Chapters Chapter one: Unpredictable results
Skyranger took off to take us to the Tample Ship as we sat in the hull, none of us said a word, too deep in our own thoughts to do so and there wasn't mood for it really. I just kept replaying what Commander and Central said and all possible scenarios of how this could go wrong. I sighed and leaned against my seat crossing my arms, we have come so far as a race and individuals, lot of things thought as science-fiction like cyborgs, supernatural humans and ability to use one's mind as a weapon have come true, and aaaall of this because some alien whoresons with superiority complex invaded us.
Look at how the cards have turned, we used their technology to upgrade ours (which technically means we use their tech), used their gene mods for our soldiers and some of us gained psionic capabilities. I smiled and rubbed my hands, metal scraping against metal. "When you're looking foward to this clap your hands." I sang and clapped my hands, they looked at me with blank faces, asking 'if I'm completely fucked in the head' for sure.
"Remind me again why we abated from calling him mental?" asked Mercy as I chuckled, yes she's named after the character, no it wasn't my idea. And frankly it fits her since she's the best field medic and apparently, no soldier died that were on the same mission as her. Her Archangel Armor wouldn't allow it.
"Don't look at me I voted for it!" said Scope making me cackle hard. His pissed russian accent always gets me, though you wouldn't find better sniper in the world, seriously since this guy got his hand on a sniper he made multiple 'headshot only' streaks. And when it comes to his successfull hits its one big streak. And after adoning Ghost Armor his lethality increased.
"With the way he engages the aliens I'm more suprised he's not called 'corpse,' commented Quicky, I bit back a nasty remark about Boston Tea Party. Regardless this guy's reflexes were already solid, but after got gene mods you would be lucky to atleast scrape him. Another thing he can boast about is the least time spent in the infirmary. The grapling hook and invisibily of his Ghost Armor allows him to distract and confuse enemies, granting the others to open fire.
"You can't argue about his ability to tank enemy onslaught and come out of it with only scrapes, burns and bents though," said Engie. She's MEC trooper just like... or well almost, whereas I rely more on the firepower of my Particle Cannon and my Tactical Subsystems, she stays more in the back and provides more tactical support, mainly by granades, mines, flamethrower ect. And her gentle french accent is cute.
I noticed that Cap was the only one to not share his insight on my brilliant comment. Cap. Now he's something, met him at the beginning when we were just rookies, at first we met at some misssions though that number increased when HQ noticed our dynamic and how well we work together. Him and I can boast with the best cooperation, no matter how hard missions were we always came back in full number, sure we had injuries here and there but never a death. After first few, we got to know each other and became friends, after a year I developed deeper feelings for him (no I'm not a gay but a bisexual), though I never acted on them since he's straight. He made this hell more bearable for me and I made an unspoken promise that I would do everything in my power to make sure that he's going to survive this.
"Cap, you ok champ?" I asked. He said nothing and kept staring at a falling platform of the Skyranger. "Cap," I repeated louder, "MICHAEL!" I yelled finally getting him from his stupor.
He looked at me and asked in annoyed voice, "what."
"I asked if you're ok," he sighed and thought for a second.
"We are heading to the mother ship of the aliens, which no doubt filled to the brim sectoids, mutons, sectopods, cyberdics and others, traps and another crap. No I'm not ok."
"We can do it," I said confidently. With him leading us there was no chance for a failure.
"How can you know?" he asked.
"Because we have the best the gear we have, my MEC and your Titan Amror were modified beyond the others, you were given nothing but the of the best gene mods and with the amount you're basically a super mutant-" Quicky chuckled "- and last but far from least you have people that trust you and you can trust in return," I finished.
there was silence for a bit, " who are you and what did you do with Blaze," asked Mercy making everyone chuckle.
"I ate him," I replied making every burst out laughing. With the mood improved we began talking some more before Big Sky told us through the coms that we'll be touching down soon. They all put on their helmets while mine closed around my head.
The platform was lower let us out, I took the front to block any heavy hits from aliens though I didn't see any. I looked around and saw that the area must've been a landing area. I went foward while I scanned for any danger though nothing came up.
"grah!" I heard somebody yell in fright, we all looked back and saw Cap on one knee clutching his head. We ran up to him asking him if he was alright.
"I think something is in my head, it speaks to me." He explained as we looked at each other. I asked Mercy to check him up but he protested, stating that he was fine, just caught off guard. We insisted and once she was done she said that she didn't find any damage. I let out relieved breath. He stood up and asked for an update on our current situation. I told that my scans didn't find any signatures, organic or mechanic though we didn't let our guard down.
We took formation with cap and me in the front, Quicky and Mercy in the middle and Scope and Engie in the back. We came up to door at the end of ramp we were on, Cap and Mercy took cover at it sides as I used One For All ability of my MEC for Scope to take cover while I prepared Vital-Point Targeting. And Engie prepared her big flamethrower. With Cap's nod Mercy oppened the door and we met first group.
