Shellshock

Name: Gambit

Location: Las Pegasus- Mirage Hotel Presidential Suite

Date: 2/28/14

Time: 1700 (5:00 pm)

The sun was setting in Las Pegasus, The City of Sins, after yet another day of vice and debauchery.

Gambit laid in the massive king sized bed as he woke up and grumbled with a massive hangover. He stumbled into the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face before checking himself in the mirror. Gambit’s white coat was matted and reeked of sweat, alcohol and sex. His blue eyes were red and bloodshot and his usually combed blonde mane was a mess. As Gambit got off the bed for his usual morning drink, a figure moved from the bed.

"Gambit come back to bed. You need to sleep," a pink mare moaned.

He just grunted and groggily poured the shot of Applejack Daniel’s in response.

“Come on, pretty please?” a white mare asked.

Gambit only grunted in response before slamming the drink don.

"Oh come on Gambit, we can do the ‘thing’ for you" a third mare, one with an orange coat, sat up from the bed.

“CAN YOU BITCHES SHUT THE FUCK UP!? I'M TRYING TO NURSE A HANGOVER!" he bellowed before grabbing his head in pain. The volume of his own voice was like having a metal stake driven through his temples.

The mares fell silent.

"Finally some peace and quiet around here," he muttered as he gulped the drink down before trotting over to the living room.

When he turned the video crystal on, the emergency alert system was on every channel.

This is an emergency broadcast. Everypony in town must be evacuated. This is not a drill. Please use extremely caution, for an extremely dangerous canine threat has-

Just as he settled in on the sofa, the doors burst up as his two bodyguards rushed in.

"Boss, did ya hear this?" The first bodyguard, Hulk, asked in a deep voice.

“We need to get you outta here,” his second guard, Bulk, stated.

Hulk and Bulk were twin brothers. Hulk, the oldest by 2 minutes, was a charcoal grey earth pony with a dull olive mane and tail. His brother’s colors were reversed. Both were wearing navy blue coveralls had a large combat knife strapped to their hips along with a hoof-feld crossbow.

"Well dumbfuck, the TV isn’t on for nothing. Now get me outta here," Gambit ordered in a rude tone as he downed his second drink and left the suite. Leaving the three mares behind.

XxX

Name: Gambit

Location: Las Pegasus- I-35 En-Route to Evacuation

Date: 2/28/14

Time: 1745 (5:45 pm)

Deafening howls sounded through the streets of 14th Avenue as Gambit and his two bodyguards ran through the streets and shoving anypony out of their way. Together, all three of them had past several more families just trying to make it out of the burning town. Gambit looked up and noticed several dropships belonging to the local Los Pegasus Police Department’s Special Applications Unit and the Las Pegasus Aerodrome flying overhead. They had already reached the outskirts of the shopping district, and now they stopped.

There was a massive line to the freeway that led to the Cloud Weaver Aerodrome.

Gambit stood on the tips of his hooves and noticed a few unicorn stallion covered in golden armor along with multiple ponies in riot gear were in the very front of the line; his spear was touching the necks of the next group of civilians that tried to evacuate.

“Oh, this is bad,” Bulk muttered.

Hulk shook his head, stomping his hoof on the ground.

“Everypony had the same idea,” he groaned.

Gambit was not happy. He wanted to get out of town ASAP.

“MOVE IT! GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY!” he bellowed.

Everypony within earshot gave him a look that if it could kill, Gambit wouldn't be dead; he would be atomized. The spoiled high roller was stared down by not one, but over two hundred scared and angry ponies. However, a family of four caused Gambit to shiver and his two guards to step up and protect their client. The oldest son was about to say something but was stop by his father.

“C’mon Angel, he ain’t worth it,” the father said. He was an olive drab earth pony with burn scars, a shaved mane and a golden right eye. The left was completely white with a diagonal scar going from his eye to his ear. He was wearing a set of coveralls with LLPD Mechanic on the back.

“Aye dad,” Angel said. Armored Angel is an olive drab unicorn with a short white mane and blue eyes. He was wearing a set of woodland MULTICAM patterned fatigues. He is a Royal Marine Staff Sergeant.

As he and his family trotted away, Gambit tried to save his ego.

“Oh, so you think you’re a hotshot, huh?” A Gambit taunted behind him. However, given his slight stutter and sweat, nopony can take him seriously.

The Marine let out an annoyed groan.

“I never said I was,” Angel knew where this was going. He was dumbfounded that he would want to fight him after all that was happening.

The spoiled brat rolled his eyes.

“Screw you. I know I can kick your ass, so how about you get the fuck outta my way?”

Bulk and Hulk instantly ran over to Gambit’s side. Bulk started to pull him away from Angel while his twin stood between them, trying to defuse the situation.

“I’m sorry about him man,” Hulk said to Angel, “He’s just scared.”

“It’s fine, I just want my family to be safe,” Angel explained as he gave his old high school classmate a brohoof.

When they were far enough, Bulk slapped Gambit on the back of his head.

“Boss are you crazy?! Do you know who he is?!” He half screamed.

The white stallion rubbed the back of her head while frowning at his guard.

“I don’t know, let alone care. I had the situation under cont—”

“No you don’t sir,” Bulk interrupted, “That’s Armored Angel, one of mine and Hulk’s old classmates. He’s currently a Staff Sergeant in the Royal Marine and he will destroy you.”

Gambit groaned in frustration, he hated being proved wrong. But what really pissed him off is how his bodyguard told him off.

He decided against turning on his guard since he was there to protect him. He swallowed his pride and held his tongue.

“Fine,” Gambit grumbled.

Back to Angel and his family, Hulk and Angel were trying to figure their next course of action.

