From Humans, to Cryptids, to... Ponies?

by TLP


Prologue

February 24th, 2026, 8:43 AM
3 months after the Ark Event
Exodus Launch Facility, Near San Diego, California
United States of America

Godfather's R.R.F (Rapid Reaction Force), CIF Team 1, has be sent to the launch facility to help the final group of hand-picked soldiers, scientists, and others to help escape Earth. Including Dr. Samantha Cross, and board a space shuttle to be taken to the remains of the International Space Station.




Heavy gunfire echoes all around the once-active launch facility. Formerly used to build segments of the I.S.S and the S.S "Odin", the military aggressively remade this facility to help build the new space station that would soon be home to several of the world's top soldiers, scientists, and paleobiologists.

And a new weapon that would give the cryptids a taste of their own medicine. The weapon, code-named "MEDUSA" uses the brain of an Ancestor, named the Cortex. It stores bio-electric energy "like a psychic battery", and detonates like a neutron bomb. Frying any cryptid...or human in a 3-mile radius.

The facility was over-run by cryptids not long after the Ark was found in a cavern inside a volcano near New Zealand. It wiped out most of the guards and scientists awaiting to board the shuttle, and out of the four shuttles that were preparing to take off, only one was spared from destruction. But CIF 1 was able to hold off long enough to charge the generators all over the area and turn on the MEDUSA device. After putting the Cortex into the MEDUSA, they were told they could not board the shuttle, since they were the only ones capable of holding off the cryptids long enough to activate the device and buy some precious time for the shuttle to take off. Although Samantha Cross thanked the team for their efforts that would inevitably save humanity.

Time was not on their side. They defended against a massive assault of Cryptids and Ancestor warlords alike, and were now finishing off the remaining few, while coming to terms that they would not survive either way.

But that from their sacrifice, humanity could live on.












Bullets ripped though a Scorpion Cryptid, tearing at its soft, glowing spots on its back leaving it a heaping pulp of flesh and a puddle of acid. More rounds were shot and mowed down a Scout Cryptid, stopping it in its tracks. Yells from the team leader could barley be heard over the loud sound of gun-fire.

"Keep laying down fire, Jackson!" Yelled Sergeant Marcus H. Ramirez as he shot off his Remington R-5 at the final Ancestor who breached the East Gate.

"I'm dry! Where's Kayla and Thompson?!" Screamed Corporal Jackson L. Torres while patting his person to find a spare magazine.

"They went to find more ammo! I coul-" Marcus was cut off as a Hunter Cryptid pounced on him, pinning him to the ground.

"Marcus!" Jackson shouted as he slung out his P226 to shoot the Hunter away, but a Gargoyle flying above him shot it out of his hands, with a couple more spikes hitting his right arm.

"Agh! I'm hit, I'm hit!"

Marcus was too busy to see Jackson fall to the ground, clutching his arm, since he was trying to push the Cryptid off of him. The nearly 300 pound Hunter easily pinned him to the ground, and was about to slit his throat open when he heard a loud *crack* and turned to see the Cryptid, lying on his body, with a gaping hole on the left side of its head.

"You missed me, Sarge?"

Marcus looked up and to his right to see Specialist Kayla P. West standing over him with a M9 pistol in her left hand, offering him her right hand.

He grabbed her hand and Kayla pulled him up. He looked at her with a sly grin.

"About fucking time, I though- wait, where's Thompson?" He looked over to see Private James L. Thompson kneeled next to Jackson, catering to his wound.

"Right ther- Thompson! Get down!" Kayla screamed as Thompson did what she said, covering Jackson with his own body.

Kayla quickly raised her MR-28 and aimed at the Gargoyle above him and shot several times, hitting the Gargoyle in its chest and wings, taking it out of the skies as it pummeled toward the ground.

"You're good, Thompson, get back to what you were doing! I got us a crate of spare incendiary rounds. Enjoy." She started toward the staircase next to the East gate, but Marcus called out to her.

"Yes, Sarge?" She asked.

"I need you to give Thompson and Jackson here some cover. I'll focus my fire on the Ancestor."

"Understood, Sarge." She ran up the stairs and took her position. Activating the Tesla Anti-Air as she did so, getting rid of incoming Bomber cryptids in the process.

