Miiora noticed that the twin L-blades on twin L-blades on her lover’s mech seemed to drip or flow with something she couldn't quite see but could feel. As the pulsed from within with dull red light. “LZ secure.” Charlotte’s voice came over the channel.

As our reinforced lance moved into a protective circle around the landing zone the three Cazador dropships landed. It is odd because the usual human dropships are loud but the MOTH dropships hardly makes any noise at all as they lands like a gigantic insects and unload and take on their cargo of troops before taking back off again.

Out of everyone here Helldiver X’s Drop shockers, a squad of automated infantry lead by the oddly colored robot, a regular infantry squad lead by LT Fick and Sgt Brianna Fallon. MOTH “Pipe” then chose that time to speak

“Alright this is as close as we can get to the AO of the infiltration team. Levoy see if you can pick something up?” That drew my attention from the power armored MOTH to my squad mate.

Unlike all of us save for one other who wore some kind of long coat on top of the light armor he wore. Levoy too wore light battle armor a Weyland-yutani symbol rested under his NAC patch. And I watched my squad mate turn to converse with the other strangely dressed human before pointing in what seemed like a random direction.

The other human turned to my mech and as he turned a I saw a stylised I with two crossbars hanging from a chain around his neck. “Liaison Mii’ora, come here for a second.” the Inquisitor, Eisenhorn said.

“As you wish sir.” After “Habu” opened the cockpit and lowered me to the ground I quickly crossed the distance but soon found two others had joined the group. The Onyx guard my HUD registers as “Pipe” with the jagged toothed attachment on his rifle, and chief Burbanjack her love’s commanding officer.

“Miiora tymerians evolved as hunters correct from some form of snake or lizard correct?” The larger Inquisitor asked. “Y-yes that is correct sir.”

“Excellent, your squadmate seems to have picked up on a faint pheromone trail. But his model isn't built for this kind of thing. And Eisenhorn here seems to think you might be able to do better.” Burbanjack said, his hands crossed over his power armored chest.

“She will do her best sir.” Under their scrutiny I unlatched my helmet, clipped it to my breast plate and slung my rifle before taking a deep breath.

There was something faint on the air and it made my predators instincts react. My tongue flicked out subconsciously and my sensory organs on my snout flared. She dropped down the joints in her limbs shifting to allow her to crouch on both her claws and talons.

Two… scents good out among the group she smelled. A human… no her human and another… a familiar scent.

“What the fuck is she doing?” She heard someone say. She felt the first whisps against her exposed horns as the wind shifted. Her nostrils fill with a faint scent but one she knows oh so well, it fills her with longing, need, and… wait blood?

Without any thought the maiden Miiora swayed her tail for balance before bursting into the jungle. Behind me I can hear the rest of the rescue team and soon she stopped the rain is thick and the scent becoming thicker. Her pupils sharpen to slits, her nostrils flared, tongue flicks, and tail sways as she tracks her love.

A young Miiora sat on floor of the T’elsha’ka jungle. Her head was slightly to large for her small frame but her body was already starting to develop and her mother hated that her daughter would be beautiful. Her beauty would make her a target for the dragons. Her mother a shaman stalked around her daughter of eleven summers. The two had come here to teach the daughter of Belki’ora to hunt as the ancestors had.

At the edge of the forest the two were surrounded by the burial eggs of the ancestors. They could see the master's craft flying high over head, and the young Mii’ora’s slave collar itched. “Sit daughter, take time to smell and taste the forest. Your prey will try to hide, so Mii’ora must feel her prey.”

The young gold and ruby scaled tymerian lowers herself to the forest floor as her mother seemed to slither closer. Mii’ora’s tongue flicked from its sheath as her small limbs shifted. Then something she couldn't explain urged her to jerk her head to the side, only to have her mother push on her head back forward.

“Do not let yourself become distracted daughter. You must let the ancestors take you into their coils. Mii’ora is the daughter of a shaman, the daughter of Belki’ora.” Mii’oras’ mother told her as she nudged the small nubs of her still growing horns.

In response she folded her secondary eyelids as the fire tides rolled around her. Her nostrils flared as she caught the scent of a some kind of fowl.

Mii’ora’s tail twitched causing a ring of pink light only visible to her and her kind out into the foliage. She would learn years later that it was some kind of natural sonar. The a blue ring shot back from the ping and her tail vibrated. Instantly she shot into the forest, Belki’ora smiled as she watched her daughter before following.

The older female bounded over a large root. Her lithe brown and red scaled body gracefully glided through the forest for several minutes as she tracked her daughter who was tracking the planted fowl. The scent of her daughter and her excitement was strong on the wind.

