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Post by Red Charge on Aug 7, 2013 7:49:47 GMT -5
The city of Manehattan was wildly regarded as one of the safest locations to be in during the Blood Wars. Under the strict protection of the Rainlock Security Forces, led by Lady Rainlock's intimidating security chief Manehattan seemed unassailable. Lady Rainlock was one of the richest ponies in Equestria and had political ties to some say every part of the world. No one knew how she had acquired so many political allies, because frankly enough Lady Rainlock spat on politics. Perhaps that was what made her all the more appealing for her politician admirers. She held all of her businesses in a dignified and direct manner as much as she could and stayed out of kingdom politics altogether. She was the daugher of the famous Professor Rainlock, one of the greatest explorers of the time and had acquired his fortune when he went underground as the cult leader Red Charge. That fact alone would have usually gained her the snotty derision of the common colt, she however was no kitten basking in the sunlight of her wealth. She had been going with her father on expeditions since she could walk and had traversed some of the most dangerous lands known to pony kind, she well earned her money.
Another reason for her popularity among the ponies was the way she took care of her employees. She treated her employees as a family, it showed in the smallest detail - from their immensely high grade equipment to their excellent working and social conditions and even to buying them discounts in every establishment in Manehattan. The Security Forces themselves were hired world-wide and of course were used by Rainlock as muscle in any expedition her explorers went on. Of course, how can we not mention that Lady Rainlock was Head of the Office of Archaeological Preservation and as such was the first to jump on any ancient ruin or artifact found by explorers. Her security forces always treated her with reverence and insulting her in any of their presence was widely considered to be a bad move.
As such it was not surprising when the mayor of Manehattan gave the Rainlock Security Forces free reign over Manehattan during the war. The Manehattan National Guard (Manehattan was too big and too rich to have a plain militia, so an entire para-military organization was founded to fulfill the role of defending it) became completely subservient, serving as the last line of defense in the core of the city, while the security forces served as the wall and shield of the city. In many ways, Manehattan didn't feel the war at all, minus the inability to travel freely to other cities and the curfew enforced by the Rainlock guards and as such they were allowed a more or less normal life, something that only continued to raise Rainlock's popularity among the citizens.
However, only the city proper was actually under the protection of the security forces, many ponies lived in the suburbs, refusing to abandon their homes for a supposed attack that in their mind was never going to happen. Not even the Changeling infiltration did much to change their mind and for the most part, they were right. No Diamond Dog has dared come close to Manehattan so far, even the dogs knew better than to waste their resources by hopelessly throwing troops against the Lady's well organized forces.
"Stop this, please!" Topic Turner called out angrily. He just couldn't believe what he was hearing, how could his day have turned so sour, in his own home? "There's no reason to do this, just stop it!" He begged. Turner worked at the Manehattan Press as an article typist, he would spend hours every day typing away on typing machines, listening to news, answering calls from field reporters and correspondence from other cities and delivering the finished products to the paper. He had been distant lately, because of the war, of course he was, ponies needed news! It was his job to deliver it!
"I can't!" Petal, his fiancee cried, "I can't stop how I feel, Turner. I can't. We've been a dying flame, nothing more than a red tip on a candle wick, I love him, Turner."
"But what about me? What about us? We're engaged for crying out loud, I love you, you know I do!" He protested, "We've worked so hard, you said you'd always love me, you took my ring, did that mean nothing to you?"
"Of course it did! But time's passed since then, things changed, I've changed." Petal argued, "I'm sorry, but that's how I really feel and if you really love me, you'll let me go."
"Oh don't give me that nonsense!" Turner retorted angrily, "You've known this guy for several months, someone who was willing to see you behind your fiance's back, yet you think you're soulmates? Come on Petal wake up. If you do end up married, which I doubt, what are you going to tell your children when they ask how you and their father met? 'I cheated on my fiance with him'?"
"Ugh, I knew you would never let that go. You're hopeless Turner. I am going to be with him and that's final."
