//------------------------------// // Level 4: Armed Forces // Story: Resident Pon-Evil (Mission II) - Operation: Phoenix Fire // by Delta 727 //------------------------------// Harmony's Elements have been allowed access to the armoury of the Canterlot P.D., and are beginning the plan-out process of their armed operation. During their meeting with Commander Cherry, a soldier named Echo is assigned to escort them. During the meeting, Blade recognizes the stallion as Chaos, his former mentor. With the team now with a powerful ally and a whole arscenal at their hooves, the Elements prepare for war. *Begin Transmission* As they trotted through the main white halls of the P.D. building, Harmony's Elements, Marigold, and Itzel were all being led by Echo to the armoury. "We're here," he said as they approached a large, plate-metal door. "When we enter, do not touch anything until you're shown where you'll get your weapons, or you might level this whole facility." He pressed a small keypad scanner, and a green light shined over his hoof. A picture of Echo appeared on a small screen, as well as his service information. Codename: Echo Rank: Captain Position: Armory Consultant, Weapons Specialist Access: Granted The door slid open, revealing a room full of weapons and armour. Assault rifles, SMGs, Shotguns, Grenade Launchers, and several sets of gadgets and armour lined the walls. Ponies suited in riot gear trotted the room, arming themselves with weapons or simply conversating. A smaller, armoured mare stalked up to Echo. "These the new guys?" She asked. Echo nodded. "Harmony's Elements, huh? Glad you guys're on our side. Good luck." She trotted away after giving Echo a small hug. Blade chuckled to himself. "Who was that?" Blade asked teasingly. "My marefriend..." Echo replied, attempting to keep his voice down. "Glad to see you're beginning to settle down here." "And where would your companion happen to be?" When Blade didn't respond, Echo said, "That's what I thought. Let's go. We're gonna be late for breifing." He led the team through the winding crowds and rows of weaponry to a door on the western wall. He pushed it open, and inside were two stallions and a mare in highly-advanced armour conversating at a rectangular table in front of a projector screen. As the Elements entered, they all turned to the team. Their armour sets were black, relative to that of Echo's, but the gas-mask and helmet had been replaced with masks and hoods similar to that of Blade's. One stallion had goggles in the colour red, the other in purple, and the mare's in green. The red-goggled stallion stepped forward straight to Blade. "Blade!" The stallion said. "How great to see you again!" The stallion clopped one forehoof with Blade's. "Good to see you too, Dingo," Blade said. "How's the team?" "Oh, they've been well, mate. Gettin' a little R&R in their free time between missions. They'll be flittered to hear that you're accompanying us on the mission." "... Flittered, Dingo?" "Hey. I've got my words." He led Blade over to the team, greeted the two, and began to conversate. "Who... Are they...?" X-Ray asked Echo. "Nova Team. Special Operations, kinda like you guys. They're Blade's old team before he was transferred to Delta Team in Harrow's End. They were never involved with the Corporation." Blade returned back to the Elements with his old team. "My team will be accompanying us during this mission," Blade said. He pointed to the stallion in purple goggles. "This is Socket, our Technician," he pointed to the red-goggled stallion, "Dingo, our Sniper and Team Leader," he then pointed to the green-goggled mare, "and Cell, our Medic. Dingo, Socket, Cell, this is Chainlink, X-Ray, Marigold, and Itzel." " 'Ello!" Dingo said with a chuckle. "Greetings," Socket followed. "Pleasure to meet you," finished Cell. "Great to meet y'all!" Marigold greeted. "Glad you're on our side," said Itzel. X-Ray and Chainlink remained silent. Dingo pulled Blade aside. " 'Ey, Blade, what's with them?" "They're not too used to newer members. They'll talk eventually. Give them time. But until then, try not to start conversation too much." "Fair enough," Dingo said. "So what are the background stories on these teammates of yours?" Socket asked Blade. "X-Ray is a former spy, and a veteran of war from the Pony-Zebra Civil War. He is our premier surveillance expert. He had been shot in the neck as a colt, so his speech is disfunctioned. Chainlink is our demolition