Who Dares Winsby ThatBronyChaptersChapter 1 - IndonesiaChapter 2 - PortalChapter 3 - First EncountersChapter 4 - The ChasePrologueSquad AssesmentChapter 1 - IndonesiaJanuary 6th 2016 “Right Alpha Two Zero. Listen up. Your next mission is to take out a large military facility along the river Kapuas.” Said General Williams “You will meet up with a civilian, a scientist. He will be there to analyse the stuff you find. Understood? After you take that place apart, blow it up. Any questions?” Alpha Two Zero was in the ops room of the SAS base of Swanbourne, being sent on another suicidal mission. It was something they were very good at. Because, put simply, Alpha Two Zero was the best. “Sir, will we have backup?” Asked Captain Tom ‘Reaper’ Wolf. Reaper was the team’s leader. He was a hard bastard, tough, strong and ruthless. He had been leading his squad against the Chinese for the past 3 years with great success. “No backup I’m afraid Tom. You’ll get a helo insertion, but that’s the best we can do I’m afraid.” General Williams looked apologetic. Reaper folded his arms back and sank his chin to his chest, thinking. “Sir, is this a stealth mission?” Asked Nick ‘Animal’ Smith. Of medium height and build, he was a stealthy little bugger. This aided him in the endless pranks he played on his comrades. “Look, Nick, I don’t care. You can use stealth, or you can go in guns blazing. But just get into the facility.” “Sir, how about civilians? I don’t want to blow them up too.” John ‘Highlander’ McTavin was asking this time, and for obvious reasons. He was in charge of the fireworks, and was very dangerous with them. “John, we’ve timed this perfectly. The civilians there are in two teams, because they’re too pussy to work the year round. This way, there won’t be civilians, as they’re in between exchanging the two teams.” McTavin nodded, happily, to himself. “Sir, does it matter what weapon systems we use?” inquired James ‘Pirate’ Cutler. “You know we all have our own personal preferences. That’s one of our rights, as you well know.” He grinned when he said this. And they had earned it. Because of the many dangerous risks they had taken, they had gained rights within their unit. Another right they had gained was the easy familiarity with the General. That was why the General got to call them by their first names. To general soldiers they were called by their callsigns. To all other senior officers he they were called by their last names. “Of course you get your usual weapons James!” Williams seemed offended. “You know that I know that you work best with them!” “Course sir!” Cutler grinned. He had always liked the general, liked his easy going manner. He stood, yawned and stretched. “Well Tom?” He smiled down at his companion. Tom looked up, distracted. “Well what James?” “Do you have a plan?” Tom looked angry. “Course I got a bloody plan, you twat. Came up with it while you were exchanging bleeding pleasantries.” McTavin grinned. Only Alpha Two Zero had the right to swear in the ops room, and only Tom could swear directly at Williams. “Well lads, I’ll be down in the armoury, making some fireworks.” He said with a lavish wink. “General!” He saluted smartly and strode out the door. “That man, I swear one day he’s gonna lose an eye with the way that he plays with gunpowder!” Tom said with a chuckle. “Anyway lads, we’d best be off!” “But I was just getting comfy!” whined Smith. Tom grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and propelled him out the door. “Cmon Cutler, we are leaving.” He walked out the door as well. “Sir.” Cutler nodded politely to the General and joined Tom by the door. They walked out, leaving behind silence in the ops room as the General contemplated whether or not to get a beer for himself. Alpha Two Zero, after having been to the armory and choosing their signature weapons headed out to the helicopter that was to drop them into the territory. “You’re Alpha Two Zero?” Yelled the chopper pilot over the furious din of the helicopter. Tom just nodded. “Then get in and buckle up!” “Where are we getting dropped off?” Tom yelled. “FOB Tank!” the chopper pilot was busy flipping his switches and pressing his buttons. They all piled in and with not another moment wasted, they faced a very long chopper ride. There was silence in the chopper. They were all thinking about what they had to do. It was fortunate that none of them had loved ones. They didn’t need to waste time thinking about them. Tom had been married, and had a child. He had come home after a tour in Afghanistan to find her, a lawyer and her new man sitting at the kitchen table with divorce papers. Some welcoming committee. He remembered that day as if it was yesterday. Arriving back at base. 6 months in Afghanistan. He had been captured and tortured during that time but, thankfully, he still had all his limbs attached. Everyone’s families had been there. But not his wife and new born child. He had put it down to the fact that they wanted to do something special at home. So that was where he had gone. Walked in and there they were. She was sitting with her new man and a lawyer with divorce papers already written up. He was startled out of his reprieve by the chopper pilot who yelled at him to get his sorry ass out of his DAMN chopper. “Alpha Two Zero! Get off the bloody chopper!” Tom roared at his unit. They scrambled off, and sprinted into the FOB. Tom gave the chopper a quick glance then followed his unit in. Their time at the FOB passed quickly. Shower, shit, drink and sleep. That was all they had time for. Only 2 hours after they had arrived, they had to set off. During their time, they had made the acquaintance of their civilian scientist. His name was Angus Rumed. “So, Angus,” McTavin was drawing out each word “What brings you to the fine and dandy place of FOB tank lad?” “Well,” said Angus “I’m not exactly sure. I was told that there was a facility nearby?” Tom leaned forward in his chair. They were sitting in McDonalds, in full combat gear. “What do you mean you haven’t been told?” “That’s just it. I was told that I had to accompany some soldiers to a facility and take notes.” Cutler grinned. “I smell a conspiracy.” Smith laughed. Then there was silence, each soldier thinking about what Merlin (the name the soldiers insisted on calling Angus) had said. After about 30 seconds of complete and utter silence, Tom stood up and stretched loudly. “Well lads, we’d best get a crack on. Want to be in before sunrise.” Tom remarked. The rest of them stood up, stretched and headed out into the night. Their preferred method of movement was to run it. It was a mere 5 kms to the facility. So they ran. Their journey was uneventful. They passed through several villages. And that was where they met him. Tom looked on ahead at the village. The lights were on, and there was a loud hubbub of noise. Never a good sign. He gave a hand signal, and immediately Cutler and McTavin crept forward . Smith stayed back with Merlin, just in case. Together, Tom, Cutler and McTavin moved forward slowly. Soon they were able to look in. And that was where they met the good doctor. A man in a big brown trenchcoat was being pushed roughly through the village. He looked about the same height as Tom. His glasses were balanced precariously on the bridge of his nose. Judging by the way that he was pushed this way and that to different people, and by the stethoscope Tom saw poking out of his pocket, he was a doctor. Tom had seen enough. He stood and emptied two rounds of his pistol into the air, scattering the villagers like wildfire. Tom slowly walked over to the man, who had been pushed to the muddy ground in the confusion. Cutler and McTavin took up defensive positions near the pair. “G’day mate! What the bloody hell you doing out here?” Tom greeted the man cheerfully. “What’s your name, mate?” “My name is Mike Valance. I’m a doctor, sent out here to help assist the poor villagers. They jumped me a couple days back.” Said Mike. Shit. Tom thought. With the impeding destruction of a major military factory, they couldn’t spare a man to go back to the FOB with Mike. There was only one solution. He had to come with the team. “Listen mate, we’re Special Forces. We ain’t here for a friendly ramble through some local villages. You’ve got to come with us.” Tom said, watching Mike. He saw the tell-tale slump of the shoulders that signified defeat. “Fine.” “Alpha Two Zero! Haul ass, let’s go!” After leaving the village behind, they had been travelling for approximately 30 minutes. That was when they caught sight of the facility which they had been tasked to destroy. It was a pale white, dotted with black guardhouses and tours with machine gun’s on them, and manned by snipers. It was like a dome, with only one entrance. It was very imposing. They immdeialty ditch the road in favour of a hill overlooking the facility. The climb was hard, and it was night by the time that they had reached the summit. Then was time for the thing which Tom had perfected over years of service. Observation. Tom had an uncanny ability to observe the guards and their routines. He quickly determined which guards were slack, which were not. He worked out their lines of sight, their habits (both starting their shift and near the end of it). He determined which ones would hold fast, and which would turn and run. He identified the veterans and the green recruits. He gazed upon it with an intensity that was somewhat frightening to his civilian charges. “Does he just…stare?” Whispered Angus to McTavin. “Aye lad, that he does. He’s learning the guard’s routines better then they do.” McTavin said quietly. Nobody wanted to disturb Tom. “And he just…lies there?” “Yup. Ah, finally finished sir?” Tom had finally stretched and gotten up, shaking out the numbness in his legs caused by long hours of inactivity. “Oh my god, my leg’s have forgotten how to work. And yes, I have finished.” Tom glanced around. “Where the hell is Cutler?” “Gone off to take a piss sir.” “That fuckhead.” “Too right sir.” “James! Finally come to join us?” “Of course sir.” “Well lads, here’s the plan.” They all squatted around a patch of dirt. Tom was using a stick as a pointer. Several sticks to be precise. They broke very easily. “Right lads. I have observed the guards’ routines and their lines of sight. Nick, I’ll tell you which men to take out, in order. James and John, be ready to swoop in to clean up the mess. Alright? Then get to it!” All the soldiers immediately jumped to their packs and their weapons. They started cleaning them, stripping and re-assembling them. The civilians, Merlin and Doc as they had taken to calling Angus, watched in some admiration. The joking, laughing and easygoing manner had gone completely. In it’s place was a completely emotionless, remorseless, efficient, killing machine. It was time. It had been an hour since Tom hatched his plan. It wasn’t terribly complicated, but it didn’t need to be. It was simple, because the unit had worked together so many times that they understood each other perfectly. Nick and Tom would take out the guard towers and force the guards into a small area, which would be in the direct firing line of John and James. James would lay down fire with his light machine gun, and John would pour in frag grenades. It was efficient, and merciless. The time had come. Tom and Nick nodded to each other, and began to eliminate the guards. They first targeted the ones which Tom identified as veterans. These were the men that the younger recruits would look too. Next, all officers in sight. Generally, veterans were more dangerous than officers, as they would stand their ground. But with the officers and veterans both gone, they would mill around, waiting to be told what to do. And be slaughtered. The plan ran like clockwork. When the veterans started to fall, there was a great cry of alarm. The guards abandoned their posts and started to run for the nearest guard house, but the officers held them back. Then, the officers were killed. The officers, the one force stopping the guards from their idea of salvation, were gone and