Day of Disharmony (The Beachhead)
“I still remember the day as if it was yesterday...” Pvt. Piercing Armor, an earth pony guard of the 52nd Solar Company said ten years after the invasion, “the adrenaline I felt when I first saw those metal carriers come over the horizon.” He smirked and shook his head. “The first thing I did when I saw the human fleet.” He chuckled lightly. “I looked over to my pal, Blade Cast, and said, ‘Well there goes the kingdom’.”
“Piercing has always been pretty pessimistic in terms of going into battle.” Mgc. Blade Cast, a unicorn of the 52nd Solar Company, laughs. “But I had to admit, when my eyes laid on those massive ships, I’m talking cities on water...at least that’s what it looked like. I had to agree with him! Especially when I saw the sky filled with those massive, metal...planes? Is that what they called them?” Piercing nodded his head.
“What really made me lose hope on the line though is when the humans started bombarding the coast line.” Piercing sat up in his seat, he ran hoof along the back of his head. “We had no idea those ships could fire their weapons from such a distance. We hadn’t prepared for it.”
“One second I was sitting there watching the horizon.” Cast opened his hooves as a gesture. “And then I heard it, it sounded like thunder. I could see smoke at the the tip of one of their vessels and then suddenly everything went black. I couldn’t hear a thing except for Piercing beside me screaming bloody Cadence.”
“You can see here the shell blast nearly tore off my entire right foreleg.” Piercing removed the cloak he had been wearing and showed off a massive purple scar just beneath his pelt that went nearly all around his leg. “It was possibly the worst pain I ever felt. I was lucky to have Cast next to me.”
“After the initial blast I was one of the first to get up and start rallying the colts.” Cast sighed. “Lets just say there wasn’t really anypony left to manage.”
“When the humans landed after the bombardment, that’s when things really got bad.” Lieutenant Colonel Sword Hoof of the 41st Solar Battalion said. “Those large carrier ships they called them, opened these massive mouths on the front of them and began spewing out these smaller water chariots. If I can remember correctly there had to be hundreds of them if not thousands.” He explained.
“The Lieutenant started shouting at us, ‘Get ready they’re coming! They're coming!’” Sgt. Flash Step, a pegasus mare of the 23rd Pegasi company said. “It was amazing that we could even hear him over the explosions. Bam bam! Whatever the humans were firing were completely obliterating the shoreline, I could hardly hear a thing.”
“I recall waking up with bits and pieces of my squadmates all around me.” Mgc. Nova Light, a unicorn stallion of the 52nd Solar Company took a deep breath and shuddered at the memory. “I don’t know how I got out unscathed... I think I might’ve formed a shield last second but...” He closed his eyes. “I don’t think I want to talk about this anymore...”
“When their ships landed we opened fired on them with what little artillery we had left.” Sgt. Flash Step said. “Most of the metal was wiped out during the shelling and our Support casters had ran off terrified for their own lives...Our defense was wiped out before they even set foot on Equestrian soil.”
“When the humans finally did reach the shore I ran.” Lt. Sword Hoof said. “I told every last one of my stallions to grab their gear and get the hay out of there.” He sighed and wiped his hoof over his head. “All I can recall during those fleeting moments was one of their metal chariots pulling up out of the water and onto the beach. Suddenly this magic smoke appeared out of nowhere and shielded the darned thing, and next thing I knew I heard what sounded like bees whizzing past my head. Terrified I looked over and saw the back of my corporals head explode outwards into a bloody mess. I-I’ve never seen so much blood in my entire life, nor have I ever seen a stallion’s head pop like that...”
...
On April 1st, 2062 at exactly 06:00 the Terran People's Republic (TPR) would launch an amphibious counter invasion against the Equestrian Mainland. The project dubbed “Operation Reprisal.” was the first form of retaliation that humanity had conspired against their Equine invaders. However, to the Equestrians that day was known as a day of infamy or how they put it, “The Day of Disharmony.”
Celestia had feared that if her plans in the Middle East had faltered during her attempt to crush the human global economy, she should at least have some sort of defense in case the humans had planned some form of counter attack. Having instructed her sister, Princess Luna, to construct an Iron Hoof Wall along the coast as a defense measure against human attack. The Princess knew she would have time to perform such an action while the humans would have to spend time figuring out how to travel through the barrier between their worlds. Having fallen into arrogance, Celestia had forgotten that when Man sets their mind to something. It will be done, no matter the case it may be.
