Ponys of War

Ponys of War

Note: A great majority of these characters that follow are not mine. They are trademark of The Hub and Hasbro Inc. and partners, along with Equestria. Original characters have been based of other characters from the Gears of War series by Epic Games or based after real life people. In continuance, the story arc is based after Epic's title Gears. Disney owns Pridelands references under the title of the Lion King.

In addition, yes, I purposely spelled the title wrong...

'Ponys of War'

News Alert: Martial law declared nationwide as the Black Knight menace streaks across the land of Equestria. On Bounty 7th of this year marked the day of Emergence of the Knights. Herein the Royal Guard and the Coalition of Ordered Equines are lawgivers until further notice, as 2/5 of the population is dead or missing. May the light of the Spirit guide you. Stay safe Equestria.

This was it, the last chance we may ever see of life. Day in and day out we hear the yells and the pains of our once glorious civilization crumbling before our eyes. Here we now know the lies and truths told in stories across the ages of monsters from subterranean origin. The days started long before Bounty 7th. Long before the ponies of Equestria even realize, or as they can even remember.

A few years ago I can remember me sitting at my home in central Pennsylvania playing video games. My mother left in the middle of the night to go shopping at Wal-Mart. My mother has Multiple Sclerosis, considerably reducing her physical and mental ability. I took a break mid-game to work on some homework, Atkins Integrated 3 Math, proofs and junk. I fell asleep lying on top of my laptop. When I woke, poof! I was in Equestria. Yes, still to this day I have absolutely no idea how I got there.

The following years I found out that I was prophesied to save the world. Naturally, I laughed it all off, till I was bestowed upon with the Alicorn Amulet. I took this into my hands and wished that Equestria were 'back to normal'. To my surprise the world was split into four different realities. The C.O.C.A. Nations—a society rich and complete with 'furs' (anthropomorphic animals)—to Equestria's left. Down under us all is the Pridelands central of there is Pride Rock. Then we fall on the Humans old world of our own before the First Unity Wars, between the Humans and the Furs after I create to alternates.

The First Unity Wars lasted for 10 days, bloodshed across the US and Middle East. Surprisingly the Furs took more loss than the Humans did by 10:3. Lots of the Nation’s leaders and found a single solution to the problem. They call it the Nanite Singular Device commonly called the Nano Bomb, containing the sole power to melt all of Eastern Hemisphere. Imagine a trillion, tiny machines stored inside of a black liquid storing the power to disintegrate whole states. The U.N. had made a peace treaty with the southern Nations as we evacuate our countries around the world is falling.

The remains of our last world are dust and intense storms from the three bombs. The Irradiated Zone, as we call it now, is the only living relic on the northern end of the Badlands. The badlands are a titanic desert separating us all from one another. Now, as the Knights advance we all need a miracle from the Spirit. Spirit save us all...

PonyVille; 1346 hours; Bloom 4th 2 A.E. (After Emergence); COE Barracks South; Staff Sergeant Office

I stare blankly ahead, looking through a window opposite of me. I watched the COE ponies running back and forth as we had gotten word of a possible attack in the EverFree Forest. Naturally, I passed that off as a mere rumor. The forest has no strategic advantage to it, other than an expansive amount of lumber. What the hell would they need that for? I turned my head back to the random paperwork sprawling around my desk.

Most of it had to do with calls to duty, some on reports from PT boats. I looked up to a mare standing over my desk. "What can I do you in for today, Twilight?" I said looking back to the window; she stood there breathless for a minute. "I was wondering, sir, if I could have leave this afternoon." I started to crack up. My head turned to my shoulder. I began to laugh like there was no tomorrow, her face turned dark purple against her lavender coat.

I froze and stared at her, "You’re not kidding? Oh, Twi! I'm so sorry! I just thought you came in here to make a funny. I am so heartless. I'm sorry Twilight but you’re the only one in PonyVille that has the ability to use magic with finesse. We have Knights marching from the north, all of VanHoover has gone down. The Crystal Empire is all dead; I've got lots on my mind sweetheart!" Her eyes averted to the floor, "Sir, permission to speak freely?" I nodded, listening intently to her voice patterns. "We can't just sit here looking at the blood flowing down Neighagra Falls! We have to do something."

