AJ felt almost in a constant state of peril just by holding her assault rifle. She'd grown well accustomed to it size, recoil and accuracy, having not even bothering to even try out any other weapon from the imperial armory. The weapon looked sturdy and tough, built up of multiple layers of steel that crossed and wrapped around one another to make the weapon appear to be made fro a hundred different segments. Its thirty two round magazine was sat snug in the butt of the weapon with an ammo counter on the side, mirroring the ejection port. A short tac-rail led down the top of the weapon with a set of iron sites at its front and back, the gun finally ending in a stubby barrel. AJ held the weapon tight against her chest, practically glued to her tan-colored flak vest. Her pistol was held securely in her right thigh holster, her combat knife right behind it. Her helmet felt about ten sizes to large for her; it fit her perfectly, yet its weight made her feel like a novelty bobble-head. The helmets flip-down goggles were a nifty feature, however, allowing AJs eyes some relief from the sunset that assaulted her eyes. She fidgeted with the chin-strap as the reoccurring discomfort was brought to the base of her ears, the helmet pushing them forward ever so slightly. Right after she felt the need to give her shoulder plate another good tug to make sure it was sat tightly in place.

"Stop fidgeting Applejack. I'm sure you'll notice when it's time to panic." Dash said while tapping on her wrist mounted 'P.D.A', its screen flitting through different colors and images.

"Any news?" AJ asked.

"Yeah. Apparently Princess Luna is on the mend. Must be tougher than she appears after being shot twice. That and the space marines are starting to get seriously pissed!" Dash replied with a grin at her last announcement.

'Ponyville Platoon' had only been set up for little over two hours, and yet nearly everypony felt like they were about to get hit at any minute. Dash rose from the slumped position she'd put herself in against a wall of sandbags. The two of them scanned the plains with their sight, AJ taking a few extra seconds to check on her farm that sat to her far right. Further right, atop a barricade set stood a mighty Astarte warrior wielding a heavy bolter, his weapon sweeping slowly left to right and back. Along the defense line of shallow trenches, sandbags, barricades and barbed wire stood the rest of Ponyvilles' militia, varying in expression and composure greatly. Many faces AJ recognized, like Thunderlane, Lucky Clover and Cloudchaser, others she assumed had been drafted in from some of Equestrias' other cities. Most of them had formed into small groups and chatted among themselves.

"You have to admit AJ, this is all pretty awesome! I mean, we're more decked out on gear than the Canterlot guard!" Dash pointed out.

"Yeah, probably 'cuz we're gonna be fightn' somethin' they cain't."

"And we can. This is gonna be, like, so awesome. Dakkadakkadakkadakka!" Dash said, imitating the motion of firing her sub-machine gun into the distance.

Dash seemed to notice something while playing pretend and immediately stopped fooling around and squinted her eyes, peering at the far horizon. AJ looked at Dash, puzzled for a second before a thickly toned voice rang through the air.

"Take positions!"

AJ instinctively dropped behind the sandbag wall and fumbled with her assault rifle, attempting to switch the safety off. Dash had already taken a solid stance, crouched behind the sandbags with gun raised and eyes down range. AJ finally rolled over and raised to a crouched stance while aiming down her weapons sights. It took a moment for Applejack to calm herself enough to spot the mechanical contraptions approaching from afar. The machines were obviously some form of military vehicle, their exteriors a dark grey metal with neon blue light-work and cockpit hoods. There were at least fifty smaller ones, which AJ could tell were around the size of a house, appearing as large trucks with a small collection of weapon below each of their metallic noses. The vehicles traveled at and impressive speed, hovering off the ground with the help of three large pads that would have been tank tread had they not possessed the magical ability to make the machine float. Behind them lumbered five turtle-like robots, each larger than two town halls' stuck together. The enormous creations trudged forth on six thick, mechanical limbs that ended in a three-toed pad for a foot. At either side of the machines cockpits sat two large cannons, each larger that a space marine heavy bolter, while on top sat a colossal turreted canon that was as large as those used by a space marines smaller class of titan.

The militia ponies began to whisper, talking in fear stricken words on how large the machines were. Time ticked on and not an order was given nor a shot fired, until nearly ten minutes passed. A sound similar to a vinyl record being scratched flew though the air, growing louder very quickly before a large explosion was set off a few meters short of the defensive line. Again and again the shots rang out, a couple even taking out a barricade each, yet only shocking a handful of ponies into falling back to secondary positions. A minute passed and the familiar roar of a heavy bolter pierced the air as the Astarte pummeled the vehicles with volleys of fire. AJ could see the smaller vehicles were getting very close, just reaching the corner of the railway leading to Ponyville. AJ fired a burst of rounds at the nearest vehicle, and then another and another. Dash soon followed by example, her weapon rattling wildly as its caseless slugs sped off. AJ could see two, then three, then five of the smaller vehicles bounce of the ground as heavy bolter fire threw them down sharply, their formation crisscrossing and becoming wildly undisciplined. The smaller vehicles began to fire their weapons as they sped closer, the machine guns under their noses throwing a bright blue energy at the Equestrians.

