The Stars are Not Our Friends

by Zangetsu675


Chapter 10: Thundering Guns

--------------------------------------------The Castle of Friendship-------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------Orbital Day 12, 1426 hours-----------------------------------------

Officer MacAlvery looked at the clock on his communicators screen and sighed as he leaned back on the cool crystal wall; 15 minutes they had been in there. He, Sergeant Valencio, Dr. Davis, and twin Corporals Luka and Faira Boldain had been asked to wait in the hallway just outside of what seemed to be the main room of the castle. Every now and again he could hear faint sounds from inside but they were indistinguishable. The good doctor was looking at something on her comm screen. The twins had linked up in what looked like a game of Zip-space Mutants Eon 20. But yet, typical Valencio was sitting next to him on the ground field cleaning his sidearm, not that it ever saw much use in real combat anyway.

“I’ve got a question for you chief…” he said without even pausing the now instinctive motions.

“Please don't ask what I think you are going to…” MacAvlery groaned.

“...why do you think they’re candy colored?”

“Thank the void you didn’t make that stupid slag soup joke again.”

“Hey! This is the third time I’ve been slagged! And don’t act like you haven’t busted a chassis! Remember the asteroid fields of Quintorus-129? I still don't understand how you managed to get yourself crushed between those two asteroids, smacked into the Kurugi’s hull and still have enough in you to somehow get magnetized to the ion drives.” he said with a chuckle.

“That only happened once. My port pulsars stalled in…”

The young officer was cut off by the sounds of explosions in the distance.

“Sounds like they’ve started…”

The double doors in front of the group burst open as the concerned looking Princesses Twilight and Celestia rushed through followed quickly behind by those five others and a group of heavily armored soldiers.

“Just what was that?!” Celestia demanded, looking directly at him.

“That would be the sound of 24 mach 7 high impact tungsten shells hitting a ship's hull.” Valencio stated nonchalantly while holstering his side arm once more before standing up.

“Thank you, Sergeant, but I think that I had better handle this.” MacAlvery said “But what the sergeant said is correct, your majesty. We currently have forces battling a formerly allied vessel known as the Paimon. The sounds you are hearing are just…”

He was interrupted by his comms unit suddenly beeping.

“I’m sorry, please give me a second.” the warrant officer said tapping the small device on his wrist. “This is Chief Warrant Officer MacAlvery. Go Ahead.”

“Chief, this is unit 3704. I think you need to see this.” the voice came through clear.

“Can it wait? I have negotiations to deal with right now.”

“No sir. This is a Decimation class threat.”

At this MacAlvery seemed stricken. He was silent for a second until he felt a tug on his uniform pant leg. Looking down he saw the now rather familiar sight of the lavender alicorn staring up at him. “James, what is it? Whats going on?” she asked.

Reclaiming his composure, MacAlvery took action. “I think you all had better follow me outside. It looks like we have an emergency on our hands.

He began walking towards the exit with all the others, human or not, following quickly behind him.

--------------------------------------------Airspace Above Equestria-----------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------Orbital Day 12, 1427 hours-----------------------------------------

Rumbler couldn't hear his own thoughts over the sounds of the railguns and particle beams cannons. The cacophony of sound sent tremors down his reinforced spine. He engaged his magnetic polarization generator and fired another volley. Jerking up on the control stick, he took a nosedive only half a second before a 175mm turret shredded the airspace where he had been. This was insane! It was only 65 seconds into the run and yet his 24 wing squadron had been reduced to nine. And where was the Admiral!!?? They were being blasted apart out here and had no backup in sight.

“Ptolemy, this is 16th Intercept! We are being hammered out here. Request immediate fire support.” Rumbler yelled into the comms. To his greatest relief, the exact answer that he was looking for came not two seconds later.

“16th Intercept , This is Ptolemy. We are way ahead of you. Clear Sectors 14 through 19. Bombardment commencing in T-minus 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…”

As Rumbler made an immediate immelman turn and rolled back into attack formation with his wing, the top port side of the Paimon seemed to explode in a shower of sparks, metal, and other debris that quickly subjected to gravity's law. “WOOOHOOOO! That took out the main flak rails! Let’s go get the cannons on the belly boys.”

Yet just as he speaking, the underside of the Paimon exploded. “This is Admiral Von Starke! Belay that order! Take out the forward and lift thrusters.” the comms bellowed at them.

The wing quickly readjusted their heading, accelerating towards the huge ion thrusters keeping the gargantuan vessel from following the way of its lost pieces. “Good to see you Admiral! Now we can really get this party started!” Rumbler called out.

