Equestria At War - In the Shadow of the Sun

The rain was pouring heavily, the tropical island becoming wet, and the mud had become sloppy and malleable. Sitting in the foliage of a hill overlooking the island, Colton adjusted his bullpup as he scanned what he saw.

"Typhoon." He softly spoke into his radio. "Adjust your approach. The East side of the compound seems to be patrolled by attack dogs and long-ranged sentries. West is possibly landmined. Copy?"

"Yeah boss - we know." The leader of Typhoon said reported back. "By the way, you guys gonna come to Typhoon 4's wedding when it happens?"

The radio cut in as the medic spoke with excitement. "My dumb ass is finally proposing after 5 years! I ain't letting myself die on this mission."

"Typhoon 4..." Gomer spoke into the radio. "Look, don't talk about this kinda stuff on a mission, aight? The first person to bring up their relationship is usually the first one to die."

"That's just in the movies, bozo." 4 scoffed. "You better bring a nice gift for the wedding when I survive this, ya fool."

"Whatever you say." Gomer shuddered. "Nhh, fuck. He's totally dying."

"Sir." Umfuni said as he looked through his binoculars. "I see an armored car entering the premises, bearing two, four, two."

Colton's aim appropriately adjusted for the coordinates, and indeed - he saw what appeared to be an armored half-track driving through the gates.

"...See someone notable in there?" Gomer asked.

"...Ah shit. Nopony good." Colton cussed.

"Eh? Lemme see." Gomer's own sniper adjusted left - before he put the gun down. "...Ah shit, no way. That's not who I think it is, is it?"

"It is." Colton sighed.

Gomer spat on the ground below him. "I'd rather see fucking Prince Blueblood or something! What the fuck's the Butcher of Baltimare doing here!?"

They would see General Aurora exit the car, and a pony had approached her, looking somewhat distraught and nervous. They would trail her with their scopes as she entered a building, and disappeared behind the door.

"...Sir?" Umfuni asked. "The presence of high command from the Solar Empire means danger for New Mareland if we are identified. What's our move?"

"Our mission isn't complete." Colton stated. "We're here to understand what's happening - not who's involved. Stick to the plan. If Aurora dies, she dies."

"Sir, we may be risking an international incident that may damage New Mareland's security." Umfuni said.

"This island itself may be damaging to New Mareland's security. Let's move it." He said, and patted Gomer.

The Griffon nodded, and produced a crossbow-like device. It shot out a small anchor far, far away - and into an adjacent mountain. The anchor had carried over a rope, which he tugged hard several times, before nodding. He gave out everyone a small hook-like device, to allow them to use the rope as a zip-line. He was the first to go - relatively safe with his wings as he would test out the integrity of the connection first. Confirming its safety, the other two followed.

***

Wading through the foliage, they were able to approach the fence. It wasn't electrified - but it was coated in thick barbed wire at its top. Colton nodded to Umfuni, and the zebra approached the fence. He produced a small spray can, and giving it a shake, he squeezed the trigger, and allowed a silvery liquid to start coating the metal. Then, with a pull of his gloved hoof, the covered fencing was easily torn off - silently. They slipped through the hole.

There were parked vehicles, crates, containers, all manner of miscellaneous objects that allowed them to take cover. They were now on cemented road, which forced them to take cover as a jeep would drive by them - its headlights unable to detect them. The complex was the size of a soccer field - and it was a grueling challenge to stay undetected. They were able to move up by about ten meters a minute; laying under parked trucks. They saw an opening to stand up, and did so, softly walking through the concealed spots between structures and objects.

The first kill came as a guard was on a collision course with Gomer, who walked around the corner. Deciding not to take risks, Gomer had pulled the guard in. The guard had no time to scream as Gomer's clawed talon had pierced itself right into his throat in tandem with the pull - to ensure silence - before a horizontal swipe of his sharp claw ensured blood loss and immobilization. Gomer had allowed the soon limp body to drop on the floor. Before the body was to be hidden however - all three took a brief moment to observe the body.

