Faith and Fire: Divided (Sub-story)

by Diomedes

Chapters

From the skies they came
Living labyrinth
The saints come marching in

From the skies they came

Terran data log entry 2277839769/119/a88-G

...>Scanning segment

...>Decryption initialised

...>Data retrieved

“A house divided against itself cannot stand.” – Abraham Lincoln, June ??, 1800-??(Dating log incomplete/Corrupt data)

Emperor bless armour-glass, thought Phebus as a chunk of debris the size of an attack bike slammed against the bridge of the ‘Victory Pyre’ strike cruiser. Yet, not one crew member, be they Astarte or Serf, so much as flinched as the chunks of twisted metal bounced off the cruisers observation windows. Another, much fainter vibration traveled through the floor of the bridge as the cruisers forward batteries unleashed another volley of torpedo fire at yet another Fellrograd assault frigate. The width of the strike cruisers forward battery was nearly that of its’ prey, seeing the frigate painted bow to stern with torpedo fire. The comparatively thin shielding that covered the frigate buckled and burst like a swollen oil bubble. Not a moment later the torpedoes struck the length of the small vessel, burrowed deep into its hull and detonated with unimaginable fury. The frigate seemed to implode inward for a heartbeat before its’ theatrical destruction, tails of violet immolation and lightning burst across the inky canvas of space, swallowing away the light of every star it touched.

“Barrage at maximum effect, target destroyed.” Droned the vox servitor.

Another peice of ex-frigate slammed against the bridge with the violent sound of tortured metal ringing about its’ interior.

“Have the defensive turrets manned and tasked with breaking up this debris. I want this ships paintwork to last as long as it can.” Phebus ordered to a serf plugged into its’ command chair.

The rhythmic drum of metal on metal signaled another Astarte approaching Phebus from behind him, growing louder until coming to a stop beside him.

“Captain.” Chaplain Morticus said before slamming his fist against his chest in a salute.

The captain gave his black clad brother a quick and less formal salute in return before turning back to the armour-glass that displayed the quickly dissipating death fires of the enemy frigate.

“This is the second raid this week.” The chaplain said as if Phebus hadn't already noticed.

“We always knew uncharted space is festering with smuggling rendezvous and pirate clans. I never thought that so many would stand and fight rather than flee like the rest.”

“The Imperium grows in strength and numbers every day. What you see is the desperate death throes of disorder and cruelty, and such a thing is a cause for great celebration.”

“Can’t say I can fully appreciate the event as you can brother.” Phebus replied, his gaze set on the final sparks of lightning and flame that were thrown from the frigates wreckage.

“Worry not, Captain,” Morticus turned to the communications pillar a few feet away, “I have come to believe that fate is warming us up for something quite magnificent.”

Decimating pirates is hardly a warm up, Thought Phebus. Morticus punched various runes on the comms console and wrenched down a lever to bring up a vox skull to his helmets face grill that was crafted into bone white teeth.

“This is Chaplain Morticus. All enemy vessels have been destroyed, the call to battle stations is lifted as of now.” The chaplain called into the mic, his voice resonating throughout the four kilometers of battleship.

“Haritio here. Weapons systems cooling down. Shield systems on standby. End of assessment.” The Techmarine said over the vox channel in his utterly mechanical, unfeeling voice.

“Looks like we’re done for now.” Phebus said after a long pause, his voice carrying the slightest tone of resentment for the situation that had blown past him, a situation that was drawing him ever closer to the conclusion that this expedition was meant for a lesser species than the Emperors finest.

A splash of oil tainted blood, clotted and rank with age, splashed over the training cages’ steel floor. The training servitor let out a hollow, yet haunting moan, a vocal signal that it had suffered severe damage and systematic fault. It’s bionic augmented body slumped to the cages’ floor in a mess of blood, split tissue and exposed robotics. With a series of quick, controlled breaths Letimitus shook the dead blood from his hands and turned to exit the cage.

“Thirty four seconds, not your best.” Geryn said as his sergeant descended the short set of steel stairs that let the training halls floor. Around him were over one hundred Astartes, mighty warriors that seemed far too quick and agile for such large, muscle-bound creatures. Yet blows were sent out at a staggering rate, locks and grapples were as sooner engaged as they were broken and dodges occurred so fast that it almost seemed some Astartes were in two places at once. On the several dozen sparring squares two space marines were locked in combat, circling one another or retiring to allow another pair to practice their martial skills.

“Better than yours.” Letimitus replied to his brother, who rose from the waiting bench to take his place.

“Maybe, but at least I come back uncut.” Geryn remarked as he gestured to the sergeants arm.

Letimitus looked down to find a wound travelling the width of his large bicep, having wept dark crimson blood before clotting a moment later. Letimitus raised his brow in bemusement, having gone utterly unaware of his wound.

“Here,” Said Nirrinah, handing the sergeant a towel.

He nodded a thanks before wiping the dried blood from his tanned flesh. A sharp crack quickly drew his, and his squads’ attention from nearby. Berlonus, an Astarte with more scar tissue than skin helped up a younger marine who’s face had been transformed into a waterfall of gore. As much as the Astarte would have been fine enough left with his wound, two medi-serfs rushed over to the beaten giant who had to take a knee for the comparatively small androids to patch up his face.

“That brute’ll leave every marine with a broken face by the end of the week if we don’t give him something else to fight.” Nirrinah said in a low voice.

“Demetrio is an honorable brother, he’s just giving as well as he gets.” Letimitus replied.

“Strange how his face looks...well, no worse than usual.”

Demetrio waved over another Astarte who, as confident as his expression was, Letimitus saw the tell-tale signs of tension in his jaw and neck that revealed him as slightly nervous. The sergeant turned and took a seat next to his brethren, dropping his towel to his feet.

“After three weeks of space travel and two pirate assaults I would have been sure we would have stumbled across more than just clusters of asteroid and dust.” Nirrinah exclaimed.

“Our next warp jump is in four hours, I’m sure we’ll spot something soon enough.” Letimitus responded with a sigh.

“The probes still have nothing?”

“Hence the warp jump, brother. Thirty seven seconds.” The sergeant called out as Geryn tore the head off the sparring servitors shoulders, dropping it a second later onto the cold, metal floor.

“Channels are clear, systems are responsive. Gellar field generators are charged and ready for ignition.” The systems operative informed Phebus.

“Good, prepare to initiate jump on my mark. Master Tauron, we’re ready when you are.” Phebus said to the holographic console displaying the face of the Star Lords Chapter Master.

“We are clear for ignition, Captain. All ships, commence warp jump in ten-“

Phebus saw the dozens of serfs and servitors busily tending to their appointed systems, maintaining energy reserves, clearing data stacks and comm channels.

“Seven-“

“All systems primed!” Called out Phebus with whines of confirmation coming from the data pylons.

“Three-“

A vibration hummed through the bridge of the Pyre as the warp drive fired up, unreality charging into the hundreds of energy coils that fed the cruisers titanic engines.

“One, mark!” Barked Tauron.

Phebus echoed the chapter masters order as did the other captains of the fleet. At once the fleet ignited their warp drives and Gellar fields, punching a hole through the fabric of the universe that lay before them. At the bow of each ship a storm of bright, impossible colours surrounding a perfect circle of deepest black burst into existence. The ships were all dragged into the storm and disappeared one after the other, the mighty battle barge being the last to flit out of reality. As soon as the ships had blinked out of existence the rolling hurricanes of colour and madness collapsed and vanished behind them.

After four hours and thirty nine minutes of warp travel the fleet ran out of hypothetical runway. The reaches the edge of the area of space the probes had deemed empty. First to enter real-space was the colossal battle barge, ‘Unrelenting Conquest’. Next, the two strike cruiser ‘Victory Pyre’ and ‘Ghost of Heaven’. Then the Mechanicus cruiser ‘Anvil of Judgement’ and the Sons of Horus destroyer, ‘Helltide’, that were attached to the fleet soared through the sea of stars. Finally the eight escort frigates zipped close beside the larger vessels. Aboard the bridge of the Pyre Captain Phebus rose from his command throne and strode over to the edge of the command platform.

“Sound off all systems!”

“Life support: Operational. Artificial gravity: Operational. Communication systems: Operational. Engine systems: Energy siphons closed, engines cooling. Weapons systems: Operational. Energy cores: Recharging, current energy supplies at 45%.” The ships central computer system responded.

“All ships accounted for, warp jump successful.” Called out a operations serf.

“Right then, open a channel to the Conquest and activate all antennae. See if there’s anything out there.” Phebus said whilst descending through the bridge elevator and striding onto the main deck.

“I don’t think we’ll need to be using our sensors Captain.” Morticus added.

Phebus was about to retort to what he assumed to be the chaplain being unnecessarily and unusually grim until he saw the Astartes triangular, bright orange eye lenses fixed on the observation window. Phebus turned to the gigantic window and immediately found what his brother had meant.

A small, but utterly recognizable pearl of blue, brown and green swam in an ocean of black. Further in the distance of the celestial canvas burnt a vibrant, golden sun. And beside the small gem of a planet sat a silvery sphere, a tiny moon that orbited close to the planet like a child clinging to their mother.

“Chapter master, do you have a visual on this?” Phebus called out into the vox channel.

“Aye, Captain. I can’t say I’m not happy to see somewhere to set down for a couple days. All ships form up, proceed to high orbit and prepare scouting drones.” Replied Tauron.

“Have drop bay five and twenty load a pod and launch it as soon as they can.” Ordered the captain, his eyes still fixed on the newfound planet.

“Let’s see who’s home.”

He used to be somepony. Somepony important, respected and wealthy with a fine house and steady career. Star Gazer was once Canterlots’ most famous astronomer, known all over the city as an expert at all things that swam in the night sky. He had discovered more stars, comets and planets than any other astronomer in all Equestria and was even well known by the princesses. His life was as steady and his reputation as strong as could be. Then the world, his world, had gone to hell. The princesses had disappeared without a trace nor word, yet the sun and moon they had been fabled to have controlled rolled across the sky on their own. Ponies all over the country panicked, many even becoming outraged at the prospect of the princesses’ powers being an enormous hoax. The elements of harmony had lost their power as their wielders had confronted one another over their different opinions on how to fulfill the empty thrones the alicorns had left behind.

The stubborn and brash Applejack had declared the regal sisters liars and usurpers, and had fled to the far west to establish her own territory. The once kind and gentle Fluttershy had soured and grown cruel after witnessing the chaos that was unravelling and had taken up residence in the Everfree forest to live as a savage. The once generous Rarity had become poisoned by greed and now reigned over the city of Manehattan with her web of scheme and lies. Rainbow Dash had fuelled her temper and sense of bravado to elevate her to the position of a supreme commander of a legion of pegasi fascists. Pinkie Pie had disappeared, either fleeing the violence or (as some had whispered) killed by one of the other element bearers, yet recently word had begun to spread of a strange cult promoting laughter and joy in the most twisted of ways in the darker corners of the continent. And finally the once star pupil of Celestia herself, Twilight sparkle had raised her own army in defence of the unicorn race and had enslaved all pegasi and earth ponies foolish enough to remain in the east of the country.

