Mid Pleasures and Palaces Though We May Roam

“What?!” Melissa snapped, “Are you fucking kidding me?!”

The flabbergasted and somewhat terrified telegraph officer sent the signal again, “Ma’am, I--I--I’m sorry, I don’t know what’s wrong! I’m not getting any signal! It should be working--”

Melissa tried to smack her forehead, but hit her goggles instead. “It’s just like all the other towns, damn it! The lines have been cut from here to Vanhoover!”

The marine leaned over and picked up her M16A4 assault rifle from where it leaned against the wall. The word “Orcrist” was carved lightly into the stock.

She tried to stand up, but the telegraph station was somewhat cramped, recently built and for ponies to boot.

Hunched over somewhat, Melissa rolled her shoulders back, shifting the weight of her light Alice pack. She still wore the k-pot from the archives, along with locally-made goggles, knee and elbow pads, gloves, packed pockets and a full PASGT vest over her BDUs. Her gear was stuffed full of supplies and ammunition, to keep her rifle and the Colt M1911 in a holster at her side running.

Slinging her rifle on her shoulder, Sergeant Melissa Foster glanced at the shocked mayor of the little Equestrian town the station belonged to, standing by the door with Twilight Sparkle.

Like Melissa, Twilight wore a combat vest with her utility uniform, but it was much less packed, and she only had a pistol in a holster.

“The telegraph network has been crippled,” Melissa reported hurriedly to the mayor, “Everything from here to the west coast is cut off. Send someone out to fix it, or get someone to find someone who can fix it!”

“But--what--who would do this?” the mayor sputtered, confused, upset, and afraid. He looked on the verge of a heart attack.

“It’s an invasion, Mr. Mayor,” Twilight explained, trying to keep the stallion calm, “There’s an alien invasion coming here. You need to get in contact with everyone you can, and get these messages out! Direct any military assets to defensive positions, and let them know that the humans aren’t the enemy. There’s more details in this folder, but we can’t stay. We need to move!” she handed a manila folder off to the mayor and rushed outside.

Four marines stood outside the entryway, their weapons relaxed but ready to rise up at the slightest hint.

One was a human, a second was an Abyssinian, lance corporal and private first class respectively. A third was a male pony, a lance corporal, and the fourth was Corporal Ceres, who lead the fireteam.

“Same as the others, Sergeant?” he called out.

“Yep! Fellas, we gotta move!” Melissa barked, and pointed down the street toward the edge of town.

The rest of the platoon was spread out across the small village like a spiderweb, stretching out from the Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight parked in the field just outside of town.

It was a fairly standard town, just a little smaller than Ponyville.

Most of Vaughn’s squad was arrayed around the town square. Vaughn himself, lurking near an apple cart, spotted them emerging, “Alright, leathernecks! Move out! Double time it now, let’s impress the locals!”

Melissa squeezed the control of the PRC-68 radio strapped to her vest, and spoke, “Oscar Lima 5-5 to Warden 1-6, this one’s gone too. Recommend we notify Warden 6, and move on to the city.”

Her earpiece replied, “Copy that, Sergeant--”

Another voice broke in the channel, “This is Yankee Papa 1-2 to all squads. We’ve got unknown aerial contacts inbound. From the northeast! Looks like flyers. Not aircraft, repeat, not aircraft.”

The marines all swept their gazes upward, jogging over to bits of cover and scanning the sky for targets.

Melissa pulled Twilight by the shoulder behind a nearby cart, waving to the owner, “Get down!”

Across the street, Vaughn poked his head up and shaded his eyes against the sun’s glare.

He could see the targets coming in now, they were…

“Oh jesus!”

Vaughn grabbed the shoulder of the hippogriff next to him --the squad’s radio operator-- and tugged her over. He pulled the handpiece off her PRC-77 manpack radio, and barked into it, “This is Warden 1-1 Actual. Hold your fire! We’ve got visual. They’re Equestrian Royal Guards! That’s Queen Luna’s guards!”

Twilight’s eyes widened, “Oh no!”

“What?” Melissa demanded.

“She doesn’t know about us! About you!” Twilight cried, “The Changelings-- they might have told her things! Agh!”

She rushed out of cover before Melissa could grab her.

Vaughn leapt out of cover as well, “Sergeant, where the hell’s she going?!”

“Working on it, Vaughn!”

Melissa glanced at Ceres and his team, “Well come on then! Move it you apes --er, people!”

Twilight was out in the open, on her hind legs jumping and waving. “Queen Luna! Luna! Queen Luna, down here! Hey!” She went back to all fours, and fired off a flare from her horn.

High up above, just below the cloud layer, was a V-formation of pegasi, or at least similar-looking creatures, lead by a fairly large specimen of the pony species. Queen Luna was here.

The Queen of the Night could see much of the village from this altitude. Even a thousand years hadn’t done much to change the height of the average town’s buildings, though that would likely soon change.

Luna was not a fan of large formal events, especially not one with as many uncomfortable undertones as Princess Cadence’s wedding. So when there came word that there was some disturbance in the western sectors, with several telegraph stations going dark, she jumped at the chance to investigate.

It had been some time since she’d left the city, and more than a thousand years since she’d led troops on exercises. Equestrian Army doctrine had changed and didn’t allow such members of state to directly command armies anymore. It was too risky, they had said. No matter how much power the queens had they were still vulnerable to many of the same frailties as any other soldier.

They’d intended just to send somepony out for repairs in a few days, but with the potential threat to the capital, there’d been a bit of paranoia going around. They’d planned to send out a team to investigate, but Luna overrode their selection. She would personally lead a squadron of her own guards. It would be impossible for any known army to destroy so many stations so quickly anyway, so it was probably a technical foul up. Luna really just wanted to get out of the house for a while, so to speak. Still, their advisors were concerned. More units were being dispatched to the area by road.

Imagine her surprise to not only encounter a foe, but with far more advanced technology than any contemporary army. She saw vicious-looking flying machines of metal that streaked at high speeds across the sky, easily outpacing even her. She couldn’t even get close enough to see exact details. There was no way to identify them.