The dead pony was dressed in a tigerstripe camouflage and a webbing-based rig, as well as a two-eyehole balaclava and a headset, armed with what appeared to be a New Mareland-made battle rifle.

"...Not a Solar Empire uniform if I've ever seen one." Gomer noted.

"Mercenaries?" Umfuni asked.

"Not sure." Colton said. "Could be - could be something else."

They were able to stuff the body into a small opening behind a dumpster - knowing they had little time. They would continue making their way through the compound - but took note of an obstacle. There was a metallic pillbox next to their objective - a large defended position with spotlights and machine guns. Colton cursed - knowing such a threat would make it difficult to remain silent.

They would have to cut through a quonset hut. Gomer had used the barrel of his gun to start peeking the door open...And felt it get stopped by something. He nodded to Colton.

Bucking the door open, the guard that was smoking and leaning against the door was launched forward and ragdolled across the floor. Gomer had broken in, taking a silenced shot a guard who sprung up from a chair, while Umfuni's silenced gun headshot a guard who reached for his own gun. A heavily sleeping guard was none the wiser - Colton silently wading past him...And continuing on forward after slitting his throat with his knife. They emerged through the other side as they were closer - within twenty meters.

"Target should be in one of these buildings. Any intel that can help us figure out the meaning of all this shit will be sufficient." Colton whispered.

As they scanned the situation around the hut - they saw an opportunity to keep moving - but it would result in them being right in-front of the pillbox...

They would find another opening to keep moving - but then, the tide had changed.

Colton had ended up going around a corner - and bumped into a guard - and another two behind him. He grabbed the guard up-close and reached for his silenced pistol - shooting one of the distant ones...but allowing another to take a shot with his own unsilenced pistol - hitting the spine of the meatshield - and receiving a bullet back in the head. The commotion of the shot had allured much interest...and gunfire followed.

"Shit!" Gomer ducked as fire rained down from the pillbox - machine guns boxing them behind a section of concrete wall that seemed to have some limited integrity as the bullets chipped away.

The team suddenly held onto their ears - as a piercing sound came from the loudspeakers of the base.

"Well well~!" Called out the playful voice of General Aurora. "I was waiting for intruders - but not ones able to actually fight so well. Special ops, from the looks of it. Who are ya? E.L.F.? Some communists? Aquileia? Wait - I know; some more Changelings trying to restore their stillborn dream? Ah, maybe you're just some scum that survived in Baltimare and now you're here only because somepony tipped you off about my location..."

"Or maybe you're New Marelanders - would make more sense that this island is in your waters, ehe..."

Colton cursed softly, taking cover as a bullet had nearly torn off his head.

"Tell ya what!" Aurora called out. "Surrender, and this will be easy for you! Give us the information we want, and we will allow you to comfortably live in Canterlot. I swear it - since this isn't my philosophy - it is Her Majesty's - Daybreaker's. I myself would've torn the skin off your bodies while keeping you high on adrenaline, but that's not really an incentive, eheh...So come on, raise your hooves, drop your weapons, yadda yadda - tell us what we need, you get immunity, and you can live comfortably...Come on!...Well - I'm waiting!...No? Wait, seriously?"

"...Hahahaha...Oh wow..." Aurora laughed. "Okay. You're either stupid, or just brave! I like that. Okay then. Don't blame me if this island becomes your grave. Boys and girls - do whatever you want to our guests! Shoot them, burn them, rape them - I really don't care much. I promised to be back in Canterlot by the next general's reception in Manehattan, and this little inspection took my time. And to you my clandestine fellows, toodles~. I'll find out your identities and deliver whatever remains to your families in gift boxes. Ehe~."

The sound of a helicopter engine revving up was heard - indicating that the mare in question had been able to secure her transport. They were unable to peek their head out to see whether or not it ascended - for trying to get too nosy of their environment could prove to be lethal.

