"Yea, I am. I'll stop those missiles, and get us a path." You say as you're flying home.
"I've got Sully and Mulder going over the photos of the capitol now. They'll try and find you a gap into the area." Echo said as the remaining fighters were going home.
"Be careful Rex." Celestia said just before you left radio range.
"Careful's not going to get the job done Sunbutt." You say as there's only static now on that frequency.
 
1426 Hrs. Avalon's Shadow.
"Anon you're not going alone!" Thunderbolt protested as you were refueling your ADFX.
"Thunderbolt, it's not safe to send you back out there until I take those missiles out of commission. I need to destroy them before they start targeting us. Our defenses are good, but they swarm enough of those ballistic missiles down on us, and we're taking cover from steel rain. That's going to do some pretty nasty damage here." You say connecting the TLS to the charging station.
"What if you get shot down?" Thunderbolt asked.
"I won't even if I do, I'd like to see them catch me." You say with a sense of determination that the entire effort rests solely on your shoulders.
"Besides, they won't use the weapon on me once I reach the capitol, they won't want steel rain on their city by their own weapon." You said knowing you'd exploit that weakness.
"So what's your plan?" Thunderbolt asked.
"I'm going in fast and low. I'd strip off the excess weight off my ADFX, but I need those weapons." You say as you gather up more burst missiles.
"Well, then I wish you luck and hope that you return." Thunderbolt said.
"Now's a good a time as any for me to give you this." You say as you go and grab a golden GAU-8 barrel band.
"What's this?" Thunderbolt asked as she looked at it.
"Thunderbolt, let me give you this as a promise that I will come back. I was going to ask you something after this incursion finished up, but looks like I've got to do it now." You say as she doesn't know what to say.
"A..Anon?" Thunderbolt said as you stood there
"Well, what are you going to say or am I going to have to explain what I just did." You say still holding what was basically a ring for her.
"Explain, please." Thunderbolt said still very confused.
"Well, I guess that was my crappy attempt to propose, and this is your ring." You say as you raise the band up.
Thunderbolt stares at you mouth agape, and clearly shocked.
"Well?" You say feeling as if you've made a complete fool of yourself.
"I.... I don't know what to say." Thunderbolt said.
"I'd tell you to say yes and make it easy on both of us, but that's your choice not mine." You say as you scratch the back of your head.
"Ye..yes. Anon, yes. Please, come back in one piece so we can end this silly conflict and we can be together forever." Thunderbolt said giving you a huge sense of relief that you hadn't made a total fool of yourself.
"That's wonderful Thunder. You don't know how happy I am." You say as she goes to kiss you again, but you beat her to it.
"This is for your gun. I couldn't think of anywhere else that you'd have it somewhat visible." You say in reference to the barrel band.
"Well, just put it on me when you get back." Thunderbolt said as she grabbed you by the parachute harness you were wearing and placed you in your ADFX.
"Right, I will come back." You say as you start the 02 and taxi out to the runway while Echo uploads your flight path into your nav systems.
"Alright, this is Rex Tremendae, taking off. When I come back, we shouldn't have to worry about those missiles anymore." You say as you take off and punch it towards Oslo's capitol.
 
1735 Hrs. thirty minutes from Dresden, Oslo's capitol
There's a missile warning in your cockpit, the radar's not saying it's a SAM, but a burst Missile.
Looks like you're weaving your way along your flight path into Dresden. Not difficult given your speed you can clear the damage altitude in about thirty seconds, and then be back down to your previous altitude in about two minutes
That flight pattern sums up your flight into Dresden. Rather boring and not using any real skill to fly in that manner, but it was evasive flying none the less.
 