I shot up out of my leather chair, leaving it spinning around. "You’re out of line!" She turned around and walked out of room, cheerfully. I ran out after her into a crowd of absolute discord. Dozens upon dozens of ponies running around gathering up weapons and reading the gunships. I get pushed and shoved as I try to figure out the problem and end up yelling out loud, "WHAT IS GOING ON?"

They all freeze and get back to it a second later.

A shadow cast over my eyes as huge flocks of Pegasi took flight overhead. "Hainly!" I turned around looking for the source of the 'Hainly'. A dark red stallion called out at me, "Hainly, what is going on why is everything so chaotic?” He paced closer and closer as a fine silhouette, "Ah, damn..." The figure was none other than Colonel Macintosh. His large, red build was made from his previous job working on Sweet Apple Acres and battle experience. He is a good one to have in your corner, luckily I know him well. "Chase Hainly may the Spirits pass on good wishes. You have what you need for now?"

"Yes sir, I wondering about the Onyx Guard..." I whispered up to him, both of us looking forward toward PonyVille town hall.

"Those little girls," he laughed, "What experience do they have other than looking forward and looking like they are busy? The Coalition is fighting for Equestria more than they can possibly imagine. Ever since the Tarots helped us declare the Fortification Act, we are in charge." He shook his head.

"Do I have permission to speak freely?"

"Are we speaking on record, sergeant?" He asked in a baritone voice.

"No, sir," a row of firing reached over the crowd and died out quickly.

"Then you can say what you please, Chase." MacIntosh said with sarcastic delight.

"Do you think we have a chance against the Knights? I mean, truly do you think we could win this all. Equestria has never been so involved with war. Are we prepared?" He took a deep breath; I waited.

He turned around leaving me facing PonyVille commons. Leaning in and whispering, "I do think we have a chance. We truly do, and if not... don't sit pondering the worst of it all." He leaned out; I turned around seeing that the whole area was clear for once in days. The only thing left was hoof marks and Lancer magazines laying on the landscape. "Mac, I want to ask you something personal. Can you humor me?" I took a double take at him. He nodded giving me a flash of a smile. "I think I am ready to find a special somepony." MacIntosh gave me a 'yeah right' kind of look. I ignored his pretentious gaze and looked around for any sign of life other than us, there was none. We both walked over to a row of titanium benches, some were coming of the bolts that kept it to the macadam. "I don't know who is just for me, ya know."

He opened his mouth and it looked like he couldn't catch his words, squinting. He looked down at a little machine in his lap. "Sorry, got to run. But I think you have a bit too much on your mind."

I sat there staring at the Civic Citadel in the distant district of Trottingham. So I think, Life Sucks.

Baltimare; Royal Guard FOB Gamma.

Doctor Hooves POV:

"Black Fox Seven is at bingo fuel, returning to base."

"Dammit, someone needs to level that bunker! You! Get the nearest unit on the Tac/Com!"

"Delta 4 is closest, led by... a Jane Wayne, Gunny Sylvia George, human. Her unit was disbanded from an H-3 Logger tank. She is one-and-a-quarter klicks from the bunker." I said to the Major General, staring at the screen in front of me.

"Patch me in Lieutenant." I did as he commanded, then waited for him to speak.

"Gunny, belay all previous orders from Control. This is Major General Blueblood of Command. We have a new objective for you, marking it on your Tac/Com as I speak." We all fixated onto the microphone waiting for her response. "Ah you little... Um, Command? What the hell? That bunker is dug in! There would be no way we could get to that, conventionally."  

"Don't give me an excuse George!  You will do it or I'll come out there and shoot you myself, my own ammo in your temporal lobe! Do it, we will be waiting to assist with anything necessary."  He turned to me and started to click his tongue. "Get me Hainly on the line!" The trucks outside started again, drowning out the General's shouts.

"Sir?" S.S. Hainly's voice came along the wire into our ears. "Hainly what seems to be the hold up? The Knights surround all of PonyVille! Get your asses in gear and get out there or so help me... I DON'T EVEN KNOW just do it!"

I disconnected the line and readjusted my seating as Blueblood's yells made me jump. The trucks started up again, "What is going on with George? WOULD SOMEONE GO AND KILL THOSE DAMN TRUCK DRIVE. SHIT! Everyone take a note this is what you get when you don't get any kind of hole for 4 years; you all get truck drivers." I winced and the visual of Blueblood having sex with a mare. I got views of the book 50 Shades of Neigh, BDSM kind of stuffs.

