Joshua landed inside the drop-ship with a thud as the doors slid close behind him. He walked about the cabin, waiting for the jump to the ship, only to find that they were flying over the planet still, but away from a small town along with the forest they had recently left. Across the sky, he noticed flashes of gold that were flying towards their recent position, and waved it off as just something about the planet's atmosphere or something like that.
The comms broke the silence of the room as Wesley came up on the video-feed in his HUD.
"Captain Joshua, this is the Militia vessel Horizon, come in, over."
"This is Joshua. Read you loud and clear, over."
"Copy that. We've got scans from the landing prior in your location. Confirmed Contact?"
"Confirmed. They call themselves Ponies of Equestria. First Contact meeting will be held with said Ponies in one week. Prep certifications and anything we can wrap up for them. They're willing to talk about a treaty and have already seen us in action. Recommend we prepare for documentation as well. This is one for the history books."
"Alright sir. Before we confirm this, though, we thought you should see how contact in other regions is going, though. One in particular that you may want to see."
"There are other sentient races on the planet?"
"Affirmative."
"What do we have?"
"They call themselves..."
\\\\\\//////
"...Griffons, ma'am."
The injured soldier before Celestia uttered these words before collapsing to fatigue from the various bruises and cuts from the attack. Medical staff arrived and assisted the Pegasus to a hospital as Celestia drowned herself within her thoughts, along with her telepathically linked sister.
'Sister, we have to act.'
'I know, Luna. I had no idea the Griffons were this willing to spark a war so early, let alone with such force.'
The reports before her showcased some new strategies the Griffons were using, along with sketches of their new weapons. Some kind of powdered material they packed into a large metal tube that shot out a metal ball filled with more powder that could explode on contact. A kind of devastating force that she had barely seen by even the most skilled of Unicorns. Not only that, but they now had airships that carried said weapons and could rain fire down upon buildings, and could be defended by it's crew without having to stop firing. The fact they had this was frightening enough, but the fact they were now using it, that was enough to send a shiver of fear down the Sun Princess's spine.
Just before she could continue this train of thought, however, she received two letters from clouds of magic. The first, she recognized as from the platoon of Pegasi she sent to stop the mysterious creature that supposedly came from the sky and moved towards Ponyville. She opened the letter and read the contents to herself, allowing Luna to look onto it as well.
Princesses,
We regret to say that we were too late to stop the creature from leaving the air around Ponyville, but are proud to report that nopony was harmed by its presence, nor have the majority of the population noticed it at all.
However, the Elements of Harmony have told us that they went to examine the dropped contents of said creature, but were attacked by a Hydra.
Before we could react, however, Princess Twilight Sparkle informed us that the "aliens" that came out from it had stopped the Hydra, saved them, and proposed a treaty of sorts between Equestria and their kind.
Captain Thunder Hoof
At this, the Princesses looked to each other in utter shock and gazed at the second letter: The Official Seal of Princess Twilight Sparkle. They opened it together and read the contents.
Dear Princesses Celestia and Luna,
My friends and I were having a picnic by Fluttershy's cottage earlier this afternoon, and we saw what we thought was a new type of creature that was made of metal that also carried smaller creatures. We decided to investigate what they were, but were attacked by a Hydra, one that Fluttershy couldn't get through to, at that. Rainbow Dash was injured by it, but before it could devour us, the creatures from the metal one came to save us, and started to use some kind of magic to kill the Hydra by damaging it's heads without severing them. They helped us out of the Everfree Forest, and even helped to save Rainbow Dash. I learned that they are called Humans, their leader's name, Joshua, and that the metal thing was not a creature, but a type of ship they had, and that their so called "Spaceship," needs fuel of sorts and that they are willing to have a meeting concerning "First Contact" within exactly one week. I wished to let you two know before hoof, that they will come down straight from the sky, most likely, over Ponyville, as to show they are willing to meet us at a middle ground close to their ship, but promise to keep any kind of hostilities out of this. I await your presence in Ponyville along with the other Elements, and anticipate witnessing this momentous part of our history. Thank you.
Your Faithful Student,
Twilight Sparkle
With that, Celestia and Luna exchanged a glance once more, and went separate ways to prepare for the invasion from two different sides: Griffon territory, and from another world all together.
