private Eastern Skies Ablaze

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,026]

Star pulled Kris and Soar away from the others for a moment, then looked to Kris alone. "Um sorry Kris about before, I did not wish to offend you. Please you have my appoglies." She gave him a sincere. "But um otherwise you guys looking forward to it?" Rather hoping that he'd accept her appogly.

[FancyHorse 1,209]

"What ? You thought I was upset? Naw, I knew you were just playing." He reassured, playfully patting her head.

 

"And yeah I think im ready!"He answered her question.

"Im ready. Ill do my best." Soar speaks up.

 

"And now everypony please give a warm greeting to our honorable quest. Hailing from the Nazran province and former Green Osprey's flight leader- having served a volunteer service with our Royal Forces. Farid Al-Fulani!" The announcer spoke up, immediatlely the crowd roared in intensity. With the music picking up louder a helicopter hovering above the stage.

 

In dramatic fashion a pegasus falls forward in a diving fashion. And at the last moment before impact he opens his wings, landing in a styilized fashion before presenting himself proudly. Upon his body he wears bright green flight suit. Wrapped upon his neck a dust colored keffiyah and flight goggles. Despite the aged apperarance he seems rather healthy obviously if he can continue to perform daring close call landings like that. His greying mane slicked back behind his ears and his tail cut short.

 

"Sooo... the Spitfire of Saddle Arabia?"* " Kris whispered, hes immediatly nudged by Soar to hush.

 

After a slight bit of cheering he holds fluffs his wings, hushing the crowd.

"Its been- sometime since Ive seen an energetic crowd like this. Its quite the sport I rememeber. A holding tradtion ever since early days." He begin, not seemingly following a script. In fact Star or anypony could'nt see any signs of script assist. He's just naturally speaking.

 

"You know, me and an old friend just kinda assumed this would be another forgotten event: like Thresher Ball!" The crowd laughs a bit,

"Yeah, that was good idea- 'hey lets see if we can make threshers fling sports balls at each other' " He imitated a mockery voice before smiling.

 

"I like this guy already, such a cut up." Kris whispered.

 

"At first by nomads, soon by the local tribes. We valued things well with upbringing sentiment. Nothing rasises a good spirit like a good competition. Ive got a good feeling about this. I really do. There was a small story I heard on. There were these two little colts in a small village near by- bitter rivals, absoulelty hated each other. So one day after growing their wings to flying size they thought they could have a race through a small bit of canyon. See who is the best?"He continued.

 

"-They flew on, their wings straining and ached both seemed neck and neck. It was the final push. And at the end once they made it to the end: huffing, puffing catching for air. The ruggedness of the event drenched on their wings they stood."

 

"You were pretty fast.." One said,

"You handled those winds well." The other said. It was just simple admirations of each others abilities.

 

"Is this gonna turn to a bromance?" Kris interupted, whispering to his two friends. Soar giggled a bit.

 

"It was that shared struggle that united them. No longer was it about boasts of feat and accomplishment. This time they both accomplished it. Together, granted competitively, yet still together." Farid spoke.

 

He looked over to his right seeing the wonderbolts observing.

 

"You all know we just welcomed a group of Equestrians to our home. To particapate in this unifiying event. To some a simple sport, others a sacred occurance. Ive got a good feeling, this will unite us well."

 

Farids gaze seem to be upon Star catching her atteniton. A gleamor of hope seeming to be in his expression, a rather personal moment even though afar. The withered look as if a silent plea for something. But unsure what it is.

 

"Welcome to our home." He spoke. He turned back to the crowd, whom everypony was eerily silent.

 

"Thank you." He smiled and took off. The crowd burst into uproaring cheers and squeals of delight.

[FancyHorse 1,209]

CROSSHEART

----------

 

This must be the right spot, they had waited for nearly an hour and a half. And things seemed to be getting edgy. Ponies staring, jet craft flying over head and the helmet on his head was too large. Snappy and Lens waited at the Corner Bus stop at the intersection of Cross Avir and Tehal Street. But no buses would be running now, not while saftey cant be guaranteed. Snappy would be getting a bit impatient but someone soon approached. And a tall one at that.

 

The Minotaur gave a gentle smile as it looked on the two ponies. Mustve been sent from the Manehatten Times News. It was grateful that somepony was interested in learning about the Scavengers Group.