“Can the chatter and let's finish what was started far too long ago. This old warbird is acting up and might not make it back to base.”

Unbeknownst to them, a small glint shined off the scope of a lone legionnaire with the Ichaival dead in its sights.

---------------------------------------------Deep within the Paimon------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------Orbital Day 12, 1428 hours-----------------------------------------

Pain…
Why does my skin burn and break….?
Dead…
They are all dead…
Never stopping…
Why will he never stop chasing me…?
Hatred…
They did this…
Made me what I am…
I… HATE… THEM!!!
Must make more…
Must continue with the plan…
Must preserve… The Collective….
I am... The Collective...

Thousands of thundering steps drummed across the dilapidated corridors and passageways with a single goal in mind.
Protect The Collective…. Eliminate those that would harm The Collective.

--------------------------------------------The Castle of Friendship-------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------Orbital Day 12, 1428 hours-----------------------------------------

MacAlvery walked out of the castle and down the steps to where recon unit 3704 operative Private Lacey Willard waited for him. “Give me the situation report private!”

“Sir!” she said with a salute. “The battle is commencing, but the problem is with the Paimon’s trajectory. She’s heading straight towards us. Take a look for yourself.” the private stated handing a set of recon binoculars to the commanding officer.

As he looked through the recon tool, MacAlvery could see the enormous 8500 meter vessel with her bow pointed right at them. With its current speed, the Paimon would be upon them in only 8 minutes.

“Your majesty, I think you should see this too.” he said passing the set of binoculars off to the tall white alicorn standing next to him. An iridescent golden glow surrounded them as they were lifted to her eyes.

“That thing is heading for us?!” Celestia exclaimed.

“Yes. We have 7 minutes to evacuate. How long will it take your citizens?”

“Over an hour! There is no way we can get all my ponies out of here in time! We need to put up a shield, but Shining Armor is out of commision thanks to you. Can't you do something?”

“Our current firepower is insufficient, and the satellites won’t be in position for an orbital bombardment for another 12 minutes. There is nothing we can do but evacuate.”

Just then all of the communicators in the area resounded with a singular message. “Attention all ground units. This is the Maria. Guardian systems have locked onto your position and are activating. Clear the landing zone at sector 1197. “

MacAlvery let out a small chuckle at how fate kept jerking him around. “Well damn. We might just be able to do something after all” he said to Celestia as five streaks of fire and smoke hurtled towards the ground not 1 kilometer in front of them.

--------------------------------------------Airspace Above Equestria-----------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------Orbital Day 12, 1428 hours-----------------------------------------

For the second time that day, the seconds seemed to tick by so slow. He had seen the flack shell too late. He had gotten most of it to his his interceptor, but the few shards that had gotten past still rendered the Ichaival neigh inoperable. Still, the sensation of falling was exhilarating. And he had one last trick up his sleeve, one thing he could still do for his squad mates, no his race, before this body crashed to the ground and he needed a new one.

Rumbler dug into his flesh on the right arm, ripping the false skin off with a howl of pain as the ground continued to zoom towards him. A long barrel slid out of place from his forearm, the words Last Horizon engraved on it. “This is gonna hurt” he muttered and let the rocket in the tube fly free, the blast back ripping his arm from the shoulder socket and sending him careening even faster to the ground. The last this he saw, was his rocket flying true to the Paimon, before hitting the ground with a sickening KRUNCH.

---------------------------------------------Deep within the Paimon------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------Orbital Day 12, 1428 hours-----------------------------------------

My legions fall…
I… Feel… Fear…
Pain unending…
No teeth to bite back…
Long arm ... out of reach…
Danger… approaching…
No escape…
I… will not… die… alone…
He comes… to finish... us both…

--------------------------------------------The Castle of Friendship-------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------Orbital Day 12, 1428 hours-----------------------------------------

The noise from the impact was deafening. Though when the dust settled what arose from that crater was far more than Celestia was expecting. She had taken everything in stride that day, but by the Mother Faust! What were these things!? Each stood twice the height of the bipedal beings around her. Massive plates of armor covering them from hoof to head. With eyes like flames they stared at the world like they were watching but never appreciating. Massive double cannons protruded vertically from their backs. just looking at them gave her a cold sweat of fear.

“Just what are they?” Celestia muttered aloud.

