"Another message from the COLOSSUS." the OASIS's AI unit said.
"Damnit- what the hell does she want now!?" Soarin growled.
"Play it." Spitfire said.
Val appeared on the screen again, a menacing grin on her face. "Just a forewarning, captain. I may have found a certain underwater Magic Faction Head Quarters."
Spitfire's eyes widened. "Shuck!"
And as if Val could see her reaction, the prerecorded video of her started laughing. Then it was abruptly cut short as the video ended.
"Son of a rooster... What the hay do we do now?" Soarin cursed, and the bridge exploded with activity as the normally organized crew members were thrown into chaos with this news.
"Send a message to the base." Spitfire said, running a hoof through her mane. "We can't afford mistakes right now. Call Shining Armor up here, with our top officers. We need to discuss a strategy ASAP."
*
Blithy walked through the corridors of ATLANTA, the most advanced Magic Faction facility on Earth and the only prime Head Quarters underwater. It was a large web of buildings spanned out across the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, thousands of miles beneath the surface. Barely any light was able to come through all the water down here, and the only thing lighting up the bottom was ATLANTA itself. All the buildings where dome shaped, with prism cannons scattered throughout the base. Missiles and torpedoes were the only projectile weapons, as other non-propellant projectiles are much less efficient under water. Glass tunnels connected one dome to the other, and from a distance they were like a spider's web- they were everywhere. ATLANTA was more than just a prime Head Quarters, but also home of several thousand Magic Faction operatives, such as Rainbow Dash and her team before they left on the mission. It spanned fifty kilometers in diameter, a coruscant mega structure under the sea.
There were trams that operated within boundaries, to transport ponies efficiently and also used for city-wide evacuation. There was practically a tram station every quarter of a kilometer, and the record for evacuating the entire several thousand ponies was twenty minutes. But those were only drills- no panic, and no missiles raining down on them from the surface. In case of a real invasion, it is estimated that a great forty percent of the trams would be destroyed in the process- otherwise escape routes would be blocked. It would be a miracle if city wide evacuation could finish within an hour, should there be anypony left to be evacuated at all. There were emergency shelters located inside the cliffs of the sea bed, old abandoned shelters that were designed to withstand nuclear bombs and even bunker busters. There were also train tunnels connected from there directly to Haven, but they were closed off until Haven gives permission; as this directly affects their low profile and 'undetected' status.
Blithy was almost an exact double of Val in this universe- and ponies only recognized her because the LEDs on her robotic half were green, not blue like Val's. With her similarities with Val, she was able to climb to the top of the chain of command- trouble is, after that reality swap- she doesn't remember any of it.
But it was easy for her to store information though- she could memorize the entire site plan of ATLANTA by plugging a USB into her robotic half. Oh, how she loved being a cyborg- despite its inconveniences. Now she knows everything she did- she just doesn't remember doing it.
"Blithy." a voice said through her mic, built into the robotic half of her face.
Blithy commanded her robotics to bring up a live image of the speaker, and a hologram of Spitfire appeared. There seemed to be a lot of background noise too, with the bridge buzzing with activity. The occasional officer wondered into the hologram scanning field, then quickly disappeared as he exited again. "Busy day captain?"
"Very." Spitfire said dismissively. "We've got an emergency."
"What kind of an emergency?" Blithy asked, walking into the command center by chance.
"ATLANTA's cover has been blown." Spitfire said.
That made Blithy stop dead in her tracks, the door to the command center opening but she didn't walk in.
"Officer on deck!" one of the guards yelled, and Blithy held up a hand to shush him. By now she already had the attention of the entire command center.
Blithy made a wireless connection from her comms to the command center's conference table, and threw up a live hologram of Spitfire. She linked everything to the center's local mics and speakers.
"Captain, I'm not sure if I heard you correctly." she said, heart pounding as she waited for the captain to correct her mistake- but she didn't.
"The ATLANTA is no longer a secret. There's most likely an invasion force being prepped up on the barricade right this moment." Spitfire said.
