Cloud Cutter had never been so tired - or in so much pain - in his entire life. Not when he flew to warn Canterlot of the Diamond Dog disease, not under Darryl's tutelage... never.

He was lying on top of a thick cloud; having maneuvered Danielle and Oriana onto his back, he was slowly flapping his wings to move them all forward. He had to be careful though - too fast, and their assailants on the ground might notice. It was divine providence that nobody had been underneath their cloud, or else the blood seeping down his coat and through the cloud would have been an absolute tell. His back ached abysmally, and every heartbeat shot pain through his agonized muscles and spine.

Danielle had torn pieces from her pants and used them to bind her own leg and Oriana's haunch in makeshift bandages. She still held pressure on Oriana's wound to keep the bleeding down. Of the woman herself, she was no longer crying from the pain, and no longer biting a piece of fabric to keep from screaming. She had eventually settled for rocking back and forth while quietly groaning, after Oriana gave her a piece of willow bark she kept around for emergencies.

Cutter knew they were getting close to New Humansville; he could see Pegasi flying around in the sky. They were almost there. He was so tired, and the pain was making him nauseous but he refused to give up.

* * *

Razor woke up lying in a metal box that had a single glass window, displaying a much larger metallic room outside. The last thing she could remember was running through the trees when she felt a sting on her right haunch, then getting very sleepy.

There were people standing outside the window, watching her. Some were wearing white coats, and some were wearing some sort of camouflage uniforms... and looked distinctly unfriendly. Razor grunted with effort as she stood up, her belly swaying and sagging. The people stayed put, watching her and writing on their clipboards.

Razor placed her right forehoof against the glass. "Hello?" she asked in American English.

The Humans immediately seemed to become agitated; they turned to one another and began speaking very quickly and animatedly. Razor found she could hear them clearly, and set her mind to work using her special talent to start deciphering their tongue. The language was very different from American English. Where English and Spanish had crisp, almost brisk sounds this new language was more flowing, curling like the peels of an apple. The intonation of the voice rose and lowered minimally; it almost sounded like some sort of partially muted singing. Most sounds seemed to be made with the tongue, teeth, and vocal chords, less with the lips.

Razor had no actions or objects for context or reference regarding the words so it was looking to be a long process even with her talent. Still, she watched and listened. The gesturing was mostly in her direction- wait, no. Humans tended to gesture to someone's head when they gestured, and these Humans were gesturing lower.

Razor took a nervous step back when she realized they were gesturing to her pregnant belly.

The Humans noticed her retreat and began writing on their clipboards again. Razor backed up as far as she could into the corner, farthest from the obvious door and the giant window. She was scared, 'What do they want with my foal? What do they want with me?' She had no solid answers, and the possibilities she thought of were horrible, but Artex had spared no details in telling her of the atrocities Humans were capable of.

She tried to calm herself down, but it didn't work very well, 'Wait! We're probably not in Equestria anymore; Luna said the Humans that murdered the two citizens from the city/state operated from a different country on Earth and these Humans probably don't have magic.' She did not have many options, but she had a need, 'Mind reading is illegal, but I know a few spells - let's see what you're thinking.' She ignited her horn and tried to keep it as subtle as possible as she skimmed the thoughts of the Humans right outside of her cage.

First she focused on an older male, 'Specimen seems more cautious now, less outgoing... we need to discover what caused it to back away... it was captured near where the second team said there was a confirmed sighting of a Human woman, so it is not out of fear of Humans...'

Razor pulled her focus away from the older man and focused on a younger man, 'Not side-facing eyes, but not forward-facing eyes either... neither predator nor prey? Hmm, probably not... these things developed on a different planet so who is to say their world did not develop differently? That is more likely, honestly- Wait! It's looking right at me!'

Razor shifted her focus again, this time to a middle aged woman, 'Obviously pregnant - we can study the development of the fetus and, if it lives long enough, the birthing process too! Otherwise, it's dissection tiiiiiiiime!' The woman's mind sang the final two words. Razor felt ill at the woman's thoughts and made a mental note to stay away from her if at all possible.