“They are humanity's greatest achievement and worst mistake at the same time. They are the Guardians. There was a time when our race believed themselves to be gods. Striving to make immortality possible, we subjected some of our best to an experimental process that would turn their bodies into living solar beings. We succeeded, but not as we would have liked.” MacAlvery answered. “They are now walking fusion reactors. Immortal, but at too high of a cost. Unthinking and unfeeling they serve as protectors of the people in the darkest of times. If that archaic A.I. system sent us five of them, the situation is truly grim. Those suits that they wear can each obliterate a 500 meter area in a single burst. I would suggest staying out of their way. Now you said something about a shield?”

“Your majesty,” a male voice from behind interrupted them. “I believe that we can help with that.”

Turning around MacAlvery laid eyes on two rather determined looking ponies. The first, whom he assumed to be the male voice, was covered from top to bottom in worn but durable looking steel grey armor with an image of a helmet and shield on the rear. Two metal tower shields looking more like slabs of lead hovered on either side of him. The other one was a feminine looking equine with a long spiral patterned horn jutting from her forehead through her silver-white helm and an image of a silver lotus flower with a hydrogen atom in the center on her flank.

MacAlvery looked inquisitively at them before Celestia spoke up. “May I introduce First Lieutenant Heavy Plate and Warrant Officer Nova Burst. If any of my little ponies can help, they can.”

--------------------------------------------Airspace Above Equestria-----------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------Orbital Day 12, 1428 hours-----------------------------------------

The admiral was blasted by the noise from the warning signals from all around him. Most of the shrapnel had hit that soldiers interceptor, but a lucky few had hit him in the worst spot possible, the reactor cooling system. Now he had an overreacting solar production unit going critical not 6 meters behind him. There was no way he was making it out alive from this. With a sigh he placed his hands on the firing and acceleration controls. Better make this last one count. With ease he yanked the throttle to max and flicked the charging sequence into place. 9000 meters and closing. 7000 meters... 5000 meters… just then a glint from off to his right. NO!!! He didn’t! That little bastard of a corporal actually got a good shot off! The admiral pulled back the throttle and ran a quick loop back to give that shot a good berth. Now to watch the show… the small rocket went through one of the large belly gaps in the middle of the ship's hull and disappeared from sight… and then reality broke.

At 5000 kilometers up, what had been a brilliant blue sky suddenly warped into a 2000 meter radius black hole. And as suddenly as it began, it disappeared. Within the span of a half second, one man had taken out four thousand cubic meters of matter. Gone just like that.

The admiral smirked, this was one hell of a turn of events. Re-engaging the engines he took off for the last fight of his life. This was the end, and what an ending it was. One last shot. he could feel the heat now. The cockpit was starting to glow an angry orange. He always did like fighting with a star to his back, now it was literal.

The main guns sparked with energy as the particle accelerators spun up to life. He rocketed past falling debris, past falling carcasses of legionnaires, massive falling coolant pipes and circuit boards. the ship's main core was right above him now. This would stop her once and for all. A single tear fell from his one good eye socket as he whispered three words and squeezed the trigger, “Daddy’s back Princess”.

That day both the Ichaival and Paimon fell, heralded by the light of a tiny star winking out of existence.

---------------------------------------------Deep within the Paimon------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------Orbital Day 12, 1428 hours-----------------------------------------

Father…
I never got to say I was sorry…
I didn’t want to go…
They made me like them…
To hurt you dad...
The pain ends…
Because of you, I am free now…
Thank you…
Daddy…

And with that, the last of the collective went offline.

The war was over.

Generations of fear and hatred coming to a close.

More than 100 million lives lost, all because three humans enslaved 3 million others.

--------------------------------------------The Castle of Friendship-------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------Orbital Day 12, 1430 hours-----------------------------------------

This plan was going to kill him. He just knew it. To be able to redirect that much mass in that short of a time span would take the energy of several solar generators at full capacity. But, then again it wasn’t his place to say how these ponies should react. And they were right, they needed some way to protect this place if they wanted to save lives. But, by the void, did they really just place trust in someone they have barely know for a few moments?

Though he couldn’t deny that this would put them in debt to him and all humans for that matter. Saving two leaders of a nation and over ten thousand residents in the area would make them look much less of a threat. Or possibly more, with the fire power this would take.