expert, and was temporarily discharged from the Canterlot Corporation of Engineers after an undisclosed incident. Itzel is an ex-assassin from Harrow's End along with her daughter, TrailBlaze. And I'm sure that you already know Marigold." "Ah! I almost forgot," Dingo said. "We've heard much about you, Chainlink. You're a real dedicator. So, we've got a little..." He looked back to his team, and Cell nodded. " 'Surprise' for you. Ya got it, Socket?" "But of course," Socket said. He pulled a large shotgun with a gilded stock off of his back. "A little present we picked up." "No way...!" Chainlink said. "A Juggernaut?" He ran forward, eyeing the gun. "Where'd you get something like this!?" Socket shrugged. "Bits? Work?... Charm...?" He chuckled. "Go on. It's yours." Chainlink took the shotgun in his hooves, examining it carefully. "And the ammo?" Dingo threw him a large belt pouch. "Dart rounds, Mag 34. Not bad, eh?" "Awesome," Chainlink said. "I'll deal some damage with this. You guys're lucky to have me here, especially with this. This is amazing." "Aw, you're welcome," Dingo said. Itzel trottet next to Marigold and murmured, "Quite the charming bunch, aren't they?" "Ah'm sure we'll get along well," Marigold replied. "I'm glad you're appreciating your reunion," Echo said, "But the briefing's about to start. Take your seats. This is important." Chainlink placed the ammo pouch in his waistbelt and the Juggernaut on his back, and the team all took their places at the table, starting with Cell, Socket, and Dingo, then Blade, Echo, X-Ray, Chainlink, Itzel, and Marigold. The lights dimmed, and the digital screen flashed on. A red mare trotted out onto the stage. "Good evening, soldiers," Commander Cherry said. "As you all know, the Outbreak has spread across Equestria, and the ponies responsible remain at large. They will be our objective in time. For now, our objective is to surpress the Outbreak in key cities, and rescue any survivors along the way. As time advances and cities are put back under our control, we will be able to set up base to support your actions with supplies and soldiers." She pressed the screen, and a large map appeared. She then pressed on a location called, 'Manehattan'. "Our first priority is Manehattan, location of a high-priority military base housing surviving soldiers and ammunitions. We will be attacking here first to clear the Infected and any remaining Harrow's End SpecOps teams. Do your best to keep it quiet. We do not need to attract Infected, but we will use loud force if neccessary." She pressed the square of the town, and it zoomed into a map of the city. She pointed to a large square just Northwest of the center of town. "The military base will be located here. Get to this location, and give the passcode that we will provide to you upon arrival." She pressed a large, open area East of the compound, and large, red, pulsating rings rippled from a centerpoint. "This will be your drop zone. A large corn field that has been decayed and burned in the Outbreak. A Pegasi transit wil drop you over the site, and you will drop from the transit by parachute." "I hope none've your team are afraid of heights?" Dingo whispered to Blade. Blade shook his head, and the two returned attention to the presentation. "Once you are there," Cherry pressed her hoof to the screen, and moved her hoof torward the compound square with a red line. She stopped just behind the buildings across the street, and placed a red dot over a small building across from the compound. "Dingo will be placed here for Marksman support. After this, the remaining Nova team will go with Blade North up the street, and the rest of you to the South. Then you will converge onto the street 50 meters from the compound, and make your way inward. Once you regroup, you will enter the compound and take refuge until we can send you evac and supplies to the compound's inhabitants. You will be then brought back here to base for debriefing, intel report, and preparation for your next operation." She tapped the screen twice, and it shut down as the lights flickered on. Nova team and Blade stood to their hooves, and the rest followed. "Nova team, Harmony's Elements, you have your orders. Are we clear on the operation status?" Nova team and Blade gave a salute to the commander, and the others followed the same. "Good. Then the time has come." "Nova team and Harmony's Elements, commence Operation: Phoenix Fire." *Transmission Ended*