Prologue - The Cannon that Pierced the Skies
I was just a colt when the stars fell from the skies, but I remember how they built a cannon to destroy them and in turn how that cannon brought war upon us.
War was an abstract idea, nothing more than a show on TV. As a foal, I only saw it as something that happened in some far away land. Until that final day of summer...
One day while on my way to school, I looked up in the skies. A sound like distant thunder. In the blue skies far above me, Ponies drew patterns and dizzying circles around in a crazy waltz. A battle in the beautiful skies far away... I could not tear my gaze away from them.
A deafening roar...
And then sharp silhouettes appeared, as if to graze the hills, and streaked past me. The Pegasi played the cat or the mouse in turn as they climbed swiftly into the sky. One fleeing pony fell out of the skies, Spiraling and leaving a flurry of blood, to land by the cape. The Afterburner Pack worn by the pony burst in a rush of orange flames and black smoke.
That was the same cape where my family lived. Now they only live in my memories of days past.
The victor circled around to confirm the kill. An orange-maned Mare with a blazing trail of fire that followed. On her suit, there was the word "Spitfire" emblazoned in Yellow.
I will never forget this.
The Allies retreated across the ocean before the onslaught of the enemy. Our little town, in the heart of the mainland, fell into deep isolation...
Four years after the planetfall of the asteroids, Stonehenge, the Equisian weapon of mass destruction, was originally built to shoot down asteroids. Upon discovering its potential as an anti-pegasi weapon, the Equisians ruled the skies over the Equestrian mainland. The UEAF's (United Equestrian Allied Forces) attempts to destroy Stonehenge through air strikes failed. As a result, strategic positions on the Equestrian mainland were lost. This in turn forced UEAF to evacuate from the East Coast to North Point. UEAF's GHQ (General Headquarters) is regrouping remaining its combat forces at North Point.
However, the Equisians control most parts of the Equestrian, and they have forward deployed bombers to Rigley Air Base, a former UEAF facility. This bomber force will attempt to deal a lethal blow to the UEAF at North Point from this strategic position.
The airbase's corridors were crowded and filled with idle talk. Only with the steps of the Rainbow-maned did ponies step aside and lower their voices. The Rainbow Pegasus' presence alone gathered a few looks and whispers. Her pace was unchanged as she trotted through the hallways. The Pegasus' vision never shifted anywhere that wasn't directly in front of her.
She turned and opened a door, seemingly at random. As she entered this new room, multiple ponies' eyes gazed upon her. As expected from her, she ignored every living soul in the room and approached a glowing, flickering screen that faced upwards from a table. Her hoof tapped against the screen. The light that the screen let out increased in intensity and brightness as a three-dimensional form was emitted. The form quickly morphed into an in-depth map of the Equisian area.
"Here is the current sit-rep and your orders for deployment, effective immediately." A Stallion's voice spoke out from the light. "Enemy agents destroyed our early warning radar network, allowing several Bomber Pegasi to penetrate our airspace."
The Rainbow-maned pony swiped at the hologram, causing the vision to shift and zoom into the required combat zone.
"In 15 minutes, we expect this bomber formation to strike Allencolt Air Base, and then move on to targets at North Point." The male voice continued. "Our air defense forces are extremely weak at this point in time. Hence our GHQ is a sitting duck. It is mission critical that you down the pegasi bombers and neutralize the threat before they get past Newfield Island."
She stared into the forms and maps that flashed around the space in front of her.
"Remember, you are the first line of defense for North Point, and the fate of UEAF lies in your hooves."
The Pegasus continued to review the data before her until she finally tapped on the screen again. As quickly as it came up, it went down again. She turned around and left the room without a word.
She set her course for the armory where she received her ammunition and weapons. They were handed to her in small, cylindrical packages. These packages were infused with Unicorn magic to allow them to extend and re-size at the push of a button.
She was given a basic load-out:
2 Saddle-Mounted Mini-guns
2 Saddle-Mounted Missile/Bomb Launcher
48 Missiles
12 Unguided Bombs
650 MG Rounds
and an Afterburner Pack which is used to reach supersonic speeds much faster than a Pegasus' wings can take them.
All this, with the exception of the Afterburner Pack, was given to her in those packages.
She took her load-out and went outside onto the runway. She looked up at the skies, the empty blue skies. With a deep breath, she lowered her goggles and tightened them around her eyes. She crouched low onto the hot asphalt and spread her wings.
"Everfree One, you are cleared for Take-off."
Her Afterburner pack lit with extreme heat emanating from it. With a swift gallop and a tall bound, she flapped her wings and took to the skies.
-Raidst the blue skies, a link from the past to the future, the sheltering wings of the protector...-
