For your convenience, here is a map of the city in question.
Click Here
NOTE: Pay no attention to which faction controls which capture point. It does not correctly convey the story.

Applejack walked down a snow-crusted road, the city of Marelin now a burnt out shell of it's former glory. Now, with the addition of the neo-Ice Age, the snow only made it seem more gloomy. Hell, it was the whole reason for the goddamn war.

Starting in 2130, The planet spun out of control. The pegasi nor the goddesses could control it, the world dictating it's own weather. Soon it began to snow year-round, save for a few places along the equator, in which a sizeable portion of Equestria was located.

Equestria's two neighbors to the East, Ponyussia and Applekstan, were located in harsher climates; both had little room to grow the necessary food to survive. In an act of sheer desperation to stop their populations from starving together, they united under the Ponyussian-Applekstani Coalition, known as the PAC. From there, they launched a savage invasion into northeast Equestria in 2139.

Equestria was not renowned for it's military prowess. It was called an economic superpower for a reason. The only army Equestria even had were the militias in each province of the country.

Acting quickly, Princesses Luna and Celestia hastily unified these militias, pouring billions of bits into the war effort. Known as the Equestrian Union of Local Forces, or simply the EU, this poorly-trained fighting force suffered humiliating defeats.

Equestrians were strangers to war. Sure, they had heard about all the technological advancements that the government had bought for their defense. Firearms, combat armor, tanks, gunships, even the new-line battlewalkers and Titan Motherships. However, no one even contemplated them being put to use. They had sat in warehouses, hardly ever used.

As the war raged on, the EU suffered heavy losses, losing each city for thousands of dead ponies. Nevertheless they gained something important, knowledge. With a powerful economy at it's back, the oligarchic government could pour vast resources into its new-born war machine.

The EU began to learn to better drill and train it's soldiers. Command structure was updated, protocols started again from scratch. Officers and leaders attended the few military academies that began to appear. Factories would create tanks and battlewalkers, turning out hundreds a week. In Fillydelphia, research was spent on finding more effective weapons and systems.

By 2142, the EU was a tested, proven, and potent fighting force. Thanks to their die hard spirit and learn-on-the-run tendencies, the Equestrian nation quickly transitioned from fighting tariffs and trade policies, to fending off an invading army. It was time to avenge their losses, and it would start at Marelin.

-~-

As Applejack continued down the snowy, cracked and eroded road, she wondered how it came to this.

It was just a normal night in Ponyville. Or it was, until gunfire shredded through the night sky. Unknown at the time, the PAC had sent a raiding party deep within Equestria. It wasn't meant to do any real, substantial physical damage. No, it meant to hurt something far worse. They wanted to break the Equestrian's spirit, showing them that the PAC could hit them anywhere.

Applejack had just finished up a hard day of applebucking. Luckily the air wasn't too cold, and apples still grew. As Sweet Apple Acres came into view, a sweeping light came from down the road. It collided with the barn, exploding violently on contact. What little was left of the barn was up in flames, and all Applejack could do was lay on the ground and cry. She contemplated running to check if they were okay, but a logical certainty nagged at the back of her brain. For her whole family, there was no chance of living. She only hoped it had been quick.

Meanwhile, gunfire, explosions and screams ripped through the night. It lasted only for an hour, but that was all that was needed. Ponyville simply ceased to exist, reduced to a pile of smoldering rubble.

The next morning, Applejack picked her way through the debris, bodies and carnage towards the town square. It would be a wonder if any of them were alive.

Miraculously, all of them were. Rainbow Dash was in bad shape physically, trying to fight off a PAC soldier, before getting hit with shrapnel from an explosion. However, she said she'd live.

All of the others were in a state of mental disarray. They got to watch as their homes burned, their friends killed. With the exception of one pony, it was basically the same story for all of them. Fluttershy, on the other hand...

No one knew. Her cottage was still as pristine as ever, her animal friends shaken but alive. That was, until the yellow pegasus brought out a locket the next day and showed them a picture of her with Angel. There had been a few rumors about what had happened to the comical bunny, but they assumed Fluttershy was the only pony who knew the truth.

With anger brewing within them, they all decided to join the EU. Applejack initially suggested it, and it took no real persuasion to get the others to join. Big Macintosh kept talking about how he would sign up each year at the end of applebuck season, but smooth persuasion had kept him from doing so for years now. The EU didn't discriminate against gender, new war technology and studies proving that mares could fight as well as stallions.

Throughout boot-camp, their talents had been reviewed and special roles were assigned to each of them. Pinkie Pie and Rarity both ended up in desk positions. Their charisma and social skills were better used in logistics, morale upkeep, and the like. Neither of them had any real battle skills to offer, so the EU put them both to their greatest use.

Twilight made it into an academy, her scrutiny of battle plans and cool thinking granting her top marks as a commander. Quickly, she was taken out of boot-camp and placed with other cadets to learn the finer art of tactics and strategy. Her intuitive mind quickly grasped and expounded on what she learned, and it wasn't long before she was in command of an entire brigade of ponies.

Rainbow was quickly sent into training with helicopters, both the lethal gunship and the tactical air transport. Her ability to control the mechanical birds was sublime, to say the least. Too bad she couldn't perform sonic rainbooms in one either.

Fluttershy.... Well, she was mysterious. She disappeared after the first week of training, only returning very infrequently. Each time she returned, she appeared less and less like herself. She had grown thick-skinned, unfazed by anything. Her caring personality had grown harder than a rock, occasionally telling one of her friends that, “They didn't know anything.” When Fluttershy finally returned for good in the last week of basic training, she carried the largest rifle any of them had seen. From watching her in the range, she could hit anything from well over a mile. She hardly said goodbye before being deployed.

Applejack? Well, the long days spent repairing farm equipment and working with machines had given her a leg up towards the engineers. She was trained to repair the most complex military equipment in the heat of battle, from tanks and gunships to anti-armor railgun turrets. But that wasn't all, because she could also destroy such equipment as fast as she could repair them. Armed with a shoulder-mounted rocket launcher and motion-activated mines, taking out ground machinery was her niche.

On top of that, her rugged character and tested common sense struck a chord with the drill sergeants. Upon deployment she would lead a squad of 5 other ponies, while her friends were split into their respective assignments. For them, their home was gone and there was no way they could go back. Too many bad memories, horrible visions awaited them there. It was almost like they were numb to their past selves, rage and emotion fueling their drive for revenge.

-~-

The bulky gray and orange combat armor shifted uncomfortably on Applejack. It was the heavier model, designed to take harder punishment. Her helmet was also a little small, pinching her ears uncomfortably. It covered her whole head and face to protect from shrapnel, but it certainly wasn't designed ergonomically. She had been wearing it for weeks now, only now it was going to be put to use.

Marelin was the first city in the EU's long awaited counterstrike. The PAC was preparing for weeks for this, and it didn't take a genius to tell how bad it was going to be.

“Hey Applejack,” A voice called from behind her, “What the hay are we doing in this place again?” Applejack looked back, a fully armored stallion trotting up to her side.

“Well, ah reckon ya din't listen the first time ah said it, Sunbeam” Applejack replied. Her voice sounded sketchy through her mask, her breath showing through the vents of her helmet. “Command wants us to be linkin' up with a few other squads an' take the town square.”

They both continued down the road. It was freezing outside, the weather well below zero degrees Faustenheit. The snow crunched under their hooves, their breath steaming out of of their masks. Applejack looked back, making sure her squad had formed up. They were all a good bunch of ponies, but they were still ponies and made mistakes... Regrettably more than most squads.

To her relief, everypony was there. There were three assault ponies, Miller, Heath and Haybale. Miller could also serve as a medic in a pinch, but to be honest, the EU medical training wasn't nearly as long as it should be.

The squads' reconnaissance pony, Obsidian, stayed towards the back. He was a little reclusive, but dependable nonetheless. Next to Applejack was Sunbeam, the team's support gunner. He was responsible for resupplying and providing cover for his squad. A machine gun was strapped to his back, which could quickly be attached to his foreleg, laying down suppressing fire in a heartbeat.

The EU combat armor has a docking station on each foreleg, which universally fit with most guns. With an inward twitch of a hoof the gun would fire, the recoil absorbed from the stock that rested against a pony's shoulder. The docking station could also be moved up and down, allowing a pony to run while a gun was still attached to their leg.

As the squad kept walking on, a dozen more ponies came into view. They were friendly, their orange shoulder plates giving them away. Applejack led her squad over to them, instantly spotting two other ponies with gold insignias on the right shoulder. They signified a squad leader, the ones who were placed a little higher up on the chain of command.

“Howdy,” Applejack greeted them, “Any word from command?” She'd seen them both around at camp earlier, but formal greetings were reserved for officers. Applejack didn't care much for ponies respecting her solely for her rank either.

“Applejack, right?” One of them asked. She sounded like a mare, but nopony could tell as her face was covered by her helmet. “Anyways, no word from command, although we should get a message soon.”

“Yep.” The other leader, obviously male by his deep voice, added in, “We've seen a few other teams set up along other roads, probably preparing to take other key points in the city.” He pointed at the destroyed skyscraper to their left.

