Chapter 5: Joint Ops

Chapter 5: Joint Ops

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own any and all characters of My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic

Written by Scope (me). Edited and illustrated by Mailbox of d00m)

Black Team
Operation Lightning Storm
Fillydelpia
November 3, 1002
18:15

Scope and his team drive down the dirt road in line with other humvees to Fillydelphia with Scope at the wheel, Jericho in the passenger seat, and Hawkeye and Mocrobra in the back. Scope keeps his hooves on the wheels on eyes on the road while listening to the radio chatter just in case something comes up. The others try to keep themselves busy during the two hour road trip. Mocobra scans the road to watch out for enemies and IED'S. Jericho, as usual, is asleep. While Hawkeye repeatedly kicks the back of Scope's seat.

Scope sighs in annoyance. "What do ya want?"

"Turn on the music."

"I can't I gotta listen out on the comms."

"Who cares its not like they say anything important anyways. All I ever hear is BLAH BLAH BLAH BRAVO ALPHA TANGO BLAH BLAH BLAH."

"I doesn't matter we still gotta listen out just in case."

"Mocobra said I get to drive next time, whatever happen to that?"

"Well last time I check Mocobra wasn't the leader of this team."

"You guys never let me drive..."

"I'm sorry sis, its not that we don't trust you at the wheel because you're a girl, its just that we don't trust you at the wheel because you're girl."

Hawkeye kicks the back of the seat as hard as she could causing Scope's face to fly into the wheel. Jericho chuckled in in sleep most likely hearing the little joke Scope just cracked. Scope brings his head back up and tries to focus his sight.

"Are you trying to get us killed?" Mocobra calmly asks.

"You pigs are all the same..." Hawkeye mumbles to herself.

After the two hour drive the line of Humvee stop at the sight of a few brides in sight, they pulls off they main road and park their vehicles. The soldiers get out and grabs all of their equipment and head out while some of the other Humvee move up the road. On the way to the bridge Scope spots Shining Armor and a few other soldiers standing around a table with a map on it. Black Team approaches them with a hesitant manner. Shining Armor sees them coming towards him as he turns around to greet them.

"Good looks like your here, maybe now we can actually get things started." Shining Armor says.

"What do you mean get started? You mean you haven't even gotten your guys over the bridge yet?" Scope asks

"No, the enemy blew up the bridge from where we are to the west and I cant get our air force across with out them getting shot down. Take a look at this." Shining Armor gestures Scope over to the table. "From what we seen the rebels have air to surface missiles place here and here." Shining Armor points out there positions on the map.

They're probably get shot down cuz they're still using those painfully slow zeppelins...

"They have soldiers lined up all across the other two bridges armed with sniper rifles and rocket launchers."

Scope just puts his head down on the map with the others looking at him strangely. "This is going to be a long...long...long war." Scope whispers to himself. He picks his head back up and takes off his shades, the other are a little taken back at their first sight of his eye. "Alright lets see...did you evacuate the civilians?"

"Yeah we already got that done." Shining Armor replies

"Ok then, listen we'll send in our armored units first, get your guys behind us so we can cover you. Do have any tank support?"

Shining Armor hesitates a little to answer the question. "Yeah...sorta." He says while rubbing the back of his neck.

Scope cocks an eye brow up at him. "What do you mean sorta?"

"We do have tanks on the line but...they're the old T-34'S..."

Scope almost dropped dead from just hearing this. "Please tell me your pulling my leg!?"

Shining Armor looks down. "I'm afraid not..."

"WHAT!? YOUR FUCKING KIDDING ME! YOUR REALLY TELLING ME YOUR HAVEN'T UPGRADED YOUR TANKS IS OVER 30 YEARS! NO WONDER YOUR LOSING THIS WAR!"

"The princess wanted to keep Equestria a peaceful, non-aggressive country, so we just stopped producing weapons all together, we barely kept maintenance on them after all these years, you have to understand, none of us saw this uprising coming."

We're all gonna die... Scope thought to himself. He took a glace at the other soldiers at the table, Shining armor wasn't joking. none of them even have sidearms to go along with them. "Ok, we can make this work, I want your unicorns up the tanks when we're moving up, they'll put up shield barriers up in front to provide extra cover and hopefully the rebels don't have the bridges rigged to blow."

