Chapters Ponifield 4: Gulf of Oman
July 20th, 2012
The town near the Gulf of Oman remained quiet for a time. Not much activity has been going on in the city ever since the beginning of the war outbreak. Changelings have taken control of the once bustling town, filling the docks and fields with anti air rocket launchers and massive weapons of all kinds. Once crowded food markets are now lifeless as the trash and weeds overtake the small wooden stands. The changelings held one of it's valuable headquarters there, where the head of all operations are planned out there for future assaults. This base hasn't been out of changeling hooves ever since the beginning of the war, until now. Off the coast, about some 35 miles away, the EQSS Celestia aircraft carrier is docked, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. On board is the 1st Equestrian Mareine division, one of the most noticeable and decorated units of all Equestrian military history. Helicopters prepped for take off, mainly UH-1 Huey Venoms, AH-1Z Vipers, and F35 fighter jets. In the vehicle wing, two M1 Abram tanks, two LAV 25's, and around six RHIB boats are also being loaded and ready for battle. On board, soldiers trotted all around, grabbing their weapons and loading up for battle. Among them was Captain Twilight Sparkle, callsign Saber tooth 0-1. She climbed into the RHIB boat, where part of her squad was waiting for her. There was Lance Corporal Rainbow Dash, the machine gunner of the squad, Technical Sergeant 5 Applejack, engineer and demolitions expert, Private Fluttershy, designated marksmare, and Sergeant Pinkie Pie, grenadier.
"There you are Captain! We thought you got lost on the carrier again," said Pinkie Pie.
"That was only one time Pinkie," replied Twilight.
"I know, but it still happened." Twilight rolled her eyes, but couldn't help smiling a little. She knew Pinkie Pie very well, and knew that she wouldn't act like a regular soldier when addressing an officer like Twilight, so she doesn't care how Pinkie talks to her, as long as she means well.
"Ugh. Are we going yet?" complained Rainbow Dash, slouching down bored inside the boat.
"Didn't y'all ever hear of the word 'patience' Rainbow?" asked Applejack.
"Yeah, but, I've been patient for the past half hour, what's taking the Colonel so long?"
"First of all, it's only been ten minutes. Second, this is one of the most important missions we have to do, so the Colonel has to take her time to make sure nutin goes wrong."
"That's right Applejack," Twilight cut in, "Colonel Spitfire has been working tirelessly to prepare this attack. It must go as planned."
"Eh, whatever. But still, besides taking down Sunset Shimmer, what's so important about this base? Why can't we just send some fast movers and bomb the place to Tartarus?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"We have to gather intel on the supposed coup with the changelings and lunar empire," said Twilight.
"Why though? The chances of that happening are pretty high. I mean, they both are our major enemies, so them working together is a high probability."
"Maybe so Rainbow, but we need to make sure." Rainbow Dash sat back down on the edge of the RHIB, The speaker on board came on.
"Attention all callsigns, stand by for Colonel Spitfire," announced the mare over the speaker.
"Here we go!" said Rainbow, picking up her weapon, an M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) fitted with an MK46 picatinny rail system, fitted with an AN/PEQ Blue Laser sight, EoTech Holographic sight, bipod, Flash Hider, and adjustable buttstock. Twilight crouched down in the RHIB and listened to Colonel Spitfire.
"Mares and Colts aboard the Celestia. It's time we make a move, to put a start to an end of this war. Let us not forget that our loved ones are supporting us back in Equestria. Use their motivation to help us push through this assault. Changeling lines are much weaker thanks to the earlier strafing runs, but resistance is still present. Don't let fear overcome you, feed off the hope and power off your fellow mareines, and let Celestia guides us through this mission," said Colonel Spitfire. Twilight turned on her radio and cocked her M16A4 assault rifle.
"All callsigns, mission is a go!" announced the PA officer, and seconds later, the hatch opened up. The open sea filled inside the carrier, and the RHIB boats dropped down and drove off to the coast. Behind them were the vehicle holders, carrying two M1 Abrams tanks and two LAV 25's. Twilight felt the breeze of the air smack against her face as Pinkie Pie drove the RHIB at full speed.
"Listen up, make sure you get out fast and get to cover," said Twilight.
"Let's get this done and dusted," said Applejack. The RHIB boat drew closer and closer to the shore, Twilight felt the small droplets of water hit her face as she looked onto the shore. All of a sudden, she heard gun fire in front of her, on the shore.
"Machine gun! Get down!" shouted a mareine as he jumped off the RHIB boat. Moments later, Twilight and her squad jumped off of the boat and ran onto the beach of Oman.
"Saber tooth 0-1, this is Diamond Dog 0-3, main tank gun is online, awaiting targets over," said a voice through Twilight's headphones.
"Diamond Dog 0-3, meeting with heavy infantry resistance on the ridge. Requesting support, how copy," said Twilight.
"Roger your last 0-1. Shells inbound, coming in hot."
