(Fallon)

“Come on then.” I say reaching down and grabbing onto Miiora’s forearm and lifting her up onto the rocks. I pat her on the back before reaching back down and helping up Trombley and Fick. I am about to drop Fick’s rain slick arm when a pair of arms reach out and grab his other arm. I look over to see Miiora digging her clawed feet into the rock digging small grooves into the stone. The two of us look at one another and pull Fick up.

We have been walking for two weeks, our platoon which had once been sixty strong is now only thirty-five. The rain has not stopped since we left the village, we have lost Marines to Malaria, fever, and suicide. That doesn't mean the UEC has forgotten about us, almost every few days they send death squads into the forests after us. Shadow and his ATLAS have been destroyed and we were forced to destroy the machine to keep it from falling into enemy hands. SD is covered in scratches and dings from engagements with UEC armor.

Morale is at an all-time low, Garza is struck with a hellish bout of Malaria because we have run out of medicine. So we had him tied to a kind of hammock on SD’s chassis. Most of us are soaking wet and Fick has revealed “Spaceman” of his command. Most of our helmets are so fucked that we had to ditch them instead now dawning the emergency Protective posture or EPP helmets.

The EPP helmets resemble world war two American helmets with slots to allow our headsets to be worn. A new man has entered our little group by the name of CPL Merriel Shelton but everyone calls him SNAFU, a term that means Situation Normal All Fucked Up. Snafu is from PRC New Orleans 9 which is a swampy shit hole by his accounts. He was a hell diver that found us two days ago in his black HEBA bug suit which glistens slightly in the rain like the carapace of a beetle. We found another hell diver with him but a tank round took her out of the fight.

======================================================

(Miiora)

“Hey Miiora, what’s the deal with the ACM?” Trombley asks as we sit under a tent as rain slams down around us

“You go'en pony?” Snafu asks Forbes who had removed his boots to drain the water.

“My feet are soaked.”

“What the fuck are you gonna do if they come over the line?” The one called Snafu says roughly shoving Forbes’ boots back into his chest.

“Well, the Anti Conclave movement came around maybe fifty of your years ago.”

“Why do you say that? Your years?” I ask, Miiora takes a kind of thinking posture

“Well, the various species on Eques are very much slower than you or I. For example, a pony can live to be a few hundred of your years old. But to them a fifty-year-old pony might be at least a century old,” she explains as I attempt to light a cigarette.
“Well if that is true, how long have they been in space?”

“I do not know but I would guess maybe one or two hundred of your years. They enslaved my people before I was born so I don't really know. I'm sorry” she says looking down at the ground.

“Hey don't be sorry. That's why we're here, to keep it from happening to others.” I say putting a hand on her shoulder and looking her in the eye.

“Ya red, we all volunteered for this shit. Now, what was you saying about the ACM?” Snafu says

“Well, they formed after something called the Scouring. The scouring was an event that changed Equestria after Changeling Queen Chrysalis was overthrown and most Changelings altered their allegiance. The queen and those loyal to her fled vowing revenge against Equestria. From what I was taught two years after the scouring, the ponies achieved space flight and shared this gift with any that would align with them.” I explain.

“And that's how the UEC was formed?” Parkins asks as he and Fick walked up joining a small crowd forming.

“Well the UEC was technically formed two years later after Chrysalis’ changelings and others of the “old brood” as the new changelings call it, stole a colony ship to escape Eques to seek out a new planet to live. Originally the UEC was formed to track the old changelings down and eliminate these hives and their queens. They were close, destroying six when they discovered the Myrialos. The Mirialos were the first to fall to the now named UEC, when they discovered the crustaceans lives were much shorter than their own, they staked a claim to the Myrialos home world.Their cities of coral and medical wanders taken for their own or destroyed.” Miiroa says

=============================================================

(UEC fleet)

“Where are they?” Rarity asks herself. Her hands are clasped behind her back as she studies a holographic map of the planet. Most of the NAC forces have formed up into bands to strike at UEC targets but with the planetary shield and their fleet has been gone for weeks they are now tired, low on supplies, taking casualties, and making mistakes. The airfield the humans have under their control is only allowed to stay so because it forces them to expend marepower to defend it.

A few hundred NAC soldiers lie dead on Bagmare and more die each passing day. With the failsafe charge deployed they can no longer use captured UEC vehicles for the time. Do their short lives they can not look at the bigger picture and fail to see that they have played right into UEC hands. The NAC armored walkers have proven to be more than a match in battle and in almost every occasion where one is deployed they come out victorious.

