//------------------------------// // Chapter 25: Invasion // Story: Logic and Friendship. Roger! Roger! // by Anaylze //------------------------------// The doors to the bridge opened once more with a hiss and 2 T-Series Tactical Droids entered, the red and tan TK-912, and the green and tan TF-1726. They both stepped up to the holo table and stood beside TA-175.  Kraken stood up and walked over to the holo table.  "Our first attempt to launch an invasion of the planet has failed. We will now attempt a 2nd invasion on a continental scale. All 3 of you will be involved in surface operations."  The 3 Tactical Droids all nodded and a hologram of Equestria appeared on the holo table.  "TA-175, you will be deployed to the city known as Manehattan." Kraken continued, pointing to it on the map "TF-1726, you will lead an invasion of the region known as The Crystal Empire, here" he said, pointing a finger to it. "TJ-912, I have found the southern regions of the continent to be rather uninhabited, but I have located 3 significant settlements here, here and here." He said, pointing to Rockville, Appleloosa and Dodge City "you will land in the settlement of Appleloosa in the center, and spread out from there. Are your orders properly logged?"  "Yes sir." They all said  "Good. C-9979 Landing Craft will deploy mobile operation centers for you to operate at in each of your locations. Your Shuttles are waiting, go."  They nodded and turned around, walking off the bridge.  The oil around OOM-340 began to drain and he saw the lights of the room again as the tub he was in raised him back up to the floor level. His body appeared a bit shinier and glossier, but still showed scratches and scuffs from battle. He flexed his limbs, making sure all of them were working well.  "Aah, that was good! I feel like I'm fresh off the assembly line again!" He stepped out, stepping through a dryer and leaving the room.  Suddenly his radio buzzed in with new orders: obtain weapons and report to the hanger area.  OOM-340 hurried off to the armory, grabbing a standard E-5 Blaster Rifle and a power cell for it, before he began to run to the hanger bay.  In the Hanger Bay, among the various Vulture Droids wandering around, were 3 Sheathipede Class Shuttles, and 2 large battalions of Battle Droids standing in formation in front of a Single C-9979 Landing Craft, along with various other vehicles. OOM-340 came running out through and open door before he walked up to a battalion and took up position in front, where Commanders were generally expected to stand, standing up as straight as he could with his arms by his sides and his Blaster on his back.  3 Tactical Droids walked out of a door, OOM-340 recognizing one as TA-175. They all walked and boarded separate shuttles before the shuttles departed. The massive landing crafts doors opened and a nearby Pilot Battle Droid gestured to it, signaling for the Droids to board. OOM-340 marched slowly up the boarding ramp with the Droids behind him following, making the loud clanking noise with each step that gave them their nickname "Clankers".  It was back to work time. His 10-minute oil bath and relaxation time had been nice though.  Once the droid and vehicles were all loaded onto the transport, the massive cargo doors closed, and the ship turned to the open Hanger Bay door. Various Vulture Droid that was stretching their legs and joints moved out of the way or transformed into their flight position, as the ship exited the Hanger Bay, being followed by a few Vulture Droids to escort it. Behind the 'Enforcement' was the fleet's massive Lucrehulk Class Control ship. Its two large hanger bay doors opened, and out flew many more C-9979 Landing Craft, all of them descending to the Planet of Equestria below. The invasion had begun.  Twilight awoke and stepped out of her bed, seeing that all her friends except Applejack and Pinkie Pie were still asleep. She checked her guest room, finding that Celestia and Luna had already gone back to Canter lot, but there were still several guards around the castle. Twilight trotted downstairs to have breakfast, smelling toast and other breakfast foods.  Twilight sat at the table reading a book, until breakfast was ready, and the rest of her friends came downstairs to eat. They all gathered around the dining table and began to eat their breakfast.  Celestia sat on her throne with her sister Luna beside her on the dais, which was surrounded by various royal guards all bearing their stern expressions. Suddenly the throne room doors flew open, and Princess Cadance came rushing in carrying Flurry Heart. She was looking battered and beaten, with her mane and tail a mess and the look of exhaustion on her face.  Celestia and Luna ran down the throne to her, catching them in their hooves as she fell to the floor in exhaustion.  "Cadance! Are you alright?" Celestia exclaimed with worry in her voice  "Those machines…" she coughed "they attacked The Crystal Empire! Tons of them!" She said getting on her hooves again "they came in these huge ships! I did what I could but there were too many of them!"  Celestia felt grim, she knew those machines would return.  "Are you okay?"  "Yes" she sniffled "I-I think so. Flurry Heart was all I was able to grab before I had to flee."  The sound of hooves clattering on the stone floors was heard in the hall, and a messenger came running to the throne room. The messenger bowed down to Princess Celestia and levitated her a letter.  Celestia unrolled be letter and began to read it quickly.  It was a letter from the Mayor of Manehattan, the Droids had attacked there too! This wasn't just a single attack anymore; this was a full-on invasion.  "Luna, take care of Princess Cadance and Flurry Heart, I must message Princess Twilight immediately, we are under attack!"  Luna nodded and embraced Cadence in a hug attempting to calm her down.  Celestia levitated her writing easel over to her with a piece of parchment and dipped her quill in ink before beginning to write a letter rapidly, which she then rolled up and sent in a span of less than 30 seconds.  "Send a detachment of the Royal Guard to The Crystal Empire and Manehattan at once!" She ordered  The doors on the C-9979 landing craft opened and sunlight flooded the entrance ramp. OOM-340 pointed forward signaling for his troops to march out of the ship with him.  The loud clanking of their feet was heard again as they marched off, he boarded the ramp to the outside. The ship along with others had landed in what's seemed to be a park in a city. Behind his platoon came a line of B2s and 2 MTTs. If he had a jaw, it would've dropped when he saw what the ship deployed next, 2 large Octuptarra Droids.  His simulated moral boosted, and he began to lead his troops into the city.  His radio buzzed in, it was TA-175 giving him orders, as well as everyone else in the army.  "Today's glorious strategy will involved the taking of Manehattan. We will advance down the main street and capture the city's capital building and with it the rest of Manehattan. Annihilate any ponies who get in the way of your mission. Ensure the MTTs arrive to deploy their troops inside the city hall."  "Roger, Roger!" He replied as he continued, his march into the city. The streets were littered with abandoned carts and carriages, and there were some makeshift barricades which police ponies were hiding behind. Some were levitating riot shields, and others just had riot batons. OOM-340 raised his left hand and pointed forwards  "Blast them!" He shouted to his troops  Various unicorns started levitating fruit from nearby bushels such as apples, oranges and lemons, which splattered against the Droids to little effect. It only got somewhat effective when they began throwing watermelons, which took out a few B1s, but by that point the Droids had virtually advanced right up to them and cut them down with Blaster fire.  A few police ponies ran up to them with riot shields and riot batons, a few managing to take out some Droids before being put down themselves. One managed to get right up to OOM-340 himself. The pony smacked his Blaster from his hand and hit him with his baton, before OOM-340 punched him in one of his eyes causing him to scream in pain, before OOM-340 retrieved his Blaster and finished him off.  The Octuptarra Droids began to fire their Blaster cannons mounted to their large ball shaped heads, as they stood and stepped over OOM-340 and his Droids on their long spindly legs.  The skirmish between the Droids and law enforcement was over quickly, and the Droids continued advancing.  Today would be a glorious day for the Separatist Alliance!  At least what was left of it.  Twilight and her friends had just finished breakfast and were starting to clean up. Suddenly, Spike gagged and coughed out fire which materialized into a letter.  Twilight trotted over and opened the letter and read it aloud for everyone to hear.  "Dearest Princess Twilight,  Equestria is now under full scale invasion by the Confederacy of Independent Systems. They have launched attacks on The Crystal Empire and Manehattan. Assemble the Elements of Harmony and Shining Armor, and come to Canter lot at once.  Your friend and former mentor,  Princess Celestia"  The whole group gasped in horror. Twilight pushed the letter side and the Mane 6 rushed to get their things for the journey.  Once they gathered the Elements and their necessary belongings, they headed off to the Pony ville train station, where they boarded the Friendship Express to Canter lot.  Immediately upon arrival, they noticed the immense increase in security, but thanks to Shining Armor and Twilight Sparkle's status they were able to get through and to the Canter lot Castle with ease.  Rushing through the wide-open halls and pushing open the Throne Room doors the Mane 6, Shining Armor and Spike all ran up to the front of the Throne where they found Princesses Celestia, Luna and Cadance all waiting for them.  Shining Armor darted for his wife Cadance and Flurry Heart enveloping them in a hug  "I came as soon as I heard" he said "I'm so glad your safe.  Cadence smiled but didn't say anything.  Twilight was happy to see her sister and law and niece safe and sound, but quickly turned to face Celestia and Luna.  "As I told you there has been an attack in the Crystal Empire and Manehattan."  "Yes, your highness, we came as soon as we could."  Celestia nodded.  "Word has since come in that the Droids have attacked somewhere south in Equestria, possibly Appleloosa and Dodge Junction"  "Appleloosa?!" Exclaimed Applejack "but ah've got family there! Like cousin Braeburn!"  "Do not fear, I have sent a detachment of the Royal Guard to each of these locations to assist in repelling the Droids, but we need your help with the Crystal Empire. The Droids have deployed a large force, and my Guardsponies will need your help to liberate it from them."  "You can count me and Cadance in" Shining Armor said "no pony attacks our home, especially not a bunch of machines that belong in a scrap heap!"  Twilight nodded  "We will go at once. What about Manehattan? That's a very big city."  "I will send Starlight Glimmer and Trixie along with the Pegasi and the Wonder bolts to assist the Guards ponies there." Celestia replied "now go, before it is too late!"