 

"You are the two? I am Srosh. It is nice to meet you." He greeted, his voice seeming tender for a minotaur, he extended his hand to Snap his armor rattling a bit as he did so.

 

Srosh was tall, as most minotaur were. His coat a soft light grey accented with a fuzzy bit of hair fluff. His armor rig khaki but yet worn as though used many times with a notably larger shoulder pad on his left. And hefted on his hip was an imposing light belt feed machine rifle of some type.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,026]

"Well good I thought I might off offended you.." But she smiled at Kris for being kind to her with that pat, then continued. "So is that our cue then, or um what? They kinda are more, direct with announcements when it comes to us entering...?" She looked at both Kris and Soar if they thought they might know.

[FancyHorse 1,209]

ARABIAN AIR OPERATIONS

-------------

 

They to you with same confusion. Razor overlooked the group a bit as if taking account of the cadets or such. The announcer soon speaks up as the pyrotechnics die down.

"And now introducing Our competing guests! Hailing from the land of Equestria They are praised as the best flight time in their region! Welcome! The Wonderbolts! "

 

"Cadets! Get to it! Single file just follow me!" Razor calls out and in stern form she marches forward, the closer cadets forming in pairs follow in fashion. Star and her friends somewhere about in the middle of the group.

 

"Letsa go." Kris said. With Soar at her side and Kris paired with another Cadet they enter the stage the cheers uproar and ever present. Just a mass conglomerate of noise.

Edited August 12, 2016 by IllusivePony

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,026]

Star followed the file of Bolts out onto the stage. The roar of the crowd was quite deafening, like how it usually is with large crowds or confined stages. It looked like the Wonderbolts had plenty of fans in Saddlearabia by the looks of the crowd. "Well this is more like it." Whispering to Soar, well really it was at talking level due to the crowd.

[FancyHorse 1,209]

"And now! Entering in next, hailing from provinces across the nation! Please welcome our nations finest flyers of the Green Ospries!" THe announcer, the crowds continued to cheer this time even louder, their hooves stamping and shaking at the ground. The announcer continued.

"The Nazran Flight Team!" He spoke, two stallion pegasi approach adorned in a bright green flight suit. They march forward in pair and splitting off taking positions on each end of the front of the Wonderbolts.

 

"The Bakraen Flight team!" Again two more pegasi approach, the team seeming to filling the gap made by the last two.

 

"The Quamar Flight team." Again another two come forward.

 

"And newly formed last year, introducing the Arraih Ports Flight Team!" Two pegasi stallions approach and finishing the line of Arabian pegasi, these two unique adorned on their heads are navy blue berets. An anchor symbol imbeded onto their headwear obviously from a coastal background.

 

"Flyers! Take your positions at the ravine start!" The announcer commands. One of the work staff upon a small tower behind the crowd waves a large sign pointing toward the ravine, a signal to go.

 

At once the entirety of pegasi head off and land at the ravine entrance. Kris and Soar at Star's side.

 

"This is it." Kris said.

"Eeyup!" Soar replied.

 

"Guys! Make your calls out if you see any other flyers trying to make a pass on each of us. Watch each others back." Kris said. Soar nodded to him.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,026]

"Well if you can keep up... but you'll have to stay high if you want to fly with this bat pony!" She said with a smirk, she opened her wings up. "I'll be going faster than most with the winds at the top of the cayon."

 

She got ready to fly on the mark. "You two ready guys? This is the real thing."

[FancyHorse 1,209]

(( BGM: https://m.youtube.com/?#/watch?v=PhRnKDR6KrE))

 

The loud buzzer was ringing immensly. To her far left she could hear the chatter of the rival racers in their native tongue. She focused hard. It was her and the only push, the final push. Show them that wonderbolts are the best flyers. Not just in Equestria but now throughout the world.

 

BEEP! BEEP! BEEEP!

----

Beep! Beep!

 

Turning hard left downward the drone was tailing hard. Not the average muckery. Hard to pick off the swarm zooming its way when these buzzers are on ya.

"Napalm 1. Need some help." Tariq spoke again with another sharp break as green beams whiz past him.

 

"Coming in hot Boss!" Samir responded high on. Dipping forward from high altitude he dived following the friend icon over Tariq taking heavy risk with a drone on him as well.

