Destiny-We Shall Rise

The Guardians raised a battle cry as the surviving Cabal troops attempted to fight back. A pack of Warbeasts and their handlers managed to rally a few squads, but a well-timed Daybreak from Casiana killed them.

"Spread out!" Flash cried as his Caster rifle killed three Psions. "Find the prisoners!"

"Roger that!" Rook cried as he and his Fireteam entered the barracks, now pocked with holes and all around them were the moans of dying Cabal.

"Terminal here." Ness said, floating over to the Computer. "Let's see what we can get."

Ness fired several beams of energy at the interface, and did a Ghost's equivalent of flinching.

"What's wrong, Ness?" Leo asked.

"Someone in the Prison turned the turrets around and made them fire on the Cabal. We've got an ally here, but no record as to who."

"A pony prisoner?" Rook suggested.

"Not likely." Ness replied. "The guns are controlled by the Warden, so they'd need the Warden's keycodes to turn the guns around."

"Noted." Rook said. "Let's move."

As they proceeded to the main yard, the lights dimmed and went out.

"Power's gone." Spyre said, just as the ground shook and the base rumbled.

"What was that?" Casiana asked.

"That was an explosion from the Generator wing, if my calculations are correct." Fen said. "We've got to get moving."

Rook slowly advanced, and then Casiana pulled him back just as a Cabal energy barrier boxed them in. Rook punched the field only to receive a powerful shock in return. Several Cabal Legionaries and two Psions approached. Leading them was a Centurion clad in Purple and Gold armor, bearing a long rifle.

"We have secured the Guardians." a Psion spoke. "Shall we kill them now, Valus?"

The Guardians tensed up, but not two seconds later, the Centurion tapped on a wristpad, and the barrier blasted outward, slamming each Legionary into the wall of the arena. The Psions screeched angrily and went for their Slug Rifles, only for the Centurion to bash their heads together, killing them. A second tap on his wristpad, and the barrier went down. The Guardians slowly raised their weapons, but the Centurion raised his hand.

"We must move, Guardians." he spoke. "The Red Legion will find the bodies soon enough."

"Why kill your own troops?" Fen asked.

"I do not serve Ghaul, nor the Red Legion." the Centurion said. "Allow me an introduction. I am Valus Cur'an, of the Imperial Loyalists."

"Loyalists?" Rook asked.

"We serve the rightful ruler of our empire, the deposed Emperor Calus." Cur'an said. "It is difficult to explain, but Ghaul assumed the title of Dominus only after the Midnight Coup."

"Midnight Coup?" Casiana asked. "You mean Ghaul doesn't rule the Empire?"

"He seized the throne and exiled Calus aboard the Leviathan." Cur'an said. "But we must move. The turrets will cover our escape."

"Alright, but we don't trust you." Leo said.

"As you wish."

Cur'an shouldered his Headhunter Rifle, and the Guardians followed him to the main control room. Upon opening the door, the Guardians cut down the stationed Cabal with a burst of gunfire. Cur'an then unlocked the Cell Bay and the armory.

"Let's go." Rook said. "Valus, can you hardwire the Turrets to target any Red Legion reinforcements?"

"That would shoot down our ships as well that are in the battle zone." Cur'an replied. "Once our escape is secured, I shall do as you ask."

"Fine." Rook said. "Flash, what's your status?"

"We've got the prisoners loaded, but we've got a big problem! A squadron of Threshers are closing in, and we don't have the firepower to take them out!"

"We do." Rook said. "We'll take care of the Threshers. Move out to safety."

"Roger that!"

Rook motioned, and the Guardians, followed by Cur'an, headed to the open yard. Only they didn't notice a Security Camera recording them.

====
Aboard Ghaul's Flagship.
Central Command Room

Ghaul stormed into the command room and ordered a report.

"Dominus, the Resistance has attacked and captured the XV15 detention center!" a Psion said."Reports say the defense turrets there fired on our troops! The Guardians are also there, fighting with the Resistance!"

Ghaul growled and slammed his fist on the command table.

"Who is in command there?" he asked in a low voice.

"Valus Cur'an." was the reply. "I shall send his file to you."

"Do that immediately." Ghaul said. "I shall look into this "Valus Cur'an"."

Ghaul left and headed for his chambers on the bridge. As he interfaced and brought up Cur'an's file, he furrowed his eyes.