“Well…” Hulk was saying, “we could just backtrack and-”

He was cut off by screaming and the mob of ponies making a run for it.

Out from the row of building, an unnaturally fast stallion in rags charged and tackled a Guard. In an instant the stallion was down and screaming. Everypony in line backed away, a lot of them even running off. The downed guard’s fellow brethren and Special Applications Unit officers were swarmed as the checkpoint was overran.

“Oh shit,” Angel’s father, Treads, cursed.

His family could only stare at the massacre in front of them. The unlucky stallion was forced to the ground and was dismembered. Blood flowed unto the streets as he was screaming in agony. Members of the Guard fought back with minimal success as they were torn apart. Even the SAU officers were powerless.

“Let’s get out of here…NOW!” Angel screamed, reaching for his younger sister, Steel Bloom and placing her on top of his back. Angel, his family and Hulk gathered up Gambit and Bulk before running away.

XxX

Location: 20th Avenue, Las Pegasus

Date: 2/28/14

Time: 1815 (6:15 pm)

3 Miles Later-7 Miles to Evacuation Site

“Those ponies are on fire,” he had heard her whisper.

It was true.

Two, three, maybe ten ponies came out of a building screaming in pain, their bodies engulfed in flames. They reached outwards to try and grab something, anything to try and save themselves, but it was no use.

Angel’s breathing increased. Images of death and destruction played before his eyes as memories blurred the lines of the past and present.

“Don’t look, sis.”

But she couldn't look away. Bloom peeked over and saw another crazed pony ripping apart an elderly couple. That could be one of her friendly neighbors, the ones that always helped out around the neighborhood despite their age and always made homemade cookies for the fillies and colts. She bared witness as their bodies were ripped apart. She cried this time, her words turned into pure sobbing.

“W-why?”

Treads and Iron Bloom, her and Angel’s mother, saw it too.

“Just keep looking at me, baby!” reassured Iron.

She did…and she could’ve sworn she saw tears swell up in her eyes.

Bloom placed her chin on her brother’s shoulder, her forelegs latched tightly around his neck.

She closed her eyes tight and listened to them speak.

“What the fuck just happened?” Gambit screamed. “Did you see that?!”

“Yeah, I saw it,” Angel responded.

“Damn,” Gambit cursed.

“And watch your mouth. I got my sister and mother here and they don’t need to hear that,” her brother snarled.

“Whatever,” the gambler said.

The seven of them had already failed to escape where the Royal Guard and police had wanted them to, now they had to find their own way out. Angel and Gambit led the party into another portion of Las Pegasus, this one was filled with screaming ponies.

XxX

Location: 10th Avenue, Las Pegasus

Date: 2/28/14

Time: 1815 (6:15 pm)

4 Miles Later-3 Miles to Evacuation Site

“Come on guys. Just a little farther,” Angel encouraged.

His sister, Steel Flower, opened her golden eyes for a brief moment. Her dark grey coat was matted in her brother’s sweat as she closed them again to avoid catching motion sickness.

“What are we running from Angie?” she asked, still quivering in fright.

Her question remained unanswered as Armored Angel focused on listening for the infected ponies. Hulk and Bulk, Treads and his wife, Iron Bloom, helped as well; but there was so much chaos around them that it all blended together into a symphony of destruction. Once the group made it on the other side of the market district, they immediately noticed how deserted it was.

They had arrived at a fork in the road. The path to the left led deeper into the city. The path to the right led to the city outskirts.

It was too quiet.

The party halted at the split.

“Alright, this is as far as we go together,” Treads announced.

Gambit was taken aback.

“W-what? The fuck do you mean!?” Gambit bellowed as he reached for his switchblade.

Angel summoned a crossbow carbine as he shielded his sister. His mother summoned one of her forging hammers and Treads himself drew a small crossbow from a concealed holster.

“What he means is, you aren’t coming with us,” said Iron Bloom.

“Sorry guys. You’re my friends, but family comes first. Your boss will get us all killed,” Angel said with a tinge of regret in his voice.

“YOU FUCK-,” Gambit was cut off as his two guards came up between him and the family of four. Gambit thought that his bodyguards would teach them a lesson. Sadly, he was mistaken.

“We understand buddy,” Hulk said.

“It was nice to see you all again. I just wish it was under better circumstances,” Bulk agreed.

“Good luck,” Treads said as he shook hooves with the twins before Iron gave them both a hug.  The twins both tussled Steel’s mane before taking their boss to the path to the left. Armored Angel and his family put up their weapons before continuing down the path to the right.

Gambit and his two guards watched them trot down the path before continuing down the road to the left.

“WHY DIDN’T YOU BACK ME UP?!” Gambit roared.

Having put up with Gambit’s behavior long enough, Hulk grabbed Gambit by throat as Bulk drew his knife and pointed it at Gambit’s genitals.

“We are your bodyguards, not your goons. We are paid to protect you, not carry out hits for you,” Hulk growled.

“Try ordering us to do something like murder just because you don’t get you way again, and I WILL cut out your balls and my big brother here will feed them to you. Do you understand?” Bulk questioned.

“Y-yes,” Gambit choked out.

Releasing the spoiled high-roller, Gambit collapsed to his stomach as he gasped for air.

The two brothers looked down at the pitiful stallion before starting down the road.

Gambit quickly to his hooves and ran to catch up with the two.

Name: Gambit

Location: 10th Avenue, Las Pegasus

Date: 2/28/14

Time: 1817 (6:17 pm)

4 Miles Later-3 Miles to Evacuation Site

The silence was broken by a series of unmistakable clicks.

“Oh my goddess,” Gambit muttered while a thick layer of sweat ran down his body.