 

"Lock! Incoming boss." He called out. Before firing his missle pod. The warhead screaming onward as Tariq straightend forward the boggie tailing following the motion. It was a straight shot now. Tariq dipped in instant but as the drone followed the missle was upon him and exploded into gibs.

 

"Scratch me back boss man!" He called out as he barrelled out trying to shake his pursuer.

 

"Napalm 1! This is Ismir 1! Target run succesful. We are RTB." His friend Maliek spoke up the two bomber craft in lower altitude changing their course toward Sjin.

"Napalm Squad this is HQ. Drone swarm is continuning its path over the DMZ heading over Diharn hurry and intercept." The orders came in.

----

 

Kris followed just rear of Star, Soar had fallen behind having been passed by two rival racers.

"Two of them! Watch it." He calls out to her looking behind.

"Ill be on left." He announces pulling slightly to the left as the two paired pegasi are gaining a bit of speed.

 

The warm air glided easily over the membraned wings of hers, a relaxing sensation too but put aside. It was about 7 miles into the ravine the cool lower air clashed with the rushing warm air above slightly off setting Kris from the gust but he recovered. The two pegasi were getting closer one drifting under Star. Kris diving slightly intercepting his path he backed slightly howling angrily.

 

"Mind the guy on the left!" Kris shouted above.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,026]

"You two shouldn't be up this high!" She knew the strengths and weaknesses of both bat ponies and pegasi and winds like these were terrible for feathers, but for her wings it was easy fast, efficient flying.

 

A pegasus shot past her on the left as called out. "Well he'll burn out in short order." She muttered, then gestured her hoof down for her squaddies. "Go a bit down you two!" She gave orders for their own good in her opinion.

[FancyHorse 1,209]

Below the others maintain their safe altitude, various callouts and passes between each rival. Things held their tension onward.

"Just a little low."Kris called out, feeling hesitant on leaving his ally just left upward. Another strong gust blew at them, Star easily brushed it but disoreinting Kris and Soars flight, the two arabians folded their wings as the gust came. Diving slightly their momentuem carrying them downard but the gust left rather quick. With wings spread they simply glided forward passing under the trio.

 

Kris dipped quickly intercepting between the two, denying only one their new position. He was at a safer altitude now. Soar slowly descending a bit.

-----

 

"Gun range." Peshir bursted her cannons forward leading her target slightly at the forward target before banking.

 

"Double time it guys! Go eastbound the swarm is picking up speed!" Tariq called out. Kicking into afterburn the squadron formed and accelerated quickly to intercept. The Grand Borders mountians would be into view.

 

"Be advised. The Edurance event is still underway at the ravine path. Watch your fire team." HQ reported.

 

"They havent finished!? They expect us to -" Quabar spoke up.

"We'll deal with it! Theyre focus isnt them they wanna get west as they can." Tariq iterated. He didnt like it either. But if their anti air units hadnt been such a sloppy aim perhaps they would'nt be chasing a small swarm of these drones.

-----

Apart from the howling deseret winds an new sound was becoming noteable as she progressed. Seemed like a buzzing, a helicopter? She looked to her upper sides but saw none. Strange. But soon it grew louder and louder. Whizzing over their heads one after another changeling drones flew by seeming in a panic! Where did they come from!?

 

The chatter from their arabian rivals stirred, their expressions turned to dread.

"Al Ahkita!" A repeated word was shouted amongst the rivals in effort to inform all.

 

Just ahead the net above them jingled and squirmed, passing over the source one of the drones seems to have caught himself unable to free. His hisses are loud and aggressive just grazing by as Star flew past him.

 

Not far behind loud roars could be heard, a squad of fighter packs hot on the swarm. Blazing of fire from their heavy cannons.

----

"Small arms only guys! Dont want to risk hitting the ravine." Tariq ordered. He recieved acknowledge signals on his HUD.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,026]

Star barley registered what was happening when some changeling sneered at her through the cayon's net. "Was that a changeling?!"

 

This was all she could get out before seeing more passing over head, most seemed to be flying for their very lives rather than attacking anyone. Then the gunfire a few magic shots from the ground started at them. Whoever these pilots were they were not either used to firing at targets near ground friendlies or were getting over zelous.

