The Badlands, the edge of the Changeling Kingdome
Abigail POV
Discord was first out of the five of us to talk next, complaining about his misbehaving power. "Oh This is so strange, we're here, and that's there and not here." He said in a matter of fact voice.
"Oh I can probably explain-"
"Oh well if the first you don't succeed." Discord said interrupting whatever valuable intel the Changeling defector. He was about to snap his paw when it enclosed in Starlight's aqua magic.
"Maybe we should come up with a plan first?" She stated simply.
"I second that." I agreed.
Discord then just blew on Starlight's magic off his paw like it was dust before looking down at the mare. "A what?" he asked in a questionable tone. His attitude was starting like this guy less than the changelings at the speed of stupid he has going.
"You know, figuring out the best way to do something before you actually do it," Trixie explained in a clear matter of fact voice. Discord just laughed at the magician.
"HA ha, that's adorable you, but I can do anything." He boosted while stroking his ego.
"Actually," Thorax tried talking again but silenced by Discord's paw again.
"That's all very nice but really a waste of time, we have me and what else could we possibly need?'
"Maybe two garrisons worth of troops with a support company in reserve. A platoon of Centaur battle tanks and a squadron of King Raven assault transports and maybe a squad of Onyx Guard troops would put me at ease in this situation." I said while I took out my longshot to take a closer look at the changeling castle before looking back at her group. Starlight, Trixie, and Thorax looked at her with confusion while Discord looked at her in annoyance.
"Why are you here again? I mean come on what are you going to do? You're in a new world, in a new body with magic that is as weak as a new-born foal, and these otherworldly gadgets you have could break like twigs if you didn't take care of them properly." He explained while he reached out grabbing her Lancer. Before I could protest and he pulled the trigger, and unleashing a stream of confetti paper out its barrel, making me like the changelings more than Discord. "At least my magic can do something." He boasted. I then snatched her Lancer back and hoped that was just a simple magic trick that he pulled and didn't fuck up her weapon. Otherwise, I will demonstrate to him what I did those changelings. Thorax then tried to speak again but was altimetry interrupted.
"The thing about magic here-" By Discord of all things with another snap of his paw.
"Like this!"
Now, I have had heard the term 'bringing in the Calvary' before but what I saw made me want to smash and bang my head on the ground. Repeatedly. Till I lose brain function.
There floating in front of us was Discord riding on a flying pig, wearing green face paint while wielding a lance that he thrust into the sky with a haft joking war cry. "For Fluttershy!!"
'I swear, when all this is over, I'm going to see if I can help that poor girl put a restraining order on this guy. Stocker alert.' I added to her mental notebook checklist.
As soon as he flew off Discord let out a cry of surprise when his magical pig and Lance diapered in a poof of blue smoke. While he, himself fell and nearly missing cliff by grabbing hold to the edge of the steep slope. Starlight and I quickly rushed to the self-proclaimed god and dragged him back up. Discord now on his 'feet' about-faced to look at the changeling hive, giving the place a look like it insulated his cousin or something. Snapping his paw once more created another flying pig by his side and directed it to fly to their-their destination. Like before when the Pig got close to it before it also faded into blue smoke. Confusing everyone. Thorax, on the other hand, knew what was going on.
"I've been trying to tell you nothing other then changeling magic works here!" That bit got everyone's attention. "Chrysalis throne is carved from an ancient dark stone that soaks up outside magic the same way changelings soaks out love. It's how she keeps the hive save." He explained.
"And keeps beings like Discord away and making any magic related attack, powerful or otherwise that come's near her home a guaranteed failure. Really wish I had that tank platoon right about now." I commented.
Starlight then went to the cliff edge; her horn glowed with her magic till it flew away towards the hive when her horn crossed the invisible line. Making herself everyone present a little hesitant about this attack. Trixie was the first to one commit on the situation, "So... what kind of plan were you thinking?"
