Chapter 151: Long Nights
Part 1: Essence
TIME: 08:58 ERST
DATE: War Day 1166/14 Sextus, 1005 C.S.
LOCATION: Fort Defiance, Canterlot, Equestria
I was at our Canterlot HQ, today. Mainly getting files and things together. Reports from everywhere - intelligence, readings from the trove of books, stuff like that.
I was in the middle of reading a report, when-
Daring Do: "HUMAAAAAAAAAAAAN! YOU DID THIS ON PURPOSE!" Came the yell from the hall.
I turned in my chair, and faced the door. Daring Do literally kicked it open, her face fuming, and then.. she fell to her knees, and retched on my floor.
K: "Cleanup, Aisle One." I smirked. "You okay, A.K.?"
SHERBY poked his head in.
Rainbow McSherbet (Sherby): "Ahhhh... we're pregnant." He gave me a cheesy grin. "A pirate and a treasure hunter. Come on, kinda natural, isn't it?"
Daring Do: "..he's got me there.." Her voice was much softer. "..and he's very, very nice."
I shrugged, smiling at them both.
K: "So, go see the doctor and confirm it?" I nodded to them. "And, are you planning.. you know?" I gestured to him.
Sherby: "Oh, yeah. I already gave her a ring. I mean, we mesh WAY too well." He shrugged. "And it's thanks to you that we met. While YOU were with the dragons, we were having some fun."
Daring Do: "We found a seaside cave near Fillydelphia, went spelunking for a date, turned out to have some Gizmonks in there trying to put together a proper pirate ship." She shrugged. "We busted them up."
Sherby: "We cracked 'em up.. and after that-"
K: "You cracked each other. Got it." I nodded, smirking.
Daring Do: "OH, YOU!" She huffed.
K: "I'm so happy for both of you." I shrugged, smiling.
Daring Do: "Yeah, well, you sidelined me for almost a year." She shrugged, sighed, and heaved her shoulders forwards. "And probably the rest of the war. Neither of us have much to do with our families, so.. someone needs to stay home with the foals. You couldn't seal me away in jail, SO YOU..." She 'urped' again and almost lost it, but put a hoof up to stop herself. "..got me locked down in wifehood." She turned to Sherby, though, and hugged him. "Eh, could be worse. Maybe I'll go write foal's books, now."
Sherby: "You could write MY adventures!" He smiled, and clapped his hooves together. "Reasons not to be a bully."
K: "I have a feeling you two are going to make one heck of a mark." I shook my head.
I had NO IDEA how right I was...
TIME: 10:17 ERST
I was going through more paperwork. Going over scouting reports from long range naval probes across the sea, south of the Eyesore Islands, looking for Tirek's homeland. Ours and the Ambleonian new submarines had headed out with a Sub Tender to go search, and we'd found parts of what we were looking for - we DID find Orghuz, finally, and I could keep my promise to the future Sultan..
..and my door was opened suddenly, AGAIN.
Ember: "K!" She staggered in. "You are NOT going to believe this."
I turned in my chair again, and both she and Topaz were standing there. Topaz was looking henpecked a bit. I grabbed the bag next to my desk, and handed it to him.
K: "I got this for you. Rarity made it." I smirked.
He took the shirt out.. and it says "I <3 BONKING MY DRAGON WIFE."
He looked at the shirt, looked at Ember, and blushed.
Ember: "TOO FLANKING LATE!" She snorted fire.
K: "..you gotta be kidding me." I cocked a brow. "Is there something in the WATER these days!? First Trixie, then Daring Do, now YOU!" I laughed.
Topaz: "..I'll save this for after the Laying." He coughed exactly once.
Ember: "Which is in-"
K: "-four months, and the egg gestates another four." I shrugged. "Spike, remember?"
Topaz: "Oh, yeah, huh?" He smiled.
K: "Well, congrats, you two." I nodded, and smiled.
Ember: "Thanks, uncle." She leaned over and hugged me tightly. "Dad might not be here, but.. I have you. I have family." She smiled.
K: "Always, Ember. And, now Topaz, too." I wagged a finger at him. "Have you told your folks?"
Topaz: "Not yet. Dad is going to be over the moon." He smiled.
Ember: "At least I have in-laws." She smiled a bit. "My whelps will have grandparents. I'm.. I'm really happy." She gestured. "And this is your doing."
K: "I suppose it is." I smiled.
Well, that's another couple out of the way. Oh, boy, at this rate, I may have to delay the invasion to make sure all the females in my army are even able to take the field!