“Well, that's just-” Applejack started to reply, but her voice was cut short by a voice over her intercom in her helmet.

“Sergeant Applejack, your squad and the rest of second platoon are to take control of the city square and hold it until reinforcements alive. Do you copy?” The sound of a assertive mare, albeit recorded, came through her radio channel.

Her helmet's Heads Up Display (Or HUD), which she had payed little attention to turning on, now automatically came to life. The HUD contained a mini map of the city, and from a large green dot that represented herself a translucent line ran from her to the edge of the map. At the edge, a small golden sword existed.

Applejack turned in it's direction, noticing it ran down towards the city square. “Ah copy, command.” She said into her microphone. Almost instantly, the translucent line on her map turned purple. It was time to go.

“Okay, colts an' fillies, let's get a move on!” Applejack said out loud. The other squad leaders looked as if they had received the same message, checking their weapons.

“Applejack,” The mare told her, “You and I will head down the right side of the street, towards the heart of the square.” She looked over at the stallion nearby, “And you will take your squad on the other side, flanking the packies from the side. Sound good?”

“Ah suppose.” Applejack replied, and the stallion simply nodded. She placed her submachine gun in the docking port of her right foreleg, clicking the safety off. Engineers weren't meant for taking on enemy infantry, but by no means were they defenseless if they had to fight back.

“Obsidian, you git on point!” Applejack snapped off the orders to her squad. “Sunbeam, you an' the rest form up behind me!” She quickly trotted down the side of the road, Obsidian leading just in front of her. The other squad followed her own, as they advanced down the road without a word.

Once more the snow began to fall, as nearly 20 orange armor-clad ponies came into view of the city square. It was a single monument, an obelisk-like structure jutting out of a raised platform, thick concrete walls surrounding it. It was in the middle of an intersection of two streets, Equestrian ponies coming in on it from the north.

Obsidian dove behind the rubble of a destroyed building, pushing his back up against it. Applejack skidded in next to him, lowering herself out of view. “What d'ya see Obs?” she asked.

Obsidian was peering over the edge of the debris, looking through his rifle's scope. “Half a dozen PAC on the monument's platform.” He said, his voice sounding quiet and composed, almost in a whisper. “There could be more around, but nothing says so.”

Applejack picked her head up just above her cover, looking at the monument's defenders. The PAC equipped their soldiers in a black armor, with spots of gray. Referred to as “Packies” by the EU, they were known for their stubborn attitude, often dying before the possibility of retreating reached their brains.

“Only six defenders? Ah dunno, something seems funny.” Applejack shrugged, “Well, we best be gettin' this over with. Orders are orders.” She looked back, the rest of the squad lined up against the remnants of a house. She waved her hoof, signaling them to set up alongside her and Obsidian.

The other ponies quickly crept up alongside them, checking their weapons one last time. Sunbeam rested his light machine gun along some rebar, aiming down its sights.

Applejack aimed her own submachine-gun out in front of her, “Obsidian, take one of em' out.”

“With pleasure.” He replied. Applejack frowned at the comment. She didn't enjoy killing other ponies, but rather seeing it as a necessity to perform her duty for the EU. If someone posed a threat to her, her friends, or Equestria, she wouldn't restrain in shooting at them; although taking pleasure in it wasn't included.

A lone shot rang out into the sky. One PAC soldier's head exploded, the rifle's bullet shredding through his helmet. A nearby pony let out a shout of surprise, turning it's head towards Applejack's squad. The soldier fired it's assault rifle at them, bullets ripping at the ground, whizzing past their heads.

Aiming her own weapon, Applejack fired a burst, the Turcotte Rapid SMG spraying bullets everywhere. She knew she was too far away to provide any real help, but the thought hadn't made it to her mind by the time she fired.

On cue, Sunbeam opened up with his machine gun, causing the enemy soldiers to duck under cover. Applejack looked over to her squad, most of whom were firing on the enemy. “Sunbeam, you keep 'em busy!” She called out, the support pony answering with a grunt.

“Miller and Haybale, you two are comin' with me!” She ordered, standing up. Applejack jumped over the debris, charging over to a pair of concrete roadblocks. The packies would take much longer to be eliminated if someone didn't get up close and personal.

She dove right behind cover, as a PAC pony got up and began spraying rounds at her. Haybale and Miller were on her heels, hiding behind the roadblock adjacent to her.

Applejack peered over the concrete slab, greeted by a few bullets screaming over her helmet. She dropped back down, her back pressed up against her cover. The pony had them pinned, a sticky situation that she'd prepared for. Close quarters were her element, excelling at it even in the beginning days of basic training.

Taking a deep breath, she checked her ammo. Her HUD read 20 bullets left in her magazine. It would do. “One... Two... Three!” She whispered to herself.

With a grunt, she twisted and popped up behind the roadblock. Quickly strafing to the side, she avoided a burst of fire that whizzed past her. Drawing her own weapon to her shoulder and aiming through her red dot sight, Applejack let loose a barrage of lead.

The enemy pony screamed, as four bullets shredded through his light armor and fragmented within his body. He slumped to the ground, spraying his assault rifle in the air as he went. As the orange earth pony continued charged forward, she heard the crunching of boots behind her. Miller and Haybale were following her lead.

Now only yards from the concrete walls surrounding the memorial, another PAC pony showed it's head. Without thinking, Applejack sprayed her gun towards the pony. The bullets missed but served their purpose, forcing him to duck behind the wall.

The squad leader hauled herself up against the wall. She looked back at Haybale and Miller, who were following her. Miller dove next to her, as Haybale fired her assault rifle before following suit.

Applejack loaded a fresh magazine, her HUD previously indicating only a few rounds left. “Listen up y'all.” A plan formulated in her mind, “Haybale, you cut around to the other side of these stairs here.” She pointed to the stairs to her left. “Miller, you get ready with that shotgun on the bottom o' your rifle, an' we'll both stack up on this side. Once ah throw this grenade on the platform, we'll rush in.”

She looked back, and both ponies nodded. Motioning for Haybale to go, the stallion raced past the small stairs that led up on the platform. Leaning against the wall, he nodded to Applejack.

Applejack planted her leg along her chest, a grenade clicking into the docking port on her left foreleg. Twitching her hoof inward like firing her gun, little lights along the grenade flashed red, indicating it was now armed. The earth pony lobbed the cylindrical grenade over her head, clearing the wall.

'One one-thousand... Two one-thousand-' She counted in her mind, rewarded by a large explosion. It shook the ground under their hooves, accompanied by a scream of pain.

Haybale rushed around the corner and up the stairs, Applejack hard on his heels. The wall formed a ring around the monument, with Haybale and Miller rotating around in one direction. Applejack went around the wall opposite to them.

One PAC pony heard Applejack coming, turning around to face her. He didn't get much farther than that, the mare cutting him down where he stood. He fell to the ground, several holes in his armor steaming as the heat and sweat condensed on contact with the cold air.

Stepping over the body, she continued her cautious advance around the monument. Around her, she could hear the sounds of gunfire. A pony screamed in pain as a shotgun blast ripped through morning's dawn.

As she came up towards the last part of the circular wall, a lone PAC soldier was hiding behind a barrel, perpendicular from Applejack. Obviously, the pony was taking cover from Haybale and Miller, who were on the other side.

The pony looked up, seeing Applejack in plain view. Applejack motioned to fire, only to hear a despairing
*Click!*.

'Horseapples! Why the hay does this piece of crap have to jam now!?' She thought frantically, looking around for cover. To her dismay, she was in the open with no real cover nearby. Instinctively, she slapped her left foreleg along her flank, rewarded with a sharp click.

She pulled the blade from its sheath, holding it out menacingly in front of her. Applejack didn't like the idea of having to resort to crudely killing a pony with a knife, but it was either that or getting gunned down.

Applejack was about to spring forward, as her hostile enemy stood up and pointed it's gun at her. Then a boom roared out from behind the monument, its origin obscured from her view. The PAC soldier was flung against the wall, it's rifle flying from it's grasp. As the body came to rest along the ground, it was visible that the pony's two forelegs were completely gone. Blood was beginning to pool on the platform.

Applejack rounded the corner in curiosity, greeted by Miller. She ejected a steaming shotgun shell, pumping the shotgun attachment on the underside of her rifle. “Well, that looks like all of 'em, eh AJ?” She asked, her voice coming through raspy from her helmet's audio.

“Ah reckon so,” The Applejack replied, breathing heavily. Adrenaline was still rushing through her veins, pushing her heart levels to the limit. Close calls like that did not forget themselves easily.

She sheathed her knife, freeing her left foreleg. “Now, all we have to do is sit tight till the others show up.” She looked over to Haybale, who had shoved the dead PAC pony over the wall. “Haybale, tell the others to git themselves over here.” She was responded with a curt nod.

As he trotted off the platform to retrieve the others, Applejack took the time to clear the jam from her gun. After a few minutes of work, the gun was back in working order, although her HUD showed only half a magazine left.

She ejected the old mag, replacing it with a fresh new one. The ammo count on her HUD flashed white, it's number rising back up to 26. Her mini map showed two blue circles coming up behind her. They were friendly, just not in her squad.

