Chapter One
To Basics
(Author's note: Mareskoj sounds like mare-skoy)
"We lack power, but we still need to defend our freedom. If we sacrifice nothing, we can defend nothing. I have no intention of living that way, if that makes me evil, then so be it..."
Twilight, Spike and her friends waited patiently as the train chugged along towards Canterlot. She had received a letter from the Princess two days ago requesting her and her friend's presence for something important. The letter did not specify what important matter the Princess needed them for, but one does not question Celestia when she needs you.
Twilight was reading a book on proper bookshelf maintenance, with Spike beside her watching Pinkie jump around the train car. Rainbow Dash was asleep with her head against the window, snoring loudly, Fluttershy and Rarity were talking about the Canterlot spa, and Applejack was asleep as well with her hat covering her face.
"What do you think the Princess needs us for Twilight?" Pinkie asked as she bounced around the car.
"For the twelfth time Pinkie, I don't know! She only said she needed the seven of us in Canterlot two days after she sent the letter, which didn't say why."
Pinkie stopped bouncing and walked to where Rainbow Dash was sleeping, and shook her to wake her up.
"Waah! What? Huh?" The pegasus looked around, then at Pinkie Pie, "What is it Pinkie? I was sleeping!"
"What do you think the Princess wants Dashie?" she asked her sky blue friend.
Rainbow Dash shrugged, "I dunno Pinkie, but whatever it is, it's important. But there's one thing I don't get."
Pinkie tilted her head to the side and said, "What's that Dashie?"
"Why did the Princess specifically ask for Spike? She should have figured we'd bring him anyway."
"Maybe I'll get my own element of harmony!" Spike said excited, "Maybe I'll get the element of loyalty!"
"Yeah! That could totally happen!" Pinkie Pie shouted.
Rainbow Dash chuckled and said, "Sorry, that jobs taken Spike."
"Oh, right. Well it was worth a try." he said sadly.
Rarity noticed Spike's change in tone and said, "Oh don't worry Spikey wikey! I'm sure the Princess has a very important job for you!"
Spike blushed, "Gee, thanks Rarity!"
Soon after, Canterlot Station came into sight and they had reached their destination. They departed from the train and headed straight for the castle. Upon arrival a pair of Royal Guards quickly directed them to the throne room.
"Twilight Sparkle and friends," said the brilliantly white Princess Celestia as she smiled, "I'm glad you all are here. Come with me, Luna is getting everything prepared downstairs.
"Downstairs?" Fluttershy asked timidly, "Is it, dark? And creepy?"
"Of course not Fluttershy, but it is very far down below the castle", the princess replied, "Now follow me everypony."
Celestia turned and walked out of the throne room down a hallway, then into a stairway and began the long descent.
"Princess Celestia?" asked Pinkie Pie, "Why did you call all of us here? Is there gonna be a party? With candy?"
"No Pinkie Pie", the princess replied, "What I have called you here for is far more important than any kind of party."
"Even a birthday party?" the pink pony asked.
"Yes."
"So what is it?"
"I can't explain it," Celestia said as she continued the descent, "You'll just have to see when we get downstairs."
Pinkie Pie sighed and flattened her ears, annoyed that the princess wouldn't tell her, but wisely kept quiet the rest of the way.
Several flights of stairs later, the group came to a halt outside an oak door.
"Now everypony, you are about to see the greatest piece of technology Equestria has ever produced. Behind this door lies the very tools that will keep the peace all over the world. Behind this door lies the Chromepony hangar."
"Chrome-pony, yer Majesty?" Applejack asked.
"Yes Applejack, they are...", the princess stopped for a moment and then said, "You know what? Why don't you all see for yourselves?"
The princess's horn glowed a yellow light as she opened the door to the hangar. Inside lay seven massive machines, each one with a different chassis, some with legs, and others with treads or wheels. On top of the chassis' lay pods that could fit a pony inside, or one's case, a baby dragon.
