A Supply Run Gone Wrong

In the bowels of the sewers, past the stinking pits of refuse from the occupied city above, through the many twisting and turning tunnels and maze of shafts that confuse even the ones who built them, lies the great Undercity. This city, built by the survivors of the Great War in a large hollow in the earth, is home to the rebels and the only force fighting to defeat the griffons for once and for all.

The rebels live here, sleeping and eating and hawking wares. Weapons are stored here and families brought. Plans are hatched and laid into action. Victory speeches and defeat burials are held here, and mercenaries and ex-soldiers rub shoulders with those who in another life would have been an enemy, but that they now called friend.

However, such a city, while grand in its own way, the last city of freedom in Equestria, is but a dungeon in and of itself. For while the rebels can live here safely forever, they will never truly be free unless the city above is cleansed of the evil that stalks its streets and kills its people. And this is why soldiers flock to the surface, to fight, and to die.

But there is a small building in the Undercity. One that always has its lights on, one that never closes. It is the Bone and Scalpel Clinic. In it, the dedicated doctors and nurses work tirelessly to heal the wounded and make comfortable the dying. They use old, worn tools and whatever they can scrounge, but its not enough. They lose too many lives.

It came as no surprise to anyone in the Undercity that one day, a small notice was hung in the window of the clinic. In careful, blocky print, written with a distinct Trottingham flare, it called for assistance of an urgent need. The signer was the Field Medic of the 5th Royal Guard Battalion, all but wiped out in the last push for Canterlot. At the bottom of the note were two simple words:

"Inquire Within"

Prism was on his normal rounds of the underground when he saw the message. If the medical centre needed something then it would affect everyone down here the rebels most of all. He walked in with out a second through. 

He looked around for the dog that had written the message on the door. He hadn't needed his services of yet but had meet him when they had started to set up the rebellion. 

"Hello" he called out hopping to make is search end a bit quicker.

There are already a couple of rebel soldiers in the room, taking up all of the meager seats. All except that one in the corner looked like they had answered the summons. The excluded one was bleeding heavily from a wound in his chest and had a blood-soaked bandage over his eye, another homage to the brutality of their tyrannical overlords. From the look of things, it might be a while before he gets help, but he says nothing, patiently waiting for his turn, gritting his teeth at the pain.

From a backroom comes a loud groan of agony and a hushed argument. An unicorn mare walks out with a tiny foal, no more than a few years old, with a fresh bandage around what used to be its ear. It is followed by an exhausted looking doctor. The red diamond dog pauses at a counter to drink a cup of black coffee before looking over at the rebels wordlessly.

Prism was used to these sites, he had seen them many times and many times worse than this. He walked past them all to the red dog as that was why he was here, it looked like he hadn't rested in days. "Doctor Joker!" he said to get his attention.

Once he had his attention he spoke once more "It never ends does it."

The tired dog brushes right past him like he isn't there, pulling the injured stallion gently to his hooves and leading him into the backroom. He comes out a few minutes later and shakes his head.

"I need you all to help me get some supplies. We need morphine and bandages urgently. I have a contact at Manehatten General, he'll supply me, and you'll make sure nothing happens to them. Any questions?"

Prism didn't like it when he was ignored but he knew what doctors were like they get tunnel vision when there was injured patients around. 

A run like this wouldn't normally need more then one but this was medical supply's and the would fetch a high prise so something worth trying to steal off a runner even a rebel one.

He didn't like the fact that the doctor would be leaving he was highly valuable resource but it was his contact so there was going to be no way was going to be told no. "Just stay close and if I tell you to run you do so with out asking question and with out looking back, Now when do we leave and who else do we have" he said looking around at who else was close by.

The clinic smell't of pain and misery, two things that didn't sit well with Jimmy. He tried his damndest to not look at the patients in the lobby, to not focus on the blood and to keep his eyes forward. The smell though- you can't block out that smell, except by not breathing. Jimmy wasn't going to stifle his breath to comfort hisself, but perhaps he should have.

