The Mississippi Voyager

Chapters

Chapter 1: Under Way On Gasifier Power!
Chapter 2: Up the River!
Chapter 3: Meet Me In Saint Looie
Chapter 4: Idiots Deluxe
Chapter 5: Smacking Some Sense
Chapter 6: Wilbert Harrison Redux
Chapter 7: Watch Out for Jayhawks, you Cornhusker!
Chapter 8: Let's Rock It!
Chapter 9: The Pieces Assemble
Chapter 11: Mass Race To The Quater
Chapter 12: Raise Leg, Ready Shoe for Dropping...
Chapter 13: The Battle of Lecompton, Phase One
Chapter 14: The Battle of Lecompton, Phase Two
Chapter 15: The Battle of Lecompton, Phase Three: The Aftermath.
Chapter 16: What the HPI did afterward
Chapter 10: Company's Here, Ma!

Chapter 1: Under Way On Gasifier Power!

Thursday, 12 January 2017, 0800, aboard Polar Princess

Seven assorted ponies (and others) assembled in a corner of the Polar Princess’ mess decks, two unicorns, two pegasi, a thestral, a griffon, and an Abyssinian. The red pegasus with a gold mane and tail with a black rooster weather vane for a cutie mark, who has been going by the name ‘Frack’ for decades, stood up with a remote control held between some of his wing feathers.

“Okay, ladies, gentlemen, and assorted others. Now, we’re on our way to do the job we’re getting paid to do, meaning explore the inner American river system. We have all passed our qualifications on how to handle a river boat, and on how to operate a wood gasifier. Now, for some pictures of our river boat, which will be ready by the time we arrive in New Orleans, as our good Captain, Howard Crane, assured me over radio yesterday,” Frick said, clicking his remote to show a hippogriff, an unlikely mix of a white crane and an appaloosa. “That’s him, by the way, and our First Officer, Julia Crowne,” the picture changing to show a robust looking diamond dog bitch, brindle-colored with a serious expression on her face.

“Now, on to our ship,” Frack went on, the picture changing to show a standard river barge, with several cargo containers forward and a large two-story deck house aft, incomplete but with not much more to go, as well as a gangplank forward that can be raised and lowered, for rough shore moorings. “Control, crew’s berthing and a couple of offices and spare rooms on the top deck, passengers, galley and mess deck, and a very big Lounge on the lower deck. Engineering aft, with gasifier up, diesels down, and fuel on the bottom, with a proper purifier system installed. You know why we have a gasifier, right?” he asked the group.

One of the unicorns, Arnold Van Dyke, an ashen-gray fellow with black smudges and streaks here and there in his fur, mane and tail, raised a foreleg. At Frack’s nod, he said, “‘Cause we can always fahnd wood t’burn. Can’t always fahnd diesel. Use diesels when we need the powah t’buck the current, gasifier comin’ with it.”

“That’s right, Arnie!” Frack said with pride. “You, me and Bernie are tasked with making sure it works, while everyone else here has trained on how to keep it fed. That’s one reason why all of you came across to train, to learn how to keep the gasifier fed. It’s a job for all of us, along with basic seamanship on a river, which is different from deep-water ship handling.”

“Got that right,” commented the griffin of the bunch, a seagull/cougar mix by the name of Carroll Milsap. Unlike most gender-bent individuals, she didn’t change her name. “I did some sailing when I worked drilling rigs. River and barge traffic is a lot different than ridin’ out a hurricane on a drill rig.”

Harry Bell spoke up, the gray and red pegasus standing. “Having spent several years on the carrier Truman, I’m looking forward to some river sailing. Beats being seasick in a storm,” he said, his native Brooklyn accent faint but present as he stretched his legs and wings.

“Nobody ever died from seasickness,” said the group’s doctor, Lucien Macombe, a long-retired general practitioner out of New Orleans who Returned as a tan unicorn with a grayish mane and tail, a horn that was a red and white spiral, and a red stethoscope as a cutie mark. “They just wish they could.” He is also known to be a throwback to the ‘old Southern philosopher’ archetype, also known to younger folk as ‘a tiresome old windbag’. Very nice fellow, really. He’s truly a kind unicorn and a good doctor, just has to curb his tendency for being pedantic. He has to learn he’s not pushing ninety any more. Even after six months Returned, it hasn’t sunk in that he’s a young pony with more wisdom than sense, or is that the other way round?

“That’s the truth, Doc,” Harry agreed as he sat back down.

For the next hour plus, Frack led the group through a video tour of the Mississippi Voyager, getting everyone familiarized with the ship’s construction and style. Everyone has a private stateroom, but with shared baths. The rooms were spacious, air-conditioned, and had portholes to the outside. Doctor Macombe’s medical office, while small, he pronounced ‘adequate’. “I’ve been learnin’ first-aid and medical spells while I’ve been here. Looks like I’ll be doin’ some teachin’ before we sets out,” he told the group, who all nodded in understanding, which had the effect of shutting the good doctor’s mouth.

Even Jason McTerry, the black and white Abyssinian cook, who was normally silent, had something to say about the lounge, galley and mess deck. “Dang. Going old-fashioned in the lounge, modern elsewhere. I like the set up,” he said in his quiet Arkansas rasp. Fourteen words. More than he usually says in a day if he’s not working.

Carroll then raised a claw. “One thing I didn’t see on the boat, and that’s weapons. We’ve been training on some while in Maasvlakte, but I don’t see any mountings. Where are they?” she asked.

“They were not seen on the video because we are bringing them with us. What weapons that are suitable that she had she has put on the oceangoing ship, the Havana Trader. The WSU has a surplus, so one of our jobs before setting out is putting the guns up, plus a couple of surprises that we should keep to ourselves until needed. The secret weapons are going to leave some nasty surprises,” Frack explained.

“Torpedoes can be fun!” Bernie said with a smug chirp. One by one, the lights came on over the other five.

“How many launchers?” Carroll asked.

“Two forward, two aft.” Frack reported. “They’re not super sized, but enough to rattle some cages. There will also be grenade launchers, one forward, one aft, and we have a plentiful supply. Those will be obvious, with a third over Control with a remote control feed. I’ll be handling the installation and wiring of that one. Bart gave me the third degree until I got everything right.” After a snort, he went on. “It’s like he’s copying MY D.I. act! Plus, the three machine guns, two on deckhouse, one forward.”

Bernie giggled. “How does it feel, having that shoe on the other hoof?” she teased her mate. Frack’s expression was all she needed to see.

Wednesday, March 1, 2017 0800 Nashville Avenue wharf, New Orleans, Louisianne

Ten rather bewildered ponies (including one griffon and one hippogriff) were herded onto what, to them, looked like a cross between a river barge and an old-fashioned riverboat. The words ‘Mississippi Voyager’ were painted on the side of the boat, and carved into a wooden sign hanging from the second deck over a shaded patio that had several tables and benches, along with some doors leading in. They were being ‘guided’ by a green unicorn wearing a black sash with one stripe and a ruby necklace, a brown and white earth pony wearing a black sash with no stripes and a small emerald necklace, and a pink and yellow earth pony and a blue and green pegasus, who wore gray sashes and a very small ruby. Each of the troopers were armed with more than one billy club and a long knife each, with hilts that had seen action. “Captain Crane!” the lieutenant shouted. “Your passengers have arrived!”

A window opened on the second deck and a black-billed, red-feathered hippogriff head poked out, wearing a replica of a Confederate Navy officer’s hat. “Thank you, lieutenant! My first will be down in a moment!” the captain shouted down.

“Standing by,” the lieutenant called up, watching over his prisoners, who were milling about a little. One earth pony mare was hovering protectively over two foals, an earth pony filly and a pegasus colt, both very young.

Soon, a diamond dog female trotted down a flight of steps along one side of the deck house. A very big, very wide diamond dog carrying a clipboard whose facial expression did not convey any joy whatsoever. “Attention, prisoners! I am First Officer Julia Crowne, and will be in charge of you until such time as we leave Louisianne. I will now call the roll, and when I tell you which cabin you are in, you are to enter the deck house through the lounge and mess room to the corridor, then to your assigned cabin.”

She then held up the clipboard. “Kravitz, Ruth, Eli and Gilda! Cabin One!” she barked. The earth pony mare with the foals stepped forward. “Your destination is Memphis, and the WSU colony there!”

After the three ponies went inside, “Collins, Norman P!” she called. When the hippogriff stepped up, “Cabin Two! You are going to Natchez, with four others, to establish a trade base!” She went on like that until the last name was called and assigned, then she looked down at the lieutenant. “Forms, please,” she snapped.

The lieutenant drew a clipboard from his saddlebags, and a pen. Julia read the form, signed at the bottom, then took the copy. “Prisoner transfer complete. Dismissed.” she told the squad.

The lieutenant, sergeant and two privates saluted in unison, then turned and left the boat, the First watching them go. Once out of sight, she sighed and relaxed some. “Damn soldiers…” she muttered. “Never did like them.”

With a sigh, she went into the Lounge. What she wanted was a beer, but by Captain’s order, the liquor cabinet is only open from noon to midnight, and anyone who let themselves get crocked while underway is going for a swim. Instead, she went to the pastry bar and selected a couple of fresh beignets before pouring a cup of coffee.

When she sat down, she heard a faint thump and felt a breeze. Looking, she saw a mini of Johnny Walker Red next to her coffee cup. “Thank you, Jase,” she breathed as she quickly opened the top, poured the contents into her coffee mug, then put the top back on before setting it back on the table. Even though she watched, she still didn’t see the cook come back and take the bottle off before the Captain noticed. “Fast, quiet, and accurate. Best sort of shipmate.”

Promptly at noon, Captain Crane let out a toot from the ship’s horn. “Cast off all lines!” he said into the speaker system. Both his First and Second officers hauled in the gangplank, then went to handle the lines, one going forward, one aft.

“Engineering, ready to answer bells?” Crane asked.

“Engineering ready to answer bells on the gasifier,” Bernie reported. She had chosen to be up in Control while departing, so she could see how ‘real sailors did this’, in her words.

Once the First and Second Officers reported lines free, the Captain advanced the throttles slightly, moving the Voyager clear of the pier before giving the ship more gas. Slowly, she built up speed, running through the stagnant waters of the lower Mississippi River. He checked his instruments, a habit learned from over fifty years of handling river tugs. His control and instrument panel was in fact taken from a tugboat. “Got to admire the build team. From barge hull to river boat in five months,” he said appreciatively as the boat moved through the water.

“Built right, tight and solid. I helped out some, checking welds. Welding is not easy to do right as a pony, unless you have a lot of skill,” Bernie commented.

“Which you do have. I’m glad you’re on my team,” Howard said, one eye on the instruments. One display he does pay attention to is the sonar. Snags, rocks and wrecks can be a problem, despite Voyager’s stout construction. What with all the changes to the lower Mississippi River in the past year plus, even Howard’s fifty years of experience on the river would not be very helpful.

“What’s the plan for us, Captain?” Bernie asked.

“Here up forward, I’ll take the first watch, then Julia, Carroll and Harry. Depending on what I see about the river through the sonar, we could sail through the night, but I'm not sure if that will happen. Looks more like I will drop anchor about an hour before sunset, send out some wood choppers, and wait until morning to sail. I won’t go over five knots forward speed until we pass North Point. Too much chance for debris down here,” Howard explained, all the while watching out the windows or watching his instruments.

“While aft, it’s Frack, me, Arnie and Lucien to tend the fires. You did say you want us to run the gasifier until we reach North Point before switching to diesels. How long before we reach there?” Bernie asked.

“Sometime tomorrow, more than likely. We’re in no particular hurry down here on the lower part of the river. Once past Old River, we’ll switch to diesel and do a more thorough test. Safer that way, in my opinion,” Howard said.

“You’re the boss. Want lunch sent up here?” Bernie asked.

“Please, with a pot of coffee.”

Said lunch, several fish sandwiches, were brought up by the First Officer ten minutes later. “How she handling, Howie?” Julia asked.

“As good as I can ask for, Julie. Sonar’s good, engines working, gasifier doing its job, power flowing, water working, sailing smoothly. Been a long time since I had a ship that worked in all aspects,” Howard said, a wing reaching up to touch the sapphire gem around his neck. “Thank the Queen and her engineers.”

Julia did the same move, brushing the silver chain around her neck, the sapphire gem hidden in the cleavage of her prodigious bustline. “Thank the Queen, yes.” The Second Officer also had a sapphire gem necklace, which in their cases showed that they worked for Queen Marie Laveau, in a ‘special’ capacity. The three can speak to each other telepathically, the Captain being able to call the Queen on his own hook, but needs justification. The other two can reach the Northern District commander, Colonel Forest. “Enjoy it while it lasts. Want to go through the night?”

“After some thinking, I figure why not? I want to keep the speed of advance down to about five knots while here on the lower river. Above the diversion, we can put on more speed,” Howard explained as he took a bite of the fish sandwich. Not for the first time, he silently thanked whoever it was that got the quick, quiet black and white Abyssinian assigned to the Voyager project and not the Havana Trader. He knew the need of having a good cook on board, even on a tugboat.

“How’s the bottom looking so far?” Julia asked, looking at the sonar display, having a fish sandwich herself.

“So far, so good. Once we clear New Orleans, that’s when we have to be real careful. I know the Queen has been cleaning the river, starting from New Orleans and Baton Rouge, but I don’t know how far that project has come.” Howard said as he kept to the right. “At five knots, we should be at North Point by tomorrow afternoon, if we don’t stop. Let me check something.”

He picked up the handset for the boat’s intercom, set the switch for engineering and spun the crank. It was only a few seconds before someone answered. “Frack,” he heard.

“Frack, this is the Captain. Given our wood supply, if we kept our speed like it is, how long before we will have to pull over and chop wood?” Howard asked.

The answer was very fast in coming. “Two days, give or take a couple hours. We’re set to go from wood to diesel power within two minutes of the word being passed. Much faster and there’s too much chance of a whoopsie,” Frack reported.

“Thank you, Engineer. Make plans to steam through the night. Increasing forward speed to six knots. This should get us to Natchez by tomorrow night,” Howard said.

“You got it, Captain!” Frack replied cheerfully before hanging up.

“Hello, world! This is Captain Frick on WSU radio with today’s world news!” Frick said into the microphone in the studio.

However, his companion in the studio, Capo the red macaw, decided to interject. “That’s Captain Screwball!” he squawked, followed by a whistle. “Get it right!”

“Shut up, you damn talking feather duster! Well, this came in overnight. The Mississippi Voyager has set out from New Orleans and is currently past Baton Rouge, estimating to be in Natchez by sundown local time today. The Chief Engineer of the ship, my little brother Frack, left word that the ship is running just as good as anyone can ask for, and is looking forward to plenty of sailing up and down the rivers for some time to come. For more information about the Mississippi Voyager and the plans for its use, tune in at nineteen hundred WSU time for an extended podcast, where I interview Major Thibodeaux, Louisianne’s ambassador to the WSU, and over radio, Captain Howard Crane of the Mississippi Voyager.

“Well, enough tooting of my bro’s horn. In other news…”

Lexington turned down the volume on the radio in the bunker, once again marveling at the thin coat of gray fur covering the back of his hand. One thing neither he nor Amelia expected is that the mice they had been experimenting on would turn, once they became aware enough, to changing ‘The Big Ones’ into a form that could survive exposure to Earth’s unshielded environment. More changes were to come in time, but Lexington had other problems on his mind.

“Still thinking about Operation Exodus?” Amelia asked. She is his long time lab assistant, a mousy young lady who, like Lexington, is becoming more mouselike over time. Not much, just a thin coat of sleek brown fur and fingers that are a bit more clawlike.

“Yes. We need to get away from here. The HPI could conceivably follow us, and they have no real reason to welcome us back with open arms after we cut and run last year. I want to find a place where we and our little friends can thrive, build up in numbers and skill until we don’t have to worry about their continued evolution. The question is: where?” Lex thought out loud.

“Some place with plenty of fresh water, secure shelter, and a place to gather food from,” Amelia said. “There should be some place nearby that fills those criteria.”

“More than one. It’s a matter of getting everyone and everything we need there. Moving is going to be a bit of a pain,” Lex observed.

“Yes, but sooner started, sooner done, sooner we can get back to work, without having to look over our shoulders all the time. Have any ideas in mind?” Amelia asked.

“Yes. I have four spots, all within ten miles of here. We’ll have to do all trips during the day, rainy days the best. Next stormy day, I’ll take a crew over to check the first place out. These Gen-Fours are impressing me. They exceed parameters,” Lex mused.

“We’ll have to go over the genetic maps again. There’s something we missed somewhere.”

“Some more skull sweat, and we’ll figure it out.”

Unseen by the two humans, several mice watched and listened. They looked at each other, quick communication through magic bringing them to a rapid consensus. They then ran off, to tell their individual groups of the plans, and decide how to help The Big Ones.

In an old subway station in Cincinnati, a large hand turned the radio down. “So, we can expect visitors,” a deep voice rumbled.

“Not anytime soon, boss,” a unicorn with an especially frizzy gray mane, who goes by the name of Nebulous Nimbus, advised the possessor of the large hand. “We’re a long way up the Ohio, and from what I have heard, they won’t be coming up this way until the fall at earliest.”

“Still and all, we had best prepare. How goes reconstruction?”

“All on schedule. We’re getting two more buildings above suitable for habitation. The city folk are all working under Genghis’ watch, and very little punishment has to be meted out. Every hoof and paw above knows the value of a firm leader,” Neb reported.

“Yes. Genghis also knows that he cannot try to turn on me. So long as he follows my orders, he will live, and he knows it,” the creature said before sighing. “Being an underworld boss has its drawbacks.”

“Have the latest tributes pleased you, Vladimir?” Neb asked.

The large paw sunk deep into the pile of jewelry, gold, silver, and other precious gems. “Very much so, Neb. Did you bring any drill bits? They make tasty snacks.”

Neb’s saddlebag opened under the influence of his magic, pulling out a package of Ryobi drill bits, giving them to the creature. “You and I have been friends for how long now, Vlad? I know you.”

“That you do, Neb. It’s good to have one person who is not a subject, but a friend. I’m glad to have you,” the creature rumbled.

“I know which side of my toast the butter is on, Vlad. I also know who provides the butter. I’m not stupid. Anything else before I head topside?” the unicorn asked.

“No, thank you. Just make sure dinner is on time. Call if there’s any delay,” the creature said with a yawn.

“Will do, Vlad. See you later,” Nebulous Nimbus said as he headed for the stairway up out of the unused subway station.

Author's Note

I told you I have a new series in mind, and here it is. The start of it, that is.

Posting of this one is going to be a touch more erratic. For example, Chapter 1 is up now. I will not post Chapter 2 until Chapter 3 is complete, and so on.

There will be 'side chapters' appearing occasionally, as seen here in this one with Lexington and Vladimir. They won't be in every chapter, but will pop up every now and then.

Yes, I'm still alive, somehow. Maybe someday I will enjoy it again. Until then, may I bring a smile to your face and some knowledge to your brains. If you're not careful, you just might learn something!

Chapter 2: Up the River!

Thursday, 2 March 2017 1630 hours, North Point, Louisianne

First Officer Julia Crowne was at the helm of the Mississippi Voyager, cautiously moving the converted barge to the cleared area of the shore where it was supposed to moor, going bow-first so they could use the bow gangway to get on and off. They were not planning to stay long, just long enough for the guard force to give the ship the once-over and drop off some requested supplies. Well, that was the plan, at least.

When she felt she was in position, she activated the winches that would lower the gangplank into place. Slowly, the gangplank swung on its hinge, going up, then down, landing with a splash into the mud and grasses lining the river bank. “Thought I was close enough,” she said as she reversed the winches for another try.

“Rough mooring can be tricky,” Howard Crane, the Voyager’s hippogriff captain, said from the back of the control room. “What looks like solid ground may not be.”

“So I noticed,” the diamond dog bitch grumbled as she raised the gangplank high enough to try again, this time deliberately driving the ship through the grasses to ram solid ground. Not hard, but enough to put the ship in place. She then lowered the gangplank, which landed with a solid thump. “Second time’s the charm.”

“That it is,” Howard said before the lights flickered some before steadying. “Engine Room to Control!” Chief Engineer Frack’s voice came over the intercom.

“Control. First, What's the problem?” Julia answered.

“Have shifted power generation to diesels. Gasifier got plugged up with tar. Gonna have to clean it out. It’ll take a few hours to do it right,” Frack reported.

Howard went to the intercom. “Eng, Captain. Think we should stay overnight here?”

“Would be a good idea, Captain. The bit of current we were fighting to get up here, caused a bunch more creosote buildup than we did earlier. We’re going to be tinkering with this gasifier here for a while more yet before we get it right. Not like we had many of these things in Nebraska,” Frack admitted.

“We’re all trying to figure everything out, Eng. The guidebooks to operating this barge bow to stern haven’t been written yet. That’s a job for later,” Howard said with a touch of humor in his voice.

“Yeah, I heard the splash. Invite Captain Parker aboard for dinner and drinks. He’s a nice enough fellow,” Frack said.

“Sounds like a plan to me. You and Arnie get started on the work. I want it done before we pull out in the morning,” Howard ordered.

“On it, Captain! Eng out,” Frack said before hanging up.

Howard hung up as well before going to the radio. “Mississippi Voyager to North Point. In position. Ready to begin supply offload,” he said.

After half a minute, there was a reply. “North Point to Voyager. Copy your mooring. Will have a squad of Z’s there in a few minutes.”

“Dinner’s served at six sharp. How many live ones do you have? Four?” Howard asked.

“Six. We got two more in November. Six to control thirty-two Z’s. We’ll all be there when the work is done,” said the voice on the radio, who was no one Howard knew.

“Sounds good, North Point. We’ll keep a light on for you. Voyager out.”

“North Point copies traffic.”

“Sounds like a lively fellow there,” Julia said from her seat.

“Duty up here is rather boring, but it is important. Who knows what would be coming down the river?” Howard observed.

“Good point. So far, only the Deliverance. We’ll see who else can and will,” Julia replied after a slug from her mug.

3 March 2017 1030 hours

Shortly after departure from North Point, First Officer Crowne had all the passengers report to the Lounge for an announcement. When everypony had gathered, the Captain and First Officer stood by the service bar, which was currently empty, lunch not being served until noon.

“Attention, passengers! As of five minutes ago, we have passed the boundary of Louisianne into what used to be known as the United States. That means you are no longer prisoners, but beings taking passage. As of now, you are no longer confined to your cabins when it is not mealtime. You now can go through the lounge and onto the deck at any time. Those of you who are destined for Natchez, now is the time to go over your gear. We will be mooring there at about thirteen-thirty, and you will have one hour to offload before we set sail again.

“Until then, the refreshment bar is open, and you can mix and mingle here until and through lunch, until we arrive at Natchez, where the five destined there will get off, and we'll set sail for Memphis. Now that the unpleasantries are over, I can say hello and welcome aboard!” Captain Crane said to the group, to scattered applause.

The young pegasus colt, Eli Kravitz, spoke up. “Does this mean I can go outside and try to learn how to fly, Captain?”

“Yes, you can, young fellow. BUT, and I stress this, do not do so alone! You are to have at least one crew member or passenger with you who knows how to fly at all times while you practice. It is all too easy to catch a stray breeze, get blown off course, and lose sight of the boat,” Captain Crane said sternly. “You don’t want that to happen, do you?”

Eli shook his head, ears and mane flopping, his wings trembling some. “No, Captain! But I do want to learn some basics before we get to Memphis!” he said as emphatically as a six-year-old who wanted something.

Both Howard and Julia smiled at Eli’s eagerness. “You can go outside now, Eli, but don’t try to fly until someone comes down to join you,” Julia said in as pleasant a voice as she could.

“I’ll go find Supply Officer Bell, and have him come out to talk to you about learning how to fly. He knows how to fly better than I can,” Captain Crane told the colt. “If you can help him for a while, I’m positive he’ll help you about flying.”

Eli broke into a bright smile, wings fluttering in eagerness. “I can DO that, Captain! Right. Mom?” he asked, turning his head to look at his mother.

Ruth looked back at her son, smiling. “Yes, you can, Eli. Just show a little patience, okay?” she managed to say.

Eli planted all four hooves firmly on the carpeted deck and looked right up at his mother. “Mom, I’m not a doctor yet! How can I have any patients?” he asked plaintively. The words caused everypony in the Lounge to break up laughing.

Eli looked around, confused. “What’s so funny?”

3 March 2017 1430 hours, Natchez, MS. Magnolia Bluffs Casino

Five ponies stood on the casino’s river dock, four of them hitched two by two to two wagons loaded with goods and supplies. The fifth pony, a hippogriff by name of Norman Collins, wore a good-sized set of saddlebags. Captain Crane was aboard the Voyager with Chief Engineer Frack. The gangplank having been retracted, the two aboard had some final words for the Natchez contingent.

“We’ve already gone over the maps, so you know where you want to set up for the initial phase of colonization,” Frack told the five ashore. “Once you pick your house, it’s important you set up your generator and radio to call in to the WSU, to let them know you’re all right. Your main purpose is to set up a campground here for those like you, who choose not to remain under Queen Marie’s rule.

“The second riverboat, Mississippi Ranger, is expected to be ready by mid-May. We should be back before they arrive, but nothing is certain. Who knows what lies upriver? That’s what we’re going to find out,” Captain Crane told the group. “If things go completely squirrelly, North Point is but thirty miles away, to the south. Captain Parker has been instructed to render aid if asked for, just don’t expect speedy service. Any questions?”

“Just one,” an earth pony mare with a Jersey accent asked. “We work for the WSU, not Louisianne, right?”

“Correct, for now,” Frack answered. “You work for the WSU for one year, starting today. After a year, if you wish to remain with the WSU, you may. If you want to go independent, you may. If you want to join Louisianne, you may. The choice is entirely yours.”

“That agrees with what we were told. We just wanted to hear it from someone not a thrall of Queen Marie,” the mare snapped. “Okay, Norman, lead us.”

As the five ashore started moving, Captain Crane said quietly to Frack, “I refuse to be offended by their attitude. I can understand their feelings.”

“It was their choice to settle here. The other five are heading to Memphis, where they will be accepted by the colony. I know the Kravitz family wants the company of a rabbi, and the only one I know of is an M.D. there in Memphis. Moe Horowitz is a good fellow to know.”

“One reason why we’re planning on a five-day stopover there is to allow Lucien time to cross-pollinate with another M.D. Another reason is that they asked for a bunch of parts for their train setup. Filled Cargo One just for them. Going to take a while to unload that,” Crane said as the Natchez contingent turned a corner at the end of the parking lot and disappeared from sight. “Let’s get underway.”

“Right, skipper.”

Captain’s Diary, 17 March 2017, 1100 hours. FINALLY, we’re coming into sight of Memphis. Five days sidelined outside of Greenville, Mississippi because some idiot back in N’awlins forgot to include spare shaft and gearing lubricating oil! Ah’m jus’ glad Colonel Forest was willin’ to listen to me rant about havin’ to sideline and scavenge for not only enough oil, but to do repairs on the oil coolant system that failed! Ah’m glad ah got three moah than competent engineers to get this gal out of jams!”

Howard took a deep cleansing breath or two before continuing on. “Ah’m also damn glad Frack insisted on dual electrical generators on independent support systems. Havin’ power go out as well as propulsion would just be too much. Spending five days in Memphis will be a good tonic fo’ everyone.”

“Well, enough of me flapping my beak. Should be comin’ up on Memphis by now. Think I’ll go on out and take a look,” Howard finished before shutting off the recorder. Just then, the intercom whistled.

“Control to Captain, Nucor Steel coming into sight. Want to station maneuvering watch?” asked the Second Officer, Carroll Milsap.

Howard turned on his intercom. “Have you called Memphis yet?” he asked.

“No, sir. You said you wanted to do that yourself.”

“Very well, Second. I’ll be in Control in a moment. Slow to three knots. Captain out,” Howard said before turning off his intercom.

“Control aye.”

It wasn’t more than a minute later before Howard was on the bridge, looking over the Memphis shoreline. Not much to be seen down this far south, but the best place for the Voyager to dock is the old Army Corps of Engineers complex. Closest good dock to Graceland, even if it is seven miles away. Memphis has wagons and best of all, trucks.

Howard first went to the intercom, where he called out over the ship’s General Announcing system, “Attention all crew. Station the Maneuvering watch. Almost to Memphis.” he said, then waited for announcements to come in, checking off the reports. When all was set, Howard called Memphis over the radio. It took a couple of minutes, but a response was soon heard.

“This is Mayor DeMarco. Station calling, please identify,” was heard over the radio.

“Mayor DeMarco, this is Captain Howard Crane of the Mississippi Voyager. We are approaching Memphis, and will be moored at the old ACE dock within an hour. Apologies for being late, but as I explained to Mister Tereshkov a few days ago, breakdowns happen,” Howard said.

“That, I know all too well, Captain. I’ll be there hopefully before you moor, with a party of workers in the big truck. Hope you got all the parts Tucker ordered,” the Mayor replied.

“All I know for sure is that we have one whole cargo container earmarked just for you, plus some choice goods in Container Six, the refrigerator container,” Howard told the Mayor.

“Good to hear! Hey… did you get arrested here back in oh-two on a drunk and disorderly charge?” the Mayor asked.

Howard grimaced. He remembered that incident, vaguely. “Yes, I was. How did you know?”

“I was the one who booked you into jail,” the Mayor told him, then added, “Your name was different then. Horatio, right?”

This time, Howard visibly winced. “I stopped using that name when I came back, madam Mayor. Please don’t use it again. Meet you at the dock. Voyager out,” he managed to say before turning off the transmitter. He then looked at Carroll. “You didn’t hear that, you won’t mention it, because it never happened!” he said almost in a chirp.

“What happened, Captain? I didn’t hear anything,” Carroll said distractedly, paying attention to her pilotage rather than chatter. Or so it seemed.

“That’s good to hear, Second.” Howard fumed as he paid attention to the surroundings.

1600 hours, Mississippi Voyager Lounge

Captain Crane sat at a table with Stella DeMarco, the pegasus mayor of Memphis. Both were sipping mint juleps, a favorite of both of them, as well as sharing a plate of fried potatoes.

“Just how did you get such a big truck refurbished?” Howard asked.

“Tucker Rampoe. She’s a great mechanic, be it trains or trucks. She won’t try planes, though,” Stella replied. “She’s an earth pony. My compliments to your bartender. This julep is outstanding.”

“It is, and so is he. He worked at one of N’awlins’ better restaurants befoah everything turned upside down. Moah than once already, ah’ve thanked Her Majesty foah havin him come heah,” Howard drawled some, relaxing in the presence of someone of equal rank.

“I would try to steal him from you, but I can’t seem to find him when I’m looking for him,” Stella said around a fried potato.

“He’s lakh that. Don’t let it worry you,” Howard replied. “Got a question for you. Aaron Tereshkov. He asked me if he could sign on as a crewman. What’s the story with him?”

“A family squabble that has been going on since last year. Apparently his mother did or said something that upset him, and he’s moved into one of the other houses. Not even mediation with Doctor Moe has been able to settle it. He’ll follow orders, and he is a good hunter, he just won’t talk to his family,” Stella told the Captain.

“He’s also nervous about something else. My Chief Engineer,” Howard said after some potatoes.

“Why would he be worried about Frack for?” Stella asked. “Last year, when the Deliverance was here, Frack talked up the Tereshkov clan, and they have lived up to his claims. In fact, Greg’s my main assistant. He keeps track of things better than I can.”

