"Keep them back!"

Xeron covered in blood and sand hid behind a wall rumble with his standard issue marksman rifle in both hands, he had been here with his fellow defenders holding outpost Delta. His comrades opened fire at the marching pony force, despite their primitive equipment of heavy gold armor and basic spears and shields they had made a huge advancement upon them.

They had quite literally caught them with their pants down for a lack of better words.

"Xeron!" Turning to his commanding officer the zebra froze slightly at the sight before him, the old Jackal had his arm blown off from the blast and part of his face was exposed including his right eye yet he was still barking at him. "Oi stop staring and return fire already! Hold this point!"

"Yes sir!" The Zebra lifted himself up back and began to lay down a firing line of 5.56 rounds at the marching attackers.

Despite the advanced firepower they held the pony attacker had their unicorns cast a series of bubble shields to protect them from the small arms fire.

"Sir they're not going down we need more firepower!" A soldier beside Xeron spoke out while the combat medic tended to the officer.

"Then get to work! I ain't your mama here dog! Get that damned launcher and use it already!" The officer ordered pointing to a dead explosives specialist with a missile launcher.

"But sir they have magic users out there! They'll fry me the moment I run out to get it!"

The old veteran didn't get a moment to start chewing out the young recruit for disobeying his orders, Xeron on the other hand ran from behind cover and bolted to the launcher. Almost right away a sharp pain hit the back of his knee as he stumbled down, biting his tongue the zebra picked up the launcher and took aim at the approaching line.

Launching a missile at the line the magical shields couldn't withstand the impact of the blast causing those closest to the initial explosion to become a shower of blood and gore. Those that survived had their shields broken and were met with armor-piercing rounds that shredded through their gold shields and armor. However there was no time for celebration for another row quickly took the former's place, Xeron pushed himself up where he went wide-eyed at the sight of his leg.

For it was two feet away from his body...

Looking back up at the approaching force Xeron kept biting through the pain and reached for another missile only to feel the impact of another magical attack hit the launcher from his arms. Some of the unicorns in the line who were not providing shields were firing magical projectiles at the defenders including the wounded zebra.

One of the unicorns charged their horn to finish off Xeron who was completely exposed in the open, upon firing the Zebra lifted his arms to hopefully protect himself from the impact. This wasn't the result for the impact never hit his arms rather it hit something else... something stronger than basic combat armor.

Flinching the Zebra looked up and gasped at the sight of a giant being clad in metal armor while wielding a massive weapon, it's shoulder pad that took the hit smoked for a moment while the wearer gave a low chuckle.

"I can get used to this," The strange helm of the armored savior looked toward the wounded defender. "Yo. You good stripes?"

Xeron nodded slightly while the armored savior chuckled.

"Sweet don't worry stripes we'll get patched up in no time," The muffled voice of the savior spoke followed by others of similar armored beings in the same sand camo as Xeron had on his own.

"Hit it, brother!" One of the armored beings order while the savior laughed leveling the massive multi-barrel weapon in his hands to the line.

"FINALLY! Been inching to use this thing!"

(Moments prior)

-If you wish here is some music-

-I find it fitting for this-

"Alright, ladies! This is it!" Sergeant Gage spoke while moving down the path in the vertibird cabin they all were in. "A bunch of hoof lickers have come into our homeland yet again expecting another easy fight... well we're not going to make it easy for them again are we!"

"NO SIR!"

"So what are we going to do about that?"

"SHOW THEM HELL!"

"Damn right, we are! In 30 seconds were going to deploy and show off these suits of T-51F power armor a certain Courier has given us the privilege of using! Because we are going to use these suits and beautiful tools of death to turn these damn horses into glue if they don't get the fuck off our lawn! To the first one to step on the eastern badland border!"

"TO THE FIRST!" The men and women in power armor roared back while the commander nodded putting on the power armor and stepping into an empty deployment slot.

The red light in the cabin flashed for a moment pier to turn green and the panels under their armored feet opened the only thing keeping them up is the deployment harnesses.

"GREEN LIGHT LADIES DROP!"

Right away the power armored troopers fell down onto the ruined line of attacking troops, and Gage right away crushed a pony's helmet with his armored fist. Looking at his hand the zebra within smiled finally realizing the power these suits of 'T-51f' possessed gathering himself he raised his Laser rifle up.