What you had to fly through next wouldn't be so easy, their AA defense network which outlined the city.
"Alright, just have to clear the AA network then the launch facility is just beyond the capitol building." You say to yourself as you check your path and go full afterburn to commit to it.
"Time to do or die." You say as you roll the ADFX down to five hundred feet and fly in supersonic, faster than the AA guns can target, and the missiles are useless due to Morganite being on your craft. You take a moment to glance at the missiles going off track in your mirrors, making you laugh.
"You can't hit me!" You yell on the radio despite the fact that nobody can hear you.
As long as you stay ahead of the SAMs and none come head on you'll be alright, even then those coming head on you'll just dive or climb to force the missile into the ECM. When you got out of range of their AA defences, that's when you saw their facility.
"My god." You say as you see railway launch systems lined with missiles all ready to launch just outside of their production factory, which you now also have to take down.
That many targets forces you to slow down so you can target everything.
First to go is the factory, first a sweeping pass with your 30mm, then releasing your burst missiles as you climb above 7000 feet for a safety measure as you're sure that facility was going to go boom in a rather big way.
 
There's a very large explosion and your rocked in your ADFX. Shielding didn't take a hit, it's still holding 100%, the Zoisite pod on the craft's back is undamaged, and all your controls are reading green across the board.
You make an inverted pass at altitude so you can see the destruction caused by the explosion of the plant by your two burst missiles.
What you see would horrify you if it were not for the fact that these weapons were meant to kill your citizens, friends and your family. There's a massive crater where the factory was, and about a quarter of the railway launch systems have been knocked over onto the ground.
 
Now it is time for the finishing strike against these missiles. You line up along the railway and fire your laser at a shallow angle to allow you to stay above 5000 ft in case of detonation of these missiles.
Each missile if it was not hit in the fuel tanks detonated making the damage on the ground much worse, but you know you have to do this, and the civilian areas around the plant do not deter you. You continue to do what you must, destroying what appeared to be about thirty or so missiles lined up along the railway on their launching cars.
This must have been where they were launching them from as you saw the blast marks on the ground from the missiles before you destroyed them, whole lot of good these missiles did them. It turns out they helped you decimate a small section of the capitol for you.
 
1920 Hrs. Exit route.
You've done what you had to, and now you're leaving the same way you came in, low and fast. Speed is life, and that is your advantage, super-cruising at about mach 1.9, their AA guns can't touch you and you can still out maneuver the missiles to send them into the shielding.
This is when you're finally aware of your nerves, but you're fighting through them to clear the AA defenses and go home.
It takes you thirty minutes, but you clear the AA network leaving nothing but destruction behind you, and it's only when you're on your way home do you truly feel your hands tremble on the controls from fear.
"Whatever just got me through there unharmed, thank you." You say while you're trembling but safe from any AA fire.
 