The guards were with her, willing to continue on into the dark zone. There was no one else to provide intelligence.

They approached the first village in the dark zone, only to see a large flying machine parked on the outskirts. Tall creatures, like minotaurs, dotted the streets, brandishing advanced firearms. Several were noted to be gryphons, dragons, cat-like creatures, there were even some ponies wearing their same uniform.

What has happened? Have we really been invaded?

Before she could decide anything, she spotted a figure in a uniform of the interlopers on the outskirts.

Even at this distance, Luna recognized a familiar mane style, one burned into her memory from uncomfortable times.

And right behind Twilight were four of the trespassers pursuing her!

Luna looked to her wing-stallion, “Captain, follow my lead! Form up in a volley line to either side of me!”

An instant after the stallion nodded the queen was already gone, streaking toward the ground. She powered up an energy shield to form a bullet point, directing all the kinetic energy she had into the ground between Twilight and the enemy.

Melissa was running toward Twilight one instant, the next she was flung back several meters as something hit the ground.

She landed back hard on her back, groaning.

The sergeant picked her head up, and her eyes widened.

Twilight was goggling between Luna and the marines scattered around the area. The queen now stood in a small crater of her own making, energy crackling and sizzling the air around her. Her horn was charged, and she glared around at the soldiers.

“You shall not harm these ponies, interlopers!” she cried in a defiant, powerful voice, “What is the meaning of this intrusion into our land?!”

Two pair of bat ponies dropped down to her left and right flanks, raising breech-loading rifles and prepared to deliver volleys on their queen’s command.

Ceres was the first one up, raising his M16. “Stupid fucking ponies--”

“Hold your fire!” Melissa yelled desperately, waving with both arms, “Hold your fire, Corporal! That’s an order!”

Twilight rushed back to Luna, “Queen Luna, what are you doing? There’s been a terrible mistake!”

Luna seemed baffled, her words shifting back and forth between contemporary and historical grammar, “Twilight, there are intruders in our lands! Communications have been knocked out! I saw these interlopers from afar, and assumed they were the enemy! They were chasing you! I have not seen you for days, I assumed these beasts had captured you! Is that not why you are wearing that...that...outfit?”

“No, no!” Melissa cried, getting to her feet, “We’re not the enemy! Luna, it’s alright, it’s just us! You know me!”

Luna narrowed her gaze at the figure standing before her, “Who is that who speaks in such a familiar tone?! Doth thou not know who thine speaks with?”

Melissa growled in frustration, “Argh! Luna, it’s me! Melissa!”

Figuring it was her equipment, she pulled her helmet off, snagging her goggles uncomfortably on her earpiece before she could get the rig off.

“It’s me!”

Luna gasped, “But--but--This is impossible! Impossible! Thou art a liar! I just left--there cannot be two of you! Guards--”

Melissa held up her hands, one palm out and one a raised fist straight up. She had to stop the bat ponies as well as her own soldiers, “Wait! No, no! Your highness, wait, please! It's me! Ask Twilight! We're here to help! Please, the entire planet’s in danger here!”

Luna’s eyes widened as something processed. She turned, putting Twilight and Melissa to either side of her, “...how do I know you are the real Twilight Sparkle? We have been dealing with shapeshifters!”

Twilight was taken aback, and grimaced sadly, “but...Queen Luna, I am Twilight!”

“How can I be sure?! You wear their uniform! There is one who looks like Corporal Foster standing there, and another back in Canterlot!” The queen was growing increasingly distressed, her escort’s weapons selecting targets.

Twilight made an uncomfortable expression, and began blushing furiously, “Ooh...Fine, I’ll prove I’m me!”

She leaned up and hissed something rapidly in a low voice.

Luna’s entire expression changed. She began flushing as well, “Oh...thou art definitely Twilight!”

“What?” Corporal Ceres barked, his M16 still fixed on Luna’s captain.

The bat captain added, “What was that?”

“Yes, it is definitely her, let us move on!” Luna said, chuckling a little nervously, then clearing her throat and snapping back into a professional demeanor.

She stepped forward toward Melissa, “If you really are Melissa Foster, tell me something only she would know!”

Melissa began pulling her helmet rig back on, “Uh...shit, um...give me a second…”

“Sergeant,” Ceres called out, “With all due respect--”

“Corporal, give me a second I said!”

Melissa grunted, holding her head, C’mon, c’mon, remember! There’s gotta be something…

She did not have the MLP wiki at her fingertips. She hadn’t seen the episodes in so long, and she was drawing a blank on...on…

Wait.

There was a flash of memory.

Months ago.

72 hours after arrival.

A dream. A nightmare that had tormented her.

She did not remember many specifics, only recognizing a color. A mane.

Her nightmares had subsided afterwards, at least her sleeping ones, just for a little while. It was something she hadn’t considered.

Melissa stared at the Queen of the Night with a hint of betrayal in her eyes, and whispered, “After I came here, you...you walked into my dreams. You...why didn’t I realize it before? You were in my dreams, and you saw my nightmares! You saw my cockatrice nightmare!”

Luna inhaled sharply, her eyes widening, “I...I...yes...Corporal, I’m...I’m sorry if I offended…”

Melissa scowled, “Is that proof enough for you? And I’ve been promoted, your worship, I’m a sergeant now.”

Realization suddenly dawned on Luna, and she gasped, “But--Oh my, that means--”

Twilight looked at Melissa with concern, but looked to Luna, “Yes, there is a copy of Melissa wandering around Canterlot! My brother is getting married to a Changeling!”

The bat pony officer in charge of Luna’s escort stepped forward, “What in Equestria are you talking about?”

“There’s an invasion!” Twilight snapped, “There’s an invasion of Equestria going on, and these people are here to stop it, stop trying to shoot them!”

“An invasion?” Luna repeated, “Does this have anything to do with the telegraph stations?”

She looked at the marines, noticing the humans among them for the first time, “Wait a minute, more humans? What is going on here? What have you two gotten yourselves into?!”

Melissa activated her radio, “5-5 to Warden 1-6. We’ve made contact with Luna. We’ll bring her over.”