they ran into the guardhouse. There were scraping sounds as they barricaded themselves in. Tom would have liked to let them live, but they were too much of risk. Tom gave an order on the radio. John and James lept up, and sprinted over to the guardhouse. With James protecting, John knelt down and placed a sizeable amount of explosives on the guardhouse. Then, James and John hightailed it out to safety to watch the fireworks. Angus and Mike had watched on in horror as the guards were terminated. They watched these grim soldiers go about their grim duty, and offered a silent prayer to all inside the facility to get out while they still could. With the guards taken care of, Alpha Two Zero approached the door. Tom radioed back to General Williams. “Sir, we are just entering the facility now. The perimeter guards were taken care of. The only incident to report is that we picked up another civilian, a doctor. He was being held captive in a village not far from here. Yes, we can trust him. Alright, understood sir. Over and out.” The others looked expectantly. He took a deep breath. “Nothing’s changed. We push on, clear the facility, take a nosy around and then destroy it. Let’s roll.” The men nodded and opened the door. They entered cautiously. The two civilians, terrified out of their minds, followed behind them, and then shut the door. Nobody was leaving alive. Chapter 2 - PortalInside was a dense maze of office blocks, dark and foreboding. The silence was pressing, deafening. Every single small noise seemed magnified and sinister. It didn't soothe Angus' and Mike's nerves that the SAS men were sweeping through each room, fully kitted up and ready for a fight. It seemed surreal. The only sounds were the whirring of the computers in the offices they swept through, the gentle hum of the overhead lights that illuminated most of the complex, the footsteps of the group where each clang seemed like thunder and the SAS men's "Room Clear". After more then 10 minutes walking through office after dark office, sinister corridor after sinister corridor, they reached what they had came for. The door that stood barring their way was massive. Easily as big as a one story house. It was all steel, and with bolts as thick as two men laid side by side. The only way in was a small keypad, glowing an authoritative green. There was no way through without the correct passcode, currently not in the possession of Alpha Two Zero. "Shit." "Got that right mate." "Lads, we are monumentally screwed." Who knew what lay on the other side? Gold, jewels? It could be dangerous. Maybe the reason why the whole facility was abandoned lay beyond the door. A zombie plague? A mutation? It could be dangerous, we could destroy all mankind if we open it, we coul- "Shut UP Nick." Tom said, scratching his chin. There was only one way through the door. Judging by the large smile on McTavin's face, he knew it too. "Say, John, do you happen to hav-" "Save your breath Cap, I got this." John gave a chuckle of amusement. This was gonna be fun. He approached the door and started getting his charges out. "Captain, you don't mean to blow through that door with that amount of charges?" Angus said incredulous. "No I don't. You see, when you work for as long as I have in a unit like this, you learn each other's ways. John is going to blow through the wall next to the door, angling the explosion in at an angle." Tom glanced over to John. He had finished laying his charges and seemed to be struggling with the correct angle. "An angle...I could help with that!" muttered Angus, striding over to the befuddled John. Tom couldn't help but chuckle at the young Angus showing explosive expert John McTavin how to lay his charges. Tom glanced around the group. Nick seemed excited, ecstatic almost. Mike looked subdued, but interested. James however looked apprehensive. Tom shared that feeling. There was no knowing what lay on the other side, and as Nick said before, however jokingly, they could unleash something beyond their control. Angus and John finally finished their adjustments, and stepped back. “All set Cap! Ready and waiting. Just say the word.” Tom hesitated. There was no way of knowing what lay on the other side of the door. But Tom had orders, and he followed them to the letter. “Blow it.” The resulting explosion sent a shower of dust over the group, sending each member into a hacking cough. Angus recovered first, and made for the hole that now resided on the edge of the door, but Tom grabbed him. “Don’t…*cough* let me an- *cough* the boys go in *cough* first.” Thankfully, Angus nodded. Soon, all of them had stopped, and with a last equipment check, they headed into the hole, with Tom on point. When he stepped through, first of all he became aware of the much louder hum of heavy duty machinery. It was almost a powerful hum that pressed in on him from all directions. Next he became aware of a blue glow. He looked up and swore. They were standing in a massive room, with the ceiling easily 25m high. It was a mass of wires, lights and computers. Notes were scattered, and there were still white lab coats hung over chairs. But what was the cause of the oath was a large doorway in the centre. The frame was made of a black rock, which looked as though nothing could get through it. The centre of it was a swirling mix of blue. It was very eerie. One by one the squad stepped through the hole, and like Tom, they stared agape at this thing that stood in front of them. Now, even though they didn’t understand what it did, they knew what the scientists had been working on. Tom shook himself out of his reprieve. “Right, Angus and Mike, take a good look round on the computers and notes. They should be able to tell us more about it. Nick, you join them. John and James, secure the chamber. Hop to it!” They jumped to it. Angus made for a computer immediately, while Mike and Nick started on the notes. James and John quickly scoured the room, and confirmed it secure, then returned to looking at the mysterious doorway with a look of awe on their faces. Tom meanwhile was talking on the radio to General Williams. “General, we took out the perimeter guards, then entered the facility. There was no sign of resistance in the building. We gained access to the inner sanctum, and we found something.” “Yes? By God man, tell me! What did you find?” “Well sir, we found some sort of…doorway.” “Care to elaborate?” If only I could thought Tom. He turned to Mike, Angus and Nick. “Well boys? You got anything for me?” said he. Angus had a look of wonder, Mike a look of fear and Nick a look of excitement. Angus approached Tom, still in a daze. “It would appear from the notes…” He gestured wildely. “That they have made or discovered…a portal to other dimensions.” Tom just stared incredulously. A portal to other dimensions? Angus had surely gone off his nut. He glanced at Nick, who just nodded. Shit. “You get that sir?” “My god. Lads, I want you home right now for a debrief.” “Be happy to sir. Alpha Two Zero, out.” Tom relinquished his grip on the radio. He looked around at the group. Both civilians were pale faced, as was Nick. James and John however, had stoic expressions. They all looked at him. He cleared his throat. “Well, you heard the man. We’re gonna head home.” There were some cheers at this. However, fate had something in mind for this little group. Tom’s radio crackled to life. “Alpha Two Zero! Do you copy! Come in Alpha Two Zero!” the voice was undoutably General Williams, except that he spoke urgently. “General, I copy. What’s your sitrep, over.” “Shit, we just detected a missile. It’s inbound, and scans show it to be nucleur. It’s going to hit that facility in 10 minutes. But launch was 8 minutes ago. You have two minutes until a live nuke hits that facility.” Silence. Sheer silence followed that announcement. Everyone in the room knew the score. They were never going to get clear in time. None of them knew the correct route back, and even if they did, they would never manage to clear the blast radius. “Damn it Tom! Get the hell out of there!” General Williams again. Tom touched his radio with numb fingers. A sense of loss overcame him. “Sir, we’re never going to get clear in time. Even if we stayed here, in the sanctum, the blast would still vaporise us.” Silence on both sides. No-one knew what to do. All the people at the facility were staring at Tom, waiting for him to make a decision. The General and his men were staring in horror at the radio, trying to comprehend what it meant. Alpha Two Zero were too vauluable to be lost at this stage of the war. “Sir, there is one way.” Eveyone waited to hear Tom’s plan. “We’re never going to get out of here sir. You and I both know that. But there is a way. Sir, I’ll be off now. I plan to travel to worlds and galaxies unknown, which have never before had human presence, and may not ever again. I may be captured, even tortured. But I’m still going through General. I’m gonna go through that doorway.” Tom finished, and looked at the group. More then a few mouths were open. Nick was the first to recover. “Sir, I’ll go with you.” John and James followed. “Count me in Cap!” “Aye lad, I’ll go with you.” Angus and Mike stared, before they both shrugged their shoulders. “I’m with you.” “As am I.” “There you have it General. We’re going to go now, and explore the universe. You’re going to have to finish the war without us." "I can't stop you, can I?" "No sir." "Then good luck. . Remember that you are now officially ambassodors to the human race. I expect that you act with manners that are appropriate. Uphold our values and beliefs. You are Australian. Be proud of that fact son, every second of every day." "Yes sir. Thank you sir. And can I just say, it was an honor to serve with you, and an even greater honor to call you my friend, Patrick Williams. I thank you for everything you did for me." And so saying that, Tom and the 5 others linked arms, and as one, stepped through the portal to a world unknown. The General's radio to Alpha Two Zero suddenly cut to hash. He stared at it in shock. Alpha Two Zero, gone? Tom, gone? It was impossible. Tom always came back, no matter what the job, not matter how bad it turned. He always came back. A few seconds after the group had gone, the missle struck. It burrowed deep and detonated. A white hot blast billowed out, the walls, offices and data all vaporized in an instant. After the smoke had cleared, there was no sign of the facility. The only sign of anything was the radiation, which would linger for a very, very long time. If Tom had a mouth to scream, it would be wide open and screaming. Such is the nature of post dimensional travel, where every single atom is split down and whisked away. The process of being atomically split couldn't be described. It was beyond painful. It transcended agony. And it was driving Tom right out of his mind. What pissed him off was not the pain, per sea. It was more the fact that there was absouloutly nothing he could do about it. And so he surrended, and let himself be warcked by wave after wave of intense, relentless, pure, undurelating, torture. After a while, it lessened somewhat. Then some more, until it finally it gave up altogether. Tom was too exhuasted to care. All he wanted to do was sleep, which was unfortunatne, becuase it was that moment when they arrived in their new world. One moment he was in between dimensions, in a gaseous state, next he was lying face down in some dirt, thankfully solid. He spat out a mouthful of dirt, coughing and retching. He was amazed that he was still in control of his mind. During the transfer, he felt himself almost lose his sanity, driven out by the pain. But he was alive, in relative control, and with his sanity. THat was something to be grateful for at least. He heard the sounds of his comrades slowly getting up, obviously having experienced the same amount of pain, judging by their swearing and obscenities. He opened his eyes, slowly. Everything was blurry, and the sun? was too bright, so he shut them again. He felt around blindly for his gun, finally finding