 

A few bullets wizzed passed Star's head as she kept flying in a daze of shock and confusion, rapidly closing towards the mountain.

[FancyHorse 1,209]

The event site was detoriating into chaos quickly, everypony scrambling madly in retreat; to their cars, tensts, buildings and just simply away opposite of the mass of drones. Razor looked out toward the ravine. She resisted the pull at her side.

"We gotta go!" Amir shouted at her.

"My cadets are out there! You all asured these things were under control!!" She hollered back at him.

"They will be fine! The mountian has safe pockets in it! We just dispatched a force-" He was cut off by forceful yank by Razor.

"They may not have that time!!" Razor shouted.

---

They had just approached the base of the mountian. The buzzing of drones and gunfire becoming deafening and became an echo as they entered the first tunnel. Winding and weaving the group continued onward as normal soon entering the large open cavern remembered from previous flight. The entirty of the flight teams landed all for a rest.

 

"What in tarturus was that!?" A cadet spoke up loudly in uncanny.

"Hey. You dont have to shout." A closer one replied.

"Huh!? You need to speak up?" He replied, possible lose of hearing?

 

"Well that got the blood flowing." Kris spoke.

 

"So what!? We just sit here and wait?-" A cadet was cut off, the interior lights began to flicker before going out shrouding them into darkness. Star's vision adjusted accordingly. Panic began to raise.

 

"They cut the power?"

"WHat do you mean!? Who?"

"Fucking great!! Game over dudes!!"

 

Various chatter arouse, things were detoriating rapidly. Star could easily see Kris and Soar scanning the room around them trying to find one another she assumed.

"Star? You can see us?" Kris called out, recalling about her abilities.

 

"QUIET!!" A loud stern voice spoke, obviously from the Arabian team. Looking over she sees the source. A rather tall stern stallion spoke out, it was one of the Alliarh Ports flyers. He let a snort after everypony settled.

 

"This isnt the best time to panic." He spoke calmly. He blindly looked about.

"One of you! Youre a thestral!?" He called out. Surprising to Star that an Arabian knows about her kind. Not exactly a common species in these parts.

 

"Looks around you! This cavern is open but there could be remain from the old mining ops. See if you can find a lanturn or such.

 

Around Star in the open cavern is the group of flyers, to her left she could make out a large rubble pile. Old scraps of paper, brokn down carts, table and even some machine bits. Could possibly be there? Behind the group and just near the upper exit tunnel is a worn elevator shaft, to lead up to the exit tunnel. Carts are strewn about. Machine bits lay scattered and stone rubble piles to the side.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,026]

Star went over to Kris and Soar and led them together. "There you go guys just keep attached to each other." When the Arabian arrived, Star went to him. "Yes, yes I'll go, look everyone just find a budy and stick next to them lock tails or something." She went over to the old abandoned stuff, she followed a mine cart track until looking up saw light.

 

She ran back to the group. "Guys is everyone linked up?" She got up and hovering above the group had a look down to see.

[FancyHorse 1,209]

Each call out ready to be acounted. Just as they were ready to go they stopped hearing a particular noise. A loud echoing buzzing emitted throughout the cave, tension returning. One of the arabian's whispered.

"They are in the cave..."

"Shut up." Another whisepered.

 

"Lets get going. We'll follow you." One of the ponies called out to Star.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,026]

"Ok everypony for a link so your all a chain then follow me I've seen a way out of here so we can escape from the changelings." She watched as they grouped up in a line of sorts.

 

She made sure the lead ponies could see her before leading them to the mine shaft at a slow pace so no one would get lost. "Your all doing well keep going we are very close to the mine shaft then we can escape.

[FancyHorse 1,209]

They all flew single file at a moderate speed. Only the harsh echoing of the wings buzzing getting louder and louder. Over around and about they weaved throught the mountian shafts the intensity remaining fresh in the atmosphere. Over and under only linked by the chains on them in their file line. Just ahead they could see the faint distance of light, it was the exit!

 

"Freedom! Lets go!" Various cadets cheered about. Faster and faster the light closer and closer. And within what seemed like forever in its time they felt the warm air brush their coats as the relief of close space releived. But short lived as they see the dispursed swarm of drones seemingly aimless buzzing about whilst fighters follow behind indvidual ones.