"Damn, this bitch doesn't just have a screw loose - her entire fucking foundation is made with cardboard or some shit!" Gomer called out, loading a stripper clip into his rifle.

"Shut up and focus on getting outta here alive!" Colton shouted. "They're gonna surround us if we don't act - we need to cut off our flanks ASAP!" He put his hoof to his radio. "Typhoon - report position!"

"We're on the North side of the compound, engaging the targets!" Typhoon-1 exclaimed. "Orders?!"

"Keep an eye on your flanks!" Colton exclaimed. "Use your mines if you need to! I'm going to radio Station for--"

"CAS!" Gomer yelled.

"An evacuation!" Umfuni exclaimed.

"...I'm going to order a napalm strike on the treelines!" He shouted.

"Oooh shit, u-uh, c-copy!" Typhoon-1 exclaimed.

"Colton!?" Umfuni and Gomer shouted in unison.

"We're not going to stay here longer than we need to, and we can't leave earlier. The rain might not let the napalm burn too long, but it's gonna give us a time window!" He said, and took his radio and dialed it to a different channel. "All-Father! This is Colton, clearance code Sierra-5, Oscar-2, Alpha-9! Requesting a danger-close napalm strike on the treelines surrounding Objective Omega! How copy!?"

"Copy - keep away from the trees. Deploying Super Sabres on your position. ETA for strike five minutes, over and out."

"Five minutes!?" Gomer yelled. "I know that's impressively fast since I don't know in what bumfuck part of the ocean the closest carrier is - but fuck me that's still too long!"

"Then I expect you to do as well in these five minutes as you did in six years in Blackrock, Gomer!" Colton shouted. "What guns are they firing!?" Colton asked.

"Seem to be those "buzzsaw" bitches!" Gomer exclaimed. "Looked like that shit was belt-fed! Why, you're gonna wait for them to run out of ammo or some shit!?"

"...Wait one minute!" Colton exclaimed.

The three males did their best for the minute. Gomer would see an enemy attempting to run around them, and swiftly shot them dead. Umfuni had done the same on his side, a burst from his assault rifle downing three enemies that tried to run and gun towards them. Colton had timed it - one minute.

"Umfuni - we're gonna advance. Pop smoke screens!"

Umfuni acted fast - his underbarrel grenade launcher now housing a smoke grenade. Firing it, he repeated the process four times - and the high-pressure smoke grenades had formed a long white wall.

"Get in there and find cover!" Yelled Colton.

His timing was perfect - for he knew the limits of changeling-made weaponry. He had believed that the crew manning the machine gun was struggling not with the lack of ammo, but the overheating of the barrel. As they tried to swiftly change the barrel - they would spot a small, brown ball land in their elevated pillbox.

The explosion from within the pillbox and the screaming had indicated that the larger danger was dealt with - but there were still other concerns. The three had managed to make it deeper into the compound - swiftly shooting at the targets as they noted them. Umfuni's lack of experience was apparent - as he hadn't noticed a markspony aiming a rifle at him from the corner of a nearby building. This was remedied fast by Gomer - who saw the threat before it hit the Zebra, firing his sniper and reducing the foe's head to mush. Noting this, Zebra turned to Gomer, and gave a thankful nod.

As time passed - a terrible sound pierced the skies; and the night sky had lit up orange. The napalm was delivered - a flurry of fire overtaking the treeline - the heavy rain yet unable to truly put out the thick liquid-based fire. Distant screams were heard even through the sound of gunfire and rain, making Colton smirk. He was right - they tried to flank them through the forest.

They would fight on until they were near the center of the compound, pressed against a shipping container.

"We're gonna figure out what this base is for at the same time while fighting off these bastards!?" Gomer yelled. "Tall order, ain't it!?"

"I'll do the former part myself! You two cover me. Umfuni, smoke that building's front door with tear gas!" He yelled, pointing at the only structure that had been made of concrete - a two storey structure. It contained a large antenna on the roof, and a gas tank on the side. To Colton, this definitely looked like a building of importance - perhaps the headquarters.

