//------------------------------//
// The Patient Hunter 
// Story: Entrenchment 
// by SFaccountant 
//------------------------------//

Entrenchment
An Age of Iron Story


Chapter 13
The Patient Hunter


****


Centaur III
Black Point – main security checkpoint


“What is the blasted hold-up? We’ve been waiting for nearly an hour! We didn’t bring anything with us, so what are they checking?”
“Darling, please, relax. We’re not in a hurry, and it’s not like the Company takes its security less seriously. You’ve been so restless ever since leaving the fortress!”
“You’re both right. It’s very unusual for checks to take this long. But so what? I think you’re just feeling anxious because you’re cut off from noosphere access for the first time in months.”


Rarity sat near the rear of the Devilfish transport space, her front legs primly crossed while she magically tended to her mane. She was wearing her power armor, complete with plasma gun and power sword attached to her flanks. Her helmet lay on the bench in front of her, its gleaming surface acting as a makeshift mirror while she primped.
Behind her, keeping a healthy distance from the armored equine, was a group of several Tau and a single other pony. Most of the Tau were lower-ranked Earth Caste members, although Fennin stood ahead of the group. The Fio’el was tapping away on an engineering tablet as usual, his grim features bathed in a soft blue glow from the screen. He didn’t look up at the equines as he spoke, and seemed the only one unconcerned with standing within leg’s reach of the ponies.
At the rear of the Devilfish was Shas’el Wraithstar. His arms were crossed over his chest, and an expression of cool irritation was stretched over his face.
“I don’t like it. We’re not being searched more extensively, we’re being delayed,” Wraithstar grumbled.
“Delayed? Why would your people delay us? We’re just picking up our own battlesuits! Do these clods think I don’t have better things to be doing?”
The second pony in the transport bay was an unfamiliar one to most of the Tau. A stallion, as far as any of them could tell, the equine was heavily augmented and decked in the black robe of the Company’s Dark Mechanicus contingent. Numerous glowing optics peeked out from the shadows of his hood, and his nose and jaw had been completely replaced by a respirator mask. Atop the stallion’s back was a servo arm, which was clamped tight onto a hook hanging from the ceiling of the passenger bay. The cyborg pony’s tail had been replaced by a long mechatendril as well, and was capped with a dataspike at the end. A servo skull hovered above and behind him, waiting faithfully for any orders from its master.
“Gear Works, darling, pipe down. You’re much too irritable. This is a happy occasion,” Rarity chided the cyborg. “Mister Delgan is very excited about seeing the first production models of the Strider battlesuit. He already has buyers lined up. And next week he wants to hold a demonstration rally!”
“I wish we could bring the armoring bays to Ferrous Dominus,” the Dark Acolyte responded. “Having to move the new walkers between bases is troublesome enough even without these meaningless delays.”
“There was some kind of disturbance the last time I contacted the Fio’o,” Fennin mumbled. He was still tapping and swiping at his tablet as he spoke, speaking without looking at the equines. “He wouldn’t tell me what it was about, but he seemed exhausted and hedgy. I think there was an accident while we were gone.”
Wraithstar’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I wouldn’t be surprised. Shas’vre Kohall seemed quite anxious when he requested I report back. If they’ve been hiding something from me, then that’s it for Black Point.”
“What do you mean by that?” Rarity asked, arching an eyebrow.
“I mean that this division between the Tau and other Company soldiers is reaching an intolerable point. I’ve been trying to establish a colony for non-combatants, but aside from them, there’s no reason for Xenis detachments to operate out of Black Point rather than Ferrous Dominus. Every combat or engineering group I have is fighting to get assigned to reserve duty to stay here and stay away from the humans and equines, and the Iron Warriors don’t care for it.”
The Earth Caste Tau shifted uncomfortably. Wraithstar’s observation was a simple, undisputable fact, but it still aggravated some of his subordinates that the Shas’el sympathized more with the concerns of the Iron Warriors than those of his own species.
“If something important happened and they used the fragmented command structure to hide it from me, then that’s all the excuse I need. There’s plenty of room in the fortress for all these facilities.”
“Yes! Yes, exactly!” Gears said.


The rear access ramp hissed and creaked open, silencing all conversation in the transport bay. The passengers turned to see a small force of Fire Warriors carrying pulse carbines waiting outside, one of whom bore the markings of a Fireblade detachment leader.
“Shas’vre,” Wraithstar nodded to the Fireblade.
The Fireblade wasn’t paying attention; his eyes immediately fixed on the ponies waiting near the ramp.
“Ugh, FINALLY. Can we go now?” Gear Works asked. His servo arm released its grip from the ceiling hook, and his servo skull beeped while bobbing to and fro.
The Tau didn’t respond immediately, staring at the bizarre equine through his mask. “… Why are you here?”
If Gear Works still had a jaw, it would have fallen open in surprise. Before he could start berating the alien, however, Rarity stood up and stepped in front of him.
“Good day, Shas’vre. My name is Rarity, personal assistant to Trademaster Delgan. My associate and I have been dispatched by the Merchant Corp to bring back some equipment that was being finished here. I believe you have a dozen Strider battlesuits waiting for us?”
“They sent equines to come get their wargear?” the Fireblade asked. “ARMED equines?”
“I tried to schedule a drop myself, but was told it was impossible within any reasonable time frame, and nobody could explain why.” Fennin walked past the ponies and down the ramp, glaring at the guards. “So we came to get them ourselves. We told you all of this when we arrived. Move aside.”
The Fire Warriors did not move aside. The Fireblade raised a hand to halt the Engineer. “That’s what you’re all here for?”
“No, Shas’vre.” Wraithstar moved past the Earth Caste workers, his eyes narrowed. “I am here to receive a report as to why there’s been so much disruption here the last few days. Again, we told you all of this when we first checked in. What is the meaning of this?”
The Fireblade hesitated for a moment, and then waved Wraithstar forward. “Shas’el, Fio’el, please follow me. The rest of you may stay here.”
“What? No! I’m not staying here! I have work to do!” Gear Works snapped.
“This is for your own safety,” the guard explained. “We will-“
“Shas’vre, if you can explain, here and now, why these equines can’t retrieve their property, then do so. Otherwise, move aside. That is an order.” Wraithstar’s voice was like ice, and the guards of lower rank rushed to get out of the way.
The Fireblade hesitated again. “… Very well, Shas’el. But I still require you and Fio’el Fennin to come with me.”
“Why do I have to go?” Fennin demanded.
“All ranking officers must be screened. I cannot say more here. Please, we have to hurry.”


Rarity descended the entry ramp with her head held high, looking for all the world like a royal sentinel in her gleaming armor. She was followed by the shrouded cyborg, who glared at the Tau warriors suspiciously through the numerous optics set under his hood. His servo skull floated after him, shining its bright red optics lights over the attendant guards before sputtering bursts of static and swooping away.
The Fire Warriors watched the ponies go, and then the Fireblade nudged his head after them. The guards nodded silently, and then marched after the equines. The other Earth Caste members followed, leaving Fennin behind.
*I hope you have a very good explanation waiting for me wherever we’re going,* Wraithstar warned while descending the ramp himself. He switched to his native tongue now that the ponies were out of earshot.
*I think so, yes,* the Fireblade confirmed. *Follow me, Shas’el, Fio’el.*
They did so, and the three aliens split away from the path the ponies took. Most of the buildings in Black Point were short, wide domes, with their foundations build into the ground and their roofs painted to match the wasteland surface. From orbit, a ship’s augurs were completely unable to discern the base’s structures from the terrain and pick out its power sources. Its design philosophy was opposite that of Ferrous Dominus, which was such an obvious and visible settlement that news of its founding had spread all over the world in a few weeks.
At this point, however, there was little to hide from. The base’s stealth features helped obscure it from Ork attention, but being well-hidden was less useful than being nigh-impervious to assault, as Ferrous Dominus was. The food supplies were running low, and unlike the fortress-factory, Black Point didn’t produce anything of its own while housing much of the Tau element of the 38th Company. And yet it remained; an ugly reminder of the cruel alien plot that had brought so much war to this world.
*There aren’t many soldiers out here,* Wraithstar said suddenly. *Are they occupied at the moment, or are they out on mission?*
*They… They are occupied,* the Fireblade mumbled. *All will become clear very soon, Shas’el.*
*I hope clearing this up – whatever ‘this’ is – doesn’t take too long,* Fennin grumbled. *My schedule isn’t quite as tight as the Dark Acolyte’s, but I have a lot of other work to do.*
*I think you’ll find your schedule wide open after this, Fio’el.*
The Fireblade led them to one of the larger buildings, and then pressed his hand to the door scanner. The door beeped, and then it unlocked and slid open.


