COVENANT FOREST OUTPOST, FORMERLY THE CASTLE OF THE ROYAL PONY SISTERS

1257 HOURS

Commander, Huwn ‘Crolun strolled around the interior of the base-turned castle, and observed the work of his troops. ‘Nbek did put him in charge of the outpost, so it was his duty to make sure every soldier was working their hardest in effort to boost their ranks, and performance in combat. However with some of the lowest disciplined Unggoy, they pretty much gave him a headache.

He walked out to one of the balconies that overlooked the front of the base to see a few Unggoy driven T32 RAVs patrolling the area below, keeping a lookout for any enemy presence.

Since the bridge gaping the crevice between the castle and the forest was taken out when he and his troops made landfall last night, the chances of enemies or curious eyes intruding the area were cut in half. Of course if an adversary was capable of flight, then they would be able to cross without a problem.

To avoid all concerns, the old castle has been heavily fortified with a T55 A-I SG turret placed on each of the high tower balconies like the one Huwn was currently standing on, with an Unggoy positioned on it. Not really the best job.

Within certain corridors of the castle was a strategically mounted T52 DESW plasma cannon. These would be used to cut down heavy groups of hostile infantry within the confined quarters leading to highly important areas or assets of the base. More than one would be required depending on the level of importance. Mgalekgolo would act as extra support.

Finally, a few Kig-Yar snipers would be placed on the roofs of the castle to have a higher vantage point for lookout, and for picking off enemies more efficiently.

One Kig-Yar sniper by the name of Voc was currently send out on a reconnaissance mission to investigate a village that was seen when the cloaked stealth corvettes were dispatched.

Voc decided his best location to gain recon was to station himself in a tree that stood on top of one of the highest hills overlooking the village.

It’s there that he got a clear glimpse of the inhabitants of the planet through the scope of his T27. The inhabitants that Voc observed seemed to consist of four-legged creatures with varied colored coats and hairs.

The lack of opposable appendages concerned Voc, because how would ‘Nbek convert these beings into allies if they couldn’t hold a weapon, or operate any other sort of machinery? However Voc observed that some of these beings seemed strong enough to lift heavy supplies on their backs. Maybe they could help the Unggoy with their cargo transport.

During his observation, Voc spotted what ‘Nbek feared--a human was being embraced by six of the odd beings. This was a sign of some sort of peace being made. It’s then that Voc radioed in to ‘Crolun.

“Commander ‘Crolun. This is sniper Voc. I have a confirmed sighting of a single human with six of the inhabitants of this planet. Requesting permission to engage,” the raspy voice of Voc said into ‘Crolun’s armor COMM network.

‘Crolun knew the orders were to not kill the inhabitants of the planet unless it was absolutely necessary. Plus it was still too early to call in a strike force.

“Negative, Voc. Stand down and return back to here. I’ll notify ‘Nbek of your finding,” ‘Crolun ordered.

“Affirmative, commander,” Voc said before he signed off.

‘Crolun made his way back to the main command chamber which used to be some sort of throne room for whatever once inhabited the castle. It was there that he could contact ‘Nbek.

Before his carrier entered atmosphere, 'Nbek deployed a couple of spire installations that would be useful for cloaking the citadel, and his carrier which now held its position in atmosphere directly above the site of the citadel.

The spire installations that ‘Nbek deployed haven’t been used since the invasion on Reach, but since this planet seemed to have some kind of value to the Covenant’s intentions--measures must be taken no matter what. Plus, it would only be a matter of time before the humans would expand their territory.

“Shipmaster ‘Nbek. Commander Huwn ‘Crolun of the forest outpost. Standing by for reconnaissance report,” ‘Crolun said as he activated the main COMM interface that linked with ‘Nbek’s carrier.

“Report in,” ‘Nbek transmitted.

“One of our snipers have gotten visual of a human being embraced by six of the strange inhabitants that occupy this planet. I fear that they may have already made allies with our enemy before we could,” ‘Crolun said, sounding slightly agitated.

“Do not worry just yet, brother. I have dispatched a couple of scout Phantoms to an area that is confirmed to be completely inhospitable that no human would dare set foot in,” ‘Nbek reassured rather calmly.

‘Crolun was completely perplexed by ‘Nbek’s area of choice to send a scouting party. If the area was inhospitable, it could mean big trouble for any of the troops on board both of the dropships.

