Occupied City of Manehattan, near the harbor
Equestrian Resistance Shelter 7
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It was nighttime in Manehattan, the stars were out in full view, and many ponies would have been eager for an evening on the town on a night like this. However, the constant threat of Eqaharian patrols snatching Equestrians off the street for random interrogation-and-release, their block-by-block checkpoints, or their heavily enforced curfew of sundown made sure that nopony form Equestria dared challenge their rule on land.

The harbor was an option, a tempting way to escape from the city itself, but after two small boats carrying resistance fighters and supplies slipped in and out without challenge, the Eqaharian sea guard was tasked with destroying any unknown boat that did not fly their flag or was registered with their list of collaborators and their assets.

That list, that Celestia-damned list in the eyes of many Equestrians, was a double-edged blade for anyone who signed it. By putting their name on the list at any Eqaharian checkpoint or base camp, you would receive some extra supplies, a medallion signifying you as a non-hostile collaborator, and thus would earn the ability to freely roam through Manehattan.

Should you sign, however, the collaborator would have to spy on their friends and family without discretion, respect Eqaharia's rules and laws, and above all, take an oath to serve King Diomedas above Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and all the sovereigns of Equestria.

That final statement branded those who signed as traitors to their homeland, which cost plenty of Equestrians their friends, family, business, and even sometimes, their safety. Since the occupation of the city began, seven collaborators had been assaulted in the open by Equestrian resistance fighters, without mercy. It seemed that every time this happened, the attacker or even attackers would vanish into the crowd as soon as Eqaharian guards appeared in sight.

This resistance movement was the perpetual thorn in the side of the Eqaharian General in charge of the City, Azheran. It was led by former Royal Guards from both the Solar and Lunar divisions, and their network of shelters, depots for supplies and weapons, and even three underground medical clinics was, simply put, impenetrable by outsiders or spies.

This was because anypony who signed the list was immediately marked by the Resistance as a threat, and should anypony close to them need aid, they would have to take a test of loyalty to Equestria in order to receive help. Resistance fighters broke out imprisoned Equestrians through forged release documents or brute force, Eqaharian supply camps were raided almost daily, and above all..no Eqaharian could truthfully claim to have a lead on their main camp, the whispered-about and fabled Shelter 1.

Shelter 1, and its six companion shelters, made use of the city's subterranean walkways, first used to relieve foot traffic, but were now all supposedly sealed by the Eqaharians. Through clever usage of magic, specialized ward spells would allow resistance fighters and those they trusted in…and those suspected of harmful goals out. Each ward was watched by a gatekeeper, whose job was to watch for new arrivals and determine if entrance would be allowed.

The first step for the new arrival was to give a password that changed every three days, and each time it changed, resistance fighters gave the new password to those they trusted, and those trusted spread it to one pony at a time. This way, should the password be revealed, they could determine who had been the cause of the breach in the first place

The second step was to show their hoof, which if trustworthy had a special mark printed on it in ink that disappeared, again, every three days.

The final step was a question of some facet from Equestrian history, such as "What is the name of the fall races in the countryside?" or "What are the Elements of Harmony...in alphabetical order?". If the visitor answered correctly all three times, they would be allowed in.

Those that failed any of the questions were turned away, and while their back was to the gate…they would be knocked out and left at the nearest Eqaharian camp, with a note that simply read "Traitor".

Due to this system's versatility and success, the resistance had managed to snag thirteen infiltrators so far, and had left them all blackened and bruised by an Eqaharian camp, with the word "traitor" inscribed on a note left with them.

Now, as the lights flickered three times in Shelter 1, signaling it was time to wind down for the night, the last two Elements of Harmony speak to each other in their shared dormitory…

====

"Rarity…do you ever think that we'll win?" Pinkie Pie asked, jostling inside her sleeping bag to get to a more comfortable position.

"I hope we do, but that seems to be a distant fantasy to me currently." Rarity replied from next to her. "I do worry more about Sweetie Belle back in Ponyville. I haven't heard from her in a while."

"Same for the Cakes." Pinkie nodded. "Their last letter said they were heading to the Crystal Empire, but that was two months ago. Hard to believe it's been that long."

"I agree." Rarity turned towards the side, where a mother and her filly were receiving some medical attention from a resistance medic, as the filly had a large bruise on her side, most likely from being shoved out of the way by an Eqaharian soldier. "It's so sad what has happened to this city, and to Equestria."

"But we survived." Pinkie replied, placing a hoof on Rarity's shoulder in a supportive manner. "We're safe here, we've got food and water, companions, and a safe place to sleep. There's not that much I could ask for."

"I suppose I could ask for an extra blanket." Rarity sighed despondently. "Why must the Resistance fighters shut off the dormitory heaters every night? It gets so cold here."

"Better to be safe and cold than a prisoner in a warm cell block." Pinkie cautioned the Element of Generosity. "Rarity, let's get to sleep. We'll make it through each day, one at a time, as we all have. Who knows, the war might end soon and things will all go back to normal. Or as close to normal as we can get. So don't worry too much, alright?"

"Alright. Well then, good night, Pinkie."

"Good night, Rarity."

As they settled into their bunk, their thin blankets providing a sense of protection rather than warmth, nopony in any of the Resistance shelters knew that the next day would bring far more than extra blankets or supplies.

Because off the coast of Equestria, the US Navy's Task Force Hurricane sailed for Manehattan harbor, the crews of every vessel at their action stations. The Task Force had received confirmation only hours earlier that Congress had approved a resolution that allowed the US military to fully intervene against Eqaharia, in a manner similar to the Vietnam war's Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, only for the modern day and in modern terms.

Aboard the USS Ticonderoga, which was leading the Task Force alongside the Arizona and Chicago II, the four Ghost teams were standing by alongside their air support for the invasion of Manehattan.

The operation was given the designation "Corsair Blade", and the plan was as follows. US Marines would make an amphibious landing in the harbor, alongside a unit from the 8th Armored. They would fan out street by street and secure the city, eliminating any resistance as they went.

USAF F-22s would provide close-air support if necessary, and an AC-130 gunship, callsign "Helios", was to be in the skies if necessary. Using the main operation as a cover, the four Ghost teams would, after rescuing both Rarity and Pinkie Pie from Shelter 1, attack the Eqaharian's main command center and eliminate their General in charge. All the while, word had been given for the Resistance to hamper the Eqaharian's response in any way possible.

If Task Force Hurricane could pull this off successfully, the Eqaharians' main port of entry for supplies and reinforcements would be sealed off, their naval fleet would be decimated, and most importantly, Canterlot would be open for an operation to rescue Princess Twilight Sparkle, the final Element of Harmony.

As the hours passed, the night sky slowly turned from deep black to darkest blue, and from the Ticonderoga, a set of four Stealth Blackhawks took to the sky, bearing the four Ghost Recon teams that heralded Manehattan's impending liberation.

UPDATE!

In the next chapter, expect plenty of urban warfare and a beach assault akin to the "Goalpost" mission opening from Call of Duty - Modern Warfare 3. There will be assault Hovercraft, plenty of gunships and tanks, and above all, an AC-130.

After that, a Bianca/Twilight interlude, and then, the planning for Operation: Thronebreaker, the name for the final assault on Canterlot and the rescue of Princess Twilight Sparkle.

Get excited, because it's all coming very soon.