Celestia brought the Operators, Shining, and Sunset into the command tent. They all sat down, Thermite planting his legs on the table.

"So, let's talk." Celestia said. "What do you know about this blight?"

"We know it as the Apex Parasite." Doc said, handing Celestia a tablet with his research. "It's extraterrestrial, and extremely adaptable and intelligent. We had one small outbreak, but it wiped an entire town off the map."

Celestia frowned.

"How do we stop it?" she asked.

"Technically, we're still killing it." Ash replied. "Our NanoThermite charges killed the source, but the infection is still dying. It's persistent, I'll give it that. Let's make a deal, shall we?"

"What kind of deal?" Celestia asked.

"We'll work with you to stop this outbreak." Ash said. "We'll exchange information, weapons, and troops. In exchange, you'll do what we ask, and don't screw us over. Deal?"

"...Deal." Celestia replied. "I take it you are the medical specialist?"

"Yes. Gustav Kateb, call me Doc." Doc replied. "I'll have my research ready ASAP."

"Then let's get going." Celestia said. "We don't have time to waste."

====

As Shining took Doc to Clean Slate to drop off his research, Celestia took Sunset aside to make amends. That left Ash and the Operators in the care of the Elements of Harmony. Ash and her team were taken to a small armory near the entrance to Our Town.

"Feel free to wait here." Twilight said. "I'm not sure what you need to do."

"We'll be fine, miss." Ash said. "We'll check our gear. Then, we're getting to the bottom of this."

Twilight raised an eyebrow, but the Elements left. The various Operators then set about, checking their gear and weapons.

"I'll tell you one thing…" Tachanka said, loading his Mounted Turret. "This seems quite odd."

"How so?" Buck replied, loading his Skeleton Key Breaching Shotgun.

"It seems like...it's organized." Tachanka continued. "Like we kill one outbreak, another pops up."

"That is odd." Lion said, as he and Finka came in with crates of ammo and armor "However, we still have a job to do."

"Amen to that." Kapkan said. "We're stacked and ready."

"Agreed." said a new voice. The operators turned to see a new Operator appear. He was covered head to toe in SWAT Gear, and he carried an SC 2010 assault rifle. On his back were two large canisters.

"Who are you?" Thermite asked.

"I'm Miguel Ximenez." he said. "Call me Matador. I'm your newest Operator, Madrid Special Services."

"Good to have you." Buck said, shaking his hand. "You've been briefed?"

"Thoroughly." Matador replied, loading a MAC-11 SMG. "I've also got these."

He unfurled the canisters, revealing a scroll of mesh netting.

"What's this?" Kapkan asked.

"Antibreach net." Matador said. "Prevents hostile entry by two methods. Electrically charged material and kevlar plating."

"Neat." Thermite said, as he came in. "Ash just gave us the go-ahead. We're entering the town via Airship. Princess Celestia's spoken with Six, and she's on our side. Everyone, lock and load. Lion, Finka, get ready. Doc's going to be busy here, so you'll be our Medics."

"Roger that." the two Operators said. Thermite gave them three NanoThermite Charges, and they headed for the waiting airship, Doc already on board and waiting.

====

The Operators took their seats, and the airship headed to the top of the shield dome, flying just like a helicopter.

"Your mission is as follows." Ash said over the radio. "Find the source and destroy it, eliminate all hostiles, secure live samples if possible. If there are any survivors, which most likely won't be the case, extract them. Am I understood?"

"Yes, ma'am!" the Operators said as the shield opened. The airship descended, and with a chorus of metallic clicks, the Operators loaded their weapons.

"Here's your stop! Good luck!" the pilot yelled as the Operators disembarked. "See you at the rendezvous!"

The airship exited the shield, and Gaunt took point.

====

"It pains me to say this…" Matador said, his assault rifle sweeping around, checking the corners and alleys. "...I've got a bad feeling about this."

"Tell me you didn't just quote Star Wars." Buck replied. "Or is that for real?"

"For real." Matador replied. "We're not alone out here."