"Buck yeah, support on it's way," shouted Rainbow Dash, firing her M249 SAW. Seconds passed until a barrage of tanks and grenade launcher fire came pouring down on the machine gun emplacement.
"Saber tooth 0-1, looks like you guys are ready to move up. We'll cover you on your advance, out," shouted the tank gunner.
"Copy your last 0-3, thanks for the assist, out. Let's go mareines, we're taking this town," said Twilight, charging up the beach ahead. Her squad followed her, as well as the remainder of the mareines charging the beach. She focused over on the little outpost on the beach.
"Diamond Dog 0-3, we've got it from here, move out on to the main road and await for further orders, how copy," said Twilight.
"Copy your last Saber tooth, en route on main road," said the tank driver.
"Good copy, Timberwolf 0-1, your job is to take your squad and take fire base bravo and charlie from the enemy. 0-2 support them."
"Roger that, Timberwolf on the move," said the LAV driver.
"Alright, everypony else, we' re moving down the beach head and taking fire base alpha. Let's get moving."
Ponifield 4: Gulf of Oman
Firebase Alpha was a little military outpost just barely off of the coast of the ocean. On the front was an emplaced .50 caliber machine gun mounted on some sandbags. On the sides though, it was less guarded, and could easily be encircled. No sorts of armored threats lingered around the base at all, mostly just infantry threats, nothing the first mareines couldn't handle. Twilight's platoon took cover over by the hills that led to the firebase.
"Alright, here's the plan, we'll circle around the base and attack it from the rear. That .50 cal emplacement is useless where it's placed, but we can't take any risks. We move fast and we shoot to kill. Fluttershy, I want you and Octavia to provide accurate fire onto the base from the hill on the right. Rainbow Dash, I want suppressive fire going into the base. Deploy here and wait for the go. First platoon, move up with me on the right flank, second and third platoon, take cover around the hilled areas, provide a field of fire on the position. We'll take them out, any questions?" asked Twilight. Her platoon remained quiet as they looked at their platoon leader.
"Alright, let's get this done, first platoon, let's move." Twilight got up and began trotting over to the next hill over. Rainbow Dash charged the weapon and aimed down the sights. Her hoof wrapped around the trigger as she breathed slowly and waited for the signal. She aimed in at Twilight, making sure her squad leader was okay, but, something felt uneasy.
"Hey Fluttershy, scope out on top of the crates," whispered Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy nodded and scoped down her rifle, an M39 Enhanced Marksmare Rifle fitted with an 6x variable rifle scope zoom, bipod, muzzle break, and adjustable stock with a cheek rest on it. She looked down and saw a changeling trotting up and down on top of one of the containers.
"Um. Twilight, get down, there's an enemy sniper on top of the closest container to where you guys are. Premission to engage, over," said Fluttershy.
"Copy that Fluttershy, we'll begin the assault once you take the shot. It's on your go now," said Twilight. Fluttershy felt the pressure get to her as she scoped in. The sweat began to run down her face as she wrapped her hoof around the trigger. She adjusted the elevation and began to slowly breathe in and out. She felt her heart beats and finally she pulled the trigger. The EMR spat out a round a flew in the air. As straight as an arrow, the bullet traveled directly into the face of the changeling sniper.
"Sniper!" shouted the group below.
"Now, let's go!" said Twilight, as she got up from her position and charged towards the firebase. Rainbow Dash fired a series of bursts towards the firebase from her SAW. Twilight's squad began to circle around the firebase, as the second and third platoon provided a wall of fire towards the east side of the base. Twilight aimed down her M16 rifle, fitted with a Trijicon ACOG scope with 4x magnification, along with a muzzle break, ergonomic fore grip, AN PEQ red laser sight, and a heavier barrel for better shot placement at range. Changelings fired AK12 rifles and AKS74u carbines, as they spread out all around the fire base, but it was no use as Twilight's platoon circled around the entire base and cut off the changeling's escape route into the city.
"Pinkie Pie, destroy that gun," said Twilight, handing the pink pony a thermite grenade.
"Already did it sir!" said Pinkie. Twilight looked over to find the .50 caliber emplaced machine gun completely mutilated. The barrel was snapped into two and the entire receiver of the gun was bent like it was just like a pipe cleaner. Twilight looked astonished at the gun Pinkie just destroyed, but, there wasn't anything she couldn't do. The gun was taken out, albeit in a rather unusual fashion.
"How did you do that?" asked Twilight, looking at the gun.
"Oh silly, a good mareine never tells how she destroys a machine gun emplacement," said Pinkie cheerfully. Twilight rolled her eyes and trotted away from Pinkie.
"Timberwolf 0-1 and 0-2, what's your status over?" asked Twilight.
"This is 0-1, firebase bravo is secure, 0-2 have you secured firebase charlie?" said the LAV driver.
"Roger that 0-1, firebase charlie is secured, awaiting for further instructions, over."