"These, my little ponies, are the Chromeponies. The next generation of fighting vehicles, made to outclass the ACV's currently in use. Also just known as PONYs, these machines are capable of withstanding great punishment and dishing out the same. Luna!" the princess shouted, "Where are you sister?"
"Over here!" came Luna's voice from behind the treaded mech, "This thing's still got some bugs. I'd say test it last until I figure out what to do about it."
"Come over here Luna, Twilight and her friends have arrived."
Luna popped her head from behind the mech and saw the group standing by the door. She jumped around the mech and trotted over to greet Twilight and her friends.
She was wearing blue overalls that were covered in grease, along with goggles resting just below her horn, and she had her flowing mane and tail tied back into a bun. She had bags under her eyes, which told that she had spent many late nights down here.
"Luna, why are you dressed like this? You were only supposed to supervise the mechanics!" Celestia told her sister.
"I was. I am! I'm supervising their work and helping them with it!" Luna replied, "I'm being told I'm quite the 'grease monkey', which I'm also told is a compliment."
Luna then turned her attention to Twilight and her friends.
"Twilight, Fluttershy, Spike and friends, it is good to see you all again!" she said cheerfully, "What do you think of my little PONYs?"
"Wow princess, these sure are huge!" Applejack commented.
"And dangerous looking," Fluttershy added.
"Of course they are! We ponies lack in numbers, so we'll have to make up for it with size when we deploy you and others to the Neighroimus region."
"WHAT?!" the seven friends cried out.
"Why are we going there? There's all kinds of bad stuff going on there!" Rainbow Dash said.
"Indeed," Rarity agreed with her pegasus friend, "civil war, regular war, terrorism, famine, disease and death. Why in Equestria are we being sent there?"
"To defend our ally, Mareskoj, in the soon to be coming war." Luna answered.
"Wait," Spike interrupted, "What's the Neighroimus region and what's Mareskoj?"
A hush came over the group as the ponies looked at Spike, surprised he that didn't know.
"Twi, how does he not know?" Applejack asked her lavender friend.
Twilight sighed and said, "I suppose it's my fault, I hid the newspapers from him so he wouldn't get scared about the violence over there."
"So what's happening over there?" Spike asked, eager to hear what Twilight had been hiding from him.
"Basically Spike, after some great alliances fell apart years ago, these countries were born and have been struggling to maintain their independence from each other and their old masters. Mareskoj was once a part of the U.S.P.R., the United Socialist Pony Republic, and is now our the Republic of Mareskoj and our ally. Sal Colt was once zebra lands, but tore away from the zebras and became the Kingdom of Sal Colt, where a pony AND a zebra both rule. Then there's the Democratic Republic of Tarakia, a former U.P.R., United Pony Republic, state. There's been reports of terrorist activity and each country hiring mercenaries from all over to bolster their armies." Twilight explained.
"That sounds bad," Spike replied.
"Wrong Spike," Celestia said, "It's perfect."
"Perfect, your majesty?" Spike asked, "All this talk about terrorism and mercenaries sounds just awful."
"Yes Spike, it is perfect, with the other countries hiring mercenaries, this allows us to send troops to aid Mareskoj without officially getting involved and being targeted by the other nations. That's where you all come in. You'll be part of the best squad we send to Mareskoj, after some basic training of course." Celestia explained to the young dragon.
"What sort of training? Will we have to get all sweaty?" Rarity asked.
"Hopefully not too much, it will mostly be evaluation of your skills, then piloting instruction. Then of course weapons training," Luna assured her.
"W-weapons training? We'll have to hurt other ponies?" Fluttershy asked Luna.
Luna's ears drooped and she frowned. "Well yes Fluttershy, it has become unavoidable at this point. The whole Neighroimus region will soon be engulfed in war, and Equestria must help it's friends." the princess explained to the frightened mare.
"Well, I dunno..."
"Please Fluttershy, we're going to need you." Twilight pleaded with her friend.
Flutteshy just squeaked and nodded reluctantly.
"Excellent Fluttershy!" Luna cheered, "Now everypony, come with me, we're going to go over the basics of operating your PONY."
