Forward Operating Base: Ponyville

[Admiral Regis Hermitage]

Around 8:00 in the morning, Cato arrived in Ponyville to find the place crawling with soldiers reporting in, and a long line of ponies in line at the recruiting center, which stretched all the way out into the town square. There were easily over 20 thousand ponies here, since the 1st Calvary moved out the day before, a large portion of the REM were called in personally by Lord Rychart to report for duty. Ponyville was going to server as the central HQ for the operation to drive the enemy out of the southern territory,

Cato looked around and was somewhat intimidated with all of the ponies around him. No one had ever seen a force amassed in such a small area in such a small amount of time. This was possibly the most ponyville had ever seen as well. Everywhere in the town, things were booming. Businesses were all open to help accommodate the new arrivals, and were happy for the seeming extra protection. Cato trotted along past the long line of recruits and into a tent which served as the HQ for his own unit.

"Dragons? You've gotta be kidding my, Colonel." a pony could be heard saying as Cato entered.

"Yes, Major. Dragons. Looks like the enemy has contracted Dragons into their operations in the south." another pony replied.

After the Colonel finished, he and the other pony, holding the rank of Major, turned to Cato who immediately rendered the hand (Hoof?) salute. "Captain Cato, 96th Studies and Observations Group, reporting for duty." Cato informed them.

"As you were Captain...." the Colonel said and returned the salute. "Glad to see you again, Cato."

"I'd say the same, but considering the circumstances..." he said and approached the table that the other 2 officers were at.

"Whats your take on this, Captain?" the Colonel asked and showed his a few reports and pictures of an operation that happened yesterday.

"Looks like the Griffons gained air superiority way to fast. Probably had the help of another winged race. Dragons are the most likely candidates." Cato concluded.

"Exactly. We lost an entire Air Wing in offensive operations yesterday." the Colonel said. "Captain, we plan on moving out within the week, and the rest of the RCS wants to know exactly what we are up against. We got the orders from Major General Steel Bars this morning. SAD's MAC-V is to deploy with the next Division of troops, and the SOGs are going to play crucial roles in this offensive campaign. Thats why, i am formally putting you in charge of the 9th SO Battalion. I know thats usually a Lt. Colonel's slot, but im sure you can handle it."

"Um, thank you sir." Cato said,.

"Captain, while technically in the grade of Captain, i am hereby making you a brevet Major. Your first order of business is to observe the new recruits for potential candidates to come into the RCS. We are going to need as much help as we can get." the Colonel said. "I've told the recruiters and drill sergeants that you are a training officer from TRADOC. Should give you some leeway to observe the training for the most part. You need to report to Captain Star in the Recruitment center. He'll instruct you from there."

"Understood, sir." Cato said. "Anything else?"

"Yes... We are authorizing the use of civilian contractors for this operation. So keep an eye out for the locals as well." he said.

With his orders, Cato exited the tent, and into the chaos of FOB Ponyville.

[Embodiment of Cringe]

It wasn't a very long trip back from Canterlot to ponyville for the emerald colored pony, as he trotted towards the inn he was currently staying at. If the very fates were going to drag him into this war, so be it, but at least he can salvage some of his belongings back to his observatory, in a quick and timely fashion.

Upon entry, he noted the main lobby to be full of ponies of all kinds, both soldier and citizen, camping out all across the floor. It raised an eyebrow, but Aether didn't let it bother him. Rather, he found his way after navigating an intricate maze with his hooves across the various ponies either sleeping or the fillies crying over lost homes and belongings, towards the help desk.

"I see you're busy as ever." Aether opened the conversation with the clerk, trying to put on his best smile.

"They're from all over the place, especially the places that were hit. They're seeking refuge for the night before they get on hoof again to the next town." The clerk replied, obviously worn out and rattled from the news of the invasion. It seems she hadn't seen nothing but trouble since then.

"I see... About my room, you can cancel my month long stay. Maybe you can fit another twenty or so ponies into it. Just let me get my belongings."

