//------------------------------// // An Uneasy Silence // Story: Clash of Worlds // by Gunner59524 //------------------------------// Ponyville, Equestria; two weeks after Operation Back Breaker. It had been at least a week since he and Twilight were flown back to the Library. A week prior to that, Majestic Team, AJ, and Dash had returned and life was more or less back to normal. It had been two weeks now since the remaining Covie forces retreated into Slipspace, two weeks since they vanished without a trace. Gunnar knew they were out there though, watching, waiting, gathering their allies and waiting for the opportune moment to strike. A few hours after Operation Back Breaker ended successfully, further UNSC reinforcements had arrived and set up a defensive screen around the planet. Fifty Paris-class Heavy Frigates, Twenty Halcyon-class Light Cruisers, Twenty Marathon-class Heavy Cruisers, and seventy five Mako-class Corvettes had significantly bolstered Equinia's defense. However, even then, it wouldn't be enough without help from Infinity. Fortunately, they had just that. The UNSC had also seen fit to refresh Infinity's frigate docks with ten new Strident-class Heavy Frigates. Despite that, patrols were starting to disappear without a trace again. Radar ghost signatures were appearing as close as the moon. The Covies were prodding, once again searching for a weakness. They wouldn't let the UNSC and their allies claim victory that easily. Gunnar and his friends continued to receive situation updates from Lasky and Celestia. While they did have time to relax, they were constantly making sure to be ready to jump into the action at a moment's notice. It was midnight now, and Gunnar couldn't sleep at all. What if the Covies returned in even greater numbers? What support could they be bringing in? Interrogation of Ragas had revealed the identity of the Elite and Flagship that led the Covies in their operations. The first of which was that terror attack on Ponyville months ago that Ragas saw as an opportunity at revenge on Gunnar. The Zealot still held ill will towards the soldier stallion for defeating those first two elites in the Frozen North as if he were a Spartan. As for the identity of the ship and Elite that had been leading the enemy thus far, the name Tanar R'aggamee appeared in the interrogations along with the name of a heavily modified CAS-class Assault Carrier that Doctor Glassman became interested in during the battle. The ship's name was Shadow of Remorse. The very name of the vessel sounded ominous enough to send shiver's down Gunnar's spine. Would they be ready if Tanar returned with his leader Jul Mdama in tow? Would they be ready even if he didn't and simply came back with a more massive fleet? The stallion had no idea and it was playing hell with his mind. And, on top of all that, even though Twilight was upstairs in her bed, fast asleep, she was still recovering from the injury she sustained during Operation Back Breaker. Can we really fight off this menace? The Covenant seems to be regaining its former strength. The UNSC has the upper hand on the bastards. Now the Covies are showing increased interest in your homeworld. With the UNSC opening up a war front here, do you really expect the Covies to have a chance at winning? I do actually. Those hingeheads are unpredictable. The only ones I trust are the ones following the Arbiter. I haven't met the alien yet but somehow, I feel I could trust Thel when it came down to it. Well he's a close friend and ally of the UNSC. He helped fend off the enemy despite the odds. Of course you can trust him. Okay well that gives me some level of peace. But I still doubt our position here. That's a natural response. It's normal for a soldier to consider every outcome in war. Hope for the best, plan for the worst, right? I suppose so, but that doesn't really ease the burden of doubt. You have your friends backing you up all the way. Don't give up on hope. What would Twilight think of you if you backed out now? ....... If you care about her, you'll continue to fight for her home, YOUR HOME. You're a team now, don't let that fall to pieces, don't let the Covies take that away. O-okay.... That wasn't very convincing. Alright, alright, I'll keep fighting on. There you go. Be stubborn where you need to, drop the stubbornness where you don't. Stick to your guns. His mind was set again... he had no idea how he kept regaining his composure and determination.... but he was glad he did. He would keep fighting on, for their sake.... for Twilight's sake. He pulled a novel from one of the shelves and sat at the table to relax and read. Daring Do... Rainbow Dash was crazy for this series. This would suffice to put his