Chapters View Online
CHAPTER 1: LZ, A SKIRMISH, AND MEETING THE PONY'S
GOLDEN OAKS LIBRARY
TWILIGHT SPARKLE
4 HOURS LATER
"And that is what the princess wrote me" Twilight said calmly to her friends letting them know what happened.
"Oh I'm gonna throw them a great big welcome to equestria party" Pinkie pie said in her normal fast paced happy way.
"Uh pinkie we don't know if their nice or not for all we know they could be the one's that sent them other things here eight years ago" Applejack said with concern.
"But what if their nice and help us with those scary things" Fluttershy said quietly with what could possibly be fear in her voice.
"I wonder what they wear it's a whole new fashion type" Rarity said with glee in her voice.
"I am gonna keep my eye's on them applejack is right they could be evil" rainbow dash said with hostility in her voice.
Although right before twilight could say anything they all heard a loud sound. "What the hay is that rainbow dash said.
When they went outside they saw a large number of objects fly past ponyville they all decided to see what they were so they followed them.
DROPSHIP 22
CLEARING NEAR PONYVILLE AND THE EVERFREE FOREST
2LT. RICHARD TOUCHSTONE
"Move it Move it Move it" I yelled with pride. I then got out and saw 132 soldiers outside the dropships I smiled to myself.
"Ah look at how beautiful this is Richard" Mike said coming up to me with Andrew.
I looked down and exhaled "You okay Richard?" Andrew asked me I looked at him.
"How many soldiers do you think are gonna die during just this landing if the arachnids charge us" I said with clear sadness in my voice.
"Sir's" we heard a soldier say we turned and saw a young woman standing there.
"At ease Elizabeth and tell us what it is" I said not so happy to see her among the first half of my platoon to land.
"We found these weird horse things sir's and they appear to most likely be the natives" she said with calmness and standing at attention.
"Thank you Elizabeth and I want you to come with us for the first meeting with a new species" I said with calmness but also concern for Elizabeth and my troops.
"Thank you sir" She said back with excitedly.
5 MINUTES LATER
We approached the natives which looked like they were taken from a girls coloring book. "I am second lieutenant Richard Touchstone of the Terran federation and ranking officer of omega platoon this is second lieutenant Micheal Heck ranking officer of alpha platoon, this is second lieutenant Andrew Johnson ranking officer of echo platoon, and this is private Elizabeth smith of omega platoon and my fiance" I said with utmost curtasy.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Mr. Richard I am Twilight Sparkle, and these are my friends Pinkie Pie, Rarity Bell, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy" The purple one said with pride pointing at each of them so we knew who was who.
Then the blue one came up to us "So you all are in a military?" the blue one asked with suspicion.
"Why yes we are and since your not wearing anything that indicates your a member of the military I take it your a civilian" Mike said flicking her nose with a smirk.
"Don't mind mike he's just an asshole and doesn't care much but he'll grow on you"Andrew said trying not to smile about what just said.
"If I may ask why are ya'll here?" the orange one asked also sounding suspicious.
"Hey you have west Virginian accent" Mike said with shock.
"Well we're here because we were following a trail of five massive space rocks that we found out 4 hours ago the trail was 8 years old and we believe the rocks may have crashed into you planet sense the trail stops here so we're here to kick some bug ass and become friends" Andrew said with a smile.
"I knew it" Twilight said excitedly and sounded like gloating.
"What are you talking about?" I asked with caution.
"Oh let me tell you you'r correct five giant rocks did fall from space eight years ago and then these weird creatures came out of them and attacked anything near them then hid before the royal guard arrived and even now they attack towns then run off and hide somewhere" Twilight said in a teacher type of way.
"Have you tried looking underground" I said bluntly getting them all to look at me.
"What was that?" Twilight asked sounding shocked.
"The creatures your talking about are called arachnids and they dig tunnels to avoid detection so their most likely underground with a brain bug" I said to them sounding like a federal intelligence agent.
"No we never checked underground or for tunnels how do you even know they make tunnels?" Rainbow dash asked with more suspicion in her voice.
"We have been fighting and killing those bugs for fifteen years them the same and when you have been in four assaults on bug infested planets you learn a few things" I said with discomfort in my voice.