“With respect, shipmaster. Why would you put the lives of our troops at risk by dispatching them to a place where survivable resources are lacking?” ‘Crolun demanded.

“I’ve made sure to send them with the supplies needed for a temporary camp if fate demands it,” ‘Nbek replied. “Once the supply is low or spent, it will be certain that they will return back to the citadel safe and sound. What I do hope is that they will find something there that can assist our Covenant. We hope the Didact can grant them good fortune along the way. Do not lose your faith in him.”

'Crolun hesitated for a quick moment because he wasn’t sure if he believed in the words of the shipmaster, but then he thought about what the Didact himself would do in a situation like this, and reconciled.

“I won’t, shipmaster. The Didact will always watch over us. I’ve never lost faith in him, and I’m not about to start now,” ‘Crolun stated.

“Very good,” ‘Nbek stated contently. “I wish you luck with your duty, brother--and your troops.”

“Likewise, shipmaster,” ‘Crolun said one last time before disconnecting the transmission.

Even if ‘Crolun was reassured to not question his faith in the Didact, he didn’t want to admit that he still doubted that the troops dispatched to such an isolated and unresourceful region would survive, even if supplements were brought along.

There could be dangerous creatures out there that would probably outlast the ammunition that the troops had in their weapons to defend themselves with.

What sort of creatures would inhabit such a harsh place? The answer to that question was about to be revealed.

CHANGELING CAVE, BADLANDS

Queen Chrysalis sat authoritatively on her throne, which was obviously made from poorly crafted rock and stone so it really didn’t have any regal appearance to it at all. If her, and her changelings didn’t get thrown out of Canterlot and banished to this forsaken land--having an actual throne would’ve been possible.

Ever since that day, Chrysalis has been trying to plot revenge against her foes, especially against Princess Cadence and her husband, Shining Armor who were the ones responsible for their banishment. So far she has come up with nothing because like her subjects; she was starving.

There was no pony that ventured into this region of Equestria, and that meant that there was no love to feast on at all.

They tried to settle for hunting down plants to eat, but so few ever grew in the barren soil. Plus even if such food was found, it didn’t appease with the queen or her subjects because love was the best nourishment for changelings.

Chrysalis was strong-willed at first by encouraging her subjects that they would make it through this--and get what they deserved. It was a way a leader should be--but as time drew on without a hint of hope, Chrysalis slowly became demoralized and weak from her ever growing hunger. It was surprising that she still managed to sit up straight on her throne despite her deteriorating strength.  Surely it would only be a matter of time before she could no longer maintain this posture before collapsing on the floor in a weak heap.

“Your highness,” said one of the changeling lookouts as he hurriedly entered his queen’s ‘throne room’.

“What’s the matter?” Chrysalis demanded. “What is the meaning of this unannounced and improper entrance?”

“There are a couple of strange objects heading this way, and fast my queen. It’s nothing I have ever seen before,” the changeling reported.

“What do you mean by, strange?” Chrysalis asked.

Before the changeling could respond, an ever growing droning sound got closer and closer to the cave entrance. Her subject was right about whatever was causing this droning was rather quick.

Driven by curiosity, Chrysalis cautiously made her way toward the source of the noise. When she came to the cave entrance, she couldn’t believe what she saw.

Hovering only a few feet away from her were two dark purple bulbous, but aerodynamic alien crafts with a single turbine or either side of the bulgy bow of the ship, with three thin movable fins on the stern.

Hanging from the bottom front of the ships was some sort of strange mechanical appendage that seemed to look around which influenced Chrysalis to hide behind a tall boulder that occupied the caves’ lip.

These alien ships that Chrysalis was seeing were nothing other than the two T44 TC Phantom dropships that ‘Nbek sent out for scouting purposes.

Peeking from around her hiding spot, Chrysalis saw both of the Phantoms underbellies shoot a greenish beam of light to the ground. It is then that the occupants of the dropships were softly deployed on the ground within the beam.

One Phantom deployed a Sangheili minor wielding a T55 DER/A with a squad of eight Unggoy. Six minors wielding a T25 DEP, and two imperials with a T33 GML.

The other Phantom dropped off a squadron of ten Kig-Yar. Five minors with all T25s and a point defense gauntlet that emanated a shield with a blueish hue to it. Three heavies  with T33s whose gauntlets displayed yellow shields, and two snipers. One wielding a T27, the other a T51 C.

