Equestria in Conflict - Discovering Home

Four hours earlier...

Outside the city of Baltimare, Equestria

Tacit Shadow, leader of Changeling Sub-Group #28, trudged wearily across the field, towards the pony city of Baltimare. Even at a distance of twenty kilometers, he could easily see that the rest of the Changeling army had already arrived in the south end of the city, and had pushed all the way to the city center.

Frankly, Tacit was surprised they accomplished even that. There weren't enough expert fighters in the Changeling Hives to provide adequate training to most of the army, so when they did gather, he had seen the results. About 60% of the entire Changeling Army was like this. Royal Guards were easily able to overpower most of them, while only the Special Groups such as his, the Air Groups (all of whom had to be able to use magic), and the Guard Units were able to achieve good results on the battlefield without major casualties. The majority of Changelings had little to no armor, while units such as his were often given it based on personal choice. Tacit himself went with light and medium armor parts, for the sake of mobility.

He was hoping his unit could turn part of the tide of the battle. He had already relayed news of his arrival to the Hive Mind, and gotten a positive response from Chrysalis, who in turn asked him to report to her at the Changeling's temporary base to the south of the city.

And so, after eight hours of traveling over the Everfree from Canterlot with the remainder of his group, in the middle of the night, he had reached the fields outside Baltimare. He had immediately landed with the rest of his tired group once they were out of danger from every living thing in that cursed forest, his insect-like wings feeling like someling had pulled on them with a pair of pliers.

"When are we gonna be there? Someling thought it important that we didn't sleep!" One of the Changelings in back complained, direction the comment towards Tacit.

"It was your choice to fly with us or perish on the ground in the Everfree." Tacit replied to the Changeling. "Remember your choices, or you shall be reminded of them."

The group descended into silence once more, as they continued their trek towards the city.

Tacit Shadow entered the tent where Queen Chrysalis was. After dropping the rest of the group upon entering the camp, he had, per instruction, proceeded directly to her tent for the orders she was sure to give. He may have been very tired, but Tacit felt he was ready to take on any threat to the Changelings.

"Good Day, Sub-Group #28 Commander." His queen said from the other side of the tent as he gave a small bow. "Do you have them?"

"Yes, Queen Chrysalis." Tacit replied as he rose, levitating a small bag with several scrolls in it to Chrysalis.

"Good." His Queen said with a smile. "I have need of you for a special task in Baltimare."

"What is this task that you have?" The Changeling asked. Normally, he would speak in a more modern tone, but in both his command and in the presence of Chrysalis, the more formal language was needed.

"It is simple." Chrysalis replied. "The ponies are about to continue their advance into the city. I need you to take Changeling Smallunit #21 into the underground tunnels. Maps, of course, shall be provided. If we collapse part of the undercity water tunnels, we can sabotage any effort to move around in them."

"Where do I meet my command?" Tacit asked.

"They will be waiting outside the tent in two minutes. I see that you are as observant as the commanders of my army tell me." Chrysalis noted. "The map is on the table to your left."

"Thank you, my Queen." Tacit replied. Sure enough, several rolled-up scrolls were on said table. After sorting through them, he was able to find the one that marked the entrance they would use, as well as provided the path he would take once underground.

That being accomplished, he stepped outside of the tent, willing to shrug off his fatigue if it would benefit the Swarm. He was well-fed, both emotionally and physically, and he had gotten a good sleep before the attack the previous night. He was ready.

Tacit Shadow walked forward, willing himself to ignore the weight on his back. Before the group of four he commanded had left, they had all been given packs of a basic explosive that an alchemist had made. He called it 'black terror', but all Tacit had seen was a silver-black mix of a powder that, apparently, ignited violently when on fire. He had also been given lengths of rope, as well as instructions to have the rope on the bottom, or the sparks would ignite it prematurely.

In short, to avoid being blown back all the way to the Hive, he was to avoid all situations where he could die. Thankfully, he had been told that the rope burned almost invisibly, so at least nobody would think anything of an occasional orange glow if they stumbled on it.

The other four Changelings he had been put in charge of all had the Cyan Stripes as well, and all remained quiet and mission-focused as they followed a careful path underground. It was much better than his last team. They had been good, but much too talkative for his tastes.

Looking down at the map he held in a green glow, he turned a last corner, walked forward twenty feet, and then stopped in a area of the tunnel that widened, with a large flat area on the catwalk and several pillars that seemed to be holding the roof of it up.

"The map says here." Tacit said to the four Changelings. "Place the explosive devices by the pillars."

Tacit levitated the one on his back to the pillar, getting out the length of cord and attaching it to the wooden barrel.

"Remember to leave the fuses on the bottoms." Tacit said as a reminder, lighting his horn and preparing to ignite the fuse.

"Are you ready?" He asked the others.

"Yes sir." One replied, while the others simply nodded.