Luna furrowed her brow, “Have you somehow gained contact with the human homeworld?”

She glanced at Ceres, “I thought Earth didn’t have griffins…”

“They’re here to help, Luna! Please, just come with us! We will explain everything later!” Twilight insisted.

Sprinting back the way they came, the party ran back into the rest of the squad.

“All sorted out, Foster?” Vaughn called out.

“Yeah, everything’s fine, Sergeant!” Melissa snapped.

“A dragon?” Luna muttered, “And he wears your uniform as well?”

“Later, your highness, later!” Twilight said.

They quickly approached the Sea Knight, and Lieutenant Cole.

The lieutenant turned away from her platoon sergeant, widening her eyes a little at the approaching monarch.

Luna looked around at the soldiers, still in shock at seeing so many humans. They stared back with equal shock and curiosity. There were whispers and murmurs from several of them.

They seemed to know who she was, and seemed to hold respect for her, though none of them appeared to even remotely consider bowing.

Not that she minded, of course. It was refreshing, in fact, yet it struck her as odd.

Lieutenant Cole approached the queen. Luna eyed her, looking her up and down. Obviously a mare of authority, but there was no clear sign. Her uniform was just like the rest, with no flag, no decorations...the only mark were two flat brown bars, one on either side of her collar.

Hesitantly, Luna asked, “You are the commander of this unit?”

“Yes, ma’am. Second Lieutenant Stacy Cole, United States Marine Corps, Terran Alliance Command. I apologize for not standing on ceremony, there’s a risk of snipers.”

Luna nodded, “I understand, Leftenant. Sergeant Foster explained there was some sort of invasion?”

“That’s correct,” Cole replied. With Melissa and Twilight’s help, they gave a condensed version of what the invasion entailed.

“We’re en route to Canterlot to provide reinforcements.” the lieutenant finally finished.

“Excellent, I shall accompany you. No doubt you will require all the assistance you can get.”

Cole made an odd expression, “Ma’am, with all due respect, I don’t think my superiors could justify allowing such a significant...eh...asset--er, head of state to go into combat.”

Luna tilted her head, “Your concerns are noted and appreciated leftenant, but I am obviously not bound by either your authority, or your superiors. I am my own authority, and go where I please.”

Cole resisted the urge to roll her eyes, and took on a tone as though she were talking to a child, “Okay, your highness. Look, the modern battlefield is very dangerous, not for the--”

She furrowed her brow, “Wait a minute. You’re the queen of the moon.” there was the slightest hint of a smirk, “Couldn’t you just wipe them out? Can’t you throw the moon at them?”

Luna was growing somewhat agitated, and this mare was giving off a very odd feeling of superiority. She had the perfect way to turn this around, “You could wipe them out as well. You have your atomic weapons, you could destroy this enemy force quite easily. Why don’t you? Or rather, why don’t your commanders?”

Cole’s eyes twitched, “I--well...oh...I--”

“Do you understand now?”

“But--but ma’am! You don’t understand. You may not be in our chain of command, but you’re a head of state--”

Luna narrowed her gaze, and walked closer to the marine, “Leftenant, I understand perfectly well. I am hundreds of years older than you. I have fought in battles with weapons more primitive than your own but no less brutal, and no doubt I hold seniority in at least the quantity of fighting I have done. However, I understand my value as a leader and head of state. Nevertheless, At least 95% of the forces at my disposal are unavailable, the capital of my nation is going to be under attack, and from what you’ve told me, even with your troops what little we have gives us only a slim chance at victory.”

She swept an arm in the direction of Canterlot. Her voice increased in volume and went down an octave. Her presence seemed to increase. A dominating manner, but not a negative one. More the domination of a leader than of a tyrant, “My nation can survive the loss of one of its leaders, or Canterlot. It cannot lose both. I cannot afford to hide. It’s easy to be cautious when we have plenty of resources at hand, but when we are limited to but a handful, we must take risks. My life matters little if it means we lose. Now I could play it safe, and risk defeat, or I could take a chance. If it means saving the capital, I will gladly give my life. I am going to protect my people, with or without your approval. Do you wish to help me, or just get in my way?”

Cole looked surprised, and a little embarrassed, “Yes ma’am. I will let command know.”

“I appreciate it, Leftenant. Be sure to inform them that I am taking full responsibility for my actions, if they also believe I am that naive.”

Melissa and Twilight stood off to one side with 1st squad, all watching the exchange with wide eyes.

“Whoa...she’s kind of scary sometimes.”

“Oh, you should’ve been here when she was Nightmare Moon. If you stood close to her it was colder than a winter night.”

“Guess I understand why the colonel converted…” Ceres murmured, scratching his head and glancing at the rifle that now felt tiny in his claws.

XXXXX

The first portion of Alpha Company, aboard half of the Marines’ air wing, took off from the Amphibious Assault Group ships as they approached the Equestrian coast. Harrier jump jets leapt into the air, sensors scanning the land and the skies for any sign of the mysterious invaders.

Landing craft were already deploying from the transports, combat air patrols took off from the Jackson.

Fighter jets soared over landing ships of several varieties.

Some were Assault Amphibious Vehicles, AAVs. Built like a standard Armored Personnel Carrier, the AAVs were vehicles that could drive right from the ship into the sea, up onto the shore, and become armored vehicles. They could attack with grenade launchers and machine guns, and were completely sealed against Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological(NBC) threats.

The trip into the sea was nerve-wracking. The AAVs were good at their jobs, but the problem with a vehicle barely big enough to fit the crew and passengers, with enough armor to completely enclose the crew, heavy weapons, tracks, and the engines needed to propel them, is that it tends to hang low in the water.

As each one drove out from the belly of the Houston and the Randolph, the instant they hit the water they descended alarmingly fast, the water rising almost up to the top of the vehicle. They would then seemingly defy the laws of physics by floating, and then propelling themselves toward shore.

The conventional transports were not much better. They were direct descendants of their World War II ancestors. Basically a big box with a ramp on the front. Though far more sophisticated than the Higgins boat of D-Day, all the marines wished for the air-cushioned landing craft the corps back on Earth possessed. To ride along the water smoothly, nothing but air underneath…

The feeling of the boats plowing into the sand jarred away any thoughts of that fantasy, banging down their ramps with an almost aggressive tone.

