The Thunderhawk shook and pitched about as it descended through the atmosphere of Herboss, the turbulence fairly standard for a flight of this type. Inside it, the darkness was barely pierced by the glowing light of a small holographic display, mysterious text and strange runes floating across it. Locked into the restraints on either side of the craft's walls were ten warriors, each clad in heavy, firm, strong armour. Each suit of armour was painted black as its primary colour, and the secondary livery, born on the shoulder pauldrons, was white. Golden trim adorned the pauldrons and greaves, and each one of them wore a helmet that glowed with red optics in the gloom.
Ten Space Marines in all, each one a member of the Emperor's Scions chapter. Battle brothers, bred to fight and die to keep the alien, the mutant, the demon, and the heretic at bay, to defend humanity against a cold and uncaring universe.
Standing near the door, in his restraints, was their leader, Sergeant Velantes. A veteran of dozens of campaigns, his leadership skills and knowledge of the ways of war was almost unmatched, and he had been called upon many times to lead direct assaults to quickly end a war before it even had a chance to start. Today was looking to be no different.
He peered intently at the holographic display, which had a map of their deployment zone.
"Sergeant Valentes," said the voice of the Company commander, Captain Hermes. "Hostile foe has been sighted on the planet below. Current threat standard or level is unknown, and our scanners indicate this to be a new species of xeno."
An image of what they were facing came up on the display. The creature looked human enoughm but instead of a human head it almost resembled an equine, not unlike what Rough Riders rode into battle. It also wore a bodysuit of some sort, but the armour looked to be fairly light.
"Your orders are to intercept them and eliminate the target," the briefing continued. "You are go for deployment. Encircle the enemy encampment and destroy them."
"Yes, Captain," Valentes replied.
"The Emperor protects," Hermes said, and the display flickered out.
"Landing sequence initiated," the pilot stated over the vox. "Opening access ramp."
Once the squad had disembarked, Valentes ordered them to split into two combat squads to encircle the enemy. He led one group west, and they proceeded through the thick jungle and the dark night, their optics more than able to illuminate through the gloom.
"Threat spotted," called one of the marines.
Valentes called a halt, and saw two figures up ahead. Both of them were the abominations he had seen on the display. One was pink, and seemingly not in armour, instead wearing what appeared to be formal attire. The other, who was red, wore the armour shown in pict captures, but it appeared to offer little protection.
"They seem to be unaware of us," another marine radioed.
Valentes indicated forward. "Engage."
Two boltgun rounds flew forth, hitting their targets and dropping them, their skulls blown open from the force of the rounds and the resulting detonations.
"Threat neutralised."
"Forward."
The five Space Marines advanced cautiously through the woodland and jungle, keeping a close eye on their auspex indicators and target trackers to ensure that there was nothing that could emerge from the darkness to surprise them.
Valentes switched on the vox. "Combat Squad Secundus, report."
"We're almost in position, Sergeant. Currently overlooking a clearing that the enemy have selected as their encampment."
"Any estimates on threat level?" Valentes asked.
"Minimal. Clearing lacks any perimeter defences, and the enemy does not seem to have assembled or taken any cover in their approach towards us."
"Excellent," Valentes responded. "Hold position. Combat Squad Primus is closing to intercept point and will arrive shortly."
Lightning Dawn looked about in a panic. "Where are they?" he asked. "Have you tried raising them again?"
"Positive, Lightning," Starla Shine replied. "I've been trying to raise Buddy and Lily on the radio for the past minute or so, but no response."
"They're probably making out again," Lightning growled. "I told them to try and restrain their feelings, but no, those idiots have to be too dumb to live! Seriously, who brings formal attire on a mission?"
"IFF scan returning," Starla continued, ignoring Lightning's barbed frustration at his fellows. "Nothing on pickup. We're completely safe at the moment, and there's no sign of any monsters approaching."
"So this dimension is safe."
"Lightning, a dimension and a planet are not the same thing."
"Whatever." Lightning scanned the horizon again, checking further for any contact. "We're all alone."
Rhymey spoke up (and promptly made everybody wish he had not). "Despite the lack of sound, there may be danger all around."
"Shut up, Rhymey!" Starla snapped. "Anyways, how are things going on the conquest front?"