"Move up ladies!" His helmet's external speakers order while the second power armor group pushed forward while the first stayed behind at outpost delta to remain on the defensive while groups two and three provided a counterattack from the shock assault.

This was followed by a group of securitron robots assisting the power armor troops, while in the air the vertibird although their main purpose was to be troop transports had their gunners provide covering fire to deal with any stragglers that tried to make a break away from the breach into the western badlands.

At the spearhead of group one stood the one responsible for the advancement in the development of all this advanced technology. ED-E sent bursts of energy at the ponies who attempted to continue with the charge despite the reinforcements only to be turned into grey ash. Six was the only one not in a set of power armor rather after he gave the entire western badland's a kick start to it's technology the courier had thought it fitting to give his armor a much-needed upgrade.

His 'Superior' Riot gear had new armor plates while not sacrificing his ability to move freely, along with adding a saturnite armor weave to his duster he added a commanding unit module within his helmet that connected with his implants and pip-boy to provide real-time battle updates with his troops and send orders plus receive messages via personal links. Even added a new coat of paint to the faded suit followed by him replacing the '101' with a freshly added '06' and finally placing bloodnap on his shoulder for quicker use.

Like many of the troops, he was fighting alongside with he was eager to try out his new equipment despite it just being an upgraded version of old pre-war equipment. Loading in custom AP 5.56 rounds into the 'All-American' rifle he got in that ghoul-infested vault back in the Mojave felt the rush of battle once again and it made him smile.

"PUSH THEM BACK!" Six ordered while the troops and robots charged alongside him.

Not knowing their actions were being witnessed by other powers.

(Cantorlot)

All within the war court chambers watched the battle for the battles progressed through a magical viewing spell. Celestia and Twilight watched with hate written all over their faces, the solar princess raised her hand to the commander.

"I am giving authorizing the use of the solar canon to be fired once again to target their countercharge," Celestia ordered sun flare.

"Yes princess," The pony nodded while going over to allow access to the weapon again, that was when Luna barged into the massive chamber out of breath.

Looking at the magical image before her she shook her head horrified at what she was seeing before her, she was practically flying over to her sister.

"Tia! Stop this! We swore to never use these kinds of weapons since Mother's death! You know what you could bring if you use them again!" Luna warned while Celestia glared at her sister.

"I will use all that is necessary into recovering Spike from the western badlands,"

Luna looked at her sister with fear in her eyes at what her sister was doing.

"Sister I understand your vexation but... the solar cannon? Celestia. Please we can resolve this peacefully,"

"Any form of peace died the moment they took my Spike!" Twilight interrupted to which Luna turned to Twilight who held the same look of rage that Celestia had. Looking back at the image she watched as the solar cannon was charging up before her very eyes causing her to turn back.

"SISTER PLEASE THIS IS MADNESS!" Luna pleaded with her sister who was not having it with her younger sibling.

"Madness?! MADNESS! LUNA THESE... THESE... BARBARIANS HAVE TAKEN SPIKE OUR FRIEND AFTER SLAUGHTERING COUNTLESS INNOCENT PONIES! THIS ISN'T MADNESS BUT RETRIBUTION!" Celestia rose up from her seat. "I SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS THE MOMENT THAT 'SIX' MONSTER STARTED KILLING MY LITTLE PONIES! FIRE THE SOLAR CANNON!"

Luna took a few steps back stared at her sister for a long moment then turned to the image and back to her sister wide-eyed before speaking.

"I don't even know who you are," Luna turned away and walked out of the chamber, Celestia scoffed at her little sister's behavior and sat back down.

"Flare! Why hasn't the cannon been fired yet!"

"Still charging your grace it will be ready in a few moments," Spoke the pony, Celestia held her head while staring at the image before her while the thoughts in her mind raced.

'This is for the betterment of Equestria... right?'

Her thoughts were stopped as a bulter walked up with a tray having a wine bottle and glass resting on top of it.

"Your wine ma'am," The butler announced while Celestia without a second thought grabbed the wine and almost chugged it while the butler opened his left eye.

"Pour me another glass," Celestia ordered while the butler didn't hesitate to pour her another, all the while Celestia didn't notice the tattoo on the butler's wrist neatly hidden under his sleeve and glove.

(Back at the badland)

"FIRST!" One of the powered armor troopers announced making it through the breach into eastern badland territory.

"Roland you and the rest of the second squad that made past take up defensive positions until the rest of the countercharge!" Gage ordered over the radio to which the power armored soldier took a knee while did two others.

