Visari, the vicious Helghast leader is vanquished, lying dead at the feet of the ISA but the war is far from over. Helghast forces have mounted a devastating counter attack, forcing the ISA to evacuate planet Helghan. As new Helghast battalions appear, armed with more powerful weapons. ISA forces are on the brink of defeat as they now find themselves out manned, outgunned and surrounded.
"Is every pony ready to go?" Asked a all to eager twilight sparkle as she looked over a list of supply's ranging from food to paper's and quill's.
"Do you all ways have to make a list for everything?" Asked Rainbow dash as she flow just above the ground giving twilight a annoyed stare.
"I will take that as a yes!" Twilight responded in a cheerful tone earning a eye roll form Dash as she trotted down the road with her five friends in tow and her dragon assistant spike riding on her back.
There destination was a little spot over looking the valley that lay been the town of Ponyville and the city of Canterlot, it truly was a beautiful place and only a half hour walk form town the perfect place for a picnic where they wont be disturbed. As the seven friends walked down the road (minuses Pinkie pie who was bouncing and Rainbow Dash who was flying at a slow pace) They talked about anything that came to mind for the half hour journey.
Upon arriving at there destination they placed the white and red checked blanket on the ground and unpacked what they had with them.
The Seven friend simply talked played some games and ate what was in the basket which unsurprisingly contend mostly apple treats and sugar filed pastries courtesy of apple jack and pinkie pie. It was getting time for the group to head back they had spent about three hours out in the filed they had left town at about 11:30 and they all had things to get done before sundown.
"I hate to say it but its about time for me to pack up" said apple jack "I got to back to the farm and pick up the baskets that a left laying around"
"And musn't fall behind on orders aging I've be so busy seance the boutique opened in Canterlot opened" said rarity a little worried
"All right lets pack up and head home" said Twilight standing up and stretching her legs. As she maid her way to pick up the plate that lay in front of her she stop wean she saw pinkies tail move, no not move, twitch and more than once. "pinkie your tails twitching"
"oh yea... it is!" said pinkie pie like it was nothing as her knee shifted several times. Twilight was going to say something but was cut off by pinkies whole body twitching violently stopping only for a few seconds at a time before bouncing up and down again. All six took a few steps back as they watched there friend shake like mad her body all most falling apart from the shear fore.
"Its a doozy!" pinkie said well shaking making her sound unclear and shaky
"somehow I still find it hard to believe that pinkie pie can predict the future" said Twilight with disbelieve in her voice. She soon saw that all of her friends we're looking at something behind her each with a look of horror on there faces minus pinkie pie as she as still bouncing around behind the rest of there friends
"uh twi" apple jack stared "you should really turn around"
At first Twilight was confused as to why her friends where looking to the sky but as she slowly turned around she soon found out why and it was for a good reason. Looking to the sky Twilight soon had the same expressing as her friends she looked up at the sky with horror as a large and long object plummeted to the ground. The 'object' was in cased in flames as large amounts of smoke trailed behind it as it span in the air.
But what sacred Twilight the most was the fact that it was dangerously close to ponyville.
The pounding of Charleston's heart filled his ears and muffled the rumble of guns and distance sound of explosions as the ISA where helplessly cut down in their last ditch effort to make it home. The smell of smoke and burning flesh stung Charleston's nose, He was
terrified and shaking but had commands to give and men looking up to him, too see them through this and too bring them home.
"This is captain Narville to all isa troops, get to your evac's!"
"We can't get to you there's Helghast everywhere! we need assistance!"
"Negative all forces are in disarray, proceed to the evacuation point!"
"We can't we're pinned down, were not going to make it on time!"
"You are going to make it, we will hold this position as long as we can but we are out of time!"
In anger and frustrating he slammed his radio on a crumbling wall, breaking it into pieces. Taking a minute to collect his thoughts and cool off Charleston reached for the rife that lay next to him, reloading it he gave an simple order "MOVE UP MOVE UP!" Charleston yelled firing at a Helghast who was running to cover successfully hitting his target sending him falling to the ground as the Helghan's gun was tossed into the air then skipped on the hard ground before coming to a stop. "How much further to the evacuation point?" Charleston asked yelling over the chaos.
"just one click, sir!" was his response being one of the best things he heard all day. Time seemed to slow down as a bullet went clean through the solder's forehead and out the other side ripping clean through this helmet. The ISA marine stumbled on his feet as if it only winded him then He fell to the ground motionless, blood gushed out of the wound with no signs of stopping. Charleston only stared at the bloody mess for what felt like hours but was only seconds. His mind raced to think he was alive ten seconds ago, that he just answered his question. Charleston know his man as well, had a family and kid's too and he was so close to seeing them again... only to have it ripped out from under his feet.