When Belki’ora burst through the thick branches of a tree and dug her claws into a large vine bringing her to a stop, before she coiled her tail around it. Pride flowed through her as she watched her smallest daughter plunge her fangs into the feathers of the the fowl. Miiora’s tail was coiled around the body of the bird as she dug her claws into the birds flesh.

Later that night her daughter played with Belki’ora’s eldest son Bra’tac who was home for the time. Meanwhile the mother meditated, she plunge into the fire tides in hopes of seeing what the future held for not just her daughter but all of her children.

She saw several things pass as she swam expertly avoiding the predators. She saw one of her children die executed by humans and ponies. Another swirling pool showed her second youngest Ts’ora as be stood standing before what looked like more rushing humans than she had ever seen. He was dressed in strange armor shouting something about living forever.

K’elani her second eldest daughter found a mate and had several hatchlings of her own. Tik’ac her eldest daughter's fate was cut off as she was forced to avoid more of the tide predators. Then came Bra’tac, he would become prime to a high ranking pony all the while holding to the aincent tal’shi warrior jaffa code, he wielded the a weapon like the halberd staff rifles and killed hundreds.

Then the pool seemed to change as it came to a portion where it showed Bra'tac facing a dark skinned emaciated human male. The right arm of her sons opponent was metal below the elbow and her son was holding his staff before turning with the weapon towards someone else. A female wearing strange armor that hugged the unmistakable form of a tymerian maiden.

Her strange helmet rested in the mud of a strange planet allowing Belki’ora to see the older face of her youngest daughter. The vision shifted once again before it could continue.

“No she wished to see more!” She called out as the tides swirled around her sweeping her through their torrents. She saw flashes of her daughter as she was attacked by the predators.

Belki’ora saw Mii’ora smiling a sight that was so rare that it filled her heart with happiness. Her daughter was with the human from the previous vision. Another with the two holding one another as they shared a kiss.

A pool showed itself as Miiora stood atop a hill on a planet with red skies and red oceans as a black and green gas giant hung in the sky. Beside her the human stayed refusing to leave her visions of her daughter with other several blurred shapes swirling around them.

A swirl showed a world beautiful blue and green with white clouded skies before a shift showed the same world. Only now with dirty brown clouds rapidly expanding across its skies before it shifted again to show the human grief stricken with her daughter consoling him. But her visions were cut short as the beasts ravaging her flesh bit and scratched.

She wished to see more, tried to see more but she risked to much and forced herself out of the fire tides. Around Belki’ora the furnishings sparked and dripped with liquid fire as the residual energy subsided. It would be some time before she delved that deep into the tides again.

I skidded to a halt my claws digging into the mud and soil as I reached my destination. Instantly she sniffed at the air sending bursts of sonar to locate what was giving off the scent. Taking another step she heard a clatter under foot. Reaching down into the mud and leaves my claws wrapped around something man made.

“Shelwu, Biknaksta.” When my hand came back half of an M66 emerged from the pool of water. Its grey and black shell shown slightly from a flash of lightning. “What happened here?” She asked herself before following a second ping.

Several minutes later she found what she was looking for and her heart sank as she found a bloodied HEBA helmet with the words Vtrn Fallon. A back. For a moment she thaught her suitor was dead, dead before their relationship could continue.

‘Wait Mii’ora think… feel the tides he can't be dead if the Williams went after them.’ I close my second eyelids, take a deep breath and open myself to the tides.

Immediately more scents fill and information come to me. There were three humans here one of which being her love. One of which being that brute of a man Big Dog and another. But more troubling were the three Tymerian scents…

“No, no, please ancestors tell me he is not here.” she didn't recognise the dead male or the female, but the second male. His scent was so familiar and in fact on further inspection of the area it confirmed her theory.

“Bra’tac.” She said before a buzzing sound reached my membranes causing me to turn and see the onyx guard coming through the trees. The attachment on his rifle was the source of the noise, he pulled on a lever that extended from the side of his weapons batonette before it's serrated teeth roared to life.

He brought the chainsaw like attachment down on a tree cutting it in two allowing the in mechanized element of the rescue team
through. “Damn, I need one of those things it would make killing Kleese a lot easier. I hate that our knives don't work on them.” The elder Fallon says as her metallic leg hits the ground.

Rather than respond the black armored human simply walked away from the woman and joined me. “Gimmie that.” He grunted before I could respond snatching the helmet I had found out of my claws in the process.

She let out an irritated hiss as the human turned to Sierra Delta as it came through the trees. The ATLAS-3 curiously came through with her own mech “Habu” close behind.

Nonchalantly Pipe tossed my loves damaged helmet towards Sierra Delta who caught it in its massive hand. A scanning beam shined from the main eye on my suitors mech roving it around the entire helmet. The entire process took about three seconds before the atlas crushed the helmet and tossed it aside.