The interior was crowded. As Fennin and Wraithstar entered, they recognized several of the officers bunched up and facing away from them, toward the center of the room. Fennin only knew the highest-ranking individuals, but Wraithstar was far more familiar with his subordinates. Everyone stationed in Black Point who held any substantial rank was here.
But why?
“What is this? A meeting?” Wraithstar said, raising his voice.
Immediately, numerous other Tau turned to face him. They had been mumbling amongst themselves when he entered, but now they all fell silent.
*I recognize that voice… Shas’el Wraithstar. You’re finally here.*
Wraithstar barely twitched at the voice, but Fennin jumped in shock. The wall of officers standing in front of them parted.
*Shas’o Voidsong,* Wraithstar said coolly. *Welcome to Black Point.*


The Commander of the Lamman Sept’s armies sat in the middle of the room, legs crossed and fingers steepled together. A single Fire Warrior in full armor stood behind her with a pulse rifle at the ready. Another high-ranking Tau, this one of the Earth Caste, stood on the other side of her, looking haggard as he tapped away at his engineering tablet.
*I’m glad to see you weren’t lost fighting the Orks, Shas’el. I suppose the corrupted Imperials take better care of their slaves than I expected.*
Wraithstar tilted his head slightly to one side. *I’m glad to see you were freed from imprisonment, Shas’o. Truly, the Equestrians are more merciful and benevolent than even their reputation would suggest. I would have expected them to inform me of your release, however.*
*I was not freed of imprisonment. Not by the Equestrians, at any rate.* Voidsong smirked slightly. *But I’m sure you knew that.*
Fennin started backing away. *Well this is great and I’m very happy to have the integrity of our Fire Caste restored but I’m not sure what this has to do with me and I have a lot of work to do so I-*
The doors behind him slammed shut. The Fireblade that had guided them here gently but firmly took Fennin by the shoulder.
*There is much work to do here as well, Fio’el. This will require your help.*
Wraithstar cast a glance back, then focused on Voidsong again. *Shas’o, have you been briefed on the events that have taken place on this world since your imprisonment?*
*I have.*
*Then you are aware of our current alliance with the 38th Company. Was it they who secured your release?*
At this question, Voidsong’s cold expression shifted into an angry scowl. *No. No, it was not. The filthy monsters had nothing to do with it. And for that I’m glad. I’ve been freed without their knowledge and without falling under their control. That makes the next steps easier.*
*And what “next steps” would those be?* Wraithstar started pushing his way forward through the other officers. They quickly cleared out of his way, and soon the Shas’el stood in front of his Commander.
Voidsong schooled her features. *The steps to remove this strike force from under the control of Chaos forces, obviously. That we have warriors of Tau’va aiding and contributing to the war machine of corrupted humans is beyond intolerable. It will be corrected.*
Wraithstar paused to look around the room. Fennin was massaging his forehead in exasperation, but other than him, none of the others showed any kind of surprise at hearing this. Clearly they had all heard this before.
*I’m glad that you returned, Shas’el,* Voidsong continued. *You’re the highest-ranking officer of my caste still alive on this world, and our timetable is accelerating quickly.*
*We’ve been trying to keep as many of our people here as possible while we plan the operation,* continued the Fio’o, *but it’s been difficult with the irregular service rotations. We’ve tried to come up with a way to get the word out to Ferrous Dominus, but it’s just too risky. Gue’la security is tight, our people are often closely supervised, and we can’t know for sure how many of the psykers can potentially read our thoughts.*
*It’s almost certain that when we make our move, a substantial portion of the Lamman Sept will not be aware of what’s happening or why. They will almost certainly be called upon to fight against us. Some of them, confused and under orders, may do so. This is unfortunate, and likely unavoidable,* sighed Voidsong.
*And what is “our move” exactly, Shas’o? Did you come up with some way to escape the planet?* Wraithstar asked.
*No.* Voidsong clasped her fingers together over her lap. *This operation is to see to the complete destruction of Ferrous Dominus, and the crippling of the 38th Company’s power base on this world. Operation Silverfall will remove the roots of Chaos from this planet.*


****


Black Point
Battlesuit garage


“And here we are! Finally!” Gear Works extended his servo arm to a console, and smaller metal tabs unfolded from a claw and started tapping against the surface.
The doors to the attached structure rumbled open, revealing several Tau battlesuits. Broadsides, Crisis Suits, and a few of the Lamman Sept’s unique Heavy Stealth Suits were all lined up within the various alcoves and platforms. In the middle of the room was the twelve Strider suits, all of them glistening with fresh coats of gunmetal paint over their ablative armor panels. Various heavy energy weapons hung under the sensor heads, their power cables winding down and routing through the torso cockpits. Curved smokestacks sprouted from the back of the walkers, each one still gleaming.
Rarity walked in front of the equine-shaped battlesuits and inspected their exteriors. “Oh, dear. They’re not quite as… aesthetically pleasing as I remember from your presentation.” She tried to contain a displeased expression, but her snout scrunched up at the sight of the war machines.
“Those materials were only concept designs. The real thing turned out bulkier than expected, and these models aren’t painted or detailed. But we breezed through the prototyping and testing phases much faster than anticipated. Fennin was very impressed!”


Behind the equines followed the Tau; first four Fire Warriors, then several Earth Caste workers that had accompanied Fennin. The workers started to rush forward to help with the Striders, but stopped when one of the guards raised a hand.
*Stay back, Fio’la. It is not safe.*
The workers hesitated uncertainly, missing their only chance to raise an alarm. The Fire Warriors crouched behind the ponies and aimed their pulse carbines.


“As long as we’re sure they work then that’s good enough for our customers, surely.” Rarity sighed. “Perhaps something can be done to the next batch? Really, it’s as if someone conspired to fuse all of the ugliest aspects of human technology with all the-“
The subtle pop of compressed air being released came from behind, and Rarity’s ear twitched. Before she could think much more of it, a blazing photon grenade landed in front of her and Gear Works, exploding in a strobing flash.
Rarity whinnied in surprise, stumbling backward. Gears winced as all of his optics sensors overloaded and reset, leaving him momentarily blinded as well. The servo skull made a high-pitched squealing noise, sputtering static. A volley of pulse fire came immediately after the grenade, before the equines could fathom what was happening.
Much to Rarity’s dismay, the weapons were trained exclusively on her, as she was both armed and armored. Crackling energy bolts slammed into her rear, back, and flank, and the ablative ceramite layers rapidly burned away beneath the barrage. Several slivers of energy managed to partially burn through the inner frame of her power armor, and the unicorn shrieked as hot spikes of power stabbed into her body.
Gear Works’ optics turned back on just in time to see Rarity collapse onto the ground with a gasp and a whimper, her armor smoldering. The cyborg stallion recoiled in shock, snapping his head around toward the Fire Warriors.
“You treacherous slime! What are you doing?!”
Gear Works promptly found himself the target of several pulse carbines.
“Quiet, horse. Down!” snapped one guard in hesitant Gothic.
“What is this? Are you trying to preserve the battlesuits?” Gear Works slowly lowered himself onto the ground as commanded.
“Quiet. Speak more, I shoot.”
One Fire Warrior kept his carbine trained on the Dark Acolyte while the others carefully approached the downed unicorn. The servo skull started beeping loudly, swinging back and forth through the air.
“Ssh! Striker! Be quiet!” Gear Works hissed.
The Fire Warriors grabbed Rarity’s armor by the collar and pulled her up. A groan issued from the unconscious mare. One of the guards nodded.
*This one is still alive. Passed out from the shock. Might need some patching up, but she won’t give us any more trouble.* He ripped the plasma gun and then the power sword off of her back. *I’ve seen these equine psykers levitate and use weapons from several meters away. We’re going to have to lock these up.*
*We should also get her out of that power armor. If there’s extensive tissue damage, it could hemorrhage without treatment.*
The servo skull started buzzing around Rarity, still beeping and nearly running into the Tau.
*How do we get her out of the armor? It doesn’t look like there are any obvious latches.*
*Make the other pony do it. He looks like one of those-* The Fire Warrior suddenly jerked away as Gear’s servo skull almost swung into him. He stumbled onto his rear, but the hovering drone paid him no mind as it continued its frantic circuits. *Would somebody get rid of that blasted drone?*
“Striker, stop!” Gear Works shouted.
One of the Fire Warriors swung his carbine like a club, smacking the cybernetic helper out of the air. Striker tumbled onto the ground, its manipulators and cables flailing behind it. It started re-initializing its anti-gravity engine immediately, but the Fire Warrior that had hit it was already aiming his weapon.
“No! Please don’t-“
A single shot screamed from the barrel, punching through the servo skull and blasting it apart. Smoking bits of bone and metal scattered across the ground, and a whip of blue power slashed a burn scar across the dirt.
“Striker, NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!” Gear Works screamed, rearing up and howling his despair to the sky.
The Fire Warrior behind him was alarmed at the sudden movement, and he quickly slammed the butt of his carbine into the Acolyte’s head. Gear Works fell back into the dirt, his vocalizer stuttering.
“Quiet. Remove armor. Move, pony,” commanded the guard, pointing at Rarity.
“You fools… You arrogant, wretched, alien scum,” Gears sobbed as he pushed himself upright again, and the Tau swore they could see rivulets of oil dribbling down the sides of the pony’s respirator mask. “What have you done… we trusted you, you sadistic mules…”
Gear Works staggered over to Rarity, hanging his head. Then his servo arm swung down, jabbing a electric probe into the recesses of Rarity’s power armor. The Fire Warriors watched him from outside of his servo arm’s potential range, although the stallion hadn’t displayed any aggression or capacity for defensive violence thus far. After a few seconds the outer seals of the power armor split open, and several burnt pieces of plating shook off and fell to the ground.


