What else is up There?

Foreword: Warning! Another really weak plot-point ahead!

Chapter Twelve

Regrouping

March 24th, 2553
Equestrian star system
Sangheili CCS-class battlecruiser Everlasting Faith
Shipmaster Rala 'Toram of the Everlasting Faith; Fleetmaster of the Second fleet of Unified Clarity

"So, we're all here. Excellent" Rala declared as he watched Captain James Mitchell and several other humans walk into the conference room with the leader of Equestria, Princess Celestia.

"I'm so very happy you're alright, Twilight" the Princess said to the lavender Unicorn standing next to her. "I was so very worried when I saw that Ponyville had been destroyed."

"Thank you for your concern, Princess, but I'm OK. I wasn't able to save everypony, however" Twilight replied.

"Don't worry, my student, it'll be alright" Celestia said.

Rala cleared his throat ostentatiously to get the two ponies to be quiet while he prepared to recount to all in the room the basics of what had happened.

"Let us begin. It seems the remainders of the Covenant, including the Jiralhanae, somehow found Equestria and have immediately started glassing your planet. However, they have stopped for the time being. Our Luminescence has detected many Forerunner artifacts on your planet and it would be wise to assume the Jiralhanae have discovered them as well" Rala began.

"However, upon further inspection I have discovered that the Luminescence believes that the Forerunner artifacts are actually ponies themselves" the Fleetmaster revealed, earning several murmurs from the group.

"Princess Celestia of Equestria, would you be so kind as to approach me?" Fleetmaster 'Toram requested.

The Princess did as the Fleetmaster said and approached him with just the slightest hint of caution.

When she was before the Fleetmaster she stopped and Rala inspected her crown and chest piece carefully before nodding his head in satisfaction.

"Yes, your decorative pieces bear Forerunner glyphs on them. I believe your species was discovered and enhanced by the Forerunners centuries ago which is why the Luminescence mistakes you for artifacts" Rala explained.

"So, our connection with these Forerunners has saved us?" Twilight Sparkle inquired.

"Yes, and no. While you are indeed connected with the Forerunners the Jiralhanae will never believe that to be truth. In the end they will annihilate your species regardless" Rala continued.

"Now, the Jiralhanae control almost all of Equestria and have attacked on all fronts and in all major cities and continents. Cities under the control of the Jiralhanae include Canterlot, Manehattan, Fillydelphia, Trottingham, Cloudsdale, Appleloosa, Las Pegasus, Hoofington, Baltimare, and many others on continents home to other species such as Barklin in the Canine Continent and the capital city of the Griffon Empire; Gryphondale" the Fleetmaster declared.

"They also tried to take control of Dragon territory but were met with fierce resistance. As a result they glassed almost the entire Dragon home continent" Rala stated.

"The Dragons are now almost completely extinct."

More murmurs aroused in the room at this revelation, forcing Fleetmaster Rala 'Toram to quiet them down so he could continue.

"Now, knowing full well that we can't defeat them conventionally Captain James Mitchell and I have devised a plan to bring the fight to the Jiralhanae. Captain, if you would?" Rala said, offering the human Captain the spotlight so he could lay out his plan.

"Thank you, Rala. Now, as the Fleetmaster said we've devised a plan to battle the Brutes. I have deemed it Operation: Reclaim, and devised it into three phases" the Captain began.

"Phase one: under cover of darkness three Marine Combat Teams will infiltrate the city of Manehattan and establish a foothold in the city, laying the groundwork for phase two" James said.

"Phase two will be a full-fledged assault of Manehattan with all ground and air assets from the Sangheili, the Equestrian military, and those under my command."

"Phase three will be the final push into the heart of Manehattan where we will finish off the last of the Covenant resistance and emerge victorious over their forces. Operation: Reclaim will pave the way to retaking all of Equestria from the Brutes" Captain Mitchell finished.

"Questions?" he asked.

"I have more of a concern; Equestria has no official military, just the Royal Guard" Celestia stated.