The white and red mech took a knee as we all gathered around. It's eye then began to glow as it began projecting a holographic recording if the helmet cameras footage.

“Beginning playback.” The mech said. As the images began to play a sense of longing and worry that I had not felt since before we left the ship washed over me. Then as the recording neared its end I saw him, my brother Bra’tac.

Clack!, Clack!

“Again, Mii’ora! you are to slow!” Bra'tac said to the prone form of his sister smallest sister with a smile. She had lasted slightly longer than last time and much longer than Ts’ora ever could.

No his smallest brother was always better with those human designed weapons. In fact his brothers fascination with the humans was slightly hindering his progress. These thought shifted back to his sister as she pushed herself back up.

The third prime stood with one hand on the shaft of his mock halberd rifle while on the ground his sister snatched her own weapon from its place beside her and swung it at him. In response he blocked the blunt end of the weapon with his own.

“No do not let the staff lead you, you are its master. Let it become an extension of yourself. Use it in tandem with your body baby sister. Now again.”

They began again with Mii’ora on the offensive. A low strike first that the subprime easily deflected. He had to teach his sister these things, had no choice because as she grew more males would become…

He parried an over extended thrust with the staffs simulated energy edge. Seeing several openings in his sister's form he chose to drive a knee into her mid section sending her into the dirt. Blue venom oozed from his sisters maw as she writhed on the ground.

Mii’ora was coming into egg laying age and judging from her already budding body she would become a beautiful maiden. Few females developed into maidens and even fewer venomous giving her an exotic edge that would soon be sought after by many eager males. In fact he had already seen several young males leering at his beloved sister. But his presence thus far has managed to deter their advances much to her chagrin.

“It is not yet your time sister you are still coming of age. The ancestors will see you to the one you will share your heart scale with. Trust your brother.” He had told her after a male she had been seeing had been driven off by their father and himself.

He had barely managed on several occasions to negotiate her out of bonding with the drake masters. But they respected strength and were at least reluctantly accepting when he bested his young sisters would be suitors. They were not for her and he would be damned by the ancestors and his egg cracked should he allow a drake to take his sister.

A flurry of movement caught his attention and he managed to turn his head to avoid a wad of venom Mii’ora had spat at him. He bellowed in annoyance and when his sister attempted to rush him once again he tripped her with his tail before pinning her down with the staff.

She hissed at him from her prone position as her tail writhed in anger. “This is impossible, why am I even doing this brother Bra’tac?”

“Because dear sister. One day I will not be here and I do not wish for you to be bound by a male you do not truly love. On top of this two children of our clan have held to the warrior jeffa tradition since even before the masters arrived from the sky. Now before we are finished for the rotation what is the code of the tymerian warrior?”

“We must Honor and Respect Family and the ancestors. Protect and serve the Matriarchs and their People. Honor Steel with Steel. Respect a worthy and honorable foe even when they do not respect you. Respect and Honor the fallen, and Death before Dishonor.” the budding female responded.

“Close enough sister. That is all for today when I return we begin practice with the blazer and rifle staff. Now I must return you home for tomorrow I leave for a new world with my master. And until I return you will continue your lessons with father.” he said helping his sister back to her feet.

“Please don't go Bra’tac? Why can't you stay here?” She asked looking at the ground.

“Because dear sister. If I do not go my master will punish not just me, but all of you and I can not allow this. Please understand Mii’ora I do this for our family my service to commander Rarity Belle and her sister allows us more food and keeps all of you from the eyes of the dragons.”

“But…” His sister responded but was quickly cut off as he placed a hand on her head. “No more of this Mii’ora, you will understand when you are older. And when I am prime I will have the power to help our family. I love you sister and I promise so long as I draw breath no harm will come to you. I shall keep you safe until the day another male takes this duty from me.”

https://youtu.be/TG_30yb-ri4

Four earth pony rangers pulled their bayonets from the forms of three COG soldiers as the wall of the building they had just evacuated exploded outward as a large shape smashed into the barricade.

Through the shower if debris they could see a crimson human mech sitting in the half collapsed barrier. Just as they began to react seven more of the crimson armored mechs slid backwards through the hole made by the first mech as they fired wildly at whatever was beyond.

“Fall back!!” A grey scaled earth dragon yelled to the small group of soldiers as he too came around the corner. Behind him the red mechs continued to lay down covering fire before suddenly their aim shifted skyward.

“Incoming!!” One of the mech pilots screamed a pony by the sound of her voice. Then there was a thunderous crash as a massive humanoid shape smashed into the ground.