Humvees, a smattering of smaller jeeps, trucks, and infantry spilled out of the vehicles.

Two mighty war machines, M60 Patton tanks, roared onto the beach. Four smaller Light Armored Vehicles, LAV-25s, charged out as their ramps were dropped.

AAVs, their crews ecstatic to be back on land, rolled out of the surf to take up positions with their brethren.

More landing craft came and went, carrying supplies back and forth.

The tank platoon, Light Armored Reconnaissance(LAR) company, headquarters company, and the first elements of Bravo Company of the 32nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, were all ashore.

It looked like the Cold War had puked all over the beach. Colonel Waters and the headquarters company began setting up their equipment, coordinating the troops and communicating with the ships. Stinger Surface-to-Air missile positions were set up on nearby hills.

The Battalion Aid Station deployed in full view from the air just off the beach, making sure to keep the red cross symbols visible.

With additional LAVs arriving, two platoons of eight LAVs drove out into the landscape to do reconnaissance.

The three UH-1N Twin Hueys attached to the battalion worked overtime as utility helicopters, carrying equipment to the beach, lifting scouts from the beach to a location here or there, loosing Force Recon upon the land.

The first elements of the Bobcat convoy(named for Bravo and Charlie companies) began to move out, a pair of tanks leading the first section of four AAVs. They were accompanied by humvees and trucks carrying plenty of soldiers and equipment.

Kilometers away, as 1st platoon’s Sea Knight lifted off from a no-name town, it joined a flight of other helicopters passing by overhead.

Six of the battalion’s twelve Sea Knight helicopters formed up with each other, followed closely by two Sea Stallion helicopters. All moved sluggishly, loaded down for bear with ammunition, equipment, and a portion of Alpha Company’s combat strength. The two 155mm howitzers were being readied with the two remaining Stallions back on the Randolph, and some LAVs were being prepped on the beach to be carried inland.

It was far too risky and impractical to risk all their strength in one go, so they’d have to make several trips. A Hawkeye had gone out ahead of them to scan the area over and over, Skyhawks were hovering somewhere in the vicinity, and if one looked carefully, they’d be able to see elements of the flights of Corsair fighters.

Even with all these precautions it was a gamble.

“‘I see a red door and I want it painted black…’” Melissa started humming, peering out through one of the portholes on 1st platoon’s helicopters. Not that she could hear anything aside from her headset. The din was extremely intense. Eighteen turboshafts flying in formation and carrying hundreds of tonnes of helicopter were not quiet.

It was an amazing sight, like Black Hawk Down only no desert. At the same time, it was jarring.

For one thing, flying at the head of the formation was Luna leading her escorts. The helicopter pilots likely would’ve tried racing her had the situation been any different. And they weren’t afraid of accidentally hitting her with their rotor blades.

For another, the landscape below was Victorian, with pony versions of Mccormick Reapers pausing in the fields to see the flying machines overhead.

Figures ran about as they passed over another village. One of Luna’s guards peeled off to dive down below and keep the locals from trying to shoot the marines with cannon.

Melissa turned back in her seat to face forward. The Sea Knight was filled to the brim with more than twenty marines, loaded down for bear.

Even with all this big green firepower...could they win? Against an alien force that was able to beat the snot out of the US Military and the rest of the combined forces of Earth?

She looked down at Twilight sitting beside her, digging through her equipment vest trying to figure out what all the stuff was.

These had to be the most adorable creatures in the universe, with those big eyes and fluffy tails. So tiny, tough and full of love and affection, these little equine creatures, seemed so innocent, so peaceful, so unlike humanity…and yet so similar.

Just because ponies were peaceful, it didn’t mean they were pacifists. Just because they lived in a fairy-tale land didn’t mean they were weak.The instant a threat had risen, Luna and Twilight were up to the task, ready to respond in kind. They just needed someone’s help technology-wise.

The sergeant felt a warm grin on her face, and Twilight looked up.

“What?” she asked, or Melissa guessed that was what she said.

“Nothing!”

She looked around the cabin, at the humans alongside dragons, griffins, more ponies, and Abyssinian cats.

They were far more alike than they realized, whether or not they’d been raised as Americans. All these species and cultures knew war, and pain.

This was no safe fairytale, sanitized for modern life. They lived in a world unconquered and untamed. A world where you didn’t travel far without a weapon, and everyone understood how to use them. A globe as vicious as the Earth humanity had conquered.

They’re soft? No, we’re soft. Us with our locked and monitored and safe planet, where the biggest fear is other sentients. These guys have hydras! They’re not wimps, they’re hobbits. Able to survive a hostile planet, peaceful until they pick up a rock, then you better run.

They weren’t alone in this. It wasn’t just humanity on the line this time.

They had to win. To save these unique species. To save their friends.

XXXXX

Air Marshal Chrysalis had a hoof to the spot on her head below and behind her ear, pretending to scratch it as she offered an ingenuous smile.

The little equines around her for this frivolous charade chattered away endlessly, attempting to manipulate the blasted dress she wore. Only humans were known to waste more resources and time on irritating rituals like these. They were practically asking to be conquered.

“My leader, the human forces are on the move,” the voice in her subcutaneous transmitter said, “The equines can’t possibly hope to hold them for more than a small amount of time. Our air component is prepared to drop, but it’s going to take up a significant portion of their fuel reserves to adjust the plan. Either that, or we’re going to need to change our orbit.”

“I don’t care, we must eliminate them.” she subvocalized. A subcutaneous transmitter implanted at the base of her neck picked up vibrations in her bones caused by the comment, transmitting the words as clearly as if she was speaking right beside the captain of her starship, but utterly inaudible to the ponies around her.

She winced at her own words, “See if we can buy some time with the pufferfish units. Adjust the orbit as much as you can without burning excess fuel, but above all, I want effectiveness above efficiency. Are we clear?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“What’s the status on the prisoners?”

