The last of what's up There

Foreword: riiight, so I realize this chapter is late, and as a result I've decided to abolish the schedule. So this story will be updated whenever my beta-reader reads new chapters.

I've had this idea for a shipfic for a while and it's been nagging at me so goddamn hard so I'll write and post that after this story is finished.

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Chapter Two
Infinity

Date: September 11th, 2555
Location: UNSC Infinity, in geosynchronous orbit above Equestria.
Individual: Lieutenant Robert S. Crusher of the UNSC Dawn of the Sun(destroyed.)
Time:12:19AM

"You wanted to see me, Sir?" Lieutenant Crusher asked as soon as he stepped before the Captain of the Infinity, a respectable man named Andrew Del Rio, saluting the man of higher prestige and not dropping his hand until the Captain had returned the salute in full.

"I did. For a year and a half I have sat in this system, learning much about the Equines on the surface and reporting it back to ONI and the UNSC. However, I have received new orders from HighCom; the Infinity is to return the Oort Cloud at the edge of Sol to begin the training for the next batch of Spartan-IV supersoldiers" Captain Del Rio explained.

"I understand, sir" Lieutenant Crusher replied, nodding.

"There are a few things before I leave, though. You'll need to be refitted with modern weapons and armor, and meet up with a special team that I've deployed to the planet's surface, in the town of New Ponyville" the Captain stated.

"Understood, sir."

"One more thing, Lieutenant Crusher. Or should I say Commander Crusher?" Del Rio asked, fishing into his pocket and handing over a tiny cardboard box.

Robert opened the box and saw the gold maple-leaf of UNSC Commander, pulling it out and looking it over.

Robert looked up at the Captain who merely nodded, confirming that this was all real.

"Thank you, Sir" Commander Crusher said, saluting the Captain who returned the salute before turning back to look at his command board.

"You're welcome, Commander. Dismissed" Captain Del Rio declared.

*-*-*

Stepping into the armory of the Infinity Commander Crusher was quite impressed with the entire stock; many weapons looking very familiar but only at the base of appearance. Most of the weapons had new aesthetics, integrated attachments, or ergonomics.

Having placed his MA5C in one of the crates labeled 'obsolete' Commander Crusher approached the racks of battle rifles, pulling one out and looking it over.

The weapon still looked like a battle rifle in the basic layout of one, but sported an all new appearance, with a more brushed steel frame interspersed by black polyesters and a more comfortable hand and pistol grip. Written on the side of the weapon, above the trigger and selector switch, was BR85HB-SR.

Hefting one of the magazines the Commander fully loaded it with the BR standard round, the 9.5mm round and inserted it into the magazine housing, racking the charging handle and watching the digital display change from 00 to 36 with + 0 displayed in smaller font below.

Curious about this Commander Crusher removed the current magazine and loaded another fully loaded one into the housing, watching the counter change from 36 + 0 to 36 + 1.

The display now checks one in the chamber? Nice. Only took them over a hundred years to integrate this feature the Commander thought.

Next he moved on to the pistols and saw that they were just like his current M6G/B except for updated appearance.

No reason to switch.

Moving on to the assault rifle section Commander Crusher pulled out the weapon, reading MA5D written on the side above the trigger and selector lever.

The MA5D seemed almost exactly like the MA5C except for updated trigger and pistol grip ergonomics, as well as an updated cheek rest.

It looked very comfortable to hold, and a quick look at one of its magazines confirmed its capacity; 32 rounds.

"Well I guess we'll see how much more accurate you are over the MA5C" Crusher stated, grabbing the MA5D and loading a magazine.

*-*-*

After a quick test in the armory's firing range Commander Crusher had decided to go with the MA5D as his choice of primary weapon.

After the test he had boarded a Pelican drop-ship and returned to New Ponyville where he then proceeded to the town Library, where he sort of lived.

It's complicated the Commander thought as he entered the structure, unprepared for what he saw when he did so.

Standing in the middle of the foyer, being barraged with a cacophony of questions from a group of Schoolfoals, were five Spartan-IV supersoldiers.

Upon seeing the Commander the Spartans gently pushed the foals aside with their feet and approached the naval officer, saluting the Commander who then returned the gesture.

"Petty Officer Second Class Wilhelm-035, reporting" the Spartan said to the Commander, who closed the door to the library.

"Welcome Spartan, I take it you and your team are the special team that has been assigned to me?" Crusher inquired.

"Correct, sir. Captain Del Rio has assigned us a special mission; search the old gem caves in the mountain Canterlot is built on to look for possible Forerunner artifacts. A Sangheili team will head in first as they're the most familiar with the Forerunners. After they discover any artifacts we will head in behind them to secure these artifacts for return to the UNSC" the Spartan explained.

"Do the Sangheili know about that last part?" Commander Crusher asked, folding his arms over his chest.

"Captain Del Rio has promised us that the Sangheili will get their fair share of Forerunner technology" the Spartan answered.

"Good, I'd hate for the Sangheili to come kick us on the playground because they didn't get a big enough slice of the pie, if you know what I mean" Robert said.

"Yes, sir" Spartan-035 replied.

"You understood that analogy?" Commander Crusher asked, confused. All Spartans he'd dealt with in the past understood almost no analogies and jokes due to their limited exposure to pop culture.

"I wasn't always a Spartan, Commander. I used to be Staff Sergeant Wilhelm Gruber of the 77th ODST Division" Wilhelm replied.

These new Spartans are volunteers from UNSC Special Forces and not abducted children? Interesting Commander Crusher thought.

"Well carry on, Spartan" Crusher ordered, receiving another salute from the Spartan who then looked back at his comrades.

"Spartan Group Alpha, move out" Wilhelm commanded, stepping past the Commander along with his squad as they all headed outside.

The school foals all filed past in cautious pursuit of the Spartans, one of the last colts to head out saying "I wanna be a Spartan when I grow up."

Commander Crusher smiled at this before stepping into the library proper where he watched Twilight flop onto the couch in exhaustion.

"Rough day?" the Commander asked as he approached the couch, sitting down next to Twilight and massaging her back.

"Ooooohh, yes Robert" the lavender Unicorn answered his question, moaning happily as the human worked her back over like a seasoned veteran of massages.

"Hey Twilight, listen; I've been assigned a very important mission by the Infinity. Captain Del Rio believes that there are more Forerunner artifacts to be found in the old gem caves beneath Canterlot and has ordered me and a team of Spartan-IVs to look for these artifacts. We'll be sending in a team of Elites first but the point is I'll be out of town for a few days next week, OK?" Robert said to the Unicorn.

"Uuooghh, s-sure thing, Rob" Twilight moaned, a blush coming to her and Robert's faces.

After about fifteen minutes the massage had finished with all the knots and tensions worked out of Twilight's back, the Unicorn herself however was mostly a melted pool of bliss.

She had been so relaxed that she fell asleep.

"Sleep tight, Twilight" Commander Crusher whispered as he draped a blanket over Twilight, heading out of the library as quietly as possible as he prepared to head out to the nearby UNSC base.

This mission was going to be easy.

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Author's note: Sure it will, Robert.

Legal note: Commander Robert Crusher, Petty Officer Second Class Wilhelm/Spartan-035, and all related characters belong to me. Captain Andrew Del Rio belongs to 343 Industries. Twilight Sparkle and all related characters belong to Hasbro. My Little Pony belongs to Hasbro. Halo belongs to 343i.