Chapter 4: First Contact

Transcript Sealed by Office of Naval Intelligence

TOP SECRET CLEARANCE REQUIRED

January, 16, 2525

21:00: Connection to UNSC Slipspace Satellite 09235-124J lost, Attempting Reconnection…

21:01 Connection unable to be re-established. Attempting LOS communication.

22:23 LOS communication attempt failed. Satellite compromised or lost.

00:00 (January, 17, 2525) Unknown Slipspace Rupture at edge of Epsilon Indie System. Attempting automated hail.

01:00 Hail unresponsive.

Line of Sight Communication attempts failed.

Radio Communication Failed.

01:30 Alert level raised to High.

Tiara Station locked down; All freighters hard-docked to station; Freight Elevators shut down for all non-essential traffic; Anti-Boarding protocols initiated; Reactor Core, Armory, Fuel Depot bulkhead locks initiated.

06:00 Militia Dispatched in bait freighter.

13:00 Unknown contact engaged. Unknown hostiles defeated. Ship detonated by unknowns.

16:00 Militia returned with casualties, debriefed by Commander al-Cygni. Record sealed under commander of Commander al-Cygni pending review by Office of Naval Intelligence headquarters.

February 3rd, 2525; Rosewood Family Farm, Utguard Outskirts.

10:32

Frowning at the page on the datapad she is holding in her magic, Twilight frowns and rubs at her eyes with one foreleg to brush some of the sleep from them. While not particularly early, the past two months had not been easy, and while her body had started to get used to the early hour she now rose at, it still had a bit of a way to go. Twilight was never an early riser, save for the few times an experiment required it, but then she often didn’t really sleep.

However, she could not afford to not sleep, the few hours of sleep she did get were precious, treasured even. The hiking through Harvest’s breathtaking wilderness made up for it at least.

Which is how Twilight found herself where she is now, situated on a vista overlooking the farmland her friend, Natalie, owns with her family her own datapad in front of her.

Sighing and shaking her head, Twilight stands up and stretches before walking back to the campfire she had reignited that morning. The little survival tent she had borrowed from Natalie’s father had served her well, even if it wasn’t as comfortable as she’d like, and had helped her get out and clear her head in the relative wilderness on the edge of the farm.

She had needed it, as Johnson had assigned homework over what was supposed to be a few weeks of downtime, ancient generals and historical battles from humanity’s history. So far, Twilight had learned quite a bit about ancient human history and was currently on a side-tangent about the Peloponnesian War. It mirrored a war in her own home’s history, from before the founding of Equestria, and Twilight was attempting to delve into whatever records she could get her hooves on.

So far, she’d had plenty of time. The few weeks of downtime for the holiday season had turned into a little over a month. Something had happened, but so far no one knew anything outside of the upper command structure. Even Mack had been dodging questions about it, and Twilight surmised it was some sort of attack having occurred, as the other militia squads had not been let out for their break. Instead she had seen them gearing up with the modern weapons from the armory, and even a few shipments of ammo and weapons had slipped in before the elevators had mysteriously stopped.

Sif had been quiet, but apologetic when Twilight had asked about it.

Technically, she wasn’t supposed to talk to her or Mack, but Mack and Twilight had formed a friendship and Sif had warmed up to her after spending some time around the unicorn. She had shared stories of her friends and home with them, talking for hours sometimes about Equestria’s past and of the shared culture the Northern islands had with Earth’s ancient Scandinavian and American midwest.

That friendship had helped keep her homesickness at bay. But, had also let her see that as of late, both of the AI were deeply worried about something.

Settling down next to the campfire to heat up some more water for tea, she’d found the ‘English Breakfast’ tea to make her feel most at home, Twilight goes back to skimming through an article on the start of the second war. She gets a few paragraphs in when her screen goes dark and a little ‘phone’ icon appears with Natalie’s name on it.

Pressing the green phone icon with her stylus, Twilight smiles.

“Natalie, I told you I’-” Twilight starts.

“Twilight we’ve been recalled,” Natalie shouts as the screen switches to video, showing the corporal throwing on her uniform and armor, “Johnson has called all the corporals in, as well as you, something big is happening related to why the elevator shut down.”

Twilight is on her hooves before her mind has time to register what her friend is saying, magic already breaking down the camp, “Did he say what was going on? Anything beyond that it relates to the elevator?”

“No, he just recalled everyone, and told me that command was meeting and that squad leaders are required to attend,”

“Okay, but how does that involve me, I’m part of your squad but not leadership,” Twilight says, her magic slowing a little as she focuses more on the video call.