"Good." Tacit said, lighting his fuse while the others did the same. "Let's get back to the surfa-"

He cut off as he and the others stared at what had come around the corner. Lo and behold, it was two ponies - two of the Elements, at that - and three of the 'Humans' he had been briefed about.

"Oh fuck..." One of them said as Tacit put up a shield.

Present

Waterline U7, Baltimare, Equestria

"Oh fuck..." John said as he dived behind a pillar, followed by the others seeking cover. Several green bolts lanced through the space they had been in and impacted the wall of the tunnel, sending out splashes of green fire.

John leaned around the corner and Wesley and Anton did the same, opening fire with their weapons. However, John noticed the faint simmer that marked a shield where the rounds hit.

"Shield! Twilight!" John barked out.

Twilight Sparkle jumped out from behind cover, producing a shield of her own. She shot a massive bolt through it, dissipating the shield. By that point, three of the Changeling had turned to run after one of them had shouted something.

"Wesley, you're with me! We need to chase them down. All of them had those marking the officers had." John said as he cut one of the remaining two Changelings down. "Twilight, Rainbow, and Anton, you need to complete the sweep. Go!"

With that, all of them rushed forward as the last Changeling who stayed behind was killed by a burst of gunfire.

None of them noticed the barrels, or the slowly burning fuses.

"Retreat back! Our job is done!" Tacit said as the projectiles from the 'Humans' cascaded into his shield, weakening it.

"We shall hold them off." Two of the Changelings said simultaneously, signaling through the Hive Mind that they wished to stay behind.

Tacit acknowledged them as he retreated, along with two others. His job was done, and being killed alone in this tunnel would not do the Hive any good.

He quickly accessed the nearest exit through the Hive Mind: A skyscraper lobby. It was close to the frontline, but it would have to do for now. He frowned as first one, and the then second Changeling that had stayed behind 'went silent'. They had disappeared from the Hive Mind, and were likely dead.

Tacit willed himself to run faster, but knew it would not be enough. He had to reach the surface before they caught up to them, and fast! He could hear their rapid hoofsteps behind him, and could only hope he made it.

John ran forward, chasing the dim shapes he recognized as the Changelings. He and Wesley had sprinted forward, leaving the others behind to continue the sweep. He didn't know precisely why he chose to chase them down, but John figured that one of them might have information he could use.

That is, if his assumption about the cyan stripes on armor was true.

Ahead, he spotted the three Changelings turn and race into a side passage. He slowed down and paused, checking around the corner to see them racing up a staircase that curved sharply right near the top. Wesley raced beside him, and together they both ran up the steps, gaining on the Changelings with every second.

He could hear the sounds of battle up ahead, from the top, and assumed they were going to the surface. John brought his rifle up as the staircase turned, ready for anything.

'Damn it!' Tacit mentally shouted as they reached the surface. The two other Changeling, who were ahead of him at that point, were cut down by a unicorn the instant they exited out into the lobby of the skyscraper. He had quickly formed a magical bolt and fired it, killing the unicorn guard.

The building wasn't near the frontline: The skyscraper was the frontline.

Looking around, he quickly spotted a staircase and ran towards it. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the 'Humans' emerging from the staircase and spotting him, but he no longer cared. He just needed to get out, and fast.

As John emerged into what looked like a lobby, he noticed a massive battle right outside the doors.

Apparently, the ponies were advancing.

Several bodies lay on the ground, including two of the Changelings and a unicorn. He noticed the last one running towards a staircase, presumably to go up.

"Wesley, to the staircase!" John shouted.

"Don't have to tell me twice!" His friend replied as they reached it, racing up after the Changeling.

Tacit raced out of the third level exit. The Changeling could hear the 'Humans' behind him, following him. Tacit didn't dare teleport: He was just as likely to be in the open as he was inside an object, and he would have to pause to do it anyway.

Tacit spotted what looked like a bridge between his building and the one across the street. In desperation, he angled for the glass and metal construct. It looked rather unstable, with only a support reaching from the middle to the street to hold it up, but Tacit was willing to take any chances. He knew he wouldn't last a second against the Humans, no matter how skilled he was.

He was halfway across when he bangs. Looking around at the other end, he watched as the charges he had placed underground went off.

Right underneath a tall building a block away.

John and Wesley surged across the skyway between the two buildings when they heard a boom. The Changeling was about twenty meters away as John looked behind him, eyes widening in horror.

"Run!" John said, spurning them to cross to the other side as the Changeling continued to run. John kept looking behind him as he watched it unfold.

A tall building a block away started to collapse downward and sideways, leaning towards the building they were in. They smashed together, steel and stone crunching and snapping as glass rained down. The other half of the skyway fell as the other building was smashed apart, debris and rubble raining down on the street.

"Come on!" Wesley shouted, shaking John out of his trance. "We have to keep going!"

