It was jest a another beautiful morning in Ponyville; Clear skies, singing birds, and the small of fresh-backed goods form Suger-cube Corner.

"So you two are going to Manehattan?" Twilight asked between bites of a cinnamon roll.

"YA, when I told Rarity I was going, she said she need to go there to! Ain't that a coinky dink?" Pinkie said, bouncing in her seat.

Rarity, finishing a sip from her tea continued "Why yes, with the Canterlot boutiques success, I think its time to expand to Manehattan."

Starlight, looking up from her news paper was next to respond "That sounds great Rarity."

Before anypony else could respond, Spike belched a letter onto the table. Grabbing it, he inspects the seal "Its from Celeste" he said.

Taking the letter in her magic, Twilight unrolls and reads it aloud "Dear Twilight, a interesting matter has ben brought to my attention; I humbly request your, and your friends presence in Canterlot as soon as possible. Yours truly Celestia."

"Well, here we go agin" Rainbow said standing up.

"What do you think it could be" Fluttershy asked, looking to the others for a answer.

"Who cares" Rainbow said "Its probability some new threat we have to stomp."

"MABEY ITS ALIENS!" Pinkie shouted.

"We won't now until we ge-" Before Twilight could finish,Pinkie Pie suddenly inhaled.

"I JEST REALIZED I'LL HAVE TO MISS THE P.S.S.S.D."

"The... what dear?" Rarity said confused.

"The Pie Sisters Surprise Swop Date! I do it one a year with each of my sisters; I was supposed to meet up with Maud in Manehattan, but now we have to reschedule! I'll meet you girls at the train staten, I need to wright a letter to her." With that Pinkie bolted from the room.

"Well, I guess we should all get ready then" Twilight said making her way to the exit "Common Spike, Starlight, we have to pack."

"Wait, you want to bring me on a mission from the Princess?" Starlight said as she, Twilight, and Spike walked though town to the Castile.

"Of course, Your my student after all" Twilight said as they walked.

She rolled her eyes at Starlights nervousness. Just last week she helped save the Crystal Empire for Celestia's sake. But then again, this would be a first for her. 'Best she stay close to me for this one' Twilight thought. After all, Celestia docent send them out for just anything.

One train ride later and the group found them selfs in Canterlot, the hall outside the thrown room to be more precise. After their arrival to the castle, they were told to wait. This naturally had Twilight wired. "Why do we have to wait, she dosent normally make us wait." She said wile paced in front of the large doors before suddenly stoping. "What if she's going to strip me of my title and banish me!"

"Land sacks girl get a'hold of ya'self" Applejack said trying to calm her down. "I'm sure she just has to finish up some'thin. Besides, its only be three minuets."

Twilight just starred at her for a moment before closing her eyes and letting out a sigh. "Your right, guess I'm just jumpy."

"You don't look jumpy." Pinkie said, suddenly in Twilight's face. "You look more standy-stilly to me." Twilight just smiled and rolled her eyes.

At that moment the door cracked open enough for a guard the poke his head out. "Her majesty's ready for you now" He said. At that all eight of them entered and approached the thrown. The first thing Twilight noticed was that Celestia wasn't alone (disregarding the arbitrary guards), Luna was standing at her right side and Captain Brave Shield on the left. She also sea Knight Captain Blue Moon, head of the Night guard standing behind Luna almost out of site. She didn't now much about Blue Moon, he just seemed to appear out of nowhere some time after Luna's return.

"Twilight, I'm so glad you and your friends could come on such short notice." Celestia greeted with a smile. "Thou I wish it were on a better occasion, Captain Shield, would you please start us off?"

"Of course Princess." He said with a slight bow before addressing the others. "About three weeks ago strange creatures started appearing at Half-hoof field and started building what appears to be a town. The first report was from a pegasus named Feather Wind, who stated that he saw hundreds of them. The town of Soft Pelt two miles south of the field also reported that they are visited from time to time, that they come to the edge of town and wait, their not sure why. These reports also give a description of the creatures, that appear to be bipedal in nature like minotaurs but not as big, they seem to be clade in some sort of camouflaged barding that helps to hide them, and lastly their faces are either covered or they lack them."

"NO FACES!? HOW CAN THE ETA CAKE IF THEY DONT HAVE FACES!?" Pinkie Pie shouted in 'pure terror'.

"Pinkie!" Twilight scolded before retuning her gaze back to the Captain. "Is there anything else you can tell us? What they want where they came from?"

"I'm afraid not Twilight." Celestia said, a small frown and a worried look to her eyes. "I believe these visits to Soft Pelt, is these creatures attempting to make contact, but you should now how ponies can be." Twilight nodded "So I want you and your friends to meet them, learn where they come from and why their here, and their intentions."

On the inside Twilight was ecstatic, a new spices that even Princess Celestia didn't now about. She could literally wright the book on them. 'Oh, what we might learn from them' she thought. "You can count on us Princess." She said with a bow.

