Invictus FOB (Our Town, Day three of Manehatten siege

The Invictus Commander growled angrily from his audio box. The Commander leading the enemy forces was smarter than most he had encountered, and had somehow anticipated the majority of his attempts to take the city.

“So, Imperator Invictus, how goes the battle?” Starlight asked, walking up to the Commander.

”Not well. Enemy defenses far exceed anticipated strength. Our naval assault almost entirely failed, and the enemy Guardian turrets have denied us a victory with a dedicated assault.” Invictus replied.

“Oh, really? Well, I suppose it's to be expected. Manehatten is one of the biggest cities in Equestria. Maybe-” Starlight was about to suggest something, but Invictus tuned her out, as a new warning had appeared on his retinal display.

ENEMY DETECTED

Invictus checked his map of the area. True enough, there was multiple enemy air contacts converging on the city he was assaulting.

”Redirect forces to repel enemy reinforcements. Destroy them.” Invictus ordered, and out on the field, his forces, instead of marching forward to attack Manehatten, turned towards the new enemy contacts, marching out in a perimeter around the city.

“Oh, Invictus, I also found this thing. Dunno what it does though.” Starlight added, bringing an odd gadget up to Invictus’ view with her magic. Invictus examined it.

It appeared to be some kind of rifle, but with a blade of plasma energy mounted below the barrel. And from the looks of it, it fired solid rounds. As he took it from Starlight, a single male voice was heard saying: “For those who are in need of a scout, a commander, or a friend, I will answer the call. My name is Eliteslayer, but for those who knew me back then as Sebaste, I have returned… and I am ready to serve and protect…”

”Interesting. Some sort of recording software?” Invictus muttered, before checking in with his forces. The enemy forces had landed, and had begun to force his troops back into the range of the Manehatten defenses. If Invictus didn't do something soon, his forces would be caught between two lines of fire, and be destroyed. He looked down at the assault rifle. Contact… Sebaste? It asked the assault rifle, feeling as though it was a ridiculous notion.

Before his startled receptors, a portal formed a few feet below him, and a single armored figure stepped out from it. It looked around in confusion, as if it had been expecting to meet someone his size. “If this is a prank, I’m not amused!” It said, the voice matching that of the one from the message.

Greetings, organic.” Invictus stated, after scanning the armored figure, finding he was organic inside the armor. ”I request your assistance.”

“What the..?!” The figure looked up and stepped back in shock. “That's a fucking big robot…”

”Vulgarity is not required. I request your assistance.” Invictus stated blandly.

“Just roll with it. Invictus isn't what you would call a ‘social pony’.” Starlight said from behind him.

The figure turned around to face her. She could see that the armor was high tech, with a streamline shape and what appeared to be thrusters mounted in the back. The helmet was a bit blocky, with a gold visor across it. The suit itself was black and red, and the figure was armed with the same kind of rifle that she had found earlier, minus the energy blade. “Starlight? What’re you doing here?”

“Um… this is my home?” She said, eyes instantly suspicious. “Do I… know you from somewhere?”

“No, but I’ve encountered other versions of you.” The figure said. “Eliteslayer- 917, at your service.”

“That's… a really weird name. I'm just going to call you… what did Invictus say? Seberasie or something? I'm just gonna call you Seb.” Starlight sighed, examining him. “So, another robot, eh? What's next, is the moon gonna attack us?”

“Robot?!” Sebaste sputtered before realizing something. “Oh, it's the Spartan armor…” Unsealing his helmet, he revealed his face.

“Okay… so what are you? An alien or something?” Starlight asked, tilting her head to the side.

“I… guess you could say that. I'm what's known as a human, a bipedal species from a world called Earth. Unfortunately for me… I got sent to Equestria by that thrice damned Merchant…” He said that last part in a bitter tone.

”Conversation irrelevant. Assistance required.” Invictus stated, interrupting their conversation.