Dash heard a sickening pop to her left and quickly turned her head. The pony that had been to her left, a mare only eighteen years old had the right side of her head missing, the wound steaming with heat. Her lifeless form dropped like a sack of bricks, blood gushing from her devastating wound. AJ simply stared at the girl, her hand unwillingly going to reach for her body in a sense of confusion. She blinked wildly and shook her head before turning back again to continue firing. The vehicles were no further away than the distance AJ could throw, giving her only enough time to deliver a burst of fire into a vehicle speeding straight for her. The fire did nothing but spit itself off the machines armor before the vehicle reached AJs position.

AJ and Dash dropped to the ground as the speeder flew over them harmlessly, knocking down a few sandbags as it breached the line. The shots from the walkers increased in frequency, explosions throwing up dirt all around the edge of Ponyville. AJ quickly got to her feet again and braced herself against the pile of sandbags along with Dash, speeders flying over their heads like a swarm of Goliath-like wasps. The vehicles buzzing engines faded away and the two chanced a moment to look back over the sandbags. Out on the plains were nearly two dozen destroyed speeders and a single walker that had taken enough bolter fire to the cockpit that the driver had been killed; yet its main cannon continued firing. The others continued their stomping march, the nearest was crawling up the hill at the far right of the front-line and crushing the defensive barricades underfoot. The majority of the Equestrians had fled into Ponyville, leaving only a few over a dozen remaining alongside AJ and Dash. The Astartes were giving chase to the smaller vehicles that had gathered outside Ponyville, each one having about fifteen alien troops within, all rushing to head deep into the town.

"Come on AJ! We need to go!" Dash called out, "Everypony! Head to town!"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Six ponies had been killed in the initial attack, along with four more as the walkers climbed over the defenses. This still left many squads intact, including Dashs'. Dash had been chosen at Team Leader by the training serf at the barracks, meaning she had a duty to not only protect her ponies, but direct them to save Ponyville. Dash held her arm up as the reached another corner of a shop, shuffling her boots and carefully peering around the edge of the wall to see if it was all clear. Unfortunately it wasn't. A couple dozen grey-furred aliens stood around and inside town hall, as well as having set up in the fountain just outside and occupying several surrounding shops and homes. Dash cursed to herself before turning to Cloudchaser.

"Cloudchaser, phone the Astartes. See if they can get to us." Dash ordered in a hushed tone.

"What have we got?" AJ asked.

"Twenty five to thirty bad guys in the center of town. Their could be more, but most of them are inside the buildings or town hall."

"Thunderlane, you think you could make a shot from that launcher score through a window?" AJ asked the dark coated colt.

"I, uh, could give it a go." He replied uneasily.

"One of the marines is on his way, he'll be coming from our rear." Cloudchaser announced, Dash responding with a stifled laugh.

"What?"

"We've...we've got space marine coming out our rears." Dash giggled.

"Oh come on! You're so childish."

A rhythmic thundering sound came from behind the squad, announcing the Astartes arrival. He jogged over and stood near to Dash at the squads front, his size making Dash appear tiny in comparison.

"What's the situation?" His voice growled through his masks grill.

"At least twenty troops are hold up in the buildings in the middle of town. Looks like they're keeping a close eye on every entrance into the center of town and it looks like they've moved the big guns to the fountain." Dash responded.

"Primary objective: Take back town hall and secure a stronghold. Secondary objective: Eliminate all units hold up in the surrounding structures. I'll handle the heavy weapons." The marine replied as he took point.

