"The heretics are retreating. None may stand before the emperor's mighty space marines." The marine said giving his report to Captain Davian Thule and Captain Gabriel Angelos.
"We routed the chaos filth. I think it's time we returned to give our report to the chapter master." Thule said. "But mark my words they will be back. The damned black legion never gives up."
"Agreed. I think however it's time we went home." Angelos said as he and Thule got inside a thunderhawk. "We're leaving brothers."
The space marines turned around to their thunderhawks which then was headed back to the battle barge. They were going home.
However one thing that the space marines neglected was that the warp storm had not died down yet. This would be their undoing.
7 thunderhawks containing all sorts of equipment and 2 companies of marines left orbit. But the moment that they did, the nearby warp storm began to pull them in. Despite efforts to get help or to escape, it was all to no avail. 2 companies worth of marines were instantly pulled into the warp storm. Emperor knows when they will come out.
“Alright spike! We got another meteor shower tonight. The whole gang will be there!” Twilight said happily as she packed a telescope into a wagon. “Do you know what this means Spike? This has happened in... forever!”
“Alright! I bet this is the sight to see! I got some fruit punch, some cookies and bananas like last time!” Spike replied packing everything.
“Alright! And off we go and oh wait!” Twilight remembered getting some scrolls, a feather and some ink. This would be one report Princess Celestia would want to hear.
By the time Twilight and Spike had arrived on the hill where everyone else was, night had fallen and it was almost time.
“Hello everypony!”
“TWILIGHTYOUEXCITED?!IKNOWIAMEXCITED!2ndMETEORSHOWERTHISYEARYOUKNOWHATTHISMEANS?” Pinkie said not even stopping to take a breath.
“Whoa sugar cube. Slow down a bit there.” Applejack said. “Applebloom brought her friends here too some other ponies also decided to drop by. Once in a lifetime opportunity to see a meteor shower twice y’know?”
“Doesn’t happen often! This will be sooooo awesome!” Rainbow dash smiled.
“And a lovely evening it is! Good for this new outfit.” Rarity chimed in.
“Ooooooohhh oooooh! Look you guys! The first meteor!” Pinkie pointed as the meteor shower began.
At about the same time, the warp opened up and the fleet of thunderhawks poured out all out of control and headed right for the planet’s surface.
“Hey Twilight.” Spike said munching on some gems. “Do those meteors over there look a bit odd?”
Twilight looked up. Sure enough a few meteors weren’t flying with the rest and had a rather reddish hint to them rather than the white color.
“That is strange.” Twilight said making sure to include that in her letter. “I wonder why...... Spike hurry. Run.”
“What? Why?”
“Because that meteor... is headed... right over there!”
Sure enough the loud thud was audible from a long distance away as pieces of machinery began to strike sections of the everfree forest and a mountain.
“Sweet Celestia! I can fill a year’s worth of letters doing this!” Twilight said happily in anticipation. “Let’s go check this meteor out girls!” She said as everyone else also followed her.
“Captains. All squads are here and alive but we have a lot of injured.” A marine reported to Thule and Angelos.”
“Survey the local area?”
“This planet is inhabited. That’s all I know.”
“Well, if we are marooned here then I must say, the emperor must be feeling like this is some kind of reward.” Thule said taking a look outside.
“Why do you say that old friend?” Angelos asked.
“Because we landed in paradise.” Thule replied as he showed Gabriel the surroundings. Their thunderhawk had crashed on the mountain where there was a good view of things. As they looked around, a scout sergeant with one eye approached them to deliver a report.
“Scout Sergeant Cyrus reporting in.” Cyrus said to his superiors.
“Speak.”
“I have located the others. Should we rendezvous with them?”
“Yes.” Both captains said simultaneously.
“The sooner we get together, the better.” Angelos said. “As nice and as beautiful as this planet looks, we don’t know what lurks here.”
“Agreed. Alright brothers, time to move!” Thule barked as everyone got their belongings and got moving to the everfree forest. They were promptly joined by the rest of the group as they went to every crash site.
“Apothecary Gordion reporting in.” A white apothecary said. “We have about thirty injuries so far. Most are minor and will be fine in a matter of minutes while some may take time.”
“Thank you apothecary.” Thule said. “Any place we can take shelter? There’s over two hundred of us. We need a place to accommodate all our brothers. It needs to be two things. Secure and well hidden. If the indigenous people prove to be hostile this can go very badly.”
"I wouldn't worry about it." Angelos said. "I am not worrying much to be honest. How we didn't end up in the eye of terror, the immaterium or some place that has legions of creatures that intend to murder us, we have only the Emperor to thank."
"What about the local populace?" Thule asked. "I am willing to be my other eye that they're xenos."
"Xenos or not, they may be our only chance off this planet. Our priority should be leaving not fighting. If we remain trapped here then it will be a blow to our chapter that may not be able to recover from. Ever." Angelos said.
“Captains! Scout is back.” Someone said as Cyrus once again returned.
“Captains, there is an ancient, abandoned castle not far from here. Let’s make way for it. If the inhabitants of this world are hostile, they can be dangerous. Let’s hide and plan our next move.”
“Good idea.” Angelos agreed. “Let’s go.”
And with that, over 200 marines were gone in just an instant with all their gear and equipment abandoning their thunderhawks.
“Whoa! What could of crushed all these trees! Must of been one big meteor!” Rainbow dash said looking at all the trees that’ve been bent out of shape or knocked down.
“Or maybe it was some huge, ginormous, red machine from outer space......” Fluttershy said pointing a hoof at one of the ruined thunderhawks.
“Whoa! Aliens.......” Pinkie said excited. “Let’s meet them and throw a welcome-to-this-planet party! What do aliens eat anyways?!”
“Whoa settle down there girl, who knows these aliens might not be so friendly? For all we know, they could be pony-eating monsters.”
As Applejack tried to reason with Pinkie pie. Twilight carefully looked at the thunderhawk.
“This is a spaceship? But how does it work?”
“eh.... twilight?” Rainbow dash chimed in.
“What?”
“It’s... broken...”
“Anypony can see that, I am just wondering how it worked.” Twilight said carefully looking at the thunderhawk. After several more minutes of doing this, Twilight just gave up.
“Well, I got a report to write. Maybe princess Celestia can have a look herself. We can look at this more tomorrow.”
Everyone, especially Spike who was pretty tired agreed and decided to head home.
“Gabriel. Are you sure this is a good idea?" Thule asked as they walked into the abandoned castle. "You mentioned back there they are our only way off this planet. How do we know they aren't out here to kill us?"
"That, we'll have to find out for ourselves. I have confidence that the locals may be friendly, or at the last helpful if they haven't come to kill us already."
"I have my doubts, but I'll leave it to you." Thule said sitting down.
"Alright then, I am going to take a look around. Why don't you salvage anything in case we left anything valuable behind?"
"Alright then. And off I go."