Prologue Chapter: Going to Equestria
We come into this world with our paths covered, and most of mankind lives their lives that way, We blindly follow anyone, when promises something your desperate to do, for me it was the military.
I enlisted into Marines, 6 months ago to fight for humanity, but now I’m sent across the galaxy, going to planet, that many never thought existed.
These soldiers I’m with are, not like most of our military, they’re here for a different reason, and its that reason what makes a lot of them hated across society.
“Come on Alcatraz! It’s not so bad!” one of the marines next to me said, his name was Private Brian, he was a Brony, just like the rest of troops here.
“Just having a hard time, taking this all in” I told him,
“Hey, this is what we signed up for!” was Private Brian’s response to me.
“Yeah, you guys put my name down, so I didn’t have much of a choice” yeah, I never wanted to be part of this, but I’m forced into it, so I’ll see the end of it.
“Yeah? Well, soon we got on the ground, you’re gonna fucking love it!” he told me, licking his lips which creeped me out.
“Yeah, keep telling yourself that” I told him, I watched everyone preparing for the operation at hand, soon our commanding officer arrive to give us our orders.
“Alright listen up! You have your orders, you’ll be inserted in LZ Alpha, you better remember everything you’ve been taught! Everyone knows what they have to do? Everyone knows where they’re going?!” our CO motivated our troops.
Everyone around me yelled out “Ooh-rah!”
“Everyone ready?!”
“Ooh-rah!” everyone yelled.
“Get to it! Corporal! Lead them out!” Annoyingly our CO, wanted me to lead these troops to the battlefield.
“Lead the way!” “I can’t wait for this” endless chants from the troops behind me, all I could do was roll my eyes and lead the way.
The Changelings have invaded Equestria, Humanity had to push them out, This was not a simple start of an operation, this was the start of something bigger
(Several Moments Later)
My team enter our drop pod strapping ourselves in for deployment; I just hope I can get through this without too much of an issue.
“Oracle to Delta Squad, we’re deploying you on the south west of the combat zone, link up with Able Squad and local forces, and push onwards to the outer line, known as Cake Line Alpha” I groaned as I heard what was being said, this was not what I enlisted for.
“Okay, soon we win this battle, we get a permit, and first round at Sugercube Corner is on me!” Private Brian told my squad, but I didn’t take notice.
“Looks like Alcatraz, is thinking about other things! Who do you think he’s thinking about? Lyra? Colgate? Oh even better Sunset Shimmer!” he asked, I felt sick to my stomach at what he was asking, he assumed I was one of them, one of the most frowned upon types of their ‘club’, I ignored him and just wanted to follow my orders and go home.
“Alright, ease off on him! We got a job to do! I gotcha back Corporal, tell Oracle we’re go from deployment!” I looked at my second in command, who I nodded in appreciation.
“Oracle to all squads, commencing drop in t-minus 10 seconds” the loudspeaker announced.
“Lets do this” I said to my squad who all nodded.
“Drop commencing drop in 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… Drop! All units commence drop!” Oracle said to all squads.
Soon our pod is dropped and we look out to the battlefield and I groaned when my soldiers started to be wowed by the scenery despite most of it being in flames. However out pod is soon hit by a flying changeling and veered us off-course and forced us to land a few miles from a designated LZ.
(A brief moment later)
“Is everyone alright?” I asked my squad, but I soon regretted asking that.
“I’m good, but where is Private Daniels?” Private Brian responded, but the one who asked if I was thinking about ponies during the drop, was missing, and I could only guess what he was doing and decided he’s off doing something other than fighting.
“Leave him, we got a job to do and he decided to abandon the mission” I spoke coldly, when I enter every difficult situation, a new side comes out, I become cold, professional and dedicated, it was something that stuck with me, since my high school, hell I enlisted right out of high school.
