Chapter Seven: Things... happen¿
Day 7
10:15 A.M
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The Northern front of the city was the only part that was in battle at the moment. The carriage landed on a tall…well not really…not like the skyscrapers back at home but we landed on a 15 story building. I followed the Commanders along with the three mares. We entered a room where there was a diorama of the city with figures of the guard’s position and the Griffin’s position. We sat down. Swirlstar began.
“Thank you for joining us as you can see we are having trouble holding the enemy back in their current location which is the bridge.”
“I can see that…and the civilians?”
“They have been evacuated.”
“Perfect. What kind of defenses do you have?”
“Well the enemy arrived prepared. As you can see we have a limited number of cannons. And as for the Griffins they have mass produced them in their kingdom.”
“So your main line of defense is manpower...” The Commanders looked at each other and Swirlstar said.
“Uh... Man what now?"
“Manpower. As in your troops or soldiers."
“Oh, you mean ponypower.”
“Well in your vocabulary, yes. Look if you want to hold the enemy back you need not just manpower but, also firepower. Do you have your cannons on the frontline?”
“No.” I rolled my eyes and commenced a face palm.
“That’s why you’re having trouble holding the enemy back. You have your firepower here, in the back, instead at the frontline. If you don’t place those damn cannons out there your troops will be killed. But at the sametime leave some back, nothing better than getting hit by bloody cannonballs that aren't coming from the ones you're looking at."
“Understood. Darkwing?”
“I know. I’ll inform the guards to take the cannons to the frontline at once.” The gothic guard ran out the door, heading for the artillery devices.
“So Gunnery. How do you know this?”
“I fought in war back home. Trust me I know what to do.” 'Okay that was a slight lie. I have no strategic skills whatsoever.'
“Ok. But what happens if we are forced to fall back and we lose the cannons?”
“Then now you have to rely on manpower and whatever cannons you possess. How many guards do you have stationed here?”
“About 7,000.”
“That should be plenty. What about your gunpowder levels?"
"More than we'll need, including extra incase a shipment gets hit. Why?”
“Because I’m about to introduce your military to a new weapon.”
“Which is?" Swirlstar raised an eyebrow while I pulled out a grenade.
“This is a standard issue Fragmentation Grenade. With this it does two things at once.”
“Like?”
“Well when I pull the pin and it explodes, the force of explosion can kill you or the metal pieces of the grenade itself.”
“Amazing.”
“I can teach you how to make them. Do you have small ball like metal containers?”
“Well we just received a new shipment of canteens and we just threw out our old ones. They should be in the basement.”
“Are they made of metal?”
“How does light steel sound to you?”
“Close enough.”
We carried a crate filled with old canteens. I had to make a prototype to make sure the metal would be just right. I used a barrel of gunpowder, which a fellow squadmate named Spier helped me carry out. I scooped some powder into the canteen. The top did not have the piece that attached the cap to the canteen like ours did so I had to make a hole on the cap myself. After that I used a wick from the cannons. After that I set up a test area around the back of the building. I placed ten wooden targets in a ten foot diameter while Spier walked to the barricade. I lit the wick and I threw it at the center. I shouted.
“Take cover!” we hid behind a metal barricade. The canteen exploded I looked over and seven out of the ten have holes in them and three were knocked down one of the three was broken in half. The Commander walked up to me with a dumbstruck face.
“This…might help a lot.”
“Might? Sir this will help a lot. I only have one frag grenade left, one flash bang, and one smoke grenade. Trust me this is going to help a lot.” He turned to his Lieutenant.
“Lieutenant!”
“Yes sir.”
“Tell the guards in the sixth, seventh, and tenth floor to meet me here at once. We have a lot of work to do.”
Yes sir.” I said to the Commander.
“Commander I think it will be the right time if I help your guards in the frontline.”
“Why?”
“Look” from the distance we saw that the fight grew bloodier the enemy was about to reach the end of the bridge.
“Very well. I will send in the new weapons when we have a crate finished.” The commander informed.
“Perfect and I recommend you send a letter to your princesses telling them about our new weapon."
“Understood.”
“Rainbow do you want to come?”
“Hay yeah!”
“Then let’s go! And the term is Fuck Yeah!”I was in a carriage that was flying to the frontline when it landed RD and I charged to a nearby officer. Darkwing was still in the line.
“Commander Darkwing!”
“Gunnery, good you’re here, we need your help. The Griffins are pushing us back and the cannons are nearly out of ammo.”
“Well I’m not.” I aimed my P-17 at a group of birds with crossbows. I fired the green blob of energy, no bigger than a bullet, and it flew out of the barrel of the gun. The pure energy bullet zipped through the air and hit the first bird. His head jerked backwards and then he fell. I saw smoke rising from its cranium. The guards were just staring at the dead Griffin I continued firing and kept a steady rate of direct hits. After five minutes the street was clear. I jumped over the cover and I walked towards the bodies. RD landed beside me.
“Y…you…”
“I killed.”
“You burned them.”