There was no countdown or warning before the marine leapt out from cover and let loose with his bolter, forcing Dash into a do-or-die situation. Dash ordered her squad forward with a shout and took flight, speeding towards town hall as fast as she could. The rest of the squad took off shortly after, nearly all of them raising their weapons over their heads and firing blindly toward their objective. Dash turned and slammed her armored back into the town halls exterior with a loud thud, her face cringing in realizing how loud that must have been on the inside. Proving her theory right, the main doors blew open as three alien soldiers shuffled out. They were no taller or even stronger than a pony, looking like over-sized wildcats with feathers behind their ears. Their armor was dark grey like their vehicles, and very angular, much like their vehicles. Their armor covered them about the same amount that Dashs' covered her own body, exposing the abdomen and throat. Dash had no time to think much on the matter, instinctively raising her weapon and firing. The first burst of fire was probably the unluckiest of all time, each round ricocheting of their metallic vests and shoulder pads. The trio threw their arms up in the air in panic, and probably pain as well, failing to counterattack efficiently. Dash took advantage of thing and took two strides forward while firing. Nearly every round either hit its mark or penetrated the aliens armor as globs of dark blood were thrown in every direction. Their bodies slumped to the ground, riddle with small caliber rounds and dispensing an ever growing puddle of gore.

Dash approached the door in a flash of movement, saw that the fountain troops were busy having their flanks shot to crap, and signaled to the rest of her squad hurry up. The others soon caught up, panting heavily as their hearts were on the verge of exploding in their chests. With a blood-curdling scream the last heavy weapons soldier in the fountain was felled, his innards spilling into his lap. Dash darted her eyes round into the doorway, quickly spotting about six aliens before darting back. A full second to late the aliens opened fire, blue lasers tearing the wooden floor outside the doorway to splinters.

"OK, Thunderlane. You don't have to shoot a hoop this time, but try and make every shot count." Dash explained, pulling him in front of her.

"OK, OK. Wish me luck." He gulped in response.

Thunderlane braced firmly against the buildings wall before throwing himself around into the doorway and firing half a second later before swinging back again. A dull booming sound emanated from within the hall, sharps of glass and broken wood dancing out the entrance while Thunderlane loaded another grenade to the front of his launcher and locking in into its firing position with the cocking handle.

"OK, gimme a sec." Dash said as she braced her hooves against the floor before darting across to the other side of the halls entrance, a hail of enemy fire following her closely.

"Alright, Thunder, I'll cover you!"

Thunderlane nodded before swinging into the entrance, this time mirrored by Dash. Dash sprayed the halls interior with rapid fire as Thunderlane took a second to aim at the three aliens held up in the upper level of the building. With a popping sound followed by another explosion the duo fell back into cover. Following them both, half of an alien upper torso and head flew out the entrance and hit the woodwork with a loud, wet slap. The creature was utterly mangled beyond recognition, most of it covered in its own entrails and blood, forcing the squad to overt their sight in disgust.

"Nice shot, Thunder! You got another one like that in you?" Dash asked over the whining claps of laser fire sent their way.

"Sure have Dash! Got my back?"

Dash nodded with a grin, both bracing for another shot. They repeated the same fluid action as before, Thunderlane only taking a heartbeat to take the shot before they both spun out of view, only Thunder spun a little to quick. Dash turned to look at Thunderlane who'd collapsed to the floor, making Dash immediately think the worst had happened. A groan and squirm lifted the tension as Thunderlane rolled over to expose a small, steaming hole burnt into his flak vest just above his heart. AJ pulled Thunder off to the side where the others ensured his good health, none of them noticing the alien arm that had flown out the window. Dash could hear movement and voices within the building growing louder and peeked round to see what was happening. The aliens must have decided to make a last-ditch attempt at escaping the structure and bolted for the door. Dash dropped her body to the floor and barrel rolled onto her belly, weapon at the ready. A spray of bullets took the creatures off their feet, blue ichor spattering on the floor.

"OK, everypony inside!"

The squad rushed to get inside, Thunderlane still clutching his chest in pain. A loud smacking sound hit Dashes ear as she witnessed Applejack get thrown to the floor, skidding to a halt not a step away from Dashs' hooves.

"AJ! AJ, are you alright?!" Dash screamed frantically.

"Oh...they sure built this here armor well enough." AJ groaned as she struggled to her feet.

Dash took a deep breath in at the relief of being able to keep her promise to Twilight, helping AJ to hooves. The squad checked every room and both levels, giving the all clear soon after their arrival. Dash turned to see the space marine headed towards them, taking long, heavy strides as he approached the town halls entrance. A thunderclap blew through the air and the Astarte was dropped to his knees before slumping to the side. Behind him, an alien walker marched towards them, its main gun steaming. The machine had blown clean through the Astartes armored backpack and chest-plate, a gory hole dripping dark red blood burnt into his chest like the mouth of some hellish volcano.

"Get to cover!" Dash yelled, throwing AJ behind a wall before diving to join her.

The last thing Dash saw before a blinding flash was Thunderlane being cut in half at the waist.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"Pilot! Hover over that center building!" Phebus called to the stormeagle pilot.