“Were you aware that last year, when they met in Saint Louis, Aaron shot Frack through the wing with an arrow?” Howard said quietly, sipping his drink.

Stella sat upright, startled. “Aaron did that? I heard of the incident, but no one claimed responsibility. Do you think those two could serve together?”

“If both are willing, I’ll take him on, if’n you don’t mind, of course.”

“I can’t stop him,” Stella admitted. “If he wants to, he can. He could have left at any time, he just doesn’t want to be alone. Diamond dogs tend to be social, for the most part.”

“That, ah can’t say much about. Not many dogs in N’awlins, an’ ah didn’t work with any, except Julia, an’ ah can’t plot a curve from one point. Ah’ll see if he can fit in. If not, ah can put him off in Saint Loo,” Howard said as he finished his drink. “You an’ your crew want to stay fo’ dinnah?”

Stella thought for a few seconds, then shook her head. “Better not. I want to get this second load back to the compound before dark. Lunch tomorrow, I’ll make that a definite yes!”

“Sounds like a plan to me. If Aaron wants to sign on, bring him tomorrow and I’ll see how well he fits in.”

“No, not tomorrow. The evening before you sail. If he comes here tomorrow, what’s to stop his family from coming here to try to talk him out of it? You have not seen Anna Tereshkova having a conniption fit. Takes her days to settle down, and I never learned Russian, Hebrew or Yiddish.”

“Good point, Stella. Ah can agree to that.”

Wednesday, 22 March 2017 1000 hours

Captain Crane was in his cabin, having a detailed talk with Aaron Tereshkov. The big diamond dog had arrived with the dawn, having walked the seven miles from Graceland with the light of a last-quarter moon for guidance. He had brought a large pack, his bow and a quiver full of arrows with him, taking a spare cabin on the upper deck, one that was close to the gasifier exhaust stack.

The two were in the midst of discussing what learning has to be done to qualify as a deck hand when the intercom buzzed. “Captain, Telephone call for you. It’s Maasvlakte,” Julia said without waiting for Howard to answer, unusual for her.

“Be right there, First,” Howard said, and seconds later, he was taking the satphone Julia was holding out for him. “Crane.”

“Captain Crane, this is Captain Perrin of the WSU. How fast can you get to Saint Louis?”

Howard looked at the chart that was out on the table. Drawing on his knowledge of the river, he said, “Rough guess is by sundown Friday. Ah can run some figures an’ give you a better number, if you’re willin’ to wait a bit. What’s the problem?”

“We here in the WSU, and Captain Frick in particular, received a telephone call from a ten-year-old colt named Sparky. He reported all the adults just dropped what they were doing and started walking off to the south. Other than himself, only three others are unaffected, a teenage griffon, an Abyssinian kitten, and their cleric/medic, who goes by Mary Sue. The four grabbed what supplies they could and fled to the north side of the Missouri River. You’re closest. Will you investigate?” Captain Perrin asked, his British accent especially prominent.

“When did you find out about this, Captain Perrin?” Howard asked.

“Fifteen minutes ago. As soon as Frick got all the pertinent details down, he called me. Knowing you were underway, you were my first call, for understandable reasons,” Doug answered.

“Very well then, Captain Perrin. I shall report this incident to Her Majesty’s advisory staff, then boot this lady in the butt and see how fast we can go!” was Howard’s reply.

“Very good, Captain. You do what you can do. Just one more word, and that is that this incident will not be mentioned over the wireless, just in case unfriendly ears are listening. We’ll get a think tank going and will be in touch with possibilities about what is going on,” Doug reported.

“Well then, looks lakh the only thing left to do is to do it, and do it we will! Keep in touch, Captain Perrin,” Howard told the distant voice on the phone.

“We shall, once we have something concrete to report. Smooth sailing, Captain Crane! WSU Control out,” Captain Perrin said before hanging up.

Howard hung up his phone and put it back in its charger. “First Officer, full speed ahead. Seems like there is trouble in Saint Louis, and we’ve been asked to look into it,” he instructed his bridge officer.

“Full speed ahead, aye!” Julia barked (almost literally) before advancing the throttles to ninety percent. “Throttle at full speed.”

“Very well, First. Time for me to have some words with the Eng. Mister Tereshkov, with me. Your first lessons will be on the engines,” Howard told his new crewman.

“Should not be much trouble there, Captain. I was the one who mainly took care of the La Petit’s motors. Just need to learn what’s where and what to do,” Aaron assured his captain.

“Convince Frack, not me,” Howard grunted as he led the way aft.

“Who do you think gave me training last year?” Aaron countered.

Author's Note

Chapter 3 finished at 0430 this morning, so, after a nap, put 2 up. That's going to be my procedure for this tale, keep one chapter back.

I cannot believe the response I have been getting from Chapter One. Definitely a pleasant surprise. If anyone can identify what I'm doing RIGHT, let me know, please! Same thing if I'm doing wrong. Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative. I just need to have them pointed out to me!

Here's a question for you. In Chapter 1, at the end, the scene shifted to Cincinnati. What species is Vladimir? Can anyone figure it out? Come on, it's not that hard!

Chapter 3: Meet Me In Saint Looie

Friday, 24 March 2017, 0700 hours

Captain Crane stood in the control room of the Mississippi Voyager, watching the Gateway Arch slide by on his left, with the decaying city of Saint Louis behind the Arch, glittering in the early morning sun. With the hippogriff in Control was his Third Officer, Harry Bell, who was the on-duty helmsman, and his Chief Engineer, Frankland (Frack) Larsen, both pegasi. Frack had been to the city the year before, and knew most of the ponies there.

“With this speed of advance, we should be where they are hiding out at within three hours,” Frack told his captain. “They took a golf cart and fled once everyone started walking south. Good thing the Ameristar is just a mile or so up the highway, and they were quick about bailing out.”

“When was the last time you talked to them?” Howard asked.

“About nine last night. They are doing all right, because last year they decided to set up the place as an emergency shelter, in case something happened to their main base in Earth City. Nobody foresaw this happening,” Frack snorted.

“I should say not. From what I have heard from both New Orleans and Rotterdam, opinions are divided as to what it is. New Orleans is saying it’s some sort of compulsion from a divine being while Rotterdam thinks it was a spell from someone with a lot of power, aimed specifically for the adults,” Howard told his engineer.

“Frick’s twitching over why the kids were not affected. Fred has an idea why Mary Sue wasn’t. He thinks it’s because she has a divine guide, a deity she prays to. For all I know, he could be right,” Frack said with a shrug. “What bothers me is that Rosa didn’t see anything beforehand.”

“She’s the kitten who gets advance notice, right?” Howard asked.

Frack nodded, his fluffy gold mane flying about. “That’s the one. She and her father hid for months in a hotel across the interstate from where everyone else lived, knowing when the coast was clear to snitch food and supplies from the Earth City crew. They broke cover when her father got sick.”

“How is she behaving now?” Howard asked.

“Concerned, but not in a panic. Sparky says she’s been drawing and coloring lots of jet planes, a king on a throne, boxes, crates and barrels with stuff overflowing from them, and one that bothers him the most is of a bunch of ponies bowing down to a red lump on a pile of something. Hard for a six-year-old to explain what she’s seeing, right?” Frack answered.

“You do have a point, Frack. In a few more hours, we’ll find something out,” Howard said, followed by a snort. “The way these rivers wind, it’s a long way from here to there by water.”

Just then, Frack tossed his head as Harry stamped a hoof and shivered. “That feels strange,” Harry said. “Where’s the storm at?”

“Not to worry, Harry. Just a flock of storm birds. I’m surprised it’s taken this long to spot any,” Frack reassured the other pegasus.

“Storm birds?” Howard asked. “What are they?”

“Birds the size of vultures that hunt in flocks,” Frack explained. “Working together, they can conjure up storms, small ones. They use lightning to make kills, then go down and feed.”

Howard nodded, realizing something. “Oh, okay. I know what they are now. We call them Ford birds.” he explained.

“Ford birds?” Harry asked as he moved the ship left, getting into the Missouri River’s muddier flow of water as they came up on the convergence site.

“Yep. Thunderbirds were already taken, so we took to calling them Ford birds,” Howard replied.

Frack and Harry just looked at each other before Frack managed to speak. “That’s worse than anything Frick or I could come up with…” he groaned.

“Don’t blame me, I didn’t name them!” Howard chuckled.

Three hours later, the Voyager was tied up at the Ameristar Casino’s dock, the four from Saint Louis gathered in the Lounge with the ship’s crew, explaining what they knew, which wasn’t much. “We were getting ready for your arrival. Our warehouse over at LaFarge has goods that were requested, and we hope you brought what we asked for,” Mary Sue told the group. “But, put that aside. Where did everyone go?”

“That’s what we’re here for,” Howard said with confidence. “I have heard that Rosa made some pictures. May I see them?”

“Of course, Captain,” Mary Sue said, nodding to Sparky, who used his electric-blue glow to open his saddlebag, pulling out a sheaf of coloring papers, putting them on the table.

The crew passed them around, trying to make sense of Rosa’s doodles. “What do these letters mean, Rosa?” Aaron asked.

The black and white kitten shrugged. “I don’t know,” she said. “It’s just something I see whenever I think of Daddy, or Aunt Suzanne, or Aunt Sadie, or Uncle Wilbur.”

“Wilbur?” Frack asked.

“New arrival. Showed up just after the first of the year. Heavy-lift pegasus,” Mary Sue told the group.

“I like him! He takes me for sky rides!” Rosa squealed.

“Does anyone have any idea what M.A.N.G. could possibly mean?” Captain Crane asked the table at large.

Doctor Macombe spoke first. “Back years ago, havin’ missed the Great War by bein’ in medical school, but graduatin’ in tahm to go to Korea, ah had to think mighty quick befoah ah got drafted and sent overseas. So, using some of mah family ties, ah pulled some strings and joined the Louisiana Air National Guard, risin’ to the rank of Colonel in it until ah retired back in ninety-foah.

“Now, it could be that this heah M.A.N.G. could be the Missouri Air National Guard. Ain’t no othah M states nearby, is theah?” he finished, sitting back some and sipping from a coffee mug held in his red glow.

A glance ran around the table several times before settling on Julia’s face. “Are there any major airports nearby?” she asked.

“Lambert Field is just down I-70 from here,” Zach the griffin said. “It’s an international airport. If there is a Missouri Air National Guard, it would be there.”

“How far away is it?” Howard asked.

“Not more than four miles away,” Mary Sue answered.

“Okay, then. Jason, knock together a quick lunch for us, then I’ll pick some fliers to go down and take a look. Any volunteers?” Howard asked before four right wings and two left wings went up, including his own left wing. “Frack, I want you to go, because you know most of them, and they know you. As for the others, let’s have lunch while I think. Deal?”

“Sounds good, Captain,” Julia said as the sound of meat hitting a frying surface came from the kitchen.

“Bambi Burgers?” Rosa said hopefully.

“Better than that,” Carroll said. “Jason is a great cook.”

“Woww!” Rosa squealed.

Noontime found Carroll, Frack and Bernie winging their way south along I-70, heading toward Lambert Field, which was visible in the middle distance. “When I was here before, I never had any reason to look down this way,” Frack told the others. “We were more focused on getting the dog and pony show somewhere above subsistence levels.”

Bernie let out a snort as she flew next to Frack. “I’m just glad you wound up in the right place at the right time. I don’t like the thought of drowning in my truck because I got tangled in the seat belt,” she commented.

“I’m just glad I caught you when Frieda cut you out. I knew there was something special about you. How long have we been happy with each other?” Frack asked.

“Not long enough,” Bernie answered.

“If you two lovebirds are about done, how about looking ahead?” Carroll said with some irritation. She was genderbent in the Return, and seeing others in love with each other irked her. She missed his (now her) family, a wife and a toddler boy, more than anyone suspected. “We need to find the Air National Guard building.”

“Right, Carroll. Let’s split up. You go to the south end and work north, I’ll start north and work south. Bernie, you start at the main terminal and work east,” Frack suggested.

“Sounds like a plan, Eng. Keep in touch,” Carroll confirmed as the three went separate ways.

Three hours later, they met on the east side of the airport. “Nothing. No sign of the Air National Guard. We’ve each searched the area twice,” Frack said as they rested in the shade of a parked jet in front of the FedEx hangar.

“There has to be something we missed in those pictures,” Bernie panted after draining a canteen. “Maybe she’s seeing something that WAS here, but isn’t now?”

“This building right here does not look new,” Carroll said, pointing to the FedEx hangar with a wing. “Maybe this WAS the Air Guard hangars, but got repurposed? Let’s call back to the boat and have them look at the pics again.”

Frack and Bernie both flapped a wing at Carroll. “Go right ahead. Let us catch our breaths and have something to eat while you call in,” Bernie said before digging into her saddlebag for a chilled thermos of mango juice.

Carroll broke out her radio. “Second Officer to Voyager. Do you copy?”

“I hear you. Go ahead, Carroll. Find anything?” Howard’s voice came from the radio speaker.

“Not a damn thing, Captain. Are there any other symbols that stand out on the drawings?” Carroll asked

“Let me take a look,” Howard said as they could hear him moving a few steps and a chair being pulled back. “Hmmm… One thing repeated in several pictures is a brown box with a yellow smiley face in it. That ring a bell to anyone?”

The three fliers in the shade of a jet went under it to look farther south. There, on the tail fin of a jet farther down, was a brown box with a yellow curved arrow in it, and along the fuselage was written two words, ‘Amazon Air’. “I think so, Captain. Let us have a little lunch, then we’ll check something out. Try to do some research on the Missouri Air National Guard. I don’t think they’re here at Lambert any more.”

“I think I can do that,” Howard replied. “Keep in touch. Voyager out.”

“Second out,” Carroll said before putting the radio away and removing some beef jerky to chew on, while Frack and Bernie had fish sandwiches. After the shade break and some small talk, the three flew south a few hundred feet, to the Amazon air distribution center. From the west side, one of the cargo doors was open, so they went inside.

There, the three found the devastation one would find from leaving a door open for almost two years in the presence of cardboard, namely one big mess. They also found something interesting and incriminating- footprints, hoofprints and claw marks in the cardboard, and the cardboard looked tossed around, like a bunch of ponies had searched that pile and others. “Ponies, we have discovered a clue. Now to figure out what it means. Let’s take some pictures before heading back to the boat. After all this searching, I can use a nap,” Frack admitted.

“Since when do you don’t?” asked Bernie in an innocent voice.

“Okay, you two… let’s move out!” Carroll said firmly, taking off, sounding offended at the two’s verbal play. She was, in fact.

As the three flew up I-70 back to the Ameristar, two sets of eyes looked up at them from the shadows of a tunnel that went under a runway, one large red set and a smaller green set.

“Good thing you noticed them and got the workers under cover in time,” the owner of the red eyes rumbled, a wisp of smoke curling up from a nostril.

“Cas, I wasn’t expecting help to arrive so soon! Last we heard on the radio, they were laying over in Memphis! Normal cruising would take over a week to get here going upriver!” whined the possessor of the green eyes. “While we have the chance, I can recall them back here!”

“No, Cor. Wait until dark before recalling them to the barracks. Tomorrow, we can send them downtown to search for more treasure. We have a long way to go before my hoard is complete,” Cas rumbled, clearly displeased.

Cor’s horn flickered a sickly green color for a moment as he sent orders. “Done. Think they will be back today?” he asked.

“Doubtful. If they came back, they could only search for an hour or so before dark. Early tomorrow would be my guess,” Cas said in a grumble, clearly not happy. “I’ll reset the illusions at the end of the tunnel, as well as the avoidance spell. The workers will ignore them, the others not.”

“Good idea, Cas!” Cor said in his usual sycophantic manner.

“Of course it is. I thought of it,” Casimir rumbled.

Over a very fine fresh hot dinner on the Voyager, the entire crew, plus the Saint Louis contingent, gathered to discuss findings. “So, you found evidence of pony activity at the Amazon Air location. What about the FedEx building, or planes and trucks nearby?” Howard asked

Carroll spoke up. “No, we didn’t, Captain. We had just spent the previous three hours searching the airport from one end to the other. We had enough endurance left to get back here. Best search in the morning, when we’re all rested,” she reported.

“I can see your point, Second. Tired searchers can miss clues. I suggest tomorrow morning, the three of us who stayed here go down to search, namely myself, Third Officer Bell, and young Zach. A fresh set of eyes may be of help,” Howard said to all.

“Plus, allow me to make a suggestion,” Bernie said, speaking up. “A pre-dawn overflight. As they say, thestrals do it in the dark!”

Howard nodded in agreement as he swallowed a piece of fish wrapped and baked in cornbread, something many aboard liked and Jason was a master of making. “Okay. You have the midnight to four watch in the engine spaces, then you head out and overfly the area until dawn. Come back and report any findings, then I’ll lead a party out. If needed, think you can be awake for a second shift searching?” he asked.

Bernie thought some. “I shouldn’t have much trouble, if I get some rest now. Have Jason leave a couple bottles of mango juice in the fridge and I should manage,” she told the Captain.

“Okay, then,” Howard said. “You do just that. See if there is any activity in the pre-dawn hours. Right now, any idea is better than no idea.”

“I drew some more pictures, Captain! Want to see?” Rosa said from her place at the table, between Sparky and Mary Sue.

“After we finish dinner, sure, Rosa! I want to see what you’ve been seeing!” Howard told the kitten in a bright voice.

“Okay! Can I have more fish, please?” she asked. At Mary Sue’s nod of approval, Sparky put another piece onto her plate from the serving platter with his glow. “Thank you, Sparky!”

After dinner, which she insisted on helping clean up (and did a decent job for a six-year-old), Rosa ran to get the pictures she drew that past afternoon. One pictured a large red object and a smaller green one with a crown in what Rosa explained as ‘a big, long cave’. “They's the baddies. The big one is Cause, and the little green one is either Core or Grimmer,” she explained. The next picture is of a black and white scribble riding a yellow and orange stick-figure with kitty ears, a tan and gray horse stick figure, and a large red-brown two-legged dog with a blue spot at her neck. “He can fix everypony, but it will take her to show him how to do it.”

“How can I do that?” Julia asked, looking at the crude picture.

Rosa tapped the spot of blue with a claw. “By making that sparkle! It’s pretty!”

Dr. Macombe looked at the picture, then up at Julia. “It sure does seem to me that once we find our missing clients, one way to fix what is broke with them has to be something that has to come from N’Awlins to me via the connecting crystals, of which I do not have one, but others do. Apparently, ah will know it when ah see it, but until then, nothin,” the tan unicorn with a gray mane said in his usual long-winded style, meaning he will say a hundred words when ten will do.

“Could very well be, Doctor. First things first is to make contact to see what is going on. We can’t fix it if we don’t know how it's broken, right?” Howard said after one of the cornbread fish puffs.

Julia spoke up. “I would like to know why me, Rosa. Why am I in the picture?” she asked.

The answer was quick in coming. “Because you’re SUPPOSED to be there!” the kitten said forcefully.

“Can’t argue that logic, not no way, not no how,” Doctor Macombe said with a chuckle. “One of my grandbabies was like that, and once she decided on something, get out of her way or get run over!”

“Good morning, world! At least it’s morning to me! I’m Captain Frick, filling in today for DJ WSU. She’ll be back tomorrow morning. Hear now the news!”

An outraged squawk was heard, followed by the sound of a wing hitting a horn. “You forgot about me, Screwball!” was plainly heard over the radio.

“Oh, yeah. Capo the red macaw is along for the ride. Everyone, pay attention to him, and you may hear some sense,” Frick said before pausing for a few seconds. “But, don’t hold your breath…”

“Screwball!” Capo squawked before leaving his perch on the microphone stand in a flurry of wings, going to the perch where his seed and water bucket awaited his pleasure.

“Damned feathered menace…” Frick grumbled before sitting up straight. “And now, the news!

“The Mississippi Voyager is currently in New Madrid, Missouri, on its way to Saint Louis and Kansas City. Bucking the Mighty Mississippi’s current is slow going. Now, going the other way is much faster!

“The Polar Princess should be leaving Belfast tomorrow after a little tweaking and peaking. Captain Haugen has told me he is eager to get back here, because he has yet to pick a house! Still plenty to choose from, but he'll have a lot of DIYing to do! Even Cornhusker House keeps me busy on weekends doing this and that, and we’ve been there for seven months already!” Frick said with a small chuckle before straightening out his papers. “In other news around the world…”

A sickly green glow turned down the volume on the world band radio. “We know that’s total bullshit, Casimir! They’re here already!” Coronavirus whined.

“So, what do you want me to do about it? Panic? That’s YOUR job, Cor!” the red-scaled dragon snorted, letting fly a cloud of smoke that had the pungency of gunpowder.

“What do you THINK I’m doing?” the green and yellow unicorn whimpered. “What are we going to do about the zombies? How did they ever find out about them? We have to get your real hoard built soon, and without them, it’s just too much for us!” Cor paced nervously, horn flickering.

“The zombie spell is quite specific. Anyone who I would consider an adult would be affected. What surprised me is the children there must be quite resourceful, to get the word out so fast,” Casimir thought out loud. “Not like it was back in Equestria.”

“But, what are your plans?” Cor begged. “How can we get out of trouble with the locals?”

“That’s not your job, that’s my job. Make sure the zombies are bedded down, ready to go early in the morning,” Casimir rumbled. Thoroughly cowed, Cor scuttled off to do just that.

Once alone, Casimir settled onto the floor of the tunnel, several large layers of carpet between him and the pavement. “Some days, I wonder why I followed Vladimir here from Equestria. Then something good happens, and I stop wondering. Here’s to a better day tomorrow,” he sighed as he curled up for warmth, tugging a thick composite blanket over him. “Next job, a fireplace…”

Author's Note

Sorry it took me a while to get this chapter out. Just been real tired in the mornings. I got it done, but I apologize for the delay. Some days, the words won't come. Others, they do.

Looks like we have Dumb and Dumberer doing something that others would not approve of, if they found out. One advantage of 21st century technology and magic in a world of 19th century transport tech is that it's easier to call someone and get advice, right?

Are Casimir and Coronavirus are truly as dumb as they look, or are they just faking it? Stay tuned for the next exciting chapter of The Mississippi Voyager!

Very good, Desmond. You're improving!

Thank you, Mister Author. I try hard. Just don't lock me in the closet again!

Chapter 4: Idiots Deluxe

Saturday, 25 March 2017 0445 hours

Bernie stood in Control with Carroll, saddlebags packed, ready for some early-morning scouting. “I’ll be here listening to anything you say,” Carroll told the thestral. “Sunrise is about seven-thirty, so try to be back here about then. The second wave will go out about eight or so. Any questions?”

“Quite a few, but nothing that pertains to the search. Keep an ear open for me, okay? I’ll just go down the 70 and start looking. Don’t doze off now!” Bernie said with a little laugh, patting Carroll with a wing before leaving Control to head out. Carroll fumed a little, but kept her peace.

Bernie flew south, picking up I-70 as it crossed the Missouri River. When she got to the northernmost part of the runway, she caught a string of dim lights that slowly grew longer as she watched. The fingernail moon in the east didn’t help much to light up the ground, especially on the west side of the runway, where the lights were. Slowly, quietly, Bernie flew along the line of lights, from north to south. The lights resolved into a line of flashlights mixed with the lights cast from several unicorn horns. She turned around after passing the south end and flew back along the line, lower and slower, trying for a count.

She saw a zebra leading, wearing a headlamp. There were five unicorns with horns lit, four pegasi with headlamps, five earth ponies with saddlebags, a tall Abyssinian with a diver’s lamp, a griffon and what appeared to be a hippogriff, but Bernie could not be sure. She noticed that when she got to the back (north) end of the line, she found herself veering off. She turned all the way around to try again, and she had the feeling of leaving this be, go away, nothing here, DON’T LOOK!

Bernie zoomed off northbound until the feeling faded. Confused, she called in to Carroll to report her finds. “Make one more pass on that strange area. If the same thing happens again, forget about it and wait for daylight. Follow the others and see where they go,” the Second ordered.

“Welder Seven copies, Voyager,” Bernie replied. The second pass having the same results as the first, she pursued the chain of lights, catching up with them as the line went through a hole in the fence and started across the runways. She tracked them as they made their way back to the Amazon hangar, where the group started going through the boxes, opening and discarding much, only seldom putting something in a saddlebag.

Bernie watched until dawn started coloring the eastern sky. When it became bright enough for her to see colors, she took wing back to the Voyager, arcing high and avoiding the area that made her nervous before. Over breakfast, she reported her findings to the rest of the crew.

“If’n ah might ask, Bernie, just how did everyone look to yuh?” Lucien asked. “Were they eager, resigned, or just what?”

“I really can’t say, it being too dark for me to truly read expressions,” Bernie said after half a mango. “They didn’t seem too eager, but more resigned than anything else.”

“Were they all movin’ in unison, all together?” Lucien asked.

Bernie thought about it. She sipped some coffee as she recalled how they were moving across the runway. “They WERE moving in step! Like in a parade!” she exclaimed.

Lucien looked around the table, finishing at those who had spent more time in Louisianne, especially the Captain and First. “Now, just what does that remahnd yuh about?” he asked.

Howard and Julia looked at each other and nodded. “Zombies,” they said together.

“Eyep,” Lucien agreed. “Zombies. Looks to me that someone’s gonna have to call up the lahn and fahnd out how one can jam or remove the zombie-makin’ spell. Either that, or someone fahnd me a way to trace the spell back to the source an’ convince who put it on to take it off!”

“Better you than me, Doctor,” Arnie Van Dyke, the other unicorn aboard, said in reply after a bite of waffle. “Ah’m more of a tinker, not a woo-woo fella.”

“Okay, then. The Third and I, along with Zach, will fly down and take a look at what’s going on. If we can agree that some sort of zombie spell is on them, I’ll call Colonel Forest and see what advice we can get,” Howard said, brushing his sapphire pendant with a wing.

“You do that, and I will ask Apito for guidance,” Mary Sue said quietly.

“Apito?” Julia asked.

“The deity I follow, Julia. If she can guide me, good. If not, we’re no worse off, right?” Mary Sue replied.

“You do have a point,” Julia grumbled. She’s convinced Queen Marie Laveau is as real as a slap in the face, but other deities, she’s not so sure.

“Hey, wait a minute…” Bernie said. “I’ve felt that ‘go away’ bit before.”

“Where at?” Howard asked.

“Fort Myers, at the hangar the Fly Lord lived in. I only got a ‘taste’ of it, but once is enough,” Bernie told the group, having a piece of mango.

“I caught it full force,” Frack said. “By the time sense and sensibility returned to me, I was far enough over the Gulf to be out of sight of land. Took Bernie here to guide me back.”

“But here, I didn’t feel frightened. Look away, go away, nothing here I did feel, but I didn’t feel that going closer would be the death of me,” Bernie said, thinking out loud.

Lucien snorted. “It appeahs to me that theah is a powerful mage or somethin’ else neahby, Now, speakin’ as the closest thing to a mage we has got, ah don’t mind tellin’ you all that the prospect of goin’ up against whatever-it-is is not exactly the most appealin’ thought ah have had in the past year or so aftah comin’ back as a unicorn,” he told the group.

Howard nodded his head slowly as he thought over what Doctor Macombe had just said, translating Lucien’s windbag words into plainer language. “I don’t like the thought myself, Doctor, but, whatever-it-is has taken the residents here away from their homes and doing something else. Let’s see what is going on at Amazon Air, and figure out our next step from there,” he said to the group. “Third, Zach, let’s grab our bags and head out. Sooner started, sooner finished.”

“Can you bring my daddy back home?” Rosa asked.

“And my mother?” Sparky asked as well.

“That’s why we’re going, kids. To see what it will take to bring them home. Air Team Two, let’s go!” Howard said, standing up and heading to the deck of the Voyager, followed by Harry and Zach. Together, the three took wing, heading south.

Together, the three fliers found the Amazon Air facility, where they did find the missing Saint Louis folk working away, opening packages, inspecting the contents, and for the most part discarding them, only occasionally putting something into the capacious saddlebags that Bitumen, Exeter and one of the Saint Louis earth ponies wore. Each of the ponies and others had a vacant look on their faces, going through the motions like they had a purpose in mind, but sleepwalking through it all. More than once, a pony looked right at one of the away team members, but no sign of recognition flickered across their faces. With a couple of gestures, Howard led Harry and Zach outside, then flew a little ways north and over the building, to the far side.

“Zombies, all of them,” Howard said once they had gathered together.

“Does anyone with us know how to break the spell?” Harry asked.

“No, BUT, we have an ace up our sleeves, or around our necks,” Howard replied, brushing his sapphire pendant with a wing. “I can call Colonel Forest, fill him in on the situation, and he can get advice on what to do.”

“Sounds like a good plan to me,” Harry agreed. “Want me to keep an eye on them?”

“No. If they are zombies, then anything they do is up to their controller, whoever it may be. Let’s head back to the boat. Let’s get some advice before we take the next step. At least we can report that all appear to be in good health,” Howard replied.

“I’ll buy that for a buck,” Harry said.

“Buck… did you notice that one saddlebag that had some green sticking out of it?” Zach asked.

“I did. Why would anyone want a saddlebag full of cash for?” Howard wondered.

“Stuff the cash into a pillowcase?” Harry suggested. “Hasn’t everyone dreamed of owning a mattress and pillow full of money? True, it ain’t any good now EXCEPT as mattress filling, but some people can live out their dreams now.”

“A dragon could want to nest on a pile of change, but it will take a lot of change to fit under a dragon,” Harry ventured. “Plenty of banks nearby to raid.”

“True, but where can you hide a dragon?” Howard asked rhetorically. “All the buildings here have been checked.”

“Let’s get back and check Rosa’s pictures. We may get another clue,” Harry said.

“Yeah, let’s do that,” Howard said as he pulled his radio out of its sling. “Victor One to Victor Base,”

“Victor Base. Go ahead, Victor One,” Julia’s voice came from the speaker.

“Returning to base. Will be back soon. Have news to report.”

“Ten-four, Victor One, we’ll be waiting. Victor Base out.”

At lunchtime, everyone aboard the Voyager gathered in the Lounge for lunch and to talk. Since the boat was tied up, both Control and Engine watches gathered as well. The Saint Louis team remnants were there too. Captain Crane was first to speak.

“I’ve reported our findings to Colonel Forest. He, in turn, notified Her Majesty. She agrees that someone has all the adults here in Saint Louis under a zombie spell. However, since none of us here that has a sapphire is a unicorn, she cannot craft a counterspell. Fortunately, she has come up with a workaround.

“Lucien, after lunch, you and the First are going to go to the airport, along with Mary Sue. You will be wearing my gem, so that Her Majesty can see through your senses and craft a spell that should break the hold whoever-it-is has over the ponies and bring them home. Any questions, anyone?” Howard asked after his speech.

“Ah do,” Lucien drawled. “That’s one helluva walk, from here to there and back. Even longer when we is going to be herdin’ the herd back. For a while after being freed of the zombie spell, ponies are very suggestable, and will tend to do as told until theah wills reassert themselves. Ah’m willin to bet whoever-it-is that put the spell on will know when the spell comes off. What in tarnation are we gonna do about it?”

“Right now, Doctor Macombe, I don’t have a single solitary idea on what. Today, you are to go down and look, the three of you,” Captain Crane snapped back. Personally, he was tired of listening to Lucien say ten words when two would do. “You are to go down today and let Her Majesty look, because she is a much better unicorn spellcrafter than you could ever hope to be. She will come up with a counterspell, and here’s hoping for all our sakes you are unicorn enough to cast it without crapping out on us!”

