Audlarpok

The Lost Brigade

By sierra_seven_

Chapter One: Audlarpok

* * *

Looking over the battlements of the City, Sapphire Shard awkwardly adjusted her helm with one hoof. The blasted thing was three sizes too big. Around her, fellow guards eyed her nervously, concerned by their commander's lack of focus. Or so they thought. Sapphire had already been briefed on their mission, and keeping the morale of her men wasn't the foremost thought on her mind. No, she was focused on the terrain ahead, the barren, feared Wastes of the Crystal Empire. The jagged ice was kept at bay by the shield, but the chill still permeated her very being.

The Emperor's orders had been quite clear. Three battalions would be sent out into the Wastes to repair the ageing forts surrounding the city. They hadn't been used for decades, centuries even, but the higher-ups were worried. There was a threat, but none of them knew what. It wasn't their place to know. And so Sapphire had collected her soldiers and brought them to the battlements to see their challenge with their own eyes. They had been stood on the warm, sunny wall for the past twenty minutes, and not a single pony had moved. They were the 107th Steelflanks, the Crystal Empire's strongest, most valuable soldiers. Or so they would have you believe. The other two battalions thought exactly the same, although there hadn't been a jousting match to decide the strongest battalion in over a year.

'Jousting. The kind of combat where honour is key, not survival. We haven't seen a full-blown conflict in over three centuries. And now?' Sapphire looked over her soldiers, all gazing defiantly into the frozen hell ahead. 'Iceflies, crevices, all sorts of Emperor-forsaken creatures out to kill us...'

Over the past few weeks, all manner of beasts had appeared at the shield, throwing themselves against it in pure fury. Their anger had surprised even the border guards, who had dealt with rogue beasts for as long as anypony could remember. Dark, mutated creatures with a burning desire to extinguish life. Many had been incinerated to spare the innocence of those not learned in the outside world. One of the poor bastards from Border Patrol Emerald had stepped one hoof too far outside the shield to get a better look. Some said the blood had splattered several-dozen meters through the shield itself. Of course, the citizens didn't need to know that.

Sapphire turned around and trotted down a set of polished marble stairs. The wall was certainly more decorative than functional. A few trees around her provided shade from the warm, summer sun. Everything was quiet. Too quiet. "Guards! Prepare to move out!" she yelled, rousing the soldiers from their meditative state.

"Captain! Permission to carry out a final check of engineering supplies?" called a guard wearing a golden chestplate. One of the engineers from the 32nd Combat Engineering Battalion attached to hers, she guessed. About a dozen sleds loaded with building supplies were resting in the plaza surrounding the gate; the unlucky soldiers tasked to pull them talked nervously between themselves. Sapphire trotted out onto the warm path, watching the families of the soldiers wish them farewell. Some flowers were thrown, some songs were sang, some ponies looked eager to leave.

"Granted. Double-check the supplies are tied down and the sleds are fully secure. We don't want to lose a sled during the trek. Gather your engineers afterwards, I need to brief them," Sapphire snapped with more force than she'd intended.

"A-at once Captain!" the stallion affirmed before cantering off to the supply carts. Sapphire gazed up at the magnificent Crystal Tower, where her father and the other high-ranking officials would be discussing their next moves. No, there was no cheerful family send-off for her. She sighed heavily. They would be setting off momentarily, so there was no time to reflect on her father's lack of concern. Anyway, there were things of greater importance to worry about, such as her complete lack of energy. She'd spent the last few nights awake, slipping into fitful nightmares when the exhaustion became too great.

'Coffee, that'll do the trick,' she thought, turning to rummage through her saddlebags for a few sapphire chips. The plaza was lined with cafes, so she could grab a quick drink before they left. Sapphire trotted through the mingling soldiers to a small cafe that was blocked by an arguing couple.

"I don't care! You said we'd be visiting my mother instead of going to your amazing dinner party!" shouted a azure stallion, not even giving Sapphire a glance as she moved towards them.

"Yeah? Well, maybe I'd want to if she wasn't such a miserable old c-" retorted his partner, before noticing the very pissed-off captain stood behind them.

"I suggest you consider the importance of your little squabble, and then notice what's happening outside. Over a hundred of the city's guard are about to embark on a mission to defend this city, and you think you have a massive problem? Get out of the way." Both ponies looked at each other before turning and running away.

