Twilight sparkle sat in the trooper hold with the other troopers inside of the SICON transport that was heading towards her old home. At the moment she stood in her M.I. powersuit, she wasn’t worried about Sunset, if she and her team ran into any trouble then Princess Celestia could easily handle it. At the moment she was more concerned with just how much longer she would have to wait before the Transport touched down in Ponyville.

"We are about 20 minutes from Ponyville Twilight, Gryphon 2s reporting some engine trouble, so we're the only ones who can go and pick up the Sargent after we drop you and the others off." The pilot said as he kept a steady pace with his co-pilot and the other transport. Due to them not really having spare parts or trained engineers it was only a matter of time until the transports began to fail from lack of proper maintenance.

"Ok, thanks for telling me.” Twilight turned off the intercom and walked over to the prone bug and kneeled down next to her head. "Ok Snowflake we're almost there, you feel up for some walking?" Twilight said gently.

'I'll be fine for the moment. My left side is still numb but I believe I can walk." Snowflake communicated through her mental link while the mandibles on her ‘mouth’ made a chittering noise that she did at odd times.

Twilight nodded as she picked up her helmet, it was now matched her lavender fur like the rest of her power suit, she had time to kill so she re-coloured her suit using magic (And some paint she found in the hold from a spray-can).

'Has there been any word from Sunset?' Snowflake asked as she used one of her massive hands to rub her eyes, she still felt rather tired.

"Yes, they found a big group of troopers in a crashed Retrieval Ship. Griffin 1s going to pick them up after they drop us off in Ponyville." Twilight said as she picked up her Morita (Also lavender) and holstered it on her back. "I hope those survivors include Sunset's squad, she's been worrying about them since she got here."

Twilight had wanted to go along Shimmer and Celestia, but both insisted that Twilight remain with the rest of the troopers, saying that she was going to need to act as a liaison between pony and human kind. Since not only had she been human for a time but also had spent a month and a half among them. Not to mention all the information she had learned from Sunset's mind. It made her perfect liaison material and Twilight knew that the citizens of Ponyville would react better to the humans if they saw a familiar face.

'What do you think the girls will say when we meet them?' Snowflake asked, tilting her head slightly so that her body language would help Twilight know it was a question.

‘A lot has happened in a short time and not much has been shared.’

"I honestly don't know." Twilight said sadly, this question had been plaguing her since she helped Sunset escape.

"I've been stressing about this since I left, I wanted to put this all off for another few days while I got my head in the right mind set... But the Bugs didn't leave us with much choice"

Snowflake sank deeper into the deck at the mention of the monstrous race. Doc had told her of her relations to the Arachnids after she had regained conciseness, true it was only a small part of her DnA but it was still enough to make the bug feel cursed.

"Snowflake you have to stop bringing yourself down like this" Twilight Chided her "I know its not nice knowing that your related but you can't let that get you down"

‘Yes, if you say so.’ Snowflake said and turned away from Twilight, slowly loosing herself in thought.

Twilight breathed a gentle sigh and began to walk away, deciding that Snowflake needed some space.

“If you need anything, just let me know.” She said and trotted over to the cockpit so she could see when Ponyville was in range. As she moved away from Snowflake, the large pony insect hybrid began to think and wonder. Why had the light she saw when Sunset returned felt so familiar? Why couldn’t she remember where she came from? Was she a changeling or some kind of arachnid?

‘Why am I the way I am?’ Snowflake asked herself as she kept thinking, she began to feel something stir in her mind. Whispers, vague images, like when trying to remember something that you forgot. Its right there but still out of reach.

‘Bring this one to me.’ A faint voice said in her mind, like a silent whisper in an empty field.

‘This one is a failure, dump it with the rest’ Snowflake remembered the words before feeling a sharp pain in her body followed by a growing sense of terror in her stomach.

“Snowflake, are you okay?” A human voice said and Snowflake found herself looking at a worried Doc.

Snowflake nodded slowly to the human and got to her feet, doing her best to attempt to form her mandibles and eyes to mimic a smile.

"Good. I was worried for a moment, you looked sick for a moment and started making some creepy clicking noises. I was scared one of my best behaved patients was still hurt." Doc told her. During the operation and when Celestia arrived Snowflake had been very calm and followed all of Doc’s instructions.

"Anyway I've been trying to wake you up for the last 8 minutes, we're about to touch down outside Ponyville and I was wondering if you would help me with some of the wounded since you seem rather strong.”