I stood up and Blueblood got right into my face. "Where are you going Hooves?" I looked straight ahead and assumed At Attention position.  "I was going to the lavatory, sir!"  His face changed to an appalled look.  "Sit the hell back down there." The stallion’s voice was low and vicious like never before.

I took my seat and placed the headset back into my ear; I stared back at the console cursing Blueblood under my breath. White dots circled around and near millions of little tiny and larger red dots. Some disappear if they die and some stay up for a long time, like Jall.

Jall is not a normal pony. No, he is a zebra from the UIR nation of Zebrica. A boulder of a stallion, Jall's muscular appearance stands in contrast to his quiet, meditative personality. Jall was descended from a long line of ponies that viewed themselves not just as fighters but also as warriors. This lineage molded Jall into a warrior-philosopher with a spiritual view of war that often caused odd glances from his squad mates. However, they liked and respected him, even if they didn't always understand him. Jall and Chase Hainly have a long history of saving each other’s lives during the Evening Wars.

Basically, Jall is a brick shithouse. Anyway he is running around on the screen cutting into various Knights. He is in Downtown Trottingham. "Get me Jall on the line, we need his helo."  I pressed my hoof into the screen on his dot, then the connect option. Blueblood listened in to the sounds of battle. "This guy is an idiot!" His yells got more vigorous as they both argued. I pressed a blue button to (illegally) listen into their 'conversation'. A large chill shrouded over the room. All the dots disappeared, "What happened?"

"Let the Light guides them."   

Appaloosa; South District Command Tent.

Lotus Blossom POV

“INCOMING!”

The bombs shook the tent as we clambered for cover. I dragged the radio under the desk with me. I’ve been under there since the shelling started last night. I was scanning radio frequencies and reported to the findings back to Canterlot Control. “Shit, someone close that damn door!” I yelled as shrapnel landed around the room. My pink mane has been disheveled since yesterday that night from the lack of sleep and stress. I switched the receiver to 214, the Canterlot Control Frequency. “Uniform oh-four is KIA. Sierra Lima nine-seven-niner is MIA. Foxtrot Alpha Papa has seven (that’s half) of their teammates KIA, that’s all I have for this half of the hour. We need air sup…” An AA gun shot off into the outside. The sounds of battle burned right through my headphones.  The sounds of chainsaws cutting into flesh of our soldiers’ and bullets whizzing by the tent.

“Someone go kill ‘em, that’s your damn job!”

“We’re trying ma’am! They are piercing the southern wall. They will breach it soon.”  I looked around in the darkness. The shelling started again. BANG! A crumbling sound came from the back of the tent. I shot my head up and smashed my head into the wood desk. "What the hell was that?" Someone entered the tent and started shooting.

I flicked the 'off' switch on the two-way radio. Gingerly, I lifted my slim figure out under the desk. I placed my hooves on the top of the mahogany desk slowly creeping to sneak a peek. A large six-foot tall pony was dark gray and ugly as shit. It was just standing in the middle of the room, killing them. I crept back under the desk and took light breaths.

        

        

PonyVille; 1350 hours; COE Barracks South; Vehicle Port Bench 7

Chase POV

Life Sucks! I have been sitting there for about what felt like an hour listening to the sounds of battle in the background. I thought about Jall, Lotus, Fluttershy, Hooves and the others. I got that dang song still stuck in my head. They were all jamming in the front of the gates, blaring pop music from a year ago. Now the radio was pounding out Rumors by Lindsay Lohan, talk about Throw Back Thursday. I felt around my belt for my Tac/Pad.

The Tac/Pad is an experimental instrument used for directions and tactical implementation. The whole thing is as flat as a piece of paper, light as one too, rolled into a tiny little back mat looking thing. Unrolling it in my hand and it flickered on. The COE logo showed up and illuminated my face. The radio started playing Paramore's Monster. The holographic picture rose onto the felt cover. I locked it into and continued using it.

I tapped the Comms folder on the home page. I listened into the feeds coming from town. The radio hit static and continued to play Miley Cyrus's We Can't Stop.  "Is there any..." A feed came into my ear buds. I tried to trace the live feed; the position came from... Pride Rock? The voice was too faint to know who it was.  

"Merchants inside the perimeter! Get the cubs out of here, anyone recie.... Holy Shit! Get the King secured. The Merchants are inside the King's den. Move!"