The entire center went quiet with shock, with nopony believing what's being relayed to them.
"Issue the emergency evacuation order commander." Spitfire turned to Blithy. "Hold off for as long as you possibly can. I'm working up a plan with my top officers right this moment. That's all I have for you."
Blithy ground her teeth together, knowing the risks. "Understood, ma'am."
"Good luck to you all- Captain Spitfire out." Spitfire's holographic image fizzed away, leaving the command center of ATLANTA to baffle over what had just happened. The officers all turned to their commander, confusion in their eyes.
Blithy wasn't sure herself- but she had to be. "Sound the evac alarm. I want all the soldiers armed and ready for a full scale attack. Turn the trams into manually operated- I want each tram fully loaded before it departs. Get all defense systems ready to fire on a moment's notice and focused on the surface. Deploy all submarine units available, send drones towards the surface- I want to know what they have before they get here. Enable anti-missile systems- I don't want their mother-bucking nukes down here." she yelled, clapping her hands together and making loud clunking sounds as she stormed towards the middle of the command center. "Put me through to all available channels in ATLANTA. Come on officers- LET'S MOVE!!"
"Pausing all local broadcasts..." an officer said, working away at the holographic screens in front of him. "Patching through a live feed- and you're on commander."
Blithy stood tall with her back straight, hands behind her back. She looked up at the camera, wiping all traces of uncertainty and fear off her face- should there have been any in the first place.
"Citizens of ATLANTA- this is your commander speaking." she started, the command center plunging into silence just for her. She looked a little to her side, and nodded her thanks to her fellow officers. "We have remained a secret from our greatest enemy for many years now. We have prospered, under what we made for ourselves. We started from scratch, after they took everything away from us. And they are about to do it again-" she slowly turned her head, scanning the area in front of her as if she could hear the crowd. All the chatter from the security cameras fell still and quiet as every single pony in the whole of ATLANTA stopped to watch the live broadcast. "Yes, mares and gentle colts. After all these years, they have finally found us."
Instantly the chatter began, but Blithy's booming and authoritative voice stopped them once again.
"I ask that you not panic as of yet- mares and gentle colts." her gaze seemed to penetrate through the camera and out of the screen. "Once, we didn't stand a chance against our enemies. But as time passes, we have become strong. We have created something better than what we had, using less time. Every single one of you helped create ATLANTA- just by being here and supporting the Magic Faction, you have proven that this is a place you should be. For years, and most of us our life times; we have devoted our time to create what they took from us, once again and from nothing. Now they're going to take it all again, from our very hooves. Will we simply run, and let them take what rightfully belongs to us; like we did centuries before? Or will we stand, and defend what has been saved and preserved by us and by countless that have came before us? I'm not going to give you all that 'We're gonna win this!' bull crap- but I'm going to say that if all of us join the fight, we have a better chance." she paused, letting out a deep sigh. "Just minutes ago I was talking to a friend of mine that I didn't even remember. A friend I knew from the other reality, and not very much at that. We just so happened to be talking about what would happen when the crap really does hit the fan. When war breaks out once again."
There was a hiss of air behind her as the door to the command center slid open, and she heard those familiar hoofsteps behind her. She didn't need to turn around- she already knew who it was.
"I asked him... Would he run, like he did many times before? Would he run until finally an opportunity unveils itself so he could use it?" Blithy continued. "And he told me this... A few simple words, that I, and all of you- should keep in mind. He told me this..." she lowered her head slightly, her face darkening with shadows. "He told me... I'm tired of running." she took a small peek behind her, at the light brown stallion that just entered moments ago. "Some of you may know him as Doctor Whooves, or just the Doctor. But these words we should all remember- are you tired of running? Sick of being weak and useless?"
Blithy took her hands out from behind her back, leaning forward so her face was in full view of the camera, so it could capture the fury in her eyes.