2350 Hrs. Avalon's Shadow, ten minutes to 000hrs
The entire city is light up so you could find your way home. When they hear your engines they all cheer for you
There's a few ponies in the air to greet you as you line up for your landing. Who's up you can't tell due to the darkness around you, but you know one thing for sure, they're all excited to see you return, as you can hear their cheers over the sound of the turbines and through the cockpit.
"This is Rex Tremendae, on final." You say announcing your arrival to them all. They cheered even louder than before when they heard that, knowing you were home safe and the job was done.
A few minutes later Sully landed too, apparently he went to take before and after photos of the area for historical record.
Though you're on the ground tired and exhausted Thunderbolt's got you on her back as you're paraded around the city as a hero with Morgan and Falken both beaming with pride for their father, well, it was easier to see on Morgan who actually had eyes, where as the smile on Falken's face wasn't really helping much.
"How the hell did you manage to pull that off?" Echo asked as you were finally set down on a small stage outside of KC's bar.
"Honestly I don't know, whether it was divine intervention or pure luck I don't know and we don't have to worry about those missiles anymore." You say as whatever shakes you had have now long subsided due to a long day in the cockpit, all you are now is tired.
"Can we talk about this tomorrow? It's like 0030, and I really need to get to sleep, cause we've got to be back up and supporting Celestia again." You say as you stumble down the stage only to be caught by Falken of all ponies.
"Thanks Falken. Mind carrying me home?" You say as you're hanging by your harness.
"No, but I think Thunderbolt will." Falken said after he set you down on the stage for Thunderbolt to pick up.
As Thunderbolt carries you home you throw your arms up into the air and give the crowd a final "YEAAAAH!" before dropping them dead tired and beginning to sleep suspended from Thunderbolt.
You sleep very soundly through the night and are not awoken until 1000 hrs
Who wakes you up at 1000 hrs is not who you want to talk to at this particular moment in time.
"Rex, get up." Celestia said as you sit up and rub your eyes.
"Oh what the hell do you want?" You say not very pleased to have been woken by her.
"I would say I want my air support, but when you hit inside of their capitol, they retreated to just outside of the city perimeter. How in the world did you manage to do that?" Celestia asked as you look down at yourself still wearing all your flight gear.
"Luck, divine intervention, hell I don't know I haven't figured out how I got through their AA defenses and destroyed their missile facility. But that did open the lane for me to give you support up until the capitol." You say as you drop off the bed and onto the ground.
"You said you'd keep them on the ground." Celestia said
"I honestly don't think they're going to be going up into the sky after the display I just gave them last night. I'll still keep to my side of the deal if that's what you're asking. I'll keep them on the ground until your troops reach the capitol, then it's up to you to take down their AA network so I can get my ponies overhead, that is if you still want my support." You say
"So you're not backing out of our deal?" Celestia asked.
"I might be a dirty scoundrel on occasion, but if I have to make a decision that effects my home and my new nation, I better stick to the deals I made." You say as Celestia smiles having thought that you'd back out of the deal due to the missiles.
"Good, I'd like to inform you that the gryphons have been falling back hard after you hit Dresden, they're trying to fortify it, but with no industry to make anything and supply lines crippled due to your bombings, I don't think they'll last the week." Celestia said which made you smile.
"So we've got them on the run? How far in have you made it?" You ask as the two of you walk to your shop to look over a map.
"A mission success party from what I can tell. Hell I fell asleep shortly after I got back, I wouldn't be surprised if they had a huge party while I was sleeping." You say as you open the doors to the control tower for her.
"Oh so that would explain the party supplies strewn all over the place." Celestia said as you nod in agreement.
"Yea, it explains why the staff in here isn't." You say as you go and grab the radio to broadcast the announcement to the entirety of Avalon.
"Attention. This is Rex, I've been informed by Princess Sunbutt that we're scaling back our actions to a few fighters on patrol over their convoy. Looks like this war's about over for us." You say as there's a massive amount of cheering outside.
"Well, it looks like that was met with some satisfaction." You say as you place the mic down and go back outside.
It looks like another party is about to break out.
"HEY! Stop the parties until we actually are at peace!" You yell as you're surprised by Thunderbolt throwing you onto her back.
"There you are sleepy head. So I hear the war's winding down." Thunderbolt said as you were carried off to who knows where.
"Yea, war's winding down. Where's Morgan and Falken?" you ask
"Oh, they went off to Rugido for the day. I told them to be careful. Sasha, Lightning, Sergei, Ludmila and Nora went with them. They'll be back at 1800 hrs." Thunderbolt said as she realized that Celestia was here.
"Well they better, I don't want to have to go get those two." You say as Thunderbolt gives a slight bow to Celestia.