"No matter, any and all help we can get will be appreciated. I suggest you extend requests to the other major species of Equestria to help us in the war against the Covenant. Canines, Griffons, Dragons, it doesn't matter; get them all" the Captain declared.

"Any other questions?" Rala inquired, joining Captain Mitchell on the stand.

"The Covenant have an enourmous creation that destroyed Ponyville in a single blast, how are we gonna to destroy that?" Twilight Sparkle asked.

"It's a space station; don't worry, it will be handled" Rala answered.

"You know the plan, people. Let's begin our preparations" Captain Mitchell declared, motioning for the attendees to leave while he conversed with Rala and Princess Celestia.

"We will have to move quickly, the Jiralhanae are relentless. If they are all not destroyed it will spell the end for Equestria" Rala declared.

"I concur. Now, Princess, does Equestria have any close allies?" Captain Mitchell asked, turning to Celestia.

"We are quite close with the Griffons, we could start by recruiting them for the war" the Princess answered.

"OK. Rala, I will return to my ship. When I give the order we'll move out" Mitchell stated, earning a nod from the Sangheili Fleetmaster.

Mitchell turned and left the conference room, leaving Rala 'Toram alone with Princess Celestia.

She immediately turned on him and looked at him with fury. "Why did you not report to me as the Captain ordered? And why did you assault one of my subjects?" Celestia demanded.

"Your subjects are stubborn, narrow-minded, and are prejudiced against my species; they are not the kind and benevolent creatures the human said they were supposed to be" Rala explained.

"That doesn't excuse your actions; I wanted to give your kind a second chance, one at redemption. Your friend Shipmaster 'Saramee lead a horrendous campaign of genocide against us twenty years ago and I offered you a chance at redemption for your whole species, a chance you so callously stomped upon" Celestia exclaimed.

Fleetmaster 'Toram folded his arms over his chest and stared the Princess right in the eye, which, despite her status and resolve as a ruler of a county, unnerved her.

"We did the same thing to the humans for the duration of those twenty years between then and now, and we are great allies. What you suffered for one week was insignificant compared to that of what I did to the humans in my career. I've murdered billions, Princess; males, females, the children, pets, wildlife, all of it! Erased by the Covenant Empire in our so-called "Quest for ascension". Be grateful that the Forerunners granted you enough so that you would survive. Do you want to know a little truth, Princess? I don't care about you, your ponies, or any other sentient life native to this planet. I despise you and your species. I have never met a more sickening people, and keep in mind that I have met the human race. They are a valiant and intelligent race but they are still scum, something I pray you never learn first-hand. The only reason I'm here supporting you is because I was ordered to do so by the Sangheili military. Under any other circumstance I would've left your planet to die at the hands of the Jiralhanae" Rala explained.

"The pony I assaulted deserved everything he got and more. If I would not completely dishonor myself by doing so then I would've killed him with my bare hands. Make no mistake, Princess Celestia, I would gladly kill any or all of your ponies if I could. But my duty demands that I instead protect you, so that is what I am doing" the Fleetmaster said.

"You're a monster, Fleetmaster. If I would not completely doom my entire planet by doing so then I would banish you from this entire star system forever" Celestia declared.

"If it makes you feel better then know very well that in attacking that stallion I also lost a bit of my honor, as my duty is to protect them from harm. You may take solace in the fact that I aim to reclaim that honor by throwing myself in harm's way" Rala finished.

Princess Celestia shook her head and trotted away. "I may not be able to punish you myself, but you will receive the justice you deserve after this has all ended" she stated.

"We will see, Princess" Rala 'Toram responded, sitting in his hover-throne to contemplate over the day's events.

*-*-*

Legal note: Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia, and all related characters belong to Hasbro. Captain James Mitchell, Fleetmaster Rala 'Toram, and all related characters belong to me. My Little Pony belongs to Hasbro. Halo belongs to 343 Industries(possibly unfortunate.)

Review this chapter or Michael Blackburn will troll you in Battlefield 3 with his MK3A1. Oh who am I kidding? He'll do that anyway.