*That weirdo is more upset that we shot the bone thing than he was that we shot the unicorn,* one Fire Warrior observed as Gear Works began stripping the mare of her armor.
*Tech-cultist freaks,* spat another.
*Shas’ui, what is happening? Why have we attacked these ponies?*
Two of the Fire Warriors turned to address the Earth Caste Tau behind them. The workers were obviously shocked at the sudden outbreak of violence, and some of them were glancing back at their transport as if weighing their chances of escape.
*These ponies happened to be in the way, that’s all. We can’t have them running around Black Point, and we certainly can’t have them shipping more weapons to Ferrous Dominus.*
*I don’t… I don’t understand…*
*You do not need to understand our actions, Fio’la. But you must understand that this is for the Greater Good.*
Several of the Earth Caste stepped away, as if physically repelled by the phrase.
*But… Shas’ui… the Greater Good-*
The Fire Warrior cut him off. *Tau’va is our guiding light. Our oath. Our past, our present, and our future. It shapes our lives, and as such it will shape our deaths.* He pointed his weapon in the direction of the ponies. *These creatures and their masters, the Iron Warriors, think to take this from us. To strip us of our purpose and make us tools to serve their twisted deities. They have failed.*
*This is insane,* snapped a different worker, *the Iron Warriors are our allies! We made a treaty with them and they upheld their part of the bargain! This is a betrayal!*
*The only betrayal was spending Tau lives to protect those of gue’la cultists,* the guard replied defiantly.
*Shas’el Wraithstar will not stand for this,* warned another worker. *He has worked too hard and sacrificed too much to let you launch this doomed mutiny.*
*This is no mutiny,* a different Fire Warrior retorted. *At least, not unless the Shas’el defies his orders.*
This gave the Earth Caste pause. *But Shas’el Wraithstar is the highest ranking warrior on this world…*
*Luckily, Fio’la, that is no longer the case…*


“There. It’s done.” Gear Works sniffled pitifully as he stepped away from Rarity. The mare lay on the ground, naked and surrounded by the scattered pieces of her power armor. Her hind legs and one flank were peppered with small but severe burns, marring her otherwise pure white coat with ugly streaks of black.
*Good. Shas’la, take the unicorn to the med bay. Once it’s treated, have it restrained and relocated to the holding cells.* Then he gestured to the workers. *All of you, come with me.* Then he kicked Gear Works in the side. “You follow, pony.”
The Dark Acolyte barely stumbled from the impact, but he silently turned in the direction the guard indicated, still hanging his head. The Earth Caste were more hesitant, but nonetheless started following when a Fire Warrior slipped in behind them.
*Where are we going, Shas’ui?*
*To the holding cells, Fio’la.*
*Why? What have we done wrong?*
*You’ve been… less enthusiastic than hoped for at the prospect of serving the guiding light of the Tau’va. There is a chance, however remote, that you would inform the cultist madmen of our actions,* said the unit leader with a grim snort. *But your confinement will be only temporary. Soon there will be no 38th Company left for you to betray us to…*


****


Black Point
Command Center


*This is ridiculous. Utterly, entirely, unacceptably ridiculous.*
Wraithstar stared down Voidsong with a scowl of contempt. *What you propose is not only infeasible but a gross and total betrayal of the pact currently keeping our people alive on this world.*
*Ah, yes. Your “pact.” Let’s talk about that,* Voidsong said with a sneer. *Surrendering the weapons of the Tau Empire and the services of the castes to the insane humans of Chaos is an error that might shame our Sept until the end of days, Shas’el. I believe it was you who arranged this fate?*
*I did,* Wraithstar said fearlessly. *My actions, however, do not reflect upon any Sept of the Tau Empire. We have been abandoned by our Sept, discharged in our duty to Tau’va, left to end our own lives as we see fit. As we’ve been disowned by our empire, how do our actions reflect upon it?*
*Don’t you play games with me, Wraithstar,* Voidsong hissed. *Tau are creatures of the Greater Good. We serve it always, even when it does not serve us.*
*No. Not this time, Shas’o,* Wraithstar replied coldly.
Many of the other officers were fidgeting uncomfortably now, unnerved by the unfolding confrontation. This was not how the reunion between the High Commander and sub-commander was supposed to go. Although every one of the Tau at Black Point were happy to have Voidsong freed and returned to them, many also respected the efforts Wraithstar had made in her absence. Negotiating the treaty that had kept the Tau safe from Chaos retaliation and given them a chance against the Orks was no minor feat.
*We completed our mission. We were explicitly disbanded from our service. In this wretched wilderness, surrounded by enemies, despised by the local populace, and facing certain annihilation, we were left to meet our fate however we saw fit. So yes, I made a pact with Chaos. I decided that a life serving the 38th Company is better than no life at all.*
*You were wrong,* Voidsong said blandly. *But more importantly, your outlook that there exists no outcomes aside from extermination or submission is simple defeatism. If we have no acceptable options, then we must make them.*
Wraithstar twitched every so slightly. *... On the topic of better outcomes, I also decided that if there was a chance to save this world in the bargain after we put it in danger, then we would take it. After we wrote off billions of creatures as “necessary sacrifices,” the Iron Warriors found a way to divert the horde. It is not just our people that this alliance has saved, Shas’o. And the forces of Chaos, however insane or corrupt, have kept their end of our bargain. We cannot turn against them.*
*Pathetic.* Voidsong’s rebuke felt like a blow to the gut, and Wraithstar twitched again. *I severely misjudged your character and qualifications if you’re subject to such crude and selfish whims, Shas’el.*
*Selfish?! You think I’m being selfish?!* Wraithstar bristled, clenching his teeth. *I’ve been fighting constantly since you got yourself locked in stone! Hundreds of kills, dozens of camps wiped out, and THREE Warbosses assassinated, all in-between trying to accommodate our forces among a populace that would happily see us lined up and executed! I deemed that the lives of hundreds of Tau and Kroot were worth more than a hollow, useless sacrifice, and for that I’m “selfish!?”*
Voidsong’s grip on the armrest of her seat tightened, and a vein pulsed on her head. *Yes, of course you’re selfish! Aiding Chaos does not advance Tau’va. The Greater Good suffers when these “Dark Gods” or whatever they are achieve their goals. To give aid to these monsters simply to preserve your life – or that of your subordinates, even – is the utmost cowardice and a gross betrayal.*
Wraithstar narrowed his eyes. *So, then: Had you been commanding Black Point’s garrison after the completion of Emerald Dawn rather than serving as a latrine for birds, what would you have done? As the Orks marched through Equestria and the 38th Company prepared a defensive engagement to rip out the warband’s heart, where would you sink the Lamman Sept’s dagger?*
Voidsong rolled her eyes, leaning back in her chair. *Obviously, I would have attacked the defensive fortifications. Timed correctly, they’d collapse instantly before the Ork offensive.*
Wraithstar was stunned. Several other officers winced. The Fio’o, already quite frightened by the arguing among the Fire Caste, tugged nervously on the collar of his jumpsuit.
*You’d doom us all? Knowingly? Human, Tau, pony, and every other sentient on this world? You’d see every one of us slaughtered by the Orks?* Wraithstar mumbled.
*Perhaps. Perhaps not. But that would hardly be the worst possible outcome. Sometimes when you sink the dagger, the dagger breaks,* Voidsong snapped. *Beyond the Emerald Dawn project, our main priority is that Chaos dies. From what I’ve seen, they’re a greater danger than the Orks, and we caught them at a moment of unique vulnerability. Your actions in my absence can be forgiven, Shas’el. You did the best you could with the information you had. And your actions have given us an advantageous position: access to the Chaos base. But now that I’m back this game is over. Soon we will launch a new attack on the Company, while the bulk of their strength is away, and we will wipe out this infestation.*
*You’re insane!* Wraithstar growled, taking a step forward.
The Fire Warrior sprung into action, leaning forward and raising his pulse rifle. Wraithstar stopped and stared in confusion. Most of the others in the room looked equally perplexed. Not so much because the guard reacted, which wasn’t surprising, but because he was holding the rifle wrong. Both of his hands were wrapped awkwardly around the stock, and the weapon barrel wobbled comically while he tried to aim it.
Voidsong glanced up, and then she growled a curse before snatching the rifle away. *Ahem! Thank you, Shas’la, for handing me my weapon,* she said unconvincingly. The Fire Warrior stumbled, his shock being evident despite the helmet concealing his features.
*… Who is that?* Wraithstar murmured, peering over the Fire Warrior’s uniform. *I see no squad designators. Shas’la, what is your-*
The Commander was cut off when Voidsong stood up and took aim at him. Unlike the guard, she pointed the rifle the correct way. *This has gone on long enough, Shas’el. You have your orders. We are attacking the 38th Company. You cannot stop us; you can only help our counter-attack succeed. Decide now where your loyalties lie.*