"I will take my leave now sister, I must maintain my throne room presence." Celestia said as she walked out of the hangar, "Good luck everypony, I will see you before you ship out."
"Goodbye sister." She turned to the others, "Okay, now follow me!"
Luna led the group to a door on the side of the hangar, and opened it to reveal a small classroom. Eight desks arranged in two rows of four in the middle of the room. A large chalkboard took up most of the front wall, with notes on something called 'RTs' already written on it.
"Everypony take a seat. Before we do any sort of training, you'll take the RT test." Luna explained as the friends filled in.
"RT?" Twilight asked as she and her friends took their seats.
"Roletypes Twilight, your PONY's configuration will reflect your skills and based on that, your PONY will fall into one of six roletypes," Luna explained and pointed at the chalkboard with her hoof as she went over the RTs, "First off is the Soldier, combat specialist. Usually leads the offensive and is in the thick of the combat the most. Next is the Sniper, a long-range specialist. Excels in long-range combat and usually supports the Soldier. Up next is the Scout, the mobility specialist. Fast and agile, the Scout helps maintain communications by capturing COMBAS towers and determines where enemy facilities are located. Now we come to the Defender, defensive combat specialist. Excels at close and medium range, the Defender is tasked with defending the Commander, Heavy Gunner, the base, or anything that needs to be defended. Can also be used as a reserve unit. Next we have the Heavy Gunner, artillery specialist. The Heavy Gunner uses howitzers and cannons at long range to decimate enemy forces and facilities. Lastly, we come to the Commander, information specialist. It is equipped with a Network Area, or NA, maker. Can see the enemy within the NA and issues orders to the others. Anypony have any other questions? Preferably ones without long answers?"
Nopony spoke up.
"Great!" Luna said cheerfully, "Now under the desks you'll find your test and pencils. The questions of this test have no wrong answers and will help determine which RT you are best suited for. It's mostly just psychological tests and a few other surprises. You have as much time as needed, if you need me, I'll be fixing that blasted tread chassis..."
Luna walked out of the room and left the seven to their work.
After only twenty minutes, Twilight had finished, followed shortly by Spike and Pinkie. Next was Rainbow Dash, then Rarity, then Fluttershy, and lastly was Applejack.
Not long after the ponies were finished, Luna came in to check on them.
"Everypony finished?" Luna asked as she walked through the doorway.
"I think we're all finished Luna," Twilight answered.
"Alright then, I'll just take these and figure out what role types you'll all be doing..." Luna said as she levitated the tests off of the desks, floated them in front of her so she could read them and began to read the results.
"Twilight. You're ability to multitask and organize has put you into the commanding position of, well, Commander. You'll give directions to your squad as it comes to you either from your squad mates, or what you see over your tactical map."
"Oh, that sounds important!" Twilight exclaimed.
"It is! You're the strategic master of the battlefield, coming up with strategies to outsmart your enemy and seize victory. Now," Luna looked at Applejack, "Applejack, your stubbornness and strength has picked you out as the perfect Defender. You'll guard your squad, base or any location your Commander gives you."
"Well alright, Ah guess that sounds like me," Applejack replied, pleased with her new role.
"Rarity, you're attention to detail has made you perfect for the role of the Heavy Gunner. Precise calculations and large caliber weapons will become everyday for you. You will be able to rapidly decimate enemy forces and structures, and be able to turn the tide of battle in a manner of seconds."
"Me? The, what was it you called it? Artillery specialist?", the white unicorn replied, worried about her new role.
"That's right, don't worry though", Luna assured Rarity, "The Heavy Gunner is usually far off from combat, sometimes accompanied by the Defender PONY or a team of ACVs."
"Oh, well I guess that would be fine...", Rarity replied, her worries slightly diminished.
"Oh oh oh! Me next! Me next!" Pinkie Pie shouted as she jumped out of her seat and began bouncing around the room.
