Author's Note

I'm not sure what you will make of this one If you don't like it say, suggest and I'll try something else.

Clash of Opinion

Clash of Opinion

Iron skin paced back and thought waiting I'm going to rip it's bucking throat out!

There was the sound of rope and something landing "Who the fuck are you!? and why the fuck are you ordering me about !?"

Iron Skin turn'd and looked up into the black eye's of Ross's mask. She had seen him when the princesses brought him to the war room but she was straining her neck looking up at him and he was a dame side more intimidating up close.

Ross looked down at a white pony with a scar's running across her face, a patch on her left eye and a sword in a scabbard ran down the left side of her armorer and Ross picked up that she was very VERY pissed at him.

"You been killing my officers?" her voice was calm.

"Only the inept one a Caption Money" Ross folded his arm's with the hiss of the slightly squished air pipe.

"And ... you ... shot... him?" Ross rested one hand on his sword's hilt "Yes he was a coward and incompetent officer he would have killed more troop's to his lack of ability to command and he showed this by using Sargent Moonlight as a meat shield to protect him self."

Iron Skin started to judge him " If that is true you should of reported it to me." Ross slowly slipped his hand onto the plastic-rubbery handle of his sword. "You can't change a officer set onto killing others to save his own flank. Plus I don't think there was anything you could do to change him."

Iron skin took a step back and fiddled with her sword's handle.

Mean while in the bunk house Applejack role from the top bunk and landed onto her hoof's "Morning Sis..." Big Mac muttered as he slipped off the bottom bunk. "Morning..." Applejack walked to the small table that sat under the window, on top a clay bow of water sat with out hesitating she dunked her face into the cool water sending a few drop's over the lip of the shallow bowl. A few second's later she pulled her face out feeling a bit more awake. There was the sound's of the other pony's in the bunk house getting up. Applejack looked through the window to see the left foot of The ACU and the small group standing there. She moved off then shot back to the window when she realist what was happening from the way the pony's where standing.

"Hay y'all! I think the General is sizing up Ross!" The thirty other's in the bunk house looked up to Applejack then they stormed and crowded the window's.

Ross noted the officers that followed Iron Skin had formed a border "If you want to fight just say." Ross drew his saber slowly and stabbed it into the ground then he pulled the belt off from round his wast with the attached revolver holster and rested it on top of the hilt. Then he cracked his knuckles and waited.

Iron skin smiled stretching her scar's and chuckled that slowly built to a hearty laugh "You don't give two buck for rank and authority do you?" "Only when it's earned." Ross shifted his leg's setting his weight onto his back foot ready to react.

Iron Skin continued to laugh, some of the other officer's started to laugh nervously "T...this one this one I like!" Iron skin stood on her back leg's and put one for-leg round Ross's shoulder.

"But you let-" Something prodded her unarmored belly. Something sharp. "..Your guard down to fast." Ross finished her sentence
while keeping the presser on the pocket knife prodding her stomach. "Where was that blade?" Iron Skin ask'd "Field rule number 5: All way's keep a concealed weapon on you."

"You have potential and I like you." Iron Skin said feeling Ross slip his knife into his pocket. Iron Skin dropped back onto all four's "I think we haven't been properly introduced. I'm General Iron Skin of her Majesty's Royal Guard."

Ross snapped to attention "Iron Warrior Leftenant-Commissar David Ross! Of the 68th Siege/Siege breaker Regiment "The Thunder Fighter's of the UEF!" Ross saluted and remand stood to attention.

"What are you any way?" Iron Skin asked "Human! Male! Age. 22!" Ross rattled off. "At ease" Iron Skin said and Ross stood to at ease.

Celestia stood on her balcony and watched the massed pony's begin to wake up. Every bed held family, every garden, park and scrap of free land held as many tent's as could possibly fit. Each tent holding as many pony's as humanly possible. Carts pulled by members of the guard where drawn down the street's issuing food and drink to the evacuees.

Luna slip'd into her bed exhausted the curtains drawn blocking her sisters sun.

"Er..Twilight..." Spike poked twilight with his talon " Hum..." Twilight head lifted from her desk the book held on the side of her face by her drool. "Er... Twilight. Face." Spike said suppressing his laughter. "Err..." Twilight ratcheted up and pulled the off book with wet sound.

