Para bellum

Reunion

There were some things about airships that Shining Armor would never get used to.  The constant drone of the props and the pocka-pocka of the piston engines would surely be the death of him.  How was anypony supposed to get any kind of rest with that kind of racket going on?  The REA officer sniffed at his own musings.  According to General Ironwing, he'd probably be spending the duration of this war on an airship, so he should probably get used to it.  Standing up from his cushion in the galley, Shining armor stretched his legs, arching his back and tilting his neck, generating little pops and crackles as he worked out joints stiff from sitting for hours.

"I'm heading topside for some air," he tossed over his shoulder as he started towards the stairs up to the main deck.

"Wait up, colonel, I could use a quick breath, too," a chipper voice responded.

Shining Armor climbed up on to the deck, offering a hoof to the pegasus mare behind him.  Sergeant First Class Acclaim hooked her fetlock into his, allowing herself to be hoisted up on deck by the unicorn.  The pegasus fluttered her wings to propel herself onto the deck with Shining Armor's assist, gently alighting on the floorboards.  The sergeant was considerably smaller than Armor, her frame lean and limber as was typical of REA airborne troopers.  Her coat was a dull yellow, reminiscent of citrine, and the graphite streaks in her stark, black mane and tail seemed to shimmer as the high-altitude wind lofted them out behind her.  But most prominent of all was the grin plastered across her face.

"Oh Celestia, THAT'S the stuff!" She exulted, closing her eyes and feeling the wind through her mane.

Shining Armor chuckled.  Leave it to a pegasus to enjoy the wind in her mane.  He could tell a lot about pegasus personalities by how they carried themselves.  The reserved ones tended to keep their wings folded when they walked while the showoffs tended to carry their wings high and proud.  Sergeant First Class Acclaim, of course, was the latter; a consummate athlete, soldier, and tactician.

"Isn't this the best, colonel?" Acclaim shouted over the wind.

Colonel.  Short for Lieutenant Colonel.  It had been less than a decade out, but his cadet days seemed like forever ago.  Shining Armor had climbed the ranks quickly since he'd been commissioned, rising from lieutenant to captain and securing the path to major shortly after the Changeling Incident in Canterlot.  The start of the war pushed the REA to extend more commissions, finally resulting in his promotion to his current rank.  Lieutenant Colonel Shining Armor.  It was a bit of a mouthful, and to be honest quite a hoof full as well.

"Wonderful," Shining Armor replied flatly.

Of course climbing the ranks had been a double-edged sword.  With higher pay grades came more responsibility and with more responsibility came more consequences when things went wrong.  Dealing with changelings was enough.  Armor didn't need any more potentially career-threatening disasters this lifetime.  The colonel sighed.

"C'mon, Armor.  Live a little!" Acclaim playfully jabbed him on the shoulder.

"I've lived plenty, Acclaim," Armor said impassively.  Who was he kidding?  He wasn't even that old.  'Old' was General Ironwing old.  Shining Armor had heard he and Celestia went way back; the running joke being that 'way back' was during Nightmare Moon's reign of terror.

"You're a laugh a minute, Armor," Acclaim huffed.  "Ease up a bit, huh?  We're not in the horseapples yet."

"Sorry, Acclaim.  Just got a lot to think about."

Shining Armor had mellowed out in the years since the Changeling incident.  The goofy, gregarious cadet had gradually given way to a quiet professional over the course of work with castle security and V Order.  That wasn't to say he was unfriendly and unfun.  His wife would say quite the opposite, as would the other military patrons of the Ponyland, a jazz club he frequented in Canterlot.  But on mission, he was the quiet professional he was expected to be.

"We're all here, colonel.  We're not just your soldiers, we're your friends, too.  I figured you of all ponies should remember that.  Isn't your sister an expert on the magic of friendship or something?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right!"  The quip was enough to elicit a chuckle from Shining Armor.  "You get any fun in before they called you up again?"

"Caught up some with the Trottingham United boys and got to see my folks back in Cloudsdale, but that's about it.  Not that it needed to be anything else.  I got family and I got the Army.  What more do I need?"

"Point taken."  Armor's attention was diverted by the sound of the hatch opening behind him.

"Might want to get back inside, colonel," a goggled pegasus shouted above the wind.  "We're coming up on the line!  It's going to get a bit loud out there!"

"Got it."  Shining Armor waited for the crewman to clear the hatch before stepping back inside, Acclaim close behind.  The two settled back down in the passenger compartment, watching the descent through the cloud layer through the corvette's portholes.  The sound of cannon fire immediately caught Shining Armor's ear.  Just below, atop a low hill, lay an Equestrian gun battery.  The pungent smell of burned propellant hung heavy in the air, filtering in through the vents as the corvette descended towards the fire base.