"Okay Pinkie, the test says you're unpredictability and quick thinking make you perfect for the role of Soldier. You'll be on the front lines, supported by the Sniper and Scout. You'll engage you're enemies with hard hitting weaponry in close quarters and have to deal out damage quickly to dispatch your opponent."
"Ooooooh, I think I can do that!" Pinkie said cheerfully.
"Next, Rainbow Dash," Luna said as she looked over the results, "Well Rainbow Dash, the test says your speed and agility make you a perfect operator for the Scout type. You'll be in charge of gathering information quickly from different parts of the battlefield and relaying it back to your Commander. You'll also be in charge of capturing COMBAS towers."
"A what tower?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"A COMBAS tower. It expands the NA on the Commander's NA maker, and lets you communicate if you're within range. They're scattered all over the Neighroimus region and each nation " Luna explained.
"Oh okay."
"Now Fluttershy. You're quietness and patience have picked you out as the squad's Sniper. You'll engage enemies from a long way off with your sniper rifles and cannons to support the Soldier and Scout."
"Umm, I dunno...that sounds..."
"Me next! Me next!" Spike interrupted.
Luna ignored Spike for the moment and looked at Fluttershy. "Don't worry Fluttershy, you'll do just fine." She then turned to Spike. "Spike, you got a pretty low score in all categories except Defender. My guess is that your loyalty and devotion to Twilight had something to do with the result."
"So I'll be a Defender like AJ?" Spike asked.
"Exactly Spike." Luna put the tests down on a desk and smiled at the seven friends. "Well, the only thing left to do is pick a name for this new squad. Anypony have any ideas?" Luna asked as she looked around the room.
"How about the Rainbow Bolts?" Rainbow Dash suggested.
"No sugarcube, we need something that represents us." Applejack replied.
"How about the Elementals?" Fluttershy asked.
"No, that won't work Fluttershy," Twilight said to the yellow pegasus, "Spike doesn't have an Element."
"How about the Dragon's Wing?" Spike asked.
"The Equestria Seven?" Rarity offered.
"The Apple Guns?" Applejack asked.
"Oh! I know! The Ponyville Regiment!" Pinkie shouted out.
"I like it, how about you guys?" Twilight asked.
"Ah like it!" Applejack agreed.
"Works for me", Rainbow Dash said.
The others simply nodded in approval of the name.
"Excellent!" Luna exclaimed, "The first squad Hoofzakael shall train will be the Ponyville Regiment! Now everypony, let's get to work."
Headlines:
Hoofzakael founded.
Terrorist group destroyed on Tarakia-Mareskoj border, both countries have stepped up border patrols.
Next generation PONY frame developed in Equestria.
Chapter 2
Lock Jaw
The true training picked up the next day. The seven friends had stayed in rooms prepared for them by Celestia, and had to be down in the hangar directly after they ate. After they descended the staircase leading to the hangar, the group met a new pony as they opened the door. He was a rust colored pony with a short, light grey mane and tail, and held a clipboard in his hoof. He wore a radio headset and was talking to somepony about fuel lines.
He looked at the group as they entered the hangar and approached them once they all entered.
"Greetings everypony," he said in a gravely voice, "My name is Lieutenant Lock Jaw and I'll be in charge of teaching you the proper way to pilot you PONYs. Now, which of you is..." he looked at his clipboard, "Spike?"
Spike raised his hand, "That's me Lock Jaw!"
The lieutenant looked at Spike and raised his eyebrow, then said, "I take it you're the one that's using that smaller PONY?"
"That's right!" Spike replied.
"All right then, but one thing before we get into the training."
"What's that?"
He slammed his hoof on the floor, breaking the clipboard. "I am NOT Princess Celestia or Luna, I'm not your friend!" he shouted at the group, "I'm here to make sure you come back alive from Neighroimus. From now on you will address me as sir or Lieutenant, not Lock Jaw, not L.T., nor anything else. Got it?" he asked as he looked over the surprised and frightened ponies.
Nopony spoke up.
"The proper response is either 'Yes sir!' or 'No sir!'. Now, got it?" he repeated.
"Yes sir!" the group responded in unison.
