Chapter 16: Manehattan C.Q.B.
August 8, 2558
1445 hours
UNSC Infinity bridge
Princess Celestia, Dr. Glassman, and Dr. Halsey sat at one end of the room, while Captain Thomas Lasky was busy towards the front, commanding the battle with Roland at the holo-table. The two scientists thought that this would be a good time to talk to her and learn about her species and its history.
Their affinity was science and research after all, not war.
“Celestia, what reason would the griffons have to attack Equestria?” asked Dr. Halsey. “What reason would all these attacking countries have for that matter?”
“Well, let’s start with the griffons first,” said Celesta. “Before Equestria was founded, the pegasi and the griffons had made a treaty, stating that no pegasi would enter griffon airspace as long as the griffons didn’t enter ours, and vice versa. As you could probably tell, there had been many skirmishes over airspace between the two races before this treaty, making that the reason it was created in the first place.
“When Equestria was founded, the griffons used that as an opportunity to gain more airspace, considering the old treaty as null and void as this was no longer “pegasi” airspace, but now “Equestrian” airspace. My sister and I tried to negotiate with their leader, who at the time was named Gregor, telling him that this was a mere technicality.”
“But he would have none of it,” said Luna as she approached the table, joining in on the conversation. “War seemed inevitable, but luckily I had befriended a manticore at the time, who understood griffons much better than I or my sister did, and learned of the griffons’ sweet tooth.”
“Wait,” said Dr. Glassman, a hint of disbelief in his tone. “So are you both about to tell me that you just gave Gregor some kind of tasty treat, and he just left you alone?”
Luna and Celestia looked at each other, then back at the two human scientists.
“Pretty much,” they both responded in unison.
“It was an éclair, to be exact,” said Luna.
“I can only assume that the changelings convinced them to fight us again, as mercenaries of some sort,” continued Celestia, staying on topic. “It must not have been very hard, given the story I just told.”
“I was surprised that they weren’t using the same weapons as the changelings,” said Luna. “I guess they always were quite traditional.”
Dr. Glassman visibly blinked in disbelief, as if trying to find the words for his pure astonishment, before furiously writing down notes onto his holo-pad.
“By god,” he said. “This world is strange. Interesting, but strange.”
“I prefer the term, unique,” said Dr. Halsey before motioning with her robotic arm for Celestia to continue. “Please, go on.”
“Of course,” said Celestia. “But before I do, I just want to know, who is this deity that you humans keep referring to? I believe you call him, god?”
“Oh! No offense to you your highness,” said Dr. Glassman.
Celestia giggled, “None taken.”
“Sorry, it’s just that, all human religions point to a single, or multiple, all powerful beings, who we would simply call, god, or gods,” Henry continued. “Over time, phrases were created through language and culture like, ‘Oh my god!’ and things like that. Basically, a figure of speech, similar to how every pony I’ve talked to has said things along the lines of, ‘Oh my Celestia!’”
“Ah,” said Celestia in understanding.
“That is rather interesting,” said Luna.
“Quite,” said Dr. Halsey. “Sorry if I seem rushed, but could you please continue with your story? This…interview, is more about your species, not ours.”
“Of course,” said Celestia. “The next two countries go together, in that they’re very similar in their origins, and conclusively, their motives. Gildedale and Germaney both broke away from Equestria shortly after its founding. Unlike the griffons, neither of them gave us very much trouble, if at all, until now, but that doesn’t mean that they liked us any more than the griffons did.”
“Both countries were formed under separate groups of earth ponies,” said Luna. “Both believed the unison of the three pony races would undermine the purity of the earth pony species. With a mentality like that, I can only imagine how easy it must have been for the changelings to convince them both to join their cause.”
“So you two knew about this all along?” asked Dr. Glassman. “Surely with this foreknowledge you must’ve posted guards near the borders?”
“We did,” said Luna. “However, given that both armies decided to use weapons similar to those of the changelings, our guards were proven ineffective.”
