(Original) Chapter 3: The UNSC

Chapter 3: The UNSC

Epsilon Eridani System

Planet Reach

ONI Olympic Tower, New Alexandria, Espoz

June 22nd, 2551

"So you mean to tell me, Captain Cutter, that you and your former crew are now part of some... alien empire separate from the Covenant? We, of course, received your communications back in 47', but you never mentioned anything about this." Admiral Lord Hood said, pacing around his side of the room.

Next to Hood were Admirals Danforth Whitcomb and Michael Stanforth, and another stern, middle-aged woman. Cutter recognized her as Admiral Margaret Parangosky, director of the Office of Naval Intelligence, and as many in the Army would put it, 'Queen of the Spooks'. Spook being an unflattering nickname for the covert ONI operatives.

With a brief wink of light, Serina appeared in a holo tank next to the humans. "With all due respect Admiral, we were gone for twenty years. Were you expecting something more outlandish than this?"

"Serina..." Cutter scolded. "Remember, you're speaking to the highest brass in the UNSC."

"My apologies, Supreme Commander." The AI responded. Hood looked quizzically at Cutter at the mention of his rank. Cutter held up a hand, signifying a request for a moment to explain things.

"After Doctor Ellen Anders and I met with the ruler of Equestria, Celestia, we made an alliance. We swore to protect her planet from the Covenant to the best of our ability after Anders offered up our tech, if her people agreed to supply us with the resources necessary to repair our ship and regain contact with the UNSC. As you can see, our alliance accomplished that, and then some. By the time the Spirit of Fire had become space-worthy again, we had already settled down." Cutter paused for a breath, then continued.

He cleared his throat. "Many of us now had family, friends, and careers in Equestria, and we couldn't just abandon all that. We had become an important part of society, and when news finally came to us about how the War was going, we revealed this all to Celestia. Eventually we came to the conclusion that us and the Equestrians should become one people. By then, my crew positively worshiped Celestia and only an empire would be strong enough politically and militarily to stand up to the Covenant. So, we convinced Celestia to make herself Empress. I was appointed Supreme Commander of the new military." He said in conclusion.

Lord Hood and his colleagues took a minute to consider all the informatio. Ever a tactical, inquisitive mind, Admiral Parangosky was the first to speak.

"What I'm sure my colleagues here are wondering, is what role is this...Empire of Equestria... planning to play in our fight with the Covenant?" She inquired, folding her arms over her chest.

Cutter nodded. "That's exactly the main reason why my fleet is here. Empress Celestia has dispatched me here on an expedition to form an official relationship between Equestria, the UNSC, the UEG, and any other neutral or friendly powers that may be out there." The Equestrian admiral folded his hands behind his back.

"By relationship, we mean nothing less than a full scale military alliance."

Raising his brow, Stanforth was next to speak. "And just what military assets, dare I ask, could Equestria provide us with?"

Cutter nodded again. "Due to our recent technological advances aided by Equestrian magic.." The Admirals gave him skeptical, ha;f-amused looks as he said 'magic'.

Cutter cleared his throat again, then continued. "...we were able to manufacture new armaments and vehicles, as well as warships at an astounding pace, given Equestria's previous lack of large scale heavy industry. Collaboration between Dr. Anders and Equestrian scientists also yielded us new warfare as well as civilian technology that might interest ONI R&D and UEG corporations. For instance, our warships, vehicles, and infantry all have fully functioning magic-powered shielding technology. It comes standard issue."

A few of the Admirals' jaws dropped open in shock. Whitcomb, the first to regain his composure, sputtered out his response.

"Agh..ugh..If..If true...and if our intel on Covie military technology is to be trusted, that would make your forces' technological prowess on par with the enemy's! Who are these friendly, advanced aliens you speak of then? We wish to meet one." Whitcomb said. His fellow Admirals nodded in agreement at this.

Commander Cutter smiled in return. "It would be my pleasure to introduce them. Two of them, actually. Serina, could you call them in please?"