“Keep. Moving,” Hulk whisper-shouted, making a quick right down a new road.

Another burning building came into view. The twins could feel their client quivering in fright behind them.

Hulk managed to locate a familiar store.

Fine Sew.

“Over there,” he shouted, “we can hide there!”

“I’m gonna make it. I’m gonna make it,” Gambit reassured himself.

Right before Gambit and his guards could enter the store, several more of the infected ponies burst out from the darkness and attacked the trio. Bulk and Hulk backed off quickly and shielded Gambit and assessed the situation.

Bulk looked over and shouted, “This way! Through the alley!”

With the two following the younger brother, Bulk stabbed and hacked away at the horde before entering the alleyway that he had pointed out. The got in between the two buildings easily. The hard part was making it to the beacon of hope in their situation…

A single fire escape ladder that ran up to the roof of the shop.

When Bulk turned the corner, another one of the infected exited out of the darkness and bit him in the chest.

With Gambit screaming in fright, Bulk managed to hold out his forelegs and hold off the creature for enough time so his brother could take it out.

Bulk shoved the creature off himself. Once it had hit the ground, it looked up one last time to see a tanto blade stab straight into its brain.

“He’s dead,” Hulk reported.

“Dammit,” Bulk muttered, before examining his chest. The bite mark was pretty deep, however, the bleeding was slowly stopping and becoming discolored.

He shook it off and pushed through the alleyway with his older brother following right behind.

“We’re almost there. We’re almost there,” Gambit said to himself.

Hulk led the two through the alleyway and to the ladder. However, the two didn’t see Bulk lagging behind. The wound, what started as discolored, has turned from red to yellow to black. His vision was swirling and he was hearing a voice in his head.

Give in…

Fall into the darkness…

MAKE US WHOLE!!!!!

Hulk looked back and noticed his brother’s sickly state.

“Bulk… what happened to you?” Hulk asked as he checked his little brother.

“I’m fine…” grunted Bulk. The true extent of his injuries were hidden by the dim lighting.

Removing his worried brother’s grip, he stumbled to the ladder as a growing chill rippled through his chest.

Hulk quickly caught up with his little brother as Gambit’s ears perked up and noticed three more creatures on the other side of the alley staring at them.

A voice sounded off above them, which of course caught their attention.

“Up here!” the voice screamed before the fire escape latter was lowered to them.

The three ascended the ladder. Hulk led them up, followed by Gambit and finally Bulk, who was lagging behind.

As they had reached the roof of the tailor shop; a dull, rust red aura forced the three stallions to their knees as an elderly unicorn aimed a Breechshot crossbow at them. He was an elderly graphite grey unicorn with a rust red mane and a pair of heterochromatic eyes. His right eye was jasper red while the left was jade green.

“Do anything stupid, and I won’t hesitate to end you,” the elderly unicorn threatened.

Gambit nearly voided his bowels at the sight of having the weapon pointed at his face.

Bulk was panting as the veins in his body was turning black and visible.

Hulk was the only one calm, as he explained that they aren’t infected.

“Please,” Hulk begged, “W-we aren’t sick,” he motioned his hoof to his body before he motioned to his brother.

“I think he’s hurt,” Hulk pleaded

The guard pointed his crossbow at the three, as Gambit started to whimper.

“Stop right there!” He screamed, fully on the urge to pull the trigger.

Hulk stopped talking. His breathing became heavier. He looked down and made himself seem less threatening.

“Listen…” he began with his hoof held outwards, “We just went through hell and back,” he told the stallion.

The stallion looked skeptical for a brief moment. He never took the cross hairs away from the two. Right now in his mind, he was debating whether to let them in or not. Should he believe them? The sick ones looked a lot worse than they did and they couldn’t talk either. Maybe the speaker’s twin was bitten…but if they were smart, they would’ve told him that.

He started to pull the trigger until a hoof wrapped around his in a comforting fashion.

“Agate, let them in. I think their telling the truth,” said a middle aged unicorn mare with a white coat, a silver mane and tail and a pair of light amethyst eyes.

“Please,” The older brother begged.

The stallion eyed the three. Judging them.

“Fine,” Agate grunted as Bulk slowly nodded.

Agate’s hoof slowly lowered the weapon.

Bulk watched as Agate’s hoof brought the weapon down.

He took a step forward.

“Thank you,” Bulk told him.

The stallion cut him off and addressed the party.

“If you do anything to Silk here,” he motioned to the mare next to him, “the others downstairs, or anything stupid in general, I will kill you. Do I make myself clear?”

Eyeing Gambit, Hulk spoke up on his behalf.

“Crystal,” he stated.

“Good,” the stallion said before he slung up his weapon.

And with that, Agate opened the door leading into the store’s main floor.

XxX

Although Las Pegasus had no idea of the recent attacks on the cities of Manehatten and Seattle, the city’s highly trained law enforcement made evacuation and protecting the high class ponies easily for the most part. However, the mass of lower class ponies that tried to escaping Las Pegasus on foot were panicking as the demons was either picking off survivors in the streets or infecting them as they tried to reach the evacuation site.

One by one, the poor ponies were taken as they screamed as high as they could as the infected and demons slowly devour the unfortunate. Mares and stallions that were being ripped apart while their joints loudly popped off with a splat and bones cracking with a wet sound as the hoard feasted on their flesh.

The infected violently flocking the survivors as they devour their flesh. Gore splattered across the streets and alley walls as the blood flowed towards the sewage drains.