Razor then decided to focus on one of the armed people, 'We have to figure out a better way to kill these things! That big one killed two of the first squad before they brought it down. How many bullets does it take to kill one of these things!? Heh, I wonder if it can scream and plead? I can't wait until we're given free reign to kill them all!'

Razor's mind recoiled from that particular Human and focused on the younger man who was also in uniform, 'Obey the General. Obey the General, Obey the General, Obey the General, Obey the General, Obey the General, Obey the General.' It just kept repeating. Razor was shocked, 'Someone has mind-controlled that one!'

Another middle aged female entered the area where all the other Humans were. Razor focused on her, 'So this is one of them... they look... cute... careful, they're lethal, but they're supposed to be intelligent. Why would they attack if unprovoked? They don't seem built for offense, except for the horn, this one even less so; it's pregnant...'

Razor's mind began to work, 'Okay, so they don't seem to know about magic. That's both good and bad. It means I can use some magic subtly, but I absolutely cannot get caught. I can't tip them off to what I can do. When someone comes to rescue me, they'll need every advantage they can get and I need to do my part to get myself out of here. Only one of these people seems even remotely reasonable. I'll have to try her.' Razor extinguished her horn, and thankfully none of the Humans seemed to take notice.

The Humans were still only glancing at her and writing down everything. They were being passive, and Razor Wit had to be active. Even from where she was, she could take control of the situation, 'It doesn't seem like they have studied one of us before. I can work with this.'

Staying away from the Humans, Razor made a show of slowly examining her immediate surroundings within the hermetically sealed room. She scoured every inch of the place, intentionally keeping her ears as still as possible and using her nose to sniff around like a dog. If they were going to treat her like an animal, then that is what she would show them. She would bide her time until she could escape.

'No point in trying to dig - it would be a waste of effort. I'm betting this metal has been worked a lot,' she looked at other things, 'And so has the glass and the door. There seems to be a lot of rubber around the door and window; it's very tightly pressed, but rubber is still a softish substance and my magic can reach where Human fingers cannot. Once they leave, I can see what I can do. I'll also have to test whether or not my magic can reach through this glass.'

* * *

Cloud Cutter tried not to move as the New Humansville Pegasi swarmed all over himself and the two wounded females, "Don't touch them! Get the cloud to the ground and get the C.W.G. and doctors! Go! NOW!" He ordered them. They shied away at first, but they began pushing the cloud down toward the surface while others flew off toward the hospital, all of them calling out for help and with the lung capacity of Pegasi they could raise quite the din.

"You're going to be okay, girls." He said, trying to comfort them.

Oriana groaned as she raised her head, "But what happened to Rose and Razor?"

Danielle spoke up, "Razor... made it to the trees... We need to send the cops... out to get her... as soon as possible... She's pregnant, and the stress... won't be good... for the baby... I hope Rose is okay..."

Cutter cocked his head at the woman, "You have your gun on your belt; why didn't you try to shoot back?"

Danielle shook her head sadly, "Too far... didn't have a target... and it's only short range... If they were military... which would be the only possibility... they wouldn't be very worried about one woman... with a nine millimeter who is... over a hundred yards away... I wouldn't be a threat... and they would know it... It would be a waste of effort... and give away that I have a... valuable tool if they decided to... get close." She said between rocking and breathing heavily, still sweating from the pain and exertion.

The Pegasi let go of the cloud while the C.W.G. and assorted medical personnel swarmed the trio. Oriana and Danielle were triaged before being moved, while Cloud Cutter was bombarded with questions. He gave a prone salute as Captain Joyner knelt down next to him, "What happened?"

