Kestria

"They showed up near Applejack's farm. They didn't hurt anyone, but threatened to if they were harmed. They're fast, and almost faster than Rainbow. They've run from the rest of their species, and I speculate they'd be happy to join us." Twilight reported.

"Uh... I'm not quite sure about that last part." 4728 said.

"Yeah. Can we have time to think about that?" Sky said.

"Why, of course! We'd hate to force anyone, especially aliens, into our society." Luna said.

"We would like to see your combat capabilities in the Everfree Forest, too." Celestia explained.

"We're hoping to get our ship out of there, so that's a win-win." 4728 said. Celestia smiled.

"Excellent, we'll leave tomorrow then." Celestia said.

"So you're an Alicorn... You all possess the ability to teleport?" Sky asked.

"We have many unique qualities, but the biggest is the ability to raise the sun and moon." Celestia explained

"You're joking. There's no way." 4728 said.

"Remind me to show you sometime." Luna said.

"This is real. This is all really happening." 4728 said to himself.

"Indeed, Spartan." Celestia said. "If you wish for a moment to take this all in, we would be happy to allow you that."

"N-no, I think I'm fine. How about you, Sky?" 4728 stuttered as he thought over what was happening.

"Yeah, it's a bit hard to take in. Horses-" Sky was interrupted by Twilight.

"Ponies." Twilight said.

"Ponies that control magic." Sky finished.

"I'd like to know more about what you did, 4728." Celestia asked.

"Ah, a war story you desire." 4728 said. "It was at Reach, the worst defeat of the war. I was a part of several large covert operations. We were attempting to bring a Mass Driver cannon to a strategic defense point. It's basically a big gun."

***

"Spartan Foxtrot Company Frostfall, is everyone ready?"

"Yes sir. Frostfall Bravo is ready." One of the two remaining Spartan Foxtrot squad leaders said.

"Frostfall Charlie is ready as well." The second spoke up.

"Frostfall Alpha, form up on the gun. Bravo, Charlie, stand by in case we need reinforcements." 4728 said. Everyone was depressed. Fireteam Jammer was the only team at full strength, most of the other Spartans had been lost in their previous two operations elsewhere. "If we do this right, we won't need it." He said confidently. 4728 sat in the Mass Driver, as another Spartan Foxtrot, James, prepared to drive the truck pulling it on the large flatbed.

Twin Warthogs flanked them as they began driving. Behind them, at the NAPD(New Alexandria Police Department) motorpool contained the rest of Frostfall company, which was 12 Spartans, prepared to assist with a Scorpion and three Warthogs, which wasn't much. That was why 4728 didn't want a big convoy, it would attract unwanted attention.

"We need to get to the city fast, Covenant ships moving in from the East." One of his other Spartans said.

"Word from Command, Noble team pushed back the Covenant for the moment." Andy, the only Spartan in the company with Gungnir armor informed.

"That should make this easy. Get the Mass Driver moved, and face little Covenant resistance. This is great." Robert, the team's Sniper commented.

"You didn't say where the Covenant were moving to, did you?" Max, the team's medic asked, observing the Covenant ship moving toward their location.

"Put it out of it's misery!" Robert shouted.

"Shields are up. Can't." 4728 said.

"Covenant, up ahead." Max said. He sped his Warthog forward, putting the jeep in front of the small convoy.

"Take em' down!" Michael, the team's Heavy said, firing the Warthog turret, mowing down the Covenant Grunts.

"Hey, Joe, we have a Wraith up ahead. You want to do the honors?" Robert asked. He was on the flatbed calling out targets.

"I don't want to take out the bridge. I'll call for the calvalry."

"Frostfall company, Covenant have a Wraith on us. Bring the Gausshog."

"Acknowledged. Sending reinforcements." Frostfall Bravo leader said.

"Max, Faith, circle the Wraith and tear it down." 4728 ordered. Faith was their greatest close quarters fighter, but an excellent driver as well.

"Gladly." They said, and the Warthog behind them sped forward. They circled the Wraith, and the vehicle wasn't nearly fast enough to escape the good half a million bullets pumped into it's armor. Robert kept watch, killing any Covenant soldiers that would dare attack his fellow Spartans.

"Warthog with Gauss cannon augment as requested." The Spartans from Frostfall Bravo said, driving to assist.

"Welcome to the fight." 4728 said.

"Several Covenant Specters heading up at us. Banshee patrol heading over." Robert said. About 5 Specters headed up the highway, carrying two Brute passengers each. That just opened up more opportunities for Robert to further his kill count.

"Machine gun hogs, target the Banshees. I want our Gauss focused on the Specters." 4728 ordered. The Warthogs moved accordingly, the Covenant aircraft meeting a swift end. The bridge made a loud groan.