Star Gazer had felt a fool for twelve years.

Twelve years ago the princesses had disappeared and twelve years the madness and genocide had spread and grown in potency. And like the millions of other ponies across Equestria that had been caught in the crossfire, Star Gazers’ life had plummeted into a pit of despair and fear. He remembered the day the Moon and Star legionnaires had stormed his house and the houses of a thousand other non-unicorns who had been stupid enough to attempt to cling to their lives in Canterlot. ‘The House of Moon and Star has decreed you serve your city, and its rulers, in whatever way you may serve best’, they had said to him as they dragged him from his bedroom, down his stairs and into a transport carriage along with a dozen other non-unicorns.

Soon after being relocated into a ‘Work camp’ Star Gazer had had his mane shaved clean off, his cutie mark surgically removed and replaced by an artificial one in the form of a set of shackles. From that day onward he knew his fate was sealed to be a slave to a house ruled by soulless nobles and mad scientists. He had endured day after day of sitting in front of a telescope, staring at the sky eighteen hours a day every day. His eyes had grown unfocused and blurry as they struggled to handle adjusting their focus from telescopic vision to natural sight. Star Gazer rubbed his eyes once again and continued to star hopelessly through the lens that was now his entire life. Every now and then a unicorn supervisor strode through the observatory to ensure his work continued. Star Gazer sometimes felt thankful his fate had not been worse, as it very well could have been. Some of his kind worked as simple labour workers in the slave domes, other were victim to unicorn experiments involving dangerous and unstable magic. The earth pony shook his head slightly, trying to regain focus on the task before him. He knew if his readings didn’t match up to those of the other observatories he could well be reassigned to one of the aforementioned positions.

Star Gazer had, at that moment, cheered himself a thousand times over for regaining his thoughts. Through the old, worn telescope the once famous astronomer spotted a fiery wound trailing the night sky. The blaze of orange and blinding white cut a line through the stars, like a red hot razor against flesh. Star Gazer began to take down notes, rushing in his panic at losing sight of the anomaly. However the tear of immolation did not fade into the blackness of space, but instead grew brighter...and closer. Star Gazer could now clearly see the object was actually entering the planets’ atmosphere, the telescope revealing some form of comet at the head of the trail of fire. Yet the object did not flake nor splinter apart as many other comets often did, instead this one simply began to slow itself somehow, its’ flames dying in ferocity as it neared Equestrias’ surface. The seemingly indestructible object had still maintained a considerable velocity as it hammered into the surface of the planet, a cloud of dirt bursting into the air as it touched down in the plains beyond New Ponyville.

“Oh,Celestia,” Star Gazer murmured to himself, knowing that if any of the forces of house Earthborn had spotted the otherworldly object they’d have the head start at claiming the impact site.

At that thought Star Gazer grabbed his notes and raced off towards the Supervisors office.

The supervisor, Keen Eye, gave Star Gazer a venomous glare that was soaked in suspicion as he finished reading the astronomers notes.

“You understand this is nonsense, slave?” The supervisor droned in his cold tone.

“I-I assure you sir, it’s all the truth. I can back my claims up with all the evidence you would require.” Star Gazer replied sheepishly.

“Are you trying to get me killed , slave? You realize that should I pass this...this drivel onto my superiors that both you and I would be held in court faster than a heartbeat?”

“Sir, I promise I can prove this. If you would be so kind as to come to my observation post and-“

“It’d be quicker to simply have you replaced.” Keen Eye said lazily.

“Please, sir. Just...just ask yourself, ‘What if I’m right, and you have to explain to the high mage that we missed this chance?’” Star Gazer asked, his stomach growing cold with anxiety at the supervisors response.

Keen Eye shot his slave a look that nearly cut him in two. He then raised an eyebrow.

Twilight Sparkle, Archmagister of house Moon and Star knew it was getting unreasonably late, or to be more precise, painfully early. Yet her eyes did not feel the weight other might have been burdened with when lacking sleep, and her mind continued its vital and brilliant work unhindered by the fog of exhaustion. She scanned book after book, parchment after parchment and scroll after scroll yet found little to nothing that would help her and her race. Nothing that could help her attain the powers they so desperately needed to bring peace back to the world and make it more magnificent than any could have imagined.

The Archmagister sighed and closed her eyes a second to steady her thoughts, reminding herself that her efforts would bear fruit through her continued study in the old magics and rigorous experimentation, not to mention the labour of the lesser races. She flipped another page from a book that had probably laid unopened for centuries, her violet eyes once again absorbing every letter it offered up to her mind. Through her intense studying, Sparkle could faintly hear the hurried hoof steps of somepony rushing towards the large door that lay before her. Her features tensed up in frustration at her intruder before relaxing again into their usual cold expression. Just as she folded the book she had been reading to a close the ten meter tall double door groaned open as a well dressed and groomed female unicorn barged through them. She hurried up the short set of marble stairs and immediately took a knee before Twilight, who merely flicked a hand at the unicorn as a sign to rise again.

“Archmagister, I have...well, some interesting news.” The yellow unicorn squire said through her worn breath as she prepared some scrolls she had brought with her.

Twilight merely raised an eyebrow a millimeter in the slightest sign of intrigue. Normally she’d have sent any who interrupt her precious studies to a night in the detention cells, yet this news seemed to carry at least a sliver of urgency about it judging by the way the unicorn before her clumsily fumbled about to place the opened scrolls upon Twilights desk.

“These are the latest readings coming from observatory B, the one next to the market district. It includes a personal report from the supervisor of the complex as well as an artists’ interpretation of the event in question.” The girl said pointed at the appropriate scroll whilst mentioning its contents.

Sparkle lazily pushed her glove clad fingers over the edge of the coiling scroll and read the information within. Any other day she’d have dismissed the report for a later time, yet the sketchy artwork the scroll carried immediately brought her attention to full intensity. She grabbed the edges of the scroll and peered at the drawing upon its’ face, all depicting a comet soaring through the sky only to grow larger and more intense before apparently striking the surface of the planet. The report next to the sketches told of how the object that had crashed into the plains that Canterlot watched over was fully intact and had not disintegrated upon its’ entry into the Equestrian atmosphere. It also warned of its proximity to house Earthborns’ territory and how the houses’ forces could well be occupying the crash site by morning.

The paranoid, unstable portion of Sparkles’ mind lashed out to her senses, shrieking out that this was an elaborate scheme to have her assassinated or, at best, played as a fool before the entire house. But this story was far too far-fetched for any band of rebels or schemer to make up and truly believe would have a chance at luring Twilight into a vulnerable situation. Or was that what they wanted her to think? Twilights’ inner turmoil ground to a halt as she realised that if this story was genuine, and the possibility of securing a meteor crash site was within her grasp, delay would be the single largest mistake she’d made in the last nine years. She stood up and marched around her reading desk and towards the doors the squire had just entered through.

“Send out a detachment of pegasi slaves to act as an assessment team. See that they come from different districts of the slave dome. Should they confirm these findings report them straight to me.” Twilight ordered as she walked as fast as she could towards the royal palace.

“You realize that this is ridiculous, right?” Shining Armour exclaimed.

“Of course it is. The very idea of such a thing is utterly dismissible and our attentions are better focused on more urgent matters.” Twilight replied coldly.

“Then why are we just waiting here when we know this is all just a waste of time?” Shining added, his tone heavy with frustration.

“Because what if it’s not?” Twilight said simply.

Her brother let out a huff as he slumped into his ceremonial throne, his wife sat in her own next to his.

“And what would this mean if it is true?” Cadence asked.

“Any number of things. Perhaps a new mineral that grants us an advantage in technological or magical efforts. Perhaps a form of bacteria or virus that contaminates all of Equestria. Which is all the more reason to investigate before our enemies do.”

Cadence simply looked down into her own lap, her mind attempting to weigh out what she was hoping was, or what was not resting in a crater in the middle of Equestria. The trio waited in silence for what felt like hours to the caretakers of Canterlots’ thrones, yet felt like a heartbeat to the steel-eyed puppeteer of the house, who’s mind juggled a thousand thoughts every second. Finally the throne room doors flew open to reveal a pair of legionnaires, clad in their thick battle plate and jogging up to the three hierarchs of Canterlot.

“Your Majesties, Archmagister. I have received the confirmation that an object of, presumably, celestial origin has impacted north-east of New Ponyville. The object is described as...artificial in nature.” One of the gruff-voiced soldiers announced to his rulers.

All of them shot up or spun to stare at the pair of soldiers. The Prince and Princess simply stared with worried expression; Twilight however had hit the scientific jackpot of the millennia.

“Ready my carriage, the entire Canterlot science team and a military detachment immediately. We need to secure that crash site before-“

“I’m sorry to interrupt, your brilliance. But I was about to say that house Earthborn is already at the crash site, and by the looks of it, are arranging excavation equipment around the object.” The legionnaire finished, his expression cringing in fear of the Archmagisters’ reaction.

His fear was confirmed to be sound as Twilights own expression tensed up, her eye twitching and teeth clenched as the air around her began to boil with unnatural heat.

Flagons clashed, cheers bounced through the ranks and every pony in sight was busy either celebrating or excavating with equal joy. The entire military column stationed at New Ponyville and every engineer had gathered at the crash site. At first, most thought the Appleoosian ranger, Braeburn, had lost his mind after ordering so many ponies to the middle of a plain with no sign of battle on the horizon. However what turned out to be on the horizon was an enormous metal tower, easily more than thirty five feet in height and eighteen feet wide, its main body seemingly having broken open upon impact with the ground to become almost floral in appearance as its’ petal-like doors had fallen open. Inside a network of impossibly complex machinery, their function utterly unknown to everypony gathered about the obviously alien creation.

And Earthborn had seized it.

Applejack had arrived at the excavation site not two minutes ago, and had barely moved after resting her eyes on the mighty pillar of alien technology. Her sister was quite the opposite, the young blacksmith darting about the obelisk at the speed of sound, inspecting every tube, bulb and piston that the thing was made of. As much as the Supreme commander was, admittedly, excited for what this find could mean for her house, she was equally concerned. Questions bombarded her thoughts like a thousand Busters: Where had this thing come from? Why was it sent here? What was inside? Where is its’ cargo now?