The shape burst into movement as the mech in the rubble began to lift its rifle in its direction. With a flash of motion and glimmering steal a massive sword was embedded in its chest. The machine went limp as blood and oil sparked and oozed across the blade. The dragon then reared back and let loose a torrent of blue fire towards the shape.

Then they saw it the form of a huge black and blue Atlas mech with a red crosses adorning its scorched armor. The mech dove to the side thrusting its right hand towards the seven mechs that were firing on it. Instantly the shells and flechettes stopped in the air as they neared the mech as if by a shield. They then saw a name embossed on the mechs right bicep “Crux”

Meanwhile the back of the machine’s left arm shifted and a massive tower shield unfolded itself from a compartment. The flames met steal and burned around the slab of metal as one of the machine’s articulated arms on its shoulders retrieved its sword and hung it on its back.

Then with a flick of the wrist the storm of bullets and shells shot back towards the mechs who had fired them like a wall. The shells forced the machines to take cover and retreat as more black and blue mechs came through the breach.

Like their brother these mechs each carried or at least had clamped to their hips or backs swords or sword hilts. Each one similar to the one used by the first mech and each of them marked with the same red cross.

“Draco sordes moriemini!” Came the enraged voice of a human as the first mech sprinted towards the dragon as it continued to breath fire. The four rangers watched in horror as the mech bashed the drake in the shout with the shield.

Surprised it let out a yelp and reared back in pain. But the human was relentless and didn’t miss this opportunity and in one swift move it retracted the shield and grabbed on to the drakes arm and pulled it close before bringing its right arm around. The dragon tried to pull free but wasn't fast enough and took the mechs elbow across the face.

Scales cracked, flesh pulped, and blood flew from the dragons mouth and left eye. As the mechs massive elbow pulverized comparatively soft bone. The dragon sprawled on the ground and struggled to stand as its ruined jaw hung open at an angle. However the mech had other plans and stomped on the drakes shoulder crushing its bones and cutting into its flesh with its clawed peds.

“DIE!” The mechanized monster screamed as it retrieved its sword from its back and slammed it down into the back of the dragon's head. Then the mech pulled the sword from the dragons ruined skull and thrust it into the air. Before turning its “head” towards the four rangers.

They thought they could get away unnoticed how humorous. The second Icarus mount launched several small missile drones towards their retreating forms they rounded a corner. A few seconds later there were a series of small explosions.

Prowler and his Helldivers were the first through the breach after the Moths. And behind them the roughnecks and expeditionary force began to come through. “Crux” turned to face them and thrust his sword toward the complex, several unicorn horns dangling from the blades hilt blazed with magical energy as he spoke.

“No retreat, no surrender, no defeat!” the leader of MOTH team-3 shouted. And almost as on cue two NAC centaur tanks and four mules broke through the building and fired their cannons into the complex.

“Deusvult! For earth!” Every one of the humans shouted in a chorus that echoed across the battlefield before as one they rushed into the bases outer perimeter.

Meanwhile above their heads the massive dogfight raged around the hanging UEC super destroyer Element of Magic. Unknown to the cog forces at least one matriarch had decided enough was enough.

Ahead of the mass of COG mechs, vehicles, and gears they could see the massed force of the UEC. At least a dozen captured Siafu mechs bolstered the UEC line. Before a in a flash of light three new mechs of a design the COG had never seen appeared on the battlefield.

The three serpent mech pilots had been trained by Casper Williams himself and teleported here by the princess of magic herself. Alabaster armor gleamed in the dull light as their heads rose. Two of the serpents carried condenser rifles whos conduits glowed with golden light. But the center mech stood different from its brethren, instead opting for a simple sword and shield combo.

“Attack.” with that single word broadcast to the UEC soldiers they as one charged forward. And soon like something out of a bygone era the two army smashed into one another.

Then with Crux and his Templars leading the charge the mechs of both sides clashed. The leader of MOTH team-3 smashed his ballistic shield into that of his opposite number. And the fight that decided the course of the ground battle on the planet began.

https://youtu.be/q_LjV40nOHk

“LET'S go! Get those plasma quarles to the condensers! ” A three hundred human year old batpony mare yells as the Torches lights flicker before going out all together. “Chief Glinting Light what's going on? Are we hit?”

“I don't know sprite, but let's hur…” there was a series of clans against the hull as they began moving once again. “What the buck is going on out there.” she thinks to herself.

They move through several bulkheads passing several slaves and crewmares as they neared the magireactor. However movement at one of the cargo airlocks catches her attention and she readies her side arm. Usually she wouldn't worry, but the savage earthers have been known to do insane things during battle. Her group of spaceponys and a small gaggle of slaves begin to coalesce around the lock.