“You heard him, let’s get to it” Private Brian told the remanding member of my squad which was my second in command, Private First Class Richards. I help Richards up and pass him his rifle and we exit our pod and activated our nav systems and headed for the meeting point. Soon I receive contact from Able Squad.
“Able to Alcatraz, what’s your ETA? We’ve linked up with local forces and experiencing complications!” Able’s squad leader told me.
“Our pod went off-course, we’ll be at your position in a few minutes, and were experiencing problems ourselves” I told them.
“Are you fucking serious? I already lost four soldiers, and not to enemy forces. God I knew this operation was a mistake! Wait a minute, what the… oh son of a…!” I heard him then I heard gunfire and lost contact to Able Squad.
“Alcatraz... what happened?!” Private Brian asked.
“Uh… dude, I think some of our guys are falling to their urges, let’s just hope the local forces are still alive” Private Richards hopes and we pushed onwards to the meeting point.
My unit pressed onwards towards Able Squad’s last know position and when we arrived, we were in for a shock; several members of Able Squad and the local forces have been murdered by human weapons, and the next thing the three of us heard sent a creepy shiver down our spines, we could hear young female ponies being raped by our soldiers. I fell to my knees and felt like I was going to throw up.
“Mate… Mate! You alright mate?!” Private Richards asked me, but I couldn’t respond.
“Come on, we better get moving” Private Brian helped me up and we double timed out of there.
My squad then arrives at an Outpost which was taking fire from Changeling forces “Engage at will!” I ordered my troops. We managed to eliminate the enemy forces and I went to the leader of the Outpost.
“You Delta Squad?” he asked me and I nodded. “Thank god you’re here, I can finally stop defending this hellhole! Wait my manners… I’m Lieutenant Flash Sentry, 3rd Royal Guard Army, what happened to your other squad? I was told to wait for two squads of human forces!” the young Pegasus told us, and I sighed and explained what happened.
“Able Squad and several local forces were killed by rouge human soldiers” I regrettably told him.
“What? Why would they do that?!” he asked us.
“To fulfil their desires, I knew something like this would happen” Private Richards told him.
“WHAT?! You come here with the intention of helping us, only to be murdering bastards! How dare you walk on our soil with that intention?” Flash spat to me and my troops.
“Yeah well, I didn’t ask to be here, I was forced to be here, so if you have a problem, find someone to cry to about it, because I rather do my objectives and leave!” I spoke coldly and Flash, his troops and mine looked at me feeling hurt.
“Oh… well our forces are linking up with your forces up north from here, and since you’re the only human forces I’ll be getting, I… better lead the way” Flash told me, he felt depressed after what I told him and want me to get to my squads' next objective.
We followed Flash and his soldiers to the meeting point where our commanding officer was gathering troops for the final push but experiencing complications.
“What’s the status on that launcher?!” we heard our CO demanded from the troops around him.
“We’ve lost contact with Squads; Able, Cakes and Harmony!” one soldiers told him, I walked up to the CO and demanded what the hell is going on.
“Sir, what’s this about launchers?” I asked.
“Corporal, the enemy have captured a Havoc Launcher, and are using it to blow our air support out of the sky! I need a demo and strike team to take that launcher down!” he explained.
“Alright, Delta Squad will provide cover for the demo team, we just need to know where, we’re going!” I yelled as gunfire and explosives go on, tearing apart the area
“I’ve sent the demo team ahead and to wait for the strike team, head North West, the launcher will be just a few hundred metres from you there, good luck!” our CO instructed.
Soon My team along with Flash’s troops headed for the demo team, however kept encountering enemy forces, slowing us down.
“We have to keep moving, the demo team, won’t last much longer!” Flash yelled behind cover, while my troops fired at the enemy.
Soon we are contacted by the demo squad, “Where the hell, are you guys? I’m taking heavy casualties, we need…” the connection abruptly stops, and I assumed the worse, soon Flash, his troops and mine finally cleared a path to the demo team and the Havoc Launcher.