The object was obviously sent to this planet on purpose, it didn’t appear to have broken off from some larger machine, nor was it crashed messily into the dirt and rent with damage. Instead it sat comfortably in its shallow crater, its door all having fallen open as it seemed to be designed to do. Applejack came to the conclusion that with was some form of delivery system. However it appeared to have no form of seating or harness for a pilot or crew, assuming its creators were anything like ponies then there was no way this machine could have safely contained anything living. But then again, it was alien technology to an utterly alien species; they could be floating jellyfish for all she knew. Applejacks inner assessment was interrupted as her younger sister bounced up beside her.

“Sis’, when we get this baby back tah Appleoosa, don’ expect me tah come out the shop fer a year!” Applebloom said in excitement.

Applejack gave her sister a warm grin, knowing the young mare must have been running circles around herself inside. An aged engineer with a grey mane and moustache plodded up before the sisters and gave a respectful nod.

“All ‘a’ rigs are ‘a’ ready, your vigilance. We’re ready tah haul this thang out.” The gruff stallion said whilst lifting away his forging goggles.

“Alright everypony, let raise this here...uh, whatever it is!” Applejack called out to the crowd who cheered in response.

At that, however, a sound of thunder and a low roar could be heard coming from the skies. All eyes turned to look up to see what looked like another alien pod soaring through the atmosphere at incredible speeds, slowing just before it struck the planet. It touched down many miles away, near what Applejack could only assume was somewhere between the Everfree forest and Stormwing territory. The crowd of soldiers and engineers muttered to one another in worry and debate until the Commander perked up.

“Come on y’all! Ah’m sure them buzzards’ll be pickin’ that thing clean in no time. So let’s get to work on our own!” She called out, the Earthborns immediately hurrying to work once again.

The engineers readied their winches and cranes and manned the ropes. With a short countdown the ponies prepared to lift the machine unto a reconstructed Headbutter siege ram that was now conditioned to serve as a transport platform. At the countdowns finish all the ponies heaved and pulled with all their might, over a hundred strong earth pony arms straining against the weight of the alien tower. A weight that may have been drastically underestimated. The woodwork of the cranes bent and creaked as the tower was lifted to the left at a slight degree. The team leaders called for the right to pick up the slack, yet all arms were already working at full strength. The participants groaned in tension and frustration as their cranes groaned in agony. Soldiers posted to stand watch nearby dropped their spears and rushed over to lend a hand. The pod finally began to lift into the air until a deafening series and cracks and snaps split the air. Dozens of ponies fell flat on their flanks as their cranes buckled and fell under the enormous weight of the tower of alien metal that thumped back onto the earth it had made its home on. Applejack rolled her eye and rubbed her temple in frustration as did many other ponies who sat in the dirt around the stubborn lump of metal.

“Ah told yer tah use more cranes!” Applebloom yelled at the engineer teams who picked themselves up and dusted off the dust that clung to their boiler suits.

Another, slightly softer roaring sound closed in on the work site, one that reminded Applejack of the Pony-copter prototype that had been showcased a week ago. All eyes shot to the sky to find no sign of the tell-tale trail of fire and vapour that heralded the coming of another alien vessel. Before anypony was given the chance to look anywhere else the sound of rushing wind and whining engines grew dangerously close before a gust of wind slapped Applejack right in the face. She flinched away and ducked as something soared over head with immense speed. She fully expected whatever had passed over to be disappearing off into the distance by the time she looked up again, yet as she raised her eyes up towards the sky she saw what the alien pod had brought with it.

A relatively small pillar composed of strange machinery of black was suspended under a dark grey disk with a cluster of what seemed like aerials shooting out at and angle behind it like porcupine spines. Around the edge of the disk sat four small wings that did not move and inch let alone flap, and seemed far too tiny to carry the machines weight anyway. The machine had a cluster of three brightly glowing, orange lights that Applejack assumed to be some form of eyes as they twitched from left to right and rotated between movements. The ponies all stared up in awe at the strange creation that appeared to be magically suspended in mid air, Applebloom staring at the thing like it was made of gold. The thing hung there for several seconds and the ponies surrounding it seemed to grow less tense at its’ presence before them.

Everypony jumped right out of their fur as a loud howl of some form of trumpet burst from the machine. The engineers reeled back and even fled back a few metres while the soldiers collected themselves and pointed their spears at the machine. The few hoof-cannoners readied their firearms and aimed them at the alien thing, yet the machine simply floated in the air utterly still beside its’ trio of eyes flitting from one pony to the other with insectile twitchiness. The crowd of ponies turned and quickly parted as the Ever-Vigilant strode through their ranks to come closer to the machine. The creation seemed to recognise this sign of authority and descended, almost as if it had stopped working, but came to a halt just a couple feet of the ground, another act that caused many around it to take panicked steps backwards. With a low, rhythmic humming sound the machine softly floated towards applejack, its fiery orange eyes fixed on her single emerald one.

“What are you?” The orange mare said to the machine.

A farmer hurried his frightened family into his home. An ugly giant of a creature swiped at the pict-feed. A child playfully threw tiny pebbles at the lens. A mass of alien beings gathered about the strange sight before them. Phebus had watched the video logs of the surveillance drones for little under an hour, his eyes scanning each holo-screen one after the other. So far the results had been highly promising; Seemingly intelligent native population with a primitive form of society, lush forests, breathable atmosphere and an abundance of native flora and fauna. Sector command would most likely follow up their thanks to the expeditionary fleet with a planetary exploration team sent to the surface, but such was not for the work of astartes. His fleet would most definitely be sent on its way once again to glide through another several weeks of blackness. Yet such was his current duty, and he would honour that duty.

Morticus stood next to the captain, his skull-shaped mask staring at the screens with a stony hostility. The chaplain found the abundance of life, let alone sentient life, as intriguing as Phebus did. Of course such planets were far from unheard of, yet still a rare enough site as to cause surprise when stumbled upon. Phebus noted how the feed showing the mass of natives showed them wearing sets of plate armour and working fatigues, indicating they had some form of forgery system, perhaps even an advanced one.

“Do you think that child will ever run out of rocks?” The Chaplain growled as he stared at the young native that launched stone after stone at the camera lens, painting it with an ever growing collection of small scratches.

“I think you’re feeling upset that we don’t get to stretch our legs.” Replied the Captain.

“Four kilometres of star ship offers plenty of room to breathe. I just would have liked to breathe actual air for a change. You know the kind, with pollen in its winds, the scent of dirt and grass.”

“Perhaps we can make planet fall to grab a handful of shrubbery and throw it into the atmosphere generators.” Phebus chuckled.

“You would go to that effort to please me, bother?” Morticus replied with a sarcastic tone in his growl of a voice.

“I’d go to such lengths to get you to stop your complaints.”

“Where space travel is concerned, there is no shortage of things to complain about.” Morticus finished as he turned to watch the video Phebus was set on.

The crowd of Natives were frantically talking to one another, the mouths fluxing in a way similar to that of an imperials way of speech.

“Drone control, enable audio feed on drone forty four.” Phebus said with curiosity.

From the console speaker came the chatter of the natives speech, their sentences garbled and distorted by the feeds distance. Yet the rambling of dozens of voice sounded eerily familiar to Phebus. Then, as if the feed had been cut off, the crowd silenced and turned. Through their ranks there slowly marched one individual who parted the crowd like parting wheat in a field. Phebus could not tell whether the individual was male or female, but they wore a large, heavy set of armour that, like the other soldiers, was a rusty colour much like that of the Adeptus Mechanicus ranks. The commander walked courageously close to the drone that dropped down to meet her gaze. The native had obviously seen battle as one of its’ bright green eyes was wrapped in a jet black eye-patch.

“Whu-ffrrtt-are y-uuurgheeek!” The audio feed blared with distortion.

Phebus’ eyes widened and his brow furrowed as he prayed his ears had somehow deceived him.

“Rewind feed five seconds, clear up that audio!” Phebus ordered.

The video wound backwards and played once again, its’ audio somewhat clearer.

“What are-r-r-r-r-ou.”

“Impossible. Again, once more!”

The feed rewound once again, it’s audio clear say for the odd buzz or crackle.

“What are you?”

The two astartes were utterly silent, having no words nor thoughts to what they had witnessed.

“Throne on Terra.” Phebus blurted clumsily.

“This is impossible. The odds...they are simply not...” Morticus found little else he could say at the situation.

“Low gothic speech. Fluid...native Low gothic on a world thousands of light years away from Terra with no contact to he Imperium until this day!” Phebus yelled in a harsh mix of outrage and excitement.

“Brother, if we do not make planet fall within the hour I’ll kill you myself!” Morticus bellowed in a fit of zealous joy as he shook the captain by his pauldrons.

“And I would let you! Open a channel to the Conquest!” He ordered to the comms serf.

With a alarm blare and a chime the channel opened and the Chapter Masters voice called through the speakers.

“This is Tauron, found anything Captain?”

“My lord, I’m sending you a data log for your holo screen. You would not believe me if I told you what it reveals.”

Living labyrinth

“ I do believe you have gone insane, my lord.”

“I would expect you to say nothing less. Yet what I say is true and is the one and only cause for us to investigate the phenomenon personally.” Replied Phebus.

“I believe you, I truly do, but it doesn’t make you any less insane for saying such a thing.” Honoured Veteran Sergeant Ipherion remarked as he marched by the Captains side towards the docked Stormraven.

“Are we headed for the drone Captain?” Morticus asked as he too marched for the Astarte vessel.

“No. Myself and the Chapter Master have agreed that as much as this find must be investigated we still must be careful to honour encounter protocol as closely as we can. An encounter with a society in such a technological age could prove catastrophic for both them and us. Instead, we are headed to a dense forest area to attempt as in depth surveillance as can be achieved with what appears to be a far more primitive tribe of natives. This not only lowers the risk of explosive native reactions, but also the risk of receiving explosive native ammunition.” The Captain finished as his boot met the lip of the gunships boarding ramp.

“The tribes have firearms?” Ipherion asked.

“It would appear that some do, and the surveillance sweep is only fifty six percent complete. Be prepared to meet potential resistance in domains we have not met thus far.”

“Nothing a bolter can’t fix.” The sergeant huffed as he gestured to the boltgun he carried in his right hand, his other encased in a mighty power fist gauntlet.

“I want every firearm fixed to a belt until I say we need them, sergeant.” Phebus informed with a tinge of authority in his tone.

“Very well. You hear that marines? Fix weapons to mag-locks, and don’t even think about using them until you’re already half way down something’s’ throat!” The sergeant called to the other four marines in the Stormraven, all responding by fastening their weapons away with a confirmative snap.

“Pilot, we’re all set. Take us to the surface.” Phebus said over the vox link through his helmet.

“Aye, sir. Closing up ramps, firing up engines.” The pilot replied.