Iron Skin looked over Ross's uniform "Where and what is your rank identification?" "Here." Ross moved his head to the left reviling the two gold pip's on his right collier. Iron skin looked up "Kneel down I can't see." Ross glanced at her through the lenses but knelt down on one knee.

Iron Skin looked up at the two gold pip's "Very well but you will need the correct marks." Iron skin turned to one of her officers "Caption Edge! Go to the quarter master and request a set of lieutenant pip's dismiss!" The Caption snapped to his hoof's together then fell out.

Applejack and the others in the bunk house watched as Ross knelt down "What's he doing?" one pony at the back asked "I don't rightly know." Applejack said as they watched.

"Right you lot aren't you meant to be ready to have breakfast?" Said a familiar voice called from the door way. They all turned to find Sargent moonlight standing there bandages round her mid rift. "Sargent!" All the pony surrounded her asking how she was and what happened.

"I'm fine and I'll explain later. Have I missed anything?" The Doctor of the conscript regiment Pin Prick stepped forward's "No just Iron Skin working Ross over." Moonlight smiled "How is he doing?" Pin Prick looked out the window "Well..."

Ross was stood to attention again Iron Skin was interrogating him about his uniform "Whats with the coat?"

Ross answered with the truth "The treated trench coat and the full uniform was stranded battle dress for my regiment and the current battle dress of my home world as we often fight in poor conditions that where often also contaminated with Radioactive, Chemical and even Biological weapons that ha been detonate'd against us."

Moonlight turn'd back from the window "Ok. Right you lot go get your breakfast." There was the sound of hoof's on wooden floor board's as the conscript's moved off to the mess hall.

Iron Skin wasn't sure but she thought she saw Ross's head ever so slightly turn toward's the pony's entered the mess hall. "Hungry?" "Ma'am?" "Are you hungry?" Iron Skin asked again a smile touching her lip's.

"No." Ross lied the nutrient paste ration not filling but the slight gurgle from his stomach betrayed him. Iron Skin gave in she knew a army marched on it's stomach "You are dismissed go get something to eat." "Thank you Ma'am." Ross saluted then ran to the mess hall.

Moonlight sat the bowl of oatmeal in front of her. The door open'd and Ross stooped in looking round he moved to the counter the food was on.pulling a white, chipped tin bowl from his pocket and dunked it into the porridge pot to the annoyance of the cook. Ross pulled the bowl out the porridge only just staying in it.

Looking round he saw Moonlight, Applejack, Big Mac. Parting the crowd Ross sat next to Big Mac. "Er... Sir this is not the officer's mess you know that?" Pin Prick asked Ross shrugged "I don't care. Proper food." Ross pulled his gas mask up reveling his mouth. He brought the bowl up to his lip's and started too gulp it down the pony's on the table stared at him.

"Ya'll hungry?" Big Mac asked. Ross gulped a few more times the set the now empty bowl down with a clatter "What gave it away?"
Ross pulled the mask down and looked round the table, with a bletch that made his mask bulge. Moonlight shook her head.
"Sargent? What you doing here I thought you where still in hospital?" Ross looked her up and down. "I can't stand it in there it's to quite." "Well you look good. Did you sign out or brake out?" Moonlight smiled "They know I'm out but they didn't say I could go."

Ross rested his hand on her back ""If you wanted braking out all you had to do was ask." There was a chuckle from all around the table.

"Lieutenant Ross! I'm looking for Lieutenant Ross!?" Ross looked at the door and found a runner "Here!" The scout runner moved over to him and pulled a letter out of his saddle bag then left.

Ross opened the letter and read it.

"To Lieutenant-Commissar David Ross.

It is my firm belief that you should be given command of any force and troop that you deem a necessity to aid you in the saving of our world.

This decision was made due to the information my sister and fateful student Twilight Sparkle has given me so far in addition you are the only one with moderate experience and knowledge of fighting the "Seraphim" and "Order" forces.

I also propose you form a team that you will lead and train as a specialist force dedicated to hunting and removing major threats that require a more subtle touch or if the use large fores is a unattainable option.

