Chapters Conversion Bureau: Papers, please
( Border Checkpoint in East Grestin )
"Papers, please."
A middle aged man slid his passport and work permit to the inspector, which bared an Obristanian insignia. The inspector looked over the work permit and passport but saw no discrepancies, so he stamped it with an ink pad that said "Approved" and slid both the papers back to the Obristan man.
"Cause no trouble." The inspector said, getting no response. He reached for the microphone that was attached to the loud speaker outside. "Next."
An edgy looking man walked into the booth, shifting around uncomfortably.
"Papers, please."
A passport slid into the booth to the inspector. He picked it up and glared at the man, thinking to himself, "Kolechian..."
"Is there something wrong?" the Kolechian man worriedly asked.
"What is your purpose for visiting?"
"Uhmm, I'm just visiting."
The inspector glared at him once more. "You have been selected for random search. Please face the scanner."
"No no no this is a mistake! You see-"
The inspector cut him off, "Be quite or face prosecution."
The scanner flashed twice and the results came to the inspector, and he looked over it. The Kolechian man had a good quantity of illegal drugs strapped to his leg. "We have zero tolerance for your kind." The inspector said.
"W-what do you mean?"
"Wait here." The inspector closed the shutter which received a frightened response from the Kolechian man.
"What is this!?"
Two men walked to the booth's door, wearing green greatcoats and black ushankas that bared the Arstotzkan crest on the front of it. One man seemed to have not shaven in the recent morning and not taking care of his hair while the other man seemed perfectly shaved and cleaned, never the less they both held AK-74's and glared down the Kolechian scum.
"Out!" one of them said, grabbing the mans arm.
"Please, this is a mistake! Y-you see I was forced to-"
"Shut your mouth." One of the guards responded. The two guards walked the offender to god knows where, and the man was most likely to never be seen again.
"Another day in glorious Arstotzka." The inspector said to himself. He reached for the microphone again, but before he had a chance to speak through it he heard a sonic boom. Although this was no ordinary sonic boom. This one shattered the windows and knocked him to the ground. He immediately stood up as quick as he could and looked around. The guards were shouting into their radio but he could not hear what they were saying, he was dumbstruck to what had just happened.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
( Seven Hours Later, Unspecified location )
A tall black-haired man walked through a well lit, but seemingly old hallway that was bustling with activity. The man wore an olive-drab green uniform with various medals on it and golden crests on the shoulders, which bared M.O.I on it. The man also held a yellow folder that seemed to be filled with a good amount of papers that also bared the Ministry or Information crest on it, along with "Classified." He walked down the hallway until he reached a door that stated "Authorized Personnel Only," on the front of the door. He opened it, and inside were two military officers arguing with a man in a suit, who appeared to be the Minister of Defense, although the arguing stopped when the uniformed man entered.
"Ah, Mister Vitaly, it is an honor to speak to you." The uniformed man said with a heavy accent.
"The pleasure is mine." The minister responded. "What are you here for?"
"The Ministry of Information has found the source of that large shock wave that rocked the country.."
"Well, what was it? A Kolechian terrorist attack? An atomic bomb?"
"No, neither of those. In fact it had nothing to do with Kolechia or or any other country in the continent."
"Then what was the source?"
The agent from the M.O.I placed the folder on the Minister's desk and opened it, revealing orbital pictures that were taken two hours ago.
"What am I looking at?" the Minister asked. Almost immediately afterwards, the agent pointed to the Arstotzkan coast. "Good god." the Minister responded. There seemed to be an insanely huge island where the ocean was supposed to be. The island itself was shy near the size of Arstotzka itself. "Trofim, send word to the second fleet and get some visual on this island."
"Yes Minister," the officer said and saluted, then making his way towards the communications hub.
"Let us see what the future holds for us." Minister Vitaly mumbled to himself.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
( Somewhere off the coast of Arstotzka )
The wind and waves blasted onto the side of the missile boat, occasionally splashing the Arstotzkan marine with mist, but he did not mind. To him it was just another day serving Glorious Arstotzka. The marine adjusted his black beret on his head, rubbing his unshaven stubble and securing his AK-74 to his combat uniform. His Tsko camouflage stood out, in the blue ocean, as well as his black gloves and ammunition pouches.
