"This is Keeper Flame, southbound on the 109 Freeway, I'm under fire! I repeat I am taking fire from unknown aircraft! I am half a mile from nearest exit! I....I need back up...air support anything i need help! Anyone please!"
--recorded transmission broadcast over Keeper Net, Baltimare

Date: August 9, 1666 CC
Time: 09:42
Name: Scoop
Location: Yellow Cloud Air Force Base

Yellow Cloud AFB was buzzing with chatter as many ponies had traveled to the base to see one of the few things that drew a crowd of civilians to an air base.

A Wonderbolts Airshow.

Scoop was here for that very show though slightly different then the nearby crowd of families and die hard fans.

Scoop sat on the back of a van with KVCW NEWS printed on the side making sure his camera was in working order. While this wasn't a live broadcast fewer takes would be better so easier to send in for the night's news broadcast.

The Wonderbolts were doing their show for the next 5 days and they were going to be covering the first day and possibly the last day, well the news station was, he wasn't sure if he'd be assigned next time.

“How's it look, Scoop?” The pink unicorn field reporter, Sparkler asked as she approached red mane in a loose bun. The green earth pony camerapony nodded to his purple mane hidden under a cap.

“Yeah, looks good, we are ready for a take.”

The camera was hefted to Scoop’s shoulder as he took aim.

The third member of their crew, another unicorn named Spinner, blue in color with a yellow mane sat in the van making sure signals were working well between the equipment.

Sparkler got her mike read nodded as Scoop gave a gesture to show the camera was rolling.

“This is Sparkler here as Yellow Cloud Air Force Base and as you can see behind me many families and fans are already arriving in droves for the Wonderbolt show–”

Sparkler’s speech was interrupted by a tone from the PA system from the base.

“Attention all guests for the Wonderbolt show, we regret to inform you that due to an unforeseen issue today's show is postponed and we ask for you all to please make your way to your vehicle and return to your homes.”

Sparkle blinked as Scoop watched the nearest speaker confused. Sparkler then frowned that quickly gave way to determination as many foals and fans alike got upset at the fact the show they spent time and money on was being postponed.

Before Scoop could say anything Sparkler began to walk away from the van leaving Scoop to scramble to keep up. “Sparkler what are you doing?”

“Don't shut that camera off, we are finding out what's going on.” Sparkler said, sensing a big story.

Scoop sighed as he knew when she got like this it was better to just follow her then to waste breath trying to talk sense into her.

She marched up to the nearest airmen who was directing civilians to their vehicles. “Excuse me sir, KVCW News, I'd like to ask a few–”

“Ma’am please return to your vehicle, we have no comment at this time, but you have to evacuate the area.” He said.

“Evacuate? And what are we evacuating from?” Sparkle pressed latching onto the word choice.

“No comment ma’am now please vacate the area or you will be forcibly removed.” He said firmly as a couple of other airmen came over seeing the confrontation, Scoop eyeing them nervously.

“Hey Sparkler, I think we should do as he says.”

“Not tell he gives us something to tell people what's going on.” She said.

As if in answer an alarm started blaring from all over the base causing many of the civilians still making their way to their vehicles to look around confused.

The PA system came to life. “All base personnel red alert, incoming hostile fighters, all personnel prepare to repel enemy aircraft!”

“Wh-what?” Sparkle said, confused as the sound of the base's anti air defense began firing from the south as the alarm blared and the announcement kept repeating.

The two news ponies looked south and saw dozens of small aircraft being targeted as multiple jets were already moving to the runways.

Then the small craft opened fire on the base with enemy weapons and chaos descended on the crowd as the airmen tried to keep order for a moment before being forced to abandon the positions to report to their station.

Scoop grabbed Sparkler and started dragging her. “Come on we got to go!” he yelled which snapped her out of her shock and they both ran for the van.

Spinner had already shut down the equipment in the back and was throwing the last of the crate in the back. “Come on, let's go!” he yelled as Scoop ran for the driver seat. Sparkler got to the passenger seat and Spinner dove in the back barley, having time to pull the doors shut as Scoop gunned the engine.

Many ponies ran for their vehicles as some just ran. In moments many collisions had happened, some with other vehicles and some with those who not yet reached their own.

Scoop spun the wheel. “Where are you going?” Spinner yelled from the back as they turned from the gate.

“No way we are making it through that.!” Scoop yelled as he turned toward the base and put the pedal to the floor, dirt flying as the van slid on the grass.

In a moment they were heading for an inner gate, one of the guards waving them to stop and Scoop swerved to miss him before crashing through the gate. The guard raised his rifle as an explosion caused him to dive for cover before he could fire on the van that just stormed the base.

Inside the base was more controlled chaos as vehicles went every which way and soldiers manned the scattered defenses engaging the swarm of enemy craft as explosions went skyward across the base.

Scoop swerved through the base doing his best to keep something, anything between them and whoever in Tartarus was attacking the base.

“What the hell is going on?!” Spinner yelled. “Who's invading us?”

“I have no idea, I've never seen planes like that!” Sparkler yelled back as Scoop swerved around a military truck, the back tarp partly on fire as it sped to another part of the base and they passed the flaming wreck of one of the bases AA batteries.

It wasn't long before they reached another gate out of the base and Scoop grew concerned as he saw there were no guards at it and he wondered if the battle was really going that badly that they abandoned the gates.

With a loud thud the van crashed through the wooden arm of the gate and the tires squealed as they reached the main road turning down it leaving the base behind with pillars of smoke rising from it as they sped off towards the city.

Author's Note

Things are really heating up