These individuals will be excused normal duty's and to your judgment and discretion you will reward promotion's or commendation's.

You will have my full support In any decision's you make.

Yours fatefully Princes Celestia."

"Is it good?" Moonlight asked a concerned look on her face.

Ross nodded and fished around in his pocket and pulled a sheet of paper out and a pen "Well Sargent Major do you think you can keep up with me?" Moonlight looked round "Where's the Sargent Major!?" "I'm looking at her Sargent Major." Ross passed her the slip of paper.

Moonlight opened the folded paper.

"Official document ASDER00006034

Type: Promotion form.

Promotion from rank of..." The printed text changed to a neat hand writing. "... Warren officer 1st Class then appointed to Sargent Major.

Reason: Confirmed loyalty and belief in the Officer of command and the necessary attitude to command in the role of Sargent Major. You are transfer'd to LT Ross's command immediately. With this you are excused normal duty's of a Sargent Major of the larger army to take part in S.O.H.U (Seraphim and Order Hunter Unit.) Congratulation's. Sign'd..." There was a scrawl but Moonlight was sure she could see "Ross" in it.

Moonlight looked up at Ross and stammered. "I...w....h..." Ross passed her the letter from Celestia and watched as her face changed from confusion to amazement.

"Now Sargent Major if you are fit for duty you will evaluate any possible candidate's for training as I have other duty's to attend to thank you... O Moonlight you may need to go to the quarter master and attain your new rank emblem's."

Ross got up and walked out the mess hall and Moonlight looked round the table "Well...that went well."

Celestia looked down at the brown folder that had been given to her by a scout runner. There was a note attached.
"My credential's what you to be assured you trust is well placed also the note underneath explains something." Celestia pulled the note out and read it It explained the differences between her pony's and the ones of his home and he would appreciate it if she did't tell anyone he use to ride horses as for all he knew that it could be something sexual or dirty.

Celestia felt her cheek's blush as she read it if only Ross knew how right he was.

She put that trail of thought aside and opened the file.

"Name: DAVID ROSS

Bio
Age: 22
Birthplace: Garnelis, City of Craftsmen, Smith street hospital
Birthday 8, October 3824
Height : 5 Ft 10 in
Eye color: Blue
Sex: Male

Training
Stranded Infantry Training
Grenadier Training (Advanced Specialist)
Combat Engineer Training (Advanced)
Cavalry Training (Advanced)
Hazardous environment combat training.
Officer Training
Commissariat training (Specialist training)
Siege Warfare and Siege Braking Training
Operation & Maintenance of ACU Training

Service Record
44th Training group
23rd Garnlis line infantry regiment
666th "Delves Own" Engineering training Korp
99th Hazardous environment combat team.
8th Grenadier regiment
110th Heavy Cavalry of Garnlis
69th Siege/Siege brake regiment.

Notable action's
44th Where on a training mission when they where ambushed by renegades of the 2nd infantry of Mars that had turned to the Cybran's. The survivors of the 44th some three hundred consolidated and headed to the extraction point only to find a defensive line.

The only way they could get to the com's relay and call for help was with a full frontal assault. The assault was in a hilly region where the com's array sat where it could reach the satellite link in high orbit. This made the charge to the defensive line more difficult as they where fighting up hill.

The commanding officer Coronal Brim asked for volunteer's to form a Forlorn hope that he would lead. Ross step'd forward's the instant the word's left Brim's mouth.

No one else step'd forward's so Brim chose "volunteers" Before the attack Brim pulled Ross aside and gave him is deceased second's sword and made him Cadet leader.

This image was taken from a captured Cybren droid when they stormed the line.

Left with cap and sword Coronal Brim. Center Unknown Cadet. Right with sword and pistol Cadet leader Ross. Note they are wearing the battle dress of the Garnlis infantry and the older battle dress of siege regiment's.

The Forlorn hope manged to punch a hole through the line to witch the remaining men stormed the breach and made a run for the Com's array the Forlorn hope became the rear guard. The navy was called and it's transport made planet fall. The traitors pressed on the rear guard as they fell back there numbers dwindled from the 50 of the Forlorn hope to two dozen.

