//------------------------------//
// CH9 
// Story: MLP FIM/Halo: Towards the broken dawn… 
// by Evident Disaster 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 9

Daylight Burning

XXXXX

Location: Acacia Forests

Time: 3:45 PM

The armoured super human broke by at immense speeds towards Zaro with its shotgun drawn. The elite spec ops ranger commander took a combative stance and waited as the Spartan closed the distance towards him, Zaro had his own little trick with dealing with a charging opponent, the elite released a shield disk the size of his arm and brought it to bear as the Spartan reached the range of his body. As he raised the shield the first 2 blasts from the shotgun blasted into the hexagonal shield.

This temporary setback for the Spartan was soon corrected as the super human made a summersault over Zaro’s barrier and landed in a crouch before bringing the shotgun to hit the elite from the flank. Zaro knew that he’d never get around blocking with the shield, so he instead got his left arm to deflect the next attack. He grabbed the shoulder butt from the Spartan and felt a few bones crack from the effort, but it was worth the pain.

The Spartan II brought the shotgun around and fired again this time getting the shield gauntlet once more, Zaro sacrificed his hand, but then again. “Give my enemy one arm, but arm the other.” He followed his teachings very well, the shotgun shells met the wall of energy at point blank, the shields held out as Zaro rolled back. 

For the others in the midst of the brawl between the spec ops commander and the Spartan, they had barely any time to react exception being the helldivers who were keeping their distance from the fight. Zaro had landed in a crouch and was now facing the Spartan in front of him, but sadly he knew that he wasn’t going to make it out of this one. Two Spartans were barely 8 meters behind him; he was as good as dead if they fired on him from all directions. 

It was then that the cock of a shotgun from behind the red marked spartan made him stop. Jace had his AA-88 at the back of the head of the spartan, Douglas was stunned he didn't even hear Jace get behind him. The spartan began to evaluate his situation. An unknown human support an elite, and an elite who seemingly didn't attack the human that was now behind him, something wasn't adding up. But it was usually shoot first and then ask questions later. But it seemed that they were at an impass. 

"You even think about moving asshole and I'll put these 8 gauge rounds through your back. That I promise you will hurt." Jace threatened. 

The AA-88 was a heavily modified variant of the UCAFs AA-44, a heavy semi-auto assault shotgun that unloaded more fire into the air than that of a 50cal M144 machine-gun. The UCAF had initially saved the guns as a back up for the UCAFs specialized branches in the field, but the gun was too good to pass up even for the UCAFs helldivers. Jace had his hands on the deadly auto 8 gauge destroyer. If the spartan made so much as a flinch in the wrong direction thsoe shields were about as useful as paper. 

At that moment, 2 heavy calibre explosive rounds sailed through the air and blew the earth around the elite, stopping the Spartan’s advance on the elite commander. A booming voice came over the battlefield. 
“Stop, or I will kick the living shit out of all of you!”

The Spartans and marines turned their attention to the massive two legged suit of armour moving towards them with two 120mm heavy anti-armour guns and 30mm mini-guns, the suit swerved its head around the sides of the field. 
“Elites of the former covenant have separated themselves from the covenant. The commander of the force, Zaro has allied with us, he currently is helping us. I’d suggest you put your weapons away Spartans or I'll make you! This is not the time or the place to be fighting with the allies of the UCAF! Do I make myself clear?” The massive armoured walking tank asked.

The Spartans looked to each other and the UCAF marines who had their guns pointed at them, the helldivers had their menacing weapons drawn and so did the other marines of the UCAF with the covenant separatists. The UNSC marines on the other side put their weapons to their sides following orders from somewhere else and so did the Spartans, they drew themselves back with Zaro being assisted by Jace of the helldivers going to his aid. 

As Zaro eyed the red marked Spartan who nearly nailed him with the shotgun went by, he said. 
“Were it so easy?”

As the UNSC personnel went over to their side of the tree line more UNSC ODSTs arrived only to be halted from opening up on the covenant due to the UCAF personnel and the orders that had come from above. The UCAF forces were regrouping with surviving members of the separatists going to their aid. 
As the UCAF commander in charge returned he brought with him his com operator on the line with whoever had come. As they clarified the situation, the commander finished up. 
“Okay marines hold fast, we have friendly pelicans and VTOL on approach.”