"Fine, if that's how you really feel. But I'd like you to consider one thing before you do." Turner said, moving over to the third limb of their love triangle and shoving him viciously into the ground.
"Turner!" Petal yelled in horror.
"The last thing I want you to consider Petal," Turner said, his voice cracking with anger, "Is that he's a cardboard cutout of a cereal mascot for Harmony's sake!" He lifted up the cardboard pony and jiggled it around, "He's not real, you're bloody mental! Now come up to bed, I'm tired of going through this soap opera obsession of yours every night."
"Oh come on, you totally spoiled it!" Petal cried out with frustration, "You were supposed to have a duel to the death over my heart!"
"Yeah well, it gets repetitive after six times... and no, before you say it, doing it while talking as a pirate does not count as something different."
"Uuuuugh, you're so frustrating sometimes, fine, let me just..." She stopped mid sentence, "Neighbors lighting fireworks?" She asked.
"Probably, they have a reason to celebrate tonight don't they?"
"That's right, our baby girl is going to the Canterlot Magic Academy!" Lucky Comet announced proudly to his surprised wife.
"I got the letter today!" Starseer screeched with happiness, the Canterlot Magic Academy was a very sought after college for unicorns interested in the magical arts. Not to mention it was practically a spring-board into many exciting careers. To think their daughter was selected, it was unbelievable!
Starseer hugged her mother closely, Lucky joined in with one hoof. Her siblings were running about yelling in excitement (and some jealousy) but Starseer was just glad to be there in that moment. It was truly a dream come true for her. Magic was her passion, she had been wanting to practice it since forever, all sorts! The Canterlot Academy offered courses in Alchemy, Enchanting and Artificing, advanced Spell-Casting, Theory of Magic and of course a lot of history.
"This calls for celebration!" Lucky Comet declared, "Come on, let's go outside I'll make some fireworks in the sky!" He said, rallying up his family, consisting of him, Starseer, Aura (his wife) and their twin fillies Starlight and Starbright. Once outside, Lucky's horn sparked up, but before he could launch a single spell he heard a loud resounding boom.
"Is that from one of the neighbors' houses?" Aura asked him.
"Could be from old Cabbage's farm, his daughter is supposed to bring you know who there tonight."
"Who's she bringing?" Asked Starseer.
"My coltfriend!" Farmer Cabbage's daughter introduced happily. Farmer Cabbage, from a simple look did not approve of this pony. His mane was dyed and what's worse, dyed black. His eyes had enough mascara to confuse him with a Trottingham harlot and he... had hoof-polish? Hoof-polish wasn't even popular among fillies, let alone colts!
"Sup pops?" The cheeky pony blurted, Farmer Cabbage was just about ready to throw a cabbage at him.
"You may call me Mr. Cabbage, but you may certainly not call me pops, or daddy-o or old horse or whatever it is you kids say nowadays." He responded angrily.
"Oh come on dad, chill out, he's just trying to say hello." His daughter rolled her eyes at him. In the last few years she'd become so independent, so undisciplined... so utterly, utterly stupid.
"Yeah pops, chill out, I won't call you like, daddy-o who even says that? That's like, the worst thing ever." The coltfriend chimed in, much to Farmer Cabbage's dismay.
"I asked you not to call me pops." Mr. Cabbage repeated.
"Sure pops, whatever." That's it, he's gone way over the line. Farmer cabbage went back home and hauled out a cart of packages he was to take out to Manehattan tomorrow to sell.
"Fine, nice to meet you son. I'm sure we can both get acquainted, on the way to Manehattan."
"But I just came from there." The freak pony said flatly.
"Chill out, dude, I'm sure we'll get to bond quite a bit if you help me, this old thing is far too heavy for me to carry alone, being the old 'pops' that I am." At that, something unexpected happened, Farmer Cabbage found himself tackled to the ground by the coltfriend, with his daughter looking fearfully over them. The two of them heard a resounding boom.