She turned around, seeing that it was the two other squad leaders she had talked to earlier. “Hullo!” Applejack called out, snapping her submachine-gun into place along her right hip.

“Hi.” replied the mare, while the stallion simply grunted in acknowledgment. “Thanks for clearing out the square for us. I don't think any of us could have done it better, and thank Celestia we didn't lose anyone.”

“Aww shucks,” Applejack replied, flustered. She was glad she had a helmet on, to hide her blushing. “It wasn't just me that did it, the others did a mighty fine job, too.”

“Indeed.” the stallion jutted in hastily, “Either way, we have to prepare for a counter assault. They certainly had enough time to call for help.”

Applejack nodded in agreement. His logic made sense, and it was guaranteed that the PAC would hit back hard before EU reinforcements could get their asses in gear.

“My squad is going to be setting up over there.” the stallion continued on, pointing towards one end of the intersection. As he did, several blue dots appeared on her HUD, making their way over to where he had indicated. The spot was out in the open, besides a destroyed wall flanking the street.

“Meanwhile, I'll be setting up on the other side of the intersection.” The mare added. Her location was much more covered, with more debris and obstacles in the way. “You can sit back here along the monument and provide support. You've done more than your share of work today.”

Normally, the orange earth pony would be offended if somepony told her to sit back while others did the majority of the work. But, the adrenaline was quickly beginning to fade, a wave of exhaustion streaming over her. The fall from her energy-high had left her legs wobbling, and she admitted she could use a breather.

“That sounds alright, ah suppose.” Applejack said. The two ponies nodded curtly, before trotting off to their respective squads. Applejack turned around, noticing the rest of her squad had caught up to her. “Howdy yall,” she greeted them.

“Nice work there, Sarge,” Sunbeam called out, “Where'd you learn to dash around like that?” He walked up to the wall surrounding the monument, resting his Bianchi LMG along it's crest.

“Now, ah told ya not to use them fancy rank terms on me.” Applejack glared at him, “Besides, ah used to win the barrel lead each n' every year at the state rodeo, not meanin' ta brag.” She turned to Obsidian, who was waiting nearby.

“Obs, go find yerself a nice perch to keep watch from.” She changed the subject. Applejack scanned the tops of nearby buildings. “Go try that un' over there, ah think there was a ladder leadin' to the roof.” She pointed at a small commercial building with a small balcony.

Obsidian left without a sound, leaving Miller, Haybale and Heath unaccounted for. “You three, you can jus' find somewhere comfy to hole up in. Ah wouldn't put it past the Pee-Ayy-See to be back for more.” Applejack put emphasis on the abbreviated letters, scorn in her voice. She may have respected them as an enemy, but that didn't stop her from expressing her pent-up fury at them.

They nodded, going off in separate ways amongst the walls of the square's monument.

“Finally.” Applejack sighed, looking over to Sunbeam who was set up nearby, “Let's just hope that the packies know what's good fer 'em and don't come back.”

“I wouldn't plan on it.” Sunbeam replied grimly. “It's too quiet, too unlike the PAC to weakly defend this crucial location.”

“To be completely honest, ya scare me Sunbeam.” Applejack said, exhaling deeply, “'Cuz you always say what I ain't wantin' to.”

Sunbeam said nothing, instead dropping a small, metallic box on the floor. It was a resupply hub, a mobile cache of spare ammunition and grenades. Applejack rummaged through it, retrieving a few spare magazines for her sidearm, and an extra grenade.

As she looked up over the wall again, she began to fell the ground shake. Up ahead, a snowy cloud was forming along the road that the stallion's squad guarded. Hydraulics whined and gears turned as the cloud got closer and closer.

The ground shook fiercer as it got closer, pounding in rhythmic succession. Applejack gulped, hoping the fear growing in the back of her head was wrong. Could they stop it? Sure. Would it hurt? Certainly.

Suddenly the ground stopped shaking, the robotic sounds ceased. As the snowy veil fell, it confirmed her thoughts. At the foot of the intersection was a 20 foot tall war monster. Standing upon two robotic legs was a massive rotating turret, two cannons jutting out from it's center. On top of the turret resided a smaller machine gun, although it was still potent to infantry like herself.

The mechanical beast stood there for a second, almost as if letting the awesome sight set in to the EU soldiers. Then with a hiss of hydraulic-power, the main turret rotated, its twin cannons aiming directly at the stallion squad leader.

'Horsefeathers.' Applejack thought. For the stallion she never got to really meet, his fate was sealed. There was nothing she could do for him, and undoubtedly he wasn't going to be the only pony to die before the battlewalker would fall. Things were going to get messy.

The twin cannons roared to life, unleashing a barrage of fury at the ponies guarding the road. The stallion who lead the squad didn't get a chance to scream, his body sent in all directions.

Gunfire blasted from both the ponies hiding along the wall on the side of the road, and Applejack's own squad. Bullets pinged and sparked off it's armor, hardly making a scratch.

From the right side of the road, rockets flew from the ground towards the walker. At the last second, a green orb appeared around the battlewalker, absorbing the impact of the rockets.

'Stupid...' Applejack cursed herself. For the first time that day, she began to feel the rocket launcher attached above her right shoulder. She had been wearing her armor for so long, at times she forgot it was even there.

Applejack punched the front cover on the launcher, causing it to flop down. A glass eyepiece flipped in front of her right eye, illuminated with an aiming reticule. After a few seconds the reticule flashed red, signaling it was now armed.

However, there was still an obstacle. The translucent green shield was still active around the walker, and would render her rockets useless.

'Hold 'er steady, AJ' She told herself. The battlewalker's turret rotated angrily towards the engineer pony who fired the first barrage of rockets. He was hiding behind a burnt-out van, but the T-39 Bogatyr's cannons shredded through it like it wasn't even there. The engineer dropped to the ground, the snow beneath him rapidly turning red.

'Dammit!' Applejack bit back her desires to avenge the dead EU soldier by firing off the four missiles armed in her launcher. But, the defensive shield was still up and she could do little until it dropped.

The PAC walker continued it's rampage, taking a few steps closer to the square. It focused its attention to the ponies on the other side of the road, who were cowering behind a damaged wall. It opened fire again, sending chunks of concrete and debris flying as it tried to score a hit on one of its enemies.

In the blink of an eye, the shield dropped. The walker's power supplies needed to recharge, and it was now susceptible to damage. Four rockets whooshed out of Applejack's shoulder-mounted launcher, sailing through the snowy air. They slammed into the side of the battlewalker, their explosions shaking the ground. As the smoke cleared, a mechanical squeal sounded as the metallic monster slumped to one side.

Applejack snorted in contempt. “Well, ah'll be! Ah never knew you could cripple them things like that! How ya like that, packies?!” She yelled out confidently.

Yelping in surprise, she was forced to duck down behind the wall. Chunks of stone flew threw the air as the battlewalker proved it's turret was still in working order. Sunbeam, who was hiding next to her, shook his head slowly in disappointment.

Ignoring the gesture, Applejack peered over the wall. The PAC walker now turned its attention back to the ponies pinned along the side of the road. It's cannon ripped through the wall, a few shots gutting an EU soldier. He slumped to the ground, obviously dead.

From far off to her right, wisping lights flew through the air, exploding on the walker's hull. Applejack looked over, and noticed that the engineer from the squad on the other road was now engaging the PAC battlewalker.

The smoke cleared, and all it had to show was measly dent on the walker's hull. “This thing has ta go down now, or there ain't gonna be much of us left if we keep like this!” Applejack declared.

'There HAS to be a weak spot, I know it!' Applejack racked her brain of all she had learned on enemy machinery in basic training. “Aha!” She proclaimed aloud.

“What?” Miller asked nearby. She gave Applejack a confused shrug of her shoulders.

“Don't you worry none.” Applejack told her, “Just be sure to get his attention mighty quick if he starts aimin' at me.”

“Wha?” Miller trailed off, before Applejack got up and sprinted down the stairs.

“Applejack, what the hay are you doing?” Sunbeam yelled at her as she charged towards the walker.

“Gosh darnit, just gimme some cover!” She bellowed back at him, “That is an or-der, Sunbeam!” She didn't look back for his reply, keeping a swift pace towards the enemy armor. She hoped the years of partaking in the “Running of the Leaves” wouldn't fail her now, a daunting 50 yard dash in front of her.

Her launcher wobbled slightly from side to side as she sprinted onwards, the walker's attention still diverted at the pinned ponies along the side of the road. It's cannons roared, as Applejack got closer still.

'Only 30 yards now.' She told herself. She galloped a few yards further, her breath steaming heavily from her helmet. 'Now only 20 yards.' Applejack gritted her teeth, forcing her legs to work harder. 'Now, if he only just doesn-'

Even her thoughts stopped short as the walker's turret turned towards her, its barrels baring down on her, making the mare feel woefully small and insignificant. She lowered her head, and bounded off her back legs like she was trying to buck the ground.

Applejack dove for the finish, aiming for landing under walker. However, as the milliseconds seemed like hours, she realized she miscalculated her jump. She'd still be a few yards short.

Applejack closed her eyes, bracing for impact with the ground. She imagine she'd just hit the ground, laying there in horror as the walker would tear her to pieces.