It was Tama, she was yelling.  The lioness was calling out for someone to save her. The Pridelands was a hell of a long distance away. She must have hacked the Equestrian servers and broadcast. We never sent any help to defend the King of the Pridelands. I pressed to my ear and switched over to One Way. "Tama! The hell's going on over there?" The cackle came in and screams of the warriors trying to repel the bloodthirsty murderers. Many of the voices were gasping like they were right in front of the microphone.

"God, is it Chase? Oh holy gosh. Chase, the Merchants have had it to the inside of Pride Rock. We are holding them back..." The voice cut out and Tama had started to break up on the transmission. "Merch... is leading... Nala... get the soldiers over here now! Chase, help us!"

I launched into the air disturbing the peace around me. I switched transponders and went to the main Equestria broadcast. Forces in the Pridelands were almost gone now that the Merchants decided to use HC (hydrogen cyanide) APF (arsenic pentafluoride) gasses.

Now the merchants are a group of parasitic scumbags. They move from place to place consuming any form of resources and leaving the area barren. Like every parasite they do damage and leave. I knew them for years they terrorized the whole eastern land of Equestria before E Day. Now the sound switched to Bowling for Soup's '1985' but faded out to Lady Gaga's 'Judas'.

"Tama? Shit!" I ran over to the engineers playing the radio. They're heads shot up to me as I came running over to the three mares and one stallion. "Do you guys have it juiced up?" I meant the Queen Sparrow, the COE helicopter and they nodded. "Were to sir?"

"The Pride..."

Somewhere above the Pridelands; 1423 hours; Queen Sparrow November-Yankee 3

The air chops around the Sparrow, parting like we're gods. I man the side Vulcan cannon. The Merchants below run for cover as we spray the field. I turned the gun around and let another reload it and man it. I fumbled around the large metallic area and reached the cockpit where a loud buzzer went down. Now it's all Beyoncé and her Partition. "Every girl in here gotta look me up and down." I yelled over the rotter and constant yelling and gunshots. "How long to the RV?" The mare that was co-piloting turned around and gave me a sinister look. "Why the hell you take us out here... Sir?"

I laughed and went back to the back of the Sparrow where a familiar face was sitting. "Rainbow Dash, how's it going? You ready for this shit?" She nodded staring at the metal floor. She was fixing her hued mane and jolted two times too she look at me with her magenta eyes. She now smirked up to me. Her body undulated as the Sparrow commenced it's decent to the grasslands. She rose to her feet and readied herself to fight. The sudden stop convulsed the whole copter; that is something you get used to with time and time again of tours-of-duty.

We both lunged off the side and took formation with me in front and Dash in the cover of the back. She and I got clear of the Sparrow as it took to the azure sky. We looked around, scanning the endless range. We both started to stride to the Pride Rock. Along the way we say dozens of decaying carcasses; both of the cats of the lands and the nefarious Merchants. Rainbow took a tag off one dead COE soldier. I watched out the corner of my eye and see her clip it with the multitude of others she has taken.

The landscape is as bare as it was when Scar was around. All charred from the Merchant had 'harvested'. Tree's burned and cadaverous, grass scorched from obscure flames, and dead bodies killed from infinitesimal bullets and sharp blades. Rainbow and I had to evade the piles of dead; stepping on the dead is called as 'your next' kind of curse. I remember looking around as the south was a shroud of unadulterated miasma. To the east was luminous, incessant bright orange as they harvested more territory. Around us both were decaying bodies, in piles and alone, as they sat alongside pillars of ash and seared grass. It was warm, for the fires that had yet to die down enveloped our emotional souls. I looked up to the sky, as it was once akin to a robin egg it now is condemned to an impermeable, dingy overcast. Smells of coagulated soot, flesh, and palpable effects of ruminating awareness;  the once alluring lands fall to the inevitable fact that these parts are to be never emancipated from the Satanic grip of the Merchants. Along the way to the citadel was a small, white orchid in an unblemished square of grass. It was as white as the snow that never fell in these savannas. It looked like a sign of hope that the area will not be our fate. Even closer to Pride Rock was a long row of new flowers, poppies. They serve as a reminder of a land ridden with inhabitants who loved the bodies along our route. Even if the reader would count the poppies the amount would equal each causality, for what are ours and theirs. I bended down to the barbituric, scarlet poppy and I plucked it and offer it to the reader. So that it might present the reader that not all is lost when it seems to melancholy and dry. That life may continue as all sentient life was, is, and will be irradiated or dies off under the iron machines of the nefarious Merchants.