When he went into the backroom, he had to wait a little while for the doctor who'd asked for the help to return. There were quite a few rebels and merc's aside from Jimmy in the cramped quarters, volunteers and hire-lings who'd opted to aid the clinic.

When the doctor asked who else was with them, Jimmy stomped a hoof to indicate his intent to join.

The doctor sighed and straightened his back, looking determined to fight off the weariness he feels deep in his soul. This is the fourth double-shift this week, and he cant afford to fall asleep now. Even if it would feel so good....

He shook himself and nodded. "This is enough. We should move quickly, I want this over and done with before more patients arrive. We almost lost that foal today, I don't want to see another dead ever again."

Prism looked over the group he had to work with, they didn't look the best but they would do. He picked out the smallest two that looked like they could gallop fast if needed to "right, you two. I want to to keep your distance from the group if things kick off you are to get back and report back to High Command." 

He then picked out once that looked like could handle themselves and hold their ground if need be. "Right you two are with me you follow my orders to the letter and stay with me unless I say other wise."

He looked at the last two that where left one was a young mare and the other was an earth pony that looked like he was going to lose his lunch "You two stick to our good doctor like shit to an army blanket, he moves you move, he digs underground you start digging. I don't want to hear the works we lost him at any point."

He looked over the group "Now, no names real names if griffon's show up. This should be a simple pick up but its medical supply and they are not cheap all it takes is one smart ass to think he can give it a try so stay alert, you have your jobs and I expect you to stick to them," he said in a very firm and commanding voice.

Jimmy lined his self up to go with Prism. At least, he'd hoped he was going with Prism. Prism was a tough guy, looked like he could handle his self in a fight. Jimmy liked that, wouldn't have it any other way.

This was an important mission, Jimmy reckoned. Got to get dem meds to these sick people here. No compunctions there. Jimmy reasoned they were a bit underhanded for a hospital run, but he wasn't the kinda guy who sat out all day crunching on odds. He was a stallion of action, and this military character seemed like he'd oblige Jimmy.

The room was sorta... he couldn't place the word. It felt colder then he reckoned it should. "I'm ready to go when you are," he said to no one in particular. "I reckon you got a grip on just how we're gonna approach the hospital?" he asked Prism.

"Once the doctor has what he needs we will leave"  He said waiting for the doctor to give him the say so to head out.

He looked over at the brown earth pony that spoke to him "This wouldn't be my first supply run, but it will be one of the safer once I have done, but there is a saying hope for the best plan for the worst"

Jimmy nods. He waits for the doctor to get his supplies. Jimmy wasn't one to prepare for much- he was more the resilient type, recovering from his failures then going out of his way to prevent them.

"The travelling plans are as followed, I lead the font group I will make sure that things are clear and safe and if we are not happy we don't go in. Those of you sticking to Joker will be in the middle if anything goes for him you are to put yourselves in the way and the other bring up the rear make sure nothing going to bite us he the ass" Prism looks around the room he didn't expect one to be here but it would make things a easier to plan.

"Anyone have a map on them will make things a lot easier?" she said looking on the group.

Joker returns from a closet with a satchel and a small medicine bag. "Lets go"

"Ok, everyone remember just act normal and stick to your places" Prism said as he followed Joker.

Meanwhile, just outside the building publicly known as Manehatten General Hospital, but nicknamed 'Ol' Breakable' by the staff for its history of burning down, even before the war, a feathered head poked out of a window. It looked down, studying the empty street for a moment before withdrawing. The head was attached to a griffon's body, light brown feathers on a tan lion's hindquarters. The scout rustled his wings restlessly before turning and darting through a door.

In the next room stood the Captain of the Guard, along with 6 other soldiers. The scout scurried up to the imposing leader and whispered his report. "No movement yet, sir. I hope that wretch from the hospital hadn't been feeding us false information. Do you really think that the rebels would be dumb enough to take stuff from this place?"