She hit the ground with a thud, to be expected. The surprise was she still felt herself moving. Opening her eyes, she saw the snow kicking up in her face. She was sliding on the snow.

Applejack had barely noticed it before, the thin icing of snow on the road allowing her to glide the few vital yards she needed.

Bringing her back to reality, she could hear the cannon rounds hissing over her and eventually stopping. Applejack looked up, noticing she was underneath the walker. It tried to move, but sparks flew from the joint of it's right leg.

“How you like it?!” Applejack roared with confidence. Then, picking herself up, she went to work on disabling the battlewalker. It was nearly invincible, but it was also that. Nearly invincible. Applejack found the air vents along it's bottom, laughing menacingly.

“Y'all better be ready for some fun!” She called out into the air duct. Punching in the vent with her left hoof, she sprayed her submachine-gun into walker's weak spot. Sparks greeted her with the hiss of failing electronics. Slapping her left foreleg across her chest, she pulled out a grenade.

Applejack twitched her hoof and chucked the grenade inside. Without a second thought, she charged away from where she came from. Skidding to a halt a good distance away, she turned around towards the walker.

A loud explosion came from inside the monstrosity. The sky lit up as streaks of energy flew from the walker as it's power core began to fail. With an even bigger explosion, all the bearing and joints came loose, and the mighty battlewalker imploded. It collapsed into a heap of metal along the ground.

As Applejack slowly walked back towards the square, the morning was quiet. No one said a word, trying to take in all that had just happened. The snow crunching under her boots was the most audible sound, lonely echoing.

Applejack stepped over a low part of the wall alongside the road, the two remnants of the squad getting up slowly. “Howdy,” She started, trying to be friendly “What're your names?”

One of them spoke, his deep voice was shaken, “I-I'm Corporal Sterling, ma'am.” He shifted uncomfortably.

Applejack winced at his words. The term “ma'am” made her feel old, or unable to defend herself. Although she admired he was trying to be respectful, it would have been better if he didn't say more than his name.

“And what about this feller 'ere?” She asked. The other pony was still wobbling on it's knees, looking away as Applejack started talking again.

“This is, well... Klepto.” Sterling said, putting his arm reassuringly around the other pony. His confidence began to rise as he talked more. “Her real name is Moss, but she earned a nickname back in basic training. Long story, but in short she's a good pony. Hardly talks, though.”

Klepto didn't move or talk, except to put away her assault rifle. She just stared back at Applejack.

“Ah reckon so.” Applejack said in a deadpan voice, “You two best be formin' up with me, 'cuz now me and my squad have to defend this road.” The two ponies nodded, following behind her. “We ain't got much time before the packies come back again. If you two are needin' any medical help, ask around for Miller okay?”

The three ponies walked up to the monument platform, where they were greeted by Miller and Sunbeam. “AJ, what the hay were you thinking!?” Miller asked frantically. Sometimes, she really acted like a mother towards the rest of the squad.

“I actually thought she did a damn good job.” Sunbeam said, turning to her. “We would've lost many more ponies if she hadn't.” Miller recoiled her head back in surprise, before shrugging her shoulders.

“Maybe she did,” She said, “But Applejack, don't you even go doin' that again, ya hear me?”

“Miller,” Applejack replied, trying to maintain her posture.

“Next time, you sit yourself here and wait until we get some air support...” Miller continued, ignoring Applejack's words.

“Miller...” Applejack said, her voice growing louder and impatient.

“If we really need someone to go out there, we'll send Sunbeam.” Sunbeam tilted his head in disbelief, as Miller kept talking, “His head is so thick, even a cannon round wouldn't make a dent!”

“MILLER!” Applejack roared, getting in her face. Miller took a few steps back, quietly mumbling something she couldn't hear. The orange earth pony sighed, her tone softening. “Ah know you're trying to look out fer us and all, but ah'm the one with the golden mark here. Ah hate ta have to bring it up, but it was mah call.”

“You're right, Applejack. Sorry.” Miller said quietly, looking up to her. Applejack put a hoof on Miller's shoulder, her smile masked by her helmet.

“Aw, don't you worry none sugarcube.” She turned back to two squad-less ponies, who had shifted a few yards away during the argument. “Ahem, uh, sorry 'bout that.” Applejack told them, “Anyways, are you two still fit to fight?”

“I think so.” Sterling said, stretching his legs. Klepto simply nodded, her body language still as blank as a rock.

“Good.” Applejack said. They continued off the platform, Applejack in the lead. A few yards away from the monument walls, two mangled vehicles lay covered in snow. “We're gonna set up from these two back to the monument. Heath an' Haybale are gonna be hidin' behind this car 'ere, while ah'm gonna be behind that 'un.”

She thought for a second, placing a hoof to her chin. “Unless you two wanna set up here...” She offered, pondering the idea more. “Actually, ah think that's a mighty fine idea. That way, ah can see the whole field from the monument.”

“Okay, fine by me.” Sterling said, “How about you, Klepto?”

Klepto shrugged, as if saying “Why not?”

“Ah'll take that as a yes.” Applejack chuckling. “I reckon you two just get comfy until the packies decide to show.” She turned away, heading back up the stairs. Heath and Haybale walked past her, heading to their defensive positions.

Applejack reached the top of the stairs, greeted by Sunbeam's questioning. “AJ, I don't have a thick head, do I?”

“What in tar-” Applejack facehooved, her armor clanking against her helmet. “I reckon ya do, considerin' how easily you let Miller get on yer nerves.”

Miller laughed, pointing a hoof at Sunbeam's shocked expression, “See, I told you she'd agree! I knew I wa-”

She was cut short, a shot ringing through the sky. The three ponies on the monument platform dropped to their stomachs along the metal flooring. “Obs!” Applejack whispered as she flipped on her microphone, “Do you see where it came from?”

The line went dead, the air silent once more. “Got 'im.” A voice whispered back a few seconds later. A shot rang out almost simultaneously, echoing in the expanse of the city.

“Oh shit!” A pony cried out, “Medic!” Applejack poked her head over the wall. Behind one of the cars, Sterling was holding up Klepto's upper body. He wailed at the top of his lungs, “For Celestia's sake, someone get the medic over here!”

Even though it wasn't her duty, Applejack bounded over the wall. Miller was on her heels, landing next to her. They both rushed over, Applejack nearly slipping on the blood-soaked snow. Klepto was bleeding profusely from a bullet hole in her chest, which was seeping onto Sterling.

Miller was at her side in an instant, moving her arm to better examine the wound. The medic peered a little closer, before looking up to Sterling. “I'm afraid she won't make it.” Her tone was cold, unlike her emotional scolding before. Sterling's head dropped in defeat. “A main artery has been severed above her heart. Even if I apply the Nerofoalin regeneration serum now, she'll bleed to death before it can do anything significant.”

Klepto's breathing become more labored, coming out in short, quick rasps. Her breath flared from her helmet like a tea kettle on a hot stove. Miller pulled out a long syringe, filled with a clear liquid. “The best I can do is numb the pain.” She injected the pain-killer into an opening in her armor.

Sterling nodded sullenly, shifting Klepto so she'd be more comfortable. “Moss,” He said quietly, his voice shaking severely. “When-when you go up there, can you tell my parents that... That I wish I could have made them proud.” His voice cracked, his breath laced with sobs. Blood was now all over him and spreading into the snow nearby.

Sterling looked down, noticing it for the first time. He realized that her time was running out. “I'll see you soon.” He concluded despairingly.

Klepto coughed violently, her body shaking. “No.” She said. Her voice was almost as flat as her personality, no trace of regret or sadness. Instead, there was a little something else... Anger, perhaps?

“Damn you to hell if I do.” Her voice was breaking with effort, “ I better not see you... for a long... time...” Her last words took forever to say, barely recognizable. Then she went limp in Sterling's arms, the blue dot on Applejack's mini map crossing itself out with an “X”.

Sterling carefully laid down her body, before getting up angrily. “Fuck the PAC!” He roared, loading the grenade launcher on his assault rifle. “I'll tear them apart with my bare hooves!”

As he started to move forward, Applejack punched him in the face with a right hook. A buck to the chest would crack his ribs, so this would have to do. The stallion clashed against the ruined car, looking up at her. “Get a hold of yaself, feather-brain!” Applejack growled at him, disdain in her voice, “How good are you dead? Din't she jus' say NOT to die?”

Sterling sighed, rubbing his head as he stared at the ground. “I... I guess you're right.” He slowly got up, forcing himself to look Applejack in the face. “Thanks, Applejack.”

“It was nuthin.” She replied, “I would have done the same thing,”

“I'm sorry to break up the heart-to-heart here, but you better get ready to pony up.” Obsidian's voice interrupted over her intercom. “I count at least a dozen and a half hostiles coming down the road. I'm marking them on your HUD... Now.”

In rapid succession, red dots began popping up on her mini map. They were everywhere, streaming down the road, only a hundred yards from their position. “Aww, horseapples!” Applejack swore, running over to the stairs. “Y'all better be gettin' ready now. Looks like we're gonna have ta dig in here for a short.”