The first group composed of five sectoids and one sectoid comander was quickly dead. Second group was considerably more difficult. Not so much those drones as those cyberdisks with one of them managing to get a good hit on me. It didn't do much except making me stumble slightly. It was down when Scope shot it from his elevated spot. Mercy and Cap were in high cover as I took down the other one.
We went towards the other side of the room, as we were walking I asked Cap if he was okay because he began clutching at his head again when we entered it. When we asked what was wrong he said that he was hearing a voice in his head, speaking to him, when we asked what it was saying he replied that it was describing how the aliens we were fighting became the way they were. Sectiods: they are great at psionic abilities but their bodies are worth shit, making them into cruel cowards.
"And we still have to meet the others," he said. "Lets get back to work," and so we did. We got into position again and proceeded as before.
The rest of the mission went as one would like to; we continued through the Ship while masacaring the Aliens along the way. Each time we met another wave, Cap grunted and fell on his knee while clutching his head as if he was having the worst migrane ever. And each time he told us what was told to him about the Aliens, how each of them were failures. I have already mentioned Sectoids, so the rest goes as it went.
Drones and Cyberdiscs; While a powerfull machines, they're just that, a machines.
Floaters and Heavy Floaters; Their organic bodies fell apart so they were given cybernatic enhacments which turned them into a merciless killing machines. Ehh, it sounds nasty just saying like that, no?
Chryssalids; They're simply a disguting insects appropriate for reproduction and war.
Thin Men; They're the oppsite of Sectoids, great physical fitness, very loyal and also inteligent but no control over psionic powers what so ever.
Mutons, Muton Elites and Bersekers; Stronk bois but not smort bois.
Sectopods; Their case is similar to the Drones and Cyberdiscs.
Then there was this talk about some kind of Gift, holy crusade, brighter future, redemption so on and so on.
It went like this until we reached the back of the Ship. "So"- Quicky began -"this is it, we are about to kill the bosses and end these shenanigans once and for all."
"Maybe not ´once for all´ but it definitely ends here," continued Mercy. It was almost surreal, behind this narrow corridor is our ticket back home, to live normal lifes... well at least for some of us.
"We don't know what's there, so we have to be carefull," Said Cap, " Blaze, you and Engie will be in the front as you are both heavy hitters and tanks, Quicky and I will use you as cover and suppurt you from behind, Mercy will slowly follow suit when she won't be in immediate threat of an alien fire. Scope, you will stay behind for tactical sniper support, everything clear?"
"Sir, yes sir!" we said in unision.
"Good, let's do this." Engie and I stood up to the gate with guns at the ready while Cap and Quicky were right behind us. Scope and Mercy took cover at either side of the gate. Taking a deep breath I went into the corridor. I went slowly and carefully as I scanned for any activity but my radar picked up nothing. When I came up at the other end I looked around for any hidden ambush but came up with nothing. ´Oookay, this is starting to be creepy as fuck,´ I thought.
I went to the right side with Quicky hiding behind me before Engie did the same with left side. I looked over the railing that was close to me and saw the vast ocean and I could see the same in front of me with an Ethereal looking away from us before it began speaking.
"Behold the greatest failure... of the Ethereal Ones... We who failed to ascend as they thought we would," it began in a creepy scrachy voice. "We who were casted out. We who were doomed to feed on the Gift of lesser beings... as we sought to uplift them... to prepare them... for lies ahead." It finished, now fully turned toward us. The only difference was that its headdress was more decorated.
Two more ethereal appeared on 2 platforms on either side of it while 2 Muton Elites appeared right beneath it. The elites immediately ran for cover as did Cap and Quicky, unfortunately the railing wasn't high enough for me and Engie to use as cover so we had to make do being exposed to any attacks.
I took aim on the Eilte that was on the same side as me and pulled the trigger. The shot destroyed its cover and did serious damage to it and forcing it to retreat. An Ethereal tried Mind Control at me but I managed to resit it. I took aim on it but a plasma shot caught it right in the head before I could do anything. Looking behind me I saw Scope ducking back for his cover.
I looked back just in time to see a purple rift appearing where Cap and Quicky were. I realise that it wouldn't just them but Engie and I as well. I ran for the other side but got jumped on by an Elite. I threw it on the floor and noticed that it was the one I shot. It stood up quickly and charged me but I used my kinetic fist on it and sent in flying back.
What could be best described as psionic lance struck my MEC. Following the trajectory I saw the boss Ethereal looking at me. I growled at it and holstered my Particle Cannon before charging. I came up to the wall of the platform it was standing and used my Jetboot module to fly above. I cocked my Kinetic fist back and was prepared to strike it before it outsterched one of its hands and used telekinesis on me and kept floating above its head.
