Chapter ten
there is only one side, our side
Author's notes: I'm sorry…it's been a long time since I updated and I have reasons for why. I've been having trouble keeping my grades up so I've been busy with that and then there is also I've been getting use to shooting slugs for my shotgun since I'm going pig hunting. Anyway I hope this chapter is good and always leaves a review.
"So let me get this straight. you planned to break us out then drive through the everfree forest to catch up to the major general but you didn't even plan to bring a map!?" Blaze asked sitting around a small fire as the sun slowly began to set behind the mountains.
"Well we didn't think we were going to be walking through the forest." Streak said taking a cup from a small patch of coals and taking a sip of the tea that was inside.
"You're welcome by the way." Scripture mumbled as he glanced over at Silent Wind who was watching them. His gaze didn't hold any hate or love or any emotions at that.
"Do you think he's okay?" Streak whispered to Blaze.
Wind tried to speak but was muffled by the gag that was tied around his mouth.
"Take the gag off." Blaze said sipping his tea as Streak got up and untied the gag and placed it on the ground.
"Can you take off the rest of the restraints?" Wind asked," and some water would be nice."
" can't do that until we know you won't try and kill us again." Scripture said without taking his eyes off the fire.
Blaze brought Wind a cup of tea. Silent Wind looked up at Blaze with a sarcastic look," I can't drink that with these ropes on."
Blaze looked back at Streak who shrugged and at Scripture who unfolded his FMG9," how can I know you've calmed down?" Blaze asked.
Wind sighed and stared towards Blaze," you just have to trust me."
Scripture scoffed as Streak shifted on his hooves," if you guys can't trust me then we're nothing." Wind said after looking at all three of them.
Blaze sighed and cut the ropes holding Wind to the tree. Silent Wind stood up and rubbed his front leg," now that we got this trust issue somewhat dealt with, we can now figure out our next move."
" before that, why the fuck did you hold a knife to my throat!?" Scripture asked turning around to face Wind.
"I can't remember why I did that..." Wind said brushing past Scripture and over to where they had all their supplies piled up in a neat pile and pulled out a small field map from one of the three sacks they were able to scavenge from the hummer before the Legionaries came after them.
"From what I know about the Major general he's is going to sit on top of a high vantage point and pound the hell out of Canterlot with the howitzers and the 105s from the tanks. He'll then most likely send some mortars crews in closer to add some more explosives." Wind said looking over the map trying to figure out which hill or mountain the Major General will make his nest on.
"You three get some rest." Wind said.
Blaze and Streak both laid down in acknowledgement of Silent Wind but Scripture stayed up and kept a watchful eye on the Captain.
-
"Say it one more time so I can understand the words pouring out of your mouth." The Major General said into the radio's microphone.
"The Captain? Captain Silent wind and his new team? They've gone rouge." A voice said over the growing miles between the base and the convoy.
" And exactly how have they gone rouge?"
" they busted out of the prison block, shot down a squad of guards, and stole a hummer. I believe they are coming after you sir."
The Major General sighed and put a hoof to his forehead rubbing softly; he then set the microphone and headset on the table and walked away from the very crude field headquarters. A unicorn mare walked over to the radio and sat down in the chair putting the headset on.
"The Major General acknowledges your information sir." The mare said keying the microphone on.
"Keep an eye on him, I'm not comfortable about this attack either." the voice said from the speakers.
"Yes sir, over and out."
"Tanks up!" The Major General yelled the orders," let's get those howitzers in position before nightfall! I want every soldier on high alert for any movement in the tree line!"
The distinct sound of the tanks engine roaring into life could be heard throughout the convoy followed by the sound of the tracks clanking against the dirt and rocks the tanks rolled forward.
"Sir, I and some of my men don't feel comfortable scaling an attack of this size against Canterlot." A burly stallion said walking up the Major General.
" are you saying you will not follow my orders"
" No sir, I'm saying try to look at this from a different perspective then just revenge."
" you have two options sergeant, follow my orders or be shot for treason."
" how about a third option? I'm resigning my command." The sergeant said taking the pins off the collar of his shirt and threw them at the Major General's hooves. The Sergeant's action was followed by at least twenty other soldiers all throwing their signs of rank at his hooves.
The Major General could clearly be mistaken for a tomato as his face grew red with angry," Shoot them! Kill those traitors!"