“Alright, I’ll bite. What exactly do you need help with?” Sebaste asked.

Invictus turned away, before a hologram depicting the terrain surrounding Manehatten appeared in front of them. ”Unidentified forces have begun assault of my operations here. If they continue to push my forces back, Manehatten defenses will open fire, and my forces will be stuck between two firing lines. I request your assistance to destroy enemy forces before this happens. If need be, you shall be aptly rewarded for your services.” Invictus explained.

“Hmmm… who's leading the the forces?” Sebaste asked as he looked over the map. His brow was furrowed, as if he was worried about something.

”Enemy unknown. Enemy forces first appeared during the Destruction of Canterlot, and this is the second time I have encountered them. Enemy Commander Unit unknown.”

Sebaste looked up sharply. “Canterlot was destroyed? By who?”

“We believe it was these guys.” Starlight suddenly spoke up quickly, before Invictus could respond. “They used some sort of machine that used seismic disturbances. They used it on Canterlot Mountain, and the supports of the city fell.”

Sebaste frowned, but let it pass. “I’m gonna need some support for this…” He then pressed a button on his suit. “Alex, Viktor, Rainblade, I need some backup.” He said, before a new portal opened up in front of him, and two more armored beings and a Pegasus exited it. Starlight's eyes widened as she saw the Pegasus was a cyan mare with a rainbow mane, but her forelegs, wings, left eye and tail were robotic. The other two both had red and silver armor, but while one had a pointed visor, the other had a half bubble with a skull print on it. The second armored figure also had strange looking armor on the right arm that terminated in a clawed gauntlet.

”Chance of success increased to thirty five percent.” Invictus noted.

“Um…. Seb? What's going on?” The second figure asked, its voice revealing it as female.

“Apparently this guy,” Sebaste jerked his head towards Invictus, “needs us to help with repelling enemy forces from attacking Manehattan. I can't do this on my own, so that's why I’ve called you three over.”

“Just give the word and we’ll stop them.” The first figure said, it voice revealing it as male.

”Enemy uses laser and plasma weaponry. My forces shall assist you where able. I can spare a civilian transport vessel to bring you to the battlefield.” Invictus stated.

“No need for that, we got our own rides.” Sebaste said before a one man fighter and a Dropship materialized by them.

“Oh, so you can make vehicle and stuff out of thin air too? Where's your… what’d he call it, nanowhatever?” Starlight asked, examining the dropship.

“You mean Nanomachines, son?” The first figure asked, before getting whacked behind the head by the second figure.

”Nanolathe.” Invictus corrected.

“Right, Nanolathe.” Starlight sighed.

“I… don't know what that is, but no, it's a power that Viktor and I have. We're able to summon both weapons and vehicles from the Halo Universe, while Alex can only summon weapons.”Sebaste said, nodding to the other two.

“The… Halo universe?” Starlight asked. “What's that?” Invictus nodded in her direction, finding his databanks lacking in information.

“It's… complicated, you see, your world and what we're dressed as, they're made up from where we came from. Halo was a game made for a device called a TV, while your world… is a cartoon.” Viktor spoke up.

“Oh yeah, and I’m an evil and crazy psychopath bent on world domination.” Starlight rolled her eyes.

The three humans suddenly became interested in their surroundings. The Pegasus rolled her eyes at their actions.

“What?” Starlight asked them, confused.

”You have your orders. Your reward will be here when you complete the mission.” Invictus interrupted.

Sebaste nodded before he leapt into the fighter. “Alright, Strike Squad Celestial Wrath, let's roll out!” He said.

As the Pegasus leapt into the air, the two figure entered the Dropship. With a roar of VTOL engines, it slowly rose into the air before putting on a burst of speed and flying off toward Manehatten, the fighter and the Pegasus following it.

When they were gone, Invictus spoke again. ”Starlight, why did you lie to them?”