"So much anger, hatred..." it spoke, "such a potential for the Gift... you could have been as talented with it as the Ethereal Ones have you not wasted it on... this."
"I'M LIKE THIS BECAUSE OF YOU, YOU MOTHERFUCKERS," I roared into its face.
"Such a shame," it pulled out the rest of its hands in preparation to no doubt kill me. But it never got the chance to do so as it was shot right in the face causing it to loose focus and dropping me on the floor. Not wasting this opportunity I stood up immediately and picked it up before dropping it on the floor hard. I kneeled on it and began pummeling it in with all my strength.
I kept it on while roaring like and insame animal. I slammed my hands as hard as I could, the blow echowing throughout the entire room and further. I was panting hard when I came to my senses again.
"Blaze?" I looked behind and saw my teammates looking at me. "Are you alright?" asked Mercy with concerned voice.
"Y-yeah I-I just... lost it for a moment," I replied.
"So... that's it then... we've won?" asked scope.
"Yes, we've won. We can go home now," Confiremed Cap.
"This os not your path! Not your pupose! You need our guidance to hone this power...without us, what are you?" said the Ethereal before it finally died. Just then, the entire ship began shaking.
"What's happening!" exclaimed Quicky.
"The ship is falling apart. We have to get out of here, NOW!" Cap ordered. We began running towards the corrider when I noticed that Cap wasn't with us. Both I and Mercy turned around and saw Cap Looking at us.
"GO," he yelled before he sent a psionic pulse so strong that even I was sent fly back. Then a sliding doors that apperantely were oppened before closed, sealing Cap from the rest of us.
"NO," I yelled as I stood up and began pounding into the doors with the hits were echowing thunderously. I went as far as to use my kinetic fist but the doors just wouldn't budge.
"STOP IT, BLAZE. THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO," Mercy yelled.
"NO, I'M NOT GOING TO LET HIM DIE IN HERE," I yelled back, still pouding the doors.
"THE DOORS HAVEN'T BROKE SO FAR, WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT THEY WILL?"
"THEY WILL YIELD, GIVEN TIME," I continued stubbornly
"TIME THAT WE DON'T HAVE," I looked at her and thought about it. She's right. If we want to see another day we had to get the hell out of there. And I could still live for him. "Goodbye, Cap," I wispered before I turned and picked up Mercy and put her under my left armpit and began running.
Along the I did the same with Scope and Engie did that with Quicky. I ignored any and all protests they had in favor of getting out of there. When we finally got to where we have landed we saw that the Skytanger was gone. Not destroyed. Gone. I dropped both of my teammates before I slowly came up to the landing zone and dropped to my knees. I never felt so hopeless. So betrayed. How could Big Sky do this? After everything that had happened... and this is what he does.
I suddenly felt the ship moving up at great speed and it didn't took long before it stopped moving. I turned to my comrades, my friends before I spoked.
"It was an honor serving with you all," I saluted.
"Likewise, Blaze," Said Mercy before she saluted as well. Soon the others joined as well before everything went black.
My head felt as if it would split open. It felt that horrible. I slowly oppened my eyes and saw that I was in a forest making me blink in confusion. I slugishly put my hands one after the other under and slowly pulled myself up before I turned and sat down on my ass. I looked around and saw my teammates laying on the ground except for...
"C-Cap?" I stutered, not believing what I was seeing.
"I see you woke up," he said in tired voice, he was sitting against a tree while his helmet was laying next ti him. "What are you doing in here? Whatever ´here´ is. Didn't Big Sky picked you up?" he asked.
"He ditched us," I said coldly.
"What?" he said with disbelieve clearly written on his face. "Why would he do that?"
"To save his own ass that's why," groaned Scope as he slugishly elevated himself.
"I don't like to say but I concur," Quicky added.
"Okay now we only have to wait for the girls to wake up," I said.
"Don't bother," said Mercy as her and Engie also woke up. Huh that's wierd, how conveniently we all woke up one after the other, like in some cartoon or something. I stood up and looked around before turning towards Cap.
"Do you have a way to contact the HQ?" I asked.
"Unfortunately no. My radio was fried by whatever happened back on the ship," he replied. "The only thing we can do is to find the closest settlement and ask around. From there we'll figure something out," he said. I stood up as did others except for him.
"Well come on, Cap," I said.
"I can't. I legs are too injured for them to carry me anywhere," he explained.
"Here this will help," said mercy as she sprayed him with a medkit. "Give it some time and you should be okay, until then someone will have to carry you."
"I'll do it," I said before Engie could as only the 2 of us are big and strong enough to do it.
"Bad idea," said Cap. "You're our heaviest hitter and the most resilient tank, so it's a bad idea to hinder that advantage. That means that Engie is the better choice."
