//------------------------------// // Diplomacy Duty. // Story: Survival of The Free World // by BiasedAmerican //------------------------------// The men in New Manehattan were running low on ammo, as they spent most of their munitions on strategic targets and enemy infantry. Rogers fired a few rounds on a pegasus flying at his position, with one of his men shooting it twice once it hit the floor to confirm his kill. Rogers sighed and ducked back into cover. It was a makeshift fort with carriages and whatever can be found on the town square. The SF units regrouped at the square for evac but haven't heard from Fort Liberty yet. Rogers got on his radio and spoke, "What's the ETA on our evac?" He was surprised as a voice came through, since no one else got a response until now. "ETA 2 minutes, clear us an LZ so we can get you boys home." A pilot answered. "Understood." Rogers added. He got off the radio and he yelled, "Evac, 2 minutes!" The other soldiers across the fort spread the message by yelling. They all heard the too familiar sounds of the helicopter blades cutting through the air. Rogers got up to find the helo, he saw multiple of them in formation in the distance. 8 Huey's, 2 Blackhawks and 4 AH-1Gs. Rogers yelled out, "Echo! Lima! Your squads go first, we'll cover you!" The 2 squads then ran to a clearing but still hid behind cover to keep the LZ clear. One of the soldiers threw a flare to an open area. The other squad threw red flares to where the New Mareland troops have been trying to get through. Rogers got on the radio, "This is Echo 1-2, possible enemy troops marked in red. LZ marked by green." "Copy that." The radio cut off, "Echo 1-2, it seems that the enemy troops are gathering for a final mass assault. You boys need to get onto a rooftop, we cannot risk enemy AA targeting our birds. We'll cover you, now get your asses moving!" The pilot of the AH-1G 'Raptor 1-1' ordered. "Move on to the rooftop on that building!" Rogers pointed as he yelled to the other squads. They all moved in small groups to cover each other as they approached and eventually entered the tall building. They then raced up to the top and wait for the helo evac. 30 minutes pass and only Roger's squad remained. "Hey Rogers, we are picking up heavy fire, get ready cuz we're going to get the hell out of here once you get on." The pilot warned on the radio. "Roger that, just get us out of here." He acknowledged. Just as he got off the radio, the pilot he just had the conversation with appeared from under the ledge with the helicopter. He turned the helicopter to its side to allow the squad inside. Just as they took off, a New Mareland soldier bursted through the door to the roof and threw her spear at the helicopter. The helicopter tilted away and the spear hit the propellor, it destroyed the spear entirely but a huge splinter hit Alejandro's eye. He screamed in pain as blood spurted out, he was still alive but on his back. "Man down!" One of his squad mates called out. "Shit! What happened?" The pilot asked. "Just focus on getting us back to base." Rogers replied. Meanwhile in Canterlot, the 12 man squad dismounted from their vehicles and made 4 of their soldiers escort the Mane 6. They walked into the castle, unapposed by the guards since most of them were the ones they dropped just not too long ago. "What happened to em?" Applejack asked. "Don't know.. but I think something strong came through he-" Twilight was cut off. "It was us. We were here a while ago to evac some of our troops they held hostage." The squad leader explained. The Mane 6 had their jaws drop. They tried to gather their calm as they continued moving forward, trying to avoid the dead bodies, blood, and bullet casings. They sort of expected this from the humans, but Equestria took some of their soldiers hostage? Twilight didn't know who to believe anymore, especially since New Mareland had just attacked the Humans. And the humans retaliating on an attack on Canterlot? Sure it wasn't as big as they repelled the Changelings, but killed Equestrian soldiers themselves. "Are we at war...?" Twilight thought to herself. "Alright, keep moving." The Sergeant saw the ponies lacking behind as they try to hold in their panic. "Halt!" A guard yelled as the group turned the corner. The soldiers got behind the pillars to use as cover and aimed at the guard. "Wait!" Twilight yelled. The soldiers didn't pay attention as they had their weapons steadily aimed at the guard who they can clearly see him trying to keep his calm. The guard lowered his spear as he saw Twilight and the other ponies. "Twilight? Move away from these creatures! They've already killed-!" "Yes, I know. They're with us." She states. "And they're going to kill more if you don't lead us to Princess Celestia and Luna." Twilight warned. The guard, shaking. Should he trust his instincts and charge at the enemy like his fallen comrades or follow the orders of his superior who is held captive who will lead your enemy to your holiness. The Guard grunted, grabbed her spear and charged at the squad. Screaming, "aaaAAAAAAAA!-" Two. Two gunshots is all it took to bring an armored raging pony down. Twilight shocked beyond control, as well as the rest of her friends either cannot control themselves being scared shitless or trying not to bawl their eyes out. "SHE WAS-!" Twilight was cut off. "She was a threat. Now lets move, we'll check this entire damn castle if we have to." The Squad Leader ordered. "You three go with the Rainbow, Jackass, and Fancy one. We'll meet up back here in 30 minutes, if you find the Princess' radio back to us. Understood?" "Yes sir." The 3 nodded. They then nudged Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Rarity out of their shocked stance and to make them acknowledge they're supposed to be moving. They eventually followed the 3 soldiers, then the other group continued forwards. "Why did you make us split up?" Twilight asked. "So we can cover more ground quickly, in case the Princess' decide to escape before we can talk to them. In that case we might have to execute you and your friends. Leading to a war of survival for the United States if not Humanity overall. A small price to pay for survival of our race, is it not?" He said as he and his squad constantly checked their corners and possible ambush spots. "Well.. That's a large price to pay! You're asking for a peaceful world to-" The Corporal scoffed, "Peaceful? We're being attacked back at Fort Liberty and you call yourselves peaceful? Not to mention the crisis in this city less than a year ago and you call yourselves peaceful? Ever since we got here, we've seen nothing but war and violence between your species. I don't think you're peaceful." "Well.. that's because they want to harm us!" Twilight retorted. "Either that or it's for revenge.." The Private muttered. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie tried to ignore their conversation but they can't. They keep stopping due to the shock of what they're hearing. Fluttershy stopped again, collapsing as she realized that they are basically a tool for the Humans after showing kindness to them. The Squad Leader was getting pissed off and tired of their bullshit. He raised his weapon and fired 2 shots into Fluttershy. She cried out in pain as blood poured out of her hooves as she screamed and cried in pain. "You! Stay here with her. Might as well leave you both behind instead of having to make you catch up." The Squad Leader huffed. Twilight, shocked and trying to charge to the Squad Leader for hurting her friend. Was quickly cut off by the butt of an M14 from the Corporal. "KEEP MOVING!" He screamed as blood came out of Twilight's mouth. They continued moving as she looked behind to see a panicked Pinkie Pie trying her best to stop the bleeding from her hooves. "Why?!" Twilight screamed. "You're not the only one with family and friends on the line. You're only lucky as you all have actual food and security. We have to carry your bullshit so we could at least buy ourselves a week without war. We just got out of a damn World War if you haven't fucking noticed, we're pretty tired and we haven't gotten rest since. Except here, we at least get to hunt some horses pretending to have an actual military. 6 fucking long years against a superpower all over the world, how would you feel if you had family burnt to crisp in an instant and your nation collapsing, as well as a millenia of history turned to dust in an instant?" He explained. Twilight then shut up for the rest of the jog through the Castle, until they saw 2 giant doors. "This must be it." The Private pointed out the obvious. "Might as well be." The Squad Leader added. The Corporal and Private kicked both of the doors open. Everything went to a bright white as gunfire was heard.