"Excellent, now Spike, you're up first for pilot training. You'll serve as an example for everypony else. Now go over to your PONY and get the mechanics to show you how to get in. Myself and your friends will be in the observation room."
"Yes sir!" Spike said and then he walked towards his PONY. A light grey mare with a short pink mane was waiting for him and directed him up the ladder to the open cockpit waiting for him. He sat down in the seat and looked around the cockpit. All shapes and sizes of buttons were scattered across the console, with two control sticks near the armrests of the seat. Displays that would hold some sort of information were dark and all the gauges were down.
The mare climbed up the ladder and onto the platform around the cockpit, then tossed a key to Spike. "All right kid," she said in cheery voice, "Put that key into the slot in the middle of the console and turn it. That will start up the PONY. Then I want you to press the button on the display that says cockpit controls and close it. After that, put your headset on, pull the visor down and then just sit tight and wait for the Lieutenants orders," the mare explained, "By the way, I'm Gear Box, nice to meet you."
Spike did as instructed and turned on the PONY. It made a terrible racket as it started up, but then died down to a low murmur. Displays lit up, showing fuel levels, ammunition reserves, temperature, and many other pieces of vital information. Gauges went up and some buttons lit up, while others did not. Spike located the correct display and managed to get the cockpit cover to close. There was a slight hissing sound, followed by a click as the cockpit quickly shut tight. Spike grabbed the headset that sat hung from a small holder on the side of the cockpit and put it on his head and lowered the visor over his eyes. A small reticle appeared on his visor as it synced with the PONYs weapons systems.
Lock Jaw motioned for the others to follow him and led them to an elevator that went up to a room that was filled with monitors and a giant window, through which a massive cavern filled with crystals could be seen.
"Everyone to the window, observe Spike as he learns how to pilot his PONY," Lock Jaw instructed as he sat in a chair in front of a set of monitors.
"Yes sir!" the ponies responded.
The six ponies went to the window and could see a set of seven doors directly opposite the window, lit up by red lights. Six of the doors were closed and through the one open doorway , they could see Spike's PONY. It was an olive drab camouflage and stood on two thick legs, with a short, pointed cockpit. A similarly pointed generator was attached to the back of the cockpit. On each side of the cockpit there were two sets of weapons and one set on top. On the left side were three machine guns that had a hexagonal frame around them for easier attachment. Opposite the machine guns was a set of similarly framed shotguns and lying atop the cockpit were two large cannons that also had a hexagonal frame at the point of connection with the PONY.
Lock Jaw brought his hoof up to his headset and keyed it, "Hey Gear Box, has he started up it yet?"
"Yes sir, he's online. He has his radio on and you can connect to his PONY using channel Carrot," the pony named Gear Box replied.
"Thanks mate," he replied as he switched channels on his headset, "Spike, this is Lock Jaw. If you can hear me, press and hold the button on the side of your headset and speak."
There was a moment's pause and Spike's voice came over the intercoms in the room, "I hear you sir."
"Good. Now, see the two control sticks in front of you on the console?"
"Yes sir."
"Those control your PONY's movement and weapons. I need you to take one in each hand and ease them forwards. You'll feel a slight lurch as the legs move, just walk until I say stop" Lock Jaw switched back to Gear Box's channel, "Gear, go ahead and turn the lights on in the cavern."
"On it sir!" the grey mare said.
As Spike eased the sticks forward, the PONY moved forward a step, then another, and another. With each step the massive mech took, the hangar echoed with the sound of it's booming steps. As Spike stepped out of the hangar, the lights came on in the cavern, illuminating beautiful crystals of blue, green, and pink.
"Aaaand stop," Lock Jaw's voice said over the radio.
Spike brought the sticks back to their starting positions and awaited his next orders.
"Alright Spike, now for turning."
This kept up until Spike had learned the proper way to move his PONY and was ready to move on to the next portion of the training: weapons training.
"Okay Spike, looks like you can manage to move on your own, now let's get you doing some target practice. On your console you'll see a display with your location and the surrounding terrain, split into a grid. Confirm this for me."