Farmer cabbage kicked his daughter's suitor off of him and stood up quickly, "My cabbages!" He screamed helplessly, looking at where his cart of cabbages once were, where there was now only a flaming wreck. The freak pony had just saved his life from a catapult rock. It wasn't just any catapult, the boulders on it were embedded with explosive gems. But if there were gems then that meant...
"We have to get out of here now!" Farmer Cabbage said, pushing his daughter away.
"What's going on pops? What was that?"
"Don't you realize? What that is?" Farmer Cabbage asked, galloping after his daughter.
"What are we running from?" The young stallion asked the farmer, now more urgently.
"Diamond Dogs, a whole bunch of them. Attacked the suburbs earlier tonight, ravaged the suburben area." The Rainlock Officer, Rush Runner, briefed his team.
"How come we didn't get a heads up from the Changelings?" Asked one of the soldiers.
"We did, we've been keeping it on the low to stop citizens from panicking." The officer answered, "We've been fortifying all of our defenses and The Lady wants us ready to spring at a moment's notice."
"What about the ponies who live in the suburbs, any news on them?" Asked another soldier, Dusty Lance, he had relatives in the suburbs.
"Sorry son, they've all been captured or killed." Runner said evenly, he thought it was a tragedy, but couldn't allow himself to lose his cool in front of his underlings.
"At least some of them could be alive." Dusty said with relief, but Runner knew better. He heard what they did to ponies they captured. They probably wouldn't last long anyway.
"So who's leading the Diamond Dogs?" His sergeant asked.
"General Tremor, sir." One of the Diamond Dog messengers ran up to the red armored dog. "We've taken the suburbs completely and are now forming our first attack line."
The Diamond Dog General was pleased, they had advanced faster than he had hoped and the endurance of his dogs was very acceptable. Manehattan was the last large bastion of power left on the ground in Equestria. Cloudsdale of course was out of the dogs' reach and though many times their forces had to face pegasi raids, it was not much big a threat. His blood-bearers could easily burn a pegasus out of the sky if one tried to descend upon them.
It is the Rainlock Forces they were truly worried about, should they form an offensive, they could disrupt the Diamond Dog forces enough for a counter attack from Canterlot. Of course, if they had, the Diamond Dogs would have attacked Manehattan immediately. So they were so far at an impasse. This was something Tremor was sent to fix.
"Good." Tremor nodded, "Soon this place will reek of blood." |
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Post by Red Charge on Aug 17, 2013 16:12:33 GMT -5
"Sir, Lady Rainlock approaches." One of the blood bearers reported.
"Alone?" Asked Tremor, who up until that moment was pouring over a crude map of Manehattan.
"With her head of security it seems." The dog reported, causing the red-armored general to rise from his seat. Tremor cracked his neck loudly before proceeding out of the tent and to the front of his camp. Indeed, Lady Rainlock was approaching with another stallion. There were many words to describe the stallion, from what Tremor had remembered from Changeling intel, the Rainlock head of security was feared and awed by all, a mere mention of him could tighten down the Rainlock Guards' disposition. Tremor could see why, the stallion was very heavily armored, so much so that not a scrap of bare fur could be seen. The armor was wildly different than those of the other Rainlock guards and it bore no rank. The stallion walked silently by Lady Rainlock's side, gaze set forward, not even noticing the gang of hungry dogs he and his mistress have just entered into.
"Lady Rainlock," Tremor gave a little bow as she approached.
"It has been quite some time," The lady answered, "Since our kingdom has seen a Knight of Nat'hair."
Tremor smiled, she was indeed well versed, "Indeed, I am but a fledgling, here to earn my place in blood."
"So it seems. I was told you were much more savage than I see now." The lady replied evenly.
"One can lose oneself in battle, don't expect me to hold myself back on your account." Tremor answered sharply.
"I was preparing to accept your surrender, however I see now that you are truly intent on this fool's errand. Do you really think you can conquer Manehattan? We have had plenty of time to prepare and my security forces are far better equipped and better trained than your rabble." Lady Rainlock said with a drawl, hardly seeming intimidated by the zounds surrounding her city.