Snowflake nodded and imitated a smile again, she was happy to help others. Doc left Snowflake in the hold with the others and moved up to the cockpit to talk to Twilight.

“Hey Twi. Listen were almost Ponyville and I wanted to check with you that everything will be alright with the other princess, especially since her sister won’t be there.”

Twilight nodded reassuringly.

"Don't worry" she assured the medic while placing a hoof against her hand. "Luna's been on our side since day one and I am sure she will understand?"

"What? How?"

Twilight smiled and began to explain."She's the princess of the night and dreams fall into her domain. Her job is to go into the dreams of anyone in Equestria and make sure they aren't plagued by nightmare's…and why are your cheeks all red?"

"W-what? No they aren't." lied a blushing Doc

"No, I’m pretty sure you’re blushing."

"You’re seeing things Twi."

“Is there something in your dreams that embarrasses you? Don’t worry princess Luna does not judge she’s been around for a long time.”

"Its nothing!"

"Do not worry" all three of them spun around to see the mistress of the night herself standing behind them, startling the pilots and causing them to have to pull up to keep from hitting some trees below them.

Princess Luna blushed at the commotion she caused and continued explaining.

"I tend to leave THOSE types of dreams alone, though I would suggest that you talk with him if you care about him that much." Doc blushed even harder than before.

"Princess Luna! What are you doing here?" Twilight asked as the older Alicorn came into the hold so that she had more room. "I thought you were going to meet us in Ponyville!"

"I was, but I just couldn't wait to see one of these ships" Luna said, barely containing her excitement.

"How could I not? These can freely travel amount my stars where I have only been to the moon, I wish I could see them up close. So many stars and constellaitons."

"Maybe when this is all over." Doc said as her blush died down "I'm sure the pilots would jump at the chance to drive around as a guide for a demi-goddess."

"I would Like that very much. But for now we must focus on our duties." Luna looked left and right, her mane never losing its perpetual motion as she swung her head around.

"Where is my Sister and miss Sunset Shimmer?" she asked.

'Both went to investigate a distress call from a downed ship in the forest.' Snowflake informed Luna who looked at Twilight, puzzled.

"Did you not say you only had two ships?" she asked.

"We have two Retrieval Ships but on the way here we got the distress call from another not long ago." Twilight explained "Shimmer wanted to check it out in case there were any troopers trapped inside and Celestia wanted to be there in case there were any bugs, so she could, you know, see them with her own eyes."

Luna nodded solemnly "Hmm, yes it's probably for the best considering what you showed me in your dreams.” Luna said, though she had not told that to her sister since Celestia had been rather angry after Shimmer’s escape and did not wish to listen to anyone.

"Touch down in 20 seconds." The Retrieval Ship's computer announced in a feminine robotic voice.

"Please exit via Exit Ramp or cargo elevator....Have a pleasant day."

The whole ship shook as it touched down on the ground, Doc grabbed her gear and ushered them all onto the elevator which began to descend as the belly of the ship opened up. The bright sunlight made the Alicorns, woman and bug shield their eyes while they adjusted to the change in light pouring into the ship.

Griffin 1 and 2 had both landed in the fields just outside of town, which were now filled with medical ponies who had been sent to help with the wounded and Royal Guard ponies who were there to keep the local towns ponies who had been curious of the two ships that had set down outside their quite town.

The horizon was packed with the many citizens of Ponyville. But Twilight picked out six figures at the front of the crowd, two earth ponies, two Pegasus and a single unicorn with a baby dragon riding upon her back. The lavender mare sighed as she prepared for a meeting that she had fretted about over the last month and a half. Not even the breathing exercises Cadance had taught her could really help.

Luna sensed her discomfort and leaned in gently.

"They have been worried about you since you disappeared." she informed Twilight "They thought Sunset Shimmer had kidnapped you and brainwashed you.”

"Great, I guess they are all angry with me for deciding to stay with the MI?"

"I haven't told them the truth yet." Luna said sheepishly "If I had then Sister would have found out about me speaking to you every night."

Twilight was annoyed that her elder princess had not told her friends and assistant the truth, but she also understood her plight. Twilight guessed that her baby dragon assistant had not found her note explaining her intentions.

As the elevator pad finally touched down on the grass, Twilight's three companions went their separate ways with Doc saying "I've got to go check on my patients and make sure these doctors know what they are dealing with." and Snowflake saying

'I will go help carry the ones who cannot walk' and Luna just saying to her.

"Go...Be with your friends."