“Let’s take a walk.” Said Morticus as he locked his flight harness over his shoulders.

“I’m telling you that nopony’s having any more luck than we are, it’s the same story four times over. It’s the same with Earthborns’ two sites, Moon and Star and our own. The thing’s stuck in the ground, it’s damned heavy and made out of metal that doesn’t exist in all Equestria.” The ground guard team leader said in a huff of frustration.

“Watch that tone wingless! The other houses failures is no excuse for your own! Get it out of that hole and strip it, that’s an order!” Commander Spitfire roared at the ground guard, who cringed away in the face of the Pegasus’s anger.

“W-we’ll do our best Commander. But please understand, it’s a tower of damn heavy metal and you’re asking us to lift it ten feet in the air. We really need pegasi assistance, and a lot of it to get it that high.”

“The pegasi have bigger worries than a chunk of metal in the ground. Just do your job.” Spitfire growled before turning to take flight towards the sky chariot that hovered mid air with the aid of the four pegasi warriors.

“Come on, let’s get back to Dash and give her the crappy news.” Spitfire sighed as she stepped onto the chariot.

Waiting for her on the platform was Commander Soarin, his eyes peering down at the grey tower of metal and machine. Spitfire gave the call to take flight and without a seconds pause the pegasi formed up at the front of the chariot and sped off towards the city of Windsoar.

“Looks like we’ve got competition.” Soarin said in his usual heavy tone.

“What do you mean?” Spitfire asked while she removed her battle helmet and shook her blazing yellow and orange mane free.

“Who-...whatever made that thing knows the sky. Perhaps better than we do.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, and watch were you say that crap! Dash hears that and you can consider yourself clipped.” Spitfire retorted while jabbing an accusing finger into Soarins’ chest plate of grey and gold.

“Think about it for more than two seconds. The things that made that are in space, probably right now! All I’m saying is there’s a lot of sky between them and the ground, and I’m betting they’ve been around much longer than we have. That gives them a long time to get real good at a lot of things, and one of them is probably aerial skill.”

“Right. Tell you what, I’ll believe it when I se-“ Spitfires rant was cut in half as a deafening roar passed over them and the chariot jolted to the side before levelling out again.

“You ok, Commanders?!” Called back a pegasi strapped to the chariot.

“We’re fine!” Called back Spitfire as she looked about to see what had happened.

In the direction the chariot had been pulled sped away some form of gigantic bird, almost like a Roc. Spitfire barely had a couple seconds before it become a tiny dot in her sight, apparently coming to a halt over the Everfree forest. Not long after it halted in dropped straight down gracefully like a dragonfly before disappearing into the forest canopy.

“Pegasi, follow that creature!” Spitfire yelled, the chariot swerving to the side before speeding off to follow the monster.

“You can’t be serious!” Soarin shouted frantically.

“You want to tell Dash we just watched an alien bird fly by and didn’t bother to check it out?!” Spitfire yelled into Soarins’ ear.

“Don’t wet yourself Soarin, we’re only taking a peek.”

“Damnable thing! That was close!” The pilot groaned as the Stormraven lurched to the right.

“Anything we need to worry about?” Ipherion asked over the vox link.

“Just the local traffic, Sergeant. Almost at the drop site.” With that the marine unlocked themselves from their flight harnesses with a chorus of sharp cracks followed by a series of low hisses as they disengaged themselves from the ships’ hull.

The Stormraven descended as it found enough of a clearing in the dense forest to land, its’ engines winding down as it prepared to make a metrical drop through the treetops. It must have been a tight fit as Phebus could hear the creak and snap of several large branches over the roar of the gunships’ engines. There was a short pause before a harsh thud signalled the craft had touched down, the assault ramp whining painfully as it opened up before the Astartes. Before the ramp even touched the soil of the forest the marines were already leaving the ships interior.

Phebus was the first to tread the alien planets’ surface, hearing the soft, fertile soils flatten under the tread of his boots. Through his helmets’ HUD he saw foliage all around, thick, green flora of a thousand breeds surrounding him almost threateningly. Yet nothing caught his attention more than the seemingly liquid-thick shadow that consumed the forest just a couple dozen feet from where he stood. Even with his hyper-adaptive eyesight the Captain couldn’t see further than the second or third layer of trees and shrubs, almost as if the forest itself was draining the light the world offered him away, like a parasite.

Such superstition was wiped away from his mind as he focused on the reason he was here, and his squad had fully disembarked and taken positions around him. Although none had drawn their weapons he could see them carefully scanning the tree-line with their orange helmet lenses. Phebus took a few steps forward, his sight washing over the dirt beneath him. No sign of recent activity could be found; no tracks, broken twigs or heat signature.

“We head west. Remain alert.” Phebus said back to his brothers.

The rhythmic thumping of heavy metal boots on soil and plant life slowly faded as the squad left the landing zone, leaving the Stormraven and its’ pilot alone. Nearby the powering down alien machine, hidden in plain sight, a tree began to shake and crack apart.

Phebus could now fully appreciate how the surveillance drones could not operate in this forest. The place was a terrifying maze that boggled the senses and warped any sense of direction, having Phebus and his squad lost in a matter of minutes. The thick, tall and vast trees were so large and Astarte could walk its’ branches over from one to the other, effectively giving the forest a multiple levels. This had led Phebus to believe that somehow this forest had been ‘designed’ to be travelled via these multiple levels, and as preposterous as such a theory was, the Captain had heard of stranger things.

Hours passed before the squad stumbled across a landmark in the form of a river. Once again the trees of the forest were oddly shaped to apparently serve as bridges, for what or who remained to be seen. Some branches and roots were nowhere near large enough to support a fully armoured Astarte, yet some were so large, Phebus could imagine a Land Raider travelling over them with ease. The squad was lead up to one of these colossal roots, the Captain being the first to scale its width and climb atop the thing.

“Looks stable enough, come on up.” Phebus assured.

The Captain looked to the sky, noticing how dark it was getting.

“Hepiteph, this is Phebus.” The Captain called to the gunship pilot, yet no reply came over the comm link.

“Pilot, respond.” Still no reply.

“With a forest this dense, I wouldn’t be surprised if we lost communications.” Gephelik (One of the squads’ two flamer units) said.

“I’m sure he can look after himself, just hope he doesn’t mind waiting the night. I know the Techmarines get aggravated when their hardware is away from home for too long.” Phebus replied as he made his way across the root.

The squad travelled the length of the bridge, its’ surface riddled with smaller roots, thick moss, rotten bark and even small creatures. The root had burrowed deep into the river side and spread out to become a part of the endless sea of forest. An eerily similar experience followed the squad as yet another labyrinth lay before them, and Phebus began to grow concerned as to how his marines and himself would ever find their way out of this surreal place. Even with their HUD compass and general sense of direction the space marine had lost their bearings, travelling so far in so many directions that it was nearly impossible to keep track of where they had been and where they were going. From orbit, the journey should have taken no longer than a couple of hours, yet still the marines marched on into the darkest hours of the night.

However the Astartes efforts did not go unrewarded for much longer as the first signs of civilization came into view. However the term civilization may have been a greatly inaccurate term for what they saw promised them. A brutal form of totem stood before he marines, standing fifty feet tall and as wide as a dreadnought. It was composed of two primary materials; a single width of giant tree trunk and skulls. There were dozens of skulls in each gap between wooden segments, most seemingly belonging to adult natives of what Phebus hoped were enemy tribes to these wildlings. His hopes seemed supported as many skulls still wore their helmets, multiple designs, colours and conditions amongst them. However what was most odd about the display was that, no matter old or new, the skulls and helmets had hundreds of roots crawling through them. The roots were reaching out from the top and bottom of each segment of tree column, each eventually either merging with other roots or the opposing segment after travelling through a skull or two. Any other military unit would have turned tail or at least called in for support, but the Astartes felt no such fears.

“Quite the display.” Tertiran (An aged Astarte with a bionic throat) said in a low voice.

“There are no Astarte skulls in this thing, that’s all that matters right now. Captain?” Ipherion looked to the captain through his helmets lenses for confirmation.

“Aye. Though this does call for us to use even more caution. These people may be aggressive, perhaps even sadistic, but I doubt creatures of such low technological achievement can bring us any harm.” Phebus reassured.

“Assuming they are not of hazardously overwhelming number. I hope there’s a trace of a conscience underneath...this.” Gephelik murmured while looking up at the deathly monolith.

Without hesitation the marines followed their Captain into the uncharted and possibly hostile realm, leaving only the monolith to fuel their imaginations as to what was to come next. To their relief, a path began to form between the mess of trees and other plant life, giving them some hope of finding what they’d come to see. The path was, at first, simply parted and downtrodden foliage that snaked through the forest like a vein. The vein slowly turned into an artery as the path became covered in seemingly ancient cobble stone, its surface cracked and broken into near non-existence. Phebus was on point, and was the first to spot them.

“Halt!” Phebus ordered sharply, raising his right arm up in a fist.

The marines froze in place and looked beyond their Captain to see a somewhat odd sight. A single, lone native sat perched atop a thick tree branch that hung low over the path they walked, and from its’ build Phebus could take a good guess that it was a male. The creature sat perfectly still atop its own hoofed feet, the rhythmic movement of his chest the only true indicator that he was even living. He wore very little, no more than a ragged and poorly crafted pair of trousers, the rest of him being completely exposed say for patches of war paint and a necklace decorated with carnivorous teeth of various sizes. His body was solid and well toned, yet held a lean and agile quality about it, and covered in a sky blue fur. He had a head of dark blue hair, which was long and thick enough to be more of a mane, and a fluid tale composed of the same hair. In his hand he firmly grasped a wooden spear tipped with a crude metal shard that seemed to be coated with a thin layer of green slime, a substance Phebus was certain was a kind of poison. Finally, Phebus noticed his expression; a stony mask of scrutiny and judgement, a vision of restrained aggression.

Phebus stood still for a few seconds, his eyes assessing the natives own, all the while the creatures’ eyes burning into the Captains lenses. The native made no movement or gesture, simply staring at the approaching Astartes. Phebus gave his hand a quick wave forward before he carefully advanced, his squad following close behind. Phebus’ brow furrowed in his realisation that he had been played as the tactical inferior as his gaze came across more perched natives waiting beyond the bend of the path. What had started as one had quickly turned into five, then twenty, fifty and now a couple hundred wild natives sat, stood and crouched around and on top of an ancient castle ruin. The Astartes trod with as much car as they could, avoiding sudden movements and prolonged lens to eye contact. Soon enough, and after a one-by-one journey across a very unstable wooden bridge, the squad came before a pair of broken and aged doors that led into the castle ruins.