"You are bold, it will be ever so charming when your arrogance becomes your downfall." Tremor replied with a wolfish grin.
"I've slain creatures who would regard you as an ant." She replied flatly, almost challenging him, "Bring forth your mob, bring forth your entire species. Come the three corners of the world in arms, and we shall shock them." Lady Rainlock declared, turning back and heading towards Manehattan. Some of Tremor's bearers thought to go after her, but the diamond dog general held them back.
"On my orders, unleash inferno." He commanded, immediately the siege weapons were manned, projectiles were prepared and loaded, blood bearer lines formed into platoons.
Tremor raised his hand high in the air, about to signal the command to open fire, when several bright flashes came from the direction of the city. Tremor lowered his hand sharply, but by the time his hand had dropped to his side, the siege line was nothing but flaming piles of debris, devastated by Rainlock's preemptive strike
"Well played Rainlock." Tremor muttered, "Send the amphibians to their sewers. We will destroy their defenses from within. Once they are inside they will signal us and we will flood the streets with their blood." |
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Post by Red Charge on Sept 17, 2013 10:43:51 GMT -5
Lady Rainlock has not been losing much sleep since the siege began. The poor Diamond Dogs had no idea how dug in Manehattan really was and paid the price of their repeated attempts to infiltrate the city in painful casualties. The first amphibian assault was met with Rainlock Security's anti-changeling defenses, traps covering all of the sewage lines from mines to blades, to corridors sealing themselves and filling with sewage to drown the hapless dogs inside. The second assault tried to attack from the sea, where they were met with Rainlock's fierce tamed sea-monsters and the Rainlock Security Forces patrols and of course the Rainlock Security's Kelpie branch. Needless to say, it did not go well for the poor mutts.
With control of the sea, supplies still came to and from the city freely and the siege was barely felt inside by the populace, at least, the majority of it...
Gale Rainlock was leaning across a table, inspecting the latest Diamond Dog movements on a tactical map as displayed by one of her intelligence officers. Several units, whose purpose was to counter any hostile movements were also present. Among them, a small unit in which the pegasus Draft Design was stationed in for the moment. Lady Rainlock had decided to keep a close watch over the pony after his mission attacking the Changeling Hive. Apparently he was not too cooperative and left a bad impression on his squad mates.
The doors to the hall burst open as a pony walked in, flanked by two mares in very tightly designed armor. The two were identical in appearance and had steely cold copper eyes against white fur and indigo mane in a sharp edged style. They seemed uninterested in anything that was going on in the room and their faces remained flat and emotionless as they moved through the whisperings of the Rainlock Troops. From behind the male pony was another female, slightly taller than the other two, boasting a pale night blue coat, wolf-like amber eyes and a midnight mane tied to a ponytail. The pony in the middle, who seemed to be under the guard of the mares was a large and old stallion wearing a brown custom made undershirt underneath a suede vest. He sported a thick, strictly combed mustache and his balding head was covered in a fashionable bowler hat.
A soldier hurriedly entered the room from another entrance and whispered in Rainlock's ear, she nodded slowly, whispering back inaudibly and the soldier left the way he had entered.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, Baron Trotschild?" Rainlock asked sweetly, so much so that it was apparent there was animosity between her and the old stallion.
"Ah, dear Gale," The stallion said, smiling slightly in fake appreciation, "Sadly I must say I come here on business today. See, myself and the City Council have never approved of your... particular way of running things, but nevertheless we let you do as you pleased, raising a private army, generously buying your way into the heart of the Manehattan community, making a menagerie of dangerous creatures on our very doorsteps in a vain display of wealth..." His voice, though gentle was very firm. To speak in such a manner to Rainlock in her own mansion was not something just any pony could do. But studying his mare guards, it occurred to all that this was no regular pony. This was a pony of similar standing in Equestria, with enough wealth to fight back against anything Rainlock might throw at him, even those would not normally be so bold, but his mentioning of the council was not unrelated to this, he had backing from more ponies of similar standing.
