Chapter 1 - Unexpected journey
Chapter 1 - Unexpected journey
„Stooooop!” I shout to microphone, just how crazy tanker Oodball from „ Kelly’s Heroes”, enjoying simple fact that all commanders can hear me very well. I rise my hand.
“Ok guys, park nicely and let no one destroy tents. You Captain Wieteska, you will be so kind to land this scrap in the proper distant, that the fan blows doesn’t ruin our hair.”
Well may who thought that two days ago I will be appointed to command a new create super secret, elite unit of Polish military – The First Independent Reconnaissance Battalion. I have no idea how I deserved this promotion. Well, but I will not look gift horse in a mouth. – Grrrr… I will hate myself in the future for telling this sentence.
But I should start from telling you who I am. I am light colonel Jerzy Grobicki and I am a millionaire and complete idiot. How you asked? I will tell you.
Finally day before yesterday I got a message from my lawyer, that I win the succession and my father legacy (few millions of dollars) are finally my. That day I was finally certain of my decision. – I leaving the army. Of course, nothing goes as I planned. Eh… It is just my luck…
In the morning I was ordered to go immediately to the airport and escort some very important guests for USA. These “guests” turn out to be a squad of marines with a newest baby of uncle Sam. “MDS” – Mobile Defense System, another tens tons of democracy. Fuck this shit. This toy have a job to create some kind of defense power field. And of course our government politely agree to use us as a guinea pig. If I didn’t already feel like in a bad sci-fi movie, it turned out that in command of U.S troops was my old love from days I lived in London.
Captain Nancy Sanchez.
I have no idea, but when I back to general Dreszer my command officer, and he literally pushed command of battalion into my hands, like idiot I agreed. And why the hell we have so much ammunition? It is enough for two…maybe three months of intense warfare. I have no idea how Sawicki put it all on his trucks, but… maybe I don’t want to know.
First lieutenant Sawicki commander of our logistic company. The column of forty-two massive forty tons trucks, eight fuel tanks, motorized repair park, helicopters repair workshop, kitchen and field hospital… and everything under his command. Sawicki is well known as men who find everything you want when you want… many times not entirely in legal way. But I never heard about one single time that his column didn’t came at time or didn’t provide something.
But I can’t complain, last time we didn’t shout very often real ammunition – fucking economical crisis – so now we have as many ammunition as we want.
Well, rest of commander was no better than Sawicki.
First Lieutenant Jakub Borek – commander of infantry company and ten “Rosomak” class armored transporters. Shy as hell, he had a crush on one girl from neighborhood. In general, romantic kind of men, but when he set himself a goal, he always reach it. I had faith in him.
Captain Dariusz Wójcik, that guy had worst job from all of us. He has command of our artillery squadron. That means four “KRAB” class howitzers, four racket launchers BM-21, and two AMOS class mortars. Problem is that captain sow his equipment only in TV before, but Wójcik belong to very old gunners family his grandfather fought during Battle of Warsaw in 1920. Fuck, I never before seen such a military fanatic.
Next on my list was Captain Jan “Johny” Wieteska, he is commander of our four choppers. Madman, he talk with a speed of machinegun bullets. He always has something to say. Johny like his crews were worth their reputation. The biggest drunkers in brigade, but the in every maneuvers they had 10/10 excellent shots. The fly, even with permanent hangover, with great precision.
The next is Captain Wojciech Kurcewicz, real big foot, He has 1’90 meters high and more than 100 kilograms of muscles. How he manage to enter a tank tower, is mystery. He has command of our tank company, armored with PT-91 “Twardy” tanks. I should tell that Wojciech is one of my best friends. He is inteligent, gifted and very ambitious but also eager for a fight.
And finally First lieutenant Karol Stańczak, commander of the scout platoon. He had under him three armored reconnaissance cars BRDM-2, 14 mans and assigned engineers platoon. He was very reticent, stubborn and always goes straight to the point. He has very unique ability to simply vanished into fin air and from nowhere appears 70 kilometers away, take into captivity enemy general and disappear again. How he done this things… nobody knows. There were even a betting, in the brigade, who solve this mystery.
Squad was completed by two lieutenants.
Wacław Grabowski, commander of our antiaircraft battery, (Six of “Szyłka” class units), and Janusz Wojtyński, commander of GROM special unit platoon. Three squads for six operatives each, sniper and Wojtyński himself. He will travel in four Hammers hired for Yankees.
Jumping off from transporter tower, I looked at Corporal Józef Galaś (one of our signalman) who stand at attention.