:[-]:
April, 1st 2062
06:00
Just before the amphibious assault vehicles reached their designated drop zone each of the one hundred and fifty craft that made up the first wave deployed a series of smoke screens. Overhead the sound of whistling shells tore through the air and plowed into the Equestrian coast line, each shot homing in on what the troops informally referred to as: “Magic Boxes”.
“First wave!” Lt. Henry Wells shouted over the silent men inside the AAV. “When we hit that shore, keep your heads down and run as fast as you can, we’ll be rallying at the sea wall!” Every single marine on the craft shouted in unison, filling Henry with confidence. “Remember!” He shouts once more, this time over the sound of the AAVs engine and the muffled explosions outside. “Once we reach the rally point, we’ll be waiting for the armor to reach the beach! Once the armor touches down, we’ll move up the hill to focus on taking out the enemy's batteries!”
“Thirty seconds till touchdown, Gentlemen.” Came the voice of the driver.
“Alright you heard him!” Henry shouted. “Make sure you keep your guns clean and turn your safeties off!” He told his men while all of them simultaneously switched the safeties off their rifles, which were mostly standard Northern Alliance issue M4s.
A loud bang followed by screeching metal, rocked the AAV. Nearly every marine, save for a few flinched and ducked. “The fuck was that?”
“We took a direct hit from one of those pissy ass batteries.” The driver responded as the assault craft lurched upward a bit as it hit land. The light in the cabin suddenly shifted green before giving off a loud buzz. The two side doors detached from the side of the craft while the main rear dropped loose and landed onto the sandy beach with a thud. “Deploying secondary smoke!”
A small series of thumps followed by a quick succession of bangs, caused the entire assault craft to be covered in a mixture of black and white smoke. “Alright marines!” Shouted the first man out the right side door. “Make it through those holes!”
Within seconds, twenty one troopers stormed the beach, followed by the other two hundred and ten men who landed directly after them. Moments after the initial landing, the remaining Equestrian troops who had survived the initial bombardment and aerial bombings caused by the TPR warships and F-55 gunships, loaded their pathetic twenty pound, brass cannons and fired upon the beaches.
Though initial fire power of the twenty pounders were not able to pierce the typical TPR Aquatic Assault Craft, or even scratch the paint of a standard M7 Abram or the 15 Leopard assault tanks. Infantrymen , however, were not so invincible to the whirling shells fired from the guns.
When Lt. Henry Wells, first lept off his assault craft and landed onto the beach. The first man he saw exit the cloud of smoke was instantly blasted into nothing but bloody chunks and a cloud of red mist. All around Henry, the sand exploded into clouds of dust, shrouding his goggles and defusing his vision. It had appeared the Equestrians had opted to leave the tanks and craft alone, seeing that their primitive shells were doing nothing and decided to shift their attention to the soldiers by loading their guns with canister shells.
Though the Equestrians were not yet advanced enough to develop a form of machine or gatling gun. The rate in which a single unicorn could load, and fire a cannon, almost made it seem as if they didn’t need one. With the amount of cannister rounds being fired onto the beach, it might as well would have appeared as if thousands of LMGs were bombarding the surface.
“Canister!” Henry shouted over the various panicked cries of unlucky men. “They’re firing fucking canister! Stick behind the craft!” Henry yelled to any of his remaining men, glancing over he gasped and reached out just in time to snatch a corporal by the back of his collar and yanked him behind the AAV right as a cloud of shrapnel from a cannister shell smashed into the ground in front of them.
“Thank you sir!” The corporal shouts, his face stricken with utter panic.
“You stay here and make sure the rest of the men stay put!” Henry ordered the marine. “I’m gonna get back up in the craft and see if I can get this fucking rust bucket moving!” The marine nodded and Henry patted him on the back, turning back he climbed into the craft and up into the cockpit. Climbing into the main cabin, Henry had caught the driver getting ready to close the hatches and throw the craft into reverse to head back out to sea. Putting the craft in reverse he jumped when he turned and noticed Henry’s presence.