XxX

Name: Gambit

Location: 15th Avenue Fine Sew Clothing Store, Las Pegasus

Date: 2/28/14

Time: 1917 (7:17 pm)

Inside a boarded up shop, were the store owners, an elderly earth pony mare with a silver mane and a royal purple mane named Silk and her teenage assistant and granddaughter, Velvet; and a pregnant mare named Honeysuckle.

As Agate led terrified white stallion and his guards down the stairs, Silk was helping Bulk. Some whimpered and sobbed as the few survivors narrowly escaped the infected. A familiar pony was hyperventilating, trying to be as quiet as possible.

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP!

"Shhhhiiiit, shit, shit, oh shit! Okay keep calm. Be calm," Gambit breathed in a rapid speed. One of his bodyguards returned.

"Gambit, you need shut up. You’ll give us away," said Hulk.

Gambit was panicking.

"Get me the fuck outta here alive and you and your brother gets a huge bonus," he bargained as he rushed to the back.

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP!

"Wait!" Honeysuckle's scared voice sounded, "Please don't leave me! I’m pregnant! Please, help me!" the despair was clear with the pregnant mare.

"Bitch, I don't give a fuck. If you want to come, keep the fuck up. I ain't waiting for nopony," Gambit answered then rushed out the back door as the others followed him. The survivors quickly stood up as they struggled to keep up with the stallion. But it wasn't easy. Gambit ran as if the devil was on his ass.

XxX

Name: Gambit

Location: 17th Avenue, Las Pegasus

Date: 2/28/14

Time: 1945 (7:45 pm)

The party of six ran into a small alley to take a break from running while multiple infected ponies screeched in the distance as explosions rang through the city.

As if the blood curdling screams didn't help with the imagination.

“I really hope the guard ain't going to pussy out on their duty," Gambit said while heaving for breath.

"Come on asshole you know the cops are always first response in an emergency, It's their duty to protect us. So why don't you be a little bit considerate, jerkoff," Agate shot back.

Gambit, who is sick and tired of his situation, was reaching for his switchblade.

"Who the fuck said anything to you mother-" Gambit started but was cut off by a series of well-known clicking and sudden banging to the security gate as the Infected started to crowd the front of the store.

"Aw shit! They found us!"

“We gotta get outta here!” Velvet shouted.

Everypony silently agreed and ran as fast as they could. But fatigue and despair were slowly sapping their will to survive.

Sprinting down the alleyway and through a horde of the infected ponies, the party shoved (and in Agate’s case, blasted) their way through to shelter.

The pregnant mare, Honey Suckle, tripped and caught herself before her unborn baby hit the ground. Rolling on her side, she screamed.

"HEEELP!" she yelled as high as she could hoping to be saved by one of the other survivors. But as the infected got close one of them leaped towards the mare.

Bulk, now bordering in the final few stages of infection, lunged with his last bit of strength and pushed his way to the mare. As he pulled her out, he was caught. He was bitten multiple times before being dragged off as the horde started to eat him alive.

“NO!!!” screamed Hulk.

"GO ON AND DON'T LOOK BACK!!" Bulk yelled as he was devoured.

Silk tripped as three infected started gaining on her as she screamed.

One of the infected landed on top of her, but stopped moving. The mare screamed as she saw the bolt stuck on the infected pony's head as the other got the same fate.

The mare turned her head towards a large, 4 story terminal with several stallions on the roof. One in particular, was an olive drab unicorn stallion with a white mane wielding a high-powered crossbow.

Armored Angel waved and yelled "GET YOUR CELESTIA-DAMN ASSES IN HERE!"

The group didn’t realize it, but they made it to the extraction site. The Los Pegasus Aerodrome.

The three booked it to the main gate as the snipers on the roof covered them as they made it to the front door.

XXX

Name: Gambit

Location: Las Pegasus Aerodrome, Las Pegasus

Date: 2/28/14

Time: 2000 (8:00 pm)

The aerodrome was packed with refugees. Everyone from the rich to the poor were crammed in the main terminal.

“ALRIGHT EVERYPONY, STAY CALM! EVERYTHING’S GONNA BE FINE!” yelled one of Las Pegasus’s Special Applications Unit officer hollered into the crowd. He was a white earth pony stallion with a shaved mane dressed in riot control gear. His name was Captain Lone Star.

"FUCK! GET ME OUTTA HERE" Gambit exclaimed.

Again, the ponies in the aerodrome shot Gambit a death glare. This time though the SAU captain and his group stepped up to him.

“Gambit,” Lone Star said, “You are causing a panic. Shut. The. Fuck. Up.”

Gambit didn’t know how the captain knew him.

“H-how-“

"Sorry, about this fucking jerk captain. Don't mind him," Agate said as he shook hoofs with Lone Star.

"It’s no problem Chief, I've met worse," Lone Star answered as he saluted his former superior.

"Well Cap, what the fuck are we gonna do? I’m itching for some more action!" Agate said with a smirk.

Lone Star and his men returned the smile and nodded before issuing orders.

“Grab your ass sweetheart,” Agate said to Gambit as he checked his Breechshot, “It’s gonna get messy.”

XxX

Location: Las Pegasus Aerodrome, Las Pegasus

Date: 2/28/14

Time: 2010 (8:10 pm)

As the horizon started to brighten, the aerodrome’s loudspeaker came alive with Agate’s voice:

“This is Agate. I am the former CO of the LPPD’s Special Applications Unit. I just want you all to know that we will defend you with our lives. No more lives will be lost today as long as I have anything to say about it!”

Loud cheers erupted throughout the building.

“Now, I need everypony who knows how to use a weapon to protect the civilians. My boys will stand on the front lines and make sure those freaks don’t get one damn INCH!’

The crowd complied as SAU officers led the volunteers away.

Agate looked to his fellow stallions as they nodded in agreement.

