Staff Sergeant Eagle Vision
320th Lunar Special Tactics Squadron
5th Year of the New Lunar Rebellion
I never expected to be sent on this mission. Then again, missions like this don't come around as often as a blue moon. I'll never understand why Princess Luna herself charged me with such a delicate operation. There were many other snipers in the squadron that were just as, if not more, mission capable than I was. I pondered this until I finally was told where the target would be. The meadows that made up the landscape of Ponyville were dying and only the tallest grass had a chance to grow in the almost blotted out sun. The town itself was in shambles. Seeing as how it was the first to be taken by this war, it was the first to crumble. The usual colorful and carefree residential housing was now a blackened and ashen heap, with only a few buildings retaining their structural integrity. I can say, without any doubt in my pride, that this was not only the beginning of the war, but it was the my first glimpse into what would be the most difficult trial of my life. This is why I was chosen. It was because I was born and raised in Ponyville. I knew every street corner, every building, and every single citizen in town. I was even able to tell anyone's birthday. I owe my good memory to my mother. See was always such a bubbly woman. I can still remember when we made our first cupcakes together.
I picked my stealthy approach through the now black and cold streets of the once peaceful town. My Spring Field Sniper Rifle cradled in my hands. I passed up Sofa's and Quills on my way to the town square. Even though it received a large hit, the town hall, was still standing. I was very thankful for that. It was the tallest building in Ponyville and it would give me an ample vantage point to spot my target. The front door swung open in a protesting creak. I would be worried if there were people around, but thankfully so, the town was abandoned. I made sure to recon the area before I moved in. Had to make sure those sun-fucks weren't using it as a base of operations. I looked up at the broken rafters and the huge hole where a Solar Howitzer round had struck. After slinging my rifle, I used some rubble to elevate my position and jumped up onto the rafters and climbed up to the second level. The stairs were somewhat intact up there. They creaked loudly as my light frame made its way up to the top. From on top of that vantage point I was able to see out more than three miles of land, and with my incredible eyes, I was able to notice a convoy of solar soldiers heading towards Ponyville. What was good about that was that this particular convoy was carrying a very special individual. One of the Queen's most efficient and ruthless generals. General Tandem. Even from this distance I was still able to recognize him. His boxed head and square jaw aong with his red horn and hair made it obvious that it was him. I would never forget that man's face. It was because of him that Filly-dalphia fell last winter. I was at that battle. I was on over watch while our men escaped through the tunnels underneath the city. General Tandem captured the few that didn't make it, and hung them on public display for all to see. Now, it was up to me to pay him back for all my brothers and sisters that he killed. The sun was starting to lower in the late afternoon. It was the only time I was ever thankful that that glowing orb that symbolized the tyranny that plagued this land was going through its usual cycle. For it would mask my approach with the sun giving the drivers' windows a nasty glare.
I climbed down the same way that I came up and I made my way to a grassy hill that I spotted while up top. I had to move fast if I was to catch the convoy before it moved past the town. As if I believed in such a thing, luck was on my side. One of the tanks was smoking up a storm, and needed to repaired. They stopped just two hundred yards out from the hill top that I designated as my perch. I crouched through the foliage, and picked my way to the top slowly. My combat uniform was a shade between blue and green, so it didn't do much for me in while I hid in the golden and brown grass, but with the shadow from the town's clocktower casting over me, my uniform, specially enchanted, made me almost invisible. It was a perk that came with being special forces.
I peeked out from the grass to look at my target. At the time he was shouting at his subordinate about the tank. When the lieutenant tried to reason with the general, the latter pulled out his pistol and shot the low ranked officer in the head.
The general would soon know how that felt.
I took a knee and shouldered my weapon. I preferred this over the prone position when I knew that I would have to make a quick escape. I aimed down the crosshairs of my Spring Field and lined up my shot. With my eyes combined with the power of the scope, I was able to see every pimple on the general's forehead. I raised my muzzle just enough to compensate for the distance. There was no wind, so I didn't have to worry about that affecting my shot. When I was good and ready, I flipped my thumb on the safety and turned it off. I breathed in and out at a steady pace to regulate my respiratory, and circulatory system. I let out one final breath, and when that last wisp of air left my lips, I squeezed my trigger slowly. The pop at the end of my gun pre-empted the pop of General Tandem's skull. I remember seeing a large cloud of red and pink exit the side of the general's head, and splattered all over the side of the tank as the .30-.06 round pierced through the temple. I was about to dart out of there, but when I looked at the solar soldiers, I expected to see a slight panic and them taking cover from a secondary shot, but they all just stood there and watched as the life blood of the deceased drained out on the ground. They just stood there in shock. They didn't know what to do. After a minute or so of starring at my prey's now leaderless army, I felt as if I might have done a service those men by relieving them of such a cruel man.
The sun was now dipping into the horizon, and so was I. My mission was complete. As customary, when I was at a safe distance, I marked another kill on my helmet with a tally mark. I was up to seven confirmed officer deaths. Compared to my eighty regualr kills, it wasn't half bad for being the youngest sniper in the squadron. Awe, who am I kidding, that's fucking horrible no matter how you dress it up. On thing is for certain though. After today, there isn't going to be enough solar soldiers to go around. I feel that my mission's success will be the begining of the end for the Solar Empire.