The pony's looked at me concerned "Are you okay?" Fluttershy asked me with care in her voice.
"No he's not he was promoted to corporal during one of those operations because he was the only survivor of his squad..." Mike said with discomfort.
"I was too scared to fight the bugs and they just ignored me I guess they thought I was already dead but why me why not anyone else some of those guys were young o-one of them was j-j-just 18 years old h-he had his whole life a-ahead of him"I said a tear coming down my face and sadness in my voice.
"You poor thing" Fluttershy said hugging me or what I guessed was a hug somehow she made me feel better.
"Sir's we need you on the line with us" A soldier said sounding urgent.
"What is it corporal" I said with calmness in my voice.
"Sir arachnid signatures in the forest heading this way and fast we picked up 50 total orders" He said with calmness as well.
"Tell everyone to get into a firing line we'll be there in a second" I ordered him with calmness.
"Yes sir" He said with obedience in his voice.
"What those things are coming" twilight said with slight fear in her voice.
"Yes they are but don't worry this time we have the numbers on those bugs" Mike said with sounding smug.
"Still how many good people are we going to lose ?" I said with depression in my voice.
"Uh enough of that if we do this right no one will die" Andrew said encouragingly.
"That's what they said about the first assault on planet P look how that turned out 2 million soldiers went in 500 came back" I said with sadness in my voice.
"Then lets get this over with" Andrew said bluntly.
"And Elizabeth you stay here" I said leaving.
"WHAT" Elizabeth said with shock over what I said.
"Elizabeth as your soon to be husband please stay here I love you and don't want you to die and as your superior officer I am ordering you to stay here and protect these pony's" I said with determination.
"Yes honey I will" She said sounding sad.
"I'm sorry I just want you to be safe I love you so much" I said kissing her then leaving with a new goal.
"Just be sure you don't die our wedding is in a week" She said to me with a happy demeanor.
4 minutes later
We were all set up rifle aimed at the forest we could now hear the arachnids coming. "Okay everyone remember we hold this position and we fire the minute we get a clear shot" I yelled at them with as much calmness in my voice I could find.
"Okay you apes you want to live forever" Andrew shouted with pride.
"SIR YES SIR!!!" Everyone yelled with pride then we saw all the arachnids rush out of the forest.
"Light them up" Mike yelled to everyone and began shooting at the arachnids not knowing this got allot of attention.
PVT. ELIZABETH
"What is all that noise over there?" Rarity said with agitation.
"Everyone is killing bugs while I'm sitting here" I said with anger in my voice then there was a flash of light behind me.
I turned and saw 2 taller pony's both with wings and horns and had what I could consider guards with them one was white the other was blue.
"Princesses" The pony's said bowing to them.
"Rise my little pony's" The white one said with kindness in her voice.
"Uh not to sound rude here or anything but can you tell me who you are?" I asked confusion obviously in my voice.
The others present and the guards looked shocked "Oh I forgot your not from our world I am princess Celestia co-ruler of equestria and this is my sister princess Luna and your name is?" Celestia asked still with kindness in her voice.
"I am private Elizabeth Smith of the Terran federation omega platoon although in a week I will be Elizabeth Touchstone with my soon to be husband second lieutenant Richard Touchstone ranking officer of omega platoon" I said not knowing I was sounding upset.
"Are thou feeling sad?" princess Luna asked me.
"Yes I am my future husband wont let me participate in the fight but I understand he loves me and doesnt want me to die" I said with sadness clear in my voice.
"Where is he now?" princess Celestia asked then their was a loud boom from a grenade going off.
"By that explosion" I said getting up and grabbing my rifle and ran to the action the pony's following me.
Author's Note
The pony's now know what the arachnids are and where to start looking for them.
CHAPTER 2: A TALK WITH ROYALTY
LZ JUPITER (CODENAME), CLEARING NEAR PONYVILLE AND THE EVERFREE FOREST
"Reload" I said hearing a series of clicks and soft thuds as empty ammo clips hit the ground and are replaced with fresh clips.
"Wow we didn't take any casualties from the arachnids this time" I heard Andrew say with a lot of bravado.
"That is because the bugs don't think" Mike said with arrogance.
"And because they didn't have the numbers this time" I pointed out with a lecturing type of voice.
