As the dust and smoke began to settle, I finally came to, and tried to look around. The world was a confusing mess of dust and rubble that was still landing all over the place. My eyes adjusted to what was going on with a lack of urgency. I groaned as I tried to get up, discovering I was able to get to my hooves with minimal difficulty. Around me the carnage and fire of war continued, with gunfire continuing to rage. Admittedly, less of it than before, but still a lot more than your average pony would be comfortable with.

I checked I had everything, and then began to move forward again. I noticed the tanks had moved up once again, but I was now on the wrong side of the battlefield. I heard a unicorn soldier shouting to his soldiers. "Fortune smiles upon us this day! Today, we lay waste to the Pegasus capital! FORWARD!"

A loud cheer sounded as soldiers poured forward from their hiding spots. I knew my chances of survival were directly linked to me being able to link up with them. I moved out of cover and tried to get across, but then spotted masses of rubble was blocking my way. I charged forward as best I could, but was soon forced back by rubble and some flames. I didn't fancy trying to run through all of that.

So I had to find another way around. I backed up, and ran another way to try and get out of the fire and smoke of the battlefield. This meant I was forced to backtrack through the rubble, and eventually found my way round a portion of the collapsed tower that Izzy and I had helped to blow up. We had sure done a good job there, but it was now making our advance very difficult.

I stopped behind some rubble as I heard the tanks move up once more, their cannons blazing and their machine guns thundering in a ceaseless barrage of sound and fury, signifying... something? It was a little hard to think of something profound when you're trying not to get your head blown to bits by enemy fire.

The fact that our allied vehicles were broadcasting loud slogans towards the enemy didn't help matters, to be honest, contributing to the overall noise pollution. This got annoying after a period.

"Citizens of Zephyr Heights! A ring of steel surrounds your rotten city! We will crush all who dare to resist the will of the Unicorn army! Abandon your posts! Abandon your homes! Abandon all hope! GLORY TO THE UNION!"

Great. Somepony's been playing World at War a bit too much. I then noticed my way back was blocked by fire and smoke, so falling back that way wasn't an option anymore. I sighed, and then moved onwards into the city, as I couldn't fall back to my allies.

I knew going in on my own was risky, but I didn't really have a choice in the matter. If given a route that gave me a chance of survival, I was going to take it.

I knew the others were still moving up (as I could still hear them), but our attack still depended on the others. I continued to gallop towards some streets, which seemed oddly undefended. Perhaps Gulfstream had concentrated much of his defences on that one location and wasn't going to fortify the other areas? If so, that seems like a rather odd decision, as it leaves you open in other locations. Then again, I got the impression he wasn't the most sane of ponies, so that would probably explain it too.

As I advanced into the city, I realised I was on my own. There was no backup coming for me, and I would have to fight on my own and avoid getting killed. Hopefully playing Call of Pony prepared me for this sort of thing.

I hid behind a box and unslung the weapon I'd been given to check it was loaded and ready to fire. Single shot, five round clip, long barrel. Clearly some sort of rifle, based on the design.

Chaos suddenly erupted in front of my position, and I looked forward to see movement and shouting. Oh crap. Defenders. Just my luck.

Several soldiers in pegasus insignia (and with wings no less) dashed round a corner, hauling supplies. With them was some sort of tractor, pulling an artillery piece. This surprised me. Surely all this firepower to take out one pony is a bit excessive, right?

I then noticed they were going the opposite direction to me, and heading into the city instead of away from it. This surprised me. Surely they'd want to go towards the enemy rather than away from it?

Unless somehow they were switching sides! That was always a possibility.

I moved up at a gradual distance, just in case they were following me instead and moving ahead to throw me off the scent. But as I followed, I heard them speaking. They were talking about the Queen and the Princesses in positive tones. Somepony following Gulfstream wouldn't do that!

I thought his whole thing was getting rid of the Queen and her daughters!

I then ran past an abandoned radio, and listened to it. I could hear a certain irate General on the other end.

"You fools! What do I pay you lot for if you can't even shoot a gun or do your jobs? You shall all face reprisals for this! EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU!"

Yikes. That was a lot to take in. The radio then switched to another channel.

"The unicorns are breaking through!"

"They're going to fry our brains!"

"Where is our air support?"

"We're getting no help out here! Faust has abandoned us!"

"RETREAT!"

Sounds like it was the line that was going to buckle after all. This was going better than I thought.

Once the coast was a bit more clear, I pushed forward to the next obvious bit of cover, and hid next to a bunch of televisions in a shop. These televisions were broadcasting a message repeatedly, one recorded by Pipp. That must have been her mission then!

"You have suffered under tyranny and oppression for long enough! It is time for the light of hope and peace to return! We are here to free you from Gulfstream's terror! So rise up, and help us overthrow him!"

Pipp's speech had seemingly done it. It had helped turn the enemy to our side! I nodded and pushed forward, with my weapon now ready to be used.

I soon arrived in some sort of plaza, where a large encampment of heavy weapons was placed. They were shelling a building on the other side of the plaza, which had the word Crandall's on the top. So, the enemy had turned a store into a fortress. That's creative.

I dived into cover and looked over, before noticing that fellow soldiers were still firing. Another group of soldiers hid behind sandbags and walls, as if waiting to receive a go order.

"Where did you come from?" one of the soldiers asked.

I glanced over. "Maretime Bay, originally."

The soldier looked stunned. "We're getting help from an earth pony?"

"Look, I could always leave if that'd suit you better," I said. "Now then, what's the plan."

The soldier directed me along the lines to the commanding officer, who was directing the shelling of the building. "Our soldiers cannot get past with that nest of machine guns blocking the way," she said. "We need to clear that lot out and destroy the buildings before we can advance. We need every weapon we can get, so we could do with your help."

I nodded. "I'll join the assault if need be."

"Very good. Didn't expect this much from a smallbrain but needs must when Tirek drives."

I chose to ignore the insult, and positioned myself behind some sandbags, waiting for the order to fire.

The officer tensed up. "Prepare to lay down suppressing fire!"

The soldiers on the guns tensed up themselves, awaiting the order.

"Load!"

The shells were loaded, the guns still sitting there even as weapons fire was returned at them by the enemy. I hid as best I could as I knew sandbags were a very effective defence against bullets, but not always shells.

"Focus your fire on the entrenchment down there!" shouted the officer. "Heavy guns and emplaced MG position!"

Several of the guns were then turned to face that spot.

"AIM!"

Suddenly, a burst of machine gun fire roared our way, and one of the gunners was taken down.

"Shit! WE HAVE A PONY DOWN!"

And just our luck, it was the gunner. Great. Without hesitating, I hopped out of my position and took my position at the gunner's seat, sitting there with a grim look on my face.

"Time to see what this gun can do," I said to myself.

The officer looked at us. "FIRE!"

Author's Note

Gulfstream's threat is an allusion to the violence used against deserters from the Wehrmacht in WW2-a common sight when advancing into Germany was bodies strung from telegraph poles with messages stating they were cowards hung around their necks. It was also not unheard of for the SS to shell towns that had surrendered, 'punishing' the inhabitants.

The last engagement is based on a number of different historical encounters, but mostly inspired by assaults on French settlements during Operation Cobra, as many towns had been turned into effective fortresses.

Next time; closer to the core!