"Something big is on the other side, Frostfall Leader." Robert observed.

"We'll find out what soon. I'll keep the gun warm." 4728 said, squinting his already enhanced eyes to try finding their enemy. Then, he sighted it. Massive, purple, and large legs. No doubt in his mind. "Scarab, other side of the bridge. Frostfall company, move to us. Can't this thing go any faster?" 4728 asked himself. He angled the gun at the Scarab, charged, and fired. Took the anti air gun clean off, but the rest of the vehicle was unscathed.

"Damn, how do you stop that thing?!" Max shouted. The Mass Driver round, by chance, took out one of the bridge supports. It caused the large bridge to shudder, not meant to hold a Scarab tank.

"This thing is gonna fall..." Andy said. 4728 wondered for a moment, and glanced back to the other side of the bridge that they were in the middle of. It went over a vast chasm, and that frightened him. Not the deadly hot plasma that could turn him into a crisp at a moment's notice, the height gave him more unease.

"Dammit. Get us the hell out of here!" 4728's order was in vain as both Scarab's brought the bridge down. The bridge broke magnificently, plunging Covenant and Spartans alike into a dark abyss.

***

"Then what happened?" Rainbow Dash asked. The others were listening closely. Sky included, having known little of 4728's past.

"Well, I don't remember it clearly, but here's what I believe happened." 4728 said. He continued on with his tale.

***

The green and blue Spartan looked up. The chasm wasn't as deep as he thought, but it was still deep.

"Frostfall, anyone out there?" 4728 looked about. The Mass Driver was a lost cause. Purple blue flames licked the Covenant Scarabs, and the hellish black smoke emanated from human vehicles. Crackles of gunfire could be heard all around him. They were short, then stopped suddenly, met with a roar or a thud.

"Robert, Max, James, Faith, and you. We need to find just Michael then." Andy said.

"Thank god." 4728 sighed. His relief was cut short as a hammer collided against a part of the now heap of scrap that was the Mass Driver cannon. It was at this moment that 4728 realized his weapons consisted now of only his Magnum.

The unmistakable roar of frustration sounded from a rather angry Brute. It was no Chieftain, yet it wielded a Gravity Hammer. 4728 made haste in dodging the second attack, firing his pistol at the Brute.

"Anyone left in Frostfall, get us an evac immediately. This Mass Driver ain't going anywhere." 4728 said. The third attack was going to kill him, no doubt, but as the hammer came down, it missed him as he heard a new roar, a machine gun.

"I'm still here, comms busted." Michael said.

"Took you long enough."

"Popping smoke on our LZ. Get there." Andy said. From the heap of scrap they stood on, they saw red smoke emerge from farther down the heap. The two Spartans began their journey to the beacon of hope that they could leave.

The Covenant would still fight tooth and nail to stop that. Falling into a gorge, suffering heavy losses, they still fought like they had been dealt none of that.

They reached the smoke. Spartans were scattered about, some in need of medical treatment immediately. Almost as soon as they arrived, several Brutes jumped over various pieces of debris. They opened fire, killing two Spartans who were helpless, injured and missing limbs. Max had been at work in patching them up as best as he could, but dived away. The Spartans had been given enough time to raise their weapons and kill the Brutes with no mercy. The aliens howled and screamed, but there is no rest for the likes of the wicked.

The Covenant Brutes were the closest related species to the humans, but larger and more ape like. Their name shouldn't fool anyone, they truly are known for their savagery. Even to go as far as consuming their enemies. While most other Covenant species did this, the Brutes would torment and enjoy the agony of others.

"That was Charlie Leader." Max said, standing above the newly dead body.

"Let's get out of here." 4728 said, seeing the Pelican come into view. Max looked to the Pelican and back to the rubble. He did this several times.

"Why can't they just stop?" He asked. 4728 watched the crestfallen Spartan salute. Faith patted his shoulder.

"I wish I knew." 4728 said to himself.

A Pelican came down from the sky. As their ticket off the battlefield descended. It seemed as if it came straight from heaven, door opening like the brightest light in the deepest darkness. The battlefield comforts no one.

***

"Turns out that the only people that made it out was my team and Frostfall Bravo." 4728 said, concluding the story.

"So, you were a type of Commander?" Celestia asked.

"A pretty bad one, yes." 4728 confirmed what she said, with a bit of shame.

"You were more concerned for Jammer Team than the rest of Frostfall company. Why?" Luna asked.

"That's an interesting assumption." 4728 said. "I'll answer that IF I join you. Stay out of my mind." 4728 whispered the last bit to the alicorn.

"You seem quite capable to handle yourself in battle." Celestia commented.

"Thanks, I aim to please." 4728 said.

"You talk to please..." Sky groaned. Luna fought the temptation to see into her mind as well.