“Because I got the feeling they work with Celestia, wherever they came from. At the very most, they support Equestria, and thus would be our enemies. We don't need any more problems.” Starlight explained. Invictus nodded.

”Understood. I believe I can link up with their armor and contact them whenever. I should send them whatever information we have regarding the enemy.” Invictus stated, before walking back into his base.

As the trio flew over the forest, they began to see sparks of light erupting all across the area, signaling some sort of battle going on.

“Looks like we're her- EVASIVE MANEUVERS!” Sebaste barked in the comms as a plasma blast streaked towards them. Rainblade peeled off to the left, while Sebaste, Alex and Viktor swung to the right. The blast missed them by inches, but it managed to scorch the hulls of the vehicles.

“This is Eliteslayer-917 to any forces that are allied with Invictus, we’re on your side!” Sebaste radioed as he fired a pair of missiles from his Broadsword.

”All forces under my command are linked directly to me. They are extensions, merely constructs. My forces have already designated you as an allied force. Locate a LZ and deploy immediately.” Invictus’ voice crackled from Sebaste’s comms.

“Invictus, how… Nevermind, securing an LZ now.” Sebaste said as he streaked towards the middle of the battle. Enemy KBots opened fire on the aircraft, lasers streaking past the windows and singed the plating. Only to be obliterated by the missiles fired earlier.

”Your technology is… primitive, compared to mine, Organic.” Invictus stated. ”Identifying and entering such a basic communications setup was easy.”

“Alright, I’m going Cyclops!” Sebaste said, ignoring the Commander, before swooping low over the ground. The Broadsword then shimmered and vanished, before a single mech armed with a single arm mounted heavy cannon replaced it. Skidding to a halt, the Cyclops blasted two more Kbots off their feet before sending another one flying with a well aimed punch.

Several heavy tanks broke through the tree line, letting loose with a barrage of plasma, which flew straight towards the Cyclops, beginning to burn off the armored plating.

“Alright, you want to play like that, do ya?” Sebaste growled. “Rainblade, take them out.”

Seconds later, a laser beam smashed through the lead tank and set off its power cell, annihilating it in a fiery explosion. Two more tanks suffered the same fate. Above the battlefield, Rainblade peered through the sights of her Lascannon, her shots directed by Absentia.

“They're falling back. I think they weren't expecting death from above.” Absentia commented. Rainblade chuckled as she relocated, her Lascannon retracting into her hoof.

”Radar scans suggest enemy forces are pulling back to a field command base. I believe they have set up a small factory complex to produce more forces.” Invictus’ voice called from their comms. ”My forces will assist you in destroying this facility.” Suddenly, dozens of small, pony sized bots marched out of the forest, with larger and more heavily armored bots marching behind them, heading away from the city behind them.

Meanwhile, Viktor had managed to land the Pelican behind enemy lines, and both he and Alex were heading towards the enemy complex. As Viktor drove the Mongoose, Alex readied her sniper rifle. I pray I’m just fighting automatons, and not ponies…. She thought as the two burst out into the open.

They saw several tri-barreled turrets immediately turn towards them, while two red buildings stood behind them, fabricating new tanks and robots, which had begun to march towards them, weapons ready. As the turrets began firing green lasers at the duo, several Dox bots leapt out of the forest, guns blazing as metal bullets rammed their way into the turrets and other robots. The enemy robots returned fire, lasers and plasma easily destroying the Dox’s.

A single armor piercing round brought down one of the bots, three more bots then suffered the same fate. Alex then leapt off the Mongoose, causing Viktor to halt. “Alex, what are you doing?! Get back on!” He said.

Alex didn't answer, but her gauntlet began to glow, before she unleashed a barrage of arcane missiles, wiping out a good majority of the enemy force, and critically damaging the complex. The factories continued pumping out more machines of war, their production facilities built to keep damage to the factory itself from damaging their systems. Just then, heavier robots marched out from the woods, bearing Invictus’ colors. They looked similar to the Dox robots from earlier, except more heavily armored. They began punching through the complex, stomping past Alex and soon reducing the factories to ruins.