His orders was followed by silence as all soldiers looked at the group of former soldiers and then looked at the Major General.
"Shoot them!" The Major General screamed.
There a few clicks as soldiers clicked their guns back on safe while some others went back to what they were doing before the extreme order was given. As the group of former soldiers walked down the road they came on the sound of the Major General's ranting and cussing followed them until they were out of ear shot.
-
" sooo...exactly here are we headed?" Streak asked as he walked behind Blaze who walked behind Wind.
"There's an old logging road somewhere up here, if I know the Major General well enough he would've taken that road and up to the old logging sight on the hill." Wind answered.
"Ah." Streak said and the four of them feel back into silence for quite some time.
"Five minute break." Wind said sitting down under a tree, the other followed suit finding their own trees. In less than a minute Scripture was out, snoring softly and cradling his m14. Blaze and Streak had moved from two trees to just one tree and were playing a quick game of blackjack as Wind was consulting his map.
As everypony busied themselves with a card game or maps none of them suspected to be attacked here at least not from nature. None of them saw the small spiked vine slither up to Scripture's hoof and softly wrap itself around his leg making Scripture mumble in his sleep.
Wind was drawing a circle with a red sharpie of where he thought the Major General would set up as Scripture was slowly pulled into the tree line, the spikes on the vine digging into his skin.
"Mmm w-what the fuck!?" Scripture yelled as he drew his knife and sliced through the vine.
Blaze and Streak looked up as well did Wind," What's the matter now Scripture?" Wind asked.
" Some kind of vine was dragging me into the forest!"
" Bullshit, it was probably just some grass wrapped around your leg." Blaze said.
"Hey guys we better watch out for the grass...it's out to get us." Streak said and then he and Blaze laughed as Wind went back to the map but was only to draw a second circle before a second vine ripped a hole through the map and wrapped itself around Wind's throat and threw him against the tree that was across from him. A third and fourth vine showed up and grabbed ahold of Streak and scripture throwing them against trees leaving blaze startled.
Wind quickly snapped to and scrambled to his hooves then quickly drew his bowie knife. Blaze followed suit by drawing his machete from its sheath. Several more vines shot out from the shadows of the trees and tried to wrap themselves around Blaze and Wind but the two of them were able to slice the vines making them retreat back into the shadows. A small shrieking sound was barely audible from the shadows.
"Streak!? Scripture!?" Wind yelled out trying to find the two of them as he scanned the tree line for any more vines coming in for a second attack.
"We're okay!" Streak said trotting back over to Wind and Blaze with scripture behind him. Both of them were covered in a sticky juice which most likely came from the vines when they were cut. They had a few cuts of them from the spikes.
"Come on, let's get packed and get the fuck out of here. The road should be just ahead." Wind said sheathing his bowie knife.
all four of them nodded in complete and utter agreement and quickly went back to their pack, strapped them on, and left the little break area heading to the road at a fast pace. At last they finally broke out of the forest and stumbled upon a dirt road.
Scripture was the first one out onto the road and instantly began searching the dirt for any track, of course he found many tracks and some were more defined then others as they vehicles that made them were probably carrying more weight.
"The Major General was through here for sure." Scripture said pointing down the road," They went that way."
Wind took out his map and looked at trying to picture it without the gaping hole in the middle of it," there is a smaller hill right next to the one he is using, its smaller but I'm pretty sure I could pick off some of the soldiers manning the cannons. So here is what I'm thinking. Streak and I will set up on the hill and when all hell breaks loose, Scripture and Blaze slip into the area and try to keep your cool and try to get the Major General out of there alive. I don't want him dead."
"My god! Captain, is that you!?"
All four of the group spun around at the voice, weapons, drawn, and safeties off. What greeted them were twenty so soldiers raise their weapons too.
"At ease. Captain Silent Wind?" The stallion who had resided asked walking through the line of soldiers.
"Who are you?" Wind asked.
"Sergeant Night Shade sir, well...rather former sergeant." The stallion said.
"What do you mean?" Wind asked lowering his BAR a bit.
"I resigned, sir. I just didn't feel comfortable attacking Canterlot at this magnitude. Yes they did attack us, but doing this for petty revenge doesn't sit well with me."
Wind stared at the Sergeant for a bit trying to figure out if he was lying but finally sighed lowered his gun all the way down," Well then, I wish you the best of luck on the road. Let's get going."