"Wait, up ahead!" Tachanka said as he loaded his SASG-12. The Operators ducked into cover as a Roach appeared. The humans could tell it was once a pegasus, due to the mangled wings covered in Apex-infested feathers.

And even more disturbing was the fangs in its mouth.

"Drop it." Buck said to Matador.

Matador fired a round, killing the Roach with a headshot. It fell, and Doc immediately surged forward to document the new form.

"We need to keep moving." Gaunt said. "No time for photos."

"There is time for live samples." Doc replied, placing a small fragment of dead Apex into a vial. "Now, we go."

The Operators advanced, then they heard loud screeching coming from a nearby location. As they crouched behind the stalls of a ruined open-air market, they eyed several more infected Pegasi eating what remained of…

Well, let's just say the sight sickened even the hardened Rainbow Six operators.

"Are they seriously doing that?" Gaunt asked.

"That's sick." Ying said.

"No time to stand gawking, Rainbow." Ash's voice came over their radios. "Keep moving. We've identified an infection source at the Town Hall. Move there ASAP."

"Roger that." Buck said. "Gaunt, Matador, drop these fuckers."

"Rog'"

"Roger."

A few silenced gunshots, and the three roaches fell dead. Lion and Finka quickly secured virus samples before the remaining Operators continued their trek through the town.

====
Quarantine HQ

"I will admit, Miss Ash…" Celestia said. "Your Operators are skilled."

"We aim to be." Ash said. "However, our primary function is counter-terrorism, not dealing with alien parasite outbreaks."

"Tell me how it came to your world." Clean Slate requested from his table, that he was sharing research with Doc.

"All right." Ash said, pulling out a tablet. "Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, United States. A Cold-War era Soviet space Capsule crashed near this town. A local, Ben Boyd, salvaged it for sale, inadvertently releasing the Apex into the surrounding area."

"The Virus was passive at first, slowly infecting the town." Ash continued. "The residents bunched up at the Town center, which was reissued as a CDC Clinic and serology lab. Dr. Ellen Mackintosh led containment efforts. However, Boyd himself received enough exposure to the Apex, infecting him. He headed to the lab, the parasite slowly taking over his body. Once he arrived, he was fully changed. Then, all hell broke loose."

"The Apex started changing all the residents who were infected, no matter how severe their case." Thermite said, coming in with additional NanoThermite charges. "Soon, Dr. Mackintosh was the only uninfected survivor. Everyone else was infected or killed. Town was quarantined, National Guard and Army units were deployed, followed by us."

"So you came to destroy it?" Celestia asked.
"We also want to know its origins." Ash said. "And if possible, develop cure or inoculation."

"Lofty goals, Miss Ash." Clean Slate said. "However, are you sure your Operators will deliver?"

"Dead sure." Ash said. "We've stopped multiple terrorist threats across the globe and then some. We can handle this."

"Princess!"

The humans and ponies turned to see a Guard appear, out of breath.

"We've got a report from one of our aerial units. The creatures are attempting to breakthrough the shield near the Town Hall."

"If they do, that'll let the Apex spread unrestrained." Ash said. "Can you reinforce it?"

"No." Celestia said. "I'd have to lower the shield in order to cast a stronger ward. That'll be the end of Out Town, and possibly Equestria."

"Then we don't have a choice. Thermite said. "Operators, this is Thermite. We have a problem."

"So we hear." Tachanka said. "We're en route now."

"Move quickly." Ash said. "If those parasites break through, we won't have an Equestria to clean up. Your objective has changed. Stop the Apex, use any means necessary."

"Understood." Lion said. "We'll make it count."

"Good luck." Thermite said. Celestia frowned at this.

"Something wrong?" Ash asked.

"In my experience, Eliza…" Celestia said. "There is no such thing as luck."

Author's Note

Yeah, this took FOREVER. Mostly because I've been busy. Now, I own R6 Siege, so that's a boost. I should be more familiar over time with the game.

Anyway, sorry this took so long.

Next Chapter-The Operators move to stop the escaping Apex, and a second Apex Capsule enters planetary orbit...

Big thanks to EvanZeGeek for the editing and all the support he's given me.