Taking a deep, and very nervous breath, Twilight made her way over to her friends who had yet to recognize her on account that her mane and coat were hidden under her Power suit and that her visor covered her face as she was looking down to keep the sun out of her still sensitive eyes.

As she stopped in front of the five mares plus one dragon and slowly took off her helmet and placed it on the ground. "H-Hey girls... It's Good to see yo- Omph!" The wind was knocked out of her as her friends barreled into her.

"Twilight!!!" they all collectively cheered as they hugged their best friend tightly making her wince as aches from multiple minor wounds resurfaced "Alright guys" Twilight wheezed "Take it easy with the hugs.”

"We're so glad you’re alright!" Rairity said as they let her go, she looked at her armor and lifted an eyebrow. "What are you wearing?"

"That don't matter right now Rairity" Applejack chided the alabaster mare "Ahm just glad that Twilight's back."

"Oh yes, we were so worried when you disappeared." Fluttershy said in her usual timid manner "I hope Sunset didn't hurt you."

"Yea that meanies pants isn't getting a party anytime soon!" Pinkie said grumpily and crossed her front hooves over her chest.

"She needs more than just not getting a party." Rainbow Dash said angrily "She deserves a good buck to the head."

"Girls! It's alright, Sunset didn't kidnap me!" Twilight said.

"That's exactly what a pony whose been kidnapped and brainwashed would say" Pinkie said as she got in Twilight's face and looked her in the eyes.

"Yoooouu arrreee TWILIGHT SPARKLE!!!! Sunset shimmer had noooo control oveer youuu" Twilight used her magic to pick the pink mare up and place her on the ground a few meters from her.

"I'm not under her control guys. Spike?" She said and started looking at her dragon assistant who was gawking at her power suit, snapped to attention at her call "Uh yea Twilight?"

"Did you find that letter I left for you?" Spike looked at her with a vacant look "I guess not."

"Oh Oh Oh! I have it!" Pinkie said as she reached into her logic defying mane and pulled out a scroll with a royal stamp that was still keeping it sealed "Is this it?"

"Pinkie! You've had a letter from Twilight this whole time and didn't tell us!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

"I tried" Pinkie defended "But every time I tried looking for it, it disappeared in my mane."

"Look.” Twilight sighed but still smiled. “It doesn't matter now, I'll explain later. But right now all I want is a shower, sleep and a decent meal." Twilight said "It's been a rough night."

"Ya can say that again, those guys look like they've been through Tartarus." Applejack said as the wounded troopers were lain down on stretchers and carried towards town "What in the hay happened to y'all out there?"

"We we're attacked, we'd all be dead if Snowflake hadn't warned us about the attack." Twilight said as one of the burned troopers were carried by gently by some Unicorn doctors. They used their magic to hold his stretcher so his trip would be as smooth as possible. "Though allot of good people got hurt."

"Your brother and your sister in law aren’t going to like that." Rarity said "They’re in town right now"

Twilight opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by her radio, which she had left on loud speaker, "Twilight we're getting a message from Sargent Shimmer. Patching it through."

There was static for a moment before the sounds of gunfire and an explosion filled the air "This is Lieutenant Shimmer to Shimmer's Timber Wolves, Me and survivors of the downed ship are under heavy assault, Need evac now!"

‘Lieutenant?’ Twilight thought ‘I leave her for a little while and she gets promoted.’ She put on her helmet and turned on her radio. "Griffin 1 Patch me through to Sunset’s radio."

"No problem Twi, patching you through now"

"Sunset what is your condition?"

"We're pinned down inside of the transport by a swarm of jungle spider! We can't evac using Celestia because these dammed spiders caught her in their webs." there was an explosion on Sunset's end.

"There's also a trio of plasmas bombarding our position, you should be able to see their fire from Ponyville.”

"What are those lights?!" a random pony called out as Rainbow Dash took to the air to get a better look at the balls of super-heated plasma crashing to the ground in the distance after arching in the air.

"Yes we can see them, I'll take Griffin 1 and come get you"

"Negative Twilight, I need you there, you’re the only pony there with the authority, experience and knowledge to keep Ponyville safe in case the bugs attack." Twilight bit her lip at that. While she didn't like it she knew Sunset was right.

"Send a few men with Griffin 1 and then start fortifying the town. You are in command, Shimmer out." Shimmer said and slapped a new magazine into her rifle before keeping the fire up with the other troopers by her sides.

Twilight Sighed as she radioed the orders to a few troopers and turned back to her friends. "Now then, lets g-" she stopped herself as she felt the ground beneath them suddenly shake. Something was coming towards them... Something big... And from underground...