"Mikhail!" a sailor said to the marine while jogging up to him. "Did you hear about the island that has appeared eighty kilometers from here?"
"Bullshit." Mikhail replied. "An island doesn't just appear."
"Aye but you're wrong this time my friend. It is true and we have orders to be dispatched there to investigate."
Mikhail was skeptical, to the point where he thought his sailor friend had accidentally inhaled diesel fumes."You are crazy man Yegor, I must ask my superiors about this situation."
"Do so Mikhail, they will say the same as me!" the sailor responded while smirking.
"Alright you crazy bastard." Mikhail responded while making his way to the captains deck. He traversed the stairs and looked out into the ocean while doing so. Had he seen land out in the distance? He did not know. It looked like it but he took it off as his mind playing tricks on him.
After making his way up the exterior stairs, he knocked on the steel door. Another marine of higher rank opened it up, asking a question. "What is it you need comrade?"
Mikhail responded, "I have been hearing rumors of an island appearing some many kilometers away?"
"Yes, those rumors are true. A task force has been sent to investigate because the whole fleet could not leave the Arstotzkan coast. The task force includes this missile boat along with four destroyers, a landing ship and a battle cruiser." Mikhail's peer responded.
"How is this possible? An island?"
"I do not know, but get ready for a landing. We will be there in under two days, departing in two hours. Glory to Arstotzka." He said while closing the hatch door.
Mikhail sighed and mumbled to himself, "Glory to Arstotzka..."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
( Canterlot Castle Garden, Seven hours after arrival )
Twilight Sparkle sat in the garden looking at all the stone statues, a testament to all the enemies they have destroyed. She was unsure about Celestia's decision, to leave the war-torn planet of Equis to come to Earth and face one last enemy, and then unconditional peace forever. Or so was the theory. Any time she questioned her mentors actions they were immediately shot down by the part of her that loved Celestia even more. "Well if it means unconditional peace for the rest of eternity, then I guess its worth it."
A pegasus guard walked up to the newly crowned Alicorn. "Princess, her majesty Celestia requests your presence in her quarters."
"Very well." She replied.
"Do you need an escort your majesty?"
"No thank you, I can go on my own." The guard merely bowed and they went their separate ways. Twilight focused on her horn and teleported to Celestia's private room.
"Twilight, how nice to see you!" she said and nuzzled her student.
"What did you need me for, princess?" She asked curiously and excitedly.
"Oh you don't need to refer to me as princess anymore, remember that." Twilight was slightly embarrassed from that comment. "Although I have an assignment for you."
"Oh? What kind of assignment?"
"I need you to go with one of our diplomats to the Human mainland with a detachment of guards and make first contact."
Twilight's stomach dropped. "First contact, princess?"
"Yes Twilight, you are the only one I can trust with such a task. Do not worry though, the guards will keep you safe if anything happens with the Humans." Twilight sighed. "Your chariot will arrive in one hour, and it will be a two hour flight to the mainland."
With that statement, the two alicorns went their separate ways and the youngest prepared for her journey somewhere a pony has never set foot.
Conversion Bureau: Papers, please
( Somewhere off the coast of Equestria, 38 hours after arrival )
Mikhail stood at the bow of the ship, watching the sunrise and looking for any sign of an island. Not seeing one, he started to think his brothers-in-arms were going crazy, or maybe he was just in denial. He wasn't to sure how he felt about this situation, but he heard walking behind him and turned to confront whoever it was.
"Mikhail," it was his CO. "Downstairs, now. Briefing in five minutes."
"Yes sir, right away sir." he responded, making his way to the hatch to go downstairs. On his way his shipmate Yegor walked up to him.
"Mikhail, what do you think the briefing is about?"
He huffed and opened up the hatch door and started walking down the stairs, slightly lagging on the response. "I do not know Yegor, use your imagination. My best guess is we're being deployed onto the coast as generic as it sounds."