“I know I told you this is a direct energy base weapon. Its’ supposed to do that.” She still looked at me with a scared look on her face.
“O…ok.”
“Come on we pushed them back I recommend we push forward if we want to keep them off the city." The bridge was still standing but any large explosion can cause it to fall. I walked to a barricade I looked back only to see that I was alone. The guards, including Rainbow Dash, stayed behind. 'What the hell?! they stayed behind?' I heard the birds charging. I fired on sight as I began to walk back to the Guard’s position. One bird managed to get near me so I stuck him with the butt of my gun and I shot him and thus continued to fire. I was about to be overrun by the enemy until I saw a bunch of arrows flying to the attacking birds. Then a missile flew over me and destroyed a piece of the bridge... then the rest began to fall 'Fucking damnit!'. I ran back to solid ground. The floor under me was unstable. Yet I was so close. I jumped before the bridge fell grabbed onto the ledge. I tried to pull myself up until a hand reached for me. “ROOK?”
“Only here to help sir.” He pulled me up.
“What are you doing here? I’m pretty sure I left you with Rarity.”
“To help. Along with Spier.” I turned around and the bridge was gone. The good thing is that the enemy won't be able to pass but that won’t be any good since they can fly. The bad thing if the enemy takes over then it will be harder to push back.
“Well at least we achiv…” I was cut off when an arrow hit me. The titanium armor was too much for the steel tipped arrow as I got up Rook and Spier were returning fire so I joined in. Rook said.
“Like a good slap to the back of the ol’ brain.”
“Keep your head in the game soldier.” A bird flew towards us and tackled Rook. He smacked his rifle butt against the assailants beak and he stabbed it with his knife. He got up and he continued to fire.
He yelled through the noise of screams, fire, bullets, and explosions. “These damn things really want us dead.”
“You have no idea.” I looked at the ledge that the Griffins were regrouping. “Joseph!”
“Yeah!”
“Take out that ledge!”
“On it!” he crouched down and he reloaded his Javelin. “Ready.” Rook and I took cover. My Pulse Rifle was cooling down while Rook reloaded his rifle. Spier took the shot, causing the the ledge to collapse and crumble on top of a pack of birds. The firing stop. I looked over and I noticed that the Griffins were retreating. We walked back to the Guards. I found Darkwing.
“What the hell! Where were you when I advanced onto the bridge?!”
“I…uh…”
“I could have been killed!” Spier placed his hand on my shoulder.
“Leave it. He’s not a soldier like us. From the video that we’ve have seen on your camera. They do mention that they don’t see war as much as we do.”
Swirlstar called me. “Gunnery!” I walked to him.
“We have five crates of the new weapons and the Princesses are coming here. I have informed her about the arrival of your allies and she wants to meet them.”
“Whatever. Keep the perimeter secured. I don’t want any more birds in this city.”
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One hour later
I was at the rooftop where we tested out the new grenades along with Rook and Joseph. We found a bucket and a ball so we decide to play basketball and we had our armor off. Celestia arrived with Twilight, Luna, Captain Shining Armor and Cadence. She found us just running back and forth. She said.
“Gunnery Clearwater?” I turned and I walked towards her.
“Princess.”
“Are these the two humans that have helped you defend the city.”
“Yes this is Corporal Joseph Spier. Somewhat personal medic and demolitions expert.” He saluted her while holding the ball.
“Ma’am.”
“And this is Lance-Corporal Gregory Rook Newton. Former Separatist…”
“Separatist?” she looked at him with an untrusting face. “Captain Shining Armor arrest him.” As he walked towards him I place myself in front to block his path. “Gunnery what are you doing?"
“Look I know that you’re acting like this because of what I told you about the Sepi’s but he’s here to help and he’s under my command. And also he saved my ass back at the bridge so I owe him one.” she walked past me and she stood in front of Rook.
“Now listen to me. If you do anything that will place my subjects in danger then you will feel the wrath of the Princess of the sun.”
“Trust me…I won’t” he responded.
“We’ll see about that.” She turned back to me.
“Gunnery I’m placing them on the same deal that we had…”
“I know princess I’ll told them that.”
“Very well.”
“And also. My Captain wants to meet you.”
“I see. And where is he?”
“Back on my ship. I can contact him.”
“Good. Because I want to meet him and I want to have a word about this Rook with him.”
“As you wish."
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Thirty minutes later
The guys and I have taken a shower and we geared up. Rook was just joking around the situation about the princess and that he thinks that Luna was cuter than her older sister. The Captain had thawed out 100 troops from the ship and he will be arriving in a Space-plane. We waited in a large field I looked up and I saw a small figure. The plane began to land as it was over the field used it tuned its engines vertical to hover down to the ground. As the noise of the plane forced the ponies to back away and to cover their ears. Rook, Spier and I just stood in the same spot the door opened and thirty soldiers walked out and formed a line one on the left and another on the right. Then Captain Brisk walked out along with Catherine.
We saluted and he saluted back then he stood in front of Celestia and Luna.