But that does not mean they are invincible. Several commanders boast of destroying one or two of these armored beasts. However, they have continued to be uncapturable due to some kind of failsafe that causes the entire thing to erupt in a violent white sparking explosion, turning anything useful into slag.

“Here come six more.” Spike says by her side.

The dragon is referring to the influx of ships that have been arriving to reinforce the UEC’s hold in orbit. The retaliation fleet that had been reduced from thirty-one ships down to fifteen now floats in Luna’s stars sixty strong. Many of these ships consisting of Destroyers in anticipation of the NAC’s counter attack. Accompanying the new reinforcements were the Princesses Celestia and Luna, they wanted a progress report on the campaign.

They were furious at the loss of Shining armor and Cadence, the bulk of the Thirtieth fleet and Celestia demanded immediate revenge. Luna, however, was much more reluctant to dedicate more troops to fighting the Humans. When their strange and immensely powerful allies that had arrived over Camelot in their hour of need have been pushing UEC borders.

The new enemy, however, is not as much of a threat to UEC ships as to Human ships do to the shields used by UEC ships. However their mass and bulk have proven dangerous and even lethal to anypony unfortunate enough to be in front of one. The sheer size of their ships almost negates the Lances used in close quarters by the UEC ships, however, they are not invincible. The only problem is that the Lance is the only weapon that seems to work on the thick hides of their strange ships. However, the issue with dealing with the new enemy is that their ships are almost impossible to spot.

“Rarity are you ready to give your report?” Twilight asks from the door to the observation deck she had turned into a kind of war room.

“Yes, I am quite ready. Come Spiky.”

================================================

(ACM

“The NAC are stretched too thin…”

“Yes but look they appear to be amassed around this structure.”

“But isn't that?”

“Yes but if they strike together with our forces we might be able to…”

“No we still don't know anything about them we have to wait.”

“They don't have the time, another month and they will all be dead. We’ll be trapped here.”

“That doesn't mean we have to play all of our hands at once. I say we help them out but find a way to help ourselves should the need arise.”

“Enough! We will help the NAC and hopefully in return they will help us when or if the need arises. Carapace, send a Messenger.”

“Yes right away.”

=======================================================

(Garza)

“Three years after the Myrialos came the UEC’s first challenge. The Kleese.” Miiora explained

“What made the Kleese different?” Someone asks

“Shut up she’s getting to it.” another says.

“The Kleese were also a space fairing race still exploring their massive celestial system or star system as you call it. However unlike the Myrialos the Kleese could fight back and were aggressive, and so when the first UEC ships arrived to attempt to conquer them they were driven back. The Zaltule warriors met them at every turn. The UEC’s weapons at the time are not as advanced as they are now, however, they made for it with magic. In space, the Kleese ships were much more advanced than the UEC’s using energy weapons to slice the UEC ships to scrap. However, the Kleese were unable to leave their star system and eventually were driven back one planet at a time. The Kleese in one desperate attempt to save their civilization drew their ships back to their homeworld and rendered the planet an impregnable fortress. However, the UEC could play the long game and after several Equestrian months of siege, the UEC moved in. The Kleese fleets stayed and held their ground unto the end dying by the thousands on the ground and in space. Eventually, the grand field marshal was ordered to subdue the planet at any cost and was forced to destroy the Kleese power stations. The ensuing explosions and fallout rendered their planet uninhabitable.” she says looking at the ground.

“But it was this that caused the first real seeds of rebellion to plant. The very field marshal who lead the campaign against the Kleese was named Honor Medal. Honor Medal was an infamous former high-ranking officer in the Royal Equestrian Guard Forces. He also was the head of the Solar and Lunar guard forces, and the E.U.P. Guard before stepping down from his position as Captain of the Guard and accepting the title and Rank of Royal Body Guard and Grand Field Marshal to all R.E.G. forces. It is rumored that it was shortly after the advent of the first Equestrian built Warp Field and the formation of the U.E.C. that Field Marshal Honor Medal began to grow weary and cautious of his homeworld's new status as a space-faring civilization. It wasn't until after the U.E.C made the first contact with the Kleese that things began to spiral downhill. What followed would be remembered for ages in the history of Eques and the U.E.C. Field Marshal Honor D. Medal stood before the entire U.E.C council floor, and openly criticized and condemned his and the U.E.C's actions on the destruction of the Kleese homeworld and its colonies. He walked out of the Council chambers, and after that others began following his example.”