"Nah!" Yegor responded, throwing his arm forward. "We are Arstotzkan! we will do something much more fabulous and wonderful than landing on mysterious beach."
"Whatever you say my friend." The rest of the one minute walk was quiet, all the crewmen seemed to be in their specified locations and all the marines were assumed in the briefing room. Mikhail walked up to the half open hatch and pushed it open, revealing 8 marines and a Platoon leader.
"You two are late." The platoon leader said.
Mikhail didn't respond and walked to the back of the room with Yegor, waiting for the platoon leader to announce whatever it was.
"Today my friends, is a day that will most likely be put in the books, so lets make one for the records." he said enthusiastically."Now I am just as surprised at an island appearing as the rest of you, but this new obstacle means new ways of dealing with it. There is a massive mountain chain cutting us off from landing on the beach."
Yegor nudged Mikhail, "What did I tell you, huh Mikhail?" and smirked.
The platoon leader continued. "We will be doing a helicopter insertion on the outskirts of a city that satellites have found, this city is a direct overpass through the mountains. This team will go by the call sign of 'Watchdog,' while the other team we're landing with is call sign 'Apex', you eight and the other team will initiate first contact and check the surrounding area. Welcome to recon duty Watchdog. Any questions?" The room was silent, but everybody knew that they were ready. "Glory to Arstotzka." He finished.
"Glory to Arstotzka!" the group of marines said in unison, and started their way to the top-deck to stack inside the helicopter.
"We get to go on marvelous helicopter ride Mikhail! So wonderful!" Yegor announced to his friend.
"All in due time my friend."
Once they got to the top of the deck they walked to the helipad, revealing an Mi-8 with a pilot who seemed anxious to take off. The platoon leader was at the loading ramp and made a gesture to hurry everyone on-board, and almost on queue the helicopter engines started up with a hiss.
Mikhail walked into the Mi-8 and sat next to the door gunner who was busy loading his KORD, so he decided not to start conversation. He sat in the cargo seat and secured himself, and once everyone else did so the helicopter began to lift off.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
( Half a mile outside of Arstotzkan airspace, 39 hours after arrival )
Twilight looked out into the horizon, watching the sunrise while leaning on the edge of the air chariot. It eased her fear of meeting a new species that was technically alien, and the colors were actually quite sedating. She wasn't sure if they were friend or foe, but she knew she had to read the script that Celestia gave her on the scroll. She read over it constantly to make sure she could read it right, but the script itself seemed very aggressive for Celestia's standards, it was practically a declaration of war. The sunrise started to make her feel drowsy and she went into a trance-like state for a few minutes, admiring the beauty of the alien star.
Although she started to hear something in the distance. She wasn't consciously aware of it for a few seconds but it started to get louder and snapped her out of her trance. It sounded like... a roar? No, it didn't sound natural. She saw something a little ahead of her, that seemed to be where the noise was also coming from. It looked to her like a gray bird, but it wasn't moving its wings? What was it?
It moved closer, at a rapid speed. She wasn't sure to panic or to not worry at all, but she did start to panic right when it was about to fly by her.
She didn't know what it was, but it flew right past the air chariot and screamed louder than any noise she had ever heard. She put her hooves to her ears and closed her eyes. She was shivering and shaking due to the noise but she removed her hooves, hearing the echo of the weird bird that just flew by, but she saw it circling around to face her again.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
( Paradizna Military Airfield, 39 hours after arrival )
The radar operator sat in his chair, smoking a cigarette. He was bored, nothing ever happened on radar duty. He could of become a flight control operator, or maybe even a pilot! But noooo he had to sit in a chair for hours and watch a green radar screen do nothing all day. Seeing that his cigarette was out, he grabbed another one to light up.
"You should stop chain-smoking so much, it is not the healthiest." One of his friendly radar operators said.
"Bah!" He replied. "It's the only thing to do in this damned building. It is more entertaining than watching green screen do nothing."
His friend pointed at him. "Got me there."
Right before he lit the cigarette, his friend interrupted him. 'What's that?"