Wraithstar didn’t respond right away. He looked around once again at the officers in the command center. Most of them only met his eyes for a moment before diverting their gaze or nodding hesitantly. Turning completely around, he saw Fennin was still standing near the back. As soon as they made eye contact the engineer shook his head.
*… Very well, Shas’o Voidsong.* Wraithstar once again faced the High Commander, paying no apparent attention to the pulse rifle aimed at his chest. *My loyalties lay with my soldiers and allies here in the Centaur system. As such, I refuse your orders.*
Voidsong’s gaze hardened.
*Your plan will likely fail and see us all butchered. More to the point, it will see us all butchered even if it succeeds. The 38th Company is the only force on this world that can quell the local Orks. You’re handing every Tau, Kroot, and native a death sentence just so you can play the martyr, and I will not support it.* He spread his arms to his sides. *If you’re going to kill me, Voidsong, dispense with these games and do it here and now. No tiresome rhetoric; no veil of nobility. Pull the trigger and let our subordinates see your intentions stripped bare.*
The pulse rifle trembled slightly. Voidsong struggled to contain herself as her finger curled around the trigger. A chuckle came from the “Fire Warrior” at her side, and her stomach lurched in an unfamiliar manner.
Voidsong lowered the weapon. *Shas’el Wraithstar. You have defied direct orders and disgraced your Sept with your weakness and ineptitude. By the power vested in me by the Tau Empire and Tau’va, and in the name of the Ethereals, I hereby void your ranking among the Fire Caste and declare you outcast. The Greater Good shall endure without you.*
*I think I liked this speech better the first time I heard it, as our fleet was retreating from orbit,* Wraithstar mumbled, lowering his arms. *They at least acknowledged that they knew they were wrong.*
*Shas’vre!* Voidsong shouted, gesturing to several other officers. *Take him to the containment block!*
Several ranking members of the Fire Caste moved to comply. One did not, instead turning toward the High Commander.
*Shas’o, please, this is too much. I realize what we’ve done here without the Sept leadership, but the Shas’el has-*
Voidsong cut him off with a gesture. *All that stuff I said earlier goes for you too.*
She snapped her fingers, and the dissident was suddenly bludgeoned in the back with a pulse carbine. He tumbled onto the floor with a shout, and was soon hauled away toward the door while Wraithstar was being shackled.
*What about you, Fio’el?* Voidsong rested her rifle against her shoulder while glaring at Fennin. *Do you have any objections?*
*No. I’m okay with it. I was pretty sick of the horses anyhow. You may proceed,* Fennin said with a shrug. Wraithstar gave the engineer an incredulous look as he was dragged away.
*Good. Anyone else who objects to my orders may feel free to accompany Wraithstar to his cell. Operation Silverfall will proceed as we have planned,* Voidsong growled while the new prisoners were being led away.
The Fire Warrior behind her slowly reached over for his pulse rifle. Voidsong slapped his hand before he could touch it, and the guard flinched back.
“Don’t YOU have something to be doing, too?” she hissed.
Her voice was very low, and almost everyone else couldn’t make anything out since she suddenly switched languages.
But the Fio’o – much closer and fully fluent in Gothic – couldn’t help but wonder what the High Commander meant.


****


Black Point
Holding cells


*Now this one might be a problem…*
Several Fire Warriors stood in a circle within the prison structure, their carbines held at the ready. In the middle of the group was Gear Works, the equine Dark Acolyte that had been caught earlier. The stallion snapped his head from side to side fearfully, unable to understand the aliens’ conversation and afraid to so much as twitch his servo arm.
*Between the claw and the tail, it looks too dangerous to simply toss in the cell.*
*Why? The bars are electrified. What’s he going to do?*
*I was at Ferrous Dominus briefly, Shas’la. I’ve seen what those wretched cultists can do. This one may be trembling like a leaf now, but it’s dangerous.*
*I don’t understand. Does it have a laser emitter or a cutting torch or something?*
*If it’s a problem, why don’t we just cut the metal parts off?*
*Are you being serious? What if he needs those?*
*Personally, I don’t see why we don’t just execute them now. Are we planning on even letting them out eventually?*


The main entrance hissed open, briefly diverting the attention of the guards away from the shivering pony. The Fire Warriors were reasonably surprised to see Wraithstar being shoved into the room, his wrists bound behind his back. A few other Tau of the Fire Caste trudged into the facility behind him, also bearing shackles. Behind these soldiers came a pair of Fireblades and a certain engineer.
*Shas’el Wraithstar? What is this?* asked one of the guards in shock.
*Voidsong has decided to veto my agreement keeping us all alive,* Wraithstar said dryly.
*Fire Warriors do not value their lives over the Greater Good, Wraithstar!* snarled one of the soldiers behind him.
*You’re not a Fire Warrior,* Wraithstar replied with a snort. *You’re a refugee with a gun. Voidsong may insist on ignoring the difference, but I won’t protect you from the truth.* He turned his head to glare over his shoulder. “You’re all dead men, now. Whether by the human’s hands, or the Orks, or maybe even the ponies, you will not survive this. I won’t be able to save you.”
The guards didn’t speak much Gothic and were caught off-guard by suddenly change in language. The Fireblades understood him perfectly, and one of them trembled angrily before shoving him forward.
*Shut up and get in the cell, traitor!*
One of the containment complex guard raised a hand. *What about the others?*
*Chaos sympathizers,* snarled the Fireblade in return. The other prisoners winced and trudged forward.
*And Fio’el Fennin? He’s not restrained.*
The Fireblades seemed surprised, and they turned around. Fennin was standing in the doorway, his eyes glued to the tablet in his hands.
*I’m here to do a security modification for the Cultist,* Fennin explained, pointing to Gear Works. The stallion recoiled, his optic lights winking off and on in sequence.
*So it CAN get out of the cell with its augmentations?*
“The dataspike and integrated mechadendrites are useless against our containment systems. I just have to block a few tertiary access paths into the local network sphere; he’s worked with them before and can cause trouble remotely, otherwise. We wouldn’t want to allow him access to the auto-turret system, now would we?” Fennin swiped a finger across the face of his device. “There! He won’t be getting out of his cell now!”
Gear’s ears twitched, although the Dark Acolyte remained silent. He also stopped shaking in fear.
The guards, for their part, seemed confused. *Fio’el, why did you switch to Gothic just-*
*Force of habit. And what is all this?*


Fennin followed Wraithstar and his jailers down the hall, shaking his head sadly. Most of the cells were already occupied. Kroot made up a substantial number of the prisoners, although there were plenty of low-ranking Tau lounging on the tiny beds or reading behind a set of crackling bars. A handful of humans were held near the end of the hall, some bearing the tattoos of hardened Chaos fighters and others the broken frame of exhausted slaves.
*This place was nearly empty when I left it! Shas’o Voidsong has a bigger prisoner base than some of the smaller labor camps I’ve seen!* Fennin remarked.
One of the Fireblades entered a code into a cell’s access console. *The trauma of abandonment has been… hard on some. They have forgotten our obligation to Tau’va.* The bars to the cell opened, and Wraithstar and the other dissidents were pushed inside. *They refused to fight Chaos. They may come around if Silverfall is successful, but until then it’s too dangerous for them to be free.*
The other Fireblade opened up a cell opposite Wraithstar’s. *Bring that metal horse over here! And then go get the white one from the med-bay and get her into a cell as soon as possible! Along with one of those psi-inhibitor collars!*
Gear Works was marched down the hall toward his prison. The stallion kept his head low, but one of his peripheral optics peeked from the cowl of his robe at Fennin.
The engineer didn’t appear to notice. He frowned down at his tablet, as if there was some inscrutable puzzle on the screen. *If Silverfall is successful…* He looked up. *Do you expect it to be?*
The Fireblade closed Gear’s cell. *We have the element of surprise, Fio’el. The Lamman Sept has ever made excellent use of it.*
*The element of surprise has achieved precisely one mission objective against the 38th Company so far,* Wraithstar interjected. *Out of all the Tau on Centaur III, maybe a sixth are stationed here in Black Point as reserves. If you can’t even rely on all of them, what chance do you have, even with the Iron Warriors gone?*
*Shas’o Voidsong assures us that we are not alone.* Casting a final glare at Wraithstar, the guards escorted Fennin back to the entrance. *We have allies.*
*Allies? What? Who are they?* Fennin asked incredulously. *Everyone on this planet hates us. Except maybe the Orks, who also want us dead, but not out of hatred. Where did the Shas’o find allies?*
The soldiers bristled visibly, but they resisted lashing out at the engineer.
*… Does it matter? We’re not getting off this planet alive.* The Fireblade gripped his pulse carbine tightly, his finger grazing the trigger. *At least we get our choice of who to take with us, this way.*


Back in his cell, Wraithstar shook his head in disgust.