TIME: 11:02 ERST
Maj. von Bismarck: "Herr General." She just walked right in, and spun me around in my chair. "Ist it true, I hear?"
K: "WAH!" My papers went flying. "What!? Is what true?!" I was a little freaked out at the sudden-ness of her line of questioning.
Maj. von Bismarck: "I hear tell something ist in the water." She smiled a bit, and raised her head. "You know, that makes females become with foal?"
It took me a full thirty seconds to process everything. I was BARELY aware of her pursuit of Sig, it was always something in the background, since neither of them had directly asked me about it. Sig, to me, didn't seem interested in something like that. He was focused on his work. Viktoria? Her interaction with me began and ended with asking Sig's whereabouts. We hadn't really talked.
K: "It's.. just.. a figure of speech, Fraulein Major." I shrugged. "Back on Earth, if a lot of girls got pregnant all at once, we often joked there was something in the water - implying whatever the men were drinking, or bathing in, made them.. you know.. desiring their female companions." I cocked a brow. "Are you and Sig a thing?"
Maj. von Bismarck: "Not yet, vee are not." She shrugged, dismissively. "I vill take him to zee beach and tell him it ist training for beach invasion. And hope for beach INVASION." She curled her lips devilishly.. and pranced away, practically walking on clouds.
That left me VERY confused, and just staring at the doorway as she left.
I heard later that this ended with them having another sabre duel on the shores of the lake outside of town. Freaking out a few beach-goers, but otherwise causing no harm.
TIME: 12:44 ERST
Finally, someone 'normal' - Twilight. She came in and, with her belly showing, planted a book on my desk, along with information from the Royal Navy in a packet.
Twilight: "Since we found out where the Orghuzians are, and the Sultan's information about Tirek's people coming to him-"
K: "He's not Sultan, yet." I nodded, smiling. "Yet."
Twilight: "With you, it's a guarantee." She shrugged and nodded to me. "Anyway, the Navy started construction of a major naval base at Pearl Harbor, Sawaiki. With the new technology we're bringing in from Dragonshire, the new National-class Cruisers are going to need advanced anchorages. So, too, with everything else the newer ships will have." She shrugged at me. "The base commander for the facility wants to have you and CAG come out there to finalize the plans. Pearl Harbor is going to be a very important base for forward staging for the invasion phase of the war."
K: "Alright. Review the base, check and make sure everything is ship-shape, got it. We going..." I got up and looked at the map on the wall. "..alright, we can take the Command Train to Los Angeles, and take a ship from there."
Twilight: "By the time you get there, the new HMS Canterlot will be ready - you can sail to Sawaiki in the first National-class Cruiser." She smirked a bit.
K: "We can!" I nodded. "I'd want a few more ships, though. Just in case."
Twilight: "I'll talk to Sargasso and see what's available. After the Vulpine campaign, a lot of ships are undergoing maintenance and major refits." She shrugged.
K: "Alright, understandable. I want at least a couple of cruisers, and a couple of destroyers. It's okay if we don't have a full Fleet to send, this is on the down-low, and it's a low-impact mission." I nodded.
Twilight: "I'll make the arrangements." She nodded, and headed off.
Finally, a peaceful mission.
[End of Part 1]
Part 2: Train Trip
TIME: 12:44 Equestrian Royal Standard Time
DATE: War Day 1172/20 Sextus, 1005 C.S.
LOCATION: Command Train, enroute to Los Angeles
I was aboard my command train with the ponies I had picked to come with me.
Topaz, Sig, Viktoria, Applejack, Dusty, Chemical Lens, Bob, Starlight Glimmer, Rainbow Dash, Golden Wattle, Broken Dawn, Cody Allcome, Rainbow McSherbet, Dusk Seeker, Rarity, and Steela Oresdottir.
Sig and Viktoria, being classically trained officers, would know defensive works for an island very well. Topaz was new to the team, and needed the experience. Chemical Lens was good at sniffing out any possible infiltrators and saboteurs. Glimmer was needed as a magic expert, and her new boyfriend needed to be with her because he wouldn't accept anything else. Golden and Broken insisted. We were going by sea, and HMS Bounty was laid up for a proper refit, so Sherby insisted on coming with, snce we wouldn't be bringing a Flag Officer. Steela refused to leave my side again. Cody knew I'd get hurt. Dusk and Rarity both had contacts in the Islands. Possible local intel and help. Dash insisted that, as the fastest thing with her own wings, she might be needed.
