Prologue: The Coming of War
The changeling invasion changed everything.
As the world is plunged into chaos from the sudden changeling attack, countries are forced to act. Equestria immediately declares war on the changeling empire, and Griffonia follows suit. The rest of the world, however, stays mostly out of the war, hoping that it will not come to them.
In the midst of the failure, the remnants of the changelings recoil, disorganized and confused. However, a single large group was unaffected, plunging their force into the town of Fellowship.
The town, mostly evacuated and overrun with hundreds of hostiles, is deemed expendable, and in a few hours an orbital friendship cannon shot will reduce it to ash.
A last task force of the marine 27th division moves in for the final operations. Among their number is the Lance Corperal Flash Bang, a young earth pony on his first combat.
However, the changelings are hardly normal. Composing of a group feared by most, they are elite, and hated by even their fellow changelings. Bearing blood red armor and the insignia of a crimson talon, they are a force to be reckoned with.
And, among it all, a sinister plot develops unbeknownst to the combatants. Along with this plot comes a specialist group, considered the best kill team in the world.
Wendigo Squadron.
As all the ingredients combine, war is truly at hand.
Flash Bang straightened in his chair, trying to relax. Apparently, however, when your going to war, comfortable chairs are not an option. He looked around the cabin.
The other dozen marines coming with him into hell stood around, waiting. The helicopter's doors were shut, so none of them could see outside. Their group was one of three heading into the doomed town of Fellowship. Flash gripped his rifle tighter. In 0400 hours, at precisely noon, the town and everything within it will be reduced to ash from an orbital blast from a weapon that has more firepower then half the Equestrian Airfleet. He wasn't only fighting changelings. He was fighting time.
Suddenly, the pilot went on the intercom. "Alright gentlecolts, we're going in. Enemy air resistance is hot, so hold on!"
Flash frowned. They were facing enemies in the air in a helicopter? This won't end well.
Whoop de doo. He was right.
...
Flash opened his eyes a half hour later.
He looked around. He was hanging upside-down in the crashed helicopter. Thankfully, his seatbelt held. The other troopers hadn't been so lucky.
Quickly, he unbelted himself, and promptly fell on his head, adding to a rapidly rising amount of annoyances.
He looked at the dead troopers. Well, they weren't members of his own squad at least. His own squad was safe and sound in some other part of the world. He was the only one in this mission.
After retrieving his rifle and amutant energy crystals as he could find, he fled the crash, into open ground. About six hundred feet away was the entrance to the town. Ahead were four civilian ponies stumbling toward him.
He frowned and walked up to the civilians. "Hey!" he said. "You leaving the area?"
The leading civilian nodded. "Yeah. That place is mad!" and, as the group walked around him, one muttered "Good luck trooper."
Flash, oblivious to his own instincts, moved on several feet, when he heard several clicks, and the civilian continued saying: "You're going to need it."
Flash sighed. Changelings. It just wasn't his day.
He hit the dirt just as the four changelings opened up, so the first volley missed completely. he rolled on the ground, bringing his rifle up, firing off a shot. One changeling fell to the ground.
Another volley had a single round that skimmed Flash, and he felt glad he had his armor on. He returned with another round, dropping another changeling.
The other two changelings looked at each other, and immediately turned tail and ran. Flash shot a round off just over their heads, to encourage them not to come back.
With that over, he grabbed the crystals that the changelings were using as ammo, and pocketed them. Then, he started off at a brisker pace, going into the city.
As he did so, he heard a distant hum. Following it, he arrived at the towns old police station. Around it were several sandbags, along with a half dozen marines, two of which manned the source of the hum, now a roar: An Alicorn-class heavy machine gun. Flash ran ahead, just as the last of the changelings were put down.
The leader of the marines looked up. "Oh thank god. Trooper, we've got wounded. We were sent to get an asset, but we can't go much further. We were going to get out of here, but the assets important. It's at the statue of Celestia in the town center. If you could get it, it would be much appreciated."
Flash nodded. "Alright. I'll see what I can do."
Suddenly, a green flash just missed them. The group turned, to see a two dozen changelings running down the road. While being lightly armored, they still outnumbered them by far, and their rifles took their toll: A single trooper went down.
In response, the marines' leader looked over at Flash. "Go. We'll take care of these gits." With that, he hefted an assault rifle, and opened up. His fire, however, was easily drowned out as the two at the machine gun let it rip, dozens of bolts shredding through changeling and debris alike.
Flash ran off, heading straight for the center of the city.
As he went, he ran into two changeling officers.
Silence.
Then, Flash pulled up his rifle, and put two holes through the officers' heads.
Quickly, he looted the pair of officers, grabbing more ammo. Then, he set out again.
Within ten minutes, he reached the town center. In it's middle was a twenty-foot tall statue of Celestia upon a fifteen-foot wide pedestal. The rest of the square was cluttered by rumble and sandbags, but absolutely nothing else.
Flash walked up to the statue. Nothing. Just a normal statue. No important asset. Nothing.
He was once again interrupted by a bolt of energy. He whipped around, to see a dozen changelings taking up positions. He raised his rifle, prepared to fight.
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!
A sudden volley of magic missiles tore through the changelings. Flash turned, to see a trio of Equestrian Army troopers standing out of a hidden hatch underneath the statue. One gestures for him to come in.
Flash nodded, and dove into the hatch. He went down about twenty feet, when he entered a short hallway. He ran down to the end of it, and ran into a massive room. It was nearly sixty foot by sixty foot, and maybe eighteen feet tall. He was on a short stairwell into it. It was filled with police ponies, along with a half-dozen army troopers, two of which armed another Alicorn Machine Gun.
Flash walked into the room, when a trooper walked up to him. "Your wanted by the asset."
Flash nodded, and the trooper gestured to a door guarded by two of the soldiers. Flash walked slowly up to it.
The door opened, revealing a smaller chamber. Inside were dozens of computers and terminals, along with a pedestal. A pony in a lab coat scurried about, muttering to herself.
Suddenly, the pedestal lite up, revealing an orange holographic figure. "Dara, we have company." he said.
The scientist, Dara Flash supposed, turned, revealing an aged white face with crystal blue eyes. A unicorn horn protruded from her forehead. "Ah, you must be here to get me and package. Good. We leave now."
Suddenly, the speakers crackled: "Dara, we've got company. Lots of it. We'll hold, but I can't say forever. Doorguard out."
Dara sighed. "Alright. When I meant now, I meant absolutely this instant. Hold one a sec."
She leaned over the pedestal, and tugged out a computer chip. Here. Meet Orange. He's an A.I. and you need to protect him with your life."
As she said this, the comm crackled. "Equestrians, this is Captain Serioil of the Changeling Empire. Surrender now, and we won't kill you. I'm afraid this place is of vital importance to us."
Dara snatched a microphone. "Never you cheese-holed gits!" She swore.
The same voice, a methodical, calculating voice, spoke again. "Sadly, I'll have to oblige. Lieutenant, the door."
The comm cracked out as the entire compound shook.
Dara shook her head. "You'd better be a good shot trooper. I think we're going to need all the luck we can get."