The vista of Pride Rock broke through the haze of the South. Amazingly, it was untouched by the dastardly deeds of the Merchants. I pressed into my ear to try and raise a signal. "Anyone receiving this?" A rush of gunfire came blasting from behind me, both Rainbow and I rotated. A single lioness came bursting through the brambles. "Vitani?"

The tan lioness burst though the fauna above us. She rolled down the hill, tumbling all the way down. Instant reaction came so I ran to her side, blame war. She looked up at me; in her electric blue eyes she started to weep. "You okay?" I never really knew much about her, she was a shareholder in the first year of the COE's start-up. She was holding 35% of the company. Still to this day she is still charming to my eyes.

She shot up into the air, and fell back to the sod plot she started on. "The king has relocated; I was on his guard duty for the king. I... I shirked my obligation, shit!" The lioness rolled over and look to the hill she dropped down. My boots were sinking into a puddle of clay. Rainbow knelt down to where Vitani laid and looked over her paw, a large gash cut into the side of it. She pulled open a field kit. Rainbow pulled an antiseptic towelette from the ebony satchel. "Here, this may hurt...” Rainbow was interrupted by a long string of fire hurling toward us. Across the savanna was Uniform, military slang for 'unknown'. "Ambush!" Vitani screamed and slid under the cover of the clay, lying in the brown mud. Rainbow ducked under a fallen tree. I hit the ground and started to 'spray and pray'.

Vitani started to breath heavy. I took a break in my fire to peek around the corner to see the fire force. I fumbled around and took out my field goggles and looked into the two, azure lenses. What I saw made me almost faint. "Hold fire!" I pressed to my ear. I couldn't believe this shit, a Charlie Foxtrot going on here.  

"This is Delta sergeant, Hainly, who is across the field firing at a medical squad?" I light flicker of laughing came along. "Shit, I thought you were demoted to Latrine Queen, Hainly!" I stood up and waved my middle finger in the air. "Fuck you man and your Black Trashcans!" Black trashcans are a name for the Onyx Guard, they are overly armored and rarely ever fight; still they are cocky as fucking teenage prom queen. The group across the way was an Onyx Guard unit known for getting the first kills on E-Day, Romeo One. Legends in the COE for their actions on E-Day, they enacted the Hammer of Dawn Counterattack; they were the ones who pulled the trigger that vaporized Ground Zero and over two million civilians. Now they are snooping in the Pridelands... looking to do it all over again.

"Everyone calm down, Chase? Is that you?" A voice yelled over the transmission wave to my earpiece. I knew that voice immediately, like it was my brother's voice. It was a Russian human, Spencer Dubov. Spencer was the first test in the Genetic Realigning Initiative. He is able to form into a lion and a human at his will. "We have news for your comrade, Starshina Hainly." I looked over at Vitani, "Speak..." I was told what I needed to and relayed it to the lioness.

1512 hours

I was seated next to Spencer and a shaking Vitani. Across the way, Rainbow Dash was giving medical aid to King Simba and his mate. "So how the hell did this happen?" I looked over the king; he smiled at me as I gave him a sorrowful look. "We found his majesty on the tip of Pride Rock. We were waiting for evac and you." Spencer nodded to Vitani. I pulled her close to me and readjusted her fur tuft on her head. She pushed as I tore into her knots. She gave me an unsatisfied look with her electric blue eyes. Still she shook her head. "But, everyone said the Merchants took over the whole rock!" While she thought to herself Spencer shot up, and yelled about 'incoming'. Spencer loaded up and yelled in Russian to his Onyx squad as they began to whine about moving. Jesus, they are damn babies! Rainbow stopped in her procedure, I shook my head, and Rainbow continued unwrapping the gauze. I turned back to Vitani.

"How you doing?" She started to chuckle. "Feels like the worst jet lag and hangover combined. But I'm still kicking..." She looked down at her winded body, "kind of." I felt sorry for her. To abandon her service is akin to kill the president. Only I thing I could do is talk to Simba, or give her false comfort. I barely knew the king, only by word of mouth. Vitani I knew more intimately, sort of; I met her in various meeting with the princesses and the shareholders of the COE.  Ever since I seen her, my eyes were branded on her, whenever she would come by, my eyes stared. I could not stop even as I sat aside her. Once again, I pulled her close. Her trust would not be so open if the only one who could help her right then would save her from her own execution. Execution is the answer to leaving the Simba behind.

