U.A.E Special Task Squad Base and Operations (Friendly)

Fireseeker gathered several documents from his desk as well as his gear. This gear wasn't weapons or armour, but merely quills, scrolls and other stationary. As reconnaissance, he was required to report in detail about information of the frontline and beyond. At the moment, he had finished almost all UAE settlements and was about to branch onwards to those controlled by the Rebels.

In fact, there was only one UAE location left to gather recon about before moving on; Ponyville.
This was where Fireseeker was heading.
Having packed all his equipment, he left the STS headquarters to gather a squad of soldiers to accompany him.

[ Left for Ponyville ]

"I would like the kid, Thunder Bird, Onyx, and Victoria to stay behind. As for the rest, you're dismissed. I'm giving you a free reign to pursue your own missions for now. Do what you think would best aid our cause. But, should you waste your time goofing off, I will pile so much work on you that you will not sleep. Now go,"


Thunder Bird felt a rush of heat fill his face, he had no idea why he had to stay back with some of the others. He really wasn't good with facing authorities. "Just because she wants me to stay back, doesn't mean I'm in trouble." Thought Thunder Bird. This thought played over and over in his head. He took a minute to breath, and prepare for what the higher pegsus had to say, praying that it would be good.

"I'll address Onyx first, since my issue with him is different from the rest." Tornado Wing began, singling out Onyx from the group. "While you are in the United Army of Equestria, you show respect to your superiors. The other two ponies saluted me right when I walked through that door," Tornado Wing said, pointing to the iron-clad entrance with her hoof. "However, you refrained from doing so. As it was your first act of disrespect, I will not report you. Don't let it happen again. Dismissed."

Tornado Wing turned towards the three remaining ponies, pausing for a moment before addressing them. "It's the first day. Things are confusing. But so is the battlefield. Being on time can mean the difference between the life and death of a teammate. I don't care for what reason you were late: When I expect you to be somewhere, be there on time. Again, I won't write you up for a first-offense. Don't let it happen again."

She paused letting the short lecture sink in before continuing, "Kid. I don't know what your name is, so i'll just call you kid. You would not be here had you not known what being on time meant. And of course there is no excuse for being late! Next time I hold you back from being dismissed, accept what I say to you without question or comment. It saves time and energy."

Now that Tornado was finished reprimanding the ponies, she dismissed them, "...except for you Victoria. I require your speaking skills as I travel to Trottingham. Since the cities attack, the displaced citizens have become much less... assured of the U.A.E's control. We are to go and sort them out. Go gather your things, and come back to this room."

Thunder Bird, having nothing else to do. Decided if he's to do anything useful, he should go to Ponyville. Not like it had much importance, maybe he would drop by his parent's house or something. While thinking of what to do, he stumbled upon the door to his tiny dorm room. Going inside, he was greeted by the dullness of the grey walls. He decided while he had time we would buy something to spruce up his room. He took out a bag of bits out of a drawer. And exited the room to go to Ponyville

LEFT FOR PONYVILLE

"I'll address Onyx first, since my issue with him is different from the rest."

Onyx didn't flinch when the squad leader singled him out. This whole discussion seemed fairly pointless to him, why should he worry about being pointed out for whatever reason?

"While you are in the United Army of Equestria, you show respect to your superiors. The other two ponies saluted me right when I walked through that door. However, you refrained from doing so. As it was your first act of disrespect, I will not report you. Don't let it happen again. Dismissed."

Hmph. An act of disrespect? I will never understand why raising one's hoof is such an important sign of respect in the military. The fact that I did not acknowledge her presence does not imply that I have no respect for her, and if she does not approve of the way I act around others, then she will just have to take me off the team. I am skilled, I am willing, and I am here to execute a mission. Pleasantries are currently not my priority, whether she approves of it or not.

Onyx left without a word once he was dismissed, exiting the squad meeting room and base of operations and beginning to walk along the corridor just outside, heading towards the building's entrance. He had business to attend to back in Canterlot, and he was determined to get there as soon as possible. However, as he neared the entrance, a unicorn mare in a U.A.E. officer's uniform stopped him.

"Excuse me sir, are you Onyx?"

"Indeed I am. What do you want?"

"I was asked to give you this envelope. You've apparently been given an assignment of relative importance, and you are to complete it as soon as possible. Read the letter inside for information." The mare levitated a plain white envelope in front of her, stamped with the insignia of the U.A.E.