Most everyone around the table took a step back when Howard yelled at Lucien. He just doesn’t DO that to anyone. The only ones who did not were Lucien, Rose, and Mary Sue. Jason the cook didn’t, but he wasn’t at the table, he was in the kitchen getting fresh cornbread out of the oven.

Lucien thumped a hoof on the thick wooden table top. “Howard, I will never back down from a challenge, especially when the lives and health of others is involved! If Her Majesty says that’s what's needed to be done did, then I’ll be the unicorn that will done do it, no matter what the cost to me! Ah just have one question ah have to ask of you, and that’s what is it like to wear one of those gems? Ah know Her Majesty just doesn’t give them out to every Tom, Dick and Harry in Louisianne,” he first declared before asking the question.

“You really won’t notice anything, Lucien. It’s just that if someone wanted to call any of us who has a gem, we will hear them in our heads between our ears. You don’t even have to talk to answer, just think. I would just suggest you don’t call anyone. Wait until Her Majesty or the Colonel decides to call you. It’s strange at first, I’ll admit,” Howard said as he took his necklace off and passed it across the table to Lucien, who slipped it on.

“Hello, Doctor Macombe. Allow me to apologize for the oversight of not issuing you a gem of contact. A queen’s time is not always her own. Now, some instructions…” Lucien plainly heard the ‘voice’ of Queen Marie Laveau between his ears. The group watched as his ears swiveled to point straight up as he ‘listened’ to the Queen. Rosa giggled at his startled expression.

Meanwhile, in Cincinnati:

Vladimir was woken from a sound sleep by the voice of his executive assistant, Nebulous Nimbus, coming from the intercom speaker. “Boss, ball call for you, line five. Want to take it?”

“Yeah, go ahead and send it to me. It better not be idle chat, or else I’m going to get angry,” Vlad growled, waking up, shaking his head to clear it as he reached for a crystal ball about twice the size of a human head.

When the image of a red-scaled dragon formed in the ball, Vlad grumbled, “This better be good, Casimir!”

“Oh, it is, Vlad. Remember that spell you sent me? I just wanted to let you know that it’s working great! I got fourteen ponies and some others working for me to get my hoard built! Give me another couple of weeks and I’ll have a pretty good mound built up. Too bad there aren’t as many gems here as there are back home, but this green paper stuff the humans used do make a good mattress!” Casimir reported, looking and sounding quite pleased with himself.

“You did make Coronavirus cast the spell, right?” Vlad asked.

“I did, but after he botched it three times in a row, I did it myself. I got it right the first time!” Casimir bragged, looking smug.

Vladimir sighed. “Casimir, you did leave some pony to maintain the illusion that all is well, right? I’ve noticed on the WSU broadcasts that there has been no news from Saint Louis since Monday, and it’s now Saturday! Tell me you left someone in charge!”

Casimir looked thoughtful. “I left the children alone. The one teenager is so unsure of himself, he wouldn’t call out if his life depended on it. Besides, how long will it take for anyone to get here to look? I’ll have phase one done and the ponies freed before anyone can get here!”

The news did not make Vladimir happy. “I always thought you were an idiot, Casimir. Did you have to go and prove it?”

“Why do you say that, Vlad? I’m just as loyal as the others, yet was the last to be allowed to go out on my own! Nikolai, Yuri and Zvezda have been running their cities for months! Now I have added to your network! Now you have five cities under your claws!” Casimir said innocently.

“I would say you’re dumber than a box of rocks, but that’s insulting the rocks! Now, you listen to me and listen good! Tonight, you send the ponies back to their camp, telling them not to remember what they have been doing. You will start drilling Coronavirus on how to cast the spell, because if anyone tries to trace it, it will lead directly back to the caster, namely, YOU!” Vladimir roared, clearly upset with his subordinate. “If any trouble comes out of this, you’re on your own! Don’t call on me to bail you out, got it?”

There was a long pause as Casimir took in the information. “Yes, Vladimir. When I next call you, it will be to report success and the shipping of your tithe,” the red dragon said humbly to his superior. “I swear you won’t regret bringing me here from Equestria!”

“Too late, Casimir. I already do. If I could send you back, I would, but I can’t. You better learn to cover your ass before the locals remove it! End call!” Vlad barked before the crystal went blank.

He sprawled on his bed for a couple of minutes before pushing his intercom switch. “Neb, send down some tranquilizer. Casimir did Casimir again, and so did Corona.”

“Fifteen minutes, Vlad. I’ll mix a fresh batch. Sounds like you need it,” Neb told his boss.

“I do. Make it a double.”

“Gotcha, Vladimir.”

Author's Note

Another chapter done. Seems to me, among dragons and unicorns, power levels do not always match intelligence or wisdom to use the power wisely. I cite Casimir and Coronavirus as examples. Now, how does the group manage to bring a dragon to heel?

What was that Beatles song? 'I Get By With a Little Help from my Friends'?

Until the next chapter finishes, friends. See you then!

Chapter 5: Smacking Some Sense

Saturday, March 25, 2017 1330 hours

First Officer Crowne, Doctor Macombe, and Mary Sue found themselves walking south on I-70 toward Lambert Field. The First Officer carried a shotgun over her shoulder loaded with birdshot, a forty-five automatic in a holster at her hip, and a pack full of ammo. Mary Sue carried cold drinks in her saddlebags, while Lucien carried on a muttered conversation with himself. While he was no slouch as a unicorn, his skills and spells were oriented to his profession, that being a doctor. His lesson with Queen Marie have shown him a whole range of useful spells, which he would remember for as long as he wore the gem. If he was sharp enough, he would remember the spells after he gave the gem back to Captain Crane..

Mary Sue walked next to Julia, her head on a swivel, looking around as they walked. “Is Lucien like this all the time?” she quietly asked the diamond dog.

“Constantly,” Julia sighed. “He was almost ninety when the Event happened, and was one of the first back. He hasn’t completely accepted the fact he’s no longer a ninety-year-old man with a big family and a practice in Slidell. He may be a tiresome old windbag, but he is a very fine doctor, and a very good pony. Overlook his diarrhea of the mouth and there is much good in him.”

“I’ll have to remember that,” Mary Sue said. “My empathy agrees with what you say, but also tells me he can be quite stubborn if he feels he is in the right. He can be quite fierce when it comes to some things, like protecting children. Have you seen him deal with Rosa, Sparky and Zack?”

“I have. On our way here, we had some passengers that we dropped off in Memphis, a mother and six-year-old twins, a pegasus and an earth pony. He managed to keep the two very well-behaved on the trip up, and they loved him in return,” Julia explained. “He hasn’t said, but I think he was a pediatrician. If not that, a family practitioner. Can’t fault his manners, either. However, I just wish he would get to the point faster than he usually does. Is it because he likes to hear himself talk or what?”

“I can’t be sure, but I have an idea. You may ask him if he was going deaf in his later years as a human. Could be he likes to hear himself talk because for a long time, he couldn’t,” Mary Sue observed as they walked.

Julia walked on for a minute, in silence, before replying. “You could be right. In which case, none of us should be mad at him. I do know Captain Crane finds his talking irksome. So do I, but as First Officer on a small boat, I don’t have to deal with the Doctor unless necessary.”

Mary Sue was about to reply to that, but the radio beat her to it. “Recon Viper One to Athena! Movement off to your left and behind! A bunch of ponies and others just coming into sight! It’s them! I recognize Suzanne from my altitude!”

Julia picked up her radio from where it hung at her side from a strap around her neck. “Where are they, Frack?” she asked.

“You’re coming up on a big interchange. You want to get to the other direction and head left once there. They are just walking down the highway there in a straight line like nothing’s wrong. Suzanne is leading, then Exeter, then Virgil and Bitumen. I can see Mark Voltefiore there, and the rest of the Saint Louis crowd, plus a few I don’t recall,” Frack reported.

“We have picked up five since you were last here, Frack. A hippogriff, a diamond dog, a unicorn and two earth ponies,” Mary Sue reported.

After a moment, Frack called back. “Okay, adding them accounts for everyone I can see. Can’t tell you where they came from. It’s like they just appeared on the road,” he reported.

“Galactica to Recon Viper One,” Captain Crane said over the radio. “The maps show a tunnel at that location. Can you see the tunnel?”

“Hang on, Galactica. I’ll call you back in a minute or so. Hard to fly and talk without dropping this thing,” Frack muttered.

“Copy that, Recon Viper One. First, go to quickstep. Report when you have the group in sight,” Captain Crane ordered.

“Right, Captain,” Julia told her boss before looking at the other two. “Let’s move it!” The three broke into a jog, crossing over the divider into the northbound lanes and taking the off-ramp in reverse, so to say.

“Recon Viper One to Galactica. If there is a tunnel there, not only can I NOT see it, I can’t follow the road more than a little way before shearing off and flying over runway eleven. From a distance, the road just runs right into the hillside. No sign of a tunnel,”

“Sounds lakh an illusion to me, Recon One. Coupled with an avoidance spell. That’s gonna be a bit of a challenge to take down, but ah think ah can come up with somethin’, if we need it. Ah’m gonna have tuh see it first,” Lucien told the group, trusting the radio to pick up his words.

“Good idea, Doctor Selik. Pay attention to the group as you pass them. I’m willing to bet they are still zombified,” Frack opined.

“We’ll find that out soon enough,” Julia said. “They’re coming into sight now. Keep your eyes open, Recon Viper One!”

“That’s why they pay me the big cubits, Athena!”

The Saint Louis group, Suzanne leading, marched right up to where Mary Sue, Julia and Lucien waited in the roadway. They then kept right on going, paying the visitors no heed, eyes fixed right ahead, steadily walking. Lucien watched as Mary Sue trotted alongside Suzanne.

“Suzanne! Wake up! You can fight this!” Mary Sue pleaded, but Suzanne paid her no heed. Nor did Exeter, Bitumen, Swifthoof, Virgil, Wilbur, or any of the others.

Lucien watched them walk by, Queen Marie watching as well. She is a far better spellcaster than Lucien is, or whoever cast the zombie spell to begin with. “The spell is designed to release once they complete their mission, which is to return home and forget what they have been doing,” he said, but it was not quite his voice or speech pattern. “The real problem lies ahead. Shall we pay them a visit?”

“If they will be alright heading home on their own, then yes, let us press on. I will inform the Second,” Julia said as she moved away from the marching morons, letting them go. She made her report via gemstone, and was told to press on.

“You’re in charge, First. We’re not going to second-guess you from here,” the Second told her, clearly relaying from the Captain.

“Got it, Carroll. Maintain a light link with me. That way I won’t have to stop to relay,” Julia sent.

“Will do, Julia. Going to standby,” Carroll replied.

The trio stopped about a hundred yards from a blank hillside the road led right into. They stopped because all three could feel the urge to turn around, go away, don’t look here. “An illusion and an aversion field,” Lucien said, his horn glowing red. “Done by some being with a lot of power but not a lot of skill, otherwise the caster would have combined the spells seamlessly.”

“Can you take it down, Doctor?” Mary Sue asked.

“Won’t be hard to do, but it will tip off the caster as soon as the spells come down. Julia, take cover off to the right and maintain overwatch with the shotgun. I hope we won’t need it, but better with it than without. Inform Frack to follow the others home, making sure they get there,” Lucien said with more force behind his words than was normal for him. Then again, he was just being a willing puppet for Queen Marie.

“Doing,” Julia grunted before doing so, relaying the orders to Frack once she was behind the concealing bushes.

Lucien and Mary Sue walked up to the end of the road, where it vanished into the grassy hillside, his horn lit. “Going to drop the illusion and aversion fields. Get ready for just about anything,” he muttered to the pink and yellow earth pony before his horn flared a bright crimson before dimming. The illusion vanished, revealing a road tunnel going under the runway, with a gentle turn to the right visible. “That’ll get someone’s attention…”

Meanwhile, inside the tunnel (the other tube, that is):

Casimir and Coronavirus watched the last of the zombies pass through the illusion, fading from sight. “How are we going to explain all this to Vladimir?” Coronavirus whined, the green unicorn clearly upset, which was his usual state of mind.

Casimir was far calmer, just otnay ootay ightbray, if you get the meaning. “We have plenty of time to do that, Cor. I told him I would not call back until we’re ready to send his tithe to him. Not our fault that most of the good stuff is locked away in vaults that take time and effort to open, right?” the red-scaled dragon told his lackey, who lacked, among other things, a lot of common sense. Then again, so did the dragon.

“But, how are we going to gather his tithe? It’s just the two of us!” Coronavirus whimpered, pacing nervously along the white line painted on the road, five steps one way, turn, five steps the other way, turn and repeat.

“So? It’ll take longer, yes, and we’re going to have to keep the locals in their own area while we search in the city for a better location. When we find a place, you can teleport our stuff down there, right?” Casimir growled in tones that said the answer had better be ‘yes’.

“Oh, yes, sure, Cas! May take three or four trips, but I can do it! I got us here from Cincinnati, right?” Cor said in eager boot-licking tones.

“Yes, in thirty-mile hops. One after another after another…” Casimir groaned, remembering how they had to stop after three consecutive teleports for him to retch before trying again. It made for a LONG trip. The three hundred mile trip was done in one day, but it took Cas two days to recover from the journey. Personally, he would have flown, but Coronavirus would have slowed them down a LOT.

“Tell me why we left Equestria with Vladimir and the others…” Cor asked as he paced.

“Fortune, glory, treasure and lack of opposition. We’ve learned a lot from Vladimir and the others before they let us try on our own, right?” Casimir reasoned.

“Yes, but Vladimir is already pissed off at us as it is! Upset him enough and he’ll send us somewhere really nasty!” Coronavirus cried, lying down on the pavement and covering his muzzle with his forelegs.

“Like where? Dayton?” Casimir snapped back at his sniveling wreck of an aide.

“Yes! He’ll be looking over our shoulders all the time! We won’t be able to hide any good stuff from him! How are we going to stay here?” Cor shouted.

“What’s that?” Cas shouted as the two felt a wave of magic pass through the tunnel.

Meanwhile, outside the west end of the tunnels…

“Do you hear that?” Mary Sue asked.

“Sounds like Dumb and Dumberer are havin’ a tonsil-wavin’ contest there, an’ no one is winnin’.” Lucien observed. “Ready fo’ me to drop their spells?”

“Have at. Let’s see what happens. I got something ready if needed,” Mary Sue said quietly.

“Alrighty then. Droppin’ spellcracker,” Lucien said as a red ball formed at the end of his horn, which flared out to both sides. Immediately, the illusion fell, revealing the twin pipes of the North Lindbergh Boulevard roadway tunnel under the northern runway. The shouting match inside stopped immediately. “Looks lakh we done got theah attention.”

“Sure sounds like it,” Mary Sue replied as they could hear two sets of sounds coming up the tunnel- one set of hooves pounding on cement, and the other set of claws hitting pavement. Big claws. Big claws backed by a big body.

A sickly green glow appeared in the tunnel, getting brighter, backed by a shadow looming over the light source. Mary Sue shouted something that Lucien didn’t recognize, but Queen Marie did, thanks to her (admittedly tenuous) ties with Apito. Two loud smacks were heard as the two bodies running inside fell to the floor, skidding a little before stopping. “Nicely done, Mary Sue. I’ll call Julia in and maybe we can talk some sense into these two,” Lucien said in Queen Marie’s voice.

“Yes, your Highness,” Mary Sue said respectfully as they heard Julia approach from her post.

“What have we got here?” Julia asked.

“Let’s find out,” Queen Marie answered before leading the way in.

The three entered the tunnel and walked about a hundred feet before finding a sour-apple-green unicorn with a lemon-lime swirled mane, tail and horn sprawled out on the pavement in front of a mid-sized red and black dragon. The dragon glared up at the approaching trio. “Who in Tartarus are you?” he managed to say, moving only his head and neck because the rest of his body had gone numb.

Mary Sue was the first to stand over the dragon. “You never realized that when your zombies assembled, you were one short. My goddess protects me from thought and mind control spells while I am her loyal cleric and follower. Now, explain just what you have been doing with my friends this past week, and it had better be convincing!” she snapped at the dragon.

“Building a hoard, making a home, and finding what the boss would like for HIS hoard!” the dragon managed to say. “When I found the ponies here, I figured hey, ready workforce!”

Lucien was next to come up and stand over the dragon. “Ah got two words to say about what yuh just said, sir, and those two words are HORSE HOCKEY!” he bellowed. “You’re just as full of shit as a porta-john the day after a Fourth of July picnic! Now, ah suggest yuh tell the truth befoah ah let HER out and have her kick your ass all the way back to Equestria!” His sapphire gem was blazing a brilliant blue while his horn burned a brilliant blood red.

It was the green unicorn who spoke first, the dragon’s eyes going wider than his paw span in something he had not felt since he was a hatchling, that being true FEAR for his LIFE that penetrated to the very core of his being. “We heard there was a colony here over the radio, so we figured coming here would be the best thing to do! Big city, known work force, lots of plunder! Vladimir has four cities under his control, and we’re the fifth! It took us over a year to convince Vladimir to let the two of us out to try on our own!” the unicorn squealed.

“Vladimir? Who is he, WHAT is he, where does he control, and what other cities does he dominate?” Julia demanded, her shotgun pointed at the unicorn. “For that matter, who are you?”

It took an hour, but the three (okay, four if you count Marie) got the full story out of the two reprobates. By the time Mary Sue’s paralysis spell expired, the two were so cowed, they were not about to do ANYTHING that would come remotely close to pissing off anyone.

Mary Sue glared at the two after the story was told. “We will be back tomorrow, with the true leaders of the group in attendance, to figure out how we can work together, without bringing the ‘wrath’ (quotation marks clearly audible) of Vladimir down on us. Downtown is a dangerous place to go, what with a lot of Equestrian monsters down there that honestly would be a pain for us to clear out. Think of possibly helping us clear out manticores, basilisks, bugbears, and what other monsters live downtown, so we can excavate whatever treasures are down there. You’re a dragon. You want a hoard? Clear out downtown and we could work together on gathering loot. GOOD loot that Vladimir would enjoy.”

“That would make Vladimir a bit suspicious,” Coronavirus managed to say.

“You said that you would not call him until you’re ready to tithe to him, right?” Julia asked the two. “Let it take a while, and don’t tell him you’re cooperating with the colony. Let him think you’re still puppeting them. Results would be the same, yes?”

“We will think about that,” Casimir rumbled. “If it will help cover our asses, so much the better. BUT, we can’t let the WSU know about us, because Vladimir and the others listen to the radio. If he finds out, he could either get mad enough to come here to take the city himself, or abandon us altogether. He’s better at magic than I am, and he can send me spells over the ball. Who knows what he will do? I don’t.”

“We can keep it quiet,” Queen Marie said through Lucien. “If I send word you are not to be mentioned over the radio, they will not. I trust them to do the right thing.”

“So do I,” Mary Sue added. “They keep their word on matters. Can we trust you to keep YOUR word?”

“Yes, you can, Miss Mary Sue!” Casimir declared. “You know where we live, and we don’t want to anger you like that AGAIN!”

“Good. We’ll be back tomorrow. We’ll talk then. No funny business while we’re gone, or else you’ll wish we would kill you. Got it?” Mary Sue said firmly.

“You got it!” Coronavirus squealed. “See you tomorrow!”

The three turned in place and walked out without looking back, leaving the tunnel and walking all the way to I-70 before anyone said anything. “Think they will behave?” Julia asked.

“Ah have little doubt about that,” Lucien drawled. “Her Majesty is sure we done put such a skeer into them, they don’t dare even think about doin’ somethin’ that would piss us off.”

“Plus, Suzanne will read them the riot act and how before settling down and getting them on the straight and narrow,” Mary Sue said. She knows how… assertive and determined, to put it politely… Suzanne can be. Nobody wants a tongue-lashing from her more than once.

“I left a link open between Carroll and myself, so they know what went on in there,” Julia told the others. “They’re on the lookout for them, and many are heading back to the house to wait for them there. Frack’s watching them.”

“Where they at?” Mary Sue asked.

“I’ll ask,” Julia said as she raised her radio. “Athena to Recon Viper One. Homecoming party started yet?”

“Not yet, Athena. They’re about halfway across the last big interchange before the hotel they moved into. Another ten minutes or so. Captain’s with the kids, waiting for them to finish crossing. They’re still zombied, from the way they are walking,” Frack informed them via radio.

“The spell is not going to end until they do get home, Frack. They won’t remember anything about what they have been doing. Film at six on Six,” Julia told the Engineer.

“Copy that. Film at six on Six. Recon Viper One ten-ten.”

“First out.”

Lucien asked Mary Sue, “Why did you decide to move into the Extended Stay place rather than a better hotel?”

“The ESA has one thing the other hotels lacked – kitchens in the suites. We figured it would be easier that way, then use one central kitchen. We rotate cooking duties, plus it’s close to our fields. It works, we like it, and keeping everyone together, we only need one big generator,” Mary Sue explained.

“If it works for you, that’s good enough fo’ me.”

Sunday, March 26, 2017, 1800 hours, aboard Mississippi Voyager:

The entire Saint Louis colony gathered for Sunday dinner aboard the Voyager. Mark Voltefiore and the diamond dog, Ellen Greenspan, assisted Jason McTerry in making a wonderful dinner for everypony and soul aboard. Captain Crane and Mayor Blakeslee sat at the head table talking about the day’s activities, which started two hours after dawn and had ended an hour ago. This time, a delegation took the Saint Louis delivery truck down to have a long talk with the dragon, a long productive talk. Casimir and Coronavirus agreed to be ‘neighbors’ to the Saint Louis group, each side helping the other with wants and needs.

The dragon and unicorn were carefully educated (meaning, severely browbeaten by Lucien, Queen Marie, Mayor Blakeslee and Captain Crane) on HOW to be good neighbors with each other. Suzanne informed Casimir of their nearby hunting grounds for meat, invited Coronavirus to assist in the farming, and offered to take Corona into the city for ‘scavenging trips’ while Casimir assisted in clearing monsters from the area. As the Mayor told the two, “We won’t hold what you HAVE DONE against you, but, stray from the straight and narrow and you will no longer be welcome. Her Majesty will be watching you, and if she thinks you’ve gone too far, she will strike. Do you WANT that?”

“Madam Mayor, I have to admire how you handled Cas and Cor today. You have a way with people,” Captain Crane commented over his dinner of cornmeal-coated fried river fish and fresh greens from the Saint Louis garden.

“I have found the best way to handle bullies is to be a better bully, but to allow the bully a chance to cooperate. If they don’t, squish them like a bug and keep on going. So long as they BELIEVE you can do it, it’s a good tactic. Fortunately, we have the means to back up the claim of power. Queen Marie has offered to send an ambassador up on your next trip, to help keep an eye on him. Virgil says he can come up with a gem that looks a lot like yours, and Mary Sue will wear it, to help them think she’s watching,” Suzanne said as she enjoyed her succotash.

“We do have some cargo for you that you have requested from the WSU. How much do you have going outbound?” Howard asked.

“Not much, to be quite honest, but not much was expected. We have done some salvaging from around here and from Saint Charles that should be of interest. Virgil and Sadie detect some sort of magic coming from the items, but both say they don’t know enough to interpret what they feel.” Suzanne explained.

“Tomorrow, we’ll do the off and on loading, then pitch in around here to get you back up to snuff before we head to Kansas City. We’ll stop on the way back to drop off a case of potions for your pharmacy,” Howard let Suzanne know after savoring the bite of fish.

“Sounds like a plan to me, Howard. We had that one pony pass through last year, heading to Kaycee with a couple of breezies. We know they made it all right, but check on them and let us know how they are doing, okay?” Suzanne asked.

“I think I can do that, Suzanne. Have you done anything to check your rail system here, for when Memphis will start running about?” Howard asked.

“We have, actually. The bridge across the river downtown is sound, as are the tracks that run nearby. Between the airport and downtown we have not checked yet. If Casimir proves to be a friend, we will. Too many monsters,” Suzanne reported.

“Ah can understand that,” Howard said, raising his glass. “To better days ahead!”

“I’ll drink to that!” Suzanne said with a laugh, clicking cups with the captain before tossing down their drinks.

Author's Note

Decided to release this now while I'm still working on the next chapter, because I have FIVE doctor's appointments in the next twelve days, starting 13 April. Doesn't help any that I tweaked a muscle in my lower back putting my socks on a week ago Friday, and the pain is still intense enough to drive me to distraction, despite pain meds and a hot pad that I am damn close to marrying...

Next chapter, back to Kansas City for a visit, pick up a batch of potions, and a return to New Orleans. Eventually.

Chapter 6: Wilbert Harrison Redux

Sunday, 2 April 2017, 1200 hours, Kansas City, MO. West Bottoms Pier

The Mississippi Voyager sat at pierside, moored portside to, with the port gangplank extended and in place. The River Bitch, Kansas City’s motorboat, was moored forward of them, cover on and buttoned tight, awaiting use. Captain Crane, Chief Engineer Frack, and Welder Bernie waited on the pier for the Kansas City crew to show up.

“I know they know we are coming. I talked with Smokey this morning, and he said a crew will meet us here. Wonder why he’s running late,” Frack tried to explain to the Captain.

“I’m sure they have a good reason, Frack. They moved some distance away, right?” Captain Crane asked.

“That they did,” Frack confirmed. “Some miles south, to be near the breezie colony. I know they are maintaining the Painted Sofa as a ‘forward camp’ to be near the river. Sure, they can take a truck out and hunt, but going upstream a few miles leads to some good hunting grounds. From the looks of their boat, they do use it often.”

“Use it and care for it,” Captain Crane observed. “They also have plenty of stock here. Makes sense to have what you need nearby. They do have a supply of diesel fuel here, right?”

“There’s a big tank farm about a mile upstream, past the Kansas River mouth. We’ll have to do some hose rigging, but the source is there. They get their fuel retail, not wholesale,” Frack advised.

Howard was about to reply when a loud bellow was heard, coming from the south. Looking towards the source of the noise, a faint dust cloud was seen, with a white form at the front of the cloud, heading right towards them. By instinct, the three fliers headed in the safest direction possible, namely UP! The white form ran under them and into the river, forward of the Voyager, landing with a big splash.

“Wakinya! What’s your hurry?” Frack shouted down from where he hovered with the others.

“Wanted to see you again, Uncle Frack! How’s Gramma and Grampa?” the white buffalo called up from the river as he swam expertly to a ramp a little downstream of where the Voyager was moored.

“Doing well in Europe, kid! Come out and dry off! Where’s everyone else?”

“On their way! I ran on ahead!” Wakinya called out as he climbed the ramp. At the top, he shook himself dry. Once dry, he trotted to a free space to accept a warm hug from Frack.

“You learning a lot, Wakinya? Your English is much better than before,” Frack told the young buffalo.

“Oh, yes! Learning a lot from everyone, including the crazy old bird! He says I will be a powerful shaman when I’m older,” Wakinya said in bright tones, eager to impress his ‘uncle’.

“Well, good! Now, let me introduce you to friends you haven’t met yet, namely Captain Crane and my wife, Bernie,” Frack told Wakinya while doing so.

“You’re a waterhorse, right? A hippygriff, like Cold Current?” Wakinya asked the Captain.

“That’s hippogriff, Wakinya,” Captain Crane told the young buffalo. “Cold Current is based off a cormorant, while I’m based on a crane.”

“Cool!” Wakinya squealed, playfully (and gently) headbutting the Captain before looking up at Bernie. “You have to be nuts to marry this bonkers bird, lady!” he managed to say before giggling.

Bernie looked at Frack. “That’s all the proof I need to know you’ve been here! Your reputation stayed behind!” she laughed, putting a wing around Frack and hugging.

“I leave my mark wherever I go, love. This is the last place I’ve been that you haven’t. I thought you would have picked up on that by now!” Frack exclaimed, leaning into the hug and giving her a quick kiss.

From further inland came a voice that Frack was quite familiar with, that of the local chief and shaman, Smoking Horn. “Makes one wonder which is the bigger fool!”

Standing next to Smoking Horn is what has to be the biggest damn buffalo Frack, or anyone else, had ever seen. All three from the Voyager gaped at the sight of the big brown bull buffalo, who happened to be wearing a black stovepipe top hat with not one, but two pairs of aviator’s eye protectors wrapped around the hat, one set looking left, one set right. “It is hoped the one who weds the fool has the sense to control the fool,” the big buffalo said in a voice so deep the earth trembled.

“Allow me to introduce Chief Twogogglehat, leader of the tribe of buffalo that are our near neighbors,” Smoking Horn said, emitting a large cloud of cherry-scented pipe tobacco smoke.

All three of the Voyager crew bowed to the chief once they landed. “Honored to meet you, Chief. Are you the ones who requested long-range radio setups?” Captain Crane asked.

“Yes,” rumbled the chief. “Soon, we go on migration, to wander the plains. Would be nice to be able to call friends, let know what we find.”

“Well, we have your shipment aboard. Smoking Horn, when can we visit your homestead?” Howard asked.

“I know you would want to leave some of your crew aboard, but we can head back to the camp as soon as you are ready. We can bring the truck down here, load it with our requested cargo, take whoever wants to ride rough, and head on down,” Smoking Horn said after another puff on his ever-present pipe. “I can get your crew back by dark, and we can be back after breakfast for another load.”

“All right then. Bring your truck around and I’ll start unloading your cargo. Deal?” Captain Crane said with a smile.

“Deal. Back soon,” Smoking Horn said as he turned around and trotted off.

“Can I ask for a tour?” Chief Twogogglehat requested.

“I’ll be your guide,” the Captain replied. “Engineer, please inform the First that the first cargo offload will be done now. I’ll show the Chief around, and you assist Harry in the loading of the cargo.”

“Will do, Captain!” Frack confirmed.

2 April 2017, 1800 hours, the former Wolf Springs Elementary School, Bucyras, KS

Captain Crane, Smoking Horn, Mrs. Harkness and Chief Twogogglehat sat at a table in the cafeteria, the remains of a delicious meal in front of them. “I have to admit, not even New Orleans is as comfortable as it is here. There, not much in the way of power generation, and air conditioning is hard to find. Using the school as a housing tract and workshop is brilliant,” Captain Crane said. “Not to mention the potion works, the fields, and the housing here. Absolutely brilliant!”

Smoking Horn relaxed on his cushion, a pleasantly pungent cloud of tobacco smoke coming from his pipe. “We had some good inspiration pass through early last year,” he said as he looked at another table, where Frack, Bernie and Harry sat chatting with Caleb the earth pony, and two breezies they were familiar with, they being Chopin (said Chop-in) and Landry. “If it wasn’t for the Deliverance crew coming in and shaking things up, we would still be up at the Painted Sofa, just barely hanging on.”

“If that would have happened, we would have missed meeting each other, which would have meant my clan would still be wandering in the cold and wet. We all owe much to the Deliverance folk. I can see they did not exaggerate about them, both the tribe here and Caleb. Meeting others is a good thing to have in these times,” Chief Twogogglehat said in his deep voice, his tones indicating that he meant what he said.

“As do us breezies,” Mrs. Harkness squeaked. “After Amon-Thoth left for warmer climates, we breezies are happy for the company of Smoking Horn’s tribe, as well as the kindness and generosity the Deliverance crew has shown us breezies, both here and on the road. When Caleb, Landry and Chopin arrived here last fall, bringing news and artifacts from the other cities they visited, we learned a lot about this world. That, and having a radio to listen to Captain Frick. He honors me with his sign-off.”