"Ok but what about the anti air?"

"You let me worry about that."

"Alright then."

"Alright I'll be back in a sec." Scope turns around and puts his shades back and walks back over to his team and explains the situation to them.

"So what do we now?" Hawkeye asks.

"Well I was gonna call in CAS but that wouldn't be a good idea since they have SAM sites up. Do we have any artillery to call for a fire mission?"

"Fortunately we do, they got here before we did and they're set up to the southeast of us ready for any request. They're call sign is Charlie Battery."

"Good cuz we're gonna need it. I just hope that Celestia won't miss a couple of buildings. Call them and tell them to get rid of those AA's."

"Roger." Hawkeye takes out a map of the city and contacts the artillery team.

"Well that's one problem solved today." Just before Scope turns around he sees the other soldiers getting back in their humvees. Scope panics and flies towards one of the vehicles in a flash and stops the driver. "Wait wait wait where are you guys going!?"

"Sorry Scope but we just got reassigned to another mission. If you got a problem with that then talk to the colonel. Looks like you're on your own, but don't worry though im sure they could help you out." The driver points to the royal guardsmen as the other soldiers in the back snicker and laugh. The humvees speed off leaving Scope in the dust.

"Just my luck, the only backup we had just took off..." Scope walks back over to the table and looks over the map to see any other way into the city. "Alright we should have those AA systems down in just a minute captain, hopefully you won't need me to hold your hoof for the rest of this?"

"No need to worry Scope we'll have the rest under control. Now im guessing you still want some assistance?"

"Huh?"

"We all just saw what happened there."

"Damn...fine I guess we could use some help."

"Alright just a second. Sergeant Lightning." Shining Armor calls out. A pegasus at the table walks over to him.

"Yes sir?"

"I want your team to go with them to assist them on their mission."

"Understood captain."

"Don't worry your in good hooves, I've heard they're some of the best they have."

Lightning looks over his shoulder and gets a glance at Black Team. He sees Hawkeye chancing a butterfly, Mocobra whistling, and Jericho standing there picking his nose. He keeps the straight look on his face while in the back of his mind he prays to Celestia that he and his men will be able to make it through this day.

"Oh, by the way." Scope cuts in. "I called in a little fireworks show, it should be starting in a couple of seconds." He points at the the buildings in the city as everypony turns to see what he's talking about. After about a few seconds of staring at nothing they could all hear the sound of something heavy falling from the sky at a high speed, then repeated explosions could be seen from where they were standing, by the time the explosions are over each of the buildings have taken catastrophic damage looking noting how they original did . The soldiers from B.O.W. start to cheer at the explosions while the royal guard just stand there with their mouths a gaped in amazement to what have just witnessed. If there was one thing Scope was going to enjoy about this war it was going to be the faces he was going to see on rookie's faces when stuff like this happens.

After the fire mission has been completed Scope steps away from the table and contact the colonel. Time for me and that featherbrain to have a chat. He's got some nerve to screw me over like this... "Ironhawk this is Black Actual, do read me?"

"Black Actual this Ironhawk I read you, whats the situation down there?"

Scope explains the parts about the bridges and the anti air to the colonel. "Also we're sorta bringing along one of their teams as backup during the mission sir, since you took the liberty of getting rid of my backup...over."

"Understood, I'm sending a couple of Hinds your way to pick you up and get you to your LZ. Whatever you do don't let them compromise the mission, over."

"Roger."

"And don't worry about the captain, we'll work with him to take back the city, just worry about your own mission."

"Hey."

"What is it?"

"Look, sir I know they're our allies and everything but I don't think they're cut out for this."

"...That's because they're not."

Scope eye begins to twitch a little bit. "I'm sorry come again?"

"The Royal Guard is the only branch left in the Equestrian military, and their job is to protect and serve the princess, not front line war."

"So what happened to other branches!?"

"Equestria did have the Equestrian Royal Marines, but they we're disbanded 30 years ago. Apparently Celestia saw no need for them anymore, that and her anti-war views influence that decision as well."