“Twi, I think this might be alien related, and you’re the only alien we know,” Natalie says as she picks up her sidearm and puts it in its holster. “Regardless, the Sergeant said bring you, so I’m bringing you.”

“I’ll meet you at the front gate,” Twilight says with a frown, her campsite packing itself up in record time, with the campfire being the last thing to be deconstructed as she pours hot water into a thermos to brew her tea.

As soon as that’s done, she vanishes in a flash of light and a muted clap of thunder, appearing at the front gate of the farm. Her camping equipment then vanishes a moment later to its proper place back at the farm house, leaving her with just a duffle bag beside her.

While she waits, she opens the bag and starts pulling out the uniform given to her by Johnson and the squad. The Sergeant himself commented that if she’s going to tag along she might as well look the part, lest someone mistake her for a mascot.

She pulls on the undersuit first, barely shivering anymore as the layer of fabric and padding settles over her body, then starts in on the armor she and the militia had been able to jury rig to fit her.

Her armor isn’t anything special, mostly just cobbled together and jury rigged human equipment. The armorer she’d gotten to help her had laughed at first, but hadn’t backed down from the challenge when Johnson had ordered him to help. In the end, she’d gotten a plate carrier with some heavy steel plates in it, as well as a helmet he’d cut some ear holes in for her.

It all works, though, and after training in it for a while Twilight hadn’t had any complaints.

She finishes putting on the last piece of armor save her helmet as Natalie drives up in her four-by-four.

Jumping up into the passenger seat, the vehicle has an open cabin with no doors to allow for easy in and out access. According to her research it’s actually one of the civilian models of the ‘warthog’ she’d seen around the base.

“Any news?” Twilight asks, looking at Natalie who has a radio earpiece in. The human shakes her head and hits the gas.

“Chatter is all over the place,” Natlie offers as they speed down the dirt road towards the main highway towards the capital, “one of my fellow NCOs is saying something about having fought with whatever aliens these are, but they’ve gone quiet and Ponder informed us not to spread that information.”

Frowning, Twilight falls quiet as she thinks about that information. The Captain was a pretty strict man, reminding her quite a bit of some of the officers under her brother’s command both in the Empire and in Equestria. He doesn’t put up with any sort of nonsense or rumor spreading, but he hadn’t refuted the information, simply asked for it not to be spread.

And that was putting aside the fact that combat had apparently happened between humanity and these new aliens not long ago. It would explain the longer leave for some of the militia, while others were denied their leave. Still, the thought of combat scares Twilight; as up until now this was mostly just something to do and a way to learn and grow stronger. She’d always had the thought in the back of her mind that she might have to fight with them, even though after all she’d read about the separatists made her think a good negotiator was all the two sides needed, but it had always been remote.

All of this speeds through Twilight’s mind as the two of them race towards the militia base on the outskirts of the city of Utguard. What would normally be a drive full of anticipation of doing something with the friends she had made in the militia was instead full of a choking silence between her and the friend driving.

Eventually, the two come to a stop at the entrance to the base. Their IDs are checked, and they’re waved inside by the militia at the gate. They make a quick detour to the armory, where Natalie checks in her personal firearm and then both hurry off towards the command building, the sea of militia milling parting before them.

The inside of the command building could only be called controlled chaos. Where as it had been busy the few times Twilight had visited it over the past two months, it was now a hive of activity on a level she had not experienced since the days after her brother and sister-in-law’s wedding. Humans were rushing every which way in the offices, stacks of paper and datapads spread out everywhere with the AI Loki popping in and out of sight from various holographic terminals to answer questions. Sometimes, he was in more than one place at once, his form uneven and unstable as he divides himself between the different conversations.

For a brief moment, as Twilight passes by a doorway into a large room filled with cork boards and civilian workers, Loki meets her eyes and offers her a frown and shakes his head subtly. The slight action from the normally cocky and sure AI causes Twilight’s insides to twist a little.

Then they’re at the door to the secure room at the heart of the building, the guards checking their IDs and radioing in before unlocking the door.

The inside is cramped, and Twilight finds herself pushing past a couple of Natalie’s fellow corporals so she can clear the doorway. She pushes towards the front and finds a spot next to her friend, frowning as she realizes she can’t quite see past the others in the room.

“Alright, are we all here?” al-Cygni’s voice comes from somewhere in front of Twilight, “Rosewood, where’s the pony?”

“Right here, ma’am,” Rosewood replies, then looks down and realizes Twilight can’t actually be seen or see what’s going on. Kneeling down she gestures for Twilight to climb onto her back, grunting when the unicorn does so. She supports Twilight with her hands under her flank, while Twilight herself wrapps her forelegs around the Corporal’s neck, resting her chin on the human’s left shoulder.