The marines watched as a ship appeared not far away, and from the ship, 1 pelican gunship, 4 hornet VTOLs arrived. The pelican in its gunmetal green plating landed in the middle between the UCAF and the UNSC, the escorts peeled off into a screen formation for the protection of the arriving personnel. 
A squad of marines piled out with 3 people, 1 older looking man with captain’s insignia, 1 unmarked civilian, and one medical officer. The crew members stuck together and got a summary of the situation from their Spartans. The Spartan with the red sash marking on its shoulder took point and the others formed a shield around the crew members. The marines trailed back keeping their triggers warm as they eyed the UCAF personnel.

Jace, Zaro and the highest ranking member of the force currently there was Colonel Jackson of the 33rd former Cerberus Legion. The colonel was a man of integrity and honour as well as respect, for him, the war was a personal hell as much as a literal one. Jackson served the UCAF for over 25 years had had been recruited at the Callistan Academy at the age of 15; he had been here from the beginning to the end. Of course the colonel wasn’t a person who was political, but when he had to garner support, he brought out the best of his ability into a debate. Jackson was once the famed colonel of the Cerberus Legionaries, 100,000 of the most ruthless killing machines in human existence and had devastated over 20 covenant fleets and wiped out tens of millions in his time, he withdrew from active service of the Cerberus Legion and took to the more precise side of the war. 

He was commanding the 81st recon and assault vanguard (Code named: Raven) into the covenant lines to slow progress of the covenant, he was with Zaro for a while now, he had utmost respect for the elite in his ranks and had a lot to thank the elite for. Zaro shared similar sentiments with Jackson, and both have had a very respectful view on each other. 

Jackson was only returning from his damned defence against 4 hunters, he was a little bit battered, but none worse for wear; he had seen some worse things in his life than 4 hunters. Jace held his pistol in his left holster and Zaro had his hand being tended in a bio-gel cast, it would probably heal in the coming hours, but if things didn’t go well, he might have to just run. 

The armoured heavy mech was sitting exactly where it needed to, and of course a lot of attention was being tossed at the machine looking over all of them, its guns alone made the marines on the other side look very nervous, one wrong smack with that thing and they were good as dead. They worked around the issue by just marking off as something they didn’t need to worry about, at least for the moment.

The greying officer of the UNSC met with Jackson with a straight up salute. 
“So you must be colonel Jackson, your second in command told me that you were rather bumped up, but it seems you pulled through.” 

“That’s about right, I don’t intend to go down that easily, especially since my last operation with hunters, they are big, but not agile.” He replied with a salute.

“I am captain Cutter of the UNSC CVF-88 Spirit of Fire.” Cutter introduced.

“Good to meet you. I am Colonel Jackson Mclean, 81st Assault Recon Vanguard of the UCAF forces.” Jackson said in a stoic military tone. 

Cutter could see that Jackson was a definitely seasoned soldier, he looked as grey as he was, and he guessed that he was younger. Of course the questions of one’s personal endeavours could be asked later at the moment there was an issue to overcome and Cutters science officer didn’t want to be held up any longer.

“Gentlemen, if you’d please finish with the traditional analysis of one’s phallus over another, I think we should be discussing the problem at hand.” Anders cut in.

Cutter decided to introduce the impatient doctor. 
“Colonel Jackson, this is my science officer Dr Anders, she has been on my vessel since the start of operations in the UNSC war against the covenant, she is a prime researcher in alien technology and language, she has been rather adamant about getting along with formalities.”

“Yes, mostly because there are covenant in our midst.” Anders added.

Cutter threw her a look, he knew that she wasn’t as happy to be set free, since Forge had died on the shield world and her being taken hostage by the covenant which wasn’t the best thing to have happened to her, she made it a point about learning more of the covenant and dealing with them as soon as possible. He could understand her resentment, but he wished she would keep it professional.

