//------------------------------//
// Gearing Up 
// Story: Lost Planet (of ponies) 
// by Mixer 
//------------------------------//

	The Osprey flew towards a valley with sides quickly getting higher than it was flying.
“So let me get this straight; you wandered into a blizzard, and ended up in the wastelands?” Roland asked.
“Yes,” Twilight replied. “We were investigating strange sightings of monsters, which we now know as akrid.” 
“And you somehow ended up on E.D.N III from this ‘Equestria’?” Riggs asked.
“That’s what bugs me, I don’t think we were teleported anywhere,” Twilight said. “It’s almost as if our worlds just suddenly merged.”
“I find all this crap about colourful ponies a little hard to believe,” Mike said.
“Well, we’re sitting right in front of you pal,” Rainbow snorted.
“So where are we going?” Shining asked Roland.
“We’re going back to base. I’m sure that you all would like to see some hospitality,” he answered.
“Too bad we’re not going to be able to give it to you,” Riggs said, looking out behind the Osprey.
“An’ why’s that?” Applejack asked.
“We’re going to be moving out again as soon as we drop you off. We’re going to be going after a big source of T-energy in the jungle as soon as we report back.”
“Maybe we could go with you?” Pinkie suggested.
“I don’t think that command is going to see you as combat ready,” Roland said.
“And why not?” the pink mare asked.
“Cus’ you don’t even have harmonizers,” Mike said, holding up his arm to show the device strapped there.
“A harmonizer?” the ponies chorused.
“It’s a device that can heal wounds by using T-energy,” Riggs explained.
“Everyone has to have one,” Roland said.
“Well, if magic is related to this T-energy, then maybe we can just heal ourselves?” Twilight pondered.
“I doubt it,” Roland said. “Although, you may be able to power it by yourself.”
“Hey, we’re about five clicks out from the base,” Razor said over the comms. 
“So, where could we get one of these harmonizers?” Rarity asked.
“If they’ve got extras, maybe we can outfit you with some at the base,” Roland said.
“Looks like we’ve got company,” Riggs said, lifting his assault rifle.
Roland stood up and leaned out to see a swarm of trillids coming towards them.
“Everyone hold on, I’m gonna try an’ shake em’,” Razor said on the comms. 
Roland and Riggs secured themselves to the Osprey with their tethers and leaned out to try and thin the swarm. 
“How’d a swarm this big sneak up on us?” Riggs shouted as he stopped to reload.
“They probably hid in the canyon and we must have woke them up,” Roland said, doing the same.
The Osprey shifted as it banked around a corner, almost tossing a few of it’s pony occupants out.
“How much longer till we’re back at base?” Roland asked over the comms.
“Three minutes, assumin’ we make it that far,” Razor replied, righting the Osprey.
The trailing swarm of trillids rounded the corner after them and started to close the distance.
“Need a hand?” a voice crackled over the comms.
Two Ospreys descended behind the trillid swarm and opened up on them with twin gatlings, making quick work of the akrid.
“Thanks fer the save. We were in some pretty hot water,” Razor said over the comms.
“No problem Razor. But I think you owe me a drink,” the pilot of the other osprey said.
Razor chuckled, “After ya see what we have on board, you might be owing us a drink.”
The three Ospreys made their way out of the canyons and flew to a small base nestled on the peak of a ridge.
As they neared the base the ponies looked out to see the activity below. 
There was a large open area where Ospreys were getting prepared to be loaded with VSs and small boats.Milling around were engineers, soldiers, and pilots, all going about their business.
“Now listen up, when we get down there, you probably won’t get the warmest reception, but try not to provoke anyone,” Roland instructed.
“Yeah, I don’t think you’ll like getting shot,” Mike said.
The Osprey slowed to a hover over the landing pad before slowly descending.
“Well, it’s showtime people, and, er, ponies,” Razor said and he cut the engines and got out.
Roland, Riggs and Mike got off the Osprey first, the ponies following closely behind them.
A few of the ponies shivered as a blast of wind swept over the air pad.