"Aye sir."

The door opened on Cutter's side, admitting the two Equestrians. The Admirals' jaws dropped a second time at the duo's appearances. While they didn't know exactly what they were expecting from the mysterious friendly aliens, nothing could have prepared them for this.

"Admirals, I am pleased to introduce to you, two of our most esteemed Leaders in all the Imperial Military." Cutter gestured towards the two amiably.

Shining introduced himself with a friendly smile and a wave of his armored foreleg." I am Lord-General of the Equestrian Imperial Army and Marines, Shining Armor. At your service."

The tall, imposing unicorn was clad in an ornate uniform similar to Cutter's. Shining wore a gleaming gold/silver-colored breastplate, with matching neck guard, metal shoes, and back plating. Accenting the armor was an arcane, rainbow-colored glow that ran the length of his armor, and the Equestrian flag was displayed proudly on his flank opposite the one adorned with his star-shield cutie mark.

With all the gleam and polish, his armor truly matched his name and rank.

Next, Shining Armor's companion, an equally imposing pegasus mare with a brilliant orange mane introduced herself. "You can call me Spitfire. I am the de facto Commander of the Equestrian Imperial Air Force, and Captain of the Air Force's elite, The Imperial Wonderbolts." She declared. Her uniform's armor was much like Shining and Cutter's, but lighter and sleeker looking, streamlined and optimized for flight-based combat.

Parangosky carefully analyzed their armor with sharp intelligent eyes, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. Noting the glow, and comparing them to known data gathered regarding Covenant shield systems, her fascination grew.

"And I take it, those lights on your armor are the shielding systems Commander Cutter has mentioned?" The three Equestrian leaders nodded in unison. "Fascinating. We've only managed to equip our Spartan II's and III's with such technology." She said. Her eyes were filled with envy as much as curiosity.

"Well, when you mentioned them, I wasn't expecting sentient..Ponies!" Hood said. Shining Armor and Spitfire, recalling their memory of the first contact roughly twenty years ago, grinned at Admiral's Hood's discomfort and shock.

"As you can see, Shining Armor and Spitfire are a different species, ponies, and we are human, and yet we are all Equestrian." Cutter explained.

"And I think I speak for all the Empire when I say that they are just as committed to fighting the Covenant as any human. In Equestrian culture, compassion, benevolence, mercy, and friendship are treasured values. The Covenant represents the very thing our Empire despises. Cruelty, Evil, destructive delusion."

Shining nodded at Cutter. "When he told us about what these Covenant aliens did to your people, it really struck home. For a very long time, us Ponies always assumed the stars were a peaceful place like on most of our planet. When we realized we were horribly wrong, and also had the ability to do something to help correct it, Empress Celestia ordered us here to help you. Although we would have gone anyways, without hesitation."

The Lord General's words changed Hood's expression from discomfort to one of gratefulness and relief. "This is most pleasing to hear. For many years we have wondered how an alliance with a non-hostile species might help secure our species' survival. Now one comes to us. And it couldn't have been at a better time either."

Parangosk nodded in agreement. "As much as we hate to admit it, Humanity is losing. Reach...our greatest remaining strength outside of Earth, could soon be threatened. Every naval engagement with the Covenant only either ends in a massacre, or a hollow victory. We've lost world after world. If your claims are truthful, Commander Cutter, then that means we have no choice but to accept whatever terms you offer, if we are to continue to ensure our survival."

The other Admirals nodded in agreement with Hood, as well as Parangosky's rather grim assessment.

"Then it's settled. The UNSC and the Equestrian Empire are hereby allies in the war against the Covenant Empire. My terms are this: you give Imperial Intelligence unrestricted access to all up-to-date ONI intel, as well as joint command of all non-essential military vessels to bolster Imperial combat capability, and lastly, assist in the training of all new Equestrian military personnel in the usage of UNSC equipment and tactics here on Reach."

