Endeavor Training Deck, Mission Clock at 30:15
Dusk

Actually getting decent sleep was a first considering the events of the last few days. Of course I didn’t really get much of a choice. Pumyra caught a glare from Tygra as the rest of my team was filing out of the infirmary, and it was enough to put her on edge… How she wasn’t already twitchy is beyond me. So I inevitably ended up on ‘guard duty’, a more polite term for crashing on one of the many open beds in the infirmary.

Come morning another problem arose; I still don’t have a good feel for what most of the crew is really capable of. Sure I’ve seen Archer in action and she handled herself fine, but beyond that I don’t know a damn thing about what I’m dealing with so far as talent and ability is concerned. So after digging out a set of fatigues that fit our new probationary teammate, I made the call to gather the team down on the training deck, really just a conversion of part of one of the large hollow spaces in the Halcyon’s honeycomb design. The deck itself was easily accessible from the main armory, and was topped off by a balconies on both sides of the vast chamber.

“So are you going to finally explain what we’re doing here?” Amore asked.

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “I need to know what all of you are capable of. I kinda have a good feel for Archer, considering we’ve already run two ops together… But I don’t have jack on the rest of you.”

“So how do you define capable?” Rush asked.

“At bare minimum you need to be able to defend yourselves.” I answered. “So to figure that out… Who wants to take a swing at me?” To be honest I wasn’t at all that surprised to see Pumyra step out of line towards me, but I didn’t expect her to sweep her leg and trip me. As I looked up at the cat from my face-up place on the floor I swear that I saw Pumyra smirk. “Alright, what did I do?”

“Well there was that whole airlock thing…” She said with an unusually sweet tone.

“I guess that’s a fair reason to want to kick my ass.” I admitted. “But there is something that I think you should know Pumyra.”

“And what’s that?”
Digging down I started to channel my magic, and for the first time Pumyra saw the whole glowing-eye deal that I’ve got going. “I don’t play fair.” I managed to pull a teleportation spell out, and I reappeared about ten feet in the air above the deck. As I fell I tucked forward and landed on my feet right in front of my sparring partner.

She didn’t get a chance to put some distance between the two of us before I lunged forward and shoulder-checked her. Pumyra stumbled but didn’t hit the ground. “So no holding back then?”

Not wasting any time Pumyra charged at me As she took a swipe aimed at my face I stepped back and shielded my face with my forearm. Immediately I felt a stinging, and as I lowered my arm I saw four red cuts bisecting my forearm. “Well… Looks like the cat has some claws to her.” I muttered. Pumyra tried to take another swipe, but I teleported back out of her reach and charged forward. Aiming a punch towards her shoulder I saw a something moving fast out of the corner of my eye.

Before I could even blink something caught me right in the cheek and I was on my back for a second time. Off to my right I could tell that Pumyra had hit the deck at the same time. “Well that was something…” She groaned.

“You’re right, it was.” I said as I got to my feet, hauling the cat up with me. “So who’s next?”

***

City of Vanhoover, Approximately Thirty Hours Ago
Cosmo, Leader of the Northern Guard

“Cosmo, wake up!”

My eyes flew open and I realized that I had fallen asleep on the couch in my living room with my wife standing over me. “Trixie? What’s wrong?”

“The whole unit is mobilizing. They’re grabbing everything that hasn’t been nailed down!” She yelled.

I sat up, forcing my exhaustion down. “On whose orders?”

“I don’t know!”

I got up and made for the door, grabbing my gun belt and jacket as I passed them on the coat rack by the door. Out in the hall there were dozens of marines and agents milling about with crates and loaded carts. “Can someone tell me what the hell is going on?” I yelled.

One of the marines, a colt named Porter, walked up and handed me a folded piece of paper. “Orders from Canterlot. We’re to prep for an immediate expeditionary deployment.”

“Expeditionary? Damnit, we’re mercs. Not some invasion force!” I yelled as I unfolded the letter.