"Razor, Oriana, Rose, Tip, Danielle, and I were all out for a picnic in a clearing to the East when we were attacked. Feather Tip's head just... exploded... and we all ducked down into the grass when we heard a loud crack. Rose told us to run, and said she would draw their fire. Oriana and Danielle were shot trying to run, so I grabbed them and flew them onto a cloud. Razor ran further East into the forest - I don't know where she is. We heard a lot of shooting for a little while... it must have been Rose keeping them distracted while we got away. Once the girls are off me, I can take you ther-"

A male voice from behind Cutter cut in, "No, you can't."

Cutter followed the voice and saw Doctor Jewel, "Why not?" he asked.

"Because you've got damage to your spine," Dr. Jewel said evenly. "You probably didn't feel it with all the stress, but the sustained weight of the girls on one spot for so long has also left tiny stress cracks in the bones in your spine. I ran a magic scan on you, and there's no damage to your spinal cord, but you've suffered three slightly damaged vertebrae, and you've got two slipped disks. Don't move a muscle, do you understand me? Stay put."

Cutter opened his mouth to say he was fine, but that was the same time that Danielle and Oriana were lifted off of him. Blood began to flow back through his body, and his back lit up as though he were on fire. He froze in place, muscles locked and almost immediately began to sweat, "It hurts!" He yelled through clenched teeth, "It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! IT HURTS!"

Dr. Jewel held out his hand and channeled his magic as powerfully as he could. Cutter passed out as relief flooded his body. Oriana and Danielle had already received the same treatment, so Jewel then turned to the nurses who had them, "We need all three of them in surgery - A.S.A.P." He began pushing Oriana's gurney while speaking. "Danielle's wound broke the bone. The fragments didn't go far, and thankfully there were no significant arteries or veins damaged. She is priority one. Oriana's wound nicked an artery, but thanks to the pressure they kept on the wound, the blood loss is easily manageable. Cutter is going to require the most extensive surgery..."

Captain Joyner motioned for his officers to gather around, "I want everybody kitted up, right now. Our citizens have been attacked, and at least one is dead. I want every Officer fully armed and armored at all times while on patrol. Take your weapons home, if it's safe for you to do so. I need a squad of fifty ready to go within half an hour. Hord, Solid, Vapor, Baugh, and Zeigler - you're Sergeants; take ten Officers each and kit them out. Make them ready to move in half an hour. Tarver, take your Changeling Officers and scout the area from the air. Head to H.Q. and get out of your armor, then take whatever forms you need to to stay hidden. Stay safe. Go."

Darryl Hord spoke up and asked, "Shouldn't we tell Dan?"

Captain Joyner shook his head, "Let's be certain of everything we can before we tell him. He won't be in a good place when he hears that a family friend has been murdered, and two of his wives have been shot. Let's find Razor and Rose safe and sound, so we can give him some good news to go with the bad. Let's move."

* * *

An hour later, Darryl Hord was in the lead as the C.W.G. Officers made their way through the forest. They were walking quickly and quietly, all armed with gyrojet rifles, shotguns, and submachine guns. The space between the trees was densely packed with small bushes, making it easy for them to hide behind, but difficult to stay silent. Darryl saw the clearing up ahead, but his nose told him what he already knew: blood had been shed nearby. He knew the smell of death. He knew it all too well from his tours in Afghanistan.

They were less than ten Fathoms from the edge of the clearing when a rustling in the bushes nearby made Darryl jump. He spun toward the sound, his rifle shouldered. Tarver emerged from the bush looking harried, "Gather everyone quickly!" he hissed softly. Darryl stood upright and waved everyone over to him then turned back to Tarver, "How did you know we would be coming by here?"

"If I drew a straight line between New Humansville and here, this spot was exactly within that line, and it seems it was a good choice. You just happened to be standing right next to me," Tarver explained.

Captain Joyner and the other Sergeants gathered closely to listen to Tarver, "In the trees to the North, we found some Humans using shovels to turn over dirt and collect bits and pieces of blood, flesh, and bullet casings. I left some of my 'lings there to watch them; they're disguised as crows."