"Hm... Very well." Onyx took the envelope in his own magical grasp, and the mare nodded and left him to go about her own business once he had it in his possession. He exited the building soon after this confrontation, opening the envelope that he had been given as he did so. He levitated a letter out of it, and then through the envelope itself away. He quickly read over the message that he had been given:

To Onyx, designated combat specialist of the United Army Of Equestria's Special Task Squad
From Greenheart, Head of Information and Intelligence of the U.A.E.
Onyx, you have been given an assignment of importance. This mission is not connected to your squad's actions or motives, and is being given directly from me. Any assignments that have been given to you by your squad take priority over this, but the sooner you are able to complete this request the better. According to our intelligence network, it seems that there may be a group of rebels hiding out in the Trottingham Ruins. These rebels may be a useful source for information on the secret rebel base that have been attempting to locate, and you are being sent to Trottingham to find and capture these rebels. If you are unable to successfully pacify them, then violence is permitted, though this is only to be used as a last resort. Head out as soon as possible, as it is expected that the rebel authority is already trying to get these ponies back to safety. Good luck.

Rebels... Interesting, I would think the U.A.E. soldier stationed there would be able to handle this situation, but it seems that they are just as incapable of performing such tasks as all of the other brutes in the military. Onyx threw the letter away and gathered his belongings from his temporary home, heading out to the ruins of Trottingham once he was ready to do so.

{Left for Trottingham Ruins}

Chrome Blade smirked as he saw these ponies leave. Leaning on the wall next to the door, he felt as if he was being held back and humiliated.
Humiliation would be the only reason why the UAE would ask a Unicorn with a broken horn to stand guard at the door where, on the other side, is the very team he was denied to join. Too "reckless" they said. "Not enough discipline or mercy" they said. What is the point of morality anyway? It limited what Chrome could do on the battlefield.

And Chrome Blade had no limits.
Well, he used to, but that was a long time ago...

"Kid. I don't know what your name is, so i'll just call you kid. You would not be here had you not known what being on time meant. And of course there is no excuse for being late! Next time I hold you back from being dismissed, accept what I say to you without question or comment. It saves time and energy."


Kid winced a tad at the lecture, knowing all too well that he had messed up, big time. It's a miracle that he hadn't received a physical smack yet. That being said, he didn't want to push his luck any farther and risk getting one. He simply giving the squad leader a sharp salute as he turned and left the meeting room, heading towards his dorm.

"Ugh...I seriously need to learn my place here...and quick..." Kid sighed to himself as he approached his military dorm. "I would rathe-"

Kid was interrupted during his rant to himself when he bumped into a larger unicorn stallion. When he looked up to view the stallion, he saw that he was a rank higher than himself. He also noticed the two other unicorns beside him who both stared towards him with an extreme intensity. Despite how much of a stranger Kid thought he was to these ponies, he saw that they were all familiar.

"Well boys, look whose back from his top-secret meetin'" The leading unicorn laughed as he nudged his accomplices who also laughed.

It hit Kid, almost literaly. These were the unicorns who gave him is regular beatings. Not wanting any trouble, Kid simply smiled and tried to trot around them.

"Whoah, whoah woah...not so fast, runt!" the leader of their said as he blocked Kid off from trotting towards his dorm. "You weren't around for your pain resistance training yesterday or today."

The leader and his two buddies all smiled and snickered as they surrounded Kid.

"You know, that means we got a LOT to cover!" The leader laughed as he cracked his hooves. "GET IM' BOYS!"

Kid was punched bucked and generally beaten quite severely. though exactly how many times and exactly by whom and how bad was difficult for him to remember, as Kid blacked out after a particularly gnarly buck to the face. However when he woke, he found himself in the infirmary lying on one of the patient beds, covered almost completely from head to hoof in bandages.

(Didn't want to miss the opportunity.)

Shadow paced back and forth in front of the colt's bed with his now cracked shades placed on his head, muttering to himself. "Lookie who's awake." He said in a ticked off note. But if one were to be attentive, he would notice that Shadow's voice had changed slightly, a little bit more soft-spoken. "You are nothing but a doormat! YOU'RE WEAK!" He yelled at the kid. Shadow didn't usually care for anyone, but the colt was an exception, being just a kid and all. "I have no idea why they even assigned you here when you can't even defend yourself... But the mare was right. We have to have faith on each other, trust each other, and we have to lean on each other. And I can't see myself ever relying on you." A moment after his rant he reached into his suit and pulled out a necklace with a broken pendant. He ripped this trinket from one of the three responsible for sending his squad mate to the infirmary, after he "talked" with them. He saw the whole episode and it infuriated him that soldiers of the UAE would turn against their own. Something had to be done, with or without consequences. He tossed the pendant over to the colt.

