//------------------------------// // 13. New Toys/ Night March // Story: The Atlantean-Dominion War // by The Atlantean //------------------------------// Crimson opened his eyes to the BAM! BAM! BAM! of gunfire. He rushed out of his tent to see Silvercrest walking around her regiment, firing rounds from a shiny rifle she held in her wing. “Wake up, boys and girls! The new toys came earlier than expected!” the Colonel shouted. “Repeating weapons are here!” An instant rush of excited ponies beat him to the armory by a long shot. But Treetop came back with one for him. It was beat up, probably having been under the rest, with scratched paint and a chipped stock. “Sorry I couldn’t get better for you,” he said. “I tried, but the others got there first.” “No, that’s fine. This is a beautiful weapon.” Crimson cradled it with his left wing. “Heavy.” The two laughed and Crimson took a smoldering stick from a nearby cook-fire. He proceeded to inscribe his name and regiment into the side of the stock. “It’s mine now. You want to?” “I’m good, thanks.” Platinum wrote his name on his weapon as well, along with the twins and a few others. They all smiled and were having a good time until it came to training to use the guns. That in itself wasn’t that hard; it was almost like wielding a single-shot musket. The things were just heavier and way more accurate. Everypony was hitting the targets - the centers - many more times than normal. “I don’t know about you, but I want that rematch against their 36th Elites. We’d kick their flanks so hard now!” Northern Lights commented at dinner. Southern Lights agreed. “Now, now, cool it.” Crimson replied. “We can't go against elites! They’re called that for a reason.” “I hear Artillery got some new toys, too.” Platinum said. “Silvercrest says they did. Some kind of accurate long-range cannon. Medical received more supplies and a thing they call ‘antiseptic.’ It’s supposed to keep your wounds from getting infected or something like that.” Southern Lights talked into his food. “When are we moving out?” Northern wondered. “I think it’s a night march. So get some stay-awake stuff. I forget what it’s called,” his twin mumbled. -------------------- “Would you look at that night sky?” Platinum asked. Crimson looked at him incredulously, and the Unicorn shrugged. “I mean, your mom’s named for one of them phenomena.” “A shooting star is nothing more than a streak of light across the sky.” Crimson stated blatantly. But he turned his gaze skyward. Sure enough, the many stars of the night twinkled softly at them from the heavens. “Wait a second…” He pointed with his hoof. Platinum stared. “I don’t see it, but this night march is long. Damn!” The Unicorn kept glancing up, though. Then he whispered near panic: “What the hell is that thing?” “Woah,” Northern said. “Platinum, zoom in on it.” Platinum cast the spell. He stared for a good long minute before releasing the spell. “It looked like a vessel of some kind. A few windows, all metal, a tube with a cone on top, and a spider-looking thing sticking out of the cone. I don’t know…” “Aliens? I knew they were real!” Southern Lights pumped his hoof. “I’m not in the mood to deal with it, so let’s keep marching. Dawn’s not for another couple hours.” Crimson said. ---------------------- Sarge called for a halt right as the sun’s rays curved over the horizon. “Get some rest, boys. We strike for Emberforge in five hours.” “Did he just say Emberforge?” “Dude, look. I can see it. Less than fifty miles.” Silvercrest rolled her eyes and signaled to her troops. They all plopped down, still in column, and fell asleep instantly. She smiled and walked to talk to Sarge. “Are you sure this came from Command? All we received was a message that said Emberforge was under siege. I know it’s a highly defensible position, but we literally just left our northernmost camp and struck southwest in the hopes that we relieve the base.” “It had General Continuum’s signature at the bottom. The envelope was sealed. I can assure you, this letter was genuine.” “May I see it?” “Here.” Sarge gave her the paper from his saddlebag. She peered closely at the signature long and hard. “I’ve received orders from General Continuum before. This is his hoofwriting, but I can’t help but ask why there’s no smoke around the volcano? I don't see a battle, and it's extinct.” Sarge turned from Silvercrest to watch the sun come over the horizon. As it did, a large force, thousands upon thousands of troops, appeared as silhouettes against the bright orange circle. Enormous flags, visible from even this distance, fluttered above them. He trained his eyes along the line, but it did not end, going all the way around him to return to the spot he started from. Silvercrest read his mind and they both spoke at the same time. “It’s a trap!”