Chrysalis didn’t know what to make of the strange creatures she was seeing, but they were obviously intruding on her territory. Gathering her breath, she stepped out in plain sight and said, “Who dares set foot on our…”

Before she could finished her sentence, the army of aliens began firing on her in a heap of startlement and surprise!

“Aah!” Chrysalis screamed and dove for cover back behind the boulder as the shots kept coming. She then realized that she was hit because part of her tail was singed off by a few bolts of plasma. A plasma round also got her in the side leaving a nasty third degree burn combined with a pink crystalline shard resting in it. It soon exploded which made her begin to bleed. This combined injury made Chrysalis cry in agony from the extreme pain.

Hearing their queen in distress, the changelings never hesitated as they quickly flew out of the cave to see Chrysalis lying on her side groaning and bleeding behind her cover. They then turned their attention toward the aliens who continued their engagement to where their queen was hiding. The boulder was tough, but it was practically turning into molten liquid from the combined and surpressed plasma fire.

Not wasting another second, the changelings engaged the hostile aliens to try and save their queen!

They began to fire their mystical green mana from their horns onto the squad. When they did that, the Covenant immediately began firing at them! At least their attention was now drawn away from Chrysalis.

The changelings really had no trouble dealing with the Unggoy because of the relatively weak armor. They even managed to land headshots which killed immediately. The  Kig-Yar however proved to be more of a challenge because of the speed and agility they moved with while dodging the changelings attacks. The dexterity if the Kig-Yar allowed them to fire while evading, and their keen eyesight made them land a fatal shot each time. Their shield gauntlets made them a difficult target as well.

The Sangheili however was the worst foe.

Everytime a shot hit the tall bipedal creature, the changelings noticed some sort of electromagnetic field that seemed to incase the entire body. It seemed to get brighter however as the changelings continued their fire on it. When it got bright enough, the Sangheili slipped into cover behind another huge bolder for several seconds, then reappeared again with his body shield fully charged and began firing again.

Since the changeling numbers were three times more than the Covenant’s, surely they would prevail in no time--but hope for that began failing when the sides of the Phantoms opened up to reveal a mounted plasma cannon on each side. A single Unggoy was then stationed at each of the guns and began firing.

The auto-cannons mounted at the front of the dropships began firing ballistic rounds of plasma onto the changelings as well, cutting down their numbers at an alarming rate!

Chrysalis could only watch as her minions were either torn to shreds by the suppressed plasma fire, or witnessing their blood and guts exploding from their bodies due to supercombine explosions.

Chrysalis was slowly losing consciousness from the lack of blood she had. She knew she was going to die.

She always visualized her and her minions demise to be more settling and less painful. She would even be willing to do it in an effort to overthrow Celestia and take the throne of Canterlot. What happened just now was anything close to that.

As her eyes slowly began closing, she saw her remaining changelings fight to the end. She knew that they were all going to perish in a short amount of time.

Before her eyes were completely closed, she caught a glimpse of something huge looming over her and staring hard into her face.

It had piercing yellow reptilian eyes with black corneas. Its mouth was made up of four appendages that contained razor sharp teeth. It was none other the Sangheili minor!

After that, the sight of the world to Chrysalis turned pitch black.

After of what seemed like hours, Chrysalis became conscious again--and surprised that she was still alive! But unfortunately she was restrained.

Her eyesight wasn’t clear yet so she couldn’t see where she was, or what was keeping her from moving at will.

When her vision finally did clear, Chrysalis discovered that she was sitting at a wide purple hued table that separated her from a huge chair whose back support was in a half-oval shape. She happened to be seated in the other one.

Looking out the windows that the room thankfully had, she saw the clear blue sky that overlooked to be what had to be the San Palomino desert.

Looking down at herself, she noticed her mid-torso was wrapped in some kind strange ooze that covered her wound. She then noticed that her hooves were cuffed with a strange light that seemed to emit without any sort of attachment to it. The same object was embracing her horn which didn’t allow her to use it in anyway, and an even bigger one had her near her neck, and prevented her from using her wings.

Chrysalis tried to wiggle free, but the cuffs gave off a strange energy that pounded her entire body with immobilizing pain.

“Aah!” she cried. “What is the meaning of this? Let me go at once!”

“I’m afraid that’s out of the question really,” said an intimidating male voice which seemed to come from the chair across the table. Whatever it was, it had its back turned to her. “Those cuffs will deliver more painful shocks if you keep struggling. They will soon become fatal. You should be lucky that we spared your life. Of course it was me who gave the order.”