Kroll shook his head as he replied the scout's question. "No," he murmured, seeming to be preoccupied with an old magazine on home decor he found in the room he and his squad were holed up in. "They aren't dumb enough to do this, they're desperate enough to; if our informant's words are to be taken as credence, then this is something that they've done in the past...." The captain trailed off as he stopped to tear a few pages out of the magazine and tucked them away in an empty pouch on his vest. Laying out his crossbow and rifle in front of him, Kroll began to disassemble his weapons, making sure that they were clean and ready to go. "Time for a last minute weapon check, gents. I don't want any jams or misfires on our part today."

The griffons nodded affirmation and began to disassemble and clean their weapons, as if they hadn't been doing that 15 minutes ago. The scout returns to his pots, reporting back every five minutes or so, noting that after a while the informant stepped outside, signalling that the rebels would arrive soon.

Kroll nodded at the scout's notification, loading his weapons back up and looking at his squad as he rose from his seat. "Alright, gents. Our informant's in place, looks like the exchange is going to go down here shortly, so time to put on your game faces. Remember, these guys are taking away meds that civilians and our wounded guys really need, so we need to end this shit today. Lead your targets, watch your arcs, those of you with bows; I don't want any civilian casualties, understood?" 

The captain paused for a moment, leaning to look out the window to see where the informant was standing. "Okay, as for our informant, he may be useful to us in future missions, so don't take him out unless he's posing a threat to us, got it?"

Kroll smiled a little as the squad nodded at his request, opening the door to the room they'd been cooped up in for the past few hours. "Good. Now let's get to work."

True soldiers, his guards obeyed quickly and quietly, sneaking into their positions.

And not a moment too soon, for the sounds of hooves on stone echoed through the dark alleyway, heralding the rebels arrival.

Prism kept the hood up on his brown coat like he always did when left the underground for now this disguise work being winter but come summer others would question him wearing such a coat. He looked around the alleyway, it was clear so he signal for Joker and his two escorts to move up.

They had made it here fine now to just get the meds and get back, Prism was starting to relax everything was going nothing seamed out of place.

Joker slowly turns the corner, his leg starting to ache. Earlier that day, he had performed an emergency tracheotomy on another dog. He had been caught in a cave in and a falling rock had crushed his throat. The dog unfortunately perished, waking up halfway through the procedure and panicking. He ripped the impromtu tracheotomy out of his throat and suffocated, but not before he pushed the good doctor into a metal stand, bruising his leg something awful. Nothing had broken, thankfully, and he was soon up and running. Life at the Bone and Scalpel goes on.

Now he was regretting not having taken a break, as he started to breathe heavily. Well, he could always rest later. Hopefully, with these supplies a nurse could handle the rest of the day. The others had been pushing him to take a vacation for a while, and he may just do that, if only to be fit for work.

He shook himself out of his daydreaming. He still had work to do...

He turned to his guards and nodded. "Its a nurse, an old aquaintance from medical school. He should be behind the biohazard dumpster on the right."

Jimmy hugged Prism's side closely. Jimmy didn't have much of a disguise, but he had picked up on Prism's cue's earlier and donned an impromptu cloak. It wasn't his thing, really, hiding behind cloth, but if it did the job, hey who was he to complain.

They were at the corner of an alley now, and Jimmy could see the impressive hospital just up ahead. Jimmy had been here a few times, but he only once as a patient. He hated the idea of going under pain medication, so that visit had been much shorter and more violent then either of his parent's had anticipated.

"A'right, I'll volunteer to see if the area up ahead is safe. Any objections?" Jimmy was tired of creeping around alleys. He wanted to get the supplies and get back... home.

Prism nodded "Go check it out, I will make sure no one comes up behind us and try's to stab us in the back. I want eyes 360" he said as he walk to keep an eye on the alleyways entrance, if they were going to be spotted it would from here and he would be the first line of defence as the other made a run for it.

