Defender of Freedom

by Damocles

The darkness

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Mission 4 The darkness

Briefing:

1.Look at the evidence from earlier

2.Set up base and defenses

3.Upgrade the Enterprise

Pov: Eric

Date: [L+7]

Time:4:00 pm

Location: Unknown Lands

After the “great manly hunt” any leftover meat was either smoked into jerky or was frozen for later use. Reaching the cockpit two things were waiting for me on the table. One was a camera the deltas probably used and the other were bags? Walking towards the bags I noticed that they bulged as if they were full to the brim, opening the bags I was stunned to find gold bullions.

“Why was there gold bullions in a pyramid and what is their purity?”

Closing the bags so that the gold doesn't fall out I grabbed a cable to transfer photos from the camera to the computer.Connecting them I transferred the photos hoping that the photos are not too blurry. Opening up the photos what I saw both answered my questions and scared me.

The photos told a story about how ponies used to live here in harmony until something looking like a shadow manipulated their minds making them turn on each other. When war started and many died the shadow possessed the bodies to wage war on the survivors. The survivors fled but left a map of where the went which led south east and if I remembered the map back at HQ that would have led them towards the forbidden jungle. With no one to kill the shadow would be dormant until anybody else steps on the land.”...SHIT!”

Looking out the window I can spot dark clouds near the mountains moving towards us to fast to be natural. Wasting no time I grabbed the microphone “General quarters general quarters all hands man your battle station we have a army bearing down on us due west, All engineers you better build faster as we need those bunkers now!” Ending the transmission I ran out the door intending to get to the armory as quickly as I can.

One very fast run to the armory later

Thankfully the armory's door was open allowing me to run in grabbing my revolver and a AA-12 shotgun.Grabbing all the ammo I can I rushed back out hoping to get to the ground as quickly as possible.I ran along the corridor towards the ladders, while we do have elevators they are slower compared to sliding down the ladders.Reaching the ladders I held on the sides as I slid down.Reaching the bottom I let go dropping a foot before landing and taking off down the corridor to the right.Reaching the storage I saw the vehicles were moving out while Infantry were running around collecting their gear or running outside.Running down the ramp I made my way to the frontlines where the engineers have built a line bunkers and trenches.As I dropped into the trench I pulled the cocking handle on the AA-12 ensuring I dont have to do that later on during the battle.

Minutes passed as more men joined me in the trenches and the vehicles set up behind us. In the distance dark clouds rumbled yet there was no lightning. Taking out some binoculars I had in my jacket I looked through it and spotted something that confirmed the story the deltas found in the pyramid. A horde of reanimated zombie ponies were rushing towards us while a shadowy being was behind them. Stashing the binoculars I brought up my shotgun and waited.

Two minutes have passed before the HIMARS and NLOS-C fired rockets and shells. Explosions blossomed in the distance wiping out chunks of the horde but yet they charged. The FCS’s fired their mortar rounds while the mortars were getting ready to fire phosphorus. Cracks were heard as the snipers took out the more heavily armored ponies as the mortars now fired fiery fury.

As the horde grew closer they were being thinned out by the artillery but not quickly enough. Now in range the rest of the vehicle's started firing cutting swathes of the enemy down but it was not enough. The turrets started firing all their weapons into the horde which was now a fraction of its size but still huge. I steadied my grip as the horde came within firing range and pulled the trigger , I must have loaded frag rounds as where ever I pointed explosions bloomed. As the Infantry fired the horde was being cut down too quickly for that shadow as it screeched in anger before charging the line. Seeing this I climbed the trench and threw the shotgun to the ground as I raised the glove which glowed blue brightly before pointing it at the shadow. It slowed down but so did the world as the thing barreled towards me with one of its arms morphing into a blade.

The shadow started to change looking like a glitch jumping around the place more and more and the time passed by. When he was in punching range I pulled back my left arm before pushing it forward yet I was not fast enough, during the small time between pulling my arm to pushing it forward the thing began swinging its arm down on my right side. Flesh met shadow as it cut through flesh, muscle and bone before nearly meeting my ribcage before the glove emitted a powerful pulse which destabilized it so much it started glowing orange from the amount of time radiation(E-99) it absorbed as it slowly broke apart as its molecules started shifting into the past present and the future individually leaving the being scattered throughout time.

When the being was finally gone my vision became blurry as I fell forward unto the ground, the last thing I heard was the soldiers screaming for the medic.

Date:???

Time:???

Location:???

