No Better Angels
Griffonian Invasion of Equestria
Day 11, 1:14 AM
Corporal Laslev
Ghastly Gorge, 46 miles from Ponyville
7th Motorized Rifle Platoon
“One week. One week and we’re already halfway from reaching Equestria’s own capital. After years of planning and very little resistance, we inch ever closer to victory. With such little resistance from when we first arrived, we did not expect much soon after.”
“Then as we proceeded into these damned forests, they just kept popping up to attack us then retreat away into the wilderness, wearing us down slowly. Like the cowards they are.”
“We have been here for the past two days, fighting each and every single Royal Guard that has decided to fight against us. The only thing separating us from them, is this damned gorge.”
"Caltrop has already decided we do not have enough power to push through the sides of the Gorge. We would have done so otherwise, if we had not lost our two BMPs because of damned land mines."
“ ‘Ghastly Gorge’ the Equestrians call it. I see nothing ‘ghastly’ about it.”
“But it sure is fucking huge.”
“Our Platoon has no artillery aside from some light mortars that can barely even reach the other side. This is the easiest way to Ponyville, therefore the easiest way to capture or kill Equestria’s most powerful weapon.”
“The Elements of Harmony?”
"Yes, The Elements. It is nothing more but a suicide mission at this point.”
Laslev chuckled and shook his head, closing the journal he was writing in, “Despite promises for reinforcements, this is all we are getting. One aging BMP and a platoon of weary soldiers who are already whining for their mothers."
“Do not get off track. Let’s just focus on getting past this place and into the Everfree.” The leader of the platoon, Caltrop, spoke up, gaining most of the attention of the soldiers inside the trench.
"Any word from the armored platoon, Kardev?"
The radio Griffon shook his head, setting down the radio and pulling out his canteen, "Nothing so far. I have been trying for the past two hours. Chances are, they probably fell victim of whatever Guard forces are in the forests."
Caltrop shook his head and sighed, standing up and grabbing his AK-74M beside him. As he did, one of the privates spoke up, his voice somewhat shaky, "The Equestrians themselves must know we are in little position to fight. We really should pull back until we can muster up more forces."
"So what?" Another private spoke up, glaring at his comrade, "you think we will get back to the FOB without casualties?"
"It is better than just waiting around to be bombarded! Who knows if the Equestrians have called in their own artillery? Air support?"
"I would rather go out fighting then be picked off by cowards in the bushes!" This was supported by multiple cheers of agreement.
Caltrop raised his claw and clamped it into a fist, which automatically silenced everyone. The tension was growing by the day, Griffons split between wanting to go out and fight, to try and break through the lines. While the other half was a bit more logical, wanting to pull back to their FOB and muster up more power, thought at the risk of being completely wiped out by the Guards in the forests.
"I know you all want to get out of these trenches and that is exactly what I plan to do."
After a couple seconds of silence, he continued, taking a deep breath, "I have come up with a plan to break through the Equestrian defenses. We can no longer wait for our armored platoon to come through now, after three days with no contact. We must act now, else we be bombarded where we stand."
"My plan is that we use the remaining rounds of our mortars to try and act as a distraction. Half of you will stay here, the rest of us will try and flank from the east into their own trenches. The BMP will also provide suppressing fire as soon as we run out of mortar shells."
A bit of mumbling rose as the Griffons took this all in. They knew that if they stayed put without doing anything, they would make for easy targets. They also knew that if they tried to head back, they would become victim to the same fate that fell upon half of their platoon as well as the armored platoon.
"...I agree. Let's do this."
"I see no other way, honestly."
"At least we go fighting!"
The mumbles soon turned to talks of mutual agreement between a majority of the Griffons, bringing a proud smile to the platoon leader's face.
"Very well. Now, who-"
Caltrop was cut off as a massive explosion rocked the outside of the trenches, sending most of the Griffons off their feet as the shockwave hit them with massive force. Screaming was heard outside as dirt, rock and debris fell onto the trench. A Griffon engineer stumbled into the entrance of the trench, covered in heavy injuries and blood pouring down his face, a quarter of his upper beak missing.
"TH-THEY HAVE HOWITZERS! THEY DESTROYED OUR BMP, WE-"
Another explosion rocked the trench, this time a bit further away. By this time, a majority of the Griffons began grabbing whatever weapons they could, as well as taking positions on the mortar. Two Griffons quickly took their injured comrade to the small makeshift medical bay area, while Caltrop yelled at the top of his lungs at the mortar crews.
"SHOOT THOSE ROUNDS AS FAST AS YOU CAN! WE CAN NOT LET THEM FIRE ONTO OUR MUNITIONS!"
Another explosion, this time below them hitting the very bottom of the Gorge, barely missing the mortar pits, who were already beginning their counter battery fire, firing and loading as many shells as they could, both under the fear of being hit by a shell, while also fueled by the anger of seeing their comrades die.
Although several of the mortars barely made their way towards the Equestrian trenches, it did seemingly cause a delay in the artillery fire. Griffons quickly took their own weapons and began to fire back at the Equestrian soldiers, who were also firing back shots.
Laslev quickly ran down the trenches, clutching his AK-74M as he tried to find a good spot to join his comrades in returning fire. As one of the privates kneeled to take position, he was hit with a round, going into his heart as he collapsed, clutching his chest. Laslev looked down at the private and quickly put his arms behind the private's arms, pulling him back with him towards the medbay area.
Another massive explosion caused him to lose his balance and let go of the dead private, falling quickly onto his back as he tried to quickly recover. He noticed that the mortar pit down at the trenches was now completely destroyed, as well as any Griffon that was next to the pit. He then looked over to the Equestrian trenches, where he could barely see some of the soldiers taking a net off of a previously hidden Mark-19 auto-grenade launcher.
He slowly got on one knee and aimed his AK-74M at the soldiers, missing several times, while the MK19 gunner was already firing directly into the trenches farther down, causing chaos withing the Griffons and causing them to quickly cease their fire and run for their lives.
As the MK19 set its sight on him, one of the soldiers that were loading more ammunition onto the gun pointed up into the skies, and yelled. The gunner then looked up as well, before they were both suddenly engulfed by a powerful explosion.
The sound of a jet engine screamed from up above as Laslev noticed the outline of a SU-25, flying beyond the Equestrian trench, which was now exploding and engulfed in flames.
The ammunition depot on the Equestrian side then exploded as well, more than half of the trench now completely unrecognizable as the SU-25 made a second pass, this time using its guns to tear through the top cover of the trench.
Griffons in the trench yelled, ranging from yells and cries of happiness to relief and pride. Laslev then sighed softly as a Ka-50 attack helicopter flew right above the Gorge, the pilots firing the main gun into what remained of the trenches, while Caltrop stood next to him, patting his shoulder.
"This is just a temporary relief. We still have a war to fight."