Cutter paused, signifying the end of his requests, and the beginning of his side of the bargain. Parangosky gave out a mental sigh, unbeknownst to anyone around her.

"In return, we shall share all data on our technological developments, as well as provide you with the equipment and personnel needed to develop and deploy said technology. Accepting this will provide you with the full potential might of the Empire at your disposal, for whatever operation you need us."

Listening attentively, Lord Hood was already pondering the implications of having an actual military ally against the Covenant. Perhaps the Covenant's genocidal campaign could actually be halted? Only time would tell.

"Otherwise, our Imperial Fleets will likely only maintain positions to defend Reach, Earth, and Equestrian-held space." Cutter finished.

Hood looked Cutter straight in the eye, and held out his hand. "The UNSC agrees with these terms. Your forces are welcome to train on Reach, and any vessels the UNSC can spare are at your disposal to modify or deploy as you see fit. As for our intel, that's Margaret's domain." Hood motioned at Parangosky, who reluctantly nodded.

"Send me your Intelligence Officials, and we'll give them full access. We trust you will not leak sensitive ONI intel to the public of the UNSC or your Empire?" She said, more of a statement then a question.

"Of course not. I understand the critical nature of ONI's secrecy, Admiral." Commander Cutter replied, nodding to Hood and Parangosky, then shook Admiral Hood's hand.

"When will be able to formally meet with your Empress Celestia in person?" Admiral Stanforth inquired.

Cutter smiled. "I'll have to ask Her Majesty about that to find out." The old human said simply.

"Well, if that concludes our business, we'll be going back to our respective posts. There is a war still going on, after all, people." Admiral Hood said. He nodded at Cutter, Shining Armor, and Spitfire.

"It was a pleasure meeting you two. Judging on your physical builds and armor, I'd wager your people are some fine fighters. It will be an honor fighting alongside the ponies of Equestria." The two ponies nodded at the Human, Shining grinning appreciatively.

"Oh and Cutter?" Hood said just as he was about to take his leave, "Take care of yourself, and make sure you give the Covenant hell, wont you?"

The grizzled Commander chuckled to himself. "No worries on that front, Admiral. Well, Shining, Spitfire, we have a preparations to make." He said, moving to gather Serina's data chip from the holo tank. With Serina in hand, the three Equestrian Generals and the AI left the meeting room. Boarding their pelican on a landing pad just outside the tower, they headed back up to their fleet in orbit.

Epsilon Eridani System

Planet Reach, High Orbit

Anchor 9 Refitting Station

June 25th, 2551

"Anchor 9, this is Equestrian Imperial Naval Vessel: Spirit of Fire, requesting permission for the Imperial Fleet to dock, over." Cutter said through his ship's comms.

"Copy that Spirit Actual, permission granted. Anchor 9 Control, out."

Now that the alliance with the UNSC had been secured, it was time to notify the Home World to send in the Second Fleet. The Second Fleet would act as the Imperial garrison force for Reach, while Cutter's fleet, now designated First Fleet, will become available for whatever assignments the UNSC had to offer. The Third Fleet was still under construction in the Imperial Shipyards on Equestria's Moon. It would, in time, serve as Earth's Imperial Garrison.

The Second Fleet was due to arrive in two months, after preparation and testing was complete and the ships were cleared for combat. In the meantime, First Fleet will serve as defense for Reach, while supplemental training for the Imperial Army, Air, and Marine personnel will be conducted on the surface of the Planet.

Relaxing in one of Anchor 9's lounges, Cutter poured over the Fleet's action readiness report as his ships were being fitted for defense duty. All in all the First Fleet consisted of 20 Charon-class light frigates, 5 destroyers, 4 Marathon-class heavy cruisers, twin Valiant-class super-heavy cruisers, one experimental Harmony-class battlecruiser, and counting the Spirit, one modified Phoenix-class colony ship.

Estimates put overall man/pony power in the First Fleet at roughly 15,000 Navy and civilian personnel, and 60,000 Army, Marine, and Air Force personnel.