“Well who are you, and what do you want from me?” Chrysalis demanded angrily, but she was surprisingly terrified. A very rare emotion for her.

The chair that looked away from her suddenly turned around to reveal a similar mandibled mouthed creature to the one she saw back at the cave, but his armor style was different. It was commander-class.

“I am Shipmaster, Dzen ‘Nbek,” the alien responded surprisingly in the Equestrian language, compared to the gibberish that she heard when her and her minions were under attack. However thanks to a Sangheili’s bizarre jaw structure, his articulation with the letter ‘S’ wasn’t really that good.

“Commander of the carrier, Savior’s Light which you are currently on, and supporter of Jul ‘Mdama--leader of the Covenant Remnant,” Dzen explained. “Now who may I ask, are you? More specifically; what are you?”

“I’m…Queen Chrysalis,” Chrysalis replied, a bit hesitant and unsure of the situation. “Ruler of the Changeling Kingdom--or at least I used to be.”

“So that’s what you are,” Dzen said rather intrigued. “Now tell me, what does a changeling do?”

“First I demand why your minions attacked and killed all my subjects, and why did you kidnap me?!” Chrysalis hissed.

“Calm yourself,” Dzen reassured uncomfortably calmly. “I was notified of the engagement when it took place. I issued for my troops to spare a few of your compatriots and bring them onboard.”

“Well, where are they? Where are you keeping them?” Chrysalis asked, like a hysterical mother who lost her child.

“In the brig, of course.” Dzen casually replied. “They will get used to their accommodations, but enough about that. Now it’s time I told you what I need from you.”

“What is it then?” Chrysalis asked, now getting a little suspicious, but at the same time nervous.

“Your allegiance, of course. I know what happened back at your region wasn’t a good first contact scenario between our races, but dishonorable actions can find a way to make peaceful ends meet. At least you haven’t become acquainted with the human enemy.”

Chrysalis became puzzled.

“I don’t even know what a human is, but I don’t think I should offer any any of my allegiance to you strange beings. Plus, what can you offer for me, and my subjects?” she demanded.

“Whatever you wish,” Dzen replied not breaking his composition.

Chrysalis raised a brow.

She wasn’t sure if this alien was being sincere or not. Attacking her and her changelings was a serious offense, so trusting this creature was tough--but she witnessed the strength and potential that his troops had in combat. It was nothing compared to the potential of her changelings. The changelings had magic, these aliens had actual weapons.

“Well. Canterlot would be nice,” she finally said. “But that blasted alicorn, Cadence and that husband of hers ruined everything!”

“An alicorn? Interesting,” Dzen said intrigued. “What may I ask is an, alicorn anyway?”

“A powerful pony with more stronger magic than a unicorn. Of course that cursed Celestia and that no-good sister of hers has the power to raise and lower the sun and moon.”

“So...they’re like gods then?” Dzen asked with a hint of excitement now in his tone.

“That’s what their subjects all say. It’s absolutely revolting!” Chrysalis stated with disgust, but Dzen was very interested. This was the kind of power that the Forerunners didn’t possess.

“Here’s the situation, Chrysalis,” he said. “So far we are keeping our profiles low from our enemies in effort to gain intelligence on what their up to. We are, however unable to get close enough to get full information. Perhaps I could send out a Zealot scouting team for close-quarters reconnaissance. Their camouflage would probably be useful for this task.”

“Well, me and my subjects have the ability to look like anypony at will. That’s what us changelings are known for doing. Also, stealing their love as well.” Chrysalis stated, now sounding like her proud and cocky self.

“Hmm,” Dzen thought. “If what you are saying is true, then your kind would be useful for such an operation. If you can help us bring in one or more of these, alicorns, we shall fulfill your wish. Surely they can tell us what we want to know about this new world as well. So what do you say? Do we have a compromise?”

Chrysalis took a moment to think things over before giving her final answer.

The thought of finally throwing the princesses of their thrones and taking her rightful place as ruler of Equestria brought a sinister grin to Chrysalis’ muzzle.

“We do,” she finally stated.

“Excellent.” Dzen said, satisfied with her making the right choice.

With these shape-shifting creatures now on his side, Dzen has now gained a more stealthy advantage for recon purposes which is exactly the main role Chrysalis's changelings will play. He just needed to find the right time and place to put them in action.