“Good, can you see the holographic table, Twilight?” the Commander asks, looking at the unicorn.

“Yes, Ma’am,”

“Alright, well let me cut to the quick, then,” al-Cygni states, touching a few buttons on the holotable, “what I am about to say does not leave this base under penalty of court martial and imprisonment.”

A few more button presses later and a large ship materializes above the table and starts slowly rotating. It’s rather organic looking, with barely any sharp edges or angles, and seems to be surrounded by an almost invisible forcefield.

“About a month ago, during an operation to ascertain why we’ve been losing freighters in the area, we came into contact with a ship of unknown make and origin,” the commander starts, gesturing to the pictured ship, “instead of the suspected Insurrectionist ships, we were confronted with this one. It was crewed by creatures of multiple unknown species and was undeniably hostile. Staff Sergeants Byrne and Johnson led the operation, and believe these aliens are a threat to us. I agree with their assessment.”

Looking to Natalie the Commander motions for the Corporal and Twilight to get closer, tapping a few buttons on the table to pull up video of what happened.

Once they’re up front next to the table, all eyes on Twilight who lowers her ears a little even as she does her best to look at the table, al-Cygni hits play and Twilight watches the skirmish take place.

Watching the video isn’t easy, and a few times Twilight has to force herself to continue watching as creatures are killed, but all throughout it she cannot identify a single creature other than the humans.

“I don’t know any of these creatures, ma’am,” Twilight admits when the playback ends, looking the Commander in the eyes, causing the al-Cygni to frown.

“Well, that’s not good, because that ship wasn’t alone,” al-Cygni states, pressing one final button to pull up a holographic display of a ship far larger than the last. “This ship exited slipspace a few days ago, and has been making a b-line straight for us. Current projections indicate it’ll reach orbit the day after tomorrow.”

“Ma’am, is this related to the sudden cutoff of communications between Harvest and the rest of the colonies?” this from a male corporal under the command of Byrne.

“We think the ship is jamming our slipspace communications somehow, as the satellite is still in orbit, but nothing is getting through the noise,”al-Cygni confirms, “we’re calling it a failure due to a solar flare out in Alpha Centauri, and for now not telling the public about the aliens.”

“Any particular reason?” another corporal, this one in Johnson’s company like Natalie.

“Governor doesn’t want to spread panic, so until we know for sure what they’re intentions are, we’re keeping a lid on this,”

“But if you think that means we’re sitting on our backsides playin’ poker until these bastards show up, then you chose the wrong profession,” Johnson growls as he steps up next to the Commander.

“As Staff Sergeant Johnson said, we’re not going to sit idle. Sergeant Byrne will be taking command of assisting in evacuating the Tiara, while Johnson will be taking command of making sure nothing sneaks in behind us,” al-Cygni continues nodding to the two Sergeants, “we’ll be coordinating with local police and colonial officials to keep panic low, and make sure everyone knows where to go incase of emergency. Should the worst come to pass, I know the training we’ve been doing here will carry us through it. Now, you’re all dismissed to gather your squads, gear up, and get your orders from the Sergeants.”

All assembled offer a salute, including Natalie and Twilight, and turn to leave. As they do though, the commander calls out one last time.

“Twilight, stay here, I need to talk to you a bit more,”

Letting Twilight down off her back, Natalie nods to the pony and offers a salute to the Commander and the two Sergeants still in the room. She then turns on her heel and leaves to go about gathering her squad.

Moving back to the table, Twilight removes and places her helmet on the table and offers a salute to the three just as Johnson had taught her.

“At ease, Twilight,” al-Cygni states softly, frowning as Twilight does so. “Look, I’ll cut to the chase, when I assigned you to Johnson’s command I should have known he wouldn’t just stick you somewhere safe and keep an eye on you like I’d intended.”

Twilight offers an uneasy smile at that, breaking the little military decorum she has been taught, but the Commander ignores it and continues on. Johnson for his part simply rolls his eyes from his position behind al-Cygni.

“Regardless, he’s been keeping me abreast of your training with your squad, and I reluctantly have to admit we’re going to need you if this whole thing turns ugly.”

“Ma’am?” Twilight asks, ears turning towards the Commander as her head tilts to the side.

“If this were any other situation, I’d be shipping you off to Reach to remain safely in ONI hands, but we’re up against an unknown and honestly your ability to teleport, levitate objects, and other such powers you’ve displayed are as much of an ace in the hole as we’re likely to get with us being cut off from the rest of humanity.”

