If I hear anything I will let you know. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.”

“She smiles, “No problem, sir, I figure you might miss something like that with what all you have going on, especially with the loss of sleep.”

I grin slightly, “that obvious?”

“Yes sir, the bags under your eyes are a dead giveaway. Well anyway, if you have nothing else for me, sir, I need to get back to the company.” I then dismiss her and after she leaves, I head back to my office.

Just after lunch, I see a courier arrive and deliver some messages. I think nothing of this until the Chain Lightning arrives at my door and tells me, “Sir, the CO would like to talk to you in his office as soon as you are available.”

I put down my pen and get up, telling him, “Thanks Sergent Major. These reports can wait a bit more,” as I stand up and we both head to the CO’s office.

Once there he tells us both, “Take a seat both of you.”

Once seated he then tells us, “I have just received new orders for both of you. Major, it seems your luck is still holding strong. You two are both going to be assigned to a new security battalion that is in the final phases of forming. In three weeks, you both will ship out to meet up with your troops up in Thunderhead.”

“Thank you, sir, may I ask what the new unit’s number is?”

He smiles as he tells me, “Yes Ball I can. Congratulations you will be the new Old Stallion for the 723rd Security Battalion. As for where you will end up deploying or being stationed, I can’t tell you.”

He then turns to Chain and tells him, “Sergeant Major, I will need you to assist in getting your replacement up to speed before you depart. He should be here later this afternoon from Thunderhead I have been informed.”

Chain nods his head and asks, “Any idea who my replacement is yet?”

Colonel Full Bright shakes his head, “No, just his name and that he is coming from the Repo-depo. I assume this means he was wounded in combat.”

Both Chain and I nod our heads. After all, if the war had been fully involved as it is now, I would have been processed through one of the replacement depots as well. As I think of this, I notice Chain glance briefly at his one artificial leg as he remembers being severely wounded as well in the line of duty.

Chain then tells him, “I will do my best to get him up to speed in the time I have with him.”

Full Bright smiles at him and tells him, “Sergeant Major, I would expect nothing less from you. Now we all need to get back to work.”

Later that afternoon while I am sitting at my desk, I get a phone call from one of the gate guards who tells me, “Sir, there is a young earthpony stallion named Scout here at the gate who says he needs to talk to you as soon as possible. Do you know him, sir?”

I am caught off guard and I tell him, “Yes I do trooper, he is my son.”

I can tell I have flustered the guard and he says, “Yes sir. Here he is now.”

I hear him hoof the phone to Scout and I hear my son’s voice quietly, but excitedly say, “Dad, me and a couple of the others went scavenging after school just a few blocks out the gate. We came across a large group of ponies and griffons in full kit. Dad, Bent Plate, and Scraps overheard them saying they were going to attack the Skyport this evening.”

“Scout, are you sure about this?”

“Yeah, Dad. When they saw us, they assumed we were just the typical commonwealth orphans. We played along with it, but as soon as we could circle back around to one of the other gates, I knew I had to let you know.”

“You did good Scout, now get your brothers and head back to home. Let Mom know what you heard; she will know what to do. Now give the phone back to the guard please.”

“Yes Sir,” he tells me.

Once the guard has the phone again, I tell him, “I feel this is a credible threat, do not act on it yet, but be vigilant, and take care of yourself as well.”

“Yes Sir, Major. Will do,” he responds then I hang up and make my way to the Colonel’s office.

He is just wrapping things up for the day when I enter his office.

He looks surprised and asks, “What do you have for me XO?”

“Sir, Scout and a couple of his brothers just called from the east gate. They were out scavving and came across a large group of heavily armed ponies that they overheard saying they were going to hit the base tonight.”

He purses his lips, turns his head slightly, and asks, “Ball, no offense, but are you sure your kids are not overreacting?”

“Sir, not this time. They talked with them and pretended to be Commonwealth orphans still. Then when they could make their way to the east gate they called it in. Sir, Bullseye Squall brought up to me this morning that she was afraid something may be up as she has noticed a change in the merchants who are coming to trade at the market. Sir, I do think this is a credible threat.”

He puts his things back down on his desk, then he tells me, “Well, if they want to sneak up on us, then let’s set up a nice ambush or two. Send out a silent alert to all company commanders and have them prepare for an attack. If it doesn’t happen, we will tell them it was a drill. If it does, well so much the better.” He pauses, lets out a sigh then tells me, “We better let our wives know that we will be late.”

