MECH PONIES 3

By

RedDragonKan

ARMORED THANK HELLZBEG
WEIGHT: 500 TN
ARMOR CLASS: HEAVY
CAPACITY CREW: 5
ATTRIBUTES: EXTREMELY FAST AND DEADLY

The heavy thank moved at speeds no one ever expected something its size could move.  It trampled over everything that came across whether being old buildings or trees.  Its gigantic turret was aimed behind at two heavily weaponized fighter jets that were in pursuit.  Their vulcan cannons showering the tank but doing little effect on its armored hide.  The tank fired from its turret at one of the jets, missing it as the aerial machine dodged it skillfully.  Both areal fighters fired their vulcan shots at it, but the bullets kept bouncing off harmlessly, not even making a single dent on the armor.  

"Soarin, we have to stop this thing before it reaches the town."

"Tell me something I don't know Spitfire.  Our arsenal is not even slowing it down.  We have to improvise."

"Roger.  Prepare missile targeting its threads.  This should be our last chance before we use the experimental weapon on it."

"Homing a barrage of missiles and preparing to fire now..."

Soarin's get made a humming noise within his cockpit as its wings deployed revealing two sections filled with missiles ready to fire.  Spitfire kept maneuvering around to get the tank's attention, distracting it from hitting her partner before he aimed at the threads.  After locking on, Soarin depressed the safety switch and a multitude of missiles fired from his jet towards the destined target, hitting the threads successfully making a huge cloud of smoke and fire.  Both pegasi pilots held their breath as the tank still continued moving, hoping they had done some kind of significant damage.  

The tank continued moving without ever slowing down as it flattened trees and destroyed rock with its powerful seemingly indestructible threads.  Soarin cursed out loud as he maneuvered away from another blast coming his way.  Spitfire grit teeth and dived onto the tank, firing vulcan shots at its turret in an attempt to at least destroy a section of it as she saw it nearing the city awfully fast.  After a few seconds it was all over, a rumbling noise was heard and the sound of buildings demolished made they present.

Then everything went dark.  After a few seconds a buzzer blared within the cockpits of both pilots, awakening them from their adreline-driven trance.  Spitfire heard Soarin curse again as her monitor came alive once more, the face of Rarity glaring at her.

"And what did occur this time Wingpony Spitfire?"

"I...I just...ugh."

"Yes well, you and Soarin come out your shells and take a good shower.  The session will continue again tomorrow until you both find a way to avert this incident from happening again within your virtual sessions."

"Yes ma'am.  Thank you ma'am."

With a hiss, her cockpit opened and the pegasus came out slowly, feeling her joints aching after hours of trying to pass the virtual test which she and Soarin had been submitted to.  To her right said pegasus was coming out as well, a look of both disappointment and irritation over his face which was unusual since he was always laidback and carefree.  Spitfire knew that he had his moments all too well and would not show them unless a great deal of stress was enveloping his judgment.  However as soon as another Wonderbolt came with a towel for both, he regained his cheerful disposition and nodded to the mare that provided them with such.  They totted out the practice virtual room and headed to the showers while conversing among themselves.  It was an uneventful chat until Soarin mentioned a pony she hasn't heard from a while and wished she hasn't again.

"Lightning Dust?"  She stated with a risen eyebrow at him. "I thought she disappeared from the country after she was expelled from Wonderbolt camp.  Why did you brought her up"

"Because she will be hired to command a band of mercenaries who will aid us with the raid on the underground base of the Gryphons."  He replied, his demeanor going back to a serious tone.  Spitfire sighed and rubbed her eyes as they both entered the shower.  Each peeled off their sweaty suits and tossed them into a hamper, quickly covering it up and placing their goggles on top of it.  Spitfire then felt a light smack on her rump which made her yelp and turned sharply to face Soarin who was now wearing a playful smirk on his face.

"Soarin!  Don't do that...at least not here, there might be ponies watching you know” She said looking around and hoping no one else saw what he did.  It was no surprise that many had thought them both as a couple, it was too obvious.  But nothing has ever been confirmed officially, as regulations within their Wonderbolt force stated no pony should be a mate with another within the group, for many reasonable reasons.  As squadron leaders, the third being Icewind, they knew to be an example for others to follow, especially rookies.  She flared at him to let him know this was a serious matter.  Soarin however just dismissed it with a shrug and entered his shower room as she sighed and did the same within another. After a few minutes only the sound of water splashing against their tired bodies and the view was blocked by thick steam covering the entire bathroom.  That would not last for long as Soarin began whistling an all familiar tune only he and Spitfire knew.