"Timberwolf 0-2, meet up with 0-1 get ready to load up and assault the town. We're waiting for air support to come online, set up defensive perimeters along the edges of the base, make sure the LAV's are on the front, infantry on the flanks," said Twilight.
"Roger that Saber tooth, deploying infantry now, setting up a sniper team on the roof of firebase bravo for lookout."
"Good copy, hold until air support is ready, out," said Twilight, "listen up, I want a defensive perimeter around this base. I want a 240 Bravo up front, Fluttershy take position back by the hill, everypony else dig in, we're holding this base until air support gets here."
"Uh, sir?" said Applejack.
"What is it AJ?" asked Twilight.
"We got ourselves a problem!"
"CONTACT! ENEMY CHOPPER INBOUND!" shouted a voice.
Ponifield 4: Gulf of Oman
"Get down into cover!" shouted Twilight, looking up in the sky. The helicopter began to fire it's rockets down towards the base, along with machine gun fire from the gunner seat.
"Somepony get a Stinger up here," she shouted to her group. As she said that, a pony pulled out the lock on anti air launcher and locked onto the helicopter. The loud series of beeps sounded off and the missile was launched into the air. As the rocket flew, the helicopter flew off to the right and dumped flares to misguide the rocket.
"Bastards dropping flares, I need another Stinger!" shouted Twilight, ducking down deeper into cover to avoid the barrage of rockets coming in.
"Overlord, this is Saber tooth 0-1, we're pinned down by an enemy chopper, requesting air support over," said Twilight on her radio.
"Roger that 0-1, Hayseed 2-3 is on the way," said the commander.
"This is Hayseed 2-3, coming in for gun run, keep your heads down, ETA 10 seconds," said the pilot. Twilight looked up and saw a single F35 fighter jet come soaring down from the air. She looked onwards as the jet fired it's missiles and hit the chopper.
"Buck yeah!" shouted Applejack, raising her head above the cover.
"Saber tooth 0-1, the sky is clear, we'll be able for gun runs in short time, over," said the pilot.
"Copy your last 2-3, out," said Twilight, "let's go onto the main road, we have to push up." Twilight ran past her cover and began trotting down the long stretch of sand towards the highway, where the tanks were waiting for orders.
"Diamond dog 0-1, this is Saber tooth 0-1, requesting cover as we push to the target location, over," said Twilight.
"Roger that 0-1, we're on the move," said the tank driver.
"Saber tooth 0-1, HVT is in the building on the left flank, about 5 clicks North of your current location. We need to take the target alive. Interrogate as needed, over," said the commander.
"Roger that, Overlord, 0-1 out," said Twilight. She ran up to the side of the highway, where enemy positions were set up on the bridge.
"Contact front!" shouted Pinkie Pie, firing a burst out of her HK416, fitted with an Aimpoint reflex sight, flashlight, 2x magnifier, and an M320 under barrel grenade launcher. She fired a 40 mm round out her grenade launcher and watched as the round detonated on one of the sandbags behind the changelings. She pulled out another 40 mm round and fired once more, this one sent a changeling with an RPG flying through the air.
"Rainbow Dash, I want some suppressive fire, everypony else move up! We have to keep pushing," shouted Twilight, firing her M16 again. The bullets on the bridge came to a sudden halt after a loud crack was heard in the air, and the last changeling fell down on the ground.
"Sorry I'm late to the party darling, had to adjust for wind elevation," said a voice on the radio.
"Rarity?" asked Twilight shocked.
"In the flesh darling, keep moving, I'll keep you covered," she replied, as she scoped in on her Barrett M107. Twilight began running down the highway bridge as she did, she heard another loud crack and a round smacked against the ground and a bit of dirt kicked up in front of her hoof.
"Sniper!" shouted a pony. Twilight dove down behind some sand bags and ducked down.
"Rarity, we're taking fire from the target building, can you see the sniper?" asked Twilight.
"Copy that darling, I see the sniper, he's on the second floor, requesting some cover fire to draw it's attention away from me," she replied.
"Copy that Rarity, everypony, make sure you have a fresh mag in your gun, we need to take make sure Rarity won't be spotted."
Everypony loaded a new magazine into their guns and waited for the command to fire.
"On your go, darling," said Rarity over the radio.
"Everypony ready? Three, two, one, SUPPRESSIVE FIRE!" shouted Twilight. She raised her head and began firing burst of her rifle. A spray of bullets came crashing into the target building. Seconds pasted and the loud crack of the Barrett M107 was heard across the battlefield. Everypony ducked their heads down, and just waited for the kill to be confirmed. Seconds passed, time slowed down, and Rarity's voice wasn't heard.
"Did she do it?" asked Applejack.
"I don't know, Rarity, come in, did you get the sniper?" asked Twilight. Silence was the only thing that was heard on the radio.
"Rarity, come in? Did you get him?" No response was given. The platoon of ponies turned silent, as they awaited for a voice on the radio.