Shadow lowered his cracked shades and slowly made his way to the door, pausing when he grabbed the handle. "Those three wont be bothering you anytime soon, kiddo. But you gotta learn to fight, or at least learn to dodge a few kicks. I wont always be around to cover for your flank." His voice was back to normal now and he went out the door without another word.

As Chrome witnessed the beating happening before him, Chrome had split second thoughts of helping, but these thoughts were quickly pushed away.
Nah, he thought to himself, anyone that was assigned to that squad is sure to be able to take on those five ponies.

Chrome then went to think about what he would do in that kid's situation as he confirmed who the leader of the beaters were and that leaders more faithful ones.

Wait..a kid? In the military? How desperate are we? Oh well, no matter.
Chrome Blade tried to get these thoughts out of his head.
That colt could use the exercise.

Chrome Blade continued to stand guard.

Victoria stifled a grin as the haughty combat specialist exited in his predictable pseudo-stoic fashion. Inevitably, she concluded, among the UAE specialists there was to be a conflict of egos; but this soul could not even see in himself the exaggerated seriousness which seemed almost palpable to the mare.

Then, the squad leader addressed her. "Understood, ma'am," Victoria answered obsequiously before departing from the briefing room.

She arrived at her quarters and hastily went about assembling possessions for her assignment. Considering her tasks, she required little beyond the faculties of her mind; for persuasion was an art innately possessed and not articulated through any violent instrument. She did, however, pause before a peculiar relic which adorned the greater part of one wall. It was a large fabric which had been knitted with a dark-colored yarn, but it bore no pattern or emblem. Embedded in it were tiny little knots which appeared as if they had been arranged in a deliberate fashion. For reasons unknown, Victoria examined the piece religiously. Then, she deposited her knitting needles among other basic necessities in her saddle pouch and trotted off to join Tornado Wing.

Once Victoria re-entered the room, Tornado Wing slung her travel gear over her shoulders. She had known about this mission before entering the meeting, so she came prepared.

"Let's head out now. We should be there in no time at all, seeing as both of us can fly. Just stay behind me the entire time, and i'll keep an eye out for trouble. I'm not expecting you to have to fight, but just in case, be prepared to find cover quickly," said Tornado as she laid out the details of their traveling.

She trotted over to the door, exiting the room.

EXIT FOR TROTTINGHAM

Victoria nodded in reply, flexing her all too infrequently used wings and stowing her cap away as they prepared to disembark. Then, she followed in Tornado's path.

"Have you a name, dear?" she inquired rather casually as they navigated the compound, intending to test her social boundaries with the pegasus and perhaps have a mid-flight chat.

[Exit for Trottingham]

Kid stared down at the small pendant that was tossed to him. He saw that it was a locket and that the image of a a colt seemingly older than him, a mare and a stallion. He then drooped his ears, tucked into himself, dropped is head into his hooves and whispered to himself.

"You've really screwed it up this time." Kid sniffled under his breath. "You've always screwed up...what made you even consider for a moment that you could be a U.A.E member? You can't even fight! How in Equestria would you ever be in a war!?"

Kid continued to sniffle and bash himself in the Infirmary when he remembered. He had a job to do, and that job was to get prepared for his infiltration mission. Kid had started to get out of the infirmary bed when a nurse saw him and quickly forced him back down.

"Nonononono!" She shouted at him as she pushed him down to lie on his back. "You need your rest little one...and lots of it!"

Kid's bandages had started to leak a little bit of blood onto the bed.

"And from the looks of it...you need some more bandages too." The nurse said as she tucked him in. "DON'T. GO. ANYWHERES!"

Despite already having handled brass and just recently being face to face with three unicorns who had nearly beaten him to death. This nurse scared Kid out of his wits! However, as he was waiting for the nurse to return, he saw just how bad he was bleeding and was horrified. Were those ponies actually trying to KILL him? Kid took another look down at the pendant and saw that nopony in it was a unicorn. However, Shadow had taken it from one of the unicorns who had beaten him. Looking the pendant over he saw that it wasn't made out of very valuable materials, so nopony would have simply taken it for personal gain. He also some words inscribed on it.