“Lieutenant?! What are you doing in here?” The driver asked with a shocked look, Henry ignored him and pointed to the sea wall on the visual monitor.
“Take the craft nice and slow up to the wall!” He ordered the man.
“But my orders are to go back and rally for the second wave,” The man said just as a another direct hit deflected off the AAV’s armor causing both men to jump at the sharp noise.
“Jesus fuck, Lad, we’re gonna be torn to bloody giblets if we don’t use this craft as cover!” Henry shouted over the retorts of the armor’s fifty cal. machine gun.
The driver bit his lip and nodded. “Fuck it, fine.” He said as he shifted the armor into acceleration. “Tell your men to stick close.” Henry patted the man’s back and ran back outside, the sounds of warfare plunging deep into his ear canal. Machine gun fire tore through the air along with the screams of orders and wounded. “Alright, lads! The armor here will provide minor cover till we reach the sea wall! Keep your heads low and for fuck sake, Carmine, I said don’t poke your fucking head out!” He shouted towards one smaller marine in particular, causing a couple marines to chuckle.
The lad nodded and Henry smirked. “Alright, let’s take this fucking beach!”
:[-]:
The Iron Hoof Wall
06:40
“Captain Flare what do we do?!” Shouted a panicked guardsmen, back hugging the wall, he cowered and trembled in fear as the invisible shards of death whizzed over their heads or collided with the rock wall.
“Magician Light, I need you to calm down,” Captain Solar Flare of the 52nd Solar Company knelt down beside the cowering unicorn.
“H-how can I, Ma’am?” Light gulped. “Wi-with all do respected we’re boned––” The stallion was silenced when Flare whipped her hoof across his cheek, causing the stallion to whip his head to the side.
“Don’t you ever give up on me!” The mare snapped at him and then winced when a few death shards struck the rock wall behind her. “Giving up now would only mean our friends deaths would be in vain.” She snarled into the stallion’s ear. “Do you understand me?”
Mgc. Light gulped and hesitantly nodded his head. “Y-yes, Ca-captain.” Light shakingly clambered back onto his hooves, fixing his helmet he gave a faint a smile to Flare.
“Captain Flare!” Came the voice of a young pegasai mare who landed just beside Flare.
Flare turned and cocked an eyebrow when she saw the mare. “Sergeant Flash Step? Why aren’t you with your regiment?”
Flash Step gave a brief, hurt look but then gulped and regained whatever composure she had. Straightening herself out she saluted. “I’m afraid my entire regiment had been wiped out...” Her voice wavered a bit at the end.
Taking a step around Flare, Light bit his lip as his nerves began to waver once more. The entire 23rd Pegasi regiment was obliterated?! But the humans haven’t reached the wall yet!
Flare’s face darkened. “What do you mean? You’re the only survivor?”
Flash Step gulped and winced when a flaming shard ripped through the air above them. “I-I’m afraid so Ma’am! O-our aerial attacks proved ineffective!”
“Horse feathers!” Flare whirled around and glanced over the humans and machines that were storming the Equestrian shoreline. “What in tartarus do we need to do to––”
Both Light and Flash screamed at the top of their lungs when Flare’s brains splattered across their chest and faces. Falling onto the hardened dirt the two of them kicked away from the toppling corpse of their captain and curled in on themselves.
Light didn’t know how long he’d been there cursing and crying, it wasn’t until something fiercely kicked him in the back did he open his eyes. When he looked up he saw it was the tear stricken face of Flash who was trying to pull him up.
“C’mon! We have to go!” He could barely hear her through her choking voice, not only that the rapid retorts from the human weaponry, along with the steady thunderous booms from cannons nearly drowned her out. However, he could also hear something else, something...alien to him.
“Get up that fucking hill!”
“Burn the fuckers!”
“Grenade!”
Just as Light could make out the last one, he noticed a black rock fly over the crest of the rock wall shielding them from the battle. Watching it with wide eyes Light followed the object until it landed a few feet away from him. Blinking curiously at it, he began to wonder what it was, however, his thoughts would be cut short when Flash kicks the object back outside. Suddenly, a gust of wind and dust erupts from over the wall and covers the two of them. As the ringing in his ear fades away, the sound would soon be replaced by the yips and cries from the humans. Either it be out of pain or joy, he couldn’t tell.