****


Badlands Camp
(Precise location unknown)


In the distance, the setting sun illuminated a dark cloud of ash and poison.
Even when consumed in something as simple as a sunset, a splash of bright color over the horizon, Ferrous Dominus was a hideous blight. At the present distance the massive fortress itself was invisible; even the spires of Nightwatch and the anti-orbital batteries were imperceptible. But the poison of the aliens’ presence extended much further than their walls. A gray blotch sat in the middle of an otherwise unbroken stripe of brilliant orange, an unsubtle reminder of the very real and physical corruption carried by the invaders alongside the metaphysical and moral kinds.
Mox sat on the edge of a deep incline, her eyes fixed on the gray spot. She was disguised as a diamond dog, as usual; she hadn’t had the privilege of reverting to her true body for over a month now. A bandoleer was strapped over one shoulder and connected to a munitions belt, both of them laden with lasgun power cells and grenades.
“It’s almost time. We’ll be rid of them, soon.”
A deep, gruff voice came from below, and Mox snapped her head around. A hulking female minotaur wearing scavenged Ork body armor was trudging up the incline. A belt of heavy bolter ammunition was slung over her shoulder, rattling with every movement.
After ensuring no one else was in earshot, Mox spoke. “So much planning and work and brutality… yet it still feels like we’re careening recklessly into the jaws of a chimera, Sox. Can these creatures truly be defeated?”
Sox reached the edge of the pit and brought a set of monoculars to her eyes. Even with the telescopic enhancement, Ferrous Dominus was barely a gray smudge on the horizon. It was an extreme distance from which to prepare an assault, but it was as close as the insurgents dared gather to the fortress-factory while exposed to mundane sight.
“Anything can be defeated, Mox. Even the mighty Sun Princess fell when challenged with the Queen’s cunning! The humans will be no different.”
Mox pursed her lips, looking away. “I… think you and I may have drawn different lessons from that incident…”
“Take it from me, Mox: those creatures that pride themselves on raw strength crumble the quickest once their strength fails them.” Sox lowered the monoculars and crossed her arms over her chest. “The minotaur and griffons faltered instantly once they got a taste of the sheer force arrayed against them. Your diamond dogs, on the other hoof, evaded the aliens for months. The stealthy dagger will defeat the spiked flail every time.”
“Speaking of ‘stealthy daggers...’” Mox mumbled, looking over into the pit below. “Are those blue-gray aliens gonna show up? The jerks that brought the Orks here?”
Below the edge of the incline was a huge quarry pit. The walls of the pit had been carved down into pathways and platforms that led to a tunnel network in the surrounding area, while the ground in the middle was dotted with cook fires. The “soldiers” of the insurgency – griffons, diamond dogs, minotaur, and yaks – milled about or carried things across the makeshift base. Of the native species that opposed the 38th Company, only the dragons had not gathered here, seeing as the monstrous serpents would substantially increase their chances of being spotted.
Sox shook her head. “I don’t think so. I do not know what the Queen has planned, but bringing the grays here would be foolish, don’t you think? All these fools hate them as much as the humans. Maybe more.” She smirked. “The Queen will handle our allies. We must be ready for our part.”
“The tunnels are almost ready,” Mox assured her sister, “but what are we going to do when we reach the fortress? You don’t seriously think we can dig right up into their backyard, do you?”
“No. I’m sure we’ll encounter some sort of barrier that would be impenetrable to canine claws or even our captured weapons.” Sox pointed down into the pit. “We will overcome.”
Mox peered down again and soon spotted the object Sox was pointing at. Among the metal crates of supplies was a large, drum-shaped object nearly three meters long. She couldn’t determine what it was at a glance, but she noticed that all the workers and soldiers were giving it a wide berth.
“Is that-“
“A bomb, yes. Specifically, a ‘shaped melta-base excavation charge.’ It will carve a hole through any material, guaranteed.” Sox looked extremely proud of this, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Where did you steal something like that from? Why would the Equestrians even keep such a weapon?”
“They didn’t,” Sox admitted. “Or rather, they didn’t keep them as weapons. Nor did I steal it. That was acquired through more… conventional means.”


****


Coltson
“The Shiny Stuff” mining supply store
Three days earlier


“-four pick axes, one ‘rock grinder’ powered maul, a dozen lumen helmets, and one ‘Big Boom’ shaped excavation charge!”
An earth pony happily jabbed his hooves at a cash register, adding up the prices of the various items piled on the counter in front of him. At one end was the enormous barrel-shaped bomb.
“Now then, do you folks have a ‘Motivated Miner’ membership card?”
Standing in front of the counter were half a dozen minotaur and griffons, all of them scowling impatiently and many bearing ammo belts and holstered guns.
“No, we don’t.” Sox was at the front, carrying a sack full of bits. “How much is it?”
“Would you like to sign up for a membership? All we need is your address and vox ID and you get-“
“NO, thank you, I’d like to just check out,” Sox said through clenched teeth. “Why do these places always do this…”
“All righty then, Miss.” The cashier pony hesitated, glancing over to the melta charge. Numerous warning stickers were plastered over it, and suddenly the pony’s expression turned solemn.
“Now then, before I finish ringing you up, I’m going to have to ask you what exactly you’re planning to do with this here bomb.”
The scarred and battle-hardened customers flinched, and some of them started growling to each other.
Sox quickly took the offensive, leaning over the relatively tiny equine and snarling down at him. “What business is it of yours? Since when is it common practice in Equestria to interrogate everyday, innocent miners about their business, which is definitely mining and nothing else?”
“Now, now, don’t get all riled,” the stallion retorted calmly. “I don’t mean to impugn your motivations, Miss, but these are troubled times. There’s been talk of discontent and violent revolution and such. Such a dangerous item as this could do some real damage if it was sold to insurgents or other ne’er-do-wells.”
“I can assure you, shopkeep, that we are nothing but honest, hardworking miners. We need this bomb to… get through…” Sox chewed her lip briefly. “Well, not a giant metal wall, exactly, but something of very similar dimensions and resilience. In our mining work.”
“So, like, a diamond wall, maybe?” the stallion asked.
“Yeah, sure. That.” Sox cleared her throat briefly. “The point is, we are most definitely NOT insurgents who hate humans and want them all dead. In fact, I’d say we’re mostly – but not suspiciously! – pro-human in our general sentiment.”
“That griffon there is wearing a ‘Kill all humans’ T-shirt,” the cashier pointed out, gesturing to one of the hybrids near the back.
The others turned to stare, noting that the largest griffon did indeed have a shirt on with that message. Below the slogan was a picture of several human skulls in a burning pile, surrounded by a shattered Chaos Star.
“Oh… uh… right. The shirt.” The griffon cringed and tugged on the collar. “I wear it… IRONICALLY. Yes.”
“Huh... You kids today and your ‘edgy’ apparel.” The stallion rolled his eyes and slapped a hoof down on the cash register, completing the sale.


