Author's Note

Now we see Delta and the clones are not the only beings called to help Equestria

X-Com Joins The Fight

Back in Canterlot 75 and 76 chat idly waiting for debriefing. Beside them standing off to the side is Delta advisor.

"So I say hey at least we're keeping the scrap merchants busy." 75 tells the joke like he hasn't said it millions of time and 76 chuckles and shakes his head. The metal doors open and out steps a middle-aged man in a green long sleeve shirt. He looks rough with his unshaven five o' clock shadow and a grim face as he approaches. Behind him, Celestia trots into view, and the clones snapped to attention.

"Welcome aboard the Avenger Princess." Central Officer Bradford nodded respectfully.

"Thank you, Central." She shifted to the clones lined up in front of her.

"At ease gentlemen. Take your helmets off." The clones looked at each other. Then followed the order. Celestia stared into the same eyes the same face. "Name then numbers please I'd like to formally meet each of you. I am Princess Celestia alicorn of the sun and Co-ruler of Equestria."

"Dece, CT-7576 Ma'am." He stepped forward saluted then stepped back.

"Pycho Ma'am best clone flyer we got. Designation CT-7575." He had a proud smile. Celestia liked him already. Finally, Delta squad's advisor stepped forward.

"CC-01125 Ma'am" Celestia took note he wore armor similar to the Deltas, yet his helmet matched the other troopers.

"Do you not share a name like, your brothers?" She asked sounding confused.

"Advisor or 25 Ma'am." He let out sternly, and Celestia narrowed her eyes.

"I'd like to apologize on behalf of my intelligence department. It would seem, only half the info meant for your briefing made it through. From this point forward till all the Elements of Harmony have been gathered I will personally be overseeing Delta squad."
25 looked shocked

"With all due respect!"

"The lack of insight and knowledge has lead to mistakes. While the lack of such things is not your fault. I will see; personally, they are not repeated." She looked him in the eyes the clone balled his fist, but Celestia's gaze did not waver. "Understand this is not a reprimand or a demotion, your hands will not be Idle Twenty-Five. I'm transferring you to our intelligence department. With you in charge, I'm sure such mistakes between our magic and your technology will not be repeated a better understanding of both will benefit us all." The clone stiffened. His face remaining neutral, but the other two could tell he was not happy in the slightest. Celestia turned and walked back down the line stopping in front of 75 and 76.

"Though I do have one question your numbers so close together are you older then Pycho Dece?" She asked with genuine curiosity. The biggest shit eating grin formed on Pycho's face he slung an arm over his brother's shoulders who looked ready to sink into the floor at the other clones actions.

"Yep, this is my one number older brother. He's a bit of a stick in the mud." He joked

"And you're reckless!" Dece called back then looked at Celestia apologetically. " Er...Sorry Ma'am, We're the same age we were cloned in batches. Seventy-Five and I are from the same batch." He tried to regain his composure as Pycho kept his grin.

"Fascinating I'm happy to have all of you enjoy some rest Dismissed." Celestia nodded, and the Clones snapped to attention and saluted her. She turned and trotted out of the room. Leaving Central Officer Bradford and the clones.

The clones replaced their helmets. 25 looked calm, but the other two knew he was upset. He went to leave, but Dece put a hand on his shoulder.

"You good advisor?" 25 grunted and shrugged his hand off to walk away.

"Leave him 76. If Mr. Superiour genetics wants to mope cause he got in trouble let him." 75 crossed his arms Dece took a last look at 25 as he walked away.

"Just hope he doesn't take it out on a local. We all owe the princesses." He said it loud enough for 25 to hear but he kept walking. The clone advisor passed Bradford who was leaning on a steel beam. 25 stopped and looked him over visible,

"You're not Republic or pony. whats your story?"

"Central Officer Bradford. You and I have the same job, more or less. I'm in charge of advising all X-Com operatives in the field."

"She demote you to?" 25 asked dryly, and Bradford shook his head.

"Don't take it personally if I've learned anything the past month. The Princess takes any loss personally. your Commando's salvaged a botched mission from the start expertly." Bradford assured the clone. But 25 didn't look moved by his words.

"What's so special about these six anyway?" He asked letting some of his frustration seep into his words. Bradford put a hand on his chin.

"To the Princess, their her subjects she put in danger. To the war, probably the only sure fire way to end all of this." Bradford let out solemnly. Before 25 could ask anything else, Bradford cut him off.

"But that's enough giving out privy information let me show you, your new department advisor." The man walked, and 25 followed. They walked in comfortable silence as they approached a room like an airlock past that the Ivory castle pillars and marble floor. It was a jarring contrast.

"So this is the Princesse's castle... It's shiny." The clone commented looking around. It reminded him of pictures he'd seen of the Naboo Palace.

"Thanks we do our best." A warm voice off to his right commented, and he looked to find a brown mare in a maid's uniform. She had a broom and a dustpan in her leaf-green magic. "This old castle is so full of life since the conflict started."there was a happy tone to her words that had 25 raising an eyebrow and cocking his helmet slightly.