Applejack's armored hooves clanked along the metal flooring, coming up next to Sunbeam. The support stallion cocked his machine gun, now supported along the wall. “This should be fun.” He said grimly.

“It'll be worse than fun if'n we don't get some help soon. We're losin' three to one here, an' our reinforcements still haven't shown up.” Applejack warned. She clipped her submachine-gun onto her right forehoof, holding it out in front of her. The falling snow reduced their visibility, giving the oncoming enemies a screen to advance behind.

After a few seconds though, black shadows appeared on the road. In the corner of her eye, Applejack saw the flash of a gun. Obsidian's rifle blared, one of the black shadows falling to the side.

However, the shadows kept growing larger, until they could be made out clearly as PAC soldiers. “And the guests have arrived.” Sunbeam said. His machine gun rattled as he sprayed downrange, felling another pony.

The EU soldiers on the ground nearby were also shooting, popping in and out of cover to fire bursts from their rifles.

In response, the black armor-clad ponies fired back as they advanced down the street. Their guns flared green, thanks to a variant of velocity-augmenting gunpowder created solely in Ponyussia.

Applejack lined up an enemy of her own, firing a burst of her own. Most of the bullets kicked up the snow, but one managed to land on it's target. The pony stumbled a bit, but kept moving. The shot may have left a bruise at most, the submachine-gun's ammo not designed to kill at longer distances.

Another shot rang out into the sky, originating from Obsidian's perch in a top-floor balcony. A PAC pony slumped into the road, dead. The recon pony's usefulness in thinning the crowd would be crucial if they were to survive the counterattack.

From the side of the road, a missile streaked away and exploded along the walls of Obsidian's balcony. The sky around there shrouded with dust and ash, chunks of the building dropping to the ground below.

“Obsidian, you okay?” Applejack asked frantically as she turned her radio on. “Goshdarnit, answer me!”

“Yeah...” Obsidian coughed, “I'm just gonna lie low for a bit until they forget about me.” Applejack sighed in relief, although stunned at the small pony's toughness.

Applejack turned her attention to where the rocket came from. She saw a black head pop out from behind a van along the road. It should be noted that this was the same van that and EU engineer was killed behind too.

“Two can play this game.” Applejack snickered to herself, punching the rocket launcher's flap open. With a hiss, it ejected the used, square cartridge of rockets that clattered along the ground. Gears churned as it automatically reloaded fresh missiles. The glass eyepiece flipped into view, the reticule flashing red.

Smoke flared out the back end of the launcher, as the rockets streaked forward. The PAC engineer hardly even noticed as the missiles hit the partly-destroyed van and exploded. When the smoke rose, there was nothing left to say a pony even existed, save for marks of gore along the ground.

Sunbeam nickered, firing off a burst from his machine gun. A pony who had tried to cross the street was killed instantly. “Damn, I wish I could make my kills that dramatic.”

Applejack scanned to oncoming force. Sure maybe four were dead, but there was still a whole lot more of them. Even worse, they were closing in too. She watched as a PAC pony got too close to one of the defensive cars, Haybale popping out behind it to cut him down.

Behind the other car she saw as Sterling tossed back a grenade, only to have it explode in mid-air. He didn't look hurt, but it was too close.

“Everypony! Get yesself back up to the monument, quick-like!” Applejack ordered through her microphone. She ducked as bullets danced over her, ripping chunks out of the marble monument. Hooves clattered as her squadmates retreated up the stairs.

Applejack looked back over the wall, a confident PAC pony trying to press onward out of cover. Her was only 20 yards away, perfectly within range of her submachine-gun. The Turcotte Rapid SMG chattered as she mowed bullets along his chest.

Although he died nearly instantly, other enemy soldiers began advancing too. At least five of them were making a charge for the monument's stairs. One lobbed a grenade onto the platform, only to have Heath return it to its sender. The explosion ripped one pony's legs off, leaving him to bleed out along the ground. It also injured another, who fell over only to be raked by EU fire.

Looking over, Applejack saw the first pony reach the stairs. He didn't go much further, a burst of fire catching him in the face. The PAC soldier skidded off to the foot of the stairs.

Applejack was closest to the stairwell, so defending it would be her task. Luckily, she was the perfect pony for the job. Turning around the corner of the wall, she aimed down the stairs. The one pony who was walking up hardly noticed her, until the bullets ripped through his armor. By then, however, it was too late.

Applejack turned back, ejecting her empty magazine. Before she could even grab a new one, she heard the clanking of new hooves on the stairs. There wasn't enough time to reload.

Thinking quickly, she clasped her combat knife in her left hoof. Unsheathing the blade, she spun around upon the advancing hostile soldier. The knife cut seamlessly along his throat, blood spraying Applejack's visor. Even through it, she watched as the pony fell to the ground, still grasping his neck.

She rubbed her hoof along her mask, clearing it up enough to see somewhat clearly. The burning desire to throw up was almost paralyzing. She was shaken back to the battle as she noticed other blue dots making their way onto her HUD.

Shaking herself, she walked past her squad. The other friendly ponies were setting up on the other side of the monument's walls. 'This can't be the other squad!' Applejack thought, 'There's only three of them left!'

Her fears were true as she got closer, recognizing the female squad leader with two other ponies beside her. The orange earth pony raced over to her, her armor swaying slightly.

“Hello,” The other mare said, noticing Applejack. Her back was up against the wall, reloading her assault rifle. “As you can tell, the PAC has given us some shit.” Her armor was dinged up, one of the shoulder pads broken.

“Ah can see that. Ah reckon y'all could use some help?” She said, crouching beside her. Applejack looked over the wall, before shouldering her submachine-gun and firing on an advancing PAC soldier. He screamed and fell to the ground.

“Well, we better focus on Harping over here,” The mare said, pointing to the recon pony next to her. The pony was breathing heavily, a wound on his shoulder patched up crudely. “She caught a round as we fell back here.”

“Miller!” Applejack called out, turning her mic on, “Get over here!” One of the green dots on her HUD began moving over to her, eventually showing herself around the monument.

“What is it?” Miller asked, setting down her medical hub as she crouched on the floor. Then, she looked over to Harping. “I see.” She rummaged through her box of supplies, pulling out an auto-injector of a light-blue serum. Placing it above the wound, she pulled the trigger.

Air hissed as the cyan liquid left the vial. Miller threw the auto-injector back into her hub, before turning back to the injured pony. “The Nerofoalin should regenerate your tissues back in a few minutes. Just... Try not to move unless it's absolutely necessary. It could cause the tissues to grow back awkwardly.”

“Thanks,” Harping grunted, shifting uncomfortably.

Gunfire rattled above them, coming from the other squad leader mare. Then she dropped down, looking over to Applejack, “We may have taken out half a dozen or more back at our previous location, and mebbe a couple more here...” She sighed, “But I have no clue how command thinks we can hold this much longer. The PAC probably has a couple extra squads coming this way to help support.”

Worry flashed through Applejack's mind. She wondered how her own squad was holding up, defending against the enemies coming from the adjacent street. She turned on her microphone querying the next highest-ranking pony there.

“Sunbeam! How you guys holdin' up?” She asked, before popping above the wall again. She sprayed the last of her magazine at a pony hiding behind the column of a nearby building. The bullets missed, but succeeded in keeping his head down.

“We're doing fine, especially now since Obs' has started shooting again.” Now that he mentioned it, the distinct sound of the recon pony's sniper rifle was evident amongst the sounds of battle. “I think we've reduced them to around a couple- Ah! I take that back!” Applejack grimaced, knowing what was going to happen next. “We got at least another dozen an' a half coming again. Shit! Do these ponies ever give up?”

Applejack gulped, assuming the it would be the same for her position soon, too. “Okay. Y'all just hang tight while ah help out the other squad over'in this side. Command's reinforcements will be here soon, an-”

“Ahh, that's bullshit and you know it AJ. We are all screwed in this piec-” He was cut short as Applejack muted him. She didn't want to hear his cruel truth.

Peeping over cover, she scanned the view. True enough, a dozen fresh ponies were bolstering the PAC's number in the assault. Applejack clipped in her last grenade along her left hoof. After arming it, she forced herself to wait an extra second. She didn't want to have her grenade coming back to her.

Standing up in full view, she chucked the cylindrical explosive over a nearby wall. A pony yelped in surprise, before the explosion killed him and one of his friends. Applejack slumped back down, reloading her gun as she looked over to the other mare.

“We got some more of 'em comin'. Let's just hope that-” The ground began to shake nearby, the sensation almost clear as day in her memories. The shaking was accompanied by mechanical sounds and churns, only worsening the fear growing inside.

“Now what in tarnation?” She said, still clinging to the hope that she had heard wrong. Applejack looked over the wall to where the sound was coming from. However, it wasn't where she planned.

The sound was coming from behind them. Turning her head around, she spotted three battlewalkers advancing on the city square. These were more blocky and armored, not curved and rounded like the PAC-made T-39 Bogatyrs. These were Equestrian walkers.

Their miniguns blared, massive bullets tearing at the PAC besiegers. Those that weren't mowed down under a hail of lead were sent scampering back home. The walkers continued onwards, firing short bursts at the stragglers who remained.