"Ladies, stay here," Hulk said to Silk and Honey Suckle.

The two mares nodded in agreement as the stallions headed out.

XxX

Name: Hulk

Location: Las Pegasus Aerodrome, Las Pegasus

Date: 2/28/14

Time: 2015 (8:15 pm)

The way to the second floor was teeming ponies. Royal Guards, SAU, aerodrome workers, it didn't matter anymore.

The civilians that didn't have weapons were given swords, spears and basic crossbows. The advanced crossbows such as the carbines, Breechshots, and high powered crossbows were reserved for police and military.

I was given a battered sword and spear to replace my knife. As I saw my reflection in a clear, non-rusted part of the sword, I saw that my face was caked in blood and gunk from the trek.

How am I even here? Bulk was ten times the stallion I could ever be! I-it should’ve been me! I was supposed to protect him!

Bulk’s musing was disrupted when a hoof rested on his shoulder. Looking back, he saw Agate with a knowing look in his eye.

“That other fella you were with…Bulk? He meant something to you, didn’t he?

Tears welled up in Hulk’s eyes, but he tried to keep it together.

“He was my brother… my twin more specifically. He was born five minutes after me.”

Agate nodded and hugged him.

“I understand. But right now, I’m sure that he wants you to complete your assignment. We have one more fight on our hooves. Do it for him,” Agate said.

Wiping his eyes, Hulk nodded and began to gather his weapons.

As he did, one thought went through his mind:

I wanna kill them all…

XxX

Rooftops

Time: 2010 (8:10 pm)

“Razor Actual, this is Razor 2, eyes on a horde coming to us. I’m guessing….four…no, five hundred hostiles approaching,” Razor 2 reported.

“Razor 2, Actual copies all. Hold until we get the go ahead,” Actual responded.

“Roger that, holding for orders.”

Razor 2, along with ten other snipers lied in wait in the roof of the aerodrome. They were all members of the Special Applications Unit tasked with acting as an early warning/scouting team as well as the first line of defense against the horde.

XxX

Inside the Terminal.

Time: 2015 (8:15 pm)

“WHAT?! What did you just say trooper!?” Captain Lone Star voice was laced with disbelief and anger, as he seized the communications officer by his vest.

“C-c-c Colonel Tripod is d-dead sir, a-along with the r-reserve c-c-combat engineer team... t-the entire Seaddle Branch is destroyed, o-one hundred percent casualties.”

Lone Star rocked back on his flank as his white coat turned paler, his red eyes wide with fear. “What the buck happened to them? The Seaddle branch was known for being the best! W-what about the Lt. Colonel? Where is he?”

“N-no official word...”

Star glared at him with anger and frustration in his voice, “so what's the unofficial word then trooper?!”

The officer shivered in his spot, “T-the word around the unit c-co c-commander is that... that Lt. Colonel Flintlock fled the field after his team was reported KIA.”

All went rigid at his words.

Desertion.

The chain of command was in tatters, an entire military reserve and a SAU team were wiped out. The colonel, major and captain were dead, and the lieutenant colonel the commander fled. There were one Captain per division but they weren’t trained to handle the situation at hoof, and none of them had proper provisions to last. Even worse, the North Star, the only available airship that can evacuate the survivors, was still over two hours away after taking a previous batch of survivors to safety.

“Comms traffic from the command squadron said t-that their position in the north was about to be overran was here, right before it went de... uh... silent.”

“Great... just... just fucking great... what hay are we supposed to do now?!”

Everyone looked cowed and scared, but the troopers were more concerned for the civilians. They were supposed to be protecting them but they couldn't even get our own troop together.

A grey hoof came up and smacked Star upside the head.

“KEEP IT TOGETHER CAPTAIN!” Agate shouted. Anger had completely shredded his patience. The collected and confident stallion that Agate trained had disintegrated into a panicking mess that was barely able to keep his troops together.

“I-I... I don't know... I just...”

That's when Hulk saw it dawn on everyponies faces, the fact that they were going to die. The leadership was gone, the command structure was in disarray down to the bone. The horde might have been fighting on their turf and a few miles away but they were something nopony has ever seen before. These things were something from a foal’s nightmares. The feeling of panic and despondency that fell over the terminal was palpable.

“But the civilians... We can't just let them die,” Hulk cut in.

A tense silence filled the building as Lone Star tried to pull himself together.

As he was calming his nerves, Agate spoke up.

“Trooper Stargazer, where are the civvies?”

The black-maned, navy-blue earth pony jumped as he addressed him, “In the main terminal s-sir.” He responded.

“Separate the stallions from the mares and foals and move them behind the line, take the stallions and arm them. We need every set of hooves up here.”

“Yes sir!”

“You, Corporal... Raven?” an pegasus stallion with an pitch black coat, shaved mane and green eyes nodded, “Get on the comms and tell every other unit, anyone who can hear us, to rendezvous in the main terminal, we need to get everyone together otherwise they'll pick us off. It's just like a game of Castles, if all of our troops are divided we won't get anything done.”

“R-right away sir!” he leapt on the comms and began broadcasting on all general channels to the surrounding units.

“Sergeant Mint, you said you worked in the explosives? Ever construct a minefield?”

“Damn straight sir,” he answered, thumping his off-white chest with a massive hoof, relief filling his voice.

“Good, go around and collect anything you need to make improvised explosives and start building a minefield out of whatever we have. Grab whoever you need to help you and go!”

Mint nodded briskly and grabbed a couple of his buddies, a silver unicorn named Wrath as well as a white pegasus civvie, and they ran off in the direction of the outer parameter.

Agate walked over to Lone Star, who was quietly sitting in a corner away from the hubub he created.