****


“The important thing is that the charge will get us through the wall when we get to it. Have your diamond dogs reached a barrier yet?”
Mox shook her head. “The teams are digging as fast as they dare. The blasted canines were terrified when they started reaching tainted soil, and some of them started getting violently ill just from handling the dirt before we handed out protective gear.”
“Pollution?”
“That’s what I thought at first too, and… I don’t know. It could be, but I touched some of it myself and it felt… different. Wrong. Wrong in a way that dirt shouldn’t be able to feel wrong.” She made a gagging expression. “We’ll have the tunnel done, though. Our tunnels will get you to the fortress if your bomb can break through the wall.”
“And right into the teeth of a thousand human warriors…” Sox mumbled.
“More than a thousand. Plus ponies and whatever monsters these Chaos freaks bring along with them.” Mox shuddered. “We’re putting in an awful lot of work just to get to the most dangerous place in the world, Sox. This is it. We either butcher them all or get wiped out entirely.”
The larger Hive Guardian chuckled. “Are you saying you doubt our queen, Mox?”
“No. My queen and my sisters are the ONLY things I trust.” She scowled and pointed down into the pit. “It’s all THOSE scum that I don’t believe in.”
“You needn’t worry so much, Mox,” Sox assured her. “Pawns exist to be sacrificed for the cause. They’ll do their part…”


The two Guardians fell silent as a griffon flew up toward them. Nox was wearing stitched-together flak armor with a modified helmet mask, and a plasma gun was strapped and holstered to her flank. The weapon was a very rare find among the insurgents, and the other Hive Guardians suspected that she had stolen it from a more successful scavenger.
“Sisters, she’s arriving.” Nox hovered in front of the other spies, pointing a talon at the other side of the quarry.
Sox brought up her monoculars, and then she frowned. “There’s some kind of… smog cloud? Wait… the Queen is in a vehicle? Did she take one from the humans?”
“Not from the humans, no.” Nox’s beak twisted awkwardly into a grimace. “We’re going to want to be on the ground to prevent panic.”
“Orks. Right,” Sox hissed. “The Tau are despised too much to work openly with us, but we’re supposed to ally with Orks. I suppose we should have expected this…”
“Oh, no…” Mox sighed, slapping a paw over her face.


Screaming started coming from the insurgents as soon as the first Ork Trukk came close enough to be heard in the pit. Considering the quality of Ork engineering and how they considered noise exciting rather than annoying, the rebels got plenty of notice.
“Firing lines! Get into firing lines!”
“Everyone without a weapon, into the tunnels!”
“THIS PLAN NOT INCLUDE ORK ATTACK! PLAN FAIL NOW! YAKS HATE WHEN PLAN NOT PERFECT!”
“Stop screaming and take cover, you useless ball of hair!”
Nox sailed over the heads of the insurgents, grimacing as the rebels formed a firing line. This part of the plan wasn’t going to be easy to sell, but Chrysalis was counting on them.
“Hold your fire! Hold your fire!” the changeling screeched, dropping down in front of the foremost rebels. “Nobody fires a shot until I say so!”
“Are we retreating?” sniffed a huge minotaur carrying a twin power axes. “I would rather stand and fight. These aliens will be decent practice before the next batch.”
“No, we’re not retreating! Killer Instinct, back off!” Sox slid down the side of the pit incline, her hooves cutting furrows through the hard-packed dirt.
“Wait, we’re not running and we’re not fighting, either?” asked an armored griffon incredulously. “What are we going to do, then? Just stand here and hope they miss us?”
“YOU STAY CALM AND NOT SHOOT!” boomed Rox while she scurried through the ranks of soldiers. “EVERYTHING FINE! YOU TRUST ROX! EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL!”
A canine yelp came from above, and all eyes snapped up to a diamond dog who was peeking over the edge of the quarry pit.
“There’s more than one! Dozens of trucks! There must be hundreds of them!” the diamond dog howled, dropping down and quivering in fear.
“All of you, just CALM DOWN!” Mox snapped. “Keep your weapons ready, but your fingers OFF the trigger! Got that?! No one fires unless I give the signal!” She stalked among the squads of uneasy insurgents, a low growl rumbling in her throat.
“Wait, are you being serious? What is this?” The old griffon captain Gestalt bristled, his feathered crest rising on his head. “Are we surrendering to the Orks, Nox? Answer me!”
“We’re not surrendering. Be quiet and let me handle this.” Nox unslung her plasma gun and landed, craning her head up toward the edge of the pit.


The sound of engines got much louder, and then started to thin out as the Trukks idled near the quarry. The sound of guttural shouting, laughing, and the occasional burst of gunfire into the air came from above the terrified rebels.
The first Nobs reached the pit, stopping at the edge and glaring down at the creatures meeting them. Huge, muscled warriors with heavy guns, massive bladed weapons, and angry red eyes leered at the insurgents below. They didn’t open fire, however, which the rebels found absolutely perplexing.
“Nox! What’s going on here? What is this?” Gestalt demanded while more and more greenskins gathered around the quarry.
“Come now, Captain. You didn’t seriously think we were going to try and break into that fortress and clear it out with just this rabble, did you?” the changeling replied, her eyes glittering slightly.
“Orks? You made a deal for us to fight… alongside ORKS?” The minotaur Killer Instinct blasted a jet of steam from his nostrils.
“How… How did you even DO this? Orks kill everything that crosses them! What is this madness?” Gestalt asked.
“Who cares? Just keep your finger off the trigger and we’ll have a wall of green bodies between us and the human weapons,” Sox growled.
“Are you insane?” the minotaur warrior asked. His voice was calm, but there was an undercurrent of building anger that immediately put Sox on edge. “The Orks are WORSE than the humans. I will not count any of these aliens as my allies. You may as well have made a pact with the Tau.”
Mox and Sox shared a synchronized wince.
“So you’d rather fight the Orks and then the humans than get the Orks to fight the humans? Because that’s literally the choice we’re faced with right now,” Mox hissed.
Killer Instinct considered the question for a moment. “Yes.”
“And that’s why you’re not in charge,” Sox snarled, “now shut up before you get us all killed!”


By now the Orks had formed a partial ring of bodies around the quarry, and the greenskins grumbled amongst themselves or pointed and laughed at the cowering natives below. They still weren’t attacking, however, or making any obvious moves to descend, which was the only thing keeping the rebels’ guns quiet.
“Oi! Moov it, you gitz!” barked a voice from behind the mob. “Da Boss iz comin’ troo!”
The Orks near the center quickly parted, clearing a path through the mob. Sure enough, a huge Ork started pushing his way to the front, followed by a snarling Nob and a pair of Gretchin.
Queen Chrysalis, still in the guise of “Warboss Changeyface,” reached the edge of the pit and looked over the troops staring up at her fearfully. Her big choppa sat on one shoulder, and she ground her jaw from side to side.
“OI!” Chrysalis bellowed. “Hoo’z in charj roun’ heah?!”
Nox leapt into the sky, flying up so that she was hovering just a meter below and away from her disguised master.
“We have no single leader, but I will speak for the warriors of the allied uprising,” the faux-griffon said with a small bow of her head. “We have prepared a means into the fortress, Warboss. The tunnel network is almost complete. Tomorrow, we will breach the wall, and the humans will be swept from the streets of their noxious city!”
Chrysalis snorted. Then she leapt off the edge of the pit.