“ Let the commander refuel their units. Tomorrow we will not waste our time. In the same time the Kitchen prepare a meal.”
When Corporal marched off, I looked above, the skies was cloudy, it looked like we would have a storm soon. Our base was localized on a military zone near Olesno town. Around us had grown a beautiful pine forest. Tanks leave a transport ramps, and with transporters, mortars, racket launchers and with rest of heavy units lined in a row.
Four Mi 24D HIND class choppers enter a air, over the clearing and our camp , so low that I almost lost my helmet to immediately with great grace land in designated area. Of course Wieteska must revenge for my previous comment. Our choppers were probably the most modernize version which technical’s can done. Armored with American GAU-12 artillery sets, caliber 25 millimeters and adapted to carry SideWinder missiles.
Crews work near their units, refuel or placed their belongs in the tents. I heard footsteps behind me as somehow I know it’s Nancy.
“How yours journey Captain?” I asked.
“Good” It was just a normal conversation between two allies officers right?
“ We right now getting ready to test IVIS and MDS’s shield.”
Yes another military technological marvel. IVIS is a system design to establish communication with soldiers and to monitor status of every heavy unit in battalion.
“ I would like to all soldiers, were inside the camp. My mans will, mark with yellow markers zone which no one can cross.” She said.
“To the all units, in any minutes we will start tests of IVIS and protection shield. From now all soldiers are staying inside the camp. No one I repeat No one has a permission to leave outside a yellow markers. How copy?” I ordered
Listing confirmation from commanders I quickly turn around and entered the command vehicle.
In front of computers sat Galaś and Corporal Cypruś. I stood behind them, Nancy stood next to me ( I even could smell of her perfume for a awhile… focus! ), behind us stood the main IT Rick Holden and next to him Kurcewicz and major Łapicki Chief of the General Staff.
“Galaś turn it on” I said, looking on Nancy.
Corporal click on computer window. On screen appear a color map, central point of it was our camp. Dozens of dots was located on map, I needed few minutes to realized that dots in real are symbols of tanks, transporters and choppers. Galaś click once more on one of symbols. In front of our eyes open a window showing us type of vehicle, how many ammunition has onboard, fuel level, and dozens another parameters. The next click I we seen visual of one of cameras set into this unit.
“It is fantastic” I said, nodding with approval “ It looks like computer game”
“Game creators would kill for this algorithm.” Said Holden.
“Is Position applied using GPS?” I asked.
“ Not only.” Answer Holden “ System is dual, GPS not work everywhere especially in deep forest or mountains. That is why every unit has mounted digital communication transmitter and simple positioner.
“Great military “Matrix” ”I smiled “ Command officer known, when corporal from third squad sneezed, can tell coordinates of this sneeze, and chemical composition of discharge. Just Great”
“You get used to it.” Said Nancy.
“ To corporal from third squad?” I said sarcastically.
Nancy take it as offence.
“ Ehh… I just don’t like when technology is more important then I.” I said.
In this time laud thunder rang out. We were so focus on IVIS test that we didn’t seen upcoming storm. Drops of rain began to beat the armor of command vehicle.
We quickly ran into MDS. In meantime big 20 meters long antenna fed out from machine. All technicians were already seated at their computers working with focus. Antenna finished trip up and several laser beam shout from it, connecting with markers like spokes of big umbrella.
Holden looked at Nancy, and she nodded.
Holden turn on a small switch. Quick shiver, like a electric spark, went through my body. On a screen of computer to outline of MDS, laser beams and markers and added a blue image of dome. It looked amazing, but I realized that I am excited of computer animation.
“Shall we look outside?” I asked.
It still raining, but transparent dome of forcefield shield us from simple rain. Drops hit a dome to immediately evaporate with white flash. It was like a fireworks show.
But nobody realized that outside a field in forest stood a strange creature. It looks like horse but has wings and horn on top of head. Her red main flew on a wing but didn’t get wet from storm. Her body was covered by wait fur, except of hip where was a strange symbol inkwell and quill.
“ I am sorry General Dreszer, but this soldiers are needed elsewhere.” She said more to herself.
Then her horn start glowing with light blue aura.
There was a loud bang. Last thing I remember was, blinding white light on a top of antenna. I felt a strong but painless hit, my vision clouded. I felt like I collapses into a bottomless abyss, I get terrible headache – hit a ground - and lost consciousness.
Chapter 2 - The first blood.