“Good night, Mrs. Harkness, wherever you are,” Howard quoted with a grin. “I’m pleased to meet you. I’ve noticed that Frick never says what you are, just the name and the greeting. The mystery adds to his mystique.”

“That, and that dingbat macaw that he works with. Makes his shows entertaining!” Mrs Harkness said with a giggle.

“Frack has some good stories about Capo. We’re in no real hurry, so I will invite all those who wish to come for dinner two days from now, please let us know no later than sunset tomorrow, so we can all get together and chat. We’ll need some time to plan a menu!” Howard said with a grin.

“Will there be room for the six in my clan, including me?” Chief Twogogglehat asked.

“Yes, if we use the patio seating as well as the Lounge. If the weather is fair enough, we can open the windows to allow more mingling of groups,” Howard told the buffalo, looking thoughtful as he did, picturing the layout of the patio and Lounge.

“Now, how to get us all there,” Twogogglehat rumbled.

Smoking Horn let out a puff of gray cherry smoke. “We’ll have to use two trucks and the big trailer to bring everyone. I’ll have to leave some behind, to keep an eye on the potion factory. They can come up for lunch the next day, yes?” he asked.

Howard was about to answer when many heads instantly swiveled to the left and stared out the cafeteria window. Many, but not all. All those from Voyager were left wondering as those who did look west reacted to something they could see, but the others did not. “Oh, shit…” Smoking Horn said, letting his pipe fall from his mouth to the table.

“Got that right,” Twogogglehat said before he shook his head hard enough to dislodge the hat.

“What’s going on?” Howard asked, completely confused. At his table, Frack said the same thing.

Smoking Horn picked up his pipe in his smoke and got it going again. “Message from Raven. Something is going to happen this time tomorrow off west from here. There is a pony who will be caught in the debris field. He requests we go after the pony, even though he is not a follower of Raven. Willing to help?” he told Howard.

“Of course. Where is this pony?” Howard asked.

“If I’m reading Raven right, Fort Leavenworth. Whoever-it-is only returned to here maybe a week ago. Said pony will be in the debris field, if we don’t get him or her in time. Willing to cruise upriver?” Smoking Horn asked.

“Of course. Pick a crew to help us search and meet us as soon after sunrise as you can. We’ll be ready. Keep in touch with my bridge watch,” Howard said, getting up.

“Can do, Captain. Want the potions now?”

“No. We’ll fly back. Bring them with you tomorrow, and the potion grimoires as well. If needed, Doctor Macombe would like to know what he’s using,” Howard said, getting Frack’s attention.

“Copies of the grimoires have been ready for some time. What took you so long to get here to claim them?” Mrs. Harkness asked.

Howard let out a grunt of annoyance. “First, politics. Then, we had to build the boat. We’re here now, right?”

Mrs Harkness fluttered over to land on Howard’s long beak. “Forgiven. They will be ready.” she squeaked.

“Good. Voyager crew, let’s get going while we still have light!” Howard called out as he bumped hooves with Smoking Horn and Twogogglehat before heading for the door.

As the four flew back to the river, Frack asked Howard, “What’s going on, Cap? Why the rush out?”

“Apparently, Raven sent them a flash about something, and first thing in the morning, we are to take them to Leavenworth to find someone. Why, I don’t know yet,” Howard said as he flew.

“Probably because they have not figured out the whole message yet, and will tell us in the morning when they come by,” Frack muttered. “Raven did that with Fred when we were here before.”

“Oh, what fun,” Harry grumbled. “Mythical gods messing with the real world. I don’t kiss no god’s hooves!”

“You don’t have to, Harry,” Frack said in an oddly gentle voice, for him. “Any deity who tries to compel you is not worth following. Those that ask do take no for an answer, and WILLING followers are for a deity’s benefit. Fred’s been a willing follower of Raven for over a year, in his own way, since we were last here. Raven guided Fred to Wakinya. You’ve seen the little buffalo, and you saw how close he stayed to me? The kid’s got promise, and it’s all due to Raven. If the crazy old bird has something to say, we should at least listen.”

“I’ll take your word for it, Frack. I know your word is good, once I untangle them in my head to figure out just what the hell you said,” Harry said as the four flew northward.

Author's Note

A tad on the short side, I'll admit, but with a plethora of medical appointments facing me in the next eight days, better crank them out while I can. Already working on the next.

Just what message did the ~~crazy old bird~~ benevolent trickster god send to his loyal team of followers? Why not read chapter seven and find out? It will be a meaty oreck surprise!

Chapter 7: Watch Out for Jayhawks, you Cornhusker!

Monday, 3 April 2017, 0700, West Bottoms Pier, Kansas City, MO

Captain Crane waited on deck under cloudy morning skies as the Painted Sofa’s delivery truck pulled up on the shore. Five beings got out of the truck and headed for where the Captain waited, by the port gangplank, they being Roscoe the beagle diamond dog, Morgan the teenage thestral stallion, Firebrand the red unicorn, Silverwing the orange pegasus, and Chopin, the blue breezie. Roscoe carried a large wooden box in his arms, while Morgan had a case strapped to his back. The captain welcomed them aboard, directing them to the Lounge area while he raised and stowed the gangplank before following them inside. The lines had already been taken in, Julia watching from the bridge. Once the gangplank was locked down, she applied full power, heading upstream.

Inside, as Jason laid out breakfast for the Voyager’s crew and guests, Captain Crane gathered the visitors at the large table, along with Frack, Doctor Macombe, and Second Officer Milsap. “Okay, has anyone managed to figure out the vision Raven sent you yesterday?” he asked.

“Yes,” Silverwing said. “It took a few hours of comparing notes to assemble the picture.

“Apparently, at six forty-two p.m. tonight, a meteor is going to come from the southwest, impacting in or near a lake between Topeka and Lawrence. The meteor itself is about the size of an average two-story house, and is made of nickel-iron. Raven says weapons made from the remains of the meteor will be very potent indeed, with the proper enchantments. Of course, the problem will be getting at it,” she reported.

“What about Leavenworth?” Second Officer Milsap asked.

“Someone returned there within the past week, someone Raven would like to have rescued. Whoever-it-is isn't a tribal member, but Raven is sure said person would be better with our tribe than being killed in the debris fall,” Morgan said. Of everyone there in Kaycee, he was the most tech-oriented, being the one who ran the drones. He had brought a drone exploration kit, to help in the search.

“Will Kansas City be alright?” Doctor Macombe asked. “One thing ah do know about meteors is that they do pack a lot of punch, especially if they hit the ground.”

“There will be SOME damage, but nothing on the scale of buildings falling,” Firebrand replied. “Broken windows, stuff falling off shelves, yes. It’s coming from the southwest, about bearing two-three-zero. Very shallow angle, so it will kick up a debris field that is more linear than circular. Leavenworth is directly in the line of fire. Kansas City is more off to one side.”

“So we won’t have to worry about Voyager being damaged by fallout?” Howard asked.

“Very, very unlikely, Captain,” Firebrand said. “If you want to head about ten miles downstream after the pickup, you’ll be just fine. Let’s just hope that the search won’t take all day to do.”

“Amen to that. We should be by Leavenworth at about nine-thirty, two hours from now, give or take. By then, I want you all to pool notes, to give us a better idea on where to look, okay?” Howard said to those at the table.

“One thing we’re sure of is that it’s at the Fort, not the town. If one is to take refuge at a fort, where would be the likeliest to go? Where will you find what you need to survive?” Chopin squeaked.

Frack spoke up. “I’m going to bet on the Exchange. It’s what Harry Bell did in Key West when he Returned, and that’s where we found him and one other, Tina Kovacs. Tina’s having the time of her life in Europe, learning how to use her gargoyle talents, as well as getting to fly a helicopter again.”

“Good a place as any to start. Now, what we’re going to have to do is FIND the Exchange. Not like any of us have been there,” Howard said after a mouthful of sausage based off of fish, instead of pork.

“Pahdon me, Captain, but ah have. True, it was back in the Eighties, but ah did two weeks T.A.D. theah. If they haven’t moved it, ah know wheah to fahnd it.” Lucien drawled.

“Were you in the Army, Doctor Macombe?” Morgan asked.

“Nope, Louisiana Air National Guard. Ah did active tahm all over the world, even did a month in Kuwait as part of a med team. Ah’ve been damn neah everywheah, son. Kuwait, Arabia, Germany, Vietnam, Italy, Japan…” Lucien orated to a fascinated audience- of one. Using the language of glance, Howard got everyone else at the table to gather their dishes and move to a table on the far side. Nobody hesitated. Oblivious to everything but his audience, Lucien kept on talking, and talking, and talking…

“Well the brag is on and there goes Windbag up the backstretch, Headache’s a-going to the inside, My Tears are holding back and trying not to fall…” Frack sang quietly.

What surprised everyone was that the Captain picked up where Frack left off. “My Heart’s out of the running, True Love’s scratched for another’s sake, the race is on and it looks like Windbag, and the winner loses all…” he sang, in tune and on key. When he noticed everyone at the table staring at him, Howard just shrugged. “Always did like George Jones.”

Fort Leavenworth, KS, Monday, 3 April 2017 1000 hours

The Mississippi Voyager was nosed into a small river spit, only the forward gangplank being long enough to get to shore without the boat bottoming out. Morgan had his big eight-rotor camera drone up, heading into the base, with a rough printed map next to him. Two teams of two, Frack and Bernie on one team and Silverwing and Carroll on the other, headed up and out as well, going to different areas of the base to commence a search. Roscoe, Firebrand, Aaron Tereshkov and Captain Crane stood out on the deck, watching the teams fly out. “I knew there was something we forgot when we outfitted this boat…” Howard grumbled.

“What’s that, Captain?” Aaron asked.

“A couple of golf carts for enhanced mobility and scavenging. We can put a garage on deck and we can drive off on the gangplanks. I’ll send a memo to Colonel Forest to suggest building some into the Ranger and follow-ups,” Howard said.

“I know that getting some vehicles up and going has made our lives a lot better in Kaycee,” Firebrand said. “It’s just that bringing a vehicle along that a pony can handle is not easy. Frack’s good at converting vehicles.”

“I said something last month to the effect that the manuals for these boats have not been fully written yet. I’m positive we’re going to find a whole lot of ShipAlts for the next edition,” Howard grumbled.

“ShipAlts?” Roscoe asked.

“Ship Alterations. When you find something useful to add in or just plain forgot to put in, write a ShipAlt to fix the problem. This is just a prototype,” Howard explained. “We knew we were leaving stuff out that we would like, it’s just we had no idea what.”

“Captain, can you step inside? I think I found something,” Morgan said over the radio.

The Captain gestured to everyone to follow him inside, and so the group went to where Morgan had his drone setup, in a corner of the Lounge. “What did you find, Morgan?” Howard asked.

“Switching images to the big screen,” Morgan said as the sixty-five inch screen lit up. The display was of the front of a building, a doorway that was obviously kicked in. The picture zoomed out, to reveal that it was the Fort Leavenworth Exchange. “Thought you would like to see this, sir.”

“Good thinking, Morgan. Now, where is the Exchange in relation to the Commissary?” Howard asked.

“Right next door. This damage caught my attention first. Let me survey the commissary to see if there are any signs there,” Morgan replied as he guided the drone to the next building, then dropped low to circle it. It wasn’t long at all before they found something.

“There! An open emergency door!” Aaron exclaimed, sounding startled by the sight.

“Correct, Aaron,” Howard said. “Morgan, can you get closer?”

“Right away, Captain. Glad it’s calm right now,” Morgan said as he dropped the drone lower while zooming in on the door. Something came into focus when the camera looked inside the door.

“Hoofprints. But, they’re not regular. Something looks off about them,” Howard mused as he and the others looked at the image.

“Looks t’me that someone has broke a foreleg somehow and they’s staggerin’ about best they can,” came the voice of Doctor Macombe, coming from the kitchen with a mug of coffee and a croissant in his glow, having been locking up the healing potions and looking at the books Roscoe had brought aboard. “Wheah this at?”

“This is at the Commissary. There’s a door kicked in at the Exchange as well,” Howard told Lucien.

“Okay, then. Let me get my kit. Route the flier teams to the open doors and do a search. Firebrand, you is with me. With a broken foreleg, he or she sho’ ain’t gonna come out to see the doctor,” Lucien said like a colonel in command would. This time, Howard did not object. Medical matters were in Lucien’s purview, and he agreed with the decision.

Howard raised his radio. “Galactica to Recon Vipers One and Two. Home in on the Exchange and Commissary buildings. Evidence of a survivor found,” he said. “Doctor will be leaving momentarily.”

“Recon Viper One copies,” Frack’s voice came back over the radio.

“Recon Viper Two copies traffic. Bring the drone up to one hundred feet altitude, so we don’t smack into it,” Carroll reported.

“Raising drone to one hundred feet, Drone Control aye,” Morgan said as he raised the huge eight-rotor drone. Only a few seconds later, Carroll and Silverwing came into view. They chose to go into the Commissary and look around.

“Drone Control to Recon Viper One, Viper Two has entered the Commissary. Suggest you enter the Exchange. There is an open door on the south side. Suggest you check there,” Morgan said over the radio.

“Recon Viper One copies, Drone Control. Coming up on the buildings from the south. Keep the drone high, we see it and are using it as a guide. Should be there in a minute or so,” Frack reported.

“Drone Control aye.”

Lucien came out of the lower level corridor, wearing his first aid kit saddlebags. “Firebrand, let’s get moving. Let us hope we can fahnd someone we can heal,” he said as he headed for the door.

“We should, or else Raven would not have called us last night,” Firebrand said as she got in behind Lucien.

“Keep in touch!” Howard shouted as they left the lounge.

At the Commissary, Carroll and Silverwing made their way in. Whatever rotting that happened in produce, dairy and frozen foods had long since faded, so the scents inside were not too bad. Looking about, the first thing that stood out was a shopping cart partially filled with dried meats, grains, fruits, cans of beef, chicken and tuna, some bottles of water and a batch of steak knives, along with more than one large first-aid kit and extra gauze and bandaging. “Looks like someone was planning ahead,” Silverwing commented.

“Sure looks like it. The hoofprints in the dust look a little off to me. Not a pony, not a buffalo, but something else. I wonder who came back,” Carroll said as she looked about the store, which was overall neat, but some sections were disturbed.

“I’m willing to say that whoever it is knows the Commissary well, and maybe the entire Fort. Whoever-it-is, we don’t have a whole lot of time to find it. The rock is due at six forty-two, and it’s after ten,” Silverwing said quietly as she looked around. “Quick aerial recon?”

“Go for it.” Silverwing took off, taking care not to ram the ceiling. She flew some laps around the big store before coming back to do a neat four-point landing next to Carroll. “No one here, unless they’re in an office.”

“If that’s the case, why would they leave a shopping cart full of goods by the back door?” Carroll asked.

“Good question.”

Next door, Frack and Bernie checked the outside of the Exchange before settling at the broken door. Cautiously, they went in. “Dark in here…” Frack muttered.

“Won’t stop me any,” Bernie said as they started their search. They looked around, section by section. Electronics, apparel, uniforms came and went with no sign. Then, they got to the Furniture Department. A faint light caught their attention, so the pair headed that way.

A shot rang out, the muzzle flash showing where it came from, the bullet going well wide of where the two were. Frack, of course, took extreme umbrage at being under fire. “Now, knock that off!” he bellowed. “We’re here to help you, not hurt you! Damn it, I’m sick and tired of being shot at, and if you do it again, I’ll kick your damn ass from here to Omaha in three boots!”

“Like Hell you will, you damn Cornhusker! I’ll boot you from here to Lawrence in ONE shot!” called out a woman’s voice.

“You two just knock it off!” Bernie shouted, bringing her Floridian accent to the fore. “We’re here to get you out of here, because in about eight hours, this whole area is going to be right in the line of fire from an impact event!”

“How would you know that?” the voice from the darkness asked.

“When a deity is kind enough to give us twenty-four hours notice, you tend to take their word for it!” Bernie shouted back. “May we approach? If needed, we’ll send for our doctor!”

“You got a doctor? I can use one,” the woman’s voice said. “The pain’s not helping my temper any! Come on in!”

The pegasus and thestral carefully moved through the store to the dim light. There, under the feeble glow of a battery lantern on its last dregs, a four-legged form lay on a display bed. The left front leg was obviously broken, crudely bandaged and splinted. But, what caught their attention was her ears. They were long, pointed and gray-furred with a black fur rim.

“A donkey?” Frack said in amazement.

“You better not even think of the word ‘jackass’ in my presence, buster!” the donkey said, definitely not on the happy side of things.

“Frack, call in our location, tell them we found who we are looking for, and have Lucien double-time it here, okay? I’ll sit with her while you do that,” Bernie said, slowly approaching the stricken donkey.

“Whatever you say, love of my life,” Frack said before moving away from them before pulling out his radio. “Recon Viper One to Galactica. We found her in the Exchange…” he reported.

“Recon Viper One?” the donkey said, incredulous.

“Frack’s been a sci-fi fan since he was a kid. I’m Bernie Larsen, what’s your name?” Bernie asked as she came a little closer.

“Master Sergeant Jenny McLaine, instructor at the Command and General Staff College here. Can you tell me what in hell is going on here?” Jenny asked.

“I can and will, until the doctor gets here, okay? We’ll have to get you to the Voyager fast and get the hell out of here,” Bernie said as she sat down on the floor, where Jenny could see her but out of hoof’s reach.

“Voyager?”

“The Mississippi Voyager, the riverboat I’m assigned to. Frack, my husband, is the Chief Engineer. Lucky for you we were nearby when we got word,” Bernie told her before getting on with the story.

Author's Note

Cornhusker versus a Jayhawk. I wonder if the rivalry between the two schools is as bad as the one between U of A and ASU. As a billboard said after ASU beat U of A 70-7 in the 2020 Territorial Cup, "No pity for da kitty!" I predict some rough winds between the two.

So, a meteor is going to drop in. Why does Raven want this jackass rescued? Why does a divinity do anything? You tell me and we'll both know.

Until next chapter, friends!

Chapter 8: Let's Rock It!

In the ten to fifteen minutes it took Lucien and Firebrand to make it from the Voyager to the Exchange, Bernie and Frack had managed to give at least a thumbnail explanation of what has been happening in the almost two years since the Event. Naturally, the stubborn jackass, no, DONKEY, put up a lot of arguments about how all she had heard was a pile of bullcrap and ‘how about you tell me some of God’s own truth for once?’

Bernie recognized the signs of R. Lee Ermey about to come through Frack, whose wings were raised and his ears were as red as his coat. Then Lucien and Firebrand came bustling in, lighting their way with their horns as they made their way to the furniture and bedding area. “Hail, hail, the doctor’s heah! Now, tell me what you’ve done heah, you featherbrain! Make it quick, cause the patient’s hurting!” Lucien said as he moved in, shoving Frack aside with his glow. “Step aside, young lady,” he said to Bernie as he got down next to Jenny. “Now, what’s youah name and what in Queen Marie’s Hell’s Bells did you do to yourself?” he asked as his glow surrounded the donkey.

Jenny, about ready to launch a savage verbal attack at Frack, was caught completely off-guard by Lucien’s bedside manner, as well as the red glow coming from his horn and around her, plus the pacification and painkiller spells the doctor was laying on her while scanning her. “Master Sergeant Jenny MacLaine, instructor, CGSC,” she said dully as the spells took effect.

“The Staff College, eh? Well, ah’m Colonel Lucien Macombe, Medical Corps, Louisianne Air National Guard, retired. Now, just how did yuh manage to break you leg lakh you did?” Lucien said to Jenny before turning to Firebrand. “Number-three healing potion and the general-purpose antibiotic potion, Firebrand,” he said to the red unicorn next to him, who dug out the requested potions out of her saddlebag.

“Just what are you two doing? What’s that red light coming from your… horns?” Jenny asked, feeling more stuporous by the minute.

“Film at six on Six, young lady. Raht now, ah’m doin’ all ah can to make sure you can get back up on all four hooves without having your left leg collapse on you like my great-grandbaby’s toy telescope. Now, this is going to hurt fo’ a few seconds,” Lucien told his patient as he quickly rebroke the leg and set it properly.

Jenny let out a yelp. The motion DID hurt, but it was not as bad as it could have been and was fading fast. “Thank you, sir,” she whispered before falling asleep.

“You’se welcome, young lady,” Lucien said as he got to work. “Firebrand, first the roll of gauze. I’ll put the antibiotic and half the healing potion on it, then put it on her. Follow that up with an injection of the rest of the healing potion, then the splint.”

His own saddlebag opened and a hypodermic syringe came out, with needle. Swiftly unwrapping it, he filled it with the healing potion, then set it aside as he took the roll of gauze from Firebrand, coated it liberally with the two potions, then wrapped Jenny’s left foreleg from knee to ankle before injecting the healing potion at the site of the break. “Nahce thing about bein’ a unicorn is that ah don’t need X-rays to look inside. Still workin’ on gettin’ good blood chemistry readings,” he commented as he worked.

“I’m going to ask Horny and your captain if you can stay for a couple of extra days, to teach us unicorns some medical spells we can use. Learning from a book is one thing. Learning from someone who knows what they are doing and can answer questions is something else, and you know what you are doing, Doctor,” Firebrand said as she watched Lucien work.

“Thank you for saying so, Firebrand. Ah’ll be happy to, once we get our asses out of the lahn of fire,” Lucien muttered as he wrapped and splinted the broken leg. “Has anyone thought of how we can get our patient out of the fire and into the fryin’ pan?”

“I have not been twiddling my primaries while you’ve been working, Lucien,” Frack said, coming back to the furniture area with a large garden cart that had two large garden chaise lounge pads, pulling it carefully with one leash tied to the handle, clipped to another one which was looped around his neck. “Now to see if we can come up with a better harness.”

“I’ll handle that, Frack,” Firebrand offered. “Have the others check the path back. Make sure it’s clear.”

“Will do,” Frack said, slipping out of the leash. “Let’s leave the unicorns to their work,” he said to Bernie.

“Plans like a sound to me, love,” Bernie replied as they made their way through the store to the exit.

Together, Lucien and Firebrand lifted Jenny onto the padded lawn cart. “I’ll start getting her to the Voyager; you look around here and see if there’s anything she might consider personal. She’s more likely to trust a doctor and an officer more than me,” Firebrand said as she took the wagon’s handle in her glow and started pulling it to the exit.

“Ah can do that,” Lucien said, looking around the bed area.

3 April 2017, 1400 hours, The Mississippi Voyager, Missouri River.

Jenny woke to the scent of a decent meal in the same room as she was, with coffee. Her eyes opened to reveal a small cabin, walls painted white, a small porthole letting in some light while a light in the ceiling provided more. On a small table near her bed, on a tray, she found a bowl of porridge, scrambled eggs, two biscuits with butter, a mug of coffee and some sugar and creamer packets. The door was just closing, Jenny getting a glimpse of a black cat’s tail disappearing out the door.

Jenny looked at her left foreleg, which was bandaged and splinted neatly, but no cast on the broken bone. It ached, but the pain she had been living with since the day she stumbled and broke the leg was gone. Slowly, anticipating pain that didn’t arrive, she sat up and sniffed at the waiting meal. She was hungry, to be sure, having subsisted on oatmeal, beef jerky and water since she woke up as a mule. Carefully, she reached out with her right forehoof, took a spoon in her grip, and tasted the porridge.

The next thing she knew, the plate, bowl and mug were empty, while she was not, for the first time in a long time. She sat on her bed, wondering who, what and where, when the door opened and Colonel Macomb entered, followed by someone else, who looked like someone split a bird and a horse apart and stuck the back end of the horse onto the front end of the bird. “How yuh feelin, Master Sergeant?” the Colonel asked.

“A lot better than I have since I woke up like this. Where am I and what’s going on?” Jenny asked.

“You’re aboard the riverboat Mississippi Voyager, out of New Orleans, Louisianne. Today is the 3rd of April, Two Thousand Seventeen. We are on our way to Kansas City, where a colony of Returnees are. More about that later. I’m the ship’s captain, Howard Crane, a longtime Mississippi river tug captain before everything fell apart,” Howard told the stunned donkey.

“I remember being told that magic has returned to the world, but in a way that is toxic to humans. Some benevolent aliens took the entire population of the planet, changed them into magic-tolerant forms, then shoved them into the timestream, to come back from the day it happened to ten thousand years from now. I’m finding it easier to believe, Captain. I’m Master Sergeant Jenny McLaine, formerly an instructor at CGSC. Whatinhell would turn me into a mule?” she asked plaintively.

Lucien reached out with his red glow and stroked Jenny’s ears gently. “The same forces that turned me into a unicorn and the captain into a hippogriff. Ah have to admit, you is the first donkey ah have seen. How’s your leg?” he asked in his best ‘concerned old doctor voice’.

“Much better. Stumbled in a hole I didn’t see. I had hell’s own time trying to patch it up with one hoof. I’m just glad I had raided the commissary once, and had a stash set up so I wouldn’t have to go far,” Jenny explained, her ears twitching some.

“We noticed that and brought that cart along with us,” Lucien told the mule. “Ah also looked about an’ found a few things ah thought you would want.” His glow opened a drawer in a table next to the bed, removing a large macrame purse.

Jenny’s eyes lit up and her ears swiveled when she saw the purse. “Thank you for saving that!” she squealed happily. “It’s what I got out of my barracks room before I moved to the Exchange! Lots of irreplaceable mementoes!”

“Glad ah did the raht thing then, Miz Jenny. You do have a nahce smile. I’m happy to see it. Now, we’ll be in Kansas City in under an hour. A pony colony is already there, an’ they say they will be tickled pink if you would join them. You’ll fahnd plenty to do theah, fo’ shure,” Lucien told the mule.

“Why did you come for me?” Jenny asked.

Captain Crane handled that question. “Deities came back when the magic did, Master Sergeant. Raven, the deity who watches over the group of Sioux who live here, made a request we go save you, because in a little more than three hours, a meteor will be impacting between Topeka and Lawrence, coming in from the southwest. Leavenworth will be in the line of fire for the debris spray. Even though you are not a Sioux, he told us you were there and asked us to get you.

“We aboard the Mississippi Voyager are from the Kingdom of Louisianne, down south of here. We just happened to be in the neighborhood when Raven called, so we were asked to come get you, our riverboat being equipped with everything we could use to get you, including a doctor.”

“A very good doctor,” Jenny said in affirmation. “It does not hurt much at all now. Can I go out and watch the meteor fall?”

“Of course you can, Miz Jenny,” Lucien told her. “Just let me help you up and out on deck, then back here to bed. Tomorrow will be soon enough to get you to the colony, an’ by then, you should be able to walk on that leg again, CAREFULLY,” he stressed. “Two more days an’ you should be raht as rain.”

“Three days to heal a broken leg? How can you do that?” Jenny asked, startled.

“Healing spells and healing potions, Miz Jenny,” Howard told her. “Kansas City has set themselves up to be the main potion brewing center in the American continents. Other places can make potions, but Kaycee has the highest concentrations of the best plants to make potions of all sorts. Healing, antibiotic, strength, antitoxins, you name it, they can make it.”

“Now, ah’m shuah you have lots of questions. Until impact tahm, we will let Firebrand, Morgan and Chop-in here to tell you about the colony, okay?”

“Of course, Colonel,” Jenny said. “Stay in bed until then, right?”

“That’s raht. Let that leg heal, an’ it will serve you well fo’ a long tahm to come. Now, pardon us, and we’ll get your new friends in heah,” Lucien said gently before heading out with the Captain. Firebrand, Morgan and Chopin entered and gathered around Jenny, the Q and A session starting as Lucien quietly shut the door.

3 April 2017, 1830 hours, Kaw Point Park, Kansas City, Kansas.

The Mississippi Voyager sat at anchor, bow pointing west, waiting for the rock to drop. Everyone aboard were sitting at tables in the forward Lounge, except the Third Officer, who was on the bridge ready to take some navigation fixes on the fireball, and Aaron Tereshkov, who was on engine watch. The visitors were aboard, deciding to overnight on the boat, what with the high risk of silicon hail starting in a few minutes. Phone contact with the Kaycee colony had arranged for the overnight stay, plus they will be taking observations of the rock fall, to help determine just where the impact was. Raven had said they could use the meteor to make good weapons, so it would help to know where to look, right?

Frack was on the phone at the bow of the boat, talking with his brother Frick, who was on-air at WSU radio, carrying the coverage of the meteor impact live, at a god-awful hour in Rotterdam, but who cares? Meteor impacts don’t happen every day, and the chance to cover one is rare enough to make the loss of sleep worth it. Plus, the two brothers don’t get to talk often.

“T minus ten minutes, bro. Don’t think you’re seeing anything yet, right?” Frick said from his studio.

“Just the sun in the west. Won’t even be twilight at impact, but I’m sure we’ll have plenty to see. Bernie’s right next to me with three cameras mounted and rolling. We’ll send the videos later on,” Frack replied from his post on the Voyager’s bow. He just winked at his wife, who winked back saucily before checking the aim of each camera.

Back in the Lounge area, several tables were pushed together so everyone could chat with each other. “You said you know how to forge metal, right, Jenny?” Roscoe asked.

“That I do!” she affirmed. “Great stress reliever, beating on metal after a hard day of trying to pound some sense into many of the pig-headed idiots the Army sent to CGSC. I know I’m not the best, but give me a good set of tools and I can work.” Jenny then looked at Lucien, who was giving her a dangerous look. “Only when you say it’s safe for me to do so, Colonel!”

“Got that raht,” Lucien grumbled. “Ah ain’t even gonna let yuh put your hoof down fo’ at least the next day! When ah fix a body, ah done fix it RAHT!”

“No doubt about that, Lucien. That’s why I requested you,” Howard said from his place at the table.

“Thank you for saying so, Captain,” Lucien replied graciously.

“Think you can teach me how to forge metal?” Roscoe asked the mule.

“I can certainly try, Roscoe. We’ll need to find the proper tools, both hand and machine. It’s also going to take a lot of patience to learn. I’ve been bashing metal since I was a little girl. My father and grandfather taught me how, and like I said, it’s an excellent stress reliever. Just picture the person you most want to pound the snot out of is in the metal you’re working, and watch him, her or it change into something YOU want. Maybe, after the rocks settle, we can go back to Leavenworth and see if we can get my tools,” Jenny told the diamond dog.

“Would not be a bad idea,” Silverwing said. “If for nothing more than a damage check. Next week should be soon enough.”

“Two minutes to impact!” Harry said over the ship’s PA system. Everyone looked to the west, peering between the cargo containers on deck. They were not disappointed.

A brilliant flash, like that of the biggest lightning bolt anyone had ever seen, lit up the western horizon. The flash was followed by a cloud of something arcing off to the right, as well as a mushroom cloud. “Was that a nuke?” Morgan asked.

“Nope. Not no how,” Lucien said. “It’s just a mark of a large energy release. Set off enough force in one place at one tahm, and you will get a mushroom cloud, Morgan. Doesn’t have to be a nuclear device that does the job.”

“Thank you, Colonel Macombe,” the young thestral replied.

“A brilliant flash, like a thousand thousand lightning bolts rose up over the western horizon, being chased by what looks like a wave heading off to the north. Must be debris kicked up by the impact. Now I’m seeing a mushroom cloud rising from the impact site. It’s lit up both by the sun and some sort of lightning inside. I have to say it’s an impressive sight. You getting all this, love?” Frack asked while reporting the sight to Frick.

