With nothing sticking out of the ground besides a few large hangers and some support buildings off to the side to slow the wind, it whipped across the flat, cement ground of Nimbus Royal Air Force Base, causing the temperature to feel ten degrees colder than it actually was.

The base had originally begun construction under the United States, but, due to a small legal loophole that said that Equestria owned whatever was placed on its soil, and since you can’t remove cement and buildings easily, a half-completed airbase fell into Equestrian hands (hooves?).

The base itself was moderately sized, certainly not as large as the ones back in the states, like, say, Andrews AFB, but it was large enough to sortie small and medium-sized aircraft from its three-quarter mile long runway. Of course, there was always room for more development later, as the base was located in the middle of the forest, though only a few miles out from Manehattan city limits.

Not once had an aircraft's wheels touched down on the runway, but that as about to change today, an occasion that had brought the over thirty ponies to assemble on one of the staging areas, during the cold November morning, eyes scanning the sky.

“There! I see them!” Somepony pointed, everyone's eyes following their hoof and squinting to find the dark shapes moving against the cloud backdrop.

Slowly they approached, the four figures steadily growing closer until suddenly there were right above them, the air shaking.

WHOP-WHOP-WHOP-WHOP-WHOP-WHOP-WHOP

She grimaced, the rumble of the rotors almost too much for her ears. She quickly cast a noise dampener spell on the ponies around her, who glanced at her in unspoken thanks.

The metal beasts slowly descended, the four of them spreading out some to avoid collisions. The downforce from the rotors began kicking up some dust, causing everypony to shield their eyes momentarily. One rotated so that its side was facing the assembled ponies, the ponies taking note of the bright red star painted on the helicopters flank, something they all wore. Soon that would change.

As the engines wound down to a soft whine and the rotors began to slow, a ramp lowered out the back, and three humans walked out.

All three wore military uniforms and looked very professional. Flanked by bodyguards, they cautiously approached the assembly of ponies.

Disabling the spell, she stuck out her hoof. “Ah, Vasiliev, so nice to see you again. Welcome to Equestria!”

“Princess Celestia.” The ambassador nodded to the ponies.

“I hope your flight out here was smooth. Did the Americans give you any trouble?”

The Russian shook his head. “None, despite their ships anchored around the portal clearly tracking us as we passed through. As for the flight, it was smooth. Perfect opportunity to marvel at you're nations beautiful countryside. It's nothing like I’ve ever seen before.”

The Princess smiled and nodded. “Yes, it truly is amazing isn’t it? Sadly, there are those who want to take that countryside away from us. That is why we are here, isn’t it ambassador?”

As he began to say something, Vasiliev was tapped on his shoulder by one of his posse, who whispered something to him. Nodding, he turned back to Celestia.

“Good news Princess. Just received word that our transport passed through the portal without incident. They should arrive within the next half hour.”

“Thank you. Now then, shall we get down to business? My ponies here have everything under control. Don’t you Captain?”

Yes Ma’am.” Former Wonderbolt Captain Spitfire said, standing tall and trying to look like someone you wouldn't mess with behind her gold-tinted Aviators and leather flight jacket, but that was hard when even the average human was a half-foot taller than the normal pony.

“Good.” Celestia nodded, gesturing for the humans to follow her towards one of the support buildings, her guards trailing behind the humans.

Watching them leave, Spitfire turned back towards the humans and helicopters. “Well then.” She began. “Let's get started, shall we?”

“This…” The Russian said, lifting the gun out of the box dramatically. “... Is the Kalashnikov, more commonly known as the AK-47, or simply the AK. In production for almost seventy years…” He reached down into the crate, lifting up a magazine and inserting it into the rifle. “... it is the single most produced firearm in the world. Chambered in 7.62×39mm, it's really very simple to use…” He pulled back the hammer with a click. “Put in the ‘mag, pull this back…” He turned to face a wooden crate he had placed downrange. “...and pull the trigger.”

The assembled group leaped at the sudden loud noise, the box splintering apart and the brass casings falling to the ground with a soft clink sound. “And that's all there is to it.”

“Oooohhh…” Rainbow Dash looking into another of the boxes, this one larger than the others. “What is this thing?” She picked it up, slinging it across her back. It was shaped like a long tube, very unlike the AK the Russian was holding.

“That’s an RPG.” He said. “It makes things explode..”

Rainbow laughed maniacally. “Sweet.”

“Crash, put the weapon down.” Spitfire turned to the Russian. “What else you got?”

Before he could answer, however, the sound of incoming aircraft turned their attention to the sky.

Wheels down, flaps extended, the four-engined metal beast gracefully touched down onto the runway, the tires screeching on the pavement. Coming to a stop 3/4ths down the runway, the blue and white Il-76 swung right, clearing the runway. Drawing everyone’s eyes as it coasted down the taxiway, it came to a stop a ways away from the formation of landed helicopters, the engines stopping.

But eyes were quickly drawn away as the main attraction appeared above the base to the sound of thirty jet engines, flying in three V formations of five aircraft each. They shot across the field, going into a long left turn, each formation slotting into their own holding pattern. As they orbited the base, individual aircraft split away from their formations and lowered gear, each making a smooth touchdown on the strip, until finally, only one squad of five remained.

With the taxiways and staging area full of moving aircraft, they dived down, roaring over the ground, showering everyone in dust and jetwash. “Woo!” Rainbow pumped her hoof in the air as they made another low pass, a few ducking their heads from the low flying jets.

Circling the airfield once more, the five aircraft, all as one, touched down in sync on the runway as Spitfire shook her head, smirking.

"That's us soon, right?" Rainbow asked.

The Flanker-Ds had arrived.

Author's Notes:

How do Ponies hold guns?
Magic.
Duh.