Chapter 3 - Joining the Fight

"Alright, let me get this whole thing straight." SHD Agent Ethan Harris said as he and his team sat in the family room of Sweet Apple Acres, after listening to Princess Twilight Sparkle's explanation of their situation. "This whole town is a parallel existence of your homeworld, and one of your kind who has been masquerading as a human is in DC?"

"Yep." Rainbow Dash said.

"And you want us to help you find her?" Kyrie replied.

"Yes again!" the Equestrian Pinkie Pie replied.

"Fucking brilliant." Leo threw his hands in the air. "Aliens on Earth, living in a town that's basically magical horse-pony land, straight from the saturday morning cartoons. What else could happen today?"

"Leo, watch it." Ethan said, before sighing and turning to Twilight. "Look, we believe you. Honestly, we do. However, our mission is to stabilize DC and take the city back, not go looking for some girl that happens to be an alien. We have bigger things to take care of."

"So, you're not going to help us?" Twilight asked, fearful.

"We are going to help you, Princess, but what we need to do takes priority in any situation." Ethan replied. "Anyway, If we're going to reach DC by tonight, we'll need to leave soon. A JTF convoy's waiting for us near the outskirts of town. We'll give transport to whoever needs it."

"Thanks a bunch." Fluttershy said. "We'll go get ready."

As the Equestrians headed towards the garage where the armored bus was being prepared for departure, Ethan pulled Thomas Delworth aside..

"Do you trust them, boss?" Thomas asked.

"No, I don't. Not yet." Ethan replied. "But seeing as we don't have a lot of options, we'll need to work with them for now. But if this goes south, we'll need to have a backup plan."

"Copy that." Thomas replied as they returned alongside Leo and Kyrie to the JTF convoy outside of town. After alerting the JTF sergeant of their new escorts, they took their seats in a Humvee and waited.

====

Five minutes later, the armored school bus joined the convoy, which Ethan decided to drive, seeing as the Equestrians had never operated a car before. The other SHD agents did the same, leaving the JTF to manage the convoy.

"So…" Twilight asked as Ethan took the wheel. "Isn't DC the capital of the United States?"

"Yeah, but not really anymore." Ethan replied. "Ever since the initial outbreak in Manhattan and the subsequent months, we've basically collapsed as a nation. The Division is the only thing holding us together as of now."

"Speaking of…" Applejack asked. "How are we supposed to find Sunset once we reach this city?"

"We'll deal with that when the time comes." Leo replied as he spun the cylinder on his .357 Magnum sidearm. "Shouldn't be that hard, right?"

"You don't know that for sure, Leo." Kyrie replied. "We've got three factions waiting for us, and all of them have their own territories carved out of DC. It'll be tough to dislodge them."

"Which is why we need to start small and get the major civilian settlements on our side first." Ethan said. "I've read of three major ones in our Area of Ops. The Campus, Theater, and Castle. They've got the manpower we need, and we have the supplies, leadership, and weapons they're short on. Once we get to the Base of Ops, we'll start at the Theater."

"Wow." Twilight said, a little impressed. "You guys sound like Generals planning for a battle."

"We are, sort of." Kyrie replied. "The hope of the world rests on our shoulders, Princess. We won't fail. We can't fail. If we do...we're doomed. All of us."

"What started all this?" Rainbow asked.

"That's a long story." Leo said, as they proceeded to tell the Equestrians of the Manhattan outbreak, the Second and Third Waves, and the SHD Network Blackout. The ponies were stunned when they realized what their world had undergone in the span of only a few months.

"That's mostly it." Ethan said. "Even though there are more SHD agents out there, we're the only ones heading to DC. Every other Agent was needed to help weed out the rest of the factions in New York, and start clearing the Manhattan DZ. So for now, we're all there is."

"Then what can we expect to find in terms of hostiles?" Quick Shot asked.

"Good question." Kyrie replied. "There's three dominant factions in DC. First up are the Hyenas. Violent scavengers and street thugs ruled by a council of their strongest leaders. They're also experimenting with biological warfare in the form of a narcotic called Spice. Next are the Outcasts, who are survivors of the Roosevelt Island quarantine. They're apparently out for blood against all they believe betrayed them. They're essentially a militarized cult. Finally, the True Sons. They're rogue JTF and military led by General Antwon Ridgeway, a JTF-Colonel turned warlord. They're the most expansive in terms of territory, and well-armed and trained."

"Every one of them will try to kill you, so don't hesitate." Leo finished. "We've also heard rumors of some government security contractors taking over settlements near DC. So far, they're unconfirmed."

"I see." Quick Shot replied. "Any friendlies?"

"Mostly Civilian Mlitia from each of the three settlements." Leo said. "Equipped with basic ballistic armor and scavenged weapons. Over time they'll get better equipment probably thanks to us."

"By the way, I've wanted to ask a few questions about your equipment in particular." Ethan said. "That armor and those spears and bows won't be much use in a gunfight, by my opinion."