“I’ll do my best, ma’am, though if I am honest I am hopeful this doesn’t erupt into conflict,” Twilight replies softly, “even that brief glimpse from the video has me worried. I can tell it has you worried as well.”

“And if I am being honest I wouldn’t normally admit that yes, I am worried. We lost good soldiers to the raid that video was captured from. Our armor did nothing, or weapons might as well have been shooting plastic suction cup darts, but we beat them. And if they come here, we’re going to have to do it again, or millions will die.”

“Then we’ll just have to keep that from happening, ma’am,” Twilight says slowly, looking to Johnson, “I uh, permission to return to my squad, ma’am.”

“Granted,” al-Cygni states with a nod, “and take the Staff Sergeant with you, before he chews through his cigar out of boredom?”

Twilight suppresses a smile at the comment, and snaps a salute, “Yes, ma’am.”

She then turns and departs, Sergeant Johnson following after her.

Once outside Twilight starts off towards the usual meeting, or rally, point for the squad when they’re gathering up for something. It’s a somewhat out of the way spot near the armory with a tall oak tree, which the squad had chosen due to the fact that if they ever lost Twilight chances were she could be found there in the shade with her datapad reading. They’d even named it ‘the golden oak’ after hearing where Twilight lived back on Equus.

As she walks up she finds the squad going about various things, mostly doing a once over of their kits and talking about what’s going on with Natalie as they wait for orders. Twilight joins in on the cleaning and checking, pulling out her datapad and helping where she can as she hasn’t exactly been issued a weapon to use outside of the firing range.

In return the others help her go over her own kit, making sure everything is in order and is fitting correctly, as if it came down to it Twilight would most likely be running ammo and helping evacuate casualties with her magic, and no one wanted their lifeline to get taken out.

About an hour later, after they’d gone over their kits a couple times and Twilight and Natalie had spoken about what they’d seen in the briefing room, Sergeant Johnson came over. Cigar, scowl, and all.

Stopping a few feet from them, he removes his cigar and exhales a cloud of smoke that makes Twilight almost think him a dragon for a moment.

“Alright, listen up One-Charlie, you’re going to be looking after Utguard and the surrounding area,” Johnson starts as he pulls a paper map out of his pocket, “important points of interest you are to hold if things go south are the Spaceport, the Hospital, and the Police HQ with it’s Armory. We’ll be working out civilian evac routes in the next couple days, but we’re expecting to get them into bunkers or into the surrounding hills and mountains worst comes to worst.”

“What about a planetary evacuation, sir?” Natalie asks as she kneels beside the map, “I know it’s a remote possibility, Sergeant, but what if we can’t hold the planet?”

“Then God help us, because all we have are some freighters and a whole lotta prayer in that case,” Johnson growls as he puts his cigar back in his mouth, “Sif and Loki are not optimistic on the odds of us beating that ship that’s coming our way, so it might just come to it, but we’re planning on standing our ground till we can’t.”

“Roger that, Sir,” Natalie replies, nodding to the Sergeant, “anything else you want us to keep in mind? Rules of Engagement?”

“Don’t shoot unless shot at first, we don’t want to start an intergalactic war unless they throw the first punch. Also, take care of the pony.”

“You can be sure we will take good care of her, Sergeant,”

“I know you will, but that also brings me to one more thing,” Johnson sighs before taking one of the new DMRs they’d gotten before the spaceport had shut down, “Commander al-Cygni has decided to arm you, Recruit Sparkle, and since you’ve shown aptitude with semi-automatic weapons, we’re going to give you one of the newer DMRs, with luck you won’t have to use it, but if you do both the Commander and I are confident you will use it in the defense of your squad and of Humanity.”

Twilight accepts the DMR in her magic, and levitates it over to herself, followed by a couple packs of ammo. She then holds the gun in her hooves, and looks to Johnson with a small frown and a nod.

“I’ll do my best, Sergeant, I won’t let you or my friends down,”

February 11th, 2525, Utguard

13:25

Looking up at the sky for what felt like the thousandth time that hour, Twilight frowns from beneath the cloth mask she’d been given as she stares up at the space station. It had been a while since the last update over the radio, but Twilight was willing to bet the strange alien craft Command had been tracking would slide into orbit at about the station’s nine or eight o’clock? It was coming from the edge of the system, and so far had not shown any indication of hostility, but then they’d kept all local traffic away from it, as far as the morning briefings over the past eight days had said.

“Keep lookin’ to the heavens like that, Sparks, and I’ll think you’re prayin’ to some horse god of yours,” a voice comes from Twilight’s right, causing the unicorn to snort and chuckle.