“This day has been just perfect. The kind of day which I dream since I was small. Everypony I…” Chrystalis stopped singing when she felt a strange energy coming from Ponyvielle direction.
Suddenly on the horizon appeared a blinding white flash. Nopony can now thwart her plans, no when she was so close. She immediately, using her hive mind, send three hundred of troops to check what was that.
-#-
I slowly regained consciousness, but when I tried to stand up, my body went on strike, like writers in 2008. I feel like my head was break apart. I tried open my eyes but only result was more painful headache.
“Jesus Christ… I feel like I was kick by a horse.” I slowly regained feel in my body and eyesight.
Around me many soldiers had the same problem like I. Few of them was already on their feet, but most was still unconsciousness.
“Jureczku stand up, it isn’t time for a nap” tease me Kurcewicz, while helping me stand on my own feet “ You shouldn’t drank so much yesterday.
“ What the fuck, just happened?” I asked forgetting about this clear sign of lack of discipline.
“ I have no idea. I woke up two minutes ago” – Wojtek said with serious ton.
I looked in the sky, it was clear, even one cloud on the horizon. I looked on watch, according to it we was unconsciousness maximum twenty minutes. So How The Fuck The Sky Is Crystal Clear Now! But It wasn’t end, because why should be. Twenty minutes earlier we were on clearing, now we were on the edge of some forest in one side and endless meadows in three others. Finally my eyes turned in the direction of MDS.
“MDS…Nancy! With small problems I moved in the direction of huge body of this “technology miracle”. As I entered MDS I looked around. Nancy stood behind Holden who worked on the computer right know.
“ Are you alright?” I asked her.
“Yeah I am.”
I smiled hearing this, but I settled down immediately.
“What happened? Is MDS operational?” Looking in her face I now that is something serious.
“No, but we have more problems. GPS is dead, we have no connection with satellites. Communication is down.”
“Communication system is broken? What is about IVIS?” I asked
“IVIS, radars, all computers are fully operational. I don’t understand this. It looks like satellites didn’t exist anymore. In all VHF dead silence. Nothing, just nothing. And how I said before the MDS is not working, something blocking barrier emitter system. ”
I this moment I simply feel like a fool. If the computers working so why we haven’t communication with satellites and why there is nothing on VHF? But I have to calm down, I was a boss here, everyone expected a brilliant decision from me.
“Cupryś!” I called our signalmen “Are you alive?”
“Yes Sir!” Said Corporal form looking outside from command vehicle.
“Call a central command!”
“Yes Sir” moment later I heard as our radio squeaking.
“Ok Nancy, now tell me everything you know.” I backed to previous conversation.
“ Same kind of lightning hit a antenna. Computers registered powerful power stroke. System security had been overloaded and system initiated emergency shutdown. Holden already reset the system, so everything should be ok. Anyway systems are in working order, communication between battalion units working without any problems, but outside – deaf silence. We are like this deaf and blind, why I have no idea, but we have it all recorded on hard drives, so we will find reason soon.”
“It’s awfully suspicious” Said Kurcewicz, who few seconds ago approached us. “ Communication was and now isn’t. Clearing was here and now is not. Strom was here and now is not. What the fuck is going on? Did General decided to give us a fucking theme park experience in no fun edition?”
“Mr Colonel” This time men who interrupt our little conversation to add new realize DLC, for our current situation, was Galaś, who appear in front of me, I even don’t know from. “ I report, that our radar detected an unknown flying objects, and they are moving in our direction.”
“WHAT THE FUCKING HELL IS GOING ON!” I had enough of this. No communication, everyone act as if they were suffering from the Saint Vitus Dance, change of scenery, and know military zone are changed into a fucking fly free zone. I didn’t imagined that anything could surprise me now. I couldn’t been more wrong.
“Mr Colonel” Cupryś lean on command vehicle door. “We find same signal but it isn’t central command.”
“What do you mean Corporal?” I asked.
“You have to listen it yourself Sir”
I quickly ran inside with Galaś, Kurcewicz and Nancy. We stood in front of radio. Corporal activate a speakers and we heard very clear women voice.
“My Changlings, today we took Canterlot, tomorrow we will take all of Equestria. Celesta is in our hoofs, just like elements of harmony. Victory is within our hoofs, all we need to do is take it.”
Same male voice respond.
“Your Highness, we approaching a place where the white flash appear. Orders…”
“Destroy every resistance, nothing can stop us now.” Said a Queen.