´But she won't protect you as I would,´ I thought. I saw the logic in I just didn't want it to be true. "Roger that," I said, keeping a stoic composure.
"Fine then, let's go," he ordered. Engie came up to him and picked him and put him on her sholder. We talked about which way to go before we headed north. I don't where we are or how we are here, I only know that Micheal is alive and that's what matters.
Author's Note
Few things for this story:
We've been traveling for 3 days and we haven't encountered a single living being, excluding everything we've eaten of course. No wonder we began cutting down forests, this is just ridiculous. But good news is that Cap can walk again, even if slugishly so there's that atleast. We stopped so we could rest for a bit before continuing.
"How big is this forest? We've been walking 3 days without meeting anybody and have been eating cooked meat without any kind of seasoning," complained Quicky.
"What, you miss your morning sunday tea at 12 o'clock?" asked Scope sarcastically.
"Ohh hohohohooo, don't worry, Boris, if I find a bottle of vodka laying around I'll let you know," Quicky jabbed back.
"Watch your mouth, briton. Not every russian is ´Boris´ and not every russian is always fucking drunk on vodka," Scope warned. This is getting out of hand though I'm curious who gets the first and last hit.
"No, its just your national drink you bearfuckers." That did it, Scope charged Quicky who made himself invisible and went around him. Then he spun around and jumped before delivering hard roundhouse into Scope's head who fortunately had his helmet. Quicky became visible again as Scope landed onto the muddy ground. It was raining yesterday.
"STAND DOWN, BOTH OF YOU. STAND THE FUCK DOWN," Cap yelled as got between them, towering above them. "The fuck is wrong with you? We don't where we are or where to go and you're fighting in the mud like couple of goddamed dogs. We are all tired and agitated, so don't add animosity into the mix. You are soldiers of The Xcom Project. FUCKING ACT LIKE IT." He looked at both of them before continuing. "Alright then, we good?"
"Yes," Quicky lifted his hands in placating manner.
"Scope?"
"Yes sir," he said weakly before Cap turned towards me.
"We have to move, hopefully today we meet somebody," I nodded before standing up. Engie went and put him on her shoulder as Quicky offered Scope to help him stand up which he accepted. We continued foward for some time before I stopped when I saw smoke rising into the sky, something was off about it though. It was to big for it to be a camp, the same goes for a house. And it was black instead of dark grey or almost white. I turned to the others for their opinions.
"Too big and dark for a camp fire or a fireplace so... a pyre or something?" said Mercy.
"Who would make a pyre in the middle of forest?" asked Scope.
"Yeah, that's something else but what," replied Quicky.
"No use in trying to guess that, we just follow the smoke and we'll figure something out from there," Cap said. We began following the smoke for a minute or so before we both finally got to the forest edge and saw something that was... weird. Extremely weird. Seventy or so meters from us were humanoid creatures, all of them cladded in medieval armors and armed with medieval weapons like swords, axes, maces, spears, pikes, halberds, you name it. And of course, some of them had shields. It took me a while before I realised what we were seeing were some kind of deer-people and then there were 3 different kinds of horses, some had horns, some wings and some neither. Said horses were on their knees with their hands tied behind their backs, looking to the right I saw what was causing the smoke, a huge pile of burnt horse corpses. On the far left I could see carriages. I looked back and judging by the armor decor and red cloak, I was looking at their leader. It was in front of the horses and looking down at something, it began pacing and revealed that it was another horse, who had both wing and horn, and judging by its physique it was a female. I zoomed a bit to get a better look at her.
Her coat was dark blue with teal eyes, her hair... or is it mane? Whatever. Her hair was sparkling and dark blue in color with tranparent edges, it also waving in a non-existing breeze. Both her and her armor took some heavy beating when the fight was on, dents, bruises, scratches and cuts were pretty visible and she was glaring at the deer-people's leader who I assumed to be a male form his physique. I don't know what was being said but I could tell that it was grinding on the mare's nerves. She said something that made the fucker bitch-slap her so hard that she have fallen on the ground, then he grabbed her by the sides of her jaw and lifted her back to her knees before he began yelling into her face loudly. I turned back to my teammates and saw that they were looking on the former battlefield.
"What do you think?" I asked them.
"We should help the horse-people," Mercy replied.
"Not so fast, heal-lady. We don't know what is going on, we don't know who's bad and who's good, what if we make mistake by helping them?" Scope asked.
"Scope is right, we have to think this through," Engie said.
"Put me down," Cap ordered. "Okay, so this is how we are going to do this. Mercy, Quicky and I will go and talk to those... deer-people. We don't want to scare them so you, Engie and Scope will stay here and wait for my order to either come out or to engage. Everything clear?" we all saluted. "And before we go, do any of you have some white cloth and something I could use to secure it on," he looked around before his eyes landed just before his feet, "this stick?" Mercy pulled down her helmet and took out a hair pin while Scope pulled out some rag and handed it to Cap. "Good, let's go."