“They’re right outside, we need to go!” Flash nudged Light to his feet and shoved him forward. “Further down the wall, make a left it’ll lead into the trenches.”
“H-how did you know, th-that thing would...” Light tried to talk but couldn’t, his legs going into auto pilot as he began to gallop along the iron wall.
“A friend of mine earlier picked one up,” Flash replied quietly, yet still loud enough for Light to hear. Gaining speed she runs alongside him, knowing she would only make herself a target if she tried to fly into the air.
Rounding the mentioned corner, the two ponies quickly made their way up a small staircase before hopping into the western trenches. “A-are we safe?” Light stuttered briefly as he took a deep breath, just then a loud boom ripped past the sound of chaotic warfare as three black metal birds tore through the sky above them.
“Far from it,” Flash said as she eyed the three monsters, they were traveling much faster than her favorite Wonderbolt Rainbow Dash. As her eyes scanned the sky, she spotted something else even higher up, it looked like smaller, black bird, no. Not just one, there were others, almost dozens by the look of it. Out of the back of them she could see smaller objects falling, only to be slowed by what seemed like cloth shooting out of the backs of them.
The sound of a screaming stallion and a mare, only to be silenced by the rapid cracks from a human’s weapon, snapped Flash back to her senses. “Darn it. We need to go.” Flash grabbed the left shoulder strap on Light’s armor with her wing and pulled him to his hooves.
“Go where?” The unicorn asked, his voice sounding completely broken. Flash glanced back at him and almost gave him a look of pity, the lad’s face looked as if he’d lost his will to live.
“Anywhere that isn’t here,” The Pegasus said, “Now c’mon, we need to get out of these filthy trenches.” Pulling the broken unicorn along the two of them make their way down the trenches towards a T intersection. As they moved the two of them never dared to poke a head up in fear of ending up like Captain Flare. Biting her lip, she closed her eyes briefly as she moved, she couldn’t believe that Captain Flare would lose her life so suddenly. The shock of it still stung hard in her chest.
“Celestia please noo–gaaah!” A shrill cry tore Flash out of her thoughts and quickly forced Light and herself to the ground. The sound of the crying mare continued to go on moments longer, the sound of a human’s voice could be heard. Almost as if it was taunting the tortured girl.
“Piece of shit!” The human could be heard saying, though Flash couldn’t tell what. “Come to my planet! Kill my friends!” The mare wouldn’t be screaming anymore, though the sound of flesh being torn was quite audible. Though she didn’t want to, Flash bit her lip and peeked around the corner. Down the trench led to an opening of a casting bunker, at the entrance, a bloodied, disemboweled unicorn laid on the ground, her eyes wide and tongue lolling out. Above her was a human with a bayonet, though the poor mare was already dead, though the creature continued to relentlessly stab her corpse anyway.
“Jesus, Parker what the fuck?!” Came the shout of another human, Flash bit her lip and turned back to Light who seemed to be mumbling prayers. Sighing she kicked the unicorn lightly and motioned for him to follow her. The lad nodded his head nervously and while the two had their chance, they quickly dashed to the other end of the T intersection.
“Fucker, fuck, piece of shit! Fuck you! Fuck you!” The human taunted as it stabbed the corpse.
“Parker!” A second human, along with three others, leaped into the trench and ran over to the one stabbing the mare. “What the fuck are you doing?! It’s dead!”
“They killed him! They killed them! I saw it!” The one with the bayonet cried out.
The recently arrived human snatched the crazed one’s weapon and grabbed their shoulder. “It’s okay, Parker, you’ll have your revenge, but as of right now. I need you to focus on helping us take the coast. Get back to the beach and eat, we’ll be back down shortly.”
Flash couldn’t understand a single word, yet watching the interaction between the humans was rather interesting. “Uh eh...Flash...” Light muttered and poked Flash in the side.
“What is it?” Flash turned her head and gasped when noticed three humans standing at the top of the trench. Their handheld cannons pointing directly at them.