“Havoc Launcher is dead head!” Private Richards tells us as we get to cover, we began observing the area and find the demo team had been killed, “Shit… demo teams’ KIA, but I can still see the charges!” Private Brian explained.
“Alright, we need to be quick! Flash, you and your troops provide a distraction while my team and I get the charges, once we get them find cover and provide cover fire while we make a run for the launcher!” I ordered to Flash, despite Flash being a Lieutenant, but he followed my orders, since he had no idea what he could do.
“On my mark, three, two, one…GO!” I yelled, we all ran out of cover and charged for the demo charges, while Flash and his team distracted the enemy, when we arrived, I grabbed the charges but before we could contact Flash to find cover, Private Richards was next to an explosive barrel and when the enemy fired an energy blast at them, it exploded and obliterated him.
“Shit! Richards Down! Repeat, Richards’ KIA!” Private Brian yelled. We cleared the launcher of enemy forces with help from Flash’s team, but as Private Brian was setting the charge, the hatch he put it in, closed on his arm, we tried to pull the hatch opening, but the launcher began to hover.
“We’re out of time Corporal!! You have to get out of here!” he told me, but I ignored and tried to get the hatch open, then he grabs me and says to me “I’m sorry, I dragged you into this…” and then throws me to the ground, I watch as the launcher lifts off and explodes instantly killing Private Brian. Soon Flash and his Team arrive to extract me from the area, and I contemplated on whether was my teams’ sacrifice was worth anything this day. Only the future could tell.
Author's Note
Most of this chapter and the next chapter are inspired by the first mission of Call of Duty Advanced Warfare
I don't own Call of Duty Advanced Warfare - It is owned by Activison, Sledgehammer Games and High Moon Studies
Chapter One: Task Force ATLAS
“After many days of heavy fighting, human forces have managed to push out changeling forces out of Equestria, with human forces mopping the resisting forces, many hope there will be a return of peace in harmony in this great land”
Why are men sent to fight other’s wars? Even humanity can’t answer that
But death comes for us all… eventually, we you lose over 10,000 soldiers in four hours, it’s easy for one death to be another number.
But all I knew, these people were gone, following the most questionable path known to society.
The dead… their debts have been settled, but now the living must pick up the tab
“And so it’s time to say farewell to these brave human soldiers, soldiers who were dedicated to prevent the fall of Equestria, lives are to be important as their contribution to us all, and by that standard, this marks the greatest sacrifice in the history of Equestria”
(Two Days later – Human Victory Funeral Event)
I watched as this purple pony, known as Twilight Sparkle, giving a speech to the fallen, but I cringe to every word she said.
“And today, they leave behind their families, their friends, fellow soldiers and most importantly the ponies of…” but before she could finish, one of the marines got up and walked up to the memorial placing his hand, shaking his head and left, followed by another, then me.
After giving the fallen my respects, I left the funeral till being hold up by a brony soldier.
“Hey Corporal! Look I’m sorry we got you involved, listen we may be hated by you, but we look out for friends, if you ever need anything…” before the brony could finish his sentence, someone I never expected to appear.
“Excuse me, Alcatraz? Princess Celestia, Ruler of Equestria” she extended her hoof to me, to which I shake to be respectful, and the brony next to me starts to fanboy.
“Your… highness? I’m honoured to be at your presence!” he beamed, I assumed she wanted him, but it turns out it wasn’t.
“Always a pleasure, Corporal you became part of the conflict when you had no intention to fight by our side, but you stood and fought with everything you had to help save our kingdom” she stated.
“Just another soldier doing his job” the brony stated.
“However, he was doing his job, without any alternative motive, Alcatraz we want you to be part of our defence force”, this surprised me and the brony.
'why am I chosen for this?' I thought as the her words replayed in my head.
“Um… you’re highness, that’s not the best idea, I think he’s a…” before the brony could say any more, Princess Celestia interrupts.
