Hard to hear my own thoughts over the rattling of the ship. The four of us were strapped into the seats with two other squads. Boy everything has been moving so fast, I think I should mention a little about myself.

My name's Four-leaf Clover. Some people call me Clovus. Celestia knows why. I used to be a gambler in Fillydelphia. My talent is, well luck of course. I signed up the same reason everyone else did, stop the end of the world. I'm captain of our little squad. I'm charming, handsome, what more is there to tell?

"They couldn't have installed some games on this bird?" That would be Show-Stopper. For a former magician he's a pretty good shot. But since he tends to make his shooting a big show with added visual effects we call him Flashy. Though Sarge calls him 'wasteful'.

"Flashy, we're only ten minutes into flight." Now Sure Shot, she doesn't play games. Always the silent, obedient one. A real buzzkill. But she does rank fifth in shooting both magic and weaponry. I tell ya, she really comes in handy sometimes.

"It wouldn't hurt to have some entertainment." I replied. I mean, come one he has a point. It's a three-hour flight from our station in Dodge to Ground Zero. (That's what they're calling the place the Hallowed are coming from. The eastern border of Equestria.)

"Well once we're there it will certainly be something." Last but not least Mister Lightning Fury, he fires the biggest bolts you will ever lay eyes on with even bigger results. None of us know his former profession, he likes guessing games which can get very irritating.

Then words I was hoping I wouldn't hear came on.

"One hour till drop, all squads clear air for sergeant." Next thing you know, it's Shouts-a-lot on the comms.

"Alright, listen up. This is the very moment you've all been training for," oh Celestia kill me now. "You might be expecting some fun when your deployed, well let me tell you now that it is no game. It's gonna get real rough, most of you might not even make it to the LZ. But I promise you, today is when the fight for home begins. Good hunting."

Scripted, every last word of it. Some high up executive probably placed a requirement for drill sergeants to give pep talks. Whatever man lets just get this show on the road.

Am I nervous? Nah, why should I be, I've got three of the best soldiers in Equestria backing me. We look out for each other. I can count on any of them to make sure I don't die.

"So in case we don't all make it back..." Nope, sorry Flashy not listening to this.

"Don't worry about a thing," I assured him, "We will make it out of this man I know it."

"But I'm just saying-" Not doing it.

"There's nothing to say. We make it out alive, all of us." I believed it too. It's not like we're taking the full force of the Hallowed, there were several waves of missile and artillery bombardment before us. All we were doing was cleaning up whatever's left of the enemy, then go home. That's at least what I assume, there was never any mention of what happens after we push back the invaders. But it didn't matter because we will get through this no problem.

What do you know, my hopes are dashed when the alarms go off and Relay's voice comes on.

"We have incoming projectile! Everybody hold on!"

I go into full panic mode. The ship is turning this way and that trying to avoid the missile. I notice somponies starting to look a little sick. Pretty sure I'm among them.

"I can't shake it! Brace for impact!"

Panic wells up in me even more as the ship jolts and the back half is blown off, taking the ponies sitting there with it. Turbulence threatens to tear whatever's left to shreds. the booming and thundering of cannons and aircraft screeching across the sky reaches my ears. The comms buzzed with the terrified chatter of my squad. I remained silent with my eyes squeezed shut and gritted teeth.

"I can't keep it in the air! Ground control this is echo vector one, we're hit and going down!"

Terror is a nasty thing. It grips you and holds you tight, overwhelming you with its weight.

"May day! May day!"

Then with a giant crash the world goes dark.

Author's Notes:

Holy moldy cheese it's raining with the fury of a God right now.