Jimmy made the approach. "Hey, anyone over here?" he asked in hushed tones. "I'm, uh, lookin' for a doctor," he said, to nobody in particular.

A steel gray pegasus in white scrubs appeared from behind said dumpster, his jet black mane untidy and sticking up in odd places. He has a packed saddle on his side. He spits out the cigarette in his mouth, crushing it deftly under one hoof as he sizes up the rebel.

"You with the doc?"

Jimmy looked over the Pegasus, relieved that he hadn't done something stupid in his first rebel-y mission. "Yeah, in a fashion. I take it that you've got the supplies on ya?" he said, eyeing the satchel. "We got a couple guys back there who can carry that."

Jimmy offered a hoof to have the satchel handed over.

The pony narrowed his eyes at Jimmy. "You get the stuff when I see the doc."

Jimmy sighed. "You can see the doc- here lemme get him real quick. Just wait here for a sec." Jimmy started walking back the way he came to the alley where his group was in cover. "He want's to see the doc," he whispered harshly at them, trying to get their attention.

Prism looked back. "Go Doctor, I make sure no one comes up and keep you coved sooner we do this sooner we get the supplies to where they need to go."

As the doctor wearily stumbled out of hiding, his bright white lab coat caught the attention of the scout above. He excitedly pulled back, hurrying to his leader in the next room.

"He's here! Orders, sir."

The captain had been sitting on the floor of the room with his eyes closed when the scout came into tell him the news. Taking a deep breath, Kroll opened his eyes as he heard the scout's information. "I take it he's not alone?" he inquired as he got up to grab his rifle, loading a blue-tipped munition rod into the chamber. "Because I'd be amazed if he is."

Jimmy didn't like the pace this was moving at. He kept his hammer to his side as to not excite his associates. He was green to the affairs of rebels, and wouldn't see an ambush if it were unfolding right in front of him- regardless, he had a terrible fear of the unknown, and this whole scenario presented him as being full of unknowns.

Jimmy started scanning the area for exits or clear means of escape. This was a bad spot to be in, he reckoned- an alley with small, confined exits; and no cover whatsoever from an attack from above.

He tried to distract himself with thoughts of what he'd do with his pay from this job. Probably see about hitting up a nice bar after, one where the fancy drinks get served and nobody can hold their alcohol. Not saying of course, that Jimmy could, but he couldn't grasp that caveat so well.

Prism keep a watch out. He watch as ponies worked past going in and out of the hospital. He looked back to the group and could see that Joker was moving to meet their contact. He turned to keep watch, if a griffon patrol found them this would be the first place they attack from and he had to be ready to stop them.

He looked over at the scouts that were ready to run back to base they were doing well to blend in with the crowed and there was no way you would know they was with the group. He went back to scanning the crowed from his hiding spot.

The griffon scout nods and waits for his commander's orders. Meanwhile, Joker approached his contact, rubbing his eyes tiredly. He looked up and gave a wan smile. "Hello, friend. How's the family?"

The pony looked troubled for a split second, his eyes glancing upwards. "G-good"

Kroll's brow furrowed at the reply the scout gave him. "He is...?" he scoffed as snapped the breach of his rifle shut. "Shit, this guy must really be desperate for meds...alright, I want a good perimeter on this fucker: two in the front, two in the back, and two to close in on him with me. Have them use their signal mirrors to let me know when they're in position, but have them watch their angles; if he isn't as lonely as he looks, we don't want any extra eyes blowing our cover, understood?"

Prism kept a look out, watching for griffon's they was in one of the main areas so there should be patrols or standing guard. Then it hit him there was none no standing guard or patrols so far.

This was very odd, but it could just be good timing. This made Prism feel uneasy as there should be some griffon's here. "They better hurry up" Prism said to himself. If it takes any longer then he would go and hurry it up.