A wave of relief, or what Aether could tell, awashed over her face, nodding. She had more room than she thought, finally. Navigating up the stairs were another issue, as ponies were sprawled about even on there. But with a bit of hoofwork, he found himself in his room relatively safe.

Of course, the only belongings he really cared about was a personal telescope. Everything else was secondary, such as... well, nothing. That, and a few changes in clothes were the only things he brought. Aether embraced the universe itself, and brought out his third eye with it's swirling haze. "Of course, a trip to the observatory from here is much too long. I can probably have it delivered though." He told himself, as he levitated the astronomical piece of equipment into a sack, laid out on his bed, which then he levitated the sack over his neck, to carry it manually.



He was outside once more, and was once more greeted by the same scene that he trotted into ponyville with. The line to enlist was unnaturally long, almost too much. But what caught his eye was Cato, the Earth Pony he had seen at what was supposed to be the Hearths Warming Eve performance, and along with him, Shattered.
I guess those days of her coming by are gone now. The thought briefly passed by his mind, before summoning forth the courage to speak to the red equine.

"Captain Cato, was it? How goes the battlefield? Or is that information I cannot have?" Aether trotted up to Cato, offering a smile afterwards.

[Admiral Regis Hermitage]

Cato stood in awe once more after exiting the tent at the chaos. He had just now taken notice of the refugees that had fled from the Southern Territory. He eventually shook himself out of it and proceeded into the square only to see the new arrival of one of the units that had been deployed. He saw a massive sea of black and green approaching Ponyville along the Southern route. He stood there for a moment and saw as they got closer... It wasn't a unit coming back. The black wasn't from the berets of the soldiers, but those of body bags.

The first of the arrivals were the wounded. Cato stood shocked as the line of wounded passed by him. Suddenly a flash blocked Cato's view... everything went white.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH

He could hear the screaming.... It was his own. Cato stood over his destroyed, mangled body. Blood was everywhere. The flash was there again and Cato found himself back at Ponyville in a trance staring at the bodies. He slowly backed away and snapped out of it when he heard his name called.

Spinning around, somewhat startled, Cato turned to face Aether. "Huh? Oh, yeah." he said nervously. "Aether, right? As you can see behind me, not well..." Cato motioned behind himself to the arriving triage.

[Embodiment of Cringe]

Aether leaned ever slightly to catch a glimpse of the sight of the triage. It was not looking good.

"I see... it does look rather bleak, doesn't it." he commented, his smile that he hoped would cheer Cato up faded, and in place, a face of pity.

"Anyways, I was thinking of enlisting. But... I have a particular set of skills, and to be frank, I wouldn't like the crown or it's affiliates to find out about them. Something other than Astronomy."

This was it. He was sure to regret this, but Aether was certain this was the only way he would be of any use in the effort. His abilities, that he's kept secret from Celestia and Luna herself, and all of the examiners they've sent his way. "... Just not out here. I'd rather not have anyone thinking I'm anything but a pony, considering the hysteria we're already experiencing..."

[Admiral Regis Hermitage]

"Indeed it is..." Cato agreed with Aether's observation of the scene. Cato really couldnt help but be somewhat bothered by the sight of the triage, and turned his back away from it, and kept it like that while listening to Aether. He could see himself in every single one of the mangled wounded and dead. When Aether mentioned his "Skill" he caught Cato's full attention. Cato immediately nodded to him in response.

"Of course." Catro said, and led the way to a group of tents that housed the HQs for several of the Royal Clandestine Service's units, including the one for the 9th Studies and Observations Battalion, which Cato now commanded. He motioned Aether inside the tent before going in himself.

[Embodiment of Cringe]

As Aether walked in as well, he took full notice of the interior of the tent, and ensuring there would be no prying eyes. "To be perfectly honest, I was expecting to take this with me, to my grave. ... But it seems the cosmos has other plans for me." Aether commented, his attention seemingly drifting away from Cato, and towards the ceiling, as if looking towards the sky.
He caught himself, and turned himself towards Cato.
"My apologies. I best just show you; there's no real way of explaining." Aether commented on his rather adrift personality, and closed his eyes.