"Yet she decided to go to war anyways!?"

"She didn't have much of a choice ever since the rebellion began and started attack cities. The Royal Guard was completely inexperienced with guns and advance equipment until the war started nine months ago. All the weapons and equipment you see them carry are pretty much hand me downs from the marines. But anyways if you're done complaining like a baby then I suggest you get to work."

Scope stomps the ground in frustration as he swears under his breath. I DON'T GET PAID ENOUGH TO PUT UP THIS CRAP! "...Copy that...Black Actual over and out." After his little temper tantrum he takes a deep breath and looks over to Lightning, Scope gestures him to come over. "How many guys do you got sarge?"

"8 counting myself." Lightning answers.

8 rookies huh? Better than nothing I guess. "Alright buddy listen up our main objective isn't to take back the city."

"Its not?"

"We have a different objective. We're going in to capture and interrogate the enemy commander, we just need you guys back us up. When we're done then you can go back to doing whatever it is you guys do. We got a couple of choppers on the way to pick us up and get us to where we need to go. Did'cha get all that?"

"Yeah I got it. But we're you serious about the helicopter part?"

"Yeah why?"

"Well you see we don't really have those back in Equestria so I was just wondering."

"Look just show me your team so I can see what they're capable of."

Lightning brings him over to the group of soldiers sitting around waiting for new orders. "Alright, listen up, this stallion next to me is Captain Scope who is with B.O.W. We've been assigned to him and his team to assist them on their mission. So get up so I can introduce you properly and show him the quality of our troops."

They all do as they're told and line up in a fashionable order. Lightning introduces each of them to Scope as the walk down the line but all Scope can see in his eyes are a bunch of rookie canon fodder ready to get shot. That was until he saw the last soldier he was introduce to.

"Last but not least this is Private First Class Big Macintosh."

Wow. Finally a soldier that looks well trained and ready for action. Wait I remember him, wasn't he one of the ponies that was with Shining Armor in the briefing room?

"Macintosh, are you ready to show these guys what your capable of?" Lightning asks him.

"Eeyup." Is all he really has to on the matter.

Oh no, REDNECK ALERT!!! "Nice to meet you private I look forward to working with you and your team." The two of them shake hooves and continue about their business. Scope turns back to the sergeant.

"Hey, whats the story on him?"

"Big Mac? Well hes a farm pony, hes actually part of the apple family you see."

Oh, well that explains why hes more fit than the others, he could probably carry triple the wight.

"Best darn apples you'll ever get from Ponyville I tell you."

...Ponyville huh... So what's he doing out here if hes a farmer?"

"To tell you the truth I think hes only here for revenge."

"Revenge? For what?"

"He told us that one night the rebels broke into his home and tried to ponynap his little sister, very next day he signed up, he vowed that he'll make sure whoever was behind it gets what coming to them."

Scope looks over at Big Mac again and tries to examine him. He didn't look all that serious, in fact he looked like he was bored. Interesting...seems me and him share the same goal, I'll have to get to know him better later. "I see. Well thanks for filling me in sarge, you should get your men ready, our rides will be here any minute now."

"Right, well I'll see you on the battlefield then."

"Right." The two go back their separate ways and return to their respective teams. Scope pulls his sister close to him to be in whispering range.

"Hey."

"What is it?"

"You see that red pony there?"

"Yeah what about him?"

"Keep an eye on him for me."

"But why hes ju-"

"Just do it." Scope says in a serious manner. Hawkeye knew when he got like this he wasn't kidding, so she did what she was told. They all waited about ten minutes before two hinds arrived. Each team got into their own helicopter and loaded their equipment in them. As Jericho approaches the helicopter he stops and turns around.

"Scope I forgot RPG's, I'll be right ba-"

"Just get in I'll get it." Jericho follows his orders and gets in the helicopter as Scope puts his weapon down and flies over to Jericho RPG's. "Got it." He picks up the rocket launcher with haste and heads back to the chopper, as he flies back Scope's clumsy grip gets the better of him, he accidentally squeezes the trigger and fires the loaded rocket at the helicopter. The rest of team scream and duck in fear, the rocket flies straight through middle them as it speeds past their faces. The team watches as the rocket flies off into the distance never to be seen again, each of them look back at Scope giving him a death glare, including the pilots. "...My bad."