\\\\\\//////
"...So, let me get this straight," Joshua responded, fingers on the bridge of his nose, helmet on his side, "these, Griffons, are willing to make a treaty with us, so long as we understand they are the superior military power?"
"About there, sir." replied Wesley.
"Did we shoot them yet?"
"Negative, the team's waiting for you to arrive and see for yourself how, quote, "superior," they are."
With that, Joshua placed his helmet back on and sighed.
"Copy that. Might as well get this shit over with."
The feed turned off as the ship lurched slightly, indicating the imminent drop-off. Joshua rose from his seat and opened the hatch, examining the landing area. The city looked to be made of stone, clearly, but had ancient cannons lining the walls, along with brightly armored creatures, or Griffons, lining up alongside the cannons and checkpoints, as well as some flying around the buildings. The ground approached about a 30 meter distance as the ship stopped above a crowd of said creatures and some Militia troops were waiting for him. Joshua then jumped down and activated his exo-skeletal systems, softening the impact immensely. One of the Griffons walked up to him, head high and claws on the hilt of a sword.
"Greetings, outsider," It spoke gruffly, "I am StormClaw, leader of Outpost 1, or, better known as the Wall City, at the border to the great nation of Griffonia. I welcome you with a warning, we are armed and ready."
Joshua looked around a bit to take in the significance of this Griffon's threat and nearly burst into laughter at how pathetic they were. Their troops were scattered, their flight-patterns were gaping, at best, they had no anti-air and definitely no way to stop a Titan, not even an empty one, if all they had were big sluggish cannons like those and swords. Fucking SWORDS!? But, Joshua had to nod anyway, just to see how far they would go. If things got bad, he could always just kick the ever-loving-shit out of any of these things. Not to mention the emergency Satchel Charges he was carrying, as well. Specialty by Horizon Sciences, designed to explode either on the pull of the detonator, or if the signal is cut off in any way.
He was lead down a corridor of grey bricks and steel linings as they passed by rooms of gunpowder and barracks. Huge mistakes, but he wasn't about to tell them that. As they kept on walking, Joshua decided it be best if he were to record everything for Science. After which, he was lead into a room filled with war maps and troop deployment sketches, along with the designs for said cannons and what looked like large balloons. Joshua waved them off and continued to walk alongside the Griffon, or Storm-whatever. They then reached the table as Joshua made mental notes about their military strategies. Clunky at best. They were focusing their armor, air, and troops in different locations all at once instead of having flanking tactics laid down in case of an enemy Pincer-assault. Hell, one Titan would probably be too much against shitty tactics like these. Still, he wasn't gonna complain. Just when Joshua stepped to the table, another one spoke.
"Ah, I see the leader of the visitors has decided to grace us with it's presence."
"His." Joshua spat coldly. "Joshua."
"Well then, "Joshua," what do you think of our strategies? Hm? Surely a military leader as yourself would be impressed by our massive amounts of readiness."
Joshua shrugged at them, keeping his right hand over the AutoPistol.
"Eh."
They both looked to him with disgust.
"Oh, have you something better?" the farther one asked.
"Definitely. Not gonna share it with you, though."
At that, the nearest one drew it's sword and brought it up to Joshua's waist.
"You think you're kind is so much better?"
"I don't think so."
With that, Joshua lifted his leg and smashed the sword to the ground, shattering it to pieces as the floor was given a new crater.
"I know so."
The two stood there and looked back at each other at the Pilot's impressive display of power, stunned. They then adorned smiles as the further one continued.
"Well, soon we shall beat our most hated and powerful enemy, and soon, you will know what to fear."
It waved claws towards the table, to which Joshua narrowed his eyes at. The map showed a large amount of armor, troops, and even some balloons going towards a familiar name and date:
Ponyville. 7 days Until Attack.
Joshua looked back up at them and shifted slightly.
"Greatest foes, huh?"
"Yes, those dirty little peace-lovers. Never had a war in the last 1,500 years!"
"Have they done anything to provoke this?"
"Of course not! That's why they're such a damned menace! They just sit there and taunt us!"
"How?"
"Does it matter? The point is, we could use a claw with this, and since your here..."
"We're gonna consider that a bit. However," Joshua turned to the door and began to walk away from them as he spoke, "I guarantee that by the end of the week."
After that, the two were left in the room to wonder what the Pilot had meant, unaware of the new dangers that lay within their future.