"MAN DOWN MAN DOWN!" Charleston yelled into his ear piece now that his radio was laying on the ground broken.
Charleston popped up from the crumbling stone wall he was hiding behind as he fired his rife just barley missing a Helghast solder that was peaking from behind cover just clipping him in the side. The Helghast clenched his side before ducking in cover again. Charleston had a felling he was not going to becoming back up anytime soon, but he didn't want him getting away form him, Charleston reached for a grande that was hanging on by his side. He quickly puled the pin and tossed it behind the pillar were the Helghast hid, Charleston dove back behind the wall as bullets flew over his head just missing him. The grande went off sending two Helghast flying into the air.
"Your mother would be very upset with you if she saw you do that!" yelled Rogers as he was jumped down from a small drop landing beside Charleston. Rogers was Charleston's right hand man and seconded in commanded as well as a good friend of his, they had been through hell and back with each other and would go back for one anther at a moment's notice. Charleston was about to respond with a joke but a burst of static from his ear piece cut him off.
"Solaris left sector thirty your nine"
"I can't see him!"
"your nine bank bank!"
the two looked up to see a Helghast dropship coming over the ledge of a destroyed building taking aim at a intruder. There was no point in trying to shoot it, the ship was to faraway and there was no way an assault rife could even scratch it, All they could do was watch helplessly. There was Anther burst of static in his head set.
"Command we'er tracking multiple AAPC'S on your location"
He continued to watch the dropship as it ripped the intruder into pieces with ease the intruder fell to the ground sliding across the pavement the only thing that could be heard was twisting metal with each bounce.
"Solaris just bought it I say again Solaris just bought it"
"Get to your evac's!"
"What the fuck is going on!"
Charleston looked around the corner to find more cover further up, seeing a large chunk of concrete that fell from the building next to it. "Hay, think you can give me some covering fire?"
"ya I can do that" Rogers answered.
"All right, ready when you are" Charleston had to control his heavy breathing and pounding heart as he rested his back on the stone wall. He had been in many battles before and survived but it never got any easier.
Rogers popped up from the wall yelling "COVERING FIVE" shooting at the Helghast's position forcing them to duck in cover. Charleston run as fast as he could toward the large chunk of concrete a trail of bullets following him, being fired form a large mounted gun .With out being able to stop in time he slammed himself in to the wall, looking back to see an ISA soldier that diced to follow him running toward him. Blood gushed out in a cloud of red mist as he fell to the ground clenching his shoulder letting out a cry of pain. Charleston's instants kicked in as he ran back and grabbed the marine by the bag on his back and puled him behind the slab of concrete with dumb luck the MG overheated just at the right time.
"MEDIC I NEED A MEDIC!" Charleston yelled out. Soon after two ISA troops made there way to him well anther few marines pinned down the MG gunner. One of the men had a white helmet and red cross on it, a medic "your going to be all right" Charleston told the wounded soldier trying to comfort him. Once the medic arrived he did not wast time on getting to work "you take care of him I'm going to clear us a path to the evac point"
"Yes sir" he simply responded not taking his eyes off his work. Again Charleston's head set let out a burst of static.
"Get out of the road"
"Which-which way?!"
"Get out of the road!"
"AAAHHH!"
Charleston looked around the corner seeing a Helghast that was trying to get closer luckily he didn't see him, bringing up his rife taking aim as the rife bucked in his arms knocking the Helghan soldier to the ground. His friend on the MG saw what he did and was not happy, a large stream of Bullets started eating way at the concrete pausing a few seconds to steady his aim and let the gun cool down.
As Charlestons ear piece flared to life yet again, but this time he was relived to hear what it said "Hang on were on were way" This message was to him only.
'Finally help' Charleston thought to himself
"Helghast armor on intersect, we got them... firing!"
"Hell ya!, this is path finder 42 we cleared a route to the evac!"
"Helps on the way hold your ground!" Charleston command. Than hearing the sound of an engine 'please, don't be Helghast' Charleston thought to himself No those aren't just any engines he pondered for a short bit trying to remember what engine that was. As if to answer his question missiles streamed over head and nailed the MG gunner with a satisfying explosion. A Intruder! it has to be he looked up to confirm that his suspicions are correct and they were. There are two ISA Intruders each with a hand full of surviving marines on board.