The 3 of them stepped out into the former battlefield holding the ´white flag´ high in the air. It didn't long before they were noticed but fortunately the flag helped as they didn't charged them right away. That doesn't mean that we weren't preparing for any nasty moves from them. I scanned them and learnt that they anatomy is 91% similar to that of a human. I unholstered my cannon and prepared Vital-Point Targeting while Scope layed down and took aim but waited for the order. Engie prepared her own cannon and granade launcher. I zoomed in again to get a better look.
The leader turned around and noticed at our teammates before marching towards him. He wasn't happy with them if his expresion was anything to go by. When they finally met the deer's mouth began moving before stoping. Cap lifted his hands placatingly before putting his right hand to his chest and then pointing it at others. The deer looked at Mercy before he pointed his finger at her and said something to which Cap nodded. Once again the dear didn't looked happy though I noticed that he licked his lips with the tip of his tongue and when I looked into his eyes... oh the lust in them. If my hands and legs haven't been replaced with prosthetics I would have been shaking form both anger and anticipation.
"What do you think they are talking about?" Engie asked.
"Whatever it is, I don't like the deer prick," said Scope.
"Same," I agreed. It didn't take long before the asshole grabbed Mercy by her right arm and tried to drag her to him before Cap hit him in the hand, and pretty hard so.
The Prick then yelled something which caused the others to close on Cap and others. That was everything I needed to open fire at the deers. Pulling the trigger the beam from the cannon went straight through several deer-people before the blast took more with it. Engie shot from her cannon and granade launcher while Scope was handing out headshots. I stepped out and began shooting left and right until my cannon began overheating. I holstered it against my back and began wreaking havoc with my fists. I swung my arms in wide arcs that killed multiple deer-people in one shot. I turned around when I heard something clanking loudly against my right leg and saw a young deer-boy. He began shaking wildly and looking at me in horror before he turned and tried to run. I caught him before he could get too far and cocked my kinetic fist back and was prepared to end his life.
"NO, PLEASE," he yelled. "DON'T KILL ME. HAVE MERCY," he began crying and making himself as small as possible in my hand. I looked him up and down. He was just a kid , no older than late teens. Maybe 16 or 17? What the hell is a kid doing here . I put him down.
"Get out," I ordered coldly. He nodded and ran away as fast as his legs would allow him. I turned around and got jumped by multiple deer-people who began pouding their weapons against my MEC with all their might. I activated my jetboots and flew up 5 meters before plumeting down and creating a small earthquake. Those deer-people that didn't get squashed and turned into a mush of soft tissue and bone were punched with my fists.
"RETREAT! RETREAT!" yelled what I assumed was the prick from before. The deer-people began retreating but not before some of them got fried by plasma. Me and my teammates came closer to each other so we could talk what to do next.
"Are you okay Mercy?" Engie asked.
"Aside from wanting to kick that motherfucker in the balls until they rapture, I'm fine," the girls laughed while the rest if us wince and grabbed our groins in unison. "Anyway can I help the horses now?"
"HOW THE FUCK DID THEE CALLED US?" good we still had our helmets on otherwise it would be worse. Man, learn how to yell, woman. We looked at the blue mare who was glaring daggers at us. "thee better apologise or We will smite thee into smithereens!" she yelled instead is doing that crazy roar this time.
"What is your species called then?" Mercy asked.
"Apology first," the mare ordered. Listen bitch we just saved your asses so how about a ´thank you´?
"Fine. I'm sorry I insulted your race by calling you incorrectly." The mare's glare lessened conciderably, turning from a hateful glare to a angry frown.
"We accept thy apology. Now if you would be so kind and unbound us," she said.
"Let's go, team," Cap said before we took anything sharp from the ground and use it to cut the bindings. The whatever-their-species-is-called stood up and rubbed their wrist and some of them did ankles as well. We came back together and waited for their leader to clarify the situation.
"We thank thee both for saving us and for setting us free," she said with a politely, something I didn't expected. "Our name is Princess Luna Brightsky, We are co-sovereign along side our sister Princess Celestia Brightsky and together we rule Equestria. But unfortunately as thee have witnessed, we are at war. Not only with the caribou, but griffins and minotaurs as well and we are losing," she said dejectedly. "What are thy names, strangers?" Cap stood up in front of us and pulled down his helmet, prompting the rest of to do the same.
"You may call me Cap, I'm leader of this team of soldiers that has been tasked with the elimination of threat to our home. And these are my teammates; Mercy, Scope, Quicky, Engie and Blaze." Cap said as he pointed his hand on each of us. His legs gave out from undeneath him but Engie managed to catch him and put him on her shoulder.
