Author's Notes:

New Cover made by the awesome Blackflash: http://www.fimfiction.net/user/Blackflash

K-D-0135 = Ion Titan, Female AI (if you get the joke you get a cameo.)

The 6-4 Charlatan:

"What?" Celestia gasped.

"Yes, your majesty," the Guard said, "it was as though the star was knocked down from the heavens before that... thing, came screeching through the skies. It looked like some kind of airship, but it was massive, at least five kilometers long."

"And the scouts are absolutely certain that it isn't one of Sombra's tricks?" the Princess asked.

"There's no way to tell for sure, your majesty. We'd need to send somepony to scout it in the morning."

"Where did it land?"

"About 23 kilometers West of Neighagra Falls."

"Very well then. Gather up 5,000 Guards and 2,000 Special Forces. We can only pray that Sombra doesn't reach it first."

\\\\\\//////

Sombra glared at the smoking behemoth that had landed between his territory and Canterlot. Whatever was in there would soon feel his wrath, and those within would bow to his will.

"But," he said to himself, "knowing Celestia, she'd probably wait until morning to send her forces to take it. We can't have that now, can we?"

Sombra summoned a crystal before him that changed opacity before an image of a dark grey pony with a black and red striped mane was before him.

"Bloodlust, I'm sending you and your section West of Neighagra Falls. Something came from the sky and I want whatever's inside of it under my hoof."

"Of course, King Sombra," the pony said before the crystal faded.

"You never learn, do you Celestia?" Sombra said as he chuckled. "Everything that touches this world is mine."

\\\\\\//////

Joshua sighed as he dusted off his light blue mesh and adjusted his helmet.

"So," he said, trying to break the awkward silence between him and his Titan.

"You were incapacitated by sniper fire and had ruptured-"

"I know, K-D, thank you," Joshua interrupted. "I read the report and I'm sorry I got cocky."

"This is the eleventh time that you have ascribed yourself to poultry, and I find it highly inaccurate," K-D said.

"Right, it's just... I'm sorry for getting over confident and nearly dying because I was being stupid."

K-D kept three cameras trained on her Pilot as she processed his words.

"Your intelligence level has not decreased as of yet, and our link has not shown any degree of loss in efficiency. However, I acknowledge that you mean that you are feeling unwell about your actions in the field. I have documented this apology and will log it in when we return to a proper station for repairs."

"Right. Good talk, K-D."

"You done sorting your shit?" Zeke asked as he donned his green helmet. "Captain Colton wants us on guard yesterday so we can keep an eye out for local wildlife."

"Right, I'm on it," Joshua said as he turned back to K-D. "We'll call you if we need backup."

"Affirmative," K-D said as she gave him a thumbs-up.

\\\\\\//////

Kat and Jessie watched the planet's sun rise at with wide eyes.

"[That is not possible,]" Kat said.

"It just... accelerated," Jessie said. "That just... what's even going on anymore?"

"[Records indicate that the IMC had flagged this system for study into gravitational manipulation before the Milita became a substantial threat to them. This is likely the reason.]"

"Right... where are Joshua and Zeke?"

"We're here!" Joshua called out as they approached.

Joshua and Zeke stopped as they came up to the shard of metal they used for cover. Joshua blew a whistle as he examined the wreckage.

"Wow. Guess the damage was worse than we thought."

"[Negative, the damage is largely superficial. Only the outermost impact plating was sheared off during reentry,]" Kat said.

The Pilots stayed quiet as they watched some Grunts file out from a nearby airlock and start setting up turrets as technicians began to work on the exposed sections of the ship.

"How long will this take?" Zeke asked.

"[Damage reports indicate that it will take anywhere between two to six hours, factoring in any attacks by local wildlife,]" Kat said.

"What if the local wildlife is intelligent?" Joshua asked.

"Why would you ask that?" Jessie said.

Joshua pointed to the distant line of trees. The other Pilots focused their gear to zoom in and froze.

Closing in, not even a full click away, was an army of four-legged animals wearing dark grey, spiked armor with green slits for eyes. Behind them were giant figures made of some kind of crystals, standing on two short legs with large arms that had spiked fists and glowing red areas near the center of their torsos. A few of the crystal things had an unarmored version of the strange beings inside of them.

"That's not good."

"Attention, all hands to battle stations!" Colton announced. "We've got unknowns coming in from the North and South! Defend the ship at all costs!"

"And now they're flanking us," Jessie said as she pulled out her EPG.

"Wait, hold fire!" another voice spoke over the comms. "They're diverting paths!"

The Pilots of the 6-4 looked up to see a large swarm of blue armored creatures similar to the ones in the North fly overhead, wings spread out as they charged at the line of black and grey armored aliens. Flashes and shouting accompanied their overhead charge as more of the alien creatures ran past the ship's crew to meet the opposing force a few hundred meters away from the ship. The crystal beings charged forth and began swatting at the gold and blue clad beings while the infantry and flying ones began to strike at one another.

"Did we just land in the middle of a war?" Joshua asked.

"Lookout!" a nearby Grunt called.

One of the Crystal things charged through the line of gold and blue aliens before slamming into the hull of the Charlatan, crushing a Grunt and technician before it began to beat against the defensive plating.

"Open fire!" Joshua commanded as he pulled out his C.A.R.

Sentries targeted the Crystal thing and began pelting it with ionized plasma and a barrage of high caliber automatic fire. The Crystals began to crack and smoke before the red center burst apart, the entire being exploding in a shower of crystals. Several shards impaled a few unlucky Grunts while two pieces cut into Kat's left leg.

"[Chassis damaged,]" she said as she limped towards the ship. "[Retreating to minimal safe distance.]"

"Shit! Zeke, get Kat back to the ship. Jessie, you and I are going out there!"

"Are you actually fucking crazy!?" Jessie shouted as the Militia began to fire at the charging grey and black figures.

"Should have read the job requisites, that's practically the whole list," Joshua said before launching a grappling hook to the high point of their cover. "Let's show these bitches how the 6-4 roll!"