"Come on lets go!" one of them shouted at the small group of ISA on the ground. Than firing at the Helghast to keep them pined, Wasting no time Charleston helped the medic get the wounded soldier to his feet he now had blood soaked bandaged's raped around his shoulder. Climbing on to the back of the fist intruder Charleston cloud now see that both are full of surviving soldier's the pilot wasted no time taking off The Helghast we'er not happy about them getting away as they tried to soot the intruders down but to no avail.
"You got here pretty dam fast!" Charleston said to the corporal next to him, one of the few that was all ready on the Intruder when it landed to pick them up.
"No Kidding we saw you from up here and thought we could give you a ride, lucky for you a pair of two exos knocked out all the Helghast armor and AA guns not vary far from here!" Before he could continue the conversion Captain Narville was one the radio
"This is captain Narville contacting all surviving personal, retreat to emergence fall back location I repeat emergence reciprocal five niner echo is in effect!... god help us"
As the intruders closed the distance to the four giant ISA cruisers that linger in the air, The Dauntless was the name of the ship they were heading to. Charleston could see know just how bad it was. The cruisers are getting ripped to pieces and caching fire there was massive holes in one of the cruisers but at lest they are all there. A large blue beam struck one of the cruisers, the Compulsion. Following the beam Charleston saw a huge four legged metal beast with a massive cannon on the side of it... a MAWLR a five hundred feet high cluster of heaving pistons, roaring engine belts, Tesla coils and antennae, looming over the battlefield on four reverse-jointed legs, each thicker than a small apartment building. It’s a technological feat of quite ostentatious crudeness – potent, but clumsy as hell.
The name was all to familiar to anyone that was sent to helghan, It came as a surprise too, The MAWR had just come out of its first prototype shorty after the ISA arrived to Helghan. The first ship to come into the planets atmosphere was welcomed with a similar beam. One of those is more than enough to kill a small army and they had hundreds of them. The ship that was struck begone to slowly fall to the ground twisting as it did so, than exploding into prices as it crumpled to the ground on its side. Realizing just how many people where in there that many more not going home, that many more family's torn apart all because someone had the strength to push a button that's how easy it was.
After a shot ride to the Dauntless Charleston's group was the last ones to arrive or at lest the last ones the fleet was going to wait for. As soon as they landed the ship stated to take off. luckily enough the MAWLR didn't aim for the Dauntless but only The Dauntless and The Arcturus made it safely too orbit as for the other cruiser slowly fell into a jungle near the city as it was stuck down with one last blow from the MAWLR.
As the intruder's landed on the hanger floor there was a voice on the speaker "All injured marine and medics report to med bay, Reaming personal report to maintenance immediately" Charlston helped a wounded marine off the intruder taking a look around him he notice there was fires every where with the ships crew running around in a panic trying to put out the raging flames.
"Can you walk?" Charleston asked the soldier
"Yea I'm fine" he replied but is was clear that he was in pain.
Charleston knowing where he was supposed to be, he waste no time on finding was left of his unit "who made it out?" he asked Rogers.
"Jackson, Caparza and Miller sir"
"That's it? only the five of us? That's all that made it?"
"yes sir"
Letting his head hang low he thought for a bit. He had lost a whole Platoon in a matter of hours that many more to add to the list of men he lost under his control ether dead or trapped on the planet below. Some one taking sniped him out if it.
"Captain Charleston" hearing his name he looked up at what's left of his squad "We'er supposed to report to maintenance ...remember?" it was Rogers who was speaking.
"Is anyone hurt?" Charleston asked.
"Caparza has a pretty good cut on his arm but other than that we'er good" replied Miller
Only now noticing that Caparza was holding his arm as blood seeped through the cracks in his fingers and dripped down his arm in to a small pool on the floor with a pained expression on his face. "You take him to med bay than see what you can do okay?"
"yes sir, see you there"
Miller is one of the medics in Charleston's platoon the only one left too, he was enlisted in the second invasion fleet after finishing med school only being a official Doctor for two days. He than went through basic training assigned to multiple squads during the invasion before one of Charleston's, reaching the rank of corporal. Caparza was in basic training during the fist days of the invasion only being deployed in the Third invasion fleet with the rank of private. Jackson he don't know well, he only talks if its orders or important business but Charleston did know that he is a corporal. Then there's Rogers, Charleston and him are the only original members of his personal squad being in the same one sense the beginning. Both in the first invasion fleet they know one anther like brothers and have been friends before ether of them singed up for the Interplanetary Strategic Arms the "ISA" the fact that both of them are still alive amazed them both. Charleston is the commanding officer of a Platoon which has 25 to 60 men and 2 to 4 squads his had a total of 60 men and 4 squads. He served in the ISA before the second extrasolar war serving as a caption him and Rogers have been together sense the Helghast attacked vekta.