it, and it's familiar prescence helped ease some of the anxiety he was feeling. Knowing he would have to open his eyes sooner or later, he cracked open an eyelid. The sun beat down on him, making him feel lethargic and drowsy. He knew this was dangerous. He needed to be alert and tense. He shook himself off, and slowly, with the help of both hands stood uncertainly up. The ground seemed to swim below him. He glanced up. He apppeared to be in some sort of street, with houses on both sides. The houses seemed almost like the Tudor houses Tom had studied in high school. They all had hay for their roofs, and were bright and colourful. That, the presence of flowers on all of the windowsills, and the stall that was loaded with apples led him to belive that there were civilised...things that lived here. He quickly and briefly shared his findings with his compatriots. They agreed, and there was a noticible lessening of tension. And that was when all hell broke loose. Chapter 3 - First EncountersTwilight Sparkle was having a good day. She had finally finished that astronomy book that had been a birthday present from Princess Celestia, and was going out to enjoy the day. Spike was trailing her in the hope of seeing Rarity. "Twilight! You promised we'd go and see Rarity!" Spike was dragging his feet along the ground sullenly. Already 2 hours of walking around sniffing flowers and STILL no sign of the most beautiful creature in the world, or the MBC as Spike had taken to calling her. Twilight smiled. Her draconian assistant was certainly tenacious. But this was her first day out of the library in 4 days straight, and she planned to enjoy it. And it gave the library time to air, as it was still filled with smoke due to her various experiments. It was good to be out and about, enjoying the sounds, sights and smells of Ponyville. A certain cyan pegasus was obviously thinking the same way. "Twilight? What are you doing out of the house? You haven't come out in, like, 4 days! What gives?" Rainbow Dash sounded aggravated. "Well, I had to do something very delicate experiments that meant I had to stay inside to monitor them!" Twilight said brightly. Rainbow snorted. "Anyway, want to come with me to visit Applejack's stall? I need some good food." Twilight said with a grimace. "I really haven't been eating well..." "Sure thing! I'm hungry from all the Wonder-" So saying this, Rainbow did a little loop-the-loop "-Bolt practice! I'm going to get in for sure!" Rainbow puffed out her chest proudly. Twilight snuffed a laugh, then looked back at Spike. He was stilling mumbling and kicking the ground. "Spike?" "Said we were visiting Rarity...stupid flowers...Huh, wait what?" "We'll go visit Rarity just after we've gotten something to eat, ok?" "Fine! But you did Pinkie Pie promise! And breaking a friends trust is the fastest way to lose a friend." "Forever!" The self styled Pink Party Pony of Ponyville appeared next to Twilight, making her, Rainbow and Spike jump in alarm. "Pinkie!" "What?" "Don't do that!" "Okie dokie lokie! And now where are you guys going?" Pinkie was bubbling with happiness. "We're going to visit Applejack and get some food!" "Ooh! I love Applejack's food! Except that it usually doesn't have sugar in it. I love sugar! Did you know, I had a whole pile of sugar this morning, and now I feel really happy! Well, I usually feel happy, but now I fell super-duper happy!" Pinkie said this in a rush. "We're here!" Twilight, Spike and Rainbow looked on in some admiration and the torrent of words that poured out of their friends mouth. "How does she do that?" Said Rainbow with awe. "Classic Pinkie Pie..." Twilight shook her head. "Hey Pinkie! What's up!" Spike said this to Pinkie who had just galloped straight back. She had a look of intense concentration, which was in itself cause for alarm. "Guys, you need to come with me, now!" Pinkie didn't say anything more, but just galloped off again. The two ponies and the one baby dragon looked at each other, then ran off after Pinkie. "Captain, I'm hungry!" "Leave it Nick!" "But it's just an apple!" "We're not on Earth mate! We don't know what it is! It may look like an apple, but can you guarantee that?" Hesitation. "No, you can't! No put that blasted thing down, and focus on the job!" The sound of arguing voices drew Twilight, Pinkie, Rainbow and Spike nearer and nearer. They were joined by Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy, who had been summoned by Pinkie. How she had gotten all of them together, they didn't know. Didn't ask either. It was put down to typical Pinkie. "What are you doing James?" "Cutting in half sir." Split. "Looks like an apple. You can tell becuase of the size of the pips, which differ according to-" "Save the lecture Angus. Mike, what do you think?" "I don't know, to be honest. If something happens, I don't know if I could help." "Nick lad, do as the Cap' says and put it down." "Now, can we please press on with the job?" The 6 ponies and one baby dragon all poked their heads around and gasped. Standing in front of Applejack's stand were 6 strange creatures. They all walked upright on two legs, and had two limbs swinging from next to their head. They all had ridiculous short manes, and one of them had no mane at all! They were all carrying black pieces of metal, which were shiny and looked very complicated. Four of them were wearing some sort of black garments, one was wearing some blue...things over his legs and a white thing over the top half, and the last was wearing something that looked vagualy like what the doctor's wore at Ponyville Hospital. They were all standing in front of the Town Hall, arguing and yelling at each other. While the leader one was talking to the massive one, one of the other black suited ones stuck his hand into the cart, took an apple, and ate it. The crunch made them all freeze. "For FUCK'S sake Nick! I bloody told you not to touch that damn thing!" Twilight stuck her head back, speechless. She turned to her friends. "What do you think ladies?" "Their fashion sense is just dreadful!" "I think they look kinda cool." "Goodness, I don't know, I'm sorry Twilight." "Ooh, maybe I should throw them a party!" Sighing with exasperation, Twilight addressed Spike. "Spike, take a letter please." When Twilight finished, Spike beltched it away. It read: Dear Princess Celestia, We have encountered aliens in Ponyville. We don't know if they're friendly or not. Please come at once. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle. "Well Applejack? What do you think of them?" The 6 ponies (and 1 baby dragon) turned to face Applejack. "Think mah apple's are worthless," She muttered. "This he can just take one of them apple's ah bucked, and ah brought to town?" She started forward before any of her friend's could stop her. "For FUCK'S sake Nick! I bloody told you not to touch that damn thing!" Tom roared at Nick. "But it's fine!" "I don't give a FUCK whether it's fine or not! I told you NOT to touch it, so you DON'T touch it! Understand?" Tom eyeballed Nick, who shrank from him. "Yes Captain." "Good. Now then why don't we-" His words were cut short by a scream. "JUST WHAT IN TARNATION DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" The group whirled. Facing them was some sort of horse, with an orange coat and a long blonde mane? with a brown hat, with a face as red as the apples themselves. Tom was astounded. As were his fellow men, who all looked at it in amazement. The horse was having none of it. "YA'LL COME INTO MAH TOWN, STEAL THEM APPLES AH BUCKED MAHSELF, AND DON'T EVEN PAY FOR THEM! PONYVILLE! LETS DRIVE THEM OUTTA HERE!" And with that parting line, she galloped off. They looked at each other. "What, in all damnation, just happened?" Tom asked. "I have no bloody idea." James confessed, scratching his head. "I'm in the same boat lads." John said, shaking his head. "Well I have an idea." Everyone turned to face Angus. He pointed behind them. There must have been about 50 horses facing them. All were armed with frying pans, rolling pins or sciccors. It was a mob. "Shit. Listen. Our only chance is to run. Otherwise they'll tear us to pieces. James, take Mike and John. I'll take Nick and Angus. Run like hell. You all see that forest?" They nodded. "Get to it. Maybe we can lose them in it. And if one of you get's captured, as long as one of us is still free, we will try to get you out. Understood?" The horses started forward, starting with a trot, then a canter, then a gallop. "James?" "Got it sir!" And with an explosive yell, James kicked the apple stand, sending the apples flying like some sort of shrapenal towards the incoming ponies, knocking many of their feet. The chase... ....was on. Chapter 4 - The ChaseThey ran fast and hard. Not fast enough for some of them though. James was the first casuality. The first horse they had seen, the one with the orange coat and brown hat had a lassoo. Tom saw it all as though it was in slow motion. When James had kicked the cart, nearly half the horses had gone down. Not that one. It had raced foward, with a lassoo in it's mouth. James had turned to run, but slipped in the dirt. The lassoo had bagged him neatly, then with a firm yank, he was pulled off his feet. As he was being dragged off, James turned and yelled at Tom. "Clear off Tom! Get outta here!" Tom turned, stopped and yelled back. "I'll come for you mate! I promise!" "Get the fuck outta here!" And with that, Tom turned and sprinted after the others. "Change of plan fella's! We're gonna stick together!" James could take any type of torture these things could throw at him. He knew that, and was reviewing how to deal with the different types of torture, when the lassoo gave some slack. He looked up. Standing before him was a massive white horse with massive white wings and a oddly coloured mane. She had stepped off a golden chariot, oulled by two smaller pegasus, also white and wearing armor. He dimly heard the big white one being addressed as 'Princess'. But his eyes were not on her, but on the fifty or so other white pegasus wearing golden armor, swooping down. His captor and the 'Princess' starte talking. He gazed at the white soldiers, the ones wearing the golden armor. He hoped to God that they were good, becuase they were facing the best soldier that Earth had, the Reaper. The royalty, having finished her (he knew it was a she becuase of the voice) conversation with the orange pony stooped to look at him. He returned her curious gaze with an icy gaze. She turned to address one of those fancy-dress ponies in their shining golden armor. "Guard him." "Yes Princess." And with that she turned and strode off, taking with her a large contingent of the guards and leaving one orange pony, three royal guards, and a pissed off human. Tom was one man down, and pissed off. He knew that James should be with him, and it was just bad luck that had seen him slip. Still, there was hope. He and the other men of his squad were still running, and running fast. That was when, of course, everything went to shit in a fuckin' handcart. They had been going for about 2 minutes now, and were just passing what looked like a gingerbread house. It said on the wall, 'Sugercube Corner'. They were just passing it when it happened. There was a blinding flash of light, then about 50 white pegasi, wearing golden armor appeared, being led by a massive white horse with wings and a horn. Then, that godforsaken mob caught up to them. "Shit!" They were trapped. Trapped in between a mob and the authorities. Trapped against a house that looked strangely like gingerbread. Only one option. "Into the house, move! Nick, you're on point!" They charged in, kicking down the door. There were only two horses in the shop, and they were ignored. "Up the stairs Nick!" They all charged up the stairs, taking no notice of the sugary sweetness that called to them. They reached a door. Pinkie Pie had spent more then 10 minutes getting this trap ready. She hoped it was worth it. Nick kicked in the door. Then he got shot. But not in the convential way. No, he was blasted by a pink cannon, which