“Captain, do you have you shit together?”

Lone Star looked up with resolve and said, “Yes sir. Let’s go get these sons of bitches!”

Agate grinned. Lone Star was back in the fight.

“Do you have any heavy weapons?” Agate asked, and he nodded with vigor.

“Good, we're gonna use the anti-material crossbows.”

XxX

Time: 2020 (8:20 pm)

Agate and Lone Star stood at the inventory he'd just brought up as they tried to figure out in their heads how they could possibly make this work.

One hundred and fifty bolts. Five heavy bows and one hundred and fifty bolts. They knew that they’d run through that amount of ammo in under an hour. Even assuming they could conserve ammo, it would never be enough. Not to mention only the special weapons certified snipers in the units had actually been trained with them despite only actually used them a handful of times.

Well, it wasn't as though we expected to survive this, thought Agate.

“Star, issue these to the snipers that are trained to use these, and figure out who has the best eyes and hand them one to, I have pretty decent aim myself so I'll take one.”

“Roger that.”

Lone Star took four of the five anti-material crossbows and the specialized bolts with him on a trolley before returning to the terminal.

The anti-material is the largest crossbow in Equestria's arsenal. It's a 57 inch long monster that weighs in at 28 pounds unloaded and 31 pounds loaded. The bolts themselves are one foot long and weighs five pounds. The anti-material crossbow uses special armor piercing, incendiary bolts to penetrate armor and live targets. This weapon has a 10x- 20x zoom scope for extreme range.  The automatic re-cocking mechanism that takes about five seconds to reset. Truly, something to be feared.

Agate stared at the weapon for a minute before taking it and leaving the room.

XxX

Lone Star ran back to the troops with the weapons. Fortunately, it seemed like the other teams were making a fighting retreat back to the terminal. Once they had a goal they'd fallen together in a professional, military-like fashion and started working doggedly towards it. Within a half hour, the main terminal had become a screaming din of activity, civilians, mostly stallions and mares, were crammed together with troopers. Luckily, the number of ponies who hadn't been able to evacuate before the attacks began was relatively small, and the vast majority of the little ones, who had been given first priority, had been taken out of the city on ferries up through the river that dumps out to the bay before circling around and sailing to Ponyville. It was the SAU’s job to hold the terminal and all the necessary supplies there until the final airship can land, and evacuate the remaining ponies to Ponyville.

Lone Star finished his rounds with the anti-material crossbows before returning to the terminal and assessing the situation.

The stallions were arming themselves with whatever weapons were available. Well, all except one. Gambit was nearly having a panic attack as he tried to follow the mares and foals.

“Gambit, what. The. FUCK are you doing!?” Lone Star shouted.

Gambit froze as he realized he was caught.

He shakily looked back as Lone Star marched up to him. Absolute fury was plastered on his face as he stared Gambit down.

“I-I-I….” Gambit started.

Lone Star slapped him upside the head.

“GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER! I know you’re a fuckin’ coward, but look,” Lone Star motioned to the terminal as everypony carried on with their tasks, “Their all afraid. Nopony here want to die. But do you see anypony else trying to hide? They have a fire in them. That fire is what drives them to protect the ones they love. So, I’ll ask you again: What the fuck are you doing?”

“But I-I-I do-”, Gambit started.

Lone Star grunted in disgust as he shook his head.

“Get the fuck out of my sight,” Lone Star ordered.

Gambit scurried off like the rat he was as Star about faced and trotted back to the front line.

XxX

Rooftops

Time: 2020 (8:20 pm)

On the roof, Razor 2 and the sniper/recon element were observing the approaching horde. In the time it took Lone Star to get his shit together and for the specialized snipers to receive their heavy weapons, the horde was about two miles away.

“Razor 2, this is Razor Actual. Captain Star just gave us the green light, you’re cleared to engage.”

“Roger that,” Razor 2, aka Officer Sharp Shot, switched his radio frequency to the team channel before keying his mic twice, indicating that they were cleared to engage.

"Target acquired," says Razor 2.

"Roger, range is fifteen hundred meters with a 20 mile per hour tailwind," Razor 2’s spotter, Razor 3 (aka Officer Quick Sight) reported.

All along the rooftop, the sniper/spotter teams took aim before the spotters gave the order.

“Fire, fire, fire.”

SHELUNK!

The entire roof opened up as regular and specialized bolts tore apart the infected ponies.

As they fell, the snipers acquired a new target as the infected froze and started looking around for the source of the noise, not even acknowledging their numbers dropping.

"Gotcha..." grinned Sharp as he sighted his target.

"3,2,1... Fire," said Quick.

As the snipers opened up on the horde, the infected ponies started to notice the glint of light that was reflecting off of the scopes and the sound of the bolts being launched. With a deafening screech, the horde took off towards the aerodrome.

More shots rang out as the horde sprinted to them. As the mass approached the terminal, more infected ponies joined them in their charge. Soon, the number swelled from about five hundred, to six hundred. Then seven hundred.

“Oh shit,” gasped Shot.

The rooftop lit up as they decimated the horde’s ranks, but it wasn’t enough. The number of infected ponies joining the rank was a lot faster than what the snipers can put down.

XxX

Inside the Aerodrome

Time: 2022 (8:22 pm)

With the mares and foals secured, the stallions prepared for the coming shitstorm.