“Um…”

“Commander Thorax, you do not wish to make me unhappy, do you? I will not hurt you. I simply wish to--”

“We still haven’t recaptured them ma’am.” he said rapidly.

Chrysalis’ face twitched.

“Something wrong, your highness?” one of the blasted equine attendants asked.

“Oh no, nothing’s wrong!” she said in a normal voice through gritted teeth, “...However I believe I need a moment to myself right now. Would you three mind leaving?”

They looked at each other hesitantly. Under Chrysalis’ stern gaze, they wilted and retreated out the door.

“Should we come back later? Your dress--”

Chrysalis slammed the wooden door shut in their faces.

“They pay these cretins for these services…?” she huffed, then tapped the hearing piece of the transmitter under her ear, “How can you lose two idiots in an emperor’s-damned mine shaft?!”

“Uh...ma’am, they haven’t been able to get any equipment down there--”

“I know that!” she shrieked, “You shouldn’t need scanning equipment! Are you sure those are mutan soldiers down there and not birds? This is like a fish unable to find something in the ocean!”

“Well, ma’am, they-they captured one of our soldiers, and forced him into giving up some information--”

“Take him and throw him in the brig!”

“Their squadron leader has reportedly already punished him, but even he says they’re shorthanded down there--”

Chrysalis inhaled sharply, “Tell me at least that the equine warriors are in position.”

“Y-yes my leader.”

“Well, at least something has gone right today.”

She tapped the control again to end the conversation.

Another line chirped, “Air Marshal, morale is at critical levels already. Even more personnel in the brig could lead to further disloyalty.”

“Colonel Pharynx, I do believe you were eavesdropping. And I feel as though you're trying to imply something.”

“No ma'am. I am implying nothing.”

“Good. I would hate for your loyalty to come into question. How are the troops?”

“Angry, wanting action. You should've seen their faces when we briefed them on the type of humans we'll be facing.”

Chrysalis smirked, “excellent. We shall have these apes destroyed quickly.”

There was a slight pause, “Yes my queen.” He cut the transmission.

Chrysalis nodded in satisfaction, then moved to look out the large windows of the chamber she stood in.

It was such a ghastly place, this planet. So primitive, so barbaric. Savages still worshipping their sun, still believing in democracy or...she shuddered, monarchies. Even the humans had foregone that for the most part.

Humans…

She looked to the west. Their helicopters would be coming from that direction.

Humans. “Marines”.

Monsters. Killers.

The air marshal knew she was hard on her soldiers, but that wasn’t her fault. It was them. Those blasted apes. They’d forced her to this. Desperate times called for harsh measures. She kept them alive, hadn’t she? She’d make it up to them eventually.

They could never see, they just couldn’t see. Why not?

They’d brought peace, superior technology, and civilization. Barbarians never could understand. The humans even more so. They weren’t just stupid, they were stubborn. The worst kind of foolish.

They’d studied the humans for nearly twenty years, watched them, monitored them, impersonated them. They thought they had them locked down. Only to realize that they’d missed something crucial.

Chrysalis didn’t even understand what that was herself. A species locked at the bottom of a gravity well should have been easy to beat. Certainly they had a surprising amount of technology despite their equally-astoundingly awful space program(fifty years to invent reusable spacecraft, what a joke!), but it was a conquest that would be in the bag.

All the work needed to exhaust Earth’s standing armies spilled no Changeling blood. They spilled each other’s.

They’d required shockingly little manipulation to play against each other. A mortar attack here, a stealth fighter strike there, in no time at all they’d erupted into a Third World War.

High Command thought, they knew, that the humans would be too divided at this point to reunite. There would be no Allied powers this time, they believed. Too much hate between them all.

Yet they’d forgotten the crucial lessons about human nations. They always hated each other, and, as the Americans would say, “no one fights better than family”.

Who would have guessed that after a century of post-colonialism, the old “friendships” shattered as nations got out from under the heels of the others, that the humans would ever be willing to band together in such a way that mattered ever again?

Oh, there’d been exceptions of course. The racists, the xenophobes, those the Changelings had supported in subtle ways, but they somehow lost all the traction they’d gained over the years. Also there was North Korea.

Mexican soldiers defending Americans who would’ve spat on them before. Japanese F-35s shooting down transports heading to South Korea. Egyptian soldiers rescuing downed Israeli pilots.

American F-16s engaging Changeling fighters over Cuba? Taiwanese Navy ships bombarding enemy bases in China? The Irish aiding a retreating British Army?

A century of blood, hate, insanity...you’d think they’d have been begging for unity, for peace. You’d think it would be impossible for them to band together on their own. Yet they fought with rabid aggression to defend their world and one another. Impossible.

The commanders of the invasion fleet had ignored her recommendations. They’d had the ability to wipe out the entire planet’s defenses with kinetic orbital strikes. They could’ve even destroyed a few cities, just to make an example.

“Our research tells us that never worked when they bombed civilian populations, Air Marshal. Kinetic bombardment strikes are to be limited at all costs. We must show them there’s no chance of victory by destroying their military forces.”

How would it not work? The soldiers cared about their families, did they not?

Well, they were barbarians. No one ever expected them to be logical. One would expect them to know when to give up, though. When to recognize superiority. An animal could see that!

In the areas Changeling forces controlled, they healed the wounded POWs, replaced fossil fuels, and kept the streets clear. They kept the people in their areas of control happy. All their simulations insisted they’d put out plenty of emotional feed.

They restricted the internet, of course. They got rid of dissidents. They got rid of those who would protest and undermine authority in doing so. It was all in the name of security, why couldn’t they understand?

In some areas, they did. In some areas they obeyed. A surprising amount of Americans did so. Odd, given their total lack of control over sedition, but perhaps there were some brain cells in them after all.

Obviously they were a minority. In every country, in every city the Changelings captured, there were insurgents. The blind refused to see.

Military units were destroyed, yet the humans always pulled out more. Despite the best efforts of their bombing campaigns, the Changelings still couldn’t cut the resources of the human militaries completely. There was always something more.