had been packed full of streamers which now ensared the poor tropper, making it impossbile to move. He was trussed up like a chicken, and all of them knew that. Added to this was the thump of a hoof on the stairs. They would come back. "Shit! Out the window lads!" Mike, John and Tom dived out the window. Angus was too slow. As he attempteed to jump, a purple sparkling outline around him appeared. He was dragged back, screaming. They had no choice. They ran on. And then there were three. "Fuck! I've lost James, Nick and now Angus!" They had stopped for a rest in a cluster of trees, overlooking some sort of clothes shop on the outskirts of town. Tom was unleashing his anger by beating the crap out of a tree. "Calm down mate!" Mike said, a touch of alarm creaping into his voice. "There's nothing you could have done." Tom whirled, his face full of fury. "There's always something you could have done." He snarled. Then he sat down, and cradled his head. "Come on lad, you're team leader. What's our next move?" John was hoping to get him started, as this would take his mind of things. "Shit, alright. Let me think." Tom dropped his chin, lips mouthing words. "Alright, nothing's changed. We still need to get into the forest and lose them there. Let's haul ass." They all gotup, sirits firing once again. None noticed the slender unicorn with a purple mane watching them from the store's window. "Ok my darlings," Said Rarity "I'll show you what a fashion designer can REALLY do. Fluttershy darling, are you ready?" "Oh my goodness, I think so. I don't know. I just hope nobody get's hurt!" "Ok, NOW!" The door to the shop opened just as the group turned their backs. Standing there was a purple unicorn with purple hair. Hovering around her were a large number of clothes. She shrieked. "RUN!" Tom roared at them. But they were too slow. Quick as a flash, the clothes swooped down onto Mike. They piled higher and higher, thicker and thicker until he was immobile. Tom and John stood their mouths agape. Becuase of their watching the spectacle, they were too late too react. The door was still open to the shop. A yellow winged horse emerged. "Shit man, I'm getting outta here." "Same. We'll come back for you Mike!" "Tom, let's get the HELL outta here." Tom started sprinting, realised that John wasn't with him and turned. John was patting a little rabbit. "Jesus John! Come on!" "But he's so...cute!" John exclaimed. Another bunny appeared. "And another one! Come on, pat them!" Tom looked closely at the white unicorn. She was grinning. Shit. "Mate, come ON! It's a fucking trap!" By this time, five more bunnies had come along. And more were poring in by the second. "But look lad, there's so many, and they're so cut-" His last words were cut short by the bunnies. As one, they latched onto him. John was struggling. "Go lad! I'm done for!" Tom turned tail and got the hell outta there. Twilight's plan was working perfectly. Each of the aliens had been trapped and captured, save one. The leader. Her, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Fluttershy were in a command tent with the two Princesses. "Well, Rainbow's outside. Do ah tell her t' go?" "Yes Applejack. And tell her that he's the most dangerous of them all." "Will do!" Applejack galloped outside. "Any idea where he could go?" Asked Princess Luna. "Yes. And it's not a good place to go. The Everfree Forest." Tom had reached the forest. He slowed. "Shit." It was a dense tangle of vines and leaves, sinister and evil looking. "Shit." James, Nick, Angus, Mike and John, all captured and truced up. He cursed once more, then set off. He was so occupied in his thoughts, he did not notiice a certain cloud moving very strangely. Nor did he notice the edge of a tail that was hanging off the edge of the cloud. The cloud in question was being propelled by Ponyville's cyan pegasus, Rainbow Dash. "I got you now sucker!" Tom was still walking, head down, thinking. He didn't realize that he entered a clearing. And he most certainly didn't realize that he was under attack. He looked up in time to see a blue blur smash into him. His air left his lungs in one explosive blast. He felt his gun hand being kicked hard, and he realesed his weapon. Next, two kicks to his chest left him reeling, and a final blow to the face sent him crashing to the ground. Rainbow Dash though, was exhilirated. She had beaten an alien in a fight! Although not a fair one. Said a voice in her head, but she shushed it. "Well? Do you wanna come quitely or will I-" With this she launched a rapid series of jabs. "-Have to subdue you some more? Huh? What's it gonna be?" The alien looked away. Tom looked away and smiled. This was going to be easy. He was facing a cyan coloured horse with freakin' rainbow hair! She wasn't even armed! First things first. He looked around his surroundings. There was nothing that could trip him in sight, and he was confident that the tree branches wouldn't touch his head. He gazed up at his opponent. She (her voice was undoutably female) was confident and brash, a tomboy. No challenge. Next, he mentally prepared himself, revised what moves and techniques he would have to employ. Then he was ready. He stood up, sure to throw in a couple of convincing groans of pain. The trap was set, and then the horse fell right into it. She attacked, throwing kicks at him fast, yet he just blocked and evaded them. He had time, and he didn't want to hurt her. When in the middle of a punch, Tom shoved it aside, stepped round, grapped the back of her neck with one hand, then put his knife to her throat with the other. Time slowed to a halt. "Rule one of combat," Tom growled in her ear. "Never, under any circumstances, underestimate your enemy." As he said this, he tapped his knife in rhythm against her throat. "Second rule. Don't ever go into a fight expecting to win." "Third rule. Win at all cost. Don't let a man get up. Kick him when he's hurt." And with that, he released her and sheathed his knife, picked up his gun and walked off. Rainbow had been scared, of course she had been, though she would never admit it. But she was intrigued, despite her obvious misgivings. "Hey! Wait up!" She flew after it, almost running into his back. He turned to look at her with that strange face, and those strange eyes of his. "Yes?" "Why didn't you...you know..." "Kill you?" Gulp. "Becuase I didn't need to. If I had to, you would be lying in that clearing, throat slit. Now, it would probably be best if you leave me alone." "I'm Rainbow Dash." "..." "What's your name?" "Tom to my friends, Wolf to strangers and Reaper to my enemies." "You have three names?" "You don't?" "Why do you have three names?" "My first name is Tom. My last name is Wolf. But my operational name is Reaper." "Operational?" "Yeah. It's too difficult to explain right now." "Oh, okay. What's your job?" "Really? You haven't guessed? I'm a soldier, or in other words, a killer. How about you?" "Oh, um...I'm a weather pony." "Weather pony?" "Yeah! I move the clouds around and stuff, and keep the weather on schedule." "You move clouds?" "Yeah!" "Wow." They had wandered far into the woods by now, enjoying the conversation. Too deep. ProloguePrologue Tuesday, November 6th, 2012. Election Day in the United States of America. The day that had held such importance. Obama had lost that election. China was on the rise, and American’s were fed up. They wanted something done about it. So they elected a dark horse, won over by his promises of change. How wrong they were. The horse’s name was Richard Marl. He was relatively unknown, but he was charismatic. And he did get things done. He managed to reduce crime a significant bit, get more kids into schools, that sort of general good. Nobody could have foreseen what he intended all along. What he would come to refer to, in future years, ‘The China Solution’. In the end, historians could argue about the cause, the motives and the like. That didn’t alter the fact that Richard Marl single handily condemned the world to total destruction. On the evening of 18th December 2012, at quarter past 6 in the evening, America was told that they were at war with China. This wasn’t like the British just before World War 1. Everyone knew just how much of a clusterfuck this was going to be. Everyone, understandably, was concerned about the WMD’s that both China and America possessed. Luckily, China and America agreed that there were to be no nuclear detonations during the course of this war. This left the unspoken implication, that the losing side would nuke the other. Everyone just tried to keep that out of their minds. As the two heavyweights of the world shoot the shit out each other, America started playing all it’s cards. That meant that, effectively, every single country in the world got roped into this war. China, cleverly, made its first move by invading Japan. Japan had the world’s tenth largest population. Japan’s unlucky population would be put to labouring or be forced into Army service. This was the first of a series of moves that would see China invading every country it could possible get to. India went soon after. Then, like a disease spreading, Australians watched in horror as China carved itself through Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore. It was clear to all that Indonesia would be the only thing in the way of a Chinese invasion of Australia. Thus, Australia found itself sending troops to Indonesia. Including one very small Special Forces squad. Squad AssesmentSquad Assessment – Alpha Two Zero Team Leader Captain Tom Wolf – Callsign Reaper Age 35 – Born 21st March 1977 Height 183 cm Eyes Green Hair Dark - Cropped Weapons M4A5 Assault Rifle with M203A1 Underslung Grenade Launcher USP Tactical Handgun Remington Model 870 Pump Action Shotgun F1 Fragmentation Hand Grenade Service Record Joined the regular army on June 5th 2001. A year later, passed selection with the highest score in that group. In November of the same year, he was deployed to Afghanistan with 1 Squadron. Served with distinction and was promoted to Sergeant. In 2003 he came back and did selection, this time as an officer, just in time for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He was again promoted to his current rank of Captain. He then went to East Timor as part of Operation Astute. Notes Reaper is a dedicated and capable team leader. He is smart, and supremely loyal to his unit. Weapons Expert Troop Sergeant James Culter – Callsign Pirate Age 32 – Born 9th June 1977 Height 193 cm Eyes Brown Hair Brown - Cropped Weapons F89 Minimi Para Light Machine Gun USP Tactical Handgun F1 Fragmentation Hand Grenaade Sometimes carries Single Shot Disposable M72 LAW Service Record Joined the regular army on May 13th 2000. Completed selection at the same time as Reaper. Served in the same unit during Afghanistan. Served under him in Iraq. Also went with him to East Timor. Notes Pirate is a very capable, good soldier. Honest to himself and to his mates. Inseparable from Reaper. Where one goes, the other follows. Explosives John McTavin – Callsign Highlander Age 31 – Born 12 January 1978 Height 185 cm Eyes Brown Hair Bald Weapons M4A5 Assault Rifle with M203A1 Underslung Grenade Launcher USP Tactical Handgun M18A1 Claymore Antipersonnel Mine F1 Fragmentation Hand Grenade Carries PE (Plastic Explosive) Service Record Joined the regular army on 1st January 1999. Joined the SAS in 2000. Specialised in explosives. Went to Afghanistan and Iraq with 1 Squadron. Served with distinction. Notes A good soldier and a good man, always willing to listen and give a small encouragement. Very good with explosives. Sniper Nick Smith – Callsign Animal Age 29 – Born 7th September 1980 Height 181 cm Eyes Blue Hair Blonde - Curly Weapons M4A5 Assault Rifle or Heckler & Koch MP5 USP Tactical Handgun SR-25 Sniper Rifle F1 Fragmentation Hand Grenade Service Record Joined the regular army on 3rd May 2003. Joined the SAS in 2004. Served in Afghanistan with distinction as a sniper. Notes Animal good for morale, always providing a quick and easy laugh. Team Notes Alpha Two Zero is a strong, professional unit with all members having served with distinction.