Then there was a defining bang before she was slammed against the bulkhead and her world went black. When her senses finally returned to her she a few seconds later the corridor was on fire. She could hear screaming, she had to do something, but what was happening? Had the ship been hit, had a conduit exploded? It would certainly explain the smoke and violent flames.

From her prone position on the deck she saw Crimson shadow a two hundred and fifty year old stallion she had slept with a few nights ago. There has been something there something she wanted to continued see where it went.

Crimson was attempting to push himself up and the two equestrian’s made eye contact as a shadow fell over him. He had even begun to reach out for her hand and seemed to be saying something before a black blade sank into his back.

Glittering didn't know rather to help, scream, try to run, didn't know what to do. All she could do was shift her head slightly and saw the power armored form of an Earther. Its black faceless visor prodded a primal fear in her heart and all she could do was stare in horror failed by her weak constitution.

She stared and tried to reach our weakly for shadow’s hand. She wanted to be there for him but as she moved a second shadow fell over her. Horror absolute horror filled her as the boot of a second earther came into her field of view before she looked up.

Through blood and tear soaked eyes Glittering star saw a second human standing over her. This human wore the same armor as the first its armor was black and green with what looked like some kind of scale cloth wrapping around the backs of its legs.

The dress like clothing billowed as the air recycler attempted to clear the smoke. She sucked in a breath as she spotted the trophy this human sported on its left shoulder guard. A dragon skull hung crudely tied into place and it swung as the human turned its eyeless faceless helmet as if it was talking.

It seemed to converse to itself and she took that chance to try to run. Seeing one of the auto shotguns lying in the deck she thrust her arms out and snached it up. In one quick and well practiced motion she rolled onto her back and fired the shotgun point blank into the humans chest.

Amazingly the human was knocked back by the blast and even one of the tungsten penetrators seemed to pierce its armor. Blood oozed from the puncture in his armor and he retreated as she got to her hooves before blasting the bastard that had stabbed crimson shadow.

The humans head exploded as the sabots pierced his blast shield. Seeing her chance she ran she had to get to the bridge, or somewhere to alert the rest of the crew. When she rounded a corner a storm of flechettes slammed into the bulkhead barely missing her position. The sound of banging caught her attention and before she could respond a door mid way down the passageway slid open.

Around the corner came six humans in UEC uniforms carrying assault rifles and submachine guns. Behind them were several young dragons, three zebras, two Tymerians and a single kleese with a bolt caster. Why the arachnid had the anti tank weapon was strange but at the moment she didn't care. A Single human lead the group he wore the older battle armor of the original Camelot colonists and carried an aging M-66.

“You legionnaire!” She yelled getting their attention. Instantly the human in the repainted battle armor saluted in the presence of a superior being. “Yes ma’am, Corporal crimson shadow dispatched us to this location as soon as he was revived he said the ship has been boarded.”

“Yes he was telling the truth Earthers in power armor are on their way to…” that was as far as she got because almost on cue the sounds of heavy footfalls echoed through the passageway.

Instantly the small complement of soldiers raise their weapons toward the interception. But instead of a human in power armor small flying cylinder that looks oddly like a miniature version of a human cruiser drifts into the passageway. The small almost toy like device sits and hovers for a few stressful seconds before flying off.

Not a second a unicorn comes to a skidding halt at the end of the hall. The mare had an aquamarine coat and a pale, light grayish cyan mane with white highlights. But what got their attention was her anti conclave movement uniform and earther battle armor that lacked a helmet.

Lyra Heartstrings dug deep as she heard the old breed changeling Xlui slide into position beside her. The two enhancer rings on her horn burned and glowed as she gathered power. The COG had agreed to help The Movement capture a super destroyer and To seek glory in battle is glorious was the perfect candidate.

To her right she could hear the COG special forces MOTH team-4 or Fire Drakes as they liked to be called catching up. “Fire at will!” She heard as she and Xlui both threw up an overlapping shield.

The first thing they had to do after dealing with this was destroy the engram servers and then destroy resurrection chambers. If they destroyed those then the Glorys crew wouldn't be able to resurrect.

At first when she and Bon Bon first joined the movement about fifty years ago she wasn't comfortable with the idea of permanently killing or perming other equestrian citizens. But ultimately she and a small but decent portion of the population wasn't comfortable with the whole slave thing.

‘I hope they just surrender so we don't have to kill them.’ But as the shells and bullets slammed into the shield she and her changeling battle partner had raised she knew they wouldn't. No the UEC soldiers would fight to the last mare and the humans would delight in killing them all.

At first She had thought humans were noble, brave, and honorable survivors, who had somehow survived on a planet that wanted nothing more than to kill them. This sentiment was later corrected when the NAC made contact with Camelot. Then everything changed and she began to see their true colors.