"Wonderful," Celestia said, smiling. "go the the archives and gather any materials you think you mite need"

"When your done there, head to the train station. There you'll find a train that will tack you half way along the Los pegasus line before switching off on a spur that leads to Soft Pelt. If your fast, you should arrive by noon tomorrow." Brave Shield said.

A few hours later, Twilight and her friends had departed and Brave Shield and Blue Moon had returned to their duets, leaving Celestia and Luna alone in the thrown room. "Tia, I don't see why you would bother Twilight with this mater? I could have seen to it myself." Luna said with a questioning look.

"I think that one that holds the title of 'Princess of Friendship', would be the natural choice for first contact." Celestia said "Besides, my former student and her friends have proven that they can handle them selfs in sticky situations in the past. Now theres still a few hours till sunset, why not get some rest before the change off?"

"You are right sister." Luna said making her way towards a side door. "I shall see you at sunset then." 'Hopefully I will have a chance to do something other then raise the moon and listen to nobles biker in the near future' she thought, making for her room.

With the sun kissing the western horizon, Twilight found herself in a privet sleeper car with her friends. "Apparently, Half hoof field is named after a general that defeated a hard of bandits at the same field six hundred years ago, and Soft Pelt was a field hospital for the soldiers." Twilight said excitedly as looked through the books she got from the archives.

"Ya ya egg head" Rainbow said lazing on her bead before turning right side up. "So what do you think their like? Think they can fly, or dig like those Diamond Dogs?"

"Oh I hope not. I'm sure their nothing like those ruffians." Rarity said, turning her nose up.

"I'm sure we'll find out when we get there." Applejack said taking the last bite of her apple and tossing the core.

"I just hope their nice." Fluttershy whispered.

" What do you think their even doing here in the first place?" Starlight asked Twilight.

Before she could respond, Spike cut in."Well, what ever their hear for, if they don't want to play nice, we'll jest have to kick em out!" Rainbow chose to respond with a 'ya'.

"I don't now Starlight. Maybe explorers? I just don't have snuff information yet." Twilight said, thinking of possibilities. While she was left to her thoughts, Pinkie decided to go for a little walk.

Their car was near the front of the train, with the others mostly being containers. Apparently, the town was pretty out of the way so trains didn't go there often. As she walked, she noticed that most of the other passengers were already turning in for the night so she had to be quiet.

Eventually she came to the end of the passenger section of the train. on a whim she poked her head put a window, looking west to see the oncoming scenery. In the distance, she could see Mt Easel partially framed by the setting sun. As she was puling her head in, a glint caught her eye. It only lasted half a second but it was there. It was odd; How could she see the glint of something if it came from the same direction of the sun? She suddenly gasped, then in a whisper said "The aliens."

With this now revelation, she started back the the sleeper car three cars up, being carful not to disturb the other passengers (that'd just be rude) to tell her friends about her discovery. When she got to her car she found them all asleep. Not wanting to wake them, she decided to nod off as well. She could just tell them in the morning.

Twilight had just stepped off the train and now she could see the town proper. In many regards it was similar to Ponyville, but smaller and more out of the way. "So whats first, Twilight?" asked Starlight.

"We should probity go talk to the mayor, see what they now." Twilight said, starting in to town with the others flowing. As they moved through the Soft Pelt, Twilight noticed that the inhabitants seemed... on egad, and jugging from the look of her friends she wasn't the only one to notice.

"This place seems off." Rainbow said "Not off like Starlights was but... tense." As they neared the town hall, they saw a crowd gathered around a green unicorn.

"What are you going to do!?"
"They come every morning, what if they acutely come into town!?"
"They could be for all we know!"

"Pleas stay calm" said the green unicorn as he looked nervously around the crowd. "I've already sent word to Canterlot; I'm sure the princesses will send help soon. So pleas, go back to your homes, and calm down." They muttered amongst themselves before dispersing this way and that. As the mayor let out a sigh, Twilight approached.

"I'm guessing your the mayor." She said as he noticed her. "I'm Princess Twilight, Princess Celestia and Luna sent me."

"Oh thank Celestia, I don't now how much longer I could handle this Princess." He said with a tired look. "Every day a group of them comes in some kind of puller-less carriage and just wait there, watching, some times calling out."

"Calling out? Do they speck our language?" Twilight said tacking out a note pad.

"Yeas, granted they haven't tried talking sines their first couple 'visits'. Now they just wait an the edge of town, watching." At that he looked north up the street. "I don't now why they keep coming, but everypony is scared."

"Well don't worry mayor..." Twilight led out, waiting for the nervous official to introduce him self.

"OH, how rude of me. Mint Leaf at your service your highness." Leaf said with a slit bow.

"Nice to meet you Mint Leaf, and don't worry, Princess Celestia piked me and my friends personally to handle the situation. So any information you can give will help a grate deal."

"Of corse, but I'm afraid I've already told you most of what I know about these..."

"ALIENS!!!" Pinkie suddenly shouted, casing the group to look at her as well as some passersby.

"Fr'petes sack Pinkie, you've been on about 'aliens' all morning, give it a brake." Applejack said with eye roll.