Chapter 1 - IndonesiaJanuary 6th 2016 “Right Alpha Two Zero. Listen up. Your next mission is to take out a large military facility along the river Kapuas.” Said General Williams “You will meet up with a civilian, a scientist. He will be there to analyse the stuff you find. Understood? After you take that place apart, blow it up. Any questions?” Alpha Two Zero was in the ops room of the SAS base of Swanbourne, being sent on another suicidal mission. It was something they were very good at. Because, put simply, Alpha Two Zero was the best. “Sir, will we have backup?” Asked Captain Tom ‘Reaper’ Wolf. Reaper was the team’s leader. He was a hard bastard, tough, strong and ruthless. He had been leading his squad against the Chinese for the past 3 years with great success. “No backup I’m afraid Tom. You’ll get a helo insertion, but that’s the best we can do I’m afraid.” General Williams looked apologetic. Reaper folded his arms back and sank his chin to his chest, thinking. “Sir, is this a stealth mission?” Asked Nick ‘Animal’ Smith. Of medium height and build, he was a stealthy little bugger. This aided him in the endless pranks he played on his comrades. “Look, Nick, I don’t care. You can use stealth, or you can go in guns blazing. But just get into the facility.” “Sir, how about civilians? I don’t want to blow them up too.” John ‘Highlander’ McTavin was asking this time, and for obvious reasons. He was in charge of the fireworks, and was very dangerous with them. “John, we’ve timed this perfectly. The civilians there are in two teams, because they’re too pussy to work the year round. This way, there won’t be civilians, as they’re in between exchanging the two teams.” McTavin nodded, happily, to himself. “Sir, does it matter what weapon systems we use?” inquired James ‘Pirate’ Cutler. “You know we all have our own personal preferences. That’s one of our rights, as you well know.” He grinned when he said this. And they had earned it. Because of the many dangerous risks they had taken, they had gained rights within their unit. Another right they had gained was the easy familiarity with the General. That was why the General got to call them by their first names. To general soldiers they were called by their callsigns. To all other senior officers he they were called by their last names. “Of course you get your usual weapons James!” Williams seemed offended. “You know that I know that you work best with them!” “Course sir!” Cutler grinned. He had always liked the general, liked his easy going manner. He stood, yawned and stretched. “Well Tom?” He smiled down at his companion. Tom looked up, distracted. “Well what James?” “Do you have a plan?” Tom looked angry. “Course I got a bloody plan, you twat. Came up with it while you were exchanging bleeding pleasantries.” McTavin grinned. Only Alpha Two Zero had the right to swear in the ops room, and only Tom could swear directly at Williams. “Well lads, I’ll be down in the armoury, making some fireworks.” He said with a lavish wink. “General!” He saluted smartly and strode out the door. “That man, I swear one day he’s gonna lose an eye with the way that he plays with gunpowder!” Tom said with a chuckle. “Anyway lads, we’d best be off!” “But I was just getting comfy!” whined Smith. Tom grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and propelled him out the door. “Cmon Cutler, we are leaving.” He walked out the door as well. “Sir.” Cutler nodded politely to the General and joined Tom by the door. They walked out, leaving behind silence in the ops room as the General contemplated whether or not to get a beer for himself. Alpha Two Zero, after having been to the armory and choosing their signature weapons headed out to the helicopter that was to drop them into the territory. “You’re Alpha Two Zero?” Yelled the chopper pilot over the furious din of the helicopter. Tom just nodded. “Then get in and buckle up!” “Where are we getting dropped off?” Tom yelled. “FOB Tank!” the chopper pilot was busy flipping his switches and pressing his buttons. They all piled in and with not another moment wasted, they faced a very long chopper ride. There was silence in the chopper. They were all thinking about what they had to do. It was fortunate that none of them had loved ones. They didn’t need to waste time thinking about them. Tom had been married, and had a child. He had come home after a tour in Afghanistan to find her, a lawyer and her new man sitting at the kitchen table with divorce papers. Some welcoming committee. He remembered that day as if it was yesterday. Arriving back at base. 6 months in Afghanistan. He had been captured and tortured during that time but, thankfully, he still had all his limbs attached. Everyone’s families had been there. But not his wife and new born child. He had put it down to the fact that they wanted to do something special at home. So that was where he had gone. Walked in and there they were. She was sitting with her new man and a lawyer with divorce papers already written up. He was startled out of his reprieve by the chopper pilot who yelled at him to get his sorry ass out of his DAMN chopper. “Alpha Two Zero! Get off the bloody chopper!” Tom roared at his unit. They scrambled off, and sprinted into the FOB. Tom gave the chopper a quick glance then followed his unit in. Their time at the FOB passed quickly. Shower, shit, drink and sleep. That was all they had time for. Only 2 hours after they had arrived, they had to set off. During their time, they had made the acquaintance of their civilian scientist. His name was Angus Rumed. “So, Angus,” McTavin was drawing out each word “What brings you to the fine and dandy place of FOB tank lad?” “Well,” said Angus “I’m not exactly sure. I was told that there was a facility nearby?” Tom leaned forward in his chair. They were sitting in McDonalds, in full combat gear. “What do you mean you haven’t been told?” “That’s just it. I was told that I had to accompany some soldiers to a facility and take notes.” Cutler grinned. “I smell a conspiracy.” Smith laughed. Then there was silence, each soldier thinking about what Merlin (the name the soldiers insisted on calling Angus) had said. After about 30 seconds of complete and utter silence, Tom stood up and stretched loudly. “Well lads, we’d best get a crack on. Want to be in before sunrise.” Tom remarked. The rest of them stood up, stretched and headed out into the night. Their preferred method of movement was to run it. It was a mere 5 kms to the facility. So they ran. Their journey was uneventful. They passed through several villages. And that was where they met him. Tom looked on ahead at the village. The lights were on, and there was a loud hubbub of noise. Never a good sign. He gave a hand signal, and immediately Cutler and McTavin crept forward . Smith stayed back with Merlin, just in case. Together, Tom, Cutler and McTavin moved forward slowly. Soon they were able to look in. And that was where they met the good doctor. A man in a big brown trenchcoat was being pushed roughly through the village. He looked about the same height as Tom. His glasses were balanced precariously on the bridge of his nose. Judging by the way that he was pushed this way and that to different people, and by the stethoscope Tom saw poking out of his pocket, he was a doctor. Tom had seen enough. He stood and emptied two rounds of his pistol into the air, scattering the villagers like wildfire. Tom slowly walked over to the man, who had been pushed to the muddy ground in the confusion. Cutler and McTavin took up defensive positions near the pair. “G’day mate! What the bloody hell you doing out here?” Tom greeted the man cheerfully. “What’s your name, mate?” “My name is Mike Valance. I’m a doctor, sent out here to help assist the poor villagers. They jumped me a couple days back.” Said Mike. Shit. Tom thought. With the impeding destruction of a major military factory, they couldn’t spare a man to go back to the FOB with Mike. There was only one solution. He had to come with the team. “Listen mate, we’re Special Forces. We ain’t here for a friendly ramble through some local villages. You’ve got to come with us.” Tom said, watching Mike. He saw the tell-tale slump of the shoulders that signified defeat. “Fine.” “Alpha Two Zero! Haul ass, let’s go!” After leaving the village behind, they had been travelling for approximately 30 minutes. That was when they caught sight of the facility which they had been tasked to destroy. It was a pale white, dotted with black guardhouses and tours with machine gun’s on them, and manned by snipers. It was like a dome, with only one entrance. It was very imposing. They immdeialty ditch the road in favour of a hill overlooking the facility. The climb was hard, and it was night by the time that they had reached the summit. Then was time for the thing which Tom had perfected over years of service. Observation. Tom had an uncanny ability to observe the guards and their routines. He quickly determined which guards were slack, which were not. He worked out their lines of sight, their habits (both starting their shift and near the end of it). He determined which ones would hold fast, and which would turn and run. He identified the veterans and the green recruits. He gazed upon it with an intensity that was somewhat frightening to his civilian charges. “Does he just…stare?” Whispered Angus to McTavin. “Aye lad, that he does. He’s learning the guard’s routines better then they do.” McTavin said quietly. Nobody wanted to disturb Tom. “And he just…lies there?” “Yup. Ah, finally finished sir?” Tom had finally stretched and gotten up, shaking out the numbness in his legs caused by long hours of inactivity. “Oh my god, my leg’s have forgotten how to work. And yes, I have finished.” Tom glanced around. “Where the hell is Cutler?” “Gone off to take a piss sir.” “That fuckhead.” “Too right sir.” “James! Finally come to join us?” “Of course sir.” “Well lads, here’s the plan.” They all squatted around a patch of dirt. Tom was using a stick as a pointer. Several sticks to be precise. They broke very easily. “Right lads. I have observed the guards’ routines and their lines of sight. Nick, I’ll tell you which men to take out, in order. James and John, be ready to swoop in to clean up the mess. Alright? Then get to it!” All the soldiers immediately jumped to their packs and their weapons. They started cleaning them, stripping and re-assembling them. The civilians, Merlin and Doc as they had taken to calling Angus, watched in some admiration. The joking, laughing and easygoing manner had gone completely. In it’s place was a completely emotionless, remorseless, efficient, killing machine. It was time. It had been an hour since Tom hatched his plan. It wasn’t terribly complicated, but it didn’t need to be. It was simple, because the unit had worked together so many times that they understood each other perfectly. Nick and Tom would take out the guard towers and force the guards into a small area, which would be in the direct firing line of John and James. James would lay down fire with his light machine gun, and John would pour in frag grenades. It was efficient, and merciless. The time had come. Tom and Nick nodded to each other, and began to eliminate the guards. They first targeted the ones which Tom identified as veterans. These were the men that the younger recruits would look too. Next, all officers in sight. Generally, veterans were more dangerous than officers, as they would stand their ground. But with the officers and veterans both gone, they would mill around, waiting to be told what to do. And be slaughtered. The plan ran like clockwork. When the veterans started to fall, there was a great cry of alarm. The guards abandoned their posts and started to run for the nearest guard house, but the officers held them back. Then, the officers were killed. The officers, the one force stopping the guards from their idea of salvation, were gone and they ran into the guardhouse. There were scraping sounds as they barricaded themselves in. Tom would have liked to let them live, but they were too much of risk. Tom gave an order on the radio. John and James lept up, and sprinted over to the guardhouse. With James protecting, John knelt down and placed a sizeable amount of explosives on the guardhouse. Then, James and John hightailed it out to safety to watch the fireworks. Angus and Mike had watched on in horror as the guards were terminated. They watched these grim soldiers go about their grim duty, and offered a silent prayer to all inside the facility to get out while they still could. With the guards taken care of, Alpha Two Zero approached the door. Tom radioed back to General Williams. “Sir, we are just entering the facility now. The perimeter guards were taken care of. The only incident to report is that we picked up another civilian, a doctor. He was being held captive in a village not far from here. Yes, we can trust him. Alright, understood sir. Over and out.” The others looked expectantly. He took a deep breath. “Nothing’s changed. We push on, clear the facility, take a nosy around and then destroy it. Let’s roll.” The men nodded and opened the door. They entered cautiously. The two civilians, terrified out of their minds, followed behind them, and then shut the door. Nobody was leaving alive.