“All recorders are working, love. Should be a couple of minutes more before any sort of shock wave reaches us,” Bernie replied while watching the sight.

“Nobody’s sure what sort of shock wave you will feel from forty miles out, bro. I’m just glad you’re not in the line of fire,” Frick said from his radio room.

“Believe me, I’m glad too. The water surface here in the Kansas River is a little disturbed, ripples just appearing in the water. Must be the ground shock,” Frack described.

“Seiche waves. I’ve heard about them, but have not seen any,” Frick said. “Any other disturbances, bro?”

“Not that I have noticed. Then again, it takes time for just about anything to traverse forty miles distance, be it thunder or seismic shock. The mushroom cloud is still rising and spreading, easily four miles tall and going up. There’s an odd beauty in the destruction that we know is happening over there,” Frack reported.

Bernie’s ears swiveled as she picked up something. “Sonic waves approaching, love. Hang on!” she cautioned before balling her ears up and ducking behind a cargo container.

Frack felt the incoming wave more than hearing it. “Here it comes!” he shouted into the phone before a loud cracking noise was heard, followed by a lower-pitched rumble. “Waaahooo!”

Frick hurriedly dialed down the volume on that incoming line. “You still there, bro?” he asked when the rumble subsided.

“I’m still here, bro! That was bigger and better than the biggest Fourth of July blow-off I’ve ever been to! The mushroom cloud is still growing, yet getting thinner, the sun shining through a couple of spots. The debris cloud is moving off to my right, and I cannot detect anything coming my way, except maybe some dust.

“For everyone just tuning in, this is WSU Radio and Captain Frick bringing you all coverage of a meteor strike that has just happened between Topeka and Lawrence, Kansas. My brother Frack is aboard the Mississippi Voyager, providing us with live minute by minute coverage of the impact and the after effects. We will run to the top of the hour, then switch back to our regular overnight programming.”

HPI Headquarters, somewhere in the United States.

“We got a fix on the impact point?” one technician asked another as he turned the volume down on the shortwave.

“Yes, sir. Thirty-nine point one degrees north, ninety-five point four west, in the vicinity of Thompsonville, Kansas. Thaumic meters spiked at impact, now backing down towards normal. Spike has not bottomed yet. Monitoring,” the second technician reported as she pushed her blonde hair back away from her face. She needed a haircut, she knew, but the barber was booked for several more days before she could get her hair done.

“The big shots are going to want to send a team out to try to recover some meteor pieces. What is the magic field like in outer space? Here’s one way to find out,” the first tech noticed.

“You could suggest to them to wait a month or two before going out to look. There’s a dammed lake a couple of miles away, and how much do you want to bet the dam broke and the crater is full of hot water?” she asked.

“Ours is not to reason why, ours is but to gather data for the big shots,” he grumbled. Almost two years underground has some of the HPI lower echelons on edge. The higher echelons have noticed, but how much could you do when stepping outside without heavy thaumic shielding would turn a person into a crispy critter in seconds?

A subway station in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Nebulous Nimbus dialed down the volume on the radio. “Thinking about going out and snagging a piece or two of meteoric iron, boss?” he asked his superior.

Vladimir thought, smoke curling up from a nostril. “Yes, but not right away. I’m not even going to call on the two idiots in Saint Louis. I would not trust them to bring me meteoric iron. I don’t think either of them would recognize meteoric iron if a piece of it bashed their brains out!” he snorted.

“Want Genghis to organize an expedition?” Neb asked.

“Yes, but we’re going to have to make sure we avoid the two settlements. That means walking or teleporting. Gonna take some time before the team gets there, so summon Genghis and have him get started. I want a good-sized chunk of that metal!” Vladimir said in a forceful grumble.

“On it, boss.”

Author's Note

Apologies for delay, was not well for a while. Better now, and since I got a new ~~bed~~ cot and ditched the old bed, I have enough room in the room for a proper writing setup.

What's next for the crew of the Voyager? Well, let's see. A big meteor hit, with a good amount of magic star iron mixed in. The WSU knows about it, as does Louisianne, the HPI, Kaycee, Cincinnati's dragon, and a player to be named later. What do YOU think?

Chapter 9: The Pieces Assemble

3 April 2017, 1900 hours, Medford, Oklahoma

Four ponies sat in the yard of their house, still looking to the northeast, where the column of smoke still hung, lit by the sun in the northwestern sky. Three were earth ponies – a black stallion with lime-green mane and tail and grass-green forelegs and hooves; a white mare with a navy blue mane and tail, also with grass-green forelegs and hooves; and a young filly, a pale pink in color with a dark pink mane with one wide white stripe, a purple tail and black hooves. The fourth was a unicorn colt, about the same age as the filly, with a sky-blue coat, gold mane and tail, and snowy-white horn and hooves.

“It’s a sign, Pa. A sign to go where that column rose from. The Lord would not send such a sign if he did not mean us to heed it,” the mare said.

“I agree, Ma. At least I know where to go. One good thing about being a cross-country driver, I’ve been everywhere in this country, and I know roughly where it rose from. Somewhere east of Topeka, north of Forty. I’ll know better as we get closer,” Pa said in a thick Okie accent.

“That’s gonna be a long walk, Grampa. How are we going to have enough supplies to make it there, and how are we going to make transport?” the colt asked.

“The half-truck should hold all we need, and we can push this crop here to ripeness in a couple of days. As needed, we can either forage or stop for a time and grow some more,” Pa said in a voice that would not be denied.

“We’re going to need to find more camping gear than you have here, Grampa,” the filly said.

“I know where to find some, Pepper,” Pa said. “I, for one, am still thanking the Lord your flight got delayed and didn’t arrive until three in the morning.”

Pa looked at the slowly-dissipating column. “When the Lord sends a message like this, we would be foolish not to follow it. We’re not fools, none of us. Let’s go in and finish making dinner, okay?”

“Good idea, Pa,” Ma said as she got up to head inside the farmhouse, the others following her.

3 May 2017, 1600 hours, Nashville Street Pier, New Orleans, Louisianne

The Mississippi Voyager sat at the dock, having arrived not two hours before after a speed run from Kansas City, with stops at Saint Louis, Memphis, Natchez and North Point, only overnighting to drop off cases of potions of mixed types to each colony. Going downstream at full speed still took over two weeks to do, and going back would take even longer. They had come back to Louisianne on Queen Marie’s orders, to pick up a team of scientists and miners to find samples of the meteor that landed in Kansas. They were also going to haul up two trucks with trailers to find a site or three. Diesel trucks, so they could refuel from the boat.

The crew was waiting for Her Majesty to come by, with mission orders, gems for the rest of the crew, and information on just who will be coming along. Not to mention a cargo crew to take the five percent of potions loaded in Kansas City, as specified in The Agreement. All they knew was that it would be ‘after four in the afternoon’, so the crew were busy, many transferring cargo out of bays one and two to allow for conversion into a garage for the trucks and trailers. The Third Officer, Harry Bell, being the Cargo Officer, was in Bay Six, the refrigerated can, arranging the potions for offloading, X amount for Louisianne, the rest for the next transport to Maasvlakte and other points. Maasvlakte had its own potion-producing capability, Kansas City adding much-desired additional capacity.

It wasn’t until five-thirty that the Queen let Captain Crane know she would be arriving within fifteen minutes. He let the crew know to gather on the mess deck, and once all were there, Her Majesty teleported in. Those who were citizens bowed, the non-citizens did also, but not as deep.

“Good to see you all,” Marie said in greeting. “I could be all formal, but not today. Bartender, could you make me a mint…” she trailed off as the cook, Jason McTerry, came out from behind the bar to present her with a freshly made mint julep. “Thank you,” Jason just bowed to her before going back behind the bar, pouring and mixing drinks. As Doctor Macombe is talkative, Jason is silent. Unheard, but always there when needed.

“Everyone, get a drink while I set up,” the Queen said, opening her saddlebags with her white glow, removing a velvet pouch, a large binder, and a small box. When everyone sat back down with the drink of their choice, she began.

“First off, I want everyone to come up here one at a time. If you have a contact gem, I will replace it with another, updated as to whom you can contact. For those who do not, the unicorns will have gems that could reach me, so I can look through if needed, like with the dragons in Saint Louis. The others will have gems that will let you talk silently to the rest of the crew, but that’s about it. I could look through, but it is a peephole compared to a window.”

Once everyone was given their gems, a quick telepathic consultation with Her Majesty taught them all what they needed to know to use the gems properly. The Captain’s gem was a diamond, the First and Second officer’s rubies, the unicorns got emeralds and the rest were sapphires. “The remaining contents go in your safe, Captain. I will let you know when to open the bag.

“Now, for the real reasons I called you down here. Tomorrow, you will be receiving a survey party that has the mission of retrieving some of the meteoric iron that landed in Kansas last month. Of what will be recovered, half will be brought to me, a third will go to the WSU and the remaining sixth for the Kansas City tribe. I do not expect other parties to be there, but the possibility exists. I will trust your judgment on how to handle matters, should the need arise.

“You will also be bringing an ambassador to Saint Louis. I absolutely do NOT trust the two dragons, and the Ambassador will have the primary mission of keeping those two under her foot.

“You are to proceed at best possible speed back to Kansas City, with stops authorized at Memphis and Saint Louis for a day and a night each, for maintenance and rest. You may dragoon the survey team to assist you as needed. Any problems, let me know.

“You are to leave within three days at the latest to head north, depending on how long it takes to stow gear. One vehicle is for you, the other to the survey party.

“The Mississippi Ranger will be ready by the end of the month, and they can handle any outbound cargo for the summer. The Mississippi Star is being built, and should be ready by September, staffing being the main issue. Your job is to get the meteoric iron, as much as you can find, and get it either back here or to those who can work it. Your reports did say Kansas City has a metal worker. Let’s see how good she is.

“Now, let’s have dinner, shall we? I know Mister McTerry has something exquisite prepared, and I am eager to have a real dinner with real ponies who are not trying to curry favor!” Her Majesty said with a laugh, which was echoed by everyone. “Q and A session has started. Mister Frack, I have to say your play by play of the meteor fall was interesting. It was like I could see it!”

The dinner and talk with Queen Marie lasted an hour before she took her leave and teleported out. The crew, after cleanup, went back to work, prepping as much as they could before the next day, all the while practicing silent communication, under the tutelage of the top three officers, who were already trained.

Early the next morning, the crew met the survey team destined for Kansas, led by a rather young-looking yellow and red unicorn mare who wore a lab coat and glasses, whose cutie mark was a telescope on top of a pick. She introduced herself as Doctor Laura Van Hoosen, formerly Professor of Astrogeology at Tulane University. The rest of her party consisted of three earth ponies, a diamond dog and a griffin, all pulling collapsible carts loaded with metal-detection equipment, analysis gear, and tools. They immediately took over Bay Five, loading and arranging to their benefit.

Later in the day, two long-bed pickup trucks arrived, each towing trailers partially loaded with camp gear. There was a bit of a kerfluffle when it was realized that while the truck and trailer combo would each fit into a cargo bay, they could not be loaded and unloaded from the bays together. They would have to be taken apart and loaded into the bays separately, and unloaded the same way. Hitch the two together on the deck and drive off the forward gangplank. Loading and unloading was going to take the unicorns, diamond dogs and a whole lot of Armstrong Patent to get in and out.

Just before dinner, the Ambassador to Saint Louis arrived, a hulking gargoyle who gave his name as Ivan Pestov. Ivan stood over six feet tall and four feet wide, muscles on muscles, who spoke in a slow, deep Slavic-accented voice. His looks were quite intimidating indeed, but he readily admitted that while he could play a rough, tough meanie, he really preferred gardening, cooking, and teaching. His job was more of intimidating a dragon and helping clear monsters than to doing any actual official business with the Saint Louis team. “Her Majesty insists they make their own decision if they want to join Louisianne, WSU, or none. I’m there just to watch the dragon, not so much the colony,” he explained. He tapped the gem he wore, a rather large emerald. “The Tsarina, she no trust Casimir.”

Early morning of the 6th of May, 2017, the Mississippi Voyager pulled out of New Orleans, destination: the meteor strike, dreams of fame, fortune and magic dancing in their heads as they headed northbound.

3 June 2017, 0600, Cincinnati, Ohio

Two dragons, about twenty ponies of all different types, two diamond dogs and a yak all gathered in Vladimir’s subway station lair. Vladimir himself was up on a platform, overlooking the crowd. Nebulous Nimbus projected a large map of the area into the air next to Vladimir.

“We know the meteor fell here two months ago,” Vladimir said, pointing to the area of the map between Topeka and Lawrence, Neb highlighting it. “By now, the ground should be safe to investigate. Zvezda, you’re in charge of the expedition, Genghis, you’re her second. Your mission is simple, go in, find as much metal as you can, then get back out. All metal will go to Zvezda’s city for refining and forging,” as Pittsburgh was highlighted.

Zvezda, a large dragon with scales of varying shades of a brilliant blue and yellow, spoke up. “We are to raft down from here to where the big river links up, moor where the two big rivers meet, then cross land and approach from the south, the better to avoid the pony colonies,” she said, the route highlighting on the projected map, going down the Ohio River, across the Mississippi, then overlanding across central Missouri to Kansas, then going north between Topeka and Lawrence to the impact site.

“If anyone else is there looking for metal, we are to get the metal from them, preferably not by killing, but by conquering and placing into servitude,” growled Genghis, a very large black earth pony stallion with a cutie mark of a bow crossed by a sword.

“Correct, Genghis. If multiple groups are gathering there, and we know that Louisianne and the WSU are, killing will only anger the communities, and they may want to strike back. Why don’t we want that to happen?” Vladimir asked the crowd.

Zvezda’s aide, a unicorn mare named Impedimenta, who had a rather shaggy gray coat with a brilliant red mane and tail and a black horn, answered the question. “Always make the assumption in planning that those who you can piss off are at least as powerful as you are, until proven otherwise!” she called from her place alongside Zvezda.

“Correct, Impedimenta. Let us find out their true capability before we start killing. Besides, we can always use more workers, da? Corpses are a drag until disposed of,” Vladimir said calmly. All the ponies in the crowd nodded in agreement.

Genghis then spoke up. “The rafts are ready to go, Vladimir. All we are waiting for is your command to depart.”

“The command is given. Nikolai and Yuri have been informed to complete your provision stocks as you reach their cities. With provisions, they will also add a specialist to assist in the finding and excavating of the metal. Now, go and return with the metal, or not at all!” Vladimir said forcefully.

“Yes, sir!” The group chorused before filing out of the subway station, heading for the river and the flatboats.

4 June 2017, 1200 hours, near the impact site

Seven buffalo stood at the shore of a lake that was not there before, looking at the calm waters and the silt-splashed surroundings. Plant life, like grasses and such, had sent some shoots out, but the area around the lake was not nearly as lush as it is farther out. A small river made its way out of one end of the lake, through a channel that was much too big for it. Farther off, a hill which was easily several hundred feet high rose from the lake shore, with little plant life and a lot of erosion channels visible on the side they could see.

“Much magic here now. Very much under the lake, not so much under the hill, less on either side. Easy to feel, not easy to reach,” Chief Twogogglehat proclaimed.

“Some in stream, too. Would be like panning for gold, collecting nuggets and dust,” commented one of the cows, who had taken the name Cunning Stratagem, or ‘Strat’ for short.

“Yes. The gods brought the star metal here. Our test is getting to it and using it properly afterward,” Twogogglehat replied.

“We could use some nuggets. Would help us focus our magics,” said the other bull buffalo, lighter brown in color with a whitish face, who had chosen the name Paleface, or ‘Paley’.

“Nuggets will help, but refined metal charms will be much better than a raw nugget,” said Wakinya, the young white buffalo, who was undergoing training with the buffalo herd, having spent over a year with the ponies. “There are some nearby. Let me find some.” He snuffled at the ground, searching for the meteor bits.

“Be careful with what you find, Wakinya,” Twogogglehat cautioned. “There could be consequences.”

“With a large lump, yes. A small nugget will not be any problem, so says the old crow,” Wakinya said as he pawed in the mud near the creek, uncovering a small blackened stone small enough to fit snugly in his hoof. “Hmm. Interesting.”

“What are you feeling, Wakinya?” Twogogglehat asked in the Sioux language.

“This is definitely a tiny piece of the star metal,” the young white buffalo stated. “I can feel something, but I am not yet certain of what it is I am feeling. Give me some time to think and feel before I speak my mind.”

All six buffalo bowed slightly to the little white one, even the Chief. “When you are ready to speak, we will listen.”

“Please, go look for more. It will help my thinking,” Wakinya said distantly, his mind more on the rock in his hoof than listening to anyone else. Silently, the buffalo scattered, looking and feeling for more pieces of meteorite.

4 June 2017, 1300 hours, HPI Headquarters, SOMEwhere in the United States

Ten people gathered in a meeting room, facing an eleventh at a podium. “You ten have been selected from a pool of volunteers to go out and collect samples of the meteor that fell two months ago. You will be setting out next week, on the eleventh. That will give all of you time to train on the newest variants of the exo-suits, with the man-portable thaumic shielding. Go out, get the samples, handle them very carefully, then beat fleet feet back here.

“You ten are relieved from your regular duties until one day after returning with the samples. Many of you have not been Outside since the thaumic arrival, and you’ll need the training.

“Be sure to come back alive. We’re short of manpower as it is. Your trainer will be here shortly with the first of the lessons. At least you get to go outside,” the semi-big-shot said before hurrying out of the briefing room.

Two of the people waiting were the two techs who were on duty at the time of the impact. The man, Hamilton (Ham, to everyone, because he does enjoy canned (sp)ham, said to the woman, Judy, “At last, we get to see the world!”

“Ham, Kansas is not exactly a garden spot, unless you like tall corn and sunflowers. I should know, because I grew up in Wichita. Once I went to college, I never went back. I signed up to get out of this rabbit warren for a time, is all,” she said in grumpy tones.

“While I want to get out and see someplace new. Has to be better than Las Cruces.”

“What’s worse than Las Cruces?”

“Being here for two years now,” Ham said in a quick riposte.

“You have a point,” Judy muttered as the trainer came in to start the lesson, overhead lights dimming and a projector lighting up.

Author's Note

Apologies for taking so long, but fatigue and the quest for a new bed make heavy dents in my ability to consecrate, or something like that. Still exhausted. I'll survive.

So, all the pieces are coming together at the impact site. Not everyone is aware of any others, well, not completely. HPI and Cincinnati heard the WSU broadcast, but the WSU does not know of all who are coming. For instance, the WSU has assumed the HPI has already been there and back. Nobody knows about Ma and Pa Kettle (to use a name). What's up with them, anyhow?

That's covered in Chapter Ten. Or maybe Eleven. Let's see how things play out.

Chapter 11: Mass Race To The Quater

8 June 2017, 0800, SE of the junction of the Delaware and Kansas Rivers, Lecompton, KS

Captain Crane carefully maneuvered the Mississippi Voyager so the bow gangplank was lined up to the remains of the boat ramp that went into the Kansas River there, just downstream of the wreckage of the FR 1029 bridge. The Kansas River bed showed signs of a severe flood from just a little upstream of where they were all the way downstream to Kansas City. Bridges down, banks eroded, a lot of uprooted trees that had drifted downstream to the Missouri River, which had made the return trip to New Orleans back in April dicier than usual.

Once the bow was lined up, Howard activated the winches for the bow gangplank, which slowly rose up, then down, settling with a BONG against the boat ramp’s remaining asphalt. He shut down the engines and dropped the anchors, holding the converted barge in position so the scientist’s gear could be unloaded. Looking out the control room window, he could see his deck crew, with the assistance of the science team and a couple of KC folk who came along for the ride, getting Bays One and Two open, ready to get the vehicles and gear out.

Looking more down, he could see the Flight Team members getting ready to head out, they being Frack and Bernie from his own crew, Silverwing the pegasus and Cloudseeker the griffon from Kaycee, and the griffon from the survey team, Jimmy Joe Farris, a chemical engineering student before the Event, now a cross between a kestrel forward and a tiger aft. Howard opened a window to hear Doctor Laura’s instructions.

“Now, call in your observations, map out what roads to take, then and only then will you make contact. Silverwing, you let Twogogglehat know we’re here and let him be the one to tell you when to land. We don’t want to offend the residents,” the yellow and red unicorn counseled the team.

Frack tapped a hoof, irritated by Laura’s ultra-cautious manner. He had not liked it since they left New Orleans the month before. “Doctor, if you don’t mind, we’ve been over this so many times already, it’s been engraved on my synapses! Now, unless you want to get caught in the suction of our takeoff, get under cover and let us get to work!” he snapped, trying his best not to go Gunny on her.

Bernie just gave Laura a fang-filled malicious smile as she tapped Frack with a wing. She was trying to restrain her temper as well. “Shall we start soaring to see strangers?” she hissed, enhancing the sibilants as she gave Laura a Glare that would register a six on the Lunar Light Intensity Scale. She hadn’t got along with the astrogeologist, either. The other three put Frack and Bernie between themselves and the unicorn.

For all of Laura’s skill in geology and science, one thing she lacked was ‘people skills’. Frack and Bernie had their desired effect on her, that being to intimidate the unicorn into silence. She just turned and went into the Lounge. “Nicely done, Frack. Now, get a move on. Wasting daylight!” Howard called down to the group.

The five fliers looked up at the Captain. “Will do, Skipper! Call you when we get there!” Frack called up before telling the others, “Let’s take wing!” The fivesome took off, following FR 1209 northbound.

The rest of the science team, along with several members of the ship’s crew, managed to get first the number-one truck and trailer, then the number-two set, out of the forward cans, linked, and parked on the boat ramp, ready to go. By then, the flight team had made it to the target, Frack giving a description of the wreckage to the west, but fortunately the roads to the east were passable enough to get to the destination, definitely getting the attention of the Kettles as they circled the compound before landing.

“I know you said there were ponies that could fly. Up until now, I didn’t believe you. I apologize for wronging you in my mind,” Pa said humbly to Chief Twogogglehat.

“Not to worry, Mister Kettle,” Twogogglehat rumbled. “There are many more marvels to be seen, and I’m not just talking about the various species of ponies and others.”

“I look forward to seeing them,” Pa said as the five touched down close to where he stood.

Frack took the lead, as had been agreed upon. “Hey, Chief! Who’s your friend?” he called out as the fliers walked up to the huge buffalo.

After introductions all around, Frack got right to business. “One thing we need to establish is just how much land are you going to claim out here? Once your boundaries are established, we can start working on what to do with the meteor metal.”

“You mean the Heaven Stones, right?” Pa asked. At Frack’s nod, Pa went on. “Linn Road to the west, US 59 to the east, 39th Street to the south, 54th street to the north. Inside those boundaries, I claim exclusivity for me and mine. Outside, it’s as God wills, not I.”

Frack blinked in surprise at the swift outlining of borders. “You seem to be a very determined pony, Mister Kettle. I am authorized to say that the World Seafarer’s Union AND the Kingdom of Louisianne will recognize those boundaries,” he said before sighing. “Here’s hoping others will respect them as well.”

Silverwing stepped forward then. “The Kansas City Sioux Nation will also recognize your stated boundaries, Mister Kettle, as well as pledging assistance in your future plans,” she said.

“The Chief has already assured me of that, and I believe him. Now, what is it that all of you want from around here? The Heaven Stones?” Pa asked.

“We would also like to establish friendship ties with you and yours, Mister Kettle,” Silverwing said. “Seeing as you are close neighbors, let’s see how we can help each other.”

“What she said,” Frack said, pointing a wing at Silverwing.

“I think we can come up with something to trade,” Pa said. “Shall we go inside and talk about it?”

“With your permission, I would like to take my herd north then west,” Twogogglehat rumbled. “We want to see what other damage has been done, and what will be needed to restore matters to rights.”

Pa nodded, agreeing with the big buffalo’s ideas. “You go right on ahead, Chief. Know that you and yours will always be welcome on Kettle lands. May it not rain too hard on your inspection,” he told the Chief.

“Rain we like. Storms, not so much. We’ll be back in a few days. May the Great Spirit watch over you and yours,” the Chief said before taking his leave, the other buffalo falling in line, including Wakinya, who quickly said good-bye to JJ and Pepper before hurrying to catch up with the herd.

“And may the Good Lord watch over you as well,” Pa Kettle said as he watched the seven buffalo head north.

Within an hour, the two trucks arrived, with the rest of the science staff and two of the ship’s crew, they being Captain Crane and Crewman Tereshkov. While the science staff got set up, the crew sat with the Kettles, including Frack and Bernie. First order of business was the first gift, a large well-made shortwave radio, with equine-friendly controls. With a little tuning, WSU Radio was soon heard, along with DJ WSU.

“So this is the organization you work for?” Pa asked after listening to the hourly news bulletin.

Captain Crane handled the reply. “Engineers Frack and Bernie do, along with my Third Officer. The rest of us, and the boat, work for the Kingdom of Louisianne and Queen Marie Laveau. Don’t worry, the Queen has no interest in taking anything of yours, Mister Kettle. She has her territory.”

“Same with the World Seafarer’s Union,” Frack added. “If you want to join up with the WSU, they will listen. But, in no way will they force themselves upon you. It’s not how they operate.”

“Three colonies have joined with the WSU, in Kansas City, Saint Louis and Memphis. A fourth, Natchez, has the option to, but does not have to decide until next March,” Bernie added. “Each colony gives what they can to the WSU in exchange for trade and commerce with the outside world.”

“For instance, Kansas City has specialized in the making of potions of all sorts, mainly healing, but a plethora of others are available,” Captain Crane said to the listening ponies, who admittedly looked a little incredulous at the mention of the word ‘potions’.

“What sort of potions are you talking about?” Ma asked.

“Primarily healing, but antitoxins, antibiotics, strength adders, speed adders, and some other types are available as well. We will leave some healing potions and a first aid kit with you, one our ship’s doctor assembled just this morning,” Howard told the family.

“Another gift for you are manuals we have put together, detailing what each of the pony subspecies can do, and providing basic instructions on how to best utilize your capabilities. It looks like you have figured out the basics already,” Aaron said as he took three large binders out of his pack and set them down in front of the family. “Red cover is for unicorns, green for Earth ponies, and blue explains about pegasi.”

“You folk are bending over backwards in your efforts to show kindness to us,” Pa said slowly. “We notice that and just want you all to know that within our borders, I reign supreme. Outside the lands I have outlined, do as you will. Getting started here is okay, I just expect the survey teams to go elsewhere to excavate the Heaven Stones. Camping here will be just fine, too. Can we ask for some help getting the house built? We do what we can, but it’s a lot for the four of us.”

“How about after lunch?” Howard suggested. “Aaron was brought along just for that purpose, while my Second and Third officers will fly here after watch change to pitch in and help.”

“Do you mind if I inspect the goods you have here, Mister Kettle?” Aaron asked. “Ever since I Returned, I’ve done a lot of construction work. I would like to know what you have and what you have done, so I can pick up from there.”

“I’ll show you around, Mister Aaron!” JJ said. “I learned a lot from my dad, but doing it all pretty much by myself is a challenge!”

Aaron stood up. “Time’s a-wasting! Let’s get started!” Together, the diamond dog and unicorn got up and headed towards the partially-built house.

9 June 2017, 2000 hours, outside of Mansfield, Missouri

Zvezda and Impedimenta set up the crystal ball comm link while camp was being set for the night. Once the link was set up and Vladimir appeared in the crystal, Zvezda made her report, which ended with, “I have to thank you once again for your suggestion to follow the roads here. We’re making better progress than I hoped.”

“Zvezda, there’s a reason why you’re my number two, and that’s because you listen to suggestions. I know I’m not always right, and you know that you are the same. Live and learn, right?” Vladimir said to his second-in-command.

“Unlike another we both know, who tends to forget to think about consequences. Why did you put him with Coronavirus?” Zvezda asked.

“Because all the others who had the capability turned down working with Casimir. Then again, Corona’s not the brightest flame in the fire, either. At least they have sent me my tithe, and it exceeded my expectations. The stuff he sent is excellent!” Vladimir replied, holding up a pawful of jewelry that had arrived from Saint Louis two days before.

“After the browbeating you gave him a couple of months ago, I’m just glad he’s finally seeing the light. Thanks again for allowing my little brother to come along.”

“How much longer before you get to the impact site?” Vladimir asked.

“I’m going to say fourteen days, but should arrive before that. I’m allowing for downed bridges and other unknowable difficulties, plus bad weather. Let’s see what happens,” Zvezda said frankly to her boss.

“Good point. Bad weather’s bound to hit sometime before you get there. Plus, storms can happen suddenly out that way, or so I’m informed. Just watch your tail out there and help the team when they need it. I want some of that star metal!” Vladimir said firmly, but not crossly.

“Will do, Vlad. Ending call now. Will call in a few days. Zvezda out.”

After hanging up, Impedimenta said to her boss, “Good thing we caught him in a good mood. Now to keep him that way.”

“You got that so right, Impedimenta.”

9 June 2017, 2230 hours, HPI HQ (somewhere to the east, where is a secret)

Ham and Judy sat across from each other in Ham’s sixteenth (as they called their rather cramped quarters, after all, what is a quarter of a quarter?), an open bottle of pink lightning (vintage 23rd of May, 2017) and two glasses on the fold down table between them, their exosuit manuals turned to the same page, ostensibly studying, but actually killing time before curfew.

“I can’t believe the routing they have planned, cutting way south and west before following the meteor track up to the impact site,” Judy complained, pouring the last part of the half-liter bottle’s contents into the two glasses.

“Using the slow shielded ship, too,” Ham joined in as he watched the grapefruit-flavored alcohol drip out of the bottle into her glass. “More time cramped into even tighter quarters before some freedom to walk about.”

“Just makes it all the better when we do get out,” Judy responded before sipping her drink and grimacing. “Did you have to get the grapefruit flavor?”

“That’s what was left in stock, unless you wanted the strawberry and caraway seed flavor,” Ham said, wincing at the thought of the flavor that just plain didn’t work. Not even aging helped.

“Point made.”

Ham raised his glass. “To a decent flight and a better time when we do get out of this rabbit hole.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Judy said as she tapped her cup to his before consuming the contents.

“The way most people are getting here, they’ll drink to anything!” Ham said after downing his ‘grapefruit juice’. He wasn’t kidding. Many of the junior personnel were indeed turning to home-brewed alcohol to deal with the stress of living under the shield. The senior staff has implemented controls, which seem to be working, for the moment.

Author's Note

I know, I know... it's been a while. Long-haul COVID can (and is) VERY fatiguing. Some days, opening my eyes and sitting up is too much effort, much less sitting and writing. It's like I know what I want to do, but what's in my head doesn't want to come out the fingers. The thoughts get lost in the fog bank that has settled between my ears.

Chapter twelve has been started, and that's the toughest part. Coming up with the chapter's concept and getting it down. From there, I can follow the trail, wherever it leads me. Now, if I can only see the damn compass...

Chapter 12: Raise Leg, Ready Shoe for Dropping...

Friday, 23 June 2017, 0700 hours, Kettle Kompound, north of Lecompton, KS

Parker (Pa) Kettle looked out the kitchen window of the sturdy house his family and the Visitors had finished two days before. He had to hoof it to the Visitors, they kept their word, and the house was indeed much better than his family could do on their own.

In his field of view were the access doors to the combined food storage complex and storm shelter Captain Crane had insisted they build for the family. Pa didn’t argue too hard, especially after he learned ways to manipulate dirt and rock as well as influencing plants, not to mention the couple of times in the past two weeks that storms came close enough to warrant getting everypony in the shelter.