Pinkie then got defensive. "But I saw them last night on the mountain." With that said she thrusted a hove towards the mountain in the distance.

Mint Leaf, looking from one to the next, gave a small cough. "Well I don't know about Mt Easel, but if you want to know more about... 'them' you should ask Feather Wind, he was the first to see them."

"Right, good idea, so were can we find him?" Twilight asked, trying to move past the interruption.

He pondered for a moment be for answering. "Well, I'm pretty sure you can find him at the weather office, jest a block west of here."

"Thanks for your help." And with that they started down the road. After a sort walk they found the weather office, it was little more then a one story, wood building painted a bright green. Opining the door, they found it sparsely furnished, a old couch against the left wall, a old and fated recruitment poster for the Equestrian weather survive. At the far side was a desk, and behind it a map of the area, Half Hoof field was circled as well as some small parts of the forest separating the town from the field. And lastly, standing behind the desk with his back to them was a brown pegasus with a light grey main. "Um, excuse me are you Feather Wind?"

He gave a start, obviously not noticing them enter. "Oh, yes. Can I help you with something."

"Yes there is. I'm twilight, I was sent here to investigate the new creatures. I was told you were the first to see them?" She asked.

"Yes, I was." He said "I'm glad somepony finely came. I first saw them a few weeks ago while clearing the skies by the field. It was weird, first there were only a few, then hundreds appeared out of nowhere, along with some strange machines and containers. Wen the one that I assumed was the leader almost saw me but I hid. After a few minuets I flew back and told everpony what I saw, but no one believed me."

Twilight was tacking notes, every detail she could pick out. "Ok, what happened next?"

"Well after the first day, I went back in secrete, sticking to the tree line. By the time I got there, they had already laid foundations and starred putting up frame work for buildings. Then the next morning... they came."

"That was the first visit; What happened there?"

"At first all we heard was a weird roar in the distance, then two of their weird carriages appeared and stop at the edge of town. For the first few minuets they just star there, the the doors opened and they came out. Now keep in mind, I didn't get a up close look before, but from were I was peeking around a wall, I got a good look at them.

"They stand on to legs, and have arms like minotaurs. They were so sort of close that helps them blend in to the environment, with similar looking pouches attached but with darker colors. their heads are covered in helmets with earmuffs attached, and on their faces where orange goggles and tan cloth mask."

"Interesting." Twilight said looking up from her note pad. "Is there anything else you can tell us?"

"Ya. They tried calling out, the we where all to scared to answer, they waited about ten- fifteen minuets before leaving. After that they kept coming back each morning, they stopped calling out after the first few times, now they just wait at the tree line."

"And they came here this morning?" She asked. "Do you know were they are now?"

"possibly." He said, looking to the map behind him. "They normally head north east after their visits," He pointed a hoof to a circled spot. "they normally campout for the night around this area here."

"Thank you, thats all we needed." And with that the group left the office and started walking with Twilight in the lead. After a short distances Rarity came up to her.

"Twilight, darling, what exactly is our next move?" She asked for the group.

"Simpel; We go find the ones that were here this morning." She answered, adjusting the straps of her saddle bag.

The made them stop. "Now? But we only just got here, I haven't even had a chance to wash after that long trip." Rarity said, looking at her self as if she was covered in dirt.

"Shouldn't we wait for them to come in the morning?" Spike said.

"No, I think it would be best if we meet them in a environment that isn't afraid of them." Twilight said continuing on. "Now come on; I want to meet them before sundown." The others shred a look then flowed. As they got to the edge of town Twilight noticed something on the ground. Tracks. But not like any tracks she had seen before. Where normal carriage tracks were simple groves, these were much wider and had a wired texture to it. Following the track with her eyes, it came from almost do north before turning north east. 'This must be from their carriage' she thought. Deciding that this was their best chance of finding them, she started following it, the others falling in behind her. "Time to meet these new creatures." She said to here self.

They had bin walking for a few hours now with the only trace of their quarry being the weird wheel tracks. Rainbow flew a few hooves off the ground, a bored expression plastered on the face. As far as she could yell, they were moving in a zig-zag pattern through the forest, flowing a old road from back when the town had a brief run as a logging camp. How did she know this? A few hours ago Twilight had gone off on a history of the area, and it was so boring. Looking through the thin canopy of leafs she saw the the sun was starting to set. "Maybe we should make camp before it gets dark." She said to the group.

Twilight looked back at her. "Jest a little further." And with that she continued on. In truth, she was starting to think it was a good idea to stop for the night, but she was determined make contacted as soon as possible. As she continued along she caught sight of some thing through the tree line, if the road they had already traveled was a good indication it should be around the next bent. It was a small light, but as soon as it a peered ti diapered, and she wasn't the only one to see it.

"Twilight, did you see that?" Fluttershy asked.

"Yes, and if my guess is right, we may have found our 'mysterious creatures'." She said starting in to the woods as to hid her approach.

As she made her way through the under brush, Applejack creeped to her side. "Ah sugar cube, why are we not sticken to the road?"