The Captain took the lead and brushed aside one of the doors to enter the crumbling structure. Inside, Phebus was brought before quite the spectacle of nature, as the interior of the castle had seemingly been utterly transformed. Dozens of branches, roots and even whole trees had assaulted the castle from the broken windows and shattered floor, their mass spreading like a river of greens and browns. Phebus could vaguely make out what had once been some kind of astronomical map at the far end of the hall that he stepped into, only now it had been all but consumed by the tidal wave of plant life that occupied nearly every inch of the castle. The horde of tree mass had been, somehow, designed to serve as a what would be considered a throne room had it been made of rockcrete or metal; trees shooting to the roof to act as giant, organic pillars while their roots acted as steps and platforms and braches as a form of decoration. Leaves of a beautiful variety of colours and shapes spread out over the farthest wall of the gigantic room to form something of a mosaic, depicting a swirling hurricane of greens, oranges, yellows and purples, while other branches let their leave to droop sadly to the floor as a form of veil.

This hall was no exception to being clustered full of wild folk, the natives of a seemingly endless varieties of colour waited patiently for the Astartes to enter, yet still simply stared on, their faces frozen in an expression of wariness and tension. However this time there appeared to be several new additional factions looking upon them. The first Phebus noticed were the much stonier faced and striped native variant that wore a set of flimsy armour made of twigs roped together. Another was a large, horned variant that wore next to no clothing, let alone armour and brandished much heavier looking weaponry if any. Then there was what appeared to be a reptilian breed of native, their skulls also decorated with a set of horns, yet they appeared to lack the restraint their more reserved brethren as their wild faces were twisted in an animal fury, their fanged mouths snapped and hissed at the six alien intruders. Amongst these beings slinked and prowled numerous canine creatures seemingly covered in or composed of bark, leaves and some form of fungal matter.

The Astartes walked on until they reached the centre of the hall, coming to a halt and scanning the wilding ranks with their glowing orange visors. Phebus gave the hand signal for the squad to hold position as he took a few steps forward to come to the base of the cluster of roots serving as a set of stairs leading to a landing.

“Well then...you seem to have been expecting us!” Phebus called out to the masses, the rumble of his deep voice amplified by the gigantic stony interior of the castle.

“And we have seemed to have gathered quite the audience.”

“Many have come to witness the sight, of the giants of metal who have come to bring blight!” Replied a voice from atop the stairs.

Phebus’ vision snapped up to see a single figure appearing over the top of the staircase before slowly descending its irregular steps. The individual sounded and appeared to be female, no taller than the bottom of Phebus’ chest plate. Her fluid yet full form was wrapped in a set of dark grey robes linked together by golden clips and held against her form with rope that had a variety of vials linked to them. The vials contained several kinds of fluids of unknown purpose or even origin, yet Phebus made a lucky guess at them having some herbal property to them. Beneath her attire, Phebus could see she was a stripped variant of the forest dwellers, her mane styled in a peculiarly neat Mohawk style with a small braid dropping down from the back, travelling down over her shoulder and over her chest.

“I can assume you are the one in charge of this...community?” Phebus enquired.

“I represent the lady of the forest, and she grows curious of your interest. For you come to our lands most lush and green, yet you are unlike any creature we have ever seen.” The native riddled.

“We are Space marines. We have travelled far across the stars in a crusade to claim worlds for our Imperium. In our journey we stumbled across your planet and, as our code dictates, we sent probes to analyse its surface. Upon witnessing your kind speak what we know as Low Gothic, our most common and widely used tongue, my fellow officers and I agreed to at least sacrifice a fraction of our time to witness this miracle firsthand.” Phebus replied, standing as still as he could to not provoke so much as a flinch from the creatures that had him surrounded.

“This land is blessed with the sacred tongue of the Imperium, the very language used by our beneficent Emperor. Such a miracle is testament to the infinite reach of his divinity!” Morticus exclaimed in an outburst of zealous delight.

Phebus cursed the black clad zealot in his own mind. The Captain swiftly put out a hand and gave it the slightest of a wave to signal the chaplain to calm himself. Phebus knew all too well that Morticus suffered more than any others in the instinct to express his devotion and label such events as this as ‘divine miracles’.

“Forgive my brother, he has been quite eager to meet your kind.”

“This one as black as night does speak of your ‘Emperors’ might. As chains of devotion and duty around your wrists have grown, I hope that such shackles are intended to remain your own.” She said with a hint of a threatening tone swimming in her voice.

“Of course not, please, do not think that we come to tread your soil as conquerors. My superiors and I fully realise that, according to Imperial code and law, we shouldn’t even be here.” Phebus replied with a chuckle thrown in near the end, a vain attempt to soften the atmosphere.

The native raised an eyebrow and descended the steps even further, each step making the vials linked to her to clink together in a delicate chorus. Phebus could tell this woman was trying to intimidate him, yet being an Astarte meant that fear and panic did not ail him, and so his boots remained fixed to where he had last left them. The lady came close to Phebus, almost within arm’s reach for the space marine, her eyes scanning him up and down.

“Why are you really here?” She shot at Phebus in a menacingly cold tone, the fact she hadn’t ended her sentence with a perplex rhyme indicating she discarded the wish to exchange pleasantries with the Captain.

“I have only spoken the truth. I swear upon my Primarch and upon my Emperor that all that I have told you is true.” Phebus replied, his own tone flat and straight to the point.

The native looked at him with a bemused expression before turning and climbing the stairs she had just travelled to take herself to their peak once more.

“To be sure that your words do not drip with lies and deceit, there is somepony you must first meet.”

With that she waved a hand up and made a motion with her fingers for someone to come forward. There was a series of grunts and the noise of a light struggle coming from behind a tree pillar at the top of the stairs, along with distinctly heavy footsteps accompanied by several sets of smaller ones. A group of eight creatures shuffled from out of hiding, all holding tightly onto thick ropes drawn taught or a rudimentary form of an animal handling clasp. The creatures were the largely built variant, almost as bulky as a space marine without his armour, all eight however struggled to pull into view a troubling sight.

“Hepiteph! Brother!” Called Ipherion, his power fists hydraulics whining as his mechanical finger stretched out towards the captured pilot out of instinct, his feet taking a few steps forward.

“Hold!” Phebus called out to the sergeant, noticing how his movement caused the hundreds around them to tense up and coil in readiness to lunge at them.

“I am whole brothers.” The pilot called back calmly as the grey creatures that held him attempted to force him to his knee.

“This one who rides the dragon of metal has proved quite troublesome to me, having slain two forest Ents brings us much worry you see. For why would the forest react to your presence so, unless there is something you do not wish us to know?” The native said as she circled the rust coloured pilot.

“I...see that you do not wish us to remain in your lands any longer. Hand our pilot over to us and I promise you we shall leave without pause.” Phebus proposed with a gesture towards his brother.

“And allow you to lead our foes through the trees? Save your bargains and your please.”

“What do you want me to tell you?!”

“The truth you keep is what I seek.”

“I have told you nothing but the truth, and all of it at that!”

With that the native spun around in frustration and drew a small, curved dagger from her belt and plucked a vial of purple liquid from her robes. Phebus took three steps forward before he was stopped by a swarm of wildings of all shapes and sizes, their attitude changed dramatically. The cloak of cool restraint and composure was ripped apart by an ocean of animal growls and barks that now stared at Phebus with wild, hungry eyes. The lead wildling popped open the cork that sealed the vial and poured the thick, purple liquid over her blade as she approached the pilot who tensed up to prepare for a fight.

“Duskshade stem is quite the potent extract of herb; it’ll stop a victims’ heart before they can utter a word.” She rhymed as she stepped closer to the Astarte who thrashed as the grey brutes around him attempted at removing his helmet.

Phebus had held his hand for far too long already, and would most likely never forgive himself for showing such saint-like restraint. In a heartbeat he had snapped his hand behind him, grasped his bolter firmly and swung it up so his eye lined up neatly with its’ iron sight.

“Don’t make me kill you!” Phebus roared as he took step after thunderous step forward.

He could now hear his squad forming up behind him with weapons drawn. The natives’ faces dropped as they were lit up with an orange hue, terror washing over their primal state of mind. Persior, the second flamer unit, had sent a quick yet still potent burst of promethium fire into the air as he approached the top of the stairs. The effect was excellent as Phebus could see many of the wildlings pushing back against one another, their wild faces flitting between being frightened and furious.

“Perhaps a new bargain can be struck. You hand over my brother or I burn down you, your people and this castle to the ground and caste the ashes into the middle of the deepest ocean.” The Captain said with a hiss in his voice.

The wildlings and their leader were at least a little taken aback by the proposal, the poison brewer even backing up a step. Some of the wild natives before them even looked on in curiosity at their seemingly strange weapons, perhaps not even knowing what a firearm was. However something extremely odd began to happen as the crowd in front of the space marines began to lose focus on the metallic giants and turned to bring their attention behind them. The crowd then began to fall silent, even their leader, and the rear ranks actually seemed to be falling before something that approached. And explosive reaction occurred as the crowds began to fall to one knee in the face of the thing that approached, the reaction washing over all of the castles occupants, say for the Astartes.

Through the now low kneeling crowd walked a single individual. As far as Phebus could tell she was female, in fact, she was very much female. Her frame was that of large, sharp curves that were covered by a set of leather shorts and vest, which in turn was covered by a robe of living, writhing plant life. Flowers of every colour ever thought of covered most of the great cloak that draped down from the girls shoulders, wherever there was green it was in the form of thin and thick tendrils that seemed to adore their wearers fur with loving and gentle strokes. Her mane and tail was a light pink and was long as it was wild, almost appearing to have a life of its own. Her build was surprisingly large for the equivalent of a noble as her arms, neck, legs and stomach were wrapped in thick muscle. This made Phebus assume that perhaps this one had fully embraced the hostility of the realm she, apparently, ruled over and such endurance had built her up over her lifetime. What Phebus saw next made him question such an evaluation. Her eyes, a bright and brilliant cyan, were aglow with an unnatural light that struck the Captain as utterly supernatural. The bright orbs also bore slit, cat-like pupils as opposed to the more common circular variant the other natives had; the reptilians being the only exception.

This one carried herself so much differently than the other wildlings, walking with a strong sense of poise and respect. This individual seemed to emanate a certain degree of fierceness, a fierceness that was made ever the fiercer by how silent she was. Furthermore, her luminous eyes remained locked onto the Captain as she approached him, like a mouse staring down a wolf. Yet something within Phebus felt a level of respect for this creature, a respect that most certainly would have been fear had he been anything other than a space marine, and this respect pushed his wrists down to lower his bolter. All around, even the Astartes, remained still and deadly silent, for all either owed her their adoration or noticed how this encounter would be pivotal in the current dilemma that had halfway unravelled. The girl looked Phebus up and down, her expression stony and serious, analysing the alien curves and edges to his bulky armour. She raised a hand as she came well within Phebus’ reach and dropped it again a moment later; Phebus noticed how the striped leader who had drawn her poisoned blade on Phebus’ brother now re-sheathed her blade, still bowing low while doing so.

