“Recce is getting her own separate briefing. As are you, Echo – this part only concerns Frosty and Windy but you are welcome to listen to it if you please.”

“I’mma miss you Windy-chan!” She waved.

“Me too, Echo! Me too!” PW called back.

Quarter cleared his throat. “Right then. On with Operation: Lost at Sea. A cocaine ring has been discovered operating in the jungles between Kirin Grove and The Dragon Lands. They have been utilizing a stolen ship of the line to drop the narcotics off in the Bone Dry Desert, a point believed to be just north of Catoshima.”

“This may be the threat Captain Celano mentioned!” PW exclaimed.

“I would hope so, Windy. At this point, all doubts are gone as to your usefulness and abilities. As such we’re stepping things up! Literally!” Exclaimed Quarter, switching out the title slide with one of a small airboat.

“Night-Sky 1. A brand new, state-of-the-art steam-powered hot airboat. For only the command of the proven Night-Mare-Engineer team! Complete with an airtight cabin and onboard oxygen storage, this will allow you to take advantage of the differing winds in the height of the tropospheric air column – to 40,000 feet – so high that unicorns and earth ponies struggle to breathe.”

“You want to fly me in that?” Frosty asked in a sour tone.

“It’ll be fun, Frosty!” PW bleated.

“Yes, I’m afraid, as I am explaining, your mission…” Quarter trailed as he turned over another slide. “Will be to patrol the South Celestial Sea over open water until you find the rogue ship. When you find it, we will attempt a very long range transmission to send the location back to Norfilly.”

“Now, we will not be engaging the ship immediately. You will need to gather intelligence on their support, operating locations, and timing before landing near one of the offloading locations, preferably one they are going to be moored a good while. You will rendezvous with Recce, quietly approach the vessel, and detonate it before making a hasty extraction.”

Quarter clicked the next slide into place. “In either case of location, Windy; you must ensure that you do not sail into the horse latitudes of the northern hemisphere. If you do, the upper atmospheric winds will take you out through the Draken Straights into the Tyrannous Ocean. Faust knows what will become of you two if your airboat gets out there. As for our suspects, the name Longhorn Largo is rumored to be running the operation. We do not have any profile on this individual though, and cannot ascertain if he even exists or just some local legend.”

The projector clicked off. “Alrighty then, as we move next door we’ll see the new toys.” Quarter said, opening the door for the team and leading the way.

“Minimal wear for a tropical environment. Coat-tight clothing in black and green jungle camo.” Quarter gestured as PW daydreamed of Frosty wearing the outfit. “And the gaiter, which with the goggles should help keep disease-carrying mosquitoes, thirsty gnats, and biting bees out. We also increased the provisions of Frosty’s first aid kit to keep pace with the added dangers presented by such a hostile environment, though I stress the kit’s contents are intended for whoever needs them. I implore you both to read the venomous snake guide.”

“For weapons, the Celestar-D16 standard issue Night-Mare weapon, along with the Stallion & West Sidearm. We have also included a larger machete, five fragmentation grenades, five flashbangs, and five smoke grenades. As well as five satchel charges at twenty pounds ordinance, to destroy the target.”

“For Windy we have included your Stallion & West pistol, three fragmentation grenades, three flashbang grenades, and three smoke grenades. Manuals for the Night-Sky 1 are inside the craft and you will receive a separate briefing there. Copies of maps and charts are in my hooves and I’m sending those forward via pneumatic mail to Air Base Mareia now.” With that he walked up to a window in the wall, withdrew a capsule and stuffed the files inside. He next sealed the capsule, returned it to its place and pressed a button. A *whooshing* sound was heard and the capsule vanished from sight.

“They installed this unit just a few weeks ago. Windy, also located in the craft, is a bubble sextant unit to allow you to take celestial sights while well above the horizon, and in the air with whatever turbulence you may encounter. Well then you are off to Air Base Mareia! Frosty will be driving the both of you this time, as I need to brief Echo in her role. One more thing; your map to the hanger.” Announced Quarter, passing PW the map.

“Pega, one more hug for Echo-sama!” Echo shouted, barreling towards Windy.

“Okay Ech-OH!” He gasped, making hard contact with the large Night-Mare.

“I will miss you so much little Windy-chan.” Echo cried, embracing the assistant. “Promise me you’ll come back?”

“I promise Echo!” Squeaked Windy, finally breaking free.

“Good luck you two! Though I doubt you need it” Wished the N.C. Frosty turned her head around just before walking out the door.

