Martians In Equestria

Chapter 5

Trouble In The Ranks

For the rest of the day, the residents of Ponyville remained at their homes (apart from a few brave souls who had to leave at some points to go further afield from Ponyville), not one of them wanting to go back to the site and come face to face with these…creatures. Nopony had ever seen anything like them, even the bravest of ponies couldn't help themselves not wanting to head back there and face off the large brown monsters. Then again coming to think of it, meeting aliens from another world, anypony would be feeling the same.

Like all other ponies, Twilight and Spike had raced back to their home, bringing Rarity with them. Fortunately for them, during the mad dash, they had met up with Sweetie Belle and joined up with them to run over to Twilight's house to help out her older sister. Thankfully, a few hours had past and Rarity was now recovering though was understandably still shaken at her experience.

Twilight had gotten herself a message from Celestia saying that she had found the news of these strange new arrivals to Equestria 'rather disturbing', and had wrote in she was sending in a small platoon of troops over from Canterlot to deploy on the edge of the location where the Cylinder remained. That message had come in about two hours ago and there was Twilight looking out of the window waiting for the troops to come to town. In the back of her mind however, many ponies would've used the Wonderbolts to do this sort of thing (a certain Rainbow Dash would agree!), though she knew that whenever the Wonderbolts went to do these sort of things, the press was never far away and goodness knows how Celestia would react to find out something that had arrived that was not of the world.

Meanwhile downstairs, Twilight could see Sweetie Belle handing over a mug of hot coffee to Rarity, still looking a bit uncomfortable. Spike on the other hand couldn't help but rave about seeing those creatures, despite being quite shocked himself at first but had gotten over it more better than Rarity, though he was unintentionally not making things comfortable for the purple mane unicorn.

"…And did you see its face?" Spike continued. "Man, I've never seen anything look so ugly like that…!" He paused when he noticed the two sisters lowering their heads as he spoke.

"…Sorry," he apologized softy, gently taking Rarity's hoof in his claws and holding in tightly trying to make her comfortable. "I guess I was kinda getting ahead of myself there, besides, we won't have much to worry about them if you ask me."

"What'd you mean?" Sweetie Belle asked, craning her head up to look at the baby dragon.

He smiled lightly at both of them. "Well, did you see how sluggish they looked when they were climbing out of the top? They looked quite uncomfortable up there. And with that in mind if they decided to make invasion of Ponyville…hardly unlikely, those guards that Celestia sent here will stop 'em. And think about, you Rarity and the others are the elements of harmony and should stop them if things went out of hand."

Thankfully, this did bring a small smile on the two sister's faces. "I hope your right dear Spike," Rarity sighed softly.

Whilst near the top, Twilight looked down at the three friends. "I hope you are right there Spike," she thought to herself before looking out of the window herself. Waiting for the soldiers to turn up. The strange thing was that Twilight couldn't quite remember the last time Equestria's army was called into service, of course this was not a full operation, but it did make her think of what could happen.

XXX

By this point, the sun was now setting and Luna would soon arise the moon like she had done before and Twilight (and possibly the other ponies in town) wondered where the troops were. Not long ago, Rarity and Sweetie Belle had decided to head back to their home, finding it a bit intimidating of there being nopony around. Still, they made it back home without any problems, even though some ponies from their windows raised an eyebrow of the two being outside with what was going on.

An eerie silence followed after the sisters left the library, with Twilight getting bored from waiting and deciding to read a random book to take her mind of things. Spike on the other hand had gone to take over from Twilight to keep an eye out for things. Although he had said that everything would be alright earlier on, somewhere deep down inside of him, he really wasn't all that sure. Nopony was sure what these strange…what ever they were, were planning to do.

Spike was nearly falling asleep when suddenly he noticed something towards the edge of the window. As he looked, his eyes shot open. A mixed group of about thirty Unicorns, Earth Ponies and Pegasus stallions, dressed in dark grey armour and carrying a variety of weapons, came marching through the town, heading towards the crater site.

The guards had finally arrived.

The little dragon spun round looking downstairs while placing his hand near his mouth. "Hey Twi! The guards are here!"