Pa sighed, content at how matters had proceeded in the last couple of weeks. He built up the fire in the fireplace and set a pot of water on to boil for coffee. Ma came into the kitchen as Pa filled some more pots with water. “Let me handle that, Pa. Forty-six years together and the best thing you can cook is cereal!” she said with a nuzzle and a laugh.

Pa returned the nuzzle and backed away from the fire. “As you say, Ma. I earned the daily bread, you bake it proper!”

“That I do!” Ma laughed as she prepared the breakfast porridge before breaking out a loaf of bread to cut into slices for toast. “Want to check for some eggs? A dozen if you can, eight at the least.”

“I’ll see what I can get, Ma” Pa said as he picked up a grocery store basket in his mouth and went to the chicken coop. When he stepped out, he could see the scientist’s encampment on the north side of 46th Street. Both trucks were gone, but the tents and trailers remained. They may be a little standoffish, but they were good neighbors. They would come over every Sunday afternoon, regular as clockwork, to sit with the family, do Bible study, teach some about current affairs, and help with the Sunday dinner. Some of the crew of the Voyager would also come up, with choice delicacies from their kitchen.

With the science team gone, that could only mean they were up at the blast furnace they had set up further north, off the borders Pa had laid out. Finding Heaven Stones was comparatively simple near the crater, its own mana field rendering them obvious to anyone with their own mana fields. Doctor van Hoosen insisted on setting up the blast furnace far away from the camp, in case of ‘unforeseen consequences’. Pa appreciated her foresight. He did find a dozen good-sized eggs, putting them into the basket to bring inside for breakfast. The hens raised a little ruckus, but a stern glare from the big earth pony quickly stifled their complaints.

23 June 2017, 1300 hours, the blast furnace

Doctor Laura van Hoosen stood back from the blast furnace they had spent the past ten days building and letting the concrete set before lighting the fire. Two of her crew worked the bellows, one watched the fuel and the diamond dog, Hugh Thompson, a former steel mill worker, kept an eye on the temperature. When the furnace was warmed up enough, Doctor Laura lifted a bucket of meteor ore and flux and put it into the blast furnace, followed by charcoal. She did that six times before Hugh waved for her to stop. “It should be working now,” he called out from where he was standing. “Right now, we want to see if it can be done!”

“Right, Hugh!” Laura shouted. Hugh was the only being on her team that had actually worked from raw ore to refined product, so she deferred to him when working the ore and furnace. Like it or not.

After some time, Hugh opened the drain section, to let the slag slip out and puddle on the ground. He then put on a heavy set of gloves, took a long set of tongs and extracted the ‘purified’ ore from the bottom of the furnace. It took both Hugh and Laura to clean off the remaining slag to find the small ingot of pig iron. Laura inspected the ingot.

“I don’t like the look of this,” she muttered, just loud enough for Hugh to hear.

“Something wrong?” Hugh asked as the rest of the team came around to look.

“Yes. The magic is less intense now than it was when it was raw ore. It looks like I will be spending some time tonight online with the Maasvlakte Library and the Royal Archives in Baton Rouge. I want to see if there was anything we did wrong, and what other processes we can use to try again tomorrow. Not like any of us has really done this before, right?” she asked of her team, putting the ‘refined’ chunk down.

“Think there is enough there fo’ me to whack off a chunk an’ do some chemical tests on it, Doc?” the group’s chemist, the griffon named Jimmy Joe Farris, asked.

“There should be. Let me see if I can cleave a chunk off, and I can let you fiddle to your heart’s content,” Laura replied. “Just be sure to take careful notes. The only difference between doing science and screwing around is writing everything down!”

“Yes, Doc. Shall we head back?” Jimmy Joe asked.

“Might as well. Let’s inspect the furnace, to make sure it’s shut off properly. It won’t be good to come here tomorrow and find that it broke in the night, right?” Laura cautioned.

“Point made, Doc,” said a red and pink earth pony mare who did a lot of the driving and heavy work, Sally Rodgers. Together, the six inspected the furnace before leaving. Satisfied that all was proper, they headed back to camp.

Sunday, 25 June 2017, 0700 hours, Kettle Kompound, Lecompton, KS

This Sunday dawned to cloudy, rainy skies with the occasional distant flash of thunder. Yesterday was similar, wet enough to have the furnace team take the weekend off to rest, recreate, and help out the Kettles around the farm. Doctor van Hoosen moved to the Voyager so she could research in the dry, exchanging information with Maasvlakte and Baton Rouge, trying to make sense of matters. Why did the ore LOSE magic potential after being refined? So far, nobody could figure out why.

The Kettles, after waking early enough to listen to the sermon rerun on WSU Radio, fixed a big enough breakfast to allow those of the research team who wanted any to join in before hosting their usual Sunday Bible study. The two team members who declined the study decided to sack out, listening to music from their laptops, their little generator chugging away to provide power.

Aboard the Voyager, Sunday routine was being observed, meaning it was essentially a day off for all but one watchstander at a time, monitoring the bridge controls with half-hourly walks to check the generators. Of the rest of the crew, four were playing bridge in a corner of the Lounge (Frack and Bernie versus Carroll and Harry), Howard, Julia and Lucien played gin in another corner, Doctor van Hoosen in her cabin doing research, Arnie and Jason both napping in their cabins, while Aaron had the watch.

About 0900, Aaron walked into the Lounge and walked directly to the Captain’s table. “Captain, I’m picking up something unusual on the radar, coming up from the southeast. I can’t tell what they are. Can you come up and look?” he asked in a low voice, so as not to disturb the others.

Howard looked at Julia and Lucien, who put down their cards. “For all I know, there should not be anything on the radar, other than weather,” Howard said as he stood up.

“Storm cells, I know what they look like on radar. This is more distinct blips, one large and some smaller, coming out of the southeast. The wind is out of the southwest,” Aaron reported.

“What’s the range?” Julia asked as the foursome made their way to the bridge.

“Extreme. The contacts are definitely there. I trained the antenna like I have been taught to increase resolution. Distinct contacts,” Aaron said as they entered the bridge.

Julia went to the navigation radar while Howard went to the fire-control console, powering up the radar at that console, which had more power than the navigation radar. “I have three targets, bearing one-three-nine, range five miles,” Julia reported.

“I have a similar reading here, First. One target is much larger than the other two. What’s your estimate of closing rate?” Howard asked, Lucien looking over his shoulder.

“Very slow. It’s like the aerial targets are circling something. It’s lucky we’re getting anything at all in this rain,” Julia said as Aaron went to the chart table.

“That places the targets over I-70, west of Lawrence,” Aaron reported.

“Thank you, Mister Tereshkov,” Howard said, stepping back from fire control. “Julia, maintain a radar watch. Lucien, with me. We have some phone calls to make.”

“Aye, Captain. Alert the crew?” Julia asked.

“Not yet. Let me find out some information from our sources. Alert me if the range closes to three miles or less.”

“Right, Captain.”

Howard first rang up Kansas City while Lucien got in touch with Saint Louis via gemstone. After both sites reported that they had nothing at all in the area, Howard called Memphis while Lucien got in touch with Baton Rouge. “Stella, do you have a train running yet?” Howard asked when he got connected to the Mayor of Memphis.

“Yes, we do, but we’re heading southeast from Memphis for now. Tucker has the pilot engine and a crew out checking trackage. We’re seeing if we can get to Mobile or Pensacola and back. WSU tasking, as an alternate to New Orleans,” Stella told the Captain. “Next month, we’ll head north to Saint Louis.”

“Okay, then. It’s not you near the train tracks outside Lawrence. I needed to tick that box off. Thank you, Stella, and we’ll call again later. Looks like we’re having trouble coming to our door. Voyager out,” Howard said before hanging up.

“Ivan says the dragon in Saint Louis is being a very good boy, as is his unicorn aide. Colonel Forest also says he has nothing coming up this way, while the Ranger’s last reported position is a day out of Memphis, heading to Saint Louis,” Lucien reported when Howard looked his way.

“Okay, then. Looks like something’s afoot, then,” Howard mused.

“The butler couldn’t do it! He’s dead!” Lucien riposted. Howard just gave a mock-hateful glare at his ship’s doctor. Both shared a joy of old musicals, and they had watched ‘Something’s Afoot’ more than once in the past few weeks.

Howard leaned out of the dayroom into the bridge. “Any motion?” he asked.

“The big blip got to within four and a half miles before turning back to its original position. Other than that, nothing else,” the First Officer replied.

“Okay, then. It’s time for action. Aaron, roust up Arnie and Jason, then head for the lounge. Time to figure out our next step,” Howard commanded.

“Okay, Captain. I’ll check the generators before reporting to the lounge. They’re about due,” the big diamond dog said before heading down the upper level causeway, to wake the sleepers-in.

Sunday, 25 June 2017, 1000 hours, west of Lawrence, KS.

Zvezda gathered her command staff outside the encampment, Genghis the ground commander and her exec, Impedimentia, the unicorn leader and her aide, and her water force leader, who went by the name of Gar. A tough name for a rather innocuous-looking hippogriff, but her determination cannot be faulted. The two members of Gar’s crew knew not to cross her. There were once three, but one lost an argument crossing Missouri.

“Yes, storms have slowed us down getting here, but now we ARE here. Today’s the day we go in, grab what we can, and run, making sure no one is capable of following us,” Zvezda led off with.”Impedimentia, you can feel the presence of the meteoric ore, right?”

The shaggy gray unicorn mare nodded. “Yes, I can feel it, but no point sources yet. It’s like what’s here is dust, enough to make its presence known, but not enough to have any real change, unless you get enough gathered. Up that way is a stronger source, like seeing a spotlight from the side instead of being in the beam,” she explained.

“I’m aware of its presence, too,” the big red and black dragon said. “Gar, your job is to take your team, swim upriver, and disable the riverboat. You have breaching charges, so crack that riverboat’s hull!”

“Can be done, Zvezda,” the gray and orange hippogriff told her boss with a cheerful tone. Gar just loved wrecking things as well as ponies. No one knew what she did before, but handling explosives and hand and hoof fighting came easily for the small hippogriff.

Zvezda nodded, having taken a shine to the hippogriff, only tempered by her killing of the only male hippogriff on the team with a well-aimed hoof to his neck. “You take your team now, get in position, and watch them. We’ll signal when we’re close enough to begin operations.”

“Right, Zvezda!” Gar said with a smile, getting up and trotting off to her team, getting them to put their gear on and setting out.

Zvezda then looked at Genghis. “Your combat troops ready to go?” she asked.

“Yes. We managed to get enough rest these past few days to set up for the attack today. I will depend on you and the air contingent to give us good steers to where the opposition is. It’s obvious there was a big flood recently. We’ll need to know where it is safe to ford the river,” the big black earth pony stallion reported. “Plus, we need to know where the opposition is. Take them out, and we can take our time. Just where is the settlement, and where is it in relation to the crater? We need good intelligence on that.”

“I’ll make sure you get it,” Zvezda assured her ground commander. She is leading the air wing, which consists of herself and two pegasi, armed with radios and GoPro cameras. “How is our artillery?”

“The two cannon we have are still in good enough condition to fire. We have twenty rounds for each, and two short-range rockets and launchers. Once we know where they are, we can find a place to set up no more than a half mile away,” Genghis reported.

“Good. We can use the rain and clouds to shield our approach. They don’t know we’re here, and I intend to keep it that way.”

Overhead, nipping in and out of the clouds, Frack and Harry observed the campsite down below. “Damn, that’s a big dragon! I thought Casimir was big, but this one…” Frack said into his radio.

“Got that right, One. There’s a group of three heading for the river, with what looks like a heavy load. I’ll follow them, you call the chief, okay?” Harry said as he broke formation with Frack to follow the movement on the ground.

“Got it, Two,” Frack said before changing channels. “Recon Viper One to Chief Miller. Report position.”

“We are at the corner of Seventh Street and Jones, in the woods. What are they up to?” Chief Twogogglehat asked.

“Looks like they are in a planning session, but a team of three are heading for the river. Suggest you remain in that position. If their ground forces stay on the roads, you are in a prime position to intercept. They do have artillery. Have fun with it,” Frack said bluntly, which meant he was not joking.

“Lawyer Buffalo copies, Recon Viper One.”

Meanwhile, nearer to the river, Harry flew just under the cloud layer, nipping up when one of the three hippogriffs looked up. His natural gray color helped him blend in with the clouds. “Recon Viper Two to Galactica. Ready river defenses. Team of three heading to the river. I don’t think it’s the Welcome Wagon.”

“Galactica copies, Recon Viper Two. Going to ready river offenses, too, just in case. Keep in touch with the Colonel,” Howard said into the radio.

“Recon Viper Two.”

Howard turned to look at his First Officer. “Julia, rotate the ship so it is port side to. Ready fire control for the forward packages. I’m going out to deploy the anti-sub net,” he said, in tones that conveyed he was not happy with the decision, but could not think of anything better.

“Will do, Captain. Retrieving forward gangplank before raising anchors.”

Author's Note

I know, I know. Been a while. Just have been so incredibly fatigued the past however-too-damn-long that when I sit to write, the words are wrapped in rather sticky cotton candy. I'm on this story track, but it's a slow slog. I'm not giving up, though!

Thank you for your support. I need it.

Chapter 13: The Battle of Lecompton, Phase One

Sunday, 25 June 2017, 1330 hours, Kansas River, Lecompton, KS

Captain Crane stood on the bridge of the Mississippi Voyager, looking downstream. He could see the floaters holding each course of the anti-sub nets in his ocular, the red ones being the furthest away at half a mile downstream, the yellow ones two hundred yards closer, and the blue ones another two hundred yards upstream of the yellow ones. With him on the bridge were his First Officer, Julia Crowne, and his ship’s doctor, Lucien Macombe. Julia was at the fire control panel, Lucien just standing back, ready to handle communications over the crystal net.

As for the rest of his crew, Aaron Tereshkov was in the forward fire control space, the two machine guns and grenade launchers slaved to his control. Arnie Van Dyke, the second engineer, was on the bridge roof, in the operator’s station there for the machine guns and grenade launcher there. The two pegasi, Chief Engineer Frack and Third Officer Bell, were in the Lounge with the cook, Jason McTerry, acting as Damage Control. The last two, Second Officer Milsap (Recon Viper Three) and Welder Bernie (Recon Viper Four) were circling, nipping below the clouds to get an eye on the approaching forces, Carroll watching the river while Bernie trailed the artillery.

“Recon Viper Four to Buffalo Leader. Artillery wagons are coming around the turn from the twenty-fifty road to Jones Street. I can see two cannon and two wagon loads of rounds, plus another wagon with something under a tarp. Be ready!” Bernie called on the buffalo frequency.

“Buffalo Leader copies. Buffalo herd is placed. Once they stop and set up, we go,” Chief Twogogglehat said quietly.

“Copy that. Recon Viper Four maintaining overwatch.”

“Viper Three to Galactica. Invading force approaching Stone Horse Creek. Will be rounding the bend soon. Estimate ten minutes before contacting outer defense,” Carroll called in from her position.

“Galactica copies, Viper Three. Going to Alert Status One, activating all weapons. Stay high to keep out of the line of fire,” Howard told his Second as Julia activated all weapons, including the forward surprise packages.

“Viper Four, can you give me a visual of the enemy encampment? Ah want to know if they is readying another wave to come after us or not,” Lucien sent via crystal to Bernie.

“On my way, Colonel. Getting good reception?” Bernie thought as she swung east.

“Oh, yes. Look over at the camp, please.” When Bernie did, Lucien whistled. “Damn, that’s a big dragon! Wait, what the?” he exclaimed as a pony lifted off from the camp and made its way towards the artillery group.

“Must be a spotter. I’m after it!” Bernie sent as she nipped up into the cloud cover, closing distance to the rising pony.

Meanwhile, at the invader’s encampment…

Zvezda sprawled on the ground, focusing her magic on both the river force and the artillery force, with Impedimenta as a magical focusing agent. Part of her attention was fixed on Gar, who was in the Kansas River with her team, heading upstream. Another part of her attention was fixed on her artillery commander, a rather ratty-looking white unicorn stallion who went by the name of Long Tom, who had a cutie mark of an old-style cannon firing a cannonball. His thoughts were a scrambled mess, but when it comes to artillery, no pony in her troop was better.

A small part of her attention was focused on her spotter, a black and gray pegasus mare who went by the name of Long Eyes. She had excellent long vision, for sure. Her close-in vision, not so much. On the ground, her mate, an earth pony mare who went by the name of Veggie Stew, one of the camp cooks, was her constant companion. Stew’s fur color was a brilliant pink, with an international orange mane and tail visible from a long way off. Must be why they became such close friends.

Zvezda admittedly found it difficult to split her attention four ways, but it was decided that doing so rendered the communications unjammable, and she could be the coordinator. It was hoped that this would be the max split time, after reducing the riverboat, she could let Genghis run the mopping up.

At the moment, much of her attention was on Long Eyes, because she needed the approximate distance from the riverboat to the artillery battery, for the most accurate gauging of how to set off the cannons and the rockets. As Long Tom had told her, ‘give me a range and I’ll drop on target in the minimum possible time’. Zvezda believed him. He may be certifiably insane, but he knew his artillery, as well as his black powder making. Zvezda trusted all her subordinate commanders, well, as far as an old dragon would trust any pony.

Zvezda was locked in with Long Eyes, judging the distance between the battery and the riverboat, when suddenly, contact was lost with Long Eyes, like the pegasus had passed out. Quickly, Zvezda had Long Tom look around for the pegasus, but he did not see anything. He did hear a crashing sound in a copse of trees to the east of the battery site, but did not see anything. “Long Tom! Set up and commence firing! Gar, attack! Long Eyes is down!” she sent to all her outlying troop commanders. Impedimenta, being the relay, heard the orders and flagged down Genghis, telling him to get the ground force ready for attack while Zvezda hissed, flailing her head in rage.

In the air, Bernie lined herself up above and behind the pegasus, silently closing on the mare until, at point-blank range, she let out a stunning shriek, right at the pegasus’ head. Long Eyes spasmed, muscles tightening, before relaxing, unconscious. Quickly, Bernie grabbed the falling pegasus and guided her to a safe landing in a small clearing. “Viper Four to Galactica, spotter is down! Free the buffalo herd!” she ‘said’ to Lucien.

“Sounds lakh a plan, Foah! Alertin’ the Commander!” Lucien replied via crystal, then did so by voice.

“Galactica to Buffalo Force. Stampede, stampede!” Howard said into the microphone.

“Understand stampede. Executing,” Twogogglehat said before turning to Wakinya. “Follow behind. Tend the wounded. Let us destroy,” he told the child, in Lakota.

“Yes, Chief. I follow. I will tend the wounded,” Wakinya replied in the same language.

Twogogglehat stamped his right forehoof three times. “CHARGE!” he bellowed, leading the way to the small wagon train, which was being broken down to set up the cannons.

The sound of six sets of buffalo hooves caught the attention of the artillery crew. The four earth ponies and three unicorns could only stare in disbelief as the six buffalo came charging up the road, getting bigger faster than anyone could believe, their pupils constricting. “Oh, shit…” Long Tom mumbled, watching the buffalo close in, ignoring Zvezda’s shouting in his head to move!

The six buffalo tore through the wagons, scattering powder, shot, cannon, and the two New Light Anti-tank Weapon rockets, which got stepped on numerous times. The ponies were bowled over and knocked aside, but not trampled. The buffalo wanted to destroy the weapons, not the ponies.

The buffalo herd blew through the wagons and continued up the road, turning right to veer into woods about two hundred yards away. Wakinya slowly trotted up to the scene, going to each pony and looking before moving on, nopony needing any healing. He kept on going, turning into the same patch of woods the other buffalo went. In passing, he did kick the wheel of the one remaining upright cannon, splintering the wheel. Once the cannon fell, the calf pissed on the smashed wheel before moving on.

“Long Tom, report status! How long before you start bombardment?!” Zvezda shouted through the telepathic link.

“You can’t roller skate in a buffalo herd, you can’t roller skate in a buffalo herd, y’cant roller skate in a buffalo herd, but you could be happy if you’ve a mind to…” Long Tom said dazedly before passing out.

“Genghis! Take a squad to the artillery battery and set things to rights!” Impedimenta bellowed, being part of the link. “Right NOW!”

“On it!” Genghis told the unicorn before rounding up his squad of earth pony warriors, the best of the best. It would still take time to form up and go the six-plus miles to the battery site.

Meanwhile, over the river, Second Officer Milsap kept a close eye on the hippogriffs, which she could see from the air. “River squad approaching outer net. Range one hundred yards and closing,” she reported.

“Copy that, Viper Three. Forward guns, set up, set range for one thousand yards on all weapons. Topside guns, maintain readiness, observe to starboard,” Howard said over both radio and intercom.

“Forward guns set for one thousand yards on machine guns and grenade launchers,” Aaron reported from his console. “Ammo belts ready and connected.”

“Same up here, Cap’n. Watchin’ to starboard,” Arnie said from his position above Control.

“Forward guns, set the grenade launcher for a three-round burst, range one thousand yards. Fire when the red bobbers sink,” Howard ordered.

“Forward guns aye,” Aaron replied before setting the grenade launcher for a three-shot burst, steadying it at the appropriate angle. Above, Carroll pulled for altitude. No way was she going to be down where grenades were going to be flying!

At the dragon camp, Zvezda was trying her best to stay conscious while two of the four ponies in her linkup were unconscious. It was not easy. Impedimenta smoothly stepped in, watching Genghis organize his prime squad of warriors while trying to soothe Zvezda. It was not easy, but Impedimenta was a very strong-willed unicorn, and soon had both the camp and the dragon settled.

“Just what is going on?” Zvezda asked once she calmed down. “Why did the two fall off the…” She grunted as Gar fell off the net after three hard impacts.

Impedimenta quickly used her glow to set the dragon down before she fell down. “I felt that, too. Relax and let me see what I can do to find out what’s going on,” she said in her rough voice.

“Genghis is just leaving now with his brute squad, heading for the artillery.”

“Good. Let me get my wits together, and I’ll head out for a look-see myself. How did they know we were coming?” Zvezda asked.

“How they knew we were here now, I can’t say. I’m sure everypony and their little cousins are trying to make tracks here to pick up pieces of the Magic Meteor. Maybe they had lookouts roaming the area,” Impedimenta said.

“From where? We didn’t see anyone, we landed well south of Saint Louis and we avoided Kansas City! We kept a strict lookout, you know that!” Zvezda said firmly while she let her body settle to the ground.

“Nobody’s perfect, Zvezda. Not unicorns, nor dragons. We’ll do an analysis later. Now, we have to get hold of some of that metal!” Impedimenta said firmly. “No matter what it takes!”

Back at the Voyager, Captain Crane recalled the two Recon Vipers and dispatched Frack and Harry, this time each loaded with a harness that held ten flash-bang grenades with long-delay fuses, to allow the two pegasi to swoop, release and get out of range before the kaboom. “Make sure the artillery is completely disabled, then go after any reinforcements. Got it?” Howard told his Chief Engineer and Third Officer.

The two saluted Howard smartly with their right wings. “Understood, Captain. You can count on us!” Frack said before leading Harry outside to take wing.

Howard then collected Lucien, Julia and Aaron to recover the stunned hippogriffs from the river before they woke up, bringing the trio back to the ship AFTER divesting them of their explosives, tools, weapons, harnesses and whatnot. Once at the ship, they were brought aboard and revived by Doctor Macombe, after he made sure the magic spell on Gar was neutralized. He didn’t know what sort of spell it was, just that it was on the mare and he decided to remove it.

“Ladies, ah suggest you all staht lettin’ us know who sent you here with all you tools and foah what reason. Ah also suggest y’all don’t play any games in the storytellin’ or else ah’m goin’ to validate mah marksmanship medals raht heah,” Lucien drawled, holding a forty-five caliber pistol in his glow, pointed right at Gar’s head. “Because if’n ah have to do that, the cook, who is also the steward, is goin’ to make me clean up the mess. A gentleman lakh me ain’t supposed to do such a thing lakh cleanin’ blood.”

Gar looked around, seeing her squadmates on the floor next to her, trussed up and clear of all tools and such. She also saw Captain Crane standing in another section of the room, sitting peacefully, holding a pearl-handled thirty-eight caliber revolver, also pointed right at the hippogriffs. “What he said,” he told them. “I’m the Captain. I don’t have to worry about cleaning up.”

Gar considered her options. She could not feel the presence of Zvezda in her head, nor any of the others. She looked at the Captain, who looked back with a placid look, but holding the pistol steady. “We were sent to disable the boat so we could grab as much meteor metal as we could. Vladimir is not going to be happy. What are you going to do with us?” she asked.

“All depends on what you do. Be polite, and we’ll treat you nice. Be foolish, and, well, fools die a thousand times, true?” Howard said quietly.

Gar and her teammates considered what they were told. These ponies on the Voyager were far tougher than they were led to believe, and they all knew what would happen if they went back to camp without as much as one shot being fired or one mine being placed. Unpleasant.

Gar came to a decision. “In exchange for information, will you protect us from Zvezda and her team? When they find out we’re not trying to kill you, they will kill us. Zvezda and Genghis are not known for being all sweetness and light. They’re known for being ruthless, like their boss, Vladimir.” she said, the two others of her team nodding at her words.

“What do you think, Doctor?” Howard asked from where he was sitting.

Lucien made his horn sparkle with red sparks, and the three hippogriffs felt a tingle run over them. “Ah think we can accept theah word fo’ now, Captain, suh. Of course, if’n we fahnd out their word is bad, that spell ah put on them will stop their hearts. Think betrayal, well, ah can’t stop that. Takin’ actions, ah can.” He put the forty-five pistol down on a hearby table, then his glow surrounded the hippogriff’s bindings, freeing them. “You ladies follow me, an’ ah’ll put you up in a cabin. You’ll have your own water closet, so that won’t be a problem.”

“We will lock you in, just to err on the side of caution. You have to earn our trust to wander freely. Question is, can you do it?” Howard asked as he stood up. He pointed down the corridor with the pistol. “First door on the left. We will serve dinner at five. If matters settle before that, we’ll chat again. Right now, we have an enemy horde to repel. Be glad you stopped here. Going further would be much worse.”

“What do you mean by that?” Gar asked as she got up with the other two.

“We’re just the outer line. The inner line has been working with the meteor metals for months now. How good is your imagination?” Howard asked as he walked down the corridor, opening the door to Cabin One.

“Better than it should be,” one of the other hippogriffs said as she went into the cabin. Once all three were in, Howard shut and locked the door, also adding an outside combination lock on a hasp.

Once all were locked in, Howard and Lucien went back to the Lounge for some coffee. “Think they’ll figure out how much is fact and how much is fantasy?” Lucien asked as he poured himself a cup.

“I hope they will be too worried to attempt to try. Is that heart attack spell serious?” Howard inquired as Lucien moved aside so he could get at the coffee pot.

“To be honest, yes it is. What ah didn’t tell ‘em is that ah have to be the one to trigger it. Ah’ll leave it to them to figure out how much was bluff an’ how much was truth. Ah think y’should unload that pistol and put it up,” Lucien advised as he removed the clip from the automatic.

“Good idea.” Howard removed the cylinder from the revolver and put it in his shirt pocket. “Let’s have some coffee first, then we’ll put them back in the armory.”

Author's Note

And so, the battle has begun. Can our intrepid heroes stop the full-blown invasion before they can get to the meteor metal, or will there be death and destruction on the Kansas river? Stay for the next exciting chapter, same bang place, same bang channel!

Thank you, Desmond. I don't know what it is with me, but for the past too damn long I have been flat exhausted. Wake up, pass out, wake up, make coffee, take meds, do readings, pass out then reawaken to some sort of coherence three hours later. Glad I see my PCP Tuesday. I'm getting sick of this Covid crap. 4 August is my second second birthday. Yippee frickin' skip.

Chapter 14: The Battle of Lecompton, Phase Two

Zvezda, after recovering from the shock of having her comm spell interrupted, decided to take matters into her own paws. This time, she had Impedimenta cast the commlink spell, tying herself, Impedimenta and Genghis together. Genghis was making good time to the artillery battery, but still had several more miles to go. “Impedimenta, you’re in charge of the camp. I’m going to take a look around. I may have to sink that barge myself!” she growled.

“Just be careful, Zvezda. We need you intact. We don’t have the dragon doctor here. You’re in command. Go watch and report. Don’t get stupid!” the unicorn mare snapped back at the much bigger dragon. “Remember that, Mission Commander!” Impedimenta could best be described as having a ‘prickly personality’, and often had to put Zvezda in her place and her mind on track. Years of working together in Equestria had earned each other's trust.

“Right, Imp. Get clear, getting ready to take off.” Impedimenta moved back while Zvezda positioned herself for her takeoff run. A fortunate gust of wind helped her up off the ground.

Meanwhile, over at the attempted artillery site, Vipers One and Two had climbed out of a bombing run, having dropped half their load of flash-bangs on the artillery force. Not only had they stunned the artillery force, one of the wagons had gone up in a flare of smoke and fire. A couple of inspection swoops revealed the NLAW rockets were either in pieces, or bent enough to put firing at them at high risk to the gunner. “Viper One to Buffalo Six, nice job. They won’t be doing any shooting at us from there,” Frack said over the radio to Twogogglehat.

“Good to hear, Viper One. Standing by for additional orders,” the chief said back to Frack.

Frack was about to reply, but got overridden by Doctor Macombe on the Voyager. “Gay-lactica to Vipers! Something is happenin’ at their campground! A large radar return has done appeared theah and is headin’ your way!” he sent telepathically via crystal.

“Ho, boy. Head for the clouds, Two! Better not let it see us!” Frack sent to his wingpony.

“Headin’ up, Frack! What’s the plan when we get up there?” Harry asked.

“More on that later, Viper Two. We need more information before attacking,” came the thought of Captain Crane.

“Understood, Commander. Heading for the clouds,” Harry thought as he and Frack flew up and out of sight.

“Galactica to Buffalo Six. Get under cover. Dragon heading your way,” Crane called over the radio to the buffalo.

“Get under shelter, Buffalo Six copies,” Twogogglehat said in English before switching to Lakota. “Dragon coming. Let’s get under cover,” he told his troop. Nothing more needed saying as they all went into a thick copse of trees off to the east.

Zvezda flew to where her artillery battery was supposed to be, following the roads to get there, flying high against the cloud deck for best long-range visibility. She could see Genghis and his troop proceeding along the road, not moving at max speed, but a good pace, so they would not be exhausted before any fighting, if needed. She trusted Genghis to do his job. If Vladimir trusted the big black earth pony, well, so could she.

It was not long before she arrived at the wreckage of the artillery battery, the thin smoke coming from a wagon marking the spot. Zvezda landed to check out the ponies. Long Tom was coming out of his stun when he saw the dragon’s head looming over him. “What happened?” she growled.

“A big herd of buffalo stampeded through, Z,” Long Tom managed to groan as consciousness returned to him, intimidated by the dragon’s glare. “They came from that way and went over that way. Follow the footprints.”

“I will. Check on the others and let me know if you’re capable of shooting anything. I doubt it, though,” Zvezda grumbled before walking off in the direction the buffalo went.

Up at the base of the overhead cloud bank, Vipers One and Two watched the dragon lumber north on Jones Street, its head swinging to and fro, sniffing for the buffalo. “Harry, I think it’s time to piss this dragon off enough for it to lose rationality,” Frack sent to his wingpony.