Miller and Caparza joined the medic and wounded trooper from before and stated waking up the stairs at the end of the hanger.
"all right lets get going" Charleston said before heading up the same stairs and hall following the signs that said maintenance with an arrow pointing in the right direction with Jackson and Rogers in tow. A short walk later they were in the maintenance room it call it a room was a understatement it was fairly large with archer tanks, exo's and AAPC's all being worked with sparks flying around. Most of vehicles being survivors of the chaos miles below witch wasn't much but a lot didn't even make it on the ships.
After taking in the new scenery the group made there way over to one of the larger groups of people and listened in on what was being said hoping to find some way to help out with repairs. "We have a LOT to get done before we reach Vekta, engineers will be starting with landing stabilizers but most of you don't have the training to fix the complex shit so you will be moving Debris and putting out fires. I need this one forth of you to start with floors 18 through 19" The man giving the orders pointed to all the men on he's left and with a simple nod they left "This forth go to floor 20" He pointed to his right and that group left. "You guys go to floor..." he stopped to check the paper in front of him "26" he finished pointing behind himself and they left. He looked up at what was left "I need the rest of you at the gun deck, we need to to get the AA guns working and fast" Charleston looked at his arm to see his rank. Finding a single silver bat that represents lieutenant.
"Wait" he spoke up "Captain Charleston? Captain Joseph, Charleston?
"Yes?" Charleston simply responded.
"Major Donnagio wants to see you, he's in the bridge "
"Sir ...what do you want us to do?" asked Rogers. Charleston turned around to notice everyone else had all ready left but Rogers and Jackson.
"You heard the him, get to AA control and see what you can do"
"Yes sir" and with that they left.
After a few minutes later Charleston was on the elevator up to the bridge. Once it made it to the top he was meet with two other soldiers who were entering the elevator giving Charleston a small salute before stepping aside for him to pass. Hurrying to the door that led into the command deck Charleston held up his ID card and pressed it against the scanner, the light went from red to green as it opened. Stepping inside and walking to the end of the walk way that hangs above most of the bridge crew where the Major was looking out through the large window with his hands behind his back as the crew worked fast and calmly as possible giving the circumstances
"Sir ...you wanted to see me?" Hearing Charleston's voice Donnagio turned around all most with a surprised look on his face that turned to a small fake smile.
"Caption Charleston I've being expecting you"
"So I've been told, I was informed by a lieutenant in the maintenance bay but he never said what for"
"As I'm sure that your aware we lost two cruisers yes?"
"Of course sir I'm quite aware of that"
"Well I don't know how, but we managed to separate from the Arcturus and with communications down we cant contact them. In fact allot of instruments are down, that MAWLR really did a number on us. landing stabilizers are knocked out but luckily we can fix it with out to much trouble. All most the only thing the isn't broken is engines, life-support and very luckily the navigator so we will be in orbit of vekta in two weeks IF the Helghast don't find us."
"So what do you need me to do?"
"Nothing I'm only informing you of the situation with you being the highest ranking member on this ship next to me of course"
What about Narville? Charleston thought. "What happened to Caption Narville? was'int he assigned to the Dauntless?"
The Major took a deep breath before speaking "unfortunately Caption Narville didn't escape Helghan and is presumed MIA until further notice."
"I see... thanks for informing me. If you will excuse me I need to check on a friend, do you have something more for me?"
"No that is all I have, for now... "
With out saying anything more Charleston snapped to attention before giving the major a salute and headed for the door that that led out of the bridge.
"oh, and Caption"
Tuning around to see what Donnagio needed "yes sir?"
"Try to get some rest tonight we have a long two weeks ahead of us" Charleston nodded and resumed heading for the door. Allot of thoughts raced over his mind as he made his way down the halls of the ship so many things didn't make sense. Why aren't the Helghast following them? how did the Arcturus separate from the Dauntless? the two ships where right beside one another or did it even leave Helghan?, was it destroyed by the Helghast war machine like the others?. Why did something fell off? like he was'int going to see Vekta again. It felt like the begging of the end like the year that had past since the attack on Vekta was nothing compared to what was about to happen. How did everything go so wrong? the Invasion was going smoothly until... until Red dust.
Chapter 2- Unwelcomed Visitors
The Dauntless: Two weeks after The evacuation of Helgan: One hour too destination.