The train would take us through Coltago, then East Cahokia, then Konzas City.. in total, the trip would take about three days if we pushed it, but I wanted to stop in a few of the cities along the way, for a bit. Partly because part of me had this.. nagging suspicion that something was amiss somewhere. I didn't know where.
Our first major stop would be Adena, Lohilo. Known in my world as Columbus, I'd never visited the place before - here or there. I was curious, since Camp Stampbell was just outside of the city, and it was headquarters of Lohilo Command. We'd arrive in the evening, and would need to refuel, there, anyway. I planned a stop-over inspection of two days.
We all got out of the train car, and stretched our legs, as the detached engine moved to a siding for refuelling.
K: "Alright, who wants to come with me to Camp Stampbell?" I nodded to the others.
Sig: "I will go." He cocked a brow. "I'm curious as to their artillery. I understand Camp Stamper is where the largest artillery range in Equestria is, and they are experimenting with a new gun."
K: "Yeah, they're working out a 230mm gun for use in fixed positions." I shrugged.
Dusty: "I'm not letting you out of my sight." She cocked a brow at me.
Applejack: "Makes two of us!" She nodded firmly.
Steela: "Is three." She crossed her forelegs.
Viktoria: "I will go vith Sig and inspect zee troops." She smirked.
K: "Sounds good. Let's get some transport." I gestured, and off we went.
After a bit of travel in a 5-ton truck sent up from the Camp, we arrived. Camp Stampbell was abuzz with activity. The base commander, Colonel Stalworth, met us at the gate.
Col. Stalworth: "General K." He nodded. "Please, come." He gestured to the camp entrance, and as we were walking through, we heard a massive explosion that sounded.. wrong.
K: "..that wasn't normal." I cocked a brow, and then we heard the shouting, and calling for medics. "Awwwwwwwwwwww!"
We all bolted for the artillery field. The gun pit with the new 230mm gun was aflame, the barrel for the gun was ruptured, and there were wounded all over the place. Sig leapt into action, as did Viki and Dash, the three of them diving into the pit, and pulling ponies out. I could hear the fire engines coming. I ran to the edge of the pit, and threw half my body over the side to see if I could grab anypony.
I saw.. a mess.. in there. Body parts everywhere. Some of them burning. I couldn't tell one corpse from another. I heard a pony yell for help, and I reached down, and grabbed them by the forehooves, pulling them up.
K: "I gotcha! I got-" I was only pulling HALF a pony. I just.. pulled him into my lap and hugged him.
Col. Stalworth: "By Celestia's Mane!" He stopped short of me, saw what I was doing.. what was in my lap.. and just wretched up his lunch off in a bush.
I looked down.. he was gone. I took his Horse Tag and detached the second one. His name was Stem Bolt. Another memory. The ambulances were arriving, and a Medic trotted up to me, but I waved him off.
Dash put her hoof on my shoulder. She had a grim look on her face. She had dressed nice for this - leather bomber jacket, her dark blue cargo pants, black boots, and white Wonderbolts fan shirt - which was stained with blood.
Sig: "..General, this was no accident. Or, if it was, it was because that gun barrel was so horribly cast, only a blind and deaf fool would have allowed it out of the foundry." He snorted.
Dash: "Whoever did this-" She started, enraged, but I cut her off.
K: "I want an investigation." I nodded. "Get Chemical Lens." I said, finally sliding the half of Stem that I managed to pull out of the pit, on to a stretcher, and covering him with a blanket.
TIME: 14:47 ERST
LOCATION: Camp Stampbell, Lohilo
The base MP's, the local Gendarmes, and Chemical Lens were all investigating this, along with Sig, who, being an artillery expert, was able to definitively call this sabotage. The gun barrel was scored from the inside with something incredibly sharp, possibly a diamond-tipped cutter, just enough that it would fail over time, instead of instantly.
The second 230mm gun barrel was inspected, but no evidence of sabotage was found.
We did find sabotage evidence on one of the in-use 155mm artillery guns, however. Several key springs were scored deeply so they'd fail after some use, and some cutting was done on the pull lanyard, so that it would snap sooner or later.
Col. Stalwoth: "I'm.. humiliated." He sighed. "This should never have happened."
K: "It does happen, though, Colonel." I nodded to him. "Now, you know an active saboteur is about, and they like to cut things."
Col. Stalworth: "I'm ordering an inspection of everything - arms, ammo, vehicles.. who knows how long this has been going on!" He grunted.