“Wait, how can they use those kinds of weapons?” asked Halsey. “Don’t they require magic like the kind wielded by unicorns in order to operate them?”
“We aren’t sure,” said Celestia.
“Our best guess is that they have some kind of limited power source energizing their shots,” said Luna.
“How did they get this gear in the first place?” asked Dr. Glassman
“The changelings have possibly sold it to them to increase the effectiveness of their ally’s army,” said Luna.
“And also quite likely to gain a profit,” said Celestia. “Yes, the changelings too have an economy to drive.”
“And what about the changelings themselves?” asked Dr. Halsey. “Correct me if I'm wrong, but they seem to be the root cause of the, official declarations of war by these other nations.”
“If anything, the root cause is us,” said Celestia. “We should’ve been more aware of our own neighbors. Then, maybe conflict with more than one nation could’ve been avoided long ago.”
“Mmm…good point,” mused Halsey, nodding in understanding. “No offense to you…again…”
“It’s alright,” said Luna. “As leaders of a nation, we should at least learn from the mistakes we have already made.”
“Correct,” said Celestia. “But back to your question on the changelings, as their name suggests, they are a species of shape shifters. They are designed, by evolution and magic, to impersonate equines all across the known world. The reason they do it is that they feed off of somepony else’s love. If left unchecked, one changeling can become as magically potent as almost fifty.”
“As I'm sure you’ve already heard by this point, this isn’t our first encounter with them,” said Luna. “About one year ago, they and their queen, Chrysalis, led a direct assault on Canterlot...”
. . .
August 8, 2558
1505 hours
Manehattan Square
Three pelicans coming in from Canterlot touched down in Manehattan Square. Out of one came the six marines of Fireteam Icebreaker, who were immediately approached by Captain Robert Peterson and Lieutenant Daniel Dietz.
“Welcome to the green zone boys!” said Dietz, using a voice raised over the roar of the departing pelicans. “Glad you could make it to the party!”
“Good to be here!” said gunny, raising his voice as well. “What’s the situation?”
Captain Peterson waited until the airborne troop transports had departed before speaking.
“We’ve managed to halt their advance completely,” he said. “They’ve barely made it past the beaches and have only a few buildings under their control. These, ‘Daleponies’ I think they’re called, are a lot better equipped than I thought. They’re armed with spears and crossbows similar to the ones that the changelings use; they appear to be powered by a battery of some sort, most likely powered by a limited amount of magic rather than magic directly from a horn. Despite the limited charge, they’ve been putting up a hard fight with those things.”
“Unfortunately, they’ve figured out that if they land a shot in the face, the marine vaporizes instantly,” said Lieutenant Dietz. “We almost lost an entire platoon that way.”
“Those lucky enough to get out alive didn’t do so before getting their bones broken,” said Peterson. “I’ll tell ya, these guys can buck hard! If we really want to end this battle as soon as possible, we’re going to need to take out some leadership.”
“That’s where you come in,” said the LT. “Recon has located the building that their commanding officer, a Miss Field Marshal Greyblade, has taken up residence. It’s only a few blocks that way, close to the beachheads and the battle lines.”
He pointed an open hand down the street.
“Kill or capture?” asked Sergeant Alex.
“Capture,” responded the Captain. “Kill if necessary, but we need her alive. She can give us information on why they and two other countries attacked Equestria. Either way, you’ll strip the Daleponies of their leadership, making them all the more easier to fight.”
“Understood sir,” said gunny.
“Good, now get to it marines!”
“Aye, sir! Come on boys, let’s get it done!”
“Oorah!” said the other five marines as they started down the road.
. . .
"So it makes sense that they would want revenge," said Dr. Glassman, finishing up his notes.
“Thank you for your time Princesses,” said Dr. Halsey. “I know you have a country to run and that it isn't easy to find time to talk."
"Oh, you're most welcome," said Luna, before she and her sister left the room.