Spike looked over his console and spotted a large screed at the center that showed a map of the cavern, split into a grid like the Lieutenant said.
"Found it sir!" the purple dragon replied.
"Alright, see that green arrow? That's you, which ever way your cock pit is pointing is the direction the arrow will be pointing. Got it?"
"Yes sir!"
"Good, now head to point A-4 on your map, you'll see some tanks when you arrive. When you reach the point, wait for further instruction."
"On it sir!" Spike replied as he headed for the specified point.
Spike arrived at the point to find six round turreted tanks sitting in a group, oblivious to his presence.
"Okay, I'm here. What now sir?"
"Locate the weapons selector on your console, it will have pictures of your weapons and an ammunition counter."
"Got it sir!"
"Okay, now select you machine gun set by pressing the button next to it, that will bring up a crosshair on your visor, then shoot the tanks by squeezing the triggers on your control sticks."
Spike gulped, "There's not anypony in there, is there sir?" Spike asked nervously.
"What? Of course not, they're just old hunks of junk, now shoot the damned things!" Lock Jaw shouted over the radio.
"Yes sir!" Spike replied.
Spike selected the machine gun group and put his cross hair over one of the tanks. He squeezed the triggers and let loose a volley of bullets on the tank. As Spike shot it, it suddenly exploded and caught fire, causing Spike to jump and let go of the triggers.
"Good work Spike, now do the same for the others,"
"Why did that tank explode sir?" Spike asked the Lieutenant.
"We thought it would help get you used to the sound, so we packed them with explosives, now shoot the others!" Lock Jaw ordered.
"Yes sir!"
Spike turn his guns on the next tank, then the next and repeated until each tank was nothing more than a bullet ridden, burning pile of scrap metal.
"Okay Spike, now for something that could actually pose a threat. Head north from there and locate the four legged ACVs known as 'Bulls' and wait for orders upon arrival."
"Yes sir!" Spike replied as he headed around the burning tanks and headed north.
He soon spotted the mechs the Lieutenant was talking about. A pair of boxy, low walking mechs stood idle side by side, . The legs on them stuck out of the side and the weapons sat just above the cockpit. Each had three shotguns in hexagonal frames and were painted the same olive color that Spike's PONY was.
"Alright now Spike, switch to your shotguns for the left one and then use the cannons on the one on the right."
Spike switched from his machine guns to his shotguns and opened fire on the first Bull. The three shotguns fired in unison and punched massive holes all over the Bull, but it did not explode. Instead, it's guns slowly turned toward Spike and fired before Spike could react. The Bull's shots bounced off of his PONY's armor and Spike fired again, this time the Bull collapsed and exploded.
Twilight and her friends gasped and Twilight stormed over to where Lock Jaw was sitting. She grabbed the back of his chair and spun him around so she could look him in the eye.
"Are you crazy?! What in the name of Celestia was that?! That thing SHOT at Spike! Are you trying to kill him, Lieutenant?!" Twilight shouted in pure rage.
"Simmer down, Sparkle, he's fine! Those ACV's are using dummy rounds made of rubber and even if they weren't, the PONY's armor wouldn't have been penetrated anyway, so I suggest you go back over to the window and observe before I put your purple flank in one of the ACVs!" Lock Jaw shouted back at Twilight.
This took Twilight aback, but instead of arguing, she rejoined her friends by the window.
"Can you believe him?" Rarity asked, "Shooting at little Spike!"
"Ah outta go over there and smash his head in!" Applejack whispered.
"No, let's just let Spike finish his training, Lock Jaw says he's using dummy rounds, so I guess Spike is safe. Besides, I'll talk to Luna after this is over."
The others still wore worried looks, but said nothing as they watched Spike continue his training.
Spike switched over his cannons and blasted the next Bull with two shots from the heavy guns. This one never got the chance to shoot back as it collapsed and exploded.
"Okay Spike, I think you're done for the day. Head back to the hangar and dismount your PONY, then head on up here. Pinkie Pie, you're up next for Soldier training, so head back down to the hangar and find Gear Box, she'll show you to your PONY."