“We don’t have gods, Red,” Twilight chuckles, looking at the tall militiaman walking next to her, “unless you count the Princesses, but they don’t fit your traditional ‘God’ role, you know?”

“Well, we humans got a sayin’, ‘There are no atheists in the foxholes’, this whole thing goes foul I suspect you’ll be praying to your Princesses real quick,”

“Well, if I do I’ll put in a good word for you,” Twilight laughs, flicking her tail, “I’m sure whatever gods you Humans have have had their fill of you already.”

Red laughs as well, and then shakes his head as they continue their patrol down Hel Avenue, which so far had been rather quiet as most of the humans who occupied the city were currently observing a strict shelter in place order due to the imminent arrival of the unknown craft.

Of course, she had met the civilians of the city before then. There really wasn’t any way to hide herself away during the past eight days, so she’d gotten quite an education on humanity’s ability to tolerate the unknown. Which is to say that some welcomed her with open arms, mostly the children, while others had watched her with a mixture of open distrust and suspicion.

That said, she had enjoyed the attention to a degree, as human or pony children and the enthusiasm and wide-eyed wonder they brought to everything warmed her heart. She must have answered a thousand questions about who and what she was over the course of the past week, demonstrating her magic and showing off a little to the laughter and joy of her audience. It didn’t hurt that after a while the parents stopped trying to move their kids to the other side of the street along her patrol route.

Turning a corner onto Minneapolis Street, Twilight’s musings are interrupted by a series of quick short tones through her radio, followed by Johnson’s voice.

“Attention all Alpha Elements, we are elevating to Condition One, I repeat all Alpha Elements, we are elevating to Condition One. Unknown Ship has made orbit, and we are tracking multiple inbound smaller ships. Alpha-One-Charlie, converges on rally point Gamma for retasking with Alpha-One-Bravo.”

As soon as the order was given Twilight and Red turn and start down an alley, picking up their pace as soon as they’re out of the sight of civilians so as to make it to rally point a kilometer away. The sounds of Twilight’s hooves and Red’s boots against the pavement is drowned out by Twilight’s racing heart, her mind a whirlwind of possibilities.

Would the aliens be friendly?

Twilight certainly hoped they would be, and what little she had been able to overhear of the plans the militia and local government had for meeting them led the unicorn to believe the UNSC wouldn’t take the first shot and was going to extend a hand in friendship.

Still, they were all armed, and no one believed these aliens wouldn’t be armed too. The whole thing could be a powder keg waiting for a spark, and the possibility of being in combat so soon isn’t one Twilight relishes.

Exiting from the alley the pair continue their jog down a new street -- Twilight doesn’t have the time to look at the signs but if the map in her head is correct they just entered Rotterdam Way -- which is clear of civilians right now so they are able to make their way at a quick pace. Turning from that street brings them directly into sight of a large park which currently has the rest of their squad loading into a pelican.

There are also a couple of extra people with the squad, and though Twilight has not met them as of yet, she is able to recognize a couple of the city and planetary government officials.

By the time they reach the ramp, the rest of the squad is aboard the police aircraft, and Twilight and Red quickly board and find seats as the pelican takes to the air.

“You must be the talking horse I’ve heard so much about,” one of the civilians says through the radio headset they’re all wearing.

“Pony, sir,” Twilight replies, “and I suspect I am.”

“What was your name?”

“Twilight Sparkle, sir,”

“A pleasure, Miss Sparkle, I’m Govenor Nils Thune,” the Governor offers with a smile, then gestures to a man to his left, “and this is Attorney General Rol Penderson.”

“A pleasure, Governor, Mister Penderson,” Twilight says with a smile and a nod, “I’m surprised you’re both so calm being around someone like me. Most people I’ve met so far outside the militia were a bit stand-offish.”

“You have shown you came in peace, or so Commander al-Cygni has assured me,”

“I do, Governor, all I want to do is get back to my friends and family,” Twilight assures the man, “and protect the friends I’ve made here.”

“Well, we shall see if it is needed, but I doubt these aliens will truly prove to be hostile. Honestly, I am hopeful we’ll be able to smooth over the little incident your instructors caused, and move forward with peaceful relations.”

“We shall see, sir,” Natalie offers up where she is standing near the entrance to the cockpit, “personally, I don’t want to get into a fight, but it’s our job to make sure you and Mister Penderson here make it back to the Capital with only the holes you were born with.”