The SAU were the first line of defense. The troopers were armed with an arsenal of different weapons: carbines, hoof-held crossbows, Breechshots, and a few even had SAWs, The second largest crossbow in Equestria's arsenal given to soldiers. Unlike the crossbows used by snipers, this weapon platform is used to provide infantry squads with the heavy volume of fire. It is 41 inches long and weighs 22 pounds. Unlike the standard bolts used by the carbine and sniper crossbows, the SAW bolts were actually smaller, only 4 inches long and weigh 2.5 pounds, but the sheer volume of bolts the SAW can spew out and the amount it holds are more then enough to compensate for the small bolts. Also unlike standard bolts, the SAW uses screw-like tip for the bolts. It also uses a different, recocking system. Instead if using mechanical crank; the SAW uses a blowback styled system.

With these, in addition to the armaments given to the civs, the airship terminal has transformed from a regular building, to a makeshift fortress.

As the defenders were making final preparations, a voice that nopony has ever heard came across the net.

“Las Pegasus Airship Terminal, be advised: the whole damn city is about to come down on you,” the voice said.

The communications operator, Lone Star and Agate all listened in as the voice continued.

“The ETA of the returning airship is two hours. Say again, two out.”

The comms operator looked back at the two senior officers as they digested the information.

Taking the receiver, Lone Star spoke up, “This is Captain Lone Star of the Las Pegasus Police Special Applications Unit and I demand to know who is on my net. We are in the middle of a fucking war here.”

“Captain Star, I am 012 of Predator Team, sent by the Equestrian Intelligence Branch. My team and I have been deployed to observe and report information regarding the threat,” 012 answered.

Who the fuck are these guys?, Star asked himself.

“We recommend you dig in. The airship WILL be there sir. If you need us, our freq is 166.9. Good luck,” 012 said as the net went dead.

The three stallions let the new info sink in. Two hours? They would be lucky if they can hold their position for one hour!

Lone Star was raking his brain for a solution until he heard the sound of the snipers engaging the horde about a mile away.

“Sir, you need to make a decision. What are your orders,” Agate asked as he checked his weapons.

Looking at the ponies he was protecting, he saw a foal, in her elementary school age Star guessed, bawling her eyes out as her mother tried to comfort her.  He say Gambit having a panic attack in the corner. Agate’s wife was cradling two babies in her hooves.

This is it. My defining moment. This is what separates the colts from the stallions. My brother said that to me before he enlisted. This my moment.

With a deep breath, Lone Star, captain of the SAU and the protector of the civilians in his charge, started to issue orders.

“SAW gunners! Set up in the windows! I want my DMs to support the gunners! Civvies with a crossbow, get to the first lower level entrance and hold the front. If shit gets too hairy, pull out and fall back to the upper level. Ponies with melee weapons, protect the mares and foal!”

As he was issuing orders, the stallions all preformed their tasks. Looking back to his mentor, he saw nothing but pride in his eyes.

“Where do you want me sir?” Agate asked.

“Get to the upper-most level of the building before you get to the roof. I need you to assist the snipers from a nest,” Star ordered.

“Yes sir!” Agate bellowed as he ran to the stairs.

XxX

General POV

Time: 2025 (8:25 pm)

ETA of evac airship: 2 hours

The snipers on the roof fell silent, all of their ammo was expended. The teams, including Agate, moved back into the building and to their secondary positions. The team’s total tally counted roughly two hundred confirmed kills, but the horde continued to grow in size.

Inside, the SAUs and able bodied stallions were making final preparations and going over final checks.

As Lone Star was making his final checks with his men, Agate reported to him.

“Sir, all snipers have fallen back to their secondary roles as DMs and are in the second story window.”

Lone Star nodded before turning his attention to the window in front of him.

The rising sun illuminated the congealed blood that stained the dirt with dark rusty hues. There were splatters here and there, in some places there were pools. According to his fellow captains, the civilians that had been found here were badly wounded from the chaos, but alive. The guard had reacted swiftly and had fortunately suffered no casualties in the move from their locations to the aerodrome.

Lone Star switched on his mic and switched to the frequency that 012 told him about, "012, this is Captain Lone Star. Can you see anything from up there?"

The operator was currently flying high above the buildings, looking out for any signs of movement. It was like having an intelligent UAV.

“I have eyes on a shit-ton of hostiles. From up here, it looks like they will reach your position in about five minutes."

“Roger that, thanks. Out,” Lone Star signed off. He let out a loud sigh as he trotted to his position.

XxX

Outer Parameter

Airship Arrival: 1 hour, 45 minutes

After making sure the mares and foals were safe, the defenders were locked and loaded, and the final preparations made, the sound of the crossbows from the outer parameter sounded.

SHERUNK! SHERUNK! SHERUNK!

The sound of crossbows filled the aerodrome from the lower level and into the streets. The appointed leader of fireteam 1, Mint, along with the other stallions, fired into the growing crowd or reanimated corpses and demons.

“Keep up the pressure boys! We got this!” Mint yelled as he blasted another demon's head off with his explosive crossbow.

The members of his team obeyed, scanning their sectors over the ruined, and burnt out remains of what had once been their city.

Mint remembered this place from when he was a foal. His mother other often walked his father to the very building he was defending before he left on business trips.

The mutilated bodies all ran towards the team’s position. Everypony started firing and tearing through the ranks, but the noise was only drawing more of the Infected towards them.

Above the team, the designated marksponies provided support.

As the team fired, Mint holstered his weapon and took up a detonator with several lit buttons from his flak jacket’s integrated assault pack. As the infected ponies crossed a single burnt out carriage with a large red line that was spray painted, Mint grinned.

“FIRE IN THE HOLE!” hollered Mint.

After a slip second delay, a cocktail of explosives obliterated the mob as a cocktail of C4, pipe and nail bombs, makeshift claymores, and dynamite detonated with a resonating blast. The shock wave itself shattered the windows on the front portion of the aerodrome as well as the surrounding buildings. The defenders were thrown on their backs as their ears rang.