The lone cruiser made its way through the vast void of space, Nothing but darkness and the cold greeted the ship on its journey. The dim glowing blue engines slowly pushed the large meal beast toward the distinct planet although there ware no more fires it was clear as day to see the gaping hole that the MAWLR had made for it on its escape attempt, successful but at a cost. The men aboard the ship we're tired, miserable and sill shaken up from the events before but eager to see there family's again.
Charleston walked down one of the ships corridors at a moderate pace not having to be any ware at the moment he had time to think some things over. He was just as eager as everyone else on the ship to see family again but there was a lot of things had to be done before than. The ship was in poor condition and was undeniably going to be a rough landing and that was only the first step, After a lot of checks had to be done before anyone could leave the launch base and go home and that was only going to be for a short time. Sooner or later the Helghast would launch anther attack on Vekta, enraged by the fact that the ISA killed there soon to be emperor.
Walking past two marines one on a ladder the other next to it with a clipboard and leaning on the wall behind him, they we'er fixing a few components that lay hidden in the sealing of the hall. "Please don't tell me that all that navigating and thruster cooling shit's not on us to fix?" The one on the ladder asked.
"Na don't worry navigating systems are buggy but working and same go's for thruster cooling" said the other marine "But Major Donaggio's taking it easy on the engines other wise we would have landed a few hours ago" As Charleston was just passing them the one with the clipboard acknowledged him "Captain" he said looking up at him. He only responded with a nod as he continue down the hall.
The PA system flared to life with Donaggios voice. "All personnel prepare for landing in one hour I repeat prepare for landing in one hour"
Charleston couldn't help but hear muffled cheers form the crew as the amusement ended. Continuing to walk down the hall sill over hearing the marines talking about repairers as they worked.
Charleston almost collided with Rogers all he stepped out of a door way with the sign rec room above it. the only time's anyone was aloud in the room was when it was traveling from planet to planet with low risk of enemy encounters. After two weeks of no signs of Helghast Donaggio authorized it after one week when repairs we're done.
The two greeted each other well making there way down the hall. The hallway ended no to far from where they we'er, it than opened to the left and right with both with halls that wrapped around the cruiser with big glass windows that looked out into space. Charleston and Rogers stopped in front of the window and looked out at the green and blue planet that slowly got closer with every passing minute. The two only stood there in silence and watched the planet below slowly spin.
"I honestly never thought i would see it again" said Rogers
"See what?" Charleston asked
"Vekta... I'ts... i don't know... weird to see it again"
"I know what you mean"
"Look" Rogers stated as his eyes moved to the floor "I'm really sorry about what happened a month ag-"
"Don't" Charleston cut him off not wanting to think about what happened.
"But-"
"I said don't... i don't want to think or talk about it"
"Alright ... but i think you should talk about it to someone when we land"
Charleston didn't say anything but tuned and stated walking again, heading into a door that led to one of many sleeping quarters. Rogers didn't follow, continuing to look out the window with his hands behind his back. Charleston fond his bed and laid down, normally captains would have private quarters but since this was'int the ship he was assigned too there was none available. The cruiser that held his room with all his belongings was long gone having been destroyed once the Helghast attacked the New sun. But he didn't mind not having a private bed and it was only for two weeks. Charleston rested his head down on the pillow not bothering to remove his helmet as some would disagree he found the helmet to rather comfortable. Closing his eyes Charleston slowly drifted to sleep.
BOOM an explosion rocked whole cruiser followed by a series of consistent alarms as the room went dark soon filled with orange emergency lights flashing as they spun on the wall. The explosion rattled the whole ship and awake Charleston form hes slumber could hear muffled voices just out side the door all ready trying to figure out what just happened.
"What the hell was that!?"
"Are our own guys firing on us!?"
Than the speaker come on and answered. "THIS IS CAPTION DONAGGIO, THE LANDING STABLES GAVE OUT WE'ER GOING DOWN! GET OFF THE LOWER LEVELS AND BRACE FOR IMPACT!"
Charleston Could feel it now, the ship was falling, tilting slightly to one side almost dumping Charleston off the bed as the ship built up speed in the planets gravity heat and eventually flames in cased the whole ship as it rapidly plummeted to the ground but it was a ship built for war and long space travels so it only made since that it had a great resistance to heat and cold. Enough to stand falling out of orbit at lest.