Chapter 2 - PortalInside was a dense maze of office blocks, dark and foreboding. The silence was pressing, deafening. Every single small noise seemed magnified and sinister. It didn't soothe Angus' and Mike's nerves that the SAS men were sweeping through each room, fully kitted up and ready for a fight. It seemed surreal. The only sounds were the whirring of the computers in the offices they swept through, the gentle hum of the overhead lights that illuminated most of the complex, the footsteps of the group where each clang seemed like thunder and the SAS men's "Room Clear". After more then 10 minutes walking through office after dark office, sinister corridor after sinister corridor, they reached what they had came for. The door that stood barring their way was massive. Easily as big as a one story house. It was all steel, and with bolts as thick as two men laid side by side. The only way in was a small keypad, glowing an authoritative green. There was no way through without the correct passcode, currently not in the possession of Alpha Two Zero. "Shit." "Got that right mate." "Lads, we are monumentally screwed." Who knew what lay on the other side? Gold, jewels? It could be dangerous. Maybe the reason why the whole facility was abandoned lay beyond the door. A zombie plague? A mutation? It could be dangerous, we could destroy all mankind if we open it, we coul- "Shut UP Nick." Tom said, scratching his chin. There was only one way through the door. Judging by the large smile on McTavin's face, he knew it too. "Say, John, do you happen to hav-" "Save your breath Cap, I got this." John gave a chuckle of amusement. This was gonna be fun. He approached the door and started getting his charges out. "Captain, you don't mean to blow through that door with that amount of charges?" Angus said incredulous. "No I don't. You see, when you work for as long as I have in a unit like this, you learn each other's ways. John is going to blow through the wall next to the door, angling the explosion in at an angle." Tom glanced over to John. He had finished laying his charges and seemed to be struggling with the correct angle. "An angle...I could help with that!" muttered Angus, striding over to the befuddled John. Tom couldn't help but chuckle at the young Angus showing explosive expert John McTavin how to lay his charges. Tom glanced around the group. Nick seemed excited, ecstatic almost. Mike looked subdued, but interested. James however looked apprehensive. Tom shared that feeling. There was no knowing what lay on the other side, and as Nick said before, however jokingly, they could unleash something beyond their control. Angus and John finally finished their adjustments, and stepped back. “All set Cap! Ready and waiting. Just say the word.” Tom hesitated. There was no way of knowing what lay on the other side of the door. But Tom had orders, and he followed them to the letter. “Blow it.” The resulting explosion sent a shower of dust over the group, sending each member into a hacking cough. Angus recovered first, and made for the hole that now resided on the edge of the door, but Tom grabbed him. “Don’t…*cough* let me an- *cough* the boys go in *cough* first.” Thankfully, Angus nodded. Soon, all of them had stopped, and with a last equipment check, they headed into the hole, with Tom on point. When he stepped through, first of all he became aware of the much louder hum of heavy duty machinery. It was almost a powerful hum that pressed in on him from all directions. Next he became aware of a blue glow. He looked up and swore. They were standing in a massive room, with the ceiling easily 25m high. It was a mass of wires, lights and computers. Notes were scattered, and there were still white lab coats hung over chairs. But what was the cause of the oath was a large doorway in the centre. The frame was made of a black rock, which looked as though nothing could get through it. The centre of it was a swirling mix of blue. It was very eerie. One by one the squad stepped through the hole, and like Tom, they stared agape at this thing that stood in front of them. Now, even though they didn’t understand what it did, they knew what the scientists had been working on. Tom shook himself out of his reprieve. “Right, Angus and Mike, take a good look round on the computers and notes. They should be able to tell us more about it. Nick, you join them. John and James, secure the chamber. Hop to it!” They jumped to it. Angus made for a computer immediately, while Mike and Nick started on the notes. James and John quickly scoured the room, and confirmed it secure, then returned to looking at the mysterious doorway with a look of awe on their faces. Tom meanwhile was talking on the radio to General Williams. “General, we took out the perimeter guards, then entered the facility. There was no sign of resistance in the building. We gained access to the inner sanctum, and we found something.” “Yes? By God man, tell me! What did you find?” “Well sir, we found some sort of…doorway.” “Care to elaborate?” If only I could thought Tom. He turned to Mike, Angus and Nick. “Well boys? You got anything for me?” said he. Angus had a look of wonder, Mike a look of fear and Nick a look of excitement. Angus approached Tom, still in a daze. “It would appear from the notes…” He gestured wildely. “That they have made or discovered…a portal to other dimensions.” Tom just stared incredulously. A portal to other dimensions? Angus had surely gone off his nut. He glanced at Nick, who just nodded. Shit. “You get that sir?” “My god. Lads, I want you home right now for a debrief.” “Be happy to sir. Alpha Two Zero, out.” Tom relinquished his grip on the radio. He looked around at the group. Both civilians were pale faced, as was Nick. James and John however, had stoic expressions. They all looked at him. He cleared his throat. “Well, you heard the man. We’re gonna head home.” There were some cheers at this. However, fate had something in mind for this little group. Tom’s radio crackled to life. “Alpha Two Zero! Do you copy! Come in Alpha Two Zero!” the voice was undoutably General Williams, except that he spoke urgently. “General, I copy. What’s your sitrep, over.” “Shit, we just detected a missile. It’s inbound, and scans show it to be nucleur. It’s going to hit that facility in 10 minutes. But launch was 8 minutes ago. You have two minutes until a live nuke hits that facility.” Silence. Sheer silence followed that announcement. Everyone in the room knew the score. They were never going to get clear in time. None of them knew the correct route back, and even if they did, they would never manage to clear the blast radius. “Damn it Tom! Get the hell out of there!” General Williams again. Tom touched his radio with numb fingers. A sense of loss overcame him. “Sir, we’re never going to get clear in time. Even if we stayed here, in the sanctum, the blast would still vaporise us.” Silence on both sides. No-one knew what to do. All the people at the facility were staring at Tom, waiting for him to make a decision. The General and his men were staring in horror at the radio, trying to comprehend what it meant. Alpha Two Zero were too vauluable to be lost at this stage of the war. “Sir, there is one way.” Eveyone waited to hear Tom’s plan. “We’re never going to get out of here sir. You and I both know that. But there is a way. Sir, I’ll be off now. I plan to travel to worlds and galaxies unknown, which have never before had human presence, and may not ever again. I may be captured, even tortured. But I’m still going through General. I’m gonna go through that doorway.” Tom finished, and looked at the group. More then a few mouths were open. Nick was the first to recover. “Sir, I’ll go with you.” John and James followed. “Count me in Cap!” “Aye lad, I’ll go with you.” Angus and Mike stared, before they both shrugged their shoulders. “I’m with you.” “As am I.” “There you have it General. We’re going to go now, and explore the universe. You’re going to have to finish the war without us." "I can't stop you, can I?" "No sir." "Then good luck. . Remember that you are now officially ambassodors to the human race. I expect that you act with manners that are appropriate. Uphold our values and beliefs. You are Australian. Be proud of that fact son, every second of every day." "Yes sir. Thank you sir. And can I just say, it was an honor to serve with you, and an even greater honor to call you my friend, Patrick Williams. I thank you for everything you did for me." And so saying that, Tom and the 5 others linked arms, and as one, stepped through the portal to a world unknown. The General's radio to Alpha Two Zero suddenly cut to hash. He stared at it in shock. Alpha Two Zero, gone? Tom, gone? It was impossible. Tom always came back, no matter what the job, not matter how bad it turned. He always came back. A few seconds after the group had gone, the missle struck. It burrowed deep and detonated. A white hot blast billowed out, the walls, offices and data all vaporized in an instant. After the smoke had cleared, there was no sign of the facility. The only sign of anything was the radiation, which would linger for a very, very long time. If Tom had a mouth to scream, it would be wide open and screaming. Such is the nature of post dimensional travel, where every single atom is split down and whisked away. The process of being atomically split couldn't be described. It was beyond painful. It transcended agony. And it was driving Tom right out of his mind. What pissed him off was not the pain, per sea. It was more the fact that there was absouloutly nothing he could do about it. And so he surrended, and let himself be warcked by wave after wave of intense, relentless, pure, undurelating, torture. After a while, it lessened somewhat. Then some more, until it finally it gave up altogether. Tom was too exhuasted to care. All he wanted to do was sleep, which was unfortunatne, becuase it was that moment when they arrived in their new world. One moment he was in between dimensions, in a gaseous state, next he was lying face down in some dirt, thankfully solid. He spat out a mouthful of dirt, coughing and retching. He was amazed that he was still in control of his mind. During the transfer, he felt himself almost lose his sanity, driven out by the pain. But he was alive, in relative control, and with his sanity. THat was something to be grateful for at least. He heard the sounds of his comrades slowly getting up, obviously having experienced the same amount of pain, judging by their swearing and obscenities. He opened his eyes, slowly. Everything was blurry, and the sun? was too bright, so he shut them again. He felt around blindly for his gun, finally finding it, and it's familiar prescence helped ease some of the anxiety he was feeling. Knowing he would have to open his eyes sooner or later, he cracked open an eyelid. The sun beat down on him, making him feel lethargic and drowsy. He knew this was dangerous. He needed to be alert and tense. He shook himself off, and slowly, with the help of both hands stood uncertainly up. The ground seemed to swim below him. He glanced up. He apppeared to be in some sort of street, with houses on both sides. The houses seemed almost like the Tudor houses Tom had studied in high school. They all had hay for their roofs, and were bright and colourful. That, the presence of flowers on all of the windowsills, and the stall that was loaded with apples led him to belive that there were civilised...things that lived here. He quickly and briefly shared his findings with his compatriots. They agreed, and there was a noticible lessening of tension. And that was when all hell broke loose.
