The Everfree forest was a strange and terrifying place to most of Equestria, especially to those living right on its door step in Ponyville. It was a place that seemed to violate many of the laws of the world, the weather would act on its own and change seemingly at random, animals would fend for themselves without the aid of anypony, and worst of all were the beast that lurked beyond the tree line.

From packs of timberwolves to mighty manticores, these creatures were what kept most ponies away, and this was perfectly fine for the creatures of the Everfree as they would almost never leave the forest without being provoked first.

This is why when a roar filled the air one faithful night followed by the sounds of twisting metal and a putrid stench, nopony went to investigate hoping that the source would keep to itself.

It has been 20 years since the aliens successfully concurred earth. Which brought massive breakthroughs in science, from cures to many of the worst genetic conditions plaguing humanity, to highly effective power generation that can allow for everyone to have access to electricity. It all seemed to be a golden age of humanity brought to them by the Elders.

If only that was the whole story...

Everyone thought that the abductions ended after the invasion. However they did not the Elders, or to be more accurate, their advent coalition just had to be more subtle but they were still kidnapping people almost every day, and now they even got the luxury of picking those with ideal genetics for whatever experiment they were forced to participate in.

However not all hope is lost resistance factions have formed all over the world, still trying to fight off the aliens and take back their home. And serving as the main fighting force of the resistance are four main factions.

The first is the Reapers, a group specializing in stealth and hunting their targets the, they prefer to fight at range making great use of their marksmanship, stealth, and knowledge of setting up traps. They also have a taste for eating many of the alien species that make up the advent forces as well as forbidding the use of any technology developed by the aliens or Advent.

Second is the Templars, a cult who believes that psionic energy flows through the earth and that the Elders have come to steal it all. All of their members are psionic to some degree and use specialized gauntlets to aid them in shaping their psionic powers from blades, to shields and even into what can be described as a psionic lighting rod.

Third are the Skirmishers, this group consists entirely of hybrids, the most used species in the fighting force of the Advent coalition who were either cloned from an existing hybrid, or were formerly human before being transformed through the use of alien DNA. The Skirmishers have been freed from their mid control inflicted onto them by advent and now seek to free their other hybrid brothers and sisters, weather it be through removing the chip that is used to mind control them, or through death. The Skirmishers specialise in close-quarters combat using extensive use of grappling hooks, as well as compact weapons and blades to get in close with their enemy.

Finally there is XCOM, the group uniting these separate factions into a cohesive fighting force. Formed from the remnants of the original XCOM, which was a international organisation formed to protect against alien threats. The new XCOM serves as the main thorn in the side of Advent, as they have shown time and again their ability to adapt to whatever is thrown at them as a result of their expert researchers and engineers, as well as their soldiers consisting of members from the other three main resistance factions, as well as those that they have trained on their own.

Together they are taking the fight to advent and the elders, with the ultimate goal to drive them off world, but right now the objective is to stop the avatar project, no one knows what it is and many don't even know it exists even those within Advent, but what is known is that if it is completed it will spell doom for the resistance and the war will be lost.

A grope of eight heavily armed and armoured individuals all sat in silence in the dimly lit skyranger, five of them were XCOMs home grown operatives while the other three were members of the other three main resistance groups. It was a little cramped for most of their linking due to the additional two members that were coming along for this mission instead of the standard six person team, but they were soldiers and this was far from the worst thing any of them have experienced so none showed any signs of complaint.

The silence was broken when the piolet called out from the front of the craft "fifteen minutes from the drop point."

"So …. could anyone tell me why this is an eight person mission instead of the usual six?" a woman with a Spanish accent asked while puffing away on a cigar. "Don't get me wrong I'm all for more help in the field but I want to know before I go getting exited." This was Wolfmother a veteran of XCOM, working for the organisation even before the invasion, she was the teams combat engineer and hacker. She was also possibly one of the most laid back human beings to ever exist as you would never find her without one of two things, a cigar or a bottle of alcohol but more often than not she would have both.

"Of course you didn't listen to the briefing." the man sitting directly opposite of her said with a exasperated sigh as he dropped his head low, but a slight chuckle could be heard from him soon after. This was Stinger the highest ranking member and leader of the squad as well as its resident ranger. Instead of the standard XCOM plate armour he wore an armoured suite that was mostly made of what looked to be snake skin, he and the man next to him, his best friend, known as Hat Trick were also equipped with much more unique weapons then the rest of the squad as they had a much more sleek and elegant design to them. Both the weapons and the suite were trophies taken from some of the tougher enemies they had faced. Stingers sword and shotgun as well as Hat Tricks rifle were taken from the chosen assassin and hunter respectively, while the suite was made from the corpse of an escaped test subject known as the viper king.

"Well sorry but you all know I like to nap on the skyranger so it isn't my fault no one woke me up." Wolfmother said in a voice of mock irritation.