A hearty cheer erupted from the weary defenders along the monument walls. Applejack reared up, galloping off the platform. She had to check on someone first.

Obsidian slowly hobbled across the ruined landscape. His left hind leg was shattered, the blast breaking it in three places. Walking on his remaining hooves was tough enough, wincing in pain every time his crippled leg touched the ground.

Applejack skidded in front of him, worry in her voice, “Obs! What the hay happen'd to ya?”

Obsidian looked up, snorting quietly. “It's nothing.” He said, before adding in, “You don't look so great yourself.” He stared at her chest.

Applejack looked down, noticing her chest plate was caked with blood. The same could be said for her shoulders, and she could only imagine how freakishly barbaric she looked with her helmet on. “Hehe, yeah well...” She said ashamed, “I tried not to, but someone decided to get in my way and...”

“Yeah, I saw.” Obsidian said. “Don't worry about it, I can confidently say you did the right thing. If you hadn't, who knows how many of our ponies he would have killed?”

“Thanks Obsidian.” Applejack sighed, “Now, go see Miller. That's an order.”

“Yes Master Sergeant squad-leader ma'am.” Obsidian replied cheekily, obviously knowing what words Applejack hated to hear.

“You git along, you hear!” Applejack leered at him, as he tried to scamper off as quickly as possible. She kicked some snow-dirt mixture at him playfully.

In a moment, a flood of blue dots entered her HUD. Looking around, she noticed the reinforcements streaming in, at least four score ponies entering the square. Sighing a breath of relief, she thanked Celestia that her job was now done. Now, she could head back to the EU outpost and take her well-earned rest.

“Hey Applejack!” A familiar voice called from behind her. Whipping around, she noticed it was the other squad leader calling out to her. “Ermm... No offense, but you look a little scary with your bloodied armor on.”

She took off her helmet, revealing her true face. She was a brown earth pony, with a darker-brown mane that flowed neatly along her neck. Her eyes were strikingly light blue, a deep contrast from her earthen coat palette.

Shrugging, Applejack took off her own helmet. It wasn't nearly as tough to do as usual, probably the sweat along her coat to blame. The air hissed slightly, before a breeze flowed over her neck. It felt amazing, the cold air a desirable replacement to the hot, filtered atmosphere of her helmet. Shaking herself, her mane came out from under the armor along the back. It draped to one side, swaying lightly in the breeze.

“There we go.” The other mare said, “Hey, that stallion... Sunbeam, is it? Anyways, he told me that you took down a walker single-hoofedly! Would you mind telling me about it on the way back to base?”

Applejack thought she could have blushed, but the cold air kept her face devoid of any hot, rushing blood to her cheeks. “Uhh, I reckon so.” She said, letting the other pony catch up to her. “However, where ah come from, ya don't tell ponies a story 'less ya know their name.”

“Oh, sorry. I forgot my manners.” She stuck a hoof out to Applejack, “My name's Mahogany.”

Applejack shook her hoof firmly. “Nice to meet yer, Mahogany.” Back on all four hooves, they started back down the road, “Anyways, the ground started all shakin' once we set up in the monument...”

“Well, ah'll be!” Applejack exclaimed, slamming a hoof down on the crude table. “Ah never woulda guessed you came from Appleloosa.” She shook her head in disbelief.

“Oh, I most certainly did.” Mahogany replied, before munching on a piece of dried apple, “It's a nice little old town, and I wonder how it's getting along sometimes.”

“Do ya know mah cousin Braeburn?” Applejack asked eagerly. She almost got out of her seat, causing her hat to fall over her face. “Uh, hehe, sorry.” She finished awkwardly, trying not to blush.

Mahogany nearly choked on her apple, her dark brown mane shaking in tune with her laughter. Applejack opened her mouth to diffuse the situation, but it wasn't long before she found herself laughed as well.

The darker pony put a hoof to her chest, forcing herself to calm down. “Uh, yep. I know Braeburn, although I never got to speak with him much.”

“Well, I reckon you're lucky you didn't. Once you get him talking, he hardly ever stops.” Applejack giggled, “It's like pushin' a train down a hill.”

Mahogany smirked, before breaking out into a loud yawn. She tried to stifle it, to no avail. “I'm sorry Applejack. It was really fun talking with you, but I think I could fall asleep on my hooves right now.”

The orange earth pony began to feel the weariness in her own body. “That sounds like a mighty fine idea. I could really use some shuteye.” Acting on her own accord, she got up from the table. “G'night.” She yawned before turning around, exiting the mess hall.

“Good night!” Mahogany called out, before turning around towards her respective barracks. As the slender brown pony walked towards the door, another equine trotted up next to her.

“Well, you were quite friendly there.”

“Oh shut up, Harping.”

-~-

Applejack awoke the next morning, her farmer pony mindset forcing her up at the crack of dawn. Even with her mind in a half conscious state, pure habit put her through her morning routine.

She made a beeline to the shower, rinsing herself in the freezing-cold water. She continued on by brushing her mane in a succession of a few, rapid strokes. She didn't care much to make it look perfect, but the thought of looking like an unkempt hooligan was not in her aspirations.

Most of the other ponies were still asleep in her barracks by the time she had started to put on her armor. Unsurprisingly, it took quite awhile to get into or out of the EU's combat armor. First was a tight-fitting Soldier Integrity Suit; it was a padded, black piece of clothing that covered from their hooves to their neck, the covered weak spots in their armor and also allowed their coats to “breathe” underneath all their metallic protection.

Then Applejack slipped into the true armored parts, both armored boots and a full-body, metal-plated suit that zipped up along her stomach. With a click, the heavy chest plate she placed fit over the zipper and completed the daily dressing ritual.

Grabbing her helmet, the earth pony walked out of the cold barracks. Her mane and tail buffeted in the wind as she was met with a ferocious, snow-carrying gust. Slamming the door behind her, she fought her way over to the mess hall through the blizzard.

Panting lightly, she finally entered the makeshift cafeteria. It's meager heaters barely rose the room above freezing, the snow that crusted her mane slowly began to melt. Looking around, she noticed not many ponies were in the room, save for the Battalion commander and his lieutenant, whom were always the first to awaken.

Placing her helmet down as a placeholder at an empty table. Walking over to a small table, she grabbed a mug nearby. Placing it under a dispenser, the faint hiss came as coffee was poured into her cup.

Taking a deep sniff of the liquid, she sighed in relief. The warm, wholesome feeling of drinking her favorite beverage was Applejack's favorite part of the day. As the morning wore on, the coffee being made tended to get worse and worse in quality. It was bad already, but she was glad that her farmer pony attitude got her the better crop of her beloved brew.

The table's bench creaked as she sat down, setting her mug next to her helmet. She took a drink, a new level of calmness flowing over her as the coffee warmed her body. She closed her eyes, thanking the goddesses for a simple pleasure that she could rely on. Steam from the hot liquid rolled over her face, dancing along her skin.

To her disappointment, her rejuvenating moment with her coffee interrupted as a tray clattered next to her. Applejack turned her head slowly, looking over. Colonel Zephyr, whose Battalion she was part of, was sitting next to her.

Stumbling to get out of the bench, she nearly tipped over her coffee as she stood to attention. “Greetings, sir.” She snapped off a quick salute, standing up straight.

The older pony smiled, “At ease.” He patted a hoof down on the bench, “Please, sit down.” He was wearing a gray overcoat, his black mane now graying. His natural amber coat stood out from underneath his pale trench coat, which was emblazoned with the Equestrian Union seal, a sun partly eclipsed by a crescent moon.

Applejack nodded nervously, sitting back down. She hadn't talked with the Colonel privately before, although she thought it couldn't be too bad. Zephyr was respected by most of the Batallion, perhaps even to go so far as loved. He had a reputation for being a thoughtful and efficient commander, although by no means hesitant. More importantly, he didn't have the same arrogant air of authority that most commanders did. He was down to earth, and understood many of the qualms the enlisted ponies had.

“Applejack, right?” He asked in a husky voice. He moved her mug of coffee back to her, which had been teetering on the edge of the table. She smiled, before taking the cup in her hooves and having a quick sip.

“That's right,” She responded, after placing down her cup.

“I thought so... Onto what I came here for. You and your squad performed brilliantly yesterday in holding the square.” Applejack wanted to thank him, but dared not interrupt him. To her surprise, he scratched his head embarrassedly, “Some uh, politics got in the way of sending the relief teams yesterday. To be honest, I thought you were long gone by the time I'd get there. I-I guess I was wrong to think so.”

Applejack dismissed the notion with a wave of her hoof. “Ah don' blame ya. We prolly only had a few more minutes left in us anyways.” She looked over as the mess hall door opened, Mahogany poking her head inside, “Besides, mah squad wun't the only one that did the work.”

Colonel Zephyr caught her drift, “Indeed so. I know you are probably still tired, and I understand that. But your squad's-um both your squads' experience with urban fighting will be crucial in the next phase of the plan.” He nodded as Mahogany sat down across from them.

She snapped a salute, before the Colonel addressed her to be at ease. “Continuing on, both of your teams will be asked to jump in behind the PAC lines and soften up their defenses along the series of roadblocks they have set up. With a little luck, we can bring our walkers and tanks through without difficulty. So, what do you make of it?”