The following report is from Cargo master Bella Ferdinan who greeted the survivors as they boarded the transport.

"I was on the lip of the ramp guiding the pilot down into the small landing area the 44th had cleared. We hit the dirt and the two hundred or so troop's there stormed up the ramp I noticed there where no officers so I grabbed the nearest one asking where the rest of them where and through the mask and over the engines told me they where ever dead or in the rear guard.

So we waited and we started taking incoming so I draw my pistol and the few of the uninjured or walking wounded stood with me at the end of the ramp.

So we stood there and mortars started to come down. We where being forced to take off when I saw something running at us. It was faintly human as it got closer it was five men. It was Ross with Coronal Brim across his shoulders. One with a leg wound using him as a support on his left, he was dragging another with his right the another walking at his side protecting him.

The guard told us to take off as they where the last ones.

So they jogged past us and I noticed the gunshot in Ross's back so we take off and deal with the wounded on the way up, Ross sat in a seat in a dark end of the hold I almost forgot to treat him 'till he stumbled into me."

Ross still carry's the sword to this day.

Ross was rewarded the Blue Ribbon for bravery in the face of the enemy and the Blood Cross for continuing duty while wounded.

While with the 8th Grenadier's Ross... now a Staff Sargent ... took part in a raid on a Aeon Held world that involved a jump from a high flying transport to the content below. The raid was fouled by a long range AA instillation and the drop team was reduced from twenty to eight yet they continued the mission that required them to destroy key structure's before the ACU lead force could gate in with out difficulty.

They landed with a six wheeled Light vehicle to help them move in the snowy planet. They had to raid a motor pool to destroy the fuel dump then the ammo dump next to it. The attack went ahead and was a run away successes but of the mad dash to escape the exploding ammo dump Ross and a fellow grenadier where thrown from the back of the six wheeler. They where both wounded severally, with out any range weapon's only Ross sword, survival knife and his fellows knife but the more pressing issue was the lack of supply's to last them if they manged to escape and wait for the main force to come to the rescue. But they manged to escape and into a nearby wood's.

They where hunted for three day's in the coarse of which the two managed to kill off almost a squad of warriors by silently hunting with them down with the knifes and sword, basic trap's made from wood and the now useless ammo they had by making making "Toe popper" booby-trap's. Unfortunately his partner perished on the third morning Ross and the body where rescued that afternoon.

Ross was rewarded the Victoria cross for Valor in the face of the enemy, The Crossed machete's medal for resourcefulness, Sword's man's medal for skill with bladed weapon's, The Anvil medal for determination to return the dead home and the Red Ribbon for bravery.

Ross requested a transfer to the cavalry after he learned the squad leader had been promoted after a last stand in which he was the sole survivor and the bodies of the other grenadier's where unrecoverable saying "Those man where fifty times the man that bastard will ever be."

On Sitane 3 he jumped from his charging mount to intercept a sniper's shot aimed for Infantry Major Andrew Willow. It is speculated the only reason he lived was his stubbornness.

On Tarterus the UEF was fighting to defend a fort. After having his his commanding officer exacted for leaking information to the enemy Ross lead a suicidal charge against Aeon armor in a attempted to allow his commander's to fire a tactical missile uninterrupted. The attempt was successful and the missal struck the Aeon base.

Ross was rewarded The gold ribbon for bravery the silver horse Horseshoe for mastery of riding and the brass Horseshoe for skill of fighting from the saddle.

His skill as a ACU pilot was discovered when a ACU officer's cadet was wounded and he climbed the SACU mid battle with medical supply's. When he ratcheted the access hatch he patched up the pilot but the SACU was effectively immobilized but a crash corset from it's pilot and the ACU officer and Ross fell in with the ACU and the sister's SACU of the 12th Brigade.

Ross accounted for ten high priority kill's three of which where beyond the designated effective range of the SACU's weapon's.

Ross was pulled from the cavalry, promoted to lieutenant and entered the ACU program immediately.
He is currently attached to the 69th Siege/Siege brake regiment."

Celestia set the file down and felt a little nag melted away she was now confident that supporting Ross fully was the right thing to do.