"Princess. I didn't know you were here. Where are your guards?" Thunderbolt asked a question that you yourself also wanted the answer to.
"Ah, well, they're still on the front tricking the gryphons into thinking that I'm still there. I doubt Rex would let anything happen to me on his land." Celestia said as you laugh for a second.
"Right, you come into Avalon unannounced, on the pretext that my ponies owe you any sort of loyalty. Sure they may have, but they like it out here" You say to which Thunderbolt nodded.
"He's right you know, we were an unincorporated territory before he came along. Sure we paid our respects to you, and a few of us preferred to live under your rule, but I don't see any reason why I should report to you rather than him." Thunderbolt said proving a point.
"So many of you would have let me fall into harm's way." Celestia said.
"Oh no, we'd never let a pony get hurt out here, but we certainly wouldn't do everything you say." Thunderbolt said clarifying her last statement. "Well, unless you're a gryphon, after this recent crap we may kill you on sight in Avalon." She said adding on another statement.
"Well, it's nice to know you wouldn't leave me to die out here. But I do have a question for you Rex, how did they manage to get those missiles?" Celestia asked.
"Hell if I know, either they stole a lot of data, which I've got a question for you." You say.
"What question?" Celestia asks.
"What's under the waters of Avalon Dam?" you ask knowing it's a loaded question.
"What do you mean? It's a dam. There's only water and rocks under the waters of Avalon." Celestia said.
"Hardly, I've seen what your dams look like Celestia, they don't look like Avalon Dam. They're decidedly more...... primitive." you say calling her bluff.
"Ok Rex, what do you think is under the waters of Avalon?" Celestia asked.
"I think there's a city, or something like that. Something you did not want to be found." You say attempting to lead her on for a second.
"That's preposterous. Why would you even suggest something like that Anon?" Celestia asked.
"Well, there's stories from the locals, even some of the local ponies that there used to be a city under that lake. A grand and beautiful city, until it was buried by water from the pegasai. Now what's under there really? I haven't been inside of the dam, but if my answers lie within it, that's where I'll go." you say hoping she'll get the point.
"There was a facility there at one point in time. One ran by humans. That's right, there used to be humans here, but they wiped themselves out, astoundingly enough. Saved us the work of doing it for them." Celestia said now leading you on.
"Cut to the chase princess, I understand humans are volatile and destructive, so get on with it would you?" You say expressing your irritation with her.
"It was a research facility, one that they wanted hidden from us. I don't know why, but after they did some things there, all the humans disappeard for a while, then slowly a handful came back here. Perhaps they were trying to find a way to reach your world, where they would be tolerated as like." Celestia said partially explaining how you got here in the first place.
"So it was a research facility? Well, that could explain how they got the burst missiles, humans. Those gryphons have apparently stolen human technology that I thought only I had access to. Shit, well least I know how to counter my own technology." you say as you shrug and finally have an answer to what's beneath Avalon's waters.
"Well, so that explains how they have those weapons" Celestia said.
"Yea, least they haven't made any aircraft, or they're just too stubborn to." You say knowing that could be a downfall.
"Well, I doubt they would, they have no aluminum, and I refuse to sell it to them. It's the only nice thing about monopolizing the resources, I control where they go." Celestia said revealing a rather backhanded move.
"Well, I can appreciate the sneakiness behind that, but you and I have something to finish out there." You say pointing towards the Crystal empire.
"Yes, we do have something to finish. How are we going to finish it?" Celestia asked.
"Well, Princess, I was hoping you'd have an answer." You say
"Frankly I don't other than invading Dresden. I know you won't bomb Dresden due to the concentration of AA around it." Celestia said to which you nod.
"Right, so it looks like invading the capitol is the only way." You say as you scratch your face.
"It would appear so." Celestia said as you hear a commotion off in the distance.
"That the hell is that?" You say as Thunderbolt carries you over to what appears to be Morgan, Falken, Lightning, Sergei, Nora, Sasha and Ludmila holding four gryphons hostage.
"Just wait until my dad gets here and decides what to do with you pieces of shit." Morgan said
"MORGAN! Language." You say as you slide off of Thunderbolt to see what they want
"Gryphons, in Avalon. What a surprise." You say as you stand before four battered gryphons. It was pretty clear that they were forced to fly at the speeds of the plane ponies, which is a strain for them. Even then, flying wasn't their only strain, they were beaten, apparently in flight.
"Ve bring surrender." one of them said
"No, you're here to negotiate your surrender. If we don't like the terms of your surrender, we're going to rewrite them." You say as Celestia comes from the woodwork to surprise these gryphons
"Ze hell?" another said upon seeing Celestia.
"You didn't think that me helping her was an isolated incident? Did you?" You say questioning their intelligence