Blaze, Streak, and Scripture all lowered their weapons and followed Wind as he walked past the group of resigned soldiers," Captain?" The Sergeant said turning around.
" Yeah?"
" You seem to be in a need of some more soldiers."
Wind couldn't help but smile," I guess you're right."
-
" How many men resigned?" The Major General asked his assistant as he held his head in his hooves behind a desk in a small tent.
"Exactly twenty three, sir." The mare assistant answered as she flipped through some papers.
" Is the artillery in position?"
" There sitting on their shells and ready to go."
" Commence firing in five minutes, pound them WP and HE, give the order to stop firing after an hour then send in the mortars with some tear gas, I snipers up high and anypony that runs into the open have them shot down."
" Yes sir." The mare said as she squiggled some notes down on a paper and then trotted outside to relay the orders.
"INCOMING!" The word was yelled loudly as the distinct sound of an artillery round came whistling in. Everypony hit the ground at once or hid behind the nearest cover. The round his a hummer in the middle of its hood sending it flipping forwards with its gunner trapped inside.
"Warning shot!" the sentence was yelled and everypony scrambled to their hooves and ran over to the blown hummer.
"Where did it come from!?" Somepony asked.
"They have one of those old antitank cannons from the Griffon War up on a roof!" A soldier yelled as he peered through binoculars.
"Take it out now! Screw the five minutes, Commence the bombardment now!" The Major General yelled as walked out.
the gunner from the blown hummer was pulled out of the wreckage; he had a piece of steel sticking out of his leg," Medic!" The order was given just before the artillery opened up making all conversation nearly impossible. The only possible moment for speech was in-between shots but even then the loud clanking made by the cannons ejecting their empty shells and then clattering to the ground made things hard.
"Keep this firing up until..." The Major General yelled but then paused as another barrage ripped through the air. When the cannons fell silent to reload he resumed his sentence," Until midnight."
The Major General's assistant looked up at the sky seeing that it was still near noon," Sir that is a lot of shelling, I don't think we have the ammunition for a barrage that long." She said flipping through always abundant pieces of paper she kept clipped to a clipboard.
"Then order more from base."
" Yes sir." She answered, saluted, and then walked back to the radio tent to place the order.
The Major General walked over to the line of howitzers on the edge of the hill and watched as the shells flew from their launchers, glided smoothly through the air glistening deadly in the sunlight, and then hit a building or a wall or landed on the road creating a crater. The Major General looked at the front of the cannons as they reloaded and saw teams of Legion soldiers hastily digging dirt up, putting it in sandbags and then piling them into a wall in front of the cannons. They all wore headphones over their helmets, which the Major General smiled in approval of their thinking and then went back to watching the shells fly.
-
" Almost in position." Streak whispered into a radio he received from the Sergeant and his bunch as he and Wind crawled through the grass to a nice opening in the tress on the opposite hill of the Major General's.
"We're ready and raring to go." Blaze responded.
"We fire the first shot when the howitzers fire so be ready." Wind leaned over and said into the radio as hi bipod his Barrette.
"You can tell a lot about a soldier from his weapon." Streak said as he unslung his Springfield.
"Oh?" Wind said as he looked into the scope.
"Yeah like he is a giant pussy for having to use a bipod for his rifle." Streak smiled as he chambered a round into the bolt action rifle.
Wind looked over at Streak," And like someone who prefers to not even be able to take down two soldiers at once?"
" Still don't have to use a bipod though."
" Go ahead and laugh, we'll see who gets more kills. Quiet, they finished reloading..." Wind said looking back into his scope.
The line of artillery released their deadly mail and both Wind and Streak took a shot at the same cannon taking out two of the crew.
"One." They both said in union.
Blaze was looking through binoculars watching the two howitzers crew soldiers go down with bloody holes in their heads," Let's go you pussies!" He yelled as he slipped the binoculars into their case. A roar of courage ranged out from behind him as the Sergeant and his bunch ran behind Blaze and Scripture as they ran towards the Major General's 'nest'.
Author notes: again I've been working on my grades so I don't know when I will update soon so just stick with me and I will eventually get you guys a new chapter. Remember to leave a review and before I forget, if you guys are looking to join a community I will happy to let you join mine. The name is BROHOOF STORIES so if you want to check it go ahead and if you want to join PM me.