"Hey, I'll talk to him. See if I can change his mind, ya' know?"  Her face lit up like Times Square. The lioness leaped on me and locked her arms around me. Tears rushed down her face, ones of joy not terror this time. I wanted to hug her back but seeing the fact that fraternization was an executable repercussion, I decide that the best thing to do was to let her have her moment. My whole physical person was what it took not to squeeze her back. I thought she was never going to let go (which would have been fine with me), until a hoof fell on my back. Rainbow pointed over to where Simba was nodding off at. I acknowledged the mare with a quick nod. I placed my hands on Vitani, non-professionally, for the first time just then. Her grip was exact tightness of a vice; using my plate armor, I was able to pry her away and tell her I was going and that I would be back soon. She smiled at my unconscious attempt to flirt with her. I stumbled over the awaiting monarch, my armor began to come off after Vitani let go which faltered my step.

Not less than a minute I was in front of the tan, fit lion. He motioned to a seat beside his own. Before doing anything I gave him a full salute. Holding, like I was trained, until he told me to 'restrain' myself. The king let out a roaring laugh. The force of his antic almost knocked my equilibrium sideways, almost but not quite. "As you were, so! Chase, what seems to be the reason to welcome your serendipitous coming? To save me... or perhaps you've come with a challenge." I plopped down on the seat me showed me before, why was I here? Ah fuck, why am I here? Oh yes!

  

So I sat there for about ten minutes relaying the official instructions handed down by my very own Control informants: Lotus and Fluttershy. The two girls who never sleep. They lay awake in front of a screen with a headset on. Simba hunched over and rubbed his neck; I stopped and scratched at mine. He leaned into the fire that was burning before us. Rainbow made it when she had to cauterize a wound for a soldier. For the most of the time I didn't even dare look to the king’s eyes as I passed the instructions to him. I was originally going to reach him over GoToMeeting. Even though I came here for two different reasons, it's amazing that my brain didn't melt over the information overload.

"Let me get this straight, the COE is moving from our lands next week. That is calamitous, and this came from Command? How do they expect do the princesses expect us to safeguard ourselves? Don't answer that, it's rhetorical! Do me a favor and get me a line to Command!"

I blinked, "With all respect—your illustriousness, I can't even radio into to Rainbow and she is ten feet away! I'm sure if I can even get reception with the jammers from the Merchants." He shot me a fierce expression. "Then if you won't try, the Equestrian Compendium Canon, since you’re in my sovereignty I can command you to destroy the jammers and then report back to me. Make a choice, sergeant; try or find the jammers, it's ultimately your decision."

The supreme kick in the balls, the damn amendment number seventy-four of the damn Compendium Canon! The Compendium Canon is the origin and first document made by the Originals-- Chancellor Puddinghead, Princess Platinum, Commander Hurricane, and their secondary. Highlighting all the laws of Equestria and pertaining to its allies. It was created after the attack of the Grey Legionaries. They were the worshipers of the wendigo. They were the first enemies of Equestria, then poof they left, even as they were winning. They are pony version of the Illuminati. Anyways, number seventy-four highlights if a soldier of the guard is abroad they must obey the leader of that territory, but Equestrian orders must come first.

I stood up and motioned over to Rainbow Dash, she slid over to me. I told her the orders from Simba. She pulled a small metallic disk from her pocket. It was a satellite receiver, I hoped it would work. I pressed my receiver number into it and the number for Command. I waited. It hummed. Simba started.

The line came in, "This is Control, anything you need sergeant?" It was a light and sweet voice emanating from the disk's circular speakers. I moved back aside of Simba. Rainbow sat adjacent from the disk. Static came in and out intermittently. "Hey Fluttershy, can I get to Command?" She patched me though and a new voice came into the camp. A rough stallion as I hear in the mess hall.

"Blueblood," was all the voice said. I shook off the fear for requesting Celestia. "It's Coalition of Ordered Equines Staff Sergeant Chase Hainly, requesting official contact of Princess Celestia and/or Luna. Orders obeying from Number Seventy-Four by His Majesty Simba." The line crackled and breathing could be heard. Then I was connected to the leaders of Equestria.  