"What is wrong with thee... Cap" I chuckled invardly at her expresion when she said that.
"I was saving earth from being consumed and the explosion that followed left my legs pretty beaten."
She nodded before realising somehing. "Earth is thy home that thee said has been attacked, correct?" he nodded. "What exactly is this threat thee are speaking of? Should We worry about more enemies?" she said in an even voice but I didn't doubt that on the inside she was very concerned.
"I don't believe so. But I believie that it would be smarter to move away from here and build a camp before we continue this discusion," Cap said making the Princess blink and she realised that he was right. "Or do you have a camp that's already built?"
"Three days to south is the Everfree Castle, from there We and our sister rule. And yes it would be for the best if we took anything we can and march back," the Princess said.
"Great, more walking," grumbled Quicky, making Cap stare at him before I remembered something.
"What about the dead? Are we taking them with us or are we leaving them here?" I asked. the Princess took on a very sad expression.
"Sadly we will have to leave them here as we do not have the pony power to take them with us."
"I could do that," I offered which made the Princess's eyes hopefull and little bit skeptic. Not that I blamed her.
"We thank thee for such kind gesture but We are not certain that thee will be able to pull a carriage full of dead bodies. That and We do not wish to cumber you even more than thee must already be."
I waved my hands, "that's not a problem, Princess. Really, it isn't, I can do that," I replied.
"If... thee insist." A thankful smile founds its way on her... snout? "Many families will be greatful to thee for bringing their loved ones to be buried."
"Yeah yeah that's nice but we should really go now," I said. The princess nodded and her horn sparkled to life with light blue aura as did every body in the pile. We could only watch slacked-jawed as the bodies began floating through the air and onto one of the carriages I was going to push. One by one, the bodies were placed with care before the aura dissipated into thin air as did the one on Princess's horn. She turned to us and her expression turned from happy to confused.
"Tis something wrong?" she asked.
"You can do telekinesis?" Mercy asked. I was curious about that as well.
"Neigh, tis a simple levitation spell," she explained.
"Spell? So you have magic in here?"
"Why yes. Why are thee so shocked by it?" the Princess asked confused.
"We can talk about that when our position is not in the danger of being ambushed," Cap said. We all nodded in agreement and went towards the carriages. On the way there the princess spoke up.
"Before We begin We must ask if thee are willing to help us in these trying times," we all looked at each other before Cap looked at her and spoke.
"That depends, what are you figting for?"
"The caribou and griffons declared war against Our country in hope to take Our sister and us as their sex slaves." I wasn't the only one to scowl in disgust at that.
"Then we are going to help you as best as we can," Cap said which made the princess smile.
"Then there is only one thing to be adressed before we head out," she said as came before the caravan. We stood up in front of it before the princess began speaking again.
"My dear ponies," the pincess began, "today we have suffered a heavy loss. But do not despair for if it was not for these brave souls we all would have been dead. For now they are coming with us and Ser Blaze said that he is willing to help take the dead with us!" what little was left from the group cheered loudly. Though I should tell her that I'm not a knight. "Let's march into the castle so We may inform our sister of our current situation." With the speech ended we all looked at each other and nodded before going into our positions.
I went to the back of the caravan with Scope and Mercy at my sides while Engie and Cap were 2 carriages ahead of us.
"My dear ponies," the pincess began, "today we have suffered a heavy loss. But do not despair for we have gained new allies who said will aid us in our darkest hour," the ponies cheered loudly, "their number may not seem much but we all saw what they are capable of," they cheered again, I could hear dramatic and motivating music play in my head, "allow me to introduce them, these are Mercy, Engie, Scope, Quicky, Blaze and this is their leader, Cap," we all bowed our heads in greeting and man does she have a memory for names, "with them at our side We do not doubt that it will turn the tide in our favor. Let's march back home, to our families and friends before we must head out again!" the ponies began cheering again, louder ever before. With the speech done, we all went into our stations and began marching for the castle.
Author's Note
https://xcom.fandom.com/wiki/Particle_Cannon
Chapter three: Marching into the Castle
We've been walking for 5 hours straight. Our squad was ok, we walked 12 hour, make 15 when Engie and I decided to be bros and carry the others but the ponies needed to rest now since they don't have any biological or cybernetic upgrades. When we came to a stop, the princess ordered some of the soldiers to patrol for any threats while others began making a camp. Our squad decided to land a hand; Cap and Scope helped with the patrols, Mercy and Quicky went to tend to the wounded and Engie and I did the heavy lifting for the camp. I just finish another barricade using sharpened logs when I heard someone clearing their throat. I turned and saw the princess.
"We wanted to thank thee and thy friends for helping us," she said with a grateful smile.