Captain Joyner nodded. "Vapor, take the Pegasi and take to the air. Locate these Humans and land on the far side. When we make our move, they'll either fight, surrender, or try to run. If they try to run, stop them. Use non-lethal force if at all possible, but if they open fire, return it. We can still get information from dead bodies if we have to. Go."

He turned to the rest of the Officers, "Weapons hot, but try to take them alive. If they attack, I'll give the order for lethal or non-lethal. Sargeants, take your teams and spread out - we head North, then come at them from the West. Hord, take your team and create a firing line to the North to cut them off. Baugh, take the Unicorns and set up so you have a clear line of sight in the clearing. If they head that direction, use the Unicorns to immobilize them. Everyone make sure your weapons are loaded and chambered. Humans, help the Ponies if they ask. Make it quick - we've been given an opportunity here. Let's not waste it."

* * *

Tarver pointed with his left foreleg. "See there? Four digging with shovels and four guards. I'm not familiar with these kinds of Human weapons... what are those?"

Captain Joyner looked to Darryl. "Got any details for me, Hord?"

Darryl peered at the heavily armed men, "Looks like they're carrying AA-12s with either 20-round or 32-round drum magazines. The AA-12 is a fully-automatic shotgun. If they open up with those, we're in some big trouble. They can dish out some serious hurt - one shot to an unarmored target will plant you six feet under. I'm not certain how well our armor would stand up to those. Our best bet would be to surround them and have all our weapons ready to fire. If they shoot first, we have to take them down QUICK, and that won't be easy with their body armor. Forget shooting their center mass, it won't do any good. Their armor covers their chests, backs, arms, legs, and head. It's not perfect though, face shots will still do the trick, and if you can get a side shot to their torsos and legs you can do some real damage. Even if they're knocked down, they can still fight. If they drop prone, pretty much our only option would be to come at them from above." Darryl spoke into his helmet headset so everyone could hear him.

Captain Joyner motioned for the assembled Officers to form up around them. "The enemy has full-auto shotguns. We all need to be ready to open fire if they shoot first. Earth Ponies, find stable positions and take aim at the armed guards. Hord, move out and head North; contact us on the coms when you're in position."

Mike Joyner checked his rifle, he had left his trident at home. He and the rest of the Officers waited patiently until they received the message in their helmet coms, "Hord here. We're in position."

"Give us two minutes, then approach the enemy," Captain Joyner replied. Turning to the rest of the Officers, he motioned, "Move up and stay quiet."

"Vapor, if I call for a dive-bomb, I need you and your Pegasi to take to the air and dive down on them. If anyone hears me order the dive-bomb, cease firing immediately. I don't want any friendly fire out there," Mike ordered.

They crept forward keeping low and slow. The guards seemed to be taking their ease more or less, and Mike thought it was one of the stupidest things he had ever seen. The guards were talking to each other casually, even turning their heads to speak with one another instead of watching their surroundings.

Captain Mike Joyner whispered into his helmet headset, "Spread out. I want a body length between people." He waited as his Officers spaced themselves out quietly. As they got into position, he looked carefully around the enemy Humans digging and the surrounding area. He could see nine crows in the trees surrounding the men, and his Officers were still seven Fathoms away from their enemy.

Once everyone was in position, Mike called out, "Drop your weapons and put your hands on your heads! You are under arrest on suspicion of murder, and multiple counts of attempted murder! Resist and you will be fired upon!"

The guards all instantly shouldered their AA-12s, aiming in the Captain's direction, "Identify yourself!" one of them yelled.

"I am the Captain of the local policing body, and you will be fired upon if you do not drop your weapons and surrender!" he repeated. "We have you surrounded! Do not resist! We don't want any more blood spilled!"

"We don't take orders from you! Show yourself." one of the guards responded.

"Lower your weapons and I will show myself!" Joyner replied.

"Not on your life, asshole! You don't show yourself, we're gonna to hose down the whole place until we get you!" The mouthy guard replied.

"Final warning!" Mike said firmly, "LAY DOWN YOUR WEAPONS!"