We then heard movement behind us, we turned around and saw Elizabeth, the six ponies we met a few minutes ago, and two bigger ponies one was white with a rainbow colored mane the other was blue with a mane that appeared to have stars in it and they both had a horn and wings there was also a few ponies that had what appeared to be armor on. We then walked up to them I hugged Elizabeth while Mike and Andrew stood behind me studying the newcomers.
"If I maybe so kind as to ask who you are?" Andrew asked in a polite tone.
"I am princess Celestia this is my sister princess Luna what is your name?" The white one asked with a polite tone that would put others to shame.
"I am second lieutenant Richard Touchstone he is second lieutenant Andrew Johnson and he is second lieutenant Michael Heck it is a pleasure to meet you your highness" I said bowing with Mike and Andrew.
The ponies who were wearing armor looked behind us and saw the 50 dead arachnids and let out a gasp in surprise at how there was not a single dead soldier. "How did you do this we can't catch one?" One of the armored ponies said in a shocked way.
"Well we have been fighting them for years so I don't see how we shouldn't take one down" I said in a slightly gloating way.
At that moment several dropships started descending to our location with the other half of our platoons "What are those?" The pony named Twilight asked in a calm voice.
"Those are dropships they have the other halves of our platoons in them" I said in a teaching tone.
"Why do thou have more soldiers coming?" The blue princess pony asked in what I thought was a medieval way.
"We need reinforcements if the bugs come back in greater numbers which they will" Andrew told them with a stoic tone.
It was at that time when we all saw something that was not that shocking 20 large balls of plasma went into space we saw several flashes then a massive flash. I immediately rushed to the dropships radio "This is omega platoon leader does anyone read me" I said in a rushed manner.
"This is captain Felsturm" I heard as a reply.
"Captain Felsturm is the Franklin still up there?" I asked.
"Lieutenant the Franklin is gone it was struck by four plasma balls it is now wreckage, the corcom is fine but it has no engines and we think the ship has only a matter of hours before it gets caught in the planet's gravity, the other three ships are badly damaged from the plasma hits and the explosion of the Franklin, my ship is the only ship still at slightly good condition we need to retreat to get repairs and some reinforcements" The captain stated in a slightly pleading tone.
"Captain Felsturm get those ships repaired and bring back some support if there are more than one brain bug down here" I said in a commanding tone.
"I will and don't worry lieutenant we will be back as soon as we can and we'll bring some more ships" The captain said in a reassuring voice.
"Good and don't worry worry captain we will still be here when you get back" I told Felsturm in a slightly hoping way.
Richard's POV
F.O.B, 4 hours later
"Ok we've got to find out where the corcom will crash" I said looking at a map. "Without the engines they'll need to land somewhere near us without putting us in danger" Andrew added. "The forest, that's were they'll crash, it's close and won't hurt anyone when it crashes" Mike said to us.
"Ok now that we know where they are going to crash who goes ?" I asked with a slight frown knowing that some troops won't be coming back. "I will take my platoon, get the survivors and get back with anything we can get, you two stay here and keep the natives safe" Mike said with shockingly a sad tone. "Are you sure Mike I can send a squad with you to help" I said to him with concern. "I'll be fine my platoon can hold their own, and the less troops here the easier it will be for the bugs" Mike replied with a smirk.
"We won't let that happen Mike just be sure to come back alive" Andrew said to him with a smirk aswell. "We'll show those bugs that although we're stranded we will still fight tooth and nail" I said also smirking. Mike started to leave then raised his hand like he had a glass in it "Here's to the dead" Mike said in a happy tone. "And the next one to die!" Me and Andrew said doing the samething.
"Now let's start making a defensive line between the F.O.B, this village and the forest the bugs can't get through" I said to Andrew in a serious tone. "Yes, and how is the turrets coming along ?" Andrew asked me also seriously. "The troops got the emplacements set up but not a good wall" I told him seriously. "That will have to do let's just hope Mike will come back alive and with those survivors" Andrew said the serious tone starting to vanish from his voice.
We then felt the ground shake like an earthquake had happened me and Andrew looked at each other then rushed outside. We then saw a huge ship in the forest with fires and burned out holes "My god" I said seeing the ship. "The crew will need to be lucky to survive that" Andrew said to me shocked. We then saw Mike and his platoon start moving to the forest "Let's move people we got some soldiers to save" Mike yelled to his platoon.