Charleston was quick to react and grabbed the closest rail to him. Clipping a strap that hung from his waist to the rail and waited for impact. Charleston didn't see how this would help but its what they were told to do in the event of a crash landing, the ship had loops all over that you cloud clip into if need be. This was Charleston's first crash landing in a cruiser that wasn't a drill but it wasn't likely to happen to someones who's infantry and spends most of their time on the ground close too or on the fronts lines. Although he had hes fair share of intruder crashes. By some small miracle Donaggio managed to slow the speed of the fall greatly increasing the chance of living. Charleston just stood there with nothing but a strap and his own grip between him and death hoping for the best. Hearing a deafening crash as metal ripped, screeching as it tore apart, Charleston was flung from his braced position. Then nothing ... absolutely nothing, But darkness.
The Arcturus shortly after the evacuation of Helgan:
"Sir we're out of the MAWLR's weapons range" said one of the bridge crew as he worked away at the console that lay in front of him.
"What about the other cruisers?" Asked captain Dallas.
"The others didn't make it sir"
"Wait. Captain!" said an different crew member getting his attention.
"What is it?"
"The Dauntless made it but..." He begun to trail off.
"But what?, Soldier" The captain responded
"It's going the wrong direction and doesn't seem to be turning around"
"Can you contact them?" Dallas asked
"Iv'e been trying but I'm not getting an response" Answered an another crew member"
"Shit, No one gets left behind track the ship as soon as we reach home well get anther cruiser looking for them. But for now I'm afraid there's nothing we can do. We have to leave before the Hig cruisers find us"
"Yes sir, Setting course for Vekta now"
By all means Dallas never wanted to leave the other ship behind but he had no choice, It was ether that or risk being destroyed by the Helghast just like the others.
Equestria:
"Oh no..." Twilight said under her breath as she watched the burning object crash into the ground not far from her home town. All of her friends watched in mute horror not wanting to think what if it hit ponyville. What would happen to their family's, homes, friends?.
Rainbow dash took off sprinting toward the crash with out warning' only stopping when her name was called. "Rainbow wait!" Called Applejack after her.
"I'm going to fly ahead and make sure noponys hurt!" Rainbow said taking to the air before Applejack could slow her down any more. The rest exchanged looks before running after Rainbow who was ready way ahead.
"Twilight wait up!" called Spike how was behind the rest trying to keep up with his short stubby legs .
"Come on Spike!" She called back to him, Using her magic to pick him up and place him on her back well running.
Rainbow dash flow as fast as her wings could take her she had to make sure nopony was hurt. As Rainbow was getting closer the object begun to look more like metal and less like rock as she expected it to. What ever it was it was tall, towering way above the trees at a odd angle. When she was all most there something caught her eye, something that made her stop and look, something that wasn't right, it looked like a name written on the side in bold white letters "Dauntless" said Rainbow as she let it roll around in her mind confused as to why and what is this thing?. After Rainbow snapped out of her daze something in her mind told her it wasn't a good idea to stay in the air and she agreed. Diving down in to the trees Rainbow barley even realized it was the ever free forest even if she did curiosity had the best of her. Rainbow dash slowly made her way to the crash site it was easy to tell where it was due to the smoke she wasn't moving nearly as fast any more and the thick foliage wasn't helping.
'Thump' 'Thump' 'Thump'
Rainbows blood went cold at the noise, It was getting louder witch meant it was getting closer and judging by the sound it was big. Rainbow jumped off the trail and went straight for a bush a large one too, not wanting to take a chance of what ever was coming to see her rainbow mane and tail only letting her eyes show. She waited of what ever was coming, hoping it wouldn't see her and keep going but what Rainbow saw not even the wonder bolts academy cloud have prepared her it. Two large figures that seemed to be made of metal came in to view one in front of the other. They walked on two legs of which seemed to reach over what Rainbow assumed to be its head, Its torso was long with two arms coming out of it one arm seemed to be larger than the other as well. On its forehead was the numbers '371' the other '378'.
Than it spoke "Exo one hold up I'm getting multiple life forms"
Dash froze 'Life from?' she thought hoping what ever it was wasn't refereeing to her.
"Exo one to Exo two, of curse you are, its a forest I'm getting them to" said the one in front. Dash relaxed at this letting out a breath of air she had been holding in.
"I know but this ones ...different" She tensed back up at this.
"What do you mean, different how?"
"Its allot ... bigger"
Than something leaped out of the bush next to Dash and smashed into the one in front letting out a roar as it did so. The metal beast was taken by surprise and was forced to take a few steps back with the fore of something hitting it. Only wean it stood still could Rainbow Dash see what it was, a manticore stood facing the Exo in a defective position ready to attack at any moment, and it did just that the manticore clawed at the medal beast seeing that wasn't doing much it brought its tail down on the its right arm, the smaller one Dash noted. She would have found the fight exciting if it wasn't for how serious it was, it wasn't like the daring dew books. Rainbow noticed its arm was not bleeding like she thought it would have but instead it was sparking.