After Scope enters the helicopter to face the stares of shame they take off and proceed to the west heading deep into the city, and the heart of the enemy. As they flew above the city they see friendly force making progress. Tank units advance through the city blowing away the enemy forces. Crossfire can be seen throughout the entire city, some of the buildings were on fire while others took collateral damage. Scope felt that this was the perfect time to brag. He gets on his radio and switch to the other teams channel.

"Hey sarge."

"What is it?"

"Let me show you what a real tank looks like. Look down there to your left." The team in the other helicopter looks out to the left of the helicopter. "You see that tan looking tank down there?"

"Yeah what about it?" .

"That's our pride and joy. We like to call it the M1 Abrams."

The Abrams they were looking at however was engaged with an enemy T-80. The t-80 takes a shot at the other tank making a direct hit. However a pony from the Abrams gets out of the tank with a spay bottle and wash cloth, he goes to the side of the tank that was hit and cleans off the smudge that was made by the T-80. Once satisfied with the clean sparkles on the tank he hops back in. The Abrams barrel slowly turns and points at the other tank. The Abrams fire's a shell and obliterates the T-80. The tank continues it's advance through the city as it rolls over what use to be a T-80.

Sargent Lightning and his men are yet again stunned by what these soldiers capable of. Some of them are more relieved than stunned to the fact that they're on their side and not the rebels. The helicopters make a slow descend upon the streets of Fillydelphia, rpg's are fired at the hinds but miss their intended target. The hinds retaliate with their own fire power, rockets are fired at the at the rebels send some of them flying in bits and parts, the gunner fire the machine guns taking any stragglers that were still alive. Once clearing the LZ helicopters hover above the street, the soldiers drops ropes from the helicopters and use them to climb down to the surface. With everyone accounted for on the ground the helicopters make there exit. Scope gathers everyone and gives them the battle plan.

"Alright here's the deal, we're about 2 kilometers from our target building where we suspect our target to be, royal guard your job is simple, all you have to is help us get to where we need to go, once were inside we'll handle the rest, we just need you to guard the entrance to make no pony gets in or out got it?"

"Yes sir." Everyone else says in unison.

"Lets do this."

The soldiers start to jog down the abandoned streets until they're meet with enemy resistance. Black Team and the Royal Guard take cover behind carriages and carts that were left on the street attempting to take cover from the rebels fire. Black Team returns fire back at them with their AR-15's. The rebels don't let up though as they continue to put fire on them. Scope looks to the right and notice that half of Lightning's men aren't even firing back as they hide behind the carriages.

"What the fuck are doing!?" Scope yells out at them. "Shoot them dammit!"

"We're trying not to get shot here!" One of them yells back.

Scope continues to fire at the rebels while trying to convince the soldier to stop hiding. "Well you aren't going to get shot if you shoot them first! For Celestia's sake who trained you!?" Scope takes down 3 more rebels before ducking back down to reload. Then he hears a pony with a southern accent run past the other royal guard.

"Move outta the way!" The voice yells out. Scope looks up to see which soldier actually grew a pair and started shooting back, it was Big Macintosh with a M60 machine mowing down rebel troops like a blade cutting through grass. His fellow soldiers saw this as an opportunity to help him out and fire back. With rebels force quickly defeated and pushed pack Scope and the other soldiers moving up and get closer to their objective.

After 30 minutes of pushing through enemy ambushes and pushing them back they make it to the target building. Outside the building is a flagpole, the flag that flies high on the pole is red with the words Equestrian Alliance written in a shining black text. The building is guard by 30 red uniformed soldiers with a few mounted machine guns around the perimeter, Scope's troops hide in a building across the street from it. Scope takes a few minutes to figure out how to get in without getting their flanks kicked.

"Well they sure do love the front door. Getting inside will be quiet the choir...!" Mocobra immediately covers his mouth with both his hooves as a red crimson covers his face. NO! I thought I grew out of that by now! Maybe she rubbed more off on me than I thought.