While they were indeed noble and brave in their own way, they were truly aggressive, stubborn, and unyielding brutal. The team of humans rounded the corner just as the bolt caster fired. Its magic quarrel slammed against the shield and burst. Sparks flew, magical dust spewed and burned the passageway and smoke filled the hall beyond the shield.

“Stay here, its our turn.” one of the humans said to the team of ACM fighters accompanying the MOTHs before he stepped side long into the hall hugging the corner. He raised his right fist and a stream of tracers spewed from the rotary gun built into the armored gauntlet.

The other six surviving earthers in power armor chose this time to add their firepower as well and soon there were several streams of tracers and two gauts of violet fire reaching out into the smoke filled hall.

When the smoke cleared the earthers began moving forward. Using their armored bulk as a kind of walking barricade for the comparatively unarmored fighters to advance behind. A distinctive clatter and a raur was the lead Moths only warning as they discover that the Kleese had survived.

The arachnid picked up the power armored human and slammed her into a wall denting the metal slowly crushing her chest plate. The other moths were about to engage when a second group of soldiers began firing from a second corridor. Leaving the pinned woman to fend for herself for the moment.

In response a human ran up from the back of the group of borders. Moth’s fireteam was not equipped with power armor instead opting for more standard NAC battle armor only with more armor. The under mount attachment on the man's M-66m reaved as he ran. The weapon attachment had originally been a completely by accident.

The standard combat knives of the COG weren't sufficient to pierce the hide of Tymerians or the chitinous shells exoskeletons Kleese, changeling, or Myrialos. And rumor has it that one day during a battle on a human planet a private was about to be killed in a store by a myrialos.

So desperate to survive the trooper grabbed the closest thing to him an electric chainsaw. He killed that myrialos and told his C.O, and that C.O told their C.O and so on until one day about three months ago chainsaw bayonets became optional attachments for the M-66 platform taking the place of the launcher.

And like that unfortunate crab man this Kleese’s exoskeleton was no match for the roaring teeth of the bayonet. One second he was about to crush this human female and the next he was in the most pain he had ever experienced. Blood flew in every direction spattering the moths and resistance fighters in yellow green blood and bits of meat.

“I think I got some on me.” He said jokingly as he turned and saw one of his moth brothers crush the skull of that batpony from before with a rather nasty curb stomp.

‘Honorable and noble might not have been the best words.’ Lyra thought to herself as she watched the three humans that were not in powered armor kick a wounded zebra to death.

After crawling for several minutes, we finally found an exit point from the air vent. It was another vent cover just like the one they opened up when they first entered the vents. Before attempting to opening the steel cover, I looked through the slits of the air vent cover to make sure it was clear of anyone and to see where the air vent had taken them.

"Well, what do you..." Gusty said, who was waiting patiently for me to finish checking to see if it was safe to open the steel cover and finally get out of the air vent. But before she could finish I placed my hand over her muzzle.

“There's one in there.” I mouthed receiving nods from my companions before I returned to pear back through the grate.

A single pegasus that I could see carrying a shotgun and their regular twenty first century style BDUs. His mane was some kind of blue and his coat was I don't know orange? Taking a deep breath I to steady my nerves I took my monofilament blade and sliced the hinges and locks.

I can already feel myself getting weaker. The adrenalin is starting to where off and soon my atrophied body will give out. With a noticeable effort I grab the grate with my bionic before it can fall and silently move it aside. Silently I gently grab onto the ledge and lower myself into the dark and cold room behind the pony.

Waiting several seconds for the stallion to slowly clip colp his sorry ass away I motion for Big dog to follow. He does and soon my MOTH brother is hiding in an alcove between what look like network servers. Hearing the stallion return Harris and I press ourselves deeper into our alcoves in attempt to become part of the shadow.

When the pegasus walked past me again I sprang out. Bringing right arm around and sinking the blade into his chest, while simultaneously rapping my left hand around his throat. My bionic’s fingers dug into his neck cutting off his scream before it came and with a yank I pulled mister century. That's what his name tape read something century into the alcove I had sprang from and slit his throat.

“Hey gutsy what the fuck is this place?” Harris asks the mare as she lowers herself to the floor.

The unicorn looks around for a few seconds before a look of pure hate comes to her face. “Its the engram server.” she spits out in disgust.

“Whenever a soldier dies their mental engrams are sent to a server. Usually a planet has its own server that holds them until a revival chamber can bring them back. But usually there isn't a backlog like this.” She says looking at all of the flashing lights on one of the towers.

“Wait if that's the case why can't you just make more than one of the same person?” I ask as I slam my knife into one of the servers and watch the lights go out.

