Down on the grounds of the Iceworks, Eldeer warriors stood around a beacon, and the body of a fallen Pony Marine. The scarred and crushed ground indicating it was a fierce battle, indeed. A quiet whistling sound grew louder, and a drop pod landed not too far from the site. Out of the pod came Hammerheart and the Sergeants, along with Captain Nule. They spotted the animals from their position.
"Eldeer warriors!" said Rainbow Dash. "Attack!"
They went in to engage the troops. Rainbow Dash took to the sky and slammed into the ground, crushing and sending Eldeer flying. Goliath saw that the Eldeer were standing around the fallen Marine, and he knew it was his old friend.
"Steedion!" Goliath yelled, "Away from him... you Eldeer wretches!"
Once they killed off the Eldeer that stood near the beacon, they had to make their first move.
"Quickly secure that beacon!" said Applejack.
Hammerheart quickly got to the beacon and began the capture process. The Eldeer fought back hard with their splinter pistols and magic.
Rainbow Dash spotted more Eldeer approaching them. "Eldeer witches!" She yelled. "Get back!"
Hammerheart quickly got away as explosions of magic erupted where he stood before. Then the witches were blasted by a different form of magic. Every Eldeer that was shot with a lavender purple magic beam was knocked to the ground.
"No more Blood Phoenixes fall this day." said Twilight Sparkle as she came into view. "No more!!"
Warp Stags teleported and surrounded her along with the Eldeer she previously knocked back, but Twilight unleashed a deadly magic attack that swirled around her and sucked in the surrounding Eldeer. With one stomp of her hoof, the Eldeer were sent flying and exploded in a bloody, gory mess of flesh and organs.
She continued onward and reached Hammerheart and the others, aiding them with her magic abilities. When the last Eldeer were slain, Hammerheart approached the Unicorn.
"You are a welcomed sight indeed, Commander Hammerheart." the Unicorn said. "I am Twilight Sparkle."
"And... Steedion?" Goliath asked.
Twilight closed her eyes and sighed. "He fell saving me from an Eldeer war machine." She said. "We had just discovered a large xeno structure to the east when they attacked."
"A Webway Assembly no doubt." said Applejack. "It will allow them to invade at their leisure. We must destroy it."
"Go..." Goliath said as he approached the dead Pony Marine, "I will guard over... our sibling's remains. The Chapter... will not lose... Steedion's gene-seed."
Twilight nodded in empathy. "Of course." She looked to Hammerheart. "I am at your disposal, Commander."
They headed off to search for and destroy the Assembly that the Eldeer used to enter Arctika. It seemed like an easy hunt, too easy. As they progressed through the icy road, they found frozen statues that looked nothing like something to commemorate the Equestrium.
"What in the Empress's name are those?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Something akin to a Treelord." said Applejack.
They continued on, and they soon reached the end of the road. Twilight felt a strange energy source nearby.
"Magic power is building up." She said.
"Quickly, destroy their access to the Webway!" said Applejack.
"You are too late." a Warlock said as he casted magic upon statues similar to the ones the Pony Marines encountered. "The ancient souls have found their new homes. Rise, Treeguard. Destroy the ponies!" The statues came to life as they broke free of their frozen prison, and they began their attack.
The Pony Marines fought back with righteous fury and valor, and they had managed to defeat the Treeguards and the Warlock. They continued upwards and found the Webway Assembly, along with another Warlock, and more Treeguards. They dispatched the Eldeer first, then slowly did away with the Assembly itself. The structure burned and crumbled at their hooves.
"Good." said Applejack, "The remaining Eldeer are cut off. They cannot retreat."
"What were those things the Warlock summoned?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"He called them 'Treeguard'." said Twilight. "They somehow drew magic power from him."
A call came to Hammerheart, and he brought his hoof to his comm link.
"The Eldeer... press their attack." said Nule. "I will not... leave Steedion to these... xenos." At the drop site, Goliath fought back against Eldeer forces that were fighting hard against him. Goliath was determined to defend Steedion's body with his life.
"Captain Nule! Hold fast!" said Rainbow Dash. "We must support him Commander Hammerheart."
They turned and quickly headed back to aid Captain Nule, but on their way they encountered the once frozen statues that have now gained mobility.
"More Treeguard!" Rainbow Dash yelled.
"They are sluggish." Twilight pointed out. "They must require a Warlock's support."
Hammerheart slammed his hammer into the first Treeguard that attacked him, breaking its legs and killing it quickly. Rainbow Dash took to the sky and slammed into the last two. Applejack shot one with her plasma gun, while Twilight blasted the other with her magic. When the Treeguards were dead, they continued on to help Goliath, who called Hammerheart again.
"I am taking... damage from... Branch Lances!" Nule yelled. The Pony Marines had to pick up the pace, fast.
They galloped at Empress's speed, but more Treeguards broke free from their icy stasis, with the help of Eldeer magic.
"More of them!" said Applejack.
"And with a Warlock this time." said Twilight. "Kill him to weaken the Treeguard."
Hammerheart attack the Warlock while the others dealt with the Treeguards. Hammerheart struck the Warlock with a lethal blow to the chest and kicked him to the ground before putting a bolter bullet in his head. The Treeguard lost their power, and the others finished them off quickly.
After dealing with them, the Pony Marines finally reached Captain Nule, who had managed to weather the Eldeer attack.
"Now... Steedion... shall rest." said Goliath.