Chapter 3 - First EncountersTwilight Sparkle was having a good day. She had finally finished that astronomy book that had been a birthday present from Princess Celestia, and was going out to enjoy the day. Spike was trailing her in the hope of seeing Rarity. "Twilight! You promised we'd go and see Rarity!" Spike was dragging his feet along the ground sullenly. Already 2 hours of walking around sniffing flowers and STILL no sign of the most beautiful creature in the world, or the MBC as Spike had taken to calling her. Twilight smiled. Her draconian assistant was certainly tenacious. But this was her first day out of the library in 4 days straight, and she planned to enjoy it. And it gave the library time to air, as it was still filled with smoke due to her various experiments. It was good to be out and about, enjoying the sounds, sights and smells of Ponyville. A certain cyan pegasus was obviously thinking the same way. "Twilight? What are you doing out of the house? You haven't come out in, like, 4 days! What gives?" Rainbow Dash sounded aggravated. "Well, I had to do something very delicate experiments that meant I had to stay inside to monitor them!" Twilight said brightly. Rainbow snorted. "Anyway, want to come with me to visit Applejack's stall? I need some good food." Twilight said with a grimace. "I really haven't been eating well..." "Sure thing! I'm hungry from all the Wonder-" So saying this, Rainbow did a little loop-the-loop "-Bolt practice! I'm going to get in for sure!" Rainbow puffed out her chest proudly. Twilight snuffed a laugh, then looked back at Spike. He was stilling mumbling and kicking the ground. "Spike?" "Said we were visiting Rarity...stupid flowers...Huh, wait what?" "We'll go visit Rarity just after we've gotten something to eat, ok?" "Fine! But you did Pinkie Pie promise! And breaking a friends trust is the fastest way to lose a friend." "Forever!" The self styled Pink Party Pony of Ponyville appeared next to Twilight, making her, Rainbow and Spike jump in alarm. "Pinkie!" "What?" "Don't do that!" "Okie dokie lokie! And now where are you guys going?" Pinkie was bubbling with happiness. "We're going to visit Applejack and get some food!" "Ooh! I love Applejack's food! Except that it usually doesn't have sugar in it. I love sugar! Did you know, I had a whole pile of sugar this morning, and now I feel really happy! Well, I usually feel happy, but now I fell super-duper happy!" Pinkie said this in a rush. "We're here!" Twilight, Spike and Rainbow looked on in some admiration and the torrent of words that poured out of their friends mouth. "How does she do that?" Said Rainbow with awe. "Classic Pinkie Pie..." Twilight shook her head. "Hey Pinkie! What's up!" Spike said this to Pinkie who had just galloped straight back. She had a look of intense concentration, which was in itself cause for alarm. "Guys, you need to come with me, now!" Pinkie didn't say anything more, but just galloped off again. The two ponies and the one baby dragon looked at each other, then ran off after Pinkie. "Captain, I'm hungry!" "Leave it Nick!" "But it's just an apple!" "We're not on Earth mate! We don't know what it is! It may look like an apple, but can you guarantee that?" Hesitation. "No, you can't! No put that blasted thing down, and focus on the job!" The sound of arguing voices drew Twilight, Pinkie, Rainbow and Spike nearer and nearer. They were joined by Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy, who had been summoned by Pinkie. How she had gotten all of them together, they didn't know. Didn't ask either. It was put down to typical Pinkie. "What are you doing James?" "Cutting in half sir." Split. "Looks like an apple. You can tell becuase of the size of the pips, which differ according to-" "Save the lecture Angus. Mike, what do you think?" "I don't know, to be honest. If something happens, I don't know if I could help." "Nick lad, do as the Cap' says and put it down." "Now, can we please press on with the job?" The 6 ponies and one baby dragon all poked their heads around and gasped. Standing in front of Applejack's stand were 6 strange creatures. They all walked upright on two legs, and had two limbs swinging from next to their head. They all had ridiculous short manes, and one of them had no mane at all! They were all carrying black pieces of metal, which were shiny and looked very complicated. Four of them were wearing some sort of black garments, one was wearing some blue...things over his legs and a white thing over the top half, and the last was wearing something that looked vagualy like what the doctor's wore at Ponyville Hospital. They were all standing in front of the Town Hall, arguing and yelling at each other. While the leader one was talking to the massive one, one of the other black suited ones stuck his hand into the cart, took an apple, and ate it. The crunch made them all freeze. "For FUCK'S sake Nick! I bloody told you not to touch that damn thing!" Twilight stuck her head back, speechless. She turned to her friends. "What do you think ladies?" "Their fashion sense is just dreadful!" "I think they look kinda cool." "Goodness, I don't know, I'm sorry Twilight." "Ooh, maybe I should throw them a party!" Sighing with exasperation, Twilight addressed Spike. "Spike, take a letter please." When Twilight finished, Spike beltched it away. It read: Dear Princess Celestia, We have encountered aliens in Ponyville. We don't know if they're friendly or not. Please come at once. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle. "Well Applejack? What do you think of them?" The 6 ponies (and 1 baby dragon) turned to face Applejack. "Think mah apple's are worthless," She muttered. "This he can just take one of them apple's ah bucked, and ah brought to town?" She started forward before any of her friend's could stop her. "For FUCK'S sake Nick! I bloody told you not to touch that damn thing!" Tom roared at Nick. "But it's fine!" "I don't give a FUCK whether it's fine or not! I told you NOT to touch it, so you DON'T touch it! Understand?" Tom eyeballed Nick, who shrank from him. "Yes Captain." "Good. Now then why don't we-" His words were cut short by a scream. "JUST WHAT IN TARNATION DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" The group whirled. Facing them was some sort of horse, with an orange coat and a long blonde mane? with a brown hat, with a face as red as the apples themselves. Tom was astounded. As were his fellow men, who all looked at it in amazement. The horse was having none of it. "YA'LL COME INTO MAH TOWN, STEAL THEM APPLES AH BUCKED MAHSELF, AND DON'T EVEN PAY FOR THEM! PONYVILLE! LETS DRIVE THEM OUTTA HERE!" And with that parting line, she galloped off. They looked at each other. "What, in all damnation, just happened?" Tom asked. "I have no bloody idea." James confessed, scratching his head. "I'm in the same boat lads." John said, shaking his head. "Well I have an idea." Everyone turned to face Angus. He pointed behind them. There must have been about 50 horses facing them. All were armed with frying pans, rolling pins or sciccors. It was a mob. "Shit. Listen. Our only chance is to run. Otherwise they'll tear us to pieces. James, take Mike and John. I'll take Nick and Angus. Run like hell. You all see that forest?" They nodded. "Get to it. Maybe we can lose them in it. And if one of you get's captured, as long as one of us is still free, we will try to get you out. Understood?" The horses started forward, starting with a trot, then a canter, then a gallop. "James?" "Got it sir!" And with an explosive yell, James kicked the apple stand, sending the apples flying like some sort of shrapenal towards the incoming ponies, knocking many of their feet. The chase... ....was on.
Chapter 4 - The ChaseThey ran fast and hard. Not fast enough for some of them though. James was the first casuality. The first horse they had seen, the one with the orange coat and brown hat had a lassoo. Tom saw it all as though it was in slow motion. When James had kicked the cart, nearly half the horses had gone down. Not that one. It had raced foward, with a lassoo in it's mouth. James had turned to run, but slipped in the dirt. The lassoo had bagged him neatly, then with a firm yank, he was pulled off his feet. As he was being dragged off, James turned and yelled at Tom. "Clear off Tom! Get outta here!" Tom turned, stopped and yelled back. "I'll come for you mate! I promise!" "Get the fuck outta here!" And with that, Tom turned and sprinted after the others. "Change of plan fella's! We're gonna stick together!" James could take any type of torture these things could throw at him. He knew that, and was reviewing how to deal with the different types of torture, when the lassoo gave some slack. He looked up. Standing before him was a massive white horse with massive white wings and a oddly coloured mane. She had stepped off a golden chariot, oulled by two smaller pegasus, also white and wearing armor. He dimly heard the big white one being addressed as 'Princess'. But his eyes were not on her, but on the fifty or so other white pegasus wearing golden armor, swooping down. His captor and the 'Princess' starte talking. He gazed at the white soldiers, the ones wearing the golden armor. He hoped to God that they were good, becuase they were facing the best soldier that Earth had, the Reaper. The royalty, having finished her (he knew it was a she becuase of the voice) conversation with the orange pony stooped to look at him. He returned her curious gaze with an icy gaze. She turned to address one of those fancy-dress ponies in their shining golden armor. "Guard him." "Yes Princess." And with that she turned and strode off, taking with her a large contingent of the guards and leaving one orange pony, three royal guards, and a pissed off human. Tom was one man down, and pissed off. He knew that James should be with him, and it was just bad luck that had seen him slip. Still, there was hope. He and the other men of his squad were still running, and running fast. That was when, of course, everything went to shit in a fuckin' handcart. They had been going for about 2 minutes now, and were just passing what looked like a gingerbread house. It said on the wall, 'Sugercube Corner'. They were just passing it when it happened. There was a blinding flash of light, then about 50 white pegasi, wearing golden armor appeared, being led by a massive white horse with wings and a horn. Then, that godforsaken mob caught up to them. "Shit!" They were trapped. Trapped in between a mob and the authorities. Trapped against a house that looked strangely like gingerbread. Only one option. "Into the house, move! Nick, you're on point!" They charged in, kicking down the door. There were only two horses in the shop, and they were ignored. "Up the stairs Nick!" They all charged up the stairs, taking no notice of the sugary sweetness that called to them. They reached a door. Pinkie Pie had spent more then 10 minutes getting this trap ready. She hoped it was worth it. Nick kicked in the door. Then he got shot. But not in the convential way. No, he was blasted by a pink cannon, which had been packed full of streamers which now ensared the poor