"Oh no.... HEADS UP! We have incoming!" Twilight shouted both with her mouth and mind as she drew her rifle.

On her word the still able bodied troopers drew their weapons, aiming all around for bug holes.

"What's wrong Twi?" Applejack asked, alarmed by her friends sudden defensive stance and everything else happening.

A second later almost 30 meters away, something began to rip up from the dirt, kicking up grass and rocks and dirt into the sky. Twilight then heard the terrified cry of one of the troopers before all the civilian ponies all began to run and panic.

"Tanker!" The large and black and heavily armored bug crawled out of its hole with a roar as the ground shook beneath it with every thud of its massive legs. Princess Luna took to the sky and began moving as many of the townsfolk with her magic as she could.

Both ships engines roared to life as the lifted off and fled out of the tankers range, the colossal bug still sent twin jets of flames up after them, lightly burning the belly of Griffin 2.

"What is that?" Fluttershy cried out, in a whisper.

"It's a Tanker Bug!" Twilight said "Girls listen I need you to help get ponies and the wounded to safety, We'll hold it off!"

"No way Twilight! We can take it!" Rainbow Dash said before taking off towards the bug.

Twilight managed to yank her back and out of the way of another jet of fire, the rainbow maned mare crashed into the ground next to them.

"Ok let’s help getting everypony away!" she exclaimed hurriedly before rushing over to help groups of ponies fleeing to Ponyville.

Her friends looked at Twilight Unsure "Will ya be alright Twi?" AJ asked, looking back and forth between her and the tanker as several unicorn Guards tried to hold it in place with a magic barrier that looked ready to break any second.

"Yes, I've dealt with worse over the last month, I promise I'll explain everything later."

Applejack nodded and turned to the rest of the girls "Ok yall heard what Twi said, let get helpin!" the five ponies and baby dragon were off in a flash, with Spike giving Twilight a hug and Applejack wishing her luck before departing.

Now that they were gone Twilight now had only one problem to deal with. How to bring down the Tanker when all their heavy ordinance just flew off with the Retrieval Ships. She needed time to think a full plan.

"Harrison, Rodriguez! Take the tanker on its right side, keep at a safe distance!" the two troopers moved, firing as they went. "Doc, Pama, take the left side, rest of you apes concentrate fire on the face. Lets buy the others time to escape!"

"YES MA’AM!" The troopers called out and separated to engage the Tanker, it was big and strong but also slow compared to the troopers.

Now all Twilight needed to think about was how to bring it down quickly. They had left their explosives and Marauders on the ships and all they had were hand grenades.

Suddenly a jet of white vapors shot at the Tanker partly freezing it as ice crystals froze its legs in place. Twilight turned to see Snowflake and Luna rushing up to her side.

"Twilight!"

"Luna, Snowflake! Good to see you here" Twilight looked to Snowflake "How did you do that!? Can you keep it frozen?"

‘I did it on instinct I guess. But it took all I had just to partially freeze it, I'm still not strong enough yet. I'm sorry.'

Twilight waved the apology away, understanding.

"Well you've given us time to think, so that's alright." She said as she put a hoof to her chin, forcing her mind to work as much as it could.

"But how are we going to kill it, we've only got grenades and their not strong enough to punch through that things shell."

"Let me try" Luna said charging her horn and pointing it at the bug, in an instant a beam of pure magic energy was shot at it. Twilight expected the beam to punch right through the shell but was as shocked as the others around her when the beam was simply absorbed into the Tanker's shell, leaving the bug unscathed but annoyed.

"What! How? Tis impossible!" Luna said, her voice falling back into its old Royal Canterlot volume.

"The bugs must be getting resistant to magic now!" Twilight explained as the Tanker started to slowly break away the ice. "When we were attacked last night the bugs had a new type of blaster that fired magic shockwaves at us, they must have given this tanker some anti-magic modifications to fight ponies."

"Twilight! Watch out!" A voice yelled.

Twilight looked to the Tanker too late as its twin flame jets flew towards the three and hit... A purple barrier?

Twilight spun around to find her brother Shining Armour and his wife Candace standing behind her with their horns glowing with magic energy.

"Shining! Candace!" Twilight cried out in relief.

"Sis! You alright?" Shining asked, his face contorted in pain at deflecting the Tankers attack, it felt like trying to hold a plastic shield against a hurricane’s winds.

"Yes, we're fine" Twilight said, looking at the tanker which was roaring with its mouth wide open. Then an Idea struck her, it was crazy but it just might work.

