Prologue: A Day of Chaos

Name: Fuse

Rank: Sergeant First Class

Date: 7-2-2001

Time: 1200 Hours (12:00 pm)

Location: Appaloosa Red Zone, Appalossa

*Transcript #451*

*Radio Transmissions Sent/Received*

[“Operation Guardian Angel”]

[October 14th – 11:08:14]

[Appaloosa Police Department/ Appaloosa Bomb Squad]

[Appaloosa, Equestria]

*Signal Located: HUD-01* (Unit ID: Fuse)

/\

Begin Transmission

"Hey guys, coming up on the target. Three hundred meters and closing," reported Rift.

"I see it," said Fuse as he trotted ever so carefully to the IED in his armor.

The Improvised Explosive Devices have been popping up all over the town. Nopony knows who's doing it; but so far, about 40 ponies have been killed. Ten of them were foals.

The local police along with a PMC known as Rainbow 6 were shooing civilians away from the site as Rift and Sand Storm pulled security and feed Fuse information outside of the EOD Rapid Response Carriage.

"Approaching. It's under the pile of boxed at my 1 o'clock right?."

"Roger, that's it. Can you see it?", responded Sand Storm.

"Copy, I have eyes on."

"Be careful sir. We don't know what kind of trigger mechanism it uses."

*Transmission Interference*

/\

Resuming Transmission

"Rift, it's Fuse, It's not just one bomb. Repeat, it's NOT just one bomb. I got like seven of 'em daisy chained."

"Shit. Sir, do you want some back up? I can get Sand Storm suited up to he-"

"Negative. I'll handle it."

"S-Sir?"

"If this thing goes off, it'll only be me in the blast zone. I can handle it."

"Roger sir. I'll radio the Rainbow 6 operators to give them a heads up."

"Good. Fuse out."

End Transmission

/\

*Resuming Transmission*

"Fuse, the bomb is gonna detonate any minute. You NEED to come to us!"

"Negative! I'm so close! I can do this!"

"No sir! We don't know if it's timed or not!"

"Belay that! I can do this!"

"Fuck! Sand, get him out of there. I'll hold the turret and provide security!"

*Transmission Interference*

*Signal Lost: Searching for new signal*

*Signal Located: HUD-3 (Unit ID: Sand Storm)*

*Switching Channels*

/\

Resuming Transmission

"Fuse, you gonna bail out or what?!"

"Almost there. Just hold on.[/i]"

*Switching Signal*

*Signal Located: HUD-2 (Unit ID: Rift)*

"Fuck! Guys, it's Rift. Hurry up. I got eyes on some dude with a 9V battery!"

"Damn it Fuse, let's get the hell out of here!"

"Shit! GET CLEAR GET CLEAR! RUN! GO GO GO!"

*Transmission Interference*

*Signal Lost: Searching for new signal*

*Signal Located: HUD-03 (Unit ID: Sand Storm)*

*Switching Channels*

*/*

*Resuming Transmission*

"Shit! GET CLEAR GET CLEAR! RUN! GO GO GO!"

"Drop the battery! Put it down! Sand! Fuse! RUN!"

**Signal Lost**

Date: 7-2-2001

Time: 1250 Hours (12:50 pm)

Location: Canterlot Square, Canterlot

A speeding crossbow bolt  flew across the town square, striking the Saddle Arabian President's convoy's lead driver, who slumped over the steering wheel as the vehicle accelerated and ran into a building.

The trap had been sprung.

The terrorist group, Martyrs Brigade International, revealed their true form in a precision timed explosions from IEDs hidden in the crowd. Citizens, who were not vaporized in the blast, saw this and began to panic, fleeing from the shooters and suicide bombers who were cutting them down. As the crowd stampeded to safety, like a herd of buffalo, they knocked down any Royal Guard or Arabian Secret Service who tried to calm them. The bolt of magic flew towards Celestia and she knew she had no time to protect herself.

This is going to hurt.

Pa-ting!

The bolt bounced of a shield that was now surrounding her. Another three bolts,  flew in, however it was also easily deflected. Then she saw Shining Armor standing beside her grinning.

"Getting slow in your old age I see."

The other guards regrouped themselves and began to fight back. Armor heard some of the guards shouting the word "terrorists".

A cold shiver ran down his spine.

No time for that though, one of the assassins was coming straight for him, flying at him, detonator in hoof. It struck him on the side, knocking him over onto his back. They struggled for a bit, the stallion attempted to blow his vest, however it didn't detonate thanks to a tri-set of red claws that tore a hole in his chest before moving straight up. Peeling him open like a banana.

Shinning Armor watched in awe as the corpse spewed blood before he used his hoof to pushed the body off of himself. Another bolt flew across the square, flying towards Celestia, there were no other guards around and Shinning had no time to bring back his shield.

Before the arrow hit home, a orange figure wearing golden armor threw itself in front the princess. Flash Sentry just sacrificed himself.

Members of the Royal Guard in tandem with 33rd Squad were cutting down the hostiles.

Combust decapitated three terrorists before his claws shut itself down to cool off. Panting, he rises to his hooves and rallies his men forward.

"Come on! We need to keep going!" He shouts.

He bucks a gunman into a nearby wall. Shattering his spine. Another suicide bomber leaps out at Skyline, but Pyro stabs it with his High Frequency Claws.

Combust and Sparky rushes the survivors out to a nearby building, not wanting to risk them dying.

Combust then orders Skyline and Sparky to lead the civvies while he and Pyro keep them covered.

"Hostiles incoming!" Pyro shouts as he uses his flamethrower spell on a small group. Combust self-ignites and charges into another group.

The wails of the burning ring in his ears.

A hiss sounds. Looking back, he sees Pyro engaging two hostiles while Skyline was desperately trying to pull a civvie through the doorway.

"Get the fuck off of me!" Pyro shouts as he throttles a bomber before picking him up and breaking the stallion in half over his knee.

"Damn son!" Combust shouts as he charges into another horde with Pyro covering him.

"Get out the door! We can't stay here!" Combust yells as he turns and runs.

Pyro nods and launches a incendiary grenade, afterwards rushing out the door. Combust turns and slams the door behind him, and shoves his body against it. An explosion sounds, and several screams. Both Combust and Pyro still holds the door for a moment, trying to be sure nothing else was coming.

They sigh and walk away.