Zaro didn’t take to lightly about being called part of the covenant, since he had disavowed the covenant in his people’s name and honour, he’d never allow for anyone to mock his right of honour in such a fashion. 
“Watch your tongue human, you speak insults in the midst of my people and my brother’s I’d suggest you watch what you say of the warriors of Sanghellios and the Broken Legion of the Redeemers of Serebus!”

That retort made the doctor take a step back, she knew she was letting her prejudice get to her, but she couldn’t drop the resentment of the covenant from her mind, she stayed her tongue and stepped away. The captain was thankful she took the moment to get back so he could get their meeting back on track.

“I see that you have allied with former members of the covenant, it’s interesting that this had even happened, we always believed that they’d never break.” Cutter stated.

“Well after 25 years at war with the UCAF and staggering defeats for the covenant in our regions of space, they have fallen to pieces almost, there are a few remaining strong points in the covenant forces, but they’re being dealt with by our forces on equal terms. As for you this is something we never anticipated before, the UCAF hadn't been in contact with the UNSC since the very founding of the ICA and the early starting age of the Nova Stratus alliance.” Jackson replied.

“When was this alliance formed?” Cutter asked.

“Well over 300 years ago, it has been a long time since the old alliance had ever been in contact with the UNSC, and mostly people believed that the UNSC was nothing more than a dead world we left behind centuries ago, at least for those who know of the old fable of the Age of Revolution…” Jackson responded cryptically.

“I think we might want to touch on that subject a little later, but I think you should send a copy of the UCAF history if you can to our AI Serina when you can. At this moment in time we have a rather urgent proble,, so far you’ve only increased the amount of questions in this situation, and for us we don’t know what’s going on. And also you have, former covenant on your side, which is a shock for us, and a rather hard to overcome the sense of danger for those under my command.” Cutter said.

The Spartans were easily the point of the discussion as Jackson could see, he knew that the situation was by far the most confusing thing that even the highest member of the UCAF could possibly be put through, but he was trying to get everything around his head. Jackson decided that this would have to be addressed at another time and place. 
“I can understand captain I'll tell my techs to inform your AI, however these elites are under our protection, I don’t know how much my word means to you, but I trust Zaro and his brothers. And I believe it to be rather more effective if we met sometime to reconvene, at the present moment my marines are stretched thin and I have half the covenant loyalists are still in the region planning on taking a chunk out of me, if you could take your ship into the cover of the forest we might be able to form a defensive perimeter until my troop can get re-organised.” Jackson suggested.

Cutter thought it through and got it into his head that this wasn’t the right place to have a discussion about sides that were now present in the lines of the human race and the covenant. 
“Very well, I’ll set the ship nearby, but I’m leaving doctor Anders and my Spartans here until we can reconvene, please enlighten the doctor about your current situation and give her the details of what has been happening.”

“I’ll do what I can; I’ll see you around captain.” Jackson gave him a curt bow.
Cutter was off onto his pelican and back to the Spirit as Anders pulled out some notepads and TAC computers, she went and asked. 
“Are you actually going to let me record more about your UCAF?”

“No, I’ll let Simmons do that, he’s probably the clearest headed marine I have and he can probably explain to you in detail, I haven’t the time at the moment so he’s probably the only one who can help.” The colonel replied before calling over his soldier at the rear of a Bulldog APC.

As the marines mulled about the ODSTs from across seemed rather prudent to the point of showing off their weapons to the UCAF marines on the other side, the display was short lived as the massive mechanized suit came rumbling through to go to its post at the front of the ruined base and keep looking out for any covenant activity.
As things went quietly, the distance from the base a flight of what looked like birds began to appear…

XXXXX

Location: Canterlot

Time: 2:50 PM

Miguel was hurrying into his gear, the ponies had been careful enough to leave his helldiver armour intact for him to use again. He attached his TAC pad onto his arm and checked all his systems were right to go; he was surprised that they had gone as far as to polish the black chrome finish of the hidden daggers on his body CQB plates. 
Miguel charged his reserves into a power converter and then got them all going for the hangar bay; the only thing was that Twilight was persistent in stopping him. 
“Miguel look, I know that you have a sworn duty, obligation, a purpose to go after the covenant. And you want to regroup with your fellow marines to go fight, but why now?” She asked pleadingly.