“How do you plan on doin’ that, Frack?” Harry sent back.

“Drop a couple of flash-bangs around its head. Enrage it enough to follow us, not the buffalo trail. Lead it to and past the boat, and either let its own greed take over, or let it try to mess with the Kettles.”

“Has anyone said youse is an evil, evil boid, Frack?” Harry replied, checking his remaining flash-bang loadout.

“My wife, constantly. She can get away with it. You can’t.”

“Should I be worried, Lead?”

“Now, no. Later, maybe. Depends on what she says,” Frack replied as he scanned the dragon about a thousand feet below. He then ‘switched channels’ mentally. “Bomber Eight to Enterprise. Activating Phase Two. Alert Midway for incoming attack. Ready Bomber Flight Two.”

“Enterprise copies traffic, Bomber Eight. Readying Bomber Flight Two. Will alert Midway. Don’t break your ass up there, unless you really want to piss off your wife!” Howard sent back.

“Understood, Enterprise. Pissing her off is not high on my list of Things To Do! Commencing bombing run on the Akagi,” Frack sent, waving to Harry to follow. Together, they swooped down to about five hundred feet, dropped two flash-bangs each, then made for the cloud deck.

One of Harry’s flash-bangs went far enough ahead of the dragon to get her to catch the flash, the others lending their bangs to the situation, which confused and stunned her for a moment. At that moment, the buffalo headed east, away from the dragon. Zvezda shook her head to clear it before heading north on the road, towards the Voyager. “Genghis, report position!” she sent via Impedimenta.

“Estimate a mile and a half from the artillery location. What’s the status?”

“Artillery team alive, artillery equipment destroyed. Detach a couple of your troops to guide the artillery team back to camp. You bring the rest up to the ship. Time to scuttle that damn nuisance!” the pissed-off dragon sent to her subordinate.

“Genghis copies. Increasing to a trot. We found Long Eyes, unconscious but alive. We’ll get her back to camp, too.”

“Very well, Genghis.”

In the Voyager’s control room, things got busy. “Lucien, ready the field. How long do you think you can hold it?”

“About half an hour befoah ah shut it off ‘cause ah run out of powah. Glad ah have a booster shot heah,” Lucien said as he took a potion vial and set it on the console near where he stood. “If ah use it, that gives me anothah half hour, but then ah’d be wiped out.” The vial shone a deep blue with random aqua glitters flickering from it.

“Get the diversion field up before she goes airborne again. I’ll call the Kettles. Julia, weapons to starboard, but do not activate until my express order. Illusions can easily be disbelieved,” Howard cautioned before switching the radio to another frequency. “Enterprise to Midway. Opposition nearing. Ready defenses.”

“Midway to Enterprise. Copy message, will ready offenses as well as defenses. No dragon is going to get the Heaven Stones, if I have them figured right,” Pa Kettle grumbled over the radio.

“Will call you when we see it heading your way. Enterprise out,” Howard finished before resetting the radio transmitter to his command frequency. He could receive the Kettles, but not send without switching frequencies.

“Howard, tell me again why we’re using call signs from World War Two, please,” Julia asked.

“Well, main thing is if the dragon somehow is listening to our radios, howinhell would she know what we are talking about?” Howard asked as he went to the stairs leading down to the Lounge.

“You have a point.”

Downstairs, Howard found Bernie and Carroll ready to go, wearing vests with twelve flash-bangs and two frag grenades. “Flight two, head out and meet flight one. Follow the river west and get above the clouds before turning. We’re putting the screen up,” he told his remaining fliers.

“Time to mess with a dragon’s mind, right?” Carroll asked as she and Bernie started going to the door.

“Show me a dragon with a mind and I might agree with you,” Bernie quipped as she followed Carroll out and up, pulling for the clouds.

Bomber Flights One and Two met above the cloud layer for a conference. “Okay, who’s going to bell the cat?” Harry asked.

“Leave that to me. Carroll, swap vests with me. I’ll lead, you and Harry follow. Bernie, you’re Attack Eight. You trail and supervise,” Frack said as he and Carroll settled onto the cloud to switch vests, giving Frack the full one. “We’re going to lead the dragon to the crater, where the Voyager is ‘waiting’. Let’s keep it on track and see what the Kettles are willing to do.”

“Pissing off a dragon is dumb,” Bernie observed.

“Pissing off a family of earth ponies that have ties to some sort of magic is dumber. We’re counting on one facet of dragons we know is true. Their greed,” Frack explained as he swapped ammo vests with Carroll.

“Don’t forget about a dragon’s temper, either,” Harry grumbled.

“Forget? I’m counting on its temper overriding its better judgment until it gets in range of the meteor metal. Then the greed kicks in. We know Pa doesn't take kindly to strangers nipping in and taking,” Frack replied.

“That’s what worries me,” Carroll said as she finished swapping vests, getting Frack’s depleted one settled on her griffon frame. “Country folk can be nasty when there’s no cops around.”

“It worries you, Carroll. I’m counting on it. Are we ready?” Frack asked, flapping gently up off the cloud. “Let’s piss off a dragon!”

Captain Crane, keeping a telepathic ‘ear’ bent on his bomber squadron, gave Lucien the signal to raise the screens. Lucien’s horn lit up a deep red color, and to those watching outside (nobody, but that didn’t matter), the Mississippi Voyager disappeared from its location downstream of the wreckage of the FR1029 bridge and reappeared inside the crater lake.

“Git’em tuh look wheres you wants them to, an’ that’s much o’the battle raht theah” Lucien muttered as he got the illusion spell going.

“How do you know so much about such things, Lucien?” Howard asked quietly.

“Military history is a hobby o’mahn, especially aftuh ah made half-colonel…” Lucien said absently, much of his attention on the illusion spell.

“When was that, nineteen sixty-five?” Howard asked jokingly.

“Nope. Nineteen seventy-one. Ah got put in charge of a hospital in Saigon, an’ ah figured ah should know at least the basics. Got hooked on it then an’ never forgot any.”

“I didn’t know that…” Howard muttered as he watched the action, rotating between the different gems.

Zvezda, after the flash-bang went off near her, recovered from her daze and glared around angrily, looking for the source. She hissed a little, smoke curling from a nostril. “Nobody does that to me and gets away with it!”

She spotted something coming from the cloud deck overhead. She focused on it, then BANG! A flash of light and a loud noise went off, dazing her again. “Yoo hoo! Lady Dragon!” she heard from somewhere in front of her and ahead. “Want another?”

Smoke puffed out from both nostrils, black acrid smoke. “Who dares?” she shouted in the direction of the voice, her vision currently wiped out, but clearing.

“I did! Gonna do something about it?” the voice jeered. “Here! Have another!” as another flash-bang went off, this one much closer to her head than the last one.

With a roar, Zvezda leaped into the sky, catching air under her wings. “Time to die, insolent one!” she roared, homing in on where the voice came from.

“How much ya wanna bet, you sorry sack of scales?” the voice came not from in front of her, but off to one side and above. “Youse gonna fall victim to thermogoddamits!”

“What is that?” Zvezda roared, banking toward the voice.

“You can’t win!” the voice shouted as another flash-bang went off, close enough to her tail so she could FEEL it.

When she turned in the direction of that bang, another one went off against her back, between the wings. “You can’t even break even!” said the voice, this time from in FRONT of her.

Confused and irritated, Zvezda gained altitude, going to the cloud bank to recover and have the moisture soothe the burn on her back. “And you can’t get out of the game!” the voice said from very close to her, just as another flash-bang went off, right next to her head.

Zvezda made it to the cloud deck, where she stayed still and quiet, letting her sight and hearing return and the dampness soothe her burns a little. She let herself stay there for a moment before she heard a voice say almost in her ear, a different voice than before. “We ain’t got all day to wait for you, lady! Either come up and out or down and out, we’ll be waiting for you! The deck IS six thousand feet thick, so choose! We like toying with loser dragons!”

“Who are you calling a loser?” Zvezda shouted, really getting annoyed.

“You,” that female voice said in her ear. “I would call you dumb, but that’s Casimir’s job.”

“How do you know Casimir? He’s not dumb, he’s an idiot. He’s also my younger brother,” Zvezda rumbled.

The voice in her ear giggled. “You are? I didn’t know he had relatives here. We thumped his ass good. Now, he’s learning, as is his moronic aide. Saint Louis likes them, and they like the Saint Louis ponies. Teamwork helps.”

Zvezda let loose a rumbling growl that would have loosened the bowels of many creatures. Fortunately, Bernie is not among that number. “You’re mine, whoever you are! Make peace with your life, because it will soon end!”

Another laugh was heard. “I’m on the boat. Where are you? Lost in the clouds? Hurry up, I have more toys with your name on it!”

With a roar, Zvezda headed under the cloud deck, well and truly pissed. Impedimenta tried to calm her down, but the dragon was completely lost to rage, ignoring her aide, mind focused on swatting those insolent pests! She spotted the Voyager, sitting in the lake that mostly filled the crater where the meteor impacted, thin plumes of smoke coming from its stacks. She beelined for the riverboat, thick puffs of black smoke coming from her nostrils.

Behind her, Bomber Flights One and Two came out of the clouds, watching the large blue and yellow dragon flying off, madder than a wet hen. “Step one complete. Let’s hope steps two and three work as well,” Frack sent to his comrades-in-arms.

“Here’s hoping. If that doesn't work, what will?” Harry asked.

“May we never have to find out, Third,” Howard said over the link. “Gunners, lock on as the target goes by, and let her have it!”

“Forward gunner copies. Guns ready,” Aaron ‘said’, followed by Arnie’s “Topside guns is ready. All set tuh rock and roll, Captain!”

Howard was on the Bridge, ocular to his right eye, looking out the starboard window. “Wait until it gets north of us, then do your damndest! Shred the wings!” he ordered as a call came over the radio.

“Midway to Enterprise. Akagi coming into sight. Request orders,” said Pa Kettle.

Howard switched the transmitter back to the Kettle’s frequency. “Midway, hold fire until we start shooting. When the attention shifts, open fire with everything you got. We’ll get the Akagi in a pincer move. Go with God’s guidance, Midway.”

“Copy that, Enterprise. No stranger is going to take anything without retribution!” Pa snapped.

“Enterprise ten-ten,” Howard said before switching freqs again. “Enterprise to Lawyer Buffalo. Report status.”

Twogogglehat was quick to respond. “Herd is intact, were not noticed. Drifting northward to ford river, heading to camp.”

“About to open fire. Watch for any other action,” Howard told the buffalo before returning attention to his gunners. He watched as the big dragon flew close to the boat, passing it on the west, heading to the crater. The bombers came to a halt south of the river. “Open fire!” he sent to his gunners.

The gunners didn’t hesitate. Aaron had control of the forward grenade launchers, Arnie the topside grenade launcher and machine gun, and Julia controlled the forward machine guns remotely from the bridge.

Zvezda was startled by the stings of grenades on her tail, then she felt the pain of her wing sails getting penetrated by bullets. With a roar, she turned to look behind her. Her roar got cut off when she felt bullets on her nose. In pain, the big dragon turned again to put her back to the stings, heading to the ground to land so she could focus her magic on shielding and healing. She aimed for the highest point she could find, on the crater rim.

“Gunners, cease fire! Bomber wing, go in to check. Stay near the clouds!” Howard said over the crystal net.

“Bomber Lead copies, Enterprise,” Frack sent as the guns went quiet.

“First, weapons tight until I say so,” Howard told Julia as he made his way outside to fly to the roof, ocular around his neck.

Since the meteor struck at an extremely oblique angle from the southwest, the crater turned out slightly lopsided, the highest point of the rim being on the northeast side, closest to the Kettle Kompound. Zvezda headed there to land and focus her magic to stop the pain she was feeling from her seared tail, punctured wings, and a headache from all those flash-bangs to the head.

She sprawled on the dirt of the hillside, wings spread, eyes shut, focusing on making the pain go away. As the pain ebbed slowly, she felt herself sinking slightly into the soft soil of the crater rim, the feel of the magic meteors giving her a pleasant buzz, making her more determined to get some for her hoard. She felt some ground snakes slithering over her legs, neck and tail, the touch also helping to ease her pain.

Fifteen minutes of focused rest, and her pain had subsided to aches, mainly in her wings, which were still healing the holes. “Feelin’ any better, madam?” a rather harsh voice asked, not far from her head.

Startled, her eyes opened to see a large earth pony, shiny black in color with a light green mane and darker green forelegs. Next to him on one side stood a sky-blue unicorn colt. On the other side was a white earth pony mare with dark green forelegs, a pink earth pony filly, and a yellow unicorn mare at the end. “Looks like you’ve run into a peck of trouble. Looking for something?” the big black earth pony asked.

“The meteor,” Zvezda growled. “Power booster.”

“Well, madam, if you want it so badly, why don’t you watch over it?” the earth pony said in a gentle voice before switching to a harsher tone, one echoed by the other four. “Watch it FOREVER!” they all chorused.

The two unicorn’s horns glowed as the three earth ponies stomped their forehooves deep into the loose soil. An aura surrounded the ponies before moving to the blue and yellow dragon. She roared once as she felt herself changing, her paws sending roots deep into the soil, her scales to leaves and flowers. Her head turned to stare at the lake as her vision changed. She could ‘see’ the meteor buried deep under the mud and waters of the crater, the ‘glow’ of dust and pebbles around the limits of her vision sharpening into focus. She knew where all the meteor metal laid around in front of her, and it was her job to prevent theft. Those who would make an offering to her, asking permission to find metal, she could grant permission. Anyone who failed to do so, she was free to kill. The thoughts filled her head to the exclusion of all else.

The ponies sat down on the ground, not heeding the rain which started increasing in intensity. Pa reached for the radio around his neck. “Midway to Enterprise. The special job is finished. Returning to base,” he said, fatigue rising up in him and the others.

“Enterprise copies transmission, Midway. Get some sleep. AAR can wait until tomorrow. We still have her army to deal with,” Howard said over the radio. “That’s our job.”

“May the good Lord above see what we have done here and forgive us for it. She wanted the Heaven Stones, now she can watch them forever,” Pa said as he and the others got to their feet and started making their way down the crater rim, the science crew coming up to help them down the slope.

“I second that thought, Pa. Enterprise ten-ten,” Howard said before putting the microphone down. “Lucien, shut down the illusion field. Next up is the ground force. Arnie, you get that all down on video?”

“Sho’ did, Captain. Glad ah did, or else ah would not believe it mahself!”

Back at the invasion force’s main base, Impedimenta let out a howl and broke the connection to Zvezda, rolling some on the ground to make sure her hooves were not taking root. That also broke the connection with Genghis, who had not yet reached the artillery site, but was close.

When she recovered from the shock, the first sight Impedimenta saw was Veggie Stew, looking at her. “What happened, Ped?” the brightly-colored pink and orange earth pony asked.

“Zvezda found the meteor. It was trapped. She’s caught in it, and I don’t know how to get her out,” Impedimenta explained. “It’s all gone wrong. River Force is lost, the artillery has been destroyed, and the dragon is no more.”

Veggie Stew considered the news. She might not be the brightest bulb in the box, but she is an excellent camp cook and a good pony to be around. “Vladimir is going to have a shit fit.”

“Tell me about it,” Impedimenta groaned as she got to her hooves. “I’m going to sound the recall. We’re going to have to think closely about our next move. Our main weapons are gone. I’m going to need to consult with Genghis and Long Tom about our next move, if any. I’m going to hate reporting to Vladimir.”

Veggie Stew tossed her head, sending her brilliant mane flying. “So, don’t. Toss the crystal set into the crater and join another community. We know of a few, right?”

“I’ll keep it in mind. We have to get together first. Let’s get to the radio.”

Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, about the same time

Ham was at the sensor controls in the aircraft, calling out sites of pebble-sized mana-intense debris for picking up by the ground team, with grabbers and insulated boxes, for sure. Getting a piece of that stuff near their counter-magic field could cause anything to happen, which is why the sample-return bucket is on a hundred-meter line hanging from the aircraft.

Ham’s display lit up with warning alarms. “Captain, intense mana usage coming from the southwest! It’s well within our suit’s protective limits, but I would not suggest going within five miles of the place for some time,” he reported, working the sensors to get a more precise fix.

The commander of the mission looked over Ham’s shoulder. “That’s down by the crater. Something’s going on down there that we’re going to have issues with,” she said, more thinking out loud than anything else.

“Going to consult with Base?” Ham asked as he watched the thaumic meters.

“Yes. I have an idea. If it gets okayed, I’m going to need you to ready several ground survey rovers. This needs monitoring, and at these power levels, we’re going to have to move cautiously,” the commander said.

“Two crawlers and a chopper. Not like there are intact paved roads handy,” Ham observed. “Use the chopper as a surveyor. Crawlers can’t ford deep streams.”

“Good point, Ham. Have the team gather samples to place in the return bucket. Let me do a consult before deciding on what’s next,” the commander told him. She was one of the better mid-grade officers, one whom Ham got along tolerably well with, even after two years in confinement.

Sunday, 25 June 2017, 1830 hours, dragon force camp, Lawrence, KS

Impedimenta called a council of the team’s leadership, they being herself, Genghis, Long Tom, and Veggie Stew, who was in charge of logistics as well as being head cook.

“You all know the situation we’re in. What I’m looking for is options. I cannot raise Zvezda or Gar with the comm spell, our weapons are useless, and the only way we’re going to get any meteor metal is by going under the flight path and searching.

“First question: What do we tell Vladimir, if anything? I’m sure we all know how he’s going to react,” Impedimenta told the group.

Genghis was the first to speak. “Vladimir is going to be incensed if we return without answers. What happened to Zvezda? What happened to Gar and her team? Where are the buffalo Long Tom encountered? Why was Long Eyes returned unharmed? Those are questions we need answered, or else Vladimir may kill us all in a fit of rage. That’s how I got my position, when my predecessor, Attila, pissed off Vladimir. Vlad did say he was tasty when done to medium rare.”

Veggie Stew spoke up, unusual for her. She’s good at her job, but planning was not one of them. “Why not send an emissary or two to the riverboat and ask? We know Gar and her team were on the way to attack the boat before they vanished. For all I know, they were captured or killed. Why not just ask?”

Long Tom decided to say something. “Why not? We have few arms to fight with at a distance, despite Genghis’ known skills in combat, well, the best swordspony cannot stand up to a grenade launched from a thousand feet, right?” he said, jittering some.

To everypony’s surprise, Genghis agreed. “It would indeed be foolish to charge in against a foe we have underestimated. We do need to find out what is going on, then make a decision based on that. Vladimir is truly not going to be happy. We may want to relocate, but where?”

“Where will there be a place that can accept twenty-five ponies right off? We may have to float check the crystal comm set and let those who want to return to Cincinnati bring him the news,” Impedimenta put into the pot.

“Won’t be me!” Veggie Stew said loudly. “I’m told Long Eyes and I can look forward to a long life together, and I’m not going to jeopardize it to be the bearer of bad news to a tempestuous dragon!”

Long Tom swallowed before speaking. “How about we send Long Eyes to the boat with a note to float out thoats to them?” he managed to say.

Impedimenta was quick to reply. “No, not Long Eyes. Quick Claw, the griffin. He can give better descriptions of what he sees. Ask for a meeting mid-morning tomorrow? The four of us go to parley?”

“Acceptable,” Genghis said. “We need data before determining action. Even Vladimir can accept that.”

“You fill Quick Claw in, I’ll write the note. Be back in half an hour. Meeting adjourned until QC returns with the answer,” Impedimenta said before taking out paper, pen and clipboard from her saddlebag.

Mississippi Voyager, 2000 hours

Captain Crane, along with much of the crew, was in the Lounge, amidst a poker game consisting of Jason dealing, Julia, Lucien, Arnie and Howard playing. The pegasi and griffin were sleeping, and Aaron had the watch. Lucien had once again demonstrated his skill in bluffing, managing to take a decent pot with a busted straight. Jason was dealing because he could be trusted not to cheat. It was known somepony had accused him of cheating at cards. Said pony now sports an interesting scar pattern on his nose.

Aaron spoke over the intercom instead of reporting in person. “Captain, please look out the starboard forward windows and tell me I’m seeing what it is I’m seeing.”

Everyone at the table turned to look southeast. Howard picked up the phone to the bridge. “I see a griffon flying our way with a large white flag flying under him. Is that what you see, Mister Tereshkov?”

“That’s what I see, Captain. It’s heading this way. What would you like done?” Aaron asked.

“Light up the foredeck and we’ll meet it there. Man the bridge guns and have them ready. We’ll go out to meet them,” Howard told his crewman.

“Bridge aye, Captain.”

Howard led the poker players, except Jason, outside, to watch the griffin approach. When it was in range, the griffin called down, “Request permission to land and deliver a message!”

Arnie’s and Lucien’s horns lit up. “Permission granted!” Howard called up, pointing to where the griffin should land.

When the griffin touched down, carefully gathering the white flag under him, he asked, “Who is in charge here?”

Howard stepped forward. “I am, son. Howard Crane, captain of the Mississippi Voyager,” he said calmly. “Who are you and what is your message?”

“I am Quick Claw, from Pittsburgh. My current leader wishes to parley tomorrow mid-morning,” he explained, pulling out an unsealed envelope from his chest pouch. “Will you accept?”

Howard read the short note before passing it to Julia. “We will accept. When we see your team, we will cross the river for pickup and conversation,” he told the courier.

“If I may ask, Captain, what happened to Gar and her team, and what happened to Zvezda? We admit to confusion and wonderment,” Quick Claw asked.

“Gar and her team were captured early, and are confined aboard. Would you like to bring them back to your compound? They can tell you how we are,” Howard explained.

Quick Claw did not hesitate. “Any who wishes to accompany me are welcome to do so. What about Zvezda?” he asked.

“A question that we will answer tomorrow. Demonstrations are in order. Would you like some coffee while we get the hippogriffs?” Howard asked.

“Yes, please. Black would be…” Quick Claw trailed off as Jason brought out a mug of steaming black coffee. “...all right…”

Lucien smiled at QC’s wonderment. “Come on insahd an’ ah’ll get the ladies. Up tuh them if they want tuh go back or not,” he said with genuine warmth, his red glow extending to tug on QC’s unoccupied arm.

Ten minutes later, the griffin and three hippogriffs were on the foredeck along with Howard and Julia. Gar carried a radio along with her regular gear, as did the other members of her team. “When you get close, call us and we will cross the river to meet you. We’re looking forward to the chat,” Howard told them.

“I know it, Captain,” Gar said with a little warmth. “With you, we were never in real fear of our lives, but we know the threat was there if we misbehaved. You proved to us we had little to fear, and we will relay such to Impedimenta. Until tomorrow, then?”

Howard nodded, then held out a paw, which all the guests shook. “Until tomorrow mid-morning. See you then!” he said before stepping back, allowing the flock to take off.

“Think this will work, Howard?” Julia asked.

“I certainly hope so. There’s not enough of us left in this world to fight each other. Only by working together will we thrive. May we boost our teams, not reduce them,” Howard sighed as he watched the three hippogriffs and a griffon fade into the twilight.

Author's Note

Finally, I gathered enough strength to do this chapter. May the next one be less than five to six weeks. I have some ideas I may want to put down today before napping for the Nth time.

I hope you all like this chapter. If so, let me know, okay? What did I do right, what did I do wrong? Tell me, so I can make the wrongs right and the rights righter!

Chapter 15: The Battle of Lecompton, Phase Three: The Aftermath.

Monday, 26 June 2017, Mississippi Voyager, 1130 hours

Impedimenta, Genghis, Long Tom, Veggie Stew and Gar sat on one side of the long table in the Lounge, while Captain Crane, First Officer Crowne, Engineer Frack, Doctor Macombe, Ma and Pa Kettle, and from Kansas City, Silverwing sat on the other side. Negotiations and discussions had been going on since 0900, and a concordance was being reached.

“So, for those of you wanting to stay up here, I know a spot not far away,” Pa Kettle said sternly to the former dragon team. “I will be perfectly happy to help you set up, teach you how to farm and such, but you have got to depend on yourselves. I’ll happily help those who ask for help, but I will not put up with freeloading ponies. Do you all understand?” He glowered at the ponies.

“We understand, Mister Kettle,” Impedimenta said quietly. “Out of the twenty-five in the troupe, ten of us will be staying here, myself included. Those of us staying, well, we swore allegiance to Zvezda back in Pittsburgh or on the way here, and with what has happened to her, we don’t feel right leaving her be.

“We welcome your assistance until we can go on our own. Four earth ponies, a pegasus, a griffin, one hippogriff, two unicorns and a diamond dog will stay here. We just have to come up with housing.”

“We can provide some sturdy tents, and we will help you build better shelter before the snow flies, plus a storm shelter,” Ma Kettle said. “We hope to call you ‘good neighbors’ soon enough, but you will pardon us when I say you’re going to have to earn it.”

Genghis spoke up after some coffee. “We will work hard to earn that title, Miz Kettle,” he said slowly but surely. “If this area proves to be a magnet for those who wish to take the meteor metal, my skills as a warrior may prove good to have.”

“We will be glad to have them,” Pa declared. “Now, if I recall right, the rest of you are thinking of splitting between Kansas City and Saint Louis, with one wanting to go to New Orleans. Silverwing, will the ponies there accept those who want to go?

Silverwing nodded, her mane flying about some. “Of course! We can always use more hooves. We have plenty of room, as does Saint Louis. They just have to remember one thing, there are more of us than there are of them. Since the ponies of both former cities live closer together, we’re all sure we can handle any troublemakers.”

“One thing I want to know is,” Frack asked, “what about Vladimir? What do you think his reaction will be when he finds out?”

Genghis snorted, as did Gar. They were both from Cincinnati. “Vladimir is going to have an absolute conniption fit,” Genghis said. “He might get so upset, he will destroy his lair before he settles. I hope Neb gets the rest of the ponies clear before they all get annihilated.”

“Neb is his main assistant, right?” Howard asked.

“Yes, like I am to Zvezda,” Impedimenta said. “Nebulous Nimbus is good at his job. Heck, all of us aides to dragons are well-matched.”

“We’ve met Coronavirus and Casimir in Saint Louis,” Julia told the ponies. “I have to agree with what you said. Those two get along well together.”

“Futility and hopelessness in tandem,” Frack muttered.

“Dumb and dumberer as a team,” Lucien added.

“How right you are!” Impedimenta, Genghis and Gar said simultaneously.

“If’n ah may ask, just why did Casimir and Coronavirus come to this world from Equestria?” Lucien asked.

“The lure of easy treasure, easy pickings, and few, if any, other dragons. Casimir is Zvezda’s younger brother, and while he didn’t have the wit to do things on his own, he was loyal to his big sister and would follow her,” Impedimenta explained. “She tolerated him, because he did have some use. Not much, but some.”

Julia snorted around a mug of coffee. “I’ve known people like that before the Event. Limited use, but find where they’re good at and keep them there, they will be an asset, not a liability.”

Gar spoke up. “Pardon me for asking, First, but what did you do Before?” she asked.

“I worked tugboats, both river and oceangoing, out of New Orleans. From deckhand to Captain. When this idea was sounded out, I was second on the sign-up list to join on to the venture,” Julia explained. She then pointed at Howard. “He was first. What did you do, Gar?”

“Retired Army Special Forces, due to disablement from Afghanistan. Waking up whole, in this form, is a lot better than being wheelchair-bound in Wheeling, West Virginia. I fell in with Vladimir when I got to Cincinnati and was offered a place to not be alone. I took him up and lived well for some time, right, Genghis?” Gar said.

Genghis nodded. “The more competent a pony is, the better their life. Not to say the bottom of the stack lived poor, just less well than the top. Vladimir’s arrival was a blessing, getting the scattered ponies to work together. When Attila took one step too far, I took his place and all was well. Now, though, I would not trust Vladimir with a bent paperclip. I like the idea of how to let him know. Much safer for us that way.”

“Yes, it is,” Howard said from his place at the table. “Just wish we could have a camera there to see what happens.”
“Can’t blame you for that, Captain,” Frack said with a smile. “Knowing my big brother, he has something fiendish planned. Just what, I don’t know.”

“After lunch, you’re going to break camp and move up here, right?” Pa asked Impedimenta.

“Correct, Mister Kettle,” Impedimenta told the earth pony. “We all will go back to the camp, break it down, and come back to here. We’ll cross the river and make camp on the north side. Tomorrow, you show us where you want us to be and we will start. Those who do not want to stay will remain near the Voyager until it is ready to leave. We’ll want to act swiftly to get crops in before the cool comes.”

“Crops in and housing up,” Veggie Stew added. “I would suggest a longhouse at first, and tackle smaller houses next year. A longhouse with a big cellar.”

“With Husky here, he can dig a big, strong enough cellar with your help, Stew,” Impedimenta said in response, referring to the diamond dog who will be staying. “Mister Kettle, where can we find building materials?”

Pa thought some before replying. “Trees, sod, logs are easy to find. Modern-type wood and beams will be harder to get.”

Ma spoke up then. “Pa, what about the sheep ranch up on Linn Road? Last we looked, the house was reasonably intact. It should be big enough for those staying for a while at least until they can build a proper place closer to the dragon tree. The only reasons we built new is that the farmhouse where we are got flattened by debris and J.J. is a good student, remembering what J.S. taught him.”

“Hays Brothers? All the sheep ran off, but you’re right, the buildings are still there. What you say, Ped? We take you there for the first camp before finding another place?”

Impedimenta looked at those who came with her to the meeting. After a few seconds, she gave her response. “Sounds good to us, Mister Kettle. We know where there is a lot of good wood available for house building, but… it’s the remains of the flatboats we used to get down the Ohio River. The wood is stashed on the west side of the Mississippi about a mile downstream of the junction. Getting it here will be difficult.”

Howard, Julia, Lucien and Frack put their heads together virtually and had a quick conference, their gems glowing with use. After a moment or two, the conclave broke and Howard looked at the former dragon force. “On the advice of Her Majesty Queen Marie, who has been listening in on our conference, she says we can offer a service. We can bring the lumber here, along with some ‘offerings’ for the dragon, in exchange for twenty pounds of meteor metal, to be delivered to New Orleans on or before this date in twenty-eighteen. What say you that?”

Everypony at the table looked startled at the offer. “Twenty pounds by next year? I’m sure we can do that,” Impedimenta said. “What will she offer to Zvezda?”

“Gems and jewelry that can be recovered from where they can be found. Think Zvezda would go for it?” Howard asked.

Impedimenta did not hesitate. “Yes. Her pile in Pittsburgh is big enough for her to sleep on. Shallow layer, but big enough. Stuff like that will get her favor.”

The discussion was interrupted then by the ringing of a bell. Lunch had been set up, and Jason sounded the call. The group stopped talking to get on the serving line. True to his skill, Jason had made a lunch spread such that everypony found something to enjoy. The groups headed back home after lunch in an optimistic mood.

Wednesday, 28 June 2017 0700 hours CST

Nebulous Nimbus woke to the buzzing of his crystal ball, the two-toned sound indicating it was from Zvezda, or more properly Impedimenta. The dragons used the balls, but it takes a trained unicorn to operate them. “What you want, Ped? What’s news?” Neb yawned.

“Neb, be sure Vladimir is listening to WSU radio in one hour, at nine your time. He will be receiving a message he will not like. Be sure you are well clear of him when he hears it. You’re a friend, and I don’t want you hurt, got it?” Impedimenta said in the most severe tones Neb has ever heard from her.

“Sure, sure. I’ll be sure he’s listening. What is this all about?” Neb asked.