"Get it - Get off me!" The metal beast called to its companion. The other one moved fast and quickly to get a better view of the attacker, far faster and agile than Rainbow Dash thought possible for its size and bulk. Then the end of its right arm flashed well letting out aloud crack witch made Rainbow jumped in shock at the noise as her ears went flat on her head. The manticore let out a cry of pain but wasn't going down with out a fight, it grabbed the left arm the same one it had attacked before with all its strength ripped its arm off using the creature own leg for leverage. Once it was off it was weakened but the manticore no longer had a hold of it ether, the Exo used this to its advantage stepping back than lunged foreword as what seemed to be blue flames shot out from its back, Rainbow Dash could not make any sense of what she had just witness it was by far the weirdest things she had seen one of this things do. The metal best slammed into its attacker sending it back a few feet on its side as the other one let out anther loud burst into the manticore as blood spared form the body.
Rainbow Dash only watched in horror not even sure what just happened. She looked to the metal monster that only had one arm left and the other hanging loosely at its joint with claw marks all over its main body. Rainbow's only thought was how much it must have hurt to have cuts that deep and one arm missing but it didn't seem to be phased by it, it didn't scream didn't cry and it didn't bleed unlike the manticore who wasn't moving any more but in stead it was sparking.
"This is Exo two I've sustained heavy damage, critical weapons failure" Said the now one armed creature. Then a different voice spoke that didn't sound like the two present, faint but still loud enough for her to hear.
"Exo Two this is command I head shots what the hell just happened?!"
"Not sure sir, something just attacked us, it looked like some kind of animal"
"Copy Exo Two, Exo One what's your status?" The other spoke this time.
"Fully operational command"
"Copy, Exo Two fall back to base, Exo One continue forward sweep"
"Yes sir, resuming forward sweep"
Rainbow Dash waited until both of them were gone before moving. She approached the motionless manticore, as a thought crossed Rainbows mind one that should have passed awhile ago 'did...did they just kill' she swallowed 'a manticore?' She only looked at the dead body not wanting to get any closer. Dash looked to the arm that was laying on the ground so she decided to get a closer look at it. The arm basically looked liked two hollow cinders stacked on one anther with metal sounding it. Despite it only being an arm it was all most bigger than her. Dash kicked it, the only response being dull metallic thud not soft as she expected, no blood no smell no nothing and it was cold not warm, it was just a hunk of metal. 'maybe' Rainbow thought 'maybe it was not a living been ...but how would that work? what in Equestria is this thing?'
A wave of fear washed over dash as she remembered that one of those things were heading straight for ponyville. And if those things could kill a manticore that easily she didn't want to think what it would do to her home and friends. But there was no way she was going to let that happen Dash raced into the air and bolted to where she left her friends.
It didn't take long for her to spot them, they were not to far from the town now all of them running side by side. Than she spotted the 'Exo' as she heard them referred to, It wasn't far away ether soon it would be at Fluttershy's cottage she only hoped it wont hurt her animals for Fluttershys shake.
Rainbow landed with a thud in her friends path as they skidded top a halt kicking up some dust as they did so each on of them panting heavily but spike who got a ride in stead. Rainbow spoke first in a almost panicked tone with fear in her now wide open eyes. "Twilight you have to get princes celestia right now!" she spoke all most to fast for Twilight to hear her clearly.
"Woh slow down Rainbow is it that bad?, What was the noise?" Twilight responded her voice now sounding panicked.
"No time to explain we have to stop it before it gets to ponyville!"
"Stop what!"
"Rainbow! slow down and tell us what happened" Apple jack interjected.
"Okay well" Rainbow stated trying to find the words to explain what happened. After Rainbow explain what she saw in detail but brief, Fluttershy tensed up during Rainbow's explanation but she had left out the part about the manticore being killed.The rest just looked confused before fully understanding what Dash said.
Twilight took action "Spike take a note"she said.
"I'm all ready on it" said spike.
hr]
The Dauntless: After the crash
"CA--IN-!" Every thing was a blur nothing more nothing less only a dull persistent ringing in his ear. "CAP--IN CAN YOU H--- ME!" A figure blurred in and out of focus but Charleston couldn't make it out as his head throbbed and hurt like hell. "CA--AIN --U HAVE TO WAK- -P!" Someone was screaming as the voice burled in and out but what it said he couldn't tell "CAPTAIN W--- -HE FUC- UP!" Charleston found a new pain hes face it stun like something slapped him and hard. But It helped make every thing become clear as he saw that it was Caparza that had hit him well standing over him Charleston could see smoke behind him witch reminded him what happened form the crash to now. But he couldn't remember the impact, just falling and waking up.
