Hours later, as the Blackhawk carrying Sunset, Mitchell, Nomad, and the Portal Device landed on the Aircraft Carrier USS Ticonderoga, several technicians took the device to store it safely, while the others headed below decks.

"So, how many soldiers are going to Equestria?" Sunset asked.

"Four teams of four operators each." Mitchell replied as he showed her to a briefing room. "Plus air and naval support should they need it."

"Only sixteen?" Sunset said, bewildered. "These guys must be good."

"We are good. The best of the best." Nomad said as he moved up. "I'm Nomad, I'm leading the Ghost Teams deploying to Equestria. Sunset, we've toppled drug cartels, terrorists, hell, even reigning governments. I can give you examples if you want."

"I'll take your word for it, Nomad." Sunset replied as they sat down. "So...what do you want to know?"

"We'll start with the briefing once all the Ghosts are assembled." Mitchell replied. "Some are still en route from Fort Bragg, in South Carolina. Until then, Sunset, make yourself at home as best you can."

Sunset merely nodded as she stretched her arms back. Nomad stood up and proceeded over to a nearby laptop, and began typing away, a chat window visible on the screen.

====

It wasn't much later that the remaining fifteen Ghosts filed into the room and took their seats, all wearing gear similar to Nomad's equipment. Mostly brown, gray, with some various-colored highlights, but they all wore eyepiece or glasses with blue details. Some had also made modifications to their gear, such as personal detailing.

As they saluted Mitchell as he came in, Mitchell ordered "at ease", and they sat as one.

"Alright Ghosts, listen up." Mitchell said in an authoritative voice. "We are now in command of Operation: Echo Solace. Be briefed in full or be sorry."

"11 Hours ago, the US Government received an inbound alien signal directed to an individual here in the US. It was a distress beacon from the realm of Equestria, which the individual here originated from."

Sunset gave a small wave.

"Their realm has been conquered by hostile forces, their leaders exiled, imprisoned, or scattered, and the last of the realm's allies is currently under siege. We are their last hope for freedom."

"As such, all of you will be deploying in five hours through a portal device we have previously secured from the source of the message, and your mission is as follows."

"First, topple the Eqaharion regime and eliminate whatever organization and leadership is present. Second, restore the Equestrian Government to whatever extent is possible. Third, locate and secure the HVTs known as the Elements of Harmony, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Princess Twilight Sparkle."

"Last but not least, make contact with whatever resistance groups are present, and help them out as much as you can, but operational objectives take priority Sunset Shimmer has also volunteered to guide you once you reach Equestria.."

"Gentlemen, are there any questions?"

"What can we expect in terms of hostile armament?" Midas asked.

"They're armed with medieval weaponry such as bows, swords, lances, et cetera." Mitchell replied. "It may seem like a cakewalk, but don't underestimate them until you know what they are capable of."

"Where are we starting out with a base of ops?" Fixit asked.

"Sunset Shimmer's identified an old castle inside a forest that rarely sees their kind. That'll be a good start. Once you start freeing or securing territory, adjust position as needed."

"What do we know about the local resistance groups?" Kozak asked.

"Not much." Mitchell replied. "We do know there are at least three of them in the realm, and one of them, in the northern lands, gets support from the Crystal Empire, so once you reach them, it'll be a good place to start building conventional forces as backup."

"Any other questions?"

There were none to be heard. As Mitchell dismissed them and the Ghosts headed out, Sunset was escorted to the sub-hangar were the device was being stored and worked on by DARPA technicians.

"We all set?" Mitchell asked.

"We are good to go, sir." the lead tech replied. "We've managed to modify the device to spawn additional portals off the bow of the Ticonderoga, in case air or ground support is needed. We've also hooked it up to a reserve power supply, and we can modify the location of the exit portals from our end, thanks to GPS."

"What's the catch?" Mitchell asked.

"According to our data, it'll take about one minute and a half to transfer something to Equestria, and then more time once it's on the other side, so take that into account when tasking CAS or ground forces to support."

"Good work." Mitchell replied. "Have it ready in four hours for initial deployment."

"Yessir!"

As the two of them left, Sunset turned to Mitchell with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm almost afraid to ask...but how exactly did those guys learn how to operate the device like they were doing in the scant amount of time they've had access to it?"

"It's a long story." Mitchell replied. "First thing to know is that those techs came here from DARPA, so they know any experimental tech like the back of their hand once they get familiar. Also, your friend Twilight wrote us an instruction manual while we were flying over here. She's a bit long-winded, but we got what we needed out of it."

"Also, she was on a video feed the entire time giving instructions to the techs."

"That does sound like her." Sunset replied. "How'd those guys react?"

"Well, the DARPA guys were so impressed with her work, they offered her a job working in a magic-based R and D section. Well, once she gets out of college and past the necessary pre-reqs for Government employment. Frankly, I'm surprised they didn't hire her on the spot, she's that tech-savvy.."

"Well, it makes sense, seeing as she'd actually been studying magic ever since the Fall Formal incident at Canterlot High." Sunset replied as they entered a stairwell. "She knows how to work tech and magic like no one else."