Cosmo,
You’re to prepare your forces for an immediate deployment in support of Operation Reflection and the deployment of HMS Endeavor. Your forces have been ordered to take all that they can carry. That includes food, medical supplies, ammunition, weapons and support equipment. Deployment will be by portal, and you will establish a beachhead and prepare for the arrival of Endeavor.
Regards,
Princess Celestia

“Deployment by portal? What the hell does she mean by that?” I asked Porter.

“I don’t know sir.” The marine officer replied. “But we’re just bringing the last of our equipment downstairs, and then we’ll be ready to leave.”

“Do we even know where we’re heading?” I asked as I clipped on my gun belt.

“Not at all sir.” Porter said as we stepped onto the elevator.

As the elevator began to descend to the ground level a thought came to mind. “How is Celestia creating this portal?”

“What do you mean?” Trixie asked.

“Well the Nexus was destroyed.” I explained, “If I’m thinking the same type of portal, how is she creating it?” When the door opened on the ground floor I could hear the crackling of electricity outside of the open lobby door. “On second thought, I really don’t care…”

***

HMS Endeavor Bridge, Present Day
Dusk

“Alright, what did you need Grey?” I asked as I led my team onto the bridge.

“I’ve detected a strong energy signature down on the planet in the ruins of what appears to be a city of some sort.” The AI replied as the holotable lit up with a map of the city. “The energy matches historical readings of Nexus-generated portals.”

“Check your readings again Grey.” Archer ordered as she took a place next to the holotable. “The Nexus is gone, how the hell could we be looking at a Nexus portal?”

“Well we are…” The AI groaned. “I’ve checked the readings three times and have run two separate diagnostics on the Endeavor’s sensor array. That portal down there is consistent with that of the Nexus.”

Behind us Lion-O led his entourage onto the bridge, and they quickly surrounded the holotable. “And just what’s this Nexus?”

“Think of the Nexus as a point where different universes intersected. Beyond that we don’t know much else about it, other than it was supposedly destroyed six months ago.” I explained.

“Obviously it wasn’t.” Amore pointed out.

“Hey, that’s Thundera!” Tygra exclaimed.

“Sir, scanning the portal confirms it. The destination is our home universe.” Greyscale added. “On top of that I’ve confirmed that a number Equestrian lifesigns have already cleared the portal and are fanning out.”

“Grey, I need a live feed.” I ordered. The image over the holotable changed to that of a color video. It was focused on a small group of ponies that were directing others that were performing a myriad of unknown tasks. “Can you clean this up Grey?”

The AI didn’t speak, but acted. Everything came into focus and I instantly recognized the ponies that were the focus of the feed. “Mom, Dad? They’re here?!” Archer exclaimed.

“It appears that the entire Northern Guard is present, and the portal has closed. Should I attempt to open a line of communication?” Grey asked.

“Don’t bother, I’m on it.” I said as I pulled up the communications controls and punched in the Northern Guard’s radio frequency. “This is Alpha One calling Ranger, please respond.”

On the video feed I saw Cosmo fish something out of his jacket before he looked over at his mother. “This is Ranger, can you repeat your last?”

“Damn it Cosmo, I put a roof over your head!”

“Holy shit… Dusk? Is that really you?”

“It is.” I said, starting to feel a bit relieved. “Now then, what’s your status?”

“All Northern Guard assets are present and accounted for, and I’ve got teams distributing food amongst some locals we found hiding in the ruins down here… I should probably mention that they speak Equish.”

“We’re already well aware of the continuation of that old ‘cosmic coincidence’ thing.” I replied. “Now what are you doing here?”

“Celestia-” Suddenly the radio cut out and on the video feed I could see Cosmo fiddling with his radio before something erupted into a cloud of smoke that obscured our visual of the Northern Guard leadership.

“Dad!” Archer yelled.

I shut off the feed and smacked a red button on the side of the holotable, setting off alarms and red flashing lights. “ Grey I need to know what hit them!” I yelled as I tried to get the radio working again.

“I don’t know sir.”

“Shit…” I groaned. “Rush, go get the shuttle-”

“The shuttle’s power cells are almost depleted.” Rush said, cutting me off. “Until I can get them recharged it’s staying in the hangar.”

“Damnit!” I yelled as I slammed the holotable.

“Dusk, we need a plan.” Archer quickly pointed out.