"Shining I want you to drop the shield on my signal, Luna when he does I want you Snowflake and Candace to attack that thing with magic and ice. Snowflake I know its tough but you have to force yourself to do that trick again!" all four nodded as Twilight turned on her radio.

"Alright you apes listen up! On my mark I want you to concentrate fire all over the Tanker except for its back, got it?"

"Yes Twilight, but what are you planning?"

"Something crazy," she said as she waited for her chance. She licked her dry lips and focused on the barrier where the Taker’s flames were hitting it.

"Okay..... NOW!"

In that instant the shield dropped and a torrent of magi and ice surged at the Tanker, managing to push the flames away. None of it caused any damage but Twilight didn't expect it to, she just needed the bug’s attention away from her as she galloped head first towards it.

"Twilight what are you doing!?" Her brother called out.

Twilight charged her horn just as the Tanker let off another jet of flames at her. Twilight stood right where she was as the flames came towards her and struck where she was standing. Three seconds after she teleported right onto the bug’s back.

The Tanker roared and tried to shake her off, but the Alicorn held firm on its exoskeleton, refusing to let go.

"Yes that's right." Twilight said between breaths. "Get angry, just allitle more.."

The bug opened its mouth wide and roared at that sky, giving Twilight what she wanted. She quickly pulled out three grenades and used magic to fuse them together and press down on the detonators.

"Say Ahhh"

Twilight threw the explosives in a wide arc, they fell smack dab through the bug's mouth and into it's gut. With her job done, Twilight teleported next to Luna and covered her eyes while yelling.

"Suns coming up!" the troopers knew what she meant and covered their eyes too, Luna, Snowflake, Candace and Shining figured out what she meant when they saw the others and covered their eyes too, just as the grenades went off and blew the Tanker up from the inside sending bug juices everywhere. But mostly out of some holes in its stomach and out of its mouth.

"All clear!" the cry went out, Twilight went right to work ordering the troopers to seal the bug hole and secure the area before radioing Griffin 1 to go and evac Sunset and Celestia.

Once she was done she met the shocked looks of Shining, Luna and Candace.

"Twilight, that was the most stupid, most reckless move I've ever seen! You could have been killed!" Shining yelled in a mix of anger and fear at the thought of losing his little sister.

"I must agree with your brother, Twilight." Luna agreed "That was very dangerous."

"You could have been melted!" Shinning yelled.

"I know, but believe it or not, that is a famous M.I tactic." Twilight informed them but it didn’t seem to calm her brother down.

'What is it called?' Snowflake asked 'Because I'm sure that the human military would not condone such a tactic?'

"It's called, ‘riding the bull’, and it’s an unofficial one. But it still works." Twilight said as Griffin 1 passed over head toward the plasma fire in the distance "Come on, let’s get to town. We have a lot of preparation to do.” She said and stunned her brother when she began acting like a well-trained officer.

While he followed her alongside the others and gave orders to his own guards to fortify the town, he could not but wonder.

‘What happened to my little Twily?’

Elsewhere in a dark corner of the bug hive stood General Patricks, traitor to all of SICON, presumed dead on Pluto. He stood in his SICON uniform with two Arachnid warriors at his sides. The chamber he was in was filled with many warriors and workers and chariot bugs. The noise was almost enough to cause Patrick’s ears to hurt but it was soon silenced by a new arrival.

Patricks quickly fell to his knees, bowing and showing his unworthiness to look upon the mastermind of masterminds.

“My queen.” He said with his mind and felt a response in his head. He knew what was being said to him, just as if he was trying to calculate what 2+2 was.

“Yes, my queen it is all proceeding as ordered.” He thought and heard the response.

“Yes, the army grows now even as we speak. New hives are being prepared and the Brain bugs all rally to your call. This world shall fall within three months.” Patricks responded and the conversation continued until the General was dismissed. He soon returned to his lab within the hive.

Patricks passed by many different experiments until he reached a cold storage locker. Once he was at the locker he opened it and produced a small jar that held a personal experiment of his.

“Looks like I will find a chance to keep up my old experiment.” Patricks said and soon grabbed a very special file labeled ‘Zander Barcalow’.

“I will be labeled a hero for my work. I know I will, people just need to be made to understand.” Patricks said and went about his work with renewed devotion.

“Soon they will understand, soon.”

Author's Note

Well here you go.

If your interested in Starship troopers you should consider joining the Terran Federation Mobile Infantry.