"Since you have decided to take the fate of the city into your own hands, first by destroying major chunks of the city's forests in whatever experiment you were holding there and then by provoking the wrath of the Diamond Dogs upon us, we have decided to take matters into our own hooves. You have been discharged from the City Council and are ordered by both the Mayor and the Council to order your troops to stand down so we may attempt communication with the dogs." He said pompously. Lady Rainlock's features were neutral, almost serene, as though she expected this to happen.
"Ah, but I'm afraid, my darling Baron Trotschild, that I do not take orders from the city council. We are at war now and the emergency rights to management of the city belong to me until this war is over." She replied.
"Such a grotesque management cannot be allowed to stand in such times, delicate thought have been replaced by brash bullying and forced martial law." The Baron spat, "If it wasn't bad enough that you enacted curfew, you also had nearly every pony in the city interrogated by your Security Forces. Now we are under siege, something which may not have happened had you left the changelings alone."
"You obviously don't know what you're talking about." Gale said sharply, her tone now cold. "The leader of the Diamond Dogs is a Knight of Nat'hair, he will not leave until he has spilled blood. There is no negotiating with him or his rabble, they will lure you into a false sense of security and then use the surprise to destroy us all. I will not step down from my position, nor will I order my troops to stand down and if you think the small platoon of your security forces you've marched to my doorstep are going to change my mind, you're about to lose a lot of investments. So I suggest you leave now and not show your face again until the enemy has been dealt with. Am I understood?"
Baron Trotschild seemed enraged, his face turned a shade of purple that made Draft positive he was about to choke, before he blew the air in his lungs in one sharp burst out of his nose.
"This is not over." He said, "You will regret this." Before he left, his mare guards escorting him out.
"Oh boy." Said Draft's Commander, a fit young pegasus in armor, "That sounds bad." It was one thing to deal with the Diamond Dog rabble. But to deal with the private armies of the City Council, who collectively had enough money to pretty much buy the entire Griffon Armada, was something entirely else. Rainlock however, did not seem concerned and went back to surveying the tactical maps. |
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Post by Red Charge on Jun 13, 2014 6:48:44 GMT -5
Lady Rainlock, Gale, the blonde slim mare took in a deep breath, measuring thirty heartbeats before releasing it. Her eyes were focused on the wall before her, where a medallion in the shape of her cutie mark was hanging motionlessly. She was sitting on her haunches, back straight, chin raised, gut sucked in, perfect posture. If one had to look at the room she was in and guess it was a part of the famed Rainlock Mansion none would succeed. The room was but bare bones, a skylight stretching to the course of the sun and moon in their voyage through the heaven kept the room lit at all times by the rays of the sun, or moon respectively. There were no furniture in this room except for the medallion and a single wicker mat placed in front of it.
Lady Rainlock had traveled with her father for years, the amount of cultural knowledge she had absorbed in that time was immense and her innate skill to alter, combine and adapt this knowledge to her benefit was one of the many things that allowed her to reach where she was today. In the Equiterian Era, it was said that the most powerful mages used these meditation rituals daily to focus their spirit and control their vast powers. The Zebra Tribes, unknowingly, have absorbed a part of this ritual for their shamanistic practices and even the Winter Wolf's most disciplined warriors partook in this practice.
Lady Rainlock was well practiced in this exercise and had no trouble falling into complete control and awareness. In this state of focused attention she was able to bring forth her problems and solve them, bodily functions became dull and barely necessary and her mind sharpened. No guard ever dared disturb her when she was in her meditation room, none but her was allowed in the room. She imagined her guards patrolling the mansion, how she yearned to truly FEEL them, but that was impossible. Feeling was beyond her ability, she could sense their motions as they moved, the ether swirled around them as it does with many pegasi, creates ripples she could sense moving around her. One such ripple was violent, unstable and drawing closer.