“The guys got some balls I’ll give him that.” Forbes says

==============================================================

(UEC

As usual, Princess Luna disapproves of Celestia's plan to push the enslavement of the humans even further than it is currently. Her sisters plan to use the humans as conscripts to fight their own kind as to tradition is flawed this time, however. Celestia wants to use the human slaves to fight the NAC not understanding that the act of doing so would cause more uprisings and unrest in the human population. The current situation is very unnerving but promising because for every few humans that resist there is at least one or two that join the fight against the NAC.

These sympathizers are instrumental in keeping the peace in the human population, cracking down on the unrest in the populous. The few humans that have engaged the NAC have done very well against their brethren because as of right now the only ones who know how to properly fight humans are other humans. It is because of this reason that Princess Celestia wants to use them to fight.

Thinking that the NAC will be unwilling to fire upon their own kind like every other race has before them. However this is not the case however, battlefield reports show that the humans of the NAC not only will fire on Human sympathizers but will kill them first. Commander Jackal of the Zebras thinks it is a result of their inherent barbarism, but she couldn't be further from the truth.

On another note, the Princess of the night has again failed to link with the dreams of the Humans on the planet. This news is troubling because it means that the UEC will not know what the NAC is planning next. However, it appears that somehow someone is feeding them information about UEC troop movements. They have help in the fleet but the Spy will have to wait, Rarity watches the Princess’s prepare to address the UEC.

================================================

(Forbes)

“Last came my race, the Tymerans. When the UEC arrived in orbit, we could not fight back in space. Our weapons and ships proved no match against the UEC’s energy lances. They had stolen the Kleese’s energy blade technology and reverse engineered it for use on their own ships. Our people are not as aggressive as the Kleese but our homeworld of Tymer is a hostile world. When they landed troops we set upon them with claw and tooth. The weapons the UEC use now are derived from the weapons used on my homeworld, but my kind was not prepared for the UEC’s heavy infantry so when the Dragons came, my kind tried to hold our ground. The Dragons proved too powerful, many of our greatest warriors and leaders left to fight the dragons but did not return, with the exception of one a chieftain by the name of Plagn. It was said that he had slain a dragon single-handed.” Miiora is cut off by a flash of lightning.

“Our ancestors must have forsaken us that day as when the great chieftain returned with his party he set upon our people. None stood up to him for one of your years and in that time he had subdued our people with the help of the dragons and the UEC. Then it is said that a Sirtan, a warrior among my people, stood tall and stood against him. This Sirtan was but a female teacher who had slithered up from the squalor and challenged the chieftain. It is said that their battle was ferocious. He was strong and broad, yet she was slight and fast, and for every cut, upon her scales he dealt she returned three of her own. It is said that this battle lasted for hours and the two were evenly matched when Princess Luna ended the battle. She descended from the skies herself and slew the female who represented the hopes of my people. She then denied her entrance to an egg of burial and instead set her ablaze with her magic. Denying her entrance to the halls of ancestors where all Tymerans go when they die, and leaving her dreams, deeds, and name unwritten and forgotten. The male was rewarded and was dubbed a hero by the Princesses. And so the Tymerians became slaves of the dragons primarily.” She pauses before continuing.

“It was ten of your years after this that the UEC’s most hated enemy the, Old Changelings returned. Their battles with the UEC inspired more to raise up against them, the first to emerge was the once Field Marshal Honor Medal at the head of an army of traitors. Then seeing that even the destroyer of their home resented the UEC, the Kleese rose up and joined the fight. The Myrialos joined the fight in hopes to one day to live in peace. Next were the Tymerians seeking to dislodge the government that would allow the proper burial of a heroin, but the rebellions lacked skill in this kind of war, and in the first battle, many were slain. The Humans of Camelot were then found and everything changed. The UEC had never seen a race so close to themselves, they invaded and took the humans, but instantly the rebellions recognized the cunning of your kind. The ability to strike and fall away so quickly as if you had done it before. With the introduction of Humans into the rebellions and your kind seeming need to use acronyms the ACM was born. At its head are Queen Chrysalis, Honor Medal, and a human by the name of Blisk” Miiora says as the rain slowly stops

===============================================

(Fallon)

“We have news! We're oscar mike!” Fick says as Garza walks up from behind him, Guess we had some medicine left. Behind them is a small group of ACM troops.

