Celestia stepped through the gate and stepped onto the ramp of the SGC’s gateroom, two mounted machine guns were pointed at the gate, one was controlled by a royal guard and the other and uniformed human.

At the bottom of the ramp a man in dirty military clothing waited for her.

“Princess Celestia, Welcome back to earth”

Celestia walked down to him following Maria who was already standing at the base of the ramp waiting “Lieutenant Wesk, I trust that everything is prepared?”

The man nodded as the gate closed and the rest of the ponies stepped down to join their princesses “Yes, there's a M577 waiting for you on the surface to take you to Novas Colorado”

He turned to Maria “Major Santiago” he held his hand out which she shook “I’ve heard alot about you, Is it true you’ve got a witch in your head?”

“Reformed Witch and yes its true”

The man nodded and turned back to Celestia who was now standing next to her sister “I wish we could talk some more by we only have a small window of opportunity to get you through the Sound bearer unnoticed” he walked over to the blast door and they quickly followed.

The hallway beyond was filled with both Royal guard and human military personnel going about their business, Lieutenant Wesk had to shout to get them to clear a path for them.

“We’ll stop by the armoury before you go, I assume your team has had training with firearms”

“Yes we have” Luna replied.

“Good, Major I think your uniforms still in your locker so you might want to get changed and meet us at the armoury”

Maria nodded and took off down a different hallway leaving the ponies with the lieutenant
______________________________________________________________________________

The locker room was empty when Maria arrived and she wasted no time walking over to her locker and entering her code into combination lock, inside was both her base and off world uniforms, her sidearm and three pictures, the first was a group photo of Her, Wisp, Griff, Williams and Simmons few months before Griff, Wisp were killed.

The second was another group shot with the same people but with three more people, Romerize, Joraot and Hanson and a metal creature, Reppy...

The fourth was a picture of Caroline when she had been young, the girl was probably twenty by now.

Maria dug out her off world cloths and began to change, folding her equestrian cloths and placing them neatly in her locker and strapping her side arm to her side, she had one more empty holster for a Zat which she was going to have to pick up from the armoury.

She took the pictures off the Locker door and sliped them into her breast pocket and sealed the velcro strap of her flack vest.

WHEELER!

Maria instantly dropped to one knee and raised her P90 a the source of the sound, crawling down the wall like a spider was Replicator.

This Replicator was the usual Metallic grey but had yellow stripes all over its body.

Maria kept her weapon leveled for a few more seconds then dropped it and smiled happily “Reppy!”

The Replicator dropped down and rushed over to her, rubbing itself against her leg like a cat wheering and chirping happily “Ok Ok its good to see you too” she held her arm out and allowed the Replicator to climb up it and rest on her back like a backpack.

Reppy was one of a large number of Replicators who had left with another group of Asgard together to try and coexist, the Replicators had intentionally disabled their programing regarding Replicating and no longer had a hive mind, instead each Replicator was an individual and to distinguish one from another they had painted themselves with different patterns and colours, they had been given names and even had little families where they could had a baby replicator, thats how Reppy and Sg22 had met.

The Asgard and Replicator who had began to call themselves the Union had set up a small colony on a small world just on the fringes of the Milky way, they had already made contact with earth for some time and earth had agreed to help them set up the colony, three years ago the Lucian alliance had learned about the colony and wanted both the Asgard and Replicator technology to use for themselves, they invaded the colony in a single alkesh and demanded that the asgard and Replicators serve them, the Union Replicators were low in number due to not having the need to replicate so rapidly and were outnumbered 4 to 1, but that didn't stop them or the asgard who fought the Alliance soldiers with everything they had.

they managed to get a message to Get a message to the nearby passing HMS Hood which was transporting SG teams 22,3 and 12, the Hood set course and arrived two hours later, all three SG teams beamed down and killed every remaining alliance trooper and capturing thier Alkesh, but it was too late for the colonists.

______________________________________________________________________________

Maria looked at the devastation around her, bodys of asgard and replicator blocks were strewn across the ground and most of the building were either destroyed or badly damaged and on fire, it was night and the remains of the colony was illuminated by the flicker of fires.

They had cleared out the last of the Alliance basterd an hour ago and were searching for any survivors and collecting the dead, The Alliance had used captured ARGs so there was no chance of reviving the dead Replicators.

Maria barged open the door and a half collapsed building and used her torch to scan the room, the building was a Replicator dwelling, probably a replicator pair judging by the two piles of replicator blocks, they were probably hiding together when they were killed.

She kneeled down and picked up a single block “Poor bastards” she muttered under her breath.

A noise under a pile of rubble drew her attention and she shined her torch at it, slowly walking over avoiding the rubble, there was a faint wheerling sound was emanating from under a fallen table and Maria lowered her head to the floor and looked under.

Cowering near the wall was a small Replicator with yellow stripes.

“It must have been the dead replicators kid” Maria thought”

The young replicator moved further back against the wall in fear, wheering faintly.

“It’s ok little guy, I’m not going to hurt you”

The Replicator lifted one leg up and moved if half way forward but pulled it back and continued cowering “No dont be scared, why don't you come out of there”

The Replicator put one leg forward, then another, and finaly it was out from under the toppled table and looking up at her cherping fearfully and Maria held out her hand for the small metal creature to climb onto.

She took the thing outside and walked over to Wisp, the young replicator trying to hide behind her arms.

______________________________________________________________________________

They had named the Replicator Reppy and he’d decided to stay with them becoming a valuable member of the team.