Within him, he once again embraced the universe itself, and the third floating eye, backed with a swirling haze akin to starry nights and galaxies, materialized onto the forehead of the green earth pony. And slowly, he opened his two other eyes once more, noticeably different; not in color, but in what they could seemingly see.

"I hold certain... abilities. It's very much like the magic of a unicorn, but in a way, a lot more restrictive. But in place of that, I seem to have a certain precognitive sense, among other things." Aether told the captain, his eyes much, much more resolute than they were just minutes before now. "I am no unicorn, so magic is most definitely not my expertise, but... I can supply you with information, particularly about the enemy lines, and what is on the minds of many life forms. Possible futures are within my grasp as well."

He took one more heavy breath, and spoke once more. "Ask me anything you wish to know about this war, and I will answer to the best of my abilities. You may later check for discrepancies if you doubt me." He threw the question out, prepared for a numerous amount of questions, ones that... might be difficult to answer.
No, not the difficulty, but rather, what his mind might have to go through to obtain them.

[Admiral Regis Hermitage]

"Cato simply stood there in awe. His mind was obviously perplexed. This was not something that people saw everyday, even his line of work. He could only really say one word in response. "Clairvoyance...." he said.

"Aether... Wait here. I'll be right back." Cato said and rushed out of the tent. Cato immediately rounded a few corners in the tent block, and into the tent for the main HQ's Intelligence Officer (G-2). He rushed in, without giving the Colonel who was manning it a word, and grabbed a folder off of his desk, and rushed back out and back into his own tent. Once back in, he plopped the folder down on a table.

"Alright... Im not going to say what is going through my mind, but i need to be sure of this." he said and opened the folder on the desk and spread out the papers. "This details a report about a unit that was deployed yesterday. Its part of the 1st Calvary Division, and most of it is what you saw outside. A flight of Pegisi from a detachment from the RAF stumbled upon this Company. They were apparently ambushed, but from the looks of it, it wasnt Diamond Dogs that did this. There was little, if any fighting, and it looked like some sort of destructive weapon was deployed... the only thing is, we dont know what it is. We've never seen anything like this."

"So, im not going to ask you a stream of questions, just one -- What and Who did this..." he said.

[Embodiment of Cringe]

Aether took one step forward, and examined the papers carefully, reading over the details. A fell sadness drooped over the pony, not particularly liking the lack of information to go on.

"Give me just a moment. I'll do the best I can." He stated, but even he was sure that he would turn up anything. He closed his two eyes, as his third eye opened wide, it's pupil suddenly shrinking from it's large size to a size akin to a seed, the swirling galaxy behind it spinning into uncontrollable speeds.
Hundreds of visions flooded into the mind's eye of Aether once again, all possible futures, the exploding thoughts of every life form that currently inhabited the world, the sounds and images forming an intense and dissonant cacophony, totally unlike the harmonic melodies and flow from before the world, when he did this. The images of death, blood, and all the feelings that came with war were at the forefront. Tears began to leak from the closed eyelids of the astronomer, his breathing becoming heavier not out of exhaustion, but fear, sorrow, and pity.
The images of these weapons of destruction came into light, along with their allies, the ones that wielded them for these insane purposes.
"... I see long metallic objects, with pieces of metal and explosives jettisoning from them, a lot of them small. Cannons, firing not confetti, but explosives as well. I see... dragons circling the skies, under a banner not ours, diamond dogs and griffons marching both in unison. The changeling armies scattered, in a discord of uncertainty. But this isn't what killed your Calvary... What, and who killed them, was..."

Blackness. The third eye atop Aether's forehead stopped it's intense activity; the swirling haze halted to a shimmering fog, the pupil dilated to a size akin to a very large circle. The sudden stop sent a shocking feeling through Aether's body, as he instantly cut himself from the universe. His breathing was heavy, this time actually from exhaustion, and opened his real two eyes, stained with the tears he spilled earlier.

"I don't know." he managed to get out, once more maintaining eye contact with Cato. "... Something forcefully stopped me before I could." Aether gave his final judgment, not even he knowing what they were up against. "I'm sorry, but that's all I can tell you right now. Not until I myself know what's blocking me."