“Whats going on?” I ask

“We are going to make one last push and attempt to call for help. At least one of the Indie ships has to be still in the system. It came straight from regimental command, Everyone’s making a push for the shield generator. I guess it all comes down to this if that thing stays we are all going to die down here. We've got to take that thing out, no matter what the cost.” Fick says as we all stand in a clearing.

“Now I've been fighting with some of you for a long time, we’ve been on some tough missions together, but one way or another we’ve always pulled through. Now I’d be lying if I say I know we would get through this one alright, but what I do know is that we will get the job done. We have a duty to ourselves, a duty to our fellow soldiers, a duty to the ACM to get the job done…” Fick says as we prepare ourselves, I see a Changeling with what looks like a camera pointing at Fick as the first rays of sunlight raise in the distance. I have a feeling that one way or another this ends today.

====================================================

(UEC space)

“The road ahead of us isn't going to be easy, the UEC isn't going to let us walk in and destroy that thing without a fight. They're going to try to stop us every inch of the way, they're going to try to kill every one of us before we get near that thing, but you know what I have to say to that? I say we've beaten them twenty times on this planet already and I think it's time to finish the job…” The television screens in the UEC activate showing the changeling federation symbol before a human.

The human is young and dressed in the armor of the NAC, the screen then changes to static before switching to the Bridge of the Element of Magic where the princesses who are in the middle of addressing the UEC, when the bridge behind them erupts with activity.

“Radiation burst! From point two two four, point three five.”

“Show me.” Captain Polar says.

The zoomed in screen shows a ship that is roughly the size of a UEC cruiser at two hundred meters. However, it is built in a kind of sweeping triangle formation that extends far past the engines. Two barrels extend toward the bow on its back ending with what appear to be lenses. The ship looks vaguely like an ancient Kleese design two flaps open under its hull and two massive rotating cylinders appear. The entire ship is a bronze color and on the wither wing-like protrusion is what appears to be crossed spears.

“More radiation.” a bridge officer says and more and more of the strange ship begin appearing. Then one that appears to be slightly bigger around the size of a Destroyer at four hundred and fifty meters appears. This one shares the swept back arrow head of its smaller cousins however it’s center line is replaced with a massive cut out ending in a massive lens.

“Sir we are being hailed.”

“Excellent. A new race, hopefully we can solve this…”

“Attention, roes I am Admiral Bahadur.” a heavily accented voice comes over the radio. As the last of the ships appears their number now numbering twelve a pitiful fleet against this.

“Well, admiral welcome to UEC space…”

“We know who you are…” the image is cut off as the human appears again.

=======================================================

(Trombley)

“Over the years we have lived and died together, we’ve shared barracks and shared foxholes, we’ve shared tears and shed blood together, but don't remember what we did, remember why we did it. We were fighting for something more than ourselves. For something that speaks to each and every one of us. Something that calls out to us urging us to fight on.” Fick says as he addresses us the sound of rifle bolts sliding echoes in the jungle as I am pitched up by SD.

=====================================

(UEC fleet)

“Today I want you to remember what we are fighting for…” the young human says before being replaced with the bridge view.

“UEC, know this you have made an enemy of us. By engaging our closest allies.”

“If that is the case then you will pay for your…” Polar speaks

“Silence!” the alien's voice booms into over the speakers. “We are but the first to arrive.”

There was a moment of silence before it was broken.

“What is he talking about?” a bridge officer says

“Warp Radiation bursts.”

“On Screen.” Celestia orders.

The window zoomed in to show the massive human ship that looks like it has recently patched holes. The name on the side looks like it has been recently removed and replaced. And If you were to read carefully you would see that the faided words read Annihilator. Now, however, the name reads NACS- 22508.2 MANITOBA. Beside it, the ship from the first engagement on Camelot NACS-224498 Leathy emerges, followed by other Human ships bearing the NAC flag and name plates.

“What is…” Luna begins, however, she is quickly cut off.

“I am Bahadur of the Zulu, and The United African Federation will stand with the North American Commonwealth.”

========================================

“Today I want you to remember what we are fighting for…”

‘Wayland-yutani building better worlds’

“You ready big guy?” I say as I check SD’s systems.

‘I am ready pilot’

“Today… we fight for Earth”

Author's Notes:

sorry for the wait.