I nod my head, “I already told Scout to get home and to let his mom know what he heard so she can act accordingly.”

“Good thinking, but are you sure she will know what to do if it happens?”

I nod my head, thinking back to just a year or so ago when she was with the Volunteer Corps in Hoofington proper along with my team for an escort. “Yeah, I am sure of it Colonel.”

After this, I begin to make phone calls to each of the company commanders. I am just glad I got the message before they left for the day. Each one I tell, “We have information from a credible source to expect an attack on the base tonight. I want you to quietly put your company on alert and discreetly pony the defenses. Do you understand?”

Each of them acknowledges the order. Bulls Eye Squall is the only one who asks, “Sir, can you tell me who the sources are?”

I nod my head even though she cannot see me and I tell her, “Yes Lieutenant, Scout and some of my other children went into the ruins outside the base, saw the forces, and overheard them talking about the attack.”

I hear her sigh, and then she says, “Thank the Goddesses they did then. I was afraid of something like that.” She pauses then adds, “Those kids of yours are some good intel assets.”

This time I sigh, “Yeah, but I really would prefer them to be older before, or better yet, not go into that line of work.”

After I get off the phone with her, I grab my kit and ask the Colonel, “Sir with your permission, I would like to go forward to observe if anything does occur.”

He looks at me and shakes his head. Then he tells me, “I should tell you no. You are getting too high in rank to risk yourself this way. But go ahead and keep me appraised. I will be here in the planning room.”

As I head out, I find two of the headquarters staff ponies waiting for me and the one, Sergeant Tail Twist tells me, “Sir the Sergeant Major has assigned us to be your escort during this drill.”

I slowly make my way out a secondary door so as not to attract attention as I make my way over to where my old company will be setting up their defenses.

I have almost made it that far when I hear a large explosion by the main gate and I see smoke rise from where the guard shack there was. Then I hear screaming and gunfire. Mostly ballistic rounds as they come charging through the gate. As they do this, I hear the base alert siren begin to wail and return fire begin against the attackers.

I tell my escort, “Lock and load, we got company.”

We all charge our weapons and begin to fly as quickly as possible towards the main gate. As we make our way there, I hear another explosion from the guard house on one of our secondary gates. This one is closer to base housing.

I feel horror in my mind as I realize that they may attack my family and home. I then begin to hear the company in that direction begin to engage them as well. I continue to the forces at the main gate and make sure matters are well in hoof there when I hear over my PipBuck, “This is Green Apple 4, Green Apple one and three are down, and two is unaccounted for. We are being driven back into the housing. Request support asap!”

“Hold on Green Apple Three, help is on the way,” I tell him and then I hope we will be enough and in time.

*****

Good evening to all you listeners. I am your host Chrome Microphone and you are listening to HOOF radio. The best radio station in the Hoofington region.

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I have also been asked by the Commonwealth Council to remind all citizens that we are neutral in the current war between the New Canterlot Republic and the Grand Pegasus Enclave. This means that if you attack forces of either side or support them in their war you are doing so on your own accord.

In other news, there are reports of several smaller skirmishes between the NCR and alliance forces with the Enclave. This includes another skyship battle off the coast near Baltimare. Reports state that one ship was heavily damaged while the other appeared to crash into the sea. Rescue operations by locals were hampered by rough seas and a storm front that has come through the area. No news yet about the number of survivors.

From Chichacolt we have reports that the Enclave forces there have advanced two more blocks closer to the city center. NCR and Alliance forces there report that they are making them pay for each meter of ground there.

Closer to home, it has been noted that there has been a larger-than-normal build-up of Enclave naval forces in Thunderhead. This comes following the larger increase in activity around the cloud city than normal.

Remember if you see something, say something. Report all suspected violations of our neutrality to the Brood, the Reapers, or the Sky Guard.

While the war between the NCR and Alliance forces with the Enclave is not our war or fight, we must remember that there are still things worth fighting for out there. With that in mind, here is our first song for the night, True Believers.

Author's Note

During a war, things most often do not go as planned. Many times it is small things that can throw the participants off and can determine a victory or defeat. I have tried to show this in this chapter.

I would like to thank Stacks (one of my test readers) for helping me with this chapter directly by writing the advertisement during the end-of-chapter broadcast. He and I both felt it gave a bit more flavor to the broadcast by having someone different come up with it, much like most radio announcers and their ads.

For those of you who would like to listen to this chapters song, the YouTube link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I5L80j5CFI