"Our way of life is superior," Lightning smiled. "We have succesfully overcome Equestria's primitive ways of friendship and replaced them with belief, particularly that Twilight Sparkle who tries to force her views on everybody and make them conform."
The irony of Lightning's words, considering Starfleet's habit of conquering other planets and forcing their way of life on others (and forcibly lobotomising or imprisoning anybody who dared to disagree) was totally lost on him as he looked around again. "Isn't it marvellous being a member of the most powerful military machine to have ever existed?"
"You know, I always wondered by Buddy always said he had the power of fauna when he doesn't," Starla continued, the idle conversation distracting them from their task. "I told him, 'it's flora, you idiot', and seemed legitimately confused when I explained the difference between the two. It's like he's not hugely bright!"
"I hate to interrupt the party boys," said another voice over the radio, "but we think there's something approaching. Large contact heading your way."
"Which direction?" Lightning asked.
"Uncle-" The radio suddenly went to static, and before anybody knew what was happening a soldier was dropped by a large explosion.
Both combat squads had got into position and had opened fire. Each bolt round flew forth fair and true and found its mark.
"Incoming from the treeline, on the right," came a message over the vox.
"Focus fire on targets; split fire and switch to priority targets," Valentes responded.
Four of the Space Marines turned their attention to the new arrivals. The enemy, all of them wearing the same innefective armour the others had worn, ran towards the vague area the Marines were in, shouting. A few seconds of full auto fire and they were dropped, effortlessly slaughtered by superior marksmanship and training.
"Return fire to centre. 5 targets remain."
Lightning looked on in disbelief as most of Starfleet's soldiers were cut down like weeds. How was this possible? Starfleet was invincible, superior to all other life, and nothing could defeat them! So how were these foes they could not see tearing them a new one?
"Attack them!" he shouted.
Starla and Rhymey went forward. The latter started to speak. "I summon from within, the power of-"
He never finished his sentence. A bullet from the enemy slammed home and found its mark, Rhymey's skull exploding in a fountain of gore and splattering all nearby in blood.
"What?" Lightning cried. "They always wait for us to finish shouting our attacks before attacking themselves!"
Starla was felled seconds later, a storm of explosive rounds riddling her body with holes.
Lightning was the only one left, his unit decimated in seconds. There was only one thing for it. "MEGA MODE!" he cried, as his bodysuit lit up and started to glow golden.
Valentes indicated forward. "Plasma gun on priority target, full overcharge. Heavy bolter, break shielding first."
The heavy bolter opened up from the other side of the clearing, the fist sized bolts exploding upon the shield and breaking it within seconds. Then with a loud percussive roar a shot of supercharged plasma thundered into view. It collided with the target, exploding and producing a purple haze and masses of smoke.
Once the smoke had cleared, there was no trace a being of any type had been standing there. Valentes checked over the vox and his displays. No further hostiles on target auspex, and no casualties for the squad. In fact, the enemy had failed to land a single hit on them at all. They were truly no match for Space Marines.
The Space Marines slowly emerged from the treeline, checking the perimiter for further foes. Valentes accessed a data terminal which the enemy had left behind without wiping the data first. On it was a wealth of information about the enemy they had just faced.
"Captain Hermes, I have news."
"Report, Sergeant."
"Threat eliminated, all mission objectives completed, no casualties. Tactical data retrieved is useful. It reveals their weapons, fleet locations, and even their homeworld."
"I'll notify segmentum command. The sooner these xenos are wiped from the galaxy the better."
The war would indeed come, albeit not a long one, and the Space Marines would indeed play their part.
Author's Note
This story was written in response to a prompt issued by Cobrawolf_Meiji2012, and also to showcase what would happen if Starfleet came up against an enemy that actually showed any tactics or strategy.
As has been pointed out before, Starfleet's tactics and strategies only work against one type of foe; the monster of the week format that the villains of Starfleet insist on using. Against a foe that fights sensibly, uses cover and numbers, and refuses to give ground or allow Starfleet a chance to launch their attacks, they would crumble in spectularly short order.
If you're reading this, Mykan, please feel free to comment or rebut my points. Unlike you, I can take criticism and don't censor those whose views I don't like.
