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Celestia's orb would not rise above the horizon for a few mores hours in my Equestria dreamscape, but there were plenty of busy ponies working at the Royal Airship Pens. The pens/hangars had been constructed into side of the mountain by expanding out some existing caverns near the capitol of Canterlot. This gave the crews an opportunity to move the rather fragile crafts in out of the elements, and provide the maintenance crews with a safer and more comfortable place to service the vessels. The airship was a concept still in its infancy, but already they were proving their worth and were become a more common sight in kingdom's skies.

Half-cock trotted along a metal gantry. Her rust red mantle billowed slightly as she moved and her steel reinforced war boots clacked sharply on the metal walkway. She had just left the airship that would take her team back toward the borders of the kingdom. They'd still have a couple days of train travel before they'd reach the actual border, but the airship would shave a couple days off their travel time. She had confirmed that the correct gear had been stowed onboard their ship and now she was hoping to grab an early, hot breakfast before they departed.

As the Mare-in-Waiting neared the lift elevator she spied another of Celestia's operatives reared up and resting her front hooves on the railing. It was Phoenix who just seemed to be observing the general bustle going on around her. The mare was wearing a tactical harness, and had on a pair of the goggles with the swirling iridescent lens that were so associated with Crown's best operatives. Although Half-cock's team used them much less that other teams. The light sand-colored unicorn saw her counterpart turn and nod her head as she approached. Reaching Phoenix's side she mimicked the other mare by rearing up and resting her hooves on the railing. For several seconds neither spoke. Finally the battle scarred mare broke the ice.

"Morning." Grunted the bone white mare.

"Mornin ta ya as well." The brim of her broad brim, rust red hat and the shadows it cast obscured her eyes almost as much as Phoenix's goggles did.

"Leaving soon?" Phoenix levitated a small curved blade from her tactical gear and used it extract a pieces of debris from a front hoof before returning the blade to its home.

"Yep! Heading back out at 05:00. Going back ta the western borders. There something killing griffins up there and Celestia wants my team ta try and figger out what's a going on."

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The mare levitated a horehound flavored lollipop from a pocket and unwrapped it and stuck it in her mouth. Then she levitated another one and floated in front of Phoenix. "Want one?"

Phoenix made a face and stuck her tongue out. "No thanks. Those things taste like shit."

Half-cock shrugged and returned it to a pocket. Several more seconds passed with neither mare making a sound except for the clack a clack of a lollipop rolling around in the mare's mouth. Finally Phoenix spoke up.

"My team is heading back out today for Manehattan."

"Ya cleaning up remaining business from the shakedown?"

"Yeah, We've learned the whereabouts of one the last senior Association members who is still in hiding. Myself, Quick Silver, and Bloodfeather are going to be assisting the Manehattan Police with his arrest."

"Would that be Loose Purse by chance?" Half-cock, like Phoenix appeared to be just staring out at the pens with no particular focus.

"Yep! That's the bastard. Should be a straightforward operation." Phoenix glanced over her counterpart. "I assume you've heard that Last Thing is fucked up?"

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"Yeah. Apparently her talent has gone all haywire and they had ta put here in a coma just ta keep her from a killing herself."

"That's it in a nutshell. Celestia pretty torn up about it. She's keeping up a good face, but you can tell she's worried about her."

Half-cock stared down at her front hooves resting on the railing. She seemed to be deciding whether to speak about something or not. Finally she spoke up. "Ya know our last op took us out ta damn, festering spot out in the desert, just outside of the kingdom's border. Ya, ya know the place I'm a talking about.

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Apparently in a few months that territory is gonna be inside our borders. Celestia has said she's a gonna have a garrison stationed out and then they're gonna level that accursed place and wipe it clean from the map."

Phoenix stared down at the oldest scars on her front legs. "The world will be a better place with that shit hole gone."

Half-cock nodded her head in agreement. "I'm looking ta score myself some hot grub in the mess hall before heading out, ya wanna join me?"

Phoenix shook her head. "Thanks for the offer, but my team has this routine where we eat breakfast together. Don't want to break the team's rhythm. Especially before an op."

"Well take care and good luck on yer mission."

"Same to you."

The Half-cock then wandered off while Phoenix continued her watch.

To be continued.

Upvotes at import: 72 | Stars at import: 39
Posted previously at: 2019-03-06T22:33:04 | Posted previously by: PlotHole