Umfuni nodded, loading in his next smoke grenade as he aimed at the front door.

"But we didn't bring any fucking gas masks!" Gomer yelled.

"I'll figure it out. Cover me!" Colton humphed as he wrapped the scarf on his neck around his nose, and sprinted for the building. Gomer nodded, popping out of cover to dump his magazine at the enemy lines, while Umfuni fired another smoke grenade parallel to Colton's position and the enemy's.

Colton busted through the front door - and as luck had it, his anticipations were met. An enemy was struggling to put on his gas mask, and was caught off-guard as the door slammed him against the wall, cracking the mask partially. As it dropped, Colton shoved him against the wall once more - causing lethal blunt trauma. Swiftly, he put on the mask without skipping a beat, and was able to breathe under the gas.

Through the thick and oppressive smoke, he could hear coughing, gagging, and vomiting. He waded through the cloud and rid of his targets as was needed - firing off his bullpup in controlled bursts at whatever armed threat he saw. He hadn't anticipated however the barrel of an assault rifle bump into his mask as he walked through the cloud. With a swift and quick-reflexive movement of his neck, the bullet was only able to shoot only the side of the gasmask and break it apart. Colton had quickly moved behind this target and used his own rifle to choke him, while wrestling him down into the ground. With just enough pressure, he was able to overpower him, and use the rifle to break his enemy's neck, before taking his gasmask for himself. He proceeded to the stairs, where he anticipated his target to be. The smoke hadn't been so potent at that point, so he lifted the mask up to his forehead, entering with his gun trained to check corners.

He was in an empty section, and the room he had reached at the end of the hallway seemed to be a briefing room. However, this was no time for investigation. He saw a duffel bag, and swiftly scooped everything he saw; from papers, to notebooks, to maps, to staplers, and even accidentally a bobblehead of Daybreaker. The bag had weighed a solid ten kilogrammes as it was filled with all the things he was able to sweep off the desk and into the bag.

However - he had felt that the room was somewhat heating up...And the smoke was no longer a shade of grey, but black. He knew that a fire must have started - reacting with the tear gas and whatever flammable factor had occurred on the floor below him...But he was well aware that the building had a gas tank connecting to it from the outside...

Decisively, Colton grabbed the bag, and used the gas mask as protection as he rammed head-first through the glass pane; just in-time as a massive explosion tore off the side of the building. He spun over the dirt - and blinked as he saw he had landed at the foot of an armed hostile, who looked down at him somewhat stunned to have seen such a stunt.

Before the foe could take advantage of Colton's helplessness, a bullet had shot through the back of his head. Swiftly thinking, Colton pulled out his sidearm to fire at the closest two foes who were in the same squad. In the distance, he saw Typhoon team approach; missing one of its four members.

"Okay - our teams linked!" Typhoon 1 exclaimed, noting Gomer and Umfuni who were able to start going around the corner of the building to approach them. "What's next?"

"There were two helicopters on this base - we'll take the other one! Umfuni should be qualified as a pilot."

"So is Typhoon 2." 1 nodded. "Did we get what we needed?" He asked, wincing from a bullet that passed him, and swiftly turning a 180 degrees to return two bullets, eliminating the foe who was a 100 meters away.

"We'll have to hope!" Colton said, patting the duffel bag.

By now, Gomer and Umfuni had run up to the rest of Typhoon. Goomer looked at them, and frowned.

"Damn it! I told you he wouldn't make it...The poor guy. Which one of you's telling his girlfriend!?"

"What? Who?" Typhoon 1 asked.

"You know - the kid! Typhoon 4 - the one who was gonna propose and shit!"

"...Actually I'm right here." Typhoon 4 raised a hoof.

"...Oh. Who died then?"

"Typhoon 3." 1 sighed. "We've used the emergency cremation-spell kit on him, his body should've turned to ash by now."