Many of the insurgents standing behind barricades and crates recoiled as the massive green form landed. Chrysalis herself only stumbled slightly before standing up, briefly regretting both her current two-legged form and her lack of wings. How it came to be that all the most successful, advanced species in the galaxy all had such unwieldy anatomy was a persisting mystery to her.
“Dis iz da rebel mob? Feh! No wundah youz gitz ain’t been able ta beat da spikies!” Chrysalis growled, shaking her head.
“That’s rich, coming from an Ork,” Killer Instinct sneered. “The only reason anyone tolerates the humans is because they keep beating YOU.”
Several of the Nobs started sliding down the sides of the pit to join their leader, and a few more armed rebels emerged from the tunnels to join the ranks facing the Orks. The disguised Guardians started sweating anxiously; they could feel the fear, anger, and tension building to a breaking point, and it was nearly suffocating to their empathic senses. This was a powder keg waiting for a spark.
“Hah hah hah hah!” Chrysalis laughed, clutching her belly and grinning at the impudent minotaur. “So’z sum of ya gotz gutz! But dis heah fort iz MY pryzz, ya heer? My boyz an’ I will do da ‘ard fightin’. All youz squishies gotta do iz get us in!”
Murmurs and muttering passed through the ranks of the rebels, and some of the tension drained away. While none of the native inhabitants expected or approved of an alliance with the Orks, they DID like the idea of the greenskins taking the brunt of the punishment while fighting a skilled and well-equipped army.
Most of them did, at least.
“WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!” boomed a yak, stamping its hooves angrily and jumping out ahead of the pack. “THIS OUR ATTACK! YOU NOT SHOW UP AND TAKE CHARGE!”
Rox quickly moved to counter the agitated soldier. “Wait! We hear out Orks first! Ork participation rather integral to strategic assumptions!”
Killer Instinct crossed his arms over his chest. “Maybe so, but I’d still like to hear an answer. Who are you, Ork? Your kind DO have names, yes?”
A blast of hot steam came from Chrysalis’s nostrils. “Yeh, we does. Da Boss o’dis heah tribe iz… WARBOSS CHANGEYFACE!!”
Chrysalis bellowed the embarrassing moniker into the air, and the Orks around and above her started whooping and cheering while waving their choppas about. The fanfare was quite loud and distracting, but it wasn’t quite enough to disguise a wave of chortling rolling through the insurgents.
“Warboss… Changey Face?” Gestalt asked, his beak twisting into a grin. “Really? Oh my feathers, that’s even worse than the pony names!”
“Ugh. Aliens,” grumbled Killer Instinct.
Chrysalis was none too happy about being mocked, but at least the soldiers giggling at her seemed less likely to panic and open fire. If that was the greatest humiliation she would have to endure for this mission, then she would be quite lucky.
“Now den, my boyz iz jus’ gonna get sett-“
Chrysalis was suddenly cut off by the same yak that had pushed to the front before. “YOU NOT THE BOSS OF YAKS, WARBOSS CHANGEYFACE! YAKS NOT AGREE TO FIGHT WITH ORKS! YOU LEAVE NOW!”
Unlike the griffons, diamond dogs, and even the minotaur, the yaks had not burst into giggling fits when Chrysalis had named her cover form. Instead the burly bovines were pushing to the front, ahead of the other rebels, and looked as upset as ever. Unlike the other rebel species the yaks obviously couldn’t hold guns; instead they had been decked out in layers of flak and metal armor over their backs and sides, and many had covered their horns in metal plating, spikes, or razor wire. Any one of the beasts looked like they could knock over a Nob with ease, but they were still grievously outnumbered and outgunned by the green horde.
Chrysalis growled in the back of her throat, and then cast a glance at Rox. The changeling Guardian jumped into action, racing in front of the soldiers she had recruited.
“Wait! Consider benefit to yak from Ork ally!” Rox shouted, dashing in front of the hairy brutes. “If Ork fight and yak win, then-“
A huge boot suddenly struck Rox in the side, and the spy was lifted up off the ground and sent flailing into the air. She released a wailing moo as she flipped end over end, and then crashed painfully onto a pile of firewood.
The Orks immediately started laughing, while the rebels snapped their weapons up again. The Nob that had kicked the infiltrator guffawed the loudest, pointing and laughing at his victim.
“OI!” Chrysalis snarled. “Stop smashin da softies, ya-“
“OI!!” boomed the nearest yak, shouting over Chrysalis entirely. “YOU KICK ROX!! HOW DARE YOU HURT YAK LEADER?!”
That yak stepped toward the offending Nob, and then immediately caught a boot in the face himself. The bovine was knocked onto his side, blood oozing from his nose.
“Stop dat, ya Grot-lovah!” Chrysalis shouted, waving her choppa.
“Hah hah hah! Dese gitz iz s’pposed ta help us git da humies?” the Nob laughed, clutching his stomach. “Boss, we don’ need-“
In the next moment something hit the Ork like a wrecking ball, shattering his leg and sending him into the air. The Nob barely had time to blink dimly before he smashed into a rock face, causing an agonized wince to roll through the dumbfounded spectators. He slid down the bare stone, leaving a thick streak of blood behind.
“YOU. NOT. STEP. ON. YAKS.” The yak that had been kicked – that is, the REAL yak that had been kicked – stood before the Nobs with his head held high even while fresh blood dribbled from his nose. “YOU WANT TO BEAT HUMANS?! THEN YOU FIRST BEAT YAKS!!”
“Okay, dat’z enuff!” barked Chrysalis. “You’z-“
Before she could even get to the second sentence, another Nob jumped forward and swung his choppa down. The rusted axe broke through the layers of flak armor and sunk into the yak’s shoulder.
“Wait! Hold on! No, you idiots!” Mox shouted.
Another yak slammed into the Nob attacker, spearing his abdomen on a horn and then flinging him away.
“Hey! Stop it!” Nox screeched.
Another Ork tackled the first yak, slamming it onto the ground. The greenskin had barely hit the dirt before two more yaks rammed him and trampled him into the dirt.
“What in Tartarus is wrong with you?!” Sox bellowed.
Several more Nobs rushed toward the yaks, and some of the Orks above the pit started firing their shootas into the air and cheering on their tribesmen.
“I SAID KWIT IT, YA NUMM-SKULLZ!!” Chrysalis roared.
Her voice was immediately drowned out by a pair of even louder battle cries, blending together into a perfect storm of frenzied bloodlust.
“WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!”


Chrysalis slapped her hand over her face as the yaks and Orks crashed into a swirling melee, kicking up a vast cloud of dust around them. The sound of bellows, pained shouts, bone-crunching impacts, and point-blank gunshots poured from the scuffle, along with the occasional greenskin body sent flying from being rammed.
The other rebels, however, simply watched the skirmish nervously. None of them seemed to want to escalate the fighting, and many of them seemed honestly embarrassed by the conduct of their peers. By the same token, while the other Orks Chrysalis had brought with her were cheering on the Nobs from the edge of the pit, they at least refrained from jumping in themselves.
“Well, den… doez anywun ELSE haff a probbem wit do Orks leadin’ da charj?!” she snarled.
“No! No, we’re fine. Thank you,” Nox said quickly. “Nobody else has a problem with the Orks spearheading the attack, right?”
Killer Instinct raised a hand. Sox immediately slapped it down. They glared at each other.
Gestalt clashed his wing shields together, and then the former Captain nodded at the griffon troops behind him. “I don’t like the idea of siding with the Orks. But if these aliens want to charge in first and take the brunt of the defensive fire… well, the only other option seems to be fighting them.” He pointed at the Warboss. “You keep your troops under control, and we won’t shoot you in the back. Yet.”
“Then it’s settled!” Nox said, casting an icy glance at the griffon warrior. “All we have to do is finish the tunnel and blast open the wall!”
“That’s hardly ‘all’ we have to do,” sniffed Killer Instinct. Then he pointed toward Chrysalis. “Tell me… Changeyface... you’ve fought wars against the humans before, have you not? I am led to believe that you ‘Warbosses’ are the oldest and most experienced of your kind.”
“Yeh, wut uv it?” Chrysalis growled. “I killed lotsa humies! I eefen killed me fill o’ spiky boyz!” She slammed the head of her great choppa on the ground for emphasis.
“I’m sure you have. So do you really think this force is enough to take on the Chaos army? With thousands of troops and a fortress to break open, can your Orks turn the tide of battle in our favor?”
Chrysalis released a deep, guttural laugh, and her lips stretched into a grin. “I gotz a trikk r’two ta help wif dat. Don’ worree horny boy, we’z got enuff bakk-up ta tayk da fort!”
The minotaur’s eyebrow twitched while Sox fought the urge to laugh. “Please do not address or refer to me as ‘horny boy.’”
“Shur, shur,” Chrysalis waved off the warrior, and then glanced toward the battle going on behind her. “Oi! You gitz dun yet?!”


Remarkably, almost as soon as she turned around, a yak burst from the chaos and thundered across the quarry floor. Sitting on the beast’s back and holding on by one horn was a Nob. Both creatures were battered and bleeding, but the latter whooped wildly and fired his slugga into the air. The other rebels scattered, and eventually the yak screeched to a halt in the middle of the pit.
“Now dat’z sum good fightin’!” the Nob laughed between heaves of breath. Then he paused, rolled his tongue around his mouth for a moment, and then spat out a tooth.
“YAKS DONE! READY TO SMASH PUNY HUMANS NOW!” the yak acting as a mount shouted. He pawed at the ground beneath him, and his rider bellowed a war cry.
Chrysalis stared at the Nob and yak, dumbfounded. Then she felt Gox tapping her on the shoulder. She twisted her head toward the Ork-disguised Guardian, who then pointed back toward the site of the skirmish.
The fight had ended entirely. Several Yaks and Orks lay on the ground dead or severely injured, and great splashes of blood criss-crossed the breadth of the combat zone. The surviving Orks, evidently, had all managed to climb onto the surviving yaks, who were all lining up into ranks or stumbling away for treatment of their wounds (and those of their riders).
“… Wut jus’ happened?” Chrysalis mumbled.
Gox leaned in to whisper to the disguised Queen. “It seems we have a cavalry corps now, Warboss.”
“But… dey were… I meen, wen did dey… how did… WUT?”
“Best not to over-think this. They certainly don’t.” Gox walked past Chrysalis and then snarled at Nox. “Oi! We’z gotta tokk ta yer leederz! Fer stratejizin’!”
The disguised Guardian grinned, pounding her fist into her palm. “Dere’z a lotta killin’ t’do, ladz! Le’s git to it!”