“If you’ll excuse me for asking, but what are you?” The yellow girl asked, her voice so sickly sweet and gentle that Phebus thought for a heartbeat that his legs may fail him.

“We are space marines. And we would like our brother returned to us, unharmed.” Phebus replied, his tone as solid as diamond.

“I, um, I meant what are you...really. You were machines like clothes, but isn’t there something living under there?” She spoke again, almost sounding concerned.

Phebus had almost forgotten his helmet was still firmly fastened around his throat and skull. The Captain pondered a moment his options, for he knew well what this wild girl was implying. If he removed his helmet, he may well be open to the foreign poisons that he had witness these creatures possess, and ones he knew they could easily use against him. Then again, these people seemed to only relate to what was natural, and such displays of machinery and alien technologies was what was most likely provoking them. The Captain was in no condition to risk igniting some grudging feud between his chapter and the people of this forest, and in turn, the people of this world. Phebus took heed to his judgement, courage and compassion; he lowered his bolter and locked it to his belt, he raised his armoured gloves and grasped the inside of the edge of his helmet. With a click and a hiss the seals were released and he carefully lifted the hardware from his face.

Gasps, whispers and even the odd snarl could be heard in response to the creatures face. Fluttershy hadn’t seen anything like it, it’s features were utterly and completely alien in nearly all respects. It had two eyes, two nostrils, two ears and a mouth, but aside from these qualities everything else that made up its’ face was far from anything like a ponies’. It had no fur that Fluttershy could see, instead was a leathery, tan coloured flesh that was riddled with small scars with one ugly gash reaching from the things eyebrow to down over its’ lip acting as a hideous canyon carved through its’ face. Its’ ears were rounded and freakishly small in comparison to the rest of its head, while its’ nose was a fleshy triangle that almost seemed to have been thrown into its’ face, bearing little sign of natural appearance that Fluttershy could tell. Its’ lips were thin and wrinkled slightly as if it had pulled far too intense expressions before returning to normal, along with its’ forehead that also seemed to bear deep wrinkles that almost seemed to be scarred into the flesh.

The aliens’ mane was short yet thick black hair that seemed to have some form of thick wax or possibly dirt clumping it together into glossy spikes, having no particular pattern or flow to it as the hair was thrown about in messy directions. It eyes were by far the worst piece of the puzzle that was the creatures face. Bright, lava-like orange surrounded by the deepest black stared into the Pegasus with a fierceness that would cause any other to turn and flee. She had been foolish to think the orange lenses of their helmets were designed for intimidation, their natural eyes being far brighter and far more intense to stare into. Yet Fluttershy held firm, knowing that even if events turned sour, the forest would protect her.

Yet, even Fluttershy found her unbreakable loyalty and faith in the Everfree liege shaken slightly as she looked up at the monolith of metal and machine mixed with alien flesh that stood before her. The lady of the forest knew that nothing short of a hydra would stand a chance at tearing this creature apart. Even her mighty Ents had failed to bring just one down without aid from their brothers, which made her think:

How many more of these creatures could there be? Hundreds? Thousands?...Hundreds of thousands?!

It occurred to the Pegasus that perhaps, as much as the forest was destined to rule this world as nature intended it to, these things were not from this world and therefore could not be conquered nor contained by nature and her servants. Perhaps, as much as these creatures encroached upon her treasured and sacred lands, punishing them in any way could bring about unwanted attention from forces that could, possibly, tear this world in half. Perhaps they were telling the truth, perhaps the truth was a long forgotten myth to them, but either way Fluttershy had to play this out carefully.

“You’re...kinda scary.” She commented, trying to soften the atmosphere with a crooked smile.

The aliens’ venomous glare softened the tiniest degree, yet its burning eyes flitted quickly to Fluttershys’ grin. She quickly closed her lips together and looked about awkwardly as she realised he had taken note of her elongated teeth, a blessing the forest had granted her in the form of her teeth developing into predatory fangs and sharpened molars.

“Now, will you release our brother?” The alien asked, its’ voice a deep growl akin to that of an engine.

“What would follow if I did?” Fluttershy replied.

“We would leave your lands and never return.”

“Why should I trust you?”

“You shouldn’t. Considering the circumstances, and if our roles were reversed, I wouldn’t trust you.”

Fluttershy grew confused, did this creature want them to attack? Was this all part of some unseen plan she had failed to notice?

“You’re, uhm...not really making a very good case.” She pointed out as she took a couple of steps towards Zecora.

“I can only offer you the truth at a time like this. There is no reason for you to trust us, however, there is a reason to see us leave your lands. Above this world rests a fleet of our space craft, a fleet that remains passive and offers you neither insult nor threat. However our demise will bring down the fury of their weapons, delivering such an attack that will see nothing in this forest stands again for a thousand years. We do not wish to assault people as...such as yourselves, but any action you take now is being watched and shall be judged accordingly.” The alien finished as he put his helmet back on, the device making a sharp click followed by a hiss as it linked to the rest of his armour.

Fluttershy did not bear the legendary ‘sight’ that the brute Applejack had, but she knew now that the alien spoke the truth about such devastating weapons that could well be aimed directly at Everfree. As much as she may have wished that the alien was lying, she couldn’t help but believe every word it said, perhaps through the tone it spoke in or perhaps that if it was correct, and Fluttershy saw the creatures dead, the price would be far too great to pay. The Pegasus noticed how many of her children began to stir, shuffling in unease at the news, some even readying to attack. She simply raised a hand, more than enough to see every soul in the castle silent in an instant.

“I understand, creature. Very well, you and your brother may leave my forest, unharmed. But know that this is our land, and it is protected by powers you cannot begin to imagine. Once you leave, you are to not return.”

“As you wish it. Your lands are your own, and we shall leave them be.” Fluttershy couldn’t help but hear ‘for now’ echo in the back of her mind.

“Your name?”

“Captain Phebus Diomedes.”

“Well Phebus, I am sorry our encounter did not come under better circumstances.” Fluttershy said with a warm smile, something she had not done in far too long.

“I’m sure my brother is deeply sorry for destroying your, ‘Ents’,” The Captain took a quick glance about the castle, “We seem to have caught you at a bad time.”

“We are gathering for a most grand event. A great pilgr-“ Fluttershy suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder.

Zecora looked at the Pegasus with a stern expression and gave her head the slightest of shakes. Fluttershy cringed inside, realising she had nearly spilt the forests great plan to creatures that could well hold the power to see it ruined.

“...It...is of no concern. Now go, all of you. Remember what has been spoken this day.” She finished as she waved her hand to the minotaurs’ behind her.

The giant bulls, who had been struggling greatly to keep the alien in check released their prisoner, who immediately gave a wide stretch before glaring at the nearest bull for just long enough for it to be uncomfortable.

“We shall head for our ship immediately.” The captain replied, giving a bizarre salute of some kind across his chest before turning to head out the castle.

As the last creature left the ancient ruins Fluttershy turned to her advisor to speak.

“We much less time than before. Make sure that the expedition launches tomorrow. Anypony left over must simply make their own way and hope to catch up to the main war-band.”

The marines had pushed themselves into a jog as soon as they’d crossed the river. Phebus could only hope that he and his squad could find the gunship faster than they found the ruins.

“Captain, that did not go as well as we anticipated!” Morticus announced in mild frustration.

“Yet did not turn out as bad as it could have!”

“For a minute there I thought we’d be drowning in those damned things! I thought you said these people were collected into smaller camps?!” Ipherion called out from behind.

“Aye, they were. But you heard their matriarch, they have gathered for something!” Phebus called back.

“Did you make out what they planned to do?!”

“No, but it is no concern at this time. However, I have a strong feeling we shall find out soon enough!” Phebus replied as he vaulted over a large trunk, carrying with him news that would bring up more questions than they had brought into this forest.

The saints come marching in

The bridge of the Conquest had fallen deathly quiet for far longer than would have been comfortable, the lack of response from Chapter master Tauron was making the air in the colossal cathedral grow cold and bitter. The Astarte sat almost lifelessly still upon his command throne within his Cataphractii armour, as if the news that Captain Phebus had brought with him had made his hearts stop beating. The Captain, growing quite anxious, slid his sights over to look at his brother Chaplain in the hope he'd have something to say. The chaplain simply returned his second-long gaze with a quick expression of helplessness, or at least as far as Phebus could make out behind the chaplains rebreather mask.

"No casualties?" The Chapter Master spoke up all of a sudden.

"No, my lord." Replied the Captain.

"Well then. From this unfortunate event we shall take what little comfort we can. The situation was contained, and did not escalate. Our brothers are returned safe, and have not suffered injury. Though our initial negotiations have failed, we must look to the future with the knowledge we hold now. Let us not fret over this small hindrance." The Chapter master said as he rose from his throne and descended it's pyramid of golden steps to the bridge floor, his gigantic boots sounding thunder through the complex.

"We are undeserving of your lenience, my lord." The captain humbling said whilst delivering a deep bow.

"Nonsense, brother. I have known you since you were a youngling Phebus, and after a hundred and forty years I have come to respect you as a reliable, ferocious and level-headed Astarte," The Chapter master said down to his brother through a sincere, yet warm expression, "However, in light of your mission proving unsuccessful I had to resort to a different approach that had to be executed during your return."

"You have sent another squad down?" Phebus asked with a hint of inquiry as to who had been selected.

"Two squads, actually."

Phebus knew all to well who would have taken excessive firepower to the surface of a planet that had not even discovered electricity.

"Surely you could not have sanctioned this?"

"I did not initially forbid it. Such news came to me after his departure."

"Wouldn't surprise me if the brute has taken his Terminators with him."

The Chapter master remained silent, yet his expression screamed a thousand words.

"Centurions?! Such tools we received not a fortnight ago we deploy in an environment that'd prove to them as much a threat as lambs to a lion?! Surely the Mechanicus caught wind of such a thing through their usual eavesdropping?" Phebus fumed.

"They were the one to request such tools from the Captain himself, personally."

Phebus huffed, bemused by the ridiculousness of the situation that had fallen before him.

"Wondrous! An Astarte Captain with the temper and recklessness of a Space Wolf armed with weapons designed to pulverize armadas is escorting a column of techo-zealots to a world in the iron age. Only Apollo could be so bold...and stupid. Were are they headed?"