"Affirmative Captain! Descending to drop-point altitude!" The marine responded.

The Captain and his command squad readied themselves at the gunships bow, the frontal ramp whining open to expose the moonlit towns rooftops. The captain activated his jump pack and place the front of his boot to the edge of the ramp, his squad forming up closely behind him. Phebus decided he wouldn't wait for the pilots confirmation to drop, seeing a Therunorian tormentor tank directly below him firing on a structure at the center of the town.

"No fear!" Phebus roared quickly before falling forward gracefully, igniting his packs thrusters as he faced the walker engine.

The rest of his command squad called the same battle cry and followed their commanders lead, all dropping down into the streets. A mere blink of an eye before meeting the ground with unwanted force Phebus pulled up his thrusters to slow his descent and made a swift course alteration to bring him slamming down into the enemy machine. The Captains ceramite boots demolished the machines armor underfoot, his weight essentially breaking they machines back. The machine groaned in its agony, its weapons firing wildly in all directions as Phebus leapt from its back and just above the pilots cockpit. Inside the pilot looked up in terror, seeing the marine raising his two handed thunder hammer far over his head. Phebus brought his weapon down onto the pilot with such force what was left of the creature dropped out the machines belly like artificial afterbirth. Behind him, honored veteran brother Damascali swung his power sword in a wide arch and loped the engines main cannon from its body.

To the captain left, Septar, Garrador and Treyar fired their bolt pistols into nearby buildings, blue splashes bursting from windows and doors following each shot. Phebus signaled Damascali to do a quick perimeter check while he sought after what the walker had been so interested in. He strode towards the buildings entrance, finding a terrible sight on the way. A battle brother, one Phebus did not have the honor of recognized lay dead on his side, a hole blown clean through his chest from behind. Phebus turned the marine over to lay on his back, placed his bolter on his chest and folded the marines arms over the weapon while whispering an unheard prayer.

"Apothecary Septar, we have a fallen brother at my position." Phebus announced over the comm-link grimly.

"Understood Captain, I'll prepare his gene-seed." Replied the apothecary as he jogged over, readying his nartheciums' reductor.

A lone surviving Therunorian was mad, and insulting enough to spray panicked fire at the captain and apothecary. The captain raised his wrist mounted Volkite Serpenta and shot the alien scum in the face, the body becoming awash with an orange glow before falling into a pile of ash. Phebus' hearing picked up voices coming from inside the towns center building, making him turn to investigate. His heavy steps brought loud groans from the woodwork below him, warning the captain that he may be facing the hazard of falling though the floor. Inside, the structure was smashed and ruined, with a mix of blue and red blood staining the walls and floor. Phebus noticed some of the fallen wooden wreckage began to move around, like something underneath was trying to break free. The Captain risked the inherent danger and went to lift the debris off whoever was underneath. Underneath the first piece of what looked like wardrobe was an Equestrian girl, blue coated and with messy technicolored hair. Phebus called over his brothers who began to sift through the piles of wood. Ten were alive, two left dead. The first Garrador had found torn in half at the waist, an anti-armor round having passed right through him and detonated against the wall behind him. The second Phebus had found, another male, had had his skull crushed under the weight of a fallen pillar, killing him instantly. The conscripts were given a moment to rest, and grieve, as Phebus questioned the team leader.

"Four walkers, are you sure?" He asked.

"Yeah. Originally there was five that hit our defenses, one was disabled by a dude with a heavy bolter. Seems you made short work of the second, which leaves three more roaming around town." Conscript Dash replied, taking another swig from her water canteen.

"Very good. I'll ensure my brothers and I split them up so they don't cause us any more trouble."

"Why, how bad is it if they're all together?"

"Tormentors are siege units, no good holding up against them. The best course of action is to give chase and circle behind them."

"So, being in, like, one place wouldn't be a good idea?"

"Not unless you have a death wish." And with that a sharp crack split the air as the Captains face was showered by splinters of wood.

"Captain! Ambush! Tormentors to the east!" Called Garrador.

"Tormentors! Three of them to the north Captain!" Cried Septar.

"And two more to the west! Tormentors at all sides! They have assault speeders leading them in!" Called Treyar as he fired his bolt pistol out a window.

"Take up arms! Treyar, call for reinforcements! Get the nearest unit to our location now!" Phebus ordered while stomping over to the buildings entrance.

"Captain! What are we gonna do?!" Dash cried fearfully.