“I am aware of his dissatisfaction, with us and your fanbase, however he’s not like the others. Alcatraz, I know that you’ve enlisted to find a purpose for yourself, I’ve been told what kind of soldier you are, and we need those who are efficient as you” she uses her magic and passes me a form “please, do think about this, don’t let your hatred prevent you from doing something great” she then walks away and snubs the brony’s cheek, while I looked at the form.
I hear in the background, human troops firing for the fallen, so without giving a damn, I signed the form and the form disappears from sight.
(Several Days Later)
I was ready for combat, I looked to my teammates, human and pony serious and combat ready.
“Okay, we got the all green, commence operation!” the squad leader told me, these soldiers were different, they weren’t bronies or anti’s, they were simple soldiers fighting with other pony soldiers.
We pushed to the objective house, and we eliminated the guards around it and proceeded inside where our objective was to recover stolen files and return them. However during the operation, I felt ill and one of my squad members took notice.
“Hey dude, are you alright?” he asked, but I didn’t respond and got back to operation, however as we left the target building I fell to the ground and began coughing badly, “Hey! What’s the matter with you?” another soldier asked about my condition but I remained silent and pressed on.
When we are about to be extracted, then I fell to the ground and began throwing up, then an enemy soldier kicks me in the chest and holds his weapon at me. “You were a soldier, now you’re a dead man!” then he yells “RESET!” and the area restarts, as this a training simulator and helps me up.
“Not surprised at your condition mate, but it does take a while to get used to” he explained.
Before I joined Celestia’s special force, I underwent a medical procedure to have the ability of regenerative healing, to help heal wound in the battlefield, however there were always side effects such as headaches, heavy coughs and stomach aches which lead to vomiting.
As he got me up, Celestia and two royal guards arrive, “Another case of potion sickness, your highness” he explained while I still felt slightly light headed.
“I’m sure that can be taken care of, but how is he doing?” she asked about my progress as being part of the team.
“He’s getting there, for a simple marine; he sure knows how to be a special operative quickly” he noted my fast adaption to circumstances.
“Keep working, he’s a great soldier and destined for greater, on that note, I’ll take you to the med bay, climb on” she surprisingly told me, which made me refuse.
“I’m not getting on your back…” before I could protest even more, she uses her magic and puts me on her back and begins flying, which made me hold onto her and she just giggled.
Soon we began flying over the newly built Canterlot Military Base, ran by both the Monarchy Republic of Equestria and the United States of Earth Armed Forces.
“I’ll take you to my faithful student, she’ll know what to give you, to improve your abilities” Celestia told me, and I knew who she was referring to, Princess Twilight Sparkle. Despite not particularly liking her speech at the funeral, I had no grudge or hatred towards her. Soon we arrived at Twilight’s lab and I get off Princess Celestia's back and walked to the lab, till being stopped by Celestia’s hoof going over my shoulder.
“Listen… I know, you’re still adjusting to everything here, but always remember, please let me know if I can do anything to help you, during your time here” she said to me sadly, it wasn’t that I was ungrateful or anything like that, but she along with many others knew I wasn’t warming up to idea of staying on Equestria. “I’ll see you soon, Alcatraz” I watched as she flew away, but I decided to not keep Twilight waiting and entered her lab.
As I walked into her lab, I looked around and saw the improvements when Equestrian Magic and Human Technology got combined, there waiting was Twilight and her assistant Spike.
“Hello Alcatraz, been told what happened to you during training, don’t worry, I just finished on working on the remedy for it” Twilight explained, sure she was a princess, but still she just preferred to be address like normal.
“Thanks Twilight” I said as I took a seat next to the bench, however I looked at the holographic board, and saw one of her friends Lyra Heartstring been researching on humanity. “Has your friend Lyra been working on human research all last night?” I asked, knowing what the answer would be.
“Yep, she’s currently asleep, don’t know why she’s addicted to your species, then again, humanity is no different…” before Twilight could finished, she looked and saw me not looking too pleased and remembered that I wasn’t like the fanclub, “Oh… sorry, I forgot… are you ashamed to know people like them are alive?” she asked me which made me remember back on why this Joint-Human-Pony Military force was formed.