"Little harsh there cap'n? Shoulda just asked 'em to move, in my opinion," murmured a stallion behind her.

"Peridot? I thought you were staying behind on this one!" Sapphire exclaimed, spinning and wrapping her hooves around the elderly stallion behind her. He chuckled, trying to shake off the ecstatic mare. "You got rejected for the expedition!" Sapphire noticed the brown-clad ponies stood nervously at the side of the plaza. "You brought the scholars too? Peridot, what's going on?"

"The fancy ponies want'd me to come along in case we find any of them old ruins. Y'know what they're like about history... Let's just say I might've mentioned a little ol' legend that they thought could be useful towards this 'ere conflict."

"Conflict?" Sapphire was whispering now, intrigued by the appearance of her former mentor and his cryptic answers.

"Yeah, I fancy having a drink too!" Peridot exclaimed loudly, winking at Sapphire. She nodded curtly.

"I'll get my coffee first, then we can have a chat about it. Did you want something?"

"Heh, y'know I don't do drinks like that. Though seeing as we're headin' off for Emperor-knows-how-long..." Peridot looked at the shortbread display, licking his lips.

"Fine. You haven't changed one bit, have you?" Sapphire laughed, trotting over to the counter to place their orders. While she stood waiting for the barista to make her drink, she glanced at her companion. Peridot, her lifelong friend and mentor from the Academy. The scholar knew Crystal Empire like the back of his hoof and never let her forget it. A random fact here, an anecdote there. In a lot of ways he was like the bumbling old grandfather she'd never had.

His sparkling green mane was a lot darker than she'd remembered, but she hadn't seen him in years. His coat was still as white as the snow beyond the City, though he'd taken to covering it with a modest brown cloak. According to him, it was 'suitable for a pony of my standing'. 'Heh, he looks like an old mule who's passed his prime,' she though affectionately. His eyes still sparkled with excitement, anticipation of a trip into the field.

"Ma'am? Your drink is ready!" The question snapped her out of her thoughts. She automatically reached into her saddlebags and produced a few sapphire chips as payment while her mind wandered elsewhere. "Oh, payment won't be necessary. You do enough for our country, I won't rob you of your pay as well!"

"Really? Thank you! It's nice to see a pony that appreciates our work." Sapphire trotted back to the table, carrying the tray of food and drink on her back. She collapsed onto the cushion, yawning loudly.

"Saph? Have you been spendin' the night awake again?" Peridot chided her softly, before taking a nibble from his shortbread. "I thought you'd learned that lesson back at the academy!"

"I'm just worried about this whole 'emergency preparations' business. We've been at peace for a bloody long time! What's changed so quickly that we're rushing out to get the fort network back online?" Sapphire sighed. "Most of these ponies have never seen actual combat, let alone the Wastes. Having the shield keep them at bay is essential, but nopony's ever set hoof outside to do a day's worth of combat experience! Just jousting, drills and the occasional wrestling competition. Remember when access outside the shield was allowed, even for training and proper expeditions? I imagine it's sending you nuts, not having any new relics to study."

He nodded sagely, eyes clouding over for a moment. "Still, it's probably for the best that external operations were cancelled. All them soldiers disappearin' into the Wastes without a trace..." Peridot looked at her warmly, placing a hoof on her shoulder. "Hey, it'll all be fine. I've looked at that ol' list of orders, and there ain't nothing on there we haven't trained for. It's a simple engineering mission, not a battle to control the wastes. Relax, and trust yer soldiers! What's a captain without belief in her troops?"

She thought about this, looking over at the somewhat-cheerful soldiers gathering their equipment, the engineers tightening the covers on the sleds and the handful of Equestrian unicorns, standing around doing sweet sod-all. Sapphire took a final sip from her cup before placing it back on the tray. "Yeah, we'll get through this. Go and get your scholars together, we need to get moving."

"Right you are, cap'n."

Sapphire turned towards the plaza, but then decided against going back out there. First, she at least wanted to relieve herself before embarking on the massive trek. The barding wasn't exactly well-known for it's comfort and manoeuvrability, as it covered almost every part of the body. That made it hell to remove in the field, and she sure as hell wouldn't be squatting down behind another low ridge, like on her first expedition outside the shield.