"What's what?"
"That! On the damned radar!"
The operator looked at the screen. There was a small blip right on the edge, a few miles from the coast. "I do not know..." It seemed to be too slow to be an aircraft, but too fast to be a helicopter. He picked up a phone with a direct line that sat next to him. "Mission control we have an unknown aircraft picked up by sector scan two miles off the coast, vector one seven, over."
"Solid copy radar we are intercepting now."
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
The pilot walked through the airport corridor and opened a hatch that led to the hangar, revealing a recently cleaned Sukhoi model 27. "My beautiful baby." he said to himself while walking towards it. "Today we get to fly!" He walked to the ladder and the air crew removed the orange cones in front of the aircraft. He climbed up and sat inside the pilot seat, equipping his helmet and respirator, speaking into the comms while starting the Sukhoi's twin engines.
"Air control this is Sabre 1-1 requesting clearance for runway 17, over."
"Solid copy Sabre 1-1 you are clear for takeoff, over." Air control responded while Sabre was pulling into the runway.
"This is Sabre 1-1, initiating takeoff runway 17, pucker factor 2-7"
"Roger Sabre, the runway is all yours."
'Thank you control." The pilot flipped a few switches in the cabin of his Sukhoi and increased throttle. The aircraft pushed forward and accelerated at high speeds, eventually lifting off the ground.
"We are off the ground control, over."
"Roger that, have a good fly sabre, over and out."
Sabre increased throttle and pulled the nose of the aircraft up to gain altitude, unconsciously wondering what he was going to encounter on this flight.
Conversion Bureau: Papers, please
( Somewhere over Arstotzka, 40 hours after arrival )
"Sabre 1-1, radar contact, closing fast. No frequency ping coming back, lack of IFF tone, over" The pilot said into his comms.
"Roger Sabre," Air control replied. "Get a visual on target, determine its threat level, out"
"10-4 control, over and out." He was closing in on the target, ready to shoot it down if it posed a threat. If it did not threaten his country then he would escort it to the nearest airbase. The aircraft would not respond to any
He saw something in the air about a mile out, which he presumed to be his target. He spoke into his comms, "Unidentified aircraft you are in restricted Arstotzkan airspace, turn heading west and proceed." Won't hurt to try one more time he thought to himself, and not to his surprise he got no message back.
Closing in on the target, he flew right by it. It took him a few seconds to realize it hadn't looked like any aircraft he'd seen in his life. He questioned what it was and turned his aircraft to the right and banked. Closing in again, he put the Sukhoi on level with the unknown aircraft. Once he matched it's speed he looked at it.
"What the... fuck?" He said to himself, not sure out of awe or shock. It seemed that the aircraft was being pulled by four horses with wings, and the craft itself was filled with white horses that seemed to be wearing armor made of pure gold. There was one that stuck out, a violet pony with wings and a horn.
"Control, I have visual on the aircraft, over."
"Roger Sabre can you identify the target?"
"Negative, it seems to be... flying horses pulling a flying cart... over."
"... Say again sabre?"
"Flying ponies, pulling a flying cart."
"Is this some kind of joke, sabre?"
"Negative control, either I lost my mind or its right next to me, I will escort them to the airbase, threat level is assumed to be nonexistent. Over and out."
"Roger sabre, over and out."
He made a gesture to the ponies, universally stating 'follow me,' and to his surprise they followed.
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
Twilight couldn't believe her eyes, and she assumed the rest of the guards with her were too, in shock. It seemed that the "bird" was not a bird at all, in fact it seemed to be a machine. A loud machine at that... Looking at the front there seemed to be some sort of creature inside looking at the carriage. It made a gesture with one of its arms.
"Princess." The captain said to Twilight. "I think the creature wants us to follow it?"
"Then do so captain." She replied. "It might lead us to its superiors."
"Yes, princess." He walked to the front of the carriage and yelled to the pegasi upfront. "We're following the machine! Keep a constant speed!"
"Yes, sir!' The pegasi responded in unison. The machine slightly turned to the left and the carriage followed.