The Rainlock Security Forces held Manehattan's borders courageously against the Diamond Dog invasion. Their gun batteries stationed at precise intervals to allow for maximum range and coverage. Since their initial futile attempts the Diamond Dog have not tempted fate by risking any more of their warriors. They had decided to besiege the city indefinitely. It was clear that they were attempting to blockade Equestria. Without the goods coming in from Manehattan production and food in the other cities must be running low. The Manehattan residents knew Fillydelphia was now liberated but were still surprised by the Diamond Dogs' patience. It was a stalemate. Should the security forces attempt to clear the siege, the losses would be many and the city would be left breached for a counter attack. Should the Diamond Dogs attempt to attack the city, they would be met with numerous casualties and even should they succeed, they would never have enough forces to maintain the city.
So both sides waited in tense silence, it was a game of dares and taunts, not of blood and sword. Rainlock's forces allowed the civilian population to move about as they pleased and celebrate, egging the dogs to come attack them, barely able to contain their excitement at a chance at conflict. However, despite all of their discipline, despite all of their preparation, despite their unbreakable cannon line of defense, they were not ready when the dogs came.
The cannon line took to flame, one by one the guns burned, the ammunition and gunpowder showed no mercy when they exploded. Every security pony on the front line of the defenses was grievously injured, or worse. The residential areas suffered severe damage from cannonballs, thrown about by the explosions and crashing into buildings, foundations, families. No one was sure what was going on, until the Diamond Dogs poured into the city. The dogs managed a firm foothold in the outskirts and even as the Rainlock reinforcements came in, the sieging army packed their tents, sending a clear message to the Lady – 'leave any border exposed and we shall seize it.'
The door swung open before the guard captain's armored hoof could knock, the Lady stood at the doorway, stern faced. The war sirens began their low pitched wail, crying for the dead, warning the living. "M'lady!" The guard said, bowing so quickly his helmet's forehead bumped the floor noisily.
"The cannon lines took fires, there are Diamond Dogs in the city!" The armored pony stuttered as the calm lady led him through the twisting corridors to the main hall. "We cannot spread our forces thin. Get me W.A.T.C.H on the horn, I'm certain they'd love to test their new equipment." One of her servants brought her coat and dressed her quickly even as she walked.
"My lady, you're heading out? It's too dangerous!" The captain protest.
"Send for my personal detachment, I have business elsewhere." The Lady commanded, the Captain did not contest her. Soon, a number nearing three dozen ponies of Rainlock's personal guard joined the Pegasus on her way, including the large, pony in unmarked armor, the one the Diamond Dogs feared most. |
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Post by Red Charge on Aug 25, 2014 7:33:05 GMT -5
Lady Rainlock's detachment marched solemnly through the wealthy part of the city, finally reaching the massive double gates to her destination. Trotschild Mansion. There were no guards in the booth, Trotschild was expecting her.
The Lady signaled to her right hoof, immediately the massive pony to her right moved forwards, bucking the bolted gates, sending one gate off its hinges and crashing loudly to the ground. The rest of her detachment immediately stormed forwards in formation, climbing up the mansion gardens and towards the front doors. The entire Trotschild Guard was waiting for them there, armed to the teeth and ready for war. Though the Rainlock soldiers were outnumbered, they were far from outgunned, or outmaneuvered. Even the Trotschild guards knew that, they had no chance against the superior training and equipment of the Rainlock Security Forces. They were also not familiar with the brute pony escorting Rainlock, who must have been her chief of security. If word of ear was to be believed, that was one pony they did not want to exchange blows with.
"Let the lady through." Midnight Marvel called, hidden in the foyer to the mansion.
The unicorn was expecting this, but she was still surprised at how aggressive the Lady's arrival was. She had expected a token force, not a full on platoon, of her personal guard no less. Sunray and Sunshower stood anxiously at the sides of Baron Trotschild, both tense, as Lady Rainlock entered the hall, the only further security by her side was her right hoof.