Pushing such thoughts from his mind, MacAlvery began barking orders, and preparing all hands for battle.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Celestia watched as these beings scurried about, some climbing back into those flying metal vehicles, others putting together even larger versions of those weird weapons they carried. A good distance away she could see those five glowing metal monstrosities. those things made her uneasy but she couldn't tell why. they had extended the long protrusions from their backs and had them pointed at that incoming shadow. Then she saw a peculiar sight. Several of the humans placed packs taken from those crafts onto the ground and linked cords from them into the back of themselves. They just sat there with their bottom hooves crossed beneath them. That was when she felt it. Magic, these beings were casting some of the most powerful magic she had ever felt. Dust began to swirl around them and take shape, grey lines beginning to form.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight felt it before she saw it. The air around her charged with power. It felt as if the very ground began to move beneath her feet. This was high level magic! Was Princess Celestia casting this? Twilight ran from the castles observatory and lept from the nearest hallway window, snapping her wings open and tilting herself to circle around her castle. as she came around to the front she could see a swirling cloud of dust, sand, rocks, and metals around several humans sitting on the ground. in the center of them a construct took form, fed by the swirling matter. James MacAlvery stood nearby watching these humans as if waiting for them to finish.

She landed next to Celestia just as James walked into the center and looked at what was now a fully formed suit of armor, though it wasn’t like anything twilight had ever seen. not even on that base of theirs had any one of the humans had such an imposing armament. As Twilight and Celestia stood there watching MacAlvery walked behind the suit and fiddled with something just below its head. With a clicking of locks and a hiss of pressure the armor opened and the man stepped inside.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As the armor closed around him MacAlvery could feel the difference terrestrial material could have on a weapon suits design. He had never had one that felt this pure in its construction. Every connected nerve was alight with sensations that he could never have felt in space. Here he could feel the slightest breeze on the metal of the armor, the heat of the solar rays hitting the nano-constructed tungsten carbide microfiber armor plates. Standing up to the suits full height of 3 meters, he could feel the maneuverability if the nanite mesh muscles. This was the reason he dreaded getting promoted again. He hated the idea of not being the one in the thick of things. This was what he had joined up for.

Across the defensive line the same process was being repeated for almost all of the other squad leaders. MacAlvery walked past the onlooking ponies over to where Valencio was just finishing suiting up as well.

“Good to be suited up once again, huh max?”

“I’ll say! These new constructs are amazingly responsive. Can't wait to test out their firepower. What did they put this time? “

“Looks like the 75 mm Stone Throwers. Guessed the tungsten pellets weren't going to cut it anyways. I just hope that the condensers work properly this time. That stint last year with them jamming every third sequence was not fun. Anyway, it looks like the firing line is set up so we had better get in position.” MacAlvery stated nodding in the direction of the three first fire squads waiting for them. “Let’s get this over with.”

MacAlvery and Valencio walked to the front of the formations and signaled for the comms officers to patch them through to all the surrounding units. Receiving a confirmatory signal, he started out. “All right, I think you all know what is happening here. This is no longer just about us. We have been adrift for far too long, come too far, to let what happened to us happen to those around us. We stand here today to make a choice and a point. Humanity is about more than just our genetics, our flesh, or where we came from. No, if that was the case we would never have been human, as we gave those up long ago. Humanity is about will, our will. The will to fight and die in the face of something too big to handle alone. The will to reach out and give aid to all those in need. Well, here we are! Here we stand on the brink of death for the sake of those to whom we owe nothing, from whom we could take everything! It would be so easy to walk away, but to do that would make us cowards! Cowards walk when those with the strength and will fight! So I ask you, ARE YOU A HUMAN OR A COWARD??!! STAND NOW! STAND AND FIGHT! DIE ON YOUR FEET THAT YOU MAY BE PROUD TO BE BORN HUMAN! NOW BLAST THAT THING OUT OF THE SKY!!!!” with that he turned and let the suits main battle sequence take over.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Celestia’s ears rang from the roar of battle the humans let forth once that commander of thiers finished speaking. By Faust’s feathers, how could they march into battle so prepared to die???!!! She was sure that she would sacrifice herself rather than let her little ponies do something like that. “This all has to be a horrid vision.” she said shaking her head until she felt the soft touch of Twilight’s hoof on her foreleg. Looking down she saw the same worry in her students eyes as she had in her heart. At that moment her world shattered. The world had gone and changed over night.

Celestia planted her four hooves into the dirt, and began to chant. The language so foreign yet so familiar to her flowed from her mouth like an ancient well running free once again. She felt the energy swell up around her, flowing through her, gathering. Many centuries had passed since she had last used these archaic spells. She hoped she wouldn’t have to use it for many more to come, as she let the magic fly. The spell hit every pony in the area, her own aura extending to them as well. Feeding them more magic, healing them, caring for them. This she could do. This she would do.