Chapter 2

Eight miles from Pride Rock; 1543 hours

 

"Office of the Moon, what is the news?" I laid my hands out to the disk and let Simba get the head start. He rolled his neck and stretched, "Luna, it's Simba. I cannot believe you dare do this to us." I interjected with a split second decision. "Your highness, Staff Sergeant Hainly, I was ordered to contact you. Please, this was under number seventy-four..."

Luna soothed my nervousness. "I understand soldier, you have served your country well. In all condolences, Simba this was not our call. We don't have control. Its all military now." A look of anger stung Simba's face. "Perjury!" He snapped. "Apparently, you misconceive the entire dilemma. The Coalition forced the Tarot to declare martial law. They used scare and pressure tactics to make them differ. We—as leaders of Equestria— were unable to contain the population. The military took control and refuse to release it. It was a coup." The truth stung in a serious ways; I was a military leader, I knew the truth. Nonetheless it still hurt to admit it. "Are you suggesting..." I caught him in mid breath: "That someone in the ranks make the judgement to suspend all militant assistance until we focus on Equestria's own flanks... sir."

  The blue princess nodded vigorously. She cleared her throat and spoke again. "Perhaps you need to call and confer with your superior before committing to any hasty choices, Hainly. Luna out." The display died down to the burnt soil. She knew my name! Simba started to yell and get others to do random things. Seaming as though he was taking anger out externally. Sincerely, I would be to if my county was just sentenced to obliteration.  I was shoved by his soldiers following orders. Simba pointed his claw at me. "You! Get the hell out of my land or so help me I'll make burning at the stake look like a goddamn enjoyable time compared to what could happen!" Rainbow Dash readied her gun and loaded up at the threat. I put my hand up. "We mean no harm to you. We are here to help." A helicopter landed behind us. Simba gave a grim smile. "Not anymore, get on the bird or I'll shoot you."

   I walked back to the transport. Simba crossed the line, but I can understand him. Vitani watched Rainbow and I get into the crew bay. I swear I saw tears in her pool colored eyes, the door closed and we were lifted into the atmosphere. I pressed my Tac/Com in and reached out to Control: "Shy? You heard all of that?" The line cracked; "Yeah, I got it all recorded. Do you want me to report it to Command?" I sighed before I responded. "No, he has the right to be angry with us. He didn't want to show how scared he was, don't worry I'm fine. I believe it was Sun Tzu who coined the phrase 'the supreme art of war is to subdue without fighting'.” Static buzzed in my ear. Sounds of war crackled in on occasions-- sounds of the helpless about to die, somewhere. I itched my right hands knuckles. Below, the ground parted as we sliced through the air. The chopper was rocking it's lullaby peacefully. As peaceful as a military chopper could be. Then we here hit.

MacIntosh Hills/San Palomino Desert border; 1613 hours

The ground shook underneath me as I laid on the remaining steel floor. My eyes crept open slowly as I awoke from unconsciousness. My head strung in the back. All I remember is the jolt and hitting something solid. That would explain my sore head. I felt for a crack or lump. I pulled a sticky mat of blood from my cranial gash. I goaned at the pain. A heavy object landed on my other arm. I looked over and seen the copilot spitting blood from his mouth and nose. I rolled my arm out from under his dying figure. Grunting due to the pain, I flopped onto my back and stared into the jumbled distance; my head injury caused my double vision to return.

Two crouched forms were behind the blown open cockpit. “Left, two tangos. One with LongShot and one with a Rail!” Rainbow Dash ran back to me and tapped on my Tac/Pad. My armor and I felt a small chill creep down my spinal cord. My back sting like hell for a second. Chilled pain ran like slush through my veins. The heat dampener switched on.

She clambered back to the devastated cockpit. The rounds of fire were blind. My vision cleared enough to see the cockpit. The copilot fashioned a Viper SMG and shot from behind the dashboard. Rainbow, aside him, shot her Lancer into the dark outside. What are they covering? Who? I blinked and grabbed the burning sensation on my crown. I lifted myself up with a propped elbow. I felt the rock of the ground below me. Vibrations ran threw it like an earthquake knocking me off balance. "Who are you covering?" I shouted over the gunfire. A spray of blood blasted into the cockpit. "The pilot, he is getting the radio. It flew out of the Sparrow when we crashed."