And this particular tune she would know what Soarin was thinking of as it was a song they often heard when they got intimate behind doors at their own private place far away from the camp.  She looked his way, and while the wall was covering her view of the stallion, her imagination was already working on how his body looked drenched in hot water and everything to her was looking just fine.  Now it was her time to smirk as she whistled along, letting him know it was a date established for later.

Both continued their own tune as they showered for a long while, not noticing a pair of eyes looking at what just transpired and ears that listened to every word nearby.  A snort of annoyance was heard and hooves on floor quickly leaving the area until it was heard no more.

***

UNKNOWN LOCATION

Lightning Dust was cleaning her heavy arms rifle, taking it apart and making sure everything was in working order, not wanting anything to go wrong when the time was right.  Her time in the Wonderbolt camp had taught her many things, none of them to her liking.  She deemed them too uptight for her own taste.  

And now she was asked to help them on a future raid while using her team as bait distracting the main forces they were to encounter.  If it wasn't for the fact that she wanted money more than anything nowadays, she would’ve given them the most offensive gesture and told them to fit their request where Celestia's sun doesn't shine.  
"Dust, there's a message for you in Frequency 97.1"

Lightning Dust just nodded to the other mercenary, a pegasus who was older and more seasoned than her, and picked up the radio tuning in said frequency. 

"Yeah?  What do ya want?"

"What do I want?  I want you to show some respect.  After all, we are the ones paying you."

"Attitude adjustment costs extra.  Now what is it?"

"We got news that a pony you are acquainted for will be among the raid.  Maybe you heard of the called Rainbow Dash."

Her eyes narrowed at the mention of that name but remained cool about hearing it. 

"Get to the point."

"The point is," the pony in the radio determined "She and her little squadron of runts will be some trouble for us.  Perhaps you could persuade Dash to turn the other way?"

"So I am not the only one who wants to knock her teeth then."

"Let’s just say she owes many ponies a little something, and this is part of the payment for her.  Of course, this will be added extra into your account should you do your job well with her."

"With Dash?"  Lightning Dust said, a noticeable smirk appearing on her lips "I won't charge you a thing.  Consider it a freebie for being such a loyal customer."

"Oh?  That is mighty generous of you, well then, report when you've done the job...and do not fail us."

Lightning Dust tossed the radio aside discarding it and continued cleaning her gear while humming.

***

SECTOR GG-D3
SOLDIER BARRACKS

"Dash, what's wrong?"  Twilight asked looking at Rainbow Dash who suddenly raised he head from reading her magazine in their quarters, looking into the emptiness of their ceiling.  

"Uh...nothing thought I felt my ears burning..."

***

"Take that and that you fiends!"

Pinkie Pie shouted, pulling the trigger and eliminating several dozen targets floating within the virtual training room.  She has been doing so for hours, tirelessly shooting every single pod that popped up with added speed around her.  The pink pony kept ranking points and promotions, and even though it was more than enough to pass any kind of test several times over, she kept at it without rest.  On the other side of the room lay ensign Inkie Pie. one of her sisters taping on the floor bored as she could be and tired after practicing with her since they began early in the afternoon.

"Pinkie...I'm bored, I don't want to do this anymore..."

If Pinkie Pie caught any of what she said, she wasn't listening.  She kept shooting and continued the onslaught of drones that kept being tossed at her.  Inkie Pie sighed, getting up and trotting towards the control panel.  With the witch of a key inserted, the simulation ended and Pinkie Pie's face turned from her cheerful self to that of disdain.

"Aw, but I was holding the highest score ever!  No fair!"

"No fair?  Pinkie this isn't a videogame, it’s for us to get better at, and you know, that!"

Pinkie Pie turned to her sister who was visibly agitated and stuck her tongue at her, which didn't helped her sister's mood by much.  Inkie Simply took the keys and the chip cards with Pinkie's name on and started heading out.  Seeing that she was about to be left alone, Pinkie bounced after her still protesting about cutting her "gaming" session.  Several minutes later, another couple of recruits entered the training room and switched on the console on the control panel to begin their own training exercise session.  Upon examining the last accumulated points the previous session had, both felt their jaws hit the floor at the outrageous score accumulated onscreen.

***

"Now class we must set up everything to initiate your next lesson concentrating on closing a deep wound.  Everypony ready your heat incisors now!"

Chief Nurse Redheart instructed her class within the barracks of the base, they were having new recruits and interns, therefore they needed to train as many volunteers as they could.  Fluttershy was enrolled as an intern but she also would have to take classes in order to further her education on how to heal soldiers.  Said classes included doing first aid during battle, something she would never have to experience if she didn't had to.  She took her medic blade and started heating it up on the mini furnace that it was equipped on each table fashioned after a bed for clinical rooms, and a pony doll that was marked on every other part of the body that needed treatment for certain lessons.  Being shy the most, she would have problems operating on a real body, but on  dummy she felt most at ease.  