****


Chrysalis watched the ramshackle wooden door close behind her, her green eyes narrowed dangerously. The door was locked, and then a crossbar was put over it.
She turned toward the other occupants of the small, dug-out strategy room: Gox, Nox, Rox, Mox, and Sox all waited patiently, along with a pair of Gretchin.
“Dis room sekyur?” she rumbled.
Mox shook her head.
Chrysalis grabbed a table covered in maps and then threw it toward the door. The table slammed into the barrier, falling on its side and blocking the entrance. Then the changeling Queen’s eyes flashed, casting a barrier over the door to block sound.
“That will have to be secure enough,” Chrysalis said, her voice returning to normal. An emerald aura surrounded the massive Ork body, and it rapidly deflated back to her true form. “FINALLY I can drop this absurd disguise. Warboss ‘Changeyface.’ Feh.” Even with her spell in place she kept her voice down as a precaution.
The two Grots vanished in flashes of green magic, and were replaced by ordinary changelings wearing small saddlebags. The Guardians kept their disguises on; they were deep in infiltrated territory after all, and keeping cover was a deeply ingrained habit.
“All the pieces are finally in place. All the traps set, all the players in their corners. Tonight’s moon marks the final day of human dominance on my planet,” Chrysalis hissed. “The final push was convincing these fools to tolerate fighting alongside Orks. At this late stage, they have little choice. If these idiots can last one night without killing each other then the assault can proceed.”
“You did something with the Tau as well, didn’t you?” Mox asked.
“Yes. But that alliance is more… low-key. It needn’t be revealed to our other pawns.” Chrysalis chuckled, and then gestured to a lesser changeling. “It’s also proven quite productive. Voidsong’s slaves have access to the fortress and she has provided a list of targets. Critical information for a band of savages who can hardly tell one towering lump of metal from another.”
Her horn glowed, seizing a sheet of paper that a changeling was removing from its pack. The paper had a list of facilities and a bird’s-eye sketch of Ferrous Dominus showing where the targets were.
“The city is huge, fortified, and deadly. Your soldiers won’t get anywhere just trying to tear it down block by block. This will tell you where to attack.”
“Excellent, my Queen,” Nox hissed, her beak curving into a grin. “I’ll have this copied and distributed amongst the rabble.”
“The grays also have something else planned,” Chrysalis continued. “I’m not certain what, exactly. Their strategy involves their machines, somehow. Voidsong said that she would be able to cripple the fortress defenses, and would strike at the heart of the wretched apes.”
Sox furrowed her brow. “What does that mean? What’s the ‘heart’ of the human army?”
“I don’t know, and my messenger didn’t bother to ask,” Chrysalis sniffed, briefly casting a glare at one of the changelings behind her. “But I doubt it’s the same heart I have in mind. Voidsong isn’t nearly as smart as she thinks she is. Still, I’m confident she will do her part and then die a useful, glorious death as she desires for all her people trapped on our world.”
The Queen chuckled darkly and then levitated a regional map that had fallen onto the floor when she’d tossed aside the table. A dagger floated up next to it, cutting paths through the paper around the Chaos city.
“The Tau will infiltrate and strike at the city from within. You will breach the city from below. The hoofful of dragons I have managed to persuade or bribe shall attack later, from above. And finally, Big Bloo shall perform a conventional ground assault from the East.”
Most of the Guardians looked confused.
“Big Bloo? What’s that?”
“It’s the Orks’ prize achievement on this world; the most powerful weapon my lackluster ‘tribe’ could muster. You’ll know it when you see it. And you’ll want to stay out of its way when you do; the aliens manning the beast didn’t seem terribly interested when Gox was explaining that there would be non-green allies on the ground.”
Mox gulped. Sox rubbed at her chin, nodding slowly.
“With the assistance of the aliens and a coordinated assault, we just may be able to overcome the human defenders,” Sox mumbled. “Or at least weaken them to the point that later infiltration and subversion is easy.”
Gox nodded her head. “You may need extra protection though, my Queen. The Orks will expect you to lead them to the thickest fighting. It will be dangerous, even for one of your power.”
“No it won’t,” Chrysalis said simply. “You will be in charge of the Orks during the assault, Gox. You should probably tell the alien freaks that I’m simply leading a different mob attacking a different point, but I won’t be joining the assault in the tunnels.”
“Oh.” Gox blinked, then quirked an eyebrow. “So, where will you be?”
“Ponyville.”
The Guardians spent several seconds staring at the map of Ferrous Dominus, and then at Chrysalis.
“Ummm…” Mox raised her paw, but Chrysalis cut her off with a chuckle.
“As you said Gox, it will be far too dangerous to join the assault. What’s more, I have decided to seize a different power while the apes lose their grip on this planet.” Chrysalis magically rolled up the map and let it fall at her hooves. “Tox failed in her mission, but she brought back critical information. Although the humans are best known for their guns and space knights, their greatest achievement and asset is the strange building in Ponyville: the Nethalican.”
The changeling Queen grinned, baring the full length of her fangs. “If Tox was telling the truth, then that building is an infinite source of power. Power that can sustain us directly, without the need for love! Just think, my children; finally the changeling race will be unshackled from the weakling races we rely upon for food! Without the constant toll of feeding weighing upon my kingdom, we may divert all our energies toward subverting our enemies and finally seize our proper place as rulers of the cattle around us!”
The Guardians glanced at each other wide-eyed. The idea of the major battle occurring without their Queen at their side made them uneasy, but when Chrysalis laid out her plan for their future they couldn’t help but be entranced. Only Gox cringed at the monologue, scratching the back of her neck and coughing lightly.
“Ah… you do remember what happened to Tox… right?”
Chrysalis nodded. “I do. She was corrupted by the humans’ power. She allowed the priest to turn her against me. To convince her that some banal God was a greater authority than I, and that she knew what was best for the hive.” The Queen shook her head. “I will not falter so easily before these wretched powers. While the humans are crushed before the combined fury of their enemies, I will scout the temple and capture it if possible. If I manage to seize it quietly, I can probably even set up a hive in the heart of Ponyville. With a limitless supply of power, the changelings will slowly and inexorably replace the citizens, and we will spread across the kingdom! I can spawn a new generation of Guardians, and all of Equestria would fall at my leisure!”
“And when the space monkeys return?!” Rox shouted.
“They’ll see little to vent their rage on but their old alien foes and their little ‘Protectorate’ allies,” Chrysalis laughed. “The Orks will almost certainly kill the rebels after Ferrous Dominus has fallen. Gox may even order it herself, if circumstances allow it. The rest of you should be prepared to find a convenient hiding spot where you can slip into something greener.”
“It’s perfect, my Queen,” Sox and the other Guardians bowed, and Chrysalis cackled.
“Of course. The hour of our triumph fast approaches,” Chrysalis cooed, her magic washing over and returning her appearance to that of a Warboss. “All we need to do is push our hapless pawns into the Chaos war machine and wait to pick up the pieces!”
She turned around and stomped toward the door, flinging the barricade away and dispelling the noise barrier. “Le’s go, boyz! Nuthin’s gonna stop us now! WAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!”


****


Primary Changeling Hive – following day


“All units, take up defensive formation! Idle engines and establish a perimeter!”
General Harlin’s voice thundered across the vox system, and dozens of growling vehicles rumbled to a halt before the mountain crags of the changeling hive. Chimera transports, Leman Russ battle tanks, and several Sentinel scout walkers all took up position along a firing line. The APCs began disgorging troops, releasing hundreds of soldiers into the line.
Most the of the soldiers were human, but not all. There were a few units of earth ponies armed with drills and carapace armor to act as sappers. A squadron of Devilfish APCs followed up the rear of the column, and a lone Rhino rumbled along on the periphery alongside a bright pink Contemptor pattern Dreadnought. Above the column, a pair of armored figures - one pony and one Astartes - flew in wild, dizzying arcs while shouting and laughing at each other.
At the front of the formation, General Harlin emerged from his command APC. The man grimaced at the sight of the hive. A collection of rocky crags and caverns that fed deep underground, there would be ample opportunity for the enemy to lay traps and ambushes. He would have preferred hammering the mountain with siege guns to collapse the tunnels and bury it. Digging insects out of a dirt mound was hardly the sort of combat his men were suited for, and the creatures being capable shape-shifters could complicate things further. But Warpsmith Kessler had demanded captures, and what the Iron Warriors wanted, the Iron Warriors got.
He pressed a finger to the vox bead in his ear. “All reserve forces, defend this perimeter. Scouts, begin surface scans. Vanguard teams, combat teams, prep for assault! Prisoner transports are standing by for enemy captured and wounded, as well as any useful bio-samples you can secure. The primary objective is to find, neutralize, and capture Queen Chrysalis! We will then place the demolition charges within the heart of the nest and collapse the entire tunnel network! Today the Dark Gods visit their wrath upon these vile insects, and show the folly of defying the Lords of Chaos!”
“Roger that, Command. Main assault forces are ready for some pest control!”
“We are prepared, gue’la. Let’s get on with it.”
“Cleansing squad is ready for assault. Iron within! Iron without!”
“Um, m-medicae assistance is ready to help. If you need some, that is.”
“Yay! We’re gonna stompy-stomp some meanie-bugs! Whoo!”
“I’m ready to run down any changelings that make a buzz for it! I’ll have them out of the sky in ten seconds flat!”
“Let’s go let’s go LET’S GO! BLOOD! FOR THE BLOOD GOD!!”