"Me and My Loving Family."

...Kid was starting to get a little suspicious as he started looking at the ponies in the picture...The young colt in the image didn't really stand out, nor the mare...However, the stallion in it seemed familiar...and was wearing...!!!

THE STALLION WAS WEARING THE REBEL INSIGNIA!!

Chrome Blade had heard where the kid was recovering after that beating, and Chrome strolled into the hospital, waiting to pay for a visit. How on earth did a kid get in and not him? It made no sense.

Chrome slammed his hooves on the front desk, looked at the desk clerk straight in the eye, grinned, and said, "I'm here to visit the youngest recruit here."

After Kid was patched up, he was about to sneak out of the infirmary to hurry up an get to Appleoosa, where he had heard some ponies were recruiting for the Rebellion. However, he was caught sneaking out by the nurse, forced back into his bed.

"I thought I told you to STAY. IN. YOUR. BED!!" The nurse shouted at him viciously as she forced him back into the bed. "Now then, you have a visitor, please wait in your bed."

Kid though long and hard who this visitor could be, but couldn't think of who it was, so he simply waited. Maybe they could convince this crazy nurse to let him out.

Chrome Blade shoved the nurse that was just yelling out of his way. He had overheard that bit of dialogue, and figured that maybe he should cut the kid some slack. He formulated a plan to get him out, then ask him questions as to why he got in the STS.

Chrome opened the door and said, "Hello, kid. I'm your messiah. Let's get the buck out of here."

Kid was taken aback at the abruptness of this new pony who popped in. Who was he? Where did he come from? Why did he care about Kid? What the heck was a messiah!?

"I...uhh...alright..." Kid said uncertainly as he climbed out of the infirmary bed. he then winced at how painful it was as he limped up to the new pony. "Uhh...who are you..."

Chrome Blade was prepared for these questions.

"Like I said, I'm your messiah. Savior. Compadre."

A nurse with some stabilizer tried to get in, but Chrome Blade slammed the door in her face and reopened it, using his eagle's view to do so, to make it look like he didn't even look at the nurse.

"Can you walk?"

Kid winced as he limped and walked along. His bandages looked as though they were died red. He looked even worse for wear, as though he were about to fall apart.

"Argh...y-yeah..I think so..." Kid winced as he breathed through the pain. "I might be young, but I can deal with a couple of bruises and cuts."

"Hahahahar! I like your spirit!"

Chrome opened the window in the kid's room, picked up the two unconcious nurses, and dropped them out of the window.

"Yeah," Chrome said out loud, looking at the ground outside, "That should make a nice cushion."

Chrome turned his head to the kid and said, "Well? You ready to jump?"

Kid was shocked as he realized just what this pony had just did. He knocked out two nurses and wanted to use them as a cushion!

"Wh-WHAT!?" Kid shouted at the pony, wincing a tad at the pain. "Wh-why'd you do that!? They're on OUR side!"

Kid was revolted by the pony who stood before him. Willing to smack around the nurses, possibly the most important ponies in the military, as if it were nothing!

Chrome "tsked" at the kid's reaction. This colt needed to learn how to get hay done.

"All right, up we go," Chrome said as he threw the kid on his shoulder.

"And now," Chrome said through a chaotic grin with gritted teeth, "DOWN WE GO!"

They jumped out of the window.

Kid was now officially concerned that this pony might be a rebel, kidnapping him for some sort of trade off. That being said, the U.A.E wouldn't risk giving away a captured prisoner for him. He was already expecting some torture. Kid shoving his fear down into himself and brought up his calm, disciplined personality.

"So...what are we doing after we crush these poor mares?" Kid asked as they fell, feeling bad about how he had disliked the nurse before hand.

"You'll find out, kiddy."

The bones of the nurses cracked as they landed.
"Now, kid, lets talk about my favorite letters-S, T, and S."

Kid winced as he heard the crack, and not just from the rough landing either. he knew what it was like to be betrayed and maimed by someponies that were on your side. He now officially owes the nurses, BIG TIME. But he oughtta deal with Mr. Insanity over here.

"Before that, I feel as though I must ask; where is your U.A.E identification?" Kid asked the unicorn, still fairly certain he was a rebel infiltrator.