The Thunderhawk screamed through the atmosphere of the new-found world with the sound of ten thousand suns dying one after the other. The pilot was obviously not in any mood for subtlety as the craft bolted through the lower atmosphere, most likely visible and undoubtedly audible to any creatures present on the ground below. The Astartes within the mechanical beat held themselves with a degree of tension, the force of the gunships high speed pressing the insides uncomfortably. Yet all had filled there minds with eagerness and excitement, such was the nature of the Star Lords fourth company, the 'Comets on high', the first to set foot upon the field of calling. Yet the young Captain Apollo Optimus held in his heart the slightest frustration, a slight gnawing sensation that had been the bane of his mind for the past day. The fact that his fellow brother Captain, Phebus Diomedes, had set foot upon this world before him, and that he had made first contact with the native creatures had been sour news to Apollo. His company was the comet, and the comet strikes first.

Though his mind was at rest in at least part knowing that this was no field of war, and no battle awaited him below, yet the miracle that this worlds people held was one Apollo yearned to have been the first to witness. With him he had brought a squad from the first company, squad 'Nightbane'. Also, just for fair compensation, and at the request of the 'Yetichetech' Mechanicus sept he had brought squad 'Hammerblaze' encased within their brand new sets of giant-like Centurion armour. The armour had been gifted to them as a departing gift from their progenitor chapter, the Sons of Horus, after their last campaign together; as if sending a contingent force wasn't enough the founding chapter could do for their younger brothers. Each suit outsized an Astarte by three times, coming close to the size of a dreadnought. The suits had a heavy weapon mounted on each wrist plus a supporting weapon mounted upon each side of the torso. The armour was thicker than that of tactical dreadnought armour, making a mockery of small arms fire.

"Comfy Horatius?!" Called out Anthonim over the cry of the Thunderhawks' engines.

"I'll let you know when I'm not." Replied the sergeant flatly.

The honoured veteran sergeant shook his head in disappointed amusement at his brother monotone response.

"Ten seconds, Captain." Sounded the pilot.

"Understood. Are our 'friends' far behind?" Apollo replied.

"They are already at the landing zone, sire."

Apollo cursed to himself, thwarted in his efforts again. Escalations in effort must be made for his company in the future. The ship began to slow, and when it became possible the squads disengaged from their harnesses. Hammerblaze had simply taken a knee to better cope with the crafts speed as flight harnesses had no hope of securing such gigantic armour. The gunship slowed further before coming to a stop mid-air and gracefully dropping down to the ground with a soft thump. A microsecond later and the assault ramp dropped down to let the Astartes run free from the confines of their vessel. the marines' boots went from thundering on rigid steel to grinding dead and dusty earth beneath them.

All about them was desert, rusty in color and near lifeless. The odd sickly tree or bush was scattered about a vast landscape of dark sand, piles of Rhino size boulders and titanic mountains. Dust assaulted Apollos' visor as the Thunderhawk took off into the skies once more, no doubt staining his recently cleaned crest. Swiping the trivial concern away, Apollo turned to face away from the craft and towards his allies. The silhouettes of the Mechanicus forces could just about be made out by the Captain, though their color scheme and frame did not help in the least. the marines marched forward and came face to face with the creatures that would like so very much to be able to call themselves human.

The leader, a Magos Dominus by the name of Terynic, walked towards the captain on four mechanical, insect-like limbs that came from a beetle-like abdomen that made up his lower body. His upper body was mostly humanoid, though his back was arched noticeably and the armour plates fused to his metal endoskeleton did not help him hide his hunched posture. His entire body was lacking the biomechanical flesh he had been grown with, in fact it seemed none of his original bio-mechanics remained at all, instead just a matte finished, metallic skeletal frame colored a bone white, locking in a collection of tubes, wires, pistons and cogs that made up body. His head was also metallic, but worse, had a single large, bright blue orb sat unblinking where his eyes should have been. His arms were long, his hands ending in skeletal fingers that grasped a Mechanicus staff that glowed with a bright blue energy like his singular eye and the many crevasse that led into his inner body. Two more, smaller limbs sat folded around his rib cage, one manipulative, the other ending in some form of scanning device. Behind him marched a twelve Scittarii, all appearing much like their master, only having humanoid legs, two glowing eyes sat in their metal skulls and holding atom cascaders. All wore wraps of age-stained cloth that served as a form of robe with loose ends snapping and twisting violently in the strong dessert winds. Behind all of them glided three insecticar automatas, scouting machines that were equipped with a complex stealth technology, the workings of which known only to the Mechanicus. The machines appeared a mix of insect and snake, made into the forms of terrifying machines each well over eighteen feet in length.

"Your forces are prepared, Captain?" Terynic asked in a voice that was more of a complex compilation of clicks and rattles.

"We are ready to make our advance." With that the Magos turned in an instant to head to their designated location before Apollo grabbed the android by the shoulder and swung him round to face him once more.

"I hope you understand the delicate nature of this operation. I am not known for my subtlety, but even I know when it is time to take one step back for every two taken forth.

The Magos simply cocked his cyclopian head to the side at the statement at first, staring into the Captains orange lenses with his own azure one. Upon his centaurian lower half the Magos matched the height of the Astarte, something Apollo had to admit to himself that was unfamiliar to him.

"Do not concern yourself with the workings of the Adeptus Mechanicus, Captain. We shall operate within our boundaries, you shall operate within your own."

With that the android took off, leaving the marines as he and his retinue marched to the city that lay a few kilometers ahead. Apollo prayed to the stars that this creature would cause him no trouble than he could not tolerate, for the sake of not his men, but the poor creatures that he now marched towards.

Applejack was growing tired indeed of the creation that stood before her. This monolith of mockery, this pillar of disappointment. The alien pod had sealed itself shit tight as soon as the final flying machine had entered its confines, and although this offered a much more flexible shape to move the object around on, it proved now impossible to examine the vessels interiors. Her sister and the other mechanics had labored day and night with every manner of tool that every workshop in Appleoosa had to offer. Yet the machine proved to be as stubborn as Applejack herself, and infinitely more solid. The metal the machine was built from was impervious to the hottest flames and heaviest equipment, the most they could accomplish was making a mess of the paintwork. At this point Applejack was seriously considering putting the damned thing in front of a Fortbuster and seeing how tough it felt then.

With a sigh the orange mare returned to lean against the workbench across the room from the forty ton problem that hand literally dropped into her life, as if she didn't have enough to deal with. Sparkle enslaved and tortured her people in the name of false gods, Fluttershy led a hoard of wildling savages ever further into Equestria by the day, Rarity scraped in every pony that could be bought into military service and wallowed in her own wealth, Dash had formed together an armada of warrior-pegasi to bully every other house into submission, and then there was the cult. The cult was the last thing she wanted to think about, but here she was, thinking about it.

A waterfall of memories, as fresh and foul as the day they occurred, fell upon her mind in a relentless fashion. Images of nightmares made reality flashed before her very sight alongside the distant sound of screaming ponies slowly being drowned out by the cackles and giggling of those things. Those things that she had once known as neighbors, friends or at least ponies she had walked by as she casually walked the streets. All had turned into something else, something worse than anything she could imagine, a terror even her very nightmares failed at recreating with quite the same effect. Death did not sway them, it didn't even stop most of them, and the creatures that had been wrenched from a cursed realm into reality had been more than enough for Applejack to sleep with a hand cannon under her bed.

The commander snapped out of her mental prison with a shake of her head, the memories echoes haunting her still several seconds after she had banished the thought. She brought a slightly shaking hand to her forehead to steady her thoughts, taking several deep breaths before marching towards the alien device with a grim expression.

"C'mon sis. Gimme someth'n here." AJ called to her sister who was hung upside down by a wire harness, a crowbar in her hands desperately scratching were the top of the one of the pods doors met its' core.

"The hay d'yah want me tah say AJ?! The thang may's'well be made 'a' solid diamond!" Applebloom replied in a huff of frustration before spinning back the right way up and winding herself back to the ground.

"What?! So you're just giving up, that it?!" AJ spat.

"Look sis, ah know we all had our hearts set on this thang, but even ah gotta say we should think about packin' up shop on this one. Yah know nopony else knows machines like ah do, and ah can say fer sure that who or whatever built this designed it so that when it shuts, it stays shut. Ah mean, this is technolagy like ah've never seen; the design, alloys, everythang!"

AJ would never give up on a task, not stopping for anyone until she saw it done. Aside from this time. The commander had to admit it, her sister was right. If this thing was designed to stay shut, the likelihood was that nothing but its' creators could get it to open up again. Furthermore, the fact she had brought this thing back to her own capital was a double-edged sword. On one hand the technologies this thing offered were potentially bottomless, and needed to be exploited by the house (or at the very least, kept safe from greedy eyes elsewhere). However, the possibility that the makers of this thing were headed to claim their stolen vessel made AJs' heart pound in panic. These things could be capable of practically anything, possibly even destroying all of Equestria. Perhaps they looked at ponies as little more than insects in need of extermination, or perhaps slaves! AJ sighed and began to pace lightly.

"Right. No getting this thang t' crack. Technology bordering on sorcery locked inside. Any ideas?"

"Ah think maybe we should act the good little kiddies we may appear to whatever made this and put it right back where we found it. Y'know, before they come knockin' to get it back. Hay, they may not even believe in knocking."

"Urgh, fine! Ah guess there'll be a lot 'a' disappointed looks ah'll be gettin' today."

Suddenly, as if rehearsed, a pony-at-arms burst through the workshop doors. The heavy-built stallion seemed to stumble more than he ran, as if his legs had been grasped by powers beyond his own mind. Panting heavily, he began to spit breathless words.

"......Gate!...Soldiers!....Not ponies!"

AJ and Applebloom shared a look for way longer than they should have before bolting out of the workshop and headed strait for the city gates.

"-Like scales, green ones! Maybe blue!"

"Enough, Applebloom. This ain't no time t' be foolin' around with yer daydreamin'." AJ shot as she hurriedly escalated the wooden staircase.

At the top of the staircase sat the watchtower platform with two more Earthborn soldiers awaiting the commanders arrival. Both took what normally would be an unacceptable length of time to salute the commander, yet their lack of diligence was excusable due to what their attention had been gripped by. After the commander had received her salutes she turned to face beyond Appleoosas' timber gate, foolishly expecting something less terrifying than what she received.

Monsters. Giants. Machine beasts from another world stood like statues void of life itself before her city's very doorstep. Not fifty feet the creatures held their ground before the city limits, all standing still as stone and, from a painfully intense feeling AJ felt, staring strait at her. She couldn't be completely sure of this as the creatures eyes seemed to lack any traits to determine their direction nor did they even blink. For a while all AJ could do was simply stare back.

"How long ago did they arrive?" The commander asked in a hushed tone, fearing these creatures could somehow hear her.

"It began with two creatures dropping from the skies, Commander." One of the guards replied.