As Alex turned back to Viktor, he thought he saw her visor glowing a bit, but decided that his eyes were playing tricks on him.

”Enemy appears to be in full retreat. I detect air transports moving to pick up any survivors.” Invictus stated, his forces continuing forward. ”I shall destroy them. Please return to FOB. Your reward has been completed.”

“Roger that…” Sebaste said, his voice tense. Viktor raised an eyebrow at that, but didn't ask what was the matter. As he and Alex entered the Pelican, he thought back to the display of power Alex had shown.

Power can corrupt even the most noble of those who get their hands on it… An old saying of his dad's echoed through his head.

Let's just hope Alex doesn't end up turning into the one that kills us all… Viktor thought before he opened the throttle.

They returned to find Invictus working on what looked to be something… similar to himself. It was big and blocky, with extra weapons perched on its shoulders, while a glowing red light emanated from its head. Starlight watched from nearby, seemingly studying him.

Sebaste streaked in before the vehicle vanished and he slammed into the ground. Rainblade, Alex and Viktor landed nearby, and watched as Sebaste walked towards Invictus and Starlight, his body language showing that he was not happy about something.

”Greetings, Organic designation: Sebaste.” Invictus greeted, turning to him. ”I have created a Command Unit that will assist you in your battles in wherever you came from.”

“Can it, Invictus.” Sebaste snapped. “I managed to hack the enemy database and found no evidence of them attacking Canterlot. When I checked the data from one of your destroyed bots, I found something interesting. Specifically, you were the one responsible for it being destroyed.” He pointed at the robot. “Do you deny this?”

”Negative. Mission parameters: Find all enemy Commanders, and annihilate them. The enemy’s main Commander was located in city designation: Canterlot. Assaulting it was the best course of action.” Invictus stated coldly.

“Yet you didn't even consider the innocent lives that were lost because of your attack?” Sebaste growled. “For someone that's been here for a few years now, you should have considered at least sending a messenger to allow those who aren't soldiers to evacuate.”

“Organics were deemed beneath my notice. Only prerogative is the complete annihilation of the enemy commanders.” Invictus responded.

Sebaste only gave the robot a smoldering glare. “I pray our paths don't cross again. I don't give a damn about your army, but I will not ally with you ever again.” He said as a portal opened behind him. He jerked his head to the other three. “Let's go.”

As the four entered the portal, Sebaste turned to look at Starlight. “Don't let power blind you to what's really happening. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself in a position that not even you can get out of…” he said.

“Hey, I'm the one who actually got him to take other ponies into consideration. He now lets me evacuate them to a safer location! Besides, I agreed to help him so this town would be safe!” Starlight growled.

“Oh I know of your little town, a two rate attempt of controlling ponies for your twisted views of being equal.” Sebaste chuckled. He then turned to Invictus. “While I may not ally with you, a deal’s a deal. I’ll take the bot you made.” A portal then opened beneath the Commander and it slowly sank down before vanishing entirely.

”Very well, organic.” Invictus stated, his processors calculating the success chance of Sebaste’s group ever messing with the Commander’s directives With only a .001% success chance. ”Next time we meet, you will fall before the might of the Legonis Machina.”

Sebaste raised an eyebrow under his helmet, but decided not to think about it. He entered the portal behind him and vanished, the portal closing with a hiss.

“Well, looks like that's over. Bunch of scumbags.” Starlight muttered. “So, I'm guessing we should continue with the siege?”

”Affirmative.” Invictus nodded, before sending the signal to his forces.

Author's Note

This was a crossover that happened between sections of Chapter Nine, so it’s chapter 9.5. The other writer is Primaris Marine Sebaste, go check out his story! Here’s the story

I hope you enjoyed somewhat, and I will see you all whenever I get the next chapter done!