Sapphire trotted into the little mares' room, making a start on unstrapping her hefty barding. First off was the champron, face face-plate that made her look more like a bear than a mare. She'd seen the wounds sustained by ponies that didn't wear their champrons, so she certainly wasn't going to remove it like some of the other officers.

For the first time in several hours, her sparkling mane fell around her neck. Well, most of it. Parts of her mane were sticking straight into the air, shooting off to the sides or tangling into inevitable knots. 'Ugh, great. Helm-mane. Oh well, no time to worry about it now!' She then unclasped the crinet, the plating on her neck that deflected stabs at her throat. After that, the crupper, flanchard and peytral that made up the rest of her armour dropped onto the floor. She looked like a normal mare, now that the several tonnes of metal had been removed. Sapphire looked into the dirty cubicle with disdain, eventually forcing herself inside.

When she emerged, she trotted over to the grubby mirror in the back of the bathroom, staring at her reflection curiously. 'Is that what I really look like when I'm out of armour?' Her sapphire-blue coat was neatly groomed, complementing her mane. The two-tone shades of white and azure gave her a vulnerable look, one that was countered by the fierce glow in her eyes.

"I am sexy," Sapphire said in awe, twirling her tail around light-heartedly.

"Uh, ma'am, are you finished in he-" the barista said loudly, trotting into the bathroom and gazing amazedly at Sapphire.

"Agh, get out! Out!" Sapphire watched the pony turn tail and flee out of the bathroom. 'Ok, that is the last time I am ever doing that in a public place,' Sapphire thought with equal parts of embarrassment and anger. She lifted up her crupper, trying to re-attach it without catching her skin in the narrow clasp.

* * *

As Sapphire strode back out into the plaza, she saw the commanding officer from earlier attempting to motivate his ponies into some semblance of order. As she strode towards the front of the assembled soldiers, they fell in, much to the delight of their commanding officer.

"Detach, Atten -tion! Right dress!"

Sapphire watched with interest as the soldiers spaced themselves out evenly, forming a much more impressive parade.

"Eyes front!"

Their forelegs snapped down, sending a resounding clack across the plaza. On the other side of the square, one of her subordinates was doing the same with her own complement of guards. For a while, nothing could be heard but the quiet murmuring of the civilians assembled, and nothing could be felt but the gentle breeze that cooled them under their armour. Sapphire marched smartly around to the front of the formation, waiting for the commanding officer to offer her a salute.

"Captain! Fifty soldiers on parade, ma'am!" the officer shouted, sharply raising his hoof to his brow.

"Very good. At ease, lieutenant. Parade, stand at ease." The assembled parade complied, moving to a more uniform, relaxed position.

"As many of you are already aware, I am Captain Sapphire Shard, 107th 'Steelflanks' Battalion. From here on in, I will be assuming complete command of all forces on this expedition, as laid down in the mission's standing orders. "Lieutenant..." Sapphire desperately tried to remember his name. It was all in her briefing documents, but she just couldn't remember it. 'Something to do with rubies!' she thought, taking a small breath of relief. "Lieutenant Culet here will be reporting directly to me, and executing orders as I assign them. Are there any questions?"

Silence.

"Very well then, to the matter at hand. We will be leaving as soon as this briefing is complete. Our first priority is to reach Fortress Three in one piece. We will be travelling in column formation, with the armoured elements of the 107th making up the vanguard. We don't know what we're going to be facing out there, but we've seen reports. It's not good."

A few more of the engineers began to look queasy, or nervous at the very least.

"All members of the 32nd Engineers will be making up the core of the column, so the sleds are protected on all sides. Myself and the communications elements attached to the 107th will be making up the rearguard, with officers stationed every two sleds, moving progressively down the column. You will be filling the spaces between the sleds, three ranks wide and five ranks deep. We will maintain this formation until we reach the fortress," Sapphire paused for dramatic effect, "no matter what happens. If you stray outside of the formation and get lost, we won't come looking for you. The risks are too high, and this mission is of utmost importance."

Again, she was met with silence. Silence was good, silence was the sound of understanding.

"Very well. In five minutes, we march for the Wastes. Assemble your equipment, conduct final checks, wish your family goodbye. Parade, fall out!"

