//------------------------------// // Displaced Arc, Chapter 3: I think we're gonna need a bigger gun.... (Part 2) // Story: For the Emperor and the UNSC! (Rebooted version) // by Titan Commander Sebaste //------------------------------// The visitors jumped as Twilight burst in. “Geez, and I thought our Twilight bursting in was surprising!” Viktor muttered, getting a glare from the pony version of the Princess.         “How?” Josh asked.         “By scanning for Rarity’s magical frequency and cross checking it with Seraphim tech signatures,” the anthro lavender alicorn said excitedly before noticing the guests. “Uh, who are they?” “Visitors from a different Equestria,” Eliteslayer replied.         “Multiverse theory, don’t think on it too hard,” Josh said. “So, where is she?”         “In Zebra lands, near where those extremists who attacked your main base were last seen.”         Josh put a hand to his chin. “So we either attack and risk pissing off the zebras, or don’t, and have them at full strength?” He then looked at the other Displaced. “Of course, nothing has recorded you guys before, so they may think it a third party.” “And that’ll play in your hands because while we're distracting them, you’re able to pull off your mission,” Sebastian said.         “Somewhat what I have planned,” Josh replied. “Whichever of you’s the best in stealth ops moves in and takes Rarity and Sweetie Belle if you can find her, and high tail it to the extraction point. In the mean time, I’ll have a combat Engineer and a deceiver move in and capture Rarity’s ACU if it’s there before moving a transport into move it here. Of course, I’ll have units on standby for support if need be.” “I can handle both Rarity and Sweetie,” Eliteslayer said, smirking as a hardlight copy of himself appeared next to him. “Hardlight Holograms.”         “Nice,” Josh muttered. “Still, best if each of you come in case of support. Also, may want to make sure you’re shielded, as we’re heading to Alpha, and the only quick way there is gating.”         “What the buck’s gating?” the pony Rainbow asked.         “Think teleporting but using a structure for it,” Josh replied. “Come on, you’ll need to ride on my ACU.” “Copy that,” Eliteslayer replied. “Let's roll!” With that, the other Displaced, along with their pony allies, followed Josh outside, where his ACU was right next to the castle. He climbed up it and into the head, where the control area was as the others took position on the shoulders of the thing, the two Twilight’s putting a shield up to protect from the adverse effects of gating. Once they were all situated, the ACU lurched forward as it began to move toward the forest before a purple glow lit the night up. Josh maneuvered his ACU towards it and, upon reaching it, the ACU and those riding it vanished in a flash of light. a few hours later-Zebrica-Seraphim loyalist camp “G’day!” Eliteslayer said before he knocked out two guards while still in active camo. “And G’night!”         “I thought you said were good with stealth,” Josh said over the comms. “Stealth does not involve yelling as you knock people out.” “Hey, they never saw it coming! And I wasn't that loud!”         “Doesn’t mean their friends didn’t hear it!” “Whatever, I'm near Rarity's tent, the other guards are more occupied with the other three at the moment.”         “Long as no explosions occur, I think we’re good,” Josh deadpanned. “Make sure she’s out, grab her and Sweetie if she’s in there, and get to the extraction point. Hurry up, too. Spy planes show unit patrols you were lucky to avoid on the way in, and they’re comprised of Assault tanks. Trust me, those things are a bitch to ground forces.” “Roger that. And if it comes to a tank fight, I have armor of my own. Eliteslayer out.” The Spartan said before he headed towards the command tent. Peeking in, he saw two unicorns, an adult and a filly. “Gotcha…” he whispered before he snuck in and with two powerful blows, rendered them unconscious. He then concentrated and a hardlight copy of himself appeared. With a nod, the two picked the unicorns and retreated before the troops could even spot them.         “You got ‘em?” Josh asked “Yep, heading towards the rendezvous point as we speak.” Eliteslayer replied.         “Copy that, sending capture team bravo to get the ACU or, failing that, the SACU, or maybe a Seraphim ACU, whichever they encounter first,” Josh said. “Evac transport’s waiting for you and the others.” “Roger that, I’ll let them know.” Eliteslayer then switched to a different channel. “Vik, Package has been retrieved, fall back to the rendezvous point!” “Copy that,” Viktor replied, “We’ll be there in a few minutes or so!”         Before Eliteslayer could reply, he heard Josh say, “Oh, shit, forgot about those.” He then heard a beep, which indicated Josh had gone to all frequencies. “All groups, pull out now. Fucking Spy Plane got us, and any enemy units nearby are on their way here. Suggest you hightail it. My forces and I will buy time.” “Copy that!” Eliteslayer said before skidding to a halt and summoning a Pelican. After making sure Rarity and Sweetie were secured, the Spartan then activated the engines and flew to where the others were. “Anyone call for air support?” He radioed before unleashing a burst of machine gun fire on the enemy squad. He then opened the bay door and yelled, “Get in!” Both Twilight and Rainbow quickly flew in while Viktor and Alex used their thrusters to make the jump. Sebastian also managed to make the jump, but nearly fell out before Alex grabbed his hand and pulled him in. Josh's Twilight was the last one in as the hatch closed and Eliteslayer opened up the throttle, flying away from the base. “Also works,” Josh said over the radio. “You got air superiority fighters gaining. Sending some of my own after ‘em.” Soon after he said this, five, jagged aircraft zoomed past the pelican, and explosions were heard. “Get back to the castle, I can handle these ass hats.” “Copy that. Erm… what if a nuke hits the ACU?” Eliteslayer asked.         They heard laughing before a reply. “With how I modified this thing, that won’t fucking stop me! Hell, a lower health version of this survived Celestia drilling a hole in it’s chest! And even then. . .well, let’s just say I’m a huge sci-fi fan, and I would be ashamed of myself if I didn’t make a mech to hold another mech. You guys seen Pacific Rim?” “Hell yes!” Sebastian chuckled. “I loved that movie when it came out in theaters!”         “I made a Gypsy danger that can hold my ACU and take three Experimental Strategic nukes, and still function. Not at full strength, but still function. Oh, and also three mechanized Otachis. The winged ones.” “Geez, that Kaiju was just nasty! But we'll see you at the castle, ETA, 30 minutes.” Eliteslayer said before aiming his vehicle towards the direction of the Castle. “Egg-xactly, and copy that. But I won’t be there. I’ll be having fun here.” Josh said before he spoke to the oncoming hordes of mechanical enemies. “Come and get me you fuckers!” Various explosions were heard soon after. Twilight’s castle-thirty minutes later The Pelican landed with a thump of hydraulics in front of the Castle, causing the ship to shudder. “Alright, let's get these two inside.” Eliteslayer said as he got up from the pilot’s seat. “Everyone okay?” He then asked.         “I’m good,” anthro Twilight said. “Just wondering how Josh is doing.” “I'm guessing you two are an item?” Eliteslayer chuckled. “You’re not the first Twilight to fall for the Displaced in their world.” “Yeah,” she replied. “We started dating just after this whole thing began and before Celestia actually declared war.”         “I don’t think you need to worry about him,” pony Twilight said as she got out the Pelican and pointing in the direction they had come. “Look.” The group did so, and saw a single transport-a tier three UEF heavy transport- on it’s way to their location with Josh’s ACU on it, along with a weirdly shaped machine that  didn’t seem to have wheels. The transport itself was protected by five Gemini air superiority fighters and five renegade class gunships. “Holy throne….,” Sebastian muttered in shock. “That's some firepower!” “And he didn’t even have Experimentals with him,” anthro Twilight said. Viktor and Alex soon walked out, carrying the two bound prisoners. “What should we do with these two?”         “I guess the cells in the basement,” anthro Twilight said. “Oh, I just remembered. Josh told me before we left to get Rarity and Sweetie to offer you guys an ACU if you want one, but it won’t be the same model. He also said something about an extradimensional communicator you can use to summon him if you need help.” “Honestly, we need the firepower we can get. So we’ll take an ACU.”         “Right,” she said, nodding. A second passed before she said, “A UEF model is on it’s way to the gate we used to get to Alpha. He built most gates with the intention of bringing an army from other dimensions if he had allies there, so you just need to put something from that universe into a receiver at the base, and it’ll open a portal up to it.” “Hmm…  that will be interesting…” Eliteslayer said.         “Guess we’ll see you guys later, then,” anthro Twilight said. “It’s been interesting.” “It was nice meeting both you and Josh. And I have a feeling you two will pull through this and survive. As for your Celestia, hopefully you'll find a way to restore her, but when you do, she’ll need all the support she can get to help recover.” The Spartan said. “Thanks,” anthro Twilight said. Half an hour later, Rarity and Sweetie-now awake and thrashing about in their prison cells- were being guarded as Josh was in his room going through tokens and talking with his Displacer to find someone to help with the mind control on the two unicorns, and the Displaced that had helped him were getting ready to leave next to their newly acquired ACU. A knock on Josh’s door made him look up. Standing at the door was Eliteslayer, his helmet under one arm, revealing his face for the first time. With a mop of short reddish brown hair and green eyes, he looked like he was in his early 20s, but the most discerning feature on his face were two slash scars across one eye.         “Slayer?” Josh asked. “Figured you’d be with the others at the ACU.” “I just wanted to say goodbye before we left. That Assault rifle you had that summoned me… it wasn't supposed to work. Until I do a new token, my old one wasn't supposed to work. Guess it didn't get that memo.” He chuckled.         “New token? You’re an old Displaced?” Josh asked. “That’s a new one. First time I’ve heard of that happening.” “Yeah, I was redisplaced into the universe the others are in. But I have seen more than those three would ever believe. But when I was sent to their Equestria, a good majority of my memories were blocked, so I now only remember those I’ve encountered.         “Huh. Interesting,” Josh said before reaching into the pile of tokens, and taking out what looked like a gauntlet that was colored red and had ridges on it, the forward edge glowing as if it had flames inside it. “So, you know who this belongs to, ‘cause my guy isn’t telling me who.” Eliteslayer looked at the gauntlet in shock before he then chuckled. “So the big guy actually did it… His name is Mau’ual, a Displaced that I had the pleasure of meeting with an… old colleague of mine before I was re Displaced.         “Thanks for letting me know,” Josh said before taking an Energy sword hilt out of the pile, and tossing it to Eliteslayer. “Got two of those, and my guy’s telling me it belongs to a Displaced neither of us have met. Just says the guy’s name is Ruso ‘Tafam, and he’s having to deal with a war against flame creatures or some shit like that. Given the hilt, I figured you’d be interested. Helping out a fellow Halo Displaced, and all.” “I’ll give him a call when I have the chance. But right now, the war against Flame Tail is my top priority.”         “I was told the guy took on an entire army by himself with just two swords and daggers. He may be able to help you.” Eliteslayer nodded before he extended his hand to Josh. “It was an honor meeting you Josh. I wish you luck in this, and you’d better be prepared for Twi’s… OCD.” He chuckled.         “Dude, I’m somewhat OCD myself,” Josh said as he took Slayer’s hand. “I should be able to handle it.” The Spartan gave a rare grin before the two shook hands. “Until then, good hunting.”         “Thanks,” Josh said. “See you later.” Eliteslayer gave a quick military salute before he then left. Soon afterwards, a massive flash of energy was seen outside as the four and their Twilight and Rainbow entered the portal, along with the ACU. Soon after, the massive portal closed, leaving no trace of the visitors.         But what they didn’t see was a shadow of a figure approach the gate, and scan it. “Perfect,” the voice said. “May the Way guide us,” it said before vanishing in a smaller flash of light.