Outside, Celestia turned to Luna and said, "You go on ahead back to the castle, I'll go check with Lasky on how the war is shaping up."
. . .
August 8, 2558
1507 hours
Manehattan Streets
Aside from the distant sounds of gunfire and explosions, the street that Icebreaker moved down was deafeningly quiet.
“An entire platoon wasted?” said Shifty as they walked. “That hasn’t happened since…since-”
“Hey! Focus!” said Alex. “We’ve got a job to do.”
They moved in a line, hugging the right side of the street instead of walking down the center. Their rifles were all brought to bear, each pointed in a different direction as to cover all angles.
Suddenly, gunny held up a fist, and everyone stopped and took a knee. He then motioned over to a building across an intersection atop which enemy sentries were poised.
"Eyes on target," said gunny. "That has to be it."
"Simple breach-and-clear?" asked Ogden.
Gunny only smiled in response as a pair of wounded dalepony soldiers were seen rushing inside.
. . .
Field Marshal Greyblade was an armored mare with a dull, grey coat, blue eyes, and blond mane. Her body armor was gold-painted leather instead of the rusty, brown leather of her subordinates. Her mane was tied in a braid and lay upon her right shoulder to make way for her golden helmet, upon the forehead of which an emerald was adorned.
She was on the second floor, discussing a plan with one of her higher ranked subordinates when two of her wounded soldiers stumbled inside.
"Ma'am! The second front has been overrun!" said the first one.
"They brought these giant, metal death machines of some kind!" said the other. "We were the only two to just barely make it out alive to inform you!"
"Thank you for letting me know," said Greyblade. "You both may rest."
"Thank you Ma'am," they said in unison.
"Captain," said the Field Marshal after the two had left. "Get me a line to Thatchholm. We need to call for exfiltration."
"Yes Ma'am."
Suddenly, a loud explosion was heard from the first floor, followed almost immediately by the sound of gunfire and dying daleponies.
“The wounded!” exclaimed the Captain before rushing to the door.
But before he could reach it, a line of six marines burst through, knocking him onto his back and his spear out of his hooves. One of them then promptly shot the Captain in the back as he was reaching for his weapon.
“On your knees!” yelled one of the marines. “Turn around!”
Greyblade shakily lowered herself while raising her forehooves, before shuffling around so that her back was to them. Alex then darted forward and pinned her to the ground with his boot. He held her there by slapping both of her forehooves onto the back of her helmet while one of his comrades came up to her and searched her hoof-to-tail, stopping only when he reached the honorary dagger at her hip.
“Souvenir?” asked Corporal Williams, getting up and tossing the dagger to gunny as Alex ziptied the Dalepony’s hooves behind her back.
“Thanks,” said gunny. “Jenkins, radio for extract, we’ve got our prize.”
“Aye sir,” said Jenkins, pulling the radio receiver off his back and to his ear. “Echo 419, this is Fireteam Icebreaker requesting exfil. The package is in our hands.”
“You MONSTERS!!!” shouted Greyblade in anger and grief, tears now streaming down her face. “What have you done?! Have you really just killed wounded soldiers?!”
“I can’t say that none were caught in the crossfire,” said Alex, still holding her to the floor. “But no, almost all of ‘em are still alive. We’ll make sure that they’re given good medical attention.”
“You would aid us?” said Greyblade in disbelief. “After all the damage we’ve done already?”
“We may be efficient warriors,” said Corporal Williams with a grin, kneeling down to her level. “But we’re not monsters.”
“Grid coordinates: 279045,” said Jenkins. “Roger that, see you in a few. Gunny, he’s picking us up at roof-level in five mikes.”
“Got it,” said Gunny. “Corporal, take Sydney and secure the rest of this floor while we wait.”
“Aye sir,” said the Corporal before making his way to the door, where Shifty and Sydney had taken up a defensive position, each on an opposing side of the doorframe pointing their weapons in opposing directions down the hallway. “Alright Syd, let’s move.”