\\\\\\//////
The Crow lifted into the air with a mighty heave and was off to the upper atmosphere when Joshua addressed the rest of the crew about their situation.
"So, they're gonna plan to start a war with peace-loving ponies that asked for this in no way whatsoever, and they plan on doing it at the same time as First Contact. Thoughts?"
Rebecca came unto his video feed and started.
"Sir, I say we hold out until they're done fighting. Not waste any time with some kind of Civil War or whatever they're going through."
Ramirez came on next.
"I don't think you paid attention. They've had no wars for over a thousand years! Do you think they'll have what it takes?"
"They've held peace for that long, so that must mean they've had a massive standing army, otherwise-"
"Bullshit! If the footage from earlier was anything to go by, then we have to help them!"
Joshua broke the back and forth with his own input.
"Ramirez is right. They'll be done for if we don't help. We've seen the gaps in strategy and what they're packing, not to mention the massive advantage of technology we have."
Rebecca came back on.
"With all due respect, sir, I don't think it'll be wise to intervene with some kind of alien war."
"Would you rather have peaceful allies that only want to further improve relations with Humanity, or a rival race that, if they reach our technological level, will undoubtedly wage a war for power against us?"
There was a moment of static on the line, until Rebecca broke it once more.
"When would you like to move in, sir?"
"Same date as First Contact. We move in after they attack and break up the party with a wave-scenario, starting with Grunt-Pods, Goblin Air Support, and, if need be, Titanfall. Ready them in 6 days and make history. Hoo-ah."
"Hoo-ah, sir!"
With that, the radio went silent as the planet faded from view, flames of war reflected in the window.
Yessss....Let us KILL the warmongers...
Let's see what happens when they threaten the PONIES!
i cant wait for the battle i almost dont want to wait and ask for a time jump but that would be unfair to other readers
Ooooo, this is gonna get HOT! Let's see what sound griffon beaks make when they break from being stomped into the curb, shall we?
Humanity!!! FUCK YEAH!!!!!!
1,500 years...with little to no fighting experience, vs griffons who actually fought, vs Titans.
Dis gun be good.
Death to those who consider themselves superior in the face of man.
4147866 Dis gun b a slaughter.
I was really hoping for Joshua to quote General Mattis at some point while talking with the griffins.
"I come in peace. I didn't bring artillery. But I'm pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: if you fuck with me, I'll kill you all."
I hate to use the same kind of comment on the same kind of story, but it looks like the Gryphons...
are Titanfucked.
The griffins gonna die
Ha.
Haha.
They are all doomed. :)
Give the titans a grand entrance with explosions behind them and all dat shit
KILL THEM WITH FIRE!
Capital S, eh?
So when did they find Big Mountain?
4149358
As in the Science Team for the Horizon
Here comes humanity motherfukas!
4148990 That's how they enter.
Personally, I hope you write the Gryphon's shitting themselves when they realise the moment their cannons become spitwads.
"Stand by for Titanfall..."
make titanfall on one of those Hindenburgs. I'm sure an ogre popping out of the wreckage of those warships would kill their morale.
4153451
Or rising from a bloody mess of Griffons bodies as fighters rise over the horizon.
4153575 also their bodies are stapled to the titans(preferably over the rodeo point)
AND THEN PAINT KHORNS MARK UPON THE TITANS AND CARVE IT INTO THE ELECTRO-CHARRED CORPSES OF THE DEAD!!!
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!!!! SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!!!!!
The superior should be surrounded by apostrophes, not quotes. It's a quote inside a quote.
4153451 In the paraphrased words of Rainbow Dash: That would be so awesome!
I REALLY hope one of the titans actually falls through one of the airships.
41535750
Or killing all but a few of the griffons then taking the rest to the front lines and slowly ripping them apart
Just got done reading the story, and I have to say it is decent: nothing spectacular but far from being horrid either. Basically middling.
I felt the pace could've been tweaked a bit (mostly at the beginning), and the fact that humans and ponies can communicate without either translation spells or advanced translational technologies irks me a bit as a scifi aficionado (but only a minor irritant, certainly not enough to make me turn my nose up at the story).
HOWEVER! I do have one major complaint: your misuse of the word "sentient" (and its derivative "sentience"). The correct term to use is "sapient" or "sapience". Their meanings and differences can be found here and here. Basically sentience does not equate to higher intelligence... the majority of animals on Earth are sentient. Apes and possibly dolphins can be considered sapient, with humans certainly qualifying in this sense (along with Equestrian ponies, griffons, minotaurs, and Changlings for this fictional series).