K: "Alright." I nodded. "Let me know what the inspection finds. Chem?" I nodded to her.
Chemcial Lens: "As far as I can tell, the sabotage was done at least a week ago. The gun has been undergoing testing for two weeks. The pressure spikes observed didn't start to get troublesome until today, but even the measurement recorded before the fatal shot was within tolerance." She frowned. "As for the other detected sabotage, it's considerably newer. I'd say based on oxidation.. two days at best."
Sig: "Yes, and it was done with careful attention to the parts of the gun that would not be examined regularly." He shrugged. "They knew where to hurt them."
K: "Not pleasant." I frowned. "Colonel, make sure a report is made to Canterlot."
Col. Stalworth: "Of course." He nods to me.
We needed to get a handle on this sabotage - fortunately, the best experts in the kingdom were right here. We'd sniff out the perpetrators sooner or later.
[End of Part 2]
Part 3: Artillery
TIME: 17:34 ERST
DATE: War Day 1172/20 Sextus, 1005 C.S.
LOCATION: Camp Stampbell, Lohilo
It was now late afternoon. The entire base was on alert, and every piece of ordnance and supply was being checked over. This, in and of itself, was a form of damage - making us spend time doing things like this, instead of doing something else. It didn't help that every rock we turned over resulted in more signs of sabotage. I called in the local Gendarmes unit from the city, as we needed more hooves.
DC File Stamper: "General. Deputy Commander File Stamper, Adena Gendarmes." He nodded to me, no salute given the emergency. "I brought two companies with me, and I can call in another two, plus our SWAT Company if I have to."
K: "Alright." I nodded to him, then to Dusty. "This is Dusty Dunes, Las Pegasus SWAT, CAG Security Specialist. Coordinate with her. Sheriff Chemcial Lens is in command for this operation."
DC Stamper: "Understood, General." He nodded with a small smile. "Whoever this is - they won't escape us, sir."
K: "I'm glad we're all confident in that." I patted his shoulder. "Have your teams disperse and start doing interviews and staffing checks - I want to find out which poines had access to the areas where the sabotages were found. It's a wide area, so the suspect list is going to be pretty large, initially. We can narrow it down by seeing who was seen where and when. When Sheriff Lens gives us a better idea of exactly how old each Sabotage is, we can get a timeline going."
DC Stamper: "Yes, sir." He nods, growing serious. "I'll get right on that." And with that, he departed.
K: "This is going to get worse before it gets better, Dusty." I frowned. "Just you watch. The Saboteur or 'teurs know we're after them, now. Either they already left, are going to TRY to leave, or they're going to act out."
Dusty: "I was afraid you'd say that." She snorted softly.
The inspections went on through the night. For security reasons, I returned to my Command Train to rest. I had three mares in bed with me - Dusty, AJ, and Steela - and it wasn't hot-and-heavy, just snuggles. We were all comfortable.
Sleeping in my train car, we had the window open for some air. The windows slid downwards, but a small screen popped out at the top so bugs wouldn't get in.
That screen saved my life.
I never heard the grenade pin get pulled, but I did hear something hit the screen. The screen opens inward on an angle, slightly, leaving a small shelf of sorts. The grenade hit the screen, clanked against the window edge, and got hung up. I looked down towards my feet..
K: "GRENADE!" I screamed.
I kicked the screen, grabbed ALL THREE girls, and heaved over, tossing them out of the bed and to the floor.
The grenade exploded outside the train. Given that my train was armored, this was nothing. But, instantly, alarms sounded, and there was shouting. Topaz was first into the room - I hadn't seen him naked before, but I guessed they had similar nudity 'rules' as ponies - nakedness isn't a big deal among family
Still.. he has a six-pack. Impressive.
Topaz: "You okay, K!?" He ran to the window, M2 pistol in hand, looking out and trying to see.
K: "You have a butt." I couldn't stop myself from laughing - getting untangled from the mares, I was only in my boxers.
Topaz: "..really? You lead with that?" He shrugs a bit, though. "Yeah, lots of dragons sleep naked." He nodded proudly.
Steela: "I see why Ember love you." She giggled. "Strong body and thick dragon tail. Good for tail hugs."
Topaz: "Yeah, yeah.. lemme get dressed." He snorted, smiling, and headed back into the other carriage.