“You’re clear left,” said Shifty.
“Clear right,” said Sydney.
Corporal Williams then walked through the door with his gun raised and with Sydney in tow, following him out the door and letting Jenkins take his place.
. . .
“I doubt anyone’s left in this house,” said Sydney. “It already looked empty from the outside.”
“And yet look at how many were actually inside,” said the Corporal. “You can never be too thorough in this line of work.”
“And that’s why you’re in charge at the moment, Marcus.”
The two cautiously entered another room, guns at the ready, when they heard a soft whimpering within a nearby closet.
“Sounds like a filly to me,” said Marcus, the noise going quiet as soon as he said that. “It came from in there.”
“Watch my back,” said Sydney. “I’ll check the closet.”
Marcus then turned away from the closet, crouched, and shouldered his weapon as Sydney cautiously opened the small closet behind him.
Inside, the private found a dirt brown earth pony filly with pink mane and a pair of scissors for a cutie mark. Her eyes were wide in terror and she quivered in silence at the sight of the marine.
“G’dday, mate,” said Sydney in his most friendly voice.
“P-Please d-don’t hurt me…!” she squeaked.
“Easy,” a calmer tone in his Australian accented voice now as he picked her up. “I won’t hurt you. None of us will. We’re here to get you out.”
“And what if I don’t believe you?”
“Well, I’m holding you right now…are you hurt yet?”
The filly sheepishly looked at his arms, cradling her like a baby.
“No,” she responded, a little calmer now.
“What’s your name?” he asked after a short pause. “Mine’s Sid.”
“I-I’m Babs Seed.”
“Do you know what happened here?”
“I-I just remember Auntie Orange tellin’ me that some bad ponies were takin’ over town, so she told me to hide in the closet! I…I don’t think I saw her again after that.”
Her face brightens at a realization.
“Have ya seen her by any chance Sid?” she asked. “She’s got a bright yellow coat and orange mane.”
Sydney thought for a moment, realizing he had quite a decision to make right then. Suddenly, one red dot, then two, then three and counting began to approach the door opposite the one from which the two marines had entered.
“I have,” he said, deciding to lie. “She’s going to be okay. I saw her get out. And now we’re here to get you out, so you can see her again.”
“Do you trust us?” asked Marcus.
Babs nodded with renewed vitality. “I do.”
“Good, ‘cause we’re about to have company!” the corporal responded as quietly as he could. “Sidney, we’ve got to go back the way we came, right now!”
The Australian then stood up, hugging Babs Seed as tightly as he could to his body with one arm, and arming his pistol in the other.
“I’ll take point,” he said, rushing to the door farthest from the red dots. “She’ll be protected the most if I’m in front.”
“Gotcha,” said Marcus, following close behind. “Now let’s move!”
Right then, an enemy dalepony burst through the opposite door. Marcus spun around in time to put two rounds from his DMR into the enemy’s chest, just as the dalepony was raising his weapon to fire; this gave Sydney enough time to round the corner of the doorframe, out of sight from the remaining daleponies. The next one to round the corner exploded half the ceiling in the room after the marine corporal put a shot between his eyes while walking backwards. The third however, as he was right behind the second, had enough time to get a clean shot at Marcus; he missed by inches, but the blast was enough to throw the marine in the direction Sydney had been running, as well as knock his weapon out of his hand.
Now without a rifle and with nearly half a dozen daleponies after him, Marcus got up, pulled out his pistol, and sprinted towards Sydney while firing back at the doorway, hoping to suppress them long enough.
When he reached Sydney, he holstered his pistol and grabbed the battle rifle that was on Sydney’s back as he said, “I’m gunna borrow this for a bit, if you don’t mind.”
“Go right ahead.”
Marcus spun back around just in time to fire burst after burst into oncoming daleponies that decided it’d be a good idea to breach the doorframe. Sydney was doing the same towards the front with his sidearm.