“Oi L.T.!” The center human with a burning stick in its mouth called out. “We takin’ any prisoners?”
Author's Note
I always saw and read those Human Vs. Pony stories.
So I decided I wanted to try and write one for fun. I plan on having some more show character involved in the future though I haven't come up with anything just yet. I can't even begin to imagine all the typos I might have glossed over.
Anyhow, post your thoughts or ideas down below. I'm really keen to see what you guys think and or want to see!
Hoofington Incident Pt. 1 (Ambush)
“Goddamn...” Sergeant Rockwell of the 21st Bravo company shook his head when asked about the Hoofington Road skirmish. “Don’t even bring up that embarrassment, you’re going to make me blush.” He rolled his eyes sarcastically and leaned back into his chair.
“We were full of arrogance,” Said Lieutenant Henry Wells with a shame filled sigh. “After the landslide victory at the Iron Hoof Wall, a lot of our men had become complacent. Thought we already won the war...yet, when was the last war you heard of that was won with one skirmish?” He chuckled and shook his head. “No. The equines were far from finished.”
“Yeah, yeah, we may have gotten a little...arrogant but seriously. A hundred casualties, that’s all we took in the first assault! Second and third wave lost no one!” Rockwell said with great enthusiasm. “Reprisal is now number one on the list of most successful amphibious assaults in all of N. Alliance History! Of course the boys had let that go to their head!”
Henry leaned back in his chair and shrugged. “The point is cause of that, we drove head first into a disaster on Hoofington Road. If we had been with the entire battalion it hadn’t have been so bad. But...we were just a simple scouting party. One AAV and two Humvees. There was no way we were prepared for pincer maneuver.”
...
On April 3rd, 2062 the Terran’s People's Republic had successfully overrun the Iron Hoof wall and had begun to lay siege onto the Equine city known as “Las Pegasus.” With the city on the verge of capitulation, Supreme Commander, Arnold D. Weiser had ordered the 21st Bravo Battalion to lead a scouting expedition further ahead into mainland Equestria. However, with arrogance on their minds over the recent landslide victory, mankind had not expected for the Equestrians to lash out once more with brutal force.
:[-]:
“What I’m saying is...” Sergeant Rockwell took a breath. “We shouldn’t stick to the main roads, we should cut down a few side paths, maybe go through the woods. Who knows if we’re being watched.”
Henry took a breath and leaned back in his seat, his hand clutching onto the handrail as the AAV shook and bounced lightly over the larger holes in the dirt road. Gazing back down on the crudely drawn map generated by the overhead AWACs. “Understood, Sergeant,” The lieutenant looked up at the burly man who sat across from him. “But our orders are to stick the main roads, map out what we see and if possible disable any resistance that we may come in contact with.”
Rockwell blinked. “Are you fucking serious?”
“Watch your tone, Sergeant.” Henry looked at the man. “Believe me, I know what you’re thinking. But that’s the brass’s order.”
“So we’re the cannon fodder?” Said a corporal to their right, the two higher ups glanced at the younger boy who simply shrugged. “That don’t sound too bad, L.T. we’re fighting horses with pointy sticks and a couple brass guns.”
Henry sighed. “Guns that can take out a humvee wheel and leave our escorts out in the open.”
“But don’t worry lads,” Came the electronic voice of the driver through the loudspeaker. “Those prissy ass cannons won’t even dent the armor on old Shelly here.”
Both the sergeant and the lieutenant shook their heads. “Got a point there, we’re safe but those but our escorts are going to need to stay alert.”
“Lieutenant, we’re coming up onto a fork in the road. Which way we turning?” The driver called back.
Taking a breath Henry glanced down at the map. “If we take a right and head up north, within about ten miles we’ll arrive upon a small town. We could maybe go up that way, stop off about three miles before and traverse the rest on foot?” He glances up at the sergeant for suggestions.
“Or, L.T.” Rockwell rolled his soldiers and started to map out his own path with his finger. “We could maybe diverge, avoid the main road and cut through the forest and take a look.”
“How the hell are we going to shove two humvees and an armored transport through all that underbrush?” Henry asked with a cocked eyebrow.
Rockwell nodded. “We wouldn’t, we would stash the vehicles, keep some guards while the rest of us scout out the position,” He said as he used his finger to point out the potential route.