Mahogany turned to Applejack, shrugging nonchalantly. “Ah think we can do it mighty fine.” Applejack answered.

“Good,” He got up from the table, “Two air-transports will be waiting for you in a few hours. I think that should be enough time to get your squads together, eh?”

Applejack nodded, standing up and saluting out of courtesy.

He was about to leave, but instead brought his face fractionally closer to her, “Oh, and if it gets too rough, don't be afraid to make a run out of there. Tanks and machines can be replaced, ponies cannot.”

-~-

“Sunbeam, quit yer whinin' and get on that gun.” Applejack said, irritated. The stallion had not given up on complaining about why he thought they shouldn't be doing this. Instead, he believe an extra day of rest was in order. “Command gave us a job t'do, and this one can save a lotta ponies. Ah do not intend on sittin' this one out.”

Sunbeam grunted in defeat, sitting himself behind one of the helicopter's operable miniguns. As much as she enjoyed being around him, he could always prove himself time and time again as the most stubborn member of the squad.

Applejack hopped up onto the helicopter, behind Sunbeam. She looked across, nodding to Heath who was positioned at the other gun. Looking back, she took note of Miller, Obsidian and Haybale, all of whom were readily in their drop pod seats.

Looking out one of the sides, she saw that all of Mahogany's team was ready to go in the helicopter adjacent to them. Sticking her head in the cockpit, she tapped the pilot on the shoulder and nodded.

The black, robust air transport began to hum as it's rotating blades starting spinning. Taking a seat on the spot closest to Heath, she looked out above him as they steadily rose into the air.

The snowy air flew past as the two airborne vehicles took off throughout the city. All she could see was the tops of buildings, the growing blizzard obscuring their view of the ground below. She wondered how they could even find their way to their enemy's defenses.

She placed on her helmet, air hissing as it latched onto it's connection ports with the armor. Her HUD booted to life, “Establishing Uplink” flashing in her view. The mini map appeared, then her vitals and followed up by her communications setup.

“Open map,” she whispered, a much larger map of the city opened in her HUD, taking most of her view. The drop zone was a few blocks behind and north of the PAC roadblocks, so they'd have to fight their way to it. “Close map.”

“Are we there yet?” Sunbeam asked sarcastically. Applejack glared at him, her expression devoid of humor. “Aww, it's a joke, AJ. Don't they have those from the planet you come from?”

She rolled her eyes, sighing. She was about to get up and smack him on the head, before a jolt sent her sprawling to the ground. Whistles and beeps sounded from the cockpit, accompanying strobing red lights.

“What in the hay just happened?” Applejack asked herself, getting up and looking into the cockpit. She gasped as she saw the windshield broken, the pilot's remains slumped against the controls. Undoubtedly, an AA turret was to blame.

The helicopter shook a few more times, Applejack hanging on the cockpit wall to remain upright. Then it began spinning, descending rapidly. Her sight turned to a blurry vision of the whirling landscape through the cockpit, and she felt as the tail crashed into a building, ripping off and plunging the damaged helicopter into further chaos.

“Haybale! You, Obsidian an' Miller jump now! We'll see ya on the ground!” She ordered into her microphone, “E'rrypony else, hang on!”

Three rushes of air could be heard as the drop pods were released, leaving the remaining ponies on board to hold on for their lives. “Mayday! This is Assault Recon Echo, we are goin' down!” Applejack yelled into all the open radio channels, which connected to her squad, command, and the other squad in her mission.

The ground was rapidly approaching. “Mayday! May-” Her calls for help were cut short as the helicopter crashed into the ground. Metallic screams could be heard as it's rotors sheared off hitting the pavement, metal armor plates flying in every direction.

The huge, mangled piece of scrap skidded along the snowy ground, before finally coming to a stop. Black smoke rose into the air, adding a new level of bleak to the depressing city.

-~-

Applejack groaned as her eyes opened, her body circuiting with pain. Multiple windows flashed into her HUD, running diagnostics on her physical condition. Her left arm was free, and she tried to push herself up.

There was where she found her problem, she couldn't move. Something was pinning her to the ground across her back and right arm. She tried to wiggle out, but pain scorched up her spine as the object on top of her shifted and put even more weight against her body. She thought her chest was going to explode.

Finally, a single black window appeared in her HUD, giving her a detailed analysis of her bodily condition. Her hind legs were bruised and she suffered a minor concussion, but nothing more. There was also a warning of the growing pressure along her ribcage, it's origins she already knew about. Somepony would have to get her out soon, or she could be crushed to death.

The windows disappeared, leaving her with normal vision. Out of the blizzard veil, a few ponies appeared down the street. They were walking towards her, and her heart fluttered with hope that she'd soon be rescued.

Within instants, the ponies were marked as hostile on her HUD. The sense of dread slammed down on her harder than the object pinning her to the ground. PAC command did not believe in taking prisoners.

Applejack tried reaching her free arm around to her pistol, but to no avail. Whatever was crushing her was also preventing her reach from going past her shoulders. With a sigh, she accepted the inevitable and laid her head on the ground.

Two other green dots popped up on her HUD, nearby. Heath and Sunbeam were alive! Applejack looked up, keeping tabs on the approaching enemy. They were within twenty yards, and closing in. She could even hear the rough, consonant-heavy language they spoke.

Gunfire erupted from a side alley, cutting down two PAC ponies where they stood. Another single shot rang out, killing another as his helmet tore out from the back as a bullet passed through his skull. The remaining two ponies attempted to return fire, but were caught in the open. They hardly lasted long enough to fire a retaliatory shot.

More blue dots appeared on her screen, Applejack craning her neck to see who it was. However, her mobility was still limited, and her hind legs were turning numb from a lack of circulation. “Over here!” She cried out.

Two EU soldiers came into view, and they immediately saw her underneath the wreckage. Rushing over, one grunted to the other, “Come on, let's move this out of here.” They put away their firearms, grunting as they began to shift the heavy material off her.

She sighed in relief as she felt the pressure on her chest alleviate. Standing up, she was reminded that her hind legs were still bruised as she grimaced in pain. Looking to the side, she saw that a piece of the cockpit's wall was what had pinned her to the ground.

Looking around, she saw as other ponies helped her other squadmates out of the wreckage. “Foxtrot squad, right?” Applejack asked one of the ponies.

“Affirmative.” he replied, before going off to help the others. Applejack craned her neck, trying to find a particular pony. She delicately trotted along the wreckage, careful not to overwork her legs. Then she found the pony, walking up behind and tapping the EU soldier on the shoulder.

“Mahogany, wut are ya doin' here? Ya should have gone on an' completed the job!” Applejack said, a little surprised that she found her voice raising.

Mahogany turned around, shrugging. “You know that if the same thing happened to my squad, you'd jump to the ground and try to rescue us.” She looked around, “Now, quit complaining.”

Applejack nickered in a surprised manner. Of all the things she had been called, a complainer was never one of them.

“If my math is right, there are three ponies still missing. Who knows if they're in the same danger as you were? We can't waste time on debating until we know everypony is safe.”

The rugged farm pony facehooved, realizing she was right. Miller, Obsidian and Haybale were out there somewhere, and possibly in danger. Sunbeam and Heath walked up next to her. “We're good to go, AJ,” Sunbeam said.

“Okay, that's all fine an' dandy, but where in Equestria are they?! They could be stranded blocks away from 'ere!” She pointed out.

Shots rang out in the distance. “There you go.” Mahogany said, before trotting out from the direction the gunfire was coming from. Applejack shook her head rapidly, trying to get ready for the ensuing firefight.

“Okay, let's get formin' up behind the other squad.” Applejack told the remnants of her squad, “Safeties off. If one of 'em is hurt, ah'm makin' the packies pay for it.” The other two ponies nodded eagerly, vying to get at the ponies threating their friends.

Applejack's submachine ripped bullets down a PAC soldier, screaming as he withered in pain. They were fighting after flanking the enemies that was attacking the rest of her squad. There had been many more than expected, perhaps a little under a dozen.

After losing a few to the initial onslaught, the enemy retreated behind a few destroyed cars and walls. They constantly dipped and ran between cover, trying to confuse the EU ponies. Apparently one had made a mistake, Applejack's bullets embedded in his body the result.

Chucking a grenade in their direction, she crept along her cover, a support column for the building above her. The explosion was greeted with a wail, giving her just the cover she needed. Dashing out she charged for a nearby kiosk, a burnt out shell of its former self.

She skidded behind it, breathing heavily. From here, the assaulting ponies could hit three sides of the now-outmatched PAC soldiers. With this new advantage, the remaining enemies fell like flies. As some tried to turn around to fire upon her they were shot by the stranded portion of her squad, and vice versa.

Applejack sprinted out into the open, the threat now removed. The others followed suit, although she noticed Haybale was limping and tried not to put weight on his left foreleg. She saw the fresh blood drying on his armor.

“Haybale, what happened to ya?” She asked. He turned his head to her, hobbling over on three legs. He almost slipped on the snow beneath, but fought back to regain his posture.