“Captain Brisk I assume.”
“And you must be Princess Celestia and you are Luna am I right.” The two nodded. “Well Clearwater said that you wanted to speak to me.”
“Yes follow me.” They walked inside a building. Celestia only allowed the Captain, Catherine and I inside. We sat down along with Luna and her sister. The Captain began.
“Ok so what did you wanted to talk to me about?”
“Well for one and most important why are you here?”
“Well if anything we’re here by mistake.”
“Mistake?”
“Yes. We were supposed to stop and the Lumas System but before we went through Slip-Space an asteroid hit the ship and it changed the coordinates of the ship. It also thawed out to troops that were not supposed to be awake yet especially Lance-Corporal Gregory Newton.”
“I know Gunnery Clearwater told me that he’s a former enemy of yours.”
“Yes.”
“Well now that I know why you are here I also wanted to know if more of your soldiers will be deployed in Equestria.”
“Equestria?” The captain raised an eyebrow.
Luna answered. “Equestria is the land that we are in.”
“I see…well I’m not sure but you do know that those things that Clearwater has been fight are now our enemy.”
Celestia continued. “Yes I know. Gunnery Clearwater saved my sister and niece. He also saved me and he’s risking his life to save this city along with two of your other soldiers.”
“I know.”
“Well… be free to deploy more of your soldiers of needed but warn me ahead of time if you wouldn't mind." Celestia gave a hint of annoyance from the randomly spawning humans.
“Of course but I still need to thaw out more troopers before we land our ship.”
“Ship? You mean that your machine will land?”
“Well if we may.” I noticed that Celestia had a worry look again. What is she hiding?
“W…well yes if you find a spot…that will not terrify my subjects.”
“Very well. Also my doctor wants to ask you something. Dr. Catherine.” She stood up.
“Your highnesses I’m Dr. Catherine and I major in medicine and in biology. And if I may with your position I would like to study anatomy of the ponies.”
“Well… I don’t know if I feel comfortable with that.”
“Well than what happens if your troops are injured and we can’t save them because we don’t know if our medicine will hurt them instead of healing them.” The doctor noted.
Celestia thought for a moment.“Well I think I can as long as if a few of my best doctors can study the human anatomy.”
Catherine looked to the Captain. “Well what do you think Brisk?”
“Granted Doctor.” The captain ordered.
Celestia said. “Then it’s settled. Captain with your permission I would like to take Doctor Catherine with me back to Canterlot.”
“Of course. Doctor?”
“Ok but, first I need my equipment from the ship so I need to go pack up.”
“Ok I’ll send you to the capital with fifty troops.”
“Ok.” Celestia said. “So does this mean that we are now allies?”
“I think so. I have to return back to the ship to thaw out more soldiers. The sooner I wake them up the faster we can help you end this war.”
“Thank you Captain.” Cat and Brisk stood up and they left the room and then Luna as Celestia was walking towards the door I stopped her.
“Celestia.”
“Yes.”
“I noticed that you’ve been a little nervous around me and when Captain Brisk said that my ship will land I noticed that you were sweating a little. May I ask why?”
“Nothing to worry about Gunnery Clearwater.”
“I know what nothing is and that ain’t it.”
“Look I don’t have time to waste I want you here for the rest of the week. Twilight, Cadence and Shining Armor will be staying while Luna and I return to Canterlot.”
“What are you hiding ma'am?”
“NOTHING! I’M NOT HIDING ANYTHING!” I looked at her with my hand placed on my pistol. “I…I’m sorry. Look there will be another day that I will tell my reason of acting like this.” Celestia inhaled and exhaled calmly. “but not now.”
“You better.”
“I promise. And I’m sorry for yelling. Farewell I’ll see you on Tuesday.” She walked out of the room. I’m going to get my answer from here one way or another. I walked out of the room and I meet Spier and Rook along with Shining, Cadence and Twilight and her friends. Twilight saw me and she shouted.
“Steven over here.” I walked over to the group.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Nothing really just that Celestia notified me that the enemy has moved to the mountains forests. Making their way to Canterlot and we need to catch them before they get too far.”
“But she ordered that I had to stay for the rest of the week.”
“And she told me to inform you to chase down the enemy before they attack Canterlot again.”
“Then what are we standing here for.” I turned to Shining. “Captain, you have command of the guards positioned here right?”
“Yes only the ones that are in the same branch as I am, but the Lunar Guards are something else.”
“Well I have command of Spier and Rook and we now have four of the Elements. If we move tomorrow morning then we might just catch them by the afternoon. Let’s just hope that the Griffins are taking the same route that the girls and I took when we walked towards here.”
“And what if they aren't?”
“Then we have to move fast.” I turned to Spier and Rook. “Come on let’s check the perimeter and then get some sleep. Tomorrow we’re man hunting. I don’t want you to be all drowsy. Do I make myself clear?”
My squad saluted in unison. “Sir, yes sir.” We walked out of the room leaving the ponies behind.