Bright light filled my vision as I blinked wondering where I am before a burning sensation started where my right arm would be.When I opened my eyes I can see a ceiling so I'm guessing I'm not dead yet. Feeling a headache coming on I held my head with my right arm? Looking down I do indeed have a right arm except it looked as if it came out of deus ex with all the black and yellow paint although the TMD I was wearing was now integrated into the arm. As I stared at the arm in wonder my vision began filling up with words , “HUD calibrations required, Health online, aim online, ammo online, compass online warning unknown technology beginning assimilations … assimilation complete TMD online.” As each of those words were said new things began popping up in my vision. Stunned I just sat there waiting for anything to break me out.

“Commander you're awake hah I knew one arm was not enough to kill you” The voice came from creed as he walked into the room.

“Creed what are you doing here no wait how long has it been?” hopping it wasn't a week or something.

“ Eh after you fainted on the battlefield it took us around four days to build the eyes and the arm so around four and a half days.” Creed said while stroking his beard.

“Wait why the eyes though the blade went through my arm?” I questioned again.

“Apparently the blade had something on it as your eyes were deteriorating at an alarming rate so we had to replace them as well, thankfully we were able to flush whatever it was out of your body before it could do any more damage.” Creed replied while still stroking his beard.

Nodding I began to sit up in the bed which took a few moments as I haven't moved a while but when I did I had to pop a few of my bones. Trying to stand up I was successful for a few moments before I grabbed the railing on the bed to hold myself up. A few minutes later I was able to walk around the med bay without collapsing, thankfully my uniform was fixed so after a quick change of clothes I walked out of the med bay… before realizing I have no idea where the med may is at all.

2 hours later

After walking around aimlessly for a couple of hours I found my way back to the cockpit looking at a note.

“Dear commander once you get your lazy ass up from the med bay. We at the engineering/science department have upgraded your computer with a upgrade section allowing you the ability to upgrade the Enterprise with tech we develop or find. P.S Please don't order multiple upgrades until we get more coffee - Creed”

“We had coffee?” I thought before I walked towards the computer and turning it on, after a short wait the screen displayed the Enterprise and the upgrades I could give her. So far the only thing I can give her is four rail guns on the top and bottom on the airship for long range fire support. Clicking the upgrade I opened another screen to check up on this base as I was gone for a while. The base has gone from a line of trenches and bunkers to a quite sizable base with drills in the distance mining ore. Deciding that I will wait for us to be resupplied from the base before taking off for the forbidden jungle I walked upstairs intending to get some nap time in before the long journey.

One four hour nap later

After getting the all clear from both the engineers and the base I increased pressure in the ballonets bringing the Enterprise up.Turning the wheel 180 degrees we began our journey to the forbidden jungle. “ I wish this thing had autopilot maybe I can get it as an Upgrade soon.”

Nearly a day later

I’m glad I got that sleep earlier because I would be falling asleep now if I hadn't.We were a little bit west of the forbidden jungles and we haven't spotted anything yet.Noticing something up ahead I grabbed my binoculars and peered through them.Up ahead was a small airship with a compass rose on its side, noticing something to our left I changed my gaze and spotted a new lunar fleet bearing towards us?

Grabbing the microphone “ General quarters general quarters all hands man your battle station we have a fleet bearing from out left.” Peering through the binoculars again I spotted the admiral of the fleet yelling something to his subordinates before pointing at us making it clear he what he wants.

Grabbing the Mike again “All rail guns target the largest ship’s bridge.” The lights in the room got dimmer as power surged to the rail guns before a thunderous volley fired at the largest airship’s bridge piercing any armor it may have destroying the ships center leaving it to fall to the ground.

Mike still in hand “ If any ship gets close fire at will also will squads Alpha, Bravo, Charlie , and Delta make their way to the hanger.” Letting go the mike I pulled the speed lever into the full stop before leaving to the armory to pick up my revolver.

One trip to the armory later

Making my way to the hanger I saw four squads, two marine and two deltas who saluted me.

“At ease men here the mission we have an unknown ship ahead of us we are to parachute in as there is not a big enough clearing for one of the helicopters and try to locate any clue to what happened to the ponies from across the sea.” I briefed the men who only response was a nod before getting on to ospreys. Climbing on board osprey number seven we had to wait as the osprey was carried to a launch deck by a crane before taking off. Grabbing a parachute one of the deltas handed me and put it on all we had to do was wait. I felt a song coming on and so the deltas as we sang about a poor airborne trooper from the second world war.

“He was just a rookie trooper and he surely shook with fright.

He checked off his equipment and made sure his pack was tight.

He had to sit and listen to those awful engines roar.

You ain't gonna jump no more.