"We don't take orders from you! OPEN FIRE!" The mouthy guard yelled.

They opened fire, and received return fire from two different directions. The Humans with shovels dropped to the ground and covered their heads, while the four guards fired away. Their shots tore chunks of bark and wood from the trees and the loam and bushes. The fire they received in return was withering and continuous. their body armor soaked up dozens of shots and just as Darryl predicted, the four guards dropped prone and continued firing. Captain Joyner yelled out, "Dive-bomb! Dive-bomb! Dive-bomb!" Then, he felt a terrible impact to his chest and a burning in his right cheek.

There were yells from every direction - some of pain, some of anger; it was confusing. Suddenly, the AA-12s stopped firing. After a few seconds of silence, Captain Joyner looked up. The Pegasi, led by Vapor and the waiting Changelings, had tackled all the enemy Humans onto the ground in brutal fashion.

Vapor had one of the guards pinned with each of his arms held down by a hoof, his shimmering wing held against the man's throat. Another one had a pair of Changelings holding him; one had his right arm and the other was standing on his left arm with the Changeling's fanged maw over the man's throat. The third guard had both of his arms obviously broken, and writhed underneath a trio of angry looking Pegasi who were sitting on his torso. The last guard had his arms and legs pinned beneath four Changelings, all of whom had his limbs in their mouths as blood slowly seeped from the punctures of their fangs.

Captain Joyner groaned as he stood up, "Injury reports!" he ordered.

"Dusty is dead. Rade, Fortune, and Hopper are injured." Zeigler reported.

"Tennison and Samsons are dead." Darryl said calmly, "I've got Stevens and Grouper wounded."

Mike huffed angrily, "An Earth Pony and two Humans dead." he said darkly as he approached the captured Humans. The shovelers were still on the ground, each under the watch of a Pegasus or a Changeling.

"Let's get them cuffed. Use caution with the injured ones. We're better than them, and I won't have anyone abusing suspects in custody. Pat them down and double check for weapons." He then spoke into his headset, "Baugh, all clear. Spread out your Unicorns and begin investigating."

Captain Joyner looked down at the captured Humans, "Once we get home, let's find out what these guys know." He spoke again into his headset, "Relieve the Changelings and Pegasi of their prisoners and get the wounded some first aid. As soon as they're stable, I want the Pegasi and Changelings flying them back to New Humansville."

Darryl suddenly came leaping through the trees, "Check their helmets and vests for cameras!"

* * *

Back on Earth, General Hiriboshi cursed loudly while everyone around him continued their work. Most of the military personnel were under his control, the Command Center personnel were under his control, and soon everyone in the Facility would be under his control as well. No General in history had such a tight grip on his troops. They still had their free will - to a point - but there were some orders that nobody could disobey, and spilling secrets was one of the ones he'd implanted into every person who went through the portal dome. He was not worried. His soldiers would reveal nothing and he did not need to sacrifice more.

'Some will invariably perish in this great endeavor, but the rewards for Humanity will be worth it in the end.' "Ruthless Expansionism", the Westerners had called the Chinese mentality; Hiriboshi knew better. 'We are the only ones willing to make the sacrifices necessary to embrace our destiny as absolute rulers, and these inferior creatures will never be able to stand against us.'

Thinking back to earlier that same day, 'A shame that I lost two to that rampaging beast, but they put it down easily enough, and now we have its corpse to study. The real prize was the pregnant one - the main objective. If the scientists can find a way to force these creatures to miscarry, then we can take our time and just wait for them to die out instead of wasting Human lives. Failing that, we will simply plant a few well-placed explosives and nerve agents and activate them. The populace will be surprised and helpless in the ensuing panic.'

He pressed a button and cut the live feed from the now broken camera on one of the soldiers. 'Soon, they will die, but their sacrifice will aid Humanity in our forward progression.'

Next Chapter: Chapter 67: There Is An Opposite... Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 11 Minutes