“You’ll find out. It’s a follow-up from the WSU about what’s been going on out here. Try to be in Dayton by then. Or Covington. Got it?”

By then, Neb was wide awake. “Oh, I got it. What happened?” he asked, but he was talking to a dead circuit. He tried to make a return call, but it was ignored.

The frizzy-maned unicorn broke into a cold sweat. For Impedimenta to behave the way she just did, the news could not be good. He went to Vlad’s lair, made sure the dragon was awake and breakfasted, the WSU station was on, then he made an excuse to go out and check on the progress of several chores, what with Genghis being gone, somepony had to keep an eye on matters, and he was that somepony. Making sure the crystal ball, trail supplies, a portable world-band radio and some other necessaries were packed in his saddlebags, Neb made tracks not for the day’s work sites, but to the farming stations west of the city center, where the station Vladimir used as a lair was. He just hoped it was far enough away. The in-city repair work was clear of the potential blast radius.

At nine a.m. Vladimir was listening to the radio as he sorted through his horde, contemplating addition of the products of the meteor metal. An unusual sound came from the radio, something harsh and blaring, before Captain Frick came on the air.

“It’s three p.m. in Maasvlakte, two p.m. in London, ten a.m. in Halifax, and in Cincinnati, it’s six forty-two, and time for a special alert for that city.

“Vladimir, this is to let you know your mission to get metal from the meteor that landed a few months ago is an abject failure. Your artillery strike never made it off the ground, Impedimenta, Genghis and everyone else defected from you to the WSU, and just to let you know, Casimir and Coronavirus have been working for the Saint Louis colony since March. They helped him gather your tithe, which I hope you’re enjoying. Zvezda has been neutralized, and is now watching over the crater. If you want to speak to her, you are welcome, under flag of truce, to fly in and speak with her, if you can. Any offensive actions will be harshly repelled.

“This is your only warning. If you and your cities wish peaceful trade with the outside world, we of the WSU will willingly do so. Any treachery will be met with equal or greater harshness.

“Oh, Capo has a message for you, Vladimir,” Frick said before a flutter of wings was heard as the macaw landed on the mic stand.

“You’re cooked, you’re cooked, you brainless schnook! You’re cooked, you’re cooked, you brainless schnook!” Capo squawked into the microphone before fluttering off.

Frick came back onto the radio. “Thank you, Capo, for that illuminating message. A podcast describing the attempt to take the meteor metal is being assembled now, putting together reports from several ponies, including the Kettles, a family who took possession of the area of the crater back in early May and know how to use the raw ore. We have not mentioned them by their request, but now they have given permission. They also say anyone trying to take what land they have claimed as their own will be met with harsh resistance.

“WSU radio now returns to their regularly scheduled broadcasting. Back to DJ WSU.”

The cloud of thick, black smoke that rose from several air vents surrounding Vladimir’s lair blanketed Cincinnati until almost noon before dispersing.

Thursday, 29 June 2017, 1100 hours, Lecompton, KS.

Everypony had gathered at the boat ramp on the north bank of the Kansas River, the crew of the Voyager, the former dragon force, the residents of the Kettle Kamp, and the science team. The Voyager was about to set sail, heading back to Kansas City to refuel, drop off those of the former invasion team who wished to resettle there, and go to Saint Louis before returning to New Orleans for a brief refit.

The science team had opted to remain at the Kettle Kamp, conducting research on the meteor metal. About thirty pounds of ore had been gathered and was to be brought back, some going to Kansas City to be worked on, some to New Orleans and the rest to Maasvlakte. The science team took the time to refuel their truck, the Voyager crew having reclaimed theirs, plus an additional barrel of diesel that would have to last them until the next riverboat made it there.

Of the attack force, Impedimenta, Genghis, Long Tom, Long Eyes, Veggie Stew, a large brawny diamond dog who goes by the name ‘Husky’, Quick Claw the griffin, and three earth ponies from Genghis’ war squad had opted to stay there in Kansas. They had moved into the former sheep ranch the day before, and were still trying to make it livable. They had a long way to go, but it kept them dry at night.

“The Mississippi Ranger will be here in about a week or so, to see how you’re doing and help out if needed. Captain McClelland is a decent sort, and if you need anything, she will do her best to get it to you. As for us, I can’t say when we will be back. More than likely, we’re going to be sent up the Ohio River. As for the planking, I’m sure either the Ranger or the Star will bring it,” Hayward told the group.

“I have an idea, Captain,” Julia said. “The Ranger is near Saint Louis. Why not ask them to go downriver to the Ohio, find the wood, and bring it up? Should postpone their arrival here by ten days at most. Something to bounce up to the Colonel, right?”

Howard nodded. “Good idea. What do you all say?” he asked, waving a wing at the crowd.

Laura was the first to speak. “Send me an email message and I can pass it on. Hopefully, the Ranger has something we can use for a radio system.”

“If not, the Star will. It’s still down in New Orleans. I’ll call down there and inform Command you can use such a thing. I’m sure they can come up with something,” Howard told the group. “Now, all aboard!”

The crew and passengers filed up the starboard gangplank onto the Voyager, the KC crowd in the Lounge, the Saint Louis group in their staterooms, plus the one who wants to go to New Orleans. She was born and raised there, and was in Louisville for a business trip when the Event happened. She didn’t care that there was a Queen in charge, she just wanted to go home.

The gangplank was withdrawn, the gasifier had already been started, and the anchors slowly raised from the river bottom, letting the Voyager go with the current, to Kansas City, where a refueling stop and a break there before heading back to New Orleans.

Author's Note

And so completes the meteor metal arc. Now, for me to take a bit of time to confirm where I want to go next, and get started on it. If you like what you have read so far, won't you write and tell me? How else am I going to improve my game unless I know what I'm doing worng?

See you next time!

Chapter 16: What the HPI did afterward

Sunday, 25 June 2017, 1500 hours, north of Topeka, KS

Ham and Judy were outside the main HPI craft, two rovers and a drone between them, undergoing checkout before release. “I’m telling you, Judy, that mana flash a couple of hours ago damn near blew the sensors! I had to run a level-one check on the sensor arrays to make sure they hadn’t overloaded!”

“I believe you, Ham. We on the scout party detected it on our hand-helds. It washed them out, and we had to go back and check again. Good thing we did, cause I found a six-pound chunk of the stuff,” Judy told him as she ran the final checkout on the drone.

“You found that one?” Ham asked before whistling. “If that size record holds up, you’re in for something good from Command.”

“I would trade all my attaboys for more time outside. I’m not looking forward to going back to the rabbit warren,” Judy grumbled as she stepped back from the drone, whose rotors began to spin.

“Once we let these go, let’s check out that Wal-Mart. I’m sure we can find plenty of fresh booze to replenish our stocks,” Ham commented, pointing at the store off in the middle distance.

“That will get us back in someone’s good graces. I swear, the white lightning’s getting worse by the week!” Judy declared as the drone took off.

“We’re also running low on flavors, unless you DO like the pink grapefruit!” Ham laughed as the two rovers, having passed checkout, lumbered off, chasing the drone. “Team One to Control, drone and rovers are loose, We’re going to go shopping at the Wal-Mart. Any requests?”

“No, I think you got our requests down already, Ham,” the voice of the mission commander came from his headphones. “Think you can be done in two hours or less?”

“More than likely, Control. You watch the clock, we’ll get the goods!” Ham said as he and Just started walking to the Wal-Mart. Despite the lightness of the suits, you don’t dare run while wearing one. Running leads to tripping, tripping leads to falling, falling leads to tears, tears lead to mana ingress, mana ingress leads to crispy critter. Not good if you’re the critter.

One hundred minutes, eight shopping carts loaded with bottles of booze, eight more with beer, the assistance of a four-man team, and two carts loaded with powdered fruit mix later, Ham and Judy got back aboard the mother craft. The commander met with the team as they shed their suits. “Great call on raiding the Wal-Mart. Command will appreciate it. They’re not in favor of sending a craft out just for booze, but since we were already out, right?” she said with a laugh, selecting a bottle of brandy from a cart.

“You got that right, Commander!” Judy said with a smile as she selected a bottle of vodka and a bottle of whiskey. As the originators of the idea, Ham and Judy got to take two bottles off the top.

“We’re going to circle far to the south before heading back. The crater’s still thaumically hot, plus natives are there. Just good to remain out of sight, right?”

“Good point, Commander,” Ham said, putting his booze bottles down so he could remove and stow the anti-thaumic suit.

Monday, 26 June 2017, 0800 hours, southern Missouri

Ham sat at his sensor console, the faint headache behind his eyes a reminder of the ship-wide ‘party’ last night. Nobody got really drunk, but after a long time being stuck with white (or red, or pink, or purple) lightning, some real liquor felt good going down.

A ping came on one of his sensors, one he did not expect any activity on. Once he tracked it down, he called the Commander. “Madam, I’m picking up an HPI transponder coding north of Branson. Running check on the coding,” he reported.

The commander was there before Ham could send a request back to base. “That’s Lexington’s craft! When he hared out early last year, we wondered why we could not find it. He must have disabled the transponder, only allowing it to send once it received a signal from another HPI craft. Got a fix on its position?” she asked.

“Yes, I do. It’s about fifteen miles north of Branson, bearing three-four-four degrees from city center. Sending co-ordinates to Navigation. We going to go look?” Ham asked.

“Yes, once I check in with Base. Wonder what happened to him. Well, we’ll soon find out!” The commander said cheerfully as she made her way to the Radio panel to check in. It was only a few minutes later when the HPI craft banked left, heading for the beacon.

Circling the site, at first, nothing was visible except trees. Focusing ship’s sensors, they found the trees were concealing an old Cold War missile silo, one long deactivated. Further scans did reveal traces of the silo having been used recently, exhaust stacks showing recent deposits of hydrocarbon residue. Further search found the transport craft Lexington had stolen, concealed beneath camouflage nets.

Once a way in had been determined, the commander, along with Ham and Judy, got to don suits and head inside to investigate. They found that the place was an old missile silo, with traces of habitation, a power generation system, a burned-out shield generator, and two charred, decayed corpses. The team took samples from the corpses, then checked the computer system. The power systems still had enough remaining power to run the computers, so the three wasted no time to download what data was on there, for return to Base for examination.

Judy got the job of doing a thorough inspection of the inhabited section, finding stray notes, two pallets, a pile of decaying mouse food, and a collection of mouse corpses. She collected the notes in a carry bag, met up with Ham and the commander, then went back to the mother ship for the ride back to the rabbit’s warren they called home.

Unseen by the HPI personnel, several mice with varicolored tails watched the humans work, staying well away from the shielding fields, sending their sight and hearing to the Big Ones, who were in a deep cavern fifteen miles away, in the Talking Rocks Cavern, well down from the tourist portions.

“Well, they took that part of the bait, Lex,” Amelia said quietly, focused more on receiving the signals from the mice than on talking, but she was heard.

“I hope it’s convincing enough, Amelia. I’m sure they are going to go gaga over my shielding notes. I’m sure they will be readable, but there is no way they could interpret and build from them in less than a year, maybe two. I know the idiots in the lab. Deciphering won’t be hard, it’s implementing what I have written down that will be hard,” Lex said in reply.

“Then again, it’s not like we need the shielding fields now, right?” Amelia said rhetorically, glancing at her light brown furred paw.

“No, we don’t. Not any more. The Gen-fives are working out just fine. The Gen-sixes will be even better. All generations are to be honored. They know it, we know it,” Lex muttered as he watched the three suited figures exit the door to the missile silo they had called home for months.

“Maybe now we won’t have to look over our shoulders as much as we have, Lex.”

“We’ll still take precautions, but we can relax some. I’m just glad we have our diamond dog aide to do much of the outside running about. He loves the mice, they love him.”

“Just glad we have the help, Lex.”

Author's Note

After posting chapter 15, I realized that I had omitted the HPI's side of things. So, today I fixed that. All today. Don't ask how I managed it, I still have not figured it out myself. Any questions, feel free to ask.

Now, to lie down and rest up.

Chapter 10: Company's Here, Ma!

Monday, 5 June 2017, not far from the impact site, northeast of the crater

Pa came out of the sturdy army-surplus tent into the bright morning light as the rooster announced the rising of the sun, taking a breath of the sweet, clean air before going to coax the fire to life from the banked coals of the night before. Near the tent, a small house was under construction, framed out with a thatched roof for now, but a stack of shingles waited under a tarp. Around the house site, five fields, a hundred feet on a side, with a small rock berm surrounding each field. The fields were blooming with a bountiful crop of corn, wheat, potatoes, and two fields of mixed vegetables.

Once the fire was going, Pa went to the well to draw up a bucket of water to make coffee. Several hens clucked contentedly from a small coop and run, chicks pecking at the ground. He got the coffeepot started before feeding the chickens and collecting eggs, after glaring at the rooster to keep away as he gathered eggs.

The two children, Pepper and J.J. (short for Julius Junior), came out of their tent, going to the well to wash up before going to help Pa with morning chores. It took a half-hour or so to get breakfast made, Ma waking up to get that started, porridge and omelets for each of them. After that, it was time for chores.

“Ma, you clean up around here before tending the chickens and the vegetable patches. Pepper, you and I are to work on the fields, and J.J. handles getting the house built. What are your estimates on completing it, J.J.?” Pa asked.

“A few more weeks, Pa,” JJ said. “Tomorrow, we should plan on a run to Oskaloosa for more parts and wood. I think six inches of dirt in the outer walls should be enough insulation.”

“Good thing your daddy is a fine builder, and you learned a lot from him. Think you can handle the roof and chimneys when it comes time?” Ma asked.

J.J. nodded, his mane and horn glistening in the morning sunlight. “I think so, the Good Lord willing. He’s brought us this far, what with the Heaven Stones and our ability to use them properly,” he said with sincerity.

“Yes, he has. Why we have not met anyone else yet, well, He has his reasons. Until such time, let us get our house together,” Pa said before rising. “Let’s get to work.”

5 June 2017, 1000 hours, West Bottoms Pier

The Mississippi Voyager came to a gentle stop alongside the pier, Aaron making sure the bumpers were in place before getting the lines set and deploying the port side gangplank. Smoking Horn, Silverwing, Caleb and Landry waited pierside as the Voyager was made ready to receive them. Once all was set, Aaron showed the four to the Lounge, where Captain Crane, Chief Officer Crowne, and Doctor Van Hoosen awaited, with coffee and pastry.

After introductions, pleasantries, and the pouring of coffee, Smoking Horn got matters underway, preceding words with a cloud of cherry-vanilla smoke. “Heard from Twogogglehat last night. They arrived at the crater site, and found some small bits of the meteor. First impressions are that the meteor debris resonates with one’s magic. Just how, Wakinya does not yet know. It has been less than a day, and he’s still a kid,” he reported.

“That he is,” Captain Crane said after a bite of beignet. “Can we sail up the Kansas River to the crater site?”

“Much of the way, yes. You can sail to where the flood waters from the lake entered the Kansas River. The remaining distance, the river is too shallow. Hope your vehicles are off-road capable,” Smoking Horn said through a smoke cloud.

“Two longbed four-by-fours, plus ponies who can drive them. Hopefully we’ll have enough fuel to make at least a first-level analysis,” Doctor Van Hoosen said.

“Here’s hoping,” Silverwing said after some coffee. Roscoe can make good coffee, but Jason makes great coffee, and won’t tell how he does it..

“How is Jenny settling into the group?” Howard asked.

“Wonderfully,” Caleb said, with Landry squeaking agreement. “She’s teaching me how to do smithing. We’ve barely started, but her discipline is showing in just about everything she does.”

Julia spoke up. “She’s teaching you how to smith, but how are you going to refine the ore into iron that can be worked?”

“She’s working on that,” Smoking Horn said. “She’s been talking with Maasvlakte on just how to do such a thing. She’s never had to work from raw ore before.”

“Did you go back to Leavenworth to find her tools?” Howard asked.

Smoking Horn nodded, a cloud of smoke coming from his ever-present briar. “We went up a week after you left. We did find her tools. We also found quite a bit of debris damage all throughout the town and fort. The Exchange and Commissary were both heavily damaged. When she saw the damage, she asked me to find out how to thank Raven properly for saving her life.”

“What did the old crow say?” Frack asked as he entered the Lounge.

“I quote, ‘Knew the jackass has some redeeming value!’” Smokey snorted, trying to hide a laugh. Nobody else did.

“What did she say about that?” Frack asked.

“Haven’t told her. I did say that he is pleased she decided to express her thanks in such a way he could receive it, namely, through me,” Smokey said before dipping and eating a beignet in his coffee. “Followed by that the ways of deities are truly unknowable to mortal beings, so don’t try to figure it out until he calls you.” Frack literally blew coffee out his nostrils at that last line.

‘
6 June 2017, 1300 hours, northeast of the crater lake

Twogogglehat, Wakinya, and the rest of the small herd stood atop a small hill, looking down at the tents, fields, shed, chicken run and partially built house. “This has to be new. This could not have survived the impact,” Chief Twogogglehat said quietly in Lakota.

“If so, then where are they?” Strat asked.

“Don’t know. They have not been gone long, and I’m sure they will be back by nightfall,” Wakinya said as he looked at the fields. “Lots of magic here, and it’s being guided. Lots of earth pony magic, and water creation magic keeping a well full of pure water. That much I can sense from here.”

“Guided?” asked one of the other cows, a paler brown in color, named ‘Cookie’.

Wakinya pointed to one of the fields with a hoof. “From what I feel, an earth pony worked the field, the stones picked up on what the earth pony was doing, and is maintaining the earth pony influences without needing the earth pony,” he said before pointing at the low well. “Over there, the enchantment is to provide cool clean water, probably from a unicorn. I’m not positive, but that’s what I feel.”

“Looks like we should just wait until whoever lives here comes back, so we can have more questions answered,” Twogogglehat rumbled. “Until then, I’m going to call Smoky and let him know what we found.” He moved off a way to call his fellow shaman and speak unobserved.

After the report, which was done in Lakota, Smoking Horn went back to the Lounge, where ship crew and passengers were finishing up a very good lunch, courtesy of Jason. “So, ponies are living there, and have found some of the meteors. What do you think of the report, Doctor Laura?” Howard asked the astrogeologist.

“I’m intrigued,” she said. “Apparently, the raw meteoric debris not only reacts strongly to magic, it’s like the magic is ‘programmable’ to whoever first uses it. What I would like to know is, can said debris be ‘reprogrammed’, how much is needed to generate an effect, and what happens when the ore is put through a blast furnace, then a forge. Will it retain the magic-guiding properties, or will it fade in processing, leaving plain metal?”

“That makes this meteor the most valuable object on the planet,” Smoking Horn said gravely, letting out a cloud of smoke that was not cherry-scented, but smoke-scented. Acrid smoke, too. “Can you say ‘gold rush’?”

“More than that,” Howard added, “ponies and non-ponies alike will beeline here. I’m worried about the dragons along the Ohio River. What will they do when they hear about the capabilities, and what can they do with it?”

“No doubt they will send some sort of expedition this way. Question being, how many, which way, and what will they do?” Frack asked, in his capacity as senior WSU rep on the scene. “We may have to uncork the unpleasant surprises, Captain.”

“What sort of surprises, Frack?” Landry squeaked.

“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?”

“Point made, Frack,” Landry said before enjoying a sip of cold Sprite. Excess caffeine made the breezie twitchy, so he avoided it except in the morning.

2030 hours, the camp by the crater

Ma and Pa pulled their faithful wagon stolidly into the camp, said wagon loaded with wood, screws, nails, several large buckets of spackle compound, and other pieces needed to build a house, care for chickens, and run their little farm. Pepper and J.J. followed, J.J. puffing some from the six-plus mile walk from town. He was a unicorn, not an earth pony like the others, and consequently has less stamina. J.J. helped his grandparents out of the wagon harness, leaving the wagon until later.

“Ma, you and Pepper gather dinner, J.J., you draw up some water from the well, and I’ll get out the good gear. Company here soon,” Pa said.

“You noticed them too, Pa,” Ma said as she stretched some after being freed from the harness.

“Footprints all around the camp. They can’t be far. They are not horses, like we are,” Pa said, stretching as well.

“I’ll get ready for them. Have not entertained guests since The Rapture,” Ma said as she headed for the big tent.

“Hope we can do a good job at it,” Pa grunted, pushing the wagon aside to make room near the fire.

Twenty minutes later, as the four were eating a substantial dinner, they could hear footsteps approaching and some talk, too low to make out. “That’s not Cherokee,” Pa said as he listened, after waving the grandchildren to silence.

“Nope. Up north, maybe. Is a language, but one I do not know,” Ma replied quietly.

“J.J., build up the fire some. Pepper, get the lantern,” Pa said. Quietly, they followed orders, J.J. putting another log on the fire while Pepper went to fetch a large work light they used for nighttime work.

Six large shapes came into view, and one little bright blur. “The language is Lakota Sioux, of which we all are. Who might you all be?” Chief Twogogglehat asked.

Pa took the lead. “I’m Parker Kettle, formerly of Medford, Oklahoma. Next to me is my wife, Marjorie, and then two of my grandchildren, Julius and Pepper. They’re even less twinned than they were before The Rapture,” he said genially, but with a guarded expression.

“I am Twogogglehat, chief and shaman of our tribe. We wander the plains, wintering in Kansas City with some other ponies like you,” Twogogglehat told the earth pony before introducing the other six. “May we join you for some talk?”

“Enter and be made welcome,” Pa said, allowing himself to smile some. “Can I offer you anything?”

“Can you spare a bucket of grain for each of us? Will be better than prairie grass and the occasional vegetable we have found,” Twogogglehat asked.

“I can see to that. Would you like your corn still on the ear or off it?” Pa said as he glanced at Ma, who went to get some.

“On the ear will do, good sir,” Wakinya said, startling everyone.

“You’re older than you look, son,” Pa said, looking at the little buffalo.

“Before, I was six. I Returned a year and a half ago, and was lucky to find a lot of good teachers before the Herd arrived. Now, the Chief is instructing me in the way of the buffalo. It’s nice to meet new ponies,” Wakinya said to the big black and green earth pony.

“Would you like to talk with Pepper and J.J.?” Pa asked.

“If I can have my corn and grain with them, yes,” Wakinya said sincerely.

“Pepper, J.J., come and get little Wakingyou, and make sure he has a good dinner,” Pa ordered.

“That’s said ‘Wa-kin-ya’, sir. Wakinya Pejuda Mahpiya, to be completely accurate,” Wakinya corrected gently.

Pa chuckled as he rubbed a forehoof gently against Wakinya’s head. “I’ll try to remember that, Wa-kin-ya. Now, go along with Pepper and J.J. They’ll make sure you have a good dinner,” he said like a grandfather would.

“Okay, sir!” Wakinya said brightly as he trotted off to the colt and filly.

Pa turned to look at the grown-ups. “Would you like some coffee, or will water do you?” he asked.

As Ma and Pa talked to the adults, Pepper and J.J. talked to, and looked after, Wakinya. After making sure the little buffalo had enough corn, wheat, and some other vegetables, the three started chatting.

“This corn and wheat are very good indeed, as is the water. Just how do you do it?” Wakinya asked after having some of the provided food and drink.

“The Heaven Stones are what’s doing it,” J.J. said. “They are responding to our desires and providing it. For instance, the fields are lined with stones. Ma, Pa and Pepper worked the fields and got the plants to grow quickly and pest-free. Apparently, the stones sensed what they were doing and kept the influences going.”

“What about the well?” Wakinya asked.

“That came a little later. At the bottom of the well is a stone. I impressed on it our need for fresh, clean pure water, and it worked. The rocks on top are just for the well shape, not for the water,” J.J. explained.

“How can you find the Heaven Stones?”

“They feel different, making my horn tingle. If they are small enough, I can pull them out of the ground. Bigger, and I have to dig for them. Plus, there is a lot of leftover dust in this entire area. That helps the stones somehow. Don’t know how it works, but we can make it work. As Pa says, why question a gift from Heaven?” J.J. explained.

“The stones help us build a happy life here,” Pepper said. “We’re all happy, and we got to this point within a month. What’s this about other horses in Kansas City?”

Wakinya eagerly told his story about the ponies of the Deliverance and of Kaycee between bites of sweet corn. When Twogogglehat and the other buffalo arrived in December, he told of his fascination of there being others like him. He also told about Raven, how he was being taught by ‘the old crow’, Smoking Horn and Twogogglehat on how to be a good shaman and leader.

At the grown-up’s circle, Ma and Pa chatted with Twogogglehat and the others, telling a similar story and getting told of the greater world outside. “You’re saying the Rapture was over two years ago, and we were given these bodies because our human bodies burn rapidly in the presence of magic. Is that correct?” Ma asked, sounding a touch skeptical, but not hostile.

“That is correct, Miz Kettle,” Twogogglehat rumbled in as gentle a tone as he could muster. He explained about the types of ponies and not-ponies that had shown up, with the help of the other buffalo. “We bison are the stewards of the lands, like we were long ago before the arrival of the white men. All bison so far that have Returned were members of one tribe or another. We six were on a Greyhound bus that Returned last year going south on I-35 near Wichita. After Returning, we six were changed into bison. We were guided to Kansas City to meet with those there. The other survivors headed for Wichita.”

“Why do you say ‘survivors’, Chief? Pa asked.

“Because the bus rolled over when the driver lost control. If it were not for Twogogglehat’s ability to get in touch with Raven, I would have had a severely broken leg, and three others aboard would not have survived,” said one of the cows, who went by the name of ‘Snippy’. “Four did die, including the driver.”

“You say deities of old have returned. Has God Himself shown up?” Ma asked.

“Not as far as we know, but the divine does not operate according to mortal’s desires,” Twogogglehat said. “However, we will have to get you a shortwave radio, so you can listen to Catholic services every Sunday morning at one am, with repeats every six hours on Sunday. It’s being transmitted from the Netherlands.”

“Who delivers the sermon?” Pa asked.

“I could not tell you, Mister Kettle. I have never met the two men whom I know deliver the services. Once we get in contact with Kansas City, you can speak to someone who does know the two men. One is a deacon from Florida, and the other a sexton from Nebraska. The sexton rescued Wakinya early last year. He calls the sexton and his wife his grandparents,” Twogogglehat told the couple.

“Interesting. When can we expect more company?” Pa asked.

“I would say in two days, maybe even tomorrow late. That depends on if the riverboat can navigate up the Kansas River safely and swiftly,” Paley told the pair. “None of us have done much sailing, so we can’t say for sure until we try.”

Pa put a couple of more pieces of wood onto the campfire. “Take all the time you need. Tell us more about this world, and who will be coming to meet us,” he said, getting comfortable in the grass, the fire shielded from the grass by a ring of rocks and a ready five-gallon bucket from Home Depot full of water within reach.

6 June 2017 2130 hours, west of the junction of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers

Zvezda and Impedimenta got the crystal ball set rigged up before calling Vladimir. “Have made landfall, and all is being set. With five hundred miles to overland, it should take us eleven days or so to get within the crater’s vicinity, maybe less, depending on the state of the roads,” Zvezda reported to her superior.

“I knew we should have left a week ago, but the boats took a while to build properly. Did you get some wagons from Yuri and Nikolai?” Vladimir asked his subordinate, even though he was relatively certain of the answer.

“Yes, we did, Vladimir. What we do not know for sure is just how sturdy and effective they are. We’ll know in the next few days,” Zvezda reported. “Anything new on the news?”

“Not since you left. The second riverboat is under way, heading first to Memphis. With luck, they won’t find the flatboats.”

“No luck needed, Vladimir. We disassembled them and hid the lumber away from the river, then erased our trail from the river. The ponies will not find anything,” Zvezda said with confidence.

“Good. Give me a call in a couple of days with a progress report,” Vladimir commanded.

“Will do, Vladimir. Zvezda out.”

6 June 2017, 2230, HPI main base (wherever that is)

Ham and Judy sat in a lounge, sipping some carefully rationed home-made ‘white lightning’ with cherry powdered fruit drink mix blended in to give it some flavor and not sear their throats. “We leave early in the morning on the eighteenth. I know we’ll be ready. What do you think, Judy?” Ham asked.

“For a chance to get out of here and see some real daylight for once? You bet I’ll be ready!” Judy said after a sip of cherry lightning. “At least the research staff finally puzzled out Lexington’s notes enough to make some lighter-weight anti-thaumatological suits, with enough power to look around some before the batteries need a recharge. Still need an exoskeleton, but none of the hazmat gear.”

“The older power suits, no thank you! Those things, you had to lug a reactor with you just to get out of the plane! I tried one once and could barely breathe in it,” Ham said before having a shot, followed by a rough cough. “When was this stuff made? Last Tuesday?”

“The Tuesday before. I have some real gin left in my sixteenth (what the lower level staff jokingly referred to their cramped quarters as), but that’s for when we come back,” Judy told her workmate.

“I’ll hold you to that. I know I have some liquor-laced chocolates left in the back of my locker. I’ll let you pick a couple for a shot of gin. Deal?” Ham asked.

“You’re on!” Judy laughed, knocking back some more of her drink.

6 June 2017, 2300 hours, a cave complex southwest of Branson, Missouri

Lex and Amelia sat at a table, watching a line of mice bringing pieces of stone out of one hole and bucket-brigading the pieces to another hole, one they knew was very deep. “They’re very eager to get down another level in the cavern,” Amelia observed, sipping some water, which this cavern had in more than adequate amounts.

“They’re worried. We’re going to have people pass by in the next however long, and they want another layer between them and any possible company,” Lex said. “At least they are responding well to Joshua’s presence.”

“Seeing as the mice were the ones who led Joshua here three months ago, I’m not surprised. The Gen Five mice are better than the Fours,” Amelia replied, referring to a diamond dog that had lived in the area, and was brought to the caverns to ‘help the big ones’ move in. The big dog was not only an exceptionally good digger, he also had the curiosity of a chunk of sandstone. He was just glad to be around others, even if they were smaller than him and were covered in gray or brown fur. He also liked the mice as friends. Joshua had grown up in the area, and knew the best places to find needed goods in the Ozarks. “We just need more of the Fives.”

“Radio says that the WSU and Louisianne are sending an expedition out to the meteor strike. I have not heard anything on the HPI frequencies about it, other than something’s planned,” Lex said with a snort. “I wonder if they will fall for the bait we left at the silo.”

“If an airship passes within fifty miles, the beacon will activate. We’ve left enough evidence to confirm our deaths, plus they will just love your notes.”

Lex smiled at his friend and aide. “Now that we don’t need the thaumic shielding, I can still think about how to make what we had better. At least they don’t know about the mice yet. By the time they do, they won’t be able to do anything about them. They will be too established.”

“Gotta admire your confidence, Lex. About ready for bed?” Amelia asked.

“Sounds like a plan to me. Joshua and the mice know when they’ve had enough. We don’t need to lord over them all of the time,” Lex said with a yawn.

“Just some of the time.”

Author's Note

Wowsers, 4000 words in a week or so. Whod'a thunk it?

The deities are being inscrutiable, as usual. Why plonk a huge rock in mid-America with magical properties? There's going to be one hell of a donnybrook going on. Plus, a God-fearing family has already claimed the land much of the rock has fallen on. Do YOU want to piss off some earth ponies and a unicorn with magical resonators who don't exactly know what they're doing with the stuff? As Groucho Marx sang in 'An Evening With Groucho' from the early 70's, "It's better to run to Toronta, then to live in a place ya don't want ta..."

Safer there than Kansas, ja?