Mint was the first one on the street to come to. Looking around, he saw his men and the civilians either dazed, trying to get up, or in the inexperienced civs’ case, rolling around on the ground in agony after the blast took out their eardrums.

Mint gave out a loud whoop and laugh as he reported in, “ALL CLEAR!”, he hollers up to the Captain.

The recovered SAU troopers returned to their hooves and helped up their teammates as Mint gave instructions to the men.

However, he was cut off as the howl of the infected ponies reverberated all around them.

“Oh shit…” Mint muttered.

XxX

A proud smile formed on Lone Star’s muzzle as he looked over the ponies in his charge.

We can do this, he thought.

Then, as if the universe was pulling a cruel joke on him, a series of massive howls sounded off.

First it came from the north.

Then the south.

East.

West.

Dear Celestia…Lone Star muttered.

Lone Star quickly keyed his mike to call Mint.

“Mint, fall back now! We’re surrounded!”

After a few seconds, he heard the sound of the front door of the terminal open and the pitter patter of hooves march into the main room.

“We’re all here sir,” Mint reported.

XxX

Outer Parameter

Airship Arrival: 1 hour, 25 minutes

As Mint and his team returned to the aerodrome, the howl of the infected ponies and demons once again rattled the windows.

"Alright men," Lone Star ordered, "The airship WILL be here soon. We just need to hold out a bit longer!"

"YES SIR!" the stallions hollered.

"We have the perfect position here, those fucking things are going to charge right into us, and we're gonna shoot fish in a motherfucking barrel! Got it?!"

"Aye sir!" the group yelled again as adrenaline and hope motivated them.

"Okay, get your ammo out. SAW ammo on the floor close to your hooves. Line your mags up where you can get to 'em quick. We aren't leaving until the airship gets here in about an hour."

The defenders did as the Captain said and spread their mags out and started covering sectors of fire.

As the stallions readied themselves, the radio crackled with the voice of one of the rooftop snipers.

"HERE THEY COME!"

XxX

Outer Parameter

Airship Arrival: 1 hour

The first charge came from the north. The survivors heard the sound of the howls and clicks, along with the beat of hoofsteps on rubble as the defenders braced themselves.

As the first group of twenty infected ponies and demons made it into the defenders' field of view, and an explosion of SAWs, carbines, sniper and anti material crossbow fire raked the streets. Explosions from the combat engineers' explosive tip crossbows added to the chorus of mayhem.

After a brief 3 minutes that felt like 3 hours, the attacking group were all wiped out.

After the last bolt ricochets off the ground, cheers erupted in its wake.

"Great job men," Lone Star said.

As the defenders started to reload, another deafening howl shook the place.

"Again?" Lone Star asked.

This time however, the massive horde finally reached the aerodrome.

The defenders poured everything they had into the horde for a good half an our until, one by one, they started to run out of ammo.

XxX

Captain Easy Breezy

5,000 Feet in the air and descending

Airship Arrival: 0 hours, 5 minutes

Captain Breezy, a mare with a sky blue coat and white mane, was piloting the airship, Gentle Winds.

"Ground, this is Captain Breezy of the Gentle Winds, we are on final approach. Sorry about the delay"

The communications officer radioed back

"Thank Celestia! We're running out of options here! Please step on it!"

"Roger that ground, were less the 5 mikes out."

XxX

"Alright, when the ship gets here, the mares and foals are boarding first followed by the civilian stallions, then the officers," Lone Star ordered as the defenders had fallen back from their positions. As they retreated deeper into the aerodrome, the officers used their standard issued hoof-held crossbows to take potshots at the charging infected ponies.

"It's here!" A civilian mare yelled excitedly, pointing at the landing airship.

"Alright, alright, mares and foals first!" Lone Star yelled.

As the airship landed and the ramp was lowered, the mares and foals hurried to the ship. Once there, the civilian stallions ran across followed by the officers with Lone Star and Agate bringing up the rear.

As the airship pulled away, a single infected pony made it after the two stallions turned tail and ran to make it to the ship.

As the infected pony climbed on, Lone Star tried shooting it with his service crossbow, but it was out of ammo, throwing the weapon at it, the infected pony grabbed the nearest pony, Silk.

Gambit, who was standing near the mare, panicked and kicked Silk and the infected pony off the ship's open deck. The mare screamed before the two splattered against the tarmac and undead mob under them feasted on the remains of the mare.

The crowd who witnessed this screamed in horror as Gambit tried to justify his actions.

"She was fucking dead anyways! I did what was necessary you ungrateful bastards!" he screamed as a ran for his life leaving the others shocked and horrified survivors frozen on the spot. That is until a graphite grey hoof grabbed him by the throat. Heterocromatic eyes ablaze with fury and pain as tears streaked down his face, Agate was near his own breaking point.

"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT!" Agate roared.

Gambit yelled back, "That fucking bitch was dead anyways! I did us a favor!"

"What did you call my wife!?" Agate screeched. He voice sounded of white hot wrath as Gambit instantly regretted his poor choice of words.

"L-l-look man, I'm sorry, I swear I didn't mean it like that! I can pay you, please!" Gambit pleaded as Agate's hoof tightened around his throat.

"Remember what I said when we first met?" Agate's voice dropped to a harsh whisper.

Nodding frantically as Agate eased up a bit on his throat to allow him to speak.

"You said, 'do anything stupid, and-" SNAP!

Agate gave a violent jerk of his hoof and let Gambit's lifeless body tumble off the airship before he to splattered against the ground.

"Yep," Agate said as he turned back and went below deck.

As the grey stallion left, the ponies all sat in silence as to what transpired as the airship flew to Canterlot.