“Because Fallon besides it being outrageously illegal with the penalty of permanent death or being permed for short. Having more than one of the same person… stretches the soul if you will. As the second body and mind stand the chance of being wildly unstable. On top of this everypony has a set limit to how many times they can be revived before detrimental side effects begin to coalesce.”

“Ok that doesn't make a lot of sense to me. But sure I'll take your word for it. So these servers, if we destroy this server everyone who dies on the planet will be permed?” Harris asked as he looted the stallion body.

“Well yes and no everyone stationed on the planet yes if they die will be permed if we destroy the servers. But when sometimes there are ponies who have their engrams transferred to the second closest server. For example say you were to kill Rarity. Instead of being transferred here she would most likely be transferred to the next nearest server. Which I assume would be a ship.”

“Ok that's good to know. Found the exit let's go.” I called out before slicing the locks on the door and popping it open. Using the mirror to pear around the door I see a rather stupidly marked door.

“Jack pot. Looks like Christmas came early I think I found the place we need to be. Let's finish up here then go get our shit Harris. Maby we can even the odds a bit.”

It wasn’t hard to understand exactly what her new acquaintances had in mind. This would be a chance to perm several hundred of the UEC soldiers. Of course she knew exactly where they were going to end up. She hadn’t lied to him about that.

IT was something she was certain she waited for all of her kind. Even those that wanted to stop the slavery, to end the madness that Majesty’s foals had began still had so much to atone for. And she knew the demons that would be waiting for them. She almost wished that Rarity’s engram was here.

It’d be almost poetic to know what she would be facing, but then there was little doubt that all of Princess Twilight Sparkle’s core of friends were stored more than one place. She wondered if the main towers were still working on Equus Prime. If they were then it stood to reason that the originals were back there. She helped with what her human companions were doing. Each tower blinked out, indicating that at the very least a few dozen ponies would not be returning.

A small part of her her wondered how many newborns were stationed here. Those ponies that had been created the old fashioned way, and of course spoonfed the lies given to them by those in charge. Most of the newborns would have their engrams in these towers, the promise of a sense of immortality, but it merely putting death off. Gusty knew that even her curse was at best meant to last only as long as her species did. Maybe if she hadn’t grown up with Majesty, if she hadn’t faced beings like Tirek, Grogar, and been forced to see her own kind twist and alter themselves until there was nothing else left.

If none of that would have happened then perhaps she would be more afraid of the final death, but as it was it didn’t scare her. In many ways she was tired. She found the last tower powering down, growing silent, allowing the very thing that would save so many of the lower standing ponies to venture into the dark, and thus weaken the UEC’s numbers. She let that tower go dark and she hoped that those killed today would have the strength to face the torture they would endure.

“Is there any more?”

She shook her head, “No, and it’s surprising. With them powering down I’d almost expect a tech at the very least to investigate. For there to be nothing at all means that something is happening above us. Something big.”

Fallon smiled, “Maybe they’re getting a bloody nose. Alright here we go second to last stretch. Harris your on point, Gutsy middle, I'll take our six.”

Her party finally made it down the hall and broke into the research lab the two humans with her looked like they were about to fall over. Their withered unwashed bodies looked haggard and their eyes were sunken.

When the door to the lab opened they saw four scientists. Each of them two unicorns, a deer, and neo changeling seemed startled at the sudden intrusion and when they lunged for the panic button her two companions killed them.

Minutes passed as the two humans help one another hook, fasten, belt and buckle pieces of armor in place. Soon the one known as Big Dog or Harris was clad head to toe in the armored suit. His rifle a DMR hung from a strap as he helped the much worse off Fallon into his armor.

Once the human that smelled like a tymerian was dressed she noticed three distinct things. One his armor was much more banged up than his companion. Two he had no weapon short of the UEC weapons their party had liberated from the facilities guards. Three finally he had no helmet and his armor seemed to fit him badly, it sagged in places it shouldn't.

“Alright, now all we need to do is get these fucking things off of our heads. Then get the fuck out of here.” Fallon said as he scanned a table full of captured COG weapons. One in particular seemed to catch his eye and as he held it up she could see why.

“This is Onyx guard issue see the gear on the side? What the hell is this doing here?” he asked no one in particular.

“Well what's the plan?” Harris asked as he filled his armors many pockets with magazines.

“Well….” Fallon began as he unfolded and pulled a handle on the side of the undermount. Instantly the serrated wicked looking teeth of the bayonet revved to life. “I'm thinking we ask real nice.”

The AGS storage and maintenance room was an huge area within the weapons research division. There were various computers, tool carts, and other machinery and equipment throughout this room. Along with various wires and cables lining the walls and ceiling. Several chain hoists and i-beam trolleys hanging off the ceiling with the appearance of not being used for some time.