Caparza turned around and shouted to someone well waving his arm on the air. "The Captain's awake!" He tuned back to Charleston as he made a move to sit up. "Easy, you took a pretty nasty blow to the head but lucky for you your helmet saved you, split in two" Charleston moved his hand to fell the bandages around his head, it felt wet. Removing his hand and looking at it to find a small trace of blood on his finger tips, looking to the side he saw a helmet that had a large crack down the middle but was not in to pieces. Miller ran up beside Caparza with a white helmet and red cross on it, he looked down at Charleston and knelled all most immediately replacing the dressing on hes captions head with fresh ones as well as disinfecting the wound.
"The good news is you don't have a concussion or at lest not big enough to be noticed" Said Miller well he worked with the gauze.
"Where's Rogers?" Charleston asked not caring about his state.
"Same as everyone else, running around like chickens with there heads cut off" Replied Caparza clearly stressed out.
Wade rolled his eyes "He means trying to save survivors and savage equipment sir" Millers fist name was wade. Wade's all ways the caring and nicest one, he puts up with Caparza like the rest of the platoon with was more of a squad now.
"And Jackson?"
"Don't know sir, haven't seen him since the cruiser"
"Sir!" Called a voice seeming form nowhere.
"Well look who decided to show up" Caparza said in a mocking tone to Jackson.
"Unlike you I was helping to save lives instead of standing around!"
"I well have you know I'm the one who pulled the caption out of that burring pile of shit!" Caparza retorted well pointing at the wreckage of the dauntless which was now sicking out of the ground at an odd angle like a spear thrown into the earth form a distance. Its bridge was high in the air with shattered windows that poured smoke into the ski.
Jackson open his mouth to speak but was cut off by Charleston before he could say anything. "That's enough!"
"Yes sir, Sorry sir" Replied Jackson.
"Kiss ass" Caparza said well turning away form the group well Jackson stared diggers into his back.
Only now did Charleston noticed they we're in a opening of a forest, a dense one at that. Luckily the crash didn't set it on fire which he was glad for not only because it would add to the list of problems but because he was tired of seeing fire and a black and grey landscape, ...so tired. "Help me up" he said to Miller. Hesitant at first he reached a hand out to his commanding officer
"What are your orders sir?" Asked Miller as the rest turned to look.
"My orders?, what did Caption Donnagio say?" All of them just looked down or avoided eye contact.
Miller was the first to speak "I'm s-sorry sir but ...Donnagio... he d-didn't make it" His words stun like ice "None of the bridge crew made it"
"They were fried in the landing, your in charge now sir" said Caparza in a all most sympathetic tone. Charlston didn't know what to think or what to feel at the time everything felt empty he didn't feel sad or mad, just nothing.
"We need to set up medical tents and maintenance bays, use the scarp metal. I want all available engineers working on surviving armour"
All of them stared at him. "Sir with all due respect" Jackson started "Is that necessary? they will come and get us in a matter of time"
"Now's not the time to question orders!" Charleston snap at him "I want a full sweep of the area, use the Exo's" as told everyone left to spreed the order giving. Rogers was jogging up to Charleston from were he had being standing and he had a spare hamlet in one hand with the two silver bars that represented caption.
"I think you will be needing this" He said with the hamlet out stretched. Taking the helmet and placing it on his head he was happy to see that it covered the bandages.
"Thanks, what's our status?"
"Better than I thought, most or the armour survived including AAPC's, Archer's, Exo's, Jeep's, Intruders and a few HAMR's" Rogers responded.
The last one he was happy to hear, the HAMR IFV a heavily armed combat vehicle designed with 8 large all-terrain wheels with the rear doubled with two, which in conjunction with its powerful engine gives it a reasonable amount of manoeuvrability and enables it to traverse rough terrain. Reasonably strong armour, and can survive an impact from a dedicated anti-tank weapon like the VC9 Rocket Launcher and continue to operate. We didn't or did we ever have a lot of them but its our best bet at what ever the higs put in our way.
"But sir, do you really think were not on Vekta?"
Charleston sighed "No I don't, Now I want a full seep of the area, I want to know whats out there before it know were here"
"Yes Sir, right away sir" Rogers said and with that he was off.