I got dressed as fast as I could, and everyone was out and on the train tracks in a few minutes. Gendarmes were here, too. We searched the train yard for over an hour, with Chemical Lens looking into every nook and cranny she could find. Finally, though, they discovered.. nothing. No trace of my attacker.
Chemical Lens: "Clearly, General, this was an assassination attempt." She frowned.
K: "Clearly." I frowned. I did not like being a target.
Topaz: "Now what?" He shrugged.
Applejack: "We go back t'sleep.. an' double the guard." She frowned.
SOMEONE had it in for me. Someone wanted me dead. I didn't take too kindly to this revelation.
Tomorrow, I had a plan.
TIME: 05:45 ERST
DATE: War Day 1173/21 Sextus, 1005 C.S.
Army Sergeant: "MOVE IT, MOVE IT! GET THOSE FLANKS IN GEAR!" He was at the edge of the barracks door, ordering everyone out.
I had the ENTIRE base awoken at before-waking time on emergency orders. Everyone with full field packs with Pick-and-Shovel tools. No firearms.
Every single person on the base was marched OUT of the base. Every last one. We did head counts five times to make sure none were missed. The local Militia moved into the base at set points to watch the equipment.
Meanwhile, the over-1200 troops were marched into the hinterlands to do some road and public improvement projects.
Every one of them would be individually pulled aside and checked. Each and every one. Meanwhile, we inspected the whole base.. grid search time. No more targeted searching, every single nail and pen cap got inspected in each building. We'd find this saboteur, and we'd do it with brute force. I was done playing around.
It took us some time to get through everything, but eventually, brute-forcing the base produced an interesting result.
Gendarmes Sergeant: "General!" She motioned me over as I was moving between search teams.
K: "What is it?" I stepped over, with Steela at my side.
Gendarmes Sergeant: "We found something, sir.. we think it's a tunnel." She motioned to where her squad was.
K: "Okay, got get backup and call my CAG team. We have a break." I said as I walked over to examine it.
Sure enough, VERY CAREFULLY concealed under a stack of boxes and a 55-gallon (208l) drum.. was a tunnel entrance. A small one. Very small.
Gendarmes Corporal: "Looks like.. Goblin-sized, sir." He's covering the entrance with his Bradley.
I covered the entrance with my pistol. I was thinking, immediately.. Tear Gas. I had developed it specifically for situations like this - I didn't want to introduce lethal gasses, but I wanted something for clearing tunnels besides a flamethrower. Oh, I'd developed those, too.
Soon, the local SWAT Team arrived, and my CAG unit, too.
Dusty: "Bet'cha it's Goblins." She nodded at the entrance.
K: "I thought the same thing." I nodded back. "SWAT Leader?"
MWS Stout Lancer: "Master Watch Sergeant Stout Lancer, General." He nodded.
K: "Tear gas." I pointed at the hole. "I want them forced out into the open."
MWS Stout Lancer: "Right." He nodded and looked to his 1st team leader.
D/Sgt. Hot Tails: "Deputy Sergeant Hot Tails, General. Tear gas, coming right up." He paces off, and grabs a crate of tear gas grenades. "I'm thinking two for starters."
K: "Sounds good." I nodded. "Hang tight, if there's one tunnel, there's more." I got on Comms. C> "Attention all callsigns, this is Alpha Actual - we have confirmed concealed tunnels, I want every unit searching every suspicious rock, canister, box, or drum for a tunnel under it. Call in when you find one, I want a coordinated strike - no accidents, and as many prisoners as we can get. And get the Engineers up here.. I have a plan."
And I did, too.. I'd just have to see if it'd work.
[End of Part 3]
Part 4: Spider Hole
TIME: 11:47 ERST
DATE: War Day 1173/21 Sextus, 1005 C.S.
LOCATION: Camp Stampbell, Lohilo
Everything was starting to come together. How the sabotage had been done, and by whom. I still needed answers, though, to some important questions.
MWS Lancer: "General." He gestured to the side.
I was sitting near the one discovered tunnel. We had sabotage everywhere, and it was looking more and more like Goblins had done it all. They were in tunnels, if they were anywhere, just hiding from us. I had no idea if they were aware of our actions, though.
K: "What'cha got, Sarge?" I nodded to him.
MWS Lancer: "We found 14 more tunnels, sir." He pulled out a map, and showed me. "They have them set all over the camp. Easy access to SO MANY things.. they must've been sabotaging things for ages. We also sent word to anyone that's gotten anything shipped through here in the last month to check and inspect the cargo."