“I’m saving all my puke that’s going to come from floating in this contraption for your back.” Frosty threatened, walking out.

“I’ll wear a raincoat!” Shouted the N.C. down the hallway.

Frosty led Windy out to their vehicle. It looked like a two-wheeled carriage large enough for only the Night-Mare and her gear, and a single wheel sidepod attached for one occupant. An officer opened the door for Frosty while Windy had to throw his gear in and then clamber into the sidepod.

“I didn’t know you knew how to drive!” Exclaimed Windy as he was passed a helmet.

“Mandatory offensive-driving training. You never know, nowadays.” She said, starting and revving the engine. “You might want to hold onto something!”

“I think I’ll be Fi-INE!!!” Screamed Windy as Frosty floored it and the three-wheeled cart burst off.

“I didn’t know they could make them this fast!” Windy shouted over the building wind. The shift lever was beside the side car and he had to take caution to avoid the machine-strength movements of her foreleg working the gear shift.

“The GATE, Frosty!” Screamed Windy as the cart barreled towards a closed gate.

“They’ll move.” Frosty called as the soldiers cleared away and the vehicle burst out into the streets, leaving the gate in pieces.

“Frostyyy!” PW screamed as the cart neared a T-intersection which she took at just under the overturning speed. “How can your body even take these G-forces?!?” Cried PW.

She draped her foreleg into the sidecar.

“Feel my foreleg!” She ordered.

PW felt it around.

“What did you feel?” She asked.

“It’s all hard?”

“Exactly. I am tank-muscle on strong, large bones. You’ll be jelly before I break a bone.” Frosty noted, taking the next corner at speed.

“The road here looks really bad Frosty!” Cried PW, pointing ahead.

“We got it. Hold onto something.” Insisted Frosty, revving the throttle higher.

A magnitude-9 earthquake shook the vehicle, nearly ejecting PW.

“Fr-r-r-o-s-s-s-t-y-y-y!” PW rumbled.

The gate to the air base was just up ahead. Frosty floored it again and waved the gate guards ahead to the side and they opened the gate just in time as the combined vehicle weighing more than half Night-Mare shot through.

“We need to go that way.” She pointed in what seemed an arbitrary direction.

“How do you know?” Challenged PW.

She pointed again.

“I don’t see anything!” He shook his head.

“You probably would if you were taller.” She smirked.

PW rolled his eyes, opened his wings and started to float while holding onto the cart with one hoof.

“No, stop! Ugh, I need to quit making that mistake with you pegasi.” Frosty grumbled. “Size cheaters.”

“Gotta level the playing field somehow, right?”

“Try telling that to Recce." She muttered and quickly frowned. "Actually, DON'T.”

The cart rounded a road leading to tarmac and they drove around a large hangar. Just in front and ahead was a large, silver craft with an inflated balloon and two propellers. The ponies there panicked as the cart drove in fast and at the last second turned hard. The cart slid sideways and Frosty jumped out in front of it, halting its movement at walking speed. The vehicle’s ground crew were speechless as she and her assistant hauled their gear out.

“I hate flying.” Frosty stated flatly as the engine continued humming away.

“You haven’t flown yet.” PW reminded her.

“I know what I likes and what I likes not.” The mare slurred brashly.

The super soldier strode off and PW, realizing that she wasn’t going to do so, walked around and keyed off the ignition, shutting the engine off. The eight ground crew there looked on with fearful faces.

“Quiet, speechless, having never seen a mare of this size.” PW concluded.

The sole exception was one lanky, female olive-green hippogriff who sauntered forward.

“Frosty? Windy? I am Little Teague! The test pilot of the Night-Sky 1.” She called timidly.

Frosty stopped, and turned to her in place.

“So… you’re the one I get to complain about flying to.” She answered flatly, as the rest of the ground crew gawked in fear.

“Be friendly, Frosty!” PW pleaded, stepping in front of her to avert her attention.

“I’m just sayin.” Frosty added.

“She’s not interested in flying for some reason.” PW explained.

“No worries at all! We’ve successfully flown earth-ponies in balloons many times. In fact, this very model was designed by an earth-pony engineer! And this is the Night-Sky 1! A steam propelled hot air balloon. Won’t you come over?” She asked, waving them in and walking towards the unit.

Frosty began studying the balloon, which was hissing and puffing smoke, having already been steamed up.

“You want us to fly this thing across the ocean?” She asked.

“I assure you, it’s quite stable! We even have a positive control system aboard!” Little Teague announced timidly.

Author's Note

We need a tactical Night-Mare doing an Akira bike-slide!