After the grievous battle against the first Discord forces, the Pony Marines returned aboard the Retribution, and were not very pleased with the heretics' surfacing. A call came to the ship and Captain Pegalos appeared onscreen.
"This is very grave news." said Pegalos. "We cannot allow the forces of Discord to overrun our recruiting worlds. The Traitor Legions must be based on Planet Arctika, Commander Hammerheart. Return there immediately and hunt them down."
A call from Galantius came to the ship, from Governess Fluttershy, and she appeared onscreen.
"Commander Hammerheart, thank you." She said. "I can barely believe the rebels would align themselves with the forces of Discord."
"Believe it." said Hoovitus.
"Yes. Sergeant Hoovitus is right." said Fluttershy. "Denial only aids the enemy. We have recovered records from the rebels that betray the location of their main base. It is on Planet Arctika. House Brae Tyre has been operating there since the earliest days of the Paranid invasion." She grew more agitated against the occurrence. "I am dispatching troops to Arctika immediately. Time to eradicate the enemy's safe haven and end this heresy."
Hoovitus smirked. "Now you are speaking sense, Governess." He said.
After the transmission, Twilight approached Hammerheart with concern.
"Commander Hammerheart," She said, "I fear the traitor's foul warp energies may have affected us."
"Affected us how, Unicorn?" Pinkie asked.
"The corrupting influence of Discord is a powerful thing." Twilight explained. "Even the briefest encounter can stain a soul."
"We are no traitors." Pinkie said gruffly.
"Perhaps not, Pinkie," said Twilight, "but corruption can be subtle. Each step along the path may seem insignificant, but together they lead into darkness. When facing the minions of the Warp, no decision is without consequence."
As the Retribution made the journey back to Arctika, Hammerheart could not help but take what Twilight said into thought. Could he or one of his own siblings fall to Discord and heresy? These questions would have to be answered later, for they arrived.
Twilight came to Hammerheart again with a warning. "Commander Hammerheart, I have taken stock of the items recovered from the battlefield." She said. "I fear some of them resonate with very troubling magic echoes. I advise caution with these items, Commander."
The first of the Discord forces were found at the Toros Iceworks. Hammerheart brought the area into view, and Pegalos appeared onscreen.
"Commander Hammerheart, now is the time to strike back." said Pegalos. "The Dark Legion is operating from a well-fortified industrial facility on Planet Arctika. You must break into that complex and defeat the traitors within."
"What do we know about this facility?" Hammerheart asked.
"It is a geothermal power station." said Pegalos. "House Brae Tyre established it soon after Planet Arctika re-emerged from the warp. It appears to be their center of dealings with the Dark Legion."
"What about defenses?" Hammerheart asked.
"Expect to face heavily entrenched Dark Legion troops." Pegalos warned. "Equestrial Guard forces have already deployed to establish a beachhead. They report that the enemy has raised a void shield to protect key areas of the station. Bring that shield down and purge the facility, Commander."
The transmission ended, and Applejack came up to Hammerheart with an almost troubled heart.
"Commander Hammerheart," She said, "if that truly is the Skarsend we faced on Cronus..."
"It... was." Goliath said.
"Then we must expect a trap." said Applejack. "Skarsend earned a reputation for deception on Cronus. Many times over."
"Applejack... is correct." said Nule. "Skarsend is... a dangerous... foe. But we still... must take the facility."