The entire place give off a sense of foreboding and uneasiness even though it appears like any other normal storage and maintenance room.

What stands out the most within this room were thirteen, bulky metal machines. Each one resembling strange suits of armor with custom made tactical gear.

Six of them, if one would describe them as large, stocky metal anthropoids with an green and black color scheme. They were quite menacing looking to any person who were unfortunate enough to encounter them.

The other four were big, bulky, and heavy yet effective on the battlefield. They had a color scheme of green, dark green and dark gray with a hint of red on their samurai looking head. They had somewhat more of a traditional look to them in some odd sense, they looked as if they were made to fit contours with their size.

While the last two units, one had a dark blue, sky blue and dark gray color scheme. while the other one had a black, gray and dark gray color scheme. Both of them designed to be heavily armed and ready for mid to close combat with their light armor plating. They have an appearance that makes them seem like they had better mobility, overall lighter and thus faster than the rest and can leap and jump with great ease. These two were quite fearsome when one see them.

For now they were all dormant though they gave off a fearsome atmosphere. Like they could spring to life any minute. Their coats glimmered in the green light of their docking station that bathed them, keeping them still. They were all like metal corpses. The only thing missing was the blood, the very fluid they spilled. But after what seems like eternity the day may have come for them to once again go into combat and spilling the blood of their enemies.

Because just then all of the computers and equipment begin to activate various small lights and modern begin to come alive. One particular computer monitor started to show series of activation status of the AGS units.

[Code Red-66 has been initiated. Commencing activation procedures of AGS-200 series.]

>AGS-201-M06Z2A: Activated

>AGS-202-M06Z2B: Activated

>AGS-203-M06Z2C: Activated

>AGS-204-M06Z2D: Activated

>AGS-205-M06Z2E: Activated

>AGS-206-M06Z2F: Activated

>AGS-208-M09DT3A: Activated

>AGS-209-M09DT3B: Activated

>AGS-210-M09DT3C: Activated

>AGS-211-M09DT3D: Activated

>AGS-212-M07B3B: Activated

>AGS-213-M07B3C: Activated

[All available Advanced Golem Soldier units activated, All main systems are go, disengaging standby modes and engaging combat modes.]

All of a sudden the room came alive with activity. Various sounds of machinery and other equipment could be heard throughout the maintenance room. All the wires and power hoses that were connected to each unit automatically detach and one by one the mono-eyes of these metal monstrosity begin to light up with a menacing bright blue glow.

As the humans, former slaves, and resistance fighters charged a blinding flash ignited the air behind the group causing the rear ranks to turn to face a new much more dangerous threat. What they saw was what looked like a blindingly bright prussian blue tear in the air.

“What the hell?” Two of the rear guard Atlas mechs turned as three squads raised their rifles. Then with another flash there were figures standing where the tear was now closing.

Dozens of UEC soldiers in what looked like a precursor to battle armor lifted their weapons and fired into the ranks of COG soldiers. Several men and women fell under the barrage and the others were forced to take cover as they watched in awe as one of the mechs disintegrated as a lance of energy reached out and blew it away.

They followed the source of the beam to a lone pony standing in the middle of the group of elite UEC soldiers. Around her eight soldiers wore advanced looking armor and carried halberd like weapons. One of which possessed different coloring and the the letters Applejack age 230. Were sown into the name tape on her left chest pocket.

But what drew their attention was the pony for she was unlike any they had seen before.She wore midnight blue armor with runes etched into their plates and black dress hugged her form and accented her figure.

As her mane and tail flowed around her with an unnatural energy, she pulled a spear with a glowing cylinder on one end from her back. The shaft of the weapon glowed with powerful rune magic and the blade seems to glow an iridescent green.

The ponys horn glowed and the second atlas fell to the ground as a bolt of blue magic smacked into the cockpit. A few seconds later the power armored MOTH crawled from his crippled machine.

“Oh you survived. Good I would hate to have defeated such a formidable warrior without a fight.” The lunar princess said. With a grace full flutter of her fingers she activated a sequence on her belt and a shimmering shield enveloped her form before disappearing.

“Fuck you bitch.” The MOTH barked out as he crossed himself before snapping a sword hilt from his belt. With a flick of the wrist the blade snapped out and the pieces of the longsword seemed themselves together.

“I walk into the shadow of death and fear not evil for the lord is with me. Lord God see me through this day and lend my brothers the strength to slaughter your enemies.” He silently prays to himself before he snapped his blast shield down over his visor. Without muttering another word the templar took a battle stance as the pony spoke.

“We grow tired of this farce. I will dispose of you rabble myself.” Princess Luna said before botb the eleven thousand year old alicorn and the MOTH charged one another. One followed by COG troops, and the other elite UEC soldiers and lunar guards.