From downstairs, a clatter of hooves and a strangled cry could be heard as Twilight ran upstairs towards the window where Spike was. As she looked, sure enough marching through Ponyville were the guards that Celestia promised. Even though she could breath a sign of ease that they were finally here, she did feel rather annoyed that they had taken their time to get here.

She also couldn't help but notice by looking through her window that from other windows in the other houses that from other ponies' expressions all looked the same of how Twilight was feeling.

"Look at all the weapons they've got!" Spike said in admiration, breaking Twilight's train of thought. "Geez, Celestia must really mean something if she's telling those guards to bring the whole kitchen sink with them."

"Indeed Spike," Twilight replied. "…Though, something doesn't feel quite right…"

However, Spike wasn't listening as he continued watching the troops march their way through the town, towards the location of the giant silver cylinder.

XXX

By this point in the day, night had fallen all over Equestria and nearly everypony in the land would be settling in for the night, save for the few Ponies doing night work, clubbing at night, guards and those certain aliens…

After finding themselves being greeted by a crowd of strange ponies and somehow chasing them away, the Martians could now bring out the fighting machines for the next stage in the operation. Though a few Martians in the group had started asking one another was they weren't really on Earth. None of them could quite remember if any of their studies of Earth would tell them they would come face-to-face with some colourful ponies with huge eyes and on top of all of that, talk!

The giant space craft had carried with it from Mars five fighting machines and five handling machines (two Martians per craft), along with the Martian flag that was now planted into the ground which Wacko did the honours of being the first Martian to step foot (or tentacle!) on this planet. The Martians had carried out a lot of work during the sort space of time there and by now had three of the fighting machines built and the other two having final adjustments done to them. The handling machines would do the other work later. Although the tripods could stand proudly at one hundred feet tall, their leg design had the clever function of lowering themselves down to just ten feet, mainly to help Martians board their machines and keep themselves hidden from view from a distance.

Inside the giant spacecraft at the pilot controls, Wacko was given out another report to the King for what was the next stage of the invasion…eradication.

"Very good, Captain," Abanazer congratulated him calmly on the hologram image. "You now are ahead of schedule and despite you being, well, a totally head-case, you have proved to me that you can work when needed."

Wacko growled to himself. "Thank you," he said with some cynicism to it. During the whole talk however, he hadn't mentioned the strange ponies the Martians had witnessed. Mainly as he had no idea how he was suppose to explain this to the King and how they were not on Earth by the looks of things.

The King rubbed his grey beak before carrying on the conversation. "I believe the fighting machines are ready?"

"Three of them are ready for battle and the other two are nearly done," Wacko answered.

"I want the process sped up!" Abanazer snapped suddenly. "The operation must be done quickly, the other craft will be landing somewhere nearby where you and your team are."

Wacko eye's widened at the unexpected news. "Now? Another craft already? But you're majesty, you won't be—"

"I don't want any 'buts'!" The bastard King interrupted the captain. "This has to be done NOW!"

Wacko grinned his teeth in anger of how their 'fair' king would treat his people; he so badly was now ready to explain to Abanazer about their recent discovery. It was now or never. "This planet is not Earth!" Wacko roared at the hologram image leaving the King to look at Wacko in shock, then his face turned to pure anger.

"How dare you!" Abanazer said in a hushed whisper. "You dare give your own king that attitude…if you do fail on your mission, which now I hope you do, I'll shall cut you into parts so small that not even those with the sharpest eye will be able to see your parts…NOW GET OUTTA MY SIGHT!"

The image of the king vanished quickly, just before Wacko roared in fury punching the pilot console with his 'hand' like tentacle. He did some heavy breathing trying to calm down, but it was not doing him any good as Abanazer's words played out in his head, only making him feel more furious at the King Martian for not listening. Though he did feel he did feel like he had to blame himself for not telling the King sooner, who knows how the conversation may have turned out.

Nothing but silence filled the ship as Wacko sank back on the pilot's chair before sighing sadly. He could only hope that the King's quick actions wouldn't lead them to disaster.

"…Fuck his," Wacko whispered to himself before rushing off to meet with the other Martians outside. He had an idea, one that he didn't mind getting himself into trouble from his superior officers. He had something in mind for the Spies…

XXX

Outside, the other two fighting machines were now ready for battle, though the large motley group of Martians could now only hang about waiting for the all go from the King, which was the main reason why Wacko came to talk with the king in the first place.