"Where do you think its taking us?" Twilight asked the captain.
"I don't know, but it is our duty to protect you no matter what the cost and we will do so," The captain said to her.
She sighed, she hoped nopony got hurt in the process of this diplomatic mission. She started thinking what was going to happen once they were able to land. No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't come up with a plausible answer. She hated it when that happened. She sighed in frustration and put her hooves on her head.
The captain walked beside her ,"I believe we have arrived Princess."
She opened her eyes and looked at the ground below her. There was a long grey strip with another, smaller one branching off of it, and many same looking buildings lined up beside it, including a tower and one large main building. "What an odd place," she thought to herself out loud, and it seemed the guard detachment was as well dumbstruck.
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
Major General Lipnitskaya watched the lone Su-27 land outside the window of the terminal. He bore an olive drab uniform with various medals, and his rank displayed on his shoulders as well as a grey beret that lay on his head. His face was shaven and hair clean and regardless of the light scars on his face he was a very presentable person for the People's Land of Arstotzka. After the Sukhoi landed he saw another, rather strange object land on the runway too. Initial reports told him about "Ponies," but he didn't know what to think. The object was about two thirds the size of the sukhoi and required much less runway to stop. He reached for his radio.
"Dispatch OMON, bring the visitors to Hangar 3, I will speak with them there." He put the radio back on his belt and made his way to said hangar.
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
Sergi sat in the guard tower with his Dragunov SVD rifle when he saw the odd carriage land on the runway soon after the sukhoi. He had heard rumors of magical and colorful ponies coming from the other MP's, but he shrugged it off as another prank going around the base. He picked up his rifle and looked out towards the carriage.
"Well I'll be damned," he said, "The other MP's were right it seems." He rested the edge of the tower to make sure they didn't do anything that would be considered hostile, as was protocol. While looking through the scope he saw two BTR-80s drive up to the carriage and a group of OMON jumped off of one of them. The OMON without the helmet, who was wearing a crimson beret in place of it, walked up to the purple pony and started talking to it. He couldn't hear what they were saying but it seemed to go on for a few minutes and the Beret wielding OMON along with two other riflemen seemed to be escorting the purple pony as well as two pony guards. He laughed at the situation. "I had thought I had seen it all in Kolechnia!" He said outloud to himself. "Oh well, just another day in Glorious Arstotzka." He saw that the winter weather had started to become hazier, and in response, he opened up a flask he had hidden in his coat and took a nice, long swig.
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
Twilight hadn't expected this to happen. She was being escorted along a long concrete strip by three humans, two of which seemed armed to the teeth. She didn't know much about war, so she was terrified by what the human soldiers could do. Her guards didn't seem nervous, and seemed very alert at the humans so that relieved her. She thought that her guards could probably easily deal with the humans if they tried something. Ten minutes into the walk they came upon a large, dark green building that was convex in shape.
"Welcome to Hangar 3." The leading escort said as he opened the door for her. She thanked him and walked in, although found it unnecessary that there was an open door large enough to fit the flying machine in. Speaking of which, two of those flying machines sat inside the building. Similar, but not the same as the one before. There were even more outside of the hangar that seemed to be covered, perhaps to protect them from the snow?
"Welcome to hangar 3!" a voice said across the building. It seemed to be another human wearing a dress uniform, and wearing a grey beret. "Please, follow me." The three humans and guards walked with the new coming general and came to a smaller building that seemed to be an office inside of the hangar. The OMON officer lowly waved his hand to his guards, telling them to stay outside of the building. Twilight assumed it was a formality so she did the same.
Upon entering the office building, it was heated unlike the cold winter weather. It also had very complex maps all around it with numerous bulletins and stick notes connect to them. Right behind the main desk was a large flag draped on the wall. The flag itself was black, and bared a screaming red eagle on it with three grey lines going through. She was fairly amazed at the office, but she snapped out of it as she was offered a seat to the desk. Sitting behind the desk was the Major General, and in front was the OMON officer and Twilight Sparkle.
'So..." the general started. "Why are you here?"