"Alright people set up defensive positions we are repelling bugs" Andrew yelled to everyone in a superior tone. " Move it, move it, move it" I yelled in the same tone we were listened to by troops rushing to get in position. I then saw the six natives coming up to us 'Great now I have to explain everything' I thought to myself sadly.
[/cMike's POV
Everfree Forest, 30 minutes later
"Keep it tight people we can't lose anyone" I said then I heard a screech and tuned just in time to see one of my sergeants get a arachnids leg through his shoulder the hear more screeches, I shot at the bug that was attacking the downed sergeant "Hold position and take them down" I yelled shooting another arachnid. "Sir we're taking casualties by the sec..." A corporal said before getting impaled by a warrior, me and 2 other troopers gunned it down while gunfire and screeches could be heard around us. Then the battle ended I looked around and saw the dead "Report" I called out concern in my voice. "Sir we've lost a 4th of the platoon including all of 2nd squad" A sergeant said to me in a sad tone.
"Then let's hurry up and get to the ship people we'll need to hurry to avoid another ambush like this" I said with slight fear in my voice, fear for my troops. We then started sprinting to the ship being carful not to fall into another ambush. Then we heard gunfire "Keep fireing everyone don't let them through" Someone yelled out. "Let's move it people there's troopers ahead I said to them rushing to the ship. we entered a clearing and saw alot of dead bugs then one got shot while it was charging us, I looked ahead and saw 7 elite troopers by an airlock, I began walking over to them.
When I got up to them my troops close behind me "Who are you ?" I asked the man in charge. "I'm Zachary Ringle, captain of N-57 and you are ?" He asked me with a stern voice. "I am 2nd Lieutenant Michael Heck commanding officer of Alpha platoon" I told him with a stern tone as well.
"Sorry about the Franklin lieutenant, so why are you here ?" He asked me with calmness in his voice. "Thank you for the sentiment, I was sent to get the crew back to our F.O.B" I told him with a calm tone. " Most of the crew is dead several of the bridge crew, some medics, a platoon of mobile infantry troopers, and several elite trooper squads are all that's left" He told me with a sad tone.
"Do you still have working dropships ?" I asked not wanting to go through the forest again. "Yah we do enough to move everyone, Follow me" He said tuning around. "Let's go people I am not going through that forest again" I said to them with assertiveness.
Andrew's POV
F.O.B Defense Line, several minutes later
"Keep up the fire" I yelled killing a few more warriors. "Their breaking through the right flank" Someone yelled. " Fall back, fall back" I yelled starting to move back troopers and guards following suit 'I wonder how many of them are probably frightened right now' I thought. I then saw something that sent shivers down my neck "Plasma bug move faster" I yelled but to late for several troopers from Omega platoon the plasm knocked the gun down and the warriors just ripped them to shreds, I threw a grenade the explosion letting me know I ended their suffering and took some bugs down too.
Then we saw dropships fly overhead then after a minut of retreating we were saved by Mike, his platoon, another platoon and several elite squads. The battle ended quickly after that, we lost a quarter of our force to this operation. I Went to talk with the other officers, the officers were several elite sergeants, an elite captain, Richard, Mike, a commander, and a guard.
"We should pursue them" The guard pony said with what sounded like anger in his voice, he also had anothr guard pony with him pprobably his second ing command. "I won't risk my men for something as stupid as pursuing the bugs" The commander said to him with agitation. "And you speak for all of these soldiers ?"The guard asked with anger in his voice. "Yes I am the acting leader, And I won't waste men on something stupid like that, I will send where they can die" The commander said to him with clear agitation.
"And why is that ?" The other guard pony asked with calmness and a female voice. "If we follow them we will reach their tunnels but those tunnels are like a maze everyone will die before reaching the brain bug, So sending troops after them would be extremely, Wasteful" The commander said with calmness. "Oh then I see you point" The guard pony said calmer now.
" We should listen to them sir they have faced the creatures before" The mare guard pony said with calmness still.