"Because I am. And every single one of you- you should all be too. Today we will fight, and inevitably we will retreat. We have enough weapons for everypony in the local armories. I want all of you- civilian or not, to be armed. I want everypony in this fight- because this fight is nopony else's. It's all of ours. Yes, citizens- we are abandoning ATLANTA. But we will not do so without bringing some of those arseholes down to hell with us. To all of our soldiers, who comes first? For whom do we serve?"
At first the sudden question hurled at the crowd didn't get any answers back, but eventually all those serving in active duty started roaring out.
"For the citizens of ATLANTA and all supporters of Magic!" they yelled and roared, almost busting the security camera monitor's speakers.
Blithy smiled. "That's what I like to hear. We will support each other in times of need, and we will get through this together. For the last time, I shall address you as commander of ATLANTA- for the next time, I fear that ATLANTA will be no more. For the last time, Commander Blithy out." she said, cutting the feed.
"Bravo, commander." the Doctor said calmly, smiling.
"Thank you, Doctor." Blithy said, shaking his hoof and walking out the command center while its officers co-ordinated the evacuation and defense systems. "Still tired of running?"
The Doctor smirked. "Yes ma'am."
"Merry Hearth's Warming then." Blithy said, taking a rifle off a nearby rack and throwing it at the Doctor.
He caught it, and flicked off the safety.
"I know you never kill, Doctor. You only save." Blithy said, walking through the chaos filled corridors. "But there are times when we have no choice."
"I understand, ma'am." the Doctor said. "And where are we heading, out of curiosity?"
"The bar." Blithy said.
"Might I ask why-" Doctor Whooves began, but a smile spread across his face as he figured it out. "Huh. Clever."
"We gotta use everything we've got- no sense in keeping alcohol or towels for that matter." Blithy said.
They stormed into the bar, the bartender only just about to leave. Blithy stopped him on his way out.
"Make some Molotov Cocktails. Can you do that? Try issue them to our troops." she said.
"Yes ma'am!" the bartender said, making a flimsy salute.
"Come on Doctor. Time to help with the evac." Blithy said, turning around and heading out while the bartender ran into the cellar. "Come with me to the armory. We'll need a lot of stuff."
The Doctor heard her, but his mind wasn't really listening. Derpy- where the hay are you? He had searched the ATLANTA's data base, but neither 'Derpy Hooves' nor 'Ditzy Doo' scored any results. He refused to look in the list of deceased ponies- because he knows Derpy will always be waiting for him. He always tried to get away and look for her, but never had a right excuse to- as far as this reality was concerned, she didn't exist at all. But now- he finally got his chance.
Stay safe, Derpy. I'm coming for you.
He was so deep into his own thoughts that he didn't even notice they were at the armory.
"MA'AM!!" an officer yelled really loudly as Blithy entered the armory, and all the soldiers' right hooves instantly snapped to their foreheads.
"Officer." Blithy said, much more quieter in comparison and also saluting. "Carry on! We don't have any time!"
"Yes ma'am!"
"Get suited up for underwater operations- they'll be aiming for the glass tunnels straight away!" Blithy said, walking into a suiting machine. The gates closed behind her, and all that were heard were the groaning of mechanics. When the gates opened again, she was in a full underwater operations K14 armor.
The K14 was much more streamlined than other types, designed for maneuverability underwater. Two small engines were hidden behind the back, for that extra boost of speed under water. And like most other armors, spare compartments were hidden throughout the shell. It was much lighter than other models- and all of its design aspects pointed to mobility. There were gills just under the chin that extract air from water, then the water is flushed out the back. A compact oxygen canister is mounted on the back, a change in the design after it was discovered deep waters such as these contained very little oxygen.
"Send troops out into the seaweed forest for cover- prepare an ambush." Blithy said into the mic.
"Confirmed."
"Drone is live, ma'am. We have eyes on the enemy invasion force."
"Give me estimated stats." Blithy said, grabbing an energy rifle off the racks.
"Number of infantry is unknown- however we have eyes on several hundred drop ships." the radio operator said.
"Shuck..." Blithy muttered. "What else?"
"We also have an estimated five hundred Striker amphibians closing in from the barricade." the operator said.
