[Authors note - You know what I hate? When there are 120+ people that favorite this story, but don't bother to give it a thumbs up.

Hint hint.

Enjoy this shorter than what I would like chapter. I promise the chapters will get longer once things start to heat up.]

"Is everything loaded up?!" Lieutenant Robinson called out as he and MacManus walked up to the two CH-53K's that were assigned to them.

"Yes sir!" First Sergeant Nicholas, who was one of the Green Berets that were assigned to his battalion, responded. "Looks like the Captain hooked us up with some pretty high tech stuff. Found a few M8's in the back of one of the Super Stallions. Much better than our SCAR's."

"Have they all been taken yet?" MacManus asked eagerly.

"I think we have a few spares..." Nicholas responded, scratching his chin thoughtfully.

"Dibs." MacManus stated, before walking past the First Sergeant, a twisted grin spreading across his face.

"Well, shall we?" Robinson asked, motioning over to the helicopters.

"Yeah. Mount up people!" Nicholas called out.

As the two special forces operatives starting making their way over to the Super Stallions, they heard someone sprinting up from behind them. Robinson glanced over his shoulder to spot Captain Harrison, dressed in multicam fatigues and black body armor.

"Left-tenant, can you spare a moment?" Captain Harrison requested.

"Of course, sir." Robinson responded, before turning back to Nicholas, "I'll be a few minutes. Go tell the pilots to get ready to depart."

"Yes sir." Nicholas responded, before he started jogging towards the CH-53K's.

Robinson watched him jog off before turning back to the Captain, who appeared unusually troubled. "What is it, sir?"

"I'm just going to be straight forward, Left-tenant. Our recent scans have shown evidence that there is, or, at least has been intelligent life on this planet." Captain Harrison stated.

The Lieutenant took a few seconds to take it all in. "Sir, are you telling me that we have discovered proof of alien life?" he asked.

"Yes. And as Captain of this vessel, I must join you in your expedition. So I may represent the United American Federation and the human race in case we do make first contact." Harrison pointed out.

"Sir, you coming along would be too much of a risk. I recommend you-"

Harrison held up his hand, signalling the Lieutenant to silence his objections. "Left-tenant, are you questioning my decision?" he asked, lifting a brow.

"No sir. Just concerned for your safety, Captain." Robinson stated.

"Listen Robinson, you know my history. I've been in my share of firefights with the Russians." Harrison pointed out.

Lieutenant Robinson remained silent for a few moments before speaking up. "Fine. Are you armed?"

"Minimally." the Captain responded, motioning to the MP7A2 strapped to tactical vest.

"Perfect. Let's get a move on, Captain." Robinson stated, motioning to the CH-53's awaiting them.

Twilight Sparkle sat on the library's balcony, juggling around observing the huge objects floating over the town, taking notes on the objects, and watching the mass hysteria that was caused by the objects.

"Twilight!" a voice called from below. Twilight rose from her sitting position and looked down over the edge of the balcony, spotting her friend Applejack looking back up at her.

"What da hey is goin on ere', Twilight?" she inquired.

"I don't know, Applejack!" Twilight called back, clearly annoyed about being interrupted, "I was trying to figure out just that before I was rudely-"

Before Twilight could finish her sentence, Twilight was blinded by a large purple flash. When her vision cleared, she noticed that everypony was standing still, instead of running around frantically like previously. Then she noticed something new among the citizens of Ponyville.

Unicorns, clad in golden armor and armed with muskets and swords. They were the 1st Royal Guard Battalion, an elite unit of unicorns armed with the most high tech armor and weaponry in all of Equestria. And she knew that her older brother was among them.

"Well lookie der! The calvary has arrived!" Applejack called out. Twilight rolled her eyes and teleported beside her friend, who was visibly started by her sudden appearance.

"Applejack, care to do me a favor?" Twilight asked.

Applejack blinked. "Whai shure Twilight? What can ah do fer ya?"

"I need you to go out and gather the rest of the girls. Something tells me we may need the Elements of Harmony for this." Twilight stated.

"Ah see what ya mean. Ah'll be back." Applejack said, before galloping off.

Shining Armor stood in front of the troops under his command, each of them holding at least three tours of duty under their armor. He knew that if these aliens were hostile, and he was certain they were, they were the best suited to take on the new threat.

"First platoon, I want you to split up into four squads and gather the civilians in the town center. Second and third platoons, I want you to secure a perimeter around the town. Fourth platoon, I want you guy to help me secure an HQ. We clear?" Shining Armor asked.

"Yes sir!" the battalion thundered.

"Alright, let's go!" Shining Armor exclaimed, sending the entire battalion rushing to organize into their platoon and carry out their Captains orders. Shining Armor waited around for fourth platoon to form up on him, waiting eagerly to hear what his next orders were.

"Fourth platoon, not only will you be helping secure an HQ, you will also be the first to engage the alien forces should they land and prove hostile. I probably don't even have to say this, but if there is something going on that is troubling our princesses, even scaring them, then it's probably really bad."

"With that being said, I have the perfect place to set up our HQ, if the local librarian is willing, of course." Shining Armor said with a grin, "forward... march!"

And with that, Shining Armor and fourth platoon began to march in parade-like fashion down the street, towards a hollowed out tree occupied by a purple unicorn and a baby dragon.