Author's Note
I'm back everyone.This is my inspiration for the last part (The argument)
BRIDGE OF FRANKLIN
15 YEARS AFTER THE ASSAULT ON PLANET P
CPT. JENNIFER JACKSON
"Captain on deck!" I heard one of the bridge crew say then saw all twenty men and women salute me as I entered.
"At ease" I said and all of them got back to their stations and I walked to my seat. "Report" I said seeing a corporal walk up to me and salute.
"Ma'am the other five ships have arrived and are awaiting orders and we located the five rocks carrying arachnids they appear to have landed on a planet and by the scans we have been following eight year old trails ma'am our scans also report sentient life on the planet your orders" he finished. I looked at the scans and what the planet looked like it resembled Terra in many ways I looked at the atmosphere readings seeing it was breathable for human's I decided what to do.
"Corporal what are our three best mobile infantry platoons?" I asked him while looking at him.
"That would be alpha platoon under the command of 2lt. Michael Heck, omega platoon under the command of 2lt. Richard Touchstone, and echo platoon under the command of 2lt. Andrew Johnson ma'am" He stated.
"Tell those lieutenants to get to the briefing room now and get the other ships into position around the planet while staying out of plasma bug range corporal" I ordered him getting up.
"By your orders captain" he said going off to do as he was told.
BRIEFING ROOM OF THE FRANKLIN
30 MINUTES LATER
I walked into the briefing room "Ma'am" I heard someone say I looked and saw three young men that looked like they weren't out of their twenty's this confused me.
"At ease are you three the commanding officers of alpha, echo, and omega platoons?" I asked them.
"Yes we are ma'am" They said in response.
"Then take a seat lieutenants" I said then they took their seats "And exactly how old are you three?" I asked taking my seat.
"Ma'am I am second lieutenant Richard and I am 23" I heard who I now know is Richard say.
"I am second lieutenant Michael and I am 22 ma'am" The person who is Michael said.
"I am 24 captain and I am second lieutenant Andrew" Andrew said.
"Okay lieutenants this is a planet we have come across" I said activating the projector and showing them the planet. "And this planet is inhabited by sentient life and apparently eight years ago the arachnid rocks we were following the trail of landed on it" I told them.
"So we're going to land on the planet kick the bugs asses and make first contact with a new race captain" Michael said.
"Yes lieutenant we are with our scans we found a clearing outside a small town or village that's near a city on the side of a mountain that clearing is going to be your LZ lieutenants but be careful we picked up bug signatures deep in the forest near the town and we don't know what the life looks like down there so be prepared you will head down there when the sun rises again that will be in 4 hours lieutenants understood" I said to them.
"Understood ma'am" they said standing up and saluting.
"Good dismissed" I said they then left the briefing room to most likely get their platoons ready.
PONYVILLE GOLDEN OAKS LIBRARY
(TAKES PLACE BEFORE THE LIBRARY WAS DESTROYED AND AFTER TWILIGHT BECAME A PRINCESS)
THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW
Twilight sparkle was looking through her telescope when she saw a flash she pointed the telescope where she saw the flash then gasped at what she saw six large objects were approaching the moon and then they stopped. Her thoughts then went to what happened eight years ago when five large rocks fell from space across the world then weird creatures came out of the rocks and attacked anything near them and they hid and no one knew were the creatures went but they would continue to appear and attack anything then go back to wherever they are hiding. Then her thoughts came back to these six objects near the moon she then thought maybe they could be friendly. She then decided to let princess Celestia and princess Luna know of what she saw so she grabbed a parchment and a quill and began to write.
DEAR PRINCESS CELESTIA AND PRINCESS LUNA
I recently found something that concerns me there are six large objects near princess Luna's moon and they appear to be staying still and what I think is waiting I think they may be friendly and could help us with the creatures that arrived eight years ago. I would like your advice on what to do if they come to ponyville.
YOUR FAITHFUL STUDENT TWILIGHT SPARKLE
Twilight then got her assistant spike to send her letter to the princesses. And not long after the letter was sent there was a reply Twilight then unrolled the letter and began to read it.
DEAR TWILIGHT
My sister has just told me about these same objects that are near her moon. But you are correct they could be friendly and could helps us with those creatures my advice is if they come to ponyville try to become friends with them so they know we wont hurt them and they may not hurt us but be careful encase they are not friendly.
PRINCESS CELESTIA