How could they have hidden their starships so well? Better yet, how could her commanders have been so blind? They’d insisted on playing nice with the humans. Still insisted that the best way to get them to surrender was to defeat their military. They may have been just barbarians, but civilian casualties played into the equation when it came to discussing terms.

They were part of the human war machine. They were valid targets. Their family members had hurt her soldiers, why shouldn’t they hurt what they cared about?

Chrysalis shook her head. Earth was behind her. This world was in front of her.

She looked out at the tacky, tiny city. At the equines going about their petty little lives.

How humans got here was beyond the frame of reference she bothered to care about. All she had to do was destroy them.

A few rocks dropped on their heads at mach 10 would destroy the islands they owned. And thus would go the largest threat to her small force.

After that, she would take this city completely, and capture the leadership. If all went well, and none figured out the truth, the Equestrian Armed Forces would be under her control. She could use them to wage war on the other nations, to bring them into the fold until a large enough Changeling force could be created, or for reinforcements to arrive. Then, without anywhere near the effort it took to take Earth, they could begin to civilize these people.

All she would have to do would be to sit through this wedding.

“Emperors above, give me strength…” she murmured.

XXXXX

The first wave reached Canterlot. All the pilots were on edge, ready for contrails to rise up toward them from the city.

Yet nothing happened. They approached without incident.

Luna took them to a point in the city’s energy shield, close against the cliff face. With a charge of energy through her horn, a hole was opened, big enough for the cloud of aircraft to pass through.

The Queen of the Night streaked toward the airship landing field, sending her guards out to the various barracks of the Household Division. Each one was followed by one or two of the marine helicopters, the first wave of Terran Alliance infantry deploying.

The guards had a tough time convincing the officers at each barracks not to shoot down the strange flying machines arriving, or the ugly beasts that spilled out of them carrying all manner of bizarre armaments.

With the largest number of initially deployed marines in the industrial sector, shooting nearly started. Luna had to put up an energy shield to separate them.

In total, the Household Division consisted of three infantry battalions of about 800 pony infantry, one cavalry regiment of 900 soldiers, one regiment from the Royal Horse Artillery with thirty-six guns, a handful of fixed heavy guns in certain positions(all but useless against a modern opponent), and an entire air wing from the Equestrian Army Air Force, six squadrons of 120 pegasi. There were also sixteen airships from the same military service, but were of little use.

The ponies bought everything pretty well, all things considered. They treated the marines without much special treatment, just the same old civilians angry at the soldiers showing up, or the same tension one would see in a cooperative military exercise. The word of the Queen of the Night was powerful.

Merchants and small businesses complained as Royal Horse Artillery deployed and unfolded barricades.

Aristocrats whined as marines unfolded barbed wire and filled sandbags.

Equestrian Army soldiers forced civilians out of the parks to make room for trenches and defensive emplacements.

Utility workers mutually facehoofed as their protests went unheeded when a marine attempted to make room for a landmine in the pavement by ramming a pickaxe into a sewer line.

There was too little resistance. Everything was too neat and tidy. The Changelings should’ve attacked by now.

Something was afoot.

Alpine 1, the Sea Knight carrying 2//3rds of 1st platoon, dumped half its load near the tunnel between the city and the airship airfield. It immediately lifted off again to approach Canterlot Castle.

Luna and a small squadron from the Equestrian Army Air Force accompanied the aircraft. The second wave of reinforcements from the Expeditionary Group had just arrived, and an AH-1 SuperCobra attack helicopter escorted them. Everyone expected an attack here…

There was nothing. Only the noises of the Queen’s Guards as the Sea Knight descended.

They got into firing ranks and had raised their Springbok carbines before Luna and Melissa could get them to calm down.

Once appraised of the situation, they followed the marines inside, deferring to their orders and falling into defensive positions.

The marines moved quickly, but carefully. They hugged the walls to avoid silhouetting themselves against the windows. Pairs of troopers moved up at corners and intersections to clear them.

Finally, they reached a long hallway that lead to the wedding chambers. Several t-shaped hallways were off to either side. A potential threat, each one.

At the first intersection, one marine hugged the left wall, a second hugged the right. The one on the left hissed, “Ready!”

The second hissed back, “Move!”

They swept out to either corridor, scanning for targets. One didn’t spot anything, but the one on the right did. “Contacts!”

The rest of the team approached quickly as the marine shouted, “Drop your weapons! Drop em, right now!”

“What the--” a male voice squeaked from around the corner, “Who the--”

“Drop your weapons and put your hands in the air! I mean it! One! Two!”

Several weapons clattered onto the stone as several more marines approached to cover the hallway. “Okay, okay!”

Melissa and Twilight, heedless of their escort, ran around the corner.

In the center of the hallway stood Andrew, hands high in the air with arms straight up, looking utterly filthy. An odd-looking rifle lay on the ground before him. He stared wide-eyed at the Marines, “who the-- what the-- Melissa! Twilight! You’re alive!”

Twilight's eyes narrowed, everything blocked out, as she peered at the battered and scruffy Princess Cadence standing beside Andrew.

The air where Twilight had been buffeted Melissa and the other marines as the unicorn took off at high speed, right at Cadence.

The alicorn was barely able to get off a cry of “no no no” before she was hit.

Andrew balked at the sight of Twilight assaulting his companion, screaming incoherently. His attempt to pull her off only resulted in getting elbowed in the chin and falling flat on his back.

The marines rushed forward and pulled the unicorn off,

“Jesus, lady!” Ceres cried, “What’s the matter with you?!”

The griffin avoided Twilight’s fist as she shrieked, “Let me go! It’s the queen! It’s the queen!”

Melissa pulled Andrew to his feet, and yelled, “No!”

“It’s not her!” Andrew insisted.

“It’s the real Cadence!” Melissa added.

The alicorn spat out a bit of blood, checking to make sure her teeth were all still there, “Twilight, it’s me! The queen just impersonated me!”

“Prove it!” Twilight snarled, “Prove you’re the real Cadence!”

Cadence sighed, and got to her feet. To the surprise of all present, she began the first little jaunt of the secret handshake only she and Twilight knew.

“Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake. Clap your hooves…”

Twilight’s eyes widened, and finished off the last line, “...and do a little shake! You remember me!”

They embraced. “Of course I do!” Cadence said.

As the reunion continued, Sergeant Vaughn walked up, “Sergeant Foster, what’s going on? Isn’t that--?”

Melissa pointed, “Found the real person the imposter was impersonating.”

Andrew stood up straight, brushing himself off, “I’m fine too, thanks for--”

“Stargate.” Melissa snapped, grabbing his collar.

“What?” Andrew tried prying her fingers off him, to no avail as per usual.

“Tell me the answer. Stargate?”

“...SG-1?”

Melissa released him and grinned. She spread her arms briefly as if to embrace him, but stopped and settled for punching him lightly on the arm, “You’re alive, man! I can’t believe it!”

Andrew returned her smile, then winced and rubbed his arm, “I see you’re still breathing too. Also, couple things, not too important. Who are these guys, where’d they come from, and what’s going on?”

“US Marines from the Terran Alliance, not from home unfortunately. They’ve been here a while and came from various people who showed up over the past 200 years and made a big coalition. No idea why they haven’t shown up already, but they’ve got guns and shit and they’re gonna help us take down the queen!”

“Sergeant, who is this man?” Vaughn asked.

Melissa turned back to him, “Oh! Sorry, Vaughn! this is Andrew Shepherd, the man we’ve been looking for.”

Vaughn’s hand was still on his rifle grip, “Are you certain?”

“Don’t worry, I know him.”

Andrew did a double-take, and gaped at the dragon sergeant, “Uh...uh…”

Vaughn’s hand remained on the grip, “You looking at something, mister?”

Andrew immediately looked at the ceiling, “Uh...nope. Just...interesting ceiling tiles, aren’t they?”

Melissa grimaced at Vaughn, “Don’t mind him. He’s more socially awkward than a dodo bird.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Vaughn asked.

“I dunno, actually. Just sounded funny in my head.”

Twilight galloped over to Andrew, leaning back on her hind legs to hug him, “I thought you might be dead!”

“Glad to disappoint,” he replied, “Do you have any food that’s not made of rats?”

Corporal Ceres slung his rifle and picked up the firearms Cadence and Andrew had dropped. He trotted over, “Hey, what’s with these things?”

Andrew gestured, “Oh, we mugged one of the bad guys.” he turned out his pockets, holding out ammunition magazines, a radio, and other objects.

“Nice work, Andrew,” Melissa said, taking the radio, “We might be able to monitor their communications with this. Probably not much, but it’s something.”

Vaughn took the alien rifle from Ceres. He pulled out the magazine, and checked the action, “Foster, did the G11 get anywhere back home?”

“Got cancelled after German reunification, been pretty much dead ever since. Why?”

“What’s a G11?” Andrew asked.

Vaughn passed the Changeling rifle to Melissa, and said, “Look at this thing. Caseless ammunition, rotary breech…”

She nodded, “Yep, certainly looks like one. Wonder how they got past the heat problem…”

“What’s a G11?” Andrew repeated.

“Oh, prototype for a caseless assault rifle that NATO was working on during the Cold War,” Melissa explained distractedly, turning the weapon over, “...it doesn’t look electrically fired and it has a firing pin...how do they get rid of the heat?”

“Oh, if you think that’s weird,” Andrew commented, then took the alien pistol from Ceres and placed it under Melissa’s nose, “Explain to me how this works!”

He showed her the detachable quad barrel, and lack of a firing pin.

“I don’t know how this thing works, but--”

“Oh, this one's easy. Looks like a VLE gun, like the one Metal Storm made.”

Andrew resisted the urge to make some sort of annoyed gesture, “of course you know that. What's Metal Storm, pray tell?”

Melissa strapped the pistol to the webbing on her vest, “Another form of caseless ammunition. They stack the ammunition in the barrel like a Roman candle, but more controllable. Uses an electrical signal to set off each round. That's why the barrel's so heavy, it has all the ammo inside. Also, it's variable lethality, that was the VL in VLE, so it can fire lethal or non-lethal--”

“Yes, we figured that out,” Cadence said, trotting up, “Andrew here desperately wanted to figure out what each type of ammunition did.”

Melissa’s eyes widened, “Princess Cadence?”

Cadence nodded, “Yes, are you...You’re Melissa Foster, right? I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Melissa grinned, and stepped forward to shake her hoof, “Yes, Sergeant Melissa Foster, United States Marines. I don’t think we’ve met before. I insulted your duplicate a lot though.”

“It did get kind of excessive…” Andrew muttered, “Also, since when did you become a sergeant?”

“Promotion. How else?”

Cadence looked around at the soldiers, “Did I miss a telegram or something? Since when have there been more than two humans?”

“Community of humans isolated from your society who we happened to run into.” Melissa said, “So does the pistol shoot some sort of bean bag round?”

“Two broken bug ribs say 'yes’,” Andrew deadpanned, “Can I have a gun now?”

Vaughn eyed him doubtfully, “no offense, Mr. Shepherd, but are you qualified in a firearm?”

“Yes!” Andrew snapped indignantly, “I am a freaking gun nut, thanks to this place!”

“Pfft. Poser.” Melissa chuckled, “I’m a Vermonter! I once knew a guy who had a fucking M60 from Vietnam stashed in his backyard!”

“Is this really the time for this?” Twilight demanded, “why are you standing here talking about guns?!”

Queen Luna finally caught up with the group. She spotted Andrew and Cadence, “Excellent, we have replenished our ranks somewhat. Do we not have a schedule to keep, everyone?”

“You heard the lady,” Vaughn shouted, “Move it you apes!”

Andrew moved alongside Melissa, “Seriously, did you guys get me a gun? Any of mine? My Browning Hi-Power?”

“Andrew, I didn’t have the time to--”

“Can I have a gun?”

Melissa sighed, “Ceres, give him your .45 and let’s get moving!”

“Why me?” the Griffin demanded, trying to strap the Changeling rifle to his backpack as he moved.

“Because I like to pick on you? Don’t make it an order, Corporal.”