Joker spotted the glance, but thought nothing of it. He has known this pony for years, they had met way back in Trottingham just after he graduated from Nursing School. Sure, he was a little squeamish around blood, and slightly cowardly, but he was a good stallion, and he loved his family dearly.

"Thats good. Well, this time around I'll need some tranquilizers, if you have any. Also, 600cc of morphine, 30 yards of bandages and any syringes you can spare. Those griffons have been brutal lately, and unfortunately, I haven't had nearly enough patients make it to me." He coughs and the other pony looks concerned for a moment, before turning and rummaging in the bag.

Kroll pushed a small table in front of the window in his room, resting his helmet and quiver of munition rods on top of it before pulling out the legs of his rifle's built-in bipod, getting prepared to play his part in the ambush. Looking out to the right, he saw the glint of a signal mirror, the part of his squad in that area signaling that they were in position and ready to go.

After flashing a quick response with his mirror and checking the left to make sure the soldiers over there were ready as well, the captain firmly grasped his rifle and aimed down the sights, locating the Diamond Dog that was on the streets below. Once the sights of his rifle were aligned with the Dog's lower right leg, Kroll took a deep breath, and pulled the trigger.

Prism heard the shot. he turned a to where it had come from it was not each to make out but it was clear that they was under attack and it was an ambush. His eyes then feel on joker he was hit.

"Everyone cover now! You" pointing at Jimmy "Get the doctor out of there" He had to do something he could teleport to the sniper and deal with them, but there will be more griffions soon and he had to help his team. He did have the toys he got from Megabyte and it looks like they are going to be needed but had to wait for the right moment. " We need a way out and can't be where we come come from" He shouted to everyone.

Joker felt something, a sixth sense awakening in him. He turned slightly and looked up, where the nurse had looked before. He saw him, a mean-looking griffon with a strange contraption. He had seen them before, never knew what they were called, but they left ugly, gaping wounds that seemed to never stop bleeding.

In a nanosecond, he realized it was pointed at him. If he were younger, maybe trained as a soldier instead of a medic, perhaps even well-rested, he might have had a chance. Instead, he just stared glumly as the barrel seemed to explode into fire.

Even as he realized, the bullet entered his hind leg, traveling through dense, tired muscle, nicking the bone as it traveled on through, exploding out the other side in a gaping hole, bits of flesh flying in a circle of splattering gore. He crumpled, time standing still. As he fell he turned numbly downwards, willing his arms fruitlessly to catch his fall. He thought little, a small white-hot bead of pain slipping through his leg, traveling up his body to his brain and back.

Time suddenly exploded back into reality, he howled, rolling on the ground as agony raced through him. His battered leg flopped uselessly and stuck out at an unnatural angle.

Jimmy watched crestfallen as his charge collapsed to the ground from a wound in his leg. Suddenly there was activity exploding around him- Prism barked an order, and Jimmy tried to understand it, but his own thoughts were racing a bit too fast for him to catch onto someone elses.

Jimmy watched for any approaching threats, then grabbed the doctor by the nape of his coat. With a great heave of earth pony strength, the Diamond Dog doctor was pulled down the slick alleyway. "C'mon doc, it's jus' a fleshwound," Jimmy tried to mouth through his teeth, but he wasn't quite sure if it came out right.

Kroll quietly cackled to himself as he watched the Diamond Dog below hit the floor, smiling as he watched the clay-colored stallion drag the wounded doctor away, leaving a trail of smeared blood on the ground. After ejecting the spent munition rod from his rifle and loading in a new one with a red tip, the captain before looking over at the scout. "Alright, tell the others to move out: I want two with me, four as overwatch on the rooftops, and one to deal with the doctor when I get ahold of him. As for you, I need your eyes in the sky. See if you can't get a beat on where these guys are headed."

The captain pulled his ski mask over his head before putting his helmet back on. "I'm trusting you to handle this, so please don't fuck this up." With a final nod, Kroll leapt out of the room's window, using his wings to angle himself towards the nurse.