The Governor nods to the Corporal at this, and the flight then descends into mostly small talk about various things. The Governor asks Twilight to tell him about her home, and in turn the unicorn asks for tales of his home which turned out to be the human homeworld of Earth. The two swap stories enthusiastically for the half hour it takes to get to where they’re going, with Governor Thune laughing over the antics of Twilight’s early years and confessing he’d love to meet Princess Celestia for all the endless patience she seems to have. Twilight for her part happily says that she’d love to visit Earth, and professes her hope that someday her world and the UNSC might be friends.

By the time they touch down at their destination Twilight is in good spirits and hopeful she has made a friend out of the Governor.

However once she’s off of the ramp Twilight cannot help but stop and stare at the surroundings. The Botanical Gardens of Harvest was, perhaps, a place worthy of being called one of the wonders of this world.

The field they had landed on sits on the lowest step of what Twilight can see to be three tiers of greenery, trees and expertly cut grass surrounding her and gently flowing in a light breeze coming down from the higher tiers and the mountain they are cut out of. The higher tiers, which are slightly sloped down most likely to promote drainage and keep them from flooding when watered, are filled with rows upon rows, field upon field, and glade upon glade of flowers and plants in every conceivable shade and color of the rainbow.

For a brief moment, Twilight’s heart and breath still as the breeze drifts across the vast colorful fields, the plants shifting and shining in the light of the afternoon sun reminding her of Celestia’s mane. A wave of deep, pronounced longing and homesickness sweeps over her, and she finds herself unable to move beneath it.

The soft touch of something on her withers brings Twilight back to reality with a soft gasp. Shaking her head she looks up to see Natalie looking down at her with a concerned frown, which is returned with one of Twilight’s own.

“You okay there, Sparks?” Natalie asks, “we lost you for a moment there.”

“Yeah, I’m okay, Natalie,” Twilight replies with a shake of her head, “just got lost in thought for a moment. This place reminds me of home.”

“Fair enough, but get your head on straight, our guests will be here soon and we still need to get into position.”

Nodding, Twilight turns and follows the rest of the squad, which is escorting the Governor to what looks to be a giant greenhouse on the far end of the parkland.

As they go a couple more pelicans land, the majority being police issues like the one Twilight and her squad arrived in, with the last one being painted in the OD Green of the UNSC’s military forces. At least three more squads disembark, with Commander al-Cygni getting off of the militia pelican with a nod towards Johnson and Byrne who both exit from police ones with their own squads.

Drawing closer to the large building, which would put quite a few of the grand structures in Canterlot to shame, more humans start to appear. These seem to be attendants and gardeners for the parkland, many shepherding around animals or hastily attempting to do some task or another before the appointed arrival of the aliens.One or two even stop what they’re doing to try and come over to Twilight, likely thinking she’s one of their charges that have broken loose and is hiding in the marines, only to stop when they realize she’s wearing full armor and carrying a weapon.

Quite a few of that group stopped Natalie to ask her what a horse was doing in armor and carrying a weapon, to which she simply replied it was ONI related, and that if they wanted more information they’d need to talk to Commander al-Cygni, who more often than not scared them away with a frown and a raised eyebrow.

Drawing up to the large greenhouse structure, Twilight continues to marvel at the large selection of plants, her smile only growing once inside the humid structure where she finds statuary and fountains surrounded by carefully tended flowerbeds.

The majority of the statues are of great heroes and legends out of the mythology of Earth’s Norse culture, with great serpents and mighty heroes battling each other. Others are of long dead cultural figures, and even animals in various poses and scenes.

The idyllic scene is sadly ruined by the soldiers taking up positions in various places around the greenhouse, and Twilight and her squad is no exception, with Twilight being tasked to guard the entrance to the third story meeting hall alongside the rest of her squad. She catches a glimpse into the room before she takes her position, and is impressed by the large oak table situated inside which is already set up for a feast.

Once in position beside the top of the stairs, Twilight settles into the trance-like state of just standing around; she'd often emulated her brother being in when she was younger.

Nothing could prepare her for the deep rumble that suddenly flew overhead, causing the panes of glass all around them to shake and the metal floor to vibrate. It was by no means the deep guttural growl of the engines of a pelican, nor the forceful purr of an eternal combustion engine such as those in the land vehicles the humans favored.

No, this was something else, something different. Twilight doesn’t so much feel it in her body as in her horn and magical field. To her it almost felt like she was beneath a levitation or gravity reversal spell, all the force pushing down on her felt only by those parts of her that were attuned to magic.

The others around her clearly hear it as well, though they likely do not feel it in the same way she does, as quite a few of the militia shift uneasily as they stand guard. The ones who had previously fought their visitors are clearly seen as more than a few militia go stock still, fingers ever so slightly moving towards the triggers of their weapons.