“When can we get someplace warm?” Rarity asked through chattering teeth.
“Just be glad no one's aiming at you right now,” Mike said over his shoulder.
A group of soldiers came over to Roland.
“What in the hell did you bring back to base?” The one in the lead questioned.
“To be completely honest, I’m not sure,” Roland said. “But a few of them can generate T-energy,” he said in a hushed tone.
“Did you say generate?” the leader questioned.
Roland nodded, “But if we want to find out more we’re going to have to keep them from freezing to death.”
“Yes, it’s rather cold,” Rarity whined.
“They talk?” the leader ask, bewildered.
“Yeah, and they might be a real asset if we can get them on our side,” Roland said.
“Alright,” the leader said, looking over the ponies, “Get them inside.”
The three soldiers led the shivering ponies inside the base. They received more than a few strange looks from passers by.
“Well, he seemed friendly,” Twilight commented as the door closed behind them.
“That’s Rex. He talks big, but he’s not a bad guy,” Roland said.
“So, Riggs, where do y’all keep these harmonizer gizmos you were talkin’ about?” Applejack asked.
“We’ve got an armory where we keep gear and weapons. We should probably get you outfitted with something,” he replied, taking off his helmet.
“You two can do that, I’m going to get something to eat,” Mike said, heading off in another direction.
“Well, I’m glad we got rid of that guy,” Rainbow snorted.
“Yeah, Mike’s got a pretty hard head,” Riggs said. “Well, let’s go. The armory is this way.”
The seven ponies followed Riggs and Roland through a few corridors and into a large room full of weapon and armor racks.
“We don’t have anything in pony size, but I’m sure we can figure something out,” Riggs said, going through an armor rack.
He pulled out a helmet and tossed it over to the ponies, “See if that fits.” 
Rainbow picked up the helmet and tried it on while Rarity began to walk around, looking at the armor selections.
“Don’t you have anything a little less... drab?” she asked, trying to find something that wasn’t black or grey.
“Not here,” Riggs said, pulling out a suit of armor and splitting it into it’s separate pieces. 
“Um, do you have any helmets that can fit over a horn?” Shining asked, trying to settle the helmet atop his head.
“Sorry, but it’s that or you’ll just have to wrap a scarf around your head or something,” Riggs said. “Here, this might fit something,” he said, setting down a few leg and arm guards.
Rainbow put them on and found that they fit her well. 
“Hey, got anymore?” she asked, checking out her new armor pieces.
“I think I might be able to help with this project,” Rarity said, levitating the padded under layer so she could scrutinize it. “You wouldn’t happen to have a pair of scissors around would you?”
“I’ve got a knife if that helps,” Riggs said, holding out the implement.
Rarity gave a light sigh, “Well, it’s a little primitive, but it’ll have to do. Oh, and I will need some thread and a needle.”
“This isn’t exactly a tailor’s shop,” Riggs said.
“Do you want us to freeze to death outside?” Rarity questioned sharply.
Riggs groaned, “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you,” she said, looking back over the underlayer and beginning her work.
While Riggs went to get something to sew with, Roland went over to a footlocker and pulled out a harmonizer.
“Here, this should attach to the arm guard here,” Roland said, helping Rainbow attach hers.
“Cool,” the rainbow pegasus said, looking over her new toy.
“It won’t work until you’ve got a tank to carry T-energy, but at least you’ve got it. There are a few more left, but not enough for all of you.”
“That’s okay, I didn’t really want one anyways,” Fluttershy said weakly.
“I think I’ll pass too,” Twilight said.
“Alright, that’s good. We only have four left,” Roland said, getting them out.
Shining, Applejack, and Pinkie took theirs while Roland set Rarity’s down on a bench near her.
Riggs soon came back with a box of sewing materials and set it down by Rarity. 
“Thank you darling, now give me a moment...” she trailed off as she began to re-stitch the suit back together.
In no time, she had a pony shaped suit all ready to go. 
“Here, try this on Rainbow,” she said, levitating the garment over to her.
Rainbow Dash took off her armor plates and slipped the suit on.