Ha...ha..haha...hahahaha....BWAHAHAHAHHAHAH *gasping for air*
Best reason for anything XD
So, all of that happened before you and your garrison were able to mobilize? You are hereby relieved of duty. Oh, and for gross incompetence, *BLAM!*
Considering their idea of fighting is merely grandstanding, arguing, mean words, and a few punches and tackles. Basically, a cross between a playground and tackle football/smear-the-deer/rugby. Even if they'd been fighting for a thousand years non-stop, they'd still be screwed.
They've held the peace because they are pacifists, which is because they are herbivores.
There is a reason Man was born from ash and dust.
By the way, I don't really get your descriptions. For example, saying they are "clunky at best" and lacking "flanking tactics" doesn't make any sense. As for air, artillery, and ground troops being deployed in separate areas...what do you mean? That they are moving across the map in separate groups too far away to support each other?
4582830 THEIR FEATHERY ASSES ARE GONNA GET HANDED TO THEM!! !BUAHAHAHAHHAH!
5216114 GRAMMAR NAZI!!!!! KILL IT WITH LOVE AND TOLERANCE!!! *Hug*
Drop pods*
5314650 *Grammar Nazi
Sorry for the long comment, but I have a lot to say about this story, and I'm honestly surprised (and disappointed) that, judging from the comments left, no one seems willing to give you any actual constructive criticism when the story has flaws. Well, I hope you can get some ideas and tips from my comment about potential ways to avoid plot holes and unbelievable antagonists.
Since it's only fair to give you some advance warning, I figure I'll just tell you now that my comment is not (I'm guessing) going to be very pleasant for you to read, and for that I apologize.
Remember my previous comment? The one where I said an unnecessary and contrived conflict with no canon support in fics like this one tend to do nothing but end up hurting the story and making it hard to take it seriously? Well,
Wow. Just- wow. You know, I honestly don't know how to criticize this chapter, because it was just so shockingly poor. In fact, should I even be taking this story seriously? I ask this with all honesty, because I have seen actual joke stories that at least tried to give the villains a reason for attacking. Silly, stupid reasons mind you, but reasons all the same. This? This doesn't even make the slightest attempt at making the entire griffon species anything more than a one-dimensional joke of an enemy meant to make the ponies and humans look good in comparison.
It's just, how do I start to point out how utterly ridiculous everything about the griffons in this story is? Do I point out the stupidity of them actually threatening and being demanding of a race with freaking spaceflight? A race they know has spaceflight? Do I point out how ridiculous the idea is that they would immediately bring them in and point out exactly what their plans for attacking were and how they fight? Do I blankly point to the part where the only reason the griffons could come up with for attacking the ponies to try and convince the aliens to join them amounted to nothing more than "Well, why not attack? Obviously them doing nothing to provoke a fight is enough to provoke a fight!" and just sigh heavily?
Since I'm still struggling to come up with ways to describe the massive, galaxy dwarfing plot holes presented every other line in this chapter, I guess the only thing I can say to convey my feeling is; was this story an elaborate joke? You might think I'm joking, but I'm not. If this story is intended to be a joke, then it was a poor joke that fell flat and just left disappointment. If this story should be taken seriously (which is what I'm thinking is the right answer), then I've just run into a massive problem in that considering how utterly one-dimensional and ridiculous the griffons are in this story, there is simply no way I could ever take it seriously.
I said in my last comment that forced wars to create pointless drama do nothing but end up a hurting an otherwise great story. It seems this has yet to prove me wrong.
IMC: WE FUCKIN' LOVE WAR!
Militia: stop it with all the waring and oppression!
IMC: YOU NO LIKE WAR? WE WILL WAR YOU!
6309300 exactly!!!
IMC=
Militia=
5840628 I have 1 reason that the gryphons would attack unprovoked...gryphon hitler!!!
5314650
They ARE grunt pods! They're like fuckin' peas! They grow in that shit!
4147871 death to those who wish death upon others!
sherv.net/cm/emoticons/trollface/problem-troll-smiley-emoticon.jpg
6331362 Hitler, at least, had reasons as to why he began the war (i.e farmland).