"Lady Rainlock," Baron Trotschild said severely.
"Baron Trotschild," The Lady replied, then turning to the other noble in the room, "Lady Razorwing."
Lady Cutlass Razorwing, one of the prominent members of the Razorwing family, grand daughter of Bardiche Razorwing, former head of the Razorwing family and candidate for the position of Royal Advisor, who was denied when Lady Rainlock put up Red Charge for the part. Clever, Trotschild.
"I suppose there's a reason for you to stomp around my property with a full military detachment, Lady Rainlock." The Baron said pleasantly.
"Baron Trotschild you are under arrest for the charge of high treason. Your guards are to immediately disarm themselves and be escorted, along with you, into custody."
"What?" Cutlass asked, her own bodyguard, Firefly Razorwing hissed in shock.
"How absurd, for what reason am I being arrested?" The surprised-sounding baron asked.
"Earlier tonight your ponies sabotaged the defensive lines of the city, purposely allowing the Diamond Dog forces to invade Manehattan."
"See, Cutlass? I told you didn't I?" Baron Trotschild said.
"Lady Rainlock, the Baron has been entertaining me the entire evening and I seriously doubt he would join sides with the Diamond Dogs!" Cutlass sputtered rather angrily. "Do you have any proof of this allegation?"
"Not at the moment, however at this time I cannot leave a suspected threat to act against the interests of the city. Once my forces repel the invaders, we will conduct a through investigation of the matter."
"See Cutlass? Like I was saying all along. This is not an arrest attempt, this is a grab for power."
"Certainly seems like it." Cutlass responded shortly.
"My dear Cutlass, I have power, I do not need more, I assure you."
"Don't you?" Trotschild asked, "Did you not personally put up your own father for the position of Royal Advisor? Did your actions not directly lead to the pardon of his cultists? Placing minions of your family in key positions in the Equestrian Army?"
Lady Rainlock did not dignify this with a response.
"Gale, he has a point." Cutlass said.
"How would I have accomplished sabotaging your defensive line anyway? There is not a single pony in the city council that does not know that you cannot buy off a Rainlock Security Forces officer. Trust me, we've all tried. You cannot claim that my own ponies were a match for the Rainlock Security ponies on the front line of the city, do you? You don't deny that your officers are the most loyal, most well trained and well equipped forces in Manehattan."
"No, I don't deny this." Rainlock said flatly.
"And what with your newest 'donation' to WATCH, you seem to have more power than ever in Manehattan. Cutlass, with me and my forces in custody, there will be no one left to oppose her. What sense does it make to arrest my forces, instead of using them to help repel the dogs? It would be you next, then the others. You must stop her before it is too late."
"Cutlass, we've known each other for years. If I wanted power, as the Baron says, why wait until now?"
"It's the opportune time." Cutlass replied coldly, "Sabotage your own lines, have your own forces save the day, become a hero and the new security contractor to the city, with WATCH under your wings. With your father serving as royal advisory and two of his underlings in the military, it shouldn't be hard for you to come out on top here."
"This is ridiculous. Have your guards lay down their arms immediately Trotschild, or we'll do this the hard way." Said Rainlock, her patience at an end.
"I can't condone this action Gale, if you go through with this, I will have the council involved."
Lady Rainlock turned to Cutlass, a little smile playing on her lips, "There is a time and place for everyting Cutlass. Fighting each other now will help only the Diamond Dogs."
"I guess you were right all along Baron. I will see to it personally that you are soon released."
Trotschild smiled at Rainlock, giving Midnight Marvel a slight nod, at which she called out to the guards, the Trotschild Mansion guards surrendered to the Rainlock forces immediately and without a struggle. Cutlass, rather than stay and watch, took off immediately with Firefly, undoubtedly to rally the other members of the council and their own personal armies.
Rainlock knew one thing for sure; either way, when this was over, a large power vacuum would remain over the city. The only real question is, who's going to fill it?
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