"That's where you're wrong." Quick Shot said. "Here's the deal. Our armor and helmets are enchanted with several shielding spells that give it not only a golden appearance, but harden and reinforce it to the point where it can take a blast of heat over 1000 degrees, the equivalent of dragon fire."

Leo gave an appreciative whistle, impressed.

"Not only that, it's made with chain compression layers along with plate." Quick Shot added. "Each layer, three in total, is powerful enough to take hits from a hand-held battering ram. We've tested it against all kinds of projectiles, from arrows to explosives."

"Well, I didn't know that." Twilight said. "I thought we haven't needed armor like that for over 1000 years."

"Just beacuse we haven't fought a war doesn't mean that we're not ready for one at all times, Princess." Quick Shot affirmed. "And our bows have a tensile strength that can pierce the first layer of our armor without a specific head. I think your ballistic armor won't be much of a problem."

"Let me test that, if you don't mind." Ethan said, pulling out a Tactical M1911. Before anyone could react, he fired seven .45 ACP shots directly at Quick Shot's armored chest.

And seven times, the bullets fell to the floor in a crumpled mess.

"Shit." Kyrie said, astounded. "That's something to behold."

"Those weren't rifle rounds." Ethan said, loading his ACR and firing three shots, with the same results, only Quick Shot felt three distinctive impacts on his chest.

"Okay, can we stop trying to shoot each other now?" Twilight asked. "I'm getting nervous somepony or someone's going to get shot."

"We'll be fine." Ethan said, before he went to the window. "Huh, there's a town up ahead. Crossland, Massachusetts."

"You wanna take a look around?" Kyrie asked.

"Yeah. I remember doing a live-fire exercise near here with members of the National Guard before the Manhattan Outbreak." Ethan said, before activating his radio and telling the lead JTF driver to hold position. About five minutes later, he walked into Crossland and was greeted by the typical scene of looted buildings and destruction.

Except for a section near the town shopping mall that seemed a little too clean. Ethan noticed the parking barricades and police fences had been stacked into a defensive circle, and the windows were reinforced.

Then, Ethan saw the glint of a sniper scope. Diving into cover as the bullet hit the ground, he called out.

"Don't shoot! I'm with the US Government, Strategic Homeland Division! I'm only passing through!"

There was a scuffle, and the main doors opened. A man wearing a weathered and stained police uniform came out, a hand on a sidearm.

"Can you prove it?" he asked.

Ethan unfurled his SHD Wristwatch and showed the man the holographic seal of the Division.

"Alright, come on in."

As the two men entered the mall, he could see it had been turned into a civilian settlement. Various planters and machines powered by batteries or solar energy were being tended to, along with solar water stills and crates of supplies.

"What's your name?" Ethan asked.

"Sergeant Jeff Bryant, Crossland Police." the officer said. "I lead the settlement here. Where are you heading?"

"DC." Ethan said. "Our network issued a distress beacon to the capital. My team, some friendlies, and a few JTF teams are en route."

"Good for you." Jeff said quietly.. "Well, seeing as you're here, I might tell you about the two strangers that showed up a few days ago."

"Who were they?"

"One guy had a watch like yours, the other guy was a russian doctor or some shit like that." Jeff said. "Stayed a day then left us a crate. Not sure what's inside, we haven't opened it."

"Let me see it."

====

Ethan found out the crate was a Division Supply Drop, emblazoned with the Phoenix logo. As he scanned the RFID tag and unlocked it, he found a tape player and a recording, a set of journals, and an assault rifle in good condition, a Remington RU556. Ethan took the rifle out of the crate and found it had already been modified. The weapon was equipped with a 552 Holosight, light extended mags, an Omega Suppressor, and a Handstop. It also featured a long barrel, most likely to compensate for accuracy and bullet velocity.

Suffice to say, it was a clear improvement over the worn ACR that Ethan had been given in Manhattan. He looked over at Bryant with a raised eyebrow.

"Mind if I take this?" he asked.

"Go ahead. I'd hate to waste a piece like that." Jeff shrugged before nodding. Ethan handed the officer his ACR in a trade and slung the RU556 onto his rucksack.

"I'd best get going." Ethan said. "By the way, those two men who showed up...you know where they went?"

"They said they were heading to Arlington, Virginia." Jeff said. "Then to DC. Problem is, anywhere near DC is suicide."

"Figures. Those two guys are wanted by the SHD." Ethan said. "If you could do me a favor, I'd check for signs of viral contamination in the settlement, and everywhere you can. I can't tell you why, but it's important."

"Alright." Jeff said. "You'll be leaving, then?"

"Yep. Good luck to you."

"Same. Stay alive."

As Ethan left the settlement and hiked back to the convoy, the sun began to set and the sky darkened, signalling the coming of nighttime.

Author's Note

Yeah, I know I made the Guardsponies' armor a bit OP but then again, they need to be able to survive against guns with spears and crossbows, and a few firearms. Seemed the best I could do.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed.

EDIT - New name fixes and a weapons upgrade.