"Alright, let's-"

Marcus turned only to see a black hole-like projectile barreling towards him. He rolled out of the way as it slammed into a wall behind him, disappearing and imploding, but destroying Jackson's I.M.S.

"You motherfucker..." He stated as he raised his Remington R-5 and fired in short, but effective bursts at the Ancestor's head and chest. Although Godfather stated that small arms fire did little to the Ancestor, it proved quite effective if the right ammunition was used.

In this case, he was using incendiary rounds

The round proved its worth, making the Ancestor roar in pure agony as more and more rounds hit its head, and flames engulfed its entire had. But the weapon's magazine could only hold so many rounds, as it wasn't long before he had to top off.

"I'm out!" He stated. He proceeded to look up and saw another black hole charge at him.

"Holy shi-"

Another loud explosion was heard. This time a huge blue ball of pure electric energy charged at the black hole. Colliding and effectively making it disappear as a large electric shockwave shook the ground.

Marcus turned to see Jackson lowering his NX-1 Disruptor, grinning at him.

Marcus mentally facepalmed. He had forgot all about the NX-1 Disruptor. Another one of Archer's prototype weapons he created before he died back in Ball's Pyramid.

Jackson then slid another NX-1 towards Marcus, hitting his knees.

"I'm guessing you forgot, huh?" He chimed in as Marcus picked the weapon up from the ground.

"Yeah, thanks for reminding me. And in a hell of a way, too." He replied. He turned and looked at the Ancestor, kneeling on one knee and weakened.

"Just like old times." He said as he charged the NX-1 Disruptor.

The Ancestor looked up at him with a menacing scowl. Only to be met with a huge ball of electric energy.

The ball connected. sending another shockwave in the ground. The Ancestor roared another shriek of pain as it levitated into the air and exploded in a ball of energy and matter.

"YEAH! TAKE THAT YOU FUCKING FREAK!" Marcus said as he rose his NX-1 in victory. Everyone else cheered, having just killed the final Ancestor that had led the assault.

"Nice job, Sarge." Kayla said as she took another shot. Killing the final cryptid in the area in one shot. She looked down at Jackson and Thompson, smiling, before Godfather, their commander, spoke up over the radio.

"CIF 1, this is Godfather! Energy levels for the Cortex are maxed out. We are now lifting off!"

The four soldiers looked over at the massive space shuttle beyond a huge gate, as its engines started and the stabilizers unhooked from the shuttle, steam rising from below.

Jackson looked up at her, then at Thompson.

"...let's finish this."

Thompson looked at them both, visibly shaking, but still had a look of determination on his face.

"Let's do it..."

Marcus looked at his squad. Reminiscing his memories with them all before the outbreak. He mentally shook his head and spoke, with vigor and determination in his voice.

"It's been an honor serving with you all.

They looked back at him and nodded, then at each other. The four then hugged each other, trying their hardest to not shed a single tear.

After a minute, they let go of each other. The rocket was now blaring as it started to slowly rise upwards, smoke and water vapor covered the entire area surrounding the shuttle

"Detonate the Cortex! Now!"

Marcus and his squad walked towards the MEDUSA. It glowed a static blue all over the thing, signifying that it was fully charged. He gripped the handle of the Cortex. Then Jackson, followed by Kayla and Thompson. They all looked at each other.

"It's been a helluva ride...I'm honored to be working with you guys..and dying by your side." He smiled, knowing what he was extremely cheesy, but they didn't care.

They responded in unison "Likewise, Sarge...likewise." They smiled, then turned their attention to the Cortex handle, as the smoke and water vapor coated the area around them.

Marcus's life was flashing before him, all the memories playing in front of his eyes as if it was being displayed on an old projector, before he was brought back to reality as he saw the shuttle take off. Almost immediatley, hundreds of Gargoyles flew towards it. A voice of panic on his radio was barley heard.

"This is Exodus 0-1! We're not gonna make it!" Some one, probably the pilot, shouted in fear, as the swarm of Gargoyles flew closer and closer.

Marcus sighed softly and responded back into his radio.

"Yes you are..."

He turned the lever to the side, a blue pulse of pure electric energy surrounds him and the squad, before exploding. Blackness then surrounded him, until there was nothing left to be seen.