"Basically we are going to blow up and retrieve some data from a heavily guarded advent black sight, but not necessarily in that order." Hat Trick chirped up answering Wolfmother's original question.

"Ok, but aren't all black sights heavily guarded?" Wolfmother continued. "Why the extra meat on this one?"

"The Jailers have put considerably more recourses into defending this sight than all of the others." Fatal, the lone hybrid and Skirmisher replied. She wore modified Advent troop armour having several pieces removed from the arms and the replacement parts being bound by cloth wrapping, and instead of a helmet she wore a leather aviators hat, complete with a pair of white goggles that didn't actually fit over her large eyes so she instead opted to wear them on her head.

"Hmm.... Fifty bucks says it's some genetic monster." Wolfmother said holding up fifty dollars.

Hat Trick immediately perked up at this "I'll take that bet, I say it's a bunch a powerful psionics that they have locked up." he said holding up his own fifty dollars.

Stinger glanced up at the two with a slight smirk, while fatal was enraptured with the idea of gimbaling for the first time as she hoped it would unlock some memories from before she was a hybrid. The both decided to join in with Stinger saying that it was some kind of advanced robotics factory, and Fatal betting that the facility had something to do with portals as she remembered something like them being used in a few Advent facilities before she was freed.

"Anyone else want in?" Wolfmother called out.

"I wish to abstain." Said Raven from the corner of the skyranger not even looking away from her weapon as she spoke, she wore the standard Reaper uniform complete with the gas mask that covered her face, however she did leave one of her arms exposed showing a full sleeve tattoo depicting earth near the shoulder and various constellation descending down her arm.

Everyone soon found their eyes locked onto her as it was fairly rare for her to speak out unless being directly spoken to.

Stinger was the first to regain his composure, "you sure?" he began "This pots getting fairly big."

Raven then looked up from her weapon deeming that it was indeed in top condition, "I am positive, but thank you for the offer."

"Okay then, Guardian you in?" Wolfmother said looking to the woman to her immediate right.

Guardian was the teams combat medic and had saved the squad more time then any of them could count. But ever since operation flying rain, a mission to destroy an Advent black sight that turned out to be particularly bloody on XCOMs side, she had been particularly distant with everyone except the only other survivor of that mission, and even then it wasn't much better.

Guardian gave a defeated sigh and pulled out fifty dollars "Fine, I say it's just a regular black sight with a bit more security."

Wolfmother hesitated a bit before taking the money. "Hey you don't have to paly if you don't want to." she said softly.

Guardian looked up at her with a cold expression on her face, only made worse by her eyes being hidden by her aviator sun glasses, hiding any emotion in her eyes. "No it's fine just take my money." She said pushing the bills into Wolfmother hand.

This action quickly brought down the mood, however Hat Trick knew what to do in order to bring it back up. "Hey Demon how about you?"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP STORMYS TEACHING ME SHIT!" Shouted the squads resident foul mouthed Psi operative Demon, who is noted by many of the templars that she has met that she should capable of great feats of psionics if she focused herself to her training. Unfortunately for them and everyone in her immediate vicinity that she does not consider a friend, she is not the most stable of individuals and as such struggles to keep her powers focused enough to use them to her true potential. However her raw power does make up for this in some regards.

Sat directly across from her was Stormwalker, the only other survivor of operation flying rain, guiding her in meditation. Stormwalker was the squads templar, as well as being an enigma as not even the templars know who he is. Apparently he just showed up to one of their camps one day, beat the guards in combat, and then asked to be trained. After confirming that he was not with advent by checking for any form of mind control or means of communication to outside sources, the Templars accepted him into their ranks. But this did not clear up the mystery surrounding as no one ever saw his face and no one knows his real name, Stormwalker is all he has ever gone by.

A moment of silence passed after Demon shout as she continued to meditate. "Wow, that was awesome!" She shouted looking up at Stormwalker.

"What was awesome?" asked Hat Trick thoroughly confused as to what was going on.

"Stormy showed me this thing that let us check out the outside of the base ahead of time, it was so fucking cool!" Demon answered, gesticulating wildly as she spoke.

Stinger perked up at the mention of the two them doing reconnaissance. "Any thing we should know?" he asked hoping this would help them complete the mission, and more importantly survive.

Stormwalker was the one to answer his question. "There was at one point a very strong psionic presence near the centre of the facility, however it is no longer present and we could only detect traces of its signature. Other that that there was nothing else of note that has not already been covered in the briefing,"

At the mention of psionics Hat Trick and Fatal had smiles grow on their faces, as that could hint to either of their theories being true and them winning the bet. Singer lamented the lack of anything immediately useful so instead he decided to try and keep the mood light. "Hey Wolfmother can I change my bet?" He asked. "Robot factory is looking less likely."

Wolfmother laughed at his words before denying the change of bet. Demon on the other hand was practically jumping out of her seat upon hearing the word bet. "Oo are we betting on what's in there? Because I bet there doing something to buff up the sectoids."