 

Retreating west the crowd of ponies moved in mass heading backward to Sjin.

 

"Double time it! Get outta here!" One of the arabians shouted and everypony seemed to take off.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,026]

Star was more concerned for all the group and especially Soar and Kris, she made sure that all of the group escaped from the shart before leaving herself. She made her way through the panic and groups of ponies to find her squaddies.

 

She thankfully found them still together flying for the city. "Guys! Are you two ok?!" Flying next to them.

[FancyHorse 1,209]

It was nothing but a blind rush. Forward and Forward! She never felt herself push so hard. Shots, buzzing gunfire and the screeching of the jets all in a conlglomerate of chaos! She had to get to saftey! She had to-

 

Star sat about before her commanding officer Ironwing. He wrote about on his clipboard. She was in his office back at the Baltimare Fields HQ. Once at saftey the group was rereouted back to Equestria each was given a conflict report at the Air base there. A review on the events that occured. Mandatory conflict reviews- her first one actually. Wonderbolts had never been militarized in awhile so this procedure was all new as well.

 

"Alright that'll be all Cadet- or should I say Warrant Officer? Congragulations by the way youve been given a rank up." He says to her." This was all sudden? A promotion? What?

 

"Thatll be it Officer Star. Ill have your report put in later today. Your dismissed." He said

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,026]

She walked out the room in a daze, wandering the base till she found a tree she slumped against. "I'm... I'm a commissioned officer?... But..." She really was in a total daze since the attack at the event. She'd not even done anything but use her eyes and try to keep calm to lead them out of that mountain.

 

She closed her eyes trying to gather her thoughts, time passed maybe she fell asleep?

[FancyHorse 1,209]

She was stirred a bit, something was poking at her. Faintly voices began to return to her audio.

"Hey! You okay? Get up Cadet!" It was Razorwing. Rubbing her eyes Star focused her vision a bit onto the mare. She was dressed in her BDU uniform she looked down to her.

"You not taking it too well?" She asked sitting down next to her.

 

She had no choice but to evacute as the event was overrun. Looking back though perhaps she thought she couldve made it to mountian. She pushed it aside tending to Star first.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,026]

"It's just a blurr I don't even recall me doing that much, I just used my eyes and stayed calm... that doesn't turn a reservist into a officer, I don't deserve a promotion."

 

She looked up at Razor. "Aren't we going home? This isn't our fight, we're not guards." Honesty she didn't know the answer to that, historically the Wonderbolts were all from the military, heck they still have the powers the royal guard do like power of arrest.

 

If the Arabian military was having so much trouble with the changelings Equestria may very well send a military force to assist. Being tye best flyers of Equestria... They'd be perfect air forces...

 

Star gulped.

[FancyHorse 1,209]

"Come on. Let me get you a meal." She says, insisting on it. The two got up heading out from the courtyard of the offices (Where Star wandered off to) and toward the parking lot. They approached to a small sedan. Strange that a pegasus would choose to drive rather then fly but she simply followed Razor.

 

Into drive now, she drove down the roadway and out the checkpoint entry. Driving along the highway the two making their way into Baltimare.

"If youre thinking we are going to war- theres a chance. Saddle Arabia just asked for intevention support.

"I took a look at staff listing for possible canidates your name came up. So did the rest of the flight teams that went. Guess they are scrambling to ready an actual combat team." She said taking a left turn as they enter an intersection making their way into the city.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,026]

"I'm not sure I'm cut out to be a soldier Razor, I didn't sign up to the Bolts to be sent off to war... I don't think I could kill anything." She looked at Razer rather concerned. But then went back to looking out the window again.

 

She honestly wasn't sure if it was the case or not though, being able to pull the triger...

[FancyHorse 1,209]

"I looked into everything. I promised myself to do that. But... " They stop at small diner just on a corner street.

"I tried everything to disuade them from signing up the lot of you. Brass is getting jitty. You know how those ego old timers are. Even captian Dash was eager to get in the fight. " She grumbled.

"So. Ive cancelled my planned resignation and Ill be tagging along with you all if thats the case. Now to assure you they haven't confirmed yet. They still need to get word with the Princesses and be approved by the Royal Council of Defense and Warfare Management." She spoke. Putting into park they exit and head in taking a seat at a corner table.