//------------------------------//
// Arctika's Return 
// Story: PonyHammer 40,000: Magic of War II | Discord Rising 
// by Dragon Heart 
//------------------------------//

	"Commander Hammerheart, this is Michael Pegalos." the Captain called. "We have detected a Blood Phoenixes distress signal coming from somewhere nearby." Three drop pods landed in locations far from each other. "If there are Chapter Siblings in need, provide support. But be wary of a trap. Pegalos out."

Out of one of the pods came Hammerheart himself, still wearing his Termineightor Armor, and Scout Sergeant Pinkie Pie. Along with a couple more Scout Pony Marines.

"Our drop pods have scattered, Commander Hammerheart." said Pinkie. "Something is interfering with the navigation systems. We should locate our other forces and regroup."

They headed off towards the nearest drop pod, unfazed by the coldness, but on their way they encountered some Guardponies.

"Guardponies?" said Pinkie, "What are they doing here?"

As they got closer, the Sergeant of the Guardponies spotted them, and the others aimed their lasguns.

"Hold your positions, Pony Marines!" the Sergeant boldly ordered as he aimed his laspistol. "I said, HOLD!"

"Lower your weapon, Guardpony." Pinkie replied. "We do not answer to you."

The Sergeant looked to his stallions. "Gun them down!" The Guardponies opened fire upon Hammerheart and Pinkie. Hammerheart shot the sergeant with his Storm Bolter, and swung his Thunder Hammer at the others. A few Guardponies garrisoned two buildings.

"I can clear those bunkers with explosives." said Pinkie. "Attacking them with standard weapons takes much more time."

Pinkie threw explosive charges into the structures, detonated them, and the bunkers collapsed onto the Guardponies inside.

Hammerheart and Pinkie looked at the bodies that lied before them. "Something sinister is going on here." said Pinkie. "No loyal Guardpony would ever fire on a Pony Marine." She looked out to the distance. "I doubt these traitors were alone."

They headed out to continue searching for their other siblings, eventually reaching the Devastator Marine Sergeant, Hoovitus.

"Commander Hammerheart." Hoovitus addressed. "The immediate area is secure, but this 'unpopulated glacier' is an armed camp. Did this world not just emerge from the Warp?"

"If so, someone else got here first." said Pinkie.

"Traitor Guardponies." Hoovitus scowled. "Just when I was starting to respect them."

"Hate them if you will, but do not underestimate them." Pinkie warned.

They headed off to find the last pod, and their other siblings. They trotted along a crumbling ledge of thick ice. From afar, more Traitorous Guardponies were ready to attack.

"Here they come." said one of the Guardponies. "Get ready to fire..." They moved into position, but encountered Tactical Marine Sergeant Applejack.

"Traitors." said Applejack as she threw a frag grenade. The grenade blew up and killed a few Guardponies, alerting them of her presence. They turned and opened fire on her, and she fired back.

"Quickly, while Applejack has their attention." said Hoovitus. "We should engage them at extreme ranged, and focus our fire."

While Hammerheart and the others attack a few Guardponies, Applejack was quickly overwhelmed by their numbers, and was knocked down.

"The scum incapacitated Applejack." Hoovitus growled as they killed off the last few traitors still standing. "Commander Hammerheart, use a stimulant kit to heal her from a distance, or manually revive her."

Hammerheart went up to the fallen Sergeant and gave her prompt medical treatment. Applejack got back to her hooves.

"My thanks, Commander Hammerheart." said Applejack. "Our drop pod took anti-air fire on final approach. Only I made it out, and just barely."

"And still you made yourself a target to break that ambush." said Hoovitus. "What would the Codex say about that?"

Applejack knew each Marine's duty like the back of her hoof. "The Tactical Squad shall draw the enemy's fire, thus allowing the Devastator Squad to attack from a position of strength."

"Ha! That it does." Hoovitus chuckled.

"This whole situation looks like a trap," said Applejack, "but there is still a distress signal transmitting from somewhere nearby. We had best locate its source quickly."

They continued on with their search for the signal, but when they found the source, it was not of their variety of tech.

"Standard Equestrial locator relay." said Pinkie. "Transmitting a generic distress signal using Blood Phoenixes codes. Just enough to lure us in."

A single Guardpony trotted up to the Pony Marines and spied on them from behind the pipes. "Coordinates: Nine-point-six by eleven-twelve." After giving the position, the Guardpony galloped away. "Launch barrage!"

Hoovitus heard that loud and clear. "Artillery!" He said, "Clear the area!" They galloped away from the relay, which was blown to smithereens by artillery shells.

"A spotter called in that attack from hiding. Cowards!" said Hoovitus. The shells started following them across the bridge they were on. Once they reached the other side, the artillery started to cease.

"We should extract and bomb this ice pile from orbit." Hoovitus suggested, wanting to utterly destroy every traitor on world.

"No." said Applejack, "We need to secure an approach before we can launch an extraction."

"Only logic engines can track and target drop pods." said Pinkie. "Those systems depend on a broadcast array."

"Then let us act like Pony Marines!" said Hoovitus. "Find the array, and destroy it."

They headed off to search for the array, encountering and executing traitor Guardponies they meet. They soon find the array and unload their guns upon the structure until it succumbed to destruction.

"Lightningeagle is en route." said Pinkie.

"Then we should proceed to the extraction point," said Hoovitus, "and destroy any other traitors we find."

They headed off to the extraction point, and ran into more traitors along the way. They soon reach a very open area. Applejack looked around.

"We are exposed here." She warned. "Watch for an ambush."

They carefully traversed through the danger zone, and eventually reached the extraction point. They approached the spot, but they knew they were not out of the lion's den, yet.

"We should expect a counterattack shortly." said Hoovitus.

"Agreed." said Applejack, "Still, this is a defensible position. We hold here."

A call came from their expected transport off world. "Lightningeagle Talon Alpha inbound." The Pilot said. "Hold position."

Hoovitus looked at a bunker behind him. "My Devastator Squad should take position in that structure." He suggested. "This whole area will become our killing field."

Hoovitus and the other Devastator Marines garrisoned the large bunker. Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and the Scout Pony Marines took position inside a smaller bunker. And Hammerheart, unable to garrison due to his armor, remained where he was, ready to combat the traitors.

The attack had not come yet, but Hoovitus knew what was going on. "The traitors are laying down a barrage to soften us up! Prepare for an assault!"

Hammerheart backed away from the striking positions, and artillery shells began raining down near them, and destroyed one of the empty bunkers. The barrage failed, but the incoming attack was imminent.

An army of Guardponies came galloping towards them, and immediately attacked Hammerheart. Hoovitus and his squad unleashed their wave of heavy bolter rounds at the traitors. Applejack and the Scout Marines opened fire upon the Guardponies, while Pinkie sniped them. Hammerheart held his own, swinging his hammer and shooting his bolter. They were driving the traitors back. The Guardponies resorted to using their bayonets, but they only scratched Hammerheart's armor. More armies of Guardponies came in.

After a good couple hours of fighting, their transport arrived.

"Here comes Talon Alpha!" said Pinkie.

The Lightningeagle made a bombing run that killed anyone within its blast radius. This was enough to demoralize the weak hearted traitors into a retreat.

"Look," Applejack called, "they are breaking off the attack!"

"What do you expect from traitors?" Hoovitus asked angrily. "Courage and honor?"

The ship landed, and the Pony Marines slowly boarded.

"The Reward for Treachery: Retribution." Hoovitus quoted as the hatch doors closed.