Studying Starlight's expression, or confusion and worry, without using magic all her life side a few days ago. I couldn't imagine what a difficult task had formed on her friend. "Without magic, I have no idea." Starlight said before her face changed to determination when she looked back to meet us. "But nopony else is coming so somepony better come up with something?" She told them.
I then thought for a moment to proses what I knew. An evil queen bug bent on would control, took nearly a dozen prisoners and are being held against their will and without knowing what the condition they're in. Also the fact that there is a castle full of beings that could change into anyone at will and a stone throne that cancels out all magic besides changeling magic. Their objectives were clear, but it was the what and how that I need more info on.
"Thorax," I called, catching the look of the defector and everyone's attention.
"Yes?"
"This Queen's throne, do you know where it's located?" I asked.
"Yes, it's the throne room at the top of the hive. It's where Chrysalis leads and can control most of the hive from and it is well defended." He explained.
"And is also their last line of defense if there was ever an attacked, clever girl. What about the captives? Where would you think she will be holding them?" I questioned the changeling. Thorax thought for a moment before answering.
"Normally changelings don't take ponies to the Hive, in less they found the Hive themselves. They are then taken somewhere in the area in the Badlands to be harvest for their love. For those who find the Hive, they are taken inside the Hive, then go to the collective to have their minds are wiped to secure the Hive's location." He continued to explain when his eyes narrowed. "But if it is someone as important like Princess Cadence and Twilight, Chrysalis would want to make sure they can't ever escape." he finished.
"Like say near the throne room?" Starlight added to the conversation. Thorax then lit up at that.
"Yes! Chrysalis spends the most of her time in the throne room. Having them there near her, she can watch them herself, so they never escape!" He said happily, before realizing how the odds were stacked against them. "They would also be cocooned, so they can't get out."
"Thorax, if we can destroy the throne can we get our magic back?" Starlight asked.
"Uh huh," Thorax chirped.
Discord, on the other hand, didn't look that convinced. "That's a terrible plan. How are we even supposed to get to the hive?"
Trixie was the one who answered him next. "We walk." in a simple fact voice. Before following everyone down the slope to the changeling hive.
Discord just continued complaining about walking next. "I haven't walked that far in a millennia!" He cursed. Making everyone else present 'groan' in frustration of the mismatched god, 'This is going to be a long walk' Abby thought dryly before taking out some nylon string with her magic.
"Aren't you coming, Abby?" Starlight stopped and saw what I was doing. I lifted up the nylon into Starlights view.
"I really wish I had my fingers otherwise I wouldn't have to do this." I then took the nylon and threaded it through the trigger assembly and looped it around the trigger in a knot. "When we go in there, the only thing I can really do with my weapons is to use them as clubs, and without my magic, I can't fight them effectively. By doing this, I can at least use my Lancer to some extent while we're in there." I explained to her friend as she showed her what she had done. "All I got to do is tighten this cord to allow me to fire. Now I'm not entirely useless nor defenseless." I said proudly of my little experiment.
About ten minutes of walking were the limit of silence we got before Discord decided to whine again about walking. "I don't know how many of you manage not being able to disappear and reappear whenever you want."
"Well, I for one 'definitely' miss you being able to 'disappear." Trixie comeback, sounding annoyed with the Discord. Starlight then acted as the voice of reason between the two.
"Give Discord a break. None of knew we were able to use magic." She explained.
"I did," Thorax said sounding guilty.
Starlight then went in front of our group to get everyone's attention. "If we get separated it might make sense to have a way to make sure we are who we say we are."
"Like the challenge phased and counter-military units use in case of group separation. Good idea Star." I praised. Making the mare blush slightly at the praise she received.
"Oh like a secret code how about if I say 'we are' and you 'doomed.'" He stated cheerily.
'Yep, on the shit list.' I declared silently.
"Or if I say 'rescue' you say 'whoa!" He shouted as he yelled as he tripped and fell to the ground.