Henry jutted his bottom lip a bit in thought as he leaned over and contemplated the idea. Opening his mouth he was suddenly cut off by the .50 cal gunner shouting. “CONTACT LEFT!”
Suddenly the inner cabin of the AAV was a buzz with life as the soldiers instantly mounted the side guns. “Shoot the fuckers!” Rockwell shouted and not even a second to past as the fifty was unleashing a heavy stream of rounds into a nearby tree line.
A few moments of unrelenting gunfire and Henry began smacking his troops on the back. “Hold your fire, hold your fire––” Loud sharp bangs, followed by screeching metal rocked the AAV as a barrage of unknown artillery fire crashed against both ends of the armored vehicle.
“It’s a fucking ambush!” The driver said over the intercom. “Forward escort is reporting heavy damage on both sides, their back left wheel is shot out!”
“The fuck is he talking about?” Rockwell asked, Henry gulped and looked at him.
“Those fuckers took out Rapture’s wheel,” He clarified. “Those boys are fucking sitting ducks.” He looked at his men who were all looking at him with cocked eyebrows. Henry pointed to them. “Nobody goes outside, for all we know they have canister shells primed and ready to blast anyone who sets foot out there. I’m going to go check on the radio and see how Rapture’s holding up.” The men nodded and Henry turned to climb into the cockpit.
“Rapture, Rapture, this is Rhino, how copy over?” Henry heard the pilot speaking into the radio as he climbed up behind the driver seat.
“Sitrep?” Henry asked.
“Not good, Sir.” The man said, “Those Humvees aren’t equipped to withstand a barrage from Barnyard twenty pounders.” He shook his head and sighed.
“Are any of them still alive?” He asked, the man shrugged.
“I’ll keep trying them sir but I’m not too confident. From the visual monitor,” he tapped the screen above them displaying a tipped humvee which looked like it was smashed in by an abram. “It looked as if they were firing canister and standard rounds. Either those boys got shredded or they’re just unconscious.”
“What about rear escort, the Ranger Boys or whatever they called themselves?” Henry asked.
The man nodded and grabbed his radio. “Ranger, Ranger, this is Rhino, how copy over?”
A few moments passed before a small bit of static came through. “Nice and dandy, Rhino, we’re a bit upside down but...just a few cuts and bruises. How about you Over?”
Both men breathed a sigh of relief. “We’re fine, Ranger, those pissy batteries can’t even scrape this girl’s armor.” A few moments of silence passed.
“Y’know...some of us we’re wondering here...we ain’t at all safe here, mind if we––”
Henry snatched the radio. “Negative, Ranger, remain where you are, Equine forces are loaded with canister shells and will bombard the AO the second you place your pinkie toe on the dirt.” He sighed and handed the radio back over.
“R-roger that, I was afraid you’d say that...” the radio fell silent.
“Have you contacted Command yet?” Henry asked the pilot, the man shook his head.
“AWACs went to refuel, and the radio tower hasn’t finished construction yet. By 12:00 hours we’ll be in the dark.” Henry took a breath and straightened himself out. “Sir, by all means, if we can get close enough, we can probably get the guys from Ranger and check on Rapture before ripping back to Command.”
Henry rubbed the stubble on his chin. “I don’t know, I wish we could, but they’re just too many variables.” He took a deep breath and shook his head. “I’ll discuss it with the sergeant.”
:[-]:
Henry and Rockwell gathered the men around and gestured towards the crudely drawn map. “Alright, Girls, this is what we know of so far.” Rockwell said as he looked up at his men and two single women in his squad." He tapped the map. "The Barnyard animals have situated forces all around us; we’re surrounded. Judging by the amount of damage dealt to both escorts and the speed in which we took impact, we can roughly estimate that their forces are stationed no further than a couple hundred meters away on all sides.” Rockwell gestured with his finger by tracing a rough circle around their position.
A brief silence fell over them, after a few moments a corporal spoke up. “What about Rapture and Ranger, how are they holding up?” he asked.
Rockwell took a breath. “From what the L.T. says, Rapture ain’t doing so hot, Ranger though is fine but are probably having blood rush to their heads.”