(Several Days Earlier)
Shortly after the end of what the United States of Earth Armed Forces called “The Human Intervention against the Changeling Empire” two splinter groups were formed. Due to the restrictions of humanity being banned from staying on Equestria by order of the United States of Earth Government, not the Monarchy Republic of Equestria, a group of the extreme fandom members have gone rouge and formed the Human Equestrian Rights group, to fight for humanity to have residence in Equestria and to bring ponies of all kind to Earth, however these fans are led by a twisted leader, who will destroy anyone and anything getting in their way, joining them were also the twisted fans, who’s minds are more darker than space, ones that have either raped or assaulted ponies during the Intervention against the Changelings, thus labelling them as a terrorist organisation.
At the same time, Anti-Bronies have also splintered from the Armed Forces and formed the Cleansing Pony Army or C.P.A campaign, people who hated the people who are involved with the ponies or the fandom. Their sole purpose is to launch a massive genocidal campaign against the Equestrian population and anyone who will stand to defend them, fan or not. They also plan to create a new human government and overthrow the United States of Earth Government and arm themselves with nuclear weapons or any W.M.D and blow the planet into nothing after their genocidal campaign was complete, thus also labelling them as a terrorist organisation.
After learning of the existence of these terrorist groups, the Monarchy Republic of Equestria requested for assistance into removing the two organisations from Equestrian Soil, however back on earth, the United States of Earth is receiving a lot of backlash from the public and media over the order sending human troops to Equestria, due a show fandom demand thus claiming them for causing the creation of the terrorist organisations. However because the Monarchy Republic of Equestria have been passive and non-demanding, the United States of Earth decides to ask the leaders to find the best pony soldiers and have them partnered with human soldiers who are not anti or pro brony in history. After agreeing to this new term, Task Force ATLAS was created, the first Human-Pony Joint Special Operations Force, assigned with the task of eliminating the terrorist organisations.
(Back to the Present)
“Alcatraz? Alcatraz?!” I hear a yell which breaks my trance about the past, Twilight was wondering why I spaced out. “Are you alright? You spaced out all of a sudden” she said to me worryingly.
“I’m fine” I said calmly, Twilight then instructs me to drink the remedy, and soon the negative affects has worn off and the regeneration ability has become stable within my body. “Thanks for the remedy”.
“Just helping our troops for success” she beamed, however she noticed I wasn’t paying attention and decided to ask what’s wrong.
“Alcatraz, what’s wrong?” she said slightly agitated. All I did was sigh and then decided to tell Twilight what I told Celestia several days ago.
“I never asked to be here, when the United States of Earth began requesting troops for the Human Intervention, only the bronies signed up to around 7200 troops but it wasn’t enough, so the operation was facing abandonment for an alternative solution, like a Scorched Earth policy, so in desperation, the bronies managed to gain access to the United States of Earth military troop database, and began adding names to the operation, and my name got added, when the bronies got the number needed, it got the operation lit green, and I can gareetee that most of them just wanted to go to Equestria for personal reasons rather than help it” I explained, Twilight was surprised on how most troops had no choice but to take part in the operation.
“Then… how come you never went back home?” she asked me.
“After the funeral event, Princess Celestia wanted to me to become part of her defence force, and stated how I wanted to find a purpose for myself as a soldier, my guess she thought this could be it, but I’m not sure, so I’ll do what I can to rid this place of the terrorist organisations, anyway I should get going, the next training session will be online in a few minutes, thanks again for the remedy” I explained and thanked Twilight, soon I left the lab for the training ground.
“Sure… anytime” Twilight said sadly, as she looked down her assistant Spike walked up to her.
“What’s wrong Twilight?” he asked her sadden friend.
“There's something wrong, I know it" Twilight sensed.