Blithy growled. "Deploy our Apollo aircrafts. Prepare an ambush- I want them concealed in the sand, like those manta ray thingies."
Striker aircraft are highly versatile amphibious vehicles, being able to operate under the sea and fly in the sky. They have four engines, each able to twist and turn at almost all angles; giving them agility previously unprecedented in fighter jets. This also allows them to perform extremely tight loops and even hover. Two primary and secondary weapons slots are at the front, and other equipment such as bait flares and aerial mines are hidden throughout the ships and beneath the hull. The Apollos are modified versions of the Strikers, with a much higher rotation speed for the engines- making them even more agile. They also have three primary weapons instead of one, with a magically enhanced ammo feeder with a space expansion spell cast on it. The two are differed by their color schemes, with the Striker having red and black while the Apollo has blue and white. Both aircraft are able to operate underwater with perfect functionality. The Apollo has been especially modified for this matter though, sacrificing a missile slot for torpedoes- which both work, however is much more efficient and fast underwater.
And their advantage is, the Science Faction have no idea they exist yet.
"All pilots- please proceed to your local hangars and await orders from your squad leaders." a voice said through the intercom, booming down the lengths of the hallways.
"Come on Doctor. Time for a little plane ride." Blithy grinned, jogging down the corridor. They entered a glass tunnel, and looked out to the city they have been living in for most of their life times. It still glowed like it always did in the dark, and would've seemed completely normal for it not the mobilized army troops and the traces of abnormal activity inside the buildings. A team of three Apollos cut through the water just above their heads, engines glowing a bright yellow and leaving behind them a stream of super-heated bubbles.
"Please remain calm and proceed to your assigned shelters during the training exercise!" an armed soldier yelled, guarding the entrance to a tram station along with his squad, letting through the civilians as fast as they could and as efficiently as they could.
"Soldier- how's the evac going?" Blithy approached.
"Get back in li- Sorry ma'am, did not recognize you under that helmet." the soldier said, and Blithy waved him on. "We have an estimated fifteen percent of us already at the shelters- thank goodness for that early warning!"
"Do your thing soldier. I need immediate access to an Apollo."
The soldier seemed to be taken aback, as his impression of commanders were... Well, combat weren't exactly the words to describe that.
"Zealo! Guide the commander to the hangar!" the soldier yelled at one of his squad mates.
"Sir yes sir!" an earth pony with a prism gun slung across his back approached Blithy and the Doctor. "I'll make sure you two get on an aircraft as soon as possible, commander."
"Don't sound so optimistic about my departure, trooper. I'll still be here." Blithy said, purposely making Zealo feel uncomfortable.
"Clear a way for the commander!" Zealo yelled, leading the way through the civilian crowds.
Blithy caught some flimsy salutes and nods from the civilians, ponies that she didn't even know- but she nodded her respect and a good luck back at them.
"The first wave of missiles are in bound- take cover!" the radio operator yelled through the comms.
"Get down, everypony! GET DOWN!!" the soldier from earlier yelled, waving a hoof down towards the ground. There were some panicked grunts as the crowds all bobbed down.
"Take cover commander!" Zealo said, laying a hoof on Blithy's shoulder and pushing her down.
"INCOMING!!" somepony yelled, and they all heard the loud whoosh as several missiles made it through the anti-missile defense systems and sliced through the air.
The ground shook as one of the missiles struck not too far away from their location, drawing some panicked screams from the crowd. Dust fell from some cracks in the ceiling, but they held.
Somepony screamed and sprang up, pointing out the glass windows and at an approaching missile. There was nothing stopping it from a direct hit with the glass tunnel, with a clear path directly aimed at Blithy and the Doctor.
"Well. This may be a bad time to announce I can't seem to find my sonic screwdriver anywhere." Doctor Whooves said, flipping his coat pockets inside out.
"Yeah. It's the worst bucking time." Blithy said as the missile got closer and closer.
Author: and if you don't know who Zealo is, read this: http://www.fimfiction.net/story/62630/On-That-Snowy-Night...