"Yes sir!" Both Spike and Pinkie replied.
Spike reached the hangar as Pinkie descended in the elevator and disembarked from his PONY. They met up just as Pinkie was getting off the elevator.
"Pinkie...I-I..." Spike tried to start.
Pinkie then scooped Spike up into a bear hug and shouted, "Oh thank goodness, oh thank goodness you're safe! I was worried about you when that big, mean, old Bull shot at you!" Pinkie then put Spike down and smiled, "Go on up, everypony is waiting for you."
Spike smiled back and hugged Pinkie before heading into the elevator and ascending to the observation room.
Pinkie the bounced across the hangar and spotted a grey mare with a short pink mane.
"Hi!' Pinkie shouted, "Are you Gear Box?"
The mare looked at Pinkie and smiled, "Yep, that's me. I guess you're Pinkie Pie then. Head up the ladder here and hop into the cockpit."
"Okie dokie!" Pinkie replied as she climbed up the ladder into the cockpit of her PONY. Pinkie sat down in her seat and Gear Box climbed up after her.
"Alright Pinkie, the key is in the ignition, see it sticking out of the console?" Gear Box asked as she pointed to a small, pink key sticking out a hole in the console.
"Yep!"
"Go ahead and give it a turn, then close the hatch and put on your headset and visor, then wait for Lock Jaw's orders." Gear Box instructed.
"Okie dokie lokie!" Pinkie replied as Gear Box went back down the ladder and she started up the PONY.
Pinkie grabbed her headset and placed it on her head and then lowered her visor.
"Alright Pinkie, let's get started," Lock Jaw said over the radio.
Spike had rejoined the others at the observation room and quickly ran to Twilight.
"Twilight..." Spike whispered as he hugged her leg.
"It's alright Spike, just wait for Pinkie to finish up and then we'll talk to Luna," Twilight assured the scared Spike.
Spike nodded but still held tight to Twilight as he watched Pinkie go through similar trials as he had.
Pinkie's PONY was a similar built to Spikes, but with a larger cockpit, generator and a different weapon set. Hers had three large rifles on the left side in place of machine guns but still had the shotguns and cannons.
"Okay Pinkie, you'll see two gauntlets under the console. Slip those on, they're how you'll control the PONY."
"Yes sir," Pinkie replied as she located the gauntlets. She slipped them onto her forelegs as far as they would go until she reached the end of them. They were dark and and on the end had little robotic fingers.
"Okay, they're on! What's the deal with the fingers sir?" Pinkie asked the Lieutenant.
"The basic design for the original PONY was developed by griffins, Pinkie, so they developed these gauntlets so their allies could use them too," Lock Jaw explained, "Our hooves are just too big to use the PONYs otherwise."
"Ooooooh!" Pinkie said, understanding the point of the fingers, "So how do these work? Sir?" the pink pony asked.
"They tap into your nervous system through magic and simply by visualizing the fingers moving in your head, you can move them as if they were your own. It just takes some getting used to. Now, try wiggling your fingers."
"Yes sir!" Pinkie replied. Pinkie focused on her fingers and tried to make them move. After nearly thirty seconds, she had made each finger move.
"I did it! I did it sir!" Pinkie cried out in excitement.
"Good work kid, now try grabbing the control sticks in front of you."
Pinkie reached forward with her new fingers and wrapped them around the control sticks. "Okay, got 'em Lieutenant!" Pinkie called out over the radio.
"Right then, now ease them forward and head out into the cave."
For the next few minutes, Pinkie went through the same basic tasks that Spike did before her. She had gotten used to the hand-gauntlets rather quick, and was more than ready when it cam to her special task at the end of her training.
"Alright Pinkie, enough of this kid stuff. We're deploying a varied squad of ACVs consisting of Bulls, Chickens and Mantises for you to fight," Lock Jaw informed her.
"Bulls, whats and whats sir?" Pinkie asked, clearly confused.