"I want to observe them first, find the best way to approach them." She whispered back and kept slowly moving till she could see past the plant life. Her friends following suit. And then she saw them.

At first all she notice was what could only be the 'strange carriages'. There were two of them, both make from some kind of metal panted a dark olive green, but had some key differences. From her position from the other side of the road she noted that one had a squared back section mad of canvas, while the other one had a sloping back mad of metal and a odd structure atop it with what appeared to be a partly jacketed pipe sticking out the front. Then she noticed the 'creatures', walking and standing around the contraptions; Like the reports said, they walked on two legs like miniatures, but unlike miniatures their legs had only on joint, standing a inch or two taller the Princess Luna. Also like in the reports they where wearing camouflaged clothing with pouches attached, in some spots on the ones standing still it almost looked like part of the background. In total she counted six of them, one had what appeared to be a flashlight in its hand and a odd contraption slung on its back that she noticed that the others ether had also slung or in their hands.

The things were probably as long as their arms with what appeared to be two handles pointed in opposite directions, one was slim with a small loop were it connected with a small sliver in side while the other was thick with ridges on it. After that she saw that while most had their entire heads covered, one didn't. It had a face much like an app's but with a more pointed nose and pail skin, almost a pail as Celestia's coat; Its heir was a pail blond, short, and mostly on the top and on the eyebrows. Its eyes where a gold color, with a sharp look to them.

The she herd it talk. "Alright, lets set up camp for the night." The others responded with a 'yes sir' and started puling bags from the vehicles. Twilight found it strange that they all had the same voice, and that their ascent had a slight Trottinghamer twist to it.

Thinking that this was the best time the say hallo, Twilight exited the trees and trotted on the the road. It didn't tack long for them to notice, one yelled "contact" and in seconds all six had their strange devices pointed at her. Before she could say anything, the one with it face reviled did. "State you name and why your here!" It ordered.

At the Twilight realizes that the devices in their hand where weapons. Wanting to avoid escalating things further she introduced herself. "I'm Princess Twilight Sparkle, and these are my friends." she said, promoting the others to emerge and introduce them selfs.

"I'm Starlight Glimmer"
"Spike"
"Rainbow dash"
"F-Fluttershy"
"I am Rarity"
"I'm Applejack"
"And I'm Pinkie Pie, TACK US TO YOUR LEADER!"

"Your a roal envoy?" The one Twilight decided was the leader asked, slightly lowering its weapon, the others of its group sharing a look.

Twilight thought about that for a second before responding. "Y-yes, we are. And like my excitable friend said, we would like to speak with whoever is in charge."

He was lost in thought for a brief moment be for speaking. "Alright, stand down people, I'll call this in." Twilight didn't know what it meant by that part, but they stopped pointing their weapons at us. As he walked back to the Vehicles her friends huddled up with her.

"Whats he mean by 'call this in'?" Applejack asked, stealing glances at the others.

"I don't know. Maybe the have some way of communicating over long distances." Twilight said.

"Like my breath?" Spike added.

"Possibly, I'm more curious about who their talking to." Twilight said, adopting a expression of thought.

"Well whoever it is, I hope they have a better fashion sense then this lot." Rarity said, looking over at the other side of the road. "Just no taste what so ever."

"I don't thick their wired about fashion Rarity." Fluttershy said in her usual hushed tone. "If I had to guess, they wear it to hid, right Rainbow... Rainbow?"

The blue pegasus was staring at the new beings, a determined look on her. "I could take them." She declared.

That got everypony staring at her. "Now what makes ya thick that girl?" Said Applejack with a slightly annoyed tone.

"They don't look that tough." Was her only response.

Sighting, Twilight said "Rainbow, we're suppose to lear you their here and hopefully make a new ally. Not fight them unless we have to. Besides, we don't know what their weapons can do."

Before Dash could respond they were interrupted. "Alright, the Commander has agreed to meet with you but that we should waits till morning, is this agreeable to you."

Twilight jest blinked. Were they really talking in real time? "Ah er yes... we agree."

"All right then, we're setting up camp here for the night, make your selfs comfortable." And with that he walked off and opened the back of the vehicle with the weird top.

At first Twilight was a little surprised by how this all had happened; She had been expediting... well not this, but something. As it was now, they had made contact, and had a meeting with their leader tomorrow, mite as well relax a little.

As she and her friends started to make their camp, she saw that one of the new beings had started removing its helmet. Twilight, slightly intrigued, continued to watch as it pot its helmet aside and started on its head phones, with only the cloth cover and orange goggles left, it grabbed them both and pulled them off, revealing... the same face as the other one. Her staring didn't go unnoticed. "Something wrong?"

As she was about to answer, she saw that the others were removing their head gear as well. All had the same pail skin, blond hear and golden eyes. Shocked by this she asked. "Are, are brothers or something?"

Sharing a look between them selfs, the leader responded. "In many ways, yes. "

Now this dealt peaked her interest. "Would it be alright if I ask you some questions?" She said, retrieving her note pad.