"How about you say 'klutzy' we say 'draconequus'" Trixie stated.
"Klutzy draconequus? Works for me!" Starlight approved.
"I'll definitely remember it." Thorax agreed.
"Not very professional but if it works for you guys, then that's all that matters," I commented before following along with the rest. Discord was giving them the stink eye.
Another ten minutes of walking and the group only made it to a fourth of the way to the hive. For a few moments, I found Trixie had been sporting glances my way as if she wanted to ask me something but choosing not to. Deciding to break the ice and the boredom I went and made the first move. "Yes, Trixie?" I said making the magician look the other way.
"Oh um, I was just wondering?"
"Yes?"
"Are you really from another world?" Trixie asked. "Discord earlier said that you are in a new world and called your stuff otherworldly. I have my doubts but since I've known Twilight and the elements, knowing Starlight and Discord. You not being from this world is not out of the ballpark of weird."
I laughed, "That's alright. If our places were switched, then I wouldn't believe it either, and yes I am from another world called Sera."
"And you are a pony there too?"
"No I wasn't, I didn't become a pony till I got magically transported here by Twilight. According to her, it was an accident, and she has no idea why I transformed into one of you either. Whether it was or it wasn't intentional I'm here today because of it" I explained to Trixie.
"Why?" Thorax said joining the conversation. "Were you in danger?"
"Oh yeah... A big major life-threatening situation went on alright just before Twilight got me. If she been a few seconds slower, I would have been vaporized a big bomb blast wave or be buried alive." I told the changeling.
"What were you doing that made you get nearly killed like that?" Starlight questioned, now joining in. Discord walked in as well but didn't say anything just listened in. 'well everyone is looking at me, might as well give them a story to pass the time' I decided with a mental shrug.
"Well, I guess I can tell yea what happened that led to the events that led me here, not like it matters in this world. My mission at the time was for me and my platoon to scout over this mining town that was supposed to be abandoned. The town itself was evacuated of civilians when the Locust were near the town. Only a few stubborn locals stayed behind. We hit a few snags reaching the town but eventually made it. When we were securing a few building a couple of trimmers rocked the house, then a sinkhole opens up sending me to an underground cave system we call the Hollow."
"I then had to fight for my life alone, against a few patrols of Locust. After beating them and nearly dying a few times in the process using hit and run tactics, Then suddenly, an explosion accrued near me making me fall off the edge of a cave wall I was on. Then suddenly I'm on some stone table surrounded by the elements, Spike and Starlight here" I pointed at Starlight. Trixie stopped the Gear with a question.
"What's the Locust?" she asked.
I had already told Starlight this and the elements who and what the Locust were, so this shouldn't be hard. "The Locust are the evilest of monsters of my world, two-legged walking worms with teeth made for ripping flesh and claws that can rip your leg out of its socket," I said. "We didn't know they even existed until they attacked us unprovoked when we just finished another war we had with another nation only weeks prior. Now we've been at war for 14 years with few victories for us to celebrate." I finished explaining.
Starlight looked at me with sadness in her eyes, having already heard what the war had done to her people. Trixie and Thorax looked a little scared and at awe from the Gear. "So yea that's the Locust in a short brief."
A minute or two passed by before Trixie spoke to the Gear again with another question. "I don't suppose you been on a few rescue missions have you?" She asked me. I gave Trixie a nod that she had.
"Do you mind telling us one?" She asked.
That got me thinking; they were about near haft the way there so a quick story couldn't hurt. "Sure why not? Nothing better to do while we walk. How about I tell you guys the role I played in the evacuation of Ilima City. That should be long enough tail for me to tell till we reached the base of the hive."
(10 A.E.) Ilima City
Like any other day the year the sun would shine on the land with its golden rays. The Locust saw otherwise. A Kryllstorm was heading there way. They had just gotten word that the locust had just arrived and was using Seeders throughout different parts of the city they occupied in and were covering the sky with Nemacyst so they can ink it more, accelerating Kryll storm that was coming.