"Like before?"

"No, commander. They flew like a pegasi, yet they roared like a pissed off hydra. They touched the ground in the distance for a moment before taking flight once again, one after the other. They then flew off into the skies, higher than anything I had ever seen before, then disappeared."

AJ continued to scan her sights over the aliens, now noticing a new breed of creature, more terrifying than the last, taking a perfect six by six rank formation behind the giants. They appeared as alien skeletons filled with machinery that gave a ghostly blue glow that pained the eyes to stare at even in daylight. They all wore robes and bandages, seemingly unchanged for decades if not longer with their light brown hue and torn edges. All the skeletons held what appeared to be a form of firearm that glowed the same electric blue as their metal guts, while AJ assumed the machinery the giants had holstered and strapped around their waists were also some form of firearm.

"Anypony tried talkin' to these thangs?" She said, turning to the guards who looked at each other, nervous of how their response would sit with the orange mare.

"Uh, n-no, Commander. You want us to send som-...or maybe, go out ourselves?" The guard replied, practically shaking with fear at the possibility to be the first to get zapped by some bizarre alien death-ray.

"No, ah will go." She replied simply before heading to descend the tower.

"ARE YAH CRAZY SIS?! We dunno what them thangs'll do tah yah!" Applebloom nearly screamed as she chased after her sister.

"No arguments! Ah'd rather go mahself an' be sure this goes smoothly than risk anypony else gettin' us in trouble we really could do without," AJ said sternly before stopping to turn to Applebloom, "...Though...sure wouldn't be a bad idea to go grab me a few..." She turned again to see the ranks of the aliens, "Juggernauts....yeh, say eight....ten 'a' Big Macs' finest an' send 'em mah way....An' have the 12th regiment wait behind the gate, give 'em a buster too." AJ said to the young mare, realising how much trouble this could turn out to be as she listed off more and more units she felt would provide adequate compensation if things turned sour.

"...Perhaps we should knock, sire?" Anthonim suggested in a low mumble.

"They've seen us. Not to worry, they haven't shot at us yet, which means they should be preparing a retinue party to meet us." Apollo calmly replied.

"Perhaps the prospect of negotiations does not present itself to such simple creatures." Terynic chimed in, the mechanical tone carrying a degree of further coldness it had not before held.

"They were smart enough to build a city, military and machines, they're smart enough not to start unwanted fights."

"I thought you of all our brothers would be the one to start hammering on a natives front door? Respectively, m'lord." Added the sergeant.

"I have my moments." The Captain replied with a humored snort.

Another half hour passed, and Apollo could hear everything that was being readied behind the wall. These creatures may not have been exceedingly smart, but they were far from stupid. The march of soldiers, many soldiers, could be heard with the rumble and grind of a war engines machinery. Obviously he had stirred up quite the response from these people, and this made the Captain feel very pleased. These people feared them, of that there was no doubt, and though such a technique was frowned upon by his chapter it was paramount to earning the respect that came tied in with such a fear. These people needed to know their place, one they had now been edged into, one that required them to prepare an army in response to a mere twenty two imperial guns.

Soon enough, however, the wooden gates groaned before swinging open at the efforts of a dozen natives who hurried back to the safety of their city walls as the fear of being simply exposed to such imposing warriors gripped them. Apollo could hear the order to proceed shouted out by what seemed like a female voice before the march of armored feet could be heard. Out came quite the display, one that would have most certainly been a fright before any other infantry. Yet the marines were utterly unmoved by the ranks that marched towards them, even slightly amused. Twenty one souls marched forward, all clad in a rust-red painted armour that reminded him so very much of the common pattern Mechanicus armour. Their armour was forged thick and layered on thick with chainmail seen everywhere that required a field of movement. One however seemed to wear a slightly less heavy-set armour, the one Apollo assumed to be the female commander he had heard moments ago. The native looked most respectable, even by a space marines' standards, wearing a fine set of armour decorated with shining emeralds. A cloak of midnight black whipped about her heels, linked to a fine wrap of animal fur that carried down her shoulders. A small banner hung above her head depicting what first took Apollos' breathe away, the Ultramarine sigil, yet on closer inspection appeared to be a crowned horseshoe bearing a fruit and cradled in leaves. At the banners edges were hung some form of brightly colored ornaments, a breed of ocean shell or something of the sorts. Her blonde mane was tied up into a topknot fashion, while one of her bright green eyes was hidden beneath an eye-patch, a sign of a respectable general not afraid to get into the thick of battle.

Her escorts wore the thicker sets of armour that seemed clunky and brutal in design and function, certainly not ideal for an adaptable warrior breed. Their faces were concealed behind daunting helmets bearing fierce metal tusks and horns that appeared to be of a fully functional design; obviously these boys didn't mind getting their heads stuck into the action, literally. Their boots were heavy and cumbersome, while their fists were locked inside giant gauntlets fashioned into a maul/hammer like weapon. Everything about these soldiers screamed 'brute force', yet at the same time 'clumsy'. The fur-coated creatures grew close to the marines and Scitarii at their commander lead before coming to a halt about ten feet away.

"Mah name is Applejack, supreme commander of house Earthborn. And what might you fine, uh.....gentlemen be doing around these parts?" The female, this 'Applejack', spoke with a rustic charm that Apollo found very infectious, immediately finding himself fond of the small creature.

"I am Captain Apollo Optimus, commander of the fourth company Star Lords space marine chapter. As for your question, well, upon observing your humble planet we thought it be a most acceptable environment to come oon down and give our legs a stretch on good old-fashioned, natural gravity. Space travel, you see, can sometimes cause ones' joints to become stiff and ill-used." The Captain mused, his tone deliberately giving away his playful tone.

"Well excuse mahself fer sayin', but there a whole lotta world out there yah can stretch out them legs 'a' yers. Mind tellin' us why yah chose to take a stroll down towards mah lands?" Applejack replied with a chuckle, yet something in her tone hinted to the Astarte that she was not in the mood for games.

"Of course, commander. Please, forgive our intrusions, but it would seem you came into contact with one of our surveillance drones. So much so you've made the applaudable effort to bring it all the way from its' landing zone to here." The Captain explained with a light tone.

"Hey, uh, you want yer metal flower bud back ya'll can take it." Applejack said trying her best to keep her face collected.

"Oh such a trinket is of little concern when compared to the real reason we're here." The Captain said as he removed his helmet, "You."

Applejack was obviously taken aback by the sudden gesture, her face loosing its tension and discipline and falling in awe. The Astarte must have looked a monster to the creature as she took a step back, most of her guards tensing up at the action of his revealing himself. His square facial frame, darkened eye sockets, pitch black hair, rough stubble and tanned flesh must have appeared quite the bizarre to creatures that he saw to be off bright, vibrant colors of all kinds, with soft features and large, bright eyes. Apollo couldn't help but grin at the sight of child-like panic before him.

"O-ok then. So, uh...us? What about us?" Applejack stuttered.

"The likelihood that two races, separated by hundred of thousands of light-years sharing the same dialect is in most respects impossible. Yet such a miracle has occurred, and it is occurring this very moment."

"Right. So ya'll find it pretty fancy that we can understand each other, ah get that. But why ya'll feel the need tah come see it fer yerself?"

"Do not think us so arrogant as to remain perched upon our heavenly throne only to calculate the events below as souless cosmic marauders. We grant such an occurrence the respect it deserves, a personal audience. This and such an event is most likely no coincidence, and many among our ranks believe the work of the gods is afoot upon this world, and such a thing is a calling to us. Why else would such a significant element as basic communication be a trait that both our people share? Why else but to put it to practice and have us learn from one another?" The Captain lectured, his tone thick with a sense of ethereal motive.

"Ah can figure. So, what d'ya'll want tah 'communicate' about?" Applejack asked, relaxing but a tiny bit.

"Please, see us not as a threat. We are driven by a divine purpose, one all my kin share. The purpose to show the fair common-folk our shield, and the wretched darkness of this universe our blade. Know that whatever land harbours good souls will see security through our blood, and any that harbors the forces of foul working shall be vanquished from the galaxy and memory itself." He preached, proposing an improvised recital of his chapters pledge.

"So ya'll are here...to help us?" Applejack asked confused.

"As long as it is needed and deserved."

Applejack looked at the Captain for a moment quizzically, scanning her one eye over his features intensely before seemingly tensing up. She looked at him as if expecting to burn a hole through his skull with her very sight, the intensity of the stare stirring the sense of unease within the Astarte. His eyes narrowed and head tilted in curiosity as to the strange effort the female was making. But a couple of seconds before she had begun whatever it was she had initiated she stopped, her expression and gaze relaxing before turning into a wide, gleaming smile.

"Well ah reckon such a profession deserves to be bought a drink. Ya'll come on in an we'll see yer settle in comfy. Oh, and...err....what about them fellas?" She asked peering behind the marine to look upon the unblinking ranks of the Mechanicus.

"Ah, yes. They represent the house that sees our technologies and sciences are given life. I will not sweeten the truth, such creatures are intrusive as they are soulless, yet I can assure you they will cause no trouble. They just wish to observe your society and its' workings, just to record who we're involving ourselves with."

"Sure thang pardner. Heck, ah'll have a mechanic team give 'em a tour when we get inside." Applejack said warmly before giving a quick shout of surprise and fright as the Magos scuttled up to her with the speed of a lightning fueled insect.

"That will not be necessary. Continue your workings as you would normally. See that none interfere with our research." The android spoke through his buzzing and clicks before scuttling off into the city along with his Automatas, the Scitarii marching slowly in tow.

"Like I said, intrusive." Apollo said as he waved his squads forward.

The aliens marched forward, shaking the very earth she held so dear with each massive footfall. The commander had just made the gamble of a lifetime, and had either assured her houses absolute victory or its' imminent destruction. Her mind spun with the possible outcomes, yet settled with the knowledge that had always been her greatest ally, the truth. The alien had spoken truth, a truth so absolute and one it was so devout to that it paled Applejacks' in comparison. This creature was willing to go through pain and beyond to achieve the goals of its' people, a goal that stretched the very stars. Her 'sight' had shown her all this, the clarity of even word the giant had spoken was as beautiful as a technicolor diamond bathed in a godly light that shone from within it like liquid gold. His loyalty to his purpose surpassed the mere dreams and promises of ponies, even those as definite as AJs'. This warlord of the stars would die a thousand times over and a thousand times again if it meant one good pony was to live safe. It feared nothing, not pain, death, terror or threat, it was the ultimate superior warrior mind and as immovable as a mountain.

This thing could turn Earthborn into a planet-wide empire, or a ruin of ash and fire. This thing was marching into Appleoosa, and Applejack felt a strange sensation of simultaneous hope and dread.