Ceres passed over his sidearm, and sneered a little at Andrew, “You know how to use that, four-eyes?”

“Easy, tiger.” Melissa snorted at Andrew’s scowl.

“Stay behind us,” Twilight said, “and try not to get shot.”

“Keyword try!” Melissa added.

“Jesus god, leave me alone, ‘Colonel O’Neill’! It’s been five minutes since we’ve met and you’re already messing with me!”

“Just play your part, ‘Dr. Jackson’! This is how it goes!”

Cadence looked at Queen Luna, “Are they always like this when they’re?”

Luna suppressed a laugh, “It’s better than before.”

Nearly two dozen marines and royal guards, two civilians, and two members of royalty approached the massive doors of the chapel.

Odd. There were no door guards.

The marines stacked up against the massive entrance, and Vaughn ordered, “Fix bayonets! And someone get me some flashbangs!”

“No!” Melissa protested, “We’ve got dozens of civilians in there, and soldiers, be they friend or foe, who will just start shooting blind!”

“Then what do you suggest?” Vaughn asked, “Grenades? C4? Satchel charge?”

“Opening the doors manually?”

They burst through the doors, Twilight, Melissa and Luna leading the way. Immediately, the surprised guards leveled their weapons, and the marines raised theirs, shouting at one another.

The chamber was much like a throne room, long, wide, and tall with a flat area between the door and the marble stairs leading up the dais. There were dozens of ponies seated in a grid formation, two squares on either side of the chamber, with a red carpet between them.

The Mane Six, or five at the moment, stood by the steps. There didn’t seem to be any Andrew or Twilight imposters, but the Melissa imposter stood at the back of the crowd, wearing a human pant suit obviously pilfered from the real Melissa’s belongings.

Celestia, Shining Armor, and the insane military commander of an alien invading force stood at the altar, or whatever they called it around here.

Everyone stared in shock and astonishment at the marines crashing their wedding.

“What--? Twilight, who are these people?” Celestia demanded.

“Stop the wedding,” Twilight roared, pointing at the disguised Changeling queen, “That is an imposter!”

For Melissa, time seemed to slow down. Her eyes locked on those identical to her own. As if of its own accord, Orcrist hovered into firing position. The double raised a familiar Glock 17. Melissa flicked the fire selector to “burst” and...

…
…
…

Melissa held her fire.

Across the room, Chrysalis’ look of shock turned to one of rage, “She and Luna are trying to overthrow the crown! They’ve sided with those...those monsters! Guards, take them down! Kill them!”

The guards looked at each other, then to the marines.

The remaining Mane Six looked at not-Cadence, astonished.

Applejack trotted forward, “Twilight? Melissa? Andrew? What’s going on?”

Rainbow Dash zipped across the chamber to stop before Melissa and the double, “What--? Who--? How can there be two of you?”

“‘Kill them’?” Celestia demanded, shocked at the vicious order, “Luna, what’s going on!?”

“Sister, that is not the princess! She’s an imposter!”

Not-Cadence looked at Celestia, “Your highness, they are simply trying to confuse you! Order the guards to kill them, now! And those horrid beasts with them!”

“No!” the real Cadence cried, stepping into the room, “Don’t listen to her!”

Chrysalis gave a growl, “You escaped too?”

Andrew stepped forward, “You’d be surprised what happens when you stick someone with an archeologist!”

Celestia narrowed her gaze upon the imposter beside her, “Who are you? What is this all about?”

Melissa pulled out a taser and shot her double with it.

The creature spasmed and contorted, its shape distorting and tearing at the suit it wore. A distinct shape began to form as it collapsed. Finally the Changeling underneath was revealed, its uniform visible through the remnants of Melissa’s pant suit.

The guests in the row nearby hopped to their feet, crying out in fear and surprise.

Rainbow Dash took a step back, “Melissa, what the hay is going on?”

Melissa offered a savage grin to her friend, “Setting things right. I say Normandy…?”

“I say beach!” Rainbow said, somewhat frustrated, “I...what’s happening?!“

Melissa retrieved her beloved pistol and hauled the enemy agent to their feet. “Queen Celestia! This is an agent of the Mutan Empire who impersonated me and helped to try and kill myself, Twilight, and Andrew!”

“They’re a race of creatures that feed off of love!” Cadence cried.

“Silence!” Chrysalis shrieked, “Guards, I am your leader! Kill them!”

Sergeant Vaughn spoke into his radio, “Ripsaw 1, we need some help here. Move around to the cathedral window.”

A deep whirling met everyone’s ears, and everyone turned to look out the stain-glass window, overlooking one side of the city.

Blocking the view was their SuperCobra escort hovering a few dozen meters away, its 20mm gatling gun fixed squarely on the unusual heat signature next to the other extremely unusual heat signature. The sound of its engines were muted by the thick construction of the building.

There were many gasps of disbelief, and most of the crowd backed away from the window, but not too far for fear of colliding with the marines.

Vaughn aimed his M16 at Chrysalis, “Surrender! We’ve got you surrounded!”

“Guards,” Luna ordered, “Arrest that imposter!”

For a moment, there was utter silence.

Not-Cadence smiled, a smile with eyes of hate, “I see you have all your bases covered. I’ve lost, I suppose. However, you forgot to take a few things into account. Let’s even the odds a bit, shall we?”

Suddenly, several of the royal guards trained their weapons on Celestia, Luna, Twilight, and the real Cadence, creating a domino effect as the soldiers aimed at each other, demanding that the other drop their weapon. The imposters were in the ranks.

The Changeling queen raised an arm to her ear, “At your leisure, Vulture 1.”

Ripsaw 1’s tail rotor exploded. A helicopter aircraft that looked like a combination of the Eurocopter Tiger and an RAH-66 Comanche zipped by.

The appearance of guests and guards alike in the crowd began to shimmer and shift. Several dozen Changelings made themselves visible. Weapons were turned.

A burst of weapons fire.

Gunshots from Springbok carbines.

People began screaming. The crowd surged. A marine screamed and fell to the floor.

Ripsaw 1 collided with the window.

All hell broke loose.