“There’s some vests and rifles in the shuttle.” Rush added. “Lion-O, any chance we can get a ride?”

The cat nodded and motioned to Tygra. “Go get the ship ready to take off.”

Amore quickly slapped the side of my arm. “Dusk? We still need a plan.”

Well it’s now or never, I do need to say something. “Archer, Pumyra, on me. We’ll grab the gear out of the shuttle and head down.”

“You still haven’t told us what the plan is!”

As I made my way off the bridge with my compatriots, I turned to Amore and shrugged. “You’ll be the first to know once I figure it out.”

***

Ruins of Thundera
Cosmo

“Damnit, we’re getting our asses handed to us!” Phalanx yelled over the din of rifle reports. “I can’t even see what’s shooting at us!”

I tried looking up over the piece of masonry that we had taken cover behind, but the impact of a bolt of energy force me to duck back down. “Has anyone been able to raise Dusk again?”

“I got nothing boss!” Felix called out from his position across what appeared to be a street. “I think we’re being jammed.”

“Does anyone have some good news?” I asked.

“We’re not dead.” Trixie offered as she handed me another magazine for my pistol.

“Incoming!” Someone yelled over the roar of the firefight.

BOOM!

“Holy shit, what the hell was that?!” I screamed, banging the side of my head in a vain effort to get the ringing from whatever exploded to stop.

Off to my right an armored pegasus slammed feet-first into the ground. “They’ve got some sort of artillery piece a few clicks outside of the ruins. We need to find cover now!” Cloud forcefully insisted.

“Damnit…” I muttered as I flicked on my short range radio. “All points, this is Ranger. Pull back to the palace to the northeast. First Squad will cover the retreat!”

“What the hell do you expect us to do about these assholes?!” Sky yelled from her hiding spot in the rubble off to my left.

“We just need to buy everyone some time to dig in!” I called back.

“Shit, take-”

BOOM!

The second blast knocked me, Trixie, and the cover we were hiding behind back easily about fifteen feet. We would’ve likely been trapped if Cloud wasn’t there to toss the slab off of us, all while the shields built into his armor flared under a barrage of energy bolts. “You good?”

Trixie and I both quickly scrambled over to a pile of rubble. “I could be better. Looks like that gun has us zeroed!”

Cloud simply whipped around and let loose with his gauntlet-mounted pulse repeaters. “No shit! Now would be a good time for a miracle boss!”

***

Thunderan Ruins, Mission Clock at 31:30
Dusk

POP!

“Hey Cosmo. What’s new?”

The head mercenary himself turned up to face me, and took a moment to stare. “Where’s your horn?”

I just deadpanned and gripped the bridge of my muzzle. “It's been six months, just about everyone thought I was dead, and the first thing you ask about is my horn?”

“Well… Why wouldn’t I? We’re talking about something on the top of your damn head!” Cosmo insisted. “And another thing, what the hell is that?”

He was pointing at the weapon that I had pilfered from the storage compartment on the shuttle. “This is an MP7.”

“Fine, as long is kills whatever’s shooting at us!” Cosmo quipped.

“Let me see what I can do.” I offered as I clicked on my radio. “Tygra, what do you see?”

“I’m seeing infantry in the old market, and a heavy mortar outside of the city.” The cat said as the ship he was flying blasted past overhead.

“All right, drop the rest of my team. We’ll take care of the market, you lot get the mortar.”

“Got it. Now how am I supposed to get your backup on the ground? I don’t have anywhere I can land.” Tygra retorted.

I looked at Cosmo, shrugged, and hit the radio again. “Then they’ll just have to jump.”

“What?” Pumyra yelled over the channel as the cat’s ship swung in over where Cosmo and I were standing.

“You’ll be fine.” I groaned.

“Well does you apparently new friend have an unbreakable skeleton?” Cosmo asked. That itself put the brakes onto my line of thinking, and as Archer dragged Pumyra off the end of the ramp about thirty feet in the air everything began to slow down as my senses went into overdrive. “Cloud, catch!” I heard my old friend yell.