The feeling soon abates, and Twilight hazards a guess that the craft has landed, though she cannot turn her head to see if she is right at the moment, and before long the sounds of heavy steps can be heard in the lower floor. From the spacing and the sound of the movement, Twilight hazards a guess as to them being bipedal like the majority of the creatures in the video the squad leads and her and seen.

The hypothesis proves right when a large bipedal creature walks up the stairs, and Twilight finds herself studying the creature, and the next two that come after, from the corner of her eye. They remind her a bit of the Yeti back on Equis, in the fact they’re covered in fur from head to toe, and if their bulk is any indication were very much muscled to lift heavy objects and run great distances. The heavy metal armor they wear doesn’t seem to slow them down at any rate, a fact Twilight files away for later.

There were also a group of smaller creatures wearing what looked to be wearing some sort of breathing machine, a somewhat rotten smell drifting from them as they passed by, and it takes all of Twilight’s power not to scrunch her nose and sneeze as they walk into the meeting hall.

Things settled down around that point, other than the squad radio doing callouts from patrols outside, a few discussing the ship the aliens had come in, as well as the amount of troops and what they were carrying.

The calm air was suddenly pierced by the sharp crack of a firearm, and all hell suddenly broke loose. Instinct and training kick in for everyone, Twilight included, as a second gunshot, followed by a few more rapid fire ones, echo from inside the meeting room. All at once the militia stationed on the floor of the meeting room rushed to block the stairs and also to get into the room, the doors having been closed to allow some privacy for the meeting. It takes but a few seconds for one of the soldiers, a recruit from Bravo company, to kick in the door and the rest to flood in after.

Guns ready, the soldiers find Commander al-Cygni and the Governor leaning over the body of the Attorney General, the Commander’s sleeves rolled up and forearms covered in blood as she attempts CPR, the guards in the room including the two Staff Sergeants posted up next to a large hole in the wall where the other half of the meeting has clearly made an exit from.

Twilight stands numbly for a moment, watching the normally stoic commander curse and pant out timing as she tries to keep the heart of the man beneath her beating, even as a pool of blood continues to spread out from beneath him.

The medic pushing past Twilight with an apology snaps Twilight out of her haze and she rushes over to the hole in the glass wall to take up position with the Sergeants. Johnson takes one look at Twilight and points to a position near him directly up against the glass.

“Sparks, you have a scope on that thing, I need you to cover the outside and deter the dirty apes from mounting a counter attack,” Johnson growls, then turns to Natalie and the others in the room, “soldiers, spread out and cover the stairs and the windows.”

“Sir, it’s all one giant window,” a militia replies slowly.

“Then it’ll be real easy to cover! Pick a spot, and post up!”

Whatever else is said is lost to Twilight as she gets into position and lifts her rifle up to her eye, using a combination of her forelegs, the ledge, and her magic she aims out at the conflict breaking out all across the lawn, with militia and aliens trading shots from cover. The aliens seem to be retreating to their craft, which to Twilight looks like a giant glowing purple tuning fork, with one of their number slung between two others and clearly injured. Some are advancing on the militia to cover the retreat though, and Twilight selects a target and starts to pull the trigger only to freeze up for a moment.

Can she really do this? The creature’s head is placed squarely in the retacle, all it will take is for her magic to depress the trigger just a little more and the rifle will go off. But can she really take a life?

The thought fills her with a sinking feeling, as if her stomach wants to revolt, and she has to work to keep the rifle steady. However, as the creature she is watching reaches the militia he uses his weapon, a pistol like thing with blades on it, to slash at a militia soldier from Alpha-Two, and Twilight pulls the trigger out of instinct as the soldier goes down with a cry.

Her aim is a bit off, however, and instead of impacting the creature’s head the bullet strikes it in the shoulder and causes it to flinch and send his next attack wide. This allows for the other militia with the injured one to bear down on the attacker and it’s friend, and a couple blasts of buckshot causes the pair to retreat towards their comrades with injuries of their own. Twilight takes a few more shots at them, and a few of the others harassing the militia down in the gardens, but once the group with the wounded one reaches their craft there is a bellowing cry and the others collapse back onto the craft in a fighting retreat.

Once the last one is aboard, the craft takes off and quickly speeds away with a loud hum that sets Twilight’s teeth on edge. She continues to hold her position, though, and does her best to tune out the radio calls for medics over the shared squad radio. What she can’t tune out, though, is the shouting from behind her.

“Of all the stupid things,” Commander al-Cygni shouts, “you still think they want peace, Govenor?!”