“It’s a little stiff, but it fits,” she said, testing out the joints.
“I thought so, but it should loosen up after a while,” Rarity said, starting on another.
“I think we’ll leave you to it,” Roland said. “Twilight, why don’t you come with me, you seem to know a lot. Maybe you can help fill the boss in.”
“Alright,” Twilight said reluctantly.
“I’ll go with you,” Shining offered.
“It’s alright, I’ll be fine by myself,” Twilight said.
Roland and Twilight turned and left the armory as Rarity worked on the second suit, this one tailored for Pinkie.
“So, Roland, what exactly are you intending on telling your boss?” Twilight asked as they walked down the hall.
“As much as I can before we have to leave. We don’t have a whole lot of time before we move out. There’s going to be a couple of different operations going on and command is going to be busy enough coordinating everything without anyone being late,” he replied.
“What kind of operations?” Twilight asked.
“We’re going to hit a T-energy source in the jungle. There’s a group of snow pirates that’s got a hold on it right now, but we’re going to clear them out and take the T-energy. There’s another group going out to hijack a NEVEC transport train. If they get the job done then we’ll have another big score of T-energy,” Roland explained.
“Snow pirates?” Twilight questioned.
“They’re kind of like us, searching for enough T-energy to sustain themselves, but they’re just a bunch of savages. Everyone out here who’s not NEVEC is considered a snow pirate,” he explained.
“And you just steal it from each other?” Twilight asked, a little put off.
“No, stealing it is only one way, and most of the time NEVEC is the target for everyone, but hunting akrid is another way to find T-energy.”
“So, you either have to hunt monsters, or steal to survive?”  Twilight asked.
“Yeah, that’s about it,” Roland said.
“That’s awful.”
“Maybe, but it’s how we survive. Hey, we’re almost to the command center.”
Roland opened a door and the two of them stepped into a medium sized room with a communications center on one side and a small group of monitors on the other. Standing in the center of the room was a table with a holographic map on it, and a figure standing behind it.
“Roland, I take it that this is one of the ‘ponies’ I’ve heard about?” the figure asked.
“Yeah, Twilight, this is the base commander, Parker,” Roland said, introducing him.
“Hello mister Parker, I’m Twilight Sparkle,” she said, giving a slight bow of her head.
“Well miss Sparkle, from what I’ve been told you ponies just wandered out into the wastelands, with no gear, and managed to survive long enough to get rescued by Roland and his team. Is that right?” 
“Yes. Well, kind of...” she said, shifting a little, “I was really the one who wandered off, my friends and brother just came looking for me.”
“And I’ve also head that you can blast a few trillids with, magic?” 
“Yes, we can use magic. Well, by we, I mean unicorns,” Twilight said.
Parker gave a little groan, “This is going to get tiring...”
“Tiring?” Twilight asked, confused.
“Unicorns, are there any other names?” Parker asked, a little annoyed.
“Well, there are unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies,” Twilight explained.
Parker sighed and turned around, “It’s bad enough that we’re going to be calling you ponies. It sounds like we’re in some kind of kid’s fairy tale saying unicorns and pegasi...”
“I’m sorry, but it’s what we’re called, it’s not like we can just change it,” Twilight said, a little annoyed.
“It doesn’t matter right now. Roland, get ready to move out, and grab your team,” Parker instructed, turning back to face them.
“And what about them?” Roland asked, pointing to Twilight.
“What about them?” Parker asked.
“Well, Riggs is down in the armory outfitting a couple of them with armor and harmonizers,” Roland explained.
“You mean they’re going to fight?” Parker asked, stifling a laugh.
“Yeah, and I’d like to take one or two of them with us,” Roland said.
“Can they shoot?” 
“Some can.”
“Can they fight?” 
“Yes.”
“Then pick a couple to go with you. I’ll deploy the others to different operations,” Parker said.
“Yes sir,” Roland said. “Come on Twilight.”
The two walked out of the room, leaving Parker alone.
He gave a sigh, “Fighting ponies... now this I’ve got to see.”