"Yes sir!" As they were ordered the three opened fire along with a securitron robot that was able to keep up with them.

"Sir Six part of team two has made it past the breach what are our orders once the rest make it past the point,"

"We dig in,"

"Sir?"

"Trust me sergeant I have a plan,"

Roland and his fellow teammates kept firing at the line, yet something felt off Roland the first to make it past was also the first to stop firing and figure out what was giving him a bad feeling. Looking up the zebra froze upon seeing the massive cannon now in clear view floating up in the sky starting to glow causing him to drop his weapon, quickly he turned on his radio.

"SECOND AND THIRD SQUAD TAKE COVER BEHIND THE WALL NOW! THE CANNON IS GOING TO FIRE!"

"Say again Roland-!"

"TAKE COVER!" His last words echoed through the radio while the pure solar magical energy made quick work of the armor plating around the powered endoskeleton around the soldier's bodies.

"ROLAND!" Gage roared while Six grabbed the power-armored back of the sergeant and pulled him back throwing the massive bulk of a soldier onto the ground before the beam sliced past the gap.

The beam was so hot that even though they were all out of the way the heat cooked their armor and turned the surrounding ground to glass around the breach. Baffled at what just happened Six watched as the beam evaporated, turning the corner he looked up seeing the cannon in the sky.

'Fuck! I miscalculated the recharge of that thing! But the size and material of that thing had to account for... wait... I hate magic,'

He was hoping to get a foothold before going with his plan.

"Amelia, is she ready?" Six asked over the radio to which the android responded back.

"Payload is ready and willing darling... you and boys settled in yet?"

"Change of plans Amelia. That cannon fired sooner than I had expected we wouldn't be taking any ground you're going to have to go with plan B,"

"Roll out the red carpet?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Six answered back.

"Plan B?" One of the power armored troops asked slightly confused to Six.

"Always had backup plans if necessary kid... now watch this," Six pointed while the troops on Six side of the breach looked up to see a certain plane slowly lower itself down slightly just barely into view. "Roll the red carpet, Amelia,"

...

"Wait did she call you darling?"

"Uhhhhhhhh,"

(On the lady)

Amelia smiled at the controls while flipping the payload switches, while the lady was on autopilot the android was quickly setting the target data to the payload that the massive plane was currently holding well over a few hundred pounds of explosives. While dialing in the data she realized something...

There was no music.

Usually, Six would have something playing but sadly he wasn't in the lady so as the machine was processing the data she quickly reached to the draw full of holotapes with old pre-war music still burnt on them. Her fingers quickly combed the deck until she stopped at one and looked at it.

"Heard Six sing this one in the shower,"

"I can work with this,"

Looking at the targeting system one last time she grinned while having her hand on the release dial.

"Ka-Boom,"

With one move of the wrist and the bomb bay doors flew open founded by hundreds of bombs dropping down upon the attacking force below.

(Below)

"Commander! We have orders to use the blessed solar cannon once again from Princess Celestia!" The message spoke to the commander who gave a smirk and pointed to the breach.

"Have the crews of the airships possess the cannon there at that point those fools think their wall will shield them! Ha! Let's show them the folly in their judgment," The commander ordered to which the messager saluted and ran off to relay the order.

The commander's smile faded at the sound of a strange noise, confused he looked up seeing something pass over the ground they were currently occupying. If it wasn't for the sun being right over their heads he could have made out what it was but from what he could guess it was some sort of bird followed by something strange falling down behind it.

'Wait a minute,'

At first, came the sound, almost like the sky was screaming, and then came the fire.

Author's Note

Alright!

A slight change of plans from what I had imagined to have a scene for Starlight talking with Luna about her findings but due to the whole war room scene I have to move it to another part.

Still hope this was a good chapter with battle and counter-attack, don't worry this arch is nowhere from being done the previous part was just the intro to set the groundwork.

Btw I didn't mean to base the solar cannon on the (not true) star wars movie with the whole death star cannon but rather I had inspiration form an old Steampunk movie I saw once can't remember the name of it.

So here's to the next chapter where Flash Sentry is going to make himself known and something huge is going to go down I promise you that. Also appreciate the names suggestions for the faction and I think I may have something.

(U.S.F.E)-I'll let you guys guess the name.

And for a bonus here's the image that I based Six's new 'superior riot gear' off of:

Thank you all for being so patient with me!