To add on to that, with the ships and personnel provided by the UNSC, that number could be placed at 100,000 or more active Fleet personnel.

The Second and Third Fleets were anticipated to be of similar strength. With the sole exception that they will be comprised of ships of uniquely Equestrian design, rather than the UNSC-style ships that made up most of Cutter's fleet. The Harmony-class battlecruiser in the Commander's possession, named appropriately: EIN Vanguard of the Sun, was the first such ship to be field tested.

Sleek and modern, The massive battlecruiser is the first Imperial vessel to be outfitted with enhanced shielding and prototype magic-powered energy weapons for ship-to-ship engagements.

Cutter has taken the task of personally reporting the Vanguard's performance observations to Dr. Anders at the Imperial Ministry of Technology as their battles with the Covenant inevitably commence. From what he heard, they were working non-stop, drafting new designs for warships, aircraft, and ground vehicles.

The Empress informed him personally in a transmission that the scientists were running themselves ragged, studying and reverse-engineering the Covenant and even the occasional piece of Forerunner tech provided by the UNSC and ONI. Celestia also confided it was one of the reasons she had instructed Twilight to leave her work at IMTECH to live in Ponyville.

Musing over his appreciation for the Ministry and Anders' hard work, the Commander continued to busy himself with the data. A nearby whirring noise indicated he had a visitor. The lounge door slid open, admitting Shining Armor into the room.

"Hey there, Commander Cutter." He said kindly. For a former Guardspony, and now a top-tier general to boot, Shining was surprisingly a very sociable, friendly individual, rather than the stern, stoic warrior one would expect from those with Royal Guard backgrounds.

"Hello Shining Armor. How goes the training of the Army?" Cutter said.

"Not too bad, actually. The Mares and Stallions of the army certainly can adapt to Human combat tactics surprisingly well. We're already getting specialists added into the squads of the fleet. We'll be as good as ready to fight those damn Covies any month now."

Cutter laughed in spite of himself. "I see. I take it the Marines don't need much training though, do they?"

"Nope. Since most of them were UNSC marines before they joined, they've taught the ponies in the Marines pretty much everything they need to know. That leaves us more time to focus on the Army, and the Air Force." Shining set himself down on one of the comfortable chairs with an audible sigh of relief.

"Teaching our Pegasi how to pilot Longswords, and Pelicans is no easy task. A lot of them don't seem to get the idea that the aircraft can carry weapons they can't into battle, and there aren't enough human fly-boys to go around as it is. They need to step in to be pilots."

"Hasn't Spitfire been whipping them into shape?" The Commander asked.

"Yeah, but you know how some Pegasi are, they're as arrogant and stubborn as mules." This too, made Commander Cutter laugh.

"That they are. Have you seen the specs for the new armor they're making at the Ministry of Tech for Jerome, Alice, and Douglas?" Cutter inquired.

"Oh yeah, the 'FOTUS powered-assault armor'. I have to say, the horn on its helmet looks pretty snazzy. Too bad it isn't a real one." Shining said, letting out a laugh of his own.

"Yeah, those Ministry eggheads are all about shiny, snazzy things. Not even our armor is safe from their overly fabulous hands it seems. Who's in charge of the design team anyways, Rarity, the unicorn? It looks like something she'd do." Cutter conjectured.

"I couldn't say. But all I know is that I wish we had more Spartans of our own like the the Trio. I've read through more of the ONI records, and I heard of them pulling off some amazing feats. Especially one of the Spartan II's, what was his name...Oh yeah, John 117! Now there's a man whose hoof..er...hand, I'd be proud to shake." Shining said.

Rubbing his stubble, Cutter replied. "You know, he's stationed on Reach right now. If we get word in with Admiral Hood in time, I could arrange for you to meet him and some of the other Spartans in a few days."

The Lord General looked fifteen years younger as he barely contained the urge to squeal and start bouncing around like a certain party pony after hearing this. It would seem living legends had that effect on people, even when not around in person.