"You sound glad?" He asked confused his words slow.

"Oh, of course, I'm glad usually this castle is dull, lifeless but with all the Bi-peds and their equipment it's giving us quite the workout." She beamed swaying as she swept.

"I hope my people aren't giving you too many problems Ma'am," Bradford asked sternly clearly expecting some and was already planning out display.

"No your soldiers have been well behaved Princess Luna has seen to that." The older mare said with a glint of Mischief. Bradford smirked shaking his head. But 25 couldn't shake his questions out of his head.

"You're excited about war thou you're a pony?" He asked pointing a finger. The mare's face hardened, but she turned with a smirk.

"The griffons have their crude firearms, the Elk their cruel tribes and Sadistic magic, And the mighty Minotaur have the most durable armor and metals. But each foe, time and time again forget what we ponies have." As she spoke a hint of a Scottish accent crept into her words giving them more weight.

"Harmony and the very Sun and Moon themselves are on our side." The Conviction this cleaning pony spoke reminded him of Yoda before the Empire.

"You looked at me and saw an old pony just cleaning the floor." She smiled and tossed him a rag 25 caught it on reflex.

"Save it for the Rookies Dusty. We got a schedule to keep." Bradford stepped in right as the Unicorns horn lit up again.

"Aw Ah saw a spot the Pegasus missed." She chuckled, but 25 jumped back, hand reaching for his blaster.

"Easy Trooper!" Bradford shouted the Clone looked at him

"What was you about to do?" He demanded, and Dusty looked offended.

"Probably gonna lift you in her magic to a spot on the wall that doesn't exist as a way to show off," Bradford explained, and 25 pulled his hand away from his blaster.

"Maybe some time with the locals would do you some good." Bradford could feel the glare through the T-shaped visor. "See you around Dusty Barrel." He walked away, and the clone offered the unicorn one last look before following.

It was a short trip just two halls over. Bradford pushed open the large wooden door, and 25 looked over his shoulder. Ponies and Humans all wearing similar padded armor matching the kind Bradford wore, were running around rewiring and moving paper, Parchment, and Data pads all over the room. In the middle stood the Princess of the Night with a headset on looking at a human girl in X-com Gear on a screen.

"Guard post seventeen is up and running Den Mother." She reported happily, and Bradford scooped up a headset

"I thought I told all operatives to reframe from calling the Princess that! She'll take it literally, and I'll never have order, in this place ever again." 25 could tell he was only half joking. "Besides Princess Lu-"

"Ehem Central." The Princess urged with a devious smile Bradford sighed

"Den Mother..." Bradford sighed, and the op on the screen let out a woo pumping her arms in the air.

"Operation Den Mother is a GO!!" She cheered, and several others cheered around the room cementing this as a running joke. The screen next to the operative flared to life showing a Koren looking black haired girl with a smug smile.

"I heard operation Den Mother is a go."

"Dammit Shen not you too." He groaned the girl only smiling harder.

"Sorry Central Luna's been a huge help so far." She admitted sheepishly.

"I'd have to agree. Thanks to the pony and there Princesses we have made considerable discovers to not only our limited Psionic knowledge. But of the benefits of this worlds magic as well." An African man in a lab coat came in through a side door handing Luna a Datapad. "The Information you requested Den Mother." He had a smirk and a quick glance at Central.

"You all seem pretty relaxed." 25 stated, and Shen looked at him.

"Ya, why don't you take off the helmet." She narrowed her eyes hostility.

"Lily," Bradford warned

"I'm a clone there's not much to look-" 25 started

"Ya! a clone of what?" Shen interrupted

"Shen back off he's not Advent," Bradford spoke sternly, and the Shen's screen went dark.

Bradford shook his head

"I'll talk to her Princess, Tygan fill, 25 in." Bradford walked off, and Tygan approached the clone with an outstretched hand.

"I apologize for my colleague. I'd like to say her fears are irrational, but our planet before X-com's victory was conquered and ruled by an alien force that used cloned soldiers to enforce their rule." Tygan explained and 25 was left speechless but understanding the girl's hostility a little more.

"Though if I may ask you to remove your helmet, i assure you it is purely out of curiosity," Tygan asked, and 25 Removed the helmet to reveal the standard issue buzz cut and brown skin. He felt uncomfortable and exposed, but for the sake of putting others at ease, he did so.

"I can safely assume you are far better than anything the Elders ever created Twenty-Five. I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable." Tygan offered a smile, and 25 nodded replacing the helmet.

"A little discomfort to put everyone at ease... seems fair to me but I don't know what you expected under the helmet." 25 let out feeling better under the helmet. Tygan lit up

"Well you see the standard Advent trooper have large-" Luna raised a hoof.

"Compare enemies of the past later for now let us focus. Welcome, Twenty-Five I am Princess Luna ruler of the night and Welcome to my Part of this war."