Fallout Equestria: Equestrian Marines

Chapter Four

Protocol

“The Good Book says He works in mysterious ways, what did He have in mind for this?”

Downtown Canterlot
Pony Joe’s Donut Shop

I take a single step into the outside world and I am met with an eerie silence. What seemed like hundreds of big and beady eyes bore into my body, making my insides feel as hollow as a ghost. Everybody on the scene had what I could only describe as their version of guns and they were all drawn on me.

I could definitely see that they were local law enforcement, but officers with kevlar vests and SWAT gear seemed less like officers and more like MPs.

Some looked like standard pistols for self-defense, others looked incredibly awkward, held in their mouths like they were chew-toys. Some unicorns held their weapons in a colorful aura, floating in front of them ominously.

Only the eerie low howl of the wind passing through the buildings could be heard. My heart pounded inside my chest. For all I knew, snipers could be laying in wait, prepping for a kill order if we did so much as sneeze wrong, which we quite capable of considering the fact that we’re military personnel in a civilian area. Those two don't mix well in this case.

I decide it’s time to break the ice.

“…My name is Staff Sergeant James Stone! I respectfully request to talk to your superiors for negotiations!” I hold my hands in the air, signifying my willing surrender. Doesn’t look like they’re buying it.

“Staff Sergeant Stone! You will lie on the ground, face down with your hands behind you! I will let you speak with her shortly!” A quadruped that seems to be the commander steps forward slowly out of the mass of bodies before it. His voice indicates he’s got a dick, at least.

I do as the commander says and lie on the ground, face down with my hands behind my back. A minute passes, then three, then five, then seven. The commander finally steps through the mass of police barriers in front of him and stops near my head, giving me an ear communicator.

“You have five minutes.”

I nod in understanding as he walks back to his post.

“Hello, is this Staff Sergeant Stone?” The voice on the other end of the line sounds feminine. Hey, at least they believe in sexual equality, good on these guys for that.

“Yes, to who am I speaking?”

“Twilight Sparkle, head of the Ministry of Arcane Science. A pleasure to meet your acquaintance!” She seems awfully jovial and cheery to me. It’s like she just found the next best thing since sliced bread. I want to lash out at her, but I can’t say anything that might make us seem like a threat. I don’t have time for that.

“Okay ma’am, I need you to listen to me. To start us off, where are we?” Nice one, James. You’re a real lady killer.

“You are in Canterlot, the capital city of Equestria. You don’t need to be so formal. ‘Twilight’, is just fine.” The voice on the other end seems rather chipper to me. With my luck, it’s either a despotic warlord with a death wish or some high-and-mighty general quoting a rulebook that I only go by when it fits mission parameters.

“Now for my own question; What species are you?” Canterlot, really? Sounds like something out of an old fantasy book, or a World of Warcraft map. That brings up more questions than assholes with opinions.

“It’s quite an interesting story, but I don’t think we have time for it.” I’m getting distracted, shit! Pull yourself together! You’re a MARINE for chrissake!

“(squee!)I can’t wait to hear all about it!” What. The fuck. Was that?

Did someone just happen to step on a toy on the other end, or was that squeaking noise from her? The MREs. It’s gotta be the MREs. There is no way that just happened. This whole place is making me crazy, who knows what’ll happen if we stay here any longer! Something’s off about this place. Floating guns, fucking squeezing, I must be going postal, I’m losing my mind!

“Ma’am- I’m sorry, Twilight?” Oh thanks a lot, me. My voice is cracking on top of all this.

“Yes?”

“I have a lot more questions for you, but I don’t think I can ask them here. I want to speak with you and whoever else is in charge, in person.”

The commander speaks and everything goes silent.

“Your time is up!” Well, shit. That went by quicker than I expected

“I’ll see what I can do.” The line quickly cuts off as the Commander approaches me.

“I think it would be in your best interest to surrender and be taken into custody. For all our sakes, order your men outside and for them to stand down.”

In my good conscience, I cannot give that order. At the same time, I made a promise to these men. A promise I will keep to my dying breath, that I will get these men home safely. I swear to God.

I may be on another planet in another universe for all I know, but I will not give up my men.

“Marines, come out slowly, weapons on safety.” But sacrifices have to be made sometimes and sometimes, you just gotta do what you gotta do.

Slowly, but surely, the doors swing open and one by one, my men and woman come out safely.

Which brings me to something that’s been bugging me ever since left this mission even started. If I remember correctly, women as of yet don’t get grunt jobs in the Marines. It just doesn’t add up.

“Hey Sarge! Quick question, are we in hell?” Not the time, Fergus!

“Not the time, Fergus!” ‘Speak your mind’. Heh.

Suddenly the commander howls in a voice akin to one of my drill instructors. I’m kinda missing the death threats at this point.

“YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY CANTERLOT MILITARY POLICE! PUT DOWN YOUR WEAPONS AND PLACE YOUR HANDS ON TOP OF YOUR HEAD.”

We as Marines are not accustomed to surrendering to an enemy. Any enemy. I was told to never give this order.

But, dammit! I need to find out what the fuck is going on, because nothing since we got here makes a flicker of sense!

“Marines…”

God help me. God help us all.

“...drop your weapons on the deck and do as he says!”

Of course, my men ,woman included, don’t know how to take all of this.This situation is all new to me. Protocol at this point was out the window, basic survival instincts are just starting to come to the surface.

They simply stand in place, dumbfounded, unsure how to react. I share in their act.

I reiterate my order to snap myself and them out of our collective trance.

“Marines, place your weapons on the deck and do as he says! That is an order!”

After a few seconds of unbearable tension, they finally drop their weapons.

As I lay on the ground, multiple officers with their “guns” still trained on us come in with what look like binders and… handcuffs?

This is not how I thought this day was gonna go. First off, I get two new additions to the team that I was never briefed about. Then we get flown halfway across the damn planet to assault a town, only to find ourselves in “Canterlot, Equestria”, my Lieutenant Corporal is AWOL and the rest of us are FUBAR!

What could be fucking wo-

*smack*

“...sorry.”

New perks added!

Pony Whisperer Lvl 2: Talking with the ponies has you in a positive albeit small light. Ponies won’t shoot you on sight.

Achievement unlocked!

(The road to… hell?)
Negotiate with the ponies ensuring you and your squad’s safety for the foreseeable future.

Note:

Level up!
Fucking New Guy

Lvl 3 perks now accessible