Henry nodded and looked at the troops. “As of yet we haven’t been able to make communication with command due AWACs being out for the next few hours and if those men in lab coats are right, it’s going to be dark within the next two hours. Which by that point Command will already know something isn’t right.”
“Are we going to check on the others and try and rescue them?” Another trooper asked.
Both Henry and Rockwell nodded. “I was just about to get to that, once the sun goes down and night settles in we’ll get them. Unless these horses have N.O.Ds or some shit we should be fine.” The men chuckled and nodded their heads.
Henry smiled himself and shared competent look with Rockwell who in turn nodded his head. “Alright, then. Roger, Baker, you two watch our flanks. Caroline, I want you on that 50s controls, rest of you rest up!”
:[-]:
Henry climbed back into the cockpit of the armored craft at the sound of the pilot communicating over the radio. “Negative, Rhino, reinforcements is a no go. I repeat a no go; we cannot risk any more unnecessary casualties.”
“Bullshit!” The driver cursed before grasping the radio. “We’re sitting ducks out here, goddammit! Two humvees lost and a squad trapped outside, and we’re surrounded!”
“I’m sorry to hear that Rhino, but Command is focusing more on taking the coastal cities, over.” The radio man on the AWACs replied.
Henry took the radio. “What about air support? If they can at least kill or scare off our attackers that would at least make it so we can get out on our own.”
A few moments of silence past. “May I ask who is speaking? Over.”
Henry took a breath. “This is Lieutenant Henry Wells of Echo Company, over.”
“Shit, what are you doing with a scouting party? Over.”
“I volunteered, now can you fucking check if we can get some bloody air support? Over.” Henry sighed shook his head and a few moments of silence past.
“CONTACT EAST!” A shout came from the rear cabin followed by rapid shots coming from the side mounted machine gun. Henry looked back and scowled.
“Oh shit...” The pilot muttered and Henry turned to see the man looking at the visual monitor displaying a thermal image of what looked like an entire Equestrian battalion charging towards them.
Above Henry heard the mounted controlled .50 cal fire a barrage into the bonzai charging army. “Smoke screen,” Henry said as he looked down to the pilot. “Deploy smoke, obscure their vision and put this thing in reverse.” The driver nodded and shifted the assault vehicle into reverse before deploying a series of black and white smoke around the craft. Henry snatched up the radio. “Ranger, this is Rhino, Equine forces are converging on us!”
“You fucking think?!” The man on the radio replied, his voice nearly overwhelmed by the sound of repetitive gun fire.
Henry watched monitor as hundreds of armored Equestrians came rushing out of the trees and from over the hills, most of them running blindly through the smoke as they tried to near the vehicle. He brought the radio up to his mouth. “Gather your men, we’ll be on you in just a few moments, whatever you do, try not to make yourselves seen!”
“Roger that! But not being seen is a no go! The fuckers are all over us––fuck we got a DnD wizard! Put the bitch down!”
Henry looked on the monitor just in time to see a couple unicorns casually walking towards the fray, their horns glowing bright on the thermal imagery, a bubble like aura occasionally flashing as modern day ammunition bounced off the protective shield as if they meant nothing. Henry cursed. And ran back to the cabin. “Focus on those fucking unicorns! If they get closer we’re fucking done for!” He ordered the gunners, he turned and climbed back into the cockpit.
“Sir we’re right on top of Ranger, I’ll be opening the doors in just a moment.” The pilot said and deployed a second wave of smoke.
Henry nodded and snatched up the radio. “Ranger! Gather your boys, we’re opening the doors!” He said but received no response. “Ranger!” He hailed them again. A loud screeching bang shook the entire craft as equine artillery shell struck the craft, followed by another, and another. “Ranger you still better be fucking alive!” Henry growled into the radio as he eyed the three unicorns still approaching the craft, their horns flaring as three boulders came into view. Henry looked in disbelief as the unicorns whipped the massive stones at the craft.
The entire AAV lurched with each impact, the digital display flickering with every hit. “Dammit, Ranger––” Henry was interrupted by a wave of static.
“Open the fucking doors!” A younger, and very panicked voice yelled over the radio.