mind at ease. It actually did for about an hour and a half before his mind became a torrent of questions and doubts once more. He set the book down, trying to clear his mind. He then turned his gaze to the chest containing the Elements of Harmony. He looked through the glass of the lid at the Elements. They were still glowing the same way they started to when... when he and Twilight confessed their feelings for one another. They still had their newfound strength, their trump card against the enemy. He smiled at the thought of how love and friendship could vanquish almost ANY evil. It set his mind at ease once more. Twilight stirred upstairs, audibly groaning in pain in her sleep. Gunnar's natural concern for her had him heading upstairs to check on her right away. He quickly found supply of pain killer syringes that the medic from Infinity had given him before heading upstairs. He was absolutely sure she needed it when he set eyes on her and was quick to administer it. A couple minutes later, and she relaxed, the pain gone once more. He decided to lay down in the bed with her to keep her warm and give her a stronger sense of security. She snuggled up to him on instinct. He smiled, knowing she would be fine, and he would be there for her every step of the way. He eventually fell asleep next to her and the rest of the night was spent in peaceful slumber. ============================================================ UNSC Infinity, Bridge, geosynchronus orbit high above Equestria. Lasky read each report in detail. Strange disappearances, sketchy intel, and freakish radar readings led Lasky to only one conclusion: the Covenant were utilizing covert operation strategies to weaken the Equinia's defenses. This Tanar character was a smart one. He's toying with us. In the past two weeks alone, Spartans, ODST's, and Security Personnel had captured, detained, and killed at least twenty of the Covenant's covert operatives. There were plenty more out there though, and it had Lasky and his crew all on edge. The tension in the air of the bridge was almost tangible. He had sent word to Celestia of every detail, including his suspicions. The letter he got in return put him even further on edge. The Spartans and Equestrian Soldiers had captured or killed at least seventeen Covenant covert operatives on the planetary surface as well. Whoever this Tanar was, he was an expert in covert operations, sabotage, and terror tactics. Lasky had dealt with his type before, but experience didn't put him at ease in the slightest. It only put him even more on edge. There was something about Tanar's flagship as well. The energy signature it had been emitting during the battle had everyone and everypony on edge and more puzzled than ever. Doctor Glassman was still hard at work, trying to determine what the energy signature even implied. "Sir, another report coming in, closer to Ponyville this time," Roland spoke up, the tension obvious even in the AI's voice, "They're catching on." "Increase counter-infiltration defenses around the town," Lasky ordered, "We can't let ANYTHING through there." As if he couldn't stress that enough. If the Covies got through to the Elements of Harmony, it was game-set-match, and the UNSC would suffer defeat again. This was one defeat he would stop at nothing to prevent. "Send word to Fireteam Majestic that I'm sending them some help, and make sure they stay alert." "Aye Captain," Roland complied before vanishing from the holoterminal. "Commander Palmer?" Lasky summoned her from her trance. She came from her dark corner in the back of the bridge and stepped forward. "I want you to take your best Spartans and head to the surface to back up Majestic. I can't stress enough that the Covies cannot be allowed to get through." "I'll have Crimson patrol the Everfree and take Alpha and Beta teams to help me provide more direct assistance to Majestic," she replied, the tension obvious in her serious tone as well. "Thanks. Good luck Sarah." "You too Tom. Don't let those bastards get a single ship through." "You know I won't," Lasky said, letting out a small chuckle as he did. Palmer gave him a small smile and nod before grabbing her helmet and heading out. It took about a half hour before Lasky heard the report of two Pelicans loaded with Spartans and Sarah Palmer leaving the hangar bay. He watched as they made their way to the surface and silently wished them luck. They would need it. These Covie operatives were no joke.... they were experienced sons of hingehead bitches. The Captain couldn't help but feel the familiar tendrils of doubt prodding at his mental defenses. It was now a game of cat and mouse, but the question remained: Who was the hunter, and who was the hunted?