"I'll hold you to that." Mitchell replied as they soon entered the mess hall. "Mind giving me some answers to a few questions of mine?"

"Ask away." Sunset replied. "How much time do we have before we go save Equestria?"

"Three hours, fifteen minutes." Mitchell replied. "Mind if I record this?"

"Go ahead." she replied. "What do you want to know?"

====

Nearly four hours later, the Ghosts and Sunset were assembled in the garage where the portal device, activated and ready, waited for them. Sunset had been given a M9 pistol and a ballistic vest for personal defense. Not only that, After the DARPA techs managed to calculate the radio frequency used by Twilight's distress beacon, the Ghosts' Cross-Com tech and radios were outfitted to be capable of transmitting between Earth and Equestria.

"Are we ready?" Mitchell called from behind a blast-shield. Nomad and Sunset each gave a thumbs-up, and the techs activated the portal. As the white vortex appeared, the group of seventeen stepped in and vanished in a flash of white light.

====

As the Ghosts and Sunset appeared on the hill overlooking Ponyville, they could clearly see the extent of the Eqaharions' brutal rule. A low wall of obsidian surrounded the town, and a second wall defended the base used by the Eqaharian soldiers.

"Kozak, send a drone up." Nomad ordered. Kozak deployed a quad-rotor, and flew it over towards the town. As he guided the drone through his Cross-Com, Kozak beggan to listen in on a pair of Eqaharian soldiers at the gate.

"...you think those rebels in the forest are still out there?"

"I do. I mean, we lost three convoys of food in the last week thanks to them. We just can't reach 'em, they're too deep in the forest. Last I heard, they were camped out near a river to the northwest."

"I wish they'd come out and fight us face to face. We'd finish them once and for all if it was like a fair fight."

"We'll get 'em eventually, brother. Let's get back to work in the meantime."

As Kozak recalled the drone, Nomad motioned to the river that flowed into the Evefree. As they took their positions and followed Nomad and Sunset, the moon began to shine in the night sky.

====

As the Ghosts walked through the tangles of the Everfree Forest, Sunset used her magic to illuminate their path. Kozak's drone provided aerial surveillance, and according to him, they weren't far from the river's middle point, which meant they were further than the Eqaharions could go.

"Any idea where the rebels are?" Holt murmured. "We'll find 'em eventually, I'd prefer it to be sooner rather than later."

"Agreed." said Matthew Gates, or Aegis Lead. "They don't know we're here to help, they might ambush us, thinking we're the enemy."

"Good point." Nomad nodded. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, we push forward. Kozak, is thermal giving us anything?"

"Not yet." Kozak replied. "Wait, multiple contacts approaching from the right."

"Rebels?" Weaver asked.

"Not sure yet." Kozak replied, drawing his Goblin PDR and recalling the drone. "but they're close."

As the Ghosts readied their weapons, the sound of hoofsteps could be heard from in front of them. Sunset came forward, and the hoofsteps stopped suddenly. The Ghosts tensed up, only Sunset motioned for them to stay back.

As another equine came into the clearing, Sunset sighed at seeing the rainbow-colored mane and teal coat of Rainbow Dash. Sunset could see several scars across her body and one on her neck.
"Hey...aren't you the mare who stole Twilight's Crown? Sunset Shimmer?" she asked. "What are you doing here? And who are they?"

"Yes, that's me. And they all came to help." Sunset replied. "We can explain more when we're not in the middle of the Everfree Forest at night. Does that sound good?"

Rainbow nodded as her fighters came into view. Most of them were clearly civilians in Royal Guard Armor, but Sunset could see at least three Solar Guards among them, due to their frame and stance.

"This way." Rainbow replied as Sunset and the Ghosts were led to the Castle of the Royal Sisters. After passing over the bridge, most of the Ghosts were brought to a small atrium, while Nomad and Sunset were brought to Celestia's old office chambers. Nomad saw several maps and charts, a few crates, and a command table scattered across the room. Behind Rainbow was a map that had the marked locations of the Elements of Harmony, along with the markers of several Resistance hideouts.

"So, what's your name?" she asked Nomad.

"Name's Nomad." he replied. "You're Rainbow Dash, I take it?"

"Yeah." she replied. "Alright, listen. I don't know what you're doing or why you're here, but if you came to help, you can prove it to me, and I'll help you out as much as I can."

"How so?" Nomad asked.

"We traced a prisoner convoy carrying some of my best fighters and several trained Guardsponies that's coming to Ponyville's local work camp." Rainbow Dash replied. "Get my troops out of that convoy, and then we'll talk."

"Consider it done." Nomad replied. "But what about this work camp? Got any intel on it?"

"Plenty, we secured their patrol schedules two days ago." Rainbow replied. "Why?"

Nomad merely smiled.

Update!

Yep, the next chapter kicks off the action when the Ghosts attack the Ponyville work camp and gain the trust of someone who will greatly aid the Resistance...

Who might that be?

You'll have to stay tuned to find out.