"So, you were at the Palace the night of the coup?" he murmured. "With links to the corrupt Emperor, Calus? I shall certainly keep an eye on you, Valus. If he has the courage to stand against me, there may be others at the Emperor's call…"

Ghaul growled, and moved to stand at the bridge window.

=====

As the Guardians and Cur'an rejoined Flash and the Resistance troops in the main courtyard, Flash eyed the Centurion with suspicion.

"He's with us." Casiana said. "He made the turrets take out the Cabal, killed the power, he's the reason we took this prison."

"And I have downloaded every piece of Cabal field intelligence onto my wristpad." Cur'an added. "Weapon caches, vehicle bays, base locations, and a full readout of the Cabal fleet in orbit."

Flash raised an eyebrow, but motioned for the Centurion to come aboard. As the Guardians and the Cabal did so, Cur'an tapped his wristpad, and the turrets opened fire on the mountainside, burying the Prison and two of the five turrets.

"What about the Threshers?" Spyre asked.

"Leave that to me." Cur'an said, tapping his wristpad once more. As the Threshers came into view, the three remaining turrets opened fire, cutting the Cabal fighters down, while the Resistance made their getaway.

====

As Twilight got off the radio with Flash and the Guardians, she sighed in confusion and exhaustion. Not only had a Cabal Centurion aided her forces in the prison break, he was coming to Home One with more intel than the former Princess could dream of. She was grateful to the Guardians, but she still had a few lingering doubts about the Centurion being seen in her base. She sighed, grabbed Flurry Heart, and headed for the Hangar, where the airships were setting down. The three Guardians disembarked, followed by the Centurion.

"Greetings." Twilight said.

"Greetings to you." the Centurion replied. "I am Valus Cur'an. If you'll allow me, I'll upload the intelligence I gathered to your network."

"Fine." Twilight said. "Flurry, take him to the Engineers. The rest of you, great work. Flash, how many did we get?"

"About a few hundred." Flash said, coming forward. "They said most of them were moved to different prisons before our attack."

"Alright, get them armed and ready." Twilight said, nodding. "Guardians, with me."

As Fireteam Herald walked with Twilight, she sighed.

"I suppose I owe you thanks for aiding my troops." she sighed. "I wish I could be out there, fighting instead of hiding like a rat in a burrow."

Rook looked at her curiously. Twilight huffed as they entered the command post, just as Flurry Heart returned.

"Aunt Twilight?" she said. "The scouts have a report from the Frozen North."

"And?"

"Someone's been killing any Cabal that get near the old Crystal Empire." Flurry said. "They know it's a stallion with a long rifle, but other than that…"

"Nothing?" Twilight finished. Flurry nodded in affirmation, and Twilight sighed.

"If it's him…" she murmured. "He could help."

"You know he's gone." Flurry said. "Aunt Twilight, Shining Armor is dead. He died in front of you."

"Yet we left the body behind." Twilight growled sadly. "Funny, he always said he would defend Equis all his life. Now, he's doing it in death. Flurry, get the Guardians. Tell them I've got an errand for them."

Flurry flinched, but she hastily summoned the Guardians.

"What's the matter?" Casiana asked. Twilight sighed and looked at the Warlock.

"Well, it's a long story." she said. "You know the third Alicorn, Cadance? She had a husband, my brother, Shining Armor. When the Red Legion captured the Crystal Empire, he gave his life to get Flurry to me, while Cadance drove off the Cabal. She was captured, and the Empire was left in ruins. Recently, there's been reports of somepony in the ruins, killing the Cabal who patrol there."

"You want us to investigate?" Leo asked.

"Yes." she said. "Just...do it quickly. I have something to attend to."

The Guardians nodded, and headed out towards the airship bay. Twilight made sure they were gone before she went down a smaller tunnel, which led into a monument of some kind. On the table was the shattered Crystal Heart, now darkened and broken. Twilight sighed and let the tears fall as she collapsed, sobbing.

====

The Guardians were dropped off near the ruins of an old train station, as it was the closest the airship could go before the constant blizzards would down it.

"What exactly are we looking for?" Rook asked. "A body?"

"Maybe." Leo said. "If this Shining Armor's even alive, maybe we'll find him."

"Let's go, Fireteam." Rook said as they entered the blizzard.