"No problem," I replied simply,
"We have a few questions for thee if We do not bother thee,"
"No, it's fine. Ask,"
"We have never seen an armor like thine or thy companions. Could tell Us something about them?"
"Uuuhh, phhhh." I scratched the back of my head, "I dunno if I should, after all, it's a military secret and all that... but... I guess there's no harm. So for your question I will began with me. What I wear is not an armor but a Mechanized Exoskeletal Cybersuit or if you want to go short it's called MEC or MEC suit, I'm what is known as a MEC trooper.
"Why so complicated, does it not work like armor?"
"It does, but MEC is more acurate, besides calling it an armor would be an insult because it can so much more," her eyes widen in concern.
"We apologize if We insulted thee. We did not meat for that." She said quickly but I waved my hand at that.
"It's fine, I was just saying," I assured her and she let out a sigh of relieve.
"What can thee tell more about this... MEC was it?" - I nodded - "Thee said that it can do more." I nodded again.
"Yes, but the abilities differ from soldier to soldier but I won't go into too much detail. My MEC has this beauty-" I showed her my fist "- then I have other features like, my boots can propel me into the air and more but we will have time for that later now we have to ensure that we won't get ambushed while asleep. And if we do, we must be able to fight off the attackers," I informed and her eyes widen once again but this time in realisation.
"Oh, thee are right. We are sorry for keeping thee occupied," she apologizes before she left to do her thing. I shrugged and looked for anymore work but I couldn't find any. ´Maybe I ask Scope to help me prepare some traps? Yeah, that sounds like a good idea,´ I thought.
With the traps set, barigades built all we had to do was to watch out. It was about as fun as could be expected, person doesn't often and they do move, it's the same circle over and over gain. And I couldn't use night vision in my helmet because of those torches. Anyway, When Engie came to me to replace me I wished her nice patrol and was on my way before I realised that I didn't had my own tent, I waved my hand. I survived without it this long, I can manage now.
I looked for a spot I could use to lay my head down. It took me a little bit but I found what I was looking for. I layed down on my side and closed my eyes and fell into a microsleep several times. I sit up and sent a command for my helmet to open and rubbed my face before I began staring ahead of me without any thoughts. I layed on my back and fell asleep pretty fast.
"Wake up, Blaze," said Mercy. I oppened my eyes and saw that it was few hours before the sunrise.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Nothing. It's just your turn to watch out." I nodded and asked where to go. I put on my helmet and went the direction she pointed me until I reached an empty post. I have been standing there for better part of an hour before I heard foot steps behind me, I turned around saw none other than Princess Luna making her way towards me.
"Princess." I said with slight bow before taking off my helmet, "what brings you here at this hour? Shloudn't you be asleep? I asked
"We slept enough for today's march. As for what We are doing here, We wished to see that everything was in order before we moved on," she replied.
"If something was out of the ordinary here, you would have heard it," I chuckled but just to be sure I didn't jinx it, I put on my helmet and thoroughly scanned the forrest around us. I used heat signatures mode but it didn't helped much so I switched to x-ray.
"Indeed." The Princess said as I scanned the surroundings. Satisfied, I put off the helmet but kept looking foward. "Thy weapons." The Princess said, making me turn towards her with questioning gaze, "in Our long life, We have not seen anything like that. Such a destructive force. If We may ask, what are they?"
I turned to her fully and unholstered my cannon and displayed it in front of her. "Generally, they're called guns and there are different types of them for different purposes. You want to take out someone without suspecting a thing, use a pistol. You want to take out someone quickly and efficiently, use an assult rifle. You want to take out someone from a big distance, use a sniper rifle. I could go on and on about them but that will have to suffice for now." The Princess nodded before she thank me for the brief explenation and left. I turned back towards the forrest before putting the helmet back on and scanning it again.
I watched out for the remaining time before hearing another foot steps behind. I again looked behind me but this time I saw Cap making his way towards me. "Back on your feet I see," I said.
"Yeah, my legs are good enough to carry me without any help. I just came here to tell you that we are leaving in a few so scan for the last time and lets go." I nodded and did as he said before giving him a thumb up. He turned and made his way inside the camp with me following closely behind. "What do you make of these... ponies so far?" He asked all of a sudden. I thought about it before replying.
"Honestly, I don't know. So far, they seem to be people that just trying to do their own but may have a hard time," he nodded at my response.
"Who do you think started this war and why?"
"Again, I don't know. And we can't be 100% sure until we hear the story." He was quiet for a litlle bit before speaking again.
"Lets keep our guard up. We don't know what to expect from both them and this world. Danger can come from any direction at any time and the whole ´magic´ stuff isn't helping either. You know how poorly our fisrt contact with alien spcies went." You may call him a paranoid bias asshole but I call him a man that has been through a lot. Just as me or any other member of our squad.
