Manehattan Harbor, 32 minutes before dawn
Aboard USAF Stealth Blackhawk “Helix 1-3”
====

“Lock and load, Ghosts. We hit the ground in 3 minutes!” Cyclone Lead called out to Fixit, Vasily, and Fury, who nodded and began assessing their weapons and equipment. Outside, the sun was slowly rising, leaving the once deep blue sky into a paler shade of pink. Cyclone looked out the window for a few moments, taking in the pristine Manehattan cityscape. He knew it would not be so picture-perfect for long.

Operation Corsair Blade would launch as soon as the Ghosts hit the ground running, and Cyclone knew this would not be as easy as their previous operations. The Eqaharians here were well-fortified, they had time to familiarize themselves with the streets, and there was no clue what defenses they had prepared.

To remedy this, The 8th Armored, along with a full detachment of M1A3 Abrams tanks, several Strykers, MRAPs, and Humvees with mounted weapons were standing by to deploy on assault hovercraft once the attack commenced.

The only problem was the Eqaharian fleet. In anticipation of the attack, intercepted orders from King Diomedas that were procured by the resistance, alerted Task Force Hurricane that the harbor entrances had been blockaded with Eqaharian warships.

Thankfully, there was no indication they had deployed sea mines or anything similar, and even if the Task Force had to deploy on rough waters, the hovercrafts would make it to the beach all the same.

All this counted on the Ghosts sending the signal to attack once they reached Shelter 7, where Rarity and Pinkie were waiting.

Cyclone sighed, picked up his TAR-21, and loaded a fresh magazine as the Blackhawks began to hover over what was once a boardwalk amusement park. The doors were opened, fast-ropes were deployed, and in no time at all, Hunter, Kingslayer, Cyclone, and Aegis teams were on the ground and moving.

“Helix 1-1, this is Nomad, we’ll take it from here.” Nomad said over the radio. “Clear to RTB.”

“Confirmed, we’re heading home.” the lead Blackhawk replied. “Good luck, Ghosts.”

As the Blackhawks slipped out into the dawnlit skies, Nomad checked his Cross-com for the location of Shelter 7, and was soon pointed in the right direction.

“On me, Ghosts. Keep your asses cloaked. Don’t be seen, don’t be heard, and don’t drop any hostiles till we send the signal.” He ordered, and the three other Ghost Leads nodded or spoke in the affirmative. As the Ghosts proceeded out of the boardwalk and into the streets, Aegis Lead could see stretch after stretch of boarded up or looted homes and businesses.

“Those Eqaharians strip-mined this whole damn city.” He growled. “This doesn’t look good at all.”

“It doesn’t, not in the least.” Cyclone replied. “Focus up, Aegis. We’ll make it count for ‘em.”

Aegis Lead nodded, and as they approached an Eqaharian checkpoint, the Ghosts stopped to survey the area. The checkpoint was essentially a gated, militarized, roadblock, with two entry and two exit lanes. A tower for presumably archers or snipers lay in the center, and a cage for prisoners lay behind the gate. The obsidian walls were seared onto the buildings on each side, preventing anyone from sneaking around them.

“What’s the play?” Weaver asked. “We’re not going through, that’s for sure.”

“Then we go over.” Nomad replied. “Teams, set up to boost each other.”

Nomad, Cyclone, Hunter, and Aegis Lead each took a steady crouch, backs to the wall, and each other Ghost buddy-jumped over before helping their team leader up themselves.

“Good work.” Nomad nodded. “Looks like that’s our rally point. The shelter 7 entrance is down those steps. Move quick and quiet.”

The Ghosts did just that, and as they approached the shelter, they were greeted by the Equestrian gatekeeper, who let them in with a nod of respect and a salute, and closed the door behind them.

“Where’s Rarity and Pinkie Pie?” Nomad asked the gatekeeper.

“Both should still be in the dorms. Civilians don’t get up for about another half hour.” The gatekeeper replied. “Are you the only ones they sent?”

“Not in the slightest.” Hunter Lead replied. “Let’s go.”

After the gatekeeper showed them into the shelter, the civilians inside were milling about, performing some of their daily tasks. At the sight of the Ghosts, they stopped and watched quietly, astounded at the new arrivals.

“We’re here for Rarity and Pinkie Pie.” Aegis Lead said. “Are they around?”

“We’re right here.” The Elements of Generosity and Laughter approached, relief clear on their faces. “I assume we’re leaving?”

“Not just yet.” Cyclone replied, before speaking into his radio. “Hurricane Actual, this is Cyclone Lead. We have secured the HVIs, I repeat, Generosity and Laughter are secure. Send them in, we’ve got Blue Skies.”

“Confirmed.” Griffin responded. “Cavalry’s readying up, and we’re starting our approach into the harbor. Extraction bird is one the way to your position.”

“Check. We’re moving to the extraction point now.” Cyclone replied. “Rarity, Pinkie, do you have everything you need? You’ll be leaving shortly.”

Both Equestrians nodded in the affirmative, and as they promptly retrieved their saddlebags, the Ghosts escorted them out of the shelter and onto street level. It didn’t take long for the Blackhawk to appear, and Rook and Sparrow rappelled both ponies up and on board, before returning to the ground.

Once both Equestrians were strapped in, secured, and ready, the Blackhawk departed for the rapidly approaching ships of Task Force Hurricane.

“Begin the second set of objectives.” Nomad ordered. “Let’s find their command area, and light it up. If we can capture or kill General Azheran, that’s even better.”

“Then let’s get moving.” Kozak said as the Ghosts began heading for the plaza in the city’s center area, cloaking up to conceal their forms in the early morning sunlight. “We’d better not keep the General waiting.”

“Just what I was thinking.” Nomad smiled slightly, reading his custom-made Koblin assault rifle. “Time to go to work.” He added as an afterthought. In the distance, the US Navy began their final approach to the harbor.

====

"So, are we taking bets on what nasty surprise the Eqaharians are gonna have in store for us?" 30K ventured

"Not now, 30." Hunter Lead replied quietly as they entered the open plaza, which was packed with Eqaharian fortifications made from wood and obsidian. "This place looks like a base of ops. We should search around, see if we can find some intel."

"Good thinking." Nomad nodded. Before the Ghosts could split up to do so, the sound of heavy, armor-clad footsteps could be heard approaching them. The Ghosts immediately took cover and put their sights towards a nearby street, where several Eqaharian soldiers could be seen approaching them.

However, it wasn't the soldiers that made the Ghosts pause, rather, it was the absolute behemoth of an Eqaharian that stood in the middle. He was covered in head-to-toe obsidian armor that glowed with a strange white light, and was armed with a mace and tower shield.

"What the hell is that?" Kozak murmured.

"Something new, and big, that's for sure." Sparrow replied. The monster slammed his mace down, silencing any further words from the Ghosts.

"Humans!" the warrior proclaimed. "I am a High Guard of King Diomedas. You shall surrender, or have your skulls be crushed beneath me! What is your choice, wretches?"

The Ghosts answered with several shots from their weapons. The bullets struck hard and true, and the High Guard took a few steps back from the impact, but was otherwise unscathed.

"So be it!" the Giant roared as he charged into the fray of bullets sent towards him, as the naval bombardment of the city's Eqaharian's defenses began in the distance…

Yeah...I must apologize for not writing any updates in a while. Writer's block is a bitch, and life is even more so.

But now I'm back.

Next time - The Ghosts and their accompanying armored units must push through a storm of fire to reach the Eqaharian command center.