K: "Good work, Sergeant." I nodded firmly to him. "I want us set up with one tunnel as the obvious way out, and every other tunnel hit with tear gas. I want them flushed out to one specific area, and I want them taken down - prisoners, if possible, dead combatants if not."
MWS Lancer: "Alright, sir, we'll set it up. Which tunnel do you want for the trap?" He gestured to the map.
K: "The one over here, out in the clear, so we have as much room as possible to entrench." I nodded.
MWS Lancer: "Understood, General." He gave me an affirmative nod.
After another hour, we had all the entrances covered by SWAT or Gendarmes teams with a SWAT trooper and a Gas Kit. We had the Militia Engineer Company completing a ground probe assessment, to find each tunnel. And in the middle of it all, we had a massive fighting position set up at the one exit I was allowing to remain clear.
Dusty: "Looking good, K." She nodded.
K: "Once the Engineers are ready, I want the tunnels selectively blown so they're forced to come this way." I nodded. "Pass the word - no shooting unless shot at first, and precise shots to shooters, only."
Dusty: "On it." She scurried off to relay my orders.
Steela: "Seem.. odd. Why not kill?" She tilted her head at me.
K: "It's not necessary. The tear gas should take all the fight out of them. We don't kill unless we have no other choice. In an active combat zone, you don't. Here, we do. So, we make the effort to take them alive." I nodded slowly. "Just because they're our enemy doesn't mean we need to kill them at every turn. Plus, I figure, they couldn't have done this without help, so, I want to know who's behind all of this."
Applejack: "Cain't do that without priz-ners." She nodded, filling her shotgun manually with shells loaded with 1-bit coins.
Similar to the old Silver Dime load that at least a few Western sheriffs used as an early less-than-lethal shot shell, I knew a few troopers were using shotshells like this among the Gendarmes, since I hadn't made a specific less-than-lethal shell a uniform standard, yet. I had a few concepts on the drawing board, but the Dragons informed me that they had something that worked already. Hard rubber sabots. They were a bit punchier than I wanted, and could still be lethal, but I said was going to evaluate them when I had a chance.
Speaking of.
K: "TOPE!" I called to him, over by one of the Nash halftracks.
He scurried over, with a small grin on his face.
Topaz: "What's up, K?" He nodded to me.
K: "Get those rubber sabot shells out, load up your shotgun with them, and get ready to use them. You and Jackie have clearance to shoot at my discretion only - you will use it to subdue those resisting without firearms. Understood?" I pointed to the hold we were covering.
Topaz: "Ohhh.. riot control. Got it. Be right back." And he ran off.
Topaz returned 20 minutes later with his Model 500 Persuader pistol-gripped shotgun and a bag of shotgun shells. He racked out all of the shells he had in it, and loaded in the yellow paper hulled Less-than-Lethal shells the Dragons had developed.
K: C> "Alpha Actual to Able Easy One."
Adena Engineer Officer: C> "Able Easy One Actual. Go, Alpha."
K: C> "Status on tunnel operation."
Adena Engineer Officer: C> "Roger. Charges are set and everything is ready. Go on Alpha."
K: C> "Understood. Able Easy One, Able Easy Two, and Able Easy Three on standby. Alpha Actual to all Mark and George call-signs, stand by for imminent action. All Able Easy - Count Down from 20 on my mark. Mark and George - Count Down from 10 on my mark. All callsigns - MASKS! MASKS FOR THE GAS! MASKS FOR THE GAS!"
I quickly pulled my own mask over my head. It was a design based heavily on the USN Mark IV gas mask, with the filter canister behind the head. Given that these were ponies, it made sense to hang as little off the front and sides as possible.
Also, the Militia were now using their own specific Alpha-Numeric system, separate from Gendarmes "Adam-Boy" and the regular military "Alpha-Bravo" systems.
The Gendarmes Alphanumeric was: Adam, Boy, Charles, David, Edward, Frank, George, Henry, Ida, John, Kent, Link, Mary, Nora, Ocean, Paul, Queen, Robert, Sam, Tom, Union, Vince, William, Xenia ("ECKS-enia"), and Zebra.
The Militia Alphanumeric was: Able, Baker, Charter, Dog, Easy, Fox, Gage, How, Island, Jig, King, Love, Mark, Nan, Oboe, Peter, Quick, Roger, Sugar, Tare, Uncle, Value, Winch, Xavier ("ECKS-avier"), Yoke, Zed.
The standard Military Alphanumeric was: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-Ray, Yankee, Zulu.