The pilot immediately lurched forward and opened all doors on the craft, within seconds the back, main door fell open with a heavy thud and out of the smoke came two lower ranking troopers, along with an onslaught of Equine soldiers.
“Open fire” Rockwell shouted. “Don’t let these Barnyard fucks on the craft!” Raising his rifle, he and every other soldier, began to fire at anything on four legs that came out of the smoke.
Quickly one of the two soldiers that ran onto the craft came into the cabin, it was a young female. “Close the doors!” She says her face looking panicked and tear stricken.
“What about the others?” Both the pilot and Henry asked.
“They’re fucking dead! Close the doors!” Henry looked to the pilot who then hesitated before nodding his head and activating the doors. Another succession of sharp bangs rattle against the side of the AAV, each hit shaking the vehicle with each hit.
Henry bit his lip, they were moving the cannons closer, it was only a matter of time now before they fully converge on them. “Pull this thing back, we’re getting the hell out of here!” He yelled just as another unicorn slammed the assault craft with another boulder, causing the men and women inside to stumble back.
The driver nodded and shifted the craft into reverse and began pulling back away from the carnage. Moving back by about a meter the ground beneath the craft shifted and churned before suddenly giving away. Yelping out loud as the craft slid off its wheels before rolling into the magically appearing sinkhole, Henry would find himself slamming back first into the side of the interior walls.
“What the fuck was that?!” The driver yelled, his voice panicked. Trying to contain his own composure, Henry doesn’t respond but instead snatches the radio.
“Where the fuck is our air support?!” Henry snarls into the radio. “We’re getting eaten alive out here!” Outside he could hear the repetitive thumps and smacks of hooves and weapons slamming against the AAV, as the Equestrians tried to rip their way inside with such primitive tools.
“CROW is down, Sir!” The woman controlling the fifty shouted from the back. “I can’t shoot them off!” Henry gritted his teeth and balled his hand into a fist, his patience for a reply teetering off the edge. Though before he could rip whoever was listening a new one, the radio began static.
“Echo team this is Phantom Pain we will be launching in ten mikes, what are your coordinates?” Suddenly the entire assault craft was filled with joy and tears as each and every marine began fist pumping the air and high fiving each other.
The driver blinked and looked at Henry. “Holy shit, why the Hell is Brass sending the Phantom in?” He muttered but Henry didn’t reply, grinning from ear to ear, he brought the radio up to his mouth.
“Nice to hear from you Phantom! You’re a fucking life saver!” Henry laughed as he lowered the radio and checked the visual monitor, from what he could make out from the dust, he could see the equines pulling off the AAV and climbing out of the sinkhole. “Just in time, looks like they’re regrouping.” He glanced at the driver and tapped his shoulder. “Start getting the coordinates down and ready to transmit.” He ordered just as the radio began to static once more.
“Godfather, to Echo, how copy over?” Henry’s heart lept into his throat and he brought the radio immediately back up.
“Echo here, you’re loud and clear. Over.” Henry gulped, that sounded like Commander Weiser.
“Ya’mind giving me a sitrep on your situation, over?” Henry bit his lower lip a little harder, his teeth feeling as if they were about to break skin, this wasn’t going to look good on his record at all. Glancing once more at the visual monitor, he unfortunately couldn’t see any Equine activity, they were possibly preparing for another attack. Taking a deep breath Henry started to explain their situation.
“So you were ambushed? Over.” The Supreme Commander asked as if he couldn’t believe it.
Henry took a breath and nodded despite no one seeing. “Affirmative, over.”
“So two escorts and an AAV out of commission, sounds to me you just handed the enemy some high valuable equipment, Lieutenant. Over.” The commander didn’t sound pleased at all, and quite honestly, that was to be expected.
“Coordinates are ready, sir, I’ll be transmitting them now.” The driver told Henry before getting to work. Still looking at the visual screen he knew all too well they were sending Phantom Pain.
“Affirmative sir, may I ask what your orders are? Over.” Henry lowered the radio.
“I need you and your troops secure those damn escorts, and neutralize any of those four legged fucks! If they get their germ ridden mouths on any of those weapons it may just extend this war! Do you copy?”
Henry took a deep breath. “I copy.”
“Good. Out.”