Miguel stopped as he entered into the hangar, the other ponies were following him closely, Celestia and Luna were gathering soldiers to prepare to move out, the Wonderbolts were getting into gear and Rainbow was dashing back and forth between her most cherished role models. And the other friends to Twilight were being assigned with honour guards as they prepared to leave. 

Applejack had gotten her hands on a 12 gauge double barrelled shotgun thanks to a local guard who had one stored away in some inconspicuous place. Fluttershy was getting her things ready to help with medical treatment if it became necessary. Rarity chatted some of her guards up about the fashion in the army. Pinkie Pie was about as active as ever, gathering clusters of cakes and what looked like cinnamon swirls and somehow managing to push them all into a suitcase, which seemed physically impossible. 

"Twilight you saw what I saw didn't you?" He asked her. His look into her eyes were piercing, his deep grey eyes bore into her bright hopeful purple eyes.

She spent a moment and then replied. 
"Yes, I saw what happened, all those terrible things, but at least let us help." She said stedfast.

"Look Twilight, your world is something of beauty and peace, harmony and adventure, you think I haven't seen something in you? Look at your world, how beautiful it is from the world I come from, war rages in the name of survival where others murder and slaughter in the name of gods! Religion here is a utopia as your goddesses are at peace, where we come from, there is no such harmony no such peace, nothing which even amounts to the things you have here. For the love of your own sanity don't draw yourself or your friends into the epitome of war. It isn't pleasant." He replied as he packed his things into a VTOL.

"But I still want to help, as much as anypony Miguel, why can't you see that?" She said disheartened.

Miguel paused, his mind pummelling itself as it made a very biased choice, something he didn't want to do, but she was persistent, she knew him better than anyone else, so she'd press with everything to get to him. 
"Damn it all, fine." He finally caved.

Twilight brightened. 
"Really?"

"Yes, but don't get in my way, the plasma fire will tear you to shreds if you do, and keep your friends at a safe distance. If there's any fighting to do, then leave it to the people who know how to fight." He added with a cautious tone.

Twilight acknowledged. At that moment princesses Luna and Celestia appeared, they had changed their dresses for something more practical, if one was so observant. Luna was wearing a light navy coloured chainmail bikini, it was rather curvy and sure enough it had magical seals and emblems that were etched unto her body, the princesses had the best magical armour in Equestria next to them were the knights that they had assinged to them. 

Celestia appeared, gold clad plates covering parts of her body, her heels of gold were now plate metal boots which only went up to her thighs, arm braces of magic and what seemed like a magical spear/lance, it was a beautifully crafted weapon that seemed to garner plenty of attention. With the two rulung monarchs there came their knights, the Lunar Guards and Celestial Crusaders, both orders who served the princesses since the beginning, they had been considered honourable and very skilled, it has been very long since they had been put in actual combat however. 

As the ponies finalized everything they needed to the princess addressed them all. 
"Listen to me my little ponies, this is the first time any of you would every see true war, and the first time that many had even seen combat, however do not hesitate! Protect yourselves and others around you, make sure to keep each other alive, and keep each other going. For this sake alone my sister and I shall be first to the ground, the rest of you should let us approach this diligently only if hostilites are present you may openly engage." Her tone was clear, she wanted to reason with whoever was at the region of the battle.

Miguel wasn't so happy with this idea, many of these ponies looked more green than a whole forces of newly recruited 12 year olds for the first alliance youth trials, they'd either get through them, or botch their exams and get rolled out in moments. He hoped that the UCAF marines don't do anything stupid when they try to land. The equestrians and the single helldiver piled into their vehicles and departed from Canterlot. It wouldn't be long till they reached the Acacia Forests.