Their leader sat down on a rolled up bed roll, resting his weapon on his side with the flat end on the ground and the thiner pointed up. " Ya, you can, if you answer mine?"

"Perfectly reasonable; Ok, I guess the best place to start with would be your name." She said, eagerly awaiting his answer.

"Patrol 2 actual."

She paused at that, dumbfounded by the response. "I uh, didn't mean your title, I meant your name, what others call you."

"Sgt Bravo-150."

Now she was starting to get a little annoyed. "Thats what others call you? You don't have a name like mine?"

"No, some of us tack names, but most of us jest use our call signs, like me"

She started writing. "So none of you here have names?"

"Well Thorn dos." He said, nodding to one pushing a small rod down the tub of his weapon.

Blinking, then writing, Twilight was in the process of forming her next question when the sergeant spoke.

"Okay, now my question. You said you were a princess, so your parents are the current heads of state?"

She blinked. "Uh no, my parents arrant royalty, I became a princess by becoming a alicorn. As to the ''heads of state', that would be Princess Celestia and Princess Luna."

"Interesting" he said. behind him, she noticed another of his group was leaning against the cloth back vehicle, also writing in a note pad.

Feeling that it was her tern to ask she continued. "I noticed you have a way of communicating over long distances, how did you do that?"

He cocked an eyebrow. "You mean the radio?"

"Rad-what now?" Applejack asked, Twilight starting slightly not noticing her approach. Then a realization struck her.

"Wait, I think I've heard about radio before. Some group in Las Pegasus has ben publishing papers on it for the last two years." She started scribbling in her notes. "So you've discovered how it works?"

"Yes, if you want specifics you'd have to ask our technicians. Now, we've been wondering about your currency, or do you use a triad system?"

"Oh thats an easy one, we have bits." That said she opened her bag with her horn (the new creatures eyeing it) and floated a bit to the sergeant.

Tacking it in his hand, he examined. "How many of these are worth, say, a pound of gold?"

"A pund?" She had to think on that one. "About five hundred sounds about right. Okay next question ho-"

"What do you do for fun?!" Pinkie interrupted, cutting off Twilight.

They shared a look between them selfs. "Well, some of the lads were setting up a soccer league when we left the other day." the sergeant said
"And the guys in the motor pool have a boxing ring." Another one said.

Twilight wrote that down as well. "Right back to my question, ho-"

"What are those things y'all are holding? Can't say I've a'thing like em." Applejack interrupted this time.

The sergeant pated the thing, and when he did Twilight noticed that his had some kind of short pip attached to it in front of the curving partition part. "You've never seen a rifle before?" He said, getting blank stares in return. "All right then, this is the AK-47, one of the fines firearms ever made. It fires 7.62mm cartridges at a rate of six hundred a minute at a velocity of 715 meters a second, with an effective accuracy of 350m."

They stared, dumbfounded that such a weapon could exist. A second later Spike asked. "And that pip thing attached to it?"

Hefting the weapon so they could see better. "This is a GP-25, it lobs 40mm causeless grandees."

There was a word Twilight recognized, if barely. She had read it in a book from zebrica, some kind of alchemical thrown weapon. Blinking, her mind snapped into focus, she had to regain control of the conversation. Looking over the sergeant for some thing to latch on to, she noticed some thing on his right they thigh, some kind of pouch with a black handle on top she vaguely recognized. On the left was another pouch with a red cross on it. Then she noticed something she had mist before; On the left sleeves of all their jackets was a patch, it was a black circle with gold rings and a red skull of some kind half covered in what looked like smoke. lastly their was something written at the bottom she could barely make out. "Whats Crimson Shadow?"

He just smiled. "I'll let the Commander tell you that one." The others of his group chuckled. "Now, its getting late so last question. What is you're countries military situation?"

Before Twilight could answer, Applejack laughed. "Ha, thats an easy one, we an't got no military, se'p for the guard up in Canterlot."

"And the Wonder Bolts." Rainbow added.

Twilight blinked at her friends. "wait, you all don't now?" She asked and was meet with confused stairs. "The Canterlot royal guard is just a small part of it." She closed her eye and slipped in to 'lecture mode'. "At the top is Princesses Celestia and Luna as the joint commander in chiefs, then you have the E.U.P. as the high command lead by the Captain of the guard.

"Beneath the E.U.P. it splits; First is the Canterlot royal guard that protects the Princesses, the capital, and any anther royal residences, it is currently split up into three groups, the Day guard for Celestia, the Night guard for Luna, and the Wonder Bolts that acts as a special air unit; Then theres the Equestrian Royal guard that acts mostly as a border guard, it is distinguished by its silver armor as opposed to the Canterlot guard's gold; Next in the Equestrian Admiralty which is our navy; And lastly theres the Crystal guard that defends and polices Crystal Empire."

Her friend were all looking at her, taking in the fact that their kingdom was more defended then they had thought. Then a thought struck Rarity. "Wait, shouldn't Rainbow now all this?"