"Um, what?" Scope asked.

"NOTHING FORGET I SAID ANYTHING!"

"Whatever you say, weirdo." None the less he still right, that entrance is jam packed with guards. After taking Mocobra's rhyme into thought he hatched a plan.

"Yo Jeri, still got some RPG's left?"

"Sure why?"

"Give it to these guys."

With a growl of displeasure Jericho rolls the RPG over to Sergeant Lightning.

"Alright sarge you see those machine guns they that got?"

"I see them."

"When I give the signal i want you to fire it at one of them. My team is going to find another way in, you guys keep them occupied, well stay in touch over the radio got it?"

"Yeah I understand, just get going and we'll get it done." He was truly determined to show Scope they were more than mere cannon fodder. With that Black Team exits the building while the other team setup for the assault. Black Team slowly approaches the building from the side without being detected. They sit and wait until Scope decides the next move. Scope looks at Mocobra and points at one of the machine gunner, he crosses neck and puts his hoof to his mouth symbolizing to stay quiet. Mocobra understands the gestures Scope is giving him and reaches into his saddle bag. He pulls out a suppressor from the bag and twists it on the barrel of his gun. The zebra takes aim at the gunner and waits for his captain's signal.

"Wait for it...kill em."

Mocobra takes the shot at him, the pony drops dead onto the ground. With the random death of their comrade the rebels soldiers become startled and raises the alert. Lightning recognizes this as Scope signal and fires the rocket at the rebels. The rocket speeds past most of the rebels and manages to hit it's target. The machine gun explodes into unfixable pieces more or less like the gunner who was on it and those near him. The rebels immediately return fire at the building. Lightning and his team holds out while Black Team finds a different entrance into the building.

Black Team enters the building from the side facing immediate resistance. Most them take cover behind tables and corners while Black Team does the same as they return fire. The body count for the rebels however slowly rise as the fight drags on. Jericho pulls out one of his frag grenades from his belt and pulls the pin. "SUCK ON THIS!" He lobs the grenade across the room and lands behind the table where an unfortunate rebel sits behind, he takes one quick look at the grenade and then prays to Celestia. Before he can finish the grenade cuts him shot and explodes sending his bloody body through the table. Finishing of the rest of the hostile Black Team searches the every room they come across but with no luck in finding the commander. The advance up stares to meet more hostile forces. Hawkeye shots a soldier that was standing directly in font of a door at the end of the hall.

"There! That must be where he is!" She yells out.

"Got it! Let take these fuckers out!" Scope shouts.

Scope gets kill after kill sending the rebels to the after life and quickly ends the fight.

"Talk about kill steal captain." Jericho complains.

"Shut up and guard the door. That bastard is mine."

The team secures the door and keep watches out for any more enemies. Scope bucks down the door open and sees a dark blue pony with a red uniform and a red beret staring out the window with his back facing towards the door.

"Game over, your coming with me." Scope tells him.

The pony slowly turn around and reveals his face and puts his hooves in the air signaling his surrender. But Scope notices he has a sly but evil smile on his face as if he was making fun of him. Scope stares at him for a little while and has an odd feeling as if he seen this pony some where before. He mentally investigates him more and notices that he wasn't much older than himself, probably a year or two older than him. The other pony does the same to Scope, investigating him and sees what he's armed with. After taking a long enough look at Scope the blue pony begins to laugh, not a regular laugh but one those kinds of laughs the high class rich ponies in Canterlot would make. Scope becomes confused as to what hes laughing at, the blue pony finally begins to speak.

"I can't believe YOU actually survived all this time, so how long had it been Scope, 7-8 almost 9 years now?"

Who the buck is this dude? He even knows my na-. Almost 9 years? He said that like he knew me from... "Wait a sec, blue pony, red uniform, knows my name, something about me surviving. WAIT A SECOND I REMEMBER YOU NOW! DON'T TELL ME YOUR-"

"Ah I see the great yellow leader finally recognizes his old mortal enemy now."

"Yeah, I remember it clear as day now. You're..."

Enter cliche cliffhanger here.