I nooded as we came up to the wagons and took the same positions as before and began our march again. We've been marching for a few hours before we stoped as scouts that have been sent out to watch out came rushing back.
It didn't took long for the Princess to start barking orders. Some of the ponies formed a three-rowed line. The first line held shields and acted as a wall. The second row was reinforcing the first one. And the last one was holding spears with few pikes at the ready.
The rest of the ponies formed 3 lines around their Princess that would protect her from sides and rear. Our squad looked at each other before simply nodding. Already knowing where to go. Engie and I would be if the front taking brunt of the ambush. Quicky and Cap would cover the rear. And Scope and Mercy would do so with the sides while also giving additional tactical support as needed.
Engie and I stood behind the front line and waited for enemy to show themselves. It didn't took long and I saw the deer-people approaching us. But they weren't alone this time. This time the y had reinforces of 2 more races. One of them were hybrids between a lion and an eagle. And the other were bipedal bulls. After a little bit I realised that was really looking at griffins and minotaurs respectively.
´Shit.´ I thought as I scanned both of them for anything usefull. My thoughts were confirmed when the scan showed that the griffins had wings and minotaurs had enough strength to bent and dent hardened steel like it was nothing. And, to add salt to the injury, I saw Capitain Prick walking at the front. I looked behind me and saw that the Princess saw him too and wasn't happy about it. At all.
She walked up next to me and observed their movement. They to a stop and the Prick came a bit closer before speaking loudly.
"Ah, Princess Luna Brightsky, I missed you," you're only making yourself better and better to me. "And I see that you have new companions with you this time. Why, I thought you said that you would defeat me with a small platoon and without outside help. " I looked at the Princess before she replied.
"That is in the past. What We care about is the present," she said calmly but I knew that on the inside she wanted to rip apart that asshole. "And our allies have helped us before, they can do so once again."
Captain Prick frowned at that. " Yes, I admit that they caught the first time off guard with their weapons. So much power." He mumbled but my helmet caught it. He looked back at us again," but not this time. This time we are prepared." There was a sound of something being launched and after a little bit I could see a big stone falling right at us.
I took aim with my granate launcher and shoot. The explosion tha followed caused the rock to shatter. I lifted my cannon and took aim on the Prick. Before the beam could hit him he fell on the ground.
"KILL THEM ALL!" He screamed. The ponies readied themselves as our squad began to open fire. I took them down in decent groups but they just kept coming. After some time my MEC gave a report about my cannon.
It was overheating. I dropped the cannon and the jet mod I jumped over the ponies. Immediately After I landed I began swinging my fists left and right. My hands were held behind while a minotaur with a battleaxe rushed at me. When it was close enough it it lifted its axe above its head.
I lifted my legs and kicked in its torso. What ever was holding tumbled back and made me to fall on it. When I stood up I saw that it was another minotaur. I stomped on its head and went for the other one. It stood up while clutching at its torso. My scans showed bruised lung and pummeled guts.
Its swung again but I just punched the axe away and punched a hole into its abdomen. I took the axe and began swinging it. Three beheaded deers and five diagonally halved. A minotaur skull broken in half. Then a different one choped in its side before being beheaded.
I looked back at the ponies and saw that they were barely holding the line. Something jumped from the behind and wrapped its arms around my neck. It struggled to strangle me but my MEC helped in that regard. I elbowed it in the side and swung the axe so hard the shaft broke. With that done I made way just in time as the line broke.
I jumped high in the air and slammed my Kinetic Strike Module down. A small earthquake that followed made everyone in range to fall down. I stood up and began running through enemies and crushed them under my weight. I looked back and saw that there were still plenty of them.
Suddenly a fire torrent blew from my left and scorched everything in its range. Looks like Engie had enough. This made them to retreat but not before I took one more shot from my granate launcher. Many of the deer people and some minotaur bits flew to all direstions.
I looked back and saw some of the ponies laying on the ground motionlessly. I took off my helmet and rubbed my face a little before covering my mouth in thought. After a little bit of thinking, Princess Luna came up to me.
"We wished to thank thee for saving us all." I turned towards her and saw a grateful smile on her face.
"Could've gone without the losses though," I replied pessimestcally. Her smile waverd slightly but managed to stay on her face.
"While that is true, if it was not for thy action when the rock was falling at us, we would have been all dead." I conceded with a nod. Her horn light up and the corpses shined for a little before being put on the cart I was pulling. "We just hope that the possibility of burying of their loved ones will give them at least a little bit of peace." She said as was looking sadly at the cart.
"Yeah, me too." I said as I put a comforting hand on her shoulder. I don't know why, but part of me though that she would shake it off, but she didn't. "I think we should move before more of them comes here." She just nodded and went to the front of our group while I took the carts handles and began pulling it.
Even after some many times. Its sad, something even crushing to see one's soldier die.