"Firebase Titus, this is Foxglove Eight-Three-Niner requesting permission to land, over."

"Foxglove-839, this is Titus control, you are cleared for descent.  Landing pad three is open and awaiting your arrival.  Stay low and keep the gun lanes clear, over."

"Roger that, Titus.  We are on approach.  Foxglove-839 out."

The corvette descended nearly to ground level, hovering a few meters above the landing pads, the wash of its props kicking up dust devils as the ship descended.  The pilot deftly slewed its tail around and extended the landing skids, gently setting the small ship down on the hastily-constructed concrete circle.

"Keep the engines hot," Shining Armor shouted over the roar of props.  "We'll be quick about it."

The pilot acknowledged with a quick tap of his hoof on his flight cap.  Acclaim and Shining Armor dismounted via the side door, trotting off the pad into the trenches.

"Who are we looking for?"

"You'll know him when you see him."

Ponies scrambled back and forth, some toting folios full of documents, others running verbal commands from one gun to another, and others still hauling carts full of ammunition and powder charges.  A few paused long enough to snap off salutes, which were returned in kind by Shining Armor.  From the trenches, it was a short walk to the command bunker, less a structure than a dugout shored up with chopped up tree trunks and steel grating.  Radio operators and adjutants occupied the perimeter, ringing the battered-looking folding table that served as the combat information center.  Shining Armor smiled as he approached.

"Sergeant Stone Bones?"

The chestnut stallion was a veritable mountain of a pony.  Tall as an alicorn princess and twice as wide, 'Bones' looked like he could crush a griffon with a single hoof or haul an airship by his teeth.  Roaned patches on his fetlocks and a single stripe blaze on his muzzle only served to highlight his enormous size.  At the summons, Bones looked up, his eyes quizzical at first, but quickly widening as a grin spread across his face.

"Armor, ya mare-forsaken bastard!" the big pony laughed as he rushed around the table to embrace the colonel.

Shining Armor thought his eyes were going to pop out of his head with how hard he was being squeezed.  The colonel patted his hooves against Bones' forelegs in vain until the big pony finally released him.

"How the blazes are ya?"

"I've seen better, Bones," Armor said, dusting himself off.  "But you... look at you, a staff sergeant!  You finally got your big boy chevrons!  How did you manage to talk the brass into THAT?"

"Aye, it really wasn't that hard," Bones admitted sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head with a hoof as he did.  "They were groomin' me for staff sergeant ever since I got in!  After the war started, they dropped me right in the horseapples and here I am!"

"Chevrons look good on you, Bones.  I'm happy for you!"

"Thank ye, Armor... or should I say Colonel Shining Armor.  Never thought I'd see you wearing a silver leaf.  Why, I remember when your captain's deuces were still fresh!"

"Hah!  Those were the days..."

"Hey I hate to break up your little kissy-kissy, but are you two ladies done with your romancing yet?  The corvette's burning aether as we speak!"  Armor looked back over his shoulder to find Acclaim leaning up against the wall forelegs crossed, wings allowed to droop, and a smirk on her face.  Shining Armor snorted.

"Grab your gear, Bones.  We're headed back to Canterlot."

"Canterlot, sir?  But the fight's the other way!"

"General Ironwing wants you on that corvette.  He's got a different kind of fight in mind for us."

"What the hay is going on in here?" a sharp voice broke the chatter.

Bones immediately snapped to attention and saluted the ruddy pegasus stallion who had just entered the bunker.  The stallion was nearly as big as Stone Bones, a rarity among Pegasi.  Despite his intimidating size, he had a distinct air of youth about him, a hunch confirmed as Shining Armor caught the outline of single bars on his rank tabs, the emblem of a second lieutenant.

"New orders, lieutenant," Bones reported.  "I'm being transferred."

"Transferred?" the lieutenant said, slamming his front hooves on the table.  "You just got here, sergeant!  I need you in this fight.  Who in Tartarus is poaching my reinforcements right out from under my muzzle?"

"That would be General Ironwing, lieutenant," Shining Armor dictated, putting special emphasis on his commanding officer's rank.  The colonel opened his saddlebag, removing his document folio.  From it, he produced a written order, stamped clearly with General Ironwing's signet.  "Staff Sergeant Stone Bones is needed in Canterlot immediately.  His replacement will be arriving shortly."