Joker struggled feebly against the unknown force pulling him, barely conscious at this point. Between his 4 double-shifts and this wound, his body was stretched to its limit. 

Meanwhile, the nurse squeaked in fear as the griffon approached him.

(NPC Rebels and Griffons under command of their leaders)

Prism could see that it was already too late to make a run for it they were very much surrounded.

"Horse shit!" He said to himself and once again started to give out orders.

"Everyone stick together, we hold on the doctor and look for exits. Look for a way through the buildings as our other exits are cut off" He was sure that the two ponies that were told to head back to base to report had already left he just had to worry about the others.

Prism lit his horn up and put a magical barrier above hoping to stop any landing in the middle of the group as they have a better chance if they kept together and didn't get split up.

(((Jimmy has reentered the game)))

Jimmy had trouble keeping an eye on his surroundings due to his face being low to the doctor's cuff. He pulled the doctor off to the side with some cover of a dumpster to get an eye up on what was going down.

From the looks of things, there were griffons coming at them from the front- and if his eyes weren't deceiving him, a couple on the rooftops as well. Well this looked fucking convenient. Luckily, Jimmy didn't have wings, so he couldn't have flown up and gotten shot if he'd wanted to. No, Jimmy kept an eye to the ground, looking for doorways or some way out that the griffons didn't already have covered.

Just his luck- since this was a confined alleyway, and by nature, rather limited in exits. But there was a door nearby- and Prism preoccupied with yelling, so Jimmy took some initiative. His hammer flew out of its satchel by its tether, and went cascading against the doors timbers, a massive ringing sound filling the air as the hammer went bouncing back. The door was dented, but still stood solid. Jimmy positioned the hammer to get another swing-

(Edited 8:20 PM, Reason, Requested that we spend more time in alleyway before retreat attempt.)

Kroll landed in front of the nurse, giving the stallion a strange smile before using his claw to deliver a swift knifehand strike to the side of its neck, attempting to knock the nurse out. After doing so, the captain frowned as he heard two muffled thumps above him, looking up to see that the other two griffons that were supposed to be following him had landed on some kind of barrier. Great.

Turning around, the griffon saw the source of the barrier, a pony in a brown cloak. What's more, he saw another stallion, one with a clay read coat dragging the Diamond Dog away. Clicking his beak, Kroll aimed the crossbow that was slung around his chest at Prism. "You're in my way" he growled quietly, flicking the bow's saftey off as he took a step forward.

Prism moved the shield so the griffon's would be to one side and the two stronger ponies made their way to deal with them.

Prism had his own problems to deal with and one with a crossbow. He was too close for him to move out of the way if he was shot. Only thing for it remove the bolt. "Your in mine" he said through gritted teeth. He then used his telekinesis tried ripe the bolt out so there was no risk of being shot and the fight would be move even.

The two griffons that followed after the captain landed with a slight thud, readying their weapons, a short sword and polearm respectively, to confront the oncoming rebels.

Kroll raised an eyebrow as he saw the loaded bolt in his crossbow get pulled out by the stallion's magic. "That's a pretty keen trick, horsie..." the griffon said, giving Prism an unimpressed look as he calmly pulled another bolt out of the quiver on his hip, sliding it back into the flight groove of his crossbow to replace the one the stallion removed. "But unless you're up to do that many more times, I suggest you try something else." Because the stallion before him was wearing a cloak, Kroll made a guess as to where its shoulder was before taking aim and firing.

Prism smiled "I just need one" has he trusted the bolt he had just taken at the griffon's shoulder. He knew it couldn't go too deep as it didn't have the same force as a crossbow but it would still do the job of knocking off his aim.

This time after the bolt was fired he moved he need to take the crossbow out of action so his strike was aimed for that hoping to brake it so it would be no longer be used in this battle and would be easier to deal with.

(well for the bolt to miss I need to stab you with the one I have if you don't want that then will edit this to reflect that didn't work.)