Maria got weird looks from humans and ponies around her as she walked by, mostly staring at Reppy who was chirping happily at being reunited with his friend.

Maria adjusted the straps on her vest, It felt good to be back in uniform again, actually doing something for a change.

*I thought this lil guy was still on PPX-2298*

“He got back a week before my last mission, The general asked if he could stay behind to help with some upgrade the base’s dialing software”

*Oh, he can hear me right?”

Reppy prodded marias back and inclined his main body in confusion “yes he can, I’ll explain later Reppy”

They came up to the door leading to the armoury and found the ponies wearing kevlar vests , Luna and Stonewell had picked up an M60 and had a saddlebag on each side to carry fresh ammo and ammo drums.

Celestia had picked up a Scar assault rifle and a zat, both of which were either holstered or slung over her shoulder.

The twins had two handguns strapped to their sides but Featherweight had also picked up a Staff, which had a strap attached to both ends of the weapon.

Spitfire had a MP5 with and added red dot sight and was in the process of looking it over.

Applejack had oddly picked a M110 sniper rifle.

“looks like everyone’s ready to go” Maria said as she stopped next to Celestia.

“So it would seem” Luna said looking at Maria “What is that on your back?”

“Oh, him?” she turned around to give everypony a good look at Reppy who waved a let at them “This is Reppy, a Replicator and an old friend, He’ll be coming with us to Novas Colorado” Maria frowned as she did a head count of the assembled ponies “Um Princess, where's Solar Flare?”

“My student had already taken a weapon and wanted to see the vehicle we’re going to be riding”

“Well she's not the only one, I've never even heard of a M577 before”

“That's because it was only built three months ago” Wesk said as he came round the corner “You ever watch the Aliens movies?”

*“yea?”* both Maria and Red asked “What about them”

“You remember the apc that the marines use?” she nodded “Well one of the guys up in the garage build one and we’ve been using it to transport people and ponies to Novas Colorado” Wesk turned around “Now if you'll follow me we have a tight schedule”

______________________________________________________________________________

Fifteen minutes later they were locked in the safety harness of the APC’s and off towards Novas Colorado, the Lieutenant had warned that recent flash floods along much of the route had destroyed of the bridges.

It was night by then and without power in the town the street lights were out and there were more stars visible then there had ever been before.

Most of the trip had been spent with Celestia and Luna talking to each other, Solar Flare Staring at Reppy in wonder, The Twins, Steel Hoof and Spitfire having a game of charades and Applejack cleaning her newly acquired M110.

"Hey Applejack" the orange mare looked up from her work "I was wondering, why a sniper"

"Pardon?"

"I mean I didn't take you as a sniper type of pony"

Applejack shrugged "While ah was recovering Celestia let me try out some of the weapons the guard brought back, ah preferred this weapon to the others"

"Ok girls and boys were an half and hour out" one of the APC's crew called back "Its about to get a little bumpy so hold on back there"

True to his word the APC began to shake and bounce around and everyone had to brace themselves against their seats, this continued for a few minutes until the the vehicle slowed to a stop.

Maria leaned forward "What's going on up there?"

The driver and the forward gunner unlocked their harness and made there way to the door "There's some cars blocking the way, think you can give us a hand (or hoof)?"

The they all unlocked there harnesses and got up and out after the two men, the top gunner was controlling the APC's top gun keeping an eye out for infected, they were just inside the town now in the middle of a street, the area was clear but Maria doubted it would stay that way "Red, you getting anything?"

*There are infected but not close enough to do any harm, but I don't know how long that will last*

"Ok thanks, Red says we're clear but not for long" She walked over to a car with its door open, reached in and took off its brakes "Applejack give me a hoof with this" the orange mare walked to the right of the car and with some effort from both they managed to get the car out of the way, Celestia had already moved two using magic and the others were busy with the last few.

*I... I remember this place... I hunted here*

"You Ok Red?" Maria asked.

*Yea... just thinking*

"Red you've got to put you past behind you, I know you still blame yourself for what you did but you heard the princess, you were a much as a victim as me and the other Witch's"

*I know I know but I still wonder sometimes, Could I have stopped myself*

"Maria, Come on we're going" Applejack called as the others started getting back in the APC.

"We'll talk about this later Red"

Once they all were harnesses up again they were off on a more smoother ride then before, the other ponies were continuing what they were doing before but Luna had chosen to sit next to Maria while Applejack sat with Celestia, Reppy was hanging from the wall next to Solar Flare who had taken up examining the APC's rear tactical display while Reppy was watching the other four ponies play charades.

Luna nudged Maria "You Ok?"

"Me? yes, but I'm not to sure about Red"

Luna looked at Maria worried "Is she relapsing?"

"No, Its just that she's starting to beat herself up over what she did when she was last here" Maria sighed, Red had fell asleep as soon as they had sat down so she wasn't listening "I know she did some horrible things while she was incontrol and I've not completely forgiven her for them but I hate seeing her like this, I mean she's not said much since she heard we were coming to Earth"

"Though I'm not sure if I can, I'll see i-" the lunar princess was cut off by the vehicle shaking violently.

"SHIT!" the driver shouted "EVERYONE HOLD ON!"

Maria didn't even have a chance to ask why as the APC learched forword and fell.

Maria hit her head against the side of her harness when the APC hit the ground and the last thing she saw was the top gunner falling from is seat before blacking out.

Author's Note

I know there hasn't been much zombie action yet but I promises that the next chapter will contain more, until then bare with me.