The assembled ponies turned on the spot, marching out of their positions before dispersing across the plaza. The air was alive with excitement, nerves, the contented chatter of bystanders and the sound of sharp, calculated commands from the other side of the square.

"Very well done there, Saph. You've come along well since your time at the academy." Sapphire whirled around, tutting as she saw Peridot resting against an oak tree. "So, you never mentioned where me scholars and suchlike will be travelling. Ya didn't forget about little ol' me, did ya?"

"Little old you? You could probably hold off most of what's out there, if your reputation around the academy was true!" Peridot shuffled uncomfortably, blushing a little bit.

"Well, I may have a few tricks up mah sleeve. I never forget to carry protection, especially after Zebrica. Never trust a zebra, they can do things through simple sleight of hoof that would make yer mind boggle. Why, there was this one time when one of tha buggers tried to steal the saddlebags off my back. Would've succeeded if I hadn't us-"

Bugles sounded from the battlements, calling the soldiers into formation.

"Well, we'll have to finish that story later!" Peridot winked, trotting away towards his group of scholars. Twelve massive, camouflaged equipment sleds stretched across the two-hundred metre field ahead of them, leading directly to the exit pylons, one of six exits from the City. Soldiers were gathering around them, organising themselves into formation.

"So, you're the one in charge of this expedition then. Hmm, I expected... more," stated a stallion, fast approaching her. Sapphire almost turned and gave him a good bollocking before realising who stood before her.

"Director Lemon Rind, I take it? I expected... less." Sapphire cast an eye over his fancy attire, tutting in contempt. It was hardly suitable for a snow flurry, let alone a trek. His hat, scarf and cloak were richly decorated, sparkling with a full spectrum of colours. "You might want to find something more suitable. I won't be providing you with clothing once you've thawed out at Fortress Three." She had taken an instant disliking to this unicorn, and she wouldn't hide it.

Anger flashed across his eyes before he remembered who he was talking to. "Well, make sure my compatriots are cared for and you'll have your communications. I expect we'll be seeing more of each other now that we're travelling together."

"That is correct. Just keep your horn down and your eyes open. This is a military expedition and you hardly look like a soldier of virtue. You're in a support role only, so don't try any heroics."

'Not that heroics are likely to be his forte...' she thought sarcastically, looking back at his entourage. A few were dressed like him, while the rest wore dull cloaks. She guessed they were their 'servants'. The Equestrians had never been shy about ensuring their elite were cared for.

"Understood, captain. Come, let us join their formation. The sooner this trek is over, the happier we will all be." He and his subordinates trotted off, looking at her guards with disdain. She was half-tempted to run the arrogant bastard through on the spot, but that would be impolite.

"Captain!" shouted a stallion behind her, rushing over to her. "Sealed orders, sent directly by General Shard. You are not to open these until you reach your destination, under threat of court martial and exile from the Empire. General Shard sends his regards, and hopes you will not fail the Empire. There is also a soldier roster here, as an addendum. Just a formality to ensure you are aware of your force strength. Good luck, Captain."

"Sealed orders," Sapphire murmured, looking at the glossy package. Whatever they were being sent to do, it was important. Exile? Court martial? The higher ups were worried and their actions reflected it. "Courier, did the general say anything else?"

"No. No, he didn't. Were you expecting something else?"

"I guess not. That's all then?" The courier trotted off, disappearing into the sea of soldiers and engineers. The sleds began their lumbering progress towards the crystal array that allowed them to travel out of the shield. Already they could see a bitter wind sweeping across the frozen plains, sending flurries of snow into the shield. Sapphire opened the soldier roster, smiling wryly at the numbers. One-hundred and twenty soldiers under her command. Fifty of her own, fifty engineers, and twenty from both the communications and scholars' detachments. 'Only 50 Steelflanks? I at least thought some of the other captains would be here, commanding more.' She pondered this for a few seconds, before finally conceding that they would be needed in the defence of the city. Damn. She'd love to have more of her own soldiers, but she'd have to make do. Hopefully the engineers were as good with their shortswords as they were with their hammers.

Sapphire fell in behind the Canterlot unicorns, hoping for some interesting conversations. Their director may be a bit of an arrogant arsehole, but some of the others looked decent enough. 'They're from Canterlot, they must have some interesting stories about Equestria!' Oh, how wrong she was.