"Williams! Bowden! Take the right side barricade. Nylund! B.K! to the left side! Buckell, position yourself, so you have a clear shot with that Longshot of yours. Greg get on that turret! Vay, you're with me. To your positions people go!" I ordered my men. One by one they were where they needed to be.
"Moving Sargent!" was their reply. Putting her finger on the helmets communicator, she radioed to HQ.
"Control, this Whisky three. The I-20 exit leading to Ephyra is clear, tell any evacuation site that still has any refugees left to send them, though."
"Roger that Whisky three..." Said a young female voice over in her helmet. "New orders for you Whisky three. You are to hold that exit point till those refugees are, though. Papa three and Bravo four are in route with their groups in tow. Kilo five is also near your position but is engaged with Locust forces and are falling back to your location from the southwest." He informed her. "When the last group is at your location, you are to evacuate yourselves with them and leave for Ephyra with Kilo five
"Roger control, Whisky out." I radioed over before cutting off.
She then waved Vey over and together they took a wall to the southwest. "Alight Gears, we hold this point till everyone gets out. So dig in for we might be here for a few," I advised to my men. I got no arguments from them as they got conferrable on their walls while looking out for the grubs.
About a few minutes into the wait the sound of gunfire could be heard nearby. "Look alive out their Gears here they come!" I ordered. Raising my Lancer up over the edge of the wall, I looked down my sights. I saw the view of several Gears running to their position. Trailing a whole lot of grubs.
"Give them covering fire!" I shouted while also laying down a stream of bullets. My squad's attack was enough to bog them down for a moment so Kilo five could make it to their barricaded some of then not looking good. What I assumed was the squared leader took up a position next to me, sending down bullets of hie to the fray.
"Sargent Evans, Kilo five," he said in a heavy accent.
"Sargent Terrell, Whisky three. Is this all of you?!" I shouted over the gunfire.
"Yea this all I have. What's your plan?!" He asked before firing a burst from his Lancer killing a drone.
"We need to hold this road here! A few elements are still evacuating the area and need to come to this exit to leave the city!" I told him before sighting on another drone.
"What about our extraction?!"
"Hitchhike on the last group and get the hell out!" I answered from behind cover.
"Works for me!" He said as he shoots at another drone.
With the two squads combined fire, they soon took down the Locust wave. When the last drone was taken care of, I radioed command. "Command this Whisky."
"This is control, go ahead Whisky." said the same male voice from earlier.
"Kilo five just linked with us and are adding in securing the exit ramp. Do you have a statics update on the on the evacuees?" I asked to control.
"Roger Whisky three, Bravo Four should be with you soon with their group soon. Papa three has been delayed to pick up another civilian and will exit with you." Control explained. The sound of heavy tires ripping asphalt soon reached the Gears ears, followed by several APC's.
"Roger control, Bravo four just arrived." I then watched as they drove by one by one till the last one stopped in front of us. The front suddenly opened up, and a white armored Gear looked at us.
"We have some room in here for any wounded you guys got. Any takers?" Asked the medic trooper.
My squad was still in good shape, but two of Sargent Evens' Gears had to go, which brought their numbers down to fourteen. With the medics, APC loaded they booked it out and made their way to catch up with the other transports.
It wasn't long before the two squads of Gears could see Reavers flying in the distance. A sign that the fighting was about to hit them. "Get ready men!" Sargent Evens called out while I radioed control,
"Control this Whisky, what's the ETA of that last evac convoy?" A moment later they replied back.
"They are nearing your position now Gears, stand by for immediate extraction. Be advised; a large Locust force is nearing your AO. Hold on down there; this is going to be close."
"Roger control. We'll hold out for them as long as possible." I then looked in the direction of where the sound of something heavy hitting the ground. Looking over the southern barricade, my paled at the fifty-foot tall white monstrosity that was walking towards her barrier.
