//------------------------------// // The Ozyokovo Outskirts (Edited) // Story: The Great Trial Continues! // by Dimitri2278 //------------------------------// Dec 9th, 2042 Maresk Fortress, Maresk, New Stalliongrad, Greater Equestria 0800 Lt. Cold Steel tried to keep himself from shivering, his breath fogging as he breathed. To his sides and rear stood the entirety of the 21st Guards' Regiment, 2,500 ponies, all trying to stand perfectly still with their eyes fixed forward. They had been standing for fifteen minutes when Colonel Long Pike appeared from one of the entrances to the courtyard and stepped up to a stage made of wooden crates. "My fellow Guardsponies!" he began. "Today, we once more march to cleanse this land of disharmony! Today, we will show these heathens the true power of Celestia's light! To victory!" "TO VICTORY!" cheered the guards, feeling reinvigorated by his speech. "Now," began Col. Long Pike as he pulled out a map board. "We have been informed by our scouts that the humans have moved to occupy the towns and villages closest to the anomalies we located the other day," he said as he pointed to the map with his wing. "However, most of their local forces are advancing toward Maresk to the west. So we have been ordered to attack their flank from the north," he said, making a sweeping gesture. "But, Sir, why not stay in the fort? Surely our walls and shields can hold out?" asked a captain in the front rank. In response, Col. Long Pike gave a cold chuckle. "Oh, sure, it would hold...until we all starve to death!" he shouted before turning to the officers and stomping his hoof. "You see, if we defend, the enemy will have the initiative. And if they take Maresk, we'll be cut off from any hope of resupply. That is why high command wants us to attempt a break-out and link up with all our forces in the local area. Am I understood!?" "SIR, YES, SIR!" came the reply. Long Pike then used his wings to fly over the gathered soldiers. "Good, then let's get this show on the road! For Equestria!" Dec 9th, 2042 Fillykovo Maresk, New Stalliongrad, Greater Equestria 930 Even though he had been forced to march through the unforgiving taiga, Lt. Cold Steel couldn't help but feel warmed by the Colonel's speech. And, as the 21st had been joined by the 1st and 2nd battalions of the 252nd Guards' regiment. (a further 1225 guardponies) Along with a small group of unicorn mages from the Maresk academy of magic, he could not help but feel confident in victory. But then, a look of realization crossed his face as his heart felt as though it would give. 'Wait...didn't he say that all the villages closest to the anomalies were... No...NO NO NO- "Hey, are you alright, Sir?" "Wha-" he shook himself from his stupor as he turned to find one of his sergeants behind him with a look of concern. "What?" "You spaced out for a second, Sir. Are you alright?" Lt. Steel coughed into his hoof before turning and continuing the march, with the echo of his company not far behind. "I'm fine. Just, fine- What the- Oof!" BANG! he felt himself get thrown to the ground as he felt a warm liquid run down his back. "Wha-" he turned to see the Sargeant lean forward as blood ran from his mouth and the hole in his head. Knowing what was coming, Lt. Steel instinctively rolled to the side to avoid the body as it fell to the ground, painting the snow with its blood. As all of this was going on, the only thing he could hear was distant shouting, followed by more gunfire. He wanted to run, to see his family, but all he could do was stare into the lifeless eyes of the Sargeant as all of his years of training flew out the window. For the first time in recent memory, he had lost all his composure. He thrashed around as he watched a group of five humans retreating from the woods ahead as several pegasi shot after them. As he watched, he could feel nothing short of pure rage within his core as he charged up his horn. Then, with careful aim, he fired his spell. WHOOSH! It hit one of them, causing the human to fall as a gaping hole formed in his chest. "FOR EQUESTRIA!" he shouted as he used magic to draw his sword. He turned to his company, which, just moments before, had been as panicked as he was. But, now that he was back, his company took courage and did as ordered, following him as they charged the woods. Unfortunately, they had been caught in a march column and were not spread out enough to cover the entire wood. Dec 9th, 1978 Ozyokovo, Omsk, Russia 935 After Alpha company had captured Ozyokovo, Lt. Nikolai Bogdanov and his razvedka (scouts) platoon had been ordered to occupy the woods to the north of the village. Luckily he had, as a large enemy force had been marching down the road, presumably coming from the fortress he had been notified was to the north-east of the village. So, as he sat in his BTR-60PB, he could hear the gunfire from up ahead. "Forward driver, let's get in there!" he ordered on his throat mic as he readied his 14.5mm KPVT machinegun mounted in the turret. "Affirmative!" replied the driver as the vehicle swiftly rumbled towards the enemy. As Nikolai looked through his periscope just in time to spot a large force of armoured ponies chasing off the three squads he had deployed to ambush them. "FOR THE MOTHERLAND!" Lt. Bogdanov yelled as he opened fire, hitting one that had just cut down one of his soldiers with a floating sword. Dec 9th, 2042 Fillykovo Maresk, New Stalliongrad, Greater Equestria 935 "CHARGE!" shouted Cold Steel as he fired another spell into the fleeing humans. (now numbering 16, since others had also gotten up as they got closer) "GIVE EM' HECK, BOYS!" he continued to lead his guards forward, not even bothering to listen as a barely audible rumble came closer. Then, suddenly, a metal beast appeared through the brush and pines, followed by two others. However, Cold Steel could not care less as he continued his charge. He was so close that he swung his arming sword and struck a human in the back. "COME ON, FORWARD-" RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT he was cut short as he turned to see his guards cut down before his eyes. He turned to see that the fire came from the metal beasts, and so shocked was Lt. Steel that he didn't even notice as he was thrown to the ground before losing consciousness. Dec 9th, 1978 Ozyokovo, Omsk, Russia 940 After the BTRs showed up, it only took roughly fifteen seconds for the ponies to retreat after the BTRs cut a swath through their ranks. Now, Sgt. Filipp Egorov and what remained of his squad (5 out of the original 7) Stood inspecting the dead and wounded. "Hey, what's that?" asked one of his men: Pvt. Vladimir Kuzmin. As he pointed at a pony wearing an ornate suit of silver armour. "Looks like an officer of some kind," Sgt. Egorov replied as he stepped up to the body. He moved the pony off before flipping the human body that it had fallen on top of. "Poor Shasha. He survived so much. Only to fall to this," he said in an empty tone as he picked up the blood-stained straight sword. Meanwhile, Pvt. Kuzmin had been bent over the unicorn, checking for anything of value, When he spotted a puff of steam exit his muzzle. "Uh, Comrade Sargeant?" He dropped the sword before turning to face him. "What is it?" he asked sharply. "I-I think this pony is still alive," he said in a nervous tone as Sgt. Egorov prepared to pull out his pistol. "Wait, shouldn't we take him back alive!?" Sgt. Egorov stared at him with nothing but anger as his hand shook over his holster. "Why should we! This- These ponies stole our motherland!" he began as he quickly pulled out his pistol and aimed it directly between his eyes. "They killed our friends, wiped out our nation! So why should he not pay for what they've done!" he had tears forming at the edge of his eyes as he put his finger on the trigger. "And you don't think I feel the same way!?" yelled Pvt. Kuzmin as Sgt. Egorov shook himself from his enraged state. "Look, Comrade, if we bring him back alive, he might have some valuable information," Sgt. Egorov cocked a brow as he continued to hold his pistol over the pony's head. "And if it doesn't?" "I'll shoot it myself," Sgt. Egorov seeing the determination in the Private's eyes nodded before holstering his Makarov. "Alright, Vlad... You bring him back," he bent down and picked up Shasha's SVD and the bloodied sword before turning and walking towards one of the BTRs.