After the class was over and she was ready to go, a pony approached her.  Fluttershy started feeling tense, and the urgency of leaving right there and then was increasing.  She moved as fast as she could putting all the equipment back inside her saddlebag but it was too fast ass she clumsily ended up knocking said bag to the floor, spreading all its contents on the floor.  The pony in front of her giggled without any sign of malice, and quickly began helping her to pick up her belongings.

"My, you sure seem nervous to talk to anypony...what is your name?"

"Um...Flutter...Fluttershy.."

"What was that?"

Fluttershy began mumbling her name even lower and softer than before.  The other pony smiled and finished helping putting everything back inside her saddlebag then set it on her back as much as Fluttershy felt like protesting.  Afterwards, her green eyes fixated on the pony that helped her, a mulberry coated with magenta mane and also green eyes still smiled at her.  

"Well then my name is Cheerilee!  Its nice meeting you Fluttersigh."

"Um, nice meeting you too...and its Shy."

"Oh I am sorry, I just couldn't understand you at first, how about we go to the Cafeteria?  My treat."

"Oh, well, I have to go elsewhere actually...sorry."

"Really?  Well that's alright then.  But here, I hope at least you come by the warehouse at the end of the base tonight at least."

"Huh?  Why?"

Fluttershy looked at Cheerilee's hoof holding a flyer which she nervously took and began looking at it.  After she ended reading it she looked back at Cheerilee, who was already exiting the classroom.

"Wait!  I am not sure if I should go, I mean, I..."

"Don't worry, the party will be just what you need, trust me!  See ya there!"

After Cheerilee was out of view, Fluttershy let out a prolonged sigh and began trotting out to her own quarters.

***

Applejack was lazily taking a nap on the rooftop of the building they currently were settled on.  Her hat pulled all the way touching her nose and chewing on a twig from a branch she cut on the way back.  The sun was warm and toasty and she had already had a meal that would feed three hungry foals in a setting.  Yes, it was a good day to take it easy especially since they were to have a certain raid that would last for days and no guarantee of having a break.  Nothing could ever sour her mood nor ruin this day, absolutely nothing...

"Letter for Miss Jack!"

Applejack raised her hat slowly to catch a glimpse of the mailmare, the pegasus ensign Doo, whom everyone else dubbed Derpy for the way one of her eyes wandered away from her vision.  She hovered just above the earth pony holding a letter on her hoof extended to her.  Applejack sighed but got up to retrieve it, before doing so however Derpy quickly pulled away her arm and suddenly had a frown on her face.

"Darn it Derpy, ya know ah not always have a muffin with me...just hand it over, ah'll make sure to give ya two when I next see ya aight?"

"Um...oki doki!"

Applejack was given the letter and the opened it wanting to go back to her day long break.  Before she started reading it, she noticed Derpy still above her, this time looking at her expectantly.

"Got anything else?"

"Nu huh!"

"Ya wanna hear what I got then"

"Yuh huh!"

"Aight, just sit down then, its kinda distracting with yer wings flapping like that..."

Derpy did as told and sat in front of her, keeping as much quiet as she could manage.  Applejack then began eyeing the letter and a smile shone on her freckled face.

"What is it Miss Jack?"

"It’s from mah brother!  Hoowee, ah sure was wonderin' what kept him so long to write back, was beginning to...to...Oh mah gosh..."

"Miss Jack, what is it?"

One of the pegasus' eye looked at Applejack as the other wandered down when she let go of the letter, slowly falling to the floor.  As it reached it, Applejack's sobs were surrounding the once peaceful day that was abruptly interrupted.

DEAR MISS APPLEJACK:

WE REGRET TO INFORM THAT SERGEANT BIG MACINTOSH OF THE SQUADRON ROUGH NECKS HAS BEEN WOUNDED IN BATTLE AND HAS BEEN COMMISIONED OUT OF ACTIVE DUTY.  AS OF 2 AM THIS MORNING HIS STATUS IS CRITICAL AT THE HOSPITAL LOCATED IN WEST EQUESTRIA.  IF YOU WISH TO HAVE A FAMILY VISIT, DO LET YOUR SUPERIORS KNOW BEFORE HAND.  YOUR IMMEDIATE FAMILY HAS ALREADY BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS MESSAGE.

OUR SINCERE SYMPHATIES

~Cpt. SHINING ARMOR

END OF CHAPTER 3