“Perhaps it was just a mis-” Governor Thune starts.

“Perhaps nothing,” al-Cygni continues, cutting the Governor off, “Sergeants, gather the squads and get everyone evacuated. No one gets left behind, requisitioning more vehicles if needed.”

“Civilians too, ma’am?” Bryne asks with a frown as he moves from his position opposite Twilight at the window, glass and bullet casings crunching under his boots.

“And their animals, if they can’t be separated from them,”

“Roger that, ma’am,”

“Captain,” al-Cygni shouts, and Twilight hears her approaching the window, “get Loki on the line, tell him to prepare any ground to orbit defenses we have, we need to stri-”

“You will do no such thing, Commander,” Governor Thune barks as he likewise comes over to near Twilight, and the unicorn risks a glance to them without lowering her weapon.

Both Thune and al-Cygni are covered in blood, with the Commander’s dress uniform being rolled up past her elbows and spattered with it, her face likewise has blood on it which only enhances her scowl. The Governor for his part has some blood on him, but it looks to only be spray from whatever injury the Attorney General took, and he is likewise frowning his large arms crossed in front of his chest.

“I am still in charge of this planet, and I will not allow you to shoot the aliens in orbit until we know if this was a deliberate act,” Governor Thune states, his eyes narrowing.

“Is that an order, sir?” al-Cygni asks, clenching her hands into fists.

“Yes, yes it is. Now stand down, Commander, and evacuate our wounded, I’m sure my Attorney General would like to get some proper medical care,”

“I’m sorry sir,” a new voice, Healy if Twilight’s ears are correct, “he won’t be needing any medical attention, he’s dead.”

“Excuse me?” The Governor asks, growing pale.

“He took a slug to the chest, I won’t know more until we get him back, but I’m thinking from the amount of blood everywhere it got his heart or aorta. He was dead before he hit the floor.”

“That’s not… I saw him moving, he was-” Thune whispers.

“We can discuss death rattles and seeing things later,” Johnson cuts in, “we need to evac yesterday!”

“Sparkle,” al-Cygni calls over, “front and center.”

Twilight moves from her position at the broken window and holds her weapon at parade rest as she moves to stand in front of the Commander, offering a salute.

“Reporting as ordered, ma’am,” Twilight states.

“Can you teleport the body out of here, or barring that levitate it to a pelican?”

“I can levitate it, ma’am, teleportation to the Capital would drain most of my reserves,”

“And we might need you if they come back, alright, stow your weapon and levitate the body bag, you’ll be on the transport out with me and the Governor,”

Twilight nods and puts her DMR on it’s magnetic hook on her side, then goes over and assists Healy in putting the Attorney General into a body bag, the amount of blood and the look of shock and pain on the body’s face causes her stomach to turn a little, but she muscles through it. Once he’s in the bag, she looks to Healy who pats her on the withers and offers a sad smile.

“First one’s always the hardest,” the Medic comments.

“Worse for me I suspect, ponies are herd animals,” Twilight says softly, “and our population is mostly female, the death of a male is… unsettling most times.”

Healy hums but says nothing more.

A few moments later, the call to evac goes out, and Twilight finds herself swept up in the rush to get to the pelicans, the body of the Attorney General floating beside her as they rush down the stairs and out of the building. Once outside, Twilight is subjected to the chaos as civilians and militia run around to various vehicles, from the pelicans to large trucks that likely belong to the Gardens themselves.

Animals and people are being loaded into the trucks and even a few civilian looking pelicans, with the cries of confusion from the various creatures adding to the general air of confusion.

She isn’t in it long, however, as the Pelican for the Commander and the Governor lands not ten yards from the entrance to the greenhouse, and before Twilight can really process the scene she’s on the pelican and laying the body bag onto the floor and strapping it in with cargo straps with the fight crew. Then, she’s in a seat with the rest of her squad around her and the aircraft is climbing up to cruising altitude and rushing back to the Capital, leaving behind the greenhouse, the Gardens, and the disastrous first contact.

Somehow, deep down, as they fly back towards civilization, Twilight knows the Commander is right. Peace may not be an option.

And likely never was.

Author's Note

Well, here it is! I feel like the first real conflict is a bit of a letdown, but it wasn't supposed to be as grand or long. Just a first initial "Yeah so the covenant aren't so nice" and all that.

Next chapter will be underway here soon, and it will include quite a bit more conflict and get quite a bit darker rather fast with the start of all the real fun stuff! And by fun I mean it's time to give the militia PTSD.

Until then, though, hope you enjoy! And if you find anything I missed in my polish pass please let me know!