They all looked to her. Nervously laughing and rubbing the back of her head with a hoof she said. "Ya, I may have not pad attention in class at the academy. But in my defense, they were soooo boring."

The sergeant cleared his throat, getting their attention. "Well its getting late, you should eat and get some sleep." Receiving some agreements from the mares and dragon, he walked off will they set out their sleeping bags and started talking. Quiet enough to keep it private.

"So what ya thinking Twi?" Applejack asked.

Looking over her shoulder a second she said. "I'm not 100% on it yet, but I think their humans."

"Humans? Arn't thaws the thinks you said where on the other side of the mirror?" Fluttershy asked.

"Yes, but these ones seem different, and so is the technology they have." Twilight answered.

"Well what ever they are, I'm sure I could tack em." Rainbow said.

"Really, after hearing what their weapons can do?" Spike said, a hint of fear in his voice.

"Oh please, like some thing like that could be real."

"In any case," Twilight interrupted "we shouldn't provoke them. After all, we still need to meet their leader, so lets eat then go to sleep."

Murmurs of agreement fallowed, and soon they were all eating from the provisions they brought. Will nibbling on a apple, Twilight noticed that the possible humans were doing the same. They had brought out cardboard boxes filled with a small assortment of packets and cans. They pulled out small metal 'thing' and placed white tablets in the middle before lighting them with matches. Some put half opend cans on the flame while others put their canteen cup on for what smelled like coffee. After a few minutes, the one closets to Twilight used a small piece of metal to lift the can off the fire and pulled the rest of the lead of. The smells from the can brought back memories from beyond the portal, more specifically the C.H.S. cafeteria but she couldn't quite place it. As he began to eat it with a stamped metal spork, her curiosity got the better of her.

"Excuse me but, what are you eating?" She asked, drawing his attention.

Taking a drink from his cup (that he had mixed some powder in earlier) to empty his mouth he said. "Potatoes with chess and pork."

At that moment, Twilight remembered what the small was. Meat. These beings where omnivores just like the ones from the other world. Thankfully her friends ether hadn't heard or didn't understand which was for the best, shed have to explain it to them as not the freak them out (although, Dash mite tack it the best).

Deciding her day had gone on long enough, she finished her diner and got into her sleeping bag and drifted off.

Twilight awoke to the faint tickle of sun light on her check. Opining her eyes she found her self still in the sleeping bag on the side of the road surrounded by her friends. Looking across the road, she saw the 'humans' loading thing into bags. Curious, she got up and approached. "What are you doing?"

With out looking up from his work, one replied. "Making room, still probability guna be cramped thou." Pausing to look at her with his golden eye he continued. "We'll leave when you ready, so no rush." And with that he hefted the pack and walked over to the cloth backed vehicle.

With that said, Twilight walked back over to her friends, who where just starting to stir. The first up was Applejack, giving a yawn and rubbing her eyes, she noticed Twilight coming over. "Morn'in Twi," She tock note of the sky. "Over slept? Dam." Then she saw the humans behind Twilight. "What'er they doing?"

"Getting ready to leave," she said "but their going to wait till we're ready, so tack you're time waking up." And with that she walked back over to her bags to find some breakfast.

Time past and Twilight explained to her friend what was happening as they awoke. When she looked to what she had decided must be cars, she noticed that the bags the humans were packing were attached to the outside of the vehicles. A little before noon, they were all up, feed, and packed. "We're all ready." Twilight said to the Sargent.

Nodding he said. "Alright, your riding up front with me," he pointed to the vehicle with the odd structure on top. "theres room for two more of your entourage, the others will have to squeeze into the other hummer."

Twilight and her friends discussed it and decided that Starlight and Spike would go with Twilight. Their decision made, they made their way to the indicated vehicles, the Sargent holding open the left rear door open for them. Starlight had to maneuver a little past s human staining in the center to get to the right seat and Spike squeezed next to her. Wen Twilight sat down in the left seat the sergeant shut the door and got into the passenger seat in front of her and graded something with a cored attached off the dashboard. "Patrol 2 RTB." And at that the 'hummer' rumbled to life and started moving. The sergeant then fiddled with the consul that the thing he held was attached to before talking again. "Patrol 2, Darwin C&C."

Then another voice, identical to the sergeant's responded from the device. "Darwin C&C here, go ahed Patrol 2."

"We are in rout with the royal envoy, ETA roughly 20 mic."

"Solid copy Patrol two, we'll leave the light on of ya."

"Copy all, Patrol 2 out." He the put the thing on a hanger and relaxed into his seat. Twilight, now getting a closer look at the human, spotted something she missed the night be for. Under the words 'Crimson Shadow' were smaller words also in silver 'cave nostra ira'. The impactions sent a shiver down her spine.

After a little while they came a sharp turn in the road. steading her self, she caught a glimpse of the other vehicle flowing behind them. As she looked back to the front the human standing between her and her assistant and pupal. He was holding on to two handles attached to a boxy metal 'thing', if her memory was correct it was connected to that weird half jacketed pipe on top.