“So be it, for the glory of the swarm.” Transmission ended, and we only heard a statics. We stood like idiots with open mouths, all the time looked on radio. Cupryś turned off a speakers.
“It is not like I complaining Jureczku, but what the fuck we just heard? Ask confused Kurcewicz.
“I have no idea” I said, but seriously Canterlot, Equestria, Celestia. I never heard this names. And this sentence “in our hoofs” who using such idiotic figure of speech. To this moment I still thought that this is some advanced training to check our psychological strength. Just jump into the deep end.
In this moment I should give series of commands to secure camp from danger. Then one of Borek’s men stand at attention in front of me.
“Mr Colonel” he saluted “ From north, approaching something what looks like same kind of swarm of insects, they hum and etc.”
Then I understood… white light… last thing I remember before losing my consciousness was white light… WE ARE A WHITE LIGHT!
Kucewicz had to faster put two and two together because right after what we heard he vanished among his man. I was about to give the order of full combat readiness, when I heard buzz, and swarm hit a camp. The sky was dark, overshadowed by hundreds of black bodies. Few of them began to nosedive, created green flames around themselves. Moment later they started hitting a ground.
“What the hell” just in front of my face crashed one of this Things and began to hiss. He reached up to my waist, he had a dark black body and fly kind type of wings on his back. His wings as legs (ending with… hoofs!) has many holes but I didn’t see blood.
I backed up falling back to the ground. Strange creature, began to approach me still hissing. I pulled out my USP Expert caliber 9 millimeters and fired at this Thing. The bullet passed through scull of the creature. I was complete paralyzed by fear, we were attack by horse-kind insects. I looked as green blood melts around this thing.
“ Well at least it's not damn acid” I said, pulling myself together, looked around. There was chaos, most of soldiers barely woke up after the accident, and no one had weapon with him right now. I was sure that this is end and this monsters will kill us. But next song was sang by maestro Kurcewicz. When I lost my head, he quickly backed to his man. The battle spotted him while he stood in front of his tank arguing with the driver about smuggle vodka. It was probably about the unequal distribution between the commander and crew.
When enemy attacked he forgot about arguing, and quickly jumped into his tank and right now engine started run of this machine of doom. I felt like ground started shaking, when dozens of tons moved. Kurcewicz stood in the middle of the camp and suddenly deaf silence fell over the camp. These creatures looked like they never seem tank before, and began to gather in one larger group – big mistake. I heard the sound of an electric motor rotating tower of the tank, exactly in the direction of clusters of these, for lack of a better word, insects. A second later huge explosion torn apart these monsters. Bullet caliber 125 millimeters, complete destroy half the swarm. The rest fly above us complete surprised by the turn of events.
The Explosion was heard even in Canterlot, Chrystalis felt like many of changlings die in matter of second.
Twilight heard a explosion too. She wasn’t sure what it was, but certainly distracted a Queen. There was her chance. She quietly walked to the Cadence. Her horn started to glow, as she realize her old foalsitter.
“Quick, go to him while you still have a chance.” She said.
Next explosion hit the air, Chrystalis felt like rest of the changlings she send was killed.
-#-
When Kurcewicz, signaled that we still in fight, I immediately reached for the radio.
“Borek give me two heavy machine guns on the left flank ASAP!”
“Lieutenant Grabowski move two of your “Szykła” next to Kurcewicz tank and start firing those enemies who are still in the air.”
Two antiaircraft units lined up on both sides of the Kurcewicz tank. Two earth-air missiles hit rest of the swarm. Only few was still alive and started run into the forest. But that was another bad idea.
When chaos regain Commandos from “GROM” unit, pride of the Polish Army, quickly returned for the guns. And using forest like cover they began to flank the enemy. When the remains of enemy tried hide in the woods. Wojtyński and his men opened fire. SMG MP-5 caliber 9 millimeter is one of the world's best weapons to fight for a short distance. Customs, light, practically devoid of recoil. In skilled hands is a real killing machine. Several precise, short series of shots finally ended the existence of this beings.
-#-
Chrystalis couldn’t believe somepony just massacre so many of her subjects. But she still had Canterlot.
Then she saw some light behind her. When she turned princess Cadence and Shining Armor floated in the air surrounded by a very strong magic.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” She yield when magic energy hit her and her changlings throwing them far beyond the borders of Equestria.
Twilight breathed a sigh of relief, it was finally over. But something did not allow her to calm down. These explosions were not accidental. Something or somepony must caused them. And she knew she would not be herself if she has not found out who it was.