"May the road from now on be peaceful for him." Umfuni frowned. "Where are the helicopters?"

"Forty meters - over that low fence!" Colton yelled.

"That's going to cut through two enemy positions!" Typhoon 2 yelped.

"Umfuni - smokes!?" Colton asked.

"I'm out!" The Zebra replied.

"We sit here and they're gonna go around and smoke us! Fuck!" Gomer grunted.

"...Okay - we'll do this the hard way. Hunker down." Colton grunted. The others had taken cover behind whatever angle they could've used to prevent an enemy advance.

"...Oh fuck no you're not." Gomer understood immediately what Colton wanted to do the moment the pegasus picked up his radio.

"Evac is impossible anyways - I saw the bodies and some of them got launchers. We'll just shock and awe these fuckers." Colton whispered.

"I'm not ready to become a roast chicken you bastard!" Gomer grunted, taking off the head of three enemies who tried to run up on them from their side, loading in another clip immediately in a manner of seconds.

"All-Father." Colton spoke into the radio. "Sierra-5, Oscar-2, Alpha-9. Two napalm strikes on the east and west portions of the compound. The burning building is friendlies. Do not target the helicopter landing pad to our north, over!"

"This is All-Father; the position of the carrier has changed - the ETA will be only two minutes...But your request is danger close and our pilots are going to have to work at night. If the napalm's burned some of the power lines, there may be no visibility on the target itself. Please confirm, over."

"Rather get burned than captured, All-Father. Send it!"

"...Copy that, the pilots will do their best. Over."

"...Oh fuck." Gomer sighed. "I didn't think I'd live long enough to have napalm called on me. Colton, you fucking owe me!"

"Stop whining! We're gonna have to make a dash for the helos as soon as those bombs drop!" Colton yelled. He saw the helmet of an enemy poke through the side, and shot the wall just a little behind it, the penetration of his weapon enough to kill the enemy attempting to use a decoy, while using sheet metal as cover. For the next two minutes, the six did their best - but those minutes were straining, foes pouring at them through various angles and openings.

"Out of ammo!" Typhoon 1 yelled as he pulled out his pistol.

"Last stripper!" Gomer yelled, putting in the last stripper clip into his sniper.

"Last magazine, no more grenades!" Umfuni yelled.

"Havin' a pity contest!?" Typhoon 4 exclaimed. "I've run out of ammo like a minute ago but was to embarrassed to admit it! Last handgun mag!"

"...Fuck! Everyone, hit the deck!" Colton yelled as loud as he could - for the sky was pierced with a most terrible sound. The six all hit the dirt with their faces, not caring as they kissed the mud - for that was vastly preferable to what was happening to those out in the open. Orange had engulfed the camp, and so did screams. Earlier, the rain had made it cold and damp...Now it was hot and sweltering. Colton looked around - and saw that it was as he intended; a path was made, and the sides of this path were burning. He saw silhouettes of burning creatures as they stumbled. But he had no time to reflect on the horror. He grabbed Umfuni and raised him onto his feet, yelling for the others to get up.

The six would run - the only bullets fired at them were stray, and their accuracy dampened by the fire and smoke. The helicopter was in sight - both Gomer and Typhoon 2 made a dash to get to the cockpit as fast as they could. However, as they ran - they had failed to account for the hazards.

The fire had spread to a crate containing a hooful of artillery shells.

The wood of the exploding crate split into nearly a hundred splinters - but the metal of the shells was the real danger. Umfuni barely had time to react as a piece of metal had flown and hit him right in the flank. The force of the explosion had knocked the nearby victims - Umfuni, Colton, and Typhoon 1 - aside. Colton was thrown and was forced to roll over the dirt, while Typhoon 1 regained his footing quickly.

Umfuni however, was forced to fly straight into the wall of burning napalm.