From the other side of the pile of rubble a figure in blue and gold armor rocket up, caught both Archer and Pumyra, then brought them right down to terra firma with the fine control of a gymnast. “Thanks for flying Air Tempest!” Cloud said as he put the pair down and stepped back.

Archer looked at Cloud, then to her father and seemed to light up. “I’m gone for two days and you’re already gone and got yourself cornered in a warzone. Good going Dad!”

“We can go over that later.” Cosmo said, his face going from a somewhat happy expression to something far more serious. “We’re falling back to the palace. I could use a hand holding the line while the rest of the Guard withdraws.”

“You’re retreating?” Pumyra asked.

“What else would you have me do? We’re at a distinct tactical disadvantage, and we’re in no position to actually engage those shooters.” Cosmo spat. “We need to buy as much time as we can so the marines can get dug in. Then we can worry about those scaley bastards!”

“Scaly bastards…” I muttered. “Wait, Mumm-Ra’s soldiers are lizards.”

“Who the hell is that?” Cloud asked.

“It isn’t important right now.” I retorted as I flicked the channel button on my radio. “Endeavor, this is Dusk. Can you confirm whether or not there are any civilians left outside of what looks like sort of palace?”

“I’ve got nothing. Bar your group and another about half a mile from your position, there’s no one else that I can see.” Rush said over the radio.

For a moment I glanced at Cosmo before returning to the radio. “Rush, patch me into all open allied comms.”

“You’re on!”

“This is Dusk to all units, stand by. Endeavor, stand by for fire support. Pattern base delta zero one hundred meters from my position. Be advised, fire mission is danger close.”

Archer tapped her father’s shoulder and jarred her thumb so it pointed away from where we were taking fire. “We’re gonna want to get the lead out.”

Cosmo instantly put the pieces together and got on his own radio. “This is Ranger to all Northern Guard unit, find cover now!” He stuffed his pistol back into it’s holster on his thigh and nodded to Cloud. “Fighting retreat, let’s go!”
“We won’t be able move fast enough boss! What do we do?” Cloud yelled over the din of his repeaters.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“Because we’re in the killbox!” Cloud exclaimed.

“What are you talking about?” I questioned. “Base delta zero is the code for artillery support!”

“And you just made the call for it from a heavy naval asset!” Cloud yelled. “Base delta zero is the order to level everything within a half mile radius of the coordinates, and we’re inside the killbox!”

“Endeavor to Dusk, missles have launched, thirty seconds to impact. You need to get clear!”I heard Blueblood yell over the radio.

Overhead I heard the drone of turbines and dust that was in the street was kicked about. As I looked up I realized that our way out had arrived. “Cosmo, it’s just Sky, Cloud, Trixie and Felix with you?” He nodded and I grabbed both Archer and Pumyra. “Then grab whoever can’t fly!” Around me there was a flash of light as I dragged Pumyra and Archer up to the ramp of Tygra’s ship with a teleportation spell.

POP!

As I dragged my cohorts up the ramp and into the ship Cosmo joined us, with Cloud being the last one to get aboard. “GO!” Archer screamed. Under our feet I felt the ship rock backwards as the thrusters fired. The ramp closed rather quickly, but within moments of the hatch sealing shut a series of dull thuds could be heard throughout the ship.

They came rapidly, and disappeared just about as soon as they came. “Well that was fun…” Cloud muttered as he took off his helmet.

“Are you still there Dusk?” Rush called over the radio.

“We’re still Rush, I’ll check back in later.” I shut the radio off and took the moment to lean against the inner wall of the ship.

“What are you thinking Dusk?” Archer asked.

I shrugged as I turned my attention to the younger mare. “Well… I’m going to have to apologize to whoever’s in charge for leveling part of their city. Which of course brings up a rather important question.”

“And what exactly would that be?” Cosmo asked.

I shrugged half-heartedly. “Who runs this joint?”

Author's Note

Well good going genius! Maybe Dusk should leave the calls for fire support to somepony who knows what they're doing. Now this chapter did get a bit of a rewrite... As I wrote the first fifteen of these about nine months ago, looking at it again I felt that the scene where Dusk was reunited with Cosmo and his associates was rather lacking... So what you see is the third rewrite of that scene in particular.

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-Striker