Nearby the foot of one of the fighting machines, Torno and Abaztard were chatting to each other about old times. Strangely, their spies' clothes considered nothing more than a black fedora hat and a black cape that covered the lower part of their body just below their beaks. Yes, their outfit design may have seemed to be laughably clichéd, but this is Martian culture and they don't know about it on Earth (!)

From the top of the craft, the captain climbed out of the top before banging his tentacles on the side trying to get everyone's attention. The others all stopped to look up at Wacko, all noting how pissed off he looked.

"Comrades," Wacko began as he jumped off the top and landed on the ground with the other Martians. "Some bad news in…"

His fellow Martians looked to one another in fear of what might be going on. "The bastard won't listen to us that we have landed on another planet, he wants our assault to begin in earnest."

Loud talking of worrying could be heard among the other Martians, how the King could do something like this on his own troops staggered them. "ORDER!" he shouted at his troops, which they all stopped quickly. "…And I'm sorry to bring the third and final bit of bad news…without any warning, they are sending the second craft to here very soon."

By now a roar of antagonism erupted from all the Martians around the site. All furious of how this could happen to them like that. However, Wacko raised a tentacle to silence them. "But don't panic, I do have a plan to prove to him that we are not on Earth." He looked over at the two spies, motioning them to come forward to him. "Come here, I need you for this."

"What'd you need us for?" Abaztard asked, suspicious at what the captain was planning.

'I've noticed on the scanner that there is a town nearby us," Wacko replied. "I need you two to go into town, study or take something…maybe one of those ponies, alright?"

The two spies looked at one another. "Without permission from the King?" Asked Torno.

"You'll get into shit for it!" Ajax called out nearby to Wacko. Soon others began saying similar things to him.

"I don't care!" Wacko snapped at his troops. "I won't let any of my platoon to die like that by the King's actions, even if it does risk me being in bother from the King…he can try all he likes on me. I'm not scared."

The platoon was silenced by their captain's actions. It seemed that after all that he would put them though, he did have a kind side after all.

"Ok you two," Wacko continued, looking at the spies. "Go into town, get something worth taking, and we'll rendezvous with you, got that?"

"Erm, yes…yes of course!" The two spies said saluting him, though with nervous expressions on their faces.

"Now go, go, go!" Wacko ordered, making the two spies shuffle off as fast as they could to the town. He looked back at the rest of the troops, all looking stunned at what Wacko was doing. "Right! Those working the fighting machines get in and let's get going!"

He didn't need to say anything else as those working the fighting machines scrambled into their machines one by one. The other Martians stood well clear from the giant machines and instead started to work on the handling machines.

Once the crews of the tripods were inside, Wacko began ordering again from his pilot seat. "Alright team…extend the legs!" Each of the pilots flicked a few switches, which a loud hissing sound could be heard. Then the main hulks of the machines started to rise up at a steady pace, the legs were now extending to reach their full height. Finally the rising stopped with a hollow click, indicating that they were ready.

From the outside, the five fighting machines were now standing with their green 'eye' like windows glowing green, meaning that they were now active.

Wacko gave his co-pilot (heat ray operator) a wink before continuing in his headset. "Good work team…alright boys, let's begin the eradication off…not Earth, but this world." He placed the gear stick forward, however suddenly, from the other tripods; they could only hear a scream from the captain through their headsets and a loud crashing sound that made their machines shake from the impact.

"The hell?" Banjee exclaimed looking at a monitor that helped him look down towards his left side, the other Martian pilots did he same looking at their sides. What they saw made them laugh hysterically.

Wacko had accidently driven his fighting machine backwards in the crater and now the giant titan of steel was lying on it's back. From the ground, the other Martians down there were rolling on the ground with laughter.

"It's not funny!" Wacko shouted with anger as he tried unsuccessfully to get his machine back on its feet.

But the author of this story kindly conveniently wrote him out of that situation, and he was back on his feet again!

"Alright," Wacko said again, looking flustered at his own embarrassment, still hearing laughter on his headset. "Invasion, take two!" And this time he gear into the right direction this time. The other fighting machines soon followed the main fighting machine as they began heading towards the town.

Unknown to them though, that their plans of a quick invasion would prove to be more harder than that first thought at first at the hands on these strange ponies...