“I got hit as soon as we noticed the packies found us. Thank god Miller was with us, she gave me a shot of Nerofoalin as soon as we hunkered up in that house yonder.” He nodded at the building they were previously in. “Good thing you guys got here when ya did, because we were starting to run low on ammo too.”

“Dun mention it.” Applejack said, “You jus' stick to the back of the squad and try to keep safe until that Neruhfoalin is done, okay sugarcube?” He nodded, hobbling off. Opening her map, she assessed her location compared to her target.

From where they were, they could make an approach from the north, down through a triad of apartment complexes. From there, they'd be in a perfect position to ambush their defenses.

She walked up next Mahogany, who seemed to be looking at her own map. Although, due to their full-face helmets and interactive HUD, she didn't really know. “Uhh, Mahogany.” She broke in.

Shaking her head back to reality, Mahogany turned to her. “Yes, Applejack?”

“Ah think we should be goin' south and hit em from the apartment complexes. It seems like the most sensible option we got.”

“I was just figuring the same thing, looking at our maps. Hopefully the packies aren't already holed up and waiting for us, because they had more than enough time be warned by the ones we just took out.”

“True.” Applejack then turned around, addressing the other ponies nearby, “Okay y'all, let's get movin' before the packies can get all comfy waitin' fer us.” The other soldiers turned around, and began to form up in two lines. It was standard positioning for advancing through urban areas, to cover each other from flanking movements.

“Obsidian, you take point.” Applejack ordered. The small pony nodded, advancing to the front of her squads line. He was naturally perceptive and always keen on finding hidden defenses.

The other team sided next to them, and with a nod, began to walk cautiously down the road. Guns were constantly pointed at the rooftops and alleyways nearby, always suspicious of the chance an unknown enemy could be hiding there.

Within minutes, the three apartment buildings came into view, in a row adjacent to each other. They rose well above eight stories, even in their damaged state. Hopping over the fence, the two teams came between the rightmost and center buildings, each pointpony at the lead.

It was here that Applejack first noticed a faint beeping sound. It was slow and methodical, not rising in tempo nor pitch. It was just... There.

They kept up their slow advance, some ponies raising their heads in curiosity as they noticed the beeping too. Still they pressed on, albeit at a slower pace. The beeping was sending off waves of anxiety from the other soldiers.

Something caught Applejack's eye. It was a black patch on the ground, all but caked in snow. It rose like a slight bump in the ground. She let her eyes wander, and began to find other black patches. They formed a line down one wall of an apartment complex, across the small street and up to the other. As she reached the end of the mysterious line, she saw one of the black objects blink in red light.

It all made sense, in a horrible, dreadful way.

“Obsidian, watch out!” Applejack called from the middle of the line.

Obsidian turned to her, “What?” Although her warning didn't slow him down, walking into an invisible tripwire. The beeping grew very quick and fast, as Obsidian realized something was wrong. The other ponies stopped, backing up in fear.

The small stallion looked over, and noticed the black patches along the ground. The more common term was an RDX charge, which could be triggered by a detonator or laser sensors. A single sound came from his mouth. “Uh-oh.”

The explosion literally forced Applejack to the ground, shaking the earth. Before she could get up, she heard the snapping of wires and shearing of metal as the apartment complex on her right began to tumble. The explosives had finally caved in the foundations of the once home for families of ponies.

A mixture of ash and snow flew past her as the building slammed into the ground. It's deafening boom rang throughout the city, reducing all hopes for their use of surprise.

“Come on, everypony, we got to get moving!” Mahogany ordered over the intercom. “There's another small street on the other side of this middle building, between another apartment.”

As much as she wanted to grieve for her dead companion, she decided it was the best option. Getting up, she shook herself and raced around the building. The other ponies tried to catch up, but she wanted to be the first to open fire on the PAC, trying to avenge her friend's death. Rage was building inside of her, and she was out for blood.

Clambering among some debris, it formed a crude ramp up to a second-story balcony on the still-standing apartment complex. “Zoom to ten times.” She whispered into her HUD, which focused her view like a pair of binoculars.

Peering over the wall, she instantly frowned. Four of the PAC's signature hovertanks were waiting for them, probably part of their defense detail. They were heavily armored, and their greater mobility made them superior to what the EU could muster in terms of armor.

Flipping back into normal view, she whipped around to stop the ponies following her. They were about to come right out into the open, where they would surely be slaughtered. “Hold up y'all!” She barked, before turning back to the enemy armor.

She tapped a button on her helmet, which caused a laser to beam from her helmet to wherever she looked. “Command, ah'm requestin' an orbital missile strike at these co-ordinates.” She said into the command radio channel, “We have four tanks waitin' for us if'n nothing happens- Oh horseapples!”

She ducked as the tank shell ripped the air above her, shredding through the apartment's walls. Dust and small rocks fell on her as she cowered on the ground. Apparently, one of them had seen her targeting beam.

“Request granted.” A robotic voice said back, “Orbital strike firing.” Unfortunately, the words didn't register with Applejack, her attention focused more on the sounds of the middle apartment complex beginning to fail too.

She hopped down the debris ramp as the artillery shells began falling, slamming on the ground like thunder. One shell missed it's mark, hitting the balcony she was just on. Stumbling to the ground, she raced forward a few paces before looking back.

The middle apartment building fell to it's side, although it's taller height allowed it to slump dangerously against the apartments on the far left. It left a small gap, big enough for two ponies to race through at once. It was their only shot at getting through to take out the enemy defenses.

“Stir yer rumps, everypony! We're not gonna have ta walk around this! Let's get through that gap pronto!” The other ponies followed her orders, racing up to gap between the ground and the damaged building. It whined in strain, almost as if warning the ponies not to enter.

The first two ponies to enter were Sunbeam and Heath, who loaded their weapons before charging through. The others followed suit, the sounds of gunfire telling Applejack that the fighting had commenced.

As more charged through the declining gap, the sound of a wire snapping cut through the air, and the building fell a few feet. It limited the size of the gap to one pony, and forced the attackers to advance single-file.

The left building groaned dangerously as the last of the ponies made it through, besides Mahogany and Applejack. It was tradition for the squad leaders to bring up the rear when attacking through close environments, an effort to maintain the chain of command in case of heavy fire and also make sure no one got left behind.

“Okay, here goes nothing.” Mahogany said pessimistically. She trotted carefully through the gap, before the building to their left gave out another groan and lurched forward. It too was going to fall, under the weight of the collapsed building.

“Oh no you don't!” Applejack cried, tore off her helmet and stuck her head towards Mahogany. Grabbing her dark brown tail in her mouth, she yanked back and whisked the other mare out of the gap in the wreckage.

Mahogany crashed along the ground, as Applejack fell backwards. She got up, ran over to her helmet and put it back on. The darker pony raced up to her, half poking, half punching her in the shoulder.

“What was that for?” She asked. More wires snapped as the middle complex fell completely to the ground, causing the lone standing building to fall aswell, blocking their only avenue back to their squads.

Applejack grunted, angling her head towards the destruction. Mahogany mumbled an apology, before Sunbeam's voice came over the intercom. “Applejack, are you okay!?” His voice was nervous and quick, oddly higher than it's normally deep tone. “I mean, we're okay, we just saw the last of the packies off but I don't know if you're okay after the building collapsed!” He did not wait for an reply, “Answer me!”

Applejack sighed, almost chuckling at his reaction. “Yeh, we're just dandy. You jus sit tight and we'll find a way to you. No 'buts' Sunbeam, that's an order.” She added the last part in, expecting the corporal to embark on a rescue operation.

“If there's a way to them.” Mahogany pointed out, observing the wall of debris that blocked them from their squad. Their mini map updated constantly, and its reading of the landscape around them showed no route open.

Applejack sighed. She was right. In a last-ditch attempt, she opened up the channel to command. “Command this is Master Sergeant Applejack, ah'm requesting a pick-up, over.”

“Negative.” A voice replied, but it wasn't the same pre-recorded, robotic voice as before. No, it was one of an older male, and familiar too. “This is Colonel Zephyr. We have all our transports in use, at the moment.”

Applejack's heart drooped. How could she get back now? The thought of being stranded behind enemy lines wasn't one she enjoyed.

“Although some people wouldn't like me disclosing this information, I believe it's our best option at the moment. There is a Lunar Sharpshooter a few blocks away, and she may be able to provide assistance until we can help. I'll be patching her through to you now.”

Applejack looked over at Mahogany, who seemed equally dumbfounded. Lunar Sharpshooters were ponies of legends, the most skilled snipers in all of Equestria. Aside from their sublime marksmanship, they were also trained extensively in survival techniques and operating in hostile environments. They were some of the best fighters the Equestrian Union had, and were respected on both sides of the field.

“Hello.” A cold, deadpan voice came through her intercom. “I hear you and your friend could use some help, Applejack.”

The mentioning of her name made Applejack's blood run cold. This pony knew her, and she couldn't even recognize the other's voice. Something was definitely off.

“I've uplinked my position to you two. If you want help, you're going to have to come to me, as I can't risk giving my position away. When you come up to the building, enter from the east entrance and do not take the first stairwell, unless you want to trip my mines.” The pony on the other end exhaled deeply, as if her next words would hurt.

“I think it's the least I can do. Fluttershy out.”