John noticed that he was lying on the ground. Shakily moving to his feet, he switched roles to following Wesley, as they continued chasing the Changeling.

Tacit rushed over fallen debris and through collapsed walls. The entire building had bee fought through in the fighting several days ago, while more recent damage showed in the fresh bodies that littered the ground, of both ponies and Changelings.

'[Queen Chrysalis!]' He shouted through the Hive Mind.

"[What happened to the rest of your team, Commander Tacit Shadow?]" Chrysalis replied in question for a moment later.

'[All dead! The tunnels are down, though. Where is the nearest force to me? I am being chased by the Humans!]'

"[One block to the south. I cannot have my best Special Group Commander die just yet.]"

With that, he felt the connection cut off. He knew he couldn't fly very, with the cloud layer a mere one hundred feet above the ground. If he went in the street, he would be slaughtered by the ponies. However, he had one trick left to prevent that.

Gathering his magic all over his form, he charged at the wall ahead of him, just as the Humans burst into the room behind him. His body glowed bright as green fire ran along it, forming a solid shield around his hooves as he raced downward, hitting the ground with massive force and leaving a crater in the stone.

Tacit quickly formed a shield as he ran towards the Changelings on the other side of the street. Bolts, both magic and otherwise, impacted his shield, but he held it up as he crashed through a window hooves-first, quickly slowing to a stop. Around him, he could see dozens of Changelings paying him no heed. He was anonymous among his own kind once more, and was free to return to the camp.

The Changeling released the breath he didn't realize he was holding, letting out a sigh. He had taken many risks in his career, but this was the second time in a day he had come close to death. Above all, he was grateful to be alive.

John rushed forward as he looked over the edge where the Changeling had jumped. He noticed it impact the ground and jump forward, unharmed. Cursing, John raised his rifle and opened fire, only to see his rounds his nothing but a shield. Four seconds later, the Changeling was inside the building, and with it his chance and finding any information.

"Damn it." John hissed.

"Less talking, more fighting!" Wesley said as he started firing on the Changeling below.

John ignored the thoughts on the edge of his brain, losing himself in the simple process of firing his AEK-971. He lined the sights of the weapon up on a black shape in a window. With a sudden bang, the black shape dropped, a fine green spray the only reminder of it being there.

Tacit Shadow walked back into the Changeling camp, exhausted. After finally escaping from the battle, he had left the city in time to see the near full collapse of the Changeling Army. Reinforcements were being rushed past him into the city, but it was a near certainty that they would lose the downtown area, and with it the entire city.

Banks of clouds still covered much of the city, although they were slowly dissipating in the midsummer sun. Through the clearing sky, he could see the damaged city, remnants of skyscrapers and buildings dotting the skyline. Above all of it, he could hear one sound.

Cheering.

The ponies had taken the initiative, there was no doubt about that. Tacit did not know how the situation was in other cities, but he assumed that it could not be worse.

Reaching the tent he had been assigned, he sighed, laying down on a cot within. His entire team, save for him, had been killed today. Tomorrow, they would assign him another team, another group. But it would all be the same. It was only the afternoon, but Tacit had to wonder.

How much would change while he would be asleep?

-=-=-

Several tents away, Queen Chrysalis looked out of her quarters, at the city. There was no doubt on her mind: Her invasion had failed. Nontheless, her contingency operation would succeed. What the ponies had failed to realize was that, before they had fully secured Silent Though, the Changeling she had sent to assassinate the Princesses and the Elements, she had gathered the information from his mind. She knew what had happened on the Human's world, as well as what they had experienced there.

And she knew that if she could go back, she could gain powerful allies, enough to change the course of the war. If they had to retreat, if the land of the Appaloosan Desert stood at her back, she would do it. For the good of all under her care, both Changeling and otherwise, she had to succeed.

Her failure would mean her death.

John sat down in a room with Twilight and the rest of the group. It was merely the afternoon, but the group felt they needed a small rest before they pushed on. John, Wesley, and Twilight Sparkle sat together, as did Rainbow Dash and Anton.

After the failure to reach the Changeling, John and Wesley had met up with the two ponies and Anton as they climbed out of the tunnel via a different exit: Right in the middle of a street. Apparently, they had been trapped underground by the explosion, and Rainbow Dash had used some of her explosives to blast through the roof.

John was thankful that they were alive, and that the advance had gone as planned, but something tugged on the back of his mind. If anything, the Changeling he had fought seemed willing to fight to the death. None had call an outright retreat as that one had, and John felt that he was probably missing something important.

Eventually, he decided, it had to have something to do with the Cyan marking on their armor. That was what set them apart, other than the fact that they wore extensive armor, backed up by greater fighting skill. He would have to ask one of the Changelings in the guard. In the meantime, the group settled back, waiting to resume their advance forward. Only time could tell what would happen, but John knew one thing applied to his brain.

If it told him something was wrong, bad things were due to happen.