The Allied Alternate list was: Ash, Back, Chain, Diver, Egg, Fisher, Gig, Have, Item, Jake, Kent, Lash, Musket, Net, Oak, Page, Quill, Raft, Scout, Tide, Uncle, Vast, Winch, Xenon ("ECKS-enon"), and Zoo.
It was finally time to flush out the Goblin saboteurs. I had no idea how many were down there, or how many might give up once the Tear Gas started pumping in, but I was hoping to take them without a fight, or much of one. Goblins responded to strength, and respected those that had it. I was hoping a massive show of force, on top of the disorienting effects of the Tear Gas would make them cower. Tirek was using them a lot, lately, and with formal programs now set up to help any that surrendered, I wanted to eventually build a force that would return to the Goblin lands and help convince them to rebel against that Tyrant, instead of having to kill them all.
K: "All Callsigns - MARK!" I drew the Sword of Rainbow's Light, and.. waited.
This was the first step - attack with mercy.
[End of Part 4]
Part 5: Friendly Gas Attack
TIME: 13:02 ERST
DATE: War Day 1173/21 Sextus, 1005 C.S.
LOCATION: Camp Stampbell, Lohilo
We had uncovered 14 Goblin tunnels underneath Camp Stampbell. We also uncovered evidence of ongoing severe sabotage, sabotage that had claimed pony lives. We were preparing to flush the enemy out of their tunnels using less-than-lethal means - Tear Gas. Combined with Engineers collapsing certain tunnels to make sure the enemy could not escape us, we had one major fighting position dug and entrenched at the far end of the base, making sure the enemy had to go through quite a bit of gas to get to us.
I hoped this would knock the fight out of them.
Gendarmes Officer: C> "George-Able One.. GAS!"
MWS Lancer: C> "George Sierra Two-Two.. GAS!"
Soon, calls for Gas filled the channels. Then..
Militia Engineer Officer: C> "Able Easy One - CLEAR!"
I hear distant explosions, and the tunnels would collapse after that.
K: "READY! THEY'LL BE HERE ANY SECOND. REMEMBER - DO NOT FIRE UNLESS FIRED UPON. SHARPSHOOTERS, TARGET ONLY ENEMY SHOOTERS. EVERYONE ELSE, HOLD FIRE UNLESS I ORDER." I called out.
The vague smell of tear gas would come up from the tunnel, so, I pulled my mask down before it could take effect - it stung a bit, but it wasn't bad from a tiny dose. All those years of smoking, I figured.
Within three minutes, the gas cloud coming out of the tunnel grew thicker.. and then.. we could hear coughing. Lots of coughing.. sounds of suffering Goblins.. screeching and gagging..
Finally, the first few exited, arms raised.
Goblin Officer: "MERCIES! MERCIES! PLEASE! AIR SPICY! NO CAN BREATHE!" He coughed, and flopped to the ground, prostrating himself. "PLEASE.. please haz the mercies! No fight! No fight! Promises, promises!"
I held up a fist, and slowly paced over to the Goblin officer. Despite the danger from the gas, I took my mask off.
K: "I AM GENERAL K! THE HUMAN THAT FIGHTS THE LORD-OVER-ALL!"
Goblin Officer: "OOHHH!" He prostrated himself to my boots, up and down, back and forth. "HUMAN TOO STRONG! MAKE EVEN AIR BEND TO HIS WILL! PLEASE HAS THE MERCIES! Goblin WEAK! WEAK! We no has strength to bend Air away from the Spicy!" He was crying.. the rest of his unit - a full company and change - were pouring out of the tunnel, now, in just as bad shape or worse.
K: "Give me your UNDYING PLEDGE. SWEAR AN OATH!" I looked down at him, screwing my face up to resist the urge to cough and, thus, break the illusion. "Swear your life to me, Goblin. SWEAR I AM MORE POWERFUL THAN THE TYRANT, TIREK!"
Goblin Officer: "I SWEARS!" He grabbed my boot, and kissed the toe. "SWEARS TO THE MIGHTY HYOOMIN! HE SPARES US! HE SHOWS US MERCIES!"
I looked at all of them, and pointed to the spot before my feet. They all clambered over, falling over themselves, and spoke, swearing oaths to me and me alone. Swearing I was mightier than the "Lord over All."
And just like that.. we won. 132 Goblin prisoners of war, taken without firing a shot in anger.