XXXXX

Location: Acacia Forests Outskirts

James had broke into sprint with Skyline trailing behind him. He had decided to pick her up and carry her instead, lifting a woman her size was easy, he had heavier things to carry when he was younger, so this was no challange. But he probably guessed he shouldn't say anything about that. He carried her across the distance of Evergreen to Acacia in nothing short of an hour, which was impressive for the average pony seeing as a 1200 meter sprint was exhausting especially to be done in under 10 minutes.

James kept his pace consistent and banked where he needed to avoid obstacles, he closed the distance into Acacia in about 30 minutes, they were just about there when he had to pause. He dug his heels into the ground and left large trails in the earth as he stopped, Sky was nearly tossed clear off of his back. 
"Hey what was that for?" She asked with an annoyed look.

"We're not alone out here." He replied as he searched for some cover to take them into.

He found some shrubs and jumped into it, he then proceeded to continue moving them on where the treeline ended. There he paused and then pointed out something, the silhouettes of 3 other figues nearby. Sky got off of his back and then eyed them, the strange figures soon became clear, tall humanoids with wings and armour and talons. 
"Griffins? What are they doing here?" Sky said puzzled.

"Well whatever they're doing here, its the same reason why we're here." He brought up his TAC pad and scanned for the UCAF signals.

"It seems they're watching over the battle, I can sense my brothers here, the teams have sent out emergency signals to all UCAF personnel in any region. They aren't keeping quiet anymore, but the majority of the battle seems to be over." There was the sounds of a pelican drop ship landing nearby.

"What's going on over there?" Sky asked.

"I'm not sure... but." A loud roaring sound soon came over and they looked up to the east a flight of VTOL like choppers arrived.

"Isn't that the Equestrian regular military and the royal guards?" Sky said to James.

"Well if it is then, thing's might have gotten a little more complicated." James replied to Sky.

There was another noise, it was a strange sound like a rolling boulder... James and Sky twisted around as they saw a large enclosed wagon house rolling at them, a familiar blue mage with cutie mark and mane came screaming at them as he wagon rushed at them. 

"Oh FLANK ME!" Sky shouted.

XXXXX

Location: Acacia Forests

Jace and the others of the UCAF began their clean up, they had to rebuild their base for the coming battle, the covenant weren't going to wait out their attack should they press another. As they did so, Jace noticed something in the distance as they began to rebuild, he wasn't sure but he could see something that resembled a swarm of birds, as he looked more closely he could see that they weren't the same thing's.

"Unknown Contacts on approach, one UCAF transponder, IFF reads the Major!" A sensor marine announced as he rused from a tent nearby.

Marines broke from their quiet reconstruction into a cheerful stance, they hadn't heard from their helldiver commander for a while, and since they hadn't any other high ranking officer in charge except Colonel Jack. Jack hurried along to join his marines as they greeted their fellow marine back, but they soon took notice of the large flight of unknwon's keeping close to what were now VTOL heli's. The marines quickly rushed out of sight into cover and UNSC marines did so as well, always being cautious especially with unknwon's.

The flight of creatures and machines landed on the empty clearing where Captain Cutter had landed. The first to land was a large black and grey heli, it looked reminiscent to that of a Falcon gunship, but lacked the obvious heavy weaponry or armour, it just looked like metal beams welded together enough for flight alone. The first one that landed dropped off a black armoured helldiver his face plate with the 4 glaring eyes of death, that was definitely Miguel, anyone of the Helldivers could see that.

"This is Major Miguel helldiver's 81st. Do you recognise me?" He called across to his fellow marines.

Jackson stood out and then walked over with Jace and another marine. 
"Welcome back helldiver. Where've you been?" He reached out a hand.

Miguel took and shook. 
"Long story colonel."

It was then that the Equestrian's decided to make themselves visible, Twilight and the others disembarked from their birds and over to Miguel. It was an awkward situation for both sides. Miguel decided to bring the colonel up to speed. 
"I have been in the care of the locals of the planet, these are the locals, they call themselves, Equestrians. They helped me and want to help us."

The coloenl eyed the major for a bit. 
"Major I know you've been injured and in their care, but what the actual fuck?"

"As I said it's a long story and I think it's prudent to get everyone on a level head if we can begin talks as soon as possible their leader doesn't want to stall for anymore time." Miguel approached with more urgency.