“Friendlies coming in!” yelled Shifty as he cooked a grenade which he threw down the hall after Sydney and Marcus had dived back into the room. “Frag out!”
Jenkins and Shifty then moved away from the door as a green bolt struck the doorframe they had just been standing next to, sending splinters in all directions; right before Shifty’s grenade went off with yellow flash and a deafening bang, sending blood, screams, and a couple body parts down the hall and past the doorway.
“Time to go,” Sergeant Alex deadpanned as he hoisted Greyblade onto his shoulders in a fireman’s carry.
“Sydney,” said Jenkins, pointing at the filly in the private’s arms. “Who’s that?”
“An unexpected passenger,” was the reply.
“Stairs to the roof are this way!” said gunny before bashing the opposite door open with his shoulder. “Move with a purpose Icebreaker!”
The team rushed single-file through the door, moved swiftly down the hallway, up some stairs and burst onto the rooftop, where they found a pelican less than a quarter-mile away closing in fast on their location.
“Pelican 096, you got any turrets on that bird?” asked Jenkins over his radio.
“You don’t need to tell me twice,” came a masculine voice over all of Icebreaker’s helmet radios. “We’re already engaging enemy ground forces converging on your building. You guys just can’t make extracts at any other temperature can you?”
“That’s just the way we like it, sir,” responded gunny through his helmet. “Marines, this is gunna be tight. High-value targets and civvies in first!”
“Oorah!” was the unified response.
Right then, the pelican reached the rooftop, turning one-hundred-and-eighty degrees in midair so that the open end was facing the ground squad. A marine brandished the heavy turret mounted at the opening.
“C’mon boys!” he commanded in a thick Russian accent. “I’ve got you covered. Let’s get out of here!”
Alex and Greyblade were on first, followed by Sydney and Babs, just as daleponies began to emerge from the doorway onto the roof. One by one, the members of Fireteam Icebreaker got onto the pelican as both they and the pelican gunner mowed down the flurry of enemy troops attempting to stop them from capturing their Field Marshall.
When only gunny and Jenkins were left, a powerful green bolt of energy struck the pelican’s right engine.
“She’ll hold,” said the pilot. “But we need to leave, now!”
“Roger, pull away!” said the gunnery sergeant immediately.
“Gunny?” asked Jenkins before Alvarez hopped inside the troop transport, just as it was pulling away.
“Jump Ogden!” shouted Marcus. “Jump!”
Without another word, Jenkins threw aside his assault rifle and sprinted towards the pelican. Seeing as it was already beyond the edge of the roof, he knew he had no choice but to jump from there. With all his strength, Jenkins leaped from the rooftop, cartwheeling his arms in hopes to grab something, anything in or on the pelican to bring him to safety. Seemingly by a stroke of luck, he caught the edge of the drop-door with his forearm; he managed to bring his other arm onto it as well but, he was slipping! Jenkins tried desperately to hold on, but it was no use. He was going to fall off!
Just as all hope seemed to be lost for the PFC, Corporal Williams’ hands reached out and grabbed one of his.
“Gotcha!” said Marcus just as he saved his friend from the edge.
Gunny came over and assisted in pulling him inside as the doors closed behind them.
“You son of a bitch!” said Jenkins to gunny with playful smile and a punch to the shoulder. “I see what you did there.”
“What? I-I don’t understand,” said Greyblade. “Your superior almost left you for dead! How are you okay with that?”
“No, it’s okay,” said Jenkins. “He was just trying to get me back for doing the same thing to him during a mission way back in the day.”
The cuffed, grey mare simply shook her head in disbelief as Alex strapped her into her seat.
“You are a strange race,” she said.
. . .
“This is Private First Class Ogden Jenkins to Infinity, high value target is in custody, break…aaand we have one civilian in tow, over.”
Roger that Icebreaker, return the civilian to a safe location, then head back to Canterlot Castle with the HVT, over.
“Aye, aye, sir. Over and out.”
Roger, Infinity out.