Wolfmother turned her attention to Demon. "A bit specific but alright hand over fifty bucks."

Demons grin quickly turned to a frown and then to a sheepish smile. "How about thirty bucks and drinks on me for the rest of the day for the winner?"

All the betters turned to look at each other and silently came to the agreement that this was an adequate compromise, and with that the bets were set with 280 dollars and drinks for the night on the table.

Suddenly the piolet shouted "Two minutes from drop, get ready people." With those words the cabin lights shifted from white to red signalling everyone to get up and retrieve their weapons and for Wolfmother to stow away the betting money in one of the skyrangers cargo compartments.

So far the mission was going well, Stinger, Fatal, and Raven have been able to isolate and eliminate small groups of hostiles with relative ease while not setting of the bases alarms, Demon had even managed to mind control an advent stun lancer for added support. However now the team reached a road block, a massive group of hostiles were guarding the entrance to the base so things were going to have to go loud. Everyone moved to encircle the enemies, and after that was complete all hell broke loose. Wolfmother sent her gremlin drone, who she affectionately called joule, to release a massive discharge of electricity in the centre of the group destroying an Advent Mec and heavily damaging a muton and some troopers. All of the hostiles began to move for cover but could not reach it in time as they were ripped apart by weapons fire from unseen positions, the archon tried to fly into the air in an attempt to spot the squad but it only made it half way when Hat Trick took its head off with a precise shot.

The last few troopers along with two vipers and a sectoid were huddles around cover desperately searching for their foes when Demons mind controlled stun lancer raced forward towards them, the lancer was then promptly ripped to shreds by the combination of mag rifle slugs and plasma fire, but it provided the distraction Stormwalker needed to get in close and unleash a psionic storm, killing the remaining hostiles.

With combat over the teams ear pieces crackled to life, relaying a message from Central. "Menace 1-5, you've got hostile interceptors inbound on your position, grab that data, plant the X-4 charges and get the hell out of there."

"Affirmative Central." Stinger replied. "Wolfmother, guardian you two go and secure the data. Hat Trick, Fatal you two secure the evac sight, the rest of us will set the charges."

And with that the team split up, Hat trick and Fatal stayed outside throwing down blue flairs to signal for firebrand to come and pick them up. The rest of the squad entered the facility and swept through the immediate vicinity, deeming it to be clear Wolfmother and Guardian moved to the nearest computer and began downloading as much data as they could onto their Gremlin drones. All the while Stinger, Stormwalker, Raven, and Demon began planting X-4 charges on any support structures and anything that looked particularly volatile.

"God damn it." Wolfmother cursed under her breath.

Raven looked up from the charge she was planting. "What is the matter?" She asked with slight worry in her voice.

Wolfmother just sighed not looking up from the screen on the back of Joule. "Looks like Fatal won the bet, they were doing something to do with portals here."

A series of groan could be heard, followed by a cry of victory. "Demon I shall prepare a list of drinks for tonight." Fatal cheered over the radio, eliciting a longer groan to come from Demon followed by a series of curses.

With the final charges placed, Stinger ordered everyone to regroup and move to evac. Everyone one managed to regroup without coming into contact with any more hostiles and arrived at the evac point just as firebrand arrived. "Alright Everyone, lets get moving." Firebrand called out over the coms as several ropes dropped down from the skyranger as it hovered in the air.

The team boarded the skyranger and were away as soon as the first of the hostile reinforcements toughed down, and good thing too there was a lot of them, around 20 transports holding a squad of at least five members each consisting of everything from troopers, to priests, mutons, andromedon and gatekeepers. The squad even saw a sectopod touch down as they left and the skyranger ramp closed.

"Well that was an anti-climax." Hat Trick began. "Even with all that extra security nothing bad ha-"

He was cut off by the sound of an explosion and immediately after a purple wave washed over the ship causing it to jerk forward suddenly. "What the hell was that." Stinger exclaimed before a sudden feeling of weightlessness took over.

Fatal looked towards the pilot seat and her eyes grew wide at what she saw. Firebrand was slumped over in her seat leaning against the controls, seemingly unresponsive. Thinking quickly Fatal pulled firebrand out of the seat and pulled back on the controls hoping to gain altitude. But when she looked out the window two emotions came to her, the first was confusion as what she saw was a massive dark forest which should be impossible because the root back to the avenger took them over the ocean not land. This confusion was soon over taken by a second more powerful emotion, fear, they were already too low to prevent a crash so all Fatal could do was try to minimise damage. "EVERYONE HOLD ON TO SOMTING!" she screamed as she pushed the engines as hard as they could go in an attempt to slow their descent.

Author's Note

Hi this is my first story ever, so any criticism would be appetited, I also don't have an editor so expect some mistakes.
This fic starts around the beginning of season 3.

Also here are some pictures of the squad if my descriptions weren't enough for you.
Fatal
Demon
Hat Trick
Stinger
Guardian
Wolfmother
Stormwalker
Raven