"Miguel if this end's up on my inquiriy to the UCAF and the ONI, I'm going to have your ass on a silver platter for the wolves." Jackson sighed to himself.

"Wait what wolves?" Pinkie asked as she popped out.

Jackson yelped in surprise at Pinkie's sudden apperance and then she halted in mid air and gasped. 
"All so many new faces! I've got to get things set up for a party!" She zoomed out from the screen into some other place. 

Meanwhile the more serious major and the UCAF and UNSC personnel were standing about absolutely baffled at what just happened. Now to the point. 
"Did that pink alien with freaky pink hair and party ballons on her ass just speak english?" An ODST asked.

Dr Ander's and the Spartan Red team came over to see what the sudden commotion was about. 
"Who are they?"

"Locals, if you'd like to put it kindly." Jackson replied.

"Oh great an underdeveloped species to add to this mess." Anders facepalmed.

Of course saying something insulting in front of someone who easily could understand you isn't a smart move, Twilight picked up on her comment and struck out. 
"Hey who are you calling under developed!" The purple mare jabbed her finger at Anders.

The spartan's had their orders over dealing with alien's but it seemed that they had been put into another confusing as heck situation, alien's which looked like humans. They had been ordred to protect the doctor, but this didn't seem like their kind of fight. Anders replied with. 
"Well that's unexpected."

"Of course its unexpected, we just met!" Twilight waved her hands about.

"This is going to be like one of those situations isn't it?" Jackson sighed to himself.

"Women. Thank the forerunner's I'm staying out of this one." Jace commented.

As thing's beween Ander's and Twilight froze over, a commanding powerful and yet calm voice roared over them all. 
"WHAT IS GOING ON!" Princess Luna bellowed.

Everyone shut up and took notice of the princesses. The one of white pastel skin that glimmered with her rainbow hair, and the darker skinned sister with the star like head of hair looking about in the mess of communication. 
"I was about to mention that their leader's wanted to speak with us as soon as possible." Miguel managed.

It was then a loud crash from the treeline of the forest blew open, the marines and everypony looked over to the sounds of the ruckus and saw 6 figures holding onto a wagon for dear life as they uncontrollably rushed at them. 
"You have got to be kidding me!" Miguel face palmed. 

XXXXX

Pinkie sat over a box of party supplies for the new arrivals, she loved her parties and she also loved this story. 
"Hey everyone!" She waved at the audience.

"I've got a brilliant idea! It's so brilliant I couldn't have come up with it!" She announced.

The author rolled his eyes as he typed out her brilliant 'plan'.
"I came up with a ingenious idea, I plan to get some help from beyond, into the tumblers! So which ponies should I bring into the universe?"

A list magically rolls out. 
Pinkie Pie Solutions
Ask The Pie Sisters
Ask Twilight Sparkle Anything
And so forth!

"If you bring to the table which multi-verse ponies should be brought out by Pinkie into the fic, just type them out! See ya later!" Pinkie said as she haulled off with a massive bag of party supplies from the place where all party thing's come from.

XXXXX
Well I’ve got some news for you; the news is that I’ve been planning a sequel for the story to take it a little further from the world of MLP into the Halo Universe with more explosions and romance comedy and chaos!!! We’re going to integrate another universe with Pinkie Pie as the catalyst. Its Halo/MLP/Mass Effect…
That’s right; I’ve planned to integrate another universe to add to this little ball of fun, in the aftermath of the battle of Equestria and the time that follows after, the Spirit of Fire and the UCAF prepare to leave the world when the opportunity arises for them, they take their trip to the UNSC, but while they do so another force brings a little chaos to the stage and rips out our favourite commander into this fun bag!

And yes, we now have the tumblers to add to this mix of crazy! Pinkie will bring them through the plot hole of the unverse to help out in the story, so vote out in reviews or if on FIMfiction on the comment section, or in PM.


(Shotguns from halo hit practically everything at point blank lethally, so i'm running with that, and also 8 gauge shotguns are supposed to be one of the most powerful class of shotguns in existence.)