Out on the horizon, Sharp could already see the settlement approaching. There were a surprising number of ponies visible, and unless very few were inside, this was going to be tough.

"Sharp, you settin' up yet?" a dark gray stallion ahead called.

It took a lot of resolve to not facehoof. Even now, most of them had no idea what conditions were needed for sniping. "No, it's way too open out here."

"Suit yourself," he said, shrugging. He had learned not to argue with me when I almost took a bullet to the head after he decided to tell me where to go... Not that he apologized, but it was enough to know that he realized it was a smarter move to let me take care of myself.

As we gained ground, I couldn't help but think that we'd been seen... Not that I really expected that we wouldn't over flat wastes.

As we approached, it seemed odd that we hadn't been noticed. That is, until a mare began sprinting towards us with a bloody knife in her mouth.
However, before she could get far a bang went off behind her, and a bullet went straight past her head. I couldn't seem to get my thoughts in check.
Why was she the only one running out? Why was she shot? Who the shot her? And who the heck had she just stabbed!?

I opened my eyes a few moments later, finding the knife that had stabbed me gone. Through slightly-blurred vision, I shakily climbed to my feet, finding myself able to move around unhindered despite the extreme pain in my neck. I wondered for a moment how a bulletproof jumpsuit didn't stop a knife, but I ignored it, having bigger problems.

"Buck, this hurts..." I muttered to myself, before galloping off to find B.D. and/or Silver Shine and/or the attacking ponies. I found all three.

"Hey! Break Down!" I shouted, opening fire on the enemy ponies. I didn't hit anything because I was running, but the ponies turned tail and ran for cover. I reached Break Down and the now-immobile Silver Shine. "B.D., get some ponies to take care of that group. Silver here isn't going anywhere." I trotted up to Silver Shine, and hit her hard in the face. "Where's my knife?" I asked her. She didn't reply.

"Now listen here, Silver. You shouldn't betray ponies. Trust is an important part of surviving here in the Wastelands." I began. "Now I'm not going to sugar coat it. You're going to die now. But I could give you over to the rest of the raiders, or I could kill you myself. Trust me, the latter is the less painful option." I drew my sword, and Silver started trying to crawl away, which triggered another loud crack, a cry of pain, and a snicker from Break Down. I walked up to Silver and drove my sword through her neck, holding it there until she stopped struggling. Afterwords, I stood up, wiped the blood from my eyes, and said, "I'm gonna need some bandages before I can keep fighting."