Soldiers: Skyfall

"Hey there folks, if anyone is still listening anyways, DJ Storm here coming to you via mobile broadcast pack, lost contact with the studio a while ago.....hope they all made it out.....but the equipment seems to still be working as I seem to still be connected. Currently sitting in The Banacan, always wanted to eat here but local radio DJ wasn't big enough to get past the front door. Amazing how easy it is to get into exclusive places when its been abandoned, luckily the stoves were turned off so it didn't burn down so was able to get some food and one of their fancy water bottles.

Anyways enough about that, I met a stallion who heard from a mare, who heard from a Keeper who heard from a line of people that apparently some crazy ponies managed to make it out of the city, not sure how given everything out there but they apparently made it, if true then hopefully they can tell others we are all still alive here as I dont think there's any signals getting in and out......I know evacuation attempts have all failed.....greatly failed.....think whatever left of the military is just trying to defend areas as best as they can as been a while since ive seen them.......anyway stay strong listeners, we aren't done yet and I'll broadcast when i hear anything else. DJ Storm out."
--DJ Storm, "Good Morning Vanhoover" Broadcast.

Date: August 9th, 1666 CC
Time: 18: 10
Name: Blueberry
Location: Vanhoover Streets

Corporal Blueberry galloped down an alleyway going as fast as her legs could carry her in her armor. “This is Corporal Blueberry! My squad is gone, enemy forces have overrun the southeast side of the city, I'm running blind here!” She yelled into her radio and was answered by static. “Shit shit someone respond!” She yelled as she ran. “Where in tartarus is everyone!?”

Getting no response Blueberry abandoned the radio for now, for all she knew the near miss she had when her squad was ambushed had fried the thing, till she could establish contact with command she was on her own.

She reached the end of the alleyway and slammed into something heavy and went tumbling along with what she hit.

She scrambled, rolling over and getting her rifle up and was met with a trooper in scorched armor doing the same to her. “Woah woah!” Blueberry said, raising a hoof in a stop gesture.

“Shit ma’am I almost wasted you.” the unicorn said, lowering her rifle.

“Same.” Blueberry said getting to her hooves. “What's your name?”

“Prive First Class Buttercup ma’am.” The trooper said getting up as well.

“Where’s the rest of your platoon?”

“Wasted…..we got hit hard and fast.”

“Same, we need to get out of here, have you heard from command?”

“Negative, just static, they went dark just before we got hit.”

Blueberry nodded, that wasn't a good sign. “Alright, there is a staging area not far from here.”

Buttercup nodded and got her rifle ready and the two of them galloped across the street to another alley way and then up the street. “It's just ahead.” Blueberry said as they neared the staging area.

The troopers rounded the corner to the sight of burning vehicles and signs of a desperate battle. “Shit.” Blueberry said, raising her rifle, seeing Buttercup do the same out of the corner of her eye. They held their aim in the area but saw no movement. “Move quietly, we need to check for survivors….” Blueberry ordered in a whisper and slowly the two of them advanced.

The two entered the area and began to search, neither trying to piece together what happened as that wouldn't help either of them but it was clear there were no survivors. “Alright….gather what supplies you can.”

Buttercup only gave a nod, not speaking as this was now hostile territory and went to check a few crates while Blueberry searched the tent cursing as she found the radio fried.

She searched what she could find, the maps had all been torched to prevent enemy forces from reading any intel on them which also meant the two troopers were unaware of friendly movements.

Still she took what she could from the crates in the tent and exited to find Buttercup zipping up her pack. “Grabbed what ammo I could, found a few meal bars but looks like they were running low.” The PFC reported.

Blueberry nodded and looked around, spotting something through the smoke of a burning car. “Come on…”She raised her rifle and moved towards it hoping it was what she thought it was.

As they rounded the burning car they were greeted with an undamaged humvee partly blocking the road. “Alright, mount up.” Blueberry ordered as she went around to the open driver side and paused as she found a trooper laying crumpled under the door and she averted her eyes from the charged remains of the trooper’s face, she'd seen up close what those energy bolts did to flesh.

She heard Buttercup open the door and give a small yelp drawing the corporal’s attention. Looking through the rear door she saw the remains of another trooper below the hatch for the humvees turret.

Blueberry steeled herself as she opened the back door and pulled the body out and laid it on the ground before dragging the body of the driver away. She climbed in and looked at Buttercup. “Mount up privet.” She ordered.

Buttercup gulped and climbed into the passenger seat as Blueberry started the humvee and they were heading down the road at speed. “Try the radio.” Blueberry ordered.