He wasn't launched in deep into the fire - but in a daze, shock, and concussion, he was unable to stop his body from being partially submerged in the napalm. He regained consciousness quickly, screaming as he felt fire overtake his side. He tried to roll - but the shrapnel in his stomach had ensured it would wedge the metal into his organs. He did his best to put it out - but his saving grace came as Colton immediately ran over and started to remove the oxygen from the fire, swiftly wrapping it in a fabric.

"Shit, Umfuni - stay with me!" Colton yelled. He made Umfuni drape one hoof over his neck, as he lifted the Zebra up. Joined by Typhoon 1, they swiftly carried him into the helicopter - which was already spinning up.

"Fuck!" Gomer yelled as he leapt out of the helicopter to start helping Umfuni. "Shit! Shit - hey! Four!" Gomer shouted at Typhoon 4. "Help him!" He exclaimed, hoisting the wounded Zebra into the interior.

"Shit!" Typhoon four yelled. "Okay - just keep the helicopter stable! Hey, close the fucking doors!"

As the helicopter lifted off, the flames began to consume the rest of the compound. Umfuni grunted in pain, hyperventilating and screaming. Typhoon Four produced his first aid kit and started to do what he could.

"I'm here! Umi, I'm here!" Colton yelled, holding the Zebra's hoof. "Shit, just hang on! Just hang on! Hey - no! Don't close your eyes, don't--"

***

Colton looked down at the ground as he stood against the door. He was a wreck - haven't spoken a single word since leaving the carrier's hospital. He was completely silent and unapproachable, lost in his own regret, worry, and self-loathing.

The metallic door opened, a stallion in a doctor's coat had exited. "...You're the leader of his squad, right?" The doctor asked.

"...Yeah."

"...What's the matter?"

"...It was my fault. I...I shouldn't have called the strike. If I didn't, then...Then that wouldn't have happened."

The doctor blinked at him, and smiled softly. "...You know, it's normal for leaders to feel sorrow and regret over the death of their subordinate - the soldiers that trust their orders - that they will bring the squad both success and safety."

"..."

"But seeing a leader feel sorrow over the fact that his subordinate was lightly injured and with only a projected two weeks in hospital?" The doctor laughed. "The shrapnel plugged his body from blood loss nicely, and the burns didn't burn in deep. Are you sure you're black ops? You feel a bit too soft-hearted."

Colton sighed. "He will have burns on the side of his body - we're only lucky they missed his face. And that scar from the shrapnel will stay. I...I let my own subordinate get maimed. A third time..."

The doctor blinked at him, and smiled. "Ah - I think I know who you're talking about. A colleague working in the SIB told me about a stallion...First time his hooves were burned, and the second time - just a week or so ago, one of those hooves was lost and a prosthetic system was installed. And he told me that both times he saw a commander leaning against the door surgery room brooding. Is this an effective way to clear your head?"

"I sure as tartarus don't know what I should be doing..." Colton sighed.

The doctor put a hoof on his shoulder. "...You can start by keeping him company. A patient's worst is when he's bed-ridden and totally alone." He smiled. "It's not so apparent until you experience it yourself." He said, pointing to a scar around his own neck. "After hospitals became targets for bombs...many doctors understand this."

Colton looked at him for a long few seconds...And nodded. He stepped through the door the doctor stepped out of.

Inside, he saw Umfuni - the floor covered in blood...The Zebra had several bandages and wound dressings, and the sides of his body were covered in a very thick layer of ointment.

And despite the fact that the Zebra looked at the stallion who's decisions led to this terrible injury...

Umi was able to grin.

"...Umfuni, I--" Colton frowned.

"You can begin by shuffling." The Zebra smiled, nodding over to a deck of cards on the nearby table. "And prepare to lose."

"Hmph." Colton pulled up a stool. "You're pretty happy for being bed-ridden for the next few weeks."

"There's a good-looking nurse who's going to be tending to me." Umfuni smiled.

"Eh? I didn't see any mare nurses on this carrier."

"Just shut up and deal already."