"Chickens, they have reverse jointed legs that bend the other way, like chickens."
"Okay, and the other one Lieutenant?"
"Mantises. Tall, skinny four legged ACVs equipped with sniper rifles. You're to eliminate them all, understood?"
"Yes sir!"
"Good, now the first group is at point D-6 on your map."
"On it, Lieutenant," Pinkie replied as she moved out to engage the new targets.
Pinkie soon arrived at the designated area and found a group of two Bulls and a Mantis. She switched to her rifles and put nine shots of semiautomatic fire into it, destroying it before it could retaliate. The two Bulls then turned their machine guns towards her and opened fire as she began to evade and switch over to her cannons. The pink party pony got one of them in her sights and opened fire, sending two massive shells into its side, punching through it's armor and destroying it. The remaining Bull kept up its fire and peppered Pinkie's PONY with the dummy rounds, which were still enough to startle her as they hit the cockpit.
"Alright you, take this!" Pinkie shouted as she switched to her shotguns and quickly fired six shots into the Bulls side.
The bull ceased firing and exploded as a cheeky grin came across Pinkie's face.
"That wasn't so bad. Where's the next group sir?" Pinkie asked.
"Point E-6, just south of you," Lock Jaw answered.
"Alright, I'm heading there now sir," Pinkie said as she turned her PONY south to meet the next group.
She quickly arrived at the point, finding this group twice as large as the last. With three Chickens, each armed with machine guns, two Mantises and a Bull armed with a howitzer, this group would take time. Pinkie quickly decided to take out the Mantises from range, and opened fire on them first with a dual blast from her cannons, taking the first out without it knowing, then the other with her rifles as it turned to face her.
The Chickens then began charging at her, machine guns blazing, as she continued firing her rifles into them. The first of them fell before they could get close to her, while the others continued their charge. The Bull hung back and began firing it's howitzer at her, forcing her to have to evade while still keeping up her fire on the two Chickens. A few more shots from her rifles finished off another of the Chickens, but the last was closing in and firing rounds directly at her cockpit.
"Careful Pinkie, those may be rubber rounds, but enough sustained fire on your cockpit could shatter the glass," Lock Jaw warned her over her head set.
Pinkie did not respond with words, but instead with switching to her shotguns and firing all three into it's cockpit, tearing colossal holes in it. The walker then fell over on it's side and exploded, as Pinkie switched her attention to the Bull. It had fallen back and had found a small hill to gain some height over Pinkie.
Pinkie switched back to her rifles and began firing at the Bull as it fired it's cannon at her. Pinkie managed to put nine rounds in it before the shot hit her. The shell hit her PONY in the left leg, bounced off, but still made an audible smack as it hit.
"What the hay was that? And why are the legs on this screen blinking?" Pinkie asked.
"That was the howitzer round hitting your legs, and that blinking says you've been hit in the legs. If it had been a live round, it would have done some serious damage to your PONY. That wraps up your training for today, now let me evaluate your performance, then you can go," Lock Jaw responded.
"Yes sir."
A few seconds passed before Lock Jaw came back over the radio, "You did well, you seem well suited to this RT and should do fine out in the field. You and your friends are dismissed."
"Yes sir," Pinkie replied as she headed back to the hangar while her friends descended from the observation room. They met up with her just after she got out of her PONY.
"How was it Pinkie?" Rainbow Dash asked the pink pony.
"It was alright, I'm sure I had a better time with it than Spike though."
"Well he said you did well, so I suppose that's good. What was it like using those gauntlets?" Rarity inquired.
"It was weird, I couldn't really get used to moving those things, but I think you and Twilight might do better with them." Pinkie responded.
"Enough chitchat girls, we need to go find Luna and talk to her about Lock Jaw," Twilight said as she set off to find Luna, "C'mon, this won't stand."
Headlines:
Tarakian counter-terrorism unit destroys unknown forces along Tarakia-Mareskoj border.
U.S.P.R. splits into the Eastern Socialist Republic and the Greater Socialist Pony Empire.