Buttercup grabbed the radio and Blueberry slammed on the brakes as two ponies ran out in front of them from a side street, nearly getting hit by the truck. The earth pony stallion had some sort of cheap looking pistol and wore a dark purple bandana on his left arm and now clearly filly with him wore some sort of school uniform.

The two quickly ran to the driver side of the truck.

“Hey give us a ride, those fuckers are right behind us!” The stallion yelled.

“Get in!” Blueberry yelled, gesturing to the back of which the stallion opened the door and helped the foal in first before getting in himself.

“So fucking glad to see you damn army mares. Thought we were the only ones left in the damn city.” The stallion said as Blueberry hit the gas, if they really were being pursued she didn't want to be here any longer then needed. “Names Comet, kid’s Honey Bee.”

“Corporal Blueberry and PFC Buttercup.” Buttercup said. “You and your daughter are lucky to have run into us.”

“She ain’t my daughter, I ran into her a few blocks back after my crew got hit. Damn things were gunning for us like we were the biggest threat in the country, not even sure if anyone else made it out.” Comet said.

“Oh…”Buttercup said and turned to look at the filly. “Honey, do you know where your parents are?”

Honey shook her head. “No….was at school when this all happened and ran away. Was trying to get home when I met Mr. Comet. We’ve not seen anyone else since then.” The filly said calmly.

“Well you are being very brave.” Buttercup said, smiling at her.

“Thank you.” The filly said still calm.

“She’s from one of those schools for those smart kids, the ones where you gotta pass all sorts of tests to get in.” Comet added.

“Greenwich Academy.” Honey added. “And I can assure you I am quite terrified but panicking won't help me so I'll do that later.”

Buttercup opened her mouth to say something when Blueberry jerked the wheel causing them all to be pressed to the side of the truck as a large energy bolt sailed past them.

“Shit!” Blueberry said as she turned the wheel to take a side street as the enemy tank fired another bolt.

At the end of the alleyway they were met with a squad of invaders who wasted no time in opening fire on the humvee.

“Buttercup, I need you on that gun now!”

Buttercup hesitated a moment before climbing up the hatchof the turret. A moment later the loud clattering was heard as she opened fire on the enemy ground forces as Blueberry turned up the road away from them.

The next street was met with further enemy resistance as they appeared to be setting up a staging area.

As the humvee sped away one of the aircraft took off and started pursuing them..

"We got company!” Buttercup yelled down as she turned the turret and opened fire on the aircraft which dodged faster than anything the trooper had seen as she was trying to track it while Blueberry began swerving randomly to make them a harder target.

The craft fired a large bolt that missed the truck by inches as it impacted the ground just to the right of the engine.

“Shit, grab the radio, call this in!” She yelled at Comet who blinked a few seconds before complying, fishing the radio mic from where it fell.

“Yo, this is one of your soldier humvees we’re about to get shot to tartarus by one of those damn flying things we need help we are at…”He looked around. “Shit I don't know……there we just passed 22nd street!” he said and waited only getting static. “Hey, anyone out here? Come on don't leave us out here to die!”

Another bolt hit just in front of them and they flew through the smoke and flames. “Shit sit back!” Blueberry ordered and Comet did only pausing to make sure Honey was buckled in before doing the same.

The Humvee skidded as it turned down another side street having to get on the sidewalk to avoid a car pile up and then turned down another street.

Each turn only lost the craft for a moment but it always came back and fired on them getting closer to its mark as Buttercup’s fire suddenly cut out.

She dropped back into the truck. “Turrets dry.” She said,

“Dammit we need to get off the street, that thing’s going to get us eventually.”

“We are a few blocks away from the Baton Subway station, will that work?” Honey asked with a deathgrip on the harness holding her in place.

“Which way?”

“Take the next right.”

The truck fished tailed as it did.

“Go two streets down and take a left…..after that turn right and it will be straight ahead.”

Blueberry followed the instructions as more bolts rained down on them.

Eventually she skidded around a corner and saw ahead of them a large glass covering over several stairs down.

“Hold on!” Blueberry yelled as she put the pedal to the metal.

“Wait, what are you doing?” Comet yelled.

“No time to stop, buckle up, we are going straight in!”

“Ah shit…''Comet said and held onto his harness.

“Here we go!”

The truck jumped the curve and smashed through the glass doors and hit the stairs catching air as it vanished into the open ground in a shower of glass and metal landing hard, the shocks making it bounce before it crashed through a ticket stand and skidded into a turnstile.

“Everyone alive?” Blueberry asked, knowing she will feel that in the morning.

“No thanks to your driving….”Comet said.

“I’m unhurt.” Honey said.

“Still kicking.” Buttercup replied

“Alright everyone out won't be long till they are on us.” She said opening the door and helping the two civilians out before the four of them galloped deeper into the station and the tunnels beyond.