What troubled the captain most was, he had no idea what they could do.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The town hall was being blown apart like a pile of autumn leaves being kicked apart by children. The squad was being forced into ever shrinking amounts of cover, and even the space marines showed signs that they too were beginning to struggle. Shouts of fury and fear were hardly heard over the hailstorm of laser fire flying about their heads. Two more ponies had been chewed apart after being caught out in the open, and the marines armor had seen better times.

"I repeat! Command squad 'Victor Elusis' is under heavy fire and requires immediate assistance!" Yelled a marine bearing a large collection of communication gear on his back, wrists, helmet and belt.

"Talk to me Treyar!" Roared the Captain.

"Signal link is wide open sire, but I'm not getting a response!"

"Keep trying damn it!"

With that a series of sharp cracks rang through the building as the roof toppled and crumbled under its own weight. The entire upper half of the building slid off to one side and smashed into the street below. The night sky shone with ten thousand stars above the desperate defenders, like a canvas of beauty mirroring the carnage below. Dash spent her last magazine for her SMG and whipped out her pistol. She turned her head to meet the gaze of two watery, forest green eyes. Applejack gave a reassuring, yet weak grin and held Dashs' hand tight. The both of them and the six remaining ponies gave the attackers everything they had, firing madly at the oncoming horde. Dash let out a roar of fury as she put an unnecessary amount of bullets into a charging alien trooper who was quickly pulped by the large caliber bullets.

Suddenly the still night air seemed to stir, the wind spinning about the marines and ponies as if their very being there was creating a tornado. The wind picked up violently and forced the ponies into cover as the harsh winds assaulted their eyes. The air soon held a strange electrical quality to it, like feeling the static on the screen of a television and a dull blue glow hung at the center of the wrecked building. Soon the glow burst into a lightning strike and a blast of wind knocked everypony off their feet or into walls.

Standing at the center of the hall was a titanic figure, a living god clad in armor of darkness and blazing fire. On each arm was attached a mighty heavy bolter with an enormous drum magazine, his tactical dreadnought armor granting the mighty Astarte the ability to life both weapons with little effort. Once both weapons were raised the air was massacred with a barrage of noise as the heavy bolters spat white hot death at the enemy horde. The Astartes armor was enormous, larger than any of the terminators Dash had seen previously. All around the town hall, aliens burst into bloody mist and smears of blood and guts. The speeders detonated into rolling balls of twisted metal and mangled body. The walkers winced and tripped as the bolts punished their limbs and cockpits.

From the sky fell two more figures. One was clad in armor of marble white and shining gold, and the other a regal blue and black darker than night itself. Both figures stood taller than a pony and much more strongly built, the forms of two majestic alicorns; Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Although Luna didn't appear as Dash remembered her, she was taller, and held a much more muscular frame. This made Dash remember Lunas' 'condition', and as much as she didn't like it, Dash would take one apparently sociable Nightmare Moon over a hundred crazed aliens any day. Both princesses wore Mechanicus forged armour, like Dash, only there was far more advanced. Not only was it larger, but made up of thick segmented plates and guards, covering everywhere that didn't require the need to move. Each princess also held an imperial power sword and wrist mounted, twin-linked SMGs. The princesses pink and turquoise visor-ed helmets clicked apart and folded behind their heads in segments, finally slotting down into their power packs. Absent of a helmet, Dashs' theory on Nightmare Moon was proven right as the monstrous grin of the corrupt princess was revealed. Celestias face was much more comforting, yet no less menacing as a deep scowl was held in her features. Both alicorns set their weapons against the aliens, firing guns and swinging swords. All the while, both princesses were somehow being protected by some form of energy shield that soaked up any laser fire that hit them. Dash soon noticed small aesthetics in each princesses set of armour; Celestias being more angelic and harmonious, her chest and shoulder armour depicting suns and eagles, while Nightmare Moon bore a terrifying Gothic appearance, with claws and bat wings wrapped around the armors' edges.

In all but a few seconds the tide had been turned dramatically, the invaders being scattered about the town and finally driven away in just a few minutes. Celestia threw spell after spell at the aliens, setting them ablaze with her volleys of miniature suns, while Nightmare Moon tore the soldiers in half with her immense strength, impaling them with her razor sharp talons. The titanic space marine continued to mow down the enemy forces with floods of bolter fire, crippling walkers so that Phebus and his squad were given the chance to swoop in and tear them apart with armour-rending power weapons. Soon enough news had spread of the one Star Lords battle barge that had caught a warp rift in such a way that it arrived at Equis two days earlier than the bulk of the imperial forces. It wasn't much, but it was enough so that the Astartes weren't so thinly stretched, meaning that the worst of the invasion was over; it was time to take back Equis.