TIME: 13:32 ERST
We had the POW's away from the tunnel. A few had to be given oxygen to resuscitate them a bit. The Goblin Officer - Gryzik the Shine-Bearer - was sitting next to me, drinking some water, and thanking me for showing the mercies.
Gryzik: "Hyoomin most merciful one." He nodded his head rapidly.
K: "And how old are you?" I asked - he looked fairly young.
Gryzik: "Gryzik is 27 Winters." He nodded back to me.
K: "I see. And you were put in charge of this unit?" I looked at the other Goblins, some getting medical attention.
Gryzik: "Yes. Am smartest Gob." He nodded again.
K: "This is true - you were smart enough to surrender, swear an oath, and save your Gobs from sure and senseless destruction. You are indeed the smartest Gob here." Gentle platitudes. "Tell me, how much did you break?"
Gryzik: "Break lots. Break many things. Salt powder, crack casings, all very invisible." He nodded.
K: "You will help us identify everything that's been broken." I nodded.
Gryzik: "Yes, yes, Gryzik swears." He was rather meek about this.
K: "After that, your Gobs have a choice. You may join the NEIGHTO Goblin Expatriate Legion, and help us move things, fix things, and keep things running. One day, you may come with me back to your Home Land and help show fellow Gobs that I and Celestia are mightier than Tirek, persuade them to stop fighting, and to join us, cast off his chains, and achieve true freedom. When Tirek is gone, if Goblin Kind stands with the Ponies, you will be freed from any and all bondage to any higher power. We will help you set up your own nation - a government, a culture, industry, commerce.. you will stand on your own, slaves nevermore." I patted him on the back.
Gryzik: "That.. sound good." He blinked a few times. "And we help fix what broken? Move things that need moved?"
K: "Yes. And those that want no part of that, but swear against the Lord Over All, may partake in the Goblin Resettlement Program, go north, and help found a village instead." I said, firmly, but softly. "No war, no fighting, just building your own homes, being your own Gob." I nodded.
Gryzik: "This sound good, too!" He nodded firmly. "What catch?"
K: "No catch. But, I would ask you one thing: Who helped you? This kind of sabotage couldn't be done without help." I gestured to the base in the distance.
Gryzik: "OH! Head Pony did. He take Gold, he help us break things. Leave gate open, move patrol, open door, all that thing." He nodded, grinning. "Head Pony very smart."
K: C> "Alpha to Alpha Three." Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash: C> "What's up, K?"
K: C> "The colonel is our traitor. Take him into custody."
Rainbow Dash: C> "OH, WHAT?! Oh, NOT COOL! Don't worry, I-"
Her radio cut off.
K: C> "DASH?! DASH!" I yelled into the Mic.
Gilda: C> "K. Call ya back in a sec - we got a sit'cha'ation."
I looked at Topaz, but he already had a jeep started and was in the driver's seat. I dove in, and pointed to Gryzik.
K: "Stay put!" I nodded as Applejack dove in behind me.
Applejack: "TOPAZ, HIT IT!"
Topaz: "Right-o!" He FLOORED it.
We were out by where Dash and the others were in just a few minutes, but it was already over by then. Colonel Stalworth was on the ground, cuffed. Dash was looking full of herself.
Rainbow Dash: "K! JACKIE! YOU should have SEEN how awesome I was! He had a gun to my head, right? Dummy forgot I have wings. So, I popped them out, made him stagger back, mule-kicked him, then UP I went, and BLAMMO!" She laughed.
Colonel Stalworth was doubled over in pain.
Stalworth: "THAT BITCH AIR-DIVED ONTO MY BALLS!" He screeched out.
I walked over to him and stuck the toe of my boot under his chin.
K: "You are arrested for High Treason to Princess Celestia and the Kingdom of Equestria. YOU will HANG for this!" I stormed at him. "YOU TRAITOROUS BASTARD! YOU MISERABLE EXCUSE FOR A HORSEHAIR RUG! I WILL SEE YOU SWING AT THE GALLOWS! FOR STEM BOLT, AND ALL HIS FRIENDS!" But, despite my anger, I didn't kick him, I thrust him back on his back, however, and the anger in my eyes made him urinate himself.
Gilda: "Chill, K." She patted my shoulder with a claw. "He's not hurting anyone, any more." She nodded.
And with that, the Sabotage was solved.. a traitor was outed.. and over sixty Goblins joined the Legion, with the rest opting for resettlement.
We lost a friend we never really had, and gained 132 new ones. And as I always say, friendship is magic!
{End of Chapter 151}