"BRUMAK!"
If there was ever a time to lose one's shit, then now was it. The sergeant, along with the other five Gears that were on the same barricade fired everything they had at the incoming fifteen thousand kilogram monster that was strolling its way to them. Their Lancers barely did anything to the beast as it neared them. When it was only two blocks away, it let out a massive roar followed by raining down a few rockets at our position. A multitude of exploding impacts went off around me, throwing chunks of dirt into the air. "Greg! Get that god damn turret on that Brumak, now!" I ordered.
A steady stream of tracer rounds flew off above her, hitting the beats face thus destroying its mask that it wears and making it scream out in pain. Its response was to fire back with its two machine guns that have been attached to its forearms blindly. Making everyone take over as its fire went everywhere. "Focus fire on that things weapons!" Sargent Evens ordered, his Lancer already shooting at the Brumak's limbs.
Letting loose a stream of bullets, I along with the others Gears, saw their work slowly paying off. With its mask damaged it was next to blind, and its riders were having a difficult time trying to keep it from going berserk.
"Control, Whisky! I've got a Brumak about to go on a rampage right through my AO! Requesting authorization for Hammer Strike fire usage!" I called over the radio. It didn't take long to get a reply back.
"Copy Whisky... Be advised your team is not equipped with a targeting laser, so you have to use the 'Mobile Command Center' to direct your targeting. Hammer of Dawn platform three seven getting in position now" Control explained.
Looking back behind her, I saw the 'Mobile Command Center' they had earlier in the day. Making a b-line for MCC, I had to dodge and keep down from the wildfire that the Brumak was dishing out. Taking hold of the MCC controls the screen blinked once before an orbital view the fighting came up. Working the controls the Hammers crosshairs moved right over the area they were fighting in with her target coming on screen. Witha gods eye view of the Brumak that was raging down of where I was at. "Gears take cover; I'm bringing down the Hammer!" I called out to my fellow Gears as I worked the controls.
A moment later red orbital lines were seen in the sky over the Locust's best before an inferno of fiery red death impacted it, setting it slightly ablaze with before its rocket back exploded killing the creature. When the explosion had subsisted it, I let up on the dawn controls. Outside she could hear her Gears cheering at their small victory against the beasts that torment them. I had to smile at that rarely had the COG in recent times have had any successes that were called for. I didn't think of this as one because they were still retreating out of the city, so the victory felt hollow to her.
"Whisky three, this is Papa three. Your ride is here, get on board and let's get out of here." Said the male voice Papa three. Soon a dozen APC's then showed up down the road they have been guarding drove into their line of sight.
"Control, this Whisky three, Papa three has arrived at the city exit. Whiskey and Kilo are now extracting from Lima city. We're done here" I informed to control.
"Roger Whisky, come on home."
My story did its job of letting time pass by as their 'unique' group of five were now at the base of the changeling castle. The others had listened to my tale and asked questions on a few things as to what I was fighting. They didn't know it, but I knew my companions, even Discord had felt a little bit at ease that there was someone that could actually fight with them.
Sighting a pair of Changelings guards in blue beetle like armor we went around them in the hope that we were not spotted, Thorax waved us to the side where a small opening in was at on the wall.
'How undisciplined and foolish these grubs are compared to the Locust.' I thought. 'A hole this big in their perimeter with no one guarding or sealing it? Sloppy'
Thorax flew through the hole with co following. When all of them were in, they could only stare at the living walls that seemed to move by themselves. "Ok, I'm defiantly glad you came," Trixie said in concern. "I don't think we'll find our way without you."
I nodded my head to silently agreed with the blue mare on this. The place looked like it was out of a movie to me. Thorax then pointed behind them at the way they came in. "You definitely wouldn't." The rest of us looked back at the way we just came in and saw it closed up within seconds leaving no trace of there ever being a hole there in the first place, making them all now trapped in the hive.