The lieutenant shot a dirty glance at Armor, but quickly went wide-eyed with suprise when he realized just who he was addressing.  He stumbled backwards, nearly falling back on his haunches, his wings flaring out in shock and a clumsy effort to stabilize himself.  Having gotten all four hooves firmly planted on the ground again, the lieutenant stiffened up to attention and clumsily saluted.

"My apologies, Lieutenant Colonel!" the lieutenant fumbled, obviously flustered.  "I didn't realize who I was addressing!"

"Cool your hooves, butterbars," Acclaim yawned.  "We got this."

It was now Shining Armor's turn to glare over his shoulder, to which Acclaim replied only with a shrug.  "As you were, lieutenant.  I was in error for not coming to you first.  Regardless, my orders are to bring the sergeant back to Canterlot."

"Understood, sir!" the junior officer chanted in reply.  "Permission to speak freely, sir!"

"Make it quick, lieutenant."

"My father speaks very highly of you, sir!  I'm happy to lend you use of my troops if he thinks it's necessary for the war effort!"

"Father?  You're old Ironwing's kid?" Shining Armor squinted.  It was true; the family resemblance was definitely there.  "Well I'll be damned!"

"Yes, sir!  Second Lieutenant Diomedes Ironwing, sir!" the lieutenant piped up proudly.

"Your father speaks highly of you as well, lieutenant.  I'm sure you'll do that commission proud.  Now if you'll pardon me, I have an airship to catch."

"Yessir, thankyousir!"

Shining Armor snapped off a salute, dismissing the lieutenant to his duties.

"I'll meet you on the landing pad, Colonel," Bones threw over his shoulder as he trotted off to retrieve his things.  Shining Armor nodded, turning towards the landing pad while motioning for Acclaim to follow.

"I almost feel bad for him!" Acclaim chuckled as they walked.  "But not really!  I looooove watching butterbars squirm!"

"Don't tell me you never considered joining the officer corps..."

"Not on your life, colonel!" Acclaim raised her voice to be heard as they approached the idling airship's whirling props.  "Unlike you, I actually LIKE working for a living!"

Armor shook his head as he climbed the step back onto the corvette.  She was going to be a hoof full.  Acclaim gave her wings a flutter, alighting on the top step before slipping back inside.

"Ach, you two are lucky you caught me when you did!" Bones' distinct accent carried over the sound of props.  "I hadn't even unpacked my saddlebags yet."

Leaning out the side hatch of the corvette, Shining Armor offered a hoof to his old friend.  "Either way, Bones, we're glad to have you."

The big stallion hooked Shining Armor's fetlock into his own, pulling himself through the barely-adequate the hatch opening.  With all soldiers on board, Armor lit the hatch with his magic, pulling it shut and locking it tight.  Trotting up to the cockpit, Armor banged on the bulkhead to get the pilot's attention, waving his hoof to indicate that they were ready.  The pilot nodded and hit the throttle.

"Titus Control, this is Foxglove Eight Three Niner, requesting permission to take off, over."

"Foxglove-839, you are cleared for takeoff.  Happy trails.  Titus, out."

The whine of the corvette's engines increased in intensity, the airframe shuddering as weight was lifted off the skids.  Glancing out the porthole, Shining Armor watched as the earth fell away, leaving the thunder of guns behind.  With the airship back under way, Armor headed back up to the galley, taking a seat at the one booth by the kitchenette.

"So what's this all about, Armor?"

Bones dropped his pack saddle with an unceremonious thump, almost sending Shining Armor flying from his seat.  The big pony grinned sheepishly before shoving his pack to the floor.  Resettling himself on the couch, Armor chuckled and shook his head.

"Call it a family reunion.  After Saraneighvo, General Ironwing decided he couldn't do without."

"Guess old Ironwing missed the company, eh?"

"I'll let him tell you when we get back.  He's got quite a bit to go over with us."

"Don't feel bad, big boy.  He didn't tell me a damn thing either and he was my ride in."  Acclaim was already kicked back in the seat with her helmet pulled down over her eyes.  She was obviously planning to pass the hours on the ride back to Canterlot asleep.

"I'll take yer word for it, Armor," Bones replied, sniffing at Acclaim's remark.

"How's your old sire, Bones?"

"Still in physical therapy.  He's doing much better after the surgery, but he's still got to learn how to walk again.  Old draft horse is chomping at the bit to get back to work.  I have to keep reminding him that I can cover the costs until he's back on his hooves again."

"Sounds like old Ironwing in a way," Armor chuckled.  "Old sire Bones sounds like a hay of a stallion.  I'd love to meet him someday."

"If this war ever ends and we have a right proper REA ball, you'll get to meet him.  Expect him to be chatting up all the butterbars at the counter with stories from the ring!"