tropper, making it impossbile to move. He was trussed up like a chicken, and all of them knew that. Added to this was the thump of a hoof on the stairs. They would come back. "Shit! Out the window lads!" Mike, John and Tom dived out the window. Angus was too slow. As he attempteed to jump, a purple sparkling outline around him appeared. He was dragged back, screaming. They had no choice. They ran on. And then there were three. "Fuck! I've lost James, Nick and now Angus!" They had stopped for a rest in a cluster of trees, overlooking some sort of clothes shop on the outskirts of town. Tom was unleashing his anger by beating the crap out of a tree. "Calm down mate!" Mike said, a touch of alarm creaping into his voice. "There's nothing you could have done." Tom whirled, his face full of fury. "There's always something you could have done." He snarled. Then he sat down, and cradled his head. "Come on lad, you're team leader. What's our next move?" John was hoping to get him started, as this would take his mind of things. "Shit, alright. Let me think." Tom dropped his chin, lips mouthing words. "Alright, nothing's changed. We still need to get into the forest and lose them there. Let's haul ass." They all gotup, sirits firing once again. None noticed the slender unicorn with a purple mane watching them from the store's window. "Ok my darlings," Said Rarity "I'll show you what a fashion designer can REALLY do. Fluttershy darling, are you ready?" "Oh my goodness, I think so. I don't know. I just hope nobody get's hurt!" "Ok, NOW!" The door to the shop opened just as the group turned their backs. Standing there was a purple unicorn with purple hair. Hovering around her were a large number of clothes. She shrieked. "RUN!" Tom roared at them. But they were too slow. Quick as a flash, the clothes swooped down onto Mike. They piled higher and higher, thicker and thicker until he was immobile. Tom and John stood their mouths agape. Becuase of their watching the spectacle, they were too late too react. The door was still open to the shop. A yellow winged horse emerged. "Shit man, I'm getting outta here." "Same. We'll come back for you Mike!" "Tom, let's get the HELL outta here." Tom started sprinting, realised that John wasn't with him and turned. John was patting a little rabbit. "Jesus John! Come on!" "But he's so...cute!" John exclaimed. Another bunny appeared. "And another one! Come on, pat them!" Tom looked closely at the white unicorn. She was grinning. Shit. "Mate, come ON! It's a fucking trap!" By this time, five more bunnies had come along. And more were poring in by the second. "But look lad, there's so many, and they're so cut-" His last words were cut short by the bunnies. As one, they latched onto him. John was struggling. "Go lad! I'm done for!" Tom turned tail and got the hell outta there. Twilight's plan was working perfectly. Each of the aliens had been trapped and captured, save one. The leader. Her, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Fluttershy were in a command tent with the two Princesses. "Well, Rainbow's outside. Do ah tell her t' go?" "Yes Applejack. And tell her that he's the most dangerous of them all." "Will do!" Applejack galloped outside. "Any idea where he could go?" Asked Princess Luna. "Yes. And it's not a good place to go. The Everfree Forest." Tom had reached the forest. He slowed. "Shit." It was a dense tangle of vines and leaves, sinister and evil looking. "Shit." James, Nick, Angus, Mike and John, all captured and truced up. He cursed once more, then set off. He was so occupied in his thoughts, he did not notiice a certain cloud moving very strangely. Nor did he notice the edge of a tail that was hanging off the edge of the cloud. The cloud in question was being propelled by Ponyville's cyan pegasus, Rainbow Dash. "I got you now sucker!" Tom was still walking, head down, thinking. He didn't realize that he entered a clearing. And he most certainly didn't realize that he was under attack. He looked up in time to see a blue blur smash into him. His air left his lungs in one explosive blast. He felt his gun hand being kicked hard, and he realesed his weapon. Next, two kicks to his chest left him reeling, and a final blow to the face sent him crashing to the ground. Rainbow Dash though, was exhilirated. She had beaten an alien in a fight! Although not a fair one. Said a voice in her head, but she shushed it. "Well? Do you wanna come quitely or will I-" With this she launched a rapid series of jabs. "-Have to subdue you some more? Huh? What's it gonna be?" The alien looked away. Tom looked away and smiled. This was going to be easy. He was facing a cyan coloured horse with freakin' rainbow hair! She wasn't even armed! First things first. He looked around his surroundings. There was nothing that could trip him in sight, and he was confident that the tree branches wouldn't touch his head. He gazed up at his opponent. She (her voice was undoutably female) was confident and brash, a tomboy. No challenge. Next, he mentally prepared himself, revised what moves and techniques he would have to employ. Then he was ready. He stood up, sure to throw in a couple of convincing groans of pain. The trap was set, and then the horse fell right into it. She attacked, throwing kicks at him fast, yet he just blocked and evaded them. He had time, and he didn't want to hurt her. When in the middle of a punch, Tom shoved it aside, stepped round, grapped the back of her neck with one hand, then put his knife to her throat with the other. Time slowed to a halt. "Rule one of combat," Tom growled in her ear. "Never, under any circumstances, underestimate your enemy." As he said this, he tapped his knife in rhythm against her throat. "Second rule. Don't ever go into a fight expecting to win." "Third rule. Win at all cost. Don't let a man get up. Kick him when he's hurt." And with that, he released her and sheathed his knife, picked up his gun and walked off. Rainbow had been scared, of course she had been, though she would never admit it. But she was intrigued, despite her obvious misgivings. "Hey! Wait up!" She flew after it, almost running into his back. He turned to look at her with that strange face, and those strange eyes of his. "Yes?" "Why didn't you...you know..." "Kill you?" Gulp. "Becuase I didn't need to. If I had to, you would be lying in that clearing, throat slit. Now, it would probably be best if you leave me alone." "I'm Rainbow Dash." "..." "What's your name?" "Tom to my friends, Wolf to strangers and Reaper to my enemies." "You have three names?" "You don't?" "Why do you have three names?" "My first name is Tom. My last name is Wolf. But my operational name is Reaper." "Operational?" "Yeah. It's too difficult to explain right now." "Oh, okay. What's your job?" "Really? You haven't guessed? I'm a soldier, or in other words, a killer. How about you?" "Oh, um...I'm a weather pony." "Weather pony?" "Yeah! I move the clouds around and stuff, and keep the weather on schedule." "You move clouds?" "Yeah!" "Wow." They had wandered far into the woods by now, enjoying the conversation. Too deep.
ProloguePrologue Tuesday, November 6th, 2012. Election Day in the United States of America. The day that had held such importance. Obama had lost that election. China was on the rise, and American’s were fed up. They wanted something done about it. So they elected a dark horse, won over by his promises of change. How wrong they were. The horse’s name was Richard Marl. He was relatively unknown, but he was charismatic. And he did get things done. He managed to reduce crime a significant bit, get more kids into schools, that sort of general good. Nobody could have foreseen what he intended all along. What he would come to refer to, in future years, ‘The China Solution’. In the end, historians could argue about the cause, the motives and the like. That didn’t alter the fact that Richard Marl single handily condemned the world to total destruction. On the evening of 18th December 2012, at quarter past 6 in the evening, America was told that they were at war with China. This wasn’t like the British just before World War 1. Everyone knew just how much of a clusterfuck this was going to be. Everyone, understandably, was concerned about the WMD’s that both China and America possessed. Luckily, China and America agreed that there were to be no nuclear detonations during the course of this war. This left the unspoken implication, that the losing side would nuke the other. Everyone just tried to keep that out of their minds. As the two heavyweights of the world shoot the shit out each other, America started playing all it’s cards. That meant that, effectively, every single country in the world got roped into this war. China, cleverly, made its first move by invading Japan. Japan had the world’s tenth largest population. Japan’s unlucky population would be put to labouring or be forced into Army service. This was the first of a series of moves that would see China invading every country it could possible get to. India went soon after. Then, like a disease spreading, Australians watched in horror as China carved itself through Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore. It was clear to all that Indonesia would be the only thing in the way of a Chinese invasion of Australia. Thus, Australia found itself sending troops to Indonesia. Including one very small Special Forces squad.
Squad AssesmentSquad Assessment – Alpha Two Zero Team Leader Captain Tom Wolf – Callsign Reaper Age 35 – Born 21st March 1977 Height 183 cm Eyes Green Hair Dark - Cropped Weapons M4A5 Assault Rifle with M203A1 Underslung Grenade Launcher USP Tactical Handgun Remington Model 870 Pump Action Shotgun F1 Fragmentation Hand Grenade Service Record Joined the regular army on June 5th 2001. A year later, passed selection with the highest score in that group. In November of the same year, he was deployed to Afghanistan with 1 Squadron. Served with distinction and was promoted to Sergeant. In 2003 he came back and did selection, this time as an officer, just in time for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He was again promoted to his current rank of Captain. He then went to East Timor as part of Operation Astute. Notes Reaper is a dedicated and capable team leader. He is smart, and supremely loyal to his unit. Weapons Expert Troop Sergeant James Culter – Callsign Pirate Age 32 – Born 9th June 1977 Height 193 cm Eyes Brown Hair Brown - Cropped Weapons F89 Minimi Para Light Machine Gun USP Tactical Handgun F1 Fragmentation Hand Grenaade Sometimes carries Single Shot Disposable M72 LAW Service Record Joined the regular army on May 13th 2000. Completed selection at the same time as Reaper. Served in the same unit during Afghanistan. Served under him in Iraq. Also went with him to East Timor. Notes Pirate is a very capable, good soldier. Honest to himself and to his mates. Inseparable from Reaper. Where one goes, the other follows. Explosives John McTavin – Callsign Highlander Age 31 – Born 12 January 1978 Height 185 cm Eyes Brown Hair Bald Weapons M4A5 Assault Rifle with M203A1 Underslung Grenade Launcher USP Tactical Handgun M18A1 Claymore Antipersonnel Mine F1 Fragmentation Hand Grenade Carries PE (Plastic Explosive) Service Record Joined the regular army on 1st January 1999. Joined the SAS in 2000. Specialised in explosives. Went to Afghanistan and Iraq with 1 Squadron. Served with distinction. Notes A good soldier and a good man, always willing to listen and give a small encouragement. Very good with explosives. Sniper Nick Smith – Callsign Animal Age 29 – Born 7th September 1980 Height 181 cm Eyes Blue Hair Blonde - Curly Weapons M4A5 Assault Rifle or Heckler & Koch MP5 USP Tactical Handgun SR-25 Sniper Rifle F1 Fragmentation Hand Grenade Service Record Joined the regular army on 3rd May 2003. Joined the SAS in 2004. Served in Afghanistan with distinction as a sniper. Notes Animal good for morale, always providing a quick and easy laugh. Team Notes Alpha Two Zero is a strong, professional unit with all members having served with distinction.