They kept driving for a few minuets before rounding a slight bend in the road, thats when she saw it. Ahead, just past the tree line, wads a fence that stretched off in ether direction . And were the road crossed it was a check point with its gate already open. Driving through it, Twilight saw more humans in their fully consoling attire minding the check point. As she looked back to the road ahead, she saw a sine on the left side of the road. It was white with the same logo that was on the humans left arms dominated the left side if the sine, while the right side had righting on it.

Fort Darwin
Crimson Shadow
general staff headquarters

Continuing along she saw some thing in the corner of her eye as they crested one of the small hills that dominated the field. It was some king of blocky machine painted dark green with a flat part in the front that it was using to posh dirt, and it wasn't alone, there were others like it flattening a large swath of land. "Thats headquarters up ahead." Snapping her head back to the front at the sergeants voice, she saw a two story building on the left side of the road ahead.

The road in front of the building split around a flag poll, although she couldn't see what was on it. Circling around the right side of the flag poll before coming to a stop in front of the structure, Twilight saw more humans, two were standing at ether side of the double door entrance, they were missing their vest and leg mounted medical pouch and their head gear was replaced with a black beret with a silver shield that had a relief of their logo; The also had the same weapons as the others but held behind their left shoulders by straps. The last new human was standing on the edge of the one step platform in front of the building and was dressed the same but was missing the weapon. And of course they all had the same skin tone and face.

Coming to a stop, the sergeant and the driver were the first out of the vehicle and moved to open the rear doors. Stepping out of the 'hummer' Twilight looked to her right to see that her friends were getting the same treatment. "You must be Princess Twilight Sparkle," Looking forward agin Twilight saw that the unarmed human had approached her. Upon a closer look she noticed that he had a four star patch on his jacket just below his collar; She also saw that on his right arm was a light blue kite shield with a downward pointed winged, steel colored sward. "I'm General Adom, C.S. general staff headquarters." At that he gave her a salut, raising his right hand to his fore head. Lowering his hand and turned to the sergeant at her side. "Sergeant good work, get your and you teams equipment checked and report to your barracks, the Commander is recalling every one and wants them at the ready."

"Yes sir!" He said with a quick salut before he and the others that had drove Twilight and her fiends here rebounded their vehicles, rounded the flag poll and continued north into the base.

"Now your Highness," The general said, getting Twilights attention. "I'm afraid the conference room is still being ferniest and the Commanders office is to small the comfortably accommodate a group as big as yours, so the meeting will be held in the staff cafeteria; Is that acceptable to you?"

While Twilight wasn't comfortable with being refried to by her rank, she decided it was best for this situation. Thinking on the reasons that Adom had given as to why they were having a meeting in a cafeteria, she figured it was better the squeezing into a small office. "Yes thats perfectly acceptable."

"Then please fallow me. And I apologies if its a little uncomfortable inside, we're having problems installing the a.c. unit." With that he stated walking to the doors, the two to ether side opened and held them open as they walked through. Like Adom said, it was a little hotter in side but not unbearable. Taking in the interior, she found her self in a hallway with no doors, maybe five meters long before coming to a intersection and continuing another five meters, ending at two staircases, the right one going up and the left going down (although it was blocked by caution tape). The walls were bare and painted in a creme white, all in all pretty dull.

When they came to the intersection they trend left; This new hallway was probably ten meters an had doors every few hooves (hoof=half foot). At the end of the hallway and closer to them were some more double doors on the left side; The closer set had two more guards like out side but the doors were already propped open. As they were walking a door on the right opened and another human walked out dressed like Adom but missing the beret, quickly snapping off a salute before heading in the opposite direction.; But before he fully closed the door, Twilight caught of the room; it was filled with desk and computers.

Finally arriving at the cafeteria, Adom stepped aside so they could enter. "Fell free to get comfortable while I get the Commander." And with that he left down the way they came. Taking in the unoccupied room; The back half of the room was occupied with a kitchen with a serving line, two long cafeteria tables were on the side they had entered while at the far side of the room were four smaller table Twilight figured were for officers.

Pinkie bounced excitedly over to the kitchen while the others took seats at the table closest. "So what do you think this 'Commander' is like?" Starlight asked.

"Can't right'ly say." Applejack answered.

Before anypony could answer Pinkie sloped on to the table. "Ahhh, they don't have what I need for a cake or any thing, Just a bunch of vegetables and this weird red and pink stuff in the freezers."

Before Twilight could change the subject they head steps from the hall. Turning around on the tables bench, Twilight faced the door. First she saw Adom appear around the corner, then he came in to view.

Unlike the others he was darker skinned if only slightly so and had a faint reddish tint. His hair was a light brown, longer and pulled into a tail that ended two inches past the tie. His chin and upper lip were also covered by facial hair, and his eyes, they were green and had a sharpness to them. He was wearing the same thing as Adom but his jacket was half way undone, hiding the rank insignia that the others had but reveling a tan undershirt.