"I can see it now," Armor said, adding a grizzled-sounding growl and a laughably bad accent to his voice in imitation of Bones' father.  "Ach, when I was your age, I was plowing fields by day and rearranging faces by night!  I could crush heads like sparrow eggs between me thighs and once wrestled an ursa minor until it tapped out!"

"That's closer than you think, Armor.  You sure you've never met him before?"

"I think we'll get along just fine when we do."

Bones reached down to his ruck, withdrawing a canteen from its pouch and taking a swig.  "How's the missus?"

"Busy, just like me.  You know that new radio program, 'the Voice of Equestria'?  That's her brainchild."

"Aye, I thought that voice sounded familiar!  I'm glad she's making a name for herself.  She'll do Equestria a whole lot of good while she's at it.  You must be proud, Armor."

"I am.  I only wish I had more time with her to myself.  But duty calls, and Cadence answers."

"I don't blame you," Acclaim chimed in.  "If I were married to a bombshell like her, I'd want her all to myself, too!"

"Hoi, Featherfluff!  Weren't you planning on sleeping?"

Acclaim lifted her helmet and scowled.  "How the hay am I supposed to sleep with you two ladies jabbering on like you do?"

"Ye aren't!  Get your flank over here, sergeant!  We were making proper conversation!"

"That's sergeant first class to you, buddy!"

"Oh I see!  Got your big girl bridle on now, don't you?  All ready for the army to ride you harder?"

"Hey, hey!" Acclaim laughed, fluttering up onto her hooves and sauntering over to them.  "Let it be known that Big McLargeHuge over here was the first to break out the innuendos, not me!"

"And let it be known that Flitter Fleatherfluff can dish it but can't take it!" Bones retorted, rising from his seat.

The scene was so comical that Shining Armor had to put a hoof to his muzzle to stifle a laugh.  Bones, the huge earth pony glaring down at Acclaim.  Acclaim, the plucky pegasus who was barely half his size but no less resolute.  The glaring match continued until finally Acclaim cracked a smile, leaping up to embrace Bones in a hug.  Bones hooked a massive foreleg around her back and gave her a squeeze, returning the greeting.

"Good to have you back, Bones!"

"Likewise," Stone Bones chuckled.  "You give the Trottingham United boys a run for their bits back home?"

"Damn right I did!"

"Good!  No loose ends; we're all set for whatever Armor has in store for us, then!" the big pony laughed heartily as he sat back down, Acclaim flopping down across the cabin table from him.

"You mean whatever old Ironwing has in store for us," Armor corrected.  "I don't write the plays, I just run them."

Bones dipped into his saddlebags again, this time retrieving a very different kind of flask.  Holding the steel container in his front hooves, Bones deftly undid the cap with his teeth allowing the vapors of its contents to slowly waft into the galley.  Shining Armor could detect the faintly smoky odor of Bones' local brand of whiskey.

"Now I've been saving this for something special," the big pony began.

"How very thoughful of you, Bones!" Shining Armor laughed.

"I figure this is as good a time as any, you know, since the family is back together again!"  Bones cleared his throat, raising the flask high in both hooves as he began the toast.  "Here's tae us!  Who's like us?"

Bones took a drink from the flask, passing the flask off to Shining Armor.  Armor grasped the flask with his magic, nodding to Bones in acknowledgement.

"Damn few!" Armor declared, taking a drink before passing it off to Acclaim.

"And they're all dead!" she chanted, completing the toast.  The sergeant tipped the flask back, taking a long swig.

"Hey!" Bones said leaping up and grabbing the flask from Acclaim.  "Don't drink it all!  Glenrisset is expensive!"

"Oh Celestia, that stuff is good!" Acclaim laughed.  "You sure know how to pick your drink, Bones!"

"Thank my father," Bones chuckled as he replaced the cap.  "You'll have to meet him some day, Featherfluff!  I bet the old sire could still give you a run for your money both in the ring and on the pitch!  By Tartarus, even the Hoofington boys think he's still got fight in 'im..."

The banter between the enlisted ponies faded away in Shining Armor's mind as he turned his gaze to the porthole.  Below them, the greenery of the Heartland flew past; apple orchards, flowing fields of golden wheat, quaint hamlets, and tiny copses of deciduous trees decorated rolling verdant hills peppered with patches of multicolored flowers.  This was the true beauty of Equestria: the land lovingly tended to by the ponies.  War had not yet reached this far east, but if reports were accurate, that would soon change.  Armor could only hope that whatever Ironwing had planned was worth pulling them off the line.

"You better know what you're doing, old sire..."