When he entered the room he gave them all a quick once over before a small smile touched his face and his eyes softened. "Greetings, I'm Commander Bellum, Commander an Chief and CEO of Crimson Shadow." In the corner of her eye, Twilight saw Adom quickly glans at Bellum before retuning his gaze to her group. Then she remembered what that name meant.

Taking a seat at the table a cross from them with Adom on his right he said. "Now before we get on to business, do you have any questions?" Like the others, he had a regular, Equestrian like accent with a twist of something else. Unlike the others thou, it wasn't Trottingham but something more akin to Applejack's.

"Well there is one I'v had since last night. From what I'v seen and herd, I tack it your a military?"

He smirched more. "Of a sort; Were I come from we would be considered a PMC or privet army, mercenaries in other words."

Twilight considered the ramifications of what he said before voicing her next question. "'Were your from', thats another thing I'v been wondering about sine I now humans art native to this world. May I ask how and why you and you associates came here?"

He gave a light laugh. "Now thats the million dollar question. I don't now; One moment I'm having a lovely day when suddenly I'm forcefully pulled through a portal of some sort, had my innards set on fire, pretty sure that was my D.N.A. being rewritten, and then dumped in some random field. Now you say you now of human but admit that there are none here, thats some thing I'd like to talk about but it can wait for later. Any more questions?"

Something odd struck Twilight with the answer he gave. "Your D.N.A. rewritten?"

"Yes," he then raised his left hand and touched his thumb to his index and middle fingers together with the other two spread wide; Then suddenly a canteen appeared in his hand. Twilight blinked, how did that just happen? "pretty sure that portal did something to me, I can now make things from thine air, equipment, weapons, vehicles, even personal."

"Personal?" She asked.

"Why yes, tack Adom here, I made him." He said with a bit of pride.

All eyes were on the general. "Its true, the Commander made all of us, and we're grateful for it; We'd fallow him to Hell an back, no questions asked."

That answer had the ponies and dragon in mind lock. Siting a few hoofs away from them was a being that could make loyal armies on a whim, that mad him as dangerous as Discord! The silence was broken by Bellum cupping Adom's shoulder. "Thanks for that brother." Looking back to the visitors he said. "Are there any more questions?" Twilight shook her head. "Then onto business." At that his hole demeanor changed, the small smile on his face dropped and his eyes hardened as his poker face fell into place. "I'm prepared to offer Equestria a contract to help bolster national security as we're currently not under contract. I tack it you might want to discuss this with other members of your state and military, we will be more then happy to fairy you or a member of your entourage to the local town to send letters. We under stand that these negotiations may tack time, so we'll be giving you all room and bored in one of our officer barracks, also the two at the door will be looking after you during you stay as this is a military instillation and is still under construction. Are you willing to prosed with these negotiations?"

Twilight was stund. He wanted to work for them? Even thou he could probity try and tack over the world, he wanted to work for them. "Ye-yes, I'm willing. Altho we want need to be brought to town as we can send letters though Spike." She pointed a hoof at the young drake. "I would like time to discus this with the princesses first if thats okay?"

And like a switch being flipped Bellum relaxed. "Yes, thats quit alright. We'll talk tomorrow, until then feel free to come to me if something is wrong places come to me," He and Adom stood. "it'll be a relief from the paper work." And then they walked out the door.

Twilight slumped in her seat as a thought ran through her mind. 'What am I getting into?'

In the hall Bellum and Adom walked towards the stairs. "Bellum? Really?" Adom asked.

Bellum shrugged. "With all the work I've pout in these last few weeks, I figure I have the right to embellish my self a little. Besides, you now the original plan called for it any way, might as well roll with it." With that settled, he was free to return to his office on the second floor and get back to paper work. Yay.

A few hours later, Twilight and her friends found them selfs in an officers barracks just south west of the command center. For the few hours Twilight had bin in a back and forth with Celestia (paper brought to her when asked but she had to use a pencil as the humans didn't have quill ink). They had come to the decision that this was the best way to keep an eye on the new humans.

"Are we shore its a good idea to keep these mercenaries around" Rarity asked. They were all in the same room (although just so they could talk) in the building.

"Eh, if they try some thing the bolts can stomp them." Rainbow said lazing on one of the two beds in the room.

Applejack rolled her eyes. then noticed Twilight staring out the window. "You'v bin quiet fer'a while now Twi, you okay?"

Jarred from her thoughts, Twilight blinked and looked to her friends. "Ye, I'm fine. Just thinking about his name, Bellum that is."

"Why, what dos it mean?" Fluttershy asked.

"It... Its form a old language, it mens war."

Author's Note

And done. Man this was a slog fest, plagued with bad internet connections and my inability to wright heavy dialog chapters, hope you all liked it and please say something if theres a spelling error(I like feedback). Now, because I'm off my rocker, heres a list of the weapons and vehicles Crimson Shadow will be fielding.(it'll chang with new stuff every now and agin so check back every now and then) If your wondering about the song at the end there, I figured I'd try and pout 'credit songs' that I feel end the chapter well, some might miss but hay, I'm still green.
Till next time!(probily another couple months)